长期氮磷钾肥配施对贵州黄壤玉米产量和土壤养分可持续性的影响

为明确长期氮磷钾肥配施下贵州典型黄壤玉米产量、氮磷钾肥增产效应及土壤养分的演变特征,利用国家贵阳黄壤肥力与肥效长期定位试验,研究氮磷钾平衡施肥(NPK)与缺素施肥(N、NK、NP、PK)对玉米相对产量、氮磷钾肥增产贡献率及土壤氮磷钾素养分可持续性指数等的影响.结果表明: 氮磷钾平衡施肥有显著增产效果,玉米相对产量均值为:NPK>NP>NK>PK>CK;氮、磷、钾肥增产贡献率和农学利用率均为氮肥>磷肥>钾肥,施肥依存度为氮、磷、钾肥配施>氮肥>磷肥>钾肥,但缺磷处理(NK)玉米相对产量以每年1.4%的速度极显著下降,磷肥贡献率和依存度则以每年2.3%和1.4%的速度极显著上升,最终磷肥对玉米生产的影响逐渐与氮肥持平;缺磷处理土壤pH值和有机质含量均最低,而缺氮处理则较高;施用化学磷肥可提高黄壤磷素可持续性指数,但氮肥和钾肥对黄壤氮素和钾素可持续性指数无显著影响.综上,平衡施肥是贵州典型黄壤地区玉米高产的重要保障,其中磷肥与氮肥同等重要,但长期单施化肥尤其是缺磷处理不利于黄壤养分的可持续利用.     

密度、施肥对旱地春小麦产量、水分利用效率和籽粒养分含量的补偿效应

为了探明旱作条件下无机营养对作物产量和水分利用效率的补偿效应,我们在宁南黄土高原半干旱地区开展了为期两年的春小麦密度与肥料试验。通过4种播种密度和5种肥力水平的综合研究结果表明,在不同处理的籽粒产量和水分利用效率排序中,播种密度为500粒／m^2时,以施肥量90kg／hm^2N和135kg／hm^2P2O5处理的产量和水分利用效率为最大。与不施肥的对照相比,增施肥料与籽粒产量和水分利用效率的提高成显著的正相关关系,相关系数分别达到0．959和0．894,而播种密度则与产量和水分利用效率的相关性不显著。增施肥料虽然能够提高可育小花数,但随着播种密度的增大,穗粒数和千粒重反而呈下降趋势,表明可育小花数对肥料水平反应敏感,而穗粒数和千粒重主要受播种密度的影响。施肥能够促进春小麦根系的生长发育,特别是促进浅层根量的增加,增强了作物的水分养分吸收。另外,不同种类肥料配施的结果表明,单施P肥或者N、P、K配合施用,可使春小麦产量分别提高44．6％和55．4％。N、P、K配合施肥还能够提高品质,使籽粒中的P、N、K含量分别提高18．5％、18．4％和8．1％。上述研究结果说明,控制播种密度、改善土壤肥力对于促进旱地春小麦高效利用有限水分具有明显的补偿效应。     

丛枝菌根真菌对盐胁迫下黄瓜植株生长、果实产量和品质的影响

采用有机基质栽培,选用盐敏感黄瓜品种‘津春2号’为试验材料,研究了丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)对盐胁迫下黄瓜植株生长、矿质营养吸收、果实品质和产量的影响.结果表明：接种AMF可以有效促进黄瓜植株生长和对矿质营养的吸收,提高果实产量和改善蔬菜营养品质;盐胁迫下,黄瓜生长受到抑制,植株体内N、P、K、Cu、Zn含量减少和K⁺/Na⁺降低,果实产量和可溶性蛋白、总糖、Vc、硝酸盐含量下降;接种AMF可缓解盐胁迫对黄瓜生长的抑制作用,使植株体内N、P、K、Cu和Zn含量分别比对照提高7.3%、11.7%、28.2%、13.5%和9.9%,K⁺/Na⁺、果实产量、可溶性蛋白、总糖、Vc含量明显提高,果实硝酸盐含量显著降低.表明AMF可通过促进盐胁迫下黄瓜植株对矿质营养的吸收,促进植株生长,增强植株对盐胁迫的耐性,进而提高其产量和改善营养品质.     

