Enhance Crop Yield Research Articles

Agro-Chemical Use in Crops in Ghana: Multidimensional Impacts and Sustainable Solutions

Agrochemical usage in Ghana's agriculture sector has become indispensable for enhancing crop yields and combating weed infestations. However, its extensive application raises concerns due to its adverse effects on soil fertility, human health, and biodiversity. This study examines the multifaceted impacts of agrochemicals in Ghana, emphasizing the need for sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate these challenges. Through an analysis of the effects on crop yield, soil fertility degradation, human health risks, and biodiversity loss, this research underscores the urgency of regulatory measures and the adoption of organic farming methods. The findings highlight the importance of balancing agricultural productivity with environmental and human health considerations to ensure long-term sustainability. Keywords: Agrochemicals, Crop Yield, Soil Fertility, Human Health, Biodiversity, Ghana, Sustainable Agriculture, Organic Farming

Exploring sustainable management by using green nano-silver to combat three post-harvest pathogenic fungi in crops

Global crop protection and food security have become critical issues to achieve the ‘Zero Hunger’ goal in recent years, as significant crop damage is primarily caused by biotic factors. Applying nanoparticles in agriculture could enhance crop yield. Nano-silver, or AgNPs, have colossal importance in many fields like biomedical, agriculture, and the environment due to their antimicrobial potential. In this context, nano-silver was fabricated by Citrus medica L. (Cm) fruit juice, detected visually and by UV–Vis spectrophotometric analysis. Further, AgNPs were characterized by advanced techniques. UV–Vis spectroscopic analysis revealed absorbance spectra at around 487 nm. The zeta potential measurement value was noted as -23.7 mV. Spectral analysis by FT-IR proved the capping of the acidic groups. In contrast, the XRD analysis showed the Miller indices like the face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline structure. NTA revealed a mean size of 35 nm for nano-silver with a 2.4 × 108 particles mL−1 concentration. TEM analysis demonstrated spherical Cm-AgNPs with 20–30 nm sizes. The focus of this research was to evaluate the antifungal activity of biogenic AgNPs against post-harvest pathogenic fungi, including Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, and Alternaria alternata. The Cm-AgNPs showed significant antifungal activity in the order of A. niger > A. flavus > A. alternata. The biogenic Cm-AgNPs can be used for the inhibition of toxigenic fungi.

Global synthesis of cover crop impacts on main crop yield

Incorporating cover crops into farming systems represents a potential pathway to maintaining crop productivity and achieving multiple environmental benefits. However, how cover crops impact the succeeding crop yield remained a matter of debate. Therefore, this study aims to provide a comprehensive and global scale assessment of cover crop impacts on yield. We conducted a literature synthesis of cover crop studies (104 articles) to collect field-based yield data (1027 records) and used meta-analysis to quantify the impact of cover crops on subsequent main crop yields. Our results showed that cover cropping led to an overall moderate increase in main crop yield, amounting to 2.6%. Specifically, the utilization of leguminous cover crops, cultivation in coarse soil texture and dryland areas, and the implementation of longer cover cropping durations were found to be conducive scenarios to enhance crop yields. Conversely, the use of non-legume cover crops, introducing them to fields under a short-term no-till, especially in fine-textured soils, were impaired to yields. Leguminous cover crops showed the greatest potential for increasing yield (9.8%) particularly when paired with corn. Adopting leguminous cover crops without fertilizing main crops resulted in a 21.8% yield increase. Utilizing cover crops did not affect yield if the field had already under no-till practice. Introducing cover crops on coarser soils and in rainfed drylands can increase yield by 14.1% and 11.4%, respectively. In fine-textured soils, cover crop plus conventional tillage achieved 4.8% yield increase while cover crops plus no-tillage led to a 9.5% yield decrease instead. Consequently, our findings suggested the general yield profitability of cover crops, but substantial variations remain, which was primarily affected by availability of nitrogen and soil moisture. It is advisable to maximize the nitrogen-fixing capability of leguminous cover crops as a nitrogen source for main crops, replacing fertilizer. Particular attention should be paid, and additional management practices should be adopted when using cover crops plus no-tillage in fine-textured soils to avoid yield penalties. These specific supportive measures are suggested to shorten the lag period of yield increase within the initial 1–3 years of cover cropping implementation. Our synthesis quantified the overall cover crop impacts on yield, showcasing variable yield returns across different scenarios. This holistic understanding and comprehensive information can serve to advance the appropriate and targeted adoption of cover crops by policymakers, extension services, and farmers.

