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This research focuses on the impact of pulsed feeding of corn residues on biogas production from pig manure. It also analyzes the properties and microbial diversity in the resulting product. The study highlights the increasing global demand for pork and the resulting environmental challenges, such as effluent management, and suggests that biogas production can be a sustainable solution. The research was conducted at a model farm in Argentina and involved evaluating biogas production and microbial variability at different stages of the pulsed feeding process. The results showed a significant decrease in the chemical and biochemical oxygen demands after the degassing process, indicating a reduction in organic matter. The biogas composition improved with an increase in methane and a reduction in volatile fatty acids. There was also an increase in biogas and methane production and a decrease in methane production lag time, indicating an improvement in anaerobic digestion efficiency. Microbiological analysis revealed a reduction in microbial diversity during pulsed feeding, indicating the adaptation of the microbial community to new conditions. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of pulsed feeding of corn residues to enhance biogas production from pig manure, with significant implications for effluent management in pork production and sustainable biogas production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lack of strategies for the utilization of harvest residues (HRs) has led to serious environmental problems due to an accumulation of these residues or their burning in the field. In this study, wheat and corn HRs were used as feedstock for the production of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) by treatment with 2–8% sodium hydroxide, 10% hydrogen peroxide and further hydrolysis with 1–2 M hydrochloric acid. The changes in the FT-IR spectra and PXRD diffractograms after chemical treatment confirmed the removal of most of the lignin, hemicellulose and amorphous fraction of cellulose. A higher degree of crystallinity was observed for MCC obtained from corn HRs, which was attributed to a more efficient removal of lignin and hemicellulose by a higher sodium hydroxide concentration, which facilitates the dissolution of amorphous cellulose during acid hydrolysis. MCC obtained from HRs exhibited lower bulk density and poorer flow properties but similar or better tableting properties compared to commercial MCC (CeolusTM PH101). The lower ejection and detachment stress suggests that MCC isolated from HRs requires less lubricant compared to commercial MCC. This study showed that MCC isolated from wheat and corn HRs exhibits comparable tableting behaviour like commercial sample, further supporting this type of agricultural waste utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial leaf streak caused by Xanthomonas vasicola pv. vasculorum (Xvv) is an emerging disease in several corn-producing regions around the world. In Brazil, there is a lack of information on the survival of this bacterium in soil and crop residues. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the survival of Xvv in soil and also in infected corn crop residues under the humid subtropical climate of southern Brazil. The survival of Xvv in soil was initially investigated in sandy and clayey soils maintained at 20, 25 and 30 °C under controlled conditions. The survival of the bacterium under field conditions was studied in artificially infested clayey soil. The survival of Xvv in corn crop residues was investigated in infected residues maintained on the soil surface or buried in the soil at 20 cm deep. Under controlled conditions, regardless of the type of soil, the bacterium survived longer at 20 °C than at higher temperatures. The bacterium survived for 40 days in clayey soil kept at 20 °C and four days in sandy soil maintained at 30 °C. Under field conditions, the survival of Xvv in the soil was only for 48 h and in infected corn crop residues for up to 15 days in the samples maintained on the soil surface. In samples of infected corn residues buried in the soil, the bacterium was only detected at the time the experiment was set up. In general, the results obtained in this study revealed that Xvv survives for a short period of time in soil and in infected corn crop residues under humid subtropical conditions. Therefore, soil and corn residues may not be highly important sources of primary inoculum for the development of bacterial leaf streak on corn crops under these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the corn stockpiling system reform in Northeast China between 2008 and 2015, corn production expanded dramatically, and corn residue, which was mostly burned in‐situ, caused severe air pollution issues. Using a difference‐in‐differences approach, we assessed the effects of the corn stockpiling system reform in China and its associated environmental outcomes with a provincial‐level dataset. Our results suggest that the implementation of this policy significantly increased annual corn production in Northeast China by 15.1%. We also observed a substitution pattern between corn and soybean cultivation in the treatment area, with a percentage point increase in the net soybean‐to‐corn profit ratio leading to a decrease in corn production by 0.023 percentage points. Overall, based on changes in crop patterns during the system reform, increased straw resulted in increased burning and the resulting consequence to the environment is a net pollution increase equivalent to 16.03%, 0.33%, and 3.64% of the smoke and dust, SO2, and NOX, respectively, from the industrial sector in the treatment provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review critically analyzed the use of biosorbents derived from rice husks and corn residues for nutrient removal from aqueous solutions. Additionally, this review highlighted the use of such biosorbents in wastewater treatment. Furthermore, novel approaches for sustainable nutrient removal from aqueous solutions were identified. A comprehensive understanding of the implementation of biosorption processes using agro-industrial residues based on corn and rice crops is critical for the sustainable management of residues and water bodies in the world to protect and conserve natural resources. Specifically, the review focuses on the exploration, preparation and application of innovative biosorbents to remove various forms of nutrients such as total nitrogen, total phosphorus, nitrates, ammonium and phosphates from aqueous solution, analyzing the sustainability of treatments applied to biomass, such as thermal transformation or chemical modification to reduce environmental impacts. It was found that 95 to 99% of nitrogen and phosphorus can be removed with biosorbents made from rice husks and corn residues, analyzing approximately 50 scientific articles related to these plant materials. Research opportunities were identified, such as the recovery of removed nutrients for soil improvement, life cycle analysis to assess the concept of zero waste, among other aspects. Finally, a scheme is proposed for the selection and application of sustainable biosorbents for the removal of nutrients from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment aimed to investigate the impact of malic acid (MA) and citric acid (CA) on the nutritional composition, fermentation quality, rumen degradation rate, and microbial diversity of a mixture of apple pomace and corn protein powder during ensiling. The experiment used apple pomace and corn protein powder as raw materials, with four groups: control group (CON), malic acid treatment group (MA, 10 g/kg), citric acid treatment group (CA, 10 g/kg), and citric acid + malic acid treatment group (MA, 10 g/kg + CA, 10 g/kg). Each group has 3 replicates, with 2 repetitions in parallel, subjected to mixed ensiling for 60 days. The results indicated: (1) Compared to the CON group, the crude protein content significantly increased in the MA, CA, and MA + CA groups (p < 0.05), with the highest content observed in the MA + CA group. The addition of MA and CA effectively reduced the water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content (p < 0.05). Simultaneously, the CA group showed a decreasing trend in NDFom and hemicellulose content (p = 0.08; p = 0.09). (2) Compared to the CON group, the pH significantly decreased in the MA, CA, and MA + CA groups (p < 0.01), and the three treatment groups exhibited a significant increase in lactic acid and acetic acid content (p < 0.01). The quantity of lactic acid bacteria increased significantly (p < 0.01), with the MA + CA group showing a more significant increase than the MA and CA groups (p < 0.05). (3) Compared to the CON group, the in situ dry matter disappearance (ISDMD) significantly increased in the MA, CA, and MA + CA groups (p < 0.05). All three treatment groups showed highly significant differences in in situ crude protein disappearance (ISCPD) compared to the CON group (p < 0.01). (4) Good's Coverage for all experimental groups was greater than 0.99, meeting the conditions for subsequent sequencing. Compared to the CON group, the Shannon index significantly increased in the CA group (p < 0.01), and the Simpson index increased significantly in the MA group (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the Chao index among the three treatment groups and the CON group (p > 0.05). At the genus level, the abundance of Lentilactobacillus in the MA, CA, and MA + CA groups was significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). PICRUSt prediction results indicated that the metabolic functional microbial groups in the CA and MA treatment groups were significantly higher than in the CON group (p < 0.05), suggesting that the addition of MA or CA could reduce the loss of nutritional components such as protein and carbohydrates in mixed ensilage. In conclusion, the addition of malic acid and citric acid to a mixture of apple pomace and corn protein powder during ensiling reduces nutritional losses, improves fermentation quality and rumen degradation rate, enhances the diversity of the microbial community in ensiled feed, and improves microbial structure. The combined addition of malic acid and citric acid demonstrates a superior effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, Mexico produced approximately 24.2 million tons of white corn, generating 3.6 million tons of corn cob residue. The final disposal of corn cob poses an environmental challenge in certain regions. This study examines the technical–economic feasibility and the greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential of integrating a small-scale cogenerating gasifier fueled by corn cob into a nixtamalized corn flour manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprise (SME). This integration enables the generation of heat and electricity from the produced synthesis gas. Moreover, the process yields residual carbon, which can be used as biochar for soil restoration and removing atmospheric CO2. This option holds significance for the corn flour agroindustry in Mexico, as, in 2021, it consumed approximately 601.9 GWh of electrical energy and 938,279 GJ of thermal energy from LP Gas in its manufacturing processes to produce 2.6 million tons of nixtamalized white corn flour. These processes contributed to a total emission of 410,232 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. The findings of this study demonstrate a cumulative reduction of 51.7% in CO2 emissions, resulting in economic benefits of USD 85,401 in 2017 for a case study SME that annually produces 1039 tons of corn flour. This study reveals the integration of a gasifier–cogenerator system fueled by corn cob as an economically viable low-carbon technology in the corn flour manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been an ongoing discussion about whether using functionalized biochar nanoparticles for pollutant removal is practical. The existing uncertainty surrounding functionalized biochar nanoparticles raises questions regarding their effectiveness in unraveling this problem. In this study, functionalized biochar nanoparticles were produced from corn (Zea mays L.) residues and Conocarpus erectus L. wood at 400°C and 700°C using the H2SO4/HNO3 treatment. The synthesized nanoparticles were used to explore their sorption properties for Pb2+. Various adsorption kinetic and isotherm models were evaluated using linear and nonlinear regression techniques. The functionalized biochar nanoparticles originated from wood at 400°C had the largest (80.74 mg g−1) Pb2+ adsorption capacity due to their highest O/C and the most negative zeta potential. In comparison, nanoparticles fabricated from corn residues at 700°C showed the lowest (70.47 mg g−1) Pb2+ adsorption capacity. Pyrolysis temperature affected the sorption process. Functionalized biochar nanoparticles produced at 400°C were more successful in sorbing the pollutant than those fabricated at 700°C. Linear and nonlinear pseudo‐second‐order kinetic models described Pb2+ adsorption kinetics well, indicating the rate‐controlling step. The nonlinear Freundlich model described the equilibrium relationship between adsorbate concentration and capacity, elucidating adsorption site heterogeneity and biochar nanoparticles' affinity for Pb2+. Our study shows that functionalized biochar nanoparticles could help develop procedures for remediating polluted environments. Core Ideas: Pyrolysis temperature had a notable effect on Pb2+ removal using functionalized biochar nanoparticles.Functionalized biochar nanoparticles derived from wood at 400°C had the highest ability to adsorb Pb2+.A 30‐min equilibrium demonstrates rapid Pb2+ kinetics.Nonlinear regression accurately determined model parameters.Functionalized biochar nanoparticles derived from corn residues at 400°C excel in cost‐efficient Pb2+ removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cracker residue is a co-product of the food industry which has already been used in the diet of non-ruminants, but with little research for ruminants. Experiment I: Cracker residue can be used in feeding heifers, replacing 40% of the corn feed on an isometric scale (kg for kg). Experiment II: With the cracker residue it is possible to replace 100% of the corn feed, formulating a concentrate with the same energy and protein values. In both experiments, we highlighted discrete changes in the profile of voltaic fatty acids in the rumen, as well as those related to metabolism, which is directly related to the different composition of the ingredients used in the diet. Furthermore, the substitution of cracker residue did not negatively affect health and weight gain, and reduced the cost of the concentrate, consequently reducing the cost of production of these animals. This study determined whether the isomeric or isoenergetic/isoproteic substitution of corn in the diet of Jersey heifers in the rearing phase with cracker residue would impair growth and health, as well as reducing production costs. Fourteen Jersey females in the growth phase were used, separated into two treatments with seven animals in each lot in collective pens. The experiment used 7-month-old animals (169.8 ± 2.89 kg) and lasted for four months. In Experiment I, the animals were divided into two groups: treatment, with the partial replacement of 40% corn with cracker residue, and control, in which the animals consumed the same diet with 100% corn (isometric diet kg for kg). In Experiment II, the animals with a body weight of 200.2 ± 3.85 kg were divided into two groups: Treatment, replacing 100% of the corn with cracker residue, and control, in which the animals consumed an isoprotein and isoenergetic diet but with 100% of the corn in the formulation. The diet consisted of concentrate, Tifton 85 hay, and corn silage, supplied twice a day individually, with animals contained in their feeders by kennels. There was water ad libitum in the bay. Biweekly weighing and monthly blood analysis were performed, totaling four collections per part for hematologic evaluation, carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism variables. At the end of each experiment, ruminal fluid was collected to measure the volatile fatty acid profile, and feces were collected to determine the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC). Experiments I and II showed no effect of treatment on body weight, weight gain, average daily weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency. There was no effect of treatment on leukocyte, erythrocyte, lymphocyte, neutrophil, monocyte, and eosinophil counts, hematocrit, and hemoglobin concentration (p > 0.05). Experiment I showed a difference between groups for the variables albumin, globulin, total proteins, cholesterol, glucose, and urea, which did not happen in Experiment II. In both experiments, a higher ADC of nutrients was found in the treatment group which had cracker residue (p > 0.05). The concentration of volatile fatty acids in Experiment I was higher in the control group, unlike in Experiment II, where the highest concentration was in the treatment group (p > 0.05). Because experiment I had an isometric substitution, the diets had different bromatological composition, which is the probable cause of the difference between groups; this did not happen in experiment II, in which the diets consumed by the animals was isoproteic and isoenergetic. Based on these data we conclude that the substitution of cracker residue in an isomeric or isoenergetic/isoproteic form does not negatively affect weight gain and animal health, as well as reduces the cost of the concentrate, consequently reducing the cost of production of these animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field study was carried out at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station near Pontotoc to evaluate the synergistic impacts of broiler litter (BL) and inorganic fertilizer nitrogen (N) with flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum and lignite in the presence of winter cover crops (WCCs) on dryland no‐till corn (Zea mays L.) in Falkner silt loam soil. The experimental design was a split‐plot randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots were WCC and winter fallow (WF), and the subplots were fertilization treatments. Fertilization treatments included BL, inorganic fertilizer N, FGD gypsum and lignite with BL, FGD gypsum and lignite with inorganic fertilizer N, and an unfertilized control. BL, FGD gypsum, and lignite were applied at the rates of 13.4, 3.4, and 3.4 Mg ha−1, respectively. Inorganic fertilizer N was applied to corn at 168 kg N ha−1. BL increased soil carbon (C), soil infiltration, and resulted in higher corn grain yield compared to both inorganic fertilizer N and unfertilized control in 2020 and 2022. Averaged across fertilization treatments, WCC improved soil moisture, soil C, and soil infiltration by 16%, 19%, and 25% at the 0‐ to 15‐cm depth, respectively, and increased corn grain yield by 25% as compared to WF in 2022. Cover crops boosted corn grain yield during drier years. The combination of FGD gypsum and lignite with BL increased corn grain yield by 15% in 2020 and 13% in 2022 compared to BL alone. This approach can be considered to promote the sustainability of agroecosystems. Core Ideas: Implementing cover crops in dryland no‐till corn systems provides numerous benefits.Integration of flue gas desulfurization gypsum and lignite with broiler litter enhances corn productivity.Cover crop residues improve corn grain yield in drier environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of sustainable biofuels can help to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the impact of climate change. This study analyzes bioethanol production from agro-forestry residual biomass, namely eucalyptus residues and corn stover. The study includes process simulation using Aspen Plus software, followed by economic analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA) with the help of SimaPro software and by applying the environmental footprint (EF) 3.0 method. The economic analysis on the biorefinery's economic viability, equipment, and production costs reveals a positive decision for bioethanol production from eucalyptus residues due to logistical and transportation costs. The minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) obtained was 2.19 €/L and 2.45 €/L for eucalyptus residues and corn stover, respectively. From the LCA with a functional unit of 1 MJ of ethanol, bioethanol production from eucalyptus residues results in a single score impact