Search Results (550)

Maize is a key staple cereal, with its cultivation improved through genetics, denser planting, and greater fertilizer use. However, little is known about the effects of nanomaterials on maize’s grain quality. This study evaluated the effect of the foliar application of orange carbon dots (o-CDs) on maize’s growth, grain yield, and quality under typical field conditions. Two ZP maize hybrids and their inbred lines were tested. The results showed a gradual increase in grain yield for the hybrids, particularly ZP 4567, which responded significantly to a 5 mg/L treatment. Increased starch content was observed in both the hybrid ZP 4567 and the inbred line L56 L026 following treatment with o-CDs at concentrations of 1 mg/L and 5 mg/L. The significant increase in oil content was observed in inbred line L56 L026. Photosynthetic parameters and pigments were elevated in both hybrids after treatments, although the antioxidative capacity remained unchanged. The findings suggest that o-CDs positively influence grain yield and quality by enhancing photosynthesis and increasing the accumulation of key biochemical compounds. This study provides novel insights into the application of carbon nanoparticles in sustainable crop production. Full article

Maize lodging poses a significant challenge to agricultural production, severely constraining yield improvement and mechanized harvesting efficiency. Under modern agricultural practices characterized by high-density planting and multi-variety intercropping, there is an urgent need for precise and efficient monitoring technologies to address lodging issues. This study utilized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to acquire high-precision point cloud data of field maize at full maturity. An innovative method was proposed to automatically identify structural differences induced by lodging by analyzing canopy structural similarity across multiple height thresholds through point cloud stratification. This approach enables automated monitoring of maize lodging in complex field environments. The experimental results demonstrate the following: (1) High-precision point cloud data effectively capture canopy structural differences caused by lodging. Based on the structural similarity change curve, the height threshold for lodging can be automatically identified (optimal threshold: 1.76 m), with a deviation of only 2.3% between the calculated lodging area and the manually measured reference (ground truth). (2) Sensitivity analysis of the height threshold shows that when the threshold fluctuates within a ±5 cm range (1.71–1.81 m), the calculation deviation of the lodging area remains below 10% (maximum deviation = 8.2%), indicating strong robustness of the automatically selected threshold. (3) Although UAV flight altitude influences point cloud quality (e.g., low altitude: 25 m, high altitude: 80 m), the height threshold derived from low-altitude flights can be extrapolated to high-altitude monitoring to some extent. In this study, the resulting deviation in lodging area calculation was only 5.3%. Full article

Soda saline–alkaline soils have seriously restricted the sustainable development of agriculture in the Songnen Plain, China. Applying soil amendments has proven to be an effective remediation strategy for these sodic soils; however, conventional amendments face limitations, including prolonged remediation periods and the potential to cause secondary pollution upon misapplication. In this study, we combined three different amendments and applied them as four distinct treatments—citric acid + nano-silica (CS), citric acid + nano-silica + humic acid (CSH), nano-silica + humic acid (SH), and citric acid + humic acid (CH)—with no amendment used as the control (CK). The effects of these treatments on improving the soda saline–alkali soil was evaluated using a field positioning experiment. The results indicate that, compared to the CK treatment, applying the amendments significantly increased the concentrations of available phosphorus (AP) (9.19% to 44.43%) and organic matter (SOM) (3.53% to 16.48%) while decreasing alkalinity and salinity indicators (pH, EC (electrical conductivity), ESP (exchangeable sodium percentage), SAR (sodium adsorption ratio), and TA (total alkalinity)) and soil alkali stress ions (water-soluble and exchangeable Na⁺, CO₃²⁻, and HCO₃⁻). The partial least squares path modeling analysis (PLS-PM) demonstrated that the application of the amendments improved soil quality by changing its alkalinity and ion composition, thereby increasing the maize yield (from 3.01% to 9.80%). Full article

