Soil Plant Research Articles

Investigating the Synergistic Effects of Nano-Zinc and Biochar in Mitigating Aluminum Toxicity in Soybeans

Aluminum (Al) toxicity limited root growth by reducing nutrient translocation and promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, particularly in soybean. The endophyte of root could be modified by plant metabolites, which could potentially alter the tolerance to environmental toxicity of plants in acidic-Al soils. To explore how they help soybean mitigate Al toxicity by altering root endophytes, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) at doses of 0, 30, 60, 90 mg/kg and 2% biochar (BC) were selected as bio modifiers, and Al2(SO4)3 at 19 mg/kg was used to simulate Al toxicity. We analyzed root endophytes and metabolites by high-throughput sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We found that ZnO NPs with BC could bolster soybean resilience against Al toxicity by enriching soil nutrients, activating enzymes, and bolstering antioxidant mechanisms. We also observed that it enriched root endophytic microbial diversity, notably increasing populations of Nakamurella, Aureimonas, Luteimonas, and Sphingomonas. These changes in the endophytes contributed to the improved adaptability of plants to adversity under Al toxicity. This study highlighted the potential of using ZnO NPs and BC as a sustainable approach to combat Al toxicity, emphasizing the intricate interplay between plant physiology and rhizosphere microbial dynamics in mitigating the effects of environmental toxicity.

Advanced growing-season precipitation peak promotes soil nitrogen mineralization in a semi-arid grassland

Soil nitrogen (N) mineralization is a key process of global N cycling and profoundly regulates plant productivity and soil nutrient pools in the terrestrial biosphere. However, its response to seasonal precipitation redistribution remains largely unexplored. As part of a nine-year (2013–2021) field experiment that simulated advanced and/or delayed growing-season precipitation peaks in a semi-arid grassland on the Mongolian Plateau, this study was conducted for two years (2020–2021) in situ to examine the effects of changing precipitation distributions in the growing seasons on soil mineralization processes. The results showed that advanced precipitation peak (AP) increased soil ammonification (Ramm), nitrification (Rnit), and net mineralization rates (Rmin) by 45.8 %, 26.0 %, and 84.4 %, respectively (all p < 0.001), whereas delayed precipitation peak (DP) enhanced Ramm by 55.7 % (p < 0.001) only, but did not change Rnit or Rmin. The elevated soil N mineralization under the AP treatment could be primarily attributed to the increased soil water availability and microbial biomass N in the early growing season, both of which play essential roles in meditating biological processes in the soil. In addition, the large consumption of soil inorganic N in the early and middle growing seasons may lead to an enhancement of ammonification in September. These observations suggest that advanced rather than delayed growing-season precipitation peak has a stronger influence on soil N dynamics in the growing seasons. Moreover, our findings highlight the positive contributions of altered N transformations to soil respiration and net ecosystem productivity under the AP treatment and imply the crucial roles of intra-annual redistribution of precipitation in regulating ecosystem nutrient and carbon cycling in semi-arid regions.

Enhanced soil stabilisation and growth of Lolium perenne through combined seeding with Cynodon dactylon

Herbaceous plants play a crucial role in soil stabilisation, and combined seeding is often employed in ecosystem management to promote biodiversity. This study investigated the influence of combined seeding of Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and Bermuda (Cynodon dactylon) on plant growth and soil stabilisation through in-situ sampling and indoor experimental measurements. Four experimental plots were established: a. bare soil, b. L. perenne single species, c. C. dactylon single species, d. combined L. perenne and C. dactylon. The results indicate that combined seeding inhibited the development of L. perenne and C. dactylon root depth by 14.50% and 29.20%, respectively. However, shoot height, total leaf area, total root length and total root surface area increased in L. perenne under combined seeding, while these parameters decreased for C. dactylon. Combined seeding significantly enhanced the resistance to breakage in tension and tensile strength of L. perenne, with no significant impact on C. dactylon. Plant roots notably increased soil cohesion, with a respective increase of 37.08%, 26.98%, and 50.81% in cohesion for L. perenne single species plot, C. dactylon single species plot, and combined L. perenne and C. dactylon plot compared to bare soil. The root content in combined seeding significantly increased, with an increase of 27.17% and 65.20% compared to single seeding of L. perenne and C. dactylon, respectively. Additionally, under the influence of roots, the soil moisture content in the combined seeding plot was lower than in the single species and bare soil plots. These findings highlight that combined seeding enhanced plant competition, improved soil shear strength, and provided significant ecological benefits, offering insights for vegetation-based slope design.

