help me sort out potassium options?

im4satori

im4satori

Well-Known Member
I have some questions about a few potassium amendment options and im not really sure how to compare them , help me sort out the differences, or are they the same??


potassium sulfate
muriate of potash
langbinite
K-M-S


as I understand it potassium sulfate is water soluble and muriate of potash is not ?? but then I found this which confused me more
https://customhydronutrients.com/organic-k-soluble-fines-0050-c-1_46_33_170.html

langbinite im not sure about but is it the same thing as this? and this is a water soluble quick release fertilizer also is it not?
https://customhydronutrients.com/kms-diamondk-brand-c-1_46_41_163.html

what id like to know is;
of the above mention K sources which has the least negative effect on biology if cooked into soil amendments?

if the water soluble K is added to your soil and cooked in, does it rinse out of the soil quickly requiring frequent inputs?

does one of these break down in a slower release sort of way to reduce the heat and span a few weeks in release?

id like to add some more K to my soil recycle but I also don't want to be adding salts that harm biology potential, at the moment im supplementing with potassium sulfate dissolving and watering in at a low EC but id like to know if any of these can be added in the soil build to reduce the need for frequent inputs as I am doing now

fyi...ive already added green sand but it wont start to work for a long time and im already using kelp meal
im looking for a K source other than these

theres also potassium silicate but im concerned with its long temr affects on ph and again im not sure how it affects biology if cooked into the soil at relatively large amouints creating a "hot" issue
 
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Rasta Roy

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
I personally use langbeinite. it is a naturally mined mineral that gives you potassium, magnesium, and sulfur. So youre hitting a lot of bases which is always a positive. Like gypsum it is water soluble so your plant is getting readily available nutrients from it every time you water, but it's solubility is pretty low so it lasts in your soil for a while and won't overdose your plants as long as you follow application guidelines.
 
Rasta Roy

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
composting or cooking it ahead of time wont effect it, it is broken down by weathering (watering).

sulfate of potash is similar but just a cheaper quality amendment. it does work well tho. it is a little more water soluble and doesnt last as long as langbeinite though.
 
im4satori

im4satori

Well-Known Member
Rasta Roy said:
I personally use langbeinite. it is a naturally mined mineral that gives you potassium, magnesium, and sulfur. So youre hitting a lot of bases which is always a positive. Like gypsum it is water soluble so your plant is getting readily available nutrients from it every time you water, but it's solubility is pretty low so it lasts in your soil for a while and won't overdose your plants as long as you follow application guidelines.
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so your saying langbinite is something different than just potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate combined, and it breaks down more slowly??

I already have a 5 gallon bucket of potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate so it doesn't make sense for me to buy langbinite if its just the same basic thing
but if it breaks down slow and doesn't over heat my soil mix or neg affect biology im all over it
 
Rasta Roy

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
im4satori said:
so your saying langbinite is something different than just potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate combined, and it breaks down more slowly??

I already have a 5 gallon bucket of potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate so it doesn't make sense for me to buy langbinite if its just the same basic thing
but if it breaks down slow and doesn't over heat my soil mix or neg affect biology im all over it
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potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate are both highly water soluble (they will literally dissolve in water. Langbeinite will not do this. if you already have those than yeah you dont really need langbeinite. i prefer langbeinite as a long term soil building component but i also prefer using what i have on hand before i buy new materials so yeah, id say you are already set. even though, no they aren't really the same thing; but they do supply the same things. so its not like you need to double down.
 
im4satori

im4satori

Well-Known Member
Rasta Roy said:
yeah kmag is just the retail name of langbeinite, so is sulpomag.
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when you recycle your soil

how much langbinite do you use per cubic ft

roughly?

heres my issue
on one hand your told not to use salt fertilizers because its detrimental to biology, but on the other hand if your cooking 1/2+ cup into the soil isn't that the same thing as feeding a high EC fertilizer?
 
im4satori

im4satori

Well-Known Member
Rasta Roy said:
potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate are both highly water soluble (they will literally dissolve in water. Langbeinite will not do this. if you already have those than yeah you dont really need langbeinite. i prefer langbeinite as a long term soil building component but i also prefer using what i have on hand before i buy new materials so yeah, id say you are already set. even though, no they aren't really the same thing; but they do supply the same things. so its not like you need to double down.
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well
unless the langibinite has a significantly slower release time than the potassium/magnesium sulfate then id spend the money

but the langbinite is also sold in the hydro section because its almost 100% water soluble and can also be mixed as a liquid concentrate in a water soluble fertilizer
 
