This paper is presented as a part of the Cotton Physiology Seminar at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences. The theme of this session is Solving Potassium Problems on the Farm. Numerous papers have been presented during this session regarding potassium and its relationship with the soil and cotton plant. The material presented discussed potassium availability and movement in the soil, potassium uptake from the soil by the plant, the plants response to potassium deficiency and how to diagnose potassium deficiency in the field.

Information concerning technologies available to solve potassium deficiency was presented and discussed. These technologies included, but was not limited, to foliar feeding, deep placement of potassium, surface applications, broadcast applications, band applications, variety selection and combinations of numerous treatment methods. The basic information for these discussions was generated in numerous states on varying soil types from across the cotton belt. These papers are published In this publication; therefore, there is no need to repeat their findings again in this paper. Before making rash discussions concerning potassium fertilization the material published in this publication should be reviewed and studied further.

Potassium deficiency problems may be found all across the cotton belt but seem to be less frequent in the coastal plains of the southeast and In the Piedmont region. This is perhaps due to a general lack of potassium fixing soils and due in part to a sound soil testing and fertility program for those soils in that region.