Nutrient Yield Research Articles

Changes in Nutrient Surpluses and Contents in Soils of Cereals and Kiwifruit Fields

Knowledge of nutrient surpluses in soils is critical to optimize nutrient management and minimize adverse environmental effects. We investigated the nutrient surpluses in soils in two regions over 25 years (1992 to 2017) in the south Loess Plateau, China. One region has cereals as the main crop, whereas in the other region, the main cereal crops was changed to kiwi orchards. The inputs of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) increased rapidly (by 74%, 77%, and 103% from 1992 to 2017 in the cereal region; and by 91%, 204%, and 368% in the kiwifruit region), while the nutrient outputs were relatively stable, which resulted in increasing nutrient surpluses (the annual averaged surpluses of N, P, and K were 178, 62, and 12 kg ha−1 y−1 for the cereal region; and 486, 96, and 153 kg ha−1 y−1 for the kiwifruit region) and lower nutrient use efficiency (NUE). The higher N surplus in the orchard-dominated region caused high nitrate N accumulation (3071 kg N ha−1 of 0–5 m in 11–20 y in the kiwifruit orchard) in deeper soil profiles. Similarly, high P and K surpluses in the orchard-dominated region increased soil available P and K. This highlights that comprehensive measures should be taken to control nutrient surpluses, which will help balance nutrient inputs and outputs and minimize nutrient losses in intensive horticultural crop systems.

Effects of the Application of Organic Fertilizers on the Yield, Quality, and Soil Properties of Open-Field Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa spp. pekinensis) in China: A Meta-Analysis

With the development of sustainable agriculture, trials on the benefits of the application of organic fertilizers around the world have been conducted. Herein, we investigated the impact of the pure chemical fertilizers (CFs) combined with organic fertilizers compared with the application of CFs (100% CFs) and no fertilizers (NFs) on soil properties as well as the yield and quality of Chinese cabbage through meta-analysis. Results indicate that: (1) Compared with NFs, the application of organic fertilizers can significantly improve the yield and quality of Chinese cabbage and increase soil nutrients. (2) Compared with CFs, the application of organic fertilizers can increase the fresh weight, number of leaves, transverse diameter, leaf length, and development of Chinese cabbage per plant, with increases of 8.54%, 6.6%, 9.905%, 8.42%, and 10.03%; Meanwhile, organic fertilizers can significantly increase the yield (total amount of above-ground parts produced) and commercial yield (the portion that meets the required quality standards and is intended for sale) of Chinese cabbage to increase the yield and commercial yield by 10.08% and 35.56%, respectively. However, it has no significant impact on the income from growing Chinese cabbage. (3) Compared with CFs, the application of organic fertilizers can significantly increase the content of vitamin C (11.06%), soluble sugar (19.16%), and soluble protein (8.83%) and reduce the content of nitrate and nitrite in Chinese cabbage, with a reduction of up to 19.02% and 20.9%, respectively. The application of organic fertilizers will also have a certain impact on the absorption of heavy metals in Chinese cabbage. (4) Compared with CFs, the application of organic fertilizers can significantly improve soil organic matter, soil carbon sequestration, nitrogen absorption, and potassium absorption, showing increases of 12.73%, 13.19%, 7.91%, and 7.37%, and the application of organic fertilizers reduces soil electrical conductivity and available nitrogen, showing decreases of 36.78% and 38.75%, respectively. (5) The application of organic fertilizers significantly increased the content of soil urease and soil sucrase, increasing by 9.42% and 17.16%, respectively. This study helps inform the application of organic fertilizers in Chinese cabbage production.

The evolution of food and nutrition supply patterns of marine capture and mariculture in China and its transformation coping strategies

This study examines the shift in China’s seafood production, revealing that mariculture has surpassed marine capture as the primary source of marine food. The research aims to assess the roles of marine capture and mariculture in meeting rising food demand and ensuring nutrition security, given the limitations of land-based food production. Using data from 2003 to 2021, the study highlights several key trends: mariculture, focused on shellfish and algae, now outpaces marine capture, which remains centered on fish and crustaceans. Significant regional disparities are observed, with mariculture expanding rapidly in several coastal provinces as marine capture declines. Nutrient supply from marine capture has followed a three-phase pattern of growth, stagnation, and decline, while mariculture’s nutrient output has steadily increased, particularly in protein. By 2019-2020, mariculture surpassed marine capture in energy and protein supply, though fat supply remains lower. Regional differences in nutrient supply show mariculture leading in multiple provinces. The study concludes by recommending strategies to promote sustainable, diverse, and environmentally friendly practices for China’s marine food systems.

