Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment最新文献

{"title":"Foliar iron and zinc applications mitigate salinity stress in Althaea officinalis L.: Effects on yield, antioxidant responses, and mineral composition","authors":"Tahereh Mahdavi Marj,&nbsp;Hassanali Naghdi Badi,&nbsp;Hossein Zeinali,&nbsp;Ali Mehrafarin","doi":"10.1002/agg2.70461","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70461","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Foliar application of micronutrients may help alleviate the adverse effects of salinity on crop plants. This study evaluated the effects of foliar-applied iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) on <i>Althaea officinalis</i> L. grown under saline conditions. A factorial experiment was conducted using three salinity levels (0, 4, and 8 dS m⁻¹, imposed with NaCl) and three concentrations of foliar-applied Fe and Zn (0, 1.5, and 3 mg L⁻¹). Antioxidant-related traits, mineral composition, total phenolic content (TPC), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity were subsequently assessed. Salinity significantly reduced flower number and yield, whereas foliar application of Fe and Zn partly alleviated these reductions. Increasing salinity levels increased the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase, as well as TPC and DPPH radical-scavenging activity. Foliar application of Fe and Zn, particularly at 3 mg L⁻¹, was associated with changes in antioxidant enzyme activities, TPC concentration, and the in vitro DPPH radical-scavenging activity of leaf extracts under saline conditions. Salinity also decreased the concentrations of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and manganese (Mn), while increasing sodium (Na⁺) concentration. Foliar Fe and Zn applications partly moderated these salinity-induced changes in mineral composition. Overall, Fe and Zn application under saline conditions was associated with improved flower production, yield, antioxidant-related responses, phenolic accumulation, and mineral composition in <i>A. officinalis</i>. These findings suggest that foliar Fe and Zn may have potential for improving the performance of <i>A. officinalis</i> under salinity.</p>","PeriodicalId":7567,"journal":{"name":"Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/agg2.70461","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146598","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":"Short-term agronomic consequences of industrial hemp incorporation into traditional corn–soybean rotations","authors":"Rebecca K. McGrail,&nbsp;Jack T. Eaker,&nbsp;Robert C. Pearce,&nbsp;Shawn T. Lucas,&nbsp;Luke A. Moe,&nbsp;Rebecca L. McCulley","doi":"10.1002/agg2.70459","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70459","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Kentucky producers have sought to add industrial hemp (<i>Cannabis sativa</i> L.) for grain, fiber, and/or floral material to their cropping systems since hemp's legalization in the 2018 Farm Bill. This study sought to quantify hemp's impact on ecosystem services provisioned by the traditional corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.)–soybean (<i>Glycine max</i> (L.) Merr.) rotation. We hypothesized that hemp incorporation would diversify crop rotations and positively impact ecosystem services, such as soil nutrient retention and crop yield. This study was conducted at the University of Kentucky North Farm (Lexington, KY) and consisted of six crop rotation treatments in a randomized complete block design with five replications. Cash crop aboveground biomass and yield were quantified at harvest, and belowground biomass was measured by collecting root cores within 2 weeks of harvest. Cover crop wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) aboveground and belowground biomass was measured to evaluate impact on the successive crop. Soil samples were collected before and at completion of the 3-year rotation to quantify soil health impacts. Aboveground and belowground biomass of cash and cover crops were unaffected by hemp's inclusion. Similar results were found for most soil health metrics, including nutrient availability. Grain biomass and fiber hemp root biomass in this study were small (∼4x less than corn) and most comparable to soybean. Overall, this study found that inclusion of industrial hemp does not negatively impact ecosystem services in the short term; however, long-term effects may arise given differences in root biomass and nutrient return via retting compared to traditional cash crops.</p>","PeriodicalId":7567,"journal":{"name":"Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/agg2.70459","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146718","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":"Cotton rotation with single and multispecies cover crops affects yield, quality, and economic outcomes","authors":"Mehtab Muhammad Aslam,&nbsp;Pranay Kumar Kadari,&nbsp;Gurbir Singh,&nbsp;Kelly A. Nelson,&nbsp;Gurpreet Kaur","doi":"10.1002/agg2.70458","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70458","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Cover crops (CCs) have gained popularity in continuous crop production systems due to their agroecosystem benefits. This study evaluated the effects of nine CC treatments (single or multispecies) and no cover crop (noCC) on cotton (<i>Gossypium hirsutum</i> L.) growth characteristics, production, and economic returns in the Mid-South United States. The CC treatments were set up in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Significant differences were found for CC biomass accumulation, with cereal rye (<i>Secale cereale</i> L; 3915 kg ha⁻¹) and cereal rye + crimson clover (<i>Trifolium incarnatum</i> L.) mix (3845 kg ha⁻¹) producing the highest biomass among all the treatments. Total nitrogen (TN) accumulation in aboveground biomass was highest for hairy vetch (<i>Vicia villosa</i> Roth) + radish (<i>Raphanus sativus</i> L.) mix, which was significantly higher than hairy vetch or crimson clover monocultures, when averaged across years. The noCC consistently produced lower biomass and TN accumulation than all other treatments. When data were averaged over years, seed cotton yield was lowest in cotton rotated with cereal rye (2394 kg ha⁻¹) and wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L; 2484 kg ha⁻¹). Cotton lint yield was 216–234 kg ha⁻¹ lower with cereal rye and wheat than noCC. Cotton fiber fineness (micronaire) was lowest for cotton rotated with wheat CC. Averaged over the years, CC reduced the expected net returns compared to the noCC. Overall economic analysis showed that among CC cotton rotations, multispecies CC offered greater profitability and yield-based risk-adjusted returns than single-species CCs.</p>","PeriodicalId":7567,"journal":{"name":"Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/agg2.70458","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146719","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":"Predicting soil phosphorus uptake: Evaluating low-cost chemical alternatives to DGT technology","authors":"Åsgeir Rossebø Almås,&nbsp;Annbjørg Øverli Kristoffersen,&nbsp;Anne Falk Øgaard","doi":"10.1002/agg2.70460","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70460","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Soil phosphorus tests quantify specific fractions but fail to capture P kinetics that govern plant availability. Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technology offers a dynamic measure of P mobilization, outperforming conventional extractions in predicting soil P supply. In this study, agricultural soils with varying P saturation were assessed using DGT at multiple deployment times and compared with standard extractions (ammonium-acetate-lactate [P-AL], Olsen-P, and CaCl₂-P). We evaluated adsorption isotherms and chemical parameters controlling P sorption to link kinetic insights with predictive models. Results showed that DGT-derived labile P concentration (P_DGT) was the single best predictor of plant P uptake (<i>R</i>² = 0.88). While DGT's effectiveness is documents, our specific novel contribution is identifying that a combination of P-AL, Al-AL, and soil organic carbon matches DGTs precision (<i>R</i>² = 0.90–0.92) for these agricultural soils. This finding demonstrates that low-cost analyses can substitute for advanced DGT measurements without compromising precision. By integrating sorption characteristics and soil chemistry, our approach provides a practical framework for improving fertilizer recommendations while reducing environmental risk. These insights advance understanding of soil P dynamics and offer stakeholders an efficient alternative for predicting crop P uptake and yield response</p>","PeriodicalId":7567,"journal":{"name":"Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/agg2.70460","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146746","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":"Electrolysis-treated biosolids enhance wheat growth and alter soil health parameters","authors":"Sandesh Bhatta,&nbsp;Jedidian Adjei,&nbsp;Andres Sanchez,&nbsp;Christian Alvarez-Pugliese,&nbsp;Ozhan Gecgel,&nbsp;Kayleigh Millerick,&nbsp;Balaji Anandha Rao,&nbsp;Gerardine G. Botte,&nbsp;Odemari Stephen Mbuya,&nbsp;Matthew G. Siebecker,&nbsp;Lindsey C. Slaughter","doi":"10.1002/agg2.70457","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70457","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Biosolid-based