Foliar Zinc Application to Wheat May Lessen the Zinc Deficiency Burden in Rural Quzhou, China.

ABSTRACT: Zinc (Zn) malnutrition is a common health problem, especially in developing countries. The human health and economic benefits of the replacement of conventional flour with Zn-biofortified wheat flour in rural household diets were assessed. One hundred forty-five wheat flour samples were collected from rural households in Quzhou County. Then, field experiments were conducted on wheat at two Zn levels (0 and 0.4% ZnSO₄ · 7H₂O foliar application) under 16 diverse agricultural practices in Quzhou County. Foliar Zn application significantly increased the Zn concentration and bioavailability in wheat grain and flour. If rural households consumed Zn-biofortified flour instead of self-cultivated flour or flour purchased from supermarkets, 257-769 or 280-838, 0.46-1.36 million

SUBMITTER: Yu BG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8273279 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature