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Agronomy
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The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and...
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The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and Production

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2023) | Viewed by 41144

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gang Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
Interests: mineral nutrition of crop; plant-soil-microbe interaction
Dr. Dong-Xing Guan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: soil contamination and remediation; passive sampling; chemical imaging; soil-plant interaction; contaminant and nutrient bioavailability; food safety; soil health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Daniel Menezes-Blackburn

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Soils, Water and Agricultural Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
Interests: soil microbiology, rhizosphere science, plant nutrition, soil phosphorus and sulfur, soil salinity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mineral elements, including macro- and micronutrients, have multiple biological functions in the whole life cycle of crops. The growth, production, and quality of crops and their fruits are indispensable from mineral elements, especially the balance in their bioavailable quantities in soils. In recent years, sustainable agriculture has become an important issue in realizing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Keeping the balance of mineral elements and increasing the bioavailability of mineral elements such as phosphorus (P) and trace elements in agricultural production will be pivotal for sustainable agriculture. This Special Issue is therefore inviting contributions of articles for publication, focusing on (1) how mineral elements (macro nutrient: S, Ca, Mg, K, P, N; trace elements: Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se Mo, Ni, Se; beneficial element: Si) affect the growth, production, and quality of crops; (2) bioavailability and dynamics of chemical and microbial processes of mineral elements in the crop rhizosphere; and (3) interaction between mineral elements in soil–crop systems from microcosm to ecosystem scales.

All submissions will be peer-reviewed according to the high standards of the journal. Once accepted, the article will be published online and accessible to the research community regardless of when the Special Issue is available in print.

Dr. Gang Li
Dr. Dong-Xing Guan
Dr. Daniel Menezes-Blackburn
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • mineral elements
  • rice
  • vegetables
  • phosphorus
  • sulfur
  • trace elements
  • silicon
  • magnesium

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 159 KiB  
Editorial
The Importance of Mineral Elements for Sustainable Crop Production
by Dong-Xing Guan, Daniel Menezes-Blackburn and Gang Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010209 - 17 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2923
Abstract
By 2050, the global population is projected to reach 9 [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and Production)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

18 pages, 1839 KiB  
Article
Combined Application of Boron and Zinc Improves Seed and Oil Yields and Oil Quality of Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.)
by Muhammad Ehsan Safdar, Rafi Qamar, Amara Javed, Muhammad Ather Nadeem, Hafiz Muhammad Rashad Javeed, Shahid Farooq, Aleksandra Głowacka, Sławomir Michałek, Mona S. Alwahibi, Mohamed S. Elshikh and Mohamed A. A. Ahmed
Agronomy 2023, 13(8), 2020; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082020 - 29 Jul 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2389
Abstract
Oilseed crops require several micronutrients to support their physiological functions and reproductive phases. A deficiency of these nutrients can significantly reduce the yield and oil quality of oilseed crops. Soil application of micronutrients can reduce their deficiency and improve plant growth, yield, and [...] Read more.
Oilseed crops require several micronutrients to support their physiological functions and reproductive phases. A deficiency of these nutrients can significantly reduce the yield and oil quality of oilseed crops. Soil application of micronutrients can reduce their deficiency and improve plant growth, yield, and oil quality. Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is an important oilseed crop that produces oil with low levels of saturated fat and high levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, which renders it a widely used cooking oil. However, the yield and oil quality of oilseed rape are significantly affected by the deficiency of boron (B) and zinc (Zn). This two-year field study determined the influence of sole and combined soil application of B and Zn on the physiological attributes of plants, seed and oil yields, and oil quality under semiarid climatic conditions. Nine different B and Z combinations, i.e., B0 + Zn0 (control), B0 + Zn8, B0 + Zn10, B1 + Zn0, B1 + Zn8, B1 + Zn10, B2 + Zn0, B2 + Zn8, and B2 + Zn10 (kg ha−1), were included in the study. Sole and combined application of B and Zn significantly altered physiological attributes, seed and oil yields, and oil quality. The highest values for plant height, number of siliques per plant, number of seeds per silique, 1000-seed weight, seed and oil yields, oil quality (higher stearic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and lower erucic acid), and physiological traits (protein concentration, soluble sugar concentration, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis and transpiration rates, and stomatal conductance) were recorded with the combined application of 2 + 8 kg ha−1 B and Zn, respectively, during both years of this study. The lowest values of yield- and oil-quality-related traits and physiological attributes were recorded for the control treatment. A dose-dependent improvement was recorded in B and Zn contents in leaves, and the highest values were recorded with the combined soil application of 2 + 10 kg ha−1 B + Zn, respectively. It can be concluded that 2 + 8 kg ha−1 B + Zn should be applied to oilseed rape for higher seed and oil yields and better oil quality under semiarid climatic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and Production)
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19 pages, 2189 KiB  
Article
Tillage Crop Establishment and Irrigation Methods Improve the Productivity of Wheat (Triticum aestivum): Water Use Studies, and the Biological Properties and Fertility Status of Soil
by Rajendra Kumar, Ram Krishan Naresh, Rajan Bhatt, Mandapelli Sharath Chandra, Deepak Kumar, Saud Alamri, Manzer H. Siddiqui, Alanoud T. Alfagham and Hazem M. Kalaji
Agronomy 2023, 13(7), 1839; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13071839 - 12 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1559
Abstract
The Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology in Meerut (U.P.), India, conducted field experiments in a randomised block design, comprising three replicates, one late sown variety (DBW-90), and eight treatments, viz.: T1 was a conventional flood irrigation [...] Read more.
The Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology in Meerut (U.P.), India, conducted field experiments in a randomised block design, comprising three replicates, one late sown variety (DBW-90), and eight treatments, viz.: T1 was a conventional flood irrigation (CFI); T2, furrow irrigated with gated-pipe raised beds (FIGPRB); T3, all furrow irrigation (AFI); T4, alternate furrow irrigation (Alt. FI); T5, wide bed furrow irrigation (WBFI); T6, skip furrow irrigated (SFI); T7, Sprinkler irrigation (SI); and T8, Zero-till flat-irrigated using gated pipe/controlled-flood irrigation (ZTFIGP). These field experiments were conducted during the Rabi seasons of 2017–2018 and 2018–2019. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the yield, water productivity, and soil health under different tillage crop establishment methods. Test weight, spike length, and productive tillers were all considerably enhanced in treatment T5, with the treatment’s statistical significance being similar to that of treatments T8 and T2. Treatment T5 considerably outperformed the other treatments in terms of grain yield, straw yield, biological yield (44.32, 61.88, and 106.19 q ha−1, respectively), as well as harvest index (41.73). Thirty to sixty centimetres of soil were mined for the most water, followed by fifteen to thirty centimetres, zero to fifteen centimetres, and sixty to ninety centimetres. Both water-use efficiency (2.86 q ha−1 cm) and water productivity (1.91 kg cm−3) were highest under T7 (Sprinkler irrigation). The maximum total NPK (113.69; 27.45; 127.33 kg ha−1) was found in crops grown with wide bed furrow irrigation. The data also showed that treatment T6 (skip furrow irrigated) had the highest levels of accessible NPK in soil, followed closely by treatment T4 (alternate furrow irrigated). Treatment T8 (zero-till flat-irrigated using gated-pipe/controlled flood irrigation) had the highest bacterial, fungal, and actinomycete populations, followed by T5 (wide bed furrow irrigated) and T2 (furrow irrigated with gated-pipe/elevated bed). Our research showed that there may be more options for maintaining wheat crop water productivity and soil health under different agroecological conditions, including crop productivity, conservation tillage-based establishing methods, and irrigation regimes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and Production)
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16 pages, 3502 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Nitrogen and Sulphur Application on Soybean Productivity Traits in Temperate Climates Conditions
by Aleksandra Głowacka, Elvyra Jariene, Ewelina Flis-Olszewska and Anna Kiełtyka-Dadasiewicz
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 780; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030780 - 8 Mar 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4694
Abstract
Both nitrogen and sulphur are important macronutrients necessary for the proper development and yield of soybean. Moreover, sulphur plays a special role in nitrogen metabolism in the plant, and sulphur deficiency leads to a reduction in the utilization of nitrogen from fertilizer. The [...] Read more.
