Copper Oxychloride Fungicide: Complete Guide to Uses, Dosage & Price (2026)
Copper has been used to protect crops from fungal disease since the 1880s — the famous "Bordeaux mixture" (copper sulphate + lime) was discovered by accident in French vineyards and became the world's first widely used fungicide. Your great-great-grandfather probably used some form of copper on his farm. If a chemistry has been working reliably for 140 years across six continents, you can trust it.
Copper Oxychloride 50% WP is the modern, refined form of that same copper chemistry — more concentrated, easier to handle, and with one critical advantage that most farmers don't know about: it works against bacteria, not just fungi. In a world full of fungicides that can't touch bacterial diseases, that's a significant edge.
What is Copper Oxychloride Fungicide?
Copper Oxychloride (COC) 50% WP is a broad-spectrum contact fungicide and bactericide. Its active ingredient, copper oxychloride, releases copper ions on the leaf surface. These copper ions are toxic to fungal spores and bacterial cells, preventing germination and infection before it starts.
Key characteristics:
- Multi-site contact action — attacks multiple biochemical pathways simultaneously, making resistance development almost impossible
- Dual fungicide + bactericide activity — effective against both fungal and bacterial diseases
- Approved for organic farming in many certification systems (copper-based fungicides are permitted inputs under organic standards)
- Low mammalian toxicity — one of the safest fungicides in routine use
How Does Copper Oxychloride Work?
On contact with moisture (dew, irrigation, rain), copper oxychloride slowly releases copper ions (Cu²⁺). These ions interfere with fungal and bacterial enzyme systems — disrupting cell membrane integrity, blocking metabolic processes, and preventing spore germination.
Because copper attacks multiple biochemical sites simultaneously (unlike systemic fungicides that target a single enzyme), fungi and bacteria cannot easily develop resistance. No documented field resistance to copper fungicides has emerged after 140 years of use. That's a record no modern synthetic fungicide can match.
Important limitation: Copper Oxychloride is a protectant — it sits on the leaf surface and prevents infection. It cannot cure established disease. Apply it before or at the very first signs of disease.
Diseases Copper Oxychloride Controls
| Disease | Crop(s) | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Late blight | Tomato, potato | Fungal (Oomycete) |
| Early blight (Alternaria) | Tomato, potato | Fungal |
| Downy mildew | Grapes, cucurbits, onion | Fungal (Oomycete) |
| Brown leaf spot | Paddy (rice) | Fungal |
| Leaf spot | Groundnut, tomato, chilli | Fungal |
| Rhizome rot | Ginger, turmeric | Fungal + Bacterial |
| Bacterial leaf blight | Paddy (rice) | Bacterial |
| Bacterial canker | Mango, citrus | Bacterial |
| Anthracnose | Mango, chilli, papaya | Fungal |
| Scab | Apple, pear, mango | Fungal |
| Coffee leaf rust | Coffee | Fungal |
| Die-back | Chilli, pomegranate | Fungal + Bacterial |
The bacterial disease coverage is what sets copper apart. If you're dealing with bacterial leaf blight in paddy or bacterial canker in mango — diseases where most fungicides are completely ineffective — copper oxychloride is one of your primary options.
Which Crops Is Copper Oxychloride Registered For?
- Vegetables: Tomato, potato, chilli, brinjal, cucurbits, onion, beans
- Fruits: Mango, grapes, apple, citrus, papaya, pomegranate, banana
- Spices: Ginger, turmeric, cardamom, pepper
- Cereals: Paddy (rice)
- Plantation crops: Coffee, tea, tobacco
- Pulses: Groundnut, soybean
Copper Oxychloride Dosage Chart
| Crop | Disease | Dose per litre | Dose per acre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato / Potato | Early & late blight | 3–4 g/L | 600–800 g in 200 L water |
| Paddy | Brown spot, bacterial blight | 3 g/L | 500–600 g in 200 L water |
| Grapes | Downy mildew | 3–4 g/L | As needed for canopy |
| Mango | Anthracnose, bacterial canker | 3 g/L | Spray to run-off |
| Ginger / Turmeric | Rhizome rot, leaf spot | 3–4 g/L | 500–700 g in 200 L water |
| Chilli | Anthracnose, die-back | 3 g/L | 500–600 g in 200 L water |
| Coffee / Tea | Leaf rust, blister blight | 3–4 g/L | Spray to run-off |
| General (foliar) | Broad-spectrum | 30–40 g per 15 L knapsack | — |
Application Tips: Getting the Best from Copper Oxychloride
- Apply preventively. Once late blight or downy mildew is established across 20%+ of the canopy, copper will limit further spread but cannot reverse existing damage. The economics of prevention far outweigh cure.
- Spray interval: 10–14 days in normal conditions; tighten to 7 days during the monsoon or prolonged wet/humid weather when disease pressure is highest.
- Avoid copper on young seedlings. High copper doses can cause phytotoxicity (leaf burn) on very young plants. Wait until the 4-leaf stage before first application.
- Do not mix with lime or alkaline products. High pH neutralises copper ion release and reduces efficacy. Keep spray mix at neutral to slightly acidic pH.
- Excellent for monsoon conditions. Copper oxychloride adheres well to waxy leaf surfaces and has decent rainfastness once dried (allow 2 hours before rain).
- Rotate with systemics. Use copper as a protectant base spray, then bring in a systemic fungicide (Roko, Tilt, Nativo) when disease pressure escalates.
Copper Oxychloride vs Other Fungicides
- vs Mancozeb: Both are multi-site contact fungicides. Copper covers bacterial diseases too; Mancozeb does not. In disease scenarios with both fungal and bacterial components (common in ginger, paddy), copper is the better choice.
- vs Systemic fungicides (Roko, Tilt): Systemics move inside the plant and cure early infections. Copper sits on the surface and only prevents. Use copper in your preventive spray programme, systemics when disease appears.
- vs Bordeaux mixture: Copper oxychloride 50% WP is easier to prepare, more consistent in concentration, and more convenient than making Bordeaux mixture from scratch. Same copper-based protection, far less hassle.
Copper Oxychloride Price in India (2026)
- 250 g pack: ₹120–₹180
- 500 g pack: ₹220–₹300
- 1 kg pack: ₹380–₹500
Copper Oxychloride is one of the most cost-effective fungicides available. At ₹400–₹500 per kg, a full-acre spray costs roughly ₹240–₹320 — making it one of the cheapest disease protection options per hectare in India.
Buy Copper Oxychloride fungicide on Farmkart with cash on delivery and delivery across India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is copper oxychloride safe for organic farming?
A: Yes — copper-based fungicides are permitted inputs under most organic certification standards in India, including NPOP. Always verify with your specific certifier, as usage limits may apply.
Q: Can I mix copper oxychloride with insecticides?
A: Generally compatible with most insecticides. Avoid mixing with strongly alkaline formulations. Do a jar test with any new combination before bulk preparation.
Q: Will copper oxychloride build up in my soil?
A: Long-term heavy use of copper-based products can cause soil copper accumulation, which can eventually become phytotoxic. Rotate with non-copper fungicides and avoid unnecessary applications. At recommended rates, this is not a concern over normal farming cycles.
Q: What is the pre-harvest interval?
A: Varies by crop — generally 7–14 days for vegetables and fruit crops. Check the specific product label.
Q: Does copper oxychloride control powdery mildew?
A: Limited efficacy against powdery mildew. For powdery mildew, use sulphur-based fungicides or DMI fungicides like Tilt (Propiconazole).
