Search Results (175)

Background: Developments in biology, genetics, soil science, plant breeding, engineering, and agricultural microbiology are driving advances in soil microbiology and microbial biotechnology. Material and methods: The literature for this review was collected by searching leading scientific databases such as Embase, Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Results: Recent advances in soil microbiology and biotechnology are discussed, emphasizing the role of microorganisms in sustainable agriculture. It has been shown that soil and plant microbiomes significantly contribute to improving soil fertility and plant and soil health. Microbes promote plant growth through various mechanisms, including potassium, phosphorus, and zinc solubilization, biological nitrogen fixation, production of ammonia, HCN, siderophores, and other secondary metabolites with antagonistic effects. The diversity of microbiomes related to crops, plant protection, and the environment is analyzed, as well as their role in improving food quality, especially under stress conditions. Particular attention was paid to the diversity of microbiomes and their mechanisms supporting plant growth and soil fertility. Conclusions: The key role of soil microorganisms in sustainable agriculture was highlighted. They can support the production of natural substances used as plant protection products, as well as biopesticides, bioregulators, or biofertilizers. Microbial biotechnology also offers potential in the production of sustainable chemicals, such as biofuels or biodegradable plastics (PHA) from plant sugars, and in the production of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, hormones, or enzymes. Full article

Soil nematodes are essential components of the soil food web and are widely recognised as key bioindicators of soil health because of their sensitivity to environmental factors and disturbance. In agriculture, many studies have documented the effects of fertilisation on nematode communities and explored their role in nutrient cycling. Despite this, a key gap in knowledge still exists regarding how fertilisation-induced changes in nematode communities modify their role in nutrient cycling. We reviewed the literature on the mechanisms by which nematodes contribute to nutrient cycling and on how organic, inorganic, and recycling-derived fertilisers (RDFs) impact nematode communities. The literature revealed that the type of organic matter and its C:N ratio are key factors shaping nematode communities in organically fertilised soils. In contrast, soil acidification and ammonium suppression have a greater influence in inorganically fertilised soils. The key sources of variability across studies include differences in the amount of fertiliser applied, the duration of the fertiliser use, management practices, and context-specific factors, all of which led to differences in how nematode communities respond to both fertilisation regimes. The influence of RDFs on nematode communities is largely determined by the fertiliser’s origin and its chemical composition. While fertilisation-induced changes in nematode communities affect their role in nutrient cycling, oversimplifying experiments makes it difficult to understand nematodes’ functions in these processes. The challenges and knowledge gaps for further research to understand the effects of fertilisation on soil nematodes and their impact on nutrient cycling have been highlighted in this review to inform sustainable agricultural practices. Full article

This study investigates the impact of golden moles (Amblysomus sp.) on the abundance, diversity, and community structure of nematodes in kweek grass (Cynodon dactylon) within the Sovenga Hills of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Eight sites were sampled: four with active moles (sites: M1–M4), and four without (sites: T1–T4). Eighty soil samples were collected, and nematodes were extracted. A total of 23 nematode genera were identified, including 3 plant-parasitic and 20 free-living genera. The frequency of occurrence (FO) data showed that Aphelenchus sp. and Acrobeles sp. were the most prevalent nematodes, each occurring in 87.5% of the samples. In contrast, Eucephalobus sp., Tripylina sp., Discolaimus sp., and Tylenchus sp. had the lowest FO, appearing in only 12.5% of samples. The diversity indices (the Shannon index, the maturity index, and the plant-parasitic index) showed significant differences between the two environments. The Shannon index (H′) and maturity index were the most effective indicators of ecosystem disturbance. The lowest H′ was found at T4 (1.7 ± 0.2), compared with a higher value at M1 (2.4 ± 0.1). The principal component analysis (PCA) results revealed a positive correlation between Ditylenchus and the clay in the soil. In addition, Cervidellus was associated with soil pH. Network analysis revealed increased complexity in the nematode community structure at mole-affected sites. These findings suggest that mole activity alters soil properties and indirectly affects nematode diversity and trophic structure. Full article

