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The current study was undertaken to investigate how organic and inorganic fertilizers shape soil bacterial communities and soil nitrogen and carbon status and to find their relationships with plant production. Soils were collected from fields under a three-year application of green manures (vetch (GMV), field bean (GMB), and wheat (GMW)), livestock manure (MF), inorganic mineral fertilizer (IF), and control (no nitrogen fertilization). The plants cultivated during the three years were tomato, watermelon, and pepper, respectively. The findings showed an increase in crop yields under both organic and inorganic fertilizers, in which the effects of leguminous green manures (GMV and GMB) were more pronounced, equal to +65–81% in tomato, +32–40% in watermelon, and +51–57% in pepper. An extensive modification in the bacterial communities was observed under organic fertilization. These changes were associated with a higher ratio of Proteobacteria (a copiotrophic phylum) to Acidobacteria (an oligotrophic phylum) in GMV and GMB, due to higher soil N content compared to IF and control treatments. Therefore, the data indicated an increase in soil N and organic C levels, as well as higher plant production by replacing IF with GMV, GMB, and MF, suggesting a promising movement to preserve the soil ecosystem. Such changes were more pronounced in MF-treated soils, where bacterial diversity improved and the heterogeneity of bacterial communities was preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing ecological control technologies against the fall armyworms (FAWs) is crucial. The ecological role of green manure crops has gained attention for their indirect contribution to enhancing crop resistance against specific pests and diseases in rotation systems. We hypothesize that green manure application directly affects FAWs host utilization. By using two-sex life tables, we measured the host adaptation of FAWs to hairy vetch and their offspring's adaptation to the original host (maize) as breeding generations increased during larval stages fed on hairy vetch. When FAWs' adaptability to maize was significantly affected by feeding on hairy vetch, we used 16s rDNA sequencing to detect the gut microbiota composition of current generation of FAW populations that fed continuously on either hairy vetch or maize. Our results suggest that continuous feeding of FAWs on hairy vetch does not enhance their adaptation to the host plant across generations, indicating no increased risk of damage to hairy vetch in maize-hairy vetch rotation. As successive generations of FAWs fed on hairy vetch, their host-specific adaptation to maize decreased or even lost, which was shown by a decrease in pupal weight and fecundity, as well as an inability of emergent adults in completing mating. FAWs' gut microbiota exhibited lower diversity when fed on hairy vetch compared to maize. Cyanobacteria were not detected in "Hairy_vetch" group, while Oxyphotobacteria_unclassified, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Serratia, and Klebsiella showed significantly differences in abundance between the "Maize" and "Hairy_vetch" groups. Additionally, gut microbial taxa and FAWs performance were significantly correlated. Overall, the feeding experience of FAWs on hairy vetch resulted in a reduced or was lost maize-specific adaptation, as shown through changes in gut microbiota. Our study provides experimental evidence for the ecological role of maize-green manure rotation systems in pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White lupine (Lupinus albus L.) is a well-known green manure crop in Hungary, but the production of seeds can be badly impacted by weeds. The sweet white lupine 'Nelly' was grown on acidic sandy soil, and experimental plots were treated with different herbicides. Flumioxazin (0.06 kg ha−1), pendimethalin (5 L ha−1), dimethenamid-P (1.4 L ha−1), pethoxamid (2 L ha−1), clomazone (0.2 L ha−1), metobromuron (3 L ha−1), and metribuzin (0.55 L ha−1) were applied pre-emergence (1–2 days after sowing). Imazamox was also tested and applied post-emergence (1 L ha−1) when some basal leaves were clearly distinct (BBCH 2.3). In this paper, the weed control efficiency and the phytotoxicity of herbicides applied to lupine are examined. Vegetation index datasets were collected 12 times using a manual device and 2 times using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The phytotoxicity caused by herbicides was visually assessed on several occasions throughout the breeding season. The frequency of weed occurrence per treatment was assessed. The harvested seed yields, in kg ha−1, were analyzed after the seeds were cleaned. The herbicides metribuzin and imazamox caused extensive damage to white lupine. While pendimethalin, dimethenamid-P, pethoxamid, and clomazone were outstanding in several measured indicators, the final ranking which summarizes all the variables showed that only the pethoxamid and clomazone treatments performed better than the control. Metribuzin and imazamox were highly phytotoxic to white lupine. In the future, it would be appropriate to integrate more post-emergence active substances into trials, and the pre-emergence herbicides involved in this study should be further tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regenerative farming systems are gaining increasing attention in crop production worldwide. The challenge of the future is to find and apply farming methods that not only reduce the carbon footprint of cultivation, but also produce sustainably through an optimal choice of inputs. We set up our crop rotation experiment in 2019 in order to evaluate the role of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) as a green manure crop in a crop rotation system. The results were compared with nitrogen fertilizer (80 kg ha−1 N) and control (no green manure and no fertilizer) treatments. Based on the three years of results, it can be concluded that the biomass production capacity of common vetch sown in August is determined by the amount of precipitation in October under continental climatic conditions. In an optimum year for corn, common vetch as a forecrop was found to be equivalent to the effect of fertilizer application at all three applied seed rates, but under stress conditions in a drought year, significantly higher corn yields were obtained when common vetch green manure was applied. Our results suggest a justified role for the use of common vetch green manure in crop rotation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance, biomass production and nutrient accumulation of three abundant leguminous weeds, namely Crotolaria micans Link., Aeschynomene indica L. and Calopogonium mucunoides Desv., found in Mizoram, India, to assess their potentiality as green manure crops. Methods: The field experiment was conducted using a randomized block design. After 90 days of sowing, the growth performance of the plants and biomass accumulation was assessed. Accumulation of nutrients was estimated by analyzing the nutrient content using standard methods and multiplying it with dry biomass. Result: The result revealed that Crotolaria micans showed higher growth and biomass accumulation. C. micans accumulates higher N, P, K, Zn, Cu and Fe contents in the shoot and root biomass while A. indica accumulates higher Ca in the root biomass. We conclude that Crotolaria micans was the most promising leguminous weed species in terms of growth performance, biomass production and nutrient accumulation and has better potential to be utilized as a green manure crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective weed management faces increasing legislative restrictions for the use of herbicides due to their toxicity and environmental persistence. In addition, the linear increase in resistant weeds threatens to render authorized herbicides useless. In a post-herbicide era, under the IWM strategy, allelopathy can play a relevant role since many plants can produce a variety of allelochemicals with different structures and modes of action, capable of inhibiting the germination and growth of different weed species. Inspired by green manuring with cover crops, the use of allelopathic biomass from weeds, invasive species, residues of forestry plantations, and other abundant wild plants has some advantages over green manures grown in situ or other alternatives such as applying plant extracts or essential oils. Beyond the ecosystem services provided by green manures, the potential use of allelopathic biomass offers extra opportunities for the science and practice of holistically integrated weed management because (i) the investment of resources and time for producing cover crops would be alleviated, and (ii), new use of agroforestry residues and a sink for harmful weed biomass is provided. In this review, we compile the current knowledge of those allelopathic species whose biomass, used as soil amendment, effectively controlled weeds. In addition, the complex allelopathic processes underlying the effectiveness of cover crops and allelopathic biomass used as green manures for weed control are revisited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was performed in Askanian State Agricultural Research Station of the Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, located in the Southern Steppe zone of the country. The experiments were carried out in a stationary field in the period 2015-2020 within a four-field crop rotation (winter barley with post-harvest sowing of green manure crop-soybean- winter wheat with post-harvest sowing of green manure crop-grain maize) and resulted in scientific substantiation of the influence of different systems of basic tillage and organic-mineral fertilization systems on the agrophysical parameters of dark-chestnut soil and formation of winter barley yields. It was determined that the no-till variations, which outperformed the bulk density in the control (under the conduct of mechanical tillage) by 4.0%, are responsible for the soil's maximum bulk density (1.30 g/cm³). The