Suitability of Soil Test Methods and Response in Wheat to Zinc in Some Alfisols and Vertisols

Six chemical extractants were used in establishing the critical limit for predicting Zn availability to wheat grown on Alfisols and Vertisols of Tikamgarh district. Madhya Pradesh. Correlation coefficients were worked out for the Zn extracted by these extractants with the Bray's per cent yield. tissue Zn and Zn uptake. All six chemicals extracted more zinc from Alfisols in comparison to Vertisols. The highest correlation wasfound in case of DTPA. The critical limit (Cate and Nelson) was 0.63 mg kg⁻¹ Zn for DTPA. Tissue Zn in 30 -day-old plants correlated significantly with Bray's per cent yield and the critical limit was 24.2 mg Zn kg⁻¹ wheat plants. Yields of wheat grain and straw increased significantly with the levels of Zn application. Zinc concentration in plant tissue, grain and straw and Zn uptake by the crop also increased significantly due to Zn fertilization.