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Agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and is vulnerable to climate change. Regenerative agriculture, which focuses on increasing soil carbon, has been recognized as a potential climate solution. A recent study found that seven regenerative practices, including planting cover crops and using non-chemical fertilizers, all increased carbon sequestration. However, the study also highlights that regenerative agriculture has other benefits beyond carbon sequestration, and the focus should not solely be on carbon credits. The popularity of regenerative agriculture is growing, but there is a risk of it being co-opted and losing its essence. [Extracted from the article]

The development of eco-friendly polymer composites with multifunctional properties aligns with the goals of the circular economy agenda, which aims to minimize waste and promote the sustainable use of resources by closing the loop of product life cycles. Eco-friendly polymer composites play a crucial role in achieving these objectives. The present work focuses on the preparation of fully biobased blends obtained by melt mixing a bio-polyester, poly(butylene succinate- co -adipate) (PBSA), with orange peels up to 20 wt%, to yield active polymer composites. Orange peels, employed here as natural filler, are largely available from food wastes, they are rich in phenolic compounds and possess antioxidant activity as shown by the experimental tests carried out. The thermal stability of the formulated composites is almost unchanged by the filler addition, showing only a slight decrease of the crystallization temperatures and crystalline fraction within the composites. The mechanical properties of the compounds evidence an increase in the elastic modulus together with a decrease in the tensile strength, while the elongation at break remains almost constant. The incorporation of the natural filler enabled the integration of antioxidant and antibacterial properties, which were absent in the original pristine polymer. • PBSA containing up to 20 wt% of orange peels have good antioxidant and antibacterial properties. • Biocomposites formulated with orange peels are found to retain good mechanical properties in terms of elongation at break. • The thermoplastic material produced can be used in the packaging industry or in the organic or integrated farming sector application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent centuries, micronutrient deficiencies are considered a major challenge for human health. Biofortification of principal crops has been broadly accepted as a sustainable scenario to overcome this limitation. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized factorial design with three replications during the 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 growing seasons. Four fertilizers and two doses of humic acid were used in the experiment. Analysis of variance indicated that humic acid, fertilizer type, and growing season caused statistically significant differences in macro and micronutrient content and heavy metal concentrations of shoot and seed in plants. Results also denoted that organic material amendment improved macro and micronutrient content of barley plants compared with IF in which SS treatment increased Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Ni concentrations in shoot/seed while SM treatment enhanced N, P, and K concentration of plants. Moreover, IF-treated plants increased heavy metal accumulation in shoot and seed tissues whereas organic amendments reduced heavy metal uptake such that the lowest Pb and Cd were determined in SM-treated plants, and the lowest Ni content was measured in W-treated samples. HA application promoted Zn, Mg, and Cu accumulation in plants, however, individual or combined with fertilizers reduced other micro and macronutrient uptake. In conclusion, the amendment of 40 tons ha−1 of sheep manure and sewage sludge is an improving and beneficial practice in barley cultivation for the biofortification of crops. However, HA treatment did not form a meaningful whole in the experiment but promoted Zn, Mg, and Cu concentrations in plant tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Revitalizing oasis agriculture, an age-old human endeavor, has historically played a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity and ecosystems in arid regions. Nevertheless, this enduring practice now faces contemporary challenges, including global warming, water scarcity, soil erosion, and negative human activities associated with urbanization. This comprehensive review delves into diverse literature across disciplines, covering topics such as water conservation, biodiversity restoration, agroforestry, and Oasis Holistic Management, with the aim of addressing these challenges. The analysis strongly advocates for the urgent adoption of sustainable practices, including precision irrigation, polyculture, organic farming, agroforestry, and community-based initiatives, to ensure the survival of oasis agriculture and foster long-term environmental and social responsibility. The study underscores the imperative need for the development of "comprehensive, flexible, and forward-looking management strategies" to guide the sustainable revival of oasis farming. By consolidating information from various studies, it lays the groundwork for informed decisionmaking and policy formulation. As part of revitalizing the oasis agricultural ecosystem and addressing the global climate crisis, we propose a noninvasive tool for assessing carbon sequestration effectiveness based on tree specifications. Recognizing the pivotal role of vegetation in mitigating the ecological impact and facing global crises, we explored parameters influencing plant carbon sequestration, including biomass production, growth rate, longevity, root structure, leaf structure, and average temperature tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific measurement of Agricultural Carbon Emissions (ACE) and its formation mechanism is of great significance for the effective formulation of high-quality agricultural development strategies. Therefore, the objectives were to study the characteristics of ACE, its formation mechanism, and its economic relevance in Chongqing by adopting the IPCC and 1997-2019 data, and with LMDI index and Decoupling index. The empirical analysis shows that the total ACE presents an M-shaped trend of "rising-steady fluctuation-falling". Energy structure, energy intensity, and population size have a negative driving effect on ACE, but economic activity is the main factor. The decoupling elasticity characteristics of ACE and economic growth are mainly weak decoupling and strong decoupling, of which the relationship is significantly coordinate. Therefore, to consolidate and enhance the goal of ACE reduction, it is necessary to strengthen the research and development of agricultural low-carbon production technology and promotion. We will continue to deepen supply-side structural reform in agriculture. We will improve the ecological environment in agriculture and rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant diseases are a constant and serious threat to agriculture and ecological biodiversity. Plants