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Agronomy
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Advancements in Precision Fertilization and Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture
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Advancements in Precision Fertilization and Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Precision and Digital Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 4376

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Junsheng Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
Interests: efficient utilization of agricultural water and fertilizer resources

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The efficient utilization of water and fertilizers is crucial for achieving sustainable agricultural production. Integrated water–fertilizer management technologies and innovative irrigation–fertilization strategies are key to optimizing crop yield and enhancing resource use efficiency. Understanding the physiological and biochemical mechanisms that contribute to high yield and efficiency under various water and fertilizer management regimes is essential for developing advanced agronomic practices. Recent developments in precision agriculture, smart irrigation systems, and data-driven fertilization techniques offer valuable opportunities to improve water and nutrient use while mitigating environmental impacts.

This Special Issue focuses on the most recent research in crop water–fertilizer efficiency, integrated water–fertilizer management, and cutting-edge irrigation and fertilization technologies. We invite contributions that address the following areas:

  • Mechanisms of High Yield and Efficiency: Investigating how crops respond physiologically, biochemically, and structurally to different water and fertilizer regimes to achieve optimal productivity.
  • Integrated Water–Fertilizer Management: Strategies to harmonize water and nutrient use to enhance crop performance while conserving resources.
  • Innovative Irrigation and Fertilization Technologies: The development and application of precision fertigation systems, controlled-release fertilizers, and smart irrigation technologies to improve water and nutrient use efficiency.
  • Covering Technologies: Exploring the role of covering techniques such as plastic film mulching, straw mulching, and others to improve water and nutrient use efficiency and enhance crop productivity.
  • Remote Sensing and Precision Agriculture: Utilizing UAVs, spectral imaging, and soil moisture sensors to monitor and optimize water and nutrient management in real time.
  • Environmental and Economic Impacts: Assessing the sustainability of advanced water–fertilizer management techniques, focusing on nutrient loss reduction, soil health, and cost-effectiveness.

This Special Issue provides insights into innovative strategies for improving crop water and fertilizer efficiency, contributing to sustainable agricultural intensification. Future research should aim to develop affordable and scalable technologies, decision-support systems for smallholder farmers, and adaptive irrigation–fertilization models suited to diverse agroecosystems. Bridging the gap between research and field applications is essential to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of global agriculture.

We invite researchers and practitioners to submit their latest findings as part of this Special Issue. By advancing precision water–fertilizer management, we can enhance food security, optimize resource use, and reduce environmental footprints, ultimately paving the way for more sustainable agricultural practices.

Dr. Junsheng Lu
Guest Editor

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

  • precision agriculture
  • integrated water–fertilizer management
  • sustainable agriculture
  • smart irrigation systems
  • fertigation technologies
  • efficient utilization of water and fertilizers

