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Soil Fertility Management for Plant Growth and Development

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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant–Soil Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 7024

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Minggang Xu

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Guest Editor

Key Laboratory of Arable Land Quality Monitoring and Evaluation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-ARID Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
Interests: soil fertility; crop productivity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil fertility management is an important factor in plant growth and development, including crop productivity and forestry carbon storage. Soil properties, fertilization, rotation, tillage and climate can also have significant impacts here.

This Special Issue will present the most recent research and advances in this field. It aims to provide selected contributions on advances in soil fertility management for plant growth and the development of various plants with respect to scientific theories, agriculture and forestry science.

Topics of interest include:

Soil physical, chemical, biological factors and soil health;
Soil fertility with crop growth and productivity;
Soil fertility evolution with fertilizations;
Soil fertility monitoring with long-term field experiments;
Changes in soil carbon sequestration and crop productivity with rotation and tillage;
Carbon storage in soil–forestry systems.
Soil fertility in arable, forest and grassland areas.

Prof. Dr. Minggang Xu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

soil fertility
crop growth and productivity
soil health
forestry carbon storage

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 1254 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Meeting the Demand for Different Nitrogen Forms in Potato Plants Without the Use of Nitrification Inhibitors

by Yangyang Chen, Xiaohua Shi, Yang Chen, Jing Yu, Yonglin Qin, Liguo Jia and Mingshou Fan

Plants 2024, 13(22), 3177; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13223177 - 13 Nov 2024

Viewed by 380

Abstract

The preference of potato plants for specific nitrogen (N) form changes with growth stage. Potato plants prefer nitrate N before tuber formation, while they favor ammonium N after tuber formation. However, few studies have focused on N species management in potato production. In this study, 2-year field experiments were conducted from 2020 to 2021 in Inner Mongolia, China, under drip irrigation with four N treatments: (1) CK (no N was used), (2) conventional farming practices (F) (urea was the only N source applied for potato growth), (3) nitrate N supplied before tuber formation and ammonium N with nitrification inhibitor supplied after tuber formation (N-NI), and (4) nitrate N supplied before tuber formation and frequent, low-dose ammonium N applied after tuber formation (Opt). The results demonstrated that, compared with the F, the Opt treatment facilitated potato N uptake, with a 33–40% increase in plant N accumulation, and significantly increased potato growth, which ultimately resulted in a yield increase of 12–20% and an increase of 11–22 percentage units in NUE. In addition, the Opt treatment reduced the soil N residual by ~14% after harvest. Compared with the N-NI, the Opt treatment did not result in a decrease in tuber yield or NUE. Therefore, supplying nitrate N before tuber formation and frequent, low-dose ammonium N after tuber formation can result in a better match between the supply and demand of potato plants for N forms without the use of nitrification inhibitors, improving both potato yield and NUE, which is of substantial agronomic and environmental value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility Management for Plant Growth and Development)

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15 pages, 2557 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Applying Organic Amendments on Soil Aggregate Structure and Tomato Yield in Facility Agriculture

by Wen-Qu Tao, Qian-Qian Wu, Jie Zhang, Ting-Ting Chang and Xin-Na Liu

Plants 2024, 13(21), 3064; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13213064 - 31 Oct 2024

Viewed by 576

Abstract

Amendment significantly improves soil structure and promotes crop growth. To combat soil degradation and low crop yields in facility agriculture, it is crucial to study the optimal application rate of amendments. This study analyzed the effects of biochar, vermicompost, and mineral-source potassium fulvic acid on the stability of aggregate structure, soil nutrient content, and tomato yield in cambisols, providing a theoretical basis for improving the soil quality of plastic greenhouses in Southern China. A pot experiment on tomato cultivation was carried out in yellow-brown soil in plastic greenhouses. The experiment included eight treatments: 1% biochar (B1); 3% biochar (B3); 5% biochar (B5); 3% vermicompost (V3); 5% vermicompost (V5); 0.1% mineral-source potassium fulvic acid (F1); 0.2% mineral-source potassium fulvic acid (F2); and the control condition without adding soil amendments (CK). The results showed that the biochar and vermicompost treatments effectively reduced soil bulk density and increased total soil porosity. Compared to the control, treatments with soil amendments significantly increased soil pH and had different effects on soil nutrients: F2 showed the most significant improvement in the content of available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium, with an increase of 133.33%, 834.59%, and 74.34%, respectively; B3 treatment had the highest increase in dissolved organic carbon (DOC), while B5 treatment had the highest organic matter content. Compared to the CK, the particle size of the biochar treatment was mainly 0.053~0.25 mm, while the V3, F1, and F2 mainly occurred with a particle size > 0.25 mm; and V3 has the best aggregate stability. Biochar, vermicompost, and mineral potassium fulvic acid can all promote tomato yield, with the F2 and V3 treatments having a yield increase effect of over 30%. Furthermore, Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a highly significant positive correlation between geometric mean diameter (GMD) and mean weight diameter (MWD), water-stable macroaggregate content (R_0.25), and a positive correlation between alkaline-dissolved nitrogen, available phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon content, and aggregate stability indicators. Adding 0.2% mineral-source potassium fulvic acid optimizes cambisols’ properties, enhances aggregate formation and stability, boosts tomato yield, and shows great application potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility Management for Plant Growth and Development)

