Enhanced Organic Carbon Triggers Transformations of Macronutrients, Micronutrients, and Secondary Plant Nutrients and Their Dynamics in the Soil under Different Cropping Systems-A Review

Abstract

Decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) resulted in the release of mineral nutrients viz. macronutrients (N, P, and K), micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn), and secondary plant nutrients (Ca, Mg, and S) in soils. Loss of SOM can be inherently detrimental to crop productivity due to the adverse impacts on soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties. Therefore, increasing awareness regarding SOM and agricultural sustainability was regained importance in the farming community. The build-up of SOM triggers to chemical transformations of macro, micro, and secondary nutrients in the soil. The SOM is a rich source of secondary nutrients, and its slow release contributes to the dynamics in soil nutrient levels. Integrated use of OM application with mineral fertilizers increased soil organic carbon (SOC) more efficiently and enhanced nutrients in the soil. The present study showed that the build-up of OM affected macro, micro, and secondary nutrients differently. The detailed review of previous research studies concluded that the build-up of OM showed a strong positive correlation with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, manganese, iron, and sulphur availability. However, in some cases, OM build-up demonstrated a negative correlation with copper, calcium, and magnesium availability. Thus, the present review focused on soil’s critical role of serving as a complex ecosystem that regulates numerous functions for sustainable agricultural production through nutrient cycling. The review highlighted the importance of OM added to soil in altering soil properties and thus enhanced macro, micro, and secondary plant nutrients transformations.