Influence of ammonium chloride on growth and uptake of Fe, Cu, Zn and B in cotton grown in alkaline soil

Abstract

A pot culture experiment was conducted to study the influence of NH 4 Cl (AnalaR grade or commercial fertilizer) on soil pH and on the growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cotton (cv. NIAB-Karishma) grown in alkaline soil. The experiment was carried out in a net-house under natural conditions. The soil used was clayey loam with pH 8.61, and ammonium chloride either from commercial fertilizer or of AnalaR grade (both containing up to 25% N) was applied in three split doses, after germination (10 days), at the vegetative stage (40 days) and at the flowering stage (80 days) @ 6, 12 and 18 kg ha −1 . The application of NH 4 Cl decreased the soil pH and increased the plant height and cotton yield plant −1 . Plants treated with NH 4 Cl AnalaR grade produced higher yields as compared to NH 4 Cl commercial fertilizer. The uptake of micronutrients such as Fe, Cu, Zn and B was enhanced by NH 4 Cl application in both the stem and leaves of cotton. However, AnalaR grade NH 4 Cl proved more effective than NH 4 Cl commercial fertilizer in all cases.