EFFECTS OF POTASSIUM ADMINISTRATION ON RECOVERY OF RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.) PLANTS AFTER DROUGHT Stress
Abstract
The critical phases of rice plants regarding water availability include the vegetative phase at the tillering stage, generative phase 1 at the panicle initiation stage and generative phase 2 at the booting stage. Lack of water in the vegetative phase and in the generative phase will disrupt the growth of rice plants. However, if water needs are immediately met, the plant will recover and be able to grow normally. The plant's ability to recover can be increased through the application of potassium fertilizer. This research aims to determine the optimum dose of potassium fertilizer when drought occurs in several critical phases to increase the recovery ability of rice plants. This experiment used a completely randomized design (CRD) with 2 factors where the first factor was the dose of potassium fertilizer using KCL fertilizer, namely 50 kg/ha, 75 kg/ha, 100 kg/ha and 125 kg/ha. The second factor is the difference in stress phases, namely the vegetative phase at tillering, generative phase 1 at panicle initiation and generative phase 2 at booting. Each treatment combination was repeated 3 times. Observation variables include grain weight per hill, proline content, root dry weight, leaf relative water content (RWC), and plant height. The research results prove that the best dose of KCl fertilizer to increase the recovery capacity of rice is 100 kg/ha. Rice plants held in the vegetative phase have better recovery abilities than those held in the generative phase. Recovery, rice, drought stress and potassium. Root Dry Weight, Relative Water Content (RWC) of leaves, and plant height. The research results prove that the best dose of KCl fertilizer to increase the recovery capacity of rice is 100 kg/ha. Rice plants held in the vegetative phase have better recovery abilities than those held in the generative phase.
