【Objective】China depends heavily on agricultural potassium fertilizer imported from abroad. Thus, it is important to improve potassium utilization efficiency by changing the existing forms of potassium.【Method】In this paper, a two-year field trial (in 2020 and 2021) was set up using Virginia-type peanut Huayu 22 to investigate the effects of inorganic potassium (free ionic state) and sorbitol chelated potassium on peanut yield, dry matter accumulation, potassium accumulation, and bacterial community structure in peanut rhizosphere soil by a completely randomized block design. Under the premise of conventional fertilization, peanut spraying experiments were carried out at different growth stages and with five treatments: CK, water control; IK, inorganic potassium; MK, sorbitol mixed inorganic potassium; SK, sorbitol chelated potassium (self-made); and LK, commercially available chelated potassium (Canada).【Result】The results showed that foliar topdressing potassium fertilizer on leaves could significantly increase the peanut yield. Compared with the treatment of IK or LK treatments, the two-year average yield of SK treatments increased by 18.9% and 14.97%, respectively. The yield components of 100-seed weight, 100-pod weight, and full fruit rate were all significantly improved. Also, the dry matter accumulation and potassium accumulation of peanut plants treated with sorbitol-chelated potassium were significantly increased. Compared with CK, IK, and LK treatments, the total dry matter of peanut plants treated with SK increased by 19.5%, 19.1%, and 15.7% in the stage of the full pod, and increased by 22.8%, 27.4%, and 11.7% at the mature stage, respectively. Potassium accumulation in peanut kernels increased by 30.6%, 49.8% and, 44.8% in the stage of full pod, and increased by 30.8%, 59.1%, and 10.8% at the mature stage, respectively. The above results showed that self-made sorbitol-chelated potassium could promote the absorption and distribution of potassium nutrients in plants. Furthermore, the microbial diversity and richness of peanut rhizosphere soil increased under SK treatment compared with the other treatments. Compared with CK, MK, and LK treatments, the Sobs index of microbial communities in SK treatment increased by 10.7%, 12.5%, and 10.7%, respectively. The species significantly enriched in SK treatment were p-Verrucomicrobiota_g-Roseimicrobium and p-Planctomycetota_c-vadinHA49. The correlation analysis showed that the increase in production was significantly related to the absorption and distribution of potassium and the changes in rhizosphere microorganisms.【Conclusion】In summary, compared with inorganic potassium form, sorbitol-chelated potassium could promote the absorption and accumulation of potassium in peanuts at the same potassium application level, which is comprehensively reflected in production. The research results could provide theoretical and practical references for improving potassium efficiency.