Nutrient Use Efficiency From Basics to Advances

About this book

Nutrient Use Efficiency addresses in detail multifaceted approaches to boosting nutrient use efficiency (NUE) that are modified by plant interactions with environmental variables and combine physiological, microbial, biotechnological and agronomic aspects. Conveying an in-depth understanding of the topic will spark the development of new cultivars and strains to induce NUE, coupled with best management practices that will immensely benefit agricultural systems, safeguarding their soil, water, and air quality. Written by recognized experts in the field, Nutrient Use Efficiency is intended to provide students, scientists and policymakers with essential insights into holistic approaches to NUE, as well as an overview of some successful case studies. In the present understanding of agriculture, NUE represents a question of process optimization in response to the increasing fragility of our natural resources base and threats to food grain security across the globe. Further improving nutrient use efficiency is a prerequisite to reducing production costs, expanding crop acreage into non-competitive marginal lands with low nutrient resources, and preventing environmental contamination. The nutrients most commonly limiting plant growth are N, P, K, S and micronutrients like Fe, Zn, B and Mo. NUE depends on the ability to efficiently take up the nutrient from the soil, but also on transport, storage, mobilization, usage within the plant and the environment. A number of approaches can help us to understand NUE as a whole. One involves adopting best crop management practices that take into account root-induced rhizosphere processes, which play a pivotal role in controlling nutrient dynamics in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. New technologies, from basic tools like leaf color charts to sophisticated sensor-based systems and laser land leveling, can reduce the dependency on laboratory assistance and manual labor. Another approach concerns the development of crop plants through genetic manipulations that allow them to take up and assimilate nutrients more efficiently, as well as identifying processes of plant responses to nutrient deficiency stress and exploring natural genetic variation. Though only recently introduced, the ability of microbial inoculants to induce NUE is gaining in importance, as the loss, immobilization, release and availability of nutrients are mediated by soil microbial processes.

Contents

Chapter 1: Nutrient use efficiency in plants: an overview

Part I: Nutrients as a Key Driver of Nutrient Use Efficiency
Chapter 2: Soils and Inputs Management Options for Increasing Nutrient Use Efficiency
Chapter 3: Nutrient and water use efficiency in soil: The influence of geological mineral amendments
Chapter 4: Resource conserving techniques for improving nitrogen use-efficiency
Chapter 5: Strategies for enhancing phosphorus efficiency in crop production systems
Chapter 6: Efficiency of soil and fertilizer phosphorus use in time: a comparison between recovered struvite, FePO₄-sludge, digestate, animal manure and synthetic fertilizer
Chapter 7: Strategies for Enhancing Zinc Efficiency in Crop Plants
Chapter 8: Nitrification inhibitors: classes and its use in nitrification management

Part II: Microbiological aspects of Nutrient Use Efficiency
Chapter 9: Role of Microorganisms in Plant Nutrition and Health
Chapter 10: Role of Cyanobacteria in Nutrient Cycle and Use Efficiency in the Soil
Chapter 11: Trichoderma improves nutrient use efficiency in crop plants
Chapter 12: Bio-priming mediated nutrient use efficiency of crop species
Chapter 13: Unrealized potential of seed biopriming for versatile agriculture

Part III: Molecular and physiological aspects of Nutrient Use Efficiency
Chapter 14: Improving nutrient use efficiency by exploiting genetic diversity of crops
Chapter 15: Micro RNA based approach to improve nitrogen use efficiency in plants
Chapter 16: Biofortification for selecting and developing crop cultivars denser in iron and zinc
Chapter 17: Understanding genetic and molecular bases of Fe and Zn accumulation towards development of micronutrient enriched maize

Part IV: Nutrient Use Efficiency of Crop Species
Chapter 18: Nitrogen uptake and use efficiency in rice
Chapter 19: Nutrient-use efficiency in Sorghum
Chapter 20: Improving nutrient use efficiency in oilseeds Brassica
Chapter 21: Strategies for higher nutrient use efficiency and productivity in forage crops
Chapter 22: Integrated nutrient management in potato for increasing nutrient use efficiency and sustainable productivity

Part V: Specialised Case Studies
Chapter 23: Enhancing Nutrient Use Efficiencies in Rainfed Systems
Chapter 24: Dynamics Of Plant Nutrients, Utilization And Uptake, And Soil Microbial Community In Crops Under Ambient And Elevated Carbon Dioxide
Chapter 25: Phytometallophore Mediated Nutrient Acquisition by Plants

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Biography

Amitava Rakshit, an IIT, Kharagpur alumnus is presently the faculty member in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University(IAS, BHU). Dr. Rakshit worked in the Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal in administration and extension roles. He has visited Norway, Finland, Denmark, France, Austria, Russia, Thailand, Egypt, Turkey pertaining to his research work and presentation. He was awarded with TWAS Nxt Fellow (Italy), Biovision Nxt Fellow (France), Darwin Now Bursary (British Council), Young Achiever Award and Best Teacher's Award at UG and PG level (BHU & ICAR, New Delhi). He is serving as review college member of British Ecological Society, London since 2011. He has published 70 research papers, 15 book chapters, 28 popular articles, one manual and co authored five books.

Harikesh B. Singh is presently Professor of Mycology and Plant Pathology at IAS, BHU. He served State Agriculture University, Central University and CSIR Institute in teaching, research, and extension roles. In recognition of Prof. Singh's scientific contributions and leadership in the field of plant pathology, he was honored with several prestigious awards, notable being, CSIR Prize for Biological Sciences, Vigyan Bharti Award, Prof. V.P. Bhide Memorial Award, BRSI Industrial Medal Award, Bioved Fellowship Award, Prof. Panchanan Maheshwari, IPS Plant Pathology Leader Award, CSIR-CAIRD Team award, Environment Conservation Award, CST Vigyan Ratna Award and many more. Dr. Singh has been the Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Prof. Singh has written two books, several training modules and manuals and more than 150 research publications and has more than 18 US patents and 3 PCTs to his credit.

Avijit Sen is presently Professor and Head in the Department of Agronomy, IAS, BHU. He has presented more than 40 research papers and delivered lectures in conferences/seminars/refresher courses within and outside the country besides handling 5 ad-hoc projects. Currently he is the Deputy Coordinator of the prestigious Special Assistance Programme awarded to the Department by UGC. He is recipient of CWSS Gold Medal 2013. With 33 years of experience, he has published more than 60 research papers and articles, and written 3 chapters of books till date.