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Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture
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Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 16171

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Dionisios Gasparatos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Interests: soil science; plant nutrition; land degradation; soil processes; integrated soil nutrient management; organic farming; sustainable agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Worldwide, agriculture is facing challenges and risks due to the increase of global population, which is predicted to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, and this will require a rapid increase of global food demand from existing soil resources. In this context, agriculture is placing unpredictable requirements and demands on natural resources, which could hinder environmental protection and degrade agricultural land. This situation has opened an extensive discussion about the quest of sustainable use of soil nutrients and the higher use efficiency of fertilizers establishing an urgent demand for smarter nutrient management and, more importantly, integration of means and practices aiming to achieve proper plant nutrition and productivity goals. Two of the most popular approaches with multi-dimensional perspective on nutrient management are the 4R Nutrient Stewardship approach and the improved 5R strategy. These approaches give excellent recommendations on the selection of fertilizer, by focusing on the right sources, the right rate, the right time, and the right placement. Therefore, soil fertilization management practices, which includes Integrated Soil Nutrient Management (ISNM), have switched to a new era.

Moreover, in the light of the most advanced research on the processes occurring at the interface between rock, air, water, plants and microorganisms/animals, soil fertility had been revised and it is now considered as the total capacity of a soil to provide functional a plant habitat, resulting in lasting yields of high quality. Top of the agenda is also to produce more with less, and produce healthier food in a sustainable manner through biofortification, minimizing environmental footprint and protecting natural resources and ecosystems. Thus, the major challenges of our time are mainly related to keeping the balance between sustainable productivity at the farm level and environmental protection.

Therefore, the main aim of this Special Issue is to publish papers focusing on recent scientific progress and innovation in soil fertility and plant nutrition for sustainable agriculture. We welcome novel research, reviews, and opinion papers covering all related topics that enhance our understanding on holistic fertilization management practices and discuss opportunities for maximizing crop growth and nutrition converting the conventional management systems into more sustainable and environment-preserving systems. In this context, the application of organic fertilizers, biochar, microbial biostimulants, the rational management of crop residues, and the enhancement of fertilizer use efficiency are innovative tools to optimize soil fertility and plant nutrition, which can lead farmers to adopt new pathways for a sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Dionisios Gasparatos
Guest Editor

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 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 quality
  • biochar
  • biofortification
  • compost
  • crop residues
  • soil organic matter
  • nitrogen
  • plant growth promoting rhizobacteria
  • micronutrients
  • organic fertilizers and biofertilizers
  • biostimulants
  • nutrient use efficiency
  • phosphorus
  • potassium

