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Large evaporite deposits, reaching several hundreds of metres of thickness, occur in many basins of our planet but remain poorly understood due to the absence of modern analogues. The origin of ancient evaporites and their highly variable sedimentation rates are often debated and ambiguous. The Danakil rift basin in northern Afar (Ethiopia) features several hundreds of metres of evaporites with deposition still continuing today and, as such, represents a unique modern analogue for older thick evaporite deposits. This study focuses on the multi‐proxy analysis of a 625 m long core from the central part of the basin. The core record, dominated by halite (ca 60%) with subordinate clastic sediments (ca 35%) and potash minerals (ca 5%) reveals, for the first time, the Late Pleistocene to Recent geological and environmental history of the basin. Sediments experienced restricted marine conditions after the last Late Pleistocene marine incursion in the basin, followed by a hypersaline stage leading to the near‐desiccation of the basin with the deposition of thick halite and potash deposits. Subsequent recycling of marginal halite deposits by meteoric waters in lacustrine and salt pan environments significantly increased the evaporite thickness in the subsiding central part of the basin. These findings have implications for the understanding of older thick evaporite deposits that formed in similar depositional settings. They show that several hundred of metres of evaporite can form in less than 128 kyr by evaporation of meteoric and seawater following a single marine flooding of the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminium is an important metal that find application in various areas ranging from simple kitchen utensils to construction and packaging materials. Due to its versatile uses, aluminium wastes are frequently generated. The aim of this research was to recycle waste aluminium foil papers used for barbequed fish packaging into useful potash alum. The method used explored the amphoteric nature of aluminium to react with both acid and alkali to form a double salt. 1.20g of the waste aluminium foil pieces was first reacted with 25ml of 3 M KOH to form a colourless solution. Further addition of 3M H2SO4 to the solution led to the precipitation of a double salt of potash alum. The percentage yield of the synthesized potash alum obtained from 1.20g waste aluminum foil was 76%. The alum also recorded 45% water of crystallization. The efficiency of the synthesized alum in water purification was also tested. Results gave 90.81% reduction in turbidity of muddy water sample from initial turbidity of 1639 NTU to 169 NTU. Thus, the potash alum synthesized from waste aluminium foils was able to coagulate fine suspension of mud from the water, therefore effective in water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To evaluate the effects of the addition of POLY4 as a potassium fertilizer on tobacco yield and quality by comparing the new treatment (POLY4 and POLY4 compound fertilizer) with the traditional treatment (potassium sulfate). At the same time, the effects of potassium sulfate, POLY4 compound fertilizer sulfur and POLY4 in different proportions on tobacco yield and production value were compared, and the effect of new treatment (POLY4 and POLY4 compound fertilizer) on soil nutrient availability was evaluated finally, which provided a scientific basis for the application of new potassium fertilizer polyhalite and the reasonable fertilization ratio in tobacco production. [Method] Effect of applying heterohalite to replace part of potassium sulfate on flue-cured tobacco was studied through the effect of heterohalite combined with potassium sulfate on agronomic traits, yield, output value, internal chemical quality and nutrient content and absorption of flue-cured tobacco. [Result] The field growth performance and agronomic traits of tobacco plants without K fertilizer were poor. The field agronomic traits of tobacco plants with POLY fertilizer were better than those with habit treatment. The yield, output value, average price, proportion of fine tobacco and proportion of medium and fine tobacco in the treatment without potassium application were the lowest, which were significantly lower than those in other potassium application treatments. The yield, output value, average price, proportion of fine tobacco and proportion of medium and fine tobacco in the treatment with POLY fertilizer were generally better than those in the conventional treatment. The inner chemical quality of tobacco leaves in the three parts without potassium treatment was poorer, especially the potassium oxide content and two sugar difference did not meet the requirements, and nicotine was on the low side. The inner chemical quality of tobacco leaves treated with POLY fertilizer was better than that treated with poly fertilizer, especially the potassium content of tobacco leaves was relatively high, and the nicotine content was relatively moderate. Potassium content in stems and leaves in vigorous growth period and topping period was the lowest without potassium application. Total potassium content in treatment with POLY was higher than that in habitual treatment. Calcium, magnesium and sulfur contents in treatment with POLY were higher than those in habitual treatment. Potassium content in soil without potassium application was lower, and available potassium and electrical conductivity in soil with POLY application were higher than those without potassium application and habitual treatment. [Conclusion] Generally speaking, in tobacco fields where soil available nutrients were not high, polyhalite was a good fertilizer to promote the coordinated supply of potassium, calcium and magnesium in tobacco leaves. Applying appropriate amount of polyhalite and potassium sulfate could improve various indicators of tobacco and promote the improvement of yield and quality of tobacco leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium-containing feldspars provide a high potential for producing potash, a product with widespread use in agriculture. The present work assesses applying the anti-solvent crystallization method for the purification and recovery of high-purity muriate of potash (KCl) from feldspar leaching solutions. Initially, screening experiments were carried out on a synthetic leaching solution with the aim of analyzing the crystallization behavior of key components. Screening experiments were performed using five anti-solvents, namely methanol, ethanol, acetone, 2-propanol, and ethylene glycol. Acetone and 2-propanol were viable options for crystallization of potassium chloride. Then, the effects of anti-solvent ratio (O/A), time, and anti-solvent addition rate on potassium-chloride crystallization were further investigated using acetone and 2-propanol. A recovery of 83% of potassium was achieved when using acetone at the O/A of 5 with the addition rate of 10 mL/min, at room temperature with a hold time of 180 min. The optimum conditions for 2-propanol were determined to be similar, except for using a 5 mL/min addition rate for 79% recovery. The final muriate of potash products had a purity of over 99.9% using either of the anti-solvent. However, differences in morphology and crystal size of products were observed. Acetone-formed potash crystals were aggregates of cubic crystals with an average size of 3 microns, while 2-propanol-formed potash crystals were 20 microns in size as cubic particles with a hollow core. Despite having almost the same performance in potassium recovery, acetone was found to be a more feasible anti-solvent for potash recovery due to simpler downstream solvent recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogeochemical research of groundwater in the Bieletan area, China's largest potash producing zone, used a variety of methods, including multivariate analysis, saturation index, and hydrogeochemical modeling. Water samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters, along with soluble ions from soil cores. The results showed that total dissolved solids (TDS) of groundwater exceeded 300 g/L, with the main hydrochemical characteristics being Cl-Mg type and Cl-Na type. Groundwater is recharged by lake water and canal water, with evaporation being the main factor affecting water chemistry. Hydrogeochemical modeling analyzed the processes occurring from these two different recharge sources: mineral precipitation mainly occurred with lake water recharge, while mineral dissolution