Why Soil Application of Zinc is Important to Alleviate Zinc Deficiency?

Abstract

Zinc deficiency in soils, plants and humans are widely realized across the globe. Management of Zn deficient soils is inevitable for sustaining the production and to achieve nutritional security. Soil and foliar applications are the most commonly used methods of Zn applications. In this article the advantages of soil application over foliar spray to mitigate Zn deficiency has been depicted. In foliar application, spraying beyond certain concentration injurious to crop and may not meet the total Zn requirement of the crops, results in soil Zn fertility decline, and repeated applications involves manpower and cost. Whereas soil application can be beneficial by its direct and residual effect to improve crop yield and meet the crop Zn requirement, single time application is sufficient for more than three crops and cost effective, improves the soil Zn fertility status. Therefore soil application of Zn is a viable option to alleviate Zn deficient soils.