Motsomane Nqobile, Slotow Rob, Magadlela Anathi
School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering, and Science, University of KwaZulu Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban, South Africa.
Oppenheimer Fellow in Functional Biodiversity, Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering, and Science, University of KwaZulu Natal (Pietermaritzburg Campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, South Africa.
PLoS One. 2025 Apr 29;20(4):e0322214. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322214. eCollection 2025.
Food insecurity often results in malnutrition, manifesting as micronutrient deficiencies that disproportionately affect children under five, impairing their cognitive and physical development. While staple crops supply necessary calories and basic nutrients required for life sustenance, they frequently lack essential micronutrients needed for overall health, necessitating alternative food sources to address food insecurity and malnutrition. This study investigated the potential of Eragrostis curvula seeds as a micronutrient-rich addition to existing food systems and used analyses of covariance to evaluate the influence of soil characteristics on seed nutrient concentrations between two grassland sites in South Africa's Gauteng province: Jameson Park and Kaydale. Populations of E. curvula were identified in Jameson Park and Kaydale, Heidelberg, where rhizosphere soils from selected plants and seeds were harvested for nutrient concentration and soil characteristics analysis. Eragrostis curvula seeds were rich in essential micronutrients, including phosphorus (5041.5-5921.7 mg/kg), iron (72.2-145.4 mg/kg), potassium (4490.5-5531.2 mg/kg), zinc (44.9-65.4 mg/kg), copper (8.6-10.2 mg/kg), calcium (2978.4-16339.1 mg/kg), magnesium (2265.7-2538.4 mg/kg), and manganese (130.2-141.8 mg/kg). Significant site-specific variations were observed: seeds from Jameson Park had higher potassium and calcium concentrations, while Kaydale seeds had higher zinc and iron concentrations. Soil analyses revealed no significant differences in phosphorus, nitrogen, zinc, copper, exchange acidity, or total cation concentrations between the sites. However, calcium levels were significantly higher in Jameson Park soils, while Kaydale soils showed higher potassium, magnesium, and manganese concentrations. Soil nutrient concentrations were found to have a significant influence on seed nutrients. These findings emphasise the potential of E. curvula seeds to improve food security and alleviate micronutrient deficiencies, particularly among vulnerable populations such as young children.
粮食不安全往往导致营养不良，表现为微量营养素缺乏，这对五岁以下儿童的影响尤为严重，会损害他们的认知和身体发育。虽然主粮作物提供维持生命所需的热量和基本营养素，但它们往往缺乏全面健康所需的必需微量营养素，因此需要替代食物来源来解决粮食不安全和营养不良问题。本研究调查了弯叶画眉草种子作为现有食物系统中富含微量营养素添加物的潜力，并使用协方差分析来评估土壤特性对南非豪登省两个草原地点（詹姆森公园和凯代尔）种子养分浓度的影响。在海德堡的詹姆森公园和凯代尔发现了弯叶画眉草种群，从选定植株和种子采集根际土壤进行养分浓度和土壤特性分析。弯叶画眉草种子富含必需微量营养素，包括磷（5041.5 - 5921.7毫克/千克）、铁（72.2 - 145.4毫克/千克）、钾（4490.5 - 5531.2毫克/千克）、锌（44.9 - 65.4毫克/千克）、铜（8.6 - 10.2毫克/千克）、钙（2978.4 - 16339.1毫克/千克）、镁（2265.7 - 2538.4毫克/千克）和锰（130.2 - 141.8毫克/千克）。观察到显著的特定地点差异：詹姆森公园的种子钾和钙浓度较高，而凯代尔的种子锌和铁浓度较高。土壤分析表明，两个地点之间的磷、氮、锌、铜、交换性酸度或总阳离子浓度没有显著差异。然而，詹姆森公园土壤中的钙含量显著更高，而凯代尔土壤中的钾、镁和锰浓度更高。发现土壤养分浓度对种子养分有显著影响。这些发现强调了弯叶画眉草种子在改善粮食安全和缓解微量营养素缺乏方面的潜力，特别是对幼儿等弱势群体。