In the face of climate pressure and threats to biodiversity, intercropping cereals with legumes and using biostimulants can increase feed yield and quality. This research evaluated a two-year intercropping system of maize and climbing beans for silage in central Poland, comparing four sowing schemes 90,000 ha⁻¹ maize with 90,000 (90 + 90); 45,000 (90 + 45) or 27,500 (90 + 27.5) climbing beans ha⁻¹ and sole maize, as well as five biostimulant application: control object, liquid microelement fertilizer (Zn-8.0%) containing zinc acetate, liquid extract from Ecklonia maxima algae, Methylobacterium symbioticum bacteria, Bacillus halotolerans bacteria. The aim of the field research was to evaluate the biomass components, yields, and crude protein content in silage. The intercropping pattern and biostimulants had a significant effect on dry matter and yields, with limited interactions. Single maize plant weight and yield were highest in the single crop and 90 + 27.5 treatments, while total intercrop yield peaked at 90 + 45, exceeding single maize by 14%. Biostimulants increased maize yields by 3–8% and intercrop yields by up to 6%, but reduced bean yields compared to controls. The crude protein content of silage was lowest for maize alone and highest for 90 + 45; biostimulants increased protein content by 5–9%, mainly for Methylobacterium symbioticum. Overall, the combination of 90 + 45 with Ecklonia maxima or Methylobacterium symbioticum optimized silage biomass and protein. The presented research is the first to evaluate the intercropping of maize with runner beans in orderly sowing and under the influence of biostimulants. It may constitute an important step in improving the efficiency of intercropping for implementation in agricultural practice. Further research should evaluate reduced mineral fertilization in this system. Full article

Nitrogen deficiency is a major constraint on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity in Afghanistan, where poor soil fertility limits yields. This study investigated the effect of urea fertilizer on maize growth, physiology, and yield under semi-arid conditions in Balkh Province with a Calcisols soil type, focusing on maize cultivated for grain production. A field experiment was conducted in 2019 using a randomized complete block design with three replications and four nitrogen levels: 0 (control), 38.4, 76.8, and 115.2 kg ha⁻¹. The region consists of fertile alluvial plains suitable for crop cultivation, though maize productivity is constrained by soil nutrient limitations, especially nitrogen deficiency. The soil at the experimental site is silty loam in texture, moderately fertile with alkaline pH (8.1), low organic matter (0.5%), and limited available nitrogen (15 mg kg⁻¹). Growth traits (plant height, leaf number, leaf area, SPAD value), physiological parameters (leaf area index, crop growth rate, biomass), and yield components (cob length, cob diameter, seed number, 100-seed weight, biological yield, and Brix content) were recorded. Results showed that nitrogen application significantly improved all traits compared to the control. The highest values for plant height (260.2 cm), cob length (31.67 cm), biological yield (216.6 t ha⁻¹), and Brix content (8.6%) were observed at 115.2 kg ha⁻¹, although 76.8 kg ha⁻¹ produced nearly similar results. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations between SPAD values, vegetative traits, and yield. The findings indicate that 115.2 kg ha⁻¹ urea is an efficient and practical nitrogen rate for enhancing maize productivity under Afghan conditions. Full article

The sustainability of wheat-maize rotation systems in the North China Plain is challenged by the over-reliance on chemical fertilizers, which leads to the decline of soil organic matter and structural degradation, particularly in the unique Shajiang black soil (Vertisol). While straw return is widely recommended to mitigate these issues, the synergistic mechanisms of its long-term combination with chemical fertilizers on soil nutrient stoichiometry and aggregate stability remain inadequately quantified. A long-term field experiment was conducted with the five fertilization treatments including: (1) no fertilizer or straw (CK), (2) chemical fertilizer alone (NPK), (3) straw return chemical fertilizer (NPKS), (4) straw return with 10% straw-decomposing microbial inoculant combined with chemical fertilizer (10%NPKS), and (5) straw return with 20% straw-decomposing microbial inoculant combined with chemical fertilizer (20%NPKS) in the Shajiang black soil (Vertisol) region to investigate the effects of straw return combined with chemical fertilizers on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) stoichiometry, aggregate stability, and crop yield in winter wheat-summer maize rotation systems of North China Plain. Our study demonstrated that the co-application of straw with a straw-decomposing microbial inoculant is a highly effective strategy for enhancing soil health and crop productivity, with its efficacy being critically dose-dependent. Our results identified the 10%NPKS treatment as the optimal practice. It most effectively improved soil physical structure by significantly increasing the content of large macroaggregates (>0.5 mm) and key stability indices (MWD, GMD, WA), while concurrently enhancing nutrient cycling, as evidenced by elevated SOC, TN, and shifted C/P and N/P stoichiometry. Multivariate analyses confirmed strong positive correlations among these soil properties, indicating a synergistic improvement in soil quality. Crucially, these enhancements translated into significant yield gains, with a notable crop-specific response: maize yield was maximized under the 10%NPKS treatment, whereas wheat yield benefited sufficiently from NPKS treatment. A key mechanistic insight was that 20%NPKS treatment, despite leading to the highest SOC and TN, induced a relative phosphorus limitation and likely caused transient nutrient immobilization, thereby attenuating its benefits for soil structure and yield. We conclude that co-applying straw with a 10% microbial inoculant combined with chemical fertilizer represents the superior strategy, offering a sustainable pathway to synergistically improve soil structure, nutrient availability, and crop productivity, particularly in maize-dominated systems. Full article

This study investigates the effects of different tillage practices on soil quality and maize yield in black soil farmland. Based on an eight-year continuous field plot experiment initiated in 2017, we examined the impacts of five tillage methods: conventional tillage (CT), no-tillage with straw mulching (NTS), subsoiling tillage with straw mulching (STS), harrow tillage with straw mulching and incorporation (HTS), and moldboard plowing tillage with straw incorporation (MPS). The focus was on soil structure, hydrothermal characteristics, organic matter, and nutrient content within the 0–40 cm soil layer, as well as maize dry matter accumulation and grain yield. The results indicate that, in 2023, compared to CT, STS significantly improved the soil structure and hydrothermal characteristic quality index (SHQI) in the 0–40 cm soil layer. Additionally, NTS, STS, HTS, and MPS significantly enhanced the soil organic matter and nutrient quality index (ONQI) in the 0–40 cm soil layer. NTS and STS increased the soil quality index (SQI) by 9.0% to 16.6% compared to the other treatments. Additionally, NTS, STS, HTS, and MPS significantly enhanced the soil organic matter and nutrient quality index (ONQI) in the 0–40 cm soil layer. In 2024, NTS and STS increased the soil quality index (SQI) by 9.0% to 16.6% compared to the other treatments. Furthermore, NTS and MPS significantly improved the SHQI in the 0–40 cm soil layer compared to CT. NTS and STS also significantly enhanced the ONQI in the 0–40 cm soil layer, while NTS, STS, and MPS increased the SQI by 7.3% to 22.6% compared to the other treatments. STS and MPS treatments significantly increased both hundred-kernel weight and grain yield compared to CT and NTS. Correlation and redundancy analyses revealed that SHQI in the 10–40 cm soil layer is a crucial factor affecting dry matter accumulation, yield, and its components in maize. In summary, in the semi-humid region of Northeast China, STS and MPS are cultivation techniques that optimize black soil quality and enhance maize grain yield. Full article

Water scarcity is an increasingly critical global issue, particularly in arid regions like Morocco. Innovative approaches, such as the use of alternative water sources like landfill leachate, offer promising solutions. In this study, phosphate washing sludge was used to treat landfill leachate with the aim of producing irrigation-quality water and recovering nitrogen from the resulting sediment. A total of 40 L of raw leachate was treated with three concentrations of phosphate washing sludge (25%, 37%, and 50%). This volume was processed at the laboratory scale as a proof of concept for potential larger-scale applications. After 24 to 36 h of mixing and agitation, the mixture underwent sedimentation, yielding clear supernatants and nitrogen-rich sludge pellets. These pellets showed a significant increase in organic matter content, from 6.4% to 13.5%, representing an enhancement of 110.9%, thus demonstrating partial leachate depollution and organic matter enrichment. Microbiological analyses revealed a 98.9% reduction in fecal streptococci. The supernatants met irrigation water standards in terms of pH and electrical conductivity, and phytotoxicity tests on maize seeds confirmed their suitability for irrigation. Additionally, the recovered nitrogen-rich sediment presents a valuable input for composting and soil amendment. Full article

