Application Of Synthetic Fertilizers Research Articles

Linking the humification of organic amendments with size aggregate distribution: Insights into molecular composition using FT-ICR-MS

Soil organic matter (SOM) plays a pivotal role in enhancing physical and biological characteristics of soil. Humic substances constitute a substantial proportion of SOM and their increase can improve crop yields and promote agricultural sustainability. While previous research has primarily assessed the influence that humic acids (HAs) derived from natural water have on soil structure, our study focuses on the impact of HAs on soil aggregation under different fertilizer regimes. During the summer cropping season, maize was cultivated under organic and synthetic fertilizer treatments. The organic fertilizer treatment utilized barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa R.) as an organic amendment five days prior to maize planting. The synthetic treatment included a synthetic fertilizer (NPK) applied at South Korea's recommended rates. The organic treatment resulted in significant improvements in the soil aggregates and stability (mean weight diameter, MWD; p < 0.05) compared to the synthetic fertilizer application. These improvements could be primarily attributed to the increased quantity and quality of HAs in the soil derived from the organic amendment. The amount of extracted HAs in the organic treatment was nearly twice that of the synthetic treatment. Additionally, the organic treatment had a 140 % larger MWD and a 40 % increase in total phenolic content compared to the synthetic treatment. The organic treatment also had an increased macronutrient uptake (p < 0.001), an 11 % increase in aboveground maize biomass, and a 21 % increase in grain yield relative to the synthetic treatment. Thus, the enhancement of HA properties through the incorporation of fresh organic manure can both directly and indirectly increase crop productivity.

Growth and Yield Attributes of Garlic as Influenced by Application of Organic Manure, Synthetic Fertilizers and Liquid Manure in Bundelkhand Region of India

A field experiment was conducted during 2022-23 at the Rajola Farm of the faculty of Agricultural Science, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya Chitrakoot, Satna (M.P.) to study the Effect of Organic, Inorganic and Liquid Manure Sources of Nutrient on Growth Attributes and Yield Attributes of Garlic (Allium sativum L.). The experiment was laid out in Randomized complete Block Design (RCBD) with twelve treatments comprising different source of organic, Inorganic and Liquid manure which were replicated thrice. Among the different manures, application T12 50% FYM + 50% Vermicompost produced highest plant height (90 DAT) (59.15 cm) with comparatively good number of leaves plant-1 (20.33), average length of leaf (40.75 cm), neck thickness of bulb (9.88 mm), polar diameter (5.64 mm), equatorial diameter (5.78 mm), average weight of bulb (30.63 g), number of cloves bulb-1 (38.66), clove length (29.52 mm) and average weight of cloves (0.98 g). Maximum total yield of bulbs (131.15 q ha-1) was observed when T12 50% FYM + 50% Vermicompost Whereas, the minimum Growth Attributes and Yield Attributes of Garlic were recorded with T1 Control (Farmers Practices). The results showed that application of T12 50% FYM + 50% Vermicompost, proved to be a promising practice for yield enhancement of garlic in the Bundelkhand Region.

Balancing Non‐CO2 GHG Emissions and Soil Carbon Change in U.S. Rice Paddies: A Retrospective Meta‐Analysis and Agricultural Modeling Study

AbstractU.S. rice paddies, critical for food security, are increasingly contributing to non‐CO2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions like methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Yet, the full assessment of GHG balance, considering trade‐offs between soil organic carbon (SOC) change and non‐CO2 GHG emissions, is lacking. Integrating an improved agroecosystem model with a meta‐analysis of multiple field studies, we found that U.S. rice paddies were the rapidly growing net GHG emission sources, increased 138% from 3.7 ± 1.2 Tg CO2eq yr−1 in the 1960s to 8.9 ± 2.7 Tg CO2eq yr−1 in the 2010s. CH4, as the primary contributor, accounted for 10.1 ± 2.3 Tg CO2eq yr−1 in the 2010s, alongside a notable rise in N2O emissions by 0.21 ± 0.03 Tg CO2eq yr−1. SOC change could offset 14.0% (1.45 ± 0.46 Tg CO2eq yr−1) of the climate‐warming effects of soil non‐CO2 GHG emissions in the 2010s. This escalation in net GHG emissions is linked to intensified land use, increased atmospheric CO2, higher synthetic nitrogen fertilizer and manure application, and climate change. However, no/reduced tillage and non‐continuous irrigation could reduce net soil GHG emissions by approximately 10% and non‐CO2 GHG emissions by about 39%, respectively. Despite the rise in net GHG emissions, the cost of achieving higher rice yields has decreased over time, with an average of 0.84 ± 0.18 kg CO2eq ha−1 emitted per kilogram of rice produced in the 2010s. The study suggests the potential for significant GHG emission reductions to achieve climate‐friendly rice production in the U.S. through optimizing the ratio of synthetic N to manure fertilizer, reducing tillage, and implementing intermittent irrigation.

