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The effectiveness of agroecological management strategies (AEMS) in controlling bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) remains a critical question. A quantitative review was conducted based on publications reporting agroecological bacterial wilt management practices under on‐station or on‐farm field conditions in electronic libraries, without geographical restrictions, on tomato, pepper, eggplant and potato. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 48 papers were retained, resulting in 644 and 146 observations of bacterial wilt incidence (BWI) and yield, respectively. The effectiveness of AEMS for each crop was evaluated based on BWI and crop yield. The effect size was calculated as the natural logarithm of the response ratio, and confidence intervals were determined by bootstrapping. Varietal control, biological control (used of biological control agents) and combinations of many AEMS were the most reported practices, both under on‐station and on‐farm conditions. The use of plant extracts (Thymus spp., Crotalaria spp.), grafting, solarization, soil amendments (manure, compost) and crop rotations (with maize, beans) were also reported. All AEMS significantly reduced bacterial wilt incidence and increased yields compared to the untreated plots. Grafting, combinations of control methods, varietal control and biological control were the most effective agroecological practices in reducing BWI and increasing yield in tomato and eggplant. Varietal control was the most effective compared to biological control on pepper. The effectiveness of AEMS also varied with crop susceptibility and origin, climatic zone and soil acidity. This study highlights the potential of AEMS in reducing BWI and increasing crop yield in infested soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have investigated how one-time targeted tillage of long-term no-till fields impacts topsoil properties and weed dynamics. An on-farm trial was implemented in 2020 to test the effects of occasional tillage (OT) in Morocco with a long-term no-tillage (NT) system and rainfed field crops: durum wheat (Triticum durum), faba bean (Vicia faba minor), and chickpea (Cicer arietinum). Four treatments were established, namely, continuous NT with crop residues maintained ("NT + residue"); continuous NT with crop residues not maintained ("NT-residue"); shallow inversion tillage ("shallow OT"); and deep non-inversion tillage ("deep OT"). Weassessed the effect of these treatments on soil physical and chemical properties in 0-10 and 10-20 cm soil depths after crop harvest of the 2020-2021 (year 1) and 2021-2022 (year 2) growing seasons corresponding to 1 and 2 years after OT, respectively. In addition, we evaluated the effect of the treatments on weed populations and the effect of the legume crop rotated with wheat on soil nitrogen (N) and weed density. In year 1, deep OT reduced the water content at field capacity and available water capacity at 0-10 cm compared to continuous NT; the cation-exchange capacity (CEC) under deep OT was lower than in NT-residue and NT + residue at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm, respectively. Furthermore, deep OT increased ammonium-N (NH4-N) at 0-10 and 10-20 cm compared to NT + residue but reduced exchangeable potassium (K) at 10-20 cm depth compared to NT-residue. In year 2, shallow OT had lower total porosity at 10-20 cm than NT + residue, while shallow and deep OT recorded higher waterstable aggregates at 0-10 cm than NT + residue; at 10-20 cm, deep OT recorded lower CEC than NT + residue. However, deep OT had higher nitrate-N (NO3-N) and available sulfur (S) than NT-residue at 10-20 cm. Occasional tillage did not significantly affect 10 out of 19 of the soil properties evaluated, including soil organic matter (SOM), in all the years and did not help reduce the stratification of soil nutrients in NT. In year 1, 50 days after OT, deep OT reduced the weed density by 46% compared to NT + residue, while in year 2, 406 days after OT, shallow OT reduced weed density by 53% compared to NT-residue. Regarding the effect of the legume rotated with wheat, faba bean appeared to be the better preceding or following wheat crop as it resulted in higher residual soil mineral N and lower weed infestation than chickpea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agromining describes the technique of growing plants to “mine” metals present in naturally enriched or contaminated soils. This technique comprises a series of processes including improvement of soil quality and production of biomass in order to obtain metals from the ash of harvested hyperaccumulators, which can be considered bio‐ore. The aim of this study was to evaluate different agronomic practices for Ni agromining of the hyperaccumulator species Odontarrhena chalcidica by analyzing (i) Ni yields and (ii) parameters related to soil fertility, biodiversity, and Ni availability. We tested various types of fertilizers including farmyard manure and assessed cultivation of the hyperaccumulator in either continuous monoculture or cropping in rotation with the legume Vicia ervilia. A 2‐year field experiment was established on typical ultramafic Vertisols in eastern Albania. The current study presents the results obtained in the second year of cultivation. After 2 years of agromining, fertilization with animal manure or rotation with the legume improved several soil properties and increased the yield of phytoextracted Ni by four and five times, respectively, relative to non‐fertilized plots. The fertilization treatments did not affect the bacterial diversity indexes but significantly impacted the bacterial community structure. We suggest a fertilization regime including the application of pig or chicken manure (at doses equivalent to NPK 260:105:260; 260:390:260, respectively) every 2 years or the implementation of crop rotation with legumes as effective strategies for developing Ni agromining on Vertisols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This inquiry is aimed at discerning the impact of various agricultural practices, such as crop rotation, the incorporation of plant residues, and the application of mineral fertilizers, on soil health and crop productivity, notably focusing on maize production. Cultivation included maize (Zea mays), velvet beans (Mucuna pruriens), soybeans (Glycine max), and vetch (Vicia sativa). After harvest, maize seeds were sown across all 48 plots to evaluate the influence of preceding crop rotation on soil properties and maize yield. Hypotheses posited in the study suggested that crop rotation, nitrogen fertilizer application, and the incorporation of crop residues positively impact soil fertility. The study further argues that the utilization of cover crops in crop rotation aids in nitrogen retention within the soil and enhances yield. The results were processed utilizing a two‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with interaction and post hoc comparisons. The findings confirm that crop rotation, nitrogen fertilizer application, and incorporation of crop residues influence soil fertility. The study found that crop rotation and nitrogen fertilizers have a significant impact on soil properties. Crop rotations such as “velvet beans‐maize” and “soybeans‐maize” increased soil fertility by 10%–15% compared to crop rotations of “vetch‐maize” and maize monocultures. Nitrogen fertilizers increased the total nitrogen content in the soil by 5%–10% in both years. Crop residues also positively affected soil properties, increasing pH and total nitrogen by 1%–5%. The study demonstrates that crop rotation, nitrogen fertilizers, and crop residues can be effective management methods for improving soil fertility and reducing the risk of nitrate leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Turnip rape is recognized as an oilseed crop contributing to environmentally sustainable agriculture via integration into crop rotation systems. Despite its various advantages, the crop's cultivation has declined globally due to a relatively low productivity, giving way to other crops. The use of genomic tools could enhance the breeding process and accelerate genetic gains. Therefore, the present research investigated 170 turnip rape accessions representing its global gene pool to identify SNP markers associated nine phenological and agro-morphological traits and estimate the genomic breeding values (GEBVs) of the germplasm through GWAS and genomic prediction analyses, respectively. Methods: Field trials were conducted at two sites in northern and southern Sweden to obtain the phenotypic data while genotyping was conducted via the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) method. The traits studied include days to flowering (DTF) and maturity (DTM), plant height (PH), seed yield (YLD), thousand seed weight (TSW), silique length (SL), number of siliques (NS), number of seeds per silique (SS), and pod shattering resistance (PSHR). Results and conclusion: Analysis of variance revealed substantial variation among accessions, with significant genotype-by-environment interaction for most traits. A total of 25, 17, 16, 14, 7, 5, 3, and 3 MTAs were identified for TSW, DTF, PH, PSHR, SL, YLD, SS and DTM, respectively. An 80%-20% trainingtest set genomic prediction analysis was conducted using the ridge regression - BLUP (RR-BLUP) model. The accuracy of genomic prediction for most traits was high, indicating that these tools may assist turnip rape breeders in accelerating genetic gains. The study highlights the potential of genomic tools to significantly advance breeding programs for turnip rape by identifying pivotal SNP markers and effectively estimating genomic breeding values. Future breeding perspectives should focus on leveraging these genomic insights to enhance agronomic traits and productivity, thereby reinstating turnip rape as a competitive and sustainable crop in Sweden and broader global agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Annual forage crops provide high-quality fodder for livestock during typical autumn and winter feed-gaps in the south-east of Australia and benefits through rotations in cropping systems. While benefits from intercropping with cereals and pasture or mixing canola and peas have been studied in Australia, the potential animal-production benefits of grazing mixed annual species forage crops have not been examined. Aims: To determine average daily gain (ADG) and rumen fluid parameters when sheep graze mixtures of annual fodder crops compared with a single species. Methods: Ninety six Dorset × Border Leicester × Merino lambs (mean = 44.3 ± 0.55 kg) were allocated to one of the following four treatment groups (n = 24/treatment) on the basis of sex and liveweight; a single species brassica control (canola) (Br) or annual forage species mixes containing brassica (canola, turnip, radish) and cereal (wheat, cereal rye) (B + C), brassica and legume (vetch, arrowleaf clove) (B + L) or brassica, cereal and legume (B + C + L). Liveweight and rumen fluid parameters were assessed prior to grazing and again 21 and 35 days after the commencement of grazing. Key results: Mean ADG from Day 0 to Day 21 was lower for female, but not male, lambs grazing the Br control (231 ± 23 g head−1 day−1) than for those grazing any forage mix (B + C = 292 ± 23 g head−1 day−1, B + L = 296 ± 23 g head−1 day−1, B + C + L = 310 ± 22 g head−1 day−1). Liveweight change over 35 days of grazing was not different between any forage mixtures. Rumen fluid pH was higher (P < 0.001) for sheep grazing forages containing cereals (B + C = 6.97 ± 0.06, B + C + L = 6.86 ± 0.06) than for those grazing brassica or legume (Br = 6.59 ± 0.06, B + L = 6.68 ± 0.06). Total volatile fatty acid concentration was lower and rumen pH was higher when sheep grazed B + C than when they grazed any other forage mix. Conclusions: The higher ADG in females grazing mixtures than in those grazing the Br was related to higher dry matter on offer. Further research should determine whether the lower pH observed when sheep grazed brassica and legume than when grazing mixes containing cereals is associated with subacute rumen acidosis and reduced fibre degradation and forage energy utilisation. Implications: Mixed forage species can provide higher DM on offer and ADG. Improved rumen efficiency could be related to improved growth. Annual forage crops provide high-quality fodder for livestock during autumn and winter feed-gaps in south-eastern Australia. We investigated potential animal-production benefits of grazing mixed annual forage crops. Average daily gain was lower for female, but not male, lambs grazing brassica only than for those grazing forage mixtures. The low rumen pH when lambs grazed brassica only could have been associated with subacute rumen acidosis. Future studies should assess the effect of forage mix on fibre degradation and growth rates over a longer grazing period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated farming system (IFS) aims to diversify the agricultural landscapes by incorporating different components to meet the multifarious needs of the burgeoning population. The present study was undertaken to understand the impact of different cropping systems on soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, aggregate distribution, and aggregate associated organic carbon (AAOC) in 2-IFS models of varying sizes (0.4 and 0.8 ha) established during 2008-2009. After 10 years of the study, the fodder system registered the greatest TOC and carbon stocks across IFS models, with surface soil (0-15 cm) accumulating 17 and 13% higher TOC and C stock, respectively, in 0.4 and 0.8 ha models. In 0-15 cm, macroaggregates (Ma) represented the highest proportion (75-76%) in both models. Among cropping systems, the fodder system recorded the highest large macroaggregates in both IFS models. Within 0-30 cm depth, small macroaggregates are mostly found in the perennial system (fodder, guava+turmeric, and lemon intercropping system), indicating the potential to improve the aggregate stability over the seasonal (shorter duration) system. In general, micro aggregate (Mi) fraction was pre-dominant in sub-surface soil (17.35%). The maximum AAOC was found in Ma compared to Mi fractions, with approximately 67 and 63% of total carbon associated with Ma in 0.4 and 0.8 ha IFS models, respectively. Interestingly, the 0.8 ha IFS model had higher TOC (~11%) and carbon stock (~12%) than the 0.4 ha model, but AAOC did not show a similar result, indicating the influence of cropping systems on AAOC. The study indicated that the fodder-based production system had better performance in terms of soil physical health and increased aggregate stability and content of soil carbon. This is indicative of the advantages of perennial-based systems over seasonal- or annual-based cropping systems for soil sustainability in Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is a nature-based solution for sustainable agriculture but its potential adoption in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa is still minimal. In this study, we evaluated the agronomic potential of maize stover biochar in cowpea-maize sequential cropping in Uganda under field conditions. The treatments included; the common farmer practice of no inorganic fertilizer and no biochar (CTR), inorganic fertilizer (F), 10 t ha−1 biochar (B10), 40 t ha−1 biochar (B40), 10 t ha−1 biochar + inorganic Fertilizer (FB10), and 40 t ha−1 biochar + inorganic Fertilizer (FB40), arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results showed that cowpea seed yield was not significantly affected by biochar and fertilizer application but the haulm yield was significantly improved only in FB40 treatment. Maize grain and stover yield was significantly improved only in the FB40 treatment but biochar showed a high potential to also improve yield even without inorganic fertilizer. The potential for biochar to improve maize yield either in the presence or absence of fertilizers could be attributed to the residual soil fertility from cowpeas. In both seasons, biochar significantly improved soil pH, EC, SOC, total N, available P, exchangeable K and Ca, irrespective of fertilizer application. However, exchangeable Mg did not significantly vary among the treatments. This study further revealed that in cowpea-maize rotation, optimum yield could also be possible with sole biochar application. Therefore, instead of burning the maize stovers after harvest, farmers should convert the residues into biochar and return it to the soil so as to achieve sustainable food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased agricultural weed diversity is associated with reduced dominance of competitive weeds that reduce crop yields. In addition, diverse weed communities can promote biodiversity at other trophic levels and enhance ecosystem services. For both reasons, there is increasing interest in the relationship between agricultural management and weed diversity. Existing information in this area is limited, relative to the large number of influential factors, but knowledge is increasing rapidly. We conducted a scoping review to determine when, where, and how weed diversity has been evaluated in relation to management. From an initial set of 10 236 items retrieved from Web of Science and Scopus, 7198 were screened and 331 were included. The median publication year was 2015. Nearly half of all studies were conducted in Europe (n = 161, 49%). Organic cropping systems were included in 48 studies (15%). Tillage was the most common management factor (n = 111, 34%), followed by crop rotation (n = 73, 22%). There were 135 studies in which management factors were implemented for six or more years (41%). Most studies included measurements of species richness (n = 265, 80%) and/or Shannon–Wiener diversity (n = 145, 44%). Overall, this review identified a small and heterogenous—but quickly growing—body of literature on weed diversity. Priority areas for future research should include weed diversity beyond field crops in temperate environments, weed seedbanks, functional diversity, and best practices for measuring weed diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn- and soybean-dominated cropping systems create and maintain a favorable environment for summer annual weeds whose emergence and growth phenology are similar to these annual summer crops. Cropping system diversification can be an effective approach for controlling noxious weeds without increasing reliance on chemical herbicides. Diversification may be especially important for managing waterhemp, a dioecious, summer annual weed that is becoming increasingly prevalent in the US Corn Belt due to its life history characteristics and herbicide resistance profile. Compared to corn and soybean, alfalfa and oat emerge and establish earlier and are thus more competitive with warm-season weeds like waterhemp. Knowledge of vegetative and reproductive characteristics in a range of crop environments can be valuable for planning weed management strategies. However, most of the relevant characteristics for a population dynamics model were available in corn and soybean monocultures. We examined the relationship between waterhemp's abovegroundmass and fecundity under four crop species' presence within three crop rotation systems: a 2-year sequence of corn and soybean; a 3-year sequence of corn, soybean, and oat intercropped with red clover; and a 4-year sequence of corn, soybean, oat intercropped with alfalfa, and alfalfa. All the rotation systems were treated with conventional or reduced rates of herbicides. We established eighteen linear equations to predict waterhemp's fecundity from dried aboveground mass in each crop and associated crop management program since measuring the latter allows for quicker estimation of fecundity compared to counting seeds on each individual plant. Rotation system and crop phase within rotation system had significant effects on all the response variables but weed control regime on some. The sex ratios at maturity were slightly female-biased in oat and alfalfa. Mature waterhemp plants were larger in corn and soybean than in oat and alfalfa. Oat and alfalfa were planted earlier than corn and soybean and successfully competed for resources against waterhemp despite the absence of herbicide or interrow cultivation. Frequent hay cuts in alfalfa served as physical weed control and contributed to suppressing waterhemp and other weeds substantially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of long-term liquid dairy manure (LDM) application on the activity and structure of soil bacterial and archaea communities in two cropping seasons over 1 year of a no-till crop rotation system. The experiment was run in a sandy clay loam texture Oxisol, in Brazil, including LDM doses of 60, 120, and 180 m3 ha−1 year−1, installed in 2005. Soil sampling was conducted during spring 2018 and autumn 2019 at 0–10-cm depth. Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, microbial respiration and quotient were performed. Over the 14-year period, LDM application increased soil microbial community activity. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed dominance by Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria phyla (67% in spring and 70% in autumn). Genera Pirulla and Nitrososphaera showed enrichment at LDM doses of 120 and 180 m3 ha−1 year−1 doses, respectively. During spring, following black oat cropping, shifts in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Verrucomicrobia, Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria, and AD3 phyla were observed due to LDM application, correlating with soil chemical indicators such as pH, K, Ca, Mn, and Zn. Our findings indicate that plant development strongly influences microbial community composition, potentially outweighing the impact of LDM. Our findings indicate that the application of liquid dairy manure alters the soil bacterial activity and community; however, this effect depends on the developing plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the important areas of soil erosion science is the development of soil conservation measures. The analysis of published works shows that in Russia most of the techniques and methods to control soil erosion were developed in the 1960s–1980s. In recent decades, interest in scientific and practical developments in this area has been declining. Published data on erosion control measures are poorly systematized, and their generally accepted classification is absent. The typification of erosion-control measures proposed by the authors made it possible to systematize all these measures found in the works and to create their register in the form of a table. Information about the efficiency of erosion control measures is scarce and contradictory. The results of agrotechnical measures are best studied. Non-inversive tillage is the most efficient among agrotechnical measures, it helps to reduce soil erosion by 70–90% according to published data; other agrotechnical measures, on average, reduce the rate of soil erosion by half. Climate change and socioeconomic transformation in the agricultural and industrial complex of Russia in recent decades have led to significant changes in the rate and volume of soil erosion. However, the analysis of literature indicates a shortage of works aimed at adapting existing erosion control measures, or developing new measures with due account for global and regional changes in erosion/deposition processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The minimum disturbance of soil is gaining popularity in different parts of the world because of definite advantages over conventional tillage (CT) especially with respect to rice cultivation. Conventionally, rice is transplanted in puddled soil in which soil is completely broken down and destroyed in presence of standing water to create an impervious layer below the surface so as to hold the rainwater for the rice. Such practice noticeably hampers the growth of the succeeding winter crop grown under conventionally tilled soil because of alteration of soil physical characteristics. Taking into consideration, a field experiment was conducted from 2016 to 2019 to assess the alterations in soil properties resulting from various tillage systems in the cultivation of rice followed by Indian mustard, either through transplanting or direct seeding, after the cultivation of Sesbania aculeata. The experiment was conducted with 20 treatment combinations comprising of five tillage practices combining minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT) viz., T1: CT (S: Sesbania)-CT (TR: Transplanted rice)-CT (IM: Indian mustard), T2: MT (S)-CT (TR)-MT (IM), T3: MT (S)-CT (DSR: Direct seeded rice)-CT (IM), T4: MT (S)-MT (DSR)-MT + rice residue @1.5 tha−1 (IM), T5: MT (S)-MT (DSR)-MT (IM) and four weed management practices viz., W1: recommended herbicides (S and IM: pendimethalin 0.75 kg ha−1 pre-emergence; rice: pretilachlor 0.75 kg ha−1 pre-emergence) W2: IWM: integrated weed management (W1 + manual weeding), W3: manual weeding/hoeing, W4: weedy check, laid out in a split-plot design with tillage practices in the main plots and weed management practices in the sub-plots with three replications. Weed management is excluded from the results and discussion section of the paper due to no treatment effect on soil properties. The soil properties studied under the investigation were microbial population, microbial biomass carbon, soil enzymes such as dehydrogenase, phosphomonoesterase and fluorescein di-acetate, soil available NPK, soil organic carbon, bulk density, water holding capacity, total porosity, water stable aggregates, and mean weight diameter of aggregates were significantly changed under direct seeded rice based system as compared to puddled rice based system. Findings of the experiment suggested that by minimizing soil disturbance and residue retention in winter crop not only improved soil properties but also system productivity in terms of average rice equivalent yield (18.60%) of rice-Indian mustard cropping sequence over conventional tillage system. Minimum tillage in Sesbania-direct seeded rice-Indian mustard with rice residue retention improved macro water stable aggregates (> 0.25 mm sized aggregates) (62.08%) and mean weight diameter of aggregates (1.34 mm) at 0–30 cm soil depth as compared to conventional tillage system (60.04% and 1.27 mm, respectively). The same treatment improved total porosity and water holding capacity of 0–15 cm of soil depth by 47.42% and 45.87%, respectively as compared to conventional tillage after three years of investigation. Regression analysis shows that one unit reduction in bulk density increased total porosity of soil by 1.47 units; whereas a unit improvement in total porosity improved water holding capacity of soil by 1.25 units. Other soil properties viz., soil organic carbon (16.75% in 0–15 cm depth and 25.86% in 15–30 cm depth), available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (1.04%, 5.40% and 1.54%, respectively); bacterial and fungal population, microbial biomass carbon (49.90%), and activity of dehydrogenase, phosphomonoesterase and fluorescein di-acetate (25.39%, 17.02% and 48.94%, respectively) were also improved under the same treatment over conventional tillage system. A significant (P ≤ 0.01) positive correlation of soil macro-aggregates, water holding capacity, soil microbial biomass carbon with soil organic carbon as well as phosphomonoesterase, dehydrogenase and fluorescein di-acetate activities with soil microbial carbon was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria solani is causing early blight and thereby yield reduction in the potato production. The pathogen is today mainly controlled by fungicide applications. The severity of early blight can vary largely among fields. The aim of this study was to gain understanding of what field and management parameters are the most important for early blight severity to create more farm-specific fungicide treatment recommendations. Over three seasons, 2019–2021, 52 field plots were observed at farms in southern Sweden. In each field a 24 m × 24 m plot was left untreated against early blight. However, late blight fungicides were applied. The disease severity was scored twice in the untreated plot and information about various soil/plant parameters and farmer's management was collected from each field. In addition to the observational study, field trials were performed in 2021 and 2022, evaluating the effect of potassium fertiliser levels on severeness of infection. We found that the soil composition was of significant importance for the severity of infection, in particular the sand, clay, and potassium content. The early blight severity was directly positively correlating with a high sand content. Low levels of leaf potassium increased the severity of early blight infection, and this observation was confirmed in field trials where different levels of potassium fertiliser were applied. Further no reduction in disease severity was observed with a four-year crop rotation. With knowledge about field and management factors that influence disease, field-specific recommendations can be developed supporting an integrated pest management strategy for early blight to reduce and optimise the fungicide usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tan spot disease of wheat (also known as yellow spot) is caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Pyrenophora tritici‐repentis (Ptr). Initially described as a grass pathogen, Ptr has become a wheat pathogen of global importance. In Australia, tan spot was first recorded in 1952 as a minor wheat disease. However, by the 1970s tan spot had reached epidemic levels in Australia with yield losses of up to 49% reported in the north‐eastern region. A national survey carried out in 2007/2008 placed tan spot as the most economically important wheat disease with an estimated yield loss of 6%, corresponding to nearly a quarter of all disease losses. The incidence of tan spot in Australia has now markedly reduced with some wheat breeding programmes no longer considering tan spot disease resistance to be a priority trait. The disease can be effectively managed with integrated control strategies such as crop rotation, timely application of fungicides and removal of surface stubble. However, the key to the success of controlling tan spot disease in Australia has been achieved through wheat breeding programmes. The development of tan spot resistance resources suitable for the Australian climate was a concerted effort between national and international research organizations and Australian wheat breeders, supported by the Australian Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC). While traditional breeding was essential to combat the disease, this article highlights the value of effector biology in assisting the development of resistant cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) and recovery with nitrogen (N) fertilization rates in crop rotations need further exploration. The effect of cropping sequence and N fertilization rate were evaluated on spring wheat N concentration and uptake, N harvest index (NHI), N-use efficiency (NUE), and N recovery index (NRI) from 2012 to 2019 in the northern Great Plains, USA. Cropping sequences were conventional till spring wheat-fallow (CTWF), no-till spring wheat-fallow (NTWF), no-till spring wheat-pea (Pisum sativum L.) (NTWP), and no-till continuous spring wheat (NTCW), and N fertilization rates to spring wheat were 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N ha−1. Straw N concentration and N uptake were greater for CTWF than NTWP and NTCW in 4 out of 8 years and increased with increased N fertilization rate. Grain N concentration and NHI varied with treatments and years. Grain N uptake was greater for CTWF and NTWF than NTWP and NTCW at most N fertilization rates and years. In contrast, NUE was greater for NTCW than CTWF and NTWF at all N fertilization rates in most years. The NRI was greater for NTWP or NTCW than CTWF or NTWF in most years. Increasing N fertilization rate increased grain N uptake for most cropping sequences in all years but had a variable effect on NUE and NRI. Although spring wheat N concentration and N uptake were superior for CTWF and NTWF, and NUE for NTCW, NTWP with 50 to 100 kg N ha−1 can be used to sustain grain yield, N uptake, NUE, and NRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphanomyces root rot (ARR), caused by Aphanomyces euteiches, is one of the most devastating diseases that affect the production of peas. Several control strategies such as crop rotation, biocontrol, and fungicides have been proposed, but none provides a complete solution. Therefore, the deployment of resistant cultivars is fundamental. ARR resistance breeding