Both nitrogen and sulphur are important macronutrients necessary for the proper development and yield of soybean. Moreover, sulphur plays a special role in nitrogen metabolism in the plant, and sulphur deficiency leads to a reduction in the utilization of nitrogen from fertilizer. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of nitrogen and sulphur application on the yield and quality traits of soybean seeds. The following factors were analyzed in the experiment: I. Nitrogen application rate: 0, 30 and 60 kg ha−1 applied at different times (before sowing and/or at the start of the seed filling stage); II. Sulphur application rate: 0 and 40 kg ha−1 applied in two portions: half during the development of lateral shoots and half at the start of flowering. Thus the 14 fertilizer combinations were obtained. Result show that the highest seeds yield was obtained in the combinations with 60 kg N applied ½ before sowing + ½ after emergence (BBCH 73-75) and ¾ before sowing +¼ after emergence. In these combinations, sulphur did not significantly affect seed yield. In the remaining nitrogen application, sulphur application significantly increased the seed yield. Taking into account the yield and the chemical composition of the soybean seeds, fertilization with 60 kg N ha−1 in two portions can be recommended—½ or ¾ before sowing and the remainder during the development of pods and seeds—in combination with sulphur application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and Production)
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15 pages, 1326 KiB  
Article
Effect of Phosphorus Supply Levels on Nodule Nitrogen Fixation and Nitrogen Accumulation in Soybean (Glycine max L.)
by Hongyu Li, Lihong Wang, Zuowei Zhang, Aizheng Yang and Deping Liu
Agronomy 2022, 12(11), 2802; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112802 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2452
Abstract
The specific mechanism by which phosphorus affects nodule nitrogen fixation and nitrogen absorption in soybeans remains inconclusive. To further quantitatively analyze the effect of phosphorus on nodule nitrogen fixation and nitrogen accumulation in soybeans, this experiment was carried out under sand culture conditions. [...] Read more.
The specific mechanism by which phosphorus affects nodule nitrogen fixation and nitrogen absorption in soybeans remains inconclusive. To further quantitatively analyze the effect of phosphorus on nodule nitrogen fixation and nitrogen accumulation in soybeans, this experiment was carried out under sand culture conditions. The experiment consisted of six phosphorus supply levels (1 mg/L, 11 mg/L, 21 mg/L, 31 mg/L, 41 mg/L, 51 mg/L). The acetylene reduction method and 15N tracer method (50 mg/L (NH4)2SO4) were used to determine and analyze the nodule growth status, nodule nitrogenase activity, nitrogen content, and nodule nitrogen fixation rate at initial flowering (R1 stage), initial pod (R3 stage), seed filling (R5 stage) and maturity stages (R8 stage). The results are described as follows: 1. The nitrogen fixation of soybean nodules at different growth stages has different requirements for phosphorus supply levels. The initial flowering stage and seed-filling stage were 31 mg/L–41 mg/L, and the initial pod stage was 51 mg/L. 2. The nitrogen source in different parts of soybean showed different trends with different growth periods and phosphorus supply concentrations. Among them, from the initial flowering stage to the seed filling stage, the main body of the nitrogen supply of soybean shoots in the low phosphorus treatment (1 mg/L–31 mg/L) gradually changed from fertilizer nitrogen to nodule nitrogen fixation, while the main body of the nitrogen supply of soybean shoots in the high phosphorus treatment (41 mg/L–51 mg/L) always showed nodule nitrogen fixation and was transformed into fertilizer nitrogen at the mature stage. The main nitrogen supply to the roots of soybean at different levels of phosphorus supply from the initial flowering to the initial pods and maturity stage was fertilizer nitrogen, and the main nitrogen supply at the seed filling stage was nodule nitrogen fixation. The nitrogen supply to the main body of soybean nodules was constantly nodule nitrogen fixation. 3. Different phosphorus supply levels significantly affected the nitrogen fixation of soybean nodules (R2 ≥ 0.803), and both the acetylene reduction method and the 15N tracer method could be used to determine the nitrogen fixation capacity of soybean nodules. This study indicated the optimal phosphorus supply level of nodules in different growth stages of soybean and clarified the main body of phosphorus supply in different parts of soybean at different growth stages, which pointed out the direction for further improving the utilization efficiency of soybean nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and Production)
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12 pages, 2398 KiB  
Article
Overexpression of OsPHT1;4 Increases Phosphorus Utilization Efficiency and Improves the Agronomic Traits of Rice cv. Wuyunjing 7
by Zhi Hu, Xu Huang, Xiaowen Wang, Huihuang Xia, Xiuli Liu, Yafei Sun, Shubin Sun, Yibing Hu and Yue Cao
Agronomy 2022, 12(6), 1332; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12061332 - 31 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2224
Abstract
Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is taken up by plant roots and translocated via phosphate transporters. Previously, we showed that phosphate transporter OsPHT1;4 in the PHT1 family participates in phosphate acquisition and mobilization; it facilitates the embryo development of Japonica rice Nipponbare. This study investigated [...] Read more.
Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is taken up by plant roots and translocated via phosphate transporters. Previously, we showed that phosphate transporter OsPHT1;4 in the PHT1 family participates in phosphate acquisition and mobilization; it facilitates the embryo development of Japonica rice Nipponbare. This study investigated the potential of manipulating the expression of OsPHT1;4 to increase Pi acquisition efficiency and crop productivity in rice cv. Wuyunjing 7 (WYJ 7), a cultivar widely grown in Yangtze River Delta of China. The OsPHT1;4 overexpression lines and wild-type WYJ 7 were treated under different Pi conditions in hydroponic and field experiments. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis and the transgenic plants expressing GUS reporter gene indicate strong expression of OsPHT1;4 in roots and leaf collars of cv. WYJ 7. The total P contents in shoots of the OsPHT1;4-overexpressing plants were significantly higher under Pi-deficient hydroponic conditions than the wild type under Pi sufficiency and deficiency. 33Pi uptake and translocation assays confirmed the results. In the field condition, OsPHT1;4 overexpression lines had a higher P concentration in tissues than the wild type control, and the panicle performance of the overexpression lines including the grain yield was improved as well. Taken together, our results show that OsPHT1;4 plays an important role in the acquisition and mobilization of Pi in WYJ 7, especially under Pi deficiency. The study highlights the importance of OsPHT1;4 in improving the agronomic traits of the widely grown rice cultivar in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and Production)
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14 pages, 1579 KiB  
Article
Priestia sp. LWS1 Is a Selenium-Resistant Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium That Can Enhance Plant Growth and Selenium Accumulation in Oryza sativa L.
by Xiao-Rui Lin, Han-Bing Chen, Yi-Xi Li, Zhi-Hua Zhou, Jia-Bing Li, Yao-Qiang Wang, Hong Zhang, Yong Zhang, Yong-He Han and Shan-Shan Wang
Agronomy 2022, 12(6), 1301; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12061301 - 29 May 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3360
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is essential for the basic functions of life, but the low daily intake of Se urges us to find reliable ways to increase food Se content. Plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have shown potential in enhancing plant growth and Se accumulation. In this [...] Read more.
Selenium (Se) is essential for the basic functions of life, but the low daily intake of Se urges us to find reliable ways to increase food Se content. Plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have shown potential in enhancing plant growth and Se accumulation. In this study, the soils collected from a Se tailing were used to isolate Se-tolerant PGPB. The results showed that a total of three strains were identified. Strain LWS1, belonging to Priestia sp., grew well in M9 medium and exhibited typical PGP characteristics by an IAA-production ability of 24.3 ± 1.37 mg·L−1, siderophore-production ability of 0.23 ± 0.04 and phosphate-solubilizing ability of 87.5 ± 0.21 mg·L−1. Moreover, LWS1 strain tolerated selenite (SeIV) up to 90 mM by a LC50 of 270.4 mg·L–1. Further investigations demonstrated that the inoculation of strain LWS1 resulted in up to 19% higher biomass and 75% higher Se concentration in rice (Oryza sativa L.) than uninoculated treatments. Our study has provided evidence that microbial Se biofortification through inoculating with Priestia sp. strain LWS1 is an alternative way to improve Se uptake in crops and maintain human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and Production)
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12 pages, 1185 KiB  
Article
Mineral Fertilization and Maize Cultivation as Factors Which Determine the Content of Trace Elements in Soil
by Marzena S. Brodowska, Mirosław Wyszkowski and Barbara Bujanowicz-Haraś
Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020286 - 23 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3086
Abstract
This study has been carried out in order to determine the effect of increasingly intensive fertilization with potassium, applied in combination with nitrogen, on the content of trace elements in soil after the harvest of maize (Zea mays L.). The soil content [...] Read more.
