The increasing demand for high-quality horticultural produces in global markets has driven the growing crop production under protected cropping, which are usually more efficient in fertilizer use compared to field cultivation. As one of the key macronutrients, available potassium (K+) resources have decreased due to the expansion of intensive agriculture and excessive use of K fertilizers. Currently, limited strategies have been adopted to improve crop quality in protected cropping with sustainable use of K+ fertigation and its comprehensive understanding at physiological and molecular levels. Therefore, we highlight the importance of optimal use of K+ in fertigation in protected cultivation that may also enhance crop quality characteristics. We review different K+ channels and transporters from various protein families responsible for K+ absorption and distribution across different plant tissues. An analysis of the literature on transcriptome, ionome, proteome and metabolome profiles of crops suggests the crucial roles of K+ in maintaining ion homoeostasis and modulating stress responses. It reveals that optimal K+ fertigation levels in protected cropping not only aids in maintaining the overall crop growth and production but also participates in maintaining the fruit quality. This review can potentially guide crop production and resource use efficiency in protected cropping, contributing to global food security and a better sustainable agricultural and environmental future.
{"title":"Potassium transport and use efficiency for sustainable fertigation in protected cropping","authors":"Sonali, Samsul Huda, Vijay Jayasena, Talaat Ahmed, Zhong-Hua Chen","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12065","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The increasing demand for high-quality horticultural produces in global markets has driven the growing crop production under protected cropping, which are usually more efficient in fertilizer use compared to field cultivation. As one of the key macronutrients, available potassium (K<sup>+</sup>) resources have decreased due to the expansion of intensive agriculture and excessive use of K fertilizers. Currently, limited strategies have been adopted to improve crop quality in protected cropping with sustainable use of K<sup>+</sup> fertigation and its comprehensive understanding at physiological and molecular levels. Therefore, we highlight the importance of optimal use of K<sup>+</sup> in fertigation in protected cultivation that may also enhance crop quality characteristics. We review different K<sup>+</sup> channels and transporters from various protein families responsible for K<sup>+</sup> absorption and distribution across different plant tissues. An analysis of the literature on transcriptome, ionome, proteome and metabolome profiles of crops suggests the crucial roles of K<sup>+</sup> in maintaining ion homoeostasis and modulating stress responses. It reveals that optimal K<sup>+</sup> fertigation levels in protected cropping not only aids in maintaining the overall crop growth and production but also participates in maintaining the fruit quality. This review can potentially guide crop production and resource use efficiency in protected cropping, contributing to global food security and a better sustainable agricultural and environmental future.</p>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12065","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50142079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Valentin Gfeller, Selma Cadot, Jan Waelchli, Sophie Gulliver, Céline Terrettaz, Lisa Thönen, Pierre Mateo, Christelle A. M. Robert, Fabio Mascher, Thomas Steinger, Moritz Bigalke, Matthias Erb, Klaus Schlaeppi
Introduction
Harnessing positive plant–soil feedbacks via crop rotations is a promising strategy for sustainable agriculture. These feedbacks are often context-dependent, and how soil heterogeneity explains this variation is unknown. Plants influence soil properties, including microbes, by exuding specialized metabolites. Benzoxazinoids, specialized metabolites released by cereals such as wheat and maize, can alter rhizosphere microbiota and performance of plants subsequently growing in the exposed soils and are thus an excellent model to study agriculturally relevant plant–soil feedbacks.
Materials and Methods
To understand local variation in soil properties on benzoxazinoid-mediated plant–soil feedbacks, we conditioned plots with wild-type maize and benzoxazinoid-deficient bx1 mutants in a grid pattern across a field, and we then grew winter wheat in the following season. We determined accumulation of benzoxazinoids, root-associated microbial communities, abiotic soil properties and wheat performance in each plot and then assessed their associations.
Results
We detected a marked gradient in soil chemistry and microbiota across the field. This gradient resulted in significant differences in benzoxazinoid accumulation, which were explained by differential benzoxazinoid degradation rather than exudation. Benzoxazinoid exudation modulated microbial diversity in root and rhizospheres during maize growth, but not during subsequent wheat growth, while the chemical fingerprint of benzoxazinoids persisted. Averaged across the field, we did not detect feedbacks on wheat performance and defence, apart from a transient decrease in biomass during vegetative growth. Closer analysis, however, revealed significant feedbacks along the chemical and microbial gradient of the field, with effects gradually changing from negative to positive along the gradient.
Conclusion
Overall, this study revealed that plant–soil feedbacks differ in strength and direction within a field and that this variation can be explained by standing chemical and microbial gradients. Understanding within-field soil heterogeneity is crucial for the future exploitation of plant–soil feedbacks in sustainable precision agriculture.
{"title":"Soil chemical and microbial gradients determine accumulation of root-exuded secondary metabolites and plant–soil feedbacks in the field","authors":"Valentin Gfeller, Selma Cadot, Jan Waelchli, Sophie Gulliver, Céline Terrettaz, Lisa Thönen, Pierre Mateo, Christelle A. M. Robert, Fabio Mascher, Thomas Steinger, Moritz Bigalke, Matthias Erb, Klaus Schlaeppi","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12063","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Harnessing positive plant–soil feedbacks via crop rotations is a promising strategy for sustainable agriculture. These feedbacks are often context-dependent, and how soil heterogeneity explains this variation is unknown. Plants influence soil properties, including microbes, by exuding specialized metabolites. Benzoxazinoids, specialized metabolites released by cereals such as wheat and maize, can alter rhizosphere microbiota and performance of plants subsequently growing in the exposed soils and are thus an excellent model to study agriculturally relevant plant–soil feedbacks.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To understand local variation in soil properties on benzoxazinoid-mediated plant–soil feedbacks, we conditioned plots with wild-type maize and benzoxazinoid-deficient <i>bx1</i> mutants in a grid pattern across a field, and we then grew winter wheat in the following season. We determined accumulation of benzoxazinoids, root-associated microbial communities, abiotic soil properties and wheat performance in each plot and then assessed their associations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We detected a marked gradient in soil chemistry and microbiota across the field. This gradient resulted in significant differences in benzoxazinoid accumulation, which were explained by differential benzoxazinoid degradation rather than exudation. Benzoxazinoid exudation modulated microbial diversity in root and rhizospheres during maize growth, but not during subsequent wheat growth, while the chemical fingerprint of benzoxazinoids persisted. Averaged across the field, we did not detect feedbacks on wheat performance and defence, apart from a transient decrease in biomass during vegetative growth. Closer analysis, however, revealed significant feedbacks along the chemical and microbial gradient of the field, with effects gradually changing from negative to positive along the gradient.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Overall, this study revealed that plant–soil feedbacks differ in strength and direction within a field and that this variation can be explained by standing chemical and microbial gradients. Understanding within-field soil heterogeneity is crucial for the future exploitation of plant–soil feedbacks in sustainable precision agriculture.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12063","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50119710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sadish Oumabady, Sangeetha P. Ramasamy, S. Paul Sebastian, Rajinikanth Rajagopal, Parthiba K. Obulisamy, Rory Doherty, Sree Nanukuttan, Satish K. Bhardwaj, Deepak Kumaresan
Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising technology for waste valorisation and nutrient recovery to achieve sustainability. HTC converts organic waste into hydrochar, a carbon-rich solid with numerous surface functionalities that can be used for energy and wastewater treatment. In this review, we highlight the potential of hydrochar-based technology for improving the performance of anaerobic digestion (AD) systems and downstream applications of nutrient-laden hydrochar. We identify knowledge gaps in hydrochar production, performance in AD systems and nutrient recovery, including the need for larger-scale production facilities, multielement adsorption studies, and computational modelling. Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment of hydrochar applications are critical to evaluating the commercial viability of this technology. Overall, hydrochar-based technology offers a sustainable solution for waste management and resource recovery, with potential socioeconomic benefits for developing economies. The deployment of hydrochar-based technology will directly address key issues highlighted in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals such as Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6); Zero hunger (SDG 2); and Climate action (SDG 13) thereby contributing to a more sustainable future.
