Search Results (430)

Excessive or poorly timed nitrogen (N) fertilization can increase nitrate leaching and associated environmental risks. This two-year field study evaluated the combined effects of three irrigation regimes and four N rates on the biomass yield, water productivity, and economic performance of silage maize under subsurface drip irrigation (SDI). The irrigation treatments were full irrigation (I₁), 50% of I₁ (deficit irrigation, I₂), and 120% of I₁ (excess irrigation, I₃); the N treatments were 0 (N₀), 140 (N₁), 210 (N₂), and 280 kg N ha⁻¹ (N₃). The experiment was established in a randomized complete block split-plot design with three replications during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. Seasonal irrigation ranged from 198 to 471 mm in 2022 and from 214 to 470 mm in 2023. The N₁I₂ treatment consistently produced the highest green forage yield (109,520 and 112,330 kg ha⁻¹ in 2022 and 2023, respectively) while using approximately half the irrigation water applied to I₁. It also produced the highest reported water productivity and irrigation water productivity, with values of 42.4 and 55.3 kg m⁻³ in 2022 and 44.4 and 52.5 kg m⁻³ in 2023, respectively. According to the partial-budget analysis, N₁I₂ generated the highest net profit (USD 31,941.83 ha⁻¹ in 2022 and USD 28,500.08 ha⁻¹ in 2023) and relative profit ratios of 4.17 and 11.48, respectively. Under the soil, climate, and price conditions of this study, applying 140 kg N ha⁻¹ with deficit irrigation at 50% of the full-irrigation amount provided the best balance among biomass production, irrigation water use, and economic return. Full article

Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) may contribute to sustainable forage production, but their effects can vary with host species and plant trait. Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas putida, Trichoderma harzianum, and Trichoderma viride were evaluated alongside a non-inoculated control in Leucaena leucocephala and Megathyrsus maximus cv. Mombasa in northern Peru. Replicated germination and nursery experiments were complemented by a preliminary field assessment. Inoculation did not significantly affect final germination percentage in either forage species. In the nursery, L. leucocephala exhibited significant inoculant treatment effects on multiple growth traits, including positive responses in plant height and leaf number under B. subtilis, P. putida, and T. harzianum at the final evaluation. Significant treatment effects were also detected for several final aboveground and belowground growth traits, whereas total weight was not significantly affected. By contrast, growth variation in M. maximus cv. Mombasa was mainly associated with evaluation time, while microbial treatment and treatment × time effects were not significant. Multivariate analysis detected significant treatment and species × treatment effects, indicating contrasting joint growth-response profiles between the two forage species without demonstrating specificity of individual host–microorganism combinations. Preliminary field measurements showed numerical variation among treatment-associated rows, but these observations were descriptive only because treatments were neither randomized nor independently replicated. Overall, this comparative evaluation shows that PGPM responses in tropical forage species can be strongly species- and trait-dependent under nursery conditions, while validation of these responses under field conditions requires appropriately randomized and independently replicated experiments. Full article

Nitrogen limitation restricts plant growth, development, and yield in crops and forage species. Although TCP transcription factors are implicated in diverse abiotic-stress responses, the functions of most TCP genes in oat remain unclear. Here, we cloned and characterized the AsTCP38 gene, which is 1215 bp long and encodes a 405-amino-acid protein. The predicted protein contains a conserved TCP domain and shares its highest sequence similarity with Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) AtTCP15. The AsTCP38 protein localized to the nucleus, and promoter analysis identified cis-elements associated with light, hormone, and stress responses. We generated AsTCP38-overexpressing A. thaliana and wheat plants and screened an oat leaf yeast cDNA library for candidate interacting proteins. In these heterologous overexpression lines, AsTCP38 overexpression was associated with greater abscisic acid (ABA) sensitivity and improved seedling growth under low-nitrogen conditions. Changes in antioxidant-enzyme activities, nitrogen-metabolism-related enzyme activities, and endogenous hormone contents were also observed. Together, these findings suggest that AsTCP38 may participate in low-nitrogen responses and provide a basis for further functional studies in oat. Direct regulatory targets and the contribution of AsTCP38 to low-nitrogen adaptation in oat remain to be established. Full article

