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15N tracing was carried out on sandy loam soil amended with (i) mineral nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer (NPK) alone, (ii) half mineral N and half N from chicken manure (HFC), or (iii) half mineral N and half N from cattle manure (HCM), for 8 years. Cumulative N2O emissions during incubation were 30.2 µg N kg− 1 in the NPK treatment, which increased to 37.8 and 51.3 µg N kg− 1 in the HFC and HCM treatments, respectively. The majority of N2O emissions in all the treatments were attributed to nitrification (81.0% in the NPK treatment, 83.0% in the HFC treatment, and 85.1% in the HCM treatment). Compared with NPK, HCM treatment caused a significant increase in the gross rate of nitrification, while HFC treatment slightly enhanced the rate of dissimilatory NO3− reduction to NH4+. Additionally, HFC treatment achieved higher gross rates of organic N mineralization, and both HFC and HCM treatments had higher NH4+ mineralization-immobilization turnover (MIAT) rates than NPK treatment. The results suggest that application of cattle or chicken manure increased soil NH4+ availability. The gross rate of NO3− adsorption in the HCM treatment was greater than that in the NPK treatment, while the release of adsorbed NO3− in the HFC treatment was slower than that in the NPK treatment, indicating that application of cattle or chicken manure lowered the potential for NO3− leaching in soil. Overall, combining cattle or chicken manure with mineral fertilizer decreased NO3− availability but increased NH4+ availability, leading to higher N2O emissions through nitrification. Our results suggest that organic manures should be applied with nitrification inhibitors in sandy loam soil containing low organic carbon to increase soil fertility and mitigate N2O emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work explores the conversion of raw poultry manure (RPM) into tailor-made biochars for an efficient phosphorus (P) recovery from aqueous solutions. To this end, three RPM-functionalized biochars with Mg (RPM-B-Mg), Al (RPM-B-Al), and Mg/Al-layered double hydroxides (RPM-B-Mg/Al-LDHs) were synthetized, deeply characterized, and then tested for P recovery under various experimental conditions. Biochar characterization showed that RPM-B-Mg/Al-LDHs had enhanced texture and surface chemistry linked to the formation/deposition of Mg- and Al-based nanoparticles. In addition, this biochar exhibited the highest P recovery rate from effluents (78 mg g−1). This recovery process seems to occur heterogeneously on multilayers through electrostatic interactions, ligand exchange, surface precipitation as AlPO4 and Mg3(PO4)2, and complexation. Phosphorus desorption from these P-loaded biochars was significantly dependent on the pH of eluent solutions with the highest desorption yield observed at an initial pH of 9.0 (88%). All these findings indicate that the use of Mg/Al-LDHs-loaded poultry manure biochar can be considered a sustainable material for P recovery from aqueous solutions. Furthermore, the P-loaded biochar could be reused in agriculture as a low-cost biofertilizer in P-depleted soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The influence of organic amendments on the interplay among soil extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs) and their stoichiometry (EES) and nutrient availabilities, key indicators of resource limitations for soil microbes, is poorly understood. This study aims to investigate how manure compost (hereafter "manure") and its biochar derivative affect EEAs, EES and soil fertility. Materials and methods: We studied EEAs (BG, β-glucosidase; CBH, cellobiohydrolase; LAP, Leucine aminopeptidase; NAG, β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase and AP, acid phosphatase), EES and soil fertility two years post-application of manure and biochar in central Alberta, Canada. Results and discussion: Applying manure and its biochar did not affect soil permanganate oxidable carbon (C), total phosphorus (P), and available P and nitroegn (N). Manure application increased NAG activity by 13.9% (75.9 nmol h−1 g−1 soil) relative to the control (66.6 nmol h−1 g−1 soil), whereas biochar application increased LAP activity by 22.1% (64.6 nmol h−1 g−1 soil) compared to the manure treatment (52.9 nmol h−1 g−1 soil), suggesting that manure addition caused microbial C limitation, while biochar addition led to microbial N limitation. However, both manure and biochar treatments did not affect soil NAG, CBH and AP, and enzymatic C:N, C:P, and N:P stoichiometry. Manure and biochar and their interactions with the soil ultimately affect soil physicochemical properties. Conclusions: Manure and its biochar differentially altered some soil N-cycling EEAs and C and N limitations two years after their applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilization of agroindustrial waste, such as press mud from the sugar industry, presents a compelling opportunity to address both economic and environmental concerns. Press mud is obtained during sugarcane juice clarification, is rich in sugar, minerals, and