Forms of potassium and sodium in some species of grasses and herbage

Abstract

The forms of occurence of potassium and sodium were studied in the grasses Dactylis glomerata L., Poa annua L., Festuca rubra L. and dendelion (Taraxacum officinale Web.) treated with increasing mineral fertilizer doses, magnesium and microelements, under conditions of pot culture. The plants took up potassium in amounts greatly exceeding their requirement, and sodium in very small amounts. Mineral NPK doses increased in the tested plants both the content of potassium and sodium forms soluble in trichloroacetic and acetic acids and water. Magnesium and microelements had no major influence on the content of these potassium forms, but they increased the concentration of analogous forms of sodium in Taraxacum officinale and did not influence their accumulation in the grasses. Potassium and sodium compounds were completely extracted from the plants with trichloroacetic, whereas acetic acid extracted 88-95 percent of potassium and 66-74 percent of sodium. Distilled water extracted 70-77 and 28-33 percent of potassium and sodium, respectively.