Mixed Treatments Research Articles

Tolerance of the Australian halophyte, beaded samphire, Sarcocornia quinqueflora, to Pb and Zn under glasshouse conditions: Evaluating metal uptake and partitioning, photosynthetic performance, biomass, and growth

Saltmarsh sediments are susceptible to accumulation of excessive concentrations of anthropogenically elevated metals such as lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). The resident salt tolerant plants of saltmarsh ecosystems form the basal underpinning of these ecosystems. As such, metal-associated adverse impacts on their physiology can have detrimental flow-on effects at individual, population, and community levels. The present study assessed the accumulation and partitioning of ecologically relevant concentrations of Pb, Zn, and their combination in a dominant Australian saltmarsh species, Sarcocornia quinqueflora. Plants were hydroponically maintained under glasshouse conditions for 16 weeks exposure to either Pb (20 µg l–1), Zn (100 µg l–1), or their mixture. We evaluated the chronic toxicological effects of single and mixed metal treatments with reference to metal uptake and partitioning, photosynthetic performance, photosynthetic pigment concentration, biomass and growth. Lead was more toxic than Zn, and Zn appeared to have an antagonistic effect on the toxicological effects of Pb in S.quinqueflora in terms of metal uptake, photosynthetic performance, photosynthetic pigment concentrations, and growth. Indeed, the tolerance index was 55 % in plants treated with Pb compared to 77 % in Zn treated plants and 73 % in Pb+Zn treated plants. Finally, Sarcocornia quinqueflora primarily accumulated both Pb and Zn in roots at concentrations exceeding unity whilst translocation of these metals to above ground tissues was restricted regardless of treatment. This suggests that S. quinqueflora may be suitable for phytostabilisation of Zn, and of Pb particularly in the presence of Zn.

Valorization of organic residues for lettuce production minimizes nitrogen loss in soil in comparison to mineral fertilization

The agri-food industry, produces organic residues that could be reused as fertilizer, thereby allowing the recycling of nutrients for crops and the replacement of mineral fertilizers. In this context, here we examined the capacity of anaerobic digestates and mixed residues (digestates plus spent mushroom substrates) to supply nutrients to lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in a greenhouse experiment. Moreover, the potential leaching of nutrients into the soil was evaluated in a column assay. The results obtained from organic residues treatments were then compared to those achieved in soil treated with mineral fertilizer and in untreated soil. Digestates treatments minimized the potential risk of nitrate (NO3 −) leaching by allowing the slow release of NO3 − maintaining crop yield. Given our observations, this type of organic residues emerges as an alternative to mineral fertilizer. The loss of NO3 −-N from the total amount of N applied reached ∼3% in the mixed residues treatments, 36–46% in the digestate treatments, and 68% in the mineral fertilizer treatment. The mixed treatments showed low available N content as a result of immobilization in the soil, which is a limiting factor for crop production. Moreover, the organic residues treatments had no negative effect on lettuce seed germination or plant growth with respect to parameters such as chlorophyll, total polyphenols, and heavy metals in aerial biomass. The findings reported herein contribute to a better understanding of nutrient availability provided by organic residues materials and the capacity of these amendments to replace mineral fertilizers and avoid nutrient loss by leaching.

Heterospecific interference modulates the reproductive traits of a ladybird beetle

AbstractReproductive interference between species is vital to understand interspecific interactions along with their ecological and evolutionary patterns in nature. We studied potential reproductive interference between two sympatric species of ladybird beetles Propylea dissecta and Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Our aim was to determine whether heterospecific matings occur between these two species, and if so, how they affect the reproductive output of females of both species. We found that heterospecific mating occurs, with P. dissecta females mating with C. sexmaculata males, but not vice versa. To compare the effect of conspecific and heterospecific males on the reproductive output of P. dissecta females, we used two mixed mating treatments: conspecific mixed (an additional P. dissecta male with conspecific pair of P. dissecta), and heterospecific mixed (a C. sexmaculata male with conspecific pair of P. dissecta). We found that conspecific interference did not affect reproductive parameters. However, the presence of a heterospecific C. sexmaculata male interfered with conspecific matings in P. dissecta through multiple mating attempts, resulting in reduced fitness and reproductive success of P. dissecta. Our results indicate that the presence of heterospecific males significantly affected the reproductive output of P. dissecta, apparently as a result of the greater attempted mating activity of C. sexmaculata males. Our findings may be relevant for effective biocontrol strategies involving these insect species.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, Especially Rhizophagus intraradices as a Biostimulant, Improve Plant Growth and Root Columbin Levels in Tinospora sagittata

