Improving Ionic Exchange Process of Potassium in Poor Soils by Bentonite

Abstract

Abstract The current study was carried out to improve ionic exchange for potassium in sandy and gypsiferous soils to obtain an increase in absorption of potassium ions in NPK fertilizers, the improving process includes two stages; The first is adding NPK fertilizer with concentrations (0.020%, 0.040%, and 0.070%) by weight for two samples, the exchange potassium concentration was measured and notice the increasing from 124 ppm to 140 ppm in sandy soil and from156 ppm to 180 ppm in gypsiferous soil when using the highest concentration (0.070%), the second stage included adding grinded bentonite ore (10%, 20%,30%) by weight to the two samples after treated with NPK fertilizer in same concentrations above, potassium exchange increased to 340 ppm in sandy soil and to 450 ppm in gypsiferous soil by using NPK fertilizer and bentonite ore concentrate (0.070% & 30%) respectively.