bulk density of the dark-chestnut soil was decreased by 1.6% when post-harvest green manure was used, and by 2.3% when continuous no-till farming was used. The bulk density of the arable layer of dark-chestnut soil in the range of 1.22-1.26 g/cm³ produces the maximum productivity of winter barley. Crop yields are impacted by a reduction in bulk density brought on by excessive soil loosening as well as soil compaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato is a demanding crop in fertilizers, fungicides, and pesticides. Therefore, producing food with limit use of chemical farm inputs became essential to reduce the harmful effects of these chemicals in agro-ecosystems. Green manures have great potential to limit the dependency on chemical inputs and preserve the soil fertility. Two fodder radish cultivars, used as green manure, were tested, during three consecutive cropping years, for their effects on soil properties and fertility, tomato growth and production, soilborne diseases' severity, and rhizosphere microbial community. Control treatment consisted of bovine manure and a commercial bio-activator of plant and soil systems i.e. biocat−15Ⓡ. All amended soils showed enhancement in their total nitrogen and available potassium and phosphorus levels. The highest increment in the soil organic matter and the soil carbon biomass noted using radish cv. Defender material. Before tomato planting, the monitoring of the soil microbial community structure revealed that the two green manures had increased the soil richness in actinomycetes communities but only cv. Defender had enhanced the bacterial population. For tomato growth and soilborne disease severity parameters, organic amendments had enhanced tomato growth by 17.8 to 41.7% and decreased disease severity by 46.6 to 97.3% at the second cropping year compared to the first one. The present results indicate that the four organic amendments tested would be an effective approach for improving the soil ecological environment for sustainable tomato cropping with significant enhancements of the majority of tested parameters recorded using fodder radish cv. Defender as green manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ground cover produced by green manures has a direct influence on weed suppression and, in addition, the biomass produced by these same plants influences crop growth. This study was carried out to compare the effect of green manure species on the incidence of weeds, in sequence, in order to evaluate the effects of the use of green manure cover on the productive characteristics of maize plants. A completely randomised experimental design was used, with 11 treatments and 4 replications. The treatments were cover crops Canavalia ensiformis (T1), Cajanus cajan (T2), Stizolobium pruriens (T3), Crotalaria juncea (T4), Phaseolus vulgaris (T5), Stizolobium trigre (T6), Stizolobium aterrimum (T7), Crotalaria retusa (T8), Crotalaria breviflora (T9), Dolichos lablab (T10), and conventional system (T11). Ninety days after sowing, the green manures were cut, and 30 days after the green manures were cut, the hybrid maize Crop Top 520 was sown. The variables evaluated in relation to the planting of green manures were the green and dry biomass of green manures, alongside the green biomass of weeds and suppression of weeds. Concerning maize plants, the variables evaluated were plant height at 60 DAS, stalk diameter at 60 DAS, number of grain rows per ear, number of grains per grain row, and yield. The averages were subsequently analyzed using Tukey's test at 95% significance level. The use of green manure significantly reduces the green mass of weeds up to 90 days due to lack of access to light of the weeds, which reduces their appearance and growth. Stizolobium aterrimum showed the best results both as a dry mass producer and weed suppressor and also as a yield enhancer in maize crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green manure crops intercropping is an effective agricultural practice to alleviate water and nutrient deficit by improving soil properties in the Loess Plateau of China. However, green manure crops intercropping could cause water and nutrient competition, but the effects of different green manure crops intercropping on soil water and nutrient status are rarely evaluated. Thus, we conducted a field experiment to investigate the responses of soil moisture, nitrogen, and yield to green manure crops intercropping. Three intercropping patterns, apple–ryegrass (AR), apple–spring rape (AS), and apple–alfalfa (AA), were set up with a blank control (CK), which employed clean tillage in the inter-row and row. All treatments had no significant difference on evapotranspiration. At maturity, AR, AS, and AA treatments reduced soil organic matter content by 4.2%, 6.5%, and 18.8%, and total nitrogen content by 0.01%, 1.3%, and 20.3%, relative to CK, respectively. The water competition degree in AR, AS, and AA were 38.4%, 48.8%, and 64.6%, respectively. Ryegrass, spring rape, and alfalfa's nitrogen use efficiency were 19.71%, 29.24%, and 39.42%, respectively. AR and AS treatments increased the apple yield by 11.7% and 5.7%, and water-use efficiency (WUE) by 14.4% and 7.5%, relative to CK, respectively. AA treatment reduced the apple yield by 6.9% and WUE by 6.8%, relative to CK. All treatments had no significant difference on apple quality. Therefore, in normal water years, we suggest adapting the ryegrass–apple tree intercropping pattern for apple production on the Plateau Loess, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Green manure application is an effective management practice for enhancing soil nutrient levels and organic matter, but pest management in green manure fields has traditionally been ignored. The beet webworm, a polyphagous insect, is currently experiencing an outbreak in northern China, and represents a significant migratory pest. We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of green manure crops on beet webworm by measuring its growth, development, fecundity, and flight ability on Chenopodium album (a suitable host), as well as three major legume green manure crops in China: Pisum sativam, Vicia sativa, and Vicia villosa. Our findings indicate that V. villosa does not serve as a host plant for the beet webworm, which experiences 100% mortality during its larval stage. This indicates that the large-scale cultivation of V. villosa as a green manure crop in northern China will not increase the risk of the beet webworm outbreaks. Although the beet webworm has a significantly lower host adaptability to P. sativam and V. sativa compared to C. album, it is still well adapted to these two green manure crops. Our research provides a foundation for selecting appropriate green manure varieties and implementing effective pest control measures during their cultivation. The application of green manure is crucial for achieving sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry, but pest management is often overlooked. Conducting a risk assessment for insect pests in green manure is essential. The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis, a polyphagous insect, is currently experiencing an outbreak in northern China, and represents a significant migratory pest. A two-sex life table and flight mill test approach was used to comprehensively evaluate the effects of three major legume green manure crops (Pisum sativam, Vicia sativa, and Vicia villosa) on the growth, development, fecundity, and flight ability of L. sticticalis in China. Our findings indicate that L. sticticalis cannot utilize V. villosa for generational development. L. sticticalis shows reduced performance on P. sativam and V. sativa compared to its suitable host Chenopodium album. However, both the population parameters (R0, r, λ, and T) and the population prediction results suggest that L. sticticalis can adapt to P. sativam and V. sativa. In the process of promoting green manure, careful consideration should be given to the selection of appropriate green manure varieties and the implementation of effective pest control measures during their planting. Our findings lay the groundwork for the promotion of green manure and implementation of an ecological management plan for L. sticticalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an essential crop worldwide, and the application of fertilizers is a vital management strategy that significantly enhances its yield. The objective of this investigation was to assess the impact of green manure and mineral fertilization on the yield of maize. The experiments were conducted in an experimental field at Agricultural Research and Development Station Braila during the first decade of September 2021 to the second decade of October 2022. A bifactorial experiment was carried out based on the formula A × B, where A represents the green manure crops (a1- control - without green manure crop; a2- winter pea (Pisum sativum L. var. arvense); a3- white mustard (Sinapis alba L.); a4- winter rye (Secale cereale L.); a5- white mustard (Sinapis alba L) + rapeseed (Brassica napus L.); a6- rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and B represents the mineral fertilization (b1- N0 unfertilized; b2- N60 (60 kg/ha of N); b3- N90 (90 kg/ha of N); b4- N120 (120 kg/ha of N)). The results of this study show the benefits of integrated fertilization with green manure and mineral fertilizer. Maize grain yield was found to be enhanced by using green manure crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of cover crops, especially in summer in off-season, is an uncommon practice because they compete with crops of economic importance. The objective was to evaluate the use of cover crops, soil cover and suppression of weeds in the corn-wheat off-season in northwest of Rio Grande do Sul. For this, sunn hemp, gray mucuna, jack bean, lupine, buckwheat, millet, millet, and sunn hemp intercrop (50%) and fallow (control) were used. The species were sown after harvesting the corn crop with 0.45 m spacing between rows in randomized blocks with six replications. The