Effect of high rates of zinc on several crops grown on an irrigated plainfield sand

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to determine whether Zn applied for pathogen control could accumulate to a level which would be toxic to snapbeans, cucumbers, or corn. Zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) was applied at rates varying from 0 to 363 kg Zn/ha on a Flainfield loamy sand to approximate 3, 9, 27 and 81 years of fungicidal treatment.

Even at the high rate of Zn, yields of snapbeans, cucumbers, or corn generally were not reduced. As rates of applied Zn increased, there was a corresponding increase in the level of Zn in the leaf tissue of all crops grown. At the high Zn rate, snapbean and cucumber leaf tissue accumulated over 350 ppm Zn. Available soil Zn was extracted with 0.1N HCl, EDTA, or DTPA. Highly significant correlations were observed between the Zn removed by each extractant and plant tissue Zn, thus, indicating that the various extractants were equally effective in predicting Zn uptake.

Very little downward movement of Zn was observed. Two and one‐half years after application, the Zn had leached to a depth of only 30 cm in the soil profile at the higher Zn rates.

These data indicate that application of Zn‐containing fungicides and bactericides should not cause a Zn toxicity problem on the Plainfield sand in the foreseeable future.