Información Técnica: Unlocking zinc fertilizer potential: New research promises better uptake, higher crop yields and better nutrition
Despite the widespread use of fertilizers enriched with zinc, a critical nutrient for plant growth, many agricultural soils around the world remain deficient in this essential element.
This deficiency limits crop yields and reduces the nutritional quality of food. It is estimated that approximately one-third of the global population consumes food low in zinc, a condition linked to serious health issues such as increased childhood sickness, stunted growth, cognitive impairment, and in severe cases, early death.
Researchers Uncover Key Insights at the Canadian Light Source
In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia utilized the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) to explore ways to create more efficient zinc-enriched fertilizers. By analyzing the water solubility of zinc at the molecular level, the team was able to gain valuable insights into how zinc behaves when added to ammonium phosphate fertilizers.
The Role of pH in Zinc Availability for Crops
Initially, the researchers hypothesized that the form of zinc compound in the fertilizer would be a reliable predictor of solubility. However, the CLS beamline revealed a different story. Rodrigo da Silva, a lead researcher from the University of Adelaide, explains, “We learned that the agronomic performance cannot be predicted simply by the form of zinc in the fertilizer granules. Instead, the pH of the fertilizer is the key factor driving zinc solubility and its availability to crops.”
Understanding Zinc Phosphate Compounds and Their Solubility
When zinc is added to phosphate fertilizer, it forms various zinc phosphate compounds. However, the solubility of these compounds does not depend on their relative abundance. Instead, it is primarily influenced by the pH of the fertilizer. Zinc added to more alkaline fertilizers like diammonium phosphate has very low solubility, which results in poor zinc uptake by plants.
Innovative Solutions to Increase Zinc Uptake
In response to this challenge, the researchers discovered that by lowering the pH of fertilizer through an acid solution spray, the solubility and availability of zinc could be significantly increased. This method showed promising results in increasing zinc uptake by crops compared to current commercial products. Additionally, the team demonstrated that applying a barrier coating to fertilizer granules—separating the zinc from the phosphate—also led to improved zinc absorption by plants.
The Mosaic Company Supports the Research and Secures Patents
The Mosaic Company, which funded this research, has already patented both of these new technologies in conjunction with the University of Adelaide’s Fertilizer Technology Research Centre. Mosaic is the world’s leading producer of concentrated phosphate and potash. The findings are published in the Soil Science Society of America Journal.
“It is crucial to improve zinc fertilization practices, to maximize yields and produce more nutritional food,” says da Silva. “This research can help the industry produce more efficient fertilizers.”
Source: The Canadian Light Source (CLS)
Media contact:
Greg Basky, Communications Coordinator
Canadian Light Source
306-370-9446
greg.basky@lightsource.ca
Image: Credit Catkin from Pixabay
Fuente: https://www.potatonewstoday.com/2024/11/14/unlocking-zinc-fertilizer-potential-new-research-promises-better-uptake-higher-crop-yields-and-better-nutrition/
