IPI K Centre - Basic Facts about Potassium

2007 marked the 200^th anniversary of the discovery of potassium (K) by Sir Humphry Davy, an English chemist.

Potassium (K) makes up 2.5% earth’s crust, making it the seventh most common element. However, due to its high reactivity and affinity for other elements it is not found in its elemental form. The supply of natural potassium to plants depends largly on weathering of K bearing minerals.

Potassium fertilizer (potash) is extracted from sedimentary salt beds formed by evaporation of ancient seas and is certified by many organizations for use in organic agriculture.

Production of potash fertilizers is relatively cheap in terms of greenhouse gas production (GHG) and when calculating the additional yield obtained by potassium fertilization it is apparent that the balance is positive.

Potassium is an essential element for all living organism, for human, animal and plant growth. Along with nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P), it is regarded as a macro element for plant nutrition. In plant physiology it is the most important cation species with regards to its concentration and functions.

Read more about potassium in soils and plant nutrition in this section.

Fertilizers are Plant Nutrients
About Potassium (K)

Publications

Papers and presentations

K in the literature