Research

14 pages, 3413 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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 2865

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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19 pages, 2804 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Root Growth and Architecture of Wheat and Brachypodium Vary in Response to Algal Fertilizer in Soil and Solution

by Lisa Mau, Simone Junker, Helena Bochmann, Yeshambel E. Mihiret, Jana M. Kelm, Silvia D. Schrey, Ute Roessner, Gabriel Schaaf, Michelle Watt, Josefine Kant and Borjana Arsova

Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020285 - 23 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4631

Abstract

Alternative, recycled sources for mined phosphorus (P) fertilizers are needed to sustain future crop growth. Quantification of phenotypic adaptations and performance of plants with a recycled nutrient source is required to identify breeding targets and agronomy practices for new fertilization strategies. In this [...] Read more.

Alternative, recycled sources for mined phosphorus (P) fertilizers are needed to sustain future crop growth. Quantification of phenotypic adaptations and performance of plants with a recycled nutrient source is required to identify breeding targets and agronomy practices for new fertilization strategies. In this study, we tested the phenotypic responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and its genetic model, Brachypodium (Brachypodium distachyon), to dried algal biomass (with algae or high or low mineral P) under three growing conditions (fabricated ecosystems (EcoFABs), hydroponics, and sand). For both species, algal-grown plants had similar shoot biomass to mineral-grown plants, taking up more P than the low mineral P plants. Root phenotypes however were strongly influenced by nutrient form, especially in soilless conditions. Algae promoted the development of shorter and thicker roots, notably first and second order lateral roots. Root hairs were 21% shorter in Brachypodium, but 24% longer in wheat with algae compared to mineral high P. Our results are encouraging to new recycled fertilization strategies, showing algae is a nutrient source to wheat and Brachypodium. Variation in root phenotypes showed algal biomass is sensed by roots and is taken up at a higher amount per root length than mineral P. These phenotypes can be selected and further adapted in phenotype-based breeding for future renewal agriculture systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency from Lab to Field)

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14 pages, 2311 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Potassium Availability on Growth and Development of Barley Cultivars

by Widad Al Azzawi, Muhammad Bilal Gill, Foad Fatehi, Meixue Zhou, Tina Acuña, Lana Shabala, Min Yu and Sergey Shabala

Agronomy 2021, 11(11), 2269; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112269 - 10 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2075

Abstract

Potassium deficiency is one of the major issues affecting crop production around the globe. Giving the high cost of potassium fertilizers and environmental concerns related to inappropriate fertilization practices, developing more potassium use efficient (KUE) varieties is critical for sustainable food production in [...] Read more.

Potassium deficiency is one of the major issues affecting crop production around the globe. Giving the high cost of potassium fertilizers and environmental concerns related to inappropriate fertilization practices, developing more potassium use efficient (KUE) varieties is critical for sustainable food production in agricultural systems. In this study, we analysed the impact of potassium availability on agronomical attributes of thirty barley genotypes grown at four different levels of potassium (0.002 mM, 0.02 mM, 2 mM, 20 mM) under glasshouse conditions. The results showed that the availability of potassium in the soil had a major effect on yield components i.e., spike number, grain number and grain weight. Furthermore, grain weight showed a strong correlation with grain number and spike number at all levels of potassium supply. Although an increase in potassium supply led to an increase in plant height in all genotypes, the correlation with grain weight was very weak at all levels. Potassium supplementation caused an increase in shoot dry weight, which also showed a weak correlation with grain weight at the 0.002 mM potassium supply level. The genotypes Gebeina, Skiff, YF374, Flagship and YF374 were highly efficient in performing at suboptimal K supply levels and, thus, can be recommended to be grown in K-impoverished soils. We also suggest that grain and spike numbers could be used as proxies for KUE studies, to construct DH lines and identify QTL to improve low potassium tolerance and KUE in barley. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency from Lab to Field)

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14 pages, 2657 KiB

Open AccessArticle

On the Importance of Soybean Seed P for Shoot P Uptake before Anthesis

by Hans-Peter Kaul, Meysam Ebrahimi and Johann Vollmann

Agronomy 2021, 11(6), 1233; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061233 - 17 Jun 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1845

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is an important macronutrient required for crop growth but a finite resource in agriculture. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of soybean seed size and seed P content on growth and P accumulation up to anthesis (30–40 [...] Read more.

