Search Results (101)

Crop residue management and soil tillage (CRM and ST) are key steps in agricultural production. The effects of different CRM and ST modes on the quality of seedbed, seeding, and harvest yield are not well determined. In this study, the system of maize (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) rotation under ridge-tillage in the semi-arid regions of Northeast China was chosen as the study conditions. Four modes were investigated: deep tillage and seeding (DT and S), stubble field and no-tillage seeding (SF and NTS), three-axis rotary tillage and seeding (TART and S), and shallow rotary tillage and seeding (SRT and S). Results show that the DT and S mode produced the best quality of seedbed and seeding. Among the conservation tillage modes, the SRT and S mode produced the shortest average length of roots and straw, the best uniformity of their distribution in the seedbed, and the highest soybean yield. Both the SRT and S and SF and NTS modes yielded a higher net profit as their cost-effectiveness. When considering only the quality of seedbed and seeding under conservation tillage as a prerequisite, it can be concluded that the SRT and S mode is both advantageous and sustainable. Full article

A multi-parameter optimization-based design method for soil-mixing blades was proposed to address the issue of excessive straw residue in the seeding layer after maize straw incorporation. A discrete element model simulating the interaction between the soil-mixing blades, soil, and corn straw was established. The key structural parameters included the bending line angle (α), bending angle (β), side angle (δ), tangential edge height (h), and bending radius (r); the straw burial rate (Y₁) and straw percentage in the seeding layer (Y₂) were selected as evaluation indicators. Single-factor experiments determined the significance level (p < 0.05) and the parameter range. A Box–Behnken response surface design, combined with analysis of variance (ANOVA), was employed to elucidate the influence patterns of the structural parameters and their interactions regarding straw burial performance. Multi-objective optimization yielded an optimal parameter combination: α = 55°, β = 100.01°, δ = 130°, h = 40.05 mm, and r = 28.67 mm. The simulation results demonstrated that this configuration achieved a Y₁ of 96.04% and reduced Y₂ to 35.25%. Field validation tests recorded Y₁ and Y₂ values of 96.54% and 34.13%, respectively. This study quantitatively elucidated the relationship between soil-mixing blade parameters and straw spatial distribution, providing a theoretical foundation for optimizing straw incorporation equipment. Full article

This study investigated the effects of three mulch types (straw, vermicompost and “plastic”) plus an untreated control, and three irrigation regimes (RFD: rainfed conditions; SIF: one supplemental irrigation at the flowering stage; SIVF: two supplemental irrigations at the vegetative and flowering stages) on the growth, seed yield, oil composition, and biochemical status of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.). Linseed plants were best affected by SIVF and straw mulch in terms of seed yield (300 and 222.4 g m⁻², respectively), biomass yield (887.9 and 703 g m⁻², respectively), and concentration of oleic and linoleic acids. Under rainfed conditions, “plastic” mulch application increased stearic acid concentrations, while SIF increased palmitic acid concentrations. Rainfed conditions promoted the accumulation of proline (10.1 μmol g⁻¹ fresh weight), total phenols (6.68 mg g⁻¹ fresh weight), and DPPH radical scavenging capacity (56.5%). Under RFD, plants grown in straw-mulched soil showed the highest total phenol content and DPPH radical scavenging capacity, while control (unmulched) plants displayed the highest proline concentration at this irrigation regime. Enzyme activities, including catalase and superoxide dismutase, were enhanced under straw and “plastic” mulch compared to control plants under rainfed conditions. Our findings suggest that straw mulch represents an effective, sustainable strategy to successfully manage linseed crops, mitigating the adverse effects of water deficit stress on plant performance. Full article

