Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency in Crops

Abstract

Abstract Optimum use of mineral nutrients (fertilisers) by crops is essential for sustainable agricultural production. With increasing world demands for food and energy, this is set to become an ever‐increasing priority. Fertilisers are costly to produce and apply, both financially and environmentally. There is an absolute requirement to maximise efficiency using both agronomic and plant breeding approaches. Nutrient use efficiency may be defined as yield per unit fertiliser input or in terms of recovery of fertiliser applied. Improving yield alone may be at the expense of mineral nutrient content and hence quality, therefore yield improvements must be matched by appropriate increases in nutrient uptake. Multiple complex processes contribute to the overall nutrient use efficiency trait, and all are multigenic and developmentally and environmentally modulated. Key breeding traits for improvement includes root characteristics to enhance acquisition, canopy functioning for yield generation, and sink tissue attributes for final yield and quality aspects. Multidisciplinary approaches involving traditional breeding and biotechnology will contribute to future improvements. Key Concepts: Optimum use of mineral fertilisers by crops is essential for sustainable agriculture. Some fertilisers are nonrenewal resources. Nutrient use efficiency may be defined as yield per unit fertiliser input or in terms of recovery of fertiliser applied. Nutrient use efficiency comprises two main traits, uptake efficiency and utilisation efficiency. Agronomic practice is an important part of nutrient use efficiency. Crop improvement may be targeted at roots, canopy or harvested material. Root systems and transporters are required for capture of nutrients to produce an effective canopy. An effective canopy will result in high yield. Efficient captures and partitioning of nutrients contributes to quality components of crops. Huge unexploited natural germplasm diversity for nutrient use efficiency exists for most crops.