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Intensive vegetable production is characterised by high nitrogen (N) application rates and frequent irrigations, promoting elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas indicative for the low N use efficiency (NUE) in these systems. The use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) has been promoted as an effective strategy to increase NUE and decrease N2O emissions in N-intensive agricultural systems. This study investigated the effect of two NIs, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and 3-methylpyrazole 1,2,4-triazole (Piadin), on N2O emissions and 15N fertiliser recovery in a field experiment in sweet corn. The trial compared the conventional fertiliser N rate to a 20% reduced rate combined with either DMPP or Piadin. The use of NI-coated urea at a 20% reduced application rate decreased cumulative N2O emissions by 51% without yield penalty. More than 25% of applied N was lost from the conventional treatment, while a reduced N rate in combination with the use of a NI significantly decreased N fertiliser losses (by up to 98%). Across treatments, between 30 and 50% of applied N fertiliser remained in the soil, highlighting the need to account for residual N to optimise fertilisation in the following crop. The reduction of overall N losses without yield penalties suggests that the extra cost of using NIs can be compensated by reduced fertiliser application rates, making the use of NIs an economically viable management strategy for growers while minimising environmentally harmful N losses from vegetable growing systems.

Intensive vegetable production is characterised by high nitrogen (N) application rates and frequent irrigations, promoting elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas indicative for the low N use efficiency (NUE) in these systems. The use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) has been promoted as an effective strategy to increase NUE and decrease N2O emissions in N-intensive agricultural systems. This study investigated the effect of two NIs, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and 3-methylpyrazole 1,2,4-triazole (Piadin), on N2O emissions and 15N fertiliser recovery in a field experiment in sweet corn. The trial compared the conventional fertiliser N rate to a 20% reduced rate combined with either DMPP or Piadin. The use of NI-coated urea at a 20% reduced application rate decreased cumulative N2O emissions by 51% without yield penalty. More than 25% of applied N was lost from the conventional treatment, while a reduced N rate in combination with the use of a NI significantly decreased N fertiliser losses (by up to 98%). Across treatments, between 30 and 50% of applied N fertiliser remained in the soil, highlighting the need to account for residual N to optimise fertilisation in the following crop. The reduction of overall N losses without yield penalties suggests that the extra cost of using NIs can be compensated by reduced fertiliser application rates, making the use of NIs an economically viable management strategy for growers while minimising environmentally harmful N losses from vegetable growing systems.

Intensive vegetable production is characterised by high nitrogen (N) application rates and frequent irrigations, promoting elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas indicative for the low N use efficiency (NUE) in these systems. The use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) has been promoted as an effective strategy to increase NUE and decrease N2O emissions in N-intensive agricultural systems. This study investigated the effect of two NIs, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and 3-methylpyrazole 1,2,4-triazole (Piadin), on N2O emissions and 15N fertiliser recovery in a field experiment in sweet corn. The trial compared the conventional fertiliser N rate to a 20% reduced rate combined with either DMPP or Piadin. The use of NI-coated urea at a 20% reduced application rate decreased cumulative N2O emissions by 51% without yield penalty. More than 25% of applied N was lost from the conventional treatment, while a reduced N rate in combination with the use of a NI significantly decreased N fertiliser losses (by up to 98%). Across treatments, between 30 and 50% of applied N fertiliser remained in the soil, highlighting the need to account for residual N to optimise fertilisation in the following crop. The reduction of overall N losses without yield penalties suggests that the extra cost of using NIs can be compensated by reduced fertiliser application rates, making the use of NIs an economically viable management strategy for growers while minimising environmentally harmful N losses from vegetable growing systems.

Intensive vegetable production is characterised by high nitrogen (N) application rates and frequent irrigations, promoting elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas indicative for the low N use efficiency (NUE) in these systems. The use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) has been promoted as an effective strategy to increase NUE and decrease N2O emissions in N-intensive agricultural systems. This study investigated the effect of two NIs, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and 3-methylpyrazole 1,2,4-triazole (Piadin), on N2O emissions and 15N fertiliser recovery in a field experiment in sweet corn. The trial compared the conventional fertiliser N rate to a 20% reduced rate combined with either DMPP or Piadin. The use of NI-coated urea at a 20% reduced application rate decreased cumulative N2O emissions by 51% without yield penalty. More than 25% of applied N was lost from the conventional treatment, while a reduced N rate in combination with the use of a NI significantly decreased N fertiliser losses (by up to 98%). Across treatments, between 30 and 50% of applied N fertiliser remained in the soil, highlighting the need to account for residual N to optimise fertilisation in the following crop. The reduction of overall N losses without yield penalties suggests that the extra cost of using NIs can be compensated by reduced fertiliser application rates, making the use of NIs an economically viable management strategy for growers while minimising environmentally harmful N losses from vegetable growing systems.

Políticas públicas têm sido desenvolvidas para assistir as crianças e os adolescentes testemunhas ou vítimas de diferentes tipos de abusos. Dentre elas, a Lei da Escuta Protegida implantou no Brasil o depoimento especial (DE), que é um modo acolhedor de ouvir as vítimas em audiência e que visa proteger contra revitimizações. Essa pesquisa qualitativa exploratória-descritiva objetivou conhecer como meninas adolescentes vítimas de abuso sexual, que passaram por acolhida em saúde mental compreenderam a sua experiência de serem ouvidas pelo DE. Participaram do estudo sete meninas adolescentes de 12 a 17 anos. Utilizou-se entrevistas e informações dos prontuários clínicos para coleta dos dados. Realizou-se análise temática dos achados e se obteve como resultados dois temas: experiência com o DE e #ficaadica. A apreciação dos dados identificou que as meninas tinham expectativas negativas quanto ao DE e sentiam ansiedade, medo e tristeza antes dele ocorrer. Após ao início da audiência, elas ficam mais tranquilas e ao final, sentiram-se aliviadas. Apesar do desconforto, consideram importante ter esse espaço de fala, inclusive incentivam que outras adolescentes participem do DE. Por fim, indicam que não é necessário mudar como é organizado o DE. Compreende-se, portanto, que o atendimento dos técnicos especializados e a organização da sala de audiência estão relacionadas com o processo de alívio da ansiedade das participantes ao longo do DE, visto que disponibilizam um espaço de escuta com respeito, conforto e gentileza., Public policies have been developed to assist children and adolescents who are witnesses or victims of different types of abuse. Among them, the Protected Listening Law implemented in Brazil the special testimony (ST), which is a welcoming way of listening to victims in hearing and which aims to protect against re-victimization. This exploratory-descriptive qualitative research aimed to understand how adolescent girls who were victims of sexual abuse, who went through mental health care understood their experience of being heard by the ST. Seven adolescent girls aged 12 to 17 years participated in the study. Interviews and information from medical records were used for data collection. A thematic analysis of the findings was carried out and two themes were obtained: experience with the ST and #takethetip. The appreciation of the data identified that the girls had negative expectations about the ST and felt anxiety, fear and sadness before it occurred. After the beginning of the hearing, they became calmer and at the end, they felt relieved. Despite the discomfort of speaking, they understand that it is important, including encouraging other adolescents to participate in the ST. Finally, they indicate that it is not necessary to change how the ST is organized. It is understood, therefore, that the assistance of specialized technicians and the organization of the courtroom are related to the process of relieving the anxiety of the participants throughout the ST, since it is not necessary to change the way the ST is organized., Se han desarrollado políticas públicas para ayudar a los niños y adolescentes que son testigos o víctimas de diferentes tipos de abusos. Entre ellas, la Ley de Escucha Protegida implantó en Brasil el testimonio especial (TE), que es una forma acogedora de escuchar a las víctimas en audiencia y tiene como objetivo protegerlas contra la revictimización. Esta investigación cualitativa exploratoria-descriptiva tuvo como objetivo comprender cómo las adolescentes víctimas de abuso sexual que habían sido acogidas en salud mental entendían su experiencia de ser escuchadas por el TE. Participaron del estudio siete adolescentes de 12 a 17 años. Para la recolección de datos se utilizaron entrevistas e informaciones de historias clínicas. Se realizó un análisis temático de los hallazgos y se obtuvieron dos temas: experiencia con el TE y #siguelapista. La evaluación de los datos identificó que las chicas tenían expectativas negativas sobre el TE y sentían ansiedad, miedo y tristeza antes de que se produjera. Una vez iniciada la audiencia, se tranquilizaron y, al final, se sintieron aliviadas. A pesar de la incomodidad de hablar, se dan cuenta de que es importante e incluso animan a otros adolescentes a participar en la TE. Por último, indican que no es necesario cambiar cómo está organizado el TE. Por lo tanto, se entiende que la atención prestada por los técnicos especializados y la organización de la sala están relacionadas con el proceso de alivio de la ansiedad durante el TE, ya que ofrecen un espacio para escuchar con respeto, comodidad y amabilidad.

