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Agronomy
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Fertigation Effects on Water and Nutrient Use Efficiency for Agro-Crop...
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Fertigation Effects on Water and Nutrient Use Efficiency for Agro-Crop Plants

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 October 2025 | Viewed by 8012

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lichun Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
Interests: nutrient solution management for hydroponic crops; fertigation technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Songrui Ning

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an 710048, China
Interests: soil water and salt balance; irrigation schedule; leaching fraction; modeling; salinity risk; water-salt-fertilizer coupling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the ever-evolving landscape of agriculture, optimizing water, salt, and nutrient management is fundamental to ensuring sustainable crop production and addressing the growing global demand for food, fiber, etc. Fertigation, the innovative practice of applying fertilizers through irrigation systems, is a promising approach to enhance water and nutrient use efficiency and revolutionize traditional farming methods. This Special Issue aims to unravel the intricate interplay between fertigation techniques and water/nutrient utilization in agro-crop plants and shed light on advancements that hold the key to future agricultural sustainability. Researchers are invited to contribute original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that encompass a wide range of topics within the realm of fertigation effects on water and nutrient use efficiency. The scope includes, but is not limited to, investigations into nutrient delivery systems, the formulation of optimized nutrient blends, soilless production, crop-specific responses to fertigation, environmental implications, and the technological innovations driving this field forward.

Dr. Lichun Wang
Guest Editor

Dr. Songrui Ning
Guest Editor Assistant

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

  • fertigation
  • water and nutrient use efficiency
  • fertilizer-yield effect
  • irrigation systems
  • water–salt–fertilizer–carbon coupling
  • crop nutrition
  • soilless culture
  • nutrient delivery
  • soil fertility
  • controlled release fertilizers
  • precision farming
  • agricultural practices