Long-term fertilization and cultivation impacts on nematode abundance and community structure in tall fescue turfgrass.

Impacts of long-term fertilization and cultivation were evaluated on nematode communities associated with tall fescue turfgrass following 11 years of treatment applications. Fertilizer treatments of biosolid, synthetic, and plant-based fertilizers and cultivation treatments of 0×, 1×, and 2× aerification passes were applied to randomized and replicated tall fescue plots at the University of Maryland Paint Branch Turfgrass facility in College Park, Maryland. Free-living and plant-parasitic nematodes were identified, enumerated, and categorized into functional groups. Nematode count data were compared using generalized linear mixed modeling with negative binomial distribution and two-way ANOVA was used to compare nematode ecological indices. Biosolid treatments resulted in lower omnivore-predator densities than plant-based fertilizer treatments (p ≤ .001) and significantly greater Hoplolaimus densities than plant-based fertilizer plots (p ≤ .05). Synthetic fertilizer applications resulted in the greatest Eucephalobus (p ≤ .05) and total bacterivore densities (p ≤ .001) of all fertilizer treatments. Plant-based fertilizer-treated plots had the largest Maturity Index cp 2-5 and Structure Index (p ≤ .05). Cultivation of 1× resulted in fewer total bacterivore densities than 2× (p ≤ .01) while omnivore-predator densities were greater in 1× than 0× (p ≤ .001). Plant health, as measured by NDVI, was lowest in biosolid-treated turfgrass (p ≤ .05). These findings suggest that long-term turfgrass management practices can have variable impacts on nematode abundance and community structure in tall fescue and provide insights into ecological impacts of turfgrass management practices.

Humalite enhances the growth, grain yield, and protein content of wheat by improving soil nitrogen availability and nutrient uptake

AbstractBackgroundThe application of synthetic chemical inputs in current agricultural practices has significantly increased crop production, but their use has caused severe negative consequences on the environment. Humalite is an organic soil amendment that is rich in humic acid and found in large deposits in southern Alberta, Canada. Humic products can enhance nutrient uptake and assimilation in plants by reducing nutrient losses and enhancing bioavailability in the soil.AimHere, we evaluated the effects of different humalite rates in the presence of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (NPK) at recommended rates on soil nitrogen availability, wheat growth, grain yield, seed nutritional quality, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) under controlled environmental conditions.MethodsA series of studies were conducted by applying five different rates of humalite (0, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 kg ha−1) with NPK at recommended rates. Soil nitrogen availability and shoot and root growth parameters were recorded at flowering stage. NUE was calculated based on the grain yield at maturity stage.ResultsPlants grown in the presence of humalite augmented root morphological parameters (root length, volume, and surface area), plant biomass (shoot and root), and nutrient uptake (N, P, K, and S) compared to the plants supplied with recommended fertilizer alone. Furthermore, humalite application significantly increased grain yield (14%–19%), seed protein content (23%–30%), and NUE (14%–60%) compared to the fertilizer application alone.ConclusionThese findings suggest that humalite can be used as an organic soil amendment to reduce synthetic fertilizer application and improve plant growth and yield while enhancing fertilizer use efficiency.

