Recent research by researchers at the University of London, Los Angeles, the University of Edinburgh and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology has found that potassium deficiency in agricultural soils is largely unrecognized, but could pose a major threat to global food security if left unaddressed.
The study, published today (Feb. 19) in Nature Food, found that in many parts of the world, more potassium is removed from agricultural soils than potassium is added. The study also made a series of recommendations on how to alleviate the problem.
Potassium is an important nutrient for plant growth, helping with photosynthesis and respiration, and a lack of potassium can inhibit plant growth and reduce crop yields. Farmers often apply potassium-rich fertilizers to their fields to replace depleted nutrients, but the problem can hinder the use of potassium, and the impact of potassium on the environment is also a lingering issue.
Globally, about 20 percent of agricultural soils face severe potassium deficiencies, and some specific regions may be more so, including 44 percent in Southeast Asia, 39 percent in Latin America, 30 percent in sub-Saharan Africa, and 20 percent in East Asia, largely due to more intensive agricultural practices.
Co-author Professor Mark Maslin (Department of Geography, University of London, Los Angeles) said:"Potassium is essential for maintaining crop yields, and its consumption poses a major threat to the food security of millions of people around the world. This is an overlooked issue that requires a series of actions to address as the world's population continues to grow. "
Farmers often rely on potassium fertilizer to supplement potassium in the field, but the level of this mineral fluctuates widely. Potash production is highly concentrated, with only 12 countries dominating the international potash market of nearly £12 billion, with Canada, Russia, Belarus and China producing 80% of the global potash feedstock.
The researchers highlighted how potash fertilizer in April 2022 was seen in a series of"The perfect storm"Factors, including rising fertilizer demand, recovery from the fuel*** pandemic, a series of actions around the world, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, were 500% higher than the previous year. Russia and Belarus export about 42% of the world's potash fertilizer, but following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK, US, Canada and the EU imposed import sanctions on both countries, disrupting the world** and exacerbating the **surge.
Potash costs have fallen by about 50% since the initial spike, but remain high, raising concerns that farmers will not have access to enough fertilizer to sustain food under the current system.
Co-author Dr Peter Alexander of the University of Edinburgh said:"Fluctuations in potash fertilizers** have a significant impact on the global food system. Access to potassium is critical for farmers to maintain crop yields, but the recent high cost of potash fertilizer has made it more difficult for the most vulnerable to access it.
This market concentration and fragility is one of the reasons why researchers are calling for improved potassium management and a robust inter-agency coordination mechanism. Currently, there are no national or international policies or regulations for the sustainable management of soil potassium similar to those established for other important crop nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
Global potash consumption reached 45 million tonnes in 2021 and is expected to increase to around 69 million tonnes by 2025 with the launch of new projects in Belarus, Canada, Russia, Australia, Eritrea and the United Kingdom. However, potash mining raises human rights concerns and has a significant impact on the environment. Potash mining produces millions of tons of garbage, most of which is sodium chloride, which leaches into the soil and salinizes the soil and groundwater table, causing harm to flora and fauna.
Little is known about the effects of potash runoff on local ecosystems, and researchers suggest that more research be done on its impacts.
Lead author Will Brownlie of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in the UK said:"The environmental impact of potash mining and agricultural use requires greater scrutiny. There is still a lot we don't know about the effects of artificial potassium enrichment on nearby ecosystems. By judiciously handling nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc., we can reap multiple benefits, prevent pollution, increase crop yields, and minimize nutrient loss. This requires harmonizing our approach to achieve better agricultural outcomes"。
The researchers made six policy and practice recommendations to prevent potential crop yield reductions, protect farmers from fluctuations, and address environmental concerns. These recommendations include:
A global assessment of current potassium reserves and flows to identify the countries and regions most at risk.
Build national capacity to monitor, ** and respond to potassium price fluctuations.
Further research on the impact of limited potassium in various crops and soils on yields can help farmers maintain adequate soil potassium levels.
Assess the environmental impact of potash mining and develop sustainable application methods.
Develop a global circular potassium economy that minimizes the use of nutrients and maximizes reuse and recycling.
Strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and other agencies to achieve global policy coordination similar to nitrogen.
Compilation**: scitechdaily