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Plants
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Soil Nutrition and Plants Growth
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Soil Nutrition and Plants Growth

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2020) | Viewed by 36150

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. María Pérez-Fernández

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera Km 1, 41013 Seville, Spain
Interests: soil microorganisms; nutrient cycling; land restoration; plant growth promoters
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The journal Plants is publishing a Special Issue on the important topic of “Plant Growth and Nutrient Availability”. Plant growth has been considered of interest since the time when humans established efficient agriculture in the Neolithic period, and the need for a growing agriculture and the preservation of natural ecosystems is rooted in all societies. For this, it is essential to have well-preserved soil. Plants need a more or less similar balance of energy, water, and mineral nutrition to maintain optimal plant growth. Nutrient availability is one of the limiting factors for successful plant growth in both natural and agroecosystems.  However, the way in which the soil’s nutritional status shapes plant growth and the nature of the soils themselves are strongly influenced by numerous environmental cues. The understanding of plant growth under resource imbalances requires a multidisciplinary approach that covers plant physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, genetics, functional anatomy, population and community ecology, and even microbiology. For example, light availability strongly varies from an open savannah to the bottom layer of a dense forest. Annual precipitation ranges between 10 to over 5000 mm per year from deserts to tropical rainforests; nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, the most limiting nutrients for plant growth, show differing values not only among biomes, but also in the same cropland from one season to the next. The correct functioning of biogeochemical cycles can partly explain certain nutritional variations. In turn, biogeochemical cycles are determined by positive and negative interactions of plants and soil microbiota. All the aforementioned processes are subject to strong variations under the current global change situation, which makes understanding soil nutrition and plant growth more important than ever should we want to contribute to the maintenance of healthy ecosystems and productive croplands. Consequently, we are launching the current Special Issue of Plants that aims to be a modest contribution to the understanding of the soil’s nutritional status and how it plays a role in plant growth.

