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Keywords = biochemical index of soil fertility

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19 pages, 3556 KiB  
Article
Efficacy of Nano and Conventional Zinc and Silicon Fertilizers for Nutrient Use Efficiency and Yield Benefits in Maize Under Saline Field Conditions
by Abbas Shoukat, Uswah Maryam, Britta Pitann, Muhammad Mubashar Zafar, Allah Nawaz, Waseem Hassan, Mahmoud F. Seleiman, Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib and Karl H. Mühling
Plants 2025, 14(5), 673; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14050673 - 22 Feb 2025
Viewed by 236
Abstract
The increasing severity of salinity stress, exacerbated by climate change, poses significant challenges to sustainable agriculture, particularly in salt-affected regions. Soil salinity, impacting approximately 20% of irrigated lands, severely reduces crop productivity by disrupting plants’ physiological and biochemical processes. This study evaluates the [...] Read more.
The increasing severity of salinity stress, exacerbated by climate change, poses significant challenges to sustainable agriculture, particularly in salt-affected regions. Soil salinity, impacting approximately 20% of irrigated lands, severely reduces crop productivity by disrupting plants’ physiological and biochemical processes. This study evaluates the effectiveness of zinc (Zn) and silicon (Si) nanofertilizers in improving maize (Zea mays L.) growth, nutrient uptake, and yield under both saline and non-saline field conditions. ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via the co-precipitation method due to its ability to produce highly pure and uniform particles, while the sol–gel method was chosen for SiO2 NPs to ensure precise control over the particle size and enhanced surface activity. The NPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, and TEM-EDX, confirming their crystalline nature, morphology, and nanoscale size (ZnO~12 nm, SiO2~15 nm). A split-plot field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of the nano and conventional Zn and Si fertilizers. Zn was applied at 10 ppm (22.5 kg/ha) and Si at 90 ppm (201 kg/ha). Various agronomic, chemical, and physiological parameters were then evaluated. The results demonstrated that nano Zn/Si significantly enhanced the cob length and grain yield. Nano Si led to the highest biomass increase (110%) and improved the nutrient use efficiency by 105% under saline and 110% under non-saline conditions compared to the control. Under saline stress, nano Zn/Si improved the nutrient uptake efficiency, reduced sodium accumulation, and increased the grain yield by 66% and 106%, respectively, compared to the control. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) highlighted a strong correlation between nano Zn/Si applications with the harvest index and Si contents in shoots, along with other physiological and yield attributes. These findings highlight that nanotechnology-based fertilizers can mitigate salinity stress and enhance crop productivity, providing a promising strategy for sustainable agriculture in salt-affected soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Nutrition)
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27 pages, 5193 KiB  
Article
Advanced Efficient Feature Selection Integrating Augmented Extreme Learning Machine and Particle Swarm Optimization for Predicting Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Yield in Corn
by Josselin Bontemps, Isa Ebtehaj, Gabriel Deslauriers, Alain N. Rousseau, Hossein Bonakdari and Jacynthe Dessureault-Rompré
Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010244 - 20 Jan 2025
Viewed by 619
Abstract
Efficient nitrogen management is crucial for improving corn productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. This study evaluates the response of corn to nitrogen fertilization using three key metrics: yield; nitrogen harvest index (NHI); and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (ANUE). This experiment was conducted over [...] Read more.
Efficient nitrogen management is crucial for improving corn productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. This study evaluates the response of corn to nitrogen fertilization using three key metrics: yield; nitrogen harvest index (NHI); and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (ANUE). This experiment was conducted over three years (2021–2023) across 84 sites in Quebec, Canada, with five nitrogen treatments applied post-emergence (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 kg N/ha) and initial nitrogen applied at seeding (30 to 60 kg/ha). In addition, various soil health indicators, including physical, chemical, and biochemical properties, were monitored to understand their interaction with nitrogen use efficiency. Machine learning techniques, such as augmented extreme learning machine (AELM) and particle swarm optimization (PSO), were employed to optimize nitrogen recommendations by identifying the most relevant features for predicting yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The results highlight that integrating soil health indicators such as enzyme activities (β-glucosidase [BG] and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase [NAG]) and soil proteins into nitrogen management models improves prediction accuracy, leading to enhanced productivity and environmental sustainability. These findings suggest that advanced data-driven approaches can significantly contribute to more precise and sustainable nitrogen fertilization strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health and Properties in a Changing Environment)
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20 pages, 1707 KiB  
Article
Influence of Forecrop on Soil Quality Estimated on the Basis of the Growth and Development of Faba Bean and Biochemical Properties of the Soil
by Małgorzata Baćmaga, Jadwiga Wyszkowska and Jan Kucharski
Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7492; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177492 - 29 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1005
Abstract
Proper crop rotation determines soil fecundity, which is pertinent for successor crops. With this problem in mind, a study was performed to evaluate the interference of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum), winter wheat (T. aestivum L. subsp. aestivum [...] Read more.
