 |
ProCrop |
Chloride Role and Deficiency
Chloride is the chlorine ion (Cl-). High soil nitrate and sulfate levels can depress chloride uptake by plants. Chloride is used by plants as a counter ion to balance charge, and to help maintain plant turgor, or rigidity of cell membranes, helping to keep out unwanted compounds and disease organisms. Several small grain diseases are encouraged by low chloride levels. Chloride deficiency causes irregular yellow to necrotic spotting of small grain leaf tissue. The need for chloride is assessed using a soil test. The level of soil chloride below which fertilization is recommended is 30 lb/acre in the surface 2 feet. This recommendation is only for the sensitive crops of wheat and barley. Recent research in New Jersey and Kansas suggests that corn may also be a sensitive crop. Over application of chloride can cause toxicity in bean and potato.
Back to Nutrient -
Fertilizer Menu
Back to Fertilizer Menu
Back to Main ProCrop Index
