Dynamics of Desorption of Labile Potassium from Chernozems

The dynamics of desorption of the easily exchangeable and nonexchangeable potassium (K) have been studied in chernozem samples taken from a field trial with a single-time application of different rates of potassium fertilizers after a long period of the absence of fertilizers in Voronezh oblast. The desorption of the easily exchangeable K is adequately described by the zero-order equation of reaction; several mechanisms participate in it. The reaction rate constant regularly increases with an increase in the rate of applied K fertilizer. Taking into account the high correlation between the amounts of K released into the soil solution and absorbed by plants in the course of the dynamic experiments, we may conclude about a significant improvement of plant nutrition conditions even in the case of a single application of K fertilizer at a small rate. The desorption of nonexchangeable K is approximated by the equation of irreversible reaction of the first order. The parameters of this equation, as well as of the equation of diffusion and of the Elovich equation, do not change in dependence on the rate of applied K fertilizer. The reaction rate constants in the equations of the first and zero orders describing the desorption of nonexchangeable and easily exchangeable K from chernozems are three to five times higher than those for soddy-podzolic soils and other soils of humid regions. This can be explained by the differences in the number and nature of exchange centers in the organic matter and on clay minerals of these soils.     

耗竭条件下层间钾的释放及耗竭后土壤的固钾特性

本文通过盆栽耗竭试验和土壤培养试验研究了五种含钾量差异较大的土壤供钾特点和固钾能力。试验结果表明：（１）黑麦草根系发达而密集，它对土壤钾的利用能力很强，能在短期内吸收大量钾，而致使土壤缺钾，在缺钾严重时土壤交换性钾和缓效钾还能达到“最低值”，“最低值”因受质地和粘土矿物组成及含量的影响而有较大差异。（２）作物吸收钾中，层间钾所占比例很大，其中又以１ｍｏｌ／Ｌ ＨＮＯ２煮沸一次不能提取的钾为主。所以     

共施磷酸二氢钙和硫酸铵对土壤中钾形态转化的影响

Soil potassium (K) deficiency has been increasing over recent decades as a result of higher inputs of N and P fertilizers concomitant with lower inputs of K fertilizers in China; however, the effects of interactions between N, P, and K of fertilizers on K status in soils have not been thoroughly investigated for optimizing N, P, and K fertilizer use effciency. The influence of ammonium sulfate (AS), monocalcium phosphate (MCP), and potassium chloride application on K fractions in three typical soils of China was evaluated during 90-d laboratory soil incubation. The presence of AS significantly altered the distribution of native and added K in soils, while addition of MCP did not significantly affected K equilibrium in most cases. Addition of AS significantly increased water-soluble K (WSK), decreased exchangeable K (EK) in almost all the soils except the paddy soil that contained considerable amounts of 2:1 type clay minerals with K added, retarded the formation of fixed K in the soils with K added, and suppressed the release of fixed K in the three soils without K added. These interactions might be expected to influence the K availability to plants when the soil was fertilized with AS. To improve K fertilizer use effciency, whether combined application of AS and K was to be recommended or avoided should depend on K status of the soil, soil properties, and cropping systems.     

Influence of Aluminum Hydroxide on Potassium Release from Two Colombian Soils

Abstract

The effect of sesquioxides on the mechanisms of chemical reactions that govern the transformation between exchangeable potassium (Kex) and non‐exchangeable K (Knex) was studied on acid tropical soils from Colombia: Caribia with predominantly 2∶1 clay minerals and High Terrace with predominantly 1∶1 clay minerals and sesquioxides. Illite and vermiculite are the main clay minerals in Caribia followed by kaolinite, gibbsite, and plagioclase, and kaolinite is the major clay mineral in High Terrace followed by hydroxyl‐Al interlayered vermiculite, quartz, and pyrophyllite. The soils have 1.8 and 0.5% of K₂O, respectively. They were used either untreated or prepared by adding AlCl₃ and NaOH, which produced aluminum hydroxide. The soils were percolated continuously with 10 mM NH₄OAc at pH 7.0 and 10 mM CaCl₂ at pH 5.8 for 120 h at 6 mL h^?1 to examine the release of Kex and Knex. In the untreated soils, NH₄ ⁺ and Ca²⁺ released the same amounts of Kex from Caribia, whereas NH₄ ⁺ released about twice as much Kex as Ca²⁺ from High Terrace. This study proposes that the small ionic size of NH₄ ⁺ (0.54 nm) enables it to enter more easily into the K sites at the broken edges of the kaolinite where Ca²⁺ (0.96 nm) cannot have access. As expected for a soil dominated by 2∶1 clay minerals, Ca²⁺ caused Knex to be released from Caribia with no release by NH₄ ⁺. No Knex was released by either ion from High Terrace. After treatment with aluminum hydroxide, K release from the exchangeable fraction was reduced in Caribia due to the blocking of the exchange sites but release of Knex was not affected. The treatment increased the amount of Kex released from the High Terrace soil and the release of Knex remained negligible although with Ca²⁺ the distinction between Kex and Knex was unclear. The increase in Kex was attributed to the initially acidic conditions produced by adding AlCl₃ which may have dissolved interlayered aluminum hydroxide from the vermiculite present, thus exposing trapped K as exchangeable K. The subsequent precipitation of aluminum hydroxide when NaOH was added did not interfere with the release of this K, and so was probably formed mostly on the surface of the dominant kaolinite. Measurement of availability of K by standard methods using NH₄ salts could result in overestimates in High Terrace and this may be a more general shortcoming of the methods in kaolinitic soils.     