nutrients, making it a valuable resource for various applications. Since it is rich in nutrient, primarily press mud is used as manure for crop growth such as rice, maize, and wheat especially sugarcane. It increases the higher quality, yield, shoot, and root length. Press mud is mixed with bioinoculants, inorganic fertilizer, and it also contains native inoculum. It reduces the usage of chemical fertilizer. In addition to fertilizer, press mud is also used as biofuel, with detailed exploration into its conversion into biogas, biocompressed natural gas, and hydrogen, providing renewable resource, cost effective, eco-friendly alternatives, and contributions. Press mud role as an animal feed is delved into showcasing its inclusion in diets for layers, swine, broilers, and lambs and demonstrating its potential to reduce expenses without compromising growth. The economic, energetic, and environmental feasibility of these processes are discussed, highlighting the potential of press mud to contribute significantly to sustainable energy solutions. Sugarcane press mud is positioned as a versatile and valuable resource through this comprehensive exploration, offering solutions to waste management, agricultural enhancement, and sustainable energy production. The widespread adoption of press mud utilization is advocated by the findings, promoting a holistic approach to address both agricultural and environmental challenges. In future days, press mud can be explored as potential bioinoculant, renewable sources, and viable alternative feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the effect of using animal excreta on the nutritional content of forages, focusing on macro- and micro-element concentrations (nitrogen; N, phosphorus; P, sulphur; S, copper; Cu, zinc; Zn, manganese; Mn, selenium; Se) from animal feed to excreta, soil, and plants. Data were collected from pot and field trials using separate applications of sheep or cattle urine and faeces. Key findings indicate that soil organic carbon (SOC) and the type of excreta significantly influences nutrient uptake by forages, with varied responses among the seven elements defined above. Although urine contributes fewer micronutrients compared to faeces (as applied at a natural volume/mass basis, respectively), it notably improves forage yield and micronutrient accumulation, thus potentially delivering positive consequences at the farm level regarding economic performance and soil fertility when swards upon clayey soil types receive said urine in temperate agro-climatic regions (i.e., South West England in the current context). In contrast, faeces application in isolation hinders Se and Mn uptake, once again potentially delivering unintended consequences such as micronutrient deficiencies in areas of high faeces deposition. As it is unlikely that (b)ovine grazing fields will receive either urine or faeces in isolation, we also explored combined applications of both excreta types which demonstrates synergistic effects on N, Cu, and Zn uptake, with either synergistic or dilution effects being observed for P and S, depending largely on SOC levels. Additionally, interactions between excreta types can result in dilution or antagonistic effects on Mn and Se uptake. Notably, high SOC combined with faeces reduces Mn and Se in forages, raising concerns for grazed ruminant systems under certain biotic situations, e.g., due to insufficient soil Se levels typically observed in UK pastures for livestock growth. These findings underscore the importance of considering SOC and excreta nutritional composition when designing forage management to optimize nutrient uptake. It should be noted that these findings have potential ramifications for broader studies of sustainable agriculture through system-scale analyses, as the granularity of results reported herein elucidate gaps in knowledge which could affect, both positively and negatively, the interpretation of model-based environmental impact assessments of cattle and sheep production (e.g., in the case of increased yields [beneficial] or the requirement of additional synthetic supplementation [detrimental]). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compost teas are watery fermented extracts with proven suppressive effects against plant pathogens. Compost teas were prepared from six different compost sources and assayed for in vitro effects against Botrytis cinerea growth. In vivo, weekly foliar application of compost teas on tomato plants and a tomato leaflet trial with undiluted and 10 × diluted teas were conducted to assess effects on grey mould caused by B. cinerea. Results showed that all tested compost teas inhibited B. cinerea growth when unsterilized. Heat- and cold-sterilization of compost teas reduced or eliminated inhibitory effects, suggesting that the presence of microorganisms is essential for inhibitory efficacy. When used as foliar sprays, bovine manure (BOV), shrimp (SHR), and garden-leaves-straw (GLS) compost teas effectively reduced disease severity for six weeks. In leaflet trials, BOV, GLS, and garden waste (GAR) compost teas caused the greatest delay in