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Agronomy
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Plant Production and Microorganism Potential in Modern Agro-Ecosystems
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Plant Production and Microorganism Potential in Modern Agro-Ecosystems

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2022) | Viewed by 23151

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Agnieszka Wolna-Maruwka

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Guest Editor
Department of Soil Science and Microbiology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-656 Poznan, Poland
Interests: plant-growth-promoting microorganisms; biofertilizers; sustainable plant production; soil biodiversity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Jean Diatta

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Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Environmental Biogeochemistry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71F, 60-625 Poznan, Poland
Interests: soil chemistry; nutrient recycling; fertilizers; biowastes; environmental science; ecology; trace elements, contamination
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Justyna Starzyk

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Assistant Guest Editor
Department of Soil Science and Microbiology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-656 Poznan, Poland
Interests: environmental microorganisms; biofertilizers; sustainable agriculture; microbiological indicators of soil fertility

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of mineral fertilizers and chemical crop protection products increases climatic and environmental problems. In consequence, the popularity of environment-friendly production practices and techniques is growing.

For many years, sustainable development strategies and programs have been implemented around the world. Although the desired direction of changes in agriculture has been initiated, these changes are still insufficient in relation to the actual needs. Therefore, one of the challenges for the contemporary world of science is developing the foundations which will enable improvement of the physiological processes of plants, especially crops, so as to increase their biological potential without negative influence on the soil environment.

In this Special Issue, we encourage you to submit your reports on the following topics:

  1. Innovative plant production practices and techniques;
  2. Biodiversity and potential biotechnological applications of microorganisms in sustainable agriculture;
  3. Eco-farming as a strategy for food production and protection of environmental biodiversity;
  4. The influence of fertilization on the efficiency of water use by crops in the light of climate change;
  5. Decision support tools and modeling.
Dr. Agnieszka Wolna-Maruwka
Prof. Dr. Jean Diatta
Dr. Justyna Starzyk
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable agriculture
  • ecological farming
  • biodiversity
  • potential of microorganisms
  • modern plant production

