Nutrient nexus: Linking soil, plants, animals and humans

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.5759

Keywords:

food security, government policies, nutrient management, nutrient nexus, soil health, soil-plant-animal-human nutrition, sustainable agriculture

Abstract

The complex interrelationships between soil, plants, animals, and humans form the nutrient nexus, where the health and well-being of each component are intricately linked. This article comprehensively explores the dynamics of nutrients through this continuum, emphasizing the vital role of nutrient management in ensuring food security, sustainable agriculture, and a balanced ecosystem. It delves into the importance of nutrients at various levels, investigating case studies that illustrate the correlation between soil nutrient availability, plant uptake, animal nutrition, and human health. The article also examines government initiatives, nutrient management practices, and strategies like dietary diversification, biofortification, food fortification, and supplementation to combat nutrient deficiencies. The integration of traditional knowledge with modern scientific advancements advocates for a holistic approach to nutrient management, considering local resources, cultural practices, and environmental conditions. Ultimately, the article highlights the necessity of efficient nutrient management not only for ensuring food security but also for preserving the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystems for future generations.

Downloads

References

Samaddar S, Karp DS, Schmidt R, Devarajan N, McGarvey JA, Pires AF, Scow K. Role of soil in the regulation of human and plant pathogens: soils' contributions to people. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 2021;376(1834):20200179.https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2020.0179

Rekik F, van Es HM. The soil health–human health nexus: mineral thresholds, interlinkages and rice systems in Jharkhand, India. Adv Agron. 2022;172:67-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2021.10.001

Lal R. Regenerative agriculture for food and climate. J Soil Water Conserv. 2020;75(5):123A-24A. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2020.0620A

Telo da Gama J. The role of soils in sustainability, climate change and ecosystem services: Challenges and opportunities. Ecologies. 2023;4(3):552-67. https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies4030036

Doran JW, Parkin TB. Defining and assessing soil quality. In: Doran JW, Coleman DC, Bezdicek DF, Stewart BA, editors. Defining soil quality for a sustainable environment. Soil Science Society of America. 1994;35:1-21. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaspecpub35.c1

Bünemann EK, Bongiorno G, Bai Z, Creamer RE, De Deyn G, De Goede R, et al. Soil quality–a critical review. Soil Biol Biochem. 2018;120:105-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.01.030

Wani FS, Ahmad L, Ali T, Mushtaq A. Role of microorganisms in nutrient mobilization and soil health—a review. J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2015;9(2):1401-10.

Sanyal SK, Majumdar K, Singh VK. Nutrient management in Indian agriculture with special reference to nutrient mining—A relook. J Ind Soc Soil Sci. 2014;62(4):307-25.

van Bruggen AH, Goss EM, Havelaar A, van Diepeningen AD, Finckh MR, Morris Jr JG. One health-cycling of diverse microbial communities as a connecting force for soil, plant, animal, human and ecosystem health. Sci Total Environ. 2019;664:927-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.091

Chen Y, Michalak M, Agellon LB. Focus: nutrition and food science: importance of nutrients and nutrient metabolism on human health. The Yale J Biol Med. 2018;91(2):95.

Yelverton CA, Rafferty AA, Moore RL, Byrne DF, Mehegan J, Cotter PD, et al. Diet and mental health in pregnancy: nutrients of importance based on large observational cohort data. Nutrition. 2022;96:111582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2021.111582

Cobre AF, Surek M, Vilhena RO, Böger B, Fachi MM, Momade DR, et al. Influence of foods and nutrients on COVID-19 recovery: a multivariate analysis of data from 170 countries using a generalized linear model. Clin Nutri. 2022;41(12):3077-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2021.03.018

White PJ, Broadley MR, Gregory PJ. Managing the nutrition of plants and people. Appl Environ Soil Sci. 2012;2012(1):104826.https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/104826

Javed A, Ali E, Afzal KB, Osman A, Riaz S. Soil fertility: Factors affecting soil fertility and biodiversity responsible for soil fertility. Int J Plant, Animal Environ Sci. 2022;12(1):21-33. https://doi.org/10.26502/ijpaes.202129

Kim K, Bevis L. Soil fertility and poverty in developing countries. Choices. 2019;34(2):1-8. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26785776

Eliazer Nelson AR, Ravichandran K, Antony U. The impact of the green revolution on indigenous crops of India. J Ethnic Foods. 2019;6(1):1-0. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42779-019-0011-9

Hodges SC. Soil fertility basics. Soil science extension. North Carolina State University. 2010;p. 1-75.

Shukla AK, Behera SK, Pakhre A, Chaudhari SK. Micronutrients in soils, plants, animals and humans. Ind J Fertil. 2018;14(3):30-54.

Brown PH, Zhao FJ, Dobermann A. What is a plant nutrient? Changing definitions to advance science and innovation in plant nutrition. Plant Soil. 2022;476(1):11-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05171-w

Toor MD, Adnan M, Rehman FU, Tahir R, Saeed MS, Khan AU, Pareek V. Nutrients and their importance in agriculture crop production- A review. Ind J Pure App Biosci. 2021;9(1):1-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8527

Pandey N. Role of plant nutrients in plant growth and physiology. In: Hasanuzzaman M, Fujita M, Oku H, Nahar K, Hawrylak-Nowak B, editors. . Plant nutr abiotic stress tolerance. Singapore: Springer; 2018. p. 51-93. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-9044-8-2

Huber DM, Graham RD. The role of nutrition in crop resistance and tolerance to diseases. In: Rengel Z, editor. Mineral nutrition of crops fundamental mechanisms and implications. New York: Food Product Press; 1999. p. 205-26.

Sharma MC, Joshi C, Das G, Hussain K. Mineral nutrition and reproductive performance of the dairy animals: a review. Ind J Animal Sci. 20071;77(7):599-608.

Underwood EJ, Suttle NF. The mineral nutrition of livestock, 3rd ed. CABI Digital Library; 2000 https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851991283.0000

Cherian G. A guide to the principles of animal nutrition. Oregon State University; 2020.

Pervaiz ZH, Iqbal J, Zhang Q, Chen D, Wei H, Saleem M. Continuous cropping alters multiple biotic and abiotic indicators of soil health. Soil Sys. 2020;4(4):59. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems4040059

Huth PJ, DiRienzo DB, Miller GD. Major scientific advances with dairy foods in nutrition and health. J Dairy Sci. 2006;89(4):1207-21. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(06)72190-7

Bhagat DJ, Burte RG, Kumar S, Pawar JK, Dhopavkar RV, Gurav SS. Assessment of mineral status in feed and fodder, soil and blood serum of dairy animals in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, India. Adv Agri Res Technol J. 2017;1(1):52-56.

Miller DD. Minerals. In: Fennema's food chemistry. 5th ed. CRC Press; 2017. p. 627-79

Gharibzahedi SM, Jafari SM. The importance of minerals in human nutrition: bioavailability, food fortification, processing effects and nanoencapsulation. Trends Food Sci Technol. 2017;62:119-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2017.02.017

Majumdar K, Sanyal SK, Dutta SK, Satyanarayana T, Singh VK. Nutrient mining: addressing the challenges to soil resources and food security. Biofortification of Food Crops. 2016;177-98.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2716-8_14

Brown LR. World population growth, soil erosion and food security. Science. 1981;214(4524):995-1002. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.7302578

Mayland HF. Assessing nutrient cycling in the soil/plant animal system of semi-arid pasture lands. In: Nuclear techniques in improving pasture management. Atomic Energy Agency: Vienna; 1983. p. 109-17. https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/767

Whitehead DC. Nutrient elements in grassland: soil-plant-animal relationships. CABI; 2000. https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851994376.00

Johnston AM, Bruulsema TW. 4R nutrient stewardship for improved nutrient use efficiency. Proc Engin. 2014;83:365-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2014.09.029

Annual Report. All India coordinated research project on micro- and secondary nutrients and pollutant elements in soils and plants (AICRP-MSPE), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. 2013-2014.

Annual Report. All India coordinated research project on micro- and secondary nutrients and pollutant elements in soils and plants (AICRP-MSPE), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 2022-2023.

Shukla AK, Tiwari PK, Pakhare A, Prakash C. Zinc and iron in soil, plant, animal and human health. Indian J Fertil. 2016;12(11):133-49.

Khan ZI, Ahmad K, Ashraf I, Gondal S, Sher M, Hayat Z, et al. Bioconcentration of some macro minerals in soil, forage and buffalo hair continuum: a case study on pasture irrigated with sewage water. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2015;22(3):249-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2014.11.016

Raju NV, Parashar A, Pankaj PK. Soil-plant-animal continuum concerning the certain micro-mineral status of indigenous sheep in hot semi-arid regions. Ind J Animal Res. 2022;56(6):688-94. http://dx.doi.org/10.18805/IJAR.B-4854

Kumaresan A, Bujarbaruah KM, Pathak KA, Brajendra, Ramesh T. Soil–plant–animal continuum in relation to macro and micro mineral status of dairy cattle in subtropical hill agro ecosystem. Trop Aanimal health Prod. 2010;42:569-77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9459-8

Singh B, Rawal CV, Swarup D. Soil-plant-animal relationship of Zn, Cu and Co in buffaloes of Rohilkhand region. Ind J Animal Sci. 2007;77(1):83-85.