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 603 KiB  
Article
Soluble Elements Released from Organic Wastes to Increase Available Nutrients for Soil and Crops
by Teresa Rodríguez-Espinosa, Jose Navarro-Pedreño, Ignacio Gómez Lucas, María Belén Almendro Candel, Ana Pérez Gimeno and Antonis A. Zorpas
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(2), 1151; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13021151 - 14 Jan 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3165
Abstract
Member States of the European Union must ban burning arable stubble by 2023 and improve the recycling of organic waste into fertilizers and organic farming practices by 2030. The current lack of nutrients from soils and crops leads to food insecurity, human malnutrition [...] Read more.
Member States of the European Union must ban burning arable stubble by 2023 and improve the recycling of organic waste into fertilizers and organic farming practices by 2030. The current lack of nutrients from soils and crops leads to food insecurity, human malnutrition and diseases. Consequently, innovative solutions are required, as technosols are constructed by waste. The objective of this paper is to educate on the nutrients that some pruning residues can provide. This work characterizes elemental composition, nutrients soluble fraction and physical and chemical properties of the following organic wastes: almond tree pruning, commercial peat substrate, olive tree pruning, pine needle, date palm leaf pruning, sewage sludge compost and vine pruning. The results show significant differences between macro (Na, K, Ca, Mg) and micronutrient (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) content and their solubility. Sewage sludge compost, olive pruning and pine needle are the three residues with the highest presence of nutrients in their elemental composition. Nevertheless, if a farmer applies pruning residues as a nutritional supplement for crops, it will be key to finding the short-term soluble nutrient rate and synchronizing the nutritional requirement curve of a plant’s life cycle with its nutrient release. Consequently, organic waste (without composting treatment) obtains higher solubility rates, being date palm leaf residue the one with the greatest value. The solubility index of organic wastes can be significant in providing short-term nutrients to crops. Hence, our results can help in choosing the proper waste to enhance plant nutrient supply, mainly K, Ca, Mg and Na for crop nutrition, to ensure efficient biofertilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture)
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14 pages, 2199 KiB  
Article
The Role of Poultry Litter and Its Biochar on Soil Fertility and Jatropha curcas L. Growth on Sandy-Loam Soil
by Boitshwarelo Lorato Masocha and Oagile Dikinya
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(23), 12294; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122312294 - 1 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2474
Abstract
Low agricultural output and a decline in plant-available nutrient content in soil pose significant challenges to developing countries. To test the hypothesis that poultry litter and its biochar improve soil quality, nutrient status, and plant growth, a greenhouse pot experiment with sandy-loam soil [...] Read more.
Low agricultural output and a decline in plant-available nutrient content in soil pose significant challenges to developing countries. To test the hypothesis that poultry litter and its biochar improve soil quality, nutrient status, and plant growth, a greenhouse pot experiment with sandy-loam soil was conducted. Selected application rates of poultry litter (0, 15, 30, 60, and 120 g/kg) and its biochar pyrolyzed at 350 °C and 600 °C were used. With the addition of organic amendments, Jatropha plant height, leaf number, and stem diameter improved significantly, as did soil fertility indicators (pH, organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, and plant-available nutrients). When compared to the control, increased application rates ranging from 60 g/kg to 120 g/kg significantly improved soil properties and plant growth. PL (Poultry litter)- and BC350 (Biochar produced at 350 °C)-treated soil outperformed other organic amendments in terms of soil quality, nutrient status, and plant growth. Soil pH, CEC, and OM were found to be positively correlated with available plant nutrients, with PL-treated soils having higher levels of plant available nutrients. Because the properties of the feedstocks complement each other, combined organic amendments improved studied parameters, particularly PLBC600 (Poultry litter mixed with biochar produced at 600 °C) compared to BC600 (Biochar produced at 600 °C). Increased application rates of pure and combined feedstock effectively increased soil fertility and Jatropha growth; however, lower temperature biochar is recommended for use as a soil organic amendment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture)
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16 pages, 1692 KiB  
Article
Soil Application of Sewage Sludge Treated with Clay Minerals or Biochar and Its Effect on Soil Properties and White Clover’s (Trifolium repens L.) Growth and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Root Colonization
by Athanasios Balidakis, Theodora Matsi, Anastasia-Garyfallia Karagianni and Ioannis Ipsilantis
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(22), 11382; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122211382 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1708
Abstract
From the perspective of finding new, more environmental-friendly methods for the stabilization of sewage sludge to be used in agriculture, sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar was investigated as a soil amendment for white clover (Trifolium repens L.) growth, by [...] Read more.
From the perspective of finding new, more environmental-friendly methods for the stabilization of sewage sludge to be used in agriculture, sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar was investigated as a soil amendment for white clover (Trifolium repens L.) growth, by means of a pot experiment. The sludge treatments, which were applied to two soils (an acid and an alkaline soil), in three replications, were the addition of 2% (≈80 Mg ha−1) treated sludge with the clay minerals or biochar, as well as limed or untreated (air-dried) sludge (for comparison reasons). Additional treatments with inorganic fertilization or neither organic nor inorganic fertilization (control) were also included. The application of 2% sludge to both soils significantly increased salinity compared to the control, which remained below harmful levels for sensitive crops, except for the case of untreated sludge. Furthermore, it significantly increased the soil-available macronutrients N, P and K, and micronutrients Cu, Zn (several times, especially in the case of untreated sludge) and B (up to three times) compared with the control. Moreover, the pH of the acid soil was improved, except for the case of limed sludge, where an undesirable pH increase close to 8.5 was observed. Addition of the treated sludge with the clay minerals or biochar and untreated sludge to the acid and alkaline soil significantly increased the aboveground biomass yield of white clover by 117–233% and 114–153%, respectively, compared to the control, whereas limed sludge had no effect. Plant nutrient uptake increased as well. In general, the effect of sludge on soil microbiological properties and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal root colonization was ambiguous. It was concluded that 2% soil addition of sewage sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar could improve soil fertility and enhance plant growth; however, caution is needed with respect to potential risks of soil salinization or Zn and B phytotoxicities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture)
