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Advances in Nutrient Management in Soil-Plant System

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A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Soils".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 December 2023) | Viewed by 15883

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Arvind Kumar Shukla

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Guest Editor

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal 462038, India
Interests: INM in soil-plant system; agronomic bio-fortification; nitrogen management; conservation agriculture; micronutrients and secondary nutrients management; spatial distribution of nutrients; heavy metal pollution; nutrient use efficiency
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Sanjib Kumar Behera

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Guest Editor

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Madhya Praedsh 462 038, India
Interests: soil chemistry & fertility; precise plant nutrient prescription; micronutrient management in soil-plant systems; spatial variability studies and precision agriculture; agronomic biofortification; diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (DRIS)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Salwinder Singh Dhaliwal

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Guest Editor

Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, India
Interests: micronutrients and heavy metal management in soil-plant systems; organic matter; IPNS; biofortification; nutrient management in conservation agriculture and organic farming

Dr. Mahesh Chand Meena

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Guest Editor

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India
Interests: long term fertilizer experiment and balanced fertilization and integrated nutrient management; organic corban management; chemistry of soil P and K management; conservation agriculture; Soil and water pollution; environmental monitoring and assessment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant nutrients are elements that are essential for plant growth and reproduction, and they are available in the soil or from air or water. When existing soil nutrients cannot produce good crop yields, additional nutrients must be added. Nutrients are added to the soil from commercial fertilizers or from organic sources, such as manure, compost or biosolids. Nutrient management involves using crop nutrients as efficiently as possible to improve productivity while protecting the environment. The key principle behind nutrient management is balancing soil nutrient inputs with crop requirements. When applied in proper quantities and at the right times, amounts, sources and methods, added nutrients help achieve optimum crop yields; applying too little will limit yield and applying too much does not make economic sense and can harm the environment. Nutrients that are not effectively utilized by crops can potentially leach into groundwater or enter nearby surface waters. The adoption of intensive farming practices with imbalanced application of fertilizers along with low or nil organic manures (including crop residue) addition resulted in reduced crop productivity and crop quality, depletion in soil organic carbon stock, soil compaction, emergence of multi-nutrients deficiencies and low nutrient use efficiency in different soil-crop scenarios across the world. Fertilizer use in different soils is fairly skewed towards N and P fertilization, and inadequate application of K, S and micronutrients caused wide-spread deficiencies of these nutrients. Moreover, spatial and temporal variations in levels of soil fertility do not support adequate crop production with blanket recommendations of fertilizers. The inefficient use of fertilizers not only affects plant nutrition and nutrient use efficiency but also results in reduced factor productivity, which leads to environmental degradation and poor return farm return. Further, improper source, method and time of nutrient application also add to low nutrient use efficiency, plant nutrition and crop productivity. In addition, the rampant micronutrients deficiencies in soils and crops across the globe cause a reduction in crop yield and the nutritional quality of economic produce. Poor micronutrients availability in soil is reflected in the concentration of these nutrients in food/fodder, which, in turn, affects livestock and human health. Therefore, adequate and balanced use of fertilizers, including micronutrients and organic manures in the right rate, source, method and time, as per the spatial and temporal variations of soil fertility levels, is required for the efficient utilization of added fertilizer nutrients with better plant nutrition and enhanced soil-crop productivity without impairing the soil health.

For this Special Issue, authors are invited to publish articles related to the assessment of spatial and temporal distribution of nutrients for precise prescription; development of soil management zones efficient nutrient use; evaluation of crop responses to nutrients application; development of balanced/integrated nutrient management strategies for sustaining soil health and crop quality; development of site-specific nutrient management strategies with right rate, source, method and time for precision nutrient prescription; enhancement of nutrient use efficiency; identification of genetically/agronomically nutrient efficient genotypes of different crops; establishment of the critical limits of nutrients under different soil-crop condition for revising nutrient recommendations; and devising best management practices (BMP) for the nutrients under various soil-crop situations.

