Increased Crop Growth Research Articles

Integrated Nutrient Management for Growth, Yield and Economic Assessment in Black Gram in Dehradun Valley

The field experiment was carried out at a designated location on the Agricultural Research Farm of Graphic Era Hill University in Dehradun during the kharif season of 2023 to study the influence of integrating organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on growth and productivity of black gram (Vigna mungo). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) consisting of nine treatments viz Control (T1), 100% RDF (20:40:20 Kg/ha NPK)(T2), Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 (T3) Bio nitrogen @ 20gm kg-1 seed (T4), 100% RDF+ Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 (T5), 100% RDF + Bio nitrogen @ 20gm kg-1 seed (T6), Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + Bio nitrogen @ 20gm kg-1 seed (T7), 70% RDF + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + Bio nitrogen @ 20gm kg-1 seed (T8), 100% RDF+ Vermicompost @ 5 ha-1+ Bio-Nitrogen (T9) each replicated thrice. Integrated Nutrient Management had significantly affected growth, yield and economics of black gram. Maximum emergence count (13.3 m2) was recorded with 70% RDF + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + Bio nitrogen @ 20gm kg-1 seed which at par with 100% RDF + Bio nitrogen@ 20gm kg-1 seed (T6) and 100% RDF+ Vermicompost @ 5 ha-1+ Bio-Nitrogen (T9). Growth parameter viz. plant height, number of nodules/plant, dry matter accumulation/m2, branches/plant were reported to be significantly influenced by INM with 70% RDF + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + Bio nitrogen @ 20gm kg-1 seed. Similarly, maximum seed yield (36.33 q ha-1) was obtained under 70% RDF + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + Bio nitrogen @ 20gm kg-1 seed. Increase in seed yield with the application of by 358.1% and 233.3% was obtained over control (T1) and 100% RDF (T2). The study highlights that combining organic and inorganic sources of nutrients is a simple and effective strategy to improve initial plant stand of black gram crop, ultimately contributing to increased crop growth, yield and better economic returns.

Plant growth promotion of crops using phosphate solubilizing bacterial strains derived from insects

The aim of this study was to investigate insect derived bacteria for the ability to dissolve insoluble soil phosphate to release soluble phosphorus compounds, available to plants. Bacterial isolates were obtained from Diabrotica virgifera, Hermetia illucens, Oulema melanopus, and Ostrinia nubilalis. An in vitro evaluation of phosphate solubilization ability on Pikovskaya’s medium was done and the phosphate solubilizing index (PSI) was calculated for each isolate. Bacteria were tested in a greenhouse experiment on seeds of oats, wheat, triticale, barley and soybeans. After incubation, the weight and length of their aerial plant parts were measured. The highest increase in the weight of aerial parts was recorded for oats after using strain Om046 for inoculation (88.98%), then, wheat (Dv097, 31.43%), soybean (strain 96, 53.79%), and triticale (bacterial consortium, 36.9%). Bacteria used were identified as Lactococcus lactis (strains Om030 and Om046), Acinetobacter sp. (Dv123), Lactococcus garvieae (Dv097) and Rothia kristinae (strains 90 and 96). We showed that a successful application of insect derived bacteria for phosphate solubilization in soil, to promote plant growth, is possible. Innovative agriculture requires constant improvements in increasing crop growth. Thus, new sources of bacterial strains effectively promoting plant growth, are needed. We described a new source of plant growth-promoting bacteria that can be used in agriculture.

Leaf and soil nutritional composition of purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) as influenced by organic nutrients amended with biofertilizer consortium

The use of organic nutrient regimes is regarded as holistic and ecological approach for agricultural sustainability. It offers improved soil health, increased crop growth and enhanced fruit quality, whilst minimizing costs and sustaining the use of natural resources. The present investigation was conducted over two consecutive seasons, viz. 2021–22 and 2022–23 at Mizoram University, Aizawl, India to study the effect of different combinations of organic manures along with consortium of biofertilizers on leaf and soil characteristics of purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims). The investigation comprises of fourteen treatments of various combinations of organic manures along with consortium of biofertilizers, viz. farmyard Manure (FYM) vermicompost (VC) pig manure (PIM), poultry manure (POM), Azospirillum, phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), potash solubilizing bacteria (KSB), and vesicular arbascular mycorrhiza (VAM). The results demonstrated that the use of organic amendments in combination with biofertilizers enhanced leaf nutrient status as well soil properties in the passion fruit orchard. Among the different treatment combinations used in the investigation, POM + Azospirillum + PSB + KSB + VAM was the most efficient in improving the leaf and soil nutrient status of passion fruit. This consortium may achieve high microbial load, high nutrient availability for soil which results in better growth of the crop. This treatment may therefore be recommended as an alternative option to meet the demand for long term maintenance of soil fertility as well agro-ecosystem conservation and sustainability.

