POTASSIUM IN SOIL

What is potassium(K)?

Potassium (K) is an essential nutrient for plant growth. It’s classified as a macronutrient
because plants take up large quantities of K during their life cycle.

Minnesota soils can supply some K for crop production, but when the supply from the soil
isn’t adequate, a fertilizer program must supply the K.

Here, I am trying to get a basic understanding of K, including plants’ K nutrition, how its
presence is tested in soil with the help of soil testing kit, its function in plants and its role in
efficient crop production. In addition, you’ll find information about soil tests, K sources,
predicting potash needs etc.

Role of Potassium in Plant:

Potassium is associated with the movement of water, nutrients and carbohydrates in

plant tissue. It’s involved with enzyme activation within the plant, which affects protein,
starch and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. The production of ATP can
regulate the rate of photosynthesis.

Potassium also helps regulate the opening and closing of the stomata, which regulates
the exchange of water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide. If K is deficient or not supplied
in adequate amounts, it stunts plant growth and reduces yield.

For perennial crops such as alfalfa, potassium plays a role in stand persistence through
the winter. Other roles of K include:

 Increases root growth and improves drought resistance.

 Maintains turgor; reduces water loss and wilting.
 Aids in photosynthesis and food formation.
 Reduces respiration, preventing energy losses.
 Enhances translocation of sugars and starch.
 Produces grain rich in starch.
 Increases plants’ protein content.
 Builds cellulose and reduces lodging.
 Helps retard crop diseases.

Forms of Potassium in soil:

oils often have a total K concentration of more than 20,000 ppm (parts per million).
Although there is a lot of total K available in soils, only a tiny quantity is ever really
needed for plant growth. This is due to the fact that almost all of this K is not available
for plant growth because it is found in the structural component of soil minerals. The
amount of K supplied by soils varies due to large differences in soil parent materials and
the effect weathering has on these materials. Therefore, the need for K in a fertilizer
program varies across the United States.
There are 3 forms of K found in soil:

 Primary Minerals (unavailable potassium): Depending on soil type, approximately

90 to 98 percent of total soil K is found in this form. The minerals feldspars and micas
contain most of the K. Plants cannot use the K in this crystalline-insoluble form. Over
long periods of time, these minerals weather, or break down, and K is released.
However, this process is too slow to supply the full K needs of field crops. As these
minerals weather, some K moves to the slowly available pool. Some also moves to the
readily available pool.
 Secondary Minerals and Compound (slowly available form): Potassium in this form is
part of the internal structure of the clay minerals forming the colloidal fraction of the
soil. Slowly available potassium cannot be replaced by ordinary cation exchange
processes and is referred to as “non-exchangeable” potassium. This form is in
equilibrium with the available forms and, consequently, acts as an important reservoir
of slowly available potassium. An equilibrium exists between “non-exchangeable,”
“exchangeable” and “soil solution potassium,” Because of this equilibrium, it is
possible for some of the potassium applied as fertilizer to be temporarily converted to
the “non-exchangeable” form. This is an important reaction in that it helps reduce
leaching of potassium from applied fertilizer, especially on sandy soils.
 Solution Potassium (readily available form): Potassium that’s considered readily
available for plant growth is potassium that is:

. Dissolved in soil water (water soluble).

. Held on clay particles’ exchange sites, which are found on the surface of clay
particles. Called exchangeable K, this is the form of K measured by the routine
soil testing procedure.

Plants readily absorb the K dissolved in the soil water. As soon as the soil water’s K
concentration drops, additional K is released into the soil solution from the K attached
to the clay minerals. The K attached to clay minerals’ exchange sites is more readily
available for plant growth than the K trapped between layers of clay minerals.

The relationships among slowly available K, exchangeable K and water-soluble K are

summarized below.

Notice that when the arrows go in both directions, one form of K is converted to
another. Factors that affect the conversion rate include root uptake, fertilizer K applied,
soil moisture and soil temperature.
Potassium Cycle:

The potassium cycle is a biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of

potassium (K) through various reservoirs in the Earth's system. Potassium is an
essential nutrient for all living organisms, playing crucial roles in cellular functions such
as enzyme activation, osmoregulation, and maintaining membrane potential in cells.

