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Quantifying uptake rate of potassium from soil in a long-term grass rotation experiment

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Abstract

Soil-plant potassium (K) dynamics were studied using a long-term field experiment in order to evaluate the plant performance and K delivering capacity of the soil parent material. Rye grass (Lolium perenne L.) based rotations on a loamy sand derived from granitic bedrock were studied over 30 years with two K-fertilisation regimes, nil (K0) and 65 kg K ha−1 yr−1. Mineralogical and chemical methods were combined to identify and quantify soil K resources including the partitioning of K between minerals. Two or three cuts were taken annually and herbage yield and composition together with exchangeable soil K were analysed. Herbage yield declined with time and significantly reduced when the K concentrations approached 1%. The grass K concentration also declined over time and stabilized at around 0.5–0.7% (dw) in K0 in all cuts. Input-output mass balances showed an accumulated net K off-take (deficit) of 1,100 kg ha−1, i.e. 35 kg ha−1 yr−1. With an exchangeable K pool of 100 kg ha−1 (in the rooting zone 0–40 cm) this indicated a substantial release of K from mineral sources, most probably biotite and hydrobiotite. Assuming a similar net off-take was continued then this particular mineralogical K source would be depleted within two centuries. The study illustrates the strength of combining long-term field experimental data with state of the art quantitative mineralogical methods in order to assess site-specific resources which can form a basis to evaluate the sustainability of different management practices.

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Acknowledgements

JAM Ross, D Nelson and Y Cook for field and laboratory assistance. The long-term funding from Scottish Government Rural, Environment and Research Analysis Department (RERAD) is acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK

    Ingrid Öborn, Anthony C. Edwards & Stephen Hillier

  2. Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7043, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    Ingrid Öborn

  3. Nether Backhill, Ardallie (by Peterhead), Aberdeenshire, AB42 5BQ, UK

    Anthony C. Edwards

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  1. Ingrid Öborn
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Correspondence to Ingrid Öborn.

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Öborn, I., Edwards, A.C. & Hillier, S. Quantifying uptake rate of potassium from soil in a long-term grass rotation experiment. Plant Soil 335, 3–19 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0429-8

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