Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment最新文献

{"title":"Pretreatment and fermentation of lignocellulose from oil palm fronds as a potential source of fibre for ruminant feed: a review","authors":"Rita Kusmiati,&nbsp;Yolani Syaputri,&nbsp; Abun,&nbsp;Ratu Safitri","doi":"10.1002/sae2.70003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70003","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Oil palm fronds are plantation waste widely available in large quantities and have great potential as a source of ruminant feed due to their high fibre content. However, the lignocellulose content can inhibit feed digestion. This review examines methods that can reduce the lignocellulose content and improve the nutritional quality of palm fronds. The lignin content of palm fronds ranges from 17% to 20%, while the maximum lignin content in ruminant feed is 7%. Processing processes such as pretreatment are needed to reduce the lignocellulose content. Pretreatment can be done physically, chemically, biologically or in combination with other methods. Physical pretreatment aims to reduce the size of lignocellulose, chemical pretreatment seeks to break the crystallinity structure of lignocellulose with chemical solutions such as acids or alkalis, and biological pretreatment degrades the structure of lignocellulose with the help of enzymes produced by microbes. The protein content of palm fronds also does not meet the feed standard, which is only 5%, while according to Indonesian national standards, ruminant feed, especially cattle, must have a minimum protein content of 14%. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the nutritional quality of palm fronds through fermentation methods. The selection of the right microbes is the main factor in the success of increasing nutrition. The SSF fermentation method is frequently used in feed manufacturing. By synthesizing the current knowledge, this review also highlights the challenges of the pretreatment process as well as solutions that include prospects in the research of palm fronds as ruminant feed, which in turn can contribute to the increased utilization of lignocellulosic waste as animal feed.</p>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.70003","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142273060","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}

{"title":"Formulation challenges associated with microbial biofertilizers in sustainable agriculture and paths forward","authors":"Ayomide Emmanuel Fadiji,&nbsp;Chao Xiong,&nbsp;Eleonora Egidi,&nbsp;Brajesh K. Singh","doi":"10.1002/sae2.70006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70006","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sustainable increase in agriculture productivity is confronted by over-reliance and over-use of synthetic chemical fertilizers. With a market projection of $5.02 billion by 2030, biofertilizers are gaining momentum as a supplement and, in some cases, as an alternative to chemical fertilizers. Biofertilizers can improve the nutritional supply to the plant and simultaneously can improve soil health, reduce greenhouse emissions, and hence directly contribute towards environmental sustainability. Plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPMs) are particularly receiving significant attention as biofertilizers. They are widely known for their ability to improve plant growth via increasing nutrient availability and use efficiency. However, except for a few successful cases, the commercialization of PGPM-based inoculants is still limited, mainly due to lack of field efficacy and consistency. Lack of effective formulation technologies that keep microbial inoculants viable during storage, transport and field application is considered one of the key factors that drive inconsistent efficacy of microbial biofertilizers. In this review, we identify current challenges associated with the application and formulation of microbial inoculants. We propose future paths, including advancement in formulation technologies that are potentially efficient, eco-friendly and cost-effective. We argue that to enhance the global adoption of biofertilizers, new innovations based on transdisciplinary approaches are indispensable. The emerging framework should encompass a robust quality control system at all stages. Additionally, the active partnership between the academic and industry stakeholders will pave the way for enhanced global adoption of microbial fertilizers.</p>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.70006","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142273062","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}

{"title":"Biodiverse coffee plantations provide co-benefits without compromising yield","authors":"Dale R. Wright,&nbsp;Ascelin Gordon,&nbsp;Ruth E. Bennett,&nbsp;Matthew J. Selinske,&nbsp;Pia E. Lentini,&nbsp;Georgia E. Garrard,&nbsp;Amanda D. Rodewald,&nbsp;Sarah A. Bekessy","doi":"10.1002/sae2.70005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70005","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Coffee is a ubiquitous global commodity that is cultivated with a wide range of practices, each with different, yet poorly understood trade-offs between management intensity, yield, and biodiversity. For example, monocultures prioritise coffee production, but do not necessarily deliver the highest coffee yields, nor the greatest profits. Understanding these trade-offs is key to informing sustainable coffee production.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We synthesized the literature on these relationships, finding that agroforestry farming systems support greater biodiversity while often producing coffee yields that are comparable to monoculture systems.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Over half of studies (57%) failed to detect a trade-off between yield and biodiversity in agroforestry systems. Of the 16 cases that investigated pollinators and yield, 85% showed a positive relationship. Farm proximity to natural forests also improved both biodiversity outcomes and coffee yields.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Studies in our data set revealed that agroforestry systems can deliver additional ecosystem services including carbon sequestration and pest control, with economic benefits accrued through income diversification and improvements to coffee bean quality. Our results illustrate how agroforestry systems within the coffee sector can return positive socio-ecological outcomes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.70005","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142245006","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}

