Omission Of Zn Research Articles

Impact of site specific nutrient omission technique on growth, yield and quality of QPM

Maize holds immense importance as the most widely cultivated crop on a global scale. It exhibits remarkable responsiveness to the external application of fertilizers and the optimal doses of nutrients are essential to augment the growth as well as yield characteristics of maize. Therefore, to investigate the nutrient omission impact on crop growth and yield of quality protein maize (LQMH-1 hybrid) under SSNM application of nutrients, a study was performed at an Agricultural Research Farm, FoA, Wadura, SKUAST Kashmir, India, during Kharif season 2021. The experiment comprised of eight treatments viz., absolute control (T1), NPK (T2), NPKZnS (T3), PKZnS (-N) (T4), NKZnS (-P) (T5), NPZnS (-K) (T6), NPKS (-Zn) (T7) and NPKZn5 (-S) (T8) in RCBD experimental design with three replications. The application of NPKZnS led to a substantial increase in yield metrics, including cob length, cob diameter, ear height, grain rows per cob, and seed index. The treatment (T3) attained a significantly higher leaf area index of 5.82 at 60 DAS with CGR of 2.78g m-2 day-1 at 60-90 DAS and RGR of 52.74 mg g-1 day-1 between 30-60 DAS and also recorded maximum protein content (9.5%). Among the omission of nutrients, nitrogen was found to be the most limiting nutrient that drastically reduced LAI, CGR, RGR, yield characters, and protein content of maize which was trailed by P omission and K omission. However, the omission of Zn and S had the least significant impact on the performance of the QPM hybrid.

Ameliorating incongruent effects of balanced fertilization on maize productivity in strongly acid soils with liming

Several studies have recommended balanced fertilization for increased and sustainable maize productivity in northern Ghana. However, the effectiveness of balanced fertilization in strongly acid soils is unknown. We conducted nutrient omission trials on strongly acid soils in four communities in northern Ghana to quantify impact of balanced fertilization and its synergism with liming on maize productivity. We evaluated the following treatments, each with and without liming: (i) balanced fertilization (BF), which contained all essential limiting nutrients, (ii) BF without sulfur (minus-S), (iii) BF without zinc (minus-Zn), (iv) BF without boron (minus-B), (v) NPK-only, and (vi) control. Without liming, maize yield was generally low (ranging from 0.4 to 2.2 t ha−1) and followed the order: minus-Zn > NPK-only > BF = Minus-S = Minus-B > Control. However, regardless of fertilization treatment, liming significantly increased maize productivity with grain yields ranging from 0.7 to 4.2 t ha−1, with BF having the greatest yield. With liming, the minus-Zn treatment resulted in a ≥ 30% yield decrease, compared to BF. The combined data suggest that in strongly acid soils, unless lime is applied, addition of micronutrients to NPK fertilizers would not have the desired effect on maize productivity. Without lime application to such soils, omission of Zn from BF in will not only reduce production cost but could have a positive impact on maize productivity. However, we recommend that BF in strongly acid soils should be accompanied by liming to ensure increased and sustainable productivity.

Growth and Visual Symptoms of Macro Deficiencies and Micronutrientes in Mallow (Urena lobata) Plants, Variety BR-01

Within the increase of Coffee production and its export as well, a larger resourcefulness is been required to manufacture its bags. Due to these increases, a natural fiber source became valued again despite its growing had been forgotten for some years. The mallow is being observed as an excellent ecological alternative, but the knowledge of its handling and natural requirements are restricted, by the fact of lately inattention in this natural fiber. In this context with the purpose of contributing with the knowledge of this cultivation, an experiment was settled aiming to evaluate its growth, to characterize the visual of macro and micronutrients deficiency symptoms to determine the analytical levels of these nutrients. The mallow plants, variety BR-01, were cultivated in the Department of Soil’s greenhouse from Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia-UFRA, in plastic vases containing 3 kg of ground silica and submitted to the following treatments: complete, omission of N, omission of P, omission of K, omission of Ca, omission of Mg, omission of S, omission of B, omission of Cu, omission of Fe, omission of Mn and omission of Zn. After a period comprehended between 7 and 29 days, the occurrence of deficiency symptoms has started, except for the treatments with omission of S, Cu and Zn. The plants development were mostly affected by the treatments with omission of B and Ca.

