Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modern agriculture must respond to the growing global population. It must also face the following important challenges: producing, quantitatively and qualitatively, enough food to feed the world's population and preserving our soil heritage. These challenges must be overcome to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development goals. However, intensive agricultural practices have had a lasting effect on soil health (microbial and insect life, mineral and organic composition, structure, physico-chemical properties, etc.). The emergence of new agricultural practices (including urban practices), fertilisation methods, sources of amendments and plant nutrition and the use of bacteria and fungi to improve the efficiency of nutrient use by crops is interesting and represent sustainable solutions to maintain soil life and improve its fertility and feed plants for sufficient and quality agricultural production to promote sustainable agriculture. The valorisation of new and/or old sources of fertilisers and soil improvers either directly (direct input to the soil) or indirectly (physico-chemical transformation) can be used to avoid pollution and environmental impacts. Consumers around the world are, nowadays, sensitive and attentive to the quality of agricultural products, their impact on the environment, their health and that of the environment. It is therefore important to consider soil preservation and the naturalness of agricultural production in the context of new sources of nutrients, new technologies for plant fertilisation and improved soil fertility. The first edition was a tremendous success in communicating new knowledge in the field of sustainable agriculture, plant nutrition and maintaining soil fertility. We hope to renew this edition with even greater success. This topic invites contributions on new agricultural practices that maintain and/or restore soil life and fertility, new methods and technologies for mineral and organic feeding, plant fertilisation, new sources of and processes for providing healthy food without a negative impact on the soil, the use of cultivars that efficiently valorise soil resources, the use of plant cover and/or crop associations, knowledge on plant-microbe–soil interactions, recent developments in urban farming and artificial intelligence, biocontrol and soilborn disease.

Dr. Othmane Merah
Dr. Purushothaman Chirakkuzhyil Abhilash
Prof. Dr. Hailin Zhang
Prof. Dr. Dionisios Gasparatos
Topic Editors

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Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agriculture agriculture	3.3	4.9	2011	19.2 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Agronomy agronomy	3.3	6.2	2011	17.6 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Crops crops	-	-	2021	22.1 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Horticulturae horticulturae	3.1	3.5	2015	16.9 Days	CHF 2200	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	6.8	2009	19.7 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Grasses grasses	-	-	2022	26.3 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Plants plants	4.0	6.5	2012	18.9 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Soil Systems soilsystems	2.9	5.3	2017	39.7 Days	CHF 1800	Submit

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Open AccessArticle

Effects of Biofertilizers on Soil Quality and Vegetative Development of Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and Yaca (Artocarpus heterophyllus) in the Central Peruvian Jungle

by Andrea Castro-Cárdenas, Juanita Ciriaco-Poma, Juan Z. Dávalos-Prado and Víctor Soto-Aquino

Soil Syst. 2025, 9(2), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9020055 - 20 May 2025

Abstract

The sustainability of agricultural production and the conservation of tropical ecosystems face significant challenges due to processes such as climate change and soil degradation. This study evaluated the impacts of three biofertilizers—biol (T02), vermicompost (T03), and bokashi (T04)—on soil quality and the vegetative [...] Read more.

The sustainability of agricultural production and the conservation of tropical ecosystems face significant challenges due to processes such as climate change and soil degradation. This study evaluated the impacts of three biofertilizers—biol (T02), vermicompost (T03), and bokashi (T04)—on soil quality and the vegetative development of two typical plants, Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and Yaca (Artocarpus heterophyllus), cultivated in the Asháninka locality in the Central Peruvian Jungle. Using a completely randomized experimental design, it was generally found that treatments T04 and, to a lesser extent, T03 improved the soil quality and consequently enhanced the vegetative development of Mahogany and Yaca. Compared with the untreated controls (T01), these biofertilizers generated less dense and more porous soils and increased the water retention, organic matter, pH, and the availability of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients. They also promoted greater biodiversity. These qualities, in turn, stimulated the vegetative development of Mahogany and Yaca, whose leaves showed considerable content of chlorophyll A and B and total chlorophyll. Thus, T03 and especially T04 proved to be effective biofertilizers for the treatment of tropical soils, promoting efficient plant growth and development in species such as Mahogany and Yaca. These findings highlight the great potential of the biofertilizers T03 and T04 in achieving sustainable agricultural production, as well as for the conservation and improvement of tropical forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 3451 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Cutting-Edge Technology Using Blended Controlled-Release Fertilizers and Conventional Monoammonium Phosphate as a Strategy to Improve Phosphorus Coffee Nutrition During the Coffee Development Phase

by Mateus Portes Dutra, Leonardo Fernandes Sarkis, Damiany Pádua Oliveira, Hugo de Almeida Santiago, Gustavo Tadeu de Sousa Resende, Maria Elisa Araújo de Melo, Adrianne Braga da Fonseca, Cristhian José Hernández López, Euler dos Santos Silva, Aline dos Santos Zaqueu, Gustavo Henrique Furtado de Lima, João Marcelo Silva, Adélia Aziz Alexandre Pozza and Douglas Guelfi

Soil Syst. 2025, 9(2), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9020047 - 13 May 2025

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Abstract

Controlled-release fertilizers contain polymeric coatings that modify the dynamics of phosphorus (P) release in soil. This study aimed to characterize P release from physical mixtures between conventional and controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs), quantify soil P availability, and assess agronomic responses of coffee plants during [...] Read more.

Controlled-release fertilizers contain polymeric coatings that modify the dynamics of phosphorus (P) release in soil. This study aimed to characterize P release from physical mixtures between conventional and controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs), quantify soil P availability, and assess agronomic responses of coffee plants during the establishment phase. Two main types of P fertilizer were evaluated: conventional monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and a blend (physical mixture of conventional MAP and controlled-release P fertilizers). Both fertilizers were applied at 0, 134, 268, and 403 kg ha⁻¹ of P₂O₅. Our findings revealed a blend longevity of 3 and 6 months. P fertilization contributed to an increase in leaf area (1134.7 cm² plant⁻¹) and shoot biomass (602.8 kg ha⁻¹) and raised P in the soil (0.061 mg dm⁻³ per kg of P₂O₅ applied). P accumulation in the coffee plants ranged between 3 and 4 kg ha⁻¹. Other macronutrient accumulations in aerial parts were of the following ranges (in kg ha⁻¹): 47–60 for N, 36–46 for K, 18–22 for Ca, 5–7 for Mg, and 3–4 for S. Micronutrients accumulated (in g ha⁻¹): 454–657 for Fe; 117–160 for B; 117–149 for Mn; 58–71 for Cu; and 34–43 for Zn. Up to 74% of the nutrients were distributed in the leaves. We concluded that the use of blends did not impose any limitation on P nutrition for coffee plants and led to biomass gains (18.9%) in plagiotropic branches. P fertilization proved essential for supporting the initial growth of coffee plants and increasing coffee leaf area and P levels in the soil and promotes adequate levels of P accumulation in plants, leading to improvements in coffee crop nutrition in the establishment phase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition)

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25 pages, 1518 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Inorganic and Organic Fertilization Effects on the Growth, Nutrient Uptake, Chlorophyll Fluorescence and Fruit Quality in Solanum melongena L. Plants

by Theocharis Chatzistathis, Virginia Sarropoulou, Evgenia Papaioannou and Anastasia Giannakoula

Agronomy 2025, 15(4), 872; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15040872 - 30 Mar 2025

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Abstract

Plant growth, nutrient uptake and fruit quality may be influenced by fertilization practices. A 64-day greenhouse pot experiment, with a 6X1 factorial, i.e., Solanum melongena L. (cv. ‘Lagkadas’) plants, grown on soil substrate and submitted to six fertilization treatments (Patent Kali, Ammonium Nitrate [...] Read more.

Plant growth, nutrient uptake and fruit quality may be influenced by fertilization practices. A 64-day greenhouse pot experiment, with a 6X1 factorial, i.e., Solanum melongena L. (cv. ‘Lagkadas’) plants, grown on soil substrate and submitted to six fertilization treatments (Patent Kali, Ammonium Nitrate + Patent Kali, Tree Branch Chips, Poultry Manure, Tree Branch Chips + Poultry Manure, and non-fertilization—CONTROL) was conducted. The objectives were to investigate the impact of fertilization on: (i) plant growth, (ii) nutrition, (iii) photosystem II activity and (iv) fruit quality. The main results were the following: a) the highest total plant and fruit biomass values were recorded in poultry manure, followed by those in the ammonium nitrate + patent kali treatment; (b) in most cases, total plant macronutrient content was significantly higher in the poultry manure-treated plants; (c) the optimum and most balanced plant nutrition, fruit total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity levels were achieved in the poultry manure, tree branch chips + poultry manure and ammonium nitrate + patent kali treatments; (d) significant decline in the values of the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II, performance index and fruit quality was found in the tree branch chips and CONTROL plants. It was concluded that the kind of fertilization significantly influenced biomass, nutrient uptake, chlorophyll content and fluorescence, as well as fruit quality of Solanum melongena L. plants. Thus, it should be thoroughly investigated, towards substituting high fertilization rates by manure applications and improving fruit quality, with human health benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 2484 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Diagnosis of Macronutrients in Patchouli Leaves and Response to Fertilizers in Inceptisols of Aceh: A Case Study in Aceh Besar Regency, Indonesia

by Zuraida Zuraida, Sufardi Sufardi, Helmi Helmi and Yadi Jufri

Agriculture 2025, 15(6), 651; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15060651 - 19 Mar 2025

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Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the nutrient status in the leaves of patchouli grown in Inceptisols soil in Aceh, Indonesia. The experiment utilized a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The study’s factor was applying fertilizer nutrients across eight treatments designed according [...] Read more.

This study aims to evaluate the nutrient status in the leaves of patchouli grown in Inceptisols soil in Aceh, Indonesia. The experiment utilized a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The study’s factor was applying fertilizer nutrients across eight treatments designed according to omission trials. The response to fertilizer nutrients was analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations in patchouli leaves 120 days after planting seedlings in pots. The patchouli seeds used were local varieties from Aceh (“Tapak Tuan”). Urea (45% N), triple phosphate/SP-36 (15.65% P), potassium chloride (49.8% K), calcium carbonate (40% Ca), magnesium oxide (60% Mg), and S elementary (88.9% S) are used as fertilizer sources of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S, respectively. The Inceptisols soil used was topsoil (0–20 cm). The experimental results showed that fertilizer nutrient stress treatment influenced the nutrient content of patchouli leaves in Inceptisols. The concentrations of N, P, K, and Ca in the patchouli leaves were below the adequacy threshold, showing deficiency symptoms. The critical nutrient levels in patchouli plants for macroelements N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S were 4.5%, 0.35%, 1.2%, 2.5%, and 0.25%, respectively. Only Mg reached the nutrient adequacy standard in patchouli. The limiting nutrients for patchouli plants in Aceh Besar Inceptisols are N, P, K, and Ca. It is necessary to add nutrients of N, P, K, and C macro fertilizers to increase the growth and yield of patchouli in Aceh Besar, Indonesia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 5828 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Silicon Nano-Fertilizer-Enhanced Soybean Resilience and Yield Under Drought Stress

by Jian Wei, Lu Liu, Zihan Wei, Qiushi Qin, Qianyue Bai, Chungang Zhao, Shuheng Zhang and Hongtao Wang

Plants 2025, 14(5), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14050751 - 1 Mar 2025

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Abstract

Drought stress threatens agriculture and food security, significantly impacting soybean yield and physiology. Despite the documented role of nanosilica (n-SiO₂) in enhancing crop resilience, its full growth-cycle effects on soybeans under drought stress remain elusive. This study aimed to evaluate the [...] Read more.

Drought stress threatens agriculture and food security, significantly impacting soybean yield and physiology. Despite the documented role of nanosilica (n-SiO₂) in enhancing crop resilience, its full growth-cycle effects on soybeans under drought stress remain elusive. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of n-SiO₂ at a concentration of 100 mg kg⁻¹ in a soil medium for enhancing drought tolerance in soybeans through a full life-cycle assessment in a greenhouse setup. To elucidate the mechanisms of n-SiO₂ action, key physiological, biochemical, and yield parameters were systematically measured. The results demonstrated that n-SiO₂ significantly increased silicon content in shoots and roots, restored osmotic balance by reducing the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio by 40%, and alleviated proline accumulation by 35% compared to the control, thereby mitigating osmotic stress. Enzyme activities related to nitrogen metabolism, including nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS), improved by 25–30% under n-SiO₂ treatment compared to the control. Additionally, antioxidant activity, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, increased by 15%, while oxidative stress markers such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased by 20–25% compared to the control. Furthermore, yield components were significantly enhanced, with pod number and grain weight increasing by 15% and 20%, respectively, under n-SiO₂ treatment compared to untreated plants in drought conditions. These findings suggest that n-SiO₂ effectively enhances drought resilience in soybeans by reinforcing physiological and metabolic processes critical for growth and yield. This study underscores the potential of n-SiO₂ as a sustainable amendment to support soybean productivity in drought-prone environments, contributing to more resilient agricultural systems amidst increasing climate variability. Future research should focus on conducting large-scale field trials to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of n-SiO₂ applications under diverse environmental conditions to assess its practical viability in sustainable agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 1306 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Nutrient Balance of Citrus Across the Mandarin Belts of India

