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The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a soil conditioner derived from steel slag (Agrosilicio Plus – ASP) compared to dolomitic limestone (DLS) in agriculture. The research questions were about how ASP compares to DLS in terms of soil acidity correction, productivity, and the nutritional status of the forage grass Panicum maximum cv. BRS Zuri. Two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse using plastic pots filled with a 0-20 cm layer of Ferrasol. In the first experiment, soil conditioners were applied on the surface, while in the second, they were incorporated into the soil. A complete block design with a 2 × 4 + 1 factorial arrangement was employed. The factors included two soil conditioners (ASP and DLS) at four application rates (25%, 50%, 100%, and 150% of the liming requirement). A control treatment without any conditioner application was also included. P. maximum was grown in three successive 45-day cropping cycles. The shoot dry mass and nutrient content in plants' tissues were measured. Both ASP and DLS were effective in correcting soil acidity. The ASP led to a higher silicon accumulation in the plants, whereas DLS resulted in higher calcium accumulation. Increasing rates of both conditioners generally had positive effects on most variables measured. When applied on the surface, ASP led to higher dry mass production accumulated in three crops. ASP is a viable alternative to limestone for correcting soil acidity and supplying essential nutrients and silicon to BRS Zuri grass. Additionally, ASP can effectively be applied on the soil surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy and fertile soils are the foundation of sustainable global agriculture, supporting both intensive and extensive crop cultivation, including orchards and vineyards across diverse agroecosystems. However, widespread use of synthetic fertilizers has degraded soil organic matter and overall quality, leading to significant environmental consequences and threats to ecosystem services. Challenges in accessing mineral fertilizers, along with growing concerns over environmental sustainability, have driven interest in alternative approaches such as compost, biofertilizers, biopesticides, and microbiome-based strategies to enhance soil fertility and reduce chemical inputs in agriculture. Compost derived from grapevine pruning waste shows promise in addressing agricultural challenges, but further research is needed to understand its effects on nutrient release dynamics and microbial activity. Inoculating compost with a fungal consortium presents an innovative strategy to enhance nutrient cycling and microbial interactions, addressing nutrient availability challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of three fertilization methods on soil health: NPK (mineral fertilizer), PWC (pruning waste compost), and iPWC (pruning waste compost inoculated with fungal consortia). Conducted over 135 days in a controlled growth chamber, fifteen pots received equal macronutrient doses. Environmental parameters (humidity, temperature, light/dark cycles) were closely monitored. Throughout the experiment, release dynamics of key nutrients, soil enzyme activity, and microbial community responses were rigorously assessed. The results showed that compost inoculated with fungi significantly enhanced soil enzymes activities. Microbial community activity was higher in fungal and compost treatments, with greater functional diversity observed in the mineral fertilizer treatment. Compost released major minerals more slowly than chemical fertilizers, while enhancing the available fraction. These findings underscore compost's potential, especially when supplemented with fungi, to improve soil health and promote sustainable agricultural practices and soil regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize is one of the staple food crops after wheat and rice crops. There is a reduction in the yield of maize due to biotic and abiotic factors. Due to more spacing in maize weeds are highly infested in the field which leads to reduced fertility of soil and sustainability. To maintain the fertility of soil and reduce the wastage of resources intercropping is the best option. By growing crops in between the rows of maize crops we can increase production and can achieve zero hunger. A field experiment was conducted at Lovely Professional University (Kharif 2022) to check the effect of black gram and French bean as intercrop in maize on weed flora, rhizospheric bacterial count, and yield parameters of maize. The experiment comprised 9 treatments i.e. Sole maize, Sole French bean and Sole black gram, Maize + French bean (1:1, 1:2, 1:3), Maize + black gram (1:1, 1:2, 1:3). Weed density and biomass recorded by quadrant 1 m² method at 30 and 60 DAS (Days after sowing). Results of the study showed that minimum weed count of grasses (3.44, 3.26), sedges (3.13, 2.73), and BLW (Broad leaf weed) (3.26, 4.58) at 30 and 60 DAS recorded in those plots where intercropping of maize and black gram practiced in 1:3 proportion. Rhizospheric bacterial count viz. THB (total heterotrophic bacteria) (232.82), NRB (nitrate-reducing bacteria) (41.89), and NB (nitrifying bacteria) (161.86) were recorded highest in Maize + French bean 1:3 at 30 DAS. Whereas THB, NRB, and PSB (phosphate solubilizing bacteria) highest count recorded in Maize + Black gram 1:3 at 90 DAS. In the case of maize yield attributes maize + Black gram 1:2 gave the best result. Land Equivalent ratio and Maize Equivalent yield (2.23, 11671.03 kg.ha-1) were recorded maximum in those plots where Maize + Black gram 1:2 proportion was practiced. Intercropping can be used as an ecofriendly alternative to herbicides to reduce the weed population and infestation, which leads to maintaining soil fertility and enhancing sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-organic fertilizer exerts an important part in aggregate stability as well as carbon and nitrogen turnover. To investigate whether there is a synergistic effect of bio-organic fertilizer application on soil properties within the aggregates. In the present study, the field experiment was performed to examine soil organic carbon (SOC) contents, total nitrogen (TN) contents, stability, and the SOC and TN contents of aggregate fractions in 0–20 cm layer. The treatments comprised the application of no fertilizer (CK), chemical fertilizer alone (CF), bio-organic fertilizer alone (OF), and chemical fertilizer combined with bio-organic fertilizer (COF). Our study suggested that the OF and COF treatments evidently enhanced the stability of aggregates relative to other treatments. All bio-organic amended treatments elevated the SOC level in bulk soil and within each aggregate fraction by 0.67–153.62%. Small macro-aggregates and micro-aggregates made large the contribution to rate of SOC and TN under each treatment, relative to other aggregate fractions. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that both the significant positive correlation of SOC and TN with the composition of macro-aggregates and negative correlation with aggregates of <0.25 mm particle size. Further analysis using principal component analysis and comprehensive soil fertility index evaluation indicates that the combined application of bio-organic and chemical fertilizer was a favorable agricultural management practice for improving greenhouse soil quality and maintaining land productivity. This study evidenced that the COF treatment is more suitable for improving the greenhouse soil structure and enhancing carbon sequestration capacity, which is of great significance in ensuring the structure stability of greenhouse soil and maintaining the high yield of tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivated land is the most valuable agricultural resource and the most important factor of production. The protection of cultivated land quality is not only the foundation of national food security but also a strategic issue related to the sustainable development of the economy and society as a whole. This paper uses survey data from Jiangxi Province's "Double Hundred and Thousand" in 2023 and empirically analyzes the impact of digital literacy on farmers' cultivated land quality protection behaviors and its mechanism by using the O-probit model and the mediating effect model. The results show that digital literacy can effectively promote farmers' cultivated land quality protection behaviors. Furthermore, digital literacy can indirectly promote farmers' cultivated land quality protection behaviors through cultivated land protection cognition and digital use ability. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that farmers are more inclined to participate in cultivated quality protection behaviors In the context of better soil fertility conditions and higher digital literacy. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously improve the digital literacy of farmers, improve their awareness of cultivated land protection, and continuously strengthen their digital use ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapeseed and sorghum, important economic crops in China, generate abundant straw resources. However, studies examining the effects of straw return combined with reduced nitrogen fertilization on soil quality are still insufficient to meet the precise fertilization needs, necessitating further research. This study employed two treatments: rapeseed straw plus sorghum straw (LT) and rapeseed green manure plus sorghum straw (YGT) returned to the soil. Nitrogen was applied at three rates: 0%, 70% of the conventional amount (0.7CK) and the conventional fertilization (CK). Meanwhile, conventional fertilization was used as a control. Over three consecutive years, this experiment investigated the impact of these treatments on sorghum yield and soil nutrient properties, evaluating overall soil quality and individual soil fertility components. Straw return significantly improved soil quality, with enhancements ranging from 6.5 to 61.4% compared to the CK. The LT + 0.7CK and YGT + 0.7CK produced relatively higher yields, increasing by 10.9% and 10.49% respectively over the CK. Moreover, the comprehensive soil quality of these two treatments is also relatively high, and the comprehensive soil quality of both is at the same level. However, the absence of rapeseed yield in the YGT + 0.7CK treatment during the rapeseed season suggests that LT + 0.7CK is a more economically viable fertilization approach. Soil fertility evaluations indicated that the LT + 0.7CK treatment did not meet the third-level farmland nutrient standards for available potassium, organic matter, total phosphorus, and total potassium. Future fertilization strategies should continue incorporating organic fertilizers and further research to enhance soil phosphorus and potassium contents, thus improving fertilization schemes. This study provides valuable insights for the sustainable utilization of straw resources and the reduction of chemical fertilizers in the Yangtze River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main chemical, physical, and biological limitations on soil production in western Ethiopia include low soil fertility, nutrient unavailability, and acidity. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to evaluate how specific physico-chemical properties of soil were influenced by the combined application of vermicompost and NPS fertilizer rates at Bako Agricultural Research Center. Four vermicompost levels (0, 2.32, 3.48, and 4.64 tons ha−1) and four NPS fertilizer levels (0, 50, 75, and 100 kg ha−1) were combined in a factorial manner were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The study's findings demonstrated that while bulk density decreased below the control due to different levels of organic fertilizer application, all treatments applied increased soil moisture and total porosity relative to the control or NPS fertilizer alone. The results showed that the combination of vermicompost and NPS fertilizer rates significantly affected organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, basic cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+), and available phosphorous. Nevertheless, the experiment indicated the integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers to enhance nutrient availability by maintaining soil fertility and health because the pH of the soil was significantly influenced by the primary effects of vermicompost levels (P ≤ 0.01). Vermicompost and NPS fertilizers are highly useful in the amendment of soil fertility. Both play an important role in the supply of essential nutrients, improving the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil, and enhancing it for sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abiotic environments and biotic neighbourhoods interact to influence plant growth and community assembly. However, the nature of this interaction depends very much on how biotic neighbourhoods are measured, including their relatedness to focal plants. In a tropical seasonal rainforest, we examine the growth of a dominant canopy species in response to environmental factors, the densities and relatedness of conspecific and heterospecific neighbours, and their interactions. We find significant environmental effects and conspecific negative density dependence on growth. Furthermore, conspecific neighbour density has stronger negative effects on growth under high light and soil water resource levels, but weaker negative effects under low light and soil water resource levels. In addition, more closely related heterospecifics in the neighbourhood have negative effects on growth under high soil phosphorus availability, but positive effects under low soil phosphorus availability. In contrast, more closely related conspecifics in the neighbourhood have negative effects on growth under low soil potassium availability, but positive effects under high soil potassium availability. Our study emphasizes the importance of both intra- and interspecific neighbourhood composition and their interactions with resource levels for understanding tree growth. This enhances our understanding of the complex processes in community assembly and species coexistence within forest communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for crop growth, but its bioavailability is often limited in acidic soils, which are prevalent in many agricultural regions, including South China. These soils are characterized by low phosphorus availability and high levels of phosphorus fixation, which exacerbate the need for sustainable agricultural practices. Over-reliance on phosphate fertilizers has led to environmental concerns, such as phosphorus accumulation and eutrophication. This study investigates the potential of straw biochar to improve phosphorus dynamics in two typical South Chinese soils: high-phosphorus paddy soil and low-phosphorus lateritic red soil. Using a range of biochar application rates, we examined the effects on phosphorus fractions, phosphatase activity, and microbial biomass phosphorus. The results indicate that biochar significantly increased phosphorus availability, enhanced soil enzyme activity, and boosted microbial phosphorus content, especially in the phosphorus-deficient red soil. These findings underscore the potential of biochar as a sustainable solution for enhancing phosphorus management, improving soil fertility, and reducing environmental risks in South China and similar regions. This research contributes valuable insights into biochar's practical applications in sustainable agriculture, offering a promising approach to improve phosphorus use efficiency and soil health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humic acid (HA), a crucial substance for maintaining soil fertility and health, plays a vital role in sustainable agricultural development and environmental remediation. Hydrothermal humification (HTH) offers the advantage of producing HA analogues from biomass in a significantly shorter timeframe compared with natural processes, thereby enhancing carbon efficiency. This approach aligns with green chemistry principles by promoting the sustainable utilization of resources while minimizing environmental impacts. However, research on the hydrothermal production of HA is still in its early stages, with the underlying conditions, influencing factors, and conversion mechanisms remaining unclear. Furthermore, the potential applications of hydrothermal HA are not yet fully understood. Drawing from nearly a decade of research, this article addresses the mechanism of hydrothermal conversion of biomass into HA and discusses the impacts of diverse HTH operating parameters such as reaction time, biomass composition, reaction solvent, and reaction temperature on the humification process. Given the current lack of research on the applications of hydrothermal HA, we demonstrated the potential applications and challenges of hydrothermal HA by exploring the use of HA from various other sources in diverse scenarios, including agriculture, environmental protection, functional material preparation and animal husbandry. Furthermore, the challenges and research directions for the commercial application of hydrothermal HA are discussed, aiming to provide a reference for studies on HA derived from biomass via hydrothermal conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its persistence, glyphosate contamination in soil poses environmental and health risks. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) offer a potential solution for mitigating glyphosate pollution. This study assessed the glyphosate degradation capacity of three airborne PGPB isolates (Exiguobacterium indicum AS03, Kocuria sediminis AS04, and Rhodococcus rhodochrous AS33) individually and in a consortium (CS) compared to natural attenuation in microcosms as the control (CTL), where soil autochthonous microorganisms (MS) were present. AS03 exhibited the highest glyphosate degradation (86.3%), followed by AS04 and AS33 at 14 days (61.6% and 64.7%). The consortium accelerated glyphosate removal, reaching 99.7%, while the control treatment removal was 94% at 60 days. Aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) is the main metabolite in glyphosate degradation, and it had a maximum peak in concentration at 28 days in the CS + MS (1072 mg kg−1) and CTL (990 mg kg−1) treatments. Subsequently, a decrease in AMPA concentration was observed at 60 days up to 349 mg kg−1 and 390 mg kg−1, respectively. These results suggested that soil autochthonous microorganisms and their interactions with a consortium have similar biotransformation of glyphosate, but the AMPA conversion to other intermedium metabolites through degradation was slow. A minimum AMPA concentration of 15–45 mg kg−1 over time was detected with the consortium. The microbiome analysis revealed shifts in microbial composition, with an increase in glyphosate-degrading genera like Psychrobacter and Lyzobacter. These changes enhance soil resilience and fertility, demonstrating the potential of airborne PGPB for bioremediation and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of fertilization strategies involving biochar, compost, and inorganic N on growth and phytochemical accumulation in turnips was studied in a greenhouse pot experiment. The experiment was carried out with