Tinospora sagittata is a columbin-rich medicinal plant, but its columbin levels are reduced under artificial cultivation conditions. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of inoculations with Diversispora versiformis (Dv), Funneliformis mosseae (Fm), Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri), and mixed inoculation (Dv + Fm + Ri) (Mix) on growth performance, root morphology, leaf photosynthetic physiology, and root columbin levels in T. sagittata. These arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were able to colonize the roots, as evidenced by a root mycorrhizal colonization rate ranging from 17% to 48% and soil hyphal lengths ranging from 17.51 cm/g to 32.02 cm/g, with the Mix treatment being the greatest. AMF inoculations improved plant height (16–151%), leaf number (119–283%), shoot (37–211%), and root biomass (22–318%) to varying extents, with Ri and Mix treatments being the most prominent. AMF-treated plants presented relatively greater root total length, projected area, surface area, volume, and average diameter, especially those treated with Ri and Mix. AMF inoculations also significantly improved the leaf nitrogen balance index, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance, while the photosynthesis rate and chlorophyll index varied by AMF species, along with a decrease in intercellular CO2 levels. Root columbin levels ranged from 0.524 mg/g to 5.389 mg/g, and AMF inoculation significantly increased root columbin levels by 228–928%, with Ri being the most significant. Root columbin levels were significantly positively correlated with soil hyphal length, root total length, root projected area, root surface area, root volume, and root average diameter, but not root AMF colonization rate. This study demonstrates for the first time that AMF, especially Ri, can be employed as a biostimulant to promote growth as well as root columbin levels in T. sagittata, where AMF-triggered improvement in root morphology is an important reason for promoting root columbin levels.

The Effect of Adding Soil Amendments on Some Soil Physical Properties and the Growth of Sunflower Crop in Clay Soil

The experiment was conducted in clay soil at the Agricultural Research Station affiliated with the College of Agriculture, University of Basra, during the spring of 2021. Research aimed to study the effect of soil amendments on soil physical properties such as (bulk density, total porosity, and electrical conductivity) and some growth and yield of sunflowers such as (plant height and dry weight). The soil amendments used in the experiment were cattle manure and synthetic polymer. The amendments were added to the surface layer of the soil at a depth of 15 cm, using individual and mixed application treatments with six levels of addition (Cont, P4, O4, P3O1, O3P1, and P2O2). The field was divided into plots measuring 2.5 m in length and 1.5 m in width, and then the plots were planted with sunflower seeds. The results showed that all the amendment treatments outperformed the treatment without amendments, improving the soil's physical properties by reducing bulk density, increasing total porosity, and decreasing electrical conductivity. Additionally, the amendment treatments showed improvement in growth and yield characteristics, indicated by increased plant height and dry weight of the plants.

Effects of Different Lactic Acid Bacteria in Single or Mixed Form on the Fermentative Parameters and Nutrient Contents of Early Heading Triticale Silage for Livestock.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are excellent anaerobic fermenters that produce highly valuable grass-based animal feed containing essential nutrients. In the present study, an ensiling process was used to improve anaerobic fermentation in triticale silage under different moisture conditions with LAB. The triticale was treated with either a single bacterium or combined LAB and then vacuum-sealed. After 180 and 360 days of storage, the silage's fermentation characteristics, microbial changes and nutrient contents were analyzed. The pH of the silage was significantly lower than the control silage. There was a significant difference in the pH values between the silages treated with single or mixed LAB. The LAB treatment led to a substantial increase in lactic acid (LA), a decrease in butyric acid (BA), and marginal levels of acetic acid (AA). The LA content after the mixed LAB treatment was significantly higher than that after the single culture LAB treatment. After single or combined inoculant treatments, the LAB population in the silage increased, while the yeast and mold levels decreased. These findings suggest that the addition of LAB to silage during ensiling could enhance the nutritional quality and reduce unwanted microbial growth. The mixed LAB treatments produced silage with a significantly higher nutritional value than the single LAB treatments.

