Crops as Sources of Nutrients for Humans
ISBN: 9780891183143
Platform/Publisher: WOL / ACSESS
Digital rights: Users: Unlimited; Printing: Unlimited; Download: Unlimited
Subjects: Agriculture Aquaculture & Food Science; Agriculture;

Because most agronomic research has focused on increased crop yields, the effects of genetic and management variables on plant composition have often been overlooked. Humans, especially those in developing countries, are dependent upon plant products not only for carbohydrate and protein, but also for vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty and amino acids that are critical to a balanced diet and health. Some plant species contain antimetabolic factors, and the bioavailability and usefulness of mineral nutrients in plant products are much affected by plant genotype and mineral availability from the soil. Thus, agronomy, via its various research disciplines, must provide plant products that, when used as food, are nutritious and palatable, and contribute to a balanced diet in a healthy human population.


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