Abstract

TARANGO-RIVERO, Socorro H. et al. Chelated zinc and beneficial microorganisms: a sustainable fertilization option for pecan production. Rev. Chapingo Ser.Hortic [online]. 2022, vol.28, n.3, pp.145-159.  Epub Dec 13, 2022. ISSN 2007-4034.  https://doi.org/10.5154/r.rchsh.2022.01.001.

Zinc (Zn) fertilization of pecan trees is carried out by foliar spraying, since the nutrient in the soil is bound to carbonates, which hinders its absorption by the tree. This practice has environmental repercussions because it is an aerosol. Therefore, the objective of this study was to generate an alternative to foliar Zn application with soil-applied chelated Zn combined with beneficial microorganisms to maintain or improve pecan production. Fifteen homogeneous trees were selected based on trunk cross-sectional area and crown volume in a pecan orchard in Chihuahua, Mexico. During four years (2015-2018), three treatments with five replications were evaluated under a completely randomized design. The treatments were: 1) foliar Zn (36 % ZnSO4), 2) soil Zn (14 % Zn chelated with carboxylic acids) and 3) soil Zn + mycorrhizal fungi (Pisolithus tinctorius + Azospirillum brasilense). The orchard studied had native communities of P. tinctorius, which was found in 83.7 % of the roots analyzed. Pecan production, in the four years, with the different treatments was 27 kg with foliar Zn, 25.4 kg with chelated Zn and 26.9 kg with chelated Zn plus microorganisms. The results indicate that soil-applied Zn is a viable and environmentally friendly option.

Keywords : Carya illinoinensis; Pisolithus tinctorius; mycorrhizal fungi; soil zinc.

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