fertilizers can benefit agriculture by supporting circular nutrient economies, reducing fertilizer costs, and minimizing environmental impacts compared to inorganic fertilizers. A 125-day greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the effects of electrolysis-treated biosolids on wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i>) growth and soil health parameters. Treatments included electrolysis-treated biosolids (E-GROW), raw biosolids (RB), inorganic nutrient solution (NS), composted biosolids (Dillo Dirt), and an unamended Control. Average germination across treatments was 91% (±9%) with no significant differences. Permanganate oxidizable carbon, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were increased in soils amended with biosolid products. E-GROW resulted in significantly higher soil nitrate (2.35x higher than NS; 1.69x higher than Dillo Dirt) and extractable phosphorus (1.89x higher than RB). E-GROW produced approximately 32% higher wheat biomass than RB and Dillo Dirt, 42% higher than Control, while comparable to NS. Agronomic and recovery efficiencies of phosphorus were found to be higher in E-GROW compared to Dillo Dirt. Trace metal (Mo, Ni, Pb, V, As, Ce, Cr, and La) concentrations were below the US Environmental Protection Agency limits in all products and amended soil. Fecal coliforms were not detected in E-GROW-amended soils at the end of the experiment, indicating effective pathogen inactivation by electrolysis. These results suggest that electrolysis-treated biosolids have potential value as a soil amendment for promoting a circular nutrient economy. However, long-term field studies are needed to evaluate nutrient dynamics, contaminants, and in-field crop productivity before widespread agricultural adoption.</p>","PeriodicalId":7567,"journal":{"name":"Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/agg2.70457","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146720","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":"Impact of liming and barley genotypes on phosphorus uptake, mycorrhizal symbiosis, and growth in acidic Ethiopian soils","authors":"Girma Abebe,&nbsp;Amsalu Nebiyu,&nbsp;Temesgen Menamo,&nbsp;Beyene Dobo","doi":"10.1002/agg2.70462","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70462","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Soil acidity is the major constraint to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) production in Ethiopia. This study assessed the effectiveness of lime application in mitigating the adverse effects of soil acidity on 20 barley genotypes: 10 tolerant and 10 susceptible. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate phosphorus uptake and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization. Significant differences were observed among genotypes for all measured root and shoot traits. Lime-treated tolerant genotypes consistently performed better than susceptible genotypes, showing greater root length (48.1 vs. 40.6 cm in susceptible genotypes), root volume (7.5 vs. 6.03 cm³), root dry weight (2.71 g vs. lower for susceptible), shoot dry weight (11.36 g), as well as higher phosphorus uptake. The results indicate that genotype-dependent tolerance provides advantages under limed conditions. Notably, Kafisheko, 244928, and Disharo genotypes excelled in growth and phosphorus uptake under both aluminum stress and liming conditions. Mycorrhizal association in barley roots was significant, with tolerant genotypes displaying higher levels of hyphal colonization (41.9%) and arbuscules (6%) compared to susceptible ones, 32.9% and 4.56%, respectively. Barley roots demonstrated significant (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) mycorrhizal association with typical fungal structures (arbuscular, hyphae, and vesicles). AMF colonization improved phosphorus uptake in acidic soils. Post-harvest soil analysis further showed that liming enhanced soil properties, including organic matter, soil pH, and nutrient availability. However, further research is recommended to evaluate other soil amendments and to understand the underlying mechanisms of plant tolerance better.</p>","PeriodicalId":7567,"journal":{"name":"Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/agg2.70462","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149048540","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":"Economic analysis of diversified corn herbicide programs for weed management and rotation flexibility in western Nebraska","authors":"Abraham Akuoko,&nbsp;Joshua W. A. Miranda,&nbsp;Nevin C. Lawrence","doi":"10.1002/agg2.70456","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70456","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.), dry edible bean (<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.), and sugarbeet (<i>Beta vulgaris</i> L.) are frequently grown in rotation in the Panhandle of Nebraska. The primary weed challenges in this system are Palmer amaranth (<i>Amaranthus palmeri</i> S. Watson) and kochia [<i>Bassia scoparia</i> (L.) A. J Scott] with resistance to acetolactate synthase and 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase inhibitors. While effective herbicide options for managing these resistant weeds are limited in dry edible bean and sugarbeet, a broader range of herbicides are available in corn. A field experiment was conducted in 2022, 2023, and 2024 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research and Extension Center near Scottsbluff, NE, to evaluate herbicide efficacy in corn and assess cost-effectiveness of herbicide programs compatible with sugarbeet and dry edible bean rotation. Results indicated that the addition of a very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA)-inhibiting herbicide to glyphosate (1260 g ae ha⁻¹) + dicamba (279 g ae ha⁻¹) provided comparable corn yields and weed control to more expensive herbicide programs. However, this combination may increase selection pressure for VLCFA-inhibiting herbicide resistance since glyphosate and dicamba resistance are already common. Programs that included additional mechanisms of action (inhibitors of photosynthesis II-, protoporphyrinogen oxidase-, synthetic auxins-, and 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvatedioxygenase) did not significantly improve weed control but incurred additional cost of $89–$120 ha⁻¹. Despite the added expense, such programs may be valuable for mitigating the spread of herbicide resistant weeds.</p>","PeriodicalId":7567,"journal":{"name":"Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/agg2.70456","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149048311","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":"Assessment of corn chlorophyll content via UAV-derived vegetative indices across growth stages","authors":"Aarati Khulal,&nbsp;Huijie Gan,&nbsp;Jitender Rathore,&nbsp;Sheetal Kumari,&nbsp;Ivy Flory,&nbsp;Caleb Bishop,&nbsp;Santosh Rijal,&nbsp;Olga Walsh","doi":"10.1002/agg2.70437","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70437","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Traditional chlorophyll (Chl) assessment methods are labor-intensive and spatially limited. This study evaluated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral imagery for nondestructive field-scale canopy Chl estimation in corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) to support precision nutrient management. Field experiments were conducted at two Virginia Tech research farms under two nitrogen (N) rates, 112 and 224 kg N ha⁻¹, and five phosphorus (P) rates, 0, 56, 112, 168, and 224 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. Canopy Chl was measured using a SPAD-502 Plus chlorophyll meter (where SPAD is soil plant analysis development). UAV imagery was collected at three sampling times using a DJI Mavic 3 M: early vegetative (Ve-E), late vegetative (Ve-L), and reproductive stages, corresponding to V4–V6, V11–V13, and R3–R5 growth stages, respectively. Eight vegetation indices (VIs) were derived from green, red, red-edge, and near-infrared bands. Relationships between SPAD and spectral predictors were evaluated using Pearson correlation, simple and multiple linear regression, Lasso, and Elastic Net. Model performance was assessed using fivefold cross-validated (CV) estimates repeated 30 times with CV <i>R</i>², root mean square error, and relative RMSE. Predictive accuracy was moderate and varied by site and time, with strongest relationships during Ve-L. At Ve-L, Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI) and Chlorophyll Index Red Edge were the best predictors at Orange and Kentland, respectively. Multivariate and regularized models performed comparably but did not improve accuracy over the best single-VI models. Overall, GNDVI and red-edge-based indices were the most useful indicators of canopy Chl variation. These findings indicate that UAV-derived GNDVI and red-edge indices can provide moderately accurate and interpretable estimates of SPAD-based Chl status.