Micronutrients: advances in understanding molybdenum in crop production

Publication date: 17/02/2020
Extent: 24 pages

Contributions by: Aruna Nandety and Ali M. Missaoui, University of Georgia-Athens, USA

Chapter synopsis: Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential micronutrient for plants. Its biological importance resides in its role in nitrogen fixation. Most soils contain Mo, but its availability is pH dependent. Understanding the dynamics of Mo in plant nutrition and in the plant rhizosphere is key to determining efficient fertilization and optimized crop production. This chapter summarizes recent advances in Mo cycling in plants and soils and ways to maximize its uptake and use efficiency. The chapter suggests management practices to improve the uptake and use efficiency of Mo by crop plants. The chapter describes advances in understanding Mo cycling in soils and plants, as well as molybdenum uptake by plants, its movement into cells, and biosynthesis of Mo cofactors. The chapter addresses the challenge of optimizing Mo-use efficiency in crop production and methods of Mo application.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2019.0062.20