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Agronomy
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Application of Organic Amendments in Agricultural Production—2nd Edition
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Application of Organic Amendments in Agricultural Production—2nd Edition

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 21139

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Elena Baldi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum–University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Interests: plant nutrition; organic fertilization; root growth and dynamics; root–rhizosphere interactions; fruit quality; tree physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil is an essential resource for plant growth and yield. It undergoes a rapid degradation process in intensive agricultural areas, but it has extremely slow formation and regeneration mechanisms. As a consequence, soils of agroecosystems are severely depleted of organic matter and macro-/micronutrient pools. In addition, the production of urban and industrial organic wastes is increasing worldwide, and environmentally friendly strategies for their disposal, e.g., compost production, have been developed. Furthermore, the application of organic fertilizers could help to mitigate the negative effect of the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, since they can sequester C into the soil. The necessity of bringing together economic and ecological issues has led to an increase in the use of organic fertilizers worldwide since, in addition to their positive effects on soil chemical, physical, and biological properties, they also improve plant performance.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight the effect of different organic amendments on plant performance, soil quality, and the environment. Manuscripts dealing with the effect of organic amendment supply on plant performances, soil chemical, physical, and biological properties, and carbon sequestration will be considered.

Dr. Elena Baldi
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

  • soil organic matter
  • carbon sequestration
  • plant performances
  • soil fertility
  • nutrient availability

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1206 KiB  
Article
Potential of Manure and Urea Fertilizer on Maize (Zea mays L.) Productivity and Soil Quality in the Northern Highlands of Tanzania
by Lydia Mhoro, Akida Ignas Meya, Nyambilila Abdallah Amuri, Patrick Alois Ndakidemi, Karoli Nicholas Njau and Kelvin Mark Mtei
Agronomy 2025, 15(2), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020333 - 28 Jan 2025
Viewed by 415
Abstract
Many agricultural fields are no longer sustainable due to inadequate replenishment of soil nutrients through organic and inorganic inputs, particularly in smallholder farming systems. As a result, achieving potential crop yields in these systems has proven to be difficult. Field trials were conducted [...] Read more.
Many agricultural fields are no longer sustainable due to inadequate replenishment of soil nutrients through organic and inorganic inputs, particularly in smallholder farming systems. As a result, achieving potential crop yields in these systems has proven to be difficult. Field trials were conducted in two long rainy growing seasons in 2021 and 2023 to assess the effects of urea fertilizer and cattle manure as sources of nitrogen (N) on (i) maize crop yields and (ii) soil chemical properties at two sites (Kwa Sadala and Mungushi) located in Hai district, northern Tanzania. The trials employed a randomized complete block design with three replicates, including eight treatments. The treatments were: 0 fertilizer (control), 25, 50, 75 kg N ha−1 (sole urea), 12.5 kg N (urea) + 12.5 kg N (cattle manure), 25 kg N (urea) + 25 kg N (cattle manure), and 50 and 75 kg N (sole cattle manure). Results show that the highest application rate of urea (75 kg N ha−1) produced the highest grain yields of 4.21 and 4.09 t ha−1 in the 2021 season and 4.32 and 4.04 t ha−1 in the 2023 season at Kwa Sadala and Mungushi, respectively. The application of cattle manure at the highest rates increased the soil pH by 3.15 and 2.26% at Kwa Sadala and Mungushi, respectively. Similarly, soil total N, OC, available/extractable P, and exchangeable K increased by 100%, 56.3%, 52.36%, and 19.67%, respectively, at Kwa Sadala and by 16.67%, 18.13%, 20.95%, and 6.76%, respectively, at Mungushi. The use of urea alone at the higher rates or in combination with cattle manure at 50% each resulted in the highest net benefit (NB) in all sites. The findings from this study suggest that a comprehensive approach to managing soil nutrients, such as combining inorganic and organic inputs, may improve crop yields while maintaining soil health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Organic Amendments in Agricultural Production—2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 2139 KiB  
Article
Effects of Straw at Different Fermentation Phases on Soil Nutrient Availability and Microbial Activity
by Tian Chen, Yuxia Mei, Xinwei Liu, Zhuqing Zhao and Yunxiang Liang
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 3005; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14123005 - 17 Dec 2024
Viewed by 585
Abstract
Returning corn straw to the field is beneficial for improving soil fertility, but the fermentation phase significantly affects the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content. However, there is limited research on the effects of straw at different fermentation phases on soil microorganisms and soil [...] Read more.
