Crop Residues Research Articles

Measurement of the effectiveness of Clonostachys rosea in reducing Fusarium biomass on wheat straw.

The survival and growth of plant pathogens on crop residues are key factors facilitating the dynamics of crop diseases. Spores (e.g., perithecia, and chlamydospores) and mycelium of pathogenic fungi overwinter on harvest residues, such as straw, and serve as initial inoculum infecting crops in the next growing season. Therefore, targeting overwintering fungi is essential to attaining effective disease control. Beneficial microorganisms offer advantages in controlling pathogens through their ability to colonize and exploit different environmental niches. In this study, we applied qPCR assays to explore the biocontrol performance of locally isolated strains of Clonostachys against various Fusarium pathogens. We proved that prior colonization of wheat straw by Fusarium spp. can be effectively reduced by Clonostachys rosea. We demonstrated that the efficiency of C. rosea to reduce Fusarium inoculum appears to remain at a similar level for most studied strains regardless of the target pathogen and the level of colonization of substrates by pathogens. Efficient performance of local C. rosea strains identifies possible targets for future strategies to control Fusarium diseases in cereals. Our study also highlights the challenge in sequence-based determination of C. rosea, which is crucial for the efficient selection of beneficial strains for biocontrol purposes.

PSLBI-24 Optimizing crop byproduct inclusion in beef cattle diets: Utilization of wheat straw to improve operational economics and oilseed screenings as protein supplements

Abstract Inclusion of crop residues and byproducts in beef cattle diets has become a significant practice in beef cattle production as producers are faced with conventional feed shortages, increased prices, and disrupted supply chains. Wheat straw is a widely available crop byproduct in the western Canadian prairies whose inclusion in beef cattle diets has been prevented by its low nutritional content, necessitating supplementation strategies to enhance its nutritional value. The present study explored the effect of incorporating wheat straw in backgrounding cattle diets with canola or flax screening supplementation to improve the nutritional profile of the diet and determine the sustainability of such inclusion through cattle performance measurements. The experiment was a completely randomized design. Steers [n = 300; initial body weight (BW): 297 ± 18 kg] were randomly assigned to 5 treatment diets, each diet having 4 pen replicates (15 steers/pen); control (CTL), low straw canola (LSC), low straw flax (LSF), high straw canola (HSC) and high straw flax (HSF). The CTL diet was a conventional Western Canadian backgrounding diet (60% barley silage:40% dry rolled barley grain-based concentrate). Low straw diets had a 25% wheat straw inclusion and high straw diets had 50% wheat straw inclusion on a dry matter (DM) basis. Respective screenings were included at 12.50% inclusion of diet DM. The steers were fed for a total of 84 d divided into four periods of 21 d. Statistical analyses were performed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 with diet treatment included as a fixed effect and pen within diet as a random effect. Treatment means were compared using the LSMEANS statement adjusted for the Tukey-Kramer method. Final BW, total BW gain, average daily gain (ADG) and gain:feed were greater (P < 0.001) for the CTL steers (Table 1). Dry matter intake (DMI) was greatest for CTL steers and decreased with increasing straw inclusion in the diet (P < 0.001). The type of screenings (canola or flax) did not affect (P > 0.05) steers final BW, total BW gain, ADG and gain:feed. Increasing the inclusion of wheat straw in backgrounding diets decreased growth performance parameters. The high level of neutral digestible fiber in wheat straw limited DMI and reduced growth performance compared with CTL steers. The addition of screenings to the diet provided protein content to offset the low nutritional value of the wheat straw; however, the different types of screenings did not result in a cattle performance advantage over the other. Although these findings demonstrate the challenges of including low nutritional crop byproducts, further research is needed to analyze the effects different diets have on operational economics, rumen fermentation parameters and greenhouse gas emissions to further outline any advantages or disadvantages.

Exploiting the Properties of Non-Wood Feedstocks to Produce Tailorable Lignin-Containing Cellulose Nanofibers.

Lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs) are mainly produced commercially from treated wood pulp, which can decrease some of the carbon-negative benefits of utilizing biomass feedstock. In this work, LCNFs are prepared from non-wood feedstocks, including agricultural residues such as hemp, wheat straw, and flax. These feedstocks allowed for the preparation of LCNFs with a variety of properties, including tailored hydrophobicity. The feedstocks and their subsequent LCNFs are extensively characterized to determine the roles that feedstocks play on the morphology and properties of their resultant LCNFs. The LCNFs were then incorporated into paper handsheets to study their usefulness in papermaking applications, which indicated good potential for the use of wheat straw LCNFs as a surface additive to improve the oil resistance coating.

Structural design of cellulose-hyperbranched double-network for enhanced intramolecular diffusion kinetics of heavy metal ion capture processes

Extracting cellulose from agricultural residues and converting it into environmentally friendly adsorbents to solve the heavy metal contamination problem of groundwater and farmland is an effective strategy to achieve high-value utilization of agricultural residues. Herein, we propose a streamlined crosslinking strategy to fabricate a cellulose-based amphoteric hyperbranched adsorbent (MAHPA) in a controlled manner. The strategy involves synthesizing the amphoteric hyperbranched functional reagent first and then crosslinking it with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). This approach simplifies the complexity of the multi-component cross-linking system, resulting in a conversion rate of reaction reagents exceeding 99 %. MAHPA, with a three-dimensional hyperbranched structure (degree of branching: 0.77), exhibits a high swelling rate (247.62 %) and high densities of carboxyl (7.05 mmol·g−1) and amino (8.27 mmol·g−1) groups. Moreover, the cellulose-hyperbranched double-network structure of MAHPA greatly enhances the intramolecular diffusion kinetics of heavy metal ions on MAHPA, enabling it to complete the removal of low concentrations of Cr(VI), As(V), Pb(II), and Cd(II) within 20 min. Interestingly, MAHPA demonstrates excellent synchronous capture performance for Cr(VI), As(V), Pb(II), and Cd(II) in groundwater at a velocity of 1.60 × 10−2 m·s−1. Meanwhile, applying MAHPA can realize the safe utilization of Cd-As contaminated soil. This work offers a general strategy for the structural design of cellulose-based hyperbranched adsorbent holding great promise as heavy metal contaminated groundwater and soil remediation field.

Residues of Symbiont Cover Crops Improving Corn Growth and Soil-Dependent Health Parameters

Cover crops have emerged as a crucial tool in promoting sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in improving soil quality and soil–plant health. This study investigates the impact of single cover crop plants each with varying fungal and/or bacterial symbiosis capacities in a pot experiment. The growth of non-symbiont Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata), the associative bacterium symbiont black oat (Avena strigosa) and the double (fungus–bacterium) endosymbiont broad bean (Vicia faba) was studied on three distinct soil types, namely a less-fertile sandy soil (Arenosol), an average value of loam soil (Luvisol) and a more productive chernozem soil (Chernozem). Beside the biomass production, nitrogen content and frequency of AM fungi symbiosis (MYCO%) of cover crops, the main soil health characteristics of electrical conductivity (EC), labile carbon (POXC) and fluorescein diacetate enzyme activity (FDA) were assessed and evaluated by detailed statistical analysis. Among the used soil types, the greatest biomass production was found on Chernozem soil with the relatively highest soil organic matter (2.81%) content and productivity. Double symbiotic activity, assessed by soil nitrogen content and mycorrhiza frequency (MYCO%), were significantly improved on the lowest-quality Arenosols (SOM 1.16%). In that slightly humous sandy soil, MYCO% was enhanced by 45%, indicating that symbiosis was crucial for plant growth in the less-fertile soil investigated. After the initial cover crop phase, the accumulated biomass was incorporated into the Luvisol (SOM 1.64%) soil, followed by the cultivation of corn (Zea mays, DK 3972) as the main crop. The results indicate that incorporating cover crop residues enhanced labile carbon (POXC) by 20% and significantly increased the FDA microbial activity in the soil, which positively correlated with the nutrient availability and growth of the maize crop. This study emphasizes the importance of selecting suitable cover crops based on their symbiotic characteristics to improve soil quality and enhance soil–plant health in sustainable agricultural systems.

