The article "Optimizing the Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Vegetable Crops" by Hector Valenzuela discusses the challenges and strategies for improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) in vegetable crops. N is a critical nutrient for plant growth, but its excessive application can lead to environmental risks. The author highlights the complexity of the N cycle, influenced by various factors such as soil fertility, crop management practices, and socioeconomic conditions. The article emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to nutrient management, considering multiple levels of interactions, including cropping systems, genetics, environment, ecology, and socioeconomic factors. Key strategies to improve NUE include organic and inorganic N rate calibration, germplasm selection, crop rotations, identifying nutrient interactions, and pest and water management. Agroecological practices such as vegetational diversification, integrated crop-livestock systems, conservation tillage, organic amendments, and legume-based cropping systems are also recommended. The article provides detailed tables and examples to illustrate the impact of different management practices on NUE and offers insights into the interactions between water use and N, highlighting the importance of precise irrigation and N application rates. Overall, the article underscores the importance of adopting best management practices to reduce environmental losses, improve NUE, and enhance the resilience of agricultural systems in the face of climate change.The article "Optimizing the Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Vegetable Crops" by Hector Valenzuela discusses the challenges and strategies for improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) in vegetable crops. N is a critical nutrient for plant growth, but its excessive application can lead to environmental risks. The author highlights the complexity of the N cycle, influenced by various factors such as soil fertility, crop management practices, and socioeconomic conditions. The article emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to nutrient management, considering multiple levels of interactions, including cropping systems, genetics, environment, ecology, and socioeconomic factors. Key strategies to improve NUE include organic and inorganic N rate calibration, germplasm selection, crop rotations, identifying nutrient interactions, and pest and water management. Agroecological practices such as vegetational diversification, integrated crop-livestock systems, conservation tillage, organic amendments, and legume-based cropping systems are also recommended. The article provides detailed tables and examples to illustrate the impact of different management practices on NUE and offers insights into the interactions between water use and N, highlighting the importance of precise irrigation and N application rates. Overall, the article underscores the importance of adopting best management practices to reduce environmental losses, improve NUE, and enhance the resilience of agricultural systems in the face of climate change.