Abstract
Abstract Maize ( Zea mays L.) is one of the most susceptible crops to zinc (Zn) deficiency. However, in much of the world, soil Zn tests are poorly calibrated, and thus determining a critical soil test, level for Zn is challenging. The objectives of this study were to: (i) produce a field calibration of the Zn Mehlich‐3 (M3‐Zn) method for predicting maize grain yield response to Zn fertilizer application, (ii) compare the capacity of DTPA extractable Zn (DTPA‐Zn) with M3‐Zn for predicting the response of maize yield to Zn fertilizer, (iii) determine whether inclusion of soil pH, organic matter (SOM) and extractable phosphorus in a M3‐Zn model improves its predictive capacity and (iv) evaluate an economic approach for determining soil Zn thresholds. We conducted 55 field experiments covering a wide range of edaphic and climatic conditions. Maize responded to Zn fertilizer in 29% of the trials. The capacity of M3‐Zn and DTPA‐Zn to predict relative yield of maize was similar. Inclusion of other soil variables (pH, extractable phosphorus and SOM) did not or only slightly improve the prediction of M3‐Zn. Based on the relationship between M3‐Zn and DTPA‐Zn ( R 2 = 0.89), one test can be predicted from the other without affecting the calibration. The M3‐Zn 'economic threshold' ranged from 0.98 to 2.79 mg kg −1 , while for DTPA‐Zn it varied from 0.41 to 1.61 mg kg −1 . The broad range of economic thresholds shows that differences in maize productivity and grain price between regions and seasons make establishing a single Zn threshold for all economic‐productive situations inappropriate.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Maize responded to Zn fertilizer in 29% of field trials.
Zea maysNot reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize responded to Zn fertilizer in 29% of the trials.”
Claim · model-written summary
M3-Zn and DTPA-Zn predicted maize relative yield similarly.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The capacity of M3‐Zn and DTPA‐Zn to predict relative yield of maize was similar.”
Claim · model-written summary
Adding soil pH, extractable phosphorus and SOM did not or only slightly improve M3-Zn prediction.
- Treatment
- pH, extractable phosphorus and SOMe0
- Outcome
- prediction of M3‐Zne0
- Direction
- did not or only slightly improvee0
- Comparator
- M3‐Zne0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Inclusion of other soil variables (pH, extractable phosphorus and SOM) did not or only slightly improve the prediction of M3‐Zn.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
M3-Zn and DTPA-Zn soil tests were mutually predictable with R² 0.89 without changing calibration.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Based on the relationship between M3‐Zn and DTPA‐Zn ( R 2 = 0.89), one test can be predicted from the other without affecting the calibration.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The M3-Zn economic threshold ranged from 0.98 to 2.79 mg kg −1.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The M3‐Zn 'economic threshold' ranged from 0.98 to 2.79 mg kg −1 , while for DTPA‐Zn it varied from 0.41 to 1.61 mg kg −1 .”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The DTPA-Zn economic threshold ranged from 0.41 to 1.61 mg kg −1.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The M3‐Zn 'economic threshold' ranged from 0.98 to 2.79 mg kg −1 , while for DTPA‐Zn it varied from 0.41 to 1.61 mg kg −1 .”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Differences in maize productivity and grain price make a single Zn threshold unsuitable across conditions.
- Outcome
- establishing a single Zn threshold for all economic‐productive situations inappropriatee0
- Qualifier
- between regions and seasonse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The broad range of economic thresholds shows that differences in maize productivity and grain price between regions and seasons make establishing a single Zn threshold for all economic‐productive situations inappropriate.”
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