Draining peatlands for agricultural purposes accelerates land subsidence, greenhouse gas emissions, and the degradation of surrounding wetlands. To achieve sustainable peatland agriculture, land management must consider not only crop productivity but also the global environment. Peatlands account for approximately 1% of Japan’s land area, with about 61% of that 1% located in Hokkaido. This review summarizes the history of agricultural land use on peatlands in Japan and efforts to address land subsidence, greenhouse gas emissions, and the degradation of wetlands surrounding farmland, focusing primarily on case studies from Hokkaido. To allow peatlands to be used for agriculture, drainage, and mineral soil dressing have been carried out. The drying, shrinkage, consolidation, and decomposition of peat resulting from drainage cause land subsidence. Paddy rice cultivation and cyclic irrigation are land management methods that balance the mitigation of land subsidence with food production. Drainage from farmland degrades the vegetation of any surrounding wetlands. On forage-harvesting farmland, buffer zones are established between the farmland and any surrounding wetlands to mitigate the degradation of these wetlands. Lowering the groundwater level increases CO₂ and N₂O emissions, while raising it increases CH₄ emissions. A global meta-analysis has reported that maintaining the groundwater level between −20 cm and −40 cm results in the lowest total greenhouse gas emissions. However, data on greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands used for agricultural purposes with mineral soil coverage in Japan and the reduction in such emissions are limited. In Hokkaido, the introduction of groundwater level control systems has recently been progressing; the challenge of verifying the effectiveness of subsidence control and peat decomposition control through subsurface irrigation on fields other than paddy fields remains. Full article

Silphium perfoliatum L. is a promising perennial bioenergy and forage crop; however, its agricultural expansion is severely hindered by primary physiological dormancy and non- uniform seedling emergence This study evaluated the effects of chemical priming treatments (distilled H₂O, H₂O₂, GA₃, KNO₃, ethephon, and sodium nitrophenolate (SNP)) and the seed mass classification (small: 0.011–0.015 g; medium: 0.016–0.019 g; large: 0.020–0.024 g) on germination dynamics, allometry, and seedling vigor. Under controlled conditions, priming agents demonstrated highly differentiated morpho-regulatory capacities. Gibberellic acid (GA₃) significantly overcame physiological dormancy, maximizing the final germination percentage (77.33%), germination index (2.54), and seedling vigor index II (SV II) (4.62) compared to the control (23.33%, 0.99, and 1.11, respectively). Conversely, KNO₃ and ethephon optimized germination synchrony (Z) (0.27 and 0.29) and suppressed early fragile shoot etiolation to enhance dry matter accumulation (0.064 g). Furthermore, multivariate morphometric analysis of seed mass categories revealed a distinct transverse allometric expansion in larger seeds (length-to-width ratio decreasing from 1.58 in small seeds to $1.50$ in large seeds). While the ultimate germination capacity remained statistically unaffected by seed size (37.60% to 47.20%), large seeds exhibited a pronounced early kinetic divergence, achieving a developmental head start (23.2% cumulative germination by day 8 versus (7.2%) for small seeds. Larger seed mass directly translated into superior structural biomass accumulation, yielding significantly robust seedlings with elevated fresh weight (1.059 g vs. 0.789 g in small seeds), dry weight (0.073 g vs. 0.041 g), and total seedling length (91.32 mm vs. 73.70 mm), without altering the radicle-to-shoot allocation ratio (0.89 vs. 0.76). We conclude that early crop establishment in S. perfoliatum is driven by dormancy-breaking chemical signaling and reserve-dependent physical seed quality. Full article

Salinity is a growing problem for cereal cultivation because it imposes multiple stresses, including osmotic, ionic, nutritional, and oxidative constraints, on the crop. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is considered a climate-smart C4 cereal for food, feed, fodder, forage, and bioenergy, but recent studies indicate that salinity continues to hinder establishment, biomass formation, reproductive growth, and yield. This review compiles the literature on the impacts of salinity on sorghum from 2021 to 2026, with a focus on germination, vegetative growth, physiological and biochemical responses, ion homeostasis, genetic control, productivity, mitigation, and future breeding priorities. In total, 160 records were identified, 118 records were screened after duplicate removal, and 44 recent sources were included in the synthesis. Across comparable sorghum studies, saline/NaCl treatments of approximately 60–200 mM commonly reduced germination by about 20–40%, root and shoot elongation by 25–50%, and biomass by 20–55%, while tolerant genotypes generally maintained higher K⁺/Na⁺ balance, 40–60% greater biomass retention, or two- to five-fold stronger ion homeostasis indicators than sensitive lines under similar conditions. Salt stress also lowers leaf expansion, chlorophyll stability, gas exchange, dry matter accumulation, panicle fertility, and grain filling. Tolerant genotypes show greater antioxidant potential, osmotic adjustment, photosynthetic stability, and root system resilience. Recent omics and genome-wide association studies suggest that salinity tolerance in sorghum is polygenic and involves genes related to ion transport, stress signalling, antioxidant regulation, osmolyte metabolism, and growth maintenance. This review recommends a shift from descriptive trait lists to full-cycle field validation, multi-trait selection indices, and integrated packages combining breeding with seed priming, soil water management, amendments, and beneficial microorganisms. Full article

Context: Forage bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is widely used in warm-season livestock production systems because of its high productivity and adaptability. However, systematic evaluation of forage-type germplasm remains limited, restricting the identification of superior breeding materials. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate phenotypic variation, identify key yield-related traits, and identify high-performing forage bermudagrass germplasm with contrasting interannual phenotypic responses derived from a ‘Wrangler’ × ‘CD-21’ hybrid population. Methods: Two evaluation populations were established. A single-genotype population of 621 individuals was used to assess plant and canopy height variation, whereas 16 representative entries were evaluated for biomass yield and major agronomic traits during 2024–2025. Frequency distribution, principal component, correlation, and path analyses were conducted. Key results: Stem height and canopy height showed unimodal, approximately normal distributions, indicating continuous phenotypic variation and supporting their characterization as quantitative traits. Biomass yield was positively associated with stem height (r = 0.79), canopy height (r = 0.82), and internode length (r = 0.63). Path analysis indicated that stem height had the largest estimated direct effect (β = 0.45) on biomass yield within the proposed path model. Multivariate analyses revealed distinct phenotypic differences among entries and years, allowing classification into high-performing, environmentally responsive, and leaf-structure efficient groups. Conclusions: Stem height, canopy height, and internode length were identified as key traits associated with forage biomass production. Integrating multivariate and path analyses effectively differentiated forage bermudagrass germplasm based on yield performance and agronomic traits. Implications: The identified germplasm and trait relationships provide useful information for further breeding evaluation and selection decisions and support the development of improved forage bermudagrass cultivars. Full article

Lotus corniculatus is a superior leguminous forage with multiple values including forage, ecological, ornamental and medicinal uses. It is also an ideal material for plant bioreactors. As a core technical approach, genetic transformation overcomes the constraints of traditional breeding and facilitates the targeted improvement in stress resistance and agronomic traits in this species. This review summarizes the research progress of the Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of L. corniculatus, focusing on key procedures such as explant selection, strain selection, infection and co-cultivation regimes, basal medium composition, phytohormone regulation, as well as bacteria elimination and transformant screening strategies. We further elaborate on the applications of this transformation system in enhancing tolerance to abiotic stresses (salt, drought and heat), regulating quality-related traits, and developing plant-based vaccine bioreactors. Additionally, this paper critically discusses the major bottlenecks and challenges constraining existing genetic transformation systems in L. corniculatus, and evaluates the prospects for establishing high-efficiency and genetically stable transformation platforms. This review aims to provide theoretical foundations and technical references for germplasm innovation, molecular breeding and comprehensive utilization of L. corniculatus. Full article

The scarcity of effective selective herbicides has made weed management a limiting factor for alfalfa yield and large-scale cultivation. This study aimed to preliminarily screen selective herbicides with acceptable safety to alfalfa and establish an effective weed management program based on sequential pre- and post-emergence herbicide applications through greenhouse screening and multi-year field trials. The greenhouse herbicide safety evaluation showed that, among the 22 herbicides tested, the post-application of 2 pre-emergence herbicides (s-metolachlor and prodiamine) and 5 post-emergence herbicides (benazolin, bentazon, fluazifop-p, imazethapyr, and nicosulfuron) showed a relatively higher survival rate (~4× the standard dose) on two alfalfa cultivars through assessing visual efficacy, plant height, and dry biomass per plant. However, even herbicides that result in relatively high plant survival can produce induce significant growth inhibition and biomass reduction when applied at high doses. Those herbicides were further tested under field conditions (2020–2023) for evaluation of weed control efficiency and alfalfa plant biomass yield potential and nutritive values. Among the herbicide application regimes, the pre-application of prodiamine followed by post-application of bentazon or fluazifop-p showed the most effective weed control efficacy (70–85% reduction of weed biomass in the alfalfa plot), which was greater than the reductions achieved with all single-herbicide applications (24–48%) and sequential application of s-metolachlor followed by the five post-emergence herbicides (25–46%). Additionally, the optimized combinations had no significant effect on the 1st and subsequent alfalfa plant height compared to that of alfalfa in weed-free control. No significant reductions in alfalfa yield or nutritive value were observed in the herbicide-treated plots treated with prodiamine followed by bentazon or fluazifop-p compared with the weed-free control. Collectively, sequential application combining pre- (prodiamine) and post-emergence (bentazon or fluazifop-p) herbicides shows effective weed control in alfalfa under the tested conditions, which provides a useful weed management program to enhance alfalfa forage production and nutritive values. Full article

Although Alternaria gansuense causes yellow stunt and root rot (YSRR)—a destructive disease of the leguminous forage Astragalus adsurgens in northern China—systematic investigations of this pathogen at the protein level remain scarce. In this study, we establish an optimized proteomic workflow for A. gansuense by comparing two protein extraction methods. Using data-independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry with a DIA-NN search against the Alternaria protein database, we construct the first comprehensive proteome reference map of A. gansuense, then perform functional annotation via Gene Ontology, KOG, KEGG, InterPro domain, and subcellular localization analyses. A total of 5052 proteins were identified from vegetative mycelia, and the proteome was found to be predominantly composed of proteins involved in primary metabolism, signal transduction, secondary metabolism, and stress responses. Notably, a set of putative pathogenicity-associated proteins, including two-component regulators (SSK1p), protein kinases, cytochrome P450 enzymes, and ABC transporters, was identified. These proteins are homologs of well-characterized virulence factors in other pathogenic fungi, suggesting a potential coordinated signaling—metabolism—defense network that may contribute to fungal virulence. Subcellular localization further shows that cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins together account for over 50% of the annotated proteome. This study presents the first comprehensive proteomic reference map for A. gansuense, providing a valuable resource for functional genomics. Subsequent experimental validation of the bioinformatically predicted candidate molecular targets presented here may help to dissect the pathogenic mechanisms of YSRR and enable the development of novel disease management strategies. Full article

Puccinellia tenuiflora is a perennial halophytic grass commonly regarded as a pioneer species for the ecological restoration of saline–alkali land. Its adaptive capacity and subsequent utilization value are shaped by interacting structural, physiological, molecular, ecological, and management-related factors. This review summarizes recent studies on saline–alkali tolerance in P. tenuiflora, with emphasis on root structural barriers, Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis, osmotic adjustment, organic-acid metabolism, antioxidant defense, ion transport, and multi-omics regulation. To better understand the integrated stress response, we propose a functional framework that distinguishes first-line defenses from downstream cellular repair mechanisms. First-line defenses include root apoplastic barriers (Casparian strips and suberization) that restrict Na⁺ entry, plasma-membrane Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters (e.g., SOS1) that mediate active Na⁺ exclusion, and K⁺-retention mechanisms (e.g., AKT1, HKT2;1) that preserve cytosolic K⁺/Na⁺ homeostasis—these operate rapidly to prevent ion imbalance at the onset of stress. Downstream repair and acclimation mechanisms include osmotic adjustment via compatible solutes (e.g., proline, glycine betaine), organic-acid accumulation (especially citric acid) for pH regulation and chelation, ROS scavenging systems, and proteomic/phosphoproteomic reprogramming that repair stress-induced damage and restore metabolic balance. Furthermore, saline–alkali stress involves both short-term osmotic shock and long-term ionic toxicity, and available evidence suggests a temporal shift in the relative importance of these mechanisms: osmotic adjustment and rapid ion exclusion dominate during the initial hours to days of stress, whereas organic-acid metabolism, ROS buffering, and molecular reprogramming become increasingly important during prolonged exposure, sustaining tissue integrity and enabling long-term persistence. Current evidence indicates that saline–alkali tolerance in P. tenuiflora results from the combined action of several processes, including restricted Na⁺ entry, K⁺ retention, organic-acid accumulation, reactive oxygen species homeostasis, and organ-specific molecular responses. This review also discusses the significance of P. tenuiflora in community establishment, saline–alkali land restoration, and post-restoration forage utilization. Field studies and limited feeding trials suggest that P. tenuiflora can provide biomass and utilization potential after community stabilization. However, based on current evidence, it is more appropriate to define its forage value as a post-restoration utilization extension rather than as that of a fully developed specialized forage crop. Further studies are required on nutritional quality, mineral-element safety, long-term field management, and animal feeding validation. Full article

Permanent grassland management commonly includes moderate mineral N fertilization, which can differentially affect botanical composition, dry matter (DM) yield and forage quality of grasses, legumes and forbs. We hypothesized that increasing N would enhance grass dominance and DM yield but raise fiber and reduce metabolizable energy (ME) content. We evaluated long-term N fertilization, cutting time and their interaction on DM yield and ME of grasses, legumes and forbs in a permanent mountain grassland. The field experiment, established in 1967, used a randomized block design (4 replicates, 3 cuts/year) with five treatments: unfertilized (Control), PK without N (N0), and PK plus 80 (N80), 120 (N120) or 180 (N180) kg N/ha per year; forage was sampled in 2014–2016. Increasing N raised grasses to ~92% of biomass at N180 and reduced legumes and forbs (p < 0.001). Mean DM yield rose from 2.5 (Control) to 9.8 t/ha (N180; p < 0.001). High N (N120, N180) lowered ME of grasses in later cuts (8.9 vs. 10.1 MJ/kg DM in the third cut), whereas legumes and forbs maintained high ME. Moderate N fertilization (80–120 kg N/ha) best balanced DM yield, legume and forbs contribution and ME content. Full article

Food security faces significant challenges due to the growing threat of insect pests and global climate change, making it essential to adopt sustainable agricultural strategies. Plants possess intrinsic defense systems that are activated in response to herbivore attack, including the emission of specialized volatile organic compounds (VOC) known as herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs). These volatiles aid the foraging of natural enemies (predators and parasitoids), thereby contributing to biological control of pest populations. Harnessing these chemical defense mechanisms offers a promising avenue for pest management, although natural enemy attraction does not necessarily result in pest suppression or increased crop yield. This review synthesizes plant and insect-derived chemical signaling mechanisms with direct relevance to biological control in crop agroecosystems, including field crops, orchards, vegetable systems, and protected cultivation. We emphasize recent applied research while retaining selected foundational studies that established the principal concepts and mechanisms underlying chemically mediated pest management. Considering the importance of chemical signaling in sustainable agriculture, we propose four key research directions: (1) optimizing plant defense induction mechanisms; (2) integrating HIPVs with natural enemy pheromone-based attractants; (3) combining habitat management with the provision of plant-derived food resources; and (4) harnessing plant defenses through breeding and infochemical-based genetically modified crops. Additionally, we examine the potential impacts of environmental stressors on plant–herbivore chemical communication, underscoring their importance for resilient and environmentally sustainable agricultural systems. Full article

Winter fallow fields are widely distributed in southern China, where legume–grass mixtures are considered a useful approach for improving land-use efficiency and forage productivity while maintaining agroecosystem functions. Previous studies on the use of winter fallow fields have generally focused either on monoculture or on crops subjected to a single cut. These studies have primarily assessed aboveground productivity, whereas soil bacterial community responses have received comparatively little attention. Consequently, limited information is available on how different seeding combinations and cutting times affect aboveground biomass and soil bacterial community structure in mixed-cropping systems. A fixed-site field experiment involving annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) and Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) was conducted on yellow clay soil. Five annual ryegrass-Chinese milk vetch seeding combinations (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) were established as proportions of their respective monoculture seeding rates. The same plots were maintained for five consecutive winter growing seasons, from autumn 2021 to spring 2026. Plant and soil samples were collected only during the final growing season (2025–2026), at four cutting times in January, March, April, and May. These samples were used to assess the effects of seeding combination and cutting time on forage productivity, root traits, soil fertility, and soil bacterial community structure. Among all groups, the 75% annual ryegrass + 25% Chinese milk vetch group (R75M25) exhibited the best overall performance, with cumulative yields after four cuttings of 17,274.21 kg·ha⁻¹ dry matter, 2717.02 kg·ha⁻¹ crude protein, and 12,220.46 kg·ha⁻¹ digestible dry matter. In addition, the R75M25 group maintained relatively high contents of alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium in soil. The top three phyla of soil samples were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria, with a total relative abundance of >60%. Among these, Proteobacteria showed the greatest relative abundance in monoculture, whereas the seeding combination had a reduced proportion of it. In addition, its relative abundance rose steadily with cutting time. At the genus level, RB41, Gemmatimonas, and Sphingomonas dominated the soil bacterial community. The seeding combinations did not alter soil bacterial alpha diversity. Cutting times significantly reduced the phylogenetic diversity index and drove the temporal differentiation of taxa such as Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The inclusion of an appropriate proportion of Chinese milk vetch improved forage nutritional value while maintaining high biomass accumulation in southern China, with the R75M25 group showing the best overall performance in winter fallow fields. Full article

Root foraging efficiency under low-phosphorus (P) conditions is a critical constraint for the sustainable development of artificial grasslands. However, the mechanisms by which legume–grass mixtures with complementary deep and shallow root systems regulate soil P availability remain unclear. Based on the hypothesis that root niche differentiation drives stratified soil P utilization, a two-year pot experiment was conducted on these intercropped forages with chernozem soil from 77th Regiment, Zhaosu, Yili, Xinjiang, China. The experiment included monocultures and two mixed-sowing combinations (Medicago sativa/Bromus inermis (AB) and Trifolium pratense/Bromus inermis (CB)) with two sowing patterns (intra-row and inter-row mixed sowing). The results indicated the following: (1) Relative to the CB–intra-treatment, the AB combination increased aboveground and belowground biomass by 39.2% and 138.5%, respectively, and enhanced phosphorus accumulation by 42.2% (inter-row) and 46.7% (intra-row). The land equivalent ratio (LER) of all mixed-sowing treatments was greater than 1, exhibiting stable overyielding performance. (2) Mixed-sowing significantly regulated vertical soil P distribution and rhizosphere P enrichment. The AB combination exhibited significantly superior root phenotypes, associated with deep rhizosphere P content, suggesting a differentiated soil-layer P capture pattern relative to the CB combination. (3) Root volume was the primary factor influencing P use efficiency (PUE), and the mixed-sowing system exhibited a pronounced stratified regulation characteristic: in topsoil, PUE appeared to be synergistically regulated by roots and rhizosphere P; in subsoil, PUE relied primarily on root volume to alleviate low-P stress, achieving efficient deep P utilization. (4) This study proposed a potential topsoil rhizosphere P supplementation threshold range of 4.47–4.899 mg·kg⁻¹. Mixed-sowing forage grasses achieved stratified P utilization in deep and shallow soil layers through root niche differentiation, offering potential quantitative references and practical guidance for efficient establishment and sustainable P management of artificial grasslands in low-P habitats. Full article