Returning corn straw to the field is beneficial for improving soil fertility, but the fermentation phase significantly affects the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content. However, there is limited research on the effects of straw at different fermentation phases on soil microorganisms and soil nutrients. This study examined the effects of high-temperature fermentation phase straw (HF) and completely fermentation phase straw (CF) on soil nutrient activation and microorganism activity through pot experiments. The pot experiment results indicated a significant increase in soil DOC content following the application of corn straw, among which the high-temperature fermentation phase straw treatment (THF) exhibited the highest DOC content, which was 14% higher than the completely fermentation phase straw treatment (TCF). THF also significantly increased soil alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen and available phosphorus content as well as urease and phosphatase, and promoted the uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus from soil by Brassica chinensis. THF significantly enhanced bacterial diversity and reduced the presence of pathogenic fungi. Compared to the TCF, the relative proportion of Fusarium under the THF decreased by 32.24%, effectively mitigating the impact of pathogenic fungi. THF also increased soil DOC content, enriched beneficial microbial community structure, increased soil enzyme activity, activated soil nutrients, thereby promoting the uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus by crops. Taken together, the results reveal that the application of high-temperature fermentation phase straw is conducive to soil fertilization and crop growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Organic Amendments in Agricultural Production—2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 2776 KiB  
Article
Organic Fertilization Improves Soil Multifunctionality in Sugarcane Agroecosystems
by Sacha Delmotte, Caroline Brunel, Louise Castanier, Amélie Fevrier, Alain Brauman and Antoine Versini
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2475; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112475 - 23 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1067
Abstract
Soil multifunctionality is closely tied to soil health, yet a comprehensive understanding of this link in agricultural soils is lacking. The aim of this study was to understand how long-term fertilization practices affect the provision of multiple services by comparing the multifunctionality of [...] Read more.
Soil multifunctionality is closely tied to soil health, yet a comprehensive understanding of this link in agricultural soils is lacking. The aim of this study was to understand how long-term fertilization practices affect the provision of multiple services by comparing the multifunctionality of soils. The three objectives were to (i) determine whether the effect of fertilization is consistent across soil types, (ii) describe the effect of the different fertilizers on soil multifunctionality, and (iii) identify soil chemical properties that can be easily used proxies of soil multifunctionality. The descriptors belong to three functioning indexes associated with nutrient availability, carbon transformation, and soil structure maintenance. This study is the first to investigate the effect of a variety of organic fertilizers on the health of three soil types by combining physical, chemical, and biological indicators in sugarcane agroecosystems. An increase in soil multifunctionality was obtained, with no effect on yield. The effect of fertilizers was consistent across soil types. Filter mud and green waste compost significantly increased the multifunctionality and functioning indexes compared to mineral fertilizer. Modifications in soil properties did not fully explain the observed variations. Our results confirm the high potential of organic fertilization to improve multifunctionality and provide ecosystem services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Organic Amendments in Agricultural Production—2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 1281 KiB  
Article
Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Vineyard Soils Amended with Grape Pomace Residues
by Allan Augusto Kokkonen, Samuel Schemmer, Rian Brondani, João Francisco Fornari, Daniéle Gonçalves Papalia, Elena Baldi, Moreno Toselli, Jean Michel Moura-Bueno, Arcângelo Loss, Tadeu Luis Tiecher and Gustavo Brunetto
Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 2055; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14092055 - 8 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1310
Abstract
Fruit crops under soil conservational management might sequester carbon (C) in soils and mitigate greenhouse gases emissions. Using grape pomace residues as soil amendment holds promise for sustainable viticulture. However, its actual capability to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) is [...] Read more.
