Nutrient Uptake Efficiency Research Articles

Impact of nitrogen and sulphur fertilizer rates on nitrogen uptake dynamics and nutrient use efficiency in wheat

A field experiment was performed to assess the impact of nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) fertilizer rates, along with their interactions, on nutrient uptake, content and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in wheat at various growth stages. The study examined the effects of administering 40 kg N, 80 kg N, and 120 kg N alongside 0 kg S, 15 kg S, and 30 kg S on N and S uptake, as well as grain and shoot nutrient content during wheat ontogeny. Nitrogen uptake and concentration in wheat grain and shoots were significantly increased by 120 kg of N and 30 kg of S. At 120 kg N + 30 kg S, shoots (13.91, 34.80, 41.50 and 39.89 kg/ha) and grains (152.36 kg/ha) showed the highest uptake, with the lowest recorded in the control. Sulphur uptake followed a similar pattern, peaking at 120 kg N + 30 kg S (3.17, 6.91, and 8.36 kg/ha) in the shoots. This treatment had the highest S levels in shoots (0.67%, 0.44%, and 0.34%) and grain (0.288%) compared to the control group. The 120 kg N + 30 kg S treatment had the highest NUE and sulphur use efficiency (SUE) (91.31% and 84.10%, respectively), while the 40 kg N + 0 kg S and 40 kg N + 15 kg S treatments recorded the lowest values (53.14% and 11.03%). Nitrogen production efficiency peaked at 21.187 kg yield/kg N at 120 kg N and 0 kg S, but S production efficiency decreased with higher S levels. Balancing N and S improved nutrient absorption, content, and utilization efficiency in the wheat production system.

Effect of molybdenum supply on crop performance through rhizosphere soil microbial diversity and metabolite variation

Molybdenum (Mo) deficiency is a global problem in acidic soils, limiting plant growth, development, and nutrient availability. To address this, we carried out a field study with two treatments, i.e., Mo applied (+Mo) and without Mo (−Mo) treatment to explore the effects of Mo application on crop growth and development, microbial diversity, and metabolite variations in maize and soybean cropping systems. Our results indicated that the nutrient availability (N, P, K) was higher under Mo supply leading to improved biological yield and nutrient uptake efficiency in both crops. Microbial community analysis revealed that Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria were the dominant phyla in Mo treated (+Mo) soils for both maize and soybean. Both these phyla accounted together 39.43% and 57.74% in −Mo and +Mo, respectively, in soybean rhizosphere soil, while they accounted for 44.51% and 46.64% in maize rhizosphere soil. This indicates more variations among the treatments in soybean soil compared to maize soil. At a lower taxonomic level, the diverse responses of the genera indicated the specific bacterial community adaptations to fertilization. Candidatus Koribacter and Kaistobacter were commonly significantly higher in both crops under Mo-applied conditions in both cropping systems. These taxa, sharing similar functions, could serve as potential markers for nutrient availability and soil fertility. Metabolite profiling revealed 8 and 10 significantly differential metabolites in maize and soybean, respectively, under +Mo treatment, highlighting the critical role of Mo in metabolite variation. Overall, these findings emphasize the importance of Mo in shaping soil microbial diversity by altering metabolite composition, which in turn may enhance the nutrient availability, nutrient uptake, and plant performance.

Influence of Different Phosphatic Fertilizer on Nutrient Uptake and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Soybean in Highly Calcareous Soil