Enhancing phosphorus-solubilizing microorganism potential for alleviating plant phosphorus limitation through amino acid co-application

Phosphorus-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) are recognized as a sustainable ecological strategy to mitigate plant phosphorus (P) limitation. However, their efficacy in real-world production scenarios is not as consistent as observed in controlled laboratory conditions. To deepen our comprehension of PSMs in mitigating plant P limitation and evaluate the efficacy of combined amino acids (AA) and PSMs application in optimizing plant nutritional environments, we conducted a study, aiming to preliminary delineate the model of plant-microbe-soil interactions facilitated by this joint approach. Phyllostachys edulis seedlings were cultivated in phosphorus-limited soil with or without AA and PSMs application. We assessed treatment impacts on plant growth and soil nutrient conditions through plant biomass, root morphology, tissue nitrogen (N) and P content, soil N and P contents, rhizosphere microbial communities, and soil enzyme activities. Application of AA and PSMs significantly enhanced shoot growth of P. edulis seedlings, reduced root ratio, modified root morphology, increased N and P content in plant tissues, facilitated conversion of soil insoluble P to active forms, and raised total soil N, alkali-hydrolysable N, ammonium N, and nitrate content. Moreover, it influenced the structure and function of the soil microbial community. Notably, soil enzyme activities under the combined application exhibited distinctions from individual applications, demonstrating greater similarity to the treatment without AA and PSMs, which received no additional amendments. Our findings underscored the significant positive impact of the combined AA and PSMs application on P. edulis seedling growth, improving soil nutrient status, enriching plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, and reducing soil diseases. However, plant-soil-microbe interactions induced by the combined application might differ from those observed with individual applications, necessitating further experimentation for a comprehensive understanding.

Effect of polyethylene microplastics on soil organic carbon pool dynamics in the soil-rhizosphere-alfalfa system

The effect of microplastics (MPs) on soil organic carbon (SOC) has become a growing concern. However, most studies have focused on the effect in a single soil system, and little is known about how MPs affect the soil carbon pool in the soil-plant system. In this study, a 90-day pot experiment was conducted with different concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 5% w/w) and exposure times (30d, 60d, and 90d) of polyethylene microplastics to investigate their effects on SOC pools. The results showed that MPs increased particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) pools, while decreasing microbial biomass carbon (MBC). Initially, MPs increased POC by disguise and their effects on enzyme activities and C degradation genes, and indirectly increased MAOC by affecting dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels (via soil pH) and stimulating enzyme activities. However, as alfalfa rapidly grew from the branching to the flowering stage, plants inputted C into the POC pool via rhizodeposition, while activating and absorbing the MAOC pool for growth through roots, resulting in an increase in POC and a decrease in MAOC. Moreover, plants had priming effects on soil MBC, enzyme activities, and C degradation genes, further influencing SOC pools. Overall, MPs affected plant growth and soil carbon pools by altering soil properties, while plants in turn influenced soil organic carbon pools and the impact of MPs on soil properties. This study provides deeper insights into the effect of MPs on SOC dynamics in the soil-rhizosphere-plant system.

