Fortification of harvested millet, paddy and other gains with Fe/Zn has been promoted and discussed. Instead of fortification after harvesting of the crops, would foliar spraying with Fe/Zn at maturity stage of crops help in enhancing Fe/Zn content in grains.
If you care to search for "biofortification" in Researchgate's search page, you will find numerous articles under the Projects and Publications subsections that will help answer your question.
https://www.researchgate.net/search.Search.html?type=publication&query=Biofortification
https://www.researchgate.net/search.Search.html?type=project&query=Biofortification
Very good question in relation to which I tried to provide just some general answers while hoping that this can answer even a small part of your question.
Minor nutrients like calcium, zinc, iron, and sulfur can be very important but The needs of plants in trace elements are relatively low. The overuse of certain trace elements (boron for example) can have a harmful effect on the crop in place or on that which follows.
In many cases, micronutrient deficiencies are due to too low a soil pH (acidic soil) or, more frequently, too high a soil pH (neutral to alkaline soil). Therefore, a change in soil pH may be enough to make trace elements bioavailable.
According to the FAO and with regard to zinc deficiency, it should be noted that the response to zinc intake is not frequent in upland rice, although the application of 15 to 20 kg ZnSO4 / ha may be useful in saline and limestone soils.
As for Ferric Chlorosis which is a serious nutritional disorder in calcareous soils, sanitized soils and soils with high pH, in strict rain-fed cultivation, it (ferric chlorosis) can be corrected by soaking the seed in a sulfate solution before sowing, by incorporating organic matter into the field and spraying a solution of ferrous sulphate on the crops.
· Do not add ash to iron deficient soils, as high levels of ash promote ferric chlorosis.
· Foliar application of Na2FeDTPA corrects iron deficiency and increases grain yield for rice.
Coating seeds with 2 percent iron in the form of FeSO47H2 and FeDTPA can improve grain yield for rice.
In cereals in general, zinc (alongside manganese) are among the important trace elements for cereal crops. Zinc is essential for the formation of proteins. Foliar application is the most effective method of supplying trace elements to cereal plants.
You will find attached links which can answer in part the subject adressed :
http://www.fao.org/3/t0751f/To751f06.htm
http://www.fao.org/tempref/agl/agll/docs/fertuse_f.pdf
http://www.ks-france.com/shared/data/kali-fertiliser-broschures-pdf/broschures-fr/fr-cereales-A4-1106.pdf
https://www.agrarforschungschweiz.ch/wp-content/uploads/pdf_archive/2017_06_f_2301.pdf
The following article could be helpful dear Sir Swaminathan C.
Article Effect of foliar application of iron and zinc on nutrient up...
Good literature available for biofortification of paddy and millets with zinc and iron. However, foliar spraying of Zn/ Fe at crop stage is not so effective rather useful for correcting the deficiency in crops.
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