Geological Nutrient Sourcing of Potassium and Phosphorus in Agricultural Crops

Jagadish Kumar Mogaraju

Abstract

Potassium and phosphorus can be considered as important nutrients and are being supplied as ingredients in the fertilizers. In presence of potassium, the crop yields, shelf life, disease resistance and plant growth are improved. The mineral fertilizers have enhanced the crop yields and they are expected to segregate spatially. Due to the utilization of the mineral fertilizers, there was intensification of crops and they have helped humans to consume healthy and affluent diet. The potassium ions in the soils can be obtained from the dioctahedral micas, microcline, orthoclase, sanidine, phlogopite, biotite, illite, mica and muscovite. K was classified as a macronutrient and it accounts for 10% of the plant dry weight. Potassium is essential in metabolic process, polarization, enzymatic activity, protein metabolism, osmoregulation and homeostasis. P can act as a limiting factor that determines the crop yields. Rock phosphate is being used as a fertilizer and it can be extinct due to over-exploitation. Due to enhanced P use in the farming systems, there are several environmental problems. This paper describes the geological sourcing of the nutrients like P and K and their role in the development of crop plants. In this paper, the transport of the nutrients was explained in detail. Geological viewpoint of the nutrient availability to the crops were emphasized.

Abstract

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