Determination of suitable chemical extraction methods for available zinc content of paddy soils at thrace region in Turkey

This research was carried out in order to determine the most suitable method for chemical extraction of available zinc (Zn) content of paddy soils. Paddy soil samples from twelve regions were collected and each sample was further divided into four pots each of which was allocated to one of the four Zn doses. Therefore a total of 45 samples were evaluated after growing maize as the test plant. It was determined that Zn uptake, dry matter amount and Zn content of the plants increased with the application of increasing Zn rates to the pots. Nine chemical extraction methods for available Zn contents of soils were used and the reliability of the investigated methods was ranked as: 0.005 M DTPA+0.01 M CaCl2+0.1 M TEA; 0.005 M DTPA+1 M NH4HCO3; 0.01 M Na-2 EDTA + 1 M (NH4)(2)CO3; 0.01 M Na-2 EDTA + 1 M NH4 OAc; 0.01 M Na-2 EDTA; 1 M NH4OAc; 1 M MgCl2; 0.05 M HCl + 0.012 M H2SO4; 0.01 M Hidrocinon. The method for extraction with 0.005 M DTPA + 0.01 M CaCl2 + 0.1 M TEA solution had the highest correlation coefficient with and also enabled the determination of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu). It could be recommended as the most suitable one for the investigated soils.