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

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

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

In agricultural systems, significant nitrogen (N) losses from traditional fertilizers pose risks to food security and economic stability. An emerging approach to mitigate these losses involves nanoparticles (NPs) coatings onto urea, aiming to enhance N availability and consequently boost crop yields. To explore the most effective and sustainable N management strategies, a field experiment was carried out in Basmati rice at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India over 2020-2021 in a split-plot design, with two summer green manure (GM) types-Sesbania (G2) and cowpea (G3) and fallow in the main plot and six nitrogen fertilization (NF) modules, i.e., 0 kg N + 5 kg Zn ha-1 through bulk ZnO (N1), N through prilled urea (PU) (N2), N through PU + 5 kg Zn ha-1 through bulk ZnO (N3), 1% bulk ZnO-coated urea (1% BZnCU) (N4), 0.1% nano ZnOcoated urea (0.1% NZnCU) (N5) and 0.2% nano ZnO-coated urea (0.2% NZnCU) (N6) in subplots replicated three times. The objectives of the study was to identify the optimal GM crops and the most effective NF modules on enhancing plant height, dry biomass, grain yield, milling quality, and N, P, K nutrition, as well as nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Our findings demonstrated that, a significant enhancement in plant height (13.34%) and dry biomass (38.1%) at harvest was observed with the combined application of G2 and N6 when juxtaposed against G1 and N1. The pooled analysis revealed that GM enhanced grain yield by 12.75% in comparison to G1, irrespective of the NF modules employed. The Sesbania was identified as the top-performing GM, registering a yield 17.5% greater than fallow while it was 8.13% for cowpea. Among NF modules, there was a noted 10.03% yield increase when urea was zinc-coated compared to using only urea (N2), and a 33.75% increase against the N1. The application of N6 modules boosted hulling, milling, and head rice recovery by 3.73, 4.45, and 4.98%, respectively, compared to N1. Moreover, combining zinc with urea raised the N content in milled rice by approximately 9.1% and heightened the N, P, and K concentration in the straw by 22.8, 4.44, and 11.8%, and total N, P, and K uptake by 5.72, 3.33, and 11.7%, in comparison to the combined effect of N1 and N2. Considering the NUE metrics, such as partial factor productivity (PFP), agronomic efficiency (AE), recovery efficiency (RE), and physiological efficiency (PE), the application of GM showcased superior performance in PFP and RE against the G1, while AE and PE remained unaffected. The G2 as a GM, performed best in PFP and RE. The N5 module delineated the most substantial advancements in NUE indices, despite being comparable to N6. In conclusion, the adoption of Sesbania as a green manure crops, coupled with the 0.2% nano ZnO-coated urea module, is identified as an efficient method for maximizing growth, yield, milling attributes, nutrient assimilation, and overall NUE in the Basmati rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The incorporation of green manures substantially enhances the conversion of external phosphorus (P) fertilizers and soil-reserved P into forms readily available to plants. The study aims to evaluate the influence of green manure additions on soil phosphorus dynamics and citrus growth, considering different green manure species and initial soil phosphorus levels. Additionally, the research seeks to elucidate the microbiological mechanisms underlying the observed effects. Methods: A citrus pot experiment was conducted under both P-surplus (1.50 g·P·kg-1) and P-deficient (0.17 g·P·kg-1) soils with incorporating legume (Leg), non-legume (Non-Leg) or no green manure residues (CK), and 18O-P labeled KH2PO4 (0.5 g, containing 80° δ18Op) was additionally introduced to trace the turnover characteristics of chemical P fertilizer mediated by soil microorganisms. Results and discussion: In P-surplus soil, compared with the CK treatment, the Leg treatment significantly increased soil H2O-Pi (13.6%), NaHCO3-Po (8.9%), NaOH-Pi (9.5%) and NaOH-Po (30.0%) content. It also promoted rapid turnover of P sources into H2O-Pi and NaHCO3-Pi pools by enhancing the phoC (576.6%) gene abundance. In contrast, the Non-Leg treatment significantly augmented soil H2O-Pi (9.2%) and NaHCO3-Po (8.5%) content, facilitating the turnover of P sources into NaHCO3-Pi pools. Under P-deficient soil conditions, compared with the CK treatment, the Leg treatment notably raised soil H2O-Pi (150.0%), NaHCO3-Pi (66.3%), NaHCO3-Po (34.8%) and NaOH-Pi (59.0%) content, contributing to the transfer of P sources into NaHCO3-Pi and NaOH-Pi pools. This effect was achieved through elevated ALP (33.8%) and ACP (12.9%) activities and increased pqqC (48.1%), phoC (42.9%), phoD (21.7%), and bpp (27.4%) gene abundances. The Non-Leg treatment, on the other hand, led to significant increases in soil NaHCO3-Pi (299.0%) and NaHCO3-Po (132.6%) content, thereby facilitating the turnover of P sources into NaHCO3-Pi and NaOH-Pi pools, except for the phoC gene abundance. Both Leg and Non-Leg treatments significantly improved citrus growth (7.3-20.0%) and P uptake (15.4-42.1%) in P-deficient soil but yielded no substantial effects in P-surplus soil. In summary, introducing green manure crops, particularly legume green manure, emerges as a valuable approach to enhance soil P availability and foster fruit tree growth in orchard production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

Trifolium repens L. (white clover) and Lolium perenne L. (ryegrass) are green manures widely used in conservation tillage systems worldwide. Eleusine indica L. (goosegrass) is a globally recognized noxious weed. Herein, we investigated the effects of aqueous extracts, decomposed liquids, and different straw-to-soil ratios on the germination and growth of goosegrass. The results showed that high concentrations (= 30%) of aqueous extracts or decomposed liquids of both green manures significantly inhibited germination-related parameters of goosegrass. The strongest inhibitory effect was observed for the 7-day decomposition treatment, and white clover's inhibitory effect was greater than ryegrass's. A pot experiment showed that non-photochemical quenching, catalase, and peroxidase activity levels of goosegrass leaves were significantly increased. At the same time, the net photosynthetic rate significantly decreased. Seedling growth was inhibited when the straw-to-soil ratio was greater than 3:100. The ryegrass treatments inhibited goosegrass seedlings more than the white clover treatments. This study demonstrated the inhibitory potential of white clover and ryegrass straw return on seed germination and seedling growth of goosegrass. The study has also helped to identify weed-resistant substances in these green manures so that their weed-control properties can be used more effectively and herbicide usage can be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low utilization efficiencies of chemical N and P fertilizers largely threat the sustainability of agriculture. Green manure is conducive to increasing crop yield. This study aimed to explore the effects of leguminous and non-leguminous green manures on the maize production, and N and P fertilizers use efficiency. A green manure-maize rotation experiment was conducted in the Karst region of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The responses of maize yield, N (NUE) and P (PUE) fertilizer use efficiency to winter fallow fields treated with no fertilizer (CK) and traditional chemical fertilizers (WF), WF with alfalfa (AL), common vetch (CV) and oilseed rape (OR) green manures in 2020 and 2021. The results showed that compared with WF, the maize yield was significantly increased on average by 22% and 15% in AL and CV, respectively, while it was hardly affected in OR. AL significantly increased NUE and PUE by an average of 103% and 66%, and CV increased NUE by an average of 74% and 41%, respectively, while RA had no significant effects on PUE, and decreased NUE by 39% in the second year. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that green manures indirectly affected NUE and PUE due to soil available N and P, which directly and indirectly influenced maize N and P uptake, and then enhanced NUE and PUE. Linear regression results showed that maize production had positive relationships with NUE and PUE. Our findings highlight that non-legume green manure would hardly influence grain yield, while legume green manure could be effective for increasing maize production by increasing NUE and PUE, especially for alfalfa in yellow soil of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imperative of sustainable agricultural development, coupled with growing challenges related to climate change reaffirms the importance of manure and increases the demand for it. Due to the underdeveloped market for manure, there is a problem in assessing its economic value, requiring appropriate research on this topic. Thus, this research aimed to assess the manure's economic value using the method of equivalent substitution. For this purpose, the chemical composition of manure was determined by standard agrochemical analyses concerning the content of the most important mineral elements—nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P2O5), and potassium (K2O). These elements ranged from 0.49–0.60%, 0.15–1.10%, and 0.70–1.07%, respectively, and the content of organic matter ranging from 20.88 to 27.00%. Subsequently, the cost of equivalent substitution was calculated taking into account market prices for commercial fertilizers and organic matter based on the cost of an adequate quantity of white mustard—Sinapis alba L. fresh mass. The average cost of equivalent substitution for manure was determined to be 28.60 USD/t. The results of the applied t-test indicate that there is no statistically significant difference between the market prices of beef manure and the calculated prices of its substitution (t = −1.4069; df = 12; p = 0.1848), which implies that white mustard green manure could replace the deficit in animal-derived manure. Since both animal and green manures unambiguously should be prioritized over chemical fertilizers, future studies will reveal which other crops are applicable for further increments of green manure to make up for insufficient availability of animal manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Green manure application presents a valuable strategy for enhancing soil fertility and promoting ecological sustainability. By leveraging green manures for effective nitrogen management in agricultural fields can significantly reduce the dependency of primary crops on chemical nitrogen fertilizers, thereby fostering resource efficiency. This review examines the current advancements in the green manure industry, focusing on the modulation of nitrogen transformation in soil and how crops absorb and utilize nitrogen after green manure application. Initially, the influence of green manure on soil nitrogen transformation is delineated, covering processes such as soil nitrogen immobilization, and mineralization, and losses including NH3, N2O, and NO3−-N leaching. The review then delves into the effects of green manure on the composition and function of soil microbial communities, highlighting their role in nitrogen transformation. It emphasizes the available nitrogen content in the soil, this article discussing nitrogen uptake and utilization by plants, including aspects such as nitrogen translocation, distribution, the root system, and the rhizosphere environment of primary crops. This provides insights into the mechanisms that enhance nitrogen uptake and utilization when green manures are reintroduced into fields. Finally, the review anticipates future research directions in modulating soil nitrogen dynamics and crop nitrogen uptake through green manure application, aiming to advance research and the development of the green manure sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock change factor for green manure crops that was developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 method and compare this with the net global warming potential (GWP) index that is used to evaluate the contribution of green manuring to global warming. Four treatments were barley (Hordeum vulgare L.; B), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa R.; HV), a barley/hairy vetch mixture (BHV) and a conventional treatment (C). The aboveground biomass of green manure crops was incorporated into the soil on 25 May 2018, 26 April 2019, 29 April 2020, 30 April 2021 and 2 May 2022. Maize (Zea mays L.) was transplanted as the subsequent crop after the incorporation of green manures. SOC stock decreased with green manures, even though carbon input with green manures, including B, HV and BHV, was greater than that with C. The mean value of the SOC stock change factor for green manure crops, including B, HV and BHV was 0.627 and was significantly lower than that of the C. However, the net GWP also decreased with the incorporation of green manure crops, and the mean value of the relative net GWP index across B, HV and BHV was 0.853. These conflicting results were caused by different estimation methods between annual SOC change (△SOC) and net GWP. The estimation of SOC stock change using △SOC suggested by the IPCC method may overestimate the contribution of green manure crops to global warming. The net GWP method with comprehensive input and output of carbon in the soil system could provide a better understanding of the carbon balance in soil systems. In the current study, the comparison of △SOC and net GWP was conducted for at one site of upland soil for 5 years. Therefore, further research on estimating the effect of green manure crops on net GWP in various types of soil for longer years should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green manures (GM) combined with fertilizer reduction is an efficient measure to alleviate the environmental issues caused by the overapplication of chemical fertilizer. However, both the environmental and economic benefits remain unclear in coastal regions that are affected by both soil salinization and climate change. A field experiment was conducted in low-yield cropland in the Yellow River Delta to explore the effects of green manure rotation combined with fertilizer reduction on the soil environment and economic sustainability. Two GM species, Vicia villosa (HV) and Orychophragmus violaceus (OV), a traditional winter wheat (Wheat), were grown in winter, with a fallow control (Fallow). In the subsequent maize season, three fertilizer rate treatments, a full rate of 600 kg ha-1 compound fertilizer (F100), 85% of the full rate (F85), and 70% of the full rate (F70), were applied in each former treatment. The results indicated that GM return markedly increased soil total N (TN) and P (TP) before the V6 stage of maize (when maize had 6 leaves). The average TN contents of HV and OV increased by 56.9% and 38.5%, respectively, compared with that of Wheat, while the values for TP were 13.6% and 16.9%. Compared with Fallow, the maize yields of HV and OV increased by 25.6% and 13.8%, respectively, while that of Wheat decreased by 9.1%. The average partial fertilizer productivities (PFPs) for HV and OV increased by 25.3% and 14.0% compared with Fallow, while Wheat decreased by 8.9%. The PFPs for F85 and F70 increased by 19.4% and 37.7%, respectively, compared with F100. Reducing the fertilizer rate to 70% in the HV-maize rotation pattern did not reduce but increased the total net profit and rate of return. Thus, HV-maize rotation combined with 30% fertilizer reduction is suggested for sustainable agriculture in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

