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Zinc fertilizers for Citrus production: assessing nutrient supply via fertigation or foliar application

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Abstract

Background and aims

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is widespread in citrus orchard around the world, which impairs plant growth and fruit yield. Zn fertilization is usually recommended in field orchards, and application strategies toward nutrient use efficiency are key for successful crop management.

Methods

Field studies were carried out with sweet orange trees for four growing seasons, testing Zn (nitrate, sulfate or EDTA) applied either via fertigation or foliar spray compared to a control without Zn.

Results

The Zn concentrations in the soil increased with nutrient supply by both application methods. Zn-EDTA via fertigation increased soil nutrient availability compared to the control. Likewise, Zn-nitrate via foliar application also increased soil Zn levels. Regarding the plant, Zn-EDTA via fertigation increased leaf nutrient levels only after the third year of fertilization, whereas Zn-nitrate via foliar spray increased leaf levels in the short term, up to 120 mg kg−1. To a lesser extent, Zn-EDTA or sulfate also increased leaf Zn compared to the control. Accumulated fruit yield was ~20% higher in trees with Zn-EDTA via fertigation and ~ 20% higher in trees with Zn-nitrate or sulfate via foliar application compared to the control, with these latter exerting greater responses. Trees supplied with Zn exhibited lower H2O2 and higher CAT activity compared to the control, which correlated with a fruit yield increase.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Zn-EDTA via fertigation or nitrate or sulfate via foliar application improved the horticultural performance of trees, supporting the establishment of best nutrient management practices in fruit production.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, grants #2013/08288-3 and #2010/17589-9). We also thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), which granted RMB and DMJ fellowships.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Citricultura Sylvio Moreira, Instituto Agronômico, Rod. Anhanguera, km 158, CP 04, Cordeirópolis, SP, CEP 13492-442, Brazil

    Rodrigo Marcelli Boaretto, Franz Walter Rieger Hippler, Raíssa Cagnolato Fornari & Dirceu Mattos Jr

  2. Centro de Solos e Recursos Ambientais, Instituto Agronômico, Av. Barão de Itapura, 1481, CP 28, Campinas, SP, CEP 13020-902, Brazil

    Luiz Antônio Junqueira Teixeira & José Antônio Quaggio

Authors
  1. Rodrigo Marcelli Boaretto
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  2. Franz Walter Rieger Hippler
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  3. Luiz Antônio Junqueira Teixeira
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  4. Raíssa Cagnolato Fornari
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  5. José Antônio Quaggio
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  6. Dirceu Mattos Jr
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception, design and/or conduction. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by [RM Boaretto], [LAJ Teixeira], [JA Quaggio], [FWR Hippler], [RC Fornari] and [D Mattos Jr]. The first draft of the manuscript was written by [RM Boaretto], [FWR Hippler] and [D Mattos Jr] and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Rodrigo Marcelli Boaretto.

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Boaretto, R.M., Hippler, F.W.R., Teixeira, L.A.J. et al. Zinc fertilizers for Citrus production: assessing nutrient supply via fertigation or foliar application. Plant Soil 496, 179–192 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-05969-w

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