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1873 KiB  
Article
Weeds in Cereal Crop Rotations May Host Fusarium Species That Cause Fusarium Head Blight and Grain Weight Losses in Wheat
by Neringa Matelionienė, Skaidrė Supronienė, Arman Shamshitov, Evelina Zavtrikovienė, Sigita Janavičienė and Gražina Kadžienė
Agronomy 2022, 12(11), 2741; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112741 - 4 Nov 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1940
Abstract
Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is one of the most common worldwide wheat and other small grain diseases. The infection is caused by Fusarium graminearum and other related species, which significantly reduce grain yield and contaminate grains with mycotoxins which are harmful for humans [...] Read more.
Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is one of the most common worldwide wheat and other small grain diseases. The infection is caused by Fusarium graminearum and other related species, which significantly reduce grain yield and contaminate grains with mycotoxins which are harmful for humans and animals. Fusarium pathogen survives the winter well in plant debris left on the field. Weeds around and within crops are alternative hosts of Fusarium fungi when an economically important host plant is not present. This article focuses on the determination of DNA content of Fusarium species (F. graminearum and F. avenaceum) in artificially inoculated wheat plants with isolates from weeds, as well as its influence on the severity of FHB and spring wheat 1000-grain weight under field conditions. Fungal DNA content in grains was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that the DNA concentration of F. graminearum was significantly higher in the grain than F. avenaceum. The severity of FHB when wheat heads were inoculated with F. graminearum was significantly higher than with F. avenaceum. All F. graminearum strains statistically significantly reduced the weight of spring wheat grains, while F. avenaceum did not affect the weight of 1000 grain. This investigation has shown that weeds in crop rotations are a potential source of FHB infection. However, the severity of the disease is more affected by the Fusarium species than the host plant. This experiment is, to our knowledge, the first report on the estimation of Fusarium DNA content in artificially inoculated wheat plants with isolates from weeds, as well as its comparison with pathogenicity to wheat and its effect on 1000-grain weight. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Production and Microorganism Potential in Modern Agro-Ecosystems)
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19 pages, 3176 KiB  
Article
A Little Helper: Beneficial Bacteria with Growth-Promoting Mechanisms Can Reduce Asian Soybean Rust Severity in a Cell-Free Formulation
by Victor Hugo Buttrós, Neílton Antônio Fiusa Araújo, Vinícius de Abreu D’Ávila, Maysa Mathias Alves Pereira, Dirceu de Sousa Melo, Moacir Pasqual and Joyce Dória
Agronomy 2022, 12(11), 2635; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112635 - 26 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1569
Abstract
Growth-promoting bacteria are already used in sustainable agricultural systems in Brazil. The market is dominated by inoculants and biological pesticides, which do not reach the full potential of this tool in the agricultural sector. This study aimed to evaluate four bacterial strains for [...] Read more.
Growth-promoting bacteria are already used in sustainable agricultural systems in Brazil. The market is dominated by inoculants and biological pesticides, which do not reach the full potential of this tool in the agricultural sector. This study aimed to evaluate four bacterial strains for the presence of growth promotion mechanisms, as well as the reduction of Asian rust severity in soybean plants and its effects on three antioxidant enzymes during pathogenesis. The plants were treated using the bacterial cells and/or their biosurfactants before inoculation of the pathogen (IOP). Severity was measured based on a diagrammatic scale at 14, 18 and 21 days after IOP, and the activities of the enzymes SOD, CAT, and APX were evaluated 21 days after IOP. Treatments containing only bacterial cells were not efficient in reducing the severity, with losses of leaf area reaching 15%, while the addition of biosurfactants led to a result that is similar to the biofungicide, based on Bacillus subtilis (Serenade®). The presence of direct growth promotion mechanisms can be observed in all isolates, as well as the role of bacterial metabolites, especially lipopeptides, in the biological control of diseases and the modulation of the plant’s immune response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Production and Microorganism Potential in Modern Agro-Ecosystems)
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22 pages, 17522 KiB  
Article
Fertilizer of the Future: Beneficial Bacteria Promote Strawberry Growth and Yield and May Reduce the Need for Chemical Fertilizer
by Leandro Israel da Silva, Indira Pereira de Oliveira, Ederson da Conceição Jesus, Marlon Corrêa Pereira, Moacir Pasqual, Ronilson Carlos de Araújo and Joyce Dória
Agronomy 2022, 12(10), 2465; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12102465 - 11 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2144
Abstract
Agriculture is a fundamental activity for human development. However, its sustainable practice is required to ensure the perpetuity of future resources. In this way, bacteria can benefit crops by making available nutrients and metabolites, mainly contributing to reducing the demand for chemical fertilizers. [...] Read more.