The green manure residual effect on soil health 2 years later in crop rotation is understudied. Little is known about weed biomass impact on soil microbial communities or their interactions. A Colchester County, NS, Canada, organic grain research trial during 2016-2017 comprised 2 or 3-year rotations with or without green manure crop prior to wheat, and then soybeans. Fall soil sampling was conducted both years. The soybean phase of the crop rotation was managed as weedy or non-weedy. Weedy soil showed significantly increased soil respiratory activity and fungal microbial biomass. Green manure treatments did not significantly influence soil health indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amendments are good tools for immobilizing metal(loid) and improving phytoremediation success. However, the amendment effect is variable and depends on multiple parameters, including amendment type and ageing. Such an ageing effect is rarely studied. Our study is one of the first focusing on how biochar storage affects its effect on soil properties and metal(loid) immobilization, when biochar was applied alone or in combination with green manure. To answer this, a 33-day pot incubation experiment was set up using contaminated soil, amended with two biochars (differing in ages: old (Bo) and new (Bn)) and/or two green manures (leaves of clover or poplar) and sown with Phaseolus vulgaris (bioindicator plant). Soil pore waters, plant growth and metal(loid) accumulation were evaluated. Biochar reduced soil acidity (Bn: + 0.75 pH unit, Bo: + 0.72 unit) and Pb mobility (Bn: − 42%, Bo: − 50%), while green manures acidified the soil (− 0.30 pH unit) and immobilized Pb only after 10 days (− 44%). All amendments reduced soil phytotoxicity. Moreover, the biochar stored at room temperature for a few years demonstrated better abilities to improve soil properties, particularly for Pb immobilization, than the biochar freshly prepared. Finally, as mixtures maturated, soil parameters changed until about ten days, then tended to stabilize. Therefore, it can be concluded that (1) biochar storage will affect its chemical properties and ameliorate its effects, (2) biochar can ameliorate soil properties and immobilize metal(loid)s, while green manures tended to have adverse effects at first, and (3) soil/amendment mixtures should be left to mature about two weeks before potential plant implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the issues of the poor stability of the furrow opener depth, large soil backfill depth, and inconsistent furrow shape on a no-till seeder for planting green manure between rows of orchards in South Xinjiang, a double-disc, corrugated furrow opener is designed. This paper analyzes the law of soil movement between corrugated double-disc and traditional double-disc furrow openers using the discrete element method (DEM) and concludes that the corrugation width and number of corrugations on the corrugated double-disc furrow opener are the primary factors affecting furrowing operation. When the number of corrugations is sixteen, the forward speed is six kilometers per hour, and when the corrugation width is seventeen and a half millimeters, the simulation operation parameters are optimal. The soil-bin validation experiment results are as follows: Under the condition of an 80 mm furrow depth, the stability of the average furrow depth is enhanced by 3.54%, the working resistance and the average disrupted soil area are increased by 26.16 N and 220 mm2, respectively, and the backfill depth is decreased by 10.98 mm. The operation effect of a double-disc furrow opener with corrugated discs is enhanced by the high stability of the furrow depth, low working resistance, and small backfill depth. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the design and optimization of the furrow opener components of a no-till seeder for planting green manure between rows of orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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

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

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

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

An alternative to enhance the fertility of agricultural soils in tropical areas of Mexico and the world is through the use of vegetation covers and green manures, mainly of species of the family Leguminosae. The objective of this work was to analyze the potential of legumes as soil fertility enhancers in tropical agricultural areas through the documentary research technique, considering scientific research of the last 20 years, period 2000-2023. Derived from the review, 14 species widely studied and 24 more, with high potential as enhancers of the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils, were determined. The species most used in the tropics are: Mucuna pruriens L. (DC) (biomass: 2.6 to 7.9 t ha-1 year-1, N: 80 to 200 kg ha-1 year-1 ), Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC (biomass: 4.6 t ha-1 year-1 ; N: 173 kg ha-1 year-1 ) and Centrosema macrocarpum Benth (biomass: 9.6 t ha-1 year-1, nitrogen: 311 kg ha-1 year-1 ). Production in crops associated with legumes has increased by up to 50%. Despite the benefits to soil and production, the acceptance and adoption of legumes has been limited by different causes, among them: lack of perception of the benefits of legumes, failures in the technology generated and applied, and scarce participatory approach in their selection. With the information generated in this work, 10 recommendations were conceived to facilitate the selection of species, provide information that facilitates their adoption and that serves as a basis for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Now-a-days people are slowly getting aware of organic inputs and seeking for effective ones for maximum yield but at low cost. In this regard, a two year-on-farm research was carried out at Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India during Kuruvai season (June to October of 2020 and 2021) to study the effect of various organic inputs on the yield attributes and transplanted rice. The experiments were laid out in randomized block design (RBD) replicated thrice with nine treatments with various combinations of fertilizer and organic inputs. The treatments were: T1 –Control (100% RDF), T2 –75% of N through RDF + 25% of N through EFYM, T3 –75% of N through RDF + 25% of N through E-pressmud, T4 –75% of N through RDF + 25% of N through vermicompost, T5 –75% of N through RDF + 25% of N through GM crop, T6 –75% of N through RDF + 25% of N through EFYM + humic & fulvic Acid, T7 –75% of N through RDF + 25% of N through E-pressmud + humic & fulvic acid, T8 –75% of N through RDF + 25% of N through vermicompost + humic & fulvic acid, T9 –75% of N through RDF + 25% of N through GM crop + humic & fulvic acid. The results revealed that application of 75% of N through RDF + 25% of N through vermicompost + humic & fulvic acid proved its superiority at the time of harvest by registering higher rice yield attributes such as number of productive tillers (362/m² ), number of filled grains/panicle (105) and yield viz., grain yield (5890 kg/ha), straw yield (8750 kg/ha) and harvest index (40.23). This was at par with the application of 75% N through RDF + 25% of N through green manure crop (sunnhemp) + humic & fulvic acid. These combinations were highly impressive and appeared to be more promising as efficient integrated nutrient management system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Oil Crop Sciences is the property of Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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

Introduction Conventional cropping systems, dependent on heavy application of chemical fertilizers, are not ecologically and environmentally sustainable; they are a threat for soil and water quality and, in consequence, for plant and human health. Nitrogen fertilizers are heavily applied in conventional leaf vegetable production systems to obtain maximum growth and yield. However, the excess nitrogen tends to accumulate in leaf vegetables in the form of nitrate, which pose serious human health hazards. Therefore, to supply nitrogen from non-chemical sources, such as organic amendments, is a sustainable practice for production of leaf vegetables. Spent mushroom substrate (SMS), which is the remaining material after the harvest of mushroom, is produced in large quantities (5 kg SMS for 1 kg of mushroom) and is enriched with organic carbon, N, P, K, and micronutrients. Therefore its reuse as a soil amendment not only provides essential elements for plants but also improves soil quality. Similarly, incorporation of green manures, especially legume green manures, into cropping systems is a sustainable practice for soil fertility and soil quality management. In this study, we aimed to investigate the short-term effects of two soil organic amendments (spent mushroom substrate and alfalfa residues) and their combination, in comparison to inorganic N fertilizer (urea), on soil fertility, and selected essential nutrients, and nitrate accumulation in a leaf vegetable, test plant (spinach). Materials and Method A one-season pot experiment was led in a randomized complete block design with three replications in experimental greenhouse of Bu-Ali Sina University. Treatments were comprised of two levels of spent mushroom substrate (SMS-1: 2% SMS, and SMS-2: 5% SMS), two levels of alfalfa green manure (AGM-1: 1% AGM, and AGM-2: 3% AGM); two levels of the mixture of SMS and AGM (SMS+AGM-1: 1% SMS plus 0.5% AGM; and SMS+AGM-2: 2.5% SMS plus 1.5% AGM); two levels of urea fertilizer (U-1; 120 kg/ha, and U-2: 360 kg/ha); and control. Selected properties of the initial soil and both organic amendments were determined. Spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) was seeded as leaf vegetable, test plant in early autumn 2017. After ten weeks, spinach were harvested and the aboveground and root dry weights were determined. Moreover, the content of NO3-, P, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn in edible parts were measured. Soil samples were analyzed for EC, pH, total organic carbon, available P and K, and alkaline phosphatase activity. Results and Discussion All soil quality indicators were significantly affected by the treatments. TOC was significantly increased in all of the organic treatments compared to the chemical and control treatments. The maximum increase in TOC was observed in SMS-2, SMS+AGM-2, and AGM-2 treatments, compared to the control (134, 130 and 107%, respectively). A decreasing trend in TOC was detected in the high level of urea treatment (U-2) compared to the control which can be explained by the faster decomposition of soil organic matter in the presence of higher inorganic N inputs. Both organic amendments (in both levels) and the higher level of urea (U-2) decreased soil pH compared to the control. The initial low pH of SMS (5.6) and AGM (6.2), in the first case, and oxidation of urea to nitrate, in the latter, may justify this observation. In contrast, soil EC increased under the both organic amendments relative to the control and U-1 treatments. Moreover, the adverse effect of SMS on soil salinity was greater than AGM due to the initial differences in their corresponding source materials (5.8 vs. 3.0 ds/m). Available K was significantly increased in the second level of all organic treatments compared to the chemical and control treatments. As for available P, all organic treatments, except AGM-1, led to the significantly higher P than the chemical and control treatments. It is reported that organic materials compete with mineral particles for P adsorption and increase its availability. Moreover, all organic treatments, except SMS-1, significantly increased phosphatase activity compared to the chemical and control treatments. This could contribute to the mineralization of organic materials and increase available P. Spinach yield was affected by the experimental treatments. The highest increase in shoot dry weight occurred in SMS+AGM-2 and AGM-2 treatments by 235 and 230%, respectively, compared to the control. Moreover, the second level of all organic treatments as well as the first level of SMS plus AGM treatment significantly increased yield compared to the chemical treatments. Spinach P content was significantly higher in all organic treatments, except SMS-1 and AGM-1, compared to the chemical and control treatments. Organic amendments, by decreasing the surface adsorption of P and increasing soil microbial biomass, promote the availability of P for plants. Spinach nitrate content ranged from 265 (in control) to 7807 mg/kg (in U-2). According to the critical limit of nitrate in spinach (4000 mg/kg) presented by European Union, only U-2 treatment led to over-accumulation of NO3-. The two levels of AGM treatments and SMS+AGM-2 resulted in the comparable amounts of nitrate as the recommended amount of urea (U-1). A narrow variation in spinach Cu content (from 6.1 in SMS+AGM-2 to 9.8 mg/kg in AGM-2), all within the standard range reported for plants (5-20 mg/kg), was observed among the treatments. Spinach Fe content was increased under all organic treatments relative to the control, although some disparities were not significant. The lowest Fe was detected in U-2. It is reported that excessive N may diminish root growth and, in turn, reduce nutrient uptake. Spinach Zn content varied from 44.8 (in control) to 71.5 mg/kg (in SMS-2), which was close to the higher limit of standard range (20-50 mg/kg) reported for vegetables, but lower than toxic concentration range (200-400 mg/kg). Spinach Mn content varied from 17.4 (in control) to 32.1 mg/kg (in SMS-2), which was close to the lower limit of the standard range (40-400 mg/kg) reported for plants. Conclusion The most appropriate treatments in view of improving yield and soil quality (i.e., optimum TOC, P, and K; and lower EC) as well as tolerable nitrate accumulation were SMA+AGM-1 and SMS-1 in decreasing order. These treatments are preferred over the chemical treatments (U-1 and U-2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The application of green manure is crucial for achieving sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry, but pest management is often overlooked. Conducting a risk assessment for insect pests in green manure is essential. The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis, a polyphagous insect, is currently experiencing an outbreak in northern China, and represents a significant migratory pest. A two-sex life table and flight mill test approach was used to comprehensively evaluate the effects of three major legume green manure crops (Pisum sativam, Vicia sativa, and Vicia villosa) on the growth, development, fecundity, and flight ability of L. sticticalis in China. Our findings indicate that L. sticticalis cannot utilize V. villosa for generational development. L. sticticalis shows reduced performance on P. sativam and V. sativa compared to its suitable host Chenopodium album. However, both the population parameters (R0, r, λ, and T) and the population prediction results suggest that L. sticticalis can adapt to P. sativam and V. sativa. In the process of promoting green manure, careful consideration should be given to the selection of appropriate green manure varieties and the implementation of effective pest control measures during their planting. Our findings lay the groundwork for the promotion of green manure and implementation of an ecological management plan for L. sticticalis.