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Strategies for Nutrient Use Efficiency Improvement in Plants
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Strategies for Nutrient Use Efficiency Improvement in Plants

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 7418

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hongmei Cai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Resources and Environment, HuaZhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: plant-soil interaction; plant nutrition; nutrient interaction; gene function; transporter; transcription factor; rhizosphere soil
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nutrient elements are essential for plant growth and development. They are also the limiting factors for grain yield and quality in crops. Today, intensive high-yield agriculture is highly dependent on the addition of fertilizers, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, as well as other microelements. However, further increases in fertilizer application are unlikely to be as effective at increasing yields, as efficiency declines at higher levels of addition. Therefore, understanding how plants respond to environmental nutrient levels to identify appropriate approaches and strategies to promote root uptake, root-to-shoot translocation, and the distribution of nutrients in plants—ultimately, to improve nutrient use efficiency—is quite meaningful for crop yield and quality.

In this Special Issue, we welcome articles including original research papers, perspectives, opinions, and reviews that focus on approaches and strategies for nutrient use efficiency improvement in plants. These approaches and strategies may include fertilizer management, the selection and breeding of high nutrient-use-efficient species and varieties, crop system change, as well as analyses of the physiological and molecular responses of plants to low and high nutrient conditions; the gene functions involved in nutrient uptake, translocation, and distribution in plants; and so on.

Dr. Hongmei Cai
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

  • nutrient use efficiency
  • fertilizer
  • varieties
  • crop system
  • gene function
  • physiological and molecular response