Microbial induced nitrogen recycling in bio-geochemical decomposition sites

Context: The sporadic introduction of deceased plant and animal matter into soils is pivotal in reincorporating organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) compounds into biogeochemical cycles. The breakdown of animal remains offers a rich reservoir of C and N, stimulating both local environmental microbial communities and introducing external microbes stemming from the carcasses. Nonetheless, the interactions within these blended microbial communities and the respective impacts of environment- and carcass-originating microbes on C and N cycling remain uncertain. To determine whether environment-derived, carcass-derived, or the merged microbial communities exerted a greater influence on C and N cycling, we conducted controlled laboratory experiments mimicking carcass decomposition hotspots by combining carcass decomposition fluids with soils. We selectively sterilized the decomposition fluid and/or soil to remove microbial communities, creating distinct combinations of environment- and carcass-derived communities, and incubated the treatments at three temperatures (around 15, 25, and 35 °C). Findings: Carcass-sourced bacteria persisted in soils in our simulated decomposition scenarios, albeit in modest quantities. Hybrid communities demonstrated increased respiration rates at around 15 and 35 °C compared to singular soil or carcass communities. Interestingly, at higher temperatures, mixed communities exhibited reduced diversity but higher respiration, suggesting functional overlap. Additionally, mixed community treatments furnished evidence that microbes linked with carcasses might play a role in ammonification and denitrification, while nitrification was mainly carried out by indigenous soil organisms. Conclusions: Our investigation yields valuable insights into the dynamics of microbial communities converging during carcass decomposition and their functions in the recycling of carcasses within terrestrial ecosystems.

Ethylacetate Flavonoid Bio-compounds of Honey with Mitigating Anti-hyperlipidemic and Antioxidant Properties in Carbohydrate and Lipid Enriched Diets – Obese Rats

Honey is a rich material source of medicinal nutrients. This study investigated the hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of honey, 50% fresh lime juice, and 50% honey (MIX) and ethylacetate flavonoid-rich fraction of honey (EAFH) in carbohydrate and lipid-enriched diets-obese rats.
 At phase 1, 54 male neonate Wistar albino rats were, divided into 3 groups of 18 rats. Groups 2 and 3 were fed a carbohydrate-enriched diet (CHD) and lipid-enriched diet (LP) for 14 days, and rats with Lee index ≥ 0.3 were considered obese. Rats (phase-2) were regrouped into 7 groups of 6 rats, and treated with honey, MIX, and EAFH. Flavonoids bio-compounds in EAFH characterized by HPLC (High-performance liquid chromatography) include; gallic acid, epigallocatechin, napthoresorcinol, and quercetin. Lee's index after obesity induction was ≥ 0.3. Adiposity index, diet intake, and body and organ weight of obese rats were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced after honey, MIX, and EAFH treatments compared to control. Significant (p < 0.05) decreased concentrations of glucose, leptin, insulin, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG) coenzyme A (CoA) reductase activity (HMGCOARA), atherogenic risk index (ARI) and coronary risk index (CRI) and increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) after treatment with honey, MIX and EAFH was observed compared control and AOI. Antioxidant parameters of obese rats were significantly (p < 0.05) improved compared to control and AOI rats. Honey could serve as a model pharmacotherapy for treating dyslipidemia and oxidative stress linked to obesity.

Biochar of Prosopis juliflora for Improving Crops Germination and Growth on Sandy–Loam Soil

Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. is an invasive alien species (IAS) damaging agricultural and natural ecosystems that threat biodiversity in Ethiopia. This IAS can be managed by utilizing it as a resource in agricultural production. This study analyzed the role of P. juliflora biochar on germination and growth performance of maize and wheat under field conditions in Wollo, Ethiopia. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used to test the effect of biochar on sandy–loam soil with and without fertilizer. In this experiment, biochar from P. juliflora was applied on the above two crops at 5, 10, and 20 t/ha with and without N–P fertilizers. From the result, a 100% germination and high growth of test crops were observed from 10 t/ha biochar with fertilizer mixed treatments. The shoot dry weight of both maize and wheat showed significant differences among treatments. While a single dosage (10 t/ha) increased maize dry weight by 21% without fertilizer, but it reduced dry weight by 10% when used with fertilizer. In the case of wheat, single and double dose biochar with NPS treatments increased shoot dry weight by 22.2% and 30%, respectively. This showed that application of biochar up to 20 t/ha in combination with fertilizers can significantly improve crop growth. Thus, it can be concluded that the application of biochar of P. juliflora is a good soil amendment option and, thus, this IAS can be managed by utilization.

