Abstract
Higher grain Zn concentration is desirable to combat human Zn deficiency. A total of 58 farmers’ fields were surveyed from districts of Multan and Lodhran to represent cotton-wheat rotation zone of Punjab. Soils were sampled separately from the surface (0–15 cm depth) and subsurface (15–30 cm depth) layers. Within 5 m2 of soil sample, about 100 spikes from mature tillers of wheat were also collected. Nearly all subsurface and 76% of the collected surface soil samples were deficient in plant available Zn resulting in grain Zn concentration of 20 µg g −1 , on average. The inherent capacity of subsurface soil layer to supply Zn positively correlated with grain Zn concentration (r=0.33, n=58; P=0.01). Organic matter content (r=0.32, n=58; P=0.02) in subsurface layer and soil salinity (ECe) of both layers (r=−0.53, n=58; P<0.01 for ECe of both layers) were the other major soil characteristics that significantly correlated with grain Zn concentration. Zinc bioavailability in wheat grains, estimated by [phytate]:[Zn] ratios and trivariate model of Zn absorption, was low. Present study indicated a need to reduce current grain [phytate]:[Zn] ratio (46, on average) and to increase the current trivariate model based estimated Zn bioavailability (1.5 mg Zn for 300 g flour, on average) by about 2-folds. Conclusively, Zn fertilization strategy for southern Punjab was suggested as a solution to human Zn deficiency and low grain yields.

Muhammad A. Maqsood, Shahid Hussain, Tariq Aziz, Munir Ahmad, Muhammad A. Naeem, Hammad R. Ahmad, Shamsa Kanwal, Makhdoom Hussain. (2015) Zinc Indexing In Wheat Grains And Associated Soils Of Southern Punjab, , Volume-52, Issue-2.
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