The Assessment of Influence of Species and Environment on Microelement Levels in Cereals

Abstract

Micronutrient deficiency is a problem in developing countries, pertaining to both agriculture and human food provision. The present investigation concerned micronutrient availability in the soil and grain of some cereals grown in two locations in Turkey. A field experiment was conducted to determine the levels of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) in grains of triticale, bread wheat, durum wheat, and barley varieties. The soil in both locations was alkaline and calcareous with low organic matter content, and according to the extractable micronutrient concentrations of the soils in both sites, Zn and Mn contents of the soils were low; Fe and Cu content were medium. However, temperature and precipitation differences occurred during the growing season in both locations. The results demonstrated that micronutrient concentrations of cereals were significantly affected by location properties. Fe concentrations were low in cereal species with high Mn concentrations, and Mn concentrations were low in species with high Fe concentrations. An inverse relationship was determined between Fe and Mn concentrations in grains. The Fe concentration of cereals declined in the order: barley> triticale> bread wheat> durum wheat, and Mn concentration of cereals increased thus: barley< triticale< bread wheat< durum wheat. The Zn concentration declined in the order: barley> durum wheat> triticale> bread wheat. Barley had the highest Fe and Zn, and the highest Cu and Mn concentrations were found in the grain of durum wheat with respect to the mean of both sites.