Proper crop nutrition management, macro as well as micro, is an extremely important precondition for healthy and vigorous crops. Micronutrients are essential elements, that are required in relatively small quantities, but have significant role to play in crop growth and development.

An emerging concern, however, is widespread Micronutrient deficiency in soils and crops. Most soils globally are witnessing multi-micronutrient deficiencies, dominated by zinc (Zn) and boron (B). This is adversely impacting yield and quality of crops.

The scenario in India is no different and the Indian soils are primarily deficient in Zinc, Boron along with other micronutrients like Iron, Manganese, Copper etc. The major causes for micronutrient deficiencies are intensified agricultural practices, unbalanced fertilizer application including NPK, depletion of nutrients and no replenishment.

The problem of micronutrients deficiency is widespread in horticulture crops as well. These crops suffer widely by zinc deficiency followed by boron, manganese, copper, iron (mostly induced) and Molybdenum deficiencies. Copper, Iron, and Magnesium are involved in various processes related to photosynthesis while Zinc, Copper, Iron, and Magnesium are associated with various enzyme systems. Boron is the only micronutrient not specifically associated with either photosynthesis or enzyme function, but it is associated with the carbohydrate chemistry and reproductive system of the plant. Thus, the importance of micronutrients in growth as well as physiological functions of horticultural crops is significant.

With India recognizing the importance and gaining grounds in agronomic bi-fortification Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with International Zinc Association (IZA)  is organizing a “Roundtable on Micronutrient Fertilizers for Food & Nutrition Security”