ABSTRACT
Potassium (K) is one of the three primary nutrients essential to plant life. Potassium is vital to protein formation and photosynthesis. It also activates and controls the reaction rates of enzymes and increases the tolerance of plants to diseases [ 1]. Potassium is the seventh most common element on earth in combination with various compounds because of its high reactivity and affinity for other elements. However, potassium is normally of commercial value when found in large, relatively concentrated deposits of potassium salts that lend themselves to economies of scale and low-cost mining and production. Deposits of this nature are large bodies of marine evaporites and bodies of salty water such as certain landlocked seas, lakes, and natural brines. Sodium chloride is a major component in all these deposits. Potassium salts are also known as potash salts; the word potash traditionally refers to the potassium oxide (K20) content, although no oxide is present.
