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Quests for productive soils to close yield gaps call for innovative strategies. This study tested an off-site formation of the Amazonian Terra Preta (TP) in a potential modern analogon under coastal savannah climatic conditions of Ghana. Four Ghanaian and two Zambian soils; two types of biochar (i.e., rice husk biochar and charcoal residues); domestic wastes (i.e., kitchen leftovers, animal manures, human urine, and kitchen ash) were mixed with the soils wetted to 100% water holding capacity, and incubated under aerobic conditions for nine months. Indicators of the TP include total carbon (C), pH, base saturation, basic cations, and plant-available P, which were measured using standard methods of soil analysis. The TP formation enhanced soil pH by 0.02 to 2.9, ranging from pH 7.2 to 8.2, with charcoal residues having the highest effect on pH. The modern TP was characterized by relatively high total C, pH, K, Ca, Mg, Na, base saturation, and plant-available P. These properties reflect unique interactions between the chars, wastes, and soils, suggesting the potential for on-site TP formation. It calls for further studies, commitment, and perseverance in their formation in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of irrigation depths (IDs) with brackish water and levels of organic fertilizer (OF) on the morphological aspects, production, chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of cactus pear grown in a semiarid region. This experiment was conducted in an area already established for 2 years with cactus pear [Opuntia stricta (Haw.)] and started 18 months after the standardization cut. This was a 5 × 4 factorial design of five irrigation depths (0, 12.5, 25, 37.5 and 50% evapotranspiration—ETo) and four levels of organic fertilizer (0, 15, 30, and 45 megagram per hectare—Mg/ha), with four replications. The water used in the experiment was classified with high salinity and low sodium content (C3S1), and presented an electrical conductivity of 1.73 dS/m. There was no effect of the ID × OF interaction on the morphological and productive characteristics of cactus pear (p > 0.05); however, the ID × OF interaction promoted effects on ether extract, crude protein, neutral detergent insoluble protein, neutral detergent insoluble ash, total carbohydrates and non-fiber carbohydrates (p < 0.05). The ID and OF levels separately influenced the productive, morphological and nutritional characteristics of cactus pear. Under experimental conditions, we recommend the use of organic fertilizer at a level up to 45 Mg/ha, which is associated with the use of lower brackish water levels for the cultivation of cactus pear. This study's findings provide new insights into reducing the use of potable water in crop irrigation for dryland regions and other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal manures are increasingly receiving renewed interest as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers. While they may improve ecosystem functions, there is limited information on short-term effects of organic amendments on soil reaction and nutrient dynamics in irrigated mixed dairy pastures, especially in the context of the Tsitsikamma region, South Africa. This study examined the soil fertility status of minimum tilled 6-year-old pasture-mixed dairy farms (F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5) in the Upper (UT) and Lower (LT) Tsitsikamma regions treated with different rates of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertilizer alone or in combination with poultry manure (PM) and/or dairy effluent (DE). Soil samples were collected at 0–15, 15–30, 30–45 and 45–60 cm depth intervals and analysed for soil pH, P, K, Ca and Mg. Results of this study revealed variable trends on soil pH and nutrient changes between farms, suggesting an influence of some inherent soil properties in addition to the 6-year applied management practices. When averaged over sampled farms, surface placement of soil amendments and limited soil disturbance resulted in surface stratification of soil pH, P, K, Ca and Mg. On the other hand, integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers induced significant changes in nutrient contents and stocks to a depth of 60 cm, especially in the LT region. A combination of NPK fertilizer, PM and/or DE applied in pasture mixtures generally showed potential to improve soil fertility in both regions. As such, adoption of this combination by farmers could cut down reliance on expensive synthetic fertilizers and costs of dairy production. However, studies are still necessary in this region to validate the observed results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and microalgae–bacteria consortia represent two renewable and promising technologies of growing interest that enable wastewater treatment while obtaining high-value-added products. This study integrates MFCs and microalgae production systems to treat animal slurry, aiming to remove and recover organic and inorganic components while generating energy and producing biomass. The MFCs effectively eliminated Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), organic nitrogen, and a portion of the suspended solids, achieving a maximum voltage of 195 mV and a power density of 87.03 mW·m−2. After pre-treatment with MFCs, the slurry was diluted to concentrations of 10%, 50%, and 100% and treated with microalgae–bacteria consortia. The results showed a biomass production of 0.51 g·L−1 and a productivity of 0.04 g·L−1·day−1 in the culture fed with 10% slurry, with significant removal efficiencies: 40.71% for COD, 97.76% for N-NH4+, 39.66% for N-NO2−, 47.37% for N-NO3−, and 94.37% for P-PO4−3. The combination of both technologies allowed for obtaining a properly purified slurry and the recovery of nutrients in the form of bioelectricity and high-value biomass. Increasing the concentration of animal slurry to be treated is essential to optimize and scale both technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous use of inorganic fertilizers in agriculture poses detrimental effects on soil health and future crop yields. Therefore, alternative sources of plant nutrients that are environmentally friendly and cost-effective for use in crop production, especially with the escalating cost of inorganic fertilizers, are necessary. A shade-house study was designed to determine the effect of different quantities of goat manure applications on growth attributes and yield of wild watermelon (Citrullus lanatus subsp.). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used to arrange the treatments, with fourteen (14) replications (n = 84). Six (6) treatments consisting of various quantities (v/v) of river sand, Hutton soil, and goat manure (T0-1:3:0, T1-1:3:1, T2-1:3:2, T3-1:3:3, T4-1:3:4, and T5-1:3:3) were used, with T0-1:3:0 constituting the control. Treatments had a highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) effect on dry shoot mass (65%), fruit weight (75%), and fruit diameter (75%) except for the dry root mass (44%), vine length (47%), chlorophyll (47%), number of fruit (27%) and stem diameter (22%) of wild watermelon plants. Dry shoot mass was the highest (11.14 g) in T4-1:3:4, and the lowest dry shoot mass (6.57 g) was obtained in T1-1:3:1 when compared to the control. The fruit fresh weight of the wild watermelon was reduced in all the treatments, when compared to the control. The biggest fruit diameter (66.66 mm) was observed in T4-1:3:4, and the lowest (14.4 mm) was observed in T5-1:3:5. In conclusion, T4-1:3:4 enhanced greater vegetative growth (dry shoot matter) and yield attributes (fruit diameter and weight) of the wild watermelon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Quests for productive soils to close yield gaps call for innovative strategies. This study tested an off-site formation of the Amazonian Terra Preta (TP) in a potential modern analogon under coastal savannah climatic conditions of Ghana. Four Ghanaian and two Zambian soils; two types of biochar (i.e., rice husk biochar and charcoal residues); domestic wastes (i.e., kitchen leftovers, animal manures, human urine, and kitchen ash) were mixed with the soils wetted to 100% water holding capacity, and incubated under aerobic conditions for nine months. Indicators of the TP include total carbon (C), pH, base saturation, basic cations, and plant-available P, which were measured using standard methods of soil analysis. The TP formation enhanced soil pH by 0.02 to 2.9, ranging from pH 7.2 to 8.2, with charcoal residues having the highest effect on pH. The modern TP was characterized by relatively high total C, pH, K, Ca, Mg, Na, base saturation, and plant-available P. These properties reflect unique interactions between the chars, wastes, and soils, suggesting the potential for on-site TP formation. It calls for further studies, commitment, and perseverance in their formation in the future.

Abstract Animal manures are increasingly receiving renewed interest as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers. While they may improve ecosystem functions, there is limited information on short-term effects of organic amendments on soil reaction and nutrient dynamics in irrigated mixed dairy pastures, especially in the context of the Tsitsikamma region, South Africa. This study examined the soil fertility status of minimum tilled 6-year-old pasture-mixed dairy farms (F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5) in the Upper (UT) and Lower (LT) Tsitsikamma regions treated with different rates of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertilizer alone or in combination with poultry manure (PM) and/or dairy effluent (DE). Soil samples were collected at 0–15, 15–30, 30–45 and 45–60 cm depth intervals and analysed for soil pH, P, K, Ca and Mg. Results of this study revealed variable trends on soil pH and nutrient changes between farms, suggesting an influence of some inherent soil properties in addition to the 6-year applied management practices. When averaged over sampled farms, surface placement of soil amendments and limited soil disturbance resulted in surface stratification of soil pH, P, K, Ca and Mg. On the other hand, integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers induced significant changes in nutrient contents and stocks to a depth of 60 cm, especially in the LT region. A combination of NPK fertilizer, PM and/or DE applied in pasture mixtures generally showed potential to improve soil fertility in both regions. As such, adoption of this combination by farmers could cut down reliance on expensive synthetic fertilizers and costs of dairy production. However, studies are still necessary in this region to validate the observed results.

The growing production of biowaste like food waste, vegetable waste, and animal manure results from the increased global population and economic growth and the lack of effective public policies for adequate management that encourage more sustainable practices such as nutrient recycling. Although applied to only 2% of the municipal solid waste in Brazil, composting and vermicomposting are attractive, low-cost, and effective biological ways to stabilize several types of biowastes and increase the circular economy through organic compost. This study aimed to optimize the composting and vermicomposting process by adding effective microorganisms (EM) and evaluate the vermicompost performance in the production of vegetable seedlings. The pre-composting windrow was operated for 23 days. It was constructed with 120 kg of organic waste (58%, 31%, 9%, and 2% food waste (FW), cattle manure (CM), grass clippings (GC), and tree branches (TB), respectively). Six treatments were tested in the vermicomposting with different EM doses, consisting of a commercial compost (CC) and 0 (D0), 3 (D3), 4 (D4), 5 (D5), and 6 (D6) mL EM L−1 substrate. The pre-composting windrow balanced chemical parameters, with pH from initial biowastes going from 4.4–6.8 to 8.7 and C/N from 17–41/1 to 17/1 after 23 days. It also slightly reduced carbon and maintained nitrogen contents in the pile between 2.4 and 2.6% (dry matter). The addition of EM during the vermicomposting promoted nutrient concentration. The most effective EM dose was 3 mL EM Lsubstrate−1, which increased TKN by 10% and phosphorus by 96% when compared to the control. In addition to the highest nutrient contents, treatment D3 presented the Dickson quality index (DQI) 36% higher than the commercial control treatment, showing the potential to add EM to generate a higher maturity and agronomic relevance compost.Highlights: Pre-composting can reduce the heterogeneity and adverse effects of raw biowastes. After 23 days of pre-composting, vermicomposting was completed after only 48 days. Locally produced effective microorganisms (EM) generate a more mature vermicompost. 3 mL EM L−1 residue maintained a high nitrogen concentration of 2.5% in the mixture. Seedlings grown in compost with EM had 287% higher quality (DQI) than those without EM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal manure pollution constitutes a significant environmental issue, particularly in areas with intensive livestock activities. Manure, due to its various pollution loads such as nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals, and pathogens, can have adverse effects on soil, water resources, and air quality. Among manure management practices, sustainable methods such as composting, biogas production, and advanced treatment techniques stand out. These methods offer effective solutions for reducing the environmental impact of manure, while also holding the potential to be valued as valuable resources for agriculture and energy production. The growth in the global population along with urbanization has intensified the demand in commerce, industry, and agriculture sectors. This need to satisfy the supply-demand dynamics has led to increased production activities, subsequently giving rise to significant waste management challenges. This review examines the environmental impacts of pollution originating from animal manure, current management strategies, and research developments (R&D) in this field.

Abstract The resistance of foodborne pathogens to antimicrobial agents is a potential danger to human health. Hence, establishing the status of good agricultural practices (GAPs) and the antimicrobial susceptibility of major foodborne pathogens has a significant programmatic implication in planning interventions. The objective of this study was to assess the gap in attaining GAP and estimate the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Salmonella in vegetable farms fertilized with animal manure in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 81 vegetable farms from four sub-cities in Addis Ababa were visited, and 1119 samples were collected: soil (n = 271), manure (n = 375), vegetables (n = 398), and dairy cattle feces (n = 75). Additional data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Isolation of Salmonella was done using standard microbiology techniques and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using disk diffusion assays. Carriage for antimicrobial resistance genes was tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among the 81 vegetable farms visited, 24.7% used animal manure without any treatment, 27.2% used properly stored animal manure and 80.2% were easily accessible to animals. The prevalence of Salmonella was 2.3% at the sample level, 17.3% at the vegetable farm level, and 2.5% in vegetables. The highest rate of resistance was recorded for streptomycin, 80.7% (21 of 26), followed by kanamycin, 65.4% (17 of 26), and gentamicin, 61.5% (16 of 26). Multidrug resistance was detected in 61.5% of the Salmonella isolates. Vegetable farms have a gap in attaining GAPs, which could contribute to increased contamination and the transfer of antimicrobial resistance to the vegetables. The application of GAPs, including proper preparation of compost and the appropriate use of antimicrobials in veterinary practices, are recommended to reduce the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

This study comprehensively investigated the abundance, morphologies, and polymer types of plastics, larger (1–5 mm) and smaller (< 1 mm) microplastics (MPs), in organic fertilizers using spectroscopic and microscopic methods. MPs abundance varied depending on the type of waste employed. MPs were detected in 80% of the investigated compost samples, while macro/meso plastics were found in only four samples. Compost from mixed municipal solid waste exhibited the highest MPs contamination (23100 ± 3615 items/kg dry weight), whereas compost produced from canteen waste had the lowest contamination (100 ± 65 items/kg dry weight). Smaller MPs were dominant in all samples. The estimated loads of MPs introduced into agricultural soil exceeded the previous studies. Common morphologies observed were sheet, film, fragment, and fiber, while dominant polymer types were polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS). Heavy metals, including Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb, were identified in association with MPs. Results indicate that the utilization of appropriate waste for composting and upgrading fertilizer regulations is crucial to protect the environment and human health from smaller MPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect manure or "frass" has emerged as an alternative nutrient source for alleviating the dependence on fossil fuel-based fertilizers, reducing food waste, and promoting food security. Yet, research on insect frass chemical composition is in its infancy. Here, we assessed the chemical properties of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) frass compared with poultry litter (PL). Insect frass was obtained from the National Biological Control Laboratory (NBCL; IF-L) and an insect-rearing company (IF-C). PL was collected from facilities in Arkansas (PL-AR) and North Carolina (PL-NC). Samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, macro- and micronutrients, heavy metals, pathogens, and indicator microorganisms. On average, insect frass had 43% and 47% higher C and N than PL, respectively (P  < 0.05). Considering a 5 mg/ha application rate, IF-C can supply 159 kg N/ha, twice the N supply of PL-AR (78 kg/ha). IF-L had a 53% higher P supply than PL-NC. Mean K, Ca, S, and micronutrient contents were higher in PL than in frass (P  < 0.05), whereas As, Cd, Cr, and Pb were nearly absent in frass. Chemical composition and pathogens in fertilizer sources were largely affected by insect-rearing substrate and supplements used in poultry and insect production. Insect frass utilized in this study had optimum C and N rates relative to PL, suggesting a promising soil amendment for improving soil health and C sequestration, thus contributing to sustainable agricultural intensification and reuse of food waste in circular economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress is a most imperative environmental factor that often constrains crop production worldwide. The less availability of organic matter in soil and less available water are the major ecological issues to the world food security. In the current investigation, a pot experiment was conducted to the effect of animal manure and biochar on morpho-physiological and quality parameters of maize under well water and water deficit conditions. The maize hybrid 30-32-30 was grown in pots by using CRD factorial arrangement. The experiment was comprised of four treatments and five replications under both well water and water deficit. Treatments were consisting of sole and combined application of animal manure and biochar @ 10 t ha-1 while the combination have 1:1 ratio under both water regimes. Pots under well water were irrigated at 100% FC, while water deficit were irrigated on bases of 50% FC. After about 2 months of sowing, data related to its morpho-physiological and quality attributes were recorded. The observations revealed that deficit irrigation negatively affects the growth and quality of maize. The loss in shoot fresh and dry biomass was 38.5 and 42.5% under deficit irrigation as compared to well-watered control, however, combined applied animal manure and biochar improved it 48.5 and 71.3%, respectively. Similarly, root fresh and dry biomass were decreased to 44.8 and 86.4% by deficit irrigation, therefore, maximum improvement i.e. 68.8 and 96.4% was observed under the combination of organic matter and biochar. However, combined application of animal manure and biochar also best improved stem girth (67%), stem length (35%), no. of leaves plant-1 (67.7%), no. of nodes plant-1 (75%), chlorophyll contents (16.6%), Water use efficiency (93.3%) and photosynthetic rate (45%) as compare to control treatment, under water deficit conditions, showing that the combined application of amendments is more useful for maize growth than the sole application. However, the stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were reduced to 9.3 and 17.1% under combined use of animal manure and biochar in deficit irrigation treatments. Therefore, it is concluded that maize production can be improved by the combined use of biochar and animal manure under deficit irrigation, however detailed field research is required before wide applications in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising technology for wet manure treatment by converting animal manure into valuable fuels, materials, and chemicals. Among other HTC process parameters, the temperature influences HTC products the most. As various animal manures have different compositions, it is not certain how the HTC temperature influences the hydrochar and HTC process liquid. To evaluate the temperature's effect on HTC, three different manures (poultry, swine, and dairy) were hydrothermally carbonized at three different temperatures (180, 220, and 260 °C), and solid and liquid products were characterized for their morphology, elemental compositions, and ions. The carbon contents of the hydrochar reached as high as 38.98 ± 0.36% and 40.05 ± 0.57% for poultry and swine manure, respectively, when these manures were treated at 260 °C. Ammonium showed an around 30% increase in poultry manure hydrochar with the increase in the HTC temperature. In contrast, in swine manure, it decreased by around 80%, and in dairy manure, the HTC temperature did not have any remarkable effect on the ammonium content. The process liquids from HTC of dairy manure at 220 °C showed the most balanced distribution of different ions, with 4970 ± 673 ppm of sodium, 4354 ± 437 ppm of ammonium, 2766 ± 417 ppm of potassium, 978 ± 82 ppm of magnesium, 953 ± 143 ppm of calcium, 3607 ± 16 ppm of chloride, and 39 ± 7 ppm of phosphate. These results emphasize the manure-specific effects of the HTC temperature on both solid and liquid products, indicating the need for optimized strategies to enhance HTC processes for various types of animal manures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to determine if the odor profile of Bos taurus manure could be altered by the addition of the simple saccharides glucose, lactose, and sucrose. Sucrose was added to manure slurry at 0, 12.5, 25, 50, or 125 g L−1, while glucose and lactose were added at 0, 6.45, 13.2, 26.4, or 65.8 g L−1. One hundred mL slurries were incubated in capped bottles at 30 °C for four weeks. Biogas production was measured throughout the incubations, and the pH and concentrations of short-chain fatty acids were measured at the end of the incubations. Odor compounds of the final manure slurries were isolated by stir bar sorptive extraction and identified by stir bar gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Unamended manure had high concentrations of the typical manure malodorants phenol, p-cresol, p-ethylphenol, indole, and skatole. The addition of the sugars decreased these malodors in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of sugars shifted odor production to aliphatic esters including ethyl butyrate and propyl propanoate. The sugar-amended manure therefore had a different odor profile than the unamended manure did. The addition of sugar also caused the accumulation of short-chain fatty acids and, thus, decreased the pH of the manure. The production of lactic acid was particularly enhanced at high concentrations of sugar, suggesting that lactic acid bacteria could be responsible for changes in the odor profile. Future research will investigate if the addition of lesser concentrations of sugars or agricultural and food wastes rich in carbohydrates can reduce manure malodor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The planting-breeding integration system is an important pathway to achieve the sustainable development of both animal husbandry and crop yield. Currently, the large-scale farming leads to highly concentrated animal waste, which is difficult to manage and process in a short period. Moreover, the manure contains environmental risks such as organics, heavy metals, antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant genes, which affect the existing ecological cycle system. Hydrothermal technology can convert animal waste into bio-oil, hydrochar, aqueous products, and gas products, with potentials in fuel, soil improvement, phytopathogen control, and greenhouse gas fertilization applications, respectively. According to over a decade of researches, an ecological cycling agricultural model called "planting-breeding integration system based on hydrothermal resource utilization" is proposed. This article systematically reviews the role and application potential of hydrothermal conversion products from animal waste: discusse the current research status of hydrothermal conversion of animal waste into bio crude oil as fuel for agricultural internal combustion engines; elucidates the role of aqueous products as potential agricultural fungicides in crop disease prevention and control; summarizes the research progress of hydrochar from animal waste in physicochemical characteristics, and field application; and analyzes the components of gas-phase products and their potential for greenhouse planting. Through calculation based on previous studies, hydrothermal conversion technology has significant energy and ecological benefits in constructing a new type of integrated farming model. Taking fresh swine manure with a water content of 80% as an example, after hydrothermal conversion, the produced bio-oil can generate approximately 2 000 MJ of energy as fuel; the aqueous product contains high contents of nitrogen and phosphorus elements, presenting significant potential as fertilizer and exhibits important anti-pathogen efficacy. Additionally, the produced 0.1-0.12 t of hydrochar via hydothermal conversion holds important carbon sequestration ability. Furthermore, through hydrothermal treatment, heavy metals in manure are efficiently immobilized, and pathogens and antibiotics are also rendered harmless, facilitating safe subsequent application of manure. Under this model, it will help increase the land's capacity to assimilate animal manure, construct an ecologically sustainable green circular agriculture, and achieve efficient management of animal manure and agriculture residuces. However, this model is still in a conceptual stage, and conducting large-scale application still faces significant challenges. On this basis, this article summarizes the main challenges and shortcomings of this model, and looks forward to the research direction of recycling application of animal waste and hydrothermal conversion products. Evaluating the ecological and environmental safety of aqueous products and hydrochar in field applications is an urgent task: Establishing standard procedures for hydrothermal conversion to obtain stale products, and systematically analyzing the ecological safety, environmental migration pathways, and toxic effects of conversion products are important prerequisites for promoting the development of this plantingbreeding integration system. Demonstrating the technical and economic feasibility and production safety this system is another issue that needs to be addressed. Constructing factories to achieve on-site treatment of animal waste, and coupling with various economic and renewable energy sources to support the hydrothermal conversion process are important means to improve the economic feasibility. This article will provide a reference for the high-value utilization of animal manure via hydrothermal conversion and the research of a highly-efficient planting-breeding integration system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processed manure products have the potential to substitute chemical fertilizers and the use of these products may increase resource efficiency in the food system and decrease emissions of ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gasses (GHG). The yields of maize and grass, as well as emissions, have been determined from a processed manure product: liquid ammonium sulfate from nitrogen stripping animal manure (AS), in comparison to a regular mineral fertilizer, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), in a greenhouse experiment and a field demonstration using a sandy and a clay soil. NH3 emissions were determined by comparing AS with a dairy manure as a reference. The yield of both crops, their nitrogen nutrient use efficiency (NUE), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions were not significantly different, while NH3 emission was lower from AS compared to the dairy manure. As a side-effect, the sulfur (S) contents of the grass in the fields fertilized with AS were much higher than in the non-fertilized control. We conclude that AS, produced here with a pH < 5.5, can be used as an alternative for CAN in Dutch dairy systems, or similar other system, if S leaching losses do not pose a problem for the environment. Meanwhile, care should be taken not to exceed S in feed above toxic levels for ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low solubility and enhanced fixation of zinc (Zn) in semi-arid and dry climates limits Zn uptake in plants. Zn deficiency in soil impairs crop production and human health, necessitating agricultural biofortification. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Zn and various types of manure on the Zn biofortification of lentils. The treatments, consisting of a control (Con), normal manure (NM), composted manure (CM), and acidified manure (AM), were applied under saline soil (EC 8.00 dS m−1) and non-saline soil (EC 1.48 dS m−1) conditions along with two levels of Zn, including Zn at 0 kg ha−1 (native soil Zn = 2.2 mg kg−1) and Zn at 25 kg ha−1 (62.2 mg Zn kg−1 soil was achieved). The AM was prepared by adding sulfur and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria to the composted manure. All the manures were applied at 1% (w/w), and ZnSO4 (33% Zn) was used as a Zn source. Lentil variety Masoor 2021 was cultivated as a test crop in five replications of each treatment arranged in a completely randomized design. Applying AM with Zn considerably increased the lentils' growth, yield, and Zn content under saline and non-saline conditions. Under non-saline soils, the treatment of AM + Zn significantly promoted the Zn content in the root (132.5%), shoot (91.7%), grain (49.1%), root length (79.7%), plant height (33.7%), and SPAD value (29.9%). Under saline conditions, application of AM + Zn promoted uptake of Zn in the root (218.5%), Zn content in the shoot (175.7%), Zn accumulation in the grain (107.7%), root length (109.7%), plant height (37.8%), and SPAD value (52.8%) compared to the control. According to the results, lentils should be grown with AM and Zn to increase their growth, yield, and Zn content significantly. This is a cost-effective and sustainable way to combat Zn deficiency in lentils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of dairy manure digestate (DMD) was explored in this study. Response surface methodology was used to investigate the influence of temperature, time, and DMD pH on hydrochar properties. Hydrochar obtained in the study exhibited higher heating value (HHV) in the range of 17.5–20.6 MJ kg−1, with energy and hydrochar yields 45.8–72.4% and 57.6–80.1%, respectively. It was demonstrated that temperature was the most significant factor. At higher temperature, the HHV of hydrochar was higher while both energy and hydrochar yields were lower. In particular, hydrochar obtained at temperature ≥ 260 °C had HHV ≥ 20.0 MJ kg−1, which was close to that of lignite and implied its potential as fuel. To gain insights about the fate of various elements during HTC and facilitate overall evaluation of hydrochar, a wide range of elements (30 in total, including macro- and micro-nutrients, as well as heavy metals) was analyzed. Hydrochar had carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio between 10 and 12, which was in the suitable range for nutrient availability as soil amendment. Half of the elements remained in the hydrochar, while most of Na, K, and half of S leached into process water, especially at temperature ≥ 260 °C, thus combusting hydrochar can potentially alleviate the slagging and fouling problems associated with direct combustion of dried DMD. The study provided insights for further rational utilization of DMD hydrochar, and integration of HTC into existing on-farm anaerobic digestion was a promising option for reduction disposal of DMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of animal manure to fertilize soil is an emerging concern contributing to the transfer of antimicrobial‐resistant pathogens to vegetables. Hence, assessing antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Escherichia coli in vegetable farms is essential to design appropriate interventions against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the food chain. This study assessed antimicrobial resistance profile and associated genetic markers among E. coli isolated from vegetable farms fertilized with animal manure in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 1044 samples were collected using convenience sampling: soil (n = 271), manure (n = 375), and vegetables (n = 398) from 81 vegetable farms in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was conducted for 100 E. coli isolates and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the 1044 collected samples, 25.3% were positive for E. coli, with significantly higher prevalence in the manure sample and samples collected from Akaki Kality sub‐city (p <.05). The highest resistance rate was recorded for tetracycline (72%), followed by streptomycin (63%), and sulfamethoxazole +trimethoprim (56%). Multidrug resistance was detected in 61% of the E. coli isolates. The aac(3)‐IV (76.9%), blaTEM (65.4%), aadA (60.3%), tet(A) (58.3%), and sulI (51.7%) were the commonly detected resistance genes. The current study showed a high burden of antimicrobial resistance among E. coli isolated from manure‐amended vegetable farms, with potential of playing a significant role in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in the food chain. Efforts should be made to reduce the burden of resistant organisms and ARGs through prudent use of antimicrobials in livestock and application of appropriate composting techniques before using manure as fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the toxicological effects of cadmium stress on two different varieties of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L). Additionally, it explores the impact of cattle manure application on the morpho-physiological traits of cadmium-stressed spinach and fenugreek. The study employed a completely randomized design with three replicates assigned to each treatment. Two cadmium concentrations (35 mg L-1 and 70 mg L-1) were applied to both leafy vegetables two weeks after sowing. After 10 dwere of stress, the impact of cadmium stress on the biomass attributes (root length, shoot length, root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, number of leaves, and leaf area) of fenugreek and spinach varieties was assessed. The results indicate that cadmium stress decreased these attributes, with the maximum decrease observed under 70 mg L-1 Cd stress compared to the control and 35 mg L-1 Cd stress. Cattle manure demonstrated a more pronounced positive influence on these parameters, particularly at the 35 mg L-1 concentration, compared to the 70 mg L-1 concentration in both species. Thus, the use of animal manure shows promise as a treatment against heavy metal contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research (the effect of different doses of animal manure on growth and yield of common bean) carried out based on (RCBD) in Yakawlang district. This experiment conducted in three replications and eighteen treatments (each replication contains six treatments). Land preparation was first done, all extra materials removed from field and the field was furrowed by traditional tools. All other operation for preparing land to cultivate was done in a traditional manner. Descriptions of treatments are as follow: T1 (control) T2 (2 ton ha¹) T3 (4 ton ha¹) T4 (6 ton ha¹) T5 (8 ton ha¹) T6 (10 ton ha¹). This study was conducted in Yakwlang district during 2023. For achieving of this research, agricultural lands was selected and prepared for common bean cultivation through using traditional tools, shovel, and other essential tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct application of animal waste on farmlands was banned in China recently, rendering organic fertilizer production a sound solution for disposing of animal manures and recycling their materials and nutrients. Due to the overuse of antimicrobials in livestock and poultry farms, manure-based organic fertilizers often contain elevated residues of antimicrobials and abundant antimicrobial resistance genes. Land application of such products has caused significant concerns on the environmental pollution of antimicrobials, and the transmission and development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is a major global health challenge. China’s recent attempt to restrict the contents of antimicrobial residues in organic fertilizers encountered strong resistance from the industry as it would hinder the utilization of animal manures as a raw material. Reducing and even eliminating the use of antimicrobials in animal farms is the ultimate solution to the challenge of manure disposal posed by the elevated levels of antimicrobial residues and AMR. Phasing out the non-therapeutic use of antimicrobials, developing substitutes of antimicrobials, enhancing animal welfare in farms, promoting diversification of animal farms, and developing antimicrobial removal and disinfection technologies for animal waste are recommended to improve the veterinary antimicrobial stewardship and manure management in China’s animal agriculture. These concerted measures would enhance the sustainability of crop and animal farming systems in China and mitigate the impact of antimicrobials and AMR to agro-environmental quality and human health.

Abstract This study investigated batch-fed vermicomposting of cow manure, with a specific focus on assessing the effects of tylosin on the weight of earthworms and the overall quality of the resulting manure. Five reactors, including three concentrations of tylosin (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) and two control reactors, were employed. Residual tylosin concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Quality parameters such as pH, temperature, volatile solids (VS), organic carbon content (OCC), electrical conductivity (EC), ash content, C/N ratio, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and microbial content were evaluated. The toxicity and maturity of vermicompost were assessed by determining the germination index (GI). The study also monitored variations in the earthworm’s weight. The results demonstrated a decreasing trend in VS, OCC, C/N, and fecal coliforms, along with increased pH, EC, ash content, and TKN during the vermicomposting process. Furthermore, investigations revealed significant reductions in the reactors with tylosin concentrations of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg, resulting in the removal of 98%, 90.48%, and 89.38% of the initial tylosin, respectively. This result confirms the faster removal of tylosin in reactors with lower concentrations. Degradation of tylosin also conforms to first-order kinetics. The findings showed a significant influence of tylosin on the weight of Eisenia fetida earthworms and the lowest antibiotic concentration led to the highest weight gain. Finally, the high percentage of germination index (90–100%) showed that the quality and maturity of vermicompost is by national and international standards.

This paper studied the response of rice yield and soil nitrogen (N) cycling microorganisms to the combined application of animal slurry and mineral fertiliser. A pot experiment was conducted on typical yellow-brown paddy soil. There were five treatments: (1) CK - no N fertilisation; (2) S0 - mineral fertilisation; (3) S30 - 30% slurry with 70% mineral fertilisation; (4) S60 - 60% slurry with 40% mineral fertilisation; and (5) S100 - slurry application. Rice yield, yield components, and soil properties were investigated at harvest. The abundance of soil N cycle functional genes abundance was quantified via quantitative real-time PCR. The rice yield reached a high level when the proportion of slurry used to replace mineral fertiliser was 30-50%. The yield in response to mineral fertiliser (S0) was equivalent to that in response to no N fertilisation since the formation of effective panicles was inhibited. With the slurry replacement ratio increase, the available phosphorus and potassium contents in the soil improved, but the nitrate content decreased. Considering the entire soil N cycle, nitrogen-fixing microbes (nifH), ammonia-oxidising archaea (AOA amoA) and nitrite-reducing microbes (nirS and nirK) had greater abundances, reaching 108 copies. Compared with those in the S0 treatment, the abundances of most N cycle functional genes in the S30 treatment, except for napA, significantly increased from 31.2% to 100.9%, and the increase in the abundance of nirS and nosZ in the S100 treatment reached 4 times, which was obviously greater than that of the other genes. Correlation analysis revealed that high soil pH promoted N fixation and nitrification, while NH4+-N had the opposite effect on N fixation and nitrification, and available phosphorus and potassium actively influenced denitrification. These results showed that a 30-50% slurry application ratio was recommended for rice, which was beneficial for maintaining high yields and high abundances of soil N cycle functional genes.

The excess application of chemical fertilizer contributes to environmental pollution. Therefore, this study aims to explore the integrated use of animal manure and chemical fertilizer to identify a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to nitrogen fertilizer. Two experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 at Kabul University, Afghanistan, using an LD04-13265 soybean variety. The integration of animal manure and chemical fertilizer was categorized into six treatments: (1) control (no fertilizer), (2) animal manure low dose (AMLD), (3) animal manure high dose (AMHD), (4) chemical fertilizer (CF), (5) CF 50% + AMLD, and (6) CF 75% + AMLD. The results revealed that AMHD and its integration with 75% chemical fertilizer greatly influenced the vegetative growth of soybean plants in experiments I and II. The number of pods per plant and pod length significantly (p < 0.05) increased under the CF 75% + AMLD treatment. In experiment I, soybean yield increased the most with the CF treatment, followed by CF 75% + AMLD. In contrast, in experiment II, the highest yield per hectare was observed in the CF 75% + AMLD treatment, followed by CF. The CF 75% + AMLD treatment significantly increased the SPAD value in both experiments. Consequently, a strong relationship was observed between the SPAD value and yield (r = 0.74) in experiment I and between SPAD and pod length (r = 0.82) in experiment II. Incorporating animal manure with chemical fertilizer significantly impacted soybean growth and yield, offering a potential possibility for reducing reliance on nitrogen fertilizer application to mitigate environmental pollution.

This study investigated batch-fed vermicomposting of cow manure, with a specific focus on assessing the effects of tylosin on the weight of earthworms and the overall quality of the resulting manure. Five reactors, including three concentrations of tylosin (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) and two control reactors, were employed. Residual tylosin concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Quality parameters such as pH, temperature, volatile solids (VS), organic carbon content (OCC), electrical conductivity (EC), ash content, C/N ratio, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and microbial content were evaluated. The toxicity and maturity of vermicompost were assessed by determining the germination index (GI). The study also monitored variations in the earthworm's weight. The results demonstrated a decreasing trend in VS, OCC, C/N, and fecal coliforms, along with increased pH, EC, ash content, and TKN during the vermicomposting process. Furthermore, investigations revealed significant reductions in the reactors with tylosin concentrations of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg, resulting in the removal of 98%, 90.48%, and 89.38% of the initial tylosin, respectively. This result confirms the faster removal of tylosin in reactors with lower concentrations. Degradation of tylosin also conforms to first-order kinetics. The findings showed a significant influence of tylosin on the weight of Eisenia fetida earthworms and the lowest antibiotic concentration led to the highest weight gain. Finally, the high percentage of germination index (90–100%) showed that the quality and maturity of vermicompost is by national and international standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy availability is a pivotal driver in fostering sustainable socio-economic development. However, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) grapples with paradoxes headlined by abundant energy resources but with the world's lowest access to clean energy index per capita. Faced with a lack of access to clean energy sources like electricity, rural areas in the majority of SSA countries almost exclusively depend on biomass-fuels, mostly fuelwood, leading to heightened respiratory health risks as well as environmental degradation and accelerated climate change. As an alternative, this review investigates the potential of animal manure as a sustainable energy resource for rural SSA households, emphasising its utilisation as a feedstock for biogas production using anaerobic digestor technology. Results show that despite the abundance of literature that reports on successes in lab-scale bioreactor optimisation, as well as successes in the initial rollout of biogas biodigester technology in SSA with the help of international collaborators, the actual uptake of biogas bioreactor technology by rural communities remains low, while installed bioreactors are experiencing high failure rates. Resultantly, rural SSA still lags significantly behind in the adoption of sustainable clean energy systems in comparison to rural communities in other regions. Among some of the hurdles identified as driving low technology assimilation are onerous policy requirements, low-level government involvement, high bioreactor-instalment costs, the lack of training and awareness, and water scarcity. Prospects for success lie in innovative technologies like the low-cost portable FlexiBiogas system and private–public partnerships, as well as flexible energy policy frameworks. Bridging the knowledge-implementation gap requires a holistic approach considering cultural, technological, and policy aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing poultry and livestock farm operations have led to a great deal of manure generation. If inappropriately managed, it may cause adverse impacts on the environment, health, and economy. Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) larvae (BSFL) can potentially convert manure into protein-rich biomass and nutrient-rich frass effectively. In this study, BSFL were reared on three different waste streams - quail manure (QM), chicken manure (CM), and pig manure (PM). Manure mass was significantly reduced by larvae, of which QM had the highest overall degradation of 62.49% and waste reduction index of 10.42% (p-value < 0.05) of dry matter (DM). The larvae reared in QM also had the highest bioconversion rate (26.41%) and individual larval weight (~ 0.22 g/larva) (p < 0.05) with DM protein and fat contents of 54.77 and 13.79%, respectively, being a potentially high protein and high energy animal feed. Meanwhile, larvae reared in CM produced the lowest larval biomass (~ 0.07 g/larva) but had the most frass (252.10 g) (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the frass composition (organic matter, nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio) from the three substrates (p > 0.05). Therefore, BSFL presents a promising solution for efficient manure management by converting it into valuable frass and larval biomass with potential applications as plant fertilizer and animal feed ingredient, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessments of the spatiotemporal distribution of livestock manure and its risk to the watershed are important to prevent water pollution. In this work, the spatiotemporal livestock manure distribution and its risk for the Chaohu lake basin were evaluated based on the excretion coefficient method and ArcGIS technology. In detail, the amounts of livestock manure and its associated pollutants, including chemical oxygen demand (COD), five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonia (NH4+-N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP), were calculated from 2009 to 2019. Then, the diffusion concentrations of COD, BOD5, NH4+-N, TN, and TP and the water pollution risk index from livestock manure were estimated and predicted for the Chaohu lake basin. The results indicated that the mean amount of livestock manure had reached 1.04 × 107 t in the Chaohu lake basin in the studied decade. The COD, BOD5, NH4+-N, TN, and TP from livestock manure in Feixi and Feidong contributed 54.26% and 54.40% of the total in the whole basin. These results demonstrate the potential pollution risk of livestock manure for the Chaohu lake basin. Moreover, the diffusion concentrations of COD, BOD5, NH4+-N, TN, and TP for the lake basin were from highest to lowest as follows: Feixi > Feidong > Chaohu > Lujiang > Wuwei > Shucheng > Hefei. The water pollution risk index was more than 20 in Feixi and Feidong, indicating that these areas were heavily affected by local livestock manure. The water pollution risk index will be approximately 18 for the Chaohu lake basin in 2030, implying that the Chaohu lake watershed will suffer moderate pollution from animal manure. These results provide scientific support for policymakers to enhance manure utilization efficiency and control livestock manure loss, causing water eutrophication in Chaohu lake basin or other similar watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is one of the most abundant and essential nutrient elements for crop growth; however, it is often not available to plants in sufficient quantity. Organic amendment can enhance its availability in acid tropical soils. In this study, we investigated the effects of manure type on the pattern of P release in highly weathered tropical soils of contrasting lithology and mineralogy. Two fallow-land soils from Isinyi-Nando and UNN-Nsukka in southeastern Nigeria with antecedent Bray-2 available P of 3.73 and 20.83 mg kg‒1, respectively, were amended with poultry droppings, pig slurry and cattle dung at soil-manure mass ratio of 100:6 and incubated. They were sub-sampled at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 28 weeks of incubation. In the two soil types, the highest increases in soil pH and available P always occurred with poultry droppings, with P release peaking at 16 weeks. Manure-induced increases in available P were greater in the less oxide-rich Isinyi-Nando soil compared with the more oxide-rich UNN-Nsukka soil over the incubation duration, with lower values in the former than the latter without amendment (5.79 and 23.57 mg kg‒1, respectively) and across treatments (40.59 and 45.16 mg kg‒1, respectively). The P release patterns were defined more by increases and decreases in soil pH and organic carbon with incubation time, respectively, and less by soil aggregation. Poultry droppings could enhance P release around 16 weeks post-amendment of these soils. Further studies are needed on its synchronized bioavailability and the prospects of slow-mineralizing cattle dung beyond 28 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excess application of chemical fertilizer contributes to environmental pollution. Therefore, this study aims to explore the integrated use of animal manure and chemical fertilizer to identify a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to nitrogen fertilizer. Two experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 at Kabul University, Afghanistan, using an LD04-13265 soybean variety. The integration of animal manure and chemical fertilizer was categorized into six treatments: (1) control (no fertilizer), (2) animal manure low dose (AMLD), (3) animal manure high dose (AMHD), (4) chemical fertilizer (CF), (5) CF 50% + AMLD, and (6) CF 75% + AMLD. The results revealed that AMHD and its integration with 75% chemical fertilizer greatly influenced the vegetative growth of soybean plants in experiments I and II. The number of pods per plant and pod length significantly (p < 0.05) increased under the CF 75% + AMLD treatment. In experiment I, soybean yield increased the most with the CF treatment, followed by CF 75% + AMLD. In contrast, in experiment II, the highest yield per hectare was observed in the CF 75% + AMLD treatment, followed by CF. The CF 75% + AMLD treatment significantly increased the SPAD value in both experiments. Consequently, a strong relationship was observed between the SPAD value and yield (r = 0.74) in experiment I and between SPAD and pod length (r = 0.82) in experiment II. Incorporating animal manure with chemical fertilizer significantly impacted soybean growth and yield, offering a potential possibility for reducing reliance on nitrogen fertilizer application to mitigate environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an emerging contaminant, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have attracted growing attention, owing to their widespread dissemination and potential risk in the farming environment. However, ARG pollution from family livestock farms in the Yellow River basin, one of the main irrigation water sources in the North China Plain, remains unclear. Herein, we targeted 21 typical family farms to assess the occurrence patterns of ARGs in livestock waste and its influence on ARGs in receiving environment by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results showed that common ARGs were highly prevalent in family livestock waste, and tet-ARGs and sul-ARGs were the most abundant in these family farms. Most ARG levels in fresh feces of different animals varied, as the trend of chicken farms (broilers > laying hens) > swine farms (piglets > fattening pigs > boars and sows) > cattle farms (dairy cattle > beef cattle). The effect of natural composting on removing ARGs for chicken manure was better than that for cattle manure, while lagoon storage was not effective in removing ARGs from family livestock wastewater. More troublesomely, considerable amounts of ARGs were discharged with manure application, further leading to the ARG increase in farmland soil (up to 58–119 times), which would exert adverse impacts on human health and ecological safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Understanding the crop management practices of millet agriculture is pivotal for comprehending the development of Chinese civilization. Recent studies have indicated that organic manuring plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable millet cultivation on the Loess Plateau. However, uncertainties still exist regarding how manuring practices impact the δ 15N values of C4 millets compared to C3 cereals. Furthermore, inadequate information on crop δ 15N at archaeological sites has led to controversial interpretations of animal and human diets. In this study, we present new findings from an experimental archaeological research conducted in actual loess farmland in China to explore the potential range of variability in grain δ 15N values of millets. Our results demonstrate that animal manure significantly increases Setaria and Panicum grain δ 15N values, ranging from 2.7 to 9.3‰. Considering trophic enrichment effects on nitrogen isotopes, humans consuming manured millets may yield values ranging from 5.7 to 12.3‰, suggesting alternative explanations for high δ 15N values other than animal protein consumption. Opposite to the general hypothesis, the grain δ 15N values are systematically lower than those of leaves. The difference between the values of Setaria and Panicum and the process of manure influencing the grain δ 15N values are also discussed. Our study provides novel insights into the nitrogen stable isotopic indicator of millet manuring and will serve to set reconstructions of past manuring and diet practices in northern China on a firmer foundation.

Purpose Diospyros mespiliformis which is commonly known as African ebony is a valuable fruit tree species with important medicinal and nutritional values. The tree has a slow growth rate that discourages its propagation and at present attempts made towards improving its growth performance are scanty. This study, therefore, evaluates the effect of the type and quantity of animal manure on the growth performance of Diospyros mespiliformis to determine the suitable type of manure and quantity of application that will improve its growth performance.Method Poultry, cow, and goat manures were applied to Diospyros mespiliformis seedlings at 0 g (control), 15 g (10 t/ha-1), 30 g (25 t/ha-1), and 40 g (35 t/ha-1) in pots. The experiment was arranged in a 4 x 3 factorial in a completely randomized design with five (5) replicates.Results Type of manure had a significant effect on seedlings' stem height growth. The highest stem height growth of 11.64±1.54 cm was recorded by seedlings that received goat manure. The collar diameter and the number of leaves produced were not significantly affected by the type of manure. The Quantity of manure applied did not significantly affect stem height and collar diameter increment; however, it significantly affected the number of leaves produced. Application of 40 g of manures improved leaf production in Diospyros mespiliformis seedlings.Conclusion Application of animal manures improved the growth performance of Diospyros mespiliformis, however, seedlings that received goat manure had better growth performance.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of irrigation depths (IDs) with brackish water and levels of organic fertilizer (OF) on the morphological aspects, production, chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of cactus pear grown in a semiarid region. This experiment was conducted in an area already established for 2 years with cactus pear [Opuntia stricta (Haw.)] and started 18 months after the standardization cut. This was a 5 × 4 factorial design of five irrigation depths (0, 12.5, 25, 37.5 and 50% evapotranspiration—ETo) and four levels of organic fertilizer (0, 15, 30, and 45 megagram per hectare—Mg/ha), with four replications. The water used in the experiment was classified with high salinity and low sodium content (C3S1), and presented an electrical conductivity of 1.73 dS/m. There was no effect of the ID × OF interaction on the morphological and productive characteristics of cactus pear (p > 0.05); however, the ID × OF interaction promoted effects on ether extract, crude protein, neutral detergent insoluble protein, neutral detergent insoluble ash, total carbohydrates and non-fiber carbohydrates (p < 0.05). The ID and OF levels separately influenced the productive, morphological and nutritional characteristics of cactus pear. Under experimental conditions, we recommend the use of organic fertilizer at a level up to 45 Mg/ha, which is associated with the use of lower brackish water levels for the cultivation of cactus pear. This study’s findings provide new insights into reducing the use of potable water in crop irrigation for dryland regions and other regions.

In the northern part of Tanzania, the slopes of Mount (Mt.) Kilimanjaro are the most important areas, both in terms of socio-economic development and ecological succession. The main agricultural systems in the area are banana)based (in the highlands) and maize-based (in the lowlands), with strong interlinkage between them via residual transfer from the lowlands to the mountains. This study assessed the soil fertility status between the two contrasting farming areas of highland and lowland farms in Hai district along the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. To achieve this, smallholder farmers along the slope [from above 1000 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l) banana-based down to maize)based, i.e., less than 1000 m.a.s.l] who practice crop residual transfer from maize)based to banana-based farming systems were selected. Qualitative information regarding the demographics, farming practices, and soil fertility management in the two areas were gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire. Soils from both areas (highland and lowland farms) were collected and analyzed in the laboratory for the key soil properties. The demographic results show that agriculture is mostly done by adults and elders (>40 years old). Manure was most commonly reported to be used in the highlands, while inorganic fertilizers were mainly used in lowland areas. The major challenges for soil fertility management are a shortage of manure and high cost of inorganic fertilizers. The results of soil nutrients revealed that lowland zones (>1000 m.a.s.l) had significantly (p< 0.01) lower levels of nitrogen (0.14%) and organic carbon (OC) (1.22%) compared with highland zones. Extractable phosphorus (P) was significantly lower in both the highland and lowland zones, at 9.3 mg kg-1 and 8.2 mg kg-1, respectively, compared with other nutrients. However, potassium (K+) was significantly (p<0.01) lower [0.34 cmol (+) kg-1] in the highland zone compared to lowland areas. The data show that there is a severe depletion of soil nutrients in the lowland area of Hai district. Notwithstanding the efforts of the small-holder farmers; the study comes to the conclusion that increasing agricultural yield and the sustainability of farming systems require replenishing the nutrients in the soil along the slope of Mount Kilimanjaro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe Niger Delta region of Nigeria suffers from petroleum pollution, which affects ecosystem functioning and human health, which necessitates finding sustainable remediation options that utilize local resources. In this work, cattle manure (CM) and poultry manure (PM), which are primarily utilized as biofertilizer for agricultural purposes, were utilized to bioremediate crude oil-contaminated soil on a laboratory scale. In addition to being readily accessible, CM and PM are also sustainable bioresources that are host to a wide variety of microflora that can be used for bioaugmentation. At the end of the 1.5 month study, the impact of the amendments on speciated total petroleum hydrocarbons (STPH) in the range of nC10-nC40 was evaluated. A significantly higher STPH degradation of 36% in PM-amended soil was observed compared to CM-amended soil (23%); and only 1% degradation in enhanced by natural attenuation soil (RENA). The pre-dominant aliphatic fractions in the samples analyzed were nC16-nC35. In comparison to the CM amendment option, PM amendments achieved better bioremediation of these fractions. Moreover, the effect of biowaste ratio amendment to the contaminated soil showed that the ratio 1:1 (w/w) for both bioadmendments performed better than the ratio 1:2 (w/w), suggesting that the higher the amount of amendment to contaminated soil, the more effective the bioremediation. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of PM as a sustainable, affordable, and local bioremediation technique for recovering soil contaminated by crude oil in the Niger Delta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the crop management practices of millet agriculture is pivotal for comprehending the development of Chinese civilization. Recent studies have indicated that organic manuring plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable millet cultivation on the Loess Plateau. However, uncertainties still exist regarding how manuring practices impact the δ15N values of C4 millets compared to C3 cereals. Furthermore, inadequate information on crop δ15N at archaeological sites has led to controversial interpretations of animal and human diets. In this study, we present new findings from an experimental archaeological research conducted in actual loess farmland in China to explore the potential range of variability in grain δ15N values of millets. Our results demonstrate that animal manure significantly increases Setaria and Panicum grain δ15N values, ranging from 2.7 to 9.3‰. Considering trophic enrichment effects on nitrogen isotopes, humans consuming manured millets may yield values ranging from 5.7 to 12.3‰, suggesting alternative explanations for high δ15N values other than animal protein consumption. Opposite to the general hypothesis, the grain δ15N values are systematically lower than those of leaves. The difference between the values of Setaria and Panicum and the process of manure influencing the grain δ15N values are also discussed. Our study provides novel insights into the nitrogen stable isotopic indicator of millet manuring and will serve to set reconstructions of past manuring and diet practices in northern China on a firmer foundation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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On a global scale, the annual excretion of sulphur (S) from domestic animals is estimated to be approximately 8 million tonnes, equivalent to about 13% of the world's sulphur production or 80% of the world's consumption for manufactured mineral fertilisers. Despite this significant potential source of fertiliser sulphur, its effective utilisation remains a challenge. Animal manure exhibits considerable variability in composition, influenced by factors such as animal species, feed composition, production systems, storage conditions, and time. During anaerobic storage, sulphur-containing organic compounds are broken down into sulphide through a series of intermediate sulphur compounds, which are volatile and odorous, and especially methanethiols, which cause increased risk of odour development. Slurries exhibit varying levels of plant-available sulphur, and total sulphur content has limitations in predicting fertiliser value. The lower efficiency of sulphur in animal slurry is primarily attributed to its presence in organic forms inaccessible to plants. Therefore, the addition of S fertiliser is generally recommended with adjustments made for the residual effect of previous years' sulphur applications. The acidification of slurry with sulphuric acid offers advantages, reducing ammonia emissions and enhancing both the nitrogen (N) and S fertilisation values, but a balance between S application through slurry and crop requirements must be established as applications often surpass crop demands. Also, acidification of slurry with sulphuric acid may potentially produce more odour from S compounds than untreated slurry. Anaerobic digestion provides benefits by substituting fossil fuel by biogas. However, anaerobic digestion does not contribute to S supply of the crop due to gaseous loss of S during anaerobic digestion and inorganic S immobilisation in the soil upon application. Sulphur from biogas filters can be used as a targeted fertiliser or returned to the digestate in a storage tank. Sulphur fertiliser replacement value of cattle manure and digested cattle manure increases when sulphur filter materials are added. Storage of filter materials in digested manure reduces the risk of S volatilisation compared to untreated manure, and sulphur filter materials are a valuable source of plant-available sulphur. Microaeration, defined as the dosing of small quantities of air or oxygen to a digester, is a promising treatment technology to facilitate anaerobic digestion and to convert sulphide to sulphate or elemental sulphur. Preliminary investigations indicate that the microaeration process is a very efficient way of avoiding hydrogen sulphide in the gas and thereby keeping sulphur in the digestate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is to test the capability of the first order kinetic model and Gompertz model to describe the volume of biogas produced by anaerobic digestion of organic solid waste versus time. The test was done by two ways: first, by using data obtained experimentally form the codigestion of Prosopis Juliflora sawdust with camel, chicken, cow manure and wastewater sludge at 37oC for a period of 60 days and second by using experimental data available in open literature. The adequacy of the models was assessed by calculating R2 and the residual sum of squares (RSS). The results showed that Gompertz model is more successful in representing the volume versus time data. The first order kinetic model was not capable of doing so for most of the cases studied. Codigestion of Prosopis Juliflora sawdust with animal manure showed that codigestion with chicken manure gave the highest amount of biogas whereas codigestion with camel manure gave the lowest amount of biogas. The amount of biogas produced upon codigestion of Prosopis Juliflora sawdust with animal manure follow the following order: P. Juliflora + chicken manure > P. Juliflora + wastewater sludge > P. Juliflora + cow manure > P. Juliflora + camel manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cornerstones of an efficient circular waste management strategy aiming for enhanced resource efficiency are maximizing organic waste valorization and improving residual conversion to biochemicals. In this regard, this study focuses on the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from the effluent of fungi biomass cultivation on low-grade residues from the potato starch industry with batch and semi-continuous membrane bioreactors (MBRs) containing the effluent of already fermented potato protein liquor (FPPL) inoculated with chicken and cow manure. The effect of pH in the batch experiments on the production and yield of VFAs during acidogenic digestion was evaluated. Rapid generation of VFAs at a concentration of up to 11.8 g/L could be successfully achieved in the MBR. Under the optimal conditions, a high yield of 0.65 g VFAs/g VSfed was obtained for the organic loading rate (OLR) of 1 g VS/L/d using FPPL substrate and chicken manure as inoculum. The results show that the application of sequential multi-step bioconversion of potato starch industry residues has the potential to increase the variety of value-added products generated from a single organic residue while enhancing nutrient recovery capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of biotransformation and the changes in chemical and physical properties, carbon and nitrogen distribution of different livestock and poultry manure treated by black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), the 5-days-old larvae were used to transform pig manure, cow manure, duck manure, and chicken manure. The relevant indexes of animal manure before and after transformation were determined. The results showed that the nutrients of different livestock and poultry manure could satisfy the growth of BSFL, and the fresh weight of BSFL in pig and chicken manure (189.23 g and 193.45 g) was significantly higher than that in cow and duck manure (167.68 g and 178.18 g). The reduction rate and biotransformation rate of BSFL to pig manure and chicken manure were 63.23%, 65.49%, 33.66%, and 35.09% respectively, but the reduction rate and biotransformation rate of cow manure were the lowest, 40.98% and 20.48% respectively. After transformation, the dissolved organic carbon, ammonium nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen in animal manure decreased significantly. The dissolved organic carbon decreased by 29.06% (pig manure), 24.69% (cow manure), 27.01% (chicken manure) and 24.93% (duck manure), respectively. Ammonium nitrogen decreased by 88.01% (pig manure), 59.38% (cow manure), 85.57% (chicken manure), and 79.12% (duck manure) respectively. 18.32% and 19.47% of carbon and 33.24% and 35.56% of the nitrogen in pig manure and chicken manure were converted into protein and fat by BSFL, while 70.21% and 65.36% of carbon and 42.36% and 41.36% of nitrogen were retained in the frass. Whereas the BSFL had low utilization of carbon and nitrogen in the cow manure, 14.46% of carbon and 27.43% of nitrogen were used for the growth of the insect. 77.68% carbon and 54.68% of nitrogen were remained in the frass. In conclusion, BSFL can effectively transform different animal manure, recycle carbon and nitrogen. The transformed insect frass has the potential to be a high-quality bioorganic fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the widespread use of antibiotics in intensive animal farming has contributed to their increased environmental burden. Notably, data and knowledge on these contaminants in farmlands are lacking in India, despite being a major agricultural producer worldwide. To date, no studies have explored whether antibiotics are an intractable environmental issue in Indian agroecosystems. Specifically, information on the prevalence and spread of common antibiotics in long-term animal manure-laden organic farmlands of India is non-existent. Here, we examined samples of manure, soil and vegetables collected from 24 different organic farmlands in India to assess the presence of residues from 15 typical veterinary antibiotics (VAs). Our findings revealed that nine VAs, including three tetracyclines (TCs), three sulfonamides (SAs), one macrolide (ML), and two quinolones (QNs), were recorded in almost all the manure and soil samples. The residual levels of antibiotics (µg kg‒1) decreased in the following order: TCs (manure: 22.10‒161.10; soil: 8.30‒61) > SAs (manure: 0.90‒73; soil: 0.20‒48.40) > QNs (manure: nd‒3.60; soil: nd‒1.80) > MLs (manure: nd‒1.50; soil: nd‒0.90). Poultry manure-applied farmlands exhibited the highest antibiotic contamination levels, with total antibiotic concentrations surpassing the ecotoxicological effect trigger value of 100 μg kg−1 set by the Steering Committee of the Veterinary International Committee on Harmonization, highlighting the potential hazard of VAs to the soil ecosystem. The translocation of VAs in vegetables was in the order: leaf > root > fruit, and bioaccumulation of 0.10‒3.90 μg kg−1 was recorded. Notably, the calculated risk quotients of antibiotics in vegetables were ˂1, indicating the negligible risk to human health. Overall, our study unveils a concerning state of VAs pollution in organic farmlands in India that warrants special attention, as it may contribute to the proliferation of antibiotic resistance.

The article presents relevant data from a long-term field experiment in Norway, comparing anaerobically digested and undigested slurry from organically managed dairy cows since 2011. Both the undigested and digested slurry originated from the same herd of cows and heifers. The dataset includes chemical analyses of slurry, soil characteristics at plot level of pH, extractable nutrients, and loss on ignition; crop yields, botanical composition (some years), and plant mineral composition (some years). These data supplement the findings presented and discussed in the research article Anaerobic digestion of dairy cattle slurry – long-term effects on crop yields and chemical soil characteristics [1].

The low solubility and enhanced fixation of zinc (Zn) in semi-arid and dry climates limits Zn uptake in plants. Zn deficiency in soil impairs crop production and human health, necessitating agricultural biofortification. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Zn and various types of manure on the Zn biofortification of lentils. The treatments, consisting of a control (Con), normal manure (NM), composted manure (CM), and acidified manure (AM), were applied under saline soil (EC 8.00 dS m−1) and non-saline soil (EC 1.48 dS m−1) conditions along with two levels of Zn, including Zn at 0 kg ha−1 (native soil Zn = 2.2 mg kg−1) and Zn at 25 kg ha−1 (62.2 mg Zn kg−1 soil was achieved). The AM was prepared by adding sulfur and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria to the composted manure. All the manures were applied at 1% (w/w), and ZnSO4 (33% Zn) was used as a Zn source. Lentil variety Masoor 2021 was cultivated as a test crop in five replications of each treatment arranged in a completely randomized design. Applying AM with Zn considerably increased the lentils’ growth, yield, and Zn content under saline and non-saline conditions. Under non-saline soils, the treatment of AM + Zn significantly promoted the Zn content in the root (132.5%), shoot (91.7%), grain (49.1%), root length (79.7%), plant height (33.7%), and SPAD value (29.9%). Under saline conditions, application of AM + Zn promoted uptake of Zn in the root (218.5%), Zn content in the shoot (175.7%), Zn accumulation in the grain (107.7%), root length (109.7%), plant height (37.8%), and SPAD value (52.8%) compared to the control. According to the results, lentils should be grown with AM and Zn to increase their growth, yield, and Zn content significantly. This is a cost-effective and sustainable way to combat Zn deficiency in lentils.

Processed manure products have the potential to substitute chemical fertilizers and the use of these products may increase resource efficiency in the food system and decrease emissions of ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gasses (GHG). The yields of maize and grass, as well as emissions, have been determined from a processed manure product: liquid ammonium sulfate from nitrogen stripping animal manure (AS), in comparison to a regular mineral fertilizer, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), in a greenhouse experiment and a field demonstration using a sandy and a clay soil. NH3 emissions were determined by comparing AS with a dairy manure as a reference. The yield of both crops, their nitrogen nutrient use efficiency (NUE), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions were not significantly different, while NH3 emission was lower from AS compared to the dairy manure. As a side-effect, the sulfur (S) contents of the grass in the fields fertilized with AS were much higher than in the non-fertilized control. We conclude that AS, produced here with a pH < 5.5, can be used as an alternative for CAN in Dutch dairy systems, or similar other system, if S leaching losses do not pose a problem for the environment. Meanwhile, care should be taken not to exceed S in feed above toxic levels for ruminants.