Proper crop rotation determines soil fecundity, which is pertinent for successor crops. With this problem in mind, a study was performed to evaluate the interference of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum), winter wheat (T. aestivum L. subsp. aestivum), maize (Zea mays L.), and winter rape (Brassica napus L.) as forecrops on the increase in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and the biochemical and physicochemical properties of the soil. Tests with faba bean were performed in pots in the vegetation hall. The pots were filled with soil from under the abovementioned four plant species, and faba bean was grown. Soil unsown with faba bean was also tested to measure the rhizosphere effect. At the beginning of the experiment, and after its completion, enzymatic and physicochemical analyses of the soil were performed. On the 120th day of the study, faba bean was harvested and biometry was performed. The forecrop substantially influenced the biometric features of the faba bean and the biochemical activity of the soil. Faba beans grown in soil under spring wheat and winter wheat had the highest seed yield, while those grown in soil under the winter rape had the lowest yield. The geometric mean of the enzyme activity index was only significantly positively correlated with the number of faba bean seeds and the soil pH, as well as with the seed dry matter yield and the faba bean plant height. Faba bean cultivation increased the soil biochemical activity. The values of the biochemical and physicochemical parameters of the unsown soil were lower compared to the soil sown with faba bean. The conducted research can help to estimate the changes occurring in arable soils and maintain their stability thanks to the use of appropriate bioindicators, which are the soil enzymes. Moreover, the use of a diversified crop rotation in soil cultivation can provide a lot of information about its function, which can ultimately be used for planning the plant rotation, leading to the improvement of the soil structure and fertility, as well as its protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Science and the Latest Studies on Sustainable Agriculture)
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24 pages, 13119 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Innovative Sorbents in Restoring Enzymatic Activity of Soil Contaminated with Bisphenol A (BPA)
by Magdalena Zaborowska, Jadwiga Wyszkowska, Agata Borowik and Jan Kucharski
Molecules 2024, 29(13), 3113; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29133113 - 29 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1263
Abstract
As part of the multifaceted strategies developed to shape the common environmental policy, considerable attention is now being paid to assessing the degree of environmental degradation in soil under xenobiotic pressure. Bisphenol A (BPA) has only been marginally investigated in this ecosystem context. [...] Read more.
As part of the multifaceted strategies developed to shape the common environmental policy, considerable attention is now being paid to assessing the degree of environmental degradation in soil under xenobiotic pressure. Bisphenol A (BPA) has only been marginally investigated in this ecosystem context. Therefore, research was carried out to determine the biochemical properties of soils contaminated with BPA at two levels of contamination: 500 mg and 1000 mg BPA kg−1 d.m. of soil. Reliable biochemical indicators of soil changes, whose activity was determined in the pot experiment conducted, were used: dehydrogenases, catalase, urease, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and β-glucosidase. Using the definition of soil health as the ability to promote plant growth, the influence of BPA on the growth and development of Zea mays, a plant used for energy production, was also tested. As well as the biomass of aerial parts and roots, the leaf greenness index (SPAD) of Zea mays was also assessed. A key aspect of the research was to identify those of the six remediating substances—molecular sieve, zeolite, sepiolite, starch, grass compost, and fermented bark—whose use could become common practice in both environmental protection and agriculture. Exposure to BPA revealed the highest sensitivity of dehydrogenases, urease, and acid phosphatase and the lowest sensitivity of alkaline phosphatase and catalase to this phenolic compound. The enzyme response generated a reduction in the biochemical fertility index (BA21) of 64% (500 mg BPA) and 70% (1000 mg BPA kg−1 d.m. of soil). The toxicity of BPA led to a drastic reduction in root biomass and consequently in the aerial parts of Zea mays. Compost and molecular sieve proved to be the most effective in mitigating the negative effect of the xenobiotic on the parameters discussed. The results obtained are the first research step in the search for further substances with bioremediation potential against both soil and plants under BPA pressure. Full article
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15 pages, 5052 KiB  
Article
Soil Microbiome of Abandoned Plaggic Podzol of Different-Aged Fallow Lands and Native Podzol in South Taiga (Leningrad Region)
by Anton Lavrishchev, Andrey Litvinovich, Evgeny Abakumov, Anastasia Kimeklis, Grigory Gladkov, Evgeny Andronov and Vyacheslav Polyakov
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030429 - 22 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1414
Abstract
The soil microbiome is composed of various communities that play an important role in the existence of ecosystem services and the sustainable functioning of ecosystems under high anthropogenic loads. The transition of soils to a fallow state and their subsequent transformation lead to [...] Read more.
