Green Manure Addition to Soil Increases Grain Zinc Concentration in Bread Wheat

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a major problem for many people living on wheat-based diets. Here, we explored whether addition of green manure of red clover and sunflower to a calcareous soil or inoculating a non-indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) strain may increase grain Zn concentration in bread wheat. For this purpose we performed a multifactorial pot experiment, in which the effects of two green manures (red clover, sunflower), ZnSO4 application, soil γ-irradiation (elimination of naturally occurring AMF), and AMF inoculation were tested. Both green manures were labeled with 65Zn radiotracer to record the Zn recoveries in the aboveground plant biomass. Application of ZnSO4 fertilizer increased grain Zn concentration from 20 to 39 mg Zn kg−1 and sole addition of green manure of sunflower to soil raised grain Zn concentration to 31 mg Zn kg−1. Adding the two together to soil increased grain Zn concentration even further to 54 mg Zn kg−1. Mixing green manure of sunflower to soil mobilized additional 48 µg Zn (kg soil)−1 for transfer to the aboveground plant biomass, compared to the total of 132 µg Zn (kg soil)−1 taken up from plain soil when neither green manure nor ZnSO4 were applied. Green manure amendments to soil also raised the DTPA-extractable Zn in soil. Inoculating a non-indigenous AMF did not increase plant Zn uptake. The study thus showed that organic matter amendments to soil can contribute to a better utilization of naturally stocked soil micronutrients, and thereby reduce any need for major external inputs.

Connecting the public with soil to improve human health

“…This relationship between soil health and human health has been documented (Kemper & Lal, 2017;Pepper, 2013;Wrench, 1939), and human management can make a considerable difference to the soil properties that influence soil health (Parras-Alcántara, Lozano-García, Keesstra, Cerdà & Brevik, 2016). For example, it has been reported that (a) soil managed in a way that produced higher soil health indicators can produce better quality strawberries, with greater nutritional value to support human health, than soil with lower health indicators (Reganold et al, 2010), (b) using cover crops to enhance microbial activity increases zinc uptake in wheat (Aghili et al, 2014) and (c) organic compost can reduce the uptake of cadmium in rice (Liu, Chen, Cai, Liang & Huang, 2009). However, it should be noted that a definitive link between soil health and the nutritional quality of food has not been conclusively established, as a review of the available literature showed mixed results (Reeve et al, 2016).…”

Dry matter accumulation and potato productivity with green manure

“…In addition, green manure reduces weed incidence and soil pathogens by increasing beneficial microorganisms, as well as controlling disease-causing pathogens in potato (Davis et al, 2010, Larkin et al, 2010, Himmelstein et al, 2014. This contributes to a better growth condition of the crop, greater absorption of other soil nutrients and an increase in productivity (Aghili et al, 2014, Campiglia et al, 2009, and the sustainability of cropping systems (St Luce et al, 2015). Green manure at 400 Kg ha -1 and 200 Kg ha -1 of C. juncea increases the accumulation of dry matter in potato shoots and tubers.…”

Evaluation of promising technologies for soil salinity amelioration in Timpaki (Crete): a participatory approach

“…The positive effects of green manuring on open-field vegetables are well documented (Beckmann, 1977;Chaves et al, 2004;MacRae and Mehuys, 1985;Stirling and Stirling, 2003;Thorup-Kristensen, 2006) and followed by modern greenhouse applications (Aghili et al, 2014;Duyar et al, 2008;Rose et al, 2015;Tüzel et al, 2013). Here, the angiosperm Sorghum vulgare used in greenhouse cultivations is suggested as green manure through crop rotation with tomato plants.…”