Effect of Media on Lablab (Lablab purpureus var. typicus) for Yield and Quality under Soilless Vertical Farming System

Background: Lablab (Lablab purpureus var. typicus) is one of the important leguminous vegetable crops known for its highest content of protein. The area under cultivation is shrinking due to conversion of farm land into non-agricultural purposes. Under these circumstances, soilless vertical farming system is the only alternate cultivation system for increasing production of vegetables. Media play a major role in growth and yield of vegetables under soilless conditions. With this background, the present experiment was carried out to study the effect of growing media in lablab for high yield and quality under soilless vertical farming systems. Methods: Two lablab varieties viz., CO 5 (V1) and Arka Prasidhi (V2) were raised under five different media combinations viz., 100% cocopeat (M1), 50 % cocopeat + 50 % Vermicompost (M2), 50% cocopeat + 50 % FYM (M3), 50% cocopeat + 25% vermicompost + 25% FYM (M4) and Control (M5) with three replications during 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. This experiment was laid out in FCRD. The growth and yield parameters were recorded and the data was subjected to statistical analysis. Result: The experimental results revealed that both the varieties and growing media provided significant impact on growth, yield, quality and uptake of nutrients whereas dry matter content exhibited no significant impact among the different media. The pooled season data revealed that variety CO 5 observed for the overall superior performance while the media combination of 50% cocopeat + 50% Vermicompost considered superior for growth and yield characters where 50% cocopeat + 25% vermicompost + 25% FYM showed superiority for the quality parameters and uptake of nutrients.

Multi-functional PGPR Serratia liquefaciens confers enhanced resistance to lead stress and bacterial blight in soybean (Glycine max L.)

Lead toxicity and bacterial blight disease caused by Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. glycinea have destructive impacts on soybean growth and productivity. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria have been used as an eco-friendly approach for augmenting crop growth and stress resistance. The current study investigated the efficacy of Serratia liquefaciens ZM6 strain in enhancing soybean resistance to lead (Pb) stress and bacterial blight. Two pot experiments were performed. In the first pot experiment, soybean plants were inoculated with S. liquefaciens ZM6 and grown under variable Pb stress levels (0, 200 and 400µM of Pb(NO3)2). In the second experiment, S. liquefaciens-inoculated soybean plants were infected with P. savastanoi pv. glycinea, and disease severity was assessed two weeks post infection. The results revealed that S. liquefaciens strain resisted Pb stress up to 400µM Pb(NO3)2 and exhibited the highest levels of solubilized phosphate, solubilized zinc, siderophore, indole acetic acid, exopolysaccharide, trehalose and antioxidant enzymes at 400µM Pb compared to the other treatments. Moreover, Pb stress (200 and 400µM) significantly decreased the growth, yield, nutrient uptake, gas exchange, and contents of chlorophyll, soluble proteins, sugars, and phenolics of soybean plants. Pb stress also induced the levels of proline, glycine betaine, Pb, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes, ascorbate, glutathione and expression of stress-responsive genes (CAT, APX, POD, Fe-SOD, CHS7, CHI1A, PAL, IFS2, P5CS and WRKY54) in soybean plants. On the other hand, S. liquefaciens application markedly boosted the growth, yield and levels of nutrients, gas-exchange, chlorophyll, osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes and expression of stress-tolerant genes of Pb-stressed soybean plants. The bacterial inoculation significantly diminished oxidative stress indicators and Pb content in stressed plants. Inoculation of soybean plants with S. liquefaciens also caused significant reductions in blight disease symptoms in P. savastanoi pv. glycinea-infected plants, indicating the efficiency of this strain in controlling harmful blight disease. Overall, this study demonstrated S. liquefaciens ZM6 effectiveness in enhancing soybean resistance to Pb stress and bacterial blight.

