Soybeans need potassium for biomass production, stress tolerance and reproductive growth. Those factors translate to yield. However, just a fraction of the potassium in soils is available to plants. In response, plants have developed strategies to efficiently take up this nutrient. Symbiotic, or mutually beneficial, relationships between land plants and soil microbes are the most important strategy for absorbing nutrients and water. This research focuses on understanding how beneficial fungi help soybeans acquire soil potassium. This multi-year project investigates the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on K uptake in soybeans in the field and greenhouse. The laboratory portion of the study concentrates on understanding the mechanism and amount of K transported into soybeans.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents