The Hindu : Company to popularise `Sulphate of Potash'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 02, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Company to popularise `Sulphate of Potash'

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE MARCH 1 . The Indian Potash Ltd. will popularise the use of "Sulphate of Potash" in India, the Senior Agricultural Scientist, Indian Potash Ltd., S. Shenoy, has said.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Dr. Shenoy said the "Sulphate of Potash" (SoP) had been found suitable for vegetables, fruits, berries, and legumes. The use of SoP on grapes and tobacco in the northern Karnataka had shown encouraging results, he added.

The Indian Potash Ltd., along with the agricultural universities and research stations, had been conducting trials on the use of SoP in cardamom, pepper, vanilla, and pineapple.

A Senior Agricultural Scientist from Germany, Wolffgang Maibaum, said potash was a mineral fertilizer that could be used in organic farming. The European Agronomic Council had also given positive indications in this regard, he added. He said SoP supplied from some other countries were not in the mineral form. They were converted from "Mauriate of Potash" and carried chlorine in them. Dr. Maibaum said potassium was one of the major nutrients required for the crops. It was available in the form of potassium chloride and potassium sulphate.

He said potassic fertilizers were obtained through conventional shaft mining of underground ore bodies. Potash was a promoter of carbohydrates. He said that it created oil and fat contents when administered with sulphur and reduced pest infestation.

The use of SoP on Indian chilly had shown encouraging results, he said.

The sugar contents increased substantially in sugarcane, and shelf life of potato also increased considerably.

The protein contents of mulberry leaves improved after the use of SoP, he added.

Dr. Maibaum said experiments were on to determine the impact of SoP on Alphonso variety of mango.

The European Union had accepted horticultural varieties produced by using SoP.

He said it was suitable for all weather conditions in India.

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