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Abstract
Different factors affect zinc (Zn) nutrition of plants, among which pH and phosphorus (P) have been studied widely but nitrogen (N) has not received much attention. The present experiment was designed to study the effect of N and P on growth and Zn nutrition of corn (Zea mays L.) in a highly calcareous soil of Iran. The experiment was a 3x3x2 factorial in randomized complete blocks with three replications which was conducted in greenhouse for eight weeks. Treatments consisted of three levels of N (0,75, and 150 mg/kg), three levels of P (0, 50, and 100 mg/kg), and two levels of Zn (0 and 20 mg/kg). Application of N increased dry matter (DM), N concentration and uptake, Zn concentration and uptake, and N: P and N: Zn ratios of plant tops; but it decreased P concentration and uptake and P: Zn ratio. Application of P increased DM, P concentration and uptake, N uptake, and P: Zn and N: Zn ratios; but it decreased N and Zn concentrations and N: P ratio. Dry matter and Zn concentration and uptake increased but P: Zn and N: Zn ratios decreased following the application of Zn. Multiple regression equations obtained showed the influence of N application on increasing Zn concentration and uptake and lowering the P: Zn ratio of plant tops. It was concluded that N application improves Zn nutrition of corn in highly calcareous soils by increasing plant Zn concentration and uptake and decreasing P concentration. This lowers the P: Zn ratio of plant tops to a more optimum range for plant growth.
Notes
Paper No. K‐599–73 College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Associate Professor.