six fertilizer treatments: unfertilized soil (US), compost (120 g/pot) + biochar (20 g/pot) (C + B), compost (120 g/pot) + 0.5 g N/pot (C + 0.5 N), biochar (20 g/pot) + 0.5 g N/pot (B + 0.5 N), compost (120 g/pot) + biochar (20 g/pot) + 0.5 g N/pot (C + B + 0.5 N), and inorganic fertilization (pre-plant mineral fertilizer + 1 g N/pot (PF + N)). Compost, biochar, and pre-plant mineral fertilizer were incorporated into the top 10 cm of soil, while inorganic N was applied weekly in equal amounts. The application of biochar with C + 0.5 N, compared to C + 0.5 N alone, reduced plant Ca and Mg uptake but did not affect dry biomass production. Using compost + 0.5 N, with or without biochar, proved to be a viable and sustainable strategy, achieving high dry biomass yields similar to inorganic fertilization but with lower inorganic N and no addition of the other inorganic nutrients. The biomass increase was due to enhanced nutrient uptake, resulting from the synergy between compost and the application of a reduced amount of N. The co-applications reduced nitrate levels in both shoots and roots and left the soil more fertile than soil fertilized with inorganic fertilization. Fertilization strategies differently affected the accumulation of ascorbic acid, total phenols, polyphenol oxidase, and proline in roots and shoots. Inorganic fertilization enhanced ascorbic acid and total phenols in shoots, while the combination of compost, biochar, and 0.5 N was more effective in roots, suggesting that fertilization strategies should be tailored to tissue-specific goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the impact of varying biochar application rates on soil characteristics and the growth of Amaranthus caudatus in Ghana. Corn cob biochar, produced at a temperature of 550 °C, was applied at different rates (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 t/ha) in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The findings demonstrated a notable enhancement in soil characteristics as the biochar application rates increased. The soil pH rose from 5.45 in the control group to 6.16 with the application of 7.5 t/ha. The 10 t/ha rate resulted in a significant increase of up to 24.3% in organic carbon content. The 10 t/ha treatment resulted in a 60% rise in total nitrogen, whereas accessible phosphorus exhibited an 80% increase. The water retention ability was significantly enhanced, with the application of 7.5 t/ha resulting in the greatest increase (11.7% compared to 10.8% in the control). Biochar application had a favorable impact on plant growth metrics. The application of 10 t/ha resulted in the highest plant height, measuring 17.17 cm, which is a 100% increase compared to the control group. The 7.5 t/ha treatment had the highest number of leaves, with 11.54 leaves, representing a 15% increase compared to the control. The stem circumference also increased, with the application rate of 7.5 t/ha resulting in the widest stems measuring 21.1 mm. The application of biochar significantly increased the yield of fresh matter in Amaranthus caudatus. The 10 t/ha rate resulted in the highest yield of 1722 kg/ha, closely followed by the 7.5 t/ha rate with a yield of 1676 kg/ha. These rates showed yield increases of 183 and 176% respectively, compared to the control yield of 608 kg/ha. This study showcases the capacity of biochar to enhance soil fertility and increase crop yield in tropical soils when used as a soil supplement. The findings indicate that applying biochar at rates ranging from 7.5 to 10 t/ha could be the most effective in improving soil characteristics and promoting the growth of Amaranthus caudatus in comparable circumstances. The consequences of these discoveries are significant for the sustainable management of soil and the security of food in tropical countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil Test Crop Response (STCR), a combined plant nutrient management system that enables to develop fertilizer prescription equations for balanced crop nutrition, higher yield, profitability, and better nutrient efficiency. Field trial was carried out on Typic Haplohmult soil of Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu during 2023-2024 by Implementing an Inductive combined with a targeted yield model. Field trial includes a gradient experiment with a green viz., Chenopodium album ; a test crop experiment with beetroot (Hybrid Improved Crystal) and a validation experiment with beetroot. First, the fertility gradient was ensured by the biomass yield and soil fertility. Then, test crop experiment with beet root were conducted in the same field to derive the basic parameters viz., Nutrient Requirement (NR), contribution of nutrients from fertilizers (Cf), contribution of nutrients from soil (Cs) and contribution of nutrients from the Farm Yard manure (Cfym). Using the basic parameters, fertilizer prescription equations were developed based on Integrated Plant Nutrition System and validated. We found that 0.38, 0.29, and 0.46 kg of N, P2O5, and K2O, respectively, were required for producing one quintal of beetroot tuber under the integrated approach. Readily customized of fertilizer nutrient doses was developed for varying soil test values and desired yield targets of beetroot, for both inorganic (NPK) alone and NPK + Farm Yard Manure (FYM). The model was validated in the same soil series with the achievement of 40 and 45 tonnes of beetroot ha-1 with 100.9% and 96.9% of yield achievement, respectively. The Soil analysis crop response - combined Plant Nutrition System model proved that beetroot yield can be increased by 34.74%, in relation to the generally recommended dose This inductive method could save 37, 26 and 34 kg of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium, respectively when Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium fertilizers are combined with 12.5 t ha-1 FYM as per soil test and targeted yield of beetroot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethiopia has made significant efforts to rehabilitate and restore degraded lands. However, these initiatives have been hindered by low soil fertility and extreme environmental events, such as seasonal frost. Reports indicate that frost is a major factor contributing to seedling mortality in the highlands. This study aimed to investigate farmers' tree preferences and traditional frost management practices in degraded, frost-affected highlands of central Ethiopia. The study was conducted in four purposively selected frost-prone districts (woredas) in the Amhara regional state: Dessie Zuria, Legambo, Menz Gera, and Menz Mama. A total of 202 households were sampled using a simple random sampling technique, based on the list of taxpayer households available at each site. Primary data were collected through household surveys using structured questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGDs). The most commonly grown tree species by farmers were Eucalyptus globulus (55.0%), Cytisus proliferus (20.0%), and Cupressus lusitanica (9.4%). Farmers prioritized tree attributes such as multipurpose use and fast growth (43.5%), and tree products like poles and construction materials (68.5%). Seasonal frost was identified as the primary cause of seedling mortality (59.4%), followed by drought (10.7%) and free grazing (8.5%). For frost management, farmers predominantly used mulching (33.5%), followed by hoeing and watering (24.1%) and plant cover (21.5%). Key variables, including district (P = 0.000), sex (P = 0.002), education (P = 0.044), and social status (P = 0.045), were found to have significant positive associations with farmers' frost management practices. To enhance these efforts, farmers' existing practices should be optimized, and alternative frost management strategies should be developed, tested, and scaled up in various frost-prone areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil ecosystem has been severely damaged because of the increasingly severe environmental problems caused by excessive application of phosphorus (P) fertilizer, which seriously hinders soil fertility restoration and sustainable farmland development. Shoot P uptake (SPU) is an important parameter for monitoring crop growth and health and for improving field nutrition management and fertilization strategies. Achieving on-site measurement of large-scale data is difficult, and effective nondestructive prediction methods are lacking. Improving spatiotemporal SPU estimation at the regional scale still poses challenges. In this study, we proposed a combination prediction model based on some representative samples. Furthermore, using the experimental area of Henan Province, as an example, we explored the potential of the hyperspectral prediction of maize SPU at the canopy scale. The combination model comprises predicted P uptake by maize leaves, stems, and grains. Results show that (1) the prediction accuracy of the combined prediction model has been greatly improved compared with simple empirical prediction models, with accuracy test results of R 2 = 0.87, root mean square error = 2.39 kg/ha, and relative percentage difference = 2.71. (2) In performance tests with different sample sizes, two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy i.e., first-order differentially enhanced two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (1Der-2DCOS) and two-trace 2DCOS of enhanced filling and milk stages (filling-milk-2T2DCOS)) can effectively and robustly extract spectral trait relationships, with good robustness, and can achieve efficient prediction based on small samples. (3) The hybrid model constrained by the Newton-Raphson-based optimizer's active learning method can effectively filter localized simulation