soil cover rate was analyzed at 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after sowing. Dry matter was determined at full flowering of each crop, separated into stalks/stems and leaves, and dried at 65°C. The incidence of weeds was evaluated at the time of full flowering. In the off-season, millet, millet + crotalaria, gray mucuna and jack bean intercropped have greater soil cover efficiency, both reaching 100% soil cover. The highest accumulations of dry matter were from millet (11,204 kg.ha-1) and intercropped (9291 kg.ha-1). The most efficient crops for the suppression of weeds were pearl millet, intercropped and gray mucuna. Sunn hemp and buckwheat showed low performance; therefore, they are not recommended for single cultivation in the corn-wheat off-season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vicia villosa, a high-quality green manure crop, helps to increase the content of soil phosphorus (P) by returning to the field. Soil P deprivation is a severe constraint on crop productivity that triggers the low P stress response in plants, which is controlled by various transcriptional regulatory network pathways. Identifying key genes from these transcriptional regulatory networks can help in developing low P-tolerant crops. In this study, we performed physiological observations and transcriptome sequencing of seedlings from the two Vicia villosa varieties, Xu Shao 3 and Soviet Vicia villosa, under P starvation conditions. The results showed that the main root length, plant height, shoot dry weight, root acid phosphatase activity, and inorganic P content of Xu Shao 3 were significantly higher than those of Soviet Vicia villosa under low P conditions. Based on transcriptome data analysis, 183 (shoot) + 144 (root) differential genes (DEGs) between the two varieties were identified; 144 (shoot) + 79 (root) were upregulated, and 69 (shoot) + 65 (root) were downregulated. KEGG analysis found that DEGs in shoots were significantly enriched in photosynthesis pathways, such as vitamin B6 and riboflavin metabolism. Meanwhile, DEGs in roots were enriched in plant signal transduction, fatty acid degradation, citric acid cycle, pentose, glucuronic acid conversion, etc. GO enrichment analysis suggested that DEGs in shoots were significantly enriched in biological processes, including cell response to P stress, intracellular ion homeostasis, etc., and molecular functions, including phosphate ester hydrolase, phosphatase, acid phosphatase activity, etc. Furthermore, DEGs associated with low P tolerance included three acid phosphatases, a phosphoesterase, a sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol synthase, a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, six phosphate transporters and glycerol-3-phosphate transporters, eight SPX, and two PHL genes. In conclusion, Xu Shao 3 exhibited stronger inorganic P accumulation ability and a lesser effect on growth than Soviet Vicia villosa under low P conditions, which might result from photosynthesis, sugar, and P metabolism differences between the two varieties. Acid phosphatase, phosphoesterase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol synthase, phosphate transporter, glycerol-3-phosphate transporter, and SPX were key DEGs leading to the difference in low P stress tolerance between the two varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a case study carried out on a farm in the town of Șag, Timiș county, where cereals (wheat, barley, corn), sunflower and alfalfa are cultivated. The total area of the farm is 149 ha, of which, as of 2018, 28 ha are cultivated in an ecological system, the study being carried out on 20 ha out of the 28, namely: 10 ha are cultivated with corn, 5 ha with sunflowers, 2 ha with wheat, 1 ha with barley and 2 ha with alfalfa. The objectives considered were: the description of the geographical, pedological and climatic conditions; identification and presentation of the main soil types; culture technology practiced; the range of crops and the areas occupied by the three basic crops. The soil is of cambic chernozem type. In this farming system, crop rotation is very important, this being one of the factors that determined an expansion of areas and crops. The introduction of legumes and the future use of green manures in addition to the practice of direct sowing are desired. In the fall of 2022, along with the sowing of wheat, red clover was sown in a mixture with wheat on an area of 3 ha, to be used as fertilizer. The purpose of the work is to obtain a fund of pedological and agrochemical information regarding the soil cover in the perimeter of the town of Șag, Timiș county, in order to make a correct and rational use of the edaphic resource in conjunction with a sustainable development of the entire agricultural activity in the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cereals and green manures intercropping contributes to sustainable agriculture as it combines food production with biomass for soil cover formation. This study aimed to evaluate the intercropping of rice and green manures effects on the agronomic and qualitative performance of rice, as well as dry mass yield for the no-tillage system. A two-year experiment with 8 treatments: rice as sole crop or intercropped with Arachis pintoi, Calopogonium mucunoides, Crotalaria breviflora, Crotalaria spectabilis, Stylosanthes capitata and macrocephala, Canavalia ensiformis, and Cajanus cajan was conducted in the Brazilian Cerrado region. The results showed that the shoot dry mass and height of plants was affected by the cultivated species. Rice intercropped with A.pintoi, C.mucunoides, C.breviflora, C.spectabilis and S.capitata and macrocephala promoted yield and grain quality similar to those found with rice as sole crop. Intercropping systems of rice with C.spectabilis, C.ensiformis and C.cajan increased the number of unfilled spikelets and reduced the number of filled spikelets and yield by 33, 24 and 58%, respectively. Intercropping systems with A.pintoi, C.mucunoides, C.breviflora, C.spectabilis, C.ensiformis and C.cajan produced adequate dry mass for the maintenance of soil cover in quality no-tillage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ken joined the Potato Association of America in 1973 at the beginning of his career working with potatoes. Mike has co-authored more than 300 diverse potato publications and presented over 500 potato presentations to varied audiences. Dr. Ingham has spent much of his career working with various colleagues on nematode problems in potato caused by Columbia root-knot nematodes (CRKN) and SRN which vectors tobacco rattle virus to cause corky ringspot disease (CRS). Graph B Russell E. Ingham b Dr. Russell E. Ingham is an emeritus professor in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR. [Extracted from the article]

Context: Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is an important legume forage in temperate agricultural zones. Evaluation of self- and cross-pollination fertility is important for setting up an effective breeding-program scale. However, the outcrossing rate of red clover under open-pollination conditions is not certain. Development of a reliable and time-saving marker system is needed to quantify and characterise outcrossing rates. Aim: We aimed to develop a duplex PCR-based protocol based on a genome-wide simple sequence repeat (SSR) screen, and to determine the outcrossing rate of red clover under open-pollination environments. Methods: We screened 209 SSR markers with pooled DNA samples of 60 plants from 20 red clover accessions, and selected 185 SSR markers that produced clear scorable bands for testing with 24 individual DNA samples to determine polymorphism. We selected 70 primer pairs, and then assembled a core set of 24 loci into 12 sets of duplex markers, which were used for outcrossing behaviour analysis of 60 maternal parents and their respective 22 half-sib progenies. Key results: Mean polymorphic information content (PIC) for the 70 markers was 0.490 (range 0.117–0.878). Minimum, mean and maximum PIC values for the 24 markers constituting the 12 duplexes were 0.226, 0.594 and 0.781, respectively. The outcrossing rate was identified as 99.4% for red clover in a natural environment. Conclusion: We successfully developed a duplex SSR-based PCR protocol consisting of 24 markers. This SSR system was applied to determine the outcrossing rate of red clover in a natural environment. Red clover is an important legume forage and green manure crop in temperate agricultural zones and has been considered an outcrossing species, although its outcrossing rate under open-pollination conditions is not certain. In this study, the outcrossing rate of diploid red clover in a natural environment was calculated for the first time, using microsatellite molecular markers. These results are valuable for future studies involving breeding research in red clover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The decomposition rate of biomass depends significantly on soil properties and on the design of the machine used for incorporation. Well-chopped biomass, incorporated in a productive zone with uniform mixing, gives better results instead of placing longer stalks on or near the field surface. Methods: In the field experiments conducted during 2017 and 2018, interaction of soil and biomass, placed at various depths in sandy loam soil, was studied 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 90 days after incorporation (DAI). Further, mechanical incorporation of green manure crop with innovative two-bottom combined tillage machine, namely biomass incorporator, was studied at different levels of soil type, plant height, forward speed and rotor speed. Result: The depth range of 70-140 mm was found most appropriate for incorporation to achieve a higher decomposition rate. Plant stem of 50 days old dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) crop decomposed by 13.0, 31.5, 29.25, 24.25 and 22.05% at depth range 0-70 (D1), 70-140 (D2), 140-210 (D3), 210-280 (D4) and 280-350 (D5) mm, respectively 