mainly occurred with canal water recharge. Regarding potash dissolution, canal water and lake water recharge resulted in 8.860 mmol/L of polyhalite dissolution and 0.278 mmol/L of carnallite dissolution, respectively. This study highlights the complex hydrogeochemical processes controlling groundwater in the potash-rich Bieletan area, providing insights for water resource management and potash mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potash plays an important role in agriculture and food security, so does the estimation of the content of substances in potash. Chemical methods for such estimation tasks are time-consuming, whereas thermal infrared hyperspectral (TIH) images provide us with an opportunity to do estimation efficiently. This paper hence applies the TIH technology to predict the content of various substances in potash. On the one hand, the TIH technology provides rich hyperspectral information for substance discovery and analysis. On the other hand, it introduces challenges of dimensionality and information redundancy, leading to potential decreased predicting accuracy. To solve the problem, as well as easing the burden of detection instruments in terms of band usage, band selection is critical. This paper proposes a dynamic metric-guided particle swarm optimization (DM-GPSO) method for band selection. It adaptively adjusts parameters to prevent local optima, avoiding the need for manual parameter tuning. Variety of band selection algorithms, including the genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and improved PSO algorithms, are tested to extract and analyse the characteristic bands of potash. Experimental results demonstrate that the TIH technology combined with a proper band selection methodis effective in estimating the content of potash. The new DM-GPSO can select different combinations of bands, which lead to better and more stable prediction results. The analysis on the combinations of selected bands also reveals that picromerite and potassium chloride have similar intervals of characteristic bands, which can be used to guide the production process of potash in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China, being the world’s largest consumer of potassium fertilizer, faces significant challenges due to limited potassium reserves. Qarhan Salt Lake stands out as a reservoir containing 296 million tons of low-grade solid potash ore (KCl), establishing itself as the premier potassium fertilizer production base in China. The extraction of low-grade solid potash ore via liquefaction technology, leading to the generation of potassium-rich brine, emerges as a pivotal strategy for sustainable potash exploitation in the region. This approach offers a promising solution to mitigate the potassium salt shortage in China. This paper systematically examines the transformation in KCl content of solid potash ore within the Bieletan section of Qarhan Salt Lake before (2007) and after liquefaction (2022). The study employs quantitative assessments to determine liquefaction volume and efficiency. Results reveal that, at a shallow depth of 23.20m, the average KCl content of solid potash ore decreases from 2.15% before liquefaction to 1.00% after liquefaction. This observed decrease of 1.15% (53% reduction) underscores the substantial impact of liquefaction. A total of 136.94 million tons of KCl are dissolved, providing a sustainable resource for approximately 15 years or more. During the initial stages of liquefaction (2007–2008), a rapid decline in the KCl content of solid potash ore is noted, with liquefaction efficiency significantly influenced by the positioning of the brine mining channel. As liquefaction progresses, efficiency diminishes, although the overall efficiency surpasses that of the Huobuxun section at the eastern extremity of Qarhan Salt Lake. This study holds significant implications for refining the solid potash liquefaction mining strategy in Qarhan Salt Lake, providing valuable guidance for future optimization efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potash, also known as potassium (K), is a crucial component of the agricultural sector and serve as "the food of food". Historically, the formation of potash deposits has been attributed to the "tectonic-climatic" theory, in which the role of prolonged arid climate is still debating. Consider the minerogenetic time scale, paleoclimatic events may have played an undeniable role in the formation of potash. However, few studies have been conducted on this topic, which may impede theoretical development. The Lop Nur playa of the Tarim Basin, Northwest China, is a typical hinterland salt lake that formed during the combined effect of the collision between the Eurasian Plate and the Indian Plate and the Quaternary climatic background. As a potash metallogenetic area, Lop Nur is the best place to study how paleoclimatic events affect salt mineralization. In this study, we summarize the development of paleoclimate records and multiple ages from Quaternary sediments and analyze the mineralization theory of the Lop Nur salt lake. The comprehensive chronicle framework employed in paleoenvironmental reconstruction has unveiled the fluctuating aridity and the subsequent process of playa formation. By integrating mineralization mechanisms, ranging from the "mountain-basin transfer" theory to the "tectonic-climatic-source coupled" theory, we systematically reviewed the potential impacts of paleoclimatic events as both impetuses and limitations in the formation of potash deposits in Lop Nur. From a more prospective aspect of this review, the paleoclimatic events for potash mineralization are examined in relation to the worldwide distribution of salt lakes. This examination takes into account the lacustrine paleo-proxies and potash types, which indicate similar paleoclimatic influences on the mineralization process, albeit with varying origins. In the future, a more comprehensive understanding of potassium salt resources can be achieved through a thorough comparison of reconstructed paleoenvironments and high-resolution regional mineralization modeling results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce intensity of deformation in rocks prone to buckling and plastic deformation, and sensitive to geo- and gas-dynamic phenomena, the authors propose a consolidated backfill technology using salt waste and processing reuse brine at the consumption limits of water-yielding capacity. A set of laboratory tests is carried out to find backfill mixtures adaptable to deep-level potash mining with estimation of deformation characteristics and strength properties of potash salt rocks. New principles and technologies of deep-level sylvinite extraction and backfill material transport by creating such geotechnical structures in stopes which ensure formation of consolidated backfill mass with the mined-out stope space factor close to one. This approach can enhance mine efficiency owing to increased extraction of sylvinite from rib and safety pillars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dreissenid mussels (quagga and zebra mussels, Dreissena bugensis and polymorpha) continue to spread throughout inland waterbodies of North America. Although there are considerable management and mitigation efforts underway to prevent infestation of new waterbodies, there have been relatively few successful efforts to eradicate mussels once detected due to a lack of cost-effective treatments. Two potentially cost-effective molluscicidal agents, potassium chloride (KCl, also called muriate of potash) and copper (formulated as Earthtec QZ®), have successfully treated infested waters, but have varying efficacy under different water quality and temperature conditions, and to date have only been applied in moderate conductivity waters (defined here as < 400 µS/cm) common throughout North America. Natural resource managers need information on the efficacy of these chemicals in high conductivity waters more typical of riverine systems and arid climates, in addition to the range of water temperatures typically encountered in the field. We evaluated the doseresponse of quagga mussels to KCl and Earthtec QZ® in high conductivity water (≈ 700-1,400 µS/cm) across a range of temperatures (10, 18, 22 °C) to determine appropriate doses and treatment duration resulting in 100% mortality. Our data indicate that treatments in cool temperatures (i.e., 10 °C) may be challenging for eradication efforts in high conductivity waters because none of the KCl treatments and only one copper treatment