Search Results (1,165)

A two-factor experiment was conducted using the cultivar ‘Xin you No. 2’ (Citrullus lanatus) to identify an efficient and green production model for drip-irrigated watermelon under plastic mulch in Southern Xinjiang. A basal organic fertilizer was applied at 2250 kg·ha⁻¹. The experimental design comprised three irrigation levels, maintaining soil moisture at 60–70% (W1), 70–80% (W2), and 80–90% (W3) of field capacity, and three nitrogen application rates: 180 (N1), 240 (N2), and 300 (N3) kg·ha⁻¹. This study systematically investigated the effects of water–nitrogen coupling on watermelon yield, quality, water use efficiency, and nitrogen partial factor productivity. The W2N2 treatment achieved the highest yield of 64,617.59 kg·ha⁻¹. Vine length, stem diameter, and dry matter accumulation increased with increasing nitrogen application under the W1 and W2 irrigation levels, but exhibited an initial increase followed by a decrease under the W3 condition. Water restriction combined with increased nitrogen application significantly enhanced the central sugar content, with the W1N3 treatment increasing it by 15.69% compared to CK. Conversely, the W1N1 treatment was most conducive to vitamin C accumulation, showing a 49.88% increase over CK. The total water consumption across the different treatments ranged from 362.12 to 493.92 mm. Both water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency reached their maximum values under the W1N3 treatment, at 21.94 kg·m⁻³ and 35.05 kg·m⁻³, respectively. In contrast, the highest partial factor productivity of nitrogen (NPFP) was observed under W3N1, reaching 239.33 kg·kg⁻¹. A comprehensive multi-index evaluation using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method indicated that the W1N3 treatment achieved the highest relative closeness (0.669), identifying it as the optimal water–nitrogen combination. Full article

Mechanical deep fertilization is an efficient fertilization method. However, the effects of different types of nitrogen fertilizer on rice grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency under deep-application conditions remain unclear. In this study, field experiments were carried out in 2021 and 2022. The experimental treatments consisted of three types of nitrogen fertilizer, i.e., urea (T1), slow/controlled-release fertilizer (T2), and super rice special fertilizer (T3), applied at a rate of 150 kg N ha⁻¹ via mechanical deep placement using Meixiangzhan 2 (MX) and Y liangyou 1378 (YL) as experimental materials. No fertilizer application was used as a control (T0) to calculate nitrogen use efficiency. The T2 treatment produced 29.03% and 25.52% higher grain yield for MX and YL because of the increase in productive panicles per ha and spikelet number per panicle, 21.20% and 13.68% higher nitrogen recovery efficiency, and 24.57% and 23.29% higher nitrogen agronomy efficiency than T1, respectively. In addition, the T2 treatment significantly improved the leaf area index and total aboveground biomass at the panicle initiation and heading stages. We also found that the POD, CAT, NR, and GOGAT of T2 for MX and YL at the heading stage were significantly enhanced compared to other treatments. Significant interaction was also observed in spikelet per panicle and 1000-grain weight between rice variety and nitrogen fertilizer type. Therefore, slow/controlled-release fertilizer application at the rate of 150 kg N per ha is a more feasible nitrogen fertilizer management strategy under mechanical deep placement, with the merit of increasing grain yield and improving nitrogen use efficiency in South China. Full article

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential regulators of fertilization and early embryo development in mammals, including humans and various animal models, but they exert detrimental effects when produced in excess. In assisted reproductive technologies (ART), particularly in vitro fertilization (IVF), exposure to non-physiological conditions increases oxidative stress (OS), impairing gamete quality, embryo viability, and clinical outcomes. This review synthesizes experimental and clinical studies describing the endogenous and exogenous sources of ROS relevant to embryo development in IVF. Endogenous ROS arise from intrinsic metabolic pathways such as oxidative phosphorylation, NADPH oxidase, and xanthine oxidase. Exogenous sources include suboptimal laboratory conditions characterized by factors such as high oxygen tension, temperature shifts, pH instability, light exposure, media composition, osmolarity, and cryopreservation procedures. Elevated ROS disrupt oocyte fertilization, embryonic cleavage, compaction, blastocyst formation, and implantation by inducing DNA fragmentation, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. In addition, the review highlights how parental health factors establish the initial redox status of gametes, which influences subsequent embryo development in vitro. While antioxidant supplementation and optimized culture conditions can mitigate oxidative injury, the precise optimal redox environment remains a subject of ongoing research. This review emphasizes that future research should focus on defining specific redox thresholds and developing reliable, non-invasive indicators of embryo oxidative status to improve the success rates of ART. Full article