possess a sophisticated innate immunity system capable of detecting and responding to pathogen infection to prevent disease. Our understanding of this system has grown enormously over the past century. Early genetic descriptions of plant disease resistance and pathogen virulence were embodied in the gene-for-gene hypothesis, while physiological studies identified pathogen-derived elicitors that could trigger defense responses in plant cells and tissues. Molecular studies of these phenomena have now coalesced into an integrated model of plant immunity involving cell surface and intracellular detection of specific pathogen-derived molecules and proteins culminating in the induction of various cellular responses. Extracellular and intracellular receptors engage distinct signaling processes but converge on many similar outputs with substantial evidence now for integration of these pathways into interdependent networks controlling disease outcomes. Many of the molecular details of pathogen recognition and signaling processes are now known, providing opportunities for bioengineering to enhance plant protection from disease. Here we provide an overview of the current understanding of the main principles of plant immunity, with an emphasis on the key scientific milestones leading to these insights. Here we provide an overview of the current understanding of the main principles of plant immunity, with an emphasis on the key scientific milestones leading to these insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are well-known biocontrol agents to control both above- and below-ground insect pests. EPNs can also control plant parasitic nematodes by releasing allelochemicals through symbiotic bacteria present in their guts. This study aimed to evaluate the bio-efficacy of a novel powder formulation comprising of infective juveniles (IJs) of a heat-tolerant indigenous EPN species of India, Steinernema abbasi, against subterranean termites (Odontotermes obesus) in wheat and chickpea fields. The bioefficacy of test formulation in field study for three rabi seasons (2020-2023) in wheat and chickpea grown in field heavily infested with subterranean termites decreased the plant damage from termite attack, monitored as relative number of infested tillers in wheat and infested plants in chickpea fields. The reduced damage in test crops caused by termites increased growth, yield attributes and yield of test crops. This present research validated the prepared formulation's potential as a biopesticide ideal for organic farming and integrated pest management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing plant diversity in agroecosystems is well‐known to strengthen natural pest suppression, yet reliably predicting which non‐crop management practices best support natural enemies remains a challenge. Farmers often supplement diversity with managed flower patches or by allowing weedy non‐crop plant growth, both of which may support diverse, abundant and balanced communities of insect predators that provide biocontrol.At the same time, evenness among predators and effectiveness of biocontrol may be compromised by dominant arthropod invaders that co‐benefit from non‐crop diversity.We examined whether floral resources or adjacent weeds had stronger effects on the evenness and abundance of natural enemies by surveying plants and insects on zucchini crops at 37 organic farms.Neither flower richness nor weed richness affected insect predator evenness. Instead, the abundance of an invasive predator, the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren), increased with floral resource diversity, which negatively predicted the evenness and abundance of non‐invasive predators.These results suggest that floral diversity might be a less reliable predictor of natural enemy diversity when invasive predators interfere. Habitat management recommendations for bolstering biocontrol services should consider and potentially mitigate unintended consequences of floral resource provisions on farms where invasive predators dominate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experimentation was conducted to evaluate the comparative performance of integrated crop management, organic management and natural farming on crop growth, productivity, profitability and soil health under basmati rice-wheat system in Upper Indo-Gangetic Plains. Treatments comprised of different management practices viz. integrated crop management (ICM), organic management, natural farming (NF) and control (no nutrient) were used in experimentation. Plant height, number of effective tillers, SPAD meter reading, panicle weight, filled grains/panicle, fertility percentage and 1000-grains weight of basmati rice and wheat were observed highest under ICM followed by organic management. A significant reduction in growth and yield attributes was recorded under NF as compared to ICM and organic management. Grain yield of basmati rice was reduced by 15.2%, 51.2% and 53.9% under organic management, NF and control as compared to ICM, respectively. Similarly, 49.5%, 58.6%, and 63.8% reduction in grain yield of wheat was recorded under organic management, NF and control as compared to ICM, respectively. In comparison to ICM, system rice equivalent yield (REY) was reduced by 32.6%, 55.0%, and 59.0% under organic management, NF and control, respectively. Further, net return was 44.1% and 67.2% lower under organic management and NF as compared to ICM, respectively. Highest soil organic carbon (0.60%), available N, P, and K were found in organic management. Significantly highest soil microbial population, glomalin content and different soil enzyme activities were recorded under organic management. Overall, the integrated crop management provided balanced and continuous supply of the nutrient that resulted in higher productivity and profitability of basmati rice-wheat system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural landscapes have been reshaped globally to drive unsustainable increases in profit and production. This is contributing significantly to the degradation of planetary systems and the vulnerability of food systems. The discourse coalition that has formed around the storyline of regenerative agriculture (RA) promises to address these issues by transforming food production and repairing ecosystems. The coalition has diverse contributors that interpret RA differently. This diversity will be difficult to retain as RA moves toward discursive structuration and institutionalization. There is a risk that discursive institutionalization might be achieved by shedding the more transformative RA discourses. This paper examines a volunteer-led co-operative, the Institute of Ecological Agriculture (IEA), as a case study on how accreditation systems might be designed to expand RA's discourse coalition and increase the capacity of those discourses advocating transformation to institutionalize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns over tillage intensity and soil erosion in organic cropping systems have prompted the development of reduced tillage organic systems that use cover crops rather than soil disturbance as the primary weed control tool. However, planting into high residue cover crop mulches may inhibit