Zinc Deficiency in Some Alluvial Soils (Entisols) of Gird Region and Response of Wheat to Zinc Application

Available Zn in 391 samples of alluvial soils (Entisols) of Gird region of Madhya Pradesh varied from 0.10 to 3.04 ppm and about 72% samples were found to be deficient in Zn, which was confirmed by plant analysis. Zinc concentration in wheat plants ranged from 6.3 to 36.3 ppm with about 66% samples testing as deficient. Plant zinc showed significant correlation with available soil Zn. Deficiency of Zn was confirmed by field experimentation. Wheat responded to its application and yield increase to the extent of 25% was observed. Zinc treatment exerted a favourable influence on its concentration and uptake by the crop. From the results it could be established that 0.41 ppm DTPA-Zn was the critical limit of availability for wheat for these soils.