Unlocking the Potential of Tracer Technology as a Tool for Quantifying Fertilizer Use Efficiency

Abstract

With the increase in the global population, the importance of efficient use of fertilizer will become essential, and the development of innovative and effective fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) strategies is a need of the hour. However, injudicious fertilizer use leads to nutrient losses and environmental pollution. Several technologies have been developed to improve crop production and nutrient uptake from applied fertilizers, including balanced fertilization, foliar application, mixed fertilization, controlled-release fertilizers, and slow-release nano-fertilizers. To quantify the efficiency of fertilizers, several indicators are being used such as nutrient use efficiency, agronomic efficiency, and partial factor productivity. Isotope tracer studies have proven useful in measuring soil nutrient availability, quantifying nutrient uptake by plants through nutrients derived from fertilizer, monitoring losses to the environment, and establishing nutrient transport and accumulation inside plants. Results of stable isotopes ¹⁵N, ¹³C, and ³⁴S and radioisotopes ³²P and ⁶⁵Zn accurately measure the nutrient use potential of crops and their partitioning efficiency. Radioisotope studies have demonstrated that foliar nutrient application can be faster and more effective than soil application for some crops, offering a promising approach to improving FUE. Despite its potentiality, tracer research has many challenges, including ensuring that target nutrient concentrations are within analytical method ranges, accounting for isotopic interference from non-target compounds, limited access to specialized equipment and measurement errors. To overcome these constraints, advanced tracer study methodology and integration with sensor-based detection must be developed to augment nutrient use efficiency through site-specific fertilizer management in precision agriculture. Continued research collaborations are valuable for exploiting the full potential of tracer technology for different nutrients in optimizing the dose of nutrients to boost crop yields sustainably, thereby contributing to global food security and environmental sustainability.