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  • From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lflj@intrex.net>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [permaculture] Effects of fertilization and other agronomic measures on nutritional quality of crops
  • Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 16:35:20 -0400



Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture J Sci Food Agric 88:7–23 (2008)
Review: Effects of fertilization and other agronomic measures on nutritional
quality of crops
Zhao-Hui Wang,1∗ Sheng-Xiu Li1 and Sukhdev Malhi2
1College of Resources and Environmental Science, Northwest Agriculture and
Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, PR China
2Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Farm, Melfort, Saskatchewan,
Canada

Abstract: Crops, as the basic source of essential substances and nutrients,
do not always contain sufficient
amounts of these essential nutrients to meet dietary requirements. In this
review paper, we discussed the effects
of fertilization and other agronomic measures on the nutritional quality of
cereal, oilseed and protein crops, tuber
plants and vegetables. Research indicates that application of N, P, K and S
fertilizers generally increases crop
yield as well as nutritional quality. For example, fertilizer increased
protein concentration in cereals and pulses,
oil concentration in oilseed crops, starch concentration in tubers, and
concentration of essential amino acids and
vitamins in vegetables. However, excessive fertilizer application, especially
N fertilizer, can result in undesirable
changes such as increases in nitrate, titratable acidity and acid to sugar
ratio, while decreasing the concentration
of vitamin C, soluble sugar, soluble solids, and Mg and Ca in some crops.
Other agronomic measures, such as
tillage and crop rotation, organic farming, soil moisture management, and
crop breeding and genetic engineering
can also have a large effect on food crop quality, though the potential
benefits of these measures for improving
crop quality has not been fully exploited. Research literature on this
subject suggests that more information is
needed in order to achieve an increase in the concentration of essential
microelements, prevent accumulation
of toxic levels of elements such as Cu, Mo, Zn, Ni, Se and nitrate, and other
dangerous or toxic substances and
elements in crops.





  • [permaculture] Effects of fertilization and other agronomic measures on nutritional quality of crops, Lawrence F. London, Jr., 05/31/2008

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