Mitigating the Drought Stress through Potassium Application in Corn

Abstract

A study was carried out to explore the impact of drought stress executed through out several growth phases of Corn (Zea mays L.) crop and reducing the deleterious effect of drought stress through Potassium (K⁺) application. Corn hybrids, 32-F-10 and YH-1898 drought tolerant and sensitive respectively, were grown February 28, 2010 at Postgraduate Agricultural Research Station (PARS), Faisalabad. All the mandatory soil and water analysis were completed. All the standard methods were adopted to conduct the experiment. Drought stress was forced on various growth phases (no drought, at 5-leaf stage, at 10-leaf stage, at anthesis and at grain formation) along with two treatment of potassium fertilizer; no potassium and 100 mg/kg of soil application. Corn seeds two per hill were sown in pots filled with soil where irrigation was done through tap water in a controlled net house. soil field capacity was determined and drought stress treatments were maintained by using moisture meter. Measures related to cultural and protection were executed till the time of crop maturity. Before crop maturity all the compulsory data of parameters were gathered by adopting standard methods. Through analysis of data it was found that drought stress had deleterious impacts on plant height, leaf area, root shoot fresh and dry weights, relative water contents, leaf water potential, photosynthesis rate, grain weight per cob, 1000 grains weight, biological and grain yield depending on stress period of drought. While, on the other hand K⁺ had significant promotive impact on growth and yield parameters of Corn crop. Nevertheless, additional research studies would be essential to examine deeply the K⁺ role in reducing the negative impact of drought stress.