Agriculture sustainability and food security largely depend on how small farmers, who are typically resource-limited and isolated from advanced technology, manage their farming practices. Potassium is an essential plant nutrient that has long been overlooked in the agriculture of many developing countries. In most of the agroecosystems of these countries, potash balance is negative because its application seldom matches with removal. The current imbalanced fertilization practices without potassium fertilizer application led to its mining, which results in certain negative impacts, including low nutrients use efficiency such as nitrogen, decreasing farmer income ultimately. The evidence in support of potassium deficiency is rising in these countries. Therefore, it is important to effectively promote the significance of balanced fertilization at the grassroots level for the benefit of the farming community. Further, building trust, participatory innovation, developing human capacity, and creating awareness among local farming communities are critical to uplift the agricultural economy.

Under given circumstances, we recently compiled a book titled: Potash Use and Dynamics in Agriculture, summarizing the current state of knowledge of the consequences of potassium in the soil, plant, humans and its relevance to arable farming in Pakistan. As far as possible, highlight the current status of potash in the context of agricultural sustainability, the potential to promote balanced use of fertilizer, and strategies for more effective transfer of information at the ground level to pursue sustainable productivity under local farming conditions. Further, future research directions have been identified to promote research and development of potash fertilization. This book can be beneficial to understand the overall biological hierarchy of potassium and the possible potential of integrated potash management for higher yield and quality of agriculture production.

Potash use and dynamics in agriculture

• Describes the basic concept of potassium dynamics in soil and plant
• Explains the site-specific potassium application based on distinct soil type and mineralogy
• Clarifies misconceptions about the usage of potassium fertilizers

In brief, the book in hand is a specialized book with comprehensive knowledge of potassium nutrition starting from its behavior in the soil to its impact on produce quality leading to human
health. It contains the latest valuable information relevant for graduate students, progressive farmers, extension workers, early career researchers, and policymakers.

For further information visit: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Muhammad-Ishfaq-15

Citation: A. Wakeel, M. Ishfaq. Potash Use and Dynamics in Agriculture, eds A. Wakeel and M. Ishfaq (Singapore: Springer). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6883-8