Search Results (197)

Sawdust represents a locally available lignocellulosic resource that may complement ruminant diets during periods of forage shortage. This study evaluated the feeding value of birch (Betula pendula) sawdust subjected to physical and chemical processing using a stepwise experimental approach. Steam-exploded and fresh sawdust were treated with 0, 4% ammonia, or 4% sodium hydroxide in a 2 × 3 factorial design and initially evaluated by in vitro gas production, dry matter digestibility, and fermentation pH. Based on these results, selected materials were further assessed for rumen dry matter and fiber degradation using the in sacco technique in cannulated dairy cows, with untreated and ammonia-treated wheat straw included for comparison. In addition, steam-exploded sawdust was compared with wheat straw and grass silage for in vivo digestibility in sheep. A pilot study also tested aspen (Populus tremula) sawdust in lactating cow diets. Steam explosion substantially reduced fiber fractions, particularly hemicellulose, and increased residual carbohydrates, resulting in higher gas production and in vitro digestibility compared with fresh sawdust (p < 0.05). Ammonia treatment markedly increased crude protein content, whereas sodium hydroxide primarily increased ash concentration. In sacco, steam-exploded birch showed similar or higher ruminal dry matter and neutral detergent fiber degradation compared with ammonia-treated wheat straw, while untreated fresh birch remained largely undegraded. In vivo, steam-exploded sawdust exhibited greater organic matter digestibility and net energy than untreated wheat straw but remained less digestible than grass silage (p < 0.0001). A pilot feeding test with lactating dairy cows demonstrated good acceptance of untreated aspen sawdust as a partial roughage substitute under non-standardized conditions. Overall, the results indicate that steam-exploded sawdust has potential as a complementary roughage source for ruminants when conventional forages are limited. Full article

This study evaluates the environmental outcomes of integrating anaerobic digestion (AD) with pyrolysis (Py) and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) to treat cattle slurry and grass silage in an Irish agricultural context. A consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) was carried out for six scenarios based on 1 t of feedstock (0.4:0.6 cattle slurry/grass silage on a VS basis): two standalone AD systems (producing bioelectricity and biomethane) and four integrated AD–Py/HTC systems with different product utilisation pathways. Across all impact categories, the integrated systems performed better than standalone AD. This improvement is mainly due to the surplus bioenergy (electricity, biomethane, hydrocarbon fuel, hydrochar) that replaces marginal fossil energy (hard coal, natural gas and heavy fuel oil), together with the displacement of mineral NPK fertilisers by digestate-derived biochar and HTC process water. Among the configurations, the AD–HTC bioelectricity scenario (S4) achieved the best overall performance, driven by higher hydrochar yields, a favourable heating value, and a lower pretreatment energy demand compared with Py-based options. Across the integrated scenarios, climate change, freshwater eutrophication, and fossil depletion impacts were reduced by up to 84%, 86%, and 99%, respectively, relative to the fossil-based reference system, while avoiding digestate and fertiliser application reduced terrestrial acidification by up to 74%. Overall, the results show that the cascading utilisation of digestate via AD–Py/HTC can simultaneously enhance bioenergy production and nutrient recycling, providing a robust pathway for low-emission management of agricultural residues. These findings are directly relevant to Ireland’s renewable energy and circular economy targets and are transferable to other livestock-intensive regions seeking to valorise slurry and grass-based residues as low-carbon energy and biofertiliser resources. Full article

Vegetation phenology, particularly the start of the growing season (SOS) date, is a key indicator of the climate sensitivity of ecosystems, yet its accurate prediction remains challenging. This study investigates the SOS of Hungarian grasslands between 2000 and 2023 using MODIS NDVI data, testing ten process-based models of varying complexity. Model parameters were optimized with the differential evolution algorithm under three calibration strategies: generic (GEN, aiming for a single model setting for the country), grassland-type (GEN GRASS, where grasslands are first categorized and then a type-specific parameterization is sought), and pixel-level (PIX, where model parameterization is performed for each pixel separately). The models with the lowest RMSE values were AGSI and AHSGSI (driven by temperature, vapor pressure deficit, and photoperiod) under PIX (RMSE = 3.3 days), AGSIwSW (driven by temperature, soil water content, and photoperiod) under GEN and GEN GRASS (RMSE = 7.6 and 6.3 days, respectively), and MGDDwPP (driven by temperature and photoperiod) under GEN (RMSE = 7.6 days). Considering the Akaike Information Criteria, the simplest GDD model (driven by temperature only) was the proposed one under PIX, while MGDDwPP was identified as the best model both in GEN and GEN GRASS. Residual analysis revealed relatively strong co-variation between model errors and some basic climate anomalies (most of all spring temperature and soil water content), enabling statistical corrections that reduced bias close to zero across all models. Integrating local climate and soil information into phenology models enhances their accuracy for grassland SOS estimation in Central Europe. Full article

