Ellice Hahne (FCG Midwest)

Potassium (K)

Potassium regulates the movement of water, nutrient and carbohydrates within the plant. It also controls the opening and closing of stomata, which regulates the balance between water conservation and effective photosynthesis. In effect, an adequate supply of Potassium to the plant will help with improved water efficiency, and improved maintenance of photosynthesis.
By regulating water movement within the plant, Potassium helps the plant to wilt later and recover quicker when the rain does come.

Magnesium (Mg)

Magnesium forms the central component of the chlorophyll molecule and is directly involved in photosynthesis. As temperature rises, photosynthesis can become less efficient, so a restriction in Magnesium availability can restrict the crop’s ability to produce carbohydrates from sunlight.
Magnesium deficiency is also associated with impaired carbohydrate movement from the leaves to other parts of the plant, which can lead to less grain fill.

Sulphur (S)

Sulphur helps maintain metabolic efficiency in the plant and helps the plant use available Nitrogen more efficiently. While not directly associated with water efficiency, Sulphur helps to produce a healthy, well-functioning plant which helps it to cope with external stressors.

Calcium (Ca)

Calcium is associated with cell wall formation, membrane stability and root development. Healthy roots give plants a better chance to access water and nutrient reserves during dry conditions.

Phosphorus (P)

This was not mentioned in the PDA article, but Phosphorus is also highly associated with root formation and therefore an essential nutrient to get right for drought resilience.

In conclusion

As always, there is no silver bullet to fixing weather related issues, but as I reported in my article last month (https://www.fcgagric.com/2026/08/03/drought-readiness-in-livestock-systems/), becoming more resilient to drought is not a last-minute solution, but one you need to think about now, in preparation next time. Good plant nutrition is one of the building blocks that will help your crops become more resilient to future droughts (diversifying your crops and adjusting grazing management may be others, see my colleagues’ articles on these matters in previous newsletters).

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact Ellice Hahne at ellicehahne@fcgagric.com or your local FCG Office.