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ABSTRACT Background Aims Methods Results Conclusion The direct effect of winter cover crops (WCCs) or living mulches (LMs) on a first vegetable crop has already been investigated. However, little is known about the effect on growth and yield of a second cash crop in the rotation.The aim of the study was to assess the carry‐over effect of legumes grown as WCC or LM on winter wheat as a second crop after cabbage, measured in yield and nitrogen release.Two field trials were carried out in Germany between 2019 and 2022. In the WCC trial, rye, rye with vetch, vetch, pea, and faba bean were used as WCC and compared to bare soil. The WCC biomass was incorporated before cabbage planting in late spring. For the LM trial, perennial ryegrass or white clover was used as LM during cabbage cultivation and compared to bare soil. The LM biomass was incorporated with the cabbage residues and compared to an early incorporation of LM biomass before cabbage planting. In both trials, winter wheat was sown in the fall as the second following main crop in the rotation.Leguminous WCC species had significant higher wheat yield compared to non‐legumes but not compared to the control without WCC. Late incorporation of LM biomass resulted in increased wheat yield at 10.1–10.4 Mg ha−1 compared to an early incorporation before cabbage planting at 9.35 Mg ha−1. Net N releases show that for WCC, the main effect of legume nitrogen fixation is achieved in the first crop cabbage immediately after incorporation of WCC biomass. In the case of leguminous LM, the effects of legume nitrogen fixation are of much higher relevance in the second main crop, winter wheat, due to LM biomass incorporation after cabbage cultivation.Therefore, we suggest to consider not only the direct but also the carry‐over effects of leguminous cover cropping in vegetable crop rotations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted over two seasons to study the effect of drip fertigation levels and foliar nutrition on the growth and yield of cotton-black gram cropping sequences. The treatments comprised three levels of fertigation viz., 50, 75, and 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), combined with and without two levels of foliar spray, drip irrigation with soil surface application of 100% RDF, and surface irrigation with soil surface application of 100% RDF as a control. Drip-irrigated cotton and black gram registered higher yields during both seasons as compared to the surface methods of irrigation. Application of 100% RDF as drip fertigation combined with a foliar spray of 1% urea phosphate registered the highest seed cotton yield of 3598 kg ha−1 and black gram grain yield of 856 kg ha−1, which was significantly superior over the control. Application of nutrients through drip fertigation improved seed cotton yield by 45.2% and blackgram grain yield by 49.8% compared with conventional surface irrigation with soil application of fertilizers. From the results, it could be concluded that drip fertigation at 100% RDF with foliar spray of 1% urea phosphate can be recommended for higher productivity in the cotton-black gram cropping sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have investigated bird diversity-environment relationships in agricultural landscapes. While many studies have emphasized the importance of natural/semi-natural elements and their diversity within or surrounding farmlands, it remains unclear how crop diversity impacts birds. There is also a significant gap in our knowledge regarding the effects of temporal changes in crop composition on bird diversity. Using small farmlands in a sub-tropical city of China, we examined how spatial and temporal variation of crops and other local farmland features was linked to species diversity of birds and their traits. In small peri‑urban agricultural areas of Guangzhou, we collected bird and crop/non-crop data approximately bimonthly from December 2021 to October 2022. Overall crop diversity and seasonal crop changes were indexed by alpha diversity (Shannon-Wiener index) and beta diversity, respectively. Both alpha and beta crop diversities were positively associated with Shannon-Wiener diversity of birds. Alpha crop diversity also tended to have a positive impact on species richness. Percent cover of woody vegetation showed a positive effect on all three bird diversity indices, i.e., species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity, and evenness. Percent cover of rice affected species richness positively and evenness negatively, whereas the effects of percent cover of corn were the opposite. In a fourth-corner analysis, the abundance of plant/seed-eating birds was negatively associated with alpha crop diversity, whereas the abundance of ground-foraging birds was positively associated with beta crop diversity. These patterns indicate that seasonally dynamic crop changes as well as local crop diversity can influence bird diversity and traits in small farmlands. They also suggest that natural/semi-natural woody vegetation, such as trees and shrubs, play a critical role in enhancing species diversity of birds in farmlands dominated by herbaceous edible crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are considered a limiting factor for tomato production, causing substantial economic losses. Several control measures have been used to control RKNs in infested areas, such as crop rotation or succession with non-host species, using resistant cultivars, and applying chemical and biological nematicides. Here, we examined the control effect of six microbiological products (Ag109 - Bacillus velezensis, Votivo Prime - B. firmus, Quartzo - B. subtilis and B. licheniformis, Veraneio - B. amyloliquefaciens, Nemat - Purpureocillium lilacinum, and Rizotec - Pochonia chlamydosporia) against different species of Meloidogyne in tomatoes cultivated in a greenhouse and evaluated these products under field conditions to verify their impact on rootassociated nematode populations and agronomic and physicochemical traits of fruits from grafted and non-grafted tomato plants. For the greenhouse studies, higher pathogenicity was observed for tomato with M. javanica and M. enterolobii compared to M. incognita. The microbiological nematicides were more effective in controlling M. javanica and M. enterolobii, while for M. incognita, the evaluated products were ineffective. Regarding the field studies, most of the microbiological nematicides evaluated effectively increased production per plant. However, when analyzing the Meloidogyne population in the field, applying microbiological nematicides showed no nematode control in plants without rootstock. On the other hand, in the grafted plants, the Ag109, Veraneio, Rizotec, and Nemat treatments boosted the reduction in the Meloidogyne population in the roots, with average reductions of 68.47, 57.97, 77.29, and 56.70%, respectively. These results indicate the effectiveness of integrated management of microbiological nematicides and resistant rootstock in tomato. Furthermore, combining these two control measures resulted in no change in the nutritional quality of tomato fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fertilizers have a significant influence on the forming of the circulation of substances and energy in soils, agroecological state of lands, as well as the quality of agricultural products. Fertilizers and ameliorants, as some of the most effective means of restoring soil fertility, have a considerable influence on the agroecological condition and agrochemical indicators of arable soils in the process of their agricultural usage. The article researched such ecological aspects of using mineral fertilizers as changing the chlorine content in soil solution, potassium, calcium and magnesium content in soil intake complex as well as gross sodium content in soil after continuous usage of fertilizers in field crop rotation. The experimental part of the work was done in continuous stationary experiment in the field rotation of grain and beet crops with a set of crops traditional for the region defined in 1964. It was defined that the chlorine of fertilizers does not produce stable compounds in soil and migrates a lot in its profile. Using fertilizers in field crop rotation in a dose of 45-135 kg of K2O/ha does not contribute to chlorine increase in physiologically active 1.5 m deep soil layer. At continuous fertilizer usage, there have been essential changes in the ashed fertile soil in the composition of its intake complex - the number of calcium and magnesium