Summary
This data descriptor presents a comprehensive geospatial dataset of mineral micronutrient concentrations in cereal grains alongside detailed soil chemistry characterisation from Ethiopia and Malawi. The dataset, comprising samples from multiple regions across two countries, was designed to elucidate agriculture-nutrition linkages and understand how soil properties influence micronutrient accumulation in staple crops. The work is released in accordance with FAIR data principles to facilitate further research on soil-crop-nutrition relationships in Sub-Saharan Africa.
UK applicability
The findings are geographically specific to Ethiopian and Malawian growing conditions and soil types, limiting direct applicability to UK cereal production systems. However, the methodological framework for relating soil chemistry to grain micronutrient concentration may inform UK soil-nutrient research and contribute to understanding micronutrient bioavailability across diverse pedoclimatic contexts.
Key measures
Micronutrient concentrations in grain (measured by ICP-MS); soil pH; total soil nitrogen and carbon; soil organic carbon; cation exchange capacity; exchangeable cations; sequential extraction for sulfur and selenium fractionation; available phosphate; DTPA-extractable trace elements; Ca(NO₃)₂ and CaCl₂-extractable trace elements; isotopically exchangeable zinc
Outcomes reported
The study reports primary data on concentrations of 29 mineral micronutrients in cereal grains and up to 84 soil chemistry properties from Ethiopia and Malawi, collected across multiple regions and harvest seasons. The dataset characterises geospatial variation in micronutrient concentrations in staple crops and explores potential influencing soil factors.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.