Search Results (545)

Recently, the EU approved RENURE-criteria materials to be used as substitutes for synthetic N fertilisers. Several studies have been performed on the agronomic efficacy and potential environmental impacts of different bio-based fertilisers (BBFs) from biomass recovery, including the RENURE-criteria materials. But information is lacking about their effectiveness under abiotic stress conditions like salinity and drought. The predictions for climate change-induced increased drought and soil salinisation for the European soils have also increased, making it inevitable to understand BBF performance in these impending situations. Two RENURE-criteria top-priority materials (ammonium nitrate (AN) and ammonium sulphate (AS) and another commercially used BBF—an evaporator concentrate (CaE)) were evaluated in a pot trial growing spinach under salinity and drought stress with a reference ‘no stress’ condition to examine crop growth, nutrient uptake, and nitrogen fertiliser replacement value (NFRV). Agronomically, BBFs performed at par with the synthetic fertiliser (SF) under unstressed and salt-stressed conditions, whereas, under drought stress, BBFs outperformed the SF treatment. AS exhibited the highest yield and nutrient uptake, displaying an NFRV of 3.1 and 1.8 under no-stress and salt-stress conditions, respectively. Salt stress did not negatively impact the crops grown in this trial, potentially due to the higher potassium content in the system, which alleviated the possible negative impacts of high sodium. This study delves into the agronomic response, without evaluating crop physiological changes, and, hence, should be taken as a preliminary step into further investigation of observed elemental interactions (that could be potentially driving stress mitigation) while also examining the crop physiology during the duration of stress. Full article

To evaluate the optimal substitution ratio of organic fertilizer for chemical nitrogen fertilizer and its underlying mechanisms, a pot experiment was conducted in the rhizosphere soil of oat (Avena sativa) on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Five treatments were established: CK (control), T1 (chemical fertilizer alone), T2 (100% organic fertilizer substitution for chemical nitrogen fertilizer), T3 (30% organic fertilizer substitution for chemical nitrogen fertilizer), and T4 (60% organic fertilizer substitution for chemical nitrogen fertilizer). We analyzed soil carbon fractions, microbial community structure, carbon-cycling enzyme activities, and yield responses and applied partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to identify key regulatory pathways. The results showed that 30% organic substitution (T3) was associated with optimized soil carbon pools, improved microbial community composition, and enhanced carbon-cycling enzyme activities, while reducing the abundance of potentially harmful fungi. Structural equation modeling indicated that β-glucosidase activity and the relative abundance of Proteobacteria were the primary drivers of yield, together explaining 76% of its variation. The ecosystem multifunctionality index (EMF) was significantly and positively correlated with yield. In summary, under the conditions of this experiment, 30% organic fertilizer substitution achieved a favorable balance between soil ecological functions and crop yield, providing a valuable reference for sustainable nutrient management in oat production in high-altitude cold regions. Full article

Irrigation effects on processing tomato have been comprehensively studied, whereas the integrated effects of irrigation and agronomic measures lack systematic investigations. This study employed a two-year field experiment to investigate the interactive effects of irrigation, fertilizer, and tillage practices on the crop growth, total yield, and fruit quality of processing tomato. The experimental treatments comprised three irrigation levels (full irrigation, mild water deficit, and moderate water deficit), combined with two fertilizer strategies (synthetic fertilizer only and partial substitution of synthetic fertilizer with manure), and two tillage practices (ridge planting and flat planting). It was found that the partial organic fertilizer substitution and the ridge planting significantly improved the total tomato yield by 13.11% and 75.54% on average, respectively, compared to the synthetic fertilizer application and flat planting, although they led to more salt accumulation in the top soil layer. However, the extent of the increase greatly varied over different irrigation levels and years. The mild water deficit led to a yield increase of 9.22% compared to full irrigation, while the moderate water deficit resulted in an obvious yield loss of 25.95%. Moreover, the ridge planting, the partial organic fertilizer substitution, and water deficit had strong positive effects on the fruit quality and the tillage–irrigation interaction had strong effects on the fruit quality, but it showed negligible effects on the tomato yield. In contrast, the tomato yield was very sensitive to the fertilizer–irrigation interaction, while the fruit quality showed nonsignificant sensitivity to the tillage–irrigation interaction. Finally, the combination of ridge planting, partial organic fertilizer substitution, and a mild water deficit was highlighted as a sustainable cropping production system for processing tomato to achieve an enhanced total yield and fruit quality. Full article