Effect of Integrated nutrient management practices on nutrient uptake, yield and quality of improved black kavuni rice variety (CO57)

The rising demand for high-quality rice and rice products motivates farmers to produce traditional rice varieties. Rice production needs to be substantially increased with suitable nutrient management practices to meet the demand. Hence, the present study was carried out to evaluate the influence of integrated nutrient management practices on nutrient yield and quality of improved black kavuni rice. The research was conducted during the Early kar (April-August 2023) and Late samba (September - January 2023-24) seasons in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications and twelve treatments consisting of N in equivalent basis with organic manure and inorganic fertilizers and one control. Based on an N equivalent basis, the required quantity of inorganic fertilizer, farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC) and poultry manure (PM) were applied to rice. Observations on nutrient uptake, yield and quality were recorded, and the data were analyzed using LSD at a 5% probability level for significance differences. The results revealed that higher nutrient uptake, yield and quality parameters of rice were recorded with 50% recommended dose of nitrogen through inorganic fertilizer + 50% recommended dose of nitrogen through VC + foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 & 1% FeSO4 at tillering, panicle initiation (PI) and flowering stage (T11).

Soilless Production of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in the Atacama Desert Using Fog Water: Water Quality and Produce Mineral Composition

Soilless vegetable production in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile is spreading since it is perceived as an alternative that requires much less water than open field soil production. However, strong competition between mining and urban use for human population consumption exists, forcing growers to use alternative water sources. Fog is commonly present in the coastal areas of Northern Chile; however, little information exists with regards to its chemical composition and the effect on nutrient quality of the produce. To address this knowledge gap, a set of experiments was carried out in Chañaral, a small town located in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile. There, a 200 m2 greenhouse equipped with twenty deep flow pools was used in two consecutive growing cycles. Water for the mixing of the nutrient solution was collected from the fog using fog-catchers and later stored in 2000-L tanks. Fog water quality (electrical conductivity, pH and mineral content) was monitored directly from the storage tanks. Two types of lettuce, green butterhead and red oak leaf, were compared on their yield and accumulation of nutrients and heavy metals. The results indicate that fog water is of good quality for soilless production, with an electrical conductivity value of 0.65 ± 0.18 and low content of heavy metals. Plants’ heavy metal accumulation is below the recommendation of Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization. Fog water presents as a viable water source for soilless production in Northern Chile.

ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ БИОКОНВЕРСИИ ПИТАТЕЛЬНЫХ ВЕЩЕСТВ И ЭНЕРГИИ КОРМА В МЯСНУЮ ПРОДУКЦИЮ БАРАНЧИКАМИ РАЗНОГО ГЕНОТИПА

The purpose of the study is to determine the influence of the genotype of rams on the efficiency of transformation of protein and energy of the feed ration by purebred young animals of the Romanov breed (Group I), its crosses with the Edilbaevskaya breed of the first generation 1/2 Romanovskaya × 1/2 Edilbay (II group) and the second generation 1/4 Romanovskaya × 1/4 Edilbay – ( Group III) in food protein and energy of meat products. Crossbreeds of groups II and III were distinguished by less crude protein consumption per 1 kg of live weight gain than peers of group I – by 15.9 (1.62 %) and 33.5 g (3.48 %) and energy by 3.64 (4.23 %) and 4.89 mJ (5.77 %). An advantage was noted for crosses of groups II and III in terms of the weight of edible parts of the carcass, which amounted to 5.05 (36.89 %) and 6.79 kg (49.60 %). Purebred rams of group I were inferior to crossbred young animals of groups II and III in terms of protein content in the edible part of the carcass by 0.86 (31.62 %) and 1.15 kg (42.28 %), respectively, extractable fat – by 0.82 (66.13 %) and 1.25 kg (100.8 %), energy – by 46.54 (49.01 %) and 68.30 mJ (71.93 %). All this determined the advantage of crossbred rams of groups II and III in terms of the yield of nutrients, edible parts of the carcass and energy per 1 kg of pre-slaughter live weight. For protein, this advantage was 2.49 (3.53 %) and 4.32 g (6.12 %), extractable fat – 9.86 (30.65 %) and 16.01 g (49.77 %), energy – 0.59 (23.98 %) and 0.70 mJ (28.45 %). The advantage of crossbred young animals of groups II and III in terms of the protein bioconversion coefficient was established, which was 0.26 and 0.65 % for protein, 0.21 and 0.40 % for energy, respectively. The leading position in all indicators was noted for crossbreeds of the second generation of group III.

Spatial Variation in Agricultural BMPs and Relationships with Nutrient Yields Across New York State Watersheds

Agricultural nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus can subsequently be transported to waterways and are often managed through the adoption of best management practices (BMPs). However, we have a poor understanding of how the use of BMPs varies spatially and how BMP adoption might be related to nutrient yields in surface waters. To address this, we performed a survey of agricultural landowners across New York State and compared this with estimates of annual incremental nitrogen and phosphorus yields of agricultural origin from the Spatially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) model. Using these socio-behavioral data and SPARROW predictions, we perform colocation analysis to identify areas where watersheds with high nutrient yield from agriculture are collocated with non-use of agricultural BMPs. This colocation analysis offers a novel methodology for identifying areas where monitoring of waterways and promotion of best management practices could be targeted to achieve the greatest benefits.