Phosphorus (P) is an important macronutrient required for crop growth but a finite resource in agriculture. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of soybean seed size and seed P content on growth and P accumulation up to anthesis (30–40 DAP). Pot experiments were carried out in a greenhouse with 15 soybean genotypes of different seed size (TKW 146–304 g) and with two substrates differing in plant available P, i.e., low P (LP) at 6.17 mg kg⁻¹ vs. high P (HP) at 68.12 mg kg⁻¹ CAL-P. The observations included measurements of seed and shoot dry matter and P concentrations as well as root characteristics. In the case of LP, shoot P accumulation relied, to a large degree, on seed P reserves during the vegetative growth period. In the case of HP, however, the role of seed P is negligible with regard to absolute P uptake. Yet, a very close linear relationship between seed P and shoot P uptake was also confirmed at HP. Some genotypes reacted more positively than others on HP in biomass production and P uptake, but none of the selected genotypes showed an outstanding biomass production or P uptake under LP. Total root length or root surface area of soybean did not explain differences in P uptake between genotypes at either P supply level. Overall, no substantial genotypic differences were observed in P use efficiency under P deficiency apart from the effect of seed P reserves. We conclude that seed size can be considered an important trait when screening genotypes for fast early P accumulation and growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency from Lab to Field)

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20 pages, 14564 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Common Bean Yield and Zinc Use Efficiency in Association with Diazotrophic Bacteria Co-Inoculations

by Arshad Jalal, Fernando Shintate Galindo, Eduardo Henrique Marcandalli Boleta, Carlos Eduardo da Silva Oliveira, André Rodrigues dos Reis, Thiago Assis Rodrigues Nogueira, Mário João Moretti Neto, Emariane Satin Mortinho, Guilherme Carlos Fernandes and Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho

Agronomy 2021, 11(5), 959; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11050959 - 12 May 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 2995

Abstract

Enrichment of staple food with zinc (Zn) along with solubilizing bacteria is a sustainable and practical approach to overcome Zn malnutrition in human beings by improving plant nutrition, nutrient use efficiency, and productivity. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of a [...] Read more.

Enrichment of staple food with zinc (Zn) along with solubilizing bacteria is a sustainable and practical approach to overcome Zn malnutrition in human beings by improving plant nutrition, nutrient use efficiency, and productivity. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of a staple food of global population and has a prospective role in agronomic Zn biofortification. In this context, we evaluated the effect of diazotrophic bacterial co-inoculations (No inoculation, Rhizobium tropici, R. tropici + Azospirillum brasilense, R. tropici + Bacillus subtilis, R. tropici + Pseudomonas fluorescens, R. tropici + A. brasilense + B. subtilis, and R. tropici + A. brasilense + P. fluorescens) in association with soil Zn application (without and with 8 kg Zn ha⁻¹) on Zn nutrition, growth, yield, and Zn use efficiencies in common bean in the 2019 and 2020 crop seasons. Soil Zn application in combination with R. tropici + B. subtilis improved Zn accumulation in shoot and grains with greater shoot dry matter, grain yield, and estimated Zn intake. Zinc use efficiency, recovery, and utilization were also increased with co-inoculation of R. tropici + B. subtilis, whereas agro-physiological efficiency was increased with triple co-inoculation of R. tropici + A. brasilense + P. fluorescens. Therefore, co-inoculation of R. tropici + B. subtilis in association with Zn application is recommended for biofortification and higher Zn use efficiencies in common bean in the tropical savannah of Brazil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency from Lab to Field)

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19 pages, 2603 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deciphering the Potential of Bioactivated Rock Phosphate and Di-Ammonium Phosphate on Agronomic Performance, Nutritional Quality and Productivity of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

by Muhammad Arfan-ul-Haq, Muhammad Yaseen, Muhammad Naveed, Adnan Mustafa, Sulman Siddique, Saud Alamri, Manzer H. Siddiqui, Abdullah A. Al-Amri, Qasi D. Alsubaie and Hayssam M. Ali

Agronomy 2021, 11(4), 684; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11040684 - 03 Apr 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2512

Abstract

Wheat is one of the leading staple crops in many countries. Phosphorus (P) plays an important role for wheat growth and yield as it takes part in many metabolic pathways. Even for soluble phosphatic fertilizers, most of the Pakistani soils, being alkaline and [...] Read more.