Seed vitality is a key factor for successful germination of seeds and successful root establishment of crops. However, a cold environment can severely hinder the germination of soybean seeds, resulting in a significant decrease in yield. In this study, the cold tolerance of 205 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSL) during the germination process was evaluated. CSSL_R22 exhibited higher seed vitality under low-temperature conditions. Five quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to cold tolerance during the germination stage were detected. By combining the QTL analysis results with transcriptome data, we determined that GmKAN1 (Glyma.20G108600) is an important regulatory factor for cold tolerance during seed germination. Preliminary studies have shown that GmKAN1, as a transcriptional repressor of GmARF2 and GmARF8, can regulate auxin synthesis to enhance the tolerance of seeds to cold stress. These results provide valuable insights into the regulatory network related to cold tolerance during soybean seed germination. Full article

Rising temperatures, extreme precipitation events such as excessive or insufficient rainfall, increasing levels of carbon dioxide, and associated climatic factors will persistently impact crop growth and agricultural production. The warming temperatures have reduced the agricultural crop yields. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the major food crop, which is particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change. It is very important to accurately evaluate the impacts of climate change on rice growth and rice yield. In this study, the rice growth during 1981–2018 (baseline period) and 2041–2100 (future period) were separately simulated and compared within the CERES-Rice model (v4.6) using high-quality weather data, soil, and field experimental data at six agro-meteorological stations in Hainan Province. For the climate data of the future period, the SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios were applied, with carbon dioxide (CO₂) fertilization effects considered. The adaptation strategies such as adjusting planting dates and switching rice cultivars were also assessed. The simulation results indicated that the early rice yields in the 2050s, 2070s, and 2090s were projected to decrease by 6.2%, 11.8%, and 20.0% when the CO₂ fertilization effect was not considered, compared with the results of the baseline period, respectively, while late rice yields would decline by 9.9%, 23.4%, and 36.3% correspondingly. When accounting for the CO₂ fertilization effect, the yields of early rice and late rice in the 2090s increased 16.9% and 6.2%, respectively. Regarding adaptation measures, adjusting planting dates and switching rice cultivars could increase early rice yields by 22.7% and 43.3%, respectively, while increasing late rice yields by 20.2% and 34.2% correspondingly. This study holds substantial scientific importance for elucidating the mechanistic pathways through which climate change influences rice productivity in tropical agro-ecosystems, and provides a critical foundation for formulating evidence-based adaptation strategies to mitigate climate-related risks in a timely manner. Cultivar substitution and temporal shifts in planting dates constituted two adaptation strategies for attenuating the adverse impacts of anthropogenic climate change on rice. Full article

Nitrogen (N) and water are key resources for crop production and improving the efficiency with which they are used remains a major global challenge in intensive cropping systems. Here, we report how crop yield, N and water use efficiency, N surplus, and economic benefits can be improved from optimized management and crop rotations. A conventional winter wheat–summer maize double cropping (CN/WM) rotation in a three-year field experiment in the North China Plain is compared with alternative optimized rotations. The first three optimized treatments were wheat–summer maize rotation with optimized N and irrigation rates, tillage and straw management (ON/WM), and partial manure substitution (ONM/WM) or biochar addition (ONB/WM); the fourth optimized treatment was winter wheat–summer maize–spring maize producing three harvests in two years (ON/WMM); and the last was spring maize incorporating green manure during the fallow season for one harvest per year (ON/GM). The results showed that the ON/WM, ONM/WM, and ONB/WM had comparable yields to CN/WM, but significantly increased N use efficiency by 19–41% and water use efficiency by 13–20% and reduced N surplus to 353–531 kg N ha⁻¹ 2yr⁻¹. From these three optimized treatments, the ONM/WM performed better, with a comprehensive evaluation index of 0.66 and the highest economic benefits. The ON/WMM and ON/GM treatments also significantly increased N and water use efficiency but resulted in relatively low crop yields and profits; nevertheless, they significantly reduced water use and are suitable for water saving cropping systems. We concluded that optimized management-combined manure with synthetic N fertilization in wheat–summer maize rotations can achieve high crop productivity, environmental, and economic benefits, which contribute to a more sustainable crop production. Full article

Background: Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is an important fiber crop belonging to the genus Hibiscus in the Malvaceae family. Research on its chloroplast genome holds significant importance for deciphering the evolutionary relationships of the Hibiscus species, developing genetic markers, and promoting kenaf (H. cannabinus) genetic breeding. Methods: Based on high-throughput sequencing technology, this study completed the sequencing and assembly of the kenaf (H. cannabinus) chloroplast genome. Results: (1) The kenaf (H. cannabinus) chloroplast genome exhibits a typical circular quadripartite structure with a total length of 163,019 bp, including a large single-copy region (LSC) of 90,467 bp, a small single-copy region (SSC) of 19,486 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa/IRb) of 26,533 bp each. The total GC content is 36.62%, among which, the IR region has the highest GC content (42.61%) and the SSC region the lowest (30.87%). (2) A total of 131 genes were annotated, including 85 mRNAs, 37 tRNAs, 8 rRNAs, and 1 pseudogene. Their functions cover photosynthesis (e.g., pet and atp family genes), self-replication (e.g., rpl, rps, and rpo family genes), and genes with unknown functions (e.g., ycf1 and ycf2). A codon usage bias analysis revealed that the relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) value of the stop codon UAA is the highest (1.6329), and codons ending with A/U are preferentially used (e.g., GCU for alanine with RSCU = 1.778). (3) A repeat sequence analysis identified various interspersed repeat sequences (predominantly 30~31 bp in length, with a relatively high proportion in the 30~40 bp range, including forward and palindromic types) and simple sequence repeats (cpSSRs). Among them, single-base repeat SSRs account for the highest proportion (e.g., (A)8 and (T)9), and specific SSR primers were designed. (4) A comparative evolutionary analysis indicated that the Ka/Ks ratios (nonsynonymous substitution rate/synonymous substitution rate) of core chloroplast genes (e.g., rps2 and rpoC2) in kenaf (H. cannabinus) are all less than 1 (0.145~0.415), suggesting that they are under purifying selection. The collinearity similarity of chloroplast genomes between kenaf (H. cannabinus) and its closely related species reaches over 99.97%, and the IR region boundaries are relatively conserved. The phylogenetic tree shows that kenaf (H. cannabinus) clusters with closely related Hibiscus species with a 100% bootstrap value, indicating a close genetic relationship. Conclusions: This study provides basic data for the functional analysis of the kenaf (H. cannabinus) chloroplast genome, the phylogeny of Hibiscus, and the utilization of genetic resources. Full article

This study develops a weather-driven bio-economic optimization framework for agricultural planning in Guyana by integrating weather simulation, crop modeling, and multi-objective optimization. Precipitation was modeled using a first-order Markov chain with fitted distribution, while temperature and relative humidity were simulated using stochastic differential equations. Reference evapotranspiration was estimated using an artificial neural network. These simulated weather variables were then used as inputs to AquaCrop to estimate rice, maize, and soybean yields across multiple planting intervals. A multi-objective optimization model was then applied to optimize gross profit, economic water productivity, and land use efficiency. Validation at the Rose Hall Estate showed strong accuracy for rice and maize (MAPE < 10%) and moderate accuracy for soybeans. Scenario analyses for the 2024–2025 season, assuming 25% and 50% export targets, revealed that rice–maize double cropping produced the highest profitability, while soybean–maize combinations were less favorable. The framework replaces static yield assumptions with dynamic, simulation-driven models that incorporate price forecasts and allow substitution of alternative forecasting or crop simulators to enhance precision. The scenario-based design provides a flexible decision-support platform for optimizing crop selection, planting intervals, and resource allocation under climate variability and market uncertainty. Moreover, the framework is scalable and well-suited for evidence-based agricultural planning. Full article

This study applies integrated LCA–LCC to 1 L of bottled beer at a representative small Japanese brewery using 2024 operational data. Following ISO 14040/44, the cradle-to-gate boundary covers raw materials (excluding agricultural cultivation while including transport and preprocessing), brewing, packaging, and thermal sterilization. The baseline global warming impact is 0.52 kg CO₂e/L and the cost is JPY 487/L, with single-use glass and labor identified as dominant hotspots. As beer is produced from malt, hops, yeast, and water, this study focuses on how alternative production strategies mitigate sustainability hotspots within this process. Three alternative production scenarios were evaluated within this integrated LCA–LCC model. Scenario 1 (local rice substitution) replaces 30% of the fermentable extract from imported malt with domestically grown rice, changing only ingredient transport and preprocessing within the truncated cradle-to-gate boundary (crop cultivation remains excluded), and yields 0.55 kg CO₂e/L and JPY 492/L, i.e., a slightly higher global warming impact and cost than the baseline. Scenario 2 (direct sales expansion) assumes that 50% of the beer is sold on site via draft, thereby reducing single-use glass bottles and fuel for pasteurization and achieving 0.29 kg CO₂e/L (−44%) and JPY 435/L (−11%) in the deterministic model, the best combined environmental and economic performance among the modeled options. Scenario 3 (joint logistics) models cooperative brewing and shared distribution, which improve labor efficiency and modestly reduce transport intensity, delivering 399 JPY/L in the deterministic model; however, Monte Carlo analysis yields a higher expected cost and indicates that these cost savings are not robust. One-way sensitivity analysis identified packaging and labor as the dominant drivers of both environmental and economic performance, while Monte Carlo simulation confirmed the relative insignificance of electricity-related parameters and reinforced the comparative robustness of Scenario 2. Together, these results highlight the most effective leverage points for a sustainable transition in Japan’s craft beer sector, offering the greatest leverage for a more sustainable transition in Japan’s craft brewing sector. Full article