is hampered by the moderate levels of resistance identified so far. The available screening protocols require post-inoculation root assessment, which is destructive, time-consuming, and tedious. In an attempt to address these limitations, we developed a non-destructive screening protocol based on foliar symptoms and used it to identify new sources of resistance in a Pisum spp. germplasm collection. Accessions were root inoculated separately with two A. euteiches isolates, and leaf symptoms were assessed at 5, 10, 14, 17, and 20 days after inoculation (DAI). Although the majority of accessions exhibited high levels of susceptibility, thirty of them exhibited moderate resistance. These thirty accessions were selected for a second experiment, in which they were inoculated with both A. euteiches isolates at two inoculum doses. The objective of this second trial was to confirm the resistance of these accessions by evaluating root and biomass loss, as well as foliar symptoms, and to compare root and foliar evaluations. As a result, a high correlation (R2 = 0.75) between foliar and root evaluations was observed, validating the foliar evaluation method. Notably, accessions from P.s. subsp. humile exhibited the lowest symptomatology across all evaluation methods, representing valuable genetic resources for breeding programs aimed at developing pea varieties resistant to ARR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately quantifying flora and their respective anatomical structures within natural ecosystems is paramount for both botanical breeders and agricultural cultivators. For breeders, precise plant enumeration during the flowering phase is instrumental in discriminating genotypes exhibiting heightened flowering frequencies, while for growers, such data inform potential crop rotation strategies. Moreover, the quantification of specific plant components, such as flowers, can offer prognostic insights into the potential yield variances among different genotypes, thereby facilitating informed decisions pertaining to production levels. The overarching aim of the present investigation is to explore the capabilities of a neural network termed GhP2-YOLO, predicated on advanced deep learning techniques and multi-target tracking algorithms, specifically tailored for the enumeration of rapeseed flower buds and blossoms from recorded video frames. Building upon the foundation of the renowned object detection model YOLO v8, this network integrates a specialized P2 detection head and the Ghost module to augment the model's capacity for detecting diminutive targets with lower resolutions. This modification not only renders the model more adept at target identification but also renders it more lightweight and less computationally intensive. The optimal iteration of GhP2-YOLOm demonstrated exceptional accuracy in quantifying rapeseed flower samples, showcasing an impressive mean average precision at 50% intersection over union metric surpassing 95%. Leveraging the virtues of StrongSORT, the subsequent tracking of rapeseed flower buds and blossom patterns within the video dataset was adeptly realized. By selecting 20 video segments for comparative analysis between manual and automated counts of rapeseed flowers, buds, and the overall target count, a robust correlation was evidenced, with R-squared coefficients measuring 0.9719, 0.986, and 0.9753, respectively. Conclusively, a user-friendly "Rapeseed flower detection" system was developed utilizing a GUI and PyQt5 interface, facilitating the visualization of rapeseed flowers and buds. This system holds promising utility in field surveillance apparatus, enabling agriculturalists to monitor the developmental progress of rapeseed flowers in real time. This innovative study introduces automated tracking and tallying methodologies within video footage, positioning deep convolutional neural networks and multi-target tracking protocols as invaluable assets in the realms of botanical research and agricultural administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an increase in the frequency of hot-dry-windy weather and reported significant increase in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in-season average temperatures, it is important to understand how soil management affects yield stability. This study quantified the combined effects of tillage and fertilizer-N on winter wheat yield stability in a wheat–sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]–fallow crop rotation. The research was conducted from 1975 to 2022 and the experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split-split-plot arrangement. Crop phases were the main plots, tillage (conventional tillage [CT], reduced tillage [RT], and no-tillage [NT]) in the sub-plot, and N application rates (0, 22, 45, and 67 kg N ha−1 or 0, 45, 90, and 134 kg N ha−1) in the sub-sub-plot. Results showed winter wheat yield under NT increased by 0.8 Mg ha−1, compared with about 1.1 Mg ha−1 for CT and RT, when environmental average increased by 1 Mg ha−1 for N rates ≤90 kg ha−1. Yields with CT and RT increased by 0.8 Mg ha−1, compared with about 1.1 Mg ha−1 rate for NT, when environmental average increased by 1 Mg ha−1 for N >90 kg ha−1. In 30%–52% of the time, CT wheat yield was greater than NT, but yield advantage with CT decreased as fertilizer-N rate increases. Yield stability of winter wheat varied by tillage and fertilizer rate. We concluded that NT wheat required greater N rates to reach the same yield potential as CT and RT, and long-term CT or RT wheat at 45 kg N ha−1 was most stable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping is gaining interest from Western Canadian producers who are looking for information on how to incorporate intercrops into their production systems. This review summarizes agronomic research on intercropping from the last 40 years in Western Canada and discusses the potential challenges of integrating intercropping into existing crop rotations while identifying challenges and possible solutions. Reviewed literature indicates that several intercrop combinations have been tested in small plots involving up to four crops simultaneously grown, with over 60% comprising pulse–oilseed combinations followed by pulse–cereal combinations at ∼30%. The land equivalent ratio (LER) for pulse–oilseed and pulse–cereal averaged 1.11 and 1.13, respectively. Key agronomic factors that influenced LER in different intercrop combinations have been summarized, and the relationship of N and seeding rate with crop grain LER and partial land equivalent ratio has been assessed. While the relationship between N rate and LER was unclear in pulse–oilseed combinations such as pea (Pisum sativum L.)–canola (Brassica napus L.), LER decreased linearly with increasing N rate (p < 0.004) in pea–barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) intercrop. We highlighted that incorporating intercrops into current rotations will decrease crop rotation lengths with possible implications for disease management. There are many logistical challenges to intercropping but new technology may help producers to adapt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulse crop lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is often grown in crop rotations to provide nitrogen (N) and water benefits for subsequent crops. Lentil yields vary greatly with environmental factors and management. A reliable crop model for lentil could assist efforts to assess the effects of management practices to mitigate environmental stresses and maximize lentil yields. However, few crop models simulate the development and growth of lentil. In this study, we adapted the CSM-CROPGRO model in the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer to simulate lentil development and growth based on data collected from six experiments conducted from 2001 to 2021 globally. The initial parameter values taken from faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were modified based on reported information and analysis of observed data. Those values were fine-tuned to minimize the gaps between the simulated and observed crop attributes. The model simulated well development stages with root mean square error (RMSE) of 4 days and aboveground biomass with normalized root mean square error (nRMSE ≤ 23%). Seed yields were generally well simulated across experiments in calibration and validation (nRMSE = 19%) datasets, except for overestimation under the humid environment of Quebec in Canada, which may have resulted from excessive vegetative growth. The underlying mechanisms leading to excessive vegetative growth need to be explored further and included in the model for evaluating the adaptability of lentils to specific regions. Overall, the CSM-CROPGRO-Lentil model is ready for simulating lentil production under various scenarios, which may identify ways to improve the productivity and resiliency of cropping systems that include lentil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-temperature flooding and ice encasement (LTFIE) cause variable survival of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Ontario, which limits the adoption of wheat into crop rotations by growers. The development of novel cultivars capable of withstanding LTFIE is a promising avenue for improvement, but the methods used to assess the survival of winter wheat under LTFIE are restricted. This study developed updated methods to determine the survival of wheat cultivars under LTFIE using controlled environments and, to our knowledge, is the first method since the 1980s to use Canadian eastern soft red winter wheat (CESRW) to conduct cold tolerance studies. Chamber-acclimated plants of AC Carberry (spring wheat control), Branson (CESRW), CM614 (CESRW), and Norstar (hardy Canadian western red winter control) cultivars were used to estimate the days (LD50) and temperature (LT50) to reach 50% mortality under ice and without ice treatments. Norstar had the longest LD50 at 33 days, Branson and CM614 had similar LD50 of 18 and 20 days, and AC Carberry did not reach an LD50 as it died early in both treatments. The LT50 of each cultivar was different; Norstar had the lowest LT50 (−13.6 °C day 0 and −13.2 °C day 7), and AC Carberry had the highest LT50 (−6.6 °C day 0 and −2.7 °C day 7). The detailed methods developed in this study were more reliable compared to older methods based on the more accurate reported LD50 and LT50 of the cultivars, therefore, these methods can be used to screen winter cereals for LTFIE in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of pulse crops in Canadian rotations has the potential to improve cropping system efficiencies, reduce the overall amount of applied nitrogen, provide economic opportunities for producers, and reduce the overall carbon footprint of the cropping system. Although primarily grown in western Canada, many pulse species—field pea in particular, are well suited to temperate growing conditions in the Maritime region of Canada. A