Comparison of Automated Controller Settings for Irrigation and Fertilizer Needs of Potted Geranium

The future of agricultural water availability is threatened by climate change, population growth, and environmental regulations. Most of the global water is being used for crop irrigation. The objective of this research was to determine optimum timer-based controller settings and controlled-released fertilizer rates for ‘American Red’ (Pelargoium ×hortorum) potted geranium plants. Fertilizer was top-dressed at 3, 6, or 9 g. Plants were irrigated by a timer-based controller set to water at 11:00 AM every other day for 2 minutes, 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM for 1 minute per day, 11:00 AM for 1 minute per day, 11:00 AM for 2 minutes per day, and a control of manual hand watering. Data regarding plant growth, soil and leaf nutrients, and water use were collected. For geranium growth factors, the total flowers per plant was greatest for irrigation at 11:00 AM for 1 minute with 6 g fertilizer. Plant height and shoot dry weight were greatest for 6 and 9 g fertilizer. The number of umbels and soil plant analysis development (SPAD) chlorophyll meter readings were greatest for 9 g fertilizer. For geranium soil nutrient content, the pH was greatest for 3 g fertilizer, whereas the electrical conductivity, potassium, nitrate, sulfate, and boron were greatest for 6 and 9 g fertilizer. Regarding the nutrient content of the leaves, total nitrogen, boron, iron, and copper were greatest for 9 g fertilizer. Water use efficiency was greatest with 6 and 9 g fertilizer and irrigation 1 minute per day at 11:00 AM. The findings indicated that using timer-based controlled irrigation systems programmed to water for 1 minute during the morning with 6 g fertilizer resulted in plants that not only reduced water consumption but also enhanced water use efficiency and overall plant quality.

Karrikins biosynthesis, signaling route, regulatory roles, and hormonal crosstalk in plant soil system

Karrikins biosynthesis, signaling route, regulatory roles, and hormonal crosstalk in plant soil system

Low Impact of Nitrogen Fertilization on Grafted Tomatoes under High-tunnel Production

High-tunnel systems can improve and prolong production under challenging climate, but research on nitrogen management and grafting is still needed. This study analyzes the effects of rootstock and two N fertilization levels in northern Nevada under high-tunnel commercial production. We report on tomato yield, growth, leaf nutrient profile, and spectral indices [i.e., soil plant analysis development (SPAD) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)] correlation with leaf nitrogen. Although rootstock influenced yield and leaf nutrient profile depending on location, no clear effect from the nitrogen fertilization was observed in growth and yield. Moreover, the low accuracy of SPAD and NDVI indices in predicting leaf nitrogen status undermined the capacity to provide enough support for a sustainable nitrogen fertilization management.

Systematic Review of Air Pollution in Ethiopia: Focusing on Indoor and Outdoor Sources, Health, Environment, Economy Impacts and Regulatory Frameworks

The varied geography (Bekele, 1996) and rapid economic growth of Ethiopia (World Bank, 2020) might have impact its air pollution patterns, with topography, elevation, and climate variability (Lemma Gonfa, 1996) playing significant roles. Environmental challenges, including deforestation and climate change, also affect air quality. This study offers a systematic review of air pollution research in Ethiopia, providing a thorough analysis of its health, environmental, and economic impacts, regional variations, and policy suggestions. It addresses both indoor and outdoor air pollution, assessing their wide-ranging effects. Data were gathered through an extensive search of peer-reviewed articles, policies, and guidelines using Google Scholar and reputable sources, following PRISMA guidelines. The review highlights critical sources of air pollution in Ethiopia, including indoor biomass fuel combustion and outdoor emissions from traffic and industries. Indoor air pollution, particularly from traditional biomass fuels like wood and dung, affects rural and peri-urban areas, leading to high levels of particulate matter and carbon monoxide. Outdoor pollution, driven by urbanization, industrial expansion, and vehicle emissions, worsens health issues and environmental damage. The study identifies severe health consequences, such as respiratory infections and cardiovascular diseases, with air pollution contributing to premature deaths and rising healthcare costs. Economic analysis highlights the significant costs related to healthcare, lost productivity, and infrastructure damage. Environmental impacts include harm to plant health, soil degradation, and contributions to climate change. Despite initiatives to improve air quality monitoring and regulation, challenges persist due to outdated policies, limited infrastructure, and insufficient data. The study emphasizes the need for more comprehensive research and regulations to tackle air pollution crisis.