Accurate quantification of the Fertilizer Nitrogen Equivalence (FNE) of manure is crucial for optimizing integrated nitrogen (N) management and reducing chemical fertilizer use in potato production. However, uncertainties persist regarding FNE’s response to varying application rates and estimation methodologies. A two-year field experiment in Inner Mongolia, China, evaluated multi-gradient sheep manure applications in potato systems to determine whether FNE exhibits diminishing returns with increasing manure rates and to assess the influence of different estimation approaches. Potato N uptake, tuber yield, and growth parameters were measured. FNE was estimated using four methods: total N uptake, fertilizer-derived N uptake, absolute tuber yield, and yield increment. The key findings were: (1) Potato yield and total N uptake increased with higher N inputs but followed the law of diminishing returns. Notably, FNE values remained statistically stable across a wide application range (180–1200 kg N ha⁻¹, equivalent to 8–53 t ha⁻¹ of sheep manure), with no significant decline observed (p > 0.05), regardless of the estimation method. (2) Yield-based FNE values were, on average, 41% lower than those based on N uptake, indicating inefficiencies in converting absorbed N into tuber biomass. Among the methods, the yield increment approach demonstrated the highest consistency and robustness across treatments. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the FNE of sheep manure remains stable across a broad application range in potato systems, with no evidence of diminishing returns. For practical fertilizer substitution, we recommend using the yield increment-based FNE estimation, as it provides a reliable and agronomically relevant measure for guiding manure application aimed at reducing chemical N inputs while maintaining crop productivity. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of varying organic fertilizer substitution ratios on soil nutrients, organic matter, enzyme activities, and microbial communities, with the goal of optimizing fertilization strategies, enhancing soil fertility, and promoting sustainable agricultural development. Experimental Design: A three-year consecutive field experiment was conducted using an equal nitrogen application design with the following treatments: no fertilizer control (CK), conventional farmer fertilization (CF), and organic fertilizer substitutions at 10% (SF1), 20% (SF2), 30% (SF3), 40% (SF4), and 50% (SF5) of chemical fertilizer. Key soil parameters were analyzed, including available nutrients (alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium), organic matter content, enzyme activities (e.g., urease and phosphatase), and microbial community structure (bacterial and fungal diversity and abundance). Results: Partial substitution with organic fertilizer significantly enhanced soil available nutrient content and organic matter levels, with the 30–50% substitution treatments (SF3–SF5) demonstrating particularly pronounced effects. Moreover, organic fertilizer amendments markedly improved soil enzyme activities and altered microbial community composition, notably increasing the abundance of beneficial taxa such as Gemmatimonadota. These modifications further facilitated soil nutrient cycling and utilization efficiency. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that appropriate organic fertilizer substitution not only improves soil fertility but also enhances microbial activity, thereby creating a healthier soil environment for crop growth. This study provides critical theoretical and practical insights for optimizing fertilization regimes, reducing chemical fertilizer reliance, and improving soil ecosystem functionality. Full article

Substituting chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers is a significant agricultural practice that can enhance crop yield while influencing soil activity. To investigate the effects of biochar-based organic fertilizer on rice yield, quality, and soil physicochemical properties and activity, this study conducted a field experiment with three treatments: chemical fertilizer only (CK), 30% of chemical nitrogen substituted with conventional organic fertilizer (CF), and 30% of chemical nitrogen substituted with biochar-based organic fertilizer (BF). Compared with chemical fertilizer alone (CK), both CF and BF treatments significantly increased rice yield by 8.9% and 14.2%, respectively, with BF showing a further increase over CF, primarily attributed to an 18.7% increase in panicle number. Both organic fertilizer treatments significantly improved grain quality, reducing amylose content by 4.6% and 13.1%, and increasing taste value by 3.3% and 3.6%, respectively. Dry matter accumulation throughout the growth period was significantly enhanced, with BF increasing total dry weight by 11.2% at maturity compared to CK. Root morphology was markedly improved, with BF increasing root volume by 146.1% at the grain-filling stage. Soil nutrient content was significantly elevated, showing maximum increases under BF of 118.9% for alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, 51.7% for ammonium nitrogen, 30.6% for available phosphorus, and 177.6% for available potassium. Soil enzyme activity analysis revealed significant enhancements in urease, acid phosphatase, and sucrase activities, with maximum increases of 91.5%, 105.6%, and 104.2%, respectively, under BF. These findings demonstrate that organic fertilizers, particularly biochar-based organic fertilizer, can synergistically enhance rice yield and quality by promoting root growth, strengthening soil microbial activity and enzymatic reactions, and optimizing nutrient supply. Biochar-based organic fertilizer exhibits significant advantages in improving soil biological fertility and maintaining stable nutrient supply during the late growth stages of rice. Full article

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB), a major byproduct of the sugar industry produced in millions of tons annually, is traditionally burned for energy but holds untapped potential for sustainable valorization amid global shifts toward renewable resources and reduced fossil fuel reliance. This review synthesizes recent advancements in SCB applications beyond energy, emphasizing bioenergy, bioplastics, construction materials, and agriculture to advance circular economy principles—addressing a gap in the existing literature by providing a holistic, comparative analysis of processing technologies, including their efficiency, costs, and scalability, which prior reviews have overlooked. Drawing from scientific literature, industry reports, case studies, and datasets, we evaluate SCB’s composition (40–50% cellulose, 25–30% hemicellulose, 20–25% lignin) and processing methods (e.g., pretreatment, hydrolysis, gasification, pyrolysis). Key findings highlight versatile applications: bioethanol production yielding 40–70% GHG reductions per life cycle assessments; pulp/paper substitution reducing water and chemical use; nanocellulose composites for automotive and medical sectors; particleboard and ash-cement in construction cutting deforestation and carbon footprints by ~20%; and biochar/processed feed enhancing crop yields by 25% while amending soil. Unlike previous reviews focused on isolated applications, this work integrates environmental, economic, and regulatory insights, identifying challenges like standardization gaps and proposing pathways for commercialization to drive scalable, green industry transitions. Continued research and policy support are essential for realizing SCB’s role in sustainable development. Full article

Soybean is rich in protein and oil and serves as the most important legume crop globally. Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is a severe threat to soybean production worldwide. MutMap, a gene-mapping technology based on map-based cloning and whole-genome resequencing, is utilized to clone key regulatory genes for agronomic traits in plants. However, no relevant studies have reported the cloning of genes resistant to SMV. We used an M3 mutant population derived from ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis of Williams 82, and conducted field inoculation experiments involving the SMV-SC3 strain. After field validation, two lines with high resistance to SMV were finally identified. Using MutMap, we initially screened candidate genes for SMV resistance and found that the G-to-A transitions of one candidate resistance gene, Glyma.13G194900, were at base positions 122 and 166. These transitions resulted in the substitution of glycine with glutamic acid (GGA→GAA) and valine with aspartic acid (GTT→GAT), respectively. Transgenic functional validation in soybean showed that the mutant allele of Glyma.13G194900 (designated Glyma.13G194900^M) substantially enhanced resistance to SMV-SC3, in contrast to the wild-type allele, which did not enhance resistance. Our results demonstrate that MutMap can rapidly identify SMV resistance-related genes to provide a genetic resource that accelerates the breeding of new SMV-resistant soybean. Full article

Using panel data from 182 county-level cotton-growing regions in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River (2000–2022), this study investigates the drivers of cotton planting area contraction, focusing on the synergistic impacts of non-farm employment, agricultural policies, and their synergies, while verifying mechanisms via rural labor outflow and cotton economic returns. From a sustainability perspective, cotton planting area and output were relatively stable with fluctuations in 2000–2010, but plummeted by 80.6% and 82.8%, respectively, by 2022 (a “cliff-like” decline). Empirical results from the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) show: (1) Non-farm employment significantly reduces local cotton cultivation and exhibits spatial spillover effects—counties neighboring or economically similar to regions with higher non-farm employment experience greater pressure for contraction; (2) This contraction is more pronounced in counties with smaller rural populations and lower cotton returns, confirming that labor scarcity and low profitability are key channels; (3) Agricultural policies exacerbate the decline: the 2005 Reward Policy for Major Grain-Producing Counties triggers cotton-to-grain substitution, while the 2014 shift from cotton temporary stockpiling to target price subsidies further accelerated the contraction of cotton cultivation in inland regions. This study contributes to understanding agricultural system transitions in the Yangtze River Basin, offering insights for optimizing sustainable planting structure adjustment and balancing food security with cash crop development under rural economic transformation. Full article