resulted in 100% mortality within the experimental period. However, both KCl (> 200 ppm) and copper (120 and 180 ppb) were consistently able to induce 100% mortality in quagga mussels in warmer temperatures (i.e., = 18 °C) and thus may be good candidates for field scale application in high conductivity waters. The results of this study indicate that field-scale application should strongly consider environmental conditions during the period of application when selecting dosages and treatment duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Syahoo salt dome is in the north of Bandar-Abbas in Hormozgan province and structurally it is located in the geological zone of the Zagros. Potash prospecting studies in the south of Zagros have identified the Syahoo salt dome as an important area. Some of them, such as Angore, are currently active and there is still salt extraction in them, and in some, such as Pahl, Kouh Namac, and Siha, the salt extraction has been completed or is in the final stages. The purpose of this research is geological, remote sensing and geochemical studies on potash mineralization along with salt domes, which can be a potential for this type of deposits in southern Iran. Materials and methods: In order to find the areas of accumulation of potash mineral in the area of Syahoo salt dome, satellite images of ASTER were first used to identify promising mineral areas for sampling and geochemical studies. Then, based on remote sensing studies, sampling was done for XRF, XRD chemical analysis. Results and discussion: In order to identify rock units and areas containing salt and iron oxide, ester satellite images and methods of false band composition (RGB), spectral angle mapper (SAM) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used. The results of these studies show that all three methods have worked well in highlighting iron oxide areas and areas containing salt and show a good agreement with the geological map. Meanwhile, the spectral angle mapper method has better and higher accuracy. The results of remote sensing studies show that the west and east areas of the Syahoo salt dome contain a higher potential for potash mineralization. Also, in order to determine the potassium mineral, 17 samples were chemically analyzed by XRD method; the results show that potassium mineral was sylvite. Conclusion: According to the geological, telemetry and geochemical studies, the grade of potash in many parts of the Syahoo salt dome, such as north, south and south-east are of less than one percent and have no exploratory value. Based on the studies, the proposed areas for exploration will be limited to the west (Target 1) and east (Target 2) of the salt dome. The highest grade of potash is related to the samples of the western part of the salt dome, on the other hand, secondary potash is also observed in this part; therefore, more attention has been paid to the potential of the western part. Based on the results of geochemical analysis, the western edge of the dome shows a high potash potential compared to other areas of the dome. The highest grade of potash in this section is 16.6%. The small outcrop of potash in this ridge and its low expansion in this section, with an average grade of 2.4%, makes this ridge the second priority, the highest grade of potash in this section is 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile proximal gamma-ray spectrometry (GS) is an emerging approach to estimate soil texture directly in the field. It relies on gamma radiation emitted during the natural decay of potassium-40 (K-40) and other isotopes. The K-40 counts are correlated with total K content, mineralogical soil composition and therefore with soil texture. Yet, it is not clear if K fertilisation impacts the ratio of K-40 to total K which would necessitate to take the fertilisation history into account for soil sensing applications. To elucidate this question, a well-documented long-term experiment was selected. The soils of the Rengen grassland experiment (55 plots) were investigated for total K (XRF-K) and for K-40 via mobile proximal GS. No significant differences in XRF-K and K-40 were found between the treatments with and without K fertilisation, although formely published results point to negative and positive K balances, respectively. Fertiliser analysis revealed a ratio of K-40 to total K that was almost identical to the natural abundance of 0.0117%. It was concluded that it is not necessary to take K fertilisation history into account when predicting soil texture from mobile proximal GS on agricultural land for, e.g., precision farming purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are considerable reserves of low-grade solid potash resources in the shallow part of Mahai Salt Lake in the Qaidam Basin, and the lithium brine resources resulting from solid–liquid conversion and mining are quite abundant. The comprehensive utilization of these resources is an important and urgent problem. In this study, to fully utilize these resources, the shallow low-grade solid potash ore in Mahai Salt Lake was used for systematic simulated ore dissolution experiments, combined with geochemical and X-ray diffraction analyses. The following key results were obtained: (1) Most Li+ in the Mahai mining area was deposited on the soluble salt minerals in silt or clay, and the appropriate concentration of solvent can help to dissolve more Li+ and K+; (2) the saturation time of Li+ was longer than that of K+. Therefore, the dissolution time for the mine can be appropriately extended during the production process to dissolve more Li+; (3) the solid–liquid conversion aqueous solution mining method can separate the lithium part of clay deposits and is associated with salt rock in the brine, which is a potential lithium resource. These experimental results provide a theoretical basis for salt pan production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Coastal Alaska contains vast kelp habitat that supports diverse marine and human communities. Over the past century, the North Pacific Ocean has undergone oceanographic and ecological regime shifts that have the potential to influence the structure and function of kelp ecosystems strongly. However, the remoteness and complexity of the glacially carved region precludes the regular monitoring efforts that would be necessary to detect such changes. Methods To begin to fill this critical knowledge gap, we drew upon historical and modern surveys to analyse the change in spatial coverage and species composition of canopy kelp between two time points (1913 and the early 2000s to 2010s). We also incorporated decadal surveys on sea otter range expansion following complete extirpation and reintroduction to assess the influence of sea otter recovery on the spatial extent of canopy kelp. Key Results We found increases in the spatial extent of canopy kelp throughout the Gulf of Alaska where there was coverage from both surveys. Kelp in Southcentral Alaska showed extensive recovery after the catastrophic Novarupta volcano. Kelp in Southeast Alaska showed persistence and spatial increase that closely matched increases in the range of sea otters. Observations of thermally tolerant kelp species increased more than observations of cold-adapted species between the two surveys. Conclusions Contrary to trends observed at lower latitudes, the kelp forests that ring the Gulf of Alaska have been remarkably stable and even increased in the past century, despite oceanographic and ecosystem changes. To improve monitoring, we propose identification of sentinel kelp beds for regular monitoring to detect changes to these iconic and foundational canopy kelp species more readily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large amount of solid and liquid waste is a serious issue associated with potash mining and processing. Potash ore enrichment generates solid halite waste, clay-salt slurry, and industrial wastewater with a high content of water-soluble salts. The «environmentally friendly» storage of such waste is a difficult technological issue. Highly mineralised water is stored on the surface and discharged into slurry storage, while some of the effluent is recycled during the production process. Over the long period of slurry storage operation at the Verknekamskoe Potash Deposit, water filtration through the dam and the slurry storage base has created a stable flow of highly mineralised water into the surface water and groundwater. The slurry storage facilities that are currently in use cannot completely fulfil the protective