1. Detrimental Effect of Soil Zinc
Deficiency on Crop Productivity and
Human Nutrition in India
Indian Institute of Soil Science (ICAR)
Bhopal-462 038, India
(drmvsingh@yahoo.com)
M. V. Singh
Project Coordinator
ALL India Coordinated Research Project of
Micronutrients and Pollutants
Paper presented in First global conference on Biofortification: Discovery to delivery
held at Georgetown University, Washington, USA, Nov. 9-11,2010

2. Population 1,168,714,600
Children-under-5 mortality rate 79 per 1000
Vitamin A deficiency, in children 6 to 59
months old
57 per 100
Iodine deficiency 33 per 100
Prevalence of anemia, in children 6 to 59
months old
69 per 100
Prevalence of anemia, in women
Zinc deficiency disorders
62 per 100
33 per 100
India - micronutrient malnutrition

3. Trends of population growth in India
0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2007
Populationinmillions
Per capita cereals availability in India
300
325
350
375
400
425
450
475
1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2007
Cerealg/day/capita
Per capita pulse availability in India
0
20
40
60
80
1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2007
gpulse/day/capita
Influence of Population growth on per capita pulse and
Cereals availability over the years in India

4. Demand projections for various food products in India (m t)
Commodity Base year
(2004-05)
Projection
(2020-21)
Cereals 192.8 262.0
Pulse 14.2 19.1
Food grains 207.0 281.1
Edible oilseeds 35.5 53.7
Vegetables 90.6 127.2
Fresh fruits 52.9 86.2
Sugar in terms
of cane
262.3 345.3
Source: Chand (2007)

5. Detrimental effect of zinc deficiency on crops
It leads to poor growth, low crop yields or often
entire failure of crops and low input use efficiency

6. Crops grown in problem soils suffer more with zinc
deficiency and causing more loss of crop productivity
Soil Type Area, m ha
Salt affected soils 5.44
Salt affected water eroded 1.20
Acidic soils ( pH < 5.5) 5.09

7. Fertilizer (NPK ) response of food grain crops in irrigated areas attributed
to depletion in soil zinc fertility in India (Source: Biswas and Sharma, 2008)

8. State of knowledge
* Precise delineation and mapping helps in prescribing site specific
micronutrient use, thereby increasing their MUE and benefits.
• Indian soils are low in total and available micronutrient content.
•

9. Extent of deficiency in soil in India
• Zinc deficiency varied from 21 to 78% among various states.
• About 50% of 260,000 samples were found deficient in zinc
• Zinc deficiency in soil is expected to increase from 49% to 63% by
the year 2025 as most of the marginal soils show hidden hunger.

10. Periodic changes in percent zinc deficiency (PSD) in
some northern states of India during four decades
Year 1968-83 1983-89 1988-97 1997-2008
State No. of
Sample
PSD No. of
Sample
PSD State No.
of
sample
PSD No.
of
Samp
le
Punjab 13341 53 6641 37 3142 27 3790 22.6
Haryana 14472 77 13350 52 7376 28 1702 19.4
Uttar
Pradesh
6093 69 5570 62 2003
3
39 1259 35.5
Mean
northern
India
33906 66 25561 50 3055
1
35 6751 24.2

11. Periodic changes in percent zinc deficiency (PSD) in some
Middle parts of country during four decades
Year 1968-83 1983-89 1988-97 1997-2008
State No. of
Sample
PSD No. of
Sample
PSD State No. of
sample
PSD No. of
Sample
Bihar 10779 54 6746 49 8435 66 721 57.0
Gujarat 21994 26 18944 22 8158 18 943 36.5
Madhya
Pradesh
7643 63 8069 66 25224 37 1804 63.8
Mean
middle states
of country
40416 41 33759 38 41817 53 3468 55.0

12. Periodic changes in percent zinc deficiency (PSD) in
some southern states of India during four decades
Year 1968-83 1983-89 1988-97 1997-2008
State No. of
Sample
PSD No. of
Sample
PSD State No. of
sample
PSD No. of
Sample
Andhra
Pradesh
4405 51 3304 52 3753 47 685 45.0
Tamil Nadu 7540 36 19433 48 2547 67 4581 73.9
Mean southern
states of India
11945 42 22737 49 6300 55 5266 70.1
Source : Singh (2009)

13. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
North states Central states South states Overall
Assessment year
%Zndeficientsample
1968-83 1983-89 1988-97 1997-2008
Periodic changes in zinc deficiency in
soils of India

14. Percentage of cases in different categories of response
to zinc over years in farmer’s fields
Source: Singh (2005)
Years No. of
trials
Percent distribution of experiments in
different response range, kg /ha
< 200 200-500 500-1000 >1000
1975-76 250 44 41 15 0
1978-80 413 46 30 17 7
1981-84 489 22 40 30 8
1984-85 277 16 43 35 6
1985-86 103 21 44 27 8
1986-90 222 13 65 14 8
1990-2000 236 29 49 15 7