Dr. María Pérez-Fernández
Guest Editor

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

  • soil physical and chemical properties
  • plant growth promoters

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1657 KiB  
Article
Bio-Organically Acidified Product-Mediated Improvements in Phosphorus Fertilizer Utilization, Uptake and Yielding of Zea mays in Calcareous Soil
by Khuram Shehzad Khan, Muhammad Naveed, Muhammad Farhan Qadir, Muhammad Yaseen and Manzer H. Siddiqui
Plants 2023, 12(17), 3072; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12173072 - 27 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1060
Abstract
The demand for a better agricultural productivity and the available phosphorus (P) limitation in plants are prevailing worldwide. Poor P availability due to the high pH and calcareous nature of soils leads to a lower P fertilizer use efficiency of 10–25% in Pakistan. [...] Read more.
The demand for a better agricultural productivity and the available phosphorus (P) limitation in plants are prevailing worldwide. Poor P availability due to the high pH and calcareous nature of soils leads to a lower P fertilizer use efficiency of 10–25% in Pakistan. Among different technologies, the use of biologically acidified amendments could be a potential strategy to promote soil P availability and fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) in alkaline calcareous soils. However, this study hypothesized that an acidified amendment could lower soil pH and solubilize the insoluble soil P that plants can potentially uptake and use to improve their growth and development. For this purpose, the test plant Zea mays was planted in greenhouse pots with a recommended dose rate of 168 kg ha−1 of P for selected phosphatic fertilizers, viz., DAP (diammonium phosphate), SSP (single superphosphate), and RP (rock phosphate) with or without 2% of the acidified product and a phosphorus solubilizing Bacillus sp. MN54. The results showed that the integration of acidified amendments and PSB strain MN54 with P fertilizers improved P fertilizer use efficiency (FUE), growth, yield, and P uptake of Zea mays as compared to sole application of P fertilizers. Overall, organic material along with DAP significantly improved plant physiological-, biochemical-, and nutrition-related attributes over the sole application of DAP. Interestingly, the co-application of RP with the acidified product and MN54 showed a higher response than the sole application of DAP and SSP. However, based on our study findings, we concluded that using RP with organic amendments was a more economically and environmentally friendly approach compared to the most expensive DAP fertilizer. Taken together, the current study suggests that the use of this innovative new strategy could have the potential to improve FUE and soil P availability via pH manipulation, resulting in an improved crop productivity and quality/food security. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Nutrition and Plants Growth)
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13 pages, 275 KiB  
Article
Response of Corchorus olitorius Leafy Vegetable to Cadmium in the Soil
by Sibongokuhle Ndlovu, Rajasekhar V.S.R. Pullabhotla and Nontuthuko R. Ntuli
Plants 2020, 9(9), 1200; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9091200 - 14 Sep 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2102
Abstract
Corchorus olitorius, a leafy vegetable with high nutrient content, is normally collected from the wild, in areas that are prone to cadmium (Cd) toxicity. However, studies on how Cd accumulation affects vegetative and reproductive traits of leafy vegetables in South Africa are [...] Read more.
Corchorus olitorius, a leafy vegetable with high nutrient content, is normally collected from the wild, in areas that are prone to cadmium (Cd) toxicity. However, studies on how Cd accumulation affects vegetative and reproductive traits of leafy vegetables in South Africa are limited. Therefore, this study tested the effect of Cd accumulation on C. olitorius morphological traits. Plants were grown under various Cd concentrations and studied for variation in vegetative and reproductive traits as well as accumulation in roots and shoots. Plants exposed to 5 mg/kg Cd had longer roots with higher moisture content, heavier fresh and dried stems, as well as dried leaves, which indicated a hormetic effect in C. olitorius after exposure to low Cd concentration in the soil. Again, plants treated with 5–10 mg/kg Cd, accumulated toxic (>10 mg/kg dry weight) Cd within shoots and roots, with minor morphological alterations. Plants could survive, with some morphological defects, Cd toxicity up to 20 mg/kg in soil. Only plants exposed to 5 mg/kg could reproduce. Cd accumulation increased with an increase in the soil, with higher accumulation in shoots. The translocation factor was high (>1) in all Cd concentrations. In conclusion, C. olitorius can accumulate toxic Cd, and yet grow and reproduce either normally or better than the control. The proposed dose of Cd that induces hormesis in C. olitorius is 5 mg/kg in the soil. Therefore, C. olitorius is suitable for phytoremediation of Cd contaminated soils, but unsafe for consumption when it grows in such areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Nutrition and Plants Growth)
42 pages, 16564 KiB  
Article
Lake Drainage in Permafrost Regions Produces Variable Plant Communities of High Biomass and Productivity
by Sergey Loiko, Nina Klimova, Darya Kuzmina and Oleg Pokrovsky
Plants 2020, 9(7), 867; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9070867 - 08 Jul 2020
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3614
Abstract
Climate warming, increased precipitation, and permafrost thaw in the Arctic are accompanied by an increase in the frequency of full or partial drainage of thermokarst lakes. After lake drainage, highly productive plant communities on nutrient-rich sediments may develop, thus increasing the influencing greening [...] Read more.
Climate warming, increased precipitation, and permafrost thaw in the Arctic are accompanied by an increase in the frequency of full or partial drainage of thermokarst lakes. After lake drainage, highly productive plant communities on nutrient-rich sediments may develop, thus increasing the influencing greening trends of Arctic tundra. However, the magnitude and extent of this process remain poorly understood. Here we characterized plant succession and productivity along a chronosequence of eight drained thermokarst lakes (khasyreys), located in the low-Arctic tundra of the Western Siberian Lowland (WSL), the largest permafrost peatland in the world. Based on a combination of satellite imagery, archive mapping, and radiocarbon dating, we distinguished early (<50 years), mid (50–200 years), and late (200–2000 years) ecosystem stages depending on the age of drainage. In 48 sites within the different aged khasyreys, we measured plant phytomass and productivity, satellite-derived NDVImax, species composition, soil chemistry including nutrients, and plant elementary composition. The annual aboveground net primary productivity of the early and mid khasyrey ranged from 1134 and 660 g·m−2·y−1, which is two to nine times higher than that of the surrounding tundra. Late stages exhibited three to five times lower plant productivity and these ecosystems were distinctly different from early and mid-stages in terms of peat thickness and pools of soil nitrogen and potassium. We conclude that the main driving factor of the vegetation succession in the khasyreys is the accumulation of peat and the permafrost aggradation. The soil nutrient depletion occurs simultaneously with a decrease in the thickness of the active layer and an increase in the thickness of the peat. The early and mid khasyreys may provide a substantial contribution to the observed greening of the WSL low-Arctic tundra. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Nutrition and Plants Growth)
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13 pages, 2907 KiB  
Article
Prospects of Using Termite Mound Soil Organic Amendment for Enhancing Soil Nutrition in Southern Africa
by Kafula Chisanga, Ernest R. Mbega and Patrick A. Ndakidemi
Plants 2020, 9(5), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9050649 - 20 May 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3789
Abstract
Termite mound soils are reportedly utilized as an alternative to NPK fertilizers by cash
constrained smallholder farmers in some parts of Southern Africa. However, there is limited
knowledge regarding their mineral nutritional value. The intention of this work was therefore to
investigate the [...] Read more.
Termite mound soils are reportedly utilized as an alternative to NPK fertilizers by cash
constrained smallholder farmers in some parts of Southern Africa. However, there is limited
knowledge regarding their mineral nutritional value. The intention of this work was therefore to
investigate the macro and micronutrient composition of different sections of the termite mounds;
top, base and neighboring areas. The study approach involved physical and chemical analysis of 36
sites across Pemba and Choma districts in Southern Zambia through collection of soil samples in
triplicate at 0–20 cm depth, using a soil auger. Findings revealed that the soil pH had elevated
levels in the base segments of the termite mounds compared with the top and the neighbouring
soils. However, elevated N, P and K levels were recorded in the top sections with significant
differences (P < 0.05) in clay and silt composition observed. Additionally, metallic micronutrients,
Cu and Zn were also found to be elevated in termite mounds in contrast to surrounding soils. We
concluded that top termite mound soil should be considered as part of an integrated nutrient
management strategy by financially challenged smallholder farmers cultivating in light textured
soils of southern Africa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Nutrition and Plants Growth)
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15 pages, 1306 KiB  
Article
The Short-Term Effects of Mineral- and Plant-Derived Fulvic Acids on Some Selected Soil Properties: Improvement in the Growth, Yield, and Mineral Nutritional Status of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Soils of Contrasting Textures
by Mahendar Kumar Sootahar, Xibai Zeng, Yanan Wang, Shiming Su, Permanand Soothar, Lingyu Bai, Mukesh Kumar, Yang Zhang, Adnan Mustafa and Ning Ye
Plants 2020, 9(2), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9020205 - 06 Feb 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4016
Abstract
Fulvic acids (FAs) improve the structure and fertility of soils with varying textures and also play a crucial role in increasing crop production. The pot experiment was carried out using wheat grown on three soils with a silty clay, sandy loam, and clay [...] Read more.
Fulvic acids (FAs) improve the structure and fertility of soils with varying textures and also play a crucial role in increasing crop production. The pot experiment was carried out using wheat grown on three soils with a silty clay, sandy loam, and clay loam texture, respectively. The soils were treated with FAs derived from plant and mineral materials. Plant-derived solid (PSFA), mineral-derived liquid (NLFA), and plant-derived liquid (PLFA) were applied at a rate of 2.5, 5, and 5 g kg−1 and control applied at 0 g kg−1. The results showed that in treated soils, the heavy fraction C was higher by 10%–60%, and the light fraction C increased by 30%–60%. Similarly, the available N content significantly increased in treated soils by 30%–70% and the available K content increased by 20%–45%, while P content significantly increased by 80%–90% in Aridisols and Vertisols and decreased by 60%–70% in Mollisols. In contrast, for P, the organic–inorganic compounds were greater in Aridisols and Vertisols and lower in Mollisols. However, organic–inorganic composites decreased in Vertisols relative to the other two soils. Further results showed that PSFA and NLFA accelerated the plant growth parameters in Mollisols and Aridisols, respectively. Our study demonstrates that the application of PSFA and NLFA had a positive effect on the physical and chemical properties and plant growth characteristics of Mollisol and Vertisol soils. Moreover, the application of solid-state FA yields better results in Mollisols. However, liquid FA increases the nutrient availability and the effects on the chemical, biological, and physical properties of Aridisol and Vertisol soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Nutrition and Plants Growth)
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Review

