Dear Colleagues,

To meet the ever-increasing global demand for food, the agricultural community continues to seek innovative practices to boost crop yields without sacrificing the environment. For example, using huge amounts of fertilizers hampers soil health and generates pollution. Integrated nutrient management paves the way towards overcoming these problems, which involves conjunctive use of chemical fertilizers and organic manures. Horticular crops require many essential nutrients for optimum growth, yield and quality (N, P, K, Mg, S, Ca and microelements). Hence, these are applied through fertilizers. Application of plant nutrients in optimum ratio and adequate amounts is called “Balanced Fertilization”.

Sustainable Fertilization Management is the proper supply of all nutrients throughout the growth of a crop. It is now commonly understood that irrational and/or excessive fertilizer application does not always translate into a continuous increase in crop yield. In contrast, a balanced fertilization strategy is economically superior and is a more sustainable agricultural practice. According to “Liebig’s barrel” principle, plant growth is dictated by the scarcest resource (limiting factor) and not by the total resources available. A deficiency in one nutrient cannot be compensated by a surplus of any of the others. Thus, one nutrient alone cannot ensure the yield, and a balance between the nutrients is essential to ensure attainment of yields according to the genetic potential of the crops.

Fertilizer application must be planned to accommodate any variability. The main factors for consideration are crop type, anticipated yield, the naturally available nutrients in the soil and the changes in nutrients required by a particular crop during its growth cycle. Calculations are usually based on a combination of scientific research and local experience. A crop’s nutrient uptake often varies, both by field and by year. Field variability is primarily due to different soil conditions, while annual variability is often a result of changing weather patterns. Application programmes that do not sufficiently account for these variations in uptake can lead to incorrect fertilization. Hence, research in this field must be up to date and is crucial for science and the practice of horticulture.

This Special Issue publishes scientific articles and reviews discussing the consequences of balanced fertilization of horticultural plants.

Dr. Wacław Jarecki
Prof. Maciej Balawejder
Dr. Natalia Matłok
Guest Editors

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• horticulture
• precision agriculture
• balanced fertilization
• macroelements
• microelements