This greenhouse study evaluated the effect of potassium-rich silicate rocks (alkaline ultramaphic, pyroclastic breccia and phlogopite) on the release of K and other chemical nutrients of the soil. A Yellow Latossol with 0.03 cmol c dm-3 K soil was used in the study. The rocks were tested at doses of 75, 150, 225 and 300 kg ha-1 K2O with and without lime, applied to increase the soil base saturation (V-value) to 70 %. The rock and lime materials were mixed with the soil in the pots, watered to 80 % of the soil field capacity and incubated for 45 days. An additional pot containing soil and KCl, the reference K source, was also incubated. After incubation, soybean was sown to evaluate the effect of rock dissolution in a cultivation environment. Plants were harvested 50 days after sowing. Potassium was released in greatest amounts to the soil from ultramafic alkaline and pyroclastic breccia. Liming did not influence the rock dissolution process and K release.
rock powder; natural fertilizers; potassic fertilizers