A field experiment was conducted to study “Phosphorus use efficiency through PROM (phosphorus rich organic manure) for soybean in highly calcareous soil” at Research Farm, College of Agriculture, Pune during kharif 2023. This experiment consisted of two organic sources (PROM and vermicompost) and two inorganic sources of phosphorus (SSP and DAP) along with their levels @ 50, 75 and 100 % imposed for soybean in calcareous soil. The treatments comprised T1 - Absolute control, T2 - RDF (50:75:45 kg ha-1 N: P2O5: K2O), T3 - 50% P2O5 through PROM, T4 - 75% P2O5 through PROM, T5 - 100% P2O5 through PROM, T6 - 100% P2O5 through DAP + FYM @12.5 t ha-1, T7 - 100% P2O5 through SSP + FYM @12.5 t ha-1 and T8 - 100% P2O5 through vermicompost replicated thrice in randomized block design imposed to soybean in calcareous soil. Significantly superior results were observed for higher nitrogen (82.22 and 24.49 kg ha-1), phosphorus (23.43 and 42.55 kg ha-1) and potassium (49.44 and 81.93 kg ha-1) uptake by grain and straw of soybean with the incorporation of 100 % P2O5 through PROM in calcareous soil. Similar treatment reported 145.41 % increase in Fe, 86.22 % in Mn, 71.92 % Zn and 52.08 % in Cu uptake by soybean. Based on this experiment it could be concluded that incorporation of 100 % P2O5 through phosphorus rich organic manure reported higher nutrient use efficiency (NUE) for nitrogen (129.34 %), phosphorus (38.00 %) and potassium (139.02 %) in calcareous soil under soybean cultivation. It is inferred that incorporation of PROM or vermicompost for the substitution of either 75 or 100 % P2O5 reported significantly higher nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency in calcareous soil than that of inorganic fertilizers (SSP and DAP) application or recommended dose of fertilizer or absolute control.

Nanoparticles as catalysts of agricultural revolution: enhancing crop tolerance to abiotic stress: a review.

Ensuring global food security and achieving sustainable agricultural productivity remains one of the foremost challenges of the contemporary era. The increasing impacts of climate change and environmental stressors like drought, salinity, and heavy metal (HM) toxicity threaten crop productivity worldwide. Addressing these challenges demands the development of innovative technologies that can increase food production, reduce environmental impacts, and bolster the resilience of agroecosystems against climate variation. Nanotechnology, particularly the application of nanoparticles (NPs), represents an innovative approach to strengthen crop resilience and enhance the sustainability of agriculture. NPs have special physicochemical properties, including a high surface-area-to-volume ratio and the ability to penetrate plant tissues, which enhances nutrient uptake, stress resistance, and photosynthetic efficiency. This review paper explores how abiotic stressors impact crops and the role of NPs in bolstering crop resistance to these challenges. The main emphasis is on the potential of NPs potential to boost plant stress tolerance by triggering the plant defense mechanisms, improving growth under stress, and increasing agricultural yield. NPs have demonstrated potential in addressing key agricultural challenges, such as nutrient leaching, declining soil fertility, and reduced crop yield due to poor water management. However, applying NPs must consider regulatory and environmental concerns, including soil accumulation, toxicity to non-target organisms, and consumer perceptions of NP-enhanced products. To mitigate land and water impacts, NPs should be integrated with precision agriculture technologies, allowing targeted application of nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides. Although further research is necessary to assess their advantages and address concerns, NPs present a promising and cost-effective approach for enhancing food security in the future.

The interaction of nutrient uptake with biotic and abiotic stresses in plantsFA.

Plants depend heavily on efficient nutrient uptake and utilization for optimal growth and development. However, plants are constantly subjected to a diverse array of biotic stresses, such as pathogen infections, insect pests, and herbivory, as well as abiotic stress like drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and nutrient imbalances. These stresses significantly impact the plant's ability to take up nutrient and use it efficiency. Understanding how plants maintain nutrient uptake and use efficiency under biotic and abiotic stress conditions is crucial for improving crop resilience and sustainability. This review explores the recent advancements in elucidating the mechanisms underlying nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency in plants under such stress conditions. Our aim is to offer a comprehensive perspective that can guide the breeding of stress-tolerant and nutrition-efficient crop varieties, ultimately contributing to the advancement of sustainable agriculture.

Comparing yield, nutrient uptake and water use efficiency of Nasturtium officinale cultivated in aquaponic, hydroponic, and soil systems

Comparing yield, nutrient uptake and water use efficiency of Nasturtium officinale cultivated in aquaponic, hydroponic, and soil systems

Enhancing black gram “[Vigna mungo (l.) Hepper]” nutrient uptake and yield through integrated use of organic manure and inorganic fertilizer application

Black gram is an important legume crop cultivated throughout the world for its protein content and economic importance. The integrated nutrient management practice is the key strategy to increase the production and productivity of black gram to meet the protein needs of the growing population. There is an immediate need for organic manure application along with inorganic fertilizer for increasing the nutrient uptake efficiency of crops. The goal of the field experiment was to maximise the delivery of nutrients by recycling residue from the cropping system's related components. Different organic manures and the appropriate dosages of NPK fertilisers were used in the studies from 2019 to 2021 and the field was laid out in split plot statistical design with 5 main plots viz., M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 and 3 Sub plots were fixed with different fertilizer levels viz., S1, S2 and S3. The significant influences on growth and yield attributes of black gram were observed. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content and uptake in grain and haulm yield significantly increased with the application of M2S1 compared to other combinations tried in both years. This experiment highlights the effectiveness of integrated nutrient management (INM) using organic manure and inorganic fertilizers. This approach can improve crop yield while promoting sustainability by reducing reliance solely on chemical fertilizers.

Evaluation on the Influence of Cropping Systems and Nutrient Management Practices in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) Growth, Crop Nutrient Uptake and Soil Fertility Status

Background: At the present situations, sole croppingand generalized fertilization recommendations could not produce advantageous results for neither profitable crop production nor for a sustainable environment. Therefore, the study focuses on evaluating the response of pearl millet to various cropping systems and different nutrient management techniques for enhancing crop productivity and sustaining soil fertility. Methods: The field trial took place at the instructional farm of Karunya Institute of Technology and Science in the Coimbatore district of western Tamil Nadu, India. The trial spanned over two growing seasons and followed a factorial randomized block design, with 2 factors: cropping systems and nutrient management, replicated three times. The design resulted in a total of 12 treatment combinations, comprising 3 levels of cropping system viz., sole cropping of pearl millet, pearl millet with black gram and cowpea intercropping systems; and 4 levels of nutrient management comprising different doses of fertilizer levels in combination with biofertilizers such as Azospirillum and PSB and foliar sprays of 2% Urea and 3% Panchagavya. Result: The experimental findings indicated that intercropping treatment, Pearl millet + Black gram at a 1:1 ratio, exhibited superior results in enhancing plant growth, improving the crop nutrient uptakeand enriching soil fertility. In the case of nutrient management treatments, application of 75% of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) + Azospirillum and phosphate solubilizing bacteria + foliar application of 2% urea at 15 and 35 days after transplanting (DAT) resulted in producing higher plant height, enhanced dry matter production, efficient crop nutrient uptake, improved soil fertility status for sustainable agriculture.

Physiological responses of the alien macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae (Phaeophyceae, Heterokontophyta) to changes in nutrients and temperature.

The Asian brown macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae has invaded the oligotrophic areas of Mediterranean coasts since 2015, with drastic impacts on environmental conditions and socioeconomic activities in coastal areas in Europe. Therefore, it is intriguing how this species is able to grow and expand at the observed rates. In this context, the physiological responses of R. okamurae to changing nutrient concentrations and temperature were analyzed. Two experiments were conducted, evaluating six combinations of nitrate and phosphate concentrations and their potential interaction with temperature. Nutrient uptake efficiency (NUE) and rates (NUR), photosynthetic responses, growth rates, and biomass composition were evaluated. Photosynthesis parameters, soluble proteins, and -NUR increased with increasing N:P ratio; however, -NUR was very similar in all treatments. The species showed high capacity for nitrate assimilation, which was rapidly modulated by its external concentration and temperature (more than 90% of NO3-NUE after 5 days in treatments with N:P rations of 5, 10, 16, 25, and 40 N to 1 P). Consequently, N-nutrients were removed from the water by R. okamurae and likely stored inside the cells. This process will allow the alga to maintain high growth rates if thalli are moved to oligotrophic areas, favoring its spreading to many marine environments. Additionally, fucoxanthin was the predominant carotenoid in this species, although its content was lower than in other brown macroalgae species (mean value of 0.51 ± 0.05 mg · g-1 DW). However, since a huge amount of R. okamurae is observed recurrently on beaches, the use of this biomass might be proposed to compensate partially for its impacts.

