National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)
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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a well documented public health issue and an important soil constraint to crop production. Also, there is a close geographical overlap between soil and human deficiency of Zn and Fe indicating a high requirement for increasing concentrations of micronutrients in food crops. Breeding new plant genotypes for high grain concentrations of Zn (genetic biofortification) is the most cost-effective strategy to address the problem; but, this strategy is a long-term process. A rapid approach is therefore required for biofortification of food crops with Zn and represents useful complementary approach to on-going breeding programs. In this regard, agronomic biofortification or fertilizer strategy (ferti-fortification) represents an effective way and rapid process for combating Zn malnutrition in developing countries. Ferti-fortification is the application of fertilisers to seeds, soil and/or foliage, at rates greater than those required for maximum yield, to increase the uptake of nutrients into the plants and its translocation into seeds. Zinc-enriched grains are of great importance for crop productivity resulting in better seedling vigour, denser stands and higher stress tolerance on potentially Zn-deficient soils. Soil plus foliar application of micronutrients is the best application method and foliar sprays should be done at proper stages of crop growth to increase the grain yield and micronutrient concentration in grain part. This review discusses bio-fortification and ferti-fortification studies of Zn, its deficiency in human populations, public health and socioeconomic concerns and future prospects/ strategies to reduce its deficiency in soil and ultimately human populations.
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