15. Current trend of Per cent micronutrients
deficiencies in Soils Punjab
District Zn Cu Fe Mn B
Ludhiana 7 2 7 22 7
Muktsar 37 1 31 8 5
Patiala 12 1 5 5 36
Amritsar 22 0 4 12 -
Hoshiarpur 31 6 24 25 4

16. Crop No. of
Experi-
ments
Grain
yield in
NPK,
kg/ha
Mean grain response over
NPK
B:C
Ratio
Rs.:Re% incre-
ase
kg
grain/
ha
kg
grain/
kg Zn
Rice 1252 3483 6.3 219 39.9 3.0 : 1
Wheat 5172 2353 8.8 208 37.8 2.8 : 1
Maize 601 2987 7.6 226 41.1 3.1 : 1
Barley 209 2734 9.3 254 46.2 3.5 : 1
Over all 7234 2612 8.3 213 38.7 2.9 : 1
Source: Singh M. V. (2001c)
Mean response to zinc application over NPK in experiments on
cultivator's Fields.

17. Estimates of detrimental effects of zinc deficiency for
major cereal crops economic crop production in India
Crop Area sown
Under major
Cereals (m ha)
Average yield
loss compare to
NPKZn (t/ha)
Total grain loss in
Cereal production
(million ton/year)*
Rice 43.77 0.219 5.272
Wheat 28.15 0.208 3.220
Maize 8.26 0.226 1.027
Total 80.18 0.212 9.350
•On an Average 55% of 7960 field trials showed yield loss if
zinc deficiency is not corrected at country level
**Country as whole needs 169, 535 tonnes zinc or 403, 654 t
zinc sulphate/ year) considering 49% soils deficient in zinc and
50% soils needs fertilization.

18. Estimates of detrimental effects of zinc deficiency on
economic loss from three major cereal crops in India
Crop Economic
Total loss
due to Zn**
deficiency
equivalent
(mUS $)***
Economic
Net loss
annual
from Zn
deficiency
( m US $ )
Net benefit
lost from
nonsupply of
Zn (costing
for each US $
(B:C ratio)
As BONUS
benefits lost
from residual
Zn fertility
& overcoming
malnutrition
Rice 1226 792.8 1.83:1 Zn enriched
food grain &
yield increase
by Zn residual
fertility for 3
Major crops
Wheat 899 620.0 2.23:1
Maize 175 93.2 1.14:1
Total 2200 1506 1.90:1
*Cost: fertilizer US$ 18 for 5 kg Zn/ ha, **Produce cost (US $)
for 1 ton Paddy 232.56 , Wheat 279.07 , Maize 186.04

19. Influence of soil mineral status on nutritional disorders
in animals emanated in various zones of India
State Zone Mineral deficiency
Madhya Pradesh Northern Hill zone P, Zn
Central Narmada Valley P, Zn, Mn
Rajasthan Semi arid zone Ca, P, Zn
Arid zone Zn, Cu
Haryana Irrigated Ca, P, Cu, Zn, Mn
Himachal Pradesh Shivalik Hill zone Ca, Zn, K
Maharashtra North Konkan Coastal Ca, P, Mg, Fe
Karnataka North East Transition zone Ca, P
North East Dry zone Ca, Zn
Northern Dry zone Ca, P, Mg, Cu, Zn
Southern Transition zone Ca, Cu, Zn
Coastal zone Cu, Zn
Kerala Northern zone Ca, P, Mg, Cu, Mn
Tamil Nadu Rainfed Ca, P, Cu, Zn
Irrigated Cu, Zn, Mn
Andhra Pradesh Rainfed zone Ca, P, Cu, Zn, Mn
Bihar Zone-I Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn , Co

20. District Deficiency (%)
based on
serum mineral
Deficiency (%)
based on hair
mineral basis
Deficiency (%)
based on milk
mineral basis
Ca P Cu Ca Zn Mn Ca P Zn Cu
Gurgaon 80 19 42 27 44 -- 30 28 51 48
Faridabad 73 06 07 41 34 -- 35 24 64 71
Kurukeshtra 21 45 -- 32 57 -- 4 69 54 65
Bhiwani 35 -- 37 27 96 99 66 62 90 29
Rohtak 29 -- 46 55 81 67 71 80 63 25
Hisar 37 13 34 36 31 30 24 51 30 6
Jhajjar 40 33 -- 1 61 12 51 97 37 90
Source: CCSHAU, Hisar
Detrimental effect of soil mineral deficiencies on
nutritional disorders in animals in Haryana

