EFFECT OF BORON AND ZINC FERTILIZERS ON LEAF ZINC AND BORON CONTENTS OF MAIZE IN A CALCAREOUS SOIL

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1 Agric. Sci. Digest, 32 (1) : 1-6, 2012 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE ccjournals.com / indianjournals.com nals.com EFFECT OF BORON AND ZINC FERTILIZERS ON LEAF ZINC AND BORON CONTENTS OF MAIZE IN A CALCAREOUS SOIL Farshid Aref ef Department of Soil Science, Firouzabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran. Received : Accepted : ABSTRACT A field experiment was perfor formed in calcareous brown soils of Fars province of Iran during 2009 to study Zn-B interaction on their concentrations in maize. Five levels of Zn (0, 8, 16 and 24 kg ha -1 to soil and 0.5% foliar spray) and four levels of B (0, 3, and 6 kg ha -1 to soil and 0.3% foliar spray) were e tried in randomized block design. For increase in leaf Zn concentrations and thus addressing Zn deficiency,, foliar application proved more effective than soil application due possibly to applied Zn getting fixed in the soil. Zinc concentration in leaf was intermediate; but leaf B content was sufficient to high. There e was antagonism between Zn and B. With ith increasing Zn content, the higher rate of B was needed for increasing B concentration in leaf. Boron foliar spray helped Zn affecting the increase in B concentration in leaf. Key words: Deficiency, Foliar spray, Synergism, Antagonism, Boron, Zone, Maiz. INTRODUCTION Micronutrient deficiencies are often attributed to their removal by high yield crop varieties, intensive cultivation, indiscriminate and consistent use of chemical fertilizers, and reduced use of organic manures all of which create imbalances in the availability of micronutrients (Kakar et al., 2002). The deficiency of Zn, an important micronutrient, is common in maize and for most crops grown in calcareous soils which have low to medium extractable Zn (Rahman et al., 2007). Zn availability is inversely related to soil ph and its deficiency is frequently noted in calcareous soils with ph > 8.0 (Cakmak, 2006 and Srinivasarao et al., 2008). Boron deficiency is also becoming increasingly widespread. Available Zn and B are usually low in sandy and calcareous soils with high bicarbonates in soil solution and irrigation water, excessive P in soil, and due to management practices (Adiloglu and Adiloglu, 2006). The interaction among nutrient elements is very important in plant nutrition. Boron x Zn interaction among these interactions has been very crucial in Zn deficient soils in recent studies (Alkan et al., 1998). Hosseini et al. (2007) reported that there was a significant B and Zn interaction in maize growth and tissue nutrient concentrations which were rate dependent. Sinha et al. (2000) noted a synergistic interaction between Zn and B in mustard (Brassica nigra), when both the nutrients were either in low or excess supply. Zinc deficiency may enhance B absorption and transport to such an extent that B may possibly accumulate to toxic levels in plant tops (Singh et al.,1990). It was reported that the application of B increased the tissue concentration and uptake of B in wheat, more in the absence than in the presence of Zn. Consequently, concentration of B in wheat decreased with increasing levels of Zn application to the soil. Zinc application appears to create a protective mechanism in the root cell environment against excessive uptake of B, as evineced by the reduction of B uptake in Zn treated plants. Analysis of plant tissue gives a good indication of Zn needs. However, there is a lack of agreement in the results of such studies and there is thus a need for relook. Besides, Zn levels in the plant may change with age, and it is thus important to indicate the stage of maturity also at sampling.

