Summary
This FAO Soils Bulletin reports findings from a large international collaborative study coordinated by Mikko Sillanpää, examining micronutrient status in agricultural soils and crops across numerous countries. The work provides country-level data on the prevalence and severity of deficiencies in elements such as zinc, boron, copper, and molybdenum, representing one of the most comprehensive global surveys of soil micronutrient status published to that date. The findings have been widely cited in subsequent agronomic and soil science literature as a baseline reference for understanding micronutrient limitations to crop production.
UK applicability
While the study is international in scope rather than UK-specific, its findings on widespread zinc and boron deficiencies in temperate agricultural soils are broadly applicable to UK arable and mixed farming contexts, and the data have informed UK and European fertiliser advisory frameworks.
Key measures
Soil micronutrient concentrations (mg/kg); plant tissue micronutrient levels; deficiency prevalence by country and crop type
Outcomes reported
The study assessed the status of key micronutrients (including boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc) in soils and crops across participating countries, identifying widespread deficiencies and their geographic distribution.
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