Quantity/Intensity Parameters of Potassium in the Soils of Meghalaya

Quantity/intensity parameters of soil potassium were studied in 30 samples of East Kashi Hills of Meghalaya. In general, the values of exchangeable K, ARo^K and KL were higher in upland soils whereas PBC and ΔF were higher in the adjoining lowlands. Exchangeable K, KL and ARo^K were more in the middle altitude than in lower and higher elevations (excepting exch. K and KL in lowlands increasing with altitude). All the measured parameters except PBC, correlated positively and significantly with each other and so also with dry matter yield and Kuptake. The day content showed significant correlation with KL and ARo^K but percentage organic carbon was not correlated with any of the parameters. The PBC values correlated significantly with CEC and Ca+Mg content of the soils but did not represent the intensity of K availability. The measure of quantity/intenslty parameters of potassium could not show any superiority over the commonly used neutral normal ammonium acetate for predicting the plant available K in soil.