How to build K indices

Jimbo26

Member
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?
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
MOP, SOP (expensive), polyhalite (with other nutrients included)compost, strawy manure, chopping straw, Fibrophos grades high in K available.
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Warnesworth

Member
BASE UK Member
Location
Chipping Norton
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.
 
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.

Member
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.
 

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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