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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 K+ Mineral K READILY AVAILABLE 1-4% Leaching weathering K 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 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