2 2 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE DIGEST - A RESEARCH JOURNAL Maize is an important crop and cash crop in Abadeh Tashk and throughout South Iran. The crop is of high economic and nutritional significance too. Accordingly, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of increasing rates of B and Zn fertilization on their concentrations in maize leaves, and interaction between Zn and B in the plant at different stages. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment was set up in calcareous soil in the farm of Aref in Abadeh Tashk, Fars province of Iran (200 km northeast of Shiraz, 29 43' 44'' N and 53 52' 07'' E and 1580 m altitude) on maize (Zea mays L., cultivar 'Single Cross 401') during 2009 growing season. Preliminary soil properties were analyzed by standard methods. For available Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu, the DTPA extracts were analyzed by AAS. Soil available B was extracted by hot water and measured by azomethine-h colorimetric method (Bingham, 1982). The experiment laid out in RBD consisted of 20 treatments replicated thrice. The factorial treatments included five levels of Zn (0, 8, 16 and 24 kg ha -1 to soil and 0.5% foliar spray) and four levels of B (0, 3, and 6 kg ha -1 to soil, and 0.3% foliar spray). The sources were ZnSO 4 and boric acid. Nitrogen, P and K at 180, 70 and 75 kg ha -1 were added to all the treatments according to the recommendations in the form of urea, TSP and SoP, respectively. Half of the N was used at planting and the rest in two splits at vegetative growth stage and when the maize ears were formed. Potassium and P were used before planting. Zinc and B were added at the time of planting, while the two sprayings were done at vegetative growth and ears formation stage. Foliar sprayings were done to uniform coverage at a solution volume of 2500 L ha -1. Each plot (8 m x 3 m) had 5 beds and 4 rows, equally spaced. Seeds were sown 20 cm apart on the rows. At silking stage, leaf samples were taken from the second and third leaves from top and dried at 70 o C for 48 h. Zinc and B were analyzed as earlier after acid digestion of dry and milled materials. Standard analysis of variance techniques were used to assess the significance of treatment means. Each variable was subjected to ANOVA using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute, 2001). Treatment (fraction) means were separated by Duncun's multiple range test (P < 0.05 level). Multiple regression analyses were followed to evaluate the relationships between concentration of Zn and B in leaf with other factors. RESULTS TS AND DISCUSSION Physical and chemical characteristics of soil: The soil had a loam texture with ph 8.2, 0.59 % organic matter, 229 mg kg -1 available K, 12.1 mg kg - 1 available P, DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu 1.65, 8.14, 0.32 and 0.62 mg kg -1 and available B 0.78 mg kg -1 (Table 1). Zn and B contents were lower than the critical level due possibly to high soil ph and CaCO 3. Soils containing less than 1.5 mg kg -1 available Zn are likely to be deficient and should be treated with Zn fertilizers. Soils containing mg kg -1 Zn are considered low (Schulte, 2010). TABLE 1. Soil mechanical and chemical analysis. Soil Properties Values Depth of soil (cm) 0-30 Soil texture Loam ph 8.2 EC (ds m -1 ) 2.41 Organic carbon (%) 0.59 TNV (%) 36 Nutrients (mg kg -1 ) P 12.1 K 229 Fe 1.65 Mn 8.14 Zn 0.32 Cu 0.62 B 0.78 Zinc concentration in leaf : The main effect of Zn on Zn concentration in leaf was significant at 1% level (Table 2). Zinc application to the soil had no significant effect relative to no Zn level; but Zn spraying increased Zn concentration in leaf from to mg kg -1, showing a 52.8% increase as compared to no Zn level. Also, Zn spraying increased leaf Zn relative to Zn application to soil. Zinc may not be available in calcareous soils, and thus in this experiment, Zn application to soil had no significant effect on leaf Zn content. Soil applied Zn may be less effective than foliar spray because of Zn fixation in soil. The results are supported by those of Kakar et al. (2002), Rahman et al. (2007), Srinivasarao et al. (2008) and Aref (2010). The results are in agreement with those of other researchers. Maize suffers from Zn deficiency

3 in alkaline calcareous soils. Applied Zn participates in several reactions in soil which reduce its availability to plants (Ratmattullah et al., 1985). Zinc deficiency in soils causes both high economic loss and decrease in nutritional quality of grain for human and livestock (Cakmak and Braun, 1999). In soils with high ph, most of the soil applied micronutrients become unavailable for plant uptake (Martens and Westermann, 1991). Prior research on crops has shown that the calcium carbonate content of calcareous soils is strongly correlated to the occurrence of both Zn and B deficiency (Aref, 2010). According to the general principles of soil chemistry, the solubility of Zn decreases hundred fold for every unit increase in ph. Thus, soil ph may be considered a possible factor in causing problems concerning Zn uptake (Crowley and Smith, 1996). However, soil application of fertilizers is not always a useful approach to increase micronutrients concentrations in cereal grain. Many studies reported