Search Results (7,212)

Optimal application of nitrogen fertilizer is critical for soil characteristics and soil health. This study examined the effects of three rates of nitrogen fertilizer applications, which are lower rate (Treatment 1 (T1)-241 kg/ha), recommended rate (Treatment 2 (T2)-269 kg/ha), and higher rate (Treatment 3 (T3)-297 kg/ha), and their impacts on soil temperature, soil moisture and soil electrical conductivity at two different depths (0–30 cm and 30–60 cm) in maize cultivation at the Prairie View A & M university research farm in Texas. Soil moisture, soil temperature, and electrical conductivity (EC) sensors were installed in 27 plots to collect these data. Results showed that EC is lower at surface depth with all fertilizer application rates than at root zone soil depths. In the meantime, EC is increasing in the root zone soil depth with the increase in fertilizer rate. This study indicated that the moderate application (269 kg/ha, T2) which is also recommended rate, showed better soil health parameters and efficiency in comparison to other application rates maintaining stable and moderate electrical conductivity values (0.2 mS/cm at depth 2) and the highest median moisture content at the significant root zone depth (about 0.135 m³/m³), reducing nutrient leaching and salt accumulation. Also, a humid, warm climate in southern Texas specifically affects increasing nitrogen losses via leaching, denitrification, and volatilization compared to cooler regions, which requires higher application rates. Plant growth and yield results further confirmed that the recommended rate achieved the greatest plant height (157.48 cm) compared to T1 (153.07 cm). Ear diameters were also higher at the recommended rate, reaching 4.65 cm ears than in Treatment 3. However, grain productivity was highest under the lower fertilizer rate T1, with wet and dry yields of 11,567 kg/ha and 5959 kg/ha, respectively, compared to 10,033 kg/ha (wet) and 5047 kg/ha (dry) at T2, and 7446 kg/ha (wet) and 4304 kg/ha (dry) at T3. These findings suggest that while the moderate fertilizer rate (269 kg/ha) enhances soil health and crop growth consistency, the lower rate (241 kg/ha) can maximize productivity under the humid, warm conditions of southern Texas. This research highlights the need for precise nitrogen management strategies that balance soil health with crop yield. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment efficiency and applicability of using textile-based mats as roof biofilters on urban buildings for purifying preliminary treated wastewater (PTW) collected from a three-chamber septic tank. Therefore, a pilot plant with a 15° pitched wooden roof and two tracks for laying two mats made of different materials—polypropylene (PP), designated as Mat 1, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), designated as Mat 2—was constructed at ground level under outdoor conditions. The plant was operated in parallel for a period of 455 days. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the results of the mass removal efficiencies between the two mats, with Mat 1 achieving mean removals of five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium-nitrogen (NH₄-N), and total nitrogen (TN) of 85%, 73%, 75%, and 38%, respectively, and Mat 2 achieving comparatively higher removals of 97%, 84%, 90%, and 57%, respectively. The mean concentrations of BOD₅ and COD at the outflow of both mats met the minimum water quality requirements for discharge and successfully met the minimum water quality class B for agricultural reuse. However, the comparatively low mean E. coli removal efficiencies of 2.0 and 2.4 log-units in Mat 1 and Mat 2, respectively, demonstrate the need for an effluent disinfection system. Highly efficient mass removal efficiencies were observed in the presence of dense vegetation on the mats, which may lead to a potential improvement in the urban climate through high daily evapotranspiration. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential for using lightweight, textile-based mats on rooftops to efficiently treat PTW from urban buildings, offering a promising decentralized wastewater management approach for climate-resilient cities. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of two nitrogen doses in combination with strong creeping fescue (Festuca rubra L. ssp. rubra Gaudin) and Chewing’s red fescue (Festuca rubra L. ssp. commutata Gaudin) used as living mulches on the weed community in an apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) orchard. The cover grasses were sown in the tree rows, and herbicide fallow served as the control. Grass living mulches effectively reduced the number and share of annual weed cover and limited the spread of perennial plants compared with herbicide fallow. Use of F. rubra L. subspecies did not favor the biodiversity of the orchard agroecosystem flora, due to the effective soil surface coverage by sod in the tree rows. Living mulch sod was characterized by lower variability in weed taxa compared with the abundant weed composition in the herbicide fallow, which also exhibited the highest number of weed taxa each year. Dominant species in the orchard across all treatments included Trifolium repens L. and Taraxacum spp. Doubling the nitrogen fertilization rate, while limiting the application area to the tree canopy, did not increase the perennial weed population in the living mulch sod. Both subspecies are useful as living mulch in a young apple orchard, but from the perspective of sod durability and weed control, strong creeping red fescue offers better prospects. Full article

