Micronutrient Nutritional Problems in Soils of India and Improvement for Human and Animal Health

摘要

World over micronutrients are gaining much importance not only for their role in sustaining higher crop yields but such increased nutritional deficiency in soil,seed and/or feed,is more affecting animal and human health. Deficiency of zinc,iron,copper,manganese,boron,molybdenum and sulphur has been noticed in 48,12,4,5,33,13 and 41% soils of India,respectively. Zinc deficiency in soils is further expected to increase from 49% to 63% by the year 2025 as most of the marginal soils are being brought under cultivation. Supplementation of micronutrients is essential for maintaining health and high productivity of cattle. Low availability of micronutrients in case of Zn,Cu,Mo showed a good relationship with micronutrient malnutrition but its relationship could not be established in case of iron. Acid soils have high levels of available iron,so much so causing toxicity in plants,still iron anaemia is much widespread in more than 85% in women and children in the country due to its lower bioavailability. Zinc deficiency has strong impact on human health as zinc content in edible parts is decreasing but antinutrients are increasing. Green vegetables having higher bioavailable iron and other micronutrients may be better option for ameliorating malnutrition. The government iron supplementation programme had little success as that of programmes to tackle amelioration of iodine and vitamin-A deficiency. Biofortification of crops by enriching micronutrient in seeds is a better option along with advanced agronomic fertilisation and biofortification techniques. Efforts are needed to enhance bioavailability of micronutrients from the seed by blending of Indigenous and advance technology of food preparation. Diversification in cropping system and fertilisation for complete nutritional requirement (even for Se and I) is must for reducing malnutrition. There is need for holestic approach by developing linkages agriculturist,nutritionists and policy makers for reducing malnutrition in crops,human and animals.