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Impact of Nutrients and Trace Elements in Soil on Plant Growth: Case of the Second Generation Energy Crops

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 June 2022) | Viewed by 12023

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Valentina V. Pidlisnyuk

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Guest Editor

Department of the Environmental Chemistry&Technology, Faculty of Environment, Jan Evangelista Purkyne University in Usti nad Labem, Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic
Interests: soil science; soil amendments; phytotechnology with biomass production
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Željka Zgorelec

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Co-Guest Editor

Division of Agroecology, Department of General Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: soil ecology; environmental analytical chemistry; remediation of contaminated soil

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Growing demands for alternative energy and lignocellulose biomass in response to the mitigation of climate change has attracted interest in second-generation energy crops, which can be produced in marginal/slightly contaminated land that is not in conflict with food security. The green technology approach toward the sustainable management of contaminated sites implies a union of phytoremediation with biomass production. In order to have a benefit to the soil and to receive a proper biomass to be converted to energy or bioproducts (fiber, isolation materials, and paper) the growth of crops in low nutrient soil contaminated by trace elements (TEs) must be researched thoroughly, along with ways to improve productivity. This includes research on the impact of different agricultural practices: soil amendments, fertilization, etc. to biomass quantity and quality and the impact of soil health on crops: optimizing pH, increasing moisture holding capacity, attracting beneficial fungi and microbes, improving cation exchange capacity, and retaining nutrients.

The Special Issue will focus on all of the above-mentioned research topics. Case studies illustrating how soil health may influence growth, taking into account biomass conversion to energy and bioproducts, are greatly encouraged. We are seeking full manuscripts and short communications, reviews, and implemented case studies.

Prof. Dr. Valentina V. Pidlisnyuk
Prof. Dr. Željka Zgorelec
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

soil health
soil amendments
soil microbial community
plant resistance

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 202 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Impact of Nutrients and Trace Elements in Soil on Plant Growth: Case of the Second-Generation Energy Crops

by Valentina Pidlisnyuk and Željka Zgorelec

Agronomy 2022, 12(11), 2768; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112768 - 7 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1177

Abstract

This editorial belongs to the Special Issue “Impact of Nutrients and Trace Elements in Soil on Plant Growth: Case of the Second-Generation Energy Crops” [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Nutrients and Trace Elements in Soil on Plant Growth: Case of the Second Generation Energy Crops)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

18 pages, 1749 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Short-Term Effects of Amendments on Nematode Communities and Diversity Patterns under the Cultivation of Miscanthus × giganteus on Marginal Land

by Tatyana Stefanovska, Andrzej Skwiercz, Valentina Pidlisnyuk, Oleksandr Zhukov, Dawid Kozacki, Aigerim Mamirova, Robert Ato Newton and Sergey Ust’ak

Agronomy 2022, 12(9), 2063; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12092063 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1928

Abstract

The short-term effects of soil amendments on the structure, diversity and function of a nematode community of Miscanthus × giganteus was investigated. Crop was cultivated on marginal, nutrient-poor land amended with biochar in single and double doses (BD1 and BD2), biogas digestate (D), sewage sludge (SS), and hemicellulose waste (HW). Sampling was done after planting, in the middle and end of vegetation; morphology-based approach was used. 28 nematode taxa were identified, including 5 bacterivores genera, 4 fungivores genera, 5 herbivores genera (11 species), 2 omnivores genera, 5 predators genera. The general linear models, correspondence analysis and clustering were applied for evaluation. The total abundance of nematode taxa Filenchus, Dorylaimus, Cephalobus, Panagrolaimus, Aphelenchus, and Ditylenchus was depended on the sampling time and amendments. The incorporation of amendments affected nematode food web and resulted in suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs). It was revealed that community structure was more mature for SS, less stable for D and had inconclusive effects for BD1, BD2, and HW. Using amendments ensured pest control benefits which is important given concern that PPNs can inflict crop damage during increased cultivation of M × g. Further research is needed to examine amendments which can minimise PPNs without reducing populations of nitrogen-fixing bacterivores and fungivores. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Nutrients and Trace Elements in Soil on Plant Growth: Case of the Second Generation Energy Crops)

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15 pages, 710 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wastewater Sewage Sludge Management via Production of the Energy Crop Virginia Mallow

by Jona Šurić, Ivan Brandić, Anamarija Peter, Nikola Bilandžija, Josip Leto, Tomislav Karažija, Hrvoje Kutnjak, Milan Poljak and Neven Voća

Agronomy 2022, 12(7), 1578; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12071578 - 29 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1968

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plants are facilities where wastewater is treated by technological processes. A byproduct of a wastewater treatment plant is sewage sludge, which can be both a good soil conditioner and a source of nutrients for the crops to which it is applied. Energy crops are non-food plants that can cleanse the soil of heavy metals through their ability to phytoremediate. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of different amounts of sewage sludge on soil and plants. In the experiment Virginia mallow (Sida hermaphrodita L.) was used and the influence of stabilized sewage sludge in the amounts of 1.66, 3.32 and 6.64 t/ha dry matter on the energy composition and biomass yield was observed.The obtained results showed a yield of 8.85 t/ha at the maximum amount of sewage sludge used. Hemicellulose content was 20.20% in the application of 6.64 t/ha of sewage sludge and 19.70% in the control, while lignin content was 17.97% in the control and 16.77% in the maximum amount of sewage sludge. The heavy metals molybdenum and nickel did not differ significantly under the influence of larger amounts of sewage sludge, while manganese increased from 23.66 to 35.82 mg/kg. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Nutrients and Trace Elements in Soil on Plant Growth: Case of the Second Generation Energy Crops)