Chitosan combined with humic applications during sensitive growth stages to drought improves nutritional status and water relations of sweet potato

The current decline in freshwater resources presents a significant global challenge to crop production, a situation expected to intensify with ongoing climate change. This underscores the need for extensive research to enhance crop yields under drought conditions, a priority for scientists given its vital role in global food security. Our study explores the effects of using humic and chitosan treatments to alleviate drought stress during critical growth phases and their impact on crop yield and water efficiency. We employed four different irrigation strategies: full irrigation, 70% irrigation at the early vine development stage, 70% irrigation during the storage root bulking stage, and 85% irrigation across both stages, complemented by full irrigation in other periods. The plants received either humic treatments through foliar spray or soil application, or chitosan foliar applications, with tap water serving as a control. Our findings highlight that the early vine development stage is particularly vulnerable to drought, with a 42.0% decrease in yield observed under such conditions. In normal growth scenarios, foliar application of humic substances significantly improved growth parameters, resulting in a substantial increase in yield and water efficiency by 66.9% and 68.4%, respectively, compared to the control treatment under full irrigation. For sweet potatoes irrigated with 70% water at the storage root bulking stage, ground application of humic substances outperformed both foliar applications of chitosan and humic in terms of yield results. The highest tuber yield and water efficiency were attained by combining chitosan and humic ground applications, regardless of whether 70% irrigation was used at the storage root bulking stage or 85% irrigation during both the early vine development and storage root bulking stages.

Unveiling the benefits and gaps of wild pollinators on nutrition and income

Pollinators play a crucial role in global crop production, enhancing crop yields, nutritional value and fruit quality. However, their wild populations worldwide have been experiencing alarming declines. We investigated the contribution of wild pollinators to nutrition and farmer income in Canada, while examining the spatial distribution of pollination services. We used publicly available data on crop types, yields, nutrient content, and farm gate values, alongside information on natural habitats. Our findings suggest that wild pollinators in Canada help sustain the equivalent of approximately 24.4 million people each year in terms of nutrition and generate an annual income of nearly CAD$2.8 billion for farmers. To provide context, these estimates exceed half of the Canadian population and correspond to 5% of total national crop-related farm income. However, significant benefit gaps exist due to the lack of nearby pollinator habitat and insufficient pollination of dependent crops at a national scale. Addressing these gaps could potentially provide an additional nutrition supply for nearly 30 million equivalent people and increase farmer income by CAD$3 billion. We discuss how and where efforts focused on preserving and enhancing wild pollinator habitats, promoting sustainable farming practices, and raising awareness among stakeholders are crucial for the long-term viability of wild pollinator populations and the sustainability of agricultural systems in Canada. Our research underscores the urgent need for a national strategy aimed at safeguarding wild pollinators. Implementing such a strategy would not only contribute to strengthening local economies but also ensure the production of nutritionally essential food.

Photosystem II Tolerance to Excess Zinc Exposure and High Light Stress in Salvia sclarea L.

High light (HL) intensity has a substantial impact on light energy flow and partitioning within photosynthetic apparatus. To realize the impact of HL intensity on zinc (Zn) tolerance mechanisms in clary sage (Salvia sclarea L., Lamiaceae) plants, we examined the effect of the altered chlorophyll and nutrient uptake under excess Zn supply on the response mechanism of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry. Eight-week-old clary sage plants were treated with 5 μM Zn (control) or 900 μM Zn in Hoagland nutrient solution. Leaf elemental analysis for Zn, Mn, Mg, and Fe was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), whereas PSII functioning under HL was evaluated by chlorophyll fluorescence imaging analysis. Exposure of S. sclarea plants to 900 μM Zn increased leaf Zn accumulation and decreased leaf Mg and chlorophyll. The decreased non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) provided evidence of the photoprotection offered by the smaller light-harvesting antennae due to the reduced chlorophyll. The increased Mn after Zn exposure corresponded with higher efficiency of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) that was significantly correlated with the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Fv/Fm). An increased electron transport rate (ETR) coincided with increased leaf Fe, which is known to play a vital role in the enzymes engaged in ETR. The decreased (32%) NPQ after an 8-day exposure to Zn caused an increased (10%) quantum yield of non-regulated energy loss in PSII (ΦNO), indicative of an increased singlet oxygen (1O2) production. It is suggested that the decreased NPQ induced acclimation responses of clary sage plants to HL and excess Zn by increasing 1O2 production. The reduced (18%) excess excitation energy (EXC) at PSII and the increased (24%) quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII) and ETR indicated improved photosynthetic efficiency under excess Zn and HL intensity. Therefore, the exposure of medicinal plants to excess Zn not only boosts their photosynthetic efficiency, enhancing crop yields, but can also improve Fe and Zn content, ameliorating the human health deficiency of these two essential micronutrients.

