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Editor’s Choice Articles

Editor’s Choice articles are based on recommendations by the scientific editors of MDPI journals from around the world. Editors select a small number of articles recently published in the journal that they believe will be particularly interesting to readers, or important in the respective research area. The aim is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in the various research areas of the journal.

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13 pages, 4413 KiB  
Article
Rhizosphere-Associated Microbiota Strengthen the Pathogenicity of Meloidogyne incognita on Arabidopsis thaliana
by Xing-Kui Zhou, Li Ma, Zi-Xiang Yang, Ling-Feng Bao and Ming-He Mo
Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 664; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040664 - 25 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1528
Abstract
Microorganisms associated with nematodes or enriched in galls have been reported previously to aid plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) in infecting and establishing parasitism in the host plants. However, the rhizosphere-associated microbiota, which strengthens the pathogenicity of PPNs, remains largely unknown. This study illustrated rhizosphere [...] Read more.
Microorganisms associated with nematodes or enriched in galls have been reported previously to aid plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) in infecting and establishing parasitism in the host plants. However, the rhizosphere-associated microbiota, which strengthens the pathogenicity of PPNs, remains largely unknown. This study illustrated rhizosphere bacteria enhancing Meloidogyne incognita infection on Arabidopsis thaliana by comparing the gall numbers of the treatments between natural soil and the sterile soil or soils drenched with antibiotics. By culture-dependent and pot testing methods, sixteen bacterial combinations from rhizosphere soils of A. thaliana were demonstrated to enhance M. incognita pathogenicity, including the most effective Nocardioides. Single-strain inoculation from the Nocardioides combination significantly resulted in M. incognita forming more galls on roots than the control, in which N. nematodiphilus R-N-C8 was the most effective strain. Strain R-N-C8 could substantially facilitate the M. incognita second-stage juveniles (J2s) moving towards the roots of A. thaliana and infecting the roots by releasing chemoattractant to attract J2s. The chemoattractant from strain R-N-C8 was determined to be L-lysine. This study furnishes vital insights for understanding the infection of root-knot nematodes associated with rhizosphere microbes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Microbe and Nematode Communities in Agricultural Systems)
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15 pages, 2589 KiB  
Article
Combined Application of Chemical and Organic Fertilizers: Effects on Yield and Soil Nutrients in Spring Wheat under Drip Irrigation
by Xiangjie Chang, Hao He, Liyang Cheng, Xiaojuan Yang, Shuai Li, Mengmeng Yu, Jifeng Zhang and Junhua Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040655 - 24 Mar 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2907
Abstract
In this study, we established a feasible fertilization programming method for wheat production by exploring the effects of the combined application of chemical and organic fertilizers on wheat yield, nutrient uptake, soil nutrient content, and fertilizer utilization. Six treatments, no fertilizer (CK), conventional [...] Read more.
In this study, we established a feasible fertilization programming method for wheat production by exploring the effects of the combined application of chemical and organic fertilizers on wheat yield, nutrient uptake, soil nutrient content, and fertilizer utilization. Six treatments, no fertilizer (CK), conventional fertilizer (CF), optimized fertilizer (with reduced fertilizer amount) (RF), chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer extract (RPAE), partial replacement of chemical fertilizer with raw amino acid powder (RAF), and partial replacement of chemical fertilizer with raw humic acid powder (RHF), were set up for a field experiment. The fertilizer application rates for the RF treatment were calculated based on fertilization-monitoring techniques (30.3% nitrogen and 24.8% phosphorus reductions in 2022 and 23.0% nitrogen and 1.5% phosphorus reductions in 2023). The effects of different fertilizer treatments on yield, dry matter accumulation, plant nutrient accumulation, soil nutrients, and nutrient utilization in wheat were investigated. The results showed that, on the basis of 23% nitrogen and 1.5% phosphorus reductions, there was no significant difference in wheat yield between the RF and CF treatments and that the utilization rate of nitrogen fertilizer was improved. The application of organic fertilizer promoted dry matter accumulation in different organs of wheat; increased plant nutrient accumulation; improved soil nutrient content, nutrient utilization rate, nutrient partial productivity, and nutrient agronomic use efficiency; and ensured stable and increased crop yield. Specifically, compared with CF, the RPAE, RAF, and RHF organic fertilizer treatments increased wheat yield by 3.85%, 1.97%, and 0.67%, respectively, and the utilization of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers induced by these treatments significantly increased by 40.46%, 39.28%, and 37.46% (nitrogen) and by 9.83%, 8.91%, and 7.46% (phosphorus), respectively. As a result of our experiment, we concluded that RPAE exerted the best effects among the three organic fertilizer treatments (RPAE, RAF, and RHF) and that its use can result in a higher wheat yield and fertilizer utilization rate in drip-irrigated wheat fields. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the combined application of chemical and organic fertilizers, which is conducive to sustainable agriculture development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Breeding and Genetics)
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18 pages, 3205 KiB  
Article
Weed Recognition at Soybean Seedling Stage Based on YOLOV8nGP + NExG Algorithm
by Tao Sun, Longfei Cui, Lixuan Zong, Songchao Zhang, Yuxuan Jiao, Xinyu Xue and Yongkui Jin
Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 657; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040657 - 24 Mar 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2584
Abstract
The high cost of manual weed control and the overuse of herbicides restrict the yield and quality of soybean. Intelligent mechanical weeding and precise application of pesticides can be used as effective alternatives for weed control in the field, and these require accurate [...] Read more.
The high cost of manual weed control and the overuse of herbicides restrict the yield and quality of soybean. Intelligent mechanical weeding and precise application of pesticides can be used as effective alternatives for weed control in the field, and these require accurate distinction between crops and weeds. In this paper, images of soybean seedlings and weeds in different growth areas are used as datasets. In the aspect of soybean recognition, this paper designs a YOLOv8nGP algorithm with a backbone network optimisation based on GhostNet and an unconstrained pruning method with a 60% pruning rate. Compared with the original YOLOv8n, the YOLOv8nGP improves the Precision (P), Recall (R), and F1 metrics by 1.1% each, reduces the model size by 3.6 mb, and the inference time was 2.2 ms, which could meet the real-time requirements of field operations. In terms of weed recognition, this study utilises an image segmentation method based on the Normalized Excess Green Index (NExG). After filtering the soybean seedlings, the green parts of the image are extracted for weed recognition, which reduces the dependence on the diversity of the weed datasets. This study combines deep learning with traditional algorithms, which provides a new solution for weed recognition of soybean seedlings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Weed Science and Weed Management)
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22 pages, 9068 KiB  
Article
YOLO-BLBE: A Novel Model for Identifying Blueberry Fruits with Different Maturities Using the I-MSRCR Method
by Chenglin Wang, Qiyu Han, Jianian Li, Chunjiang Li and Xiangjun Zou
Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040658 - 24 Mar 2024
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2266
Abstract
Blueberry is among the fruits with high economic gains for orchard farmers. Identification of blueberry fruits with different maturities has economic significance to help orchard farmers plan pesticide application, estimate yield, and conduct harvest operations efficiently. Vision systems for automated orchard yield estimation [...] Read more.
Blueberry is among the fruits with high economic gains for orchard farmers. Identification of blueberry fruits with different maturities has economic significance to help orchard farmers plan pesticide application, estimate yield, and conduct harvest operations efficiently. Vision systems for automated orchard yield estimation have received growing attention toward fruit identification with different maturity stages. However, due to interfering factors such as varying outdoor illuminations, similar colors with the surrounding canopy, imaging distance, and occlusion in natural environments, it remains a serious challenge to develop reliable visual methods for identifying blueberry fruits with different maturities. This study constructed a YOLO-BLBE (Blueberry) model combined with an innovative I-MSRCR (Improved MSRCR (Multi-Scale Retinex with Color Restoration)) method to accurately identify blueberry fruits with different maturities. The color feature of blueberry fruit in the original image was enhanced by the I-MSRCR algorithm, which was improved based on the traditional MSRCR algorithm by adjusting the proportion of color restoration factors. The GhostNet model embedded by the CA (coordinate attention) mechanism module replaced the original backbone network of the YOLOv5s model to form the backbone of the YOLO-BLBE model. The BIFPN (Bidirectional Feature Pyramid Network) structure was applied in the neck network of the YOLO-BLBE model, and Alpha-EIOU was used as the loss function of the model to determine and filter candidate boxes. The main contributions of this study are as follows: (1) The I-MSRCR algorithm proposed in this paper can effectively amplify the color differences between blueberry fruits of different maturities. (2) Adding the synthesized blueberry images processed by the I-MSRCR algorithm to the training set for training can improve the model’s recognition accuracy for blueberries of different maturity levels. (3) The YOLO-BLBE model achieved an average identification accuracy of 99.58% for mature blueberry fruits, 96.77% for semi-mature blueberry fruits, and 98.07% for immature blueberry fruits. (4) The YOLO-BLBE model had a size of 12.75 MB and an average detection speed of 0.009 s. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Status, Progress, and Applications of Agricultural Robot and Agriculture 4.0 Technologies in Field Operation—Volume II)
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14 pages, 9137 KiB  
Article
Predicting the Potential Geographic Distribution of Invasive Freshwater Apple Snail Pomacea canaliculate (Lamarck, 1819) under Climate Change Based on Biomod2
by Tao Wang, Tingjia Zhang, Weibin An, Zailing Wang and Chuanren Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 650; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040650 - 23 Mar 2024
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2083
Abstract
Pomacea canaliculata is widely distributed in the Chinese provinces south of the Yangtze River, causing serious damage to aquatic ecosystems, rice cultivation, and human health. Predicting the potential geographic distributions (PGDs) of P. canaliculata under current and future climate conditions in China is [...] Read more.
Pomacea canaliculata is widely distributed in the Chinese provinces south of the Yangtze River, causing serious damage to aquatic ecosystems, rice cultivation, and human health. Predicting the potential geographic distributions (PGDs) of P. canaliculata under current and future climate conditions in China is crucial for developing effective early warning measures and facilitating long-term monitoring. In this study, we screened various species distribution models (SDMs), including CTA, GBM, GAM, RF, and XGBOOST, to construct an ensemble model (EM) and then predict suitable habitats for P. canaliculata under current and future climate scenarios (SSP1-26, SSP2-45, SSP3-70, SSP5-85). The EM (AUC = 0.99, TSS = 0.96) yielded predictions that were more precise than those from the individual models. The Annual Mean Temperature (Bio1) and Precipitation of the Warmest Quarter (Bio18) are the most significant environmental variables affecting the PGDs of P. canaliculata. Under current climate conditions, the highly suitable habitats for P. canaliculata are primarily located south of the Yangtze River, collectively accounting for 17.66% of the nation’s total area. Unsuitable habitats predominate in higher-latitude regions, collectively covering 66.79% of China’s total land area. In future climate scenarios, the total number of suitable habitats for P. canaliculata is projected to expand into higher latitude regions, especially under SSP3-70 and SSP5-85 climate conditions. The 4.1 °C contour of Bio1 and the 366 mm contour of Bio18 determine the northernmost geographical distribution of P. canaliculata. Climate change is likely to increase the risk of P. canaliculata expanding into higher latitudes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation: Interdisciplinary Perspectives)
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16 pages, 2774 KiB  
Article
Field-Deployed Spectroscopy from 350 to 2500 nm: A Promising Technique for Early Identification of Powdery Mildew Disease (Erysiphe necator) in Vineyards
by Sergio Vélez, Enrique Barajas, José Antonio Rubio, Dimas Pereira-Obaya and José Ramón Rodríguez-Pérez
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 634; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030634 - 21 Mar 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2264
Abstract
This study explores spectroscopy in the 350 to 2500 nm range for detecting powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator) in grapevine leaves, crucial for precision agriculture and sustainable vineyard management. In a controlled experimental vineyard setting, the spectral reflectance on leaves with varying [...] Read more.
This study explores spectroscopy in the 350 to 2500 nm range for detecting powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator) in grapevine leaves, crucial for precision agriculture and sustainable vineyard management. In a controlled experimental vineyard setting, the spectral reflectance on leaves with varying infestation levels was measured using a FieldSpec 4 spectroradiometer during July and September. A detailed assessment was conducted following the guidelines recommended by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) to quantify the level of infestation; categorising leaves into five distinct grades based on the percentage of leaf surface area affected. Subsequently, spectral data were collected using a contact probe with a tungsten halogen bulb connected to the spectroradiometer, taking three measurements across different areas of each leaf. Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) analysis yielded coefficients of determination R2 = 0.74 and 0.71, and Root Mean Square Errors (RMSEs) of 12.1% and 12.9% for calibration and validation datasets, indicating high accuracy for early disease detection. Significant spectral differences were noted between healthy and infected leaves, especially around 450 nm and 700 nm for visible light, and 1050 nm, 1425 nm, 1650 nm, and 2250 nm for the near-infrared spectrum, likely due to tissue damage, chlorophyll degradation and water loss. Finally, the Powdery Mildew Vegetation Index (PMVI) was introduced, calculated as PMVI = (R755 − R675)/(R755 + R675), where R755 and R675 are the reflectances at 755 nm (NIR) and 675 nm (red), effectively estimating disease severity (R2 = 0.7). The study demonstrates that spectroscopy, combined with PMVI, provides a reliable, non-invasive method for managing powdery mildew and promoting healthier vineyards through precision agriculture practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Data-Driven Agriculture: Remote Sensing and Machine Learning for Sustainable Farming Practices)
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23 pages, 13091 KiB  
Article
TeaViTNet: Tea Disease and Pest Detection Model Based on Fused Multiscale Attention
by Zhichao Chen, Hongping Zhou, Haifeng Lin and Di Bai
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 633; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030633 - 21 Mar 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2395
Abstract
The tea industry, as one of the most globally important agricultural products, is characterized by pests and diseases that pose a serious threat to yield and quality. These diseases and pests often present different scales and morphologies, and some pest and disease target [...] Read more.
