Search Results (2,514)

Straw and no-tillage management, as important practices in conservation agriculture, have the potential to improve soil structure. However, their effects on the aggregate stability of soil and on active organic carbon pools in paddy fields are unclear. To investigate how different tillage and straw management practices affect soil properties, this study drew on a 15-year long-term experiment conducted in a double-cropped rice region in South China. It systematically compared four treatments: no-tillage (NT), conventional tillage (CT), conventional tillage with incorporated straw (CT-SR), and no-tillage with straw mulch (NT-SMR)—in terms of their effects on the distribution and stability of mechanical and water-stable aggregates, as well as the distribution of particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) across various aggregate size fractions. The results showed that: (1) Relative to the CT, NT, and CT-SR treatments, NT-SMR significantly enhanced soil structure, as evidenced by a higher percentage of large aggregates (>0.25 mm) and improved aggregate stability. (2) NT-SMR consistently increased soil organic carbon pools, raising SOC, POC, and MAOC contents by 2.0–14.2%, 5.7–24.3%, and 1.0–11.9%, respectively, compared to other treatments. (3) In this study, stability of soil aggregates parameters (R_>0.25, MWD and GMD) increased combined with higher levels of bulk SOC and >0.053 mm MAOC, but decreased with higher fractal dimension, indicating a direct causal link between organic carbon accumulation and the betterment of soil structure. Overall, NT-SMR promotes aggregate stability through an optimized particle-size distribution and increased SOC, particularly in the >0.053 mm MAOC fraction. This practice is a sustainable long-term strategy for enhancing SOC sequestration and structural stability in paddy. Full article

The goal of this work was to determine the effect of soil freeze–thaw processes on the formation of water-stable aggregates (WSA) and plant available water (PAW) in soils of different textures, depending on the intensity of tillage: conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT) and no-tillage (NT). The WSA value (0.4%) and PAW mean (5.5%) in sandy loam were higher than in loam. The average content of WSA and PAW tended to decrease in the following order: air-dry soil > soil with water content at field capacity > soil near full saturation. These results indicate that WSA in soils that are close to full saturation upon freezing will be less stable after thawing and will decrease the PAW. The content of WSA in NT was 9.4% higher than in RT and 14% higher than in CT. The content of PAW in NT was 5.6% higher than in CT and 13.6% higher than in RT. The effects of various physical and chemical properties on PAW as a function of water level during the freeze–thaw process indicate that WSA content acted as a direct factor for PAW. In a temperate climate zone under dry meteorological conditions, NT would have a promising future for soil stability by maintaining higher WSA and PAW. Full article

Agronomic practices can modify cereal grain chemical composition and processing performance. Long-term evidence linking agricultural management with functionality-related quality remains limited, especially in terms of combined tillage x crop residue management strategy. We evaluated the effects of long-term tillage simplifications and straw management on productivity and processing-relevant traits of winter wheat and spring barley in a split-plot field experiment (Lithuania). Straw was either removed (S0) or chopped and retained (S1), and six tillage systems were compared (conventional ploughing (CP), shallow ploughing (SP), shallow cultivation (SOW), stubble over winter, no-till with cover crops (NTC), and no-till without cover crops (NT)). The yield and starch content of winter wheat and spring barley groats increased with the addition of straw and the application of SOW, NTC, and NT systems. The hectolitre mass of winter wheat and spring barley grains increased with the addition and removal of straw using SP technology. The protein content and wet gluten content of winter wheat and spring barley grains decreased, while the starch content increased, with the addition and removal of straw using SC technology. In wheat, protein content showed weak separation among treatments, while wet gluten and Zeleny sedimentation displayed mostly directional trends (wet gluten–sedimentation correlation: r = 0.844 under S0 and r = 0.984 under S1). In terms of the tillage systems, it can be stated that in most cases, SP and NT increased grain yield and improved quality indicators, while SC and NTC technologies showed opposite results. Soil-function assessment (CEI, 10–25 cm) indicated substantially higher integrated soil functioning under conservation agriculture (e.g., SOW/NTC/NT: 5.28–5.70) than under conventional systems (CP: 3.23). The results support framing sustainable soil management for cereal functionality as a system package: residue retention enables the productivity benefits of reduced-tillage systems while maintaining key quality proxies. Full article

