Micronutrient deficiencies in crop production in China

Abstract

The essential micronutrients for field crops are Fe, Zn, B, Mo, Cu and Mn. The incidence of micronutrient deficiency has increased in recent years. Iron and Zn deficiency are paid more attention because they negatively affect both food production and human health in a major part of the world. In this paper, the Fe, Zn, B, Mo, Mn and Cu deficiency status in soils and crops in China are reviewed. Iron and Zn deficiencies cause some serious problems in crop production in China, and B, Mn and Mo deficiency are second in importance. The corrections of these micronutrient deficiencies by fertilization, agronomic strategies and genotypic exploitation are also discussed. In China, a scarcity of water has caused a shift from flooded to aerobic conditions for rice production. The consequence for micronutrient availability is a function of the changes in both soil and plant factors.