1. Phosphorus reduces the zinc concentration in cereals pot-grown on calcareous Vertisols from southern Spain.
- Author
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Sánchez‐Rodríguez, Antonio Rafael, del Campillo, María Carmen, and Torrent, José
- Subjects
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CEREALS as food , *ZINC content of food , *PHOSPHORUS , *VERTISOLS , *FERTILIZER application - Abstract
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]
- Published
- 2017
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