Yadav S, Khirwar SS. Soil-plant-animal relationship of copper in milch buffaloes of Jind district in Haryana. Indian J Animal Sc. 1999;69(9).718-21.

Dev SM, Sharma AN. Food security in India: Performance, challenges and policies. Oxfam India; 2010.

Nubé M. The Asian enigma: predisposition for low adult body mass index among people from South Asian descent. Staff Working Paper WP-07-01. Amsterdam: Centre for World Food Studies; 2007.

Vijayan B, Nain MS, Singh R, Kumbhare NV. Knowledge test for extension personnel on National food security mission. Ind J Ext Edu. 2022;58(2):191-94. http://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2022.58246

Gopaldas T. Hidden hunger: The problem and possible interventions. Econ Pol Week. 2006;26:3671-74. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4418615

Mehta AK, Bhide S, Kumar A, Shah A. Poverty, chronic poverty and poverty dynamics; policy imperatives. Eds. Singapore: Springer; 2018.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0677-8

Gogoi NN. Ensuring food security and human security: an assessment of the security challenges in India. PalArch's J Archaeol Egypt/Egyptol. 2020;17(9):8697-703.

Goulet O, Lebenthal E, Branski D, Martin A, Antoine JM, Jones PJ. Nutritional solutions to major health problems of preschool children: how to optimise growth and development. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2006;43:S1-3.https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mpg.0000255843.54164.af

Bouis HE, Saltzman A, Birol E. Improving nutrition through biofortification. In: Fan S, Yosef S, Pandya-Lorch R, editors. Agriculture for improved nutrition: seizing the momentum. Wallingford UK: CAB International; 2019. p. 47-57. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781786399311.0047

Dhaliwal SS, Sharma V, Shukla AK, Verma V, Kaur M, Shivay YS, et al. Biofortification—a frontier novel approach to enrich micronutrients in field crops to encounter the nutritional security. Molecules. 2022;27(4):1340. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27041340

Regar KL, Kumar V, Chandola JC, Patel SS, Singh AK, Kundu MS, Singh SK. Zinc fertilization: effects on nutrients availability and productivity of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Int J Plant Soil Sci. 2022;34(12):41-47. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2022/v34i1230958

Rietra RP, Heinen M, Dimkpa CO, Bindraban PS. Effects of nutrient antagonism and synergism on yield and fertilizer use efficiency. Comm Soil Sci Plant Anal. 2017;48(16):1895-920. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2017.1407429

Prasad R, Shivay YS, Kumar D. Interactions of zinc with other nutrients in soils and plants- A Review. Ind J Fertil. 2016;12(5):16-26.

Xing Y, Wang R, Sun W, An J, Wang C, Bao H, et al. Effect of balanced fertilization on rice nutrient uptake, yield and profit. Better Crops. 2009;93(1):5.

Tarafdar JC, Marschner H. Efficiency of VAM hyphae in utilisation of organic phosphorus by wheat plants. Soil Sci Plant Nutr. 1994;40(4):593-600. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.1994.10414298

Ruiz-Lozano JM, Porcel R, Bárzana G, Azcón R, Aroca R. Contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis to plant drought tolerance: state of the art. In: Aroca R, editor. Plant responses to drought stress: from morphological to molecular features. Berlin: Springer; 2012. p. 335-62. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32653-0_13

Betteridge K, Schnug E, Haneklaus S. Will site specific nutrient management live up to expectation. Agri Forest Res. 2008;4(58):283-94.