Morphophysiological characteristics of upland rice plants with organic approach through reduced NPK fertilizer and wood vinegar application

Unefficient use of synthetic fertilizer in upland rice production leads to the low productivity and tends to harm the environtment. An organic approach by using wood vinegar is promising to improve the fertilizer efficiency. The objective of this study was to determine the response of upland rice with the application of different wood vinegar and synthetic fertilizer N-P-K rates on morpho-physiological characters. A split plot design with the main plot of N-P-K fertilizer and a subplot of wood vinegar was applied with three replications. Growth and physiological character were observed. The data were analyzed by the F test, then proceed with the Duncan Multiple Range Test at p≤0.05. The results showed that a half and full recommended synthetic fertilizer rate of N-P-K had a similar result to gaining optimum morpho-physiological character of upland rice. Wood vinegar with a rate of 75 L ha-1 obtained the highest performance on morpho-physiological character of upland rice. An increasing application rate of wood vinegar improved the morpho-physiological character of upland rice at different rates of N-P-K synthetic fertilizers.

Carbon Farming: A Promising Approach to Climate Mitigation and Adaptation in India

This article addresses India's role in the reduction of GHG emissions, the impact of renewable energy and the application of solar energy. In response to the climatic challenges, India is meticulously stepping towards offsetting or the onset of carbon farming such as organic cultivation and solar energy interventions. Offset carbon farming area of 5. 387 Mha organic farming could sequester carbon annually of 6.567 mt, simultaneously; it has the advantage of reducing synthetic nitrogen fertilizer application doses ranging from a minimum of 0.27 mt and a maximum of 1.08 mt per hectare. Furthermore, solar energy can indirectly be used as SWH suitable for average family households contributing carbon credits of 771 kg-824 kg in addition to saving an annual electricity burden of around 1365 kWh to 1459 kWh and directly utilized for solar PV electricity generation of 1 MW will offset approximately 730 tons of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to 33, 183 carbon-absorbing trees (22 kg of CO2 absorbed/ tree/year). Carbon farming has challenges encompassing economic, technological, policy, and knowledge-based barriers that require innovative solutions and concerted stakeholder efforts.

Managing nitrogen in maize production for societal gain.

Highly productive agriculture is essential to feed humanity, but agricultural practices often harm human health and the environment. Using a nitrogen (N) mass-balance model to account for N inputs and losses to the environment, along with empirical based models of yield response, we estimate the potential gains to society from improvements in nitrogen management that could reduce health and environmental costs from maize grown in the US Midwest. We find that the monetized health and environmental costs to society of current maize nitrogen management practices are six times larger than the profits earned by farmers. Air emissions of ammonia from application of synthetic fertilizer and manure are the largest source of pollution costs. We show that it is possible to reduce these costs by 85% ($21.6 billion per year, 2020$) while simultaneously increasing farmer profits. These gains come from (i) managing fertilizer ammonia emissions by changing the mix of fertilizer and manure applied, (ii) improving production efficiency by reducing fertilization rates, and (iii) halting maize production on land where health and environmental costs exceed farmer profits, namely on low-productivity land and locations in which emissions are especially harmful. Reducing ammonia emissions from changing fertilizer types-in (i)-reduces health and environmental costs by 46% ($11.7 billion). Reducing fertilization rates-in (ii)-limits nitrous oxide emissions, further reducing health and environmental costs by $9.5 billion, and halting production on 16% of maize-growing land in the Midwest-in (iii)-reduces costs by an additional $0.4 billion.

Comparative Sustainability Assessment of Organic Versus Conventional Cotton Production

The global textile and clothing fabric industry is one of the top polluters annually, underscoring the need for sustainable production innovations (Bonou-zin et al., 2019). Traditional cotton cultivation frequently entails extensive water use and synthetic pesticide and fertilizer applications, leading to water pollution, soil erosion, biodiversity decline, and lasting impacts on ecosystems and human health (Bonou-zin et al., 2019). Despite growing consumer awareness of textile sustainability and advancements promoting organic cotton, its adoption remains notably lower than conventional cotton (Delate et al., 2021). Organic cotton, championing environmental, social, and economic sustainability, markedly reduces the environmental challenges linked with traditional methods (Delate et al., 2021). This review provides a comprehensive assessment of organic cotton, highlighting its advantages over conventional cotton across economic, environmental, and social sustainability dimensions, and anticipates future growth trends.

Nano-Biofertilizer Formulations for Agriculture: A Systematic Review on Recent Advances and Prospective Applications.

