Potassium sulphate has been known since early in the 14^th century, in the 17^th century it was named arcanuni or sal duplicatum as it was a combination of an acid salt with an alkaline salt. 130 years ago SOP was discovered to be highly important as a viable agricultural fertiliser as it has 100% of the nutrients needed in growing most high-revenue crops. Fundamental research programmes together with a series of national and international field experts on sulphate of potash found the two essential nutrients: potassium and sulphate, form a 100% nutrient carrier in a single fertiliser, representing an ideal combination for modern nutrient management systems. Its impact since then has been to make better use of limited planting area by making use of less space needed for planting. Factors such as population growth, greater quantities of food consumption and advances in food storage and manufacture have all had an impact on the need for increasing the agricultural yields. SOP fertiliser has become a boon to countries lacking the necessary quantities of these two elements.

SOP has proven its superiority time and again in yield and quality parameters in intensive cropping systems, in soils prone to salinity and where chloride- and salt-sensitive crops are grown. SOP-based fertilisers are the optimal choice for agricultural crops that are susceptible to chloride. In countries where there is threat of oversalinisation to the soil SOP is completely safe. There is no threat of dangerous chemical decomposition into chlorides or sodium from our SOP since it lacks these harmful elements and is exceedingly pure. Our fertiliser solution contains < 0.5 wt% of Cl; water solubility is 100% which makes it a primary option, suitable for use in numerous fertilising methods, particularly the drip irrigation system.

Lately, experiments in Germany on tobacco and potato plantations have shown high efficiency for K₂SO₄ at production standards, these scientific experiments have declined in the last decade in various sectors, but show quality of products result in better taste, contents, appearance and other quality standards because of the use of SOP. Also results from applications in China indicated positive effects for SOP because of the quantity of potassium. In Brazil studies using a group of potassium sources revealed that the sulphate was superior to achieve the high standards for coffee production.

It has been found that SOP has a role in increasing the dry component particular to the taste in potatoes. When treated with SOP they tend to acquire the best qualities for chips (French fries) making factories and famous restaurants of the highest standards for food service. It has also been established that these potatoes, when fertilised with SOP, absorb less oil from friers than others, allowing these establishment to save on frying oil, thus making them more economical choice.

Importance of sulphur (S) for plants:

• One of the main components needed for proteins and amino acids, necessary for metabolism of germinants.
• Roll information of certain volatile components responsible for taste / smell of various plants.
• Lack of (S) may cause plants to have weak growth and yellowish colour, e.g. basalt granite.
• Greatly beneficial for minute organisms by causing higher acidity in soil content.

Importance of potassium (K) for plants:

• Plants cannot grow without it!
• Essential element in building and transferring of carbohydrates.
• Large amounts needed for best seed germination.
• Needed to form amino acids, which are part of the system forming plant taste and colour.
• Deficiency of (K) weakens plants and stunts growth, even stops it!
• Directly affects the secondary thickening for roots and tubers (recommended for use for potatoes, carrots, kale and beets).
• Proven that proper amounts yield bigger fruits and vegetables (better production in farming other plants in greater quantity and quality, such as squash and cucumber, giving high percentage of yield).

Features of SOP:

• Completely water-soluble, i.e. fast reach to plants.
• Devoid of chloride (Cl) and sodium (Na), i.e. less toxic to soil.
• Low acidity implies direct balance to base properties that can harm switching minors and salt operations between plant and soil.
• Safe to people dealing with it.
• Nonflammable and non-explosive.
• Contains soluble form of sulphur, hard to find in natural form.
• Nontoxic to plants with any amount used (even at high concentrations by mistake).
• Can be used in modern irrigation systems such as pointing or rolling-pin sprinkling, and other techniques in modern farming.
• Can be used in ultra high-tech farming without soil.
• Can be sprinkled on leaves in concentrated form (between 10 – 15 kg/m³ concentration) to get larger fruits in final stages of farming which can’t be irrigated when increased and fast effectiveness is desired, especially in olives, apples, peaches and figs.
• Keeps soil effective and doesn’t kill fertility as other manures do.
• Arguments the flavours used in most perfumed ketone elements or extracted ketone elements. As well, it has effects on the levels of amino acids, esters and other essential effects to flavours in plants.
• Plays a role in determining several food colours, e.g. carotene. It makes plant colour as direct ingredients and as an intermediate element in producing multiple colour combination.
• Improves the elasticity of plant cell walls and augments the flexibility of plant cells. Potassium helps to increase the water percentage of plant cells, helping to create flexibility and suppleness of the agricultural product.
• Plays a role in growth length of plant cells, it improves cell strength in cell mitosis / meiosis. Also SOP plays a role in increasing the size of cells, thus allowing for great water volume, as well as dry mass.
• Potassium and sulphur each has a function in increasing total mass and weight of cells, thus, the total product yielded will be bigger in weight volume.
• As a supplementary attribute, using SOP improves complexion and texture of fruits. SOP strengthens resistance of plant disease.