of 37.86 µPt, whereas for corn stover, it is 33.47 µPt. In the climate change impact category, the eucalyptus residues scenario has an impact of 0.264 kg CO2 eq/MJ ethanol while corn stover leads to 0.254 kg CO2 eq/MJ ethanol. In-situ enzyme production, heat integration, and the use of renewable energy sources were also analyzed. Combining in situ enzyme production with renewable energy sources lowers CO2 equivalent emissions by 89% for both feedstocks, in comparison to the base-case scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Great environmental and economic benefits can be achieved by utilizing the agricultural residue corn stover (CS) to prepare the biodegradable poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) composites. However, CS contains polarized hydroxyl groups from its main component cellulose, thus leading to its poor wetting by hydrophobic PBAT. It is of great significance to promote the compatibility between CS and PBAT for the improvement of interfacial interactions and composite performance, but the compatibilizer modified CS/PBAT biocomposites have been rarely mentioned until now. In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycidyl methacylate (GMA), and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) were chosen to investigate the compatibilizer effect on the morphology, microstructure, thermal properties, mechanical strength, and water absorption capacity of the biodegradable CS/PBAT composites. The results reveal that the incorporated compatibilizers obviously improve the interface adhesion between CS and PBAT by reducing the hydrophilicity of CS surface. The enhanced interfacial bonding interactions effectively promote the crystallinity and mechanical strength of the CS/PBAT composites, but the initial degradation temperature and hydrophilicity of compatibilizers themselves also remarkably influence the composites' thermostability and water absorption. Highlights: The agricultural residue corn stover (CS) was used to reinforce PBAT.Effects of three different compatibilizers on the composites were studied.Compatibilizer improves the interface adhesion between CS and PBAT.Compatibilizer promotes crystallinity and mechanical strength of composites.The stability and hydrophilicity of compatibilizer affect those of composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop Residue Cover (CRC) is crucial for enhancing soil quality and mitigating erosion in agricultural fields. Accurately estimating CRC in near real-time presents challenges due to the limitations of traditional and remote sensing methods. This study addresses the challenge of accurately estimating CRC using unsupervised algorithms on high-resolution Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) imagery. We employ two methods to perform CRC estimation: (1) K-means unsupervised algorithm and (2) Principal Component Analysis (PCA) along with the Otsu thresholding technique. The advantages of these methods lie in their independence from human intervention for any supervised training stage. Additionally, these methods are rapid and suitable for near real-time estimation of CRC as a decision-making support in agricultural management. Our analysis reveals that the K-means method, with an R 2 = 0.79 , achieves superior accuracy in CRC estimation over the PCA-Otsu method with an R 2 = 0.46 . The accuracy of CRC estimation for both corn and soybean crops is significantly higher in winter than in spring, attributable to the more weathered state of crop residue. Furthermore, CRC estimations in corn fields exhibit a stronger correlation, likely due to the larger size of corn residue which enhances detectability in images. Nevertheless, the variance in CRC estimation accuracy between corn and soybean fields is minimal. Furthermore, CRC estimation achieves the highest correlation in no-till fields, while the lowest correlation is observed in conventionally tilled fields, a difference likely due to the soil disturbance during plowing in conventional tillage practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic biomass from crop residues is an abundant and inexpensive resource that can be converted into high-value platform chemicals. An effective approach is a two-step and "lignin-first" process, utilizing ionic liquid pretreatment followed by ethanol–water liquefaction. In this work, the corn stalk (CS) was pretreated with the ionic liquid [B2-HEA][OAc] to remove lignin. The optimal pretreatment conditions were determined to be 130 °C for 5 h at a liquid–solid ratio of 10:1, achieving delignification of 85.88 wt% while recovering 52.22 wt% of cellulose and 30.18 wt% of hemicellulose. The pretreated CS was then converted into ethyl levulinate (EL) via ethanol–water liquefaction at 190 °C for 90 min. This resulted in a maximum EL yield of 39.93 wt%. Furthermore, the structural and thermal analyses via XRD, FTIR, TGA and SEM revealed the effective lignin removal and increased cellulose accessibility in the pretreated CS, as well as significant changes in chemical structure following liquefaction. Compared to the original CS, the crystallinity index of pretreated CS increased from 66.85% to 74.87%. The combination of ionic liquid pretreatment and ethanol–water liquefaction serves as an efficient process to convert the lignocellulosic residue corn stalk into value-added platform chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on corn (Zea mays L.) residue removal and organic amendment additions to ameliorate removal effects on soil properties is limited. Thus, we compared impacts of corn residue removal at 59% and organic amendments (winter rye [Secale cereale L.]) cover crop and manure every other year at 24 Mg ha−1 on soil organic carbon (SOC) and physical properties after 10 years under irrigated no‐till continuous corn on a silt loam in the western US Corn Belt. We collected soil property data after 10 years and then compared it with earlier results from this experiment (3 and 6 years). Cover crop and manure amendments maintained SOC concentration, but no amelioration practice reduced SOC concentration (−15%) from 3 to 10 years when residues were annually removed in 0‐ to 5‐cm depth. Under residue retention, SOC concentration increased with time with largest increase (+41%) occurring under manure amelioration practice in the 0‐ to 5‐cm depth. Residue removal reduced soil wet aggregate stability by 34%, soil dry aggregate stability by 73%, bulk density by 6%, water content at −33 kPa matric potential by 14%, and plant available water by 17% after 10 years in the 0‐ to 5‐cm soil depth but did not affect infiltration rate. Cover crops increased wet aggregate stability (32%), but manure and cover crops had limited effects on other soil properties. Residue removal increased the susceptibility of the soil to erosion and reduced water retention and SOC after 3 years, but such effects were not fully offset by amendments. Core Ideas: Corn residue removal at 59% reduced soil wet and dry aggregate stability and water content at field capacity.Residue removal did not negatively affect soil bulk density, infiltration rate, and saturated hydraulic conductivity.Cover crops partially offset residue removal effects on soil organic carbon and soil wet aggregate stability.Manure partially offsets the negative effects of residue removal on soil organic carbon after 3 and 10 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the last four decades, widespread transition to no‐till corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production in Pennsylvania has improved soil conservation and soil quality but can result in residue and pest management challenges. To effectively manage residue in no‐till cropping systems, some growers have adopted vertical tillage, a residue management practice characterized by cutting and incorporating crop residue within the top 5–10 cm of soil. Despite few studies documenting effects on crop production and soil conservation, vertical tillage has become widespread. Replicated on‐farm trials were conducted over a 2‐year period in 2021–2022 to improve grower and consultant decision‐making regarding the role of vertical tillage relative to continuous no‐till on southeast Pennsylvania farms located within the environmentally sensitive Chesapeake Bay Watershed. We assessed the effects of vertical tillage on corn residue cover, winter annual weed abundance, slug damage, and soybean performance in 40 paired strip trials comparing spring vertical tillage to no‐till using three different vertical tillage tools used by farmer cooperators. Vertical tillage equipment type is a driver of variation in changes to surface residue cover. Baseline surface residue cover was similar among no‐till strips, but a greater proportion (32%) of strips had mean surface residue cover levels below a 60% conservation program compliance threshold when a Kuhn‐Krause Excelerator was used. Relative to no‐till, vertical tillage resulted in a 50% reduction in winter annual weed cover, a 24% reduction in slug damage, and no significant differences in soybean stand establishment or grain yield. Core Ideas: Vertical tillage reduced no‐till corn residue cover by 16% points relative to no‐till across 40 strip trials.The most aggressive vertical tillage tool in the study reduced corn residue cover below state conservation program compliance thresholds (<60%) in 32% of strips.Vertical tillage resulted in a 50% reduction in winter annual weed cover relative to paired no‐till strips.Vertical tillage resulted in a 24% reduction in the incidence of slug damage relative to paired no‐till strips.Vertical tillage did not influence soybean crop establishment or grain yield relative to no‐till production practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal holocellulases are interesting for their possible applications in the bioconversion of corn crop residues into molecules with technological significance. Holocellulase (xylanases and cellulases) production from Fusarium solani and Aspergillus sp. with corn stover as a carbon source was compared using a Box–Wilson design. The fungal holocellulase production was different in both fungi. For F. solani, the maximum endoxylanase and β-xylosidase activities were 14.15 U/mg and 0.75 U/mg at 84 h of fermentation on 350 g/L corn stover, while Aspergillus sp. was 5.90 U/mg and 0.03 