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A REVIEW OF EFFECTS OF NUTRIENT ELEMENTS ON CROP QUALITY
Njira, K.O.W. & Nabwami, J.
Abstract
The problem of low soil fertility and poor plant nutrition does not only affect crop yields
but also crop quality. A review of many refereed published journal articles and books
sourced from internet and libraries was conducted with the aim of highlighting the
effects of plant nutrition on crop quality. Emphasis was put on elucidating the functions
through which various nutrient elements influence biochemical processes and
eventually affect the overall quality of various crops and their products. Nutrients
reviewed in this paper included elements such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P),
potassium (K), sulphur (S), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and
cobalt (Co). The crop quality characteristics mostly reported to be affected by plant
nutrition include: proteins, carbohydrate, sucrose and fructose content in grains, root
crops, tuber crops and fruits; vitamins like beta-carotene content in fruits and tubers;
moisture content at storage in cereal grains, potato tuber density; and frying colours,
and fruit weight. It has been noted that essential and beneficial nutrient elements
contribute to crop quality through functioning as raw materials for the synthesis of
various plant components that have food value to humans and animals. Nitrogen and S
are raw materials for protein synthesis. Others like Ca, P, Zn and Fe are involved in
enzyme synthesis, activation or as electron carriers while Mg, and K are mostly
involved in enzyme activation and transportation of materials such as fructose and
sucrose from points of synthesis to sites of loading and hence affect quality of fruits,
and root and tuber crops greatly. It has been noted that crop quality is also greatly
influenced by the synergistic and antagonistic interactions in various nutrients uptake
and utilization. Therefore, balanced nutrition is noted to be of paramount importance.
From this review it can be concluded that crop quality is a very important area to
consider advancing and putting up resources for research since it has a huge bearing on
human health and socioeconomic effect on farmers through its influence on
marketability of crops and crop products.
Keywords
crop quality; essential elements; nutrition
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