Role of Micronutrients Foliar Nutrition in Vegetable Production: A Review

Abstract

Vegetables are potential source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers. Proper plant nutrition is essential for successful production of vegetable crops. Integrated supply of micronutrients with macronutrients in adequate amount is an important approach to sustain the soil health and crop productivity besides maintaining the nutritional quality of vegetables. Micronutrients (Fe, Zn, B, Cu, Mn, Cl, Mo, Ni) are required by plants in small or trace quantities. They are essentially as important as macronutrients for better growth, yield and quality of plants. Deficiencies of micronutrients may induce several physiological disorders in plants and drastically affect growth, metabolism and reproductive phase in plants. The successful tasks carried out by various micronutrients include plant metabolism, nutritional management, chlorophyll production, reproductive growth, flower retention, fruit and seed development, etc. Judicious use of micronutrients is essential for vegetable cultivation to get maximum yield of high quality produce. Foliar nutrition is the one of the most efficient method of applying micronutrients. Spraying of nutrient solutions on the foliage of growing plants is known as foliar nutrition.  Foliar nutrition of micronutrients at right concentration and at right growth stage is important for better results. Micronutrients applied by foliar application are more effective than those applied through soil application because soil application requires longer time for micronutrient absorption and assimilation. Foliar application of micronutrients plays a dynamic role and has been found beneficial for improving growth, yield and quality attributes of vegetable crops. In general, this review shows an immense potential of foliar nutrition of micronutrients in vegetable production. The main aim of this study is to know and explore the benefits of micronutrients through foliar nutrition for improving the production potential of different vegetable crops.