</p>","PeriodicalId":7567,"journal":{"name":"Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/agg2.70437","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149048414","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 magnetic field on hydraulic conductivity and cation displacement in soil in the semi-arid region of Brazil","authors":"Alícia Hélida dos Santos Batista,&nbsp;Osvaldo Nogueira de Sousa Neto,&nbsp;Andreza Maciel de Sousa,&nbsp;Nildo da Silva Dias,&nbsp;Plinio Antonio Guerra Filho,&nbsp;Marcos Vinicius da Silva,&nbsp;Ytalo Cleyton dos Santos Souza,&nbsp;Lara Fernandes de Medeiros,&nbsp;Alison Rocha de Aragão,&nbsp;Francisco Vanies da Silva Sá,&nbsp;Leonardo Angelo Mendonça","doi":"10.1002/agg2.70455","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70455","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Population growth intensifies the production of waste from agricultural and industrial sources, among others, directly impacting soil and water resources. The use of techniques involving magnetic field applications has been investigated as a potential approach to improve soil–water interactions, although its effects are still not fully understood. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of applying magnetically treated water on the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil and the displacement of K⁺ and Na⁺. Exploratory laboratory tests were conducted using percolation columns filled with saturated Latosol (Oxisol) soil. The methodology consisted of assembling percolation columns filled with saturated Latosol, washed with distilled water, and subjected to the application of saline solution with and without magnetic treatment. The magnetic treatment was performed by circulating the solution for 6 h in a 437 mT field. The solutions were applied under constant load to evaluate hydraulic conductivity and ion displacement. Effluent samples were collected and analyzed for K⁺, Na⁺, electrical conductivity, and pH. The results indicated a tendency toward increased leaching of potassium (K⁺) and sodium (Na⁺) ions in the columns receiving magnetically treated water. The elevation of K⁺ increased from approximately 1.8 pore volumes under the influence of the magnetic field. These results should be considered preliminary, as they derive from exploratory experimental trials. Despite the observed trends, the mechanisms of magnetic treatment are still not well understood, and further studies are required before practical agricultural applications can be recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":7567,"journal":{"name":"Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/agg2.70455","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149029104","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":"Pearl millet demonstrates potential as a forage and cover crop in Wisconsin vegetable systems","authors":"Paige Frautschy,&nbsp;Mallika A. Nocco,&nbsp;Marta M. Kohmann,&nbsp;Christopher J. Kucharik","doi":"10.1002/agg2.70404","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70404","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Pearl millet (<i>Pennisetum glaucum</i> (L.) R. Br.), a crop that is recognized for heat and drought tolerance and ability to suppress root-lesion nematode (<i>Pratylenchus penetrans</i>), could serve as a suitable forage and cover crop for potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) and vegetable production systems in Wisconsin. To address a lack of pearl millet agronomic data when planted in mid-summer on sandy soils, we used a multi-scale measurement approach at a representative commercial vegetable farm in central Wisconsin. Measurements of phenological development and growth, above- and belowground net primary productivity (NPP), leaf physiology, water use efficiency (WUE), radiation use efficiency (RUE), and nitrogen uptake were collected during the crop vegetative stage. Pearl millet exhibited rapid growth, reaching leaf area index values greater than 5 m² m⁻² just 38 days after late July planting, while peak photosynthesis coincided with temperatures of 35°C. Aboveground NPP was 13.1 Mg dry matter (DM) ha⁻¹, with an average root-to-shoot ratio of 0.11 and RUE of 4.82 g DM MJ⁻¹ intercepted photosynthetically active radiation. The nitrogen content of harvested aboveground biomass (1.41%) supported uptake of 184.8 kg N ha⁻¹. Field-scale evapotranspiration and WUE were 247.8 mm and 57.7 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹, respectively. These data suggest pearl millet is able to quickly achieve full canopy cover, produce large amounts of biomass, and uptake large quantities of nitrogen while having high WUE on sandy soils in a temperate climate. Therefore, pearl millet may be a desirable cover and forage crop option in Wisconsin irrigated potato and vegetable rotations that could also support improved water quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":7567,"journal":{"name":"Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment","volume":"9 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/agg2.70404","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148616504","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}