Circularity of potassium in a grassland-based dairy farm on a clay loam soil

Abstract

A proportion of potassium (K) exits grassland-based dairy farms in tradeable products. Potassium imports are typically needed to offset depletion of soil reserves. The objectives of this study were to (i) quantify K entering and exiting a grassland-based dairy farm including K lost to water, (ii) to relate the balance between K entering and existing the farm to soil K fertility status in order to (iii) design a better K fertilisation strategy for grassland under temperate climatic conditions. The quantities of K entering and exiting a grassland-based dairy farm (Solohead Research Farm; 52⁰51’N, 08⁰21’W) were determined each year between 2005 and 2022. Potassium losses to groundwater were measured during the winters of 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23. Averaged over 18 years, K entering (kg ha⁻¹ ± standard error) was 82 ± 11 and exiting was 41 ± 4. The annual average farm K balance was 41 ± 12 kg ha⁻¹ and ranged between −36 and 136 kg ha⁻¹. Annual K loss to groundwater (mean ± SE kg ha⁻¹) ranged between 6.9 ± 6.13 and 59 ± 7.4. Annual average soil test K (STK; following extraction using Morgan's solution (Na acetate + acetic acid, pH 4.8)) concentrations in paddocks across the farm ranged from 85 to 253 mg L⁻¹. The yearly change in average STK concentrations correlated with annual farm K balance in the preceding year (R²=0.59; P<0.001). Annual farm-scale K budgets were useful in quantifying K flows in products and losses. Potassium leaching to groundwater represented the majority (55 %) of K exiting the farm; exceeding export of K in milk and other products. Maintaining overall farm STK status required annual fertiliser K inputs of 22.5 kg ha⁻¹ between 2016 and 2022. This study elucidates the challenges in managing soil K fertility on grassland based dairy farms.