crop establishment due to poor seed placement. Adaptation of agricultural equipment to high residue planting conditions could reduce variability in crop stands, thereby improving grain yield. Field trials at the University of Wisconsin Arlington Agricultural Research Station, Marshfield Agricultural Research Station, and three on‐farm locations representing seven site‐years of data from 2019 to 2020 comprised a 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment comparing (1) a low (457,135 seeds ha−1) versus high (555,986 seeds ha−1) soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seeding rate, (2) a 13 fluted‐wavy coulter versus no coulter attachment, (3) low (667 N) versus high (1334 N) row unit down force, and (4) spiked versus rubber closing wheels on soybean stand establishment and grain yield in an organic cover crop–based reduced tillage system. Combined across site‐years, high row unit down force and coulters increased soybean stand establishment by 2.3% and 2.4%, respectively; however, the magnitude and direction of effects varied within each site‐year. Winter rye (Secale cereale L.) biomass accumulation negatively correlated to soybean stand establishment and demonstrated trends toward increasing soybean yield. Significant correlations between soybean stand establishment and yield were noted under high rye biomass conditions, indicating potential improvements to soybean yields by increasing plant stands. Core Ideas: Rye biomass mulch accumulation reduces soybean stand establishment.Row unit down force of 1334 N and a coulter most consistently increased soybean stand establishment.Improvements in soybean plant stands translated to higher grain yields under elevated rye biomass conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'CP 15‐2516' (Reg. no. CV‐215, PI 703029) sugarcane cultivar, a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp., was developed jointly by USDA‐ARS, the University of Florida, and the Florida Sugar Cane League. CP 15‐2516 was released in June 2022 for commercial cultivation on the Florida organic (muck) soils due to its high cane and sucrose yields, commercial recoverable sucrose (CRS), and economic index (EI). CP 15‐2516 originated from CPX13‐1630, a cross between a female parent (CP 95‐1039) and a male parent ('CP 06‐2400'). CP 15‐2516 is resistant to brown rust, orange rust, and Sugarcane mosaic virus strain E. CP 15‐2516 harbors the Bru1 marker associated with brown rust resistance. CP 15‐2516 is moderately resistant to leaf scald and ratoon stunt disease, smut, and yellow leaf. Based on the results of three harvest cycles over five locations in Stage 4 on muck soils, cane and sucrose yields of CP 15‐2516 were 10.48% (181.31 Mg ha−1) and 11.49% (18.62 Mg ha−1) respectively, higher (P <.05) than those of the reference cultivar 'CP 96‐1252'. Compared with CP 96‐1252, the EI of CP 15‐2516 was significantly (P <.05) higher by 15% (3233 ha−1). The mean cane fiber content of CP 15‐2516 was 138.7 kg Mg−1 and was 1% to 8% higher than the reference cultivars ('CP 00‐1101', CP 96‐1252, and 'CPCL 05‐1201'). CP 15‐2516 flowers intermittently during January in Florida's climate. CP 15‐2516 has a better freeze tolerance than commercial reference cultivars CP 00‐1101 and CP 96‐1252. CP 15‐2516 is expected to positively contribute to the profitability and sustainability of the Florida sugarcane industry. Core Ideas: CP 15‐2516 sugarcane cultivar was released for commercial production on organic soils in Florida.Sucrose and cane yields of CP 15‐2516 were equivalent to or higher than those of reference cultivars.CP 15‐2516 was resistant and moderately resistant to economically significant diseases.CP 15‐2516 showed better cold tolerance than reference cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extant research studies support has stressed the significance of nourishment on the physical health of humans. Some of the past academic literature has also hinted at an interconnect between food, thoughts, and action that becomes especially significant in the current era of Anthropocene. Organic farming production and consumption can not only enhance economic well-being but also promote social well-being along with subject well-being. Beyond the individual level, a community level facilitates fostering physical emotional physical and emotional ecosystems. However, several studies have inferred seemingly dubious claims about the impact of natural food intake on the mental well-being of an individual. In light of this impinging need, this first-of-its-kind study focused to search the impact of organic food consumption on the cognitive behaviour of individuals. Interview-based qualitative field research with 30 peasants' families was conducted in two phases in the model organic village of Manj Gaon of Uttarakhand. Results indicate that organic farming has positively impacted the mental well-being of the farmers, and apart from it, physical health, food security, and financial security are the fringe benefits for native organic farmers. However, there are many bottlenecks from the policy perspective such as non-availability of organic seeds, lack of marketplaces, lack of transportation infrastructure, and almost no facility of cold storage and warehouse, especially during the time of summer season. All these significantly hamper the adoption and sustenance of organic food production and consumption. Although many farmers exhibit the attributes of subjective well-being, as an outcome, it is rooted in the consumption of organic food, because better intake leads to a better thought process and eventually the results get reflected in the form of a better human being. To conclude, better thoughts, emotions, mind, and health of a human individual and society are strongly rooted in the adoption of chemical and pesticide-free food, i.e. organic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing pressure on agrolandscapes while maintaining indicators of economic efficiency is a promising and relevant task for researchers. The article presents the results of a four-year study on the formation of water, nutrient, and microbial regimes in the soil of mid-early ecological group hybrid sunflower crops PR64F66 F1 and Tunca F1 at different levels of biologization of zonal variety cultivation technologies in the conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine: traditional intensive, extensive minimal, organic, and two levels of biologized. The dependence of the reduction in average daily soil moisture consumption on the application of biologization elements was established. The minimum value of the water consumption coefficient over the years of the study was found for organic cultivation technology - 407 (PR64F66 F1) and 423 (Tunca F1) m³/ton of dry matter, while the least economical consumption of active moisture for biomass formation was recorded for the extensive cultivation technology variant - 523 and 624 m³/ton respectively. Variants with the application of biologization elements in the mineral nutrition system were characterized by significantly higher efficiency and economy of nitrogen consumption from soil reserves. Throughout the vegetation period, under the conditions of intensive sunflower cultivation technology, both the overall population of the plowed soil layer and the number of microflora for individual key groups decreased significantly compared to variants where individual elements of biologization or their complex application (organic cultivation technology) were implemented, by 6.1-40.