With increasing drought stress impacting plants during critical growth stages, genetic breeding and nutrient management are key strategies for plant's resilience. To investigate how potassium (K) fertilization and drought stress impact biochemical, physiological and nutritional mechanisms of sugarcane, we applied a multitiered approach at a range of leaf- and plant-levels in four sugarcane varieties (IACSP95-5000, CTC7, CTC14, and RB975201) grown under two K-soil availability levels (moderate - MK
high K - HK) and two water regimes (well-watered - WW
drought-stressed - DS). DS reduced leaf water potential at predawn (Ψpd) and midday (Ψmd), and photosynthetic parameters, including CO