Print Email Facebook Twitter Potassium adsorption ratios as an indicator for the fate of agricultural potassium in groundwater Title Potassium adsorption ratios as an indicator for the fate of agricultural potassium in groundwater Author Griffioen, J. Publication year 2001 Abstract Fertilization of agricultural land in groundwater infiltration areas often causes deterioration of groundwater quality. In addition to nitrogen and phosphorous, potassium deserves attention. The fate of potassium in the subsurface is controlled mainly by cation-exchange. Use of the Potassium Adsorption Ratio (PAR), analogous to the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) allows one to distinguish between leaching of agricultural potassium to groundwater and desorption of potassium due to increased hardness associated with increased manure spreading on a calcareous soil. Two regional field studies in The Netherlands indicate that groundwater below infiltration areas with agricultural land use, has increased PAR values compared to pristine groundwater in seepage areas and groundwater below infiltration areas with forest. Downward transport of agricultural potassium is retarded compared to conservative chloride due to cation-exchange. In one field study silicate weathering is found to be a potential source for K in pristine groundwater when the residence time is long and easily weatherable silicates, such as glauconite, are present. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Subject GeosciencesAgricultureCation-exchangeGroundwater qualityPotassiumAdsorptionInfiltrationPotassium fertilizersSoilsPotassium adsorption ration (PAR)Groundwateradsorptioncation exchange capacityfertilizer applicationgroundwater pollutionpotassiumNetherlandsRickettsia sp. PAR To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:9da3d37e-83b3-4b5f-8f69-2b57d1842da7 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-1694(01)00503-0 TNO identifier 236384 ISSN 0022-1694 Source Journal of Hydrology, 254 (1-4), 244-254 Document type article Files To receive the publication files, please send an e-mail request to TNO Library.