Transformation and Availability of Applied Potassium to Sugarcane in Calciorthent

A field experiment was conducted on transformation of applied potasssum in relation to its availability in a calciorthent soil. There was significant increase in cane yield and K uptake by potassium application up to 100 kg K₂O ha⁻¹. The yield of cane increased significantly up to the 11th month and decreased significantly thereafter during the 12th and 13th month under soil water stress condition. It was found that added K was transformed into water soluble K, exchangeable K non-exchangeable K and lattice K. Water soluble K, exchangeable K and non-exchangeable K were correlated significantly to one another at all the stages of growth of sugarcane, indicating thereby dynamic equilibrium among these forms of K in soil. Path coefficient analysis suggests that exchangeable K is important in predicting K uptake of sugarcane under this soil and climatic condition.