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 4411 KB  
Article
Spectral Index Optimization and Machine Learning for Hyperspectral Inversion of Maize Nitrogen Content
by Yuze Zhang, Caixia Huang, Hongyan Li, Shuai Li and Junsheng Lu
Agronomy 2025, 15(11), 2485; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112485 (registering DOI) - 26 Oct 2025
Abstract
Hyperspectral remote sensing provides a powerful tool for crop nutrient monitoring and precision fertilization, yet its application is hindered by high-dimensional redundancy and inter-band collinearity. This study aimed to improve maize nitrogen estimation by constructing three types of two-dimensional full-band spectral indices—Difference Index [...] Read more.
Hyperspectral remote sensing provides a powerful tool for crop nutrient monitoring and precision fertilization, yet its application is hindered by high-dimensional redundancy and inter-band collinearity. This study aimed to improve maize nitrogen estimation by constructing three types of two-dimensional full-band spectral indices—Difference Index (DI), Simple Ratio Index (SRI), and Normalized Difference Index (NDI)—combined with spectral preprocessing methods (raw spectra (RAW), first-order derivative (FD), and second-order derivative (SD)). To optimize feature selection, three strategies were evaluated: Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC), and Variable Importance in Projection (VIP). These indices were then integrated into machine learning models, including Backpropagation Neural Network (BP), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Regression (SVR). Results revealed that spectral index optimization substantially enhanced model performance. NDI consistently demonstrated robustness, achieving the highest grey relational degree (0.9077) under second-derivative preprocessing and improving BP model predictions. PCC-selected features showed superior adaptability in the RF model, yielding the highest test accuracy under raw spectral input (R2 = 0.769, RMSE = 0.0018). VIP proved most effective for SVR, with the optimal SD–VIP–SVR combination attaining the best predictive performance (test R2 = 0.7593, RMSE = 0.0024). Compared with full-spectrum input, spectral index optimization effectively reduced collinearity and overfitting, improving both reliability and generalization. Spectral index optimization significantly improved inversion accuracy. Among the tested pipelines, RAW-PCC-RF demonstrated robust stability across datasets, while SD-VIP-SVR achieved the highest overall validation accuracy (R2 = 0.7593, RMSE = 0.0024). These results highlight the complementary roles of stability and accuracy in defining the optimal pipeline for maize nitrogen inversion. This study highlights the pivotal role of spectral index optimization in hyperspectral inversion of maize nitrogen content. The proposed framework provides a reliable methodological basis for non-destructive nitrogen monitoring, with broad implications for precision agriculture and sustainable nutrient management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Precision Fertilization and Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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17 pages, 5044 KB  
Article
Optimizing Soil Hydrothermal Parameters Through Furrow Mulching to Achieve High Potato Yield and Water Productivity
by Caixia Huang, Zhixiang Dong, Juhua Ma, Xiaohu Yuan, Zeyi Wang and Liangliang Hu
Agronomy 2025, 15(11), 2444; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112444 - 22 Oct 2025
Viewed by 178
Abstract
This study reports a field experiment conducted from 2020 to 2021 to examine the influence of changes in the moisture and temperature of soil on the potato yield under the mulching-based modes of ZM (flat planting with straw partial mulching), HM (high ridge [...] Read more.
This study reports a field experiment conducted from 2020 to 2021 to examine the influence of changes in the moisture and temperature of soil on the potato yield under the mulching-based modes of ZM (flat planting with straw partial mulching), HM (high ridge straw with partial mulching) and PM (flat planting with local plastic film mulching) planting, with the traditional open-field flat crop (CK) used as the control. The results showed that compared with CK, the average tuber yield increased by 38.68% under the PM treatment, 36.91% under the HM treatment, and 23.37% under the ZM treatment over two growing seasons. At the same time, the HM treatment increased tuber yield by 13.69%, large tuber percentage by 0.40%, and water use efficiency (WUE) by 15.31% compared with the ZM treatment. Across two growing seasons, the soil water storage capacity in the 0–180 cm soil layer was significantly enhanced by the potato mulching treatments compared to the CK. Specifically, the HM treatment increased it by an average of 43.04 mm, the ZM treatment by 36.71 mm, and the PM treatment by 24.63 mm. Compared with CK, the PM treatment increased the average soil temperature by 1.23 °C, while the HM and ZM treatments decreased it by 1.42 °C and 2.10 °C, respectively. Furthermore, partial straw mulching enhanced soil organic carbon content relative to both CK and PM treatments, with the HM treatment exhibiting a greater increase than the ZM treatment. Therefore, the HM treatment represents a cultivation model that enhances yields and efficiency and is well-suited to the green and sustainable development of dryland farming in Northwest China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Precision Fertilization and Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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17 pages, 3192 KB  
Article
Biochar and Soil Water Synergistically Regulating Root Growth to Affect Photosynthesis in Maize (Zea mays L.)
by Chao Gao, Jingtao Qin, Yan Tian, Jianbo Yang and Guobing Wang
Agronomy 2025, 15(9), 2170; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15092170 - 11 Sep 2025
Viewed by 570
Abstract
In arid/semi-arid regions, strategies to enhance soil water retention are critical for crop productivity. This study elucidates the synergistic regulatory mechanisms of biochar and soil water regulation on maize root growth and photosynthesis. An integrated pot experiment (2023) with three biochar (0, 7.5, [...] Read more.
In arid/semi-arid regions, strategies to enhance soil water retention are critical for crop productivity. This study elucidates the synergistic regulatory mechanisms of biochar and soil water regulation on maize root growth and photosynthesis. An integrated pot experiment (2023) with three biochar (0, 7.5, 15 t ha−1), a field experiment (2024) with two biochar (0, 7.5 t ha−1), and three soil water gradients (sufficient water, moderate drought, and severe drought) were conducted. Pot results showed that biochar applied at 7.5 t ha−1 significantly increased soil-saturated water content by 11.4% and residual water content by 4.7% compared to the control, as confirmed by the fitting van Genuchten model (R2 > 0.94). Maize roots were primarily concentrated in the 5–15 cm soil layer, with root weight density (RWD) increasing by 21.0% under 7.5 t ha−1 biochar treatment. The field experiment based on the pot results showed that biochar attenuated the drop in net photosynthesis (Pn) and stomatal conductance (Gs) under drought, reducing Pn and Gs decline by 24.5% and 21.4%, respectively, and suggesting improved efficiency. The study indicates that 7.5 t ha−1 biochar optimizes maize root growth and photosynthesis through improved soil hydraulic properties, providing a sustainable strategy for arid and semi-arid regional agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Precision Fertilization and Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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23 pages, 2642 KB  
Article
Evaluating of Four Irrigation Depths on Soil Moisture and Temperature, and Seed Cotton Yield Under Film-Mulched Drip Irrigation in Northwest China
by Xianghao Hou, Wenhui Hu, Quanqi Li, Junliang Fan and Fucang Zhang
Agronomy 2025, 15(7), 1674; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15071674 - 10 Jul 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 884
Abstract
Soil mulching and irrigation are critical practices for alleviating water scarcity and enhancing crop yields in arid and semi-arid regions by regulating soil moisture and soil temperature. Clarifying the effects of various irrigation depths on soil moisture and temperature under mulched condition is [...] Read more.
Soil mulching and irrigation are critical practices for alleviating water scarcity and enhancing crop yields in arid and semi-arid regions by regulating soil moisture and soil temperature. Clarifying the effects of various irrigation depths on soil moisture and temperature under mulched condition is essential for optimizing irrigation strategies. This study investigated the effects of four irrigation depths based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc): 60, 80, 100, and 120% (W0.6, W0.8, W1.0, and W1.2, respectively) on the soil moisture content (SMC), soil temperature and seed cotton yield in mulched cotton fields. Results revealed that when the irrigation depth increased from 60%ETc to 120%ETc, seed cotton yield increased by 12.04% in 2018 and 17.00% in 2019 at the cost of irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), which decreased from 2.53 kg m−3 to 1.54 kg m−3 in 2018 and 2.60 kg m−3 to 1.58 kg m−3 in 2019. Soil temperature exhibited a temporal trend of initial increase followed by decline, and it was positively affected by soil mulching. Notably, W0.6 treatment maintained significantly higher soil temperature than other treatments. Soil moisture content was positively affected by irrigation depth, while soil water storage first decreased and then increased over time, reaching the minimum at the flowering and boll setting stages during the two growing seasons. Higher irrigation amount reduced the total spatial variability (C0 + C) of soil but did not significantly alter the distribution characteristics of soil moisture, as indicated by stable coefficients of variation (CVs) and stratification ratios (SRs). The variability of soil moisture diminished with soil depth with the lowest CV obtained at a 60 cm soil layer across the growth stages. Correlation analysis results showed that the seed cotton yield was mainly affected by irrigation depth and soil water storage. Soil temperature at the flowering and boll setting stage negatively affected seed cotton yield and was inversely correlated with soil water storage. The structural equation model (SEM) further indicated that both soil water storage and soil temperature primarily influenced seed cotton yield boll weight rather than boll number. Furthermore, 100%ETc (W1.0) can be considered as the recommended irrigation depth based on the soil moisture and temperature, seed cotton yield and water use efficiency in this region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Precision Fertilization and Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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Review

