ARTIKEL

Dangerous Effects of Chloride on Plants

Fertilizers are a very important component of farming and are required to ensure good yields and healthy plant growth. But along with all the essential nutrients, fertilizers also contain a potentially damaging element known as Chloride (Cl).

It is important to use chloride free fertilizers for all chloride sensitive high value crops.

Most fertilizers which are manufactured with raw materials like Potassium Chloride (MOP) or Ammonium Chloride (AC) all contain chloride. Over time, usage of these types of fertilizers can build up Chloride content in soil. This is particularly harmful for certain types of Chloride sensitive crops like durian, melons, mango, citrus, strawberry, cucumber, chili, some vegetables at early stage, etc. Most crops with a shallow root system are normally very susceptible to Chloride damage.

High Chloride can cause severe damage to most parts of the plant and subsequently affect yields and fruit quality.

Some of the damages caused by chloride include:

  1. Low chlorophyll content in leaf (leaf yellowing)
  2. Low sugar content in fruit
  3. Necrosis of leaf margins & tips, leaf burn resulted in leaf drop and a drought-like symptom
  4. Compete with nitrate absorption in soil causing N-deficiency symptom, leading to stunted growth and delayed flowering

Ultimately chloride results in weak plant health, low fruit quality and yield. To avoid these problems, it is recommended for growers planting chloride sensitive or high value crops to apply ‘Chloride Free’ fertilizers. However, growers must be careful because a recent survey has found that many fertilizers in the Malaysian market labelled ‘low chloride’ actually contain Chloride content as much as 10% or higher.

Agrobridge’s COMPLEX SPECIAL and INNOTEC series are European NPK compound fertilizers that use Potassium Sulphate (SOP) or Potassium Nitrate (PN) as K-source, that make the fertilizer ‘Chloride Free’. Growers can be assured that all Agrobridge ‘Chloride Free’ fertilizers guarantee Chloride content lower than 1%. Apart from that, balanced Sulphur content in these fertilizer grades are also beneficial for flavour and aroma, especially important for crops like durian, jackfruit, mango, etc.

Benefits of COMPLEX SPECIAL and INNOTEC (Chloride-free fertilizer)

  • Safe for chloride sensitive crop
  • Higher leaf chlorophyll content and better plant health
  • Provide higher sulphur content for crop’s needs
  • Stronger plant resistance during drought
  • Improve crop’s yield
  • Improve aroma, taste and shape.

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