Fertigation and Nutrient Management in Crops

Dear Colleagues,

Irrigation has been shown to be an effective practice in improving crop yields and seed/fruit quality since the availability of nutrients in soil is directly related to an adequate water supply. In evaluating the effects of soil water availability during the reproductive phase of crop plants, studies have shown that the maintenance of optimal soil moisture levels is decisive for the increased accumulation of protein, sucrose, oil, and macronutrients in seeds or fruits.

In most rainfed farming systems, sowing must be carried out at the beginning of the rainy season to ensure adequate water supply and to prevent the negative impacts of water deficiency, which can interfere with the plants’ metabolic processes. Drought is a major threat to crop production worldwide. Some species are sensitive to drought stress, as it negatively affects both nutrient absorption and the yield of crops. Besides water availability, soil management practices, such as the amounts and strategies needed to supply nutrients to the crops, have effects on the availability of nutrients and the soil organic matter content, thereby affecting soil quality and crop performance. Thus, the success of agricultural activities requires the adoption of more sustainable systems based on the rational use of resources, allowing the reversal of soil degradation and increased productivity.

Topics related to the scope of this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Fertigation in crops;
• Partitioning and absorption of nutrients in crops;
• Nutrient use efficiency;
• Drought stress and its relationship with nutrient absorption;
• Practices that promote improvement in soil fertility and moisture.

Dr. Henrique Antunes De Souza
Dr. Edvaldo Sagrilo
Dr. Antonio Rafael Sánchez-Rodríguez
Guest Editors

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• nutrient cycling
• intensive agriculture
• plant nutrition
• soil fertility
• fertilizer management
• soil moisture