Potassium nitrate had better results for crops growing in desert soils under highly saline conditions

Potassium nitrate outperformed potassium chloride and potassium sulphate as the K source in making up fertigation solutions for crops growing in desert soils under highly saline conditions

In this study, differences in growth vigour of Valencia orange trees, or Williams banana or Rodade tomato plants, either potted in river sand or river sand/CaCa₃, was assessed in relation to fertigation solutions composition, the solutions having been made up with either KNO₃, KCl or K₂SO₄. The experiment was conducted in South Africa in a nursery enclosed with 40% shade-cloth. 120 Valencia orange trees, and 120 Williams banana and 120 Rodade tomato plants, were transplanted into 2.7 l pots containing river sand or river sand/calcium carbonate (80:20 v/v), and treated with one of four nutrient solutions. One solution contained only Ca(NO₃)₂ and NaCl, and was applied to all the plants. The remaining three solutions were made up using the same fertilizers except for that supplying K. The K source was KCl, K₂SO₄ or KNO₃. As a consequence the NO₃^- to NH₄⁺ ratio differed between solutions as well as the Cl^- or SO₄^-2 content. NaCl was added to every solution to impose salinity stress. Elemental content except for that of S and Cl was equal in the K-containing nutrient solutions. Identical experiments were performed on each plant type.

In banana, orange and tomato growth was most vigorous in the plants treated with the solution made up with KNO₃ and least vigorous in the plants treated with the solution made up with KCl (Figures 1, 2 and 3). This was reflected by height increases, and fresh weight and number-of-leaf differences when the plants were lifted. Number of primary roots in banana was commensurate with vigour. Enhanced vigour in the plants treated with the solution made up with KNO₃ may have additionally resulted from promoted cationic nutrient uptake. The NO₃^-/NH₄⁺ ratio was greatest in the KNO₃ solution. Number of leaves showing marginal necrosis in banana or number of wilted leaves in tomato indicated greatest salinity stress following fertigation with the solution made up with K₂SO₄. In tomato, number of flower trusses, fruit number and yield were greatest where the KNO₃ solution was applied and least where KCl solution was applied. Differences in individual fruit weight were not observed.

The results clearly indicate a benefit in using KNO₃ as opposed to KCl or K₂SO₄ in fertigating crops growing in desert soils where the irrigation waters are generally saline.

Figure 1. Banana plant lengths on each date of measurement. Left: Sand medium; Right: sand/CaCO₃ medium.

Figure 2. Orange new shoot lengths on each date of measurement. Left: Sand medium; Right: sand/CaCO₃ medium.

Figure 3. Tomato height on each date of measurement. Left: Sand medium; Right: sand/CaCO₃ medium.