Summary
An improved understanding of the potassium (K) cycle in soil–plant systems is scientifically and economically significant, but the conventional research based on K concentration measurements has several known limitations. The recent advent of high-precision stable K isotope analysis (reported as δ41K values) can facilitate the use of both stable K isotope labeling and mass-dependent isotopic fractionation in studying the K nutrient cycle, including K fertilizer utilization, and plant–soil interactions. As a proof of concept, we conducted a pot study to quantify the uptake of K fertilizer by corn. Three groups of treatment (50, 100, 200 mg K kg–1 soil) were conducted using soils premixed with different amounts of 41K-labeled fertilizer. A control group used the same soil without fertilizer
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