What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach in terms of crop productivity, environmental impact, and long-term soil health?
Dear Himanshu Tiwari
Potassium deficiency is a very constraining issue in the humid tropical zones with very weathered soils in particular.
Please check out my mini review on Mexican Sunflower a plant with a remarkable ability to increase potassium resources for subsequent cropping and animal systems.
You can find the review under my name in my contributions.
All Good Things Paul Reed Hepperly Plant Pathologist
chemical potassium fertilizers usual potassium fertilizers are two main types in which K+ is combined with either chloride (muriate of potash) or sulfate (sulfate of potash) (Table 3). Potassium chloride (KCl) is available in three different grades: 50% K, 41% K, and 33% K. For instant benefits this type of fertilizers are used but harmful for environment. Potassium is the third key nutrient of commercial fertilizers. It helps strengthen plants' abilities to resist disease and plays an important role in increasing crop yields and overall quality. Potassium helps flowers and fruit to form and also toughens growth in order to resist pests and diseases.
Excessive potassium can also adversely affect nutrient availability, including the tie-up of boron and blocking of adequate manganese uptake from the soil. it may burn the plants.Potassium solubilizing microbes also produce hormones that help plants withstand both biotic and abiotic stresses. Hence, the application of KSM to agricultural soils will reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and enhance the sustainability of food production
The potassium solubilizing microorganisms (KSMs) are a rhizospheric microorganism which solubilizes the insoluble potassium (K) to soluble forms of K for plant growth and yield
Potassium ion homeostasis is essential for bacterial survival, playing roles in osmoregulation, pH homeostasis, regulation of protein synthesis, enzyme activation, membrane potential adjustment and electrical signaling.
The potassium-solubilizing bacteria benefits
It promotes enzyme activation, nitrogen utilization, and the synthesis of sugars and proteins.
It promotes the growth of PGP bacteria in the rhizosphere.
It promotes natural mechanisms in the soil, thus maintaining soil fertility.
potassium solubilizing microorganisms (KSM) such as bacteria and fungi can solubilize K from an insoluble form to a soluble form to enhance uptake by plants.
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