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Agronomy, Volume 12, Issue 4 (April 2022) – 226 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Date palm cultivation is highly relevant, especially in the arid and semiarid regions of the world, mainly due to the fact that it is considered an ecoefficient crop (based on its few growth requirements and the fact that it is economical and sustainable) that produces a nutritious fruit (date fruit). Recently, its implantation has rapidly spread to other areas of the world as a viable option to fight against the consequences of climate change, but also due to several health benefits associated with date fruit (pulp and seeds) that make them a potential source of functional food ingredients. View this paper.
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13 pages, 9495 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Canopy Cooling in Wheat under High Temperature and Drought Stress
by Vidisha Thakur, Jagadish Rane and Amol N. Nankar
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 978; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040978 - 18 Apr 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2834
Abstract
The size and the weight of wheat grains vary across the length of each spike (Triticum aestivum L.). High temperature and water scarcity often reduce the single grain weight, and this reduction also varies across the spike length. Plants tend to cope [...] Read more.
The size and the weight of wheat grains vary across the length of each spike (Triticum aestivum L.). High temperature and water scarcity often reduce the single grain weight, and this reduction also varies across the spike length. Plants tend to cope with high temperature and drought stress through inherent mechanisms such ascanopy cooling through transpiration, which can contribute to yield stability. The effect of canopy cooling on the average grain weight at different positions in spike is still unknown. In this study, we planned to assess the role of canopy temperature, yield-related traits, and spike shape in final grain weight. For two years (2017–2018 and 2018–2019), fifteen diverse genotypes released for cultivation in different environmental conditions were grown in the field. They were examined for canopy temperature, spikelets spike−1, grain number spike−1, grain yield spike−1, and grain weight of the spike’s basal, median, and distal regions. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was obtained for all pair-wise combinations of traits under different treatments and spike shapes. The results indicated that cooler canopy is correlated to grain weight in normal spike shape at all three positions within the spike irrespective of stress. The advantage of the cooler canopy in improving grain-filling at basal, median, and distal regions was more conspicuous in the high temperature stress conditions compared to non-stressed and drought conditions. Full article
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13 pages, 23510 KiB  
Article
Influence of the New Energy Context on the Spanish Agri-Food Industry
by José L. García, Alicia Perdigones, Rosa M. Benavente and Fernando R. Mazarrón
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 977; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040977 - 18 Apr 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2176
Abstract
The Spanish agri-food industries face a new energy context radically different from the one existing less than a year ago. A comparable situation is occurring in other European countries. The great variability and different seasonality of the agro-industries condition the adaptation measures to [...] Read more.
The Spanish agri-food industries face a new energy context radically different from the one existing less than a year ago. A comparable situation is occurring in other European countries. The great variability and different seasonality of the agro-industries condition the adaptation measures to be implemented. This article quantifies the impact of the new energy context on real industries with quite different consumption patterns. More than 1000 scenarios have been analysed to determine the effectiveness of adaptation measures. The study results demonstrate the critical situation to which the sector is subjected. The new tariff system affects the agri-food sector in an unequal way, benefiting industries with marked seasonality. In just one year, the electricity bill has increased between 62% and 151%. The savings generated by implementing measures such as optimising contracted power to a new hourly discrimination system (up to 6%) or shifting consumption to lower-cost periods (up to 21%) do not seem sufficient. If prices do not fall drastically, immediate installation of generation systems, such as photovoltaic panels, appears essential to maintain the viability and competitiveness of the sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from 11th Iberian Agroengineering Congress)
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17 pages, 1034 KiB  
Article
Flux of Root-Derived Carbon into the Nematode Micro-Food Web: A Comparison of Grassland and Agroforest
by Christin Hemmerling, Zhipeng Li, Lingling Shi, Johanna Pausch and Liliane Ruess
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 976; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040976 - 18 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1892
Abstract
Carbon (C) cycling is crucial to agroecosystem functioning. Important determinants for the belowground C flow are soil food webs, with microorganisms and microfaunal grazers, i.e., nematodes, as key biota. The present study investigates the incorporation of plant-derived C into the nematode micro-food web [...] Read more.
Carbon (C) cycling is crucial to agroecosystem functioning. Important determinants for the belowground C flow are soil food webs, with microorganisms and microfaunal grazers, i.e., nematodes, as key biota. The present study investigates the incorporation of plant-derived C into the nematode micro-food web under two different cropping systems, grassland (ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.)) and agroforest (willow (Salix schwerinii Wolf and Salix viminalis L)). To quantify the C flux from the plant into the soil micro-food web, grass and willow were pulse-labeled with 13CO2 and the incorporation of 13C into the nematode trophic groups was monitored 3, 7, 14 and 28 days after labeling. The natural stable isotope signals (13C/12C, 15N/14N) were analyzed to determine the structure of the nematode micro-food web. The natural isotopic δ15N signal revealed different trophic levels for omnivores and predators in grassland and agroforest soils. The incorporation of plant C into nematode tissue was detectable three days after 13CO2 labeling with the highest and fastest C allocation in plant feeders in grassland, and in fungal feeders in agroforest soil. C flux dynamics between the aboveground vegetation and belowground micro-food web varied with cropping system. This demonstrates that crop-specific translocation of C affects the multitrophic interactions in the root environment, which in turn can alter soil nutrient cycling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nematodes: Drivers of Agricultural Ecosystem Performance)
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14 pages, 3326 KiB  
Article
Screening Direct Seeding-Related Traits by Using an Improved Mesocotyl Elongation Assay and Association between Seedling and Maturity Traits in Rice
by Muhammad Uzair, Suyash B. Patil, Hongrui Zhang, Ashmit Kumar, Humphrey Mkumbwa, Syed Adeel Zafar, Yan Chun, Jingjing Fang, Jinfeng Zhao, Muhammad Ramzan Khan, Shoujiang Yuan and Xueyong Li
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 975; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040975 - 18 Apr 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2192
Abstract
Direct seeding (DS) of rice gained much attention due to labor scarcity and unavailability of water. However, reduced emergence and poor seedling establishment are the main problems of DS which causes significant yield losses. Herein, DS-associated seedling traits of three major rice groups, [...] Read more.
