The role of potassium in drought toleranceN PSaxenaauthorWater stress effect9 are severe in semi.arid enr!rgrqen:s vrhere drought5 are unpred~ctablea nd cause ins:ab,lin, in 'produclmn Eltons are be~ngm ade :c ,mprove drought tolerance by plant breeding but 11 will be some rime before a wl. ution is found. Studies of the role of potassium in water uptake and the regulation of 11s loss through stomata1 control In controlled e&pertmenls and f~sldo tud~eso f veld response to potassium in limiting soil water e~viroirrentsin dicate that it ray improve water relationsof plants and water use etfic~encya nd maintain y~eldsu n. der water strw. Funher study is needed of the effects of potassium in relation to drought in field experiments under diverse agroclimatic conditions on roils de. ficirnt and suffic~enti n potassium. Attention should be paid to the econorrics ol potassium reyMnse under drought conditionsFertilizer Applications1985International Potash InstituteArticle