Agriculture is a fundamental activity for human development. However, its sustainable practice is required to ensure the perpetuity of future resources. In this way, bacteria can benefit crops by making available nutrients and metabolites, mainly contributing to reducing the demand for chemical fertilizers. This study aimed to evaluate the biofertilizing capacity of Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus megaterium, and Brevibacillus fluminis and their effects on improving the physiological and morphoanatomical properties of strawberry seedlings. In vitro tests were performed to evince their potential to supply nutrients (P and K) and produce siderophores and indole-acetic acid. In an inoculation experiment, these strains were inoculated in isolation and mixed in pairs and triples. This experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design (CRD). The inoculated treatments were fertilized with 30% N and P demands; the uninoculated control received 30% and 100% of these demands. Leaf gas exchange, total chlorophylls, and crown diameter were evaluated during cultivation. After 138 days, leaf number, nutrient content, root length, root and shoot fresh and dry weight, and total seedlings were evaluated. The bacteria tested positive in all in vitro evaluations except for siderophore production. The strawberry responded positively to inoculation. The inoculation, either in isolation or in a mixture, improved stomatal conductance, leaf transpiration, internal CO2 concentration, leaf N and Mg contents, crown diameter, leaf area, and root elongation. We can conclude that the intermediation of microorganisms improves nutrient use efficiency and reduces the strawberry’s fertilizer demand by up to 70%, leading to plant development and yields comparable to complete fertilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Production and Microorganism Potential in Modern Agro-Ecosystems)
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33 pages, 8874 KiB  
Article
Spatial and Temporal Variability of the Microbiological and Chemical Properties of Soils under Wheat and Oilseed Rape Cultivation
by Aleksandra Grzyb, Agnieszka Wolna-Maruwka, Remigiusz Łukowiak and Jakub Ceglarek
Agronomy 2022, 12(10), 2259; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12102259 - 21 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1227
Abstract
The size of the microbial biomass and the activity of soil enzymes are among the most sensitive indicators of agricultural land quality. The aim of this study was to determine the spatial and temporal variability of microbial biomass, the activity of dehydrogenase (DHA) [...] Read more.
The size of the microbial biomass and the activity of soil enzymes are among the most sensitive indicators of agricultural land quality. The aim of this study was to determine the spatial and temporal variability of microbial biomass, the activity of dehydrogenase (DHA) enzyme and the concentration of micro- (Na, Mg and Ca) and macroelements (Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe) in the soil, collected from 37 measurement sites (depth 0–30 cm) in a 40-hectare field during two growing seasons (wheat and oilseed rape). The percentage of nitrogen (%N) in the wheat grain and rapeseeds was also determined. Mapping the spatial distribution of the microbial biomass, the level of DHA activity and the concentration of the selected elements was used to assess the soil productivity. All tested soil parameters exhibited temporal and spatial variability. The creation of raster maps showing the distribution of the tested parameters allowed the observation of a higher nitrogen content in wheat grains in the south-western part of the field, with high values of DHA activity, bacterial biomass and soil pH. In the case of oilseed rape, plants grown in the northern part of the field were characterized by a higher nitrogen content in the grain, where the soil was characterized by a higher content of fungal biomass. On the basis of the obtained research results, a positive, statistically significant correlation was also shown between the biomass of bacteria and the level of DHA in the soil under the cultivation of both wheat and rape. The cultivation of both crops had a significant impact on the size of the microbial biomass pool and on the DHA activity level but did not affect the concentration of the nutrients in the soil. High concentrations of the analyzed elements at the measuring points correlated with a greater %N content in the grain/seeds of the crops harvested at those locations in the field. The results conclude that the mapping of the physicochemical parameters, microbial biomass and activity on the field permits the development of an effective strategy for maintaining sustainable soil productivity through the appropriate management of agricultural practices and the better approximation of mineral fertilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Production and Microorganism Potential in Modern Agro-Ecosystems)
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13 pages, 2022 KiB  
Article
The Use of Compost from Post-Consumer Wood Waste Containing Microbiological Inoculums on Growth and Flowering of Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum × grandiflorum Ramat./Kitam.)
by Anita Schroeter-Zakrzewska and Magdalena Komorowicz
Agronomy 2022, 12(6), 1274; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12061274 - 26 May 2022
Viewed by 1671
Abstract
The purpose of the conducted study was to assess the possibility of using composts made from post-consumer wood containing waste of fibre boards and microbiological inoculums in chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum × grandiflorum Ramat./Kitam.) ‘Jewel Time’ cultivation. Five variants of composts (marked ask, KK, [...] Read more.
