Micronutrient Deficiency in Indian Soil: Causes, Correction Strategies, Impact on Crops, and Their Management in Indian Agriculture

Abstract

Agricultural soil micronutrient deficiency is a serious worldwide issue that impacts crop yields and nutritional content, as well as food security, in various agroecosystems. Such essential micronutrients as zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and boron (B), molybdenum (Mo), chlorine (Cl) and nickel (Ni) are needed in small amounts but have invaluable functions in the metabolism of plants, enzyme activation, and stress tolerance. The review covers complex factors of micronutrient deficiency, including both natural soil properties like alkaline soil pH, high carbonate content, and insufficient organic matter and side effects of human activity like intensive crop production systems, unbalanced fertilization practices, and climate change. The paper speculatively examines the different correction techniques, which include the application of inorganic and chelated fertilizers to the soil, foliar supplementation, biofortification methods, and incorporation of organic amendments. Moreover, the deeper consequences of micronutrient deficiency of the parameters of the quality of crops, such as the protein level, antioxidant properties, prolongation of the shelf life, and the nutritional value of food to humans, are systematically considered. The analysis highlights the necessity of site-specific projects on micronutrient management, which would be applicable to the Indian agricultural setting, where sustainable intensification is encouraged, and nutritional security of the growing population is ensured. Future research priorities should emphasize development of cost-effective, environmentally sustainable correction strategies, genetic enhancement of crops for improved micronutrient acquisition and utilisation efficiency, and scaling of precision agriculture technologies for optimised resource deployment.