10 DAI. About 55% of the biomass, incorporated at depth range D2, got decomposed 40 DAI. The average depth of placement of biomass with biomass incorporator ranged between 92 and 131 mm. The soil pulverization index and crop mixing index with the machine varied from 3.58 to 30.65 mm and 93.62 to 98.05%, respectively. The surface profile coefficient with the machine ranged between 24.2 and 50.6 mm. The efficient mixing of the biomass into the soil with thorough coverage of pulverized soil was achieved with rational field undulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinach has been suggested as a potential rotation crop for increasing crop yield by enhancing beneficial fungal microbes in continuous monocropping. However, no research on the use of spinach as a green manure has been reported. Thus, we tested the effects of spinach and Korean mustard cultivars (green and red mustards) (10 g pot −1) as green manure on soil chemical properties, pepper productivity, and soil microbiome of long-year pepper-monocropped soil. Spinach improved the soil nutrition (e.g., pH, SOM, TN, NH4+, and K), weed suppression, and pepper growth. Spinach had by far the highest fruit yield, over 100% pepper fruit yield increment over the mustard green manures and control. Our study showed that the major influencing factors to cause a shift in both bacterial and fungal community assemblies were soil pH, TC TN, and K. Following green manure amendment Bacillota, especially Clostridium, Bacillus and Sedimentibacter, were enriched, whereas Chloroflexi and Acidobacteriota were reduced. In addition, spinach highly reduced the abundance of Leotiomycetes and Fusarium but enriched Papiliotrema. FAPROTAX and FUNGuild analysis revealed that predicted functional profiles of bacterial and fungal communities in spinach-amended soil were changed. Spinach-treated soil was differentially abundant in function related to hydrocarbon degradation and functional guilds of symbiotrophs and ectomycorrhizal. This study contributes significantly to our understanding of how the soil fertility and soil microbiome alteration via spinach green manure application as a pre-plant soil treatment might help alleviate continuous cropping obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Organic vegetable production has a demand for alternative fertilizers to replace fertilizers from sources that are not organic, that is, typically animal‐based ones from conventional farming. Aims: The aim of this study was to develop production strategies of plant‐based fertilizers to maximize cumulative nitrogen (N) production (equal to N yield by green manure crops), while maintaining a low carbon‐to‐nitrogen (C:N) ratio, and to test the fertilizer value in organic vegetable production. Methods: The plant‐based fertilizers consisted of the perennial green manure crops—alfalfa, white clover, red clover, and a mixture of red clover and ryegrass—and the annual green‐manure crops—broad bean, lupine, and pea. The crops were cut several times at different developmental stages. The harvested crops were used fresh or pelleted as fertilizers for field‐grown white cabbage and leek. The fertilizer value was tested with respect to biomass, N offtake, N recovery, and soil mineral N (Nmin). Poultry manure and an unfertilized treatment were used as controls. Results: The cumulative N production of the perennial green manure crops ranged from 300 to 640 kg N ha–1 year–1 when cut two to five times. The highest productions occurred at early and intermediate developmental stages, when cut three to four times. Annual green manure crops produced 110–320 kg N ha–1 year–1, since repeated cutting was restricted. The C:N ratio of the green manure crops was 8.5–20.5, and increased with developmental stage. The fertilizer value of green manure, as measured in white cabbage and leek, was comparable to animal‐based manure on the condition that the C:N ratio was low (<18). N recovery was 20%–49% for green manure and 29%–42% for poultry manure. A positive correlation was detected between soil Nmin and vegetable N offtake shortly after incorporating the green manure crops, indicating synchrony between N release and crop demand. Conclusions: Plant‐based fertilizers represent highly productive and efficient fertilizers that can substitute conventional animal‐based fertilizers in organic vegetable production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporation of plant biomass into soil as green manures can reduce soilborne diseases and improve crop and soil health in agricultural ecosystems. Soil microbial communities can mediate beneficial effects of these amendments, but their response to different types of green manures is poorly understood. This study tested the effect of green manures from broccoli, marigold, and sudangrass on taxonomic and functional characteristics of soil bacterial communities. Green manures were amended to field soil and maintained in microcosms artificially infested with the soilborne plant pathogen Verticillium dahliae. Lettuce seedlings were transplanted into green manure amended and fallow soil and maintained under growth chamber conditions for 12 weeks. Bacterial communities in bulk and rhizosphere soils were characterized using nanopore sequencing of 16S rRNA and shotgun metagenome libraries. Under microcosm conditions, all green manures reduced the abundance of the soilborne plant pathogen V. dahliae and altered the taxonomic composition of bacterial communities. Twelve weeks following amendment, green manures had differential effects on lettuce yield as well as the taxonomic diversity and composition of soil bacterial communities. In addition, multiple green manures increased the abundance of bacterial functional traits in rhizosphere soil related to iron and polysaccharide acquisition and decreased the abundance of functional traits related to bacterial protein secretion systems. This study demonstrates green manures alter the taxonomic composition and functional traits in soil bacterial communities suggesting these changes may impact beneficial effects of green manures on plant and soil health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Conventional monoculture or cereal-cereal sequence systems insist farmers to use excessive application of chemical fertilizer in agriculture resulting reduce the soil organic matter contents and structures. The inclusion of green manuring crops in a rotation is vital to improve the biochemical and physical properties of the soil via increasing the labile of organic matter and ultimately increased crops yield. Some complex molecules of green manuring crops takes a longer time of decomposition and thus nutrients reserve in soil and release latter which provide nutrients to the succeeding and following crops. So the current experiment aimed to study the residual effect of different in situ green manuring crops to the sub-sequent and following soil. Methods: The field experiment conducted during 2015 to 2016 with eight green manuring crops and rice and mustard was the subsequent and following crop. In situ incorporation of GM crops with 100% (F1) and 50% (F2) fertilizer, the prior and post-harvest soil (cropping pattern) of experiment field (0-15 cm) was collected and analyzed. Result: After two consecutive year, GM-T.aman-Mustard cropping pattern increased soil organic matter 0.04% to 0.07% and 0.02% to 0.03% (T1 and T2 with F1 and F2) and nitogen 0.05% (T1, T2 and T7 with F1 and F2) and K 0.2 to 0.5 meq/100 g (M. pudica with F1 and F2) and P 2 ppm to 15 ppm (T1, T2, T3 and T7 with F1 and F2) compared to initial soil. Rice yield with T1, T2, T3 and T6 shown higher with both fertilizer doses. Nitrogen fertilizer rates could be reduced after the incorporation of green manures in the succeeding and following crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.), a plant of North American origin, has been cultivated in the Carpathian Basin since the end of the 19th century. It was sown for ornamental purposes, but at the same time its potential for beekeeping was also recognized. It was prophesied to save the future of the Hungarian apiculture, but in the period following the Second World War with the collapse of the large estate system, it was cultivated as a bee pasture only on a small scale. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Hungarian researchers have been studied its forage potential in several experiments. Despite the first contradictory conclusions, it has been respected as a valuable forage crop for several livestock species since the 1970s. Its excellent potential for green manuring and soil disinfection has been also confirmed in many experiments carried out in the Carpathian Basin for more than a century. Since the end of the 1970s, its exportoriented seed production has boomed both in small and large farms in the Little Hungarian Plain (in NW Hungary). This practice has been strongly linked to migratory beekeeping, which has elevated lacy phacelia to the most important melliferous plants producing monofloral honey in Hungary. Its annual production area has fluctuated between 1500 and 11,000 ha in the last 20 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agrobiodiversity including landraces of crops is extreme significant for global food security and sustainable rural development but it is losing at alarming speed. Only in the remote areas, some of landraces are remained in local agroecosystem. Landraces refer to the traditional resources domesticated by people living in a certain area. They are bred or evolved in the local environments, which can adapt to the local natural and cultural environments. Changmaogu is a unique colored rice landrace planted by Lama people, a branch of Bai, in Lanping Bai and Pumi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province. Changmaogu is a typical representative landrace in China. Due to its lower yield, the cultivation of Changmaogu was controlled in a very limited area in the past few years, which was a very dangerous signal for a major crop. Despite its rare and endangered status, there has been a lack of research on Changmaogu. In order to promote the conservation and sustainable development of this landrace, we investigated and analyzed the quality traits, traditional knowledge and culture, development and utilization status and existing problems of Changmaogu in Lanping, and determined the nutritional components of Changmaogu comparing with those of common rice varieties to explore the nutritional value of Changmaogu, using the methods of ethnobotany and nutrition. The results are as follows:(1)The Lama people, have developed rich traditional knowledge about Changmaogu, including traditional farming knowledge, relevant historical allusions, traditional eating knowledge, seed exchange and conservation culture. They never use chemicals but collect green manures as fertilizer for this landrace. Under the backgrownd of understanding the good characteristics of Changmaogu, the local people continue to grow Changmaogu in the original habitat in a larger scale according to their traditional knowledge and culture.