Summary
Published in the Canadian Journal of Plant Science in 1987, this paper by Shelp examines longitudinal changes in the accumulation of calcium, magnesium and micronutrients in vegetable crops. It likely draws on compositional databases or experimental data to assess whether mineral concentrations in vegetables have shifted over time, possibly in response to changes in cultivar selection, soil management or agronomic practice. The work contributes to an early body of literature questioning whether modern vegetable production delivers equivalent micronutrient density to historically documented values.
UK applicability
Although conducted in a Canadian context, the findings are broadly applicable to UK horticulture, where similar concerns about declining mineral content in vegetables due to soil depletion, varietal change and intensification have been documented; UK compositional data from sources such as McCance and Widdowson provide a parallel evidence base for comparison.
Key measures
Mineral concentration (mg/kg or mg/100g) of calcium, magnesium and micronutrients in vegetables; temporal comparisons of nutrient composition data
Outcomes reported
The study examined how concentrations of calcium, magnesium and selected micronutrients in vegetables have changed over time, likely comparing historical and contemporary compositional data. It may have assessed whether nutrient levels in vegetable crops have declined across decades, potentially linking changes to agricultural or horticultural practices.
Topic tags
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