Ongoing soil potassium depletion under intensive cropping in India and probable mitigation strategies. A review

Potassium (K) is essential for plant growth and vital soil health. However, despite high crop demand, K fertilization continues to be ignored or severely inadequate in Indian agriculture. Over time, this could lead severe depletion of reserve, irreversibly alter K-bearing minerals, adversely affect fertility productivity. Hence, we should comprehensively assess the alarming situation mining India come up with appropriate solutions. Keeping above mind, here review pools concerning availability, their contents major orders India, reasons status under crops cropping systems impact long-term on clay minerals. We also address various aspects sustainable management agriculture suggest future action courses focusing India. Our main findings are: (i) farmers mainly apply nitrogen phosphorus, but little no K; consequently, (ii) net balance negative most across (e.g., - 3.29 million tonnes [Mt] 2000–01, 7.2 Mt 2015–16); (iii) primarily depletes exchangeable non-exchangeable soil, alters minerals extents; (iv) existing fertilizer recommendations need an upward revision. further enlist indigenous non-conventional alternatives fertilizers meet agricultural demand. This first comprehensive simultaneously ongoing its impact, potential mitigation strategies. The points raised would help reduce mining, plan research work, make policy decisions residue ultimate goal prevent health deterioration ensure production.