The Role of Potassium in Balanced Fertilization

The role of potassium in balanced fertilization and its impact on crop productivity and quality is is gaining increasing attention from agronomists and plant nutritionists. This is particularly relevant to sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where soils are nutrient depleted, fertilizer use is low and agricultural productivity remains the lowest in the world.

The Second Potash Symposium aims to maintain the momentum created by the previous symposium, held 4-5th September 2014 in Addis Ababa, by bringing together key researchers and senior soil fertility experts with rich experience in potassium research, technology innovation and dissemination globally. Leading professionals from Africa, Asia, and Europe will participate in this Second Symposium to share their experiences. Ethiopian researchers from higher learning institutions and the agricultural development sector will also present their recent findings from national digital soil fertility mapping, extensive potash fertilizer demonstrations, and potassium fertilizer research conducted by research staff and graduate students.

The Symposium has identified five timely and relevant thematic areas indicated below.

MAIN THEMES

Soil potassium status.

Potassium and balanced fertilization.

Potassium for sustainable cropping systems.

Potassium dynamics in shrink-swell soils.

Potassium impact on crop quality