Real-time nitrogen (N) management based on the leaf color chart (LCC) is considered a potential alternative to traditional farmer practices. However, its physiological mechanisms for enhancing rice N utilization and its effects on paddy field N balance remain unclear. We aimed to elucidate the potential enzymatic mechanisms underlying LCC’s influence on rice N use and quantify the impact of LCC on paddy field N balance. In 2022 and 2023, a single-factor randomized block design experiment was conducted during the rice planting season. Four N treatments: no N (ONF), farmers’ conventional practices + urea [FNR] as the control, LCC + urea [SSNM1], LCC + controlled-release urea [SSNM2] were administered. Rice yield and N uptake were positive correlations with nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT), glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities, which were higher under SSNM1 and SSNM2 compared with FNR, but were negative correlation with proteinase activity. Moreover, SSNM1 and SSNM2 increased rice yield by 9.2% and 9.4%, N uptake by 15.4% and 15.3%, and N use efficiency by 46.9% and 65.0%, and reduced reactive N losses by 46.2% and 66.7%, respectively. The annual net soil N inputs under FNR, SSNM1, and SSNM2 were 12.6, 8.9, and 4.2 kg N ha^–1, respectively. LCC-based N management increased N uptake and rice yield by enhancing the activities of NR, GS, GPT, GOT, and GDH while reducing protease activity. Moreover, LCC maintained soil N supply capacity even with reduced nitrogen fertilizer application. Full article

Salt–alkaline soil poses a significant challenge to soybean productivity. While plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) offer a sustainable strategy for stress mitigation, their field-level application remains underexplored. Here, a field experiment was conducted in the Yellow River Delta of Shandong, China, a typical salt–alkaline region. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of Bacillus velezensis 41S2 in enhancing soybean performance under salt–alkaline soil through integrated field trials and transcriptomic analysis. Inoculation with strain 41S2 significantly improved plant biomass, yield components, and seed yield under salt–alkaline soil, and notably increased seed protein and isoflavone contents. Physiological analyses revealed that strain 41S2 markedly reduced hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation, indicating alleviation of oxidative stress. Moreover, strain 41S2 modulated the levels of soluble sugars and amino acids, contributing to osmotic regulation and carbon–nitrogen (C-N) metabolic balance. Transcriptome profiling further indicated that strain 41S2 upregulated genes involved in antioxidant response, C–N metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, highlighting its role in coordinating multilayered stress response pathways. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of B. velezensis 41S2 as a multifunctional bioinoculant for improving salt tolerance and presents a promising tool for sustainable crop production and ecological restoration in salt–alkaline soil. Full article

This study aims to screen out high-yield protease lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from cheese and analyze the flavor and functional characteristics of their fermentation of corn protein hydrolysate (CPH). Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ZYN-71 and Limosilactobacillus fermentum ZYN-76 were isolated and screened by traditional biological methods. Then, the two strains synergistically fermented CPH, and it was found that the scavenging rate of DPPH, ·OH, and O²⁻· and the chelating ability of Fe²⁺ of the fermented CPH increased by 22.85%, 3.82%, 63.37%, and 43.27%, respectively. Meanwhile, the solubility, water-holding capacity, oil-holding capacity, foaming property, foam stability, emulsification property, and emulsification stability had also been improved to varying degrees. The aroma of the CPH after fermentation mainly consisted of aldehydes (20.2%) and nitrogen heterocyclic compounds (19.4%), and the content of off-flavor components was reduced. LAB fermentation effectively improves the practical problems existing in the current application of corn proteolytic products. This research can provide a research basis for corn protein-related products. Full article

