Advances in Mineral Nutrition for Improved Crop Yield, Quality, and Sustainability

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 863

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biogeochemistry, Soil Science and Irrigation and Drainage, Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, 6 Bernardyńska St., 85-029 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Interests: cereal; grain yield; agrotechnical factors; quality of grain and flour; technological parameters; bread; the biological value of proteins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biogeochemistry, Soil Science and Irrigation and Drainage, Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, 6 Bernardyńska St., 85-029 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Interests: soil chemistry and physicochemistry; soil organic carbon; humic substances; HPLC; UV-VIS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biogeochemistry, Soil Science and Irrigation and Drainage, Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, 6 Bernardyńska St., 85-029 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Interests: cereal; grain yield; agrotechnical factors; quality of grain; technological parameters; the biological value of proteins; growing herbs; the quality of herbs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nutrient management represents a science-based approach to agriculture that goes beyond increasing crop yield and quality, aiming also to ensure profitability at both regional and global scales. The efficient use of nutrients, along with the reduction in pollution associated with fertilization practices, is central to the development of green, low-emission agriculture. Yet, the impacts of mineral and organic fertilization strategies on soil nutrient dynamics, plant uptake, and their ultimate effects on crop yield and quality remain insufficiently understood.

Sustainable agriculture is crucial in addressing global challenges, including food security, climate change, and environmental protection. Achieving this requires the use of carefully selected fertilizers, appropriate rates, and precise timing, while also taking into account soil variability and local conditions.

This Special Issue welcomes innovative studies on the soil–plant system in relation to crop yield and quality shaped by fertilization practices. We particularly encourage contributions that:

- Explore novel or bio-based fertilization strategies;
- Integrate nutrient management with soil–plant–microbiome interactions;
- Apply advanced tools such as sensors, modeling, or precision agriculture approaches;
- Assess implications for sustainability across diverse agroecosystems and climates.

Submissions from multidisciplinary perspectives—including agronomy, soil science, environmental science, and biotechnology—are highly encouraged. Comparative, innovative, and interdisciplinary approaches will be given particular consideration.

Prof. Dr. Tomasz Knapowski
Dr. Magdalena Banach-Szott
Prof. Dr. Wojciech Kozera
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

  • crop production
  • fertilization
  • plant nutrition
  • soil
  • sustainable agriculture
  • yield quality

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 2209 KB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity Characteristics of Rice Grain Quality and Its Response to Nitrogen Management
by Yanling Zhao, Haibo Yu, Chuan Ni, Yan Wang, Huiting Guo and Xincheng Zhang
Agronomy 2026, 16(8), 789; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16080789 - 11 Apr 2026
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Abstract
Optimizing nitrogen (N) management is crucial for high-quality rice (Oryza sativa L.) production. However, how N affects grain quality at different positions within a panicle remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of different N application regimes on the milling, appearance, eating, [...] Read more.
Optimizing nitrogen (N) management is crucial for high-quality rice (Oryza sativa L.) production. However, how N affects grain quality at different positions within a panicle remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of different N application regimes on the milling, appearance, eating, and nutritional quality of grains at varying panicle positions. We used a japonica cultivar Wuyunjing 31 in a controlled pot experiment with three N treatments: N32:0 (early heavy N), N16:16 (split application with late N topdressing), and N16:0 (low-N control). Results showed that late N topdressing (N16:16) significantly improved head rice yield across all grain positions, which was linked to higher storage protein accumulation (especially glutelin) and larger length-to-width ratio. Conversely, late N application deteriorated appearance quality by increasing the chalky grain rate and chalkiness. This negative effect was most pronounced in superior grains on upper and middle branches. Furthermore, the N16:16 treatment consistently decreased amylose content while increasing albumin, prolamin, and glutelin levels, demonstrating a clear trade-off between carbon (C) and N sinks. We speculated that these intra-panicle differences result from increased competition for carbon resources between starch and protein synthesis pathways. Overall, precision N management should account for spatial differences in grain development to effectively balance rice yield and quality. Full article
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