Crop Nutrition Research Articles

Optimizing crop nutrition in rainfed castor cultivation for higher productivity, energy efficiency, and reduced carbon footprint

Nutrition plays a key role in achieving higher crop productivity. Whereas, rainfed cropping greatly suffers due to imbalanced crop nutrition. Especially, crops like castor mostly face the utmost climatic and edaphic distress as it is predominantly cultured in poor soil of rainfed regions. Therefore, to know the performance of the rainfed castor to balanced nutrient management modules, a field experiment was conducted for two consecutive Kharif seasons in 2020 and 2021. Crop responded favorably to the balanced nutrition. We observed substantial improvement in seed yield (44%), oil yield (49%), gross return (54%), and net return (133%) with the application of the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) + 20 kg ZnSO4 ha−1 along with foliar spray of 2% water soluble complex fertilizer (WSCF) @ 40 days after sowing (DAS). + over soil application of RDF and 125 % RDF. Due to better crop response in terms of growth and yield, rainwater use efficiency (RWUE), partial factor productivity (PFP), and agronomic efficiency (AE) were also higher with RDF + 20 kg ZnSO4 ha−1 along with a foliar spray of 2% WSCF @ 40 DAS. Application of 125 % RDF showed enhanced energy consumption (11429 MJ ha−1). While RDF +20 kg ZnSO4 ha−1 along with a foliar spray of 2% WSCF @ 40 DAS showed 45% and 17% higher energy output compared to the RDF and 125% RDF. Due to higher energy output, the same treatment exhibited 55 and 21 % higher net energy gain over RDF and 125% RDF, respectively. As per as the carbon (C) footprint is concerned, RDF + 20 kg ZnSO4 ha−1 along with a foliar spray of 2% WSCF @ 40 DAS was observed to be slightly C expensive with 8 % higher carbon input due to higher rates of manpower and machinery utilized. However, it displayed higher C output (45%), net C gain (56%), C efficiency ratio (33%), C efficiency (37%), and C sustainability index (32%) indicating efficient C management over RDF. Overall, RDF +20 kg ZnSO4 ha−1 along with foliar spray of 2% WSCF @ 40 DAS appeared to be the productive, profitable, energy efficient, and even favorable in respect of C footprint than soil application of RDF or 125 % RDF.

The Function of RNA Interference (RNAi) in Crop Enhancement- Mechanism and Applications: A Review

RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved molecular mechanism that plays a critical role in post-transcriptional gene silencing across diverse organisms. This review delves into the role of RNAi in plant functional genomics and its applications in crop improvement, highlighting its mechanistic insights and practical implications. The overview starts with the fundamental finding of the mechanism of RNAi, following its journey from petunias to its ubiquitous presence in a wide range of species. The discovery of several kinds of regulatory non-coding small RNAs, including as phasiRNAs, miRNAs, and siRNAs, has broadened our knowledge of RNAi-mediated gene regulation beyond what is previously thought. These RNA types have an impact on gene expression through complex post-transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms. RNA interference (RNAi) has become a potent tool for comprehending gene activities in the context of crop improvement. It has shown to be useful in determining the functions of genes for metabolic pathways, stress tolerance, and more. Furthermore, RNAi-based strategies have potential for sustainable agriculture and integrated pest management, supporting international efforts to ensure food security. The many uses of RNA interference (RNAi) are covered in this article, including improving crop nutrition, changing plant architecture, and increasing shelf life. The challenges and future prospects of RNAi technology are also explored. The worldwide geography of RNA interference research is emphasized, with notable contributions from North America, Europe, and China. In conclusion, RNA interference (RNAi) continues to be a flexible and essential tool in contemporary plant research, providing new pathways for understanding gene activities and enhancing crop characteristics. Its combination with other biotechnological techniques, such as gene editing, might influence how agriculture and sustainable food production develop in the future.