environmental functions. This study provides scientific rationale for the potential use of slurry reservoirs as wastewater treatment facilities. The findings show that there are fewer suspended solids in clarified water: purification efficiency is greater than 99.9%. In the clarified circulating brine, the content of mineral impurities is reduced: the content of chloride ions decreases by 46%, and the content of dry residue decreases by 45.6%. Based on the findings, the study provides recommendations for the construction and new design of a slurry storage that can be used as a treatment facility on the territory of the Verkhnekamskoe Potash Deposit to reduce the negative environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drying behavior of potash particles was experimentally investigated in a convective packed bed dryer under different operating conditions, including inlet gas temperature of 40 °C, 50 °C, and 60 °C, moisture content of 2.8 wt%, and superficial gas velocity of 0.3 m/s. When the temperature increased from 40 °C to 50 °C and then to 60 °C, the drying time decreased from 930 s to 870 s and then to 720 s, respectively. The thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity of potash particles as a function of moisture content and porosity of the packed bed was determined at a 95 % confidence interval to have R 2 values of 0.94 and 0.91, respectively. During drying of potash particles, solid bridges form, and the whole bed behaves like a porous medium with void spaces that expand. In this work, a conjugate heat and mass transfer model was developed for batch packed bed drying of wet potash particles. Computational fluid dynamics was used to simulate the momentum, mass, and energy transport in a porous medium based on the physical properties of potash particles. The model successfully correlated the experimental particle moisture content versus time with average absolute deviation percentage values of 14.8, 3.2, and 14.7 for the inlet gas temperatures of 40 °C, 50 °C, and 60 °C, respectively. [Display omitted] • Drying behavior of potash particles was investigated in a packed bed. • Heat, mass, and momentum transport equations were solved in a porous bed. • The evolution of temperature and relative humidity in the outlet air was studied. • Product temperature and moisture content versus drying time were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The birth of potash industry was 1861 in Staßfurt, Duchy of Prussia with commissioning of the first potash plant. During the mining of rock salt in Staßfurt, seams containing potassium had previously only been discovered by chance and initially treated as overburden. Until 1918, potash production was only in the German Empire with a total capacity of about 0.83 million t K. Subsequently, a successful global exploration for further potash deposits began. Large and high‐quality potash deposits are found in the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Canada, Russia, and Belarus. From around 1950 onward, the industry began to grow strongly. In 2021, the global production was about 36 million t K. More than 90% is marketed as fertilizer, mainly potassium chloride. Feeding the world's growing population requires a safe and adequate supply of fertilizer. The potash production capacities are correspondingly high and the global supply of potassium fertilizer is secured for centuries to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploration of potash resources under complex geological condition is particularly important. However, it is difficult to establish characteristic equations for direct prediction, since there is no direct relation between potash content (PC) and seismic response. To solve this problem, this paper proposed a potash reservoir prediction method by a specially designed convolution neural network (CNN) structure to train the special waveform and petrophysical characteristics of potash reservoirs. Considering that the potash reservoirs and petrophysical characteristics are not a one-to-one mapping, the prediction procedure is divided into two parts. First, a CNN is constructed for potash reservoir prediction, according to the spatial waveform characteristics of potash reservoirs. The mapping between potash reservoirs and waveform characteristics is used to obtain the potash reservoir probability data by the soft-max function. Then, another CNN for PC prediction is built based on the petrophysical characteristics of potash reservoirs. Meanwhile, according to the Hadamard criterion, the petrophysical characteristics of potash reservoir are constrained by the waveform characteristics. The two CNN models are used to directly predict the PC synergistically. Consequently, the bidirectional mapping problem can be alleviated and a loss function of the PC prediction CNN constrained with the waveform is obtained. Finally, by tuning the PC prediction CNN through the loss function, PC prediction is performed. The correlation between the predicted and true PC values can reach more than 80%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brine contains cations such as K+, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, Li+, B3+, Rb2+, and Cs2+, as well as anions such as SO42−, Cl−, HCO3−, CO32−, NO3−, Br−, and I−, which are valuable elements. Brines are widely distributed in salt lakes in the world's three enormous plateaus and beyond and are classified into three types: sulfate-, chloride-, and carbonate-type brines. Sulfate-type brine forms in salt lakes, whereas carbonate-type brine results from magmatic and hydrothermal activity. Chloride-type brine forms in deep basins due to the reduction and transformation of buried brine. Li in brine plays a critical role in clean energy transitions, and K in brine is important for potash production. Recently, new techniques for extracting Li from brine have been developed, and the large-scale, comprehensive development pattern of brines has formed the basis for a recycling economic model, which contributes to the efficient use of brines for potash and Li2CO3 development and CO2 emission reduction. This article reviews the genesis of brines and highlights new utilization techniques, trends, and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed an improved depth of extreme point (DEXP) method, characterized as an effective and rapid imaging method that can estimate the depth and distribution of a source quickly. Its main purpose is to solve various challenges. The automatic calculation aspect of the traditional method is often limited; namely, there is a problem with achieving automatic and reliable processing when the observed surface presents undulating topography, and this problem cannot be ignored. Therefore, we propose the addition of the constant method and the hypothetical observed surface method to achieve improvements in the traditional method. Firstly, we test the improved method on the synthetic models to demonstrate its notable advantage: the achievement of a fully automatic calculation without requiring any other additional information such as structural index (SI) values and threshold values. Meanwhile, we also demonstrate its ability and reliability to handle undulating topography with acceptable accuracy for imaging results. Furthermore, we verify the robustness of the improved method by applying it to real gravity data from the potash salt deposit in the Sakhon Nakhon basin, Laos. In this case, the improved DEXP method effectively identified the location of the potash deposit. Moreover, combined with the optimal edge detection method, gravity prospecting for potash salt deposits exhibited significant advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing magnetic susceptibility and density contrast models, the primary aim of analyzing potential field data is to determine essential source parameters, including depth, structural index, horizontal expansion, and physical characteristics. In geophysical explorations, the accurate determination of subsurface depth is of utmost importance. This study employs the Depth from Extreme Points (DEXP) automatic transformation technique to interpret potential field data. DEXP relies on the precise analysis of local wavenumbers at different scales and the extreme points of the DEXP field to extract source depth, horizontal position, and structural index. This method is highly stable and less sensitive to noisy data due to the inclusion of an upward continuation filter and a potential field derivative operator. Additionally, the results are more reliable compared to alternative techniques. Moreover, the DEXP method is fully automated and does not require prior knowledge of the data collection area, making it a rapid imaging approach. As multiscale methods are less reliant on magnetic induction fields, they have become increasingly popular in magnetic field computations. To validate the proposed approach, synthetic scenarios are initially simulated. Subsequently, the DEXP technique is applied to demonstrate the depth extension of assumed models using synthetic gravity and magnetic data. This method is then implemented on data from the Ghareh-Aghaj potash exploratory area in Zanjan Province, Iran. The outcomes indicate that the potash deposit has minimal lateral expansion and is more pronouncedly extended in depth. Notably, these findings exhibit a satisfactory level of agreement with results obtained from exploratory borehole investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Potash mining, typically performed for agricultural fertilizer production, can create piles of residual salt waste that are ecologically detrimental and difficult to revegetate. Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) have been found growing on and around these heaps, suggesting resilience to the hypersaline environment. We set out to understand the community dynamics of biocrust formation by examining two succesionary salinity gradients at historical mining sites using a high throughput amplicon sequencing. Bare heaps were distinct, with little overlap between sites, and were characterized by high salinity, low nutrient availability, and specialized, low diversity microbial communities, dominated by Halobacteria, Chloroflexia, and Deinococci. 'Initial' stages of biocrust development were dominated by site-specific Cyanobacteria, with significant overlap between sites. Established biocrusts were the most diverse, with large proportions of Alphaproteobacteria, Anaerolineae, and Planctomycetacia. Along the salinity gradient at both sites, salinity decreased, pH decreased, and nutrients and Chlorophyll a increased. Microbiomes between sites converged during succession and community assembly process analysis revealed biocrusts at both sites were dominated by deterministic, niche-based processes; indicating a high degree of phylogenetic turnover. We posit early cyanobacterial colonization is essential for biocrust initiation, and facilitates later establishment of plant and other higher-level biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In depth of the Simao Basin (2390 to 2650 m depth interval), many gray mudstone or carbonate rocks are developed in the red salt-related strata, and pyrite crystals are found in the fissure and matrix. In this study, petrology, mineralogy, element geochemistry, and LA-MC-ICP-MS in situ sulfur isotope analysis were used to constrain the genesis of pyrite, and the influence of relevant geological activities on potash mineralization was discussed. The results show that: (1) In the upper part of the salt layer, particle size of the pyrite ranges from 50 to 300 μm. The crystal morphology is mainly pentagonal-dodecahedral and irregularly granular, with a small amount of cuboidal pyrite. In the interlayer between rock salt, particle size of the pyrite is from 50 to 100 μm, and the crystals are mainly octahedral. (2) The S/Fe value of pentagonal-dodecahedral pyrite is significantly greater than 2; the S/Fe value of octahedral and cubic pyrite is less than 2; and the S/Fe value of irregular granular pyrite is close to 2. (3) The δ34SV-CDT values of pyrite in the upper salt-related strata range from −15.65‰ to 11.81‰, and the average δ34SV-CDT values of all samples range from 0.79‰ to 8.20‰. The δ34SV-CDT values of pyrite interlayer between rock salt range from −15.02‰ to −6.36‰, with an average value of −10.66‰. The above results indicate that the pyrite in the upper part of the rock salt layer was formed in a medium-low temperature hydrothermal environment, and the ore-forming sulfur elements have hydrothermal sources, bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR) sources, and thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) contributions. The pyrite between the rock salt layers is of sedimentary origin, and the ore-forming sulfur element comes from BSR. At present, there is no evidence of the influence of hydrothermal activities on deep potash-rich salt bodies, and the influence on the Mengyejing potash deposit has continued since the metallogenic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potash fertilizer production is one of the most important economic activities. Historically, potash mining has had a significant impact on the environment, often with catastrophic consequences. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the results of studies on the environmental impact of potash mining using the example of the Verkhnekamskoe potash deposit. The deposit is located in the central part of the Solikamsk depression in the Pre-Ural foredeep (Perm Krai, Russia). All the main features and problems of underground mining of water-soluble ores and potassium fertilizer production are considered using the example of one of the world’s largest potash deposits. This paper looks into the specifics of the material composition of waste, its disposal, underground mining issues associated with the solubility of salts, and the risks of groundwater inflow into the mine workings, which causes flooding of mines. The results of all surveys show that potash mining affects the atmosphere, surface water, groundwater, soil, and vegetation. The most effective measure to reduce the adverse environmental impact of potash mining at the Verkhnekamskoe Deposit is hydraulic backfilling of mine chambers, which protects the underground mines from flooding, minimizes ground subsidence, and reduces the area of potash waste.

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a crop that is characterized by considerable nutrient export because of its intensive growth, development, fruiting, and high biomass production. The purpose of this study is to determine how single-dose and split potassium fertilization impact the overall amount of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus exported from soils during crop harvest. A field experiment was carried out on Fluvosol (FAO, ISRIC World Soils) with K2O content of 20.3 mg/100g, P2O5 content of 5.8 mg/100g, and mineral N of 19.6 mg/kg. It was found that the biological yield and N, P2О5 and K2O nutrient export are significantly influenced by planting time and potassium fertilization treatments. Higher tomato fruit and biomass yields (61878.9 and 27184.9 kg/ha), along with higher nutrient export rates were observed in mid-early tomato plants. The highest yield and total N, K2O and P2O5 export from the soil was measured at split potassium (К80+80+80) fertilization treatment. A positive linear correlation between yield quantity and nutrient export was observed. The biological yield and nutrient export were shown to be significantly impacted by potassium fertilization (P

In the history of any state, the forest domain played a great role. Russia, being a country with the richest forest resources, pays great attention to the state regulation of forest management and forest conservation. The history of the use of forest resources is part of the history of Russia. The relevance of the topic is due to the change in the concept of teaching the history of Russia for students studying in specialized historical and non-core specialties and areas of training in universities. The number of hours devoted to the study of national history is increasing; the history of Russia will be singled out from the course of world history as an independent academic discipline. Students will have the opportunity to study in more detail various aspects of the history of the Russian state. The article analyzes the measures of state regulation of the use of forest resources for the production of potash, resin and tar in Russia in the 17th century. — the first quarter of the XVIII century. and also questions of regulation of trade in the specified goods. The analysis of normative legal acts that determined the conditions and features of production and trade in products obtained from wood processing was carried out. It is concluded that the state’s focus only on administrative and legal measures to regulate the use of forests in Russia, without taking into account economic realities, demonstrates low efficiency and leads to crisis phenomena in the area under study.

