Abstract

Cold stress significantly limits the growing season of plants, leading to substantial losses in both crop yield and quality. Due to global climate change, the damage caused by cold stress to agricultural crops is steadily worsening. In the present study, we investigated the effects of foliar applications of calcium and potassium on yield, quality, and plant growth in radish under cold stress conditions. Radish seedlings were exposed to cold stress by planting them at five different times. In the study, foliar applications of 1% K₂SO₄ and Ca(NO₃)₂ were evaluated. The results indicated that the highest tuber weight was obtained from the 1% Ca application. Similarly, the best results in tuber diameter and tuber length were also achieved with the 1% Ca treatment. Moreover, the highest shoot length and shoot thickness were observed in the same treatment. The potassium treatment also produced better results compared to the control, similar to the calcium application. However, no significant differences were observed in chlorophyll index, leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight, and relative water content of the leaves among the treatments. These results indicate that both calcium and potassium play crucial roles in mitigating the negative effects of cold stress, thus promoting better growth and yield in radish. Furthermore, while both treatments provided benefits, the calcium application appeared to be more effective in improving tuber characteristics. These findings suggest that optimizing nutrient management under cold stress conditions could significantly enhance crop productivity. Further research is needed to determine the optimal application doses and timing under varying ecological conditions. In conclusion, foliar applications of 1% K₂SO₄ and Ca(NO₃)₂ are recommended for achieving good plant growth and high yield in radish cultivation under cold stress conditions.