Impacts of combined N and Zn application on Zn translocation, partitioning, and accumulation in Triticum aestivum

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted to examine the effects of combined application of N and Zn fertilizers on translocation, distribution, and accumulation of Zn in different organs in wheat plants. The results showed that Zn concentration and Zn accumulation in each organ were significantly different under different treatments. Compared with N3 (120 kg·hm-2), the grain Zn concentration of N1 (240 kg·hm-2) and N2 (180 kg·hm-2) increased 22.0% and 8.9%, respectively. Compared with the non-Zn application treatment (CK), grain Zn concentration under ZnS (soil Zn fertilization), ZnF (foliar Zn fertilization), and ZnS+ZnF (soil Zn fertilization combined with foliar Zn fertilization) treatments were increased by 5.4%, 60.5% and 72.8%, while Zn accumulation in grain were increased by 21.3% 82.5% and 102.4%, respectively. Zn in grain mainly came from the remobilization of Zn uptaken after antheis, with the accumulative contribution being 89.9% and 100.0% in ZnF and ZnS+ZnF, respectively. Compared with ZnS, Zn fertilizer recovery and use efficiency of ZnF and ZnS+ZnF were increased by 4.8, 1.1 times and 7.9, 2.2 times, respectively. Under current condition, Zn concentration and Zn accumulation in different organs of wheat increased with increasing N rate when it was less than 240 kg·hm-2, which was significantly increased in the grain by foliar Zn application. Therefore, Zn concentration and Zn accumulation in wheat grain could be increased by maintaining the high-yield N fertilization and combining the foliar Zn application in the late growth stage, which would improve Zn nutritional quality of wheat grain.