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Agronomy
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Safe and Efficient Utilization of Water and Fertilizer in Crops
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Safe and Efficient Utilization of Water and Fertilizer in Crops

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Use and Irrigation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2024 | Viewed by 6406

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yan Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Hydraulic Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Interests: water-saving irrigation; efficient use of water and fertilizer in crops; farmland nitrogen cycle; saline-alkali land amelioration

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water and fertilizers are both essential for crop growth. The proper management of water and fertilizers could improve agricultural productivity. Many nations have been faced with water shortage and agricultural non-point pollution, so improving water/fertilizer use efficiency and seeking more water/fertilizer resources are ways we can ameliorate these problems. Variations in climate, soil texture, and crop varieties among different areas can lead to different water and fertilizer requirements; therefore, it is necessary to study the appropriate water/fertilizer management. With water scarcity intensifying, reclaimed water has been widely used in lawns and agricultural production. The overuse of chemical fertilizers has led to numerous environmental issues, resulting in the promotion of combined organic and chemical fertilizer applications. However, the presence of heavy metals and organic pollutants in reclaimed water and organic fertilizers requires further research for their safe use.

The Special Issue aims to report the latest results regarding the efficient use of water/fertilizer and the safe utilization of reclaimed water and organic fertilizer. The topic of thus issue includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:

  1. Water saving irrigation
  2. Efficient utilization of chemical fertilizer
  3. Safe application of organic fertilizer
  4. Safe utilization of reclaimed water

Dr. Yan Li
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. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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

  • water-saving irrigation
  • reclaimed water
  • organic fertilizer

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 1954 KiB  
Article
The Timing of Phosphorus Availability to Corn: What Growth Stages Are Most Critical for Maximizing Yield?
by Kwame Ampong, Chad J. Penn and James J. Camberato
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2731; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112731 - 19 Nov 2024
Viewed by 721
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is critical for maximizing agricultural production and represents an appreciable input cost. Geologic sources of P that are most easily mined are a finite resource, while P transported from agricultural land to surface waters contributes to water quality degradation. Improved knowledge [...] Read more.
Phosphorus (P) is critical for maximizing agricultural production and represents an appreciable input cost. Geologic sources of P that are most easily mined are a finite resource, while P transported from agricultural land to surface waters contributes to water quality degradation. Improved knowledge of P timing needs by corn (maize) can help inform management decisions that increase P use efficiency, which is beneficial to productivity, economics, and environmental quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate P application timing on the growth and yield components of corn. Corn was grown in a sand-culture hydroponics system that eliminated confounding plant–soil interactions and allowed for precise control of nutrient availability and timing. All nutrients were applied via drip irrigation and were therefore 100% bioavailable. Eight P timing treatments were tested using “low” (L) and “sufficient” (S) P concentrations. In each of the three growth phases, solution P application levels were changed or maintained, resulting in eight possible combinations, LLL, LLS, LSL, LSS, SLL, SSL, SLS, and SSS, where the first, second, and third letters indicate P solution application levels from planting to V6, V6 to R1, and R1 to R6, respectively. All other nutrients were applied at sufficient levels. Sacrificial samples were harvested at V6, R1, and R6 and evaluated for various yield parameters. Plants that received sufficient P between V6 and R1 produced a significantly higher grain yield than plants that received low P between V6 and R1 regardless of the level of P supply before V6 or after R1. The grain yield of plants that received sufficient P only between V6 and R1 did not differ significantly from plants that received only sufficient P (SSS), due to (1) a greater ear P concentration at R1; (2) an efficient remobilization of assimilates from the stem and leaf to grains between R1 and R6 (source–sink relationship); (3) a higher kernel/grain weight; and (4) less investment into root biomass. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe and Efficient Utilization of Water and Fertilizer in Crops)
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13 pages, 1972 KiB  
Article
Water Infiltration and Evaporation Process with ATP Addition in Newly Reclaimed Soil
by Linjie Kong, Xiaoman Fan, Xinyue Li, Biyu Zhai, Zhangjie Tian, Yangkai Hong, Pengbo Jiang, Jiaxin Zhang and Juan Wang
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2628; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112628 - 7 Nov 2024
Viewed by 405
Abstract
The newly reclaimed soil is an important reserve land resource, while it faces challenges such as poor water retention and low fertility. Therefore, it requires improvement through the use of soil amendments. Attapulgite (ATP) is abundant in northwest China with excellent properties and [...] Read more.
The newly reclaimed soil is an important reserve land resource, while it faces challenges such as poor water retention and low fertility. Therefore, it requires improvement through the use of soil amendments. Attapulgite (ATP) is abundant in northwest China with excellent properties and can be used as an amendment for newly reclaimed soil. The effects of ATP and its addition rate on infiltration and evaporation characteristics in newly reclaimed soil were studied by experiments and model simulation. Three addition gradients (2%, 4%, and 6%) were set in this study, and no ATP addition was used as a control (CK). The results show that ATP treatment prolonged the infiltration duration, reduced the wetting front migration distance, and reduced the accumulated evaporation. Both the Philip model and the Kostiakov model can accurately describe the infiltration process of newly reclaimed soil with ATP addition; the soil evaporation process can be fitted well with the Rose model. In this study, ATP addition affected both sorptivity and the stable infiltration rate of the reclaimed soil. During the evaporation, the soil evaporation effect was inversely proportional to the addition rates of ATP, and the ATP addition rate at 2% had the best effect on reducing soil evaporation. In summary, the ATP addition was beneficial top soil infiltration and evaporation, thus improving the poor water retention of newly reclaimed land and is a reasonable choice for efficient construction of new reclaimed land. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe and Efficient Utilization of Water and Fertilizer in Crops)
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13 pages, 4175 KiB  
Article
Effects of Organic Manure on Wheat Yield and Accumulation of Heavy Metals in a Soil—Wheat System
by Yu Chen, Yingqi Ouyang, Weiyan Pan, Yitong Wang and Yan Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 2143; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14092143 - 20 Sep 2024
Viewed by 950
Abstract
The application of organic manure is an effective way to develop sustainable agriculture. However, the application of organic manure may be associated with a potential risk of heavy metal pollution for soil and crops. In this study, the effects of organic cow manure [...] Read more.
The application of organic manure is an effective way to develop sustainable agriculture. However, the application of organic manure may be associated with a potential risk of heavy metal pollution for soil and crops. In this study, the effects of organic cow manure (T1) (as base fertilizer), organic pig manure (T2) (as base fertilizer) and chemical fertilizer (T3) on winter wheat grain yields, grain quality, heavy metal concentrations and heavy metal bioconcentration factors (BCFs) in a soil–wheat system were studied from November 2021 to June 2023. The results showed that the winter wheat grain yields in the T1 and T2 treatments were lower than those in the T3 treatment by 2.57–38.0% and 10.5–25%, respectively. There were no significant differences in quality indexes of winter wheat grain among different fertilizer treatments. The concentrations of heavy metals in topsoil and winter wheat were 0.12–76.11 μg/g and 0.01–43.25 μg/g, respectively. The BCFs of heavy mental in the soil–wheat grain system was 0–2.92. In general, there were no significant differences in heavy metals’ concentrations in topsoil and wheat grain among different fertilizer treatments. In summary, compared with chemical fertilizer, the short-term application of organic manures had no significant effect on heavy metals concentrations in topsoil and wheat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe and Efficient Utilization of Water and Fertilizer in Crops)
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11 pages, 297 KiB  
Article
Effect of Water Deficit on Secondary Metabolites and Nutrient Content on Forage Sorghum
by Tayna Lemos de Oliveira Cunha, Dthenifer Cordeiro Santana, Gustavo de Faria Theodoro, Ana Carina da Silva Cândido Seron, Fernando França da Cunha, Paulo Eduardo Teodoro, Larissa Pereira Ribeiro Teodoro, Luis Carlos Vinhas Ítavo, Cid Naudi Silva Campos, Manoel Gustavo Paranhos da Silva and Alejandro Soares Montaño
Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 2046; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14092046 - 7 Sep 2024
Viewed by 731
Abstract
Agronomic properties are more likely to be impacted by water deficits that affect the nutrient uptake and production of secondary metabolites based on their timing and intensity. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the water deficit on the [...] Read more.
Agronomic properties are more likely to be impacted by water deficits that affect the nutrient uptake and production of secondary metabolites based on their timing and intensity. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the water deficit on the nutritional quality of forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) hybrids. For that purpose, a factorial, completely randomized experiment was conducted by considering three forage sorghum hybrids (AGRI 002-E, BREVANT SS318, and BRS 658) and two levels of evapotranspiration water replacement (50% and 100% of ETc). Parameters relating to water consumption, secondary metabolites (isoflavones daidzein, daidzin, genistein, and genistin), leaf nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, and Zn), and bromatological attributes (dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and mineral material) were evaluated at the end of the crop cycle. Isoflavone levels differed between the hybrids and were highest in water-deficient sorghum. There was a significant interaction between the factors only for the daidzin. The leaf content of the other compounds was influenced either by hybrids (genistein) or by the replacement of evapotranspired water levels (daidzein). The leaf content of P and S was influenced by the interaction between the factors, while the levels of K, Ca, and Mg were influenced by the effect of a single factor. The leaf contents of Mn and Zn were not influenced by the treatments. There was a difference between the hybrids for dry mass and crude protein contents, and hybrids x water deficit was only significant for dry mass. The hybrids Brevant SS318 and BRS 658 had the highest crude protein. The presented results are novel and demonstrate that water deficits can significantly affect the levels of secondary metabolites and the nutritional quality of forage sorghum, depending on the hybrid. The mentioned indices are important parameters for evaluating the nutritional quality and development of agricultural crops, particularly in response to adverse environmental conditions such as water stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe and Efficient Utilization of Water and Fertilizer in Crops)
