Micronutrients and the agroecology of tropical and Mediterranean regions

Abstract

The status of micronutrients in soils and their availability to plants are the result of a complex of factors related to parent material, soil type, and climate. Some progress has been made in understanding the effects of several individual factors on the availability of micronutrients; however, the possibility of identifying areas of potential micronutrient problems on the basis of existing information on soils and climate is still remote. Such areas, therefore, are identified through site characterization based on surveys of micronutrient deficiency symptoms, extensive micronutrient soil testing, or selective micronutrient trials.