Zn Biofortification and Importance of Zn
Jhutan Debnath
Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya , Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal (736 165), India
Joy Kumar Dey*
Institute of agriculture, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, West Bengal (731 236), India
Prajjal Dey
Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha (751 003), India
DOI: NIL
Keywords: Bio-chemical, Malnutrition, Micro-nutrient, ZUE
Abstract
Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a well-documented problem in food crops, causing decreased crop yields, nutritional quality. It has been estimated that about 50 per cent of cereal cultivated soils of India are deficient in zinc to support high crop yields. There is a synergistic effect between applied zinc in rice because Zn is very dependent on the size of plant available Zn pools in soil, in most parts of cereal growing areas, soils have less availability of Zn to plant roots. Till-date, the focus was on balanced application of N, P, K. But of late, it has been realized that deficiency of many secondary and micronutrients can also further limit the productivity of the many field crops. In India, first reported zinc deficiency in lowland rice. Thereafter, it has recognized as a wide spread and important nutritional problem throughout the rice- growing world. Zn plays role in synthesis of plant growth substances and enzyme systems and is essential for promoting certain metabolic reactions. It is necessary for production of chlorophyll and carbohydrates. Zinc deficiency affects stem elongation, auxin activities and protein synthesis.
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Reference
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