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Zinc fractions and availability to soybeans in representative soils of Northeast China

  • SOILS, SEC 2 • GLOBAL CHANGE, ENVIRON RISK ASSESS, SUSTAINABLE LAND USE • RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Abstract

Purpose

Limited information exists about the zinc (Zn) status of major soils in northeast China, and their ability to supply Zn to soybeans. This study aims to establish the critical concentrations of Zn in soil for plant growth, to characterize the Zn forms in soil, to correlate the concentration of various Zn forms with Zn uptake by soybeans, and to identify the most effective means of Zn application.

Materials and methods

Thirty-three soil samples were collected from farmland in 11 districts/sites (covering six soil groups) of northeast China. Zinc fractions and DTPA-extractable Zn concentrations of the soils were determined. A pot experiment was also carried out to study the effects of Zn application method on Zn uptake, yield and use efficiency of soybeans.

Results and discussion

The concentrations of total Zn in these soils ranged from 60 to 84 mg kg−1 while the DTPA-extractable Zn concentrations ranged from 0.77 to 2.16 mg kg−1 and were highly correlated positively with both concentrations of exchangeable Zn (Ex-Zn) and organically bound Zn (OM-Zn). Soybean yields correlated positively and best with concentrations of Ex-Zn, followed by those of OM-Zn. In addition, soybean growth correlated positively with concentrations of all Zn forms except for Fe-oxide bound Zn. When concentrations of DTPA-extractable Zn were less than 1.0 mg kg−1, Zn deficiency occurred and the application of Zn fertilizer increased the yield of soybeans significantly. Foliar sprays and seed coatings resulted in greater yield responses and Zn-use efficiency than other methods. Surface application of Zn after flowering was ineffective.

Conclusions

The soils at seven out of 11 field sites were deficient or marginally deficient in Zn. DTPA-extractable Zn provides a good indicator of Zn availability to soybeans with a critical concentration of 1.0 mg kg−1 soil. Foliar sprays and seed coatings should be recommended for the correction of Zn deficiency.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40971152), Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province (No. ZD200904), and the National Basic Research Program (2011CB100506). We thank anonymous reviewers for their constructive suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin, 150081, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaozeng Han & Xiaohui Li

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaohui Li

  3. Department of Agricultural Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne Campus, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia

    Nick Uren & Caixian Tang

Authors
  1. Xiaozeng Han
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  2. Xiaohui Li
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  3. Nick Uren
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  4. Caixian Tang
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Correspondence to Xiaozeng Han.

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Responsible editor: Stefan Norra

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Han, X., Li, X., Uren, N. et al. Zinc fractions and availability to soybeans in representative soils of Northeast China. J Soils Sediments 11, 596–606 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-011-0336-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-011-0336-5

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