grey mould lesion expansion. Moreover, BOV, GLS, and, in particular, SHR compost teas were equally effective in undiluted and diluted form. Microbial characterization showed varying microbial compositions across all compost teas, with notably large populations of fungi or oomycetes and Pseudomonas spp. in GLS. There was no clear relationship between the source of compost (manure, other animal by-product, solely plant-based) and efficacy against grey mould. Results also indicate that the abundance of microbial populations and subpopulations did not correlate with the inhibitory effects of the teas. The diversity of microbial populations or the presence of particular microbial species is more likely to be a determining factor of compost tea efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of the influence of farming practices in the Middle Ages (X–XV AD) on the activities of 11 hydrolytic enzymes involved in the biogeochemical cycles of major elements in soils has been carried out. Agrostratozems of Medieval agricultural terraces in Dagestan mountains (Plaggic and Hortic Anthrosols) were chosen as objects of study. In all cases, the enzymatic activity of the studied soils decreased in all soil layers in the following sequence: alkaline phosphatase > phosphodiesterase > acid phosphatase > pyrophosphatase ≥ leucine aminopeptidase > arylsulfatase > chitinase > β-glucosidase > xylanase > α-glucosidase > cellobiohydrolase. The enzymatic activity of the studied soils was primarily determined by the amount of microbial biomass (Cmic). Thus, the activity of enzymes of various groups depended on Cmic by 61–94%. Agricultural practices associated with ploughing, manuring, and irrigation induce the convergence in the activity of nitrogen cycle enzymes in soils of the mountain zone, which is associated with similar features of the nitrogen cycle in agrogenic soils, regardless of bioclimatic conditions. The addition of organic materials has led to an increase in the physiological efficiency of microbial communities and the rate of enzyme production, and high levels of biological activity can persist in soil for about 1000 years. Ploughing with the application of organic fertilizers in the past led to an increase in enzymatic activity expressed per unit of microbial biomass (specific activity), therefore, this indicator can be used as an indicator of agrogenic transformation of soils in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonize biochar in soils, yet the processes governing their colonization and growth in biochar are not well characterized. Biochar amendment improves soil health by increasing soil carbon, decreasing bulk density, and improving soil water retention, all of which can increase yield and alleviate environmental stress on crops. Biochar is often applied with nutrient addition, impacting mycorrhizal communities. To understand how mycorrhizas explore soils containing biochar, we buried packets of non-activated biochar in root exclusion mesh bags in contrasting agricultural soils. In this greenhouse experiment, with quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) as the host plant, we tested impacts of mineral nutrient (as manure and fertilizer) and biochar addition on mycorrhizal colonization of biochar. Paraglomus appeared to dominate the biochar packets, and the community of AMF found in the biochar was a subset (12 of 18) of the virtual taxa detected in soil communities. We saw differences in AMF community composition between soils with different edaphic properties, and while nutrient addition shifted those communities, the shifts were inconsistent between soil types and did not significantly influence the observation that Paraglomus appeared to selectively colonize biochar. This observation may reflect differences in AMF traits, with Paraglomus previously identified only in soils (not in roots) pointing to predominately soil exploratory traits. Conversely, the absence of some AMF from the biochar implies either a reduced tendency to explore soils or an ability to avoid recalcitrant nutrient sources. Our results point to a selective colonization of biochar in agricultural soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raw dairy manure and derived products including separated liquids and various types of solids vary in physiochemical properties, which may influence the impact of their application on soil erosion and nutrient movements in runoff and infiltrate. Rainfall simulation studies were conducted to evaluate the impact of raw dairy manure versus separated liquids, separated solids, dissolved air flotation (DAF) solids, and Sedron solids on rainfall partitioning (runoff versus infiltration), sediment loss, and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loss in runoff and infiltrate. Experiments were conducted in three replications using five P application rates. Rainfall events took place 7, 14, and 21 d after application. Raw manure and separated liquids increased rainfall infiltration and lowered both runoff volume (18-40%) and sediment loss (>85%) in runoff. Separated solids and Sedron solids also reduced soil loss but