17 pages, 2787 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilizer Regimes to Increase the Yield and Nitrogen Utilization of Tibetan Barley in Tibet
by Shangwen Wang, Jun Peng, Wenyi Dong, Zexiu Wei, Saud uz Zafar, Tao Jin and Enke Liu
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1775; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081775 - 13 Aug 2024
Viewed by 860
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) fertilization plays a pivotal role in the nitrogen transport process and yield formation of field-grown Tibetan barley (Hordeum vulgare L., qingke in Chinese); however, little is known about its interaction with irrigation regimes. Here, we performed a control experiment [...] Read more.
Nitrogen (N) fertilization plays a pivotal role in the nitrogen transport process and yield formation of field-grown Tibetan barley (Hordeum vulgare L., qingke in Chinese); however, little is known about its interaction with irrigation regimes. Here, we performed a control experiment to investigate the effects of irrigation regimes (primary irrigation and double irrigation, mentioned as W1 and W2) and N levels (0, 90, 120, and 150 kg ha−1, mentioned as N0, N9, N12, and N15) on the nitrogen accumulation, translocation, and utilization of Tibetan barley in the Tibetan Plateau during the spring barley seasons in 2022. The results showed that the highest yield (6242.28 kg ha−1) and aboveground biomass (12,354.13 kg ha−1 for anthesis; 15,827.9 kg ha−1 for maturity) were achieved in W2N15 as compared to other treatments. The maximum grain N accumulation (117.66 kg ha−1), the N translocation (54.16 kg ha−1), and the post-anthesis N accumulation (63.5 kg ha−1) were achieved in the W1N15 treatment. The N utilization efficiency increased with irrigation frequency and decreased with N application; however, the conclusion given by the N agronomic efficiency is contrary to this trend. The grain yield had significant positive correlations with the grain N accumulation (W1: r = 0.98; W2: r = 0.97) and N translocation (W1: r = 0.84; W2: r = 0.94), but significant negative correlations with the N harvest index (W1: r = −0.95; W2: r = −0.95) and N utilization efficiency (W1: r = −0.9; W2: r = −0.85). The path analysis revealed that the factors related to N utilization (β = 0.875) and the factors related to N translocation (β = −1.426) were the significant direct contributors towards grain yield. The influence of N application (total effect = 0.922) on the grain yield was much stronger than that of the irrigation regime (total effect = 0.324). Our findings can guide future efforts in designing sustainable water and N fertilizer management strategies for Tibetan barley in the Tibetan Plateau. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe and Efficient Utilization of Water and Fertilizer in Crops)
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14 pages, 1761 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Soil Nutrients in Plant Root Layer of a Saline-Sodic Soil Cropped with Lycium barbarum L. When Drip Irrigated with Saline Groundwater
by Chaoyin Dou, Yuping Lv, Yidi Sun, Xiaoping Chen and Yan Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(7), 1374; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071374 - 26 Jun 2024
Viewed by 991
Abstract
Drip irrigation is an effective method to utilize waste saline-sodic land with a high water table. For reasonable and sustainable utilization of saline-sodic soil under such conditions, spatiotemporal changes in total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and soil organic matter (SOM) were investigated [...] Read more.
Drip irrigation is an effective method to utilize waste saline-sodic land with a high water table. For reasonable and sustainable utilization of saline-sodic soil under such conditions, spatiotemporal changes in total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and soil organic matter (SOM) were investigated during the utilization process. The soil was sampled from newly built raised beds before planting (0 y) and beds in three adjacent plots had been planted with Lycium barbarum L. for one (1 y), two (2 y), and three years (3 y), respectively, at the end of the growing season. Soil samples were obtained at four horizontal distances from the drip line (0, 10, 20, and 30 cm) and four vertical soil depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–30, and 30–40 cm). The results showed that the average TN and TP of the soil profile increased with the planting year and were approximately 0.68 and 1.81 g·kg−1 in the soils of 3 y, approximately 84.9 and 42.4% higher than that of 0 y, respectively. SOM decreased in the first growing season and then continuously increased in the following planting years, reaching 8.26 g·kg−1 in the soils of 3 y, which was approximately 38.2% higher than that of 0 y. TN, TP, and SOM contents were high in soils around the drip line and decreased with distance from the drip line. In both horizontal and vertical directions, TN, TP, and SOM varied slightly in soils of 0, 1, and 2 y, while in soils of 3 y, TN and SOM decreased with increased distance in both horizontal and vertical directions and TP decreased obviously only within 10 cm in both directions. This indicated that the contents and distributions of soil nutrients in such saline-sodic soils could be improved with planting year under drip irrigation with local saline groundwater and especially around the drip line as the soil around the dripper was quickly ameliorated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe and Efficient Utilization of Water and Fertilizer in Crops)
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18 pages, 7272 KiB  
Article
Effects of Waterlogging Stress on Root Growth and Soil Nutrient Loss of Winter Wheat at Seedling Stage
by Hao Luo, Shanshan Liu, Yifan Song, Tianling Qin, Shangbin Xiao, Wei Li, Lulu Xu and Xiaoxiang Zhou
Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1247; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061247 - 8 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1024
Abstract
With global climate change, flooding events are becoming more frequent. However, the mechanism of how waterlogging stress affects crop roots needs to be studied in depth. Waterlogging stress can also lead to soil nitrogen and phosphorus loss, resulting in agricultural surface pollution. The [...] Read more.
With global climate change, flooding events are becoming more frequent. However, the mechanism of how waterlogging stress affects crop roots needs to be studied in depth. Waterlogging stress can also lead to soil nitrogen and phosphorus loss, resulting in agricultural surface pollution. The aim of this study is to clarify the relationship between soil nitrogen and phosphorus distribution, root growth characteristics, and nitrogen and phosphorus loss in runoff water under waterlogging stress during the winter wheat seedling stage. In this paper, Zhengmai 136 was selected as the experimental material, and two water management methods (waterlogging treatment and non-waterlogging control treatment) were set up. Field experiments were conducted at the Wudaogou Hydrological Experimental Station in 2022 to assess the nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in runoff water under waterlogging stress. The study also aimed to analyze the nitrogen and phosphorus content and the root distribution characteristics in different soil layers under waterlogging stress. The results showed as the following: 1. Waterlogging stress increased the characteristic parameters of winter wheat roots in both horizontal and vertical directions. Compared with the control treatment, the root length increased by 1.2–29.9% in the waterlogging treatment, while the root surface area and volume increased by an average of 3.1% and 41.9%, respectively. 2. Nitrogen and phosphorus contents in waterlogged soils were enriched in the 0–20 cm soil layer, but both tended to decrease in the 20–60 cm soil layer. Additionally, there was an inverse relationship between the distribution of soil nutrients and the distribution of wheat roots. 3. During the seedling stage of winter wheat, nitrogen loss was the main factor in the runoff water. In addition, nitrate nitrogen concentration averaged 55.2% of the total nitrogen concentration, while soluble phosphorus concentration averaged 79.1% of the total phosphorus concentration. 4. The results of redundancy analysis demonstrated that available phosphorus in the soil was the key environmental factor affecting the water quality of runoff water. Total phosphorus and dissolved phosphorus in the water were identified as the dominant factors influencing root growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe and Efficient Utilization of Water and Fertilizer in Crops)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Effect of attapulgite on water infiltration and evaporation process in newly reclaimed soil
Authors: Linjie Kong, Xiaoman Fan, Biyu Zhai and Juan Wang.
Affiliation: College of Hydraulic Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009,China
Abstract: The newly reclaimed soil is an important reserved land resource, while there are some challenges such as poor water retention and poor fertility, it is necessary to be improved by soil amendments. Attapulgite (ATP) is abundant in northwest China with excellent properties, and can be used as an amendment for newly reclaimed soil. The effects of ATP and its addition rate on infiltration and evaporation characteristics in newly reclaimed soil were studied by experiment and model simulation.Three addition gradients (2%, 4% and 6%) were set in this study, and no ATP addition was used as CK. The results show that ATP treatment prolonged the infiltration duration, reduced the distance of wetting front migration distance and reduced the accumulated evaporation. Both Philip model and Kostiakov model can accurately describe the infiltration process of newly reclaimed soil with ATP addition. The Rose model can accurately describe the evaporation process of newly reclaimed soil. In this experiment, ATP addition affected both sorptivity and stable infiltration rate. During the evaporation, the soil evaporation effect was inversely proportional to the addition rates of ATP, and ATP addition rate at 2% had the best effect on soil evaporation. In summary, the application of ATP can effectively inhibit soil infiltration and evaporation, effectively improve the poor water retention of newly reclaimed land, and is a reasonable choice for efficient construction of new reclaimed land.