The purpose of the conducted study was to assess the possibility of using composts made from post-consumer wood containing waste of fibre boards and microbiological inoculums in chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum × grandiflorum Ramat./Kitam.) ‘Jewel Time’ cultivation. Five variants of composts (marked ask, KK, AL, AL + K, EM, EM + K) were prepared, each variant was duplicate. All variants consisted of fibreboard waste (60% of its weight), mixed with mature compost made from fibreboard waste (30%), Protohumovit-biologically active organic fertilizer with the chemical composition of cattle manure (3%), starch, sugar, corn oil (together 7%). A biological inoculum “Activit Las” was added to one half of reactors. “Activit Las” (produced by Atlas Planta S.C, Bydgoszcz) is biological inoculum containing of selected bacteria, actinobacteria and fungi, that is intended to accelerate the composting of lignocellulosic materials, including wood from forest and sawmill. The second part of reactors was implemented by microbiological inoculum (EM) from Greenland Technologia EM (Trzcianki, Poland). A Bio Best (produced by Atlas Planta S.C, Bydgoszcz) formulation of chicken manure was added to some of the reactors containing EM and Activit Las. Compost without any additional microorganisms and microelements was control for experiment. Plant quality depended on the dose of compost used as well as on the type of microbial inoculations used during the composting process. The addition of composts containing the EM microbial inoculation to peat stimulated the formation of inflorescences and inflorescence buds. It also had a positive effect on the size and number of leaves. An additional effect of using compost obtained from wood waste is the reduction in the consumption of natural resources such as peat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Production and Microorganism Potential in Modern Agro-Ecosystems)
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29 pages, 736 KiB  
Review
The Problem of Weed Infestation of Agricultural Plantations vs. the Assumptions of the European Biodiversity Strategy
by Adrianna Kubiak, Agnieszka Wolna-Maruwka, Alicja Niewiadomska and Agnieszka A. Pilarska
Agronomy 2022, 12(8), 1808; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12081808 - 30 Jul 2022
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 10722
Abstract
Meeting the nutritional needs of a dynamically developing global society is a major challenge. Despite the modernisation of agriculture, huge losses in the quality and quantity of crops occur each year, mainly due to weed species, which are the most important biotic limitation [...] Read more.
Meeting the nutritional needs of a dynamically developing global society is a major challenge. Despite the modernisation of agriculture, huge losses in the quality and quantity of crops occur each year, mainly due to weed species, which are the most important biotic limitation to agricultural production. Globally, approximately 1800 weed species cause a 31.5% reduction in plant production, which translates to USD 32 billion per year in economic losses. However, when the same herbicides are frequently applied, plants develop segetal immune mechanisms. There are currently around 380 herbicide-resistant weed biotypes worldwide. Due to the negative influence of herbicides on ecosystems and the legal regulations that limit the use of chemical crop protection products, it is necessary to develop a new method of weed control. Bioherbicides, based on living organisms or their secondary metabolites, seem to be an ideal solution. The biocontrol market is worth around EUR 550 million in Europe and EUR 1.6 billion worldwide, with an estimated 15% growth expected by 2025. Despite numerous studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of microbial bioherbicides, only 25 mould-based bioherbicides are currently available to growers. Due to the high specificity and selectivity of biological crop protection products, as well as their low production costs and non-toxicity to the environment and human health, they would appear to be a safe alternative to chemical pesticides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Production and Microorganism Potential in Modern Agro-Ecosystems)
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16 pages, 481 KiB  
Review
Soil Microbial Community and Enzymatic Activity of Grasslands under Different Use Practices: A Review
by Justyna Mencel, Agnieszka Mocek-Płóciniak and Anna Kryszak
Agronomy 2022, 12(5), 1136; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12051136 - 8 May 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3033
Abstract
The usage of grassland significantly affects the microbial and biochemical parameters of soil epipedons. The use of grasslands (by mowing, grazing, and mowing and grazing) affects the dominance of bacteria in abundance relative to fungal populations. This was particularly noticeable when manual mowing [...] Read more.
The usage of grassland significantly affects the microbial and biochemical parameters of soil epipedons. The use of grasslands (by mowing, grazing, and mowing and grazing) affects the dominance of bacteria in abundance relative to fungal populations. This was particularly noticeable when manual mowing was applied. In general, the highest number of microorganisms occurred during spring and summer, which should be associated with the intensity of growth of root systems of grass vegetation. It was noted that the grazing system caused an increase in the enzymatic activity of urease and slightly less dehydrogenases and acid and alkaline phosphatase. Therefore, microbial abundance and enzymatic activity are considered as indicator parameters to evaluate the biological soil environment. They are highly probable estimates of soil fertility and ecosystem biodiversity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Production and Microorganism Potential in Modern Agro-Ecosystems)
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