The soil microbiome is composed of various communities that play an important role in the existence of ecosystem services and the sustainable functioning of ecosystems under high anthropogenic loads. The transition of soils to a fallow state and their subsequent transformation lead to a notable alteration in the taxonomic composition of the soil microbiome, impacting the biochemical processes within the soil and its fertility levels. The object of this study comprised different-aged fallow soils of the southern taiga in the vicinity of Ban’kovo village, Leningrad region. The method comprising the high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments using an Illumina MiSEQ sequencer was used to analyze the microbial community. The general processing of sequences was carried out with the dada2 (v1.14.1) package. It was found that the morphological organization of fallow soils has significant differences from the native podzol. In fallow soils, there are signs of leaching expressed in the accumulation of leached mineral particles, which indicates the degradation of the fallow–arable horizon. At the same time, there is a decrease in the content of P2O5 and K2O and an increase in the content of N-NH4 and N-NO3 in fallow soil. The analysis of alpha diversity index values showed that the highest level of alpha diversity in the microbial community is characteristic of 40-year-old soil, the alpha diversity index decreased with the increasing time of the fallow state, and the lowest alpha diversity index was observed in the native podzol. According to the values of the beta diversity index, a high correlation between the soil microbiome and the physicochemical characteristics of the soil was revealed, which indicates the formation of functional specialization in the studied microbial communities. As a result of the study of the taxonomic composition of microbial communities in fallow soils, it was found that the most represented microbial communities in fallow soils belong to Nitrosomonadaceae (Pseudomonadota), Mycobacterium (Actinobacteria), Nitrospira (Nitrospirota), and Luteolibacter (Verrucomicrobiota). The duration of post-agrogenic transformation is the leading factor influencing the changes in microbial communities; so, with an increase in the time that soils were in a fallow state, an increase in the oligotrophic microbial community was observed. Full article
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18 pages, 4861 KiB  
Article
Potential Impacts of Certain N2-Fixing Bacterial Strains and Mineral N Doses for Enhancing the Growth and Productivity of Maize Plants
by Moustafa Shalaby, Mohssen Elbagory, Nagwa EL-Khateeb, Ahlam Mehesen, Omaima EL-Sheshtawy, Tamer Elsakhawy and Alaa El-Dein Omara
Plants 2023, 12(22), 3830; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12223830 - 11 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1635
Abstract
The enhancing effect of N2-fixing bacterial strains in the presence of mineral N doses on maize plants in pots and field trials was investigated. The OT-H1 of 10 isolates maintained the total nitrogen, nitrogenase activities, IAA production, and detection of NH [...] Read more.
