Recent studies of potassium (K) fertilization of cotton have concentrated on the deep placement of K to deter late season K deficiencies. Little is known, however, about the efficiency of the cotton plant in removing K from various positions in the soil profile. In 1992, a field study was initiated to determine the cotton plant's ability to remove K from the soil. On two Ultisols in Alabama, K as a KCl solution and Rb as a RbCl solution was injected into mini-plots at depths of 0, 3, 9, 15, and 21 inches. Select combinations of each depth were also included. A test rate for K of 120 lb K₂O/A was applied. Whole plants were harvested by plot, fractionated, and K accumulation measured for each plant part. Potassium uptake was maximized in 1992 when the greatest proportion of the soil profile received K fertilizer. However, there were no significant differences (P<0.10) observed among surface applied and deep applied treatments for each location in 1992. Total K uptake data for 1993, however, did show a significant difference (P<0.10) among treatments for a Lucedale sandy clay loam soil. Root length density measurements were not significantly different (P<0.10) for surface applied or deep applied K.