Crop plants require nearly 17 essential elements for optimal growth and development. When these minerals are required in relatively high amounts, they are called macronutrients and in trace amounts as micronutrients. While micronutrients are required in relatively smaller quantities for holistic plant growth, they are as vital as macronutrients. If even one of these elements is lacking in the soil or not adequately balanced with the other nutrients, it may result in growth suppression or even complete inhibition.
Crop plants require nearly 17 essential elements for optimal growth and development. When these minerals are required in relatively high amounts, they are called macronutrients and in trace amounts as micronutrients. While micronutrients are required in relatively smaller quantities for holistic plant growth, they are as vital as macronutrients. If even one of these elements is lacking in the soil or not adequately balanced with the other nutrients, it may result in growth suppression or even complete inhibition.
Micronutrients often act as cofactors in enzyme systems and participate in redox reactions, in addition to having several other vital functions in plants. But most importantly, micronutrients are involved in the key physiological processes of photosynthesis and respiration and their deficiency can choke these vital physiological processes and thus impacting yield gain.
‘Hidden hunger’ or mineral deficiency in edible food grains is a major health concern in a majority of developing countries. For example, dietary Zinc (Zn) deficiency may result in loss of immunity, poor wound healing and even dermatitis. Whereas an adequate amount of Zn nutrition helps to improve resistance to some infectious diseases such as diarrhea and increase immunity.
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