Physiological Studies in Plant Nutrition: X. Water Content of Barley Leaves as Determined by the Interaction of Potassium with certain other Nutrient Elements, PART II. The Relationship between Water Content and Composition of the Leaves

Abstract

Barley grown under 22 combinations of nutrients was sampled 3 times during the growing season and the ash fractions analyzed for K2O, NaaO, CaO, and P2O5. Large positive correlations were found between Na and water content and those for P were significant. No appreciable relation was found between K and succulence. Partial regression coefficients of water content on both Na and P content were found with reduction in K and also at any K level with age of plant. They concluded that variations in carbohydrate level account for the apparent fact that water content becomes more sensitive to internal concentration of the elements with decreased water supply and increase in age of plant. The greatest effect of carbohydrates on succulence is that exerted on the cell wall extensibility as detd. by the thickness of the wall.