Cover crops in woody crops as a sustainable land management alternative to conventional tillage induce changes in soil properties that improve ecosystem functioning. Soil is highly dynamic, and disturbances in environmental conditions affect soil microorganisms, particularly in gypsiferous soils, where microbiological activity remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of three cover crop systems: spontaneous permanent vegetation cover (SVE), annual legume cover (VIC), and permanent grass cover (BRA), compared with conventional tillage (TIL), on soil physicochemical and biological properties in an olive grove over two crop seasons. Overall, cover crops promoted higher microbial activity and carbon storage than tillage, with responses being more pronounced during the wetter year. Conventional tillage consistently exhibited the lowest levels of enzyme activities and carbon stocks, whereas permanent covers showed stronger positive effects on soil functioning. These findings indicate that the benefits of cover crops on soil processes are reinforced under favorable moisture conditions but also remain under drier years, highlighting their stabilizing role. The improvement of soil health induced by cover crops contributes to enhancing soil ecosystem services, including soil fertility, in olive groves, supporting their adoption as a sustainable management strategy in Mediterranean agroecosystems, even under lower rainfall conditions. Full article

Soil adhesion and abrasive wear severely degrade the performance and service life of soil-covering rollers in no-tillage seeders, particularly in the heavy clay black soil regions of Northeast China. To address the critical issues of soil adhesion and wear on soil-covering rollers used in no-tillage seeders within black soil regions, this study presents a surface engineering strategy that integrates a bionic micro-texture with a functional composite coating. Inspired by the crescent-shaped pits on the body surface of Procambarus clarkii, a bionic texture was designed and combined with a PTFE/PDMS/TiO₂ composite coating. Key parameters were optimized using response surface methodology, yielding a TiO₂ mass fraction of 6%, coating thickness of 40 μm, remaining texture depth of 50 μm, and texture spacing of 250 μm. A prototype was fabricated and evaluated through orthogonal field experiments in two distinct soil environments. In clay soil (15–25% moisture content), soil moisture and vertical load significantly influenced anti-adhesion performance, with recommended operating parameters of 600 N vertical load and a speed range of 10.8–14.4 km·h⁻¹. In sandy soil (8–18% moisture content), vertical load and operating speed had significant effects on wear resistance, with optimal parameters identified as 600 N vertical load and 10.8 km·h⁻¹. Verification tests confirmed stable low-adhesion and low-wear performance under varying moisture conditions. Compared to conventional and PTFE-coated rollers, the bionic roller reduced soil adhesion by 82.62% and 74.02%, respectively, in high-moisture clay soil, and reduced wear loss by 36.81% and 28.97%, respectively, in dry sandy soil. These results demonstrate that the synergistic “structure–material” design, which leverages stress dispersion and storage from the bionic texture alongside low surface energy and enhanced wear resistance from the composite coating, offers a promising approach for improving the durability and performance of soil-engaging agricultural components. Full article

