Potassium that is fixed by soil minerals is considered to be ______ available to crops?

Potassium that is fixed by soil minerals is considered to be slowly available to crops due to the nature of how it is stored within the soil matrix. Fixed potassium is held tightly within the lattice structure of certain minerals, which means it is not easily accessible to plant roots. Over time, however, this potassium can be released into the soil solution through weathering and other soil processes, allowing for gradual uptake by crops.

This slow release process is contrasted with rapidly available potassium, which is found in forms that plants can use immediately, and partially available potassium, which can be accessed with varying degrees of ease based on moisture and temperature conditions. Total availability suggests that all of the potassium is readily accessible, which is not the case in the context of fixed potassium in soil minerals.