Special Issue "New Methods for Plant Nutrition Management"

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mauro Mori
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
Interests: sustainable agriculture; biostimulants; plant nutrition; abiotic stress; agricultural practices; food crops; biomass crops; traditional varieties
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Dr. Ida Di Mola
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
Interests: agronomy; crop science; irrigation and water management; plant physiology; abiotic stress; sustainable agriculture; salinity; food crops; agricultural practices
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

In recent decades, food demand has increased in line with the increase in the world population. To satisfy this need, farmers often have recourse to high nutrient inputs, especially mineral fertilizers, but these ones can have a strong impact on the environment, as well as on human health. For example, one only need consider the massive use of nitrogen fertilizers, which can cause several problems if they are used incorrectly, such as groundwater pollution, but also greenhouse gas emissions and nitrate accumulation in green leafy vegetables, all of which are very dangerous for human health (especially in children). In addition, consumers today are also much more attentive to food quality. Therefore, in order to match all these needs, the scientific community has the task of proposing an innovative approach that can reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, preferring organic compounds, such as organic matter or biostimulants, but also boosting nutrient use efficiency and improving fertilization techniques. Therefore, we encourage the submission of paper regarding the following topics: (1) innovative approaches for fertilization and their impact on the environment; (2) agronomic practices for improving nutrient use efficiency and food quality; (3) organic or integrated farming; (4) use of biostimulants as alternative or integrative compounds to chemical fertilizers.

Dr. Mauro Mori
Dr. Ida Di Mola
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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 1800 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

  • sustainable agriculture
  • innovative fertilization
  • biostimulant
  • organic farming
  • integrated farming
  • mycorrhiza
  • nutrient use efficiency