The agriculture sector in Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its traditional practices, limited technological intervention, and low adaptive capacity. Owing to the country’s complex topography, the impacts of climate change are spatially heterogeneous, making local-level climate change assessments highly relevant. This study focuses on the impact of climate change on three major crops (rice, wheat, and maize), in the Doti district of Nepal, based on meteorological records, crop yield data, questionnaire surveys, and focus group discussions. Climate records from 1982 to 2022 show a trend in annual rainfall at a rate of −3.28 mm per year, with a particularly pronounced decline during the monsoon season. Both maximum and minimum temperatures exhibit statistically significant increasing trends of 0.01 °C and 0.03 °C per year, respectively. The most significant warming for maximum temperature occurs during the monsoon season, while minimum temperature shows the highest increase during the pre-monsoon season. During the same period, annual yields of paddy, maize, and wheat show statistically significant increasing trends. These trends in climate variables and crop yields align with the perceptions of local communities. Linear correlation analysis indicates that maximum and minimum temperatures have a positive influence on crop yields, whereas precipitation and diurnal temperature range have negative effects. Among these, minimum temperature has the greatest impact on crop yields, followed by maximum temperature and rainfall. Multiple linear regression analysis reveals that climate variables better explain long-term trends in crop yields rather than year-to-year variability. The impact of climate is most pronounced in wheat where climate variables account for approximately 55% of the yield variability, followed by paddy (R²~49%) and maize (R²~20%). Despite the overall increase in crop yields, interannual variability has grown, consistent with increased variability in climate parameters. To cope with this uncertainty, local communities have adopted various adaptation strategies, including the use of improved seed varieties, green manure, and changes in crop types. Other key practices include the use of inorganic fertilizers, selection of short-duration crops, crop rotation, minimum tillage farming, and river conservation. Full article

Elevated temperatures due to global climate change adversely affect plant growth and development, which has become a major factor restricting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production. Despite the introduction of dwarfing genes that have enhanced lodging resistance as well as productive potential in wheat breeding, lodging still affects wheat yields. Plant growth regulators are widely recognized as effective agents in mitigating crop lodging. Few studies have investigated the high-temperature lodging sensitivity of wheat genotypes from different breeding periods, nor have they examined how uniconazole-sucrose regulates lodging resistance under heat stress. To fill this research gap, an experiment was conducted in which two contrasting wheat genotypes from different periods, Bima 1 (BM1, ~135 cm tall, a historical genotype released in 1953, lodging-susceptible) and Shannong 28 (S28, ~75 cm tall, a modern genotype released in 2014, lodging-resistant), were exposed to high temperature stress combined with uniconazole-sucrose application. The results showed that high-temperature-induced increases in plant gravity center height, together with decreased stem diameter coefficient, stem plumpness, and lignin deposition, were the main factors responsible for the reduction in bending section factor and mechanical strength of wheat stems. These modifications are associated with reduced lodging resistance, increased susceptibility to lodging, and significant yield losses. Nevertheless, exogenous application of uniconazole-sucrose lowers plant gravity center height, enhances stem diameter coefficient, stem plumpness, and lignin content, thus alleviating lodging risk and boosting wheat yield under high temperature stress. High temperature stress was associated with downregulated relative expression levels of key genes involved in lignin metabolism and reduced activities of the corresponding key enzymes, as well as inhibited lignin biosynthesis and accumulation in stems and increased incidence of wheat lodging. Conversely, foliar spraying of uniconazole-sucrose alleviated these suppressive effects on lignin biosynthesis, thus enhancing stem mechanical strength and reducing the lodging index of wheat. Moreover, these indicators were more sensitive to heat stress or uniconazole-sucrose treatment in BM1. The two genotypes examined suggested a potential trend that S28 may exhibit reduced sensitivity to high temperature in terms of mechanical traits and lignin synthesis, which could contribute to enhanced lodging resistance under heat stress. Full article

Pre-sowing tillage under irrigated agriculture is associated with high energy demand and increased risk of soil structural degradation, particularly in heterogeneous loam soils of arid and semi-arid regions. This study presents the engineering optimization and field validation of a combined implement for single-pass rotary strip tillage and precision seeding developed for irrigated sierozem soils of Southern Kazakhstan. The research integrates analytical modeling of soil–blade interaction, optimization of rotary blade geometry, and comparative field experiments using an experimental prototype (FS-2.1). Analytical optimization identified an optimal blade installation angle of 54–56°, resulting in an approximately 22% reduction in specific cutting area. Field results demonstrated that the single-pass system formed a high-quality seedbed, with 85.2% of soil aggregates smaller than 25 mm and a surface leveling deviation below 5 mm. Compared with a conventional multi-pass technology, traction load, fuel consumption, and total energy input were reduced by 38%, 43%, and 54.5%, respectively. The results confirm that combining optimized rotary blade geometry with strip-based soil disturbance enables substantial energy savings without compromising agronomic performance. The proposed engineering solution provides a reproducible framework for low-traction, resource-efficient tillage–seeding systems suitable for irrigated agriculture in Southern Kazakhstan and comparable agroecological regions. Full article