Cadmium (Cd) Tolerance and Phytoremediation Potential in Fiber Crops: Research Updates and Future Breeding Efforts

Heavy metal pollution is one of the most devastating abiotic factors, significantly damaging crops and human health. One of the serious problems it causes is a rise in cadmium (Cd) toxicity. Cd is a highly toxic metal with a negative biological role, and it enters plants via the soil–plant system. Cd stress induces a series of disorders in plants’ morphological, physiological, and biochemical processes and initiates the inhibition of seed germination, ultimately resulting in reduced growth. Fiber crops such as kenaf, jute, hemp, cotton, and flax have high industrial importance and often face the issue of Cd toxicity. Various techniques have been introduced to counter the rising threats of Cd toxicity, including reducing Cd content in the soil, mitigating the effects of Cd stress, and genetic improvements in plant tolerance against this stress. For decades, plant breeders have been trying to develop Cd-tolerant fiber crops through the identification and transformation of novel genes. Still, the complex mechanism of Cd tolerance has hindered the progress of genetic breeding. These crops are ideal candidates for the phytoremediation of heavy metals in contaminated soils. Hence, increased Cd uptake, accumulation, and translocation in below-ground parts (roots) and above-ground parts (shoots, leaves, and stems) can help clean agricultural lands for safe use for food crops. Earlier studies indicated that reducing Cd uptake, detoxification, reducing the effects of Cd stress, and developing plant tolerance to these stresses through the identification of novel genes are fruitful approaches. This review aims to highlight the role of some conventional and molecular techniques in reducing the threats of Cd stress in some key fiber crops. Molecular techniques mainly involve QTL mapping and GWAS. However, more focus has been given to the use of transcriptome and TFs analysis to explore the potential genomic regions involved in Cd tolerance in these crops. This review will serve as a source of valuable genetic information on key fiber crops, allowing for further in-depth analyses of Cd tolerance to identify the critical genes for molecular breeding, like genetic engineering and CRISPR/Cas9.

Mixed Grass Species Enhances Root Production and Plant–Soil Reinforcement

ABSTRACTVegetation is a widely used eco‐friendly approach for slope reinforcement and ecological restoration. As a potential planting strategy, mixed planting of plants is often recommended to improve biodiversity, but the effects of mixed planting on soil reinforcement and slope stability are not yet clear. To address this issue, a study on two typical herbaceous slope protection plants, Chrysopogon zizanioides and Cynodon dactylon, were conducted. The biomechanical characteristics of different herbaceous plants were analyzed, and their root distribution and soil reinforcement performance under single and mixed planting were explored. Results show that mixed planting could significantly increase the number and root area ratio of root systems. At 0.1 cm depth after 42 days, the root number under mixed planting increased by 111.42% compared to vetiver grass monoculture and by 19.57% compared to bermuda grass monoculture. Mixed planting can provide stronger soil reinforcement by increasing apparent cohesion, with a maximum increase in apparent cohesion of 47.9%. The results of slope stability analysis showed that vegetation mainly relied on mechanical reinforcement in the root zone and hydrological reinforcement outside the root zone. After 42 days of growth, mixed planting at 0.1 m depth increased slope stability by 11.94% compared to vetiver grass monoculture and by 27.12% compared to bermuda grass monoculture, with both mechanical and hydrological effects of vegetation significantly enhanced. These findings suggest that mixed planting can promote plant development and growth, improve root production, and enhance plant–soil reinforcement and slope stability during the early establishment of vegetation. Therefore, in formulating slope reinforcement and ecological restoration strategies, more consideration can be given to mixed planting of plants, maximizing the utilization of competition characteristics between plants, and reducing the risk of shallow landslides while improving biodiversity.

Isolation and characterization of phosphate solubilizing bacteria from the rhizosphere of lentil (Lens culinaris M.) collected from Hagere Mariam district, Central Ethiopia.

