Zinc and phosphorus interaction in a wheat-maize cropping system

To study the interaction effect of Zn and P in a wheat-maize cropping system, a field experiment was conducted at the H.P. Agricultural University Research Station, Palampur (India). Zinc was applied as ZnSO₄·7H₂O at the rate of 0, 20 and 40 kg per ha and P as superphosphate at the rate of 0, 60 and 120 kg per ha. The direct Zn-P interaction effect was investigated on wheat (S—308) and its residual effect on maize (early composite). Added Zn did not increase the grain and straw yield of wheat when P was not applied, but when P was applied, 20 kg per ha added Zn responded significantly. Contrary to this, in maize, only 20 kg per ha added Zn responded significantly when P was not applied, but when P was applied, even 40 kg per ha Zn increased the grain and straw yield of maize. The grain and straw yield of wheat and maize were higher under limed than under unlimed conditions.The concentration of Zn increased with the application of Zn and decreased with the application of P. The concentration of Zn was comparatively higher in grain than in straw of wheat and maize. The P concentration in wheat and maize plants decreased with the increasing levels of applied Zn. The concentrations of Zn were lower under limed than under unlimed condition, whereas the reverse was true for P concentrations.The respective absorption of Zn and P in wheat was 9.7 and 7.3 per cent upto tillering, 47.9 and 49.4 per cent between tillering and flowering, and 42.3 and 43.3 per cent between flowering and maturity. The corresponding absorption of Zn and P in maize was 11.7 and 9.4, 59.9 and 52.1, and 29.3 and 38.5 per cent before booting stage, between booting and tasseling stage and between tasseling and maturity stage, respectively. At maturity, about 53.1 and 13.0 per cent of the Zn and P taken up were retained by wheat straw and 46.9 and 87.0 per cent by wheat grain. The respective values for Zn and P in maize straw and grain were 66.8 and 30.3 and 33.2 and 69.7 per cent. When more Zn was applied, less Zn was translocated to grains; when more P was added, more Zn was translocated to grains. The effects of P and Zn on P distribution at maturity were opposite to that of Zn distribution.