The tea industry, as one of the most globally important agricultural products, is characterized by pests and diseases that pose a serious threat to yield and quality. These diseases and pests often present different scales and morphologies, and some pest and disease target sizes can be tiny and difficult to detect. To solve these problems, we propose TeaViTNet, a multi-scale attention-based tea pest and disease detection model that combines CNNs and Transformers. First, MobileViT is used as the feature extraction backbone network. MobileViT captures and analyzes the tiny pest and disease features in the image via a self-attention mechanism and global feature extraction. Second, the EMA-PANet network is introduced to optimize the model’s learning and attention to the Apolygus lucorum and leaf blight regions via an efficient multi-scale attention module with cross-space learning, which improves the model’s ability to understand multi-scale information. In addition, RFBNet is embedded in the module to further expand the perceptual range and effectively capture the information of tiny features in tea leaf images. Finally, the ODCSPLayer convolutional block is introduced, aiming to focus on acquiring richer gradient flow information. The experimental results show that the TeaViTNet model proposed in this paper has an average accuracy of 89.1%, which is a significant improvement over the baseline network MobileViT and is capable of accurately detecting Apolygus lucorum and leaf blight of different scales and complexities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Precision and Digital Agriculture)
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16 pages, 4457 KiB  
Article
Effects of Intercropping and Nitrogen Application on Soil Fertility and Microbial Communities in Peanut Rhizosphere Soil
by Haining Wu, Shufang Chen, Zhipeng Huang, Tangwei Huang, Xiumei Tang, Liangqiong He, Zhong Li, Jun Xiong, Ruichun Zhong, Jing Jiang, Zhuqiang Han and Ronghua Tang
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 635; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030635 - 21 Mar 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2242
Abstract
The intercropping of peanuts and sugarcane is a sustainable planting model that deserves in-depth research. For this study, two variables, i.e., intercropping status (peanut monocropping or sugarcane/peanut intercropping) and the level of nitrogen fertilization (low, medium, or high), were evaluated to analyze the [...] Read more.
The intercropping of peanuts and sugarcane is a sustainable planting model that deserves in-depth research. For this study, two variables, i.e., intercropping status (peanut monocropping or sugarcane/peanut intercropping) and the level of nitrogen fertilization (low, medium, or high), were evaluated to analyze the effects of intercropping and nitrogen application on soil fertility and microbial communities in peanut rhizosphere soil. These analyses revealed that higher nitrogen application led to increased total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), and soil organic matter (OM) levels in rhizosphere soil for both monocropped and intercropped peanuts, with a decrease in pH. Monocropped peanuts had higher TN, total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) levels compared to intercropped peanuts at the same nitrogen level but lower AN content and pH levels. The diversity of microbial communities in the rhizosphere soil of intercropped peanuts was significantly higher than that of monocropped peanuts under high levels of nitrogen fertilizer application. Higher levels of Gemmatimonadetes abundance were observed in intercropping rhizosphere soil, compared to that associated with peanut monocropping under low, middle, and high levels of nitrogen fertilizer application, whereas the opposite trend was observed for Chloroflexi abundance. Nitrospira abundance levels rose gradually in the monocropping treatment group, whereas the opposite trend was evident under intercropping conditions. Further analyses of nitrogen cycle-related genes demonstrated higher levels of nitrogen conversion cycle activity in intercropping peanut rhizosphere soil under low nitrogen levels, whereas nitrogen transformation cycle activity levels were higher in monocropping peanut rhizosphere soil under high levels of nitrogen amendment. It can be concluded that intercropping and nitrogen fertilizer application change the physical and chemical properties of soil, thus affecting the diversity and function of soil microbial communities in the peanut rhizosphere. These results offer a theoretical foundation for more efficient sugarcane/peanut intercropping systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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18 pages, 16217 KiB  
Article
Impact of Tea Tree Cultivation on Soil Microbiota, Soil Organic Matter, and Nitrogen Cycling in Mountainous Plantations
by Shuaibo Shao, Yuanping Li, Zhongwei Li, Xiaoxiao Ma, Yanqi Zhu, Yuqing Luo, Pumo Cai, Xiaoli Jia, Christopher Rensing and Qisong Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 638; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030638 - 21 Mar 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2531
Abstract
This study focused on examining the early stages of tea cultivation (1, 3, and 5 years) in mountainous tea plantations. It specifically aimed to investigate the changes in soil micro-ecology at different locations (inter-row, terrace surfaces, and terrace walls). It was revealed that [...] Read more.
This study focused on examining the early stages of tea cultivation (1, 3, and 5 years) in mountainous tea plantations. It specifically aimed to investigate the changes in soil micro-ecology at different locations (inter-row, terrace surfaces, and terrace walls). It was revealed that as tea tree cultivation progressed over the years, bacterial diversity and co-occurrence networks annually decreased in different locations. The results of soil physicochemical index analysis showed that the soil’s available nutrients and the activities of cellulase and protease increased. Furthermore, the amplitude of variation of these indexes in the inter-row soil was significantly higher than that on the terrace surfaces and the terrace walls (p < 0.05). Alterations occurred in the soil microbial community structure, with an enrichment of bacterial genera such as Sinomonas, Granulicella, and Sphingomonas, as well as fungal genera such as Trichoderma, Penicillium, and Talaromyces; an increase in the proportion of plant pathogenic fungi (Cladosporium, Fusarium, and Curvularia) was observed in the inter-row soil. The results of soil microbial function prediction showed that nitrification and nitrogen fixation decreased, but denitrification increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, cultivating tea trees in mountainous terraced plantations significantly impacted the soil microbial community, accelerated the metabolism of soil organic matter, disrupted soil nitrogen cycling functions, and increased the presence of plant pathogenic fungal pathogens. Moreover, the changes in the structure and functions of the soil microbial community demonstrate a spatial distance effect across different terrace locations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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17 pages, 2720 KiB  
Article
Weed Species’ Diversity and Composition as Shaped by the Interaction of Management, Site, and Soil Variables in Olive Groves of Southern Greece
by Petros Vahamidis, Demosthenis Chachalis, Antigoni Akrivou, Evangelos Karanasios, Maria Ganopoulou, Apostolia Argiri, Athanasia Mandoulaki, Evangelos Hatzigiannakis, Georgios Arampatzis, Andreas Panagopoulos, Irene Mantzouni and Emilia Markellou
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030640 - 21 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2278
Abstract
Gaining a comprehensive understanding of how weed communities respond to both environmental and human-induced factors is of paramount importance in developing effective and ecologically sound weed control strategies. The objectives of the current research were to (1) assess the effect of the main [...] Read more.
Gaining a comprehensive understanding of how weed communities respond to both environmental and human-induced factors is of paramount importance in developing effective and ecologically sound weed control strategies. The objectives of the current research were to (1) assess the effect of the main weed management practices used in Greek olive groves on weed species’ diversity; (2) explore the filtering effect of management, site, and soil variables in determining weed species’ composition; and (3) shed light on the association between weed species’ composition and the diversity of the understory vegetation of olive groves. To accomplish these objectives, winter weed species’ coverage was assessed in 116 olive groves, both conventional and organic, distributed across three provinces in southern Greece. The investigation encompassed 29 explanatory variables, categorized into three groups: soil (22), management practices (6), and site conditions (1). It was confirmed that glyphosate use may lower biodiversity and species richness; however, this trend was not universal. In fact, the negative influence of the presence of Oxalis pes-caprae L. on species richness and diversity far outweighed the effect of spraying glyphosate. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that among the 29 variables used to describe the ecological niche, eight (i.e., Mn, Mg, chemical spraying, mowing, rotary tiller, grazing, irrigation, and elevation) were significant and explained 21.5% of the total variation in weed species’ data. Interestingly, the soil Mn concentration was identified as the most influential one, highlighting the importance of soil micronutrients in determining weed species’ composition. The variation partitioning procedure demonstrated that the effect of the management variables on weed species’ composition accounted for 2.2 times the variance of soil variables and 4.5 times the variance of elevation. The present findings might help to enhance optimal management in olive groves that can sustain the biodiversity of flora and, in turn, provide various ecosystem services to agro-ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Weeds in Different Situations)
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13 pages, 2266 KiB  
Article
Effects of Balancing Exchangeable Cations Ca, Mg, and K on the Growth of Tomato Seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Based on Increased Soil Cation Exchange Capacity
by Mengyuan Yang, Dongxian Zhou, Huixian Hang, Shuo Chen, Hua Liu, Jikang Su, Huilin Lv, Huixin Jia and Gengmao Zhao
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030629 - 20 Mar 2024
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4289
Abstract
(1) Background: Previous research has demonstrated that the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soil and the balance of exchangeable cations Ca, Mg, and K are key factors affecting plant growth and development. We hypothesized that balancing exchangeable cations based on increased CEC would [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Previous research has demonstrated that the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soil and the balance of exchangeable cations Ca, Mg, and K are key factors affecting plant growth and development. We hypothesized that balancing exchangeable cations based on increased CEC would improve plant growth and development. (2) Methods: This study conducted a two-phase experiment to evaluate methods for increasing soil CEC and the effects of increasing CEC and balancing Ca, Mg, and K on plant growth. Therefore, we first conducted a soil culture experiment using organic fertilizer, montmorillonite, and humic acid to investigate fertilizers that can effectively increase CEC in the short term. Then, a tomato seedling pot experiment was conducted using the control (CK) and OMHA fertilizer-treated soils collected from soil culture experiments. The CK and OMHA treatment soils were constructed with balanced exchangeable cations and an unbalanced control, respectively. (3) Results: The soil culture experiments revealed that the combination of organic fertilizer, montmorillonite, and humic acid (OMHA treatment) had the most significant effect on increasing CEC. The CEC of the OMHA treatment increased by 41.07%, reaching 27.10 cmol·kg−1. The tomato pot experiments demonstrated that balancing the exchangeable cations in OMHA soil improved the Mg and K nutrition of tomato seedlings and significantly increased SPAD, leaf nitrogen content, and dry weight, while balancing the exchangeable cations in CK soil improved only the K nutrition of tomato seedlings. (4) Conclusions: Overall, balancing exchangeable cations based on increasing CEC can improve soil nutrient availability and alleviate the competition effects of Ca, Mg, and K cations. Low CEC and imbalanced exchangeable cations can be detrimental to tomato seedling growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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11 pages, 1190 KiB  
Article
Mowing Height Effects on ‘TifTuf’ Bermudagrass during Deficit Irrigation
by Reagan W. Hejl, Matthew M. Conley, Desalegn D. Serba and Clinton F. Williams
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 628; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030628 - 20 Mar 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1481
Abstract
The development of management plans which lead to water efficient landscapes is a growing need in the turfgrass community. While deficit irrigation as a scheduling method can improve water conservation, more information is desired on how to best leverage other management practices, such [...] Read more.
The development of management plans which lead to water efficient landscapes is a growing need in the turfgrass community. While deficit irrigation as a scheduling method can improve water conservation, more information is desired on how to best leverage other management practices, such as mowing height when deficit irrigation is imposed. The objectives of this study were to characterize actual evapotranspiration (ETa), turfgrass visual quality, clipping production, and root development of ‘TifTuf’ bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon × C. transvaalensis Burt Davy) when irrigated at full (1.0 × ETa) and deficit levels (0.65 and 0.30 × ETa), and cut at four separate mowing heights (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 cm) over two 8-week experimental runs. An elevated ETa was observed at the 7.5 cm and 10.0 cm mowing heights compared to the 2.5 cm mowing height in both runs, and the 5.0 cm mowing height in one run. The visual quality decreased throughout both study periods and mostly for the deficit irrigation treatments, with visual quality falling below minimum acceptable levels at the lowest irrigation level (0.30 × ETa) 5 weeks into run A, and 8 weeks into run B. Despite an elevated ETa and a higher root dry weight at higher mowing heights (7.5 and 10.0 cm), clipping production and visual quality was generally higher at lower mowing heights (2.5 and 5.0 cm) for both full and deficit irrigation levels. These results demonstrate that mowing height can significantly influence bermudagrass water use, as well as responses to deficit irrigation. When maintaining ‘TifTuf’ bermudagrass at heights above 2.5 cm, the results from this study indicate a lower water use and improved response to deficit irrigation at mowing heights ≤ 5 cm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Water Use and Irrigation)
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17 pages, 22420 KiB  
Article
Assessing Changes in Climatic Suitability for Sesame Cultivation in China (1978–2019) Based on Fuzzy Mathematics
by Xue Wang, Jiantao Zhang, Jie Zhang, Hecang Zang, Feng Hu, Tongmei Gao, Ming Huang, Youjun Li and Guoqiang Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 631; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030631 - 20 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2150
Abstract
Sesame is one of the important oil seed crops grown for the high-quality oil. Its growth, development, and yield are significantly affected by the changing climate conditions. Evaluating the sesame climatic suitability is crucial to optimize sesame cultivation patterns and planting distribution, and [...] Read more.
