Interactive effects of phosphorus and zinc in wheat, rice and mungbean

Field experiments were carried out with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.) and mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) to study the effects of P×Zn interactions using three rates of P (0, 40 and 80 kg P2O5 ha−1 for each crop) and Zn (0, 5 and 10 kg Zn ha−1 for wheat and rice and 0, 3 and 6 kg ha−1 for mungbean). The concentrations of both P and Zn in wheat, rice and mungbean plants were increased with increase in the individual doses of P and Zn, respectively. Interactions of P and Zn were additive and beneficial to the concentration of P and Zn in both wheat and rice plants and on the uptake of both P and Zn by rice plant. Interactions between P and Zn were additive to P concentration while antagonistic to Zn concentration in mungbean plant especially when high rate of P was applied with different rates of Zn. Application of 80 kg P2O5 with 5 kg Zn ha−1 was the most suitable treatment combination for obtaining efficient wheat production. The yields of rice and mungbean were not affected due to P×Zn interactions.