Monoculture System Research Articles

Millets: The Nourishing Solution to Food Security Challenges Over Cereal-Based Cropping Systems

A heightened emphasis on augmenting millet production and accentuating their nutritional benefits is pivotal in mitigating reliance on conventional crops, fostering dietary diversity, and enhancing food security, particularly in times of natural calamities when food scarcity is prevalent. The United Nations General Assembly has designated the year 2023 as the International Year of Millet. Millets hailed as 'superfoods,' boast high levels of protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. India stands as a major contributor, producing 80% of Asia's millets and 20% globally, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Statistics reveal that over 90 million individuals in Africa and Asia incorporate millets into their diets, with Africa accounting for more than 55% of global production, followed by Asia at nearly 40%, while Europe constitutes approximately three per cent of the worldwide market. Specifically in India, West Bengal adheres to a predominantly monocultural cropping system, predominantly focused on rice. Monoculture systems are highly susceptible to blights and pests due to their lack of diversity, leading to reduced soil fertility and compromised soil structure. Cultivating millets not only offers a viable solution by diminishing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides but also facilitates a transition towards sustainable agriculture. This involves diversifying crop rotations and steering clear of the pitfalls associated with mono-cropping systems. Introducing various millet types into cropping systems can significantly enhance food security. Each millet variant possesses unique qualities that enable them to withstand extreme climatic conditions, making them particularly relevant as adaptive measures in the current context of global warming and climate change issues.

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walpers] intercropping improves grain yield, fodder biomass, and nutritive value

Burkina Faso livestock feeding is characterized by a hot dry season fodder deficit, which affects animal performance and causes economic losses. To overcome this challenge, improving quality fodder production through the use of dual-purpose crops is a potential alternative. Hence, this study aimed at testing dual-purpose cultivars of sorghum and cowpea under monoculture and intercropping in the North Sudan zone in Burkina Faso. To do this, a “Mother and Baby trials” approach was adopted. The mother trial was designed as a randomized complete block with eight treatments (combinations of monoculture and intercropping systems for two cowpeas and two sorghum cultivars) and four replications during two cropping seasons (2019 and 2020) at the INERA research station in Saria. The on-farm “baby” trials involved 30 farmers during two cropping seasons (2019 and 2020) in four communes: Koudougou, Poa, Nandiala, and Kokologo. Data were collected on weed biomass and density, fodder biomass and grain yield, intercropping efficiency, and fodder nutritive value. The results of the mother trial showed that intercropping significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced weed density and weed biomass. Sorghum cultivar Ponta Negra had the highest fodder biomass yield (10.05 kg DM/ha) while sorghum Sariaso16 had the highest grain yield (4.42 kg/ha). Cowpea cultivar KVx745-11P had greater fodder biomass (4.72 kg DM/ha) than Tiligré (3.28 kg DM/ha) with similar grain yield (2.17 and 2.17 kg/ha). Intercropping was the most efficient land-use cropping system for fodder biomass and grain yield improvement both in mother and baby trials. For fodder nutritive value, cultivars Sariaso16 and Ponta Negra had similar crude protein concentrations (ranging from 4.1 to 5.4%), and cowpea cultivar KVx745-11P haulms had greater crude protein (ranging from 16.9 to 20.3%). The use of Ponta Negra and KVx745-11P and Sariaso16 and KVx745-11P under intercropping is likely to optimize grain and quality fodder production for crop-livestock farmers in the North Sudan zone.

