Maintaining Soil Fertility Research Articles

Nano Fertilizers: New Vistas towards Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change Mitigation: A Review

To ensure the food and nutritional security of the burgeoning global population, food production needs to be doubled in developing countries by 2050. Currently, 30-40% of agriculture production predominantly relies on chemical fertilizers. Precise crop nutrition, low nutrient efficiency, maintaining soil fertility, less damage to soil flora and minimal environmental footprint are the major challenges in modern agriculture. Recent developments in the application of nanotechnology to produce agriculture inputs emerged as a sustainable solution for addressing the challenges in modern intensive agriculture by replacing synthetic bulk fertilizers with their nanoparticle size ( less than 100 nm), superior properties and smart delivery system. Nano fertilizers had the potential to fulfill the requirements of plant nutrition along with imparting sustainability in crop production without compromising the yield of the crops. Some of the current research studies have been reviewed in this paper with citation and these results showed that nano fertilizers have a substantial effect on plant growth, development and physiological parameters including chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity, it depends on their composition, method and time of application. Their enhanced nutrient use efficiency, correlated with mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Hence evolving as a cutting-edge approach for sustainable agriculture in climate change is enlightened in this review.

Modern Tillage Methods in Intensive Cropping Systems & Its Impact on Soil Health- A Review

There is gradual increase in population and as a result of urbanization. The agricultural is land gradually decreasing. To fulfill the growing needs the challenge is to grow more food in lesser area leading to intensive agriculture increasing the cropping intensity by replacing sole and mono cropping with cropping systems. This Results in declining of soil fertility which is the inherent plant nutrient supplying capacity of a soil to match the crop requirement in proper form, quantity and proportion without any deficiency or toxicity problem. It is not simply the quantity of nutrient present in a soil as determined by a particular method. A soil is fertile for a crop if it is healthy physically, chemically and biologically. Currently to maintain soil fertility various management practices have been adopted in modern practices. In this review, we have been discussed about effect of cropping system and modern tillage on soil physical properties, chemical properties, soil fertility, soil microbial activities, soil carbon, crop yield and weed dynamics in terms of different soil indicators for evaluating soil health under different cropping systems and modern tillage methods. This knowledge will help to ensure sustainability under intensive cropping systems practiced looking at the need of the hour.

Применение компоста цитрусовых для подкисления серо-коричневых почв

The use of organic fertilizers in modern agricultural production helps maintain soil fertility and reduces the consumption of mineral fertilizers. The use of composts obtained from waste from canning production is especially important. This article discusses the issue of using citrus processing waste to produce acidic composts, which in turn can reduce soil alkalinity. The data obtained show that composts obtained from citrus processing waste by the method of “hot” composting have a long action time and gradually reduce the pH of gray-brown soils. The largest decrease in pH was observed when adding 8-10 kg of compost per 1 m2. The reduced pH value remained throughout the entire experiment - 18 months, which indicates a prolonged effect of the compost. Control experiments using the maximum permissible amount of colloidal sulfur showed that, although a decrease in pH occurred, it was temporary - after 18 months a slight increase in pH was observed. Keywords: COMPOST, CITRUS WASTE, SOIL pH REDUCTION, SOIL ACIDIFICATION

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Desa dalam Pemanfaatan Sampah Organik melalui Pelatihan Pembuatan Pupuk Organik

Soil conditions vary from region to region. Some are fertile, while others are less fertile. Factors such as nutrient imbalance, soil depletion, decreased organic content, and microbial activity affect soil fertility. To maintain the balance of soil nutrients and organic matter, it is necessary to add organic fertilizers to harmonize the nutrient content of the soil. Chemical fertilizers only provide one type of plant nutrient without improving soil properties. Socialization of organic fertilizers is needed so that people are wiser in maintaining soil fertility with organic materials. The community service was carried out to provide training and practice in making organic fertilizer from livestock manure and plant residues in Duku Candi Baru, Genting Village, Cepogo District, Boyolali Regency. This service activity uses two approaches, namely counseling and training. The extension stage is carried out by providing material about processing cow dung into organic fertilizer. Training is carried out by demonstrating how to make organic fertilizer in a simple way. This training begins with the socialization of making organic fertilizer and compost, which aims to make the community understand first about information about organic fertilizer and compost along with its benefits, then continued with the practice of making organic fertilizer and compost. This training educates the community about the use of organic waste for organic fertilizer in sustainable agriculture. Through a mixture of simple materials such as cow dung, vegetable waste, EM4, and molasses, it is hoped that the community will use organic fertilizers rather than chemical fertilizers for more environmentally friendly agricultural products.