to a smaller extent (35-50%). The application of DAF solids did not reduce sediment loss. Most of the N and P loss occurred as runoff loss during the 1st rainfall event, and N and P loss increased with application rate. Phosphorus loss was highest with separated solids and Sedron solids, comparable between raw manure and DAF solids, and lowest with separated liquids. Reflecting that each source was applied at the same P application rate, separated liquids resulted in the highest N loss followed by separated solids, raw manure, and then DAF and Sedron solids. These results suggest future P loss assessment tools should take manure product differences into account when setting upper limits to application rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the status, determining factors, and challenges in adopting climate smart livestock production practices by farmers. Three-staged sampling techniques were used to select the research sites and 233 sample farmer household respondents. Data were collected mainly using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were also conducted to complement the household survey data. Descriptive statistics and an ordered logistic regression model were applied to analyze the quantitative data. The result revealed that the most adopted practices were composting (85.41%) and manure management (70.39%) while the least adopted technologies were biogas generation (3.86%) and rotation grazing (22.32%). The adoption status of the sampled farmers was also categorized into low (19.74%), medium (67.81%), and high adopter (12.45%). The high cost of improved breed, use of manure for fuel, free grazing, lack of information and awareness were the major constraints to adopting the climate smart livestock production technologies. The result also revealed that education, grazing land, total livestock holding, and extension agent contact contributed significantly and positively to the adoption of smart livestock production technology, while the distance from the water source had an insignificant and negative effect on the adoption status of climate smart livestock production practices. The study suggests the relevance of the cooperation of stakeholders and strengthening extension services for the maximum benefits of climate smart livestock production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing concerns about the global antimicrobial resistance crisis require a better understanding of how antibiotic resistance persists in soil and how antibiotic exposure impacts soil microbial communities. In agroecosystems, these responses are complex because environmental factors may influence how soil microbial communities respond to manure and antibiotic exposure. The study aimed to determine how soil type and moisture alter responses of microbial communities to additions of manure from cattle treated with antibiotics. Soil microcosms were constructed using two soil types at 15, 30, or 45% moisture. Microcosms received biweekly additions of manure from cattle given cephapirin or pirlimycin, antibiotic-free manure, or no manure. While soil type and moisture had the largest effects on microbiome structure, impacts of manure treatments on community structure and individual ARG abundances were observed across varying soil conditions. Activity was also affected, as respiration increased in the cephapirin treatment but decreased with pirlimycin. Manure from cattle antibiotics also increased NH4+ and decreased NO3− availability in some scenarios, but the effects were heavily influenced by soil type and moisture. Overall, this work demonstrates that environmental conditions can alter how manure from cattle administered antibiotics impact the soil microbiome. A nuanced approach that considers environmental variability may benefit the long-term management of antibiotic resistance in soil systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For decades, water quality monitoring programmes, agri-environment schemes and environmental permits for animal farms have targeted a decrease in agricultural loads. These have been supplemented with more recent policies related to nutrient recycling and a circular economy. However, eutrophication of surface water bodies remains a widespread problem. In this paper, we focus on the nutrient loading and recycling in the catchment of Eurajoki River, Finland. We statistically examine the generation of nutrient loading and its variation on a sub-catchment scale. We extend this examination to the factors behind the loading and estimate the impact of nutrient recycling on it. Our analysis reveals shortcomings in the availability and collection of data on the agricultural nutrient loadings and the parcel-specific data on the presence and application of manure and fertilisers. Nine sub-catchments were responsible for roughly half of the TP loading from the 46 sub-catchments studied. To reveal such hot spots and to better target agricultural water protection measures, we recommend short-term water quality sampling campaigns. Judging from our data, the rate of manure recycling is not high enough to reduce the regional P surplus