Tropaeolum tuberosum (mashua) is a native Andean tuber recognized for its high nutritional and bioactive compound content. Among the various morphotypes, the black and yellow variants show potential differences in composition and functionality. This study aimed to compare the thermo-energetic, nutritional, and physicochemical characteristics of two morphotypes (black and yellow) of Tropaeolum tuberosum flour from the Peruvian Andes. Flours were obtained from tubers harvested in Ayacucho, Peru, and analyzed using elemental analysis for carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur (CHNS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and bomb calorimetry. The empirical formula is CH_1.74O_0.91N_0.06S_0.005 for black mashua and CH_1.78O_0.92N_0.05S_0.005 for yellow mashua. Black flour exhibited higher protein (17.6% vs. 14.8%) and fat contents (8.0% vs. 6.7%), along with nearly double the iron content. Both flours showed similar starch granule morphology and gelatinization enthalpy (~2 J/g), but the black flour had higher gelatinization temperatures. Calorimetric analysis revealed a greater net calorific value (qNCV) in black mashua flour (4157 ± 22 kcal/kg) than in yellow flour (4022 ± 19 kcal/kg). The thermogravimetric profiles indicated good thermal stability with approximately 30% residual mass. These findings suggested that black mashua flour possesses superior nutritional and energy characteristics, supporting its application in functional food formulations and energy-rich gluten-free products. Full article

Background: Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is increasingly used in dermatology and cosmetic applications owing to its regenerative and anti-aging properties. However, its topical use is limited by its high molecular weight and anionic charge, which restrict skin penetration. Methods: In this study, we employed a nitrogen-oxygen plasma treatment to PDRN to overcome these limitations and characterized its physicochemical properties and in vitro efficiency. Results: Upon plasma treatment, PDRN’s surface charge was attenuated and its hydrodynamic size decreased, leading to improved uptake and markedly increased cell migration activity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that plasma treatment can transform PDRN into a cosmetically viable active ingredient and may provide a general strategy for adapting other high-molecular-weight bioactives for topical delivery. Full article

Dry topsoil restricts root growth and nutrient uptake in arid regions, thereby significantly reducing crop yield. Hydraulic lift occurs due to the dry topsoil and wet deep soil. This study investigates the effects of topsoil drought intensity (three field capacities in topsoil: 60–70% (W1), 50–60% (W2), and 40–50% (W3)) and nitrogen application rate (N1: 120, N2: 240, and N3: 360 kg ha⁻¹) on cotton quality and the distribution of nitrogen in soil and plant under hydraulic lift using a root-splitting device. The upper pot of the root-splitting device was 22 cm high, with a 26 cm top diameter and a 23 cm bottom diameter; the lower pot of the root-splitting device was 45 cm high, with a 48 cm top diameter and a 36 cm bottom diameter. Topsoil moisture was maintained at W1 without nitrogen application under the control treatment (CK). The W2 and W3 treatments (representing different topsoil drought intensities) were designed to compare the interactive effects of water and nitrogen fertiliser on nitrogen distribution and cotton quality with the CK treatment. Results indicate that the concentrations of nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) in the 10–20 cm soil were generally higher than those in the 0–10 cm soil. The topsoil drought intensity and nitrogen application rate had significant impacts on nitrogen concentrations in cotton organs. The W2 treatment produced the maximum nitrogen concentration, except for the root nitrogen concentration in 2021. The nitrogen concentration in the roots and stems peaked at 240 kg ha⁻¹ of nitrogen application rate. The topsoil drought intensity and nitrogen application rate had considerable influences on the cotton dry matter. The nitrogen application rate had a significant impact on the following indexes: internal nitrogen-fertiliser use efficiency (INUE), physiological nitrogen-fertiliser use efficiency (PNUE), and nitrogen-fertiliser recovery efficiency (NRE), except for PNUE in 2020. The INUE of other treatments decreased by 13.82–43.44% compared with CK treatment. In 2021, fibre length and elongation were significantly impacted by the topsoil drought intensity, nitrogen application rates, and their interactions. The nitrogen application rate’s effects on the uniformity index were significant in 2020 and 2021. The hydraulic lift magnitude, NRE, and NO₃⁻-N in the 0–10 cm soil were significantly correlated with each other. There were correlations among cotton quality indexes: fibre length and strength, uniformity index and micronaire, and micronaire and elongation. These findings provide a reference for future research on the mechanism by which hydraulic lift participates in nitrogen distribution in soil and crops and also offer a new direction to utilize deep water to improve the utilization rate of water resources. Full article

