Summary
This national-scale monitoring study analysed four decades of soil and cereal grain microelement data from Finland to assess long-term trends in soil fertility and crop nutritional value. Results showed that initially increasing soil element concentrations generally stabilised by the end of the study period, with only cadmium and zinc declining in coarse soils. Grain concentrations of potentially toxic elements (aluminium and lead) decreased, whilst micronutrient status remained satisfactory on average, though local deficiencies may persist in some areas.
UK applicability
The findings provide a methodological precedent for long-term national soil and grain monitoring applicable to UK agricultural surveillance. However, UK soil types, climate, and farming practices differ substantially from Finland; direct comparisons would require similar temporal datasets and may not account for differences in soil parent material, pH, and regional nutrient management practices.
Key measures
Readily available microelement concentrations in cultivated soils; total element concentrations in barley and oat grains; temporal trends over 30–45 years
Outcomes reported
The study assessed temporal trends in soil microelement concentrations (1974–2018) and corresponding element concentrations in barley and oat grains (1988–2019) across Finland. It measured readily available and total concentrations of zinc, copper, boron, iron, manganese, cadmium, molybdenum, nickel, aluminium, cobalt, and lead.
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