minimal or no increase in grain micronutrient content, with increased soil application of micronutrient fertilizers, even when yield was increased (Khoshgoftarmanesh et al., 2010). Since soils of Iran are mostly alkaline with an average of 8.0 ph, soil reaction is presumably one of the most important factors affecting the availability of Zn in such soils. In such cases, foliar application can provide a rapid correction of such deficiencies, more commonly found during the early stages of growth, and are temporary solutions to the problem. Under severe deficiency conditions, a foliar spray may be necessary on each major growth flush because Zn does not translocate readily to successive growth flushes. Maximum benefit is obtained, if spray is applied to young leaves (Zekri and Obreza, 2009). Therefore, in calcareous soils, trying to solve the problem by applying high levels of Zn fertilizer is not the right approach. Instead, we should be concerned with managing Zn by its foliar spray. The lowest and the highest mean Zn concentration in leaf, and mg kg -1, were seen at no Zn and Zn spray, respectively. Zinc concentration in leaf was intermediate relative to the results of other researchers. Concentration of Zn in dry matter of maize (mg kg -1 ) in lower leaves at tasseling stage was: showing deficiency Vol. 32, No. 1, 2012 symptoms, and intermediate (Barker and Pilbeam, 2007); in leaves at 6th node from base at silking stage, it was showing deficiency symptoms, intermediate, and high (Deleers et al., 1985); and in ear leaf at silking stage, it was < 10 showing deficiency symptoms, intermediate, high, and > 100 showing toxicity symptoms. The main effect of B on Zn concentration in leaf was significant at 1% level. Application of 6 kg ha -1 B significantly decreased leaf Zn concentration from 42.4 to 32.8 mg kg -1, showing a 22.6% decrease relative to no B level. Boron at 3 kg ha -1 and foliar spray had no significant effect on the leaf Zn concentration relative to no B. The maximum and the minimum leaf Zn content and 43.6 mg kg -1 - were observed at 3 and 6 kg ha -1 B, respectively. High amount of B in the soil thus assisted in decreasing Zn concentration in leaf. An antagonism was observed between Zn and B as affecting the concentration of Zn in leaf, as also reported by many workers. The lowest Zn concentration in leaf, mg kg -1 obtained by joint use of 24 kg ha -1 Zn and 6 kg ha -1 B showed 8.6% decrease as compared to 27 mg kg -1 in control. Therefore, Zn and B application in large amounts caused the most antagonism and thus reduced the leaf Zn concentration. The highest leaf Zn concentration of mg kg -1 was noticed by Zn foliar spray, a 116% increase relative to that in control. In fact, Zn use at no B increased leaf Zn content. Also, Zn foliar spray was more effective relative to the soil application of Zn. Boron concentration in leaf : The main effect of Zn on the leaf B concentration was significant at 1% level (Table 3). The highest mean B concentration in leaf, 50.8 mg kg -1, was seen at no Zn level. Zinc deficiency may enhance B absorption and transport to such an extent that B may possibly accumulate to toxic levels in plant tops (Singh et al., 1990). Thus, Zn application significantly decreased leaf B concentration. Application of 8, 16 and 24 kg ha -1 Zn significantly decreased B concentration in leaf from 50.8 mg kg -1 at zero Zn level to 42.91, and mg kg -1, respectively (15.5, 30.2 and 18.1% decreased relative to no Zn level). Also, Zn spraying decreased leaf B concentration from

4 4 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE DIGEST - A RESEARCH JOURNAL TABLE 2. The effect of Zn and B on leaf Zn concentration (mg kg -1 )* B levels Zn levels (kg ha -1 ) (kg ha -1 ) Zn foliar spray Mean of B levels fg abcd bcdefg bcdefg a A bcdefg defg bcdefg abcd abc A fg fg cdefg g bcdefg B B foliar spray efg fg bcdef bcdefg ab A Mean of Zn levels b b b b a *Means with same letters lack a significant difference at 5% level by Duncan's test TABLE 3. The effect of Zn and B on leaf B concentration (mg kg -1 )* B levels Zn levels (kg ha -1 ) (kg ha -1 ) Zn foliar spray Mean of B levels cdefg fg fg g bcdefg B ab abcde efg defg g A a g g bcdefg cdefg A B foliar spray efg abc defg bcdefg ab A Mean of Zn levels a b c bc b *Means with same letters lack a significant difference at 5% level by Duncan's test. to 43.3 mg kg -1, showing a 14.8% decrease relative to zero Zn level. Therefore, an antagonism was seen between the Zn and B as affecting the concentration of B in leaf. Decreasing B toxicity in Zn treatment was probably due to a biological membrane integrity effect (Cakmak, 2006). The author reported that Zn deficiency enhanced accumulation of B in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) up to a toxic level. The use of different levels of B on the leaf B content was significant at 5% level. The lowest and the highest mean B concentration in leaf, and mg kg -1, were seen at zero B and B spraying, respectively. The use of 3 and 6 kg ha -1 B increased leaf B content from to and mg kg -1, respectively, showing 18 and 18.2% increase as compared with the no B level. Also, B spraying increased B concentration in leaf to mg kg -1, a 24.3% increase relative to the no B level. There was no significant difference between B