Políticas públicas têm sido desenvolvidas para assistir as crianças e os adolescentes testemunhas ou vítimas de diferentes tipos de abusos. Dentre elas, a Lei da Escuta Protegida implantou no Brasil o depoimento especial (DE), que é um modo acolhedor de ouvir as vítimas em audiência e que visa proteger contra revitimizações. Essa pesquisa qualitativa exploratória-descritiva objetivou conhecer como meninas adolescentes vítimas de abuso sexual, que passaram por acolhida em saúde mental compreenderam a sua experiência de serem ouvidas pelo DE. Participaram do estudo sete meninas adolescentes de 12 a 17 anos. Utilizou-se entrevistas e informações dos prontuários clínicos para coleta dos dados. Realizou-se análise temática dos achados e se obteve como resultados dois temas: experiência com o DE e #ficaadica. A apreciação dos dados identificou que as meninas tinham expectativas negativas quanto ao DE e sentiam ansiedade, medo e tristeza antes dele ocorrer. Após ao início da audiência, elas ficam mais tranquilas e ao final, sentiram-se aliviadas. Apesar do desconforto, consideram importante ter esse espaço de fala, inclusive incentivam que outras adolescentes participem do DE. Por fim, indicam que não é necessário mudar como é organizado o DE. Compreende-se, portanto, que o atendimento dos técnicos especializados e a organização da sala de audiência estão relacionadas com o processo de alívio da ansiedade das participantes ao longo do DE, visto que disponibilizam um espaço de escuta com respeito, conforto e gentileza., Public policies have been developed to assist children and adolescents who are witnesses or victims of different types of abuse. Among them, the Protected Listening Law implemented in Brazil the special testimony (ST), which is a welcoming way of listening to victims in hearing and which aims to protect against re-victimization. This exploratory-descriptive qualitative research aimed to understand how adolescent girls who were victims of sexual abuse, who went through mental health care understood their experience of being heard by the ST. Seven adolescent girls aged 12 to 17 years participated in the study. Interviews and information from medical records were used for data collection. A thematic analysis of the findings was carried out and two themes were obtained: experience with the ST and #takethetip. The appreciation of the data identified that the girls had negative expectations about the ST and felt anxiety, fear and sadness before it occurred. After the beginning of the hearing, they became calmer and at the end, they felt relieved. Despite the discomfort of speaking, they understand that it is important, including encouraging other adolescents to participate in the ST. Finally, they indicate that it is not necessary to change how the ST is organized. It is understood, therefore, that the assistance of specialized technicians and the organization of the courtroom are related to the process of relieving the anxiety of the participants throughout the ST, since it is not necessary to change the way the ST is organized., Se han desarrollado políticas públicas para ayudar a los niños y adolescentes que son testigos o víctimas de diferentes tipos de abusos. Entre ellas, la Ley de Escucha Protegida implantó en Brasil el testimonio especial (TE), que es una forma acogedora de escuchar a las víctimas en audiencia y tiene como objetivo protegerlas contra la revictimización. Esta investigación cualitativa exploratoria-descriptiva tuvo como objetivo comprender cómo las adolescentes víctimas de abuso sexual que habían sido acogidas en salud mental entendían su experiencia de ser escuchadas por el TE. Participaron del estudio siete adolescentes de 12 a 17 años. Para la recolección de datos se utilizaron entrevistas e informaciones de historias clínicas. Se realizó un análisis temático de los hallazgos y se obtuvieron dos temas: experiencia con el TE y #siguelapista. La evaluación de los datos identificó que las chicas tenían expectativas negativas sobre el TE y sentían ansiedad, miedo y tristeza antes de que se produjera. Una vez iniciada la audiencia, se tranquilizaron y, al final, se sintieron aliviadas. A pesar de la incomodidad de hablar, se dan cuenta de que es importante e incluso animan a otros adolescentes a participar en la TE. Por último, indican que no es necesario cambiar cómo está organizado el TE. Por lo tanto, se entiende que la atención prestada por los técnicos especializados y la organización de la sala están relacionadas con el proceso de alivio de la ansiedad durante el TE, ya que ofrecen un espacio para escuchar con respeto, comodidad y amabilidad.

Intensive vegetable production is characterised by high nitrogen (N) application rates and frequent irrigations, promoting elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas indicative for the low N use efficiency (NUE) in these systems. The use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) has been promoted as an effective strategy to increase NUE and decrease N2O emissions in N-intensive agricultural systems. This study investigated the effect of two NIs, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and 3-methylpyrazole 1,2,4-triazole (Piadin), on N2O emissions and 15N fertiliser recovery in a field experiment in sweet corn. The trial compared the conventional fertiliser N rate to a 20% reduced rate combined with either DMPP or Piadin. The use of NI-coated urea at a 20% reduced application rate decreased cumulative N2O emissions by 51% without yield penalty. More than 25% of applied N was lost from the conventional treatment, while a reduced N rate in combination with the use of a NI significantly decreased N fertiliser losses (by up to 98%). Across treatments, between 30 and 50% of applied N fertiliser remained in the soil, highlighting the need to account for residual N to optimise fertilisation in the following crop. The reduction of overall N losses without yield penalties suggests that the extra cost of using NIs can be compensated by reduced fertiliser application rates, making the use of NIs an economically viable management strategy for growers while minimising environmentally harmful N losses from vegetable growing systems.

Intensive vegetable production is characterised by high nitrogen (N) application rates and frequent irrigations, promoting elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas indicative for the low N use efficiency (NUE) in these systems. The use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) has been promoted as an effective strategy to increase NUE and decrease N2O emissions in N-intensive agricultural systems. This study investigated the effect of two NIs, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and 3-methylpyrazole 1,2,4-triazole (Piadin), on N2O emissions and 15N fertiliser recovery in a field experiment in sweet corn. The trial compared the conventional fertiliser N rate to a 20% reduced rate combined with either DMPP or Piadin. The use of NI-coated urea at a 20% reduced application rate decreased cumulative N2O emissions by 51% without yield penalty. More than 25% of applied N was lost from the conventional treatment, while a reduced N rate in combination with the use of a NI significantly decreased N fertiliser losses (by up to 98%). Across treatments, between 30 and 50% of applied N fertiliser remained in the soil, highlighting the need to account for residual N to optimise fertilisation in the following crop. The reduction of overall N losses without yield penalties suggests that the extra cost of using NIs can be compensated by reduced fertiliser application rates, making the use of NIs an economically viable management strategy for growers while minimising environmentally harmful N losses from vegetable growing systems.

During cell division, kinetochores link chromosomes to spindle microtubules. The Ndc80 complex, a crucial microtubule binder, populates each kinetochore with dozens of copies. Whether adjacent Ndc80 complexes cooperate to promote microtubule binding remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that the Ndc80 loop, a short sequence that interrupts the Ndc80 coiled-coil at a conserved position, folds into a more rigid structure than previously assumed and promotes direct interactions between full-length Ndc80 complexes on microtubules. Mutations in the loop impair these Ndc80-Ndc80 interactions, prevent the formation of force-resistant kinetochore-microtubule attachments, and cause cells to arrest in mitosis for hours. This arrest is not due to an inability to recruit the kinetochore-microtubule stabilizing SKA complex and cannot be overridden by mutations in the Ndc80 tail that strengthen microtubule attachment. Thus, loop-mediated organization of adjacent Ndc80 complexes is crucial for stable end-on kinetochore-microtubule attachment and spindle assembly checkpoint satisfaction., BN/Marileen Dogterom Lab

The oncogenic role of common fragile sites (CFS), focal and pervasive gaps in the cancer genome arising from replicative stress, remains controversial. Exploiting the TCGA dataset, we found that in most CFS the genes residing within the associated focal deletions are down-regulated, including proteins involved in tumour immune recognition. In a subset of CFS, however, the residing genes are surprisingly overexpressed. Within the most frequent CFS in this group, FRA4F, which is deleted in up to 18% of cancer cases and harbours the CCSER1 gene, we identified a region which includes an intronic, antisense pseudogene, TMSB4XP8. TMSB4XP8 focal ablation or transcriptional silencing elicits the overexpression of CCSER1, through a cis-acting mechanism. CCSER1 overexpression increases proliferation and triggers centrosome amplifications, multinuclearity, and aberrant mitoses. Accordingly, FRA4F is associated in patient samples to mitotic genes deregulation and genomic instability. As a result, cells overexpressing CCSER1 become sensitive to the treatment with aurora kinase inhibitors. Our findings point to a novel tumourigenic mechanism where focal deletions increase the expression of a new class of “dormant” oncogenes.

