Phosphorus-Zinc Relationship in Corn as Influenced by Soil Temperature, Soil Moisture, and Applied and Indigenous Zinc and Phosphorus

Zinc deficiency symptoms in corn and field beans were recognized in western Nebraska during 1955. Since that time, zinc deficiency in corn has been noted in many areas of the state.Zinc deficiency is most likely to occur in calcareous, sandy soils low in organic matter, areas levelled for irrigation, and severely eroded areas. Phosphorus fertilization of soils high in native available phosphorus may induce zinc deficiency in corn. It is the purpose of this study to further evaluate factors influencing the phosphorus-zinc relationship.Soil temperature, soil moisture applied zinc, and applied phosphorus were used as variables in a greenhouse study with corn. Two soils, Crofton silty clay loam and Pawnee soil, were used in the study.Crofton soil is highly calcareous (pH 8.0) with low available phosphorus, while the Pawnee soil is moderately acid (pH 5.5) with low available phosphorus.Both soils had an adequate level of dithizone extractable zinc.Under these conditions, a marked yield response to applied phosphorus would be expected with little or no response from applied zinc. Radioisotope tracers of both zinc and phosphorus were used to evaluate the utilization of the fertilizers. Corn was grown in the greenhouse harvested at 35 and 66 days of growth and analyzed for phosphorus and zinc concentration. Advisor: R. A. Olso