CYCLE:

K Its
Ecophysiological
POTASSIUM
39.0983 Roles
I Joseph Kennedy O. Cantabaco I
 OBJECTIVES
•Describe the pathway of potassium in
relation to water availability and
ecophysiology
•Explain the role of microorganisms in
the potassium cycle
 ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL OF POTASSIUM

Discovered in 1807 by Sir Humphry Davy in England. From the English word potash
(pot ashes) and the Arabic word qali meaning alkali. The origin of the symbol K
comes from the Latin word kalium.
 DISCOVERY OF POTASSIUM
• Came from the German word
Kalium
• The major role of K in living
organisms is osmotic control
• K is taken up, retained and
excreted in ionic form (K+)
• K present in clay minerals
becomes available as these
minerals weather
 POTASSIUM
• Most abundant cation in
plant cells
• 2ND most abundant nutrient
after N
• Easily leached compared to N
&P
• Retained through plant
pumping & resorption of K
 POTASSIUM
• Dissolved in water
• Adsorbed into the particles
of clay
• Absorbed by organic matter
• Held by minerals like mica &
feldspar
POTASSIUM SOLUBILIZING BACTERIA
• Acidothiobacillus
ferrooxidans
• Paenibacillus spp.
• Bacillus mucilaginosus
• B. Edaphicus
• B. circulans
POTASSIUM SOLUBILIZING BACTERIA
• K solubilization is done by a wide range of saprophytic
bacteria, fungal strains and actinomycetes (Ahmadet
al., 2016; Bakhshandeh et al., 2017; Gundala et al.,
2013; Meena et al., 2014).
• There are strong evidences that soil bacteria are
capable of transforming soil K to the forms available
to plant effectively (Meena et al., 2015a; Meena et
al., 2014; Meena et al., 2016).
Water Availability in Terrestrial Ecology

• The types of various organic acids such as oxalic acid,

tartaric acids, gluconic acid, 2-ketogluconic acid, citric
acid, malic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, propionic
acid, glycolic acid, malonic acid, fumaric acid, etc.
have been reported in KSB, which are effective in
releasing K from K-bearing minerals (Hu et al., 2006;
Keshavarz Zarjani et al., 2013; Krishnamurthy, 1989;
Liu et al., 2012; Prajapati et al., 2012; Prajapati et
al., 2013; Saiyad et al., 2015; Sheng and He, 2006).
Water Availability in Terrestrial Ecology
• Some studies positively
related the capacity of
plants to take up K to
soil water availability
(Fernandez et al., 2011;
Ge et al., 2012).
• K uptake is strongly
related to soil water
content
 MAIN ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL ROLES OF K
• Water Economy (Drought
Resistance)
• Enzymatic Activity
• Protein Synthesis
• Foliar & root expansion
• Antagonists of plant diseases,
salinity, cold, frost, and water
logging
 METABOLIC & PHYSIOLOGICAL ROLES ON PLANTS
Insert Picture • Osmotic Homeostasis
• Cellular turgor & osmotic
pressure
• Water conductance and
transpiration control
• Root hydraulic conductivity
• Regulation of sap flow
• Stomatal Control
“K is required in large amounts for growing
crops, but farmers in poor countries often do
not fertilize with K due to high costs, which
leads to K deficiencies in large areas of
farmland (Hoa et al., 2006; Andrist-Rangel et
al., 2007).”
 POTASH FERTILIZERS
• Muriate of Potash (MOP),
Potassium Chloride, KCl
• Sulphate of Potash (SOP),
Potassium sulphate, K2SO4
• Nitrate of Potash (NOP),
Potassium Nitrate, KNO3; Mono-
potassium phosphate (MKP),
KH2PO4
• Other potash-containing
minerals
A study of potassium dynamics and mineralogy in
soils from subtropical Brazilian lowlands
• The dynamics and availability of potassium (K) in soils depend on many factors, including the mineralogy of
fractions and the soil geochemical conditions. The objective of this work is to quantify K in distinct lowland soil
compartments in the south of Brazil, relating them to particle size fractions and mineralogical constitution.
Material and methods The soil samples (0–20 cm depth) were collected in six different lowland areas of flooded
rice fields in southern Brazil. A mineralogical characterisation was performed. A semi-quantitative analysis was
performed on the clay fraction using X-ray diffractogram (XRD) decomposition technique. The K concentration in
the different soil fractions was determined using the following methods: potassium total (Kt) by the hydrofluoric
acid total digestion method, non-exchangeable K (Kne) extracted by sodium tetraphenyl borate (NaTPB) after a 24-
h contact, exchangeable K (Ke) extracted by ammonium acetate at pH 7, and available K extracted by the Mehlich-1
method. Potassium desorption curves from the soil were obtained by successive extractions with NaTPB. Based on
the contents found in the different soil forms and compartments, the contribution of each Kne and Kt particle size
fraction could be mathematically evaluated. Results and discussion Silt fraction mineralogy may vary depending on
the soil and the parent rock. The K-feldspar minerals were observed in the XRD of three soils, explaining the high Kt
contents. The following mineral species were observed in the clay fraction: kaolinite, illite, smectite/vermiculite or
smectite/vermiculite with a hydroxy-Al interlayer. The Kt and Kne (R 2 = 0.99) values are correlated, and both show
a low correspondence with the Ke (R 2 < 0.20). The silt and clay contributed with values from 9% to 37% and 63%
to 91% of the Kt, respectively, for the different soil samples. The Kne contribution, however, ranged from 10% to
62% and 62% to 90% for the clay and silt fractions, respectively. Conclusions Lowland soils in the south of Brazil
include large non-exchangeable K reserves that are associated with the presence of K-feldspar and mica in the silt
fraction, as well as smectite, vermiculite and poorly crystallised illite in the clay fraction. For this reason, large
quantities of non-exchangeable K are available for desorption by a NaTPB extractor, which represents a potential
source of release of K to plants. The use of mineralogy to delineate the K dynamics in soil compartments was quite
Potash in Water
• Sea water typically contains 390 mg/l K representing a huge total
amount of the element globally.
• Small quantities of K naturally occur in rain – up to 4 ppm.
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