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Mechanistic understanding of the interaction of copper-based nanomaterials with crops is crucial for exploring their application in precision agriculture and their implications on plant health. We investigated the biological response of soybean (Glycine max) plants to the foliar application of copper hydroxide nanowires (CNWs) at realistic exposure concentrations. A commercial copper based-fungicide (Kocide), dissolved copper ions, and untreated controls were used for comparison to identify unique features at physiological, cellular, and molecular levels. After 32 d of exposure to CNW (0.36, 1.8, and 9 mg CNW/plant), the newly developed tissues accumulated significantly high levels of Cu (18-60 μg/g) compared to Kocide (10 μg/g); however, the rate of Cu translocation from the site of CNW treatment to other tissues was slower compared to other Cu treatments. Like Kocide, CNW exposure at medium and high doses altered Co, Mn, Zn, and Fe accumulation in the tissues and enhanced photosynthetic activities. The proteomic and metabolomic analyses of leaves from CNW-treated soybean plants suggest a dose-dependent response, resulting in the activation of major biological processes, including photosynthesis, energy production, fatty acid metabolism, lignin biosynthesis, and carbohydrate metabolism. In contrast to CNW treatments, Kocide exposure resulted in increased oxidative stress response and amino acid metabolism activation.

Nutrient source has been the focus of much debate regarding the re-eutrophication of Lake Erie, despite that only 20% of nutrients applied to crops in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) originate from organic sources. However, limited data and assessments exist on the subsurface tile drainage water quality comparison between organic (liquid dairy manure) and commercial (mono-ammonium phosphate [MAP]) sources in crop production systems. Subsurface tile drainage, dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) and total phosphorus (TP) losses in tile drainage discharge following equal phosphorus (P) based applications of liquid dairy manure and MAP were assessed using a before-after control-impact design and 4 years of data from a paired field system located in northwest Ohio. Nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3 - -N, and TN loads from the dairy manure site. While significant, mean daily DRP differences between commercial (MAP) and liquid dairy manure treatments were only on the order of 0.01 g DRP ha 3 - -N, and TN loads from the dairy manure site. While significant, mean daily DRP differences between commercial (MAP) and liquid dairy manure treatments were only on the order of 0.01 g DRP ha -1 . Assuming current manure application extent and rates, when accumulated annually across the WLEB watershed, these losses are equivalent to less than 1% of target loads. These findings also help to inform nutrient management stewardship as it relates to nutrient source. Furthermore, additional research across a range of soil characteristics and cropping managements should be explored as well as the impacts of other livestock manure nutrients., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Environmental Quality © 2023 American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.)

Nitrate contamination in the upper Elbe River basin in the Czech Republic is high and has remained relatively constant since monitoring began in the 1960's. Long-term NO3− and discharge data for 138 locations in the Labe, Berounka, Ohře, and Vltava sub-basins has been analyzed. Fifty nine of the locations were sampled for δ15N during low flow conditions. The nitrate, flow, and stable isotopic data were used to evaluate the source term contributions associated with commercial fertilizer, mineralized soil nitrate, and animal and human waste. The relationship between city size and nitrate loading was also examined. The stable isotopic data indicate that about 76% of the nitrate load is from animal and human waste and that human waste water is the major source of river nitrate. Keywords: Nitrogen isotopes, Pollutant source identification, Surface water

The maintenance of optimum mineral nutrient fertility is a limiting factor in organic vegetable systems, with many growers resorting to applications of off-farm commercial fertilizer inputs. In this study, pelleted sheep’s wool was compared against a standard commercial fertilizer product for effects on productivity and plant growth in spinach and tomato. Two rates of wool pellets were applied; one was standardized to the nitrogen inputs of the ‘grower standard’ commercial treatment, and a second higher rate which was suggested by the pellet manufacturer with about 2.5 times the nitrogen content. Overall, few differences were observed among the fertilized treatments. Crop yield for both tomato and spinach generally increased with increasing fertility application, with no differences between commercial and wool pellet fertilizers applied at the same rate of nitrogen. The uptake of mineral nutrients in spinach plant tissues differed for K, Mg, P, S, B, and Ca, but there was no general trend that could be attributed to a particular treatment. Tomato fruit quality was the same for all treatments, but non-fertilized fruit had lower total polyphenols than the highest-fertility treatment. Overall, wool pellets performed very similarly to commercial organic fertilizer for both crops and could be a promising alternative that may open up opportunities for greater integration of plant and animal systems on diversified farms.

The increasing public concern about municipal solid waste (MSW) due to its impact on health and environment induces people to think about more ways of recycling this waste. These days, people strive to find more appropriate methods and processes to treat MSW for its proper management and disposal. Composting process is the most appropriate method of recycling used to get rid of organic fractions. The most important concern is the production of compost leachate. This study was designed to check the potential of compost leachate as a chemical fertilizer and to compare it with commercial fertilizer. Different dilutions of compost leachate and commercial fertilizer were used to check their effects on seed germination of wheat and maize crop and the initial root and shoot length measurement of these crops. Germination index, germination inhibition and germination rate were also evaluated in different experimental trials with variation in leachate dilution. The results showed best root, shoot length and seed germination at low quantity of leachate sample. The obtained results showed that leachate has better fertilizer qualities as compared to commercial fertilizer. Moreover, it is more economical and environment friendly. It also helps in maintaining the structure of soil and conditions the soil.