21. Micronutrient prescription for healthy live stock
Composition of a mineral mixture for live stock
( 3 kg mixture / 100 kg feed) in Karnataka
Ingredients Amounts added in
g/ 3 kg mixture
Dicalcium Phosphate 1650
Sodium chloride 900
Calcium carbonate 312
Magnesium carbonate 90
Ferrous sulphate 15
Zinc sulphate 7.5
Manganese dioxide 2.1
Copper sulphate 2.1
Sodium fluoride 1.5
Potassium iodide 0.3
Nutrient deficiencies in soils
of Karnataka from animal
health point of view
Prasad et al (1999), NIANP

22. Influence of soil zinc deficiency on zinc
content in crops and in human blood serum
Mean zinc status
Blood
serum µg/ml
District
(A.P.)
Category No.of
Subject
tested
Soil
mg/kg
Plant
mg/kg
Men Women
Deficient 18 0.37 18.2 0.49 0.52Rangga
reddy
Sufficient 44 0.69 26.7 0.55 0.65
Deficient 16 0.45 13.6 0.84 0.97East
Godavary
Sufficient 44 1.12 25.9 1.08 1.06

24. Selection of efficient plants:
Wheat varieties
Response to zinc
BIOFORTIFICATION OF CROPS
WITH ZINC

25. Zinc concentration enrichment in grain
It varied with crops and crop varieties
Soil Zn status yield Zinc enrichment in
grain
Zn deficient Soil application Foliar spray
Zn moderate Soil or foliar Foliar sprays
Zn adequate Foliar sprays Foliar sprays
Zn sources All Zn sources (
So4/P04/ chelates/
ZnO ) are good
Zn sulphate/ Zn
chelate
Time of application Tillering Flowering
Doses 5-20kgZn/ha 0.5% spray twice

26. Effect of zinc application on zinc enrichment in grain of wheat
varieties
0
20
40
60
80
JW
3020
GW
273
JW
3173
MP
373
DL
7882
PDW
233
PDW
291
P 550 PBW
343
HW
2004
HI
1544
Znconc.mg/kg
No Zn Zn Sprays
Foliar Sprays of 0.5% zinc sulphate solution twice at
blooming stage gave higher zinc enrichment in wheat
seed than soil application

27. Effect of zinc soil and foliar application on zinc enrichment in
wheat varieties
0
20
40
60
80
Varieties
JW
3020
G
W
273
JW
3173
M
P
373
DL
7882
PDW
233
PDW
291
P
550
PBW
343
HW
2004
Znconc.,mg/kg

28. Micronutrient content in Rice Varieties
Rice
Variety
1000 Grain
wt.(gm)
Zn
ppm
Fe
ppm
Mn
ppm
Cu
ppm
B
ppm
S
%
Kanak 24.2 14.2 45.9 51.1 8.2 41.9 0.077
Bhagwati 24.0 19.6 42.5 21.0 8.6 15.8 0.051
Rajshree 19.3 12.2 41.2 18.1 4.7 13.9 0.060
Gautam 18.2 18.5 47.6 21.1 12.8 17.8 0.063
Subhasini 17.5 14.7 45.9 32.3 12.9 10.7 0.049
Santosh 15.9 18.6 58.2 19.8 6.1 13.9 0.059
RAU 3036 11.4 13.6 76.2 30.8 16.4 23.9 0.088
Kasturi 10.8 11.4 56.0 22.8 5.9 23.7 0.061
Saroj 9.8 28.5 61.0 40.4 14.4 31.9 0.092

29. Zinc concentration in grain varied in
crops and crop varieties
Zinc enrichment or agronomic biofortification
Paddy 5-8 ppm over No Zn Less than 1 time
Maize/ bajra 7-18 ppm over no Zn 1-2 times
Wheat/ chickpea 16-66 ppm over no Zn 2-4 times
Majority of Indians have rice or maize based diet so zinc
deficiency in children and human is wide spread

30. Detrimental effect of rice-red gram diet produced in
zinc deficient soil (ZDS) compared to diet produced in
Zinc sufficient soil (ZSS) on the apparent mineral
nutrient absorption and their content in tissues of model
animal (Guinea pig)
Zn Fe Ca
Diet
ZDS ZSS ZDS ZSS ZDS ZSS
Intake (mg /3 days) 517.5 777.16 1.04 0.67 5.87 7.85
Apparent absorption
(mg/3day)
164.6 295.4 0.36 0.23 1.79 2.42
Percent of Intake 31.8 38.2 34.6 34.3 30.5 30.8
Liver (µg/g) 64.3 68.14 425.6 418.2 - -
Femur (µg/g) 154.0 174.15 93.0 80.6 210 212
Serum (µg/g) 1.05 1.34 - - 90.1 91.1
Haemoglobin
(gm %)
- - 12.93 13.41 - -
Source: AICRP MNS, ANGRAU

31. A. Multinutrient deficiencies in wheat
B. Healthy wheat crop
• Farmers are advised not to waste
money on spurious materials
and apply genuine zinc or
manganese
• Awareness of zinc or manganese
deficiency to farmers is must
Field day in Haryana

32. G : Popularization of technology
Widely adopted technology at grassroot level.
• Real constraint is genuine supply of micronutrient
• material to farmers.