Fruit crops under soil conservational management might sequester carbon (C) in soils and mitigate greenhouse gases emissions. Using grape pomace residues as soil amendment holds promise for sustainable viticulture. However, its actual capability to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) is unknown, especially in subtropical climates. This research aims to investigate whether grape pomace compost and vermicompost can increase SOC, total N (TN), and C and N stocks in subtropical vineyards. Two vineyards located in Veranópolis, in South Brazil, one cultivated with ‘Isabella’ and the other with ‘Chardonnay’ varieties, were annually amended with these residues for three years. We quantified SOC and TN in each condition in different soil layers, as well as C and N content in two different granulometric fractions: mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) and particulate organic matter (POM). C and N stocks were also calculated. Despite potential benefits, neither treatment enhanced SOC, its fractions, or C stocks. In fact, vermicompost was rapidly mineralized and depleted SOC and its fractions in the 0.0 to 0.05 m layers of the ‘Isabella’ vineyard. Our findings indicate that the tested grape pomace residues were unable to promote C sequestration in subtropical vineyards after a three-year period. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Organic Amendments in Agricultural Production—2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 4253 KiB  
Article
Soil Amendment Combining Bentonite and Maize Straw Improves Soil Quality Cropped to Oat in a Semi-Arid Region
by Lanying Zhang, Junzhen Mi, Baoping Zhao, Xuemei Cui, Kexin Hu, Neil B. McLaughlin and Jinghui Liu
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 1012; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14051012 - 10 May 2024
Viewed by 1104
Abstract
Soil amendments have been proposed as an effective way to enhance soil carbon stocks on degraded soils, particularly in dryland farming areas. Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays an important role in improving soil quality, and soil aggregates are known to be crucial in [...] Read more.
Soil amendments have been proposed as an effective way to enhance soil carbon stocks on degraded soils, particularly in dryland farming areas. Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays an important role in improving soil quality, and soil aggregates are known to be crucial in sequestering and protecting SOC. However, how aggregation and protection of SOC by aggregates respond to a single application of bentonite combined with maize straw remains unknown, especially in the sandy soil of a semi-arid region. A three-year field experiment with four treatments [no amendment (CK), maize straw amendment addition only (T1, 6 Mg ha−1), bentonite amendment addition only (T2, 18 Mg ha−1), and maize straw combined with bentonite amendment (T3, 6 Mg ha−1 maize straw plus 18 Mg ha−1 bentonite)] was conducted in the Loess Plateau of China to assess the effects of bentonite and maize straw on aggregation and SOC. The results indicated that soil bulk density decreased by 2.72–5.42%, and soil porosity increased by 3.38–8.77% with three years of T3 application, especially in the 20–40 cm layer, compared with CK. T3 increased the amount of C input, SOC stock, and SOC stock sequestration rate by 1.04 Mg ha−1 y−1, 0.84–1.08 Mg ha−1, and 0.49 Mg ha−1 y−1, respectively, and it increased the mass proportions and aggregate-associated C stock of >0.25 mm aggregates by 1.15–2.51- and 1.59–2.96-fold compared with CK. Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation of total SOC stock with the C concentration of >2 mm, 0.25–2 mm, and 0.053–0.25 mm aggregates. Aggregates of various sizes in sandy soils have the potential for greater SOC stock. Our findings suggest that the application of maize straw (6 Mg ha−1) combined with bentonite (18 Mg ha−1) would be an effective management strategy to enhance the bulk soil C pools by improving the soil structure and thereby improving soil fertility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Organic Amendments in Agricultural Production—2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 696 KiB  
Article
Effects of Organic Amendments on the Morphology and Chemical Composition of Black Mustard (Sinapis nigra L.) Grown on Soil Contaminated with Copper
by Andrzej Cezary Żołnowski, Elżbieta Rolka and Łukasz Kalinowski
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 995; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050995 - 8 May 2024
Viewed by 1046
Abstract
The present study aimed to determine the influence of organic amendments (OAs) on neutralizing the harmful effect of copper (Cu) on black mustard (Sinapis nigra L.). In a pot experiment, three levels of copper pollution were used: 200, 400, and 600 mg [...] Read more.
