Global Agricultural Development Research Articles

Green production of apples delivers environmental and economic benefits in China

Sustainable alternative farming systems are gaining popularity worldwide because of the negative effects of conventional agriculture on global climate change and the environmental degradation caused by intensive use of synthetic inputs. The green farming system in China is an integrated production strategy that focuses on reducing chemical fertilizer use while increasing organic manure inputs. Despite their rapid growth as more sustainable systems over the past decades, green farming systems have not been systematically evaluated to date. We used apple production as a representative case to assess the sustainability of green farming systems. Across major apple-producing regions in China, green farming reduced the application of chemical fertilizer nitrogen (N) by 46.8% (from 412 to 219 kg ha−1) and increased that of manure N by 33.1% (from 171 to 227 kg ha−1) on average compared with conventional methods, enhancing N use efficiency by 7.27–20.27% and reducing N losses by 8.92%–11.56%. It also slightly lowered yield by 4.34%–13.8% in four provinces. Soil fertility was improved in green orchards through increases in soil organic matter, total N, and available major nutrients. Our cradle-to-farm-gate life-cycle assessment revealed that green farming helped to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 12.6%, potentially contributing to a reduction of 165 239 t CO2 eq annually in major apple-producing areas. In addition, green farming achieved 39.3% higher profitability ($7180 ha−1 year−1) at the farmer level. Our study demonstrates the potential of green production of apples for the future development of sustainable agriculture in China. These findings advance our understanding of sustainable alternative farming systems and offer perspectives for the sustainable development of global agriculture.

Is the boom in staple crop production attributed to expanded cropland or improved yield? A comparative analysis between China and India

The characteristics of cropland development and the dynamics of food production in China and India, the world's largest agricultural and most populous countries, are of great importance to global food security. However, there is a notable lack of a thorough comparison between China and India in this regard. Here, we systematically compare the differences between China and India using cropping intensity and crop production data, including cropland area, harvested area, total staple crop (i.e., cereal crops, tuber crops and pulse crops) production and yield capacity. The results are mainly as follows: (1) Both China and India experienced an increasing trend in cropland area and harvested area from 2001 to 2021, especially notable in India. In China, the cropland area and harvested area increased by 11.76 % and 14.36 %, respectively, while in India, they witnessed a more substantial increase of 31.10 % and 49.32 %, respectively. (2) The cropping intensity underwent significant transformations, primarily shifting between non-cropland, single-cropping, and double-cropping. Northwestern China exhibited a clear trend of non-cropland converting to single-cropping, whereas northeastern China showed a distinct pattern of single-cropping changing to non-cropland. The interconversion between single-cropping and double-cropping was also frequently observed in the main food-producing regions. In India, the cropland expansion and the adoption of double-cropping are highly pronounced, extending widely across most of the country. (3) From 2001 to 2021, the total staple crop production in China and India increased by 34.12 % and 55.81 %, respectively. Despite the rapid growth in India's total staple crop production, it still amounts to only about half of China's. The major crops production also showed different trends, China's cereal crops production increased significantly, while tuber and pulse crops production declined, and India's production of cereal, tuber, and pulse crops has all increased (4) China's yield capacity has increased by 17.28 %, while India's has only grown by 4.35 %. Despite the rapid increase in India's total staple crop production, the yield gap with China has widened. The boost in China's total staple crop production mainly resulted from improved yield capacity, whereas India relied more on the cropland area expansion, especially the increase in harvested area. Our comprehensive comparison of China and India in cropland development and staple crop production contributes to a deep understanding of the differences in agricultural production between the two countries, and provides lessons for global food security and sustainable agricultural development.

Application Effect of Bacillus in Tomato Root Knot Nematode Disease Control

Root-knot nematode is a kind of omnivorous plant pathogenic nematode that causes great harm to underground roots and above-ground parts of plants, and has become a serious factor restricting the development of global agriculture. In order to realize the sustainable development of agriculture, the research carried out an in-depth discussion on biological control methods. Firstly, a bacillus was obtained through insecticidal experiments, then a large amount of materials was obtained through purification and cultivation, and then the stability test of the active substance of Bacillus was conducted to explore its influence to root-knot nematodes. Finally, the pot verification experiment and field verification experiment were conducted. The results showed that in the insecticidal experiment, the accumulation of active substances at 14 h was the maximum, and the corresponding mortality of root-knot nematodes at 12 h and 24 h was 97.6% and 82.91%, respectively. In the BS pot experiment, the number of tomato root knot formation in the bacillus treated group was significantly reduced by 46.3% compared with the control group, and the number of egg sac of the rhizome was reduced by 78.31%. On the 120th day of field verification experiment, the fruit quantity and yield per plant in the treatment group increased by 17.02% and 11.85%, respectively. In summary, Bacillus can effectively reduce the damage of root knot nematode to tomato plants, and has a good prospect of application and popularization.

Functionally responsive hydrogels with salt-alkali sensitivity effectively target soil amelioration

The long-standing crisis of soil salinization and alkalization poses a significant challenge to global agricultural development. High soil salinity-alkalinity, water dispersion, and nutrient loss present major hurdles to soil improvement. Novel environmentally friendly gels have demonstrated excellent water retention and slow-release capabilities in agricultural enhancement. However, their application for improving saline-alkali soil is both scarce and competitive. This study proposes a new strategy for regulating saline-alkali soil using gel-coated controlled-release soil modifiers (CWR-SRMs), where radical-polymerized gels are embedded on the surface of composite gel beads through spray coating. Characterization and performance analysis reveal that the three-dimensional spatial network structure rich in hydrophilic groups exhibits good thermal stability (first-stage weight loss temperature of 257.7 °C in thermogravimetric analysis) and encapsulation efficiency for fulvic acid‑potassium (FA-K), which can enhance soil quality in saline-alkali environments. The molecular chain relaxation under saline-alkali conditions promotes a synergistic effect of swelling and slow release, endowing it with qualifications as a water reservoir, Ca2+ source unit, and slow-release body. The results of a 6 weeks incubation experiment on 0–20 cm saline-alkaline soil with different application gradients showed that the gradient content had a significant effect on the soil improvement effect. Specifically, the T2 (the dosage accounted for 1 % of soil mass) treatment significantly increases water retention (30 % ~ 90 %), and nutrient levels (30 % ~ 50 %), while significantly decreasing soil sodium colloid content (30 % ~ 60 %) and soil pH (10 % ~ 15 %). Furthermore, PCA analysis indicates that the addition of 1 % CWR-SRMs as amendments can significantly adjust the negative aspects of soil salinity and alkalinity. This highlights the excellent applicability of CWR-SRMs in improving saline-alkali agricultural ecosystems, demonstrating the potential value of novel environmentally friendly gels as an alternative solution for soil challenges persistently affected by adverse salinity and alkalinity.

Glyphosate Disorders Soil Enchytraeid Gut Microbiota and Increases Its Antibiotic Resistance Risk.

Pesticides promote the stable development of intensive global agriculture. Nevertheless, their residues in the soil can cause ecological and human health risks. Glyphosate is a popular herbicide and is generally thought to be ecologically safe and nontoxic, but this conclusion has been questioned. Herein, we investigated the interaction among soil fauna (Enchytraeus crypticus) exposed to glyphosate and found that glyphosate induced oxidative stress and detoxification responses in E. crypticus and disturbed their lipid metabolism and digestive systems. We further demonstrated that glyphosate disordered the gut microbiota of E. crypticus and increased the abundance of resistance determinants with significant human health risks. Empirical tests and structural equation models were then used to confirm that glyphosate could cause E. crypticus to generate reactive oxygen species, indirectly interfering with their gut microbiota. Our study provides important implications for deciphering the mechanisms of the ecotoxicity of pesticides under the challenge of worldwide pesticide contamination.