Potassium release and fixation in Ferralsols (Oxisols) from Southern Togo

Potassium release and fixation were studied on Ferralsols (typic Eutrustox) of Southern Togo both by isotopic exchange with ⁴²K+ ions and by exchange with 1 M ammonium acetate. Experiments were conducted on soil samples taken from surface (0–30 cm) and subsoil (80–100 cm) layers of four plots. These plats, with the same soil type, were subjected to various kinds of use: forest and crops, with or without fertilizers. A single wetting and drying of the soil samples increased the amounts of exchangeable K. This exchangeable K release could stem from clay protonation during drying. However, the K release is insufficient to allow permanent intensive agriculture without K fertilizer addition. Soil samples were therefore treated with KCI in order to study K fixation. About 20% of the applied K was fixed and the percentage increased with wetting and drying. The fixation can be explained by the presence of about 2% of interstratified clay minerals in these kaolinitic soils. Comparison of the kinetic characteristics of the isotopically exchangeable K with the amounts of ammonium exchangeable K revealed the existence of several kinds of exchange site for K ions.     

解钾细菌与黏土矿物协同促进玉米生长提高土壤养分有效性

为了揭示解钾细菌在西北矿区浅埋古河道土壤中对植物生长和土壤养分利用的影响,通过日光温室短期盆栽的方式,以不同黏土矿物配比的人工培土为基质模拟古河道不同质地土壤,以西北地区常见农作物玉米为宿主,研究解钾细菌在人工培土基质中的微生物数量变化规律,以及二者协同作用对玉米生长和矿质养分吸收的影响。结果表明:1)土壤黏土矿物含量增大有利于提高土壤解钾细菌数量,促进微生物活性。当黏土矿物质量分数为68%,速效钾质量分数约170 mg/kg时,解钾细菌数量最大;2)玉米地上部分干质量、根冠比、根系活力随黏土矿物含量增大而增大,以解钾细菌作用下黏土矿物质量分数68%的玉米生长效果最佳;3)在解钾细菌作用下,植物氮磷钾积累量和土壤养分利用的最佳土壤黏土矿物质量分数为45%、68%和75%,土壤钾素、氮素和磷素最大利用率分别达到65%、53%和17%;4)解钾细菌在土壤钾素含量低时促进土壤磷素吸收,土壤钾素过量时,促进土壤氮磷钾的吸收,提高土壤养分利用率。因此,土壤黏土矿物与解钾细菌相互作用,而且积极影响植物生长和土壤养分的吸收利用,这对进一步探寻适合矿区浅埋古河道土壤的微生物复垦技术,深入改良和开发矿区退化土壤具有重要意义。     

Potassium release on drying of soil samples from a variety of weathering regimes and c clay mineralogy in China

Thirty two soil samples from China were analyzed for exchangeable K before and after drying. Most soil samples were higher in exchangeable K after air-drying and ovendrying (60°C) than when wet. Soil clay minerals, especially clay-size mica, affected K released in air-dry and oven-dry samples. According to composition of clay minerals of air-dried samples, five classes were recognized. Soil samples with high mica and montmorillonite have the highest exchangeable K. Samples that contained higher kaolinite than mica had lower exchangeable K. Samples with higher kaolinite than quartz and mica had still lower exchangeable K. Samples of sandy soils contained very low exchangeable K. When quartz was the main mineral, the samples that had kaolinite and gibbsite as the main clay minerals had very low exchangeable K. The degree of weathering (weathering mean) bore an inverse relationship to the amount of K released on drying in air or at 60°C. Udults and Udalfs (Red Earths) of southeastern China, because of their high K release on being dried, are inferred to have received fine mica from the Western Desert dust rainout, reported to Liu et al. (1981).     