Phosphorus plays a crucial role in regulating many of the plant's metabolic activities by enhancing physiological functions and stimulating biological activities such as nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and nutrient uptake in the soil rhizosphere environment. Inoculants of phosphorus solubilizing bacteria serve as an eco-friendly alternative technology that positively influences both soil sustainability and plant growth. The majority of North Shewa highland areas are characterized by low available phosphorus, primarily acidic, and exhibit strong phosphorus absorption. The objective of this study was to isolate and identify phosphorus solubilizing bacteria from the rhizosphere of lentils and characterize their phosphate solubilizing activity. The cultural, biochemical, physiological microbial analysis was conducted in the microbiology laboratory, department of biology. Pikovskaya's medium was utilized for the isolation, screening, and maintenance of phosphate solubilizing bacteria. Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria were isolated using tri-calcium phosphate as the sole source of phosphorus in indicator plates. Fifteen phosphate solubilizing bacteria were isolated from lentil rhizosphere soil samples, among which six were the most efficient phosphate solubilizers designated as PSBYE, PSBYR, PSBYM, PSBYL, PSBW, and PSBSW. All isolates notably solubilized tri-calcium phosphate compared to the uninoculated control. The highest phosphorous solubilization was observed from the isolate PSBYL, with a value of 10.61mg/50ml, followed by PSBW with a value of 9.08 mg/50ml. The decrease in pH value correlated with the levels of tri-phosphate solubilization in the PVK broth by the PSB isolates. The pH dropped to 4.64 from the initial pH of 7.2 when grown in the broth, which suggests that the production of organic acids is likely the primary mechanism for phosphate solubilization.

Precipitation Patterns and Their Role in Modulating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Arid Desert Soil

Nitrous oxide (N2O) ranks as the third most significant greenhouse gas, capable of depleting the ozone layer and posing threats to terrestrial ecosystems. Climate change alters precipitation variability, notably in terms of frequency and magnitude. However, the implications of precipitation variability on N2O emissions and the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately understood. In this study, employing laboratory incubation methods on three representative sandy soil types (sandy soil, shrub soil, and crust soil), we examined the impacts of diverse precipitation levels (5 mm and 10 mm) and frequencies (7 days and 14 days) on N2O emissions from these soil types. This study aims to clarify the complex connections between soil N2O emission fluxes and soil physicochemical properties in the soil environment. Our findings reveal that the N2O emission flux exhibits heightened responsiveness to 5 mm precipitation events and a 14-day precipitation frequency, and compared to other treatments, the 5 mm precipitation and 14-day precipitation frequency treatment resulted in a 20% increase in cumulative nitrous oxide emissions. Consequently, cumulative N2O emissions were notably elevated under the 5 mm precipitation and 14-day precipitation frequency treatments compared to the other experimental conditions. The N2O emission flux in sandy soil displayed a positive correlation with available phosphorus (AP) and a negative correlation with pH, primarily attributed to the exceedingly low AP content in sandy soil. In shrub soil, the soil N2O emission flux exhibited a significant positive correlation with NH4+-N and a negative correlation with NO3−-N. Conversely, no significant correlations were observed between soil N2O emission flux and soil physicochemical properties in crust soil, underscoring the importance of considering plant–soil microbial interactions. Our findings suggest that soil nitrous oxide emissions in arid and semi-arid regions will be particularly responsive to small and frequent rainfall events as precipitation patterns change in the future, primarily due to their soil physicochemical characteristics.

Effect of plant-derived microbial soil legacy in a grafting system-a turn for the better.

Plant-soil feedback arises from microbial legacies left by plants in the soil. Grafting is a common technique used to prevent yield declines in monocultures. Yet, our understanding of how grafting alters the composition of soil microbiota and how these changes affect subsequent crop performance remains limited. Our experiment involved monoculturing ungrafted and grafted watermelons to obtain conditioned soils, followed by growing the watermelons on the conditioned soils to investigate plant-soil feedback effects. Ungrafted plants grew better in soil previously conditioned by a different plant (heterospecific soil) while grafted plants grew better in soil conditioned by the same plant (conspecific soil). We demonstrated experimentally that these differences in growth were linked to changes in microorganisms. Using a supervised machine learning algorithm, we showed that differences in the relative abundance of certain genera, such as Rhizobium, Chryseobacterium, Fusarium, and Aspergillus, significantly influenced the conspecific plant-soil feedback. Metabolomic analyses revealed that ungrafted plants in heterospecific soil enriched arginine biosynthesis, whereas grafted plants in conspecific soil increased sphingolipid metabolism. Elsewhere, the metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of ungrafted plants identified in heterospecific soil include Chryseobacterium and Lysobacter, microorganisms having been prominently identified in earlier research as contributors to plant growth. Metabolic reconstruction revealed the putative ability of Chryseobacterium to convert D-glucono-1,5-lactone to gluconic acid, pointing to distinct disease-suppressive mechanisms and hence distinct microbial functional legacies between grafted and ungrafted plants. Our findings show a deep impact of the soil microbial reservoir on plant growth and suggest the necessity to protect and improve this microbial community in agricultural soils. The work also suggests possibilities of optimizing microbiota-mediated benefits through grafting herein, a way that "engineered" soil microbial communities for better plant growth. Video Abstract.

