Spatial variability of cotton potassium nutrition in relation to soil cations in agricultural fields

Halil Aytop; Cafer Hakan Yılmaz; Ömer Faruk Demir

doi:10.18393/ejss.1759801

Spatial variability of cotton potassium nutrition in relation to soil cations in agricultural fields

Abstract

The adequacy of potassium (K) in plants is influenced not only by the amount of extractable K in the soil, but also by the presence and balance of other essential cations such as magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca). However, Mg and Ca are often overlooked in soil fertility assessments. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate K availability in cotton-growing agricultural soils, examine potential K deficiencies induced by high Mg and Ca levels, and map their spatial distribution. The research was conducted in the Amik Plain of Hatay Province, located in the easternmost part of Türkiye’s Mediterranean region. Ammonium acetate extraction for soils and wet digestion for plant tissues were used to determine K, Ca, and Mg contents. Relationships between soil and plant parameters were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, while spatial trends of potassium deficiency linked to high Ca and Mg were modeled through Kriging interpolation. The results revealed that soil Ca and Mg levels were considerably higher than K, which adversely affected plant K uptake. K/Mg and K/Ca ratios in soil were found to range between 0.04–1.02 and 0.02–0.14, respectively. Leaf K concentrations varied between 0.47% and 3.25%, indicating widespread K deficiency. Contrary to the common assumption that soils rich in K do not cause deficiency, the findings showed that 57.1% of cotton plants grown in K-rich soils exhibited hidden K deficiency. Therefore, K/Ca, K/Mg, and K/(Ca+Mg) ratios should be considered when evaluating K availability in soils with high extractable K.

Keywords

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Soil Sciences and Plant Nutrition (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Halil Aytop
0000-0003-0506-3724
Türkiye

Cafer Hakan Yılmaz ^*
0000-0003-3680-453X
Türkiye

Ömer Faruk Demir
0000-0002-0636-5225
Türkiye

Publication Date

October 1, 2025

Submission Date

February 24, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 30, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 14 Number: 4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1759801

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA57LW83MM

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Aytop, H., Yılmaz, C. H., & Demir, Ö. F. (2025). Spatial variability of cotton potassium nutrition in relation to soil cations in agricultural fields. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, 14(4), 398-406. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1759801

AMA

1.Aytop H, Yılmaz CH, Demir ÖF. Spatial variability of cotton potassium nutrition in relation to soil cations in agricultural fields. EJSS. 2025;14(4):398-406. doi:10.18393/ejss.1759801

Chicago

Aytop, Halil, Cafer Hakan Yılmaz, and Ömer Faruk Demir. 2025. “Spatial Variability of Cotton Potassium Nutrition in Relation to Soil Cations in Agricultural Fields”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 14 (4): 398-406. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1759801.

EndNote

Aytop H, Yılmaz CH, Demir ÖF (October 1, 2025) Spatial variability of cotton potassium nutrition in relation to soil cations in agricultural fields. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 14 4 398–406.

IEEE

[1]H. Aytop, C. H. Yılmaz, and Ö. F. Demir, “Spatial variability of cotton potassium nutrition in relation to soil cations in agricultural fields”, EJSS, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 398–406, Oct. 2025, doi: 10.18393/ejss.1759801.

ISNAD

Aytop, Halil - Yılmaz, Cafer Hakan - Demir, Ömer Faruk. “Spatial Variability of Cotton Potassium Nutrition in Relation to Soil Cations in Agricultural Fields”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 14/4 (October 1, 2025): 398-406. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1759801.

JAMA

1.Aytop H, Yılmaz CH, Demir ÖF. Spatial variability of cotton potassium nutrition in relation to soil cations in agricultural fields. EJSS. 2025;14:398–406.

MLA

Aytop, Halil, et al. “Spatial Variability of Cotton Potassium Nutrition in Relation to Soil Cations in Agricultural Fields”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 14, no. 4, Oct. 2025, pp. 398-06, doi:10.18393/ejss.1759801.

Vancouver

1.Halil Aytop, Cafer Hakan Yılmaz, Ömer Faruk Demir. Spatial variability of cotton potassium nutrition in relation to soil cations in agricultural fields. EJSS. 2025 Oct. 1;14(4):398-406. doi:10.18393/ejss.1759801