Potassium resources management systems in Chinese agriculture: Yield gaps and environmental costs

China is the world's largest consumer of chemical fertilizers, with a strong reliance on imports of mineral K fertilizer up to 50 %. Inexpensive and renewable straw-K recycling is crucial for enhancing soil K fertility and carbon (C) sequestration. Here, national management networks for inorganic- and straw-K were systematically integrated to identify yield gaps and C mitigation potential in Chinese typical crop rotation systems. National spatio-temporal changes in soil K fertility in the past 40 years were also mapped, indicating that about 52 % of national cereal arable cropland was still under low-K status in 2020. Compared with the inorganic K system (INK), grain yields of maize, wheat, and rice were respectively reduced by 9.4 %, 14.9 %, and 13.4 % under 0 K system, and increased by 5.2 %, 6.2 %, and 3.0 % under straw-based K recycling system (SBK system). Estimated net C emissions with the SBK system were 11.6 % (maize) and 47.4 % (wheat) lower than with the INK system, mainly due to the larger increase in soil C sequestration than in N2O production. Conversely, the SBK system increased net C emissions in rice by 57.6 % than the INK system due to larger increase in CH4 emissions. Scenario analyses showed that the annual C mitigation potential in the SBK system would approach 16.9 % (spring maize), 46.4 % (wheat-maize), 62.9 % (rice-wheat), and 22.4 % (rice-rice) by optimising the annual chemical fertilizer rate and seasonal straw distribution. Integrated inorganic- and straw-K management could also be extended to other K-limited developing and less-developed regions to enhance global food security and agricultural green development.

Climate Smart Agriculture: The Role of Fertilizer Innovations and Efficient Plant Nutrient Management

Climate change has emerged as a significant threat to the global agro-economy, adversely affecting agricultural productivity, food security, and local and global agricultural development goals. To ensure sustainable crop productivity and meet future demands, it is essential to take prompt actions to address the current challenges of lower agricultural productivity due to climate change. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is a novel concept that offers a promising approach to tackle these challenges by introducing sustainable farming practices that minimize negative environmental impacts and enhance resilience to climate change. It involves realigning current agricultural practices and introducing smart techniques to reduce the adverse effects of agriculture that contribute to climate change and higher carbon footprints. The importance of climate-smart fertilizers in agricultural productivity cannot be overemphasized, as the soil is susceptible to structural changes and alterations in nutrient availability due to climatic impacts. Therefore, the implementation of proper nutrient management mechanisms and advanced fertilizer innovations has become a top priority in implementing the concepts of CSA. Consequently, there has been a greater focus on introducing more climate-adaptive and resilient plant nutrient delivery systems and technologies in recent times. For instance, nanofertilizer, bio-based controlled-release and slow-release fertilizers have provided a more sustainable and climate-friendly alternative to traditional synthetic fertilizers. Despite the innovations, challenges remain in implementing CSA practices and practices of climate-smart fertilizers at scale. This is largely attributed to the lack of proper knowledge and a streamlined policy framework on climate resilience in agriculture and fertilizers. This article seeks to review the role of fertilizer innovations and nutrient management in CSA, targeting the reduction of nutrient losses due to climate changes. It also examines the current status of climate-smart fertilizers with a particular emphasis on the current implementation challenges and future prospects in fertilizer production, leading to global food security by adapting to climatic changes. By highlighting specific examples of modern climate-smart agriculture and fertilizer management, this article aims to provide insights into the potential benefits and challenges of implementing CSA practices and encourage further research and development in this important field.
 Keywords: Climate-smart agriculture, Climate-smart fertilizers, Climate change, Nutrient Management, Innovations in fertilizers

Can Digital Finance Contribute to Agricultural Carbon Reduction? Evidence from China

The existing research covers digital finance’s carbon reduction impacts in industrial and urban settings, however, leaving a gap in understanding its effects in agriculture. This study addresses this gap by examining the relationship and mechanism between digital finance and agricultural carbon reduction. Two hypotheses are proposed to guide the study: (1) The development of digital finance could reduce agricultural carbon emissions; (2) The development of digital finance could significantly promote agricultural green innovation, empowering agricultural carbon emission reduction. By employing panel data spanning 31 provinces from 2011 to 2020, we empirically investigate the relationship between digital finance development and a reduction in agricultural carbon emissions. The results indicate that digital financial development significantly reduces agricultural carbon emissions. Mechanism analysis further elucidates the pivotal role of digital finance in facilitating agricultural green innovation, resulting in a decline in agricultural carbon emissions. Additionally, heterogeneity analysis reveals that the impact of digital finance on agricultural carbon emission reduction is particularly pronounced in regions with higher income levels and greater educational attainment. The study offers empirical evidence on the nexus between digital finance and agricultural carbon emissions, from a developing country perspective. It could provide innovative ideas and experiences from China for global agricultural low-carbon development practices.