Dr. Arvind Kumar Shukla
Dr. Sanjib Kumar Behera
Dr. Salwinder Singh Dhaliwal
Dr. Mahesh Chand Meena
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

soil fertility and integrated plant nutrient management
precise plant nutrient prescription
site-specific nutrient management
agronomic biofortification
soil and plant nutrient mapping
climate change and nutrient management
nutrient mangment in conservation agriculture/organic farming

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 3227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Patterns of Nitrogen and Phosphorus along a Chronosequence of Tea Plantations in Subtropical China

by Shun Zou, Chumin Huang, Yang Chen, Xiaolong Bai, Wangjun Li and Bin He

Agriculture 2024, 14(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010110 - 09 Jan 2024

Viewed by 760

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) play crucial roles in tea planting, but information on how the long-term excessive application of chemical N fertilizer affected N and P in subtropical tea plantations remains limited. In this study, soil and leaf samples were collected along a chronosequence of tea plantations (0-, 5-, 10-, 18- and 23-year-old plantations) with excessive N input but no P application to investigate the effects of planting age on N and P availability. Diverse soil N forms and P fractions, and the concentrations of leaf N and P were measured. The results showed that (1)

{N O}_{3}^{-}

-N and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations in both topsoil and subsoil, and the N concentration of mature leaf showed significant upward trends with tea plantation age; (2) the concentrations of available phosphorus (AP), NaHCO₃-P_i in labile P pool, NaOH-P_i and D.HCl-P_i in moderately labile P pool in both layers of soil and that the P concentration of mature leaf also increased with age; (3) the N concentration of mature leaves had closely significant logarithmic relations with

{N O}_{3}^{-}

-N concentration, while the TP (total P) concentration of mature leaves had significant positive correlations with AP; and (4) the ratio of N/P in tea leaves indicated a slightly P limitation in tea plantations. We concluded that the

{N O}_{3}^{-}

-N concentration, instead of TN (total N) of

{N H}_{4}^{+}

-N, would be a good indicator to reflect N availability for tea trees, and the increasing of

{N O}_{3}^{-}

-N concentration in soil has a diminishing promoting effect on the TN concentration of mature leaves. The long-term application of chemical N fertilizer had not lead to serious P limitation in subtropical tea plantations. Generally, our study could contribute to improving our understanding of N and P availability and optimizing fertilization management in subtropical tea plantations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nutrient Management in Soil-Plant System)

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17 pages, 12420 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Sample Detection of Soil Nitrate Nitrogen Using a Digital Microfluidic Platform

by Yan Hong, Zhihao Xia, Jingming Su, Rujing Wang, Yongjia Chang, Qing Huang, Liman Wei and Xiangyu Chen

Agriculture 2023, 13(12), 2226; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13122226 - 30 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1178

Abstract

The rapid quantification of nitrate nitrogen concentration plays a pivotal role in monitoring soil nutrient content. Nevertheless, the low detection efficiency limits the application of traditional methods in rapid testing. For this investigation, we utilized a digital microfluidic platform and 3D-printed microfluidics to accomplish automated detection of soil nitrate nitrogen with high sensitivity across numerous samples. The system combines digital microfluidics (DMF), 3D-printed microfluidics, a peristaltic pump, and a spectrometer. The soil solution, obtained after extraction, was dispensed onto the digital microfluidic platform using a micropipette. The digital microfluidic platform regulated the movement of droplets until they reached the injection area, where they were then aspirated into the 3D-printed microfluidic device for absorbance detection. Implementing this approach allows for the convenient sequential testing of multi-samples, thereby enhancing the efficiency of nitrate nitrogen detection. The results demonstrate that the device exhibits rapid detection (200 s for three samples), low reagent consumption (40 µL per sample), and low detection limit (95 µg/L). In addition, the relative error between the detected concentration and the concentration measured by ultraviolet spectrophotometry is kept within 20%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the measured soil samples is between 0.9% and 4.7%. In the foreseeable future, this device will play a significant role in improving the efficiency of soil nutrient detection and guiding fertilization practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nutrient Management in Soil-Plant System)