Machine learning methods in near infrared spectroscopy for predicting sensory traits in sweetpotatoes

It has been established that near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has the potential of estimating sensory traits given the direct spectral responses that these properties have in the NIR region. In sweetpotato, sensory and texture traits are key for improving acceptability of the crop for food security and nutrition. Studies have statistically modelled the levels of NIR spectroscopy sensory characteristics using partial least squares (PLS) regression methods. To improve prediction accuracy, there are many advanced techniques, which could enhance modelling of fresh (wet and un-processed) samples or nonlinear dependence relationships. Performance of different quantitative prediction models for sensory traits developed using different machine learning methods were compared. Overall, results show that linear methods; linear support vector machine (L-SVM), principal component regression (PCR) and PLS exhibited higher mean R2 values than other statistical methods. For all the 27 sensory traits, calibration models using L-SVM and PCR has slightly higher overall R2 (x¯ = 0.33) compared to PLS (x¯ = 0.32) and radial-based SVM (NL-SVM; x¯= 0.30). The levels of orange color intensity were the best predicted by all the calibration models (R2 = 0.87 – 0.89). The elastic net linear regression (ENR) and tree-based methods; extreme gradient boost (XGBoost) and random forest (RF) performed worse than would be expected but could possibly be improved with increased sample size. Lower average R2 values were observed for calibration models of ENR (x¯ = 0.26), XGBoost (x¯ = 0.26) and RF (x¯ = 0.22). The overall RMSE in calibration models was lower in PCR models (X = 0.82) compared to L-SVM (x¯ = 0.86) and PLS (x¯ = 0.90). ENR, XGBoost and RF also had higher RMSE (x¯ = 0.90 – 0.92). Effective wavelengths selection using the interval partial least-squares regression (iPLS), improved the performance of the models but did not perform as good as the PLS. SNV pre-treatment was useful in improving model performance.

Soil Fertility, Fertilizers, and Crop Nutrition: Past, Present, and Future

AbstractOver the past few decades, the North American fertilizer sector has experienced significant transformations, integrating into the global supply chain, which is pivotal for sustaining an abundant source of food, fiber, and energy. While the fundamental fertilizer products containing N, P, K, and S have remained largely unchanged, common fertilizers have evolved into agricultural commodities that are extensively traded on a global scale. Consequently, farmers often lack visibility into the origins of the fertilizers used for their crops. The role of the modern plant nutrient industry is essential for feeding a hungry world and preventing degradation of vital soil resources. There is growing awareness of the need for enhanced nutrient stewardship to meet local, regional, and global concerns. This is the second article in a three‐part series on the past, present, and future of the North American fertilizer industry. Earn 1.5 CEUs in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.

THE ROLE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE USE OF METAL NANOPARTICLES IN THE CULTIVATION OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS

The development of the nanoindustry over the past 15-20 years allows us to consider substances containing nanomaterials as an alternative to existing chemical means of control in the cultivation of agricultural crops, in particular as components of mineral nutrition and protection of field crops. Taking into account the relevance of this issue, in recent years, the use of colloidal forms of metals as elements of micronutrient plant nutrition has been made and substantiated by our own research. Nanotechnology provides sustainable solutions by replacing traditional fertilizers with nanoparticles. These nanoparticles have unique properties to overcome bioavailability issues and enhance mineral uptake, increase yields and reduce fertilizer losses, helping to protect the environment. Recent studies emphasize the effect of nanoparticles of basic and essential elements on plant growth, physiology and development, taking into account their size, composition, concentration and method of application. Key aspects of the research include evaluating the effectiveness of methods of their use and the impact of nanoparticles on the nutritional quality of agricultural crops. It is noted that foliar fertilization with biogenic metals is important in providing plants with nutrients and enriching them with useful elements. Attention is also focused on the size of nanoparticles, as this factor determines their unique physicochemical properties and ability to penetrate plant cells, which can affect their physiological response and ability to absorb useful or toxic elements. The review presents the findings regarding the positive and negative aspects of nanoparticles, their impact on agricultural development and environmental sustainability. At the same time, emphasis is placed on the need for further research for the development of nanofertilizers aimed at improving food production and preserving the environment.

Rootstocks on the Nutritional Status of Seedlings of the Main Mango Cultivars of the São Francisco Valley

ABSTRACT Mango is the fruit most exported by Brazil, with a significant increase in cultivated area in recent years. However, the orchards have been made up of seedlings produced by the grafting process, but without identifying the most suitable rootstock for each cultivar, which affects the competitiveness of mango farming, since the rootstock affects, among other factors, the growth and nutrient absorption from the canopy cultivar. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status and mineral nutrition of ‘Palmer,’ ‘Tommy Atkins,’ ‘Kent’ and ‘Keitt’ mango seedlings grafted onto the polyembryonic rootstocks Capucho, Coquinho and Espada. The experiment was carried out between October 2019 and May 2020 at the Fruit Growing Nursery of the Agricultural Sciences Campus of the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF), in Petrolina-PE, in a 3 × 4 factorial scheme, corresponding to three polyembryonic rootstocks (Espada, Capucho and Coquinho) and four crown cultivars (‘Palmer,’ ‘Keitt,’ ‘Kent’ and ‘Tommy Atkins’), with five replications of ten plants each. Leaf contents of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca), micronutrients (Cu and Fe) and silicon depend on the scion (Tommy Atkins, Palmer, Keitt and Kent) x rootstock (Espada, Capucho and Conquinho) combination. The leaf contents of S, Mg, B, Mn and Mo in the scion are affected by the rootstock adopted for mango propagation In general, for macro and micronutrient absorption purposes, the sword rootstock and the ‘Keitt’ cultivar are the best combination for most of the variables analyzed in the research. The effect of rootstock on the nutritional status of scion cultivars (Tommy Atkins, Palmer, Keitt and Kent) must be taken into consideration when interpreting crop nutrition.

Comparing native and non-native seed-isolated strains for drought resilience in maize (Zea mays L.)

Maize, a vital crop for human nutrition, livestock, and industrial development, faces increasingly severe climatic conditions that hinder its production capacity along with other strategic crops. Novel treatments based on microorganisms have demonstrated efficiency in enhancing plant development and responding to stress. The use of bacteria isolated from seeds is a novel approach for biotreatment, as recent studies point to a co-evolution process for their presence in seeds. This approach hypothesize a pre-adaptation to its host, which may lead to increased efficiency. However, several aspects of this approach remain understudied. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of native maize seed microbiota in comparison to that isolated from other species to mitigate drought stress. For this we characterized seedborne microbiota of a common productive maize variety in Portugal, to use it as biotreatment in other two varieties (sensitive and resistant to drought), selecting the strain Pseudomonas fulva MB as the most promising candidate. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia MS-M1 strain, isolated from wild alfalfa seeds and previously characterized as a drought-tolerant enhancer, served as a non-native control strain. According to the data, both varieties of maize demonstrated enhanced vegetative growth when treated with both individual strains, as well with the consortium, with an increase in plant height of 5–7 % in full and medium irrigation, and 50–55 % when not irrigated. This trend was also observed in plant weight, which increased by 13–23 %, even under no irrigation. In addition, production in both varieties was positively impacted by these treatments, based on the amount of grain produced (by weight). The drought-sensitive variety experienced a 17 % increase under full irrigation, while the most tolerant variety experienced a 25–40 % increase. Under medium irrigation level, the increase was about 15 % in both varieties, while a 100 % and 140 % increase was observed in each variety, respectively, when no irrigation was applied. The results suggest that native strain the P. fulva MB was slightly more efficient treatment, as it outperformed the non-native strain in terms of productivity in both varieties. However, the differences were not solid enough along all parameters to consistently asses such difference. The consortium treatment only showed better performance under full or medium irrigation conditions for some production traits. These findings support the use of seed microbiota as very efficient biotreatments, suggesting than even non-native strains have a remarkable beneficial impact (interspecific), expanding the possible of use of this kind of bioinoculants. Further test are required to optimize the use of seed-isolated strains as better adapted or tailor-made solutions for agriculture.

Nano Fertilizers: New Vistas towards Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change Mitigation: A Review

To ensure the food and nutritional security of the burgeoning global population, food production needs to be doubled in developing countries by 2050. Currently, 30-40% of agriculture production predominantly relies on chemical fertilizers. Precise crop nutrition, low nutrient efficiency, maintaining soil fertility, less damage to soil flora and minimal environmental footprint are the major challenges in modern agriculture. Recent developments in the application of nanotechnology to produce agriculture inputs emerged as a sustainable solution for addressing the challenges in modern intensive agriculture by replacing synthetic bulk fertilizers with their nanoparticle size ( less than 100 nm), superior properties and smart delivery system. Nano fertilizers had the potential to fulfill the requirements of plant nutrition along with imparting sustainability in crop production without compromising the yield of the crops. Some of the current research studies have been reviewed in this paper with citation and these results showed that nano fertilizers have a substantial effect on plant growth, development and physiological parameters including chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity, it depends on their composition, method and time of application. Their enhanced nutrient use efficiency, correlated with mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Hence evolving as a cutting-edge approach for sustainable agriculture in climate change is enlightened in this review.

Εleven Greek Legume Beans: Assessment of Genotypic Effect on Their Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Properties.

Legumes, one of the first crops of humanity, inherently constitute a staple nutritional source for mankind, attracting significant research attention that has been afforded to the development of numerous cultivars. The study herein concerns the exploitation of the nutritional and bio-functional content of beans harvested from eleven Greek cultivars belonging to five different species, namely Cicer arietinum L., Pisum sativum L., Vicia faba L., Lens culinaris L., and Phaseolus vulgaris L. The final goal is to define their varietal identity and correlate their phytochemical content with their potential utilization as functional foods and/or feed of high nutritional value. In this respect, their extracts were screened against the presence of 27 fatty acids and 19 phenolic compounds, revealing the presence of 22 and 15 molecules, respectively. Specifically, numerous fatty acids were detected in significant amounts in all but C. arietinum extract, while significant polyphenolic content was confirmed only in P. vulgaris. Among individual compounds, linoleic acid was the major fatty acid detected in amounts averaging more than 150 mg/g, followed by oleic acid, which was present as a major compound in all extracts. Among the nine polyphenols detected in P. vulgaris, the molecules of genistein (3.88 mg/g) and coumestrol (0.82 mg/g) were the most abundant. Their antioxidant properties were evaluated through DPPH and FRAP assays, which were highlighted as most potent in both tests of the V. faba extract, while C. arietinum was determined as totally inactive, indicating a potential correlation between the phenolic content of the plant species and antioxidant activity. These results are indicative of the significant advances achieved for the cultivars investigated and reveal their important role as nutritional crops for human and animal consumption.

Adoption of Cereal–Legume Double Cropping toward More Sustainable Organic Systems in the Mediterranean Area

Environmental benefits can be achieved by organic farming systems; however, weed pressure and timely crop nutrition remain important drawbacks for many field crops. Agroecological practices, such as double cropping (e.g., intercropping and relay cropping), using forage legume species can provide nitrogen (N) to the companion crop through biological N fixation and tackle weed issues by competing for light, water and land. The present study investigated the effect of intercropping (IC) and relay-cropping (RC) systems of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn) and forage legumes (Trifolium subterraneum L., Medicago polymorpha L., and Lotus corniculatus L.) by varying organic N fertilization with the aim to reduce N-requirement and weed pressure and increase wheat grain yield and grain protein content in Mediterranean organic farming systems. N fertilizer significantly improved wheat grain yield and grain protein, while a null effect on legume and weed biomass yields was found. Double cropping (T. durum-M. polymorpha, and T. durum-L. corniculatus) enhanced wheat grain yield as compared to the control and the T. durum-T. subterraneum. IC significantly improved legume yield, grain protein and the land equivalent ratio (LER) and reduced weed dry biomass as compared with the RC and the control. Among legume species, T. subterraneum outperformed the others and was less affected by the wheat’s competitive performance. Nonetheless, M. polymorpha was as effective as T. subterraneum in controlling weeds. Weed dry biomass was linearly reduced by increasing legume yield; the relationship improved by cumulating wheat grain yield to legume yield. Overall, this study indicated that double cropping, especially IC, can be a suitable agroecological practice to tackle weed issues and reduce N-requirement in Mediterranean organic cereal-based systems.