Direct seeding (DS) of rice gained much attention due to labor scarcity and unavailability of water. However, reduced emergence and poor seedling establishment are the main problems of DS which causes significant yield losses. Herein, DS-associated seedling traits of three major rice groups, i.e., Indica (Ind), Japonica (Jap), and aus-type (Aus), were evaluated by using an improved mesocotyl elongation assay. The associations among different traits at the seedling and maturity stage were also studied. Significant variation was observed among the cultivars of different rice groups. The Aus group cultivars showed higher mean values for coleoptile (C, 3.85 cm), mesocotyl (MC, 4.17 cm), shoot length (SL, 13.64 cm), panicle length (PL, 23.44 cm), tillers number (T, 15.95), culm length (CL, 105.29 cm), and plant height (PH, 128.73 cm), while the Indica and Japonica groups showed higher mean values of grain length (GL, 8.69 mm), grain length/width ratio (GL/WR, 3.07), and grain width (GW, 3.31 mm), with 1000 grain weight (TGWt, 25.53 g), respectively. Pairwise correlation analysis showed that MC, C, and SL were positively correlated among themselves and with PL, CL, and PH. Moreover, based on principal component analysis (PCA), C, MC, SL, CL, and PH were identified as the major discriminative factors in the rice cultivars. This study describes the development of desired DS rice variety with long MC and semidwarf in height and suggests that Aus group cultivars can be used as the donor parents of favorable DS-associated traits in rice breeding programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agronomy of Direct-Seeded Rice)
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21 pages, 1292 KiB  
Article
Regional Business Environment, Agricultural Opening-Up and High-Quality Development: Dynamic Empirical Analysis from China’s Agriculture
by Dezhen Wang, Buwajian Abula, Quan Lu, Yang Liu and Yujiao Zhou
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 974; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040974 - 18 Apr 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2362
Abstract
Agriculture is the foundation of every country’s survival and development. This paper analyzes the interaction between the business environment, agricultural opening-up and high-quality agricultural economy from the perspective of China’s provinces. According to the panel data of 31 provinces and municipalities in China [...] Read more.
Agriculture is the foundation of every country’s survival and development. This paper analyzes the interaction between the business environment, agricultural opening-up and high-quality agricultural economy from the perspective of China’s provinces. According to the panel data of 31 provinces and municipalities in China from 2009 to 2019, the empirical analysis was carried out based on the panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model. The results show that there is a quantitative interaction between China’s business environment, agricultural opening-up and high-quality agricultural development, and the long-term time effect is very obvious. Specifically, (1) the impact of the business environment and the high-quality development of agriculture on itself is decreasing year by year. The agriculture opening-up itself has a strong impact and has always maintained strong stability. (2) The high-quality development of the agricultural economy has little impact on the business environment and the opening of agriculture to the outside world, but it has a certain stable and continuous effect. It is particularly important that the agricultural opening-up has an increasingly strong effect on the business environment and the high-quality development of the agricultural economy as time progresses. Therefore, we must always adhere to the agriculture opening-up. The regional business environment and the agriculture opening-up can jointly promote the high-quality development of the agricultural economy. The research results can provide a basis and reference for the central and local governments to formulate relevant agricultural development policies and provide a reference for relevant agricultural economic entities and enterprises. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economy and Sociology in Sustainable Agriculture)
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15 pages, 1138 KiB  
Article
Genotypic Variation for Salt Tolerance within and between ‘Alamo’ and ‘Kanlow’ Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) Cultivars
by Surya L. Shrestha, Carl Sams and Fred Allen
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 973; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040973 - 18 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1541
Abstract
Switchgrass tolerates nutrient and water limitations; however, high salt concentrations may inhibit its production. Therefore, the salt tolerance potential of switchgrass needs to be enhanced for economic production. The objective of this study was to determine the differences within and between two lowland [...] Read more.
Switchgrass tolerates nutrient and water limitations; however, high salt concentrations may inhibit its production. Therefore, the salt tolerance potential of switchgrass needs to be enhanced for economic production. The objective of this study was to determine the differences within and between two lowland cultivars of switchgrass for growth, stomatal morphology, photosynthetic pigments content, and mineral traits. A greenhouse study was conducted on 18 sublines, derived from the cultivars Alamo (A) and Kanlow (K), plus a salt-tolerant and sensitivity check (20 genotypes). A split-plot randomized complete block design was used with three replications per treatment (0, 5, 10, and 20 dS m−1 NaCl). High salt concentrations (10 and 20 dS m−1 NaCl) reduced shoot biomass, stem diameter, and plant height up to 21, 11, and 16%, respectively, compared to the control for all genotypes (p < 0.05). Chlorophyll a and adaxial stomata width were moderately correlated with growth traits under saline conditions (r = 0.49 to 0.56, p < 0.05). The sublines 12A-227, TN13006-04, 12A-259, 12K-247, and TN13009-08 had better growth and accumulated less salt in shoot biomass than both checks. These results indicate that differences exist within and between the Alamo and Kanlow sublines, and it is possible to breed improved cultivars with increased salt tolerance. Full article
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20 pages, 5877 KiB  
Article
Soil Responses to High Olive Mill Wastewater Spreading
by Leïla Chaâri, Norah Salem Alsaiari, Abdelfattah Amari, Faouzi Ben Rebah, Monem Kallel and Tahar Mechichi
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 972; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040972 - 18 Apr 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1981
Abstract
Olive manufacturing generates the most polluting wastewater. Olive mill wastewater (OMW) contains a large amount of organic and inorganic fractions. Olive-oil-producing countries have investigated several treatments and valorization processes for better management of this waste. The Tunisian government adopted OMW spreading on soil [...] Read more.
Olive manufacturing generates the most polluting wastewater. Olive mill wastewater (OMW) contains a large amount of organic and inorganic fractions. Olive-oil-producing countries have investigated several treatments and valorization processes for better management of this waste. The Tunisian government adopted OMW spreading on soil to manage the waste and improve the organic matter in the soil of olive groves. The examination of soil after OMW spreading was set up to assess the physicochemical changes and better comprehend the soil’s responses. An incubation of two types of artificial soil treated with 40 and 80 m3·ha−1 of OMW led to increased organic matter, phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium contents. The adsorption of the phenolic compounds in soil was dependent on the clay type and was shown by the behavior of the soil composed of bentonite clay. The germination index of tomato and alfalfa seeds recorded a positive test with OMW applied on soil, and it was in relation to the species utilized. This practice seems to be a solution for the management of OMW because it limits the use of chemical fertilizers and might be a convenient source of carbon in organic farming. Full article
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25 pages, 6479 KiB  
Article
Effect of Ammonium Sulphate Incorporated with Calcium Nitrate Fertilizers on Nutritional Status, Fruit Set and Yield of Pomegranate Trees cv. Wonderful
by Naji Mordi Naji Al-Dosary, Mahmoud Abdel-Sattar and Abdulwahed M. Aboukarima
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 971; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040971 - 17 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4107
Abstract
The effect of (NH4)2SO4:Ca(NO3)2 ratios applied by fertigation on nutritional status, fruit set, yield, and marketable yield of pomegranate trees cv. Wonderful was evaluated. The trees were provided with five nutrient solutions with the [...] Read more.
The effect of (NH4)2SO4:Ca(NO3)2 ratios applied by fertigation on nutritional status, fruit set, yield, and marketable yield of pomegranate trees cv. Wonderful was evaluated. The trees were provided with five nutrient solutions with the same total nitrogen level (200 units/ha) but with different (NH4)2SO4:Ca(NO3)2 ratios (100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40). Increasing the (NH4)2SO4 ratio from 60 to 100% significantly reduced the nitrogen (N), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and potassium (K) concentrations while significantly increasing P and Fe concentrations in pomegranate leaves. The highest (NH4)2SO4 proportion (100%) induced a reduction in both chlorophyll content and dry matter values in pomegranate leaves. The maximum fruit set (33.65% and 31.40%) and the minimum fruit drop (6.74% and 6.25%) were recorded at the applied ratio of 60% of (NH4)2SO4:40% of Ca(NO3)2. The applied proportion of 70% of (NH4)2SO4:30% of Ca(NO3)2 provided the minimum fruit sunburn (9.54% and 9.74%) and fruit cracking (6.45% and 5.64%), maximum yield (33.62 and 33.00 kg/tree), and marketable yield (27.41 and 27.93 kg/tree) in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, respectively. Our results provide valuable information about the effects of partial replacement of nitrogen fertilizer from (NH4)2SO4 with nitrogen fertilizer from Ca(NO3)2 on the growth characteristics of pomegranate trees cv. Wonderful. Full article
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16 pages, 1483 KiB  
Article
An Assessment Framework to Analyze Drought Management Plans: The Case of Spain
by Julia Urquijo-Reguera, María Teresa Gómez-Villarino, David Pereira and Lucia De Stefano
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 970; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040970 - 17 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2326
Abstract
Droughts affect all socio-economic sectors and have negative impacts on the environment. Droughts are expected to increase in frequency and severity due to climate change, which makes their effective management a high priority for policy makers and water managers. Drought Management Plans (DMPs) [...] Read more.
Droughts affect all socio-economic sectors and have negative impacts on the environment. Droughts are expected to increase in frequency and severity due to climate change, which makes their effective management a high priority for policy makers and water managers. Drought Management Plans (DMPs) are a key instrument to deal with droughts and help to prepare for them in a proactive way as a framework for coordinated action before and during droughts. The development of DMPs is still incipient worldwide and their assessment remains limited. In Spain, DMPs at a river basin level were first approved in 2007. Following the legal obligation set in Spanish law, those plans were revised after ten years and a new version was approved in 2018. A content analysis was developed for assessing the 2018 DMPs of eight river basins managed by their corresponding River Basin Authorities, which depend on the Spanish central government. The evaluation criteria were set using the extant scientific literature and official guidelines on drought preparedness and management. The analysis showed that some aspects of the DMPs are especially well-developed, e.g., the distinction between drought and water scarcity, the definition of thresholds to trigger different levels of drought and water scarcity alerts and actions for drought management and coordination. Other issues still need further improvement, especially those related to the analysis of drought impacts, the assessment of vulnerability and the ex-post evaluation of DPM performance. Full article
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15 pages, 1852 KiB  
Article
Integrative Transcriptomics and Proteomics Elucidate the Regulatory Mechanism of Hydrangea macrophylla Flower-Color Changes Induced by Exogenous Aluminum
by Haixia Chen, Denghui Wang, Yali Zhu, Wenfang Li, Jiren Chen and Yufan Li
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040969 - 17 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1957
Abstract
The mechanism through which Hydrangea macrophylla are able to change color has been the focus of investigation for many studies. However, the molecular mechanism involved in the complexation of aluminum ions and anthocyanins to regulate the color change remains unclear. Here, the color-changing [...] Read more.
The mechanism through which Hydrangea macrophylla are able to change color has been the focus of investigation for many studies. However, the molecular mechanism involved in the complexation of aluminum ions and anthocyanins to regulate the color change remains unclear. Here, the color-changing mechanism was investigated in Hydrangea macrophylla plants under aluminum stress using proteome and transcriptome sequencing methods. Catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, 3-O-delphinidin and Al3+ contents in sepal were significantly upregulated upon Al3+ treatment. Moreover, 1628 differentially expressed genes and 448 differentially expressed proteins were identified between the treated and untreated conditions. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the differentially expressed genes and differentially expressed proteins were enriched in categories related to the cell wall, peroxidase activity, and peroxisome pathways. Importantly, eight genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis were significantly downregulated at the transcript and protein levels under aluminum stress. These results suggest that aluminum ions induce expression changes of related key genes, which regulate the hydrangea’s flower color. Overall, this study provides a valuable reference for the molecular mechanism relating to the color change and adaptation of Hydrangea macrophylla in response to aluminum stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Horticultural Crops-from Omics to Biotechnology)
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11 pages, 687 KiB  
Article
An Optimized Protocol for Micropropagation and Acclimatization of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) Variety ‘Aroma’
by Juan C. Neri, Jegnes Benjamín Meléndez-Mori, José Jesús Tejada-Alvarado, Nuri Carito Vilca-Valqui, Eyner Huaman-Huaman, Manuel Oliva and Malluri Goñas
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 968; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040968 - 17 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4756
Abstract
In strawberry micropropagation, several challenges must be overcome to obtain quality plants and achieve high survival rate to ex vitro acclimatization. In this study, therefore, a set of protocols were evaluated to optimize explant (meristem) disinfection, in vitro growth (multiplication and rooting), and [...] Read more.
In strawberry micropropagation, several challenges must be overcome to obtain quality plants and achieve high survival rate to ex vitro acclimatization. In this study, therefore, a set of protocols were evaluated to optimize explant (meristem) disinfection, in vitro growth (multiplication and rooting), and ex vitro acclimatization of strawberry. The results showed that explants treated with 1.0% NaClO for 5 min had a lower percentage of contamination, and achieved a higher percentage of viability, height, and number of leaves. In vitro growth was favored by the use of 1 mg L−1 zeatin, since it allowed greater seedling growth (number of shoots, seedling height, number of leaves, number of roots and root length), and a higher pre-acclimation rate (100%). In the acclimatization phase, plants grown in a substrate composed of compost + peat combined with 4 g of humic acid achieved better response in morphological and physiological variables. In fact, the results of this study could be used to cultivate strawberry plants of the ‘Aroma’ variety with high commercial quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Horticultural and Floricultural Crops)
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22 pages, 4319 KiB  
Review
Mobile Computing for Pest and Disease Management Using Spectral Signature Analysis: A Review
by Nik Norasma Che’Ya, Nur Adibah Mohidem, Nor Athirah Roslin, Mohammadmehdi Saberioon, Mohammad Zakri Tarmidi, Jasmin Arif Shah, Wan Fazilah Fazlil Ilahi and Norsida Man
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 967; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040967 - 16 Apr 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4346
Abstract
The demand for mobile applications in agriculture is increasing as smartphones are continuously developed and used for many purposes; one of them is managing pests and diseases in crops. Using mobile applications, farmers can detect early infection and improve the specified treatment and [...] Read more.