Effect of Different Nitrogen Levels and Nano Urea on Yield and Economics of Wheat under Mid Hills of Himachal Pradesh, India

Optimizing nitrogen levels, particularly through nano-urea application, significantly enhances wheat yield by improving nutrient uptake efficiency, leading to increased economic returns while minimizing environmental impact. A field experiment was conducted at Chamelti Agriculture Farm, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan during rabi season of 2023-24 to study the effect of different nitrogen levels and nano urea on yield and economics of wheat under mid hills of Himachal Pradesh. The field experiment was laid out in Split plot design consisting of four treatments in main plot and three treatments in sub plot. The treatments of main plot were comprising of four nitrogen levels viz., Control, 50% RDN, 75% RDN and 100% RDN (recommended dose of nitrogen) and three foliar spray of Nano urea in sub plot viz., at CRI stage, Tillering stage and Jointing stage. The recommended doses of fertilizers were applied in each plot. Phosphorous and potassium were applied as basal at the time of sowing through SSP and MOP. Nitrogen was applied in two split doses, half dose was applied through urea at the time of sowing as basal dose and remaining half dose was applied in two equal splits at the time of CRI and tillering stage. While, foliar application of nano urea was applied as per treatment @ 3 ml l-1 of water. Other operations were performed as per package of practices of this area. The results revealed that application of 100% RDN recorded significantly higher yield and economics. While, Foliar spray of nano urea at jointing stage resulted in significantly higher yield and economics of wheat viz., grain yield (kg ha-1), straw yield (kg ha-1), biological yield (kg ha-1), gross returns (₹ ha-1) and net returns (₹ ha-1).

A conserved nuclear factor YC subunit, NF-YC3, is essential for arbuscule development.

Establishing reciprocal symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is an important evolutionary strategy of most terrestrial plants to adapt to environmental stresses, especially phosphate (Pi) deficiencies. Identifying the key genes essential for AM symbiosis in plants and dissecting their functional mechanisms will be helpful for the breeding of new crop varieties with enhanced nutrient uptake efficiency. Here, we report a nuclear factor YC subunit-encoding gene, OsNF-YC3, whose expression is specifically induced in arbuscule-containing cells, plays an essential role in AM symbiosis. Knockout of OsNF-YC3 resulted in stunted arbuscule morphology and substantially decreased P accumulation, while overexpressing OsNF-YC3 enhanced mycorrhization and Pi uptake efficiency. OsNF-YC3 is directly regulated by OsPHRs, the major regulators of Pi starvation responses. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis uncovered multiple genes with crucial roles in arbuscule development as its potential downstream targets, including the AM-specific Pi transporter gene OsPT11. OsNF-YC3 can form a heterotrimer with the other two NF-Y subunits, OsNF-YA11 and OsNF-YB11, in yeast. Loss of OsNF-YA11 function also severely impaired arbuscule development in its mutants. Overall, our results highlight an essential role of OsNF-YC3 and its potential interacting NF-Y subunit, OsNF-YA11, in regulating AM symbiosis and arbuscule development.

Effect of Nitrogen Management and Silicon Fertilization on Crops

Nitrogen management has a substantial impact on crop growth stages and yields. Split nitrogen administration at specific growth stages improves nutrient utilization, reduce losses and increase yield. Several studies have shown that applying nitrogen in fractions throughout the life cycle improves nutrient uptake efficiency while minimizing environmental contamination. Proper judicious nitrogen application impacts soil properties by affecting nutrient availability. Nitrogen management based on the Leaf Color Chart (LCC) is successful in terms of optimizing nitrogen delivery and enhancing yield characteristics. Silicon fertilization has shown encouraging outcomes in terms of plant growth, yield, and stress tolerance across a variety of crops. Silicon also improves the soil features such as nutrient availability and pH regulation, resulting in increased plant nutrient uptake. The interaction effects of silicon with other nutrients show synergistic effects that improve nutrient absorption and yield. Silicon interacts with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrients, which promotes crop performance and nutrient efficiency. Application of nitrogen and silicon management strategies can boost crop yield, nutrient efficiency, and sustainability in agricultural systems. However, additional research is needed to understand the intricate mechanisms behind the interactions of nitrogen, silicon, and other nutrients in crop-soil systems to develop more effective nutrient management strategies. This review deals with different aspects of nitrogen fertilization in crops and simultaneous silicon application and interaction among both. The aspects of growth parameters, yield attributes, yield, economics, soil characteristics and efficiency studies have been assessed.

