Nutrient Cycling and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agricultural Soil

Dear Colleagues,

Agricultural crop production today faces many challenges. Balanced and safe food production is only one of the most important factors in agricultural production. Well-planned nutrient replenishment takes into account not only the maximum yield available, but also environmental considerations. Nitrogen is often the most limiting factor in crop production; hence, application of nitrogen fertilizer results in higher biomass yields. The efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer can be increased and losses reduced, by matching supply with crop demand, optimizing split application schemes, changing the form to suit the conditions, and using slow-release fertilizers and inhibitors, while excessive nitrogen fertilizer application can lead to significant N losses. Practices that promote carbon sequestration are also becoming increasingly important in cultivation, as one of the prerequisites for successful crop production is an adequate organic matter content in soils, which influences soil structure, soil water retention capacity, and ability to supply nutrients (essentially soil fertility). The various greenhouse gases (CO₂, N₂O, CH₄) released into the atmosphere from the soil not only represent a loss of soil nutrients and carbon but can also be a barrier to successful crop production and cause an increase in the atmospheric concentration of these gases. The release of NH₃—although not a greenhouse gas—into the atmosphere is also a major problem during nitrogen fertilization.

The Special Issue focuses on nutrient cycling in agricultural production. Results of field and laboratory experiments about different agricultural practices minimizing carbon and nutrient losses are welcome, which may contribute to reducing carbon and nitrogen losses in agriculture. All types of articles, such as original research, opinions, and reviews are invited.

Dr. Eszter Tóth
Dr. Sandor Koos
Guest Editors

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• nutrient cycling
• crop production
• carbon sequestration
• greenhouse gas emission
• nitrogen use efficiency