Summary
This paper, published in the European Journal of Soil Science, reviews the relationship between fertiliser management and the nutrient density of arable crops, likely drawing on data from long-term field experiments including those at Rothamsted Research with which A.E. Johnston is closely associated. It considers whether and how the application of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic fertilisers influences the concentration of nutritionally important minerals in harvested grain. The paper contributes to the broader debate on whether modern agricultural practices have contributed to reported declines in crop mineral density over recent decades.
UK applicability
Highly applicable to UK conditions: A.E. Johnston's research is grounded primarily in UK long-term arable experiments, most notably the Classical Experiments at Rothamsted in Hertfordshire, making the findings directly relevant to UK arable policy and agronomic practice.
Key measures
Mineral concentrations in grain and crop tissue (mg/kg); fertiliser application rates (kg/ha); potentially yield data (t/ha) and nutrient use efficiency
Outcomes reported
The study examines how different fertiliser inputs — including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic amendments — affect the concentration of minerals and other nutrients in arable crop produce. It likely reports changes in grain or tissue mineral concentrations across varied fertiliser treatments, drawing on long-term experimental data.
Topic tags
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