(2)Changmaogu has a high content of available carbohydrates, water, ash, total dietary fiber and anthocyanin, and contains a certain content of procyanidins, indicating that it has excellent nutritional and health care values. This study indicates that the mode of in-situ or on-farm conservation of Changmaogu provides a great reference for the conservation of other landraces, and reveals the fact that the outstanding properties like high nutritional value of Changmaogu will contribute to the sustainable uses of Changmaogu and other landraces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) production, such as farmers' livelihood and the soil quality, has been identified to be strong influenced by climate change in China. However, the benefits of low carbon technologies (LCTs) are still debatable in rice production for farmers, which have been identified to tackle agricultural challenges. The choice of potential LCTs relevant to the case study is based on a literature review of previous empirical studies. Thus, the objectives of the study were to (1) investigate the public perception and preferences of LCTs in rice production of China, and (2) analyze the influences of the factors on farmer's decision in adopting LCTs in rice production. There were 555 farmer surveys from eight representative rice production counties in HP province of southern China, both the Poisson estimators and multivariate probit (MVP) approach were applied in the study. Results: Our results show that water-saving irrigation, integrated pest management techniques and planting green manure crops in winter season were the three major LCTs adapted by farmers in rice production. The intensity and probability of LCTs adoptions were influenced by the main factors including farmers' education level, climate change awareness, machinery ownership, technical support and subsidies. There is a significant correlation among the LCTs, and the adoption of the technologies is interdependent, depicting either complementarities or substitutabilities between the practices. Conclusions: This study suggests that policies enhance the integration of LCTs would be central to farmers' knowledge, environmental concerns, technical service and financial support in rice production systems in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root-knot nematodes possess a major threat to agricultural production of various crops worldwide. The intensive use of chemical nematicides to control plant parasitic nematodes has adverse effects on our environment and human health. Owing to the importance of developing new strategies, an experiment was conducted to reveal the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Rhizoglomus fasciculatum and nematophagous fungus, Paecilomyces lilacinus alone or in combination with various organic amendments such as superphosphate, green and organic manure to control the infection of root-knot, nematode Meloidogyne incognita in a vegetable crop Capsicum annuum. These two fungi along with soil amendments significantly improved plant growth and fruit yield and effectively controlled infection of M. incognita. The dual inoculation of P. lilacinus and R. fasciculatum reduced the number of galls and egg masses, thereby revealing the controlled proliferation of M. incognita infection in C. annuum roots. The beneficial effect of these fungi further increased on supplementation of soil with organic or green manures. Inoculation of C. annuum with these two fungi showed a significant increase in egg parasitization; however, maximum effect was detected on dual inoculation. Amongst the soil amendments, the best response was obtained in case of green manure along with mycorrhizal fungus and P. lilacinus. Present study revealed that nematophagous and AM fungi, in combination with green manure were effective in controlling M. incognita, thus suggesting the use of such agents for biocontrol of plant parasitic nematodes in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter cereals (wheat, triticale, and rye) are the most cultivated crops in Russia, and their yield and quality results from the combination of environment and farm management. Generally, winter cereals have a much higher yield than spring cereals due to the ability to use winter moisture for growth. The latest study aimed to conduct a comparative assessment of the winter wheat, triticale, and rye according to the variability of quantitative traits under the environmental conditions of Northern Trans-Urals, Russia, during 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Results revealed that the genotypes of winter triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) and winter rye (Secale cereale L.) showed improved harvests compared with winter wheat even under unfavorable environmental conditions of the Northern Trans-Urals, Russia. The chlorophyll content in the plant leaves was used as a tool for screening the genotypes of different winter cereals. Plant screening with the SPAD 502 Plus optical chlorophyll counter made it possible to determine the responses of genotypes to the heat and water stress conditions. For chlorophyll content in the flag leaf cells, intra- and inter-specific differences were observed. The fields of winter crops harvested in summer (late July to early August) can serve for growing multifunctional crops like ground cover, fodder, and green manure crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The broadleaf vegetables require large amounts of nutrients to provide a high productivity, and quality products, mainly due to their short period of development and growth. The green manuring has emerged as a viable alternative to provide these requirements for these vegetables, mainly from spontaneous species in the Caatinga biome. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate and estimate the maximum physical and economic efficiencies of lettuce and arugula agro-economic characteristics in monocropping as a function of equitable quantities of Merremia aegyptia and Calotropis procera biomass mixtures at different growing seasons, using polynomial and exponential models, based on the criteria of biological logic of growth and production of the cultures, of significance of the regression mean square, of high value of the coefficient of determination (R²), of significance of the regression parameters, and of maximization of productivity and profit. The types of polynomial and exponential models chosen estimated the lettuce and arugula agro-economic characteristics with good precision and high R² values. The maximum agronomic (physical) efficiency of the lettuce and arugula was made possible with the incorporation into the soil of 47.38 and 42.23 t ha-1 of M. aegyptia and C. procera, respectively, and the maximum economic efficiency of production for these leafy vegetables was reached with biomass amounts of 45.96 and 33.61 t ha-1, respectively. The rates of return obtained for lettuce and arugula cultivation for the optimized mixture amounts were 2.6 and 1.5 of those achieved in the control treatment (without fertilization), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study was to assess the performance of Canavalia ensiformis and Mucuna deeringiana (Leguminosae) as a green manure in the agricultural soil of the Frailesca region of Chiapas, México, in terms of aboveground biomass accumulation, plant height, number of leaves, canopy coverage, and the accumulation of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Each species was sowed at two population densities under a randomized complete block design with three replications. Every 30 days after sowing (DAS), the following variables were quantified: plant length, number of leaves, canopy coverage, biomass yield, and N, P, and K content. A variance analysis and mean comparison test (Tukey 0.05) were performed for each variable. The biomass yield in M. deeringiana fluctuated from 9150 to 33,160 kg ha-1 on a fresh basis and from 4490 to 15,890 kg ha-1 on a dry basis, whereas the yield in C. ensiformis varied from 9343 to 26,390 kg ha-1 and from 4513 to 13,150 kg ha-1, respectively. The longest recorded plant length was 513.00 cm in M. deeringiana and 155 cm in C. ensiformis, with a total of 353 and 322 leaves, respectively. The accumulation of N, P, and K was 463.99 kg ha-1, 84.22 kg ha-1, and 49.26 kg ha-1 in M. deeringiana and 341.90 kg ha-1, 43.40 kg ha-1, and 36.82 kg ha-1 in C. ensiformis, respectively. Both C. ensiformis and M. deeringiana have potential as green manure for the Frailesca region of Chiapas in terms of biomass production and N accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of organic fertilizers on micronutrients status of soil and yield of sesame. Research was performed in split-plot design based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental treatments included animal manure as main factor at three levels (0, 10, and 20 t ha−1) and application of green manures as sub factor at four levels (no green manure, Berseem clover, Fenugreek, and Vicia villosa). The results showed