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Potassium budgets in grassland systems as affected by nitrogen and drainage
Author(s) -
Alfaro M.A.,
Jarvis S.C.,
Gregory P.J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2003.tb00286.x
Subject(s) - leaching (pedology) , drainage , nitrogen , fertilizer , grassland , agronomy , environmental science , potassium , soil water , field experiment , manure , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , chemistry , ecology , geology , biology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
. The main inputs, outputs and transfers of potassium (K) in soils and swards under typical south west England conditions were determined during 1999/00 and 2000/01 to establish soil and field gate K budgets under different fertilizer nitrogen (N) (0 and 280 kg ha −1 yr −1 ) and drainage (undrained and drained) treatments. Plots receiving fertilizer N also received farmyard manure (FYM). Potassium soil budgets ranged, on average for the two years, from −5 (+N, drained) to +9 (no N and undrained) kg K ha −1 yr −1 and field gate budgets from +23 (+N, drained) to +89 (+N, undrained). The main inputs and outputs to the soil K budgets were fertilizer application (65%) and plant uptake (93%). Animals had a minor effect on K export but a major impact on K recycling. Nitrogen fertilizer application and drainage increased K uptake by the grass and, with it, the efficiency of K used. It also depleted easily available soil K, which could be associated with smaller K losses by leaching.