Thursday, November 8, 2007 - 9:45 AM
348-5

Potassium Availability and Soil Wetness in a Fragiaqualf catena.

H. E. Winzeler1, Brad Joern2, Phillip Owens1, B.D. Lee3, and Jim Camberato3. (1) Purdue University-Agronomy Dept., Purdue University, 1602 Evans Ave, Valparaiso, IN 46383, (2) Dept of Agronomy Lilly Hall, Purdue University-Agronomy Dept., Purdue Univ., 915 W State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054, (3) Purdue University, Agronomy Department, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Potassium availability to plants was estimated at a Fragiaqualf-Fragiudalf catena in southern Indiana. Plant-available nonexchangeable potassium (PANK = nonexchangeable K estimated with NaBPh4 extraction - (minus) exchangeable K estimated from mehlich 3 extraction) was estimated for 128 georeferenced sample points and three depths. K release over time with NaBPh4 extraction was analyzed. Ratios between quick release (<24 hours) and slow release (>24 hours) were higher at better drained sites. PANK, NaBPh4 K, and mehlich K were all higher at the better drained locations. Reasons for the difference may be higher fixation of K by soil clays at the more-weathered wetter sites, movement of K with soil moisture, or slower weathering of clay from the K-rich micaceous minerals at the less-weathered better-drained sites. Clay mineralogy was analyzed with x-ray diffraction in order to answer whether mineralogy or movement answers the question. K concentrations and other soil properties were modeled with geostatistical tools to provide visualizations of K movement/concentration.