Agronomy

18 pages, 10896 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Nitrogen and Water Addition on Ecosystem Carbon Fluxes in a Grazing Desert Steppe

by Chao Wen, Jianhui Huang, Yumei Shan, Ding Yang, Lan Mu, Pujin Zhang, Xinchao Liu, Hong Chang and Ruhan Ye

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2016; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082016 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 635

Abstract

Desert steppe ecosystems, characterized by water limitation and high sensitivity to global climate change and anthropogenic disturbance drivers, experience profound alterations in carbon (C) cycling processes driven by the multiplicative interactions among grassland grazing, altered precipitation regimes, and elevated atmospheric nitrogen deposition. However, [...] Read more.

Desert steppe ecosystems, characterized by water limitation and high sensitivity to global climate change and anthropogenic disturbance drivers, experience profound alterations in carbon (C) cycling processes driven by the multiplicative interactions among grassland grazing, altered precipitation regimes, and elevated atmospheric nitrogen deposition. However, how historical grazing legacies modulate ecosystem responses to concurrent changes in nitrogen deposition and precipitation regimes remains poorly resolved. To address this, we conducted a field experiment manipulating water and nitrogen addition across grazing intensities (no grazing, light grazing, moderate grazing, heavy grazing) in a Stipa breviflora desert steppe. Over three consecutive growing seasons (2015–2017), we continuously monitored net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE), ecosystem respiration (ER), and gross ecosystem production (GEP) to quantify ecosystem CO₂ fluxes under these interacting global change drivers. Results revealed that water and nitrogen addition did not alter seasonal CO₂ flux dynamics across grazing intensities. Light grazing enhanced ecosystem C sink capacity, whereas heavy grazing reduced NEE and GEP, diminishing C sink strength. Water addition significantly increased CO₂ fluxes, strongly correlated with soil moisture. Nitrogen addition exerted a weak C source effect in a water-deficient year but enhanced the C sink in a water-rich year. Nitrogen plus water addition significantly boosted C sink potential, though this effect diminished along the grazing pressure gradient. Our findings demonstrate that the impacts of climate change on soil C fluxes in desert steppes are mediated by historical grazing intensity. Future manipulative experiments should explicitly incorporate grazing legacy effects, and integrate this factor into C models to generate reliable predictions of grassland C dynamics under global change scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Grassland and Pasture Science)

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23 pages, 2837 KB

Open AccessArticle

Contrasting Pre- and Post-Pyrolysis Incorporation of Bentonite into Manure Biochar: Impacts on Nutrient Availability, Carbon Stability, and Physicochemical Properties

by Thidarat Rupngam, Patchimaporn Udomkun, Thirasant Boonupara and Puangrat Kaewlom

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2015; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082015 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 413

Abstract

Manure-derived biochar is a promising soil amendment, though its effectiveness is often constrained by limited structural stability and inconsistent nutrient retention. This study evaluated how the pyrolysis method (pre- vs. post-pyrolysis) and rate (5%, 10%, 20%, and 30% w/w) of [...] Read more.

Manure-derived biochar is a promising soil amendment, though its effectiveness is often constrained by limited structural stability and inconsistent nutrient retention. This study evaluated how the pyrolysis method (pre- vs. post-pyrolysis) and rate (5%, 10%, 20%, and 30% w/w) of bentonite incorporation influence the physicochemical properties, nutrient availability, and carbon stability of manure-derived biochar. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses revealed that pre-pyrolysis addition enhanced mineral integration, with silicon and aluminum contents increasing by up to 500% and 600%, respectively, while carbon content decreased by up to 34%. Water holding capacity (WHC) improved by approximately 102% with 5–10% bentonite, and carbon stability more than doubled (≥100% increase) at moderate application rates under pre-pyrolysis treatment. However, nitrate (NO₃⁻) and potassium (K) availability declined by up to 89% and 47%, respectively, in pre-pyrolysis treatments due to strong nutrient immobilization. In contrast, post-pyrolysis bentonite addition increased NO₃⁻ by ~44% and K by ~29%, while phosphorus (P) availability rose by 133% at 30% bentonite. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed a clear distinction between pre- and post-pyrolysis bentonite-treated biochar. Pre-pyrolysis treatments were linked to higher pH, WHC, and carbon stability, while post-pyrolysis treatments were associated with greater nutrient availability (e.g., NO₃⁻, and K levels) and higher EC. These findings underscore the importance of the pyrolysis method, showing that pre-pyrolysis bentonite incorporation strengthens biochar’s structural integrity and long-term carbon sequestration potential, whereas post-pyrolysis addition enhances immediate nutrient availability. This duality enables the development of targeted biochar formulations tailored to specific agronomic needs—whether for sustained soil improvement or rapid fertility enhancement in climate-smart and sustainable land management systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering)

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22 pages, 7877 KB

Open AccessArticle

Large-Scale Individual Plastic Greenhouse Extraction Using Deep Learning and High-Resolution Remote Sensing Imagery

by Yuguang Chang, Xiaoyu Yu, Baipeng Li, Xiangyu Tian and Zhaoming Wu

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2014; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082014 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 476

Abstract

Addressing the demands of agricultural resource digitization and facility crop monitoring, precise extraction of plastic greenhouses using high-resolution remote sensing imagery demonstrates pivotal significance for implementing refined farmland management. However, the complex spatial topological relationships among densely arranged greenhouses and the spectral confusion [...] Read more.

Addressing the demands of agricultural resource digitization and facility crop monitoring, precise extraction of plastic greenhouses using high-resolution remote sensing imagery demonstrates pivotal significance for implementing refined farmland management. However, the complex spatial topological relationships among densely arranged greenhouses and the spectral confusion of ground objects within agricultural backgrounds limit the effectiveness of conventional methods in the large-scale, precise extraction of plastic greenhouses. This study constructs an Individual Plastic Greenhouse Extraction Network (IPGENet) by integrating a multi-scale feature fusion decoder with the Swin-UNet architecture to improve the accuracy of large-scale individual plastic greenhouse extraction. To ensure sample accuracy while reducing manual labor costs, an iterative sampling approach is proposed to rapidly expand a small sample set into a large-scale dataset. Using GF-2 satellite imagery data in Shandong Province, China, the model realized large-scale mapping of individual plastic greenhouse extraction results. In addition to large-scale sub-meter extraction and mapping, the study conducted quantitative and spatial statistical analyses of extraction results across cities in Shandong Province, revealing regional disparities in plastic greenhouse development and providing a novel technical approach for large-scale plastic greenhouse mapping. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection AI, Sensors and Robotics for Smart Agriculture)

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20 pages, 3222 KB

Open AccessArticle

Polypropylene Microplastics and Cadmium: Unveiling the Key Impacts of Co-Pollution on Wheat–Soil Systems from Multiple Perspectives

by Zhiqin Zhang, Haoran He, Nan Chang and Chengjiao Duan

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2013; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082013 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 504

Abstract

The interaction between microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals and their ecological risks to the soil–plant system has attracted widespread attention. This study explored the effects of polypropylene (PP) alone or combined with cadmium (Cd) pollution on wheat seed germination, plant growth, and the [...] Read more.

