Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization and Plant Density on Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) Growth and Yield under Mediterranean Pedoclimatic Conditions
Enrico Palchetti,
Michele Moretta,
Alessandro Calamai
et al.
Abstract:In recent years, the dry-land cereal proso millet has become an interesting crop for cultivation in the Mediterranean environment due to the consequences of climate change. It can be considered a resilient crop because it is particularly successful in extreme drought and high-temperature conditions. The goals of this research study were to compare different plant densities (D) and nitrogen fertilization rates (N) in millet (Panicum miliaceum), evaluating morphological, productive, and phenological traits. A 2-… Show more
Nitrogen fertilizer is the most frequently used fertilizer in the cultivation of medicinal plants, and has a significant contribution to their yields and quality. Yet, there is biased and excessive N application in medicinal crops. This study aims to quantitatively analyze the recommended N application concentrations for diverse medicinal species and disentangle the intricate relationships between soil fertility, N application rate (NAR), and the quality/yield of medicinal crops. We first characterized 179 medicinal species and 7 classes of phytometabolites therein, including terpenoids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, phenolics, alkaloids, etc., reported during the past three decades from the phylogenetic and spatial perspectives. The relationships between soil fertility, NAR, and medicinal crops were then subjected to statistical analyses. The pharmaco-phylogenetic and geographic distributions of NAR suggest that the impact of ecological/environmental factors on the N demand of medicinal plants was much greater than that of genetic endowments. We found that different medicinal species were distinct in N demand, which is related to soil fertility levels in different production areas. The NAR reported by China, 215.6 ± 18.6 kg/ha, was higher than that of other countries (152.2 ± 20.3 kg/ha; p = 0.023). Moderate N application generally increases the yield and phytometabolite content of medicinal crops, but excessive N application has the opposite effect. It is necessary to plan N concentration and formula fertilization on a case-by-case basis and with reference to empirical research. Our results provide baseline information and references for the rational application of N fertilizer in the precision agriculture of medicinal crops.
Nitrogen fertilizer is the most frequently used fertilizer in the cultivation of medicinal plants, and has a significant contribution to their yields and quality. Yet, there is biased and excessive N application in medicinal crops. This study aims to quantitatively analyze the recommended N application concentrations for diverse medicinal species and disentangle the intricate relationships between soil fertility, N application rate (NAR), and the quality/yield of medicinal crops. We first characterized 179 medicinal species and 7 classes of phytometabolites therein, including terpenoids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, phenolics, alkaloids, etc., reported during the past three decades from the phylogenetic and spatial perspectives. The relationships between soil fertility, NAR, and medicinal crops were then subjected to statistical analyses. The pharmaco-phylogenetic and geographic distributions of NAR suggest that the impact of ecological/environmental factors on the N demand of medicinal plants was much greater than that of genetic endowments. We found that different medicinal species were distinct in N demand, which is related to soil fertility levels in different production areas. The NAR reported by China, 215.6 ± 18.6 kg/ha, was higher than that of other countries (152.2 ± 20.3 kg/ha; p = 0.023). Moderate N application generally increases the yield and phytometabolite content of medicinal crops, but excessive N application has the opposite effect. It is necessary to plan N concentration and formula fertilization on a case-by-case basis and with reference to empirical research. Our results provide baseline information and references for the rational application of N fertilizer in the precision agriculture of medicinal crops.
Climate change substantially influences agriculture, affecting food security and agricultural production. To address the current concerns, it is essential to address climate-smart agricultural methods, such as crop rotation, integrated pest control and enhanced nitrogen fertilisation techniques, to assist farmers in adjusting to a shifting climate. Furthermore, an ongoing review is being conducted to investigate the potential effects of climate change mitigation and the contribution of agriculture to reducing greenhouse gas emissions abroad. This investigation encompasses various aspects such as agricultural practice and crop varieties, particularly crop relocation, soil nutrient management and innovative nitrogen fertiliser techniques. Restricting the discourse to the crop and N fertiliser selection options and the implementation of various strategies, such as identifying the most resilient crop for climatic fluctuations, implementing a crop relocation system as conventional and modern agricultural practices, minimising the reliance on pesticides and enhancing the nutritional qualities of better cultivars, in addition to the grain drying process and storage, may influence the nutritional composition of cereal grains. All the above adaptation mechanisms depend on the local context, area or country. Ecologically, low-impact solutions that modernise agriculture include biodiversity-based and climate-smart farming. These initiatives aim to effectively enhance agricultural incomes and production while addressing the interrelated challenges of climate change and food security.
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