Combined Application of Biochar and Silicon Fertilizer for Improved Soil Properties and Maize Growth

Biochar can be a good soil amendment to reduce the soil pH, increase crop growth rate, and improve the efficient use of fertilizer. Other than that, silicon fertilizer also would promote photosynthetic ability on plant development that would help to produce high yield. In this work, a series of experiments was conducted to observe the effect of rice husk biochar and silicon fertilizer on the maize growth rate and soil pH. A 45-day pot experiment in the greenhouse with three replicates of 9 experimental treatment combinations of RHB at two rates (5 and 2.5 t.ha-1) with silicon fertilizer at three rates (125%, 100%, 75%), sole biochar (10 t.ha-1), sole silicon fertilizer (100%) and control (NPK) to observe the best rate and combination to improve growth rate and change in soil chemical in acid soil. The result showed that the co-application of sole biochar and biochar with Silicon significantly improved growth development, increased photosynthesis rate, altered soil pH, and reduced Fe concentration compared to control. The plant height increased 88.35% from T4 (5 t.ha-1 RHB + 100% Si) compared to the control and the conductance was higher in T4 (0.53) followed by T8 (0.438) while T1 (0.071) recorded the lowest conductance. The shoot fresh weight was higher in T4 (127.83 g) followed by T8 (57.14 g). However, the weight increased by 343.7% at T4 followed by T8 (2.5 t.ha-1 RHB + 75% Si) at 98.33%. The highest pH increment of 1.24 units (T1 = 5.53, T4 = 6.77) of soil pH was noted from T4 (5 t.ha-1 RHB + 100% Si) compared to control (NPK), and the highest total Fe in soil was observed from T1 (442.30 mg.kg-1). The current study results showed that T4 (50% RHB + 100% Silicon) was the best treatment over the other rates of RHB and silicon increased plant height, photosynthetic rate, and biomass.

Molecular mechanisms of growth promotion and selenium enrichment in tomato plants by novel selenium-doped carbon quantum dots

Selenium (Se)-doped nanoparticles as novel Se fertilizers have a promising potential in the agricultural application. Here, the effects of two novel Se-doped carbon quantum dots (Se-CQDs1 and Se-CQDs2, prepared using co-cracking and adsorption-reduction methods, respectively) on the growth and Se enrichment of tomato plants were studied, where the promoting molecular mechanisms were explored in terms of the related genes expression and soil microbial composition. The results indicated that the soil application of 2.5 mg kg−1 Se-CQDs1 more significantly increased the root growth, plant biomass, and fruit yield than that of Se-CQDs2 and Na2SeO3 treatments (control). Specifically, Se-CQDs1 treatment was more effective to up-regulate the expressions of aquaporin gene (i.e., PIP) and growth hormone synthesis gene (i.e., NIT) than Se-CQDs1 and Na2SeO3 treatments. The expressions of Se methyltransferase gene (smt) and methionine methyltransferase gene (mmt) induced by Se-CQDs1 were 1.45 and 1.18 times higher than that by Se-CQDs2 as well as 1.82 and 2.17 times higher than that by Na2SeO3. Also, Se-CQDs1 more greatly increased the diversity and relative abundance of soil bacterial communities, especially the Actinobacteria phylum, which was beneficial to increase plant growth-promoting substances. These outstanding promoting effects of Se-CQDs1 were mainly ascribed to its higher hydrophilicity and content of the stable doped-Se. The overall results demonstrated that Se-CQDs would be a promising candidate for nano-fertilizer to increase crop growth and development (e.g., tomato plants), where the synthesis modes of Se-CQDs play a critical role in regulating the utilization efficiency of Se.

