Collapse

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This is the place for discussing the potential collapse of modern civilization and the environment.

Collapse, in this context, refers to the significant loss of an established level or complexity towards a much simpler state. It can occur differently within many areas, orderly or chaotically, and be willing or unwilling. It does not necessarily imply human extinction or a singular, global event. Although, the longer the duration, the more it resembles a ‘decline’ instead of collapse.

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Potassium depletion in soil threatens global crop yields (phys.org)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

you have to take into account the article is mostly about extremely deficient areas with insufficient application, not the industrial super powers like china and usa that can afford to dump for maximum economic yield.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I do, and read the source paper linked by another commenter as well. The paper itself refers to 'plant available K', which is exchangeable K. That's the potassium dissolved in the water in the soil at the time of the sample being taken, and is not indicative of the total amount of potassium held in the soil. Chasing results from a bad test is a surefire way to get bad results, like starting life saving measures because someone only took a pulse for the split second in between someone's heartbeats.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The soils in the deficient regions are not just deficient in bioavailable but also in the forms that would need to be liberated for plant use throughout the growing season. just look at the chemistry of a Brazillian or sub-Saharan Oxisol.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Then the paper missed an opportunity to use better testing methodology and language.

I'll reword my take below: Countries which are not on these types of soils are overapplying potash to an economic detriment of billions, skewing the market for the amendment. This also means that countries with soils like these have reduced access to the amendment. If growers who have more potassium in their soils stopped wasting a resource they don't need to apply, then other growers without requisite potassium in their soils could access said resource with lower costs and greater availability. With a less skewed market, it's possible that we do not need further development of mining and extractive operations to avoid potassium shortages.