Potassium Availability as Related to Clay Mineralogy and Rates of Potassium Application

Availability of applied potassium (K) as a fertilizer to plants is influenced by soil mineralogy, environmental factors, and rates of K application. The objective of this research was to study the effects of clay minerals and K application on K supply characteristics of calcareous soils in Iran. Surface and subsurface horizons of six sites with different ranges of clay content and exchangeable K were selected. The soils were treated with potassium chloride (KCl) solution with different K concentrations. Four wet-dry cycles were sequentially applied. Illites, vermiculites, and chlorites were present in all soils. Smectites were present in larger amounts in one soil. The increase in soluble and exchangeable K was expressed by linear equations in which the slops influenced by the dominant clay minerals. Potassium fixation was much higher in soils with more illites and vermiculites. Results revealed that different forms of K were affected by the dominant clay minerals but were independent from the rate of applied K.