Evaluation of soil fertility index in organic, semi-organic, and conventional rice field management systems

Rice farming in Madiun Regency implements three different management systems, that is organic, semi-organic, and conventional. The different implementation of these rice field management systems impacts soil fertility index and rice productivity. This purpose of this research was to know the effect of rice field management systems on soil fertility index and rice productivity in the Madiun Regency. The research uses an explorative descriptive qualitative method with a survey approach. Soil samples were taken using a random sampling method and 3 types of soil management systems (conventional, semi-organic and organic), and rice production samples were taken using an estimation method. The research results show that the soil fertility index ranges from 0.78 to 0.82, which is high. The highest soil fertility index is in the semi-organic management system and the lowest is in the organic management. The management system of semi-organic gave a response to the highest rice production of 6.89 tons/ha. Management system of semi-organic is a better management for increasing and maintaining soil fertility and crop production than conventional or organic. Farming activities results show that organic management systems increase the highest income, increasing 115.58% and 53.30% in semi-organic compared to conventional. The rice field management system has the effect of increasing the worm population density with the highest in the organic system, namely 4.19 individuals m-2. The Pontoscolex worm type dominates the three management systems. There is a correlation between organic matter content and earthworms.

Effect of Micronutrient Fertilization on Production and Soil Fertility in Maize

Balanced fertilization in both macro and micronutrients is one strategy in soil fertility management to prevent microelement deficiencies. This fertilization type could increase plant growth and production as well as maintain soil fertility. This research aimed to examine the role of micro fertilization on supporting plant productivity and soil fertility. Research that was conducted in Dau, Malang, East Java was designed using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 9 treatments, ie B0 (Control), B1 (100% standard fertilization), B2 (100% standard fertilization and 50% ZnCuB), B3 (100% standard fertilizer and 100% ZnCuB), B4 (100% standard fertilizer and 150% ZnCuB), B5 (75% standard fertilizer and 50% ZnCuB), B6 (75% standard fertilizer and 100% ZnCuB), B7 (75% basic fertilizer and 150% ZnCuB), and three replications of each. 100% of basic fertilization referred to 440 kg Urea/ha, 250 kg SP-36/ha, and 350 kg KCl/ha, while 100% micro fertilizer ZnCuB (4:6:6) was 19 kg/ha. Reducing 25% of basic fertilizer combined with 150% of micro fertilizer (28.5 kg/ha ZnCuB) resulted in a significant increase in plant growth and production by 54% to control. Furthermore, micronutrient fertilizers could maintain soil fertility as well as prevent soil acidification.

Comparative analysis of soil quality and enzymatic activities under different tillage based nutrient management practices in soybean–wheat cropping sequence in Vertisols

