Fertilization of Lentil with Zinc on Saskatchewan Soils to Increase Yield and Grain Zinc Content.

Saskatchewan lentil production feeds a major portion of the world’s growing demand for legume grains. Much of this demand originates in regions where human zinc (Zn) deficiencies arise as the result of insufficient Zn content in staple grains in their diets. Two experiments were conducted in 2013 to determine if Zn fertilization could increase yield and grain Zn content in three lentil cultivars. A pot study was conducted in a polyhouse that evaluated soil and foliar applied ZnSO₄, Zn chelated with EDTA, and Zn lignosulphonate.. The effects of three rates (0, 2.5, and 5 kg Zn ha^-1) of soil applied ZnSO₄ were examined in a field experiment established at two sites contrasting in pH, organic matter content and soil extractable available Zn  in southern Saskatchewan. The rates and forms of Zn used in these experiments were not found to significantly increase yield or grain Zn content in any of the three lentil cultivars tested. Fertilization with ZnSO₄ resulted in significantly more residual available Zn in the soil than soil applied chelated Zn or foliar applied Zn forms. However, residual soil Zn did not significantly differ between rates of soil applied ZnSO_4.