Sesame is one of the important oil seed crops grown for the high-quality oil. Its growth, development, and yield are significantly affected by the changing climate conditions. Evaluating the sesame climatic suitability is crucial to optimize sesame cultivation patterns and planting distribution, and to aid strategic decision making for future agricultural adaptation. Based on agricultural climatic suitability theory and the fuzzy mathematics method, in this study, we established the temperature, precipitation, sunshine, and comprehensive suitability model. Then, we assessed the spatial distribution and chronological changes in climatic suitability under two periods, 1978–1998 (earlier 21 years) and 1999–2019 (latter 21 years). The results showed that compared with the meteorological data in the earlier 21 years, the mean temperature during the sesame-growing season in the latter 21 years increased from 24.48 °C to 25.05 °C, and the cumulative precipitation increased from 744.38 mm to 754.81 mm; however, the sunshine hours decreased from 6.05 h to 5.55 h. Temperature, precipitation, sunshine, and comprehensive suitability during the sesame-growing season in the main sesame-producing areas of China all had a downward trend. The distribution of temperature and comprehensive suitability in the north is higher than that in the south, while the precipitation and sunshine suitability had an uneven distribution. The area of high-temperature suitability and high-precipitation suitability increased from 43.45 × 106 ha to 46.34 × 106 ha and from 3.20 × 106 ha to 7.97 × 106 ha, respectively, whereas the area of high-sunshine suitability decreased from 4.04 × 106 ha to 2.09 × 106 ha. The climate change was more beneficial to sesame cultivation in northeast Anhui where the area of high climatic suitability clearly expanded, and in eastern Jiangxi where the area of the general climatic suitability increased. In contrast, it is worth noting that the area of high climatic suitability in northern Henan decreased and the area of low climatic suitability in Hubei increased. Our results have important implications for improving agricultural production to cope with ongoing climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation of Crops to the Environment under Climate Change: Physiological and Agronomic Strategies — Volume II)
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20 pages, 3141 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Antioxidant Activity and Secondary Metabolite Production in Tartary Buckwheat under Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)-Induced Drought Stress during Germination
by Md. Shakhawat Hossain, Jing Li, Chenyang Wang, Fakhrul Islam Monshi, Rehenuma Tabassum, Md Ashraful Islam, Muhiuddin Faruquee, Md. Abdul Muktadir, Md Sultan Mia, A. K. M. Mominul Islam, Ahmed Khairul Hasan, Ashim Sikdar and Baili Feng
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 619; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030619 - 19 Mar 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2437
Abstract
Drought stress is one of the key factors impeding agricultural productivity worldwide. This experiment aimed at investigating the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought stress effects on seed germination, physiology, and biochemical mechanisms in Tartary buckwheat genotypes. Four PEG-induced stress conditions (0%, 10%, 20%, and [...] Read more.
Drought stress is one of the key factors impeding agricultural productivity worldwide. This experiment aimed at investigating the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought stress effects on seed germination, physiology, and biochemical mechanisms in Tartary buckwheat genotypes. Four PEG-induced stress conditions (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) were applied to 14 selected genotypes at the germination stage to evaluate their stress tolerance capacity. Significant differences were obtained in germination percentage, relative water content (RWC), and all growth parameters among the studied 14 genotypes. Based on the stress tolerance index (STI), XiNong 9943, XiNong 9940, and QianKu-5 were found to be tolerant, and QuanKu-4 was susceptible. These cultivars were selected for further physiological and biochemical characterization. The results demonstrated that the activity of enzymes was significantly increased with the increase in PEG dose. SOD (superoxide dismutase), POD (peroxidase), CAT (catalase), and APX (ascorbate peroxidase) levels obtained at 30% PEG in the XiNong 9943 genotype were 2.01, 2.19, 4.92, and 4.46 times higher, respectively, than the normal growth condition (T0). Moreover, the secondary metabolite content also increased with the increase in PEG dose. At 30% PEG, the genotype XiNong 9943 yielded phenols, flavonoids, polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) levels that were higher by 131%, 95%, 154%, and 164%, respectively, than T0 condition. From both the findings of the activity of enzymes and the secondary metabolite content, the genotypic response to drought was ranked in the following order: XiNong 9943 > XiNong 9940 > QianKu-5 > QianKu-4, which supported the STI selection system. Assessing the overall performance, the genotype XiNong 9943 shows drought tolerance, which can be useful material for future buckwheat breeding programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant-Crop Biology and Biochemistry)
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18 pages, 1901 KiB  
Article
An Evaluation of Potato Fertilization and the Potential of Farmers to Reduce the Amount of Fertilizer Used Based on Yield and Nutrient Requirements
by Yayi Wang, Rong Zhang, Songling Li, Xinnian Guo, Quanhui Li, Xiaoli Hui, Zhaohui Wang and Huixia Wang
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 612; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030612 - 18 Mar 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2683
Abstract
Unreasonable fertilization often fails to match crop yield and nutrient requirements, leading to low crop yield, the waste of mineral resources, and increased costs for farmers. A survey of the potato yield and fertilization of farmers was conducted in Haidong City of Qinghai [...] Read more.
Unreasonable fertilization often fails to match crop yield and nutrient requirements, leading to low crop yield, the waste of mineral resources, and increased costs for farmers. A survey of the potato yield and fertilization of farmers was conducted in Haidong City of Qinghai Province for three consecutive years (2017–2019) torecommend reasonable fertilizer application. The results showed that the required amount of NPK fertilizer per ton of potato was 4.85 kg N, 1.26 kg P2O5, and 6.98 kg K2O, respectively. The potato yields ranged from 7500 to 66,429 kg ha−1, with an average of 26,069 kg ha−1. The average N, P, and Kfertilizers (in the form of N, P2O5, and K2O, respectively) applied by the farmers were 213 kg N ha−1, 202 kg P2O5ha−1, and 43 kg K2O ha−1. More than 60% of the farmers appliedtoo much Nand Pfertilizers and too little Kfertilizer. Therefore, the farmers with lowyieldsshould reduce the application of Nand P fertilizers by a range of 41–220 kg ha−1 and 24–265 kg ha−1. Allthe farmers should increase Kfertilizer use by 7–273 kg ha−1. Reasonable fertilization could effectively conserve resources, improve economic efficiency, and reduce environmental impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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22 pages, 4644 KiB  
Article
Early Detection of Rice Leaf Blast Disease Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Remote Sensing: A Novel Approach Integrating a New Spectral Vegetation Index and Machine Learning
by Dongxue Zhao, Yingli Cao, Jinpeng Li, Qiang Cao, Jinxuan Li, Fuxu Guo, Shuai Feng and Tongyu Xu
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030602 - 17 Mar 2024
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3128
Abstract
Leaf blast is recognized as one of the most devastating diseases affecting rice production in the world, seriously threatening rice yield. Therefore, early detection of leaf blast is extremely important to limit the spread and propagation of the disease. In this study, a [...] Read more.
Leaf blast is recognized as one of the most devastating diseases affecting rice production in the world, seriously threatening rice yield. Therefore, early detection of leaf blast is extremely important to limit the spread and propagation of the disease. In this study, a leaf blast-specific spectral vegetation index RBVI = 9.78R816−R724 − 2.08(ρ736/R724) was designed to qualitatively detect the level of leaf blast disease in the canopy of a field and to improve the accuracy of early detection of leaf blast by remote sensing by unmanned aerial vehicle. Stacking integrated learning, AdaBoost, and SVM were used to compare and analyze the performance of the RBVI and traditional vegetation index for early detection of leaf blast. The results showed that the stacking model constructed based on the RBVI spectral index had the highest detection accuracy (OA: 95.9%, Kappa: 93.8%). Compared to stacking, the detection accuracy of the SVM and AdaBoost models constructed based on the RBVI is slightly degraded. Compared with conventional SVIs, the RBVI had higher accuracy in its ability to qualitatively detect leaf blast in the field. The leaf blast-specific spectral index RBVI proposed in this study can more effectively improve the accuracy of UAV remote sensing for early detection of rice leaf blast in the field and make up for the shortcomings of UAV hyperspectral detection, which is susceptible to interference by environmental factors. The results of this study can provide a simple and effective method for field management and timely control of the disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Research on Hyperspectral and Multispectral Imaging and Their Applications in Precision Agriculture Ⅱ)
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12 pages, 2281 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Long-Term Mulched Drip Irrigation on Soil Particle Composition and Salinity in Arid Northwest China
by Tianbao Huang, Zhenhua Wang, Li Guo, Haiqiang Li, Mingdong Tan, Jie Zou, Rui Zong and Yam Prasad Dhital
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 599; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030599 - 16 Mar 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1591
Abstract
The evaluation of soil particle composition and salt dynamics is essential for promoting the sustainable development of oasis agriculture in arid regions under long-term mulched drip irrigation (MDI). In this study, we employed the space-for-time substitution method to investigate the long-term effects of [...] Read more.
The evaluation of soil particle composition and salt dynamics is essential for promoting the sustainable development of oasis agriculture in arid regions under long-term mulched drip irrigation (MDI). In this study, we employed the space-for-time substitution method to investigate the long-term effects of MDI on soil particle composition and salinity. Additionally, seven fields, with MDI durations ranging from 0 to 16 years, were selected to represent the primary successional sequence though time in Northwest China. Soil samples were collected from three soil depths (0–30 cm, 30–60 cm, and 60–100 cm) and then analyzed in the laboratory for soil particle composition and salt content. Our findings demonstrated that influenced by the depth of mechanical cultivation and the maximum wetting front depth, the long-term application of MDI significantly altered both the structure of soil layers and the composition of soil particles after 8 years. Soil sand content and soil salinity gradually decreased, whereas the content of soil silt and clay increased with increasing MDI duration throughout 0–100 cm soil depth. Furthermore, the rates of soil desalination stabilized after 10 years of MDI application, with desalination levels exceeding 90% in the 0–100 cm soil layer. Additionally, the soil mass fractal dimension (Dm) exhibited an upward trend across 0–100 cm soil depth. The changes in soil particle composition indirectly influenced the variations in Dm and salt content. Our study demonstrated that long-term application of MDI effectively mitigated soil salinity, changed soil structure, and ultimately enhanced soil quality and cotton yield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Evolution, Management, and Sustainable Utilization)
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17 pages, 5145 KiB  
Article
Photosystem II Tolerance to Excess Zinc Exposure and High Light Stress in Salvia sclarea L.
by Michael Moustakas, Anelia Dobrikova, Ilektra Sperdouli, Anetta Hanć, Julietta Moustaka, Ioannis-Dimosthenis S. Adamakis and Emilia Apostolova
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030589 - 15 Mar 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1717
Abstract
High light (HL) intensity has a substantial impact on light energy flow and partitioning within photosynthetic apparatus. To realize the impact of HL intensity on zinc (Zn) tolerance mechanisms in clary sage (Salvia sclarea L., Lamiaceae) plants, we examined the effect of [...] Read more.
High light (HL) intensity has a substantial impact on light energy flow and partitioning within photosynthetic apparatus. To realize the impact of HL intensity on zinc (Zn) tolerance mechanisms in clary sage (Salvia sclarea L., Lamiaceae) plants, we examined the effect of the altered chlorophyll and nutrient uptake under excess Zn supply on the response mechanism of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry. Eight-week-old clary sage plants were treated with 5 μM Zn (control) or 900 μM Zn in Hoagland nutrient solution. Leaf elemental analysis for Zn, Mn, Mg, and Fe was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), whereas PSII functioning under HL was evaluated by chlorophyll fluorescence imaging analysis. Exposure of S. sclarea plants to 900 μM Zn increased leaf Zn accumulation and decreased leaf Mg and chlorophyll. The decreased non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) provided evidence of the photoprotection offered by the smaller light-harvesting antennae due to the reduced chlorophyll. The increased Mn after Zn exposure corresponded with higher efficiency of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) that was significantly correlated with the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Fv/Fm). An increased electron transport rate (ETR) coincided with increased leaf Fe, which is known to play a vital role in the enzymes engaged in ETR. The decreased (32%) NPQ after an 8-day exposure to Zn caused an increased (10%) quantum yield of non-regulated energy loss in PSII (ΦNO), indicative of an increased singlet oxygen (1O2) production. It is suggested that the decreased NPQ induced acclimation responses of clary sage plants to HL and excess Zn by increasing 1O2 production. The reduced (18%) excess excitation energy (EXC) at PSII and the increased (24%) quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII) and ETR indicated improved photosynthetic efficiency under excess Zn and HL intensity. Therefore, the exposure of medicinal plants to excess Zn not only boosts their photosynthetic efficiency, enhancing crop yields, but can also improve Fe and Zn content, ameliorating the human health deficiency of these two essential micronutrients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Plant Responses to Environmental Stress)
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23 pages, 5174 KiB  
Article
Annual Weeds Suppression and Oat Forage Yield Responses to Crop Density Management in an Oat-Cultivated Grassland: A Case Study in Eastern China
by Wei Tang, Ziguang Li, Haipeng Guo, Boyu Chen, Tingru Wang, Fuhong Miao, Chao Yang, Wangdan Xiong and Juan Sun
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 583; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030583 - 14 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1874
Abstract
Although weeds can be inhibited by high planting densities, canopy shading, elemental balance and soil microbial recruitment are not yet adequately considered when measuring competitive effects on weed control. The effects of oat (Avena sativa) planting density (60 to 600 plants [...] Read more.
Although weeds can be inhibited by high planting densities, canopy shading, elemental balance and soil microbial recruitment are not yet adequately considered when measuring competitive effects on weed control. The effects of oat (Avena sativa) planting density (60 to 600 plants m−2) on the biomass and shoot element balance of oat and weeds were evaluated in a field experiment. The shift in the microbial community of the dominant weed species was examined in a pot experiment by growing the weed alone and in competition with 360 oat plants m−2 (recommended planting density) under greenhouse conditions. Increasing oat planting density beyond 360 plants m−2 did not improve oat forage yield or weed suppression. Compared to 60 plants m−2, the biomass of broadleaf and grass weeds decreased by 1122% and 111%, respectively, at a density of 360 plants m−2, while oat forage biomass increased by 60% and leaf area index by 24%. The improved canopy properties suppressed competing weeds through increased shading. Typically, the C:N and C:P ratios of shoots of Echinochloa crus-galli and Digitaria sanguinalis were higher than those of Portulaca oleracea and Chenopodium album. At high planting densities, E. crus-galli and D. sanguinalis exhibited high P contents and low N:P ratios, suggesting a limited supply of N nutrients for growth. Soil bacterial community assay showed that the composition of microbial communities of the two grass weeds were shaped by the presence of oat competition, which also considerably depleted several important functional microbes associated with nutrient cycling in the weeds’ rhizosphere. These results highlight that increased crop density significantly improves the crop competitive advantage over weeds through increased shading, reduced elemental balance, and beneficial microorganisms of weeds, thereby reducing the need for herbicides or physical weed control in oat cropping system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Stress Biology of Forage and Turfgrass)
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13 pages, 5056 KiB  
Article
Agriculturally Improved and Semi-Natural Permanent Grasslands Provide Complementary Ecosystem Services in Swedish Boreal Landscapes
by Guillermo Aguilera Nuñez, Anders Glimskär, Giulia Zacchello, Richard M. Francksen, Mark J. Whittingham and Matthew Hiron
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 567; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030567 - 12 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2381
Abstract
Permanent grasslands cover more than a third of European agricultural land and are important for a number of ecosystem services. Permanent grasslands used for agriculture are broadly separated into agriculturally improved and semi-natural grasslands. High cultural and natural values linked to semi-natural grasslands [...] Read more.
Permanent grasslands cover more than a third of European agricultural land and are important for a number of ecosystem services. Permanent grasslands used for agriculture are broadly separated into agriculturally improved and semi-natural grasslands. High cultural and natural values linked to semi-natural grasslands are well documented. However, in boreal and hemi-boreal agricultural landscapes, less information is available about the areal coverage of improved permanent grasslands and their role for ecosystem service provision and biodiversity. In Sweden, grasslands are administratively separated into semi-natural (i.e., land that cannot be ploughed) or arable (i.e., improved temporary or permanent grassland on land that can be ploughed). We used data from a large-scale environmental monitoring program to show that improved permanent grassland (i.e., permanent grasslands on arable fields) may be a previously unrecognised large area of the agricultural land use in Sweden. We show that improved permanent grasslands together with semi-natural grasslands are both comparable but also complementary providers of a range of ecosystem services (plant species richness, plant resources for pollinators and forage amount for livestock production). However, as expected, semi-natural grasslands with the highest-level AESs (special values) show high species richness values for vascular plants, plants indicating traditional semi-natural management conditions and red-listed species. Improved permanent grasslands on arable fields are likely an underestimated but integral part of the agricultural economy and ecological function in boreal landscapes that together with high nature value semi-natural grasslands provide a broad range of ecosystem services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Grassland Productivity and Sustainability — 2nd Edition)
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24 pages, 9402 KiB  
Article
Effect of Irrigation and Nitrogen Management on Potato Growth, Yield, and Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiencies
by Bhimsen Shrestha, Blair L. Stringam, Murali K. Darapuneni, Kevin A. Lombard, Soumaila Sanogo, Charles Higgins and Koffi Djaman
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030560 - 10 Mar 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3634
Abstract
Irrigation and nitrogen management are crucial for sustainable potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production. A field experiment was conducted during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons at Farmington, New Mexico, to evaluate the performance of two chip potato varieties (Lamoka and Waneta) under [...] Read more.
Irrigation and nitrogen management are crucial for sustainable potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production. A field experiment was conducted during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons at Farmington, New Mexico, to evaluate the performance of two chip potato varieties (Lamoka and Waneta) under three irrigation regimes (full irrigation (FI), 20% deficit irrigation (DI) and 40% DI) and seven nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 60, 115, 170, 220, 280, and 340 kg N/ha). The treatment combinations of irrigation regimes, nitrogen rates, and varieties were arranged in a split–split plot design with three replications as main plot, sub-plot, and sub-sub plot, respectively. The two-year results showed that irrigation regimes had the most significant effect on plant growth, physiology, and tuber yield of the potato varieties. For both Lamoka and Waneta, the plant height and canopy cover were lower under 40% DI than under 20% DI and FI treatments. The SPAD meter values were higher under 40% DI, followed by 20% DI and FI treatments, whereas the stomatal conductance was higher under FI, followed by 20% DI and 40% DI during both growing seasons. Regardless of nitrogen rates and variety, a 20% water-saving irrigation strategy reduced the total tuber yield by 4.5% and 22.1% in the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons, respectively, while the 40% water-saving irrigation strategy reduced total tuber yield by 36.8% and 58.2% in the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons, respectively, as compared to full irrigation. Shifting from full irrigation to 20% DI could save 711.2 to 1036.3 m3/ha of irrigation water. For Lamoka, the highest total tuber yield was obtained with 60 kg N/ha under 20% DI and 220 kg N/ha under FI in 2022 and 2023, respectively. For Waneta, the highest total tuber yield was obtained with 115 kg N/ha under 20% DI and 170 kg N/ha under FI in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Maximum water use efficiency (WUE) was obtained at 60 kg N/ha with 20% DI for both Lamoka and Waneta in 2022, while maximum WUE was obtained at 220 kg N/ha under FI for Lamoka and at 170 kg N/ha for Waneta in the 2023 season. The maximum nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was achieved with 60 kg N/ha under 20% DI for both varieties during both growing seasons. Thus, for sustainable irrigation and nitrogen management, the application of a 20% deficit irrigation strategy with a lower nitrogen rate (60 to 170 kg N/ha) could be the best option to improve WUE and NUE with minimal tuber yield reduction. Our study suggested that 40% deficit irrigation would not be beneficial as compared to both full irrigation and 20% water-saving irrigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effective Soil and Water Conservation Practices in Agriculture)
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17 pages, 5931 KiB  
Article
Infiltration and Leaching Characteristics of Soils with Different Salinity under Fertilizer Irrigation
by Hongyan Zhu, Bingyan Zheng, Weizheng Zhong, Jinbo Xu, Weibo Nie, Yan Sun and Zilong Guan
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030553 - 8 Mar 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3000
Abstract
Salt and nutrient transport and transformations during water infiltration directly influence saline soil improvement and the efficient use of water and fertilizer resources. The effects of soil initial salinity (18.3 g/kg, 25.5 g/kg, 42.2 g/kg, 79.94 g/kg, and 165 g/kg, respectively, labeled S1 [...] Read more.
Salt and nutrient transport and transformations during water infiltration directly influence saline soil improvement and the efficient use of water and fertilizer resources. The effects of soil initial salinity (18.3 g/kg, 25.5 g/kg, 42.2 g/kg, 79.94 g/kg, and 165 g/kg, respectively, labeled S1 to S5) on the infiltration and leaching characteristics of water, salt, and nitrogen were analyzed via a one-dimensional vertical fertilizer infiltration experiment. Meanwhile, the estimation models of cumulative infiltration and wetting front, including the effect of soil initial salinity, were established. The results showed that, with the increase in soil initial salinity, the cumulative infiltration within the same time decreased, and the migration time of wet front to 45 cm was longer. The time required for S5 to reach the preset cumulative infiltration was more than six times that of S1, and, for the wet front migration to 45 cm, the time requirement for S5 was about four times that of S1. In the established Kostiakov model and wetting front model, the coefficients all decreased with the increase in soil initial salinity, and the test index R2 values both reached 0.999. In the Kostiakov model, coefficient K had a linear relationship with the natural logarithm of initial soil salt content, while index a had a direct linear relationship with initial soil salt content. The cumulative leachate volume decreased with the increase in soil initial salinity, and the corresponding data of S3 and S5 were reduced by 37% and 57.3%, respectively, compared with S1. The electrical conductivity values of S1, S3, and S5 were 15.4, 209.8, and 205.6 ms/cm, respectively, being affected by the initial content in soil, soil moisture transport rate, and exogenous potassium nitrate (KNO3) addition. The NO3−-N concentrations in the leachates of S1, S3, and S5 at the end of leaching were 55.26, 16.17, and 3.2 mg/L, respectively. Based on the results of this study, for soil with high initial salinity, the conventional irrigation amount (2250 m3/ha) of the general soil in the study area could not meet the requirements of leaching salt. These results can provide a reference for the formulation of irrigation and fertilization strategies for soils with different salinity and contribute to the sustainable development of saline soil agriculture and the ecological environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water-Fertilizer Management for Soil Salinization Amendment and Crop Production in Salt-Affected Agroecosystems)
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19 pages, 5052 KiB  
Article
A Comprehensive Assessment of the Morphological Development of Inflorescence, Yield Potential, and Growth Attributes of Summer-Grown, Greenhouse Cherry Tomatoes
by Ionuț Ovidiu Jerca, Sorin Mihai Cîmpeanu, Răzvan Ionuț Teodorescu, Elena Maria Drăghici, Oana Alina Nițu, Sigurd Sannan and Adnan Arshad
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030556 - 8 Mar 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2920
Abstract
Understanding how cherry tomatoes respond to variations in greenhouse microclimate is crucial for optimizing tomato production in a controlled environment. The present study delves into the intricate relationship between summer-grown cherry tomatoes (Cheramy F1) and greenhouse conditions, exploring the influence of [...] Read more.
Understanding how cherry tomatoes respond to variations in greenhouse microclimate is crucial for optimizing tomato production in a controlled environment. The present study delves into the intricate relationship between summer-grown cherry tomatoes (Cheramy F1) and greenhouse conditions, exploring the influence of these conditions on growth attributes, inflorescence development, and yield potential. The aim of the study was to characterize the chronology of reproductive events, specifically flowering and fruit stages, in correlation with the prevailing greenhouse climate during the development of the first ten inflorescences on the plant. The performance of each inflorescence has been ranked based on available data, which involve a comparative analysis of both the time duration (number of days) and the frequency of yield-contributing traits, specifically the total number of flowers at the anthesis stage. The duration of each stage required for completion was recorded and presented as a productivity rate factor. Greenhouse conditions exhibited variations during the vegetative and reproductive stages, respectively, as follows: temperature - 25.1 °C and 21.33 °C, CO2 levels - 484.85 ppm and 458.85 ppm, light intensity - 367.94 W/m2 and 349.52 W/m2, and humidity - 73.23% and 89.73%. The collected data conclusively demonstrated a substantial impact of greenhouse microclimate on plant growth, productivity, and inflorescence development. The development of flowers and fruit has been categorized into five stages: the fruit bud stage (FB), the anthesis stage (AS), the fruit setting stage (FS), the fruit maturation stage (FM), and the fruit ripening stage (FR). An irregular productivity and development response was noted across the first (close to roots) to the tenth inflorescence. Inflorescence 5 demonstrated the highest overall performance, followed by inflorescence numbers 4 and 6. The study findings provide valuable insights for enhancing greenhouse operations, emphasizing the improvement of both the yield and growth of cherry tomatoes while promoting environmental sustainability. A statistical analysis of variance was used to rigorously examine the presented results, conducted at a confidence level of p < 0.05. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecophysiological Mechanism and Simulation Model of Plant Phenology in Response to Climatic Change)
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22 pages, 15905 KiB  
Article
Water Footprint Assessment of Agricultural Crop Productions in the Dry Farming Region, Shanxi Province, Northern China
by Lu Wang, Cunjie Yan, Wenqi Zhang and Yinghu Zhang
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 546; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030546 - 7 Mar 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2312
Abstract
Exploring the crop production water footprint and their driving factors is of significant importance for management of agricultural water resources. However, how do we effectively assess the total agricultural water consumption and explore the significance of their driving factors, i.e., population, economy, and [...] Read more.
Exploring the crop production water footprint and their driving factors is of significant importance for management of agricultural water resources. However, how do we effectively assess the total agricultural water consumption and explore the significance of their driving factors, i.e., population, economy, and agricultural production conditions, using a backpropagation neural network (BPNN)? It is still ambiguous. Water consumption for crops during the growing season is explicitly explored by way of water footprint indicators (green water footprint, WFPg, and blue water footprint, WFPb). This study provides new insights into the factors driving the changes in crop production water footprint in Taiyuan City over the period of 2005–2021. Simulations of crop evapotranspiration using the CROPWAT model were quantified. The results showed that Taiyuan City has a low crop yield level below the average level of China, with the highest crop yield in maize. The crop production water footprint in Taiyuan City showed a non-linearly decreasing trend over time. The average annual crop production water footprint was 187.09 × 103 m3/kg in Taiyuan City, with the blue water footprint and green water footprint accounting for 63.32% and 36.68%, respectively. The crop production water footprint in the west and north of Taiyuan City was significantly higher than those in other areas, accounting for 42.92% of the total crop production water footprint. Oilseed crops contributed most to the total crop production water footprint, accounting for 47.11%. The GDP and total sown area of crops were more important for the changes in WFPb. Agricultural machinery power and agriculture-to-non-agriculture ratio were more important for the changes in WFPg. Agricultural machinery power and GDP were more important for the changes in IWFP. In-depth analysis of the factors driving the changes in crop production water footprint is dramatically important for agricultural decision makers to mitigate water resource pressure in Taiyuan City. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Water Use and Irrigation)
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36 pages, 3119 KiB  
Review
Plastic Pollution in Agriculture as a Threat to Food Security, the Ecosystem, and the Environment: An Overview
by Imran Ali Lakhiar, Haofang Yan, Jianyun Zhang, Guoqing Wang, Shuaishuai Deng, Rongxuan Bao, Chuan Zhang, Tabinda Naz Syed, Biyu Wang, Rui Zhou and Xuanxuan Wang
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030548 - 7 Mar 2024
Cited by 55 | Viewed by 18438
Abstract
Plastic products in plant production and protection help farmers increase crop production, enhance food quality, and reduce global water use and their environmental footprint. Simultaneously, plastic has emerged as a critical ecological issue in recent years, and its pollution has significantly impacted soil, [...] Read more.
Plastic products in plant production and protection help farmers increase crop production, enhance food quality, and reduce global water use and their environmental footprint. Simultaneously, plastic has emerged as a critical ecological issue in recent years, and its pollution has significantly impacted soil, water, and plants. Thus, this review examines the multifaceted problems of plastic pollution in agriculture as a risk to food security, the ecosystem, and the environment. The study’s objective was to review and present the most recent information on using different plastic products in agriculture, the sources of plastic pollution, the advantages and drawbacks of using plastic products, and the strategies for mitigating plastic pollution in agriculture. Furthermore, after examining current plastic applications, benefits, adverse effects, and risks to soil, plants, and the environment, we addressed the requirements for technological advancements, regulations, and social processes that could contribute to mitigating plastic pollution in our ecosystems. We identified different pathways toward more sustainable use of plastics in agriculture and discussed future research directions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Emerging Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Technologies, and Applications—2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 1534 KiB  
Article
Substituting Partial Chemical Fertilizers with Bio-Organic Fertilizers to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Water-Saving Irrigated Rice Fields
by Zhengdi Han, Huijing Hou, Xianzi Yao, Xiang Qian and Mingyao Zhou
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030544 - 7 Mar 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2404
Abstract
Conventional water and fertilizer management practices have led to elevated greenhouse gas emissions from rice fields and decreased the efficiency of water and fertilizer utilization in agricultural land. The implementation of water-saving irrigation and the substitution of chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives can [...] Read more.
Conventional water and fertilizer management practices have led to elevated greenhouse gas emissions from rice fields and decreased the efficiency of water and fertilizer utilization in agricultural land. The implementation of water-saving irrigation and the substitution of chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives can influence CH4 and N2O emissions in rice fields. However, it remains unclear how the simultaneous application of both methods will affect the CH4 and N2O emissions in rice fields. Therefore, two irrigation methods (F: flooded irrigation; C: controlled irrigation) and three fertilization modes (A: full chemical fertilizer; B: bio-organic fertilizer replacing 15% chemical nitrogen fertilizer; C: bio-organic fertilizer replacing 30% chemical nitrogen fertilizer) were set up through field experiments to explore the effect of greenhouse gas emission reduction in rice fields by combining controlled irrigation and bio-organic fertilizers. Substituting some chemical fertilizers with bio-organic fertilizers can lower the peak CH4 and N2O fluxes in rice fields, leading to a decrease in the cumulative CH4 and N2O emissions by 11.9~29.7% and 10.8~57.3%, respectively. The reductions led to a considerable decrease in the global warming potential (GWP) and the greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI) by 16.1~48.1% and 16.3~48.1%, respectively. Controlled irrigation significantly reduced CH4 emissions by 55.2~69.4% compared with flooded irrigation in rice fields. However, it also increased N2O emissions by 47.5~207.9%, considerably reducing their GWPs by 11.8~45.5%. Neither bio-organic fertilizer substitution nor controlled irrigation significantly affected rice yield. Replacing 15% of chemical nitrogen fertilizers with bio-organic fertilizers in controlled irrigation rice fields can minimize rice GWP and GHGI. The study’s results are of significant importance for enhancing the regulation of greenhouse gases in farmland and achieving sustainable agriculture through cleaner production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Water Use and Irrigation)
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17 pages, 2118 KiB  
Article
The Impact of an Alien Snail Pomacea canaliculata Invading Coastal Saline Soils on Soil Chemical and Biological Properties
by Qi Chen, Yingying Zhou, Yue Qi, Wen Zeng, Zhaoji Shi, Xing Liu and Jiaen Zhang
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 540; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030540 - 6 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2252
Abstract
Recent studies have indicated that the invasive apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) exhibits tolerance to the salinity levels present in coastal agricultural soils, suggesting that apple snails could potentially invade salt-affected coastal agricultural areas. However, the effects of the alien snail Pomacea [...] Read more.
Recent studies have indicated that the invasive apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) exhibits tolerance to the salinity levels present in coastal agricultural soils, suggesting that apple snails could potentially invade salt-affected coastal agricultural areas. However, the effects of the alien snail Pomacea canaliculata invasion on coastal saline soils, such as in terms of soil properties, microbial diversity, and abundance, remain poorly understood. To fill this gap, we conducted experiments involving three salinity levels (0, 2‰, and 5‰, w/w), coupled with varying snail densities (0, 5, and 10 snails per box), applied to agricultural soil. We analyzed soil chemical properties, enzyme activities, and bacterial communities. The findings revealed that heightened soil salinity increased soil electrical conductivity (EC) (exceeding 1312.67 μS cm−1). Under saline conditions, snail treatments significantly increased the soil organic matter (SOM) content from 15.82 mg kg−1 to 18.69 mg kg−1, and concurrently diminished the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from 47.45 mg kg−1 to 34.60 mg kg−1. Both snail and salinity treatments resulted in ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) accumulation, while nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) concentrations remained low in salt-affected soils. A notable positive correlation existed between the EC and the activities of hydroxylamine reductase (HR) and peroxidase (POD), where HR exhibited a positive correlation with NH4+-N, and POD displayed a negative correlation with NO3−-N. Salinity substantially decreased the diversity and altered the composition of soil bacterial community, with the phyla Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes adapting to salt-affected soil environment and proliferating. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis indicated that snails exerted a direct influence on soil-available nitrogen (including NO3−-N and NH4+-N), while salinity impacted available nitrogen by modulating soil enzyme activities and bacterial communities. Our findings provide insights into how soil responds to the concurrent impacts of snail invasion and soil salinization, establishing some references for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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14 pages, 1236 KiB  
Article
Herbicidal Potential of the Natural Compounds Carvacrol, Thymol, Eugenol, p-Cymene, Citral and Pelargonic Acid in Field Conditions: Indications for Better Performance
by Natalia Torres-Pagán, Marta Muñoz, Sara Barbero, Roberta Mamone, Rosa Peiró, Alessandra Carrubba, Adela M. Sánchez-Moreiras, Diego Gómez de Barreda and Mercedes Verdeguer
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030537 - 5 Mar 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2391
Abstract
In recent years, interest in natural products with herbicidal activity as new tools for integrated weed management has increased. The European Union is demanding a reduction in the number of herbicides used, forbidding use of the most toxic ones, despite the problem of [...] Read more.
In recent years, interest in natural products with herbicidal activity as new tools for integrated weed management has increased. The European Union is demanding a reduction in the number of herbicides used, forbidding use of the most toxic ones, despite the problem of weed resistance increasing. Pelargonic acid (PA) is the only natural herbicide available in Spain. In this work, two field assays were performed with the natural compounds carvacrol (CAR), citral (CIT), eugenol (EUG), thymol (THY), p-cymene (P-CYM), (PA), and the combination of PA with CIT—all except P-CYM formulated by Seipasa—to test their herbicidal efficacy in real conditions. They were compared with commercial PA, glyphosate (GLY) and oxyfluorfen (OXY). In both experiments, GLY achieved the best weed control. Considering the natural herbicides, PA formulated by Seipasa and PA plus CIT were the most effective. From both experiments, some conclusions can be extracted for better herbicidal performance of natural products: (1) use products on sensitive weed species, (2) treat weeds at earlier phenological stages, (3) find the active doses in field conditions, (4) cover weeds well when treating, (5) ensure adequate formulation of products, and (6) develop a strategy for correct application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Natural Products for Weed Control in Agricultural Systems)
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27 pages, 34345 KiB  
Article
An Evaluation System of the Modernization Level of Irrigation Districts with an Analysis of Obstacle Factors: A Case Study for North China
by Xichao Fan, Jingtao Qin, Mouchao Lv and Mingliang Jiang
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030538 - 5 Mar 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1897
Abstract
Irrigation districts are a pivotal infrastructure of agricultural water conservancy engineering. Implementing modernization will be the main task of large-scale irrigation districts for a considerable amount of time in the future. In this study, four typical large-scale irrigation districts in North China were [...] Read more.
Irrigation districts are a pivotal infrastructure of agricultural water conservancy engineering. Implementing modernization will be the main task of large-scale irrigation districts for a considerable amount of time in the future. In this study, four typical large-scale irrigation districts in North China were investigated: the Renmin Shengliqu, Weishan, Shijin, and Zuncun irrigation districts. The concept of a modern irrigation district was deconstructed to establish an evaluation index system which includes four second-level indicators, twelve third-level indicators, and thirty fourth-level indicators. A hybrid approach based on AHP and OWA was used to quantify indicator weights used in group decision making. TOPSIS was introduced to measure the modernization level of the four irrigation districts. An obstacle factor diagnosis model was applied to search for key obstacle factors that will affect the modernization and improvement of the irrigation districts. The results showed that (1) the modernization levels of the Renmin Shengliqu, Weishan, Shijin, and Zuncun irrigation districts in 2020 and 2025 were 0.3916 and 0.5755, 0.3748 and 0.5396, 0.4493 and 0.6012, and 0.2343 and 0.6166, respectively. The evaluation results indicate that the four irrigation districts are still in the beginning phase (or even preparation phase) of the modernization process. (2) Eight indicators were identified as the main common obstacle factors for the four evaluated irrigation districts, including the irrigation water-use efficiency factor, the coverage proportion of information technology, the proportion of efficient water conservation irrigation areas, and so on. (3) There are two effective methods to enhance the modernization level of the four irrigation districts: improving water resource utilization efficiency and strengthening the management system with an emphasis on informatization. The present study can enrich the theoretical evaluation of irrigation districts and provide a scientific basis for the modernized construction and management of irrigation districts in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Water Use and Irrigation)
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14 pages, 2020 KiB  
Article
Turning Waste into Wealth: Utilizing Trichoderma’s Solid-State Fermentation to Recycle Tea Residue for Tea Cutting Production
by Zhen Meng, Shuangshuang Xiang, Xue Wang, Jian Zhang, Guoxin Bai, Hongjun Liu, Rong Li and Qirong Shen
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 526; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030526 - 4 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2344
Abstract
Trichoderma is a widely recognized plant-growth-promoting fungus that has been extensively utilized in various agricultural applications. However, research on the economic production of Trichoderma spores and their effects on tea cuttings must be further advanced. In this study, T. guizhouense NJAU 4742 [...] Read more.
Trichoderma is a widely recognized plant-growth-promoting fungus that has been extensively utilized in various agricultural applications. However, research on the economic production of Trichoderma spores and their effects on tea cuttings must be further advanced. In this study, T. guizhouense NJAU 4742 (NJAU 4742) emerged as a growth-promoting strain for tea cuttings, and the spore-production conditions of NJAU 4742 attained through solid-state fermentation (SSF) using tea residues were optimized. In a pot experiment, nursery substrates containing different concentrations of NJAU 4742 spores were tested for their influence on tea cutting growth and the rhizosphere fungal community. The optimal conditions for spore yield were determined as a 7:3 (w/w) ratio of tea residue to rice bran, a material thickness of 3 cm, an inoculum concentration of 15% (v/w), and an incubation time of 4 days, resulting in a spore count of 1.8 × 109 CFU/g. Applying NJAU 4742 spore products significantly increased the biomass of tea cuttings and influenced the fungal community composition. Moreover, higher concentrations of NJAU 4742 spores yielded better growth performance, and applying nursery substrate with 1.0 × 107 CFU/mL spores was the most economically viable option. Notably, among the top ten fungal genera with the highest relative abundance, Trichoderma showed a positive correlation with the fresh weight of tea cuttings, while the others exhibited a negative correlation. Overall, utilizing tea residue for SSF to produce NJAU 4742 was a feasible approach, and the application of NJAU 4742 spores enhanced the growth of tea cuttings by increasing the relative abundance of Trichoderma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering)
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17 pages, 3332 KiB  
Article
Testing Biochar’s Ability to Moderate Extremely Acidic Soils in Tea-Growing Areas
by Mohammad Ghorbani, Elnaz Amirahmadi, Jaroslav Bernas and Petr Konvalina
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030533 - 4 Mar 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1959
Abstract
Biochar as a by-product of the carbonization of biomass has an inherent potential to modify acidic soils due to its alkaline nature. To explore the mechanism and effectiveness of biochar, a case study was conducted on severely acidic soils from six fields under [...] Read more.