Nutrient Uptake and Soil Nutrient Status as Influenced by Drip Fertigation Levels and Schedules in Broccoli

The experiment was carried out to study the effect of fertigation levels and schedules on growth and yield of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var italica) during the rabi season of 2021-22 involving 4 levels of fertilizer (75, 100 and 125 % RDF) along with one control (100 % RDF) through soil application and three fertigation scheduling (S1, S2 and S3) with three replications. The result of study revealed that higher fertigation of broccoli with balanced nutrition; better water and nutrient utilization gave significantly higher plant growth and yield and good quality of broccoli. In general, pooled mean revealed that application of 125 % RDF with fertigation schedule S2 :15 % NPK at transplanting to plant establishment, 1-10 DAT, 50 % NPK at curd initiation stage,11-35 DAT and 35 % NPK at curd development stage, 36-60 DAT recorded maximum NPK uptake in plant (kg/ha) and available NPK in soil (kg/ha).

Multifaceted impacts of nanoparticles on plant nutrient absorption and soil microbial communities

With the growth of the global population and the increasing scarcity of resources, the sustainability and efficiency improvement of agricultural production have become urgent needs. The rapid development of nanotechnology provides new solutions to this challenge, especially the application of nanoparticles in agriculture, which is gradually demonstrating its unique advantages and broad prospects. Nonetheless, various nanoparticles can influence plant growth in diverse manners, often through distinct mechanisms of action. Beyond their direct effects on the plant itself, they frequently alter the physicochemical properties of the soil and modulate the structure of microbial communities in the rhizosphere. This review focuses intently on the diverse methods through which nanoparticles can modulate plant growth, delving deeply into the interactions between nanoparticles and plants, as well as nanoparticles with soil and microbial communities. The aim is to offer a comprehensive reference for the utilization of functionalized nanoparticles in the agricultural sector.

Cyanobacteria's power trio: auxin, siderophores, and nitrogen fixation to foster thriving agriculture.

Cyanobacteria, often overlooked in traditional agriculture, are gaining recognition for their roles in enhancing plant growth and soil health through diverse mechanisms. This review examines their multifaceted contributions to agricultural systems, highlighting their proficiency in auxin production, which promotes plant growth and development. Additionally, we examined cyanobacteria's ability to produce siderophores that enhance iron absorption and address micronutrient deficiencies, as well as their capacity for nitrogen fixation, which converts atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can utilize, all with the goal of reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. A meta-analysis of existing studies indicates significant positive effects of cyanobacteria on crop yield, although variability exists. While some research shows considerable yield increases, other studies report non-significant changes, suggesting benefits may depend on specific conditions and crop types. The overall random-effects model estimate indicates a significant aggregate effect, with a few exceptions, emphasizing the need for further research to optimize the use of cyanobacteria as biofertilizers. Although cyanobacteria-based products are limited in comparison to seaweed-derived alternatives, for instance, ongoing challenges include regulatory issues and production costs. Integrating cultivation with wastewater treatment could enhance competitiveness and viability in the agricultural market.

