Summary
In order to examine the differential response of tropical maize genotypes to Zn and Mn nutrition, a pot experiment was conducted and the results subsequently evaluated in a field trial. Zn was rendered ‘physiologically immobile’ in the root tissue as revealed by a substantial reduction in shoot concentration as compared to root concentration. This effect was most pronounced in the inbred line CM-111. Quite contrasting to Zn, the root concentration of Mn was substantially lower while the shoot concentration was comparable with that of Zn indicating that under identical supply of Zn and Mn to substrate, more of Zn is root absorbed and also ‘root immobilized’, while, of the quantities absorbed by root, relatively more of Mn is translocated to shoot. Maximum root and shoot dry matter yields were obtained at specific Zn/Mn ratio in each of the genotype studied. Available Mn estimated at periodic interval (15 days) during plant growth showed consistent increase corresponding to higher rates applied while available Zn showed an initial (on 15th day of sampling) decrease corresponding to higher rates (possibly initial reversion?) and subsequent (on 45th day of sampling) increase (possibly later release through plant root activity in rhizosphere?). Significant and positive correlation coefficients were obtained between available Zn and root Zn while in the case of available Mn it was so only with shoot Mn. In field experiment Ganga-5 outyielded all the other genotypes and showed a positive response to Mn application.
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Publication No. 899 under journal series of the G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India.
Publication No. 899 under journal series of the G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India.
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Prabhakaran Nair, K.P., Prabhat, G. Differential response of tropical maize genotypes to zinc and manganese nutrition. Plant Soil 47, 149–159 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010376
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010376