Impact of Pyrolyzed and Unpyrolyzed Animal Manures on Soil Properties, Carbon Sequestration, and Clover Productivity in Andisol

The use of organic waste in agricultural soil can enhance crop yields, improve waste management, and boost soil carbon (C) sequestration. However, more field data are required to fully understand the impacts of pyrolyzed and unpyrolyzed animal manures. The objectives of this study were (i) to analyze the impact of two pyrolyzed and unpyrolyzed manures on soil properties, soil C storage, and clover productivity and (ii) to examine the biochar’s movement through the soil profile. Poultry litter (PL), dairy manure (DM), poultry litter biochar (PLBC), and dairy manure biochar (DBC) were applied at rates of 8 t ha−1 in a field experiment with red clover (Trifolium pratense L. var. Quiñequeli) in an Andisol. We monitored changes in soil chemical properties, foliar properties, and crop yield after three clover cuttings. To examine the movement of biochars through the soil profile, we set up a lab experiment where field conditions were simulated. PLBC, DBC, and PL increased soil pH by 0.5 (6.44), 0.28 (6.22), and 0.25 (6.19) units, respectively. Soil available P increased in both pyrolyzed and unpyrolyzed PL treatments (by 8.53 mg P kg−1, on average). Clover yields only increased in treatments with amendments that provided more available P and increased the pH. The addition of DBC increased soil total C (30.3%). Both biochars added to the soil surface exhibited little movement through the soil profile (2 to 4 cm). In this study, the pyrolysis of manures emerged as an option for reducing waste volume from the farming industry. Manure biochars proved useful at low rates for enhancing crop yields (PLBC) and storing C in the soil (DBC).

Sensor Based Irrigation Management in Crop Production: A Review

Efficient water management in agriculture is crucial for sustainable crop production, especially in regions facing water scarcity. Sensor-based irrigation scheduling offers a promising solution by enabling precise and timely irrigation, optimizing water usage while maintaining or enhancing crop yields. This study was made in order to investigate the efficacy of sensor-based technologies in irrigation scheduling for improving water use efficiency in agricultural settings. Data on utilization of an array of sensors including soil moisture, weather and crop-specific indicators., real-time data was collected and analyzed to determine the optimum irrigation timing and volume. The procedure integrated these sensor-derived insights with irrigation scheduling algorithms to dynamically adjust water delivery, aligning with the crop's actual water needs. This study reviews the importance of soil moisture sensors for irrigation, as well as sensor technology and its uses irrigation management and irrigation scheduling.

A Review on Propelling Agricultural Practices with Biotechnology into a New Era

The profound impact of biotechnological advancements on Indian agriculture, highlighting the transformative potential of integrating cutting-edge biotechnologies to propel agricultural practices into a new era. It meticulously examines the historical evolution of agricultural biotechnology in India, identifying key technological milestones that have significantly enhanced crop yield, nutrition, and stress resistance. Special emphasis is placed on the revolutionary roles of genetic modification, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, and the application of biopesticides and biofertilizers, showcasing their contribution to sustainable farming practices. The analysis further explores the socio-economic implications of these biotechnological interventions, including their effects on food security, employment opportunities, and rural development, while also addressing public concerns and ethical considerations surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Challenges and limitations, such as technical hurdles, regulatory frameworks, and public perception, are critically assessed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape. The article concludes with a forward-looking perspective on future advancements, emphasizing the potential of novel technologies like gene drives, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology, along with the integration of big data and artificial intelligence, to further enhance precision agriculture. Collaborative efforts and policy recommendations are proposed to navigate the challenges and harness the opportunities presented by biotechnology for sustainable agricultural advancements. Through this review, the article aims to contribute to the discourse on biotechnology's pivotal role in ensuring food security, adapting to climate change, and fostering sustainable development in India's agricultural sector, thereby supporting the global quest for sustainable food systems.

Current Strategies for Management of Plant Viruses and Future Perspectives: Enhancing Crop Health, Yield and Productivity

Plant viruses pose significant threats to agricultural productivity and food security worldwide. This article explores various management strategies employed to overcome the impact of plant viruses on crops, with a focus on enhancing crop health and productivity. It underscores the need for proactive management strategies to minimize yield losses, reduce disease spread, and maintain sustainable crop production through preventive measures such as Conventional and Non- conventional approaches by highlighting the key methods such as the use of resistant cultivars, cultural practices, vector control, thermos, electro, and chemotherapy, along with CRISPR, RNAi, and nanotechnology. This review article provides an overview of the current management approaches employed for controlling plant viruses.

Chitin-enriched insect frass fertilizer as a biorational alternative for root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) management.

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are serious pests of most food crops, causing up to 100% yield loss. Nevertheless, commercial nematicides are costly and harmful to the environment. While the nematicidal potential of crustacean and synthetic chitin has been demonstrated globally, research on the potential of insect-derived chitin for nematode control has received limited attention. Here, seven chitin-fortified black soldier fly frass fertilizer extracts (chFE) were assessed for their suppressiveness of Meloidogyne incognita and impacts on spinach growth in comparison with a commercial nematicide using in vitro and in vivo bioassays. The performance of chFE and control treatments was assessed by determining their effects on nematode egg hatchability; infective juvenile (J2) mortality and paralysis; number of galls, egg masses, and J2s per plant; and spinach root and shoot biomass. In vitro results showed that chFE and commercial nematicide suppressed nematode egg hatchability by 42% and 52%, respectively, relative to the control (sterile distilled water). Up to 100% paralysis was achieved when M. incognita J2s were exposed to either chFE or commercial nematicide. Further, the J2 mortality achieved using chFE (95%) was comparable to the value achieved using commercial nematicide (96%); in all treatments, mortality increased with exposure time. Similarly, up to 85% suppression of gall development was achieved when spinach plants were grown in soil drenched with chFE; up to 79% reduction in egg mass formation and 68% suppression of J2 development in the root system were achieved using chFE. Also, chFE application significantly increased spinach root and shoot biomass by 54%-74% and 39%-58%, respectively, compared to commercial nematicide. Our findings demonstrate the nematicidal potential of chFE and its benefits on crop production. Thus, chFE could be considered as a promising multipurpose, regenerative, and cost-effective input for sustainable management of plant-parasitic nematodes and enhancement of crop yield.

Marine Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) inoculation technology: Testing the effectiveness of different application methods to improve tomato plants tolerance against acute heat wave stress

Regenerative agriculture aims to boost native biodiversity and ensure sustainable production. Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) enhance crop yield through improved nutrient use efficiency or stress tolerance. Utilizing synthetic bacterial communities (SynCom) tailored to specific challenges holds promise for enhancing plant resilience. However, challenges include designing microbial consortia and selecting SynCom application techniques. This study tested four PGPB SynCom application methods on tomato plants to evaluate their effectiveness in promoting plant resistance and recovery from short extreme heat waves. Non-invasive phenotyping techniques were used to assess plant responses to three delivery methods (watering, foliar spray, and alginate spheres immobilization) under heat stress. Plants treated with the marine PGPB SynCom through methods like leaf spraying or encapsulation in alginate spheres exhibited improved resilience in terms of Kautsky curve intensity and shape, indicating better photochemical apparatus function. These techniques also facilitated post-stress recovery. Deep photochemical analysis revealed SynCom-induced improvements in the plant's photochemical apparatus, particularly the PS II donor side. Moreover, it was also possible to observe that upon stress relief these two techniques, alongside the plants inoculated throughout watering were able to recover their photochemical profiles. Analysing the Fv/Fm values, plants inoculated through watering, alginate beads and leaf spray can be considered heat-tolerant, a characteristic conserved throughout the three sampling moments. Heat-wave exposure led to an increase in the energy absorbed by the non-inoculated plants as a counteractive measure to overcome the low energy use efficiency observed (low trapping and transported energy fluxes). The reduction in stress impact was attributed to SynCom's ACC-deaminase production, which lowered ethylene accumulation, promoting growth and photosynthetic efficiency. The study also noted reduced energy dissipation under stress relief, indicating efficient heat dissipation mechanisms due to SynCom application. Statistical models generated with the attained photochemical data allowed depicting specific fluorescence signatures of each thermal and inoculation treatment with a very high degree of accuracy, reinforcing that these different inoculation treatments have in fact different impacts on plant photochemistry but also provide a tool for future phenotyping assessments using the proposed inoculation techniques. Alginate bead based PGPB release emerged as an efficient, scalable technique with continuous benefits for plant growth and stress response.

