Soil and foliar application of potassium enhances fruit yield and quality of tomato under salinity

Abstract

IntroductionCrop production in fields is restricted by a number of abiotic stress factors like drought, salinity, light intensity, and temperature. Soil salinization is among the most severe abiotic threats to agriculture. According to a study on global land use patterns, 7% of the earth's total land area (1000 × 10 6 ha) has become saline (Tester and Davenport, 2003).Soil salinity not only affects plant growth but also developmental processes like seed germination, seedling vigor, flowering, and seed setting, primarily because of hyperosmotic stress and ionic imbalance (Sairam and Tyagi, 2004;Demiral et al., 2005). The increased osmotic pressure in the root environment decreases the availability of water to plants and its movement to reproductive organs such as fruits, and, as a result, fruit size is decreased, as seen in tomato and other crops (Li and Stanghellini, 2001;Mavrogianopoulos et al., 2002).Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., previously named Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is an important crop in several parts of the world, including the regions suffering from drought and soil salinity, such as the Mediterranean region, where these aspects have been studied (Savic et al., 2009;Jensen et al., 2010). Tomato is not regarded as tolerant to abiotic stress factors, but these stresses, such as salinity, may enhance fruit quality by increasing sugar concentration and dry matter content (Yurtseven et al., 2005).Potassium is one of the important macronutrients required for the growth, development, yield, and quality of plants, and it also plays a key role in the survival of plants under abiotic stress conditions, as stress negatively affects the physiological processes of plants such as root and shoot elongation, enzyme activity, water and assimilate transport, synthesis of protein, photosynthetic transport,

Improvement of cocktail tomato yield and consumer‐oriented quality traits by potassium fertilization is driven by the cultivar

“…Our literature review showed different results regarding the relationship between the applied K amount and the increase in tomato yield. Some studies have identified an optimum fertilizer amount for K where higher application does not increase the yield, whereas others showed a linear function . However, a few studies have not confirmed any relationship between the K fertilizer dose and tomato yield .…”

“…Among several important abiotic impact factors for yield and quality traits, such as weather or water availability, the nutritional status of plants plays a major role . Several studies have found positive correlations between potassium (K) fertilization and the stress tolerance of plants to drought, salinity and cold, as well as resistance to pests and pathogens . The macronutrient K improves tomato yield and quality formation in the fruit .…”

“…Both the productivity of tomato plants and consumer‐oriented quality traits, including TSS, TA and DM, are influenced by K . Several studies have demonstrated that increase in K fertilization also increases TSS, TA and DM levels …”

“…12 Several studies have found positive correlations between potassium (K) fertilization and the stress tolerance of plants to drought, salinity and cold, as well as resistance to pests and pathogens. [13][14][15] The macronutrient K improves tomato yield and quality formation in the fruit. 16,17 These positive effects of K are a result of the involvement of K in several physiological processes of plants, such as translocation of assimilates, activation of enzymes and stomata regulation.…”

“…Some studies have identified an optimum fertilizer amount for K where higher application does not increase the yield, whereas others showed a linear function. [15][16][17]19,20 However, a few studies have not confirmed any relationship between the K fertilizer dose and tomato yield. 21,22 Both the productivity of tomato plants and consumer-oriented quality traits, including TSS, TA and DM, are influenced by K. 20,21,23 Several studies have demonstrated that increase in K fertilization also increases TSS, TA and DM levels.…”