Microdialysis probes and digital twins reveal the rapid removal of fertiliser phosphate from the soil solution with an impact on crop nutrition in the short-term

Global food production depends on the application of phosphorus (P) fertilisers, usually sourced from rock phosphate, a non-renewable resource. Optimising P use to ensure sustainable P application is necessary to supply food worldwide and to protect the environment from P runoff. However, standard models used to guide P application on fields are limited due to assumptions that fail to consider the short-term dynamics of P in the soil solution. This study combined time-resolved microdialysis sampling with 4D spatial information from X-ray computed tomography to inform an image-based model for assessing P-soil-plant interactions over the start of a growing season. The time-resolved microdialysis measurements revealed that P released from the granules is rapidly removed from the soil solution in the short-term. We demonstrate that the standard equilibrium models typically used to characterise P transport in soil are not representative of the experimental system on the time scales considered. Instead, an Absorption-Diffusion model, where a single sink term accounts for all the processes removing P from the soil solution was required to correctly characterise experimental observations. Our study provides the basis for a model which could be adapted to predict within-season fertilisation scenarios in different soil conditions, and provides a conceptual description of plant/crop yield response to P fertilisation.

Multiple nutrient limitation of the soil micro-food web in a tropical grassland revealed by nutrient-omission fertilization

Although involved in key functions of the terrestrial ecosystems, the activity and the diversity of soil microorganisms can be severely limited by energy and nutrients in weathered tropical soils. To optimize nutrient cycling for crop nutrition, assessing which nutrients limit the activity of the microbial food web is thus essential. This was our aim in this study carried out on a tropical ferrallitic soil from a natural grassland in Madagascar. For this purpose, we employed an innovative nutrient-omission approach in microcosms to test the distinct effects of omitting C, six nutrients (N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg) and a cocktail of micronutrients (B, Mn, Cu, Na and Mo) on the composition, biomass and activities of the microbial community and on the abundance and biomass of their nematode grazers. C and P were identified as primary limitations, but other nutrients (N, Mg and S) played significant roles as co-limiting factors. Some bacterial and fungal taxa were significantly associated to specific nutrient deficiencies and can act as biological indicators. Additionally, the abundance and biomass of microbial-feeding nematodes provided valuable insights into the responses of the soil microbial community to nutrient deficiencies. These findings contribute to our understanding of nutrient dynamics and microbial community growth in tropical grassland ecosystems and have implications for sustainable crop fertility management and ecosystem ecology in similar environments.

Global change impacts on mineral nutritional quality of cereal grains: Coordinated datasets and analyses to advance a systems-based understanding

ContextGlobal nutritional health outcomes are directly reliant on agroecosystem nutrient outputs. Appropriately, there is concern surrounding the impacts of a changing climate not only on crop yields, but also on crop nutritional quality (e.g., mineral nutrient concentrations). Quantifying the impacts of elevated CO2 concentrations, elevated temperature, drought stress, edaphic factors, and agronomic management on crop yields and mineral nutrition is critical, yet a systems-level understanding of these interactive factors is poorly developed, limiting our ability to effectively target solutions. Empirical data for climate impacts on crop nutritional quality remain scarce, with much of the research emerging from valuable, but geographically limited, Free-air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiments, several of which suggest that human nutrition will be adversely impacted by e[CO2]. Specific concerns center on observed declines in grain protein, iron, and zinc concentrations due to already wide-spread human nutritional deficiencies in these nutrients. ObjectivesAs global change experiments expand to pursue questions regarding interactive climate impacts on crop yields and nutritional quality, it is imperative to interrogate the measurements, data standardization, and metadata needed for unifying synthesis. The data reported for shifts in crop nutritional quality are often incomplete, precluding the generalizability and comparability of results. MethodsWe frame this review around six inter-reliant methods, tools, and practices to support maximally useful experimental datasets to inform questions of global change impacts on crop nutrition and aid in detecting genotypic differences in mineral nutrient density. The bulk of the data and discussion centers on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) due to the central role this crop plays in human nutrition and sustained biofortification efforts. ResultsTo permit experimental comparability and synthesis, datasets should (1) clearly delineate analytical methods and standards and (2) link mean nutrient concentrations with the covariate of yield. (3) Multi-year, multi-location data is required to identify genotypes with significant deviations in nutrient concentrations, with (4) data normalized for yield within appropriate analytical frameworks. (5) Inclusion of data on soil properties, weather, and abiotic and biotic stresses as well as (6) agronomic practices and nutrient management is essential for understanding global change impacts on nutritional outcomes. ConclusionsCoordinated, multi-dimensional data will permit the syntheses and meta-analyses needed to identify and quantify climate impacts on nutrition. ImplicationsThis work is essential to effectively target nutritional solutions, to develop modeling tools to support nutritional planning, and to identify areas where agronomic management and breeding can minimize climate impacts on nutritional outcomes.

