The cultivated area for the last two decades is almost constant 1402 million ha and efforts are to be made to grow food grains from 230 million tonnes to 300 million tonnes by 2025. The vertical enhancement In productivity is the possible option, which has been substantiated by various research investigations. Undoubtedly, with the introduction of high yielding varieties of cereals and their continuous cultivation caused the deficiency of secondary and micronutrients in time and space, which resulted in yield stagnation. The productivity computed in terms of rice equivalent yield was highest, ranged between 8.5-12.0 tonnes/ha for rice-wheat system, 8.6 to 11.4 tonnes/ha for maize-wheat system and 5.8-7.5 tonnes ha -1 for pearl millet-wheat system under Trans Gangetic Plains amply explains about the increase in food grain production. The application of sulfur at 30-45 kg/ha enabled rice crop to fetch return per rupee invested from Rs. 11.7 to 22 while it varied from Rs. 26.4 to 35.1 under rice-wheat system. Zinc application to rice resulted to give response varying from 0.2 to 1.0 tonnes/ha in 62% of field trials out of 2154 trials. The corresponding values for wheat was 51% in 2391 field experiments. Application of S, Zn, Mn, Fe, B and at some places Mo under site specific nutrient management helped to achieve the high yield targets of 15-171 tonnes/ha per annum of rice-wheat and 14-16 tonnes/ha per annum of rice-rice cropping systems. The foliar use of micronutrients particularly Zn, Fe and Mn proved highly economical tonnes than their soil application. To enhance the food grain production, it is pertinent to delineate and map the extent and magnitude of multi-nutrient deficiencies (secondary and micronutrient) in different agro-ecological regions. Such studies are of prime Importance to check the nutritional imbalance in the food chain which will not only solve the health livelihood of the living organisms but at the same time enhance the input use efficiency, curtail the cost of production and above all enable to sustain the food security of the country by breaking the yield barrier coming on account of multi-nutrient deficiencies.
