Search Results (6,147)

An important component of sustainable agriculture is the development of strategies that reduce the use of mineral fertilizers while maintaining high crop productivity. One promising approach is the application of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), which may support plant development and improve nutrient use efficiency. A field experiment with winter wheat was conducted in south-western Poland during two growing seasons, 2023–2024 and 2024–2025, to evaluate the effect of inoculation with Priestia sp. KR219 under different nitrogen fertilization regimes. The experiment included three levels of nitrogen: 70, 91, and 130 kg N ha⁻¹ (54%, 70%, and 100% of the full spring nitrogen fertilization rate) with and without bacterial application. Soil chemical and biological properties, photosynthetic pigment content, plant morphological traits, grain yield, as well as grain chemical composition and amino acid profile were evaluated. The inoculated treatments showed higher soil dehydrogenase activity in the second growing season and higher contents of selected photosynthetic pigments, particularly chlorophyll a, under reduced nitrogen fertilization. Bacterial inoculation was also associated with numerical increases in grain yield in most treatment combinations, although these differences were not statistically significant. Differences among treatment combinations involving nitrogen fertilization were more pronounced for grain chemical composition and amino acid profile than differences between inoculated and non-inoculated treatments at the same nitrogen level, with the full nitrogen rate generally resulting in the highest protein content and higher contents of several essential and non-essential amino acids. Overall, the responses observed following Priestia sp. KR219 inoculation included changes in selected soil and physiological parameters, while responses in grain yield and quality varied between growing seasons. Further studies under diverse environmental conditions are required to determine its agronomic potential. Full article

Cereal–legume forage mixtures provide sustainable agronomic and environmental benefits for arid Mediterranean agricultural systems, but their productivity is often limited by within-field soil spatial variability. Site specific management practices are required to address the yield gaps. This study aimed to identify management zones in a no-till Triticale–Avena–Pea mixture by integrating apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) and NDVI measurements. ECa was mapped using an EM38-MK2 sensor, while NDVI was derived from UAV and Sentinel-2 imagery at four key growth stages. Plant biomass data and soil samples were collected for evaluating and explaining the yield gaps. Using K-means clustering, three management zones were delineated using ECa and NDVI data. Results showed a yield gap of 46% in fresh biomass between high- and low-productivity zones, associated with strong gradients in soil organic matter and total nitrogen availability. The delineation of management zones enabled targeted agronomic interventions, such as adjusting seeding rates in the high-productivity area and prioritizing soil improvement strategies in the low-productivity zone, thereby enhancing input-use efficiency. Full article

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), the third most important food crop worldwide, is constrained by phytopathogens, environmental stress, and heavy agrochemical use. Potato micropropagation is a biotechnological strategy for producing genetically uniform, pathogen-free plantlets. However, the acclimatization phase remains a major bottleneck in micropropagation, often resulting in poor survival and stunted growth. In this context, plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) represent a sustainable strategy to improve plantlet establishment and reduce reliance on synthetic inputs. This study evaluated the biofertilization and biocontrol potential of three Douro vineyard-associated bacterial strains, Bacillus velezensis Nb1, Burkholderia pyrrocinia Gs3, and Streptomyces sp. 42s5, identified using 16S rRNA and gyrB sequence analysis. In dual-culture assays, the isolates showed antagonistic activity against Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Botrytis cinerea, and Alternaria alternata. All strains also exhibited key plant growth-promoting traits, including indole-3-acetic acid and siderophore production, and phosphate solubilization. The isolates were tested individually and in consortia on micropropagated potato plantlets during acclimatization under greenhouse conditions. Eight treatments (six replicates each), including a non-inoculated control, were evaluated. The results indicated that inoculations significantly improved vegetative growth and yield-related parameters. Notably, the Gs3 + 42s5 combination produced the highest shoot biomass, while the three-strain consortium achieved the greatest total tuber weight (36.91 g/plant) compared to the control (7.75 g/plant). These findings highlight the potential of these native PGPB, particularly when applied in multi-strain combinations, to enhance acclimatization efficiency and support sustainable potato production by reducing dependence on chemical inputs and promoting eco-friendly agricultural practices. Full article

