By Javed Iqbal
Key Takeaways
Most soils have enough K. Most Nebraska soils can supply enough potassium (K) for excellent corn yields, and EC117 suggests no K when soil-test K is 125 ppm or higher.
K response unlikely above 100 ppm soil-test K. Above 100 ppm soil-test K, the probability of a yield response is very low, so weigh corn and potash prices before applying.
Banding can reduce fertilizer costs. On medium-testing soils, a 10 lb K2O/ac band beside the row is an EC117 alternative to 40 lb broadcast.
Potash prices remain relatively stable. Potash averaged $498 per ton in late September 2026, about $0.42 per lb K2O and only 2.5% more than a year earlier.
Prioritize fields with the greatest need. Spend K dollars first on low-testing fields and zones, and credit K supplied by manure.
Potassium (K) fertilizer deserves a different management approach than nitrogen or phosphorus in much of Nebraska. Most Nebraska soils are capable of supplying enough K for excellent corn yields, and K is held on soil particles and moves little in most soils. Deficiency can still occur, but routine K application without soil-test information is difficult to justify, particularly when fertilizer prices are high.
The opportunity for savings is straightforward: use soil testing to distinguish fields that need K from fields where another application is unlikely to pay.
Source : unl.edu