DOI:
VOLUME 1 – OCTOBER ISSUE 3
Yimam Mekonen*, Sisay Mekonnen
ABSTRACT
Crop productivity in developing countries is hindered by micronutrient deficiency,particularly in the third world, leading to challenges in achieving higher yields. Theunbalanced use of fertilizers for higher agricultural production has resulted in soilfertility exhaustion and imbalances in major, secondary, and micronutrients. Theintensified cultivation, erosion, and loss of micronutrients through various processeshave led to an escalation in crop micronutrient insufficiencies, impacting both cropproductivity and human nutrition. African soils, including those in Ethiopia, sufferfrom multiple nutrient deficiencies, affecting staple crops and leading to poornutritional quality in diets. In Ethiopian soils, there is a widespread occurrence ofmicronutrient deficiencies, specifically in zinc, boron, and copper, which adverselyimpact the productivity of crops. The introduction of mineral fertilizers in Ethiopia inthe 1970s has not addressed micronutrient deficiencies adequately. The reviewemphasizes the importance of micronutrients in global crop production and theirrole in addressing hunger and malnutrition. The limited use of micronutrients indeveloping countries contrasts with their significance in improving crop yield andquality. Micronutrient deficiencies can have severe consequences on plant growth,yield, and human health. The review concludes by stressing the significance ofaddressing micronutrient deficiencies for optimal crop production and humannutrition. The goal of the review is to present a comprehensive understanding of thesignificance of micronutrients for crop production.
Keywords:
Crop production; fertilizer management; micronutrient deficiency;
nutrient imbalance; soil fertility.