The demand for mobile applications in agriculture is increasing as smartphones are continuously developed and used for many purposes; one of them is managing pests and diseases in crops. Using mobile applications, farmers can detect early infection and improve the specified treatment and precautions to prevent further infection from occurring. Furthermore, farmers can communicate with agricultural authorities to manage their farm from home, and efficiently obtain information such as the spectral signature of crops. Therefore, the spectral signature can be used as a reference to detect pests and diseases with a hyperspectral sensor more efficiently than the conventional method, which takes more time to monitor the entire crop field. This review aims to show the current and future trends of mobile computing based on spectral signature analysis for pest and disease management. In this review, the use of mobile applications for pest and disease monitoring is evaluated based on image processing, the systems developed for pest and disease extraction, and the structure of steps outlined in developing a mobile application. Moreover, a comprehensive literature review on the utilisation of spectral signature analysis for pest and disease management is discussed. The spectral reflectance used in monitoring plant health and image processing for pest and disease diagnosis is mentioned. The review also elaborates on the integration of a spectral signature library within mobile application devices to obtain information about pests and disease in crop fields by extracting information from hyperspectral datasets. This review demonstrates the necessary scientific knowledge for visualising the spectral signature of pests and diseases using a mobile application, allowing this technology to be used in real-world agricultural settings. Full article
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16 pages, 5508 KiB  
Article
The Relationship between Soil Respiration and Plant Community Functional Traits in Ebinur Lake Basin
by Huiyi Sheng, Jinlong Wang, Xuemin He and Guanghui Lv
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040966 - 16 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2112
Abstract
Soil respiration (Rs) plays an important role in the carbon cycle of terrestrial ecosystems. Understanding the impacts of plant community functional traits on Rs is a key prerequisite for accurate prediction of the future carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems under climate change. This [...] Read more.
Soil respiration (Rs) plays an important role in the carbon cycle of terrestrial ecosystems. Understanding the impacts of plant community functional traits on Rs is a key prerequisite for accurate prediction of the future carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems under climate change. This study examined the relationship of Rs with plants in the Ebinur Lake Basin in the arid desert region. Traditional statistical methods and geostatistical methods were used to study the spatial variation characteristics of Rs and to analyze the effects of plant community functional traits and environmental factors on the spatial heterogeneity of Rs. The variation in Rs in the arid desert area of the Ebinur Lake Basin showed a strong spatial dependence (C0/(C + C0) = 0.11) and a medium variation (α = 25.50, CV = 86.21%). Principal component analysis revealed that morphological traits of plants and soil water content had great contributions to PC1, soil nutrient had great contributions to PC2, and physiological traits of plants and soil temperature had large contributions to PC3. Multiple regression analysis showed that PC1, PC2, and PC3 can explain 83% of the spatial heterogeneity of Rs (F = 157.41, p < 0.01). In conclusion, maximum height, leaf width, leaf dry matter content, leaf thickness, and soil water content were the principal driving elements of soil respiration heterogeneity. Full article
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23 pages, 303 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Combining Ability and Heterosis of Popular Restorer and Male Sterile Lines for the Development of Superior Rice Hybrids
by Abul Kalam Azad, Umakanta Sarker, Sezai Ercisli, Amine Assouguem, Riaz Ullah, Rafa Almeer, Amany A. Sayed and Ilaria Peluso
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 965; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040965 - 16 Apr 2022
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 2665
Abstract
Twenty-four hybrids, obtained from a mating design following 6 line × 4 testers, were evaluated to estimate the heterosis, specific, and general combining ability (SCA and GCA) of parents and hybrids to find out suitable general combiner (GC) parents and cross combinations for [...] Read more.
Twenty-four hybrids, obtained from a mating design following 6 line × 4 testers, were evaluated to estimate the heterosis, specific, and general combining ability (SCA and GCA) of parents and hybrids to find out suitable general combiner (GC) parents and cross combinations for utilization in the future breeding program. A randomized complete block design with three replications was followed to set the experiment. Data were recorded on grain yield and 13 yield-related agronomic traits. The analysis of variance of all cross combinations had highly significant differences for most of the characters studied, which indicated a wide variation across the genotypes, parents, lines, testers, and crosses. SCA and GCA variances were significant for all studied traits except for the panicle length, indicating that both non-additive and additive gene actions were involved in these traits. The GCA variance/SCA variance for all the traits was <1, signifying the multitude of dominant and epistatic gene actions. The GCA effects of three lines GAN46A, IR58025A, IR62629A, and a tester IR46R were significant for the majority of the agronomic traits including grain yield and might be used for improving the yield of grains in rice as parents of excellent GC. Based on the yield of grains and agronomic traits, the hybrids IR58025A × IR46R and GAN46A × IR46R might be considered the best hybrids and another nine hybrids could also be considered good hybrids. Similarly, based on the yield of grains and agronomic traits, the positive and significant mid-parent, better parent, and standard heterosis were obtained from 3 F1s, 1 F1, and 3 F1s, respectively. Heterosis and combining ability study revealed that hybrids IR58025A × IR46R and GAN46A × IR46R might be considered preferable hybrid cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Breeding: Future Status and Future Prospects - Series II)
14 pages, 14721 KiB  
Article
Pumpkin Yield Estimation Using Images from a UAV
by Henrik Skov Midtiby and Elżbieta Pastucha
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 964; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040964 - 16 Apr 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2226
Abstract
The paper presents a pumpkin yield estimation method using images acquired by a UAV. The processing pipeline is fully automated. It consists of orthomosaic generation, a color model collection using a random subset of the data, color segmentation, and finally counting of pumpkin [...] Read more.
The paper presents a pumpkin yield estimation method using images acquired by a UAV. The processing pipeline is fully automated. It consists of orthomosaic generation, a color model collection using a random subset of the data, color segmentation, and finally counting of pumpkin blobs together with assessing the number of pumpkins in each blob. The algorithm was validated by a manual check of 5% of each tested dataset. The precision value ranges between 0.959 and 0.996, recall between 0.971 and 0.987, and F1 score falls between 0.971 and 0.988. This proves the very high efficiency of the processing workflow and its potential value to farmers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Yield Prediction in Precision Agriculture)
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20 pages, 3730 KiB  
Article
Prediction of Strawberries’ Quality Parameters Using Artificial Neural Networks
by Tiziana Amoriello, Roberto Ciccoritti and Patrizia Ferrante
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 963; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040963 - 16 Apr 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2383
Abstract
Strawberry is a very popular fruit, appreciated for its unique flavor and many beneficial traits such as antioxidants and useful amino acids, which strongly contribute to the overall quality of the product. Indeed, the quality of fresh fruit is a fundamental aspect for [...] Read more.