Unsustainable agricultural practices and overreliance on chemical fertilizers have led to severe environmental issues, such as soil and water pollution, loss of biodiversity, and risks to human and animal health. Moreover, plant diseases continuously decrease crop productivity and threaten global food security. Therefore, there is a strong need to focus on sustainable agricultural practices. Microbial biofertilizers emerge as environment-friendly alternatives to chemical fertilizers that help in nutrient solubilization and availability, soil fertility, and plant growth promotion, in addition to curbing the application of chemical fertilizers. Microbial inoculants enhance agricultural yield by performing complementary roles, such as facilitating nutrient uptake through biological nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization, promoting plant growth via phytohormone synthesis, and mitigating diseases by activating plant defense responses. A 2025 meta-analysis of 107 field studies in China reported mean yield increases of 22.3% in wheat, 13.6% in rice, 12.8% in maize, and 65.4% in millet, while a field study in saline soil reported a 25% reduction in NPK fertilizer use in barley without reducing the grain yield. This review provides an overview of the major types of microbial biofertilizers, their modes of action, and their use in important cropping systems. Special emphasis is placed on microbial consortia that can enhance nutrient cycling, plant productivity, and tolerance to abiotic stress factors. The application of nanotechnology, genetically engineered microorganisms, and combinations of microbial inoculants with organic waste are some strategies that could be adopted for next-generation biofertilizer development. The review also addresses the major hurdles in the formulation, field performance, and commercialization of microbial biofertilizers. Future perspectives revolve around optimizing microbial formulations, applying advanced biotechnological tools, and developing enabling policies for the rapid adoption of microbial biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture. Full article

When national-level market-oriented agricultural reforms enter regional agricultural systems with different land-use structures, production infrastructure, and degrees of institutional dependence, they may generate spatially uneven political responses. Focusing on Punjab and Madhya Pradesh, India, this study integrates agricultural reform policy documents, public procurement statistics, MODIS land-cover data for 2013, 2017, 2020, and 2023, irrigation statistics for the 2013–2014 to 2022–2023 agricultural years, and protest-event records from the Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone (GDELT) Event Database for 25 September 2020 to 11 December 2021. We examine agricultural land-use intensity, cropland fragmentation, gross irrigated area, and the district-level coverage, spatial concentration, and cross-quarter persistence of protest events. Punjab maintained an agricultural land-use intensity of approximately 95%, a cropland patch density of 2.50–4.27 patches per 1000 km², and only a 0.56% increase in gross irrigated area, indicating a mature agricultural space characterized by intensive land use, continuous cropland, and stable irrigation. By contrast, agricultural land-use intensity in Madhya Pradesh increased from 75.24% to 77.63%, cropland patch density declined from 17.40 to 13.15 patches per 1000 km², and gross irrigated area increased by 70.87%, indicating a transitional agricultural space marked by gradual land expansion, increasing cropland connectivity, and rapid irrigation growth. Protest events were more widespread and persistent in Punjab but more concentrated in Madhya Pradesh. These findings show that agricultural land expansion, cropland fragmentation, or irrigation growth alone cannot explain regional differences in farmer protests. Rather, the observed regional differences are more consistent with an interpretation emphasizing the interaction between differentiated agricultural spaces and existing institutional arrangements, including minimum support prices, public procurement, and Agricultural Produce Market Committee markets. The study develops an integrated institutional–spatial framework for explaining uneven regional responses to uniform agricultural reform. Full article