Fusarium stalk rot, which is a common disease caused by Fusarium species, can seriously decrease maize grain yield and quality. Hence, the genetic mechanism mediating maize resistance to Fusarium stalk rot must be elucidated and the associated resistance genes useful for breeding disease-resistant cultivars should be identified. In this study, the highly resistant maize inbred line H1710 and highly susceptible inbred line Huangzaosi were used to construct segregating populations through hybridization, backcrossing, and other methods. A resistance/susceptibility pool was constructed from the F₂ population. A BSA-seq analysis revealed one candidate region associated with stalk rot resistance on chromosome 6; this region (3.98 Mb) contains 38 genes. Furthermore, KASP molecular markers designed for the candidate region precisely localized two candidate genes, Zm00001eb260120 and Zm00001eb260260, which were considered to be the most likely genes mediating stalk rot resistance. The study findings lay a theoretical foundation for analyzing the molecular basis of maize resistance to Fusarium stalk rot and cloning the relevant resistance genes. Full article

Background Soil alkalization inhibits plant growth and yield, the endophytic plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can alleviate salt stresses for plant. Methods: Isolate a NaHCO₃-tolerant Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain (ZmBA DSM7), characterize its PGP traits, elucidate the physiological and biochemical mechanisms by which it enhances maize growth. Results: A ZmBA DSM7 strain was isolated from the root of maize growing in a mildly alkaline soil (pH 8.8). The strain exhibited high tolerance to 500 mM NaHCO₃ and maintained its PGP traits, ZmBA DSM7 had a positive effect on maize seed germination and alkaline stress tolerance by enhancing seed vigor under normal or alkaline growth conditions. The maize seedlings inoculation with ZmBA DSM7 markedly improved chlorophyll content and reduced oxidative damage by lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) content and enhancing the antioxidant enzymes activities in the pots. In the field, ZmBA DSM7-inoculated plants showed a increase in yield (such as the ear length, the number of kernels row number, average spike weight, the 100-grain weight, and so on). Conclusion: The ZmBA DSM7 promotes maize growth and mitigates NaHCO₃-induced alkaline stress in maize by a multifaceted mechanism involving enhanced nutrient acquisition (N, P and K) and antioxidant status and improved soil quality. Full article

Conventional cereal production in coastal saline–alkali drylands is constrained by low productivity and soil degradation. While diversified cropping and biochar application have each been shown to enhance soil quality, the effects of their short-term integration into continuous cereal systems remain unclear, particularly regarding crop yield, soil health, and economic returns. A field experiment was conducted to compare a continuous wheat–maize rotation (W) with systems where one cycle of that was replaced by an alfalfa–sweetpotato (A) or rapeseed–soybean (R) rotation, under biochar-amended and non-amended conditions. Diversified rotations increased subsequent wheat yields by 6.6–16.2%. System A achieved 216% and 439% higher cumulative equivalent yield and economic benefit than System W, respectively. Even without biochar, A and R systems increased soil organic matter content, aggregate stability, and fungal richness by 16.3–21.0%, 20.6–26.5%, and 8.60–10.2%, respectively, compared to W. Biochar further enhanced crop yields by 6.36–16.3% and integrated fertility score by 7.78–9.01%, but its initial cost reduced profitability. Comprehensive evaluation conducted via a weighted model indicated that system A, combined with biochar, achieved the optimal balance among productivity, soil fertility, economics, and microbial diversity. These findings demonstrate that integrating “green” (diversified cropping) and “black” (biochar) strategies offers synergistic benefits for sustainable production in coastal saline–alkali drylands. Full article

The rise in greenhouse gases underscores the urgency of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) as a complement to emission reductions. Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) holds promise by coupling geochemical carbon sequestration with agronomic benefits, although integrative experimental evidence remains limited. This study evaluated two amendments (recycled concrete in wheat, C₃, and basalt in maize, C₄) under ambient and elevated CO₂ conditions (~1000 ppm). Conducted in a greenhouse over 21 weeks using loam soils, the experiment evaluated four treatments comprising three different particle-size ranges (<2 mm, 2–6 mm, and 6–15 mm) and a control. Plant growth (height, total and partitioned biomass), grain quality (N and protein), and soil properties (pH, electrical conductivity, and carbonates) were measured. Elevated CO₂ enhanced biomass, particularly vegetative biomass in wheat (+42.6%) and root biomass in maize (+55%), without significantly increasing yield. In wheat, particle size was decisive: intermediate fractions (2–6 mm) yielded the best results. In maize, basalt effects were less consistent. Concrete amendments increased soil pH and carbonate content, especially with coarse particles and elevated CO₂, whereas basalt-induced responses were slower and more variable. These findings confirm the potential of ERW as a dual climate–agronomic strategy while highlighting the need for long-term, field-scale validation. Full article

Fusarium verticillioides, a hemibiotrophic pathogen, infects a range of important crops and contaminates grains with fumonisin B1 (FB1) toxins, posing serious threats to yield, quality, and food safety. Secreted proteins containing Common Fungal Extracellular Membrane (CFEM) domains are known to contribute to the pathogenicity of several fungi, yet their functions in F. verticillioides remain poorly understood. In this study, we first identified the truncated protein FvCfem7^ΔSP without signal-peptide-triggered host immune responses in tobacco. The knockout mutant ΔFvcfem7 exhibited significantly enhanced virulence, while the constitutive overexpression of the FvCFEM7-OE strain showed reduced pathogenicity. Notably, foliar spraying of recombinant FvCfem^ΔSP protein suppressed fungal infection. FvCfem7 accumulated specifically in haustorium-like structures during early infection of maize leaves and onion. However, heterologous expression of FvCfem^ΔSP in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and maize protoplasts can be localized in their cytoplasm and nucleus, although its potential transport mechanism remains to be elucidated. Further analysis revealed that FvCfem7 interacts with specific members of ZmPR5, as well as ZmPR1 and ZmPR4. The ΔFvcfem7 mutant suppressed ZmPR1 induction while enhancing ZmPR5 expression at 24 hpi, which suggests that FvCfem7 modulates the expression of PR proteins at the early invasion stage. In summary, FvCfem7 was identified as a CFEM effector that is recognized and hijacked by PR proteins, thereby triggering immune defenses, while its host-targeting function was also characterized. Full article

Phosphate tailings (PTs) are typical industrial byproducts that can rapidly neutralize soil acidity. However, their acid-neutralizing efficacy, long-term application optimization mechanisms, and high-yield regulation pathways for crops remain unclear. This study conducted a corn-potato crop rotation field trial on acidic soils, investigating the effect of different PT application rates (T: CK, 0 t·ha⁻¹; PTs-1, 6 t·ha⁻¹; PTs-2, 9 t·ha⁻¹; PTs-3, 15 t·ha⁻¹) in a multiple cropping system (C: late autumn potatoes (LAP)-early spring potatoes (ESP)-summer maize (SM)). The results showed that two consecutive applications of 9 t·ha⁻¹ of PTs produced optimal results, increasing the LAP yield by 12.82% and the soil quality by 76.51%, while improving the ESP soil quality by 46.21%. The higher yield was mainly attributed to a significant increase in the soil pH (0.72–1.58 units) and enhanced chemical and biological properties (higher exchangeable calcium (ExCa), exchangeable magnesium (ExMg), the total exchangeable salt base ion (TEB), and catalase (CAT) and urease (UE) content and lower soil exchangeable acidity (EA), exchangeable hydrogen ion (ExH), and exchangeable aluminum (ExAl) levels). Notably, a synchronized increase in the total phosphorus (TP) and total potassium (TK) during LAP cultivation, combined with simultaneous growth of TP, available nitrogen (AN), and available phosphorus (AP) during ESP cultivation, and a significant increase in TP and AP during SM cultivation, effectively promoted crop yield. Furthermore, continuous PT application significantly enriched phosphorus (P)-soluble functional bacteria, such as Actinomycetes and Chloroflexota, and enhanced the stability of bacterial-fungal cross-boundary networks. In summary, optimal acidity levels and favorable soil texture improved soil quality, consequently increasing corn and potato yields. This study reveals for the first time that PTs can substantially increase crop production via a synergistic mechanism involving acid-base balance, structural improvement, and microbial activation. Not only does this provide a novel strategy for rapidly improving acidic soils, but it also establishes a solid theoretical and technical foundation for utilizing PT resources. Full article

Objective: Existing studies on short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and colorectal cancer (CRC) yield contradictory conclusions and are limited to single ethnic groups or sample types. This study aimed to (1) quantify associations between total SCFAs/subtypes (acetate, propionate, butyrate) and CRC/advanced colorectal adenoma (A-CRA) risks; (2) identify modifiers (ethnicity, sample type, intervention); and (3) clarify SCFA–gut microbiota interaction mechanisms via integrative Bayesian meta-analysis and multi-ancestry data integration. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (inception to September 2025) using keywords: “Short-chain fatty acids”, “SCFAs”, “Colorectal cancer”, “CRC”, “Gut microbiota”, “Dietary fiber”, and “High-amylose maize starch butyrate”. Eligible studies included 14 peer-reviewed original studies (7 observational, cohort/case–control/cross-sectional; 7 RCTs) covering Europeans, Asians, and African Americans. Inclusion criteria: Quantitative SCFA data (total/≥3 subtypes), clear ethnic grouping, reported CRC/A-CRA risks or intervention outcomes. Exclusion criteria: Reviews, animal/in vitro studies, incomplete data, low-quality studies (Newcastle–Ottawa Scale [NOS] <6 for observational; high Cochrane risk for RCTs), or limited populations (single gender/rare genetics). A Bayesian hierarchical random-effects model quantified effect sizes (Odds Ratio [OR]/Mean Difference [MD], 95% credible intervals [CrI]), with heterogeneity analyzed via multi-ancestry stratification, intervention efficacy, and microbiota interaction analyses (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses [PRISMA] 2020; International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews [PROSPERO]: CRD420251157250). Results: Total SCFAs were negatively associated with CRC (OR = 0.78, 95% CrI: 0.65–0.92) and A-CRA (OR = 0.72, 95% CrI: 0.59–0.87), with butyrate showing the strongest protective effect (CRC: OR = 0.63, 95% CrI: 0.51–0.77). Ethnic heterogeneity was significant: Europeans had the strongest protection (OR = 0.71), Asians had weaker protection (OR = 0.86), and African Americans had the lowest fecal SCFA levels and the highest CRC risk. Fecal SCFAs showed a stronger CRC association than serum/plasma SCFAs (OR = 0.73 vs. 0.85). High-Amylose Maize Starch Butyrate (HAMSB) outperformed traditional fiber in increasing fecal butyrate (MD = 4.2 mmol/L vs. 2.8 mmol/L), and high butyrate-producing bacteria (Clostridium, Roseburia) enhanced SCFA protection (OR = 0.52 in high-abundance groups). Conclusions: SCFAs (especially butyrate) protect against CRC and precancerous lesions, with effects modulated by ethnicity, sample type, and gut microbiota. High-Amylose Maize Starch Butyrate is a priority intervention for high-risk populations (e.g., familial adenomatous polyposis, FAP), and differentiated strategies are needed: 25–30 g/d dietary fiber for Europeans, 20–25 g/d for Asians, and probiotics (Clostridium) for African Americans. Future Perspectives: Expand data on underrepresented groups (African Americans, Latinos), unify SCFA detection methods, and conduct long-term RCTs to validate intervention efficacy and “genetics-microbiota-metabolism” crosstalk—critical for CRC precision prevention. Full article