Assessment of livestock husbandry practices and production constraints among smallholder mixed crop-livestock production systems in the Majang zone, southwest Ethiopia

Livestock production plays a significant role in improving the livelihoods of poor smallholder farmer households in the Majang zone. However, despite its importance, there is limited information on husbandry practices and constraints on livestock production to design and implement effective interventions to maximize productivity. The aim of this study was to assess husbandry practices and major constraints on livestock production in the Majang zone, southwest Ethiopia. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a randomly selected sample of 168 households (HHs) through a face-to-face interview from January to May 2021. The results revealed that mixed crop-livestock farming is the dominant livestock production system in the study area. The overall average herd size per household (HH) was 2.15 ± 0.11 cattle, 0.15 ± 0.01 sheep, 0.31 ± 0.09 goats, 0.10 ± 0.02 donkey, 0.04 ± 0.00 mule, 0.13 ± 0.02 horses and 0.24 ± 0.02 chickens. Overall herd size did not differ significantly by AEZ except for sheep (p < 0.05). The primary reason for keeping cattle, goats, sheep, equines and poultry were milk production (27.4 %), meat for home consumption (33.9 %), cash income (33.3 %), transportation (85.1 %), and meat for home consumption (72 %), respectively. In the dry and wet seasons, natural pasture, crop residues, indigenous fodder trees and shrubs (IFTSs), nonconventional feed resources (NCFRs), crop stubbles and improved forages were the main livestock feed resources. The majority (60.1 %) of respondents practiced free-grazing systems. Separate sheds, family dwellings, kraals, and open-walled sheds were the main housing systems used for animals. The majority (79.2 %) of respondents used rivers as a source of livestock drinking water. Trypanosomiasis (18.45 %), African horse sickness (66.1 %) and Newcastle disease (47.02 %) were the most important diseases of livestock. Diseases (35.7 %), lack of access to artificial insemination (35.7 %) and inadequate veterinary services (11.3 %) were identified as the top three constraints limiting production. It is recommended that constraints identified by farmers should be considered in developing and implementing effective interventions to improve livestock productivity and their contribution to poverty alleviation in the study area.

Half substitution of mineral N with fish protein hydrolysate enhancing microbial residue C and N storage and climate benefits under high straw residue return

The widespread utilization of straw return was a popular practice straw disposal for highly intensive agriculture in China, which has brought about some negative impacts such as less time for straw complete biodegradation, aggravation of greenhouse gas evolution, and lower efficient of carbon accumulation. It was urgent to find an eco-friendly N-rich organic fertilizer instead of mineral N as activator to solve the above problems and lead a carbon accumulation in long tern management. Besides, microbial necromass was considered as a crucial contributor to persistent soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pool. How organic fertilizer activators influence microbial residue under different amount of crop residues input remained unclear. Thus, soils incorporating moderate and high rate of rice straw residue with additions of half and full of organic activators (fish protein hydrolysates vs. manure) were incubated for measuring carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, microbial community and necromass. It was found that soil CO2 emission was rapidest during the first 13 days of straw decomposition but remained lowest in the treatments of 50% mineral N substituted by fish protein hydrolysate. There were that 81%–89% of total CO2 release and 59%–65% of total N2O emission occurred within 60 days of incubation period, and bacterial community and nitrate positively affected soil CO2 and N2O release respectively. Straw incorporation amount and organic activator application interactively influenced soil CO2 emission but not affected soil N2O emission. After 360 days of incubation, the difference of bacterial necromass was noticeable but fungal necromass remained almost unaltered across all treatments. All treatments showed generally comparable contribution of microbial necromass N to the total N pool. The treatment of 50% mineral N substituted by fish protein hydrolysate under high rate of straw input (HSF50) promoted the highest proportion of microbial necromass C in soil organic C because of alleviating N limitation for microorganisms. Finally, HSF50 was recommended as an eco-friendly strategy for enhancing microbial necromass C and N storage and climate benefits in agroecosystems.