Changes in soil quality under long‐term rice‐crayfish farming in the Dongting Lake Plain, China

AbstractRice‐crayfish (RC) integrated cultivation, as a sustainable agricultural system, could significantly improve soil fertility. However, the soil quality under the long‐term RC farming system is still unclear. To examine the effects of RC cultivation on soil quality in paddy fields, this study utilized an integrated soil quality index (SQI) for examining the soil quality at different soil profiles (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm depth) in rice monoculture (RM) and RC farming systems (after 1, 6, 10, and 15 years) scattered in Nanxian County, Hunan Province, China. The minimum datasets for evaluating soil quality were assembled using the soil pH, bulk density, total nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen, and β‐d‐glucosidase. The findings demonstrated that soil quality was greatly impacted by RC farming, which improved with the increase of years under RC management. The soil quality of 10‐ and 15‐year RC farming systems were significantly higher than RM system. Besides, soil quality declined with increasing soil depth. The SQI value, which may be used as an indicator to assess the soil quality of RC systems, was dominated by total nitrogen, which contributed 27.60% to the SQI value. On the whole, long‐term RC farming affected the soil quality of paddy fields through management methods including non‐rice season flooding, feeding, and no tillage. Through this study, it was found that MDS and SQI composed of appropriate physical, chemical, and biological indicators could more objectively analyze the soil quality of long‐term RC system and provide guidance for sustainable development of RC farming.

Development of microalgal dual-cultures for enhanced productivity in sewage: An experimental study

Microalgae polycultures can be shown greater productivity than those that characterize monocultures. Nonetheless, rapid and ready identification of optimal microalgae combinations for highly productive polyculture systems remains a challenge. By assessing the corresponding nitrogen and phosphorus utilization efficiencies, this study aimed to identify microalgal combinations that might improve productivity. Ten high-biomass-producing microalgal species in municipal sewage habitats were cultivated in an artificial municipal sewage. Four high-yielding microalgae, which additionally showed complementary nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient utilization preferences, were selected for a subsequent dual-culture experiment. The D41 dual-culture system comprising Pediastrum sp. and Micractinium sp., showed the highest biocrude yield, at 17.5 mg/L/d, which was 13 % and 69 % higher than those of A4 and A1, respectively. Additionally, D41 showed the highest total phosphorus removal rate from artificial sewage, which was 27 % higher than that of Pediastrum sp. monoculture (A4) and 22 % higher than that of the Micractinium sp. monoculture (A1). Therefore, this study demonstrated that, (a) biomass production and nitrogen and phosphorus utilization rates of the constructed microalgae dual-culture systems were higher than those of monocultures, (b) phosphorus was identified as the limiting nutrient for further enhancing microalgae productivity, and (c) the dual-culture system showed intermediate characteristics between those of the constituent monoculture systems, suggesting that microalgae can influence community structure. Through the development of adequate software packages that can integrate microalgae nutrient utilization preference of and microalgae community structure, future research will enable the development of more productive microalgae culture combinations.

Coculture of aquatic animals and paddy in brackish water: Evaluation of the growth of daily growth and morphometrics of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as a fed species

A study on the cultivation of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in brackish water using co-culture systems (polyculture, IMTA-non paddy, and IMTA-paddy) and monoculture systems was evaluated on a laboratory scale to determine its growth. Several species of aquatic animals and paddy (floating system) were combined with tilapia reared in plastic tanks for 28 days. Tilapia were fed four times a day at a feeding rate of 10% of biomass. The highest specific growth rate (SGR), IMTA-paddy system (4.24±0.08% day-1), polyculture (4.13±0.06% day-1), IMTA-non paddy (3.84±0.23% day-1), and monoculture (3.80±0.05% day-1). The same pattern was found in the addition of morphometric characteristics (AMC). Total length, standard length, body length, and height respectively from the highest IMTA-paddy system (2.49±0.12; 2.14±0.12; 1.81±0.14; 0.49±0.19 g), polyculture (2.32±0.16; 2.07±0.09; 1.72±0.11; 0.41±0.11 g), IMTA-non paddy (2.18±0.12; 1.78±0.15; 1.62±0.15; 0.33±0.14 g), and monoculture (2.02±0,09 1.67±0.08; 1.57±0.08; 0.30±0.10 g). Analysis of variance indicated that SGR and AMC of tilapia were significantly influenced by the culture system (P<0.05). The SGR and AMC in the IMTA-paddy system were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those in the monoculture and IMTA-non-paddy systems, but not significantly different (P>0.05) from those in the polyculture system. In general, tilapia growth was higher in co-culture systems than in monoculture systems in brackish water, which led to the diversification of aquaculture production.Keywords: Brackish water; Co-culture; Growth; Nile tilapia; Rice.

