Effect of potassium chloride and sodium chloride on the performance of coconut in a laterite soil

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of Nad on the performance of young coconut palms grown in a laterite soil at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode. The treatments were the substitution of K2O (applied as KC1) by Na2O (applied as Nad) to the extent of 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0 per cent. The palms receiving 50 per cent substitution of toO by Na2O retained maximum number of functioning leaves. The treatments differed significantly in their influence on nutrient uptake of the palms in the case of K, Na and Cl. Palms receiving higher amount of K or Na retained higher amount of these elements. Palms receiving neither KG nor Nad registered significantly lower uptake of Cl than palms receiving other treatments. The available K and available Na increased with increased application of K and Na respectively while the other characteristics of the soil were not affected.