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Description
Potash, the "ash from the pot", refers to various compounds of potassium. Potassium is critical to healthy plant growth and was historically obtained by leaching it out of wood ashes. Potash is now commonly obtained by underground mining, then converted to fertilizer. (The art shown below is the wall of a potash mine.)
Various forms of potash are available worldwide, but Canada is the largest producer. The widespread use of potash in agriculture is shown in the following graphs representing major developed countries: