Cholride

Role of Chloride

Chloride being a mobile anion in plants, most of its functions relate to salt effects (stomatal opening) and electrical charge balancing in physiological functions in plants. The role of chloride in decreasing the incidence of various diseases in small grains is perhaps more important than its nutritional role from a practical viewpoint.

Soil in which  deficiency is prominent

Most soils contain sufficient levels of chloride for adequate plant nutrition. However, reported chloride deficiencies have been reported on sandy soils in high rainfall areas or those derived from low-chloride parent materials; so this micronutrient generally is not considered in fertilizer programs. In addition, chloride is applied to soils with KCl, the dominant potassium fertilizer.

Effects  of Deficiency

Chloride indirectly affects plant growth by stomatal regulation of water loss.

Symptoms of Deficiency

Wilting and restricted, highly branched root systems are the main chloride-deficiency symptoms, which are found mainly in cereal crops