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Potassium has a positive catalytic effect on biomass gasification. The banana peel (BP) with a high content of potassium exhibited high gasification reactivity during the co-gasification process. In this study, the in-situ gasification of wet banana peel was carried out for hydrogen-rich gas and potassium-rich solid products production in a fixed-bed reactor. The migration of potassium during in-situ gasification was studied. The effects of moisture content (20–80%) and temperature (700–900 °C) on the gas production yield, potassium release, and potassium content in solid products were investigated. It was found that the cumulative gas yield, hydrogen yield, syngas yield, and H 2 concentration were increased with increasing moisture content and temperature. The cumulative gas yield, hydrogen yield, and syngas yield at 80% moisture content and 900 °C were 52.30 mmol/g, 29.38 mmol/g, and 42.75 mmol/g, respectively. During gasification, increasing the moisture content suppressed the release of K elements from biomass into the gas phase products, thus enriching the alkali metal potassium in the gasification residue. The release rate of potassium decreased linearly with increasing moisture content. Additionally, the potassium release rate initially decreased as the temperature rose from 700 °C to 800 °C, but then increased as the temperature further rose to 900 °C. The trend of potassium content in solid products was opposite to that of potassium release. When gasified at 800 °C and 80% moisture content, the solid products reached a maximum potassium content of 358.10 g/kg (43.15% K 2 O), which was the lowest potassium release calculated at 800 °C and 80% moisture content (35.73%). The potassium-rich solid products from gasification are suitable for agricultural planting and soil improvement. • In-situ gasification of banana peel was performed. • Hydrogen yield and content reached 29.38 mmol/g and 56.18%, respectively. • The increased moisture content hinders the release of potassium. • 80% moisture content and 800 °C achieved the lowest potassium release, 35.73%. • A potassium-rich solid containing 358.10 g/kg of potassium was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It is unclear whether plants and microorganisms achieve niche complementarity by taking up different inorganic nitrogen (N) forms to alleviate N competition, particularly in N–limited regions. Methods: This paper conducted a 15-day 15N tracer study (15NH4NO3 or 15NH4NO3) in situ to quantitatively calculate the uptake rates of plants and microorganisms in four stands (pure Hippophae rhamnoides L, pure Pinus tabuliformis Carrière, mixed H. rhamnoides – P. tabuliformis , and Artemisia gmelinii Weber ex Stechm grassland) in the forest–grassland transition zone on the Loess Plateau during the growing season. Among them, H. rhamnoides and P. tabuliformis can associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal, respectively. Results: The results indicated that H. rhamnoides in the pure stand and A. gmelinii preferred to take up 15NO3–, whereas P. tabuliformis in the pure stand preferred 15NH4+. Compared to pure stands, mixed afforestation decreased the NH4+ and NO3– uptake rate of H. rhamnoides by 87% and 70%, respectively, but did not alter the N preference of plants. Plants and microorganisms differed in their N preferences in the pure stand, whereas this was not the case in the mixed stand. The proportional similarity index between H. rhamnoides and P. tabuliformis (0.90 ± 0.01) was higher than that between plants and microorganisms in forest stands, except for P. tabuliformis and microorganisms in the mixed stand (0.90 ± 0.02). Discussion: Those results indicated that niche complementarity by preferring different N forms can alleviate N competition. This study helped to gain a deeper understanding of the plasticity of N uptake patterns by plants and microorganisms in the forest–grassland transition zone, and provides theoretical support for vegetation restoration during the implementation of the Grain for Green program on the Loess Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium is essential for animals, and its heterogeneous distribution can cause a range of phenomena, from sodium‐seeking behaviours to impacting their performance. Although sodium content in soils and plants is relatively well documented, data for higher trophic levels are limited. Knowledge of the variation in sodium in lower trophic levels could have implications for understanding the behaviour and physiology of species at higher levels.We investigated the variation in tissue sodium concentration between males and females of four butterfly species. Puddling behaviour of Lepidoptera suggests sodium needs of males are generally greater than females, thus, we predicted males would accumulate more sodium than females on a given diet.Larvae were reared on plants (for Battus philenor, Chlosyne lacinia and Danaus plexippus) and an artificial diet (for Pieris rapae) under Low Na (no added sodium) and High Na (sodium added) conditions. Among species and sexes, we quantified and compared adult absolute tissue sodium concentrations and bioconcentration factors, which indicate net sodium accumulation or excretion relative to individuals' diets.On average, individuals on low‐sodium diets had higher bioconcentration values across all species. Male butterflies accumulated significantly higher sodium concentrations than females in two sodium treatments for B. philenor, and P. rapae and only in the High Na treatment for C. lacinia. However, in D. plexippus, individuals accumulate sodium in the High Na treatment, but males and females responded in the same way.Our study revealed sex‐ and species‐specific patterns of butterfly sodium accumulation, which could be linked to variations in behaviour and/or performance. Differences in sodium content across species have implications for variation in predation and trophic‐level interactions, an interesting avenue for future ecological and evolutionary research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Pseudostellaria heterophylla, known for its significant bioactive ingredients, offers potential health benefits. Amounts of bioactive compounds of the tuberous root of cultivated Pseudostellaria heterophylla are sensitive to environmental conditions. We selected 22 sampling sites in Guizhou Province, China, a primary Pseudostellaria heterophylla planting area. We analyzed polysaccharides, water‐soluble extractives, total ash and inorganic elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Mg and Ca) in Radix Pseudostellariae, and pH, organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK) and inorganic elements in the soil. RESULTS: Our study revealed a substantial presence of polysaccharides (85.00–181.00 mg g−1), water‐soluble extractives (47.52–57.63%) and total ash (1.87–3.39%) in Radix Pseudostellariae. Polysaccharides and total ash showed no sensitivity to soil pH. Radix Pseudostellariae collected from soil with pH > 7 exhibited slightly higher levels of water‐soluble extractives, Mg and Ca than that from soil with pH < 5. Conversely, soil with a pH less than 5 had higher OC, AN, AP and AK contents. Water‐soluble extractives in Radix Pseudostellariae were negatively correlated with soil pH but positively correlated with OC and AN. CONCLUSION: The results imply that the sequestration of soil nutrients over long‐term Pseudostellaria heterophylla cultivation could negatively impact the accumulation of some bioactive ingredients in Radix Pseudostellariae. This study has a profound implication for enhancing the quality of Radix Pseudostellariae of artificially cultivated Pseudostellaria heterophylla. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mitigate overgrazing on grasslands, towns were constructed in some pastoral regions of China to relocate pastoralists. Nevertheless, whether and how the urbanized lands impact the surrounding grassland ecosystem remains unclear. We assessed the impacts of urbanized lands on the plant and soil interactions within the surrounding grasslands in order to ensure an eco-sustainable pastoralist relocation. The town with 1 km radius was selected as urbanization sample and a grassland with 1 km radius was selected as nature grassland sample. Plants and soil were investigated in nature grassland (NG), and areas 1 km (T-1 km), 2 km (T-2 km), and 3 km (T-3 km) from the center of the town. In T-1 km and T-2 km, compared to the NG, plant diversity, the abundance of dominant plant species, the abundance of soil wood saprotroph fungi, soil water content (SWC), and total organic carbon (TOC) decreased, while soil plant pathogen fungi, soil pH, and total phosphatase (TP) increased. Conversely, no such changes were observed in T-3 km. The results of Mantel test and Partial least squares path model suggest that the decrease in soil TOC and SWC, along with the increase in pH and TP in T-1 km and T-2 km, lead to a decline in wood saprotroph fungi and an increase in plant pathogen fungi, ultimately resulting in reductions in plant diversity and the abundance of dominant plant species. These results indicate that towns in pastoral areas can lead to surrounding grassland degradation by deteriorating the plant–soil interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asparagus cochinchinensis is a medicinal plant in China, which has gained attention owing its protective effect in human health. However, there are seldom studies to systematically reveal the rhizosphere bacterial community of A. cochinchinensis. In this study, we employed metagenomics and culturomics to analyze the bacterial community composition and diversity