Micronutrient 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.
Millets are important source of food and livelihood in arid and semi-arid ecologies and covers a significant area in these regions due to their strong abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, particularly their capacity to withstand dry conditions. Since, the grains of these crops have better nutritional qualities compared to other cereals, therefore, to ensure nutritional security in the vulnerable regions, millets can be good option to be included as staple food. The continuous application of high analysis chemical fertilizers without organic manures resulted in reduced water holding capacity, emergence of multi-nutrient deficiencies and consequently lower crop yields. Thus, for long-term ecological and economic sustainability in rainfed millet systems, there is a need to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient buffering capacity of soil by integrated nutrient management through increasing the use of organic sources such as farmyard manures (FYM), biocompost, biofertilizers and legumes inclusion in cropping systems. Efficient nutrient management approaches are among key strategies to realize higher yields in rainfed regions. The systematic information is lacking on nutrient management in different millets, particularly on precision nutrient management. Use of cost effective and locally available organic nutrient sources and biofertilizers in combination with chemical fertilizers, not only enhances yield and soil fertility but also improves grain quality.
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