Wheat is one of the leading staple crops in many countries. Phosphorus (P) plays an important role for wheat growth and yield as it takes part in many metabolic pathways. Even for soluble phosphatic fertilizers, most of the Pakistani soils, being alkaline and calcareous in nature, show phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) not more than 10–25%. The major issue is the unavailability of P due to fixation and precipitation reactions with soil particles. Composting of rock-phosphate with animal and poultry manures supplied with bio-stimulated phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) not only enhances the RP solubilization but also serves as a potent source of P for plants. Composted/bio-activated rock-phosphate (B-RP), prepared by group of three bacterial strains i.e., Pseudomonas sp. (E11), Bacillus sp. (MN54) and Enterobacter sp. (MN17) aided with molasses (5%) and urea (10%), was tested alone and in various combinations with di-ammonium phosphate (DAP). In this pot trial, the combined application of B-RP and DAP was found superior to the sole application of B-RP. Even the combination of B-RP and DAP sharing equal amount of recommended P showed better results as compared to the sole application of DAP, giving improved shoot biomass (25%), total P-uptake (67%), recovery efficiency of P (75%), dry matter (29%), crude protein (29%), and other yield, physiological and nutritional quality parameters of wheat. So, it could be concluded that integrated use of B-RP and DAP with equal proportion of recommended P could serve as a better management practice for not only improving quantity but also the quality of the wheat grain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency from Lab to Field)

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16 pages, 2589 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Controlled Release of Zinc from Soy Protein-Based Matrices to Plants

by Mercedes Jiménez-Rosado, Victor Perez-Puyana, Antonio Guerrero and Alberto Romero

Agronomy 2021, 11(3), 580; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11030580 - 19 Mar 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1648

Abstract

Controlled release systems are increasing their presence on the market. However, their use is not generating a great impact on horticultural production, mainly due to their price, which makes crop production more expensive. This work proposes a cheaper alternative for the manufacture of [...] Read more.

Controlled release systems are increasing their presence on the market. However, their use is not generating a great impact on horticultural production, mainly due to their price, which makes crop production more expensive. This work proposes a cheaper alternative for the manufacture of these devices. Thus, an agri-food byproduct (soy protein isolate) and a thermomechanical processing were used to create devices (matrices) that can compete in price with the use of conventional fertilizers (0.50–2.00 €/kg). First, different processing methods were evaluated to obtain the matrix with the most optimal mechanical, functional (zinc and water retention/release, biodegradability) and morphological (zinc distribution) properties for the supply of zinc (micronutrient). This was achieved by incorporating an ethanol immersion step into the processing to remove the plasticizer before its use in horticulture. Finally, the efficiency of these matrices was verified in crops (lettuce and peppers), improving up to 60% the assimilation of zinc by plants that conventional fertilization achieves. In addition, these matrices allow a 33% reduction in the water used during cultivation. This work has opened a new possibility of creating more efficient devices for the incorporation of fertilizers into crops, also having an affordable price for industrial use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency from Lab to Field)

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12 pages, 699 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sources of Nitrogen for Winter Triticale (Triticosecale Wittm. ex A.Camus) Succeeding Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

by Andrzej Wysokinski, Izabela Lozak and Beata Kuziemska

Agronomy 2021, 11(3), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11030527 - 11 Mar 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1394

Abstract

Atmospheric nitrogen biologically reduced in legumes root nodule and accumulated in their postharvest residues may be of great importance as a source of this macronutrient for succeeding crops. The aim of the study was to determine nitrogen uptake by winter triticale from pea [...] Read more.

Atmospheric nitrogen biologically reduced in legumes root nodule and accumulated in their postharvest residues may be of great importance as a source of this macronutrient for succeeding crops. The aim of the study was to determine nitrogen uptake by winter triticale from pea postharvest residues, including N fixed from atmosphere, using in the study fertilizer enriched with the ¹⁵N isotope. Triticale was grown without nitrogen fertilization at sites where the forecrops had been two pea cultivars (multi-purpose and field pea) and, for comparison, spring barley. The triticale crop succeeding pea took up more nitrogen from the soil (59.1%) and less from the residues of the forecrop (41.1%). The corresponding values where the forecrop was barley were 92.1% and 7.9%. In the triticale, the percentage of nitrogen derived from the atmosphere, introduced into the soil with pea crop residues amounted to 23.8%. The amounts of nitrogen derived from all sources in the entire biomass of triticale plants grown after harvesting of pea were similar for both pea cultivars. The cereal took up more nitrogen from all sources, when the soil on which the experiment was conducted had higher content of carbon and nitrogen and a greater amount of N was introduced with the pea residues. Nitrogen from pea residues had high availability for winter triticale as a succeeding crop cultivated on sandy soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency from Lab to Field)

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