Zinc efficiency of wheat cultivars grown on a saline calcareous soil

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a yield limiting constraint for wheat production in central Iran. A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (1999/2000 and 2000/2001) to study Zn use efficiency of five wheat cultivars. Two Zn rates were used, i.e., 0 and 40 kg Zn ha(-1) applied as zinc sulfate. Significant variation was found among wheat cultivars in relation to grain yield, straw yield, Zn use efficiency and yield components. Based on grain yield and Zn use efficiency across two years, cultivar Cross was most efficient and Dur-3 was most inefficient for Zn use efficiency. Cultivars Kavir, Falat, and Rushan were intermediate in Zn use efficiency. Zinc concentration and uptake were higher in the zinc efficient cultivar Cross, while these values were lowest in the Zn inefficient cultivar Dur-3.