Here's an overview of the potassium cycle:

1. Weathering: The primary source of potassium for the environment is the

weathering of rocks and minerals containing potassium, such as feldspar and
mica. During weathering, potassium is released from these rocks and enters the
soil and water.
2. Absorption by Plants: Plants absorb potassium from the soil through their
roots. Potassium is an essential nutrient for plant growth and development,
playing a vital role in processes like photosynthesis, water uptake, and nutrient
transport within the plant.
3. Consumption by Animals: Animals obtain potassium by consuming plants or
other animals that have already assimilated potassium into their tissues.
4. Decomposition: When plants and animals die, their organic matter decomposes.
During decomposition, potassium is released back into the soil in the form of
organic compounds.
5.

Leaching and Runoff: Potassium can be leached from the soil by water and
transported to aquatic ecosystems through runoff. In aquatic environments,
potassium is essential for the growth of aquatic plants and the survival of aquatic
organisms.
6. Sedimentation and Geological Processes: Over time, potassium-containing
sediments may accumulate in bodies of water or be buried underground through
geological processes. This potassium can eventually become part of sedimentary
rocks.
 7. Uplift and Weathering: Geological processes such as uplift and erosion expose
potassium-containing rocks to the surface, restarting the cycle by making
potassium available for weathering once again.

The potassium cycle, like other biogeochemical cycles, is vital for maintaining the
balance of nutrients in ecosystems and sustaining life on Earth. It influences the growth
of plants, the health of organisms, and the overall functioning of ecosystems.

Objective of Studying Soil Potassium:

1. Understanding Soil Fertility: Potassium is one of the essential nutrients

required by plants for healthy growth and development. By studying soil
potassium levels, scientists and agricultural experts can assess soil fertility and
determine whether potassium supplementation is necessary for optimal plant
growth.
2. Crop Production Optimization: Soil potassium levels directly affect crop yields.
Researching soil potassium content helps farmers and agronomists make
informed decisions about fertilizer application and crop management practices
to maximize yields while minimizing input costs.
3. Nutrient Management: Proper management of soil potassium is essential for
sustainable agriculture. Excessive potassium application can lead to
environmental issues such as nutrient runoff and groundwater contamination.
By studying soil potassium dynamics, researchers can develop strategies for
efficient nutrient management to minimize environmental impact.
4. Soil Health Assessment: Soil potassium levels influence soil structure, microbial
activity, and nutrient cycling. Monitoring soil potassium helps assess overall soil
health and fertility, which is crucial for maintaining productive and sustainable
agricultural systems.
5. Research and Innovation: Studying soil potassium contributes to ongoing
research in agronomy, soil science, and environmental science. This research can
lead to the development of new techniques, technologies, and management
practices aimed at improving crop productivity, soil conservation, and
environmental sustainability.
6. Global Food Security: With a growing global population and increasing
pressure on agricultural resources, understanding soil potassium dynamics is
vital for ensuring food security. Research in this area helps identify regions with
potassium deficiencies and develop strategies to address nutrient deficiencies
and improve agricultural productivity worldwide.

In summary, the objectives of studying soil potassium range from optimizing crop production
and nutrient management to assessing soil health and contributing to global food security
efforts. This research plays a critical role in sustainable agriculture and environmental
stewardship.

Methods of Testing Soil Potassium:

For the estimation of Potassium available in soil we use soil testing kit. For testing the
Potassium level we use three types of reagent which are given below-
Reagents:

 Potassium reagent-1 (K-1)

 Potassium reagent-2 (K-2)
 Decolourizer (D-1) & Potassium colour chart

Test Method:

Measure 5c.c of soil in the soil measuring tube (No-1) and transfer into soil mixing tube
(No-2).

Add 25ml of Potassium reagent-1 (K-1) into soil and mix well for 10-15 minutes. Add a
pinch of Decolourizer (D-1) into the soil mixture and again mix well. Then filter into the
colour developing bottle (No-3) by using funnel and filter paper.
To clear the filter add 1ml of potassium reagent-2 (K-2) and mix well. Wait 1-2 minutes
for colour to develop. The cloudiness that forms is compared with Potassium colour
chart and record as Low (L1 & L2), Medium (M1&M2) or High (H1&H2). Discard the
solution and wash all the tube well.

