1、Excessive application of chemical fertilizer and organophosphorus

We need to fully understand the loss of phosphorus in China's planting industry under the tempo-spatial scale and explore which factors are affected P loss and how this P loss can be avoided.

2、Effects of Potassium Levels on Plant Growth, Accumulation and

Due to the one-sided pursuit of high yield and large fruits by fruit farmers, the excessive application of N fertilizer in apple orchards has become common in China.

3、Potassium in plants: Growth regulation, signaling, and environmental

Potassium (K) is a vital macronutrient and has significant roles in plants like osmoregulation, membrane potential regulation, cotransport of sugars, stress adaption and growth (Sanyal et al., 2020; Sardans and Peñuelas, 2021).

4、How Excess Potassium Can Affect Plant Nutrient Uptake

However, like many nutrients, potassium’s benefits come with a balance, too little can cause deficiencies, and too much can disrupt nutrient uptake, leading to growth issues and reduced crop quality.

Chemical Fertilizers and Their Impact on Soil Health

Constant use of chemical fertilizer can alter the pH of soil, increase pests, acidification, and soil crust, which results in decreasing organic matter load, humus load, useful organisms, stunting plant growth, and even become responsible for the emission of greenhouse gases.

Potassium Control of Plant Functions: Ecological and Agricultural

In this paper, we present an overview of contemporary findings associating K + with various plant functions, emphasizing plant-mediated responses to environmental abiotic and biotic shifts and stresses by controlling transmembrane potentials and water, nutrient, and metabolite transport.

How Does Too Much Fertilizer Affect Plant Growth

Fertilizers play a crucial role in plant growth, providing essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. However, excessive use of fertilizers can have detrimental effects on plant growth and the environment.

Optimizing potassium and nitrogen fertilizer strategies to mitigate

Abstract The efficient management of fertilizer application in agriculture is vital for both food security and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, as potassium fertilizer (KF) is an essential soil nutrient, its impact on soil GHG emissions has received little attention.

Effect of Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizers Application on Soil

At Assosa, a field experiment was conducted to determine how soil chemical characteristics and accumulation of phosphorus and potassium in potato tissue responded to phosphorus and potassium fertilizers application.

Effects of different fertilization practices on maize yield, soil

The long-term application of potassium fertilizer has a positive effect on the content of soil available potassium, but it can destroy the potassium and sodium balance in the soil and...

Potassium fertilizer is a critical plant nutrient essential for growth and development. excessive application may lead to potassium loss, adversely affecting plant health. Below is an analysis of the causes and solutions for this issue.

I. Causes of Potassium Loss Due to Overapplication

1. Limited Soil Adsorption Capacity Soils have a finite ability to retain potassium. When potassium levels exceed soil adsorption limits, excess potassium remains unabsorbed, reducing plant uptake efficiency.

2. Poor Mobility of Potassium in Soil Potassium moves slowly in soil, relying less on gravity to reach plant roots. Even if total soil potassium is high, plants may struggle to absorb it effectively.

3. Root Absorption Constraints While plant roots can absorb potassium, excessive fertilization may overwhelm their capacity, leading to unused potassium being lost.

4. Volatization Losses High temperatures can cause potassium to volatize. Additionally, reactions with soil components (e.g., organic matter) may accelerate loss.

5. Leaching Losses Rainfall or irrigation dissolves soil potassium, causing it to leach away. Overapplication increases soil potassium concentration, worsening leaching risks.

6. Toxicity Symptoms Excess potassium may induce abnormalities like leaf yellowing or stunted growth, not due to deficiency but to toxicity from oversupply.

II. Strategies to Prevent Potassium Loss

1. Rational Fertilization Tailor potassium doses to plant needs and soil conditions. For example, apply 10–15 kg/mu of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer (20% potassium content) to balance supply and demand.

2. Deep Application with Soil Covering Incorporate fertilizer into deeper soil layers and cover with thin soil to reduce runoff and improve retention.

3. Optimize Fertilizer Type Use water-soluble potassium sources (e.g., potassium nitrate, potassium chloride) for better plant absorption compared to slow-release organic options.

4. Adjust Irrigation Methods Avoid flood irrigation; opt for drip or sprinkler systems to minimize leaching.

5. Monitor Soil Moisture Reduce irrigation when soil is wet to prevent dilution and leaching of potassium.

6. Implement Crop Rotation Rotate with potassium-accumulating crops (e.g., legumes, tubers) to rebalance soil potassium levels.

7. Apply Microbial Agents Introduce microbial inoculants to enhance soil structure, aeration, and moisture retention, reducing potassium loss.

8. Regular Soil Testing Periodically analyze soil potassium levels and pH to detect excesses early and adjust practices.

9. Use Organic Fertilizers Wisely Supplement with organic fertilizers cautiously to avoid competition for nutrients or excess potassium release.

10. Follow Professional Guidelines Customize fertilization based on local soil, climate, and crop requirements. Consult agronomists for tailored advice.

Excess potassium fertilizer leads to loss due to soil adsorption limits, poor mobility, root absorption constraints, volatilization, leaching, and toxicity. To mitigate this, adopt rational fertilization, deep application, optimized irrigation, crop rotation, and regular soil monitoring. Balancing these practices ensures efficient potassium use while safeguarding plant health and soil integrity.