The enhancing effect of N2-fixing bacterial strains in the presence of mineral N doses on maize plants in pots and field trials was investigated. The OT-H1 of 10 isolates maintained the total nitrogen, nitrogenase activities, IAA production, and detection of NH3 in their cultures. In addition, they highly promoted the germination of maize grains in plastic bags compared to the remainder. Therefore, OT-H1 was subjected for identification and selected for further tests. Based on their morphological, cultural, and biochemical traits, they belonged to the genera Azotobacter. The genomic sequences of 16S rRNA were, thus, used to confirm the identification of the genera. Accordingly, the indexes of tree and similarity for the related bacterial species indicated that genera were exactly closely linked to Azotoacter salinestris strain OR512393. In pot (35 days) and field (120 days) trials, the efficiencies of both A. salinestris and Azospirillum oryzea SWERI 111 (sole/dual) with 100, 75, 50, and 25% mineral N doses were evaluated with completely randomized experimental design and three repetitions. Results indicated that N2-fixing bacteria in the presence of mineral N treatment showed pronounced effects compared to controls. A high value of maize plants was also noticed through increasing the concentration of mineral N and peaked at a dose of 100%. Differences among N2-fixing bacteria were insignificant and were observed for A. oryzea with different mineral N doses. Thus, the utilization of A. oryzea and A. salinestris in their dual mix in the presence of 75 followed by 50% mineral N was found to be the superior treatments, causing the enhancement of vegetative growth and grain yield parameters of maize plants. Additionally, proline and the enzyme activities of both polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (PO) of maize leaves were induced, and high protein contents of maize grains were accumulated due to the superior treatments. The utilization of such N2-fixing bacteria was, therefore, found to be effective at improving soil fertility and to be an environmentally safe strategy instead, or at least with low doses, of chemical fertilizers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 1325 KiB  
Article
Fertilization and Residue Management Improved Soil Quality of Eucalyptus Plantations
by Zhiyuan Zhu and Lichao Wu
Forests 2023, 14(8), 1570; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14081570 - 31 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1472
Abstract
The problem of soil degradation caused by continuous planting of Eucalyptus has a long history in southwest China. It is of great significance to explore reasonable management methods to improve soil quality and forest productivity in Eucalyptus plantations. In this study, the third-generation [...] Read more.
The problem of soil degradation caused by continuous planting of Eucalyptus has a long history in southwest China. It is of great significance to explore reasonable management methods to improve soil quality and forest productivity in Eucalyptus plantations. In this study, the third-generation Eucalyptus plantation in the Qipo state-owned forest farm of Shangsi County, Guangxi Autonomous Region, was used as the research object to explore the effects of fertilization and residue management on soil quality. Therefore, a cross-over test between fertilization (In-O, inorganic fertilizer; O, organic fertilizer; M, mixed fertilizer) and residue management (T, residues were tiled; R, residues were removed; S, residues were stacked) was designed. One-way ANOVA was used to detect the difference in each soil indicator between the three fertilization groups or between the three residue management groups, and two-way ANOVA was used to test whether the indicators were affected by the interaction of these two variables. The soil quality of Eucalyptus plantations was evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA) and the minimum data set (MDS). The results showed that inorganic fertilizer significantly increased the soil nutrient content, such as N, P and K, while organic fertilizer significantly increased soil enzyme activity. Compared with Group R, the retention of residues (T, S) improved the soil pore structure and promoted soil biochemical reactions. The order of soil quality indexing (SQI) was O × T (0.697) > M × T (0.618) > In-O × T (0.557) > O × S (0.490) > M × S (0.439) > O × R (0.362) > In-O × S (0.324) > M × R (0.290) > In-O × R (0.138). Fertilization, residue management and their interaction had significant effects on the soil quality index; among them, residue management was the main factor in the variation of SQI, with a variance contribution rate of 41.6%. In the management of Eucalyptus plantations, soil quality can be improved by applying organic fertilizer and tiling plant residues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Soil)
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11 pages, 1099 KiB  
Article
Zinc and Potassium Fertilizer Synergizes Plant Nutrient Availability and Affects Growth, Yield, and Quality of Wheat Genotypes
by Aneela Bashir, Qudrat Ullah Khan, Ahmad Alem, Awatif A. Hendi, Umber Zaman, Shahid Ullah Khan, Khalil ur Rehman, Asghar Ali Khan, Ihsan Ullah, Yasir Anwar and Ehab A. Abdelrahman
Plants 2023, 12(12), 2241; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122241 - 7 Jun 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2563
Abstract
The growth and productivity of wheat crops depend on the availability of essential nutrients such as zinc (Zn) and potassium (K2O), which play critical roles in the plant’s physiological and biochemical processes. This study aimed to investigate the synergizing effect of [...] Read more.
