Organics, clay, and nanomaterials for efficient nutrient management and crop production in sandy agroecosystem

Abstract

Sandy soils are found all across the world, and in Asia, they cover over 86,000 km2. Sandy agroecosystem provides a significant soil resource for the livelihoods of millions of people. Low levels of organic matter, clay, high hydraulic conductivity, and limited exchange capacity of sandy soils require an external source of fertilizer nutrient material. The applied nutrients are primarily leached causing pollution of water bodies and low nutrient use efficiency. In order to properly manage nutrients for increasing the fertility and productivity of crops in sandy agroecosystems, this paper summarises the findings of various laboratory and crop experiments.