Agroforestry olive orchards for soil organic carbon storage: Case of Saiss, Morocco

Soil supports numerous ecosystem services and contributes to climate change mitigation. Several publications have appeared in recent years considering soil as a persistent carbon sink and reported that agroforestry systems have a potential for soil organic carbon storage. However, there is still little knowledge about the soil organic carbon storage in olive orchards and its role in climate change mitigation. Therefore, soil samples collected from topsoil (0–30 cm) and subsoil (30–60 cm) in 57 different olive orchards provide an excellent opportunity to investigate the role of several factors (tree ages, planting density, farming system type and soil depth) in driving soil organic carbon storage variability in agroforestry olive orchards compared to olive trees in monoculture system across the Saiss region (Morocco). The difference was significant between the two types of plantation systems studied (agroforestry and monoculture) and between the two soil layers studied (topsoil and subsoil). Agroforestry olive orchard systems stored approximately 1.2 times the organic carbon in the soil compared to monoculture systems. In addition, topsoil stores 1.5 times compared to subsoil. The correlation results showed a positive relationship between the organic carbon stock of the topsoil and the subsoil, indicating that an increase in the topsoil is accompanied by an increase in the organic carbon stock of the subsoil. These results can provide a better understanding of the effect of agroforestry on deep soil organic carbon stock in Moroccan olive orchards. Furthermore, it can provide a valuable reference for future research on the soil organic carbon storage variability in Morocco and from an international perspective.

Management practices influence biocontrol potential of generalist predators in maize cropping systems

AbstractIntensification of conventional agriculture is a leading cause of negative environmental impact, loss of biodiversity, and reduced delivery of ecosystem services in agroecosystems. Maize, due to its growth habits and cultivation management, provides a poor habitat for beneficial arthropods. Several strategies are available to make maize cropping systems more sustainable and to promote biodiversity at field level. The present study evaluates the effects of various maize cropping systems – precisely, maize continuous monoculture, maize multiple cropping, and three mixed cropping systems (maize‐runner bean, maize‐sorghum, and maize‐flower strips) – on generalist predators and their biological control potential. Overall, we found that the reference system with maize continuous monoculture and conventional crop management had the lowest activity of generalist predators compared in particular to the low‐input mixed cropping systems. Higher activity density and biocontrol potential were found in the systems that provided a dense and permanent vegetation cover of the ground (i.e., maize/sorghum, maize/flower strip). Although these effects were not consistent for all the parameters investigated and for every sampling date, we conclude that generalist predators can benefit from more conservative management practices in maize systems, thereby enhancing their biological pest control potential. Furthermore, spatial intercropping may represent a valid alternative to the conventional monocultural crop system to support the delivery of biodiversity‐mediated ecosystem services towards a more sustainable system.

Meta-analysis unveils differential effects of agroforestry on soil properties in different zonobiomes

AimsCurrent comprehensive meta-analysis study aims to explore how agroforestry practices influence soil quality across different climate zones. Since numerous studies proposed agroforestry as the promising agroecological farming systems over conventional monoculture systems to maintain soil quality and to regenerate disturbed soil to counteract the negative consequences of global extensive agricultural approaches.MethodsBy employing the comprehensive meta-analysis technique on data from 125 studies conducted in tropical, temperate, and Mediterranean environments, we quantitatively assessed the effects of agroforestry on physical, chemical, and biological soil quality indicators.ResultsRates of soil erosion, the most important indication of land degradation, were improved in agroforestry systems compared to monocultures, especially in temperate (-138%) and Mediterranean soils (-40%), due to agroforestry-induced improved soil texture, aggregate stability, and soil water regulation. Soil acidification was decreased in tropical (-128%) and Mediterranean soils (-96%), but increased in temperate soils (+ 104%) due to agroforestry practices. Low temperate soil pH suggests high Ca2+ leaching losses as evidenced by decreased Ca2+ (-68%) and increased Fe2+ (+ 129%) and Al3+ (+ 235%) contents. Agroforestry systems increased organic matter accumulation in temperate (+ 86%) and Mediterranean soils (+ 65%), carbon sequestration in all climatic zones (+ 48%: 33–73%), and respiration rates in temperate (+ 119%) and tropical soils (+ 105%). Soil microbial communities, enzyme activities as well as nutrient cycling and availability were generally enhanced in agroforestry systems compared to monocultures.ConclusionsOur results provide compelling evidence that agroforestry practices can contribute substantially to sustainable improvement of global soil quality.