Potassium behavior and clay mineral composition in the soil with low effectiveness of potassium application

ABSTRACT

Increasing exchangeable potassium (ExK) content in soil to an appropriate level is important to mitigate the transfer of radioactive cesium to crops. We focused on a buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) field with a low ExK content, despite the application of K, in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan (Field A), following the Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Dai-ichi (No. 1) Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011. We examined the relationship between K concentration and clay mineral composition in the soil of Field A and compared the findings with another field in Fukushima Prefecture (Field B) to clarify whether K applied to the soil was leached or remaining fixed. Pot experiments showed that K concentration in water seepage from pots following irrigation was significantly lower in pots from Field A than in those from Field B. Soil ExK content after soybean cultivation was lower in soils of Field A than those of Field B. These results indicate that K applied to Field A was fixed in the soil. Analysis of clay mineral composition confirmed the distinctive vermiculitic nature of Field A soils. This clay mineralogy would be associated with the higher K fixation ability of Field A than Field B soils. This study demonstrated that K fixation in vermiculite was a factor preventing the increase in ExK content from K application to Field A.     

山东主要果园土壤的粘土矿物组成及其吸附特性

研究了山东主要果园土壤中粘土矿物的组成、类型及其对P、K和Cu、Zn、Pb金属元素的吸附特性。结果表明：山东主要果园土壤的粘土矿物类型存在着明显的差异,淋溶较强,酸度较大的棕壤（简育湿润淋溶土）中粘土矿物以高岭石占优势,对P的吸附较强,但对K＋吸附固定较弱。含游离C aCO3较高的潮土（淡色潮湿雏形土）和褐土（简育干润淋溶土）,对P有较强的吸附和沉淀作用,使土壤磷的有效性降低。而砂姜黑土（钙积潮湿变性土）由于含有较高的蒙脱石和1.4 nm过渡矿物,对K＋具有很强的吸附和晶穴固定作用,因此砂姜黑土中磷肥和钾肥的有效性均较低,在施肥上应采取集中施肥和保持较湿润土壤环境等措施,以提高养分有效性。砂姜黑土和潮土对Cu、Zn、Pb金属元素的吸附显著地大于棕壤和褐土,主要的影响因素是不同土壤的粘粒含量和粘土矿物的类型的差异。同一土壤对Pb的吸附量远远大于对Zn和Cu的吸附量,主要取决于金属元素本身的化学性质和胶体的吸附特性。     

Plant Availability Index by Potassium Exchange Isotherms in Selected Rice Soils of Lesser Himalayas

Potassium (K) exchange isotherms (quantity–intensity technique, Q/I) and K values derived from the Q/I relationship provide information about soil K availability. This investigation was conducted to study Q/I parameters of K, available K extracted by 1 N ammonium acetate (NH₄AOc) (exchangeable K plus solution K), K saturation percentage (K index, %), and the properties of 10 different agricultural soils. In addition, the relationship of mustard plant yield response to the K requirement test based on K exchange isotherms was investigated. The Q/I parameters included readily exchangeable K (ΔK₀), specific K sites (K_X), linear potential buffering capacity (PBC^K), and energy of exchange of K (E_K). The results of x-ray diffraction analysis of the oriented clay fractions indicated that some mixed clay minerals, illite clay minerals, along with chlorite/hydroxy interlayered vermiculite and kaolinite were present in the soils. The soil solution K activity ratio at equilibrium (AR₀) ranged from 8.0 × 10^?4 to 3.1 × 10^?3 (mol L^?1)^0.5. The readily exchangeable K (ΔK₀) was between 0.105 to 0.325 cmol_ckg^?1 soil, which represented an average of 88% of the exchangeable K (K_ex). The soils showed high capacities to maintain the potential of K against depletion, as they represented high linear potential buffering capacities (PBC^K) [13.8 to 50.1 cmol_c kg^?1/(mol L^?1)^0.5. The E_K values for the soils ranged from ?3420 to ?4220 calories M^?1. The percentage of K saturation (K index) ranged from 0.7% to 2.2%. Analysis of variance of the dry matter (DM), K concentrations, and K uptake of mustard plants indicated that there were no significant differences among the adjusted levels of K as determined by the exchange-isotherm curve.     