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a core component of farmland fertility, and its content is significantly influenced by tillage practices. To clarify the effects of alternate tillage on soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregate stability, a tillage experiment was initiated in 2017. The study focused on the distribution of soil aggregates across different particle sizes and their organic carbon contents under four tillage treatments: (1) rotary tillage for two consecutive years after initial deep plowing (RT_DP); (2) no-tillage for two consecutive years after initial deep plowing (NT_DP); (3) continuous rotary tillage (RT); and (4) continuous no-tillage (NT). Compared with continuous rotary tillage (RT), RT_DP increased the crop yield by 14.78%, NT decreased the yield by 10.59%, and NT_DP increased the yield by 3.40%. In the topsoil, soil organic carbon (SOC) content increased by 21.57% under RT_DP, 24.47% under NT, and 21.57% under NT_DP. In the subsoil, SOC content increased by 36.91% under RT_DP, 24.80% under NT, and 42.52% under NT_DP. Compared with the RT treatment, practices such as RT_DP increased the SOC content and the proportion of macroaggregates. No significant differences were observed among all treatments in the topsoil. However, in the subsoil, RT_DP significantly increased the SOC content (by 36.91%), SOC content within >0.25 mm aggregates (by 35.75%), and the proportion of >0.25 mm aggregates (by 1.28%), relative to RT. Compared with NT, NT_DP also increased these three indices by 14.2%, 13.38%, and 0.32%, respectively. In the topsoil, the NT_DP treatment resulted in higher mean weight diameter (MWD) stability than the other treatments. In the subsoil, the NT treatment showed the highest MWD and geometric mean diameter (GMD) values, while both RT_DP and NT_DP had significantly higher MWD and GMD than RT. In the deeper soil layer, the NT treatment exhibited the highest aggregate stability. Further analysis indicated that the positive effects of alternate tillage (NT_DP and RT_DP) on aggregate distribution, aggregate stability, and subsoil SOC sequestration were mainly due to improvements in the soil’s nutrient availability, bulk density, porosity, and water content. The optimization of these soil properties further enhanced soil enzyme activity and ultimately promoted the stabilization and accumulation of SOC. In conclusion, incorporating deep plowing into rotational tillage can effectively promote SOC accumulation, especially in the subsoil of maize farmland, and enhance the physical protection of SOC. This study provides a practical tillage strategy for increasing the maize yield and enhancing soil organic carbon sequestration. Full article

This study suggests the concept of multifunctional social spaces (MSSs) as intergenerational communication platforms, contributing to SDG achievement and environment awareness in local communities. Retirees could perform socially significant practices via local MSS premises supported by municipalities and initiative groups. The basic social vector of an MSS is supposed to produce a synergy effect with the educational and environmental impetus of the Sustainable Environmental Education (SEE) approach. Lifelong education underlies the process of adapting various age groups to different local spaces, namely metropolis, suburb, or rural areas. Test qualitative interviews were conducted with pensioners and young people to discover attitudes towards MSS-prescribed functions within different reference groups. These interviews helped to define the preferred communication instruments for MSS operation. General types of MSSs were classified based on mini case studies. MSS introduction is supposed to influence basic social indices such as population health, life expectancy, and fertility levels in the long term, and support several environmental awareness markers. Future studies could examine such influences in detail and discuss more national and regional specifics. Municipal and regional authorities, as well as local community leaders, could use the results of this study to consider local development, SDG strategies, and roadmaps. Full article

