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This book covers the use and dynamics of potassium fertilizers in agriculture. It explores potassium dynamics in soil, phytoavailability, uptake and translocation in crop plants, impact of potassium fertilizers on quality of agricultural produce.
Potassium is an essential plant nutrient that has long been overlooked in agriculture of many developing countries. In most of the agro-ecosystems of such countries, potassium balance is negative because its application seldom matches with crop removal. Agro-technicians lack enough skills and resources to promote the right source of fertilizer at the right rate, time and place to facilitate profitable farming. There is a need for farmers to update their farming practices so as to improve the crop yield and quality under unfavorable climatic conditions. Correct application of potassium fertilizers is directly linked with increased crop yield per unit land area in most of the developing countries. Therefore this book fills the gapin the information and provide the readers with latest updates on use of potassium fertilizers.
This book contains latest information relevant for graduate students, progressive farmers, extension worker, early career researchers, and policy makers.
List of contents
Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Potassium Dynamics in Soils.- Chapter 3. Potassium in Plants.- Chapter 4. Phytoavailability of Potassium.- Chapter 5. Potassium Evaluation in Soils.- Chapter 6. Potash For Quality Of Agricultural Commodities.- Chapter 7. Potassium Biofortification And Human Nutrition.- Chapter 8. Potash Research In Pakistan.- Chapter 9. Use Of Potash In Pakistan .- Chapter 10. Strategies To Improve Potash Use In Pakistan.- Chapter 11. Future Research Perspectives.
About the author
Abdul Wakeel is an Associate Professor (Tenured) at University of Agriculture Faisalabad. He received PhD degree in agriculture from Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany, and worked there as a post-doctoral researcher afterwards with Prof. Sven Schubert. He also worked with Prof. Konrad Mengel and shared his legendary experiences of potassium nutrition. Dr. Wakeel coordinated the research and extension activities of International Potash Institute Switzerland in Pakistan for several years and has extensive experience of potash fertilization in Pakistan and south Asia. Dr Wakeel is working on sustainable nutrient management under changing climate. Currently, he is chairman of Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum and managing editor of Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences.
Muhammad Ishfaq is a researcher at the College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. His major research interests areplant-soil interactions, plant physiology, root biology, soil health, and molecular plant nutrition. He graduated in soil science from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan, and worked as a research associate to promote precise and balanced use of fertilizers in Pakistan. Ishfaq is actively engaged in different research and developmental activities and published several peer-reviewed SCI papers in reputed journals. He was nominated for International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) Scholar Award-2018 in recognition of an outstanding scholastic record, and appreciation of contribution to the agricultural sciences.