In the modern era, intensive agricultural practices such as agrochemicals are applied in excessive amounts to enhance agricultural production. However, imbalanced adoption of these chemicals has arisen in the dwindling of agriculture factor productivity and soil quality. To maintain soil fertility and production, these chemical fertilizers must be supplemented with organic inputs. Keeping this in the backdrop, a research trail was established during 2018–19 and 2019–20 years at Research Farm of Agriculture University, Kota, India. The treatment setup was comprised of 5 treatment modules viz., conservation tillage + organic management (CAOM), conservation tillage + chemical management (CACM), conventional tillage + chemical management (CTCM), conventional tillage + organic management (CTOM) and the package of practices (PoPs) with four replications. Results indicated that the highest organic carbon (0.68%), bacterial (29.11 × 107 cfu g−1), fungal (4.77 × 104 cfu g−1), actinomycetes populations (5.67 × 104 cfu g−1), acid phosphatase (44.1 µg g−1 h−1), urease (45.3 µg g−1 h−1) and dehydrogenase (23.3 µg triphenylformazan [TPF] g−1 h−1) activity in soil were found in the treatment of conservation organic system during both the years of study at each soil depth. In contrast to other parameters, the highest system productivity was observed with conservation chemical crop management approaches, with a soybean equivalent yield of 4615 kg ha−1 in a soybean–wheat system of production. Furthermore, the soil quality index (SQI) significantly varied from the lowest score (0.30) at 45–60 cm layer of soil in the package of practices to the highest score (0.92) at 0–15 cm layer of soil with regards to the conservation organic which shows, 206.67 percent enhancement through the soil profile of various crop management practices. The SQI variation from 0–15 to 45–60 cm soil depth was 130.0, 81.08, 60.0, 175.0 and 83.33 percent, respectively, for CAOM, CACM, CTCM, CTOM and PoPs. Amongst, different systems, the highest mean performance was noticed under the conservation organic systems for physical and biological properties. Hence, in line with the salient outcome, we may propose that the conservation chemical system needs to be followed to improve crop productivity, whereas, conservation organic seems a good option for soil health with long-term viability.

Multipurpose, climate-resilient agroforestry in the Eastern Himalayas

Traditional, small-scale agroforestry systems offer a range of socioecological, sociocultural, and socioeconomic benefits for communities in the Eastern Himalayan region. Successfully managed by Indigenous farmers for generations, these systems involve intricate farming practices that integrate trees, shrubs, crops, and livestock, while avoiding any dependence on modern agricultural technologies like mechanisation or chemical inputs. The Eastern Himalayan region is home to seven agroforestry practices: farm-based, forest-based, large cardamom-based, mandarin-based, crops/mixed trees-based, slash-and-burn based, and tea-garden-based. The output-to-input ratio is highest for tea-based agroforestry and lowest for farm-based agroforestry. Farmers should carefully consider their choice of agroforestry system to suit their circumstances, but each system contributes to livelihood improvement, biodiversity conservation, and ecological sustainability. Several of the systems support high-value cash crops and they all provide a variety of functions and services, including maintaining soil fertility, conserving resources, enhancing productivity, and reducing erosion. They also support a remarkable level of crop diversity and preserve genetic resources, contributing to agrobiodiversity conservation. These traditional agroforestry systems, therefore, offer a sustainable approach to agriculture, balancing short-term food and livelihood needs with long-term environmental conservation. Research is now needed to assess gaps, especially related to multipurpose trees, to ensure the resilience and sustainability of these systems in the face of socioeconomic shifts.

Cover crop management systems improves soil quality and mitigate water erosion in tropical olive orchards

The production of olive trees in shallow soils in hillslopes requires adequate soil and water conservation systems. In this context, soil use and management besides vegetation cover contributes to better soil quality and the sustainability of the olive cultivation system. Thus, the objective was to determine the physical and chemical properties that are indicative of soil quality in areas of Dystrudepts, under different soil cover management systems in olive cultivation in tropical region. Olive tree culture field experiment was established in 2015, where soil was sampled over three years (2016, 2017 and 2021). The effect of five cover management systems were compared for each agricultural year, namely BS: bare soil in 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2021; OBS: olive trees on bare soil in 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2021; OSV: olive trees intercropped with mowed spontaneous vegetation in 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2021; OJB: olive trees intercropped with jack beans (Canavalia ensiformis L.) in 2015/2016 and 2016/2017, and olive trees crowned intercropped with mowed spontaneous vegetation in 2017/2021; OMI: olive trees intercropped with millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) in 2015/2016, olive trees intercropped with sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) in 2015/2017 and olive trees with spontaneous vegetations treated with herbicide (Roundup) in 2017/2021. The soil quality indices (SQI) proved to be sensitive to variations in different types of soil management from the second year of assessment, regarding water erosion. OSV and OJB showed the highest SQI, while OBS showed the lowest values. The SQI demonstrated an inverse correlation with soil and water losses starting from the second year of assessment. This highlights its efficacy in assessment the effects of adopted management on soil quality in the context of water erosion. Moreover, it reinforces the importance of vegetation cover in maintaining soil fertility, resulting in increase of soil organic matter and improving the structuring of Dystrudepts. The attributes that most correlated with the SQI were soil organic matter, effective cation exchange capacity, sum of bases, geometric mean diameter of aggregates, pH and unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivity. These attributes collectively provide valuable insights into soil health and water erosion susceptibility within the olive tree production system.