Comparative analysis of rhizobial and bacterial communities in experimental cotton fields: Impacts of conventional and conservation soil management in the Texas High Plains

Conservative agricultural management strategies pursue long-term ecological benefits through practices such as no-tillage, cover crop, and inherent soil properties management. Farmers, however, are often hesitant to adopt such practices due to lack of experience, initial expense, and concern for low crop productivity. Overcoming this barrier requires novel approaches, such as effectively managing the soil microbiome to attain high productivity at a low cost, especially in a semi-arid region. To study the potential of conservation agriculture, we investigated components of soil bacterial community and rhizobial diversity in long-term experimental cotton fields divided into conventional tillage monoculture systems with winter fallow (CT) and no-tillage with mixed cover crop (M-NT) system on the Texas High Plain (THP). We conducted next-generation amplicon sequencing targeting rpoB gene with collected soil samples from different soil managements and seasons. Our research revealed that although CT had significantly greater bacterial diversity and species richness than the M-NT management, rhizobial diversity and species richness were higher in M-NT than in CT management. Both bacterial and rhizobial diversity and richness were greater in summer than in fall. The abundance of the order Rhizobiales was consistently high in M-NT than in CT fields in both seasons. Soil management altered the dominant rhizobial genus associated with cotton production systems; Rhizobium and Pararhizobium dominated M-NT management, while Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium were dominant under CT management. These outcomes suggest that incorporating legumes into a cover crop in this semi-arid cotton-growing region can initiate beneficial changes to the dynamics of the indigenous rhizobial assemblage. The high prediction accuracy of our machine learning model using bacterial community data classifying the managements as CT or M-NT validates the possibilities of a strong underlying relationship between soil management and the bacterial diversity in the soil.

Effects of maize and soybean intercropping on soil phosphorus bioavailability and microbial community structure in rhizosphere.

To investigate the effect of maize/soybean intercropping on rhizosphere soil microbial communities and phosphorus (P) bioavailability, we examined the changes of soil bioavailable P fractions and microbial community characteristics in the monoculture and intercropping systems based on high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that maize/soybean intercropping increased the contents of rhizosphere soil organic matter (SOM), available phosphorus (AP), microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP), and aboveground biomass. The increase of AP was mainly related to the increasing enzyme extracted phosphorus (Enzyme-P) and hydrochloric acid extracted phosphorus (HCl-P) contents. The dominant bacterial phyla under each treatment were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi, while the dominant bacterial genera were Nocardioides, Solirubacter, Sphingomonas and Arthrobacter, with Proteobacteria and Sphingomonas having the highest relative abundance. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Sphingomonas in intercropping maize rhizosphere soil was significantly higher than that in monoculture, and that of Proteobacteria in intercropping soybean rhizosphere soil was significantly higher than monoculture. Soil properties and P fractions were closely related to the rhizosphere soil microbial composition. In all, maize/soybean intercropping could affect the rhizosphere soil P bioavailability by altering the structure of rhizosphere microbial communities.

