Micronutrient deficiencies in African soils and the human nutritional nexus: opportunities with staple crops

A synthesis of available agronomic datasets and peer-reviewed scientific literature was conducted to: (1) assess the status of micronutrients in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) arable soils, (2) improve the understanding of the relations between soil quality/management and crop nutritional quality and (3)...

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Main Authors: Kihara, Job Maguta, Bolo, Peter Omondi, Kinyua, Michael, Rurinda, Jairos, Piikki, Kristin
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/106799
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author Kihara, Job Maguta
Bolo, Peter Omondi
Kinyua, Michael
Rurinda, Jairos
Piikki, Kristin
author_browse Bolo, Peter Omondi
Kihara, Job Maguta
Kinyua, Michael
Piikki, Kristin
Rurinda, Jairos
author_facet Kihara, Job Maguta
Bolo, Peter Omondi
Kinyua, Michael
Rurinda, Jairos
Piikki, Kristin
author_sort Kihara, Job Maguta
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description A synthesis of available agronomic datasets and peer-reviewed scientific literature was conducted to: (1) assess the status of micronutrients in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) arable soils, (2) improve the understanding of the relations between soil quality/management and crop nutritional quality and (3) evaluate the potential profitability of application of secondary and micronutrients to key food crops in SSA, namely maize (Zea mays L.), beans (Phaseolus spp. and Vicia faba L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). We found that there is evidence of widespread but varying micronutrient deficiencies in SSA arable soils and that simultaneous deficiencies of multiple elements (co-occurrence) are prevalent. Zinc (Zn) predominates the list of micronutrients that are deficient in SSA arable soils. Boron (B), iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mo) and copper (Cu) deficiencies are also common. Micronutrient fertilization/agronomic biofortification increases micronutrient concentrations in edible plant organs, and it was profitable to apply fertilizers containing micronutrient elements in 60–80% of the cases. However, both the plant nutritional quality and profit had large variations. Possible causes of this variation may be differences in crop species and cultivars, fertilizer type and application methods, climate and initial soil conditions, and soil chemistry effects on nutrient availability for crop uptake. Therefore, micronutrient use efficiency can be improved by adapting the rates and types of fertilizers to site-specific soil and management conditions. To make region-wide nutritional changes using agronomic biofortification, major policy interventions are needed.
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spelling CGSpace1067992025-11-12T05:56:36Z Micronutrient deficiencies in African soils and the human nutritional nexus: opportunities with staple crops Kihara, Job Maguta Bolo, Peter Omondi Kinyua, Michael Rurinda, Jairos Piikki, Kristin trace elements fertilization human nutrition soil fertility profitability oligoelementos fecundacion nutricion humana A synthesis of available agronomic datasets and peer-reviewed scientific literature was conducted to: (1) assess the status of micronutrients in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) arable soils, (2) improve the understanding of the relations between soil quality/management and crop nutritional quality and (3) evaluate the potential profitability of application of secondary and micronutrients to key food crops in SSA, namely maize (Zea mays L.), beans (Phaseolus spp. and Vicia faba L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). We found that there is evidence of widespread but varying micronutrient deficiencies in SSA arable soils and that simultaneous deficiencies of multiple elements (co-occurrence) are prevalent. Zinc (Zn) predominates the list of micronutrients that are deficient in SSA arable soils. Boron (B), iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mo) and copper (Cu) deficiencies are also common. Micronutrient fertilization/agronomic biofortification increases micronutrient concentrations in edible plant organs, and it was profitable to apply fertilizers containing micronutrient elements in 60–80% of the cases. However, both the plant nutritional quality and profit had large variations. Possible causes of this variation may be differences in crop species and cultivars, fertilizer type and application methods, climate and initial soil conditions, and soil chemistry effects on nutrient availability for crop uptake. Therefore, micronutrient use efficiency can be improved by adapting the rates and types of fertilizers to site-specific soil and management conditions. To make region-wide nutritional changes using agronomic biofortification, major policy interventions are needed. 2020-09 2020-01-29T14:35:14Z 2020-01-29T14:35:14Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/106799 en Open Access application/pdf Springer Kihara, J.; Bolo, P.; Kinyua, M.; Rurinda, J.; Piikki, K. (2020) Micronutrient deficiencies in African soils and the human nutritional nexus: opportunities with staple crops. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 19 p. ISSN: 0269-4042
spellingShingle trace elements
fertilization
human nutrition
soil fertility
profitability
oligoelementos
fecundacion
nutricion humana
Kihara, Job Maguta
Bolo, Peter Omondi
Kinyua, Michael
Rurinda, Jairos
Piikki, Kristin
Micronutrient deficiencies in African soils and the human nutritional nexus: opportunities with staple crops
title Micronutrient deficiencies in African soils and the human nutritional nexus: opportunities with staple crops
title_full Micronutrient deficiencies in African soils and the human nutritional nexus: opportunities with staple crops
title_fullStr Micronutrient deficiencies in African soils and the human nutritional nexus: opportunities with staple crops
title_full_unstemmed Micronutrient deficiencies in African soils and the human nutritional nexus: opportunities with staple crops
title_short Micronutrient deficiencies in African soils and the human nutritional nexus: opportunities with staple crops
title_sort micronutrient deficiencies in african soils and the human nutritional nexus opportunities with staple crops
topic trace elements
fertilization
human nutrition
soil fertility
profitability
oligoelementos
fecundacion
nutricion humana
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/106799
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AT kinyuamichael micronutrientdeficienciesinafricansoilsandthehumannutritionalnexusopportunitieswithstaplecrops
AT rurindajairos micronutrientdeficienciesinafricansoilsandthehumannutritionalnexusopportunitieswithstaplecrops
AT piikkikristin micronutrientdeficienciesinafricansoilsandthehumannutritionalnexusopportunitieswithstaplecrops