IPI Research Topics No. 21 Potassium - nutrient for yield and quality.

Potasiul - element nutritiv pentru sporirea recoltelor si a calitatii acestora.

by Z. Borlan, E. Andres, K. Glas ICPA/Romania and K+S/Germany.

Use of mineral fertilizers in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe almost collapsed after the change in the economic systems in the late eighties and still remains at a level far below to the requirement of the crop. Over-exploitation of the soil nutrient reserves and thus, of soil fertility are the ultimate consequences.

The drastic changes in the economic system also affected the established fertilizer distribution system to the extent that farmers were left almost devoid of reliable advice as to how much fertilizer to apply according to plant and site specific conditions.

In recognition of the serious situation in which the farmers of Central/Eastern Europe are placed, the International Potash Institute started in 1993 to issue Research Topics on "Potassium - nutrient for yield and quality" in languages of the countries of this region to provide the relevant country-specific information on balanced nutrition for easy access.

The series of Research Topics in Hungarian, Polish, Bulgarian and in Czech languages published since then is now complemented with the Research Topics in Romanian language. This booklet contains 65 coloured pages of information on the principles of potassium in soil and plant. The development of fertilizer recommendations for the major soil types and as affected by yield and nutrient uptake, together with the visualization of deficiency symptoms represent the 2nd part of the brochure. Details on the uptake pattern and requirement of the major nutrients N, P, K, and Mg provide the reader with the necessary information on when, which and how much fertilizer the different arable, horticultural, industrial and perennial crops should receive. Information as established for the prevalent agro-ecological situation in Romania.