ROLE OF POTASSIUM FOLIAR APPLICATION IN IMPROVING GROWTH ATTRIBUTES AND FLOWERING EFFICIENCY OF SWEET PEA

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different foliar potassium concentrations on the growth and flowering performance of sweet pea under semi-arid conditions. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with five potassium treatments (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% K₂SO₄) applied at three key phenological stages. Results indicated that foliar potassium significantly enhanced plant height, leaf area, number of branches and leaves, chlorophyll content, and flowering attributes compared to the control. The 1.5% K treatment yielded the highest plant height (49.3 cm), leaf area (110.4 cm²), flower number (30.7), flower diameter (4.9 cm), and pods per plant (8.4), while also promoting earlier flowering (46.7 days) and shorter flowering duration (17.3 days). Excessive concentration (2.0%) showed a slight decline in performance, suggesting a threshold beyond which K application may become counterproductive. The findings underscore the efficacy of foliar potassium at 1.5% in enhancing both vegetative growth and reproductive success in sweet pea. These results provide practical implications for ornamental horticulture, particularly in nutrient-limited soils, by demonstrating that timely foliar K supplementation improves flower yield and aesthetic traits. This study advocates for integrating foliar potassium into sweet pea cultivation practices to achieve higher commercial and ornamental value.