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Agronomy
Special Issues
Plant Nutrition Eco-Physiology and Nutrient Management
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Plant Nutrition Eco-Physiology and Nutrient Management

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 November 2025 | Viewed by 4234

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jiuxin Guo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Interests: plant nutrition physiology; nutrient management; soil quality assessment; nutrition stress; cereal crops; horticulture crops
Dr. Tianyuan Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Tea Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
Interests: efficient utilization of nutrients and quality control of tea plants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Background and introduction to the topic: In plant nutrition yields, theoretical research on the physiological ecology and applied research on fertilization management represent two critical aspects that contribute to fully understanding soil fertility, plant growth, physiological and biochemical processes, yield performance, and quality formation in response to different nutrient scenarios under greenhouse and field conditions. Studies have investigated how mineral elements, organic fertilizers, and their interactions in soil–plant–environment systems are pivotal for addressing global challenges in soil health, food security, and ecosystem sustainability. Aim and scope of the topic: The goal of this research topic is to gather the latest advances on the mechanisms underlying plant nutrition physiology and their ecological repercussions. The scope concentrates on a comprehensive analysis of the nutritional functions and the regulation of mineral elements and their interactions in plant–soil systems, with a focus on highly efficient nutrient utilization and the potential applications of nutrient management in the development of sustainable agricultural practices, as well as in minimizing ecological impacts.

Research interests and article types of the topic: The research interests to be included will be multifaceted and will include physiological adaptations to nutrient availability, the ecological consequences of nutrient imbalances, optimizing nutrient management strategies, nutrient cycling in plant–soil–environment systems, and integrated applications in sustainable agriculture. We warmly welcome all article types, including research papers, reviews, and short communications, to be published in this topic as part of Agronomy.

Dr. Jiuxin Guo
Dr. Tianyuan Yang
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. Agronomy 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

  • mineral elements
  • organic fertilizers
  • plant nutrition eco-physiology
  • nutrient management
  • yield and quality
  • nutrient use efficiency
  • soil quality and productivity
  • environmental effects

