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Agronomy
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Foliar Fertilization of Crop Plants: Current State of Knowledge and...
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Foliar Fertilization of Crop Plants: Current State of Knowledge and Perspectives

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Horticultural and Floricultural Crops".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2019) | Viewed by 22717

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Heiner E Goldbach

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Germany and HGoTECH GmbH, 53115 Bonn, Germany
Interests: plant nutrient physiology; basic and applied aspects of plant nutrition; fertilizer use; recycling of nutrients; biostimulants

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

Foliar fertilization at the first glance sounds controversial as it means applying nutrients to an organ which was not designed for nutrient uptake rather than limiting water losses and penetration of unwanted substances and organisms. Nevertheless, it may help to overcome temporary or permanent constraints in the supply of certain nutrients to crops, especially so for microelements which often are tightly bound in a not available form. It may help as well to overcome shortages when the root activity is impeded by e.g. cold soils, drought or unbalanced nutrient supply/salinity.

There has been much progress made in understanding the pathways for foliar nutrient uptake, even though there are still gaps in our understanding of all the underlying processes.  It is imperative, too, to search for nutrient compounds and fertilizer preparations which optimize the amount of nutrient made available via the leaves or fruits, avoid damages like scorching when applied to the foliage, do not negatively interfere with the water balance of the plants, and help to translocate the nutrients to the organs which are truly in need for it. There are new ways of formulating nutrients which might help to provide a balanced and long-term nutrient supply via the foliage without causing damages.

Furthermore there is as a need to optimize both timing as well as technologies for foliar application of nutrients, tailoring the application to get the highest benefit from the foliar fertilizers.

Prof. Dr. Heiner E Goldbach
Guest Editor

Keywords

  • distribution and penetration of nutrients after foliar application
  • underlying processes and factors controlling the route of applied nutrients
  • translocation/distribution of nutrients after foliar application
  • new chemical formulae for foliar fertilizers including nanotechnology
  • adjuvants and amendments for foliar fertilization
  • success and limits of foliar fertilization
  • timing of foliar fertilizer application for annual and perennial crops