in continuous rhizosphere soil of A. cochinchinensis. Meanwhile, we assessed the effect of soil physicochemical properties on the bacterial community. Results showed that the most abundant TAXA is a taxon belonging to the family Streptomycetaceae, the genus Mycobacterium and the species Oligotropha carboxidovorans. The bacterial communities across various areas were similar. Significant differences of exchangeable magnesium and available phosphorus level were observed between three groups. Furthermore, bacterial community structure correlated closely with soil physicochemical properties. Additionally, a total of 103 strains were isolated and identified, representing 28 species. Based on this study, the rhizosphere bacterial community of A. cochinchinensis might influence its growth and development. The rhizosphere strains were isolated and their function request further investigation. This study firstly revealed the bacterial community in the A. cochinchinensis rhizosphere soil, providing valuable references for its quality improvement in practical cultivation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amazonian Dark Earths (ADEs) are fertile soils from the Amazon rainforest that harbor microorganisms with biotechnological potential. This study aimed to investigate the individual and potential synergistic effects of a 2% portion of ADEs and Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu roots (Brazil's most common grass species used for pastures) on soil prokaryotic communities and overall soil attributes in degraded soil. We conducted a comprehensive plant succession experiment in the greenhouse, utilizing vase soil samples for next-generation sequencing of 16 S rDNA, enzymatic activity assays, and soil chemical properties analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to understand better the prokaryotic interactions within soil environments influenced by ADEs and U. brizantha roots, including differential abundance, diversity, and network analyses. Our findings reveal a complementary relationship between U. brizantha and ADEs, each contributing to distinct positive aspects of soil bacterial communities and quality. The combined influence of U. brizantha roots and ADEs exhibited synergies that enhanced prokaryotic diversity and enzyme activity. This balance supported plant growth and increased the general availability of beneficial bacteria in the soil, such as Chujaibacter and Curtobacterium while reducing the presence of potentially pathogenic taxa. This research provided valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of plant-soil feedback, emphasizing the potential for complementary interactions between specific plant species and unique soil environments like ADEs. The findings highlight the potential for pasture ecological rehabilitation and underscore the benefits of integrating plant and soil management strategies to optimize soil characteristics. Highlights: Urochloa brizantha showed improved growth in degraded soils supplemented with 2% Amazonian Dark Earth (ADE). Combined ADE and conditioned soil (CS) treatments elevated arylsulfatase activity, potentially improving sulfur bioavailability. ADE increased microbial diversity, particularly taxa involved in plant growth promotion, nitrogen fixation, and cellulolysis. ADE notably increased beneficial bacterial genera such as Streptomyces, Paenibacillus, and Solirubrobacter, essential for soil health and plant growth, with or without U. brizantha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosis of boron (B) toxicity in cassava grown in soil is still a challenge. The objectives of this work were (i) to describe the symptoms of B toxicity in cassava grown in soil and (ii) to establish critical B toxicity concentrations in soil and leaf blades of the plant. In a greenhouse, plants were grown for 68 days in pots filled with sandy soil samples submitted to B rates of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg dm−3. Application of B increased both concentration of B extracted from the soil with hot water and B concentration in leaf blades. Visual symptoms of B toxicity were only observed in the highest rate of applied B. The symptoms were photographed and described as chlorosis followed by necrosis in the tip and margin of older leaves. Despite the symptoms, there were no significant effects on growth of the plant. As a result, critical concentrations could not be obtained. Alternatively, thresholds based on B toxicity symptoms are suggested. The thresholds for concentration of B in younger leaf blades and older leaf blades were calculated to be 99.9 and 130.7 mg kg−1, respectively. These respective thresholds corresponded to the thresholds for B concentrations in soil of 0.875 and 0.891 mg dm−3. Concentrations above these thresholds could be used to support visual diagnosis of suspected B toxicity symptoms. Photos, description, and thresholds provided in this article can help improve the diagnosis of visual B toxicity symptoms in young cassava plants grown in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Eco-Industry Science & Phosphorus Fluorine Engineering is the property of Zhengzhou University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Coffee yield exhibits plant-level variability; however, due to operational issues, especially in smaller operations, the scouting and management of coffee yields are often hindered. Thus, a cell-size approach at the field level is proposed as a simple and efficient solution to overcome these constraints. This study aimed to present the feasibility of a cell-size approach to characterize spatio-temporal coffee production based on soil and plant attributes and yield (biennial effects) and to assess strategies for enhanced soil fertilization recommendations and economic results. The spatio-temporal study was conducted using a database composed of yield and soil and plant attributes from four harvest seasons of coffee plantation in the southeast region of Brazil. We used small plots as cells, where soil, leaf, and yield samples were taken, and the average value of each variable was assigned to each cell. The results indicated that macro- and micronutrient contents in the soil and leaves exhibited spatio-temporal heterogeneity between cells, suggesting that customized coffee tree management practices could be employed. The cell-size sampling strategy identified regions of varying yield over time and associated them with their biennial effect, enabling the identification of profitable areas to direct resource and input management in subsequent seasons. This approach optimized the recommendation of potassium and phosphate fertilizers on farms, demonstrating that localized management is feasible even with low spatial resolution. The cell-size approach proved to be adequate on two coffee farms and can be applied in scenarios with limited resources for high-density sampling, especially for small- and medium-sized farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species-level crop and weed semantic segmentation in agricultural field images enables plant identification and enhanced precision weed management. However, the scarcity of labeled data poses significant challenges for model development. Here, we report a patch-level synthetic data generation pipeline that improves semantic segmentation performance in natural agriculture scenes by creating realistic training samples, achieved by pasting patches of segmented plants onto soil backgrounds. This pipeline effectively preserves foreground context and ensures diverse and accurate samples, thereby enhancing model generalization. The semantic segmentation performance of the baseline model was higher when trained solely on data synthesized by our proposed method compared to training solely on real data, with an approximate increase in the mean intersection over union (mIoU) by approximately 1.1% (from 0.626 to 0.633). Building on this, we created hybrid datasets by combining synthetic and real data and investigated the impact of synthetic data volume. By increasing the number of synthetic images in these hybrid datasets from 1× to 20×, we observed a substantially performance improvement, with mIoU increasing by 15% at 15×. However, the gains diminish beyond this point, with the optimal balance between accuracy and efficiency achieved at 10×. These findings highlight synthetic data as a scalable and effective augmentation strategy for addressing the challenges of limited labeled data in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights in the field of air analysis included: a new focus on measuring micro- and nanoplastic particles in air, the development of hyphenated ICP-MS systems for in situ sampling and measurement of airborne metallic particles and the reported use of wearable black carbon sensors for measuring exposure to diesel fumes within the workplace. Significant advancements in the analysis of waters have been made in developing novel resin materials and new protocols for existing commercially available resins, aimed at the determination and speciation of trace levels of metals and metalloids in water matrices. These developments have been validated for sample purification and pre-concentration. In addition to traditional column chemistry, on-line hyphenated techniques were employed to enhance speciation analysis, with optimized methods enabling faster analysis and facilitating a more holistic approach by allowing the simultaneous detection of multiple species or elements in a single run. Efforts have also been directed towards detecting particles in the micro- and nanometer range, broadening the analytical scope beyond the ionic fraction. This year, the focus shifted from natural and engineered nanoparticles towards the critical field of plastic pollution, with several innovative methodologies introduced. Furthermore, to achieve better precision and lower detection limits in the field of MS/MS, numerous studies explored the behaviour of gases and reactions within reaction cells, contributing to the refinement of these techniques. In the analysis of soils and plants, methods aimed at improving the efficiency of green solvents were again prominent. Developments in AES were largely driven by the desire to create small, low-cost, low-power-consumption instrumentation suitable for field deployment. The study of NPs in soil and plant systems continued to be a focus for sp-ICP-MS. The past year has again seen a large volume of publications featuring LIBS, with particular interest in methods to enhance signal intensity and thereby improve limits of detection. Of interest in XRF was the development of in-house spectrometers for underwater mercury screening and in vivo plant analysis. Developments in geological analysis include new homogeneous natural and synthetic materials that have been developed as reference materials (RMs) in the analysis of geological samples by microanalytical techniques, such as LA-ICP-MS, LIBS and SIMS. Additional information on already existing RMs has been obtained for in situ isotope ratio determinations. Attention has been paid to sample preparation and purification methods able to shorten the analysis time and to improve the accuracy. Much attention has been paid to the use of LA-ICP-MS/MS as a means for removing spectral interferences in the case of in situ localized isotopic analysis and dating of geological materials. The development of new chemometric models as well as software has continued to improve data quality. The use of artificial intelligence is growing and techniques such as machine learning have led to significant improvements in the quality of geochemical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Management practices, for example, in an agricultural context, are often tested in isolation or in pairwise interaction, but rarely using a higher number of jointly applied practices. In a proof‐of‐concept study, we test the effects of combining up to five management practices. Effects seen on soil and plant performance suggest that it may be worth to systematically and broadly examine the effects of higher order management combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University Kano, during the 2023 dry season to determine the relationship between the leaf chlorophyll content and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to grain yield among different cowpea genotypes. The treatments consisted of four diverse cowpea genotypes (IT90K-277-2, IT99K-573-1-1, UAM09-1046-6-2, and UAM09-1051-1) arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Soil-Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) were measured at different developmental stages to derive their relationships with grain yield. Data collected was subjected to a general analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results revealed a significant difference among the four cowpea genotypes for the measured traits. A positive and significant correlation was also observed among crop vigor score and grain yield at the different growth stages. The NDVI values measured during the different growth stages correlated significantly with the yield of all the genotypes, while SPAD had an inverse correlation with grain yield. It was concluded that the results could be used for the selection of genotypes based on SPAD and NDVI. Importantly, this study was limited to dry season evaluation where spectral parameters are at the minimum in the area under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nonferrous Metals (Extractive Metallurgy) is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Polyethylene glycol (PEG), especially at high molecular weights, is highly soluble in water, and these solutions have reduced water potential. It is convenient to use PEG in hydroponics (liquid nutrient solution) for experiments with plants. However, some authors have been found to describe the application of PEG to plants incorrectly, such as drought, dehydration, osmotic, or water stresses, which can mislead readers. The presented opinion paper shows our arguments for a terminology in such experiments that is strictly limited to 'PEG-induced' or 'simulated' or 'mimicked' dehydration, and osmotic or water stresses, with the best option being 'PEG-induced dehydration'. The most popular term, 'drought', is inappropriate to be used for hydroponics at all, with or without PEG. Traditionally, drought stress study was related to only plants in soil or other substrates mixed with soil. Based on 139 published papers, the examples presented in our opinion paper can demonstrate differences in gene expression between plants grown in containers with soil and under PEG-induced stress in hydroponics. Researchers can carry out any type of experiments suitable for the purposes of their study. However, clear and correct description of experiments and careful interpretation of the results are strongly required, especially with PEG, to avoid incorrect information. In all cases, at the final stage, results of experiments in controlled conditions have to be verified in field trials with naturally occurring drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the autecology and determine the relationship between the nutritional elements in the soil and the Sage plant (Salvia eremophila Boiss.) in the south of Yazd province. The main habitats were determined, which contained various ecological characteristics. Total potassium (K), total nitrogen (N), total phosphorus (P), total sugar content (TSC), and proline content of the plants were determined. In addition, macro and microelement contents such as total N, extractable K, extractable magnesium (Mg), available P, available iron (Fe), and available manganese (Mn) of the study areas were determined. The highest concentrations of TSC (72.90 mg kg−1 ± 3.87) and TN (0.265 g kg−1 ± 0.021) of the plant, and also the highest extractable Mg (26.60 mg kg−1 ± 1.70) and available Fe (0.44 mg kg−1 ± 0.19), of soil were related to the Qavam Abad habitat. The highest concentrations of total K (17.495 g kg−1 ± 4.91) and total P (1.206 g kg−1 ± 0.257) of plants, and the highest extractable K (356.68 g kg−1 ± 63.53) of soil belonged to the Tang Chenar Station. The highest TN content (6.3 g kg−1 ± 1.21) of soil and the highest proline content (0.015 g kg−1 ± 0.003) of plants was related to the Damgahan habitat. Also, the concentrations of soil available Mn and available P had the highest levels in the Damgahan (0.60 g kg−1 ± 0.34) and Qavam Abad habitats (0.075 g kg−1 ± 30.74), respectively. There was no significant difference between the amount of nutrients and soil elements in the studied stations (p < 0.05). There was a positive and significant correlation between the amount of soil TN and plant TN (Pvalues = 0.001, R2 = 0.87). An inverse and significant correlation was also observed between the amount of soil available P and plant total P (Pvalues = 0.014, R2 = − 0.72). This study highlights the various environmental controls over soil's physicochemical properties, which have significant implications for the management of soil nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the activity concentration of NORMs were measured using gamma spectrometer, based on NaI(Tl) detector with Maestro-32 installed computer soft- ware. Accordingly, the average activity concentrations of 232Th, 238U, and 40K in soil samples were found 17.85±0.50, 40.16±0.54, and 271.46±0.07, respectively, which are lower than the average world recommended values given by UNSCEAR 2000 for Th and K, but higher for U decay series. In the same way, activity concentration of NORMs in food items cultivated from the irrigation site were measured and the highest activity concentrations were observed in bean samples. The transfer factors of 232Th, 238U and 40K from soil to food items were computed based on the measured activity values, and in most food items it is observed above the world average values. The consecutive chronic daily intake via ingestion for some food items from samples are also above the permissible limit. The transfer factor from Gerado agricultural soil to plant exceed the world average values in the cases of 232Th and 238U according to our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asparagus cochinchinensis is a medicinal plant in China, which has gained attention owing its protective effect in human health. However, there are seldom studies to systematically reveal the rhizosphere bacterial community of A. cochinchinensis. In this study, we employed metagenomics and culturomics to analyze the bacterial community composition and diversity in continuous rhizosphere soil of A. cochinchinensis. Meanwhile, we assessed the effect of soil physicochemical properties on the bacterial community. Results showed that the most abundant TAXA is a taxon belonging to the family Streptomycetaceae, the genus Mycobacterium and the species Oligotropha carboxidovorans. The bacterial communities across various areas were similar. Significant differences of exchangeable magnesium and available phosphorus level were observed between three groups. Furthermore, bacterial community structure correlated closely with soil physicochemical properties. Additionally, a total of 103 strains were isolated and identified, representing 28 species. Based on this study, the rhizosphere bacterial community of A. cochinchinensis might influence its growth and development. The