RETRACTED ARTICLE: Plant nutrient dynamics: a growing appreciation for the roles of micronutrients

Micronutrients are essential for plant growth and play a key role in crop nutrition. Micronutrients such as zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) are necessary for plants and humans who rely on them directly or indirectly. These minerals are important for several important cellular functions, including respiration (Fe and Cu), photosynthesis (Fe, Cu, and Mn), and transcription (Zn). Micronutrient deficiencies have gained importance as a source of ‘hidden hunger,‘ focusing on iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). Enhancing the nutritional value of staple crops seems to be a simple and effective solution. We address the methods of absorption of numerous beneficial Micronutrients, their positive characteristics, and their involvement in improving crop yield. The importance of biofortification as a procedure to enhance crop yield and as an agricultural solution to solve nutritional security challenges is discussed in this review. Biofortification boosted crop yield to relieve hidden hunger and quality parameters, proving a sustainable and cost-effective strategy. Several novel and targeted biofortification strategies for nutrient enrichment of field crops, including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and fodder crops, have been reviewed. With the information presented here, researchers can see that biofortification promises to increase agricultural production and provide the crops with additional nutrients to ensure human food security and nutrient quality.