Nanotechnology Interventions in Fruit Production: Enhancing Production and Quality

Nanotechnology has gained significant importance in enhancing fruit production and quality, offering novel solutions to challenges faced by traditional horticultural practices. The various applications of nanotechnology in fruit cultivation, focusing on Nano fertilizers, nanopesticides, nano-based fungicides, and post-harvest management technologies. Nanofertilizers have shown promise in improving nutrient uptake efficiency, stimulating vegetative and reproductive growth, enhancing yield, and reducing environmental impacts compared to conventional fertilizers. Similarly, nanopesticides and nanofungicides provide targeted pest and disease management, reducing the overuse of chemical inputs and minimizing their harmful effects on soil health. Post-harvest nanotechnologies, such as silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles, have been effective in extending the shelf life of fruits by preventing microbial decay and maintaining fruit firmness. Innovations in smart packaging, such as nanocomposite films and nano coatings, help slow down ripening and spoilage, significantly reducing post-harvest losses. Precision fruit cultivation techniques utilizing nanosensors and nano-based biosensors offer enhanced monitoring of soil conditions, nutrient levels, and early pathogen detection, improving overall fruit quality and sustainability. Despite these advancements, the widespread adoption of nanotechnology in fruit production is still limited by concerns related to public acceptance, potential environmental impacts, and regulatory challenges. Continued research is needed to address these issues and to explore the full potential of nanotechnology in fruit production.

Unlocking synergies: Enhancing bioremediation, growth, and physiological responses of Penaeus vannamei co-cultured with seaweed

Seaweeds, an inorganic extractive species in the Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system, offer the potential for mitigating coastal pollution and a source of nutrition aligning with Sustainable Development Goals. A co-culture strategy was hypothesized to address rising concerns over intensive shrimp farming, limited suitable seaweed cultivation areas, and production optimization. Initially, locally available seaweeds along the Maharashtra coast were screened, followed by co-culture with P. vannamei with selected seaweed to evaluate production performance and physiological responses in zero-water exchange system. The first four-week study was conducted in shrimp wastewater with six different seaweeds, where Gracilaria foliifera performed best with significant (p < 0.05) improvement in nutrient uptake efficiency (Total ammoniacal nitrogen- 64 %, Phosphate- 99.87 %, Nitrite-32 %, Nitrate-13 %) and yield (4.56 kg m−3), enhanced elemental profile, biochemical composition, and pigments. A further optimization study of G. foliifera in shrimp wastewater for 96 h identified the optimal stocking density of 1–3.5 gL−1, based on nutrient uptake efficiency (TAN- 61 %, PO4–72 %, NO2–48 %, NO3–27 %). In the second experiment, considering the highest uptake, G. foliifera stocking density was maintained at 3.5 gL−1, and different stocking densities of P. vannamei (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 nos. m−2) were assessed with two controls, shrimp monoculture and Gracilaria monoculture. Results showed that co-culturing P. vannamei at 20 nos.m−2 followed by 60 nos.m−2 with G. foliifera at 3.5 gL−1 yielded the highest mean weight gain, specific growth rate, and production with low feed conversion ratio, while also improving water quality. The co-culture system also led to lower stress enzyme levels, reduced serum glucose and cholesterol, and normal histological observations in the hepatopancreas compared to monoculture. This study suggests that the co-culture of P. vannamei at 60 nos.m−2 with G. foliifera at 1–3.5 gL−1 proved superior without compromising productivity and physiological responses over monoculture in a sustainable manner.

How Well Do Endemic Wetland Plant Species Perform in Water Purification?

