Advancing Nutrient Management Strategies for Sustainable Crop Productivity in a Changing Climate: A Systematic Review

Climate change poses significant challenges to global food security by disrupting agricultural nutrient dynamics through increased temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events. These changes threaten crop productivity, soil health, and environmental sustainability. Traditional nutrient management practices, often reliant on excessive chemical fertilizer use, contribute to nutrient losses, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions. This review systematically analyzes 65 peer-reviewed studies (1998-2024) selected using PRISMA guidelines, supplemented by bibliometric tools, to evaluate nutrient management strategies under climate change. The results highlight climate change's multifaceted impacts on soil nutrient cycles, microbial activity, crop physiology, and crop yield. Elevated temperatures and CO₂ levels alter nutrient availability and reduce grain quality, while erratic rainfall patterns exacerbate nutrient losses through leaching and runoff. Conventional fertilizer practices are shown to be inefficient and environmentally harmful, prompting a shift toward integrated nutrient management, precision agriculture, and biofertilizers. Emerging strategies such as slow- and controlled-release fertilizers, site-specific nutrient management, and decision support systems significantly improve nutrient use efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Conservation agriculture and organic amendments further enhance soil health and resilience. The discussion highlights that integrated and adaptive nutrient management frameworks, supported by technology and agroecological practices, are critical for maintaining high productivity while minimizing environmental impacts under climate change. These approaches collectively support sustainable crop production, mitigate climate impacts, and promote long-term soil fertility. The review concludes that nutrient management is central to climate-smart agriculture and offers actionable insights for researchers, farmers, and policymakers aiming to secure food systems in a changing climate.