Title: The timing of phosphorus availability to corn: what growth stages are most critical for maximizing yield?
Authors: Kwame Ampong; Chad J. Penn; James J. Camberato
Affiliation: USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Lab
Abstract: Phosphorus (P) is critical for maximizing agricultural production and represents an appreciable input cost. Geologic sources of P that are most easily mined are a finite resource, while P transported from agricultural land to surface waters contributes to water quality degradation. Improved knowledge of P timing needs by corn (maize) can help to inform management decisions that increase P use efficiency, which is beneficial to productivity, economics, and environmental quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate P application timing on growth and yield components of corn. Corn was grown in a sand-culture hydroponics system that eliminated confounding plant-soil interactions and allowed for precise control of nutrient availability and timing. All nutrients were applied via drip irrigation and therefore 100% bioavailable. Eight P timing treatments were tested using “low” (L) and “sufficient” (S) P concentrations. At each of three growth phases, solution P application levels were changed or maintained, resulting in eight possible combinations: LLL, LLS, LSL, LSS, SLL, SSL, SLS, and SSS, where the first, second and third letter indicates P solution application level from planting to V6, V6 to R1, and R1 to R6, respectively. All other nutrients were applied at sufficient levels. Sacrificial samples were harvested at V6, R1, and R6 and evaluated for various yield parameters. Plants that received sufficient P between V6 and R1 produced significantly higher grain yield than plants that received low P between V6 and R1 regardless of the level of P supply before V6 or after R1. The grain yield of plants that received sufficient P at least once after V6 did not differ significantly from plants that received only sufficient P (SSS) due to; (1) greater ear P concentration at R1; (2) efficient remobilization of assimilates from stem and leaf to grains between R1 and R6 (source-sink relationship); (3) Higher kernel/grain weight; (4) less investment into root biomass.

