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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 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Iron (Fe) deficiency chlorosis, a major nutritional problem in plants growing on calcareous soils, is related to the content and reactivity of soil iron oxides and carbonates. The effects of other soil components, however, need elucidation. In this paper we tested the hypothesis that application of high doses of phosphorus (P) to the soil can aggravate Fe chlorosis. RESULTS Lupin and sorghum were grown on 24 calcareous soils. Leaf chlorophyll concentration ( LCC) in lupin decreased with increasing available P/available Fe ratio in the native soil but LCC in sorghum was unaffected by that ratio. Application of P to the soil resulted in significant reduction of LCC and dry weight in lupin. In sorghum, LCC and dry weight were positively affected by P fertilisation for soils poor in available P whereas the opposite effect was generally observed for the P-rich soils. In another experiment where olive plants were pot-grown on two soils during the 2009-2011 period, P fertilisation affected LCC negatively only in 2009 and 2011 and in the soil that was poorer in iron oxides. CONCLUSION Application of fertiliser P to Fe chlorosis-inducing soils is likely to aggravate this deficiency. However, this effect depends on the plant and the Fe and P statuses of the soil. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]