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Article
Biostimulant Application under Different Nitrogen Fertilization Levels: Assessment of Yield, Leaf Quality, and Nitrogen Metabolism of Tunnel-Grown Lettuce
Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1613; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081613 - 13 Aug 2021
Viewed by 297
Abstract
Promising strategies that could aid a shift from N-intensive agriculture to an eco-friendlier approach include the integrated use of plant-based biostimulants. To date, results about the accumulation of nitrate in green leafy vegetables due to biostimulant application are conflicting. Therefore, the current study [...] Read more.
Promising strategies that could aid a shift from N-intensive agriculture to an eco-friendlier approach include the integrated use of plant-based biostimulants. To date, results about the accumulation of nitrate in green leafy vegetables due to biostimulant application are conflicting. Therefore, the current study aimed at assessing the effect of a new plant-based biostimulant, containing triacontanol (TRIA), that is claimed to reduce nitrate accumulation in leaves, based on the yield and leaf quality of lettuce grown in a plastic tunnel under different N conditions. The experimental design was a factorial combination of three nitrogen fertilization levels (N0, N30, and N60, corresponding to 0, 30, and 60 kg N ha−1) and two biostimulant applications (treated with ‘ILSASTIM+’ = YB and untreated control = NB). Nitrogen fertilization resulted in a 40% yield increase over N0. Biostimulant application increased the yield 21% over NB, and both improved all growth parameters. In addition, the biostimulant had a positive effect on color and Soil Plant Analysis development (SPAD) index, thus enhancing the qualitative aspect. Interestingly, biostimulant application boosted nitrogen use efficiency with a 23% increase over untreated plants. The use of biostimulant proved to be suitable to be applied in a sustainable strategy of production and quality improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Methods for Plant Nutrition Management)
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Article
Evening Primrose and Rapeseed Yield Components and Grain Oil Concentrations Were Differentially Modulated by the N, P, and K Supplies in a Mediterranean Area
Agronomy 2021, 11(7), 1271; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071271 - 22 Jun 2021
Viewed by 324
Abstract
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis L.) is an industrial crop-producing seed with high oil concentration characterized by high gamma-linoleic acid. However, limited information is available on its response to the nutrient supply, especially P and K. The aim of this work was to [...] Read more.
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis L.) is an industrial crop-producing seed with high oil concentration characterized by high gamma-linoleic acid. However, limited information is available on its response to the nutrient supply, especially P and K. The aim of this work was to compare the response of Evening Primrose to the application of N, P, and K alone or in combination in a P and K deficient soil in terms of grain yield, yield components, and oil composition in comparison to Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Evening Primrose yielded 54.4% less seed and 67.3% less oil than Rapeseed. Such differences were reduced when nutrients, especially N or P, were applied. N stimulated Evening Primrose more than Rapeseed. Application of K favored Evening Primrose oil yield when no N or P were added, and this especially occurred by an enhancement of the pod number. P favored yield per pod and oil yield in the Evening Primrose more than Rapeseed in almost all conditions. Fertilization scarcely affected lipid composition. In particular, an increase in the oleic acid concentration was found only when N + K or N + P + K were applied compared to the sole N or sole K applications. These results suggest that P and K differentially influenced yield components of both species and that Evening Primrose was less adapted than Rapeseed to a scarce nutrient supply. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Methods for Plant Nutrition Management)
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Article
Productivity of Paddies as Influenced by Varied Rates of Recommended Nutrients in Conjunction with Biofertilizers in Local Landraces
Agronomy 2021, 11(6), 1165; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061165 - 07 Jun 2021
Viewed by 506
Abstract
This research work explores the productive performance of local paddy landraces under different fertility levels as well as the role of microbial inoculants in improving the yields of paddy landraces and reducing nutrient additions by increasing nutrient use efficiency under changing climatic scenarios [...] Read more.
This research work explores the productive performance of local paddy landraces under different fertility levels as well as the role of microbial inoculants in improving the yields of paddy landraces and reducing nutrient additions by increasing nutrient use efficiency under changing climatic scenarios in coastal areas. The landrace Padmarekha recorded taller plants, more tillers per hill, higher total dry matter accumulation other than grain and straw yields besides better uptake of N, P2O5, K2O, S and Zn. Further, nutrient management with the application of 100% of the recommended doses of fertilizers combined with biofertilizers including Azospirillum + Bacillus megatherium var. Phosphoticum + Frateuria quaratia + Thiobacillus thiooxidans + Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza recorded higher growth and yield traits in addition to improving the uptake of nutrients and partial factor productivity. Thus, it can be concluded that the application of 100% of the recommended dose of fertilizer, inoculated with biofertilizers, would be helpful in increasing the efficiency of applied nutrients in addition to improving yield and nutrient use efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Methods for Plant Nutrition Management)
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Article
Agro-Environmental Sustainability of Anaerobic Digestate Fractions in Intensive Cropping Systems: Insights Regarding the Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Crop Performance