The growth and productivity of wheat crops depend on the availability of essential nutrients such as zinc (Zn) and potassium (K2O), which play critical roles in the plant’s physiological and biochemical processes. This study aimed to investigate the synergizing effect of zinc and potassium fertilizers on uptake of both the nutrients, growth, yield, and quality of the Hashim-08 cultivar and local landrace, during the 2019–2020 growing season in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. The experiment was designed using a split plot pattern in a randomized complete pattern, with main plots for the wheat cultivars and subplots for the fertilizer treatments. Results indicated that both cultivars responded positively to the fertilizer treatments, with the local landrace exhibiting maximum plant height and biological yield, and improved Hashim-08, showing increased agronomic parameters, including the number of tillers and grains and spike length. Application of Zn and K2O fertilizers significantly enhanced agronomic parameters, such as the number of grains per plant, spike length, thousand-grain weight, grain yield, harvest index, Zn uptake of grain, dry gluten content, and grain moisture content, while crude protein and grain potassium remained relatively unchanged. The soil’s Zn and K content dynamics were found to vary among treatments. In conclusion, the combined application of Zn and K2O fertilizers proved beneficial in improving the growth, yield, and quality of wheat crops, with the local landrace exhibiting lower grain yield but greater Zn uptake through fertilizer application. The study’s findings highlight that the local landrace showed good response to the growth and qualitative parameter when compared with the Hashim-08 cultivar. Additionally, the combined application of Zn and K showed a positive relation in terms of nutrient uptake and soil Zn and K content. Full article
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20 pages, 4604 KiB  
Article
Improved Spectral Detection of Nitrogen Deficiency and Yellow Mosaic Disease Stresses in Wheat Using a Soil Effect Removal Algorithm and Machine Learning
by Ziheng Feng, Haiyan Zhang, Jianzhao Duan, Li He, Xinru Yuan, Yuezhi Gao, Wandai Liu, Xiao Li and Wei Feng
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(10), 2513; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15102513 - 10 May 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2422
Abstract
Wheat yellow mosaic disease is a low-temperature and soil-borne disease. Crop infection by the yellow mosaic virus can lead to severe yield and economic losses. It is easily confused with nitrogen deficiency based on the plant’s morphological characteristics. Timely disease detection and crop [...] Read more.
Wheat yellow mosaic disease is a low-temperature and soil-borne disease. Crop infection by the yellow mosaic virus can lead to severe yield and economic losses. It is easily confused with nitrogen deficiency based on the plant’s morphological characteristics. Timely disease detection and crop management in the field require the precise identification of crop stress types. However, the detection of crop stress is often underappreciated. Wheat nitrogen deficiency and yellow mosaic disease were investigated in the field and wheat physiological and biochemical experiments were conducted to collect agronomic indicators, four years of reflectance spectral data at green-up and jointing were collected, and then studies for the detection of nitrogen deficiency and yellow mosaic disease stresses were carried out. The continuous removal (CR), first-order derivative (FD), standard normal variate (SNV), and spectral separation of soil and vegetation (3SV) preprocessing methods and 96 spectral indices were evaluated. The threshold method and variance inflation factor (TVIF) were used as feature selection methods combined with machine learning to develop a crop stress detection method. The results show that the most sensitive wavelengths are found in the 725–1000 nm region, while the sensitivity of the spectrum in the 400–725 nm region is lower. The PRI670,570, B, and RARSa spectral indices can detect nitrogen deficiency and yellow leaf disease stress, and the OA and Kappa values are 93.87% and 0.873, respectively, for PRI670,570, which is the best index. A 3SV-TVIF-SVM stress detection method was then proposed, using OA and Kappa values of 96.97% and 0.931, respectively, for field data validation. The results of the study can provide technical support and a theoretical basis for the accurate control of yellow mosaic disease and nitrogen fertilizer management in the field. Full article
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12 pages, 3497 KiB  
Article
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Counteracted the Adverse Effects of Salt on Sorghum by Improving ROS Scavenging and Osmotic Regulation
by Xiaoqian Guo, Qidi Wu, Zhe Zhang, Guanglong Zhu and Guisheng Zhou
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1020; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041020 - 30 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1463
Abstract
Fertilizer management is one of the easiest and most practical ways of combating salt stress. This study was done to evaluate the alleviative effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on the growth and salt tolerance of salt-affected sorghum. A controlled study organized in a [...] Read more.
Fertilizer management is one of the easiest and most practical ways of combating salt stress. This study was done to evaluate the alleviative effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on the growth and salt tolerance of salt-affected sorghum. A controlled study organized in a randomized block design with three replications was conducted, testing three nitrogen rates (N0: 0 kg ha−1, N1: 180 kg ha−1, N2: 360 N kg ha−1) and phosphorus rates (P0: 0 P2O5 kg ha−1, P1: 60 P2O5 kg ha−1, P2: 120 P2O5 kg ha−1). Nitrogen and phosphorus application had positive effects on morphological indexes (plant height, stem diameter), some physiological and biochemical attributes (the content of proline and soluble protein, and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase), and aerial biomass (fresh and dry weight) of sorghum grown in saline soils. Reactive oxygen species accumulation and cell membrane damage were decreased with the application of nitrogen and phosphorus. Compared with sole fertilizer, the combined application of nitrogen and phosphorus showed better performance in alleviating salt damage on sorghum. Despite the fact that the maximum of most of the measured parameters and the minimum of reactive oxygen species accumulation and cell membrane damage were generally obtained at N1P1 and N2P2 treatment, N1P1 was recommended to be the suitable treatment considering economic benefits and environmental protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant-Crop Biology and Biochemistry)
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24 pages, 6360 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Permethrin and Cypermethrin on Plants, Soil Enzyme Activity, and Microbial Communities
by Agata Borowik, Jadwiga Wyszkowska, Magdalena Zaborowska and Jan Kucharski
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2892; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032892 - 2 Feb 2023
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 8476
Abstract
Pyrethroids are insecticides most commonly used for insect control to boost agricultural production. The aim of the present research was to determine the effect of permethrin and cypermethrin on cultured and non-cultivated bacteria and fungi and on the activity of soil enzymes, as [...] Read more.
Pyrethroids are insecticides most commonly used for insect control to boost agricultural production. The aim of the present research was to determine the effect of permethrin and cypermethrin on cultured and non-cultivated bacteria and fungi and on the activity of soil enzymes, as well as to determine the usefulness of Zea mays in mitigating the adverse effects of the tested pyrethroids on the soil microbiome. The analyses were carried out in the samples of both soil not sown with any plant and soil sown with Zea mays. Permethrin and cypermethrin were found to stimulate the multiplication of cultured organotrophic bacteria (on average by 38.3%) and actinomycetes (on average by 80.2%), and to inhibit fungi growth (on average by 31.7%) and the enzymatic activity of the soil, reducing the soil biochemical fertility index (BA) by 27.7%. They also modified the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of the Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria phyla and the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota phyla. The pressure of permethrin and cypermethrin was tolerated well by the bacteria Sphingomonas (clone 3214512, 1052559, 237613, 1048605) and Bacillus (clone New.ReferenceOTU111, 593219, 578257), and by the fungi Penicillium (SH1533734.08FU, SH1692798.08FU) and Trichocladium (SH1615601.08FU). Both insecticides disturbed the growth and yielding of Zea mays, as a result of which its yield and leaf greenness index decreased. The cultivation of Zea mays had a positive effect on both soil enzymes and soil microorganisms and mitigated the anomalies caused by the tested insecticides in the microbiome and activity of soil enzymes. Permethrin decreased the yield of its aerial parts by 37.9% and its roots by 33.9%, whereas respective decreases caused by cypermethrin reached 16.8% and 4.3%. Full article
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14 pages, 668 KiB  
Article
Enzymatic Activity of Soil after Applying Mineral Fertilizers and Waste Lignite to Maize Grown for Silage
by Barbara Symanowicz, Rafał Toczko and Martyna Toczko
Agriculture 2022, 12(12), 2146; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12122146 - 13 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2348
Abstract
This paper examines the effect of mineral fertilizers and waste lignite, the latter applied to the preceding crop, on the enzymatic activity of soil. The research was conducted between 2014 and 2016 at the Agricultural Experimental Station of the Siedlce University of Natural [...] Read more.