{"title":"Compositional and structural characterization of bioenergy digestate and its aerobic derivatives compost and vermicompost","authors":"Elisabetta Loffredo,&nbsp;Danilo Vona,&nbsp;Carlo Porfido,&nbsp;Maria Michela Giangregorio,&nbsp;Antonio Gelsomino","doi":"10.1002/sae2.70002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70002","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In addition to produce biogas, the anaerobic digestion process releases a significant quantity of solid digestate (DG), a C-rich byproduct suitable both as a soil improver and as a biosorbent of organic and inorganic pollutants. This study considered a mixed biowaste DG and two aerobic DG-derivatives such as compost (CP) and vermicompost (VC).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A multianalytical approach was adopted to comprehensively characterize DG, CP and VC. Elemental composition was determined by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectroscopy; micromorphological features, surface elements and surface area were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) technique and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis; functional properties were investigated by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>TXRF analysis showed that DG had the highest K content (~8.9 g kg⁻¹), while VC had the maximum P, S and Ca contents, and appreciable levels of essential plant micronutrients, such as Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn. SEM-EDX technique evidenced heterogeneous surfaces and low porosity of all materials. BET analysis showed relevant specific surface areas of DG, CP and, especially, VC (~1.6 m² g⁻¹). FTIR-ATR and Raman spectroscopy allowed to identify various aliphatic and aromatic functional groups of the materials and provided information on their major molecular classes, such as lignocellulosic moieties and inorganic components. The latter techniques also contributed to understand the chemical transformations of the DG after the aerobic treatments.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The overall results obtained confirmed the valuable potential of these materials in improving the physical and chemical fertility of the soil and in retaining pollutants, with consequent benefits for mantaining soil productivity and preserving ecosystem health.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.70002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142137644","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}

{"title":"The biostimulatory effect of humic-based soil amendment on plant growth, root nodulation, symbiotic nitrogen fixation and yield of field pea (Pisum sativum L.)","authors":"Pramod Rathor,&nbsp;Punita Upadhyay,&nbsp;Aman Ullah,&nbsp;Thomas D. Warkentin,&nbsp;Linda Yuya Gorim,&nbsp;Malinda S. Thilakarathna","doi":"10.1002/sae2.70001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70001","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Pea is one of the most important pulse legumes globally due to its high protein, which is due to its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) should be optimized to maximize nitrogen fixation and achieve higher yields with more grain protein. The use of humic-based soil amendments in crop production has garnered considerable attention in recent years due to their biostimulatory effect in improving plant growth, yield, nutritional quality and soil health. This study examines the impact of a humic-based soil amendment (Humalite) on root nodulation, SNF, plant growth, yield and grain protein of pea.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Chemical characterization was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Pea plants inoculated with Rhizobia were grown in pots under greenhouse conditions with five different Humalite rates (0, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 kg ha⁻¹). SNF capacity was assessed using the ¹⁵N-isotope dilution method.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>FTIR analysis revealed the abundant presence of hydroxyl (-OH) and carboxyl (-CO) functional groups in Humalite. Plants treated with Humalite displayed augmented root traits [root length (21%–50%), root surface area (24%–51%), volume (26%–53%), average nodule weight (11%–91%)], plant biomass [shoots (13%–29%) and roots (29%–54%)], shoot nitrogen concentration (12%–33%), shoot total nitrogen content (38%–53%), percentage nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (8%–14%) and total shoot nitrogen fixed (48%–80%) compared to the control plants at the flowering stage. Furthermore, at seed maturity stage, plants treated with Humalite at 400 and 1600 kg ha⁻¹ exhibited a significant increase in plant biomass (4%–14%), number of seeds (8%–16%), seed weight (3%–11%), seed nitrogen content (8%–20%) and total seed nitrogen fixed (7%–22%) compared to the control plants.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings demonstrate that humic-based soil amendment can effectively enhance plant growth, root nodulation, SNF and seed yield, thereby supporting sustainable agricultural practices.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.70001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142123290","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}