exchangeables has decreased, which entails worsening of the physical and chemical qualities and as a result leads to decreasing fertility level. The research results have evinced that the ratio between magnesium and potassium in a soil intake complex drops to 2.6-3.6 as a result of continuous potassium with fertilizer usage, according to the checking data without fertilizer application it makes up - 4.2, which corresponds to optimal ratio of Mg: K = 2-5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: A 4‐year experiment evaluated the effects of different integrated weed management (IWM) programs on the evolution of a Echinochloa crus‐galli population resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors in a maize cropping system. The programs included the continued use of ALS inhibitors, mixing them with alternative herbicides, or without ALS‐inhibitors, in all cases under maize monocrop or a biennial crop rotation. RESULTS: IWM programs that relied solely on non‐ALS‐inhibitors usually achieved high control levels across years (> 90%). Additionally, Trp574Leu‐resistant plants became prevalent (> 90%) in programs only using ALS inhibitors, while in the rest the frequency of susceptible plants did not substantially decrease below 40%. Regarding the other monitored grass weeds, Digitaria sanguinalis and Panicum dichotomiflorum were effectively controlled in programs using ALS‐inhibitors without soybean rotation or in programs without ALS‐inhibitors altogether, excepting the program relying on an 4‐hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)‐inhibitor under maize monocrop for the latter species (0%). CONCLUSION: At the end of the experiment, the only IWM programs that reduced infestation levels were the one without ALS‐inhibitors under soybean rotation, and the one with standard pre‐emergence treatments. These findings highlight the effectiveness of crop rotation and alternative herbicides both pre‐ or post‐emergence in controlling E. crus‐galli. ALS‐inhibitors, while challenged by resistance in E. crus‐galli, remain valuable tools for managing other grass weed species in maize. It is crucial to adapt IWM strategies for herbicide‐resistant E. crus‐galli and other grass weed populations to mitigate the further evolution of resistance. © 2024 Corteva Agriscience. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Crop rotation is an important agricultural practice that often affects the metabolic processes of soil microorganisms through the composition and combination of crops, thereby altering nutrient cycling and supply to the soil. Although the benefits of crop rotation have been extensively discussed, the effects and mechanisms of different crop combinations on the soil microbial community structure in specific environments still need to be analyzed in detail. Materials and methods: In this study, six crop rotation systems were selected, for which the spring crops were mainly tobacco or gramineous crops: AT (asparagus lettuce and tobacco rotation), BT (broad bean and tobacco rotation), OT (oilseed rape and tobacco rotation), AM (asparagus lettuce and maize rotation), BM (broad bean and maize rotation), and OR (oilseed rape and rice rotation). All crops had been cultivated for > 10 years. Soil samples were collected when the rotation was completed in spring, after which the soil properties, composition, and functions of bacterial and fungal communities were analyzed. Results: The results indicate that spring cultivated crops play a more dominant role in the crop rotation systems than do autumn cultivated crops. Crop rotation systems with the same spring crops have similar soil properties and microbial community compositions. pH and AK are the most important factors driving microbial community changes, and bacteria are more sensitive to environmental responses than fungi. Rotation using tobacco systems led to soil acidification and a decrease in microbial diversity, while the number of biomarkers and taxonomic indicator species differed between rotation patterns. Symbiotic network analysis revealed that the network complexity of OT and BM was the highest, and that the network density of tobacco systems was lower than that of gramineous systems. Conclusions: Different crop rotation combinations influence both soil microbial communities and soil nutrient conditions. The spring crops in the crop rotation systems had stronger dominating effects, and the soil bacteria were more sensitive than the fungi were to environmental changes. The tobacco rotation system can cause soil acidification and thereby affect soil sustainability, while the complexity of soil microbial networks is lower than that of gramineous systems. These results provide a reference for future sustainable applications of rotation crop systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a cereal crop known for its biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) capacity, a plant‐mediated activity limiting nitrification pathway. The use of BNI‐producing plants represents an environmentally friendly and cost‐effective approach to reduce nitrogen (N) losses, such as nitrate (NO3−) leaching and nitrous oxide (N2O) gas emissions. The present study aimed to test the effectiveness of different S. bicolor cultivars in rotation to retain ammonium (NH4+) in soils and promote N availability for the subsequent wheat crop. A two‐year field rotation was established with four sorghum cultivars followed by winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Urea alone or combined with the urease inhibitor N‐(n‐butyl) thiophosphoric triamide was applied to promote a NH4+‐based fertilization regimes.AddingN‐(n‐butyl) thiophosphoric triamide maintained higher soil NH4+ content and reduced ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria population during sorghum cultivation. However, the benefits of the inhibitor on sorghum growth were cultivar‐dependent. Notably, the further reduction in ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria abundance for sorghum Voyenn and the increased soil NH4+ content for Vilomene suggested a BNI potential for these cultivars. Importantly, the Vilomene precedent enhanced wheat yield for both fertilization regimes.Overall, the present study confirms that sorghum is a suitable catch crop and emphasizes the importance of selecting the proper sorghum cultivar to maximize the yield of the target wheat crop, at the same time as minimizing N losses. Furthermore, developing combined strategies with selected sorghum cultivars and the application of urease inhibitors enables to enhance sorghum productivity as forage, achieving added value to the rotation. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Redgram (Cajanus cajan L. Mill sp.), a leguminous crop commonly grown in tropical and subtropical climates, is highly valued for its high protein content (21%), which contributes significantly to food and nutritional security. However, its production faces challenges primarily due to terminal dryness experienced during critical growth stages because of changing rainfall patterns. To overcome this, adaptive techniques become imperative as the productivity of this crop is intricately linked to environmental factors and the crop's growth cycle. Methods: Hence, the field experiment was conducted at the National Pulses Research Centre, Vamban, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, in South India under rainfed condition, during the kharif (monsoon) seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19. The primary objectives were to determine the optimal sowing time and identify suitable redgram cultivars, especially in the context of the late onset of the monsoon in Tamil Nadu, a common issue under changing climate conditions. The experiments tested six different sowing dates with three redgram cultivars. Results and discussion: The findings highlighted the substantial influence of different redgram cultivars and sowing times on the crop's growth characteristics and yield. Among the six sowing dates tested, planting in later half of June (S6) resulted in notably higher plant height (201 cm), a greater number of pods per plant (287), a seed yield of 1,112 kg ha-1, and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.61 Notably, this sowing period (S6) demonstrated comparable performance with the treatment of redgram sowing in the latter part of September (S4). CO 6 (V1) is the most productive of the three redgram cultivars, with the highest mean pant height (200 cm), number of pods per plant (237), grain yield (1,017 kg ha-1), and benefit