{"title":"Sustainable resource recovery and process improvement in anaerobic digesters using hydrochar: A circular bio-economic perspective","authors":"Sadish Oumabady, Sangeetha P. Ramasamy, S. Paul Sebastian, Rajinikanth Rajagopal, Parthiba K. Obulisamy, Rory Doherty, Sree Nanukuttan, Satish K. Bhardwaj, Deepak Kumaresan","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12062","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising technology for waste valorisation and nutrient recovery to achieve sustainability. HTC converts organic waste into hydrochar, a carbon-rich solid with numerous surface functionalities that can be used for energy and wastewater treatment. In this review, we highlight the potential of hydrochar-based technology for improving the performance of anaerobic digestion (AD) systems and downstream applications of nutrient-laden hydrochar. We identify knowledge gaps in hydrochar production, performance in AD systems and nutrient recovery, including the need for larger-scale production facilities, multielement adsorption studies, and computational modelling. Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment of hydrochar applications are critical to evaluating the commercial viability of this technology. Overall, hydrochar-based technology offers a sustainable solution for waste management and resource recovery, with potential socioeconomic benefits for developing economies. The deployment of hydrochar-based technology will directly address key issues highlighted in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals such as Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6); Zero hunger (SDG 2); and Climate action (SDG 13) thereby contributing to a more sustainable future.</p>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12062","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50143419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ali Raza, Sidra Charagh, Hajar Salehi, Saghir Abbas, Faisal Saeed, Gérrard E. J. Poinern, Kadambot H. M. Siddique, Rajeev K. Varshney
Salinity and drought stress substantially decrease crop yield and superiority, directly threatening the food supply needed to meet the rising food needs of the growing total population. Nanotechnology is a step towards improving agricultural output and stress tolerance by improving the efficacy of inputs in agriculture via targeted delivery, controlled release, and enhanced solubility and adhesion while also reducing significant damage. The direct application of nanoparticles (NPs)/nanomaterials can boost the performance and effectiveness of physio-biochemical and molecular mechanisms in plants under stress conditions, leading to advanced stress tolerance. Therefore, we presented the effects and plant responses to stress conditions, and also explored the potential of nanomaterials for improving agricultural systems, and discussed the advantages of applying NPs at various developmental stages to alleviate the negative effects of salinity and drought stress. Moreover, we feature the recent innovations in state-of-the-art nanobiotechnology, specifically NP-mediated genome editing via CRISPR/Cas system, to develop stress-smart crops. However, further investigations are needed to unravel the role of nanobiotechnology in addressing climate change challenges in modern agricultural systems. We propose that combining nanobiotechnology, genome editing and speed breeding techniques could enable the designing of climate-smart cultivars (particularly bred or genetically modified plant varieties) to meet the food security needs of the rising world population.
{"title":"Nano-enabled stress-smart agriculture: Can nanotechnology deliver drought and salinity-smart crops?","authors":"Ali Raza, Sidra Charagh, Hajar Salehi, Saghir Abbas, Faisal Saeed, Gérrard E. J. Poinern, Kadambot H. M. Siddique, Rajeev K. Varshney","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12061","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Salinity and drought stress substantially decrease crop yield and superiority, directly threatening the food supply needed to meet the rising food needs of the growing total population. Nanotechnology is a step towards improving agricultural output and stress tolerance by improving the efficacy of inputs in agriculture via targeted delivery, controlled release, and enhanced solubility and adhesion while also reducing significant damage. The direct application of nanoparticles (NPs)/nanomaterials can boost the performance and effectiveness of physio-biochemical and molecular mechanisms in plants under stress conditions, leading to advanced stress tolerance. Therefore, we presented the effects and plant responses to stress conditions, and also explored the potential of nanomaterials for improving agricultural systems, and discussed the advantages of applying NPs at various developmental stages to alleviate the negative effects of salinity and drought stress. Moreover, we feature the recent innovations in state-of-the-art nanobiotechnology, specifically NP-mediated genome editing via CRISPR/Cas system, to develop stress-smart crops. However, further investigations are needed to unravel the role of nanobiotechnology in addressing climate change challenges in modern agricultural systems. We propose that combining nanobiotechnology, genome editing and speed breeding techniques could enable the designing of climate-smart cultivars (particularly bred or genetically modified plant varieties) to meet the food security needs of the rising world population.</p>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12061","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50152052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ben Glogoza, Laura Aldrich-Wolfe, Jarrad R. Prasifka, Deirdre A. Prischmann-Voldseth
Introduction
Food production is a global challenge and consequently there is considerable interest in manipulating the rhizobiome using microbial inoculants (MI) to support sustainable agriculture. The effectiveness of MI needs to be evaluated under diverse environmental conditions, especially for nitrogen-fixing legume crops, for which interactions between their associated bacteria and other soil biota may be particularly important.