The competitive ability of weeds against crop plants is determined by the amount of macronutrients taken up from the soil. Macronutrient uptake is influenced by nutrient concentrations in plants and, above all, the amount of weed biomass produced per unit area. The present study was conducted as a part of a field experiment with winter oilseed rape, which has been carried out since 1967. Winter oilseed rape has been grown continuously since 1967 in the same field and in a six-field crop rotation. In winter oilseed rape monoculture, weed management was implemented to mitigate soil fatigue. Winter oilseed rape yields were twice as high in crop rotation than in monoculture, and weed biomass was more than three times higher in the continuous cropping system than in crop rotation. Winter oilseed rape yields were higher in crop rotation without a weed control than in monoculture, including monoculture with a weed control. Nitrogen (N) uptake by rape seeds and straw was significantly higher, whereas N uptake by weeds was lower in crop rotation than in monoculture. In all years of this study, N uptake by weed biomass was higher in monoculture than in crop rotation due to higher weed infestation levels in the continuous cropping system, and N uptake was not significantly affected by N content. The weed control induced a greater increase in N uptake by rape seeds and straw in monoculture than in crop rotation. The results indicate that integrating crop rotation with herbicide protection can help increase yields while reducing weeds, which promotes a more sustainable crop production system. The use of crop rotation contributes to a more efficient use of nitrogen by crops, while reducing its uptake by weeds. Full article

Based on a 2-year in situ nitrogen fertilization experiment, this study aims to establish a critical nitrogen concentration (CNC) dilution curve model for cotton under straw incorporation, analyze the effects of the nitrogen application rate on the cotton yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and determine the optimal nitrogen application rate by integrating the nitrogen nutrition index (NNI). The experiment setup was a randomized block design with five nitrogen application levels under a straw incorporation: 0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg N ha⁻¹ (denoted as N0, N60, N120, N180, and N240, respectively). The cotton dry matter accumulation and nitrogen concentration were measured at the flowering and boll stage, peak boll stage, and boll opening stage. The CNC dilution curve was developed using the data from 2021 and validated with those of 2022. Results showed that the cotton biomass and seed cotton yield at the boll opening stage increased with nitrogen application rates up to 180 kg N ha⁻¹. However, no further increase was found in the yield with an N rate higher than 180 kg N ha⁻¹. The CNC dilution curve was formulated as y = 3.4921x^−0.416 (R² = 0.8741). The validation using 2022 data yielded a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.21% and a normalized RMSE (nRMSE) of 13.40%, confirming the model’s robustness. The NNI, calculated based on the CNC, indicated that an application rate of 120 kg N ha⁻¹ maintained NNI values close to one across all growth stages, reflecting an optimal nitrogen status. Significant positive correlations were observed between the NNI and both the seed cotton yield and harvest index (p < 0.05). Nitrogen use efficiency parameters, including the agronomic NUE (NUEa), nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP), and internal NUE (NUEi), exhibited quadratic declines with the increasing nitrogen input. Within the range of 120–240 kg N ha⁻¹, the highest NPFP was achieved at 120 kg N ha⁻¹. In conclusion, the critical nitrogen dilution curve model combined with the NNI effectively diagnoses the nitrogen status in cotton under straw incorporations. Considering the NNI, yield, and nitrogen utilization efficiency, the recommended nitrogen application rate for cotton in a cotton–rape rotation system with a straw incorporation is 120 kg N ha⁻¹. Full article

