Zinc
Essential Trace element
Zinc is one of the essential trace elements for man, livestock and plants. Fruit
trees, nuts, citrus, grapes, corn and beans especially depend on a good provision
of zinc. On the other hand, asparagus, peas and grass are little influenced
by lack of zinc. Organic fertilizer contains traces of zinc. These traces
are generally bound into the organic matter. Other fertilizers are zinc chelates
and zinc sulphate.
Fixation and competition
between elements
A high content of iron, aluminium, manganese and copper will lower the zinc
absorbtion by plants. A very high amount of soluble phosphate or silicate can
chemically bind zinc and other trace elements. Zinc phosphate or zinc silicate
is not absorbable for plants. When the concentrations of zinc and phosphate
or silicate is low, normal or good, there is no relevant fixation. A high pH
is not favourable for plant uptake of Zinc.
High zinc content.
If the content of zinc is high, then there are often problems with crop growth.
Soil life can suffer damage already if the zinc content in the soil is lightly
increased. For example, above a value number of 50 for exchangeable zinc there
is already light damage, above 200 the soil life is severely incomplete.
EUROLAB / KOCH BODEMTECHNIEK – DEVENTER – THE NETHERLANDS
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