Strawberry is a very popular fruit, appreciated for its unique flavor and many beneficial traits such as antioxidants and useful amino acids, which strongly contribute to the overall quality of the product. Indeed, the quality of fresh fruit is a fundamental aspect for consumers, and it is crucial for the success of breeding activities as well as for enhancing the competitiveness and profitability of the fruit industry. Nowadays, the entire supply chain requires simple and fast systems for quality evaluation. In this context, the pomological and chemical traits (i.e., soluble solids, firmness, titratable acidity, dry matter) as well as nutritional ones such as total phenols, total anthocyanins and antioxidant potential were evaluated and compared for seven strawberry cultivars and three harvest times. The prediction of the qualitative traits was carried out using color space coordinates (L*, a* and b*) and two statistical techniques, i.e., the multiple linear regression models (MLR) and artificial neural networks (ANNs). Unsatisfactory prediction performances were obtained for all parameters when MLR was applied. On the contrary, the good prediction of the internal quality attributes, using ANN, was observed, especially for both antioxidant activity and the total monomeric anthocyanin (R2 = 0.906, and R2 = 0.943, respectively). This study highlighted that color coordinates coupled with ANN can be successfully used to evaluate the quality of strawberry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhanced Product Quality of Plant Material from Field Crops)
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16 pages, 936 KiB  
Article
Evolutionary Variation of Accumulative Day Length and Accumulative Active Temperature Required for Growth Periods in Global Soybeans
by Can Wang, Xueqin Liu, Xiaoshuai Hao, Yongpeng Pan, Chunmei Zong, Weiying Zeng, Wubin Wang, Guangnan Xing, Jianbo He and Junyi Gai
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 962; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040962 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1423
Abstract
Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a typical short-day and thermophilic crop. This study aimed to reveal the required accumulative day length (ADL) and accumulative active temperature (AAT) for DSF (days of sowing to flowering) and DFM (days of flowering to maturity) [...] Read more.
Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a typical short-day and thermophilic crop. This study aimed to reveal the required accumulative day length (ADL) and accumulative active temperature (AAT) for DSF (days of sowing to flowering) and DFM (days of flowering to maturity) in global soybeans. A sample consisted of 354 varieties from 27 countries in five geographic regions, which were tested in Nanjing, China in two spring-sowing and two summer-sowing seasons. The ADL and AAT were calculated from the climatological data provided by the Public Service of Nanjing Meteorological Bureau. The results showed that the average DSF and DFM of global soybeans were 41.0 d and 83.3 d, which required ADLDSF of 606.6 d·h and AATDSF of 1185.9 d·°C, ADLDFM of 1126.7 d·h and AATDFM of 2145.1 d·°C, respectively, all with a wide variation among/within geographic and MG(maturity-group)-set subpopulations. From the multiple regression of DSF and DFM on required ADL and AAT, the ADL, AAT and ADL×AAT contributed 38.5%, 44.79% and 17.10% to DSF variation and 86.98%, 11.42% and 0.54% to DFM variation, respectively, and their relative importance to DSF and DFM varied among the geographic and MG subpopulations. The geographic subpopulations matched only partially with the genomic marker clusters, indicating multiple genetic sources of each subpopulation and that genetic exchange happened among subpopulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontier Studies in Legumes Genetic Breeding and Production)
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17 pages, 2749 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Source–Sink Traits and Carbon Translocation in Maize Hybrids under High Plant Density
by Hong Ren, Hua Qi, Ming Zhao, Wenbin Zhou, Xinbing Wang, Xiangwei Gong, Ying Jiang and Congfeng Li
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 961; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040961 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1775
Abstract
Both compact planting and selecting superior maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids can greatly optimize the source–sink relationship and enhance maize productivity. However, the underlying physiological mechanism for regulating carbon (C) assimilate transport and influencing grain yield between maize cultivars has remained unclear [...] Read more.
Both compact planting and selecting superior maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids can greatly optimize the source–sink relationship and enhance maize productivity. However, the underlying physiological mechanism for regulating carbon (C) assimilate transport and influencing grain yield between maize cultivars has remained unclear under contrasting plant densities. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate grain yield, vascular bundle character, grain filling, C allocation in grains and other tissues, and hormone level and enzyme activity in grains under 60,000 (ND) and 90,000 plants ha−1 (HD) densities using Xianyu 335 (XY335) and Zhengdan958 (ZD958) hybrids. Compared to the ZD958, XY335 increased grain yield, kernel number per plant (KNP), and sink capacity by 11.4%, 15.7%, and 7.4%, respectively. Moreover, XY335 performed higher net photosynthetic rate and sucrose synthase activities in grains than those in ZD958, and higher levels of sucrose phosphate synthase and soluble acid invertase activity were mainly exhibited in the middle of the grain filling stage, which contributed to increasing the proportion of grain in total dry matter, grain C content and leaf C transport efficiency by 4.3%, 12.2%, and 52.9%, respectively, under HD conditions. Additionally, a greater area and number of small vascular bundle in ear of XY335 resulted in 21.3% higher matter transport efficiency and 4.8% higher maximum grain filling rate than ZD958 under HD conditions. In addition, grains of XY335 exhibited generally higher levels of indole acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA), as well as ABA/GA3 ratio after maize pollination relative to those from ZD958, conducive to regulating C translocation from leaves to grains. Overall, our study illustrates that stronger source activity, sink characteristics, and matter transport channels for maize hybrids are significant for C assimilate transport to grain for achieving high grain yield under higher plant density. Full article
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13 pages, 654 KiB  
Article
Herbicidal Effect of Different Alternative Compounds to Control Conyza bonariensis in Vineyards
by Carlos Cabrera-Pérez, Aritz Royo-Esnal and Jordi Recasens
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 960; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040960 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1702
Abstract
Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist is a widespread noxious weed with high fecundity, associated with no-till systems such as vineyards and other perennial crops in Mediterranean climates. Seeds germinate in staggered flushes, which leads to a great variation in the growth stage between individuals [...] Read more.
Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist is a widespread noxious weed with high fecundity, associated with no-till systems such as vineyards and other perennial crops in Mediterranean climates. Seeds germinate in staggered flushes, which leads to a great variation in the growth stage between individuals in the same field, and chemical control becomes challenging. Besides, Conyza species have evolved resistance to herbicides worldwide, particularly to glyphosate. Even though tillage is expected to provide weed-free fields, it negatively affects vineyards, causing erosion, loss of soil structure and a reduction in organic matter or vine growth (shallow roots can be affected), among other effects. Fuel consumption of this management is also very high because recurrent interventions of in-row tiller are required. In this context, bioherbicides, defined as environmentally friendly natural substances intended to reduce weed populations, are a potential tool for integrated weed management (IWM). In this work, the herbicidal effect of the following six products is tested on a glyphosate-resistant C. bonariensis population present in commercial vineyards: T1, mixture of acetic acid 20% and the fertilizer N32; T2, mixture of potassium metabisulfite and pelargonic acid 31%; T3, pelargonic acid 68%; T4, humic-fulvic acid 80%; T5, hydroxy phosphate complex; and T6, potassium metabisulfite. The results showed high field efficacy for T1 and T4 (>80% biomass reduction). For the rest of the products, high efficacy was obtained only in dose–response greenhouse experiments. The present work demonstrates the potential of certain bioherbicide compounds to manage herbicide-resistant weed species, such as C. bonariensis. Therefore, bioherbicides could be successfully incorporated into vineyards for IWM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds as Bioherbicide for an Eco-Friendly Agriculture)
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16 pages, 2309 KiB  
Article
Morphophysiological Responses of Two Cool-Season Turfgrasses with Different Shade Tolerances
by Lili Dong, Liangbing Xiong, Xiaoyang Sun, Saud Shah, Zhixin Guo, Xueying Zhao, Lizhi Liu, Lintao Cheng, Zhi Tian, Fuchun Xie and Yajun Chen
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 959; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040959 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1714
Abstract
Understanding the differences in cool-season turfgrass responses to shade is critical for future turfgrass management and breeding for improved shade tolerance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shade-tolerance mechanisms of two cool-season turfgrass species in terms of turf performance, growth, [...] Read more.