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22 pages, 10869 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selection of Suitable Organic Amendments to Balance Agricultural Economic Benefits and Carbon Sequestration

by Hui Cao, Junming Liu, Shoutian Ma, Xiaolei Wu, Yuanyuan Fu and Yang Gao

Plants 2024, 13(17), 2428; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172428 - 30 Aug 2024

Viewed by 843

Abstract

Long-term excessive use of fertilizers and intensive cultivation not only decreases soil organic carbon (SOC) and productivity, but also increases greenhouse gas emissions, which is detrimental to sustainable agricultural development. The purpose of this paper is to identify organic amendments suitable for winter wheat growth in the North China Plain by studying the effects of organic amendments on the economic benefits, carbon emissions, and carbon sequestration for winter wheat fields and to provide a theoretical basis for the wide application of organic amendments in agricultural fields. The two nitrogen rates were N0 (0 kg ha⁻¹) and N240 (240 kg ha⁻¹), and the four organic amendments were straw, manure, mushroom residue (M R), and biochar. The results showed that, compared to N0, N240 significantly increased the yield by 244.1–318.4% and the organic carbon storage by 16.7–30.5%, respectively, but increased the carbon emissions by 29.3–45.5%. In addition, soil carbon stocks increased with all three types of organic amendments compared to the straw amendment, with the biochar treatment being the largest, increasing carbon storage by 13.3–33.6%. In terms of yield and economic benefits, compared to the straw amendment, the manure and biochar amendments increased winter wheat yields by 0.0–1.5% and 4.0–13.3%, respectively, and M R slightly decreased wheat yield; only the economic benefit of the M R amendment was greater than that of the straw amendment, with an increase in economic benefit of 1.3% and 8.2% in the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons, respectively. Furthermore, according to the net ecosystem productivity (NEP), N0 was the source of CO₂, while N240 was a sink of CO₂. The TOPSIS results showed that N240 with a mushroom residue amendment could be recommended for increasing soil carbon stocks and economic benefits for winter wheat in the NCP and similar regions. Low-cost M R can increase farmer motivation and improve soil organic carbon, making a big step forward in the spread of organic materials on farmland. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility Management for Plant Growth and Development)

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16 pages, 3186 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Critical Role of Soil Ecological Stoichiometric Ratios: How Does Reforestation Improve Soil Nitrogen and Phosphorus Availability?

by Zhixuan Chen, Xia Xu, Yongli Wen, Man Cheng and Xiao Wang

Plants 2024, 13(16), 2320; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162320 - 20 Aug 2024

Viewed by 780

Abstract

The ecological stoichiometric characteristics of soil elements have greatly enhanced our understanding of the circulation of soil nutrients. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the alteration of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometric ratios in deep soil after afforestation. To examine the variations in stoichiometric ratios of soil elements with different vegetation types, restoration times, and soil depths, we collected soil samples from grassland, Caragana korshinskii shrubland, and Picea asperata forestland at different stand ages (10a, 25a, and 40a) in Xining City, which is located on the Loess Plateau. Our results showed that, at 25a, the carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) and carbon-to-phosphorus (C:P) ratios were significantly higher in the grassland soil than under other vegetation types, whereas the nitrogen-to-phosphorus (N:P) ratio had no significant difference among the three vegetation types. At 40a, the ratios of soil C:N, C:P, and N:P in the shrubland were the highest. With the increasing of the restoration time, the ratios of soil C:N, C:P, and N:P in grassland with 25a became higher than for 40a or 10a. The ratios in the shrubland were highest at 40a, followed by 25a and then 10a, while the ratios in the forestland showed no significant difference. At 40a, the soil C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios of shrubland were highest at the soil depth of 40–100 cm. The soil C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios showed positive correlations with soil ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen, and the soil N:P ratios showed a negative correlation with soil available phosphorus. Plant diversity significantly influenced the soil stoichiometric ratio of the upper soil layer. In the upper soil layer (0–40 cm), species richness showed a positive correlation with soil C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios, and the Margalef index exhibited a positive correlation with soil C:N and C:P ratios. The results of this study indicate that the stoichiometric ratio and nutrient availability of Caragana korshinskii shrubland were the highest over time. Therefore, these findings can be served as a valuable reference for local revegetation and ecological restoration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility Management for Plant Growth and Development)

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18 pages, 1912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Field Examinations on the Application of Novel Biochar-Based Microbial Fertilizer on Degraded Soils and Growth Response of Flue-Cured Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

by Xu Yang, Ke Zhang, Zhiming Qi, Hiba Shaghaleh, Chao Gao, Tingting Chang, Jie Zhang and Yousef Alhaj Hamoud