Can Nitrogen Fertilization and Intercropping Modify the Quality and Nutrient Yield of Barley–Field Bean Forage?

Can Nitrogen Fertilization and Intercropping Modify the Quality and Nutrient Yield of Barley–Field Bean Forage?

Research Progress on the Effects of Different Soil Methods in Orchards on Soil Nutrients and Fruit Trees

With the continuous expansion of the area of orchards, there are many ways of soil management among orchards. Orchard main line used at home and abroad are covered with grass cultivation, stubble cover, natural grass, fruit intercropping. Different management methods have a great influence on soil nutrient status, root distribution of fruit trees, leaf nutrient yield and fruit quality. In this paper, the main 4 management methods of orchards at home and abroad are summarized: different soil management methods have different effects on soil Nutrients, fruit trees have different effects. This paper analyzes some problems existing in these four kinds of soil management methods and puts forward the problems that need to be solved in the future so as to provide a theoretical basis for exploring suitable soil management methods in orchard of our country.

Effects of treatment process on larvae growth performance and nutrient yield during cyanobacteria bioconversion by black soldier fly

Abstract Cyanobacteria blooms, a global environmental problem, have caused serious economic and ecological disasters worldwide. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are known to feed and develop on a wide range of feed sources, which makes the use of BSFL bioconversion promising for harvested cyanobacteria. In this study, cyanobacteria were compounded into feedstock by three different treatments, and then BSFL was placed into the substrates to explore the effect of treatments on BSFL growth performance and nutrient yield. It was found that the alterations in the nutrient composition of the substrate and the content of key compounds (vitamin C and microcystin-LR) caused by different treatments were responsible for the different growth performance of BSFL. Difference in larvae digestive enzyme activities caused by changes in treatment processes and substrate moisture content will ultimately affect the BSFL nutrient production. The larvae stress response to different treatment processes demonstrated that the low moisture content environment has an inhibitory effect on the growth of BSFL, and the harvested cyanobacteria treated by the sun-drying treatment process exhibited less interference on BSFL. Through a brief economic assessment, we conclude that cyanobacteria can only produce benefits with the sun-drying treatment process where the substrate moisture content needs to be maintained at 70-80%, wall-breaking and heating treatment and heating treatment processes showed a deficit due to a higher cost and a lower output. This study provides a reference for promoting the utilization of cyanobacteria and proffer instructive significance for the biotransformation of cyanobacteria by BSFL.

Global change impacts on mineral nutritional quality of cereal grains: Coordinated datasets and analyses to advance a systems-based understanding

ContextGlobal nutritional health outcomes are directly reliant on agroecosystem nutrient outputs. Appropriately, there is concern surrounding the impacts of a changing climate not only on crop yields, but also on crop nutritional quality (e.g., mineral nutrient concentrations). Quantifying the impacts of elevated CO2 concentrations, elevated temperature, drought stress, edaphic factors, and agronomic management on crop yields and mineral nutrition is critical, yet a systems-level understanding of these interactive factors is poorly developed, limiting our ability to effectively target solutions. Empirical data for climate impacts on crop nutritional quality remain scarce, with much of the research emerging from valuable, but geographically limited, Free-air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiments, several of which suggest that human nutrition will be adversely impacted by e[CO2]. Specific concerns center on observed declines in grain protein, iron, and zinc concentrations due to already wide-spread human nutritional deficiencies in these nutrients. ObjectivesAs global change experiments expand to pursue questions regarding interactive climate impacts on crop yields and nutritional quality, it is imperative to interrogate the measurements, data standardization, and metadata needed for unifying synthesis. The data reported for shifts in crop nutritional quality are often incomplete, precluding the generalizability and comparability of results. MethodsWe frame this review around six inter-reliant methods, tools, and practices to support maximally useful experimental datasets to inform questions of global change impacts on crop nutrition and aid in detecting genotypic differences in mineral nutrient density. The bulk of the data and discussion centers on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) due to the central role this crop plays in human nutrition and sustained biofortification efforts. ResultsTo permit experimental comparability and synthesis, datasets should (1) clearly delineate analytical methods and standards and (2) link mean nutrient concentrations with the covariate of yield. (3) Multi-year, multi-location data is required to identify genotypes with significant deviations in nutrient concentrations, with (4) data normalized for yield within appropriate analytical frameworks. (5) Inclusion of data on soil properties, weather, and abiotic and biotic stresses as well as (6) agronomic practices and nutrient management is essential for understanding global change impacts on nutritional outcomes. ConclusionsCoordinated, multi-dimensional data will permit the syntheses and meta-analyses needed to identify and quantify climate impacts on nutrition. ImplicationsThis work is essential to effectively target nutritional solutions, to develop modeling tools to support nutritional planning, and to identify areas where agronomic management and breeding can minimize climate impacts on nutritional outcomes.