U/mg, respectively, at 156 h and 1000 g/L corn stover. The production of holocellulases in both fungi was reduced with increasing carbon sources. The nitrogen source induced the holocellulases in Aspergillus sp., but not in F. solani. Interestingly, when verifying the optimal culture conditions, the production of endoxylanases by F. solani was higher when compared to the predicted value. With regard to the endoxylanase and β-xylosidase activities of Aspergillus sp., these were close to the predicted values. Based on the optimization model, F. solani and Aspergillus sp. produce an interesting holocellulolytic activity in a growth medium with corn stover as the only carbon source. The fermentation time and the amount of corn stover required to obtain maximum holocellulase production are possible advantages for Fusarium solani and Aspergillus sp., respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European corn borer is a major pest of corn that overwinters in corn stubble and stalks. Shredding these residues disrupts the larvae's habitat or directly harms them. A corn header has been engineered with a new type of cutting tool on its horizontal choppers, featuring sharp edges and dulled flails, to shred corn stubble near the soil surface. This study investigated the effect of the dulled flails on the shredding intensity of corn stover. Field trials compared flail knives with standard knives for particle size distribution of corn stover and structural integrity of corn stalk segments. Additionally, a common two-step method, which involved a standard knives-equipped corn header followed by tractor-driven flail mowers, was tested. The flail knives reduced the mean particle size by 3.6 mm compared to the standard knives. Subsequent processing with tractor-driven flail mowers, following the corn header using standard knives, led to a reduction in mean particle size by 11.8 mm. It also further reduced the number of incompletely destroyed stalk segments. However, completely intact internodes were scarce in all methods. Given that flail knives enhance shredding intensity without a second processing step, this concept is concluded to be effective for corn stover shredding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was run in two years to evaluate five organic materials as the potential alternatives for the use of the herbicides to lessen the weed infestation in tomato production. The application rate of corn residues + sawdust (CRSD), rice straw + sawdust (RSSD), wheat straw + sawdust (WSSD), barley straw + sawdust (BSSD), and shredded date palm leaves + sawdust (SDPLSD) as the mulch materials were 8.5, 9.8, 9.3, 9.4, and 8.8 t ha−1, respectively. Based on the results, SDPLSD represented the lowest weed dry matter by 79.1 g m−2, which was followed by metribuzin, metribuzin + rimsulfuron, WSSD, and BSSD, with recording 114.9, 120.0, 122.6, and 137.0 g m−2 of weed dry mass, respectively, in 2016. Moreover, SDPLSD indicated the highest level of weed control efficacy (WCE) by 82.7% in 2017. The most total marketable yield (TMY) was observed in the covered plots with SDPLSD, which was 62.1 and 61.9 t ha−1 in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Overall, SDPLSD could be a rational alternative for herbicide options because of its performance in controlling weed invasion as well as enhancing TMY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the experiment was to study the nutrient composition and fermentation quality of mixed silage of corn straw and potato starch residue in different proportions. Using the corn stalk and potato starch residue as raw materials, the experiment adopted a two-factor experimental design, taking different mixing ratios of raw materials (CKB1, CKB2, CKB3) and different mixing ratios after adding bacteria (AB1, AB2, AB3) as treatments. The conventional nutrition and fermentation quality of mixed silage was analyzed after 30 days. The results showed that the interaction of different raw material ratios and bactericides had significant effects on pH values, lactic acid, acetic acid, acid detergent fiber and ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen content of silage (P<0.05). Under the same mixing ratio of raw materials, the addition of bactericides could increase the lactic acid content of silage (P<0.05), and decrease the pH value, acetic acid and ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen content (P<0.05). Under the same treatment, the concentration of crude protein and soluble carbohydrate and relative feeding value of silage decreased, while the concentration of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and crude ash increased. The concentration of dry matter, crude ash, soluble carbohydrate, pH value, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber and their relative feeding value were significantly affected by different raw material ratios (P<0.05). The study indicates that potato starch residue to corn straw is 7:3, and the better silage effect is obtained by adding bactericide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of fermented Chinese herb residues on the growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, serum biochemical indices and microflora of Simmental beef cattle during the fattening period. Twenty-four healthy Simmental beef cattle with an average body weight of 358.54 ± 65.63 kg were randomly divided into four treatment groups, with 6 replicates. The dietary treatments were as follows: I: basal diet; II, III and IV: 10% corn husk in the diet was replaced by Chinese herb residue, enzyme-fermented residue, and enzyme bacteria co-fermented residue, respectively. The experimental period was 49 days. There was no significant difference in the growth performance of beef cattle (p > 0.05). The ether extract (EE) apparent digestibility of groups III and IV was significantly higher than that of group I (p < 0.05); the apparent digestibility values of nitrogen free extract (NFE) and total phosphorus (P) in group IV were significantly lower than those in the other groups (p < 0.05). The maleic dialdehyde (MDA) contents in groups I and II were significantly higher than those in groups III and IV (p < 0.05). The ACE and Chao1 indices of groups I and III were significantly higher than those of groups II and IV (p < 0.05). The Shannon indices of groups I and III were significantly higher than that of group II (p < 0.05). The abundance of Firmicutes in group III was significantly lower than that in group II (p < 0.05). In conclusion, fermented Chinese herb residues could replace 10% corn husk and be used in beef cattle breeding. Dietary replacement of 10% corn husk with Chineseherb residue can improve nutrient digestibility of fattening cattle. Concentrate containing 10% fermented Chinese herb residues as a corn husk replacement can be used for feedlot cattle without adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study describes the extraction of cellulose and nanocellulose (NC) from corn crop residues (CCR), the world's largest cereal crop. The effect of mechanical sieving and washing of CCR in cold and hot water on the content of chemical elements in their ash was investigated. It is recommended to sift crushed CCR from sand and dust before thermochemical treatment. Corn organosolv cellulose (OCC) was obtained by an environmentally friendly method using a solution of peracetic acid. SEM data confirmed the destruction and decrease in the size of CCR fibers during their thermochemical treatments. FTIR and XRD data showed that the influence of chemicals and temperature leads to a decrease in the content of residual lignin, the lateral order index, the apparent size of crystallites, and an increase in the crystallinity index in corn cellulosic materials in the following order: CCR—corn pulp after alkaline extraction—OCC—NC. DLS, AFM, and TEM data confirmed that NC particles had a transverse size in the range of 5–65 nm and a length of up to several micrometers. The positive effect of the use of corn NC on the improvement of cardboard indicators and the reduction of the consumption of harmful chemical auxiliary substances is shown. Corn NC with a density of up to 1.2 g/cm3, a tensile strength of up to 43 MPa, and a crystalline index of 74.9% can of composite materials and as a basis for obtaining smart electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disc angles, vertical loads, soil type, and residue conditions have a significant effect on the performance of a single disc-type no-till seeder furrow opener. Disc angles are divided into two as the disc and tilt angle, and they play an important role on parameters such as the furrow profile, residue distribution, the cross-sectional area of furrow and spoiled soil area on the furrow edges. In this research, which was conducted with a soil bin, 5 disc angles (0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, and 20°), 5 tilt angles (0°, 2.5°, 5°, 7.5°, and 10°), 3 vertical loads (50, 100, and 150 kg), and 3 different residue conditions (wheat, corn, and no-residue soil) were used. Better results were obtained for the furrow profile, distance of the dragged residue, and the amount of dragged and cut residue at a disc angle of 0°. In addition, a higher residue coverage rate of 63% was achieved with a disc angle of 0°. The dragging of wheat and corn residue increased as the disc angle increased; however, the effect of the tilt angle on residue dragging was the opposite of that of the disc angle. In addition, the cutting performance of the single disc opener was better for corn residue (64.5%) than wheat residue (35.3%). While the amount of residue cut at a disc angle of 0° was 60%, this value decreased to 40% when the disc angle was 20°. This shows that a wide disc angle is a significant disadvantage in terms of cutting the residue. Increasing the vertical load applied on the disc opener increased the furrow width, furrow cross-sectional area, spoiled soil area, distance of the dragged residue, dragged and buried residue, and depth of the buried residue. It was concluded that a vertical load of 50 kg was sufficient for a single disc furrow opener under the existing conditions. As the disc angle increased, significant increases occurred in the cross-sectional area of the furrow by 6 times and on the spoiled soil by 17 times, which is undesirable for no-till seeding. However, an increase in the tilt angle from 0° to 10° resulted in a reduction in the cross-sectional area and spoiled soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isoxaflutole and atrazine are representative pesticides for weed control in corn fields. Formulations containing these two pesticides have been registered in China, and their residues may threaten food safety and human health. In this study, a method for simultaneous determination of isoxaflutole, atrazine, and their metabolites in fresh corn, corn kernels, and corn straw was established based on modified QuEChERS pre-treatment and high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS). The linearity of seven compounds was good (R2 ≥ 0.9912), and the matrix effect was 48.5–77.1%. At four spiked levels of 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, and 0.5 mg kg−1, all compounds' average recovery was 76% to 116%, with relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 18.9%. Field experiments were conducted in Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Beijing, and Yunnan provinces to study the terminal residues. The terminal residues of all compounds were below the LOQ (0.01 mg kg−1) in fresh corn and corn kernels, and atrazine residues in corn straw ranged from <0.05 mg kg−1 to 0.17 mg kg−1. Finally, a dietary risk assessment was conducted based on residues from field trials, food consumption, and acceptable daily intake (ADI). For all populations, the chronic dietary risk probability (RQc) of atrazine was between 0.0185% and 0.0739%, while that of isoxaflutole was 0.0074–0.0296%, much lower than 100%. The results may provide scientific guidance for using isoxaflutole and atrazine in corn field ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigate the thermal stabilities, thermo-kinetic, and thermodynamic behaviours of Corn Cob (CC), Husk (CH), Leaf (CL), and Stalk (CS) during pyrolysis using the Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) at a single heating rate of 10 °C/min. Thermo-kinetics and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated for two temperature regions, region I (100–350 °C) and region II (350–500 °C) by employing the Coats–Redfern (CR) integral method to fit the TGA data to sixteen kinetic models. Results showed that diffusion models (D1, D1, D3, and D1) best suited the decomposition of CC, CH, CL, and CS in region I with Ea values of 109.90, 186.01, 129.4, and 78.7 kJ/mol respectively. Similarly, D1, third order model (F3), D3, and nucleation model (P4) with Ea values of 68.50 (CC), 177.10 (CH), 62.10 (CL), and 127.70 (CS) kJ/mol respectively best described residues' decomposition in region II. Furthermore, kinetic parameters were used to compute the thermodynamic parameters; change in enthalpy (∆H), Gibbs free energy (∆G), and change in entropy (∆S) values for both regions. To study the pyrolytic behaviours of the residues, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was employed to develop models to predict weight losses in samples by determining the coefficient of determination (R2) and minimum Mean Square Error (MSE). Results showed ANN as a very important tool for predicting the pyrolytic behaviours of corn residues and other biomass samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural and prescribed burning activities emit large amounts of trace gases and aerosols on regional to global scales. We present a compilation of emission factors (EFs) and emission ratios from the eastern portion of the Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality (FIREX‐AQ) campaign in 2019 in the United States, which sampled burning of crop residues and other prescribed fire fuels. FIREX‐AQ provided comprehensive chemical characterization of 53 crop residue and 22 prescribed fires. Crop residues burned at different modified combustion efficiencies (MCE), with corn residue burning at higher MCE than other fuel types. Prescribed fires burned at lower MCE (<0.90) which is typical, while grasslands burned at lower MCE (0.90) than normally observed due to moist, green, growing season fuels. Most non‐methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) were significantly anticorrelated with MCE except for ethanol and NMVOCs that were measured with less certainty. We identified 23 species where crop residue fires differed by more than 50% from prescribed fires at the same MCE. Crop residue EFs were greater for species related to agricultural chemical use and fuel composition as well as oxygenated NMVOCs possibly due to the presence of metals such as potassium. Prescribed EFs were greater for monoterpenes (5×). FIREX‐AQ crop residue average EFs generally agreed with the previous agricultural fire study in the US but had large disagreements with global compilations. FIREX‐AQ observations show the importance of regionally‐specific and fuel‐specific EFs as first steps to reduce uncertainty in modeling the air quality impacts of fire emissions. Plain Language Summary: Crop residue and prescribed fires emit pollution that impacts air quality. FIREX‐AQ provided observations of these emissions to better characterize their variability with a detailed set of chemical observations. These observations showed significant differences in the emissions from burning different crops (corn, rice, soybean, wheat) compared to other prescribed fires or grasslands that may be due to differences in the fuel composition, the use of agricultural chemicals, and moisture levels. Overall, FIREX‐AQ observations for crop residue fires compared better with previous results in the region than with globally averaged information. The campaign observed even greater variability across EFs than previous studies, suggesting that new methods must be developed to take this into account to improve predictions of the air quality impacts of burning these fuels. Key Points: Corn residue burned at higher modified combustion efficiency than rice or soybean residueImpacts of fire emissions >6 hr downwind on OH reactivity will be more influenced by species that are less important at the sourceEmission factors from crop residue fires agreed better with previous results from the same region than with global compilations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn., is an annual pest of the Romanian corn crop. The research followed the development of the European corn borer in the context of the climate warming recorded in recent years in Eastern Romania. We monitored the development of the egg, larva, pupa, and moth stages using cage studies and observations in an experimental cornfield. We also analyzed the impact of climatic conditions on developmental time. Our data show that the increase in winter temperatures ensures the survival of a higher percentage of mature larvae, which leads to intense moth flight at the end of June and the beginning of July. However, the high summer temperatures caused an increasing percentage of the larvae to transform into pupae, which led to the recording of a secondary flight in August. Although the insect is known to have one generation per year, it is apparent that a multivoltine ecotype is also present. We conclude that the climate warming we are witnessing affects the species' development and that higher larval infestations could occur. Between 2020 and 2021, we conducted research in eastern Romania to monitor the bioecology of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.), an important pest of corn. The bioecology research established the pest stage duration (egg, larva, pupa, and moth), the flight curve, and the flight peak. The bioecological study occurred in the experimental corn field and a field cage. According to our findings, the insect has one generation per year. The European corn borer hibernates as a mature larva in corn residues and continues developing in the spring, when the weather warms. It pupates from May to July over 37 days. Analyzing the data recorded during the winters of 2020 and 2021, we observed that the warming trend favored the high survival of hibernating larvae (60.7%). Due to the large number of mature larvae that had favorable conditions during the winter, there is an intense flight, starting in June and ending in September. When the first moth was caught in the light trap, the ∑(tn-10) °C (sum of degree days) was 245.6 °C. In 2020, the flight was recorded for 94 days. In 2021, the European corn borer flight lasted 104 days. The initial egg masses were detected when the total of ∑(tn-10) °C reached 351.5 °C. Moths laid the eggs for 25 days, mostly during peak flight in late June and early July. The first larvae hatched when ∑(tn-10) °C totaled 438.4 °C, and stages III–V were recorded in the harvested crop. Understanding the bioecology of the European corn borer can offer valuable insights into managing population levels and identifying optimal timing for addressing infestations in corn crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Potential resilient foods which help reduce hunger are converting the ~998 million tons of agricultural residue generated each year into human edible food. Although it is possible to extract Leaf Protein Concentrate (LPC) from agricultural residues, it is not widely practiced because both toxicity and yields of the protein concentrates have not been widely investigated in the most common agricultural residues. Methods: To fill this knowledge gap, this study uses high-resolution mass spectrometry and an open-source toolchain for non-targeted screening of toxins of nine agricultural plant residues in October 2021; it included seven agricultural residues: corn/maize, wheat, barley, alfalfa, yellow pea, sunflower, canola/rapeseed, and two weeds/agricultural residues of kochia, and round leaf mallow. Results: The average yield ranged from about 7 to 14.5% for the nine LPCs investigated. According to the results, yellow pea, round leaf mallow, and canola are recommended for further investigation and scaling as they appear to be fit for human consumption based on the lack of dangerous toxins found in the analysis performed in this study. Conclusion: All the compounds identified in these samples have either been approved by international regulatory boards for safe consumption or are known to be present in common beverages. The other agricultural residues require additional quantification of the toxins identified as it will determine the actual risk for human consumption. Overall, the potential for LPC to provide more needed calories from existing agricultural practices is extremely promising, but substantial amount of future work is needed to screen LPCs in all the agricultural residues depending on harvesting, handling, and storage conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of spring corn (Zea mays) residue grazing and stocking density on soil physical properties and subsequent soybean (Glycine max) yield were evaluated in an experiment with three treatments: no grazing (NG), normal stocking density (NSD), and high stocking density (HSD). The study was conducted over 2 years with four replicates per treatment each year. Steers (277 ± 4.4 kg) were stocked at 7.5 steers/ha for NSD with a target grazing of 45 days starting in mid‐February, and 22.5 steers/ha for HSD with a target grazing of 15 days in mid‐March, such that the stocking rate was equal. Bulk density, penetration resistance, and surface roughness were measured pre‐ and post‐planting. At 0‐to‐5‐ and 5‐to‐10‐cm depths, bulk density and penetration resistance were greater (p < 0.01) for NSD than NG. There was no difference in bulk density (p ≥ 0.45) between grazed treatments. At 0–5 cm, penetration resistance was not different (p = 0.29) between grazed treatments. For 5–10 cm, penetration resistance was greater (p = 0.02) for HSD compared to NSD. Surface roughness was greater (p < 0.01) for NSD than NG, and greater (p < 0.01) for HSD than NSD. There was no difference (p ≥ 0.34) in soybean emergence among treatments. Soybean yield was less (p < 0.01) for NG than NSD, but did not differ (p = 0.06) between NSD and HSD. The results indicate that spring grazing may cause minor compaction without reducing subsequent soybean yield. Core Ideas: Grazing under thawed and wet conditions caused minor compaction.Grazing decreased residue cover and increased surface roughness.Increased stocking density further decreased residue cover and increased surface roughness.Spring corn residue grazing improved irrigated soybean yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In this study, the adsorption behavior of diuron in a typical black soil and its bioavailability to crops and earthworms were investigated by adsorption and incubation experiments, combined with biochar amendment and aging time. Methods: In this study, the adsorption of diuron, and its uptake by corn and earthworms were investigated in black soil with 0.1–5% (w/w) bamboo charcoal. Results: Uptake of diuron by corns was reduced by 45% in black soil aged for 0 day in 0.1–5% biochar-amended soil, the concentration of diuron in both roots and stems of corn plants tended to decrease with the increase of aging time, and the enrichment coefficient of diuron in corn also tended to decrease in 0.1–5% biochar-amended soil. When aging time was 0 day and the biochar amendment in black soil was 0.1–5%, the accumulation concentration of diuron in earthworms decreased by 63%; the bioconcentration coefficient of diuron in earthworms in black soil with different levels of biochar decreased continuously with the increase of aging time. Conclusion: Biochar is an efficient adsorbent for diuron and could significantly reduce the uptake of diuron by plants and earthworms from contaminated soil. Significant correlations indicated that regression analyses could be constructed between the bioconcentration factor and sorption coefficients to predict the bioavailability of diuron residues in soil to corns and earthworms. Biochar amendment could be used as an option to immobilize diuron in soil and protect non-target organisms from diuron contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, inert dry bioadsorbents prepared from corn cob residues (CCR), cocoa husk (CH), plantain peels (PP), and cassava peels (CP) were used as adsorbents of heavy metal ions (Pb2+ and Ni2+) in single-batch adsorption experiments from synthetic aqueous solutions. The physicochemical properties of the bioadsorbents and the adsorption mechanisms were evaluated using different experimental techniques. The results showed that electrostatic attraction, cation exchange, and surface complexation were the main mechanisms involved in the adsorption of metals onto the evaluated bioadsorbents. The percentage removal of Pb2+ and Ni2+ increased with higher adsorbent dosage, with Pb2+ exhibiting greater biosorption capacity than Ni2+. The bioadsorbents showed promising potential for adsorbing Pb2+ with monolayer adsorption capacities of 699.267, 568.794, 101.535, and 116.820 mg/g when using PP, CCR, CH, and CP, respectively. For Ni2+, Langmuir's parameter had values of 10.402, 26.984, 18.883, and 21.615, respectively, for PP, CCR, CH, and CP. Kinetics data fitted by the pseudo-second-order model revealed that the adsorption rate follows this order: CH > CP > CCR > PP for Pb2+, and CH > CCR > PP > CP for Ni2+. The adsorption mechanism was found to be controlled by ion exchange and precipitation. These findings suggest that the dry raw biomasses of corn cob residues, cocoa husk, cassava, and plantain peels can effectively remove lead and nickel, but further research is needed to explore their application in industrial-scale and continuous systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was to establish an improved QuEChERS technology, combined with gas chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry to determinate 20 pesticide residues in silage corn. The results showed that by optimizing pre-treatment conditions of QuEChERS, acetonitrile acetone (1∶ 1) was selected as solvent for pesticide residue extraction, and WondaPak QuEChERS purification tube Ⅲ was used as purification agent. The recovery rates of 20 pesticide residues measured were 75.98%~99.02%, with a relative standard deviation of 0.12%~11.65%. In the concentration range of 0.05~1.00 mg/L, the linear relationship was good, and r ≥ 0.996 7. The detection limits were 0.032~0.453 μg/kg, and the quantitation limits were 0.107~1.51 μg/kg. The experiment indicates that using improved QuEChERS technology combined with gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry to detect pesticide residues in silage corn has advantages of convenient pre-treatment, good repeatability, and high sensitivity, to provide reference for analysis of pesticide residues in silage corn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel method for the quantitative detection of residual chlorpyrifos in corn oil through Raman spectroscopy using a combined long short-term memory network (LSTM) and convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture. The QE Pro Raman+ spectrometer was employed to collect Raman spectra of corn oil samples with varying concentrations of chlorpyrifos residues. A deep-learning model based on LSTM combined with a CNN structure was designed to realize feature self-learning and model training of Raman spectra of corn oil samples. In the study, it was discovered that the LSTM-CNN model has superior generalization performance compared to both the LSTM and CNN models. The root-mean-square error of prediction (RMSEP) of the LSTM-CNN model is 12.3 mg·kg−1, the coefficient of determination ( R P 2 ) is 0.90, and the calculation of the relative prediction deviation (RPD) results in a value of 3.2. The study demonstrates that the deep-learning network based on an LSTM-CNN structure can achieve feature self-learning and multivariate model calibration for Raman spectra without preprocessing. The results of this study present an innovative approach for chemometric analysis using Raman spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was to establish a qualitative method for determination of difenoconazole, carbendazim and acetanilide pesticide residues in silage corn based on SERS. Pretreatment method the rapid extraction and purification was used to extract three pesticides from silage corn raw material. The SERS signals of different pesticide residues in silage corn raw material were obtained by using 10 mg/kg sodium chloride solution as SERS enhancer combined with chemical substance concentration method. The spectral data were preprocessed by combining Savitzky-Golay convolution smoothing method, second derivative method, airPLS and SG-airPLS. The LDA-SVM and CNN algorithms were integrated to establish a recognition model for phenoxymethyclozole, carbendazim and dinimide. The results showed that the Raman peaks 1 127, 1 229 and 1 237 cm-1 were used as Raman fingerprint peaks to identify difenoconazole, carbendazim and acetanilide, respectively. When the residues of three pesticides in silage corn raw materials were 0.1 mg/kg, the corresponding characteristic peaks of each pesticide were still clearly visible. The LDA-SVM classification model pretreated by SG air PLS could recognize all samples with an accuracy of 86.67%. The study indicates that the fusion of SERS and SG air PLS-LDA-SVM methods can accurately and quickly identify the pesticide components in silage corn raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive raising of livestock on grasslands is a relevant economic activity in northern Mexico. These are regions of high climatic uncertainty and have extreme weather events, which requires the exploration of technological innovation to mitigate the negative impacts on these agroecosystems. The aim of this study was to evaluate two grass species using two planting methods and two types of soil moisture retainers and to determine their response based on growth and some physiological and productive attributes. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used in a split–split plot arrangement with six replications. The main plots were planted with two grass species: Bouteloua gracilis and Cenchrus ciliaris; the subplots were differentiated by two grass planting methods: seeding and seedling transplanting; the sub-subplots were differentiated by the soil moisture retainers used: (1) application on the soil of 10 t ha−1 of corn harvest residue (CHR) as organic cover on the soil surface, (2) application of hydrogel at 20 kg ha−1 mixed in the soil rhizosphere because it must be in contact with the root and soil due to its chemical composition, and (3) control, no application of any type of input. The seedling transplant method with the application of CHR significantly increased (p < 0.05) the plant survival percentage, on average by 31.5% in both grasses, in relation to the direct method seeding and the control. C. ciliaris showed a higher photosynthetic rate and, therefore, higher forage productivity than B. gracilis. The hydrogel only showed a moisture retention effect in the soil during the first 20 days after the transplant or sowing of the grass seed; after this period, there was no longer any effect as a water retainer in the soil. The soil cover with CHR was confirmed as a good moisture retainer with greater productivity of rangeland forage in degraded soils in arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prolyl endopeptidase from Aspergillus niger (AN-PEP) is a prominent serine proteinase with various potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. However, the availability of efficient and low-cost AN-PEP remains a challenge owing to its low yield and high fermentation cost. Results: Here, AN-PEP was recombinantly expressed in Trichoderma reesei (rAN-PEP) under the control of the cbh1 promoter and its secretion signal. After 4 days of shaking flask cultivation with the model cellulose Avicel PH101 as the sole carbon source, the extracellular prolyl endopeptidase activity reached up to 16.148 U/mL, which is the highest titer reported to date and the secretion of the enzyme is faster in T. reesei than in other eukaryotic expression systems including A. niger and Komagataella phaffii. Most importantly, when cultivated on the low-cost agricultural residue corn cob, the recombinant strain was found to secret a remarkable amount of rAN-PEP (37.125 U/mL) that is twice the activity under the pure cellulose condition. Furthermore, treatment with rAN-PEP during beer brewing lowered the content of gluten below the ELISA kit detection limit (< 10 mg/kg) and thereby, reduced turbidity, which would be beneficial for improving the non-biological stability of beer. Conclusion: Our research provides a promising approach for industrial production of AN-PEP and other enzymes (proteins) from renewable lignocellulosic biomass, which provides a new idea with relevant researchers for the utilization of agricultural residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The corn cob is still a significant component of the corn residue. It is estimated that maize cob accounts for 40–50 percent of total corn production. Corn cob is considered an agriculture waste (by‐product of sweet corn). This by‐product causes environmental pollution, which produces health problems. Its phytochemicals and prebiotic potential provide large benefits for humans when it is consumed. Therefore, corn cob has functional properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticoagulant, anticancer and reduces the blood glucose level. Corn cob may be used as opportunistic raw material in food products and other possible applications. Current review explained the nutritional composition of corn cob and its possible health benefits. In conclusion, corn cobs have the potential for the development of value‐added products, which are gluten free and also contribute to flourish business of food development and nutraceutical manufacturing industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By increasing the input of corn (Zea mays L.) residues, synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilization is often assumed to enhance soil storage of organic carbon (C), which could be especially beneficial for improving the fertility of depleted soils. To ascertain whether such a strategy can be effective, C mineralization was compared for two soils with different indigenous N contents by conducting a 60‐day laboratory incubation experiment that involved continuous monitoring of CO2 emissions with periodic sampling for atmospheric δ13C analysis and for determination of soil microbial biomass and cellulolytic enzyme activities. The addition of exogenous N had a stimulatory effect on cumulative CO2 production that was greater for the low than high N supplying soil and more prominent in the first than in the second month of incubation. During residue decomposition, microbial activities were maximized by incubating the low N soil with exogenous N, whereas cellulolytic enzyme activities were greater for the high N soil. Although intensive N fertilization can substantially increase the productivity of low‐fertility soils, the additional residue inputs thereby generated are more effective for promoting C mineralization than sequestration. Core Ideas: Without fertilizer N, corn residue decomposition was unaffected by the supply of indigenous soil N.Addition of NH4+ or NO3− stimulated cellulosic residue decomposition.With N input, the mineralization of C was more rapid for a low‐ than high‐N‐supplying soil.Active biomass was greater in the low N soil and cellulolytic enzyme activities in the high N soil.Increasing residue inputs to low‐fertility soils by intensive N fertilization enhances C mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Farmers need alternative approaches to manage nitrogen (N) that meet crop needs while reducing loss to the environment. Identifying crop genotypes that promote decomposition of organic materials and understanding the potential mechanisms responsible could help address this challenge. Consequently, we aimed to 1) determine whether carrot genotypes differ in their potential to facilitate organic matter decomposition in soil, and 2) identify bacterial taxa that are stimulated by carrot roots, and thus could play a role in these processes. Methods: We grew five genotypes expected to differ in N use efficiency in a nutrient-poor soil amended with 15 N-enriched corn residue, tracked changes in carbon (C) and N pools, quantified microbial activity and bacterial community composition, and predicted the potential expression of microbial genes involved in soil C and N cycles. Results: Experimental genotype 8503 had the greatest capacity to promote decomposition of corn residues. This genotype had the highest % of N from the corn residue in its taproots and on average, promoted higher b-glucosidase activity in soils. Distinct bacterial communities from the families Micromonosporaceae, Chromatiaceae, and Rhodospirillaceae were also enriched in the soils of genotypes like 8503 that were most effective in obtaining N from the corn residue, and this was correlated with greater potential expression of genes responsible for β-glucosidase and nitrification activity. Conclusions: Carrot genotypes do differ in their potential to alter soil bacterial communities and stimulate microbially-mediated decomposition of organic materials indicating that it may be possible to begin selecting for this important trait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop residue cover is vital for reducing soil erosion and improving soil fertility, which is an important way of conserving tillage to protect the black soil in Northeast China. How much the crop residue covers on cropland is of significance for black soil protection. Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 images were used to estimate corn residue coverage (CRC) in Northeast China in this study. The estimation model of CRC was established for improving CRC estimation accuracy by the optimal combination of spectral indices and textural features, based on soil texture zoning, using the random forest regression method. Our results revealed that (1) the optimization C5 of spectral indices and textural features improves the CRC estimation accuracy after harvesting and before sowing with determination coefficients (R2) of 0.78 and 0.73, respectively; (2) the random forest improves the CRC estimation accuracy after harvesting and before sowing with R2 of 0.81 and 0.77, respectively; (3) considering the spatial heterogeneity of the soil background and the usage of soil texture zoning models increase the accuracy of CRC estimation after harvesting and before sowing with R2 of 0.84 and 0.81, respectively. In general, the CRC estimation accuracy after harvesting was better than that before sowing. The results revealed that the corn residue coverage in most of the study area was 0.3 to 0.6 and was mainly distributed in the Songnen Plain. By the estimated corn residue coverage results, the implementation of conservation tillage practices is identified, which is vital for protecting the black soil in Northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is a carbonaceous and porous material with limited adsorption capacity, which increases by modifying its surface. Many of the biochars modified with magnetic nanoparticles reported previously were obtained in two steps: first, the biomass was pyrolyzed, and then the modification was performed. In this research, a biochar with Fe3O4 particles was obtained during the pyrolysis process. Corn cob residues were used to obtain the biochar (i.e., BCM) and the magnetic one (i.e., BCMFe). The BCMFe biochar was synthesized by a chemical coprecipitation technique prior to the pyrolysis process. The biochars obtained were characterized to determine their physicochemical, surface, and structural properties. The characterization revealed a porous surface with a 1013.52 m2/g area for BCM and 903.67 m2/g for BCMFe. The pores were uniformly distributed, as observed in SEM images. BCMFe showed Fe3O4 particles on the surface with a spherical shape and a uniform distribution. According to FTIR analysis, the functional groups formed on the surface were aliphatic and carbonyl functional groups. Ash content in the biochar was 4.0% in BCM and 8.0% in BCMFe; the difference corresponded to the presence of inorganic elements. The TGA showed that BCM lost 93.8 wt% while BCMFe was more thermally stable due to the inorganic species on the biochar surface, with a weight loss of 78.6%. Both biochars were tested as adsorbent materials for methylene blue. BCM and BCMFe obtained a maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of 23.17 mg/g and 39.66 mg/g, respectively. The obtained biochars are promising materials for the efficient removal of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been an investigation using the association between three soil tillage systems (conventional, minimum, and no-tillage) with different previous crops (Pearl millet, Sun hemp, pigeon