study was conducted over 2 years at Harrington, Prince Edward Island, and consisted of four field pea varieties including two yellow varieties (AAC Lacombe and CDC Saffron) and two green varieties (CDC Limerick and CDC Raezer) planted at three plant population densities: 75, 100, and 125 plants m−2. The study also measured the effects of nitrogen fertilizer applied pre-plant (0 kg ha−1 vs. 15 kg ha−1) and applied plant available sulfur (0 kg ha−1 vs. 25 kg ha−1). Overall, yellow pea varieties were higher yielding than green pea varieties, and there was a linear increase in yield with increased seeding rate. There were no significant effects of pre-plant nitrogen fertilizer on yield, although it did slightly increase seed protein. Applied sulfur had a positive effect on yield and a slightly negative effect on thousand seed weight. This experiment provides a recommendation for the optimal seeding rate (100 plants m−2) and fertility recommendations to achieve profitable yields growing field pea in the Maritime region of Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies across multiple soils find increasing pH decreases water repellency. In this study, water repellency and a range of other soil physical properties of bulk soils, aggregates and intact specimens were measured on a long-term pH field experiment on a single sandy loam soil under a ley-arable crop rotation, with soil pH adjustments occurring annually by adding FeSO4 or CaCO3, to lower or raise the pH, respectively. Crop impacts were investigated by comparing 3rd year grass-white clover to spring oats, at the beginning (May) and end (September) of the growing season to allow soil structure comparisons. As in previous research, increased CO2 microbial respiration (p<0.05) was found with increasing pH along the gradient, but in this study, we found only the aggregate and soil bulk density affected by soil pH. Soil-water contact angles differed between crops (p<0.05), as well as the repellency index of soil aggregates, however, there was no soil pH effect. Overall, differences in data were found to be a result of the various crops in the rotation rather than by soil pH, indicating only minor impacts on soil physical characteristics after > 55 years of chemical additions to amend soil pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R18‐14147 (Reg. no. GP‐528, PI 705143) is a high‐protein conventional soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] germplasm of maturity group Mid‐IV developed and released by the University of Arkansas System – Division of Agriculture Research & Extension in 2023. The germplasm is an F3:4 selection from the cross LG10‐3671‐1 × R09‐430. Plants of R18‐14147 have an indeterminate growth habit with purple flowers, gray pubescence, brown pod wall, and imperfect black hilum. Across 28 environments in Arkansas (2019–2022), R18‐14147 yield averaged 4482 kg ha−1, with broad adaptability and yield stability. Seed of R18‐14147 contains on average 429 g kg−1 and 191 g kg−1 of protein and oil on a dry weight basis, respectively, and seed weight is 15.2 g 100 seeds−1. The average seed protein content of this line is 8%–27% higher than the average protein content of the check cultivars used in various trials to evaluate R18‐14147. Additionally, R18‐14147 has been identified as resistant to stem canker. R18‐14147 presents soybean growers in the mid‐southern United States with a promising germplasm alternative combining high yield potential and elevated seed protein content for alternative crop rotation in herbicide‐tolerant cultivar systems, offering potentially seed‐saving cost benefits and serving as a valuable germplasm for new cultivar development. Core Ideas: R18‐14147 is a high‐protein soybean genotype that can support the growing market for plant‐based protein.R18‐14147 is a non‐GMO genotype with improved economically important traits that can maximize profit for growers.R18‐14147 is a well‐adapted germplasm that can be important in pre‐breeding activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Role of crop diversification on productivity has been studied widely but its impact on soil carbon dynamics is least studied. The present study was designed to compare the effects of crop diversification in terms of rice‐based mixed crops viz. wheat (RW), chickpea (RC), and flaxseed (RF) and mono‐crops viz. pigeonpea (PP) and mustard (MU) on major soil quality including physical, chemical and biological parameters, total crop biomass, and carbon input (CI) in a tropical rainfed dryland agroecosystem. Trend of total crop biomass observed was: pigeonpea > rice > wheat > mustard > flaxseed > chickpea. Across all the crop sequences, CI into the soil through crop residues including stubbles and root biomass varied considerably and followed the trend: PP > RW > RF > RC > MU. Levels of soil organic carbon (SOC), humic acid, fulvic acid, water holding capacity (WHC), macro‐aggregate fraction, microbial biomass carbon and phosphorus, enzyme activities of alkaline phosphatase, and β‐glucosidase were higher whereas bulk density, meso‐, and micro‐aggregate fractions were lower in the mixed crops than mono‐crops. SOC was positively correlated to all the attributes except bulk density, meso‐, and micro‐aggregate fractions. Lower values of the various soil quality attributes in PP despite the highest CI into the soil as compared to all the mixed crops might be due to the soil carbon priming effect. This study indicated that the quantity of CI through mixed crops had less impact in sustaining soil fertility and productivity of agroecosystems and suggests that the quality of CI play vital role. Mixed cropping sequence especially rice‐wheat was found to be the better option for the dry tropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strawberries in California are grown in specific coastal areas where land is scarce and climate change threatens future production. Strawberry growers are under pressure to adopt sustainable production strategies such as crop rotation, but this practice requires more land than back-to-back planting. The objectives of this research were to quantify the rate of crop rotation across the three main strawberry producing regions in California (Ventura, Santa Maria, and Monterey Bay), and evaluate geographic and edaphic influences on crop rotation. All strawberry fields in the main strawberry producing regions of California were identified by satellite imagery and manual inspection for the years 2017 through 2022. ArcGIS Pro was used to outline each strawberry field and compare among years to determine the period between successive strawberry plantings. Edaphic characteristics and shapefiles for surrounding fields were retrieved from public datasets. The three regions significantly differed in their rates of crop rotation. On average, 95, 52, and 25% of strawberry hectares were rotated each year in the Monterey Bay, Santa Maria, and Ventura regions, respectively. Shorter rotation lengths were associated with reduced distance from the ocean and soil with a higher percentage of sand. Based on 2 years of disease surveys, fields infested with Macrophomina phaseolina tended to be further inland than fields infested with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae in the Monterey Bay region. This study determined that distance from the ocean and soil texture are associated with crop rotation lengths in California strawberry production. Enough land may be available in the Santa Maria and Monterey Bay regions for growers to lengthen crop rotations, but water quality, social networks, and financial considerations that were outside the scope of this study are likely to limit the ability for strawberry growers to maximize the duration of crop rotations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple crop rotations like maize and soyabean grown in succession often coincide with simple weed management tactics, resulting in weed infestations that are highly adapted to the conditions maintained for the selected crops. Amaranthus tuberculatus is a prominent weed species which possesses biological characteristics that allow it to persist in maize–soyabean rotations. Spring wheat and oats emerge earlier than A. tuberculatus and are grown in narrower rows than maize and soyabean, which may increase their competitive capability. A field study which measured morphological and phenological characteristics of three A. tuberculatus cohorts that emerged under fallow, maize, soyabean, spring wheat and oats was conducted to compare their competitive ability. Early emerged A. tuberculatus grew similarly in fallow, maize and soyabeans and grew to heights of >150 cm but was significantly reduced in spring wheat and oats, never exceeding 40 cm. Heights of the last emerged cohorts were more influenced by crop canopies never reaching 15 cm in spring wheat and oats compared to >70 cm in fallow. Early emerged A. tuberculatus canopy diameter and branches plant−1 were reduced by >80% in spring wheat and oats compared to fallow. Flowering was delayed in spring wheat and oats compared to fallow and seed production and biomass were reduced by 99% across cohorts. Growth suppression of A. tuberculatus, based on the findings, can be achieved under dense, competitive crop canopies such as in spring wheat and oats and these crops should be considered as additional crops in maize–soyabean rotations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major challenge to implementing effective soil health assessments is how to distinguish the effects of management from underlying soil variability driven by inherent soil properties. This challenge has important consequences for the use of soil health indicators as tools for monitoring and assessment because soil‐forming factors constrain the range of indicator values and the magnitude of management‐induced changes. Here, we present results from a statewide survey of 15 soil health indicators measured on 30 fields on commercial farms across four major land resource areas in Minnesota. Fields included in the study differed in tillage, cover crop implementation, and crop rotation. Within each field, we collected samples from upper and lower hillslope positions to quantify the effect of topography. We consistently detected differences in soil health indicators between regions (13/15 indicators) and hillslope positions (8/15 indicators). However, only wet aggregate stability was sensitive to management across regions and years, highlighting the importance of physical indicators of soil health. This result was surprising in light of existing literature supporting the sensitivity of many soil health indicators to management, but it is consistent with other studies conducted in high organic matter soils in the Upper US Midwest. Our results highlight the need for regionally representative datasets to guide the development of interpretations and benchmarks for soil health indicators. This is particularly important when soil health