Impact of Variable Potassium on Metabolism,Oil, and Seed Quality of Groundnut

To study the impact of variable potassium (K) on biomass, economic yield, and role of K in groundnut (Arachis hypogeae L.) metabolism, plants were grown in refined sand at different levels of K, ranging from 0.5 to 16 mM. The concentration of K increased with increase in supply in all parts of groundnut. Both low (<4 mM) and excess (>4 mM) K increased the activity of peroxidase, ATPase, and acid phosphatase and decreased the concentration of chlorophyll in leaves significantly. Low (<4 mM) and excess (>4 mM) concentrations of K inhibited pod and kernel (seed) formation in groundnut. Potassium stress (both low and excess) deteriorated the quality of groundnut seed by decreasing the concentrations of starch, protein, and oil and increasing that of sugars in seeds. The activities of certain enzymes also altered in K stress in leaves and seeds of groundnut.