Harnessing Biogas in India: A Sustainable Pathway for Sustainable Energy Development

The review underscores the pivotal role of the Indian biogas sector in addressing the challenges posed by inadequate sanitation practices, exploring how the biogas sector is a potentially transformative force for waste management and energy production. Decentralized biogas facilities utilizing various organic materials, including agricultural waste, kitchen waste, organic industrial waste, sewage sludge, and floral waste, have reshaped rural landscapes. These facilities electrify remote villages, benefiting over 5 million residents and reducing energy expenses by 40%. Critically, these efforts preserve vital ecosystems, exemplified by the rejuvenation of 10,000 hectares of mangroves in the Sundarbans, sequestering an impressive 500,000 metric tons of CO2 annually. Innovative technologies, such as the anaerobic digestion process and advanced biogas production systems featuring improved gas purification techniques, two-stage digesters, and optimized feedstock mixtures, play a crucial role in this sustainability journey. These advancements boost biogas yields by 20%. Importantly, byproducts like digestate are efficiently upcycled into 500 Mt of high-quality biofertilizers annually, significantly enhancing crop yield, particularly wheat and maize, by 15%. Moreover, the transformative impact extends to environmental sustainability by converting digestate into 1,000 Mt of biodegradable plastics, leading to a 30% reduction in traditional plastics usage. Government support and well-crafted policies have been instrumental, with subsidies driving the adoption of biogas digesters in 50,000 households, creating 5,000 jobs, and reducing methane emissions by 2 MMt annually. Biogas catalyzes integrated sustainability, accompanying cleaner environments, improved livelihoods, and resilient ecosystems by harmonizing sanitation, energy, and ecosystem preservation.

ORF138 causes abnormal lipid metabolism in the tapetum leading to Ogu cytoplasmic male sterility in Brassica napus

Plant cytoplasmic male sterility is caused by mutations and rearrangements of mitochondrial genes. It serves as a significant way to utilize hybrid vigor to enhance crop yield. Ogu CMS is a natural cytoplasmic male sterility type discovered in radishes, being successfully transferred to rapeseed and cruciferous vegetables. However, current studies lack depth in exploring the molecular mechanisms of its male sterility. In this study, we confirmed orf138 is the causal gene for Ogu CMS through genetic transformation in Arabidopsis. Transcriptome analysis of aborted anthers in different stages suggested differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are mainly enriched in pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism and arginine and proline metabolism. It reveals that key genes involved in lipid metabolism pathways are significantly down-regulated in the sterile line (OguA), including BnaGPAT1, localized within the tapetum mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum. This could lead to changes in the metabolism of substances like acylglycerols within the tapetum, causing disruptions in lipid metabolism. This is consistent with morphological and subcellular structural changes in the tapetum and microspore cells as observed in the transmission electron microscopy. This abnormal lipid metabolism may trigger specific ROS accumulation in an oxidative stress response, ultimately leading to aborted microspore. Our study based on transcriptome has deepened our understanding of the molecular mechanisms in Ogu CMS.

Horticultural Innovations Elevating Crop Yields and Agricultural Sustainability for a Flourishing Future

Advancements in horticultural technologies and practices are critical for meeting global food security needs while ensuring environmental sustainability. This paper examines recent innovations that enhance crop yields and resource efficiency in horticulture. Key areas explored include high-tech greenhouse agriculture, precision agriculture techniques, improved irrigation systems, biofertilizers and biopesticides, breeding of resilient cultivars, and vertical farming. Intensive greenhouse production with supplemental lighting, climate control, hydroponics and automation enables year-round vegetable and fruit yields up to 20 times higher than open-field methods. Precision agriculture leverages data analytics, sensors and AI for optimized inputs and cultivation decisions per sub-field zone. Upgraded irrigation systems like drip lines and computerized scheduling curtail water usage. Organic biofertilizers and biopesticides derived from microbes, plants and minerals boost soil health and impede pests while avoiding chemical residues. Newly bred cultivars feature accelerated growth, improved taste and nutrition, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Meanwhile, vertical farms multilayer indoor cropping to magnify yields in small footprints. Further integration of these and other cutting-edge horticultural technologies can increase global food production without environmental sacrifice. This necessitates greater public and private sector investments paired with institutional support.

