Effect of Potassium on the Growth at the Late Stages and Grain Quality of Winter Wheat in Dryland

Methods of field experiment, chemical analysis, and data statistics were employed to study the effect of potassium on growth at the late stages and grain quality of winter wheat in dryland. The results showed that potassium (37.5~112.5 kgK_2O/hm~2) could (increase) the chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, kernel (filling) rate, and 1000 grains weight after anthesis. The potassium fertilizer application on wheat (increased) (sedimentation) value, and prolonged the dough stable time, and especially (increased) the content of wet gluten and protein, and (protein) yield. However, it was not good to the quality of winter wheat when the (potassium) (application) rate was excessive. There were descendent trends in quality indexes mentioned above when the potassium application rate beyond 112.5 kgK_2O/hm~2.