Micronutrients in Tropical Food Crop Production

Transcription

1 Micronutrients in Tropical Food Crop Production Edited by PAUL L.G. VLEK International Fertilizer Development Centre Muscle Shoals, Alabama USA First published in Fertilizer Research, Vol MARTINUS NIJHOFF/DR W. JUNK PUBLISHERS... a member of the KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS GROUP DORDRECHT / BOSTON / LANCASTER "

2 IV Distributors for the United States and Canada: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 190 Old Derby Street, Hingham, MA 02043, USA for the UK and Ireland: Kluwer Academic Publishers, MTP Press Limited, Falcon House, Queen Square, Lancaster LA1 1RN, UK for all other countries: Kluwer Academic Publishers Group, Distribution Center, P.O. Box 322, 3300 AH Dordrecht, The Netherlands Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Main entry under title: Micronutrients in tropical food crop production. (Developments in plant and soil sciences ; 14) 1. Food crops--tropics--fertilizers. 2. Plants, Effect of trace elements on. I. Vlek, Paul L. G. II. Series: Developments in plant and soil sciences v. 14. SB111.M ' 11 ' ISBN-13: ISBN-13: e-isbn-13: DOl: / Copyright 1985 by Martinus NijhofflDr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1985 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers, Martinus NijhofflDr W. Junk Publishers, P.O. Box 163, 3300 AD Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

3 MICRONUTRIENTS IN TROPICAL FOOD CROP PRODUCTION

4 Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences Volume Monteith and C. Webb, eds., Soil Water and Nitrogen in Mediterranean-type Environments ISBN C. Brogan, ed., Nitrogen Losses and Surface Run-off from Landspreading of Manures ISBN Bewley, ed., Nitrogen and Carbon Metabolism ISBN R. Brouwer, I. Gasparikova, 1. Kolek and B.C. Loughman, eds., Structure and Function of Plant Roots ISBN Y.R. Dommergues and H.G. Diem, eds., Microbiology of Tropical Soils and Plant Productivity ISBN G.P. Robertson, R. Herrera and T. Rosswall, eds., Nitrogen Cycling in Ecosystems of Latin America and the Caribbean ISBN D. Atkinson et al., eds., Tree Root Systems and their Mycorrhizas ISBN M.R. Saric and B.C. Loughman, eds., Genetic Aspects of Plant Nutrition ISBN R. Freney and 1.R. Simpson, eds., Gaseous Loss of Nitrogen from Plant-Soil Systems ISBN United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Efficient Use of Fertilizers in Agriculture ISBN Tinsley and 1.F. Darbyshire, eds., Biological Processes and Soil Fertility ISBN A.D.L. Akkermans, D. Baker, D. Huss-Danell and 1.0. Tjepkema, eds., Frankia Symbioses ISBN X l3. W.S. Silver and E.C. SchrOder, eds., Practical Application of AlOHa for Rice Production ISBN P.G.L. Vlek, ed., Micronutrients in Tropical Food Crop Production ISBN T.P. Hignett, ed., Fertilizer Manual ISBN

5 Contents Foreword List of contributors 1. K. Harmsen and P.L.G. Vlek The chemistry of micronutrients in soil 2. J.S. Kanwar and L.J. Youngdahl Micronutrient needs of tropical food crops J.C. Katyal and P.L.G. Vlek Micronutrient problems in tropical Asia L.A. Leon, A.S. LOpes and P.L.G. Vlek Micronutrient problems in tropical Latin America B.T. Kang and O.A. Osiname Micronutrient problems in tropical Africa M. Sillanpaa and P.L.G. Vlek Micronutrients and the agroecology of tropical and Mediterranean regions W.L. Lindsay and F.R. Cox Micronutrient soil testing for the tropics J.1. Moraghan Plant tissue testing for micronutrient deficiencies and toxicities J.J. Mortvedt Micronutrient fertilizers and fertilization practices T.P. Hignett and G.H. McClellan Sources and production of micronutrient fertilizers 237