Materials and Methods
We investigated how three commercially available types of plant growth-promoting MI, alone and in combination (B5: five species of Bacillus bacteria, GP: four species of Trichoderma fungi, N2: Paenibacillus polymyxa bacteria) impacted field pea (Fabales: Fabaceae, Pisum sativum L.) in the greenhouse and a 2-year field experiment.
Results
In the greenhouse, we found that effects of MI on plant performance varied, with positive effects of MI only apparent when plants were grown in the winter and likely under greater stress, because they lacked nodules. Plants grown in the summer had nodules and 2-week-old MI plants had less root biomass and total plant weight than noninoculated controls, but the weight of 4-week-old MI plants was similar to or greater than that of the controls. In the field, the root-to-shoot biomass ratio was highest in noninoculated controls and positive effects of N2 on shoots and B5 on shoots and pod densities did not translate into differences in pod weight or total plant weight. In most cases, plants inoculated with all three inoculants performed similar to those receiving a single inoculant, whereas root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was higher for B5 plants than plants in the other treatments.
Conclusions
Overall, B5 was the inoculant most often associated with increased plant biomass. This research underscores the need to consider microbial and environmental context when evaluating MI.
{"title":"Impact of multiple soil microbial inoculants on biomass and biomass allocation of the legume crop field pea (Fabaceae: Pisum sativum L.)","authors":"Ben Glogoza, Laura Aldrich-Wolfe, Jarrad R. Prasifka, Deirdre A. Prischmann-Voldseth","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12060","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Food production is a global challenge and consequently there is considerable interest in manipulating the rhizobiome using microbial inoculants (MI) to support sustainable agriculture. The effectiveness of MI needs to be evaluated under diverse environmental conditions, especially for nitrogen-fixing legume crops, for which interactions between their associated bacteria and other soil biota may be particularly important.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We investigated how three commercially available types of plant growth-promoting MI, alone and in combination (B5: five species of <i>Bacillus</i> bacteria, GP: four species of <i>Trichoderma</i> fungi, N2: <i>Paenibacillus polymyxa</i> bacteria) impacted field pea (Fabales: Fabaceae, <i>Pisum sativum</i> L.) in the greenhouse and a 2-year field experiment.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In the greenhouse, we found that effects of MI on plant performance varied, with positive effects of MI only apparent when plants were grown in the winter and likely under greater stress, because they lacked nodules. Plants grown in the summer had nodules and 2-week-old MI plants had less root biomass and total plant weight than noninoculated controls, but the weight of 4-week-old MI plants was similar to or greater than that of the controls. In the field, the root-to-shoot biomass ratio was highest in noninoculated controls and positive effects of N2 on shoots and B5 on shoots and pod densities did not translate into differences in pod weight or total plant weight. In most cases, plants inoculated with all three inoculants performed similar to those receiving a single inoculant, whereas root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was higher for B5 plants than plants in the other treatments.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Overall, B5 was the inoculant most often associated with increased plant biomass. This research underscores the need to consider microbial and environmental context when evaluating MI.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12060","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50130098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thi Bao-Anh Nguyen, Lina A. Henao, Zelin Li, Long Cheng, Hang-Wei Hu
Introduction
Shelterbelts, which provide protection for livestock and crops against severe weather conditions, have been recognised as important contributors to increased crop yields. Soil microorganisms play important roles in nutrient cycling, soil health and plant performance, thereby exerting significant influence on ecological services in terrestrial ecosystems. However, impacts of shelterbelts on soil microbial communities in pasture ecosystems remain poorly studied.
Materials and Methods
Here, we assessed the effect of shelterbelts (composed of Eucalyptus and native shrubs) on the pasture and nutrient productivity as well as soil bacterial and fungal communities at four distances from the shelterbelts with two different heights in two fields during spring and summer by applying amplicon sequencing, physicochemical and nutritional value analyses.
Results
The results showed that the shelterbelt height, distances from shelterbelts, seasons and their interactive effects substantially affected pasture yield, neutral detergent fibre, metabolisable energy and crude protein yields, but did not increase the pasture productivity in the rows adjacent to the shelterbelts. We also identified that the alpha diversity of bacteria and fungi did not significantly change across distances from the shelterbelts in both fields, but the community structure of soil bacteria and fungi was significantly influenced by distances from the shelterbelts. Interestingly, soil calcium (Ca) and shelterbelts were identified as top predictors of fungal community while soil pH and Ca was key drivers of bacterial community.
Conclusion
Our study provides novel knowledge in the impact of shelterbelts on pasture and nutritional production and soil microbial communities, which contributes to appropriate application and strategic management of the windbreak systems in agriculture production.
{"title":"Impacts of shelterbelt systems on pasture production and soil bacterial and fungal communities in agricultural fields","authors":"Thi Bao-Anh Nguyen, Lina A. Henao, Zelin Li, Long Cheng, Hang-Wei Hu","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12059","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Shelterbelts, which provide protection for livestock and crops against severe weather conditions, have been recognised as important contributors to increased crop yields. Soil microorganisms play important roles in nutrient cycling, soil health and plant performance, thereby exerting significant influence on ecological services in terrestrial ecosystems. However, impacts of shelterbelts on soil microbial communities in pasture ecosystems remain poorly studied.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Here, we assessed the effect of shelterbelts (composed of <i>Eucalyptus</i> and native shrubs) on the pasture and nutrient productivity as well as soil bacterial and fungal communities at four distances from the shelterbelts with two different heights in two fields during spring and summer by applying amplicon sequencing, physicochemical and nutritional value analyses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The results showed that the shelterbelt height, distances from shelterbelts, seasons and their interactive effects substantially affected pasture yield, neutral detergent fibre, metabolisable energy and crude protein yields, but did not increase the pasture productivity in the rows adjacent to the shelterbelts. We also identified that the alpha diversity of bacteria and fungi did not significantly change across distances from the shelterbelts in both fields, but the community structure of soil bacteria and fungi was significantly influenced by distances from the shelterbelts. Interestingly, soil calcium (Ca) and shelterbelts were identified as top predictors of fungal community while soil pH and Ca was key drivers of bacterial community.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our study provides novel knowledge in the impact of shelterbelts on pasture and nutritional production and soil microbial communities, which contributes to appropriate application and strategic management of the windbreak systems in agriculture production.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12059","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50146909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Misato Toda, Florian Walder, Marcel G. A. van der Heijden
Introduction
Nitrogen is a key nutrient for plants. Often less than 50% of the applied nitrogen fertilisers is acquired by crops and nitrogen can be easily lost into the environment causing environmental pollution. Thus, to make agriculture more sustainable, it is important to investigate which factors determine nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). We investigated whether NUE was higher in organically managed soils compared to conventionally managed soils.
Materials and Methods
To test this, we carried out a pot experiment in a greenhouse using soils from 16 fields. The soils were collected from conventionally (eight fields) or organically managed fields (eight fields). In addition, plants received two different 15N enriched N sources (mineral 15N or an organic fertiliser source, namely 15N enriched plant litter). Plants were harvested at three time points, and growth and nitrogen uptake were assessed at each time point.
Results
NUE depended on management type and harvest time and the higher NUE of organically managed soils became more evident towards the second and third harvest. The average NUE at the end of the experiment was 93% and 55% for mineral fertiliser and litter application, respectively. This indicated that mineral fertilisers were immediately acquired by the plants, while nutrients in organic amendments had a lower availability and probably would be supplied later but steadier. Further, NUE was positively linked to microbial biomass, soil organic carbon content, and aggregate size, indicating that enhanced soil quality and soil health leads to a more efficient use of fertilisers.
Conclusion
Our results indicate that organic management and soil health promote a more efficient use of nutrients and contribute to a more sustainable agriculture.
