Effect of cement kiln flue dust as a source of potassium fertilizer on certain physiological parameters in banana cv. Mysore (AAB)

Experiments were conducted with a view to substitute the commercial potassic fertilizer MOP by K rich cement kiln flue dust (CKFD), a bye product from cement industry. The treatments consisted of 100, 75, 50, 25, 0 percent of K through MOP respectively with 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent combination of K through CKFD. Their effect on the physiological parameters revealed that the activity of enzymes such as nitrate reductase, catalase and peroxidase were found to be enhanced with substituting K with CKFD up to 50–75 percent. Similarly, the soluble protein and proline besides the various leaf gas exchange parameters including the photosynthetic activity and the chlorophyll content were higher in plants applied with CKFD up to 50–75% of K requirement.