Effects of frequency and amount of stover mulching on the microbial community composition and structure in the endosphere and rhizosphere.

Stover mulching, as a sustainable agricultural conservation practice, has been shown to effectively increase soil organic matter and enhance crop yields. The impact of stover mulching on soil microorganisms has been extensively studied. However, less attention has been given to endophytic and rhizospheric microorganisms that have closer relationships with crops. How do the quality and frequency of stover mulching affect the composition and structure of these endosphere and rhizosphere microbial communities? And what is their influence on critical indicators of soil health such as bacterial plant pathogen and Rhizobiales? These questions remain unresolved. Therefore, we investigated the responses of the microbial functional guilds in the endosphere and rhizosphere to maize stover mulching qualities (0%, 33%, 67%, and total stover mulching every year) and frequencies (once every 3 years and twice every 3 years) under 10-year no-till management. Results showed significant correlations between Bacillales and Rhizobiales orders and soil SOC, NO3-N, and NH4+N; Hypocreales and Eurotiales orders were significantly correlated with soil NO3-N, with the Aspergillus genus also showing a significant correlation with soil SOC. The frequency and quality of stover mulching had a significant effect on root and rhizospheric microbial communities, with the lowest relative abundance of bacterial plant pathogens and highest relative abundance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as Rhizobiales and Hypocreales observed under F1/3 and F2/3 conditions. The most complex structures in endosphere and rhizospheric microbial communities were found under Q33 and Q67 conditions, respectively. This research indicates that from a soil health perspective, low-frequency high-coverage stover mulching is beneficial for the composition of endosphere and rhizosphere microbial communities, while moderate coverage levels are conducive to more complex structures within these communities. This study holds significant ecological implications for agricultural production and crop protection.

Plant iron status regulates ammonium-use efficiency through protein N-glycosylation.

Improving nitrogen-use efficiency is an important path toward enhancing crop yield and alleviating the environmental impacts of fertilizer use. Ammonium (NH4+) is the energetically preferred inorganic N source for plants. The interaction of NH4+ with other nutrients is a chief determinant of ammonium-use efficiency (AUE) and of the tipping point toward ammonium toxicity, but these interactions have remained ill-defined. Here, we report that iron (Fe) accumulation is a critical factor determining AUE and have identified a substance that can enhance AUE by manipulating Fe availability. Fe accumulation under NH4+ nutrition induces NH4+ efflux in the root system, reducing both growth and AUE in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Low external availability of Fe and a low plant Fe status substantially enhance protein N-glycosylation through a Vitamin C1-independent pathway, thereby reducing NH4+ efflux to increase AUE during the vegetative stage in Arabidopsis under elevated NH4+ supply. We confirm the validity of the iron-ammonium interaction in the important crop species lettuce (Lactuca sativa). We further show that dolomite can act as an effective substrate to subdue Fe accumulation under NH4+ nutrition by reducing the expression of Low Phosphate Root 2 and acidification of the rhizosphere. Our findings present a strategy to improve AUE and reveal the underlying molecular-physiological mechanism.

Enhancing Faba Bean Yields in Alpine Agricultural Regions: The Impact of Plastic Film Mulching and Phosphorus Fertilization on Soil Dynamics

Plastic film mulching is widely used in water and temperature-limited regions to enhance crop yields. Phosphorus (P) fertilization can address deficiencies in soil P availability. In this four-year field experiment conducted in an alpine agricultural area, we explored the effects of nitrogen (N) and P supply imbalance on faba bean cultivation, particularly examining intensified N competition between soil microbes and plants. The randomized block design comprised three film mulching treatments—no film mulching with flat planting (NMF), double ridges and furrows mulched with one plastic film (DRM), and three ridges and furrows mulched with one plastic film (TRM)—and three P levels—P0 (0 kg P ha−1), P1 (9.10 kg P ha−1), and P2 (18.2 kg P ha−1). The results indicated that NMF enhanced soil available N and microbial biomass N (MBN) during early growth stages, consequently improving faba bean yield, nodule weight, total N, and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) compared to DRM and TRM. DRM and TRM exhibited higher soil available N and MBN during later growth stages and higher soil temperature and water content, soil water storage (SWS), soil organic C (SOC), and soil C/N ratio than NMF. In NMF and DRM, P fertilization increased grain yield, nodule weight, SOC, total N, soil C/N ratio, soil available N, and MBC but decreased MBN during early growth stages, and decreased soil water content and SWS. TRM exhibited the opposite trend. P fertilization increased soil total P and available P. Overall, NMF combined with P fertilization (~18.2 kg P ha−1) significantly improved faba bean yield. However, it may also accelerate SOC decomposition, highlighting the need to consider N fertilizer application in this alpine agricultural region.

