otash is a crucial component in fertilisers used to enhance crop yields and maintain soil fertility.
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Population growth and increased crop production has fuelled demand for potash since the 1960s.
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With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, the need for potash is projected to increase by around 70%.
Even as the world’s population surged past 8 billion this decade, crop production increased even faster to meet the demand, driven by fertilisers like potash.
What is Potash?
Potash, specifically Muriate of Potash, is a potassium-rich salt used to improve agricultural production. Potassium is essential for plant health as it increases yields, improves water efficiency and improves pest and disease resistance.
Why is potash needed?
Potassium naturally occurs in soil, but farming depletes this mineral faster than naturally occurring sources can replenish it. Regular use of potash helps maintain the productivity of fields that have lost nutrients from years of repeated nutrient removal through harvest.
Population Growth, Crop Production, and Fertilizer Use Since 1960
Since 1960, the world’s demand for crops has skyrocketed, fuelled by a booming population that now exceeds eight billion, rising incomes, and expanding uses for agricultural products.
This line graph charts the trends of population growth, crop production, and potash fertiliser use over six decades.
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