Conventional Management Practices Research Articles

A review of toxicity and biodegradation of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) in the environment

Octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), a high energy explosive, is used in various military and other applications like nuclear devices, rocket propellants, plastic explosives, rocket fuels, burster chargers construction, quarrying and mining. Generation and unselective disposal of HMX wastes from production sites, detonation fields and unexploded ordinance has resulted in significant environmental contamination of soil and water bodies. Due to its toxicity and persistence in the environment, the study of its biodegradation is highly desirable. Conventional HMX related waste management practices are neither environment friendly, nor cost effective. This work represents a consolidated up-to-date review on HMX, incorporating its production, environmental fate, conventional waste management techniques, and its toxicity and natural remediation (phytoremediation and bioremediation) potential, which may help researchers and implementers as a ready refrence to work with the high energy explosive.

LCA-Based Environmental Performance of Olive Cultivation in Northwestern Greece: From Rainfed to Irrigated through Conventional and Smart Crop Management Practices

Olive cultivation is expanding rapidly in the northwestern part of Greece, under both rainfed and irrigated practices. Irrigation can result in larger yields and economic returns, but trade-offs in the water–energy–pollution nexus remain a controversial and challenging issue. This study presents an environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Greek olive orchard systems in the plain of Arta (Epirus), comparing rainfed (baseline), Decision Support System (DSS)-based (smart) irrigation practices and farmer experience-based (conventional) irrigation practices. The contributions in this paper are, first, to provide a first quantitative indication of the environmental performance of Greek olive growing systems under different management strategies, and second, to detail the advantages that can be achieved using smart irrigation in olive cultivation in the Greek and Mediterranean contexts. Eighteen midpoints (e.g., climate change, water scarcity, acidification, freshwater eutrophication, etc.), two endpoints (damages on human health and ecosystem quality), and a single score (overall environmental impact) were quantified using the IMPACT World+ life cycle impact assessment method. The LCA model was set up using the OpenLCA software v1.10.3. The functional units were 1 ton of product (mass-based) and 1 ha of cultivated area (area-based) on a cradle-to-farm gate perspective. Irrigated systems had the lowest impacts per mass unit due to higher yields, but showed the highest impacts per cultivated area. The DSS-based irrigation management could reduce water and energy use by 42.1% compared to conventional practices. This is translated into a reduction of 5.3% per 1 ton and 10.4% per 1 ha of the total environmental impact. A sensitivity analysis of impact assessment models demonstrated that the benefits could be up to 18% for 1 ton of product or 22.6% for 1 ha of cultivated land. These results outline that DSS-based irrigation is a promising option to support less resource-intensive and sustainable intensification of irrigated agriculture systems in the plain of Arta.

Long-term agricultural management impacts arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi more than short-term experimental drought

Agricultural management practices and extreme weather events associated with climate change can influence the diversity and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with potential consequences for crop production. However, the importance of the interactive effects of long-term agricultural management and extreme weather events on AMF communities in agricultural soils is not yet fully explored. A short-term drought experiment with rainout-shelters was performed in winter wheat fields in a long-term agricultural trial with organic (biodynamic) and conventional management practices. During four months of the winter wheat growing period (March–June 2017), the rainout-shelters reduced the ambient precipitation by 65% on average. At two sampling dates, the AMF diversity and community composition were assessed using a single-molecule real-time (SMRT) DNA sequencing. A total of 955 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), belonging to twelve genera were identified. The long-term farming systems and the short-term experimental drought did not affect AMF ASV diversity levels. The AMF community composition at the genus level differed between the organic and the conventional farming systems, but no distinctive communities were found in response to the experimental drought. The three most abundant genera Acaulospora, Paraglomus and Funneliformis were correlated to the two farming practices. Our study demonstrates that AMF communities in agricultural soils are responsive to long-term farming systems, and are resistant to one short-term summer drought event.

