Optimization of phosphorus (P) induced zinc (Zn) deficiency in low and high P soils and monitoring their effect on productivity, Zn and P uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) induced zinc (Zn) deficiency has emerged as an important nutritional constraint for field crop production, and thus, it is essential to optimize P and Zn levels for balanced fertilizer applications. To study the effects of soil applied P and Zn fertilizers on Zn–P interactions and productivity of wheat crop, the experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, during 2017–2018 and 2018–2019. The experiment, comprised two types of soils viz., low and high in P content, with four Zn levels (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg kg−1) and five P levels (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 mg kg−1), conducted in complete randomized design with three replications. The results indicated that under low P soil, wheat yield, Zn and P uptake increased with Zn addition up to 5 mg kg−1 and P addition up to 10 mg kg−1. However, in high P soil, wheat yield, Zn and P uptake increased with Zn addition of 10 mg kg−1 and with no P addition. Among different treatments, P10Zn5 gave the highest wheat yield, content, and uptake of Zn and P in low P soil. Similarly, in high P soil, treatment P0Zn10 reported the highest wheat yield, Zn and P uptake by wheat. The levels of Zn and P viz., P10Zn5 and P0Zn10 showed synergistic effects in terms of wheat yield, content, and uptake of Zn and P, respectively. Thus, the study is beneficial to optimize levels of P and Zn fertilization under low and high P soils.