Yesterday we discussed the importance of nitrogen for agricultural activity at the production level, today we will talk about Phosphorus and Potassium. Let's start, phosphorus is another essential macronutrient element for the plant. It provides the energy needed for vital functions.
▶ For example, in cell division (ATP-DNA) and photosynthesis, it also influences fruit quality and firmness. Phosphorus deficient plants have scarce flowering, buds break easily, fruits are larger, but with less juice and thicker rind, separating the segments from each other and from the central axis.
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The diagnosis of the element is adequately achieved with the analysis of the soil, unlike what happens with nitrogen, which is easily washed into the soil, the phosphorus added with fertilizers accumulates in it and forms poorly soluble compounds, becoming a real reserve.
In acid soils, phosphates react with iron and aluminum ions, fixing them, making this element unavailable to plants; therefore, it is essential to correct the pH of soils to enable the absorption of this mineral element. The application of corrective fertilizers should be done after detecting a deficiency, preferably at the end of the winter season.
Potassium is an essential element indispensable for citrus growth and development. It has been demonstrated that K is essential as a coenzyme of numerous enzymes, as well as the requirement of high amounts of K during protein synthesis, being particularly important in photosynthesis and as a water regulator in plant cells.
Potassium fertilization has a very important impact on the concept of fruit quality. Deficiency causes a decrease in the vegetative vigor of the plant and a decrease in yield.
NOTE: Reference material.