Emerging and Re-emerging Biotic Stresses of Agricultural Crops in India and Novel Tools for their Better Management

Food security of our country is at risk due to heavy yield losses of agricultural crops caused by pests and diseases known together as biotic stresses. Conventional management practices in vogue are not competent under the current situations obscured by the incitants of biotic stresses which have either enhanced their offensive capabilities due to adaptive mutations or regained their pathogenic/ herbivory potential owing to climate change. Numerous causal agents of biotic stresses are also introduced in the country or new regions of the country either through natural dispersal as invasive species, or on account of quarantine irregularities at national or international levels. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to appraise the impact of these new biotic stresses burgeoned in the recent past and to develop novel technologies for their management. To devise an effective preventive and eradicative strategy for containing these biotic stresses, new research innovations need to be practiced such as deciphering basic/molecular mechanism of host-pathogen/insect interactions; endophytic mechanisms of plant protection; nanotechnology in pest management; host resistance strengthening by gene cloning, recombinant DNA technologies, RNA biology, utilizing gene editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9, etc. This article presents a comprehensive account of new biotic stresses of agricultural crops built up in the country and also reviews the novel scientific inventions made worldwide which can be further employed to devise more efficient methods for alleviating impact of these biotic stresses of food crops in the country.

Locally focused and digitally oriented: examining eco-museums' digitization in a service quality management perspective

PurposeEco-museums safeguard the cultural authenticity and the historical identity of the place in which they operate. Conventional organizational models and management practices are generally employed to achieve this institutional aim. Conversely, innovative solutions – such as digitization – are overlooked. Adopting a service quality management perspective, the article intends to examine the role of managerialization and professionalization in triggering eco-museums' digitization.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical analysis involving 126 eco-museums operating in Italy as of 2018 was designed to investigate the implications of managerialization and professionalization on the eco-museums' propensity to embark on a digitization process. Two different forms of digitization were examined: (1) the presence of eco-museums in the digital environment; and (2) the exploitation of digital tools for service delivery. The mediating role of two “soft” total quality management (TQM) practices, i.e. people centredness and strategic focus on visitors' experience, was contemplated in the empirical analysis.FindingsThe research findings suggest that managerialization and professionalization have ambiguous effects on eco-museums' digitization. Nevertheless, they indirectly contribute to a greater digital presence of eco-museums and to a larger use of digital tools for service delivery through an increased use of soft TQM practices.Research limitations/implicationsManagerialization and professionalization are likely to foster the digital transition of eco-museums, which advances their ability to protect and promote the local cultural heritage. Soft TQM practices intended to achieve people-centredness and to enhance the visitors' experience should be exploited to stimulate the eco-museums' digitization.Originality/valueThe article examines the triggers of eco-museums' digitization, providing some food for thought to scholars and practitioners.

Life cycle analysis of renewable natural gas and lactic acid production from waste feedstocks

Producing fuels and chemicals from waste is considered economically favorable, due to low feedstock cost, and environmentally favorable, due to avoided emissions from conventional waste management practices. In this study, we evaluate the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction benefits of renewable natural gas (RNG) and lactic acid (LA) production from four types of wet waste feedstocks (wastewater sludge, food waste, swine manure, and fats, oil, and grease [FOG]) via anaerobic digestion (AD) and LA fermentation, respectively. RNG can be used as an alternative to fossil natural gas, while LA from waste feedstocks can displace conventional LA production pathways (mainly from corn via fermentation). Providing comprehensive life cycle GHG emissions of the combinations of waste feedstocks and products through different routes helps identify the GHG hotspots and show where emissions savings come from. The results show that the carbon intensities (CIs) of waste-derived RNG and LA are much lower than those of their counterparts. We estimated the life cycle GHG emissions for RNG to be between −146 and 27 g carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)/MJ, much lower than the CI of fossil fuels. Waste-derived LA pathways also show substantially lower CIs, ranging from −4.2 to −1.4 kgCO2e/kg LA, compared to the CIs of LA from corn and corn stover (1.2 and 0.3 kgCO2e/kg LA, respectively). We will also discuss that the low CIs of waste-derived products can come from low yields leading to high emission credits. Thus, life cycle analysis results presented per weight of treated waste can be used to support decisions about which waste feedstocks and products are to be used for sustainable waste valorization. In addition, we found that monetary emission reduction credits can play an important role in driving waste valorization.