Irrigated cotton in Australia is mainly grown on heavy textured soils which are prone to waterlogging, resulting in significant losses of nitrogen (N) via denitrification and surface run-off. This study investigated fertiliser nitrogen use efficiency (fNUE) over three seasons on five commercial cotton farms using the 15N tracer technique. Fertiliser NUE was consistently low across all fertilised treatments, with on average 47% of the applied fertiliser lost and only 17% of the N taken up by the crop derived from fertiliser. There was no significant effect of different N fertiliser products and rates on cotton lint yield. High lint yields (0.9–3.6 Mg ha−1) could be achieved even without the application of N fertiliser, demonstrating mineralisation of soil organic N, residual fertiliser, or N returned with crop residues, as key source of N in these cropping systems. Using the nitrification inhibitor DMPP and overhead instead of furrow irrigation showed potential to reduce N fertiliser losses. The results demonstrate that under current on-farm management fNUE is low on irrigated cotton farms in Australia and highlight the need to account for soil N stocks and mineralisation rates when assessing optimized fertiliser rates. There is substantial scope to improve fNUE and reduce N losses without any impact on lint yield, by adjusting N fertiliser application rates, in particular in combination with the use of the nitrification inhibitor DMPP. Using overhead instead of furrow irrigation is a promising approach to improve not only water use efficiency, but also fNUE in irrigated cotton systems.

Nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs represent one of the largest variable costs in dryland cropping systems, and a key determinant of water-limited yield. Despite extensive research into microbial N losses via intermediate denitrification products such as N2O, limited research exists on total N losses, and the effect of increasing soil N surplus has on fertiliser use-efficiency is not clear. In this study, the fate of banded urea fertiliser N across crop uptake, soil residual N and N losses was determined using the 15N recovery technique over nine trials with four N rates (0, plus low, medium and high industry rates) across N responsive and non-N responsive sites over 3 years in dryland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). On average, crop uptake efficiency ranged from 50% at the low and medium N rate (80 kg N ha−1) to < 38% at the highest N rate, and was as low as 5%. Nitrogen losses averaged 26.5% across all rates and trials. At the medium N rate, losses exceeded 18% in all trials, despite relatively dry seasons, and in some trials exceeded 34%. Losses of N were driven by large cumulative rain events and high early-season rainfall. In dryland systems, the inability of crops to acquire banded N fertiliser can potentially leave fertiliser stranded in the topsoil, leaving it vulnerable to losses.

Intensive vegetable production is characterised by high nitrogen (N) application rates and frequent irrigations, promoting elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas indicative for the low N use efficiency (NUE) in these systems. The use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) has been promoted as an effective strategy to increase NUE and decrease N2O emissions in N-intensive agricultural systems. This study investigated the effect of two NIs, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and 3-methylpyrazole 1,2,4-triazole (Piadin), on N2O emissions and 15N fertiliser recovery in a field experiment in sweet corn. The trial compared the conventional fertiliser N rate to a 20% reduced rate combined with either DMPP or Piadin. The use of NI-coated urea at a 20% reduced application rate decreased cumulative N2O emissions by 51% without yield penalty. More than 25% of applied N was lost from the conventional treatment, while a reduced N rate in combination with the use of a NI significantly decreased N fertiliser losses (by up to 98%). Across treatments, between 30 and 50% of applied N fertiliser remained in the soil, highlighting the need to account for residual N to optimise fertilisation in the following crop. The reduction of overall N losses without yield penalties suggests that the extra cost of using NIs can be compensated by reduced fertiliser application rates, making the use of NIs an economically viable management strategy for growers while minimising environmentally harmful N losses from vegetable growing systems.

Intensive vegetable production is characterised by high nitrogen (N) application rates and frequent irrigations, promoting elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas indicative for the low N use efficiency (NUE) in these systems. The use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) has been promoted as an effective strategy to increase NUE and decrease N2O emissions in N-intensive agricultural systems. This study investigated the effect of two NIs, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and 3-methylpyrazole 1,2,4-triazole (Piadin), on N2O emissions and 15N fertiliser recovery in a field experiment in sweet corn. The trial compared the conventional fertiliser N rate to a 20% reduced rate combined with either DMPP or Piadin. The use of NI-coated urea at a 20% reduced application rate decreased cumulative N2O emissions by 51% without yield penalty. More than 25% of applied N was lost from the conventional treatment, while a reduced N rate in combination with the use of a NI significantly decreased N fertiliser losses (by up to 98%). Across treatments, between 30 and 50% of applied N fertiliser remained in the soil, highlighting the need to account for residual N to optimise fertilisation in the following crop. The reduction of overall N losses without yield penalties suggests that the extra cost of using NIs can be compensated by reduced fertiliser application rates, making the use of NIs an economically viable management strategy for growers while minimising environmentally harmful N losses from vegetable growing systems.

Nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs represent one of the largest variable costs in dryland cropping systems, and a key determinant of water-limited yield. Despite extensive research into microbial N losses via intermediate denitrification products such as N2O, limited research exists on total N losses, and the effect of increasing soil N surplus has on fertiliser use-efficiency is not clear. In this study, the fate of banded urea fertiliser N across crop uptake, soil residual N and N losses was determined using the 15N recovery technique over nine trials with four N rates (0, plus low, medium and high industry rates) across N responsive and non-N responsive sites over 3 years in dryland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). On average, crop uptake efficiency ranged from 50% at the low and medium N rate (80 kg N ha−1) to < 38% at the highest N rate, and was as low as 5%. Nitrogen losses averaged 26.5% across all rates and trials. At the medium N rate, losses exceeded 18% in all trials, despite relatively dry seasons, and in some trials exceeded 34%. Losses of N were driven by large cumulative rain events and high early-season rainfall. In dryland systems, the inability of crops to acquire banded N fertiliser can potentially leave fertiliser stranded in the topsoil, leaving it vulnerable to losses.ga1

Intensive vegetable production is characterised by high nitrogen (N) application rates and frequent irrigations, promoting elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas indicative for the low N use efficiency (NUE) in these systems. The use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) has been promoted as an effective strategy to increase NUE and decrease N2O emissions in N-intensive agricultural systems. This study investigated the effect of two NIs, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and 3-methylpyrazole 1,2,4-triazole (Piadin), on N2O emissions and 15N fertiliser recovery in a field experiment in sweet corn. The trial compared the conventional fertiliser N rate to a 20% reduced rate combined with either DMPP or Piadin. The use of NI-coated urea at a 20% reduced application rate decreased cumulative N2O emissions by 51% without yield penalty. More than 25% of applied N was lost from the conventional treatment, while a reduced N rate in combination with the use of a NI significantly decreased N fertiliser losses (by up to 98%). Across treatments, between 30 and 50% of applied N fertiliser remained in the soil, highlighting the need to account for residual N to optimise fertilisation in the following crop. The reduction of overall N losses without yield penalties suggests that the extra cost of using NIs can be compensated by reduced fertiliser application rates, making the use of NIs an economically viable management strategy for growers while minimising environmentally harmful N losses from vegetable growing systems.

Nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs represent one of the largest variable costs in dryland cropping systems, and a key determinant of water-limited yield. Despite extensive research into microbial N losses via intermediate denitrification products such as N2O, limited research exists on total N losses, and the effect of increasing soil N surplus has on fertiliser use-efficiency is not clear. In this study, the fate of banded urea fertiliser N across crop uptake, soil residual N and N losses was determined using the 15N recovery technique over nine trials with four N rates (0, plus low, medium and high industry rates) across N responsive and non-N responsive sites over 3 years in dryland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). On average, crop uptake efficiency ranged from 50% at the low and medium N rate (80 kg N ha−1) to < 38% at the highest N rate, and was as low as 5%. Nitrogen losses averaged 26.5% across all rates and trials. At the medium N rate, losses exceeded 18% in all trials, despite relatively dry seasons, and in some trials exceeded 34%. Losses of N were driven by large cumulative rain events and high early-season rainfall. In dryland systems, the inability of crops to acquire banded N fertiliser can potentially leave fertiliser stranded in the topsoil, leaving it vulnerable to losses.ga1

Nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs represent one of the largest variable costs in dryland cropping systems, and a key determinant of water-limited yield. Despite extensive research into microbial N losses via intermediate denitrification products such as N2O, limited research exists on total N losses, and the effect of increasing soil N surplus has on fertiliser use-efficiency is not clear. In this study, the fate of banded urea fertiliser N across crop uptake, soil residual N and N losses was determined using the 15N recovery technique over nine trials with four N rates (0, plus low, medium and high industry rates) across N responsive and non-N responsive sites over 3 years in dryland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). On average, crop uptake efficiency ranged from 50% at the low and medium N rate (80 kg N ha−1) to < 38% at the highest N rate, and was as low as 5%. Nitrogen losses averaged 26.5% across all rates and trials. At the medium N rate, losses exceeded 18% in all trials, despite relatively dry seasons, and in some trials exceeded 34%. Losses of N were driven by large cumulative rain events and high early-season rainfall. In dryland systems, the inability of crops to acquire banded N fertiliser can potentially leave fertiliser stranded in the topsoil, leaving it vulnerable to losses.ga1

There is a growing realization that the complexity of model ensemble studies depends not only on the models used but also on the experience and approach used by modelers to calibrate and validate results, which remain a source of uncertainty. Here, we applied a multi-criteria decision-making method to investigate the rationale applied by modelers in a model ensemble study where 12 process-based different biogeochemical model types were compared across five successive calibration stages. The modelers shared a common level of agreement about the importance of the variables used to initialize their models for calibration. However, we found inconsistency among modelers when judging the importance of input variables across different calibration stages. The level of subjective weighting attributed by modelers to calibration data decreased sequentially as the extent and number of variables provided increased. In this context, the perceived importance attributed to variables such as the fertilization rate, irrigation regime, soil texture, pH, and initial levels of soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks was statistically different when classified according to model types. The importance attributed to input variables such as experimental duration, gross primary production, and net ecosystem exchange varied significantly according to the length of the modeler's experience. We argue that the gradual access to input data across the five calibration stages negatively influenced the consistency of the interpretations made by the modelers, with cognitive bias in "trial-and-error" calibration routines. Our study highlights that overlooking human and social attributes is critical in the outcomes of modeling and model intercomparison studies. While complexity of the processes captured in the model algorithms and parameterization is important, we contend that (1) the modeler's assumptions on the extent to which parameters should be altered and (2) modeler perceptions of the importance

Nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs represent one of the largest variable costs in dryland cropping systems, and a key determinant of water-limited yield. Despite extensive research into microbial N losses via intermediate denitrification products such as N2O, limited research exists on total N losses, and the effect of increasing soil N surplus has on fertiliser use-efficiency is not clear. In this study, the fate of banded urea fertiliser N across crop uptake, soil residual N and N losses was determined using the 15N recovery technique over nine trials with four N rates (0, plus low, medium and high industry rates) across N responsive and non-N responsive sites over 3 years in dryland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). On average, crop uptake efficiency ranged from 50% at the low and medium N rate (80 kg N ha−1) to < 38% at the highest N rate, and was as low as 5%. Nitrogen losses averaged 26.5% across all rates and trials. At the medium N rate, losses exceeded 18% in all trials, despite relatively dry seasons, and in some trials exceeded 34%. Losses of N were driven by large cumulative rain events and high early-season rainfall. In dryland systems, the inability of crops to acquire banded N fertiliser can potentially leave fertiliser stranded in the topsoil, leaving it vulnerable to losses.ga1

Intensive vegetable production is characterised by high nitrogen (N) application rates and frequent irrigations, promoting elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas indicative for the low N use efficiency (NUE) in these systems. The use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) has been promoted as an effective strategy to increase NUE and decrease N2O emissions in N-intensive agricultural systems. This study investigated the effect of two NIs, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and 3-methylpyrazole 1,2,4-triazole (Piadin), on N2O emissions and 15N fertiliser recovery in a field experiment in sweet corn. The trial compared the conventional fertiliser N rate to a 20% reduced rate combined with either DMPP or Piadin. The use of NI-coated urea at a 20% reduced application rate decreased cumulative N2O emissions by 51% without yield penalty. More than 25% of applied N was lost from the conventional treatment, while a reduced N rate in combination with the use of a NI significantly decreased N fertiliser losses (by up to 98%). Across treatments, between 30 and 50% of applied N fertiliser remained in the soil, highlighting the need to account for residual N to optimise fertilisation in the following crop. The reduction of overall N losses without yield penalties suggests that the extra cost of using NIs can be compensated by reduced fertiliser application rates, making the use of NIs an economically viable management strategy for growers while minimising environmentally harmful N losses from vegetable growing systems.

Intensive vegetable production is characterised by high nitrogen (N) application rates and frequent irrigations, promoting elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas indicative for the low N use efficiency (NUE) in these systems. The use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) has been promoted as an effective strategy to increase NUE and decrease N2O emissions in N-intensive agricultural systems. This study investigated the effect of two NIs, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and 3-methylpyrazole 1,2,4-triazole (Piadin), on N2O emissions and 15N fertiliser recovery in a field experiment in sweet corn. The trial compared the conventional fertiliser N rate to a 20% reduced rate combined with either DMPP or Piadin. The use of NI-coated urea at a 20% reduced application rate decreased cumulative N2O emissions by 51% without yield penalty. More than 25% of applied N was lost from the conventional treatment, while a reduced N rate in combination with the use of a NI significantly decreased N fertiliser losses (by up to 98%). Across treatments, between 30 and 50% of applied N fertiliser remained in the soil, highlighting the need to account for residual N to optimise fertilisation in the following crop. The reduction of overall N losses without yield penalties suggests that the extra cost of using NIs can be compensated by reduced fertiliser application rates, making the use of NIs an economically viable management strategy for growers while minimising environmentally harmful N losses from vegetable growing systems.

Nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs represent one of the largest variable costs in dryland cropping systems, and a key determinant of water-limited yield. Despite extensive research into microbial N losses via intermediate denitrification products such as N2O, limited research exists on total N losses, and the effect of increasing soil N surplus has on fertiliser use-efficiency is not clear. In this study, the fate of banded urea fertiliser N across crop uptake, soil residual N and N losses was determined using the 15N recovery technique over nine trials with four N rates (0, plus low, medium and high industry rates) across N responsive and non-N responsive sites over 3 years in dryland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). On average, crop uptake efficiency ranged from 50% at the low and medium N rate (80 kg N ha−1) to < 38% at the highest N rate, and was as low as 5%. Nitrogen losses averaged 26.5% across all rates and trials. At the medium N rate, losses exceeded 18% in all trials, despite relatively dry seasons, and in some trials exceeded 34%. Losses of N were driven by large cumulative rain events and high early-season rainfall. In dryland systems, the inability of crops to acquire banded N fertiliser can potentially leave fertiliser stranded in the topsoil, leaving it vulnerable to losses.ga1

Nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs represent one of the largest variable costs in dryland cropping systems, and a key determinant of water-limited yield. Despite extensive research into microbial N losses via intermediate denitrification products such as N2O, limited research exists on total N losses, and the effect of increasing soil N surplus has on fertiliser use-efficiency is not clear. In this study, the fate of banded urea fertiliser N across crop uptake, soil residual N and N losses was determined using the 15N recovery technique over nine trials with four N rates (0, plus low, medium and high industry rates) across N responsive and non-N responsive sites over 3 years in dryland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). On average, crop uptake efficiency ranged from 50% at the low and medium N rate (80 kg N ha−1) to < 38% at the highest N rate, and was as low as 5%. Nitrogen losses averaged 26.5% across all rates and trials. At the medium N rate, losses exceeded 18% in all trials, despite relatively dry seasons, and in some trials exceeded 34%. Losses of N were driven by large cumulative rain events and high early-season rainfall. In dryland systems, the inability of crops to acquire banded N fertiliser can potentially leave fertiliser stranded in the topsoil, leaving it vulnerable to losses.ga1

Intensive vegetable production is characterised by high nitrogen (N) application rates and frequent irrigations, promoting elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas indicative for the low N use efficiency (NUE) in these systems. The use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) has been promoted as an effective strategy to increase NUE and decrease N2O emissions in N-intensive agricultural systems. This study investigated the effect of two NIs, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and 3-methylpyrazole 1,2,4-triazole (Piadin), on N2O emissions and 15N fertiliser recovery in a field experiment in sweet corn. The trial compared the conventional fertiliser N rate to a 20% reduced rate combined with either DMPP or Piadin. The use of NI-coated urea at a 20% reduced application rate decreased cumulative N2O emissions by 51% without yield penalty. More than 25% of applied N was lost from the conventional treatment, while a reduced N rate in combination with the use of a NI significantly decreased N fertiliser losses (by up to 98%). Across treatments, between 30 and 50% of applied N fertiliser remained in the soil, highlighting the need to account for residual N to optimise fertilisation in the following crop. The reduction of overall N losses without yield penalties suggests that the extra cost of using NIs can be compensated by reduced fertiliser application rates, making the use of NIs an economically viable management strategy for growers while minimising environmentally harmful N losses from vegetable growing systems.

Nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs represent one of the largest variable costs in dryland cropping systems, and a key determinant of water-limited yield. Despite extensive research into microbial N losses via intermediate denitrification products such as N2O, limited research exists on total N losses, and the effect of increasing soil N surplus has on fertiliser use-efficiency is not clear. In this study, the fate of banded urea fertiliser N across crop uptake, soil residual N and N losses was determined using the 15N recovery technique over nine trials with four N rates (0, plus low, medium and high industry rates) across N responsive and non-N responsive sites over 3 years in dryland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). On average, crop uptake efficiency ranged from 50% at the low and medium N rate (80 kg N ha−1) to < 38% at the highest N rate, and was as low as 5%. Nitrogen losses averaged 26.5% across all rates and trials. At the medium N rate, losses exceeded 18% in all trials, despite relatively dry seasons, and in some trials exceeded 34%. Losses of N were driven by large cumulative rain events and high early-season rainfall. In dryland systems, the inability of crops to acquire banded N fertiliser can potentially leave fertiliser stranded in the topsoil, leaving it vulnerable to losses.ga1

Nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs represent one of the largest variable costs in dryland cropping systems, and a key determinant of water-limited yield. Despite extensive research into microbial N losses via intermediate denitrification products such as N2O, limited research exists on total N losses, and the effect of increasing soil N surplus has on fertiliser use-efficiency is not clear. In this study, the fate of banded urea fertiliser N across crop uptake, soil residual N and N losses was determined using the 15N recovery technique over nine trials with four N rates (0, plus low, medium and high industry rates) across N responsive and non-N responsive sites over 3 years in dryland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). On average, crop uptake efficiency ranged from 50% at the low and medium N rate (80 kg N ha−1) to < 38% at the highest N rate, and was as low as 5%. Nitrogen losses averaged 26.5% across all rates and trials. At the medium N rate, losses exceeded 18% in all trials, despite relatively dry seasons, and in some trials exceeded 34%. Losses of N were driven by large cumulative rain events and high early-season rainfall. In dryland systems, the inability of crops to acquire banded N fertiliser can potentially leave fertiliser stranded in the topsoil, leaving it vulnerable to losses.ga1

Nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs represent one of the largest variable costs in dryland cropping systems, and a key determinant of water-limited yield. Despite extensive research into microbial N losses via intermediate denitrification products such as N2O, limited research exists on total N losses, and the effect of increasing soil N surplus has on fertiliser use-efficiency is not clear. In this study, the fate of banded urea fertiliser N across crop uptake, soil residual N and N losses was determined using the 15N recovery technique over nine trials with four N rates (0, plus low, medium and high industry rates) across N responsive and non-N responsive sites over 3 years in dryland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). On average, crop uptake efficiency ranged from 50% at the low and medium N rate (80 kg N ha−1) to < 38% at the highest N rate, and was as low as 5%. Nitrogen losses averaged 26.5% across all rates and trials. At the medium N rate, losses exceeded 18% in all trials, despite relatively dry seasons, and in some trials exceeded 34%. Losses of N were driven by large cumulative rain events and high early-season rainfall. In dryland systems, the inability of crops to acquire banded N fertiliser can potentially leave fertiliser stranded in the topsoil, leaving it vulnerable to losses.ga1

Intensive vegetable production is characterised by high nitrogen (N) application rates and frequent irrigations, promoting elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas indicative for the low N use efficiency (NUE) in these systems. The use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) has been promoted as an effective strategy to increase NUE and decrease N2O emissions in N-intensive agricultural systems. This study investigated the effect of two NIs, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and 3-methylpyrazole 1,2,4-triazole (Piadin), on N2O emissions and 15N fertiliser recovery in a field experiment in sweet corn. The trial compared the conventional fertiliser N rate to a 20% reduced rate combined with either DMPP or Piadin. The use of NI-coated urea at a 20% reduced application rate decreased cumulative N2O emissions by 51% without yield penalty. More than 25% of applied N was lost from the conventional treatment, while a reduced N rate in combination with the use of a NI significantly decreased N fertiliser losses (by up to 98%). Across treatments, between 30 and 50% of applied N fertiliser remained in the soil, highlighting the need to account for residual N to optimise fertilisation in the following crop. The reduction of overall N losses without yield penalties suggests that the extra cost of using NIs can be compensated by reduced fertiliser application rates, making the use of NIs an economically viable management strategy for growers while minimising environmentally harmful N losses from vegetable growing systems.

Background: Soil N mineralisation is the process by which organic N is converted into plant-available forms, while soil N immobilisation is the transformation of inorganic soil N into organic matter and microbial biomass, thereafter becoming bio-unavailable to plants. Mechanistic models can be used to explore the contribution of mineralised or immobilised N to pasture growth through simulation of plant, soil and environment interactions driven by management. Purpose: Our objectives were (1) to compare the performance of three agro-ecosystems models (APSIM, DayCent and DairyMod) in simulating soil N, pasture biomass and soil water using the same experimental data in three diverse environments (2), to determine if tactical application of N fertiliser in different seasons could be used to leverage seasonal trends in N mineralisation to influence pasture growth and (3), to explore the sensitivity of N mineralisation to changes in N fertilisation, cutting frequency and irrigation rate. Key results: Despite considerable variation in model sophistication, no model consistently outperformed the other models with respect to simulation of soil N, shoot biomass or soil water. Differences in the accuracy of simulated soil NH4 and NO3 were greater between sites than between models and overall, all models simulated cumulative N2O well. While tactical N application had immediate effects on NO3, NH4, N mineralisation and pasture growth, no long-term relationship between mineralisation and pasture growth could be discerned. It was also shown that N mineralisation of DayCent was more sensitive to N fertiliser and cutting frequency compared with the other models. Major conclusions: Our results suggest that while superfluous N fertilisation generally stimulates immobilisation and a pulse of N2O emissions, subsequent effects through N mineralisation/immobilisation effects on pasture growth are variable. We suggest that