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15 pages, 2106 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phosphorus Balance in Sandy Soil Subjected to 12 Years of Successive Applications of Animal Manure and Mineral Phosphate Fertilizer in Subtropical Climate

by Carina Marchezan, Paulo Ademar Avelar Ferreira, Gustavo Boitt, Natalia Moreira Palermo, Ana Laura Thoma, Ricardo Fagan Vidal, Gustavo Scopel, Cledimar Rogério Lourenzi, Carlos Alberto Ceretta and Gustavo Brunetto

Agriculture 2023, 13(9), 1762; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091762 - 05 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 903

Abstract

Assessing the phosphorus (P) balance in agricultural soils is crucial for optimizing its use and reducing contamination risks. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different animal wastes on the distribution of P in soil profiles subjected to 12 years of successive applications of animal wastes and mineral phosphate fertilizer, within a crop rotation system under no-till system. The study was conducted from 2004 to 2016 in the southern region of Brazil. The treatments were the applications of pig slurry (PS), cattle slurry (CS), pig deep-litter (PD), mineral fertilizer (MF), and a control treatment without application. The highest accumulation of P and its movement was observed in the 0–40 cm layer, in the soil submitted to applications of all P sources. The inputs of P via MF, CS, PS, and PD promoted the accumulation of 18, 42, 48, and 100 kg P ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. The P mass balance showed that between 77 and 98% of the P added by animal manure and MF was accounted for in grain exports (17–34%), soil storage (41–72%), and post-harvest residues (<1%), with the remaining 2–33%, unaccounted for, which was attributed, especially, to P transfer at the soil surface. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nutrient Management in Soil-Plant System)

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15 pages, 1622 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Balancing Yield and Antioxidant Capacity in Basil Microgreens: An Exploration of Nutrient Solution Concentrations in a Floating System

by Mohammad Reza Fayezizadeh, Naser Alemzadeh Ansari, Mohammad Mahmoodi Sourestani and Mirza Hasanuzzaman

Agriculture 2023, 13(9), 1691; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091691 - 28 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1340

Abstract

The appropriate concentration of the nutrient solution (NS) plays an important role in the yield, antioxidant capacity, and biochemical compounds of basil microgreens in the floating system. This study examined the impact of five different concentrations of Hoagland’s NS (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, and 125%) on the antioxidant capacity, biochemical compounds, and yield of four basil cultivars and genotypes (Persian Ablagh, Violeto, Kapoor and Red Rubin) in a floating system, utilizing a split plots designs. Results revealed that the highest yield was achieved with a 50% NS concentration. The Persian Ablagh genotype, under a 125% NS concentration, exhibited the highest content of carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant potential index (APCI). The Violeto cultivar at a 100% NS concentration produced the highest amounts of vitamin C and anthocyanin. The Kapoor cultivar, when grown with a 100% NS concentration, demonstrated the greatest antioxidant capacity. The nutrient solution with 125% concentration compared to 50% concentration reduced the yield by 23.29%. Also, the performance of the Violeto cultivar increased by 36.24% compared to the red variety of Robin. According to the APCI index, the genotype of Iranian Ablaq basil increased by 152.79% in the treatment of nutrient solution with a concentration of 125% compared to 50%. In this study, yield and total chlorophyll showed a significant negative correlation. A significant positive correlation was observed between vitamin C content and flavonoids, anthocyanin, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity. Anthocyanin content exhibited a positive and significant correlation with the APCI. Based on these findings, we recommend a 50% NS concentration of Hoagland’s NS for optimal yield, a 125% NS concentration for the production of secondary metabolites with enhanced antioxidant capacity, and a 100% NS concentration as a balance between antioxidant properties and yield for basil microgreens production in a floating system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nutrient Management in Soil-Plant System)

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15 pages, 2367 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Five–Year Inorganic and Organic Fertilization on Soil Phosphorus Availability and Phosphorus Resupply for Plant P Uptake during Maize Growth

by Jingjing Zhang, Jiong Wen, Tuo Zhang, Yang Zhang, Zhi Peng, Chunchun Tang, Yanan Wang, Shiming Su, Nan Zhang and Xibai Zeng

Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 858; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040858 - 13 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1807

Abstract

A better understanding of the P dynamic resupply roles of fertilization from soil solids to solution is urgently required to optimize sustainable P fertilizer management practices for efficient supply. A five–year fertilization experiment was used to investigate the effects on soil P fractions and availability, the kinetic P resupply based on a novel simulation technique (Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) and DGT–induced fluxes in sediments and soils (DIFS) ) and to identify dominant factors during the maize season under five treatments (no fertilizer (CK), chemical fertilizer (NPK), chemical fertilizer combined with bone meal fertilizer (NPKC), crop straw (NPKS) and bioorganic fertilizer (NPKM)). The results showed that the NPKC and NPKM treatments had higher enhancement effects on Olsen–P and organic P and inorganic Ca₂–P, Ca₈–P, Al–P and Fe–P at maize growth stages, and they buffered pH decrease to delay the substantial Fe–P and Al–P release until a late stage. Inorganic Ca₂–P, Ca₈–P, Al–P and Fe–P heavily effected the Olsen–P levels. The NPKS, NPKC and NPKM treatments yielded higher C_DGT–P levels and a stronger resupply capacity, reflected by higher R and C_E/C_soln and smaller T_c values. The simulation and path model results revealed that the maize plant P uptake was determined by soil P resupply and an inorganic P supply pool. They were positively dominated by soil organic matter (SOM). Our results suggested that organic fertilization, especially NPKC and NPKM treatments, provided greater enhancement effects on the P supply pool and P resupply for higher plant P uptake, identifying them as highly effective P management practices for developing sustainable agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nutrient Management in Soil-Plant System)

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17 pages, 2846 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influencing Factors on Bioavailability and Spatial Distribution of Soil Selenium in Dry Semi-Arid Area

by Muhammad Raza Farooq, Zezhou Zhang, Linxi Yuan, Xiaodong Liu, Abdul Rehman, Gary S. Bañuelos and Xuebin Yin

Agriculture 2023, 13(3), 576; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030576 - 27 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1464

Abstract

The chemical transformation of selenium (Se) in the topsoil, especially when regarded as low to sufficient Se (with high bioavailability) in dry arid environments, has great importance in the alkaline soils to yield Se-enriched food regionally. The Se content in the highly alkaline soil of the northwest region of China has inordinate agriculture economic potential, and such soil distribution is likely to produce Se-enriched crops with distinct features. One such large area of Zhongwei was investigated for the distribution of soil Se and its bioavailability, and the influencing chemical factors of soil total Se (T-Se) and bioavailable Se (B-Se) in the agroecosystem. The results suggested that the T-Se in Zhongwei soils (mg/kg) ranged from 0.01 to 0.55 with a mean of 0.2 ± 0.08, which was lower than the average Se distribution of both China (0.29 mg/kg) and the world (0.40 mg/kg). However, the overall B-Se proportion (16%) in T-Se was adequately higher than in other Se-rich soils. Spatial distribution depicted that the T-Se was specified as deficient in 42.6% and sufficient in 55.5% of the studied area, while Zhongning county was prominent with a higher B-Se proportion (22%) in the T-Se of Zhongwei. The influencing factors, such as pH and organic matter (OM), showed significant association with B-Se, as suggested by Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression (MLR). Furthermore, the vertical distribution of T-Se and B-Se was higher in agricultural soil (AS) than in natural soil (NS) and can be justified in the context of their association with OM. Based on these results, the Se-fortified crops can be yielded by practices to improve corresponding influencing chemical factors of soil, especially in dry areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nutrient Management in Soil-Plant System)

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17 pages, 1225 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Residual Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake in Wheat under a Basmati Rice–Wheat Cropping System in North-Western India

by Salwinder Singh Dhaliwal, Vivek Sharma, Arvind Kumar Shukla, Rajeev Kumar Gupta, Vibha Verma, Manmeet Kaur, Sanjib Kumar Behera and Prabhjot Singh

Agriculture 2023, 13(3), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030556 - 24 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2742