33. Summary and conclusions
1. Among micronutrients, Zn deficiency is the most common and
widespread in soil and crops of India.
2. Zinc deficiency has extensive detrimental effect on crop yields
(200-1000 kg/ha). Thus India is loosing 9.35 million tonnes food
grains ( rice, wheat and maize) worth of US $ 1.506 billion
annually.
3. Micronutrient deficiency leads to low zinc, iron, manganese and
copper concentration in edible parts of crop produce which has
detrimental effect on nutrition and health. As a consequence, it is
reported that, India is spending nearly US $ 2.5 billion to prevent
various diseases aroused from micronutrient malnutrition.
4. Foliar sprays of 0.5% solution is more beneficial and economical
in enhancing zinc content in seed than 20 kg Zn/ha to soil.

34.  Improving ZINC fertility of ALL SOILS reduces detrimental effect of
zinc on crop productivity and nutrition of humans and live stock.
Location and crop specific micronutrient supply is important to
save US $ 4.00 billion annually and thereby reducing drug
dependence of millions of poor rural population of India.
• Soil application of zinc and/or foliar sprays of zinc sulphate at
blooming of crops reduces detrimental effect of zinc on YIELDS
and zinc concentration in edible parts, it provides economic
BENEFIT of US $ 2.00 for US $ 1.0 spent on zinc fertilization.
• The increase in ZINC CONCENTRATION by 5-20 mg/kg in seed is
a BONUS besides yield gains so government policy should intent
to promote zinc fertilization in ALL CROPS to reduce zinc
malnutrition and serve humans and animals.

35. Summary
 Crop species and variety showed wide differences in
zinc efficiency and their ability for absorption and
translocation of micronutrient in seed and thus
biofortifying efficient varieties needs promotion.
 Zinc deficiency in soil is decreasing in northern part of
India due regular use of zinc fertilizers while in southern
parts of India it is increasing. Still zinc fertilization
policy needs more attention to produce high
micronutrient enriched agriculture produce.
• Holistic approach and better options including efficient
crop plants, suitable agronomic interventions along
with favourable government policy is must to reduce
detrimental effect of Zn deficiency on crop productivity,
produce quality, nutrition and well being of Indians.

36. Thank You

37. Thank You

38. Future Research Needs
• Developing holistic approach and better options to produce high
micronutrient enriched agriculture produce for reducing drug
dependence in treating micronutrient .
• Identify efficient crops and varieties as master plant type having
capability to produce high micronutrients enriched seed /fodder .
• Better understanding of physiological mechanisms, as an marker or
indicator, controlling micronutrient efficiency in crop plants at root, shoot
and grain level.
• Investigating plant anatomical and rhizospheric factors responsible for
the variability in absorption, and translocation of micronutrient in seed
and fodder of important food crops.

39. Delineation of micronutrient deficient areas &
mapping
Based on 2.70 lakh soil samples, micronutrient deficient areas have been
delineated & mapped. As much as 49, 12, 3, 5, 33,13 soils are low in
available Zn, Fe,Cu, Mn, B, and Mo, leading to lower crop productivity,
production and and profits.
Zinc deficiency is most common and wide spread problem. Zinc
deficiency is likely to increase from 49 to 63% by the year 2025 as crops
in marginal soils are showing hidden hunger.
Multi nutrient deficiencies are emerging widely affecting plant, animal
and human health, directly on loss in productivity, working days, high
susceptibility to diseases.

40. Periodic changes in zinc deficiency in various
states during four decades in India
State Per cent Zn deficient soil samples ( PSD)
Year 1968-83 1983-89 1988-97 1997-2008
State No. of
sample
PSD No. of
Sample
PSD No. of
Sample
PSD No. of
sample
PSD
Punjab 13341 53 6641 37 3142 27 3790 22.6
Haryana 14472 77 13350 52 7376 28 1702 19.4
U.Pradesh 6093 69 5570 62 20033 39 1259 35.5
Bihar 10779 54 6746 49 8435 66 721 57.0
M.Pradesh 7643 63 8069 66 25224 38 1804 63.8
Gujarat 21994 26 18944 22 8158 18 943 36.5
Andhra
Pradesh
4405 51 3304 52 3753 47 685 45.0
Tamil Nadu 7540 36 19433 48 2547 67 4581 73.9
Overall 86267 51 82057 45 53126 39 15545 43.3