Surface characterization of biochar from agricultural residues for environmental applications

Bio-waste materials banana (Musa ealbisiana) leaves, cassava (Manihot esculenta) peels, mango (Mangifera indica) leaves, plantain (Plantago lanceolata) leaves and peels were pyrolyzed at different temperatures; 300, 400, 450, 500 and 600 oC using a muffle furnace. The biochar samples obtained were characterized and properties evaluated for their potential application in soil for agronomic and environmental benefits. The measured physico-chemical properties; pH, bulk density, percentage yield and electrical conductivity varied with temperature of pyrolysis and somewhat with the source of the bio-waste. Surface morphology and elemental composition were determined from Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) measurements and showed variations in texture, porosity and elemental composition with pyrolysis temperature. The produced biochar yields were in the range 16.1 to 84.6% and highest for banana leaves (BL) pyrolysed at 300 oC. The scanned images showed a remarkable surface morphology for all the biochar samples obtained at temperatures ≥ 450 oC. The pH obtained indicate the alkaline nature of the biochars with mean values &gt; 7.5 except for cassava peels (CP) pyrolysed at 300 oC having a value of 5.5. From the elemental analysis, the high carbon content (&gt; 60%) at higher temperatures (&gt; 450 oC) of the biochars and the molar O/C ratios may suggest the suitability of the biochars in applications for long-term carbon sequestration and also promising candidates for soil amendment due to increase in macro porosity.

Valorization of Date By-Products: Enhancement of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potentials through Fermentation.

The by-products from three varieties of dates-Mozafati, Sayer, and Kabkab-were subjected to solid-state fermentation using Aspergillus niger alone or in co-culture with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum or Limosilactobacillus reuteri to enhance their phenolic and flavonoid content, along with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Solid-state fermentation, being environmentally friendly and cost-effective, is particularly suitable for agricultural residues. Significant increases (p < 0.05) in total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant power were observed post-fermentation, especially under co-culture conditions. The highest TPC (12.98 ± 0.29 mg GA/g) and TFC (1.83 ± 0.07 mg QE/g) were recorded in the co-culture fermentation of by-products from the Mozafati and Sayer varieties, respectively. HPLC analysis revealed changes in polyphenol profiles post-fermentation, with reductions in gallic and ferulic acids and increases in caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, rutin, quercetin, and kaempferol. FT-IR analysis confirmed significant alterations in polyphenolic functional groups. Enhanced antimicrobial activity was also observed, with inhibition zones ranging from 8.26 ± 0.06 mm for Kabkab to 17.73 ± 0.09 mm for Mozafati. These results suggest that co-culture solid-state fermentation is a promising strategy for valorizing date by-products, with potential applications in nutraceuticals and/or pharmaceutical products and as valuable additives in the food industry.

Emulsifying properties of cellulose nanocrystals with different structures and morphologies from various solanaceous vegetable residues

The stems of solanaceous vegetables with attractive source of cellulose, have caused severe environmental problems as agricultural residues. For the reutilization of the residues, this study isolated cellulose nanocrystals (CNs) from the stems of tomato, eggplant, and pepper to explore their applications in Pickering emulsions. Detailed analyses of the crystalline structure and morphology revealed differences in their emulsifying properties. Tomato stem CNs had higher crystallinity of 82.1 % and a short, straight rod-like shape with a low aspect ratio of 8.0, while eggplant and pepper CNs were long, curved whisker-like fibers with lower crystallinities of 75.3 % and 75.4 %, respectively. Tomato stem CNs exhibited the best emulsifying properties, attributed to their relatively higher crystallinity and larger crystal brick size enhancing amphiphilicity, along with their lower aspect ratio improving interface coverage, which resulted in stable emulsions across different temperatures, pH levels, and ionic strengths. This study enhances our understanding of how the structure and morphology of CNs influence their emulsifying properties, thereby contributing to the promotion of agricultural waste reutilization.

Effects of occasional tillage on soil physical and chemical properties and weed infestation in a 10-year no-till system

Few studies have investigated how one-time targeted tillage of long-term no-till fields impacts topsoil properties and weed dynamics. An on-farm trial was implemented in 2020 to test the effects of occasional tillage (OT) in Morocco with a long-term no-tillage (NT) system and rainfed field crops: durum wheat (Triticum durum), faba bean (Vicia faba minor), and chickpea (Cicer arietinum). Four treatments were established, namely, continuous NT with crop residues maintained (“NT + residue”); continuous NT with crop residues not maintained (“NT-residue”); shallow inversion tillage (“shallow OT”); and deep non-inversion tillage (“deep OT”). We assessed the effect of these treatments on soil physical and chemical properties in 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil depths after crop harvest of the 2020–2021 (year 1) and 2021–2022 (year 2) growing seasons corresponding to 1 and 2 years after OT, respectively. In addition, we evaluated the effect of the treatments on weed populations and the effect of the legume crop rotated with wheat on soil nitrogen (N) and weed density. In year 1, deep OT reduced the water content at field capacity and available water capacity at 0–10 cm compared to continuous NT; the cation-exchange capacity (CEC) under deep OT was lower than in NT-residue and NT + residue at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm, respectively. Furthermore, deep OT increased ammonium-N (NH4-N) at 0–10 and 10–20 cm compared to NT + residue but reduced exchangeable potassium (K) at 10–20 cm depth compared to NT-residue. In year 2, shallow OT had lower total porosity at 10–20 cm than NT + residue, while shallow and deep OT recorded higher water-stable aggregates at 0–10 cm than NT + residue; at 10–20 cm, deep OT recorded lower CEC than NT + residue. However, deep OT had higher nitrate-N (NO3-N) and available sulfur (S) than NT-residue at 10–20 cm. Occasional tillage did not significantly affect 10 out of 19 of the soil properties evaluated, including soil organic matter (SOM), in all the years and did not help reduce the stratification of soil nutrients in NT. In year 1, 50 days after OT, deep OT reduced the weed density by 46% compared to NT + residue, while in year 2, 406 days after OT, shallow OT reduced weed density by 53% compared to NT-residue. Regarding the effect of the legume rotated with wheat, faba bean appeared to be the better preceding or following wheat crop as it resulted in higher residual soil mineral N and lower weed infestation than chickpea.

Tailor-made green composts with suppressive properties against tracheofusariosis of wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia): Useful option for sustainable circular horticulture

Intensive cultivation systems of wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) are threatened by the outbreak of tracheofusariosis caused by the soil-borne fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani. The disease is difficult to eradicate by curative methods due to the endophytic progression of the pathogen. Suppressive composts can help to prevent this adversity by providing organic matter carrying chemical and biological components that can directly and/or indirectly interfere with the plant-pathogen system. In this study, a collection of seven promising composts from different selected green feedstocks were investigated for their suppressive properties towards wild rocket Fusarium wilting. In planta assays identified two composts, obtained from olive tree pruning + plant and tomato residues, and from olive waste + straw + wool residues, with the highest levels of suppressiveness, influenced by both application dose and plant development stage. These active composts showed overlapping 13C NMR profiles as in vivo suppressiveness, being positively correlated with the organic aliphatic alkyl, O-Aryl and carboxyl C fractions and subsequently with the hydrophobic index and alkyl ratio, and negatively with the lignin ratio. On the contrary, although biotic compost components showed antifungal effects, biological properties did not correlate with in planta wilting suppression. Consistently, reflectance spectroscopy in the Vis-NIR-SWIR highlighted the clustering of samples depending on their feedstock and chemical composition. The results allow the hypothesis of a plant-mediated suppression mechanism. The composting of crop residues improves the circularity of horticulture and makes it possible to produce, from selected matrices, tailored compost towards the sustainable cultivation of wild rocket.