Field-specific potassium and phosphorus balances and fertilizer requirements for irrigated rice-based cropping systems

Fertilizer K and P requirements for rice (Oryza sativa L.) can be determined with site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) using estimated target yield, nutrient balances, and yield gains from added nutrient. We used the QUEFTS (QUantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils) model with >8000 plot-level observations to estimate the relationship between grain yield and nutrient accumulation in above-ground dry matter of irrigated rice with harvest index?≥?0.4. Predicted reciprocal internal efficiencies (RIEs) at 60–70% of yield potential corresponded to plant accumulation of 14.6 kg N, 2.7 kg P, and 15.9 kg K per tonne of grain yield. These RIEs enable determination of plant requirements for K and P and net output of K and P in harvested grain and removed crop residues at a target yield. Yield gains for nutrient applied to irrigated rice averaged 12% for K and 9% for P for 525 to 531 observations. For fields without certain yield gain, fertilizer K and P requirements can be determined by a partial maintenance approach (i.e., fertilizer input?<?output in nutrient balance), which considers nutrient supply mediated through soil processes and balances trade-offs between financial loss with full maintenance rates and risk of excessive nutrient depletion without nutrient application. When yield gains to an added nutrient are certain, partial maintenance plus yield gain can be used to determine fertilizer requirements. The SSNM-based approach and algorithms enable rapid development of field-specific K and P management.     

氮、磷、钾施用对灯盏花产量和主要提取物收获量的影响

通过设置N、P、K不同施肥量处理,研究了施肥量差异对灯盏花（Erigeron breviscapus（Vant.）Hand.-Mazz.）的生长指标、产量、3种主要提取物（野黄芩苷、总咖啡酸酯和总黄酮）含量及单位面积收获量的影响。结果表明,增施N、P肥对植株生长指标具有促进作用。随着N、P、K肥施用量的增加,植株产量逐渐升高,且以施N肥的增产幅度最大。一定范围内施用N肥可导致灯盏花3种主要提取物含量降低,而P、K肥的施用则对此没有影响。3种主要提取物单位面积收获量与产量之间呈极显著正相关,N、P、K肥的施用可以提高灯盏花的产量从而增加3种提取物的收获量。N、P、K肥施用量分别为103.5、126.0、112.5 kg/hm²时获得的提取物单位面积收获量最大。     

Enhanced plant nutrient use efficiency with PGPR and AMF in an integrated nutrient management system

A 3 year field study was conducted with field corn from 2005 to 2007 to test the hypothesis that microbial inoculants that increase plant growth and yield can enhance nutrient uptake, and thereby remove more nutrients, especially N, P, and K from the field as part of an integrated nutrient management system. The field trial evaluated microbial inoculants, which include a commercially available plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF), and their combination across 2 tillage systems (no-till and conventional till) and 2 fertilization regimes (poultry litter and ammonium nitrate). Data were collected on plant height, yield (dry mass of ears and silage), and nutrient content of corn grain and silage. In addition, nutrient content of soil was determined, and bioavailability of soil nutrient was measured with plant root simulator probes. Results showed that inoculants promoted plant growth and yield. For example, grain yields (kg.ha(-1)) in 2007 for inoculants were 7717 for AMF, 7260 for PGPR+AMF, 7313 for PGPR, 5725 for the control group, and for fertilizer were 7470 for poultry litter and 6537 for NH4NO3. Nitrogen content per gram of grain tissues was significantly enhanced in 2006 by inoculant, fertilizer, and their interactions. Significantly higher amounts of N, P, and K were removed from the plots with inoculants, based on total nutrient content of grain per plot. These results supported the overall hypothesis and indicate that application of inoculants can lead to reduction in the build up of N, P, and K in agricultural soils. Further studies should be conducted to combine microbial inoculants with reduced rates of fertilizer.     

Effect of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium availability on emergence,nodulation and growth of Trifolium medium L. in alkaline soil

Little is known about the effects of nutrient availability on the growth of Trifolium medium in alkaline soil. In 2010, a pot experiment (10 N, P and K fertiliser treatments) with seeding of T. medium into alkaline soil was performed and emergence of seedlings, survival, aboveground and belowground organs were studied. The positive effects of increased nutrient availability on seedling emergence ranged from 5% in the control to 17% in the high P treatment. The lowest mortality was in treatments with P and K supply and the highest in treatments with N supply, due to the sensitivity of young plants to high N availability. The highest values of most measured aboveground plant traits were recorded in treatments with simultaneous application of N, P and K. There were highly positive effects of P supply alone or in combination with N and K on the development of belowground organs. Taproot length ranged from 11.5 in high N to 40.2 cm in P treatment. There was a negative effect of N application on nodulation, especially in N treatments, where growth of T. medium was limited by insufficient P supply. The number of nodules per plant ranged from 0.8 to 4.5 in the high N and P treatments. As demonstrated in this study, T. medium is a potentially suitable legume for alkaline soils. It requires a relatively high P and K supply as well as moderate mineral N supply to achieve its maximum growth potential.     

供磷水平对米老排苗木生长及养分状况的影响

为探讨供磷(P)对米老排(Mytilaria laosensis)生长和养分状况的影响,采用土培的方法,研究了不同供磷水平下米老排苗木的生长、养分含量、养分累积量和P吸收效率。结果表明,随着供P水平的提高,米老排苗木的苗高、生物量和养分累积量均呈先上升后下降的趋势;地径呈先增加后稳定的趋势;叶片和全株中的养分含量变化一致,氮(N)含量变化不明显,钾(K)含量呈先降低后升高的趋势,而P含量明显提高;P吸收效率呈现降低-升高-降低的趋势。在单株供P为30 mg时,米老排苗木的叶生物量、根生物量、叶片中N累积量及P吸收效率最大。当供P水平达到45 mg时,米老排苗木的苗高、茎生物量、总生物量、叶片中的P、K累积量和全株中的N、P、K累积量均达到最大值。而供P水平达60 mg时,米老排苗木苗高、生物量、养分累积量和P吸收效率均明显下降。这说明适合米老排苗木生长的供P水平为每株30~45 mg。     

Short-Term Response of Switchgrass to Nitrogen,Phosphorus, and Potassium on Semiarid Sandy Wasteland Managed for Biofuel Feedstock

It is important to understand switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) productivity with relation to diverse nutrient deficiency conditions in order to optimize continuous biomass production in marginal lands. This study was conducted on a wasteland sandy soil (Aridosol) to assess biomass yield, nutrient uptake and nitrogen (N) recovery of switchgrass, and soil nitrate-N (NO₃^?-N) accumulation responses to N (120 kg N ha^?1), phosphorus (P, 100 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1), and potassium (K, 45 kg K₂O ha^?1) applications during 2015 and 2016 in Inner Mongolia, China. The experiment layout was a randomized complete block design with fertilizer mixture treatments of N, P, and K (NPK), P and K (PK), N and K (NK), N and P (NP), and a control with no fertilizer input (CK). Plant height and stem diameter remained unaffected by the different fertilizer treatments. Biomass yield with the NPK treatment in 2015 was 8.9 Mg ha^?1 and in 2016 it was 7.3 Mg ha^?1. In 2015, compared with the NPK treatment, a significant yield reduction of 33.7% was found with PK, 22.5% with NK, 28.1% with NP, and 40.5% with CK; however, in 2016, yield declined significantly only with CK compared to the rest of the fertilizer treatments, for which yields were statistically similar. Plant N content was reduced for the treatment PK (i.e. N omission); conversely, plant P and K content remained unaffected with P and K omission treatments. Plant nutrient uptake, particularly of N and K, was severely decreased by the nutrient omission treatments when averaged across 2 years. Apparent N recovery (ANR; quantity of N uptake per unit of N applied) was reduced for the NP and NK treatments, which led to an increase in soil NO₃^?-N accumulation in the top 0–20 cm layer, compared with the NPK treatment. However, ANR was the highest (37.2% in 2015) with the NPK treatment, which also reduced soil NO₃^?-N accumulation. A balanced N, P, and K fertilizer management approach is suggested to sustain switchgrass yield and stand persistence on semiarid, marginal, sandy wasteland.     