Increasing fertilizer costs, climate-related stresses, and soil degradation caused by the prolonged use of chemical fertilizers threaten the sustainability of agricultural production. Organic soil amendments offer a promising approach to restoring soil health while reducing dependence on synthetic inputs. This study evaluated the combined effects of biochar and organic fertilizer on soil health and soybean (Glycine max L.) productivity under acidic soil conditions. During the 2024 growing season, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) comprising seven treatments. Each treatment was replicated three times, resulting in a total of 21 pots. The treatments consisted of different combinations of biochar (B) and organic fertilizer (F), applied at rates of grams per 10.5 kg of soil: control (B0F0), B35F70, B35F105, B35F140, B70F70, B70F105, and B70F140. Treatment means were compared using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at p < 0.05. The results showed that the highest soil pH value (5.41) was recorded under the B35F70 treatment at 45 days after amendment of the acidic soil. Application of the B35F140 treatment resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.05) in electrical conductivity (0.23 mS cm⁻¹) compared with the control. Soil organic matter and available phosphorus reached their highest values under B70F140, at 5.25% and 13.87 mg kg⁻¹, respectively, and were significantly greater than those in the control treatment. Soil available iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) concentrations also increased significantly (p < 0.05) compared with the control, with the B35F70 and B70F70 treatments resulting in the highest Fe (371.29 mg kg⁻¹) and Mn (37.77 mg kg⁻¹) concentrations, respectively. At 100 days after amendment of the reddish-brown acidic soil, exploratory Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to examine relationships between soil health indicators and soybean performance. Soil available phosphorus and potassium exhibited positive associations with soil pH (r = 0.69 and r = 0.65, respectively; p < 0.01). Soybean growth traits, including plant height and number of leaves, were positively associated with seed yield (r = 0.56 and r = 0.77, respectively; p < 0.01). Furthermore, seed yield was positively correlated with SPAD values (r = 0.80, p < 0.01), soil pH (r = 0.56, p < 0.01), available K (r = 0.68, p < 0.01), and Mg (r = 0.47, p < 0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) further demonstrated clear treatment clustering and consistent positive relationships among soil properties, plant growth traits, and soybean yield variables. The control treatment was clearly separated from all biochar-organic fertilizer treatments along PC1. Among all treatments, B35F140 (3.33 g biochar kg⁻¹ soil + 13.33 g organic fertilizer kg⁻¹ soil) showed the strongest positive association with soil health and plant growth and produced the highest soybean seed yield (10.77 g plant⁻¹). Overall, the combined use of biochar and organic fertilizer improved soil health, soybean growth, and yield, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable strategy for enhancing soybean productivity under acidic soil conditions. Full article

Open-field burning of agricultural residues is a persistent environmental challenge that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and the loss of valuable biomass resources. This study developed sustainable mushroom cultivation substrates by replacing 50% of conventional sawdust with locally available agricultural residues, including corn stalks, rice straw, sugarcane leaves, and leaf litter, to reduce production costs, enhance mushroom productivity, and promote circular bioeconomy practices. The physicochemical properties, mycelial growth, contamination, yield performance, nutritional composition, economic feasibility, and environmental benefits of the alternative substrates were evaluated using Lentinus sajor-caju and Pleurotus species. Among the tested formulations, corn stalk-based substrates exhibited the most favorable characteristics, with improved nitrogen availability and a more balanced C/N ratio, resulting in faster colonization, lower contamination, quicker fruiting body formation period, and superior biological efficiency. The corn stalk formulation achieved the highest productivity across species, including biological efficiencies of 61.99% for L. sajor-caju, 102.79% for P. cornucopiae, 99.40% for P. ostreatus, and 101.96% for P. pulmonarius. In addition, alternative substrates maintained or enhanced mushroom nutritional quality, with high protein (18.22–31.37%), dietary fiber (up to 30.58%), and low-fat contents (1.11–1.95%). Economic analysis demonstrated that a 50:50 sawdust-biomass substitution strategy substantially reduced substrate costs, achieving approximately 30% savings at industrial production scales. Overall, this study demonstrates that converting agricultural residues into high-value mushroom substrates provides an effective strategy to improve production efficiency, reduce costs, and advance sustainable mushroom cultivation systems. Full article

This study examines regional correlates of real agricultural output in Kazakhstan using a harmonized panel of 14 agricultural regional units observed from 2016 to 2025. To distinguish production-volume changes from nominal price movements, the main dependent variable is a chain-linked measure of real agricultural output constructed from official regional physical volume indices. The analysis considers agricultural employment, sown area, cattle stock, contemporaneous and lagged agricultural investment, non-agricultural gross regional product, and sectoral concentration measured by the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index. The empirical strategy combines parsimonious two-way fixed-effects models, wild cluster bootstrap inference, correlated random-effects diagnostics, region-specific linear trends, and sensitivity analyses excluding administratively reorganized regional units. Sown area shows the most consistent positive association with real agricultural output in the baseline fixed-effects specifications. However, the coefficient becomes statistically insignificant after region-specific trends are introduced. Agricultural employment, cattle stock, aggregate investment, non-agricultural GRP, prior agricultural specialization, and sectoral concentration do not show robust associations across the revised specifications. Models using annual real-output growth as an alternative dependent variable also produce no robust relationships. The findings indicate that aggregate production inputs alone do not fully explain regional agricultural performance in Kazakhstan. Regional policy should therefore place greater emphasis on land productivity, irrigation efficiency, climate resilience, investment quality, processing, logistics, and agri-food value-chain development. Full article

A formal framework of bioprocesses enables accurate prediction of reaction outcomes, thereby optimizing resource allocation and reducing production costs. This study aimed to establish an approximate stoichiometric equation and determine the bioenergetics growth parameters of the pink oyster mushroom (Pleurotus djamor) using a “black box” modeling approach. A commercial strain was cultivated in polypropylene bags at 28 °C and 75% relative humidity. The harvested mushroom biomass was dried and analyzed for C, H, and N content, with O determined by difference. The resulting empirical formulas were CH_1.33O_0.36N_0.02 for the dry wheat straw substrate and CH_1.81O_0.41N_0.09 for the fungal biomass. The bioprocess exhibited a primordia initiation period of 20.5 days, a total harvest window of 50.0 days, a maximum biological efficiency of 16.77%, a model yield (Y) of 0.90%, and a productivity of 20.5 g/100 g substrate. In conclusion, this biotechnological framework provides a robust predictive tool for industrial scaling, enabling mass and energy balance optimization in real time without reliance on costly intracellular measurements. Thus, it establishes a reliable and sustainable pathway to convert low-cost agricultural residues into high-value bioproducts, supporting the goals of a circular economy. Full article

Microbiological bioproducts constitute a rapidly growing group of preparations used in modern agriculture and play a significant role in achieving the goals of sustainable crop production. Because they contain live microorganisms or their metabolites, they promote plant growth and development, increase nutrient availability, improve soil properties, and suppress pathogen development, thereby representing a promising alternative to conventional fertilizers and chemical plant protection products. The aim of this study was to analyze the current state of knowledge on the application of microorganisms in agriculture, with a particular focus on their mechanisms of action, bioproduct formulation principles, and the legal requirements for their registration and marketing in Poland and the European Union. The paper presents a classification of microbiological bioproducts and compares their properties with those of chemical products. The stages of product formulation, including strain selection and identification, mass production, the choice of appropriate carriers, and stabilization methods, are discussed. Furthermore, the primary mechanisms of microbial action on plants are characterized, including biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, the production of phytohormones and siderophores, and pathogen biocontrol mechanisms. In addition, the current legal regulations governing the classification, registration, and quality and safety requirements of agricultural microbiological products are outlined. The analysis indicates that microbiological bioproducts have significant potential to support sustainable crop production and mitigate the negative environmental impacts of agriculture. However, their widespread adoption requires further advancements in formulation technologies, quality standardization, and the improvement and harmonization of existing legal frameworks. Full article