Determination of fruit characteristics, nutrients and biochemical contents of Transvalia (Prunus persica L.) peach cultivar grafted on different clonal rootstocks obtained by selection and hybridization

Rootstocks are frequently used in modern orchard practices due to their special characteristics. They not only eliminate the limiting factors in fruit growing but also have advantages such as increasing productivity, fruit quality, dwarfing, and nutrient yield. In addition, rootstocks have a significant impact on plant development, fruit characteristics, nutrients, and biochemical content. The study was conducted to investigate the effects of different peach rootstocks on fruit quality, nutrient content, and biochemical content. A total of 16 rootstocks of the species P. persica were used as test material. GGF3 rootstock has the highest values in terms of fruit weight (297.33 g), fruit width (83.50 mm), fruit length (77.58 mm), seed weight (9.96 g), seed width (28.16 mm), and seed length (43.47 mm) features. The effect of rootstocks on nutrients (except Cu, K, P, and Fe) in the fruits was statistically significant. The effect of rootstocks on nutrients (except Cr and Na) in the leaves was found to be statistically significant. The effect of rootstocks on both leaf and fruit plant nutrient contents varied. The rootstocks had statistically significant effects on fruit nutrient contents (except Cu, K, P, and Fe) and leaf nutrient contents (except Cr, and Na). It has been found that there is a positive relationship between micro and macronutrients. According to the results of biochemical analysis, statistically significant differences were found in biochemical contents. The highest total phenolic, total flavonoid, and total monomeric anthocyanin contents except for the total antioxidant content of peach fruits were observed in Kl 38 rootstock (137.19 mg kg−1, 25.68 mg kg−1 and 7.48 mg kg−1, respectively). The highest total antioxidant content was detected in NG1 and NGF14 rootstocks (349.46 mg kg−1). According to principal component analysis (PCA), the eigenvalue of 13 PCs was above 1.0 and accounted for 86.08 % of the total variation; this effectively showed the variation among peach rootstocks with respect to the traits analyzed. The data obtained show that rootstock varieties have a significant impact on the traits and that the selection of rootstock varieties has a very important place, especially in economic breeding.

The effect of sowing dates and sowing rates of wintering pea varieties on protein percentage and yield of nutrients

There have been presented the study results on determining the quality of grain of wintering peas varieties ‘Fokus’ and ‘Zimus’ depending on agricultural methods. The purpose of the current study was to determine protein percentage and yield of basic nutrients in grain of wintering peas, depending on sowing dates and rates. The current study was carried out at the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” in 2019–2021. The soil of the experimental plot was represented by ordinary carbonate heavy loamy chernozem. The forecrop was winter wheat. Weather conditions during the years of study were characterized by increased air temperatures in autumn and the return of cold weather in spring, which led to significant damage and thinning of crops. The amount of productive precipitation during the period of grain filling had a positive effect on productivity formation. There has been found that the greatest collection of basic nutrients was obtained in the second ten days of October with a sowing rate of 1.2 and 1.4 million pcs/ha for the varieties ‘Fokus’ and ‘Zimus’, respectively. For the variety ‘Fokus’, the highest crude protein percentage was 25.42 %, with 2.58 t/ha of feed units, 0.557 t/ha of crude protein, 25.31 GJ/ha of metabolic energy, with 189 g of a supply of a feed unit with digestible protein. For the variety ‘Zimus’, the highest crude protein percentage was 25.46 %, with 2.57 t/ha of feed units, 0.555 t/ha of crude protein, 24.62 GJ/ha of metabolic energy, with 190 g of a supply of a feed unit with digestible protein. The studied varieties according to digestible protein percentage were at the level of 205–219 g per a kg of grain.