The interaction between microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals and their ecological risks to the soil–plant system has attracted widespread attention. This study explored the effects of polypropylene (PP) alone or combined with cadmium (Cd) pollution on wheat seed germination, plant growth, and the soil environment from multiple perspectives through seed germination experiments and pot experiments. The results of the seed germination experiment showed that the addition of 50 mg L⁻¹ PP could promote the growth of seeds. However, medium and high concentrations of PP had significant inhibitory effects on seeds. For PP + Cd co-pollution, the addition of 50 mg L⁻¹ PP could partially alleviate the stress of Cd alone. However, with the increase in PP concentration, the co-pollution showed stronger toxicity to seeds. Moreover, the synergistic effect of PP and Cd was greater than the antagonistic effect; both of them aggravated the stress on wheat. The results of the pot experiment showed that the soil microenvironment was significantly affected by PP alone or combined with Cd pollution. It was manifested as reducing soil moisture and pH, affecting soil nutrient cycling, and inhibiting the activities of soil enzymes (except for catalase). In addition, the MPs and Cd significantly affected the physiological characteristics of plants. Specifically, the addition of 50 mg L⁻¹ PP alone promoted or had no significant effect on wheat growth. However, with the increase in PP concentration, the biomass and chlorophyll content of plants decreased significantly, while carotenoids, oxidative damage, and antioxidant enzyme activities increased significantly. Moreover, PP + Cd co-pollution led to stronger phytotoxicity. Moreover, PP exposure caused an increase in plant shoot and root Cd concentrations, promoting Cd transport from roots to shoots. Correlation heat maps and RDA analysis revealed that plant Cd concentration was significantly correlated with soil environmental factors and plant physiological indicators. Finally, the results of the linear model (%) of relative importance indicated that pH and MDA content were important soil and plant variables affecting the increase in Cd concentration in plant tissues. This study is of great significance for evaluating the ecological risks of MPs-Cd composite pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Agroecology Innovation: Achieving System Resilience)

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20 pages, 1683 KB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Spent Mushroom Substrates in Radish (Raphanus ssp.) Microgreens Cultivation

by Barbara Frąszczak, Mirosław Mleczek and Marek Siwulski

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2012; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082012 - 21 Aug 2025

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Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of incorporating spent mushroom substrates (SMS) derived from Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Lentinula edodes into peat-based growing media on the morphological traits, photosynthetic parameters, and mineral composition of radish and black radish microgreens. Six substrate [...] Read more.

This study evaluated the effects of incorporating spent mushroom substrates (SMS) derived from Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Lentinula edodes into peat-based growing media on the morphological traits, photosynthetic parameters, and mineral composition of radish and black radish microgreens. Six substrate mixtures were tested, with 2.5–30% SMS and two composting durations (97 and 153 days). The results showed that a low proportion of A. bisporus SMS (2.5–5%) significantly enhanced biomass production, plant length, and leaf area, particularly in radish. In contrast, higher proportions (20–30%) of P. ostreatus and L. edodes SMS, especially when short-time composted, inhibited plant growth and photosynthetic performance (Fv/Fm, PIabs), likely due to phytotoxic compounds, high salt content, or nutrient imbalances. Mineral analysis revealed substantial increases in K, Fe, and Zn accumulation in microgreens grown on selected SMS media, particularly Agaricus 5% and Lentinula 30, while also highlighting the risk of excessive Na or heavy metal content in some treatments. Differences between the species were observed: black radish produced higher dry mass and accumulated more minerals, suggesting greater adaptability to suboptimal substrates. These findings support the potential use of well-composted SMS as a sustainable growing media component for microgreens, provided proper substrate selection, composting, and dosage control are applied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering)

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17 pages, 4109 KB

Open AccessArticle

Phosphorus and Microbial Degradation Mediate Vegetation-Induced Macroaggregate Dynamics on the Loess Plateau, China

by Ningning Zhang, Pandeng Cao, Zhi Wang and Jiakun Yan

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2011; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082011 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 397

Abstract

Vegetation restoration enhances soil erosion resistance by enhancing soil aggregates, but the function of these aggregates and their relationship with soil nutrients and microbes remain unclear. In this study, two land cover types that induce different aggregate ratios were selected to determine the [...] Read more.

Vegetation restoration enhances soil erosion resistance by enhancing soil aggregates, but the function of these aggregates and their relationship with soil nutrients and microbes remain unclear. In this study, two land cover types that induce different aggregate ratios were selected to determine the soil aggregate ratio, aggregate ability, nutrients, and microbes. The results showed that high vegetation cover induced a higher macroaggregate ratio and soil water content; stronger soil shear strength; higher mean weight and geometric mean diameters; and lower soil bulk density. Macroaggregates had a lower soil organic matter (SOM) content compared with small macroaggregates. The aggregates and SOM influenced soil microbial diversity, especially microbial species and functions, and the large and small macroaggregate soils contained more microbes involved in SOM degradation, which accelerated the degradation and induced macroaggregate fragmentation. Total phosphorus (TP) had a direct impact on macroaggregates, and TP and macroaggregates showed the same correlation with the main microbial abundance. Taken together, we conclude that in the environment studied, SOM influenced soil microbes and the microbial function in SOM degradation affecting soil aggregates. TP contributed more to soil aggregate variations, especially in large macroaggregate formation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Agroecology Innovation: Achieving System Resilience)

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17 pages, 1598 KB

Open AccessArticle

Continuous Cropping Duration Alters Green Pepper Root Exudate Composition and Triggers Rhizosphere Feedback Inhibition

by Zhou Li, Dongmei Lian, Shaoping Zhang, Yunfa Yao, Bizhen Lin, Jianji Hong, Songhai Wu and Honghong Li

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2010; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082010 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 414

Abstract

Continuous cropping poses a significant threat to sustainable pepper production by triggering soil degradation and growth inhibition, yet the role of root exudates in this process remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate how continuous cropping duration (0, 1, 2, and 6 years) [...] Read more.

Continuous cropping poses a significant threat to sustainable pepper production by triggering soil degradation and growth inhibition, yet the role of root exudates in this process remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate how continuous cropping duration (0, 1, 2, and 6 years) alters root exudate composition and drives rhizosphere feedback in green pepper. Pot experiments revealed that long-term continuous cropping (6 years) severely inhibited pepper growth, reducing photosynthetic rate (32.02%), chlorophyll content (12.26%), plant height (23.89%), and yield (42.37%). Critically, the relative abundance of 3,4-dimethylbenzaldehyde in root exudates increased progressively with cropping duration. Exogenous application of this compound or long-term monoculture extracts reduced soil pH and increased electrical conductivity, altered the rhizosphere microbial community (notably decreasing Proteobacteria abundance and fungal diversity while increasing Bacteroidota and Firmicutes), and significantly inhibited root development and vitality. Correlation analysis indicated that fungal communities were more responsive to soil property changes, while bacterial communities correlated more closely with root traits. This study demonstrates that the accumulation of specific root exudates, particularly 3,4-dimethylbenzaldehyde, is a key driver of continuous cropping obstacles in green pepper by disrupting rhizosphere microbial community structure and soil properties. This highlights the importance of managing root exudate dynamics, potentially through crop rotation or soil amendments, to mitigate these obstacles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering)

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14 pages, 3285 KB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Hydraulic Properties Estimated from Evaporation Experiment Monitored by Low-Cost Sensors

by Tallys Henrique Bonfim-Silva, Everton Alves Rodrigues Pinheiro, Tonny José Araújo da Silva, Thiago Franco Duarte, Luana Aparecida Menegaz Meneghetti and Edna Maria Bonfim-Silva

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2009; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082009 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 418

Abstract

The estimation of soil hydraulic properties—such as water retention and hydraulic conductivity—is essential for irrigation management and agro-hydrological modeling. This study presents the development and application of SOILHP, a low-cost, IoT-integrated device designed to monitor laboratory evaporation experiments for the estimation of soil [...] Read more.