spraying and applying B to the soil. Therefore, unlike Zn, B spraying was not more effective than soil application. The effect of Zn-B interaction on leaf B concentration was significant at 1% level. At zero and 8 kg ha -1 Zn, low amount of B (3 kg ha -1 ) increased leaf B content, but at high Zn levels (16 and 24 kg ha -1 Zn), the use of 3 kg ha -1 B had no significant effect on the leaf B content. At 24 kg ha - 1 Zn level, only application of 6 kg ha -1 B increased leaf B from to mg kg -1, 61% increase relative to no B at this Zn level. Singh et al. (1990) reported that the application of B increased the tissue concentration and uptake of B in wheat, more so in the absence of Zn application. Consequently, concentration of B in wheat decreased with increasing levels of Zn application to soil. Zinc application appears to create a protective mechanism in the root cell environment against excessive uptake of B, as evidenced by the reduction of B uptake in Zn treated plants. Boron toxicity therefore should carefully be dealt with under Zn deficient soil conditions. Nutrient balance in plants is hindered with the excess accumulation of some

5 nutrient elements in plant roots. This is more so in maize, since maize is very sensitive to Zn deficiency. The highest leaf B concentration, mg kg -1, was seen at 6 kg ha -1 B, showing a 53.4% increase as compared to 42.4 mg kg -1 in control. The lowest leaf B content, mg kg -1, was obtained by joint use of 3 kg ha -1 B and 6 kg ha -1 Zn, but showed no significant difference relative to control. In comparison to the results of other similar works, leaf B content in this study was sufficient to high. Vol. 32, No. 1, 2012 CONCLUSION Zinc and B application in large amounts caused antagonism and thus reduced the leaf Zn concentration. As such, Zn availability is a problem in calcareous soils and therefore Zn application to the soil had no significant effect on the leaf Zn content. Foliar application of Zn was more effective than soil application. Unlike Zn, B spraying was not more effective than its soil application. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my father for assistance in this research project. REFERENCES Adiloglu, A. and Adiloglu S. (2006). The effect of boron (B) application on the growth and nutrient contents of maize in zinc (Zn) deficient soils. Res. J. Agric. Biol. Sci., 2:1-4. Alkan, A., Torun B., Ozdemir A., G. Bozbay and I. Cakmak (1998). Effect of zinc on boron toxicity different wheat and barley cultivars. Proceedings of the I. National Zinc Congress, May 12-16, EskiOehir, Turkey, pp: Aref, F. (2010). Residual available copper and boron in soil as affected by zinc sulfate and boric acid in a zinc and boron deficient soil. J. Am. Sci., 6: Barker, A.V. and D.J. Pilbeam (2007). Handbook of Plant Nutrition. CRC Press, Taylor and Francis, USA. Bingham, F.T. (1982). Boron. In: Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2: Chemical and Microbiological Properties, Page, A.L. (Ed.). Am. Soc. Agron., Madison, W.I., pp: Cakmak, I. and H.J. Braun (1999). Zinc Deficiency and Genotypic Variation in Wheat. In: Applying Physiology in Wheat Breeding. Reynolds, M.P., J.I. Ortiz-Monasterio and A. McNab, CIMMYT Book series. Mexico. Cakmak, I. (2006). Enriching grain with micronutrients: Benefits for crop plants and human health. IFA Agricultural Conference. International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA). Optimizing Resource Use Efficiency for Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture, 27 February -2 March, Kunming, China. Crowley, D.E. and W. Smith (1996). Soil factors associated with zinc deficiency in Avacado. Proceedings of the Avocado Research Symposium, (ARS'96), California Avocado Society/University of California, pp: Deleers, M., J.P. Servais and E. Wulfert (1985). Micromolar concentrations of Al3 induce phase separation, aggregation and dye release in phosphatidylserine-containing lipid vesicles. Biochem. Biophys. Acta. 813: Hosseini, S.M., M. Maftoun, N. Karimian, A. Rounaghi and Y. Emam (2007). Effect of zinc boron interaction on plant growth and tissue nutrient concentration of maize. J. Plant Nut., 30: Kakar, K.M., M. Tariq, M.R. Tareen and W. Ullah (2002). Shoot growth curve analysis of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) receiving different levels of boron and iron. Pakistan J. Agrono., 1(1): Khoshgoftarmanesh, A.H., R. Schulin, R.L. Chaney, B. Daneshbakhsh and M. Afyuni (2010). Micronutrient-efficient genotypes for crop yield and nutritional quality in sustainable agriculture. A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev., 30: Martens, D.C. and D.T. Westermann (1991). Fertilizer Applications for Correcting Micronutrient Deficiencies. In: (Micronutrients in Agriculture, Mortvedt, J., F.R. Cox, L.M. Shuman and R.M. Welch Eds.). 2nd Ed., Soil Science Society Of America Inc, Madison, W.I., pp: Rahman, M.A., M. Jahiruddin and M.R. Islam (2007). Critical limit of zinc for rice in calcareous soils. J. Agric. Rural Dev., 5: Ratmattullah, I. Bajwa and G.R. Sandhu (1985). Fixation of Zn by some rice clay soils. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal., 16: SAS Institute (2001). SAS User's Guide of Release. Ver. 8.2, SAS Inst., Cary, NC. 5

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