Amino acid-chelated micronutrients: A new frontier in crop nutrition and abiotic stress mitigation

Micronutrient deficiencies and abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity and temperature fluctuations, significantly reduce global crop productivity, partly by limiting nutrient bioavailability. While micronutrients are essential for plant metabolism, their precise application is crucial to prevent heavy metal contamination and environmental degradation. Overuse or improper application of micronutrients can lead to toxicity, soil degradation and groundwater contamination. To address these challenges, chelating agents have been introduced into agricultural systems to enhance micronutrient availability and uptake by plants. Amino acid chelates, a class of ‘smart fertilizers’ that bind micronutrients to amino acids, offer an innovative solution to enhance nutrient efficiency and mitigate abiotic stress effects. By enhancing nutrient absorption, promoting antioxidant activity, regulating osmotic balance and supporting enzymatic functions, amino chelates contribute to improved crop health and resilience. This review explores the current challenges in agriculture related to micronutrient deficiencies and abiotic stress, focusing on amino chelates as an advanced solution for improving nutrient uptake and crop resilience. However, there remain uncertainties regarding their synthesis and properties, optimal application rates and interactions with other agricultural inputs. The aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of amino chelates, their mechanisms and future potential for sustainable agriculture, while emphasizing the need for targeted research to optimize their use in addressing micronutrient deficiencies and abiotic stress.