The estimation of soil hydraulic properties—such as water retention and hydraulic conductivity—is essential for irrigation management and agro-hydrological modeling. This study presents the development and application of SOILHP, a low-cost, IoT-integrated device designed to monitor laboratory evaporation experiments for the estimation of soil hydraulic properties using inverse modeling tools. SOILHP incorporates mini-tensiometers, a precision balance, microcontrollers, and cloud-based data logging via Google Sheets. SOILHP enables the remote, real-time acquisition of soil pressure head and mass variation data without the need for commercial dataloggers. Evaporation experiments were conducted using undisturbed soil samples, and inverse modeling with Hydrus-1D was used to estimate van Genuchten–Mualem parameters. The optimized parameters showed low standard errors and narrow 95% confidence intervals, demonstrating the robustness of the inverse solution, confirming the device’s sensors accuracy. Forward simulations of internal drainage were performed to estimate the field capacity under different drainage flux criteria. The field capacity results aligned with values reported in the literature for tropical soils. Overall, SOILHP proved to be a reliable and economically accessible alternative for monitoring evaporation experiments aimed at fitting parameters of analytical functions that describe water retention and hydraulic conductivity properties within the soil pressure head range relevant to agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimizing Crop Water Use: Advances and Applications in Deficit Irrigation Strategies)

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22 pages, 9763 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Development of a Transformation System for Four Local Rice Varieties and CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Editing of the OsCCD7 Gene

by Hanjing Dai, Yuxia Sun, Yingrun Wang, Yiyang He, Jia Shi, Yulu Tao, Mengyue Liu, Xiaoxian Huang, Lantian Ren and Jiacheng Zheng

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2008; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082008 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 486

Abstract

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation systems are extensively applied in japonica rice varieties. However, the adaptability of local rice varieties to existing transformation systems remains limited, owing to their complex genotypes, posing a substantial challenge to transformation. In this study, four local rice varieties were [...] Read more.

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation systems are extensively applied in japonica rice varieties. However, the adaptability of local rice varieties to existing transformation systems remains limited, owing to their complex genotypes, posing a substantial challenge to transformation. In this study, four local rice varieties were selected to optimize the effects of different culture media on callus induction, browning resistance, contamination resistance, callus tolerance, differentiation, regeneration, and root development, and then two varieties were selected to improve plant architecture and tiller development by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, based on constructive transformation systems. The goal was to enhance the transformation efficiency of local varieties and innovate germplasms. The results demonstrated that japonica rice varieties XG293 and WD68 exhibited higher induction rates under the treatment of 2 mg/L 2,4-D (2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) + 1 mg/L NAA (Naphthaleneacetic acid), whereas indica rice varieties H128 and E33 performed the best under 3 mg/L 2,4-D + 1 mg/L NAA. Severe browning in H128 was effectively mitigated by a carbon source of 20 g/L maltose supplemented with 40 mg/L ascorbic acid. Contamination after Agrobacterium infection was controlled by 300 mg/L Tmt (Timentin). Under a treatment of 200 µM/L acetosyringone +10 min infection duration, XG293 and WD68 exhibited higher callus tolerance, differentiation rates, and GUS staining rates, achieving transformation efficiencies of 43.24% and 52.38%, respectively. In contrast, H128 and E33 performed better under the treatment of 200 µM/L Acetosyringone + 5 min, with transformation efficiencies of 40.00% and 40.74%, respectively. The mutants after OsCCD7 gene editing in WD68 and H128 displayed a dwarfness of plant height, a significant increase in tiller numbers, and compact architecture. These findings demonstrate that an optimized combination of plant growth regulators and infection durations effectively improves transformation efficiency for local varieties, and the OsCCD7 gene regulates plant architecture and tiller development with variable effects, depending on the rice complex genotypes. This study provides a theoretical basis for the efficient transformation of local rice varieties and germplasm innovation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crop Breeding and Genetics)

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19 pages, 1862 KB

Open AccessArticle

Yield and Plant Gas Exchange in Perennial Biomass Crops (BPGs) Under Different Water Regimes

by Elena Crapio, Sebastiano Andrea Corinzia, Alessandra Piccitto, Salvatore Luciano Cosentino and Giorgio Testa

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2007; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082007 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 398

Abstract

The increasing demand for renewable energy, coupled with the urgent challenges posed by climate change, has positioned perennial biomass crops (BPGs) as essential and sustainable alternatives for bioenergy production. This study investigated the impact of irrigation regimes on the physiological performance of three [...] Read more.

The increasing demand for renewable energy, coupled with the urgent challenges posed by climate change, has positioned perennial biomass crops (BPGs) as essential and sustainable alternatives for bioenergy production. This study investigated the impact of irrigation regimes on the physiological performance of three BPG species—Arundo donax L., Saccharum spontaneum, and Miscanthus—with a focus on leaf gas exchange (net assimilation rate and transpiration rate) and instantaneous water use efficiency (iWUE) at varying levels of irrigation input, adopting a split-plot experimental design under the Mediterranean climatic conditions of Sicily (Italy). The results clearly showed that A. donax, a C3 species, outperformed the C4 species S. spontaneum and Miscanthus, exhibiting significantly higher stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis, especially under irrigated conditions. S. spontaneum demonstrated the highest iWUE, particularly in rainfed treatments, reflecting its efficient use of water. Miscanthus showed the greatest sensitivity to water stress, with a more pronounced decline in photosynthesis during drought periods. This study accentuated the role of effective water management and genotype selection in optimizing biomass yield and resource efficiency, providing valuable insights for improving crop productivity in Mediterranean and other semi-arid regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Response Mechanism of Plants to Water in Efficient Water-Saving Irrigation Technologies)

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14 pages, 2075 KB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Marker-Assisted Breeding of High-Quality and Salt-Tolerant Hybrid Japonica Rice Combination Shenyanyou 1

by Fuan Niu, Anpeng Zhang, Can Cheng, Huangwei Chu, Jun Fang, Jihua Zhou, Bin Sun, Yuting Dai, Jianming Zhang, Zhizun Feng and Liming Cao

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2006; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082006 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 924

Abstract

The development of a new salt–alkaline-tolerant hybrid japonica rice is crucial for enhancing japonica rice supply and ensuring national food security. Utilizing molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) technology combining Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) markers and a gene breeding chip, the salt-tolerant gene SKC1 was [...] Read more.

The development of a new salt–alkaline-tolerant hybrid japonica rice is crucial for enhancing japonica rice supply and ensuring national food security. Utilizing molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) technology combining Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) markers and a gene breeding chip, the salt-tolerant gene SKC1 was introgressed into a rice genotype Fan 14. This led to the development of Shenyanhui 1, a new high-quality, strongly heterotic, and salt-tolerant japonica restorer line. Subsequently, the high-quality, salt-tolerant japonica three-line hybrid rice variety Shenyanyou 1 was developed by crossing the BT-type japonica cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line Shen 21A with the restorer line Shenyanhui 1. Shenyanyou 1 carries the major salt tolerance gene SKC1, exhibiting excellent salt tolerance with seedling stage salt tolerance reaching level 5. Under precise salt tolerance evaluation throughout its growth cycle, Shenyanyou 1 achieved a yield of 3640.5 kg/hm², representing an extremely significant increase of 20.7% over the control variety Yandao 21. Shenyanyou 1 exhibits superior grain quality, meeting the Grade 3 high-quality rice standards issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. Shenyanyou 1 has good comprehensive resistance, aggregating rice blast resistance genes such as Pi2, Pita, Pizt and LHCB5, bacterial blight resistance genes Xa26/Xa3, stripe blast resistance gene STV11, semi-dwarf gene Sdt97, nitrogen-efficient utilization gene NRT1.1B, the light repair activity enhancement gene qUVR-10, the cold resistance gene qLTG3-1, and the iron tolerance gene OsFRO1. It has good resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. This paper details the breeding process, key agronomic traits, salt tolerance, yield performance, and grain quality characteristics of Shenyanyou 1. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crop Breeding and Genetics)

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19 pages, 3042 KB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of GmABI3VP1 Associated with Resistance to Soybean Cyst Nematode in Glycine max

by Shuo Qu, Miaoli Zhang, Gengchen Song, Shihao Hu, Weili Teng, Yongguang Li, Xue Zhao, Rongxia Guan and Haiyan Li

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2005; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082005 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 466

Abstract

The ABI3 transcription factor is a key regulator in plant growth and development. Through transcriptome analysis of the resistant soybean cultivar ‘Dongnong L10′ and the susceptible cultivar ‘Heinong 37′ exposed to soybean cyst nematode race 3 (SCN 3) stress, the differentially expressed gene [...] Read more.

