Potash Fertilizer -Murate of Potash
Importance of the Fertilizer Murate of potash is the most common potassium fertilizer in use. The fertilizer is manufactured from water-soluble potassium minerals. Chemically, murate of potash is potassium chloride. On application, the fertilizer supplies potassium, which is very much important in metabolic activities of the plant.
Amount of Available Nutrients Potassium is the major nutrient element contained in mutate of potash. The fertilizer contains potassium to around 60 per cent. Besides potassium, it also contains chlorine to considerable extent.
Compatibility in fertilizer mixtures Mutate of potash can be readily mixed with almost all fertilizers. However, with urea, sodium nitrate and calcium ammonium nitrate, it should be mixed only just before the time of application.
Reaction of the Fertilizer in Soil Murate of potash is readily soluble in water. On application to soil, it will ionize into potassium and chloride ions. The potassium ions will soon get adsorbed in the soil complex. Thus, even though the fertilizer is water soluble, it is not leached during rainy season.
Situations where Recommended Murate of potash is the sole potassium containing fertilizer in the market. And it is recommended for almost all crops and area. However, in case of solanacious crops like potato, tomato, tobacco etc. the chloride ions are found to create scorching in the leaves. Hence, in such cases sulphate of potash is recommended.
References 1. Yawalkar, K. S., Agarwal, J. P., and Bokde, S., (1996) Manures and Fertilizers, Agri-Horticultural Publishing House, Nagpur