Due to the rising correlation between food additives and several health disorders, it is important that researchers in this area disseminate their findings to rural artisans, translators, indigenous newscasters and consumers. This will promote healthy living and consequently reduce health risks which may be associated with artificial food additives. However, this has been quite challenging in that it has been hampered by the lack of indigenous technical terms, especially in the Igbo language. Against this backdrop, this study develops a trilingual glossary for the physicochemical properties of alternative sources of edible potash (UPP). The convenience sampling technique was employed in selecting twenty female participants who were not above 50 years of age from the Mbaise community, a town in Imo State of Nigeria. Personal interviews, observation/participation and documentation in the field were the primary sources of data collection, while the secondary sources included textbooks, journals, theses, dissertations, magazines, newspaper articles and the internet. The chemical compositions of the edible ash were ascertained using standard analytical methods. To generate its technical terms, four major linguistic principles (indigenisation, terminologisation, semantic shift, paraphrasing with explanation and compounding) were applied in developing equivalent terms in the Igbo language. Findings show that indigenisation and compounding are more productive in the development of terms in the Igbo language for the physico-chemical properties/constituents of alternative sources of edible potash than pure loaning. Terminographers are encouraged to standardise these developed terms while working to fill the gap of terminology scarcity in African languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potash fertilizer production is one of the most important economic activities. Historically, potash mining has had a significant impact on the environment, often with catastrophic consequences. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the results of studies on the environmental impact of potash mining using the example of the Verkhnekamskoe potash deposit. The deposit is located in the central part of the Solikamsk depression in the Pre-Ural foredeep (Perm Krai, Russia). All the main features and problems of underground mining of water-soluble ores and potassium fertilizer production are considered using the example of one of the world's largest potash deposits. This paper looks into the specifics of the material composition of waste, its disposal, underground mining issues associated with the solubility of salts, and the risks of groundwater inflow into the mine workings, which causes flooding of mines. The results of all surveys show that potash mining affects the atmosphere, surface water, groundwater, soil, and vegetation. The most effective measure to reduce the adverse environmental impact of potash mining at the Verkhnekamskoe Deposit is hydraulic backfilling of mine chambers, which protects the underground mines from flooding, minimizes ground subsidence, and reduces the area of potash waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Dalian University of Technology / Dalian Ligong Daxue Xuebao is the property of Journal of Dalian University of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study aimed to identify risk management in its dimensions (risk identification, risk assessment, risk response, risk control) and its impact on the flexibility of the supply chain in its dimensions (product flexibility, supply flexibility, operations flexibility, delivery flexibility, information systems flexibility), and the study community consisted of all the administrators working at (the upper and middle levels) in the Arab Potash Company, and their number was (135), and the questionnaire was used as a main tool for data collection, and the purposeful or intentional sample was used to deal with a small community, where (135) were distributed. Questionnaire: (122) valid questionnaires were retrieved for analysis, with a rate of (90.3%) of the distributed questionnaires. The study found several results, most notably: that there is a statistically significant effect at a significant level (α≤0.05) for risk management with its dimensions (risk identification, risk assessment, risk response, risk control) on the flexibility of the supply chain in the Arab Potash Company. The study recommends several recommendations, the most prominent of which are: the interest of the Arab Potash Company in identifying risks by reviewing scientific standards, defining the risk matrix and reviewing it periodically by a specialized team. And finding a fair incentives and promotion system to support the creative ideas of the efforts of administrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a crop that is characterized by considerable nutrient export because of its intensive growth, development, fruiting, and high biomass production. The purpose of this study is to determine how single-dose and split potassium fertilization impact the overall amount of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus exported from soils during crop harvest. A field experiment was carried out on Fluvosol (FAO, ISRIC World Soils) with K2O content of 20.3 mg/100g, P2O5 content of 5.8 mg/100g, and mineral N of 19.6 mg/kg. It was found that the biological yield and N, P215 and K2O nutrient export are significantly influenced by planting time and potassium fertilization treatments. Higher tomato fruit and biomass yields (61878.9 and 27184.9 kg/ha), along with higher nutrient export rates were observed in mid-early tomato plants. The highest yield and total N, K2O and P2O5 export from the soil was measured at split potassium (180+80+80) fertilization treatment. A positive linear correlation between yield quantity and nutrient export was observed. The biological yield and nutrient export were shown to be significantly impacted by potassium fertilization (P<0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato production is significant as the demand is increasing in time to meet food security and human nutrition as well. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of water and fertilizer application in greenhouse tomato growth index, yield and quality using an intelligent drip system to achieve improved yield by minimizing the fertigation. A randomized block design was used in ten treatments including control (CK-W4N4,K4) consisting four level (W1-65%, W2-75%, W3-85%, W4-100%) each of water field capacity and four-level Urea-Potash (N1,K1-245,490, N2,K2-350,700, N3,K3-455,910, N4,K4-80,100 kg ha-1) combinations. Data obtained were analyzed by a general linear model and developed a regression model for yield. The results showed, the highest tomato yield was 103.16 t ha-1 in T8-W3N2K1 significantly influenced by the treatment, which is found 2% greater compared to the CK (100.92 t ha-1). The highest leaf area index (5.21) was obtained with T7-W3N1K3 produced improved yield. The highest fruit weight (288.77 g fruit-1) and fruit diameter (85.33 mm) obtained with T2-W1N2K2 had no significant influence on tomato yield. The model delivered a paramount prediction (r2 = 0.82) of tomato yield. In conclusion, results showed the intelligent drip system could be used to minimize inputs to improve tomato production.

