Reseach and Implementation Program for the 3rd Phase of the HarvestZinc Project

The HarvestZinc Fertilizer Project began in 2008 to explore and test fertilizer use to improve the zinc (Zn) concentration of staple food crops. Biofortification of cereal grains through Zn fertilization compliments plant breeding efforts in alleviating Zn deficiency in crops and related problems in human nutrition. Results of the first phase of the project were reported in Better Crops/Vol 96 (2012) No. 2.

The project, now in its second phase, has field experiments in Brazil, China, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey, and Zambia. At each location, one set of field experiments is evaluating soil application of different Zn fertilizers and a second set is focused on the effectiveness of foliar fertilization. Wheat is targeted in China, India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Zambia; rice in China, India and Thailand; common bean in Brazil; and sorghum in Zambia. Second-phase activities are described in more detail at the HarvestZinc website (see http://www.harvestzinc.org/second-phase), but results are not currently available.