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Open research questions in Crop Yield and Soil Fertility

136 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 803 Crop Yield and Soil Fertility papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • The experiment was conducted in a semi-arid area with limited rainfall, which can affect crop growth and development. The soil nutrient statuses, including soil organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium, can impact the effectiveness of fertilization. The optimal fertilization depth and rate for improving crude protein content in forage maize can be challenging to determine.

    Deep Fertilization Enhances Crude Protein Content in Forage Maize by Modulating Key Enzymes of Protein Synthesis Across Plant Organs in Semi-Arid Regions of China · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigate the effects of deep fertilization on other crops - Examine the impact of deep fertilization on soil health and microbial communities - Study the economic viability of deep fertilization practices

    Deep Fertilization Enhances Crude Protein Content in Forage Maize by Modulating Key Enzymes of Protein Synthesis Across Plant Organs in Semi-Arid Regions of China · 2025 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of genotype-specific yield responses under different planting densities. The need to identify resilient hybrids for high-density cultivation. The importance of considering genetic characteristics of the hybrid and its interaction with environmental factors in optimizing maize yield.

    Canopy architectural and physiological traits for optimizing maize yield under high planting density · 2025 · DOI

  • Land degradation and climate change pose significant risks to agriculture, particularly in arid regions. The study faces challenges in determining the optimal rates of chemical fertilization and foliar feeding for winter wheat productivity. The study also faces challenges in addressing the gap in knowledge on the synergistic effects of chemical fertilizers with foliar nutrition.

    Effect of integrative NPK soil and foliar nutrition on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity in irrigated arid lands · 2025 · DOI

  • One of the challenges is the potential contamination of groundwater with pathogens. Another challenge is the need to ensure the safe management of human excreta. The study also faces the challenge of scaling up the use of human excreta-derived fertilizers to promote sustainable food systems.

    Closing the loop: crop yield response and soil health implications of human excreta-derived fertilizer application in dryland agriculture · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigating the long-term effects of excreta-derived amendments on soil health and crop productivity. Exploring the potential environmental impacts of excreta-derived amendments, such as greenhouse gas emissions and soil pollution. Evaluating the economic viability of using excreta-derived amendments in dryland agriculture

    Closing the loop: crop yield response and soil health implications of human excreta-derived fertilizer application in dryland agriculture · 2025 · DOI

  • The extent to which roots benefit from extended field time is cultivar-dependent and strongly influenced by climatic conditions. There is a need to investigate the dynamics of sugar beet growth and harvest timing. The optimal harvest date varies depending on weather conditions, and there is a lack of understanding of how to determine the best harvest time.

    The Timing of Sugar Beet Harvesting Significantly Influences Roots Yield and Quality Characteristics · 2025 · DOI

  • Soil salinization due to excessive fertilizer use - Limited understanding of the ideal nitrogen-to-phosphorus fertilization ratio for wheat yield on alkali soils - Need to optimize fertilizer management in wheat cultivation on alkali soils

    Optimizing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizer Application for Wheat Yield on Alkali Soils: Mechanisms and Effects · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigate the effects of other factors on wheat photosynthetic performance. Examine the relationship between leaf traits and photosynthetic performance in other crops. Develop new wheat varieties with improved photosynthetic performance.

    Synergistic Ability and Effect of Leaf Color and Leaf Thickness to Improve the Photosynthetic Performance of Wheat · 2025 · DOI

  • Limited understanding of the relationship between leaf traits and photosynthetic performance in wheat. Lack of studies on the synergistic effect of leaf color and thickness on wheat photosynthetic performance. Need for further research on the physiological mechanisms underlying the impact of leaf traits on wheat yield.

    Synergistic Ability and Effect of Leaf Color and Leaf Thickness to Improve the Photosynthetic Performance of Wheat · 2025 · DOI

  • investigation of the long-term effects of foliar nitrogen application on spring wheat, - examination of the effects of foliar nitrogen application on other crops, - study of the molecular mechanisms underlying foliar nitrogen application in different environmental conditions

    Foliar Nitrogen Application Enhances Nitrogen Assimilation and Modulates Gene Expression in Spring Wheat Leaves · 2025 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying foliar nitrogen application in spring wheat. Prior studies have primarily focused on the application effects, with limited research into the molecular mechanisms involved.

    Foliar Nitrogen Application Enhances Nitrogen Assimilation and Modulates Gene Expression in Spring Wheat Leaves · 2025 · DOI

  • Agricultural field experiments are costly and time-consuming, limiting their ability to capture spatial and temporal variability. There is a need for accurate estimates of the benefits and risks of alternative crop and nutrient management options for effective decision-making in agriculture.

