Improving Potassium Recommendations For Agricultural Crops

This open access book highlights concepts discussed at two international conferences that brought together world-renowned scientists to advance the science of potassium (K) recommendations for crops. There was general agreement that the potassium recommendations currently in general use are oversimplified, outdated, and jeopardize soil, plant, and human health. Accordingly, this book puts forward a significantly expanded K cycle that more accurately depicts K inputs, losses and transformations in soils. This new cycle serves as both the conceptual basis for the scientific discussions in this book and a framework upon which to build future improvements. Previously used approaches are critically reviewed and assessed, not only for their relevance to future enhancements, but also for their use as metrics of sustainability. An initial effort is made to link K nutrition in crops and K nutrition in humans. The book offers an invaluable asset for graduate students, educators, industry scientists, data scientists, and advanced agronomists.

In-depth treatments of the soil quality concept, its history, and its applicability in research and in developed and developing societiesAll 18 chapters are written by well-established experts from Europe, North America and AustraliaSoil quality is a concept that allows soil functions to be related to specific purposes. Managing soil quality takes a management oriented approach by identifying key issues in soil quality and management options to enhance the sustainability of modern agriculture. Topics covered include major plant nutrients (N, P, K), soil acidity, soil organic matter, soil biodiversity, soil compaction, erosion, pesticides and urban waste.

This book covers the use and dynamics of potassium fertilizers in agriculture. It explores potassium dynamics in soil, phytoavailability, uptake and translocation in crop plants, impact of potassium fertilizers on quality of agricultural produce. Potassium is an essential plant nutrient that has long been overlooked in agriculture of many developing countries. In most of the agro-ecosystems of such countries, potassium balance is negative because its application seldom matches with crop removal. Agro-technicians lack enough skills and resources to promote the right source of fertilizer at the right rate, time and place to facilitate profitable farming. There is a need for farmers to update their farming practices so as to improve the crop yield and quality under unfavorable climatic conditions. Correct application of potassium fertilizers is directly linked with increased crop yield per unit land area in most of the developing countries. Therefore this book fills the gap in the information and provide the readers with latest updates on use of potassium fertilizers. This book contains latest information relevant for graduate students, progressive farmers, extension worker, early career researchers, and policy makers.

Handboek samengesteld door "the Fertilizer Association of India (FAI)"

This book covers all aspects of deficiency of essential elements and excess of toxic ones in crop plants. The metal deficiency and toxicity are the two sides of same problem that are threatening to sustainable agricultural growth. The book presents prospective strategies for the management of elemental nutrition of crop plants. Chapters are arranged in a manner so as to develop a lucid picture of the topic beginning from basics to advanced research. The content is supplemented with flow charts and figures to make it convenient for readers to holistically grasp the concepts. It will be a value addition for students, research scholars and professionals in understanding the basics as well latest developments in the area of metal deficiency and excess in crop plants.

Potassium reserves in the world. Potassium fertlizer technology. Preparation of finished fertilizers containing potassium. Agronomic evaluatin of potassium polyphosphate and potassium calcium pyrophosphates as sources of potassium. Mineralogy of soil potassium. Role of potassium in photosynthesis and respiration. Effect of potassium on carbohydrate metabolism and translocation. The effect of potassium on the organic acid and Nonprotein nitrogen content of plant tissue. The effect of potassium and other univalent cations on the conformation of enzymes. Role of potassium in human and animal nutrition. The effects of potassium on disease resistance. Effect of potassium on Quality factors - fruits and vegetables. Soil factors affecting potassium availability. Mechanism of potassium absorption by plants. Exchangeable cations of plant roots and potassium absorption by the plant. Interaction of potassium and other ions. Plant factors affecting potassium availability and uptake. Potassium nutrition of tropical crops. Potassium nutrition of forage crops with perennials. Potassium nutrition of soybeans and corn. Potassium nutrition of tree crops. Potassium nutrition of vegetable crops.