Abstract
Field experiments conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during 2005–2007 showed that the application of small amounts of zinc (Zn) in the form 0.5–2.0% of Zn-enriched urea significantly increased yield attributes, grain and straw yield, Zn concentrations in the grain and straw and Zn uptake by spring wheat. The agronomic and crop recovery efficiency of applied Zn decreased as the level of Zn-enrichment was increased from 0.5 to 2%. Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) and zinc oxide (ZnO) were equally effective in increasing the grain yield of wheat. Based on these results, we recommend the application of a 0.5–1.0% Zn enrichment of urea with ZnSO4 or a 1.0% Zn-enrichment with ZnO.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cakmak I, Yilmaz A, Kalayci M, Ekiz H, Torun B, Erengolu B et al (1996) Zinc deficiency as a critical problem in wheat production in central Anatolia. Plant Soil 180:165–172. doi:10.1007/BF00015299
Carroll MD, Loneragan JF (1969) Response of plant species to concentrations of zinc in solution. II. Rates of zinc absorption and their relation to growth. Aust J Agric Res 20(3):457–463. doi:10.1071/AR9690457
Doberman A (2005) Nitrogen use efficiency—state of the art. In: IFA Int Workshop Enhanced-Efficiency Fertilizers. Frankfurt, Germany, pp 1–18
Gupta VK (1995) Zinc research and agricultural production. In: Tandon HLS (ed) Micronutrient research and agricultural production. Fertilizer Development and Consultation Organization, New Delhi, India, pp 132–164
Katyal JC, Rattan RK (2003) Secondary and micronutrients—research gaps and future needs. Fertil News 48(4):9–20
Katyal JC, Vlek PLG (1985) Micronutrient problems in tropical Asia. Fert Res 7:131–150. doi:10.1007/BF01048996
Lindsay WL (1991) Inorganic equilibria affecting micronutrients in soils. In: Mortvedt JJ, Cox FR, Shuman LM, Weltch RM (eds) Micronutrients in agriculture Madison. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, pp 89–112
Lindsay WL, Norvell WA (1978) Development of DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese and copper. Soil Sci Soc Am J 42:421–428
Mikkelson DS, Brandon DM (1975) Zinc deficiency in California rice. Calif Agric 29(9):8–9
Nayyar VK, Takkar PN, Bansal RL, Singh SP, Kaur NP, Sadana US (1990) Micronutrients in soils and crops of Punjab. Research bulletin. Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Prasad R (2006) Zinc in soils and in plants, human & animal nutrition. Indian J Fertil 2(9):103–119
Prasad R, Shivay YS, Kumar D, Sharma SN (2006) Learning by doing exercises in soil fertility (A practical manual for soil fertility). Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
Rangaswamy R (1995) A text book of agricultural statistics. New Age International, New Delhi
Rattan RK, Datta SP, Saharan N, Katyal JC (1997) Zinc in Indian agriculture—a look forward. Fertil News 42(12):75–89
Shivay YS, Kumar D, Prasad R, Ahlawat IPS (2007) Relative yield and zinc uptake by rice from zinc sulphate and zinc oxide coatings onto urea. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 80(2):181–188. doi:10.1007/s10705-007-9131-5
Sillanpaa M (1982) Micronutrients and the nutrient status of soils—a global study. FAO Soils Bull 48. FAO, Rome
Singh B, Senthil Kumar AN, Singh BK, Usha K (2005) Improving zinc efficiency of cereals under zinc deficiency. Curr Sci 88:36–44
Slaton NA, Normon RJ, Wilson CE Jr (2005) Effect of Zn source and application time on Zn uptake and grain yield of flood-irrigated rice. Agron J 92:272–278
Takkar PN (1996) Micronutrient research and sustainable agricultural productivity in India. J Indian Soc Soil Sci 44:562–581
Takkar PN, Chibba IM, Mehta SK (1989) Twenty years of coordinated research on micronutrients in soils and plants. Bulletin 1. Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal
Westfall D, Gangloff B (2001) Zinc fertilizers, is there a difference? Agron News 21(6):8
Acknowledgements
Our sincere thanks are due to Director and Head of the Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi for their advice and support. Rajendra Prasad is grateful to the Indian National Science Academy for granting him an INSA Honorary Scientist Position.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shivay, Y.S., Prasad, R. & Rahal, A. Relative efficiency of zinc oxide and zinc sulphate-enriched urea for spring wheat. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 82, 259–264 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-008-9186-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-008-9186-y