Potash

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Potash ( POT-ash) is a name for mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. The term potash derives from pot ash, either plant ashes or wood ashes that were soaked in water in a pot, which was the primary means of manufacturing potash before the Industrial Era. The majority of production during this period was in forested areas like Europe, Russia and North America. Some potash is derived from mines into evaporite deposits -- deposits of salts from ancient seas that are deposited in sedimentary layers. In 2021, the worldwide production of potash exceeded 71.9 million tonnes (~45.4 million tonnes K2O equivalent), and Canada is the largest producer of potash, the majority of which is used as fertilizer; other major producers include Russia and Belarus. As the third most important nutrient for agricultural plants, control of production can lead to risks, such as market manipulation and disruptions by geopolitics.

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