Effects of extension service on the uptake of climate-smart sorghum production practices: Insights from drylands of Ethiopia

The promotion of climate-resilient practices (CRPs) requires the development of the capacity of farmers to adopt these practices owing to the knowledge-intensive nature of technologies. Extension services serve as a conduit for facilitating the conceptualization of CRPs and are instrumental in improving the resiliency and mitigation of climate change. We used a social-ecological framework and a multivariate probit model to analyze the drivers of the CRP uptake in moisture-stressed areas in Ethiopia, with a particular focus on extension services. Unlike previous studies that investigated a single technology, we considered a bundle of technologies. We focused on the use of two capital-intensive CRPs (drought-resistant seed and inorganic fertilizer) and four knowledge-intensive CRPs (minimum tillage, farmyard manure, water-saving technology, and crop residue retention). The role of extension services in promoting other CRPs beyond input and capital-intensive technologies was insignificant. Heterogeneity analysis revealed that the correlation between extension services and the adoption of other knowledge-intensive natural resource management practices holds irrespective of the proximity to the extension service providers. This finding highlights the need for targeted and tailored interventions that support farmers to address the challenges faced by them in moisture-stressed areas. Accordingly, we propose continuously improving the ability of the extension service providers to promote climate-change adaptation knowledge and practices. This should be accompanied by efforts to strengthen a pluralistic extension system, improve land tenure security, and decrease transaction costs for farmers through output market linkages.

Variation in oxidative potential of fine particulate matter and its association with chemical constituents at a regional site in India

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) constituents are greatly affected by site-specific emission sources and are one of the main reasons for oxidative stress that leads to cardiovascular ailments. This study investigated the temporal, seasonal, and episodic variations in the oxidative potential (OP) of PM2.5 and its association with chemical components. Additionally, we have also examined the effect of filter substrates on OP. Dithiothreitol (DTT) and ascorbic acid (AA) acellular assays were used to estimate the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PM2.5 samples collected over a year from a regional site in India. PM2.5 morphology and functional groups were also analyzed. Results showed that OPDTTv was at the highest in winter (2.56 ± 0.84 nmol min−1 m−3) and at the lowest during monsoon (0.79 ± 0.65 nmol min−1 m−3). OPAAv exhibited the highest activity in post-monsoon (0.09 ± 0.04 nmol min−1 m−3) and least in summer (0.05 ± 0.04 nmol min−1 m−3). Biomass burning (BB) and open-field burning of crop residue during the rabi and kharif harvesting seasons were associated with significantly elevated PM2.5 toxicity, which is indicative of the contribution of combustion-derived particles. OPDTTv and OPAAv levels from BB in post-monsoon were 21 % and 67 % higher than the levels observed during BB in summer. Flaky irregular agglomerates and porous structures were observed during the BB period. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy revealed that traffic-emitted organic hydrocarbons CH functional group was dominant across the season. Further, chemical species such as organics (OC and EC fractions) and ions (SO42−, NH4+, Cl−, NO3−) were found to be significantly associated with OP. Among the three filter substrates, the Teflon showed higher OP variability for both assays. This study emphasizes the impact of regional toxic aerosols across seasons and during episodic events. It contributes to our understanding of the toxicity of ambient PM2.5, which is crucial for developing targeted air-quality management strategies.

A Comprehensive Review of Lab-Scale Studies on Removing Hexavalent Chromium from Aqueous Solutions by Using Unmodified and Modified Waste Biomass as Adsorbents.

