Effects of potassium applications on wheat nutrition in calcareous and serpentine-derived soils

Serdar Atav; Ömer Faruk Demir

Effects of potassium applications on wheat nutrition in calcareous and serpentine-derived soils

Abstract

Potassium (K) is an essential macronutrient involved in numerous physiological processes in plants, including enzyme activation, osmotic regulation, and photosynthesis. However, its uptake is strongly influenced by soil properties and interactions among exchangeable cations. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of increasing K application rates on calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and K uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Esperia) grown in serpentine-derived and calcareous soils. The greenhouse experiment was conducted using a completely randomized factorial design. Plastic pots containing 2 kg of soil received K at 0, 50, 100, or 200 mg kg⁻¹, and the plants were harvested after 10 weeks. K application significantly increased plant K concentration from 1.03% to 1.33% and total K uptake from 51.32 to 72.64 mg pot⁻¹. Plant Ca concentration was not significantly affected, whereas plant Mg concentration decreased from 0.46% to 0.36%. Pearson correlation analysis revealed soil-specific relationships between plant growth and cation nutrition. In the serpentine-derived soil, dry matter (DM) production was strongly correlated with total K uptake (r = 0.8540). Plant K concentration was positively correlated with K uptake (r = 0.9823) but negatively correlated with plant Ca (r = −0.7022) and Mg concentrations (r = −0.6597). Soil K concentration was also negatively associated with plant Mg concentration (r = −0.7274). In the calcareous soil, DM production was positively correlated with soil K concentration (r = 0.6202) and total K uptake (r = 0.8452). A strong positive relationship was found between plant K concentration and K uptake (r = 0.9120), whereas plant K and Mg concentrations were negatively correlated (r = −0.7214). Overall, K fertilization promoted K accumulation and supported wheat growth, while its relationships with plant Ca and Mg differed between the two soil types. These contrasting patterns indicate that wheat responses to K application are influenced by the Ca-dominated environment of calcareous soil and the Mg-rich environment of serpentine-derived soil. Accordingly, soil characteristics and associated changes in Ca and Mg concentrations and uptake should be considered when evaluating K fertilization practices.

Keywords

Cation antagonism, Exchangeable cations, Nutrient accumulation, Soil–plant relationships, Wheat

Supporting Institution

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Thanks

The authors would like to thank the staff of the Soil Science and Plant Nutrition Laboratory at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University for their technical assistance during the laboratory analyses..

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Serdar Atav This is me
0009-0001-4467-7828
Türkiye

Ömer Faruk Demir ^*
0000-0002-0636-5225
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

September 7, 2026

Publication Date

-

Submission Date

July 3, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 31, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA99JM27CS

APA

Atav, S., & Demir, Ö. F. (2026). Effects of potassium applications on wheat nutrition in calcareous and serpentine-derived soils. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, Advanced Online Publication, 681-693. https://izlik.org/JA99JM27CS

AMA

1.Atav S, Demir ÖF. Effects of potassium applications on wheat nutrition in calcareous and serpentine-derived soils. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication):681-693. https://izlik.org/JA99JM27CS

Chicago

Atav, Serdar, and Ömer Faruk Demir. 2026. “Effects of Potassium Applications on Wheat Nutrition in Calcareous and Serpentine-Derived Soils”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, no. Advanced Online Publication: 681-93. https://izlik.org/JA99JM27CS.

EndNote

Atav S, Demir ÖF (September 1, 2026) Effects of potassium applications on wheat nutrition in calcareous and serpentine-derived soils. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences Advanced Online Publication 681–693.

IEEE

[1]S. Atav and Ö. F. Demir, “Effects of potassium applications on wheat nutrition in calcareous and serpentine-derived soils”, int. j. agric. environ. food sci., no. Advanced Online Publication, pp. 681–693, Sept. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA99JM27CS

ISNAD

Atav, Serdar - Demir, Ömer Faruk. “Effects of Potassium Applications on Wheat Nutrition in Calcareous and Serpentine-Derived Soils”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences. Advanced Online Publication (September 1, 2026): 681-693. https://izlik.org/JA99JM27CS.

JAMA

1.Atav S, Demir ÖF. Effects of potassium applications on wheat nutrition in calcareous and serpentine-derived soils. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026;:681–693.

MLA

Atav, Serdar, and Ömer Faruk Demir. “Effects of Potassium Applications on Wheat Nutrition in Calcareous and Serpentine-Derived Soils”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, no. Advanced Online Publication, Sept. 2026, pp. 681-93, https://izlik.org/JA99JM27CS.

Vancouver

1.Serdar Atav, Ömer Faruk Demir. Effects of potassium applications on wheat nutrition in calcareous and serpentine-derived soils. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. [Internet]. 2026 Sep. 1;(Advanced Online Publication):681-93. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA99JM27CS

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