A Comprehensive Review on Role of Agricultural Extension Services in the Sustainable Development of Global Agriculture

In an era where agriculture is facing unprecedented challenges, from climate change to increasing food demands, this paper aims to critically re-evaluate the current paradigms governing agricultural extension services. These services are instrumental in bridging the gap between agricultural research and practical farming, serving as a catalyst for the dissemination of knowledge, technology, and best practices among farmers. Recognizing their pivotal role in agricultural transformation, this paper offers a comprehensive evaluation of the role and effectiveness of agricultural extension services, advocating for a multidimensional assessment framework that incorporates environmental, social, and economic indicators. Traditionally, the success of agricultural extension services has been measured primarily through yield improvements or technological adoptions. This study argues that such unidimensional assessments are inadequate for capturing the complex, interrelated challenges and opportunities in contemporary agriculture. On the environmental front, factors like soil health, water quality, and biodiversity are shown to be foundational for sustainable agricultural practices and have immediate consequences for crop yield and quality. Social considerations, including farmers' well-being, community cohesion, and equitable access to resources, are equally crucial. These extend the scope of agricultural extension services beyond the mere dissemination of technical knowledge to encompass broader social objectives, such as community development and social equity. Economically, the study underscores the importance of indicators like profitability, yield per hectare, and value-added products, emphasizing that these are both immediate and long-term measures of the success of agricultural practices. By combining these diverse but interrelated metrics, the paper presents a more holistic view of the effectiveness of agricultural extension services. The research concludes by recommending policy adjustments and methodological shifts to incorporate this integrated assessment framework, aiming to guide the transition toward a more sustainable, equitable, and economically viable agricultural landscape.

Functional Identification of ANR Gene in Apple (Malus halliana) Demonstrates It Reduces Saline-alkali Stress Tolerance.

As one of the major abiotic stresses restricting the development of global agriculture, saline-alkali stress can cause osmotic stress, ion poisoning, reactive oxygen species damage and high pH value damage, which seriously restricts the sustainable development of fruit industry. Therefore, it is of great significance to cultivate saline-alkali resistant apple rootstocks to improve the yield and quality of apple in China. Based on transcriptome data, MhANR (LOC114827797), which was significantly induced by saline-alkali stress, was cloned from Malus halliana. The physicochemical properties, evolutionary relationships and cis-acting elements were analyzed. Subsequently, the tolerance of MhANR overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana, tobacco and apple calli to saline-alkali stress was verified by genetic transformation. Transgenic plants presented lower chla, chlb and proline contents, lower Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Peroxidase enzyme (POD) and Catalase enzyme (CAT) activities, and higher relative electrical conductivity (REC) compared to those in WT plants under saline-alkali stress. In addition, the expression levels of saline-alkali stress related genes in overexpressed apple calli also diaplayed lower values compared to WT calli, including antioxidant genes MhSOD and MhCAT, Na+ transporter genes MhCAX5, MhCAX5, MhSOS1, MhALT1, and H+ -ATPase genes MhAHA2 and MhAHA8, while the expression levels of K+ transporter genes MhSKOR and MhNHX4 displayed higher values. In conclusion, MhANR reduced the tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana, tobacco and apple calli under saline-alkali stress by regulating osmoregulatory substances, Chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activity and expression of saline-alkali stress-related genes, which provided a theoretical basis for cultivating apple rootstocks with effective saline-alkali stress tolerance.

Food security and digital economy in China: A pathway towards sustainable development

The world’s largest food producer, China, is now facing increasing pressure to solve food security and is committed to forging new prospects for global food security and sustainable agricultural development. As food security is receiving greater attention, this research takes panel data from 31 provinces and cities in China from 2011–2020 to examine the spatial spillover effect of the digital economy on food security. The study conclusions are as follows. (1) Improvement of the digital economy significantly promotes the development of China’s food security. (2) The digital economy has an inhibitory effect on food security in local regions and promotes food security in neighboring regions. (3) Heterogeneity exists within the spatial spillover effects of the digital economy on food security, and such differences often vary based on the status of regional economic development, natural geographical location, and land function. Therefore, policy suggestions proposed herein cover three aspects: accelerating infrastructure investment and construction, improving the empowering capability of the digital economy, and implementing different digital economy strategies to better support food security in China.

