31 research outputs found
Editorial: Alternative fertilizer harnessing plant-microbe interactions (AFPMI) for improved soil and plantnutrient management
No full textEditorial on the Research Topic: Alternative fertilizer harnessing plant-microbe interactions (AFPMI) for
improved soil and plant nutrient managemen
Les approches du système national d'innovation : les économies semi-industrialisées
No full textMihoub Mezouaghi — Approaches to national innovation systems and knowledge diffusion : what prospects for semi-industrialised economies ?
The insertion of developing countries in the international division of labour is partly determined by the specificity of the institutional arrangements as reflected by the conditions underlying the emergence of their national innovation systems. The specific, cumulative and localised character of learning processes lead to recognise its institutionalised features. On the basis of the institutionalist and evolutionary theories, the methodological approach of this author aims at exposing the obstacles to the learning dynamic in the developing countries. The diversity of the institutional configurations likely to determine the harnessing of knowledge explains the asymmetry of the economic and technological performance between countries.Mezouaghi Mihoub. Les approches du système national d'innovation : les économies semi-industrialisées. In: Tiers-Monde, tome 43, n°169, 2002. Les chemins de l'intégration régionale. pp. 189-212
Vermicompost Rate Effects on Soil Fertility and Morpho-Physio-Biochemical Traits of Lettuce
No full textThe use of agricultural chemicals has adversely affected soil health and the environment. Organic farming practices, particularly vermicompost (VC), are gaining attention for their potential to improve soil fertility and crop productivity. This study investigated VC rate applications on lettuce growth, yield, soil fertility, nutrient dynamics, enzyme activity, biological parameters, and biochemical aspects under greenhouse conditions in Samsun, Turkey during 2022–2023. Experimentally, VC was applied at rates of V1: 1%, V2: 2%, and V3: 4% w/w, with a control group without VC application, V0: 0% w/w. Batavia lettuce, which is sensitive to environmental conditions and nutrient deficiency, was subjected to these treatments in a randomized complete block design, replicated thrice. Results showed consistent improvements in plant dry weight across all VC treatments, with the 2% application rate (V2) yielding the highest increase in lettuce yield (56.43%). Soil pH varied across treatments, with V1 being slightly alkaline and V3 showing high electrical conductivity and increased nitrogen content. Phosphorus content increased in all treatments, while potassium varied, with V3 having the highest values. Soil enzyme activities increased with VC concentrations, with V3 showing the highest urease activity. Pearson correlations confirmed positive associations with growth parameters and soil enzymatic activity. These findings highlight vermicompost as a sustainable solution for lettuce production and soil improvement
Combined Effect of Biochar and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizbacteria on Physiological Responses of Canola (Brassica napus L.) Subjected to Drought Stress
No full textBiochar (BC) and plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPR) could represent a suitable agronomical strategy to mitigate the impacts of drought in arid agro-environmental conditions. However, there is currently little understanding of the synergistic benefit of combining BC and PGPR to increase drought tolerance in oilseeds. In this study, the physiological response of two water-stressed canola (Brassica napus L.) plants subjected to the application of BC obtained from waste wood of Morus alba applied solely or in combination with PGPR strains (Pseudomonas sp.) was evaluated. The experiment consists of two genotypes and nine treatments [(C-Control, T1-15 days drought (15DD), T2-30 days drought (30DD), T3-15 days of drought + PG (15DD + PG), T4-30 days of drought + PG (30DD + PG), T5-15 days drought + biochar (15DD + BC), T6-30 days drought + biochar (30DD + BC), T7-15 days drought + biochar + PG (15DD + BC + PG), T8-30 days drought + biochar + PG (30DD + BC + PG)]. Drought stress decreased emergence energy (EE), leaf area index (LAI), leaf area ratio (LAR), root shoot ratio (RSR), moisture content of leaves (MCL), percent moisture content (%MC), moisture content of shoot (MCS) and moisture content of root (MCR), and relative water content (RWC) in both varieties of Brassica napus L., which in contrast, it is increased by the collective application of both biochar and PGPR. In both varieties, N, P, K, Mg, and Ca concentrations were highest in all the biochar and PGPRs separate and combined treatments, while lowest in 15 and 30 days drought treatments. Osmolyte contents like Glycine betaine (GB) and sugar remarkably increased in the stress condition and then reduced due to the synergistic application of biochar and PGPR. Drought stress has a repressive effect on the antioxidant enzymatic system like Peroxidase (POD), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione reductase (GR) as well as total flavonoids, phenolics, and protein content. The antioxidant enzymes and phenolic compounds were dramatically increased by the combined action of biochar and PGPRs. A significant increase in EE, LAR, RSR, and RWC under 15 and 30 days drought conditions, evidently highlighting the synergistic effect of BC and PGPR. The results conclude a substantial and positive effect of the combined use of BC and PGPR strains on canola's response to induced drought stress, by regulating the physiological, biochemical, and agronomic traits of the plants.[GRAPHICS]