rhizosphere strains were isolated and their function request further investigation. This study firstly revealed the bacterial community in the A. cochinchinensis rhizosphere soil, providing valuable references for its quality improvement in practical cultivation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The Middle European ecotype of Cd hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum L. ssp. nigrum was found to show extraordinarily strong tolerance to high contents of Cd in soil (over 50 mg kg−1 Cd) and high Cd accumulation capacity at this concentration range. Its adapted A50 variety obtained from the seeds of first-generation plants grown in soil with 50 mg kg−1 Cd appeared to display further considerable enhancement of resistance to Cd stress, accumulation capacity, and healthy state. This makes the Middle European ecotype and its adapted variety A50 particularly useful to sustainable decontamination of heavily polluted "hot spots" in degraded post-industrial areas. The Cd hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum L. exhibits a cosmopolitan character and proven high and differentiated efficiency. This suggests the possibility of optimizing its Cd phytoremediation capacity and applicability through searching among remote ecotypes/genotypes. However, the extensive studies on this hyperaccumulator have been limited to Far East (Asian) regions. Pioneer pot experiments on the Middle European ecotype of S. nigrum within a concentration range of 0–50 mg kg−1 Cd in soil revealed its Cd phytoremediation capacity to be comparable to Asian ecotypes but with a fundamentally different Cd tolerance threshold. While biomass of the Asian ecotypes declined sharply at Csoil ≈ 10 mg kg−1 Cd, in the Middle European ecotype, a gradual mild biomass decrease occurred within the whole Csoil ≈ 0–50 mg kg−1 Cd range with no toxic symptoms. Its adapted A50 variety was obtained from the seeds of first-generation plants grown in soil with Csoil ≈ 50 mg kg−1 Cd. In this variety, Cd tolerance, accumulation performance, and all physiological parameters (chlorophyll, carotenoids, RuBisCO, and first- and second-line defense anti-oxidant activity) were significantly enhanced, while cell damage by ROS was considerably lesser. This makes the Middle European ecotype and its adapted variety A50 particularly useful to sustainable decontamination of heavily polluted "hot spots" in degraded post-industrial areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of the plant's ability to take up mercury (Hg) from polluted soil was affected by location, plant family, and species in two former cinnabar mining areas in the Czech Republic. At each location, seven sampling points were marked out in the vicinity of former shafts and dumpsites connected to the mining activity, where representative soil samples and dicotyledonous plants were collected. The individual locations were characterized by specific plant communities, where, in most cases, different plant species were found within one family at both locations. The total Hg content in the soil, as well as gaseous elemental mercury (GEMsoil-air), confirmed elevated levels of this element in the mining-affected environment, with high variability of the data. The low Hg accumulation ability of plants, especially the low root–shoot translocation in most of the plant species, indicated the predominant occurrence of excluders. Among the families, the results showed the exceptional position of the Fabaceae family regarding soil Hg pollution, as the highest Hg content in both shoots and roots was determined for Onobrychis viciifolia. Therefore, the behavior of Fabaceae plants in polluted soil, the mechanisms of their tolerance to high Hg content, and their Hg accumulation ability deserve further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By regulating carbon uptake and water loss by plants, stomata are not only responsible for productivity but also survival during drought. The timing of the onset of stomatal closure is crucial for preventing excessive water loss during drought, but is poorly explained by plant hydraulics alone and what triggers stomatal closure remains disputed. We investigated whether the hormone abscisic acid (ABA) was this trigger in a highly embolism‐resistant tree species Umbellularia californica. We tracked leaf ABA levels, determined the leaf water potential and gravimetric soil water content (gSWC) thresholds for stomatal closure and transpiration decline during a progressive drought. We found that U. californica plants have a peaking‐type ABA dynamic, where ABA levels rise early in drought and then decline under prolonged drought conditions. The early increase in ABA levels correlated with the closing of stomata and reduced transpiration. Furthermore, we found that transpiration declined before any large decreases in predawn plant water status and could best be explained by transient drops in midday water potentials triggering increased ABA levels. Our results indicate that ABA‐mediated stomatal regulation may be an integral mechanism for reducing transpiration during drought before major drops in bulk soil and plant water status. Summary statement: The mechanism that initiates stomatal closure during drought is not fully understood. We find that an increase in abscisic acid levels in leaves triggers the onset of stomatal closure during drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil microorganisms have long been recognized as primary producers of biogenic N2O in terrestrial ecosystems. Terrestrial plants can contribute to N2O emissions by transporting N2O produced in soils, and there is also evidence that plants may serve as direct producers of N2O. However, to date, direct evidence for N2O production by plants remains limited. To exclude N2O emissions resulting from soil-to-plant transport, this study conducted incubation experiments using cut soybean branches and leaves (cSBF) and intact soil cores under an N2O-free air background. The natural isotopic signatures (δ15N and δ18O) and fluxes of N2O produced by cSBF and soil were compared across different soybean growth stages over two growing seasons. The observed δ15N and δ18O values of N2O from soil ranged from −26.7‰ to −5.3‰ and −24.1‰ to 22.8‰, respectively. In contrast, the values for N2O produced from cSBF ranged from −4.7‰ to 33.1‰ and from 23.7‰ to 88.8‰, respectively. Notably, N2O emitted from plants exhibited significantly higher δ15N and δ18O values than soil-derived N2O (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that the pathways and mechanisms of N2O production and emission in soybean plants differ from those mediated by soil microorganisms and nitrogen transport processes. Additionally, a significantly higher amount of N2O emission was observed during early growth stages compared to late growth stages (p < 0.01), suggesting that plant N2O production may be associated with elevated water content and oxygen-limited conditions within plant cells. In addition to the N2O uptake by plants observed in some literature, the positive relationship between δ15N values and N2O fluxes suggests that N2O could be consumed in plant cells (p < 0.01), with a high consumption rate often associated with a high production rate. The results of this study provide compelling evidence that plants may represent an overlooked source of N2O in terrestrial ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichotylenchus sp. is a migratory ectoparasitic nematode (PPN) that causes hypoplasia disease symptoms in economic plants, such as maize and banana. In this study, soil samples were collected from 6 locations in a tomato field in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand, for the purpose of nematode extraction using the Cobb's sieving and flotation-centrifugation techniques. Morphological and molecular characterization of the collected PPN identified it as Trichotylenchus sp., a PPN not previously found in Thai tomato fields. Morphologically, the nematode has a C-shaped body, a rounded lip region, robust stylet and dorsal gland orifice located 2.0 ± 0.5 µm from the base of basal knobs. The tail is conically shaped, and the cuticle exhibits annulations with 3 incisures in the lateral field. The morphological characteristics observed closely matched Trichotylenchus sp. To confirm the identity, diagnosis was done using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) molecular technique. Nematode DNA amplification was conducted with different target genes using primer sets AB28/TW81 for ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and D2A/D3B for D2-D3 region of the 28S rRNA. The PCR amplification showed DNA fragments of approximately 950 and 800 bp, respectively. The sequences obtained were compared with those in the NCBI GenBank, which showed a 98.0 - 99.4 % identity match with Trichotylenchus dispersus specimens previously documented in China. In addition, the phylogenetic trees reiterated a nematode grouping with T. dispersus, 100 % bootstrap value. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of T. dispersus in the soils of tomato field in Thailand. This nematode is likely to become a major factor limiting tomato production yields if not properly managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies were conducted in 2023–2024 at reference sites of Belgorod oblast. The study procedure is conventional in the agrochemical service. The purpose of this work is to study the specific activity of natural and artificial radionuclides in the soils and the plants of certain agroecosystems. These studies have shown that the average specific activity of 40K does not vary significantly in the leached (539 Bq/kg), typical (544 Bq/kg), and ordinary (573 Bq/kg) arable chernozems, while in the residual carbonate chernozems, this parameter (207 Bq/kg) is 2.60–2.77 times lower. The average specific activity of 232Th in the leached (39.2 Bq/kg), typical (42.9 Bq/kg), and ordinary (46.7 Bq/kg) chernozems is 1.97–2.35 times higher than in the residual carbonate (19.9 Bq/kg) chernozems. The average specific activity of 226Ra in the soils studied do not differ significantly, staying within 17.3–18.9 Bq/kg. In the soils of the western and eastern areas of the region, the specific activity of 137Cs ranges within 5.9–19.6 and 16.3–87.2 Bq/kg, respectively. The specific activity of 90Sr in the soils of the western regions is below 3, whereas for the eastern, it is below 5 Bq/kg. In the plant products studied, the average specific activity of 40K varies within 111–597 Bq/kg, while those of 232Th and 226Ra do not exceed 6 and 8 Bq/kg, respectively. The specific activity of 137Cs is less than 3, and that of 90Sr is 2 Bq/kg, which is significantly lower than the established maximum levels for this parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is the largest coffee-producing nation in the world. Over 50% of the national production comes from the Minas Gerais state, with relevant contribution of the region covered by the Cerrado biome. Given the threat posed by root-knot nematodes (RKN, Meloidogyne spp.) to coffee production, we collected plant and soil samples from infested plantations across 16 counties and identified the species of this pathogen. Based on the female perineal patterns, male morphology, esterase phenotypes and SCAR markers, the species found were Meloidogyne exigua, Meloidogyne paranaensis, Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne arenaria. The most prevalent species was M. exigua, occurring in 83.8% of the sampled sites, followed by M. paranaensis (19%) and M. incognita (4.9%). Mixed populations of RKN were observed in 7.7% of the sites, with the highest prevalence of M. exigua + M. paranaensis and M. paranaensis + M. incognita, followed by M. exigua + M. incognita. Meloidogyne arenaria was found in one site, in a mixed population with M. paranaensis + M. exigua. Strategies to prevent the spread of these nematodes to non-infested areas are highly recommended, particularly focusing on the most aggressive species such as M. paranaensis and M. incognita. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termite restore plant diversity and soil on altered lands in West Africa with particular abundance of small mound made by Trinervitermes trinervitus, Trinervitermes geminatus, Cubitermes spp. or Microcerotermes spp. The particular abundance of small mounds on altered lands suggests the existence of underlying abiotic and biotic factors. This study investigated the spatial patterns of termite mounds on the altered lands and its relationship with tree distribution in order to sustain the ecological restoration of the altered lands. Thus, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was used to collect images on three different altered land sites of 18 ha characterised with termite mounds. The images were ortho‐mosaicked with Pix4D Mapper software. Termite mounds and trees were digitalised on these images in ArcGIS software. The Ripley's pair correlation function using spatstat package was applied to assess the spatial pattern and association of mounds and trees. An aggregative pattern (g(r) > 1) was revealed in the spatial distribution of both termite mounds and trees across all sites. Furthermore, a positive clustered association between termite mounds and trees was noted at two study sites, likely due to the absence of human disturbance. Therefore, this interaction should be vital for assisted ecological restoration and can be factored into efforts to accelerate the restoration of soils and plants on degraded lands. The authors then recommend future research to explore the specific role this attractive relationship plays in ecosystem restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphate-solubilizing fungus (PSF) strain alaromyces funiculosus was investigated for phosphorus solubilization, utilizing a range of pH levels and phosphate sources, followed by data confirmation through artificial intelligence modeling. T. funiculosus strain was exposed to five different phosphate sources [Ca3(PO4)2, FePO4, CaHPO4, AlPO4, and phytin] at different pH levels (4.5, 5.5, 6.5, 7.0, and 7.5). ANOVA, Pareto charts, and normal plots were used for analyzing the data. Artificial intelligence-based multilayer perceptron (MLP), random forest (RF) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) models were used for data validation and prediction. Five-fold more phosphate (P) solubility by T. funiculosus was registered as compared to the control. The maximum soluble P was found at pH 4.5 (318324 ppb) and CaHPO4 (444045 ppb). Combination of phytin × 4.5 pH yielded the highest dissolved phosphorus (1537988 ppb), followed by 127458 ppb from the control × 4.5 pH. Pareto chart and normal plot analysis showedthe negative impact of pH (B), pH × F/C (fungus/control) × P-Source (ABC), and F/C (A) factor. Whereas pH × P-Source (AC) and P-Source (C) has positive impact on P solubility. The maximum R2 scores showed the order of RF (0.944) > MLP (0.938) > XGBoost (0.899). T. funiculosus strain has a grain potential for sustainable use for different types of phosphate sources. Application AI/ML models based on different performance metrics predicted the validated the attained results. In future research, it is recommended to check the efficacy of developed strategy under field conditions and to check the impact on soil and plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Boron plays a crucial role in cell wall construction in plants and also facilitates the transfer of carbohydrates, which are essential for various physiological processes. The objective was to measure element concentrations in soil, water extracts and plant tissues (Zea mays) using Azomethine-H and ICP-MS within a controlled microplate assay. Methods: A microscopic plate repeat test was used to analyze the concentration of boron in soil extracts and plant tissue ash from local Zea mays leaves, considering the global trend in environmental sustainability. Tests aimed to modify the azomethine-H microscopic approach to eliminate pH and chemical interferences in soil samples and plant tissues. Due to their ability to ensure sample repeatability and quality control, micro spectrophotometers are ideal for high-throughput analysis. Result: The microplate test has enhanced boron measurement in soil and plant tissue samples. Our improvements to the microplate B assay have resulted in more accurate boron measurements in these samples. Microplate B testing is effective and suitable analysis in modern research and laboratories, using 40 times less chemical reagent per sample than traditional spectrophotometry. Additionally, microplates enable simultaneous analysis and calibration of samples. The modified plate test significantly improves boron measurement in soil and plant tissue samples, using 40 times fewer reagents than traditional spectrophotometry. This method is cost-effective, ideal research, commercial analysis and making it a valuable tool for modern laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canopy temperature (CT) is an integrative trait, indicative of the relative fitness of a plant genotype to the environment. Lower CT is associated with higher yield, biomass and generally a higher performing genotype. In view of changing climatic conditions, measuring CT is becoming increasingly important in breeding and variety testing. Ideally, CTs should be measured as simultaneously as possible in all genotypes to avoid any bias resulting from changes in environmental conditions. The use of thermal cameras mounted on drones allows to measure large experiments in a short time. Uncooled thermal cameras are sufficiently lightweight to be mounted on drones. However, such cameras are prone to thermal drift, where the measured temperature changes with the conditions the sensor is exposed to. Thermal drift and changing environmental conditions impede precise and consistent thermal measurements with uncooled cameras. Furthermore, the viewing geometry of images affects the ratio between pixels showing soil or plants. Particularly for row crops such as wheat, changing viewing geometries will increase CT uncertainties. Restricting the range of viewing geometries can potentially reduce these effects. In this study, sequences of repeated thermal images were analyzed in a multi-view approach which allowed to extract information on trigger timing and viewing geometry for individual measurements. We propose a mixed model approach that can account for temporal drift and viewing geometry by including temporal and geometric covariates. This approach allowed to improve consistency and genotype specificity of CT measurements compared to approaches relying on orthomosaics in a two-year field variety testing trial with winter wheat. The correlations between independent measurements taken within 20 min reached 0.99, and heritabilities 0.95. Selecting measurements with oblique viewing geometries for analysis can reduce the influence of soil background. The proposed workflow provides a lean phenotyping method to collect high-quality CT measurements in terms of ranking consistency and heritability with an affordable thermal camera by incorporating available additional information from drone-based mapping flights in a post-processing step. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-positive, rod-shaped, and obligate anaerobic bacterial strain OS1-26 was isolated from apple orchard soil in Iksan, South Korea. Interestingly, strain OS1-26 was observed to possess the functional genes involved in biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), including nifH, which was actively transcribed during the anaerobic cultivation with excessive production of extracellular NH4+ despite of presence of other fixed N nutrients. The BNF of strain OS1-26 was distinguished from the other well-known Clostridium diazotrophs, such as C. pasteurianum and C. acetobutylicum. The altruistic N-fixing ability of the strain may play a pivotal role in providing N nutrients to the microbial community and plants in the soil ecosystem. The microorganism grew at 25–35 °C (optimum 30–35 °C) and pH 5.0–8.0 (optimum 6.0–8.0) but was not able to grow in the presence of >0.5% NaCl. The major cellular fatty acids of strain OS1-26 were C16:0, C14:0, and the summed feature consisted of C16:1 ω7c and C16:1 ω6c (35.63%, 25.29%, and 18.84%, respectively). The 16S rRNA phylogeny indicated that strain OS1-26 is a member of the genus Clostridium, and the closest species are C. aciditolerans, C. nitrophenolicum, and C. thailandense, with 16S rRNA sequence similarities such as 99.71%, 98.52%, and 98.45%, respectively. In spite of the high 16S rRNA sequence similarity, strain OS1-26 showed overall genomic relatedness, such as the average nucleotide identity (ANI), and phenotypical features distinctly different from Clostridium aciditolerans. Although the species taxonomy of strain OS1-26 is undetermined within the genus Clostridium based on overall genomic and phenotypic properties, further studies on the soil bacterial strain would enhance our understanding of its taxonomic identity, ecological roles for the terrestrial soil N cycle, and the potential to be developed as a biological N fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango is one of the most consumed fruits in the world. At the cultivation stage of this plant, soil and plant nutrient management plays an important role for optimum growth. However, soil and plant nutrient contents of each tree may be different and influenced by tree age and may require a different management practice. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to examine the soil and plant nutrient contents of different ages of mango tree and to investigate their relationship. Soil and leaf samples were collected from Harumanis trees aged 12 and 38 years in Arau, Perlis. Soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-30 cm while the third or fourth mango leaf from the current flushes of the plant were collected as samples. The analyses for both soil and leaves were conducted following the standard practice. The results demonstrated that there was no significant difference among the measured parameters except for EC and total N in the soil, and K and Ca in the plant nutrient contents between both the ages of the trees. The translocation of N, P and Ca were significantly higher in the tree aged 12 years. Meanwhile soil and plant relationship show that soil pH and exchangeable bases (Ca, K, and Na) were highly correlated with Ca and N/Ca ratio in the tree aged 12 years while a highly negative correlation between total N and Ca was found in the tree aged 38 years. It is a concluded that, tree ages have an influence on the soil and plant and on their relationship as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study carries out the impact of endophytic bacteria on phytoremediation in rapeseed plants. Additionally, this study carries out the impact of endophytic bacteria in the presence of humic acid and biochar on phytoremediation. For this purpose, 50 mg kg−1 Cd, 50 mg kg−1 Pb, and 50 mg kg−1 Cr were applied to the soil, and then (Humic acid) HA 1000 mg kg−1 and 10% BC (Biochar) were applied and left for incubation. Two types of endotypic bacteria (EB1: Bacillus mojavensis, G106K1 EB2; Pantoea agglomerans, G129K1-1) were applied to these growing media of the three-leaf rapeseed plant and clean soil as a control. After the isolation was performed, the phytoremediation capabilities of the bacteria Bacillus mojavensis and Pantoea agglomerans were examined for the first time. Endophytic bacteria with HA and BC, resulted in an increase in the growth of rapeseed plants. In combination with HA and endophytic bacteria, values of (bioconcentration factor) BCF(shoot) and BCF(root) resulted in an increase for Cr and Cd. Furthermore, the application of endophytic bacteria with HA increased the (transfer factor) TF > 1 value for Cd. In this case, HA also increased the transfer of Cd from the root region to the shoot. With the applications of HA and BC with endophytic bacteria, enzyme activity decreased in the plant compared with a single endophytic bacteria treatment. We concluded that endophytic bacteria applied with biostimulants can be effective for the phytoextraction of hyperaccumulator plants in soils with low organic matter under heavy metal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of sulfur (S) in polluted soils can reduce metal(loid) toxicity and enhance phytoremediation effectiveness. Here we studied the response of barley plants to As in soil amended with sulfate or elemental sulfur throughout the growing cycle. A greenhouse experiment was carried out using 4-L pots filled with clay-loam soil spiked with 60 mg kg−1 As (Na2HAsO4·7H2O). Two chemical forms of sulfur (elemental sulfur (S0) or sulfate (CaSO4·2H2O)) were applied at a dose of 1 and 3 Mg ha−1, respectively, and two previously seeded barley plants were transplanted in each pot, using eight pots per treatment. At the end of the growing cycle, the biomass, nutrients, and metal(loid) content, as well as several physiological and biochemical parameters of the plants were analyzed. Moreover, the effect of the treatments on soil characteristics was also evaluated, including soil pore water. The treatment with sulfur promoted the growth of barley plants through their vegetative cycle, enhancing photosynthesis, although biomass did not significantly increase. Both sources of S promoted the accumulation of As in the root, thereby limiting its translocation to the aerial part of the plant, sulfate being more effective (an increase of 300%) than elemental S (an increase of 82%). The addition of S decreased soil pH. Furthermore, both treatments, but particularly sulfate, increased soluble sulfate and stimulated soil biological properties. In conclusion, the application of sulfate to As-polluted soil can enhance As phytostabilization by barley plants while simultaneously improving the biological properties of the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPotato is an important vegetable crop as well as the most important staple food crop in India after rice and wheat. Being one of the cheapest sources of energy rich natural nutritive foods, potato contains several antioxidant in minute quantities. Potato is highly sensitive to Zn deficiency and the yield and quality of tuber is affected in Zn deficient soils. Establishing the critical limit of Zn in soil and plant is highly essential for optimizing the Zn fertilization dose. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the critical limit of Zn in soil and plant. To assess the critical limit of Zn, four graded doses of Zn was administered in the form of ZnSO4.7H2O like Zn0: 0 kg Zn ha−1, Zn5.0: 5 kg Zn ha−1, Zn10.0: 10 kg Zn ha−1 and Zn20.0: 20 kg Zn ha−1. The result indicated Zn concentration below 0.49 mg kg−1 in soil showed Zn deficiency while the Zn concentration below 7.0 mg kg−1 would indicate deficiency of Zn in potato tuber in respect of yield and quality of potato. Similarly, the critical concentration of Zn in potato shoot was found to be 32.7 mg kg−1 (average of values determined by both graphical and statistical method). Below this concentration, it was considered to be deficiency of Zn in potato shoot which can influence yield and quality of potato. Moreover, the application of Zn @ 20.0 kg ha−1 showed higher response to biomass yield of potato and may be recommended for quality tuber production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nNOVELTY STATEMENTThe use of organic and inorganic amendments like stilbite-zeolite (SZ) and nano-biochar (NBC) in phytoremediation holds immense promise, long-term stability, and its effectiveness necessitate comprehensive research. This study aimed to evaluate their potential in mitigating heavy metal contamination in soil and plants. Our results shows that SZ and NBC treatments significantly impacted heavy metal levels, notably reducing arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) accumulation in plant tissues. The treatments exhibited varying degrees of effectiveness in reducing heavy metal levels. Notably, SZ2 treatment decreased As and Pb levels by 33.33% and 20%, respectively, while NBC3 achieved even greater reductions, lowering As by 53.33% and Pb by 30%. Moreover, SZ2, SZ5, and NBC3 treatments halved Cd levels, showcasing their potential in mitigating heavy metal contamination in rice. However Hg levels remained largely unaffected, except for NBC1, which unexpectedly doubled its concentration. In soil, SZ2 treatment significantly reduced metal concentrations, particularly Cd (66.8% reduction) and Hg (70.7% reduction). Conversely, SZ3 and SZ7 treatments increased metal concentrations, suggesting that certain zeolite applications might enhance metal bioavailability. NBC treatments showed varying effectiveness, with NBC3 being the most effective, substantially reducing As, Pb, and Cd levels.The study uniquely evaluates the synergistic effects of SZ and NBC treatments on heavy metal reduction in rice grain. It identifies specific SZ and NBC