Understanding the differences in cool-season turfgrass responses to shade is critical for future turfgrass management and breeding for improved shade tolerance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shade-tolerance mechanisms of two cool-season turfgrass species in terms of turf performance, growth, and physiological characteristics. Two turfgrass species, namely, ’SupraNova’ (Poa. supina Schrad.) and ‘Lark’ (Lolium perenne L.), were subjected to 0 (CK, unshaded), 35% (LS), 70% (MS), and 92% (HS) shade, respectively. Compared with ‘Lark’, ‘SupraNova’ showed better turf quality (TQ) and turf color intensity (TCI) under shade. The total length and surface area of the roots of ‘Lark’ gradually decreased as the shade increased, while those of ‘SupraNova’ increased and then decreased with increasing shade. The chlorophyll fluorescence photochemical quenching coefficient (qP), electron transport rate (ETR), and maximum quantum yield of primary photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Fv/Fm) decreased significantly under HS; however, these decreases were more significant in ‘Lark’ than in ‘SupraNova’. The leaf reflectance of the two turfgrasses under shade was lower than that under CK, but the leaf reflectance of ‘Lark’ was higher than that of ‘SupraNova’ in the visible light band. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of the two grasses first decreased and then increased. The NDVI of ‘Lark’ under shade was slightly higher than that under CK. ‘SupraNova’ showed strong tolerance on the basis of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2·), and ascorbic acid (AsA) contents and superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activity. The MDA, H2O2, O2·, and AsA contents and SOD, POD, and CAT activity (which represent indicators) changed the most under MS. Taken together, the results indicated that the adaptability of ‘SupraNova’ to shade was better than that of ‘Lark’. Full article
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14 pages, 5192 KiB  
Article
Remote Sensing of Maize Plant Height at Different Growth Stages Using UAV-Based Digital Surface Models (DSM)
by Leon Hinrich Oehme, Alice-Jacqueline Reineke, Thea Mi Weiß, Tobias Würschum, Xiongkui He and Joachim Müller
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 958; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040958 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2583
Abstract
Plant height of maize is related to lodging resistance and yield and is highly heritable but also polygenic, and thus is an important trait in maize breeding. Various manual methods exist to determine the plant height of maize, yet they are labor-intensive and [...] Read more.
Plant height of maize is related to lodging resistance and yield and is highly heritable but also polygenic, and thus is an important trait in maize breeding. Various manual methods exist to determine the plant height of maize, yet they are labor-intensive and time consuming. Therefore, we established digital surface models (DSM) based on RGB-images captured by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at five different dates throughout the growth period to rapidly estimate plant height of 400 maize genotypes. The UAV-based estimation of plant height (PHUAV) was compared to the manual measurement from the ground to the highest leaf (PHL), to the tip of the manually straightened highest leaf (PHS) and, on the final date, to the top of the tassel (PHT). The best results were obtained for estimating both PHL (0.44 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.51) and PHS (0.50 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.61) from 39 to 68 days after sowing (DAS). After calibration the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) between PHUAV and PHS was in a range from 12.07% to 19.62%. It is recommended to apply UAV-based maize height estimation from 0.2 m average plant height to maturity before the plants start to senesce and change the leaf color. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geoinformatics Application in Agriculture)
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12 pages, 3481 KiB  
Article
The Basic Vegetative Phase and Photoperiod Sensitivity Index as the Major Criteria for Indigenous Upland Rice Production in Thailand under Unpredictable Conditions
by Sirimaporn Khotasena, Jirawat Sanitchon, Sompong Chankaew and Tidarat Monkham
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 957; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040957 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1960
Abstract
Indigenous upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important staple food for people. The productivity of upland rice is generally lower than lowland rice since crop yield depends on the amount of rainfall. Climate change is a major problem in rice production [...] Read more.
Indigenous upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important staple food for people. The productivity of upland rice is generally lower than lowland rice since crop yield depends on the amount of rainfall. Climate change is a major problem in rice production due to the unpredictable rainfall. The flowering time, maturity days, growth duration, and photoperiod sensitivity in rice are important for determining productivity. Therefore, in this study, indigenous upland rice germplasm was classified according to their flowering-related traits in the basic vegetative phase (BVP), photoperiod sensitivity index (PSI), grain yield (GY), and yield components. The results reveal that the BVP ranges from 12 to 76 days (mainly less than 30 days) while the PSI ranges from −0.14 to 0.89. Classification of the three groups was based on the PSI: 24 insensitivities (G1; PSI = −0.14–0.30), 214 weakly sensitive (G2; PSI = 0.31–0.70), and 63 strongly sensitive (G3; PSI = 0.71–0.89). Grain yield showed different correlations with day to flowering (DTF), PSI, and BVP in each group. The results suggest that the selection criteria were not only based on GY and DTF but also PSI and BVP. The new ideotypes for upland rice selection under unpredictable conditions such as rainfall and light duration are weakly sensitive (PSI range 0.30–0.60), low BVP (20–30 days), and less than 105 days of DTF, such as ULR189, ULR039, ULR036, ULR403, ULR364, ULR342, and ULR245 genotypes. Full article
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10 pages, 1038 KiB  
Article
Dynamics of Pyricularia oryzae Population Race Structures from 2003 to 2017 in Jiangsu Province, China
by Zhongqiang Qi, Yan Du, Muxing Liu, Junjie Yu, Rongsheng Zhang, Mingna Yu, Huijuan Cao, Tianqiao Song, Xiayan Pan, Dong Liang and Yongfeng Liu
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 956; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040956 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1341
Abstract
Rice blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, is one of the most destructive rice diseases worldwide. It is essential to understand the population structure and race distribution of P. oryzae for the prevention and control of rice blast. This study collected 1584 isolates [...] Read more.
