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Agronomy
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Nutrient Enrichment and Crop Quality in Sustainable Agriculture
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Nutrient Enrichment and Crop Quality in Sustainable Agriculture

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2026 | Viewed by 4646

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maria Manuela Abreu da Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Caparica Campus, Nova University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
2. Center for Research in Geobiosciences, Geoengineering and Geotechnologies (GeoBioTec), Faculty of Science and Technology, Caparica Campus, Nova University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Interests: phytochemistry; agronomy; food additives; agrifood technology; biofortification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Cláudia Campos Pessoa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Caparica Campus, Nova University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
2. Center for Research in Geobiosciences, Geoengineering and Geotechnologies (GeoBioTec), Faculty of Science and Technology, Caparica Campus, Nova University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Interests: biochemistry; biofortification; food industry; phytotechnology; agronomy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Agriculture today faces the dual challenge of meeting the increasing demand for food while ensuring environmental sustainability (reduce environmental impacts while preserving resources). In this context, improving crop quality—encompassing nutritional value, safety, and functional traits—has emerged as a key priority alongside yield. Nutrient enrichment strategies, such as soil organic and mineral amendments, plant–microbe interactions, biofortification, and precision fertilization, represent promising approaches to enhance both crop productivity and quality. Nevertheless, their application requires careful management to avoid negative impacts on soil health, resource use efficiency, and ecosystems.

This Special Issue, “Nutrient Enrichment and Crop Quality in Sustainable Agriculture,” welcome interdisciplinary research that seeks to highlight advances in understanding the relationships between nutrient inputs, crop physiology, and food quality under sustainable management frameworks. Submissions of multiple topics such as innovative fertilization, nutrient dynamics in soil–plant systems and biofortification practices, interactions with plant microbiomes, and the effects of nutrient management on the nutritional, functional, and sensory attributes of crops are encouraged. Studies addressing trade-offs between yield, quality, and environmental outcomes are also of particular interest.

We kindly invite original research articles and reviews that contribute to the development of sustainable strategies linking nutrient enrichment with improved crop quality that support healthier food systems, which aim to advance our understanding of how nutrient enrichment can support healthier diets, resilient cropping systems, and sustainable agricultural futures.

Sincerely,

Dr. Maria Manuela Abreu da Silva
Dr. Cláudia Campos Pessoa
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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

  • sustainable agriculture
  • soil–plant nutrient dynamics
  • biofortification
  • precision fertilization
  • plant–microbe interactions
  • crop nutritional properties
  • food quality

