Fortification of Bread Wheat Using Synthesized Zn-Glycine and Zn-Alanine Chelates in Comparison with ZnSO4 in a Calcareous Soil

Calcareous soils typically suffer from zinc deficiency and zinc sulfate is incorporated in many cultivated soils. Utilization of ZnSO4 has some kinds of interaction with soil particles and organic matter. In this study, the efficacy of two znic(Zn)-amino acid chelates (Zn-ACs) i.e., Zn-alanine (Zn-Ala) and Zn-glycine (Zn-Gly) on wheat (Triticum aestivum, cv. N91-8) growth characteristics and zinc concentration in wheat was examined under greenhouse conditions and compared to the a commercial ZnSO4. Results showed that Zn-Ala and Zn-Gly significantly increased the dry weight and shoot length of wheat in comparison to ZnSO4 treatment. Soil application of Zn-Amino acid chelates proved to be the most influential source of zinc in increasing wheat growth and yield indices. Number of fertile spikelet and grain yield increased significantly respectively compared to ZnSO4 treatment. Zn concentration and protein content of wheat grain in Zn-ACs treatment was significantly higher than the ZnSO4 treatment. Soil application of Zn-ACs caused a significant decrease in the grain phytic acid (PA) concentration and also phytic acid to zinc molar ratio in comparison with ZnSO4 treatment. According to the results, Zn-ACs could be utilized as a zinc fertilizer source for improving the zinc bioavailability in wheat.