The present study aimed to determine the influence of organic amendments (OAs) on neutralizing the harmful effect of copper (Cu) on black mustard (Sinapis nigra L.). In a pot experiment, three levels of copper pollution were used: 200, 400, and 600 mg Cu kg−1, against a control without Cu. The soil was amended with three types of OAs: pine bark (PB), peat moss (PM), and cattle manure (CM). Our research showed that plant condition depends on the Cu content in the soil. Increasing soil contamination significantly affected the plant yield, leaf greenness index, and dry matter content. The type of OA had no significant effect on the condition of black mustard (BM); however, each had a different effect on neutralizing the harmful effects of Cu. CM reduced Cu accumulation, PM showed no effect, while PB contributed to a significant increase in Cu content in BM plants. The chemical composition of BM depended on the Cu content in the soil. With increased soil contamination with Cu, the contents of Ntot, K, Mg, Ca, and Na in BM increased, while the content of P decreased. In terms of mitigating the harmful effects, CM was more beneficial than PM and PB. Among the analyzed OAs, CM, and PM contributed to Cu immobilization, while PB promoted Cu mobilization in contaminated soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Organic Amendments in Agricultural Production—2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 3853 KiB  
Article
Improving the Yield and Quality of Tomato by Using Organic Fertilizer and Silicon Compared to Reducing Chemical Nitrogen Fertilization
by Fan Zhang, Yan Liu, Yi Liang, Zemin Dai, Yanli Zhao, Yu Shi, Jing Gao, Leiping Hou, Yi Zhang and Golam Jalal Ahammed
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050966 - 4 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3505
Abstract
Essential macronutrient nitrogen (N) is crucial for plant growth and yield, but excessive chemical N fertilizer not only increases unnecessary production costs but also causes environmental pollution. Therefore, reducing N fertilizer use by increasing organic fertilizer use is crucial for sustainable agriculture. In [...] Read more.
Essential macronutrient nitrogen (N) is crucial for plant growth and yield, but excessive chemical N fertilizer not only increases unnecessary production costs but also causes environmental pollution. Therefore, reducing N fertilizer use by increasing organic fertilizer use is crucial for sustainable agriculture. In this study, we investigated the effects of three nitrogen levels—the recommended rate (N), a 20.0% reduced rate (0.8N), and a 40.0% reduced rate (0.6N)—and two levels of organic fertilizer—a normal dose (M) and a four-times the normal dose (4M)—combined with root application of the beneficial element silicon (Si) on the photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and fruit quality of the tomato cultivar ‘Tianxi No. 5’. Compared with M + N treatment, the longitudinal diameter, transverse diameter, fruit weight, and fruit yield of tomato fruit in 4M + 0.6N treatment significantly increased by 12.4%, 14.6%, 14.5%, and 12.8%, respectively, while the yield was further improved with Si application. In addition, a reduction in N fertilizer and an increase in organic fertilizer, combined with Si application, improved fruit quality parameters such as concentrations of vitamin C, lycopene, phenols, flavonoids, sucrose, fructose, etc., and promoted sugar metabolism-related enzyme activity (sucrose synthase, invertase, and sucrose phosphate synthase) and the accumulation of N in the fruit. The principal component analysis and three-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the fruit quality and yield indices showed that nitrogen fertilizer, organic fertilizer, silicon fertilizer, and the interaction of the three had significant effects on the quality and yield of tomato fruits, and that the 4M + 0.6N + Si treatment had the best combined effect on the yield and quality of the tomatoes. Thus, a moderate reduction in chemical N fertilizer, combined with increased organic fertilizer and Si, could be an effective agronomic practice for improving the yield and quality of tomatoes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Organic Amendments in Agricultural Production—2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 3540 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Inter- and Intraspecific P Efficiency in Forage Legumes as Affected by Recycling Fertiliser
by Yue Hu, Klaus J. Dehmer, Evelin Willner, Veysel Turan and Bettina Eichler-Löbermann
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050901 - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 907
Abstract
Legumes have a high demand for phosphorus (P) due to energetically costly biological nitrogen fixation, but they also have effective physiological and morphological strategies for P mobilization. To evaluate the inter- and intraspecific P efficiency of small-grain legumes supplied with different P recycling [...] Read more.