Effects of Soil Compaction Stress Combined with Drought on Soil Pore Structure, Root System Development, and Maize Growth in Early Stage

Soil compaction is a major environmental stress to root development and plant growth. Meanwhile, drought always results in increasing soil mechanical impedance, which in turn aggravates soil compaction stress. In this study, a column experiment with three levels of compaction stress (low, moderate, and severe) and two levels of soil water content (well-watered and drought,) was established to investigate the effects of soil compaction combined with drought on soil pore structure, root development, and maize growth properties. The results showed that soil compaction combined with soil water stress significantly affected the characteristics of soil pore structure. With the increase in soil compaction, the porosity, larger pores (&gt;500 μm), and maximum pore diameter significantly decreased (p &lt; 0.05) regardless of soil water status. Additionally, both pore morphology and network parameters also deteriorated under soil compaction with drought conditions. Soil compaction substantially affected the root length, root volume, root surface area, and root average diameter in the whole profile (p &lt; 0.05). Compared to well-watered conditions, the effects of soil compaction on root characteristics under drought conditions were more obvious, which indicated that appropriate soil water content could alleviate compaction stress. The aboveground biomass and plant height showed a consistent trend with root traits under soil compaction stress regardless of water status. A Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that there were significant correlations between most soil pore parameters and maize growth traits. In addition, soil compaction showed a significant effect on both stomatal conductance and transpiration rate while soil water showed a significant effect on SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development).

Drone Technology in Agricultural Practices: A SWOC Analysis

Drone technology, also known as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), is transforming modern agriculture by introducing precision farming techniques that enhance crop monitoring, resource management, and sustainability. By providing real-time data on plant health, soil conditions, and irrigation needs, drones enable farmers to make informed decisions that optimize yields while reducing input costs. In India, the rapid growth of the drone sector highlights its increasing importance in addressing challenges such as labor shortages, water scarcity, and the need for more sustainable farming practices. This case study explores the adoption and impacts of drone technology in agricultural practices within Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India. The purposive sampling method was used to chosen the farmers. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and interviews with farmers who had adopted in drone technology. The study investigates the profile characteristics of farmers and evaluates the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges (SWOC) related to the adoption of drones in agriculture. Findings revealed that drone usage significantly improved farm efficiency, reduced labor dependency, and optimized the application of fertilizers and pesticides, resulting in lower input costs and more sustainable practices. However, challenges such as high upfront costs, fragmented land holdings, technical expertise gaps, and limited drone availability constrained wider adoption. This research concludes that while drones offer substantial potential to modernize agriculture and address labor and environmental challenges, further government support and farmer training are crucial to overcome adoption barriers. The study underscores the role of drones in promoting climate-resilient and sustainable farming practices.

Biochar co-compost increases the productivity of Brassica napus by improving antioxidant activities and soil health and reducing lead uptake

Lead (Pb) is a serious toxic metal without any beneficial role in the biological system. Biochar (BC) has emerged as an excellent soil amendment to mitigate Pb toxicity. The impact of BC co-compost (BCC) in mitigating the toxic impacts of Pb has not been studied yet. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of BC and BCC in improving the growth, physiological, and biochemical traits of Brassica napus and soil properties and reducing health risks (HR). The study was comprised of different Pb concentrations (control and 100 mg kg-1) and organic amendments (control, BC, compost, and BCC). The results indicated that Pb stress reduced the growth, photosynthetic pigments, seed yield, and oil contents by increasing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production and Pb uptake and accumulation in plant tissues and decreasing photosynthetic pigment and nutrient availability. The application of BCC alleviated the adverse impacts of Pb and improved seed production (40.24%) and oil yield (11.06%) by increasing chlorophyll a (43.18%) and chlorophyll b (25.58%) synthesis, relative water content (23.89%), total soluble protein (TSP: 23.14%), free amino acids (FAA: 26.47%), proline (30.98%), APX (40.90%), CAT (32.79%), POD (24.93%), and SOD (33.30%) activity. Biochar co-compost-mediated increase in seed and oil yield was also linked with a reduced accumulation of Pb in plant parts and soil Pb availability and improved the soil-available phosphorus, potassium, total nitrogen, soil organic carbon (SOC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC). Furthermore, BCC also reduced the bioaccumulation concentration, daily metal intake, hazard index, and target hazard quotient. In conclusion, application of BCC can increase the growth, yield, and oil contents of Brassica napus by improving the physiological and biochemical traits and soil properties and reducing the Pb uptake.