data and achieve localization of simulation data in different regions when solving practical problems, improving the hybrid model's prediction accuracy. The practice has shown that with a small number of representative samples, this method can fully utilize remote sensing technology to predict SPU, providing an evaluation tool for the sustainable use of agricultural P. Therefore, this method has good application prospects and is expected to become an important means of monitoring global soil P surplus, promoting sustainable agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of chemical fertilizers on crop growth and grain yield are relatively well-known, but little is known about their synergistic effects with foliar nutrition. The factorial experiment was conducted using a strip-plot design. The main plots consisted of three chemical fertilization treatments at the following rates: N150P105K75, N180P125K90, and N210P145K105. The sub-plots included four combinations of foliar feeding with carbamide [CO(NH2)2], applied at doses of 4.0, 8.0, and 12.0 kg ha−1 at the tillering, booting, and heading stages of winter wheat (WW), respectively. The results indicated that the WW grain production was increased by 21.2% with foliar nutrition applied at a 4:8:12 kg/ha regime under the N180P125K90 chemical fertilization norm compared to the control, exhibiting the highest yield among tested variables. The total grain yield of WW increased with an increase in chemical fertilization norms, providing a significant increase in the fodder yield parameters. Increasing chemical fertilization increased the grain quality indices, but the highest indicators were observed under the moderate (N180P125K90) chemical fertilization norm applied with the foliar nutrition (4.8:12 kg/ha regime). Overall, this innovative farming technique has the potential to limit land degradation and create sustainable farming systems while improving biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services that require less chemical fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering hop waste composting piles with semipermeable membrane after the thermophilic phase until spring, when the compost was ready to use, reduced the volume of leachate and leached nutrients amounts significantly; there was a negligible amount of leachate and low amount of leached nutrients during winter and spring at all treatments. At treatments with additives (biochar, preparation effective microorganisms) and larger percent of particles of 2–5 cm, it was indicated that composting pile should probably also be covered in the first months of composting and be opened only when turning/mixing it; on the other hand, the amount of leachate was much lower in a pile without additives and particles of 2–10 cm by the time of covering (2.2- and 2.5-fold less respectively) and the amount of leached nutrients as well. All treatments produced compost without a bad smell, had a total nitrogen content greater than 2%, could be considered as mature (the C:N ratio was below 20) and stable, and the biomass hygienisation threshold was reached. However, there were some significant differences among them. The compost of the pile with added biochar and starting hop waste biomass particles of 2–5 cm was considered phytotoxic (germination index of radish was 31%); also, its other results were less promising in comparison to other treatments. The pile with no additive and the starting particles of waste hop biomass 2 to 10 cm, mixed properly related to regular temperature measurements in the thermophilic phase, reached the best results; the leachate amount and leaked nutrients amount were significantly the lowest, while the final compost contained significantly higher amount of nutrients and had the highest germination index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The earth's surface constitutes a layer of soil around it which is termed as pedosphere. Soil holds millions of microbes that are involved in improving soil fertility. The increasing use of chemical fertilizers has become a major factor which is deteriorating soil microflora. It has resulted in decreased soil fertility. Soil organisms are involved in a number of processes like cycling of soil nutrients and providing them to plants. They are also involved in volatilization that may lead to nutrient loss. Microorganisms have an important role in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur transformations, as well as organic matter degradation. They have an impact on the global nutrient and carbon cycle. The soil microflora is also involved in modulating the various physico-chemical properties of soil like pH, moisture, temperature etc. Soil properties and soil microorganisms are highly correlated with each other. The huge diversity of microorganisms in soil also plays a central role in regulating and supporting various ecosystem services. This review highlights the crucial role of different microbes in various nutrient cycling which is one of the major concerns to address the decreasing status of soil nutrients. It also covers various physico-chemical properties which affects soil microbial community and various ecosystem services provided by microbial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for wood products and ecosystem services in Chinese fir plantations has led to longer rotation ages and density control practices, raising concerns about their impact on soil fertility. This study assessed soil fertility of Chinese fir plantations in Fujian, Jiangxi, and Sichuan Provinces using the Nemerow index. The effects of stand age and initial planting density on soil fertility were analyzed using statistical models. In Fujian and Jiangxi, soil fertility was significantly higher at 11 and 30 years than at 5 and 25 years, while in Sichuan, it was higher at 25 and 30 years than at 5 and 11 years. In Fujian, soil fertility was higher at 6667 trees ha−2 than at 1667 trees ha−2. No significant differences were observed in Jiangxi, while in Sichuan, soil fertility at 6667 trees ha−2 was significantly higher than at 5000 and 1667 trees ha−2, and soil fertility at 10,000 trees ha−2 exceeded that at 1667 trees ha−2. Soil fertility typically increased with stand age, especially in Fujian and Sichuan. Soil fertility also increased with initial planting density, especially in Jiangxi and Sichuan. A structural equation model (SEM) explained 88% of the variance in soil fertility, with stand age directly affecting soil fertility and soil organic matter mediating the effects of stand age and planting density. These findings suggest that adjusting rotation age and planting density could help improve soil fertility, offering practical implications for sustainable forest management in Chinese fir plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation from the Yellow River plays a vital role in supporting agricultural production within the Yellow River Basin in China. Nevertheless, few studies have focused on the impact of Yellow River water irrigation on agricultural soil around the hanging section of the river. This study surveyed the characteristics of the agricultural soil along the aboveground segment of the Yellow River spanning from Huayuankou (Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, P.R.China)—Jiahetan (Kaifeng City, Henan Province, P.R.China) section in Henan province. The soil irrigated with Yellow River water (YS), the soil irrigated with groundwater in the irrigation area (GS), and the soil outside the irrigation area (control soil, CS) were sampled and the contents and spatial variations of nutrients (involving the alkaline hydrolytic nitrogen (ASN), NH4+-N, TP, and soil organic matter (SOM), etc.), heavy metal distributions (involving Cu and Zn), and physicochemical properties (involving pH, the total water-soluble salts (Tsalts) and CEC) of the sampled soils were measured and evaluated. While collecting soil samples, the irrigation water used in soil samples was collected, including Yellow River water (YW), groundwater (GW) in the Yellow River irrigation area, and control point-groundwater (CW) at the control soil collection site, and the TN, NO3−-N, NH4+-N, TP, total salt content (TDS) and suspended matter (SS) of water samples were measured. The results indicated that the ASN, NH4+-N, TP, and SOM levels in YS were significantly higher than GS, increasing from 44.3% to 45.8%, 17.4% to 45.8%, 40.1% to 44.6%, and 7.6% to 13.6%, respectively, while the contents of Cu and Zn in YS increased from 29.3% to 34.7% and 13% to 13.5%, respectively, and the Tsalts in soil samples increased from 39.8% to 66.7%. Additionally, the pH of soil within the irrigation zone (YS and GS) was 1.8%-2.6% and 4.4%-2.6% higher than CS, respectively, which might be attributed to lateral seepage of the Yellow River. Spearman correlation analysis between soil environmental factors revealed significant associations between SOM and ASN, NH4+-N, NO3−-N, and AP (p < 0.01). Water quality analysis results indicated that the levels of TN, NH4+-N, and NO3−-N in Yellow River water were 73.5%, 15.4%, and 233% higher than the groundwater in the irrigation area, respectively. Thus, the richer N nutrition in YS soil may be related to the higher N content in Yellow River water. The results underscored the effectiveness of long-term direct irrigation with Yellow River water in enhancing nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition levels as well as organic matter content in soil. However, this practice also poses potential risks, including heightened soil heavy metal pollution (particularly Cu and Zn) and the risk of soil salinization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is increasingly