Improving nutrient use efficiency (NtUE) in crops: an overview

Nutrients are essential components for plant growth, development, and survival, directly affecting crop yields. Ever-increasing global population has resulted into surged food demands while shrinking agricultural lands have led to soil nutrient depletion, causing deficiencies in plants and reduced yields. To bridge this gap, fertilizer applications have flowed, but excessive usage has severe environmental, economic, and health consequences. Minimizing fertilizer application without compromising crop yields due to nutrient deficiency is a pressing issue. To address this, understanding and enhancing Nutrient Use Efficiency (NtUE) in crops is essential. The present article discusses the fundamental of NtUE and its components, target traits to be taken into account for NtUE improvement, and holistic strategies to improve NtUE in crops. By improving intrinsic NtUE of crops, we can reduce fertilizer waste, mitigate environmental impacts, and ensure sustainable agricultural productivity.