Partial Substitution of Chemical Fertilizers with Organic Supplements Increased Wheat Productivity and Profitability under Limited and Assured Irrigation Regimes
No full textCrop wastes could be applied in conjunction with synthetic fertilizers to satisfy crop nutritional needs and enhance soil fertility. A field experiment was carried out during winter 2019–2020 at the AMK Research Farm (Palatoo) Mardan, KPK (Pakistan) to investigate the combined effect of phosphorous (PS) and organic sources (OSs) on wheat productivity under different irrigation regimes. The experimental factors were: two irrigation regimes (limited and full irrigation), three inorganic sources of phosphorus (triple super phosphate (TSP), single super phosphate (SSP) and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP)) applied at 90 kg ha−1, and three organic amendments (farmyard manure (FYM), mung bean residue (MBR), and canola residue (CR)) applied at a rate of 10 t ha−1. A control plot (no phosphorus or organic supply) was included. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was adopted. Among the fertilization strategies, SSP + FYM outperformed all other P fertilizers combined with legume or nonlegume residues in terms of grains per spike−1 (52), thousand-grain weight (41.6 g), biological yield (9.7 t ha−1), and grain yield (4 t ha−1). Under full irrigation, improved yield, yield components, and profits were obtained compared to the limited irrigation regime. Three clusters were obtained after applying an Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC), and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) conferred the positive effects of inorganic P with FYM on the wheat yield and its related parameters. This study indicated that the productivity of wheat under the SSP + FYM fertilization strategy was found to be more economical with respect to the benefit–cost ratio (BCR). The combined application of SSP + FYM was more profitable in terms of a higher BCR (3.25) than other treatments under the full irrigation regime
Mitigation of Detrimental Effects of Salinity on Sweet Pepper through Biochar-Based Fertilizers Derived from Date Palm Wastes
No full textEnhancing wheat performance through phosphorus and zinc management strategies under varied irrigation regimes
No full textThis study addresses the critical role of phosphorus and zinc applications in enhancing wheat productivity and profitability under varying water availability. While the individual impacts of phosphorus and zinc on crop nutrition are well-established, their combined effect remains underexplored, particularly in moisture-stress environments. This research aims to optimize wheat production using varying irrigation regimes. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used to investigate the effects of phosphorus and zinc applications. Phosphorus was applied at three levels (50, 75, and 100 kg ha− 1 as DAP), and zinc at three levels (5, 10, and 15 kg ha− 1 as ZnSO4), under two irrigation Methods: limited irrigation and full irrigation. Evaluation parameters included phenological stages, growth parameters, yield, and economic analysis. The study identifies that the combination of 100 kg P ha− 1 and 15 kg Zn ha− 1 maximizes wheat productivity, with significant improvements in various yield components and economic metrics. Full irrigation consistently outperformed limited irrigation in terms of yield and yield components. Principal component analysis confirmed the beneficial effect of combined phosphorus and zinc applications on wheat productivity. The cost-effectiveness, determined by the benefit-cost ratio, supports recommending the application of P100 + Zn15 to enhance wheat productivity and profitability in both full and limited irrigation scenarios. Farmers in similar agro-ecological regions will directly benefit from these findings by achieving higher yields and better economic returns. The industrial importance is highlighted by the potential for increased wheat production and improved financial viability for farmers, suggesting significant advancements in sustainable agricultural practices for water-scarce regions
Phytoremediation of Cadmium: A Review
No full textCadmium (Cd) is a highly poisonous heavy metal that presents a considerable hazard to the environment and human health. It can move from water to soil, then food crops and accumulate in their edible parts. When it becomes part of the food chain, it causes toxic effects to human life via kidney damage to even cancers. Numerous methods have shown varied efficacies for its remediation from contaminated environments. One method that has shown promising results with sustainable Cd removal is phytoremediation, which involves phytoextraction, rhizofiltration, phytostabilization, and phytostimulation through diverse plant species. Based on Cd uptake in aerial part of plant three types of plants are existed and exploited for phytoremdiation such as hyperaccumulator (concentrate substantial amount of Cd in shoot with BCF > 1), excluder (concentrate tiny amount of Cd in shoot with BCF < 1), and indicator plants (concentrate reasonable amount of Cd in shoot with BCF = 1). Numerous plant species have been exploited for remediation of Cd in water (Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Lemna minor), whereas in soil (Brassica spp., Sedum alfredii, Populus alba, Alyssum murale, Helianthus annuus, Thlaspi caerulescens, Zea mays). This chapter critically reviewed the sources, and toxicity of Cd. Finally, selection criteria of plant, merits and demerits and types of phytoremediation elaborated in detail for remediation of Cd contaminated water and soil resources for achieving sustainable development
How Does Sustainable Management Practices Affect Weed Flora and Tuber Yield of Potato Crop in Mediterranean Environment?