Identification and characterization of the TetR family transcriptional regulator NffT in Rhizobium johnstonii.

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) by rhizobia is not only the main natural bionitrogen-source for organisms but also a green process leveraged to increase the fertility of soil for agricultural production. However, an insufficient understanding of the regulatory mechanism of SNF hinders its practical application. During SNF, nifA-fixA signaling is essential for the biosynthesis of nitrogenases and electron transfer chain proteins. In the present study, the TetR regulator NffT, whose mutation increased fixA expression, was discovered through a fixA-promoter-β-glucuronidase fusion assay performed with Rhizobium johnstonii. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that nffT deletion increased the expression of symbiotic genes including nifA and fixA in nifA-fixA signaling, and fixL, fixK, fnrN, and fixN9 in fixL-fixN signaling. nffT overexpression resulted in disordered nodules and reduced nitrogen-fixing efficiency. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that NffT directly regulated the transcription of RL0091-93, which encode an ATP-binding ABC transporter predicted to be involved in carbohydrate transport. Purified His-tagged NffT bound to a 68 bp DNA sequence located -32 to -99 bp upstream of RL0091-93 and NffT deletion significantly increased the expression of RL0091-93. nffT-promoter-β-glucuronidase fusion assay indicated that nffT expression was regulated by the cobNTS genes and cobalamin. Mutations in cobNTS significantly decreased the expression of nffT, and cobalamin restored its expression. These results revealed that NffT affects nodule development and nitrogen-fixing reaction by participating in a complex regulatory network of symbiotic and carbohydrate metabolic genes and, thus, plays a pivotal regulatory role during symbiosis of R. johnstonii-Pisum sativum.IMPORTANCESymbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) by rhizobia is a green way to maintain soil fertility without causing environmental pollution or consuming chemical energy. A detailed understanding of the regulatory mechanism of this complex process is essential for promoting sustainable agriculture. In this study, we discovered the TetR-type regulator NffT, which suppressed the expression of fixA in Rhizobium johnstonii. Furthermore, NffT was confirmed to play pleiotropic roles in R. johnstonii-Pisum sativum symbiosis; specifically, it inhibited rhizobial growth, nodule differentiation, and nitrogen-fixing reactions. We revealed that NffT indirectly affected R. johnstonii-P. sativum symbiosis by participating in a complex regulatory network of symbiotic and carbohydrate metabolic genes. Furthermore, cobalamin, a chemical molecule, was reported for the first time to be involved in TetR-type protein transcription during symbiosis. Thus, NffT identification connects SNF regulation with genetic, metabolic, and chemical signals and provides new insights into the complex regulation of SNF, laying an experimental basis for the targeted construction of rhizobial strains with highly efficient nitrogen-fixing capacity.

Agro-ecological aspects of soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivation in Ukraine

The article highlights the role and significance of soybeans in Ukraine as the main legume crop of today. The analysis of literature sources proves that soybean cultivation not only ensures food security of the state, but also acts as an environmental component while maintaining soil fertility. Soybean plants contribute to the nitrogen balance of soils, serving as a good precursor for many crops. They also have a positive impact on the physical, agronomic and physicochemical properties of soils, improving water and nutrient regimes. Soybeans can be grown in main crops, post-harvest crops and post-mowing crops. In addition, soybeans quickly adapt to organic production schemes. The authors characterise the soybean belt in Ukraine and describe the main three soybean growing zones. It is established that the most favourable for soybean cultivation are Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Khmelnytsky, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Ternopil, Zakarpattia, Chernivtsi and Kyiv regions. Here, soybeans consistently provide stable high productivity of this crop. The analysis of literature publications has confirmed that the problem of sufficient production of adequate vegetable protein can be solved by continuously increasing the production of food resources, primarily protein and oilseeds, the main source of which is soybeans, one of the world's leading crops. Soybean cultivation in Ukraine has undergone global changes over the past 30 years. It has rapidly moved from being a niche crop to a key agricultural commodity. Thanks to soybeans, Ukraine has rapidly increased its production of protein and oilseeds and significantly strengthened its position on the global market. Over the past few years, the area under soybean cultivation in Ukraine has been ranging from 1.5–2.0 million hectares, with the main growing areas being the Forest-Steppe and Polissya. Significantly smaller areas are located in the northern and central Steppe. In the southern Steppe, soybean cultivation is possible only under irrigated conditions. Soybeans are very versatile in their use, and stand out among other crops due to the large number of products made from their raw materials. Soybean seeds are used to make various analogues of meat and dairy products, egg powder substitutes, confectionery, cheeses, canned food, sauces, etc. Scientists have noted that the most favourable meteorological conditions for soybeans are characterised by an annual rainfall of 500–600 mm, of which 250–400 mm should be received during the growing season, and 180–200 mm during the most critical period of flowering — full bean filling. Organic farming is one of the most promising areas of soybean cultivation. Currently, around 80% of soybean seeds are produced using genetically modified material. Therefore, it is important to use the latest zoned varieties of local breeding to green soybean production, as this will help to build up our own organic seed base and improve the environmental component of soybean cultivation. Thus, soybeans and their products are extremely important for Ukraine's economy as they consistently provide a significant portion of foreign exchange earnings. However, further increase in soybean production requires a reduction in the use of chemical protection products, namely, their maximum possible approximation to natural growing conditions, i.e., organic cultivation.

Effects of biofertilizer on the production of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in greenhouse

Biological fertilizers are useful sources of plant nutrients that enhance crop growth and quality, produce plant hormones, and contribute to sustainable crop production by maintaining soil fertility. The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) applications in greenhouses on bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. Nervin) has been studied by conducting a split plot experiment in three replications using a randomized complete block design. The biofertilizers included AMF inoculations (Rhizophagus irregularis + Funneliformis mosseae), and three different bacterial inoculations (Azotobacter chroococcum + Azospirillum lipoferum; Enterobacter cloacae + Pseudomonas putida; Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) and non-inoculation as a control with two levels of organic fertilizers (with and without).The organic treatment fertilizer, in combination with the inoculation of E. cloacae + P. putida or A. chroococcum + A. lipoferum, as well as AMF, significantly increased the microbial population within the rhizosphere compared to the control. In all treatments, fruit yield increased, with the highest value (15.94 kg m−2) recorded in the AMF treatment, indicating an increase of 18% over the control. All inoculations significantly increased total phenol and ascorbic acid levels in fruit when organic fertilizer was applied. The most significant N uptake was observed in A. crococcum + A. lipoform inoculation, while the most significant Fe uptake was observed in AMF. It was found that all inoculations significantly increased P, K, and Zn uptake. In conclusion, A combination of organic fertilizer and mycorrhizal or (Azotobacter chroococcum + Azospirillum lipoferum) inoculations increased the productivity and quality of bell peppers grown in greenhouses.

Soil Moisture Conservation through Crop Diversification and Related Ecosystem Services in a Blown-Sand Area with High Drought Hazard.

Soil moisture reserves are a key factor in maintaining soil fertility and all other related ecosystem services (including carbon sequestration, soil biodiversity, and soil erosion control). In semiarid blown-sand areas under aridification, water preservation is a particularly crucial task for agriculture. The international Diverfarming project (2017-2022), within the EU Horizon 2020 Program, focused on the impacts of crop diversification and low-input practices in all pedoclimatic regions of Europe. In this three-year experiment conducted in the Pannonian region, the impact of intercropping asparagus with different herbs on some provisioning and regulating ecosystem services was evaluated in the Kiskunság sand regions. Relying on findings based on a range of measured physical and chemical soil parameters and on crop yields and qualitative properties, advice was formulated for farmers. The message drawn from the experiment is somewhat ambiguous. The local farmers agree that crop diversification improves soil quality, but deny that it would directly influence farm competitiveness, which primarily depends on cultivation costs (such as fertilization, plant protection, and labour). Further analyses are needed to prove the long-term benefits of diversification through enriching soil microbial life and through the possible reduction of fertilizer use, while water demand is kept at a low level and the same crop-quality is ensured.

THE ECONOMIC PAMPHLETEER: Perspectives on the past and future of agriculture

First paragraphs: The Harvard Business School defines trans­formational changes as “changes that are typically much grander in scope than incremental, adaptive changes. Very often, transformational change refers to a dramatic evolution of some basic structure of the business itself—its strategy, culture, organization, physical structure, supply chain, or processes” (Harvard Business School Online, 2020, “Transformational Change,” para. 1). I have lived and worked through a period of transforma­tional change in American agriculture. I was born in 1939 and raised on a small family farm in southwest Missouri. The only farm ma­chin­ery in our community during the early 1940s was a steam engine that powered a threshing ma­chine that moved from farm to farm at harvest time. Everything on the farm was done with horse power or human power. We milked cows by hand, picked corn by hand, and plowed fields and culti­vated crops with horse-drawn equipment. Like most farmers in the U.S. at the time, most farmers in our community milked a few cows, raised a few hogs and chickens, and grew at least enough feed grains and forages for their livestock. They used crop rotations and livestock manure to manage pests and maintain soil fertility. Neighboring farmers shared their horsepower and human power at harvest times—as a matter of necessity. I recall silo-filling crews of up to 40 farmers. Our commu­nity may have been a few years behind some other areas, but this was pretty much the state of agricul­ture in the U.S. in the late 1940s. . . .

Effects of stand ages on soil enzyme activities in Chinese fir plantations and natural secondary forests.

Forest type and stand age are important biological factors affecting soil enzyme activities. However, the changes in soil enzyme activities across stand ages and underlying mechanisms under the two forest restoration strate-gies of plantations and natural secondary forests remain elusive. In this study, we investigated the variations of four soil enzyme activities including cello-biohydrolase (CBH), β-1,4-glucosidase (βG), acid phosphatase (AP) and β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), which were closely associated with soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling, across Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations and natural secondary forests (5, 8, 21, 27 and 40 years old). The results showed that soil enzyme activities showed different patterns across different forest types. The acti-vities of AP, βG and CBH in the C. lanceolata plantations were significantly higher than those in the natural secon-dary forests, and there was no significant difference in the NAG activity. In the plantations, AP activity showed a decreasing tendency with the increasing stand ages, with the AP activity in the 5-year-old plantations significantly higher than other stand ages by more than 62.3%. The activities of NAG and CBH decreased first and then increased, and βG enzyme activity fluctuated with the increasing stand age. In the natural secondary forests, NAG enzyme activity fluctuated with the increasing stand age, with that in the 8-year-old and 27-year-old stand ages being significantly higher than the other stand ages by more than 14.9%. βG and CBH enzyme activities increased first and then decreased, and no significant difference was observed in the AP activity. Results of the stepwise regression analyses showed that soil predictors explained more than 34% of the variation in the best-fitting models predicting soil enzyme activities in the C. lanceolata plantations and natural secondary forests. In conclusion, there would be a risk of soil fertility degradation C. lanceolata plantations with the increasing stand age, while natural secondary forests were more conducive to maintaining soil fertility.

Soil fertility mapping of a cultivated area in Resunga Municipality, Gulmi, Nepal.