cost ratio(2.38). Extended phenological phases along with extra days to reach phenological stages could account for the increased yield in comparison to the other cultivars. Among the two short-duration cultivars, VBN (Rg) 3 (V3) had a significantly highermean grain yield of 958 kg ha-1 with the benefit-cost ratio of 2.24. Even though CO 6 (V1) obtained a higher yield due to its long duration nature, it matured in 187 days whereas VBN (Rg) 3 (V3) matured within 129 days. Consequently, the short-duration redgram cultivars emerge as highly suitable choices for integrating into crop sequences, thereby augmenting farm cropping intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfed agriculture is primarily limited by unstable low precipitation, poor soil fertility and monocropping, which are the main factors leading to decreased crop production. This long-term research was conducted under a rainfed agroecosystem from 2019 to 2023 on the sierozem soil of the Karshi steppe, Uzbekistan. Along with winter wheat (WW) which was the main crop covering 50% of each proposed cropping pattern, chickpea (CH), safflower (SA), flax (FL), barley (BA) and canola (CA) were evaluated to find the most suitable rotation systems under no-till (NT) i.e. NT1: WW-CH-WW-FL, NT2: CH-WW-SA-WW, NT3: WW-SA-WW-BA and NT4: SA-WW-CA-WW compared against continuous WW produced with conventional tillage (CT). Results showed that the integrated effect of NT x crop diversification x residue retention positively affected crop productivity; however, their impact were significantly higher under the NT2 treatment, but not with continuous WW under CT. The highest grain yield of W Win the 2020-2021 growing season was recorded under NT2 and NT4 treatments with values of 1.47 and 1.30 Mg ha-1, while the lowest index (1.02 Mg ha-1) was found at the CT treatment. The grain yield in the NT treatments increased with the improvement of soil chemical and physical parameters, i.e. NPK and humus content. When comparing NT2 to CT treatment at the project end, the total N, P, and K values at the 0-20 cm soil profile were 27.9%, 13.9%, and 33.9% higher, respectively. This study concluded that implementation of NT along with strategic selection of legumes incorporated into the cropping system and residue management can be prioritized as rehabilitation measures in rainfed croplands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica carinata A. Braun (carinata) has become an important oil crop for biofuel production in subtropical regions. Carinata is highly sensitive to acetolactate synthase (ALS)‐inhibiting herbicides, limiting its introduction into existing crop rotations. The objective of the study was to develop carinata lines resistant to ALS‐inhibiting herbicides. A susceptible carinata line was crossed with a resistant Brassica napus L. line. Lines derived from those crosses were screened at high doses of imidazolinones, which allowed identifying five lines with high levels of resistance. Doses to reduce plant growth 50% (GR50) and cause 50% injury (ID50) were four to nine times greater than susceptible lines. Resistant lines exhibited cross resistance with halosulfuron (sulfonylurea). Resistance was confirmed under field conditions with doses 2X and 4X for imazethapyr and 4X–8X for halosulfuron of their respective label doses. While susceptible lines died, resistant lines exhibited no injury or growth reductions compared with nontreated controls. Sequencing of the ALS gene indicated that all resistant lines carried a Trp574Leu amino acid substitution, a mutation responsible for resistance in other species. Crosses between resistant lines and a susceptible line demonstrated that the inheritance of the mutation corresponded with the resistance phenotype in the F2. The resistance trait behaved as a single, fully dominant allele, which makes it easier to transfer it to carinata lines with desirable agronomic traits. The resistant lines developed here provide flexibility for use in multiple crop rotations and opens the possibility to use ALS‐inhibiting herbicides for weed control within this crop's growing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of alfalfa is crucial for farmers as it is an excellent forage crop with a high nitrogen-fixing capacity, making it indispensable in crop rotations. Breeding programs face challenges in advancing more rapidly in genetic diversity to achieve a higher heterosis effect and, consequently, greater yield. In this study, we used 30 alfalfa varieties, which were used for molecular analyses by 5 ISSR primers and 13 RAPD primers. The results obtained highlighted the greater efficiency of ISSR primers in identifying genetic diversity. On the other hand, the simultaneous use of ISSR + RAPD allowed for clearer clustering of varieties that enabled more efficiently distinguishing the genetic diversity. The most efficient ISSR primer, A17, generated 31 polymorphic bands, while the most efficient RAPD primer, L-07, generated only 21 bands. Varieties such as "Pastoral" and "F1413-02" exhibited low similarity coefficients (0.39), suggesting their potential for enhancing genetic variability through crossbreeding, thereby increasing the potential of achieving a greater heterosis effect. Conversely, varieties with high similarity coefficients, such as "Cristal" and "Viking" (0.81) are less suited for this purpose. The correlation between specific markers highlights that using both ISSR and RAPD markers together offers a clear understanding of genetic diversity in alfalfa, aiding in more effective selection for crossbreeding in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel recycled fertilizers could help close environmental nutrient cycles in the circular economy. To better understand their performance and residual value, commercially available biobased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers (BBFs) were tested in a two-year crop cycle of winter wheat and ryegrass. The N fertilizer replacement value of N-BBFs ranged from 47 to 80% in the main crop. Not all BBFs led to a similarly high N concentration as the mineral reference in the wheat straw. However, full and early fertilization with incorporation could make the fertilizing effect of N-BBFs more reliable. The P fertilizer replacement value ranged between 105 and 161% for the crop cycle. We assume that the N contained in biobased phosphorus fertilizers can be seen as unproblematic for losses during winter and can serve as a starter fertilizer already present in the soil for the succeeding crop in spring. In general, biobased P fertilizers had a higher residual value than biobased N fertilizers. However, these residual values were comparable to those of mineral fertilizer references. While P-BBFs proved to be a sustainable and reliable nutrient source for a crop cycle, the N-BBFs used as the main crop fertilizer were found to be more prone to environmental influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faba bean is grown globally for human consumption and animal feed and is a significant rotation crop in cereal-dominant areas in many countries, including Australia. It is sensitive to several abiotic stresses, such as drought, frost, and high temperatures, especially at the reproductive stage. However, little is known of the upper and lower temperature limits for successful podding. Experiments were conducted over 2 years at Breeza and Narrabri in northwestern New South Wales to assess the impact of temperature on flowering and podset of three genotypes—Doza, Cairo, and IX1148f—under field conditions. Flowering nodes were tagged from designated plants in the field and scored for podding; field temperatures were recorded. Optimum maximum temperature for podset ranged from 23.7–26.1 °C, and the equivalent minimum temperature was 3.2–3.8 °C. Optimum average daily temperature for podset ranged from 12.7–13.9 °C. The strongest correlations between temperature and podding were observed at minimum temperatures, indicating that low temperatures are more important than high temperatures in determining yield in faba bean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High nitrogen (N) fertiliser rates are usually applied to increase agricultural yields, leading to high nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. This is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and depletes the ozone layer. This study aimed to optimise N use efficiency and quantify N2O emission factors (EF1) by measuring the effect of N rates on the yield of a potato-cover crop rotation, apparent N use efficiency (NUE) and N2O emissions. The two-year experiment was carried out on volcanic soils (1.6% carbon, 1.4% N) in southern Chile (40°52′ S, 73°03′ W). Three N application rates were evaluated (80, 150 and 300 kg N ha−1), 35% of which was applied at the planting stage (granular) and 65% at the tubering stage. A control treatment with no N addition was also included. Reducing N fertilisation to 80 kg N ha−1 increased NUE by three times, reduced N2O-N emissions by 33% and reduced emission intensity by 27% without a detrimental impact on crop yield and marketable tuber calibre. No significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in the N2O emission factor (EF1) because of a low rainfall year. The results suggest that in rainfed agriculture systems, N fertiliser application can be significantly reduced without sacrificing potato yield, favouring the economic and environmental sustainability of potato production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop rotation could effectively alleviate continuous cropping problems, but how it affects soil organic carbon (SOC) components and chemical structures in case of different duration of continuous cropping (CC) remains unclear. In this study, we selected cotton fields that had been continuously planted for 5, 10, 15, and 20 years for separate soybean rotations (SR). The mechanism of SR to improve soil quality in different duration of CC was determined by SOC components and their chemical structure. The results showed that the content of soil available nutrients, SOC, microbial biomass carbon and soluble organic carbon in the SR treatments significantly increased compared with those in the CC treatment (p < 0.05), but particulate organic carbon content decreased by 24.89–81.10%. Compared with CC in different years, SR treatments significantly reduced soil humus content. SR in 5, 10 and 15 years of CC cotton fields significantly increased the content of sucrase and decreased that of polyphenol oxidase. Compared with CC fields in different years (5-y, 10-y, 15-y, 20-y), SR increased the relative peak intensity of polysaccharides and decreased the relative peak intensity of alcohols and phenols. Among them, the relative peak intensity of R5-y, R10-y and R20-y aliphatic compounds increased, while that of R5-y, R15-y and R20-y aromatic compounds decreased, and R10-y recalcitrant components (Aliphatic + Aromatic) increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural systems strongly impact ecosystems by driving terrestrial degradation, water depletion, and climate change. The Life Cycle Assessment allows for comprehensive analyses of the environmental impacts of food production. Nonetheless, its application still faces challenges due to cropping systems' increased complexity and multifunctionality. Past research has emphasized the need for more holistic approaches to consider dynamic crop interactions and diverse functions of cropping systems, beyond just meeting the demand for foods and feeds. In this context, this study applied an alternative combined and multifunctional modelling approach to compare the environmental performances of two durum wheat cropping systems. The latter differed in crop rotation schedules, farming methods, tillage techniques, and genotypes grown (including both modern and old ones). Novel methodological choices were adopted in this study, aiming at best representing the complexity and peculiarities of these systems, by considering crop rotation effects and reflecting the main durum wheat stakeholders' perspectives. The results showed that the organic low-input landrace-growing system (Case 1) had considerably lower environmental impacts than the conventional high-input one (Case 2), regardless of the functional unit. The environmental hotspots were the increased land occupation and the bare fallow for Case 1 and Case 2, respectively. At the endpoint level, the most affected impact categories for both the systems of analysis were land use, fine particulate matter formation, global warming (human health), and human non-carcinogenic toxicity. Also, the midpoint analysis pointed out important differences in terms of other assessed impact categories, with Case 1 better performing for the majority of them. The identified improvement solutions include the following: the enhancement of the yield performances and the optimization of nitrogen provision from the leguminous crop for Case1, the shift toward a more efficient rotational scheme, the reduction of the use of external inputs, and the avoidance of unnecessary soil tillage operations for Case 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of biochar has emerged a potentially effective approach to improve soil function and promote crop performance. However, the specific impact of biochar on ß-glucosidase enzyme activity (BGA) within crop rotation systems in the Black Sea agroecosystem requires further investigation. This study was conducted to determine the effects of rice husk biochar (RHB) and poultry manure biochar (PMB) on BGA in soils. Six biochar doses (0-control, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 t ha-1) were applied at the beginning of two wheat-cabbage red pepper rotation periods. The mean BGA at second rotation (73.71 µg pNP g-1) was significantly lower compared to the BGA of the first period (93.39 µg pNP g-1). The BGA value in control (94.51 µg pNP g-1) decreased with increasing biochar application doses (76.05 µg pNP g-1, 50 t ha-1) treatment. The mean BGA value in PMB treatment was slightly higher than that of RHB, but it was not statistically different between two biochar types. However, the decrease in BGA value (25.0%) in the highest RHB dose compared to control was more than two-fold compared to the decrease in PMB application (12.1%). The difference in carbon/nitrogen ratio between RHB and PMB can be attributed to the variation in BGA values observed at the application of same biochar doses. The decrease in BGA over the course of the two rotation cycles implies that biochar may have a long-term influence on soil carbon cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) is crucial for crop production. Crop sequences with different legume participation affect N availability and therefore N fertiliser management. The study aimed to assess the inclusion of winter crops (WC) with different amounts of residues and different C:N ratios on the following: (i) the response to N fertilisation in the following late‐maize (Zea mays L.), and to carry that comparison into a subsequent wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.), and (ii) identify soil N indicators associated with these responses. Two field experiments (E1 and E2) were conducted in the Argentinean Pampas during two growing seasons to evaluate a WC/late‐maize‐wheat sequence under no‐tillage. In each experiment, late‐maize was sown after a bare‐fallow and three WC: wheat, vetch (Vicia villosa L.) and field pea (Pisum sativum L.), where five rates of N fertilisation were evaluated. An area of late‐maize that was not fertilised with N within each previous WC was used to evaluate the response to N fertilisation in the subsequent wheat crop. Indigenous N was estimated by using N uptake in the non‐N‐fertilised treatments. Soil N indicators and C:N ratio of WC residues were evaluated as indicators of response to N fertilisation in both crops. Significant responses to N fertilisation in grain yield and N uptake were observed in late‐maize when bare‐fallow and wheat were the previous treatments in both experiments. In contrast, vetch and field pea supplied 32 and 40 kg N ha−1 in E1 and E2, respectively, and showed no response to N fertilisation, satisfying the N required by late‐maize. However, this supply was not enough to sustain the N demand of the subsequent wheat, where the response to N addition ranged from 36% to 74% when vetch and wheat were the previous WC, respectively. Only soil inorganic N indicators were associated with indigenous N supply. Moreover, the apparent net WC effect was linked to late‐maize (r2 = 0.91) and subsequent wheat (r2 = 0.67) grain yield response, which was also related to the C:N ratio of the WC residues in late‐maize and the subsequent wheat (r2 = 0.78), suggesting that mineralisation occurs when C:N ratio is below 18. Consequently, in future studies the C:N ratio of the WC residues can be included in N fertilisation recommendation schemes when late‐maize is sown as a double crop in more intensified crop sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the dynamics of soil phosphorus (P) over extended periods of soil and crop management practices is essential for sustainable P management. This study assessed the impact of four crop rotations [maize-wheat (M-W), maize-wheat-mungbean (M-W-Mb), maize-wheat-maize-chickpea (M-W-M-C), and pigeonpea-wheat (P-W)] each with three levels of nutrient management [control (CT), integrated nutrient management (suboptimal fertilizer+ farmyard manure + crop residue + bio-fertilizers; INM), and sole-chemical fertilizers (CF)] on soil inorganic and organic P (Pi and Po) pools and crop–soil relationships at the end of 15-year cropping. Legume-inclusive rotations resulted in higher labile-P pools, being higher with M-W-M-C and P-W. M-W-M-C rotation had higher moderately labile organic P (Po) in both surface (+23%) and subsurface (+18%) depths over M-W. Di-calcium P (Ca2-P) (+6%) and microbial biomass P (MBP) (+46%) increased in M-W-Mb over M-W, while iron-P (Fe-P) was reduced (−12%) in subsurface soil. INM enhanced bioavailable-P [soluble-P (+17%), labile-Pi (+15%) labile-Po (+12%), MBP (+96%), moderately labile-Po (+22%)] over CF in surface soil, while CF had a higher Fe-P (+16%). Legumes in rotation caused notable changes in the surface-to-subsurface ratio (SSBR) of Ca2-P (1.18–1.50) and occluded-P (1.64–2.78). INM had a higher SSBR of labile-P pools but had a lower SSBR of occluded-P facilitating mobilization of the later in the surface. Hence, in tropical soils, legume-inclusive diversification (particularly with chickpea) and INM involving crop residue recycling could be a sustainable option to improve P use efficiency, crop productivity, and save fertilizer resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study investigated the prevalence of scab caused by Elsinoë phaseoli causing yield losses on beans in Kenya. The research focused on common practices and challenges faced by subsistence farmers with the aim of providing insights into scab prevalence, impact, and potential management challenges. A structured questionnaire was employed in a survey conducted in 2022 and 2023, covering major bean‐growing regions using a three‐stage sampling design. Data from 128 bean farmers included information on farm size, seed sources, cropping systems, awareness of challenges, and pest/disease management practices. Scab prevalence was determined by scouting for symptoms, with a total of 84 farms surveyed in 2021. The incidence of bean scab was confirmed in all surveyed clusters, indicating its widespread occurrence across various agro‐ecological zones. Farmers exhibited common practices such as preference for uniform bean seeds (61%), use of uncertified seeds (83%), intercropping (80%), and limited crop rotation. Challenges included disease and pest infestations, with limited diversity in management options. Confirmation of the presence of bean scab in diverse agro‐ecological zones emphasizes its importance and the need for further research on its impact and epidemiology. Challenges with crop rotation were evident due to small farm sizes and subsistence‐focused farming. The study recommends further research for a comprehensive understanding of the link between increased scab importance and current bean farming practices such as short rotation periods and the use of susceptible varieties. Training programs are also vital to improve farmers' knowledge on safe agro‐chemical use, ensuring sustainable constraint management in common bean cultivation in Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis) causes significant yield loss in cotton worldwide. In 2012, its detection in the Dawson-Callide region of Central Queensland prompted extensive surveys of cotton fields. The nematode was confirmed in 68% of sampled fields, with populations ranging from 2 to 3870 R. reniformis/200 mL of soil. Soil monitoring revealed increasing populations associated with consecutive cotton crops. However, when corn or sorghum replaced cotton, soil nematode populations significantly decreased. A two-year replicated field trial demonstrated that growing a non-host crop (such as biofumigant sorghum 'Fumig8tor', grain sorghum, or corn) significantly reduced nematode populations in the top 15 cm of soil compared to cotton. Unfortunately, when cotton was replanted the following season, nematode populations rebounded regardless of the previous crop. Only the 'Fumig8tor'-cotton rotation resulted in significantly lower nematode populations than continuous cotton. Vertical soil sampling showed that rotating with a non-host crop significantly reduced nematode densities to a depth of 100 cm compared to cotton. However, when the field was replanted with cotton, nematode populations recovered, unaffected by cropping or soil depth. This study emphasises the importance of monitoring reniform nematodes in cotton soils for early detection and defining distribution patterns within a field, which may improve the effectiveness of management practices. These results suggest that one rotation out of cotton is not sufficient, as populations return to high levels when cotton is grown again. Therefore, two or more rotations out of cotton should be considered to manage this nematode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lawns play a vital role in urban development, but the impact of sod production on soil properties has always been controversial. In this study, we examined the physical, chemical, and biological properties of sod production bases across different regions and years [including northern China (2.5, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 years), referred to as N-2.5, N-3, etc., and southern China (3, 10, 11, 14, 17 years), referred to as S-3, S-10, etc.], with tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass planted in the north and bermudagrass or creeping bentgrass planted in the south. Sod production was found to increase soil bulk density while reducing porosity and field capacity, but these effects did not consistently intensify with longer production periods. Except for available phosphorus and available potassium, other soil nutrients (total carbon, total nitrogen, organic matter, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, etc.) were either unaffected or increased at certain time points (S-11, S-14). Prolonged sod production (S-10, S-17) also boosted microbial content. In northern regions, organic matter and total nitrogen were the key factors influencing microbial community structure, whereas in southern regions, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, electrical conductivity, available potassium, and organic matter were most influential. We also found that crop rotation, sand mulching, and deep plowing could enhance soil nutrient content and microbial activity in sod production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rachiplusia nu Guenée is a polyphagous species able to develop on several cultivated and non-cultivated host plants. However, basic life history information about this pest on hosts is scarce. In this study, R. nu larvae did not survive on leaves of non-Bt corn, wheat, Bt cotton that expresses proteins Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab2 or on Intacta2 Xtend soybean that expresses the Cry1A.105/Cry2Ab2/Cry1Ac proteins. Rachiplusia nu showed a viable egg-to-adult biological cycle (54%–66.3%) on non-Bt soybean, sunflower, canola, vetch, Persian clover, alfalfa, bean, and forage turnip hosts, similar to larvae raised on the artificial diet. In addition, R. nu was unable to complete larval development on non-Bt cotton, and only 45.2% of R. nu larvae reached the pupal stage when fed leaves of intacta RR2 PRO soybean that expresses the Cry1Ac protein. Larval and pupal mass of surviving insects on Cry1Ac soybean leaves were also lower (larval: 0.104 g; pupal: 0.099 g) in relation to other food sources (larval: 0.165–0.189 g; pupal: 0.173–0.192 g). The total fecundity of R. nu on Cry1Ac soybean leaves was ≈65% lower in relation to other food sources. This fact caused ≈60% the net reproductive rate (R o ) and intrinsic rate of increase (r m ) when compared to other food sources. Our findings indicate that the Cry1Ac soybean negatively affects the biological parameters of R. nu. Non-Bt soybean, sunflower, canola, vetch, Persian clover, alfalfa, bean, and forage turnip are viable food sources for the survival and development of R. nu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research paper analysis of the dynamics of the moisture content of the soil layer of chernozem and the accumulation of productive moisture reserves in its thickness was carried out, based on a set of data from 1947 to 2022. The change in the moisture regime within the periodically leaching water regime of the central part of the Left Bank Forest- Steppe of Ukraine has been analyzed. The analysis was performed under the crops: winter wheat, spring barley, corn for grain and silage, sugar beet, sunflower in crop rotations of various types to a depth of 0-100 cm to 0-300 cm. The purpose of the research was to establish the features of the formation of reserves of productive moisture in the chernozem thickness in a seasonal dimension upon the dynamics of climatic parameters against the background of their intracentury climatic variability for the conditions of the left bank part of the central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The generally accepted research methods were used: field, laboratory, mathematical, statistical and comparative calculation. Based on the conducted research, the following results were obtained. In order to form a non-flushing humidification regime, it is necessary to accumulate 117-135 mm in the thickness of 0-100 cm, which will correspond to a reserve in the thickness of 0-200 cm - 117-167 mm. For periodic flushing water regime 160-165 mm of moisture should be accumulated in the 0-100 cm thickness, which will provide a moisture reserve of 300 mm in the 0-200 cm thickness. The flushing water regime is formed with a moisture reserve in the thickness of 0-100 cm in the amount of 175 mm, which provides a moisture reserve in the thicknesses of 0-150 cm and 0-200 cm - 250 mm and 315 mm, which corresponds to the reserve of NV-VRK, and the thickness of 0-300 cm is saturated with moisture in an amount of more than 400 mm (HB-VK). Calculation of the paired correlation coefficients showed that an inverse strong correlation (R > -0.70) was found between the amount of precipitation for November - March and the supply of moisture to the meter layer of soil (R > -0.70), and the consumption of moisture from the soil for April - July correlated with the precipitation for November - March at the level of direct strong correlation (R ≥ 0.70). The relationship with the moisture consumption from the moisture potential for April - August was at the level of an inverse strong correlation (R < 0.70), i.e. the higher the amount of precipitation during the autumn-winter-spring period (cold period), the less moisture is recorded in a meter-thick layer, the greater its consumption in April-July from the soil and the smaller consumption of moisture potential in April-August. The zone of the central Forest-Steppe is characterized by a periodically leaching water regime, when an average of 165 mm of moisture accumulates in a meter-thick chernozem, and therefore gravitates towards the values of the moisture reserve in the non-flushing water regime, which exceeds its value by 25 mm, which is a stable trend of aridization of soil conditions in spring period. The conditions of moistening chernozems, formed in a long-term time interval under the present climatic conditions of the central part of the Left Bank Forest- Steppe, cannot be shifted under the influence of agrotechnical influences beyond the parameters of the non-leaching or periodically leaching water conditions in the agrocenosis. There is manifested the process of the self-regulation stability of the Forest-Steppe zone against active aridization and the "attack" of the Steppe on the Forest-Steppe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased adoption of no-till and extensive cultivation of herbicide-resistant (HR) crops in low diversity rotations are some transformations that occurred during the 1970s–2000s in western Canada. Historical data analysis of weed survey data (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta) in canola crops and a canola rotation field experiment were used to understand how tillage, herbicide-resistant cropping systems, and the temporal frequency of canola in the rotation can impact weed abundance, composition, and diversity in the Canadian prairies. Weed survey data revealed that the spatial frequency of many weed species declined in years after 1995 compared with before 1995, the year HR cultivars were introduced. False cleavers (Galeum spurium L.) and volunteer wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were the only species showing a continuous increase in frequency throughout the surveyed years. Species richness showed no trajectories but varied depending on climatic conditions. Roundup-Ready (RR) systems were associated with green foxtail (Setaria viridis L.) irrespective of their frequency in the rotation. Continuous canola systems had an obvious association with chickweed (Stellaria media L.) regardless of herbicide systems. Wild oats (Avena fatua L.) were predominant in the longer rotations with glufosinate and imidazolinone-resistant canola. In the field study, weeds associated before in crop herbicide application were relatively controlled after herbicides were applied, except for foxtail barley (Hordeum Jubatum L.), which was not controlled in most HR systems. Overall, both weed survey data and field experiment data revealed greater control of most weed species due to the adoption of HR canola cultivars and the associated cultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

Taking the pilot of crop rotation and fallow system of cultivated land in China as a quasi-natural experiment, the purpose of this paper is to test the effects of crop rotation and fallow on grain green production based on 2000-2019 provincial panel data in China. The undesirable super efficiency SBM model and Malmquist index was used to calculate the green total factor productivity of grain, and then the difference-in-differences model and system GMM estimation were used to test the impact of the pilot of crop rotation and fallow system on grain green production. The results indicated that: The grain green production in China has great potential for improvement, as well as the technical progress and technical efficiency of the green production of grain. The pilot of crop rotation and fallow system has significantly promoted the green production of grain, mainly in the form of the continuous improvement of the green technical efficiency of grain production to promote the growth of the total factor productivity. To accurately and objectively evaluate the policy performance of crop rotation fallow system pilot from the perspective of grain green production, has important policy implications for adjusting or improving the policy measures of the rotation fallow system in the current pilot areas, and promoting the normalization and institutionalization of the rotation fallow system, and it also provides the path reference for the transition of grain production to green development under the new situation of sufficient grain supply at home and abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rainfed lowland rice is a major rice production system in tropical Asia, including South Asia and the mainland and island regions of Southeast Asia. Rainfed lowland rice is grown in paddy fields once a year in the wet season, and due to heavy rainfall events in the wet season, it is difficult to grow non-rice crops. Growing a non-rice crop in rotation with rainfed lowland rice would increase total crop productivity and farmer's income, but this option is not widely adopted in most regions of rainfed lowland rice production. Experimental results show profitable yield can be achieved, for example yield of mungbean exceeding 500 kg/ha under appropriate crop management conditions in most locations, however management conditions differ among the regions in tropical Asia. In areas with fine textured soils with high water holding capacity, non-rice crops appear best when planted immediately after the rice harvest, while in coarse textured soils non-rice crops are better planted in the early wet season prior to rice planting. The yield of legume crops can be increased with the adoption of direct seeding of rice, particularly without puddling of soils in the wet season, and this increased legume production in turn can provide increased nitrogen (N) availability to direct seeded rice. Yield of non-rice crops and that of rice interact with each other and the total productivity of the cropping system needs to be evaluated. Short duration crops such as mungbean are suitable in all the regions, however maize could be grown in areas with a longer wet season such as in island regions of SE Asia. While challenging, the benefits of crop diversification may enhance sustainability in the rainfed lowland rice production system. However, further research is required to optimize region specific management practices for crop diversification in the rainfed lowlands of tropical Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A survey conducted along the Panjkora river in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, identified seven isolates of nematode populations belonging to the Heteroderidae family among the 25 soil and root samples examined. Within these isolates, three were classified as Heterodera avenae , H. filipjevi and H. zeae , while the remaining four were identified as Globodera pallida. The identification of these cyst nematodes involved a combination of morphological and morphometric analyses, complemented by molecular techniques employing newly designed primers to amplify diagnostic regions from any cyst nematode. This study marks the first molecular characterisation of H. avenae , H. zeae and G. pallida in Pakistan and the initial report of H. filipjevi in the country. The mapping of crop-growing regions with sampling points highlights areas at high risk for further pathogen spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important reserve for increasing the productivity of agricultural production is a scientifically based crop structure and the use of rational crop rotations, which implement the optimal ratio of agroecological standards. The aim of the research was to determine the influence of elements of agrotechnical measures, in particular, the saturation of crop rotations with sunflower, soil tillage system on the number and species composition of various agrobiological groups of weeds in sunflower crops, including the weed parasite sunflower broomrape (Orobahche cumana Wallr.). Weed control measures and the spread of the parasitic weed sunflower broomrape in sunflower crops have been carried out according to the methods generally accepted in agriculture and weed science. The scheme of the experiment has been included crop rotations with saturation in the structure of sunflower sowing of 12.5%, 20%, 25%, 33.3%, 50%, 100% and three systems of basic tillage: moldboard plowing, disc tillage, no-tillage. As a result of the research, it has been found that the systems of disc tillage and no-tillage cause an increase in the number of weeds in sunflower crops compared to the moldboard plowing by 1.3-1.5 times. On average, over the years of research, the abundance of weeds in the plots when using disk tools was 10.4-15.1 pcs/m², moldboard plowing - 7.1-12.4 pcs/m², before harvesting - 2.6-5.2 and 4.1-12.4 pcs/m². The highest degree of sunflower broomrape damage has been observed in 2-fields crop rotation (winter wheat - sunflower) and permanent sunflower cultivation, as 16.0-32.4% of affected sunflower plants have been observed here. The intensity of sunflower broomrape damage to sunflower plants was higher in the moldboard plowing system and amounted to 1.2-8.3 pcs/per plant, which exceeded disc tillage and no-tillage by 1.2-1.6 times. The maximum seed yield of 2.92-2.95 t/ha has been obtained in 8- and 5- fields rotations with the use of moldboard plowing. The lowest yields of sunflower seeds were in short-rotation crop rotations with a sunflower saturation of 50% in the structure of sown areas and permanent cultivation and amounted to: moldboard plowing - 1.75-2.21 t/ha, disk tillage - 1.57-2.01 t/ha and no-tillage - 1.49-1.95 t/ha. Given the urgency of supplying the global market with sunflower oil, in the future it is necessary to increase the concentration of sunflower in the structure of sown areas to 30-40% through the system of basic tillage, selection of resistant hybrids and use of herbicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under South Dobrudzha climatic conditions (Haplic Chernozems soil) wheat yield (grain, protein and structional components) is strongly influenced by application of different main soil tillage systems (MSTS) in 4-field crop rotation. For the period 2018-2021 in Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute - General Toshevo seven MSTS were tested: 1. CP - Conventional plowing (24-26 cm); 2. D - disking (10-12 cm) 3. C - cutting (24-26 cm); 4. NT - NT (direct sowing); 5. CP-NT (CP for spring crops - NT for wheat); 6. C-D (C for spring crops-D for wheat) and 7. CP-D (CP for spring crops-D for wheat). The objectives were: to investigate the seasonal variability in wheat grain and protein yield and the structural yield components as influenced by the main tillage systems; to investigate the variability in the physical properties of wheat grain and to evaluate the correlations between the grain yield and all other investigated indices. The meteorological conditions have a decisive influence on the values of the studied indices. The highest average yield for the 2018-2021 was obtained in the CP-D system (6953.7 kg/ha) and excess over CP-CP by 6.4%. The same is true for crude protein yield, where the increase is with 70.0 kg/ha. Prolonged application of deep irreversible tillage in the crop rotation has a strong negative impact on the amount of the grain and crude protein yield. Significant dynamics has been established in the values of the yield structural elements. The largest grain was obtained in the D-D (41.56 g), and the heaviest - in the CP-CP (77.94 kg). Tillage combination systems are characterized by lower values of the physical characteristics of the grain compared to their individual application. Numerous correlations in both directions between yields (grain and crude protein) and its structural elements have been found. The positive reaction of wheat under the conditions of NT and minimal tillage in the crop rotation show that they can definitely replace conventional plowing in the growing climate changes, causing stress in critical phases of wheat development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the challenge of finding novel ways to solubilize phosphorus and zinc for agricultural purposes. The aim was to isolate PSMs (phosphorous-solubilizing microbes) and ZnSMs (zinc-solubilizing microbes) from different environments (e.g., soil amendments, land uses, and crop rotation systems) and evaluate their ability to solubilize different insoluble P sources (e.g., β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), calcium-phytate (CaP), and rock phosphate (RP)) and Zn sources (e.g., zinc carbonate (ZnC), zinc oxide (ZnO), and zinc phosphate (ZnP)). Here, 25 isolates capable of solubilizing either P or Zn sources were isolated and classified by species using 16S rRNA and ITS-region sequencing. Notably, Aspergillus awamori, Fusarium circinatum, Fusarium longifundum, and Mucor circinelloides, isolated from cultivated soils and soil amendments, emerged as the most efficient PSMs and ZnSMs. Mucor circinelloides exhibited the highest solubilization ability for broths containing β-TCP, CaP, RP, ZnO, and ZnP, with log2-fold changes of 3.7, 1.8, 8.9, 7.8, and 2.4, respectively, compared to the control. For ZnC and ZnO, Aspergillus awamori displayed the highest Zn solubilization, with a 2.1 and 3.0 log2-fold change. The study highlights the potential of these strains as biofertilizers and underscores the role of Mucor and Fusarium genera in zinc solubilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinity is the major constraint for cropping system intensification in the coastal region of the Ganges Delta. Salts build up on the soil surface, as well as in the crop root zone, due to the capillary rise in underground brackish water, hampering the growth and development of crops and resulting in mortality and low yields. We studied, for three years (2020–2021 to 2022–2023), the effect of conservation agricultural practices (zero tillage planting, crop residue recycling, and crop rotations) on the major soil properties (soil salinity and organic carbon status), crop performance (yield and economics), and water footprint. Conservation agricultural practices significantly reduce soil salinity, build soil organic carbon, reduce water footprint, and increase the profitability of cropping systems compared to tillage-intensive conventional practices. Under conventional agriculture, the sole cropping of rice is more profitable than double and triple cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rice-wheat rotation system is a major agricultural practice in China as well as an important source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this study, the developed mid-infrared laser heterodyne radiometer (MIR-LHR) was used for the remote sensing of atmospheric CH4 and N2O concentrations above the rice-wheat