Abstract

The establishment of essentiality of certain elements in minute quantities in the nutrition of plants led to an extensive study of micro-nutrients during the past few decade. As a consequence of recognising their importance, considerable attention was paid to their practical utility which promised great potentialities not only in the solution of problems of nutritional disorders in crops but in the matter of increased crop production. Crop failures that often occur in many regions may perhaps be attributed, at least in part, to a deficiency of micro-nutrients. For Indian crops and soil conditions particularly, information is lacking on micro- nutrients. Among the micro-nutrient elements, Boron, Copper, Manga- nese, Zine and Molybdenum are perhaps the most important. Very minute quantities are required to perform important functions in plant nutrition. Further, small amounts of them are enough to plants to restore themselves from specific abnormalities 'and impaired physiological functions caused by their deficiencies in the nutrient medium. Thus Bertrand (1905). Warrington (1923), Thumberg (1934) and Arnon and Stout (1939) proved that Manganese, Boron, Zine and Molybdenum respectively play various essential roles in the plants' metabloie activities and their absence causes specific deficiency symptoms in plants.

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