Distribution of Various Geochemical Forms of Potassium under Horticulture Land Use System of District Ganderbal

Surface (0-20 cm) and sub-surface (20-40 cm) soil samples were collected from five locations under horticulture land use system of District Ganderbal. The distribution of potassium forms (water soluble, available, exchangeable, non-exchangeable, fixed, lattice and total) were investigated. Soil samples were analyzed for different physical and chemical properties and fractions of potassium. The soils were slightly acidic to neutral in reaction and soil texture varied from silty clay loam to silt loam. Irrespective of soil depth sequential order of potassium fractions were TK>LK>FK>NEK>AK>EK>WSK. The trend of decrease in water soluble and exchangeable K was noticed in these soils from surface to sub-surface layers. All forms were in dynamic equilibrium with one another and positively and significantly correlated with Organic carbon, CEC, Silt and clay and negatively to sand.