Plant availability of Zn fractions in Saskatchewan soils

Abstract

Two growth chamber experiments were conducted in nine Saskatchewan soils. Most of the applied Zn to seven pH 6.2 to 7.8 soils was recovered in Pb-displaceable and Mn oxide associated fractions after incubation. The DTPA soil test was not a successful method for prairie soils with diverse soil properties on the basis of correlations. Changes in the distribution of applied and native Zn in different fractions suggest that Zn taken up from a calcareous soil was from exchangeable, acid soluble and possibly residual Zn. Zinc uptake from an acid soil was from exchangeable, Pb-displaceable acid soluble and possibly from Mn oxide associated fractions. -from Authors