Empirical parameter settings in steam-based soil disinfestation for Panax notoginseng (a valuable medicinal plant) often hinder the simultaneous optimization of pathogen control and energy efficiency. To address this limitation, this study aims to develop a parameter regulation framework that integrates multi-output regression with scenario-oriented intelligent decision-making. Initially, a comprehensive dataset comprising critical parameters—steam pressure (P_steam), soil compaction (C_soil), and heating time (t_heat)—was established. A random search (RS) hyperparameter optimization scheme was employed to comparatively evaluate the multi-output predictive performance of Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) for the joint estimation of soil temperature (T_soil) and root-rot pathogen kill rate (Kill_rate). Subsequently, by integrating total energy consumption (E_total) and operating electricity cost models, a constrained search algorithm was implemented to develop three objective-oriented decision modes: “maximize Kill_rate”, “minimize C_electricity”, and “maximize Efficiency”. Results demonstrate that the RS-optimized SVR yielded superior multi-output performance, achieving R² of 0.968 for T_soil (MAE = 2.44 °C) and 0.808 for Kill_rate (MAE = 7.85%). Compared to conventional empirical configurations, the proposed decision modes exhibited significant advantages across diverse scenarios. In the “maximize Kill_rate” mode, dynamic extensions of t_heat facilitated theoretical complete inactivation even under challenging heating conditions, effectively eliminating disinfection “blind spots” inherent in fixed-duration strategies. Under the “minimize C_electricity” mode, precise regulation of P_steam reduced operational electricity costs by 18.2% while satisfying the constraint of Kill_rate ≥ 95%. Furthermore, the “maximize Efficiency” mode identified an optimal operating point at C_soil = 64 kPa (P_steam = 0.4 MPa, t_heat = 13 min), thereby mitigating performance degradation associated with excessive tillage or high media rigidity and achieving an optimized cost–benefit ratio. By synthesizing high-fidelity multi-output regression with a flexible multi-mode decision-making framework, this study provides an intelligent solution for soil disinfestation in protected agriculture, facilitating the coordinated optimization of phytosanitary efficacy, energy expenditure, and economic viability. Full article

Effective weed control is essential for sustainable and safe rice production, particularly under the long-term and widespread use of chemical herbicides. Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is one of the most important oil crops worldwide, and the oilseed rape–rice rotation system is widely practiced in China. It has been reported to exhibit strong allelopathy on various plants, but the feasibility of using its straw incorporation for weed control in transplanted rice fields remains unclear. In this study, a natural weed management strategy based on shallow tillage of oilseed rape straw (ORS) was evaluated through laboratory bioassays, greenhouse experiments, and field trials. The results indicated that soil decomposition liquids (SDLs) of ORS exhibited strong dose- and decomposition time-dependent allelopathic effects on seven paddy weed species, while rice showed markedly lower sensitivity. ORS incorporated at 700–1100 g/m² generally exhibited high integrated allelopathic inhibition (in lab) and population control effects (in greenhouse) on paddy weeds, especially Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees, Cyperus iria L., and Cyperus difformis L. Among the growth parameters of ORS allelopathic stress, root growth was the most sensitive indicator, followed by shoot growth and seed germination. Greenhouse experiments displayed variety-dependent impact on the transplanted rice seedlings, with Xiushui134 and Yongyou1540 showing relatively high tolerance. Field trials revealed that ORS incorporation at 1100 g/m² for 10 d achieved a satisfactory control of population (77.7–84.9%) and fresh weight (80.7–95.6%) across Gramineae, Cyperaceae and Broadleaf weeds, without adverse impact on the growth of transplanted rice seedlings (Yongyou1540). This treatment also significantly promoted theoretical grain yield by 13.4–19.4%. Overall, shallow tillage of oilseed rape straw provides a feasible and environmentally friendly weed control strategy for transplanted rice systems. Full article