Result
Amount of available Potassium Approximate quantity o
in soil Phosphorous present in
Low (<50 kg/Acer) L1 <25 kg/Acer
L2 25-49 kg/Acer
Medium (50-120 kg/Acer) M1 50-80 kg/Acer
M2 80-120 kg/Acer
High (>120 kg/Acer) H1 120-150 kg/Acer
H2 >150 kg/Acer

Recommendations:

Potassium fertilizer (commonly used):

 Muriate of Potash
 Sulphate of Potash

Sulphate of Potash is mainly used for the crops like Tomato, Potato, Tobacco and
chillies.

If the results are

 Low: Add 25% more than recommended dose of potassium fertilizer.

 Medium: Add the recommended dose.
 High: Add 25% less than the recommended dose of potassium fertilizer.

Recommended dose is as per the prescribed dose of package of practice given by each
state.

Result
 Sl. Latitud Longitud K Test
No. Soil Location(s) e e (Potassium)
1 Konnagar 22.705 88.353 M1(51-80 kg/acre)
2 Baidyabati 22.799 88.343 M1(51-80 kg/acre)
3 Hamidpur, Murshidabad 23.918 88.061 M2 (81-120 kg/acre)
4 Bandhgora (Bolpur, Shantiniketan) 23.660 87.650 H1 (121-150 kg/acre)
5 Bamanpara, Coochbehar 26.340 89.440 H1 (121-150 kg/acre)
6 Ranaghat 23.169 88.557 M2 (81-120 kg/acre)

Overview of The Study:

From this we can see that our study area is concentrated in five several districts of West
Bengal namely Konnagar, Baidyabati, Hamidpur, Barmanpara (Coochbehar), Bandhgora
and Ranaghat. In our study, Barmanpara and Bandhgora have the highest soil potassium
accumulation calculated at 121-150 kg/acre. This can be beneficial for sound farming
practices. Excess potassium in the soil can prevent plants from absorbing other
important nutrients, such as magnesium. In some cases, very high levels of potassium
can even cause toxicity in certain potassium-sensitive crops. It is followed by Hamidpur
and Ranaghat which have relatively lower soil potassium content calculated at 51-80
kg/acre. It is an ideal choice for most plants because it provides enough potassium for
healthy growth. This area is sufficient for healthy agricultural productivity and
Konnagar and Baidyabati achieve the lowest potassium content estimated at 51-80
kg/acre. It can cause several plant diseases. In these low potassium zones, fertilizer
must be added as a matter of good agricultural practice.

Modification Methods:
Low Levels of Potassium:
 Potassium fertilizers: Apply potassium fertilizers such as potassium
sulphate (K₂SO₄) or potassium chloride (KCl) to comply with the
recommendations of a soil test. You may find out how much potassium
your particular soil requires by having it tested.
 Compost and Manure: As organic matter breaks down over time, adding
composted manure or other organic matter can increase the availability of
potassium in the soil.
Medium levels of Potassium:
 Maintenance Application: To stop depletion over time, it may occasionally
be advised to provide a maintenance dose of potassium fertilizer,
particularly for crops that require a lot of potassium. To ascertain this, soil
testing is essential.

High levels of Potassium:

  Leaching: In extreme cases, leaching with excessive irrigation can
potentially remove some soluble potassium, but this is generally not
recommended due to potential environmental concerns and inefficiency.
It's best to consult with a soil scientist before attempting this.
 Focus on Suitable Crops: Grow crops with lower potassium requirements.

Conclusion:

Although phosphorus (P) is essential for plant growth and development, soil availability
can be limiting. This study examined several different types of phosphorus that can be
found in soil, including inorganic and organic pools. We noticed that although the
phosphorus content of the soil can be considerable, the plants do not immediately take
up a significant amount. Phosphorus available to plants is affected by, for example, soil
pH, microbial activity and fertilizer. By understanding the complexities of soil
phosphorus, we can develop sustainable agricultural practices that ensure plant health
while protecting our environment.