by application of animal manure, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and ferrous (Fe) contents in the treatment of 20 t ha−1 of animal manure were about 27, 22, 7.5, and 6% higher than the control treatment, respectively. The soil analysis showed in the post-harvesting stage of sesame 2.7% Cu and 29% Zn were stored in the soil. While the amounts of Fe 11% and Mn 71% in the soil were less than pre-planting of sesame. In general, fenugreek green manure application increased the amounts of micronutrients of soil more than the other green manures and animal manure individually. The highest total dry weight (10720.0 kg ha−1), grain yield (1929.4 kg ha−1) and oil yield (946.8 kg ha−1) were observed in the 20 t ha−1 of animal manure and Fenugreek of green manure treatments, which were about 44, 52 and 50% higher than the non-application of animal and green manures treatments, respectively. In general, the application of organic manures increased sesame yield by improving the physico-chemical properties and the amount of soil micronutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Food insecurity is a global challenge faced by many rural populations. In this context, traditional horticulture mitigates this problem, promoting local food supply. This study aims to provide knowledge about the horticultural wealth, utility versatility and management practices that a Mapuche rural community deploys under conditions of socio-economic and environmental vulnerability. M&M: Semi-structured, open and in-depth interviews, observation and walking tours with the informants were carried out in 30 households that practiced horticulture located in the community of Gualjaina, Patagonian steppe. The richness and versatility of plant species, and management of water, soil and crops. Results: Total richness corresponded to 89 species. The greatest utility versatility corresponded to Rosa rubiginosa, Chenopodium album and Sambucus nigra. Different water sources (surface, sub-surface, mains water) and types of irrigation (hoses, flood, drip, sprinkler) were observed. The use of organic elements such as manure, compost and slurry was highlighted. Likewise, the implementation of water reservoirs, drip irrigation and green manures, provided by external organizations, was recorded. Conclusions: This study showed alternative management of food production in vulnerable environments, which could be a valuable contribution in the planning of proposals aimed at food security in traditional communities of the Patagonian steppe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) is grown in semi-arid regions worldwide as a forage, vegetable, and green manure crop. An experiment was conducted to evaluate growth, forage yield and nutritional quality of guar genotypes grown under different sowing dates. To this end, seven genotypes, viz., Desi Punjab, Farmi Punjab, Desi Sindh, Farmi Sindh, BR-90, BR-2017 and Baluchistan were grown at three sowing times (mid-May, late-May and early-June) during the two years 2020 and 2021. Results showed that maximum leaf area and pods per plant were recorded in genotype Farmi Punjab, while maximum fresh and dry forage yield were archived in genotype ‘BR-90’. Similarly, maximum crude protein in the forage and gum content in mature seeds, were also recorded in BR-90. In addition, mid-May was proved to be the best sowing time for guar genotypes studied in view of achieving maximum morphological traits, fresh and dry forage yield and forage quality, compared to later planting times. Moreover, late sowing caused reduction in yield and other related attributes. It is perceived that synthetic guar variety BR-90 and planting time at mid-May are the best for semi-arid region of Punjab, Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice–wheat cropping systems feed millions of people in South and East Asia. However, cereal-based foods are inherently deficient in micronutrients. A strategy involving green manuring and elemental sulfur (S) fertilisation is an innovative approach for biofortification by enhancing bioavailability of micronutrients. We conducted an experiment with a basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.)–durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) cropping system that comprised main plot treatments of two green manure crops, Sesbania aculeata Pers. (prickly sesban) and Crotalaria juncea L. (sunhemp), and a fallow. Sulfur as bentonite-S (90% S) was applied in subplot treatments of 20 or 40 kg S ha−1 to rice, 20 or 40 kg S ha−1 to wheat, and 20 or 40 kg S ha−1 to both rice and wheat, with a control (no S fertilisation). There were three replications in a split-plot design. Results showed that micronutrient concentrations and their uptake were in the order iron (Fe) > manganese (Mn) > zinc (Zn) > copper (Cu) in both grains and straw of basmati rice and durum wheat. Compared with fallow, sunhemp green manuring increased Zn and Mn by 11%, Fe by 18% and Cu by 17% in basmati rice grain, and Zn by 21%, Mn by 8%, Fe by 12% and Cu by 8% in durum wheat grain. Compared with the no-S control, fertilisation at 40 kg S ha−1 to both rice and wheat increased Zn by 30%, Fe by 33%, Cu by 23% and Mn by 24% in basmati rice grain, as well as rice grain yield by 10%. The same treatment increased Zn by 42%, Fe by 27%, Cu by 9% and Mn by 18% in durum wheat grain, as well as wheat grain yield by 26%. Thus, green manuring and addition of 40 kg S ha−1 to both rotation crops is an effective strategy to ensure biofortification. Green manuring and elemental sulfur (S) fertilisation is an innovative approach for biofortification of cereal grain cropping system. Sunhemp green manuring increased Zn and Mn by 11%, Fe by 18% and Cu by 17% in basmati rice grain compared with fallow (no green manuring). Sulfur applied at 40 kg ha−1 to basmati rice and durum wheat increased grain Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn as well as grain yields in both crops compared with a no-S (control). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice–wheat cropping systems feed millions of people in South and East Asia. However, cereal-based foods are inherently deficient in micronutrients. A strategy involving green manuring and elemental sulfur (S) fertilisation is an innovative approach for biofortification by enhancing bioavailability of micronutrients. We conducted an experiment with a basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.)–durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) cropping system that comprised main plot treatments of two green manure crops, Sesbania aculeata Pers. (prickly sesban) and Crotalaria juncea L. (sunhemp), and a fallow. Sulfur as bentonite-S (90% S) was applied in subplot treatments of 20 or 40 kg S ha−1 to rice, 20 or 40 kg S ha−1 to wheat, and 20 or 40 kg S ha−1 to both rice and wheat, with a control (no S fertilisation). There were three replications in a split-plot design. Results showed that micronutrient concentrations and their uptake were in the order iron (Fe) > manganese (Mn) > zinc (Zn) > copper (Cu) in both grains and straw of basmati rice and durum wheat. Compared with fallow, sunhemp green manuring increased Zn and Mn by 11%, Fe by 18% and Cu by 17% in basmati rice grain, and Zn by 21%, Mn by 8%, Fe by 12% and Cu by 8% in durum wheat grain. Compared with the no-S control, fertilisation at 40 kg S ha−1 to both rice and wheat increased Zn by 30%, Fe by 33%, Cu by 23% and Mn by 24% in basmati rice grain, as well as rice grain yield by 10%. The same treatment increased Zn by 42%, Fe by 27%, Cu by 9% and Mn by 18% in durum wheat grain, as well as wheat grain yield by 26%. Thus, green manuring and addition of 40 kg S ha−1 to both rotation crops is an effective strategy to ensure biofortification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of "green manure"—crops that are cultivated specifically to be incorporated into the soil to increase its organic matter content—has been proposed as an alternative to chemical fertilizer because of its benefits in terms of crop yield. Nonetheless, the differential impacts of green manure on ammonia volatilization remains underexplored. In this study, the influence of various green manure management strategies on ammonia volatilization in maize cultivation were examined. Field experiments conducted from 2020 to 2022, the field experiment applied common vetch after the spring wheat harvest, with five distinct treatments: conventional tillage without green manures as a control (CT); tillage with total green manure incorporation (TG); no-tillage with total green manure mulching (NTG); tillage with only root incorporation (T); and no-tillage with removal of aboveground green manure (NT). The results showed that under TG and NTG, the maize yields were 12.3%-33.2% higher than under CT, and 6.8%-18.8% higher than under T and NT. Compared with CT, all four green manure management practices also significantly increased NH 3 emissions in maize fields, and they increased ammonia volatilization by 12.0%-13.7% in NTG and TG compared to root retention patterns, with NTG exhibiting higher rates than TG. NTG significantly increased soil organic matter, total nitrogen, mineral nitrogen, water-filled pore space (WFPS), microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, and C: N, and it decreased soil pH compared to TG. Regression analysis showed that these factors were correlated with NH 3 volatilization. In addition, soil urease and ammonia-oxidation functional genes (amo A) showed differences under green manure management practices. Structural equation modeling showed that NH 4 +-N had the greatest positive impact on NH 3 , and urease activity and total nitrogen had positive effects on NH 4 +-N. Furthermore, microbial biomass carbon and pH had positive and negative effects on urease activity, respectively, both of which were only related to SOM. At the same time, WFPS had a positive impact on total nitrogen. In summary, no-tillage with total green manure mulching increases maize yield but also increases NH 3 emissions. NH 4 +-N formed by the hydrolysis of urea by soil urease and the conversion of total nitrogen were found to be the main reasons for high NH 3 emissions. In addition, SOM can promote urease activity, increase NH 4 +-N content and NH 3 volatilization by increasing MBC and decreasing soil pH. [Display omitted] • No-tillage combined with total green manure retention can enhance soil quality and crop yield. • NH 3 volatilization is mainly a physicochemical process caused by the control of NH 4 +-N. • Urease activity and total nitrogen have significant effects on NH 4 +-N. • Increasing microbial biomass carbon and decreasing soil pH can promote urease activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Green manures are recommended for organic management of plants in high tunnel. • Rotary tillage, especially with fresh biomass mulch, has a positive effect on the yield of vegetable plants in high tunnel. • Ambiguous effect of green manures on the chemical composition of edible parts of vegetables was observed. Tunnel production is well suited to growing high-value crops, such as organic vegetables or fruits. Effects of cover crops integration into crop rotations were evaluated in an organic system in a high tunnel. In the research conducted at the Experimental Station of the University of Agriculture in Krakow, turnip and swede (rutabaga) sown in 2018, and phacelia and buckwheat, sown in 2020 in the second cycle, were used as green manure. The vegetable crop rotation included successive cultivation of pumpkin, romaine lettuce, broad bean, hot pepper (2018–2019), and leek and leaf parsley (2020–2021). The control was a plot without plants sown for green manure, covered with black polyethylene film during their cultivation. The effect of green manures on yielding and chemical composition of edible parts of vegetable plants was studied. The beneficial effect of turnip and swede was noticeable only in the autumn cultivation of romaine lettuce. The obtained yield was 63,3 % average higher. The significant effect on the yield of early broad bean was also shown. Grain yield was with 90,9 % higher in case of turnip and higher with 59,1 % in case of rutabaga than in the control plot. This trend was also observed in the cultivation of hot pepper. Its yield after rutabaga was with 189 % higher, and it was 102 % as high after the preceding crop of turnip compared to the control. Whole-plant of leeks yield, was higher (15,8 %) on the phacelia treatment in comparison with control. The total yield of parsley leaves was significantly higher in the plot following phacelia and buckwheat compared to the control (197 % in average). In general, the chemical composition evaluation did not find a clear impact of green manures. However, leeks grown in the control plot had the highest dry matter and vitamin C content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate yield responses of four potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars ('Russet Burbank', 'Shepody', 'Gold Rush', and 'Russet Prospect') and soil N dynamic changes to two 3-year rotations in Prince Edward Island, Canada. The two rotations were the local industry standard potato–barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)–red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) rotation (PBC) and an alternative potato–soybean (Glycine max L.)–barley rotation (PSB). All potato cultivars received 170 kg N ha− 1 input at planting without irrigation. Soil mineral N content before potato planting was significantly higher under the PBC rotation. However, the PBC rotation produced significantly lower yields, suggesting the possibility of excessive N supply from the plowed-down red clover. While cultivar and the interaction between cultivar and rotation did not show a significant difference in yield, yields of all cultivars were positively affected by the PSB rotation. The Gold Rush cultivar was affected the most (36%), followed by Russet Burbank (17%) and Prospect (14%) cultivars, with Shepody being the least affected (3%) by the alternative PSB rotation. Russet Burbank was the highest yielding cultivar under both rotations. With the three russet cultivars combined as a single russet cultivar, the PSB rotation significantly increased tuber yields, while the Shepody cultivar did not significantly benefit from the PSB rotation, suggesting that the russet cultivars responded more sensitively to the alternative rotation. Results demonstrate that adequately accounting for N supply from a preceding green manure crop is required for sustainable potato production in this humid temperate region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Direct wet seeding offers the advantage of faster and easier sowing, reduced labour and less drudgery, 7-10 days earlier crop maturity, more efficient water use and higher tolerance to water deficit, less methane emission, and often higher profit in areas with assured water supply. There is a possibility of intercropping green manures during early growth stage of rice with less interference on the crop growth, which also smothering the weed growth to enhance the productivity of wet direct seeded rice. Methods: A field experiment was conducted during Kharif, 2019 and 2020 at the Department of Rice, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, to study the time of sowing and method of sowing under wet direct seeded rice. The experimental trial was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Treatments comprising of time of sowing in main plot viz., normal sowing time in first fortnight of July and delayed sowing time in second fortnight of July. In sub-plot, method of sowing viz., broadcasting method, line sowing method, paddy drum seeder method, paddy + dhaincha drum seeder method and direct planting method. Result: The results revealed that, sowing of wet direct seeded rice during first fortnight of July month by using Paddy + Dhaincha drum seeder method recorded higher grain yield of 5707 kg/ha which resulted 33 per cent higher yield than that of broadcasting method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize, being a nutrient exhaustive crop and also grown as a monocrop season after season, is leading to drastic deterioration of the soil fertility status. Hence green manure legumes initially grown in situ and later incorporated before flowering stage into the soil will help to rejuvenate the soil health. An experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Vizianagaram for three consecutive years during kharif 2015, 2016 and 2017 to evaluate the effect of green manures on soil health, nutrient bioavailability and yield attributes of the succeeding maize crop. Three green manure legumes viz., sunhemp, dhaincha and green gram were grown in situ and incorporated into the soil before sowing of the maize crop in the respective treatments and different doses of fertilizer levels were applied to study the cumulative effect of green manures and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield attributes, economics and nutrient uptake of succeeding maize. Pooled data of all three years proved that the grain and straw yield was found to be the highest in the treatment of in situ incorporation of dhaincha with 100% RDF (65.2 q/ha and 74.0 q/ha). Moreover, the soil available nitrogen was also found highest in the same treatment (230 kg/ha), whereas the available P2O5 (73 kg/ha) and K2O (318 kg/ha) was found highest in the treatment with in situ incorporation of sunhemp with 100% RDF, but these treatments are at par with in situ incorporation of dhaincha with 75% RDF. The soil available Fe was found high in the treatment with in situ incorporation of dhaincha with 100% RDF (12.98 ppm), whereas soil available Mn was found highest in the treatment with in situ incorporation of sunhemp with 100% RDF (12.43 ppm) but at par with in situ incorporation of dhaincha with 100% RDF and in situ incorporation of dhaincha with 75% RDF. The N and K uptake by maize plant was found highest in the treatment with in situ incorporation of dhaincha with 100% RDF (110.0 kg/ha and 87.5 kg/ha) whereas the uptake of P was found highest in the treatment with in situ incorporation of sunhemp with 100% RDF (39.1 kg/ha), but both the treatments are at par with each other in the uptake of N, P and K nutrients and significantly higher than sole crop of maize with 100% RDF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of adaptation of Rhizobia in diverse environment namely, soil, rhizosphere and grown within legume roots may lead to nitrogen fixation, in a complicated process which contain a coordinated exchange of signal between plants and the symbionts. Green manures, cash and cover crops have significant role in soil fertility. Green manuring techniques also can decrease biomass burning known as main source of air pollutant in the atmosphere. Catch crops have positive effects on both physical and chemical properties of soil, subsequent crop yield, decrease nitrogen leaching into the ground water, decrease soil erosion, and decrease nitrogen losses in cropping systems. Cover crops are those crops which cover the ground and protect loss of plant nutrients, the soil from erosion, decrease rate of soil moisture by evaporation, lower ground temperature and improve weed control and nutrient recycling. Rhizobia produce Nod factors during the early development of nodules upon perception of flavonoid molecules secreted by legume roots, and Nod factor's structure dependents on species, chemical, substitutions added which may influence legume specificity. The benefic effects of rhizobia may depend on rhizobium strain, the genotype of the legume, management practices and bio-physical environment. Rhizobium can directly promote both plant growth and plant health, and modulating root architecture and growth via the release of plant phytohormones. In this manuscript, we want to review the most important advantages and benefits of green manures, catch and cover crops with considering the positive effects of rhizobium on soil fertility and sustainable agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2016 