Rice blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, is one of the most destructive rice diseases worldwide. It is essential to understand the population structure and race distribution of P. oryzae for the prevention and control of rice blast. This study collected 1584 isolates across Jiangsu province from 2003 to 2017 to determine race diversity, common and dominant race structures, and resistance profiles using eight parameters from the Chinese differential cultivars (CDC) entries. Race diversity analysis indicated that the race diversity of 1584 isolates in Jiangsu province increased from 2003 to 2006 and fluctuated steadily from 2007 to 2017. Common race structure analysis showed that the common race structure of the isolates fluctuated wildly on an annual basis. Moreover, the race ZG1 was the dominant race, suggesting that the most commonly grown rice varieties in Jiangsu are highly adaptive to race ZG1. In addition, due to a higher level (>85%) of resistance to the population of isolates from 2003 to 2017, Tetep may be conformed as the most promising donor of blast resistance for resistance breeding in Jiangsu province. In summary, it is beneficial to control rice blast by continuous monitoring of the population structure and distribution of P. oryzae with the monogenic germplasm entries and by maintaining a diversity of rice varieties. Full article
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13 pages, 2200 KiB  
Article
Enhanced N2O Emissions from Winter Wheat Field Induced by Winter Irrigation in the North China Plain
by Yunhao An, Zhe Gu, Xiyun Jiao, Qi Wei, Junzeng Xu and Kaihua Liu
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 955; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040955 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1385
Abstract
Winter irrigation is important for wheat in meeting crop water requirements in spring, but it alters soil moisture dynamics and affects soil N2O production and emission. To assess the effects of winter irrigation on soil N2O emissions in a [...] Read more.
Winter irrigation is important for wheat in meeting crop water requirements in spring, but it alters soil moisture dynamics and affects soil N2O production and emission. To assess the effects of winter irrigation on soil N2O emissions in a winter wheat field, an in situ experiment was conducted from 1 October 2019 to 1 March 2020 with one control treatment (CK) and five levels of winter irrigation quantities (irrigated to 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% of the soil water holding capacity, namely WHC60–WHC100, respectively). The results showed that winter irrigation had an impact on soil N2O emission. The emission peaks were not investigated immediately after winter irrigation, but at two days after, which were increased by 4.3–17.0 μg·m−2·h−1 under WHC60–100 treatments compared to the CK. The cumulative N2O emissions after winter irrigation from WHC60–100 were 1.1–3.9 times higher than that of CK, indicating that the cumulative N2O emission has an increase trend with the increase of soil water content regulated by irrigations. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the correlation between soil N2O flux and soil temperature were moderate with correlation coefficients of about 0.65. While the correlation between soil N2O flux and soil water content was poor during the investigate winter season with correlation coefficients ranging between 0.08 and 0.25. Future studies should focus on the general N2O emission responses to winter irrigation and environmental factors with the support of experiment data from several winter seasons. Full article
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25 pages, 2691 KiB  
Article
High-Resolution Indicators of Soil Microbial Responses to N Fertilization and Cover Cropping in Corn Monocultures
by Nakian Kim, Chance W. Riggins, María C. Zabaloy, Marco Allegrini, Sandra L. Rodriguez-Zas and María B. Villamil
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 954; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040954 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3566
Abstract
Cover cropping (CC) is the most promising in-field practice to improve soil health and mitigate N losses from fertilizer use. Although the soil microbiota play essential roles in soil health, their response to CC has not been well characterized by bioindicators of high [...] Read more.
Cover cropping (CC) is the most promising in-field practice to improve soil health and mitigate N losses from fertilizer use. Although the soil microbiota play essential roles in soil health, their response to CC has not been well characterized by bioindicators of high taxonomic resolution within typical agricultural systems. Our objective was to fill this knowledge gap with genus-level indicators for corn [Zea mays L.] monocultures with three N fertilizer rates (N0, N202, N269; kg N ha−1), after introducing a CC mixture of cereal rye [Secale cereale L.] and hairy vetch [Vicia villosa Roth.], using winter fallows (BF) as controls. A 3 × 2 split-plot arrangement of N rates and CC treatments was studied in a randomized complete block design with three replicates over two years. Bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA and fungal ITS regions were sequenced with Illumina MiSeq system. Overall, our high-resolution bioindicators were able to represent specific functional or ecological shifts within the microbial community. The abundances of indicators representing acidophiles, nitrifiers, and denitrifiers increased with N fertilization, while those of heterotrophic nitrifiers, nitrite oxidizers, and complete denitrifiers increased with N0. Introducing CC decreased soil nitrate levels by up to 50% across N rates, and CC biomass increased by 73% with N fertilization. CC promoted indicators of diverse functions and niches, including N-fixers, nitrite reducers, and mycorrhizae, while only two N-cycling genera were associated with BF. Thus, CC can enhance the soil biodiversity of simplified cropping systems and reduce nitrate leaching, but might increase the risk of nitrous oxide emission without proper nutrient management. This primary information is the first of its kind in this system and provided valuable insights into the limits and potential of CC as a strategy to improve soil health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cover Crops Contributions to Soil Health)
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14 pages, 3413 KiB  
Article
Long Term Effects of Tillage–Crop Rotation Interaction on Soil Organic Carbon Pools and Microbial Activity on Wheat-Based System in Mediterranean Semi-Arid Region
by Sayda Jaziri, Hatem Cheikh M’hamed, Mohsen Rezgui, Sonia Labidi, Amir Souissi, Mounir Rezgui, Mariem Barbouchi, Mohamed Annabi and Haithem Bahri
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 953; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040953 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2467
Abstract
Conservation agriculture based on no-tillage (NT) and crop rotation allows to enhance soil health. Based on data collected from long-term trials in a semi-arid region of Tunisia, results showed that NT increased significantly soil organic carbon stock (SOCS), soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), [...] Read more.
Conservation agriculture based on no-tillage (NT) and crop rotation allows to enhance soil health. Based on data collected from long-term trials in a semi-arid region of Tunisia, results showed that NT increased significantly soil organic carbon stock (SOCS), soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) root colonization, and soil microbial respiration (CO2) at 0–20 cm topsoil layer compared to conventional tillage (CT). Moreover, triennial rotation (TRI), based on annual succession of Faba bean-Durum wheat-Barley, and biennial rotation (BI), based on annual succession of Faba bean-Durum wheat, increased significatively SMBC, AMF, and CO2. Likewise, a significant benefit of the two-way interactions Tillage × Rotation was observed. Furthermore, NT combined with TRI recorded the highest SOCS (2181 g C m−2), SMBC (515 mg C kg−1 soil), AMF (14%), and CO2 which is an indicator of soil microbial respiration (1071 mg CO2 kg−1 soil). The current results highlight the benefit adoption of minimum or (NT)combined with crop diversification on soil health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency from Lab to Field)
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12 pages, 2596 KiB  
Article
Effects of Growth Stage-Based Limited Irrigation Management on Soil CO2 and N2O Emissions, Winter Wheat Yield and Nutritional Quality
by Yuxin Cao and Huanjie Cai
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 952; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040952 - 15 Apr 2022
Viewed by 1607
Abstract
Water scarcity and poor irrigation practices limit crop productivity and increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in arid Northwest China. Therefore, we investigated the effects of five growth stage-based deficit irrigation strategies on the yield, quality, and greenhouse gas emissions of winter wheat. Across [...] Read more.