Anthropogenic activities and increasing human population has led to one of the major global problems of heavy metal contamination in ecosystems and to the generation of a huge amount of waste material biomass. Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is the major contaminant introduced by various industrial effluents and activities into the ecosystem. Cr(VI) is a known mutagen and carcinogen with numerous detrimental effects on the health of humans, plants, and animals, jeopardizing the balance of ecosystems. Therefore, the remediation of such a hazardous toxic metal pollutant from the environment is necessary. Various physical and chemical methods are available for the sequestration of toxic metals. However, adsorption is recognized as a more efficient technology for Cr(VI) remediation. Adsorption by utilizing waste material biomass as adsorbents is a sustainable approach in remediating hazardous pollutants, thus serving the dual purpose of remediating Cr(VI) and exploiting waste material biomass in an eco- friendly manner. Agricultural biomass, industrial residues, forest residues, and food waste are the primary waste material biomass that could be employed, with different strategies, for the efficient sequestration of toxic Cr(VI). This review focuses on the use of diverse waste biomass, such as industrial and agricultural by-products, for the effective remediation of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. The review also focuses on the operational conditions that improve Cr(VI) remediation, describes the efficacy of various biomass materials and modifications, and assesses the general sustainability of these approaches to reducing Cr(VI) pollution.

Extraction, and characterization of CNC from waste sugarcane leaf sheath as a reinforcement of multifunctional bio-nanocomposite material: A waste to wealth approach

Nowadays we are extremely dependent on various synthetic plastic materials to maintain the massive demand, therefore, both the industries and mankind have been generating a massive amount of plastic waste which is so hazardous for the total environment due to their nonbiodegradable nature. To solve this problem by replacing the fossil-based plastic materials with ecofriendly biopolymers in this current study we will be described a novel method for producing Crystalline Nano Cellulose (CNC) from the waste sugarcane leaf sheaths (SLSF) fibers as a green reinforcing agent. The waste-to-wealth approach aims to elevate agricultural residues, particularly SLSF, by transforming them into high-quality CNCs for use in a variety of sectors. SLSF was initially washed with detergent to remove impurities, followed by alkali treatment and bleaching operation before CNC manufacture using acid hydrolysis (60% H2SO4). The resulting materials were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential thermogravimetry (DTG), and Differential thermal analysis (DTA). FTIR indicates the newly produced CNCs is very much rich with active sites like –OH, -NH, -COOH, -C-O-C-, etc., while SEM revealed the raw fiber surface was rough, whereas the surface of CNCs became smooth even after the removal of lignin, fatty, and waxy compounds. Overall, acid hydrolysis was shown to increase the crystallinity of bleached SLSF while reducing cellulose dimensions to the nanoscale. After analysis it was revealed that most CNC particle size was around 100 nm. The outstanding properties of CNCs, including as high strength, biodegradability, and low environmental impact, make them ideal candidates for reinforcing composites, improving medicine delivery systems, and aiding new electronics. Ongoing research and technology advancements in integrating CNCs into many applications have the potential to alter industries looking for sustainable and high-performance materials.

Enhancing the feed efficiency of crop residues in ruminants: a comprehensive review

Abstract Worldwide, the production of agricultural residues exceeds five billion metric tons per year. Regardless of their many applications and substantial potential to increase crop and animal productivity, many crop residues, particularly in Asian, African, and Arabian nations, are burned. This detrimental practice limits the recycling of soil nutrients while increasing air pollution and wellness risks. Enhancing feed efficiency while simultaneously lowering production costs and increasing animal protein is a key objective of nutritional supplements in livestock feeding. Antibiotics have been utilized in farm animals at sub-therapeutic levels to increase feed use effectiveness and digestion, as well as animal welfare and performance. However, the present ban on antibiotics as nutritional supplements has boosted the search for substitutes, with natural feed additives considered cutting-edge options. On the other hand, feed that has undergone biological treatment improves animal productivity, feed intake, and digestibility. Nevertheless, the absence of agents and expertise and substrate weight decrease may result in a 40% dry matter loss limits application. In this review, we look at the importance of detrimental residue administration and the advancement and adoption of technologies to handle surplus residue.

