In the second phase of the project, two separate field experiments will be established in 7 countries (e.g., China, India, Thailand, Pakistan, Turkey, Zambia and Brazil). One of the experiments will deal with the soil application of different Zn-containing fertilizers and use of seeds differing in concentration of Zn. Second field experiment will focus on effectiveness of various foliar fertilizers/treatments on grain Zn accumulation. The targeted food crops are wheat (China, India, Pakistan and Turkey), rice (India and China), common bean (Brazil) and sorghum (Zambia).

Experiments Focussing on  Foliar Zn Spray

Based on evidence that foliar Zn application is highly effective and promising in doubling grain Zn concentration at any location tested, particularly in wheat, it is important to motivate and encourage farmers to apply Zn to improve grain quality as well as grain yield. Following two strategies can be employed for motivation (and encouragement) of farmers to spray Zn:

• to demonstrate that the plants emerging from high Zn-seeds  i) have improved seedling  vigor and ii) hence better yield
• to evaluate the applicability of Zn together with widely used insecticides and/or fungicides on wheat and also rice in the target countries

Most of the foliar spray experiments conducted in the first phase of the project concentrated only on applying ZnSO4 and 2 different Zn-containing foliar fertilizers. It is, therefore, important to test further (new) foliar Zn fertilizers for their effectiveness in improving grain Zn concentration. It is also important to study the role of a single spray of Zn fertilizer (before or after flowering) on grain Zn concentration.

Experiments Focussing on Compound Fertilizers Containing Zn

Soil applied Zn-containing fertilizers are essential to improve growth and yield on potentially Zn-deficient soils and to contribute further to grain Zn accumulation.  In the second phase, various soil-applied Zn fertilizers will be tested for their contribution to grain yield and grain Zn concentration. In view of the positive impacts of N nutrition (especially urea) on root uptake, shoot transport and grain deposition of Zn,  field tests are needed to study the interaction between Zn and N nutrition (e.g., urea supply). All these experimental aspects will be major research activities of the second phase of the project.

Delivery of the Project Results

Delivery of the project results to  farmers and agronomists is a vital issue for the success of the project. A further major goal of the second phase of the HarvestZinc project is, therefore, to promote and disseminate the practical and theoretical knowledge and experiences gained during the project among the end-users. An important delivery  activity will be the organization of Zinc Days in the target countries for the agronomists/crop consultants, extension staff, farmers, nutritionists and decision makers at  the different stages of the project.