Plant disease detection using machine learning techniques based on internet of things (IoT) sensor network

AbstractIn recent years, smart agriculture has grown rapidly. A crop disease is generally caused by pests, insects, or pathogens and reduces the productivity of the crop by adversely affecting its yield. There is a severe loss of crops across the country due to various crop diseases, and one reason is not being able to detect the disease in its early stages keeps them from finding a solution. An Internet of Things (IOT) sensor network is used to detect and classify diseases in leaves in this paper. Precision agriculture uses machine learning techniques to increase crop growth, control the cultivation process, and enhance crop productivity with less human involvement. IOT sensor networks are being used in precision agriculture using machine learning techniques. A result of the proposed method shows an overall accuracy of 88%.

Anaerobic Treatment of N-(Phosphonometyl) Glycine Using Mixed Culture in Batch Reactor

Pesticides have been used in the fight against various pests to increase crop growth in our country and the world. In recent years, high concentrations of toxic and detection of carcinogenic pesticides indicates that these substances are transported to groundwater and pollute water resources. N- (phosphonomethyl) glycine are also used in large quantities. In this study, the optimization of anaerobic treatment of N- (phosphonomethyl) glycine was investigated by applying a statistical-based experimental design. Full factorial trials different initial pesticide concentrations and cosubstrate type were established, making up 9 different experimental setups. Trials were performed in 2 replicates. The experiments were carried out in Oxitop C bottles with stirring at a working volume of 200 mL. The pH was adjusted to 7 ± 0.2. Trials were performed at 35oC for 30 days. At the end of the process, the removal of the trials according to the input and output COD and pesticide values were examined. As a result, the most efficient COD removal was achieved 98,96 % when pesticide concentration of 5 mg L-1 and glucose as cosubstrate were used. The highest pesticide removal was found to be 74,83% when pesticide concentration of 25 mg L-1 and glucose was used as cosubstrate.

Physio-biochemical responses and crop performance analysis in chickpea upon botanical priming

Chickpea is a highly nutritious protein-rich source and one of the major crops to alleviate global malnutrition, but poor seed quality affects its productivity. Seed quality is essential for better crop establishment and higher yields, particularly in the uncertain climate change. The present study investigated the impact of botanical priming versus hydropriming and bavistin seed treatment on chickpea seeds. A detailed physiological (germination percentage, root and shoot length, vigour index) and biochemical (amylase, protease, dehydrogenase, phytase, and lipid peroxidation) analysis was carried out in order to assess the effect of priming treatments. Turmeric-primed seeds showed better germination rate (94.5%), seedling length, enzyme activity, and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis revealed the expression of minor polypeptides of albumin and globulin in the primed seeds. Moreover, field experiments indicated increased crop growth, vigour, days to 50% flowering, yield and its attributing traits in turmeric-primed seeds. Botanical priming can increase chickpea yield by up to 16% over the control group. This low-cost and eco-friendly technique enhances seed and crop performance, making it a powerful tool for augmenting chickpea growth. Therefore, chickpea growers must adopt botanical priming techniques to enhance the quality of seed and crop performance. Moreover, this approach is environmentally sustainable and can help conserve natural resources in the long term. Therefore, this new approach must be widely adopted across the agricultural industry to ensure sustainable and profitable farming practices.

Optimization of Phosphorus Application Rate on Maize Under Agro-ecological Condition of Urozgan

Phosphorus plays a vital role in crop growth and productivity, thus a field experiment entitled (optimization of phosphorus application rate on maize under agro-ecological condition of Urozgan) was conducted at Urozgan Higher Education Institute research farm, during spring season of 2023 to evaluate the effects of various doses of phosphorus on maize growth and yield. Treatments were consisted of four levels of phosphorus 20, 40, 60, 80 Kg P2O5 ha-1 and control, the experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design and replicated thrice, the data was analyzed by IBM SPSS 24. Phosphorus application significantly influenced maize growth, yield and yield attributes compared to control, while the phosphorus doses increased from 20 to 80 kg P2O5 ha-1, crop growth, yield, and yield attribute were continuously increased. It can be concluded from the result of experiment that application of phosphorus under agro-ecological condition of Urozgan can increase crop growth, yield and yield attributes.