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 3274 KiB  
Article
N2 Fixation, N Transfer, and Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) in Grain Legume–Wheat Intercropping: Impact of N Supply and Plant Density
by Sebastian Salinas-Roco, Amanda Morales-González, Soledad Espinoza, Ricardo Pérez-Díaz, Basilio Carrasco, Alejandro del Pozo and Ricardo A. Cabeza
Plants 2024, 13(7), 991; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13070991 - 30 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1645
Abstract
Intercropping legumes with cereals can lead to increased overall yield and optimize the utilization of resources such as water and nutrients, thus enhancing agricultural efficiency. Legumes possess the unique ability to acquire nitrogen (N) through both N2 fixation and from the available [...] Read more.
Intercropping legumes with cereals can lead to increased overall yield and optimize the utilization of resources such as water and nutrients, thus enhancing agricultural efficiency. Legumes possess the unique ability to acquire nitrogen (N) through both N2 fixation and from the available N in the soil. However, soil N can diminish the N2 fixation capacity of legumes. It is postulated that in intercropping, legumes uptake N mainly through N2 fixation, leaving more soil N available for cereals. The latter, in turn, has larger root systems, allowing it to explore greater soil volume and absorb more N, mitigating its adverse effects on N2 fixation in legumes. The goal of this study was to evaluate how the supply of N affects the intercropping of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) and peas (Pisum sativum L.) with wheat under varying plant densities and N levels. We measured photosynthetic traits, biomass production, the proportion of N derived from air (%Ndfa) in the shoot of the legumes, the N transferred to the wheat, and the land equivalent ratio (LER). The results revealed a positive correlation between soil N levels and the CO2 assimilation rate (An), chlorophyll content, and N balance index (NBI) in wheat. However, no significant effect was observed in legumes as soil N levels increased. Transpiration (E) increased in wheat intercropped with legumes, while stomatal conductance (gs) increased with N addition in all crops. Water use efficiency (WUE) decreased in faba beans intercropped with wheat as N increased, but it showed no significant change in wheat or peas. The shoot dry matter of wheat increased with the addition of N; however, the two legume species showed no significant changes. N addition reduced the %Ndfa of both legume species, especially in monoculture, with peas being more sensitive than faba beans. The intercropping of wheat alleviated N2 fixation inhibition, especially at high wheat density and increased N transfer to wheat, particularly with peas. The LER was higher in the intercropping treatments, especially under limited N conditions. It is concluded that in the intercropping of wheat with legumes, the N2 fixation inhibition caused by soil N is effectively reduced, as well as there being a significant N transfer from the legume to the wheat, with both process contributing to increase LER. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies for Nutrient Use Efficiency Improvement in Plants)
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16 pages, 7377 KiB  
Article
Nitrogen Application Timing and Levels Affect the Fate and Budget of Fertilizer Nitrogen in the Apple–Soil System
by Fen Wang, Chaoran Wang, Binghao Yang, Xinyu Luo, Gaowei Qi, Fajin Ji, Xinkai Guo, Tao Yang, Xuehui Zhao, Ming Li, Qianqian Jiang, Ling Peng and Hui Cao
Plants 2024, 13(6), 813; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060813 - 12 Mar 2024
Viewed by 670
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the effects of the nitrogen (N) application period and level on the fate of fertilizer N and the contribution of N absorption and translocation to apple organ N. Two N application periods (labeled by the 15N tracer [...] Read more.
This study aimed to determine the effects of the nitrogen (N) application period and level on the fate of fertilizer N and the contribution of N absorption and translocation to apple organ N. Two N application periods (labeled by the 15N tracer technique in spring and summer, represented by SP and SU, respectively) and three N levels (N0, MN, and HN) were used to determine the physiological indexes and aboveground, root, and soil 15N content of 4-year-old dwarf (‘Red Fuji’/M9T337) and arborized (‘Red Fuji’/Malus hupehensis Rehd.) apple trees. The results showed that HN led to shoot overgrowth, which was not conducive to the growth of the apple root system (root length, root tips, root surface area, and root volume) or the improvement of root activity. The contribution of soil N to apple organ N accounted for more than 50%, and the contribution of N application in summer to fruit N was higher than that in spring. Under HN treatment, the proportion of soil N absorbed by trees decreased, while that of fertilizer N increased; however, the highest proportion was still less than 50%, so apple trees were highly dependent on soil N. Under MN treatment, fertilizer N residue was similar to soil N consumption, and soil N fertility maintained a basic balance. Under HN treatment, fertilizer N residue was significantly higher than soil N consumption, indicating that excessive N application increased fertilizer N residue in the soil. Overall, the 15N utilization rate of arborized trees (17.33–22.38%) was higher than that of dwarf trees (12.89–16.91%). A total of 12.89–22.38% of fertilizer 15N was absorbed by trees, 30.37–35.41% of fertilizer 15N remained in the soil, and 44.65–54.46% of fertilizer 15N was lost. The 15N utilization rate and 15N residual rate of summer N application were higher than those of spring N application, and the 15N loss rate was lower than that of spring N application. High microbial biomass N (MBN) may be one of the reasons for the high N utilization rate and the low loss rate of N application in summer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies for Nutrient Use Efficiency Improvement in Plants)
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22 pages, 6080 KiB  
Article
Influence of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Tea Growth and Quality and Soil Properties of Tea Orchards’ Top Rhizosphere Soil
by Manzoor, Lifeng Ma, Kang Ni and Jianyun Ruan
Plants 2024, 13(2), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13020207 - 11 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1078
Abstract
Organic-based fertilizers have been ratified to be effective in ameliorating tea growth and the fertility of soil. However, the effect of integrated fertilization on tea growth and quality and the chemical properties of the soil in tea gardens are unclear. To address this, [...] Read more.
Organic-based fertilizers have been ratified to be effective in ameliorating tea growth and the fertility of soil. However, the effect of integrated fertilization on tea growth and quality and the chemical properties of the soil in tea gardens are unclear. To address this, from 2020 to 2021, five different treatments were carried out in the greenhouse of the Tea Research Institute, Hangzhou, CAAS, including CK (control), NPK (chemical fertilizers), RC (rapeseed cake), NPK+B (chemical fertilizer + biochar), and NPK+RC, to investigate the effects of different fertilizations on soil chemistry and tea growth and quality. The results indicated that NPK+B and NPK+RC significantly improved the different amino acid and catechin concentrations in the young shoots, stems, and roots of the tea compared to the CK. The plant growth parameters, e.g., the plant height, no. of leaves, mid-stem girth, and fresh weights of stems and leaves, were significantly increased with integrated fertilization (NPK+B and NPK+RC) compared to the CK and solo organic and inorganic fertilizers. The chlorophyll contents (Chl a, Chl b, and Chl a+b) were generally higher with NPK+RC than with the CK (37%, 35%, and 36%), RC (14%, 26%, and 18%), and NPK (9%, 13%, and 11%) treatments. Integrated fertilization buffered the acidic soil of the tea garden and decreased the soil C:N ratio. NPK+RC also significantly increased the soil’s total C (31% and 16%), N (43% and 31%), P (65% and 40%), available P (31% and 58%), K (70% and 25%), nitrate (504% and 188%), and ammonium (267% and 146%) concentrations compared to the CK and RC. The soil macro- (Mg and Ca) and micronutrients (Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu) were significantly improved by the RC (100% and 72%) (49%, 161%, 112%, and 40%) and NPK+RC (88% and 48%) (47%, 75%, 45%, and 14%) compared to the CK. The chlorophyll contents and soil macro- and micronutrients were all significantly positively correlated with tea quality (amino acids and catechin contents) and growth. These results indicated that integrated fertilization improved the soil nutrient status, which is associated with the improvement of tea growth and quality. Thus, integrated nutrient management is a feasible tool for improving tea growth, quality, and low nutrient levels in the soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies for Nutrient Use Efficiency Improvement in Plants)
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17 pages, 1546 KiB  
Article
Influence of Variable Chloride/Sulfur Doses as Part of Potassium Fertilization on Nitrogen Use Efficiency by Coffee
by Victor Hugo Ramirez-Builes, Jürgen Küsters, Ellen Thiele, Luis Alfredo Leal-Varon and Jorge Arteta-Vizcaino
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2033; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102033 - 19 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1363
Abstract
Chloride (Cl−) is applied in coffee at rates as a “macronutrient” in the form of muriate of potash (MOP). Potassium (K+) is one of the most demanded nutrients by the coffee plant, and MOP is one of the most [...] Read more.
Chloride (Cl−) is applied in coffee at rates as a “macronutrient” in the form of muriate of potash (MOP). Potassium (K+) is one of the most demanded nutrients by the coffee plant, and MOP is one of the most used fertilizers in coffee production. No scientific evidence shows how Cl− applied with MOP influences coffee growth, nutrient uptake, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). In order to address these questions, a greenhouse trial over two years and a field trial over four years were conducted. The trials were designed to test the influence of variable Cl−/S ratios on biomass accumulation, nutrient uptake, and NUE. A significant effect of the Cl− rates on growth was observed under greenhouse conditions but a non-significant effect on yield under field conditions. Cl− and S significantly influenced the NUE in coffee. The results allow us to conclude that Cl− rates need to be balanced with S rates, and that Cl− applied at macronutrient rates can improve the NUE in coffee between 7 and 21% in greenhouse conditions and between 9% and 14% in field conditions, as long as the rates do not exceed 180 mg L−1 Cl− and 80 mg·L−1 S in the greenhouse and 150 kg·ha−1·year−1 Cl− and 50 kg ha−1·year−1 S in the field. With the aim to improve the NUE in coffee, the Cl− content in leaves in coffee should be lower than 0.33% of dry matter, and in soil lower than 30 mg·L−1. In practical terms, coffee farmers need to balance K-based fertilizers to avoid the excessive Cl− applications that reduce the nutrient use efficiency, especially the NUE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies for Nutrient Use Efficiency Improvement in Plants)
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14 pages, 1009 KiB  
Article
Productivity of Three Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Varieties as Influenced by Nutrient Supply and Meteorological Conditions in Boreal Environmental Zone
by Daiva Janusauskaite
Plants 2023, 12(10), 1938; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12101938 - 9 May 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1885
Abstract
In order to grow crops that reduce the negative impact on the environment, as well as meet the nutritional needs of the increasing human population, it is necessary to include new and more sustainable production strategies into current agricultural systems. The aim of [...] Read more.
In order to grow crops that reduce the negative impact on the environment, as well as meet the nutritional needs of the increasing human population, it is necessary to include new and more sustainable production strategies into current agricultural systems. The aim of our study was to evaluate the optimal nutritional conditions of semi-leafless pea productivity and ascertain the influence of meteorological factors on the productivity of these plants under boreal environmental conditions. The test involved three semi-leafless pea varieties, one of which was a new variety, and eight N fertilization treatments were used: (1) without fertilizers (N0), (2) without N fertilizers (N0), (3) N15, (4) N30, (5) N45, (6) N15+15, (7) N60, and (8) N60. Plots of the second–seventh treatment received a base application of P40K80; the eighth treatment received P80K160. Fertilizer efficiency depended on the meteorological conditions. Based on their productivity, the pea varieties were arranged in the following descending order: Ieva DS ˃ Respect ˃ Simona. Compared with unfertilized peas, NPK fertilizers enhanced the seed yield by 10.6–12.9% on average. Splitting the N30 rate and applying N60, under a background of P40K80, was not efficient. The optimal rate of N15–45P40K80 fertilizers for peas was determined. Meteorological factors significantly influenced seed yield by 75.2%, 44.1%, and 79.9% for varieties Ieva DS, Simona, and Respect, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies for Nutrient Use Efficiency Improvement in Plants)
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