Fifteen or more elements present in rocks and soils normally in very small amounts are essential for plant and/or animal nutrition. By the nature of their low abundance in natural uncontaminated earth materials or plants, they are known as trace elements, minor elements or micro-nutrients. Boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, silicon, vanadium and zinc are required by plants; copper, cobalt, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc by animals. In addition essential roles of arsenic, fluorine, nickel, silicon, tin and vanadium have in recent years been established in animal nutrition.

Trace Elements in Soils and Plants

Zinc is plant micronutrient which is involved in many physiological functions its inadequate supply will reduce crop yields. Zinc deficiency is the most wide spread micronutrient deficiency problem, almost all crops and calcareous, sandy soils, peat soils, and soils with high phosphorus and silicon are expected to be deficient. Zinc deficiencies can affect plant by stunting its growth, decreasing number of tillers, chlorosis and smaller leaves, increasing crop maturity period, spikelet sterility and inferior quality of harvested products. Beside its role in crop production Zn plays a part in the basic roles of cellular functions in all living organisms and is involved in improving the human immune system, due to its insufficient intake, human body will suffer from hair and memory loss, skin problems and weakness in body muscles.

https://zenodo.org/record/8225/files/1363870284-Hafeez322012AJEA2746.pdf

Role of zinc in plant nutrition- a review

Interaction among plant nutrients can yield antagonistic or synergistic outcomes that influence nutrient use efficiency. To provide insight on this phenomenon, peer-reviewed articles were selected ...

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00103624.2017.1407429

Effects of Nutrient Antagonism and Synergism on Yield and Fertilizer Use Efficiency

The availability of the essential micro nutrients B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn to plants is often poorly related to the total quantity of the particular element in the soil. Soil properties such as pH, redox potential, organic matter content, nutrient interactions, the type of plant or variety, and environmental factors, such as soil water content, temperature and light, greatly influence the likelihood that a plant will exhibit micronutrient-deficiency or -toxicity symptoms. Changes in the environment often have a greater effect on micronutrient than on macro nutrient nutrition of plants. This chapter emphasizes advances in knowledge since Lucas and Knezek's (1972) review in the first edition of this book. In addition, greater emphasis than is customary will be placed on the role of the environment on micronutrient nutrition. Other general references that contain material on this topic are available (Adriano, 1986; Bergmann, 1988; Marschner, 1986; Mengel & Kirkby, 1987; Weber, 1971; and Wild, 1988). Some excellent reference sources include the specific contributions of Keren and Bingham (1985) and Fleming (1980) on B, of Loneragan et al. (1981) on Cu, of Jones (1982, 1984, 1986, and 1988) on Fe, of Graham et al. (1988) on Mn, of Gupta and Lipsett (1981) on Mo, and of Adriano (1986) on Zn. The comprehensive study of Sillanpaa (1982) provides much useful information concerning micronutrient uptake by plants and selected soil properties.

Environmental and Soil Factors Affecting Micronutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities

Publisher Summary This chapter considers the biochemistry, physiology, and agronomy of trace elements in plants in so far as they may influence host–pathogen relationships. Each of the micronutrients can be identified with specific biochemical pathways, so their effects on disease offer avenues for elucidating mechanisms of resistance in higher plants. Certain general principles may be demonstrated, but the complex nature of many interacting factors influencing plant health limits the extent to which simple patterns emerge. The quest for general principles is stimulated by the increasing prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in modern agricultural systems, in which the use of the appropriate micronutrients may be seen as a form of biological control. In contrast to the largely structural, conformational, and osmotic roles of the macronutrients, the micronutrients act as catalysts, cofactors, and inhibitors. In these roles, supraoptimal concentrations are physiologically important. A number of trace elements, which are not recognized as essential to plants, strongly influence the host–pathogen balance. Criteria of essentiality are usually established in artificial conditions of laboratory and glasshouse. The chapter summarizes the principles which emerge from a study of macronutrient effects on incidence of disease in higher plants and the principles that seem to emerge from a study of the micronutrient effects on susceptibility to disease.

F. M. Chaudhry

Papers

Effects of nitrogen, copper and zinc fertilisers on the copper and zinc nutrition of wheat plants.