Zinc is an essential micronutrient for plant life. While some soils contain adequate amounts for crop production the addition of zinc fertilizers is neccessary for others. Zinc is a recommended micronutrient in fertilizer programs in the production of corn, sweet corn, and edible beans.
The zinc concentration of a soil depends on the materials the soil originates from. Sandy and highly leached acidic soils as well as mineral soils with minimal organic matter also exhibit zinc deficiency. In contrast, soils derived from igneous rocks may contain a higher zinc content. In plants, zinc is absorbed in its divalent ionic (Zn2+) and chelated forms.
Zinc is an essential building block of the various enzymes that are responsible for the metabolic processes in crops. In the absence of zinc, specific enzymes responsible for growth and development would not be synthesised plant tissue. Carbohydrate, protein, and chlorophyll formation is significantly reduced in zinc-deficient plants. Therefore, a constant and continuous supply of zinc is needed for optimum growth and maximum crop yield.