Soil acidification severely restricts agricultural productivity in red soil regions, and microbial remediation represents an eco-friendly restoration strategy. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the dose-dependent effects of Pseudomonas fluorescens on acidified latosol, maize seedling growth, and rhizosphere bacterial communities. Five inoculation rates were applied (5.5 × 10⁹–3.3 × 10¹⁰ CFU pot⁻¹), together with a non-inoculated control. Pseudomonas fluorescens inoculation significantly increased soil pH and base cation contents, reduced exchangeable and hydrolytic acidity, and enhanced soil acid–base buffering capacity. Low to moderate inoculation rates promoted maize photosynthesis, root development, and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium accumulation, whereas the highest rate (3.3 × 10¹⁰ CFU pot⁻¹) significantly inhibited seedling growth. Bacterial sequencing showed that inoculation reshaped rhizosphere community structure and enriched taxa, including Proteobacteria, Bacillota, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas. Overall, inoculation rates of 1.1 × 10¹⁰ and 2.2 × 10¹⁰ CFU pot⁻¹ showed the most favorable responses across soil amelioration and maize growth-related traits, suggesting a suitable application range for acidified soil remediation. These results provide preliminary evidence that appropriate application of Pseudomonas fluorescens may contribute to the biological amelioration of acidified soils, although its field-scale effectiveness requires further validation. Full article

Coordinated regional development of agricultural and rural modernization is essential to remedy sectoral shortcomings and to advance comprehensive rural revitalization. Panel data from 16 cities in Shandong Province (2014–2023) were analyzed using GMI and LMI models to study spatio-temporal evolution and spatial correlation in three economic circles. The Dagum coefficient decomposed regional disparities, while an obstacle degree model identified key hindering factors. The findings were as follows. Agricultural and rural modernization in Shandong has followed a fluctuating but rapid growth trajectory, with a clear spatial hierarchy: Jiaodong > Lunan > Provincial Capital. Spatial agglomeration types HH and LL occurred mainly in Jiaodong and Lunan, respectively. By contrast, spatial outliers of type HL included Dezhou, Jinan and Jining, while LH characterized Rizhao and Dongying. Overall discrepancies in agricultural and rural modernization within the province arose mainly from differences between these economic circles and, on the whole, were converging. Although Provincial Capital has experienced episodic widening of intra-circle disparities, differences within Jiaodong and Lunan have tended to narrow. Persistent constraints on agricultural and rural modernization in Shandong Province included comprehensive control level of soil and water loss, governance expenditure on rural communities, industrialization level of agricultural products, and Agro-product Geographical Indications, while the comprehensive control level of soil and water loss was also the common obstacle factors across three major economic circles, and industrialization level of agricultural products became common to all three from 2020 onward. Each circle should exploit its particular resource endowment and development base. To narrow development gaps among prefecture-level cities, it is essential to clarify functional roles, strengthen inter-city division of labor and cooperation, and promote coordinated regional development of agricultural and rural modernization across the economic circles. Full article

To verify the growth-promoting effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens on silage maize (Zea mays L.), optimize its application dosage, and elucidate rhizosphere microecological responses, this study executed field experiments in both conventional and saline-alkali soils. We comprehensively assessed how varying biofertilizer dosages (0, 300, and 600 kg ha⁻¹) influenced crop phenotypes, soil physical and chemical attributes, and rhizosphere microbial communities. Results demonstrated that applying B. amyloliquefaciens substantially enhanced biomass and crude protein accumulation in silage maize, without compromising its ideal carbohydrate profile and fermentation characteristics. The observed growth stimulation was likely linked to efficient mobilization of native soil nutrients. Following biofertilizer application, significant surges in available potassium, available phosphorus, and inorganic nitrogen were recorded at both locations, coupled with successful pH buffering in the saline-alkali plots. Microbial analysis indicated a notable expansion of the copiotrophic Proteobacteria phylum, with the bio-inoculant displaying dose-dependent shifts. Specifically, Xanthobacteraceae was heavily recruited in standard agricultural soils to hasten nutrient mineralization, while stress-tolerant bacterial groups like Nitrosomonadaceae were stimulated under saline-alkali conditions. Furthermore, comprehensive phenotypic and nutritional evaluations demonstrated that, among the tested doses, an application rate of 300 kg ha⁻¹ effectively optimizes crop performance. Higher doses do not yield proportional biological benefits, likely due to the carrying capacity limits of the rhizosphere microecology. In summary, B. amyloliquefaciens can support high-yield and high-quality silage maize production by activating soil nutrients and remodeling the core rhizosphere microbiome in a habitat-specific manner. Among the tested doses, 300 kg ha⁻¹ showed the best performance, but further studies with lower doses and longer durations are needed to determine the true optimal application rate and to assess its economic and environmental sustainability. Full article

Growing global challenges have made it imperative to evaluate economic activities not only in terms of economic growth but also from the perspectives of environmental and social well-being. Within this context, Women’s Production and Business Cooperatives have emerged as critical collective initiatives that support local development. In this study, “Women’s Production and Business Cooperatives” refer to cooperatives established and predominantly managed by women to collectively engage in the production and commercialization of goods and services, generate income and employment opportunities for their members, and promote women’s economic and social empowerment. Hereafter, these organizations are referred to as “women’s cooperatives.” However, studies that comprehensively examine the sustainability practices of women’s cooperatives through the framework of Elkington’s Triple Bottom Line (economic, social, and environmental sustainability) remain limited. From the perspective of Stakeholder Theory, cooperatives are regarded as organizations that extend beyond the pursuit of economic profit by creating value for both internal and external stakeholders, including women, local communities, the environment, consumers, and public institutions. Accordingly, this study aims to provide an in-depth examination of the sustainability practices adopted by women’s cooperatives within these three dimensions, as well as to identify the challenges they encounter. This study adopted a qualitative research design, utilizing in-depth interviews with seven presidents and managers representing women’s cooperatives. The findings suggest that zero-waste practices, the adoption of circular economy principles, and the transition toward green agriculture constitute the primary sustainability initiatives, whereas high technology and packaging costs, together with insufficient institutional collaboration, represent the major challenges to the environmental sustainability. Within the economic sustainability dimension, the findings indicate that the participating cooperatives have increasingly shifted toward industrial production standards, value-added by-products, and business-to-business (B2B) marketing strategies. Nevertheless, rising input and logistics costs, together with unfair competition, continue to pose significant challenges. As relates to social sustainability, the findings highlight intergenerational transmission of cultural heritage, psychosocial recovery, efforts to challenge social prejudice, inter-cooperative solidarity, and the allocation of resources for social benefit, including scholarship support. Overall, the findings reveal that these cooperatives make meaningful contributions to multidimensional sustainability and stakeholder well-being, thereby providing valuable empirical insights into the sustainability literature. Full article

Agrivoltaic systems configure photovoltaic power generation and agricultural production within the same land space, providing a new pathway for alleviating the conflict between energy development and farmland conservation; however, array shading and structural constraints also alter crop growth and agricultural equipment operating environments. Following the PRISMA process, this review searched studies published from 2010 to 2026 in the Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and ultimately included 206 publications. The review focuses on array-induced environmental reconfiguration, equipment adaptation, light–thermal sensing and prediction, and coordinated agrivoltaic operation. Existing evidence indicates that the environmental effects of agrivoltaic systems are clearly influenced by climate and array configuration; in representative vertical or tracking systems, annual-scale photosynthetically active radiation decreased by approximately 11% to 34%. Mismatch among module height, row spacing, and implement width reduces field-operation efficiency, which fell to approximately 45% under severe mismatch in some experiments; elevated arrays also cause GNSS signal attenuation and increase the difficulty of continuous positioning beneath the panels. Because existing studies differ considerably in site conditions, evaluation indicators, and validation periods, the above results mainly reflect representative performance ranges. Matching criteria between photovoltaic arrays and agricultural machinery have not yet been established, long-term field-measured data in complex field environments are insufficient, model adaptability across regions is limited, and coordinated scheduling of agricultural production and photovoltaic operation and maintenance remains inadequate. Overall, coordinated design of arrays and agricultural machinery, multi-sensor fusion navigation, environmental prediction corrected for array structure, and hierarchical scheduling under safety constraints are the main development directions for intelligent coordinated operation of agrivoltaic systems. Full article