233 Fermentation Characteristics of Brassica and Wheat Mixed Silages

Abstract Winter feed management in the temperate regions of the U.S. primarily consists of stored or stockpiled grasses. Recently, forage brassica species have become popular additions to fall and winter grazing programs as an alternative feed source. Most all brassicas incorporated into forage systems are grazed; however, there may be more feeding options, such as fermenting them as silage or baleage. The objective of this project was to determine, utilizing a laboratory scale process, the feasibility and quality characteristics of two different brassica species alone or mixed with winter wheat. Forages were planted in 25.4 cm pots at a seeding rate comparable with field application. Three separate forage varieties were used: a hybrid forage rapeseed (RAPE), a forage turnip (TURNIP) and winter wheat (WHEAT). Along with these 3 varieties, two mixed forage treatments were utilized; a 3-way mix spaced and covered mimicking the effect of being planted with a drill (DRILL) and a 3-way mix randomly sprinkled and left uncovered mimicking a more random application (BROADCAST). Each of these 5 treatments were replicated 5 times and grown in the greenhouse for 76 d. At the conclusion of this growing period, forages were harvested 3 cm above the soil and immediately placed into vacuum-sealed bags. Bags were placed in a dark room and incubated for a total of 83 d. Following incubation, samples were analyzed for fermentation characteristics to determine quality of the ensiling process. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedures of SAS. There was a treatment effect (P < 0.01) on the DM of the ensiled product whereby WHEAT (31.8%) was the greatest and BROADCAST (7.1%) was the least. The BROADCAST treatment had significantly (P < 0.01) greater ammonia concentration, as well as acetic acid (P < 0.05) concentration compared with all other treatments. No differences (P = 0.26) in pH were observed within the ensiled treatments. Overall, results of this trial suggest that it might be possible to use these brassica species as an ensiled feedstuff, though further testing is necessary to elucidate possible complications or limitations.

Seed sourcing for climate-resilient grasslands: The role of seed source diversity during early restoration establishment.

Restoration advocates for the use of local seed in restoration, but theory suggests that diverse seed sources may enhance genetic diversity and longer term evolutionary potential within restored communities. However, few empirical studies have evaluated whether species and genetic diversity within species impacts plant community composition following restoration. The goal of this research is to compare the effects of single and multi-sourced seed mix treatments on plant community diversity following restoration. Species establishment, abundance, and diversity were compared following two restoration seed mix treatments created to include 14 species commonly used in grassland restoration. We compared the application of seed mixes designed using a single population per species with those containing five populations per species across sites in Minnesota and South Dakota, United States. Early plant establishment and richness mostly reflected non-seeded species across both sites, although seeded species established at a slightly higher rate in year two following restoration. At the South Dakota site, community composition largely reflected changes associated with establishment across the growing season as opposed to seed mix treatment. This contrasted with the Minnesota site, where community composition appeared to be strongly influenced by seed mix treatment. While there is some evidence seed mix treatment may be influencing the emergent community across sites, spatial heterogeneity across the Minnesota restoration site likely influenced diversity in early emergence over that of seed mix treatment. Indeed, varying land-use history across both sites likely contributed to differences in species composition observed at this early stage of the restoration. This suggests that seed mix treatment may have limited impact on early post-restoration emergence diversity relative to the importance of land-use history. However, future monitoring will be needed to evaluate whether the impact of seed mix treatment on community composition changes over time.

Fungicides and insecticides can alter the microbial community on the cuticle of honey bees.

Honey bees are crucial for our ecosystems as pollinators, but the intensive use of plant protection products (PPPs) in agriculture poses a risk for them. PPPs do not only affect target organisms but also affect non-targets, such as the honey bee Apis mellifera and their microbiome. This study is the first of its kind, aiming to characterize the effect of PPPs on the microbiome of the cuticle of honey bees. We chose PPPs, which have frequently been detected in bee bread, and studied their effects on the cuticular microbial community and function of the bees. The effects of the fungicide Difcor® (difenoconazole), the insecticide Steward® (indoxacarb), the combination of both (mix A) and the fungicide Cantus® Gold (boscalid and dimoxystrobin), the insecticide Mospilan® (acetamiprid), and the combination of both (mix B) were tested. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal transcribed spacer region gene-based amplicon sequencing and quantification of gene copy numbers were carried out after nucleic acid extraction from the cuticle of honey bees. The treatment with Steward® significantly affected fungal community composition and function. The fungal gene copy numbers were lower on the cuticle of bees treated with Difcor®, Steward®, and PPP mix A in comparison with the controls. However, bacterial and fungal gene copy numbers were increased in bees treated with Cantus® Gold, Mospilan®, or PPP mix B compared to the controls. The bacterial cuticular community composition of bees treated with Cantus® Gold, Mospilan®, and PPP mix B differed significantly from the control. In addition, Mospilan® on its own significantly changed the bacterial functional community composition. Cantus® Gold significantly affected fungal gene copy numbers, community, and functional composition. Our results demonstrate that PPPs show adverse effects on the cuticular microbiome of honey bees and suggest that PPP mixtures can cause stronger effects on the cuticular community than a PPP alone. The cuticular community composition was more diverse after the PPP mix treatments. This may have far-reaching consequences for the health of honey bees.

Sustainable Production of Tomato Using Fish Effluents Improved Plant Growth, Yield Components, and Yield in Northern Senegal

Aquaculture and agriculture integration is essential for maximizing water and land productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. Thus, the increase in global water scarcity and the dual use of water for crop and fish production has the potential to optimize water use, dispose of aquaculture wastes, provide additional nutrients to crops, and reduce inorganic fertilizer usage, thus maximizing farm productivity. This greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effects of fish effluents on the growth, yield parameters, and yield of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with six replications. The 13 treatments consisted of three irrigation water types (river water—control, Nile tilapia—Oreochromis niloticus, African sharptooth catfish—Clarias gariepinus), four fertilizers (chicken manure, cow manure, sheep manure; recommended rate of NPK—280 kg ha−1 of 10-10-20), and six mixed treatments with fish effluent and 50% of the applied rate of manure alone. Results showed that irrigation with C. gariepinus effluent increased the stem diameter by 21%, the number of flowers by 88%, the fruit number by 50%, the fruit diameter by 24%, the mean fruit weight by 34%, and total fruit weight of tomato by 96% compared to NPK treatments. These effects were more evident when C. gariepinus was mixed with poultry, cow, and sheep manures, which resulted in significantly greater values than recommended rates of NPK. The higher productivity observed from the combined use of C. gariepinus and manure treatments (133% increase, on average) compared to NPK treatments was related to the continuous supply of nutrients and the increase of yield parameters. Therefore, the combined use of C. gariepinus effluent and manure can be a viable alternative for smallholder farmers, for whom inorganic fertilizers are often neither affordable nor available.

Production of Eudrilus eugenia and Compost From Breeding Manure (Cattle, Cavies, Rabbits, And Poultry) In South Of Côte D’ivoire

Developing countries must, in order to support agriculture, integrate available natural resources and promote management of livestock waste. Therefore, the potential of earthworms to decompose organic waste must be exploit : vermicomposting. Thus earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae was cultured in 4 simples treatments and 6 mixed manure treatments. These treatments are combination or not of manure of cattle, cavies, rabbit and poultry. Each treatment has undergone 3 repetitions. The experiment lasted 12 weeks. pH, numerical productivity of E. eugeniae and biomass of E. eugenia have been determined. The results showed that all treatments containing rabbit manure have a final pH close to 7 (neutral pH) with the exception of MG +MR treatment. Those based on poultry or guinea-pig manure and the control range between 5 and 6.5 and are therefore more acidic. The average density and the earthworm biomass of the MC + MR treatment respectively 2889 ± 333 ind./ m2 and 397.22 ± 234.44 g / m2 are different from other treatments. the manure mixture is a privileged environment for Eudrilus eugeniae. It provides a significant biomass of earthworms that can be used in fish farming or in the diet of monogastric animal feed.
 

Effects of sequential and combined application of tank-mix herbicides on weed growth and productivity of maize (Zea mays)

The field experiment was conducted at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand during kharif season 2021–22 to evaluate the effects of tank-mix herbicides on weeds and maize (Zea mays L.) in order to determine the optimum dosage, application time and combinations of herbicides for maize. Based on the findings, it could be concluded that weed-free conditions are just as effective as atrazine applied with tembotrione or topramezone through sequential or tank mix application for reducing weeds effectively and increasing grain yield. Tank mix treatments of topramezone (25.2 g a.i./ha) and tembotrione (120 g a.i./ha) with reduced dose of atrazine (0.75 kg a.i./ha) should be employed by farmers since it not only removes weeds effectively but, also offers a better environment for maize to grow providing high profits for farmers. It also lowers the dose and expenses involved in manual weeding and spraying atrazine separately.

Additive multiple predator effects increase prey mortality under experimental warming in a rocky intertidal food web

Climate warming is expected to alter species interactions, which are shaped by components of individual foraging behavior. Yet few studies examine species' behavioral responses to inform predictions about how species interactions will be affected by warming. Multiple predator effects (MPEs) may be mediated by climatic warming, especially in highly diverse coastal ecosystems that are prone to extreme warming events. In a laboratory experiment, we quantified the effects of elevated sea water temperature on mortality rates of mussels (Mytilus californianus, Conrad, 1837), and the behavioral responses of their predators: crabs (Romaleon antennarium, Stimpson, 1856) and sea stars (Pisaster ochraceus, Brandt, 1835), to understand how warming affects MPEs and if predators' behavioral responses to warming are indicative of the outcome of MPEs. Sea star effects on mussel mortality did not vary with temperature, but declined threefold in the presence of crabs, due to behavioral avoidance of physical contact with crabs. In contrast, the effect of crabs on mussel mortality was ten times higher under elevated temperature, but was unaffected by sea stars. In mixed predator treatments, crabs caused significant mussel mortality, but sea stars had weaker impacts, regardless of temperature. Consequently, multiple predators had effects that did not differ from those of the more effective crab predator. Increasing temperature in the eastern North Pacific may create locations where crabs become the dominant predator of mussels, with warming increasing predation risk for mussels in this region. Field studies should examine the effects of warming on crab predation on mussels in this system.

The cotton charcoal rot causal agent, Macrophomina phaseolina, biological and chemical control.

The fungus Macrophomina phaseolina causes charcoal rot disease (CRD) in cotton, whose symptoms develop in the late stages of growth and result in wilting and death. Despite significant research efforts to reduce disease incidences, effective control strategies against M. phaseolina are an ongoing scientific effort. Today's CRD control tends toward green options to reduce the chemicals' environmental footprint and health risks. Here, different Trichoderma species were examined separately and in combination with Azoxystrobin (AS) in semi-field open-enclosure pots and a commercial field throughout a full season. In the pot experiment, the T. asperellum (P1) excelled and led to improvement in growth (13%-14%, day 69) and crops (the number of capsules by 36% and their weight by 78%, day 173). The chemical treatment alone at a low dose had no significant impact. Still, adding AS improved the effect of T. longibrachiatum (T7507) and impaired P1 efficiency. Real-time PCR monitoring of the pathogen DNA in the plants' roots at the harvest (day 176), revealed the efficiency of the combined treatments: T. longibrachiatum (T7407 and T7507) + AS. In a commercial field, seed dressing with a mixture of Trichoderma species (mix of P1, T7407, and Trichoderma sp. O.Y. 7107 isolate) and irrigation of their secreted metabolites during seeding resulted in the highest yields compared with the control. Applying only AS irrigation at a low dose (2,000 cc/ha), with the sowing, was the second best in promoting crops. The molecular M. phaseolina detection showed that the AS at a high dose (4,000 cc/ha) and the biological mix treatments were the most effective. Reducing the AS chemical treatment dosages by half impaired its effectiveness. Irrigation timing, also studied here, is proven vital. Early water opening during the late spring suppresses the disease outburst and damages. The results demonstrated the benefits of CRD bio-shielding and encouraged to explore the potential of a combined bio-chemo pest control approach. Such interphase can be environmentally friendly (reducing chemical substances), stabilize the biological treatment in changing environmental conditions, achieve high efficiency even in severe CRD cases, and reduce the development of fungicide resistance.