Abstract

Restoring soil fertility in farming systems is essential to sustain a crop and its productivity. Thus, the present study was conducted to assess the residual effects of the combined application of fertilizers and manures on yield, concentration and uptake of nutrients in wheat under basmati rice-wheat cropping system. The treatments applied in the present study involve T1: control, T2: farmyard manure (15 t ha⁻¹), T3: poultry manure (6 t ha⁻¹), T4: press mud (15 t ha⁻¹), T5: rice straw compost (6 t ha⁻¹), T6: farmyard manure (15 t ha⁻¹) + 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN), T7: poultry manure (6 t ha⁻¹) + 50% RDN, T8: press mud (15 t ha⁻¹) + 50% RDN, T9: rice straw compost (6 t ha⁻¹) + 50% RDN, T10: 75% RDN, T11: farmyard manure (15 t ha¹) + 75% RDN, T12: poultry manure (6 t ha⁻¹) + 75% RDN, T13: press mud (15 t ha⁻¹) + 75% RDN, T14: rice straw compost (6 t ha⁻¹) + 75% RDN, T15: 100% RDN. The residual effects of organic manures significantly improved the growth parameters and yield attributes. Among different residual treatments, the use of farmyard manure + 75% NPK showed maximum plant height (125.2 cm), number of tillers (68.0 m⁻¹), chlorophyll content (45.0) and yield (50.84 q ha⁻¹ for grain and 80.43 q ha⁻¹ for straw, respectively). Additionally, the incorporation of farmyard manure + 75% RDN demonstrated the highest uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in grain (7.37, 3.31 and 4.93 g ha⁻¹, respectively) and straw (1.72, 1.05 and 12.63 g ha⁻¹, respectively). The maximum zinc, copper, iron and manganese concentrations were observed to be 32.0, 3.1, 52.1 and 17.6 mg kg⁻¹ in grain and 8.2, 2.1, 374.6 and 20.5 mg kg⁻¹ in straw, respectively. Similarly, the highest uptakes were observed to be 67.6, 15.5, 263.8 and 89.6 g ha⁻¹ in grain and 173.3, 16.8, 3026.9 and 170.6 g ha⁻¹ in straw, respectively. Thus, the integrated application of farmyard manure with 75% RDN could be used to sustain wheat productivity and maintain soil fertility which otherwise deteriorates due to the sole application of inorganic fertilizers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nutrient Management in Soil-Plant System)

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11 pages, 590 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Establishing Critical Leaf Nutrient Concentrations and Identification of Yield Limiting Nutrients for Precise Nutrient Prescriptions of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) Plantations

by Manorama Kamireddy, Sanjib K. Behera and Suresh Kancherla

Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020453 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2103

Abstract

African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is a bulk feeder of nutrients. In this study, we aimed at devising strategies for efficient nutrient management in the oil palm plantations of the Krishna River basin located in Andhra Pradesh, India by assessing soil fertility status, establishing optimal leaf nutrient concentrations and identifying yield restrictive nutrients. In total, 67 oil palm plantations were surveyed from this area in 2020, soil samples were collected and analysed for different soil properties, including pH, EC, SOC, available P, K, S, exchangeable Ca and Mg, and hot water-soluble boron (HWB) in surface (from 0–20 cm depth), subsurface (from 20–40 cm depth) and deep (from 40–60 cm depth) soil layers. As per DRIS (Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System) indices estimated in this study, the order of requirement of nutrients is Nitrogen (N) > B > K > P > Mg for this area. Optimum leaf nutrient concentrations ranged between 2.07–4.29%, 0.13–0.27%, 0.52–0.94%, 0.44–0.76% and 44.97–102.70 mg/kg for N, P, K, Mg and B, respectively. In surveyed plantations, about 15, 6, 16, 9 and 12 percent of leaf samples had less than optimum concentration of N, P, K, Mg and B respectively. Nitrogen and Boron are the major yield limiting factors in this region. Leaf nutrient concentrations need to be maintained at the optimum ranges as estimated above for higher productivity in the Krishna basin area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nutrient Management in Soil-Plant System)