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10 pages, 268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Balance of Miscanthus Biomass from Rhizomes and Seedlings

by Darija Bilandžija, Renato Stuparić, Marija Galić, Željka Zgorelec, Josip Leto and Nikola Bilandžija

Agronomy 2022, 12(6), 1426; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12061426 - 14 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1995

Abstract

Biological carbon sequestration is considered an important strategy to mitigate climate change. The energy crop Miscanthus × giganteus has great sequestration potential. The objective of this study was to determine: a) the dry matter yield and carbon content in aboveground and belowground biomass; b) the total carbon balance in the plant and soil pool. The study was conducted in continental Croatia (N 45°51′01.32″; E 16°10′35.85″) by the destructive harvesting of five-year-old Miscanthus × giganteus stands established by rhizomes (MxgR) and seedlings (MxgS) in the spring of 2021. The soil sampling was conducted in 2016 and 2022. The average amount of carbon in the aboveground biomass of MxgR and MxgS is 11.51 t/ha and 9.87 t/ha, respectively, and in the belowground biomass it is 13.18 t/ha and 14.90 t/ha, respectively. The carbon balance in the plant pool of MxgR is three times lower (1.67 t/ha) than that in the plant pool of MxgS (5.03 t/ha). The total soil carbon content increased by 8.7 t/ha under MxgR and by 14.8 t/ha under MxgS during 2016–2022. Therefore, under the studied agroecological conditions, seedlings should be preferred over rhizomes in the selection of planting material. The obtained data represent valuable input data for sequestration modeling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Nutrients and Trace Elements in Soil on Plant Growth: Case of the Second Generation Energy Crops)

16 pages, 1825 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Miscanthus × giganteus Phytoremediation of Soil Contaminated with Trace Elements as Influenced by the Presence of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria

by Valentina Pidlisnyuk, Aigerim Mamirova, Kumar Pranaw, Vitalii Stadnik, Pavel Kuráň, Josef Trögl and Pavlo Shapoval

Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040771 - 23 Mar 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2545

Abstract

The phytoremediation of industrial crops is becoming popular for the revitalization of land contaminated by trace elements (TEs). This approach combines biomass production with the improvement of soil health. To implement phytoremediation and derive sufficient dry biomass, crop production must be adequately supported by agricultural practices, including the application of bioinoculants. The current study aims to test the influence of several plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), isolated from TEs-contaminated soil—i.e., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KP-13, Bacillus altitudinis KP-14, and Pseudomonas fluorescens KP-16 and their consortia on the phytoremediation of the industrial crop M. × giganteus cultivated in the same TEs-contaminated soil. Contrary to expectations, the effects of PGPB on the biomass harvest were low. The most significant increase was detected in leaf biomass treated with a consortium of tested PGPBs. More significant effects were detected in the uptake of individual TEs. The phytoparameters of translocation factor, comprehensive bioconcentration index and uptake index were used to characterize the behavior of the TEs; Cr; Mn; Ni; Cu; Zn; Sr; V; and Pb in the presence of isolates. Plants treated with PGPB strains accumulated minimal concentrations of Cu and Pb in their aboveground biomass, while a tendency for Zn accumulation in the leaves and stems, and Sr accumulation in the leaves was observed. The obtained results reveal the combinations of isolates that lead to the minimal uptake of TEs into the stems and the simultaneous increase in DW. This study provides more insight into the leading factors of phytoremediation supported by PGPB and can be helpful when M. × giganteus is grown on TEs-contaminated soils of different origins. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Nutrients and Trace Elements in Soil on Plant Growth: Case of the Second Generation Energy Crops)

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14 pages, 1950 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Impact of Soil Contamination with Cadmium and Mercury on Leaf Nitrogen Content and Miscanthus Yield Applying Proximal Spectroscopy

by Ivana Šestak, Nikola Bilandžija, Aleksandra Perčin, Ivana Fadljević, Iva Hrelja and Željka Zgorelec

Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020255 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1529

Abstract

The research objective was to use proximal spectroscopy in visible and near infrared (VNIR) spectra to determine the total leaf nitrogen (TN) content and the above-ground biomass of Miscanthus × giganteus (MxG) grown in the open-roof greenhouse experiment on soil contaminated with cadmium and mercury (100 mg Cd/kg soil; 20 mg Hg/kg soil), in dependence of different soil amendments in four treatments (I-soil without amendment; II-sludge; III-mycorrhizae; IV-MxG ash). Leaf reflectance was acquired using a field spectroradiometer (350–1050 nm) at the end of the vegetation period between 2018 and 2019 (n = 24). TN content was determined using the dry combustion method, while biomass was weighted immediately after the harvest. In terms of the treatment effect, sludge showed the greatest contribution in TN content. Regarding the biomass quantity, MxG ash revealed the best results as soil amendment. Applying the partial least squares regression, complete correlation and low root mean squared error (RMSE) were obtained between predicted and measured values for the validation dataset of TN content (R² = 0.87, RMSE = 0.139%), while a strong correlation was calculated for biomass (R² = 0.53, RMSE = 0.833 t/ha). As an additional tool with analytical methods, proximal spectroscopy is suitable to integrate the optical and physiological properties of MxG, and to assess nutrient stress in crop grown on contaminated soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Nutrients and Trace Elements in Soil on Plant Growth: Case of the Second Generation Energy Crops)

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