Legumes have a high demand for phosphorus (P) due to energetically costly biological nitrogen fixation, but they also have effective physiological and morphological strategies for P mobilization. To evaluate the inter- and intraspecific P efficiency of small-grain legumes supplied with different P recycling fertilisers, eight accessions each of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) were cultivated in two pot experiments under greenhouse conditions until the flowering stage. To substantiate the results, some accessions were used in both experiments. Five treatments (no P, triple-superphosphate (TSP), sewage sludge ash (SSA), biowaste compost (compost), and struvite) were considered P sources. In addition to plant P uptake, the soil P pools were analysed in detail. Red clover showed higher yields and nutrient uptakes compared to alfalfa, but intraspecific effects were marginal. The addition of P resulted only partly in an increase in yield, despite the low P content in the soil. While struvite application clearly enhanced the P uptake of the plants in both experiments, SSA application had no effect compared to the control. The same treatment effect occurs with the bio-available soil P contents, which were on average 72.6 mg kg−1 after struvite and 44.3 mg kg−1 after SSA addition. Struvite as a P source was especially effective when applied to red clover. Our study aligns with previous field results and underscores the high potential of P mobilization of small-grain legumes without pronounced inter- or intraspecific differences. While struvite is suitable as a P fertiliser, the application of SSA to legumes is not recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Organic Amendments in Agricultural Production—2nd Edition)
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11 pages, 1363 KiB  
Article
Enhancement of Soil Organic Carbon, Water Use Efficiency and Maize Yield (Zea mays L.) in Sandy Soil through Organic Amendment (Grass Peat) Incorporation
by Kaiqi Yang, Jian Hu, Yunzhuo Ren, Zhiao Zhang, Mei Tang, Zhenkun Shang, Qing Zhen and Jiyong Zheng
Agronomy 2024, 14(2), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020353 - 9 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1740
Abstract
The efficient use of organic amendment (OM) is considered an economic, environmental and sustainable practice to improve soil quality, especially the accumulation of organic carbon (C) and water use efficiency (WUE) in dryland agriculture. However, the effect of different OM on soil nutrients, [...] Read more.
The efficient use of organic amendment (OM) is considered an economic, environmental and sustainable practice to improve soil quality, especially the accumulation of organic carbon (C) and water use efficiency (WUE) in dryland agriculture. However, the effect of different OM on soil nutrients, organic carbon fractions, water content and maize yield is unclear in arid and semi-arid regions with sandy soil. Field experiments with four OM, grass peat (GP), biochar (BC), organic fertilizer (OF) and maize straw (MS), were conducted with an equivalent amount of C input on the southeastern edge of Mu Us Sandy Land in China. Results indicated that the soil nutrients and labile organic carbon (DOC, MBC, KMnO4-C and POC) concentrations were higher under OM (GP, BC, OF and MS) treatments than in CK in the 0–0.10 m soil layers. GP treatment remarkably improved carbon pool index values (1.63, 2.51 and 2.24, respectively) in all layers compared to CK (1.00). At maturity stages of maize, the soil water content (SWC) under GP and OF treatments (11.3–13.4%) was remarkably higher than that in CK treatment (around 10.0%). Yield and WUE were remarkably greater in GP and OF treatments compared to CK. The results proved that GP amendment is superior for barren sandy soil than BC, OF and MS treatments in improving soil nutrients, organic carbon sequestration, WUE and crop yield in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Organic Amendments in Agricultural Production—2nd Edition)
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Review

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18 pages, 4109 KiB  
Review
Spent Coffee Ground and Its Derivatives as Soil Amendments—Impact on Soil Health and Plant Production
by Yi Hu, Juan Li, Yiping Wu, Dongdong Zhang, Zhiyong Qi and Rui Yang
Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010026 - 26 Dec 2024
Viewed by 802
Abstract
Spent coffee ground (SCG) is a main byproduct of the coffee industry and has been revalorized as a source of value-added products. The direct application of SCG as a soil amendment has drawn much attention in recent years as a more environmentally sustainable [...] Read more.
