Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment最新文献

{"title":"A large-scale survey reveals agro-ecological factors influence spatio-temporal distribution and epidemics of maize leaf blight: Implications for prioritizing sustainable management options","authors":"Habtamu Terefe,&nbsp;Getachew G. Mengesha,&nbsp;Getnet Yitayih,&nbsp;Girma A. Bogale","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12070","DOIUrl":"10.1002/sae2.12070","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Productivity of maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) is predominantly constrained by diseases, weeds, and insect pests. The northern leaf blight (NLB) disease, caused by <i>Exserohilum turcicum</i>, inflicts significant maize yield losses in the tropics and humid tropics, including Ethiopia. A large-scale field survey was conducted to assess the spatio-temporal distribution of maize NLB in southern Ethiopia, and to determine the association of maize farming practices and agro-ecological factors with NLB epidemics during 2016–2019.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A total of 814 maize farms were assessed in 12 major maize-producing districts. During the assessment, data related to the disease, crop, farming practices and agro-ecological factors were collected. The associations of disease severity with independent factors were determined using the ordinal logistic regression model.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The results showed that all studied districts and zones recorded high (≥85%) NLB prevalence over the 4 years, and the disease continues to be a major threat to maize production. Variable disease severity was recorded across districts/zones during the study periods. The highest (75.45%) mean severity was recorded from Boreda, followed by Konso (75.36%), Bonke (71.61%) and Derashe (71.30%), while Mihirab Abaya (33.25%) and Arba Minch (38.285%) districts recorded the lowest mean severity. In the multiple regression model, zone, altitude, cropping year, land preparation, NPS fertilization, weeding practice, growth stage and cropping system were highly significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001) associated with disease severity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Maize cultivation at an altitude of ≤1500 m with intermediate to good weeding practices, recommended NPS (51–100 kg ha^–1) fertilization, mixed- and intercropping systems, sparse plant (≤20 plants m^‒2) population, and vegetative to blistering growth stages had significant relationships with low (≤25, 26%–50%) disease severity, and can be considered as management options to reduce NLB pressure and yield losses to sustainably ensure maize production and productivity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"2 4","pages":"513-528"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12070","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135815289","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":"Microdosing of nitrogen fertiliser and cattle manure under in situ rainwater harvesting to improve maize production in smallholder farming system in a semiarid area of Zimbabwe","authors":"Andrew T. Kugedera,&nbsp;Letticia K. Kokerai","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12071","DOIUrl":"10.1002/sae2.12071","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Maize production in smallholder farmers located in semiarid areas of Zimbabwe are mainly constrained by soil moisture and nutrient stress. Moisture stress is mainly due to erratic rainfall, high rates of evapotranspiration and limited knowledge of the use of in situ rainwater harvesting (IRWH) techniques. Tied ridges (TRs) are one of the best IRWH techniques which have good potential in mitigating climate change.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study used TR, planting pit (PP) and conventional tillage (CT) as main factors and four rates (0, 29.25, 58.5 and 89.5 kg N ha⁻¹) of nitrogen (N) as subplot factor. Soil organic carbon and available phosphorous were determined using Oslen method where soils were incubated for 2 h at 110°C. Smallholder farmers are limited to apply large quantities of nutrients hence the need for microdosing. The study objective was to evaluate the effects of nutrient microdosing and IRHW techniques on maize grain yield, rainwater use efficiency (RWUE), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and return on investment in semiarid areas of Zimbabwe.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Interaction of TR and N microdosing significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) improved maize grain yields. IRWH also showed significant effects (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) on maize grain yields with a trend: TR &gt; PP &gt; CT. RWUE and NUE were significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) improved with the interaction of IRWH and N. Application of 58.5 kg N ha⁻¹ had the highest NUE under TR. TR had the highest (US$1747.23) return on investment when combined with 89.5 kg N ha⁻¹ during 2021/22 cropping season.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The use of TR and 89.5 kg N ha⁻¹ proved to be a potential strategy in increasing maize grain yields, produce higher return on investment and increase RWUE. The use of TRs and 89.5 kg N ha⁻¹ is recommended because of high maize grain yield, RWUE and return on investment.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12071","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135815117","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":"Tracking endolithic microbiomes to support the sustainability and functioning of global drylands","authors":"Claudia Coleine,&nbsp;Eleonora Egidi,&nbsp;Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo,&nbsp;Laura Selbmann","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12069","DOIUrl":"10.1002/sae2.12069","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Drylands cover almost half of the planet and support &gt;25% the global population. In this era of global warming, they are expected to continue expanding by the end of the century as a consequence of predicted increases in aridity, which will affect multiple global locations that are already characterised by extreme temperatures, low and variable rainfall, and low soil fertility. In these fragile ecosystems, where microorganisms are integral to maintain functioning and primary productivity, endoliths (i.e., rock-inhabiting microorganisms) play a key role in soil formation and dynamics and are and critical drivers of ecological succession. Here, we posit that endolithic microbes could also function as early alarm warning indicators for environmental changes in the most arid ecosystems. Nevertheless, studies on endoliths are still rather fragmentary and mainly focused in a few specific dry areas such as the Antarctic or Atacama deserts. A global appraisal of the structure and function of the endolithic microbiome is needed for the assessment of the current state of dryland biodiversity worldwide, and to identify the regions that are more vulnerable to global changes. Such an effort will provide new knowledge and will implement official and international initiatives to track and conserve biodiversity on global drylands.</p>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12069","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134970859","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":"Grassland degradation induces high dietary niche overlap between two common livestock: cattle and sheep","authors":"Man Xu,&nbsp;Yueqing Song,&nbsp;Yipeng Zhou,&nbsp;Yao Wang,&nbsp;Tongtong Xu,&nbsp;Xuan Zhao,&nbsp;Zhiqiang Li,&nbsp;Ling Wang","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12066","DOIUrl":"10.1002/sae2.12066","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Diet selection of grazing livestock is one of the critical factors affecting the diversity and composition of plant communities in grasslands, with consequent impacts for ecosystem functioning. Co-grazing of multiple livestock species could create additive or complementary effects on plant communities due to diet overlap or differentiation among livestock species. However, there is only limited knowledge about diet overlap and differentiation of co-occurring livestock species and whether or how these diet characteristics change with grassland degradation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We experimentally test the diets of two commonly co-occurring livestock species (cattle and sheep) and the dietary niche partitioning/overlap between them in non-degraded, moderately and severely degraded grasslands.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cattle exhibited broader diet than sheep, and diet overlap between species was lower in non-degraded grasslands. As grassland degradation increased the availability of annual plants, interspecific niche overlap between cattle and sheep gradually increased, and cattle suffered a resulting dietary niche compression. Sheep maintained a relatively narrow and constant dietary breadth.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The increasing dietary niche overlap between livestock species with increasing extent of grassland degradation indicated increased additive effects of cattle and sheep co-grazing on plant community, and thus stronger effects on plant community composition and diversity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"2 4","pages":"373-381"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12066","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87831078","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":"Seasonality regulates the taxonomic and functional compositions of protists responding to climate warming in forest ecosystems","authors":"Fangfang Li,&nbsp;Anqi Sun,&nbsp;Xiaofei Liu,&nbsp;Peixin Ren,&nbsp;Bing-Xue Wu,&nbsp;Ju-Pei Shen,&nbsp;Li Bi,&nbsp;Ji-Zheng He,&nbsp;Yusheng Yang,&nbsp;Hang-Wei Hu","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12068","DOIUrl":"10.1002/sae2.12068","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Protists are unicellular eukaryotes including important predators, parasites and phototrophs, and play pivotal roles in organic matter decomposition, biogeochemical nutrient cycling and various ecosystem functions. Unravelling the impact of climate warming on soil protists is paramount in predicting how these microorganisms will continue to provide essential ecosystem services in the face of changing climatic conditions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We examined the effects of 5-year simulated climate warming scenario, with temperatures increased by 4°C above ambient levels, on the diversity and community composition of soil protists, as well as their interactions with other microorganisms in both natural and plantation forest ecosystems during three seasons: summer, autumn and winter.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found a season-dependent response of protists to climate warming, with a significant decrease in protist diversity during winter in natural forests. Furthermore, we identified significant alterations in the community compositions of protists during summer in both natural and plantation forests, as well as during winter in both forest types, under warming. Our analysis pinpointed specific functional protist taxa, such as consumers, parasites and phototrophs, which exhibited significant shifts in their relative abundances under warming. Additionally, we found that warming facilitated trophic interactions between protists and bacteria, while also strengthening interactions between bacterial and fungal communities. Warming could induce direct modifications in protist community compositions or indirectly affect them by modifying bacterial and fungal communities, as revealed by structural equation modelling.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings demonstrate the substantial impact of warming on the taxonomic and functional compositions of protists in forest ecosystems, with the magnitude of these effects varying across seasons. Our study implicates that ongoing climate warming could have significant consequences for the profiles of soil protists, as well as their trophic interactions with bacteria and fungi, highlighting the importance of considering these effects for the sustainable provision of ecosystem functions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"2 4","pages":"529-540"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12068","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90892312","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":"Effect of rhizobium inoculation on rhizosphere phosphorous dynamics and fertilised phosphorous use efficiency in a maize–pigeon pea intercropping system in weathered tropical soil","authors":"Saki Yamamoto,&nbsp;Shin Okazaki,&nbsp;Nakei D. Monica,&nbsp;Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu,&nbsp;Haruo Tanaka,&nbsp;Soh Sugihara","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12067","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Low phosphorus (P) use efficiency (PUE) of fertiliser is a critical problem in sustainable crop production, especially in strongly weathered tropical soils with a high P-fixation capacity. Both intercropping and rhizobium inoculation have shown to improve the P availability of rhizosphere soil, but the effect of a combined approach of using both intercropping and rhizobium inoculation is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of rhizobium inoculation on the soil–plant P dynamics and fertilised PUE under the intercropping system in strongly weathered tropical soil.