title: Phosphorus reduces the zinc concentration in cereals pot-grown on calcareous Vertisols from southern Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zinc deficiency, a major problem in crops grown on soils low in available Zn, is even more important in phosphorus-rich soils. This work aimed to elucidate the effects of soil P and Zn levels, and of fertilizer application, on yield and Zn concentration in cereal grains.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wheat and barley were successively pot-grown on 20 calcareous Vertisols low in available Zn and ranging widely in available P. Grain yield in the plants grown on the native soils was positively correlated with Olsen P but not with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Zn except for wheat on P-rich soils. Grain Zn concentration was negatively correlated with Olsen P. Grain Zn uptake differed little among soils. Application of P to the soils increased grain yield insignificantly and P concentration significantly; however, it reduced grain Zn concentration (particularly at low Olsen P values). Applying Zn alone only increased grain Zn concentration, whereas applying P and Zn in combination increased yield and grain Zn concentration at low and high Olsen P values, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Applying P alone to plants grown on calcareous Vertisols low in available P and Zn may in practice reduce grain Zn concentrations while not increasing grain yield significantly. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio Rafael
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: María Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Del Campillo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torrent
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D000077215:Clay; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis*; D001467:Hordeum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013030:Spain; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D005308:Fertilizers; D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus; D015032:Zinc; D000077215:Clay
keywords: Zn concentration; Zn deficiency; barley; soil phosphorus; wheat