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30 pages, 4571 KB  
Review
Evolution and Application of Precision Fertilizer: A Review
by Luxi Wang, Jianmin Gao and Waqar Ahmed Qureshi
Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1939; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081939 - 12 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2291
Abstract
This paper reviews technological advances in precision fertilizer application from 2020 to 2025, addressing the need for a systematic synthesis of recent innovations to support agricultural sustainability. With precision fertilization critical for efficient resource use, rapid technological progress in this field has highlighted [...] Read more.
This paper reviews technological advances in precision fertilizer application from 2020 to 2025, addressing the need for a systematic synthesis of recent innovations to support agricultural sustainability. With precision fertilization critical for efficient resource use, rapid technological progress in this field has highlighted a gap in consolidated overviews of post-2020 developments. The review focuses on three core areas: device innovation, intelligent control optimization, and simulation-driven parameter refinement. Key advancements include structural improvements in fertilizer applicators (e.g., multi-segment arc and variable-diameter designs) enhancing discharge uniformity and accuracy; integration of algorithms like PSO, fuzzy logic, and RBFNN (e.g., PSO-RBF-PID reducing flow control errors) boosting control precision; and DEM/CFD simulations optimizing device parameters. These technologies, applied in scenarios from drone-based unmanned operations to automatic targeting systems, have shown potential in reducing fertilizer use and increasing crop yields. This synthesis clarifies recent progress, offering insights for green agricultural development. Note that a few pre-2020 references are included for foundational context, ensuring completeness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Precision Fertilization and Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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