Zinc Fractions and their Relationships with Soil Properties in Paddy-growing Soils of Northern Dry and Hill Zones of Karnataka

Distribution of various fractions of soil zinc and their relationship with soil properties in paddy-growing soils of northern dry zone and hill zones in Karnataka state was studied. Though the content of different fractions varied between the soils of two zones, the order of preponderance of different zinc fractions remained same, viz. water soluble plus exchangeable zinc < organically bound zinc < amorphous sesquioxide bound zinc < crystalline bound zinc < manganese oxide bound zinc < residual zinc. Correlation data indicated that these fractions are in a state of dynamic equilibrium among different fractions and were influenced by pH, free CaCO₃, CEC, organic carbon, clay and free Fe₂O₃.