The competitive advantage of Microcystis aeruginosa over Scenedesmus obliquus weakened by exposure to polylactic acid microplastics

Aquatic ecosystems are heavily affected by microplastics (MPs), and its impacts on aquatic life have received extensive attention. However, it is still unclear how biodegradable MPs influence the growth and competition of phytoplankton. In this study, the response of growth dynamics, alternation in algal cell morphology and toxin-producing capability, and changes in the extracellular process of Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) and Scenedesmus obliquus (S. obliquus) were systematically studied in monoculture and co-culture conditions with and without the presence of polylactic acid MPs (PLA-MPs). The results indicated that although the loss of cell integrity was observed, PLA-MPs addition (50 mg/L) caused a 1.40- and 1.36-fold increase in cell densities of M. aeruginosa and S. obliquus in monoculture systems, respectively. This suggests the PLA-MPs more favored the growth of M. aeruginosa. This effect was manifested in co-culture conditions, because the degradation of PLA-MPs provided additional inorganic carbon in the experimental systems and benefited the growth of both M. aeruginosa and S. obliquus. Meanwhile, the synthesis of microcystins from the toxic M. aeruginosa was substantially reduced upon PLA-MPs exposure, which reduced the competitive advantage of M. aeruginosa over S. obliquus. Thus; the cell density of M. aeruginosa and S. obliquus showed 1.15- and 1.88-folds increasing compared to that without PLA-MPs addition. This interaction between PLA-MPs and algae weakened the competitive advantage of M. aeruginosa over S. obliquus, but their competitive outcomes remained unchanged. The results provided new insights into understanding the potential ecological risks of biodegradable plastics in aquatic ecosystems.

Bioecology of Saline Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) at Different Stocking Densities in Polyculture Ponds Petta Barat, Sangihe Island Distric

Saline Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultivation in Petta Barat using extensive and monoculture cultivation techniques that low productivity and profits. To increase productivity is to cultivate in polyculture with other organisms that have high economic value, one of which is polyculture with milkfish (Chanos Chanos) using optimal stocking densities. This study aims to determine differences in stocking density on the growth of tilapia (O. niloticus) and to analyze the range of water quality values at the cultivation location. The research method Random Design Experiments with complete (RAL) used monoculture and polyculture systems. The research results obtained were different stocking densities and monoculture and polyculture cultivation systems had no significant effect on the average length, average weight, absolute length, absolute weight, and specific growth rate of saline tilapia. Meanwhile, based on water quality analysis including temperature, DO (Dissolved oxygen), TDS (Total Dissolved Solid), pH, nitrate, nitrite and ammonia are still by the standards and are still optimal for the growth of tilapia. This study concludes that at different stockings with both polyculture and monoculture systems, it does not affect the growth of tilapia so the recommendation is cultivation using a polyculture system with maximum densities.

The Effect of Water Spinach on the Water Quality, Antioxidant System, Non-Specific Immune Response, Growth Performance, and Carbon Balance in Red Tilapia Production

In this study, the compound aquaculture model of red tilapia (O. mossambicus albina × O. urolepis hornorum) and water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) was used to investigate the effect of water spinach rafts on the water quality, antioxidant system, non-specific immune response, and growth performance of red tilapia and the carbon balance of payments. Red tilapia is characterized by its high adaptability to different production environments and food sources, as one of the most productive fish in aquaculture, and is well accepted in the market due to its nutritional and organoleptic characteristics. The experiment lasted for nine weeks and included two systems: the red tilapia-water spinach raft aquaponics (AP) system with 10% cover ratio with water spinach floating beds, and the aquatic monoculture (AM) system with only red tilapia. The total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and nitrate nitrogen (NO−3-N) in the AM were higher than those in AP from the fifth to ninth week. On the second, third, fifth, and sixth weeks, the ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), in the AM was higher than those in the AP. From the seventh week, the pH of the AM was significantly lower than the AP, while the nitrite nitrogen (NO−2-N) was significantly higher than the AP. The water quality index of the AP was better than that of the AM, indicating that water spinach can remove the nutrients from aquaculture water bodies. The average daily gain and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish in AP were higher than those in the AM. The acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and catalase (CAT) activities in the hepatopancreas of red tilapia in the AP were also significantly higher than those in the AM, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) in the AP was lower than the AM. The serum ACP and CAT of red tilapia in the AP were also higher than those in the AM, while the MDA of fish in the AP was lower than the AM. The results showed that both the experimental group and the control group were carbon sources and released greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, but the total carbon emissions of the red tilapia and the water spinach symbiotic system in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). These results demonstrated that the application of water spinach rafts in aquaponics can not only improve the water quality, but also improve the growth performance, antioxidant system and non-specific immune responses of red tilapia, while promoting the utilization of organic matter in the aquaculture system, improving the ecological benefits in terms of the carbon income and expenditure.