The severe continuous cropping obstacles in Morchella cultivation, driven primarily by soil microecological imbalance, critically constrain the sustainable development of the industry. To address this challenge, this study evaluated the efficacy of rotary tillage, calcium cyanamide (CaCN₂), and organic fertilizer, applied individually and in combination, in mitigating these obstacles and explored the underlying microbial mechanisms. The soil was treated on 5 August 2024, and soil samples were collected on 5 October 2024. Four treatments were established: continuous cropping control (CK), rotary tillage (XGX), rotary tillage combined with calcium cyanamide (MPD), and rotary tillage combined with calcium cyanamide and organic fertilizer (MPX). Soil chemical properties were analyzed in conjunction with metagenomic sequencing to characterize the responses of soil properties and microbial communities, including both eukaryotic and bacterial taxa. The results indicated that the MPD treatment showed a relatively pronounced effect in enhancing key soil fertility indicators, including soil organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), available potassium (AK), and total phosphorus (TP). All amendments significantly altered microbial community structures. Specifically, the integrated MPX treatment effectively reduced the relative abundance of the pathogenic fungus Olpidium while maintaining higher overall microbial diversity. It also significantly promoted the abundance of Morchella itself and beneficial bacterial phyla such as Actinomycetota and Pseudomonadota. Redundancy analysis identified AN and AK as the primary drivers of eukaryotic community variation, whereas Availa-ble phosphorus (AP) and potential of hydrogen (pH) were the key factors shaping the bacterial community. The results indicated that MPD was the showed relatively pronounced effectiveness in rapidly improving soil fertility and suppressing pathogenic fungi. In contrast, MPX showed relatively better performance in optimizing microbial community structure, enhancing microbial diversity, and strengthening overall ecological stability. These two treatments exhibited distinct advantages in soil chemical improvement and microbial community regulation, respectively, thereby providing alternative practical strategies and a theoretical basis for the ecological management of continuous-cropping obstacles in Morchella cultivation. It should be noted that this study did not include treatments with calcium cyanamide alone, organic fertilizer alone, or their combined application without rotary tillage. This is primarily because rotary tillage is a standard land preparation practice in Morchella cultivation, and the use of soil amendments without accompanying tillage is rarely adopted under practical production conditions. Full article

Intercropping systems involving sorghum, grasses, and legumes can enhance forage production and improve sustainability under no-tillage systems. In the context of agricultural systems, the effective selection of rotational species is essential, as they contribute to soil system dynamics and provide feed for livestock. In this study, the dry matter production of grain sorghum (GS: cultivar A 9902), forage sorghum (FS: cultivar Volumax), and dual-purpose sorghum (DPS: cultivar Rancheiro) intercropped with Urochloa brizantha and dwarf pigeon pea was evaluated at five sowing densities (0 to 24 seeds m⁻¹) over two growing seasons (2018 and 2019), conducted in a randomized complete block design under autumn growing conditions. Biometric and productive traits of sorghum were assessed, as well as the dry matter production of the companion species, in order to understand interspecific interactions within the system. Sorghum dry matter yield was not affected by pigeon pea density, indicating high stability of the main crop. Grain sorghum (GS) and forage sorghum (FS) showed higher production in the first season (20,428 and 18,210 kg ha⁻¹, respectively), whereas dual-purpose sorghum (DPS) performed best in the second season (25,388 kg ha⁻¹). GS exhibited the highest panicle production, exceeding the other cultivars by up to 55%. Increasing pigeon pea density enhanced its biomass production but reduced Urochloa production by up to 50%; however, Urochloa showed better performance when intercropped with GS and FS. Sorghum morphological traits were not affected, and overall, the intercropping system maintained sorghum productivity while increasing total biomass, demonstrating potential for silage production and pasture establishment. Full article

