Preface

Despite the fact that micronutrients are found in very low concentrations in plants, their importance for crop production and plant metabolism is very high and their supply should not be neglected in an integrated fertilization program. They are as essential for plant cycle as macronutrients and the inadequate levels of even one of them may seriously disturb plant metabolism and different characteristic and non-characteristic symptoms may appear. The lack of micronutrients may disturb photosynthesis, auxin levels, N, carbohydrates and protein metabolism, chlorophyll content, capturing of atmospheric N and many other physiological and metabolic functions of plants.

This e-book aims at presenting and analyzing the problems caused in crop production by micronutrient deficiencies. The necessary plant growth micronutrients, their mobility in soils, their role in plant metabolism, as well as the deficiency symptoms and critical concentrations are discussed. In addition, the soil factors influencing micronutrient availability are being presented and, finally, some of the most important mechanisms adopted by plants to survive under micronutrient deficient soil conditions are included in this e-book, under the light of the most important and recent research data. I really believe that this e-book is a useful tool for MSc and PhD students, as well as for academic personnel and researchers studying mineral nutritional problems in agricultural soils and crops. Furthermore, it may provide valuable information to the farmers, giving practical solutions to some topics concerning micronutrient deficiencies and their alleviation, such as fertilization and amendment practices.