The application of mixed stabilizing materials promotes the feasibility of the intercropping system of Gynostemma pentaphyllum/Helianthus annuus L. on arsenic contaminated soil

Intercropping technology and stabilizing materials are common remediation techniques for soils contaminated with heavy metals. This study investigated the feasibility of the Gynostemma pentaphyllum (G. pentaphyllum)/Helianthus annuus L. (H. annuus) intercropping system on arsenic (As) contaminated farmland through field and pot experiments and the regulation of plant As absorption by the application of mixed stabilizing materials in this intercropping system. Field experiments demonstrated that intercropping with H. annuus increased the As concentration in G. pentaphyllum leaves to 1.79 mg kg−1 but still met the requirements of the national food standard of China (2 mg kg−1) (GB2762-2017). Meanwhile, G. pentaphyllum yield in the intercropping system decreased by 15.09%, but the difference was insignificant (P > 0.05). Additionally, the As bioconcentration (BCA) per H. annuus plant in the intercropping system was significantly higher than that in the monoculture system, increasing by 76.37% (P < 0.05). The pot experiment demonstrated that when granite powder, iron sulfate mineral, and "Weidikang" soil conditioner were applied to the soil collectively, G. pentaphyllum leaf As concentration in the intercropping system could be significantly reduced by 42.17%. Rhizosphere pH is the most crucial factor affecting As absorption by G. pentaphyllum in intercropping systems. When these three stabilizing materials were applied simultaneously, the As bioaccumulation (BCA) per H. annuus plant was significantly higher than that of normal intercropping treatment, which increased by 71.12% (P < 0.05), indicating that the application of these stabilizing materials significantly improved the As removal efficiency of the intercropping system. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration in the rhizosphere soil is the most pivotal factor affecting As absorption by H. annuus. In summary, the G. pentaphyllum-H. annuus intercropping model is worthy of being promoted in moderately As polluted farmland. The application of granite powder, iron sulfate mineral, and "Weidikang" soil conditioner collectively to the soil can effectively enhance the potential of this intercropping model to achieve "production while repairing" in the As polluted farmland.

Taxonomy, Ecology, and Cellulolytic Properties of the Genus Bacillus and Related Genera

Bacteria of the genus Bacillus and related genera (e.g., Paenibacillus, Alicyclobacillus or Brevibacillus) belong to the phylum Firmicutes. Taxonomically, it is a diverse group of bacteria that, to date, has not been well described phylogenetically. The group consists of aerobic and relatively anaerobic bacteria, capable of spore-forming. Bacillus spp. and related genera are widely distributed in the environment, with a particular role in soil. Their abundance in the agricultural environment depends mainly on fertilization, but can also depend on soil cultivated methods, meaning whether the plants are grown in monoculture or rotation systems. The highest abundance of the phylum Firmicutes is usually recorded in soil fertilized with manure. Due to the great abundance of cellulose in the environment, one of the most important physiological groups among these spore-forming bacteria are cellulolytic bacteria. Three key cellulases produced by Bacillus spp. and related genera are required for complete cellulose degradation and include endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and β-glucosidases. Due to probable independent evolution, cellulases are encoded by hundreds of genes, which results in a large structural diversity of these enzymes. The microbial degradation of cellulose depends on its type and environmental conditions such as pH, temperature, and various substances including metal ions. In addition, Bacillus spp. are among a few bacteria capable of producing multi-enzymatic protein complexes called cellulosomes. In conclusion, the taxonomy of Bacillus spp. and related bacteria needs to be reorganized based on, among other things, additional genetic markers. Also, the ecology of soil bacteria of the genus Bacillus requires additions, especially in the identification of physical and chemical parameters affecting the occurrence of the group of bacteria. Finally, it is worth adding that despite many spore-forming strains well-studied for cellulolytic activity, still few are used in industry, for instance for biodegradation or bioconversion of lignocellulosic waste into biogas or biofuel. Therefore, research aimed at optimizing the cellulolytic properties of spore-forming bacteria is needed for more efficient commercialization.

