Nutrient interactions in crop plants

Balanced supply of of essential nutrients is one of the most important factors in increasing crop yields. The objective of this review is to discuss interactions among major and minor nutrients in crop plants. In crop plants, the nutrient interactions are generaly measured in terms of growth response and change in concentration of nutrients. Upon addition of two nutrients, a increase in crop yield that is more than adding only one, the interaction is positive (synergistic). Similarly, if adding the two nutrients together produced less yield as compared to individual ones, the interactions is negative (antagonistic). When there is no change, there is no interaction. All the three interactions among essential plant nutrients have been reported. However, most interactions are complex. A nutrient interacting simultaneously with more than one nutrients. This may induced deficiencies, toxicities, modified growth responses, and/or modified nutrient composition. Better understanding of nutrient interactions may be useful in understanding importance of balanced supply of nutrients and consequently improvement in plant growth or yields.