Soil fertility maps are crucial for sustainable soil and land use management system for predicting soil health status. However, many regions of Nepal lack updated or reliable soil fertility maps. This study aimed to develop the soil fertility map of agricultural areas in Resunga Municipality, Gulmi district of Nepal using the geographical information system (GIS) technique. A total of 57 composite geo-referenced soil samples from the depth (0-20 cm) were taken from the agricultural land of an area of 52 km2. Soil samples were analyzed for their texture, pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorous, available potassium, available boron, and available zinc. These parameters were modelled to develop a soil quality index (SQI). Using the kriging tool, obtained parameters were interpolated and digital maps were produced along with soil quality and nutrient indices. The result showed that the study area lies within the fair (0.4 to 0.6) and good (0.6 to 0.8) range of SQI representing 96% and 3% respectively. Soil organic matter and nitrogen showed moderate variability exhibiting a low status in 95% and 86% of the total study area. Phosphorous and potassium showed medium status in 88% and 75% of the study area, respectively. Zinc was low and boron status was medium in most of the area. To maintain soil fertility is by improving the rate of exogenous application of fertilizers and manures. The application of micronutrients like boron and zinc is highly recommended in the study area along with organic manures. The soil fertility map can be used as a baseline for soil and land use management in Resunga Municipality. We recommend further studies to validate the map and assess the factors affecting soil fertility in this region. Soil fertility maps provide researchers, farmers, students, and land use planners with easier decision-making tools for sustainable crop production systems and land use management systems.

Vegetative and Reproductive Responses Induced by Organo-Mineral Fertilizers on Young Trees of Almond cv. Tuono Grown in a Medium-High Density Plantation

Field experiments were conducted in three successive seasons (2019–2021) to evaluate the effects of four commercial organo-mineral fertilizers with biostimulating action (Hendophyt®, Ergostim®, and Radicon®) on the vegetative and productive performance of young almond trees (Prunus dulcis, cv. Tuono) grown in a semiarid climate in Southern Italy. Foliar treatments were applied three times during each season (at the swollen bud, beginning of flowering, and fruit set-beginning of fruit growth stages). Both 2020 and 2021 were adversely affected by late frosts, resulting in damage to the flowers and small fruits without any positive effect of the biostimulant applications. In contrast, the results obtained during the normal climate year (2019) indicated that the growth of trunk diameter and shoot length of trees tended to increase in biostimulant treatments compared to those of the control. The number of buds and flowers per unit length of the branch revealed no significant differences among years and all compared treatments. However, in 2019, the fruit set percentage, number, and weight of kernels per tree were significantly higher in the biostimulant treatments compared to those of the control. To this regard, the use of biofertilizers is suitable for maintaining soil fertility and improving crop productivity This information holds significance for almond tree growers.

Variations of Soil Organic Matter and Nutrients in Diverse Hilly Soils of Bandarban, Bangladesh

Functioning and positive interactions in an ecosystem depend on physical and chemical features of soil, along with nutrient status. These soil nutrients are vital for the growth and development of plants, playing a crucial role in various essential functions. The current study investigates the dynamic changes in soil nutrient patterns across different land use scenarios and soil depths at Bandarban Sadar Upazila, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. The research focuses on how soil nutrient levels are distributed in two soil depths (0-15 cm and 15-30 cm) among three different land use practices, such as forest land, agricultural land and barren land. About 90 soil samples from the study area were collected using a stratified random sampling design. The analysis reveals significant variations in soil pH, organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) levels among these land use types and soil depths. The findings revealed that agricultural land typically exhibited higher levels of soil S content and pH, in contrast to forested areas where OM, TN, P, and K levels were comparatively more abundant. Again, barren land showed a relatively higher pH and S content than agricultural land and forest land. Additionally, the topsoil (0-15 cm) generally showed higher nutrient content than the deeper soil layer (15-30 cm). The investigation uncovered significant positive correlations of OM with soil nutrients such as TN, P, K & S, indicating mutual influences on their availability. Overall, the research outcomes emphasize the importance of sustainable land management practices to maintain soil fertility and optimize soil productivity in this ecologically significant region.