Soil acidification, salinization, and heavy metal pollution pose serious threats to global food security and sustainable agricultural development. Biochar, with its high porosity, large surface area, and abundant functional groups, can effectively improve soil properties. However, due to variations in feedstocks and pyrolysis conditions, it may contain potentially harmful substances. Industrial wastes such as fly ash, steel slag, red mud, and phosphogypsum are rich in minerals and show potential for soil improvement, but direct application may pose environmental risks. The co-application of biochar with these wastes can produce composite amendments that enhance pH buffering capacity, nutrient availability, and pollutant immobilization. Therefore, a review of biochar-industrial waste composites as soil amendments is crucial for addressing soil degradation and promoting resource utilization of wastes. In this study, the literature was retrieved from Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar using keywords including biochar, fly ash, steel slag, red mud, phosphogypsum, combined application, and soil amendment. A total of 144 articles from 2000 to 2025 were analyzed. This review summarizes the physicochemical properties of biochar and representative industrial wastes, including pH, electrical conductivity, surface area, and elemental composition. It examines their synergistic mechanisms in reducing heavy metal release through adsorption, complexation, and ion exchange. Furthermore, it evaluates the effects of these composites on soil health and crop productivity, showing improvements in soil structure, nutrient balance, enzyme activity, and metal immobilization. Finally, it identifies knowledge gaps as well as future prospects and recommends long-term field trials and digital agriculture technologies to support the sustainable application of these composites in soil management. Full article

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a globally invasive aquatic weed with high biomass productivity and nutrient content, offering potential as a low-cost organic soil amendment. This review synthesizes findings from 35 studies identified through a structured Web of Science search, examining its use as mulch, compost, biochar, and foliar extract. Reported agronomic benefits include improvements in soil organic carbon, nutrient availability (particularly nitrogen and potassium), microbial activity, and crop yields. However, most studies are short-term and conducted under greenhouse or pot conditions, limiting field-scale generalizability. Additionally, reporting of compost composition and contaminant levels is inconsistent, raising concerns about food safety. While logistical and economic feasibility remain underexplored, emerging evidence suggests that with proper processing, water hyacinth amendments could reduce fertilizer dependence and contribute to circular bioeconomy goals. Future research should prioritize field trials, standardized production protocols, and life cycle assessments to evaluate long-term performance, risks, and climate benefits. Full article

Nitrogen fertilizers play a critical role in enhancing crop yields; however, excessive application has resulted in significant environmental challenges, including water contamination and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, improving nitrogen use efficiency is essential for sustainable agriculture. This review based on a systematic search of Web of Science and CNKI for peer-reviewed studies on maize nitrogen efficiency published between 1945 and 2024 (excluding conference abstracts), this review presents the first multiscale synthesis demonstrating how balanced nitrate–ammonium nutrition coordinates N–C metabolism and phytohormone signaling to boost nitrogen use efficiency and stimulate maize growth, with supporting evidence from other crops. By integrating results from hydroponic and field experiments, the review evaluates the influence of mixed nitrogen sources on nitrogen uptake, root morphology, photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and hormone signaling. Findings indicate that optimal NO₃⁻:NH_4⁺ ratios improve nitrogen absorption through enhanced root development and activation of specific nitrogen transporters. Additionally, mixed nitrogen nutrition increases photosynthetic efficiency, promotes carbon assimilation, reduces energy expenditure, and stimulates auxin-mediated growth. This review shows that balanced nitrate–ammonium co-application synergistically enhances crop nitrogen-use efficiency and yield, provides a theoretical basis for high-efficiency nitrogen-fertilizer development, and helps alleviate environmental pressures, advance sustainable agriculture, and secure food and ecosystem safety. Its efficacy, however, is modulated by soil type, climate, and genotypic variation, necessitating systematic validation and application optimization in future research. Full article