The balanced application of organic and chemical fertilizers is essential for maintaining soil fertility and crop productivity. To optimize nitrogen (N) balance and maize yield through integrated pig slurry and straw mulching management, a split-plot field experiment was conducted in Northeast China. The study included two straw treatments (straw mulching, S; no straw, NS) and three substitution levels of pig slurry for chemical fertilizer (0%, 20%, and 40%; denoted as M0, M20, and M40). Parameters evaluated included N balance, maize biomass, soil available N, and the mineral N to TN ratio (mineral-N/TN), measured across 0–100 cm at key maize growth stages. Results showed that pig slurry substitution significantly increased soil DON, mineral N, and mineral-N/TN in the topsoil (0–20 cm) at the maize seeding stage and decreased mineral-N/TN at the maize milk (10–40 cm) and maturity (80–100 cm) stages. Meanwhile, straw mulching reduced NH₄⁺-N accumulation in the 0–10 cm of topsoil at the seeding stage, decreased NO₃⁻-N in the 0–40 cm soil layer from the jointing to maturity stages, and lowered the mineral-N/TN ratio in the topsoil, thereby mitigating the risk of N leaching. Notably, the combination of pig slurry substitution and straw mulching slightly increased DON and NO₃⁻-N in the topsoil while significantly reducing the mineral-N/TN in the deep soil layer at the seeding and milk stages. Pig slurry substitution significantly improved maize yield, N uptake, and N use efficiency (NUE). The highest maize yield (14,628 kg ha⁻¹) was observed in the S-M20 treatment, representing a 19% increase compared to NS-M0. N balance analysis indicated that pig slurry substitution alone increased maize yield and N uptake but depleted soil N, whereas straw mulching maintained N surplus. The findings highlight that combining pig slurry with straw mulching optimizes soil N availability and improves sustainable N management and crop productivity in agroecosystems. Full article

Straw incorporation offers significant advantages in agricultural crop cultivation systems. Mechanized methods constitute the predominant approach, potentially reducing yield costs and enhancing operational efficiency. The imperative to enhance the quality of straw chopping within the field is of particular significance, as suboptimal chopping quality can engender a cascade of issues, particularly seeding blockages. The straw chopping pass rate (CPR) is a pivotal metric for assessing the quality of straw chopping. Therefore, enhancing the CPR during the straw chopping process is necessary. This study introduces a novel maize-straw-chopping device with the ground as its supporting base. This device facilitates the rapid vertical chopping of maize straw through a constant breath cam transmission mechanism. Critical parameters were determined to optimize the performance of the chopping device by establishing mathematical models and kinematic simulation analysis methods. With the help of Rocky 2022.R2 software, the influence of the rotational velocity of the draft, tractor velocity, and blade edge angles on the CPR during the operation of the device was analyzed. The Box–Behnken test methodology was used to carry out a three-factor, three-level orthogonal rotation test to obtain the optimal working parameter combination. The results indicated that the maximum CPR value was achieved with a draft rotational velocity of 245 rpm, a tractor velocity of 3.8 km/h, and a blade edge angle of 20.75°. Finally, field validation experiments were conducted under these optimized conditions, with the average CPR of maize straw reaching an impressive 91.45%. These findings have significant implications for enhancing crop production practices. Full article

Mitigation of greenhouse gases (GHGs), improving nutrient-use efficiency (NUE), and maximizing yield in rainfed lowland rice cultivation poses significant challenges. To address this, a two-year field experiment (2020 and 2021) was conducted in Assam, India, to examine the impact of different fertilizer-management practices on grain yield, NUE, and GHGs in wet direct-seeded rice (Wet-DSR) during the kharif season. The experiment included eight treatments: control; farmer’s practice (30-18.4-36 kg N-P₂O₅-K₂O ha⁻¹); state recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) @ 60-20-40 kg N-P₂O₅-K₂O ha⁻¹ with N applied in three splits @ 30-15-15 kg ha⁻¹ as basal, at active tillering (AT), and panicle initiation (PI); best fertilizer management practices (BMPs): 60-20-40 kg N-P₂O₅-K₂O ha⁻¹ with N applied in three equal splits as basal, at AT, and PI; and fertilizer deep placement (FDP) of 120%, 100%, 80%, and 60% N combined with 100% PK of RDF. The experiment was arranged out in a randomized complete block design with three replications for each treatment. The highest grain yield (4933 kg ha⁻¹) and straw yield (6520 kg ha⁻¹) were achieved with the deep placement of 120% N + 100% PK of RDF. FDP with 80% N + 100% PK reduced 38% N₂O emissions compared to AAU’s RDF and BMPs, where fertilizer was broadcasted. This is mainly due to the lower dose of nitrogen fertilizer and the application of fertilizer in a reduced zone of soil. When considering both productivity and environmental impact, applying 80% N with 100% PK through FDP was identified as the most effective practice. Full article

