Dynamics of Added Potassium in a Red Soil under Banana Plantation

The potassium application at rates 0.2. 0.4 or 0.8 kg K₂O/plant/crop increased both easily and potentially available forms of potassium in the soil; the added potassium was more concentrated in the surface soil. An application of 0.2 kg K₂ O/plant/crop increased the sum of water soluble and excchangeable potassium to 221 ppm, leaf (3^rd fully opened) potassium to 4.20 per cent and was found to be sufficient to obtain an optimum yield of 88.0 t ha⁻¹ in the first ratoon crop.