Definitions
Elements present in crops at concentrations of milligrams per kilogram dry matter are defined as trace elements (Kabata-Pendias, 2001). A large number of trace elements are found in crops including rare earth metals (Gundersen et al., 2000). The trace elements boron, iron, copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, and zinc are essential for crops and are therefore often named micronutrients. Selenium has recently been also pointed out to be an essential micronutrient (Hartikainen, 2005). Some trace elements not required by crops are, however, essential for humans and animals, that is, fluoride, iodine, chromium, cobalt, and selenium. The term “heavy metal” refers to elements with a density higher than 4.5 kg dm−3, but provides no information on the toxicity and effect of metals on organisms (Niebor and Richardson, 1980). Knowledge about the functions of rare earth metals in crops is scarce, some may be essential, others toxic or without any effect (Markert, 1993).
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Kirchmann, H., Eriksson, J. (2011). Trace Elements in Crops: Effects of Soil Physical and Chemical Properties. In: Gliński, J., Horabik, J., Lipiec, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Agrophysics. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3585-1_175
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