The ABI3 transcription factor is a key regulator in plant growth and development. Through transcriptome analysis of the resistant soybean cultivar ‘Dongnong L10′ and the susceptible cultivar ‘Heinong 37′ exposed to soybean cyst nematode race 3 (SCN 3) stress, the differentially expressed gene GmABI3VP1 was identified. The GmABI3VP1 gene was then cloned and analyzed through bioinformatics, subcellular localization, and qRT-PCR analysis of resistant and susceptible soybean germplasms, as well as overexpression and gene editing of soybean hairy roots followed by SCN 3 identification analysis. It was found that the protein encoded by GmABI3VP1 is an acidic and hydrophilic protein with transmembrane domains. It has a collinear relationship with Arabidopsis and is widely distributed in plants. Through the analysis of promoter elements, it was shown that this gene contains multiple hormone-responsive promoter elements like ABRE/ABRE3a/ABRE/4a/as-1 and stress-responsive elements such as Myb/MYC/MYc. Transient expression in tobacco indicated that the GmABI3VP1 gene is located in the nucleus. The transcription of GmABI3VP1 responds to the stress of SCN, and its transcriptional level is relatively high in the roots of resistant materials. Genetic transformation mediated by Agrobacterium rhizogenes was used to obtain GmABI3VP1 gene overexpressed and CRISPR-Cas9 gene-edited soybean hairy roots. In comparison to the wild type (WT), the density of nematodes per area was notably lower in hairy roots overexpressing (OX) the gene, whereas the density of SCN per unit area (per cm of lateral root length) significantly increased in gene-edited (KO) soybean hairy roots. Through SCN phenotyping, GmABI3VP1 was identified as a contributor to SCN 3 resistance. This study provides initial insights into the role of the GmABI3VP1 gene in SCN resistance, establishing a robust basis for future research on the mechanisms underlying SCN disease resistance and offering valuable genetic reservoirs for SCN 3 resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evaluation of Germplasm Resources, Molecular Breeding, and Utilization in Soybean)

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21 pages, 1620 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Organic and Mineral Phosphate Fertilization of the Plant Cane and First Ratoon on Agronomic Performance and Industrial Quality of the Second Ratoon in the Brazilian Cerrado Region

by Evaldo Alves dos Santos, Frederico Antonio Loureiro Soares, Marconi Batista Teixeira, Edson Cabral da Silva, Antônio Evami Cavalcante Sousa and Luís Sérgio Rodrigues Vale

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2004; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082004 - 21 Aug 2025

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Abstract

Sugarcane requires high doses of phosphorus to achieve high productivity. However, not all the phosphorus applied to crops is utilized. Therefore, it is believed that some remaining phosphorus can meet the nutrient demand of the ratoon crop. The objective of this study was [...] Read more.

Sugarcane requires high doses of phosphorus to achieve high productivity. However, not all the phosphorus applied to crops is utilized. Therefore, it is believed that some remaining phosphorus can meet the nutrient demand of the ratoon crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of mineral fertilization with triple superphosphate (TSP) and organic fertilization with poultry litter (PL), applied to plant cane and the first ratoon, on the quality of second ratoon sugarcane. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with a 5 × 5 factorial scheme with four replications. The treatments consisted of five TSP doses (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg ha⁻¹) and five PL doses (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 t ha⁻¹). Fertilization with TSP and PL applied in the two preceding cycles promoted an increase in plant height, stalk diameter, number of tillers, and productivity in the second ratoon. The doses of triple superphosphate and chicken litter applied in cycles preceding the second ratoon were able to increase the agronomic performance of the genotype IACSP95-5094. However, the highest subsequent combined doses of triple superphosphate and chicken litter resulted in a 27% increase in stalk productivity. In general, the preceding doses of chicken litter showed greater potential to enhance the technological attributes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tillage Systems and Fertilizer Application on Soil Health)

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7 pages, 198 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Enhancing Grassland Resilience and Productivity Under Climate Change

by Mohamed Abdalla

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2003; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082003 - 20 Aug 2025

Viewed by 375

Abstract

Grasslands are among the most extensive and productive terrestrial ecosystems [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Grassland Productivity and Sustainability — 2nd Edition)

20 pages, 6933 KB

Open AccessArticle

Physiological and Transcriptomic Mechanisms of Exogenous Salicylic Acid-Induced Resistance to Ear Rot in Maize

by Fangju Jiao, Ning Lan, Weijie Lu and Fang Wang

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2002; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082002 - 20 Aug 2025

Viewed by 466

Abstract

Maize ear rot is an important fungal disease in maize production, mainly caused by pathogens such as Fusarium graminearum, which seriously affects the yield and quality of maize. This study investigated the changes in the activity of defense-related enzymes in maize grains [...] Read more.

Maize ear rot is an important fungal disease in maize production, mainly caused by pathogens such as Fusarium graminearum, which seriously affects the yield and quality of maize. This study investigated the changes in the activity of defense-related enzymes in maize grains and their transcriptome response characteristics after exogenous SA treatment under Fusarium graminearum stress. The results showed that treatment with 0.01 mmol/L salicylic acid (SA) significantly inhibited the growth of Fusarium graminearum hyphae, while enhancing the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), β-1,3-glucanase (β-1,3-GA), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in maize grains, and reducing the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), effectively alleviating the damage of Fusarium graminearum to the maize grain membrane system. Transcriptome analysis identified multiple key genes involved in SA-mediated disease resistance pathways, including disease-related proteins (PR10), acidic terpenoids, aspartic proteases, proteins containing BTB/POZ and MATH domains (BPM4), and PPT3 transporters. This study reveals the physiological and molecular mechanisms by which exogenous SA enhances maize resistance to ear rot, providing an important theoretical basis for further understanding the regulatory network of SA in plant disease resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pest and Disease Management)

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27 pages, 6327 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Organic and Conventional Agricultural Management on Subsurface Soil Microbiota in Mediterranean Vineyards

by Marc Viñas, Joan Marull, Miriam Guivernau, Enric Tello, Yolanda Lucas, Mar Carreras-Sempere, Xavier Giol-Casanova, Immaculada Funes, Elisenda Sánchez-Costa, Robert Savé and Felicidad de Herralde

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2001; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082001 - 20 Aug 2025

Viewed by 666

Abstract

The impact of long-term organic (ECO) versus conventional (CON) agricultural management on subsurface soil microbiota diversity and soil physicochemical properties remains unclear in Mediterranean vineyards. This study evaluated long-term ECO and CON effects in the Alt Penedès terroir (Spain), focusing on subsurface soil [...] Read more.

