Summary
This paper, authored by P.J. White and colleagues and published in Plant and Soil (2023), examines the pathways by which trace elements move from soil through crops into human nutrition. White is a recognised authority on plant mineral nutrition at the James Hutton Institute, and the paper likely synthesises current understanding of soil–plant–dietary trace element relationships, identifying agronomic and soil management strategies to address micronutrient deficiencies. The work provides a conceptual and quantitative framework for evaluating where in the food chain trace element losses or insufficiencies occur.
UK applicability
White's research is predominantly conducted within a UK and European context, particularly relevant to Scottish and British agricultural soils where selenium and iodine deficiencies are well documented; findings are directly applicable to UK agri-food policy and agronomic practice.
Key measures
Trace element concentrations in soil (mg/kg); plant uptake coefficients; dietary intake estimates; bioavailability indices
Outcomes reported
The study likely assessed how concentrations of trace elements such as zinc, selenium, iodine, and iron move through the soil–plant–food chain, examining factors that influence their bioavailability and transfer to human diets. It probably quantified trace element flows at multiple points in the food system and identified soil and agronomic drivers of deficiency risk.
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.