Advances in Plant Nutrition and Novel Fertilizers—Second Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the success of the first volume of this Special Issue and the undiminished enthusiasm for this topic, we are launching its second volume.

Crop production significantly correlates to fertilizer type and/or application. Without sufficient nutrients, crops may not grow to their full potential and fail to produce a high yield. Fertilizers replenish the nutrients that are used by crops and maintain soil fertility, which is crucial for crop growth and yield.

The application of the right amount and type of fertilizers can significantly enhance crop production by improving plant growth, yield, and quality. However, the excessive use of fertilizers can cause environmental pollution through the leaching and runoff of nutrients, which can contaminate waterways and cause eutrophication. Therefore, the appropriate and efficient use of fertilizers must be considered to ensure effective crop production while minimizing environmental damage.

Recent advances in producing and applying novel fertilizers have significantly improved crop production around the world. These developments have focused on improving nutrient uptake efficiency, reducing environmental pollution, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

One advancement is the employment of precision agriculture, which involves technologies to map soil nutrient variability and apply fertilizers precisely to optimize crop yields while minimizing misuse or excessive application. This precision approach ensures that the right amount of fertilizer is applied to the right location, at the right time, and to the right plant, leading to greater nutrient use efficiency and crop yield but less environmental impact.

Another advance is the application of slow/controlled-release fertilizers, which are designed to concurrently release and provide nutrients to plants gradually over a more extended period. These types of fertilizers have many remarkable advantages, including improving plant nutrient use efficiency and production, reducing resource consumption and carbon emissions, and protecting the ecological environment.

Smart environment-responsive fertilizer can change water absorbency, water-holding capacity, and nutrient release behavior by intelligently regulating water and nutrients in soil according to specific stimulus-response signals of the soil environment, such as temperature, humidity, pH value, and so on. Important in the agriculture and horticulture fields, these types of fertilizers have great potential in fertilizer development and application.

The production of nano-fertilizers is a recent development in the fertilizer industry. They are designed to deliver essential nutrients to plants at the molecular level. Nano-fertilizers have been demonstrated to promote plant growth and yield while reducing fertilizer application rates.

Biological fertilizers or microbial fertilizers that involve microbial activities have gained popularity in recent years. Biological fertilizers have been found to enhance nitrogen fixation, nutrient uptake, and plant growth and yield while promoting soil health, reducing environmental pollution and improving sustainability. 

Fertilization, aiming to improve nutrient use efficiency, also requires monitoring the nutritional status of plants. Because of this, it is necessary to use appropriate procedures and diagnostic tools to support decision-making processes regarding the selection of an appropriate fertilization strategy.

Advances in plant nutrition and novel fertilizers have been instrumental in improving crop production and sustainable agriculture. These developments have provided more precise and efficient approaches to rational nutrient management, reduced environmental impacts, and improved soil health. These improvements will continue to be crucial in meeting the global food demand while minimizing ecological footprints.

We invite you to contribute your research outcomes or comprehensive reviews on any aspect related to the theme of this Special Issue to further our understanding of the principles of plant nutrition and novel fertilizers.

Dr Juan Li
Dr. Xiangdong Yang
Dr. Xinhua He
Dr. Przemysław Barłóg
Guest Editors

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