施肥对小粒咖啡生长、光合特性和产量的影响

采用田间实验,研究了不同N、P、K匹配对3年生小粒咖啡生长、光合特性以及产量的影响．结果表明,N的缺乏对小粒咖啡生长、光合特性和产量的影响最大,其次为K,而P的影响相对较小．叶面喷施适量的微量元素(B、Zn)可明显增加产量．N、P、K不同水平的匹配对小粒咖啡有不同的影响,N：P2O5：K2O的最佳匹配比例为1：0．5：1．小粒咖啡需要高营养的投入,而从投入．产出的效益分析表明,N、P,O5、K2O的合适用量分别为100、50和100g／株．小粒咖啡产量与单株分枝数和单株叶面积密切相关,与最大净光合速率呈显著正相关,但与苗高、地茎的相关性不显著．不同施肥处理对小粒咖啡黎明光化学效率影响不大,但高的施肥量明显减轻咖啡的日间光抑制．     

Basal fertiliser application method, tuber initiation nitrogen, foliar NPK and the tolerance of potatoes to infection by the potato cyst nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida

The effects of broadcast granular, placed liquid and foliar fertilisers on the tolerance of potatoes to infection by potato cyst nematodes were investigated. The tolerance of the potato cv. Pentland Dell was not significantly improved by fertiliser application type but placed liquid fertiliser, with or without foliar applications, increased the concentrations of N, P and K measured in whole plant dry matter of PCN infected plants. The tolerance of the potato cv. Sante was not statistically improved by altering the balance of fertiliser nitrogen applications between planting and tuber initiation or by applying foliar nitrogen. Nitrogen applications of 120 kg N ha^-1 at planting and a further 120 kg N ha^-1 at tuber initiation supplemented with foliar N, however, achieved a larger tuber yield than the same nitrogen programme without foliar N and gave a significantly greater yield than the application of 240 kg N ha^-1 at planting plus foliar N. The emergence of both cultivars was delayed in the absence of oxamyl. N, P and K concentrations within whole plant dry matter were significantly higher in plants from oxamyl treated plots and both N and K concentrations were significantly increased by increasing the quantity of N at planting, at 56 DAP. Splitting the fertiliser N between planting and tuber initiation appears to be important in maintaining the availability of this nutrient to PCN infected plants throughout the season.     

施用不同氮、磷、钾肥和有机肥对‘红阳’猕猴桃生长及产量的影响

为阐明施肥与猕猴桃产量、品质的关系,优化施肥配方,以猕猴桃品种‘红阳’(Actinidia chinensis‘Hongyang’)为试验材料,采用田间小区栽培方法研究了不同施肥处理对‘红阳’植株生长、叶片光合特性及果实产量的影响。研究结果显示,N、P、K任何一种元素的缺乏均会影响植株生长并降低果实产量;均衡施用N、P、K肥可以提高叶片光合作用,促进植株新梢和主干茎的生长,从而提高果实产量;如果N和K比例过大则会降低叶片气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度和净光合速率,从而减少果实产量;增施有机肥对提高果实产量效果不显著,但可以提高单果重,过量施用有机肥则会显著降低产量。本研究结果表明,均衡施用N、P、K并配施一定的有机肥(N 250 g/株、P2O5250 g/株、K2O 250 g/株、有机肥6 kg/株)能显著促进植株的生长并提高果实产量。氮、磷、钾肥与有机肥配合施用是提高猕猴桃果园养分管理的有效方法。     

Cultivation of Miscanthus under West European conditions: Seasonal changes in dry matter production,nutrient uptake and remobilization

There is increasing interest in cultivation of Miscanthus as a source of renewable energy in Europe, but there is little information on its nutrient requirements. Our aim was to determine the nutrient requirement of an established Miscanthus crop through a detailed study of nutrient uptake and nutrient remobilization between plant parts during growth and senescence. Therefore dry matter of rhizomes and shoots as well as N, P, K and Mg concentration under three N fertilizer rates (0, 90, and 180 kg N ha-1) were measured in field trials in 1992/93 and at one rate of 100 kg N h-1 in 1994/95.Maximum aboveground biomass in an established Miscanthus crop ranged between 25-30 t dry matter ha-1 in the September of both trial years. Due to senescence and leaf fall there was a 30% loss in dry matter between September and harvest in March. N fertilization had no effect on crop yield at harvest. Concentrations of N, P, K and Mg in shoots were at a maximum at the beginning of the growing period in May and decreased thereafter while concentrations in rhizomes stayed fairly constant throughout the year and were not affected by N fertilization.Nutrient mobilization from rhizomes to shoots - defined as the maximum change in nutrient content in rhizomes from the beginning of the growth period measured in 1992/93 was 55 kg N ha-1, 8 kg P ha-1, 39 kg K ha-1 and 11 kg Mg ha-1. This is equivalent to 21 N, 36 P, 14 K and 27 Mg of the maximum nutrient content of the shoots. Nutrient remobilization from shoots to rhizomes defined as the increase in nutrient content of rhizomes between September and March measured in 1994/95 was 101 kg N ha-1, 9 kg P ha-1, 81 kg K ha-1 and 8 kg Mg ha-1 equivalent to 46 N, 50 P, 30 K and 27 Mg of nutrient content of shoots in September. Results showed that nutrient remobilization within the plant needs to be considered when calculating nutrient balances and fertilizer recommendations.     