Spatial variability in vine vigour and yield components is a major challenge for vineyard management and consistent grape quality, particularly in hilly landscapes. This study evaluates the impact of on-the-go variable-rate fertilisation (VRA) in reducing within-vineyard variability in an 8.5 hectares commercial vineyard in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG region (Italy). Over two growing seasons, a proximal NDVI sensor (GreenSeeker) guided real-time fertiliser applications without prescription maps. Vine vigour, yield components, and grape quality were evaluated using geostatistical analysis and coefficient of variation (CV) metrics. VRA reduced total spatial variability (sill) by 55% and erratic variance (nugget effect) by 39% for NDVI measurements. Variability in yield components also decrease (−21.1% for cluster number, −6.25% for cluster weight), while grape composition parameters (total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and pH) was not significantly altered despite a slightly higher variability (in titratable acidity and pH), indicating that fertiliser modulation did not compromise grape quality. Nitrogen input was reduced by 50%, highlighting economic and environmental benefits (−302 kg CO₂). These results show that simplified, sensor-based, on-the-go VRA is a practical and sustainable precision viticulture tool, even in small and heterogeneous vineyards typical of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG area. Full article

Soil necromass carbon (C) has significant potential for C sequestration in combination with minerals. Global warming and nitrogen (N) deposition affect necromass C, but these effects vary greatly across different climate conditions, land uses, and soil properties, and the role of regional specificity remains poorly understood. We synthesized 197 paired observations from 50 climate change studies to investigate these effects in China. Our results indicate that warming and N addition significantly increase necromass C accumulation by 17% and 9%, respectively. Warming strongly enhanced necromass C incroplands (+44%), cool (+16%) and semi-arid regions (+15%), and soils rich in soil organic carbon (SOC) (+17%) or loam (+22%), whereas N addition further promoted sequestration in croplands (+12%), forests (+10%) SOC-rich soils (+16%), and clay (+7%) or clay–loam (+12%) soils. In the context of climate change, soil C management requires attention to land use, climate, and soil properties. However, heterogeneous responses of microbial necromass C to global warming and N addition are still poorly understood. In the future, global warming is projected to enhance necromass C in croplands, cool or semiarid regions, SOC-rich and loam soils, whereas N addition is expected to further promote its sequestration in croplands, forests, SOC-rich, and clay-based soils. These findings demonstrate the targeted management of necromass C, particularly through optimized nitrogen application in clay-rich croplands and conservation tillage in cool and semiarid regions, offering a nature-based solution to complement global climate mitigation. Full article

The prolonged and intensive use of chemical inputs in agriculture, particularly synthetic fertilizers, has generated a variety of environmental and agronomic challenges. This has intensified the need for alternative, viable, and sustainable solutions. Plant-associated microbes have emerged as promising candidates in this regard. While research has largely focused on bacteria and fungi, comparatively less attention has been paid to other microbial groups such as microalgae and cyanobacteria. These photosynthetic microorganisms offer multiple agronomic benefits, including the ability to capture CO₂, assimilate essential micro- and macroelements, and synthesize a wide range of high-value metabolites. Their metabolic versatility enables the production of bioactive molecules with biostimulant and biocontrol properties, as well as biofertilizer potential through their intrinsic nutrient content. Additionally, several cyanobacterial species can fix atmospheric nitrogen, further enhancing their agricultural relevance. This review aims to summarize the potential of these microorganisms and their application in the agriculture sector, focusing primarily on their biofertilization, biostimulation, and biocontrol capabilities and presents a compilation of the products currently available on the market that are derived from these microorganisms. The present work also identifies the gaps in the use of these microorganisms and provides prospects for developing a suitable solution for today′s agriculture. Full article

Manure application may improve plant growth, yield, and ecological sustainability. This study investigates optimized organic fertilizer application methods for enhancing buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) productivity in semi-arid conditions. Treatments include broadcasting (Br) and subsurface banding (Ba) of poultry (PM) and cattle (CM) manure and foliar spraying (S) of manure extracts (1:5 and 1:10 ratios), urea fertilizer (UF), and a control. Subsurface-banded poultry manure (BaPM) maximized chlorophyll b (4.0 µg/mL), carotenoids (2.30 µmol/mL), anthocyanin (0.02 µmol/mL), leaf area index (2.03), seed nitrogen (3.4%), and spikes per plant (17). BaPM achieved the highest seed yield (646 kg/ha), comparable to BrPM, BaCM, and SPM(1:5). The maximum seed phosphorus content (0.43%) was observed in the BaPM, BrPM, and SCM(1:10) treatments. Dry matter peaked under UF (4870 kg/ha) and BaPM (4641 kg/ha). Banding placement improved nutrient uptake by enhancing root zone retention, while foliar poultry extract (1:5) mitigated phosphorus deficiency. These findings demonstrate that integrating certain manure types with targeted application methods—particularly subsurface banding of poultry manure—optimizes nutrient use efficiency, crop performance, and environmental sustainability in buckwheat cultivation. Full article

