Potassium & K:Mg I’m going through some data that is getting presented at a meeting tomorrow and one of the things that has stuck out to me is Potassium (K) both in the soil and in plants. We’re working with about 2,500 data points from each, all in Indiana. Here is my interpretation of what I’m seeing: •Soil test K (ammonium acetate) is adequate or above adequate 73.4% of the time. •Soil test Mg (ammonium acetate) is high or very high 85.3% of the time. •Tissue K (corn) is low or very low over 60% of the time across the growing season. Over 64% of the time from R1-R5 we are low or very low. •Soil K:Mg is low to very low 65% of the time (the goal is 1:1 for K availability) What’s going on? 1) There are only so many seats at the table (soil colloid). Think CEC. Most of your seats will be taken up by Ca and Mg. They are a 2+ charge. Cations like K and H are only 1+ charge. 2) When a K:Mg ratio is 0.5 or lower, you have Mg squeezing out K spots at the table. How should we address this? Should we try to displace Mg or apply more K to kick some Mg off the colloid? My argument is no. It’s not going to happen. Not by apply 300-400# of potash in the fall (I don’t even think 200# in the fall would). 1) An in season spread of 50-100# of potash could be a great starting point and base. 2) But layering on a well-timed foliar K could really be of benefit too. In the reproductive stages, the crop will work to move sugars from the parent (the plant) to the offspring (ear, pod, fruiting site). A Potassium Acetate application could help with this. And by bypassing the soil, we ensure the crop is seeing the K. *Potassium Acetate paired with Boron could move the needle even further. These two work as synergists. What is your K plan and do you have plans to apply more this season?