Potash is the common name for potassium chloride (also referred to as muriate of potash). It is the most common source of potassium. Plants cannot achieve maximum growth and yield without potassium, nor can the functions that potassium performs be carried out by other nutrients. Nearly every aspect of plant growth development, yield and quality is dependent upon an adequate supply of potassium.

Potash is mined from ore deep underground or extracted from brine by means of solution mining and is milled on the surface. In its processed state, potash appears as a granular mineral of varying sizes and ranges in colour from white to reddish depending on the presence of trace elements, notably iron, which remain after processing.

There are two principal potash grades: Granular/Coarse, and Standard/Fine. Standard/Fine includes white muriate of potash (referred to as White MOP) and pink muriate of potash (referred to as Pink MOP). These grades differ in their particle size distribution specifications. Potash can be applied directly to crops or blended mechanically or chemically with other fertilizer nutrients.

The concentration of potash reserves is high, with three countries controlling roughly 85% of the total. A little over 38% of known potash reserves are located in Canada, with Russia second, controlling roughly one-third of global reserves. The third-ranked, Belarus, has 9% of global potash reserves. The potassium content in Russian reserves is higher than in other countries.

To learn more about potash see our presentation 'Plants need in potash'