The impact of long-term organic (ECO) versus conventional (CON) agricultural management on subsurface soil microbiota diversity and soil physicochemical properties remains unclear in Mediterranean vineyards. This study evaluated long-term ECO and CON effects in the Alt Penedès terroir (Spain), focusing on subsurface soil microbial diversity and soil characteristics. ECO increased the fungal-to-bacterial ratio and ammonium-oxidizing bacteria but reduced total subsurface soil bacterial populations and soil organic carbon. While ECO did not enhance annual yield production in the vineyard, fungal abundance, and ammonium-oxidizing archaea, it slightly increased the overall alpha diversity (Shannon and Inverse Simpson indexes) and significantly altered taxa composition in subsurface soil with a more robust and modular community. Crop management, soil texture, training system, and rootstock, but not vine variety, significantly influenced beta diversity in subsurface soil. The Mantel test revealed subsurface soil texture, Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ ratio, and salinity as the main key soil drivers shifting the microbial community (beta diversity), while C/N and topsoil organic matter significantly correlated with bacterial abundance; NH₄⁺ correlated with fungal abundance; and N-Kjeldahl, pH, and Mg²⁺/K⁺ correlated with alpha diversity. Integrating soil microbiota and physicochemical monitoring allowed us to confirm the positive effect of long-term agroecological practices on subsurface soil health and to identify the critical factors shaping their microbial communities in Mediterranean vineyards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Production and Microorganism Potential in Modern Agro-Ecosystems—2nd Edition)

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22 pages, 1640 KB

Open AccessReview

Advances in Water and Nitrogen Management for Intercropping Systems: Crop Growth and Soil Environment

by Yan Qiu, Zhenye Wang, Debin Sun, Yuanlan Lei, Zhangyong Li and Yi Zheng

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 2000; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15082000 - 20 Aug 2025

Viewed by 583

Abstract

Intercropping is an eco-friendly, sustainable agricultural model that significantly improves yield stability, nutrient use efficiency, and soil health through spatiotemporal niche complementarity, increases biodiversity, and improves soil health. Water and nitrogen play crucial roles in limiting and regulating efficient resource utilization and ecological [...] Read more.

Intercropping is an eco-friendly, sustainable agricultural model that significantly improves yield stability, nutrient use efficiency, and soil health through spatiotemporal niche complementarity, increases biodiversity, and improves soil health. Water and nitrogen play crucial roles in limiting and regulating efficient resource utilization and ecological sustainability in intercropping systems. Synchronizing water and nitrogen inputs to match crop demands optimizes the spatiotemporal distribution of these resources, alleviates interspecific competition, and promotes mutualistic interactions, which significantly impacts crop growth, yield, and soil environment. This paper reviews the mechanisms of intercropping and water–nitrogen coupling regulation, aligning water and nitrogen supply with crop growth patterns, spatial configuration parameters, irrigation management techniques, and environmental climate change, and explores the response mechanisms of water–nitrogen coupling on crop growth, yield, and soil environmental adaptation. It can provide some references for researchers, extension agents, and policymakers. Research indicates that water–nitrogen coupling can enhance photosynthetic efficiency, promote root development, optimize nutrient uptake, and improve soil water dynamics, nitrogen cycling, and microbial community structures. Intercropping enhances the climate resilience of agricultural systems by leveraging species complementarity for resource utilization, strengthening ecosystem stability, and improving buffering capacity against climate change impacts such as extreme precipitation and temperature fluctuations. Future studies should further elucidate the differential effect of water–nitrogen coupling across regions and climatic conditions, focusing on multidimensional integrated administration strategies. Combining precision agriculture technologies and climate change predictions facilitates the development of more adaptive water–nitrogen coupling models to provide theoretical support and technical guarantees for sustainable agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Irrigation and Fertilization Management for Sustainable Agricultural Production)

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18 pages, 3970 KB

Open AccessArticle

Cassava–Maize Rotation Improves Soil Quality and Microbial Gene Profiles Compared to Continuous Cassava Cropping

by Yanmei Zhu, Yundong Wei and Xingming Qin

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1999; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081999 - 20 Aug 2025

Viewed by 548

Abstract

Due to limited land resources and traditional farming practices, continuous cassava cropping is common in China. This practice leads to soil degradation, including reduced fertility, imbalanced microbial communities, and lower crop yields. In this study, we investigated the impacts of continuous cassava cropping [...] Read more.

Due to limited land resources and traditional farming practices, continuous cassava cropping is common in China. This practice leads to soil degradation, including reduced fertility, imbalanced microbial communities, and lower crop yields. In this study, we investigated the impacts of continuous cassava cropping (CC) and cassava–maize rotation (RC) systems on soil physicochemical properties, microbial community composition, and functional gene abundance related to carbon and nitrogen cycling. The RC system consists of a five-year rotation cycle: cassava is planted in the first year, followed by two consecutive years of maize, and then, cassava is planted again in the last two years. The soil type is classified as Haplic Acrisols with a clay loam texture in this research. Soil samples from both cropping systems were analyzed for physicochemical properties and enzyme activities, and the results showed significant decreases in soil pH, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium in CC. Using metagenomic sequencing, 1,280,928 and 1,224,958 unigenes were identified under RC and CC, respectively, with differences in microbial taxonomic and functional profiles. Bacteria accounted for 89.257% of the soil community in RC, whereas the proportion was 88.72% in CC. The proportions of eukaryota and viruses in RC were 0.031% and 0.006%, respectively; in contrast, their proportions were 0.04% and 0.02% in CC, respectively. Cassava–maize rotation promoted the metabolic activities of soil microbes, leading to a significant enhancement in functional genes related to nitrogen and carbon cycling, such as nasA, nasD, nrtC, coxA, porA, and frdA. This shows that microbial activity and nutrient cycling improved in the crop rotation system. Thus, these findings highlight the importance of crop rotation for maintaining soil health, enhancing microbial functions, and improving sustainable cassava production. This study provides valuable insights into the management of cassava agroecosystems and the mitigation of the adverse effects of continuous cropping. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Innovative Cropping Systems)

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16 pages, 1794 KB

Open AccessArticle

Establishing Native Plant Communities to Improve the Management of the Invasive Weed Mikania micrantha

by Gaofeng Xu, Shicai Shen, Jiale Gao, Yunhai Yang, David Roy Clements, Shaosong Yang, Fengping Zhen, Bin Yao, Guimei Jin, Yun Zhang and Fudou Zhang

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1998; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081998 - 20 Aug 2025

Viewed by 444

Abstract

Using multiple species in native plant communities may improve control efficiency compared with single-species use. We conducted field investigations to assess the effects of Artemisia argyi, Portulaca oleracea, and their mixtures on the growth and reproduction of Mikania micrantha, followed [...] Read more.

Using multiple species in native plant communities may improve control efficiency compared with single-species use. We conducted field investigations to assess the effects of Artemisia argyi, Portulaca oleracea, and their mixtures on the growth and reproduction of Mikania micrantha, followed by a greenhouse de Wit replacement series to compare different combinations of M. micrantha, A. argyi, and P. oleracea in terms of multispecies competition, phytoallelopathy, and photosynthesis. Field investigation showed that compared with M. micrantha monoculture (Group D), aboveground biomass, total stem length, flower biomass, inflorescence biomass, seed biomass, and seed number of M. micrantha increased in the P. oleracea community (Group B), though only seed number was significantly higher (p < 0.05). In contrast, in the A. argyi community (Group A) and the mixed community of A. argyi and P. oleracea (Group C), all these indicators decreased significantly (p < 0.05), in the order: Group C < Group A < Group D < Group B. This indicates that the mixed community (Group C) most strongly suppressed M. micrantha growth and reproduction. The effects of A. argyi, P. oleracea, and their mixture on the growth of M. micrantha in the greenhouse experiments mirrored the trends observed in field investigations. Calculated indices (relative yield, relative yield total, competitive balance index, and change in contribution) of A. argyi, P. oleracea, and their mixed population on M. micrantha demonstrated a higher competitive ability and higher influence of the combination of the two species compared with either A. argyi or P. oleracea alone. The interspecific phytoallelopathy experiment demonstrated strong allelopathic potential of A. argyi versus M. micrantha (p < 0.05) but showed no significant effect on P. oleracea. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of M. micrantha was generally lower in communities with both competitors compared with single-species communities. Our results suggest that, compared with a single plant population, the mixed population of A. argyi and P. oleracea exhibited a markedly enhanced ecological control capability through increased relative competitive ability, strengthened allelopathic inhibition, and markedly reduced photosynthetic efficiency of M. micrantha. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Weed Science and Weed Management)

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15 pages, 1361 KB

Open AccessArticle

Biocontrol and Growth-Promoting Potential of Antagonistic Strain YL84 Against Verticillium dahliae

by Yuxin Tang, Qinyuan Xue, Jiahui Yu, Zhen Zhang, Zhe Wang, Lan Wang and Hongzu Feng

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1997; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081997 - 20 Aug 2025

Viewed by 424

Abstract

Cotton Verticillium wilt is a disease that significantly impacts the cotton industry, severely affecting cotton quality and the economic well-being of farmers. Bacillus atrophaeus YL84 is a biocontrol bacterium with broad-spectrum antagonistic and growth-promoting characteristics, previously isolated by our laboratory. This study aimed [...] Read more.

Cotton Verticillium wilt is a disease that significantly impacts the cotton industry, severely affecting cotton quality and the economic well-being of farmers. Bacillus atrophaeus YL84 is a biocontrol bacterium with broad-spectrum antagonistic and growth-promoting characteristics, previously isolated by our laboratory. This study aimed to elucidate the antagonistic effects of sterilized fermentation filtrate from Bacillus atrophaeus YL84 on cotton Verticillium wilt pathogen Verticillium dahliae and its growth-promoting effects on cotton. The experiments were conducted in vitro and in vivo to assess these effects comprehensively. Using the dual culture method, it was found that Bacillus atrophaeus YL84 exhibited a high inhibition rate on mycelial growth of V. dahliae, with an inhibition rate of 84.11%. The undiluted YL84 sterilized fermentation filtrate and its 10% volume fraction dilution (fermentation filtrate diluted to 10%) exhibited inhibition rates of 80.25% and 72.16% for conidial germination and mycelial growth of V. dahliae, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy showed increased branching, swelling, and shortened internodes in the antagonized mycelia. Conductivity measurements revealed a significant enhancement caused by the YL84 filtrate, with conductivity increasing by 8.94 times compared to the control at a 250 μg/mL concentration. Similarly, protein leakage peaked at 9.47 times the control level at 250 μg/mL, demonstrating the filtrate’s potent impact on mycelial cell membrane permeability. The enzymatic activities of polygalacturonase (PG), cellulase (CL), and β-glucosidase (β-GC) were significantly reduced following treatment with YL84 sterilized fermentation filtrate, with reductions from control levels of 15.78, 10.11, and 5.01 U/mL to treatment levels of 11.81, 6.96, and 1.44 U/mL, respectively. Indoor pot experiments demonstrated that different concentrations of YL84 sterilized fermentation filtrate significantly suppressed the occurrence of cotton Verticillium wilt while promoting plant growth. Compared to the control group, application of 250 μg/mL YL84 sterilized fermentation filtrate resulted in a control efficacy of 66.69% for cotton Verticillium wilt, with increases in plant height, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight of 9.36–33.85%, 17.33–29.49%, 16.79–28.24%, and 25–58.33%, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of the YL84 filtrate as both a biocontrol agent and a promoter of cotton plant growth in agricultural settings. These results indicate that Bacillus atrophaeus YL84 sterilized fermentation filtrate possesses both disease-suppressing and growth-promoting activities, making it a promising candidate for development and use as a biocontrol agent and plant growth promoter. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pest and Disease Management)

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16 pages, 4895 KB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Soil Nutrients and Stoichiometric Ratios in Eragrostis minor Distribution Areas of Gansu Province, Northwestern China

by Shuiqin Hu, Xiaoming Bai, Hanrui Wang, Fu Ran, Qian Ruan, Mahran Sadiq and Siyuan Ding

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1996; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081996 - 20 Aug 2025

Viewed by 495

Abstract

Soil nutrients and stoichiometric ratios are significant parameters for Eragrostis minor Host sustainability in a recent climate change scenario. However, their characteristics in Northwestern China are still unclear, particularly at Gansu belt, and require further investigation. In the study, we analyzed soil pH, [...] Read more.

Soil nutrients and stoichiometric ratios are significant parameters for Eragrostis minor Host sustainability in a recent climate change scenario. However, their characteristics in Northwestern China are still unclear, particularly at Gansu belt, and require further investigation. In the study, we analyzed soil pH, organic matter (OM), nutrients, and stoichiometric ratios from eight E. minor distribution sites in Gansu Province at 0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm soil depths. Results showed that soils were alkaline, with pH increasing significantly with depth (p < 0.05). The soil OM, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) decreased with depth, showing topsoil nutrient enrichment. Baiyin Huining (HN) and Dingxi Anding (AD) exhibited the highest nutrient levels, likely due to higher altitudes. The soil stoichiometric ratios were lower than both China’s depth-averaged values and the global averages, indicating N as the primary limiting factor. Further, correlation analysis showed that the soil nutrients were mainly affected by altitude, and N chiefly limited the soil stoichiometric ratios. Therefore, E. minor can be managed and conserved sustainably at HN and AD sites in Gansu’s dry temperate ecosystem. These findings offer theoretical support for ecological adaptability assessment, conservation of germplasm resources, and E. minor utilization in Gansu province, China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)

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23 pages, 7876 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Both Driving and Response Environmental Variables to Enhance Soil Salinity Inversion

by Qizhuo Zhou, Yong Zhang, Zheng Liu, Danyang Wang, Hongyan Chen and Peng Liu

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1995; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081995 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 558

Abstract

The rapid and accurate assessment of regional soil salinity is crucial for effective salinization management. This study proposes an enhanced remote sensing inversion method by integrating both driving and response environmental variables to address lag effects and incomplete factor consideration in existing models. [...] Read more.

The rapid and accurate assessment of regional soil salinity is crucial for effective salinization management. This study proposes an enhanced remote sensing inversion method by integrating both driving and response environmental variables to address lag effects and incomplete factor consideration in existing models. The Yellow River Delta, a coastal saline–alkaline region, was selected as the study area, where soil salinity-sensitive spectral parameters were derived from Sentinel-2 MSI imagery. Six environmental variables, including precipitation, distance from the sea, and soil moisture, were analyzed. Four scenarios were constructed: (1) using only spectral parameters; (2) spectral parameters with driving variables; (3) spectral parameters with response variables; and (4) combining both types. Four modeling methods were employed to assess inversion accuracy. The results show that incorporating either driving or response variables improved accuracy, with validation R² increasing by up to 0.149 and RMSE decreasing by up to 0.097 when both were used. The suitable model, integrating soil moisture, distance from the sea, and chlorophyll content, achieved a calibration R² of 0.813 and validation R² of 0.722. These findings demonstrate that combining both driving and response variables enhances model performance and provides valuable insights for soil salinization management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Crop Simulation Modelling)

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15 pages, 3899 KB

Open AccessArticle

Morphological and Molecular Characterization and Life Cycle of Meloidogyne graminicola Infecting Allium cepa

by Qiankun Li, Yanmei Yang, Fuxiang Liu, Yunxia Li, Hanyang Yao, Deliang Peng and Xianqi Hu

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1994; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081994 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 356

Abstract

To identify the root-knot nematodes (RKNs) infecting onions in Yuanmou County, Yunnan Province, morphological and molecular biological techniques were used. Observation of their life cycle and pathogenicity was conducted through artificial inoculation experiments in a greenhouse. The results show that the morphological characteristics [...] Read more.

