EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF POTASSIUM ON GROWTH AND ASH CONSTITUENTS OF ANANAS COMOSUS (L.) MERR

Abstract

The effects were studied of high versus low potassium on the growth and ash constituents of Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. in solution cultures supplied with equal amounts of nitrogen from nitrate or ammonium salts. The plants of the high-potassium cultures in the nitrate series weighed 40%, and in the ammonium series 73% more than those of the low-potassium cultures. Ash values and succulence were generally higher in the high- than in the low-potassium cultures. Potassium was from 2 to 7 times higher in the tissues of the high- than in the low-potassium plants. The calcium and magnesium conent of tissues was many times higher in the low- than in the high-potassium plants, but the calcium content was appreciably lower in the plants supplied with ammonium- than with nitrate-nitrogen. Phosphorus and iron were more abundant in the high- than in the low-potassium plants, and greater in the ammonium series than in the nitrate series. [From authors' summary.]