The Australian sugar industry is facing mounting pressure to reduce the nitrogen (N) losses and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions associated with N fertiliser use. Research has shown that N2O emissions from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) cropping systems can be reduced with the use of fertilisers coated with nitrification inhibitors, or by sowing legume crops in the fallows between sugarcane crop cycles. However, the efficacy of these two N management strategies across different climatic zones is still unclear, as results from field studies have been contradictory. The objectives of this study were therefore to use the DayCent model to assess the long-term effects of the two strategies (separately or in combination) on N2O emissions, N losses and yields. The model was parameterised using data from eight field experiments (39 treatments) conducted across four of the five main districts of the Australian sugarcane industry. A series of long-term scenarios embracing a range of N fertiliser rates (0−160 kg N ha−1 applied as urea), climatic regions (Tropics and Subtropics), soil textures (fine- and coarse-textured soils) and N-loss risk scenarios (crop fertilised well before or close to the on-set of the wet season) were tested for both N management strategies. Simulations identified that the combined use of soybean (Glycine max L.) fallows and N fertiliser coated with the 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) nitrification inhibitor was the most effective strategy to maintain or even increase current yields while significantly reducing N2O and cumulative N (mainly due to nitrate) losses. When used alone, the soybean fallow strategy on average reduced N losses over the entire crop cycle by 29 % compared with current industry best practice. However, this strategy showed a limited capacity to reduce N2O emissions over the entire cane crop cycle (median: -3% compared with current industry best practice)

Early detection of within-field yield variability for high-value commodity crops, such as cotton (Gossypium spp.), offers growers potential to improve decision-making, optimize yields, and increase profits. Over recent years, publicly available datasets have become increasingly available and at a resolution where within-field yield prediction is possible. However, the viability of using these datasets with machine learning to predict within-field cotton lint yield at key growth stages are largely unknown. This study was conducted on two cotton fields, located near Mungindi, New South Wales, Australia. Three years of yield data, soil, elevation, rainfall, and Landsat imagery were collected from each field. A total of 12 models were created using: (a) two machine learning algorithms: random forest (RF) and gradient boosting machines (GBM); (b) three growth stages: squaring, flowering, and boll-fill; and (c) two different amounts of variables: all variables and the optimal variables determined by a recursive feature elimination (RFE). Results showed a strong agreement between predicted and observed yields at flowering and boll-fill when more information was available. At flowering and boll-fill, root mean square error (RMSE) ranged between 0.15 and 0.20 t ha−1 and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (LCCC) ranged between 0.50 and 0.66, with RF providing superior results in most cases. Models created using the optimal variables determined by the RFE provided similar results compared to using all variables, allowing greater model accuracy and resolution with targeted sampling. Overall, these findings indicate significant potential of publicly available datasets to predict within-field cotton yield and guide decision-making in-season.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas that is primarily emitted from agriculture. Sampling limitations have generally resulted in discontinuous N2O observations over the course of any given year. The status quo for interpolating between sampling points has been to use a simple linear interpolation. This can be problematic with N2O emissions, since they are highly variable and sampling bias around these peak emission periods can have dramatic impacts on cumulative emissions. Here, we outline five gap-filling practices: linear interpolation, generalized additive models (GAMs), autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), random forest (RF), and neural networks (NNs) that have been used for gap-filling soil N2O emissions. To facilitate the use of improved gap-filling methods, we describe the five methods and then provide strengths and challenges or weaknesses of each method so that model selection can be improved. We then outline a protocol that details data organization and selection, splitting of data into training and testing datasets, building and testing models, and reporting results. Use of advanced gap-filling methods within a standardized protocol is likely to increase transparency, improve emission estimates, reduce uncertainty, and increase capacity to quantify the impact of mitigation practices.

Simulation models represent soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in global carbon (C) cycle scenarios to support climate‐change studies. It is imperative to increase confidence in long‐term predictions of SOC dynamics by reducing the uncertainty in model estimates. We evaluated SOC simulated from an ensemble of 26 process‐based C models by comparing simulations to experimental data from seven long‐term bare‐fallow (vegetation‐free) plots at six sites: Denmark (two sites), France, Russia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The decay of SOC in these plots has been monitored for decades since the last inputs of plant material, providing the opportunity to test decomposition without the continuous input of new organic material. The models were run independently over multi‐year simulation periods (from 28 to 80 years) in a blind test with no calibration (Bln) and with the following three calibration scenarios, each providing different levels of information and/or allowing different levels of model fitting: (a) calibrating decomposition parameters separately at each experimental site (Spe); (b) using a generic, knowledge‐based, parameterization applicable in the Central European region (Gen); and (c) using a combination of both (a) and (b) strategies (Mix). We addressed uncertainties from different modelling approaches with or without spin‐up initialization of SOC. Changes in the multi‐model median (MMM) of SOC were used as descriptors of the ensemble performance. On average across sites, Gen proved adequate in describing changes in SOC, with MMM equal to average SOC (and standard deviation) of 39.2 (±15.5) Mg C/ha compared to the observed mean of 36.0 (±19.7) Mg C/ha (last observed year), indicating sufficiently reliable SOC estimates. Moving to Mix (37.5 ± 16.7 Mg C/ha) and Spe (36.8 ± 19.8 Mg C/ha) provided only marginal gains in accuracy, but modellers would

Heatwaves are common in many viticultural regions of Australia. We evaluated the potential of satellite-based remote sensing to detect the effects of high temperatures on grapevines in a South Australian vineyard over the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons. The study involved: (i) comparing the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from medium- and high-resolution satellite images; (ii) determining correlations between environmental conditions and vegetation indices (Vis); and (iii) identifying VIs that best indicate heatwave effects. Pearson's correlation and Bland-Altman testing showed a significant agreement between the NDVI of high- and medium-resolution imagery (R = 0.74, estimated difference ??0.093). The band and the VI most sensitive to changes in environmental conditions were 705 nm and enhanced vegetation index (EVI), both of which correlated with relative humidity (R = 0.65 and R = 0.62, respectively). Conversely, SWIR (short wave infrared, 1610 nm) exhibited a negative correlation with growing degree days (R = -0.64). The analysis of heat stress showed that green and red edge bands-the chlorophyll absorption ratio index (CARI) and transformed chlorophyll absorption ratio index (TCARI)-were negatively correlated with thermal environmental parameters such as air and soil temperature and growing degree days (GDDs). The red and red edge bands-the soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI) and CARI2-were correlated with relative humidity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the effectiveness of using medium-resolution imagery for the detection of heat stress on grapevines in irrigated vineyards.

Simulation models are extensively used to predict agricultural productivity and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the uncertainties of (reduced) model ensemble simulations have not been assessed systematically for variables affecting food security and climate change mitigation, within multi-species agricultural contexts. We report an international model comparison and benchmarking exercise, showing the potential of multi-model ensembles to predict productivity and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions for wheat, maize, rice and temperate grasslands. Using a multi-stage modelling protocol, from blind simulations (stage 1) to partial (stages 2–4) and full calibration (stage 5), 24 process-based biogeochemical models were assessed individually or as an ensemble against long-term experimental data from four temperate grassland and five arable crop rotation sites spanning four continents. Comparisons were performed by reference to the experimental uncertainties of observed yields and N2O emissions. Results showed that across sites and crop/grassland types, 23%–40% of the uncalibrated individual models were within two standard deviations (SD) of observed yields, while 42 (rice) to 96% (grasslands) of the models were within 1 SD of observed N2O emissions. At stage 1, ensembles formed by the three lowest prediction model errors predicted both yields and N2O emissions within experimental uncertainties for 44% and 33% of the crop and grassland growth cycles, respectively. Partial model calibration (stages 2–4) markedly reduced prediction errors of the full model ensemble E-median for crop grain yields (from 36% at stage 1 down to 4% on average) and grassland productivity (from 44% to 27%) and to a lesser and more variable extent for N2O emissions. Yield-scaled N2O emissions (N2O emissions divided by crop yields) were ranked accurately by three-model ensembles across crop species and field sites. The pote

Faithful chromosome segregation is mandatory for cell and organismal viability. Kinetochores, large protein assemblies embedded in centromeric chromatin, establish a mechanical link between chromosomes and spindle microtubules. The KMN network, a conserved 10-subunit kinetochore complex, harbors the microtubule-binding interface. RWD domains in the KMN subunits Spc24 and Spc25 mediate kinetochore targeting of the microtubule-binding subunits by interacting with the Mis12 complex, a KMN subcomplex that tethers directly onto the underlying chromatin layer. Here, we show that Knl1, a KMN subunit involved in mitotic checkpoint signaling, also contains RWD domains that bind the Mis12 complex and that mediate kinetochore targeting of Knl1. By reporting the first 3D electron microscopy structure of the KMN network, we provide a comprehensive framework to interpret how interactions of RWD-containing proteins with the Mis12 complex shape KMN network topology. Our observations unveil a regular pattern in the construction of the outer kinetochore.