Long‐term tillage and cover cropping differentially influenced soil nitrous oxide emissions from cotton cropping system

AbstractClimate‐smart agricultural practices, such as no‐tillage (NT) and cover cropping, have been widely adopted and are anticipated to yield multiple benefits, including soil carbon sequestration, enhancing soil health, and crop yield stability. However, their influence on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions varies, with the potential of both increasing and decreasing N2O emissions. Increasing N2O emissions under these practices may potentially offset the climate mitigation benefits from increased soil carbon sequestration. We investigated N2O emissions in response to 42 years of long‐term adoption of NT and legume cover crop, under nitrogen (N) rates of 0 and 67 kg N ha−1, in a continuous cotton system in the Southeastern United States. Intensive manual chamber‐based measurements were conducted over two growing seasons (2021–2022 and 2022–2023). Long‐term NT did not significantly affect cumulative N2O emissions during the study period (p &gt; 0.05). Hairy vetch cover crop‐grown plots emitted two to three times more N2O than those without cover crops in 2021–2022, with no significant effect observed in 2022–2023. Cumulative emissions in cover crop plots were greater compared to those in no cover crop plots when fertilized with 67 kg N ha−1 in 2021–2022; however, this trend did not persist in 2022–2023. While interannual variability exists, our results generally suggest that long‐term NT may not increase N2O emissions, hence its adoption could enhance its broader soil health and climate benefits via soil carbon sequestration, whereas managing legume cover crop residues in N‐fertilized systems is critical to mitigate N2O emissions.

Impact of winter coverage crops and nitrogen fertilization on soil respiration and nitrogen mineralization in no-tillage systems

Microbiological activity in soil is crucially important to maintaining soil quality. Soil is sensitive to management practices, and microbiological activity plays a crucial role in processes like transforming organic N into inorganic fractions. The objective of this study was to assess how winter coverage crop residues influence soil respiratory activity and N mineralization during successive corn crop developments under a no-tillage regime. We employed a randomized block experimental design with subdivided plots and three replications. The main plots comprised various coverage crops (Black Oats, Ryegrass, Rye, White Lupin, Common vetch, Turnip, consortia of Oats + Vetch and Oats + Vetch + Turnip, while subplots received doses of N-mineral (0 and 180 kg ha-1) during the corn growth stage. We evaluated the respiratory activity of microorganisms and levels of inorganic N in the soil throughout the corn crop cycle. The consortia of coverage crops exhibited distinct responses in respiratory rates, with Oats + Vetch having superior results compared to Oats + Vetch + Turnip. We observed positive responses in nitric N (N-NO3-) due to the mineralization of common vetch residues within the first fifteen Days After Sowing (DAS). However, N-mineral doses from nitrogen fertilization during the corn coverage age phase did not alter the respiratory of the microorganisms nor did it alter the concentrations of N-NH4+ in the soil. Mineral fertilization resulted in the immediate availability of N in the form of N-NO3-.

Conservation agriculture practices: Adaptation and yield

Abstract Conservation agriculture (CA) has been promoted in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to increase crop productivity and for climate change adaptation. CA is the simultaneous application of the three principles: no-till, mulch cover, and crop diversification. The potential benefits are largely linked to moisture conservation of crop residues, reduced run-off and erosion, increased infiltration, and reduced evaporative losses. This study uses a review of recent literature in SSA under rain-fed conditions to synthesize evidence of the effect of CA on yield and climate change adaptation. Web of Science and Google Scholar were used for literature searches. Crop productivity results in the literature suggest that CA increases yield in certain circumstances such as well-drained soils and moderate rainfall, and that poorly drained soils in combination with excessive rains lead to depressed yields. The yield benefits reported range from as low as 4% and as high as 16%, with negative effects also reported. Stability analysis used as a proxy for adaptation revealed only a marginal benefit of CA above conventional practices suggesting the significant effect of seasonal rainfall on crop productivity. The results suggest the need to target CA practices to different agroecologies and other pragmatic local agronomic practices that may be required in cases of excessive rainfall and extended mid-season dry spells. The benefits of CA reported are largely plot level, and only a few studies consider the whole farm, especially within the holistic livelihood framework. In addition, adoption of CA remains low among smallholder farmers, and the widespread benefits of the practices cannot be realized at multiple scales.