POTASSIUM

Functions in the plant

Regulates osmotic pressure

Groundnut plot with potash

Regulates > 60 enzyme systems

Aids in photosynthesis
Favors translocation of
photosynthates
Stomatal regulation of water loss

Groundnut plot without potash

Enhances N uptake & protein

synthesis

Junagadh, Gujarat State (India), Sep 2000

POTASSIUM

-K

+K

Positive effects of K fertilization

Promotes root growth & stronger stems
Increases resistance to cold & water
stresses
Reduces pest & disease attack
Enhances crop quality (size, color,
protein, oil, vitamins, etc.)
-K
Extends shelf life

+K

-K

K75

K150

POTASSIUM
Positive effects of K fertilization
-K

spikes

with K

Bananas in storage for 19 days

+K
grains

No K

POTASSIUM
Which crops are the biggest users of potash?
In USA, corn is the major consumer of potash. Over 40% of
the potash used is applied to corn.
In China, where farmers grow 2 or 3 crops a year, rice is
the largest consumer. An estimated 25% of the potash is
applied to rice.
In Brazil, roughly 70% of the potash is used on soybean,
sugar cane and corn.
In Malaysia, oil palm is the single largest consumer of
potash. As much as 75% of the potash is used on oil palm.

POTASSIUM IN SOILS
Plant
uptake

Fertilizer K

NonExchangeable

adsorption

Exchangeable

Soil solution
desorption

K+

Mineral

READILY AVAILABLE
1-4%

Leaching

weathering

SLOWLY AVAILABLE
2 - 6%

UNAVAILABLE
92%

Exchange positions
(K adsorbed)

K+ K+ K+ K+

K
K

K
K

In Soil Solution

Interlattice
(K fixed,
trapped)

K K
K K

K K

Structural K

K K

Soil clay minerals

(illite, vermicullite, etc.)

Soil primary minerals

(micas, feldspars)

POTASSIUM APPLICATION
KCl

Crop
uptake

K+
K+

K+
K+

K+

dissolves

Cl -

Leaching
(sandy soils)

Soil
solution
Absorbed

K+ K+ K+ K+

- -

- -

Soil clays

leaching

POTASSIUM FERTILIZERS
Characteristics
K products are water soluble
K nutrient content in fertilizer is expressed on a
K2O basis (in %). Although there is no K as such in
the fertilizer
K fertilizers should be convert to K cation (K+) in
order to be absorbed by the plant roots.
K fertilizers have no negative environmental effect

POTASSIUM CHLORIDE - MOP

Characteristics
MOP (muriate of potash) or potassium chloride is: KCl
K2O content is 60-62%
MOP is completely soluble

Manufacture
MOP is mined from underground ores (IberPotash), or is the
result of crystallization from brine, either from solution mining
of KCl ore or precipitation from hypersaline lakes (Dead Sea)
MOP can be red, pink or white, naturally minor amounts of
iron impurities give a reddish color.
The color does not affect chemical composition and all have the
same agronomic effectiveness
MOP is produced in different grades: standard, fine, granular,
fertigation

POTASSIUM CHLORIDE - MOP

Advantages
MOP is the most common K fertilizer
MOP is the K fertilizer with highest K2O content
MOP is the cheapest K fertilizer per kg fertlizer & per K2O unit
Can be mixed with other fertilizers, and is a common ingrendient
in NPK bulk blends
Can be used in fertigation (only white potash, Ferti-K grade)
It contains chloride, an important micronutrient

Limitations
Not recommended for chloride-sensitive crops (such as tobacco,
avocado, and some grenhouse vegetables and flowers)
Not recommended under saline soils and/or saline waters

WHEN IT COMES TO POTASH,

CROPS ARE COLOR-BLIND
Both red and white potash are chemically the same salt: potassium
chloride (KCl)
Both have equal amounts of potassium (60 %) and chloride (47%)
Both are highly water soluble, being of equivalent agronomic
effectiveness

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE AGRONOMIC

VALUE OF RED AND WHITE POTASH
AS LONG AS THE POTASH CONTAINS THE CORRECT
CHEMICAL AND NUTRIENT CONTENT, CROPS DO NOT
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN
WHITE POTASH AND RED POTASH

POTASH FOR FERTIGATION

(MICROIRRIGATION)
POTASH IS AN IDEAL K SOURCE :
High K content in the irrigation solution

Fully soluble in irrigation water

Compatible with N and P fertilizers

Fast dissolution

IS ONE AGRONOMICALLY BETTER THAN THE OTHER?

Red potash solution contains iron
impurities which can clog the
drippers

White potash gives a clear,

clean and pure solution
NO CLOGGING OF DRIPPERS

Only WHITE KCl is suitable

for Fertigation

COMPOSITION OF POTASH (MOP)

46 Kg Cl

50 Kg K

96 Kg KCl

4 Kg others (*)

=
60 Kg K2O
(*) mainly MgCl2, CaCl2 and NaCl

POTASH (MOP)
the K fertilizer which has the highest K content
the cheapest K fertilizer

TO APPLY 150 KG K2O YOU NEED:

326 kg
300 kg

MOP COSTS LESS PER:

Kg fertilizer

250 kg

K2O unit
THE POTENTIAL OF POTASH :
A 10 HECTARE RICE FARM APPLYING
POTASSIUM AT A RATE OF 120 KG K2O/HA

% K2O

KCl

K2SO4

KNO3

WILL APPLY 200 KG POTASH / HA

60 %

50%

46%

WILL NEED 2 TON POTASH PER YEAR !

POTASH STANDARD GRADE

For direct application and bulk blending

WHITE

RED

POTASH FINE GRADE

For NPK granulation, liquid solutions and SOP
production (from MOP)

POTASH GRANULAR GRADE

For bulk blending and direct application

RED

WHITE

FERTI-K
For application through irrigation systems (fertigation)

Approved for organic agriculture