Kinetochores, multi-subunit complexes that assemble at the interface with centromeres, bind spindle microtubules to ensure faithful delivery of chromosomes during cell division. The configuration and function of the kinetochore-centromere interface is poorly understood. We report that a protein at this interface, CENP-M, is structurally and evolutionarily related to small GTPases but is incapable of GTP-binding and conformational switching. We show that CENP-M is crucially required for the assembly and stability of a tetramer also comprising CENP-I, CENP-H, and CENP-K, the HIKM complex, which we extensively characterize through a combination of structural, biochemical, and cell biological approaches. A point mutant affecting the CENP-M/CENP-I interaction hampers kinetochore assembly and chromosome alignment and prevents kinetochore recruitment of the CENP-T/W complex, questioning a role of CENP-T/W as founder of an independent axis of kinetochore assembly. Our studies identify a single pathway having CENP-C as founder, and CENP-H/I/K/M and CENP-T/W as CENP-C-dependent followers.

Health area students are susceptible to stress and consequently to illness due to overload of academic activities, high emotional demands and the continuous practice of care. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature in order to know the most frequently cited factors, triggers of stress, Burnout Syndrome (BS) and Common Mental Disorders (CMD) in undergraduate students from health area courses. There were 18 articles reviewed after the inclusion criteria was applied. From the analysis of the results, it was identified the presence of risk factors which contribute for students illness (consider leaving the course, poor performance, lack of emotional support, having no children), and lack of protective factors (recreation activities, advanced semester), which soften the impact of stressors agents. It was concluded that in order to prevent illness situations it is important to adopt the use of confrontation strategies early in the course., Estudantes da área da saúde são susceptíveis ao estresse e, consequentemente, ao adoecimento, devido à sobrecarga de atividades acadêmicas que desempenham, somadas à prática do cuidado e à elevada demanda emocional. O objetivo desse estudo foi realizar uma revisão sistemática da literatura, afim de conhecer os fatores mais citados, desencadeantes de estresse, Síndrome de Burnout (SB) e Transtornos Mentais Comuns (TMC), em graduandos de diversos cursos da área da Saúde. Após aplicar os critérios de inclusão foram analisados 18 artigos. A partir da análise dos resultados, constatou-se a presença de fatores de risco para o adoecimento de estudantes (pensar em abandonar o curso, desempenho ruim, falta de apoio emocional, não ter filhos), e escassez de fatores de proteção (possuir atividades de lazer, semestre avançado), que amenizam o impacto dos agentes estressores. Conclui-se que é importante que os estudantes utilizem estratégias de enfrentamento precocemente no curso para prevenir situações de adoecimento.

Health area students are susceptible to stress and consequently to illness due to overload of academic activities, high emotional demands and the continuous practice of care. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature in order to know the most frequently cited factors, triggers of stress, Burnout Syndrome (BS) and Common Mental Disorders (CMD) in undergraduate students from health area courses. There were 18 articles reviewed after the inclusion criteria was applied. From the analysis of the results, it was identified the presence of risk factors which contribute for students illness (consider leaving the course, poor performance, lack of emotional support, having no children), and lack of protective factors (recreation activities, advanced semester), which soften the impact of stressors agents. It was concluded that in order to prevent illness situations it is important to adopt the use of confrontation strategies early in the course., Estudantes da área da saúde são susceptíveis ao estresse e, consequentemente, ao adoecimento, devido à sobrecarga de atividades acadêmicas que desempenham, somadas à prática do cuidado e à elevada demanda emocional. O objetivo desse estudo foi realizar uma revisão sistemática da literatura, afim de conhecer os fatores mais citados, desencadeantes de estresse, Síndrome de Burnout (SB) e Transtornos Mentais Comuns (TMC), em graduandos de diversos cursos da área da Saúde. Após aplicar os critérios de inclusão foram analisados 18 artigos. A partir da análise dos resultados, constatou-se a presença de fatores de risco para o adoecimento de estudantes (pensar em abandonar o curso, desempenho ruim, falta de apoio emocional, não ter filhos), e escassez de fatores de proteção (possuir atividades de lazer, semestre avançado), que amenizam o impacto dos agentes estressores. Conclui-se que é importante que os estudantes utilizem estratégias de enfrentamento precocemente no curso para prevenir situações de adoecimento.

Grain sorghum grown in north-eastern Australia’s cropping region increasingly requires nitrogen (N) fertiliser to supplement the soil available N supply. The rates of N required can be high when fallows between crop seasons are short (higher cropping intensities) and when yield potentials are high. Fertiliser N is typically applied before or at crop sowing and is vulnerable to environmental loss in the period between application and significant crop N demand due to potentially intense rainfall events in the summer-dominant rainfall environment. Nitrification inhibitors added to urea can reduce certain gaseous loss pathways but the agronomic efficacy of these products has not been explored. Urea and urea coated with the nitrification inhibitor DMPP (3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate) were compared in sorghum crops grown at five research sites over consecutive summer sorghum growing seasons in south-east Queensland. Products were compared in terms of crop responses in dry matter, N uptake and grain yield, with DMPP found to produce only subtle increases on grain yield. There was no effect on dry matter or N uptake. Outcomes suggest any advantages from use of DMPP in this region are most significant in situations where higher fertiliser application rates (>80 kg N/ha) are required.

The potential for elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) losses is high in subtropical cereal cropping systems in north-east Australia, where the fertiliser nitrogen (N) input is one single application at or before planting. The use of urea coated with the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) has been reported to substantially decrease N2O emissions and increase crop yields in humid, high-intensity rainfall environments. However, it is still uncertain whether this product is similarly effective in contrasting soil types in the cropping region of north-east Australia. In this study the grain yield response of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) to rates of fertiliser N applied as urea or urea coated with DMPP were compared in crops grown on a Vertisol and an Oxisol in southern Queensland. Seasonal N2O emissions were monitored on selected treatments for the duration of the cropping season and the early stages of a subsequent fallow period using a fully automated high-frequency greenhouse gas measuring system. On each soil the tested treatments included an unfertilised control (0 kg N ha–1) and two fertilised treatments chosen on the basis of delivering at least 90% of seasonal potential grain yield (160 and 120 kg N ha–1 on the Vertisol and Oxisol respectively) or at a common (suboptimal) rate at each site (80 kg N ha–1). During this study DMPP had a similar impact at both sites, clearly inhibiting nitrification for up to 8 weeks after fertiliser application. Despite the relatively dry seasonal conditions during most of the monitoring period, DMPP was effective in abating N2O emissions on both soils and on average reduced seasonal N2O emissions by 60% compared with conventional urea at fertiliser N rates equivalent to those producing 90% of site maximum grain yield. The significant abatement of N2O emissions observed with DMPP, however, did not translate into significant yield gains or improvements in agronomic efficiencies of fertiliser N use. These re

The potential for elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) losses is high in subtropical cereal cropping systems in north-east Australia, where the fertiliser nitrogen (N) input is one single application at or before planting. The use of urea coated with the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) has been reported to substantially decrease N2O emissions and increase crop yields in humid, high-intensity rainfall environments. However, it is still uncertain whether this product is similarly effective in contrasting soil types in the cropping region of north-east Australia. In this study the grain yield response of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) to rates of fertiliser N applied as urea or urea coated with DMPP were compared in crops grown on a Vertisol and an Oxisol in southern Queensland. Seasonal N2O emissions were monitored on selected treatments for the duration of the cropping season and the early stages of a subsequent fallow period using a fully automated high-frequency greenhouse gas measuring system. On each soil the tested treatments included an unfertilised control (0 kg N ha–1) and two fertilised treatments chosen on the basis of delivering at least 90% of seasonal potential grain yield (160 and 120 kg N ha–1 on the Vertisol and Oxisol respectively) or at a common (suboptimal) rate at each site (80 kg N ha–1). During this study DMPP had a similar impact at both sites, clearly inhibiting nitrification for up to 8 weeks after fertiliser application. Despite the relatively dry seasonal conditions during most of the monitoring period, DMPP was effective in abating N2O emissions on both soils and on average reduced seasonal N2O emissions by 60% compared with conventional urea at fertiliser N rates equivalent to those producing 90% of site maximum grain yield. The significant abatement of N2O emissions observed with DMPP, however, did not translate into significant yield gains or improvements in agronomic efficiencies of fertiliser N use. These re

