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VOL. 11, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Composition of nutrients, phytochemicals and anti-nutrients in agronomically biofortified finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) grains
Authors
Caroline Owuor, Paul N Karanja, Mwashasha Rashid, Agnes Kavoo
Abstract
Micronutrient intake deficiencies is a public
health concern that can be alleviated by enhancing the nutrient’s content in
the edible plant parts. A study was carried out to determine the effect of soil
application with iron and zinc sulphate fertilizers, on the nutritional
composition, phytochemicals and anti-nutrients in the harvested finger millet (Eleusine
coracana (L.) Gaertn) grains. Field experiments using improved variety of
finger millet – P224, were piloted in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya,
during the short rainy season of 2022-2023. Five soil-applied fertilizer
treatments (T1 – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK)+calcium ammonium
nitrate (CAN), T2 – manure+ZnSO4, T3 – manure+FeSO4, T4 – NPK+CAN+FeSO4, T5 –
NPK+CAN+ZnSO4 and T6 – Control) were replicated three times in a randomized
complete block design. After harvesting, a sample of 200g was taken from each
replicate and proximate composition, minerals, total carotenoids (TC), total
phenols (TP), total flavonoids (TF), phytates, tannins and oxalates were
determined using standard laboratory methods. Sample preparation and analyses
were done in the Food Biochemistry Laboratory, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture
and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya. Results showed that iron and zinc agronomic
biofortification had no significant effect (P≤ 0.05) on the grains proximate
composition recording mean moisture content, crude ash, crude protein, crude fat
and total carbohydrates of 10.06%, 2.68%, 10.56%, 1.26% and 75.45% respectively
on a dry weight basis. Notably, T3 and T4 had a significant effect (P≤ 0.05) on
grain iron concentration recording an increase of 78% and 67% respectively as
compared to the control (T6). T2 and T5 also gave 7.4% and 8.9% increase of
grain zinc content respectively. Total carotenoid was highest at 4.04µg/g±0.62
with the application of T5. Total polyphenols differed significantly (P≤ 0.05) with
the various treatments applied. Total flavonoid was highest in T4 and T3 at
250.9mg/100g±24.2 and 249.6mg/100g±7.4 respectively, and was lowest in T1 at 176.6mg/100g±17.9.
There was 19.92% reduction of phytates with the application of T5 as compared
with T6 (control) and this may help improve mineral bioavailability. The lowest
tannin content of 94.3mg/100g±11.7 was given by T1. None of the five treatments
lowered the oxalate content in this experiment. The results showed that iron
and zinc agronomic biofortification of finger millet has the potential to
improve the micronutrients status of this crop which is an important strategy
to avert micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) and global food insecurity.
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Pages:23-32
How to cite this article:
Caroline Owuor, Paul N Karanja, Mwashasha Rashid, Agnes Kavoo "Composition of nutrients, phytochemicals and anti-nutrients in agronomically biofortified finger millet (<i>Eleusine coracana</i> (L.) Gaertn) grains". International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, Vol 11, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 23-32
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