Micronutrients: A Current Status and its Symptoms on Crops

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab/1.2.22

Abstract:
Micronutrients are essential for the normal growth of plants. Deficiencies of micronutrient drastically affect the growth, metabolism and reproductive phase in plants, animal and human beings. Wide spread deficiencies of micronutrients has been found in Indian soils. About 3 billion people in the world are affected with micronutrient malnutrition. Crop plants requires 17 nutrient elements viz. C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, B, Mo, Cl and Ni for completing their life cycle. Out of these last eight elements are micronutrients that are needed in very less amount for crops but these are equally important as that of macronutrients. Management of micronutrients deficiencies in view of decline in production of major crops is a cause of concern that requires immediate attention. Production of adequate food grain from the finite land resources to feed the burgeoning population is a great challenge in the years to come.

Keywords:
Essential element, Micronutrient, growth, metabolism, symptoms.

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