Spent coffee ground (SCG) is a main byproduct of the coffee industry and has been revalorized as a source of value-added products. The direct application of SCG as a soil amendment has drawn much attention in recent years as a more environmentally sustainable option. In this work, a comprehensive review of studies on the agricultural application of SCG is presented. The aims of this review were (1) to summarize the impacts of raw SCG on soil health and to identify the factors limiting its direct soil use, (2) to outline methods that are often used to upgrade SCG for soil application, and (3) to highlight the potential of SCG and its derivatives as a biocontrol agent and biofertilizer. The results indicate that raw SCG could improve certain soil health attributes, but plant growth is often limited owing to its phytotoxicity and induced N immobilization. To eliminate phytotoxicity, composting, vermicomposting, and thermochemical treatments have been employed but to a limited extent. SCG and its derivatives may be used as biocontrol agents for weeds, soil-borne pathogens, and pests. Novel bio-organic fertilizers based on SCG have also been developed. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of SCG and its derivatives as soil amendments under real scenarios and the underlying mechanisms, particularly the soil–plant–microorganism interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Organic Amendments in Agricultural Production—2nd Edition)
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28 pages, 1759 KiB  
Review
Multifaceted Ability of Organic Fertilizers to Improve Crop Productivity and Abiotic Stress Tolerance: Review and Perspectives
by Yiren Liu, Xianjin Lan, Hongqian Hou, Jianhua Ji, Xiumei Liu and Zhenzhen Lv
Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1141; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061141 - 27 May 2024
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 7411
Abstract
The long-term use of chemical fertilizers poses a serious threat to crop productivity and soil quality. Organic fertilizers are used to improve the soil fertility and crop productivity. The application of organic fertilizers improves soil health and plant growth by improving the soil [...] Read more.
The long-term use of chemical fertilizers poses a serious threat to crop productivity and soil quality. Organic fertilizers are used to improve the soil fertility and crop productivity. The application of organic fertilizers improves soil health and plant growth by improving the soil organic matter (SOM), soil structure, aggregate stability, nutrient uptake, water-holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, nutrient use efficiency and microbial activities of soil. The intensity of abiotic stress is continuously increasing, which is a serious threat to crop productivity and global food security. However, organic fertilizers have been reported to improve tolerance against drought, salinity, heat and heavy metal (HM) stresses. The application of organic fertilizer improves the leaf water status, nutrient uptake, nutrient homeostasis, synthesis of chlorophyll, osmolytes, hormones, secondary metabolites, antioxidant activities and gene expression, resulting in improved tolerance against drought, salinity, heat, and heavy metals. In the present review, we have discussed the ability of organic fertilizers to improve soil fertility, crop yield, and the nutrient use efficiency. We have also presented the various mechanisms through which organic fertilizers improve tolerance against drought, salinity, heat, and heavy metals. Therefore, this review will put forth new directions for researchers working on the use of organic materials to improve soil fertility, crop productivity and tolerance against abiotic stresses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Organic Amendments in Agricultural Production—2nd Edition)
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