TY - CHAP

T1 - Foliar nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization

AU - de Castro, Saulo Augusto Quassi

AU - Schjoerring, Jan Kofod

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 Elsevier Inc.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - This review presents a synthesis of the current state of knowledge of physiological processes, weather conditions and management factors affecting the responses of different crops to foliar fertilization with nitrogen and phosphorus. It is concluded that if foliar fertilization is carried out in the correct way under carefully optimized conditions, it will be possible to obtain higher nutrient efficiencies than is the case for conventional soil-based fertilizer applications. However, successful implementation of foliar fertilization requires careful optimization of the conditions for nutrient uptake across the leaf barriers as affected by the form of nutrient applied, the concentration of salts in the applied solution, the addition of adjuvant and the application time in relation to crop developmental stage and weather conditions. Foliar fertilization is more demanding with respect to technical knowledge and management skills than is the conventional use of solid fertilizers. If not carried out appropriately, foliar fertilization with nitrogen or phosphorus will imply a considerable risk of causing negative yield responses. An important target for future innovation will be development of new nutrient formulations, adjuvants and synergists, that can prolong the duration of the period in which the sprayed solution remains as a liquid on the leaf surface and ensure rapid and efficient nutrient uptake with minimal risks of scorch. In addition, it will be essential to develop new sensor and spraying technologies for precision agriculture, including drone-based systems that may enable frequent applications of relatively low nutrient doses under optimum weather conditions.

AB - This review presents a synthesis of the current state of knowledge of physiological processes, weather conditions and management factors affecting the responses of different crops to foliar fertilization with nitrogen and phosphorus. It is concluded that if foliar fertilization is carried out in the correct way under carefully optimized conditions, it will be possible to obtain higher nutrient efficiencies than is the case for conventional soil-based fertilizer applications. However, successful implementation of foliar fertilization requires careful optimization of the conditions for nutrient uptake across the leaf barriers as affected by the form of nutrient applied, the concentration of salts in the applied solution, the addition of adjuvant and the application time in relation to crop developmental stage and weather conditions. Foliar fertilization is more demanding with respect to technical knowledge and management skills than is the conventional use of solid fertilizers. If not carried out appropriately, foliar fertilization with nitrogen or phosphorus will imply a considerable risk of causing negative yield responses. An important target for future innovation will be development of new nutrient formulations, adjuvants and synergists, that can prolong the duration of the period in which the sprayed solution remains as a liquid on the leaf surface and ensure rapid and efficient nutrient uptake with minimal risks of scorch. In addition, it will be essential to develop new sensor and spraying technologies for precision agriculture, including drone-based systems that may enable frequent applications of relatively low nutrient doses under optimum weather conditions.

KW - Climate change mitigation

KW - Crop traits

KW - Fertilizer form

KW - Foliar spray technique

KW - Leaf scorch

KW - Leaf uptake pathways

KW - Nutrient use efficiency

KW - Weather parameters

U2 - 10.1016/bs.agron.2024.05.002

DO - 10.1016/bs.agron.2024.05.002

M3 - Book chapter

AN - SCOPUS:85197082863

SN - 9780443295300

T3 - Advances in Agronomy

SP - 109

EP - 169

BT - Advances in Agronomy

A2 - Sparks, Donald L.

PB - Academic Press

ER -