By using the systematic approach, including soil chemical analysis, soil
adsorption study and greenhouse and field experiments,
potassium(K) status and its availability in three selected soils from Jilin Province was evaluated, and the potessium fertilizer use efficiency in these soils was verified. Result indicated that soil available K content and soil
adsorption capability to K followed the same order: black soil> light
chernozem soil> aeolian sandy soil. In the greenhouse experiment, K applicaion increased dry matter yield of sorghum plant by 49. 4% in the aeolian snady soil, 27. 3% in the light chernozem soil, and 13. 1% in the black soil. Same trend was found from the field experiment, K application increased corn yield by 39. 1% in the aeolian sandy soil, 24. 5% in the light chernozem soil, and 14. 9% in the black soil. For the highest corn yield, 100 kg K2O was needed in the black soil and chernozem soil with K utilization rate (recovery rate) of 33.1% and 38. 9%.respectively, while 50 kg K2O needed in the aeolian sandy soil with utilization rate of 61.0 %.