Nauman Hanif

Factors Affecting Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE): Meta Analysis

Muhammad Nauman Hanif
DOI: 10.19159/tutad.1260531
Türkiye Tarımsal Araştırmalar Dergisi
Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages 231-242
Published: 2023-07-31

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is an essential and limiting nutrient for crop production, as it is a structural part of plants and is involved in various processes. Worldwide, agricultural soils lack one or more essential nutrients, and nitrogen is one of them. Adding a sufficient amount of N will increase production. However, the overuse of N and loss of N from the soil-plant system is detrimental to the environment and results in economic losses. Nitrogen has reactive forms like ammonia, ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, nitric oxide, and nitrous oxide. Some reactive forms of N are harmful to humans, animals, plants, and microbial ecology. Nitrate can cause the eutrophication of surface water and contamination of groundwater. Drinking nitrate-contaminated water can cause methemoglobinemia and other health issues. Nitrous oxide emission depletes the ozone layer and contributes to climate change. Ammonia emissions contribute to acid rain and are also responsible for nitrous oxide emissions. This review addresses different factors/pathways/circumstances that contribute to the loss of N from the soil-plant system and reduce nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Different factors influence NUE like ammonia volatilization, nitrification, denitrification, immobilization, leaching, runoff, temperature, soil pH, soil texture, rainfall and irrigation, soil salinity, tillage, weeds, pests, diseases, N loss from plants, fires, crop rotation , crop nutrition, crop varieties, and nitrogen management (right time, right source, right place, and right rate/amount).

Keywords
Nitrogen Nitrogen Use Efficiency Pathways of Nitrogen Loss Nitrogen Losses
Authors ⌄
Muhammad Nauman Hanif
Corresponding Author
  • Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
Citations (7) ⌄
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  2. Muhammad Nauman Hanif; Ian Bartican Benitez. (2025). Soil Pollution in Urban Environments: Sources, Consequences, Potential Mitigation Strategies and the Importance of Sustainable Urban Development. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 236(14). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-025-08421-0
  3. Aaron Ohene Boanor; Rose Nimoh Serwaa; Jin Hee Park; Jwakyung Sung. (2025). Impacts of Micro/Nanoplastics on Crop Physiology and Soil Ecosystems: A Review. Soil Systems, 10(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems10010002
  4. Jacob Eapen, B. (2024). Analysis and estimation of microplastics from landfill leachate in Urban India from 1960 to 2022 [Master Thesis, Diplomatische Akademie Wien, ETIA 16; Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2024.123050
  5. Fatima Zahra Ben Debbane; Aziz Baidani; Maria Aarbaoui; Rachid Moussadek; Rachid Mrabet; Ali Amamou. (2025). Exploring Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Cereals: Insight into Traits, Metabolism, and Management Strategies Under Climate Change Conditions – A Comprehensive Review. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 25(2), 3774-3796. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-025-02366-3
  6. Firdes Ulas; Yusuf Cem Yücel; Abdullah Ulas. (2024). Physio-Morphological Traits Contributing to Genotypic Differences in Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Leafy Vegetable Species under Low N Stress. Horticulturae, 10(9), 984. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090984
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Article History

Received: March 03,  2023

Accepted: June 07, 2023

Published: July 31, 2023

How to Cite?

Hani̇F, M. N. (2023). Factors Affecting Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE): Meta analysis. Türkiye Tarımsal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 10(2), 231–242. https://doi.org/10.19159/tutad.1260531

Contributions

Muhammad Nauman Hanif: Designed the study, literature review, original draft’s write-up, revision of draft, proofreading.

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No known competing financial interests or personal relationships could have influenced the work reported in this paper.

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