25/03/2026
Enhanced Fruit quality and crop nutritional inputs:
A given effect of a mineral on fruit quality can vary depending on local weather and soil conditions.
The effects of several minerals depend on the relative concentrations of other elements.
Total soluble solids, color, polyphenols, pH, titrable acidity, and aroma are affected by mineral nutrition management.
✓Minerals affect fruit quality’s morphological, organoleptic, physical, and chemical properties. Mineral nutrition management can be adjusted to provide the necessary inputs so that fruits meet market standards for various purposes like fresh consumption, processing, and storage. For any nutrition management to succeed, first, it is necessary to understand how each nutrient affects fruit quality. This article provides insights on fruit quality effects of deficiency and excess of some common macro- and micro-nutrients.
✓Mineral Nutrition for Plants
Fertilizer addition aims to make up for soil nutrient deficiency to realize a fruit’s genotype potential. The time and rate of application are crucial and have been based on tree requirements, soil fertility, and expected yield. Gradually, growers have started incorporating Mineral Nutrition Management, using parameters like crop nutritional status, plant growth analysis, and soil and tissue nutrient level correlation for more effective nutrient management. Results from long-term analyses are also providing valuable inputs for Mineral Nutrition Management.
Essential minerals are those without which the plant and fruits can’t develop. Another mineral can’t be replaced in plant metabolism.
✓The macronutrients are the essential minerals required in large quantities, like nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
The micronutrients are vital minerals needed in small amounts, such as manganese, copper, boron, iron, zinc, chlorine, sodium, molybdenum, and nickel.
The effect of minerals on plant vegetative growth and yield is well known, but each mineral can also impact fruit quality.
