Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment最新文献

{"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}

{"title":"Effects of organic amendments on crop production and soil fauna community in contrasting Zambian soils","authors":"Toru Hamamoto,&nbsp;Nhamo Nhamo,&nbsp;David Chikoye,&nbsp;Ikabongo Mukumbuta,&nbsp;Yoshitaka Uchida","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12120","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12120","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The use of organic materials has been widely promoted to improve soil health. Surface-active soil macrofauna serves as a key biological indicator of soil health as it supports agricultural productivity. However, the effects of organic amendments on soil fauna and their relationships with crop production are still unknown in C-limited soil conditions. A field experiment was conducted under different fertilizer management in two soils with contrasting C content (14.2/5.1 g C kg⁻¹ at the Lusaka/Kabwe site) in Zambia. Our results show a contrast in soil fauna abundance in two soils. During the experimental period, we collected a total of 926 individual soil fauna in all plots at the Lusaka site, while only 145 individual soil fauna were collected at the Kabwe site. Soil fauna was predominantly composed of Araneae, Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diplopoda, and Orthoptera. Organic amendments significantly increased soil fauna abundance only at the Lusaka site, and the abundance of Coleoptera and Diplopoda was highly related to the crop yield. At the Kabwe site, the effect of organic amendment on soil fauna abundance was minimal, although significantly higher crop yields were observed in soils with organic amendment. These contrasting results may be due to soil nutrient and water status between different sites. Our findings suggest that site-specific strategies are required to protect and enhance soil fauna communities in C-depleted soils.</p>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12120","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141967519","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 impact of water hyacinth biochar on maize growth and soil properties: The influence of pyrolysis temperature","authors":"Ashenafei Gezahegn,&nbsp;Yihenew G. Selassie,&nbsp;Getachew Agegnehu,&nbsp;Solomon Addisu,&nbsp;Fekremariam Asargew Mihretie,&nbsp;Yudai Kohira,&nbsp;Mekuanint Lewoyehu,&nbsp;Shinjiro Sato","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12117","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12117","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Options for managing water hyacinths (WHs) include converting the biomass into biochar for soil amendment. However, less has been known about the impact of WH-based biochar developed in varying pyrolysis temperatures on plant growth and soil qualities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A pot experiment was undertaken in a factorial combination of WH biochars (WHBs) developed at three temperatures (350°C, 550°C and 750°C) and two application rates (5 and 20 t ha⁻¹), plus a control without biochar. Maize was grown as a test crop for 2 months under natural conditions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our study showed that applying WHB developed between 350°C and 750°C at 20 t ha⁻¹ increased maize shoot and root dry biomass by 47.7% to 17.6% and 78.4% to 54.1%, respectively. Nevertheless, raising the biochar pyrolysis temperature decreased maize growth, whereas increasing the application rate displayed a positive effect. The application of WHB generated at 350°C and 550°C at 20 t ha⁻¹ resulted in significant improvements in soil total nitrogen (17.9% to 25%), cation exchange capacity (27.3% to 20.2%), and ammonium-nitrogen (60.7% to 59.6%), respectively, over the control. Additionally, applying WHB produced from 350°C to 750°C at 20 t ha⁻¹ enhanced soil carbon by 38.5%–56.3%, compared to the control. Conversely, applying biochar produced at 750°C resulted in higher soil pH (6.3 ± 0.103), electrical conductivity (0.23 ± 0.01 dS m⁻¹) and available phosphorus (21.8 ± 2.53 mg kg⁻¹).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>WHBs developed at temperatures of 350°C and 550°C with an application rate of 20 t ha⁻¹ were found to be optimal for growing maize and improving soil characteristics. Our study concludes that pyrolysis temperature significantly governs the effectiveness of biochar produced from a specific biomass source.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12117","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141967718","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":"Evaluation of banana peel extract (Musa sapientum L.) as a natural antimicrobial for livestock farming","authors":"Tistaya Semangoen,&nbsp;Rotruedee Chotigawin,&nbsp;Tanikan Sangnim,&nbsp;Nattida Chailerd,&nbsp;Taddao Pahasup-anan,&nbsp;Kampanart Huanbutta","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12118","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12118","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>One of the primary objectives of managing microbial content in livestock farming is to control diseases in the respective animals. Nevertheless, the pervasive development of drug-resistant bacteria is a consequence of the high levels of antibiotic use that are necessary to achieve this objective. This situation exacerbates animal disease and poses a threat to human health. The purpose of this study was to investigate alternative microbial control methods in livestock farming using banana peel extract.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials &amp; Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of peel extracts from unripe and ripe cultivated bananas were examined and compared.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The results are notable because they show that the unripe banana peel extracts exhibited significantly better antioxidant activity than the ripe banana peel extracts in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) tests. Furthermore, the unripe banana peels showed significant antimicrobial activity in vitro against four bacteria that are commonly found in swine and poultry houses, including <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>, <i>Exiguobacterium indicum</i>, <i>Bacillus cereus, Bacillus siamensis, Bacillus altitudinis, Pantoea ananatis</i>, and <i>Bacillus megaterium</i>. This activity was probably due to their high levels of total phenolic content and total flavonoid content. Then, the spray formulation loaded with the concentrated unripe banana peel extract that was five times higher than the minimum bactericidal concentration was developed and tested. Ethanol, sodium benzoate, tween 80, and glycerine were applied as additives in the spray formulation to increase the extract's solubility and stability. It was found that the developed spray formulation effectively inhibited the growth of <i>S. epidermidis</i>.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These research outcomes show that the possible application of banana peel extract is an excellent approach because it is an eco-friendly alternative to control microorganisms undesired microbial growth in farm animals.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12118","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141968363","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}