to manageable levels. Therefore, we suggest facilitated collaboration between animal and crop farms to decrease the nutrient surplus. We also propose setting up a national database containing parcel-specific information, for example, on soil P content, manure and fertiliser application, agricultural practices and the presence of acid sulphate soils. We also suggest an independent soil fertility sampling to provide valid baseline soil P data for field parcels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics are administered to livestock animals as medications and, in some jurisdictions, as growth promotors. This review examines the impact of veterinary antibiotics on methane production from manure anaerobic digestion (AD). The animals excrete about 17–90% of the administered antibiotics in manure unchanged or as metabolites, which adversely affect microorganisms catalyzing the manure AD, thereby reducing methane yields. Different antibiotics influence methane production to different extents (0–80%). The results from studies on manure artificially spiked with antibiotics differ from those on manure from antibiotic-fed animals, likely due to the effect of other bioactive substances in the manure. Over time, the microbial culture might adapt to the antibiotics, altering its composition, and further affecting the methane yield. Such adaptation indicates that short-term studies might not fully capture the antibiotic's long-term effects on AD. Effects of oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline on methane production are debatable, with chlortetracycline generally believed to have a slightly stronger inhibition. Correlation, nonlinear modeling/simulation, and principal component analysis (PCA) reveal that the antibiotic effects on methane yield are complex and depend on various parameters such as antibiotic type, concentration, application mode, duration, specific microbial communities, and digester conditions. The PCA showed that the temperature and concentration rather than the manure origin (pigs vs cows) dictate the magnitude of methane production inhibition. Data on the kinetics of antibiotics' impact, isomerization, and effects of operation strategies are missing. This review summarizes the main knowledge gaps concerning AD of antibiotics-containing manure and suggestions for operational strategies and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) have attracted much attention in recent years, due to the difficulty of degradation and threats to ecological systems and humans. Based on the analysis of 1429 articles on MPs in soil, we found that we know little about the behavior and fate of manure-born MPs from the livestock and poultry production systems to agriculture soils. This review summarizes the analytical methods for sampling, separation, and identification and the occurrence of MPs in livestock and poultry manure, mainly based on 7 surveys related to manure-born MPs. Then, the sources, fate, and environmental risks of MPs in livestock and poultry manure are discussed. MPs, heavy metals, pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes, and persistent organic pollutants are common pollutants in livestock and poultry manure. Worse, manure-born MPs will become smaller, rougher, and more numerous and could easily form more toxic compound pollution after complicated processes of manure treatment, which seriously threatens agricultural soil safety. Finally, an outlook is offered for future research. We hope this article to attract attention to the risks of MPs in livestock and poultry manure and provide a reference for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock farming has exerted intense environmental pressure on our planet. The high emissions to the environment and the high demands of resources for the production process have encouraged the search for decarbonization and circularity in the livestock sector. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the environmental performance of two different uses for biogas generated in the anaerobic digestion of animal waste, either for electricity generation or biomethane. For this purpose, a life cycle assessment approach was applied to evaluate the potential of anaerobic digestion as a management technology for three different livestock wastes, related to beef cattle, dairy, and sheep in the Brazilian animal production context. The results suggest that the treatment scenarios focusing on biomethane generation were able to mitigate the highest percentage of damages (77 to 108%) in the global warming category when compared to the scenarios without the use of anaerobic digestion (3.00·102 to 3.71·103 kgCO2 eq) or in the perspective of electricity generation (mitigation of 74 to 96%). In terms of freshwater eutrophication, the generation of electricity (− 2.17·10−2 to 2.31·10−3 kg P eq) is more favorable than the purification of biogas to biomethane (− 1.73·10−2 to 2.44·10−3 kg P eq), due to the loss of methane in the upgrading process. In terms of terrestrial ecotoxicity, all scenarios are very similar, with negative values (− 1.19·101 to − 7.17·102 kg 1,4-DCB) due