treatments that significantly decrease arsenic, lead, and cadmium levels, with detailed analysis of both reductions and potential increases in metal bioavailability. This research provides critical insights into optimizing remediation strategies for enhanced soil health and food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing world especially Africa, organic fertilizers are mostly used to boost agriculture production. However, less is known about the effectiveness of stored and fresh rabbit urine as an organic fertilizer on the production of vegetables, including Ethiopian mustard (EM) in Tanzania. A split-plot experimental design was used, with rabbit urine status (stored and fresh) serving as the main plots and sub-plots made of rabbit urine concentration (0%, 25%, 50% and 75%). A total of eight experimental treatments with three replications each was used making a total of 24 plots. Plant height, number of leaves, leaf length, and width were recorded every 3 days for 7 weeks. After harvesting, fresh and dry yield was recorded. Rabbit urine was observed to significantly (p < 0.05) increase soil nutrients including nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus across different concentrations where 75% of rabbit urine concentration was found to perform better compared to 50% and 25%. Ethiopian mustard with the 75% concentration of rabbit urine increased plant height by 32.52%, leaf length by 19%, and number of leaves by 20.24% while keeping leaf width constant compared to 0% rabbit urine concentration. Similarly, 75% of fresh urine increased dry biomass by 42%. Fresh rabbit urine performed better in growth and production of the Ethiopian mustard compared to the stored rabbit urine. This result concludes that, the use of fresh rabbit urine can increase productivity of vegetables like Ethiopian mustard especially at 75%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment aimed to screen for superior varieties of forage oats suitable for planting in saline-alkali soil areas along the Yellow River. A total of 10 forage oat varieties were used as materials, and a randomized block design was adopted to measure hay yield and nutritional quality during the heading stage, milk ripening stage, and dough ripening stage. A comprehensive evaluation was carried out using affiliation function analysis. The results showed that the yields of the 10 test oat varieties varied greatly in Tumed Left, Hohhot, in the milk ripening stage, the dry grass yield of Sweet Swallow 70 and Sun God was relatively high, and the dry grass yield of Sun God was the highest in the dough ripening stage, reaching 6 008.52 kg/hm². In the heading stage, the crude protein content of Black Meck Rye was the highest, at 8.48%, while Sweet Swallow 70 had the highest content of soluble carbohydrates (6.88%), Souris has the lowest content of neutral detergent fiber (35.93%), and Belle had the lowest content of acid detergent fiber (26.33%). The study indicates that the quality of Souris is the best at milk ripening stage, and Sweet Swallow 70 is the second best. It is suitable to popularize the cultivation of Souris and Sweet Swallow 70 in Tumed Left, Hohhot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial leftovers, known as necromass, are key players in storing carbon in the soil around plant roots (i.e. rhizosphere), a zone characterized by high‐efficiency microbial anabolism. Yet, the extent and mechanisms through which the rhizosphere contributes to soil organic carbon (SOC) via microbial necromass, especially under changing environments remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the contributions of microbial necromass to SOC and influencing factors from the rhizosphere perspective. We collected the rhizosphere and bulk soil from 39 alpine coniferous forest sites on the eastern Tibetan Plateau to assess the extent of microbial necromass contribution to SOC in the rhizosphere from a dynamic perspective by calculating the ratio of increased amino sugars (AS) to increased SOC in the rhizosphere relative to that in bulk soil (RAS/SOC). We also collected climate data and determined nutrient concentrations and microbial physiological traits in rhizosphere soil to elucidate the factors affecting RAS/SOC. The results showed that across all sampling sites, the average concentrations of SOC‐normalized AS in the rhizosphere were significantly higher than those in the bulk soil. Furthermore, the average RAS/SOC was greater than 1, indicating a faster microbial necromass accumulation than SOC accumulation in the rhizosphere. These results implied that the rhizosphere sustains a greater capacity for microbial necromass contribution to the SOC pool than the bulk soil does. Soil nutrient availability was the primary factor affecting RAS/SOC, and precipitation indirectly affected microbial anabolism and RAS/SOC by changing soil nutrient status. Additionally, with increasing rhizosphere soil nutrient availability, microbial carbon‐use efficiency and growth rate increased but the biomass‐specific enzyme activity declined, indicating that microorganisms tended to exhibit high‐yield strategies with increasing soil nutrient availability. Synthesis. Our findings underpin the vital effect of microbial necromass in SOC accumulation from the rhizosphere perspective and offer valuable insights into mechanisms underlying microbial C metabolic processes in rhizosphere SOC accumulation under changing environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury (Hg) is a non-essential trace metal, toxic to living beings and complex to quantify and mitigate in the environment. In this study, 25 plant species native to an Amazon-Cerrado transition area were tested for use in Hg remediation. Species identification, Hg quantification in plant biomass and soil at each sampling point, and evaluation of Hg compartmentalization in each plant were carried out. The results were subjected to statistical tests and evaluated using translocation coefficients (FT), bioconcentration (FBC), and bioaccumulation (FB). The results demonstrated that the distribution and accumulation of Hg differed between species and between the parts of the plant evaluated. Soil was the predominant source of Hg in the study area. The study highlighted seven species with Hg phytoremediation potential. Five translocator species were characterized, among these a preferentially bioaccumulating and bioconcentrating species, in addition to a bioconcentrating species and a preferentially bioconcentrating and bioaccumulating species of Hg. Potentially accumulating species stood out, Blechnum serrulatum Rich. (Blechnaceae), Mauritia flexuosa L.f. (Arecaceae), and Montrichardia arborescens (L.) Schott (Araceae), all widely distributed in tropical regions, characterized as rooted, terrestrial, or amphibious and associated with ruderal environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapevine crown gall (GCG), a soil-borne plant disease caused by tumorigenic Allorhizobium vitis (TAV) (=tumorigenic Rhizobium vitis) strains, poses a significant threat to grapevines worldwide. Recently, outbreaks of GCG have been reported in several vineyards, necessitating investigation into potential alternative infection pathways beyond soil transmission. The spatiotemporal distribution of GCG in vineyards from 2020 to 2022 was analyzed using the binary power law (BPL) model, with variations in quadrat shapes. Both total and newly observed diseased plants exhibited an aggregated distribution, indicating that new infections clustered around existing diseased plants, with secondary infections appearing as independent cluster points. This study provides evidence that infected pruning tools can transmit the pathogen to healthy grapevines and that TAV inoculation through spraying contributes more to GCG incidence than planting in infected soil alone. This represents the first documented case of secondary above-ground TAV infection contributing to GCG in commercial vineyards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic, a toxic element from both anthropogenic and natural sources, reaches surface environments through atmospheric cycling and dry and wet deposition. Biomethylation volatilizes arsenic into the atmosphere and deposition cycles it back to the surface, affecting soil-plant systems. Chemical speciation of deposited arsenic is important for understanding further processing in soils and bioavailability. However, the range of atmospheric transport and source signature of arsenic species remain understudied. Here we report significant levels of methylated arsenic in precipitation, cloud water and aerosols collected under free tropospheric conditions at Pic du Midi Observatory (France) indicating long-range transport, which is crucial for atmospheric budgets. Through chemical analyses and moisture source diagnostics, we identify terrestrial and marine sources for distinct arsenic species. Estimated atmospheric deposition fluxes of methylated arsenic are similar to reported methylation rates in soils, highlighting atmospheric deposition as a significant, overlooked source of potentially bioavailable methylated arsenic species impacting plant uptake in soils. Analyses of atmospheric samples at a high-altitude site show that methylated forms of arsenic, emitted via biological processes, represent an important share of arsenic deposition. These forms are transported from both marine and terrestrial systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: Community assembly is envisaged as filters that preclude some species in the regional pool from invading local communities. We tested whether the large floristic differences between adjacent calcicole and calcifuge