Zinc deficiency affects physiological and anatomical characteristics in maize leaves

Zinc (Zn) is an essential microelement involved in several plant physiological processes. Therefore, it is important to identify Zn deficiencies promptly—before extensive damage occurs to the plant. The diagnostic tools that are used to identify Zn deficiencies are very important in areas where Zn deficiencies occur. Such diagnostic tools are vital for nutritional management and fertilizer recommendations. The current study investigated the effects of Zn deficiency on maize plants by recording a number of physiological and anatomical parameters. A Zn omission trial (from 0 to 22 days) was carried out to produce plants that had varying degrees of Zn deficiency. Typical symptoms of Zn deficiency (e.g. chlorotic stripes and purple shades on the edges and leaf sheath) appeared 16 days after the omission of Zn from nutrient solutions. As the time of Zn omission increased, there were significant decreases in net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, maximal efficiency of photosystem I (evaluated by Fv/Fm), biomass (dry weight) and Zn concentrations in plants. Zinc-deficient plants also had a lower vascular bundle proportion coupled with a higher stomata density. These physiological and anatomical changes negatively impacted plant growth. Moreover, they occurred before visible symptoms of Zn deficiency were observed. Zinc concentrations were recorded for younger leaves, rather than for more mature leaves, which is usually recommended for plant analysis. The results demonstrate that the analysis of Zn in young leaves of maize is a very sensitive indicator of Zn status.

Basal Fertilizer Effects on Weed Occurrence and Rice Yield in Acid Upland Soil of West Africa at Bénin

Fertilizers application is required in order to improve rice production in low fertile soils of West Africa. This practice can also increase weed pressure in rice field, thereby reducing yield significantly. Chemotropism of weed was hypothesized to identify nutrient effects on weed abundance and biomass production as well as rice yield for suitable recommendation of basal fertilizer in terre de barre soil agro-ecology. Two years (2005 and 2006) fertilizer omission trial including nitrogen (N), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) was conducted in a randomized completed block design, with 4 replications at the Africa Rice Center experiment station, in Benin. The New Rice for Africa named NERICA 4 was sown. Weed dominance-abundance indices and biomass, as well as, rice grain yield were assessed. Results show that Digitaria horizontalis Wild and Mariscus cylindristachyus Steudel were the most dominant weed species in rainfed rice fields on terre de barre soils and the omission of Zn has ability to discriminate among weeds. Base on weed biomass (60.11 – 129.26 g m-2) reduction by 36 – 53% in treatments with Ca, Mg and P omission, the application of N, K and Zn was recommendable for basal fertilizer as integrated weed management practice for boosting rice production on terre de barre soils in West Africa.

Regulation of crystal protein biosynthesis by Bacillus thuringiensis: I. Effects of mineral elements and pH

Crystal protein synthesis by a local isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis was monitored and compared in association with growth and sporulation in media differing in mineral element content. Mg and Cu were the most important metals for the biosynthesis of 135 kDa and 65 kDa toxin components in that the former was essential and the latter was greatly stimulatory at 10 −6 to 10 −7 M concentration. Also the inclusion of Mn favored toxin production at concentrations ranging from 3×10 −4 to 10 −5 M. The omission of Zn and Ca had no effect on toxin formation. Crystal protein synthesis and sporulation did not generally seem to be co-regulated by the minerals as these processes responded differently to mineral levels. There was no evidence for suppression of biosynthesis by inorganic phosphate over a range of 3 to 100 mM. Crystal protein production was more efficient in buffered medium, especially when the initial pH was adjusted to 6.5.

Pod development of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in solution culture

Normal pods (containing seed) of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) (cv. TMV-2) were successfully raised in darkened, aerated, nutrient solution, but not in the light. The onset of podding was evident 7 to 8 d after gynophores were submerged in the darkened nutrient solution. An examination of pods and submerged portions of gynophore surfaces by scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of two distinctly different protuberances: unicellular root-hair-like structures that first developed from epidermal cells of the gynophores and developing pods; and branched septate hairs that developed later from cells below the epidermal layer. The septate hairs became visible only after the epidermal and associated unicellular structures had been shed by the expanding gynophore and pods. Omission of Mn and Mg from the podding environment increased pod and seed weight, whilst omission of Zn reduced pod and seed weight.

The Effect of Zinc on Growth and Sclerotial Formation InWhetzelinia Sclerotiorum

The omission of Zn from a glucose-salts liquid medium (initial pH 4.1-4.3 in stationary culture) resulted in decreased dry weight and three of four isolates of Whetzelinia sclerotiorum (= Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) did not produce sclerotia without added Zn. Following growth, the pH of the medium without added Zn was lower than in the medium with Zn. Of the concentrations tested, 1 mg of Zn/liter resulted in maximum sclerotial production. Larger amounts (10 mg of Zn/liter) resulted in increased total dry weight but a smaller proportion of the total became sclerotia. Sclerotial production occurred if Zn was added to cultures grown for periods of 1-22 days in medium without added Zn. Analyses of the cultural filtrate and fungus after growth on medium containing 0.1 or 1.0 mg of Zn/liter showed that the fungus removed all the Zn from the medium.