Potassium from organic decomposition

To: Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
Subject: Potassium from organic decomposition
From: spush at saudan_HAC.COM
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997 18:09:02 PST
Cc: spush at saudan_HAC.COM, eworobe at cc_UManitoba.CA, nfrank at storm_nando.net, krombhol at felix_TECLink.Net, krandall at world_std.com, booth at hpmtlgb1_lvld.hp.com, franc at golden_net, oya at med_unc.edu

To the APD and others:

I've begun the long awaited draft of an article on substrates.

I would like to comment upon the role of organic decomposition
in providing potassium for aquatic plants. Here are some questions:

Are there any low solubility K salts that might precipitate
K in an aquarium? (I don't think so)

Is there significant K released initially from the decay of
plant material, fish food or fish wastes? 

How long does K continue to be released from partially decomposed
material?

What form does K take in living organic material? Are some of
these forms stable for long terms during decomposition?

Is peat, cellose or lignin a source of K?

Are there mineral sources for K in soils?

What happens if there is too much K a) in solution? or b) within
the interstitial water of the substrate? Does it cause osmotic
damage of plant roots (burning?) or have other undesirable
chemical reactions?

Is there any preference for K in the substrate or in solution?

Steve