播期对内蒙古西部荒漠区棉花产量、品质及养分吸收利用的影响

于2014—2015年在内蒙古自治区阿拉善盟阿拉善左旗内蒙古棉花综合实验站设置大田试验,以‘中棉所50’为材料,采用“一膜三管六行”机采棉配套栽培技术种植,研究播期(4月20日、4月30日和5月10日)对棉花产量、品质及养分吸收的影响.结果表明: 随着播期推迟,棉花生育时期推迟,生育期缩短,铃期日均温降低,收获密度增加;播期显著影响棉株干物质累积、养分吸收与分配,以及产量和品质形成,4月30日播种条件下,棉株干物质和养分在经济器官中的分配比例、养分总积累量及养分的皮棉生产效率较高,籽棉和皮棉产量最高,达6505.9和2660.9 kg·hm^-2,且纤维品质较优;4月20日播期下,收获密度、生物量和养分累积量最低,虽然生物量和养分经济系数最高,但最终籽棉和皮棉产量仍较4月30日播期降低10.9%～14.0%和11.1%～14.2%;5月10日播期,虽然可以避开种子萌发期低温冷害,但棉铃发育期日均温偏低,尽管生物量和养分累积量最高,但是生物量和养分经济系数、养分的皮棉生产效率最低,最终籽棉和皮棉产量较4月30日播期降低32.5%～34.7%和35.9%～36.2%,且纤维品质最差.综合分析, 4月30日左右为内蒙古西部荒漠旱区棉花种植的最佳播期.     

不同土壤类型和肥力玉米地土壤养分根际效应研究

采集吉林省玉米植株及土壤样品,研究不同土壤类型和肥力,玉米不同品种和生育时期土壤－植物系统根际养分动态变化及植物吸收的相互关系,结果表明,玉米地土壤ＮＨ＾＋４－Ｎ、ＮＯ＾－３－Ｎ在根际富集,其变化主要与化肥供应有关,高肥力土壤根际有效磷亏缺,种植密度越大,根际亏缺率超大;低肥力土壤则有效磷在根际略高。高肥力土壤有效钾较高,根际有效钾富集也更明显,茎叶、根对养分的吸收量顺序为：Ｎ     

Supplementary foliar N, P and K, applied individually or in combinations, and the tolerance of potatoes to infection by the potato cyst nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida

The use of supplementary foliar N, P and K to ameliorate the reduced nutrient uptake of potato plants infected by potato cyst nematode (PCN) were investigated. The potato cv. Pentland Dell achieved yields in plots not treated with oxamyl similar to those found in plots treated with oxamyl when supplementary foliar N or N plus K was applied to plots infested with 13 eggs g^-1 soil of Globodera pallida. Yield improvements from foliar N applications were attributed to increased leaf area index but the reason for yield increases from foliar N plus K applications could not be clarified. In a second experiment, where PCN infestation was 76 eggs g^-l soil, the potato cv. Sante gave yields up to 19% higher than a standard fertiliser practice when supplementary foliar N was applied to plots not treated with oxamyl. Nutrient analysis showed that without oxamyl there were significantly lower concentrations of N, P and K in whole plant dry matter at 58 days after planting (DAP) but higher levels of N in the fourth leaf dry matter at 98 DAP. Emergence was significantly advanced by the use of oxamyl in both experiments. Sante dramatically reduced populations of Globodera rostochiensis from an average of 76 eggs g^-1 soil to 7 eggs g^-1 soil. Foliar application of nutrients is a promising method of ameliorating the effects on potatoes of PCN invasion but the nutrient concentrations and timing of individual sprays need to be more closely matched to crop requirement than was possible in our experiments     

