Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science

A column study was carried out to assess the behaviour of potassium leaching in two texturally variable alluvial soils of north-western India. Extent of potassium leaching was affected by soil texture, amount of applied K and number of leaching events. Any variation existing due to soil types and level of K application existed only up to the top 30 cm of the soil column. Maximum K was retained in the top 0–15 cm layer with a sharp decrease in K content occurring in 15–30 cm layer of the soil column. The trend was similar for both the levels of applied K as well as frequency of leaching and soil type. At lower rates of K application (30 mg K kg⁻¹ of soil), there were no clear variations between the two soil types in the 0–15 cm section of the soil column. The magnitude of decrease in K content in soil column after four leaching events was maximum in case of Khanaura sandy loam, while only minor decrease was observed in Hundowal clay loam when K was applied at 60 mg kg⁹ of soil. Amount of K leached out decreased beyond first leaching event where K was not applied, while at 30 mg K kg¹⁰ of soil application the decrease was observed beyond third leaching event only in case of sandy loam soil. However, in case of clay loam soil the K content in the leachate stabilized beyond first leaching.