Skip to Main Content
AB BC MB NB ON PE QC SK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY NS

Personalize your experience

Create an enhanced site experience specific to your needs by providing your region and crop.

To begin, select on the map where your farm is located.

You're located in the

Select your desired crop

    Enjoy an enhanced site experience tailored to growing in the

    Scroll Select
    Go back to where you left off

    NUTRIENT:

    ZINC

    Zinc (Zn) is taken up by plants as the divalent Zn²⁺ cation. It was one of the first micronutrients recognized as essential for plants and the one most commonly limiting yields.

    Powerful Micronutrient

    Although Zn is required in small amounts, high yields are impossible without it.

    Protein Synthesis and Growth Regulation

    Protein synthesis and growth regulation require Zn. Reduced hormone production due to a Zn-deficient plant will cause the shortening of internodes and stunted leaf growth.

    Deficiency Symptoms

    Zinc is much less mobile within the plant, so deficiency symptoms first appear on the younger leaves.

    pt_nutrient_details_soybean

    Metabolic Reactions

    Zinc aids synthesis of plant-growth substances and enzyme systems, and is essential for promoting certain metabolic reactions, which are particularly critical in the early growth stages.

    pH to Zinc Ratio

    As soil pH increases, zinc availability decreases.

      • Protein Synthesis and Growth Regulation

        Protein synthesis and growth regulation require Zn. Reduced hormone production due to a Zn-deficient plant will cause the shortening of internodes and stunted leaf growth.

      • Deficiency Symptoms

        Zinc is much less mobile within the plant, so deficiency symptoms first appear on the younger leaves.

      • Metabolic Reactions

        Zinc aids synthesis of plant-growth substances and enzyme systems, and is essential for promoting certain metabolic reactions, which are particularly critical in the early growth stages.

      • pH to Zinc Ratio

        As soil pH increases, zinc availability decreases.

      Zinc deficiency symptoms

      Symptoms of deficiency can vary across crop species, but similarities exist for how nutrient insufficiency impacts plant tissue color and appearance. Nutrient deficiencies are commonly associated with the physical location on the plant (i.e., whether the symptoms are primarily observed on older versus newly formed plant tissue), but these symptoms can spread as the severity of the deficiency progresses.

      Looking to dig deeper into zinc?

      Browse the Resource Library for Zinc-related articles, research insights and more.

      Resource Library