Topsoil sand content (TSC) is a critical indicator of soil degradation in black soil regions, yet its long-term dynamics remain poorly quantified. To address this, we developed an automated Landsat-based framework on Google Earth Engine (GEE) for mapping cropland TSC across the Northeast China Black Soil Region (NCBSR) from 1984 to 2023. The methodology integrates a hierarchical bare-soil extraction strategy using the Normalized Difference Bare Soil Index (NDBSI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Normalized Difference Tillage Index (NDTI) with a Random Forest (RF) model optimized by three-band spectral indices and a “prediction-first” compositing workflow. Results demonstrate that the bare-soil extraction achieved an overall accuracy of 96%, while the TSC retrieval model maintained robust performance with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.80 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 9.68%, together with satisfactory temporal transferability. Long-term mapping revealed a significant biphasic evolutionary trajectory: 23.4% of croplands experienced soil coarsening predominantly before 2000, followed by a partial reversal and stabilization in later decades. This framework provides a high-resolution, multi-decadal baseline for monitoring soil physical degradation and supports sustainable agricultural management in global black soil regions. Full article

To solve the problems of low seeding precision and the poor operational adaptability of traditional no-till seeders under dense planting mode, and meet the agronomic requirements for high maize yield, this study carried out optimization and experimental research on the no-till precision fertilizer-seed co-sowing system for maize with wide-narrow row dense planting, relying on the experimental base of the Science and Technology Courtyard for Super High-Yield Cropping Systems in Qihe, China Agricultural University. Through modular integration and the optimization of key components, precise row spacing adjustment and improved sowing depth consistency in complex plots were achieved. A tractor-implement integrated a kinematic model and a dynamic model of the seed metering tube, which were constructed to quantify the correlation between operational parameters and motion states, providing theoretical support for structural parameter optimization. Field tests showed that all operational quality indicators of the system met the local high-yield requirements for no-till dense planting; the comprehensive performance was optimal at a density of 75,000 plants·ha⁻¹, with the best seeding uniformity (coefficient of variation: 5.65%), seedling emergence and seedling uniformity, which is well adapted to the agronomic characteristics of the wheat–maize rotation areas in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. Subsequent optimization by reducing the operating speed and increasing the spring stiffness can further improve the operational quality, realize the deep integration of agronomy and agricultural machinery, provide agricultural machinery support for high-yield and high-quality maize cultivation, and is of great significance for improving agricultural production efficiency and resource utilization. Full article

This study was designed to evaluate and explore the ecosystem-based adaptation practices for climate resilience with evidence from smallholder farmers’ perceptions of co-benefits and adoption decisions in Mabalane district, Mozambique. Ecosystem-based adaptation practice emerged as a sustainable approach to enhance rainfed smallholder farmers’ climate resilience while delivering multiple social, economic and environmental co-benefits. This study evaluated and explored the perceived co-benefits from adopting ecosystem-based adaptation practices and examined how they shape adoption decisions among the rainfed smallholder farmers. A mixed-method approach was employed, combining a household survey of 360 farm household heads, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The main findings of the study revealed mixed cropping (83.9%), integrated crop-livestock (57.2%), and mulch tillage (51.1%) as the most adopted practices, as well as smallholder farmers perceiving multiple ecological and socio-economical co-benefits from adopting ecosystem-based adaptation practices. Although the study confirmed statistically significant relationships between ecosystem-based adaptation practices and the perceived co-benefits, none of the perceived co-benefits were significantly associated with an increase in the number of the adopted practices. Therefore, it is concluded that adoption decisions among smallholder farmers are not shaped by perceived ancillary benefits from ecosystem-based adaptation practices alone, but a combination of enabling conditions and resources endowments. Full article