Evaluation of zinc levels in the soil and in bean plants

Abstract

A greenhouse evaluation, at the Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) of residual effects of inorganic and organic Zn levels and sources, on the Zn content in the soil and in leaves of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars, in a clay-texture Cambisol, at Curitiba, PR, Brazil. A complete randomized design was used with three replications, and the treatments were a combination of two forms of Zn with four levels of Zn. The levels of inorganic forms were equivalent to 0, 3, 6 and 9 kg of Zn/ha given as zinc sulphate applied to the soil, and the organic forms were 0, 20, 30 and 40 g of Zn/ha, of MIQL 2711/87, as seed treatment. The total Zn content and Zn availability in the soil after harvest of the first experiment, and the Zn leaf levels of three bean cultivars, 'FT 398', 'FT 120' and 'IAPAR 20' of the residual experiment were evaluated. It was observed that the inorganic Zn levels influenced the total Zn content as well as the available Zn in the soil and the bean leaf contents, which were considered normal. The highest level of organic Zn fertilization influenced the available Zn in the soil, but it was not significant on leaf contents.