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14 pages, 3083 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Biobed Bio-Mixture from Olive Oil Mill Wastewater Treatment as a Soil Organic Amendment in a Circular Economy Context
by Vasiliki Kinigopoulou, Evangelos Hatzigiannakis, Athanasios Guitonas, Efstathios K. Oikonomou, Stefanos Stefanou and Dionisios Gasparatos
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(14), 7347; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12147347 - 21 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2031
Abstract
This study, based on circular economy principles and sustainable development practices, aims to present the results of soil samples analysis after their mixture with a biobed bio-mixture of straw, soil and compost, used for two consecutive years as organic bio-filter of olive oil [...] Read more.
This study, based on circular economy principles and sustainable development practices, aims to present the results of soil samples analysis after their mixture with a biobed bio-mixture of straw, soil and compost, used for two consecutive years as organic bio-filter of olive oil mill wastewater. So far, exhausted bio-mixtures used in biobeds to minimize pesticide point-source contamination turned out to contain residues of pesticides, and they are considered hazardous wastes; thus, they require special treatment before their disposal. Contrariwise, saturated bio-mixtures from bio-bed systems utilized for olive mill wastewater (OMWW) treatment not only do not require any special treatment before their final disposal but also can be exploited as a soil amendment. To this end, the effects of the used bio-mixture application in three different proportions as a soil amendment on the physical and chemical properties of medium-texture soil were investigated. The application of water simulating a typical irrigation period during a growing season took place. Upon completion of the water application, soil samples were collected from two different depths of the columns and analyzed, and leachates collected from the columns were also analyzed. Soil texture, organic matter, calcium carbonate, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, total nitrogen, nitrates, nitrites, ammonium, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), cation exchange capacity (CEC), available iron, manganese, copper, zinc and boron were monitored in the soil samples as indexes of potential soil amendment, and EC, pH, nitrates, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), total hardness, iron, manganese, copper, zinc and boron were monitored in the leachates as indexes of potential groundwater contamination.The study demonstrated the effective use of saturated bio-mixture as an organic soil amendment, while the impact of selected amendments on groundwater was the minimum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture)
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12 pages, 5846 KiB  
Communication
Comparison of Microbial Gene Diversity in Grassland Topsoil Depending on Soil Quality
by Siwon Lee, Heejung Kim, Jae E Yang, Han-Sun Ryu, Jinah Moon, Jin-Young Lee and Hyunji Lee
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(20), 9569; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11209569 - 14 Oct 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1825
Abstract
Soil has multiple functions, including the provision of habitat to organisms, and most biological activities occur in the surface soil. Due to the negative effects of soil erosion, efforts for soil conservation are being made, including the development of a reliable index that [...] Read more.
Soil has multiple functions, including the provision of habitat to organisms, and most biological activities occur in the surface soil. Due to the negative effects of soil erosion, efforts for soil conservation are being made, including the development of a reliable index that can help assess soil quality. In this study, the physical and chemical properties and biological genes from grassland topsoil were analyzed, in order to identify surface soil organism markers that could be used as a soil quality index. Six spots of grassland topsoil were analyzed, one high-quality and five low-quality, based on a web-based soil quality assessment module. Consequently, eukaryotes and prokaryotes with different soil quality ratios were compared and examined. The following bacteria and archaea have the potential to be used in soil quality assessment: circulation of materials including nitrogen, Nitrospira spp., Candidatus Nitrososphaera, and Candidatus Nitrosotalea; biological purification, Geobacter spp.; pathogens, Burkholderia spp., Paraburkholderia spp., Pseudomonas brassicacearum, and Rhizobacter spp.; antibiotic secretion, Candidatus Udaeobacter; and material degradation Steroidobacter spp. and Rhodanobacter spp. This study provides primary data for identifying biological markers for soil quality evaluation. In the future, a wider variety of data need to be accumulated to develop a highly reliable index related to soil quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture)
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15 pages, 1145 KiB  
Article
Variation in Growth, Physiology, Yield, and Quality of Wheat under the Application of Different Zinc Coated Formulations
by Qudsia Nazir, Xiukang Wang, Azhar Hussain, Allah Ditta, Ayesha Aimen, Ifra Saleem, Muhammad Naveed, Tariq Aziz, Adnan Mustafa and Nalun Panpluem
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(11), 4797; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11114797 - 24 May 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2966
Abstract
Zinc (Zn) is critical for the activity of many enzymes including involved photosynthetic CO2 fixation and indirectly involved in the production of growth hormones and internode elongation in crop plants. In this regard, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the comparative [...] Read more.
Zinc (Zn) is critical for the activity of many enzymes including involved photosynthetic CO2 fixation and indirectly involved in the production of growth hormones and internode elongation in crop plants. In this regard, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the comparative effectiveness of the Zn blended, Zn coated and bio-activated Zn coated urea on the growth, physiological, yield, and quality of wheat. Three types of urea were prepared including bio-activated Zn coated, Zn coated and Zn blended urea. The bio-activated Zn coated urea was prepared by inoculating the powdered organic material with Zn solubilizing bacterium (Bacillus sp. AZ6) and then this material was mixed with ZnO. This bioactive Zn was coated on urea at the rate to formulate 1.5% bio-activated Zn coated urea. Moreover, Zn blended urea was prepared by mixing powder ZnO with urea while Zn coated urea with 1.5% Zn was prepared by mixing ZnO and urea under proper moisture conditions to ensure proper coating. In results, growth parameters were significantly increased with the application of bio-activated Zn coated urea as compared to other urea formulations and the control. The same treatment caused the maximum increase in quality parameters like oil contents (55%), protein (30%), and N concentration (30%) as compared to the control. In conclusion, the application of 1.5% bio-activated Zn coated urea was highly effective in enhancing the growth, physiological, yield, and quality parameters of wheat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Sustainable Agriculture)
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