Plateau lake regions face escalating conflicts between food production and ecosystem conservation under rapid urbanization and strict ecological regulation. However, existing evaluations often overlook the positive ecosystem services generated by cultivated land and fail to capture the nonlinear mechanisms shaping eco-efficiency of cultivated land use (ECLU). This study develops an ecosystem service-based framework to assess the ECLU of Kunming, a typical plateau lake-basin city in southwest China, from 2005 to 2022. Ecosystem service value (ESV) is incorporated as a desirable output within a super-efficiency SBM model, and an XGBoost–SHAP approach is applied to identify the intensity, nonlinear thresholds and interaction mechanisms. Results show an average ECLU of 1.12 with a fluctuating downward trend and widening spatial disparities. High-efficiency zones cluster in central–southern regions, while urbanizing cores experience ecological function degradation despite productivity gains. Cultivated land fragmentation is the dominant barrier, with a critical threshold of 31.90 mu, and fertilizer intensity turns detrimental beyond 0.19 t/ha. Urbanization exhibits an inverted-U pattern—initially suppressive (<35%), promotional (35–55%), and suppressive again (>55%)—with the promotion phase weakened by approximately 67% under severe fragmentation. Globally, threshold-based zoning and fragmentation mitigation must precede fertilizer optimization to ensure synergistic benefits. Full article

Nitrogen (N) fertilizers can promote soybean growth, nodulation, and nitrogen fixation to a certain extent. However, excessive nitrogen application inhibits the nitrogen fixation capacity of soybean nodules. In this study, three experimental materials were used to investigate the direct and indirect effects of localized exogenous nitrogen (Ammonium Nitrate, NH₄NO₃) on nodule nitrogen fixation in soybean. Three nitrogen supply methods were applied: bilateral nodulation dual-root soybeans, unilateral nodulation dual-root soybeans, and upper- and lower-layered soybeans. The root nitrogen accumulation of direct contact with exogenous nitrogen reached 72.61 mg/plant, 30.59 mg/plant, and 88.48 mg/plant, respectively, and its nitrogen accumulation ability was higher. Exogenous nitrogen inhibited nodule growth and nitrogen accumulation. Nodule development and nitrogenase activity were regulated both directly and indirectly by exogenous nitrogen, with a more pronounced inhibitory effect observed in the roots directly exposed to nitrogen. Experiment I demonstrated that the number and dry weight of nodules on the nitrogen supply side decreased by 35.04% and 40.00%, respectively, while the difference was not significant on the non-nitrogen supply side. Furthermore, the nodule system exhibited a substantial buffering effect on exogenous nitrogen. In Experiment I, no significant differences were observed in the number, dry weight, or nitrogenase activity of nodules on the non-nitrogen-supplying side. The number and dry weight of nodules in Experiment II decreased by 61.55% and 35.91%, respectively. The specific nitrogenase activity (SNA) and acetylene reduction assay (ARA) also decreased by 32.28% and 67.20%, respectively, showing significant differences. In Experiment III, the number and dry weight of nodules in the upper layers decreased by 23.70% and 15.12%, respectively. Furthermore, significant differences in nitrogenase activity were detected, indicating that the nodules exposed to exogenous nitrogen spontaneously initiated the nitrogen regulation mechanism. This partially offsets the inhibitory effect on the nitrogen fixation function of nodules on the indirectly exposed side. This study revealed that exogenous nitrogen supply significantly affected the growth efficiency and nodule nitrogen fixation function of soybean plants by regulating nitrogen absorption and resource allocation. The use of deep unilateral fertilization can ensure the nitrogen fixation capacity of nodules and nitrogen accumulation in soybean plants and provide theoretical support for improving nitrogen use efficiency and realizing scientific fertilization. Full article

