title: Comparison of soil and foliar zinc application for enhancing grain zinc content of wheat when grown on potentially zinc-deficient calcareous soils.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The concentration of Zn and phytic acid in wheat grain has important implications for human health. We conducted field and greenhouse experiments to compare the efficacy of soil and foliar Zn fertilisation in improving grain Zn concentration and bioavailability in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain grown on potentially Zn-deficient calcareous soil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results from the 2-year field experiment indicated that soil Zn application increased soil DTPA-Zn by an average of 174%, but had no significant effect on grain Zn concentration. In contrast, foliar Zn application increased grain Zn concentration by an average of 61%, and Zn bioavailability by an average of 36%. Soil DTPA-Zn concentrations varied depending on wheat cultivars. There were also significant differences in grain phytic acid concentration among the cultivars. A laboratory experiment indicated that Zn (from ZnSO4 ) had a low diffusion coefficient in this calcareous soil.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to soil Zn application, foliar Zn application is more effective in improving grain Zn content of wheat grown in potentially Zn-deficient calcareous soils.
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, South Campus of Northwest A&F University, No 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Ai-qing
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiao-hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Yu-xian
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Xin-chun
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D005308:Fertilizers; D006801:Humans; D010833:Phytic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism*; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014908:Triticum / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D012987:Soil; D010833:Phytic Acid; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Zn concentration in grain; foliar Zn application; potentially Zn-deficient calcareous soil; soil Zn application