Bedeutung der Kalium-Verarmung in der Rhizosphäre und der Tonminerale für die Freisetzung von nichtaustauschbarem Kalium und dessen Bestimmung mit HCl

Significance of K-depletion in the rhizosphere and clay minerals for the release of nonexchangeable potassium and its determination with HCl Experiments were carried out with four different soils (basaltic soil, C-horizon of a keuper, sea alluvium, and a podsolic brown earth from loess) to investigate whether the fractions of exchangeable K and HCl-soluble nonexchangeable K are decreased in root vicinity by the K uptake of ryegrass (Lolium perenne). After a growth period of 70 days with five cuts distinct K depletion profiles were obtained showing that in the direct vicinity of the root the decrease in exchangeable K was the most pronounced. The K depletion in this fraction extended to 2 cm distance from the root zone. Also the concentration of HCl-soluble nonexchangeable K of the interlayers was decreased in root vicinity. It is assumed that the decrease in K concentration in soil solution is a prerequisite for the net release of interlayer K. The decrease in exchangeable K plus HCl soluble nonexchangeable K was equal to the amount of K taken up by the grass from the basaltic- and the alluvial soil. In the case of the podsolic brown earth and the keuper soil, however, much more K was taken up by the grass than was found in the decrease of exchangeable K plus HCl soluble nonexchangeable K. It is assumed that in these two soils the fraction of the HCl soluble K was more altered by the expansion of interlayers during the growth of rye-grass. The net release of interlayer K was neither related to the concentration of exchangeable K, HCl-soluble non-exchangeable K, the K fixation power nor the clay concentration. It is supposed that the net release of interlayer K also depends on clay mineral characteristics.     

Composition and transformation of 1.4 nm minerals in cutan and matrix of alfisols in central China

Background, Aims, and Scope  Hydroxy interlayered vermiculite (HIV) and vermiculite are commonly referred to as 1.4 nm minerals. In the subtropical soils of central China, the concentration of vermiculites decreased while that of HIVs increased gradually from north to south as the intensity of soil formation or eluviation increases in the same direction. The cutans in these soils closely interact with air, roots, microbes, water and dissolved ions in soils. Cutans may therefore be expected to exert an important influence on the formation of 1.4 nm minerals relative to the matrix soils. However, little is known about the transformation of 1.4 nm minerals in Alfisols in central China. Here, we investigate the compositional differences of 1.4 nm minerals in cutans and matrix soils, and the probable transformation of vermiculite to HIV or vice versa when sodium citrate and sodium acetate are added to matrix Alfisols. Methods  Cutans and matrix soils were separated from three soils in the northern subtropical zone in China. The samples were analyzed for Fe, Mn, exchangeable cations, organic matter(O.M.), pH, and clay minerals. To 10 mL of matrix soil, suspensions containing about 250 mg (oven-dry weight) of clay was added with 5 mL of 0.4 mol/dm³ or 2 mol/dm³ of sodium citrate or sodium acetate solution and 5 mL of 0.2 mol/dm³ mixed solutions of CaCl₂, Mg(NO₃)₂ and KCl. After its pH was adjusted to 6.0, the mixture was ‘incubated’ for 120 or 210 days (more than one season or half a year) during which period it was shaken for 1 hour every day. The clay mineral composition of the samples was determined after incubation. Results  Both vermiculites and HIVs were present in matrix soils, but only vermiculties were detected in cutans. The addition of organic ligands (citrate and acetate) promoted the transformation of HIV to vermiculite. This transformation was obvious for the matrix soils that had been incubated with 0.5 mol/dm³ sodium citrate for 210 days while sodium acetate was less effective in this regard. The promoting effect of organic ligands is dependent on type and concentration as well as incubation time. This would suggest the reverse transformation occurred in the formation of cutans compared with a vermiculite-to-HIV transformation in the subtropical soils of central China from north to south. Discussion  The position and environment of cutans in the B horizon together with the pH, organic matter and exchangeable base status in cutans seem conducive to the co-existence of vermiculite and HIV in the soils, but only vermiculite is found in cutans. The transformation of HIV to vermiculite in incubation experiments could be divided into two steps: 1) Cheluviation of organic matter to the interlayer hydroxy-aluminums from HIVs. 2) Rebasification of hydrated cations into the interlayers of vermiculites. Conclusions  The clay minerals in cutans can interact with organic ligands and nutrient elements excreted by roots. Under conditions of frequent wetting and drying and high pH, and when the concentrations of exchangeable bases, iron-manganese oxides, clays, and organic matter are high, the exchangeable cations can be incorporated into the interlayers of HIV, thereby promoting the partial transformation of HIV to vermiculite in rhizosphere soils. Recommendations and Perspectives  Cutan is at the interface of material and energy exchange involved in physical, chemical and biochemical reactions in the rhizosphere. These factors strongly affect the compositions of cutans. HIVs in (upper or adjacent) matrix soils may transform to vermiculites during cutan formation in these special soil environments. ESS-Submission Editor: Jizheng (Jim) He (jzhe@rcees.ac.cn)     