Background: A quadrivalent HPV vaccine (BPV) has been developed to prevent diseases caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 for the first time in Iran. The BPV is composed of the papillomavirus major capsid protein L1, which serves as the primary target in the design of the prophylactic HPV vaccines. To enhance immunogenicity, BPV was formulated with an amorphous aluminum hydroxy phosphate sulfate adjuvant. Methods: The immunogenicity and safety of BPV were assessed through analyses of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity, single and repeated doses, and reproductive effects using animal models. Results: Acute toxicity assessments showed no abnormalities in ophthalmic examinations, biochemical profiles, hematological parameters, and gross pathology findings. Additionally, no mortality or abnormal clinical signs were observed during a 90-day repeated-dose toxicity study. While some inflammatory reactions were noted at the injection sites and in the liver tissues of BPV-treated groups, these reactions were resolved by day 90 after the initial BPV administration. Furthermore, no signs of toxicity were detected in F1 offspring, and no adverse effects were identified in maternal reproductive performance, fertility, or hematological or biochemical parameters throughout the study duration. The BPV candidate successfully induced T-cell proliferation and increased the proportions of CD₃⁺ CD₄⁺ and CD₃⁺ CD₈⁺ T cells. It also stimulated the secretion of both interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) cytokines in splenocytes isolated from animal models after the third dose. Moreover, anti-HPV L1 IgG antibody production was confirmed on day 14 after administration of each of the three BPV vaccine doses. Conclusions: The findings suggest that BPV is a vaccine candidate that stimulates both cellular and humoral immunity and demonstrate its safety profile in animal models. Full article

Overuse of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers has increased concerns regarding environmental and human health. Indian natural farming practices, which are mainly based on different bioformulations, provide sustainable alternatives to conventional farming. Among other bioformulations, Beejamrit is a cow-based biostimulant that is used for seed treatment to promote seed germination, seed vigor, and tolerance to pathogens. In this study, 16S rRNA amplicon metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics (GC-MS and LC-MS) approaches were employed to evaluate microbial and metabolic profiles of Beejamrit samples, respectively. Metagenomic analysis indicated that Beejamrit consisted of different plant-growth-promoting bacteria, such as Advenella, Comamonas, Lysinibacillus, Acinetobacter, and Arcobacter. GC-MS analysis discovered organoheterocyclics (23%) to be the most prevalent metabolite group in Beejamrit, followed by organic acids (18%) and benzenoids (15%). In LC-MS analysis, lipids (26%) were most abundant, followed by organoheterocyclics (18%) and organic acids (18%). Furthermore, GC-MS and LC-MS analyses identified a wide range of metabolites, including amino acids, organic acids, phenolics, and fatty acids. These findings confirm that Beejamrit contains a wide array of beneficial bacteria and bioactive compounds, thereby elucidating the potential mechanisms behind its efficacy as an effective seed treatment agent. The study offers an initial framework for further standardization and wider application in sustainable agriculture. Full article

The Lower Liaohe River Plain (LLRP) is a core grain production base in Northeast China. Monitoring the dynamics and changing rates of soil organic carbon (SOC) in cultivated lands is essential for regulating soil fertility, safeguarding food production, and maintaining the regional carbon balance. Based on soil survey data from three periods, 1980, 2008, and 2019, this study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of SOC content and its changing rate (SOC_r) using geospatial analysis. Results showed that SOC content declined significantly from 11.19 g kg⁻¹ to 10.47 g kg⁻¹ during 1980–2008, then recovered slightly to 10.58 g kg⁻¹ in 2019. Moreover, SOC_r varied temporally in the period of 2008–2019, exhibiting a positive mean rate of 0.01 g kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹, which was significantly higher than that of the period of 1980–2008 (−0.03 g kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹). A significant negative correlation was examined between the initial SOC content and SOC_r, showing an identification of the SOC equilibrium point (SOC_ep). The SOC_ep in the period of 2008–2019 was 9.69% higher than that in the period of 1980–2008. These findings provide a scientific basis for formulating regional policies and optimizing spatially differentiated management strategies to improve cropland SOC in the study area. Full article

Concentrated wastewater streams, like vacuum blackwater (VBW), pose significant management challenges due to their high organic strength and pathogen loads. This review evaluates an integrated biorefinery model employing sequential black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) bioconversion and thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TAD) as a circular solution for effective VBW management. The BSFL pretreatment facilitates bio-stabilization, mitigates ammonia inhibition via nitrogen assimilation, and initiates contaminant degradation. However, this stage alone does not achieve complete hygienization, as it fails to inactivate resilient pathogens, including helminth eggs and spore-forming bacteria, thus precluding the safe direct use of frass as fertilizer. By directing the frass into TAD, the system addresses this limitation while enhancing bioenergy recovery: the frass serves as an optimized, nutrient-balanced substrate that increases biomethane yields, while the sustained thermophilic conditions ensure comprehensive pathogen destruction, resulting in the generation of a sterile digestate. Additionally, the harvested larval biomass offers significant valorization flexibility, making it suitable for use as high-protein animal feed or for conversion into biodiesel through lipid transesterification or co-digestion in TAD to yield high biomethane. Consequently, the BSFL-TAD synergy enables net-positive bioenergy production, achieves significant greenhouse gas mitigation, and co-generates digestate as sanitized organic biofertilizer. This cascading approach transforms hazardous waste into multiple renewable resources, advancing both process sustainability and economic viability within a circular bioeconomy framework. Full article

While pursuing high yields, China’s maize industry is facing a series of complex challenges that not only affect production efficiency but also relate to the sustainable development of the industry. Maize varieties with different nitrogen use efficiencies (NUEs) significantly influence yield. Therefore, investigating the response mechanisms of maize varieties with varying NUEs to nitrogen fertilization can provide theoretical foundations and technical support for achieving high and stable yields, as well as for the breeding of new varieties. Based on previous research findings, this experiment selected three maize varieties with different NUE levels. A field trial was conducted with eight nitrogen fertilization gradient levels to analyze their responses to varying nitrogen inputs, thereby further evaluating the performance of maize varieties with different nitrogen use efficiencies. The results indicated that increasing nitrogen application significantly enhanced maize yield; however, with continued nitrogen application, the yield exhibited a trend of initial increase followed by a decrease or stabilization. The highest yields for Jingpin 450 (JP450), Xianyu 335 (XY335), and Qiule 368 (QL368) were achieved under the N250, N300, and N250 treatments, respectively, reaching 8.9 t·ha⁻¹, 9.2 t·ha⁻¹, and 10.1 t·ha⁻¹. Across all nitrogen treatments, QL368 > XY335 > JP450. Maize varieties with high nitrogen efficiency maintained higher post-anthesis nitrogen accumulation throughout the growth period, thereby promoting the translocation of post-anthesis nitrogen to the grains, increasing grain nitrogen content at maturity, and ultimately improving yield. The dual-high-efficiency maize variety QL 368 (QiuLe 368) achieved high yields under both low- and high-nitrogen conditions, primarily due to its high pre-anthesis nitrogen translocation rate and substantial post-anthesis nitrogen accumulation. This enhanced nitrogen translocation to the grains, improved nitrogen use efficiency, further strengthened the plant’s dry matter production capacity, and ultimately led to high yield and efficiency in maize production. Full article

Angiosperms include many taxa with dimorphic unisexual reproductive structures. These are well studied in some grasses, with maize as a key model, but other wind-pollinated lineages in Poales remain less explored. Within Poales, the family Restionaceae has the highest known proportion of dioecious species. In its Australian subfamily Leptocarpoideae, the sexually dimorphic Leptocarpus denmarkicus has raised questions about the basic flowering unit and the developmental basis of dimorphism. Here, we analyze inflorescence architecture and floral development in Eurychorda complanata, the sister lineage to the remainder of Leptocarpoideae. Using comparative morphology, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, we reconstruct synflorescence topology, floral organography, and ontogeny in both sexes and compare them with those in L. denmarkicus. In Eurychorda, both sexes produce polytelic paniculate synflorescences with distinct inhibition zones and many-flowered simple spikelets as the basic flowering unit. Male and female spikelets bear up to 50 and up to 15 fertile flowers, respectively. Male flowers have two stamens and a dimerous pistillode, whereas female flowers possess two long filamentous staminodes and a dimerous gynoecium. Ontogenetic series show that flowers of both sexes initiate both androecial and gynoecial structures, and that functional unisexuality is achieved through late arrest of the organs of one sex. Defining spikelets as racemose axes with lateral sessile flowers clarifies homologies of reproductive structures and supports reinterpretation of the dimorphic female unit in L. denmarkicus as a derived compound spike generated through shifts in branching rank and the timing of lateral initiation. The compound female spike of L. denmarkicus has a striking overall similarity to the simple female spikelet in Eurychorda, illustrating fascinating parallelism in the evolution of reproductive organs within Restionaceae and Poales more broadly. At the male side, Eurychorda achieves anther exsertion via filament elongation, whereas in L. denmarkicus filaments are very short and anthers remain within the perianth, but male spikelets sit on long, flexible peduncles that invert the spikelet and promote trembling, thereby ventilating the perianth chamber and aiding pollen escape. These two solutions—filament elongation versus spikelet-peduncle flexibility—represent alternative strategies of pollen release in wind-pollinated flowers. Full article

Phosphorus recovery from wastewater as struvite via electrochemical magnesium dosing is a promising approach to address the growing demand for fertilizers. However, its large-scale implementation is often constrained by energy requirements. To overcome this limitation, this study investigates electroless struvite precipitation from cheese whey wastewater using sacrificial magnesium anodes. Under optimal conditions, up to 90% of the phosphorus was recovered within 4–6 h. In this process, spontaneous magnesium dissolution acts as the driving force for phosphorus precipitation and is strongly influenced by the wastewater’s ionic composition. To identify conditions that favor efficient recovery, the effects of ammonium, chloride, and sulfate ions were evaluated by monitoring phosphorus removal and magnesium corrosion behavior. Sulfate ions enhanced magnesium corrosion more strongly than chloride during the initial stages, likely due to stronger coulombic interactions with Mg²⁺ at the electrode–electrolyte interface, whereas chloride ions were more effective at disrupting the passivation layer that develops over time. Based on these observations, a mechanistic interpretation of ion-specific effects on anodic corrosion is proposed. Solid-phase analyses using multiple characterization techniques confirmed struvite formation, with ammonium sulfate and ammonium chloride systems yielding the highest product purity. Overall, these findings improve the understanding of electroless struvite precipitation and highlight its potential as an energy-efficient approach for nutrient recovery. Full article

Plant seed number depends on ovule number initiated within the carpels, and it serves as a primary factor shaping fruit yield. Pomegranate trees exhibit bisexual flowers and functional male flowers. Pomegranate have anatropous ovules which are bitegmic and crassinucellate. Bisexual flowers possess the fertile pistil, while functional male flowers have abnormally developed ovules, a small ovary with few chambers, and a short style. The formation of functional male flowers is due to abnormal and stagnant development of ovule integument. Ovule number directly determines the yield of pomegranate seeds. Recent studies have highlighted the molecular mechanisms through which ovule-related genes regulate pomegranate ovule development. Pomegranate PgCRC and PgINO genes positively regulate the increase in the number of ovules, and PgBEL1 to synergistically regulate seed development. PgAGL11 (the SEEDSTICK orthologous gene) promotes ovule development in transgenic Arabidopsis. PgSEP protein can bridge interactions among PgBEL1, PgSTK and PgAG, which regulate ovule development. At the level of post-transcriptional regulation, PgmiRNA167, PgmiRNA164 and PgmiRNA160 are differentially expressed during pomegranate flower development, and PgmiR166a interacts with its target genes to affect ovule development. This review summarizes the key regulators of ovule development and their molecular pathways, integrating these interactions into a model that describes pomegranate ovule development. Full article