Author:
Bana Ram Swaroop,Jat Gograj Singh,Grover Minakshi,Bamboriya Shanti D.,Singh Deepak,Bansal Ruchi,Choudhary Anil K.,Kumar Vipin,Laing Alison M.,Godara Samarth,Bana Ramesh Chand,Kumar Hement,Kuri Bhola Ram,Yadav Achchhelal,Singh Teekam
Abstract
AbstractMicronutrient malnutrition or hidden hunger remains a major global challenge for human health and wellness. The problem results from soil micro- and macro-nutrient deficiencies combined with imbalanced fertilizer use. Micronutrient-embedded NPK (MNENPK) complex fertilizers have been developed to overcome the macro- and micro-element deficiencies to enhance the yield and nutritive value of key crop products. We investigated the effect of foliar applications of an MNENPK fertilizer containing N, P, K, Fe, Zn and B in combination with traditional basal NPK fertilizers in terms of eggplant yield, fruit nutritive quality and on soil biological properties. Applying a multi-element foliar fertilizer improved the nutritional quality of eggplant fruit, with a significant increases in the concentration of Fe (+ 26%), Zn (+ 34%), K (+ 6%), Cu (+ 24%), and Mn (+ 27%), all of which are essential for human health. Increasing supply of essential micronutrients during the plant reproductive stages increased fruit yield, as a result of improved yield parameters. The positive effect of foliar fertilizing with MNENPK on soil biological parameters (soil microbial biomass carbon, dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase) also demonstrated its capacity to enhance soil fertility. This study suggests that foliar fertilizing with a multi-nutrient product such as MNENPK at eggplant flowering and fruiting stages, combined with the recommended-doses of NPK fertilizers is the optimal strategy to improve the nutritional quality of eggplant fruits and increase crop yields, both of which will contribute to reduce micronutrient malnutrition and hunger globally.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference64 articles.
1. Caguiat, X. G. I. & Hautea, D. M. Genetic diversity analysis of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and related wild species in the Philippines using morphological and SSR markers. SABRAO J. Breed. Genet. 46, 183–201 (2014).
2. FAO. FAOSTAT Production Databases 2021. http://www.faostat.fao.org (Accessed March, 2021). FAO, Rome (2021).
3. Bohs, L. & Weese, T. Eggplant origins: Out of Africa, into the Orient. Taxon 59, 49–56 (2010).
4. Mensah, E. N., Mensah, P. W., Logah, V. & Ofori, P. Compost inoculated with Azotobacter sp.: Impact assessment on eggplant (Solanum melongena) productivity and soil nutrient status in Ghana. Arch. Agron. Soil Sci. 66, 208–219 (2019).
5. Umalaxmi, T. et al. Effect of integrated nutrient management on the nutrient accumulation and status of post-harvest soil of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) under Nadia conditions (West Bengal). India. J. Appl. Nat. Sci. 8, 321–328 (2016).
Cited by
16 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献