Release of interlayer potassium in Norwegian grassland soils

Potassium (K) release from sources that are not initially exchangeable is attributed to depletion of interlayer K of micas and clay minerals or weathering of feldspars. The aim of the present study was to estimate the K release from interlayer K. Soil samples from 17 field experiments in ley on a range of mineral soils in Norway were used in the study. The change in K‐fixation capacity was used as an estimate of depletion of interlayer K. It was assumed that the increase in K‐fixation capacity during 3 yr of cropping was equivalent to the amount of K depleted from the interlayer positions. Mean K fixation increased in the majority of the soils during 3 yr of grass cropping both with and without K application. The increase in K fixation indicated that without K application, the K uptake from interlayer K amounted to 43%, 28%, and 26% of the K yield for clay soils, high‐K sandy soils, and low‐K sandy soils, respectively. Including K uptake from exchangeable K in the topsoil and from subsoil, the explained K uptake amounted to 79%, 69%, and 81% for the three groups of soil, respectively. Simple linear‐regression analyses showed that the change in K fixation during 3 yr of grass cropping was best explained by the percentage of clay in the soil.     

Potassium Buffering Capacity of Sandy Soils from Thua Thien Hue Province,Central Vietnam,as Related to Soil Properties

Most agricultural production in central Vietnam relies on sandy soils distributed along the sea coast. Because of their low exchangeable potassium (K) and low cation exchange capacity (CEC), careful adjustment of K fertilization on these soils is needed to minimize K leaching. Quantity/intensity curves were established on 24 sandy soils from Thua Thien Hue Province from which K buffering capacity (PBC) was calculated and compared with basic soil properties. Potassium buffering capacity was found to correlate best with soil texture and only a little with humus content, although these two characteristics are responsible for CEC. A simple equation based on sand content, which is easier to determine than clay content, is proposed to calculate optimum exchangeable K level as a function of target K level in soil solution.     

The effect of pig slurry on exchangeable potassium in calcareous soils

Pig slurry in quantities of 200, 400, 500, 600, 800, and 1000 m³ ha^-1 year^-1 was added to two calcareous soils, which differed in concentration and type of clay minerals. The soils were cultivated with two successive crops of pepper and tomatoes grown in containers. A control was given no slurry. The soils were analysed after harvesting for exchangeable K⁺. Differences in exchangeable K⁺ were studied in relation to the concentration and type of clay minerals. The soil with the higher clay content and of the illite type retained K in the exchangeable form to a much greater extent than the soil with the low clay content. In the soil with the lower clay content, of the interstratified illitic — montmorillonite type, very little K was incorporated into the exchange complex. The exchange capacity being low, the amount of K added had little effect on the level of exchangeable K⁺.     

Potassium dynamics of a forest soil developed on a weathered schist regolith

Soils of the humid tropics are poor in available potassium due to intensive weathering and leaching of nutrients. A study was conducted to investigate the mineralogy and potassium supplying capacity of a forest soil developed on a weathered schist regolith. The quantity–intensity (Q/I) approach was used in thisstudy. The schist regolith showed deep weathering and intense leaching throughout the profile, resulting in low cation exchange capacity (CEC) and available K in soil and saprolite layers. The mineralogy of the regolith was dominanted by kaolinite, gibbsite and goethite. Feldspar, mica and mica–smectite minerals were observed in the lower saprolite layers. The Q/I parameters showed that the soils and saprolites were low in K supply power. This observation was attributed to weathering and intense leaching. The free energy values of K replacement (ΔG _r°) also suggest that soils and saprolites of the schist regolith were deficient in K. The Q/I parameters significantly correlated with organic carbon and clay content, CEC, pH and exchangeable K.     