by Anoop Kumar Srivastava, Ambadas Dattatray Huchche, Leon-Etienne Parent, Suresh Kumar Malhotra, Vasileios Ziogas and Lohit Kumar Baishya

Horticulturae 2025, 11(3), 254; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11030254 - 27 Feb 2025

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Abstract

India is a major producer of mandarin oranges. However, the average fruit yield remains below potential due in part to multiple nutrient deficiencies. Our objective was to elaborate compositional nutrient diagnosis (CND) log-ratio standards accounting for nutrient interactions and the dilution the leaf [...] Read more.

India is a major producer of mandarin oranges. However, the average fruit yield remains below potential due in part to multiple nutrient deficiencies. Our objective was to elaborate compositional nutrient diagnosis (CND) log-ratio standards accounting for nutrient interactions and the dilution the leaf tissue. We hypothesized that equally or unequally weighted dual nutrient log ratios integrated into centered log ratios (clr) or weighted log ratios (wlr) influence the accuracy of the CND diagnosis. The database comprised 494 observations on ‘Nagpur’, ‘Khasi’, and ‘Kinnow’ cultivars surveyed in contrasting agroecosystems of India. Weights were provided by gain ratios that indicated the importance of the dual log ratio on crop performance. The cutoff yield was set at the upper high-yield quarter for each variety. Centered log ratios (clrs) and weighted log ratios (wlrs) returned accuracies of 0.7–0.8 depending on the machine learning classification model. The gain ratios were not contrasted enough to make a difference between clr and wlr. We derived clr and wlr nutrient standards following the Gradient Boosting model. In a case study, the clr and wlr returned similar diagnoses. The capacity of clr and wlr to generalize to unseen cases and correct nutrient imbalance should be further verified in fertilizer trials. The diagnosis could also be conducted at a local scale, thanks to the Euclidian geometry and additivity of clr and wlr variables. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 1751 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Macronutrients on the Growth, Essential Oil Production, and Quality of Echinophora platyloba (DC.) in Natural Ecosystems

by Somayeh Mohammadi, Sina Fallah and Filippo Maggi

Horticulturae 2025, 11(2), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11020185 - 8 Feb 2025

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Abstract

Echinophora platyloba DC. (Apiaceae) is recognized for its important secondary metabolites and antifungal agents. To evaluate the effects of macronutrient fertilizers on the growth parameters and essential oils yield of E. platyloba, a study was conducted in 2018 at Shahrekord University, Iran. [...] Read more.

Echinophora platyloba DC. (Apiaceae) is recognized for its important secondary metabolites and antifungal agents. To evaluate the effects of macronutrient fertilizers on the growth parameters and essential oils yield of E. platyloba, a study was conducted in 2018 at Shahrekord University, Iran. The treatments included the individual and combined application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with control groups. The results revealed that nitrogen application significantly influenced biomass accumulation in stems, leaves, and inflorescences, with phosphorus-treated plants showing a notable increase in leaf weight. Compared to a positive control, phosphorus increased the essential oil yield by 488%, while nitrogen enhanced biomass accumulation by 165%. The primary compounds identified included (E)-β-ocimene, (E)-sesquilavandolol, and β-pinene, with percentages ranging between 21.3–32.1%, 14.1–42.0%, and 2.0–8.8%, respectively. The levels of β-pinene, (E)-β-ocimene, γ-decalactone, and spathulenol were found to be higher in the phosphorus and potassium treatments than in nitrogen. In contrast, limonene, linalool, geraniol, and (E)-sesquilavandulol concentrations were greater in the nitrogen treatment compared with phosphorus and potassium treatments. In conclusion, phosphorus fertilization can substantially increase the essential oil yield in E. platyloba compared to other treatments, potentially enhancing production per unit area, which supports farmers’ income and helps prevent the degradation of this species in natural habitats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 5476 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Co-Fertilization Affects Pinus yunnanensis Seedling Distribution of Non-Structural Carbohydrates in Different Organs After Coppicing

by He Sun, Yu Wang, Lin Chen, Nianhui Cai and Yulan Xu

Plants 2025, 14(3), 462; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030462 - 5 Feb 2025

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Abstract

The effects of nutritional additions on the non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) of Pinus yunnanensis Franch. following coppicing were examined in this work. Three levels of phosphorous (P) addition, namely P₀ (0 g/plant), P (2 g/plant), and P+ (4 g/plant), and two levels of [...] Read more.

