Potassium Exchange Isotherms as a Plant Availability Index in Selected Calcareous Soils of Western Azarbaijan Province, Iran
Potassium (K) exchange isotherms (quantity-intensity technique, Q/I) and K values derived from the Q-I relationship provide information about soil K availability. This investigation was conducted to study the relationships among K Q/I parameters, available K extracted by 1 N NH4AOc (exchangeable K plus solution K), potassium saturation percentage (K-index, %), and the properties of 6 different calcareous agricultural soils. In addition, the relationship of tomato plant yield response to the K requirement test based on K exchange isotherms was investigated. The Q/I parameters included readily exchangeable K (DK0), specific K sites (KX), linear potential buffering capacity (PBCK), and energy of exchange of K (EK). The results of X-ray diffraction analysis of the oriented clay fractions indicated that some mixed clay mineral, some chlorite/illite clay minerals, along with palygorskite and kaolinite were present in the soils. The soil solution K activity ratio at equilibrium (AR0) ranged from 0.0014 to 0.028 (moles l-1)0.5. The readily exchangeable K (DK0) was between 0.044 and 2.5 (cmolc kg-1 soil), which represented an average of 51% of the exchangeable K (Kex). There was a significantly positive relationship between DK0 and NH4AOc-extractable K (r = 98, P < 0.001). The soils showed high capacities to maintain the potential of K against depletion, as they represented very high linear potential buffering capacities (PBCK) [44-177 cmol kg-1/(mol l-1)0.5. The EK values for the check treatments ranged from -2736 to -4117 calories M-1, and, for the treatments in which 120 mg K l-1 was added, varied between -2193 and -2657 calories M-1. The percentage of K saturation (K-index, %) ranged from 3.8% to 10.2%. Analysis of variance of the dry matter (DM), K concentrations, and K uptake of tomato plants indicated that there were no significant differences (P < 0.05) among the adjusted levels of K as determined by the exchange-isotherm curve.
Potassium Exchange Isotherms as a Plant Availability Index in Selected Calcareous Soils of Western Azarbaijan Province, Iran
Potassium (K) exchange isotherms (quantity-intensity technique, Q/I) and K values derived from the Q-I relationship provide information about soil K availability. This investigation was conducted to study the relationships among K Q/I parameters, available K extracted by 1 N NH4AOc (exchangeable K plus solution K), potassium saturation percentage (K-index, %), and the properties of 6 different calcareous agricultural soils. In addition, the relationship of tomato plant yield response to the K requirement test based on K exchange isotherms was investigated. The Q/I parameters included readily exchangeable K (DK0), specific K sites (KX), linear potential buffering capacity (PBCK), and energy of exchange of K (EK). The results of X-ray diffraction analysis of the oriented clay fractions indicated that some mixed clay mineral, some chlorite/illite clay minerals, along with palygorskite and kaolinite were present in the soils. The soil solution K activity ratio at equilibrium (AR0) ranged from 0.0014 to 0.028 (moles l-1)0.5. The readily exchangeable K (DK0) was between 0.044 and 2.5 (cmolc kg-1 soil), which represented an average of 51% of the exchangeable K (Kex). There was a significantly positive relationship between DK0 and NH4AOc-extractable K (r = 98, P < 0.001). The soils showed high capacities to maintain the potential of K against depletion, as they represented very high linear potential buffering capacities (PBCK) [44-177 cmol kg-1/(mol l-1)0.5. The EK values for the check treatments ranged from -2736 to -4117 calories M-1, and, for the treatments in which 120 mg K l-1 was added, varied between -2193 and -2657 calories M-1. The percentage of K saturation (K-index, %) ranged from 3.8% to 10.2%. Analysis of variance of the dry matter (DM), K concentrations, and K uptake of tomato plants indicated that there were no significant differences (P < 0.05) among the adjusted levels of K as determined by the exchange-isotherm curve.
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