6 Foreword The mission of the International Fertilizer Development Center is to increase food production through the improvement of fertilizers and fertilizer practices for the developing countries with special emphasis on tropical and subtropical agriculture. The principal aim is to ensure that fertilizer technology is not a limiting factor to food production in those regions. Although the full extent to which deficiency of micronutrients hampers food production is yet unknown, there is ample evidence that problem areas exist and more will be identified as crop production is intensified and marginal lands are exploited. Therefore, it seems fully appropriate at this time that IFDC, as an international organization, take a leadership role in developing micronutrient fertilizer technology appropriate for the tropics and subtropics. The gravity of micronutrient deficiency as a limiting factor to crop production varies from crop to crop and from soil to soil. The effects may range from slight yield reductions to complete crop failure. While the economic impact of omitting micronutrients in seriously affected areas (e.g., Zn in Brazilian Cerrado) is convincing, it is difficult to estimate the yearly loss in crop production due to unsuspected micronutrient deficiency. Active soil and crop testing programs in regions with advanced agricultural systems are aimed at recognizing micronutrients as a limiting plant nutrient in time to allow corrective measures and prevent yield loss. Successful micronutrient monitoring systems are generally limited to developed economies or to developing economies producing export cash crops. The extent to which micronutrient fertilizers are used on food crops in the tropics and sub tropics is very limited and is no indication of the extent to which micronutrient deficiencies occur. On the other hand, the increased number of published papers on micronutrients in some countries should not be interpreted as an index of the problem. In India alone, as many as 800 papers appeared during the seventies. With such conflicting indicators it is difficult to assess the future role of micronutrient fertilizers in the tropics and subtropics, the mandate area of IFDC. For this reason IFDC conducted a survey of micronutrient problems in its mandate region. The results of this survey and related contributions from invited authors have been collected in this monograph entitled: "Micronutrients in Tropical Food Crop Production." The University of Florida cosponsored the effort by making available Dr. J.J. Street, Associate Professor, Soils, as a micronutrient expert. In addition to his survey involvement, several authors benefitted from his careful reading of their manuscripts. Other chapters were reviewed by Dr. R. Howeler (CIAT), Dr. E. Bornemisza (University of Costa Rica), Dr. P.D. Tanner (Soil Productivity Research Laboratories, Zimbabwe), Dr. G.W. Cooke (England), Dr. R. Menon (FAO), Dr. B.H. Janssen (Agricultural University, Wageningen, VI

7 The Netherlands). Special mention is due to the able help provided by IFDC staff, Ernest Frederick and Mrs. Beth Roth for general editing, and the Word Processing Center of IFDC for many hours of typing. It is our sincere hope that the compilation of the information provided in this monograph will spur renewed interest in research and development of micronutrient fertilizers. It will form the basis for future activities of IFDC in this important area. June 1984 Donald L. McCune, Managing Director, IFDC H. Popenoe, Director, Center for Tropical Agriculture, University of Florida VII

8 List of contributors Cox, F.R., Soil Science Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27650, USA. Harmsen, K., ICARDA, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria. Hignett, T.P., IFDC, P.O. Box 2040, Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662, USA. Kang, B.T., IlTA, Oyo Road, PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria. Kanwar, J.S., ICRISAT, ICRISAT Patancheru P.O., Andhra Pradesh , India. Katyal, J.C., Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana , Punjab, India. Leon, L.A., IFDC Project, CIAT, Apartado Aereo 67-13, Cali, Colombia. Lindsay, W.L., Department of Agronomy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA. Lopes, A.s., Departamento de Ciencia do Solo, Escola Superior de Agricultura de Lavras, Caixa Postal 37, Lavras-Minas Gerais-Brasil, Brazil. McClellan, G.H., IFDC, P.O. Box 2040, Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662, USA. Moraghan, J.T., Department of Soil Science, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58105, USA. Mortvedt, J.J., NFDC, Tennessee Valley Authority, Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35660, USA. Osiname, O.A., Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, University of Ife, Ibadan, Nigeria. Sillanpaa, M., Institute of Soil Science, Jokioinen, Finland. Viek, P.L.G., IFDC, P.O. Box 2040, Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662, USA. Youngdahl, L.J., IFDC, P.O. Box 2040, Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662, USA. VIII