山西省几种典型土壤供钾能力评价

从山西省主要农田土壤中选取有代表性的耕层土壤样品 19个 ,应用生物耗竭法并结合化学方法对该省主要土壤的供钾能力进行综合评价。研究表明 ,供试的 19个土壤中无论不同形态钾含量还是耗竭后土壤钾素 (速效钾、缓效钾 )最低水平值的大小和出现前耗竭的茬数、作物吸钾量均存在较大差异 ,并因土壤类型、取土地区不同而异。最低水平值和作物吸钾量是土壤供钾的重要特征参数。供试山西土壤的长期供钾能力按取土地区有从南至北逐渐下降的趋势 ,在不同土壤类型上有红粘土、潮土 黄绵土、褐土 栗褐土、栗钙土的趋势。     

湖南不同母质植烟土壤钾的形态与特征

采集湖南烟区4种主要成土母质的16个具有典型代表性土壤样品,分析各形态钾的含量与比例。结果表明:紫色板页岩发育的土壤钾素库容量大,但有效钾含量相对较低,说明土壤对有效钾的保持能力有限;石灰岩发育的土壤矿物钾数量较少,但非交换性钾和有效钾的含量相对较高;第四纪红土发育的土壤在钾容量和自身补给潜力有限的情况下,维持了较高的有效钾水平,这可能与钾肥的施用及土壤对有效钾的保持有着密切的关系。不同母质发育土壤交换性钾只有27%是有效性较高的非特殊吸附钾,这可能直接限制了土壤短期钾的供应强度。土壤钾素有效性因成土母质的不同具有一定的差异,石灰岩发育土壤钾素有效性最高,其次为板页岩、第四纪红土,紫色板页岩最低。     

Potassium and magnesium in some Kenyan soils: their mineral sources and release to Ca-resin

Five soil types from Kenya were examined for their ability to release K and Mg to crops by extracting them with a calcium-saturated cation exchange resin, and for the mineral sources of K and Mg. Amounts and rates of release of exchangeable, short- and long-term reserves of K and Mg were determined. This was done for K before and after one, two and 10 wetting and drying (WD) cycles, designed to mimic the effect of the local climate on K release. The order of decreasing K and Mg contents of the soils was Muguga > > Katumani > Kampi-ya-Mawe (KYM) ∼ Ithookwe ∼ Kwale. In the case of K, wetting and drying increased the exchangeable fraction in all of the soils. The Muguga, Ithookwe and KYM soils have the capacity to release a great deal of K in the long-term, but at very different rates; the Kwale soil has few reserves and fixes K on WD.
The K and Mg contents of the soils were closely related to the mica contents of the clay + silt fractions. Exchangeable and non-exchangeable K was released from soil micas primarily by ion exchange, with some contribution to non-exchangeable K from dissolution. Release of exchangeable Mg was primarily by ion exchange, whilst that of non-exchangeable matrix Mg was by dissolution of trioctahedral mica in the clay + silt and the sand fractions of the soils. Response would be expected only to K fertilizers and only with the Kwale soil. However, all the other soils should, in the interests of good husbandry, receive maintenance dressings of K and Mg at convenient times in the crop rotation.     

粘土矿物中钾的生物活化: Ⅰ. 外生菌根

A pot experiment was Carried out to in vestigate effect of ectomycorrhizal fungi on eucalyptus growth and K bio-mobilization from soils and clay minerals,In the experiment,sands mixed with soil,KCl-satureated vermiculate and mica,respectively,were used to nurse eucalypus seedings which were nonectomycorrhized or ectomycorrhized by an ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius strain XL1(Pt XC1) isolated from a forest soil from Xichang,Sichuan Province,China,and a worldwide well-know ectomycorrhial fungus Pioslithus tinctorius strain 2144(Pt 2144) obtained in Australia.More depletion of HCl-souluble K by mycorrhizas from the soil and minerals than nomycorrhizas suggested that mycorrhizas had a great ability to mobilize K present in the interlayer and feldspar.Mycorrhizal seedlings depressed greatly K digested with HF-HClO4 from substrates after consecutive extractions of soils and minerals by water,ammonium acetate and boiling HCl,while nonmycorrhizal seedlings reduced it little if any,shwing that the mycorrhizal seedlings could mobilize and then utilize the structureal K in mineral lattice,Ectomycorrhizal fungi played a very important role not only in promoting the growth of eucalyptus seedlings but also in mobilizing K in soils and minerals.The infection of Pt XC1 led to a better growth of eucalyptus seedlings and more K accumulation in the seedlings than that of Pt 2144.The large differeces in K accumulation by the seedlings might be due to different abilityes of the two ectomycorrhizal fungi to mobilize K in intelayer and lattice pools in the clay minerals.