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoautotrophic cyanobacteria assimilate the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide as their sole carbon source for producing useful bioproducts. However, harvesting the cells from their liquid media is a major bottleneck in the process. Thus, an easy-to-harvest method, such as auto-flocculation, is desirable. Here, we found that cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 co-flocculated with a natural fungal contamination in the presence of the antibiotic erythromycin (EM) but not without EM. The fungi in the co-flocculated biomass were isolated and found to consist of five species with the filamentous Purpureocillium lilacinum and Aspergillus protuberus making up 71% of the overall fungal population. The optimal co-cultivation for flocculation was an initial 5 mg (fresh weight) of fungi, an initial cell density of Synechocystis of 0.2 OD730, 10 µM EM, and 14 days of cultivation in 100 mL of BG11 medium with no organic compound. This yielded 248 ± 28 mg/L of the Synechocystis-fungi flocculated biomass from 560 ± 35 mg/L of total biomass, a 44 ± 2% biomass flocculation efficiency. Furthermore, the EM treated Synechocystis cells in the Synechocystis-fungi flocculate had a normal cell color and morphology, while those in the axenic suspension exhibited strong chlorosis. Thus, the occurrence of the Synechocystis-fungi flocculation was mediated by EM, and the co-flocculation with the fungi protected Synechocystis against the development of chlorosis. Transcriptomic analysis suggested that the EM-mediated co-flocculation was a result of down-regulation of the minor pilin genes and up-regulation of several genes including the chaperone gene for pilin regulation, the S-layer protein genes, the exopolysaccharide-polymerization gene, and the genes for signaling proteins involved in cell attachment and abiotic-stress responses. The CuSO4 stress can also mediate Synechocystis-fungi flocculation but at a lower flocculation efficiency than that caused by EM. The EM treatment may be applied in the co-culture between other cyanobacteria and fungi to mediate cell bio-flocculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black soldier fly farming is gaining traction globally as a strategy for recycling organic waste into high-quality proteins and fat for feed and organic fertilizer for crop production. The support of governments in East Africa to integrate insect meal in livestock feed has opened opportunities for commercializing insect products. Understanding the potential value of Black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) is paramount to inform policies and practices to promote insect farming and insect-based feed for livestock production. This paper uses the economic surplus method to generate evidence on the potential socioeconomic impact of replacing conventional soybean and fish meal protein sources with insect-based feed (IBF), BSFLM, in Uganda. Results indicate that substitution of IBF for existing protein sources will generate net economic benefits of USD 0.73 billion in 20 years (0.037 billion per year). The benefit-cost ratio is estimated at 28:1, and the internal rate of return is 138%, indicating that the insect-based animal feed industry is a profitable investment. Even in the worst-case scenario, when the replacement rate of IBF and its economic benefits are reduced by half, the benefit-cost ratio remains high (8:1). The estimated economic benefit can lift about 4.53 million people above the poverty line in the country. It can also create about 1,252-563,302 new jobs per annum, depending on the substitution rate of conventional protein feeds with IBF (0.1%-45%). Uganda has the potential to produce from about 3,244 tons to 1.5 million tons of IBF. Similarly, using the same replacement rates, the country can produce about 695-312,678 tons of NPK fertilizer from biowaste recycling. About 0.09-41 million tons of biowaste could be recycled, depending on the replacement rate of conventional feed sources with IBF. Our results justify that investing in the insect feed value chain can contribute to Uganda's economic, social, and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to maintain a healthy soil, organic farming (OF) and natural farming (NF) should be practiced in addition to conventional farming. In order to evaluate soil fertility and productivity, a field experiment was conducted to study the microbial populations, dehydrogenase activities and biomass carbon in rhizosphere soils of cabbage under different farming systems over two years. Generally, microbial populations are expressed as colony forming units (CFU). Significantly higher microbial populations such as bacteria (34.15 × 106 CFU g−1of soil), fungi (19.08 × 103 CFU g−1of soil), actinomycetes (20.18 × 104 CFU g−1of soil), phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (11.45 × 104 CFU g−1of soil) and nitrogen fixers (14.78 × 104 CFU g−1of soil) were observed in rhizosphere soils after harvest of cabbage in organic farming followed by natural farming treatment. Dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass carbon were significantly higher under organic farming. Lower microbial populations, dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass carbon were found in conventional farming practices. It is concluded that application of organic farming inputs farm yard manure (FYM) and natural farming inputs, i.e. liquid organic manure (jeevamrutha), solid organic manure (ghanajeevamrutha) enhanced the soil microflora, dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass carbon activities when compared to the conventional farming system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phaseolus vulgaris is one of the most widely consumed legumes across the globe. It is rich in protein, carbohydrates, fiber, bioactive compounds, and mineral contents. Occurrences of drought under changing climate have posed a challenge to the quality and quantity of the crop yield. Our study, taking Phaseolus vulgaris as a test legume, reports that as a soil amendment, biochar and farmyard manure mitigated drought-induced damage in the plant. The experiment was set up in a greenhouse with 1 m2 blocks together arranged in factorial randomized block design. Water withdrawal was done for 15 days in either vegetative or reproductive stage of the crop to simulate drought conditions. Biochar or Farmyard manure was applied at the rate of 10t ha−1 as soil amendment and each treatment was replicated thrice. Higher photosynthesis (up to 23% and 16%, respectively), leaf protein (41% and 30%, respectively), grain protein (4% and 19%, correspondingly), and in-vitro protein digestibility (60% and 254%, respectively) were noted under application of both the amendments. Grain quality in terms of protein content, in-vitro protein digestibility, and protein fractions of Phaseolus vulgaris was improved under drought due to the addition of biochar