[Display omitted] • K, Sr isotopes, and trace element constrain potash origin in the Simao Basin. • K isotope fractionation can occur between secondary and primary sylvite. • The secondary sylvite relatively enriches light K isotope. • As K content increases, Rb/Sr positively correlates to K/Cl, in primary sylvinite. With the advancement of emerging potassium isotope testing techniques, the characteristics of δ 41K in evaporite have garnered increasing attention. Its application in constraining the genesis of potash deposits and tracing the process of potash mineralization holds significant prospects. A comprehensive analysis of the geochemical characteristics of K, Sr isotopes, and trace elements provides an opportunity to address the ongoing debate regarding the mineralization mechanism of potash in the Simao Basin. In this study, we collected 64 potash samples from the Simao and Khorat basins. The analytical results revealed that the major ions in the samples consist of Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl−, and SO 4 2-, while the trace elements Br, Sr, Rb, B, Li, V, Cr, Mn, Ba, As, and Zn are relatively enriched. The δ 41K values range from −0.12 ‰ to 0.20 ‰ with an average of 0.01 ‰. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios range from 0.707553 to 0.708565 with an average of 0.708020, which is lower than that of the river water in the drainage basin. Additionally, the Br content ranges from 316.3 × 10−6 to 1709.1 × 10−6, with an average of 633.8 × 10−6. These data indicate that the Early Cretaceous Albian-Middle Jurassic Bajocian seawater serves as an important source of potassium for potash deposition in the Simao Basin. The characteristics of the ratios of the Br/Cl (mmol/mol), K/Cl (mmol/mol), Rb/Sr (mol/mol), along with the contents of the Br and Rb, indicate that the most of potash in the Simao Basin is primary origin. Moreover, we have also provided new insight into the geochemical behaviors of K isotopes during the evolution of the evaporites. The precipitation of potash may be accompanied by K isotope fractionation, as evidenced by the lighter K isotope composition of carnallite compared to that of sylvinite. K isotope fractionation occurs between the secondary sylvite and its parent source, and newly precipitated solids are characterized by relatively light K isotope. Episodic freshwater inflow into the evaporative basin stimulates microbial activity, leading to fluctuations in K isotopes in the precipitated potash during the same evaporation stage. Therefore, this work not only provided direct evidence from the K isotopes for determining the origin of the potash in the Simao Basin but also further perceived the geochemical behaviors of K isotopes during the evolution of evaporite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lanping–Simao Basin is located on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, China, and contains massive evaporites. The origin of evaporites in the basin has been hotly debated because of the strong transformation by tectonic movement. Forty halite samples from borehole MK‐3 in the Mengyejing area of the basin were collected and analyzed using XRD, Cl‐Sr isotopes and chemical compositions to trace the origin of the evaporites in the basin. The Br × 103/Cl ratios of the halite samples are between 0 and 0.55, most of which are synchronized with the law of seawater evaporation and at the stage of halite precipitation from seawater, indicating that the evaporites are mainly of marine origin. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios range from 0.707489 to 0.711279; after correction, the 87Sr/86Sr 145 Ma ratios range from 0.704721 to 0.707611, equivalent with the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of seawater at 145 Ma, indicating a marine origin. The decay of 87Rb in the evaporite during deposition, change of the depositional environment and the unsealed environment at a later period resulted in the present 87Sr/86Sr ratios of some samples being high. The δ37Cl value compositions range from –0.38‰ to 0.83‰, which is consistent with the δ37Cl value composition of the world marine halite (–0.6‰ to 0.4‰), further confirming that seawater is the main origin. In addition, the high δ37Cl value of some samples at the boundary of the upper and lower evaporite layers might be related to the influence of δ37Cl‐rich brine and the incomplete dissolution of the halite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scarcity of petroleum and concern over environmental problems has promoted the production of biodiesel from renewable sources. Biodiesel synthesized by transesterification methods in the presence of catalyst requires a large amount of solvent, mainly from alcohol, to affirm a high production yield. The transesterification process using a homogeneous catalyst demands complex product separation steps and is not recyclable; thus, it is economically unviable. In this study, transesterification reaction was conducted in a packed bed column using a heterogeneous catalyst, potash supported on PVA derived from the orange peel. Potash/PVA was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Potash-derived orange peel was supported on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to retain its mechanical stability. Optimization study revealed that a maximum biodiesel yield of 95.55% was obtained at an optimum temperature of 60 °C, 2.50 wt.% of catalyst and 12:1 of methanol: oil molar ratio. Potash derived from waste shows a promising alternative to produce a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Occupational exposure limits (OEL) for nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2) and diesel exhaust (EC-DPM) were reassessed by the German authorities in 2016/2017. We performed a clinical cross-sectional study among salt and potash underground workers exposed to these substances at relatively high levels to examine possible indicators of acute effects on workers' health. Methods: We measured post- versus pre-shift differences in cardiovascular, inflammatory, immune, and respiratory effect biomarkers and assessed their associations with personal exposures measured during the same shift. We also compared post- versus pre-shift differences in biomarker levels between exposure groups defined based on work site and job type. Results: None of the above-ground workers exceeded the OEL for NO2 and only 5% exceeded the OEL for EC-DPM exposure. Among underground workers, 33% of miners and 7% underground maintenance workers exceeded the OEL for NO2; the OEL for EC-DPM was exceeded by 56% of miners and 17% of maintenance workers. Some effect biomarkers (thrombocytes, neutrophils, MPO, TNF-α, IgE, FeNO) showed statistically significant differences between pre- versus post-shift measurements; however, there were no consistent associations between pre- and post-shift differences and exposure group or personal exposure measurements during the shift. Conclusions: We did not find evidence of associations between workplace exposure to NO, NO2 or EC-DPM and clinically relevant indicators of acute cardiovascular, inflammatory and immune, or respiratory effects among salt and potash underground workers in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flue gases emitted from the industries and other emission sources are considered the main atmospheric issues. The main Flue gases emitted are sulfur oxides SOX and Nitrogen oxides NOX. The study was about methods of removing SOX and NOX from emitted gases and the possibility of deriving useful byproducts. The process for removing was investigated using different absorbers, process conditions, and phosphorus allotropes. The yellow phosphorus (P4) was applied for removal accompanied by Potash. The simultaneous removal achieved higher removing efficiency for SOX than