In the twenty-first century, nanotechnology has emerged as a potentially game-changing innovation. Essential minerals are mostly unavailable in modern cropping systems without the application of synthetic fertilizers, which have a serious negative impact on the ecosystem. This review focuses on the coupling of nanoparticles with biofertilizers to function as nano-biofertilizers (NBFs), which may ensure world food security in the face of the rising population. The inoculation of plants with NBFs improves plant development and resistance to stress. Metallic nanoparticles as well as organic components comprising polysaccharide and chitosan may be encapsulated, utilizing microbe-based green synthesis to make NBFs, which circumvents the limitations of conventional chemical fertilizers. The application of NBFs is just getting started, and shows more promise than other approaches for changing conventional farming into high-tech "smart" farming. This study used bibliographic analysis using Web of Science to find relevant papers on "nano biofertilizers", "plants", and "agriculture". These subjects have received a lot of attention in the literature, as shown by the co-citation patterns of these publications. The novel use of nanotechnology in agriculture is explored in this research work, which makes use of the unique characteristics of nanoscale materials to address urgent concerns including nutrient delivery, crop protection, and sustainable farming methods. This study attempts to fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge by discussing the formulation, fabrication, and characterization of NBFs, as well as elucidating the mechanisms by which NBFs interact with plants and how this benefits the ability of the plant to withstand biotic and abiotic stress brought about by climate change. This review also addresses recent developments and future directions in farming using NBF formulations in the field.

Stable isotopes reveal organic nitrogen pollution and cycling from point and non-point sources in a heavily cultivated (agricultural) Mediterranean river basin

The Pinios River Basin (PRB) is the most intensively cultivated area in Greece, which hosts numerous industries and other anthropogenic activities. The analysis of water samples collected monthly for ∼1 ½ years in eight monitoring sites in the PRB revealed nitrate pollution of organic origin extending from upstream to downstream and occurring throughout the year, masking the signal from the application of synthetic fertilizers. Nitrate concentrations reached up to 3.6 mg/l as NO3−-N, without exceeding the drinking water threshold of ∼11.0 mg/l (as NO3−-N). However, the water quality status was “poor” or “bad” in ∼50 % of the samples based on a local index, which considers the potential impact of nitrate on aquatic biological communities. The δ15Ν-ΝΟ3− and δ18O-NO3− values ranged from +4.4 ‰ to +20.3 ‰ and from −0.5 ‰ to +14.4 ‰, respectively. The application of a Bayesian model showed that the proportional contribution of organic pollution from industries, animal breeding facilities and manure fertilizers exceeded 70 % in most river sites with an overall uncertainty of ∼0.3 (UI90 index). The δ18O-NO3− and its relationship with δ18O-H2O revealed N-cycling and mixing processes, which were difficult to identify apart from the uptake of nutrients by phytoplankton during the growing season and metabolic activities. The strong correlation of δ15Ν-ΝΟ3− values with a Land Use Index (LUI) and a Point Source Index (PSI) highlighted not only the role of non-point nitrate sources but also of point sources of nitrate pollution on water quality degradation, which are usually overlooked. The nitrification of organic wastes is the dominant nitrate source in most rivers in Europe. The systematic monitoring of rivers for nitrate isotopes will help improve the understanding of N-cycling and the impact of these pollutants on ecosystems and better inform policies for protection measures so to achieve good ecological status.

Synthetic Fertilizer Application Coupled with Bioslurry Optimizes Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Growth and Yield

Biogas bioslurry, which is normally a bio-digestion product from livestock refuse, can be utilized as an inorganic fertilizer, thus boosting not only soil fertility but also crop growth and yield. Its use can mitigate climate change by reducing methane gas emissions, which are associated with the direct application of fresh animal manure. The current study was carried out on farmer’s fields based at Wusi-Kishamba and Werugha wards in Taita Taveta County, Kenya, and it aimed at investigating the effect of bioslurry coupled with synthetic fertilizer on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) growth and yield. There were four treatments: sole bioslurry, sole fertilizer (DAP), bioslurry + DAP, and control, which were replicated five times in a randomized, complete block-designed layout. Data were collected on plant growth (plant height and leaf length) and yield (marketable and unmarketable tubers and the number of tubers plant−1). The results indicated a general increase in plant height from week one to week seven, where peak values were noted with sole slurry, sole fertilizer, and bioslurry + DAP treatments, which recorded 9, 18, and 43% taller plants, respectively, relative to control. Further, the combined application of bioslurry and DAP fertilizer significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved potato growth and yield. For instance, there was a higher (23.3 t ha−1) yield in bioslurry + DAP treatment compared to the respective least record of 14.2 t ha−1 in control. Therefore, the study recommends a synergistic application of synthetic fertilizer (DAP) and bioslurry to potato crops for optimal crop growth and production.