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3859 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Fertilizer-Based Management Alters Soil N2O Emissions and Silicon Availability in Moso Bamboo Forests
by Jie Yang, Kecheng Wang, Jiamei Chen, Lili Fan, Peikun Jiang and Rong Zheng
Agronomy 2025, 15(7), 1647; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15071647 - 7 Jul 2025
Viewed by 290
Abstract
Long-term intensive management practices in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forests, primarily characterized by repeated fertilizer application, tillage, and biomass harvesting, can alter soil nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability. This study aimed to assess how such fertilizer-based management affects soil N2 [...] Read more.
Long-term intensive management practices in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forests, primarily characterized by repeated fertilizer application, tillage, and biomass harvesting, can alter soil nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability. This study aimed to assess how such fertilizer-based management affects soil N2O emission potential and silicon (Si) availability. We collected soil samples (0–20 cm) from bamboo stands subjected to 0–39 years of intensive management and from adjacent natural broad-leaved forests as a reference. The Soil pH, nitrogen forms, nitrification and denitrification potential, and Si concentrations were measured. The results showed significant nitrogen accumulation and progressive soil acidification with increasing management duration. The nitrification and denitrification potentials were 5.7 and 6.0 times higher in the 39-year-old stand compared to unmanaged bamboo. Meanwhile, the available Si decreased by 20.1%, despite stable total Si levels. The available Si showed strong positive correlations with nitrogen forms and transformation rates. These findings highlight the long-term impact of fertilizer-driven bamboo management on soil biogeochemistry and emphasize the need to consider Si dynamics in sustainable nutrient strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Nutrition Eco-Physiology and Nutrient Management)
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14 pages, 2200 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Major Soil Nutrients After the Application of Microbial-Inoculated Acidified Biochar Pellets Using a Sigmoid Function
by JooHee Nam, JoungDu Shin, Jae-Yee Choi, SangWon Park, JaeWook Chung and Changyoon Jeong
Agronomy 2025, 15(7), 1607; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15071607 - 30 Jun 2025
Viewed by 186
Abstract
This experiment aimed to investigate nutrient dynamics in soil and compare plant growth responses after treatment with acidified biochar pellets inoculated with microorganisms during Kimchi cabbage cultivation, using a sigmoid function model. The treatments included the following: Control–only guano application; ABPM 27 ( [...] Read more.
This experiment aimed to investigate nutrient dynamics in soil and compare plant growth responses after treatment with acidified biochar pellets inoculated with microorganisms during Kimchi cabbage cultivation, using a sigmoid function model. The treatments included the following: Control–only guano application; ABPM 27 (Pseudomonas fluorescens 22BCO027); and ABPM 86 (Bacillus megaterium 22BCO086). Guano and biochar pellets were applied at 320 kg ha−1, based on the recommended nitrogen application rate for cabbage cultivation. The results showed that the cumulative NO3-N and P2O5 in the ABPM 27 treatment were 27.7% and 12.1% higher, respectively, compared with the control. The maximum cumulative K was not significantly different (p > 0.05) between the treatments. The cumulative NH4-N and NO3-N were well fitted (R2 > 0.824) to the sigmoid curves, while the cumulative P2O5 and K were well described with the linear function (R2 > 0.970) regardless of treatment. The highest yield was 77.4 tonnes ha−1 under the ABPM 27 treatment. Therefore, the ABPM 27 treatment is strongly recommended for enhancing cabbage yield in organic farming due to its high capacity for accumulating NO3-N and P2O5. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Nutrition Eco-Physiology and Nutrient Management)
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18 pages, 1697 KiB  
Article
Zinc Application Enhances Biomass Production, Grain Yield, and Zinc Uptake in Hybrid Maize Cultivated in Paddy Soil
by Phanuphong Khongchiu, Arunee Wongkaew, Jun Murase, Kannika Sajjaphan, Apidet Rakpenthai, Orawan Kumdee and Sutkhet Nakasathien
Agronomy 2025, 15(7), 1501; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15071501 - 20 Jun 2025
Viewed by 444
Abstract
Zinc (Zn) fertilization is widely used in maize (Zea mays L.) production to alleviate Zn deficiency and improve biomass and grain yield. However, limited research exists on Zn management in maize cultivated in high-pH paddy soils following rice-based systems, where altered soil [...] Read more.
Zinc (Zn) fertilization is widely used in maize (Zea mays L.) production to alleviate Zn deficiency and improve biomass and grain yield. However, limited research exists on Zn management in maize cultivated in high-pH paddy soils following rice-based systems, where altered soil chemistry may affect Zn availability and plant uptake. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Zn application rates on growth, yield, and Zn uptake in two hybrid maize varieties under such conditions. Field experiments were conducted during the 2019 and 2020 dry seasons in Phetchabun Province, Thailand, using a randomized complete block design with a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement and four replications. Treatments included four Zn rates (0, 5, 10, and 20.6 kg of Zn/ha), applied as Zn sulfate monohydrate (ZnSO4·H2O, 36% Zn) by soil banding at the V6 stage, and two hybrid varieties, Suwan 5731 (SW5731) and Suwan 5819 (SW5819). In 2019, significant Zn × variety interactions were observed for biomass, crop growth rate (CGR), and grain yield. SW5819 at 10 kg of Zn/ha produced the highest biomass (31.6 t/ha) and CGR (25.6 g/m2/day), increasing by 15.3% and 39.1%, respectively, compared to its own no Zn treatment. In contrast, 20.6 kg of Zn/ha reduced SW5819 biomass by 6.6% and 13.1% relative to SW5731 and its own no-Zn treatment, respectively. Grain yield in SW5819 peaked at 14.7 t/ha under 5 and 10 kg of Zn/ha, significantly higher than SW5731 under 0 and 5 kg of Zn/ha by 16.7%, while SW5731 showed no significant response. In SW5819, shoot and grain Zn uptake significantly increased under 5 and 10 kg of Zn/ha by up to 36.8% and 33.3%, respectively, compared to no Zn treatment. The lowest shoot Zn uptake was found in SW5819 under 20.6 kg of Zn/ha (264.1 ± 43.9 g/ha), which was lower than all its Zn treatments and all SW5731 treatments, showing a reduction of 19.4–43.6%. Zn application improved soil Zn availability, and Zn partitioning among plant organs varied with Zn rate and season. A moderate Zn rate (10 kg of Zn/ha) optimized maize performance under high-pH, rice-based conditions, emphasizing the need for variety-specific Zn management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Nutrition Eco-Physiology and Nutrient Management)
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Review

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20 pages, 1120 KiB  
Review
Enhancing Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Productivity: Exploring the Significance of Potassium Nutrition
by Ebenezer Ayew Appiah, Andrea Balla-Kovács, Akasairi Ocwa, József Csajbók and Erika Kutasy
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1806; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081806 - 16 Aug 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2599
Abstract
Sustainable management of potassium nutrition in alfalfa crop production is one of the major key factors for achieving optimum seed and biomass yields. An inappropriate supply of mineral potassium nutrition in alfalfa production could result in a decrease in biomass and grain yield [...] Read more.
Sustainable management of potassium nutrition in alfalfa crop production is one of the major key factors for achieving optimum seed and biomass yields. An inappropriate supply of mineral potassium nutrition in alfalfa production could result in a decrease in biomass and grain yield production, leading to luxury consumption with cost implications. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial leguminous forage crop known for its high protein content, nutritive value, biomass yield production, soil-improving abilities, and livestock feed. Potassium nutrition plays a crucial role in alfalfa production by influencing several physiological processes essential for biomass yield, growth, development, photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and stress tolerance. Although several studies have been conducted regarding the role of potassium nutrition in agriculture productivity, only limited research has focused on crop-specific impacts. Therefore, this paper reviews (i) the significant role potassium nutrition plays in alfalfa production along with its implications for quality, yield, growth, and resistance to abiotic stress; (ii) the factors affecting the availability, absorption, and transport of potassium; (iii) the source of potassium and the consequences of inadequate availability; and (iv) highlights some strategies for mitigating potassium nutrient deficiency to optimize alfalfa productivity and sustainability in agricultural systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Nutrition Eco-Physiology and Nutrient Management)
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