Agricultural Management of Nutrients
Summary
Effective management of plant nutrients is at the heart of modern agriculture and hinges on optimising supply to meet crop demand while minimising environmental losses. Central to this endeavour is understanding how nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and minor elements cycle through soils, water, air and biota. Practices such as tailored fertiliser formulations, precision application methods, integration of organic amendments and the deployment of biological inoculants all seek to enhance nutrient-use efficiency. At field scale, decisions over timing, rate and placement of inputs draw on soil testing, crop sensors and decision-support tools. At landscape scale, buffering strips, controlled drainage and soil conservation measures curtail off-site transport of dissolved and particulate nutrients. Emerging approaches include the use of enhanced-efficiency fertilisers, nanocarrier formulations and microbial biostimulants to synchronise nutrient release with root activity. Together these measures aim to sustain yields, build soil organic matter, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and protect water quality.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Growth of complete ammonia oxidisers on guanidine has revealed that certain Nitrospira species can derive energy and nitrogen exclusively from guanidine, expanding our view of soil N substrates. This finding opens new avenues for managing nitrification and nitrous oxide formation by targeting guanidine-like compounds in soils.
Unveiling unique microbial nitrogen cycling in coastal Antarctica has identified comammox Nitrospira clade B as the predominant nitrifier under extreme cold, oligotrophic conditions. Genomic and isotope-probing evidence demonstrates adaptations—such as trehalose biosynthesis and high substrate affinity—that sustain nitrification where classic ammonia-oxidisers falter. These insights stress the diversity of nitrifier communities in global soils.
Microbial competition for phosphorus limits the CO₂ response of a mature forest by showing that soil microbes sequester a large proportion of mineralised P, constraining plant uptake under elevated CO₂. A detailed P budget confirms that microbial pre-emption of P recycling can curtail forest carbon gains, underscoring the need to incorporate P dynamics into land-carbon models.
Agricultural Management of Nutrients publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in agricultural management of nutrients across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Enhanced-efficiency fertiliser: A formulation that controls nutrient release or transformation to improve synchrony with crop demand and reduce losses.
Comammox: Complete ammonia-oxidising microorganisms capable of converting ammonia directly to nitrate within a single organism.
Cation-exchange capacity: The total capacity of soil to hold exchangeable cations, influencing nutrient retention and availability.
Precision application: Targeted delivery of inputs (fertilisers, water) at variable rates across a field, guided by spatial data and sensors.
Biostimulant: A substance or microorganism applied to soils or plants to enhance natural nutrient-acquisition processes or stress resilience.
References
- Growth of complete ammonia oxidizers on guanidine. Nature (2024).
- Unveiling unique microbial nitrogen cycling and nitrification driver in coastal Antarctica. Nature Communications (2024).
- Microbial competition for phosphorus limits the CO2 response of a mature forest. Nature (2024).
- Next-generation enhanced-efficiency fertilizers for sustained food security. Nature Food (2022).
- Municipal solid waste compost use can improve crop barley production and enhance soil chemical fertility. European Journal of Agronomy (2024).
- Using bio-based fertilizer derived from peri‑urban wastes affects soil properties and lettuce yield and quality. Scientia Horticulturae (2024).
- Potential Benefits and Risks for Soil Health Derived From the Use of Organic Amendments in Agriculture. Agronomy (2019).
About these summaries
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