Effects of fermented banana pseudo-stem sap (Musa acuminata L.) on the growth and yield attributing characters of marigold variety Karma 555-Orange

The high cost of marigold production through the application of synthetic fertilizers and micronutrients is a major concern for Nepalese farmers. Every year, the nutrient-rich banana pseudo-stems are wasted after harvest. Utilizing the banana’s pseudo-stem for increasing marigold productivity through sustainable agricultural practices, an experiment was conducted to determine the optimum concentration of banana pseudo-stem sap (BPS) to be applied by foliar spraying to marigold variety (Karma 555 – Orange). The BPS was mixed and enriched with different ingredients, such as cow urine, cow dung, neem leaf, green gram leaf, pulse flour, vermin-liquor, jaggery, and fermented curd. The mixture was incubated under anaerobic conditions before applying the foliar spray. The study was carried out in a completely randomized block design, with three replications and seven treatments. The treatments were 0.5 % BPS, 1 % BPS, 2 % BPS, 3 % BPS, 4 % BPS, 5 % BPS, and the control. Data were recorded at 50, 70, and 90 days after transplantation (DAT). Among the treatments, the 3 % BPS solution showed significant effects on most of the growth parameters: plant height (85.07 cm), plant spread (63.47 cm) at 5% level at 90 DAT, and yield attributes such as the number of flowers per plant (74.00) at 5% level, individual flower weight (8.10 g), individual flower diameter (7.55 cm), and flower yield (597.25 g plant-1) at 1% level of significance respectively. It was found that growth and yield attributes increased with increasing concentrations of BPS up to 3 % and decreased thereafter. According to the results, foliar spray of marigold with 3 % BPS (enriched solution) resulted in the highest yield and yield components of marigold in the Chitwan area which could be an effective alternative to synthetic hormones for enhancing the growth and quality of marigolds under field conditions.

Combined Di-Ammonium Phosphate and Straw Return Increase Yield in Sweet Corn

Straw returning is an environmentally friendly method to improve soil health and agricultural productivity by reusing organic waste products. However, fields are often also treated with inorganic fertilizers, and the effect of the interaction between phosphate fertilizer application and straw return on crop yield remains unclear. Therefore, a full-factorial, two-year field experiment was conducted on sweet corn (NARC-16 in late 2021 and Kashmeri-19 in early 2022) to explore how crop yield may be optimized by combining straw return with efficient phosphate fertilization. The experiment involved the application of DAP, SSP, and NP (three different types of phosphates) and the application of crop waste byproducts, namely the residual stover left after sorghum and maize harvesting. We compared control fields with no crop waste or phosphate addition (CR0 and PS0) to experimental plots treated with various phosphates and straw return. Growth parameters such as days to emergence, tasseling, silking and maturity, emergence rate (emergence m−2), height of plant, number of leaves, leaf area per plant, and yield were evaluated, and the influence of the treatment on the economic value of crops was estimated. Phosphorus and straw return were applied at rates of 90 kg per hectare and 5 tons per hectare, respectively. The best P-crop straw combination treatment involved DAP (90 kg ha−1) with the incorporation of 5 tons’ ha−1 of maize straw, which resulted in delayed tasseling (50 days), early silking (68 days), taller plants (178 cm), improved thousand-grain weight (233 g), maximum biological yield (11,349 kg ha−1) and grain yield (3760 kg ha−1). The application of DAP with maize straw return resulted in the highest plant height, biological yield, and grain yield of sweet corn during the second year of the experiment, despite the first year’s yield being influenced by a natural disaster. This combined management strategy (using either DAP or crop residuals) was found to have a more a favorable cost–benefit ratio (BCR) efficiency. In conclusion, increasing the use of crop residuals can help reduce the expensive application of synthetic mineral fertilizers like SSP and NP, while significantly increasing sweet corn production and improving profit margins. Considering the importance of environmental friendliness and sustainable agriculture, the combined use of DAP and straw return is considered a viable method.

Examining current trends and future outlook of bio-electrochemical systems (BES) for nutrient conversion and recovery: an overview.

