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Agronomy
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Nitrogen Fertilization in Agriculture: Worldwide Trends and Current Knowledge
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Nitrogen Fertilization in Agriculture: Worldwide Trends and Current Knowledge

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Farming Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 9587

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Kazem Zamanian

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Guest Editor
Institute of Soil Science, Leibniz University of Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany
Interests: soil inorganic carbon; land-use change, agropedogenesis; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jie Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
Interests: soil C sequestration; soil health; plant–microorganism–soil interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Huadong Zang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Interests: sustainable agriculture; soil fertility; plant nutrition; nutrient management; nutrient cycling; C, N, P isotopes; microplastics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nitrogen fertilization is an indispensable agricultural practice to increase crop growth and prevent food shortages for a growing population. However, the often, excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers and the increased residual inorganic nitrogen in agroecosystems adversely affect soil health and lead to water and air pollution. This special issue welcomes any new research, reviews, and opinion that address the environmental consequences of excessive nitrogen fertilizer use and/or propose management strategies to overcome such drawbacks while ensuring high-yield and sustainable agriculture. Laboratory and field experiments linking nitrogen fertilization to soil functions and ecosystem services are highlighted in this special issue. In addition, research that proposes site-specific management strategies based on the principle of synchronizing crop nitrogen requirements with nitrogen supply from all sources, including soil and fertilizers, is especially acknowledged.

Dr. Kazem Zamanian
Dr. Jie Zhou
Dr. Huadong Zang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • N use efficiency
  • soil organic matter
  • soil microbial community
  • soil mineralogy
  • soil erosion
  • C sequestration
  • acidification
  • inorganic C
  • greenhouse gases emission
  • precision agriculture

