Essential Role of Potassium in Apple and Its Implications for Management of Orchard Fertilization

K (K) is of paramount importance for apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.), not only for tree growth and development but also for the size and quality of fruit yield. The apple plant's demand for K varies, along with the progression of phenological phases, during the growing season. The K demand peaks during ripening of fruits featuring relatively high concentration of K comparable to that of the leaves. The mainstream method of apple tree K fertilization is through application of the fertilizer to the soils to improve K uptake by the roots. The bioavailability of K depends on assorted various factors, including pH, interaction with other nutrients in soil solution, temperature, and humidity. An important role in making the K from soil available for uptake by plants is played by plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM), and the specific role of the PGPM is discussed. Advantages of fertigation (the combination of irrigation and fertilization) as an approach include allowing to balance application rate of K fertilizer against its variable demand by plants during the growing season. Excess K in the soil leads to competitive inhibition of calcium uptake by plants. The K-dependent deficiency of Ca leads to its predominant channeling to the leaves and hence to its decline in fruits. Consequently, the apple fruits affected by the K/Ca imbalance frequently develop physiological disorders in storage. This emphasizes the importance of the balanced K application, especially during the last months of the growing season, depending on the crop load and the actual K demand. The potential use of modern approaches to automated crop load estimation through machine vision for adjustment of K fertilization is underlined.

Automated summary

Potassium (K) is crucial for apple growth and fruit production, with demand varying throughout the growing season. Excess potassium can inhibit calcium uptake by plants, leading to calcium deficiency in fruits. Balancing potassium application is important to prevent K/Ca imbalance and physiological disorders in apple fruits.