Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science

Distribution of various fractions of soilzincin ten alluvial soils from Haryana and Delhi was studied Fractionation of soil samples showed that zinc in water soluble and exchangeable pools (Zn-CA) was Virtually non-existent; major portion of the total zinc in the soils existed in the form viz. zinc specifically adsorbed on clays (Zn-AAC), organically bound (Zn-PYR), occluded by free oxides (Zn-OX) and residual zinc (Zn-RES) fractions. The last fractions constitutes higher percentage of total zinc. Correlation data indicate that these fractions are in a state of dynamic equilibrium and show a significant dependence on clay content, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, CaCO₃ content and DTPA extractable zinc. Significant positive association of sesquioxide bound zinc (Zn-OX) with Bray's per cent yield of soybean and mustard indicated that plants withdrew zinc from the Zn-OX fraction.