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 4041 KB  
Article
Detection of Phosphorus Deficiency Using Hyperspectral Imaging for Early Characterization of Asymptomatic Growth and Photosynthetic Symptoms in Maize
by Sutee Kiddee, Chalongrat Daengngam, Surachet Wongarrayapanich, Jing Yi Lau, Acga Cheng and Lompong Klinnawee
Agronomy 2026, 16(8), 772; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16080772 - 8 Apr 2026
Viewed by 915
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) deficiency severely limits maize growth and yield, yet early detection remains challenging, as visible symptoms appear only after prolonged starvation. This study evaluated the capability of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with machine learning to detect P deficiency in maize seedlings at [...] Read more.
Phosphorus (P) deficiency severely limits maize growth and yield, yet early detection remains challenging, as visible symptoms appear only after prolonged starvation. This study evaluated the capability of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with machine learning to detect P deficiency in maize seedlings at both symptomatic and pre-symptomatic stages. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted: a long-term pot system under high and low P conditions and a short-term hydroponic experiment with three P concentrations of 500, 100, and 0 μmol/L phosphate (Pi). After long-term P deficiency, significant reductions in shoot biomass and Pi content were observed, while root biomass increased and nutrient profiles were altered. Hyperspectral signatures revealed distinct wavelength-specific differences across visible, red-edge, and near-infrared (NIR) regions, with P-deficient leaves showing lower reflectance in green and NIR regions but higher reflectance in the red band. A multilayer perceptron machine learning model achieved 99.65% accuracy in discriminating between P treatments. In the short-term experiment, P deficiency significantly reduced tissue Pi content within one week without affecting pigment composition or photosynthetic parameters. Despite the absence of visible symptoms, hyperspectral measurements detected subtle spectral changes, particularly in older leaves, enabling classification accuracies of 80.71–84.56% in the first week and 85.88–90.98% in the second week of P treatment. Conventional vegetation indices showed weak correlations with Pi content and failed to detect early P deficiency. These findings demonstrate that HSI combined with machine learning can effectively detect P deficiency before visible symptoms emerge, offering a non-destructive, rapid diagnostic tool for precision nutrient management in maize production systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Enrichment and Crop Quality in Sustainable Agriculture)
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18 pages, 1625 KB  
Article
Comparative Evaluation of Foliar-Applied Selenium Biofortification in Different Rice Genotypes
by Pitchaporn Inton, Jeeraporn Veeradittakit and Chanakan Prom-u-thai
Agronomy 2026, 16(2), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16020269 - 22 Jan 2026
Viewed by 274
Abstract
Selenium (Se) biofortification in rice presents a promising strategy to address Se deficiency in populations relying on rice as a staple food. This study evaluated the impact of foliar Se application on Se accumulation, its distribution in unpolished and polished rice grains, grain [...] Read more.
Selenium (Se) biofortification in rice presents a promising strategy to address Se deficiency in populations relying on rice as a staple food. This study evaluated the impact of foliar Se application on Se accumulation, its distribution in unpolished and polished rice grains, grain yield, and antioxidant capacity across 21 rice genotypes. Foliar Se application significantly improved grain yield, with increases ranging from 5.7 to 67.5% compared to non-foliar Se application. Se concentrations in both unpolished and polished grains were notably enhanced by foliar application, reaching 41.1–543.9 µg kg−1, whereas non-foliar treatments resulted in much lower concentrations (0–30.5 µg kg−1). Foliar Se also altered Se partitioning, decreasing Se retention in unpolished grains (from 9.8–100% under non-foliar application to 19.7–66.1% with foliar Se application) and increasing its proportion in polished rice. Se loss during polishing was genotype-dependent and generally reduced by foliar Se application (9.4–72.3%). Antioxidant capacity was highest in unpolished rice and varied among genotypes, increasing further with foliar Se. A positive correlation between grain antioxidant capacity and Se concentration was observed in unpolished, but not polished rice. Overall, these findings demonstrate the effectiveness of foliar Se biofortification in enhancing Se content and antioxidant properties, emphasizing the importance of genotype selection such as RD16, RD79, KDML105, K2, KJ CMU 107, and HMD to maximize biofortification benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Enrichment and Crop Quality in Sustainable Agriculture)
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20 pages, 330 KB  
Article
Impact of Foliar Application of Copper, Manganese, Molybdenum, and Zinc on the Chemical Composition and Malting Quality of Barley Cultivars
by Barbara Stadnik, Renata Tobiasz-Salach and Dagmara Migut
Agronomy 2025, 15(11), 2667; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112667 - 20 Nov 2025
Viewed by 998
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of selected micro-nutrients on the chemical composition and malting quality of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The scientific literature lacks in-depth studies that assess the effect of foliar application [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of selected micro-nutrients on the chemical composition and malting quality of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The scientific literature lacks in-depth studies that assess the effect of foliar application of micronutrients on barley malting quality. Most studies (especially under field conditions) focus on nitrogen fertilization rather than individual micronutrients. Three brewing-type barley cultivars (Baryłka, KWS Irina, and RGT Planet) were evaluated under foliar micronutrient fertilization (Cu, Mn, Mo, Zn). Fertilizers were applied at doses of 2 L ha−1 for Cu, Mn, and Zn and 1 L ha−1 for Mo. The experiment examined the hectoliter mass, theoretical extractability, contents of selected micro- and macronutrients, and the protein, fat, fiber, and ash contents of the grain. Furthermore, the following characteristics of barley malt were determined, i.e., moisture, protein, extractivity, Kolbach index, and diastatic power. The results showed significant variability in grain and malt quality depending on the cultivar and year. The Baryłka cultivar was characterized by the highest grain density (66.3 kg hL−1) and protein content (10.9% d.m.), while RGT Planet had the highest extractivity and the most favorable malting profile. Foliar supplementation had a slightly positive effect on the average content of trace elements in barley. Mn application increased grain Ca content by 5.6% compared with the control, while foliar Zn fertilization resulted in the highest zinc concentration (a 24.7% increase). No significant effect of fertilization on malt quality was observed, but a significant interaction of experimental factors in extractivity, Kolbach index, and diastatic power was noted. The obtained results indicate that a single foliar application of microelements affects the contents of minerals and protein in the grain, but it does not lead to a significant improvement in malting parameters. This suggests the need for further research on dosage, application date, and interactions between the cultivar and environmental conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Enrichment and Crop Quality in Sustainable Agriculture)
15 pages, 558 KB  
Article
Benefits and Trade-Offs of Long-Term Organic Fertilization Substitution: Wheat Grain Nutrition and Heavy Metal Risks in an 11-Year Field Trial
by Yumin Liu, Xiaolin Zhou, Zishuang Li, Lei Ma, Yan Li, Huanyu Zhao, Yu Xu and Deshui Tan
Agronomy 2025, 15(10), 2369; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102369 - 10 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 745
Abstract
Optimizing organic fertilizer substitution is essential for enhancing the sustainability of agriculture and achieving a balance between crop productivity, nutritional quality, and environmental safety. Here, we conducted an 11-year field experiment to evaluate the effects of substituting 50% of mineral fertilizers with pig [...] Read more.
Optimizing organic fertilizer substitution is essential for enhancing the sustainability of agriculture and achieving a balance between crop productivity, nutritional quality, and environmental safety. Here, we conducted an 11-year field experiment to evaluate the effects of substituting 50% of mineral fertilizers with pig manure (PM) or cattle manure (CM) on the nutritional quality of wheat grain, heavy metal (HM) accumulation, and associated human health risks. The yield and protein content were highest in the mineral fertilizer (MF) treatment, and grain micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) were 6.7–13.8% higher under organic substitution (PM/CM) than in the MF treatment. The Ni, Pb, and As contents were 35.4–43.0% higher in the PM treatment than in the MF treatment, which stems from the higher HM content in pig manure. Health risk assessments indicated that the Hazard Index (HI) for children exceeded 1 in the PM treatment, primarily due to As, which accounted for 69.6% of the HI. All treatments remained within safe thresholds, although As and Pb posed detectable carcinogenic health risks. The higher levels of Ni and As in pig manure likewise led to a significant increase in the health risk associated with the PM treatment compared to the MF treatment. We developed a novel Grain Quality Index (GQI) that combined nutrient and HM data, which indicated that the nutritional quality of wheat grain was similar in the CM and MF treatments. The GQI was 9.1% lower in the PM treatment than in the MF treatment. These findings suggest that the substitution of mineral fertilizer with cow manure can help achieve a balance between yield, nutrition, and safety, and more stringent regulation of HMs is required for the use of pig manure. Our findings provide actionable insights with implications for sustainable wheat production policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Enrichment and Crop Quality in Sustainable Agriculture)
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Review

