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Nutrient Efficiency in Crop Production: Physiological Strategies to Enhance Yields
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Nutrient Efficiency in Crop Production: Physiological Strategies to Enhance Yields

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Physiology and Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 574

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Congfeng Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: maize; physiology; high yield-high efficiency synergism; simplified cultivation techniques
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zheng Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No.12 Zhongguancun South St., Beijing 100081, China
Interests: maize productivity; nitrogen; plant physiology; soil health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will focus on the pivotal topic of the optimization of nutrient efficiency in crop production. As the global population surges, the demand for food will escalate exponentially. In this context, bolstering nutrient efficiency in crops is becoming a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture.​

This Special Issue will delve into the intricate physiological mechanisms that allow crops to adeptly absorb, utilize, and recycle nutrients. Articles will spotlight innovative research, for example, studies modifying root architecture. Through the optimization of root branching and depth, crops can access nutrients from across a larger soil volume, thus enhancing uptake. The interactions between root systems and soils affect nutrient availability and cycles. Another area of interest is the role of plant hormones in nutrient signaling. These hormones act as messengers, regulating key processes related to nutrient acquisition. This Special Issue will offer a comprehensive overview of the latest scientific breakthroughs in this field.

This Special Issue will represent a key resource for researchers seeking to expand knowledge, agronomists aiming to refine practices, and farmers looking to boost productivity. It will pave the way for more efficient, eco-friendly crop production systems.

Dr. Congfeng Li
Dr. Zheng Liu
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 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. Plants 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 2700 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

  • crop yield
  • root–soil interactions
  • plant hormones
  • sustainable agriculture

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 2462 KiB  
Communication
Species Interactions Shape Nitrogen Utilization Characteristics and Influence Soil Quality in Jujube–Alfalfa Intercropping System
by Hang Qiao, Hui Cheng, Tiantian Li, Wenxia Fan, Yaru Zhao, Zhengjun Cui, Jinbin Wang, Qingqing Yang, Chengze Jia, Wei Zhang, Guodong Chen and Sumei Wan
Plants 2025, 14(13), 2048; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14132048 - 3 Jul 2025
Viewed by 299
Abstract
Intercropping legumes offers a sustainable approach to enhance resource efficiency and yields, yet the effects of different legume densities and nitrogen addition levels on soil quality within such systems remain unclear. We conducted a comparative analysis of crop yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and [...] Read more.
Intercropping legumes offers a sustainable approach to enhance resource efficiency and yields, yet the effects of different legume densities and nitrogen addition levels on soil quality within such systems remain unclear. We conducted a comparative analysis of crop yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and soil quality between intercropping and monoculture systems, and further examined the effects of four planting densities (D1: 210 kg ha−1, six rows; D2: 280 kg ha−1, eight rows; D3: 350 kg ha−1, ten rows) and four nitrogen application levels (N0: 0 kg ha−1; N1: 80 kg ha−1; N2: 160 kg ha−1; N3: 240 kg ha−1) within a jujube–alfalfa (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. and Medicago sativa L. respectively) intercropping system. The results showed that intercropping significantly enhanced land productivity within the agricultural system, with the highest yields (alfalfa: 13790 kg ha−1; jujube: 3825 kg ha−1) achieved at an alfalfa planting density of 280 kg ha−1. While the intercropping systems generally improved productivity, an alfalfa planting density of 350 kg ha−1 resulted in an actual yield loss due to excessive nutrient competition at higher densities. As the planting density of alfalfa increased, its competitive ratio declined, whereas the competitive ratio of jujube trees increased. Compared to monocropping systems, intercropping systems demonstrated a clear trend of enhanced nitrogen utilization efficiency and improved soil quality, particularly at an alfalfa planting density of 280 kg ha−1. At an alfalfa density of 280 kg ha−1, the intercropping system exhibited increases of 15.13% in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), 46.60% in nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP), and 32.74% in nitrogen nutrition index (NNI), as well as improvements in soil quality of 19.53% at a depth of 0–20 cm and 15.59% at a depth of 20–40 cm, compared to the monoculture system. Further analysis revealed that nitrogen utilization efficiency initially increased and then decreased with a rising competitive ratio of alfalfa. Accordingly, soil quality was improved along with the enhanced nitrogen utilization efficiency. Thus, at an alfalfa planting density of 280 kg ha−1, resource use efficiency and soil quality were maximized as a result of optimal interspecific competitiveness and the highest nitrogen use efficiency, with minimal influence from the application of nitrogen fertilizer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Efficiency in Crop Production: Physiological Strategies to Enhance Yields)
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