Potassium (K)-to-magnesium (Mg) ratio, its spatial variability and implications to potential Mg-induced K deficiency in Nitisols of Southern Ethiopia
Abstract Background Potassium (K) availability depends on exchangeable K and relative amounts of other cations. Yet, the latter has mostly been overlooked. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate availability and spatial distribution of soil K in Nitisols of Wolaita area, southern Ethiopia, with...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-05-01
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| Series: | Agriculture & Food Security |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40066-018-0165-5 |
| _version_ | 1818245579053989888 |
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| author | Fanuel Laekemariam Kibebew Kibret Hailu Shiferaw |
| author_facet | Fanuel Laekemariam Kibebew Kibret Hailu Shiferaw |
| author_sort | Fanuel Laekemariam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Potassium (K) availability depends on exchangeable K and relative amounts of other cations. Yet, the latter has mostly been overlooked. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate availability and spatial distribution of soil K in Nitisols of Wolaita area, southern Ethiopia, with particular regard to emphasis on assessing the potential for magnesium (Mg)-induced K deficiency. About 789 soil samples were investigated and mapped using ordinary kriging method. Results The result showed that 14.8% of the samples were K-deficient based on exchangeable K rating, whereas the K deficiency due to antagonistic effects of Mg was 54%. The spatial analysis also revealed that 68% of the study area (i.e., 57, 120 ha) has shown Mg-induced K deficiency. The finding is against the long belief that soils of the study area and the country contain sufficient quantity of K. Conclusion The findings of this study imply the need for inclusive approach while assessing the K status of soils and also call for greater attention toward K fertilizer intervention that was not in place in the study area. Nonetheless, further study including fertilizer application rates is suggested. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:35:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4174cc134098424abce99b285f446032 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2048-7010 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:35:09Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture & Food Security |
| spelling | doaj.art-4174cc134098424abce99b285f4460322022-12-22T00:21:23ZengBMCAgriculture & Food Security2048-70102018-05-017111010.1186/s40066-018-0165-5Potassium (K)-to-magnesium (Mg) ratio, its spatial variability and implications to potential Mg-induced K deficiency in Nitisols of Southern EthiopiaFanuel Laekemariam0Kibebew Kibret1Hailu Shiferaw2Department of Plant Science, College of Agriculture, Wolaita Sodo UniversitySchool of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Science, Haramaya UniversityAgricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) and International Food Policy Research InstituteAbstract Background Potassium (K) availability depends on exchangeable K and relative amounts of other cations. Yet, the latter has mostly been overlooked. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate availability and spatial distribution of soil K in Nitisols of Wolaita area, southern Ethiopia, with particular regard to emphasis on assessing the potential for magnesium (Mg)-induced K deficiency. About 789 soil samples were investigated and mapped using ordinary kriging method. Results The result showed that 14.8% of the samples were K-deficient based on exchangeable K rating, whereas the K deficiency due to antagonistic effects of Mg was 54%. The spatial analysis also revealed that 68% of the study area (i.e., 57, 120 ha) has shown Mg-induced K deficiency. The finding is against the long belief that soils of the study area and the country contain sufficient quantity of K. Conclusion The findings of this study imply the need for inclusive approach while assessing the K status of soils and also call for greater attention toward K fertilizer intervention that was not in place in the study area. Nonetheless, further study including fertilizer application rates is suggested.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40066-018-0165-5Antagonism effectEthiopiaGeostatisticsMapping |
| spellingShingle | Fanuel Laekemariam Kibebew Kibret Hailu Shiferaw Potassium (K)-to-magnesium (Mg) ratio, its spatial variability and implications to potential Mg-induced K deficiency in Nitisols of Southern Ethiopia Agriculture & Food Security Antagonism effect Ethiopia Geostatistics Mapping |
| title | Potassium (K)-to-magnesium (Mg) ratio, its spatial variability and implications to potential Mg-induced K deficiency in Nitisols of Southern Ethiopia |
| title_full | Potassium (K)-to-magnesium (Mg) ratio, its spatial variability and implications to potential Mg-induced K deficiency in Nitisols of Southern Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Potassium (K)-to-magnesium (Mg) ratio, its spatial variability and implications to potential Mg-induced K deficiency in Nitisols of Southern Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potassium (K)-to-magnesium (Mg) ratio, its spatial variability and implications to potential Mg-induced K deficiency in Nitisols of Southern Ethiopia |
| title_short | Potassium (K)-to-magnesium (Mg) ratio, its spatial variability and implications to potential Mg-induced K deficiency in Nitisols of Southern Ethiopia |
| title_sort | potassium k to magnesium mg ratio its spatial variability and implications to potential mg induced k deficiency in nitisols of southern ethiopia |
| topic | Antagonism effect Ethiopia Geostatistics Mapping |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40066-018-0165-5 |
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