The effects of nutritional additions on the non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) of Pinus yunnanensis Franch. following coppicing were examined in this work. Three levels of phosphorous (P) addition, namely P₀ (0 g/plant), P (2 g/plant), and P+ (4 g/plant), and two levels of nitrogen (N) additions, namely N0 (0 g/plant) and N+ (0.6 g/plant) The treatments consisted of D1 (N₀P), D2 (N+P₀), D3 (N₀P), D4 (N+P), D5 (N₀P), and D6 (N+P+), utilizing an orthogonal design to assess how these nutrients influence NSC levels and their components throughout many plant organs in P. yunnanensis. The findings showed that fertilization enhanced NSCs and their components’ contents in P. yunnanensis. P treatment greatly raised NSC levels in sprouts as well as starch (ST) content in stems and sprouts. N treatment greatly raised soluble sugar (SS) and NSC content in stems and greatly accelerated the contents of NSCs and their components in sprouts. The combined application of N and P further improved SS content in stems. Fertilization effects varied over time, with significant increases in NSC content observed at different stages: at 0 d, fertilization significantly raised NSCs and their components in needles; at 90 d, roots and stems showed increases in both NSCs and their components’ contents; at 180 d, stem ST content significantly increased; and at 270 d, NSCs and their components’ contents across all organs were significantly increased. Especially in roots, stems, and sprouts, the combined N (0.6 g/plant) and P (2.0 g/plant) treatment (D4) produced the highest NSC concentration among the treatments. This suggested that NSC formation in plants might be greatly promoted by a balanced N and P fertilization ratio acting in concert. Moreover, fertilizer, as part of a general management plan, has long-term and significant benefits on plant development, especially after coppicing, accelerating recovery, expanding growth potential, and thereby strengthening the plant’s capacity to adapt to environmental changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition)

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20 pages, 1672 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Soil Health in Rice Cultivation: Optimized Zn Application and Crop Residue Management in Calcareous Soils

by Ranjan Laik, Elsaffory Bakry Awad Eltahira, Biswajit Pramanick, Nidhi, Santosh Kumar Singh and Harold van Es

Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 489; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020489 - 10 Jan 2025

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Abstract

Crop residue, a readily available biomass, is the largest source of organic matter in soil, and zinc (Zn) significantly influences microbial activity. Understanding the optimal Zn rates for enhanced biological activity in crop residue-amended soils is crucial. A study at RPCAU, Pusa, examined [...] Read more.

Crop residue, a readily available biomass, is the largest source of organic matter in soil, and zinc (Zn) significantly influences microbial activity. Understanding the optimal Zn rates for enhanced biological activity in crop residue-amended soils is crucial. A study at RPCAU, Pusa, examined the combined effects of Zn applications and long-term crop residue amendments on soil biological properties in a rice–wheat cropping system. Conducted on Zn-deficient calcareous soil, the experiment used a split-plot design with four crop residue levels (0, 25, 50, and 100%) and four Zn rates (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 kg ha⁻¹). Crop residues were incorporated each season, while Zn was applied initially in 1994 and again in 2018. The results showed significant improvements in soil organic carbon, organic C-stock, and reductions in soil bulk density. A linear–plateau regression model revealed that Zn application at 10 kg ha⁻¹ increased soil active carbon and soil respiration by 35% and 53%, respectively, with the required crop residue levels at 73.73% and 90.28%. ACE protein increased by 9.6% with Zn application at 5 kg ha⁻¹, with a required crop residue level of 91.06%. The highest values of soil available nutrients and grain yield of rice were observed with 100% residue incorporation and 10 kg ha⁻¹ Zn application. Thus, applying 10 kg ha⁻¹ Zn along with 100% crop residue incorporation significantly improves soil biological properties and soil organic carbon levels in calcareous soil under a rice–wheat cropping system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition)

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