being assessed as a promising solution to address the challenges faced by tropical soils, as it can help mitigate land degradation, replenish nutrients, and enhance soil structure, increasing fertility and promoting the development of crops. This paper provides a systematic literature review towards an evaluation of the current knowledge on the influence of biochar addition in tropical soils on the development of plants. A total of 97 publications on the development of various species, particularly maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza), were chosen. The evaluation involved various parameters, which identified positive and negative effects and no significant differences from the control. Some of them also evaluated the contribution of biochar to the development of trees in degraded soils. Tropical soils from 24 different countries, with specific focus on Brazil and Malaysia, were studied. Most biochars were derived from agricultural biomass or wood and produced at temperatures close to 500 °C and with alkaline pH (8.3 average value). Subsequently, 25 articles that combined the most studied plant (Z. mays) with the most adopted test type (field) were selected—in this case, the main endpoints evaluated were grain yield and biomass, which generally showed a positive effect or no significant variation in relation to the control. Although the number of studies on biochars has increased in recent years, scientific knowledge shows several gaps, given the variety of physical and chemical characteristics of biochars and the complexity of natural ecosystems. Future research can potentially yield promising results by exploring a wider range of plant species, soil types, and climatic conditions in long-term trials. Appropriate indicators must be considered for assessments of the reduction in negative effects from the addition of biochar on soil health and quality of ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) production in Manitoba has increased substantially over the last 20 years, raising questions about phosphorus (P) fertilization in this region. Between 2013 and 2015, a study was conducted across 28 sites in Manitoba to evaluate the effect of P fertilizer rate and placement on soybean plant stand and seed yield. Treatments were 22.5, 45, and 90 kg P2O5 ha−1 applied as monoammonium phosphate, seed-placed, side-banded or broadcast, plus an unfertilized control treatment. Plant stand reduction due to seed-placed fertilizer toxicity was observed at five of 28 site-years, typically at the rate of 90 kg P2O5 ha−1. Stand reduction was most frequent on medium- to coarse-textured soils, dry soils or when seeding equipment had low seedbed utilization. Seed yield was reduced at two site-years due to seed placing 90 kg P2O5 ha−1, which reduced plant stands below the recommended threshold of 247 000 plants ha−1. Phosphorus fertilization did not increase seed yield, regardless of P rate, P placement, or Olsen soil test P level, except for one site-year where 45 and 90 kg P2O5 ha−1 increased seed yield by 343 and 430 kg ha−1, respectively. The extremely infrequent response to P fertilizer in combination with the high rate of P removal indicates that soybeans can use soil P reservoirs that are less available to other crops. Nevertheless, soybean growers in Manitoba should consider strategies for applying supplemental P to soybean or other crops in their rotation to maintain P fertility in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slaughterhouse and meat industry are worldwide rapidly growing and produce billions of tonnes of organic wastes annually. These materials can be used to produce biogas through anaerobic digestion and the resulting digestate represents a potential source of organic carbon and nutrients that could be applied to the soil as organic fertilizer. The present work aims to assess the fertilizing potential of a dried anaerobic digestate (DD) produced from beef slaughtering waste. DD was characterized at the physic-chemical level, particularly focusing on macro- and micronutrient contents, potentially toxic element and organic contaminants. Then, a short-term soil incubation experiment was performed on two different soils. After the incubation, DD released 10–26% of their total nitrogen (N) and 13–16% of total phosphorus (P), depending on the soils that had different characteristics and responded differently to the treatments. However, DD had positive effects on the principal soil fertility indicators, such as chitinase and phosphatases, stimulating the microbial activity and therefore exploiting a fertilizing potential as well as the other organic fertilizers tested. Moreover, DD had minor effects on soil extractable carbon (Cext) suggesting the presence of recalcitrant C forms in spite of soluble C, indicating a higher stability of slaughterhouse by-products after anaerobic digestion in respect to the other organic fertilizers. The results obtained in this work raise the concrete possibility use DD as a bio-based fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Declining soil fertility is worrying in sub-Saharan Africa. Various technologies serve to mitigate or rebuild soil fertility, but uptake by farmers, especially smallholders, is low. The study addresses this adoption problem in a novel way, assessing empirically many factors from various domains (economic, socio-demographic, individual, institutional, networks and information sources) to identify what drives adoption. Design/Methodology/Approach: The panel study used data from baseline and endline surveys with 1870 smallholders in Ghana, Kenya, Mali, and Zambia. Quantitative data were analysed simultaneously via logistic regression, complemented by qualitative interviews. The study demonstrates the advantage of panel studies, as they can measure changes in practice or in farmers' attitudes. Findings: Individual factors, for example innovativeness, perception about soil fertility and correct knowledge, have the biggest influence on adoption. Socio-demographic and economic factors, by contrast, play hardly any role, as do individual information sources. Practical implications: Future research should focus on in-depth studies of individual factors, e.g. innovativeness and knowledge, and on the information environment of farmers. Communication efforts must primarily target innovative farmers, ensure high quality, address competing messages, and communicate through many different channels. Theoretical implications: The importance of 'intrinsic' factors that have previously been overlooked in adoption studies in SSA becomes clear. Originality/Value: The study is one of very few that empirically assesses a wide range of independent variables to identify the drivers of adoption. It reports not only significance but also effect sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of potassium in the soil is in mineral form, making it unavailable to plants. K-solubilizing bacteria (KSB) increase potassium solubilization by decomposing rock-K, thereby improving soil fertility. The key purpose of this research is to isolate, characterize, and assess the potassium-solubilizing capacity of bacteria capable of solubilizing potassium from agricultural and forest environments. In this study, a total of 175 bacterial isolates capable of solubilizing potassium were isolated from soil samples taken from agricultural and forested areas in the Kahramanmaraş region. Twenty-eight bacterial strains demonstrated high potassium solubilizing capacity. Among these strains, AOB29 was recorded as the most effective in terms of potassium release, with a value of 64.03 mg L−1. The AOB29 strain was characterized phenotypically and phylogenetically, and it was identified as Bacillus mojavensis with 97% similarity based on its 16S rDNA sequence. The potassium concentration of this strain was tested at different temperatures (20 °C–40 °C), pH levels (pH 5–10), and mica doses (1–7 g L−1). The highest levels of potassium were determined as 58.7 mg L−1 at 35 °C, 64.9 mg L−1 at pH 6, and 57.1 mg L−1 with a mica dosage of 5 g L−1. Overall, the findings suggest that Bacillus mojavensis exhibits a noteworthy capability in solubilizing potassium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil degradation and erosion pose significant threats to agricultural sustainability in fragile ecosystems, such as the Loess Plateau in northern China. This study examines the long-term impacts of fertilization regimes and land-use systems on soil health, focusing on soil aggregate stability, fertility, and crop productivity. Six treatment combinations were evaluated in our study, including three continuous alfalfa fields (AL-CK, AL-P, and AL-NPM) and three continuous wheat fields (WH-NPM, WH-NP, and WH-P), each representing a combination of land use and three fertilization treatments: (1) no fertilization (CK), (2) inorganic fertilization (120 kg ha−1 N, 60 kg ha−1 P-NP), and (3) a combination of organic and inorganic fertilization (75 t ha−1 cow manure-NPM). Soil samples were collected from three depths (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm) to assess physical and chemical properties. We evaluated the long-term effects of different fertilization treatments on soil stability, fertility, and crop yield to explore the interactions among soil's physical and chemical properties under two land-use types and to assess the effectiveness of combined organic and inorganic fertilization strategies in improving soil health and mitigating erosion in vulnerable landscapes. The study revealed significant depth-specific variations with surface layers (0–10 cm) showing the greatest improvement under NPM treatments, particularly in continuous alfalfa