{"title":"Farmers' exposure to communication media in receiving agriculture extension and rural advisory services for farm sustainability","authors":"Md Maruf Billah,&nbsp;Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman,&nbsp;Santiago Mahimairaja,&nbsp;Alvin Lal,&nbsp;Ravi Naidu","doi":"10.1002/sae2.70000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70000","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Effective communication among agricultural stakeholders is the part and parcel of sustainable agricultural development. The study investigated farmers' exposure to communication media in receiving agriculture extension and rural advisory services (AERAS) for strengthening sustainable agricultural development.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Materials and Methods&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;The blended method research was conducted in Bangladesh employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches with 390 selected respondents utilizing structured questionnaire during 2022–2023. Statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 29, along with appropriate scales and scoring techniques were utilized to analyse the data.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Results&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Findings indicated that most (94.6%) of the respondents get low to medium exposure to communication media, but majority (75.4%) of them were interested in contacting extension and advisory services without payment (73.6%). A significant portion (70.3%) of the participants perceived that, services delivered by extension officers facilitate farm sustainability. It was also found that respondents were mostly exposed to personal media (&lt;span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;math&gt;\u0000 &lt;semantics&gt;\u0000 &lt;mrow&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;semantics&gt;\u0000 &lt;mover&gt;\u0000 &lt;mi&gt;x&lt;/mi&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;mo&gt;̄&lt;/mo&gt;\u0000 &lt;/mover&gt;\u0000 &lt;/semantics&gt;\u0000 &lt;/mrow&gt;\u0000 &lt;annotation&gt; $mathop{x}limits^{unicode{x00304}}$&lt;/annotation&gt;\u0000 &lt;/semantics&gt;&lt;/math&gt; = 377.4) whereas less exposed to mass media (&lt;span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;math&gt;\u0000 &lt;semantics&gt;\u0000 &lt;mrow&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;semantics&gt;\u0000 &lt;mover&gt;\u0000 &lt;mi&gt;x&lt;/mi&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;mo&gt;̄&lt;/mo&gt;\u0000 &lt;/mover&gt;\u0000 &lt;/semantics&gt;\u0000 &lt;/mrow&gt;\u0000 &lt;annotation&gt; $mathop{x}limits^{unicode{x00304}}$&lt;/annotation&gt;\u0000 &lt;/semantics&gt;&lt;/math&gt; = 177.8) for desired services. Moreover, knowledge, proximity to office, access to extension services, organizational participation, innovativeness, training exposure were identified as influential factors increasing the extent of communication exposure.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.70000","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142100007","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}

{"title":"Foundations for a national assessment of soil biodiversity","authors":"Carlos A. Guerra,&nbsp;Nico Eisenhauer,&nbsp;Christoph C. Tebbe,&nbsp;Willi E. R. Xylander,&nbsp;C. Albert,&nbsp;Doreen Babin,&nbsp;Bartosz Bartkowski,&nbsp;Benjamin Burkhard,&nbsp;Juliane Filser,&nbsp;Dagmar Haase,&nbsp;Karin Hohberg,&nbsp;Janina Kleemann,&nbsp;Sanina Kolb,&nbsp;Christina Lachmann,&nbsp;Matthias C. Rillig,&nbsp;Jörg Römbke,&nbsp;Liliane Ruess,&nbsp;Stefan Scheu,&nbsp;Nicole Scheunemann,&nbsp;Bastian Steinhoff-Knopp,&nbsp;Nicole Wellbrock,&nbsp;Christian Ristok","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12116","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Soils, just like all other ecosystem compartments, change over time and, consequently, conditions for soil-inhabiting organisms are also changing, affecting their composition and diversity. Soil biodiversity is a critical component of ecosystems that supports many essential ecosystem functions and services, such as nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, water regulation and biomass production for food, fodder, fibre and energy. However, and despite the importance of soil biodiversity for ecosystem health and human well-being, neither current state, drivers, potential consequences for ecosystem services nor options for sustainable governance of soil biodiversity are well understood. Here, we provide a framework for and argue that conducting a national assessment of soil biodiversity, albeit being a complex endeavour, is fundamental to building a baseline to understand the current state and trends of soil biodiversity, but also to identify the main drivers of change, the impacts of soil biodiversity loss and the potential pathways for conservation and sustainable governance of soil biodiversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12116","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142100005","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}