{"title":"Organic management and soil health promote nutrient use efficiency","authors":"Misato Toda, Florian Walder, Marcel G. A. van der Heijden","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12058","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Nitrogen is a key nutrient for plants. Often less than 50% of the applied nitrogen fertilisers is acquired by crops and nitrogen can be easily lost into the environment causing environmental pollution. Thus, to make agriculture more sustainable, it is important to investigate which factors determine nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). We investigated whether NUE was higher in organically managed soils compared to conventionally managed soils.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To test this, we carried out a pot experiment in a greenhouse using soils from 16 fields. The soils were collected from conventionally (eight fields) or organically managed fields (eight fields). In addition, plants received two different <sup>15</sup>N enriched N sources (mineral <sup>15</sup>N or an organic fertiliser source, namely <sup>15</sup>N enriched plant litter). Plants were harvested at three time points, and growth and nitrogen uptake were assessed at each time point.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>NUE depended on management type and harvest time and the higher NUE of organically managed soils became more evident towards the second and third harvest. The average NUE at the end of the experiment was 93% and 55% for mineral fertiliser and litter application, respectively. This indicated that mineral fertilisers were immediately acquired by the plants, while nutrients in organic amendments had a lower availability and probably would be supplied later but steadier. Further, NUE was positively linked to microbial biomass, soil organic carbon content, and aggregate size, indicating that enhanced soil quality and soil health leads to a more efficient use of fertilisers.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results indicate that organic management and soil health promote a more efficient use of nutrients and contribute to a more sustainable agriculture.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12058","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50132499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nathali M. Machado-de-Lima, James Charlesworth, Jana Stewart, Mark K. J. Ooi, Miriam Muñoz-Rojas
Introduction
Biocrust cyanobacteria have a large potential as biofertilizers for restoring degraded ecosystems because of their ability to improve soil nutrition and stabilisation, and to produce metabolites such as phytohormones to enhance plant growth. However, important aspects regarding the effects of cyanobacteria on native plants, such as metabolite production or concentration of inoculants, remain unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of different concentrations of cyanobacteria, on the germination and seedling growth of keystone plant species used in dryland restoration. We hypothesised that the studied inoculant would improve germination and seedling growth rates, with specific effects associated with the inoculant's concentration and metabolomic profiles.
Methods
We bioprimed seeds of four native plant species, using a cyanobacterial inoculant with different proportions of Nostoc and Leptolyngbya at two different concentrations. We recorded germination, measured seedling growth, and determined the corrected vigour for each treatment and species. Metabolites produced by the cyanobacterial inoculant were assessed to identify plant growth hormones potentially driving any effects.
Results
There was a clear positive effect on the total germination of Triodia epactia and Triodia wiseana, but negative impacts for Senna notabilis and Grevillea wickhamii. There were also positive effects on root growth, but only for T. epactia, with negative or neutral impacts on the root and shoot growth of other species tested. We detected phytohormones, salicylic acid and indole-3-acetic acid, that were produced by our cyanobacteria inoculant, which are strongly linked to positive effects in early plant growth stages, but also known to inhibit growth when in higher concentrations.
Conclusion
The positive effects of the biopriming protocol used are not uniform and highlight the need to improve our understanding of the effects provided both from different consortia and the concentrations applied when inoculating. There is a very high value in improving restoration outcomes for native vegetation communities in arid and semi-arid regions.