Biochar as a by-product of the carbonization of biomass has an inherent potential to modify acidic soils due to its alkaline nature. To explore the mechanism and effectiveness of biochar, a case study was conducted on severely acidic soils from six fields under tea cultivation in a subtropical zone, comparing rice husk biochars, in three rates (B5, B10, B15 t ha−1), and CaCO3 as conventional liming practice. The results showed increases in pH of 71.5%, 52.7%, 30.6%, and 29.7% in B15, B10, B5, and CaCO3-treated soils compared to the control. On average, B15 and B10 treatments resulted in the highest organic matter with 12.3% and 9.7%, respectively. B15, B10, B5, and CaCO3 caused increases of 196.6%, 173.4%, 129.7%, and 100.9% in base saturation compared to the control, respectively. Also, after the application of B15, B10, and B5 treatments, the effective cation exchange capacity increased by 191.4%, 112.1%, and 39.5%; however, the application of CaCO3 resulted in a 20.1% decrease. Overall, applying biochar on acidic soils provides adequate negative charges due to its well-extended specific surface area and pore volume, which cause the absorption of additional Al+, resulting in ameliorating soil pH. The application of proper biochar could notably be more effective in improving acidic soils than conventional practices such as the overuse of CaCO3. In this regard, evaluating various biochars in terms of feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and modification scenarios merits in-depth research in future studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering)
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18 pages, 2804 KiB  
Article
Biogas Production with Residuals Deriving from Olive Mill Wastewater and Olive Pomace Wastes: Quantification of Produced Energy, Spent Energy, and Process Efficiency
by Nicolò Montegiove, Alberto Maria Gambelli, Eleonora Calzoni, Agnese Bertoldi, Debora Puglia, Claudia Zadra, Carla Emiliani and Giovanni Gigliotti
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030531 - 4 Mar 2024
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2684
Abstract
At present, taking into account the sustainability of the starting matrices, the biogas production industry is continuously growing, especially in consideration of ecological transition and circularity. The present study deals with the development of anaerobic bioreactors aimed at valorizing two specific wastes of [...] Read more.
At present, taking into account the sustainability of the starting matrices, the biogas production industry is continuously growing, especially in consideration of ecological transition and circularity. The present study deals with the development of anaerobic bioreactors aimed at valorizing two specific wastes of the olive oil supply chain, i.e., the residual of protein hydrolysis process of three-phases olive pomace (OP-PH) and that recovered after the extraction of bioactive molecules from olive mill wastewater (OMWW waste). The energy consumed for biogas production varied from 0.52 kJ (OP and OMWW waste) to 0.97 kJ (OP-PH), while the energy produced for OP, OP-PH and OMMW waste was equal to 1.73, 2.94 and 1.60 kJ, respectively. The optimal production period was defined by considering only the range showing energy production higher than its consumption. According to this, OMWW showed the best performances, since it required 9 days (instead of 12 of untreated and treated OP) to reach the completion. The biogas production efficiency of the three-phase OP-PH waste calculated in the optimal production period, i.e., 12 days, was higher than the other samples, with a yield of 76.7% and a quantity of energy potentially producible corresponding to 1727.8 kJ/kg of volatile solids. These results pave the way for possible applications of this procedure for the planning of a multi-purpose biorefinery fed with by-products from the olive supply chain waste, thus promoting the use of sustainable waste materials from a circular economy perspective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering)
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21 pages, 4681 KiB  
Article
Best Morpho-Physiological Parameters to Characterize Seed-Potato Plant Growth under Aeroponics: A Pilot Study
by Jaime Barros Silva Filho, Paulo C. R. Fontes, Jorge Freire da Silva Ferreira, Paulo R. Cecon and Marllon Fernando Soares dos Santos
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030517 - 2 Mar 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2575
Abstract
Although plant characterization under the International Potato Center’s (CIP’s) aeroponic system requires many morpho-physiological parameters to evaluate a cultivar, there is no method to evaluate the best parameters or the most suitable cultivation time. Thus, several morpho-physiological parameters were compared under a modified [...] Read more.
Although plant characterization under the International Potato Center’s (CIP’s) aeroponic system requires many morpho-physiological parameters to evaluate a cultivar, there is no method to evaluate the best parameters or the most suitable cultivation time. Thus, several morpho-physiological parameters were compared under a modified aeroponic system, using different statistical tools, to determine the best parameters and most efficient time to characterize seed-potato plants. We evaluated 21 parameters for cv. Agata under a randomized complete block design with weekly harvests for 9 weeks. The best parameters for growth characterization were selected based on multivariate statistical approaches involving correlation plots, similarity clusters (dendrograms), and principal component analysis. The best parameters for seed potato characterization were as follows, in order of importance: main stem diameter, leaf number, the length of the fourth leaf, leaf area, number of mini-tubers, mini-tuber fresh weight, root dry weight, and total dry weight. The days after transplanting (DAT) significantly affected the morpho-physiological parameters, with 45 DAT being the best cultivation time to estimate mini-tuber yield, and the data for bi-weekly harvests were as reliable as for weekly harvests. Our results, applied to either the CIP or to our modified aeroponics method, will be valuable in streamlining the characterization of other seed potato cultivars used by certified producers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Crop Production Management Practices)
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18 pages, 9946 KiB  
Article
Effects of Salinity Accumulation on Physical, Chemical, and Microbial Properties of Soil under Rural Domestic Sewage Irrigation
by Weihan Wang, Dandan Zhang, Hao Kong, Gengtao Zhang, Feng Shen and Zhiping Huang
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 514; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030514 - 1 Mar 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2568
Abstract
Under irrigation with saline wastewater, SO42−, Cl−, and Ca2+ aggregated in the topsoil, and Mg2+ was significantly higher in the deeper soil than in the topsoil and 40 cm soil layers. The abundance of Zoopagomycota, [...] Read more.
Under irrigation with saline wastewater, SO42−, Cl−, and Ca2+ aggregated in the topsoil, and Mg2+ was significantly higher in the deeper soil than in the topsoil and 40 cm soil layers. The abundance of Zoopagomycota, Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Rozellomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mucoromycota and Olpidiomycota in the surface soil was influenced by Mg2+, whereas Ca2+ affected the abundance of Zoopagomycota and Chytridiomycota. In the 40 cm soil layer, Mg2+ and Cl− promoted Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Nitrospirae, Firmicutes, Entotheonellaeota, Myxococcota, Gemmatimonadota and Methylomirabilota, whereas they inhibited Planctomycetota, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Patescibacteria and Bacteroidota. In the 80 cm soil layer, SO42− and Cl− promoted Rozellomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota, Ascomycota, and Mucoromycota, but had a negative effect on Glomeromycota, Blastocladiomycota, Olpidiomycota and Monoblepharomycota. The increase in salinity significantly reduced the abundance of the Actinomycetes phylum and the Amoebozoa phylum. Both saprophytic and symbiotic fungi decreased with increasing salinity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Water Use and Irrigation)
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13 pages, 282 KiB  
Article
Protection and Modeling in the Use of S, Ca, and Mg Alternatives for Long-Term Sustainable Fertilization Systems
by Mihai Rusu, Mihaela Mihai, Nicolae Tritean, Valentin C. Mihai, Lavinia Moldovan, Adrian Ovidiu Ceclan, Florin Russu and Constantin Toader
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030515 - 1 Mar 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1315
Abstract
The complexity of NP and NPK fertilizers in stationary and long-term system yields is proven to determine substantial changes in soil fertility, revealing interaction possibilities related to the chemistry and requirements of other nutrients (S, Ca, Mg, and microelements), while sustainable fertilization can [...] Read more.
The complexity of NP and NPK fertilizers in stationary and long-term system yields is proven to determine substantial changes in soil fertility, revealing interaction possibilities related to the chemistry and requirements of other nutrients (S, Ca, Mg, and microelements), while sustainable fertilization can exert control over them through rational fertilization practices and complex nutritive management. Revealing the extent of the modifying effects in the application of S, Ca, and Mg correlated to the soil-plant system conditions relates to the hypothesis of the present research in the context of long-term experiments in Romania at the Office of Pedological and Agrochemical Studies Alba (OSPA Alba) and the Turda Agricultural Research and Development Station (SCDA Turda) with 55 years of a fertilizing effect over the 1967–2022 period, but not solely. This study shows that for sustainable fertilization systems, the complementary application of S, Ca, and Mg with NP and NPK has proven to be effective and unitarily constitutes a measure for the sustainable protection and enhancement of soil fertility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
23 pages, 3537 KiB  
Review
Weed Management Methods for Herbaceous Field Crops: A Review
by Wen-Tao Gao and Wen-Hao Su
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030486 - 28 Feb 2024
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5833
Abstract
Weeds compete with crops for water and nutrients and can adversely affect crop growth and yield, so it is important to research effective weed control methods. This paper provides an overview of the impact of weeds on crop yield and describes the current [...] Read more.
Weeds compete with crops for water and nutrients and can adversely affect crop growth and yield, so it is important to research effective weed control methods. This paper provides an overview of the impact of weeds on crop yield and describes the current state of research on weed management in field herbaceous crops. Physical weed control mainly refers to thermal technologies represented by flame weed control and laser weed control, which can efficiently and accurately remove weeds. Mechanical weed control requires a combination of sensor technologies, machine vision technology, and high-precision navigation to improve weed control accuracy. Biological weed control relies heavily on plant extracts and pathogens to create herbicides, but it is costly, and some can be toxic to mammals. Chemical weed control is a common method, resulting in environmental pollution and weed resistance. To reduce the use of chemical herbicides, scholars have proposed integrated weed management strategies, which combine biological control, control of the seed bank, and improve crop competitiveness. Integrated weed management strategies are considered to be the future direction of weed management. In conclusion, physical, mechanical, biological, and chemical weed control methods are commonly used in weed management. Each method has its applicable scenarios, and the implementation of integrated weed management strategies can lead to better weed control, improving crop yield and quality. The main objective of this review is to organize the research progress on weed management methods for herbaceous crops in the field and to provide a reference for the agricultural sector to develop weed control strategies. Specifically, this paper categorizes weed management methods into four groups, discusses and presents the advantages and disadvantages of the aforementioned weed control methods, and discusses future research directions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Precision and Digital Agriculture)
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25 pages, 2264 KiB  
Article
Plant Disease Diagnosis Based on Hyperspectral Sensing: Comparative Analysis of Parametric Spectral Vegetation Indices and Nonparametric Gaussian Process Classification Approaches
by Mafalda Reis Pereira, Jochem Verrelst, Renan Tosin, Juan Pablo Rivera Caicedo, Fernando Tavares, Filipe Neves dos Santos and Mário Cunha
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030493 - 28 Feb 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3152
Abstract
Early and accurate disease diagnosis is pivotal for effective phytosanitary management strategies in agriculture. Hyperspectral sensing has emerged as a promising tool for early disease detection, yet challenges remain in effectively harnessing its potential. This study compares parametric spectral Vegetation Indices (VIs) and [...] Read more.
Early and accurate disease diagnosis is pivotal for effective phytosanitary management strategies in agriculture. Hyperspectral sensing has emerged as a promising tool for early disease detection, yet challenges remain in effectively harnessing its potential. This study compares parametric spectral Vegetation Indices (VIs) and a nonparametric Gaussian Process Classification based on an Automated Spectral Band Analysis Tool (GPC-BAT) for diagnosing plant bacterial diseases using hyperspectral data. The study conducted experiments on tomato plants in controlled conditions and kiwi plants in field settings to assess the performance of VIs and GPC-BAT. In the tomato experiment, the modeling processes were applied to classify the spectral data measured on the healthy class of plants (sprayed with water only) and discriminate them from the data captured on plants inoculated with the two bacterial suspensions (108 CFU mL−1). In the kiwi experiment, the standard modeling results of the spectral data collected on nonsymptomatic plants were compared to the ones obtained using symptomatic plants’ spectral data. VIs, known for their simplicity in extracting biophysical information, successfully distinguished healthy and diseased tissues in both plant species. The overall accuracy achieved was 63% and 71% for tomato and kiwi, respectively. Limitations were observed, particularly in differentiating specific disease infections accurately. On the other hand, GPC-BAT, after feature reduction, showcased enhanced accuracy in identifying healthy and diseased tissues. The overall accuracy ranged from 70% to 75% in the tomato and kiwi case studies. Despite its effectiveness, the model faced challenges in accurately predicting certain disease infections, especially in the early stages. Comparative analysis revealed commonalities and differences in the spectral bands identified by both approaches, with overlaps in critical regions across plant species. Notably, these spectral regions corresponded to the absorption regions of various photosynthetic pigments and structural components affected by bacterial infections in plant leaves. The study underscores the potential of hyperspectral sensing in disease diagnosis and highlights the strengths and limitations of VIs and GPC-BAT. The identified spectral features hold biological significance, suggesting correlations between bacterial infections and alterations in plant pigments and structural components. Future research avenues could focus on refining these approaches for improved accuracy in diagnosing diverse plant–pathogen interactions, thereby aiding disease diagnosis. Specifically, efforts could be directed towards adapting these methodologies for early detection, even before symptom manifestation, to better manage agricultural diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Precision and Digital Agriculture)
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10 pages, 2572 KiB  
Article
Effects of Pre-Emergence Herbicides on Weed Control and Yield of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) in Central Italy
by Euro Pannacci, Michela Farneselli, Vittorio Monni and Francesco Tei
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030482 - 28 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2162
Abstract
Safflower is a multipurpose crop with several uses that can offer benefits to rainfed cereal-based cropping systems due to its tolerance to cold, drought, salinity, and its reduced need for agricultural inputs. Safflower requires good weed control for optimum yields because it is [...] Read more.
