Impact of zinc and iron agronomic biofortification on grain mineral concentration of finger millet varieties as affected by location and slope

Teklu, Demeke; Gashu, Dawd; Joy, Edward J. M.; Lark, R. Murray; Bailey, Elizabeth H.; Wilson, Lolita; Amede, Tilahun; Broadley, Martin R.

doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1159833

Impact of zinc and iron agronomic biofortification on grain mineral concentration of finger millet varieties as affected by location and slope

Teklu, Demeke; Gashu, Dawd; Joy, Edward J. M.; Lark, R. Murray; Bailey, Elizabeth H.; Wilson, Lolita; Amede, Tilahun; Broadley, Martin R.

Authors

Demeke Teklu

Dawd Gashu

Edward J. M. Joy

MURRAY LARK MURRAY.LARK@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Geoinformatics

LIZ BAILEY LIZ.BAILEY@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Environmental Geochemistry

Lolita Wilson

Tilahun Amede

MARTIN BROADLEY MARTIN.BROADLEY@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Plant Nutrition

Abstract

Background: Food crop micronutrient concentrations can be enhanced through agronomic biofortification, with the potential to reduce micronutrient deficiencies among rural population if they have access to fertilizers. Here we reported the impact of agronomic biofortification on finger millet grain zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) concentration. Methods: A field experiment was conducted in farmers’ fields in Ethiopia in two locations; over two seasons in one district (2019 and 2020), and over a single season (2019) in a second district. The experimental design had 15 treatment combinations comprising 3 finger millet varieties and 5 soil-applied fertilizer treatments: (T1) 20 kg ha−1 FeSO4 + 25 kg ha−1 ZnSO4 + NPKS; (T2) 25 kg ha−1 ZnSO4 + NPKS; (T3) NPKS; (T4) 30% NPKS; (T5) 20 kg ha−1 FeSO4 + NPKS. The treatments were studied at two slope positions (foot and hill), replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. Results: Grain Zn concentration increased by 20% in response to Fe and Zn and by 18.9% due to Zn addition. Similarly, grain Fe concentration increased by 21.4% in T1 and 17.8% in T5 (Fe). Zinc fertilizer application (p < 0.001), finger millet variety (p < 0.001), and an interaction of Fe and Zn had significant effect on grain Zn concentration. Iron fertilizer (p < 0.001) and interactive effect of Fe fertilizer and finger millet variety (p < 0.01) had significant effects on grain Fe concentration. Location but not slope position was a source of variation for both grain Zn and Fe concentrations. Conclusion: Soil application of Zn and Fe could be a viable strategy to enhance grain Zn and Fe concentration to finger millet grain. If increased grain Zn and Fe is bioavailable, it could help to combat micronutrient deficiencies.

Citation

Teklu, D., Gashu, D., Joy, E. J. M., Lark, R. M., Bailey, E. H., Wilson, L., …Broadley, M. R. (2023). Impact of zinc and iron agronomic biofortification on grain mineral concentration of finger millet varieties as affected by location and slope. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10, Article 1159833. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1159833

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Apr 13, 2023
Online Publication Date	May 5, 2023
Publication Date	May 5, 2023
Deposit Date	Jun 29, 2023
Publicly Available Date	Jul 4, 2023
Journal	Frontiers in Nutrition
Electronic ISSN	2296-861X
Publisher	Frontiers Media
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	10
Article Number	1159833
DOI	https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1159833
Keywords	fertilizer, Zinc, finger millet, agronomic biofortification, micronutrient deficiencies, Iron
Public URL	https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/21098558
Publisher URL	https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1159833/full