To identify the root-knot nematodes (RKNs) infecting onions in Yuanmou County, Yunnan Province, morphological and molecular biological techniques were used. Observation of their life cycle and pathogenicity was conducted through artificial inoculation experiments in a greenhouse. The results show that the morphological characteristics and measurement data of the second-stage juveniles (J2s) and females of RKNs infecting onion roots are highly consistent with those of Meloidogyne graminicola (M. graminicola). Sequence alignment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) COXI region and 28S rDNA D2-D3 region revealed sequence similarities of 99.51–100.00% and 99.48–99.61%, respectively, compared with M. graminicola sequences from GenBank. The specific primers Mg-F3/Mg-R2 reliably amplified a characteristic 369 bp band. Inoculation experiments confirmed that the pathogen can complete its entire life cycle (approximately 26 days (ds)) on the roots of healthy onion seedlings, inducing typical root-knot symptoms and females. In conclusion, the pathogen was identified as M. graminicola, which is the first report of M. graminicola infecting onions in China. This study provides important theoretical support for the molecular diagnosis of onion root-knot nematode disease and the green control of Allium L. vegetables in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Diagnosis and Biological Control of Crop Diseases)

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15 pages, 2026 KB

Open AccessArticle

Planting Diversification Enhances Phosphorus Availability and Reshapes Fungal Community Structure in the Maize Rhizosphere

by Yannan Li, Yuming Zhang, Xiaoxin Li, Hongjun Li, Wenxu Dong, Shuping Qin, Xiuping Liu, Lijuan Zhang, Chunsheng Hu, Hongbo He, Pushan Zheng and Jingyun Zhao

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1993; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081993 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 403

Abstract

Intercropping with green manures is an effective practice for increasing agricultural production and reducing environmental issues. However, the effects of green manure type and intercropping patten on soil nutrient availability and microbial communities remains underexplored. In the present study, the impacts of three [...] Read more.

Intercropping with green manures is an effective practice for increasing agricultural production and reducing environmental issues. However, the effects of green manure type and intercropping patten on soil nutrient availability and microbial communities remains underexplored. In the present study, the impacts of three green manure–maize intercropping patterns on maize yield, rhizosphere nutrient availability, and soil fungal community were evaluated. Four treatments (three replicate plots for each) were involved, including a monoculture treatment (MC) as a control and three intercropping patterns as follows: maize–ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) (IntL), maize–forage soybean (Fen Dou mulv 2, a hybrid soybean cultivar) (IntF), and maize–ryegrass–forage soybean (IntLF) intercropping. The results showed that all three intercropping patterns significantly increased maize yield and rhizosphere available phosphorus (AP) compared with MC. Intercropping shifted the dominant assembly process of the maize rhizosphere fungal community from stochastic to deterministic processes, shaping a community rich in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and limited in plant pathogens, primarily Exserohilum turcicum. AP showed significant correlations with fungal community and AMF, while maize yield was negatively correlated with plant pathogens. In addition, the dual-species green manure intercropping pattern (IntLF) had the strongest positive effects on maize yield, AP content, and fungal community compared with single-species patterns (IntL and IntF). These results illustrate the advantages of planting diversification in boosting crop production by improving nutrient availability and soil health in the rhizosphere and suggest that the maize–ryegrass–forage soybean intercropping system is a potential strategy for improving soil fertility and health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Nutrition Eco-Physiology and Nutrient Management)

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18 pages, 2715 KB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Analyses Reveal How Rhizobacteria Acinetobacter calcoaceticus Enhance the Growth and Stress Tolerance in Lespedeza davurica

by Yinping Liang, Lin Jiang, Yining Zhang, Zhanchao Guo, Linjuan Han, Peng Gao, Xiaoyan Zhao and Xiang Zhao

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1992; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081992 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 477

Abstract

Background: Lespedeza davurica is an important perennial leguminous shrub endemic to China’s Loess Plateau, and it plays a crucial role in ecosystem restoration and soil erosion control. However, phosphorus deficiency and environmental stresses limit its growth potential and ecological function. Methods: In the [...] Read more.

Background: Lespedeza davurica is an important perennial leguminous shrub endemic to China’s Loess Plateau, and it plays a crucial role in ecosystem restoration and soil erosion control. However, phosphorus deficiency and environmental stresses limit its growth potential and ecological function. Methods: In the present study, the interaction between Acinetobacter calcoaceticus DP25, a phosphate-solubilizing rhizobacterium isolated from L. davurica rhizosphere, and L. davurica was investigated. We performed biochemical analyses of leaves from L. davurica planted in saline–alkali soil to monitor antioxidant defense systems and stress-related metabolites, and conducted a combination of transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches to elucidate the bacteria-mediated enhancement of growth and stress tolerance in L. davurica. Results: DP25 inoculation substantially enhanced L. davurica growth performance, increasing plant height by 47.68%, biomass production by 102.54–132.42%, and root architecture parameters by 62.68–78.79% (p < 0.0001). Catalase activity, a key antioxidant enzyme, showed a marked increase of 41.53% (p < 0.001), while malondialdehyde and free proline contents decreased by 18.13% and 19.33%, respectively (p < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis revealed 263 differentially expressed genes, with enrichment in carotenoid biosynthesis, ABC transporters, and pentose and glucuronate interconversion pathways. Metabolomic profiling identified 246 differentially accumulated metabolites, highlighting enhanced secondary metabolite production and stress response mechanisms. Integration of multi-omics data revealed 19 co-regulated pathways involved in growth promotion and stress tolerance. Conclusions: A. calcoaceticus DP25 enhances L. davurica growth through coordinated regulation of metabolic pathways involved in photosynthesis, antioxidant defense, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. These findings provide molecular insights into beneficial plant–microbe interactions and support the development of sustainable strategies for ecosystem restoration in degraded environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress on Pathogenicity of Fungi in Crops—2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 35033 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Maize Canopy Architecture Indicators Through UAV Multi-Source Data

by Shaolong Zhu, Dongwei Han, Weijun Zhang, Tianle Yang, Zhaosheng Yao, Tao Liu and Chengming Sun

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1991; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081991 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 453

Abstract

Rapid and accurate identification of maize architecture characteristics is important for understanding both yield potential and crop breeding experiments. Most canopy architecture indicators cannot fully reflect the vertical leaf distribution in field environments. We conducted field experiments on sixty maize cultivars under four [...] Read more.

Rapid and accurate identification of maize architecture characteristics is important for understanding both yield potential and crop breeding experiments. Most canopy architecture indicators cannot fully reflect the vertical leaf distribution in field environments. We conducted field experiments on sixty maize cultivars under four planting densities at three different sites, and herein introduce two novel indicators, “kurtosis and skewness,” based on the manually measured leaf area index (LAI) of maize at five different canopy heights. Then, we constructed the LAI, plant height (PH), kurtosis, and skewness estimation models based on unmanned aerial vehicle multispectral, RGB, and laser detecting and ranging data, and further assessed the canopy architecture and estimated yield. The results showed that the fitting coefficient of determination (R²) of cumulative LAI values reached above 0.97, and the R² of the four indicators’ estimation models based on multi-source data were all above 0.79. A high LAI, along with greater kurtosis and skewness, optimal PH levels, and strong stay-green ability, are essential characteristics of high-yield maize. Moreover, the four indicators demonstrated high accuracy in estimating yield, with the R² values based on measured canopy indicators at the four planting densities being 0.792, 0.779, 0.796, and 0.865, respectively. Similarly, the R² values for estimated yield based on estimated canopy indicators were 0.636, 0.688, 0.716, and 0.775, respectively. These findings provide novel insight into maize architecture characteristics that have potential application prospects for efficient estimation of maize yield and the breeding of ideal canopy architecture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Applications in Crop Monitoring and Modelling—2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 9034 KB

Open AccessArticle

TeaBudNet: A Lightweight Framework for Robust Small Tea Bud Detection in Outdoor Environments via Weight-FPN and Adaptive Pruning

by Yi Li, Zhiyan Zhang, Jie Zhang, Jingsha Shi, Xiaoyang Zhu, Bingyu Chen, Yi Lan, Yanling Jiang, Wanyi Cai, Xianming Tan, Zhaohong Lu, Hailin Peng, Dandan Tang, Yaning Zhu, Liqiang Tan, Kunhong Li, Feng Yang and Chenyao Yang

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1990; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081990 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 547

Abstract

The accurate detection of tea buds in outdoor environments is crucial for the intelligent management of modern tea plantations. However, this task remains challenging due to the small size of tea buds and the limited computational capabilities of the edge devices commonly used [...] Read more.