and farmyard manure. However, the application of those amendments at the rate of 10t ha−1, especially farmyard manure, had a negative impact on the antinutritional factor (phytic acid) and mineral bioavailability. Between the two amendments studied, farmyard manure proved to be more efficient in promoting the overall grain quality of P. vulgaris, but its inimical effects must be concorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Nutrient management beyond applying composts in the organic farming systems (OFS) needs to be explored. Silicon (Si) application in OFS might be a good nutrient management option since Si can improve nutrient use efficiency, reducing different biotic and abiotic stresses. Methods: A field investigation was done in 2019 and 2020 to assess the efficiency of Si application in combination with FYM under OFS for sweet corn. The study was conducted in a split-plot design with 4 varied FYM applications viz., M1- Control (no nitrogen), M2, M3, and M4 – 100%, 75%, and 50% recommended doses of N (RDN) through FYM, respectively; and four silicon doses viz., S1- Control (no silicon), S2, S3, and S4 – 100, 150, and 200 kg ha–1 of Si. Results: The application of 100% RDN through FYM resulted in about 15% more green cob yield than the application of 75% RDN through FYM. This treatment also showed better soil health in terms of soil chemical and biological properties. Concerning Si application under OFS, it was observed that the application of 200 kg ha–1 of Si resulted in the maximum yield of sweet corn and provided the best soil health. It was also found that the application of Si resulted in ~ 12–39% higher yield of the crop as compared to no application of Si. Conclusion: 200 kg ha–1 Si + 100% RDN through FYM is the most suitable Si application protocol for organic sweet corn cultivation ensuring the best soil health and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic farming is seen as a promising alternative in the transition to more sustainable agri-food systems. Within the multi-level perspective (MLP) framework for such transitions, the linkage between the innovative niche and the dominant regime is considered crucial. We explore the linkage activities of individual organic model farmers through farm webs that were created based on semi-structured interviews. As the agri-food transition's designated executing actors, individual organic model farmers must be understood as change agents. This research shows that these model farmers show high levels of linking activities, but each engages in a variety of linkages that are put together individually. This research reveals the reasons for choosing specific linkages, revealing the varying potential impacts of organic model farmers and their relevance in the transition process, and emphasizes the need for tailored policies that support farmers in adopting sustainable farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common bean is an important legume valued for its protein-rich seeds and its ability to fix nitrogen, making it a key element of crop rotation. In conventional agriculture, the emphasis is on uniformity and genetic purity to optimize crop performance and maximize yields. This is due to both the legal obligations to register varieties and the challenges of implementing breeding programs to create genetically diverse varieties. This paper focuses on the factors that influence the occurrence of heterogeneous common bean populations. The main factors contributing to this diversity have been described, including local adaptations, variable weather conditions, different pollinator species, and intricate interactions between genes controlling seed coat colour. We also discuss the benefits of intercropping common beans for organic farming systems, highlighting the improvement in resistance to diseases, and adverse environmental conditions. This paper contributes to a better understanding of common bean seed heterogeneity and the legal obligation to use heterogeneous populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the integrated model of Super-SBM model, spatial Durbin model (SDM) and Grey neural network model, this paper analyzes the panel data of various provinces in China from multiple angles and dimensions. It was found that there were significant differences in eco-efficiency between organic rice production and conventional rice production. The response of organic rice to climate change, the spatial distribution of ecological and economic benefits and the impact on carbon emission were analyzed. The results showed that organic rice planting not only had higher economic benefits, but also showed a rising trend of ecological benefits and a positive feedback effect. This finding highlights the importance of organic rice farming in reducing carbon emissions. Organic rice farming effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide and methane, by improving soil management and reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides. This has important implications for mitigating climate change and promoting soil health and biodiversity. With the acceleration of urbanization, the increase of organic rice planting area shows the trend of organic rice gradually replacing traditional rice cultivation, further highlighting the potential of organic agriculture in emission reduction, environmental protection and sustainable agricultural production. To this end, it is recommended that the Government implement a diversified support strategy to encourage technological innovation, provide guidance and training, and raise public awareness and demand for organic products. At the same time, private sector participation is stimulated to support the development of organic rice cultivation through a public-private partnership model. Through these measures, further promote organic rice cultivation, achieve the dual goals of economic benefits and environmental benefits, and effectively promote the realization of double carbon emission reduction targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: By implementing small-scale and efficient fertilization techniques, it is possible to enhance the activity of microorganisms, thereby improving soil carbon sequestration and ecological value in agriculture. Methods: In this study, field experiments were conducted using various types of fertilizers: organic fertilizer, microbial fungal fertilizer, composite fertilizer, and an unfertilized control (CK). Additionally, different dosages of compound fertilizers were applied, including 0.5 times compound fertilizers, constant compound fertilizers, 1.5 times compound fertilizers and CK. Using advanced technologies such as Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing, PICRUSt2 prediction, Anosim analysis, redundancy analysis, canonical correlation analysis, and correlation matrix, soil organic carbon (SOC) content and components, bacterial diversity, metabolic functions, and interaction mechanisms were examined in different fields. Results and Discussion: The results showed pronounced effects of various fertilization modes on SOC and the bacterial community, particularly in the topsoil layer (0-20 cm). Organic fertilizer treatments increased the richness and diversity of bacterial communities in the soil. However, conventional doses and excessive application of compound fertilizers reduced the diversity of soil bacterial communities and SOC content. Additionally, different fertilization treatments led to an increase in easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC) contents. Interestingly, the relationship between SOC components and soil bacteria exhibited inconsistency. EOC was positively correlated with the bacterial diversity index. Additionally, Chloroflexi exhibited a negative correlation with both SOC and its components. The influence of metabolismon primarymetabolic functions on the content of SOC components in the soil was more notable. It included seven types of tertiary functional metabolic pathways significantly correlated with SOC components (p < 0.05). Purpose and Significance: These findings enhance the understanding of the relative abundance of bacterial communities, particularly those related to the carbon cycle, by adjusting agricultural fertilization patterns. This adjustment serves as a reference for enhancing carbon sinks and reducing emissions in agricultural soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Currently, organic farming has become a feasible approach for the production of high‐quality fruits. To evaluate the response of fruit quality and mineral nutrition contents of Hayward Kiwifruit affected by different organic and inorganic fertilizers, the present study was conducted in Citrus and Subtropical Fruits Research Center, Iran, in 2017–2021, as a randomized block design with three replications. The studied treatments were organic fertilizers (cow, vermicompost and Azolla) and chemical fertilizers. After 4 years of fertilization, the fruit's nutritional elements content and some fruit bioactive compounds were evaluated after 3 months of cold storage and then analyzed by the principal component analysis (PCA) method.The use of organic amendments boosted the calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron content of the kiwifruits compared to chemical fertilizers. The highest fruit potassium and phosphorus content were recorded in the cow manure treatment. The lowest amount of nitrate and the highest calcium, zinc, copper and manganese accumulation were recorded in the fruits treated with vermicompost. In addition to mineral nutrients, the dry matter, total soluble solids, total phenolic and antioxidant capacity of kiwifruit were improved by the application of vermicompost amendment compared to the other fertilizer sources. However, the highest fruit vitamin C and total soluble carbohydrates were measured in the cow manure treatment. The PCA results of the fruit quality indices indicated that fertilization treatments were ranked as vermicompost (1.88) > cow manure (1.63) = chemical (1.60) > Azolla (1.54).It is concluded that the application of 40 kg of vermicompost or 40 kg of cow manure in the next rank in Hayward kiwifruit orchards in March (growth stage beginning of bud swelling) may be a more suitable approach for improving the nutritional quality of the fruit. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the role of microbiomes in sustainable agriculture, highlighting their importance in enhancing plant performance and health. It discusses how microbial species interact with plants and provide beneficial functions, such as stress tolerance and nutrient efficiency. The use of microbiomes in agriculture can lead to more sustainable practices by reducing the need for chemical products. The article emphasizes the need for further research and advancements in omics technologies to better understand and utilize microbiomes in agriculture. Additionally, the document provides a summary of various studies related to microbiomes in agriculture, including their impact on salt tolerance in barley, the root microbiota community of oil palm seedlings, the microbiome profile of soybean rhizosphere, and the microbial composition associated with a Chinese medicinal plant at different altitudes. Two review articles discuss the microbiome changes in sugar beet throughout its life cycle and the relationship between common mycorrhizal networks and plant species. These studies contribute to our understanding of microbiomes in agriculture and their potential applications. [Extracted from the article]

The effects of stress factors associated with climate change and agricultural management practices on microorganisms are often studied separately, and it remains to be determined how these factors impact the soil microbiome and, subsequently, plant growth characteristics. The aim of this study was to understand how the historical climate and agriculture to which soil microbes have been exposed can influence the growth characteristics of wheat seedlings and their associated bacterial communities. We collected soil from organic and conventional fields with different histories of climate conditions to extract microbes to inoculate wheat seeds under agar-based cultivation conditions. Within a growth period of 8 days, we monitored germination rates and time as well as seedling above-ground biomass and their associated bacterial communities. The results showed a positive interaction between conventional farming practices and an ambient climate for faster and higher germination rates. We demonstrate that soil microbial extracts from organic farming with experience of the future climate significantly enhanced above-ground biomass along with the diversity of bacterial communities associated with seedlings than other treatments. Such findings support the idea that organic agricultural practices not only mitigate the adverse effects of climate change but also promote the diversity of seedling-associated bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intercropping is an important aspect than sole cropping to address the issues of rainfed agriculture as well as organic agriculture under changing climate scenarios and it also helps in the maximization of productivity and profitability by efficient utilization of natural resources like light, land and water. Moreover, intercropping improves soil fertility through atmospheric nitrogen fixation with the inclusion of legumes and helps in soil conservation through the greater ground cover. Health benefits of minor millets are important in human diet and inclusion of minor millets in intercropping system with pulses are important component of organic agriculture. Methods: The field experiment entitled "productivity dyanamics of blackgram with intercropping of minor millets on BBF under organic cultivation" was conducted during Kharif season of 2019-22 at certified organic research farm of Centre of Organic Agriculture Research and Training (COART), Department of Agronomy, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (Maharashtra). Result: In case of blackgram, the crop growth parameters and yield attributes of blackgram were found to be improved with sole cropping of blackgram than intercropping system with minor millets. However, in case of minor millets, crop growth parameters and yield attributes of minor millets were found to be higher intercropping system with blackgram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A series of field experiments