Improve Resource Use Research Articles

When a Toolkit Is Not Enough: A Review on What Is Needed to Promote the Use and Uptake of Immunization-Related Resources.

Evidence-based resources, including toolkits, guidance, and capacity-building materials, are used by routine immunization programs to achieve critical global immunization targets. These resources can help spread information, change or improve behaviors, or build capacity based on the latest evidence and experience. Yet, practitioners have indicated that implementation of these resources can be challenging, limiting their uptake and use. It is important to identify factors that support the uptake and use of immunization-related resources to improve resource implementation and, thus, adherence to evidence-based practices. A targeted narrative review and synthesis and key informant interviews were conducted to identify practice-based learning, including the characteristics and factors that promote uptake and use of immunization-related resources in low- and middle-income countries and practical strategies to evaluate existing resources and promote resource use. Fifteen characteristics or factors to consider when designing, choosing, or implementing a resource were identified through the narrative review and interviews. Characteristics of the resource associated with improved uptake and use include ease of use, value-added, effectiveness, and adaptability. Factors that may support resource implementation include training, buy-in, messaging and communication, human resources, funding, infrastructure, team culture, leadership support, data systems, political commitment, and partnerships. Toolkits and guidance play an important role in supporting the goals of routine immunization programs, but the development and dissemination of a resource are not sufficient to ensure its implementation. The findings reflect early work to identify the characteristics and factors needed to promote the uptake and use of immunization-related resources and can be considered a starting point for efforts to improve resource use and design resources to support implementation.

Meanings and implications of love: review of the scholarship of love with a sub-Saharan focus

Love, as an emotion, binds people together in social practices that are contingent on culture, historical processes, and social trends. As such, love is a perfect site to study how people interact and to understand how power, equality, and sustainability play out in human relations. Despite its importance and much attention, love as a concept and form of interaction is not fully understood, especially not across cultures. In our research, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, we show that alongside other emotions, love matters not only for passion in life or for wellbeing but also for improved resource use, increased gender equality, and, subsequently, higher food security and sovereignty – all signs of sustainability. While love is understood as a universal human phenomenon, definitions and expressions of love vary across time and cultures. Since love drives human interaction in many intertwined ways there is no single best way to define it. Yet, scholars have advanced the theory of love by identifying at least 40 major distinct but interdependent ‘love constructs’ fitting into the four main dimensions of affection, closeness, compassion, and commitment (Karandashev et al. 2022). In parallel to this and based on our review of the scholarship of love in a subset of 45 relevant academic articles from an 80-article systematic literature search of ‘love’ we find four core (and partly overlapping) types of how to speak about love as an expression and experience. These include: 1/ contextual love influenced by culture, space, and time; 2/ romantic and compassionate love; 3/ transactional love; 4/ post-humanist perspectives and ‘harmony love’. Finally, we examine love in relation to power; love-related emotions; and how understandings of love and culture impact gender relations.

Optimization of N Fertilizer Type and Ridge–Furrow Ratio to Improve Resource Use Efficiency and Grain Yield of Rain-Fed Winter Wheat in Loess Plateau, China

Ridge and furrow plastic mulch (RFPM) and nitrogen (N) application are effective strategies for improving crop productivity in China’s Loess Plain. However, it is not clear how the ridge–furrow ratio and nitrogen fertilizer type (NT) affect the use of water, nitrogen, heat, and radiation resources for the enhancement of rain-fed wheat production. Two nitrogen fertilizer types (traditional urea (TU) and controlled-release urea (CRU)) and four planting patterns (conventional flat planting (F) and the RFPM system of 20 cm ridges with 40 cm furrows (R2F4), 40 cm ridges with 40 cm furrows (R4F4), and 60 cm ridges with 40 cm furrows (R6F4)) were tested from September 2018 to June 2021 during the winter wheat growing season. It was found that the RFPM system can increase soil thermal time (TTsoil) from 41.0 to 152.1 °C d compared to the F. RFPM system thermal effect, which reduced the vegetative growth period and prolonged the reproductive growth period for 2 to 7 days, which promoted an increase in the leaf area index (LAI) and final dry matter (DM) accumulation. These significantly increased the grain yield (GY) in the RFPM system by 51.6–115.2% and enhanced the thermal time use efficiency (TUE) by 48–99.5%, water productivity (WP) by 37.4–76.3%, radiation use efficiency (RUE) by 16.3–34.4%, and partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN) by 51.6–115.2% compared to F. Although a high ridge and furrow ratio in combination with CRU increased the GY and resource use efficiency, it also exacerbated the soil water depletion, especially in the soil layer between 40 and 140 cm. Overall, CRU combined with the 40 cm ridge and 40 cm furrow RFPM system maximized resource efficiency and increased wheat production on China’s Loess Plateau.

Application of the food-energy-water nexus to six seafood supply chains: hearing from wild and farmed seafood supply chain actors in the United States, Norway, and Vietnam

IntroductionThe food-energy-water (FEW) nexus highlights the interdependencies between the systems that people rely on for these essential resources. For example, globally, over two thirds of freshwater withdrawals are used to produce food, and another 10% is used during energy generation. In addition, the food system uses one eighth of global net energy. Seafood is a nutritionally important food, and it is critical to use freshwater and energy resources efficiently throughout seafood supply chains to safeguard future supplies and to reduce environmental impacts. Diverse seafood production methods result in highly variable resource use across supply chains, which may contribute to siloed efforts within supply chains to improve efficiency, instead of larger efforts that involve multiple seafood supply chains. Additionally, efforts to develop and implement efficiency strategies must be informed by fishers, aquaculturists, processors, and other seafood supply chain actors to avoid investing time and resources into strategies that will have low uptake. A significant proportion of seafood is imported into the U.S., so engaging with industry and stakeholders in the U.S. and abroad is critical for understanding and improving the FEW nexus associated with seafood consumed by Americans.MethodsTo understand how resources are being used, current and potential strategies to improve resource use, and relevant motivations and barriers, we conducted 47 semi-structured interviews from 2019 to 2021 with seafood supply chain actors, including producers and processors. Seafood supply chains included were farmed catfish produced in the U.S., farmed pangasius and shrimp produced in Vietnam, farmed Atlantic salmon produced in Norway, and wild-caught sockeye and pink salmon caught in the U.S.ResultsWe provide detailed descriptions of stages within each supply chain regarding resource use and efficiency strategies, and report higher-level findings that apply across supply chains. There was variation across settings regarding how resources are used and opportunities and barriers for improving efficiencies, but we also found commonalities in settings, indicating that resource-saving strategies or innovations could lead to increased efficiency across multiple supply chains. Interviewees shared that cost savings drove past adoption of, and high interest in, energy conservation practices. Generally, direct costs did not motivate reduced use of freshwater, but associated costs like energy to run pumps and supplies to treat contaminated surface water drove interest in reducing water use.DiscussionEfforts to improve resource use in the U.S. seafood supply should focus on identifying and scaling-up strategies that (i) involve improved efficiency of more than one resource and/or (ii) apply across multiple settings. This work should involve partnerships between industry, government agencies, and academic researchers, and should be informed by supply chain actors’ experiences and insights. The qualitative insights from this study encompass rich descriptions of FEW-relevant factors at the level of specific supply chain stages as well as findings across six major seafood supply chains in three countries. The study provides an essential complement to existing quantitative characterizations of resource use, and enables nuanced and informed responses to challenges.

Harnessing precision agriculture technologies to enhance efficiency and yield in the agro- industrial complex

Precision agriculture (PA) technologies have revolutionized farming practices, offering substantial benefits in terms of efficiency and yield optimization within the agro-industrial complex. This article explores the integration of various PA tools, including geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), remote sensing, and data analytics, to enhance agricultural management practices. By leveraging these technologies, farmers can make informed decisions tailored to specific field conditions, thereby optimizing resource allocation and minimizing environmental impact. The article delves into case studies and empirical evidence demonstrating the tangible advantages of PA adoption across diverse agricultural sectors, such as crop cultivation, livestock management, and agroforestry. Furthermore, it examines the role of emerging technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and sensor networks, in furthering the precision and scalability of agricultural operations. Key findings highlight the potential of PA to improve resource use efficiency, reduce input costs, mitigate risks associated with climate variability, and ultimately increase agricultural productivity and profitability. The synthesis of this research underscores the transformative impact of PA technologies in fostering sustainable and resilient agro-industrial systems for the future.