Modeling plant diseases under climate change: evolutionary perspectives.

Infectious plant diseases are a major threat to global agricultural productivity, economic development, and ecological integrity. There is widespread concern that these social and natural disasters caused by infectious plant diseases may escalate with climate change and computer modeling offers a unique opportunity to address this concern. Here, we analyze the intrinsic problems associated with current modeling strategies and highlight the need to integrate evolutionary principles into polytrophic, eco-evolutionary frameworks to improve predictions. We particularly discuss how evolutionary shifts in functional trade-offs, relative adaptability between plants and pathogens, ecosystems, and climate preferences induced by climate change may feedback to future plant disease epidemics and how technological advances can facilitate the generation and integration of this relevant knowledge for better modeling predictions.

How does agricultural production agglomeration affect green total factor productivity?: empirical evidence from China

Economic growth in agriculture is often accompanied by environmental pollution. To overcome this dilemma, agricultural green total factor productivity is essential. The role of agricultural production agglomeration has been studied extensively; however, there is no apparent association between agricultural production agglomeration and agricultural green total factor productivity. We use the non-angular and non-radial super-efficiency slacks-based measure model and the global Malmquist-Luenberger productivity model to assess the agricultural green total factor productivity in 30 Chinese provinces from 2001 to 2019. In addition, we investigate the evolutionary trend, influence relationship, and internal mechanism between agricultural production agglomeration and agricultural green total factor productivity. The results show an inverted U-shaped relationship between agricultural production agglomeration and agricultural green total factor productivity. Heterogeneity analysis finds that this role is more pronounced in provinces located inthe Yangtze River economic zone with strong fiscal support for agriculture and high levels of regional economic development. Regarding the mechanism analysis, enhancing green technology progress and the quality of rural human capital leads to an increase in agricultural green total factor productivity. Therefore, this study provides a new perspective on global carbon emission reduction and a theoretical and practical reference for realizing global agricultural green development.

The Intersection of Gender, Media, And Policy: A Qualitative Analysis on Thai Newspaper Coverage of Women in Agriculture

Women empowerment and gender equality have been found to be statistically significant and positive predictors of global agricultural development. Therefore, reducing gender disparities can encourage economic progress and growth in developing nations. As such, determining effective ways to stimulate social progress and women’s empowerment has emerged as a critical need. One strategy used to raise the public’s consciousness about gendered issues in Thailand has been through mass media. In response, this study aimed to (1) determine to what extent Thailand’s newspaper coverage focused on topics related to women and the agricultural industry; and (2) describe how women in agriculture have been portrayed in newspaper coverage since the introduction of Thailand 4.0’s policy in 2016. Using a qualitative content analysis of Thailand’s newspaper coverage of women in the agricultural sector, four themes emerged: (1) economic policy implications for Thailand’s agricultural system; (2) human rights; (3) women entrepreneurship and leadership; and (4) agricultural development. Therefore, this study concluded that newspaper coverage of women in agriculture was diverse and conflicting – a finding not previously reported. The findings also revealed that women in agriculture have been underrepresented in newspaper publications historically. Moving forward, we provided critical implications for how future research, theory, and practice can depict women in agriculture more positively in the newspaper media.

Rural Industrial Integration's Impact on Agriculture GTFP Growth: Influence Mechanism and Empirical Test Using China as an Example.