were conducted at the Tapioca and Castor Research Station (TCRS), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Yethapur, Salem from 2022 to 2023. The purpose was to investigate the growth dynamics and economics of shortduration cassava under different nutrient management practices including both integrated and organic approaches. Methods: Twelve treatments were carried out consisting of various combinations of organic manures, liquid organic foliar sprays, integrated nutrient management treatments and a control treatment (no manures/fertilizers/sprays). The experiments were carried out in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications at the same location. Result: The results revealed that the different nutrient management practices had a significant impact on the physiological response throughout the various stages of plant growth. Based on the average data from two experiments, the INM treatment (FYM@ 25 t ha-1 + 100% recommended dose of fertilizers andcassava booster spray) showed the highest physiological response during the final phase of growth. This treatment showed superior performance in terms of leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), tuber bulking rate (TBR) and mean TBR. The organic treatment (wood ash @2 t ha-1 and 3% panchagavya foliar spray) recorded comparable performance to the INM treatment in major parameters such as LAI, CGR, RGR and NAR. However, it followed the INM treatment in terms of mean TBR. Economic analysis revealed that the INM treatment yielded the highest net income and benefit-cost ratio (BCR), followed by the organic treatment. The control resulted in the least returns. In conclusion, the findings highlight the effectiveness of the INM treatment and the promising performance of the organic treatment which can contribute to sustainable and profitable cassava cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The call for papers for this Special Issue Iidentifies contemporary humanity as experiencing a global "biogeochemical ... political, economic, technological, ethical, and therefore, biocultural" crisis and asks scholars to consider how "religion may function as an adaptive or maladaptive presence" in response. Unasked is the adaptive capacity of scholarship as a crisis response. When buildings fall in earthquakes, or cities burn in wildfires, or second stories flood, few people just keep on doing what they were doing, "with a change of focus". This is "studying Rome while it burns". It's time to put out the fire if we can and survive it if we cannot. We scholar/teachers can't go on doing the same things and expecting different results. Unprecedented circumstances call for unprecedented actions in response. What would actual crisis responses on our part look like? What steps do we need to take as human beings in response to this crisis? How will that affect us as professionals? Seeking an ecology, rather than unanimity, of action and thought, and guided by Brian Walker's resilience theory and a number of Indigenous scholars, I suggest a process of reintegration, analogous to regenerative agriculture, which is at once both socio-cultural and ecological. This process, necessarily rooted in place, progressively situates us experientially in a dynamic, creative, and relational world characterized by connection, collaboration, and relation. As scholars, we will find forms of discovery, discussion, and dissemination that share these qualities. As teachers, we will model this world to our students and embody it in our classrooms and curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed crop livestock farming (MCLF) is a growing practice in organic farming where livestock and crops are grown near each other to promote environmental sustainability through recycling. However, MCLF livestock are reservoirs of many zoonotic pathogens, such as Staphylococcus spp., and can serve as sources of crosscontamination for plant food products. A surveillance study was conducted to determine the prevalence and antibiotic-resistance patterns of various Staphylococcus spp. species isolated from the environment of multiple MCLFs and produced from preharvest and post-harvest levels within the DC-Maryland metropolitan area. A total of 3038 environmental and pre-harvest produce and 836 post-harvest produce samples were collected from eight farms and two retail supermarkets. In addition, 36 skin swabs from farmworkers and university students were also collected. PCR was used to confirm the presence of Staphylococcus spp. in all samples. Major species were identified using a species-specific multiplex PCR. An antibiogram assay was performed to determine antibiotic resistance profiles. The overall prevalence of Staphylococcus spp. was 12.18% pre-harvest and 7.54% post-harvest. The most identified species was Staphylococcus epidermidis (19.86%), while most isolates remained unknown (73.90%). Approximately 83.33% of skin swabs were positive for Staphylococcus spp., with Staphylococcus xylosus being the predominant species (16.7%). The highest percentage of isolates were resistant to aminoglycosides and macrolides, with 24.11% of tested samples being multidrug-resistant. S. epidermidis had the most resistance compared to the other species. This study suggests that antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus spp. is present in mixed farm environments, and proper steps need to be taken to control the transmission between livestock, crops, and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the changes in the agricultural sector, there is a demand among policymakers, administration, advisors and farmers for comparisons of the economic efficiency of organic versus conventional farms and their environmental impact. The authors of the paper hypothesised that in some conditions, organic farms can reach similar productive and economic results as conventional farms and, at the same time, achieve better environmental effects. The aim of the research was to compare the production, environmental and economic effects of selected organic and conventional farms from eastern Poland (mixed, crop production, animal production). The basis for the comparative analysis was the data from 12 farms obtained using the questionnaire method (direct interview) from the years 2020 to 2021. The yields of cereals in the tested organic farms were about one-third lower than the average obtained on conventional farms. Total organic crop production in cereal units per ha was 43% of conventional production. Balances of NPK indicated surpluses or deficiency, which suggested that in both systems nutrient management should be improved and optimised. The compared groups of organic farms generally had higher economic efficiency—both with and without subsidies—than conventional farms, despite the fact that the latter obtained significantly higher incomes. Gross farm income on conventional farms was higher than on organic farms by 28%, but conventional farms had higher direct costs by 332% than organic ones. As a result, the economic efficiency of agricultural production of organic farms was higher by 59% than conventional farms. The lower level of inputs incurred on organic farms was the main factor determining their high economic efficiency. Organic