Evaluation and driving force analysis of the water-energy‑carbon nexus in agricultural trade for RCEP countries

Water utilization, energy consumption, and carbon emissions are mutually intertwined and play vital roles in agricultural supply chains. Identifying the water-energy‑carbon (WEC) nexus relationships along with its driving forces is of great importance to alleviate resource scarcity and advance a green economy. This study utilizes multiregional input–output (MRIO) analysis and proposes a new indicator, nexus intensity, to investigate the relationship among water, energy, and carbon flows in agricultural trade; furthermore, it modifies the gravity trade model to explore the hidden driving forces for the WEC nexus. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) countries are used as a case study, and the results show that large volumes of WEC flow roughly from the southeast to the northwest. China plays an active role in agricultural trade, contributing 53.34%, 62.00%, and 64.09% of RCEP agriculture-related water utilization, energy consumption, and carbon emissions, respectively. For nexus intensity on the production side, countries with less agriculture-related WEC tend to have extreme situations of extreme resource utilization or emissions. Such situations have become more balanced on the consumption side. Exporters exert a greater impact on agricultural trade than importers. Small population countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Cambodia serve as granaries for other countries. In addition, countries with higher carbon emissions tend to import carbon-intensive products from other countries. By analyzing the linkages between water, energy, and carbon associated with agricultural products and excavating driving forces, this study provides insights for nexus management on improving resource use efficiency and reducing carbon emissions through transnational trade.

Barley–Pulse Intercropping Improves Resource Use Efficiency and Soil Health

AbstractSemiarid regions in southern Idaho receive a small amount of annual precipitation (e.g., 9–12 inches), and crop options are very limited in dryland farming without supplemental irrigation. To diversify cropping systems, growers can incorporate crops with lower water requirements through rotations and intercropping. Field trials were conducted to evaluate crop yield and soil health in barley–pulse intercrops under full and deficit irrigation with no supplemental N fertilizers. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.

Traceability and Transparency in Supply Chains for Agricultural and Forest Commodities

Traceability and transparency in supply chains are necessary to understand the impact of commodities on forests, and to support the design, implementation, monitoring of effective solutions to address forest loss, and help make agricultural production and food systems more sustainable. This report discusses success factors and enabling conditions to improve resource use and reduce forest loss, providing an updated evidence base to inform and advance collaborative discussions and actions on traceability and transparency.

Interactive effect of tillage, residue, nitrogen, and irrigation management on yield, radiation productivity and water productivity of winter wheat in semi-arid climate

Water, nutrients, and energy are the three main inputs in agricultural production and recently there has been a drop in the factor productivity of these inputs because of their improper management and deterioration of soil health. To maximize agricultural productivity while lowering strain on natural resources, the best synergistic combinations of tillage, residue, nitrogen, and water management should be identified for improving resource use efficiency of wheat. Hence, an attempt has been made to evaluate the impact of contrasting tillage, crop residue mulch, nitrogen, and irrigation interaction on yield, radiation productivity (RP), and water productivity (WP) of wheat in a split-factorial design. Results showed that wheat yield was higher under no-tillage (4.8%) than that of conventional tillage. Crop residue mulch (CRM) and higher nitrogen application enhanced RP, WP, and yield of wheat; although RP increased with increase in nitrogen application up to 100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN). CRM significantly reduced the seasonal evapotranspiration (6.0‒7.2%) as compared to residue removal treatment. Deficit irrigation enhanced the WP while it lowered the crop yield significantly. Therefore, wheat can be grown under no-tillage, CRM, 100% RDN with deficit irrigation to obtain higher WP but with full irrigation to obtain higher yield, and RP in the semiarid climate of India.

Hemoadsorption Using CytoSorb® in Patients with Infective Endocarditis: A German-Based Budget Impact Analysis.