Safflower is a multipurpose crop with several uses that can offer benefits to rainfed cereal-based cropping systems due to its tolerance to cold, drought, salinity, and its reduced need for agricultural inputs. Safflower requires good weed control for optimum yields because it is a very poor competitor with weeds, especially at the early growth stage, but registered pre-emergence herbicides are not available. This research investigated the effects of several pre-emergence herbicides on weed control and the yield of safflower in central Italy, through two field experiments in 2019 and 2020. Aclonifen, metazachlor, s-metolachlor, propyzamide, and metribuzin were applied as pre-emergence herbicides. The main weeds were the following: Papaver rhoeas L., Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq., and Ammi majus L. in experiment 1, and wild sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in experiment 2. Metazachlor and metribuzin gave the highest phytotoxicity on safflower in both experiments, with values ranging from 48% to 75% and from 30% to 75% (in a scale of 0–100%), respectively, and seem to be not advisable as pre-emergence herbicides. Aclonifen, s-metolachlor, and propyzamide can be considered selective and safe to the safflower, showing the lowest values of phytotoxicity that ranged from 0 to 10%. Metazachlor and s-metolachlor gave the highest total weed control with values of 92% and 97%, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Herbicides and Chemical Control of Weeds)
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20 pages, 2330 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Identification of Main, Environment Interaction and Epistasis Quantitative Trait Nucleotides for 100-Seed Weight in Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)
by Li Wang, Benjamin Karikari, Hu Zhang, Chunting Zhang, Zili Wang, Tuanjie Zhao and Jianying Feng
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030483 - 28 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1629
Abstract
Soybean hundred seed weight (HSW) is a complex quantitative trait affected by multiple genes and environmental factors. To date, a large number of quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) have been reported, but less information on QTN-by-environment interactions (QEIs) and QTN-QTN interaction (QQIs) for soybean [...] Read more.
Soybean hundred seed weight (HSW) is a complex quantitative trait affected by multiple genes and environmental factors. To date, a large number of quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) have been reported, but less information on QTN-by-environment interactions (QEIs) and QTN-QTN interaction (QQIs) for soybean HSW is available. Mapping without QEIs and QQIs result in missing some important QTNs that are significantly related to HSW. Therefore, the present study conducted genome-wide association analysis to map main QTNs, QEIs and QQIs for HSW in a panel with 573 diverse soybean lines tested in three independent environments (E1, E2 and E3) with Mean- and best linear unbiased value (BLUP)- phenotype. In all, 147 main effect QTNs, 11 QEIs, and 24 pairs of QQIs were detected in the Mean-phenotype, and 138 main effect QTNs, 13 QEIs, and 27 pairs of QQIs in the BLUP-phenotype. The total phenotypic variation explained by the main effect QTNs, QEIs, and QQIs were 35.31–39.71, 8.52–8.89 and 34.77–35.09%, respectively, indicating an important role of non-additive effects on HSW. Out of these, 33 QTNs were considered as stable with 23 colocalized with previously known loci, while 10 were novel QTNs. In addition, 10 pairs stable QQIs were simultaneously detected in the two phenotypes. Based on homolog search in Arabidopsis thaliana and in silico transcriptome data, seven genes (Glyma13g42310, Glyma13g42320, Glyma08g19580, Glyma13g44020, Glyma13g43800, Glyma17g16620 and Glyma07g08950) from some main-QTNs and two genes (Glyma06g19000 and Glyma17g09110) of QQIs were identified as potential candidate genes, however their functional role warrant further screening and functional validation. Our results shed light on the involvement of QEIs and QQIs in regulating HSW in soybean, and these together with candidate genes identified would be valuable genomic resources in developing soybean cultivars with desirable seed weight. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in Soybean Germplasm Resources, Genetic Breeding and Production)
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13 pages, 5116 KiB  
Article
Classification of Plant Leaf Disease Recognition Based on Self-Supervised Learning
by Yuzhi Wang, Yunzhen Yin, Yaoyu Li, Tengteng Qu, Zhaodong Guo, Mingkang Peng, Shujie Jia, Qiang Wang, Wuping Zhang and Fuzhong Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030500 - 28 Feb 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2992
Abstract
Accurate identification of plant diseases is a critical task in agricultural production. The existing deep learning crop disease recognition methods require a large number of labeled images for training, limiting the implementation of large-scale detection. To overcome this limitation, this study explores the [...] Read more.
Accurate identification of plant diseases is a critical task in agricultural production. The existing deep learning crop disease recognition methods require a large number of labeled images for training, limiting the implementation of large-scale detection. To overcome this limitation, this study explores the application of self-supervised learning (SSL) in plant disease recognition. We propose a new model that combines a masked autoencoder (MAE) and a convolutional block attention module (CBAM) to alleviate the harsh requirements of large amounts of labeled data. The performance of the model was validated on the CCMT dataset and our collected dataset. The results show that the improved model achieves an accuracy of 95.35% and 99.61%, recall of 96.2% and 98.51%, and F1 values of 95.52% and 98.62% on the CCMT dataset and our collected dataset, respectively. Compared with ResNet50, ViT, and MAE, the accuracies on the CCMT dataset improved by 1.2%, 0.7%, and 0.8%, respectively, and the accuracy of our collected dataset improved by 1.3%, 1.6%, and 0.6%, respectively. Through experiments on 21 leaf diseases (early blight, late blight, leaf blight, leaf spot, etc.) of five crops, namely, potato, maize, tomato, cashew, and cassava, our model achieved accurate and rapid detection of plant disease categories. This study provides a reference for research work and engineering applications in crop disease detection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tools and Techniques for Monitoring Pests and Diseases in Agro-Ecosystem)
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28 pages, 1124 KiB  
Review
Sustainability Potential of Marginal Areas for Food, Feed, and Non-Food Production in the Puglia Region, Southern Italy: Part II: A Review
by Salem Alhajj Ali, Gaetano Alessandro Vivaldi, Anas Tallou, Giuseppe Lopriore, Anna Maria Stellacci, Francesco Fabiano Montesano, Andrea Mazzeo, Giuseppe Ferrara, Agata Gadaleta and Salvatore Camposeo
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030472 - 27 Feb 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2368
Abstract
There is considerable unused and unproductive land in rural areas of the Puglia region, Southern Italy. These areas and their local cultivators/growers have always been overlooked by academic, policy, and investment circles despite their potential to improve food security and the livelihood of [...] Read more.
There is considerable unused and unproductive land in rural areas of the Puglia region, Southern Italy. These areas and their local cultivators/growers have always been overlooked by academic, policy, and investment circles despite their potential to improve food security and the livelihood of rural communities. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the sustainability potential of these areas to produce food, feed, and non-food products. This evaluation will play a vital role in the sustainable development of rural regions such as the Puglia region. In this review, we highlighted important aspects regarding the management potential and the expected contribution that various types of marginal areas (MAs) could add to the regional economy of Puglia. The authors focused on the extent to which Puglia’s marginal lands can realistically be utilized to meet Italy’s food production targets, considering the economic, social, and environmental potential of different marginal area types within the Puglia territories. In writing this review, we have been inspired by the lack of sufficient information necessary to carry out a plan for the revitalization of MAs and the sustainable development of regional rural areas. Although Italian scholars have not extensively researched MAs, the available data suggest that they could significantly contribute to the development of regional economy and food security, despite their complexity and low-input nature. The scientific evidence suggests that the main challenge associated with using MAs for food and/or non-food production is balancing biodiversity conservation with local residents’ social and economic development. Presently, some small-scale or family farms are already operating within MAs. However, they still contribute minimally to the overall agricultural production in the region, even though they have the potential to play an important economic role for numerous rural communities in Puglia. Furthermore, the available data indicate that over 40% of existing farmers in MAs require greater support to sustain their activities. Such support should be tailored to the local context, built on and, where appropriate, improved upon existing practices, while addressing various threats to these areas. In this regard, sustainable development policies should shape MAs’ landscapes through the support of initiatives aimed at the recovery of traditional agricultural activities, the use of local varieties, the protection of the environment, and the conservation of biodiversity. The authors believe that this review provides policymakers with recommendations to consider when supporting the sustainable use of MAs as a potential source of food security and sustainable development for people living in these areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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12 pages, 1773 KiB  
Article
Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer on the Endosperm Composition and Eating Quality of Rice Varieties with Different Protein Components
by Zhaohui Ma, Ziye Zhu, Wenwen Song, Dan Luo, Haitao Cheng, Xianju Wang and Wenyan Lyu
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030469 - 27 Feb 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1355
Abstract
Nitrogen fertilizer affects rice endosperm protein, which in turn affects rice taste. However, study of nitrogen regulation of protein components is not sufficient. To clarify the effects of nitrogen fertilizer on rice protein components and related traits, we used two high albumin content [...] Read more.
Nitrogen fertilizer affects rice endosperm protein, which in turn affects rice taste. However, study of nitrogen regulation of protein components is not sufficient. To clarify the effects of nitrogen fertilizer on rice protein components and related traits, we used two high albumin content and two low glutelin content rice varieties as test materials and analyzed the relationship between protein components and rice eating quality. The results showed that nitrogen application significantly affected prolamine and glutelin contents; moreover, a relationship was observed between variety and fertilization level. The protein components of the low glutelin content rice varieties were sensitive to nitrogen treatment; the albumin and globulin contents increased, whereas the prolamine and glutelin contents decreased following treatment with medium level nitrogen. Nitrogen treatment also significantly affected the apparent amylose content (AAC) of varieties except Yinguang. The eating characteristics of the high albumin content varieties differed significantly among nitrogen treatments, and the two varieties tasted better following treatment with high concentrations of nitrogen. In conclusion, the short chain of amylopectin in the endosperm had a greater direct effect on taste, but the effect was opposite in the two varieties. Furthermore, globulin was found to affect the taste of low glutelin content varieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agronomical Practices on Crop Quality and Sensory Profile—2nd Edition)
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11 pages, 3777 KiB  
Article
Effects of a Photovoltaic Plant on Microclimate and Crops’ Growth in a Mediterranean Area
by Massimo Fagnano, Nunzio Fiorentino, Donato Visconti, Gian Maria Baldi, Michele Falce, Marco Acutis, Maria Genovese and Miriam Di Blasi
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030466 - 27 Feb 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2872
Abstract
The effects of the co-location of energy production from a photovoltaic (PV) plant and aromatic crops (thyme, oregano, and Greek mountain tea) in a hot and dry environment have been investigated in Enel Green Power PV plant located in Kourtesi (Greece). The study [...] Read more.
The effects of the co-location of energy production from a photovoltaic (PV) plant and aromatic crops (thyme, oregano, and Greek mountain tea) in a hot and dry environment have been investigated in Enel Green Power PV plant located in Kourtesi (Greece). The study was aimed at evaluating the influence of the PV plant on microclimate, on soil temperature and water potential, and on the crops’ growth in a testing area (the corridors between two modules rows) compared to a full sunlight control area. The net radiation and of the wind speed recorded in the testing area showed a 44% and 38% reduction respectively, compared to the control area, while air temperature and relative humidity did not show any difference. Among crop/soil monitored parameters, cumulative reference evapotranspiration (ET0) and the average soil temperature were found 29% and 8% lower in the testing area, conversely the soil water potential (SWP) was 34% higher compared to control area. No significant differences in the plant growth have been detected between testing and control areas, except for oregano whose weight was higher in testing area. The results suggest that in hot and dry climatic conditions, the reduction of climatic stress could compensate the decrease of photosynthesis due to the shading effect of the PV modules, thus not damaging crops’ growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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15 pages, 3971 KiB  
Article
Edible Mushroom Greenhouse Environment Prediction Model Based on Attention CNN-LSTM
by Shuanggen Huang, Quanyao Liu, Yan Wu, Minmin Chen, Hua Yin and Jinhui Zhao
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030473 - 27 Feb 2024
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2128
Abstract
The large-scale production of edible mushrooms typically requires the use of greenhouses, as the greenhouse environment significantly affects the growth of edible mushrooms. It is crucial to effectively predict the temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide fluctuations within the mushroom greenhouse for determining the [...] Read more.
The large-scale production of edible mushrooms typically requires the use of greenhouses, as the greenhouse environment significantly affects the growth of edible mushrooms. It is crucial to effectively predict the temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide fluctuations within the mushroom greenhouse for determining the environmental stress and pre-regulation of edible mushrooms. To address the nonlinearity, temporal dynamics, and strong coupling of the edible mushroom greenhouse environment, a temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide prediction model based on the combination of the attention mechanism, the convolutional neural network, and the long short-term memory neural network (A-CNN-LSTM) is proposed. Experimental data were collected from both the inside and outside of the greenhouse, including environmental data and the on–off data of environmental control devices. After completing missing data using linear interpolation, denoising with Kalman filtering, and normalization, the recurrent neural network (RNN) model, long short-term memory (LSTM) model, and A-CNN-LSTM model were trained and tested on the time series data. These models were used to predict the environmental changes in temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide inside the greenhouse. The results indicate that the A-CNN-LSTM model outperforms the other two models in terms of denoising, non-denoising, and different prediction time steps. The proposed method accurately predicts temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels with errors of 0.17 °C (R2 = 0.974), 2.06% (R2 = 0.804), and 8.367 ppm (R2 = 0.993), respectively. These results indicate improved prediction accuracy for temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide values inside the edible mushroom greenhouse. The findings provide a decision basis for the precise control of the greenhouse environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Precision and Digital Agriculture)
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23 pages, 7545 KiB  
Article
Precise Estimation of Sugarcane Yield at Field Scale with Allometric Variables Retrieved from UAV Phantom 4 RTK Images
by Qiuyan Huang, Juanjuan Feng, Maofang Gao, Shuangshuang Lai, Guangping Han, Zhihao Qin, Jinlong Fan and Yuling Huang
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030476 - 27 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3093
Abstract
The precise estimation of sugarcane yield at the field scale is urgently required for harvest planning and policy-oriented management. Sugarcane yield estimation from satellite remote sensing is available, but satellite image acquisition is affected by adverse weather conditions, which limits the applicability at [...] Read more.
