Nutrient Use Efficiency: from Basics to Advances

This book 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, the book 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.

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.

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.

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.