Fertilizers that adapt to the 'hunger' of plants to reduce their environmental impact

The progressive increase in the world population demands a growing production of food and essential goods, which must take place within a context of respect for the dignity of people and preservation of nature.

One of the variables that most influenced in the past and that has a greater role in the present and future of technological and social development is the adequate fertilization of agricultural crops.

In the last century, the so-called green revolution was based, among other factors, on the production of fertilizers of high solubility in water that rapidly provided nutrients for their assimilation by plants. This approach remains the most widely used approach today in the production of fertilizers.

However, this approach has major long-term efficacy problems, as well as high environmental risks.

An excess of harmful nutrients

On the one hand, the rapid solubilization of fertilizers by irrigation or rainwater releases a very high concentration of nutrients that cannot be assimilated by plants in more than a small proportion.

Unabsorbed nutrients are lost, locked in the soil, or washed away by water. In the latter case, they are dragged into groundwater, lakes and springs, causing serious ecological and environmental disorders. The collapse of life in the Mar Menor is a good example of this phenomenon.

In addition, it also has negative effects on the regulation of the intake and use of nutrients by plants. When there is a large amount of nutrient available, plants accumulate it (the so-called luxury consumption) and greatly reduce the capacity for its efficient use.

Nature as a model

In this context, the need for a change of focus in the concept of crop fertilization is clear. And for this technological evolution, nature can serve as a guide and example.

Plants have specific mechanisms for uptake of nutrients from the soil. Among others, the root secretes compounds with the capacity to increase the assimilability for the plant of the nutrients present in the fraction of soil that is in direct contact with the root, known as the rhizosphere.

Some of these compounds, in addition to having a high chemical activity that allows the solubilization of soil nutrients, also have the ability to awaken the activity of the microbiota present in the soil in contact with the root. This action is very important. Some of these microorganisms improve plant development by increasing the assimilable nutrients for them and biostimulating vital processes in the plant.

More efficient fertilizers

In this context, a possible approach for a new approach to plant fertilization could be the preparation of fertilizers whose ability to provide assimilable nutrients is not governed by their solubility in water, but by their ability to react with the compounds secreted by the roots of plants as an expression of their nutritional needs.

In this way, the nutrient contribution from the fertilizer would be better adapted to the needs of the plants. This would greatly reduce the loss of nutrients by immobilization in the soil or by washing-filtration due to the action of water from irrigation or rain.

Our Investigation Group has been working for the last decade on the development and optimization of this approach.

The studies began with the doctoral thesis of Javier Erro, professor at the Faculty of Sciences and researcher at the Institute of Biodiversity and Environment of the University of Navarra.

Afterwards, we continue to delve into the mechanisms at the molecular and metabolic level that govern what we have called activation of the efficient use of nutrients through the use of special fertilizers. In fact, the generated patents have been used at an industrial and commercial level. There are already products that base their action on this new principle.

Microorganisms that help plants

It is also essential to understand how the interaction of plants with microorganisms present in the soil cooperates in improving the specific mechanisms involved in the efficient use of nutrients.

Our studies, as well as studies carried out by other groups, show that, in addition to providing nutrients to plants, some microorganisms are able to enhance their ability to optimize the use of assimilated nutrients in the sense of producing the highest yield per unit of nutrient.

Thus, these special fertilizers, which release nutrients at a rate that suits the needs of the plant, and specific microorganisms could be applied together.

It is true that this new approach requires a change of mentality in the agricultural world both at the level of fertilizer producers and farmers and legislators, but it constitutes an alternative consistent with a sustainable approach to agriculture while respecting the environment and natural ecosystems.

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