Book Title: Innovative Approaches in Multidisciplinary Research and Development (IAMRD)
Chief Editors: Dr. Anil Kashinath Salunke and Dr. Rituraj Pant
Associate Editors: Prof. (Dr.) Sourav Madhur Dey and Dr. Amrutha Satheesan
Co-Editors: Dr. Souvik Sur and Dr. Phakir Singh
ISBN: 978-93-7183-004-1
Chapter: 6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59646/708/6
Authors: Dr. Soniya Singh, Dr. Mohd. Irfan, and Ms. Lovely Tyagi
Abstract
The method of soaking seeds in a nutrient-rich solution before sowing, known as “nutripriming,” is a highly successful, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly approach to improving seed germination, plant vigor, and especially root development in horticultural crops. This technique induces metabolic changes that promote rapid hydration and the immediate supply of essential micronutrients, thereby encouraging faster and stronger root development, particularly under challenging environmental conditions. Since the quality of horticultural crops directly impacts consumer preference, market value, and overall sustainability, it is a crucial aspect of agricultural production. Micronutrients are essential for plant nutrition because they influence the growth, development, and quality of horticultural crops. This study provides a comprehensive overview of how micronutrients affect the yield and quality of horticultural crops. It examines the characteristics of micronutrients, their roles in plant growth and development, and the most common micronutrient deficiencies in horticultural crops. The study also addresses the challenges and problems associated with each micronutrient application method soil, foliar, and fertigation applications. The sustainable and effective use of micronutrients was examined, along with future research objectives, and practical implications and recommendations for micronutrient management systems were discussed. Overall, this study highlights the importance of micronutrients in improving crop yield and quality and the potential impact of further research on this topic.
Keywords: horticultural crops, micronutrients, nutripriming, seed germination, plant vigor.