The availability of zinc, manganese and cupper in ecological food and fodder production in South Eastern Norway

Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences

Project leader: Tore Krogstad
Co-workers: The Agricultural Extention Service (LFR)
Source of funding: The Research Council of Norway
Project period: 2002-2006

The aim of the project is to quantify the potential of the soil to supply grain crops with the micro nutrients zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu). We want to develop a method
to better utilize the micro nutrients in the soil. To use crops with deep growing roots as sub crops in crop rotation can contribute to a higher availability of the natural micro nutrient content in the soil for the main crop. At the same time we want to find micro nutrient rich organic and inorganic materials in a way that these nutrients do not represent minimum factors in the plant nutrition, and to maintain a reserve of micro nutrients in the soil over time. Soils with frequently nutrient deficiency problems in the South Eastern Norway will be used for the investigations. Both field trials, pot experiments in green house and laboratory experiments will be conducted. In the field trials grain in rotation with legumes will be tested (meadow with a high content of legumes). In the years with grain crops clover/timothy meadow will serve as cover crop or catch crop. The release of Zn, Mn and Cu from rock powder and compost will be investigated in green house experiments and laboratory experiments.

Main goal:
To quantify the natural amount of zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and cupper (Cu) in soil available for grain and legumes in ecological grain production, and to find ways to secure the availability of these nutrients without us of easy soluble fertilizers.

Sub goals:
1. Quantify the amount of Zn, Mn and Cu available for grain and legumes from rock types in cultivated soil.
2. Find rock powder types and organic fertilizers (compost), and investigate the possibilities these materials have to supply plants with Zn, Mn and Cu.
3. Quantify the effect of farming system and type of plants on the uptake of Zn, Mn and Cu.


Updated: 27.03.06
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