Effects of tree species mixing and soil depth on the soil bacterial and fungal communities in Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations

Chinese fir [Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.] is a critical timber tree species for its fast growth and high yield in southern China and is widely planted in subtropical regions of the country. However, the management of Chinese fir in the form of a monoculture plantation is not conducive to the maintenance of soil fertility and improvements in forest productivity. The establishment of mixed conifer–broad–leaved forests through near-natural transformation is developing into a promising method of forest cultivation for replacing large pure coniferous plantations. Bacteria and fungi are an important part of the soil microbiota and are involved in the soil nutrient cycle. Therefore, this study investigated the response of soil bacterial and fungal communities to the introduction of broad–leaved trees in three types of Chinese fir plantations [Cunninghamia lanceolata monoculture plantation (CMP), C. lanceolata–Castanopsis hystrix Hook. f. & Thomson ex A. DC.–Michelia hedyosperma Law. mixed plantation (CCM), and C. lanceolata–Castanopsis fissa (Champ. ex Benth.) Rehder & E.H.Wilson–Erythrophleum fordii Oliv. mixed plantation (CCE)] located in Guangxi Province, China. And the effect of soil layers (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm soil depths) on the soil microbial communities was further analyzed. The results suggested that tree species mixing significantly affected bacterial and fungal communities, but soil depth only significantly affected bacterial communities (P < 0.01). The relative abundance of Basidiomycetes in CCE (53.91–78.76 %) was significantly higher than that in pure forest (P < 0.05). Bacteria exhibited more complex and multilinked networks in the mixed stands, particularly for the CCE plantation. Mixed planting patterns significantly enhanced bacterial nitrogen fixation and the presence of symbiotic fungi. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and correlation analyses indicated that the microbial community structure was strongly affected by soil environmental factors, with bacteria affected mainly by available phosphorous (AP) and fungi affected mainly by soil enzyme activity and total potassium (TK). In summary, the introduction of broad–leaved species (especially C. fissa and E. fordii) had a significant impact on the soil microbial community, increasing the relative abundance of bacterial nitrogen fixation and symbiotic fungi and generating a complex microbial network. We suggest that changes in AP, TK, and fungal communities should be considered in the near-natural transformation of Chinese fir or soil fertility maintenance and sustainable management to maintain soil fertility.

A modelled quantification of reduced nitrogen fertiliser requirement and associated trade-offs from inclusion of legumes and fallows in wheat-based crop sequences

ContextGlobally there is a need to increase crop production and maintain soil fertility while reducing environmental impact. Intensive wheat production is dependent on synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilisers which represent ∼38% of total on-farm greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and contribute to N pollution. There are four major sources of N available for crop production 1) N mineralised from native soil organic matter (SOM) 2) N derived from biological fixation by legume-associated rhizobial bacteria 3) synthetic N fertiliser 4) N-rich manures, composts, biosolids and other organic wastes. Farmers can emphasise use of these different sources through their management. ObjectivesIn this study we use crop simulation to predict the minimum amount of N fertiliser required for semi-arid wheat crops to achieve economic yield (EY – defined as 80% of water limited potential yield, PYw) when grown in long-term (1991–2020) sequences and at different rotational intensities with either; grain legumes (GL, source 2), legume winter cover crops (CC, source 2) and winter fallow (WF, source 1) compared to continuous wheat (CW, source 3). Results and conclusionsLegume and fallow phases at 25–67% intensity (e.g. one out of four to two out of three crops) reduced the long-term mean fertiliser N application required to achieve EY. For every % area increase of GL and CC, the mean N applied to achieve EY was reduced by 1.3 kg N kg ha-1 (0.43–1.9 N kg ha-1). For every % area increase of WF the mean N applied to achieve EY was reduced by 1.1 kg N kg ha-1 (0.4–1.6 N kg ha-1). Global warming potential emissions from soil (CO2 and N2O) increased compared to CW when legume intensity increased in high rainfall environments with high SOM but decreased at increasing intensity in low rainfall environments with low SOM. Food energy production (kJ ha-1yr-1) was reduced relative to CW by inclusion of CC and WF and to a lesser extent GL in sequences due to reduced total grain production over the study period. However, protein yield increased as GL intensity increased relative to CW. The most profitable sequences over a 30-year period were CW, or GL at different intensities depending on environment. ImplicationsDiversification of wheat-based cropping systems with legumes reduces N fertiliser requirement, but depending on farming system context this benefit can trade off against production, profitability and environmental outcomes. Evaluation and exploitation of appropriate farming system contexts to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes is required to allow farmers and policy makers to make informed decisions on how to increase food production whilst minimising environmental impacts.