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 1358 KiB  
Article
Response of Alfalfa Yield to Rates and Ratios of N, P, and K Fertilizer in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of China Based on Meta-Analysis
by Huipeng Ren, Songrui Ning, An Yan, Yiqi Zhao, Ning Li and Tingting Huo
Agronomy 2025, 15(5), 1093; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15051093 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2025
Abstract
Quantifying the impacts and contributions of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizer management on the annual and cutting cycle yields of alfalfa can provide guidance for alfalfa cultivation. In this study, 597 sets of alfalfa yield data from the arid and [...] Read more.
Quantifying the impacts and contributions of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizer management on the annual and cutting cycle yields of alfalfa can provide guidance for alfalfa cultivation. In this study, 597 sets of alfalfa yield data from the arid and semi-arid regions of China were collected and grouped according to the N, P, K, and NPK rates. Statistical and meta-analyses were employed to explore the response of alfalfa yield to fertilization management. The results indicated that the annual and cutting cycle yields of alfalfa increased and then decreased as the N rate increased; meanwhile, the annual yield increased with the P and K rates, and the cutting cycle yield decreased with increased cutting cycles under P and K treatments. The alfalfa yield at the first cutting cycle was about 30% of the annual yield in the arid and semi-arid regions of China. Moreover, the annual yield increased and then decreased as the NPK rate increased. The Aggregated Boosted Tree (ABT) algorithm-based analysis showed that the NPK rate had the greatest contribution to the annual yield (37.61%), followed by the application rates of P (24.50%), N (22.55%), and K (15.34%). The impacts of the P/NPK, N/NPK, and K/NPK ratios on the annual yield were 38.64%, 31.71%, and 27.65%, respectively. Additionally, an NPK amount > 225–310 kg/ha and ratios of N, P, and K of 14.28–27.72%, 36.36–50%, and below 25%, respectively, resulted in the highest increase in alfalfa yield. This is recommended as the optimal fertilization practice to obtain high alfalfa yields and improve fertilizer use efficiency in the arid and semi-arid regions of China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fertigation Effects on Water and Nutrient Use Efficiency for Agro-Crop Plants)
19 pages, 11209 KiB  
Article
Response of the Stabilization of Organic Carbon to Straw Incorporation and Nitrogen Application: Evidence from Carbon Fractions and Bacterial Survival Strategies
by Shenglin Liu, Xiaodong Ding, Zeqiang Sun, Zhaohui Liu, Runxiang Du, Zhichang Jing and Shirong Zhang
Agronomy 2025, 15(5), 1034; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15051034 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 97
Abstract
Despite the global imperative to enhance carbon sequestration in agricultural landscapes, saline–alkali soils present distinctive soil–microbe constraints that limit our understanding of optimal management strategies. This study addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding the mechanistic relationships between bacterial community structure and carbon stabilization processes [...] Read more.
Despite the global imperative to enhance carbon sequestration in agricultural landscapes, saline–alkali soils present distinctive soil–microbe constraints that limit our understanding of optimal management strategies. This study addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding the mechanistic relationships between bacterial community structure and carbon stabilization processes in saline–alkali soil. A three-year field experiment was conducted in the Yellow River Delta, China, with two N levels (N1, 270 kg N ha−1; N2, 210 kg N ha−1) and three C treatments (S0, 0 kg C ha−1; S1, 5000 kg C ha−1; S2, 10,000 kg C ha−1). SOC sequestration by straw incorporation increased by 16.34–22.86% and 8.18–11.91%, with no significant difference between the S1 and S2 treatments, because the specific C mineralization rate (SCMR) of the S2 treatment was 13.80–41.61% higher than the S1 treatment. The reduced nitrogen application (N2) enhanced SOC sequestration efficiency by 3.40–12.97% compared with conventional rates, particularly when combined with half straw incorporation. Furthermore, compared with the N1S1 treatment, the N2S1 treatment induced qualitative transformations in carbon chemistry, increasing aromatic carbon compounds (28.79%) while reducing carboxylic fractions (10.06%), resulting in enhanced structural stability of sequestered carbon. Bacterial community analysis revealed distinctive shifts in bacterial composition under different treatments. Half straw incorporation (S1) increased the abundance of oligotrophic strategists (Verrucomicrobiae and Acidimicrobiia) while decreasing copiotrophic bacteria (Bacteroidia), indicating a transition from r-strategy to k-strategy microbial communities that fundamentally altered carbon cycling. Half straw incorporation and reduced N application were beneficial to stabilize SOC composition, reduce mineralization rates, optimize bacterial survival strategy, and thus achieve SOC sequestration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fertigation Effects on Water and Nutrient Use Efficiency for Agro-Crop Plants)
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21 pages, 3109 KiB  
Article
Effect of Irrigation and Cultivation Modes on Growth, Physiology, Rice Yield Parameters and Water Footprints
by Shuxuan Zhang, Ghulam Rasool, Shou Wang, Xiangping Guo, Zhengfeng Zhao, Yiwen Zhang, Zhejun Wei and Qibing Xia
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1747; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081747 - 9 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1986
Abstract
Under the background of the worsening global food and water crisis, efficient agricultural practices have become increasingly important. This study investigated the impact of different irrigation and cultivation modes on rice growth parameters, gas exchange, rice yield components, and water footprints in Jiangsu, [...] Read more.