    Modeling the growth, yield and N dynamics of wheat for decoding the tillage and nitrogen nexus in 8-years long-term conservation agriculture based maize-wheat system · 2024 · DOI

  • The study faces the challenge of simulating the complex interactions between drought stress and crop growth. The AquaCrop model requires calibration and validation using field experiment data. The study needs to account for the uncertainty in the responses of maize to continuous drought stress.

    Accumulative and adaptive responses of maize transpiration, biomass, and yield under continuous drought stress · 2024 · DOI

  • Further research is needed to validate the AquaCrop model for other crop types and growth stages. Studies should investigate the effects of drought stress on maize growth under different environmental conditions. Research should focus on developing strategies to enhance the adaptability of maize to drought.

    Accumulative and adaptive responses of maize transpiration, biomass, and yield under continuous drought stress · 2024 · DOI

  • Investigate the effects of optimal irrigation and nitrogen application on tomato growth and yield in different climates and soil types. Examine the long-term effects of optimal irrigation and nitrogen application on tomato growth and yield. Explore the potential of using other nitrogen application rates and irrigation levels to further optimize tomato growth and yield.

    Optimal Irrigation and Fertilization Enhanced Tomato Yield and Water and Nitrogen Productivities by Increasing Rhizosphere Microbial Nitrogen Fixation · 2024 · DOI

  • Little is known about how irrigation and nitrogen application rates affect plant–microbiome interactions and tomato yields. There is a need to investigate the microbial mechanisms that promote tomato growth under optimal irrigation and nitrogen application conditions.

    Optimal Irrigation and Fertilization Enhanced Tomato Yield and Water and Nitrogen Productivities by Increasing Rhizosphere Microbial Nitrogen Fixation · 2024 · DOI

  • The challenge of maintaining soil health in semi-arid regions. The difficulty of evaluating the long-term effects of nutrient management practices on soil fertility and wheat productivity. The need to balance the use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources to achieve sustainable crop production.

    Long-Term Manuring and Fertilization Influence on Soil Properties and Wheat Productivity in Semi-Arid Regions · 2024 · DOI

  • The lack of information on the long-term effects of nutrient management practices on soil fertility and wheat productivity. The need to evaluate the impacts of different nutrient management practices on soil properties and wheat yield. The gap in understanding the correlation between total organic carbon and soil-available nutrients.

    Long-Term Manuring and Fertilization Influence on Soil Properties and Wheat Productivity in Semi-Arid Regions · 2024 · DOI

  • The complexity of evaluating the relationship between photosynthetic efficiency and grain antioxidant content. The need to control for environmental factors, such as hydrothermal conditions. The challenge of determining the chemical composition of grains using advanced instrumentation.

    Relationships Between Photosynthetic Efficiency and Grain Antioxidant Content of Barley Genotypes Under Increasing Nitrogen Rates · 2024 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of the relationship between photosynthetic efficiency and grain antioxidant content. The need to investigate the effects of nitrogen fertilization on barley genotypes. The importance of evaluating the chemical composition of grains.

    Relationships Between Photosynthetic Efficiency and Grain Antioxidant Content of Barley Genotypes Under Increasing Nitrogen Rates · 2024 · DOI

  • further research is needed to fully understand the impact of weather conditions on sugar beet yield and quality, - studies should investigate the effects of different harvest timings on a wider range of sugar beet cultivars, - research should focus on developing more resilient sugar beet cultivars that can thrive in varying weather conditions

    The Timing of Sugar Beet Harvesting Significantly Influences Roots Yield and Quality Characteristics · 2025 · DOI

  • Further research is needed to validate the model under different environmental conditions and management practices. The study suggests that the model could be used to explore the impact of different fertilizer nitrogen management options on wheat yields. Additional research is needed to fully understand the relationship between tillage practices and nitrogen dynamics in the system.

    Modeling the growth, yield and N dynamics of wheat for decoding the tillage and nitrogen nexus in 8-years long-term conservation agriculture based maize-wheat system · 2024 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on assessing the long-term impacts of this co-compost, particularly under field conditions, to better understand its role in gradual nutrient release and crop growth.

    Enhancing food waste compost with sewage sludge biochar: impacts on stability, nutrient dynamics, and agronomic performance in maize · 2026 · DOI

  • However, the impact of nitrogen fertilization on protein accumulation in low-N-tolerant hybrids remain insufficiently explored.

    Effects of nitrogen fertilizer on protein accumulation in basal-middle and apical kernels of different low nitrogen tolerant maize hybrids · 2025 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Crop Yield and Soil Fertility

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136 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 803 Crop Yield and Soil Fertility papers in our 4.5M-paper local library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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