天美传媒

Nitrogen Use Efficiency; NUE; Sustainable Agriculture; Crop Production; Genetic Improvement; Molecular Breeding; Agronomic Practices; Abiotic Stress; Root Architecture; Intercropping

Introduction

Rice cultivation demands significant nitrogen, and improving its use efficiency is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This review highlights various strategies, from optimizing fertilizer application methods and timing to exploring molecular breeding techniques for developing high-NUE rice varieties. What this really means is we need a multi-faceted approach, integrating better field practices with advanced genetic solutions to reduce nitrogen losses and environmental impact [1].

Wheat is a staple crop, and enhancing its nitrogen use efficiency is vital for global food security. This article delves into various strategies, focusing on genetic improvements, molecular breeding techniques, and optimized agronomic practices. They cover everything from breeding for root architecture to utilizing beneficial microbes, suggesting that a blend of modern science and smart farming can significantly boost NUE in wheat [2].

Maize, or corn, is another major global crop, and its nitrogen requirements are substantial. This review explores current strategies to improve NUE in maize production, from genetic modifications that enhance nitrogen assimilation and translocation to refined fertilization practices and the role of plant growth regulators. Essentially, it maps out a roadmap for more efficient maize farming by reducing nitrogen waste [3].

Here's the thing: plants often face abiotic stresses like drought or salinity, which can severely impair their ability to take up and use nitrogen. This review outlines how various stresses impact NUE and discusses a range of physiological and molecular mechanisms plants employ to cope. It also proposes strategies, including genetic engineering and the application of exogenous substances, to help plants maintain NUE under challenging environmental conditions [4].

Fruit trees represent a long-term investment in agriculture, and their nitrogen management is particularly complex. This article explores the physiological underpinnings of nitrogen uptake and allocation in fruit trees, then connects these mechanisms to practical management strategies. It really highlights how understanding the tree's internal workings can lead to more precise fertilization, minimizing waste and improving fruit quality [5].

The roots are where it all begins for nutrient uptake. This paper emphasizes the critical role of specific root-related traits in improving nitrogen use efficiency in various crop plants. It discusses how root architecture, morphology, and physiological functions directly influence a plant's ability to forage for and absorb nitrogen, suggesting that breeding crops for 'smarter' roots is a powerful, yet often overlooked, strategy [6].

Intercropping, where different crops are grown together, offers unique advantages for nutrient cycling. This article explores how intercropping systems enhance nitrogen use efficiency through various mechanisms, like improved nutrient synergy and reduced competition. It highlights the benefits of these traditional yet innovative farming systems and points towards their potential for more sustainable and productive agriculture in the future [7].

Brassica crops, including canola and mustard, are economically significant. This study discusses practical strategies to improve nitrogen use efficiency in these crops across diverse environmental conditions. The focus is on integrating physiological understandings with agronomic practices, like tailored fertilization regimes and cultivar selection, to optimize nitrogen uptake and utilization, leading to better yields and less environmental impact [8].

This paper offers a comprehensive look at the mechanisms governing nitrogen use efficiency in two of the world's most critical crops: wheat and maize. It breaks down both physiological and molecular strategies, from improving nitrogen metabolism pathways to leveraging plant hormones and microbial interactions. It's about combining insights from basic plant science with practical applications to create more resilient and efficient cropping systems [9].

Potato is a vital food source, but its nitrogen demands can be high. This review explores how we can improve nitrogen use efficiency in potato, focusing on its unique physiological and molecular characteristics. It also dives into breeding strategies, explaining how genetic advancements can lead to potato varieties that require less nitrogen fertilizer while maintaining or even increasing yields, which is a big win for both farmers and the environment [10].

Description

Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) is a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, aiming to reconcile the imperative of global food security with environmental responsibility. Many staple crops, including rice, wheat, and maize, demand substantial nitrogen for healthy growth and optimal yields. This constant need drives research into advanced strategies to minimize nitrogen losses and mitigate ecological impact [1, 2, 3]. For rice, a multi-faceted approach integrates optimized fertilizer application methods and timing with molecular breeding techniques to develop high-NUE varieties [1]. Similarly, enhancing NUE in wheat involves not just genetic improvements and molecular breeding but also fine-tuned agronomic practices, such as engineering root architecture and leveraging beneficial microbes to significantly boost efficiency [2, 9]. Maize production also sees advances through genetic modifications designed to enhance nitrogen assimilation and translocation, complemented by refined fertilization strategies and the judicious use of plant growth regulators, essentially charting a roadmap for more efficient maize farming by curtailing nitrogen waste [3, 9].

The deep dive into plant physiology and molecular mechanisms provides fundamental insights into nitrogen uptake and utilization across diverse plant species. Fruit trees, representing a long-term agricultural investment, present unique challenges in nitrogen management. Understanding their physiological underpinnings of nitrogen uptake and allocation is crucial; this knowledge directly informs practical management strategies that lead to more precise fertilization, thereby minimizing waste and improving fruit quality [5]. Furthermore, Brassica crops, an economically significant group including canola and mustard, show substantial improvements in NUE when physiological understandings are carefully integrated with agronomic practices. This means tailored fertilization regimes and strategic cultivar selection can optimize nitrogen uptake and utilization across varying agro-climatic conditions, contributing to better yields and a reduced environmental footprint [8].

Here's the thing: the roots are undeniably where the journey of nutrient uptake begins. Research highlights the critical role of specific root-related traits in enhancing nitrogen use efficiency across various crop plants. Factors like root architecture, morphology, and physiological functions directly influence a plant's ability to forage for and absorb nitrogen from the soil. This perspective suggests that breeding crops for 'smarter' root systems is a powerful, yet frequently underestimated, strategy for improving NUE [6]. This focus on intrinsic plant characteristics extends to vital food sources like potatoes, where improving NUE involves delving into their unique physiological and molecular traits. By understanding these aspects, breeding strategies can be developed that lead to potato varieties requiring less nitrogen fertilizer while maintaining or even increasing yields, a win for both farmers and the environment [10].

Beyond individual plant modifications, innovative farming systems also offer significant potential. Intercropping, the practice of growing different crops together, presents unique advantages for nutrient cycling. Studies indicate that intercropping systems can notably enhance nitrogen use efficiency through various mechanisms, such as improved nutrient synergy and reduced competition among plants. This underscores the benefits of these traditional yet innovative farming systems, pointing towards their strong potential for more sustainable and productive agriculture in the future [7].

Crucially, plants often contend with abiotic stresses such as drought or salinity, which can severely impede their capacity to absorb and utilize nitrogen. Scientific reviews illuminate how these various stresses impact NUE and delineate the physiological and molecular mechanisms plants deploy to cope. To combat these challenges, strategies are proposed, including genetic engineering and the application of exogenous substances, aimed at helping plants maintain NUE even under adverse environmental conditions [4]. The overall message is clear: a comprehensive, integrated approach combining advanced genetic solutions with refined agronomic practices and an understanding of ecological interactions is paramount for optimizing nitrogen use and fostering truly sustainable agricultural systems globally [9].

Conclusion

Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) stands as a critical challenge and opportunity for sustainable agriculture and global food security. Across various staple crops and specialized plants, the goal is to reduce nitrogen losses, minimize environmental impact, and enhance yields. Rice cultivation, for instance, demands substantial nitrogen, with solutions pointing to optimized fertilizer application and molecular breeding for high-NUE varieties [1]. Similarly, enhancing NUE in wheat is vital, focusing on genetic improvements, root architecture, and beneficial microbes to boost efficiency [2]. Maize also requires significant nitrogen, where strategies involve genetic modifications for improved assimilation, refined fertilization, and the use of plant growth regulators [3]. Beyond staple grains, the principles extend to other important crops. Fruit trees, a long-term agricultural investment, benefit from understanding the physiological basis of nitrogen uptake and allocation for precise fertilization [5]. Brassica crops, including canola and mustard, show improved NUE through integrating physiological insights with tailored agronomic practices [8]. Even potatoes, a vital food source, benefit from advancements in breeding strategies that consider their unique physiological and molecular characteristics [10]. A common thread in these discussions is the multi-faceted approach. This involves leveraging genetic solutions, such as breeding for 'smarter' roots that efficiently forage for nitrogen [6], and advanced molecular techniques. Agronomic practices like intercropping also play a significant role, enhancing NUE through improved nutrient synergy [7]. Crucially, plants often face abiotic stresses like drought or salinity, which can impair nitrogen use; strategies include genetic engineering and exogenous substances to help plants maintain NUE under challenging conditions [4]. The combined insights from basic plant science and practical field applications promise more resilient and efficient cropping systems [9].

References

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