Zinc Deficiency Threatens Wheat and Barley Yields in argentina’s Pampas Region
La Plata, September 12 (infogei) – A recent survey reveals a concerning decline in zinc levels within the soils of Argentina’s Pampas region, particularly impacting the south of Buenos Aires province, perhaps jeopardizing wheat and barley production. The study, conducted by the Balcarce Integrated Unit – a collaboration between INTA, CONICET, and the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences – indicates that 33% of analyzed agricultural lots exhibit zinc concentrations below 0.80 parts per million (PPM), a level considered critical for optimal yields.
The deficiency, previously concentrated in northern regions, is now expanding southward, prompting agricultural specialists to reassess diagnostic and management strategies. “Today zinc begins to be a limiting factor in areas where it had never been, which forces to rethink diagnostic and management strategies,” stated Hernán Sainz Rozas, a specialist at INTA Balcarce.
Without zinc fertilization, yield losses could range from 5% to 15%. For example, a field with 0.75 ppm of zinc aiming for a 7,000-kilo-per-hectare yield could experience a reduction of up to 840 kilos - a loss considerably exceeding the estimated replacement cost of $18 to $20 per hectare.
Researchers recommend proactive soil analysis, specifically determining extractable zinc levels at a depth of 20 cm, utilizing 25 to 35 subsamples per lot to ensure accurate representation. Zinc can be applied through solid mixtures, liquids, seed treatments, or foliar applications, with a growing trend towards combining it with phosphorus to enhance distribution and absorption.
Nahuel Reussi Calvo, a researcher at CONICET and UNMDP, emphasized zinc’s crucial role in key physiological functions like photosynthesis and protein synthesis, adding that its absence also diminishes the efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus utilization.
INTA data confirms that two out of three Pampas soils now exhibit medium or low zinc levels. Sainz Rozas concluded, “Investing in clever diagnosis and replacement is essential to avoid losses and sustain the competitiveness of the region.”