This paper examines the effect of mineral fertilizers and waste lignite, the latter applied to the preceding crop, on the enzymatic activity of soil. The research was conducted between 2014 and 2016 at the Agricultural Experimental Station of the Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Zawady (Poland). The following treatment combinations were involved: 1—control; 2—NPKMgS; 3—NPKMgS + 20 N; 4—NPKMgS + 40 N; 5—NPKMgS + 60 N. Three varieties of maize grown for silage constituted the second research factor. Mineral fertilizers were applied at the following doses (pre-sowing): N-100, P-35, K-125, Mg-12 and S-14 kg ha−1. Nitrogen was additionally applied as top dressing with 3, 4, and 5 treatment combinations at 20, 40, and 60 kg ha−1. Waste lignite was applied to the preceding crop on two plots (3 and 4), in 1 and 5 t ha−1 doses. In the subsequent years, the significantly highest content of soil organic carbon was recorded on the NPKMgS + 60 N plot (1.12%; 0.98% and 1.16%). With 49.25 and 51.95 mg NH4-N h–1 kg–1 DM, urease activity in the soil treated with NPKMgS + 20 N and NPKMgS + 40 N was 56.95% and 65.55% higher than in the control plot soil. Throughout the experimental years, acid phosphatase activity did not vary much and amounted to 3.51–3.53 mmol PNP h–1 kg–1 DM. Mineral fertilizers significantly increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase and dehydrogenases in relation to the control. To ensure the high enzymatic activity of the soil and a high biochemical index of soil fertility, pre-sowing fertilizers at the level of 100 kg N, 35 kg P, 125 kg K, 12 kg Mg, and 14 kg S per hectare and top dressing of 20 kg N or 40 kg N per hectare are recommended. At the same time, it is advisable to use 1 t ha–1 or 5 t ha–1 of waste lignite of low energy value on the preceding crop. Full article
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31 pages, 3710 KiB  
Article
A Cost-Effective Novel Biochemical Fertilizer for Better Managing Nutrient Levels and Vegetative Growth in the Immature Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)
by Shih Hao Tony Peng, Kheng Hoy Chee, Halimi Mohd Saud, Mohd Rafii Yusop and Geok Hun Tan
Horticulturae 2022, 8(9), 758; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8090758 - 23 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2343
Abstract
The oil palm (OP) Elaeis guineensis is a robust feeder of nutrients and necessitates the adjustment and adequate allocation of nutrients for optimum growth and yields. Therefore, information on leaf nutrient concentrations during the immature stage is essential for maximal OP yield at [...] Read more.
The oil palm (OP) Elaeis guineensis is a robust feeder of nutrients and necessitates the adjustment and adequate allocation of nutrients for optimum growth and yields. Therefore, information on leaf nutrient concentrations during the immature stage is essential for maximal OP yield at the mature stage. Currently, in Malaysia, fertilizer by the standard practice application (Treatment 1; T1) is considered a cost-effective fertilization practice in terms of fertilization cost and the overall cost per palm oil tree per hectare. However, there is an idea to further reduce the costs of fertilizers and labour per hectare to make it more cost-effective. Therefore, the present study aims to develop a novel biochemical fertilizer by testing the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) biochemical fertilizer (Treatment 2; T2) in the immature OP. Since the use of T1 has been well established in Malaysia, the present study is to compare the leaflets’ nutrient levels (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and boron (B)) and vegetative parameters (frond length (FL), frond number of leaves (FNL), frond width (FW), frond thickness (FT), chlorophyll index (CI), and the canopy of immature OP by using T2 to compare with those in T1. This study was conducted 6 to 48 months after planting (MAP) at the Telang OP plantation, Kuala Lipis (Pahang), from January 2015 to December 2018. Based on the chemical levels of the pre-treatment soil samples collected at the weeded circle area in January 2015 in the two depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm), there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in all 11 chemical parameters (pH, total N, organic carbon (Org C), total P, available P (Av P), cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable K, (Ex K), exchangeable Ca (Ex Ca), exchangeable Mg (Ex Mg), exchangeable aluminium (Ex Al) and B between T1 and T2. This indicated that the chemical levels in the OP soils in both T1 and T2 would not be significant factors when T1 and T2 were applied. All six leaflets’ nutrient levels showed at least ‘Optimum’ or ‘Excessive’ compared to the established guideline using T1 and T2. Overall, there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in all the above six leaflets’ nutrient levels and six vegetative parameters between T1 and T2 based on the t-Test, multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, and correlation analysis. These results suggested that rates of T1 and T2 applied in this study are enough to provide the amount of nutrients needed to support the OP vegetative growth during the immature period. The estimated cost savings for the combination of T2 fertilizers per hectare (RM 1113.43 or 250 USD) and reduction of the number of rounds (RM 133.85; or 30 USD) of T2 fertilizer application would give a sum of total cost savings of at least RM 1247.25 (280 USD) per hectare. If only based on the T2 fertilizer per hectare, the economic benefit of the total cost saving is estimated to be at least 10.6%. In summary, this study recommends the utilization of T2 as a novel, cost-effective, and alternative biochemical fertilizer treatment for better management of immature OP plantations in Malaysia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Innovation and Solution for Sustainable Agriculture)
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16 pages, 864 KiB  
Article
Residual Effects of Different Cropping Systems on Physicochemical Properties and the Activity of Phosphatases of Soil
by Sylwia Wesołowska, Barbara Futa, Magdalena Myszura and Agata Kobyłka
Agriculture 2022, 12(5), 693; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12050693 - 13 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2599
Abstract
Soil plays a key role in sustainable land management and food production. The objective of the field experiment was to evaluate the subsequent effect of 10-year winter wheat and sugar beet cultivation under conventional and organic systems on selected physicochemical and biochemical properties [...] Read more.
