Researchers are using Cl containing fertilizers like KCl, ZnCl2, CuCl2 and MnCl2 for controlling cassava mosaic virus and for nutrient management. In many crops, chlorine injury has been reported due to the application of chlorine containing fertilizers. What will be the adverse effect of Cl in cassava plant?
With ZnCl2, CuCl2 and MnCl2 you may have no yield losses as you can only use mirco quantities, but KCl will reduce growth noticeable with fully covered K-demand. May be until 50 kg K2O/ha the adverse effect is only a little.
I agree with Dr.Humer.One can go up to 50-100 kg K20 /ha application depending on yield level.Crop yield may not get affected at higher levels of application but the quality of tuber and especially starch quality may get affected which needs to be investigated.
Humer and Subba Rao are right to say that chloride fertilizers containing micronutrients may not damage cassava because of lesser quantities added but KCl may harm the crop; yield and quality due to Cl toxicity.
Dr.Hussain,KCl application even up to 100 kg/ha K20 may not affect adversely the cassava yield .If we apply still higher amounts we may have to examine the quality of starch.Quality of starch is important for industrial processing for some food products.We can also go for integrated use of organic manure and KCl so that we can reduce the amount of KCl application.
I agree with Dr Hummer & Dr Subba Rao.Micro doses may no affect cassava but higher doses may cause chloride toxicity,thus metabolic activities may be affected resulting in qualitative & quantitative change in food product.
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