Assessment and mitigation of tangible flood damages driven by climate change in a tropical city: Hat Yai Municipality, southern Thailand

Climate change-induced floods in tropical urban areas have presented a serious global challenge because of failed conventional stormwater management practices. This research aims to develop a comprehensive methodological framework for flood damage estimation and mitigation, particularly in a tropical urban city. In this study, interdisciplinary fields were integrated through statistical downscaling, hydrologic-hydraulic modeling, and the development of flood damage curves. Relationships between tangible flood damage and flood-borne outbreak with flood depths were elucidated to predict future damage. Various flood mitigation strategies were evaluated. Herein, Hat Yai Municipality in Southern Thailand was selected as the study area. The flood simulation was conducted for 2010 and the highest flood damage sensitivity was exhibited by non-commercial buildings due to significant commercial stock damage, which was followed by that observed for detached houses. There was a strong linear relationship between the number of patients infected with leptospirosis and flood depth (R2 = 0.85). For climate change studies, flood maps for storms with 20-, 50-, and 100-year return periods under the A2/RCP8.5 scenario were generated using hydrological-hydraulic 1D/2D model; these maps were applied with the developed flood damage curves for damage estimation. It was found that reducing flood damage by implementing agroforestry and expanding the main bypass channel provides comparable damage reductions of −25.5% and − 27.5%, respectively, under the worst-case scenario of a 100-year return period in 2040–2059. Therefore, to deal with uncertain climate change situations, the incorporation of structural and non-structural measures is recommended. Such a combination when coupled with an eight-hour flood awareness time can result in a damage reduction of −59.9%. A flood warning system was in high demand by residents in the area; however, damage reduction from this measure alone was not high (approximately −17.0%) when compared to that obtained with other measures; consequently, additional measures were needed.

Exploring climate change adaptation strategies in maize (Zea mays) postharvest management practices among smallholder farmers

Climate change has negative effects on postharvest management of cereals. However, much emphasis is placed on climate change adaptation (CCA) in crop production whilst not adequately addressing the CCA in postharvest management of maize. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among smallholder farmers. Key informant interviews, observations and structured interviews on 280 household heads were done. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse determinants of use of postharvest CCA practices whilst multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse determinants of use of postharvest storage facilities. Farmers used grain protectants (40.4%) and minimised the duration of the harvesting process (34.3%) as their major CCA practices in maize postharvest management. There was a significant difference in postharvest maize loss quantities ( p ≤ 0.05) between users and non-users of CCA practices. The choice and use of climate-resilient postharvest strategies were significantly influenced by location, cultivated land, access to radio and membership to farmer club. Choice of a postharvest storage facility was significantly influenced by training and membership to farmers’ club. Smallholder farmers are using some conventional maize postharvest management practices like grain protectants to adapt to the effects of climate change. The use of maize postharvest CCA strategies significantly reduced postharvest losses.

The effect of organic and conventional management practices on soil macropore structure in greenhouse vegetable production

AbstractGreenhouse vegetable production (GVP) is developing rapidly and farming practices strongly affect soil quality. However, quantitative evidence of the differences in soil macropore structure between organic and conventional greenhouse vegetable cultivation is still unavailable. In this study, we sampled paired organic and conventional greenhouse vegetable soils from the tilled and plough pan layers at sample sites south of Nanjing, China. Using industrial computed tomography (CT) scanning technology to measure soil macropore characteristics, we examined the effects of different farming practices on soil macropore structure, as well as the main factors that influenced soil macropore characteristics. Organic greenhouse vegetable (OGV) production was associated with a greater quantity and quality of soil macropores compared with conventional greenhouse vegetable (CGV) production. The total macroporosity in the tilled soil layer averaged 16.9% in OGV soils, more than twice that of CGV soils. OGV soils exhibited an improved pore size distribution with a greater relative abundance of transmission pores (50–500 μm) and a decreased relative abundance of large macropores (>1,000 μm). Pore size and shape data suggested that OGV soils had fewer soil cracks but more biopores than CGV soils in the tilled layer, as well as more root biopores in the plough pan layer. Furthermore, macropore morphology was improved in both the tilled and plough pan layers of OGV soils. In particular, macropore connectivity was nearly 10 times greater in the tilled layer of OGV soils. Soil organic matter (SOM) content was the dominant factor influencing most macropore characteristics (total macroporosity, connectivity, and relative porosity of 100–1,000 μm pores, all small macropores and elongated medium macropores). We suggest that greater SOM content and consequently better soil macropore structure in OGV soils was dependent not only on greater organic manure input, but also on the non‐application of chemical fertilizer.Highlights Farm management affects soil macropore structure in greenhouse vegetable production. Compared soil macropore structure in organic and conventional greenhouse vegetable cultivation. OGV had greater quantity and quality of soil macropores than CGV. Greater SOM in organic farming contributed to the better soil macropore structure.

