Maize, regarded as a staple economic crop, attracts special global attention with the aim to enhance its production. Foliar fertilisation offers a complementary method to traditional soil fertilisation amongst resource-limited agricultural systems, providing a more efficient solution to nutrient deficiencies, especially in suboptimal soil conditions. This study aimed to analyse foliar fertiliser formulation research directions and their application in maize production. A literature search was conducted in the Web of Science (WoS) database. Bibliometric analyses were performed using the VOSviewer software (version 1.6.17). The changes in the publication trends of documents were tested using the Mann–Kendall test. The production effects of foliar fertilisation were independently synthesised. The results showed a strong positive increase in publication trends regarding maize foliar fertilisation (R² = 0.7842). The predominant nutrients that affected maize production were nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, iron, and manganese. The timely foliar application of nutrients corrected deficiencies and/or sustained nutrient supply under several abiotic stresses. Foliar application at critical growth stages like flowering and grain filling boosted carbohydrate and protein content, lipid levels, kernel size, mineral content, and the weight of the maize grain. This review identified important research gaps, namely genotype-specific responses, interactions with other agronomic practices, and long-term environmental effects.

Soil microbes are central to carbon and nutrient cycling; however, the influence of tillage practices on plant–soil microbe interactions, particularly their contribution to carbon stabilization under increasing atmospheric CO₂, remains insufficiently understood. This systematic review evaluated 238 studies published between 2010 and 2025 from Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and Google Scholar, of which 113 met the inclusion criteria related to carbon dynamics, agro-climatic conditions, and soil–microbial processes. Evidence indicates that conventional plowing (CP) disrupts microbial structure, habitat, and function, resulting in lower soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and elevated CO₂ emissions. Conversely, conservation tillage promotes rhizodeposition, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) accumulation, and enhanced nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability, thereby increasing SOC sequestration and reducing CO₂ emissions. Overall, insights from this study will enhance our understanding of beneficial microbes that enhance carbon stabilization and root exudate compounds, which trigger specifically needed nutrients in the rhizosphere.

Soil microbial communities are crucial for ecosystem services, soil fertility, and the resilience of agroecosystems. This study investigated how long-term (31 years) agronomic practices—tillage, NPK fertilization, and cropping system—along with measured environmental variables influence the microbial biomass and its community composition in Chernozem soil under corn cultivation. The polyfactorial field experiment included three tillage treatments ((moldboard (MT), ripped (RT), strip (ST)), two fertilization regimes (NPK (N: 160; P: 26; K: 74 kg/ha), and unfertilized control) and two cropping systems (corn monoculture and corn–wheat biculture). The soil samples (0–30 cm) were collected in June and September 2023. Microbial biomass and community structure were quantified using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, which allowed the estimation of total microbial biomass and community composition (arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, fungi, Gram-negative (GN) and Gram-positive (GP) bacteria, actinomycetes). Our results showed that microbial biomass increased from June to September, rising by 270% in unfertilized plots and by 135% in NPK-fertilized plots, due to higher soil moisture. Reduced tillage, especially ST, promoted significantly higher microbial biomass, with biomass reaching 290% and 182% of that in MT plots in June and September, respectively. MT had a higher ratio of bacteria-to-fungi compared to RT and ST, indicating a greater sensitivity of fungi to disturbance. NPK fertilization lowered soil pH by about one unit (to 4.1–4.8) and reduced microbial biomass—by 2% in June and 48% in September—compared to the control, with the particular suppression of AM fungi. The cropping system had a smaller overall effect on microbial biomass.

To optimize maize (Zea mays) yield, soil tillage and nutrient supply play a key role. The application of appropriate soil tillage techniques and the precise application of nutrients can contribute to increasing yield, maintaining plant health, and developing sustainable agricultural practices. The aim of the study was to analyse the long-term yield performance of maize hybrids under different nutrient supply levels and basic tillage methods. According to the repeated measurement model, soil tillage, fertilization, and crop year had a significant (p<0.001) effect on maize yield. The integrated approach allows for the optimization of yield and the development of sustainable agricultural practices. Reduced soil tillage methods reduce soil erosion and improve soil biological activity.

Phosphogypsum (PG) is a high-volume industrial by-product that is receiving increasing attention as an alternative soil amendment. This study presents a two-year pot experiment evaluating the effects of PG on spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown on two contrasting soils: an acidic, sulfur-deficient Arenosol and a sodium-affected Solonetz. Treatments comprised an untreated control and PG applications at 2 and 10 t ha⁻¹, applied once in year 1 and repeated at the same rates in year 2. In the Solonetz, PG increased grain yield by 48–73% in year 2 and 31–40% in year 1, with the lower dose (2 t ha⁻¹) providing sufficient agronomic benefits. In contrast, no yield response was observed in the Arenosol. In both soils, PG acted as a slow-release sulfur source, increasing straw sulfur concentrations in the second year. Even the repeated application of the highest PG dose (10 t ha⁻¹) did not increase Al, Cd, Cr, or Sr accumulation in wheat grain, indicating no treatment-related increase in trace-element accumulation. PG also increased soil microbial biomass and altered the microbial community structure in the Solonetz, including higher relative abundances of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and actinomycetes. Overall, these results demonstrate the dual agronomic function of PG in improving sodic soil productivity and supplying sulfur to nutrient-deficient sandy soils without increasing treatment-related trace-element accumulation, thus highlighting its potential as a soil amendment in sustainable nutrient management systems.