potash 1999 59 1 p ot ash by james searls domestic survey data and tables were prepared joseph krisanda statistical assistant the world production table was linder roberts international coordinator is used primarily as an agricultural fertilizer plant nutrient because it a source of soluble potassium one three primary nutrients others are fixed nitrogen phosphorus mined products produced from atmosphere using industrial processes modern practice uses these in large amounts plus additional such boron calcium chlorine copper iron magnesium manganese molybdenum sulfur zinc to assure health proper maturation major have no substitutes but low content alternative sources animal manure guano bone meal compost glauconite tankage slaughterhouses can be addition chloride important industrialized economies where oil well drilling mud aluminum recycling steel heat treating process metal electroplating snow ice melting water softening may enter chlor alkali industry produce hydroxide