Agronomy 2021, 11(4), 745; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11040745 - 12 Apr 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 422
Abstract
Digestate is an anaerobic digestion by-product rich in inorganic-nitrogen (N) that can be used as an organic fertilizer. Digestate agronomic efficiency and its impact on the environment have not yet been studied in detail, therefore this study tries to fill this gap. The [...] Read more.
Digestate is an anaerobic digestion by-product rich in inorganic-nitrogen (N) that can be used as an organic fertilizer. Digestate agronomic efficiency and its impact on the environment have not yet been studied in detail, therefore this study tries to fill this gap. The agro-environmental sustainability of digestate fractions was evaluated in a holistic way by comparing the best management practices available in the Veneto Region agroecosystem. A farm experiment involving mineral fertilizer and both liquid and solid digestate fractions was established involving silage winter wheat and silage maize as main crops. Agro-environmental sustainability was investigated coupling crop performance analysis (e.g., yield, N uptake and N use efficiency (NUE)) with a novel proposed agro-environmental sustainability index (AESI) (i.e., product of the dry yield and NUE). The results showed that the liquid digestate fraction gave agronomic performances comparable to mineral fertilizers and a satisfying AESI while solid digestate showed lower performances. In conclusion, liquid digestate fractions might be an effective substitute for mineral fertilizers in the Veneto region agroecosystem reaching encouraging levels of agro-environmental sustainability. On the contrary, longer-term experiments are requested to evaluate solid digestate fraction sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Methods for Plant Nutrition Management)
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Article
Plant Growth, Yields and Fruit Quality of Processing Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) as Affected by the Combination of Biodegradable Mulching and Digestate
Agronomy 2021, 11(1), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11010100 - 07 Jan 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 545
Abstract
In order to improve environmental sustainability of tomato cultivation and the quality of the harvested fruits, we tested (a) the digestate from anaerobic fermentation of buffalo slurries as partial replacing of NP fertilizers and (b) the biodegradable mulching to improve the nutrients and [...] Read more.
In order to improve environmental sustainability of tomato cultivation and the quality of the harvested fruits, we tested (a) the digestate from anaerobic fermentation of buffalo slurries as partial replacing of NP fertilizers and (b) the biodegradable mulching to improve the nutrients and water availability for crop and to control weeds. In 2017–2018, a private farm of Campania region hosted a trial with four treatments deriving from the combination of two experimental factors: (1) fertilization strategy (standard farm NPK fertilization vs. digestate combined with reduced rates of NP fertilizers); (2) soil mulching (biodegradable mulching vs. no mulching). We measured fresh and dry aboveground biomass (fruits and stem + leaves), yields, fruits quality. Results pointed out: (1) combination of digestate with reduced rates of NP fertilizers did not decrease yields compared to complete mineral fertilization; (2) yields were improved in 2017 by synergic effects of soil mulching and combination of digestate and reduced rates of NP fertilizers; (3) in both the years, digestate combined with reduced rates of NP fertilizers and soil mulching determined the significant improving of fruits quality parameters interesting the processing industry, namely, fruit color, and firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity while antioxidant activity, contents of ascorbic acid, polyphenols, flavonoids, and lycopene showed responses variable with year or cultivar. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Methods for Plant Nutrition Management)
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Article
Estimation of Watermelon Nutrient Requirements Based on the QUEFTS Model
Agronomy 2020, 10(11), 1776; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10111776 - 13 Nov 2020
Viewed by 437
Abstract
Estimating balanced nutrient requirements for a watermelon plantation is essential to increase its fruit yield and nutrient use efficiency. This is vital for China, which produces 60% of world’s watermelons with excessive fertilizer application. Therefore, datasets between 2000 and 2019 from field experiments [...] Read more.
Estimating balanced nutrient requirements for a watermelon plantation is essential to increase its fruit yield and nutrient use efficiency. This is vital for China, which produces 60% of world’s watermelons with excessive fertilizer application. Therefore, datasets between 2000 and 2019 from field experiments in major watermelon producing regions across China were collected to assess relationships between fruit yield and nutrient uptake, and to estimate nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) requirements for a target yield using a modified Quantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) model. The results showed that the QUEFTS model predicted a linear increase in fruit yield to 60–70% of the total potential yield when balanced amounts of N, P, and K nutrients were absorbed. To produce 1000 kg of watermelon, 2.11 kg N, 0.27 kg P, and 2.69 kg K were required in shoot, and the corresponding internal efficiencies (IE) were 475, 3682, and 372 kg fruit per kg of N, P, and K, respectively. The modified QUEFTS model also simulated a balanced N, P, and K removal by fruit (accounting for 50.9%, 58.2%, and 66.4% of these nutrient accumulations in shoots, respectively). Field validation experiments further verified that the modified QUEFTS model could be used for estimating balanced nutrient requirements. Results from this study can provide practical guidance on fertilizer recommendations for improving fruit yield while preventing excessive or deficient nutrient supplies in China’s watermelon plantations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Methods for Plant Nutrition Management)
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