Determination of the Potassium (K) Uptake Potential of Water Leaf (Talinum Triangulare) Using Computer Simulated Models of Heterogeneous Condition

Abstract

Soil potassium (K) is vital for plant growth and its spatial distribution potentially affects crop nutrition and productivity. This study investigated effects of simulated heterogeneous soil K distribution on its uptake by Talinum triangulare. Pot trial modelled control (0 mg/kg K added), homogeneous (1000 mg/kg K added), and heterogeneous (simulated reach heterogeneity) K treatments which was maintained in the greenhouse for 45 days after transplanting in the treatments. At harvest, the shoots and roots were cut, washed, and analyzed for potassium after acid digest by nitric acid. The mean concentrations of potassium in the root of the control, homogeneous, heterogeneous treatments were 9972±1184 mg/kg, 9526±1299 mg/kg and 10854.7±147 mg/kg respectively, while the shoot potassium concentration were 11864±162 mg/kg, 12069±184 mg/kg and 11967±268 mg/kg respectively. However, the root K concentration in the heterogeneous treatment was 0.088 times higher than the control and 0.139 times higher than the homogeneous. Conversely, the homogeneous shoot K concentration 0.017 was times higher than the control and 0.009 times higher than the heterogeneous. The shoot K concentration was higher than the root. This suggest that T.triangulare would translocate potassium from the root to the shoot easily by almost 90%. The Concentration factors for the control, homogeneous, and heterogeneous conditions were 0.1118, 0.1498, 0.1258 respectively. Similarly, there was no significant differences (p>0.05) between treatments.   Overall, simulated heterogeneity did not substantially affect K nutrition and growth of T. triangulare within experimental constraints. Furthermore, long-term field studies are recommended to elucidate heterogeneity influences over crop cycles. The findings provide baseline insights on K uptake by T. triangulare under variable nutrient conditions and which is relevant to agriculture.