Turmeric powder has gained widespread popularity due to its culinary and medicinal value and has become a target for economically motivated fraud. The history and exportation of turmeric in Africa were reviewed, and the safety issues of some toxic adulterants were discussed. Priority adulterants were determined from global food safety alerts. A systematic bibliographic search on Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science was performed to identify appropriate methods and techniques for authentication and safety. The quality of each study was assessed according to PRISMA guidelines/protocol. African turmeric exportation is on the rise due to recent insights into the suitability of local cultivars, soil and climate for growing high-quality turmeric, with curcumin levels >3%. There are limited data on turmeric adulteration for domestic consumption and export markets. This is important when considering that some turmeric adulterants may serve as risk factors for cancer following exposure. Global alert databases revealed lead chromate as the top hazard identified of all adulterants. Current techniques to detect adulterants are laboratory-based, and while efficient, there is a need for more rapid, field-friendly, non-destructive analytical tools for turmeric fraud/authenticity testing. This enables on-the-spot decision-making to inform rapid alerts. Portable technologies, such as portable X-ray fluorescence, were highlighted as showing potential as a Tier 1 screening tool within a “Food Fortress” systems approach for food safety, combined with validation from mass spectrometry-based Tier 2 testing. Full article

Applying organic amendments enhances agroecosystem multifunctionality (EMF), yet its mechanisms via soil food-web energetics remain unclear. A field experiment was conducted on China’s Loess Plateau in a winter wheat system, comparing mineral fertilizer with straw, biochar, and liquid organic fertilizer to assess their impacts on nematode communities and EMF (plant performance and carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus cycling). Using high-throughput sequencing and energy flux modeling, we found that straw and biochar enhanced nematode diversity and co-occurrence network complexity, while liquid organic fertilizer reduced network complexity. Straw balanced fungal- and bacterial-driven energy pathways, enhancing energy flow uniformity (1.05) and EMF. However, its high C:N ratio requires mineral fertilizers to alleviate nitrogen limitations, ensuring stable bacterial energy fluxes and preventing functional trade-offs. Biochar elevated total energy flux but prioritized bacterial- and herbivore-driven pathways, reducing energy flow uniformity (0.76) and functional balance. Liquid organic fertilizer favored omnivores-predators, destabilizing lower trophic functions with minimal functional gains. Amendment properties (C:N ratio, pH) shaped nematode-mediated energy distribution, linking biodiversity to multifunctionality. Overall, straw is optimal for supporting EMF when combined with mineral fertilizers, while biochar and liquid fertilizer require tailored management to mitigate functional trade-offs. These findings advance sustainable strategies for dryland agroecosystems in the Loess Plateau region and similar environments. Full article

Global food systems face mounting pressure from intersecting crises of food insecurity, malnutrition (affecting over 2.8 billion people), and climate change, necessitating transformative solutions. Agroforestry systems (AFS), integrating trees with crops and/or livestock, offer a promising pathway by synergistically enhancing food production, ecological stability, and public health outcomes. However, realizing this potential is hindered by gaps in understanding the complex interactions and trade-offs between these domains, limiting policy and practice effectiveness. This comprehensive review aimed to synthesize current evidence on how agroforestry integrates food security, public health, and environmental sustainability and to identify critical research gaps that limit its widespread adoption and optimization. Following the SPAR-4-SLR protocol, a systematic literature search was conducted across Web of Science and Scopus, with thematic analysis using VosViewer and quantitative synthesis of key metrics. The review confirms agroforestry’s multifaceted benefits, including enhanced dietary diversity, improved micronutrient intake (e.g., 18% reduction in vitamin A deficiency), significant carbon sequestration (0.5–2 Mg C/ha/year), soil health improvements (50–70% less erosion), income generation (+40%), and climate resilience (2–5 °C cooling). Key gaps identified include the need for longitudinal health studies, better quantification of climate–health interactions and non-material benefits, policy–health integration strategies, and analyses of economic–nutritional trade-offs. Full article

Because of their diversity, microplastics (MPs), which are synthetic particles smaller than 5 mm, are highly bioavailable and widely distributed. The prevalence of microplastics in aquatic habitats has been extensively studied but less is known about their presence in terrestrial environments and biota. This study examined MP intake in terrestrial environments utilizing gastrointestinal tracts (GITs), with a particular focus on the Turkish worm lizard (Blanus strauchi). Suspected particles discovered in the GITs were removed, measured, and characterized based on size, shape, color, and polymer type in order to evaluate MP ingestion. Out of 118 samples analyzed, 29 specimens (or 24.57%) had microplastic particlesMP length did not significantly correlate with snout–vent length (SVL) and weight. These correlations were tested to determine whether the size or weight of Blanus strauchi influenced the amount or size of MPs found within the GITs. Also, MP consumption by the worm lizard did not correlate with the year of sampling. All particles identified as fibers through FT-IR spectroscopy analysis. The most common type of microplastic was polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The most often detected color was blue, with mean MP lengths ranging from 133 µm to 2929 µm. It has been demonstrated that worm lizards inhabiting soil or sheltering under stones in bushy areas with sparse vegetation consume MPs. Predation is regarded to be the most likely way through which MPs infiltrate terrestrial food webs. Full article

