01968naa a2200229 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902400310006010000190009124500620011026000090017252013730018165000090155465000140156365000110157765000090158865300130159765300100161070000190162070000140163977300850165312080672022-03-30       2001    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d7 a10.1081/CSS-1001040982DOI1 aBALIGAR, V. C.  aNutrient use efficiency in plants.h[electronic resource]  c2001  aInvariably, many agricultural soils of the world are deficient inone or more of the essential nutrients needed to support healthyplants. Acidity, alkalinity, salinity, anthropogenic processes, natureof farming, and erosion can lead to soil degradation. Additions offertilizers and /or amendments are essential for a proper nutrientsupply and maximum yields. Estimates of overall efficiency of ap-plied fertilizer have been reported to be about or lower than 50%for N, less than 10% for P, and about 40% for K. Plants that areefficient in absorption and utilization of nutrients greatly enhancethe efficiency of applied fertilizers, reducing cost of inputs, and pre-venting losses of nutrients to ecosystems. Inter- and intra-specificvariation for plant growth and mineral nutrient use efficiency (NUE)are known to be under genetic and physiological control and aremodified by plant interactions with environmental variables. Thereis need for breeding programs to focus on developing cultivarswith high NUE. Identification of traits such as nutrient absorption,transport, utilization, and mobilization in plant cultivars shouldgreatly enhance fertilizer use efficiency. The development of newcultivars with higher NUE, coupled with best management practices (BMPs) will contribute to sustainable agricultural systemsthat protect and promote soil, water and air quality.  asoil  aNutriente  aPlanta  aSolo  aNutrient  aPlant1 aFAGERIA, N. K.1 aHE, Z. L.  tCommunications Soil Science and Plant Analysisgv. 32, n. 7/8, p. 921-950, 2001.