Mineral Concentration in Spring Wheat Grain Under Organic, Integrated, and Conventional Farming Systems and Their Alterations During Processing

Common wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) is a key cereal in the global economy, providing essential nutrients for human and animal health. The European Union promotes less intensive farming systems as part of its sustainable development strategy. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different farming systems on the concentration of macronutrients-potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium (K, P, Mg, and Ca)- and micronutrients-iron, zinc, manganese, and copper (Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu)-in wheat grain, as well as the effect of grain processing on the distribution of these nutrients in bran, flour, and bread. This study included four spring wheat cultivars (Harenda, Kandela, Mandaryna, and Serenada) grown under organic (ORG), integrated (INT), and conventional (CONV) systems at the Osiny Experimental Station (Poland; 51°27' N; 22°2' E) between 2019 and 2021. The P concentration was determined using the colorimetric method, while the other nutrients were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The grain from the CONV system exhibited higher macronutrients concentrations, whereas grain from less intensive systems had higher micronutrients concentrations, except for Fe. The Fe concentration in grain from the INT and CONV systems was comparable. An interaction effect between cultivars and farming systems on P, Ca, Mn, Zn, and Cu concentrations in the grain was observed. In all research material, the highest concentrations of minerals were found in bran, followed by grain, with the lowest concentrations observed in flour and bread.