1,018 results on '"Fusuo, Zhang"'
Search Results
152. Innovations of phosphorus sustainability: implications for the whole chain
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Liyang Wang, Guohua Li, Xiaoqiang Jiao, Lixing Yuan, Junling Zhang, Yong Hou, Kai Zhang, Fanlei Meng, Lin Zhang, Gu Feng, Weifeng Zhang, Lin Ma, Jianbo Shen, Tao Zhang, and Fusuo Zhang
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General Veterinary ,Chain (algebraic topology) ,Chemistry ,Environmental protection ,Phosphorus ,p-use efficiency|recycling|sustainable management|the whole p chain ,Sustainability ,chemistry.chemical_element ,lcsh:Agriculture (General) ,General Agricultural and Biological Sciences ,lcsh:S1-972 ,Biotechnology - Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is a non-renewable resource, therefore ensuring global food and environmental security depends upon sustainable P management. To achieve this goal, sustainable P management in the upstream and downstream sectors of agriculture from mineral extraction to food consumption must be addressed systematically. The innovation and feasibility of P sustainability are highlighted from the perspective of the whole P-based chain, including the mining and processing of P rock, production of P fertilizers, soil and rhizosphere processes involving P, absorption and utilization of P by plants, P in livestock production, as well as flow and management of P at the catchment scale. The paper also emphasizes the importance of recycling P and the current challenges of P recovery. Finally, sustainable solutions of holistic P management are proposed from the perspective of technology improvement with policy support.
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- 2019
153. Phosphorus mitigation remains critical in water protection: A review and meta-analysis from one of China's most eutrophicated lakes
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Stefanie D. Goldberg, Anne Ostermann, Jianchu Xu, James J. Elser, Wei Gao, Fusuo Zhang, Kai Yan, and Zengwei Yuan
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Environmental Engineering ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Sediment ,010501 environmental sciences ,Structural basin ,01 natural sciences ,Pollution ,Algal bloom ,Deposition (geology) ,Watershed management ,Environmental protection ,Urbanization ,Environmental Chemistry ,Environmental science ,Eutrophication ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Environmental degradation ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
The processes of urbanization and industrialization within geological phosphorus-rich mountains (GPMn) have resulted in water degradation within southwest China. Lake Dianchi, one of the most eutrophicated lakes in China, has epitomized this issue. Clear understandings of phosphorus (P) mitigation efforts, the evolution of P budgets, and possible risks in the Dianchi system will benefit future eutrophication control, providing valuable lessons for other plateau freshwater lakes. In this study, we applied systematic review methodology to investigate the above questions, and then compared the results with other lakes worldwide. Generally, meta-analytical approaches have indicated P levels remain a key factor in causing algal blooms. Post-2015, the P budget of the Dianchi system, especially in Caohai section, was modified. However, it's still experiencing high pressures from P enrichment (Caohai: 0.4 mg·l−1; Waihai: 0.2 mg·l−1). The flux of P in Dianchi remains high, both through the external P load (556 ton·a−1), and an internal cycle (304 ton·a−1 associated with the absorption, deposition and removal of algae biomass; and 380 ton·a−1 associated with sediment exchange). Meanwhile, significant P retention has been observed in the lake, in particular within the Waihai section (211 ton·a−1). Currently, water diversion (from external watersheds), sewage diversion, and sediment-dredging projects have benefited Dianchi. However, continuous urbanization and GPMn ecological degradation could introduce hundreds of tons of additional P, leading to subsequent algal blooms. Furthermore, beyond Lake Dianchi, other lakes and reservoirs in southwest China are facing similar issues regarding P mitigation, especially in GPMn regions, though corresponding knowledge is still limited. Therefore, effective and flexible sub-regional protection strategies and research related to external and internal P mitigations have become key requirements for Lake Dianchi management. Meanwhile, ecologically sensitive approaches to GPMn regions, as well as city development within basin and market driven treatments, should be incorporated into regional water source protection for southwest China.
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- 2019
154. Increasing importance of ammonia emission abatement in PM
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Wen, Xu, Yuanhong, Zhao, Zhang, Wen, Yunhua, Chang, Yuepeng, Pan, Yele, Sun, Xin, Ma, Zhipeng, Sha, Ziyue, Li, Jiahui, Kang, Lei, Liu, Aohan, Tang, Kai, Wang, Ying, Zhang, Yixin, Guo, Lin, Zhang, Lifang, Sheng, Xiuming, Zhang, Baojing, Gu, Yu, Song, Martin, Van Damme, Lieven, Clarisse, Pierre-François, Coheur, Jeffrey L, Collett, Keith, Goulding, Fusuo, Zhang, Kebin, He, and Xuejun, Liu
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- 2021
155. Nitrogen fertilizer induced greenhouse gas emissions in China
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Xuejun, Liu and Fusuo, Zhang
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- 2011
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156. Supplementary material to 'Trends in secondary inorganic aerosol pollution in China and its responses to emission controls of precursors in wintertime'
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Fanlei Meng, Yibo Zhang, Jiahui Kang, Mathew R. Heal, Stefan Reis, Mengru Wang, Lei Liu, Kai Wang, Shaocai Yu, Pengfei Li, Jing Wei, Yong Hou, Ying Zhang, Xuejun Liu, Zhenling Cui, Wen Xu, and Fusuo Zhang
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- 2021
157. Trends in secondary inorganic aerosol pollution in China and its responses to emission controls of precursors in wintertime
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Lei Liu, Fanlei Meng, Mathew R. Heal, Xuejun Liu, Yong Hou, Yibo Zhang, Ying Zhang, Jiahui Kang, Jing Wei, Zhenling Cui, Stefan Reis, Wen Xu, Pengfei Li, Kai Wang, Fusuo Zhang, Mengru Wang, and Shaocai Yu
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Pollution ,Atmospheric Science ,media_common.quotation_subject ,air pollution ,PM2.5 ,ammonium aerosol ,China smog ,complex mixtures ,Ecology and Environment ,Atmospheric Sciences ,sulphate aerosol ,Secondary inorganic aerosol ,Ammonia ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Nitrate ,Acid gas ,Life Science ,emissions control ,Sulfate ,Air quality index ,NOx ,media_common ,Aerosol ,nitrate aerosol ,Agriculture and Soil Science ,chemistry ,Environmental chemistry ,Environmental science ,Water Systems and Global Change - Abstract
The Chinese government recently proposed ammonia (NH3) emission reductions (but without a specific national target) as a strategic option to mitigate fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution. We combined a meta-analysis of nationwide measurements and air quality modeling to identify efficiency gains by striking a balance between controlling NH3 and acid gas (SO2 and NOx) emissions. We found that PM2.5 concentrations decreased from 2000 to 2019, but annual mean PM2.5 concentrations still exceeded 35 µg m−3 at 74 % of 1498 monitoring sites during 2015–2019. The concentration of PM2.5 and its components were significantly higher (16 %–195 %) on hazy days than on non-hazy days. Compared with mean values of other components, this difference was more significant for the secondary inorganic ions SO42-, NO3-, and NH4+ (average increase 98 %). While sulfate concentrations significantly decreased over this period, no significant change was observed for nitrate and ammonium concentrations. Model simulations indicate that the effectiveness of a 50 % NH3 emission reduction for controlling secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA) concentrations decreased from 2010 to 2017 in four megacity clusters of eastern China, simulated for the month of January under fixed meteorological conditions (2010). Although the effectiveness further declined in 2020 for simulations including the natural experiment of substantial reductions in acid gas emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the resulting reductions in SIA concentrations were on average 20.8 % lower than those in 2017. In addition, the reduction in SIA concentrations in 2017 was greater for 50 % acid gas reductions than for the 50 % NH3 emission reductions. Our findings indicate that persistent secondary inorganic aerosol pollution in China is limited by emissions of acid gases, while an additional control of NH3 emissions would become more important as reductions of SO2 and NOx emissions progress.
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- 2021
158. A steady-state N balance approach for sustainable smallholder farming
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Kai He, Yulong Yin, Kenneth G. Cassman, Qingfeng Meng, Hao Ying, Xingshuai Tian, Fusuo Zhang, Xinping Chen, Wen-Feng Cong, Yingcheng Wang, Yi Yang, Rongfang Zhao, and Zhenling Cui
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Agricultural science ,Multidisciplinary ,Balance (accounting) ,Agriculture ,business.industry ,N application ,Sustainability ,Global warming ,Environmental pollution ,Business ,Biological Sciences ,N management ,Emerging markets - Abstract
Hundreds of millions of smallholders in emerging countries substantially overuse nitrogen (N) fertilizers, driving local environmental pollution and global climate change. Despite local demonstration-scale successes, widespread mobilization of smallholders to adopt precise N management practices remains a challenge, largely due to associated high costs and complicated sampling and calculations. Here, we propose a long-term steady-state N balance (SSNB) approach without these complications that is suitable for sustainable smallholder farming. The hypothesis underpinning the concept of SSNB is that an intensively cultivated soil–crop system with excessive N inputs and high N losses can be transformed into a steady-state system with minimal losses while maintaining high yields. Based on SSNB, we estimate the optimized N application range across 3,824 crop counties for the three staple crops in China. We evaluated SSNB first in ca. 18,000 researcher-managed on-farm trials followed by testing in on-farm trials with 13,760 smallholders who applied SSNB-optimized N rates under the guidance of local extension staff. Results showed that SSNB could significantly reduce N fertilizer use by 21 to 28% while maintaining or increasing yields by 6 to 7%, compared to current smallholder practices. The SSNB approach could become an effective tool contributing to the global N sustainability of smallholder agriculture.
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- 2021
159. Using knowledge-based management for sustainable phosphorus use in China
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Haiqing Gong, Yue Xiang, Jiechen Wu, Peteh Mehdi Nkebiwe, Gu Feng, Xiaoqiang Jiao, and Fusuo Zhang
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China ,Conservation of Natural Resources ,Environmental Engineering ,Teknik och teknologier ,Environmental Chemistry ,Engineering and Technology ,Agriculture ,Phosphorus ,Fertilizers ,Pollution ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Crop Production ,Food Supply - Abstract
Sustainable phosphorus (P) management presents challenges in crop production and environmental protection; the current understanding of chemical P-fertilizer manufacturing, rock phosphate (RP) mining, P loss within supply chains, and strategies to mitigate loss is incomplete because of a fragmented understanding of P in the crop production supply chain. Therefore, we develop a knowledge-based management theoretical framework to analyze P supply chains to explore ways to mitigate China's P crisis. This framework connects upstream P industries and crop production, addressing knowledge gaps and stakeholder involvement. We demonstrate the potential to improve P use efficiency in the supply chain, thereby mitigating the P crisis using optimized P management. Our results showed that P footprint and grain production demand for RP can be reduced without yield penalty using a crop-demand-oriented P supply chain management that integrates P use in crop production, P-fertilizer manufacturing, and RP mining. Food security and P-related environment sustainability can be achieved by sharing responsibility and knowledge among stakeholders. QC 20220207
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- 2021
160. A prominent role for precision composting in sustainable agriculture
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Jing Tian, Xinping Chen, Fusuo Zhang, Tingyu Li, Susanne Schmidt, Yong Hou, Hongjian Gao, Shuaixiang Zhao, David R. Chadwick, Zhengxia Dou, and Weifeng Zhang
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Agroforestry ,Sustainable agriculture ,Business - Abstract
Compost use in agriculture has the potential to increase the productivity and sustainability of food systems and to mitigate climate change. But the use of diverse compost types in unsuitable biophysical conditions cause uncertain outcomes for crop yields, soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Here, we performed a global meta-analysis with over 2000 observations to determine whether a Precision Composting Strategy (PCS) that aligns suitable composts and application methods with target crop and environment can advance sustainable food production. Eleven key predictors of compost (carbon-to-nutrient ratios, pH, salt content), management (nitrogen supply) and biophysical settings (crop type, soil texture, SOC, pH, temperature, rainfall) determined 80% of the effect on crop yield, SOC, and N2O emissions. We estimate that a PCS could increase global cereal production by 354.5 Tg annually, approximately 1.7-times Africa’s current cereal yield. We further estimate that annual Carbon sequestration could increase by 170.4 Tg Carbon, approximately 20% of the global potential of croplands. This points to a central role of PCS in current and emerging agriculture consistent with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
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- 2021
161. Exploiting Co-Benefits of Increased Rice Production and Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emission through Optimized Crop and Soil Management.
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Ning An, Mingsheng Fan, Fusuo Zhang, Peter Christie, Jianchang Yang, Jianliang Huang, Shiwei Guo, Xiaojun Shi, Qiyuan Tang, Jianwei Peng, Xuhua Zhong, Yixiang Sun, Shihua Lv, Rongfeng Jiang, and Achim Dobermann
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Meeting the future food security challenge without further sacrificing environmental integrity requires transformative changes in managing the key biophysical determinants of increasing agronomic productivity and reducing the environmental footprint. Here, we focus on Chinese rice production and quantitatively address this concern by conducting 403 on-farm trials across diverse rice farming systems. Inherent soil productivity, management practices and rice farming type resulted in confounded and interactive effects on yield, yield gaps and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (N2O, CH4 and CO2-equivalent) with both trade-offs and compensating effects. Advances in nitrogen, water and crop management (Best Management Practices-BMPs) helped closing existing yield gaps and resulted in a substantial reduction in CO2-equivalent emission of rice farming despite a tradeoff of increase N2O emission. However, inherent soil properties limited rice yields to a larger extent than previously known. Cultivating inherently better soil also led to lower GHG intensity (GHG emissions per unit yield). Neither adopting BMPs only nor improving soils with low or moderate productivity alone can adequately address the challenge of substantially increasing rice production while reducing the environmental footprint. A combination of both represents the most efficient strategy to harness the combined-benefits of enhanced production and mitigating climate change. Extrapolating from our farm data, this strategy could increase rice production in China by 18%, which would meet the demand for direct human consumption of rice by 2030. It would also reduce fertilizer nitrogen consumption by 22% and decrease CO2-equivalent emissions during the rice growing period by 7% compared with current farming practice continues. Benefits vary by rice-based cropping systems. Single rice systems have the largest food provision benefits due to its wider yield gap and total cultivated area, whereas double-rice system (especially late rice) contributes primarily to reducing GHG emissions. The study therefore provides farm-based evidence for feasible, practical approaches towards achieving realistic food security and environmental quality targets at a national scale.
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- 2015
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162. Economic Performance and Sustainability of a Novel Intercropping System on the North China Plain.
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Chengdong Huang, Quanqing Liu, Nico Heerink, TjeerdJan Stomph, Baoshen Li, Ruili Liu, Hongyan Zhang, Chong Wang, Xiaolin Li, Chaochun Zhang, Wopke van der Werf, and Fusuo Zhang
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Double cropping of wheat and maize is common on the North China Plain, but it provides limited income to rural households due to the small farm sizes in the region. Local farmers in Quzhou County have therefore innovated their production system by integration of watermelon as a companion cash crop into the system. We examine the economic performance and sustainability of this novel intercropping system using crop yield data from 2010 to 2012 and farm household survey data collected in 2012. Our results show that the gross margin of the intercropping system exceeded that of the double cropping system by more than 50% in 2012. Labor use in the intercropping system was more than three times that in double cropping. The lower returns per labor hour in intercropping, however, exceeded the average off-farm wage in the region by a significant margin. Nutrient surpluses and irrigation water use are significant larger under the intercropping system. We conclude that the novel wheat-maize/watermelon intercropping system contributes to rural poverty alleviation and household-level food security, by raising farm incomes and generating more employment, but needs further improvement to enhance its sustainability.
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- 2015
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163. Ammonia mitigation potential in an optimized crop-layer production system
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Zhilong, He, Ying, Zhang, Xuejun, Liu, Wen, Xu, Yong, Hou, Hongliang, Wang, and Fusuo, Zhang
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Manure ,Livestock ,Environmental Engineering ,Ammonia ,Nitrous Oxide ,Animals ,Environmental Chemistry ,Agriculture ,Fertilizers ,Pollution ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Crop Production - Abstract
Livestock and crop production are the main sources of ammonia (NH
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- 2022
164. Long-term warming increased microbial carbon use efficiency and turnover rate under conservation tillage system
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Mengru Wang, Jennifer A.J. Dungait, Xiaomeng Wei, Tida Ge, Ruixing Hou, Zhu Ouyang, Fusuo Zhang, and Jing Tian
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Soil Science ,Microbiology - Published
- 2022
165. Common Mycorrhizal Networks Asymmetrically Contribute to Increased N and P Acquisition by Millet/Chickpea Mixture
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Ellis Hoffland, Fusuo Zhang, Thomas W. Kuyper, Junling Zhang, Chunjie Li, and Haigang Li
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Text mining ,Agronomy ,business.industry ,fungi ,food and beverages ,Biology ,business - Abstract
Aim Cereal/legume intercropping is known to increase yield, partly because of increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) acquisition. The aim of this paper was to investigate the role of common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) in overyielding by the crop species mixture and to find out if the effect of a CMN depends on which of the two species was colonized by AM fungi.Methods Microcosms with two compartments were used, separated by a 30-μm nylon mesh. Both compartments contained either chickpea or millet, in monoculture or mixed. One or none of the two compartments was inoculated with the AMF species Funneliformis mosseae. The plant in the inoculated compartment was referred to as the AMF donor, and the plant in the neighboring, non-inoculated compartment as the AMF receiver. Results Inoculation in one compartment resulted in mycorrhiza formation in the other compartment, providing evidence for the formation of CMNs. Inoculation of chickpea in the mixture increased N and P acquisition and biomass of both chickpea (AMF donor) and millet (AMF receiver), whereas inoculation of millet increased biomass of chickpea (AMF receiver) only, but did not increase N or P acquisition by any of the two species. Chickpea as AMF donor had higher numbers of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in its rhizosphere compared to chickpea as receiver. The shoot N:P ratio of chickpea as AMF donor was lower than as receiver. Conclusion Our study demonstrated asymmetry in nutrient gains by a mixture of cereal and a legume, dependent on which plant species was the AMF donor or receiver. This suggests that initiating mycorrhizal networks by legumes in intercropping could be an important factor contributing to the magnitude of the intercropping effect.
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- 2021
166. Methodology of Analyzing Maize Density Loss in Smallholder’s Fields and Potential Optimize Approach
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Fusuo Zhang, Dong Zhang, Wei Jiang, Zhongliang Kong, Chong Wang, Xiaoqiang Jiao, Wenqi Ma, and Zhichao An
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farmer decision-making ,Food security ,Agriculture (General) ,Crop yield ,Research methodology ,Yield gap ,fungi ,Plant density ,Sowing ,food and beverages ,Plant Science ,Agricultural engineering ,risk awareness ,agronomic practice ,Density difference ,Zea mays ,S1-972 ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,mechanical precision ,plant density difference ,Food Science ,Mathematics - Abstract
Increasing plant density is a key measure to close the maize (Zea mays L.) yield gap and ensure food security. However, there is a large plant density difference in the fields sown by agronomists and smallholders. The primary cause of this phenomenon is the lack of an effective methodology to systematically analyze the density loss. To identify the plant density loss processes from experimental plots to smallholder fields, a research methodology was developed in this study involving a farmer survey and measurements in a smallholder field. The results showed that the sowing density difference caused by farmer decision-making and plant density losses caused by mechanical and agronomic factors explained 15.5%, 5.5% and 6.8% of the plant density difference, respectively. Changing smallholder attitudes toward the value of increasing the plant density could help reduce this density loss and increase farm yields by 12.3%. Therefore, this methodology was effective for analyzing the plant density loss, and to clarify the primary causes of sowing density differences and plant density loss. Additionally, it was beneficial to identify the priorities and stakeholders who share responsibility for reducing the density loss. The methodology has wide applicability to address the sowing density differences and plant density loss in other areas to narrow crop yield gaps and ensure food security.
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- 2021
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167. Creating a new university-education system to promote Agriculture Green Development
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Weichun Dong, Fusuo Zhang, and Jianqiang Li
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Economic growth ,General Veterinary ,Agriculture ,business.industry ,Green development ,University education ,Business ,lcsh:Agriculture (General) ,General Agricultural and Biological Sciences ,lcsh:S1-972 ,Biotechnology - Published
- 2020
168. Developing sustainable summer maize production for smallholder farmers in the North China Plain: An agronomic diagnosis method
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Rongfeng Jiang, Wen-qi Ma, Hong-zhu Cao, Hongyan Zhang, Dong-dong Chen, Guang-feng Chen, Fusuo Zhang, Ling-bo Zhang, Yu Zhang, and Wei-li Zhao
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0106 biological sciences ,yield gap ,Agriculture (General) ,Population ,Plant Science ,01 natural sciences ,Biochemistry ,S1-972 ,Agricultural science ,Food Animals ,North China Plain ,sustainable production ,smallholder farmers ,Agricultural productivity ,education ,Productivity ,Hectare ,agronomic diagnosis ,Sustainable development ,education.field_of_study ,Food security ,Ecology ,business.industry ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Energy crop ,Agriculture ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Business ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,010606 plant biology & botany ,Food Science - Abstract
With an increasing population and changing diet structure, summer maize is increasingly becoming an important energy crop in China. However, traditional farmer practices for maize production are inefficient and unsustainable. To ensure food security and sustainable development of summer maize production in China, an improved, more sustainable farmer management system is needed. Establishing this system requires a comprehensive understanding of the limitations of current farming practice and the ways it could be improved. In our study, 235 plots from three villages in the North China Plain (NCP) were monitored. Maize production on farms was evaluated; our results showed that the maize yield and nitrogen partial factor productivity (PFPN) were variable on smallholder farms at 6.6–13.7 t ha−1 and 15.4–88.7 kg kg−1, respectively. Traditional farming practices also have a large environmental impact (nitrogen surplus: −64.2–323.78 kg ha−1). Key yield components were identified by agronomic diagnosis. Grain yield depend heavily on grain numbers per hectare rather than on the 1000-grain weight. A set of improved management practices (IP) for maize production was designed by employing a boundary line (BL) approach and tested on farms. Results showed that the IP could increase yield by 18.4% and PFPN by 31.1%, compared with traditional farmer practices (FP), and reduce the nitrogen (N) surplus by 57.9 kg ha−1. However, in terms of IP effect, there was a large heterogeneity among different smallholder farmers' fields, meaning that, precise technologies were needed in different sites especially for N fertilizer management. Our results are valuable for policymakers and smallholder farmers for meeting the objectives of green development in agricultural production.
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- 2019
169. Science and Technology Backyard: A novel approach to empower smallholder farmers for sustainable intensification of agriculture in China
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Xiao-lin Li, Wen-qi Ma, Fusuo Zhang, Chong Wang, Hongyan Zhang, and Xiao-qiang Jiao
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0106 biological sciences ,Sociology of scientific knowledge ,Natural resource economics ,Agriculture (General) ,Population ,Developing country ,Plant Science ,01 natural sciences ,Biochemistry ,S1-972 ,Food Animals ,smallholder farmers ,China ,education ,Dissemination ,education.field_of_study ,technology transfer ,Ecology ,Social work ,business.industry ,sustainable intensification ,technology innovation ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Agriculture ,Science and Technology Backyard ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Rural area ,business ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,010606 plant biology & botany ,Food Science - Abstract
Sustainable feeding of the growing population in China without ecological destabilization is a grand challenge. In this populous country where agriculture is dominated by smallholder farming, developing innovative technology and translating scientific knowledge into action for smallholder farmers is a crucial step in addressing this challenge. Here, we present a novel approach for technology innovation and dissemination to achieve sustainable intensification in the fields of smallholder farmers. The Science and Technology Backyard (STB) is a hub in a rural area that links knowledge with practices to promote technology innovation and exchange. In this study, the framework and functions of STB are introduced, and the key implications for sustainable intensification across millions of smallholder farmers are explicitly stated: (i) develop innovative technology based on stated demands of farmers; (ii) disseminate technology by innovative social service models though combined top-down approaches with bottom-up measures to enable smallholders in rural areas. This paper provides a perspective on transformation of small-scale agriculture toward sustainable intensification in China and useful knowledge applicable to other developing countries.
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- 2019
170. Causes of maize density loss in farmers' fields in Northeast China
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Wen-qi Ma, Sen Xing, Fusuo Zhang, Qing-song Zhang, and Ying-jie Zhao
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0106 biological sciences ,maize production ,Agriculture (General) ,Plant Science ,01 natural sciences ,Biochemistry ,S1-972 ,Crop ,Food Animals ,Yield (wine) ,density gap ,Mathematics ,Ecology ,plant density ,Plant density ,Sowing ,Soil classification ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Soil type ,farmers' fields ,Digging ,Agronomy ,Germination ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,density loss ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,010606 plant biology & botany ,Food Science - Abstract
Increasing plant density is an effective and important way to reduce maize yield gaps in Northeast China. However, the fact is that a significant plant density gap exists between optimum plant density and actual plant density in farmers' fields. To quantify the density gap between planned planting density and final harvest plant density (HPD), we studied 60 farmers' fields on three types of soil for three crop seasons from 2015 to 2017 by measuring their plant-plant distance, actual seedlings density (ASD), final HPD and yield. We also explored the potential causes of density loss by digging the places where the seedlings were missing for two consecutive years in 2016–2017. Results show that the three-year average HPD in farmers' fields was 59 699 plants ha−1, which was significantly lower than the planned density, including both the machine setting density (MSD; 67 962 plants ha−1) and theoretical plant density (TPD; 67 467 plants ha−1). No significant difference was found in HPD between years and soil types. However, for MSD and TPD, the average value in 2015 was significantly higher than that in 2016 and 2017. No significant difference between soil types was observed. Furthermore, the results from 2016 till 2017 indicated that a lack of seeds in the soil, a failure to germinate due to low-quality seeds, and a lack of seedlings breaking out of the soil due to environmental problems explained approximately 60.88, 10.33 and 28.80% of density loss, respectively. According to our survey, 63% of farmers did not know their own TPD and HPD, and 54% of farmers did not know the density loss. Therefore, we argue that farmers' limited knowledge of density and density loss is an urgent problem that needs to be solved in maize production. These observations will be useful for determining best management practices for maize production and for providing helpful suggestions for machine improvement.
- Published
- 2019
171. Impact of emission controls on air quality in Beijing during APEC 2014: Implications from water-soluble ions and carbonaceous aerosol in PM2.5 and their precursors
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Anthony J. Dore, Jianmin Chen, Yuepeng Pan, Tianxiang Hao, Aohan Tang, Wen Xu, Fusuo Zhang, Xuejun Liu, Qinghua Wu, Lei Liu, Li Lu, and Yangyang Zhang
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Pollution ,Total organic carbon ,Atmospheric Science ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Air pollution ,Carbonaceous aerosol ,010501 environmental sciences ,Inorganic ions ,medicine.disease_cause ,01 natural sciences ,Atmospheric Sciences ,Aerosol ,Beijing ,Environmental chemistry ,medicine ,Environmental science ,Air quality index ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,General Environmental Science ,media_common - Abstract
Stringent emission controls during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC; November 5–11, 2014) provide a valuable opportunity to examine the impact of such measures on the chemical properties of PM2.5 and other air pollutants. Here, we measured the water-soluble inorganic ions (WSII) and carbonaceous species in PM2.5, NH3 and NO2 at multiple sites in Beijing between September and November 2014. Relative to the pre-APEC period (September and October 2014), significant reductions in the average concentrations of WSII (69% for NO3−, 68% for SO42−, 78% for NH4+, and 29–71% for other species), elemental carbon (EC, 43%) and organic carbon (OC, 45%) in PM2.5 were found during the APEC period. The contributions of secondary inorganic ions (SIA, including SO42−, NO3−, and NH4+) to PM2.5 were significantly lower during the APEC period (9–44%), indicating a combination of lower gaseous precursor emissions and a relative weak secondary aerosol formation. Ion-balance calculations indicated that the PM2.5 sample in the pre-APEC period was alkaline but was acidic during the APEC period. Relatively lower mean concentrations of EC (1.5 μg m−3), OC (10.5 μg m−3), secondary organic carbon (SOC, 3.3 μg m−3), secondary organic aerosol (SOA, 5.9 μg m−3) and primary organic aerosol (POA, 10.0 μg m−3) appeared during the APEC period. The average concentrations of NH3 and NO2 at all road sites were significantly reduced by 48 and 60% during the APEC period, which is consistent with clear reductions in satellite NH3 columns over Beijing city in the same period. This finding suggests that reducing traffic emissions could be a feasible method to control urban NH3 pollution. During the APEC period, concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2 and CO from the Beijing city monitoring network showed significant reductions at urban (20–60%) and rural (18–57%) sites, whereas O3 concentrations increased significantly (by 93% and 53%, respectively). The control measures taken in the APEC period substantially decreased PM2.5 pollution but can increase ground O3, which also merits attention.
- Published
- 2019
172. Rhizosphere Processes and Nutrient Management for Improving Nutrient-use Efficiency in Macadamia Production
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Dong Qianqian, Xin Zhao, Tao Liang, Yue Hai, Jianbo Shen, Yanli Nie, Caixian Tang, Ni Shubang, Fusuo Zhang, and He Xiyong
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Rhizosphere ,Nutrient ,Agronomy ,Crop production ,Nutrient management ,Sustainability ,Production (economics) ,Environmental science ,Horticulture ,Plant nutrition - Abstract
Macadamia (Macadamia spp.) has been widely planted in southern China and has been now developed into an important industry. China has the largest area of macadamia plantation in the world but provides only 3% production of the world. Current farming systems have a fertilizer surplus of about 73 g of nitrogen (N), 103 g of phosphorus (P), and 24 g of potassium (K) per macadamia plant per year in southern China. Optimizing fertilization recommended for macadamia improves production by about 5 kg per plant. Macadamia develops cluster roots (i.e., proteoid roots) in a P-starvation environment. Overuse of P fertilizers restrains the development of cluster roots as well as rhizosphere processes, thus decreasing the P-use efficiency. Excessive fertilization, especially P fertilization, is one of the major limiting factors in China macadamia production. This study is the first to analyze current management practices and then discuss approaches of improving nutrient management based on the specific root biology of macadamia. For a sustainable macadamia industry, it is imperative to develop appropriate nutrient management by integrating root-zone soil nutrient supply, fertilizer application, and rhizosphere processes.
- Published
- 2019
173. Exploring Future Food Provision Scenarios for China
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Oene Oenema, Lin Ma, Marie Hélène Schwoob, John W. Crawford, Zhaohai Bai, Achim Dobermann, Fusuo Zhang, Gerard L. Velthof, Mengchu Guo, Rongfeng Jiang, Andrew P. Whitmore, Wenqi Ma, and Junguo Liu
- Subjects
China ,Nitrogen ,Natural resource economics ,Animal food ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Greenhouse Gases ,Sustainable agriculture ,Life Science ,Animals ,Environmental Chemistry ,Duurzaam Bodemgebruik ,Emerging markets ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Sustainable development ,Sustainable Soil Use ,WIMEK ,business.industry ,Agriculture ,Phosphorus ,General Chemistry ,PE&RC ,Natural resource ,Greenhouse gas ,Food systems ,Business - Abstract
Developing sustainable food systems is essential, especially for emerging economies, where food systems are changing rapidly and affect the environment and natural resources. We explored possible future pathways for a sustainable food system in China, using multiple environmental indicators linked to eight of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Forecasts for 2030 in a business as usual scenario (BAU) indicate increases in animal food consumption as well as increased shortages of the land available and the water needed to produce the required food in China. Associated greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen and phosphorus losses could become 10-42% of global emissions in 2010. We developed three main pathways besides BAU [produce more and better food (PMB), consume and waste less food (CWL), and import more food (IMF)] and analyzed their impacts and contributions to achieving one or more of the eight SDGs. Under these scenarios, the demand for land and water and the emissions of GHG and nutrients may decrease by 7-55% compared to BAU, depending on the pathway followed. A combination of PMB and CWL was most effective, while IMF externalizes impacts to countries exporting to China. Modestly increasing feed or food imports in a selective manner could ease the pressure on natural resources. Our modeling framework allows us to analyze the effects of changes in food production-consumption systems in an integrated manner, and the results can be linked to the eight SDGs. Despite formidable technological, social, educational, and structural barriers that need to be overcome, our study indicates that the ambitious targets of China's new agricultural and environmental strategy appear to be achievable.
- Published
- 2019
174. How China’s nitrogen footprint of food has changed from 1961 to 2010
- Author
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Mengchu Guo, Xiaohui Chen, Zhaohai Bai, Rongfeng Jiang, James N Galloway, Allison M Leach, Lia R Cattaneo, Oene Oenema, Lin Ma, and Fusuo Zhang
- Subjects
nitrogen footprint ,virtual nitrogen factor ,China ,nitrogen losses ,Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering ,TD1-1066 ,Environmental sciences ,GE1-350 ,Science ,Physics ,QC1-999 - Abstract
People have increased the amount of reactive nitrogen (Nr) in the environment as a result of food production methods and consumption choices. However, the connection between dietary choices and environmental impacts over time has not yet been studied in China. Here we combine a nitrogen footprint tool, the N-Calculator, with a food chain model, NUFER (NUtrient flows in Food chains, Environment and Resources use), to analyze the N footprint of food in China. We use the NUFER model to provide a detailed estimation of the amounts and forms of Nr released to the environment during food production, which is then used to calculate virtual nitrogen factors (VNFs, unit: kg N released/kg N in product) of major food items. The food N footprint consists of the food consumption N footprint and food production N footprint. The average per capita food N footprint increased from 4.7 kg N capita ^−1 yr ^−1 in the 1960s to 21 kg N capita ^−1 yr ^−1 in the 2000s, and the national food N footprint in China increased from 3.4 metric tons (MT) N yr ^−1 in the 1960s to 28 MT N yr ^−1 in the 2000s. The proportion of the food N footprint that is animal-derived increased from 37% to 54% during this period. The food production N footprint accounted for 84% of the national food N footprint in the 2000s, compared to 62% in the 1960s. More Nr has been added to the food production systems to produce enough food for a growing population that is increasing its per-capita food consumption. The increasing VNFs in China indicate that an increasing amount of Nr is being lost per unit of N embedded in food products consumed by humans in the past five decades. National N losses from food production increased from 6 MT N yr ^−1 in the 1960s to 23 MT N yr ^−1 in the 2000s. N was lost to the environment in four ways: ammonia (NH _3 ) emissions and dinitrogen (N _2 ) emissions through denitrification (each account for nearly 40%), N losses to water systems (20%), and nitrous oxide (N _2 O) emissions (1%). The average per capita food N footprint in China is relatively high compared with those of developed countries in the 2000s. To reduce the food N footprint in China, it is important to both reduce the Nr losses during food production and encourage diets associated with a lower N footprint, such as shifting towards a more plant-based diet.
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- 2017
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175. Maize root exudate composition alters rhizosphere bacterial community to control hotspots of hydrolase activity in response to nitrogen supply
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Cunkang Hao, Jennifer A.J. Dungait, Xiaomeng Wei, Tida Ge, Yakov Kuzyakov, Zhenling Cui, Jing Tian, and Fusuo Zhang
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Soil Science ,Microbiology - Published
- 2022
176. Closing of the yield gap can be achieved without groundwater extraction in Chinese wheat production
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Zitong Liu, Qianqian Bian, Jie Bai, Gang He, Mingyou Chen, Huifang Zheng, William D. Batchelor, Haiyan Wang, Jiahui Cong, Hao Ying, Yulong Yin, Qingsong Zhang, Zhenling Cui, and Fusuo Zhang
- Subjects
Ecology ,Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality ,Safety Research ,Food Science - Published
- 2022
177. Reconciling productivity, profitability and sustainability of small-holder sugarcane farms: A combined life cycle and data envelopment analysis
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Linsheng Yang, Yifan Zhou, Bo Meng, Haojie Li, Jian Zhan, Huaye Xiong, Huanyu Zhao, Wenfeng Cong, Xiaozhong Wang, Wushuai Zhang, Prakash Lakshmanan, Yan Deng, Xiaojun Shi, Xinping Chen, and Fusuo Zhang
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Animal Science and Zoology ,Agronomy and Crop Science - Published
- 2022
178. Global reactive nitrogen loss in orchard systems: A review
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Huanyu Zhao, Prakash Lakshmanan, Xiaozhong Wang, Huaye Xiong, Linsheng Yang, Bin Liu, Xiaojun Shi, Xinping Chen, Jie Wang, Yueqiang Zhang, and Fusuo Zhang
- Subjects
Soil ,Environmental Engineering ,Nitrogen ,Nitrous Oxide ,Environmental Chemistry ,Agriculture ,Fertilizers ,Pollution ,Waste Management and Disposal - Abstract
Orchards account for about 5% of the agricultural land in the world, however the amount of nitrogen (N) fertilizer input in orchards is relatively large. Little is known about N input and its impact in orchards at the global scale. Therefore, in this study we systematically evaluated reactive nitrogen (Nr) loss in global orchards. A meta-analysis of 97 studies reported from 2000 to 2021 from different countries showed that the mean global N fertilizer input in orchards was 303 kg N ha
- Published
- 2022
179. Is the inherent potential of maize roots efficient for soil phosphorus acquisition?
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Yan Deng, Keru Chen, Wan Teng, Ai Zhan, Yiping Tong, Gu Feng, Zhenling Cui, Fusuo Zhang, and Xinping Chen
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Sustainable agriculture requires improved phosphorus (P) management to reduce the overreliance on P fertilization. Despite intensive research of root adaptive mechanisms for improving P acquisition, the inherent potential of roots for efficient P acquisition remains unfulfilled, especially in intensive agriculture, while current P management generally focuses on agronomic and environmental concerns. Here, we investigated how levels of soil P affect the inherent potential of maize (Zea mays L.) roots to obtain P from soil. Responses of root morphology, arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization, and phosphate transporters were characterized and related to agronomic traits in pot and field experiments with soil P supply from deficiency to excess. Critical soil Olsen-P level for maize growth approximated 3.2 mg kg(-1), and the threshold indicating a significant environmental risk was about 15 mg kg(-1), which represented the lower and upper levels of soil P recommended in current P management. However, most root adaptations involved with P acquisition were triggered when soil Olsen-P was below 10 mg kg(-1), indicating a threshold for maximum root inherent potential. Therefore, to maintain efficient inherent potential of roots for P acquisition, we suggest that the target upper level of soil P in intensive agriculture should be reduced from the environmental risk threshold to the point maximizing the inherent potential of roots.
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- 2014
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180. The dynamic process of interspecific interactions of competitive nitrogen capture between intercropped wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.).
- Author
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Chunjie Li, Yan Dong, Haigang Li, Jianbo Shen, and Fusuo Zhang
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/faba bean (Vicia faba L.) intercropping shows significant overyielding and high nitrogen (N)-use efficiency, but the dynamics of plant interactions have rarely been estimated. The objective of the present study was to investigate the temporal dynamics of competitive N acquisition between intercropped wheat and faba bean with the logistic model. Wheat and faba bean were grown together or alone with limited N supply in pots. Data of shoot and root biomass and N content measured from 14 samplings were fitted to logistic models to determine instantaneous rates of growth and N uptake. The superiority of instantaneous biomass production and N uptake shifted from faba bean to wheat with their growth. Moreover, the shift of superiority on N uptake occurred 7-12 days earlier than that of biomass production. Interspecific competition stimulated intercropped wheat to have a much earlier and stronger superiority on instantaneous N uptake compared with isolated wheat. The modeling methodology characterized the temporal dynamics of biomass production and N uptake of intercropped wheat and faba bean in different planting systems, which helps to understand the underlying process of plant interaction for intercropping plants.
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- 2014
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181. The effects of manure and nitrogen fertilizer applications on soil organic carbon and nitrogen in a high-input cropping system.
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Tao Ren, Jingguo Wang, Qing Chen, Fusuo Zhang, and Shuchang Lu
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
With the goal of improving N fertilizer management to maximize soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and minimize N losses in high-intensity cropping system, a 6-years greenhouse vegetable experiment was conducted from 2004 to 2010 in Shouguang, northern China. Treatment tested the effects of organic manure and N fertilizer on SOC, total N (TN) pool and annual apparent N losses. The results demonstrated that SOC and TN concentrations in the 0-10cm soil layer decreased significantly without organic manure and mineral N applications, primarily because of the decomposition of stable C. Increasing C inputs through wheat straw and chicken manure incorporation couldn't increase SOC pools over the 4 year duration of the experiment. In contrast to the organic manure treatment, the SOC and TN pools were not increased with the combination of organic manure and N fertilizer. However, the soil labile carbon fractions increased significantly when both chicken manure and N fertilizer were applied together. Additionally, lower optimized N fertilizer inputs did not decrease SOC and TN accumulation compared with conventional N applications. Despite the annual apparent N losses for the optimized N treatment were significantly lower than that for the conventional N treatment, the unchanged SOC over the past 6 years might limit N storage in the soil and more surplus N were lost to the environment. Consequently, optimized N fertilizer inputs according to root-zone N management did not influence the accumulation of SOC and TN in soil; but beneficial in reducing apparent N losses. N fertilizer management in a greenhouse cropping system should not only identify how to reduce N fertilizer input but should also be more attentive to improving soil fertility with better management of organic manure.
- Published
- 2014
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182. Characterization of phosphorus in animal manures collected from three (dairy, swine, and broiler) farms in China.
- Author
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Guohua Li, Haigang Li, Peter A Leffelaar, Jianbo Shen, and Fusuo Zhang
- Subjects
Medicine ,Science - Abstract
In order to identify the phosphorus species and concentration in animal manure, we comparatively characterized phosphorus in dairy manure, swine manure, and broiler litter, using a sequential procedure, a simplified two-step procedure (NaHCO3/NaOH+EDTA), and a solution Phosphorus-31 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (31P-NMR) spectroscopy procedure. In the sequential procedure, deionized water extracted 39, 22, and 32%; NaHCO3 extracted 48, 26, and 37%; NaOH extracted 8, 9, and 13.8%; and HCl extracted 3, 42.8, and 17% of the total phosphorus in dairy manure, swine manure and broiler litter, respectively. Total phosphorus extracted by the NaHCO3/NaOH+EDTA procedure was 7.5, 32.4, and 15.8 g P kg(-1) for dairy manure, swine manure, and broiler litter, respectively. The solution 31P-NMR procedure detected that 9, 34, and 29% of total phosphorus was phytic acid in dairy manure, swine manure, and broiler litter, respectively. These results show that phosphorus forms, availability, and quantities differ between animal manures, which provides valuable information for P characterization of animal manures in China.
- Published
- 2014
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183. Establishing a regional nitrogen management approach to mitigate greenhouse gas emission intensity from intensive smallholder maize production.
- Author
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Liang Wu, Xinping Chen, Zhenling Cui, Weifeng Zhang, and Fusuo Zhang
- Subjects
Medicine ,Science - Abstract
The overuse of Nitrogen (N) fertilizers on smallholder farms in rapidly developing countries has increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and accelerated global N consumption over the past 20 years. In this study, a regional N management approach was developed based on the cost of the agricultural response to N application rates from 1,726 on-farm experiments to optimize N management across 12 agroecological subregions in the intensive Chinese smallholder maize belt. The grain yield and GHG emission intensity of this regional N management approach was investigated and compared to field-specific N management and farmers' practices. The regional N rate ranged from 150 to 219 kg N ha(-1) for the 12 agroecological subregions. Grain yields and GHG emission intensities were consistent with this regional N management approach compared to field-specific N management, which indicated that this regional N rate was close to the economically optimal N application. This regional N management approach, if widely adopted in China, could reduce N fertilizer use by more than 1.4 MT per year, increase maize production by 31.9 MT annually, and reduce annual GHG emissions by 18.6 MT. This regional N management approach can minimize net N losses and reduce GHG emission intensity from over- and underapplications, and therefore can also be used as a reference point for regional agricultural extension employees where soil and/or plant N monitoring is lacking.
- Published
- 2014
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- View/download PDF
184. Changes in nitrogen and phosphorus flows and losses in agricultural systems of three megacities of China, 1990–2014
- Author
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Sha Wei, Yong Hou, Shengli Shi, Wenqi Ma, Rolf Nieder, Marco Roelcke, Jiechen Wu, and Fusuo Zhang
- Subjects
Economics and Econometrics ,Nutrient cycle ,business.industry ,Material flow analysis ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,010501 environmental sciences ,Animal husbandry ,01 natural sciences ,Manure ,Nutrient ,Environmental protection ,Agriculture ,Urbanization ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Environmental science ,Livestock ,business ,Waste Management and Disposal ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
Urban expansion is a crucial process altering nutrient cycles in agro-ecosystems, often accompanied by negative impacts on the environment. Quantitative analysis of nutrient flows in agricultural systems of megacities and their interactions with urbanization is still lacking. This study reports on changing patterns in inputs, outputs, losses and cycling of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in agricultural systems in three of China’s megacities–Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing during 1990–2014, using the substance flow analysis method. Results show that changing patterns of nutrient flows varied among cities. With rising urbanization rate in Chongqing, nutrients were increasingly imported to agricultural systems to sustain food demand, which led to increased nutrient losses. An opposite trend occurred in Beijing and Shanghai with high urbanization levels (over 80%) since the early 2000s, resulting from a decline in cropland and livestock numbers, and stricter enforcement of environmental laws. Mineral fertilizers and livestock husbandry both contributed largely to ammonia emissions from agriculture. Losses of nutrients to water bodies in Beijing were sourced mainly from the livestock sector, while derived from overuse of mineral fertilizers in Chongqing, suggesting that priority management practices need to be designed differently among regions. Increased intensity of nutrient losses from agriculture was significantly correlated with increased mineral fertilizer input, livestock density and feed import and with reduced recycling ratio of manure. Integrated management for better use of nutrients in fertilizers, feed and manure are urgently required at regional scales. Our findings can serve as basis for policy decisions for sustainable agricultural systems in megacities.
- Published
- 2018
185. Mitigation of Multiple Environmental Footprints for China's Pig Production Using Different Land Use Strategies
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Yifei Ma, Hongliang Wang, Fusuo Zhang, Dave Chadwick, Weitong Long, Yong Hou, and Zhenling Cui
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Greenhouse Effect ,China ,Reactive nitrogen ,Land use ,Nitrogen ,Swine ,General Chemistry ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Greenhouse Gases ,Spillover effect ,Environmental protection ,Greenhouse gas ,Carbon footprint ,Life Science ,Environmental Chemistry ,Production (economics) ,Environmental science ,Animals ,Cattle ,Greenhouse effect ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Carbon Footprint - Abstract
Pig production contributes considerably to land use and greenhouse gas (GHG) and reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions. Land use strategies were widely proposed, but the spillover effects on biological flow are rarely explored. Here, we simultaneously assessed the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and cropland footprints of China's pig production at the provincial scale in 2017. The environmental impacts of land use strategies were further evaluated. Results show that one kg live-weight pig production generated an average of 1.9 kg CO2-equiv and 59 g Nr emissions, occupying 3.5 m2 cropland, with large regional variations. A large reduction in GHG (58-64%) and Nr (12-14%) losses and occupied cropland (10-11%) could be achieved simultaneously if combined strategies of intensive crop production, improved feed-protein utilization efficiency, and feeding co-products were implemented. However, adopting a single strategy may have environmental side-effects. Reallocating cropland that pigs used for feed to plant food alternatives would enhance human-edible energy (3-20 times) and protein delivery (1-5 times) and reduce C and N footprints, except for rice and vegetables. Reallocating cropland to beef and milk production would decrease energy and protein supply. Therefore, a proper combination of land use strategies is essential to alleviate land use changes and nutrient emissions without sacrificing food supply.
- Published
- 2021
186. Deciphering microbial mechanisms underlying soil organic carbon storage in a wheat-maize rotation system
- Author
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Werner Liesack, Yu Luo, Fusuo Zhang, Ke-Qing Xiao, Pengfei Liu, Xingjie Wu, Carl-Eric Wegner, Zhenling Cui, and Jingjing Peng
- Subjects
Environmental Engineering ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Rotation ,010501 environmental sciences ,engineering.material ,01 natural sciences ,Zea mays ,Actinobacteria ,Soil ,RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ,Environmental Chemistry ,Gemmatimonadetes ,Fertilizers ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Soil Microbiology ,Triticum ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Total organic carbon ,biology ,Chemistry ,Agriculture ,Soil carbon ,biology.organism_classification ,Pollution ,Manure ,Carbon ,Microbial population biology ,Agronomy ,engineering ,Fertilizer ,Acidobacteria - Abstract
A link between microbial life history strategies and soil organic carbon storage in agroecosystems is presumed, but largely unexplored at the gene level. We aimed to elucidate whether and how differential organic material amendments (manure versus peat-vermiculite) affect, relative to sole chemical fertilizer application, the link between microbial life history strategies and soil organic carbon storage in a wheat-maize rotation field experiment. To achieve this goal, we combined bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS amplicon sequencing, metagenomics and the assembly of genomes. Fertilizer treatments had a significantly greater effect on microbial community composition than aggregate size, with soil available phosphorus and potassium being the most important community-shaping factors. Limitation in labile carbon was linked to a K-selected oligotrophic life history strategy (Gemmatimonadetes, Acidobacteria) under sole chemical fertilizer application; defined by a significant enrichment of genes involved in resource acquisition, polymer hydrolysis, and competition. By contrast, excess of labile carbon promoted an r-selected copiotrophic life history strategy (Cytophagales, Bacillales, Mortierellomycota) under manure treatment; defined by a significant enrichment of genes involved in cellular growth. A distinct life history strategy was not observed under peat-vermiculite treatment, but rather a mix of both K-selected (Acidobacteria) and r-selected (Actinobacteria, Mortierellomycota) microorganisms. Compared to sole chemical fertilizer application, soil organic carbon storage efficiency was significantly increased by 26.5% and 50.0% under manure and peat-vermiculite treatments, respectively. Taken together, our results highlight the importance of organic material amendments, but in particular a one-time peat-vermiculite application, to promote soil organic carbon storage as a potential management strategy for sustainable agriculture.
- Published
- 2021
187. Metagenomic insights into nitrogen and phosphorus cycling at the soil aggregate scale driven by organic material amendments
- Author
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Yong Li, Jingjing Peng, Christopher Rensing, Werner Liesack, Pengfei Liu, Fusuo Zhang, Qicheng Bei, Zhenling Cui, Xingjie Wu, and Huimin Yuan
- Subjects
Nutrient cycle ,Environmental Engineering ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Soil test ,Nitrogen ,Field experiment ,chemistry.chemical_element ,010501 environmental sciences ,complex mixtures ,01 natural sciences ,Soil ,Environmental Chemistry ,Microbiome ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Soil Microbiology ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Aggregate (composite) ,Scale (chemistry) ,Phosphorus ,Pollution ,Archaea ,Nitrification ,chemistry ,Metagenomics ,Environmental chemistry ,Environmental science - Abstract
The soil microbiome, existing as interconnected communities closely associated with soil aggregates, is the key driver in nutrient cycling. However, the underlying genomic information encoding the machinery of the soil microbiome involved in nutrient cycling at the soil aggregate scale is barely known. Here comparative metagenomics and genome binning were applied to investigate microbial functional profiles at the soil aggregate scale under different organic material amendments in a long-term field experiment. Soil samples were sieved into large macroaggregates (2 mm), macroaggregates (0.25-2 mm) and microaggregates (0.25 mm). Microbial taxonomic and functional alpha diversity were significantly correlated to soil NO
- Published
- 2021
188. The mycorrhiza-specific ammonium transporter ZmAMT3;1 mediates mycorrhiza-dependent nitrogen uptake in maize roots.
- Author
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Jing Hui, Xia An, Zhibo Li, Neuhäuser, Benjamin, Ludewig, Uwe, Xuna Wu, Schulze, Waltraud X., Fanjun Chen, Gu Feng, Lambers, Hans, Fusuo Zhang, and Lixing Yuan
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
189. CLIMATE-CHANGE-INDUCED TEMPORAL VARIATION IN PRECIPITATION INCREASES NITROGEN LOSSES FROM INTENSIVE CROPPING SYSTEMS: ANALYSIS WITH A TOY MODEL.
- Author
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VITOUSEK, Peter M., Xinping CHEN, Zhenling CUI, Xuejun LIU, MATSON, Pamela A., ORTIZ-MONASTERIO, Ivan, ROBERTSON, G. Philip, and Fusuo ZHANG
- Subjects
CLIMATE change ,FLOODS ,AMMONIUM ,FERTILIZERS ,SOIL acidification - Abstract
A simple 'toy' model of productivity and nitrogen and phosphorus cycling was used to evaluate how the increasing temporal variation in precipitation that is predicted (and observed) to occur as a consequence of greenhouse-gasinduced climate change will affect crop yields and losses of reactive N that can cause environmental damage and affect human health. The model predicted that as temporal variability in precipitation increased it progressively reduced yields and increased losses of reactive N by disrupting the synchrony between N supply and plant N uptake. Also, increases in the temporal variation of precipitation increased the frequency of floods and droughts. Predictions of this model indicate that climate-change-driven increases in temporal variation in precipitation in rainfed agricultural ecosystems will make it difficult to sustain cropping systems that are both high-yielding and have small environmental and human-health footprints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
190. Model-based analysis of phosphorus flows in the food chain at county level in China and options for reducing the losses towards green development
- Author
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Wim de Vries, Jianbo Shen, Fusuo Zhang, Xiaoqiang Jiao, Lin Ma, and Jichen Zhou
- Subjects
China ,Food Chain ,Livestock ,Nitrogen ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,chemistry.chemical_element ,engineering.material ,Crop ,Toxicology ,Food chain ,Fertilizer ,Animals ,Duurzaam Bodemgebruik ,Fertilizers ,Sustainable Soil Use ,WIMEK ,Losses ,Nutrient management ,business.industry ,Phosphorus ,Phosphorus use ,Agriculture ,General Medicine ,Sustainable Development ,Pollution ,Manure ,Environmental Systems Analysis ,chemistry ,Milieusysteemanalyse ,engineering ,Environmental science ,Whole food ,business - Abstract
Insight in the phosphorus (P) flows and P balances in the food chain is largely unknown at county scale in China, being the most appropriate spatial unit for nutrient management advice. Here, we examined changes in P flows in the food chain in a typical agricultural county (Quzhou) during 1980–2017, using substance flow analyses. Our results show that external P inputs to the county by feed import and fertilizer were 7 times greater in 2017 than in 1980, resulting in a 7-fold increase in P losses to the environment in the last 3 decades, with the biggest source being animal production. Phosphorus use efficiency decreased from 51% to 30% in crop production (PUEc) and from 32% to 11% in the whole food chain (PUEf), but increased from 4% to 7% in animal production (PUEa). A strong reduction in P inputs and thus increase in PUE can be achieved by balanced P fertilization, which is appropriate for Quzhou considering a current average adequate soil P status. Fertilizer P use can be reduced from 7276 tons yr−1 to 1765 tons yr−1 to equal P removal by crops. This change would increase P use efficiency for crops from 30% to 86% but it has a negligible effect on P losses to landfills and water bodies. Increasing the recycling of manure P from the current 43%–95% would reduce fertilizer P use by 17% and reduce P losses by 47%. A combination of reduced fertilizer P use and increased recycling of manure P would save fertilizer P by 93%, reduce P accumulation by 100% and P loss by 49%. The results indicate that increasing manure-recycling and decreasing fertilizer-application are key to achieving sustainable P use in the food chain, which can be achieved through coupling crop-livestock systems and crop-based nutrient management.
- Published
- 2021
191. Diversified crop rotations enhance groundwater and economic sustainability of food production
- Author
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Fusuo Zhang, Kyle Frankel Davis, Steven Pacenka, Taisheng Du, Tammo S. Steenhuis, Xiaolin Yang, Coen J. Ritsema, Kadambot H. M. Siddique, and Wopke van der Werf
- Subjects
Agriculture (General) ,Agricultural engineering ,Multiple cropping ,S1-972 ,North China Plain ,crop productivity ,Food security ,WIMEK ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,business.industry ,Agricultural diversification ,Agriculture ,Forestry ,diversified crop rotations ,Bodemfysica en Landbeheer ,PE&RC ,Water resources ,Soil Physics and Land Management ,Sustainability ,Environmental science ,economic output ,groundwater use ,business ,Crop and Weed Ecology ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Cropping ,Water use ,Food Science - Abstract
Earth's water resources are critical for supporting livelihoods and food security but are being increasingly overexploited to support global agriculture. Diversifying cropping systems could potentially resolve unsustainable water use but trade‐offs with other aspects of sustainability and food security have not yet been assessed. We performed a detailed analysis of 31 different field crop rotations conducted during 1990–2019 in the North China Plain, to assess the potential impact of crop diversification on actual evapotranspiration (ETa), changes in regional groundwater table, grain yield, economic output, and water use efficiency (WUE) and to identify configurations that can achieve co‐benefits across multiple dimensions. We found that a combination of lowering the cropping index (i.e., harvest frequency), incorporating fallow periods, and introducing higher‐value crops into the currently dominant winter wheat–summer maize double cropping system can reduce growing season ETa by as much as 31%, mitigate groundwater decline by 19% or more, and increased economic output and economic WUE by more than 11% and 3%, respectively. We also found that multiple diversified wheat‐maize–based rotations—all with rotation lengths greater than 2 years—achieve co‐benefits across all evaluated dimensions. This study provides new empirical evidence of the opportunities for diversified crop rotations to balance the multiple objectives of food production, sustainable groundwater use, and farmer profitability. Extending this solution to other water‐stressed agricultural regions could be an effective strategy in achieving more sustainable food production system globally.
- Published
- 2021
192. Evaluation of Sustainability of Irrigated Crops in Arid Regions, China
- Author
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Fusuo Zhang, Bei Li, Fan Fan, Weifeng Zhang, and John R. Porter
- Subjects
Irrigation ,net profit ,020209 energy ,Geography, Planning and Development ,environmental degradation ,TJ807-830 ,Context (language use) ,02 engineering and technology ,Agricultural engineering ,010501 environmental sciences ,Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law ,TD194-195 ,01 natural sciences ,Renewable energy sources ,agricultural sustainability ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,GE1-350 ,Environmental degradation ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Sustainable development ,Food security ,Environmental effects of industries and plants ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,business.industry ,Irrigation district ,Environmental sciences ,energy use efficiency ,Agriculture ,Sustainability ,Environmental science ,business ,comprehensive assessment - Abstract
Ensuring national food security amidst ongoing economic development whilst both protecting the environment and reducing the dependence on fossil fuels are significant challenges for Chinese sustainable development. The main objectives of this study were to reveal irrigated crop (wheat, maize, and sunflower) performance in terms of energy, economic, and environmental aspects in China&rsquo, s largest designed irrigation area, Hetao irrigation district (HID), and to evaluate agricultural suitability based on plant structure. An integrated indicator and comprehensively assessment method were used to evaluate the above objectives based on the results from in-person surveys. The results show that maize exhibits the best overall performance compared to two other major crops (wheat and sunflower), which supports the government policy of adjust and optimize the planting structure program (AOPST), an effective way to achieve the multiple-objectives for sustainable agricultural development. However, reducing fertilizer remains a more critical factor than AOPST. These study results provide useful guidance for policy-makers and relevant stake-holders both in a regional context for the HID and at the global agricultural governance and management level.
- Published
- 2021
193. Breeding for high-yield and nitrogen use efficiency in maize: Lessons from comparison between Chinese and US cultivars
- Author
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Zhe Chen, Qingchun Pan, Jianchao Liu, Hongguang Cai, Wei Ren, Xiaoping Gong, Fusuo Zhang, Lixing Yuan, Guohua Mi, Zhigang Liu, Lifeng Wang, and Fanjun Chen
- Subjects
fungi ,Tassel ,food and beverages ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Sowing ,Ideotype ,Grain filling ,Nitrogen ,chemistry ,Agronomy ,Yield (wine) ,High nitrogen ,Cultivar ,Mathematics - Abstract
High yield and efficient use of nitrogen is one of the major target for maize breeding worldwide. Both yield potential and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of maize is lower in China compared to that in the US. In this study, we analyzed the change of the plant traits related to high yield and NUE of maize cultivars registered and planted in China and US during the past 40 decades. Compared to the cultivar released in the US, Chinese cultivar are less tolerant to high planting density, higher ratio of ear height to plant height, low grain filling rate, more stay-green and longer growth period. We suggest an ideal plant architecture of maize for high yield and NUE. To achieve high yield and high NUE under intensive production conditions (medium and high nitrogen input, high density planting), an ideotype plant architecture is proposed which includes compact plant architecture, low ratio of ear height to plant height (around 0.36–0.38, close to the golden rate.), medium ear, small tassel, medium root size, one-layer brace root, half stay-green, efficient N remobilization, fast grain filling rate etc. The parameters can be utilized to guide future breeding.
- Published
- 2021
194. Peat-vermiculite alters microbiota composition towards increased soil fertility and crop productivity
- Author
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Zhenling Cui, Duo Liu, Yiwei Shang, Werner Liesack, Xingjie Wu, Ye Liu, Jingjing Peng, and Fusuo Zhang
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Rhizosphere ,Crop residue ,fungi ,Bulk soil ,food and beverages ,Soil Science ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Plant Science ,Soil carbon ,engineering.material ,Biology ,biology.organism_classification ,complex mixtures ,01 natural sciences ,Manure ,Arbuscular mycorrhiza ,Agronomy ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,engineering ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Fertilizer ,Soil fertility ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
Harnessing soil microbiomes is a major demand for development of sustainable and productive agriculture. Here we aimed to assess the impact of two different types of organic material amendments in combination with chemical fertilizer on the plant-soil microbiota in maize farming and its link to soil fertility and crop productivity. Soils and roots were collected from a long-term wheat-maize rotation system involving three experimental treatments: chemical fertilizer (CF); chemical fertilizer plus seasonal application of manure (OM); and chemical fertilizer plus one-time application of peat and vermiculite (PV). Crop residues were returned in all three treatments each season. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS sequencing were conducted to elucidate the treatment-specific response of the microbiota in bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, and root compartment. Relative to CF and OM treatments, PV amendment led to significant increases in soil organic carbon (SOC) content, aboveground plant biomass, and grain yield over the five-year field study. The PV-induced changes in microbial composition involved the greatest treatment-specific “effect size” on indicator ASVs (amplicon sequence variants) in bulk and rhizosphere soils. The number of interactions was more than doubled in the PV co-occurrence network relative to those in the CF and OM co-occurrence networks. Potential beneficial microbes, such as Glomeromycota (arbuscular mycorrhiza), Basidiomycota, and various members of the Actinobacteria and Burkholderiales, were most enriched in the root compartment of the PV treatment. Peat-vermiculite enhanced microbiota-driven soil fertility and crop productivity, thereby providing new insights into plant-soil-microbiota interactions that can be harnessed for smart farming.
- Published
- 2021
195. Optimizing wheat production and reducing environmental impacts through scientist–farmer engagement : Lessons from the North China Plain
- Author
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Fusuo Zhang, Wei Jiang, Chong Wang, Xiaoqiang Jiao, and Annah Zhu
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Yield (finance) ,Population ,multi‐objective ,Participatory action research ,WASS ,Agricultural engineering ,01 natural sciences ,Multi-objective optimization ,lcsh:Agriculture ,multi-objective ,Production (economics) ,Environmental impact assessment ,smallholder farmers ,lcsh:Agriculture (General) ,education ,Original Research ,education.field_of_study ,Milieubeleid ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,wheat production ,sustainable intensification ,lcsh:S ,Pareto principle ,Forestry ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,lcsh:S1-972 ,Environmental Policy ,Greenhouse gas ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Business ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,010606 plant biology & botany ,Food Science - Abstract
Producing high economic benefits and high grain yields with limited environmental impacts is crucial for feeding the world's growing population. Yet it remains challenging to improve the performance of one objective without creating unintended consequences for other objectives. This is especially difficult for smallholders navigating a diverse array of environmental and personal demands. This study demonstrates how combining participatory research through the Science and Technology Backyards (STB) approach with Pareto‐based ranking modeling can increase smallholder production while also reducing environmental impact. Through an intensive farmer survey in a 1 × 1 km grid in Quzhou County, we demonstrate that farmers engaged in STBs performed better according to multiple objectives (i.e., optimizing overall grain yield, benefit‐cost ratio, and GHG emissions, without compromising any one of these objectives) than farmer's not engaged in STBs. Moreover, we used a Pareto optimization approach (OPT) to determine the optimal smallholder scenario. We found that under OPT, grain yield could reach 9.5 t/ha, with a benefit‐cost ratio of 2.1, a 100% N recovery efficiency, and 7,395 kg CO2eq ha−1 GHG emissions. With OPT as a final goal, our research team worked with STB farmers to improve economic and environmental outcomes without compromising yield. Our findings demonstrate that no significant difference was obtained between farmers engaged in STBs and these under OPT. Compared with non‐STB farmers, STB farmers’ grain yield improved by 18%, benefit‐cost ratio improved by 26% due to improved N recovery efficiency, and GHG emissions were reduced by 31%. These improvements demonstrate the power of scientist–farmer engagement for optimizing wheat production. Such engagement allows farmers to modify their agronomic practices to more closely match Pareto optimal conditions, thus improving environmental and economic benefits without compromising yield. Our results provide solid evidence of the potential for sustainable wheat production by combining modeling with participatory research., We found that smallholders engaged with scientists through STBs came closer to these Pareto optimal conditions on average than smallholders. These results show that multi‐objective optimization in wheat production can be achieved by modifying agronomic practices through engagement between scientists and farmers. These improvements demonstrate the power of scientist–farmer engagement for optimizing wheat production. Such engagement allows farmers to modify their agronomic practices to more closely match Pareto optimal conditions, thus improving environmental and economic benefits without compromising yield. Our results provide solid evidence of the potential for sustainable wheat production by combining modeling with participatory research.
