Zinc Fact Sheets: Zinc Fertilizer

Answers to commonly asked questions about zinc fertilizers

DO I NEED ZINC FERTILIZER? The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has determined that zinc is the most commonly decient micronutrient in agricultural soils, with deciency occurring in one out of every two cases. The zinc status of soils and crops can, in most cases, be easily assessed by soil or plant analysis. Where poor yields are obtained without other obvious explanations - such as drought or disease - especially in areas with highly susceptible soils, farmers should investigate potential zinc deciency. Likewise, crops displaying visible symptoms of zinc deciency, such as interveinal chlorosis, stunting due to reduced internode elongation, little leaf and rosetting, should also be investigated. Hidden zinc deciency in crop plants is a well-known problem and may be responsible for reductions in yield up to 40% without appearance of distinct leaf symptoms. It is therefore important to monitor zinc status of plants regularly. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ZINC FERTILIZER? Three different types of compounds are used in zinc fertilizers. These compounds vary considerably in zinc content, price and effectiveness for crops on different types of soils. The sources of zinc include: (1) inorganic compounds, (2) synthetic chelates and (3) natural organic complexes. 1. Inorganic sources include: zinc sulphate (ZnSO4), zinc oxide (ZnO), zinc carbonate (ZnCO3), zinc nitrate (Zn(NO3)2) and zinc chloride (ZnCl2). Zinc sulphate is the most commonly used zinc fertilizer worldwide and is available in both crystalline monohydrate and heptahydrate forms. 2. Synthetic chelates are special types of complexed micronutrients generally formed by combining a chelating agent such as Ethylene Diamine Tetra-acetic Acid (EDTA) with a metal ion. The disodium salt of ZN-EDTA (Na2Zn-EDTA) is the most commonly used chelated source of zinc. With their high stability, synthetic chelates are eminently suitable for mixing with concentrated fertilizer solutions for soil, fertigation and hydroponic applications. They can also be used for foliar sprays, but their relatively low zinc content means that repeat applications may be required for moderate to severe zinc deciency situations. Recent results indicate that zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) is a better and cheaper source for foliar spray of zinc than ZnEDTA in terms of correcting zinc deciency and improving zinc concentrations of seeds/grains. 3. Natural organic complexes include those which are manufactured by reacting zinc salts with citrates or with organic by-products from paper pulp manufacture such as lignosulphonates, phenols and polyavonoids. They are generally less expensive than synthetic chelates such as ZN-EDTA but are generally much less effective.

The following table shows the full range of materials used as zinc fertilizer and their typical zinc contents:
Table 1: Commonly Used Zinc Fertilizer Materials
Compound Inorganic Compounds Zinc sulphate monohydrate Zinc sulphate heptahydrate Zinc oxysulphate Basic zinc sulphate Zinc oxide Zinc carbonate Zinc chloride Zinc nitrate Zinc phosphate Zinc frits Ammoniated zinc sulphate solution Organic Compounds Disodium zinc EDTA Sodium zinc HEDTA Sodium zinc EDTA Zinc polyavonoid Zinc lignosulphonate Na2ZnEDTA NaZnHEDTA NaZnEDTA 8-14 6-10 9-13 5-10 5-8 ZnSO4.H2O ZnSO4.7H2O ZnO.ZnSO4 ZnSO4.4Zn(OH)2 ZnO ZnCO3 ZnCl2 Zn(NO3)2.3H2O Zn3(PO4)2 Fritted glass Zn(NH3)4SO4 36 22 20-50 55 50-80 50-56 50 23 50 10-30 10 Formula Zinc Content (%)

