Sodium chloride (NaCl) use in potato as fertilizer

Survey and identification of causes of sodium chloride use in potato in northerner of parts of Bangladesh

M.A.K. Mian, M.R. Islam and J. Hossain

Agronomy Division, Regional Agricultural Research Station

Ishurdi 6620, Pabna

Photograph: Dr. M.A.K.Mian is interviewing with farmer on NaCl use in potato at Baroipara village of Paba upa zilla of Rajshahi.

A diagnostic survey on sodium chloride (NaCl) use in potato was carried out on 28 December 2011, 29 December 2011 and 2 January at Bogra, Rajshahi and Pabna districts respectively. The selected locations were Valta village of Kahalur Upa Zilla, Pertakur village of Shajahanpur Upa Zilla at Bogra district, Baroipara village of Paba Upa zilla and Jeolmari village of Godagari Upa zilla at Rajshahi district and Gangmatal village of Ishurdi Upa zilla at Pabna district. Thirty farmers were interviewed at leach location. Information on sodium chloride use on potato has been given in Table 1.

Table 1. Farmers’ opinion on sodium chloride use in potato at different locations

Sl. No.	Location	Opinions of farmers (no.) on sodium chloride use on crops
		Potato		Other crops
		Yes	No	Yes	Crops
1	Valta village of Kahalur Upa Zilla		30
2	Pertakur village of Shajahanpur Upa Zilla		30
3	Baroipara village of Paba Upa zilla	30		yes	wheat and rice
4	Jeolmari village of Godagari Upa zilla		30	yes	wheat and rice
5	Ganmatal village of Ishurdi Upa zilla	10	20	yes	Litchi

Farmers of Valta village of Kahalur Upa Zilla and Pertakur village of Shajahanpur Upa Zilla at Bogra district do not use sodium chloride in potato and other crops. But the farmers of Baroipara village of Paba Upa zilla at Rajshahi district use sodium chloride in potato. Moreover, the farmers of Rajshahi district use sodium chloride in rice and wheat in some cases. The farmers of Ganmatal of Ishurdi Upa zilla at Pabna district use sodium chloride in litchi. The farmers opined that those who lend lands from others farmers, then they use sodium chloride in crops in hidden condition, especially at night. Moreover, they said, use of sodium chloride helps to suck up the nutrients from soil by the crops. But the soil becomes unfertile for the following years. One farmer opined that NaCl is used as a substitute of Muriate of Potash (KCl). The crop performance is good producing better yield when NaCl is used in potato. The scientific reason behind that there probably occurs cation exchange by Na⁺ replacing K⁺ in the soil. Reserved or unavailable (Adsorbed) K+ in soil is replaced by adding Na+ (Na⁺Cl^-). Thus available K⁺ is useful for K loving of potato crop.