Soil plays a key role in sustainable land management and food production. The objective of the field experiment was to evaluate the subsequent effect of 10-year winter wheat and sugar beet cultivation under conventional and organic systems on selected physicochemical and biochemical properties and enzymatic pH index of lessive soil developed from loess under climatic conditions of Southeastern Poland. The experiment was set up by using the split-plot design, with three replications, on plots of 30 m2. In order to evaluate the soil value of sites cultivated in 2010–2019 in two systems—conventional agriculture and organic agriculture—spring wheat was sown as a test crop in 2020. Fertilization and pesticide applications (herbicides, fungicides and insecticides) were foregone in the cultivation of this crop due to the desire to capture the subsequent impact of 2010–2019. This resulted in soil properties shaped solely by the previous 10 years of cultivation. The obtained results indicate that the organic farming system contributed to the improvement of soil pHKCl compared to the conventional system, with statistically significant differences recorded only for winter wheat cultivation. Compared to the conventional system, in the organic farming system, improvements were recorded in the chemical indicators of loess soil quality (TOC, TN and TOC/TN) and P content, as well as acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activities. However, statistically significant differences were found only for winter wheat cultivation. Research on the impact of an organic system of growing different species in rotation should be continued, and the results should be implemented. Full article
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23 pages, 2488 KiB  
Article
Calorific Value of Festuca rubra Biomass in the Phytostabilization of Soil Contaminated with Nickel, Cobalt and Cadmium Which Disrupt the Microbiological and Biochemical Properties of Soil
by Jadwiga Wyszkowska, Edyta Boros-Lajszner and Jan Kucharski
Energies 2022, 15(9), 3445; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15093445 - 9 May 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2476
Abstract
The choice of optimal plant species for phytoremediation and organic fertilization plays an important role in stabilizing the functions of soils contaminated with heavy metals. The influence of nickel, cobalt and cadmium on the biomass yield and calorific value of Festuca rubra, [...] Read more.
The choice of optimal plant species for phytoremediation and organic fertilization plays an important role in stabilizing the functions of soils contaminated with heavy metals. The influence of nickel, cobalt and cadmium on the biomass yield and calorific value of Festuca rubra, heavy metal concentrations in soil and plants and the microbiological, biochemical and physicochemical proprieties of soil were analyzed in a pot experiment. The tolerance index (TI) describing Festuca rubra’s ability to tolerate heavy metals, as well as the translocation (TF), accumulation (AF) and bioaccumulation (BF) factors of heavy metals in Festuca rubra were calculated. The experiment was conducted in two series: In soil fertilized and not fertilized with compost. Nickel and cobalt significantly inhibited the growth and development of Festuca rubra. The experiment demonstrated that this plant species can be grown on soil contaminated with heavy metals. Festuca rubra contained on average 46.05% C, 34.59% O, 5.91% H, 3.49% N, 0.19% S and 9.76% ash. Festuca rubra has a stable calorific value which is not affected by heavy metals; therefore, biomass harvested from heavy metal-polluted soil can be used for energy generation. The calorific value of Festuca rubra ranged from 15.924 to 16.790 MJ kg−1 plant d.m., and the heat of combustion from 17.696 to 18.576 MJ kg1. It has a stable calorific value which is not affected by heavy metals, therefore biomass harvested from heavy metal-polluted soil can be used for energy generation. Festuca rubra is particularly useful for the phytostabilization of soil contaminated with cadmium and cobalt. Compost minimizes the adverse effects of heavy metal pollution on the microbiological, biochemical and physicochemical properties of soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Energy for Environmental Sustainability)
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