How to build K indices

[Jimbo26]

We have high phosphate levels due to the amount of sewage sludge applied over the years. However our K indices remain 1 and 0 after following rb209 recommendations with bagged k applications.
Has anyone got an economical way of building K indices?

 

[teslacoils]

0-6-31 firlbrophos
Tigerefert 25k

They are economical compared with bagged.

 

[Flat 10]

Chopping straw helps

 

[bankrupt]

Chopping straw helps

This year's low yields won't do any harm, either.

 

[Brisel]

MOP, SOP (expensive), polyhalite (with other nutrients included)compost, strawy manure, chopping straw, Fibrophos grades high in K available.

 

[ollie989898]

MOP or fibrophos grades as above. Having low K levels is bad news for any kind of cropping.

Failing that, hefty doses of FYM will help, some of them do not contain a huge amount of phosphate.

 

[snarling bee]

Pig FYM is high in potash

 

[Michael S]

Pig FYM is high in potash

Pig slurry is high in potash as well.

 

[Warnesworth]

What’s your soil type? Is it light?

 

[Jimbo26]

Yes, it is fairly light sand. I appreciate leaching may be a factor. I need should check the CEC.

Pig slurry is high in potash as well.

The problem around here is that there isn't much livestock unfortunately.

 

[Bogweevil]

Yes, it is fairly light sand. I appreciate leaching may be a factor. I need should check the CEC.

The problem around here is that there isn't much livestock unfortunately.

Potassium doesn't hang around in sandy soils, I expect light land growers add for the crop, starting in seed bed, then top dressing and consider cover crops to scavenge K at the backend.

 

[Fuzzy]

Yes, it is fairly light sand. I appreciate leaching may be a factor. I need should check the CEC.

The problem around here is that there isn't much livestock unfortunately.

What is your location?

 

[Warnesworth]

Yes, it is fairly light sand. I appreciate leaching may be a factor. I need should check the CEC.

The problem around here is that there isn't much livestock unfortunately.

If it is a predominantly light sandy soil, it will be low CEC and therefore you will struggle to build an index 2 for potash. If you do it’ll be to the detriment of calcium and magnesium. Spend your fert budget more wisely.

 

[ollie989898]

Which forms of potash are only partly soluble, can you work out a way of keeping it in the soil without it leaching. I guess the obvious answer is grow vast amounts of organic matter which is pushing the no-till/cover crop and the like angle which may not suit all. I like the idea of compost but plastic in it would worry me.

 

[N.Yorks.]

We have high phosphate levels due to the amount of sewage sludge applied over the years. However our K indices remain 1 and 0 after following rb209 recommendations with bagged k applications.
Has anyone got an economical way of building K indices?

Have you got a soil analysis report we can see that's typical of the soils?

Do you plough straw back? You should if you don't... it'll increase the soil organic matter (OM) concentration that will in time help increase the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) of the soil which in turn will help hold onto more Potassium. It's a double benefit as the OM will also hold more moisture as well as more nutrient. Straw also contains a decent amount of K too.

Increase your soil OM with straw or other crop residues, use cover crops and build soil OM over time. Your sewage sludge will have given you a bit of soil OM but no where near as much as you probably hoped for.

It's going to be a bit of a project as there isn't a quick fix, stick with the above and the situation will improve.