{"title":"Identifying pollinator-friendly sites within urban green spaces for sustainable urban agriculture","authors":"Ehsan Rahimi,&nbsp;Chuleui Jung","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12109","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The relentless urban expansion has led to the depletion of forests and agricultural lands. Yet, pinpointing viable zones for urban agriculture, particularly concerning pollinator presence, remains a formidable task for city planners.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our study introduces a novel methodology to identify optimal locations for cultivating pollinator-dependent crops. Leveraging species distribution models (SDMs), we generated habitat suitability maps for 243 pollinating insects, including bees (41 species), butterflies (140 species), and hoverflies (62 species) across South Korea. Subsequently, employing Graphab 2.8 software, we categorised 10 major cities in South Korea based on the connectivity of green space patches. Clusters exhibiting greater green space coverage, size, and connectivity displayed higher modularity values. Utilising ArcGIS software's zonal function, we computed key statistical parameters—minimum, maximum, mean, and sum values—of the pollinator taxa maps within each cluster.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our analysis unveiled a robust positive correlation between cluster modularity and the cumulative distribution of pollinators. Regions with heightened modularity exhibited richer pollinator populations, suggesting their suitability for urban agriculture for pollinator-dependent crops.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study proposes that employing graph theory-based clustering of urban green spaces can effectively delineate areas conducive to urban agriculture. This strategic identification of green space clusters with optimal pollinator abundance holds promise for urban agricultural planning and sustainability initiatives.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12109","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142089881","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}

{"title":"Linking biodiversity and biotic interactions to ecosystem functioning","authors":"Ramesha H. Jayaramaiah,&nbsp;Eleonora Egidi,&nbsp;Catriona A. Macdonald,&nbsp;Brajesh K. Singh","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12119","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12119","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Biodiversity is an essential component for ecosystem functioning and stability, with numerous biotic interactions and complementarity playing important roles. The complexity of these relationships can be seen in both above- and belowground ecosystems and understanding these intricate relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) is critical to ecological research, especially in the context of rapidly changing global environments. This review synthesizes contemporary research and fundamental insights into BEF linkages, with a particular emphasis on the function of plant-microbial biotic interactions in shaping aboveground biodiversity and their cascading effects on ecosystem processes. One of the most significant developments is the discovery that microbial communities responsible for a variety of soil functions are inextricably linked to plant communities and ecosystem processes. However, BEF studies rarely explore the relationships between above- and belowground biodiversity components, as well as how global change affects them. In light of this, we propose emerging paths for future study, emphasizing the necessity of global-scale networks and collaborative efforts to address difficult ecological challenges. Addressing these crucial knowledge gaps might help to improve our understanding of the interplay between biodiversity, biotic interactions and ecosystem functions, thereby improving primary productivity as well as ecosystem resilience and sustainability in the face of projected global change.</p>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12119","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142002553","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}

{"title":"Applications of biotechnology for enhancing the shelf life of horticultural crops","authors":"Tesfahun Belay Mihrete,&nbsp;Melkamu Alemayehu Workie,&nbsp;Fenta Assefa Bogale","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12121","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12121","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Horticultural crops, encompassing fruits, vegetables, spices and herbs, play a critical role in providing nutrition and health-promoting compounds. However, their limited storability challenges producers and exporters, resulting in significant postharvest losses. Traditional preservation methods like cold storage, controlled atmosphere storage and packaging techniques have been employed to prolong shelf life, but they have their constraints. Biotechnological interventions, notably genetic engineering, offer promising avenues to address these limitations. Genetic modifications target physiological processes such as ripening and ethylene production, enhancing resistance to postharvest diseases and improving nutritional profiles. For instance, genetically modified tomatoes with prolonged shelf life and reduced susceptibility to fungal infections showcase the potential of genetic engineering. Similarly, genetic modification has been successfully applied to various horticultural crops like apples, bananas and mushrooms, resulting in decreased browning and heightened disease resistance. Emerging technologies such as modified atmosphere packaging, edible coatings and nanoparticle treatments further augment efforts to extend shelf life. Despite their benefits, the debate surrounding genetically modified fruits and vegetables persists due to concerns regarding environmental impact, health implications and ethical considerations. This review offers insights into current practices and research endeavours aimed at enhancing the shelf life of horticultural crops through both traditional and biotechnological means, shedding light on opportunities and hurdles in this domain. Future directions include intensifying basic research to unravel molecular processes in harvested tissues, prioritising investigations that directly benefit consumers and developing sustainable and cost-effective approaches for emerging technologies like modified atmosphere packaging, edible coatings and postharvest treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12121","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141967879","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}