Plants 2024, 13(10), 1328; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101328 - 11 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1229

Abstract

Southwestern China is receiving excessive chemical fertilizers to meet the challenges of continuous cropping. These practices are deteriorating the soil environment and affecting tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) yield and quality adversely. A novel microbially enriched biochar-based fertilizer was synthesized using effective microorganisms, tobacco stalk biochar and basal fertilizer. A field-scale study was conducted to evaluate the yield response of tobacco grown on degraded soil amended with our novel biochar-based microbial fertilizer (BF). Four treatments of BF (0%, 1.5%, 2.5% and 5%) were applied in the contaminated field to grow tobacco. The application of BF_1.5, BF_2.5 and BF_5.0 increased the available water contents by 9.47%, 1.18% and 2.19% compared to that with BF₀ respectively. Maximum growth of tobacco in terms of plant height and leaf area was recorded for BF_1.5 compared to BF₀. BF_1.5, BF_2.5 and BF_5.0 increased SPAD by 13.18–40.53%, net photosynthetic rate by 5.44–60.42%, stomatal conductance by 8.33–44.44%, instantaneous water use efficiency by 55.41–93.24% and intrinsic water use efficiency by 0.09–24.11%, while they decreased the intercellular CO₂ concentration and transpiration rate by 3.85–6.84% and 0.29–47.18% relative to BF₀, respectively (p < 0.05). The maximum increase in tobacco yield was recorded with BF_1.5 (23.81%) compared to that with BF₀. The present study concludes that the application of BF_1.5 improves and restores the degraded soil by improving the hydraulic conductivity and by increasing the tobacco yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility Management for Plant Growth and Development)

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21 pages, 2649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Extracted Eucalyptus globulus Bark Fiber as a Potential Substrate for Pinus radiata and Quillaja saponaria Germination

by Víctor Ferrer-Villasmil, Cecilia Fuentealba, Pablo Reyes-Contreras, Rafael Rubilar, Gustavo Cabrera-Barjas, Gastón Bravo-Arrepol and Danilo Escobar-Avello

Plants 2024, 13(6), 789; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060789 - 11 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1512

Abstract

This study aimed to explore alternative substrates for growing forest species using eucalyptus bark. It evaluated the potential of extracted Eucalyptus globulus fiber bark as a substitute for commercial growing media such as coconut fiber, moss, peat, and compost pine. We determined the physicochemical parameters of the growing media, the germination rate, and the mean fresh and dry weights of seedlings. We used the Munoo-Liisa Vitality Index (MLVI) test to evaluate the phytotoxicity of the bark alone and when mixed with commercial substrates. Generally, the best mixture for seed growth was 75% extracted eucalyptus bark fiber and 25% commercial substrates. In particular, the 75E-25P (peat) mixture is a promising substitute for seedling growth of Pinus radiata, achieving up to 3-times higher MLVI than the control peat alone. For Quillaja saponaria, the best growth substrate was the 50E-50C (coconut fiber) mixture, which had the most significant MLVI values (127%). We added chitosan and alginate-encapsulated fulvic acid phytostimulants to improve the performance of the substrate mixtures. The fulvic acid, encapsulated or not, significantly improved MLVI values in Q. saponaria species and P. radiata in concentrations between 0.05 and 0.1% w/v. This study suggests that mixtures with higher levels of extracted fiber are suitable for growing forest species, thus promoting the application of circular economy principles in forestry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility Management for Plant Growth and Development)

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25 pages, 1943 KiB

Open AccessReview

Towards Sustainable Productivity of Greenhouse Vegetable Soils: Limiting Factors and Mitigation Strategies

by Bofang Yan, Tenghaobo Deng and Liangliang Shi

Plants 2024, 13(20), 2885; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13202885 - 15 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1009

Abstract

Greenhouse vegetable production has become increasingly important in meeting the increasing global food demand. Yet, it faces severe challenges in terms of how to maintain soil productivity from a long-term perspective. This review discusses the main soil productivity limiting factors for vegetables grown in greenhouses and identifies strategies that attempt to overcome these limitations. The main processes leading to soil degradation include physical (e.g., compaction), chemical (e.g., salinization, acidification, and nutrient imbalances), and biological factors (e.g., biodiversity reduction and pathogen buildup). These processes are often favored by intensive greenhouse cultivation. Mitigation strategies involve managing soil organic matter and mineral nutrients and adopting crop rotation. Future research should focus on precisely balancing soil nutrient supply with vegetable crop demands throughout their life cycle and using targeted organic amendments to manage specific soil properties. To ensure the successful adoption of recommended strategies, socioeconomic considerations are also necessary. Future empirical research is required to adapt socioeconomic frameworks, such as Science and Technology Backyard 2.0, from cereal production systems to greenhouse vegetable production systems. Addressing these issues will enable the productivity of greenhouse vegetable soils that meet growing vegetable demand to be sustained using limited soil resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Fertility Management for Plant Growth and Development)

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