Organic management practices shape the structure and associations of soil bacterial communities in tea plantations

Crop management practices can strongly affect soil microbial communities and their ecosystem services, but it remains unclear how these effects extend to different agroecosystem contexts, such as in tea plantations. A comparison of paired tea plantations (organic vs. conventional managements) in Eastern China was conducted to investigate the ways in which agricultural management can affect soil physicochemical parameters, composition, diversity and assembly of soil bacterial communities. Compared with conventional management, organically managed tea plantations on average increased soil microbial C by 164.4% and soil microbial N by 482.9%, respectively in Wuyi and Xiangshang sites. The results of 16S rRNA pyrosequencing analyses revealed that the diversity and richness of bacterial communities was similar under both managements, but the structure of soil bacterial communities was significantly reshaped by the management type (R2 = 0.410, p < 0.01) used in the tea plantation as well as geographical origin (R2 = 0.268, p < 0.01). Co-occurrence network analysis uncovered that organic management weakened the connectivity among soil bacteria taxa in tea plantations, indicating more stable microbial associations under conventional management practices. These results emphasized the importance of management and geological origins in reshaping soil bacterial structures in tea plantations.

Rice cultivation in former rubber land without soil remediation contribute toxicity risk of heritable heavy metals contamination

The rubber-based intercropping management system (RBIS) land management using chemical fertilizer and herbicides cause heavy metal accumulation in soil. Rice is a good heavy metal bioindicator to monitor soil quality and often integrated with RBIS while rubber trees are young as subsistence farming. Heavy metal accumulation in soil and hill paddy grown on former rubber land and specialized paddy field (control) had been assessed to determine whether harvested rice grain poses toxicity risk. Grain harvested from specialized paddy land was safer to consume as none of the selected heavy metal concentrations in rice grain had exceeded the permissible limit of Malaysia Food Regulation 1985 (MFR 1985). Meanwhile, hill paddy grown intercropping with young rubber trees on former rubber land had accumulated a high amount of heavy metals in rice grain whereby nonessential heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium and lead had exceeded the permissible limit of MFR 1985. Commonly, indigenous hill paddy belongs to tall paddy variety group can grow more than 120 cm tall. All harvested hill paddy landraces grown on specialized paddy field surpassed 120 cm. Nevertheless, all hill paddy landraces that were cultivated in former rubber land were below 100 cm tall indicated that heavy metal phytotoxicity occurred in plants. Rice grain produced in former rubber land poses toxicity risk to consumers due to unsustainable conventional agricultural management practice. Soil degradation needs to be prevented as it can impact food safety and food security. Further soil remediation requirement must be determined to ensure high productivity and safety.

Assessment of the Adoption of Organic and Conventional Farming Methods in Kisii Central Sub-County, Western Kenya

This study sought to determine the extent of adoption of various organic and conventional crop and soil management practices in the farms. Ten farms were sampled at an equidistance of one kilometre along a transect laid across each of the eight randomly selected sub-locations in the sub county. A sample size of 80 farms was randomly selected from the Sub-County. The eighty farms were regrouped into two; Organic and conventional farms. A survey of the crop management practises was carried out and the observed methods recorded down. The data collected was analyzed using the Statistical paired t test and descriptive statistics. Use of pesticides recorded the highest percentages (60%) in conventional methods while mulching recorded relatively high percentage (42%) in organic methods. Use of plastic cover recorded the lowest percentage of 4% in conventional methods while vermin-compositing was not embraced in conventional methods. Conventional methods were 3.33 points higher than organic (95% CI [-9.37596, 16.04263]). Conventional and Organic farming methods were strongly and negatively correlated (r = -0.069, p &gt; 0.05). However, there was no statistical significant difference between conventional and organic methods (t5 = 0.674, p &gt; 0.05), [Appendix 1(iii)]. The knowledge obtained will be useful to the farmers and other participants globally to improve crop productivity. The information collected will also enable farmers seek for unconventional ways to alleviate the problem of heavy usage of agrochemicals in order to embrace organic farming for the long run sustainability of the agricultural sector.

The effects of field inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi through rye donor plants on grapevine performance and soil properties

Grapevines are highly dependent on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for normal growth and development. However, vineyard soils may have low AMF abundance and diversity due to conventional soil management practices that are detrimental for these fungi. In this context, the establishment of AMF-inoculated cover crops can be a highly convenient strategy to reestablish soil mycorrhizal potential, as it combines the advantages of a vigorous inoculum source coming from mycorrhizal donor plants with the overall benefits of green covers for grape quality, microbial diversity and soil health. In this work, the potential benefits of Funneliformis mosseae-inoculated under-vine cover crops on grapevine growth, physiology and production were compared to those derived from 1) the establishment of non-inoculated under-vine cover crops, and 2) conventional herbicide-based weed control in the under-vine space. In addition, grapevine root AMF community composition was analyzed to assess if the introduction of a non-native AMF species induced changes on resident mycorrhizal community assemblies and to unveil potential variations in AMF diversity associated to herbicide replacement by green covers. Results indicated that under-vine cover crops, inoculated or not, led to a general vigor decrease in grapevines, probably due to competition between the two species. However, after a heat wave that occurred at harvest time in the second year of the experiment, grapevines growing in plots with inoculated cover crops had the highest photochemical reflectance indices and net photosynthesis rates, and partially compensated production losses due to berry sunburn. Root mycorrhizal community analysis by the end of the experiment revealed that the inoculated F. mosseae isolate colonized grapevine roots from inoculated plots, while it was absent in the other ones. Moreover, inoculation of this AMF did not lead to a replacement of native root AMF communities, but allowed further colonization by other resident Glomeraceae and non-Glomeraceae AMF taxa. Overall, the work herein demonstrates that the introduction of F. mosseae through donor plants is a suitable field inoculation method for grapevines and can help them to better withstand heat waves.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for COVID-19: Updated 2021 Guidelines from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization.

Disclaimer:This is an updated guideline from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) for the role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for patients with severe cardiopulmonary failure due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The great majority of COVID-19 patients (>90%) requiring ECMO have been supported using venovenous (V-V) ECMO for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). While COVID-19 ECMO run duration may be longer than in non-COVID-19 ECMO patients, published mortality appears to be similar between the two groups. However, data collection is ongoing, and there is a signal that overall mortality may be increasing. Conventional selection criteria for COVID-19–related ECMO should be used; however, when resources become more constrained during a pandemic, more stringent contraindications should be implemented. Formation of regional ECMO referral networks may facilitate communication, resource sharing, expedited patient referral, and mobile ECMO retrieval. There are no data to suggest deviation from conventional ECMO device or patient management when applying ECMO for COVID-19 patients. Rarely, children may require ECMO support for COVID-19–related ARDS, myocarditis, or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C); conventional selection criteria and management practices should be the standard. We strongly encourage participation in data submission to investigate the optimal use of ECMO for COVID-19.

‘Clean Him Up…Make Him Look Like He Was Before’: Australian Aboriginal Management of Wetlands with Implications for Conservation, Restoration and Multiple Evidence Base Negotiations

Historical and contemporary Indigenous wetland management influences wetland ecological character and conservation in ways not well recognised by western science and mainstream natural resource management. For example, the Australian government funds Aboriginal-led management of traditional lands, but Aboriginal knowledge is rarely enabled to critique, enrich or provide alternatives to conventional wetland management theory and practice. Emerging processes like the Multiple Evidence Base approach aim to foster synergies across different knowledge systems to enrich understanding of, and solutions for, environmental challenges. A starting point for such negotiations is the mobilisation of each knowledge base to foster mutual comprehension of shared knowledge around a subject. To assist in mobilising Aboriginal knowledge around wetland ecosystem management, we offer a case study of related Aboriginal beliefs, knowledge and practice. Based on oral histories and ongoing expressions, wetland management practices undertaken by two Kimberley Aboriginal groups in northern Western Australia form this article’s focus. We describe how and why these groups manage or rehabilitate wetlands, reflecting on ecosystem generation and conservation, and convergences or divergences with western science. We also identify barriers to the mobilisation of Aboriginal knowledge systems within contemporary land management programs, and opportunities to better foster Multiple Evidence Base negotiations.

