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Journals / Eurasian Journal of Soil Science / 2026 / Volume: 15 Issue: 4

Repeated foliar zinc applications enhance shoot biomass, zinc accumulation, and mineral composition of sorghum across contrasting soil-moisture regimes in a calcareous soil

Ibadulla Tautenov(Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University, Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan)0000-0002-6837-1970
Serik Bekzhanov(Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University, Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan)0000-0002-7876-8779
Laura Tokhetova(Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University, Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan)0000-0003-2053-6956
Nurali Nurgaliyev(Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University, Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan)0000-0001-6132-1818
Karlygash Kaimoldaeva(Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University, Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan)0000-0002-3019-7989
Samalbek Kossanov(Kazakh Research Institute of Forestry and Agroforestry named after A.N.Bukeikhan, Kazakhstan)0000-0002-3877-7566
Ainur Demesinova(Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University, Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan)0000-0001-5399-0421
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-10-05
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Under the conditions of this pot experiment, repeated foliar Zn application improved whole-shoot Zn status and mineral composition, while soil moisture remained the dominant determinant of biomass production.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Water deficit and low zinc (Zn) availability frequently co-occur in calcareous soils, constraining sorghum growth and tissue mineral status.
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Key Findings & Data:Tagamdyk-2017) under contrasting soil-moisture regimes.
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Conclusion & Impact:Under the conditions of this pot experiment, repeated foliar Zn application improved whole-shoot Zn status and mineral composition, while soil moisture remained the dominant determinant of biomass production.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:2017 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Sorghum bicolor · calcareous soil · drought stress

Abstract

Water deficit and low zinc (Zn) availability frequently co-occur in calcareous soils, constraining sorghum growth and tissue mineral status. This greenhouse study evaluated whether the timing and repetition of foliar Zn application improved aboveground biomass, whole-shoot Zn accumulation, and mineral composition of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cv. Tagamdyk-2017) under contrasting soil-moisture regimes. A completely randomized 3 × 8 factorial experiment with three replicates combined soil moisture maintained continuously from sowing to harvest at 100% (T1), 75% (T2), or 50% (T3) of field capacity with eight foliar schedules: a water-sprayed control (D0); single applications at the 4–5-leaf (D1), panicle-initiation (D2), or flowering-initiation (D3) stage; three two-stage combinations; and a three-stage D1+D2+D3 program. After 105 d, soil moisture and foliar Zn schedule significantly affected fresh and dry biomass (P < 0.01), whereas their interaction was nonsignificant. Mean dry biomass declined from 34.3 ± 0.5 g pot⁻¹ at T1 to 27.9 ± 0.4 and 20.4 ± 0.3 g pot⁻¹ at T2 and T3, respectively. Across moisture regimes, D1+D2+D3 produced the highest mean fresh biomass (133.0 ± 3.2 g pot⁻¹), dry biomass (29.9 ± 0.8 g pot⁻¹), shoot Zn concentration (34.0 ± 0.8 mg kg⁻¹), and Zn uptake (1.04 ± 0.03 mg pot⁻¹), compared with 114.2 ± 2.5 g pot⁻¹, 25.5 ± 0.6 g pot⁻¹, 14.2 ± 0.3 mg kg⁻¹, and 0.37 ± 0.01 mg pot⁻¹, respectively, in D0. The soil-moisture × foliar-Zn interaction was significant for shoot Zn concentration (P < 0.05) and Zn uptake (P < 0.01). Repeated Zn application was also associated with higher shoot N, P, K, Fe, Cu, and Mn concentrations but did not eliminate the adverse effects of severe soil-moisture limitation. Under the conditions of this pot experiment, repeated foliar Zn application improved whole-shoot Zn status and mineral composition, while soil moisture remained the dominant determinant of biomass production.

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Cite This Article

Tautenov, I., Bekzhanov, S., Tokhetova, L., Nurgaliyev, N., Kaimoldaeva, K., Kossanov, S., Demesinova, A. (2026). Repeated foliar zinc applications enhance shoot biomass, zinc accumulation, and mineral composition of sorghum across contrasting soil-moisture regimes in a calcareous soil. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, Volume: 15 Issue: 4. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.2010187

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