indicators are applied outside traditional research contexts (such as in commercial soil health testing), where interpretation must take place without the benefit of historical baseline data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined application of manure and mineral fertilizer represents an effective strategy for enhancing crop yield. However, the relationship between soil fertility and crop yield remains unclear in saline-alkaline soil. Here, a 9-year field experiment (2015–2023) was conducted to investigate the effects of manure application and crop rotations on crop yield and economic efficiency as well as potential associated mechanisms in the Hetao Irrigation District. The results showed that in the third cropping rotation cycle, combined application of manure and mineral fertilizers (NPKO) caused a 6.2%, 38.9%, 65.3%, and 132.2% increase in wheat, sunflower, wheat equivalent yield, and the economic income of sunflower, respectively. The average grain yield had a positive correlation with soil organic matter and nutrient supply. This suggested that the soil organic matter had a positive effect on the crop yield due to its impact on nutrient supply. Simultaneously, the sunflower seed setting rate increased by 65.2% under NPKO. The linear regression model revealed that each additional input of 20 Mg ha−1 of manure resulted in an increase of 3.56 kg ha−1 in crop phosphorus harvest and a 0.05 Kg ha−1 increase in wheat equivalent yield compared to NPK. In conclusion, our results highlighted that manure application promotes soil properties and improves crop yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a nine-year field experiment in a wheat-maize-sunflower cropping system in Hetao Irrigation Area, Inner Mongolia, China, organic amendments applied as straw, manure, green manure, and the combination of green manure and straw increased wheat and maize yield, soil aggregate stability, and soil microbial activity in comparison with chemical fertilizer, without changing greenhouse gas emission intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of New Brunswick (NB) and Prince Edward Island (PEI) potato fields in crop rotation phase prior to potato production was conducted in fall (October and November) between 2017 and 2021. A total of 113 and 126 fields for NB and PEI, respectively, were surveyed with 20 to 35 fields each year tested in each province. Root lesion nematodes (RLN, Pratylenchus spp.) were detected in 99 and 98% of the fields for NB and PEI, respectively, and two root lesion nematode species, P. crenatus and P. penetrans, were identified in both provinces from 2017 to 2021. Based on 2019 and 2020 results, all surveyed fields in NB and PEI were detected with P. crenatus, while only 29 and 43% of the fields in NB and PEI were detected with P. penetrans, respectively. P. crenatus accounted for 96 and 89% of the populations for NB and PEI, respectively, while P. penetrans accounted for 4 and 11% in commercial fields, respectively. In a single in-depth sampled experimental field with a history of severe potato early dying complex in 2018 in NB, P. crenatus accounted for 88% and P. penetrans was 12%. Verticillium dahliae was detected in 94 and 92% of potato fields in NB and PEI, respectively. All isolates obtained from potato cv. "Russet Burbank" in a baiting trial were V. dahliae, belonging to two lineages. V. albo-atrum was detected in a few fields at very low level, except two fields in NB where V. albo-atrum was predominating over V. dahliae. Rotation crops did not affect V. dahliae population densities for NB and PEI, and did not affect RLN population in NB, but significantly affected RLN in PEI. Fall green cover crop did not affect the populations of RLN and V. dahliae in PEI. The present study revealed that the potato pathogenic root lesion nematode P. penetrans was present in less than 50% of surveyed fields and accounted for around 10% of root lesion nematode population in NB and PEI, and V. dahliae was the dominant species and was present in greater than 90% of surveyed fields in both provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversifying wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-based cropping systems is important for the sustainability of dryland agriculture. Research has focused on the agronomic benefits of increased crop diversity in semi-arid environments, but less is known about the impacts of increased crop diversity on the soil microbial community. This work compared soil health parameters between a continuous wheat crop sequence to a diverse sequence that included pea (Pisum sativum L.), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius, L.), and spring wheat. Respiration was higher (p <.005) in the diverse sequence while activity of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase was lower (p <.05) with a mean rate of 26.3 and 16.3 mg ρ-nitrophenol kg−1 soil h−1 for the continuous wheat and diverse sequences, respectively. The mean net nitrogen mineralized during the growing season was 33.2 ± 2.5 kg ha−1 and was not different between treatments (p >.05). No difference was observed in bacterial alpha diversity, while fungal community diversity was 52% lower in the diverse rotation. The results of this work suggest that specific crops in a rotation may impact microbial processes related to nitrogen mineralization and that the soil fungal community may be more sensitive to changes in crop sequence than the soil bacterial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous addition of inorganic fertilizer and farm yard manure (FYM) alone or in combination is necessary to assess the changes in yield and soil properties. Therefore, a study was conducted for consecutive two years on nutrient management with nine treatments viz. T1- control, T2-100% FYM (N equivalent basis), T3-100% N, T4-NP, T5-NK, T6-PK, T7-NPK, T8-100% NPK+ FYM (recommended Practice) and T9- 150% NPK+ FYM to assess the influence of different treatments on yield, sustainable yield index, soil physic-chemical properties and soil carbon stock and sequestration rate in cauliflower and capsicum cropping sequence. Results showed that the addition of farm yard manure alone or in a combination with chemical fertilizers contributed to higher soil organic stock and soil carbon sequestration rate. Application of 150% NPK + FYM improved the SYI of system by 49.4% over a control. This treatment increases soil carbon stock by 12.5% from 25.9 Mg ha−1 to 29.6 Mg ha−1 and recorded with maximum soil carbon sequestration rate, i.e. 2.21 Mg C m−3 year−1 over the 2 years. Thus, balanced fertilization of NPK and FYM is beneficial for the maintenance of soil physical health, improving CEC and macro and micronutrient levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively combat the re-infestation of boll weevils (Anthonomus grandis L.) in cotton fields, it is necessary to address the detection of volunteer cotton (VC) plants (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in rotation crops such as corn (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). The current practice involves manual field scouting at the field edges, which often leads to the oversight of VC plants growing in the middle of fields alongside corn and sorghum. As these VC plants reach the pinhead squaring stage (5–6 leaves), they can become hosts for boll weevil pests. Consequently, it becomes crucial to detect, locate, and accurately spot-spray these plants with appropriate chemicals. This paper focuses on the application of YOLOv5m to detect and locate VC plants during the tasseling (VT) growth stage of cornfields. Our results demonstrate that VC plants can be detected with a mean average precision (mAP) of 79% at an Intersection over Union (IoU) of 50% and a classification accuracy of 78% on images sized 1207 × 923 pixels. The average detection inference speed is 47 frames per second (FPS) on the NVIDIA Tesla P100 GPU-16 GB and 0.4 FPS on the NVIDIA Jetson TX2 GPU, which underscores the relevance and impact of detection speed on the feasibility of real-time applications. Additionally, we show the application of a customized unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for spot-spray applications through simulation based on the developed computer vision (CV) algorithm. This UAS-based approach enables the near-real-time detection and mitigation of VC plants in corn fields, with near-real-time defined as approximately 0.02 s per frame on the NVIDIA Tesla P100 GPU and 2.5 s per frame on the NVIDIA Jetson TX2 GPU, thereby offering an efficient management solution for controlling boll weevil pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapeseed–rice rotation is a cropping system that improves the land-use rate. The present study conducted a field experiment with winter planting of rapeseed as treatment (WR) and winter fallow as control (CK) to investigate the effects of winter planting of rapeseed on growth, yield formation, and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP) biosynthesis of fragrant rice in the two subsequent cropping seasons. The results show that WR treatment improved alkali-hydro nitrogen and rapidly available phosphorus contents in soil. Compared with CK, WR treatment significantly increased grain yield and effective panicle number per plant by 21.16–27.26% and 7.33–21.24%, respectively. Higher net photosynthetic rate, leaf area index, and dry matter accumulation of fragrant rice plants were recorded in WR treatment and CK. Furthermore, compared with CK, WR treatment significantly increased grain 2-AP content, which could be explained by increased content of pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid, methylglyoxal, 1-pyrroline, and enhanced activity of proline dehydrogenase. In addition, future studies should be conducted at a molecular level to reveal the regulation mechanism in 2-AP biosynthesis of fragrant rice under conditions of winter planting of rapeseed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glomalin content is generally considered an indicator of the soil organic matter (SOM) quality. The content of easily extractable glomalin (EEG) and the total glomalin (TG) content was investigated across 71 different sites in the Czech Republic with arable soil and crop production (12 chernozems, 30 luvisols, 17 cambisols, and 12 fluvisols). The majority of the crops in the crop rotation were cereals (45.5%—mainly winter wheat, winter barley, and spring barley). The proportion of winter canola within the crop rotation was 15.9%. The contribution of other crops was substantially smaller (alfalfa, clover, potatoes, beet, silage maize, grain maize). The representation of crops in the crop rotation is standard for conventional farming in the Czech Republic. Based on the results of long-term field monitoring at 71 sites in different soil–climate conditions, we can state the following. The TG content was significantly correlated with the soil organic matter carbon content (CSOM), as well as another important indicator of SOM quality (humic and fulvic acid carbon content ratio—CHA/CFA). A significant and positive correlation was also determined for the TG and clay content (size < 0.002 mm), as well as particles smaller than 0.01 mm. The easily extractable glomalin content (EEG) did not differ based on the reference soil group (RSG). On the other hand, the total glomalin content (TG) was significantly higher in the chernozem RSG in comparison with other RSGs (luvisols, cambisols, fluvisols). There was no relationship between the pHCaCl2 and glomalin (EEG; TG). The same can be said about the relationship between glomalin (EEG; TG) and the bulk density and porosity. No link was established between the glomalin content (EEG; TG) and phosphorus plant-available content. There was no relationship between the amount of applied organic matter (carbon inputs) and the soil glomalin content (EEG; TG). This relationship was not influenced by the type of applied organic fertilizer. No significant relationship was found for either straw, manure, or compost. The data on the glomalin content are significantly influenced by the site (soil type and soil texture). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Czech Republic has diverse soil conditions, which cause notable differences in crop water balance (WB). To assess the long-term crop WB and crop water stress (CWS) intensity in rainfed conditions, four conventional eight- and ten-year crop rotations (CRs) with perennial forage (alfalfa), cereals, oilseeds, root crops and legumes were proposed for a heterogeneous lowland soil region (six texture classes) in eastern Bohemia. Two of the CRs were selected irrespective of the WB (eight-year, C-8; ten-year, C-10), and the other two were designated according to soil water resources and crop water requirements (CWRs) as water-saving (W-S) and water-demanding (W-D) for this region. All CRs had a negative WB on average (i.e., CWRs exceeded the available water resources), with varying degrees of CWS (categories 1 (low) to 4 (high)). The W-S CR reduced the WB deficit relative to the other CRs by omitting maize, sunflower and sugar beet and including sorghum, and expanded the proportion of the area not affected by CWS (categories 1–2) to 33% for predominantly loamy soils. In contrast, categories 1–2 in the C-8, C-10 and W-D CRs represented only 15%, 14% and 7% of the area, respectively. Other areas were significantly affected by CWS (categories 3–4) and showed a high risk of yield reduction. These results may help in implementing sustainable farming systems that consider environmental perspectives related to agricultural water use in Central Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foxtail millet is an important characteristic grain crop in northern China. However, weeds compete seriously with foxtail millet and have long been a biological factor that has plagued foxtail millet production. Rotation requires determining the species and sequence of crops, and reasonable rotation has many benefits for agriculture, including reducing the damage by weeds. In order to clarify the combination effects of foxtail millet–soybean rotation sequence and herbicide on weed control and crop yield, fixed-position experiments were designed in three growing seasons. Foxtail millet and soybean were planted following the sequence below in successive years (FFF, foxtail millet–wheat–foxtail millet–wheat–foxtail millet; SFF: soybean–wheat–foxtail millet–wheat–foxtail millet; SSF, soybean–wheat–soybean–wheat–foxtail millet; SSS, soybean–wheat–soybean–wheat–soybean), and weed density, biodiversity, weed seedbank, and crop yield were examined and analyzed. The results showed that the average weed density of SFF and SSF was reduced by 61.7% and 66.3% compared with FFF in the three years and by 16.5% and 26.6% compared with SSS, separately. Foxtail millet–soybean rotation (SFF and SSF) increased the species richness and the Margalef species richness index of the weed community and reduced the Simpson index compared with the continuous foxtail millet and the continuous soybean cropping (FFF and SSS). The weed seedbank of SFF and SSF was 45.7% and 55.8% smaller than that of FFF and increased by 92.7% and 56.7% compared with SSS, respectively. The weed density in the FFF treatment was significantly correlated with the 0–5 cm grass seedbank size, while there was no significant correlation in the other three treatments. Benefiting from the lower weed damage intensity, the yield of foxtail millet in SFF and SSF increased by 54.05% and 221.81% compared with FFF, respectively. The research results revealed that both SFF and SSF can effectively reduce the damage of weeds and help improve biodiversity. SSF has a higher weed control effect and higher foxtail millet yield than SFF. This study contributes to the understanding of crop–weed interactions in foxtail millet–soybean rotation and can be applied to areas with similar environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover crops (CCs) are regarded as beneficial to agricultural practice as an option for soil quality improvement in field production systems. The main goal of this study was to assess the impact of spring phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum Mill.) in a crop rotation (CC–leek–parsley, 2020–2021) on the physicochemical and biological properties of the soil in an organic high tunnel system. Soil analyses involved measurements of bulk density, water capacity, soil aggregation, soil organic carbon (SOC), available soil nutrients, as well as microbial abundance and diversity. Phacelia generated more aboveground biomass (58.2 t fresh matter ha−1) than buckwheat (33.0 t ha−1), and their biomass contained 161 kg N ha−1 and 67 kg N ha−1, respectively. A large quantity of elements, such as N, Ca, P, S, B, and Cu, were found in phacelia biomass. More Mg and Na were found in buckwheat plants. The results showed that CC biomass significantly improved some of the soil physical and chemical properties, such as soil organic carbon stock and wet aggregate stability, and decreased soil bulk density. Cover crop treatments changed the dynamics of soil bacterial and fungus populations in a high tunnel system. Phacelia increased the quantity of ammonifiers and nitrifiers in the soil substantially. Further research with a long-term focus is needed to assess the impact of cover crops on soil properties, soil quality, and subsequent crop yields in high tunnel crop rotation and management systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Crop rotation can effectively alleviate the obstacles of continuous cropping and restore the agroecological balance, and then determining the optimal length of crop rotation is the cornerstone of effective crop rotation. To delve into this issue, we conducted a six-year rotation experiment aimed at exploring how different rotation lengths impact sugar beet yield, soil properties, and microbial communities. Methods: Conduct field experiments to gather rhizosphere soil samples from treatments with different rotation lengths of sugar beet and analyze their physicochemical properties and microbial characteristics. Subsequently, establish a model linking sugar yield with the physicochemical properties and microbial characteristics of the rhizosphere soil. Results: Sugar beet, sugar content, and sugar yield significantly increased while decreasing disease symptoms, with increases in crop rotation length. Longer rotations significantly ameliorated soil acidification and improved soil fertility. On the other hand, extending the crop rotation length significantly altered the community structure of microbial sub-communities with varying abundances. Additionally, the fungal diversity increased and ecological network became more complex, and a multitude of potentially beneficial microbiota were enriched in the rhizosphere soil with rotation length. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that extending the crop rotation length improved soil conditions, and increased sugar beet yield. In addition, we recommend that sugar beet rotation length should be at least three years or more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversified crop rotations can be a win-win solution for farmers and society given increased agronomic yield and improved ecosystem services. However, the adoption of sustainable production practices must be widespread and accelerated to create resilient agroecosystems that can remain productive as the climate changes. In this paper, we use modified measures of sense of place (SOP) and social responsibility (SR) to investigate the factors that influence the adoption of diversified crop rotations (DCR) among producers in South Dakota (SD). Data was collected from 34 SD counties east of the Missouri River. Through the application of exploratory factor analysis (EFA), we identified 3 constructs of SOP on working landscapes 1) place attachment and identity, 2) social networks, and 3) physical place dependence. Using a binary logistic regression, a positive association between the adoption of DCR and place attachment and identity was found. This suggests that farmers have an emotional bond to their land that plays a role in their usage of DCR. Our results suggest that measuring some dimensions of SOP in a working landscape context is important, but needs more refinement, specifically economic dependence, given that the items measuring it did not emerge as a factor in the EFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural practices shape arthropod communities in arable fields, consequently influencing their interactions and the resulting ecosystem services, in particular pest regulation. Predatory arthropods play a pivotal role by preying on herbivores, soil fauna, and on other predators. However, the intricate mechanisms through which agricultural practices shape the dietary preferences of predators, and regulate herbivore populations remain complex and inadequately understood.We assessed how fertilisation with organic fertiliser and extending crop rotations with perennial ley affected predation pressure across prey taxa. We mapped predator and prey trophic linkages with molecular analysis of carabid predator gut contents, and measured densities and taxonomic richness of predators, herbivores, and soil fauna in 19 cereal fields during three samplings across the growing season.We derived two food web structure metrics: prey vulnerability that is the average number of predators feeding on a selected prey, and predator trophic redundancy, that is dietary overlap. Prey vulnerability was compared among soil fauna, herbivores, and other predator species (that is interspecific intraguild predation) over the growing season, and across treatments. The mechanistic underpinnings of observed shifts in vulnerability of herbivorous prey at different crop stages were identified using information criteria to select among candidate variables related