This study has been carried out in order to determine the effect of increasingly intensive fertilization with potassium, applied in combination with nitrogen, on the content of trace elements in soil after the harvest of maize (Zea mays L.). The soil content of trace elements depended on the fertilization with potassium and nitrogen. Potassium fertilization had a stronger effect on the content of trace elements in the pots fertilized with the lower nitrogen dose (130 mg N kg−1 of soil). The increasing doses of potassium led to a higher soil content of zinc (Zn), and especially of nickel (Ni). The impact of potassium fertilization on the content of the remaining trace elements in the soil was less unambiguous, and depended on the dose of potassium and nitrogen fertilization. Nitrogen fertilization resulted in a higher soil content of manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd), as well as a decreased soil content of lead (Pb). It needs to be underlined that changes in the soil content of Ni, Cd, and Pb, effected by nitrogen fertilization, were larger than in the cases of the other trace elements. The influence of potassium and nitrogen fertilization did not result in exceeding the current threshold amounts of trace elements set for agriculturally used soil. An increase in the contents of some trace elements in soil is beneficial from an agricultural point of view. Some of these elements are necessary for the correct growth and development of arable plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and Production)
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14 pages, 1960 KiB  
Article
Development and Applications of an In Situ Probe for Multi-Element High-Resolution Measurement at Soil/Sediment-Water Interface and Rice Rhizosphere
by Meng Zhao, Jiang Liu, Chuangchuang Zhang, Xuefeng Liang, Qian E, Rongle Liu, Yujie Zhao and Xiaowei Liu
Agronomy 2021, 11(12), 2383; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122383 - 24 Nov 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2050
Abstract
The biogeochemistry of multi-elements, such as sulfur (S), phosphorus (P) and arsenic (As), is interlinked especially at interfaces of soil/sediment–water and plant rhizosphere. To explore the biogeochemical behavior of multi-elements such as S-P-As at interfaces, an in situ and high-resolution technology is required. [...] Read more.
The biogeochemistry of multi-elements, such as sulfur (S), phosphorus (P) and arsenic (As), is interlinked especially at interfaces of soil/sediment–water and plant rhizosphere. To explore the biogeochemical behavior of multi-elements such as S-P-As at interfaces, an in situ and high-resolution technology is required. In this study, we developed an in situ probe (LDHs-DGT) based on the diffusive gradients in thin-films technique using a single binding layer to realize the co-measurement of multi-elements including sulfide and oxyanions. Mg-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were synthesized and incorporated into the probe’s binding layer. Laboratorial characterization showed that the LDHs-DGT probe had a high capacity for sulfide, phosphate and arsenate and can effectively determine their levels across a wide range of solution conditions, i.e., pH from 5 to 8 and ionic strengths from 0.005–0.01 mol L−1 NaNO3. The application potential of the LDHS-DGT probe in capturing the concentration profiles of sulfide and oxyanions across the soil/sediment–water interface at a centimeter scale was demonstrated. The synchronous co-variations of labile sulfide and phosphate were observed along an intact river sediment core, demonstrating the redox driven behaviors of oxyanions at aerobic–anaerobic transition zones. Moreover, the LDHS-DGT probe was further used to acquire the dynamic distributions of multi-elements in the plant rhizosphere at a two-dimensional millimeter scale. Compared to treatments of sodium sulfate and mercaptopygorskite fertilization, the addition of elementary S promoted the reduction of sulfate to sulfide along the whole growth stage and thus inhibited the activation of toxic metals in the rice rhizosphere. Collectively, this study provides a tool for convenient measurement of nutrients and metal(loid)s across soil–water/root interfaces at high resolution and thus, a broad application prospect of the tool in sustainable agriculture is expected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and Production)
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15 pages, 1835 KiB  
Article
Regulation of Phosphorus Supply on Nodulation and Nitrogen Fixation in Soybean Plants with Dual-Root Systems
by Hongyu Li, Xiangxiang Wang, Quanxi Liang, Xiaochen Lyu, Sha Li, Zhenping Gong, Shoukun Dong, Chao Yan and Chunmei Ma
Agronomy 2021, 11(11), 2354; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112354 - 20 Nov 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3826
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient affecting nodulation and nitrogen fixation in soybeans. To further investigate the relationship of phosphorus with soybean nodulation and nitrogen fixation, the seedling grafting technique was applied in this study to prepare dual-root soybean systems for a sand [...] Read more.
Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient affecting nodulation and nitrogen fixation in soybeans. To further investigate the relationship of phosphorus with soybean nodulation and nitrogen fixation, the seedling grafting technique was applied in this study to prepare dual-root soybean systems for a sand culture experiment. From the unfolded cotyledon stage to the initial flowering stage, one side of each dual-root soybean system was irrigated with nutrient solution containing 1 mg/L, 31 mg/L, or 61 mg/L of phosphorus (phosphorus-application side), and the other side was irrigated with a phosphorus-free nutrient solution (phosphorus-free side), to study the effect of local phosphorus supply on nodulation and nitrogen fixation in soybean. The results are described as follows: (1) Increasing the phosphorus supply increased the nodules weight, nitrogenase activity, ureide content, number of bacteroids, number of infected cells, and relative expression levels of nodule nitrogen fixation key genes (GmEXPB2, GmSPX5, nifH, nifD, nifK, GmALN1, GmACP1, GmUR5, GmPUR5, and GmHIUH5) in root nodules on the phosphorus-application side. Although the phosphorus-application and phosphorus-free sides demonstrated similar changing trends, the phosphorus-induced increases were more prominent on the phosphorus-application side, which indicated that phosphorus supply systematically regulates nodulation and nitrogen fixation in soybean. (2) When the level of phosphorus supply was increased from 1 mg/L to 31 mg/L, the increase on the P– side root was significant, and nodule phosphorus content increased by 57.14–85.71% and 68.75–75.00%, respectively; ARA and SNA were 218.64–383.33% and 11.41–16.11%, respectively, while ureide content was 118.18–156.44%. When the level of phosphorus supply was increased from 31mg/L to 61mg/L, the increase in the regulation ability of root and nodule phosphorus content, ARA, SNA, and ureide content were low for roots, and the value for nodules was lower than when the phosphorus level increased from 1 mg/L to 31 mg/L. (3) A high-concentration phosphorus supply on one side of a dual-root soybean plant significantly increased the phosphorus content in the aboveground tissues, as well as the roots and nodules on both sides. In the roots on the phosphorus-free side, the nodules were prioritized for receiving the phosphorus transported from the aboveground tissues to maintain their phosphorus content and functionality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and Production)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

17 pages, 2782 KiB  
Review
Phosphorus Mobilization in Plant–Soil Environments and Inspired Strategies for Managing Phosphorus: A Review
by Muhammad Ibrahim, Muhammad Iqbal, Yu-Ting Tang, Sardar Khan, Dong-Xing Guan and Gang Li
Agronomy 2022, 12(10), 2539; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12102539 - 17 Oct 2022
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 10219
Abstract
Crop productivity and yield are adversely affected by the deficiency of P in agricultural soil. Phosphate fertilizers are used at a large scale to improve crop yields globally. With the rapid increase in human population, food demands are also increasing. To see that [...] Read more.
Crop productivity and yield are adversely affected by the deficiency of P in agricultural soil. Phosphate fertilizers are used at a large scale to improve crop yields globally. With the rapid increase in human population, food demands are also increasing. To see that crop yields meet demands, farmers have continuously added phosphate fertilizers to their arable fields. As the primary source of inorganic phosphorous, rock phosphate is finite and the risk of its being jeopardized in the foreseeable future is high. Therefore, there is a dire need to improve plant-available P in soil, using feasible, environmentally friendly technologies developed on the basis of further understanding of P dynamics between soil and plants. This study systemically reviews the mechanism of P uptake and P-use efficiency by plants under starvation conditions. The recent advances in various strategies, especially imaging techniques, over the period 2012–2021 for the measurement of plant-available P are identified. The study then examines how plants fulfill P requirements from tissue-stored P during P starvation. Following this understanding, various strategies for increasing plant-available P in agricultural soil are evaluated. Finally, an update on novel carriers used to improve the P content of agricultural soil is provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and Production)
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