Potassium deficiency in pasture legumes - Agriculture Western Australia.
Most heavy soils contain enough natural potassium for crop and pasture growth.
However on sandy soils both the native potassium and potassium applied as fertiliser is held poorly by the soil and can be leached easily. Potassium deficiency rarely occurs on newly developed sandy soils because potassium is released from the clearing and burning of native vegetation. However after initial development this potassium is leached and removed in hay and grain. Potassium deficiency most commonly occurs on sandy soils in the higher rainfall areas and on some West Midlands and southern sandplain soils. Without application of potassium on these soils deficiency will increase in severity.