Can plants recover from severe zinc deficiency?
Written by
Nguyen Minh
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Recovery from severe zinc deficiency is often contingent the extent of damage and the recovery method. Chlorosis exceeding 50% leaf area or an absence of new vegetative growth warrants a more assertive recovery plan. Recovery comprised of three distinct phases of recovery: first when nutrients are taken up by the plant, then metabolic functioning resumes, and lastly vegetative growth resumes. New development will occur from root regeneration before a sustainable new vegetative development can happen.
For mild cases, use foliar sprays to treat: Introduce 0.1% zinc sulfate solution every 14 days. New growth should improve within 3-5 weeks. In moderate deficiencies to treat, use a combination of foliar and soil treatments. Apply zinc sulfate at 5 kg/ha (4 lb/acre), as well as compost. Full recovery will take 8-12 weeks. Always treat the pH imbalance first.
Initial Treatment Phase
- Apply foliar zinc: 0.05-0.1% solution
- Correct soil pH to 6.0-6.5 range
- Continue treatments 4-6 weeks
Root Regeneration
- Apply mycorrhizal fungi inoculants
- Maintain soil moisture at 25-30%
- Avoid nitrogen fertilizers during recovery
Full Metabolic Recovery
- Monitor enzyme activity restoration
- Expect 6-8 weeks for protein synthesis
- New growth shows normal zinc levels
Contain and tackle contributing factors to successful recovery: use DTPA for soil zinc testing: levels over 1.0 mg/kg are the goal. Maintain a pH balance using sulfur applications. Ramp organic matter to at least 3-5% organic matter to support micro-organisms. I have restored Citrus orchards with Zinc chelates applied with organic compost.
Monitor recovery by determining leaf tissue on re-growth. Take a sample of new growth every 3 weeks. Leaf tissue analysis should target zinc in the leaves at 20-100 ppm. Recovery of roots is before visible improvement. Use mycorrhizal fungi to facilitate nutrient uptake. Do not use high-phosphorus fertilizers during recovery.
Set appropriate expectations for severely affected plants. Trees may need to be structurally pruned once they recover. Annual crops can require reseeding. Take photographs of the plants' progress every two weeks. Full metabolic function returns to normal long before visual symptoms do.
Read the full article: Zinc Deficiency Plants: Symptoms and Solutions