fields, which exhibited higher soil fertility, improved soil structure, and crop yield. In contrast, continuous wheat fields with minimal fertilization demonstrated significantly lower soil quality and productivity. Using the combination of mineral fertilizers and organic amendments, such as cow manure, proved to be the most effective strategy for significantly enhancing nutrient availability and overall soil health. Partial Least Squares Modeling (PLS-M) and Mantel analysis highlighted the critical role of fertilization management in maintaining soil quality, boosting crop productivity, and mitigating erosion in high-risk areas. This study emphasizes the importance of integrated nutrient management for sustainable land use and soil conservation in erosion-prone regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research targets straw return in Farm 852's albic soil, China. The soil is nutrient-poor with few microbes and slow straw decomposition. Through fixed-point sampling and bacterial screening, an actinomycete consortium consisting of four strains was assembled, and two of them were identified as new actinomycetes. After 7 days of fermentation, the lignocellulose degradation rates of this consortium outstripped those of single strains, with cellulose degraded at 69.07%, hemicellulose at 64.98%, and lignin at 68.95%. FTIR, XRD, and SEM verified the damage inflicted on the straw structure. Lab simulations found group D (with the consortium) had a higher straw weight loss rate than group C (with commercialized microbial agents) and controls. The compound actinomycetes stepped up the bacterial abundance with the passage of time. In contrast, their effect on fungal abundance was hardly noticeable, but they had markedly ameliorated the soil fertility. These findings prove that the microbial consortium effectively accelerates straw decomposition and boosts soil microbe abundance and fertility in albic soil. It shows great potential for straw return and provides a microbial solution for this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degradation and sealing are still frequent in soil management today despite intensive research. An unsatisfactory assessment of soil key components and soil health still limits sustainable land use. For the future evaluation of soil health, soils under productive use have been compared with natural and semi-natural soils using thermogravimetric fingerprinting of air-dried soil samples. This approach has led to a more precise quantification of known relationships and the discovery of several new ones between soil components that have evolved over thousands of years of soil formation without human intervention, each changing in a specific way due to land use. The use-related deviations from the natural soil condition allow a distinction between natural soils, disturbed soils, and soil-like carbon-containing mineral mixtures (e.g., compost, horticultural substrates). Carbon added to soils with fresh organic residues or from anthropogenic (soot, slag) or geological (coal) sources can be distinguished from soil organic matter (humus) accumulated during soil genesis, regardless of extreme chemical heterogeneity. The degree of carbon sequestration in soils is easy to quantify. Using near-natural soils as a reference, considering bound water seems to be a suitable starting point for the experimental definition of soil health. An elucidation of the causal relationships between the soil components used should accompany it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate which of five commonly used methodologies for agricultural gypsum application in no-tillage systems under tropical agricultural conditions is the most efficient in sandy soils. The evaluation focused on soil chemical and physical properties, nutrient movement through the soil profile, and crop productivity. Methods: Soil layers of 0–0.20 m and 0.20–0.40 m were analyzed. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, and means were compared using Student's t-test (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) and multivariate analysis were also performed. Results: An increase in calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) contents was observed at the analyzed soil depths, along with a reduction in subsurface aluminum saturation (m%). Gypsum application also increased the dry matter yield of cover crops. Conclusions: For sandy soils under no-tillage systems with high nutrient export, aiming to improve soil fertility and aggregation, the gypsum application methodologies proposed by Caires and Guimarães or Raij and collaborators are recommended. According to multivariate analysis, these methodologies showed the best correlation with base saturation (V%), a key indicator of soil fertility. Additionally, the Caires and Guimarães method demonstrated a stronger correlation with maize productivity. However, none of the evaluated methodologies increased soybean yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil labile organic carbon (C) fractions play a key role in agricultural soil fertility. However, the effects of long-term organic substitution regimes on soil organic carbon (SOC), its labile fractions, stability, and vegetable yields as well as the relationships among these factors in the open-field are less well-studied. Hence, the objective of this study was to analyze the effects of long-term organic substitution regimes on SOC sequestration, labile C fractions [particulate organic C (POC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), dissolved organic C (DOC), and readily oxidizable C (ROC)], SOC stability, the C pool management index (CMI), and vegetable yields in a long-term (13 years) open-field experiment. Five treatments were examined: 100% chemical nitrogen fertilizer (CN), substituting 25% of the chemical N with manure (MN) or straw (SN), and substituting 50% of the chemical N with manure (2MN) or manure plus straw (MSN). Compared to the CN, organic substitution treatments increased the average yields of vegetable, the SOC, the labile C fractions' contents, and the C pool management index (CMI) to varying degrees, but only MSN reached significant levels for these factors. However, the MSN treatment had a significantly lower C stability index (SI) than the CN. 13C-NMR analyses also confirmed that organic substitution treatments increased the proportion of O-alkyl C and the OA/A, but reduced SOC stability. Pearson correlation analysis and the partial least squares path model indicated that labile C fractions were the mainly direct contributors to yield and SOC stability. Overall, substituting 50% of the chemical N with manure plus straw is a relatively ideal fertilization practice to improve vegetable yields and enhance C activity in an open field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangrove swamp rice (MSR) production is critical for the diet of small farmers of coastal Guinea-Bissau. In mangrove swamp agroecosystems, rice is grown during the rainy season when freshwater and nutrients are abundant. However, small-scale farmers face challenges like unpredictable rainfall and rising sea levels, which increase soil salinity and acidity. This study aims to assess soil physical–chemical properties, paired with farmers' local practices, to evaluate fertility constraints, and to support sustainable soil–plant management practices. This co-designed research contributes to filling a gap concerning the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices adapted to specific contexts in West Africa. In two regions, Oio (center) and Tombali (south), rice yields were measured in semi-controlled trials both in two agroecological settings: Tidal Mangrove (TM) and Associated Mangrove (AM) fields. 380 soil samples were collected, and rice growing parameters were assessed during the 2021 and 2022 rice sowing, transplanting, and flowering periods. Principal Component Analyses (PCA) and Multivariate Regression Analysis (MRA) were applied to understand trends and build fertility proxies in predicting yields. Significant spatial and temporal variability in the soil properties between agroecologies was found. Salinity constraints in Oio TMs limit production to an average of 110 g/m2, compared to 250 g/m2 in Tombali. Yield predictions account for 81% and 56.9% of the variance in TMs and AMs, respectively. Variables such as organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and precipitation positively influence yields, whereas sand content, pH, and iron oxides show a negative effect. This study advances the understanding of MSR production in Guinea-Bissau and underscores the importance of incorporating farmers' knowledge of their diverse and complex production systems to effectively address these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the transitional region between agriculture and livestock rearing in northern China, planting forage crops in rows among fruit trees as feed in orchards represents an effective strategy for enhancing the ecological environment while addressing the increasing demand for livestock feed. Nonetheless, the impact of short-term mowing of cover forage crops for livestock feed on the quality of soil remains unclear. A two-year field experiment was conducted in Ziziphus jujuba cv. "Lingwuchangzao" orchards located in Lingwu County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in arid and semi-arid Northwest China. The experiment consisted of four treatments: (A) clean tillage (CK), (B) plantation with Lolium perenne (LP), (C) plantation with Trifolium repens (TR), and (D) plantation with Vicia villosa (VV).The results showed that short-term intercropping of forage crops may lead to a reduction in most soil nutrients