Considerable losses are inflicted by plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) due to their obligate parasitism; serious damage occurs in many susceptible crops, and the parasites have a broad distribution worldwide. As most PPNs have a subterranean nature, the complexity of soils in the plant rhizosphere and the structures and functions of the soil food webs necessitate a grasp of the relevant biotic/abiotic factors in order to ensure their effective control. Such factors frequently lead to the inconsistent performance and untapped activity of applied bionematicides, hindering efforts to develop reliable ones. Research efforts that take these factors into account to back the usage of these bionematicides by combining the disease-suppressive activities of two or more agricultural inputs are highlighted herein. These combinations should be designed to boost useful colonization in the rhizosphere, persistent expression of desirable traits under a wide range of soil settings, and/or antagonism to a larger number of plant pests/pathogens relative to individual applications. Relevant ecological/biological bases with specific settings for effective PPN management are exemplified. Determining the relative sensitivity or incompatibility of some biologicals entails studying their combinations and reactions. Such studies, as suggested herein, should be conducted on a case-by-case basis to avoid unsatisfactory outputs. These studies will enable us to accurately define certain outputs, namely, the synergistic, additive, neutral, and antagonistic interactions among the inputs. In optimizing the efficiencies of these inputs, researchers should consider their multi-functionality and metabolic complementarity. Despite previous research, the market currently lacks these types of safe and effective products. Hence, further explorations of novel integrated pest management plans that boost synergy and coverage to control multiple pathogens/pests on a single crop are required. Also, setting economic incentives and utilizing a standardized regulation that examines the authentic risks of biopesticides are still called for in order to ease cost-effective formulation, registration, farmer awareness, and usage worldwide. On the other hand, tank mixing that ensures legality and avoids physical and chemical agro-input-based incompatibilities can also provide superior merits. The end in view is the unraveling of the complexities of interactions engaged with in applying multiple inputs to develop soundly formulated, safe, and effective pesticides. Sophisticated techniques should be incorporated to overcome such complexities/limitations. These techniques would engage microencapsulation, nanopesticides, volatile organic compounds as signals for soil inhabitants, bioinformatics, and RNA-Seq in pesticide development. Full article

Citrus greening disease (CGD), also known as Huanglongbing in China, is caused by the endophytic bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ and poses a severe threat to the global citrus industry. The disease affects microbial communities in leaves, stems, roots, and soil. Soil nematodes, which occupy multiple trophic levels, play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, pest regulation, and plant-soil interactions. However, the impact of CGD on soil nematode community structure and energy flow remains unclear. This study examined the effects of different levels of CGD infection on soil nematode communities and energy dynamics. Three infection levels were selected: control (healthy plants with no yellowing symptoms), mild infection (≤50% leaf yellowing), and severe infection (entire canopy affected). The results showed that increasing CGD severity significantly reduced the nematode abundance, community structure index, and total energy flux by 94.2%, 86.7%, and 93.5%, respectively, in the severely infected group. Both mild and severe infections resulted in a higher proportion of bacterivorous nematodes compared to the control. Moreover, herbivorous energy flux was significantly reduced by 99.2% in the severe infection group, suggesting that herbivorous endophytic nematodes are particularly sensitive to CGD. The total energy flux through nematode food web, the energy flux through fungal or herbivorous channels, and the energy flow uniformity were positively correlated with the nematode structure index but negatively correlated with the nematode richness and evenness indices. Furthermore, the reduction in soil resource input (especially total nitrogen and total carbon) caused by CGD was the primary driver of the changes in nematode communities and energy flows. These findings highlight the destructive effects of CGD on soil ecosystems through bottom-up control. The CGD-induced obstruction of photosynthate transport primarily impacts phytophagous organisms and could also influence other trophic levels. To mitigate these effects and ensure healthy citrus production, future research should focus on early detection and effective CGD management strategies. Full article