The use of proximal sensed vegetation indices can reduce the uncertainty linked to the N supplied by organic amendments in a horticultural field by detecting in-season crop N status. This research assessed the applicability of the three vegetation indices (VI) of NDVI, NDRE and CCCI to evaluate the in-season long term optimized strategy of applying organic amendments to a horticultural crop (lettuce) over two seasons. A conventional urea application rate (CONV) was compared with raw (Ma) feedlot manure and Ma combined with standard (Ma+CONV) and optimized urea rate (Ma+Op). NDRE most accurately predicted crop N status at the late stage of lettuce development with an R2 of 0.67 (RMSE 0.61), compared to 0.60 (RMSE 0.67) and 0.62 (RMSE 0.66) for NDVI and CCCI respectively. The in-season acquisition of crop reflectance proved to be a valid technique to determine the efficiency of an optimized combination between organic amendments and N-fertilizer.

Much of the uncertainty in crop and grassland model predictions of how arable and grassland systems respond to changes in management and environmental drivers can be attributed to differences in the structure of these models. This has created an urgent need for international bench- marking of models, in which uncertainties are estimated by running several models that simulate the same physical and management conditions (ensemble modelling) to generate expanded envelopes of uncertainty in model predictions (Asseng et al. , 2013). Simulations of C and N fluxes, in particular, are inherently uncertain because they are driven by complex interactions (Sándor et al. , 2016) and complicated by considerable spatial and temporal variability in the measurements. In this context, the Integrative Research Group of the Global Research Alliance (GRA) on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases promotes a coordinated activity across multiple international projects (e.g. C and N Models Inter-comparison and Improvement to assess management options for GHG mitigation in agrosystems worldwide (C-N MIP) and Models4Pastures of the FACCE-JPI, https://www.faccejpi.com) to benchmark and compare simulation models that estimate C – N related outputs (including greenhouse gas emissions) from arable crop and grassland systems (http://globalresearchalliance.org/e/model- intercomparison-on-agricultural-ghg-emissions). This study presents some preliminary results on the uncertainty of outputs from 12 grassland models, whereas exploring differences in model response when increasing data resources are used for model calibration.

The potential for elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) losses is high in subtropical cereal cropping systems in north-east Australia, where the fertiliser nitrogen (N) input is one single application at or before planting. The use of urea coated with the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) has been reported to substantially decrease N2O emissions and increase crop yields in humid, high-intensity rainfall environments. However, it is still uncertain whether this product is similarly effective in contrasting soil types in the cropping region of north-east Australia. In this study the grain yield response of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) to rates of fertiliser N applied as urea or urea coated with DMPP were compared in crops grown on a Vertisol and an Oxisol in southern Queensland. Seasonal N2O emissions were monitored on selected treatments for the duration of the cropping season and the early stages of a subsequent fallow period using a fully automated high-frequency greenhouse gas measuring system. On each soil the tested treatments included an unfertilised control (0 kg N ha–1) and two fertilised treatments chosen on the basis of delivering at least 90% of seasonal potential grain yield (160 and 120 kg N ha–1 on the Vertisol and Oxisol respectively) or at a common (suboptimal) rate at each site (80 kg N ha–1). During this study DMPP had a similar impact at both sites, clearly inhibiting nitrification for up to 8 weeks after fertiliser application. Despite the relatively dry seasonal conditions during most of the monitoring period, DMPP was effective in abating N2O emissions on both soils and on average reduced seasonal N2O emissions by 60% compared with conventional urea at fertiliser N rates equivalent to those producing 90% of site maximum grain yield. The significant abatement of N2O emissions observed with DMPP, however, did not t

To meet the global food demand in the coming decades, crop yields per unit area must increase. This can only be achieved by a further intensification of existing cropping systems and will require even higher inputs of N fertilisers, which may result in increased losses of nitrous oxide (N2O) from cropped soils. Enhanced efficiency fertilisers (EEFs) have been promoted as a potential strategy to mitigate N2O emissions and improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereal cropping systems. However, only limited data are currently available on the use of different EEF products in sub-tropical cereal systems. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of three different EEFs on N2O emissions, NUE and yield in a sub-tropical summer cereal cropping system in Australia. Over an entire year soil N2O fluxes were monitored continuously (3h sampling frequency) with a fully-automated measuring system. The experimental site was fertilised with different nitrogen (N) fertilisers applied at 170kgNha-1, namely conventional urea (Urea), urea with the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP), polymer-coated urea (PCU), and urea with the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin (Nitrapyrin). Nitrous oxide emissions were highly episodic and mainly controlled by heavy rainfall events within two months of planting and fertiliser N application. Annual N2O emissions in the four treatments amounted to 2.31, 0.40, 0.69 and 1.58kgN2O-Nha-1year-1 for Urea, DMPP, PCU and Nitrapyrin treatments, respectively, while unfertilised plots produced an average of 0.16kgN2O-Nha-1year-1. Two of the tested products (DMPP and PCU) were found to be highly effective, decreasing annual N2O losses by 83% and 70%, respectively, but did not affect yield or NUE. This study shows that EEFs have a high potential to decrease N2O emissions from sub-tropical cereal cropping systems. More research is needed to assess if the increased costs of EEFs can be compensated by lower fertiliser appli

Grain sorghum grown in north-eastern Australia’s cropping region increasingly requires nitrogen (N) fertiliser to supplement the soil available N supply. The rates of N required can be high when fallows between crop seasons are short (higher cropping intensities) and when yield potentials are high. Fertiliser N is typically applied before or at crop sowing and is vulnerable to environmental loss in the period between application and significant crop N demand due to potentially intense rainfall events in the summer-dominant rainfall environment. Nitrification inhibitors added to urea can reduce certain gaseous loss pathways but the agronomic efficacy of these products has not been explored. Urea and urea coated with the nitrification inhibitor DMPP (3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate) were compared in sorghum crops grown at five research sites over consecutive summer sorghum growing seasons in south-east Queensland. Products were compared in terms of crop responses in dry matter, N uptake and grain yield, with DMPP found to produce only subtle increases on grain yield. There was no effect on dry matter or N uptake. Outcomes suggest any advantages from use of DMPP in this region are most significant in situations where higher fertiliser application rates (>80 kg N/ha) are required.

Future climatic changes may have profound impacts on cropping systems and affect the agronomic and environmental sustainability of current N management practices. The objectives of this work were to i) evaluate the ability of the SALUS crop model to reproduce experimental crop yield and soil nitrate dynamics results under different N fertilizer treatments in a farmer’s field, ii) use the SALUS model to estimate the impacts of different N fertilizer treatments on NO3- leaching under future climate scenarios generated by twenty nine different global circulation models, and iii) identify the management system that best minimizes NO3- leaching and maximizes yield under projected future climate conditions. A field experiment (maize-triticale rotation) was conducted in a nitrate vulnerable zone on the west coast of Sardinia, Italy to evaluate N management strategies that include urea fertilization (NMIN), conventional fertilization with dairy slurry and urea (CONV), and no fertilization (N0). An ensemble of 29 global circulation models (GCM) was used to simulate different climate scenarios for two Representative Circulation Pathways (RCP6.0 and RCP8.5) and evaluate potential nitrate leaching and biomass production in this region over the next 50 years. Data collected from two growing seasons showed that the SALUS model adequately simulated both nitrate leaching and crop yield, with a relative error that ranged between 0.4% and 13%. Nitrate losses under RCP8.5 were lower than under RCP6.0 only for NMIN. Accordingly, levels of plant N uptake, N use efficiency and biomass production were higher under RCP8.5 than RCP6.0. Simulations under both RCP scenarios indicated that the NMIN treatment demonstrated both the highest biomass production and NO3- losses. The newly proposed best management practice (BMP), developed from crop N uptake data, was identified as the optimal N fertilizer management practice since it minimized NO3- leaching and maximized biomass production over the