Rising anthropogenic-induced nutrient enrichment of surface waters is of great concern globally as it jeopardizes the ecological integrity and functioning of freshwater ecosystems. Floating wetlands have been successfully used to treat nutrient enriched wastewater in developing nations, and provide additional co-benefits. We aimed to quantify the nutrient removal efficiency of high-potential, endemic wetland species on floating wetlands in different conditions and to understand whether the nutrient uptake process was characterised by key plant functional traits. Two experiments were run under Mediterranean-climate conditions of the Western Cape of South Africa: (1) a closed, oligotrophic mesocosm experiment representing local conditions and (2) a real-life (in-situ) eutrophic application. The mesocosm experiment conducted under oligotrophic local conditions yielded low nitrate, phosphate and ammonium removal rates (34.8–35.2 mgNO3-Nm− 2.d− 1, 10.4–10.7 mgPO4-Pm− 2.d− 1 and 3.6–3.8 mgNH4-Nm−2.d− 1) in comparison to other floating wetland studies globally, yet high removal efficiencies (> 90%). However the eutrophic in-situ experiment demonstrated the potential for these same endemic plants to remove up to 312 g.m− 2 of nitrogen and 47 g.m− 2 of phosphorus per year– which is relatively high compared to similar global research. Cyperus textilis had the highest daily nutrient uptake and content followed by Prionium serratum and Juncus lomatophyllus, while J. lomatophyllus had the greatest nutrient uptake efficiency. Two of the three species (C. textilis and P. serratum) stored significantly more total nutrients in their shoot tissue compared to their root tissue, suggesting that the permanent removal of nutrients from the system is possible through shoot harvesting. Floating wetlands planted with endemic plant species have the potential to remove nutrients effectively and sustainably from eutrophic water and can thus be implemented as low-cost nature-based solutions to mitigate pollution of lentic systems.

Single-cell integration reveals metaplasia in inflammatory gut diseases

The gastrointestinal tract is a multi-organ system crucial for efficient nutrient uptake and barrier immunity. Advances in genomics and a surge in gastrointestinal diseases1,2 has fuelled efforts to catalogue cells constituting gastrointestinal tissues in health and disease3. Here we present systematic integration of 25 single-cell RNA sequencing datasets spanning the entire healthy gastrointestinal tract in development and in adulthood. We uniformly processed 385 samples from 189 healthy controls using a newly developed automated quality control approach (scAutoQC), leading to a healthy reference atlas with approximately 1.1 million cells and 136 fine-grained cell states. We anchor 12 gastrointestinal disease datasets spanning gastrointestinal cancers, coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease to this reference. Utilizing this 1.6 million cell resource (gutcellatlas.org), we discover epithelial cell metaplasia originating from stem cells in intestinal inflammatory diseases with transcriptional similarity to cells found in pyloric and Brunner’s glands. Although previously linked to mucosal healing4, we now implicate pyloric gland metaplastic cells in inflammation through recruitment of immune cells including T cells and neutrophils. Overall, we describe inflammation-induced changes in stem cells that alter mucosal tissue architecture and promote further inflammation, a concept applicable to other tissues and diseases.

Decoding the Double Stress Puzzle: Investigating Nutrient Uptake Efficiency and Root Architecture in Soybean Under Heat- and Water-Stresses.

In the context of climate change, associated with increasingly frequent water deficits and heat waves, there is an urgent need to maintain the performance of soybean, a leading legume crop worldwide, before its yield declines. The objective of this study was to explore which plant traits improve soybean tolerance to heat and/or water stress, with a focus on traits involved in plant architecture and nutrient uptake. For this purpose, two soybean genotypes were grown under controlled conditions in a high-throughput phenotyping platform where either optimal conditions, heat waves, water stress or both heat waves and water stresses were applied during the vegetative stage. By correlating architectural to functional traits, related to water, carbon allocation and nutrient absorption, we were able to explain the stress susceptibility level of the two genotypes. We have shown that water flow in the plant is central to the uptake and allocation of mineral elements in the plant, despite its modulation by stress and in a genotype-dependent manner. This cross-analysis of plant ecophysiology and plant nutrition under different stresses provides new information, especially on the importance of mineral elements in the different plant organs, and can inform future crop design, particularly under changing climatic conditions.

