Effect of Submergence on the Transformation of Zinc Fractions in Alfisols in Relation to Soil Properties

The effect of submergence on the transformation of different fractions of zinc, viz. water soluble plus exchangeable (WSEX), organically complexed (OC), manganese oxides bound (MnOX), amorphous Fe-oxides bound (AMOX) and crystalline Fe-oxides bound (CRYOX) in 12 Alfisols at various depths in relation to the changes in soil properties was studied. Decrease in WSEX-, OC- and CRYOX-Zn with a concomitant increase in the AMOX fraction in all the soils at all the three depths was observed. The MnOX fraction, however, recorded an inconsistent change. The magnitude of such changes in WSEX and OC fractions increased with increasing depth of the soils while that in AMOX and CRYOX fractions showed a reverse trend. Submergence also caused an increase in pH and CO_3^2--with a simultaneous decrease in free Fe₂O₃ and MnO₂ contents of the soils at all the three layers. Significant relationships were observed between the changes in different fractions of Zn and the initial and modified soil properties on submergence.