Thinking of Skipping Your Potassium Application? You Could Get Burned.
For many almond growers, it can be tempting to skip a potassium application in the fall and attempt to compensate with a heavier application throughout the growing season. But the truth is, what you save in application costs is likely to cost you even more in lost yields. Consider these alarming facts:
Fact #1 | Once signs of potassium deficiency are evident, it can take years to rebuild potassium to critical levels.
University of California research shows that K2O depletion is likely to be cumulative and very pronounced after heavy cropping years. So, even if signs of potassium depletion are not immediately evident, it can still take its toll—reducing yields in future years.
Fact #2 |Attempting to maintain or rebuild optimal potassium levels using some liquid sources is risky.
Relying solely on liquid potassium sources has its limitations and risks. Applying recommended amounts may not be sufficient to maintain optimal potassium levels, and could actually contribute to a potassium deficiency. On the other hand, applying too much puts your crop at risk of over-application, which can lead to soil toxicity that can damage trees and reduce yields.
Calculate it! Use this handy online calculator to estimate how much potassium was depleted from your soil and how much Protassium+® premium sulfate of potash you will need to replenish your loss.
