Plant Nutrition of Fruit Crops

The Working Group Plant Nutrition of Fruit Crops serves as a leading international platform for advancing knowledge on the nutrition of fruit and nut crops. Its overarching goal is to promote the integration of scientific research, innovation, and practical application in nutrient management to enhance the productivity, sustainability, and resilience of fruit and nut production systems worldwide.

The Working Group unites scientists, educators, students, extension specialists, consultants, and industry professionals from diverse disciplines to advance understanding of the complex interactions among nutrient inputs, soil, plant, water, and environmental factors that govern nutrient dynamics, crop productivity, and fruit quality. It fosters international collaboration and dialogue aimed at developing science-based strategies for sustainable fruit crop nutrition in the face of climate change, soil degradation, and increasing demands for environmentally responsible production.

Research themes within the group encompass the full continuum of plant nutrition, from the rhizosphere to the field and impacts on the environment, and include:

• nutrient modeling, diagnostics and monitoring, including conventional, rapid, and non-destructive methods,
• nutrient-use efficiency and tailored precision management,
• integrative management practices to improve soil fertility, system resilience and reduce dependence on synthetic inputs. Examples of these practices include organic, regenerative, agroecological and circular approaches such as use of organic amendments, cover crops, green manure and biostimulants,
• rootstock-scion interactions and their influence on nutrient uptake, partitioning, and product quality,
• irrigation and fertigation management to optimize efficiency and improve productivity,
• environmental stewardship, encompassing nutrient loss mitigation, carbon sequestration, and climate-smart nutrient strategies.

The Working Group organizes international scientific symposia and specialized sessions, including the International Symposium on Plant Nutrition of Fruit Crops, a long-standing and highly regarded forum for presenting state-of-the-art research and fostering collaboration across continents. It also plays an essential role in supporting early-career scientists and students, providing mentorship opportunities and encouraging active participation in ISHS events and publications. Among the various undertakings of the Working Group, the formulation of position papers constitutes a significant contribution.

By connecting soil science, plant physiology, ecology, and horticultural innovation, the Working Group aims to translate scientific discoveries into practical solutions that strengthen the fruit and nut sector’s contribution to global food security and environmental sustainability.

Professionals, students, and practitioners interested in fruit crop nutrition are warmly invited to join the Working Group to contribute to, and benefit from, its vibrant international community, collaborative research network, and shared mission to advance sustainable horticultural science.