Hirschi KD. Nutrient biofortification of food crops. Ann Rev Nutr. 2009;29(1):401-21. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-nutr-080508-141143

Khush GS, Lee S, Cho JI, Jeon JS. Biofortification of crops for reducing malnutrition. Plant Biotechnol Rep. 2012;6:195-202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11816-012-0216-5

Fageria NK, Baligar VC, Li YC. The role of nutrient efficient plants in improving crop yields in the twenty first century. J Plant Nutr. 2008;31(6):1121-57. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904160802116068

Baligar VC, Fageria NK, He ZL. Nutrient use efficiency in plants. Comm Soil Sci Plant Anal. 2001;32(7-8):921-50. https://doi.org/10.1081/CSS-100104098

Sampath V, Rangarajan N, CH S, Deori M, Veeraragavan M, Ghodake BD, Kaushal K. Advancing crop improvement through CRISPR technology in precision agriculture trends -a review. Int J Environ Clim Chng. 2023;13(11):4683-94. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2023/v13i113647

Lentjes MA. The balance between food and dietary supplements in the general population. Proc Nutr Soc. 2019;78(1):97-109. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665118002525

Blumberg JB, Frei B, Fulgoni Iii VL, Weaver CM, Zeisel SH. Contribution of dietary supplements to nutritional adequacy in various adult age groups. Nutrients. 2017;9(12):1325. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9121325

Li Y, Bahadur R, Ahuja J, Pehrsson P, Harnly J. Macro-and micronutrients in raw plant foods: The similarities of foods and implication for dietary diversification. J Food Comp Anal. 2021;102:103993. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2021.103993

Tiwari H, Singh PK, Naresh RK, Islam A, Kumar S, Singh KV, et al. Millets based integrated farming system for food and nutritional security, constraints and agro-diversification strategies to fight global hidden hunger: A review. Int J Plant Soil Sci. 2023;35(19):630-43. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2023/v35i193593

Singh U, Praharaj CS, Chaturvedi SK, Bohra A. Biofortification: Introduction, approaches, limitations and challenges. In: Singh U, Praharaj C, Singh S, Singh N, editors. Biofortification of food crops. New Delhi: Springer; 2016. p. 3-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2716-8_1

TNAU Agritech Portal 2014, TANUVAS - Technologies website, accessed on June 2023. https://agritech.tnau.ac.in/animal_husbandry/animhus_tanuvas_tech_feed.html

Kinekar BK. Potassium fertilizer situation in India: current use and perspectives. Karnataka J Agri Sci. 2011;24(1):1-6.

Sharma PK. Emerging technologies of remote sensing and GIS for the development of spatial data infrastructure. The 2nd Dr. R. R. Agarwal Memorial Lecture. CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishavvidalaya, Palampur. 2004.

Sarkar D, Meena VS, Haldar A, Rakshit A. Site-specific nutrient management (SSNM): a unique approach towards maintaining soil health. In: Rakshit A, Abhilash P, Singh H, Ghosh S, editors. Adaptive soil management: from theory to practices. Singapore: Springer; 2017. p. 69-88. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3638-5_3

Akintuyi OB. Adaptive AI in precision agriculture: a review: investigating the use of self-learning algorithms in optimizing farm operations based on real-time data. Res J Multidiscipl Stud. 2024;7(02):016-30. https://oarjpublication.com/journals/oarjms/

Uchida R. Essential nutrients for plant growth: nutrient functions and deficiency symptoms. In: Silva JA, Uchida R, editors. Plant nutrient management in Hawaii’s soils, approaches for tropical and subtropical agriculture. Manoa: University of Hawaii; 2000. p.31-55.

McCauley A, Jones C, Jacobsen J. Plant nutrient functions and deficiency and toxicity symptoms. Nutr Manag Mod. 2009;9:1-6.

Fageria VD. Nutrient interactions in crop plants. J Plant Nutri. 200131;24(8):1269-90. https://doi.org/10.1081/PLN-100106981

Farber JL. The role of calcium ions in toxic cell injury. Environ Health Perspect. 1990;84:107-11. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.9084107

Verbruggen N, Hermans C. Physiological and molecular responses to magnesium nutritional imbalance in plants. Plant Soil. 2013;368:87-99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1589-0

Linzon SN, Temple PJ, Pearson RG. Sulfur concentrations in plant foliage and related effects. J Air Poll Ctrl Asso. 1979;29(5):520-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1979.10470822

Rout GR, Das P. Effect of metal toxicity on plant growth and metabolism: I. Zinc. In: Lichtfouse E, Navarrete M, Debaeke P, Véronique S, Alberola C. editors. Sustainable agriculture. Dordrecht: Springer; 2009. p. 873-84. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2666-8_53

Foy CD, Chaney RT, White MC. The physiology of metal toxicity in plants. Ann Rev Plant Physiol. 1978;29(1):511-66.https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.pp.29.060178.002455

Brdar-Jokanovi? M. Boron toxicity and deficiency in agricultural plants. Int J M Sci. 2020;21(4):1424. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21041424

