Zinc Sulphate in Fertilizers

Zinc Sulphate

Introduction

• Zinc importance in plant nutrition is recognised after the introduction of high yielding varieties.
• Zinc deficiency caused by intensive cropping.
• 80% of rice land deficient in zinc.
• After N and P zinc playing important role in rice.

Role in Plant System

• Producing several enzymes
• Responsible for chlorophyll formation.
• Deficiency reduce photosynthetic activity.
• Playing a role in N – metabolism.
• Regulate auxin (hormone) production
• Promotes nucleic acid production for protein synthesis

Deficiency Symptoms

• Appearance of rusty brown spots and discoloration of older leaves starting from 2-3 weeks after planting.
• Uneven crop stand.
• Under acute conditions margins of older leaves dry up.
• Under acute conditions margins of older leaves dry up.
• Tillering and growth adversely affected (KHAIRA disease)
• Fresh leaves smaller in size.
• No uniform maturity of crop

Sources

• Zinc sulphate – Zn SO₄ 7H₂O (21%Zn)
• ZnSO₄ H₂O (33% Zn)