Abstract:
Today, the world is facing
many problems for crop production among
them drought is the most dangerous. Here in
this paper we have reviewed the threat of
drought to food security in future especially
related to maize production. Water is a
cooling agent plays an important role in the
functioning of plant body. Drought stress
have deleterious effects on the seedling
establishment, vegetative growth,
photosynthesis, root growth, anthesis,
anthesis-silking interval, pollination and
grain formation in maize crop. The
deleterious effects of drought can be
mediated by application of nutrients which
may enhance tolerance to drought stress.
Among the nutrients potassium can enhance
the tolerance in maize plant for drought
stress. The application of potassium
enhanced root growth and stem elongation.
Similarly, potassium increased leaf water
potential, osmotic potential and turgor
potential under drought stress. Likewise, gas
exchange parameters are improved by
potassium. Application of potassium
enhanced the photosynthetic rate and has
better effect on other attributes. Most
importantly potassium is greatly helpful in
transport of sugars prepared in leaves to
fruit. Potassium enhanced the yield and
yield related parameters of maize crop. It
seems quite important to study the role of
potassium for increasing the plant tolerance
to drought stress and to increase yield of
crop under drought stress.
