WATER-SOLUBLE POTASSIUM (WK)

Water-Soluble Potassium (WK)

 WATER-SOLUBLE POTASSIUM (WK)                                                              

TARGETED MINERAL INPUTS:

We continue our series on Targeted Mineral Inputs for KNF, examining the less commonly used and less frequently needed targeted mineral input, Water-Soluble Potassium (WK).

NOTE: Some of Master Cho’s material lists water-soluble potassium as WP. However, since this is easily confused with the solutions using Phosphorus (elemental sign P), here we refer to the input as WK, using the elemental sign for potassium (K).

Also of note, unlike other inputs in Korean Natural Farming (KNF), WK is always used alone.

WATER-SOLUBLE POTASSIUM WK (WP)                                                      

SOURCE MATERIAL        Tobacco Stems 

SOLVENT                         Water  

CHARACTERISTICS OF POTASSIUM

1. The principal function of potassium is to grow meristematic (growing tip) tissues.

2. Potassium helps regulate water uptake, improves the movement of sugars made by photosynthesis, and activates enzymes.

3. Potassium activates enzymes that make starch, helps move sugars produced by photosynthesis, and supports the storage of starch in the crop.

4. Potassium deficiency symptoms occur first on older leaves, because potassium is a highly mobile element in the plant. Potassium content in the leaf decreases rapidly during the fruit-enlargement period because substantial potassium is translocated to the fruit.

5. Potassium regulates water use by controlling the opening and closing of plant stomata. When potassium levels are low, plant growth slows, fruit size decreases, and tissues hold less water, showing potassium’s importance in cell enlargement.

In light conditions, guard cells use energy from photosynthesis to absorb potassium. As potassium builds up in these cells, pressure increases and the stomata open; when potassium levels drop, the stomata close.

6. Potassium helps plants make the enzyme that captures carbon dioxide, allows CO₂ to move more easily within the leaf, and activates many enzyme systems.

7. Potassium uptake is an active process and occurs rapidly. It is primarily transported to growing tissues and can be redistributed from older tissues to younger ones as needed.

8.  Potassium is abundant in leaves, stems, and root tips, where it exists mainly as a salt. Because it remains in an ionic or readily ionized form, potassium moves easily throughout the plant.

9. Potassium helps move carbohydrates, supports carbon assimilation, controls cell turgor, and increases plant resistance to drought and freezing.

10. Potassium reduces lodging problems, increases yield, and improves the quality of crops.

11. The bean plant requires a comparatively high amount of potassium.

SYMPTOMS OF DEFICIENCY

1. Potassium deficiency occurs in plants that lack potassium in the plant or the soil. The lack of potassium leads to an abnormal enzyme system and impairs various metabolic processes. As a result, the plant’s growth is disrupted.

2. When Potassium is deficient, the branch shows growth deterioration, maturity is stunted, and yield/quality is deteriorated.

3. It is rare to have Potassium deficiency in the initial stages of growth. In general, symptoms of deficiency typically appear after the plant reaches more mature growth stages.

4. Chlorosis usually starts from the older leaves, but the tip of the leaf in the middle may discolor and dry out even at the peak of growth.

5. When roots and stems are thin from deficiency, especially if the stem’s vascular bundles don’t harden properly, they become less resistant to cold.

6. The seeds of fruits become small and mature late.

POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY occurs when soil is lacking potassium. Even when sufficient potassium is present, if the soil contains high levels of lime and magnesium, the plant still suffers from potassium deficiency because these elements suppress potassium absorption. Potassium deficiency can also easily occur in sandy soil, which has less humus, because potassium is readily leached from sandy soil, as with nitrogen.

Using a soil foundation with Indigenous Micro-Organisms (IMO) mitigates these issues because adequate soil ecology can ionize potassium (and other elements) on demand for absorption and better retain elements such as potassium and nitrogen in poor, sandy soils.

SYMPTOMS OF EXCESS

1. Magnesium deficiency occurs if the potassium level is excessive.

2. It looks similar to gas disorder (air pollution injury) and occurs in the middle part of leaves.

NUTRITIVE STAGES TO USE IN FORMULAS

WK is not part of the Nutritive Cycle inputs. It is intended for use in cases of potassium deficiency and should be used as a single ingredient. This makes it unique among KNF inputs.

HOW TO MAKE

Tools: Clay jar, cedar bucket, or glass jar, with a breathable cover (like muslin) and a string or band to secure the cover. A mesh bag, such as hemp.

Materials: Tobacco stems and water.

Environmental Conditions: This process is optimum in the temperature range of           23-25⁰C (73-77⁰F). It should be kept away from heat and direct sunlight. A stable environment with little change is ideal.

Methods:

1. Dry tobacco stems and grind them. Do not grind too finely. You do not want a powder.

2. Put 1-2Kg (2.2-4.4 pounds) of tobacco stem in a hemp cloth bag, and dip it in 100 liters of water to dissolve the potassium into the water. This process takes about 7 days.

HOW TO USE WK

It is necessary to use water-soluble potassium alone. Dilute 0.7 liters of the crude potassium liquid with 20 liters of water (35ml per liter or 4.48 oz per gallon).

ATTENTION!

Weather conditions should be taken into consideration when WK is used. If WK is applied with nitrogen in a hot and humid condition, or WK is applied on a rainy day, WK may bring about a synergetic effect, which helps the plant to absorb nitrogen, resulting in overgrowth. Master Cho refers to plants with nitrogen overgrowth as “fat.” Fat plants lure in pests.