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25 pages, 1725 KiB  
Review
Controlled Release Fertilizers: A Review on Coating Materials and Mechanism of Release
by Dora Lawrencia, See Kiat Wong, Darren Yi Sern Low, Bey Hing Goh, Joo Kheng Goh, Uracha Rungsardthong Ruktanonchai, Apinan Soottitantawat, Learn Han Lee and Siah Ying Tang
Plants 2021, 10(2), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020238 - 26 Jan 2021
Cited by 187 | Viewed by 20648
Abstract
Rising world population is expected to increase the demand for nitrogen fertilizers to improve crop yield and ensure food security. With existing challenges on low nutrient use efficiency (NUE) of urea and its environmental concerns, controlled release fertilizers (CRFs) have become a potential [...] Read more.
Rising world population is expected to increase the demand for nitrogen fertilizers to improve crop yield and ensure food security. With existing challenges on low nutrient use efficiency (NUE) of urea and its environmental concerns, controlled release fertilizers (CRFs) have become a potential solution by formulating them to synchronize nutrient release according to the requirement of plants. However, the most significant challenge that persists is the “tailing” effect, which reduces the economic benefits in terms of maximum fertilizer utilization. High materials cost is also a significant obstacle restraining the widespread application of CRF in agriculture. The first part of this review covers issues related to the application of conventional fertilizer and CRFs in general. In the subsequent sections, different raw materials utilized to form CRFs, focusing on inorganic and organic materials and synthetic and natural polymers alongside their physical and chemical preparation methods, are compared. Important factors affecting rate of release, mechanism of release and mathematical modelling approaches to predict nutrient release are also discussed. This review aims to provide a better overview of the developments regarding CRFs in the past ten years, and trends are identified and analyzed to provide an insight for future works in the field of agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Nutrition and Plants Growth)
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