Associating Site Characteristics With Distributions of Pestiferous and Predaceous Arthropods in Soybean.

Although site-specific pest management has the potential to decrease control costs and environmental impact associated with traditional pest management tactics, the success of these programs relies on the accurate characterization of arthropod distributions within a crop. Because potential correlation of insect counts with remotely sensed field attribute data could help to decrease the costs associated with and need for fine-scale spatial sampling, we chose to determine which within-field variables would be informative of soybean arthropod counts in an attempt to move toward site-specific pest management in this crop. Two soybean fields were grid-sampled for pestiferous and predaceous arthropods, plant productivity estimates, and abiotic variable characterization in 2017-2018. Negative binomial, zero-inflated models were used to estimate presence and counts of soybean arthropod taxa based on normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), soybean plant height, soil electrical conductivity (ECa), elevation, and calendar week. Among all variables, calendar week was the most reliable predictor of arthropod counts, as it was a significant predictor for a majority of all taxa. Additionally, counts for a majority of pestiferous taxa were significantly associated with distance from the field edge, elevation, soybean plant height, and NDVI. Although site-specific pest management has the potential for reduced management inputs and increased profitability over conventional management (i.e., whole-field) practices, management zones must first be clearly defined based on the within-field variability for the variables of interest. If site-specific pest management practices are to be applied in soybean, calendar week (and associated soybean phenology), soybean plant height (and associated elevation), and NDVI may be useful for describing the distributions of pests, such as kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) (Fabricius), green cloverworm, Hypena scabra (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) (Fabricius), velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) (Hübner), and soybean looper, Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (Walker).

Testing the Relative Efficacies of Three Different Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Modules for Controlling Mango Mealy Bug (Drosicha mangiferae G.) at Malda, West Bengal

Background: Mango mealy bug (Drosicha mangiferae G.) is a notorious pest of mango and when infestation reaches severity quantum fruit loss takes place. Control of this pest had been found to be impossible with conventional chemical pesticide spray. So, the urgent need is to find some non conventional management practices. Therefore, the current study was undertaken to test three different combinations of available pest management practices.Methods: To test the efficacy of the three Integrated Pest Management Modules (IPM modules) control vs. treated trees were tagged and then mango mealy bug number found in inflorescence was counted. The difference in the number of mealy bug at the peak time infestation (12 SMW) in control vs. treated trees and fruit loss reduction in control vs. treated plants gave the idea about relative efficacy of the different modules.Result: 99.46% of mango mealy bug number and 47.52% fruit drop reduction were achieved by adopting module I. Whereas up to 64.33% mealy bug and 22.84% fruit drop reduction was achieved by module II. The module III was found to be the most effective module and adoption of this module attained 54.72% fruit loss control and 97.10% mealy bug control.

The importance of wild insects in the pollination of avocado crop grown under organic and conventional management practices in central Chile

Several recent studies have highlighted the importance of wild insects in crop pollination. In this study, we performed an exploratory evaluation of the importance of wild insects in the pollination of avocado crop grown under organic and conventional management practices in Quillota, central Chile. The diversity of floral visitors was estimated for each tree. The rate of floral visits by honeybees and wild insects correlated with the number of fruit sets. Regardless of the management practice, on average 34% of the visitors were wild insects. A greater diversity of floral visitors was registered in the organic farm. Finally, fruit set positively correlated with the rate of wild insect visits, especially under conventional management. Our preliminary results highlight the importance of wild insects in the pollination of the avocado crop.