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 6707 KiB  
Article
Rubisco Small Subunits’ Genome-Wide Identification and Their Function from Gene Expression to Rubisco Activity and Photosynthesis among Peanut Genotypes under Different Nitrogen Levels
by Xiaohui Wang, Xiangjun Kong, Lijie Li, Peipei Jia, Xiangguo Cheng, Xiaotian Zhang, Lei Zhang, Huiyun Xue, Aziz Khan and Zhiyong Zhang
Agronomy 2022, 12(10), 2316; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12102316 - 27 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1954
Abstract
Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is a critical protein for photosynthesis. With small subunits, RBCSs catalyze the fixation of CO2 onto ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP). However, the gene characteristics of peanut RBCSs, and the relationship between their expression and peanut growth under nitrogen (N)-deficiency conditions are [...] Read more.
Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is a critical protein for photosynthesis. With small subunits, RBCSs catalyze the fixation of CO2 onto ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP). However, the gene characteristics of peanut RBCSs, and the relationship between their expression and peanut growth under nitrogen (N)-deficiency conditions are not yet known. This study targeted the impact of sufficient N (5 mmol/L NO3−) and deficient N (0.1 mmol/L NO3−) on peanut seedlings’ growth, physiology, and molecular aspects. Herein, eight RBCS protein encoding genes were identified in the peanut genome, and their characteristics were described. The leaf areas of Yu Hang Hua 1 (YH1) and An Hua 3 (AH3) were reduced significantly after 10 days while “Pu Ke Hua 18” (PK18) and “Luo Hua 4087” (LH4087) had higher N-deficiency adaptations in the initial N-deficiency stage. The Rubisco carboxylation activities of YH1 and PK18 were significantly increased after 5 days of N-deficiency stress while they decreased under 15 days of N-deficiency conditions. Furthermore, the qRT-PCR results showed that the expressions of AhRBCS 1/5 and AhRBCS2/6 had negative relationships with the morpho-physiological traits of peanut under low-N stress. This study provides the biological information of peanut RBCSs and lays a theoretical foundation for N utilization in crop plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nitrogen Fertilization in Agriculture: Worldwide Trends and Current Knowledge)
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12 pages, 864 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilization and Variety for Millet Grain Yield and Biomass Accumulation in Dry Regions
by Shuang Yang, Leishan Wang, Kashif Akhtar, Ijaz Ahmad and Aziz Khan
Agronomy 2022, 12(9), 2116; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12092116 - 6 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1647
Abstract
Meeting foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) (FM) production targets of high grain yield requires appropriate genotype selection and nitrogen (N) fertilization. However, high input costs and low crop yields are the major concerns for FM production systems, particularly in dry regions. To [...] Read more.
Meeting foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) (FM) production targets of high grain yield requires appropriate genotype selection and nitrogen (N) fertilization. However, high input costs and low crop yields are the major concerns for FM production systems, particularly in dry regions. To reduce the production costs without sacrificing yield, we assumed that N fertilization would increase the grain yield of FM varieties by improving reproductive organ biomass accumulation. To test this hypothesis, a two-year (2017 and 2018) field investigation in a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement and three replicates was carried out on FM varieties, namely, V1 (Zhangzagu 8; hybrid) and V2 (Bagu 214; common) to ascertain the effects of five N levels (N1—15; N2—61; N3—108; N4—155; N5—201 kg N ha−1) on biomass accumulation and grain yield at different growth stages. Results showed that the V1 variety had a 34.8% and 28.5% higher grain yield compared to V2 treatment in both years, respectively. The interaction between variety and nitrogen was also significant. The combination of V1 and N4 produced a higher grain yield in both years. This increase in V1 grain yield was supported by the evidence of greater reproductive organ biomass formation, with a 113 and 120 kg ha−1 higher-than-average rate of biomass accumulation in both years, respectively. Among N rates, the N4 level resulted in a higher grain yield (3226 kg ha−1) and (3437 kg ha−1) compared with other N rates in the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons. This higher yield under N4 treatment was confirmed by a higher reproductive organ biomass accumulation at various growth phases, with 138 kg ha−1 and 124 kg ha−1 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. We also noticed that further increases in nitrogen levels did not increase FM grain yield. Conclusively, these data display the significance of proper FM production management techniques. Growing the varieties Zhangzagu 8 at 155 kg N ha-1 fertilization and Bagu 214 at 108 kg N ha−1 fertilization could be promising options to achieve higher grain yield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nitrogen Fertilization in Agriculture: Worldwide Trends and Current Knowledge)
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14 pages, 1018 KiB  
Article
Interaction of Biochar with Chemical, Green and Biological Nitrogen Fertilizers on Nitrogen Use Efficiency Indices
by Mohammad Ghorbani, Petr Konvalina, Reinhard W. Neugschwandtner, Marek Kopecký, Elnaz Amirahmadi, Daniel Bucur and Anna Walkiewicz
Agronomy 2022, 12(9), 2106; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12092106 - 4 Sep 2022
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 3256
Abstract
Chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizers are regarded as one of the environmental contaminants in addition to the necessity for fossil sources for their production. Conversely, it is impossible to neglect the supply of nitrogen needed as one of the essential ingredients for plant function. [...] Read more.
Chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizers are regarded as one of the environmental contaminants in addition to the necessity for fossil sources for their production. Conversely, it is impossible to neglect the supply of nitrogen needed as one of the essential ingredients for plant function. For organic agriculture, it is crucial to use alternative fertilizer management to reduce the harmful impacts and production costs of chemical fertilizers. In a one-year pot experiment, nitrate (NO−3) leaching and nitrogen efficiency of wheat were examined in relation to biochar (B) mixed with urea (U), legume residues (L), and azocompost (A), which represent chemical, green, and biological sources of N-fertilizers, respectively. Control (no biochar, no fertilizer), U (46 kg ha−1), A (5 t ha−1), L (5 t ha−1), B (10 t ha−1), UB, AB, and LB were the experimental treatments. Grain yield of wheat was enhanced by 337% and 312% with UB and UL, respectively. The LB produced the highest grain N yield, with a rise of 8.8 times over the control. L had the highest N-use efficiency, with an increase of 149% over the control. The highest N-harvest index and N-recovery efficiency were obtained by using LB, with values of 91 and 70 %, respectively. Nitrate leaching occurred in the following order: U > Control ≥ A ≥ L > UB > AB ≥ LB > B. Nitrogen is retained for the plant in the extensive specific surface of biochar when N-fertilizers are used in conjunction with them. This not only improves N-efficiency but also minimizes nitrogen loss through leaching. Additionally, the soil can benefit from the addition of leguminous organic fertilizer in a similar way as to urea fertilizer in terms of increasing wheat grain yield, particularly when combined with biochar. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nitrogen Fertilization in Agriculture: Worldwide Trends and Current Knowledge)
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12 pages, 1456 KiB  
Article
Residual Effect of Finely-Ground Biochar Inoculated with Bio-Fertilization Impact on Productivity in a Lentil–Maize Cropping System
by Amjad Ali, Wiqar Ahmad, Fazal Munsif, Aziz Khan, Jaya Nepal, Elżbieta Wójcik-Gront, Ijaz Ahmad, Muhammad Shahid Khan, Ikram Ullah, Sultan Akbar, Sajjad Zaheer and Gang Jin
Agronomy 2022, 12(9), 2036; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12092036 - 27 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2135
Abstract
Biochar fertilization improves soil fertility and carbon sequestration, implying agricultural and environmental advantages. The effect of different sized previously applied biochar and biofertilizer agents on succeeding crops remains poorly known for legume–cereal cropping cycles. This study compared different particle-sized biochar and biofertilizer strains [...] Read more.
Biochar fertilization improves soil fertility and carbon sequestration, implying agricultural and environmental advantages. The effect of different sized previously applied biochar and biofertilizer agents on succeeding crops remains poorly known for legume–cereal cropping cycles. This study compared different particle-sized biochar and biofertilizer strains applied to lentils for their residual impact on subsequent maize growth, nutrition, and soil fertility without further polluting the environment. Three particle sizes (<2, 2–5, 5–10 mm) of Babul tree (Acacia arabica) wood biochar was obtained through grinding and sieving and applied prior to the lentil (first) crop at a rate of 500 g m−2. The commercial Rhizobium leguminosarum products Biozote-N and Rhizogold were inoculated to lentil seeds before sowing. The effect of biochar and biofertilizer agents on the succeeding maize (second) crops was evaluated for soil and crop performance. Findings revealed that particle sizes of <2 mm biochar and Biozote-N inoculation enhanced plant height, leaf area and leaf area index, biological yield, and thousand grain weight of the subsequent maize crop. Maize grain yield was enhanced by 2.5%, tissue N uptake by 15%, nitrogen uptake efficiency by 17%, grain protein content by 15%, extractable P by 17%, and soil bulk density by 3% with a residual biochar particle size of <2 mm and Biozote-N inoculation. It was concluded that the finely grounded (<2 mm) biochar particle combined with inoculation of Biozote-N was superior to larger particle sizes for enhancing crop growth and improving soil fertility status at the residual level, benefiting the subsequent crop in a legume–cereal rotation system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nitrogen Fertilization in Agriculture: Worldwide Trends and Current Knowledge)
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