Growth and nutrient response of flax and durum wheat to phosphorus and zinc fertilizers

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) and durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) are important agricultural crops that enter the human food chain. Effective nutrient management considering nutrient interactions is important in order to increase crop yield and improve crop nutrient concentration. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of P and Zn fertilizers on the yield and nutritional value of flax and durum wheat. A pot culture experiment conducted in a growth chamber using a calcareous clay-loam soil showed that P fertilizers can restrict flax growth due to an antagonistic effect of Zn fertilizer but can increase the seed yield of both crops by enhanced dry matter translocation to the seed/grain. Among the P sources, commercial monoammonium phosphate (CMAP) and commercial triple superphosphate (CTSP) had similar effects on growth and yield, but different impacts on the nutrient concentrations of both crops, indicating the importance of selecting P source to improve crop quality. Zinc addition wi...