{"title":"Seed biopriming at different concentrations to assess the effects of Cyanobacteria on germination and seedling performance of keystone arid species","authors":"Nathali M. Machado-de-Lima, James Charlesworth, Jana Stewart, Mark K. J. Ooi, Miriam Muñoz-Rojas","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12049","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Biocrust cyanobacteria have a large potential as biofertilizers for restoring degraded ecosystems because of their ability to improve soil nutrition and stabilisation, and to produce metabolites such as phytohormones to enhance plant growth. However, important aspects regarding the effects of cyanobacteria on native plants, such as metabolite production or concentration of inoculants, remain unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of different concentrations of cyanobacteria, on the germination and seedling growth of keystone plant species used in dryland restoration. We hypothesised that the studied inoculant would improve germination and seedling growth rates, with specific effects associated with the inoculant's concentration and metabolomic profiles.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We bioprimed seeds of four native plant species, using a cyanobacterial inoculant with different proportions of <i>Nostoc</i> and <i>Leptolyngbya</i> at two different concentrations. We recorded germination, measured seedling growth, and determined the corrected vigour for each treatment and species. Metabolites produced by the cyanobacterial inoculant were assessed to identify plant growth hormones potentially driving any effects.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>There was a clear positive effect on the total germination of <i>Triodia epactia</i> and <i>Triodia wiseana</i>, but negative impacts for <i>Senna notabilis</i> and <i>Grevillea wickhamii</i>. There were also positive effects on root growth, but only for <i>T. epactia</i>, with negative or neutral impacts on the root and shoot growth of other species tested. We detected phytohormones, salicylic acid and indole-3-acetic acid, that were produced by our cyanobacteria inoculant, which are strongly linked to positive effects in early plant growth stages, but also known to inhibit growth when in higher concentrations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The positive effects of the biopriming protocol used are not uniform and highlight the need to improve our understanding of the effects provided both from different consortia and the concentrations applied when inoculating. There is a very high value in improving restoration outcomes for native vegetation communities in arid and semi-arid regions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12049","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50119147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xuan Zhao, Jinting Cai, Yueqing Song, Jushan Liu, Deli Wang, Ling Wang
Introduction
Livestock overgrazing represents one of the most destructive uses of land in terrestrial ecosystems and threatens biodiversity. However, understanding the effects of livestock overgrazing on below-ground soil microbial diversity is limited, despite soil microbes representing the majority of biodiversity and determining ecosystem functioning.
Materials and Methods
To investigate the effects of overgrazing on soil microbial richness, a long-term grazing exclusion experiment was conducted at six sites including three meadow steppes and three typical steppes in northern China.
Results
Our results revealed that overgrazing decreased bacterial and fungal richness across temperate steppes in northern China, and the biome could regulate the overgrazing effects, especially for fungal richness. Specifically, the negative effects of overgrazing on microbial richness were highly significant in typical steppes while not significant in meadow steppes that contained higher plant diversity and precipitation. Partial least-squares path model showed that overgrazing affected soil microbial richness in highly complex ways, and the affected pathways were different in meadow steppes and typical steppes. The direct negative effects of grazing and their indirect negative effects via soil properties resulted in a significant decrease in microbial richness in typical steppes. In meadow steppes, the indirect beneficial effects via plant attributes offset the direct negative effects of grazing. Consequently, the soil microbial community in meadow steppe resisted overgrazing disturbance.
Conclusion
Our study illuminates the complex and highly biome-dependent grazing effects and pathways on soil microbiota and indicates that meadow steppe may be more resistant or resilient to human disturbance than typical steppe. These findings suggest that different grasslands might be managed differently considering their intrinsic characteristics to help biodiversity conservation. Moreover, future research should focus on the underlying mechanisms of grazing effects on soil microbial richness. Besides grazing-induced plant and soil traits changes, other potential pathways could strongly influence soil microbial diversity.
