Change of Zinc Forms in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils of Maize (Zea mays L.) Plants as Influenced by Soil Drought Condition

Abstract

A rhizobox experiment was conducted to study the changes of various zinc (Zn) forms in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils of maize (Zea mays L.) plants grown under well-watered and drought conditions. The tested soil was earth-cumulic orthic anthrosol sampled from the Shaanxi Province of China. The experiment was set at two levels of Zn, 0 and 5.0 mg Zn kg−1 soil, and at two treatments of soil water content, 45%–50% (drought) and 70%–75% (well watered) of soil water-holding capacity. A completely randomized factorial design (2 Zn treatments × 2 water levels × 3 replicates) was set up. Adequate soil water supply enhanced growth and Zn accumulation of maize plants. Applying Zn increased plant biomass and Zn content more notably under well-watered conditions rather than drought conditions. Soil Zn was defined as water-soluble plus exchangeable (WSEXC) Zn, carbonate-bound Zn (CA), iron–manganese oxide–bound Zn (FeMnOX), organic matter–bound Zn (OM), and residual Zn (RES) forms using the sequential extraction procedure. Most of Zn was predominantly in the RES fraction. Zinc application increased the contents of WSEXC Zn, CA Zn, and FeMnOX Zn in soil. When Zn was added to the soil, the concentrations of CA Zn within 0–2 mm and 0–4 mm apart from the central root compartment (CC) were greater than other zones under the conditions of adequate and limited soil water supplies, respectively. Zinc application also resulted in an accumulation of FeMnOX fractions at a distance of 2 mm from CC. The FeMnOX Zn content in this compartment increased with soil drought. Under well-watered conditions, dry-matter weight and Zn concentration of shoots presented better correlations with CA Zn and FeMnOX Zn fractions in and near the rhizosphere as compared with drought conditions. It is suggested that in an earth-cumulic orthic anthrosol, soil moisture conditions affect the transformation of the added Zn into the CA and FeMnOX fractions near the rhizosphere and their bioavailability to maize plants.