Uptake of zinc by soybean leaves using sources with different solubilities

Abstract

Uptake of zinc by soybean leaves using sources with different solubilitiesZinc is an essential micronutrient for soybeans, and its absorption in plants is affected by the solubility of zinc sources in the soil. In this study, we investigated the zinc uptake by soybean leaves using foliar application of different zinc sources with varying solubilities. We used three different zinc sources: zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, and zinc EDTA, each with different solubilities. The experiments were conducted in four soybean cultivation areas: Santa Carmem/MT, Itaara/RS, Itai/SP, and Piracicaba/SP. The applied dose of zinc was 400 mg per hectare, with the objective of evaluating whether soybean performance when fertilized with less soluble sources could match that of soluble sources. This dose was split into two applications, at growth stages V4 and V8, and leaf samples were collected at stages V6, R2, and R4. Trifoliate leaves were also collected for the analysis of antioxidative enzymes, assessment of micronutrient content in the grains and leaves, as well as productivity and 1000-grain weight evaluations. However, in this study, it was not possible to establish a clear relationship between different soybean yields when comparing low-solubility sources with highly soluble ones.