The maintenance of optimum mineral nutrient fertility is a limiting factor in organic vegetable systems, with many growers resorting to applications of off-farm commercial fertilizer inputs. In this study, pelleted sheep's wool was compared against a standard commercial fertilizer product for effects on productivity and plant growth in spinach and tomato. Two rates of wool pellets were applied; one was standardized to the nitrogen inputs of the 'grower standard' commercial treatment, and a second higher rate which was suggested by the pellet manufacturer with about 2.5 times the nitrogen content. Overall, few differences were observed among the fertilized treatments. Crop yield for both tomato and spinach generally increased with increasing fertility application, with no differences between commercial and wool pellet fertilizers applied at the same rate of nitrogen. The uptake of mineral nutrients in spinach plant tissues differed for K, Mg, P, S, B, and Ca, but there was no general trend that could be attributed to a particular treatment. Tomato fruit quality was the same for all treatments, but non-fertilized fruit had lower total polyphenols than the highest-fertility treatment. Overall, wool pellets performed very similarly to commercial organic fertilizer for both crops and could be a promising alternative that may open up opportunities for greater integration of plant and animal systems on diversified farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the mixed culture of Chlorella vulgaris and Hyaloraphidium contortum, was determined the effect of different sources of nutrients (Nitrofoska ®, Poliverdol ® and Guillard) on the production of photosynthetic pigments and biomass. Bioassays were performed in quadruplicate in batch cultures maintained in aeration and continuous illumination. The growth was determined by cell counting and the production of pigment by spectrophotometry. The cell density increased with time of planting, obtaining maximum production at 24 days with an average of 1.38 104±5603.94; 1.09 104 ± 29.125 and 3.04 104± 8.900 cells mL-1 in Nitrofoska®, Poliverdol® and Guillard, respectively. The pigment (chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids) production was moderated (1.11 μg mL-1 at 24 days) in the medium Guillard during all-time research. Commercial agricultural fertilizers are an alternative source of nutrients for growth and pigment production in the mixed culture of microalgae.

Ferrous toxicity is a one of the problems most often found in lowland rice systems in tropical and sub-tropical regionespecially in new paddy field (NPF) on Ultisols and Oxisols. Flooding during rice growth creates a chemicallyreduced state in soils causing reduction of insoluble (Fe3+) to soluble (Fe2+) form even at excessive level. ExcessiveFe2+ uptake is eventually the main cause of iron toxicity. The purpose of this study was to find an appropriateformulation of organic fertilizer Tithonia plus (OFTP) to control the iron toxicity, reduce the application of commercialfertilizers (CF) and increase rice production at various ages of NPF. The field experiment was conducted in farmerfields in Sitiung, Koto Baru sub-district, Dharmasraya district of West Sumatra province. Experimental design usedwas a factorial 2 x 6 in a split plot design. The main plot (A), the age of the opening of NPF were: 0 year;and 2 years;Subplot (B) a formulation of OFTP were: 2 Mg Tithonia ha-1 + 75% of CF; 2 Mg Tithonia ha-1 + 5 Mg rice strawha-1 + 50% of CF; 4 Mg Tithonia ha-1 + 25% of CF and three treatmens without Tithonia i.e. 5 Mg rice straw ha-1 +75% of CF; 2 Mg animal cow manure ha-1 + 75% of CF, and 100% of CF. Liming with 500 kg CaCO3 ha-1were appliedfor all treatments. The results showed the use of OFTP increased the nutrients availability such as N, P, and K onNPF and control the iron toxicity. The appropriate formulation of OFTP to control the iron toxicity and reduced theapplication of chemical fertilizer for higher rice production at NPF were two options: (1) 2 Mg of Tithonia ha-1 + 5 Mgof rice straw ha-1 + 50% of commercial fertilizers; and (2) 2 Mg of Tithonia ha-1 + 75% of commercial fertilizers. In thiscase the reducing of commercial fertilizers application were 50% and 25%, respectively.

In the southeastern USA, there is an abundance of broiler litter from commercial poultry production that is available for use as fertilizer, but cropland and pastureland amended with broiler litter often exhibit greatly increased soil-test P. We evaluated productivity and nutritive quality of Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) that was interseeded with or without white clover (Trifolium repens) and which commercial fertilizer (ammonium nitrate and diammonium phosphate) or broiler litter was applied on the basis of soil-test P; broiler litter was supplemented with ammonium nitrate to be isonitrogenous with commercial fertilizer. Forage dry matter yield and foliar concentrations of crude protein, cell wall constituents, P, K, and Cu were not different among fertilizer treatments, and concentration of Zn was only slightly greater for forage amended with broiler litter than commercial fertilizer. Results indicate that broiler litter can be a cost-effective alternative to commercial fertilizer for warm-season forage production when applied on the basis of soil-test P.