A considerable number of infective endocarditis (IE) patients require cardiac surgery with an increased risk for postoperative sepsis. Intraoperative hemoadsorption may diminish the risk of postoperative hyperinflammation with potential economic implications for intensive care unit (ICU) occupation. The present study aimed to theoretically investigate the budget impact of a reduced length of ICU stay in IE patients treated with intraoperative hemoadsorption in the German healthcare system. Data on ICU occupation were extrapolated from a retrospective study on IE patients treated with hemoadsorption. An Excel-based budget impact model was developed to simulate the patient course over the ICU stay. A base-case scenario without therapy reimbursement and a scenario with full therapy reimbursement were explored. The annual eligible German IE patient population was derived from official German Diagnostic-Related Group (DRG) volume data. One-way deterministic sensitivity analysis and multivariate analysis were performed to evaluate the uncertainty over the model results. The use of intraoperative hemoadsorption resulted in EUR 2298 being saved per patient in the base-case scenario without therapy reimbursement. The savings increased to EUR 3804 per patient in the case of full device-specific reimbursement. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of savings, with a probability of savings of 87% and 99% in the base-case and full reimbursement scenario, respectively. Intraoperative hemoadsorption in IE patients might have relevant economic benefits related to reduced ICU stays, resulting in improved resource use. Further evaluations in larger prospective cohorts are warranted.

Improving decision support systems with machine learning: Identifying barriers to adoption

AbstractPrecision agriculture (PA) has been defined as a “management strategy that gathers, processes and analyzes temporal, spatial and individual data and combines it with other information to support management decisions according to estimated variability for improved resource use efficiency, productivity, quality, profitability and sustainability of agricultural production.” This definition suggests that because PA should simultaneously increase food production and reduce the environmental footprint, the barriers to adoption of PA should be explored. These barriers include (1) the financial constraints associated with adopting decision support system (DSS); (2) the hesitancy of farmers to change from their trusted advisor to a computer program that often behaves as a black box; (3) questions about data ownership and privacy; and (4) the lack of a trained workforce to provide the necessary training to implement DSSs on individual farms. This paper also discusses the lessons learned from successful and unsuccessful efforts to implement DSSs, the importance of communication with end users during DSS development, and potential career opportunities that DSSs are creating in PA.

The role of urban agriculture in food-energy-water nexus policies: Insights from Europe and the U.S

The growth of urban agriculture (UA) has raised the awareness of city officials and civil society organizations of its potential effects on food systems. This has led to various policies to regulate and support UA. This research characterizes existing food, energy and water (FEW nexus) policies based on policy data from five case study cities in Europe and the U.S. (Dortmund, Gorzów Wielkopolski, London, Nantes, and New York City) to analyze their relationships to UA, and to identify policy types that support resource-efficient UA. The paper presents the results of an analysis of 78 policy documents related to UA and the FEW nexus, and the results of a Q-sort ranking by UA policy experts on the effectiveness of 16 generalized UA policies in promoting resource-efficient UA.The number, type, and degree of support for nexus policies vary among the five case studies. The results show that the majority of policies (36) are implemented at the local scale, that few policies (19) incorporate all elements of the nexus, yet many nexus policies include UA indirectly. Regulations are more prevalent and are considered more effective at ensuring resource-efficient UA than incentives or awareness-raising policies. The study offers guidance to policy makers who want to improve resource use in future UA pointing at the increasing importance of local food policies.

Integrated Nutrient Management Enhances Yield, Improves Soil Quality, and Conserves Energy under the Lowland Rice–Rice Cropping System

Identifying sustainable crop production systems that improve yield from existing farmland while improving resource use efficiency is critical to meet the growing demands of the increasing human population and diminishing natural resources. Considering the increasing cost associated with inorganic fertilizer, integrated nutrient management using both organic and inorganic sources is important. Therefore, optimizing nutrient management practices that increase yield, improve soil quality, build up soil organic carbon storage, and maintain energy balance can help achieve sustainability in farming systems. In this regard, different nutrient management practices under the rice–rice (Oryza sativa L.) cropping system were evaluated using five different criterions, namely, (i) crop yield response, (ii) soil quality, (iii) soil carbon stock, (iv) energy efficiency, and (v) profitability under lowland situations in the Goa state situated in the western coast of India. We tested six nutrient management treatments, namely, inorganic fertilizers, organic (farmyard manure), rice straw, and their combinations over three years from 2016 to 2019. The results revealed that integrated nutrient management improved soil carbon stock, microbial biomass carbon, and soil fertility more than the other treatments. The integrated use of farmyard manure and chemical fertilizer showed significantly higher crop yield (9.86 v/s 9.41 Mg ha−1), microbial biomass carbon (354 v/s 233.7 mg kg−1 soil), soil carbon stock (36.65 v/s 25.5 Mg C ha−1), energy efficiency (23.8 v/s 22.3), and net return (1776 v/s 1508 USD) than those associated with chemical fertilizer alone. We conclude that the application of chemical fertilizers/organic sources alone may not be sustainable for the rice–rice cropping system in the Goa state of India; the focus should be on integrated nutrient management systems.