Chemical and physical characteristics of wheat root mucilage influenced by Serendipita indica symbiosis: a comparison among four cultivars.

Although there is evidence to suggest that the endophytic fungus Serendipita indica plays a crucial role in enhancing plant tolerance against biotic/abiotic stressors, less is known about the impacts of this symbiosis association on root mucilage chemical composition and its physical functions. The mucilage of inoculated and non-inoculated seedlings of four wheat cultivars (i.e., Roshan, Ghods, Kavir and Pishtaz) were extracted using an aeroponic method. Total solute concentration (TCm), carbon content (Cmucilage), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, fatty acids, surface tension (σm), and viscosity (ηm) of mucilage were measured. Ghods and Kavir had the highest and lowest root colonization percents, respectively. Saturated fatty acids, including palmitic and stearic acids, were dominant over unsaturated fatty acids in wheat root mucilage. However, their compositions were significantly different among wheat cultivars. S. indica colonization, especially for Ghods, increased the TCm, Cmucilage, and palmitic acid. Moreover, root mucilage of S. indica-inoculated Ghods had lower σm and greater ηm. An increased amount of powerful surfactants like palmitic acid in the mucilage of S. indica inoculated treatments led to lower σm and greater ηm. Such studies provide further support for the idea that plant-released mucilage plays a major role in modifying the physical environment of the rhizosphere. This knowledge toward truly understanding the rhizosphere can be potentially used for improving the rhizosphere soil quality and increasing crop growth and yield.

Testing plant growth promoting microorganisms in the field - a proposal for standards.

In the European Union and worldwide there are a burgeoning markets for plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPM) and other biological agents as soil improvers, bio-fertilizers, plant bio-stimulants, and biological control agents or bio-pesticides. Microbial agents have a major share in this development. The use of such products is often advertised with the promise of contributing to sustainable agricultural practices by increasing crop growth and yield and offering an alternative or substitute to decrease the dependency of agriculture on hazardeous agrochemicals. In contrast to registered microbial plant protection products, PGPM that are marketed in the EU as soil improvers or plant biostimulants, are not strictly required to have proven minimum efficacy levels under field conditions. Manufacturers only have to ensure that these products do not pose unacceptable risks to human, animal or plant health, safety or the environment. Uniform guidelines comparable to the EPPO - standards (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation) to test the efficacy in field trials are not available. This paper attempts to fill the gap. It proposes guidelines for PGPM field trial design and implementation, as well as recommendations for the type and scope of data collection and evaluation. Selected research papers from literature were evaluated to analyze, whether and to what extent the requirements are already met. The majority of the papers had a clear experimental design followed by proper data evaluation. Frequent deficiencies were the low number of tested environments and crop species, insufficient site and agronomic management description and missing data on soil humidity and temperature. Using the suggested standards is assumed to increase the expressive power of tested microbial products.

Ag/ZnO core–shell NPs boost photosynthesis and growth rate in wheat seedlings under simulated full sun spectrum

Breeding programs rely on light wavelength, intensity, and photoperiod for rapid success. In this study, we investigated the ability of Ag/ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) to improve the photosynthesis and growth of wheat under simulated full solar spectrum conditions. The world population is increasing rapidly, it is necessary to increase the number of crops in order to ensure the world’s food security. Conventional breeding is time-consuming and expensive, so new techniques such as rapid breeding are needed. Rapid breeding shows promise in increasing crop yields by controlling photoperiod and environmental factors in growth regulators. However, achieving optimum growth and photosynthesis rates is still a challenge. Here, we used various methods to evaluate the effects of Ag/ZnO NPs on rice seeds. Using bioinformatics simulations, we evaluated the light-harvesting efficiency of chlorophyll a in the presence of Ag/ZnO NPs. Chemically synthesized Ag/ZnO nanoparticles were applied to rice grains at different concentrations (0–50 mg/L) and subjected to a 12-h preparation time. Evaluation of seed germination rate and growth response in different light conditions using a Light Emitting Diode (LED) growth chamber that simulates a rapid growth system. The analysis showed that the surface plasmon resonance of Ag/ZnO NPs increased 38-fold, resulting in a 160-fold increase in the light absorption capacity of chlorophyll. These estimates are supported by experimental results showing an 18% increase in the yield of rice seeds treated with 15 mg/L Ag/ZnO NPs. More importantly, the treated crops showed a 2.5-fold increase in growth and a 1.4-fold increase in chlorophyll content under the simulated full sun spectrum (4500 lx) and a 16-h light/8-h dark photoperiod. More importantly, these effects are achieved without oxidative or lipid peroxidative damage. Our findings offer a good idea to increase crop growth by improving photosynthesis using Ag/ZnO nanoparticle mixture. To develop this approach, future research should go towards optimizing nanoparticles, investigating the long-term effects, and exploring the applicability of this process in many products. The inclusion of Ag/ZnO NPs in rapid breeding programs has the potential to transform crops by reducing production and increasing agricultural productivity.

Se Ameliorates Cd Toxicity in Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) Seedlings by Inhibiting Cd Transporter Genes and Maintaining root Plasma Membrane Integrity.

Se (Selenium) has been reported to be an important protective agent to decreases Cd (Cadmium) induced toxic in plants. However, it remains unclear how Se mitigates the uptake of Cd and increased the resistance to Cd toxicity. Hydroponic experiments were arranged to investigate the changes of physiological properties, root cell membrane integrity and Cd-related transporter genes in rape seedlings. Comparison of the biomass between the addition of Se and the absence of Se under Cd exposure showed that the Cd-induced growth inhibition of rape seedlings was alleviated by Se. Cd decreased the photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs) and photosynthetic pigment content including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid. However, all these parameters were all significantly improved by Se addition. Moreover, exposure to Se resulted in a decrease in Cd concentration in both shoot and root, ranging from 4.28 to 27.2%. Notably, the application of Se at a concentration of 1 µmol L- 1 exhibited the best performance. Furthermore, Se enhanced cell membrane integrity and reduced superoxide anion levels, thereby contributing to the alleviation of cadmium toxicity in plants. More critically, Se decreased the expression levels of root Cd-related transporter genes BnIRT1, BnHMA2 and BnHMA4 under Cd stress, which are responsible for Cd transport and translocation. These results are important to increase crop growth and reduce Cd load in the food chain from metal toxicity management and agronomical point of view.

Unraveling the synergistic effects of microbes and selenium in alleviating drought stress in Camelina sativa L.

Globally, drought has emerged as one of the most serious threats to oil seed crops including Camelina production, which necessitates screening of drought resistant cultivars that are more responsive to mitigation treatments. Effect of microbes and Selenium (Se) is associated with the upregulation of available nutrients. Therefore, present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of Se interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Rhizophagus intraradices at four different treatments (T1: CK), T2: inoculation of R. intraradices), T3: Se-priming (2 mM), T4: inoculation of R. intraradices+ Se-priming (2 mM) on two Camelina genotypes (Australian and Canadian) under varied water levels (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% field capacity, FC). Se with Seed priming and microbes were applied through inoculation of Camelina seed. The experiment was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications at MNS- University of Agriculture Multan, Pakistan. The results exhibited that inoculation of R. intraradices + Se-priming (2 mM) application significantly improved the physiological and growth parameters of Camelina under water stress. The application of inoculation of R. intraradices + Se-priming (2 mM) increased crop growth, physiology, and antioxidants as compared to other treatments (T1: (Control), T2: Microbes (R. intraradices), T3: Se-priming (2 mM). The application of Microbes + Se-priming (2 mM) increased the total soluble sugars by 69.6%, 23.4%, and 10.8% as compared to other treatments (T1: (Control), T2: inoculation of R. intraradices), T3: Se-priming (2 mM)., respectively, irrespective of field capacity levels. Among varied water levels, 100% FC showed unmatched results regarding crop growth traits, physiological aspects, and antioxidants activities as compared to water stressed levels of 75%, 50%, and 25% FCs. Proline contents were also increased by 93.9%, 52.5%, and 10.2% at 100% FC as compared to 25%, 50%, and 75% FCs. The response of Canadian Camelina was found better than Australian Camelina in most of the growth, physiological, and antioxidant parameters. Canadian Camelina also showed a 2.14% increase in superoxide dismutase activity as compared to Australian Camelina. The combination of Canadian Camelina inoculation of R. intraradices + Se-priming (2 mM) is recommended to achieve higher productivity under water-stressed conditions. However, long-term studies must be conducted to screen out drought resistant and inoculation of R. intraradices + Se-priming responsive genotypes for increasing Camelina yield in low input farming systems. Further, Se-mediated physiological and biochemical associated with drought tolerance in Camelina plants and future research prospects have been elucidated.

Increased background precipitation masks the moisture deficit caused by crop greening in Northeast China

The discrepancy between water resource availability and agricultural production has become a dominant constraint on the sustainable development of agriculture. Recent satellite records have documented increasing vegetation growth since the 21st century, and this so-called “vegetation greening” has been unprecedented in the agricultural region of Northeast China. However, the influence of increased crop growth on regional water resources through the alteration of hydrological cycling remains unclear. This study investigated the impact of crop greening on the regional water balance in Northeast China using time-series satellite and observational records, machine learning, and numerical scenario simulations from WRF. Our results indicate that the enhanced water cycling during 2001–2020 in this region was characterized by a significant increasing trend in evapotranspiration, precipitation, and soil moisture. We found a complex sensitivity to the leaf area index (LAI) across Northeast China, with positive sensitivity in the southwestern regions and negative sensitivity in the typical black soil zones. The downwind precipitation induced by crop greening suggests that at the regional scale, the landscape pattern may play a more significant role in determining the water cycling response to crop greening. Our data-driven and model-driven results indicate that the background precipitation increase was the dominant contributor to the soil moisture increase, which masked the water deficit caused by crop greening. We also found that the continuous precipitation increasing trend projected by CMIP6 could further relieve conflicts between agriculture and water resources. In summary, our study provides insights into the impact of crop greening on the regional water balance in Northeast China and highlights the importance of considering both landscape patterns and background precipitation changes in understanding the water cycling response to crop greening.

Assessing the performance of wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) crop by managing irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer under a semi-arid environment

AbstractUnderstanding the linkage between crop yields, irrigation frequencies, and fertilizer rates is crucial in region-specific agriculture practices. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of nitrogen fertilizer rates and irrigation frequency on wheat crop growth and yield in the semi-arid region of Rajasthan, India. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with 12 treatments with 4 replicas, combining 4 nitrogen fertilizers quantities (0%, 50%, 100%, and 125% of recommended dose) with 3 irrigation intervals (15, 21, and 25 days after sowing) were used for three consecutive years (2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17). Crop responses were recorded for different growth stages. One-way analysis of variance and Fisher's least significant difference tests were applied to determine significant changes in yield. The results showed that the high irrigation frequency and high fertilizer application significantly increased crop growth and yields. Yields observed in the first year of the experiment were higher than those in the second and third years in most treatments. The results showed that water and fertilizer are the key factors that can affect wheat yield in the semi- arid region of Rajasthan and should be managed according to soil and irrigation availability.

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Fecal Sludge Derived Amendments on Crop Growth and Soil Health

The use of human excreta in agricultural settings has the potential to meet crop nutrient requirements and improve soil health, while also providing a sustainable end use for fecal material. Previous reviews have focused on sewage sludge biosolids from wastewater treatment plants, but with on-site sanitation systems overtaking sewers as the leading sanitation system worldwide, greater attention to fecal sludge is warranted. This systematic Review is the first to compile the results of crop trials which utilized fecal amendments from on-site sanitation systems and includes 47 experiments. Overall, fecal amendments increased crop growth compared to unamended control plots and also produced comparable yields to synthetic fertilizers. Biological and physical soil parameters were underrepresented in the literature, which made a holistic assessment of soil health impossible. However, some improvements in chemical characteristics were observed, most notably for soil organic carbon. Inconsistent experimental design made aggregation of results and detailed statistical analysis difficult, highlighting the need for a more standardized approach for testing the efficacy of amendments and reporting results. Regardless, this Review compiles our collective existing knowledge to provide tentative results for the effect of fecal amendments on crop growth and soil health and offers recommendations for future work.

A Graminaceae-derived protein hydrolysate and its fractions provide differential growth and modulate qualitative traits of lettuce grown under non-saline and mild salinity conditions

The modulation of plant secondary metabolism by the manipulation of nutrient solution (NS) electrical conductivity and biostimulant application has the potential to increase crop growth and the content of bioactive compounds, thus ameliorating the qualitative attributes of vegetables. A Graminaceae-derived protein hydrolysate (pH) and its molecular fractions PH1 (>10 kDa), PH2 (1 < x <10 kDa) and PH3 (<1 kDa) were applied on lettuce grown in a soilless system and irrigated with two levels of NaCl in the NS (0 and 30 mM). The different pH fractions provided distinct responses, with PH2 in saline conditions increasing lettuce fresh weight by 10.48%, and decreased Na, Cl, malate and citrate concentrations in the leaves by 37.24%, 15.45%,31.4% and 33.73% compared to control. Similar results were achieved by the fraction PH3. However, pH and its fractions PH2 and PH3 increased total flavonoids in salinity conditions, while pH and its fraction PH3 increased total phenolic acids in both saline and non-saline conditions. At the same time, all the 3 fractions of pH increased lutein in both conditions. Therefore, pH fractions should be casted, under tailored conditions, to achieve the desired growth and modulation of qualitative attributes. Nonetheless, omic approaches should be further recommended to support and clarify the mechanisms of these fractions.

Molecular insights into rare earth element (REE)-mediated phytotoxicity and its impact on human health.

Rare earth elements (REEs) that include 15 lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium are a special class of elements due to their remarkable qualities such as magnetism, corrosion resistance, luminescence, and electroconductivity. Over the last few decades, the implication of REEs in agriculture has increased substantially, which was driven by rare earth element (REE)-based fertilizers to increase crop growth and yield. REEs regulate different physiological processes by modulating the cellular Ca2+ level, chlorophyll activities, and photosynthetic rate, promote the protective role of cell membranes, and increase the plant's ability to withstand various stresses and other environmental factors. However, the use of REEs in agriculture is not always beneficial because REEs regulate plant growth and development in dose-dependent manner and excessive usage of them negatively affects plants and agricultural yield. Moreover, increasing applications of REEs together with technological advancement is also a rising concern as they adversely impact all living organisms and disturb different ecosystems. Several animals, plants, microbes, and aquatic and terrestrial organisms are subject to acute and long-term ecotoxicological impacts of various REEs. This concise overview of REEs' phytotoxic effects and implications on human health offers a context for continuing to sew fabric scraps to this incomplete quilt's many layers and colors. This review deals with the applications of REEs in different fields, specifically agriculture, the molecular basis of REE-mediated phytotoxicity, and the consequences for human health.

Microbial community shifts in pearl millet root zone soils with Guiera senegalensis intercropping along a rainfall and soil type gradient in the Sahel

AbstractThe Sahel of West Africa has vulnerable agroecosystems that threatens food security. A potential solution is intercropping with the indigenous shrub, Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel. Previous research of the Optimized Shrub‐intercropping System (OSS) (high density of ∼1,500 shrubs ha‐1 and coppiced residue incorporation) has been shown to dramatically improve pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] yield, which is attributed to improved soil quality, nutrient and water availability, and harboring a distinct microbial community. Whether this response is consistent over a climate and soil type gradient in farmers’ fields has not been investigated. Therefore, the objective was to determine the impact of G. senegalenis on soil chemistry, enzyme activity, microbiomes, and metabolic pathways of millet root zone soils in farmers’ fields. The experiment was a three‐by‐two factorial with three rainfall and soil type sites along a north–south gradient in the Senegal Peanut Basin and two sampling locations (millet root zone soil within and outside the influence of the G. senegalensis). Guiera senegalensis shifted certain predicted bacterial metabolic pathways and enriched some bacterial and fungal genera. Notably, the increased crop growth due to G. senegalensis positively correlated with the abundance of genera having plant growth promoting properties (e.g., Enterobacter agglomerans and Paraburkholderia). Paucibacter, a genera that has deleterious and/or pathogenic properties, was highly abundant in non‐shrub soil but completely suppressed beneath the shrub. The results showed that G. senegalensis in farmers’ fields even at typical, low densities, where coppiced residues are annually burned, still increased soil chemical and microbial properties, suggesting that a more important factor than litter is the presence of shrub roots that provide root turnover and exudates, and water inputs through hydraulic lift.