Agricultural carbon emission is an significant cause of global climate change and many environmental and health problems. Achieving low-carbon and green development in agriculture is not only an inevitable choice for countries around the world to cope with climate change and the accompanying environmental and health problems, but also a necessary path for the sustainable development of global agriculture. The promotion of rural industrial integration is a practical way to realize sustainable agricultural growth and urban-rural integration development. The analysis framework of agriculture GTFP is creatively extended in this study to include the integration and growth of rural industries, rural human capital investment and rural land transfer. According to the sample data of 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2020 and the systematic GMM estimation method, and through the combination of theoretical analysis and empirical testing, this paper discusses the influence mechanism of rural industrial integration development on agriculture GTFP growth, as well as the regulating role of rural human capital investment and rural land transfer. The results show that rural industrial integration has significantly promoted the growth of agriculture GTFP. Additionally, after decomposing agriculture GTFP into the agricultural green technology progress index and agricultural green technology efficiency index, it is found that rural industrial integration has a more obvious role in promoting agricultural green technology progress. Furthermore, quantile regression found that with the increase in agricultural GTFP, the promoting effect of rural industrial integration showed an "inverted U-shaped" feature. Through heterogeneity testing, it is found that the agriculture GTFP growth effect of rural industrial integration is more obvious in areas with high level of rural industrial integration. Additionally, as the nation places more and more focus on rural industrial integration, the promotion role of rural industrial integration has become more and more obvious. The moderating effect test showed that health, education and training, migration of rural human capital investment and rural land transfer all strengthened the promoting effect of rural industrial integration on agricultural GTFP growth to varying degrees. This study provides rich policy insights for China and other developing countries around the world to address global climate change and many related environmental and monitoring issues by developing rural industrial integration, strengthening rural human capital investment and promoting agricultural land transfer to achieve sustainable agricultural growth and reduce undesirable output outputs such as agricultural carbon emissions.

“How to Not Win Friends”

AbstractIn the mid-twentieth century, both public and private US development agencies organized a variety of global agricultural development programs based on various interpretations of modernization theory. In much of the existing historical literature about modernization theory and practice, these public and private agencies are often seen as closely coordinating with each other to achieve both development goals and US global hegemony. This article questions how closely coordinated such efforts were through an analysis of Rockefeller Foundation interactions with other US-based agricultural modernization programs and activities in Colombia in the 1950s and 1960s. Where the Rockefeller Foundation promoted Colombian wheat production, the USDA and other US-based agencies criticized that production and instead promoted the importation of US-grown wheat through the PL 480 program. The article utilizes Rockefeller Foundation records to examine how disparate meanings of modernization manifested themselves in mundane conflicts. Seemingly petty squabbles among US development actors in Colombia reveal the contours of their distinct views of modernization and demonstrate the need for more analysis of the practice of modernization and development programs rather than just the theories that underlay them.

Evolution of wound-activated regeneration pathways in the plant kingdom

Regeneration serves as a self-protective mechanism that allows a tissue or organ to recover its entire form and function after suffering damage. However, the regenerative capacity varies greatly within the plant kingdom. Primitive plants frequently display an amazing regenerative ability as they have developed a complex system and strategy for long-term survival under extreme stress conditions. The regenerative ability of dicot species is highly variable, but that of monocots often exhibits extreme recalcitrance to tissue replenishment. Recent studies have revealed key factors and signals that affect cell fate during plant regeneration, some of which are conserved among the plant lineage. Among these, several members of the ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF) transcription factors have been implicated in wound signaling, playing crucial roles in the regenerative mechanisms after different types of wounding. An understanding of plant regeneration may ultimately lead to an increased regenerative potential of recalcitrant species, producing more high-yielding, multi-resistant and environmentally friendly crops and ensuring the long-term development of global agriculture.

Exogenous 24-epibrassinolide boosts plant growth under alkaline stress from physiological and transcriptomic perspectives: The case of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.)

Land alkalization is an abiotic stress that affects global sustainable agricultural development and the balance of natural ecosystems. In this study, two broomcorn millet cultivars, T289 (alkaline-tolerant) and S223 (alkaline-sensitive), were selected to investigate the response of broomcorn millet to alkaline stress and the role of brassinolide (BR) in alkaline tolerance. Phenotypes, physiologies, and transcriptomes of T289 and S223 plants under only alkaline stress (AS) and alkaline stress with BR (AB) were compared. The results showed that alkaline stress inhibited growth, promoted the accumulation of soluble sugars and malondialdehyde, enhanced electrolyte leakage, and destroyed the integrity of broomcorn millet stomata. In contrast, BR lessened the negative effects of alkaline stress on plants. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that relative to control groups (CK, nutrient solution), in AS groups, 21,113 and 12,151 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in S223 and T289, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed various terms and pathways related to metabolism. Compared to S223, alkaline stress strongly activated the brassinosteroid biosynthesis pathway in T289. Conversely, ARF, TF, and TCH4, associated with cell growth and elongation, were inhibited by alkaline stress in S223. Moreover, alkaline stress induced the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, the abscisic acid signaling pathway that initiates stomatal closure, as well as the starch and sucrose metabolism. The EG and BGL genes, which are associated with cellulose degradation, were notably activated. BR enhanced alkaline tolerance, thereby alleviating the transcriptional responses of the two cultivars. Cultivar T289 is better in alkalized regions. Taken together, these results reveal how broomcorn millet responds to alkaline stress and BR mitigates alkaline stress, thus promoting agriculture in alkalized regions.