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12 pages, 8402 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Impact of Boron Addition at Various Dosages to a Groundnut-Cabbage System on Crop Yield and Boron Dynamics in Typic Haplustepts

by Dileep Kumar, Khusvadan C. Patel, Arvind K. Shukla, Sanjib K. Behera, Vinubhai P. Ramani, Bhavin Suthar and Ravi A. Patel

Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020248 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1245

Abstract

The addition of boron (B) fertilizers to soils with low B content is required for augmenting crop yield. Therefore, it is imperative to have knowledge about the impact of long-term B addition at various dosages on crop yield and soil-B dynamics. A field experiment of a 6-year duration was carried out at Anand Agricultural University, Gujarat, India to study the influence of long-term B fertilization in the groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)-cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) cropping system in different rates and frequencies on yield of crops and soil-B dynamics. The direct effect of B addition on groundnut yield and the residual effect on succeeding cabbage crop yield was eval-uated. The treatments of the experiment encompassed various combinations of three frequencies and four rates of B application including one control (no B application). The application of B at different rates and frequencies significantly increased groundnut and cabbage yield in comparison to yield attained under the control. The addition of 1.0 kg B ha⁻¹ in alternate years was found op-timum for enhancing the yield of groundnut and cabbage crops grown on study soil. Boron appli-cation enhanced B content in groundnut pod, haulm, cabbage and available B in soil. Optimal available B content in soil was 1.25 mg kg⁻¹ for both groundnut pod and cabbage-head yield. The application of B with different rates and frequencies significantly enhanced B fractions in soil. The content of different fractions improved with the increase in rates of B application. The percentage contribution of various B fractions towards total B content followed the order: readily soluble B (0.43 to 0.55%) < specifically adsorbed B (0.74 to 0.98%) < organically bound B (0.70 to 1.55%) < ox-ide bound B (1.26 to 3.11%) < residual boron B (93 to 96.8%). Path analysis revealed the highest contribution of total boron towards groundnut-pod yield with a coefficient value of 4.30. Whereas oxide-bound boron fraction contributed to the maximum extent with a coefficient value of 0.91 towards cabbage-head yield. This information will be useful for B management in the ground-nut-cabbage cropping system grown on studied soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nutrient Management in Soil-Plant System)

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21 pages, 812 KiB

Open AccessReview

Ability of Nutrient Management and Molecular Physiology Advancements to Overcome Abiotic Stress: A Study on Sub-Saharan African Crops

by Koffi Pacome Kouame, Raj Kishan Agrahari, Noren Singh Konjengbam, Hiroyuki Koyama and Yuriko Kobayashi

Agriculture 2024, 14(2), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14020285 - 09 Feb 2024

Viewed by 926

Abstract

Abiotic stress is a major cause of the declining crop yield worldwide, especially in tropical agricultural areas. Meeting the global food demand has become a serious challenge, especially in tropical areas, because of soil acidity, Al and Fe toxicity, drought and heat stress, and climate change. In this article, we reviewed several research and review papers from Google Scholar to list the different solutions available for the mitigation of abiotic stress, especially in tropical regions where several major crops, such as maize, sorghum, wheat, rice, soybean, and millet, are affected by abiotic stress and fertilizer input. In particular, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been affected by the low use of fertilizers owing to their high cost. Therefore, soil and plant researchers and farmers have developed many techniques to mitigate the effects of stress and improve the crop yield based on the agroecological zone and crop type. Nutrient management using chemical fertilizers alone or in combination with organic crops is a strategy recommended to cope with abiotic stress and increase the crop yield, particularly in developing countries. Notably, integrated soil fertility management has been effective in semi-arid areas under drought and heat stress and in subhumid and humid areas with high soil acidity and Fe toxicity in Africa. Recent advances in the molecular physiology of various crops considered a staple food in SSA have facilitated the breeding of transgenic tolerant plants with high yield. However, the feasibility and implementation of this technique in the African continent and most tropical developing countries are major issues that can be solved via adequate subsidies and support to farmers. This review can aid in the development of novel strategies to decrease hunger and food insecurity in SSA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nutrient Management in Soil-Plant System)

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