STUDIES ON QUANTITY-INTENSITY RELATIONS OF POTASSIUM AVAILABILITY IN SOME SOILS OF WEST-BENGAL

Studies on quantity/intensity (Q/I) relations of potassium (K) have be en conducted using eight soils of West Bengal with contrasting propert ies. Several important parameters have been evaluated and their depend ence on soil properties discussed. The pool size or labile K as well a s its lability in soils were found to follow the equilibrium activity ratios (AR(e)K). The influence of Gapon exchange selectivity coefficie nts (K(G)) on Q/I relationships of the given soils was also ascertaine d. The approximate validity or the (CEC.K(G)) products leading to the PBC(O)K of the soils was put to a test for the given soils with encour aging results. The use of the interpolated K(G) values at DELTAK(exch) =0 in assessing the potassium availability in the given soils was furt her ascertained.