- Published
- 2021
196. Replacing synthetic fertilizer by manure requires adjusted technology and incentives: A farm survey across China
- Author
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Oene Oenema, Tao Zhang, Yong Hou, Meixiu Tan, Fusuo Zhang, Ting Meng, and Yifei Ma
- Subjects
Economics and Econometrics ,Farmers attitudes ,Livestock ,Cash crop ,0211 other engineering and technologies ,Developing country ,02 engineering and technology ,010501 environmental sciences ,engineering.material ,01 natural sciences ,Agricultural science ,Economic cost ,Nutrient use efficiency ,021108 energy ,Cropping system ,Duurzaam Bodemgebruik ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Bodembiologie ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Sustainable Soil Use ,business.industry ,Soil Biology ,Food security ,PE&RC ,Manure ,Incentive ,Policy incentives ,engineering ,Organic fertilizer ,Fertilizer ,business - Abstract
Improved recycling of animal manure may contribute to reduce synthetic fertilizer use in cropland, thereby to mitigate environmental and human health threats. However, the potential impacts of such strategies are not well-quantified, and the socioeconomic-cultural barriers are not well-understood, which limit the effectiveness of policy measures, especially in rapidly developing countries. We used a combination of scenario analyses and a farm survey among 1500 farmers across China to explore the impacts of replacing fertilizer by manure and to assess the existence of possible technical, socioeconomic, cultural barriers. We estimated the use of nitrogen fertilizer may be reduced by 3 to 32%, via increased manure recycling from 30% in 2015 to 34 to 70% in 2050, depending on fertilization measures and cropping system. However, only 55% of the interviewed farmers actually used manures. Eight out of 38 factors were evaluated as key barriers to manure use, which involved in the perceived high economic costs of manure use, lack of suitable application technology, and unknown manure quality and availability. Cereal farmers perceived greater barriers than cash crop growers. Several key actions have to be prioritized to achieve the high reduction in fertilizer use. There is need for a transparent manure exchange market, with manure-use advisors, accurate information on the composition and price of manure products, middle man for transporting manure from specialized livestock farms and distant crop farms, and contractors with manure application machinery. This requires specific policy incentives and outreach and control strategies.
- Published
- 2021
197. Improving the sustainability of the wheat supply chain through multi-stakeholder engagement
- Author
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Hongyan Zhang, Xiaoqiang Jiao, Lijuan Deng, Chong Wang, Wenqi Ma, Fusuo Zhang, and Annah Zhu
- Subjects
education.field_of_study ,Milieubeleid ,Profit (accounting) ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,Natural resource economics ,Strategy and Management ,Supply chain ,Population ,WASS ,Smallholder production ,Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering ,Article ,Environmental Policy ,Economic sustainability ,Greenhouse gas ,Food supply chain ,Sustainability ,Wheat ,Agricultural sustainability ,Production (economics) ,Business ,Multi stakeholder ,education ,General Environmental Science - Abstract
Feeding the world's growing population, while producing economic benefits with limited environmental effects, is a major challenge faced by global food supply chains. This is especially apparent when the production stage is predominated by smallholders as they each face varying economic and environmental demands, making it difficult to mobilize them on the ground. This study investigated how the environmental and economic sustainability of wheat supply chains could be improved by analyzing the performance of all stakeholders, especially the smallholders. Results showed that 77% of GHG emissions came from wheat cultivation, and less than 8% of the total economic benefits were recouped during this stage. In contrast, smallholders in the Science and Technology Backyards, reduced their GHG emissions by 16.4% and improved their economic benefits by 1.3- fold. Furthermore, a 2.6-fold increase in profit (1808 USD) with GHG emission reduction was achieved simultaneously by integrating all individual stages as a whole. This study found that the sustainability of the wheat supply chain was mainly affected by wheat cultivation. It also demonstrated the potential efficacy of empowering smallholders and integration of all individual stages as a whole to improve the sustainability of food supply chains., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • A complete supply chain analysis for steamed bread was undertaken. • Wheat planting is the major limiting stage for sustainability of wheat supply chain. • Approaches to improve food supply chain sustainability have been developed.
- Published
- 2021
198. Integrating Crop And Livestock Production Systems-Towards Agricultural Green Development
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Oene Oenema, Yong Hou, and Fusuo Zhang
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Sustainable Soil Use ,General Veterinary ,business.industry ,Green development ,Poultry farming ,PE&RC ,Agricultural economics ,Crop ,Geography ,Field trip ,Agriculture ,Life Science ,Production (economics) ,Livestock ,Duurzaam Bodemgebruik ,General Agricultural and Biological Sciences ,China ,business ,Biotechnology - Abstract
This special issue contains a collection of papers dealing with various aspects of Integrating livestock and crop production systems in different parts of the world. Drafts of some papers were presented and discussed at a 2-day international workshop in Quzhou, Hebei, China, during October 9-12, 2019. The workshop was combined with a 2-day field trip to visit dairy and poultry farms and rural villages in Hebei. The workshop was organized by the National Academy of Agriculture Green Development of China Agricultural University. There were 13 Chinese and 11 international scientists (from five continents) and 20 Chinese postdoctoral researchers and PhD students participating in the workshop.The objectives of the workshop were (1) to discuss experiences with integrated/integrating crop and livestock production systems across the world, (2) to discuss institutions, markets and technologies needed for integrating crop and livestock production, and (3) to discuss and identify knowledge gaps, and to explore opportunities for joint research.Integrating livestock and crop production systems is one of the four research themes of the National Academy of Agriculture Green Development of the China Agricultural University in Beijing. The overall objective of this research theme is “To lay the scientific foundation for integrating crop and livestock production systems in China, which are (a) productive and competitive, (b) ecologically sound and (c) accepted by the society[1].” The research theme reflects the need of developing more sustainable livestock production systems in China, where the changes in livestock production have been huge over recent decades[2,3]. Livestock production has strongly increased, and production systems have dramatically changed over the last 20 years (Fig. 1). The dependence on feed imports has greatly increased, while manure management practices pollute the environment, and biosecurity is often at stake. Integrating livestock and crop production systems is seen as a way to develop more sustainable livestock and crop production.This editorial briefly explains the broader background of the workshop, and summarizes the main experiences of participants with integrating crop and livestock production systems. In addition, it briefly summarizes the outcome of a survey of participant’s views on integrating crop and livestock production systems.
- Published
- 2021
199. Cover crops promote primary crop yield in China : A meta-regression of factors affecting yield gain
- Author
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Fan Fan, Wenfeng Huang, David Makowski, Fusuo Zhang, Chaochun Zhang, Jay Ram Lamichhane, Wopke van der Werf, Wen-Feng Cong, Chunjie Li, China Agricultural University Library, Wageningen University and Research [Wageningen] (WUR), Mathématiques et Informatique Appliquées (MIA-Paris), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-AgroParisTech-Université Paris-Saclay, AGroécologie, Innovations, teRritoires (AGIR), Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)3180037932072676, Key Consulting Project of the Chinese Academy of Engi-neering 2019-XZ-69, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation2019M660866, China Agricultural University (CAU), and AgroParisTech-Université Paris-Saclay-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)
- Subjects
China ,Yield ,Yield (finance) ,Cropping systems ,[SDV.SA.AGRO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences/Agronomy ,Soil Science ,Meta-regression ,010501 environmental sciences ,engineering.material ,01 natural sciences ,Temperate climate ,Cover crop ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,2. Zero hunger ,business.industry ,Crop yield ,fungi ,food and beverages ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,15. Life on land ,PE&RC ,Soil quality ,Agronomy ,Agriculture ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,engineering ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Environmental science ,Fertilizer ,business ,Crop and Weed Ecology ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Cropping - Abstract
International audience; Inclusion of cover crops (CCs) in cropping systems can improve soil quality, reduce agricultural inputs, and improve environmental sustainability. While CCs have been widely promoted in China in recent years, a quantitative assessment of CC effect on crop yield across China is lacking. There is also no overarching analysis on factors explaining variation in yield effects. Here, we carried out a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of CCs on subsequent primary crop yield in China, based on 53 published studies reporting 442 yield ratios with and without CCs. We found that CCs increased subsequent primary crop yields by 9.7 % on average when compared with fallow across China. The effects of CC varied with different factors related to climatic zone, field management and soil properties. CC type (legume or not), CC season (growing in winter or summer) and nitrogen input were factors substantially influencing primary crop yield. We identified high yield benefits in subtropical rice systems with winter CCs (12.9 +/- 3.9 %) but no significant yield benefits in temperate wheat systems with summer CCs (1.9 +/- 6.6 %). Within subtropical rice systems, both legume and non-legume CCs were tested widely, and the effects of legume CCs (14.6 +/- 4.0 %) on primary crop yield were greater than those of nonlegume CCs (7.9 +/- 3.7 %). The yield benefits of CCs decreased with increasing fertilizer inputs. These results may be used for developing policy recommendations to improve primary crop yield by integrating targeted CCs associated with nitrogen management into cropping systems in China.
- Published
- 2021
200. Mitigating magnesium deficiency for sustainable citrus production: A case study in Southwest China
- Author
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Yuheng Wang, Quan Long, Yueyue Li, Furong Kang, Zihan Fan, Huaye Xiong, Huanyu Zhao, Yayin Luo, Rui Guo, Xinhua He, Prakash Lakshmanan, Xiaojun Shi, Fusuo Zhang, and Yueqiang Zhang
- Subjects
Horticulture - Published
- 2022
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