Potassium Sulfate

Chinese Name: Potassium Sulfate
English Name: Potassium sulfate
Formula: K₂SO₄
Molecular Weight: 174.24
CAS No.: 7778-80-5
Total Content: 99%

Potassium sulfate is also a chemically neutral, physiologically acidic fertilizer. Reactions in different soils and precautions are as follows:

Firstly, in acidic soils, excess sulfate ions will increase soil acidity and even intensify the toxicity of active aluminum and iron in the soil to crops. Under waterlogged conditions, excessive sulfate will be reduced to hydrogen sulfide, causing root damage and blackening. Therefore, long-term application of potassium sulfate should be combined with farmyard manure, alkaline phosphate fertilizers and lime to reduce acidity. In practice, drainage and sun-drying measures should also be adopted to improve soil aeration.

Secondly, in calcareous soils, sulfate ions react with calcium ions in the soil to form poorly soluble calcium sulfate (gypsum). Excessive calcium sulfate may cause soil compaction, so increasing the application of farmyard manure is recommended.

Thirdly, it is mainly used on chlorine-sensitive crops, such as tobacco, tea, grapes, sugarcane, sugar beets, watermelons, potatoes and other tuber crops. Applying potassium sulfate can not only increase yield but also improve product quality. Potassium sulfate is more expensive and less available than potassium chloride, so it should be prioritized on chlorine-sensitive, sulfur-loving and potassium-loving cash crops for better economic benefits.