to 2017, an experiment was conducted at Razi University Organic Farming to identify the best organic fertilizers for organic sesame production. The research was carried out in the split-plot design based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Comparison of soil nitrate in the post-planting stage of sesame with soil before the experiment shows that organic nitrate storage with an application of treatments of 10 and 20 t ha-1 of animal manure is 36 and 63% and green manure of fenugreek, berseem clover, and hairy vetch is 63, 54, and 23%, respectively. The reason for improving grain yield is the positive role of animal manure and green manure in the fertility and balance of soil elements. The plant doesn’t face a lack of nutrients and increases the concentration of essential growth elements in the leaves, which increases grain yield. Fenugreek and berseem clover were higher than hairy vetch due to higher nitrogen yield. In the post-harvesting stage of sesame, soil experiments revealed that approximately 24% organic carbon, 58% phosphorus, 16% nitrogen, 63% nitrate, and 50% ammonium were stored in the soil. Potassium content was 13% lower than in soil before the experiment. In general, this study showed that the application of animal and green manure by providing physical and chemical properties of soil in organic field conditions leads to improved traits associated with sesame growth and, ultimately, grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigeria's savanna soils where sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is majorly produced are characterized by a lot of challenges. Hence, field experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 on sole and combined effects of Panicum maximum, Tithonia diversifolia, and poultry manure (PM) on soil physico-chemical properties, growth, yield, and proximate contents of sorghum. The treatments were: 10 t ha−1Tithonia leaves, 10 t ha−1Panicum leaves, 10 t ha−1 PM, 5 t ha−1Tithonia leaves + 5 t ha−1Panicum leaves, 5 t ha−1Tithonia leaves + 5 t ha−1 PM, 5 t ha−1Panicum leaves + 5 t ha−1 PM (Panicum + PM), control. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Green manures and PM either sole or combined reduced sorghum's grain fiber, fat and carbohydrate, soil bulk density and increased porosity, moisture content, soil organic matter (SOM), nutrient content, growth, yield, and moisture, ash and protein contents of sorghum compared with the control. When manures were combined, Panicum + PM has the highest value of these parameters but the least of grains fiber, fat, carbohydrate, and soil bulk density. The increased growth, yield, and quality of sorghum credited to Panicum + PM was owed to improved soil physical and chemical properties and also due to the fact that slowly decaying Panicum may allow retention of released nutrients from rapidly decomposing PM within the rooting zone. The study revealed that locally available organic materials can be recycled in improving soil and crop productivity especially when they are combined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green manure can sustain agricultural production, preserve biodiversity, and mitigate soil degradation caused by long-term application of chemical fertilizers. Moreover, the application of green manure can improve soil health through increased soil biological activities. Nevertheless, little attention has been paid to the effects of leguminous and non-leguminous plants on phosphorus- and carbon-related enzyme activities and fungal community composition in soil. In this study, a pot experiment was carried out to elucidate the effects of two green manures on plant growth promoting potential, phosphorus- and carbon-related enzyme activities, and soil fungal community composition. Two green manure treatments (Brassica juncea and hairy vetch), poultry compost and control (no amendment) were applied and soil samples were collected after incorporation of green manure and after plant harvest. The results revealed that plant growth with hairy vetch was significantly higher than that with B. juncea and poultry compost, and soil enzyme activities were markedly higher with hairy vetch than with B. juncea. Both green manure amendments altered the soil fungal community composition. It is possible that the incorporation of green manure into soil and their mineralization and decomposition were controlled by the carbon: nitrogen ratio of the manures and that these manures were easily degradable by soil fungi. In particular, the incorporation of leguminous (hairy vetch) green manure with a low carbon: nitrogen ratio resulted in better plant growth through fast mineralization. Our findings suggest that green manure incorporation is an effective practice and provides substantial benefits to the soil–plant system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic agriculture systems have the nutrients supplied by plant or animal by-products, bioinoculants, and compost-based products as earthworm composts and green manures. However, the quantitative and qualitative parameters of soil amendments depend on their sources, and soil amendments are generally not sufficient to supply the nutritional requirements of maize crops. Moreover, specialty maize requires high levels of N. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate specialty maize varieties supplied with two microbial inoculants applied in two inoculation methods. These factorial treatments were compared with their checks (varieties without inoculation), and the interaction among these factors was also investigated. The trials were carried out during the growing season in 2017-2018 in the State University of Maringá. The popcorn trial followed the randomized complete block design where the factorial 3 × 2 × 2 + 3 had five replications. The trial with white grits maize followed the same experimental design but the factorial scheme was 2 × 2 × 2 + 2 with three replications. Both trials had maize varieties and two species of microbial inoculants (Azospirillum brasilense and Methylobacterium sp.) applied in two inoculation methods, in the seeds and the foliar spray at V4 stage of plant development. The response traits were grain yield and the components of crop production. In both trials, we verified that the majority of the interactions among the factors was non-significant (p > 0.05), indicating the independence of these factors. Furthermore, the microbial inoculants had no beneficial effects on the traits. The possibility of a higher crop yield did not confirm the application of the inoculant in the stage V4. The organic compost may be the key point in mitigating the treatments with microbial inoculants due to the availability of N in the first stages of plant development. The traits also suggest the necessity of more trials about the influence of microbial inoculants on specialty maize production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some reports on mineral elements and fatty acid compositions of different legumes species have been published by several researchers in Turkey [[4]-[15]]. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining fatty acids and mineral element composition of narbon vetch lines to establish nutritional value for breeder and producers. Unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), and linolenic (18:3) acids, which were determined to be higher than other fatty acids, were also found to be higher in many legume forage plant seeds such as I Medicago i , I Lotus corniculatus i , I Trigonella foenum-graecum i , I Trifolium i spp., I Onobrychis fallax i , and I Vicia i spp. [[7], [17]]. Fatty acids and mineral elements also play an important role in animal feeding. [Extracted from the article]

Feeding a growing population and preventing dangerous climate change are two challenges facing humanity. Biological nitrogen (N) fixation is considered a sustainable production measure that helps maintain crop production and mitigate climate change by supplementing alternative N nutrients. However, the simultaneous impacts of symbiotic N fixation (SNF) by leguminous green manure crops on rice crop production and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions remain poorly understood. Here, a field experiment of two annual rotation cycles was conducted to monitor rice yield and the N 2 O emissions under rice (Oryza sativa subsp. japonica Kato.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (RW) and rice-hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) (RV) cropping systems at three N input rates (0 (N0), 50 (N1) and 100 (N2) kg ha−1) for the upland crops and 200 kg ha−1 for the rice crop. Growing hairy vetch introduced a significant amount of N as SNF to the agroecosystem, ranging from 123 to 182 kg ha−1. Compared to the treatments without N for the RV system, the N1 and N2 treatments significantly increased the amount of SNF by 44–47% and 19%− 24%, respectively. The cumulative N 2 O emissions from SNF ranged from 0.28–0.65 kg ha−1, with the N 2 O emission factor from SNF (EF SNF) ranging from 0.18%− 0.52% for the RV system. The RV system significantly decreased the N 2 O emission factor from the total N input (EF TN) by an average of 10.0% compared with the RW system. The RV-N1 treatment produced an obviously lower EF TN , averaging 0.37%, than the other treatments receiving N applications. Compared to the RW system, the RV system slightly increased rice yield by an average of 3.5%. Therefore, the most appropriate N application rate was 50 kg ha−1 for the leguminous crop, and SNF of leguminous green manure could serve as complementary to mineral N fertilizers for reducing N 2 O emissions while improving soil quality and rice yield in paddy field. [Display omitted] • Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) contributed 58.1-84.9% of N uptake by hairy vetch. • N 2 O emission factor from SNF (0.18%−0.52%) was firstly established in agroecosystems. • The N1 at 50 kg ha−1 facilitated SNF and reduced N 2 O emission factor of total N input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]