Intraction Effect of Zinc Sulphate and Vermicompost on Availability and Fractions of Zinc in a Calcareous Soil

Application of organic fertilizers such as vermicompost to agricultural calcareous soils with low organic matter content is a way to add nutrients to these soils. Different organic fertilizers have different effects on soil nutrient availability. Moreover, the study of nutrients distribution in the soil allows us to investigate their mobility and bioavailability. Zinc (Zn) deficiency is an important problem in many calcareous soils due to its effect on increasing the yield of agricultural products. Organic fertilizers can improve availability of Zn by impact on its fractionation. On the other hand, their interaction with chemical fertilizers requires careful consideration of availability and fractionation of Zn in soils treated with organic and chemical fertilizers. The aim of this research was to investigate the interaction effect of zinc sulphate, and vermicompost on availability and fractions of Zn in a calcareous clay soil.

This study was performed as a completely randomized factorial design including two levels of vermicompost (0 and 1% w/w) and three levels of Zn (0, 2, and 5 mg kg-1 as ZnSO4) with three replications. All treated soils were incubated for 120 days at 22 ± 1 0C and constant moisture (17% w/w). Zinc availability (DTPA-TEA) and other fractions (BCR method) were determined at the beginning of experiment, 60 days, and 120 days after incubation. The soil samples were sequentially extracted using an operationally defined sequential fractionation procedure, based on that employed by BCR in which increasingly strong extractants were used to release Zn associated with different soil fractions. Four Zn -fractions were extracted in the following sequence: Step 1: soluble, exchangeable, and associated with carbonates fraction (a 40 ml of 0.1 M CH3COOH for 16 h at room temperature), Step 2: iron-manganese oxides-associated fraction (40 ml of 1 M NH2OH.HCl in 1.5 M HNO3 for 16 h at 22 0C), Step 3: organic matter-associated fraction (50 ml of 1 M CH3COONH4 in 1.5M HNO3 for 16 h at 85 0C) and Finally step 4: residual fraction was determined using 4 M HNO3 (a 12.5 ml volume of 4 M HNO3, for 16 h at 80 0C). Concentrations of Zn in all extractants were determined by Atomic absorption spectroscopy..

The results of this study showed that the mean of Zn extracted by DTPA-TEA after vermicompost application increased significantly (P<0.05). The interaction between vermicompost and time on Zn extracted by DTPA-TEA was not significant (P>0.05). Zinc extracted by DTPA-TEA decreased with increasing incubation time. All forms of Zn increased by vermicompost application in soil samples treated with ZnSO4. Soluble, exchangeable, and bound to carbonates Zn and Zn associated to Fe-Mn oxides fractions (except vermicompost with 5 mg kg-1 Zn at 60 days after incubation) increased with increasing incubation time. Zinc associated to organic matter increased 60 days after incubation compared to the beginning of the experiment. However, difference between Zn associated to organic matter at 120 days after incubation and beginning of the experiment was not significant (except vermicompost with 5 mg kg-1 Zn at 60 days after incubation). The results of this study showed that residual Zn decreased with increasing incubation time. Results of this study demonstrated that the fractions of Zn in the soil samples treated with ZnSO4 were modified after vermicompost application and its availability increased. Therefore, the application of chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers leads to increase Zn in the soil. The results of correlation study showed that the relation between available Zn and Zn associated to Fe-Mn oxides at 1 h (r=0.77 p<0.05), 60 days after incubation (r=0.95 p<0.05), and 120 days after incubation (r=0.95, p<0.05) was significant. There was a significant correlation between available Zn and Zn in forms of solution, exchangeable and associated with carbonates, associated with Fe-Mn oxides, and associated with organic matter, which indicate the effective role of these fractions in supplying the required Zn to plant.

Vermicompost application in calcareous soils increased available Zn and the effect of vermicompost was not dependent on time. Over time, there was a decrease in available Zn in the presence of chemical fertilizer. Vermicompost application in calcareous soils increased all Zn fractions. According to these results, the Zn fractions in the soil treated with zinc sulfate had been changed and its availability increased during incubation time. The results of this study demonstrated that the fractions of Zn in the soils treated with ZnSO4 and vermicompost were modified and its availability increased. Therefore, the application of chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers can increase Zn in calcareous clay soils.