Zinc Fertilization Methods on Zinc Absorption and Translocation in Wheat

To increase grain Zn concentration of wheat grown on calcareous soil, field and hydroponic culture experimentswere conducted to investigate the effects of various Zn fertilization methods on Zn absorption and translocationin wheat. A completely randomized block design was used in the field experiment comprising five Zn treatments(0, 7.5, 15, 30, and 45 kg Zn/ha as ZnSO4·7H2O) and wheat cultivar (Zhengmai 9023). The hydroponic experiment used a completely randomized block design with two factors (Zn supplementation to root and foliarspray of Zn). Results showed that in the field experiment, Zn fertilization significantly increased the amount ofsoil diethylene triamine penlaacetic acid-Zn (DTPA-Zn), whereas there was no significant effect on Znconcentration in grain. Furthermore, the utilization rate of Zn fertilizer was only 0.98%, 0.64%, 0.29%, and0.14% with treatments of 7.5, 15, 30, and 45 mg Zn ha-1, respectively. In contrast, the hydroponic experimentshowed that both foliar spray and Zn supplied to roots significantly increased Zn concentration in grain, with thegreatest concentration found in shoots. Results suggested that lower absorption and translocation were theinhibitory factors to increase grain Zn concentration in calcareous soil. Consequently, Zn fertilization topotentially Zn-deficient calcareous soils is not effective method to increase grain Zn concentration.