Impact of imaging frequency on progression free survival in Alliance clinical trials enrolling patients with untreated follicular lymphoma.

7520 Background: With goal of simplifying clinical trials in lymphomas, we reported that bone marrow biopsies are irrelevant for response assessment in most patients (pts) with follicular lymphoma (FL) on trials (Rutherford JCO 2023). We then investigated impact of imaging frequency in FL clinical trials. We hypothesized that progression free survival (PFS) would not be different when imaging is performed less frequently than required by trials. Methods: We identified all trials through Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology that enrolled untreated pts with FL from 2008-2016. We considered 2 imaging schedules: protocol specified (control) vs relaxed (X) in which response assessments at every other required time point were omitted. For each trial, we estimated PFS using Kaplan Meier methods for the 2 schedules then determined difference in PFS between schedules as % change from control schedule in 2 year (yr) PFS rate. We performed simulation studies to approximate impact of less frequent imaging on PFS estimation using 50901 (low-intermediate risk FL) and 50904 (intermediate-high risk FL, control arm). We assumed exponential distribution for PFS, where rate parameter was calculated based on observed median PFS with uniform censoring distribution. Protocols for 50901 and 50904 mandated imaging every 4 months (mos) for 2 yrs then every 6 mos (S0). We ran 1000 iterations of 100 observations using 3 tumor assessment follow up schedules: every 6 mos for 2 yrs then yearly (S1), every 8 mos for 2 yrs then yearly (S2), or yearly (S3) for simulated progression times. We calculated deviation of PFS using simulated schedules from truth (S0). Results: Across 5 FL trials, median percent change of schedule X from control schedule in estimated 2yr PFS was 2.1% (0.0-30.8%) and in estimated 4yr PFS was 0.9% (-8.6-25.7%). Disparate result in 50901 is due to small shift in events with low number of pts at risk for progression. Simulation study results by trial were: for 50901, true median PFS 1.9 yrs and average median PFS for S1, S2, and S3 of 2.05, 2.11, and 2.21 yrs; for 50904 (control arm), true median PFS 4.1 yrs and average median PFS for S1, S2, and S3 of 4.16, 4.12, and 4.05 yrs. Conclusions: Our findings support decreased frequency of imaging studies in FL clinical trials, which would improve resource use and decrease pt burden. We plan a larger analysis to confirm results. https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org . Clinical trial information: NCT00553501 , NCT01145495 , NCT01190449 , NCT01286272 , NCT01829568 .[Table: see text]

Sustainability performance of small and medium dairy enterprises in Brazil

The sustainability performance of dairy enterprises can be improved using specific assessments indicators and indices. However, selecting a set of indicators and creating a specific sustainability index for dairy enterprises is challenging. This study aimed to assess the sustainability performance of small and medium dairy enterprises using an indicator set and indices encompassing the three dimensions of the triple bottom line approach. Hence, a specific indicator set was selected based on the literature, and a sustainability index was structured based on the process of normalisation, mean weight, aggregation, and sensitivity analysis. Empirical validation was carried out with 32 small and medium dairy enterprises in Brazil using a questionnaire to evaluate sustainability performance. The results demonstrate that the indicator set, sub-indices (environmental, social, and economic), and index are adequate and consistent for diagnosing and identifying areas of improvement in the sustainable performance of small and medium dairy enterprises. In our sample, the highest efficiency regarding sustainability performance was related to economic sub-index indicators, whereas the lowest efficiency appeared in environmental and social sub-index indicators. The application of the sustainability index delivered essential information to consultants and managers of dairy enterprises to improve resource use and minimise the environmental and social impacts of their companies. The study posits that the specific sustainability index for small and medium dairy enterprises is a powerful management resource that can diagnose positive and negative points in a company related to the triple bottom line dimensions. Furthermore, the study provides suggestions for the use of the sustainability index, contributions to sustainability performance improvement, and limitations.

