Nutritional disorders between potassium,magnesium, calcium,and phosphorus in soil

A new soil testing procedure has been used to demonstrate the effect of an overfertilization by potassium during the preceding years. The total concentration of cations was governed by the amount of soluble anions and the proportion between the different cations was dependent on exchange reactions and is described by activity ratio. High activity ratio between potassium and calcium induced Ca-deficiency, which resulted in a restricted root functioning shown by periodic decreases of nutrient uptake rates and plant growth rate. P-deficiency restricted root growth, but although ammonium phosphate was most effective to increase P-concentration in soil extracts and P-absorption by plants, ordinary superphosphate gave the highest yield and the best utilization of the absorbed phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium.