Correction of lime-induced chlorosis by application of iron and potassium sulphates

Abstract

The effects of: iron sulphate in an acid urea medium, potassium sulphate, three mixtures of potassium sulphate with iron sulphate, a mixture of potassium chloride with iron sulphate, ammonium sulphate with nitrification inhibitor (DCD) plus iron sulphate and, finally, sequestrene, in correcting iron chlorosis in peanuts (Arachis hypogea) on a soil containing 65% CaCO₃, pH 7.6, known to induce chlorosis, were tested in pot experiments. The potassium sulphate-iron sulphate mixtures were as effective as sequestrene or more so in correcting chlorosis. The potassium chloride mixture and the ammonium sulphate-DCD-iron sulphate mixture were less effective, the latter probably because of ammoium toxicity. Iron sulphate or potassium sulphate alone had no effect. The effective correction of iron chlorosis requires simultaneous application of iron and potassium sulphates.