Cover crops affect phosphorus fractions in soybean-based sequences with different phosphorus availability in Mollisols

Cover crops (CC) may offer a compelling strategy to increase the availability of nutrients, such as phosphorus (P), in agroecosystems where continuous extractive agriculture has resulted in a depletion of soil fertility. Our objective was to analyse the long-term effect of CC incorporation in soybean-based crop sequences on: i) organic and inorganic P fractions (Pinorg and Porg), ii) extractable inorganic P (PBray), and iii) biochemical soil properties associated with P mineralization (monophosphatase activity and Porg in the coarse fraction (Porg-CF)) in soils with contrasting P availability and under different edaphoclimatic conditions. A factorial design was performed evaluating two sequences (continuous soybean (Sb) or CC/Sb) and two fertilization treatments (with or without P fertilization, +P and 0 P, respectively). In general, the long-term annual implementation of CC tended to decrease inorganic P fractions (Pinorg and PBray), and the magnitude of this effect was more marked when P availability was low (0 P). However, in treatments where P was applied, the use of CC did not modify PBray. The effect of CC on organic P fractions was greater than that of P fertilization. Increases of up to 63 kg Porg ha−1 were determined when including CC, whose magnitude was unrelated with soil texture. Cover crops also increased Porg-CF and monophosphatase activity. Our results demonstrate that, despite decreasing inorganic P fractions, CC have beneficial effects on biochemical variables associated with P mineralization, which is an essential process for crops nutrition.

Mitigating of waterlogging associated problems by the management practices in the rice ecosystem of the Deltaic zone of Tamil Nadu

Cauvery Delta is the major rice-growing tract of Tamil Nadu. Continuous waterlogging is inevitable in the delta region due to unexpected heavy rain, leading to stunted crop growth and poor soil conditions. The present study aimed to alleviate the waterlogging-associated problems of stunted growth, crop nutrition deficiency, heavy algal growth and poor soil aeration issues in the heavy clayey soils of deltaic region of Tamil Nadu. Field experiments were laid out with the treatments viz., CuSO4,, (5kg/ha) (T1), Gypsum (500 kg/ha) (T2), Conoweeding+Alternate Wetting and Drying Irrigation(AWDI) (T3), microbial consortia (K and Zn solubilising Bacteria 500 ml/ha) (T4) control (T5) and combination of all (T6) except CuSO4 along with control . The results indicated that the T6 recorded higher plant height (110.2 cm), productive tillers/m2 of 332, filled grains of 118.3 and less chaffy grains of 20.3 nos, high nutrient status of 265 kg/ha of available N,35.4 kg/ha of available P,342 kg/ha of available K, 21.1meq/100 g of Ca,8.2 meq/100 g of Mg and root length and volume. The algal population in terms of dry biomass was reduced to 3.1 (g/m2) from the control group of 11.2 (g/m2) at 15 days after imposing treatment. The per cent increase of 26.0 % grain yield was also recorded in the combination treatment over control. From the present research, combined application of gypsum @500 kg/ha +Cono weeding twice +AWDI and microbial consortia of Zn and K solubilising bacteria @500ml/ha could be recommended for better soil environment and rice production in the delta region.