to the richness, density and interaction structure of the different guilds during both the current, and the previous crop stages.Agricultural diversification via organic fertilisation combined with perennial ley in the crop rotation decreased the vulnerability of both intraguild prey and soil fauna prey, and stabilised herbivore vulnerability. Mechanistically, the vulnerability of herbivorous prey at crop ripening emerges from the combination of predator richness and trophic redundancy during this sampling round, rather than from carryover effects from previous crop stages.Synthesis and applications: Our results suggest that locally provided resource continuity through diversified cropping practices bolster biological pest regulation, thus underline the importance of lesser disturbance in arable ecosystems for the provision of ecosystem services. Enhanced predator species richness together with availability of alternative prey through the season underpins this enhanced pest regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) re-cropping has a special place in the crop rotation of rice plants in terms of increasing the efficiency of land productivity. A two-year research (2013–2014) was done with three replications to determine the best planting density and appropriate nitrogen splitting in rice re-cropping at Qaemshahr Agricultural Faculty, Mazandaran, northern Iran. For this purpose, a split plot design in RCBD format was used. Experimental factors consisted of plant density (33.3, 25, and 16 plants per sq m at intervals of 30 × 10, 20 × 20, and 25 × 25 cm2, respectively) as the main factor, and nitrogen splitting (NS1: all as a base, NS2: 1 2 base + 1 2 tillering, NS3: 1 2 base + 1 2 panicle formation, NS4: 1 3 base + 1 3 tillering + 1 3 panicle formation, and NS5: 1 3 base + 1 3 panicle formation + 1 3 end of panicle emergence) as subfactors. The results showed that the grain yield was higher for 2014 than in 2013 by 60.0%, due to increasing the number of panicles per sq m (27.2%) and the weight of 1000 grains (7.2%). The maximum grain yield was achieved at a density of 33.3 plants per sq m along with NS4 treatment. The highest straw nitrogen uptake was observed in 2013 by NS4 treatment. The maximum grain nitrogen concentration, nitrogen harvest index, and grain protein yield were recorded in 2014 along with NS4 treatment. The density of 33.3 plants per sq m and NS of 1 3 base + 1 3 tillering + 1 3 panicle formation are suggested for rice re-cropping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne izalcoensis was described parasitising coffee trees and causing damage in the Izalco volcano region, Sonsonate, El Salvador. In Brazil, it was detected in coffee roots in the municipality of Indianópolis, Minas Gerais state (MG). Intercropping cover crops is a traditional practice in Brazilian coffee orchards, and the use of plants that are non-hosts or antagonistic to the nematodes is a very promising strategy for coffee in infested areas. Due to the scarce information on the host status of M. izalcoensis , the aim of this study was to evaluate 24 plants of different species of cover crops and select the non-hosts or poor hosts. Two assays were conducted at different times, and all plants were inoculated with 10 000 eggs. After 90 days, the following parameters were determined: fresh root weight, reproduction factor (RF) and final reaction. Plants with RF < 1.0 were classified as non-hosts (NH), those with RF > 1.0 were classified as hosts and using statistical analyses as: good host (GH), intermediate host (IH) and poor host (PH). Most of the botanical species tested were classified as NH or PH to M. izalcoensis : cotton, rice, white oat, black oat, ryegrass, corn, three species of grass, two cultivars of millet, two wheat cultivars, Crotalaria breviflora , C. ochroleuca , C. spectabilis , jack bean, gray mucuna bean and two species of rice grass. Only tomato and bean were classified as GH, and C. juncea and soybean were classified as IH. The plants identified as non-hosts or poor hosts can be recommended for intercropping or for crop rotation in Brazilian coffee orchards in regions infested by M. izalcoensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study assessed the influence of the preceding crop (crotalaria or corn) on the bromatological, digestibility and microbiological aspects of the EMBRAPA 139 black oat hay (Avena strigosa) cultivar. A randomized block design was used, with subplots divided according to time, whereby the preceding crop (crotalaria or corn) was allocated to the main plot and hay storage times (baling, 30, 60 and 90 days of storage) to the subplots, with five repetitions. Crotalaria as predecessor resulted in lower indigestible fiber and higher protein contents in black oat hay, both in acid detergent, as well as higher pH. Corn as the preceding crop provided better hay digestibility due to lower neutral detergent insoluble protein content and higher in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility. The preceding crop did not significantly affect the drying time of forage and the microorganism population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the systematic utilisation of substantial amounts of phosphorus fertilisers on agricultural crops in crop rotation, the amount of available phosphate compounds increases in the soil. It ensures the maximum increase in crop yields. The study of the phosphate level in chernozem soils in various agrocenoses is really up-to-date. The gist of our research was to determine the specifics of providing mobile phosphorus in typical chernozem in field crop rotation, especially in sunflower, varying according to fertilisation systems in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. The assessment of mobile phosphorus content was conducted using the Chirikov method, which involves extracting mobile phosphorus compounds from the soil using a solution containing acetic acid (CH3COOH) at a concentration of 0.5 mol dm-3, with a soil-to-solution ratio of 1:25. Phosphorus was determined with the spectrophotocolorimetric method, which is based on the colour intensity of the phosphorus-molybdenum complex. Our investigations showed that the typical low-humus chernozems have considerable reservoirs of potentially exploitable phosphorus for plant nourishment. We established that the mineral and organic-mineral fertilisation system leads to a greater use of mobile phosphorus with agricultural crops of crop rotation resulting in the formation of elevated phosphate content in the chernozem soil. By the end of the second rotation, the organic-mineral fertilisation system variant displayed the greatest concentration of mobile phosphorus within the 0-25 cm soil depth, marking a surge of 15.6 mg kg-1 compared to the unfertilised variant. In the period of sunflower germination, the content of mobile phosphates increased in the soil layers at depths of 0-25 cm and 25-50 cm in the variant of the mineral fertilisation system on 17.6 and 22.2 mg kg-1 of soil compared to the alternative without the fertiliser. In the sunflower's ripening period, the mobile phosphorus concentration in the soil at 0-25 cm depth increased significantly in the variant of organic-mineral fertilisation system by 12.0 mg kg-1 and mineral fertilisation by 14.7 mg kg-1 of soil if compared with the variant lacking the fertiliser. In the variant of the mineral fertilisation system, the amount of mobile phosphorus increased in the 0-30 cm soil depth by 18.7 mg kg-1 of soil in two crop rotations compared to the beginning of the first crop rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Agroforestry can address multiple environmental challenges across the agricultural sector, for example biodiversity loss and soil degradation. However, agroforestry uptake remains low in Germany. Since economic considerations are important for farmer uptake, this paper compares the economic performance of conventional arable farming with silvoarable alley cropping in Brandenburg. Using a modelling approach, the net present value (NPV) is calculated to assess the competitiveness of alley cropping with poplar compared to arable farming under different scenarios. These scenarios cover a range of crops, rotation schedules, alley widths, woodchip prices, and yield levels. Additionally, policy measures that can compensate for potential economic losses associated with transitioning to agroforestry are considered. Results show that short rotation alley cropping had higher NPVs than medium rotation alley cropping, mainly due to cash-flow characteristics. Short rotation alley cropping can be competitive at high woodchip prices without policy support, while at low or average prices alley cropping needs subsidies to be competitive. Medium rotation systems at all price levels were not competitive unless policy support was provided. Current policy payments were unable to make silvoarable alley cropping competitive except at high woodchip prices. When subsidies increase, alley cropping can be competitive even at low or average woodchip prices and over a range of site conditions. Besides policy support, economic performance was strongly influenced by woodchip prices, relative yield potential of poplar and arable crops, and site conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop rotation increases crop yield, improves soil health, and reduces plant disease. However, few studies were conducted on the use of intensive cropping patterns to improve the microenvironment of saline soils. The present study thoroughly evaluated the impact of a three-year maize–peanut–millet crop rotation pattern on the crop yield. The rhizosphere soil of the crop was collected at maturity to assess the effects of crop rotation on the composition and function of microbial communities in different tillage layers (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) of sandy saline–alkaline soils. After three years of crop rotation, the maize yield and economic benefits rose by an average of 32.07% and 22.25%, respectively, while output/input grew by 10.26%. The pH of the 0–40 cm tillage layer of saline–alkaline soils decreased by 2.36%, organic matter rose by 13.44%–15.84%, and soil-available nutrients of the 0–20 cm tillage layer increased by 11.94%–69.14%. As compared to continuous cropping, crop rotation boosted soil nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism capacity by 8.61%–88.65%. Enrichment of Actinobacteria and Basidiomycota increased crop yield. Crop rotation increases microbial community richness while decreasing diversity. The increase in abundance can diminish competitive relationships between species, boost synergistic capabilities, alter bacterial and fungal community structure, and enhance microbial community function, all of which elevate crop yields. The obtained insights can contribute to achieving optimal management of intensive cultivation patterns and green sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]