The accurate detection of tea buds in outdoor environments is crucial for the intelligent management of modern tea plantations. However, this task remains challenging due to the small size of tea buds and the limited computational capabilities of the edge devices commonly used in the field. Existing object detection models are typically burdened by high computational costs and parameter loads while often delivering suboptimal accuracy, thus limiting their practical deployment. To address these challenges, we propose TeaBudNet, a lightweight and robust detection framework tailored for small tea bud identification under outdoor conditions. Central to our approach is the introduction of Weight-FPN, an enhanced variant of the BiFPN designed to preserve fine-grained spatial information, thereby improving detection sensitivity to small targets. Additionally, we incorporate a novel P2 detection layer that integrates high-resolution shallow features, enhancing the network’s ability to capture detailed contour information critical for precise localization. To further optimize efficiency, we present a Group–Taylor pruning strategy, which leverages Taylor expansion to perform structured, non-global pruning. This strategy ensures a consistent layerwise evaluation while significantly reducing computational overhead. Extensive experiments on a self-built multi-category tea dataset demonstrate that TeaBudNet surpasses state-of-the-art models, achieving +5.0% gains in AP@50 while reducing parameters and computational cost by 50% and 3%, respectively. The framework has been successfully deployed on Huawei Atlas 200I DKA2 developer kits in real-world tea plantation settings, underscoring its practical value and scalability for accurate outdoor tea bud detection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Machine Learning and Modelling in Food Crops)

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23 pages, 4531 KB

Open AccessArticle

RDL-YOLO: A Method for the Detection of Leaf Pests and Diseases in Cotton Based on YOLOv11

by Xingchao Zhang, Li Li, Zhihua Bian, Chenxu Dai, Zhanlin Ji and Jinyun Liu

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1989; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081989 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 568

Abstract

Accurate identification of cotton leaf pests and diseases is essential for sustainable cultivation but is challenged by complex backgrounds, diverse pest morphologies, and varied symptoms, where existing deep learning models often show insufficient robustness. To address these challenges, RDL-YOLO model is proposed in [...] Read more.

Accurate identification of cotton leaf pests and diseases is essential for sustainable cultivation but is challenged by complex backgrounds, diverse pest morphologies, and varied symptoms, where existing deep learning models often show insufficient robustness. To address these challenges, RDL-YOLO model is proposed in this study. In the proposed model, RepViT-Atrous Convolution (RepViT-A) is employed as the backbone network to enhance local–global interaction and improve the response intensity and extraction accuracy of key lesion features. In addition, the Dilated Dense Convolution (DDC) module is designed to achieve a dynamic multi-scale receptive field, enabling the network to adapt to lesion defects of different shapes and sizes. LDConv further optimizes the effect of feature fusion. Experimental results showed that the mean Average Precision (mAP) of the proposed model reached 77.1%, representing a 3.7% improvement over the baseline YOLOv11. Compared with leading detectors such as Real-Time Detection Transformer (RT-DETR), You Only Look Once version 11 (YOLOv11), DETRs as Fine-grained Distribution Refinement (D-FINE), and Spatial Transformer Network-YOLO (STN-YOLO). RDL-YOLO exhibits superior performance, enhanced reliability, and strong generalization capabilities in tests on the cotton leaf dataset and public datasets. This advancement offers a practical technical solution for improved agricultural pest and disease management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Pest Control for Building Farm Resilience)

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18 pages, 3141 KB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Nitrogen Prevails in Controlling Alpine Meadow Productivity Despite Medicago ruthenica Reseeding and Phosphorus Application

by Mingjie Li, Juan Qi, Xin Lu, Tianyu Zhang and Qi Yuan

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1988; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081988 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 419

Abstract

Under intensified global climate change and anthropogenic pressures, alpine ecosystems confront unprecedented stress. The degradation of alpine meadows has caused significant declines in productivity and in the abundance of high-quality forage species. This study aims to explore the effects of phosphorus (P) application [...] Read more.

Under intensified global climate change and anthropogenic pressures, alpine ecosystems confront unprecedented stress. The degradation of alpine meadows has caused significant declines in productivity and in the abundance of high-quality forage species. This study aims to explore the effects of phosphorus (P) application and reseeding of Medicago ruthenica (L.) Trautv. on the biomass and quality of forage in degraded alpine meadows, and to identify the key soil factors influencing forage growth. Three reseeding rates (V₁: low, V₂: medium, V₃: high) and three P levels (P₀: none, P₁: low, P₂: high) were established in this experiment. The factors were arranged in a completely randomized design, resulting in nine distinct treatment combinations, that is V₁P₀, V₁P₁, V₁P₂, V₂P₀, V₂P₁, V₂P₂, V₃P₀, V₃P₁, and V₃P₂. The results showed that the interaction between the reseeding and P addition exerts a significant effect on the biomass of M. ruthenica, forbs, and aboveground biomass (p < 0.05). Additionally, the interaction between the reseeding and P addition had a significant effect on crude protein content (p < 0.05). Phosphorus addition and the interaction between the reseeding and P addition had a significant effect on ether extract content (p < 0.05). However, it is only reseeding that can significantly influence the neutral detergent fiber content (p < 0.05). Grey correlation analysis revealed that the V₃P₂ treatment optimized both forage biomass and nutritional quality. Hierarchical partitioning further identified soil total nitrogen as the factor that contributed the most to forage biomass and quality following reseeding and phosphorus application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Grassland and Pasture Science)

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20 pages, 2572 KB

Open AccessArticle

Ball-Milling-Assisted Fe₃O₄ Loadings of Rice Straw Biochar for Enhanced Tetracycline Adsorption in Aquatic Systems

by Yuxin Liu, Haizhang Yu, Yuchen Xing, Qi Zhao, Rukeya Ashan, Bo Feng, Bo Tao, Qianyi Shangguan, Yucheng Liu, Haiyan Zhang and Guanya Ji

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1987; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081987 - 19 Aug 2025

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Abstract

Antibiotic contaminants such as tetracycline (TC) from agricultural production have become widely distributed and persistently accumulated in aquatic environments (rivers, lakes, and oceans), posing severe threats to ecological security and human health. This study developed a modified rice-straw-derived biochar through NaOH activation and [...] Read more.

Antibiotic contaminants such as tetracycline (TC) from agricultural production have become widely distributed and persistently accumulated in aquatic environments (rivers, lakes, and oceans), posing severe threats to ecological security and human health. This study developed a modified rice-straw-derived biochar through NaOH activation and ball-milling-assisted Fe₃O₄ loading, which simultaneously enhanced TC adsorption capacity and enabled magnetic recovery. The Box–Behnken design (BBD) response surface methodology was employed to optimize three key preparation parameters: ball-milling time (A, 39.95 min), frequency (B, 57.23 Hz), and Fe₃O₄/biochar mass ratio (C, 2.85:1), with TC adsorption capacity as the response value. The modified biochar was systematically characterized using SEM, BET, FTIR, XRD, and XPS, while adsorption mechanisms were elucidated through kinetic studies, isotherm analyses, and pH-dependent experiments. The results demonstrate that modification via ball-milling with Fe₃O₄ loading significantly enhanced the biochar’s tetracycline adsorption capacity. The maximum adsorption capacity of the modified biochar reached 102.875 mg/g, representing a 114.85% increase from the initial value of 47.882 mg/g observed for the pristine biochar. Furthermore, the modified biochar exhibited excellent stability, maintaining robust adsorption performance across a wide pH range. The primary adsorption mechanisms involved metal coordination complexation, supplemented by hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions, and pore filling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering)

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Agronomy, Volume 15, Issue 8 (August 2025) – 261 articles

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