Micronutrients are essential for plant and animal health, influencing key physiological processes and overall productivity. Despite their presence in soils, availability to plants is often limited, leading to widespread deficiencies that impact agricultural yield and food security. Understanding and managing micronutrient availability in different soil types is critical for sustainable agriculture, improved crop yields, and ensuring nutritional adequacy. The transformation and mobility of micronutrients in soil are regulated by processes such as adsorption and desorption, complexation and chelation, redox reactions, microbial mediation, and the influence of soil pH. These processes determine nutrient availability, which in turn affects plant uptake, growth, and metabolic functions. Plant roots absorb micronutrients through mechanisms including passive diffusion, active transport, facilitated diffusion, chelation, and root exudates. Once absorbed, nutrients are transported into the plant's vascular system, where they undergo translocation, redistribution, and remobilization to maintain homeostasis and optimal nutrition. Each micronutrient plays a unique role in plant physiology. Iron is crucial for chlorophyll synthesis and enzyme activation, while manganese supports photosynthesis and antioxidant mechanisms. Zinc is essential for enzyme activity and DNA synthesis, copper aids in electron transport, and boron maintains cell wall structure and reproductive development. Molybdenum (Mo) facilitates nitrogen and sulfur metabolism and enhances stress tolerance. Recognizing the visual symptoms of micronutrient deficiencies is vital for timely intervention. Effective management strategies include optimizing soil pH, using organic amendments, applying micronutrient fertilizers strategically, and employing biofortification techniques. These practices ensure sustained nutrient availability, promoting crop health, productivity, and global nutrition security.
Micronutrients, Balanced fertilization, Nutrients and, Nutrient deficiency, Nutrient management, Soil productivity
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