Responses of bulk and rhizosphere soil microbiomes to different cover crop inputs and their connection and contribution to soil fertility and plant growth

Bulk and rhizosphere soil microbiomes may be naturally linked and exhibit unique responses to different cover crop inputs during the early decomposition process. However, their relationship and contribution to soil carbon and nitrogen levels and plant growth during the decomposition process remain unclear. Herein, we performed a pot-based experiment to investigate the interactive effects of cover crops (rye, hairy vetch [HV], and a mixture of rye and HV [mix]) and soil microbial habitats (bulk and rhizosphere soils) on the microbial community. Additionally, we identified the hub taxa and evaluated their contributions to the microbial community, soil fertility, and plant growth. Lettuce was grown in soil exposed to control, rye, HV, or mixed cover crops. Bacterial 16S rRNA) and fungal (ITS) community structures were characterized in bulk and rhizosphere soils of lettuce plants using a DNA-based molecular approach. The results showed that cover crops and soil microbial habitats independently affected microbial community structures; the relative abundances of fungi and bacteria, known as decomposers in bulk soil and plant growth-promoting bacteria in rhizosphere soil, increased. The hub taxa under each treatment represented specific groups that connect bulk and rhizosphere microbiomes. Based on Mantel statistical analysis, hub taxa may maintain the bulk soil microbiome, within which the bacterial community in HV and mix treatments may contribute to the nitrogen supply from cover crop residues. Additionally, the bacterial community in rhizosphere soil in HV and mix treatments may contribute to nitrogen absorption by lettuce plants. These results add to the understanding of the early process of sustainable agriculture using cover crops.

Effects of dietary ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract and curcumin on growth, hematology, immunity, and antioxidant status in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The use of dietary ginger (Zingiber officinale) and curcumin as immunostimulants is a promising method in fish culture. This study evaluated the impacts of dietary ginger extract and curcumin on growth, hematology, immune and antioxidant status, and expression of some growth and immune related genes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fingerlings. Fish (7.5 ± 0.1 g) were randomly distributed into 12 fiberglass tanks (30 fish per tank), divided into four treatments in triplicate and received no supplementation (control) and diets supplemented with 0.5% ginger extract (ginger treatment), 0.5% curcumin (curcumin treatment), and 0.5% ginger extract plus 0.5% curcumin (mix treatment). The growth of fish and muscle crude protein content were highest in the mix treatment. Higher protein efficiency ratio, hemoglobin, and plasma ALP activity were observed in fish fed supplemented diets than the control. Red blood cells (RBC) counts and hematocrit value were higher in the ginger treatment, then curcumin and mix treatments and lower in the control. White blood cells (WBC) counts and plasma lysozyme, ACH50, catalase, and SOD activities were highest in fish fed the mix diet. Moreover, plasma C4 value and GPx activity were significantly higher and triglyceride value was lower in the curcumin and mix treatments compared to the control and ginger treatments. The highest plasma C3 and total immunoglobulin (Ig) values were found in fish fed curcumin and mix diets, but those were not significantly different from the ginger treatment. Growth hormone (GH) and lysozyme relative expression levels were highest in fish fed the mix diet and lowest in the control. Thus, the combination of 0.5% ginger extract and 0.5% curcumin (mix diet) to improve growth, body composition, hematology, immune responses, and antioxidant status in rainbow trout can be recommended.

An energy-stable and conservative numerical method for multicomponent Maxwell–Stefan model with rock compressibility

Numerical simulation of gas flow in porous media is becoming increasingly attractive due to its importance in shale and natural gas production and carbon dioxide sequestration. In this paper, taking molar densities as the primary unknowns rather than the pressure and molar fractions, we propose an alternative formulation of multicomponent Maxwell–Stefan (MS) model with rock compressibility. Benefiting from the definitions of gas and solid free energies, this MS formulation has a distinct feature that it follows an energy dissipation law, and namely, it is consistent with the second law of thermodynamics. Additionally, the formulation obeys the famous Onsager's reciprocal principle. An efficient energy-stable numerical scheme is constructed using the stabilized energy factorization approach for the Helmholtz free energy density and certain carefully designed formulations involving explicit and implicit mixed treatments for the coupling between molar densities, pressure, and porosity. We rigorously prove that the scheme inherits the energy dissipation law at the discrete level. The fully discrete scheme has the ability to ensure the mass conservation law for each component as well as preserve the Onsager's reciprocal principle. Numerical tests are conducted to verify our theories, and in particular, to demonstrate the good performance of the proposed scheme in energy stability and mass conservation as expected from our theories.