Impacts of irrigation development on water quality in the San Salvador watershed (Part 2)

Intensive agricultural activities pose a significant threat to water quality as critical non-point sources of pollution. Effective mitigation strategies demand understanding the causes and processes of water pollution. This study aimed to quantify the impacts of irrigation development on water quality and assess best management practices for sustainable agriculture intensification. Employing the calibrated SWAT model for the San Salvador watershed (baseline scenario), two scenarios were implemented and evaluated: the first one depicted irrigation development from a future reservoir, and the second integrated riparian buffer zones to minimize nutrient and sediment losses. Notably the baseline scenario did not achieve nutrient water quality objectives. Results revealed that irrigation development increases nutrient yields, driving the future reservoir toward eutrophication. Implementing riparian buffer zones reduced nutrient loss, but additional measures are necessary for sustainable environmental goals at the basin scale. This research contributes with valuable insights for formulating effective management strategies to minimize nutrient pollution in water and safeguard water quality and biodiversity in the basin.

On Changes in Inputs and Outputs of Agricultural Mineral Nutrients (e. g. Ca, Mg, K and Si) in Finland Between 1950-75 - with Discussion on Problems and Solutions

On Changes in Inputs and Outputs of Agricultural Mineral Nutrients (e. g. Ca, Mg, K and Si) in Finland Between 1950-75 - with Discussion on Problems and Solutions

Moderate grazing increased carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus storage in plants and soil in the Eurasian meadow steppe ecosystem

The effects of grazing on the cycling of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in grassland ecosystems are complex. Uncertainty still exists as regards the allocation of C, N and P storage amounts in grazed ecosystems in Inner Mongolia, situated at the eastern end of the Eurasian dryland. Based on the long-term cattle grazing experimental platform in the Hulun Buir meadow steppe of Inner Mongolia, a 3-year (2019–2021) field control experiment was conducted to assess how the grazing intensity influenced the quantities of C, N and P stored in canopy biomass, root, litter and soil compartments. We examined the relationships between the different pools and their regulatory pathways at the ecosystem level across six grazing intensities. In general, grazing increased the aboveground N and P contents but decreased the aboveground biomass C content and nutrient storage amounts in aboveground biomass, roots and litter. The grazing intensity of 0.34 AU ha−1 increased soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus storage amounts, with the soil accounting for 98 % of total reserves on average. Grazing affected soil pH， nutrient contents, above- and belowground biomass and soil environmental factors such as soil bulk density, which in turn affected C, N and P storage in the ecosystem according to the results of the structural equation model; therefore, grazing intensity can be an important factor regulating the input and output of nutrients in the ecosystem. In the future, for adaptive management of grasslands, moderate grazing could effectively increase C, N and P storage in meadow steppe ecosystems and ensure the nutrient balance and long-term sustainable development.

Nutrition contributions of coral reef fisheries not enhanced by capture of small fish

Recent policy recommendations have highlighted the nutritional benefits of fisheries that capture small finfish species. Small fish, particularly those that feed in the pelagic zone, tend to be more nutrient dense than larger species, with increased concentrations of calcium, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. However, capturing fish below some recommended size limit (i.e., length at first maturity = Lmat) in coral reefs is frequently considered to be unsustainable and associated with reduced yields and losses of ecosystem functions. To evaluate the potential effects of fish body size, we analyzed nutrient concentrations of 424 demersal and pelagic finfish species reported from Western Indian Ocean artisanal fisheries. We found that length and food source are associated with only small differences in nutrient density in the artisanal catches of this region (≤7% of a child's daily requirement in most cases). We also analyzed 20 years of catch monitoring data from Kenya, where many of the common species have Lmat ∼20–25 cm, to test the potential benefits and tradeoffs of capturing small fishes. Small capture sizes were associated with low yields and sexually immature catches with a mean length of 15 cm resulting in 38% lower catch per unit effort, 37% lower nutrient yield, and a 22% lower maturity index compared to a mean body length of 30 cm. Catches of undersized fish were not associated with substantial increases or decreases in nutrient content relative to human nutritional requirements. Thus, coral reef artisanal fisheries should target moderate to large fishes (>20 cm) to maximize overall yield, nutrient yield, and sustainability.

Impact of iron and zinc agronomic biofortification on yield, concentration and uptake of nutrients in wheat as affected by iron and zinc solubilizing microbial inoculants

Impact of iron and zinc agronomic biofortification on yield, concentration and uptake of nutrients in wheat as affected by iron and zinc solubilizing microbial inoculants