Comparing pre-trained models for efficient leaf disease detection: a study on custom CNN

Leaf disease detection is a crucial task in modern agriculture, aiding in early diagnosis and prevention of crop infections. In this research paper, authors present a comprehensive study comparing nine widely used pre-trained models, namely DenseNet201, EfficientNetB3, EfficientNetB4, InceptionResNetV2, MobileNetV2, ResNet50, ResNet152, VGG16, and Xception, with our newly developed custom CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) for leaf disease detection. The objective is to determine if our custom CNN can match the performance of these established pre-trained models while maintaining superior efficiency. The authors trained and fine-tuned each pre-trained model and our custom CNN on a large dataset of labeled leaf images, covering various diseases and healthy states. Subsequently, the authors evaluated the models using standard metrics, including accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score, to gauge their overall performance. Additionally, the authors analyzed computational efficiency regarding training time and memory consumption. Surprisingly, our results indicate that the custom CNN performs comparable to the pre-trained models, despite their sophisticated architectures and extensive pre-training on massive datasets. Moreover, our custom CNN demonstrates superior efficiency, outperforming the pre-trained models regarding training speed and memory requirements. These findings highlight the potential of custom CNN architectures for leaf disease detection tasks, offering a compelling alternative to the commonly used pre-trained models. The efficiency gains achieved by our custom CNN can be beneficial in resource-constrained environments, enabling faster inference and deployment of leaf disease detection systems. Overall, our research contributes to the advancement of agricultural technology by presenting a robust and efficient solution for the early detection of leaf diseases, thereby aiding in crop protection and yield enhancement.

Effect on greenhouse gas emissions (CH4 and N2O) of straw mulching or its incorporation in farmland ecosystems in China

Straw returning can enhance crop yield, promote soil organic carbon sequestration, and support sustainable crop production. However, straw management techniques, such as straw mulching (SR-M) and straw incorporation (SR-I), can significantly elevate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This meta-analysis synthesizes data from 217 studies to explore the effects of different straw management approaches on mitigating GHG emissions in agricultural settings. The analysis reveals that SR-I (129.39 %) had a more pronounced impact on CH4 emissions than SR-M (14.86 %), but SR-M (18.47 %) had a more significant impact on N2O emissions than SR-I (7.76 %). Notably, SR-I had a greater impact on soil carbon content than SR-M. The effect of straw returning on CH4 and N2O emissions varied under different climatic conditions, management practices, and initial soil properties. Specifically, under conditions characterized by a mean annual temperature (MAT) ≤ 14 °C, mean annual precipitation (MAP) > 800 mm, initial soil organic carbon (SOCi) ≤ 14 g kg−1, initial soil total nitrogen (TNi) ≤ 1.2 g kg−1, and soil pH > 6, with straw returning amounts (SRA) ≤ 6000 kg ha−1, nitrogen application rate (NAR) > 200 kg ha−1, straw returning duration > 3 years, and maize, rice, wheat–maize, or wheat–rice as the cultivated crop, SR-M had a lesser impact on CH4 and N2O emissions than conditions under other environmental and management measures. Under conditions characterized by MAT ≤ 14 °C, MAP ≤ 800 mm, SOCi > 14 g kg−1, TNi > 1.2 g kg−1, and soil pH > 8, with SRA > 6000 kg ha−1, straw returning duration > 3 years, and wheat as the cultivated crop, SR-I had a lesser impact on CH4 and N2O emissions than conditions under other environmental and management measures. Furthermore, deep straw incorporation (SR-Ideep, straw mixed with 20–40 cm deep soil) did not significantly affect CH4 and N2O emissions, suggesting its potential for widespread adoption. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing straw management practices and reducing GHG emissions in farmland ecosystems.