Phytosociology of Weeds in Function of the Cultivation of Genetic Materials of Beans and Castor Hybrids under Intercrop and Monoculture in the Brazilian Midwest

Despite the socioeconomic importance of beans and small-door castor hybrids, few studies have been carried out to investigate the phytosociological composition of weeds that interfere in this integrated production system. The objective of this work was to investigate the phytosociological composition of weeds in intercropped bean and castor hybrids adapted to mechanized harvesting, as well as in monoculture, involving genetic materials with different plant architectures. The design was randomized blocks, with four replications, and the treatments consisted of three bean cultivars with different growth habits and types (BRS Realce; BRS Esteio; P&amp;eacute;rola), cultivated in an intercropped system with two small castor hybrids (Agima and Tamar), and the respective monoculture systems of the bean and castor h&amp;yacute;brids. Weed evaluation was performed 25 days after crop emergence. The bean growth habits and the size of castor hybrids directly affect the weed community, in both systems. Cenchrus echinatus and Alternanthera tenella species showed predominance in intercropping and monoculture conditions. The common bean monoculture and castor hybrids system, in general, provide greater problems with weeds compared to their respective monocultures, especially the Poaceae family. The weed species similarity indexes were higher than 75%.

The Inhibiting Effects of High-Dose Biochar Application on Soil Microbial Metagenomics and Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Production.

Biochar is usually considered as an organic improver which can improve soil and increase crop yields. However, the unrestricted application of biochar to normal-fertility farmland will cause chemical stress on crops and affect agricultural production. At present, the effects and mechanisms of high-dose applications of biochar on rice (Oryza sativa L.) production and soil biological characteristics have not been fully studied. In this greenhouse pot experiment, combined with soil microbial metagenomics, three treatments in triplicates were conducted to explore the responses of rice production, soil chemical properties, and soil biological properties to high-dose applications of biochar (5%, w/w) prepared using peanut waste (peanut hulls and straw). The results show that peanut hulls, with a loose texture and pore structure, are a raw material with stronger effects for preparing biochar than peanut straw in terms of its physical structure. In a rice monoculture system, high-dose applications of biochar (5%, w/w) can slightly increase the grains per spike, while significantly inhibiting the spike number per pot and the percentage of setting. High-dose applications of biochar also have significant negative effects on the diversity and stability of soil bacterial and archaeal communities. Moreover, the microbial metabolism and nutrient cycling processes are also significantly affected by changing the soil carbon/nitrogen ratio. This study discusses the response mechanisms of rice production and soil biology to high-dose biochar applications, and complements the understanding of irrational biochar application on agricultural production and land sustainability.