Cross-kingdom rotation offers several agronomic and ecological benefits, including enhanced soil nutrient availability, reduced pest and disease prevalence, improved soil structure, and minimized chemical inputs, which contribute to a dynamic and resilient soil ecosystem, thereby fostering biodiversity and ecological balance. Additionally, crop diversity encourages plant root exudates that feed a wider range of beneficial soil microbes, ultimately leading to a balanced soil food web. Integrating rice cultivation with the edible mushroom Stropharia rugosoannulata further improves soil fertility and enhances organic carbon sequestration. This rotation introduces organic matter into the soil, affecting microbial community structure and supporting the decomposition of complex organic materials via lignocellulose-decomposing fungi. These processes contribute to soil organic carbon accumulation, nutrient cycling, and long-term soil health. The study emphasizes the importance of microbial communities (including live biomass and necromass) in maintaining ecosystem stability and highlights the potential of the rice–S. rugosoannulata rotation model as a sustainable agricultural practice. Further research is needed to clarify how fungal necromass contributes to soil carbon accumulation and to optimize agricultural practices for improving soil health and carbon sequestration in response to climate change. These findings provide valuable insights for developing sustainable agricultural strategies that balance productivity with environmental conservation. Full article

Climate change in Eastern Europe requires introducing automated irrigation systems and monitoring agricultural and climatic parameters to ensure food security. The automation of irrigation, together with the generation of climate reports based on AI (artificial intelligence) using OpenAI models for Internet of Things (IoT) data processing, contributes to the optimization of resources by reducing excessive water and energy consumption, supporting plant health through proper irrigation and increasing sustainable agricultural productivity by providing suggestions and statistics to streamline the agricultural process. In this paper, the authors present a system that allows continuous data collection of parameters such as temperature, humidity, and soil moisture, providing detailed information and advanced analytics for each device and area monitored using AI to generate predictive recommendations. The data transmission is performed wirelessly via WebSocket to the central database. This system uses data from all devices connected to the application to assess current climate conditions at a national level, identifying trends and generating reports that aid in adapting to extreme events. The integration of artificial intelligence in the context of monitoring and irrigation of agricultural areas is a step forward in the development of sustainable agriculture and for the adaptation of agriculture to increasingly aggressive climate phenomena, providing a replicable framework for vulnerable regions. Full article

Mycorrhizal symbiosis has been the focus of research for more than a century due to the positive effect of fungi on the growth of the majority of woody plants. The extramatrical mycelium (EMM) of ectomycorrhiza (EMR) accounts for up to one-third of the total soil microbial biomass, whereas litter from this short-living pool accounts for 60% of the total litterfall mass in forest ecosystems. The functioning of EMR improves the nitrogen (N) nutrition of trees and thus contributes to the carbon (C) balance of forest soils. The model presented here is an attempt to describe these EMR functions quantitatively. It calculates the growth of EMM and the subsequent “mining” of additional nitrogen from recalcitrant soil organic matter (SOM) for EMR growth, with the associated formation of “dissolved soil carbon”. The decomposition of EMM litter is carried out by all organisms in the soil food webs, forming available ${\mathrm{N}\mathrm{H}}_4^{+}$ in the first phase and then solid-phase by-products (excretes) as a new labile SOM pool. These substances are the feedback that determines the positive role of EMR symbiosis for forest vegetation. A sensitivity analysis revealed a leading role of the C:N ratio of biotic components in the dynamics of EMM. The model validation showed a satisfactory agreement between simulated and observed data in relation to EMM respiration in larch forest plantations of different ages. Model testing within the EFIMOD3 model system allowed a quantitative assessment of the contribution of different components to forest soil and ecosystem respiration. The validation and testing of this model demonstrated the adequacy of the theoretical background used in this model, with a fast EMM decomposition cycle by all soil biota of the food webs and without direct resource exchange between plants and fungi. Full article