Zinc Content in Soils and Wheat Plants in Agriculturally Important Valleys of Himachal Pradesh

Studies on the soils from agriculturally important valleys/areas in Himachal Pradesh showed that 28% samples were deficient, 42% marginal and 30% adequate in available (DTPA-extractable) zinc. Only about 12% of the wheat plants appeared to be zinc deficient in the entire area. The soils and wheat plants of Simla region showed maximum amount of available Zn, while in the Palam valley of the state 66% soils and 31% plant samples were found deficient in this nutrient. The soils of the remaining valleys/areas had 20 to 25% samples as deficient. DTPA-Zn was positively and significantly correlated (P=0.01) with soil pH and organic carbon. The relationship with calcium carbonate content, however, was not significant.