Yruela I. Copper in plants. Braz J Plant Physiol. 2005;17:145-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2020.1836200

Kumchai J, Huang JZ, Lee CY, Chen FC, Chin SW. Proline partially overcomes excess molybdenum toxicity in cabbage seedlings grown in vitro. Genet Mol Res. 2013;12:5589-601.https://doi.org/10.4238/2013.November.18.8

Geilfus CM. Review on the significance of chlorine for crop yield and quality. Plant Sci. 2018;270:114-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.02.014

Razzaque MS. Phosphate toxicity: new insights into an old problem. Clin Sci. 2011;120(3):91-97. https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20100377

Araya M, Olivares M, Pizarro F. Copper in human health. Int J Environ Health. 2007;1(4):608-20. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJENVH.2007.018578

Awuchi CG, Igwe VS, Amagwula IO. Nutritional diseases and nutrient toxicities: A systematic review of the diets and nutrition for prevention and treatment. Int J Adv Acad Res. 2020;6(1):1-46. https://doi.org/10.46654/ij.24889849.e61112

Brown RB. Sodium toxicity in the nutritional epidemiology and nutritional immunology of COVID-19. Medicina. 202122;57(8):739. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57080739

Gupta UC, Gupta SC. Sources and deficiency diseases of mineral nutrients in human health and nutrition: a review. Pedosphere. 2014;24(1):13-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(13)60077-6

Prasad R, Shivay YS. Sulphur in soil, plant and human nutrition. Proc Nat Acad Scie, India Sec B: Biol Sci. 2018;88:429-34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-016-0769-0

Shankar AH. Mineral deficiencies. In: Hunter's Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Elsevier; 2020. p. 1048-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-55512-8.00145-9

Shekhawat K, Chatterjee S, Joshi B. Chromium toxicity and its health hazards. Int J Adv Res. 2015;3(7):167-72.

Udensi UK, Tchounwou PB. Potassium homeostasis, oxidative stress and human disease. Int J Clin Exp Physiol. 2017;4(3):111. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijcep.ijcep_43_17

TNAU Agritech Portal 2023, Crop wise deficiency symptoms, accessed on August 2024. http://www.agritech.tnau.ac.in/horticulture/horti_deficienciesanddisorders.html

Bhaskar S, Ravisankar N, Dey P, Raghavendra KJ, Panwar AS. Impact and refinement of soil health card-based nutrient management in major cropping systems in India. Indian Journal of Fertilisers. 2021 Nov;17(11):1108-22.

Morya GP, Mehta J. Climate change management in rural livelihood of India. Emrg Trnd Clim Chng. 2023;2(1):49-56.

Tarozzi A. The Indian public distribution system as provider of food security: Evidence from child nutrition in Andhra Pradesh. Eur Econ Rev. 2005;49(5):1305-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2003.08.015

Srinivasarao CH. Programmes and policies for improving fertilizer use efficiency in agriculture. Ind J Fertil. 2021;17(3):226-54.

Lokshin M, Das Gupta M, Gragnolati M, Ivaschenko O. Improving child nutrition? The integrated child development services in India. Dev Chng. 2005;36(4):613-40. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0012-155X.2005.00427.x

Deodhar SY, Mahandiratta S, Ramani KV, Mavalankar D, Ghosh S, Braganza V. An evaluation of mid-day meal scheme. J Indian School Pol Eco. 2010;22(1-4):33-49.

Paul VK, Singh A, Palit S. POSHAN abhiyaan: making nutrition a jan andolan. Proc Ind Natl Sci Aca. 2018;84(4):835-41. 10.16943/ptinsa/2018/49452

Thomas L, Sundaramoorthy C, Jha GK. The impact of national food security mission on pulse production scenario in India: an empirical analysis. Int J Agricult Stat Sci. 2013;9(1):213-23.

Kapil U, Kapil R, Gupta A. National iron plus initiative: current status and future strategy. Ind J Med Res. 2019;150(3):239-47. 10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1782_18. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1782_18

Published

31-12-2024

How to Cite

1.
Soorya M, Suganya S, Elayarajan M, Davamani V, Chitra P. Nutrient nexus: Linking soil, plants, animals and humans. Plant Sci. Today [Internet]. 2024 Dec. 31 [cited 2025 Apr. 17];11(sp4). Available from: https://horizonepublishing.com/journals/index.php/PST/article/view/5759

Most read articles by the same author(s)