Comparison of STCR and Conventional Fertilizer Approaches for Improved Yield, Uptake and Nutrient Use Efficiency in Greengram

The present study investigates the effects of various fertilizer recommendation approaches on yield, nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency in greengram (BGS-9), conducted at ZARS, GKVK, Bengaluru during summer-2024. Soil test crop response (STCR) based fertilizer prescription equations were developed during kharif-2022 by following the methodology of Ramamoorthy et al., (1967) and were validated alongside post-harvest soil test value prediction equations. Results indicated that significantly higher seed yield (17.99 q ha⁻¹) was recorded in the STCR approach for the target yield of 15 q ha-1, where nutrients were applied through integrated approach based on actual soil test values (T3). The highest haulm yield (30.25 q ha⁻¹) was recorded in T2, which followed the STCR inorganic approach targeting 15 q ha⁻¹, based on predicted soil test values. Nutrient uptake results indicated that significantly higher nitrogen (110.73 kg ha⁻¹), phosphorus (11.39 kg ha⁻¹) and potassium (140.06 kg ha⁻¹) uptake were recorded in STCR treatments, particularly in those with an integrated approach. These treatments also validated better nutrient recovery and agronomic use efficiency compared to low, medium and high (LMH) and package of practice (POP) approaches. The findings confirm the accuracy of predicted soil test values in fertilizer prescription, indicating that repeated soil testing between crops may be unnecessary. The STCR based integrated approach provided balanced nutrient application, leading to optimal yield and nutrient uptake. This study highlights the effectiveness of STCR methodologies for efficient nutrient management and improved productivity in greengram.

Improving Nutrient Uptake Efficiency in Hydroponic Systems With Phytoremediation of Nitrate‐Nitrogen Contaminated Wastewater

ABSTRACTThis study evaluates the efficacy of a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system in phytoremediation of nitrate‐nitrogen contaminated wastewater using six plant species: vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides), golden pothos (Epiprennum aureum), crotons (Codiaeum variegatum), arrowhead plant (Syngonium podophyllum), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), and brinjal (Solanum melongena). This study examines how well different plant species remove nitrate‐nitrogen from wastewater in an NFT hydroponic system. It finds that all plants, but especially money plant and arrowhead plant, successfully lower nitrate levels at influent concentrations of 30 and 90 mg/L. The wastewater had average pH values of 5–6.5, temperature values of 24°C–25°C, electrical conductivity values (EC) of 1.5–2 mS/cm, and total dissolved solids (TDS) between 1062 ± 199.3 and 1400 ± 124.16 mg/L. The system for golden pothos (70.94%–90.3%), crotons (62.5%–83.1%), arrowhead plant (67.25%–90.03%), vetiver grass (45.42%–83.1%), spinach (47.15%–81.71%), and brinjal (59.52%–83.38%) has shown excellent biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) elimination efficiency. These results suggest that nitrate‐nitrogen contaminated wastewater can be effectively cleaned up by NFT hydroponic systems, which employ certain plant species.

The Impact of Nanobubble Gases in Enhancing Soil Moisture, Nutrient Uptake Efficiency and Plant Growth: A Review

Nanobubble (NB) technology in agriculture has received increased interest due to its potential to promote soil moisture retention and plant development. Therefore, this review investigates the impact of various types of NBs—such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and air—on soil and plant systems. Various studies revealed that nanobubble-saturated water (NBSW) increases moisture retention, microbial activity, and nutrient absorption, which contribute to better plant development. However, there are still gaps in understanding the specific roles of different gases regarding their stability, interactions with soil, and long-term agricultural impacts. This review aims to combine previous research by focusing on various types of NBs impact on soil moisture, water quality, and nutrient retention. Challenges include the quick dissolution of particular gases, limited field studies, and scalability. The analysis showed that despite these challenges, NBs have potential for enhancing agriculture by improving soil structure and crop yield. More study is needed to maximize their application, particularly in determining the most effective gas types and concentrations for certain agricultural areas.