COMPOSICIÓN DE COMUNIDADES DE HONGOS MICORRÍZICOS ARBUSCULARES EN AGROECOSISTEMAS DEL ÁREA DE PROTECCIÓN DE FLORA Y FAUNA CAÑÓN DEL USUMACINTA EN TABASCO, MÉXICO

<p><strong>Background.</strong> The mutualistic interaction with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) is one of the main strategies used by plants to improve their absorption of nutrients and cope with adverse environmental conditions. They are ubiquitous microorganisms that help maintain soil health and crop nutrition, which is why they are considered an essential component in agroecosystems. However, its presence is affected by multiple biotic and abiotic factors such as tree cover and management intensity. <strong>Objective. </strong>Evaluate and compare the AMF communities and tree cover of the main agroecosystems present in the Usumacinta Canyon Flora and Fauna Protection Area (APFFCU) in the humid tropics of southeastern México. <strong>Methodology.</strong> The abundance of spores and the number of AMF morphospecies and the density and diversity of trees were counted in 25 plots of the agroecosystems Potrero (P), Milpa (M), Huerto Familiar (HF), Acahual (A) and Plantación Forestal (PF). An Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied to the set of data obtained from each variable to detect the presence of significant differences between each of the agroecosystems evaluated. Likewise, to observe the effect between the variables, the Pearson correlation analysis was carried out. Finally, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was carried out to visualize the grouping of the study plots. <strong>Results.</strong> The ANOVA detected significant differences when comparing the variables of interest. The highest abundance of spores was found in P and PF, while A and PF presented the highest richness of AMF morphospecies. Acaulosporaceae and Glomeraceae were the most representative families and <em>Acaulospora kentinensis</em> was the only morphospecies that was observed in all the agroecosystems evaluated. The highest values of tree density and diversity were observed in A. The lowest tree density was present in P and the lowest tree diversity in PF. The PCA allowed us to group the plots with the highest tree density, spore abundance and morphospecies richness on average. <strong>Implications.</strong> The information derived from this study highlights the importance of the presence of trees in agricultural productivity and the design of long-term sustainable agroecosystems. <strong>Conclusion.</strong> It was concluded that the AMF communities of the agroecosystems evaluated in the APFFCU vary in spore abundance and morphospecies richness, which is correlated with the characteristics of their tree cover.</p>

Nanotechnology in plant nutrition: Ensuring sustainable agriculture through nanofertilizers

AbstractFertilizers play a crucial role in enhancing the productivity of plants. However, low nutrient use efficiencies of conventional fertilizers (CFs) associated with several losses have led to widespread multi‐nutrient deficiencies in the soil and lower productivity. Furthermore, their excess application has caused serious damage to the soil and environment. Recently, nanotechnology has broadened its applicability in plant nutrition and has paved a way for the production of nanoparticle‐induced fertilizers. Therefore, nanofertilizers stand out as promising alternative to CFs for sustainable agriculture. Nanofertilizers are composed of nanoparticles that contain macro‐ and micronutrients and deliver them in a controlled way to the plant's rhizosphere. This contributes to the enhanced nutrient utilization efficiency. This review delves into the effect of nanotechnology‐based nanofertilizers in different forms and dosages on soil properties and plant development. Additionally, the mechanism underlying absorption of nanofertilizers and their advantages and limitations have also been discussed. A thorough comparison between conventional and nanofertilizers has also been made in this review in terms of their nutrient delivery mechanism, efficiency and application. As the use of nanoparticle‐embedded fertilizers in plant nutrition is still in its infancy, this review can serve as a guide for future investigations to enhance the knowledge of the use of nanoparticles in the mineral nutrition of different crops.

Soil Fertility, Fertilizers, and Crop Nutrition: Past, Present, and Future

AbstractSociety has made (and will be making) significant demands on agriculture in the not‐to‐distant future. Meeting future sustainability goals and environmental regulations while simultaneously continuing to meet requirements for food, feed, fuel, and fiber requires a firm understanding of how “we” have collectively arrived at our current status as it relates to our fertility principles and beliefs as well as the processes that address them. We have advanced far from the earliest thoughts on rudimentary plant nutrition to a sophisticated science of prescription crop nutrition. This article represents the first part of a series that intends to describe crop nutrition and fertilizers from where we have been to where the authors believe that we will likely need to be prepared to go if we are to support world demands into the foreseeable future. Earn 1.5 CEUs in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.