Food Networks and Agroecology in the Province of Trento – Italy

As the hegemonic food system is unsustainable in socio-environmental terms, over the last few decades, the search for new forms of food supply has fostered alternative food networks (AFNs). Civic Food Networks (CFNs) are a particular subset of AFNs that strongly emphasise the citizenship of the actors involved, including farmers, and their active engagement in the agrifood system. Our objective was to identify CFNs within the studied territory, evaluate farmers’ participation, and answer if the CFNs are contributing to the promotion of agroecology. The research comprises a case study in the province of Trento (Italy). We used direct and participant observation, database consulting, document analysis, and interviews with key players and organic farmers linked to short food supply chains (SFSCs). We evaluated the contributions to the promotion of agroecology through ecological and socioeconomic elements: biodiversity, efficient use of resources, and self-produced food. We have identified the presence of initiatives that act by promoting discussion spaces and stimulating the construction of experiences of an SFSC. Those initiatives have provided space for the formation of new networks and created opportunities for new relationships, production, and consumption networks. However, organisational structures that favour monocultural systems and commercialisation in long chains prevail in the territory and hinder these innovations. Though the collective organisations of farmers, outside the formal cooperatives, are still developing, farmers are often individualised and with little active participation in decision-making processes within the territory. This study identified an embryonic CFN that showed positive indicators of agroecology for all the analysed aspects. However, the differences were not as significant when compared to other farmers who also participated in SFSCs. This research reinforces that there is a there is promotion of agroecoloy, from the maintenance and encouragement of short food supply chains that are proponents of agrobiodiversity, to the maintenance of family farmers’ livelihoods. CFNs have the potential to empower rural actors by providing them with greater participation and autonomy in the agrifood system. However, strengthening these networks remains a challenge, as it requires stimulating social organisation and fostering the integration of various actors within the territory, including rural stakeholders.

Produksi Tanaman Cabai Rawit Pada Pola Lanskap Agroforestri Tanaman Karet

The application of agroforestry landscape pattern for rubber plant with cayenne pepper plant has an effect on productivity and land use level compared to monoculture system. This reaserch aims to obtain data on the production of cayenne pepper plants in rubber plants agroforestry system and compare it with monoculture systems. The research was located in Sumber Sari Village, Sebulu District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency with two planting system treatments (P), it’s monoculture system planting (p1) and rubber plants agroforestry system (p2) with 6 plots as replicates each. The variables measured were the production of cayenne pepper plants until the 5th (fifth) harvest based on the average sample. Data were analyzed using the Independent Sample t-test with a significant level (α) of 5%. Production of cayenne pepper plants in rubber plants agroforestry system reached 2.32 Mg.ha-1 which was greater than monoculture system with a production of 1.46 Mg.ha-1 with F-Count 1.74 and F- Table 7.15. This is due to the growth environmental conditions and photosynthetic efficiency, with a higher daily temperature of 300C in monoculture system, it will slow down of photosynthesis and accelerate respiration rate, whereas the daily temperature in an agroforestry planting system with rubber plants is only 260C, so that the photosynthesis rate is higher than respiration rate, because the optimum temperature for cayenne pepper plants photosynthetic is 21-270C. Cayenne pepper plants in agroforestry landscape pattern for rubber plant were able to produce better yields than monoculture planting systems based on two average similarity test.

Strategies to improve soil health by optimizing the plant–soil–microbe–anthropogenic activity nexus

Since the Green Revolution, world agriculture has relied heavily on agrochemical inputs (synthetic fertilizers and pesticides) in cereal- and oilseed-dominated monoculture systems, which has had long-lasting effects on soil health. Significant efforts have been undertaken to suppress these adverse impacts and resolve the conflict between producing sufficient agri-food to address world hunger and maintaining/enhancing soil health for the long run. In the context of agricultural land use and crop/soil managements impacting soil health, this comprehensive review explores the differences in soil fertility, soil quality, and soil health via delving into the complex assemblage of organisms – the home of the multi-dimensional interactive ecosystem. Through analyzing numerous studies across the major agricultural regions in the world, we provide feasible strategies to improve soil health, such as promoting the conversion of atmospheric N2 to plant-available N to enrich soil nutrients; diversifying crop rotations using alternative, cover, and green crops to increase systems’ resilience; adopting no-till with straw retention and organic/inorganic mulches to increase infiltration, stimulate enzyme activities, and enhance soil microbiome functions; and promoting C–N–water cycling to nourish soil microenvironments. These strategies, through coordinated management of the interactive nexus of plant–soil–microbe–anthropogenic activities, will help improve soil health.