Assessments on the Impacts of Climate Change on Food Production, Nutrition, Quality, and Resource Use Efficiency: A Review

Nowadays, climate change is a hot issue all over the world which mainly affects crop production and productivity. Thus, it causes food insecurity all over the globe mainly in Sub-Saharan African countries like Ethiopia. This paper provides a comprehensive overview bonded to the appraisal of climate change impacts on nutrition, quality, and resource use, effectiveness using climate, water, and crop yield models. The studies present that climate change models with advanced spatial resolution can be a way forward for coming climate protrusions. The variability of downfall and the adding temperature was a cause of frequent failure and shortage and had a disastrous impact on the livelihood of the people. Climate change exacerbates the enormous being burden of undernutrition. It affects food and nutrition security and undermines current sweats to reduce hunger and promote nutrition. Undernutrition in turn undermines climate adaptability and the managing strategies of vulnerable populations. Climate change is now a global miracle with growth, poverty, food security, and stability counteraccusations. Because of significant dependence on the agrarian sector for product, employment, and import earnings, Ethiopia is seriously hovered by climate change, which contributes to frequent failure, flooding, and rising average temperatures. The most vulnerable sectors to climate variability and change in the country are husbandry, water, and mortal health. Agricultural sectors are severely affected by Climate change; thus, it causes the production and productivity of animals and plants. To enhance productivity, biotechnology in breeding is therefore essential; nonetheless, optimization is needed for every crop and circumstance. While some newly released crop varieties can increase yield and improve resource use efficiency, others can produce crops on marginal land that are sufficient.

The Economics of Technology Transfer in The Environmental Safety of Enterprises for the Energy Transition

Introduction. European countries are at different stages of transition to a new energy system due to different levels of energy dependence, geographical conditions, and priorities of national administration. The use of information technology and innovative developments in the energy field allows for reducing energy production costs, improving resource use efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and ensuring energy security. Modern energy is reaching a new qualitative level due to technology transfer and government policy. Such an energy transition in the industry requires time, unfolding globalization processes, implementing sustainable development strategy and solving greening problems. 
 Aim and tasks. The aim of the study is to assess the level of the economic base of technology transfer in the creation and functioning of a new energy system based on the principles of environmental safety of modern enterprises in EU countries.
 Results. The theoretical model is considered, which explains the essence and factors in the implementation of the new energy system of production enterprises in the cross-section of the EU countries. The ranking of European countries is given based on the calculation of the use of final electricity consumption per dollar per capita and one percent of renewable energy consumption minus the tax burden. Thus, some countries already have significant indicators that indicate the effectiveness of the transition to a new energy structure of their national enterprises. And such results do not directly depend on the share of the use of renewable energy sources and the reduction of the use of coal. But the share of more than 60% of the use of renewable energy and the significant tax burden placed on the final household consumers of electricity are general signs of the implementation of such a transition. Enterprises use such a transition mechanism more effectively in EU countries, where more than 60%. In economic terms, such transitions of enterprises are carried out at the expense of the lion's share of the tax burden on electricity use by end consumers – households.
 Conclusions. The study of the economic basis of technology transfer in the creation and functioning of a new energy system based on the principles of environmental safety of modern enterprises in EU countries is of great importance for improving energy efficiency and achieving environmental safety in the region as a whole. The research will be useful for government bodies that are engaged in shaping energy policy, regulating the energy sector, and ensuring environmental safety.

Drip fertigation with straw incorporation promotes soil microbial network complexity and potentially reduces pathogen abundance in greenhouse vegetable production systems

Continuous monoculture, conventional flood fertigation and low soil fertility increase the risk of soil-borne diseases in greenhouse vegetable production systems. Drip fertigation with straw incorporation (DIF+S) significantly improves resource use efficiency and reduces environmental risks compared to conventional fertigation. However, it remains unclear whether DIF+S positively affects soil microbial diversity and community structure and reduces the occurrence of soil-borne diseases. Therefore, a two-factor field trial was conducted in a greenhouse tomato production system with drip vs. flood fertigation, with and without straw incorporation across the seven growing seasons. The experimental treatments were as follows: (i) conventional flood irrigation with overfertilization (CIF); (ii) CIF + straw incorporation; (iii) drip fertigation with reduced irrigation and fertilization (DIF); and (iv) DIF + straw incorporation. Across the seven growing seasons, the average water and nitrogen use efficiency (WUE and NUE) was two- and threefold higher for DIF than for CIF, respectively, whereas tomato yields remained high. DIF significantly increased soil bacterial diversity and network complexity compared to CIF but had no effect on the soil fungal community. DIF significantly reduced the relative abundance of Fusarium-induced tomato wilt. Moreover, straw application significantly decreased fungal diversity while increasing fungal network complexity, although no effect on the bacterial community was found. The relative abundance of plant pathogens, such as Cladosporium, Fusarium and Alternaria, which are related to soil-borne diseases of tomato plants, was significantly reduced when straw was incorporated. Our results highlight that drip fertigation combined with straw incorporation significantly positively affects soil microbial diversity and stability. Thus, DIF+S is a sustainable and effective technology for maintaining soil health and reducing pesticide use in greenhouse vegetable production systems.

Intercropping chickpea–flax for yield and disease management

AbstractAscochyta blight (caused by Ascochyta rabiei) is a primary concern of chickpea production worldwide. Intercropping chickpea with a non‐host crop has the potential to suppress this disease and improve resource use efficiency for enhanced crop yield. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of seeding rate and row configuration of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)–flax (Linum usitatissimum L) intercropping on (1) yield and seed quality, (2) disease incidence and severity of Ascochyta blight of chickpea, and (3) land productivity of this intercropping system. Field trials were conducted at the Eastern Agricultural Research Center, Sidney, MT, and the Southern Agricultural Research Center, Huntley, MT, in 2020 and 2021. Chickpea was planted with flax in four intercropping configurations (70% chickpea–30% flax in mixed rows, 50% chickpea–50% flax in alternate rows, 50% chickpea–50% flax in mixed rows, and 30% chickpea–70% flax in mixed rows). Chickpea yield decreased with increased flax proportion in the mixed rows intercrop. Flax displayed higher competitiveness than chickpea, resulting in decreased yield and protein concentration in chickpea but increased yield and protein content in flax. Land equivalent ratio of intercropping was greater than one, showing improved land productivity (2%–23% greater than monocropping). Intercropping reduced Ascochyta blight disease incidence and severity; the 50% chickpea–50% flax and 30% chickpea–70% flax intercropping configurations could reduce the disease severity to 50% (in Huntley) and 67% (in Sidney) of that in the monocropping. These results indicated that seed ratio and planting configurations of chickpea–flax intercropping may be manipulated to increase land use efficiency and reduce Ascochyta blight in chickpea. Canadian Development Center ‘CDC Leader’ yielded greater than Royal in the higher disease pressure environment in Huntley indicated that selection of disease resistant cultivars is important for managing Ascochyta blight in chickpea.

Circular Economy and Green Chemistry: The Need for Radical Innovative Approaches in the Design for New Products

The idea of a circular economy (CE) has gained ground over the past ten years as a means of addressing sustainable development and getting around the limitations of the current and linear dominant production and consumption patterns. The primary goal of a CE is to encourage the adoption of closing-the-loop production methods to improve resource use efficiency, modify chemical processes, and increase product and material lifespan. According to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which focuses on 17 Sustainable Development Goals, 14 of which call for the appropriate application of green chemistry (GC) concepts and patterns, the role that chemistry may play in the shift toward more sustainable models is critical. By serving as the foundation for novel products made from renewable feedstocks and designed to be reused, recycled, or recovered with the associated minimum energy requirements, green and sustainable chemistry could be the key to unlocking the economic potential of the CE toward new product design and ultimately solving waste management problems. The aim of this perspective paper, while using a variety of literature sources, is to essentially capture the main issues associated with the CE and GC paradigms and how these two approaches can merge toward sustainable business models and the production of new materials. This integration focuses on reducing waste, conserving resources, and minimizing negative environmental impacts, while also considering economic viability. However, the obstacles to achieving implementation of the CE and GC principles are investment, environmental education, and legislation. To advance toward the circular economy and green chemistry, international agreements should be reconsidered to provide an appropriate framework, including the creation of incentives for businesses and individuals to adopt circular practices, the establishment of education programs to promote the benefits of circular practices, and the development of regulations to support the transition to sustainable production and consumption patterns.