Conclusions:

• Indian Red and Lateritic soils can fix a considerable portion of the applied potassium
• Retention and release of potassium depend on the texture and mineralogy of the soils, as well as on the native potassium content
• The release of fixed K is strongly influenced by the content of illite, kaolinite and amorphous minerals in the soils
• The interaction between the different minerals determines the fixation and release of applied and native K, and should be taken into account while formulating K fertilizer recommendations for sustainable crop production in these soils

References:

• Barber, R. G. (1979). Potassium fixation in some Kenyan soils. J. Soil Sci., 30 : 785-792.
• Jensen, H. E. (1973). Potassium-calcium exchange equilibria on montmorillonite and kaolinite clay. Agrochimica, 17 : 181-190.
• Majumdar, K. and S. Datta (1999). Effect of mineralogy on potassium fixation and release in some Indian Vertisols. Clay Res., 18(2), In press.
• Reeuwijk, L. P. and J. M. de Villiers (1968). Potassium fixation by amorphous aluminosilica gels. Proc. Soil Sci. Soc. Am., 32:238-240.

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