The Potassium Cycle
As one of the three macronutrients critical to plant growth, growers understand the value that potassium plays in our fields. But how exactly does it move through our soil? The interactive diagram below demonstrates the factors that affect potassium throughout crop production including inputs to the soil, losses from the soil, and components in the soil.
A better understanding of the potassium cycle will help you uncover how exactly it impacts crop productivity, plant growth, soil health, and nutrient efficiency throughout production. The potassium cycle helps you understand the need for fertilization, how you can increase uptake and efficiency, and how you can optimize your fertilizer program.
Inputs to the Soil
Potassium is introduced to the soil system through various means including plant residue, mineral fertilizers, and animal manure/biosolids. Each source contributes to replenishing the potassium available for plant uptake. Click through the MORE buttons below to learn more about potassium inputs.
Losses from the Soil
Potassium can also be removed from the soil or lost throughout production. Harvesting crops can remove potassium from your soil that must be replaced through a nutrient management program. It can also be lost through runoff, erosion, and leaching. Click through each of the MORE buttons below to explore the conditions that result in the loss of potassium through these pathways.
Components in the Soil
Potassium is found in the soil in three forms including mineral potassium, fixed potassium, and exchangeable potassium. Mineral potassium, also known as feldspar, must weather in the soil for hundreds of years before becoming plant available—a process that can add significant amounts of plant-available potassium to the soil. Fixed potassium is held between clay layers and can become slowly available to plants. Exchangeable potassium is released as plants take up potassium from the soil. Click on the MORE buttons below to learn more about potassium in the soil.
Explore the importance of potassium throughout crop production with the following resources:
