LAUSR

Abstract Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a widespread problem in wheat-cultivated lands, and understanding important mechanisms determining Zn phytoavailability is of high importance. Accordingly, a two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of two Zn-deficiency tolerant wheat cultivars on Zn binding forms in a calcareous saline soil. Changes in soil Zn fractions were also found to be related to Zn uptake by wheat. Rhizosphere and bulk soil samples and the above-ground biomass were collected at grain maturity and analyzed for Zn. By using a sequential extraction procedure, soil Zn was divided into the following operationally defined fractions which are conceptually designated: ‘exchangeable Zn’ (EXCH-Zn), ‘Zn bound to carbonates’ (CAR-Zn), ‘organically bound Zn’ (ORG-Zn), ‘Zn bound to iron and manganese oxides’ (FeMnOX-Zn), and ‘residual Zn’ (RES-Zn). EXCH-Zn and ORG-Zn in the rhizosphere soil were found to be positively correlated with Zn uptake into the aboveground biomass of both wheat cultivars, thereby indicating that these fractions could be considered as labile pools. Higher EXCH-Zn and ORG-Zn fractions were determined in the rhizosphere, not in the bulk soil, whereas the non-labile Zn pools was decreased, suggesting strong Zn solubilization due to the input of acidity and organic compounds by root and the associated microbial activity. The differences between rhizosphere and bulk soil in EXCH-Zn and ORG-Zn were associated with the lower pH and the higher concentrations of the total (TOC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the rhizosphere. The fact, these effects (lower pH and higher DOC in the rhizosphere, rather than in the bulk soil) were stronger for Back Cross Rushan than were for Kavir; this was in line with the higher Zn uptake of Zn-deficiency tolerant Back Cross Rushan.