{"title":"Biome regulates the effects of long-term grazing on soil microbial diversity","authors":"Xuan Zhao, Jinting Cai, Yueqing Song, Jushan Liu, Deli Wang, Ling Wang","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12056","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Livestock overgrazing represents one of the most destructive uses of land in terrestrial ecosystems and threatens biodiversity. However, understanding the effects of livestock overgrazing on below-ground soil microbial diversity is limited, despite soil microbes representing the majority of biodiversity and determining ecosystem functioning.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To investigate the effects of overgrazing on soil microbial richness, a long-term grazing exclusion experiment was conducted at six sites including three meadow steppes and three typical steppes in northern China.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results revealed that overgrazing decreased bacterial and fungal richness across temperate steppes in northern China, and the biome could regulate the overgrazing effects, especially for fungal richness. Specifically, the negative effects of overgrazing on microbial richness were highly significant in typical steppes while not significant in meadow steppes that contained higher plant diversity and precipitation. Partial least-squares path model showed that overgrazing affected soil microbial richness in highly complex ways, and the affected pathways were different in meadow steppes and typical steppes. The direct negative effects of grazing and their indirect negative effects via soil properties resulted in a significant decrease in microbial richness in typical steppes. In meadow steppes, the indirect beneficial effects via plant attributes offset the direct negative effects of grazing. Consequently, the soil microbial community in meadow steppe resisted overgrazing disturbance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our study illuminates the complex and highly biome-dependent grazing effects and pathways on soil microbiota and indicates that meadow steppe may be more resistant or resilient to human disturbance than typical steppe. These findings suggest that different grasslands might be managed differently considering their intrinsic characteristics to help biodiversity conservation. Moreover, future research should focus on the underlying mechanisms of grazing effects on soil microbial richness. Besides grazing-induced plant and soil traits changes, other potential pathways could strongly influence soil microbial diversity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12056","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50148078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Laly Rouch, Stéphane Follain, Eric Pimet, Florian Bizouard, Elodie Cognard, Olivier Mathieu, Manuel Blouin
Introduction
Humanity is facing two great challenges: producing enough food for a growing population and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, we investigated the choice of specific wheat varieties to improve carbon storage in soil while producing enough grain to assure food security. We hypothesize that ancient wheat varieties could store more carbon than modern ones, due to a likely bigger and deeper root system or to more recalcitrant root organic matter.
Materials and Methods
We conducted a field experiment with four modern and four ancient wheat varieties, on four different sites with contrasted soil properties. Root morphology was assessed by image analysis and potential CO2 emissions by incubation for 60 days. Since in situ carbon storage differences between ancient and modern varieties were expected to be weak and not cumulated due to rotation, we estimated expected CO2 emissions from root biomass and potential CO2 emissions. The grain yield was also measured.
Results
The breeding type (ancient vs. modern varieties) affected root length in two of our four sites, with longer roots for ancient varieties, but it did not affect other root traits such as biomass. The breeding type also affected CO2 emissions, with higher measured CO2 emissions for modern than ancient varieties in Arenic Cambisol conditions (Morvan), and higher estimated (considering root biomass variations) CO2 emissions for modern varieties in Rendzic Leptosol conditions (Saint Romain). Root traits and estimated CO2 emissions were also dependent on the soil properties of the different sites. We did not find any significant differences in grain yield between ancient and modern varieties.
Conclusion
A possible trade-off between carbon storage and grain production was expected, but our results suggest that some types of soil can support both high grain yield and C storage, especially those with an important depth, a neutral pH and a fine texture.
{"title":"Ancient and modern wheat varieties: A trade-off between soil CO2 emissions and grain yield?","authors":"Laly Rouch, Stéphane Follain, Eric Pimet, Florian Bizouard, Elodie Cognard, Olivier Mathieu, Manuel Blouin","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12048","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Humanity is facing two great challenges: producing enough food for a growing population and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, we investigated the choice of specific wheat varieties to improve carbon storage in soil while producing enough grain to assure food security. We hypothesize that ancient wheat varieties could store more carbon than modern ones, due to a likely bigger and deeper root system or to more recalcitrant root organic matter.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted a field experiment with four modern and four ancient wheat varieties, on four different sites with contrasted soil properties. Root morphology was assessed by image analysis and potential CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by incubation for 60 days. Since in situ carbon storage differences between ancient and modern varieties were expected to be weak and not cumulated due to rotation, we estimated expected CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from root biomass and potential CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. The grain yield was also measured.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The breeding type (ancient vs. modern varieties) affected root length in two of our four sites, with longer roots for ancient varieties, but it did not affect other root traits such as biomass. The breeding type also affected CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, with higher measured CO<sub>2</sub> emissions for modern than ancient varieties in Arenic Cambisol conditions (Morvan), and higher estimated (considering root biomass variations) CO<sub>2</sub> emissions for modern varieties in Rendzic Leptosol conditions (Saint Romain). Root traits and estimated CO<sub>2</sub> emissions were also dependent on the soil properties of the different sites. We did not find any significant differences in grain yield between ancient and modern varieties.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A possible trade-off between carbon storage and grain production was expected, but our results suggest that some types of soil can support both high grain yield and C storage, especially those with an important depth, a neutral pH and a fine texture.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12048","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50155525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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