in Z. jujuba cv. "Lingwuchangzao" orchards, particularly in the 0–20 cm soil layer. However, intercropping with TR can mitigate this declining trend and may even enhance nutrient levels within the 0–40 cm depth. Furthermore, intercropping of forage crops had a more pronounced effect on the α-diversity of fungal communities than on bacterial communities. This practice also altered the relative abundance of bacterial genera such as Sphingomonas, Bacillus, and Flavobacterium in the 20–40 cm depth and dominant fungal genera Fusarium and Mortierella in the 0–20 cm soil layer. The effects of soil physicochemical properties on bacterial communities were more significant than those on fungal communities.These results indicate that the short-term intercropping of forage crops in Z. jujuba cv. "Lingwuchangzao" orchards in arid and semi-arid Northwest China have varying impacts depending on the type of forage crop used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imbalanced and excessive fertilization leads to low nutrient utilization efficiency and wastage of fertilizer resources in processing tomatoes in Xinjiang. Determining nutrient requirements is vital for devising fertilization strategies that enhance yield, profitability, and environmental sustainability. This study utilized observational data from 181 farms across Xinjiang's major processing tomato production areas from 2003 to 2023 to explore the relationship between fruit yield and nutrient uptake in aboveground dry matter. The Quantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) model was employed to estimate nutrient requirements. The results indicated that when the target yield reached 60–70% of its potential, nutrient uptake by processing tomatoes increased linearly with fruit yield. To produce 1000 kg of fruit, the aboveground parts required 1.95 kg of nitrogen, 0.33 kg of phosphorus, and 2.28 kg of potassium, reflecting a N:P:K ratio of 1:0.17:1.17. In contrast, during harvesting, alternative plant parts required 1.31 kg of nitrogen, 0.21 kg of phosphorus, and 0.71 kg of potassium, with fruit nutrient uptake rates of 67.3%, 65.6%, and 74.9%, respectively. Field validation showed a strong correlation between the observed and simulated nutrient uptake rates, demonstrating the model's accuracy in predicting nutrient demands. These findings provide critical insights for developing optimized fertilization strategies to enhance yield and nutrient use efficiency in Xinjiang's processing tomato production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytes have significant prospects for applications beyond their existing utilization in agriculture and the natural sciences. They form an endosymbiotic relationship with plants by colonizing the root tissues without detrimental effects. These endophytes comprise several microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. They act as repositories of compounds of medicinal importance. They are considered sources of pigments besides synthetic dyes and assist with soil fertility and plant growth as bio-fertilizers. They also have immense potential for advanced technology using endophyte-synthesized nanoparticles. In assisting bioremediation, they facilitate detoxification of pollutants in all spheres of the environment. Studies on the potential of endophytic microbes in drug discovery and biotic stress management are underway. In this review, published databases on endophytes and their diverse roles and applications in various fields, such as bio-fertilizers and nanoparticles, as well as bioremediation, are critically discussed while exploring unanswered questions. In addition, future perspectives on endosymbiotic microorganisms and their prospective use in plants, environmental management, and medicine are discussed in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst the potential of fish effluents as nutrient sources for crop production has been demonstrated, their use in the European Union remains prohibited in organic farming. In this study, we investigate the efficacy in greenhouse basil cultivation of two types of fish effluents (filtered 'fish water' and unfiltered 'fish sludge') from an aquaponic system, and assess their role in maintaining and enhancing soil fertility as well as their potential to create a 'living soil', which are two of the prerequisites for organic certification in the EU. To evaluate the contribution of fish effluents to plant growth in comparison with soil nutrients, basil plants were grown in pots containing two types of substrate: compost-free (without organic matter) and with compost (with organic matter). The results indicate that fish water and fish sludge demonstrate significant potential as fertilisers and outperform compost in certain parameters, such as plant biomass. The results also align with existing literature by demonstrating the positive impact of compost on soil microbial diversity, underscoring its role in fostering plant health. Although the treatments did not show differences in microbial composition at the genus level, the higher microbial diversity observed following fish effluent application highlights its potential for promoting 'living soil'. This research underscores the need for continued exploration of the implications of compost application in conjunction with fish effluent fertilisation on soil microbial communities and the production of specialty crops such as herbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature greatly determines biochar's physicochemical characteristics during the pyrolysis of a biowaste. This study aimed to investigate how pyrolysis temperature alters the physicochemical characteristics of water hyacinth (WH) biochar as a soil amendment. WH biomass was slowly pyrolyzed at three temperatures (350, 550, and 750 °C) for 2 h. Results show that biochar yield lessened from 51.0 to 33.3% with a temperature rise. When pyrolysis temperature increased biochar's pH (9.24–11.2), electrical conductivity (28.0–44.7 mS cm−1), liming capacity (17.7–33.0% CaCO3 equivalence), ash content (33.3–52.4%), available nutrients (Ca, Mg, K, P), surface area (1.1–29.8 m2 g−1), pore volume, C/N ratio (15.9–20.3), and water holding capacity increased. However, C, H, N, H/C (0.89–0.11) and O/C (0.62–0.49) ratios, cation exchange capacity (CEC) (44.4–2.3 cmol+kg−1), and pore width decreased. Surface functional groups shrank when pyrolysis temperature increased. As the temperature rises, WH biochar becomes structured, porous, and recalcitrant. All WH biochar samples show high alkalinity, particularly developed at 550 °C and 750 °C could replace liming materials in soil acidity alleviation. Biochar produced at 350 °C and 550 °C could improve agricultural soil fertility and nutrient retention capacity due to the lower C/N ratio, high N content, and CEC. Biochar produced at 550°C and 750 °C can sequester carbon in the soil. Biochar developed at 750 °C be applied to amend soil physical properties due to its comparably high surface area and porosity. Hence, the thermal conversion of WH biowaste to biochar helps obtain suitable biochar properties for soil amendment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil is a vital resource that serves as a foundation for sustainable food production by providing the required physical, chemical, and biological characteristics required for healthy crop. But, the quality of soil is diminishing due to repeated cultivation without proper knowledge. Hence, assessing soil fertility is crucial for decision making and management. To effectively manage the soil, farmers need to know its composition, nutrient level, and other characteristics. One important instrument for this process is soil testing. Laboratory analysis of soil parameters despite being labor-consuming and time-intensive process, it also leaves chemical residues that pollute the ecosystem. Using nonchemical techniques for analyzing soil nutrients through machine learning (ML) offers efficiency, and scalability and helps in real-time decision-making. Integrating ML in agriculture can better solve complicated issues and give producers essential advice. ML algorithms have been used to generate forecasting models based on available soil data and environmental variables. This review highlights the models used in soil fertility assessment and their performance and accuracy rates across different applications. A summary of the major findings from the studies discussed shows that neural networks such as artificial neural networks (ANN) performed well in phosphorus prediction with 91.2% accuracy, convolutional neural networks (CNN) achieved 98.4% in nutrient prediction. Random forests (RF) achieved an accuracy of up to 99% in soil organic carbon (SOC) prediction. Ensemble Learning like XGBoost in pH prediction and crop recommendation and AdaBoost in potassium prediction shows the highest accuracy reaching up to 99.3%. This review along with similar findings further explores the importance of ML in soil fertility assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional traits allow to understand differences between plant species in the pattern of establishment, growth and reproduction in environments limited by nutrients and water. Restoring degraded environments in the forests of central Argentina (talares) yielded low survival rates of the dominant tree saplings. We expected that low fertility soil and small pot size induce functional properties of saplings cultivated in nurseries that potentially enhance plant survival. We conducted an experiment to evaluate the effect of soil type and pot volume on growth rate and functional properties of Celtis tala saplings. We used nursery soil and soil from abandoned quarries. We also