Residue management at the farm level is essential for ensuring sustainable agricultural productivity. This field experiment, initiated in 2005, provides maize data from 2016 to 2018. This study evaluates the impact of crop residue management and fertilization on maize yield and yield components. Maize was grown in a crop rotation sequence consisting of field pea (Pisum sativum L.), durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.), and maize (Zea mays L.). The measures studied include aboveground biomass removal (K), aboveground biomass incorporation (R), mineral fertilizer application (F), and their combination (RF). The results indicate that R and RF significantly improve yield parameters, such as kernel number per ear (KNE), thousand seed weight (TSW), stalk yield, and harvest index (HI), compared to control (K) or aboveground biomass incorporation alone (R). Grain yield varied across the years, with significant increases being observed for the fertilizer treatments, particularly when combined with straw or stalk incorporation. A nominal increase in grain yield of 1.43 t ha⁻¹ for the F treatment and 1.86 t ha⁻¹ for the RF treatment represents an increase of 39% to 51% compared to K and R. Strong positive correlations were observed between grain yield and several factors, including ears per hectare (0.61), KNE (0.94), TSW (0.61), and HI (0.85). These findings underscore the role of crop residue management and promoting sustainable crop production. Full article

Agro-industries produce over 2 billion tons of agricultural waste annually, including by-products like bagasse, molasses, seeds, stems, leaves, straw, and shells. The use of agro-industrial waste is a way to reduce the impact of industrial processes on the environment. The pea pod is a biomass with a high concentration of cellulose, hemicellulose and some lignin; therefore, it can be used to produce platform chemicals by means of a hydrothermal process. There is limited research on the hydrolysis of pea biomass, but it has been shown to obtain high yields. This study analyzed the effectiveness and selectivity of the hydrothermal process using pea pod biomass with a particle size of 0.5 mm at 180 °C for one hour. A 500 mL reactor was used, with a biomass-to-acid solution ratio of 1:20. The concentration of the acid solution was 0.02 M. The concentrations of sugar, formic acid, levulinic acid, HMF, and furfural produced were measured. Among the catalysts studied, adipic acid catalysis showed the highest yield of 65.16%, with 37.09% of sugar, 16.37% of formic acid, and 11.71% of levulinic acid. On the other hand, the catalysts with chloroacetic acid, butyric acid, anthranilic acid, and phthalic acid were less effective but demonstrated selectivity for sugar production, proving that the liquid phase obtained using the catalyst with those acids can be used as carbon sources for a fermentation process. In general, when comparing the process with or without the use of a catalyst, it is observed that with a catalyst in the reaction, the amount of HMF and furfural produced is reduced and the selectivity with respect to sugar production is increased. Full article

Plastic film mulching technology can effectively enhance crop yield and quality, and the use of mulch has been increasing in recent years; however, the problem of mulch residue is worsening due to the large amount of recycling work and slow natural degradation. In this study, a potato seedling killing and residual film recycling machine is designed to provide good working conditions for potato harvesters before harvesting in response to the problems of difficult separation of film tangles, the low net rate of recycling due to the mixing of residual film with soil, and the high soil content in residual film recycling operations in northwest China. The machine is based on the potato monoculture and double row planting mode in Gansu area. This paper puts forward the overall design scheme and carries out the theoretical analysis and parameter determination of the key components, such as the seedling killing device, the film surface cleaning device, the film unloading device, and so on. Using EDEM software to carry out the virtual simulation test and Design-Expert13 to analyze the test results, we determined the optimal working scheme for the machine, with a forward speed of 0.8 m/s, a film gap of 125 mm, and a spiral stirrer speed of 600 r/min. Based on a field test for verification, the test results show that the machine’s residual film recovery rate was 83.3%, the impurity rate was 3.8%, and the rate of injury to the potatoes was 1.4%. The machine meets the requirements of national and industry standards, and it can simultaneously realize straw crushing, film surface cleaning, residual film recycling, and hydraulic film unloading operations, with better operating results and while reaching the expected results. It can also provide a reference for the design and testing of a seeding and residual film recycling machine. Full article