According to climate projections, the Pannonian region is expected to experience an increasing frequency of drought events. This trend affects not only agricultural areas but also natural grasslands. The Festuca wagneri species, selected for this study, is a dominant and well-adapted grass in dry natural habitats. A total of 54 Festuca wagneri individuals were examined across three soil types: sand, loam, and clay. In each soil type, 18 plants were assessed for drought tolerance. Water was applied at three dosage levels: 200, 300, and 400 mL. The experiment was conducted between 4 April and 18 July 2024, during which the total weight of the pots and the amount of drained water were measured regularly. All data processing and statistical analyses were performed in R version 4.3.2. A three-way factorial ANOVA was used to evaluate main and interaction effects. Model residuals were tested for normality (Shapiro–Wilk test) and homoscedasticity using diagnostic plots. The results showed that Festuca wagneri individuals tolerated even the lowest soil moisture levels induced by low water-holding capacity of the soil and low water input. This indicates that the species can be effectively used in grassland management and restoration under future climate change scenarios. The main differences were observed among soil types, highlighting the crucial importance of soil structure when establishing this species. Loam soils, already near optimal, respond best to moderate. Full article

Pleurotus giganteus, a heat-tolerant mushroom with high nutritional and medicinal value, is a promising species for tropical mushroom cultivation in Hainan, China. However, its current dependence on rubber sawdust as the primary substrate compromises environmental sustainability. In this study, we applied a “replacing wood with grass” strategy and used a simplex-lattice design to optimize substrate formulations based on agro-residues. Laboratory screening identified banana straw and chili straw as effective substitutes for rubber sawdust, supporting rapid and dense mycelial growth. Mixed formulations showed distinct advantages in mycelial growth, enzyme activity, agronomic traits (growth cycle, yield, and cap-to-stipe ratio), and nutritional composition compared to the control formulation (CF), particularly in terms of growth rate and laccase activity. Correlation analyses revealed that both individual ingredients and their interactions significantly affected mycelial growth and agronomic traits, with the magnitude and direction of effects depending on their relative proportions. Based on expected response values for key evaluation indices, an optimal formulation (9.97% rubber sawdust, 24.33% banana straw, 10.70% chili straw, 40% cottonseed hulls, 10% wheat bran, and 5% lime) was predicted and experimentally validated to outperform the CF. This study provides a sustainable basis for localized cultivation of P. giganteus in Hainan and supports the high-value valorization of agricultural residues for mushroom production. Full article

Camouflage detection in hyperspectral imaging is hindered by the spectral similarity between artificial materials and natural vegetation. This study proposes a non-destructive classification framework integrating optimized sample partitioning, spectral preprocessing, and residual deep learning to address this challenge. Hyperspectral data of camouflage fabrics and natural grass (389.06–1005.10 nm) were acquired and preprocessed using principal component analysis, standard normal variate (SNV) transformation, Savitzky–Golay (SG) filtering, and derivative-based enhancement. The Sample set Partitioning based on joint X–Y distance (SPXY) algorithm was applied to improve representativeness of training subsets, and several classifiers were constructed, including support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), convolutional neural network (CNN), and residual network (ResNet). Comparative evaluation demonstrated that the SPXY-ResNet model achieved the best performance, with 99.17% accuracy, 98.89% precision, and 98.82% recall, while maintaining low training time. Statistical analysis using Kullback–Leibler divergence and similarity measures confirmed that SPXY improved distributional consistency between training and testing sets, thereby enhancing generalization. The confusion matrix and convergence curves further validated stable learning with minimal misclassifications and no overfitting. These findings indicate that the proposed SPXY-ResNet framework provides a robust, efficient, and accurate solution for hyperspectral camouflage detection, with promising applicability to defense, ecological monitoring, and agricultural inspection. Full article

The development of an efficient agricultural system depends on the correct choice of crops and the management of nutrient supply and distribution within the system. This study aimed to determine how nitrogen (N) rates applied to rows of maize and tropical grass during the autumn–winter season (previous crop) influence subsequent intercropped plants. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot scheme and four replications. The main plots comprised three cropping systems: soybean monoculture, soybean intercropped with Aruana Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus cv. Aruana), and soybean intercropped with Congo grass (Urochloa ruziziensis cv. Comum). The subplots consisted of four N rates (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha⁻¹) applied to the rows of maize and tropical grass during the previous crop. Macronutrient accumulation and efficiency indices were determined for intercropped plants. Aruana Guinea grass increased the accumulation of N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulphur (S) in the soybean crop. N applied to the previous crop negatively affected the accumulation of P, K, and S in soybean monoculture. The maximum physiological efficiency of soybean was related to N supply. The efficiency indices for Aruana Guinea grass highlighted its ability to recover residual N applied to the previous crop. Full article

Although pastures cover nearly half of Brazil’s agricultural land and form the backbone of national livestock production, they have historically received limited attention regarding management and fertilization, resulting in widespread degradation. Sustainable intensification of these pasture-based systems is therefore essential to meet growing global demand for animal products while minimizing environmental impacts. This review highlights recent technological innovations in pasture fertilization in Brazil, with a particular focus on alternative phosphorus sources such as natural reactive phosphates, which offer slow-release nutrients at lower costs compared to conventional fertilizers. Efforts to enhance nitrogen use efficiency through nitrification and urease inhibitors show promise in reducing nutrient losses and greenhouse gas emissions, despite current cost constraints limiting adoption. The integration of grass-legume intercropping, especially with Arachis pintoi, has been shown to enhance forage quality and system persistence when appropriately managed. Moreover, plant growth-promoting microorganisms emerge as sustainable biotechnological tools for restoring degraded pastures and boosting forage productivity without adverse environmental consequences. Properly treated agro-industrial residues also present a viable nutrient source for pastures, provided environmental regulations are strictly followed to prevent pollution. Together, these innovations offer a comprehensive framework for enhancing the productivity and sustainability of Brazilian livestock systems, highlighting the pressing need for continued research and the adoption of advanced fertilization strategies. Full article

Most tropical soils, as in the case of Brazil, are highly weathered, with low fertility, high acidity, and toxic aluminum, which limits crop management. Promoting root development is essential to overcome these constraints, and agricultural gypsum has shown positive effects in no-tillage systems. This study evaluated the residual effects of five gypsum rates in an integrated crop–livestock system, with or without inoculation of rotation grasses with Azospirillum brasilense, on crop productivity and soil fertility over 40 months. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with four replications in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme. Inoculated grasses increased yields of soybean, sorghum intercropped with Paiaguás grass, and black oat, whereas non-inoculated areas had the highest corn yield, likely due to hybrid metabolism. Gypsum had limited effects on crop yields, with lower doses performing slightly better. Inoculation improved soil fertility, increasing base sum, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation up to 0.60 m depth at 18 and 40 months. After 40 months, gypsum enhanced soil conditioning and increased calcium, sun of bases, and base saturation. Overall, inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense in rotation grasses under long-term no-tillage systems enhanced crop productivity and contributed to improved soil fertility. Full article

Agricultural land management is a major determinant of terrestrial carbon (C) fluxes and has substantial implications for greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation strategies. This study evaluated the net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) of an agricultural field in an organic integrated crop–livestock system (ICLS) with a ley-arable rotation in northern Germany over two years (2021–2023). Carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes were measured using the eddy covariance (EC) method to derive net ecosystem exchange (NEE), gross primary production (GPP), and ecosystem respiration (RECO). This approach facilitated an assessment of the temporal dynamics of CO₂ exchange, alongside detailed monitoring of field-based C imports, exports, and management activities, of a crop sequence including grass-clover (GC) ley, spring wheat (SW), and a cover crop (CC). The GC ley acted as a consistent C sink (NECB: −1386 kg C ha⁻¹), driven by prolonged photosynthetic activity and moderate biomass removal. In contrast, the SW, despite high GPP, became a net source of C (NECB: 120 kg C ha⁻¹) due to substantial export via harvest. The CC contributed to C uptake during the winter period. However, cumulatively, it acted as a net CO₂ source, likely due to drought conditions following soil cultivation and CC sowing. Soil cultivation events contributed to short-term CO₂ pulses, with their magnitude modulated by soil water content (SWC) and soil temperature (TS). Overall, the site functioned as a net C sink, with an average NECB of −702 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. This underscores the climate mitigation potential of management practices such as GC ley systems under moderate grazing, spring soil cultivation, and the application of organic fertilizers. To optimize CC benefits, their use should be combined with reduced soil disturbance during sowing or establishment as an understory. Additionally, C exports via harvests could be offset by retaining greater amounts of harvest residues onsite. Full article

Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach, EG) is a promising biomass energy crop due to its high productivity and adaptability to harsh environments. In the transition to renewable energy, varietal evaluation is essential to identify cultivars that maximize biomass and energy yield. This study assessed three varieties (VS-19, VA-06, and VDP as control) across three harvest cycles (new planting, first regrowth, and second regrowth) between 2022 and 2024 at the Cotton and Agricultural Development Research Institute, Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam. The site was characterized by mean temperatures of 25–36 °C, relative humidity of 65–82%, and average precipitation of 75.7 mm per month. Agronomic traits, energy potential (heating oil equivalent per hectare, HOE/ha), forage quality, and soil amendment value of the EG were examined to address the research question whether EG can be integrated into a three-cycle utilization model (energy, forage, soil amendment) to support a circular bioeconomy in Vietnam. All cultivars showed good growth, strong drought tolerance, and resistance to pests and diseases. VS-19 showed superior tillering, strong lodging resistance, and the highest biomass yield (63.8 t/ha) with an energy output of 32,636 HOE/ha, while VA-06 (56.1 t/ha; 28,699 HOE/ha) and VDP (54.7 t/ha; 27,952 HOE/ha) produced slightly lower but comparable outputs. Forage evaluation indicated moderate nutritional quality, while residues from the third cycle showed favorable carbon and nutrients content, making EG suitable as a soil amendment. EG thus demonstrates high biomass and energy yields, forage potential, and soil improvement capacity, reinforcing its role in integrated bioenergy and agricultural systems. Full article

Morchella spp. is a type of valuable and rare edible fungi cultivated in soil. Optimization of the cultivation medium for Morchella spp. is key to obtaining high-efficiency production in an ecologically friendly manner. Recently, the sustainable resource utilization of agricultural waste has gathered attention. Specifically, reusing tomato substrate, mushroom residues, and coconut shells can lower the production costs and reduce environmental pollution, demonstrating remarkable ecological and economic benefits. To determine the soil microbial communities of Morchella spp. using different culture medias and influencing factors, this study analysed the relative abundance of bacterial and fungal communities in natural soil, soil with 5% tomato substrate, soil with 5% mushroom residues, and soil with 5% coconut shells using Illumina NovaSeq high-throughput sequencing. In addition, intergroup differences, soil physiochemical properties, and product quality were also determined. Results demonstrated that agricultural waste consisting of mushroom residues, waste tomato substrate, and coconut shells can improve the efficiency of Morchella spp. cultivation. When considering yield and quality, mushroom residue achieved the highest yield (soil nutrient enrichment), followed by tomato substrate (water holding + grass carbon nutrient). All three types of agricultural waste promoted early fruiting, significantly increased polysaccharide, crude protein, and potassium content, and lowered crude fat and fibre. In regard to soil improvement, the addition of different materials optimized the soil’s physical structure (reducing volume weight and increasing water holding capacity) and chemical properties (enrichment of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, regulating nitrogen and medium trace elements). For microbial regulation, the added materials significantly increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Actinomycetota, Gemmatimonadota and Devosia) and strengthened nitrogen’s fixation/nitration/decomposition functions. In the mushroom residue group, the abundance of Bacillaceae was positively related to yield. Moreover, it inhibited pathogenic fungi like Mortierella and Trichoderma, and lowered fungal diversity to decrease ecological competition. In summary, mushroom residues have nutrient releasing and microbial regulation advantages, while tomato substrate and coconut shells are new high-efficiency resources. These increase yield through the “physiochemical–microorganism” collaborative path. Future applications may include regulating the function of microorganisms and optimizing waste preprocessing technologies to achieve sustainability. Full article

Agro-industrial residues can improve the fermentation quality of tropical forage grass silages when used as additives, but a systematic synthesis of their effectiveness is limited. This integrative review aimed to identify the main residues used as additives in silages and assess their effects on the fermentation process. Following the PVO (population, variable of interest, and outcome) protocol, searches were conducted in the Wiley Online Library, Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases, with no restrictions on language, time, or region. The guiding question was: “What are the main agro-industrial residues used as additives in the ensiling of tropical forage grasses?” Of the 1414 documents initially retrieved, 138 were selected after screening titles, abstracts, and keywords. After removing duplicates and full-text evaluation, 58 studies met the inclusion criteria. Brazil led in the number of studies (89.66%). Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) was the most studied forage (34.21%). Citrus pulp (13.79%) and coffee husk (12.07%) were the most evaluated residues. The addition of residues promoted a reduction in pH (66.07%), ammonia nitrogen (71.74%), buffer capacity (57.14%), and the concentrations of acetic (52.17%), propionic (52.63%), and butyric (55.00%) acids. Lactic acid content increased in 32.76% of studies; gas and effluent losses decreased in 69.57% and 86.36% of cases, respectively. Citrus pulp and coffee husk are the most used residues, enhancing fermentation quality. It is concluded that the use of agro-industrial residues in the ensiling of tropical forage grasses has the potential to improve fermentation quality. Full article

The potential of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) and β-acid extract were evaluated for improving the quality of maralfalfa grass (Cenchrus purpureus) silage (with added sorghum grain, sorghum straw, and urea) during aerobic exposure and their residual effects on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics. Silage samples and ground hops pellets (Galena and Chinook varieties) as well as β-acid mixtures were incubated at 37 °C for 24 h and then maintained under aerobic exposure for 12 h. The sample pH, counts of filamentous fungi, yeasts, and total coliforms, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were determined. Subsequently, in vitro ruminal fermentation was conducted to determine total gas production and concentrations of hydrogen, methane, carbon dioxide, and VFAs. The β-acid treatment controlled yeast populations, but an increase (p < 0.05) in pH values was observed for the Galena and Chinook treatments compared to the Control. However, pH did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between the Control and the β-acid treatment. Butyric acid concentrations in the silage were lower (p < 0.05) compared to the Control, except in the silage treatment with Galena. In the in vitro ruminal fermentation, the β-acid treatment showed higher butyric acid levels than the Chinook and Galena, but these differences were not significant (p > 0.05). There were no differences (p > 0.05) in methane between the treatments. An increase (p < 0.05) in propionic acid concentration was observed in the in vitro ruminal fermentation with β-acids. It was concluded that β-acids could help reduce silage deterioration during the aerobic phase, reducing the butyric acid and yeast populations, and their residual effect could improve ruminal fermentation, increasing propionate and acetate concentrations. Full article

The barbel chub (Squaliobarbus curriculus) exhibits remarkable resistance to grass carp reovirus (GCRV), a devastating pathogen in aquaculture. To reveal the molecular basis of this resistance, we investigated complement factor D (DF)—a rate-limiting serine protease governing alternative complement pathway activation. Molecular cloning revealed that the barbel chub DF (ScDF) gene encodes a 1251-bp cDNA sequence translating into a 250-amino acid protein. Crucially, bioinformatic characterization identified a unique N-glycosylation site at Asn¹³⁹ in ScDF, representing a structural divergence absent in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) DF (CiDF). While retaining a conserved Tryp_SPc domain harboring the catalytic triad (His⁶¹, Asp¹⁰⁹, and Ser²⁰⁴) and substrate-binding residues (Asp¹⁹⁸, Ser²¹⁹, and Gly²²¹), sequence and phylogenetic analyses confirmed ScDF’s evolutionary conservation, displaying 94.4% amino acid identity with CiDF and clustering within the Cyprinidae. Expression profiling revealed constitutive ScDF dominance in the liver, and secondary prominence was observed in the heart. Upon GCRV challenge in S. curriculus kidney (SCK) cells, ScDF transcription surged to a 438-fold increase versus uninfected controls at 6 h post-infection (hpi; p < 0.001)—significantly preceding the 168-hpi response peak documented for CiDF in grass carp. Functional validation showed that ScDF overexpression suppressed key viral capsid genes (VP2, VP5, and VP7) and upregulated the interferon regulator IRF9. Moreover, recombinant ScDF protein incubation induced interferon pathway genes and complement C3 expression. Collectively, ScDF’s rapid early induction (peaking at 6 hpi) and multi-pathway coordination may contribute to barbel chub’s GCRV resistance. These findings may provide molecular insights into the barbel chub’s high GCRV resistance compared to grass carp and novel perspectives for anti-GCRV breeding strategies in fish. Full article