farms pursuing an intensive model of agricultural production (milk production), but also with specialisation in crop production, proved to be the most economically efficient. Despite diversified production, reducing the income risk, the mixed production, both organic and conventional, in the studied set of farms turned out to be the least profitable, indicating the need to support it. It is suggested that moderate specialisation increases the efficiency of management in organic farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) production faces challenges due to shifting environmental conditions, potentially leading to a transition towards cooler or highland Mediterranean environments. This study assessed the responses of five lentil genotypes across five diverse locations (L1–L5) managed under organic cropping systems over two seasons, focusing on key parameters including seed yield (SY), crude protein (CP), cooking time (CT), seed loss percentage (SL), and yield loss per hectare (YL) caused by bruchid (Bruchus sp.). Excessive seasonal rainfall (500 mm), low winter temperatures (−17.9 °C), bruchid SL, and spring sowing were identified as crucial, particularly in challenging environments like highlands. Genotype selection was highlighted as essential for balancing yield and stability, with the small-seeded cultivar 'Dimitra' demonstrating lower YL due to bruchid. Additionally, increased CP was noted in response to heightened bruchid infestations. Specific recommendations were proposed for different environments: In productive lowland areas with low bruchid pressure and high CTs (L1), prioritizing cultivars like 'Samos', 'Dimitra', and 'Thessalia' enhances quality. Locations with high bruchid populations (L4) were not favored organic production but can serve as genetic resistance screening sites. High-elevation environments (L3, L5) proved significantly less productive, underscoring the requirement for earlier and winter-hardy cultivars. These insights guide lentil cultivation, emphasizing the need for tailored breeding strategies adaptable to changing environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental benefits can be achieved by organic farming systems; however, weed pressure and timely crop nutrition remain important drawbacks for many field crops. Agroecological practices, such as double cropping (e.g., intercropping and relay cropping), using forage legume species can provide nitrogen (N) to the companion crop through biological N fixation and tackle weed issues by competing for light, water and land. The present study investigated the effect of intercropping (IC) and relay-cropping (RC) systems of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn) and forage legumes (Trifolium subterraneum L., Medicago polymorpha L., and Lotus corniculatus L.) by varying organic N fertilization with the aim to reduce N-requirement and weed pressure and increase wheat grain yield and grain protein content in Mediterranean organic farming systems. N fertilizer significantly improved wheat grain yield and grain protein, while a null effect on legume and weed biomass yields was found. Double cropping (T. durum-M. polymorpha, and T. durum-L. corniculatus) enhanced wheat grain yield as compared to the control and the T. durum-T. subterraneum. IC significantly improved legume yield, grain protein and the land equivalent ratio (LER) and reduced weed dry biomass as compared with the RC and the control. Among legume species, T. subterraneum outperformed the others and was less affected by the wheat's competitive performance. Nonetheless, M. polymorpha was as effective as T. subterraneum in controlling weeds. Weed dry biomass was linearly reduced by increasing legume yield; the relationship improved by cumulating wheat grain yield to legume yield. Overall, this study indicated that double cropping, especially IC, can be a suitable agroecological practice to tackle weed issues and reduce N-requirement in Mediterranean organic cereal-based systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern agriculture, more and more attention is being paid to the use of microorganisms that can increase crop productivity and quality even under adverse weather conditions. Due to the declining biodiversity of crops and the occurrence of soil erosion and nutrient losses, the introduction of cover crops (CC) can be a positive crop management technique. In the field study presented here, the effect of growing spring barley with CCs applied simultaneously with bacterial consortia on the ratio of the total number of bacteria to actinobacteria (B/A) and the number of fungi in the soil was evaluated. The biomass yield of CCs and the subsequent effect on the yield of spelt wheat grown with the application of bacterial consortia were also evaluated. The bacterial consortia applied included consortium 1, comprising Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and Pseudomonas fluorescens, and consortium 2, comprising Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Azotobacter chroococcum. The CCs were red clover, red clover + Italian ryegrass, and Italian ryegrass. The most favorable B/A ratio and the highest number of fungi were obtained after growing spring barley with a CC consisting of a mixture of red clover and Italian ryegrass when using bacterial consortium 2. These conditions additionally had the most favorable influence on spelt wheat. The combination of such a forecrop with the application of bacterial consortium 2 resulted in the highest yields of spelt wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring the security of germplasm resources is of great significance for the sustainable development of agriculture and ecological balance. By combining the morphological characteristics of maize seeds with hyperspectral data, maize variety classification has been achieved using machine learning algorithms. Initially, the morphological data of seeds are obtained from images, followed by the selection of feature subsets using Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) and Select From Model (SFM) methods, indicating that features selected by RFE exhibit better performance in maize seed classification. For hyperspectral data (350–2500 nm), Competitive Adaptive Re-weighted Sampling (CARS) and the Successive Projections Algorithm (SPA) are employed to extract feature wavelengths, with the SPA algorithm demonstrating superior performance in maize seed classification tasks. Subsequently, the two sets of data are merged, and a Random Forest (RF) classifier optimized by Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) is utilized. Given the limitations of GWO, strategies such as logistic chaotic mapping for population initialization, random perturbation, and final replacement mechanisms are incorporated to enhance the algorithm's search capabilities. The experimental results show that the proposed ZGWO-RF model achieves an accuracy of 95.9%, precision of 96.2%, and recall of 96.1% on the test set, outperforming the unimproved model. The constructed model exhibits improved identification effects on multi-source data, providing a new tool for non-destructive testing and the accurate classification of seeds in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]