The improper treatment of crop straw not only leads to resource wastage but also adversely impacts the ecological environment. However, the application of microorganisms can accelerate the decomposition of crop straw and improve its utilization. In this study, cellulose-degrading microbial strains were isolated from naturally decayed corn straw and screened using Congo red staining, along with assessing variations in carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) activity, filter paper enzyme (FPase) activity and β-glucosidase (β-Gase) activity, as well as the degradation rate. The eight strains, namely Neurospora intermedia isolate 29 (A1), Streptomyces isolate FFJC33 (A2), Gibberella moniliformis isolate FKCB-009 (A3), Fusarium fujikuroi isolate EFS3(2) (A4), Fusarium Fujikuroi isolate FZ04 (A5), Lysine bacillus macroides strain LNHL43 (B1), Bacillus subtilis strain MPF30 (B2) and Paenibacilli lautus strain ALEB-P1 (C), were identified and selected for microbial strain consortium design based on their high activities of CMCase, FPase and β-Gase. The fungi, bacteria and actinomycete strains were combined without antagonistic effects on corn straw decomposition. The results showed the A2B2 combination had a significantly higher FPase at 55.44 U/mL and β-Gase at 25.73 U/mL than the other two strain combinations (p < 0.05). Additionally, the degradation rate of this combination was 40.33%, which was considerably higher than that of the other strains/consortia. The strain combination A4B2C also had superior enzyme activity, including CMCase with a value of 35.03 U/mL, FPase with a value of 63.59 U/mL and β-Gase with a value of 26.15 U/mL, which were significantly different to those of the other three strain combinations (p < 0.05). Furthermore, seven single microbial strains with high cellulase activities were selected to construct various microbial consortiums for in situ composting in order to evaluate their potential. Taken as a whole, the results of composting, including temperature, moisture content, pH, E4/E6 value and seed germination index, indicated that the microbial strain consortium consisting of Neurospora intermediate isolate 29, Fusarium fujikuroi isolate EFS3(2), Fusarium fujikuroi isolate FZ04, Lysinibacillus macrolides, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Bacillus subtilis and Paenibacillus lautus was advantageous for corn straw decomposition and yielded high-quality compost. The screened flora was able to effectively degrade corn straw. This study provides a novel solution for the construction of a microbial consortium for the composting of corn straw. Full article

Despite quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) gaining international popularity in the early 21st century for its nutritional benefits, there remains a critical need to optimize its cultivation practices in arid regions. Current research often overlooks the combined effects of supplemental irrigation and foliar treatments on quinoa’s yield and water efficiency, particularly under challenging environmental conditions like those in Borg El-Arab, Egypt. Field studies were conducted in Borg El-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt, during the winter seasons of 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 to determine the influence of supplemental irrigation (rainfed, 2000, and 4000 m³/hectare, respectively) and foliar spraying of sodium silicate (control, 200, and 400 ppm) on yield, yield components, seed quality, and water usage efficiency in quinoa cv. Chibaya grown in arid lands. Three replications were used in a split-plot design. The main plots were designated for irrigation, while the subplots were designated for foliar spraying. The results indicate that applying irrigation at a rate of 4000 m³/hectare significantly increased leaf dry weight per plant by 23.5%, stem dry weight per plant by 18.7%, total dry weight per 25 plants by 21.4%, leaf area per plant by 19.2%, and straw yield by 26.8% compared to the control treatment. There were no significant differences between irrigation with the rate of 4000 m³ or 2000 m³/hectare on biological yield kg/hectare, N (%), P (mg/100 g), and protein (%). The utilization of sodium silicate had no significance on all studied features except for straw yield kg ha⁻¹ at the rate of 200 or 400 ppm. The results regarding the RAPD1 primer revealed that the 2000+0 silicon treatment was the only treatment that resemble the control with no up- or downregulated fragment. Moreover, 20 upregulated fragments were observed in all treatments, while 19 DNA fragments were downregulated. Furthermore, the results obtained regarding the RAPD2 primer revealed that 53 fragments were upregulated and 19 downregulated. Additionally, the RAPD3 primer demonstrated that 40 DNA fragments were upregulated, whereas 18 downregulated DNA fragments were detected. It may be inferred that the application of irrigation at a rate of 4000 m3 ha⁻¹ might serve as a supplemental irrigation method. Spraying sodium silicate at a 400 mg L⁻¹ concentration could alleviate the dry climate on the Egyptian shore. Full article

Bio-fertilizers are the most important and effective method used to reduce the quantities of chemical fertilizers consumed and reduce dependence on them in agricultural production to avoid their harmful effects on the environment and public health as well as reduce the cost of agricultural production in light of increasing pollution and under adverse conditions for production and climate change. A bio-fertilizer depends primarily on the use of beneficial microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to improve the uptake of nutrients, improve plant growth, productivity, and grain yield. Crop production faces many challenges, and drought is one of the majority of the significant factors limiting crop production worldwide, especially in semi-arid regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of AMF and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), plus three rates of the recommended dose of phosphorus (RDP) fertilizer on yield, yield components, and nutrients uptake, in addition to evaluating the beneficial effects of these combinations to develop Phosphorus (P) management under three levels of irrigation water, i.e., three irrigations (normal or well-watered), two irrigations (moderate drought), and one irrigation (severe drought) on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The results showed that the treatment with AMF bio-fertilizer yielded the highest values of plant height, spike length, spike weight, number of grains/spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, straw yield, biological yield, and harvest index. Moreover, the grain and straw uptake of nitrogen (N), P, and potassium (K) (kg ha⁻¹) in the two seasons under the three levels of irrigation, respectively, were superior followed by the inoculation by PSB. While the treatment without bio-fertilizer yielded the lowest values of these traits of barley, the treatment with bio-fertilizer yielded the increased percentage of the grain yield by 17.27%, 17.33% with applying AMF, and 10.31%, 10.40% with treatment by PSB. Treatment with AMF or PSB (Phosphorien), plus rates of phosphorus fertilizer under conditions of irrigation water shortage, whether irrigation was performed once or twice, led to an increase in grain yield and other characteristics compared to the same fertilization rates without inoculation. The results of this study showed that the use of bio-fertilizers led to an increase in plant tolerance to drought stress, and this was demonstrated by an increase in various traits with the use of treatments that include bio-fertilizers. Therefore, it is suggested to inoculate the seeds with AMF or PSB plus adding phosphate fertilizers at the recommended dose under drought conditions. Full article

Despite its significant thermal requirements, melon is a vegetable species that holds the potential for expanding the crop range in temperate climate regions. The selection of appropriate varieties and agronomic practices facilitates its cultivation in these regions. This experiment, employing a randomized block design, was conducted from 2019 to 2021, and this study evaluated the response of three melon varieties—‘Seledyn F1’, ‘Melba’, and ‘Malaga F1’ (factor I)—to various mulching materials (factor II): black polyethylene film (PE), black polypropylene nonwoven (PP), biodegradable film (Fbio), and giant miscanthus straw. Control plots were left unmulched. Melon seeds were sown on 15 April, and seedlings were transplanted on 31 May at a spacing of 100 × 80 cm. This study assessed yield, fruit number, individual fruit weight, and vertical and horizontal fruit diameters. Under optimal conditions, the varieties Seledyn F1 and Malaga F1 produced fruits with the highest individual mass. The application of synthetic mulches led to a two-fold increase in fruit yield compared to unmulched plots, with a 23.7% increase in fruit number. On average, the largest fruits were obtained with PE mulch. Melons grown on Fbio mulch yielded, on average, 40% less and produced 18.8% fewer fruits compared to those grown with PE mulch. Full article