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Phosphorus reduces the zinc concentration in cereals pot‐grown on calcareous Vertisols from southern Spain
Author(s) -
SánchezRodríguez Antonio Rafael,
del Campillo María Carmen,
Torrent José
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.8195
Subject(s) - vertisol , calcareous , zinc , soil water , phosphorus , fertilizer , chemistry , agronomy , grain yield , calcareous soils , zoology , biology , botany , environmental science , soil science , organic chemistry
BACKGROUND Zinc deficiency, a major problem in crops grown on soils low in available Zn, is even more important in phosphorus‐rich soils. This work aimed to elucidate the effects of soil P and Zn levels, and of fertilizer application, on yield and Zn concentration in cereal grains. RESULTS Wheat and barley were successively pot‐grown on 20 calcareous Vertisols low in available Zn and ranging widely in available P. Grain yield in the plants grown on the native soils was positively correlated with Olsen P but not with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid ( DTPA )‐extractable Zn except for wheat on P‐rich soils. Grain Zn concentration was negatively correlated with Olsen P. Grain Zn uptake differed little among soils. Application of P to the soils increased grain yield insignificantly and P concentration significantly; however, it reduced grain Zn concentration (particularly at low Olsen P values). Applying Zn alone only increased grain Zn concentration, whereas applying P and Zn in combination increased yield and grain Zn concentration at low and high Olsen P values, respectively. CONCLUSION Applying P alone to plants grown on calcareous Vertisols low in available P and Zn may in practice reduce grain Zn concentrations while not increasing grain yield significantly. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry