A Study of Factors Affecting the Plant Availability of Zinc, Iron, and Manganese in Several Nebraska Soils

The objectives of these experiments were to study the influence of sulfur and lime applications in combination with zinc additions on the acid-extractable zinc content of soils, on the uptake of zinc, iron, and manganese by corn, and on the dry matter yield of corn. Also the effects of various zinc carriers on the mobilities of zinc, iron and manganese in soil were studied. Two greenhouse experiments, two column studies, and an incubation experiment were employed. The incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of sulfur and lime additions in combination with zinc on the acid-extractable zinc content of the Thurman, Geary, Steinauer, and Sharpsburg soils. The Thurman, Geary, and Sharpsburg soils were neutral or acidic in reaction, while the Steinauer soil was alkaline in reaction. These soils were incubated for four and eight week periods with the applied zinc and lime or sulfur treatments. At the end of the incubation periods, the soils were analyzed for acid-extractable zinc and for soil pH. Advisor: Robert C. Sorense