pea, and cowpea) and combination of nitrogen fertilization with Azospirillum brasilense in order to assess the technical efficiency of growing green corn under different soil tillage systems associated with crops before the planting of green corn under the combined presence of nitrogen fertilization and A. brasilense. The experiment was carried out on the Experimental Farm of the Universidade Federal de Sergipe, municipality of São Cristóvão, state of Sergipe, Northeast region, Brazil, from February to October, 2020. The chosen design was conducted in experimental strips with divided subplots, where the strips were made of by the systems. The subplots where the crops were randomized within each strip in three replications. This experiment evaluated green corn regarding: a) plant height; b) total leaf chlorophyll content; c) dry biomass yield; d) dry matter; e) mineral matter; f) crude protein; g) neutral and acid detergent fiber; h) total digestible nutrients. The CT/Guandu/N treatment promoted a greater increase in corn plant height and chlorophyll content; MT/Pearl millet/I obtained higher dry biomass yield; GO NT/Cowpea/N had the highest dry matter content; MT/Guandu/I promoted higher crude protein. Neutral and acid detergent fiber, total digestible nutrients were better in NT/Guandu/I, NT/Cowpea, and MT/Cowpea, respectively. The objective of the study was to evaluate the technical efficiency of forage production from green corn residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many productive agricultural soils have naturally poor drainage characteristics and may intermittently pond water even where artificial drainage infrastructure is present, especially in topographic depressions. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is often higher in depressions than uplands, but whether temporary ponding increases SOC by suppressing decomposition remains an important knowledge gap. We measured SOC and inorganic C (carbonate) along topographic gradients from tile-drained depressions to adjacent uplands and tested their relationships with hydrological and biogeochemical properties in corn/soybean fields in Iowa, USA, and examined soil respiration and its stable C isotopes (δ13C) by lab incubation. The 0–30 cm SOC concentration was greatest at depression bottoms, as expected, while carbonate C was highest at boundaries between depressions and uplands. However, only carbonate C, not SOC, increased in depressions with increasingly poor drainage (greater ponding duration). Silt + clay content was the strongest positive predictor of SOC, while ponding duration and oxalate-extractable iron were negatively related to SOC in a statistical model (R2 = 0.83). These negative relationships are consistent with suppression of crop biomass production and iron-mediated decomposition in periodically anoxic soil. Soil C/N ratios were similar in depressions and uplands, indicating that plant detritus did not accumulate with ponding. Stable C isotopes of respiration from incubated soils indicated a similar C3/C4 plant mixture in depressions and uplands, consistent with decomposing soybean and corn residues. In contrast, depression soil organic matter had lower δ13C and δ15N values than uplands, more consistent with pre-agricultural prairie plants than crop residues. Accumulation of SOC in these agricultural depressions is more likely explained by erosion than by suppression of decomposition due to temporary ponding. Gaining additional SOC may require fundamental changes in management, or wetland restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pellets have become an important renewable energy source. Aiming to contribute for diversifying the Brazilian energy matrix, the goals of this work were to evaluate the quality of the pellets of lignocellulosic residues (Eucalyptus and corn) produced with the addition of different percentages of Kraft lignin. For the production of pellets, mixtures of wood with bark of a Eucalyptusurophylla and Eucalyptusgrandis, and corn residue were used as raw material. The proportions of corn residue in the mixture were 0, 20, 25, and 30% (w/w). Except for the control (0% lignin), 2 and 5% (w/w) Kraft lignin were added to a dry mass of raw material in the 4 different mixtures. Pellets were produced in a laboratory press pelletizer with horizontal circular array. The following properties of the pellets were evaluated: proximate analysis, high heating value (HHV), elementary analysis, energy density, bulk density, diameter and length, hardness, mechanical durability, and fine content. The pellets were classified according to European marketing standards. The addition of Kraft lignin to eucalyptus and corn residue pellets contributed to improving the physical and mechanical pellet properties, as regards the bulk density, mechanical durability, and fine content, allowing the transportation of a greater amount of mass and energy, besides maintaining the integrity of the biofuels during handling and use. The mixing of eucalyptus with corn residue is an effective way to optimize properties of biomass solid fuel. The treatment with higher corn addition, in relation mechanical properties, showed a better performance in accordance with the European standards. The mechanical properties were above to 97.5%, besides that has no impact from the addition of Kraft lignin. The addition of up to 20% of corn residue has the potential to improve physical and mechanical pellet quality, with or without Kraft lignin addition. Thus, similar amounts to that of the treatment with the proportion of 80% eucalyptus and 20% corn residue can be a viable alternative to the production of pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is considered a potential substitute for conventional, non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastics. However, high production cost has been a major drawback to the commercialization of PHB. The use of low-cost lignocellulosic agricultural residues such as corn stover, together with an effective pretreatment method, can reduce production costs. In this study, optimization of pretreatment methods for corn stover - namely, steam explosion and sequential steam explosion-dilute acid pretreatment - was done to maximize the concentration of reducing sugars in the hydrolysate obtained after enzymatic saccharification. Response surface methodology (RSM)-designed experiments showed that steam explosion temperature had the highest impact on reducing sugar production for both pretreatment methods. Optimum conditions for steam explosion pretreatment were 220.9 °C steam explosion temperature and 11.2 min residence time, yielding a hydrolysate with 9.67 g/L (64.50% yield) of reducing sugars after saccharification. For the sequential pretreatment, 9.14 g/L of reducing sugars (60.93% yield) was produced from the optimum conditions of 224.8 °C steam explosion temperature, 144.2 °C dilute acid temperature, 43.8 min reaction time, and 5% w/v acid concentration. Dilute acid pretreatment significantly decreased the reducing sugar yield after the steam explosion by 5.5%, probably due to the degradation of reducing sugars, making steam explosion sufficient in the pretreatment of corn stover. More importantly, PHB was produced using the hydrolysate from steam-exploded corn stover, with a maximum concentration of 1.81 g/L after 24 h of bacterial fermentation. Therefore, the steam explosion was proven effective in producing sugar-rich hydrolysates from corn stover for PHB production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture biomass is a widely known renewable source that has a high possibility of recycling. The present investigation deals with the extraction, pre-treatment, dyeing, and characterization of natural fiber obtained from agricultural residues of corn husk. Water retted corn husk fibers were subjected to two steps of scouring and bleaching with hydrogen peroxide. The process effectively reduced non-cellulosic impurities, increased cellulose content to almost 79%, enhanced water absorption (431.5%), and increased fiber whiteness (54) with minimal impact on breaking tenacity (17.17 CN/tex). Natural dyeing was performed by using dye extracted from Sappan wood, and it was observed that fiber dyed without mordant exhibits a good color strength (K/S) of 13.21. Optimum dyeing conditions were determined by the response surface methodology, where K/S was kept as the main response. Modern spectroscopic characterization techniques were used for confirmatory analysis. The optimized recipe for natural dyeing is a 20% liquid dye concentration at 70°C for 1 hour, which achieved a K/S of 10.2–10.5 with adequate wash and light fastness properties in the range of 3–4 and 7–8, respectively. The current study will pave the way for the efficient textile application of this abundant but unnecessarily wasted biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of seedlings reflects the culture's performance, and the substrate may influence the obtainment of seedlings. Bokashi compost and organic residues can change substrate characteristics and influence seedling development. The present study aimed to analyze the development of cauliflower seedlings by adding bokashi-type fermented compost and agricultural residues to the substrate. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design in a 5x2 factorial scheme, with five conditions of agricultural residues (control (no residues), coffee residue, yerba mate residue, corn residue, and residue mixture (coffee, yerba mate, and corn)) two conditions of bokashi addition (with (5%) and without) and 18 repetitions. The sowing of cauliflower was performed in polyethylene trays and kept in a protected environment for 30 days. Fresh and dry mass of shoots (stem and leaves), number of leaves per seedling, relative water content (RWC) in leaves, and leaf pigments were evaluated. Data analysis of variance and comparison of means done by the Tukey test, multivariate analysis, and linear correlation. The bokashi compost favored the development of cauliflower seedlings. However, the addition of agricultural residues demonstrated efficiency only when incorporated with bokashi. The use of the residue mixture rendered the best performance of the cauliflower seedlings by adding organic residues to the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]