Lablab ( Lablab purpureus ) is a resilient, multipurpose legume with potential to improve food and feed security, enhance soil fertility, and support climate-resilient agriculture in Tanzania’s dryland regions; however, comprehensive syntheses of its agronomic, socioeconomic, and ecological roles remain limited. To address this, a scoping review was conducted of studies published between January 2000 and June 2025 in Tanzania and comparable dryland agroecological zones in Sub-Saharan Africa. Systematic searches in Scopus and Google Scholar used structured Boolean strings including keywords related to lablab, dryland farming, forage, fodder, intercropping, nitrogen fixation, soil fertility, pests, diseases, market access, and adoption potential, and reference lists of included studies were screened manually. Of 120 full-text articles assessed, 85 met inclusion criteria and were analyzed thematically. Results show that lablab is well-adapted to semi-arid and dryland zones, contributes to soil health, supports livestock feed and human nutrition, and enhances climate-resilient farming systems, while adoption is constrained by limited farmer awareness, inadequate agronomic knowledge, scarcity of improved seeds, weak market linkages, and climate variability. These findings provide a structured evidence map of lablab’s roles, challenges, and potential, highlighting opportunities for coordinated interventions targeting seed systems, value chains, and extension services to facilitate mainstreaming, promote resilient low-input agricultural systems, and support sustainable livelihoods.

Cultivating ultra-early watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ) in arid continental climates requires both early-season thermal protection and efficient nutrient management to ensure high yield while limiting excessive mineral fertilizer inputs. This study, conducted during the 2022–2024 growing seasons in the Karshi steppe of Uzbekistan, evaluated the performance of five ultra-early watermelon hybrids under a temporary double-layer plastic film cover used as a background technology, while comparing conventional broadcast fertilization with localized organo-mineral fertilization applied per planting nest. A randomized complete block design was employed, testing five hybrids under identical film-covered conditions. Fertilization treatments included a standard broadcast application (10 t ha −1 manure + N 150 P 120 K 75 ) and localized nest-based organo-mineral fertilization with reduced mineral NPK rates. Marketable yield, earliness, and fruit quality were assessed over three seasons. Localized fertilization significantly increased vegetative growth and marketable yield compared with broadcast application, despite a 30–40% reduction in total mineral nitrogen input. The hybrids Krimstar F1 and Montana F1 achieved the highest yields (26.1 and 25.4 t ha −1 , respectively). Importantly, fruit quality was not adversely affected: total soluble solids (TSS) remained stable across treatments (7.4–7.5%), indicating that yield gains did not compromise internal quality. These results demonstrate that localized organo-mineral fertilization under temporary film cover can maintain high productivity of ultra-early watermelon while reducing mineral nitrogen inputs. The approach represents an agronomically efficient and environmentally safer fertilization strategy for early watermelon production in arid continental agro-ecosystems.

Introduction We assessed the impact of cover crops on surface runoff in Belá, a pluvial-flood–threatened area in southwestern Slovakia with a relatively low slope. Methods Using the 2D unsteady-flow HEC-RAS model, we simulated four cropping scenarios (real, proposed, optimum, and pessimum) under a synthetic design storm with a 10-year return period. Results Scenarios incorporating cover crops (optimum and proposed) substantially reduced cumulative runoff volume. The pessimum (bare-soil) scenario produced 9.54 times higher cumulative runoff volume than the optimum scenario during the simulated event. Cover-crop scenarios also delayed peak flows by 70–130 minutes during periods of high crop or cover-crop coverage. Discussion/Conclusions The reductions and delays are attributed to improved infiltration capacity and increased surface roughness associated with continuous vegetative cover. In contrast, bare soil generated rapid, high-volume runoff, indicating high vulnerability to flash floods. Overall, continuous vegetative cover can mitigate intense rainfall impacts, and our findings provide practical recommendations for sustainable agricultural management supporting climate-change adaptation.

Introduction Continuous soil monocropping typically disrupts microecological equilibrium, leading to reduced crop yield and quality degradation, whereas crop rotation often mitigates these issues. However, understanding of the microbial mechanism behind this rotation practice is still limited. Methods A three-year field experiment was conducted comparing tobacco continuous monocropping and tobacco-rice rotation. The bacterial community structure, assembly processes, and functional profiles were analyzed within three tobacco growing periods. Results While most soil physicochemical parameters, such as pH, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus, were not significantly different between the two systems, tobacco monoculture specifically resulted in elevated contents of total nitrogen and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen compared to tobacco-rice rotation systems. Although α-diversity also showed no significant differences between systems, bacterial community composition diverged significantly, with Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria dominating. Deterministic processes governed community assembly, with βMNTD and βNTI exhibiting significant correlations with soil available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and pH exclusively in the rotation system-contrasting sharply with the absence of such correlations in monoculture. Tobacco-rice rotation exhibited more complex co-occurrence networks anchored by 22 topological connector taxa than tobacco monocropping. Functionally, the rotation significantly suppressed nitrifying bacteria abundance, whereas monocropping enriched dark sulfide-oxidizing bacteria. Notably, despite the absence of significant overall differences in pathogen abundance between the two cropping systems, a high variation was observed of plant pathogen abundance in the vigorous growth stage of tobacco monocropping, which indicates that certain locations possess a considerably elevated susceptibility to potential disease epidemics. Discussion Compared to continuous monocropping, tobacco-rice rotation caused minimal shifts in soil α-diversity and physicochemical properties. However, our three years field study reveals that it profoundly restructured the composition and interaction networks of the soil bacterial community. This highlights the divergent impacts of cropping systems on the soil microbiome and indicates that the benefit of rotation may stem primarily from its ability to rewire microbial interactions, thereby alleviating continuous cropping obstacles.

Strawberry powdery mildew, caused by Podosphaera aphanis , is a major disease of strawberry, capable of leading to yield losses of up to 70%. Its management typically relies on frequent chemical fungicide applications due to the extended infection window of the pathogen. Podosphaera aphanis overwinters as mycelium and chasmothecia on infected plant material, which may act as primary inoculum in spring. This two-year study investigated the effectiveness of post-winter removal of infected leaf and plant debris in disease control and quantified the role of chasmothecia in early season infection under high-tunnel conditions. Complete removal of infected tissues delayed disease onset and reduced severity by up to 88%. In the two years, chasmothecium formation increased in late summer following 8 and 16 cumulative hours below 13 °C, respectively. In spring, ascosporic infection events occurred after the accumulation of 21 and 18 cumulative hours with temperatures above 10 °C combined with at least two consecutive hours of leaf wetness, consistently with previous findings. The efficacy of the sanitation practice was further supported by excluding the possibility that chasmothecia and/or chasmothecia on debris fragments potentially fallen into the substrate could trigger infection. In addition, we investigated the timing of ascospore-derived infections by monitoring disease progression on individual leaves. Infection rate was quantified across different leaf ages to assess their role in epidemic development and their potential contribution to secondary inoculum. The highest infection rate was observed on 15-day-old class age, with a crucial role in supporting early pathogen development. These results indicate the importance of sanitation practices, such as overwintering infected leaf removal in reducing early-season infections and informing more targeted control strategies.

Introduction Understanding climate change impacts on water footprints (WFs) is crucial for sustainable soybean production. Methods We utilized previously calibrated AquaCrop model to assess baseline (1981–2010) and future climate change impacts on soybean WFs under Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs) emission scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5) in rainfed and irrigated systems. Results The WF rainfed varied across locations in the baseline period, with Cesa having the highest values and Ljubljana the lowest. Blue WF and WF irrigated increased as the readily available water (RAW) depletion threshold for irrigation decreased, with no significant differences in WF irrigated across irrigation strategies. Future climate change showed varying effects on WF rainfed and WF irrigated . Under SSP1-2.6 and SSP5- 8.5, WF rainfed is projected to increase from mid (2061–2080) to far future (2081– 2100). Whereas, a decrease is projected from near (2041–2060) to far future under SSP2-4.5. WF irrigated is expected to decrease in Castelfranco and Cesa but to increase in Ljubljana. Under SSP5-8.5, WF irrigated increased from near to far future. Whereas, SSP2-4.5 showed a decline, except in Ljubljana from near to mid-future. Under SSP1-2.6, WF irrigated decreased from near to mid-future but increased from mid to far future. Blue WF followed similar patterns to these projections. Irrigation strategies have minimal effects on consumptive WFs but significantly influence blue water use and yield. Discussion Future climate change will differentially impact rainfed and irrigated soybean WFs, emphasizing the need for targeted irrigation water management strategies. The findings are essential to making informed decisions for sustainable soybean production in the study areas.