QTL mapping for seedling traits in wheat grown under varying concentrations of N,P and K nutrients

Nutrient use efficiency (NuUE), comprising nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency, is regarded as one of the most important factors for wheat yield. In the present study, six morphological, nine nutrient content and nine nutrient utilization efficiency traits were investigated at the seedling stage using a set of recombinant inbred lines (RILs), under hydroponic culture of 12 treatments including single nutrient levels and two- and three-nutrient combinations treatments of N, P and K. For the 12 designed treatments, a total of 380 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on 20 chromosomes for the 24 traits were detected. Of these, 87, 149 and 144 QTLs for morphological, nutrient content and nutrient utilization efficiency traits were found, respectively. Using the data of the average value (AV) across 12 treatments, 70 QTLs were detected for 23 traits. Most QTLs were located in new marker regions. Twenty-six important QTL clusters were mapped on 13 chromosomes, 1A, 1B, 1D, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5D, 6A, 6B, 7A and 7B. Of these, ten clusters involved 147 QTLs (38.7%) for investigated traits, indicating that these 10 loci were more important for the NuUE of N, P and K. We found evidence for cooperative uptake and utilization (CUU) of N, P and K in the early growth period at both the phenotype and QTL level. The correlation coefficients (r) between nutrient content and nutrient utilization efficiency traits for N, P and K were almost all significantly positive correlations. A total of 32 cooperative CUU loci (L1–L32) were found, which included 190 out of the 293 QTLs (64.8%) for the nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency traits, indicating that the CUU-QTLs were common for N, P and K. The CUU-QTLs in L3, L7, L16 and L28 were relatively stable. The CUU-QTLs may explain the CUU phenotype at the QTL level.     

小麦湿害营养及其营养调控效应研究

通过盆钵试验,研究了湿害条件下几种营养调控措施对营养吸收及其产量的效应。结果表明,渍水严重抑制了小麦对Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ、Ｚｎ、Ｃｕ的吸收。可再利用营养元素（Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ、Ｚｎ）以叶部下降最为明显,蕨是茎部,穗部下降极少;不可财利用元素Ｃｕ在受渍小麦各部位均衡下降;湿害使单株产量大幅度下降。采用调控措施对湿害较轻的皖麦１９,追施氮肥或喷施Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ均可有效地提高其对营养元素的吸收并能有效提高产量;对湿害较严     

Centelloside accumulation in leaves of Centella asiatica is determined by resource partitioning between primary and secondary metabolism while influenced by supply levels of either nitrogen,phosphorus or potassium

In the present study we aimed to investigate the relevance of either N, P or K supply for herb and leaf yield and for centelloside concentrations in Centella asiatica L. Urban leaves. In this regard, we elucidated the causal relationship between assimilation rate, leaf N, P and K concentrations, herb and leaf production, and centelloside accumulation. The experiments were conducted consecutively in a greenhouse where C. asiatica was grown in hydroponic culture and fertigated with nutrient solutions at either 0, 30, 60, 100 or 150% of the N, P or K amount in a standard Hoagland solution. In general, the increase in N, P or K supply enhanced assimilation rate and herb and leaf yield. However, exceeding specific thresholds, the high availability of one single nutrient caused lower leaf N concentrations and a decline in assimilation rate and plant growth. Irrespective of N, P and K supply, the leaf centelloside concentrations were negatively associated with herb and leaf yield, which is in accordance with the assumptions of the carbon/nutrient balance and the growth differentiation balance hypotheses. Moreover, we found strong negative correlations between saponins and leaf N concentrations, while the respective sapogenins were negatively correlated with K concentrations. Using C. asiatica as model system, our experiments reveal for the first time that the accumulation of saponins and sapogenins is affected by resource allocation between primary and secondary metabolism and that besides carbon, also nutrient availability is relevant for the regulation of the centelloside synthesis. Finally, our results highlight the huge potential of optimized and carefully controlled mineral nutrition of medicinal plants for steering the bio-production of high-quality natural products.