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted an 85-day cultivation pot experiment with pigeon pea (PP) and maize using highly weathered tropical soil under eight treatments: monocropping (CS) or intercropping, with or without rhizobium (<i>Bradyrhizobium elkanii</i> USDA61<i>)</i> inoculation (−I, +I) and with or without P fertilisation (0P, 50P) (2 × 2 × 2 = 8 treatments). We evaluated the effects of intercropping and rhizobium inoculation on plant growth parameters, P dynamics of the rhizosphere and bulk soil using the Hedley P fractionation method, the amount of organic acid from plant roots as a plant P-mobilising capacity, and fertilised PUE.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Total plant P uptake per pot was significantly increased by intercropping but not by combining intercropping and rhizobium inoculation, resulting in better fertilised PUE only in intercropping. The available inorganic P (Pi) and less labile Pi of the soil were higher in the rhizosphere than those in the bulk by intercropping under 50P and were similar in PP + I under 50 P. The amount of organic acid per pot under 50P increased with each treatment, that is, intercropping and rhizobium inoculation, but not with their combination.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The intercropping system has a strong potential to improve PUE by stimulating the P-mobilising capacity of intercropping plant roots, whereas rhizobium inoculation of the intercropping system did not improve PUE in this study.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"2 3","pages":"357-368"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12067","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50150267","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":"Influence of manure and tillage on soil carbon and soil organic matter in silt loam soils of corn–soybean–forage systems","authors":"Kathleen M. Bridges,&nbsp;Srabani Das,&nbsp;Heather Neikirk,&nbsp;Rattan Lal","doi":"10.1002/sae2.12064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12064","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>An increasing number of farms in Northeast Ohio are being managed under reduced or conservation tillage practices, while those under conventional or intensive tillage are decreasing. Additionally, the use of on-site farm manure among the growers is commonplace. Therefore, it is important to understand how the various management practices of these farms are impacting soil health, soil carbon stocks and crop yields.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This on-farm study takes place in the temperate climate of the midwestern United States on a silt loam soil. It focuses on the impact of tillage (mouldboard plough [MP], vertical/chisel tillage [VT] and no-tillage [NT]) and fertilizer (manure included or not) management practices on soil properties. Twelve agriculture fields and two woodland sites, for reference, on Canfield silt loam soils were selected for assessment in this project. Corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.)–soybean (<i>Glycine max</i> L.) rotations and mixed forage Hayfields were the crops considered. Crop yields at each farm along with soil organic matter (SOM), total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), bulk density, pH, soil test phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) were assessed at two depths, 0–15 and 15–30 cm. Results of the first 2 years of the study (2020 and 2021) are presented here.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>At the surface soil depth (0–15 cm), TC content was not different among cultivated fields (36 Mg  ha⁻¹), but was significantly less than Hayfields, which had the same amount of TC as the wood sites (58 Mg ha⁻¹). There was no significant difference in soil test P, K or S due to tillage. Analysis of variance revealed no statistical difference due to fertilizer. At the soil surface depth, principal component analysis, supported by analysis of similarities (ANOSIM), determined that measurements of TC, TN and SOM distinguished a difference in Hayfields compared to cultivated fields (<i>R</i>-statistic = 0.33; <i>p</i> = 0.001), but little difference when the 15–30 cm soil depth was considered (<i>R</i>-statistic = 0.17; <i>p</i> = 0.001). ANOSIM also determined a slightly significant (<i>R</i>-statistic = 0.065; <i>p</i> = 0.031) difference in fertilizer at the deeper soil depth. Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between SOM and corn grain yield (<i>r</i> = 0.59) and TN and corn grain yield (<i>r</i> = 0.39).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>There was no significant loss of TC among in","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"2 3","pages":"337-345"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/sae2.12064","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50127599","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":"Potassium transport and use efficiency for sustainable fertigation in protected cropping","authors":"Sonali,&nbsp;Samsul Huda,&nbsp;Vijay Jayasena,&nbsp;Talaat Ahmed,&nbsp;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⁺) 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.</p>","PeriodicalId":100834,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment","volume":"2 3","pages":"346-356"},"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}

{"title":"Soil chemical and microbial gradients determine accumulation of root-exuded secondary metabolites and plant–soil feedbacks in the field","authors":"Valentin Gfeller,&nbsp;Selma Cadot,&nbsp;Jan Waelchli,&nbsp;Sophie Gulliver,&nbsp;Céline Terrettaz,&nbsp;Lisa Thönen,&nbsp;Pierre Mateo,&nbsp;Christelle A. M. Robert,&nbsp;Fabio Mascher,&nbsp;Thomas Steinger,&nbsp;Moritz Bigalke,&nbsp;Matthias Erb,&nbsp;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":"2 3","pages":"173-188"},"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}

{"title":"Sustainable resource recovery and process improvement in anaerobic digesters using hydrochar: A circular bio-economic perspective","authors":"Sadish Oumabady,&nbsp;Sangeetha P. Ramasamy,&nbsp;S. Paul Sebastian,&nbsp;Rajinikanth Rajagopal,&nbsp;Parthiba K. Obulisamy,&nbsp;Rory Doherty,&nbsp;Sree Nanukuttan,&nbsp;Satish K. Bhardwaj,&nbsp;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":"2 3","pages":"328-336"},"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}