Black rice is cultivated in Southeast Asia’s upland and lowland area, where yields are often limited by low soil fertility, phosphorus (P) deficiency, and limited external inputs. Phytic acid (PA)—the principal storage form of P in rice seeds—represents more than 70% of the total seed P. Data on the effects of seed PA levels on the agronomic performance of black rice, especially under upland field conditions, are scarce. This study explored the effect of seed PA concentration on the early growth, nutrient uptake, and yield performance of black rice under both pot and upland field conditions. In pot experiments, we tested three levels of seed PA (low, moderate, and high) at different soil P applications (control, low P, and high P). A complementary field trial in Luang Prabang, Laos, evaluated the effects of seed PA and nitrogen (N) application (0 or 30 kg N ha -1 ) under rainfed conditions. Results demonstrated that high-PA seeds significantly improved early seedling vigor, shoot and root biomass, and nutrient uptake, particularly under conditions of low or no external P supply. At maturity, high-PA plants yielded 35% more grain than that yielded by low-PA plants in pots and exhibited a 47% yield advantage in upland fields. Low N input did not affect grain yield but notably reduced grain PA levels under upland conditions. Overall, the findings indicate that seed PA concentration is a key physiological trait that enhances the adaptation and productivity of black rice in nutrient-poor upland systems.

Introduction Agriculture is an indispensable practice with a long history that dates back millennia. The cultivation of Chinese yam ( Dioscorea polystachya Turczaninow) is of social importance but not yet optimized; the process is currently complex and labor-intensive. Notwithstanding, the plant is regarded as a promising supplementation for ensuring food security, even in the face of climate change. This is due to its nutritional value and its diverse contribution to the cultivation of food crops. Method The EKO-YAM project, presented in this work, is thus concerned with the implementation and evaluation of four different cultivation methods with regard to the content of primary and secondary compounds, as well as economic factors. Results This study shows insights into the scientific monitoring of growing and the impact of different cultivation techniques on starch and secondary metabolites. Discussion The superordinate goal was the improvement of the growing of Dioscorea polystachya in terms of diet, metabolites, costs, and sustainability.

Methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) are the two most important greenhouse gases following carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). However, existing research on the relationship between rice plant morphological traits and GHG emissions remains relatively limited, often focusing only on individual or a few plant characteristics. To address this research gap, a field experiment was conducted in Chongqing from April to August 2024. Five locally promoted hybrid rice varieties, which are widely cultivated in the region, were selected as experimental materials. The CH 4 and N 2 O emissions of these varieties throughout their entire growth cycle were continuously monitored using the static chamber-gas chromatography method. Concurrently, the morphological traits of both the above-ground components and root systems of the rice plants were quantified.The results revealed significant varietal differences in CH 4 and N 2 O emissions. CH 4 emissions followed a unimodal trend, peaking during the panicle emergence to full heading stage. In contrast, N 2 O emissions peaked after field drainage and drying. Cumulative CH 4 emissions ranged from 314.6 to 443.4 kg·ha -1 , with the variety ‘Qxiangyou 352’ exhibiting significantly lower emissions than the others. Cumulative N 2 O emissions ranged from -0.049 to 0.165 kg·ha -1 , showing no significant differences among varieties. Correlation analysis indicated that CH 4 flux was highly significantly positively correlated with plant height, leaf area index (LAI), aboveground dry biomass, and root dry biomass, but highly significantly negatively correlated with root oxidation activity (ROA). Similarly, N 2 O flux was highly significantly positively correlated with plant height, LAI, root volume, and root dry biomass, and significantly negatively correlated with ROA. Overall, ‘Qxiangyou 352’ not only achieved a relatively high yield of 11.2 t·ha -1 , but also demonstrated the lowest global warming potential (GWP) of 8.8 t CO 2 e·ha -1 and the lowest greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) of 0.8 t CO 2 e·t -1 , highlighting its promising low-carbon and high-yield characteristics.