Title: Sustainable Nutrient Management: Release Profiles of Biochar and Clays-Based Controlled-Release Fertilizers
Authors: Olena Dorosh1, Cristina Neves2, Cristina Delerue-Matos1, Sónia Figueiredo1, Manuela M. Moreira1*
Affiliation: 1REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal 2CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Materials and Ceramic Engineering, University of Aveiro – Portugal
Abstract: Over recent decades, global agricultural production has significantly increased to meet rising food demands driven by rapid population growth. While chemical fertilizers have played a crucial role in enhancing crop yields, conventional fertilizer management practices have led to environmental challenges, including nutrient runoff, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions. Since reducing fertilizer use is not feasible, improving the efficiency and sustainability of fertilizer application has become essential. Controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs), which release nutrients gradually to align with plant uptake rates, represent a promising approach to mini-mize environmental impact while maintaining high crop productivity. This study investigates nutrient release dynamics from biochar enriched with essential plant nutrients, produced from vineyard prunings, as well as from nutri-ent-enriched clays mixed with biochar. Preliminary experiments assess nutrient release rates in deionized water over intervals from 1 to 48 hours. Following this, column leaching experiments will simulate soil conditions to evaluate nutrient re-lease under realistic environmental conditions. By examining these con-trolled-release materials, we aim to gain insights into their effectiveness in enhanc-ing nutrient use efficiency and reducing environmental impact. The findings are expected to inform the development of more sustainable fertilizer practices, sup-porting long-term agricultural productivity and environmental health.

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