Zinc in the Soil and Its Importance for Plants and Human Health: An Integrated Review

Zinc is crucial for plant nutrition, agricultural yield, and quality, which in turn affects animal and human health. Zinc deficiency in soil, a widespread issue, leads to reduced crop productivity and quality due to its role in various physiological functions such as protein synthesis and enzyme activity. Soil factors like pH, organic matter, and calcium carbonate content significantly influence zinc availability to plants. In arid and semi-arid regions with calcareous soils, zinc availability is particularly low, impacting plant uptake. Zinc deficiency is common in crops and pastures globally, causing visible symptoms in plants and contributing to half of the world's cereal crops being grown on zinc-deficient soils. This deficiency extends to animals and humans, where it can impair growth, neurodevelopment, immune response, and cause hair loss, among other health issues. Zinc is also being considered as a supportive treatment for COVID-19. The National Institutes of Health recommends daily zinc intake ranging from 2-3 mg for infants to 11-13 mg for pregnant and lactating women.