16 Aleksandra Głowacka
CONCLUSION
Human beings require at least 44 known nutrients in adequate amounts
and consistently to live healthy and productive lives. However, a considerable
proportion of people worldwide suffer from deficiencies of mineral
components, such iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium and calcium. Traditional
strategies to deliver mineral nutrients have mainly relied on mineral
supplementation, dietary diversification and food fortification. Biofortification
is the first agricultural tool now being employed to address micronutrient
malnutrition worldwide. Biofortification has been defined as the process of
increasing the bioavailable concentrations of essential elements in the edible
portions of crop plants through agronomic intervention or genetic selection.
The idea of biofortification is attractive for improving the growing conditions
of crops and for exploiting a plant’s potential for micronutrient mobilization
and utilization. Intercropping would be the key to some staple crops’
biofortification.
Numerous studies confirm the impact of intercropping on the content of
nutrients in crop plants. The direction and nature of these changes depends on
the type of intercropping, plant species, soil type and weather conditions, as
well as the type of mineral ingredient. However, the mechanism behind these
changes has not been adequately explained. Is it the result of better use of light
and water in the edge rows, differences in the depth and development rate of
the root system, or interspecific interaction affecting the availability of
nutrients? According to much research, interaction between plants and the
changes in the rhizosphere in intercropping may increase nutrient availability.
Thus appropriate selection of the species for intercropping may limit shortages
of some nutrients in plants. The intercropping system of nutrient-efficient
species can be a cost effective method of plant biofortification and should be
considered to prevent or mitigate nutrient deficiency of plants in agricultural
practice.
REFERENCES
Albayrak, S., Türk, M., 2013. Changes in the forage yield and quality of
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