Reorienting research investments toward under‐researched crops for sustainable food systems

AbstractThe dominance of a few staple crops (maize, rice, and wheat) in most agricultural systems hampers the application of interventions to improve food security and nutrition. Research and development attention has focused on improving the production and utilization of these crops, leaving other crops under‐researched and underutilized. Subsequently, there have been high malnutrition rates due to poor diet diversity, yet there are “opportunity crops” that remain under researched. The opportunity crops can unlock solutions to food insecurity, malnutrition, a lack of biodiversity, and indeed poor climate adaptation. The study explored diversification in agricultural systems to analyze whether reorientation of research investment to include under‐researched crops can increase nutrient gain and enhance dietary diversity. Research outputs benchmarked as the number of publications from three leading African universities, Nairobi, Pretoria, and Ghana, were related to crop diversity and nutrition of crops in five clusters: cereals, vegetables, legumes, roots and tubers, and nuts. The findings show that maize was the predominantly researched crop across the three institutions. Low research outputs were observed for pearl millet, finger millet, and yam across the three institutions: amaranth and nightshade (Pretoria), sweet potatoes (Pretoria and Ghana), Marama bean (Nairobi), and soya bean (Nairobi and Ghana). There was nutrient gain across all five clusters, particularly from under‐researched indigenous crops such as finger millet, amaranth, nightshade, yam, sweet potatoes, Marama bean, and soybean. Nutrient gain was contributed more by cereals and root and tuber crops from Pretoria, vegetables and nuts (Ghana), as well as legumes (Nairobi). The findings demonstrate that incorporating research on the least researched crops with successful integration of other research and development initiatives (policy and dissemination) can increase nutrition and improve dietary diversity. The nutrient gain will positively affect food security and nutrition, contributing to the achievement of Africa Agenda 2063, the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, and reducing food imports. The findings can inform research investment and decision across different institutions within the African continent. Research investment targeting crops such as finger millet, amaranthus, sweet potatoes, soya beans, and cashew nuts is needed considering the nutritional contribution, climate change adaptability, market potential, and biodiversity contribution. Further analysis should explore production, socio‐economic (marketability and income generation), and environmental gains (adaptive ability to climate change) for specific crops. The development of frameworks to guide the analysis of the nature and scope of factors affecting the contribution of these crops to food security and nutrition, as well as research on specific crops considering geographic distribution and institutional involvement, is also needed.

Spring applied phosphorus loss with cover crops in no-till terraced field

Cover crops (CC) can improve phosphorus (P) cycling by reducing water related P losses and contributing to P nutrition of a rotational crop. This is particularly important in claypan soils with freeze-thaw cycles in early spring in the Midwest U.S. This 4-year study (2019–2022) examined the impact of CC monoculture and mix of CC species on P losses from a fertilizer application, and determined the P balance in soil compared to no cover crop (noCC). The CC mix consisted of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), radish (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. Sativus), and turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. Rapa) (3xCCmix) in 2019 and 2021 before corn, and cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) was planted as monoculture before soybean in 2020 and 2022. The 3xCCmix had no effect on total phosphorus (TP) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (PO4–P) concentration or load in 2019 and 2021. Cereal rye reduced TP and PO4–P load 70% and 73%, respectively, compared to noCC. The variation in soil moisture, temperature, and net precipitation from fertilizer application until CC termination affected available soil P pools due to variability in CC species P uptake, residue decomposition, and P loss in surface water runoff. Overall, the P budget calculations showed cereal rye had 2.4 kg ha−1 greater P uptake compared to the 3xCCmix species which also reduced P loss in water and had greater differences in soil P status compared to noCC. This study highlights the benefit of CCs in reducing P loss in surface runoff and immobilizing P through plant uptake. However, these effects were minimal with 3xCCmix species and variability in crop residue decomposition from different CC species could affect overall P-soil balance.