Effect of Potassium on Water Relations, CO₂ Exchange and Plant Growth Under Quantified Water Stress in Chickpea

The response of applied K (1.54 mM, 2.31 mM and 3.08 mM) on plant growth and CO₂ exchange in chickpea (cv H-82-2) was studied under normal soil moisture content (SMC 12%) and water stress (SMC 4.5%) conditions. Water deficit created by withholding irrigation resulted in a significant reduction in water potential, osmotic potential, RWC, photosynthesis and respiration. Marked reduction in different growth characters (leaf area, dry weight of leaves, stem and root) were noticed under water stress. In general, K (3.08m mM) mitigate the adverse effect of water stress and facilitates increase in dry weight of leaves, stem and root.