Integrated Potassium Management A Strategy to Minimize Import Dependence

摘要

India has been using nitrogen and phosphatic fertilisers on a large scale for sustainable higher productivity of crops. However, the use of potassic fertilisers (K-fertilisers) in requisite amounts has often been neglected. Reasons for low K-fertiliser use in the country include low responses to applied K in some soils, low availability and high cost of K fertilisers etc. To meet the K requirements of the crops and cropping systems, almost all the K-fertiliser requirement is met through imports. Recent investigations have suggested that India has vast resources of polyhalite, glauconite, mica waste, other K-containing rocks and minerals etc. that can successfully be utilized to meet the K needs of crops and minimize the imports. This paper discusses the importance of potassium in crops, soil K resources, mineral and crude salt sources of K, organic sources of K, by-products as sources of K, manure K enrichment and utilization of indigenous minerals/crude salts, fertiliser, manure and biofertiliser/inoculant sources of potassium in an integrated manner in agriculture for minimizing dependence on imported K-fertilisers.