grasslands are explained by either of five filters: environment (soil) or positive or negative interactions with plants and with soil biota. Location: Southern Mexico. Methods: We conducted a reciprocal‐transplant experiment with 20 species that were introduced to both habitats under three conditions: intact local community, without plants, and in sterilized plots. Each of the five filters mentioned above predict unique patterns in the performance (survival and growth) of plants in the six treatments. Thus, we used multimodel inference to determine which filters (patterns) were consistent with the evidence. Results: We detected at least one filter operating on all but four species. Survival data showed frequent support for environmental filtering, with interactions (mostly positive) playing a secondary role; however negative interactions became as frequent as environmental filtering when growth was considered. Conclusions: The large physicochemical differences between the soils of both grasslands explain the high frequency of environmental filtering. Soils differed in nutrient availability, but also had toxic concentrations of different elements. Survival was strongly influenced by early mortality, while size was measured at the end of the experiment. It is thus likely that the differences between analyses based on survival and size reflect an ontogenetic change from positive to negative interactions. Other plants frequently facilitate seedlings, but this interaction often turns competitive over time. Soil mutualists provide nutrients that seedlings cannot access, but antagonists build up in the rhizosphere as plants age. Unlike studies that infer filters from extant plants in communities or from successful invasions, our approach provides direct evidence on which filters cause species to be absent from communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims The tropical shrub Coelospermum decipiens (Rubiaceae) is an extreme selenium (Se) hyperaccumulator, reported to accumulate up to 1140 µg Se g−1 when found growing on soils with levels of Se below the limit of detection (i.e. <0.01 mg Se kg−1) leading to a bioconcentration factor of >100 000. Methods Coelospermum decipiens plants were sampled from different populations in far north Queensland and analysed for Se concentrations. Plant material was subjected to synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) and synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) investigations to gain insights into the elemental distribution and chemical speciation of Se. Results The foliar Se concentrations ranged from 100 to 1000 µg Se g−1, except for the seeds, which had up to 28 000 µg Se g−1. The soils from the Hope Vale area were locally Se-enriched up to 48 mg Se kg−1, but there was no relationship between soil and plant Se concentrations. Synchrotron XFM analysis revealed that Se was localized in the blade margin tissue of the younger leaves, whilst the XAS analysis determined that Se occurs as an organo-Se compound. Conclusions We report the occurrence of seleniferous soils in the Cape York Peninsula soils for the first time, which may partly explain the evolution of Se hyperaccumulation in C. decipiens. The extremely high concentrations of Se in the seeds is suggestive of a herbivory protection function. The capacity of this species to accumulate and hyperaccumulate Se from non-seleniferous soils is akin to that of other 'seed'-based accumulators, such as some members of the Lecythidaceae family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the positive species–area relationship on islands is frequently observed, the mechanisms underlying this pattern remain poorly studied. By analyzing insular community diversity across spatial scales and the soil properties within the islands, we were able to explore potential mechanisms leading to the island species–area relationship of plants, as well as associated soil bacteria and fungi, from a tropical archipelago. We found that both plant and soil microbial communities showed similar positive species–area relationships across scales and the greater taxonomic diversity on larger islands was mainly driven by the higher richness within samples. These patterns arose primarily due to shifting habitat quality with island area, rather than spatial processes generally attributed to species–area relationships. Specifically, for plants, changes in soil total phosphorus content with island area were most explanatory, while changes in soil pH appeared to play the most important role in shaping soil bacteria and fungi patterns. By contrast, we found little evidence for the role of spatial processes (i.e. dispersal limitation or soil heterogeneity) within the island. Overall, this study highlights the importance of dissecting potential mechanisms underlying multi‐trophic community dynamics to explain patterns of biodiversity and its variation on islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread problem of arsenic buildup in soil is often addressed through phytoremediation techniques. Pteris vittata, an herbaceous fern known as the Chinese ladder brake, exhibits exceptional arsenic hyperaccumulation, storing over 27,000 mg of arsenic per kilogram in its aboveground biomass as dry weight. Planting P. vittata in arseniccontaminated areas emerges as a promising strategy, facilitating the fern’s absorption and accumulation of arsenic from the soil and, consequently, mitigating environmental arsenic levels. This study was conducted to assess the impact of two bacterial strains, Bacillus sp. 3P20 (CCB-MBL 5013) and Enterobacter sp. 3U4 (CCB-MBL 5014), on arsenic hyperaccumulation by P. vittata. The total arsenic content in both soil and plant samples was quantified using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The results showed a significant difference (P < 0.0001) between P. vittata inoculated with Bacillus sp. 3P20 and spiked with 200 and 500 mg/L arsenic, having a total arsenic content of 240 and 255.25 mg/kg, respectively, compared to the control (un-inoculated), which has 143 mg/kg. Additionally, there was a significant difference (P < 0.0001) between P. vittata inoculated with Enterobacter sp. 3U4 and spiked with 200 and 500 mg/L arsenic. Although no significant increase in the leaf greenness value of the plant was observed in the first and fourth weeks a noteworthy increase was recorded after the eighth week of transplanting. These indicate that the bacterial strains promoted plant growth and significantly enhanced the efficiency of arsenic hyperaccumulation by the fern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzyme-induced calcite precipitation (EICP) is one of the emerging soil improvement methods. However, when plant-based enzyme is used, the urease enzyme harvested from plants cannot be stored long. This affects large-scale applications of this method. This paper presents a new method that not only enables urease enzyme to be stored for a long duration, but also improves significantly the effectiveness and efficiency of EICP for soil improvement. In this method, the storage duration of soybean derived urease enzyme is prolonged by storing it at negative 20 degrees. The experimental results indicated that the frozen-stored urease enzyme had an activity of 326% higher than that of fresh enzyme. The shear strength of a fine sand treated using the frozen-stored enzyme is 238.8% higher than that using a normal EICP method. Thus, the frozen method not only overcomes the enzyme storage problem, but also offers a much-improved EICP method. The reasons for the higher urease activity and improved strength enhancement are also explained in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Less than 1% of native prairie lands remain in the United States. Located in eastern Washington, the rare habitat called Palouse prairie was largely converted to wheat monocropping. With this conversion came numerous physical, chemical, and biological changes to the soil that may ultimately contribute to reduced wheat yields. Here, we explored how wheat (Tritcum aestivum L.) seedling establishment, plant size, and heading, signifying the developmental transition to flowering, were affected by being planted in prairie soil versus agricultural soils. We then sought to understand whether the observed effects were the result of changes to the soil microbiota due to agricultural intensification. We found that prairie soil enhanced both the probability of wheat seedling survival and heading compared to agricultural soil; however, wheat growth was largely unaffected by soil source. We did not detect effects on wheat developmental transitions or phenotype when inoculated with prairie microbes compared with agricultural microbes, but we did observe general antagonistic effects of microbes on plant size, regardless of soil source. This work indicates that agricultural intensification has affected soils in a way that changes early seedling establishment and the timing of heading for wheat, but these effects may not be caused by microbes, and instead may be caused by soil nutrient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovations in plant and soil sciences are revolutionising our approach to sustainability, offering solutions with broad societal impacts. Discoveries in these fields hold great potential for combatting, mitigating and adapting to climate change; enhancing food security; and revitalising urban environments. By harnessing the power of plants and the soils they grow in, it is possible to cultivate resilience in the face of environmental challenges, informing policy and practice, and thereby guiding us towards a more sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]