Zinc deficiency (plant disorder)

Zinc deficiency occurs when plant growth is limited because the plant cannot take up sufficient quantities of this essential micronutrient from its growing medium. It is one of the most widespread micronutrient deficiencies in crops and pastures worldwide and causes large losses in crop production and crop quality.

Almost half of the world's cereal crops are grown on zinc-deficient soils; as a result, zinc deficiency in humans is a widespread problem.

Visible deficiency symptoms include:

Zinc deficiency is common in many different types of soil; some soils (sandy soils, histosols and soils developed from highly weathered parent material) have low total zinc concentrations, and others have low plant-available zinc due to strong zinc sorption (calcareous soils, highly weathered soils, vertisols, hydromorphic soils, saline soils). Soils low in organic matter (such as where topsoils have been removed), and compacted soils that restrict root proliferation also have a high risk of zinc deficiency. Application of phosphorus fertilizers has frequently been associated with zinc deficiency; this may be due to enhanced sorption by clay minerals (especially iron oxides), suppression of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae and/or immobilization of zinc in plant tissues. Liming of soils also frequently induces zinc deficiency by increasing zinc sorption.

Zinc is an essential micronutrient which means it is essential for plant growth and development, but is required in very small quantities. Although zinc requirements vary among crops, zinc leaf concentrations (on a dry matter basis) in the range 20 to 100 mg/kg are adequate for most crops.

Zinc sulphate or zinc oxide can be applied to soils to correct zinc deficiency. Recommended applications of actual zinc range from 5 to 100 kg/hectare but optimum levels of zinc vary with plant type and the severity of the deficiency. Application of zinc may not correct zinc deficiency in alkaline soils because even with the addition of zinc, it may remain unavailable for plant absorption.

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