The development of electrocatalysts composed of earth-abundant elements is essential for advancing the commercial application of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). Among these, single-atom electrocatalysts, such as Fe-N-C, show great promise for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). This study aims to improve the ORR activity and stability of Fe-N-C electrocatalysts by fine-tuning the straightforward 1,10-phenanthroline-iron complexation synthesis method. Key parameters, including iron-to-phenanthroline ratio, carbon powder surface area, and pyrolysis temperature were systematically varied to evaluate their influence on the resulting electrocatalysts. The findings of this study revealed that the electrocatalysts synthesized with 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) and high-surface-area Black Pearls (BP) possessed much better ORR activity than electrocatalysts prepared by using Vulcan carbon (lower surface area). Interestingly, electrocatalysts prepared with BP, but with a non-bidentate nitrogen-containing ligand molecule, such as imidazole, showed a much poorer activity, as the resulting material predominantly consisted of inactive structures, such as encapsulated iron nanoparticles and iron oxide, as evidenced by HR-TEM, EXAFS, and XRD. Therefore, the results suggest that only the synergistic combination of the bidentate ligand phenanthroline (Phen) and the high-surface-area carbon support (BP) favored the formation of ORR-active Fe-N-C single-atom species upon pyrolysis. The study also unveiled a significant enhancement in electrocatalyst stability during accelerated durability tests (and air storage) as the pyrolysis temperature was increased from 700 to 1300 °C, albeit at the expense of ORR activity, likely resulting from the generation of iron particles. Pyrolysis at 1050 °C yielded the electrocatalyst with the most favorable balance of activity and stability in rotating disk measurements, while maintaining moderate durability under PEM fuel cell operation. The insights obtained in this study may guide the development of more active efficient and durable electrocatalysts, synthesized via a simple method using earth-abundant elements, for application in PEMFC cathodes. Full article

Wheat is a crucial crop for human nutrition, and the demand for high-quality indicators within the “from farm to fork” concept is increasing. Based on this premise, this study examined how, at the farm level, the fertilization system can influence key quality indicators relevant to wheat production and final products. This research was conducted under specific conditions of the Western Plain of Romania at the Agricultural Research and Development Station (ARDS), Lovrin, during 2015–2017. Fertilization involved the autumn application of phosphorus (concentrated superphosphate; 0, 40, 80, 120, 160 kg ha⁻¹ active substance, a.s.) and potassium (potassium chloride; 0, 40, 80, 120 kg ha⁻¹ a.s.). Nitrogen (ammonium nitrate; 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 kg ha⁻¹ active substance) was applied in spring in two stages. The combination of these three fertilizers resulted in 18 fertilized variants (T2 to T19), tested alongside an unfertilized control (T1). The experimental variants were arranged in four randomized replications. Grain quality was assessed based on protein content (PRO, %), gluten (GLT, g 100 g⁻¹), gliadins (Gliad, %), glutenins (Glut, g 100 g⁻¹), high-molecular-weight glutenins (HMW, g 100 g⁻¹), low-molecular-weight glutenins (LMW, g 100 g⁻¹), and the gliadin/glutenin ratio (Gliad/Glut). Compared to the average values for each indicator across the experiment, certain variants produced values above the mean, with statistical significance. Variant T16 stood out by producing values above the mean for all indicators, with statistical confidence. Multivariate analysis showed that five indicators with very strong (PRO, GLT) and strong (HMW, Glut, LMW) influence grouped in PC1, while two indicators (Gliad, Gliad/Glut) with very strong and strong influence grouped in PC2. The analysis revealed varying levels of correlation between the applied fertilizers, with nitrogen (N) showing very strong and strong correlations with most indicators, while phosphorus and potassium showed moderate-to-weak correlations. Regression analysis generated mathematical models that statistically described how each indicator varied in relation to the fertilizers applied. Full article