Analysis of Heavy Metal Impacts on Cereal Crop Growth and Development in Contaminated Soils

• Published in: Agriculture (Basel) 2023-10, Vol.13 (10), p.1983
• Main Authors: Vasilachi, Ionela Cătălina, Stoleru, Vasile, Gavrilescu, Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural management; Agricultural practices; Agriculture; Analysis; Arsenic; Barley; Bioaccumulation; Bioavailability; Cadmium; Cereal crops; Cereals; Collaboration; Cooperation; Crop growth; Crops; Efficiency; Environmental conditions; Environmental economics; Environmental protection; Environmental quality; Food; Food contamination; Food contamination & poisoning; Food products; Food quality; Food safety; Food security; Food supply; Grain; Growth; Heavy metals; Human beings; Human influences; Influence on nature; Innovations; metal tolerance; metal toxicity; metal uptake; Mitigation; mycorrhizal symbiosis; Nutrients; Plant breeding; Productivity; Protein binding; Rice; Root barriers; Safety and security measures; Soil amendment; Soil amendments; Soil contamination; Soil pollution; Soils; Sustainability; Sustainable agriculture; Sustainable development; Sustainable practices; Symbiosis; Toxicity; Waste disposal
• ISSN: 2077-0472; 2077-0472
• DOI: 10.3390/agriculture13101983

The impact of heavy metal presence in soil on cereal crops is a growing concern, posing significant challenges to global food security and environmental sustainability. Cereal crops, vital sources of nutrition, face the risk of contamination with toxic heavy metals released into the environment through human activities. This paper explores key aspects requiring thorough investigation to foster innovation and understand intricate interactions between heavy metals and cereals. Visible symptoms and physiological changes resulting from heavy metal contamination, such as chlorosis and stunted growth, demand further research to devise targeted mitigation strategies and sustainable agricultural practices. Root barrier formation, mycorrhizal symbiosis, and metal-binding proteins emerge as critical defence mechanisms for combating heavy metal stress, offering opportunities for developing metal-tolerant cereal varieties. Research on metal bioavailability and food safety implications in cereal grains is vital to safeguard human health. This paper reveals that multidisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge technologies are essential for promoting innovation beyond the state of the art in elucidating and mitigating the impacts of heavy metals on cereal crops. Genetic and breeding approaches show promise in developing metal-tolerant cereal varieties, while agronomic practices and soil amendments can reduce metal bioavailability and toxicity. Unravelling the complex mechanisms underlying heavy metal uptake and tolerance is essential for sustainable cereal agriculture and worldwide food sustainability. Embracing the challenges of heavy metal pollution through proactive research and collaboration can secure a resilient future for cereal crops amid evolving environmental conditions.