Water scarcity and poor irrigation practices limit crop productivity and increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in arid Northwest China. Therefore, we investigated the effects of five growth stage-based deficit irrigation strategies on the yield, quality, and greenhouse gas emissions of winter wheat. Across treatments, CO2 emissions ranged from 3824.93 to 4659.05 kg ha−1 and N2O emissions from 3.96 to 4.79 kg ha−1. Compared with CK (irrigation in all growth stages), GHG emissions decreased significantly in T1, T2, T3, and T4 (p < 0.05). Water stress reduced the wheat yield, compared with CK, but the decrease depended on the stage without irrigation. Across treatments, the wheat yield was between 5610 and 6818 kg ha−1. The grain protein content decreased in the order T4 > T3 > T1 > T2 > CK. On the basis of a catastrophe progression method evaluation, we recommend T1 as the irrigation practice for winter wheat, because it maintained a high grain yield and quality and reduced GHG emissions. Thus, in practice, soil moisture should be sufficient before sowing, and adequate water should be supplied during the heading and filling stages of winter wheat. This study provides a theoretical basis for exploring the irrigation strategies of high-yield, good-quality, and emission reduction of winter wheat. Full article
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20 pages, 2990 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Interspecific Interactions on Crop Growth and Yield in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/Maize (Zea mays L.) Strip Intercropping under Different Water and Nitrogen Levels
by Yinjuan Li, Longshuai Ma, Pute Wu, Xining Zhao, Xiaoli Chen and Xiaodong Gao
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040951 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1940
Abstract
Interspecific interactions and recovery growth play an important role in crop growth, development and ultimately yield in intercropping systems. However, the impact of different water and nitrogen levels on intercropping production, interspecific interactions between intercrops, and the recovery growth of late-maturing crops is [...] Read more.
Interspecific interactions and recovery growth play an important role in crop growth, development and ultimately yield in intercropping systems. However, the impact of different water and nitrogen levels on intercropping production, interspecific interactions between intercrops, and the recovery growth of late-maturing crops is still unclear. A two-year field experiment was conducted in Yangling, Shaanxi province, to investigate the dynamics of interspecific interactions, and the effects of interspecific interactions on crop growth and yield. The experiment consisted of three factors, including three cropping systems (wheat/maize intercropping, sole wheat, sole maize), three nitrogen (N) levels and two water applications (supplementary irrigation and rainfed). The results demonstrated that, during the co-growth period, intercropped wheat was more competitive than intercropped maize; so, intercropped wheat showed a yield advantage. Intercropping increased maize yield under irrigated conditions, and this was attributed to the full recovery growth of intercropped maize after wheat harvest. However, rainfed and nil nitrogen aggravated the interspecific competition, and water deficit under maize rows, in turn, limited the recovery growth of intercropped maize, leading to yield reduction. However, compared with sole maize, the yield of intercropped maize decreased, indicating nitrogen deficiency limited the recovery growth of intercropped maize. Among all treatments, the intercropping of medium nitrogen fertilizer with irrigation had the best yield improvement and land use advantages, the total yield of intercropping was 14.8% higher than that of sole cropping, and the land use efficiency increased 16%. These results confirmed that supplementary irrigation and optimal nitrogen application alleviated the interspecific competition, promoted the recovery growth of intercropped maize and improved the yield of wheat/maize intercropping system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forage and Grain Crops Productivity in Their Coupling Systems)
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13 pages, 1208 KiB  
Article
Development of Sustainable Production of Rainfed Winter Wheat with No-Till Technologies in Southern Kazakhstan
by Sagadat Turebayeva, Aigul Zhapparova, Gulnur Kekilbayeva, Sayagul Kenzhegulova, Khaiyrnisa Aisakulova, Gainiya Yesseyeva, Anuarbek Bissembayev, Biljana Sikirić, Dossymbek Sydyk and Elmira Saljnikov
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 950; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040950 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2297
Abstract
The production of rainfed crops in arid regions is an extremely difficult task, especially without tillage. In southern Kazakhstan, in 2020–2021, the approbation of various nutrition regimes for winter wheat grown in conditions of no-tillage rainfed lands has been studied. The effect of [...] Read more.
The production of rainfed crops in arid regions is an extremely difficult task, especially without tillage. In southern Kazakhstan, in 2020–2021, the approbation of various nutrition regimes for winter wheat grown in conditions of no-tillage rainfed lands has been studied. The effect of different doses and terms of application of growth stimulators, micronutrients, bio-fertilizers and mineral fertilizers, as well as their economic efficiency, was studied in ten variables. The use of a combination of growth stimulators and microfertilizers produced the highest grain yield and was the most cost-effective. The greatest value of the nominal net profit of 223.25 euro and 244.10 euro from one hectare was provided and calculated with the recommended target grain yield of 2.0 t/ha dose of mineral fertilizers, respectively; however, the production cost of one ton of grain in these treatments was also highest. Further research is continuing with a wider range and combination of amendments and various crops in a rainfed no-till winter wheat farm in southern Kazakhstan. Full article
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12 pages, 2393 KiB  
Article
Exogenous Melatonin Improves the Quality Performance of Rice under High Temperature during Grain Filling
by Xiaolei Fan, Jie Zhao, Xiaosong Sun, Yun Zhu, Qianfeng Li, Lin Zhang, Dongsheng Zhao, Lichun Huang, Changquan Zhang and Qiaoquan Liu
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 949; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040949 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2212
Abstract
With the increasing greenhouse effect, high temperature has become the most unfavorable environmental factor for the rice grain filling process, affecting rice yield and quality mainly through changing the composition and structure of starch in rice grains. Research has focused on the rational [...] Read more.
With the increasing greenhouse effect, high temperature has become the most unfavorable environmental factor for the rice grain filling process, affecting rice yield and quality mainly through changing the composition and structure of starch in rice grains. Research has focused on the rational management of water and fertilizer, and spraying of exogenous chemicals, which have become important measures to alleviate high temperature stress of rice. As a multifunctional molecule, melatonin has the potential to improve plant stress resistance by enhancing the scavenging efficiency of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus protecting plants from the adverse effects of abiotic stress. The present study used a typical japonica rice variety Nipponbare (NPB) as the experimental material, which was treated with high temperature and melatonin during grain-filling stages. The effects of exogenous melatonin on the rice growth and quality traits, as well as starch synthesis, in response to high temperature were analyzed systematically. Exogenous melatonin significantly increased the rice leaf photosynthetic and heat-resistance properties. Melatonin could alleviate the effects of high temperature on the key physicochemical properties related to rice quality. Furthermore, milled rice from NPB plants treated with melatonin had better endosperm appearance under high temperature. Further study found that exogenous melatonin could stabilize the chain length distribution of starch in NPB (especially amylopectin), which implied that melatonin could be used in rice cultivation to alleviate the effect of high temperature on quality, optimization of amylopectin synthesis can also improve rice quality. The results of the present study provide a new idea and research direction to alleviate high temperature stress of rice in the context of global warming. Full article
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