Maize Response to Zinc with Different Sar Levels: Sodium and Calcium in Brakish Water Differentially Affects Zn Nutrition of Plants and Its Management on Calcareous Soils

Availability of good quality irrigation water in sufficient quantities is becoming serious threat to world crop production. Several soil, plant and climatic factors influence Zinc availability and uptake by crops. Farmers generally apply ground water of different SAR. We evaluated the effect of Zinc (Zn) application on shoot growth and shoot Zn concentration and uptake by two maize cultivars (Hybrid: FHY-993 and Synthetic: C-20) on a loam soil irrigated with water of different sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) levels. The result of present study indicated the importance of the Zn nutritional status of plants in improving salt stress condition. Adequate Zn nutrition is, therefore, important for the maintenance of good growth and yield under sodic condions. The objective of present research was to asses the response of maize to Zn application irrigated with water of different SAR levels.