The precise estimation of sugarcane yield at the field scale is urgently required for harvest planning and policy-oriented management. Sugarcane yield estimation from satellite remote sensing is available, but satellite image acquisition is affected by adverse weather conditions, which limits the applicability at the field scale. Secondly, existing approaches from remote sensing data using vegetation parameters such as NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and LAI (Leaf Area Index) have several limitations. In the case of sugarcane, crop yield is actually the weight of crop stalks in a unit of acreage. However, NDVI’s over-saturation during the vigorous growth period of crops results in significant limitations for sugarcane yield estimation using NDVI. A new sugarcane yield estimation is explored in this paper, which employs allometric variables indicating stalk magnitude (especially stalk height and density) rather than vegetation parameters indicating the leaf quantity of the crop. In this paper, UAV images with RGB bands were processed to create mosaic images of sugarcane fields and estimate allometric variables. Allometric equations were established using field sampling data to estimate sugarcane stalk height, diameter, and weight. Additionally, a stalk density estimation model at the pixel scale of the plot was created using visible light vegetation indices from the UAV images and ground survey data. The optimal stalk density estimation model was applied to estimate the number of plants at the pixel scale of the plot in this study. Then, the retrieved height, diameter, and density of sugarcane in the fields were combined with stalk weight data to create a model for estimating the sugarcane yield per plot. A separate dataset was used to validate the accuracy of the yield estimation. It was found that the approach presented in this study provided very accurate estimates of sugarcane yield. The average yield in the field was 93.83 Mg ha−1, slightly higher than the sampling yield. The root mean square error of the estimation was 6.63 Mg ha−1, which was 5.18% higher than the actual sampling yield. This study offers an alternative approach for precise sugarcane yield estimation at the field scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Art of Spectra: At the Crossroad of Agriculture and Remote Sensing Disciplines)
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18 pages, 4059 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Drought Responses of Wild Soybean Accessions at Different Growth Stages
by Thi Cuc Nguyen, Hyun Jo, Hai Anh Tran, Jinwon Lee, Jeong-Dong Lee, Jeong Hoe Kim, Hak Soo Seo and Jong Tae Song
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 471; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030471 - 27 Feb 2024
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2616
Abstract
Drought is a significant abiotic stress that limits crop production. Soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] are regarded as drought-sensitive. In the present study, the drought responses of wild soybean accessions were evaluated at different growth stages. Based on the leaf wilting index [...] Read more.
Drought is a significant abiotic stress that limits crop production. Soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] are regarded as drought-sensitive. In the present study, the drought responses of wild soybean accessions were evaluated at different growth stages. Based on the leaf wilting index of 411 accessions at the vegetative stage, seven highly tolerant (HT) and 24 tolerant (T) accessions were identified, although most wild soybeans were classified as moderate (M), sensitive (S), and highly sensitive (HS) genotypes. In addition, with selected wild soybeans, stomatal density decreased in HT accessions but increased in HS accessions under drought conditions at the vegetative stage. However, for cultivated soybeans, the stomatal density of the drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive were not significantly different between the two conditions. The expression levels of drought-related transcriptional factors indicated that the HT genotype showed a higher expression level of drought-related genes than that of the HS genotype at the vegetative stage. At the reproductive stages, 12 wild soybeans randomly selected from HT, T, S, and HS based on assessment at the vegetative stage showed consistent drought responses with seed yield, root development, and water status. However, the extent of the detrimental effect of drought on the germination rates and root length of 165 wild soybeans at the germination stage varied depending on the genotype, indicating that there may not be a robust correlation between phenotypic measurements at the germination stage and drought-related assessments at the two growth stages. The information from this study can provide useful breeding materials for the development of drought-tolerant cultivars from wild soybeans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Biology and Breeding under Environmental Stress)
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17 pages, 4667 KiB  
Article
Selection of Durum Wheat and SSR Markers for Organic Farming in Central Italy Using AMMI Analysis
by Ieva Urbanavičiūtė, Luca Bonfiglioli and Mario A. Pagnotta
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030458 - 26 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2791
Abstract
Durum wheat is one of the main crops in the Mediterranean region, which is characterized as the hotspot of climate change, with large year-to-year weather fluctuations. Although chemical input reduction in agriculture is strongly demanded, as well as healthy food, there is still [...] Read more.
Durum wheat is one of the main crops in the Mediterranean region, which is characterized as the hotspot of climate change, with large year-to-year weather fluctuations. Although chemical input reduction in agriculture is strongly demanded, as well as healthy food, there is still a lack of stable and high-yielding crop varieties specifically adapted for organic conditions. This study evaluates the performance of fifteen durum wheat varieties in terms of suitability for organic farming in central Italy and assesses the impact of the genotype–environment interaction (GEI) on productive and quality traits. Variety performance was evaluated in field experiments over four successive seasons. In addition, a genotypic diversity analysis of 38 microsatellites associated with traits important for organic farming was performed. The AMMI (additive main effects and multiplicative interaction) stability analysis revealed that the best and most stable genotype regarding quality traits, such as thousand-kernel weight, protein content, and test weight was the ancient variety, Senatore Cappelli. The most stable and high yield was determined for the Fuego, Iride, and Mv-Pelsodur genotypes. Moreover, SSR markers that could be used for plant breeding, targeting organic farming systems based on molecular markers and GEI results, were identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Molecular Marker Technology in Crop Breeding—2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 5093 KiB  
Article
Strawberry Maturity Recognition Based on Improved YOLOv5
by Zhiqing Tao, Ke Li, Yuan Rao, Wei Li and Jun Zhu
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030460 - 26 Feb 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2260
Abstract
Strawberry maturity detection plays an essential role in modern strawberry yield estimation and robot-assisted picking and sorting. Due to the small size and complex growth environment of strawberries, there are still problems with existing recognition systems’ accuracy and maturity classifications. This article proposes [...] Read more.
Strawberry maturity detection plays an essential role in modern strawberry yield estimation and robot-assisted picking and sorting. Due to the small size and complex growth environment of strawberries, there are still problems with existing recognition systems’ accuracy and maturity classifications. This article proposes a strawberry maturity recognition algorithm based on an improved YOLOv5s model named YOLOv5s-BiCE. This algorithm model is a replacement of the upsampling algorithm with a CARAFE module structure. It is an improvement on the previous model in terms of its content-aware processing; it also widens the field of vision and maintains a high level of efficiency, resulting in improved object detection capabilities. This article also introduces a double attention mechanism named Biformed for small-target detection, optimizing computing allocation, and enhancing content perception flexibility. Via multi-scale feature fusion, we utilized double attention mechanisms to reduce the number of redundant computations. Additionally, the Focal_EIOU optimization method was introduced to improve its accuracy and address issues related to uneven sample classification in the loss function. The YOLOv5s-BiCE algorithm was better at recognizing strawberry maturity compared to the original YOLOv5s model. It achieved a 2.8% increase in the mean average precision and a 7.4% increase in accuracy for the strawberry maturity dataset. The improved algorithm outperformed other networks, like YOLOv4-tiny, YOLOv4-lite-e, YOLOv4-lite-s, YOLOv7, and Fast RCNN, with recognition accuracy improvements of 3.3%, 4.7%, 4.2%, 1.5%, and 2.2%, respectively. In addition, we developed a corresponding detection app and combined the algorithm with DeepSort to apply it to patrol robots. It was found that the detection algorithm exhibits a fast real-time detection speed, can support intelligent estimations of strawberry yield, and can assist picking robots. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computer Vision for Intelligent Crop Identification and Crop Protection)
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15 pages, 2797 KiB  
Article
Silicon Fertilizer Addition Can Improve Rice Yield and Lodging Traits under Reduced Nitrogen and Increased Density Conditions
by Liqiang Dong, Tiexin Yang, Liang Ma, Rui Li, Yingying Feng and Yuedong Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030464 - 26 Feb 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3239
Abstract
Reducing nitrogen fertilizer application, selecting a reasonable planting density, and adding silicon fertilizer can be used together to decrease excessive nitrogen fertilizer inputs in rice fields, reduce production costs, and ensure stable rice yield. However, the dynamics of the stem and internodes, as [...] Read more.
Reducing nitrogen fertilizer application, selecting a reasonable planting density, and adding silicon fertilizer can be used together to decrease excessive nitrogen fertilizer inputs in rice fields, reduce production costs, and ensure stable rice yield. However, the dynamics of the stem and internodes, as well as the changes in the physical and physiological characteristics of rice under a combination of these three strategies, are still unclear. In this study, we aimed to clarify these effects to improve the efficiency of rice production in northeastern China. A 2-year field experiment was conducted using five treatments: a conventional densification treatment (DM), a densification combined with reduced N input (−20%) treatment (DLM), and three densifications combined with reduced N input (−20%) and basal silicon fertilizer treatments (low fertilizer: DLMS1; medium fertilizer: DLMS2; and high fertilizer: DLMS3). This study revealed that the addition of silicon fertilizer improved rice yield compared to that under reduced nitrogen or increased density treatments alone, prevented excessive ineffective tillering after a density increase, and increased the number of productive panicles. Among the treatments, the DLMS3 treatment had the highest yields of 10.53 t/ha and 10.73 t/ha over the 2 years. Reducing nitrogen and increasing density reduced the weight and length of single panicles, while the addition of silicon fertilizer was beneficial for improving stem toughness, improving the physical and physiological characteristics of the plants and panicles, and enhancing plant bending resistance. Among the treatments, DLMS3 had the highest bending resistance, which increased by 440.1 g and 503.8 g compared to the lowest values in the DM treatment in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Nitrogen reduction resulted in the lowest lodging index values, with DLMS3 having the lowest values in both years, which decreased by 19.6% and 22.5% compared to the highest values in DM (2020) and DLM (2021), respectively. This study indicates that the application of 150.0 kg/ha silicon fertilizer in combination with reduced nitrogen and increased density (DLMS3) reduces the lodging index while ensuring rice yield, preventing a tradeoff between yield reduction and lodging due to a density increase or due to nitrogen reduction combined with a density increase and allowing for a reduction in nitrogen fertilizer input, which could ensure a uniform yield and an increase in lodging resistance. These results provide a scientific basis for rice cultivation measures that lead to high yield and lodging resistance while protecting the environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Circular Economy: Chemical, Microbiological and Environmental Implications of Mineral and Organic Fertilizers Use in Soils)
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14 pages, 5157 KiB  
Article
The Application of Biochar Enhances Soil Organic Carbon and Rice Yields
by Chuang Yang, Sen Dou, Dan Guo and Hangjin Zhao
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030455 - 25 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2278
Abstract
The freezing winter temperatures in Northeast China hinder the breakdown speed of straw, making it challenging to implement widespread straw return in rice fields, meaning that crop remnants are not efficiently utilised. This study involved a pot experiment conducted on rice plants that [...] Read more.
The freezing winter temperatures in Northeast China hinder the breakdown speed of straw, making it challenging to implement widespread straw return in rice fields, meaning that crop remnants are not efficiently utilised. This study involved a pot experiment conducted on rice plants that were treated with varying quantities of biochar: CK (no biochar); BC1 (5 t ha−1); BC2 (10 t ha−1); and BC3 (20 t ha−1). An investigation was conducted to examine the impact of biochar on the soil organic carbon (SOC), humus (HS) composition, humic acid (HA) structure, and rice yield of paddy fields. The findings demonstrated that the use of biochar led to a substantial rise in SOC and HA-C concentrations in the soil layer between 20 and 40 cm. Additionally, biochar’s application enhanced soil humification. Notably, the treatment with BC3 (20 t ha−1) had the most pronounced impact. The O/C ratio in the HA and the relative strength of the peaks at 1620 cm−1 on the infrared spectra showed a more pronounced response to the BC3 treatment compared to the other biochar treatments. However, the application of the BC1 treatment at a rate of 5 t ha−1 and the BC2 treatment at a rate of 10 t ha−1 had a minimal impact on the fluorescence intensity of humic acid (HA). The application of the BC3 treatment increased the aromatic nature of the humic acid (HA) in paddy soil, leading to the formation of an intricate and enduring HA structure. Furthermore, the use of the BC3 treatment resulted in a notable enhancement in the quantity of spikes, spike weight, and number of grains per spike. Additionally, it positively impacted the accumulation of dry matter in the spike, leading to a substantial 13.7% increase in the rice yield. Applying biochar at a rate of 20 t ha−1 is a sensible and effective approach to enhance the soil organic carbon (SOC) content, enhance the stability of the humic acid (HA)’s structure, and raise the rice yield in the rice-growing area of Northeast China. This study’s findings will establish a theoretical foundation for utilising soil biochar in the rice fields located in Northeast China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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