rotation system. From April 2019 to May 2022, the atmospheric column concentrations of CH4 and N2O above the rice-wheat rotation system were continuously observed in Hefei, China. The peak values of the N2O column concentration appeared 7~10 days after wheat seasonal fertilization, with additional peaks during the drainage period of rice cultivation. During the three-year rice-wheat crop rotation cycle, a consistent trend was observed in the CH4 column concentrations, which increased during the rice-growing season and subsequently decreased during the wheat-growing season. The data reveal different seasonal patterns and the impact of agricultural activities on their emissions. During the observation period, the fluctuations in the CH4 and N2O column concentrations associated with the rice-wheat rotation system were about 40 ppbv and 6 ppbv, respectively. The MIR-LHR developed for this study shows great potential for analyzing fluctuations in atmospheric column concentrations caused by GHG emissions in the rice-wheat rotation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planting salt-tolerant plants is an efficient method of biological improvement for saline–alkali land. However, few studies have examined the soil improvement effects of the rotation of the green manure plant sesbania and the grain crop sorghum. Thus, we planted sesbania in native soil on heavily saline–alkaline coastal land and subsequently planted sorghum after returning the sesbania straw to the soil. The effect of this sesbania–sorghum rotation on soil improvement was clarified by comparing indicators of soil quality before and after sesbania and sorghum were planted, such as the soil structure, water infiltration, soil salt content, and soil microbial changes. The results showed that the soil bulk density of the plow layer (0–40 cm) after crop harvest decreased by 9.63% compared with that of bare land, and the soil porosity increased by 5.67%. The cumulative infiltration, initial infiltration rate, and stable infiltration rate of saline soil were 3.6 times, 2.8 times, and 3.3 times higher than those of bare land, respectively. With the growth of sesbania and sorghum, the soil salt content in the plow layer of the cultivated land decreased by 37.73%, while that of bare land decreased by 9.1%. A further analysis of desalination showed that the total desalination amount in the plow layer was 15.58 t/ha, of which 5% was due to plant absorption, and the rest was from salt leaching. Moreover, sesbania–sorghum rotation increased the soil organic matter content in the plow layer from 69.1 t/ha to 73.8 t/ha. The quantities of some microorganisms that are mainly found in coastal saline soil decreased, while those of some common soil microorganisms increased, reflecting an improvement in the soil quality. The above results prove that sesbania–sorghum rotation had a significant effect on soil improvement and salt reduction, which is of great significance for the further utilization of saline–alkali land to enhance crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLS) have sustainably intensified modern agricultural practices worldwide. This research assessed how production systems and crop types impact the chemical properties of an Oxisol in the Brazilian Cerrado, the grain yield of corn intercropped with palisade grass (Urochloa) in the off-season in an ICLS, and the grain yield (GY) of soybean in succession. Intercropped and monocropped systems were assessed in a three-year field experiment: corn + Urochloa ruziziensis–soybean; corn + U. brizantha cv. Piatã–soybean; corn + U. brizantha cv. Paiaguás–soybean (ICL–Paiaguás); corn–soybean under a no-tillage system (NTS); corn–soybean under a conventional tillage system (CTS); Piatã grass–continuous grazing (Perennial Piatã); and Paiaguás grass–continuous grazing (Perennial Paiaguás). The residual impact of phosphate fertilization was more pronounced in the ICLS treatments. In the soil layer from 0.0 to 0.2 m depth, ICLS–Paiaguás and Perennial Piatã had the most positive effects on soil chemical quality. In the last year, grain yield was highest in corn monoculture under the NTS and soybean in succession under the ICLS. ICL–Paiaguás improved soil chemical properties for soybean in succession. These results confirm that an intermittent pasture system for legume crops in sequence is an alternative that can maintain or improve soil chemical composition, and that CTS should be avoided in tropical sandy soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel crop rotation is an important factor influencing the composition of soil microorganisms. However, the effect of introducing oilseed and cover crops (CCs) into monoculture durum rotations on soil microbial communities is not clear in the Northern Great Plains. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 2-year durum (Triticum durum D.) rotations with Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A.) or camelina (Camelina sativa L.) or a 10-species forage/CC mix planted to replace fallow rotations with wheat on soil microorganisms. This study was designed as a randomized complete block with three replications in a no-tillage system. The results showed that total bacterial proportion was significantly higher in durum following fallow and camelina compared to durum following CC and carinata. Total fungal proportion was significantly higher in durum following CC compared to durum following oilseed crops and fallow. The fungal-to-bacterial ratio was significantly higher in durum following CC compared to durum following camelina and fallow. The crop species, soil pH and highly variable rainfall influenced the microbial community dynamics. The abundance of specific microbial groups due to crop-related changes might play a key role in the yield of subsequent crops and soil biological health. This study provides valuable insights into the use of CC mix and oilseeds as an alternative crop for fallow in a wheat–fallow system under dryland farming conditions. Future work is required to elucidate the biological mechanisms and functions of the soil microbial communities in the preceding and subsequent crop relative to soil health and crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve sustainable and profitable production of sorghum for energy purposes, it is crucial to ensure the efficient use of the nutrients necessary for its growth and development. This research investigates the influence of diverse management practices on biomass production, nutrient use efficiency, and nitrogen balance in two sorghum hybrids cultivated for bioenergy applications. A comprehensive field study was conducted over two growing seasons, evaluating the effects of fertilization methods and crop rotation strategies. Results indicate that high nitrogen (HN) fertilization increased dry biomass production (up to 20.7 Mg ha−1) and nutrient removal (up to 343.5 kg K ha−1) in both sorghum hybrids. The H128 hybrid showed higher nutrient use efficiency, especially for phosphorus, while the nitrogen balance was positive under HN but varied under low nitrogen (LN), with the H133 hybrid experiencing a net nitrogen loss at LN. These findings contribute valuable insights into sustainable sorghum cultivation for bioenergy production, highlighting the importance of tailored management practices in achieving optimal crop performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current fertilizer recommendations often neglect nutrient cycling across crop rotations. This study aimed to assess the decay rate and nutrient (N, P, K) release patterns of sorghum, black oat, and corn residues (omitido) in an integrated crop–livestock system. The experiment used factorial treatments based on two sward heights (high and low) and two nitrogen fertilization levels (N-pasture at 200 kg N ha−1 and N-corn at 0 kg N ha−1). Litter bags were collected at various intervals from each crop to measure nutrient release patterns and decomposition rates. The results showed that pasture height and nitrogen fertilization significantly influenced decomposition and nutrient release, affecting the subsequent grain crop phase. Potassium was released rapidly and in high amounts. Nitrogen fertilization during the pasture phase prevented nitrogen and phosphorus immobilization in black oat residue and reduced immobilization in corn residue. These findings highlight the importance of accounting for nutrient cycling and decomposition rates in fertilization strategies to enhance the sustainability of integrated crop–livestock systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]