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Applied Sciences
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Soil Fertility and Nutrients in Sustainable Agriculture
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Soil Fertility and Nutrients in Sustainable Agriculture

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 786

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Patricia Poblete-Grant

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Campus Providencia, Manuel Montt 948, Santiago, Chile
Interests: soil fertility; sustainable nutrient management; organic amendments; soil–plant–microbe interactions; bioproducts for agriculture
Dr. Sofía Pontigo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center of Plant, Soil Interaction and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN-UFRO), Universidad de La Frontera, Casilla 54-D, Temuco 4780000, Chile
Interests: plant physiology; nutrient uptake; abiotic stress; plant–soil interactions; sustainable crop production
Dr. Jonathan Suazo-Hernández

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Sede Concepción 4270788, Chile
Interests: environmental chemistry; nanotechnology; pollutants; water treatments; microplastics; food security
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Claudio De Pasquale

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: plant biology; soil chemistry; soil science; sustainable agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil fertility and nutrient management are fundamental pillars to ensure the sustainability of current and future agricultural systems. This Special Issue aims to gather innovative research articles and critical reviews addressing the integrated management of nutrients (organic, inorganic, and biological) under scenarios of climate change, soil degradation, and increasing production pressure.

We welcome contributions that integrate multidisciplinary approaches, including soil microbiology, controlled-release nutrient technologies, biofertilizers, organic amendments, agro-industrial waste recycling, and regenerative agriculture practices. The overall objective is to provide a solid scientific framework that supports sustainable soil fertility strategies, enhancing crop productivity while conserving soil health and ecosystem functions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Patricia Poblete-Grant
Dr. Sofía Pontigo
Dr. Jonathan Suazo-Hernández
Dr. Claudio De Pasquale
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • soil fertility
  • nutrient cycling
  • biofertilizers
  • organic amendments
  • sustainable agriculture
  • soil health
  • climate change
  • phosphorus use efficiency
  • nitrogen management
  • soil–plant interactions

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 1292 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Plant Nutrition Strategies with Zn and Mn Obtained from Black Mass in Citrus
by Ana Isabel Escudero, Rubén Simeón, Alba Agenjos-Moreno, Enric Cruzado-Campos and Alberto San Bautista
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 3143; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16073143 - 24 Mar 2026
Viewed by 206
Abstract
The valorization of industrial waste in agriculture represents a key strategy within the circular economy framework. In this context, the present study aimed to assess the feasibility and potential of fertilizers derived from black mass, a by-product of alkaline battery recycling, as alternative [...] Read more.
The valorization of industrial waste in agriculture represents a key strategy within the circular economy framework. In this context, the present study aimed to assess the feasibility and potential of fertilizers derived from black mass, a by-product of alkaline battery recycling, as alternative sources of Zn and Mn in citrus cultivation, evaluating their effects on fruit quality and food safety. The experiment was conducted in Pedreguer (Alicante, Spain) in ‘Navelina’ cultivar using Carrizo and C-35 rootstocks, comparing conventional fertilization with black mass-based formulations applied as sulfates (BMSs) and lignosulfonates (BMLSs). The results showed that the evaluated micronutrient sources significantly increased foliar Zn concentrations up to 17.9 mg·kg−1 and Mn concentrations up to 28.1 mg·kg−1, values markedly higher than those observed in the Control treatment (15.20 mg·kg−1 Zn and 11.5 mg·kg−1 Mn). No adverse effects on yield or fruit quality were detected: Average fruit weight remained close to 200 g per fruit, and the proportion of non-marketable fruit did not exceed 2% in any treatment. Regarding food safety, Pb, Cr, and Ni concentrations in pulp and peel were below the maximum levels established by European Union regulations, with maximum values of 0.02 mg·kg−1 for Ni and 0.04 mg·kg−1 for Pb on a dry matter basis, while Cd, Co, and Hg were not detected. Overall, black mass-derived fertilizers enhanced Zn and Mn availability in plants without compromising plant physiology or fruit quality and maintained safe levels of heavy metals. These results support their use as a sustainable alternative for mineral fertilization in citrus orchards and reinforce their contribution to reducing the consumption of virgin raw materials and advancing toward more circular agricultural systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Nutrients in Sustainable Agriculture)
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23 pages, 1179 KB  
Article
Yield and Nitrogen Management of Festulolium braunii (K. Richt.) A. Camus Treated with Spent Mushroom Substrate and Mineral Fertilizers
by Beata Wiśniewska-Kadżajan, Stanisław Sienkiewicz, Andrzej Wysokiński, Sławomir Józef Krzebietke and Anna Nogalska
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 2500; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16052500 - 5 Mar 2026
Viewed by 273
Abstract
More efficient use of nutrients by crops and their reduced dispersion in the environment are essential elements of sustainable agriculture. The purpose of the present experiment was to determine the effects of mineral (Nmin) and spent mushroom substrate (SMS) nitrogen on [...] Read more.
More efficient use of nutrients by crops and their reduced dispersion in the environment are essential elements of sustainable agriculture. The purpose of the present experiment was to determine the effects of mineral (Nmin) and spent mushroom substrate (SMS) nitrogen on Festulolium braunii yield, but also on the uptake of that chemical element, use efficiency, and its accumulation in the soil. Results indicated that organic waste applied together with mineral fertilizers increased plant utilization of nutrients, their soil content and, consequently, the yield. SMS was applied once at the beginning of the experiment at three levels: SMS1—10; SMS2—15; SMS3—20 Mg·ha−1, supplying plants with 75, 112, and 150 kg N·ha−1. Supplementary mineral nitrogen was applied at three levels as well: N1—30; N2—68; N3—105. Additionally, 180 kg N·ha−1 was applied without SMS (N4). Treatment significantly affected grass yield, daily growth, and productivity of 1 kg of nitrogen. Their values were the highest on the N2 + SMS2 plot (68 + 112 kg N·ha−1). Nitrogen content was the highest in grass treated with mineral nitrogen without SMS (N4). When the share of SMS nitrogen was higher, its content in the biomass was lower. The absorption of nitrogen (Nup) and its use efficiency (NUE) by plants on the plots with SMS and mineral fertilizers (105 + 75 kg N·ha−1, as well as 68 + 112 kg N·ha−1) were similar to the values recorded on the plot with mineral nitrogen only (N4). After two years, there was no increase in total nitrogen soil accumulation as a result of applied treatment. Mushroom substrate nitrogen allowed for a reduction of nitrogen fertilizer doses by 40 to even 60%. Such fertilizer treatment fits into the closed economy model based on minimizing the consumption of raw materials and on increasing environmentally friendly waste disposal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Nutrients in Sustainable Agriculture)
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