NOX. Yellow phosphorus emulsion proved to be one of the effective SOX and NOX removal techniques. Byproducts produced from SOX and NOX proved to contain the complete fertiliser Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium NPK. The obtained results showed that several useful byproducts can be derived from SOX and NOX removal process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a chemical method to remove carbon dioxide, the hot potassium carbonate process has been widely used in industrial fields such as flue gas carbon dioxide capture, synthetic ammonia gas purification, process circulation gas carbon dioxide separation due to its advantages of stable solution property, safety and low hydrocarbon loss. Due to the limitation of reaction rate of potassium carbonate solution, the activators should be added. The action mechanism, the types, the characteristics and limitations of carbon dioxide removal activators in hot potash solution are reviewed. The development direction of activators for CO2 removal in the future is pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three castables (CA6, MA and β-Al2O3) were heat treated at different temperatures (800,1 000, 1 200 and 1 350 °C) and tested in terms of the K2CO3 corrosion test at the corresponding temperatures (800,1 000,1 200 and 1 350 °C),and then the change rates of the apparent porosity, the bulk density, and the CCS of the samples after K2CO3 corrosion resistance test were determined, and the phase composition was analyzed. The results show that: (1)all the three castables present good alkali corrosion resistance at 800 °C;(2)at 1 200 °C,CA6 castable reacts with K2CO3 to produce a large amount of β-Al2O3,which has poor corrosion resistance to K2CO3; spinel castable reacts with K2CO3 to produce less β-A2O3 and has good corrosion resistance to K2CO3; β-Al2O3 castable has the weakest reaction with K2CO3 and the best K2CO3 corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gesunde Pflanzen is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Land productivity and quality were negatively impacted by both unbalanced fertilization and water-stressed conditions, which has arisen as an important topic of research. In the semi-arid tropics, sugarcane is the main source of sugar and ethanol; however, no potash (K) dose is recommended for the deficient sites in the region, which are further responsible for lower recovery. As a result, in order to standardize the K dose for deficient sites, present experiments carried out during plant (2019–2020) and ratoon (2020–2021) seasons. The statistical design was a split-plot design with main plot treatments comprised of I1 (irrigated) and I2 (stressed) treatments followed by K1, K2, K3, and K4 plots fertilized with 0, 40, 80, and 120 kg K2O ha−1 in subplots. Germination was reported to be 13.7, 25.0 and 32.3% higher during plant and 6.2, 17.3 and 24.4% higher during ratoon season in K2, K3, and K4 plots, respectively. Tiller's cane−1 was recorded to be significantly affected by potash levels at 241 days after planting (DAP) and 261 and 326 days after harvesting (DAH). Periodic chlorophyll content of the sugarcane leaves was reported not to be affected by irrigation treatments except at 355 DAP and 324 and 357 DAH, where respected values were reported to be 2.06% in the plant season and 1.55 and 2.54% higher in the ratoon season in I1 plots, respectively. During plant season purity and extraction after the 10th month, respective values were reported to be 1.5% lower and 4.03% higher under I1 plots, while only Brix (%) was reported as significant and 2.42% higher in I1 plots during plant season after the 12th month. The incidence of early shoot borer (Chilo infuscatellus) and stalk borer (Chilo auricilius) was reported to be significantly higher under stressed conditions (30.4 and 21.5% lower in I1 plots) during the plant season, while early shoot borer (Chilo infuscatellus), stalk borer (Chilo auricilius) and top (Scirpophaga excerptalis) incidences were significantly lower in I1 plots to the tune of 19.6, 22 and 9.73% as compared to the I2 plots during the ratoon season. The application of 80 kg K2O ha−1 resulted in significantly higher cane yield and decreased insect-pest occurrence. Even though 120 kg K2O ha−1 promoted different plant and ratoon sugarcane characteristics, they were all statistically equivalent. In I1 plots, benefits increased from K2 to K3 plots by 26.7% during plant and 155% during ratoon seasons but decreased from K3 to K4 plots by 21.0% during plant and 26.1% ratoon seasons. In I2 plots, however, benefits from K2 to K3 plots were reported to be 72.7% during plant and 76.5% during ratoon seasons, which was reduced to 10.5% during plant and 16.7% during ratoon seasons in K4 plots. Results of a two-year study on plant and ratoon canes revealed that 80 kg K2O ha−1 at deficient sites significantly improved the performance of both plant and ratoon canes yields, sugar yields, reduced the insect-pests' incidence, and finally the benefits of the cane farmers under both irrigation regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of the new mining technology on the Third potash bed at the Starobinsk potash salt deposit is accompanied by the displacement of the undermined rocks. The displacement is accompanied by the foliation. The gas accumulates in the resulting foliation. The gas accumulations in the roof or the floor rocks can be the cause of a rockburst. A rockburst poses a threat to the miners' lives, breaks driving and wide equipment and stops the working activity of the mines. Therefore, the study of the underworking effect on the gas content and the gas-dynamic characteristics are relevant problems in mining science. Thus, the purpose of this work is the study of the underworking effect on the gas content and the gas-dynamic characteristics. The τ criterion was used for testing the data samples. At the second stage of the comparative statistical analysis, two hypotheses H0 and H1 were accepted which were later subjected to verification using Student's t-test. The gas parameters are changed by the camera floor and are not changed by other places. Therefore, the effect of the rock underworking leads to the formation of the additional foliation of the floor and, accordingly, to the free gases' redistribution along the stratigraphic section and, ultimately, to the significant changes of the free gas content, the starting gas release and the gas pressure. The validity of the effect of the undermining can be the intensive gas releases repeatedly recorded in the process of drilling research holes into the soil with the ejection of a piece of the rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral composition and content analysis of selected trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Be, Br, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, I, La, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, U, V, and Zn; 308 rock samples) were studied in the Upper Permian (Zechstein) potash-bearing deposits in Poland. They represented K–Mg chlorides of PZ2 and PZ3 cyclothems from four salt domes and stratiform K–Mg sulphates of PZ1 cyclothem. The dominant mineral components of K–Mg sulphates (polyhalite) are anhydrite and polyhalite. The most common minerals of the K–Mg salts of PZ2 cyclothem are halite, sylvite, kieserite, and anhydrite, and the most common of PZ3 cyclothem are halite, carnallite, kieserite, and anhydrite. Most analysed trace elements in the Zechstein potash-bearing deposits show a low content (up to 26 mg/kg) that eliminates them as potential profitable source rocks of such required elements as Ce, Cs, La, Li, or Rb. Common elements, such as Br, Fe, and Sr, are more easily exploited from natural brines, sulphate, and ore deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]