Alloway 2008

WHERE DO ZINC FERTILIZERS COME FROM? Most zinc fertilizers are manufactured from residues and by-product streams of processes using primary zinc metal. These zinc sources are puried and chemically altered to create a compound that is bioavailable to crops. In recent years, an increasing attention is paid to foliar spray of zinc in order to incrrease zinc concentrations of seeds/grains for better seed quality and also to contribute to human zinc nutrition. As zinc fertilizer usage increases around the world, it will become more common for zinc fertilizer to be manufactured from primary metal. It is important that zinc fertilizers are sourced from reputable producers to ensure that they are free from harmful contaminants and contain stated levels of zinc. HOW IS ZINC FERTILIZER APPLIED? Zinc deciencies are normally corrected by soil applications of zinc compounds. Foliar sprays are usually used on higher value fruit trees and grape vines and for treating annual eld crops. Other methods include seed treatments and root-dipping of transplant seedlings (e.g. in rice production). The amount of zinc fertilizer required depends on the type of crop to be grown, the type of zinc fertilizer used and the local soil conditions. Soil applications are typically in the range 4.5-34 kg zinc/ha, usually in the form of zinc sulphate broadcast or sprayed (in aqueous solution) onto the seedbed. Higher applications are often used for crops which are particularly sensitive to zinc deciency, such as maize. Zinc fertilizers are also often used to fortify other fertilizers, including blended NPK fertilizers. In this application, it is common to see fortication rates in the order of 1.0% zinc by mass.

Where farmers are applying zinc fertilizers on a regular basis (either to the soil or as foliar sprays), regular soil or plant analysis should be carried out to determine whether sufcient residues of zinc have accumulated in the soil; thus, zinc applications could be discontinued for one or more years. This saves the farmer the expense of the zinc fertilizer application and helps to ensure that zinc does not accumulate to undesirably high levels. Local expert advice should be sought on all aspects of the management of the zinc status of soils as part of a balance approach to fertilization. HOW MUCH WILL MY PROFIT INCREASE WHEN I USE ZINC FERTILIZERS? Yield improvements are generally realized when zinc fertilizers are added to soils with low bioavailable zinc levels. Increases in yield will be dependent on a number of factors, including soil physical and chemical composition, pH and metal oxides and levels of organic matter and soil moisture. The following two tables show examples of the increase in prot realized from zinc fertilizer use in two trials in China and India:
Table 2: Zinc in Maize, China - Increased Yield and Value of Maize Applied with Zinc
Treatment Starter fertilization in soil Mixed with seeds Foliar three times from jointing stage Untreated ZnSO4 Rate (kg/ha) 22.5 0.36 2.25 0 Cost Zn (US$/ha) 10 0.1 0.9 0 Yield Increase (kg/ha) 1082 916 877 Value of Increase (US $/ha) 141.48 128.24 121.88 Benet to Cost Ratio 14:1 1282:1 135:1 -

(Sun et al., 2005) Field trial, Liaonin province

Table 3: Zinc in Cereals and Cotton, India - Yield Improvement and Value to Farmer
Improvement Level Zn Rate (kg/ha) Cost Zn (US$/ha) Yield Increase (kg/ha) Wheat* Lowest Average Best 2.10 5.47 5.25 5.0 13.1 12.6 Rice* Lowest Average Best 5.00 6.70 8.40 12.0 16.1 20.2 Maize* Lowest Average Best 5.00 5.65 6.30 12.0 13.6 15.1 Cotton* Lowest Average Best 5.25 5.42 5.60 12.6 13.0 13.4 215 323 430 43.3 132.0 98.4 3:1 10:1 7:1 350 936 1521 79.0 112.0 380.3 7:1 8:1 25:1 573 889 1110 137.0 118.0 268.4 11:1 7:1 13:1 420 970 3050 104.2 139.0 780.4 21:1 11:1 62:1 Value of Increase (US$/ha) Benet to Cost Ratio

*Assumes: Wheat = $144/mt, Rice = $133, Maize = $120 and Cotton = $411 Compiled from: Rattan, R.K., Datta S.P., Saharan Neelam and Katyal, J.C. Fertilizer News. 42 (12): 75-89 (1997)

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