No full textIntensive potato cultivation affects weed species composition by selecting dominant and competitive weeds that represent a constraint of potato productivity. Field experiments were conducted during 2015 and 2016 growing seasons to examine the effects of soil tillage (plowing (PL), spading (SM), sub soiling (SS)) and fertilizer source (mineral (Min) and organic (Org)) on potato yield and weed community under Mediterranean environment. A randomized complete block design with three replications was adopted. Weed density and biomass were measured at the potato harvesting time. Weed density was highest in SS, intermediate in SM, and lowest in PL (43.8, 40.3, and 28.8 plants m-2). Similar trend was observed in weed biomass. Weed density and biomass were higher in Org than Min (42.1 vs. 36.4 plants m-2 and 129.6 vs. 117.9 g m-2, respectively). Perennial, monocot, and dicot weed species were the most abundant in subsoiling (13.1, 9.3 and 34.5 plants m-2). Density of perennial and dicot species were higher in Org than Min. Monocots were mostly linked with Min, while dicots were mainly associated with Org. Although tuber yield was higher in PL and Min (481.9 and 627.5 g m-2 of DM), it was affected by growing season and might be associated to SM and Org. Although the study shows that increased weed biodiversity in the system, achieved with more sustainable practices, proves to be an obstacle to potato production, the adoption of spading machine applied in combination with mineral and organic fertilizers could be a valid alternative to plowing. Further studies are required to develop sustainable agricultural techniques able to improve the competitive capacity of crops and reduce the selection of dominant weed species
Morpho-Physiological and Enzymatic Responses of Zinnia (Zinnia elegans L.) to Different Metal Hoarded Wastewaters
No full textWastewater, as an irrigation source, offers various advantages, significantly enhancing soil fertility, crop development, soil health, and preventing soil alkalinization. The introduction of non-conventional water resources (treated greywater, and treated wastewater) in floriculture plays a crucial role in water conservation. This study examined the impact of treated greywater (wastewater generated from domestic activities such as bathing, showering, laundry, and dishwashing) and treated wastewater (water from toilets, showers, kitchen sinks, and industrial processes) on photosynthetic characteristics, stress-related metabolites, and antioxidative enzymes in zinnia plants. A six-month pot experiment was conducted, with three water sources (canal water, treated greywater, and treated wastewater) and two zinnia varieties (Peter pan and Dreamland). During the flowering stages, when the zinnia flower petals were fully opened. Several parameters were measured, including pigments, photosynthetic attributes, total soluble protein, hydrogen peroxide and glycinebetaine. Moreover, antioxidant enzymatic activities like peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were also investigated in zinnia plants to assess their resilience against abiotic stressors caused by high levels of heavy metals and excessive nutrients present in wastewaters. Results indicated that treated greywater (TGW) significantly improved vegetative parameters, such as plant height, leaf number, leaf area, and stem diameter. Additionally, flowering attributes, including the number and diameter of flowers, as well as fresh and dry plant biomass, increased in Peter pan variety under treated greywater irrigation. Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were notably reduced in plants irrigated with treated greywater and treated wastewater. Photosynthetic attributes, such as stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and photosynthetic rate, significantly improved in zinnia plants under treated greywater irrigation. Stress-related metabolites and antioxidant enzymatic activities also showed substantial enhancements under treated greywater irrigation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) confirmed the positive effect of treated greywater on flower quality, plant biomass, and physiological processes. Utilizing treated greywater and wastewater for Zinnia cultivation is a promising approach. Ensuring the ongoing monitoring and management of harmful substances in wastewater is vital, involving regular testing, quality control, and other actions. This practice contributes to environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture, efficient water resource management, reduced energy use, and enhanced soil health, making it a cost-effective and eco-friendly option for floriculture
