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Potassium In Shrink–Swell Soils of India


Affiliations
1 Division of Soil Chemistry and Fertility, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Bhopal 462 038, India
2 Regional Centre, ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Jorhat 785 004, India
3 CRAL-International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Development Centre, Asia Program, Patancheru, Hyderabad 502 324, India
 

This article reviews the information regarding potassium (K) status of Indian soils based on research conducted since 1929. The patterns and lacunae regarding potassium consumption in India are also mentioned. The role of minerals in potassium availability vis-à-vis forms of potassium is discussed and elucidated with suitable clay mineralogical evidences. The article also highlights the problems of potassium availability to plants in Indian shrink–swell soils. We have pointed out the inefficacy of the universal method used for assessing plant-available K (1N NH4OAc) in Indian shrink–swell soils, as observed from extensive K response studies. The current practices of assessing only plant-available K is not adequate to detect native changes in soil potassium. This paradoxical situation necessitates revision and revalidation of the existing potassium fertilizer recommendations, which are being adopted since four decades. A holistic research envisaging soil test crop response and mineralogical studies will help in revising potassium evaluation methods in India, leading to judicious fertilizer application by the farmers.

Keywords

Clay Mineralogy, Fertilizers, Mineralogy, Potassium Availability, Swell–shrink Soils.
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  • Potassium In Shrink–Swell Soils of India

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Authors

Priya P. Gurav
Division of Soil Chemistry and Fertility, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Bhopal 462 038, India
S. K. Ray
Regional Centre, ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Jorhat 785 004, India
P. L. Choudhari
CRAL-International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Development Centre, Asia Program, Patancheru, Hyderabad 502 324, India
A. O. Shirale
Division of Soil Chemistry and Fertility, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Bhopal 462 038, India
B. P. Meena
Division of Soil Chemistry and Fertility, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Bhopal 462 038, India
A. K. Biswas
Division of Soil Chemistry and Fertility, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Bhopal 462 038, India
A. K. Patra
Division of Soil Chemistry and Fertility, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Bhopal 462 038, India

Abstract


This article reviews the information regarding potassium (K) status of Indian soils based on research conducted since 1929. The patterns and lacunae regarding potassium consumption in India are also mentioned. The role of minerals in potassium availability vis-à-vis forms of potassium is discussed and elucidated with suitable clay mineralogical evidences. The article also highlights the problems of potassium availability to plants in Indian shrink–swell soils. We have pointed out the inefficacy of the universal method used for assessing plant-available K (1N NH4OAc) in Indian shrink–swell soils, as observed from extensive K response studies. The current practices of assessing only plant-available K is not adequate to detect native changes in soil potassium. This paradoxical situation necessitates revision and revalidation of the existing potassium fertilizer recommendations, which are being adopted since four decades. A holistic research envisaging soil test crop response and mineralogical studies will help in revising potassium evaluation methods in India, leading to judicious fertilizer application by the farmers.

Keywords


Clay Mineralogy, Fertilizers, Mineralogy, Potassium Availability, Swell–shrink Soils.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv117%2Fi4%2F587-596