There is much application of manure to cropland in Nebraska. A 25-ton/ac application of feedlot manure may supply 500 lb/ac K₂O, which is equal to removal in about 2400 bu of corn grain.

The K concentration in irrigation water varies across counties and across wells within counties. In a 1200-sample UNL survey of water quality, the average K₂O content per ac-ft of irrigation water was 39 lb/ac but county averages per ac-ft ranged from 13 lb in Gage County to 216 lb K₂0 /ac-ft in Grant County. The average K₂O contents in lb/ac-ft varied by region of the state and were 30 lb for northeast, 31 lb for north central, 37 lb for south central, 39 lb for southeast, 44 lb for west, and 68 lb for west central. For comparison, the removal in a 250 bu corn harvest is about 52 lb K₂O. Again, there was much variation across wells and irrigation water should be tested for concentrations of K and other nutrients.

The biggest factor to account for high K availability for Nebraska soils generally is the mineralogy of soils and the parent material from which the soils developed, specifically the K-feldspar content (typically KAlSi₃O₈). Soil profile layers were analyzed for 77 sites across Nebraska by NRCS Soil Survey (Figure 2). One to more than five soil layers were analyzed per sampling site. There are large gaps in data availability, but generally the K-feldspar content as percent of dry weight was relatively low in the west and high in the southeast. Soil series with less than 12% K-feldspar content were Canyon, developed from limestone, and Crowther, a poorly drained swale soil. Soil series with more than 25% K-feldspar were Sharpsburg, Alda, Cortland, Platte, and Hobbs with parent materials including alluvium, loess, and glacial till. The average of all samples was 17.8% K-feldspar which is estimated to be equivalent to about 120 tons/ac of K₂O in the 0-40 inch soil depth with additional K at deeper rooting depths. Only a small fraction of the total K is available in a year, especially for sands, but a gradual and continuing release of K is expected.

Regular testing of K availability for the 0-8 inch soil depth is most important for ensuring adequate K availability, that is, with exchangeable soil K above 125 ppm. Testing for concentrations of K and other essential nutrients in irrigation water provides information for fertilizer use decisions for several nutrients. For the reasons noted above, and especially because of soil content of K-feldspar, producers should not feel nervous when their soil test K remains above 125 ppm; generally, this is expected. When soil test K is less than 125 ppm, apply K at the UNL recommended rates, including for high yield crops.. (See rates in the Nebraska Extension publication, Nutrient Management for Agronomic Crops in Nebraska.)