Trichoderma based biological management of major fungal diseases in pulse crops

Pulses are an integral part of Indian agriculture due to their multiple utility in human food, animal feed and soil health. India has the distinction of being the top producer of pulses in the world. About 8–10% grain yield of pulse crops are annually lost due to various diseases. Majority of the fungal diseases are soil and seed borne in nature therefore, difficult to manage by conventional management practices consisting of growing resistant cultivars and use of fungicides. Among the various types of biological control agents, Trichoderma species have been extensively exploited. They were found to be effective against large number of soil, seed and air borne fungal plant pathogens. The ideal characteristic features like high reproductive capacity, rhizosphere modification ability, survival ability under adverse conditions, nutrients utilization efficiency, aggressiveness against plant pathogens and promoting plant growth and defense mechanism makes Trichoderma as a successful biocontrol agent. Seed and soil application bio-formulations were developed from different potential species of Trichoderma to increase shelf life and efficacy. Pusa 5SD a seed dressing formulation and Pusa Biopellet (PBP) a soil application formulation showed longer shelf life. The efficacies of newly developed bio-formulations were evaluated in pot and filed experiments against several diseases of pulse crops namely, dry (Rhizoctonia bataticola) and wet root rot (R. solani) of mungbean and ckickpea, wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris) of chickpea and root rot (Rhizoctonia solani) and damping off (Pythium ultimum) complex in French bean. T. harzianum based formulations were found superior over others against R. bataticola and Fusarium species whereas, T. virens based formulations were found superior against R. solani. A combined application of PBP 10G (T. harzianum) in soil and Pusa 5SD + carboxin as seed treatment showed superiority over any other formulations alone in reducing the dry root rot incidence and increasing grain yield of mungbean and chickpea. Soil application of PBP 4G (T. viride) and seed treatment with Pusa 5SD (T. harzianum) + carboxin provided the highest yield attributing parameters with the lowest wilt incidence in chickpea. T. virens based Pusa 5SD and PBG 6 were found effective in reducing wet root rot and increasing yield in mungbean and chickpea. Seed treatment proved superiority over soil application for all the parameters recorded. Both the formulations (soil and seed treatment) showed growth promoting ability. During validation, Pusa 5SD (T. harzianum) alone and in combination with Vitavax power (carboxin + thiram) reduced the wilt incidence and enhanced the grain yield of chickpea at 8 different locations across the country. French bean seeds treated with T. harzianum based Pusa 5 SD + P. fluorescens provided the highest seed germination, root and shoot lengths, dry plant weight, pod yield and the lowest disease incidence. Further, combined application of Pusa 5SD (T. harzianum), PGPR strain P. fluorescens, M. ciceri and Vitavax power as seed treatment gave extreme protection to germinating chickpea plants with the highest grain yield and the lowest wilt incidence.

Impact of no-tillage on water purification and retention functions of soil

There are still uncertainties regarding the long-term impact of no-tillage farming practices on separate soil functions in the United Kingdom. This paper aimed to evaluate the chemical and physical processes in two different agricultural soils under no-tillage and conventional management practices to determine their impact on water related soil functions at field scale in the United Kingdom. The field-scale monitoring compares two neighboring farms with similar soil and topographic characteristics—one of the farms implemented no-tillage practices in 2013, while the second farm is under conventional soil management with moldboard plowing. Two soil types were evaluated under each farming practice: (1) a free-draining porous limestone, and (2) a lime-rich loamy soil with high silt and clay content. Field monitoring was undertaken over a two-year period and included nutrient analysis of surface and subsurface soil samples, bulk density, soil moisture, infiltration capacity, surface runoff, and analysis of phosphorus (P) and suspended solids in watercourses in close proximity to the test fields. The conversion to no-tillage changed the soil structure, leading to a higher bulk density and soil organic matter content and thereby increasing the soil moisture levels. These changes impacted the denitrification rates, reducing the soil nitrate (NO₃) levels. The increased plant material cover under no-tillage increased the levels of soil phosphate (PO₄^3–) and PO₄^3– leaching. The extent to which soil functions were altered by farming practice was influenced by the soil type, with the free-draining porous limestone providing greater benefits under no-tillage in this study. The importance of including soils of different characteristics, texture, and mineralogy in the assessment and monitoring of farming practice is emphasized, and additionally the between field and in-field spatial variability (both across the field and with depth) highlighted the importance of a robust sampling strategy that encompasses a large enough sample to effectively reveal the impact of the farming practice.