Under the background of the worsening global food and water crisis, efficient agricultural practices have become increasingly important. This study investigated the impact of different irrigation and cultivation modes on rice growth parameters, gas exchange, rice yield components, and water footprints in Jiangsu, China. Four treatments were employed in a randomized complete block design with three replications: (i) transplanted rice with frequent shallow irrigation (T-FSI), (ii) transplanted rice with rain-catching and controlled irrigation (T-RCCI), (iii) direct-seeded rice with frequent shallow irrigation (D-FSI), (iv) and direct-seeded rice with rain-catching and controlled irrigation (D-RCCI). The results revealed that the D-RCCI treatment significantly improved growth and physiological parameters. The D-FSI treatment drastically increased rice yield whereas T-RCCI increased the stem bending resistance and reduced lodging risk. The water footprint analysis showed significant water savings by optimized management practices. Compared to T-FSI, the T-RCCI, D-FSI, and D-RCCI treatments reduced the blue-green water footprint by 33%, 25%, and 25%, respectively. Additionally, water production efficiency increased by 13%, 106%, and 154% for T-RCCI, D-FSI, and D-RCCI respectively. The water footprint per unit yield of T-RCCI, D-FSI, and D-RCCI treatments was significantly reduced by 12%, 5,3%, and 63% compared to T-FSI. Overall, D-RCCI is the optimal strategy for rice cultivation in Jiangsu province and similar climatic areas due to its positive impact on yield, water savings, and environmental benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fertigation Effects on Water and Nutrient Use Efficiency for Agro-Crop Plants)
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13 pages, 3710 KiB  
Article
Effects of Long-Term Fertilizer Application on Crop Yield Stability and Water Use Efficiency in Diversified Planting Systems
by Nana Li, Tao Li, Jianfu Xue, Gaimei Liang and Xuefang Huang
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 1007; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14051007 - 10 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2179
Abstract
Exploring crop yield stability and the relationship between the water–fertilizer effect and annual precipitation type in a broomcorn millet–potato–spring corn rotation system under long-term fertilization on chestnut cinnamon soil in loess tableland can provide a scientific basis for rational fertilization in the northwest [...] Read more.
Exploring crop yield stability and the relationship between the water–fertilizer effect and annual precipitation type in a broomcorn millet–potato–spring corn rotation system under long-term fertilization on chestnut cinnamon soil in loess tableland can provide a scientific basis for rational fertilization in the northwest Shanxi region in years with different precipitation. This study was based on a 33-year long-term fertilizer experiment, using four fertilizer treatments: no fertilizer as control (CT), single fertilizer nitrogen (N), single organic fertilizer (M), and nitrogen fertilizer with organic fertilizer (NM). The results showed that broomcorn millet and maize had the highest yield in wet years, while potatoes had the highest yield in normal years and the yield under NM treatment was the highest. The sustainable yield index (SYI) values for potato and maize were higher than the SYI for the broomcorn millet during years with different precipitation and the SYI for the NM treatment was the highest. The water use efficiency of NM treatment was the highest. The yield of broomcorn millet and maize was affected by nitrogen fertilizer, organic fertilizer, and precipitation during the growth period, while the potato yield was mainly affected by nitrogen fertilizer and organic fertilizer. Therefore, the rotation of potato–maize and the rational allocation of organic and inorganic fertilizer (NM) is the best planting system in this region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fertigation Effects on Water and Nutrient Use Efficiency for Agro-Crop Plants)
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15 pages, 1968 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Enhances Rice Yield, Dry Matter, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency
by Xiaoe He, Haijun Zhu, Ailong Shi and Xuehua Wang
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 919; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050919 - 27 Apr 2024
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3102
Abstract
Optimizing nitrogen fertilizer management can effectively improve soil ecology, promote agricultural production, and increase the income of farmers and workers. Nitrogen fertilizer is an important factor in the growth and development of rice, and it is important to find out the optimal amount [...] Read more.
Optimizing nitrogen fertilizer management can effectively improve soil ecology, promote agricultural production, and increase the income of farmers and workers. Nitrogen fertilizer is an important factor in the growth and development of rice, and it is important to find out the optimal amount and frequency of fertilizer application for the super-hybrid early rice ‘Zhu LiangYou 819’ in Hunan Province, to give full play to its high quality and high yield characteristics. Various N fertilizer application frequencies (P1, basal–tiller fertilizer = 5:5; P2, basal–tiller–spike fertilizer = 4:3:3; P3, basal–tiller–spike–grain fertilizer = 4:3:2:1) and N application amounts (N1, 90 kg ha−1; N2, 150 kg ha−1; N3, 210 kg ha−1) were applied to the hybrid rice ZLY819. The results show that, under the same frequency of N application, ZLY819 had the highest yield, agronomic efficiency, and physiological utilization rate of N fertilizer with the N2 treatment, averaging 7.53 t ha−1, 18.10 kg kg−1, and 34.34%, respectively, with the yield under N2 being 19.38% higher than that under N1. For the same amount of N application, the yield, agronomic efficiency, partial factor productivity of N (PFPN), N contribution to seed, and N use efficiency (NUE) increased with an increase in the frequency of N application, mainly in the order of P3 > P2 > P1, whereby the yield of P3 was 10.11% higher than that of P1. According to the regression equation, the yield is higher when the amount of nitrogen application is 202.15 kg ha−1 and the fertilization frequency is four times. Appropriate N fertilizer management (P3N2) improved the rice growth characteristics, dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, dry matter transport rate, dry matter contribution rate, and NUE, thus promoting an increase in the rice yield and efficient use of nitrogen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fertigation Effects on Water and Nutrient Use Efficiency for Agro-Crop Plants)
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