Theoretical basis and technical path for the regional all-for-one customization model of black soil granary

The black soil area in Northeast China serves as a “ballast” to ensure China’s food security. Unreasonable development and utilization lead to serious black soil degradation in some areas and affect regional food production and economic and social development. In the context of the intensification of the contradiction between food supply and demand worldwide, we should pay more attention to the overall situation of regional sustainable development and seek for systematic, scientific, and economic solutions. This study establishes a regional all-for-one customization model of black soil granary on the basis of the regional system of human—land relationship, customized and accurate management, agricultural system theory, and agricultural informatization with the guidance of integrated geography concept. The aim of this regional all-for-one customization model is to systematically diagnose the key problems and leading factors of black soil degradation and determine a solution that combines the commonness and individuality of black soil protection from the perspective of multiscale linkage, multifactor coupling, and multitechnology cooperation. The regional all-for-one customization model of black soil granary integrates the two perspectives of “regional” and “customization” into the protection and comprehensive utilization of black soil for the first time. It adopts zoning, grading, and classification as the main strategy and big data and artificial intelligence as the main technical approaches. This model constructs three strategies of different scales by combining the “satellite—air—ground—network” 3D monitoring system and the all-for-one customization platform driven by big data and artificial intelligence. First, the “implementing strategies by regions” are implemented at the regional scale to formulate the regional agricultural resource allocation scheme and agricultural zoning, which can provide strategies to protect and utilize black soil effectively. Second, the “determining strategies in accordance with villages” are implemented at the village scale to formulate a black soil protection and utilization model for different categories of villages, which can promote the organic integration of black soil protection and rural revitalization. Third, a “one strategy for one field” concept is applied at the field scale to provide accurate strategies for soil restoration and yield improvement in a fixed, quantitative, and regular manner. Multiscale integrated demonstration and scheme verification of the regional all-for-one customization model of black soil granary are conducted in Qiqihar City at three scales, namely, region, village, and field, to solve the key issues in black soil protection and utilization and form a replicable and popularized system solution, thereby providing a model for the sustainable development of Chinese and global black soil agriculture. The proposed regional all-for-one customization model of black soil granary has important theoretical and practical value in promoting the high-quality development of regional agriculture and rural revitalization, and provides a demonstration model of land protection and utilization for the black soil area in China and the whole world.

Recent progress in electrochemical synthesis of carbon-free hydrogen carrier ammonia and ammonia fuel cells: A review

Ammonia (NH3) is a cornerstone widely used in the modern agriculture and industry, the annual global production gradually increases to almost 200 million tons. Nearly 80% of the produced NH3 is used in the fertilizer industry and is essential for the development of global agriculture and consequently for maintaining population growth. Furthermore, NH3 can power hydrogen (H2) fueled devices, such as H2 fuel cells (FC), to use the interconversion between chemical energy and electric energy of nitrogen (N2) cycle, which can effectively alleviate the intermittent problems of renewable energy. However, the problems faced by NH3 in storage and release still restrict its development. Herein, this review introduces the latest research and development of electrochemical NH3 synthesis and direct NH3 FC, as well as outlines the technical challenges, possible improvement measures and development perspectives. N2 reduction reaction (NRR) and nitrate reduction reaction (NO3−RR) are two potential approaches for electrochemical NH3 synthesis. However, the existing research foundation still faces challenges in achieving high selectivity and efficiency. Direct NH3 FC are easy to transport and are expected to be widely used in mobile energy consuming equipment, but also limited by the lack of highly active and stable NH3 oxidation electrocatalysts. The perspectives of ammonia fuel cells as an alternative green energy are discussed.