Bioavailability, Speciation, and Crop Responses to Copper, Zinc, and Boron Fertilization in South-Central Saskatchewan Soil
Rahman, N. and J. Schoenau.. 2022.
Abstract
An appropriate fertilization strategy is essential for improving micronutrient supply, crop
nutrition, yield and quality. Comparative effects of different application strategies of micronutrient
fertilizer were evaluated in two contrasting sites/soils (upper slope Chernozem and lower slope
Solonetz) within a farm field located in the Brown soil zone of Saskatchewan, Canada. The study
objective was to examine the impact of Cu, Zn, and B fertilizer application strategies on their mobility,
bioavailability and fate in the soil as well as crop yield responses. The application strategies were
broadcast, broadcast and incorporation, seed row banding, and foliar application of Cu, Zn, and B
on wheat, pea, and canola, respectively. The study was laid out in a randomized complete block
design (RCBD) with four treatment replicates for a specific crop and site. Crop biomass yields
were not significantly influenced by micronutrient placement strategies at both sites. Pea tissue Zn
concentration (35.2 mg Zn kg-1 grain and 5.15 mg Zn kg-1 straw) was increased by broadcast and
incorporation of Zn sulfate on the Solonetz soil. Residual levels of soil extractable available Cu were
increased significantly to 3.18 mg Cu kg-1 soil at Chernozem and 2.53 mg Cu kg-1 soil Solonetz
site with the seed row banding of Cu sulfate. The PRS® probe supply of Cu (1.84 µm Cu/cm2)
and Zn (1.18 µm Zn/cm2) were significantly higher with broadcast application of corresponding
micronutrient fertilizer in the Chernozem soil. Both the chemical and spectroscopic speciation
revealed that carbonate associated Cu and Zn were dominant species that are likely to control the
bioavailability of these micronutrients under field conditions.
Key Words
micronutrient deficiency; tissue concentration; bioavailability; fertilizer application strategy; yield response