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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13 pages, 1579 KiB  
Article
The Effectiveness of Foliar Applications of Zinc and Biostimulants to Increase Zinc Concentration and Bioavailability of Wheat Grain
by Shaoxia Wang, Xiaohong Tian and Qing Liu
Agronomy 2020, 10(2), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10020178 - 26 Jan 2020
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6180
Abstract
Increasing zinc (Zn) concentration in wheat grain is an important global challenge due to high incidence of Zn deficiency in human populations. In this study, a two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of foliar ZnSO4 combined with various biostimulants [...] Read more.
Increasing zinc (Zn) concentration in wheat grain is an important global challenge due to high incidence of Zn deficiency in human populations. In this study, a two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of foliar ZnSO4 combined with various biostimulants (fulvic acid (FA), seaweed extract (SE), amino acids (AA), and microbial incubates (MI)) on Zn concentration and bioavailability in wheat grain under different soil nitrogen (N) levels (0, 120, and 240 kg N/ha). Grain Zn concentration and bioavailability were significantly enhanced by foliar Zn plus various biostimulants and soil N supply. Compared to foliar Zn alone, foliar Zn + FA resulted in 16% increase in grain Zn, mainly from insoluble Zn increases, while foliar Zn + AA caused 11% increase in grain Zn, mainly from soluble (at N0) and insoluble Zn increases (at N120). Foliar Zn + FA and Zn + AA generally resulted in higher Zn bioavailability than foliar Zn alone. Additionally, N concentration and Fe concentration and bioavailability in grain were enhanced with foliar Zn + AA and soil N application. Thus, foliar ZnSO4 plus FA and AA under optimal soil N rate (120 kg N/ha) can be an effective and economically friendly approach for achieving agronomic biofortification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foliar Fertilization of Crop Plants: Current State of Knowledge and Perspectives)
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13 pages, 469 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Autumn Foliar Fertilization on the Yield and Quality of Winter Oilseed Rape Seeds
by Krzysztof Józef Jankowski, Mateusz Sokólski and Artur Szatkowski
Agronomy 2019, 9(12), 849; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9120849 - 4 Dec 2019
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3805
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a 3-year field experiment conducted in north-eastern (NE) Poland to determine the influence of the autumn application of foliar macronutrient and micronutrient fertilizers (control, one application in BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemische Industrie) stage 16 (six [...] Read more.
This paper presents the results of a 3-year field experiment conducted in north-eastern (NE) Poland to determine the influence of the autumn application of foliar macronutrient and micronutrient fertilizers (control, one application in BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemische Industrie) stage 16 (six leaves unfolded)), two applications in BBCH stages 14 (four leaves unfolded), and 16 (six leaves unfolded) on the growth and development of winter oilseed rape plants, nutrient accumulation, overwintering success, yield components, yield, nutritional value (crude fat content, fatty acid concentrations), and feed value (total protein content, concentrations of acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber, quantitative and qualitative composition of glucosinolates) of seeds. When applied in BBCH stages 14 and 16, foliar fertilizers stimulated the development of leaf rosettes, increased the accumulation of minerals in aerial rosette parts (N, K, and Mg) and roots (K, Cu, Mn, and Fe), and contributed to the overwintering success of winter oilseed rape plants (by 8–11%). The application of foliar macronutrient and micronutrient fertilizers in autumn increased seed yield (by 0.25 Mg ha−1), contributed to a significant increase in the crude fat content of seeds (by 1.3–7.4 g kg−1 dry matter (DM), increased the content of oleic acid, decreased the concentration of linoleic acid, and increased the content of glucosinolates, mostly the alkenyl fraction with antinutritional properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foliar Fertilization of Crop Plants: Current State of Knowledge and Perspectives)
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15 pages, 1218 KiB  
Article
Pre-Harvest Foliar Application of Mineral Nutrients to Retard Chlorophyll Degradation and Preserve Bio-Active Compounds in Broccoli
by Mohamed M. El-Mogy, Abdel Wahab M. Mahmoud, Mohamed B. I. El-Sawy and Aditya Parmar
Agronomy 2019, 9(11), 711; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9110711 - 3 Nov 2019
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5614
Abstract
Foliar application of micronutrients has become a common farm management practice to increase the overall yield of various crops. However, the effects of foliar fertilization on shelf life and postharvest quality of the crops are rather under-researched. The aim of this field experiment [...] Read more.
Foliar application of micronutrients has become a common farm management practice to increase the overall yield of various crops. However, the effects of foliar fertilization on shelf life and postharvest quality of the crops are rather under-researched. The aim of this field experiment was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of individual mineral nutrients (calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) on pre and postharvest quality of broccoli. The broccoli plants were subjected to single foliar sprays of either Ca, Fe, Zn, or Mn, which was repeated four times during plant growth at a 1 g/kg concentration. Once harvested, the broccoli heads were refrigerated at 4 °C for 28 days. Our results indicated that foliar application of Ca, Zn, Mn, and Fe did not have a significant effect on plant growth parameters, apart from enhancing Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) chlorophyll meter values. However, during postharvest, foliar application treatment showed a positive response on weight loss during storage and reduction in yellowing of the broccoli heads. Foliar treatments increased the concentration of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Ca, Zn, Mn and Fe significantly in the broccoli head tissue. Total chlorophyll content, total phenolic compound, ascorbic acid, peroxidase activity, glucoraphanin and glucobrassicin and flavonoids were significantly increased by all foliar treatments. Crude protein content and sulforaphane were enhanced by Ca and Mn treatments. Overall, foliar application of the investigated mineral nutrients may prove beneficial in improving the shelf-life and nutrient content of broccoli during postharvest handling and storage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foliar Fertilization of Crop Plants: Current State of Knowledge and Perspectives)
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15 pages, 665 KiB  
Article
Foliar Zn Spraying Simultaneously Improved Concentrations and Bioavailability of Zn and Fe in Maize Grains Irrespective of Foliar Sucrose Supply
by Haiyong Xia, Weilin Kong, Lan Wang, Yanhui Xue, Wenlong Liu, Chunyan Zhang, Shenggang Yang and Chong Li
Agronomy 2019, 9(7), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9070386 - 16 Jul 2019
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5338
Abstract
Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a global nutritional problem that is reduced through agronomic biofortification. In the current study, the effects of foliar spraying of exogenous ZnSO4·7H2O (0.2% in Quzhou and 0.3% in Licheng, w/v) and/or sucrose [...] Read more.
Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a global nutritional problem that is reduced through agronomic biofortification. In the current study, the effects of foliar spraying of exogenous ZnSO4·7H2O (0.2% in Quzhou and 0.3% in Licheng, w/v) and/or sucrose (10.0%, w/v) on maize (Zea mays L.) agronomic traits; concentrations of Zn, iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), total phosphorus (P), phytic acid (PA) P, carbon (C), and nitrogen (N); C/N ratios; and Zn and Fe bioavailability (as evaluated by molar ratios of PA/Zn, PA × Ca/Zn, PA/Fe and PA × Ca/Fe) in maize grains were studied under field conditions for two years at two experimental locations. The results confirmed that there were no significant differences in maize agronomic traits following the various foliar treatments. Compared with the control treatment of foliar spraying with deionized water, foliar applications of Zn alone or combined with sucrose significantly increased maize grain Zn concentrations by 29.2–58.3% in Quzhou (from 18.4–19.9 to 25.2–29.6 mg/kg) and by 39.8–47.8% in Licheng (from 24.9 to 34.8–36.8 mg/kg), as well as its bioavailability. No significant differences were found between the foliar spraying of deionized water and sucrose, and between Zn-only and “sucrose + Zn” at each N application rate and across different N application rates and experimental sites. Similar results were observed for maize grain Fe concentrations and bioavailability, but the Fe concentration increased to a smaller extent than Zn. Foliar Zn spraying alone or with sucrose increased maize grain Fe concentrations by 4.7–28.4% in Quzhou (from 13.4–17.1 to 15.2–18.5 mg/kg) and by 15.4–25.0% in Licheng (from 24.0 to 27.7–30.0 mg/kg). Iron concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with Zn at each N application rate and across different N application rates and experimental locations, indicating that foliar Zn spraying facilitated the transport of endogenous Fe to maize grains. Therefore, foliar Zn spraying increased the Zn concentration and bioavailability in maize grains irrespective of foliar sucrose supply while also improving Fe concentrations and bioavailability to some extent. This is a promising agricultural practice for simultaneous Zn and Fe biofortification in maize grains, i.e., “killing two birds with one stone”. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foliar Fertilization of Crop Plants: Current State of Knowledge and Perspectives)
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