Nutrient-rich waste streams from domestic and industrial sources and the increasing application of synthetic fertilizers have resulted in a huge-scale influx of reactive nitrogen and phosphorus in the environment. The higher concentrations of these pollutants induce eutrophication and foster degradation of aquatic biodiversity. Besides, phosphorus being non-renewable resource is under the risk of rapid depletion. Hence, recovery and reuse of the phosphorus and nitrogen are necessary. Over the years, nutrient recovery, low-carbon energy, and sustainable bioremediation of wastewater have received significant interest. The conventional wastewater treatment technologies have higher energy demand and nutrient removal entails a major cost in the treatment process. For these issues, bio-electrochemical system (BES) has been considered as sustainable and environment friendly wastewater treatment technologies that utilize the energy contained in the wastewater so as to recovery nutrients and purify wastewater. Therefore, this article comprehensively focuses and critically analyzes the potential sources of nutrients, working mechanism of BES, and different nutrient recovery strategies to unlock the upscaling opportunities. Also, economic analysis was done to understand the technical feasibility and potential market value of recovered nutrients. Hence, this review article will be useful in establishing waste management policies and framework along with development of advanced configurations with major emphasis on nutrient recovery rather than removal from the waste stream.

Nitrous oxide emissions dynamics in Indian agricultural landscapes: Revised emission rates and new insights

In the past five decades, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Indian agricultural landscapes have significantly increased, making India the fifth-largest emitter of N2O globally (∼4.8%). The few studies that evaluated N2O at the India scale using a bottom-up approach were constrained to a brief period and employed country-level emission factors (EFs), despite the availability of long-term inventory data and spatially varying EFs. To fill this gap and comprehend the spatio-temporal N2O emissions dynamics at the district-level across India, this study created district- and crop-specific N2O EFs from 82 field plot studies with 861 observations across 13 locations. Through these improved EFs, district-level emissions were calculated from 1966 to 2017 using a modified IPCC Tier I-Tier II approach (specific EFs for synthetic fertilizer, animal manure, and crop residue return) and highlighted significant spatio-temporal drivers. Total N2O emissions in Indian agricultural soils increased from 73.7 ± 3.3 Gg in 1966–279.3 ± 15.8 Gg in 2017. The increase in total N2O emissions (3.9 Gg yr−1) from 1966 to 2017 is associated with the increase in crop production (4.1 Tg yr−1) driven by the increase in fertilization (0.3 Tg yr−1). N2O emissions from synthetic fertilizer, animal manure, crop residue return, soil organic matter, volatilization, leaching, and runoff increased from 1966 to 2017. On the national scale, N2O emissions from synthetic fertilization accounted for 57% in 2017, followed by animal manure (15%) and soil organic matter (9%). While the national emission totals are dominated by synthetic fertilizer application, district-level analyses revealed the possibility of the highest contributions from animal manure, crop residue return, and soil organic matter in 18% of the districts. The overall uncertainty from this modified method and refined EFs was 5.1%. This study is the first to capture long-term N2O dynamics at the district scale from Indian agricultural soils.

Alternative fertilization approaches in enhancing crop productivity and nutrient use efficiency: A review

The greatest challenge of our time is to meet the global food demand by producing enough food without harming the environment. Over application and misuse of synthetic fertilizer is a major challenge that results in lower fertilizer use efficiency (FUE), stagnated crop yield, and environmental pollution. In this review study, three alternative fertilization options (AFOs), such as the use of organic fertilizer enhanced-efficiency fertilizer (EEFs), and secondary, and micronutrient fertilizers were evaluated. The adoption of appropriate fertilization practices was believed to improve crop yield and FUE over the conventional fertilization approach. As of late, the use of organic fertilizers has received more attention as a better alternative to counter the challenges posed by the inappropriate use of chemical fertilizers. The formulation of slow or controlled-release fertilizers contributes to preventing nutrient losses by slowing down nutrient release patterns in the soil and allowing better synchrony between crop nutrients requirement and nutrient supply. The use of secondary macronutrients and micronutrient also has considerable importance to improve nutrient uptake, grain yield, and quality. In summary, the review result showed that the adoption of AFOs can enhance crop yield and nutrient use efficiency.

Effect of fertilizer type on antibiotic resistance genes by reshaping the bacterial community and soil properties

Conventional and bio-organic fertilizers play an important role in maintaining soil health and promoting crop growth. However, the effect of organic fertilizers on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the vegetable cropping system has been largely overlooked. In this study, we investigated the impacts of soil properties and biotic factors on ARG profiles by analyzing ARG and bacterial communities in vegetable copping soils with a long-term history of manure and bio-organic fertilizer application. The ARG abundance in the soil was significantly increased by 116% with manure application compared to synthetic NPK fertilizer application. This finding was corroborated by our meta-analysis that the longer the duration of manure application, the greater the response of increased soil ARG abundance. However, bio-organic fertilizers containing Trichoderma spp. Significantly reduced ARG contamination by 31% compared to manure application. About half of the ARG variation was explained by changes in bacterial abundance and structure, followed by soil properties. The mitigation of ARG by Trichoderma spp. Is achieved by altering the structure of the bacterial community and weakening the close association between bacteria and ARG prevalence. Taken together, these findings shed light on the contribution of bio-organic fertilizers in mitigating ARG contamination in agricultural soils, which can help manage the ecological risk posed by ARG inputs associated with manure application.

Fungicidal Effect of Guava Wood Vinegar against Colletotrichum coccodes Causing Black Dot Disease of Potatoes

Wood vinegar (WV) by-product of charcoal production is considered one of the most promising alternatives to synthetic pesticide and fertilizer applications, especially for organic production. Our goal in this study is to evaluate the efficacy of guava (Psidium guajava) WV to control Colletotrichum coccodes, which causes black dot disease, and how it influences potato plant development and yield. This study tested the efficacy of guava WV against the pathogen both in vitro and under greenhouse conditions. Different guava WV concentrations were tested on pathogen growth development, including 0, 0.25%, 0.50%, 1%, 2%, and 3% (v/v). Data revealed that the pathogen’s mycelial growth was significantly inhibited at all the concentrations, and the highest inhibition (100%) was obtained at 3% guava WV. In greenhouse trials conducted for two seasons (2021 and 2022), guava WV applied as a foliar spray at the concentration of 2% and 3% considerably reduced the potato black dot severity evaluated as stem colonization (average of 22.9% for 2021, average of 22.5% for 2022), root covering with sclerotia (average of 21.7% for 2021, average of 18.3% for 2022) and wilted plants percentage (average of 27.8% for 2021, average of 33.3% for 2022). Overall, guava WV also showed a positive effect on plant growth by increasing plant height, stem diameter, and tuber yield per plant of treated potato in both seasons. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses revealed the presence in guava WV of phenols, esters, organic acids, antioxidants, and alcohols. In conclusion, guava WV could represent a viable alternative for potato black dot disease management and for plant growth promotion.

Biochar enhances multifunctionality by increasing the uniformity of energy flow through a soil nematode food web

Soil multifunctionality is the consequence of biotic interactions that drive decomposition, nutrient cycling and net primary production. Energy flux describes the energy consumed and transferred among multitrophic groups in the soil food web, which are logically linked to multifunctionality. In a subtropical agroecosystem with an annual sweet potato-oilseed rape rotation, we explored how biochar and synthetic fertilizer jointly affected agroecosystem multifunctionality (e.g., crop production, soil carbon storage and nutrient cycling) and the energetic structure of the nematode food web during two consecutive years. Results showed that biochar increased soil multifunctionality by 37–110% mainly by promoting a uniform energy flow through the soil nematode food web, which was largely due to increased energy fluxes of fungivores and omnivores-carnivores at the expense of decreased energy flux through herbivores. Applying a lower rate of synthetic fertilizer led to non-uniform energy flow in the soil nematode food web, suggesting that nitrogen limitation could offset the stimulatory effect of biochar on soil multifunctionality. This was because biochar induced oligotrophic conditions (a stoichiometry-induced nitrogen limitation), effectively warranting that continuous biochar application would aggravate nutrient limitations to crops, especially when low rates of synthetic fertilizer are applied. Notably, soil nutrient impoverishment could lead to resource reallocation from aboveground shoot to belowground root production, thereby fueling the energy flow through the herbivore channel. Our findings highlight the importance of balancing biochar and synthetic fertilizer applications to sustain a stable energetic structure in soil nematode food webs, which are associated with greater crop production and soil health in subtropical region.