evaluated the effect of pot volume (1 and 10 L). We found that plants growing in non-nutrient-limited nursery soil can be considered acquisitive and that growth rates are reduced in the nutrient-limited quarry soil. Slow-growing plants in nutrient-limited soil exhibited lower mean leaf area, specific leaf area, and higher specific root length, below-ground to above-ground ratio and Huber ratio which indicate that such plants are functionally more conservative than fast-growing plants in non-nutrient-limited soil. Thus, functional properties can be modified by regulating soil quality. Appropriate nursery techniques could increase survival rates of saplings in restoration projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of agroecological practices on soil quality and crop yields in small-scale farming, focusing on the combination of microbial soil inoculation, crop rotation, and conservation tillage methods. Conducted at the SZIA Agroecological Garden MATE in Gödöllő, Hungary, the experiment used 12 plots, employing various conservation tillage techniques, including soil loosening with and without microbial inoculants, as well as no-till systems with and without inoculation. Six of the plots were inoculated with beneficial bacteria to enhance nitrogen fixation, phosphorus mobility, nutrient solubilization, phytohormone production, and pathogen suppression. In 2024, peas (Pisum sativum L.) were planted following potatoes in a small-scale market-oriented crop rotation, with the continuous monitoring of crop performance and soil characteristics. This ongoing study focuses on evaluating the long-term effects of crop rotation on key agricultural parameters, aiming to optimize practices over time. Statistical analysis (one-way ANOVA) revealed no significant differences across most parameters (p > 0.05), except for total sugar content (p < 0.05), which aligns with expectations given the limited tillage prior to the study. The standard significance level of p < 0.05 was used to balance error risks, ensure adequate statistical power, and maintain consistency with established agricultural research practices. However, the study trends indicated potential long-term benefits, particularly in plots with microbial inoculants, where pea yield and pod size showed improvement compared to non-inoculated and control plots. Microbial inoculants may show long-term effects, as they gradually improve soil health, support microbial communities, and enhance nutrient cycling, which takes time to become noticeable. These findings highlight the potential advantages of combining conservation tillage with microbial inoculants, suggesting that this combination could foster enhanced soil health and productivity over time. The novel setting of this study underscores the importance of long-term monitoring to fully capture the benefits of agroecological interventions, emphasizing their role in achieving sustainable agricultural practices and improving small-scale farming outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have proposed agroecology as a promising method for promoting sustainable and socially just agricultural production systems. However, the extent to which agroecological practices will generate the yields required to ensure sufficient food globally remains unclear. This notion is particularly true in the context of Africa, where agricultural productivity is low but levels of hunger and malnutrition are high. To address this knowledge gap, this article undertakes a systematic review of empirical studies to assess the overall status of agroecology-related research in Africa. Using descriptive and meta-analytical methods, we evaluate empirical evidence on the effect of agroecological practices on land and labour productivity. Our analysis of 501 peer-reviewed articles reveals that the body of agroecology-related literature in Africa has been growing in the past 10 years from approximately 10 to more than 70 studies per annum before and after 2014, respectively, with a strong focus on East Africa, particularly Kenya. The majority of the reviewed studies relate to but do not mention agroecology in the title or abstract. Thus, solely relying on studies that use the term may introduce bias and overlook valuable research contributions to the field. The meta-analysis could identify 39 agronomic studies with 392 observations in which agroecological practices were compared to monocrop systems (defined as plots where similar plants grow alongside each other simultaneously and sequentially from one season to the next) with or without inputs as the control groups. The meta-analysis indicates that agroecological practices are associated with a positive and significant difference in land productivity, compared to that for monocrop systems especially so when monocrops are grown without inputs. However, the size and direction of yield differs by practice, crop, climatic factor, soil property and type of control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, population growth and declining soil fertility are threatening global food security. Modern agriculture must therefore adopt ecological and sustainable practices to restore soil fertility, strengthen crop resilience and guarantee a stable supply of food product. Plant biostimulants, a sustainable solution, have a high potential to replace certain conventional methods and improve crop productivity. These formulations of bioactive molecules or microbial strains, applied at low concentrations, improve agronomic performance, nutritional efficiency and resistance to abiotic stresses. This review focuses on non-microbial biostimulants, such as protein hydrolysates, humic substances, seaweed extracts, chitosan, biopolymers, and specific inorganic compounds. It analyses their effectiveness and future potential in increasing yields, improving crop quality, and enhancing tolerance to abiotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving food grain production by enhancing plant nutrient availability is critical for meeting future production. In this line, degraded soils may have the potential to meet the food demand of future population. However, the key challenge is excessive concentration of salts. It adversely mediates the soil fertility parameters, physical properties and soil enzymatic activities. Addition of organic substances, such as farm yard manure (FYM) and pressmud (PM), may improve soil health parameters. An incubation experiment was conducted with graded application of FYM (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 t/ha) and PM (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 t/ha) to monitor the nutrient release pattern of FYM and PM; and its effect on soil physico-chemical properties and soil enzymatic activities. The results showed that soil pH and EC were reduced after the one year incubation period. It was also observed that available plant nutrients like N, P, K, S and soil enzymatic activities reported highest in treatment FYM and PM (each applied 10 t/ha) over control. The findings of this study suggested that organic amendments can improve soil fertility, mitigate salt ion toxicity, and enhance food production potential, particularly in arid and semi-arid soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive utilization of chemical fertilizers degrades the quality of medicinal plants and soil. Bio-organic fertilizers (BOFs) including microbial inoculants and microalgae have garnered considerable attention as potential substitutes for chemical fertilizer to enhance yield. In this study, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of BOF partially substituting chemical fertilizer on the growth and quality of medicinal plant Polygala tenuifolia. The growth parameters, bioactive component contents, soil properties and composition of rhizosphere microorganisms were measured. The results indicated that substituting 40% of chemical fertilizer with microalgae showed the most pronounced growth-promoting effect, leading to a 29.30% increase in underground biomass and a 19.72% increase in 3,6'-disinapoylsucrose (DISS) content. Substituting 20% of chemical fertilizer with microalgae improved soil quality, significantly increasing soil organic matter content by 15.68% (p <0.05). Microalgae addition significantly affected the rhizosphere bacterial community composition of P. tenuifolia , reducing the relative abundance of Cladosporium by 33.33% and 57.93%, while increasing the relative abundance of Chloroflexi by 31.06% and 38.27%, under 20% and 40% chemical fertilizer reduction, respectively. The relative abundance of Chloroflexi positively correlated with both the underground biomass and DISS content (p <0.05), indicating that microalgae may stimulate Chloroflexi species associated with carbon cycling, thereby enhancing soil fertility, nutrient absorption, and ultimately leading to increased biomass accumulation and production of bioactive components in P. tenuifolia. In addition, there was no significant difference in underground growth and bioactive component contents between reduced chemical fertilizer dosage combined with solid microbial inoculant (SMI) and polyglutamic microbial inoculant (PMI), compared with 100% chemical fertilizer. Correlation analysis revealed that PMI could increase soil phosphorus availability through Streptomyces recruitment. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that bio-organic fertilizers can partially substitute chemical fertilizer to improve soil properties and microorganisms, enhancing the growth and quality of P. tenuifolia. This provides a theoretical basis for increasing medicinal plant productivity under chemical fertilizer reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]