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28 pages, 3588 KB  
Review
Mn’s Key Roles in Plant Ecophysiology—A Comprehensive Review for Unstressed and Stress Conditions
by Cláudia Campos Pessoa, Inês Carmo Luís, Diana Freire Daccak, Paulo Alexandre Legoinha, José Cochicho Ramalho, Fernando Cebola Lidon and Maria Manuela Silva
Agronomy 2026, 16(7), 709; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16070709 - 28 Mar 2026
Viewed by 883
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient required for plant growth, photosynthesis and metabolic regulation. Its importance is related to the involvement in several metabolic processes that ensure proper cellular function and balanced plant development throughout the production cycle. In plants, Mn is absorbed [...] Read more.
Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient required for plant growth, photosynthesis and metabolic regulation. Its importance is related to the involvement in several metabolic processes that ensure proper cellular function and balanced plant development throughout the production cycle. In plants, Mn is absorbed predominantly as Mn2+, and its availability is strongly influenced by soil pH, aeration, and other mineral nutrients in the soil solution. After uptake by roots, Mn is translocated to the shoot, accumulating primarily in metabolically active organs such as stems, young leaves and flowers. Although Mn exhibits limited mobility in the phloem, adequate concentrations are necessary to sustain both vegetative development and reproductive growth. Adequate Mn concentration is directly reflected in fruit development, as well-nourished plants show improved flowering, greater assimilate translocation capacity, and better fruit filling, thereby positively influencing yield and quality. However, Mn deficiency is common in alkaline soils or soils with high organic matter, causing interveinal chlorosis in young leaves, reduced growth, and lower biomass production. Under prolonged conditions, deficiency leads to less vigorous plants with reduced metabolic efficiency. Conversely, Mn toxicity, typically associated with acidic and poorly drained soils, restricts root development and induces nutritional imbalances with other elements, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. Therefore, proper Mn management is essential to ensure nutritional balance and optimal performance of agricultural crops. Overall, this review synthesizes advances in Mn transport, cellular compartmentalization, and metabolic regulation, emphasizing how Mn interacts with other mineral nutrients to influence plant physiology. Attention is given to the integration of Mn with redox networks, photosynthetic regulation, and reproductive development. By linking transport mechanisms with physiological outcomes, this review identifies key patterns governing Mn homeostasis and highlights implications for crop nutrition and sustainable nutrient management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Enrichment and Crop Quality in Sustainable Agriculture)
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