Rasta Roy

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
im4satori said:
when you recycle your soil

how much langbinite do you use per cubic ft

roughly?

heres my issue
on one hand your told not to use salt fertilizers because its detrimental to biology, but on the other hand if your cooking 1/2+ cup into the soil isn't that the same thing as feeding a high EC fertilizer?
Click to expand...
I add 1/4 cup per cubic foot, every three grows. its not something you need to readd every time. it stretches.

it contains sodium sure, but it is not a salt based fertilizer, it is a fertilizer that contains a small amount of sodium because it is mined from marine deposits. ocean based ferts like kelp, and crab shell meal and oyster flour also contain trace amounts of sodium. in these small amounts it is not harmful for your soil. and sodium does actually play a role in plant growth and soil health in these small acceptable amounts.
 
Rasta Roy

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
im4satori said:
well
unless the langibinite has a significantly slower release time than the potassium/magnesium sulfate then id spend the money

but the langbinite is also sold in the hydro section because its almost 100% water soluble and can also be mixed as a liquid concentrate in a water soluble fertilizer
Click to expand...
it is way less water soluble than sulfate of potash and magnesium sulfate.

ive never seen langbeinite that would be acceptable to use in a hydro set up but you could make a chemical compound version that would. I wouldnt consider that true langbeinite though, but chemically i suppose it could be.
 
im4satori

im4satori

Well-Known Member
muriate of potash isn't the same at potassium sulfate is it?

if I go to the farmers co-op I can buy muruate of potash and its not water soluble so it cant be used to build a fertilizer liquid concentrate like potassium sulfate and k-mag

or perhaps they are the same but some is just more soluble grade (aka green house grade) than others depending on how its screened and processed

im not trying to disagree, im just trying to understand..don't get me wrong

I appreciate your dialog
 
im4satori

im4satori

Well-Known Member
Rasta Roy said:
I add 1/4 cup per cubic foot, every three grows. its not something you need to readd every time. it stretches.

it contains sodium sure, but it is not a salt based fertilizer, it is a fertilizer that contains a small amount of sodium because it is mined from marine deposits. ocean based ferts like kelp, and crab shell meal and oyster flour also contain trace amounts of sodium. in these small amounts it is not harmful for your soil. and sodium does actually play a role in plant growth and soil health in these small acceptable amounts.
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sodium is not the same as "salt based fertilizer"

a salt based fertilizer could and likely would in most cases contain zero sodium...

salt based fertilizer has nothing to do with sodium except the trace amounts found in some micro nutes (for the most part)

for example Epsom salt or magnesium sulfate

is a salt based fertilizer but contains no sodium

don't confuse the word salt with sodium as its not the same thing
 
Rasta Roy

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
im4satori said:
muriate of potash isn't the same at potassium sulfate is it?

if I go to the farmers co-op I can buy muruate of potash and its not water soluble so it cant be used to build a fertilizer liquid concentrate like potassium sulfate and k-mag

or perhaps they are the same but some is just more soluble grade (aka green house grade) than others depending on how its screened and processed

im not trying to disagree, im just trying to understand..don't get me wrong

I appreciate your dialog
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muriate of potash is not the same. it is potassium chloride and sulfate of potash is potassium sulfate. it is cheaper to make and more commonly used.
 
Rasta Roy

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
im4satori said:
sodium is not the same as "salt based fertilizer"

a salt based fertilizer could and likely would in most cases contain zero sodium...

salt based fertilizer has nothing to do with sodium except the trace amounts found in some micro nutes (for the most part)

for example Epsom salt or magnesium sulfate

is a salt based fertilizer but contains no sodium

don't confuse the word salt with sodium as its not the same thing
Click to expand...
my bad, i was trying to point out to you that they were not the same lol. didnt mean to try to tell you something you already knew, and poorly at that apparently lol.
 
swedsteven

swedsteven

Well-Known Member
Small question potassium sulfate is not organic and langbinite is organic ?

Potassium sulfate was my favorite k booster when i was using nutrient dynagro .it ripe a bud pretty quick and add good taste sulfur play the role i Guess i could taste the diffence.

I will like to use it at maybe 50 ppm last 2 week before flushing it 1 week. if this do not harm my soil life in a only water soil !!!
 
im4satori

im4satori

Well-Known Member
you can buy "organic" certified potassium sulfate
I just have the regular uncertified stuff
I think its the same thing but the organic cost more due to the certification

its hot stuff

0.5 grams per gallon yield 57ppm of potassium and 24 ppm sulfur

if you dilute it in water before hand water it shouldn't affect your biology at that low an EC
 
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