Ecological effect and the utilization rate of K nutrient for different K use efficiency cotton genotypes

To identify genotypes with higher K efficiency and understand the mechanism of differences in response to K deficiency among genotypes, a pot culture experiment was conducted in the greenhouse of the College of Resources and Environment of Huazhong Agricultural University from May 7 to October 15, 2011. Study on the effect of dry matter and K distribution and accumulation between 2 different cotton genotypes (high and low K-use efficiency) was conducted with grafting technology.

Results showed that the effect of grafting on dry matter and K accumulation, distribution and yield was different between the two cotton genotypes under different K conditions. After grafting, the ratio of dry matter and K accumulation in the vegetative organ of high K-efficiency cotton genotype was increased, but the same decreased in the reproductive organs. Moreover, yield and K utilization index also decreased. On the contrary, the condition of low K-use efficiency cotton genotype gave an opposite effect. After grafting, the K uptake efficiency of high K-use efficiency cotton genotype decreased with applied K and increased without applied K. However, low K-use efficiency cotton genotypes reversed this trend, and their K uptake efficiency increased with K application and decreased with no K application after grafting. In summary, we conclude that the effect of grafting on different cotton genotypes was different. Hubei-37