to the benefit of nutrient recovery, especially nitrogen, associated with the use of digestate as fertilizer, which was one of the critical points in all scenarios. Based on these results, it is evident that proper management of all stages of the treatment life cycle is the key to decarbonization and circularity in livestock waste management. The biogas use does not present different effects on the environmental performance of the scenarios studied, demonstrating that the purpose should be chosen according to the needs of each plant or management system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of manure on the availability of sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs) in soils were explored in situ by the Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique. Five antibiotics, including sulfadiazine (SDZ), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), sulfamethazine (SMZ), sulfachloropyridazine (SCP), and sulfadimethoxine (SDM), were selected as target compounds. Results showed that the manure application to soil could reduce the antibiotic availability indicated by DGT. DGT measurement (CDGT) showed good correlations with the soil solution concentrations (Cd). Manure application can suppress the fluxes of SAs from the soil to the soil solution. Using the DGT-induced soil/sediment flux model (DIFS), the labile pool size (Kdl), the rate constants (k1, k-1) of adsorption and desorption and response time (Tc) of SAs in soils were obtained. The addition of manure increased extractable fraction, labile pool size (Kdl) and k1 but decreased k-1. Together with the nonlinear relationship between DGT fluxes and the reciprocal of diffusive layer thickness (Δg), these findings suggested that the release of SAs from soil particles into the soil solution is thermodynamically and kinetically limited, and the manure application could enhance this limitation. This study offers insight into antibiotic availability in soils caused by manure application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Exogenous Organic Matter (EOM) enriches and regenerates the soil, while solving the problem of landfilling waste such as sewage sludge and bottom sediments. The main purpose of the presented study was to estimate the influence of type and dosage of applied EOM on soil biological characteristics and supporting plant growth, with consideration of inoculation with PGPR (plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria). Materials and methods: The soil samples were characterized by measuring key enzyme activities, determining the community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) using Biolog EcoPlates, abundance of microorganisms and evaluation physical and chemical properties. Results and discussion: Application of EOM mostly increased enzyme activity as well as overall metabolic activity compared to control sample. Increasing the dose of poultry manure and sewage sludge from 20 to 40 t ha−1 increased dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase activity. Moreover, the addition of EOM affected the metabolic activity and the number of selected groups of bacteria and fungi. Conclusions: In the research it was proven that application of EOM leads to relatively rapid and positive changes in soil biological activity. The research also confirmed that the supporting factor for plant growth was the inoculation with PGPR bacteria. This approach, together with the reuse of organic wastes may become an attractive approach in sustainable cropping systems in a circular economy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the research was to study the environmental "price" of the large-scale, milk production from a rarely known perspective, from the mapping of the estrogenic footprint (the amount of oestrus-inducer hormonal products, and the generated endoestrogens) in the resulting slurry in a dairy cow farm. These micropollutants are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and can be dangerous to the normal reproductive functions even at ng/kg concentration. One of them, 17ß-estradiol, has a 20,000 times stronger estrogenic effect than bisphenol-A, a widely known EDC of industrial origin. While most studies on EDCs are short-term and/or laboratory based, this study is longitudinal and field-based. We sampled the slurry pool on a quarterly basis between 2017 and 2020. Our purpose was testing the estrogenic effects using a dual approach. As an effect-based, holistic method, we developed and used the YES (yeast estrogen screen) test employing the genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae BJ3505 strain which contains human estrogenic receptor. For testing exact molecules, UHPLC-FLD was used. Our study points out that slurry contains a growing amount of EDCs with the risk of penetrating into the soil, crops and the food chain. Considering the Green Chemistry concept, the most benign ways to prevent of the pollution of the slurry is choosing appropriate oestrus-inducing veterinary pharmaceuticals (OIVPs) and the separation of the solid and liquid parts with adequate treatment methods. To our knowledge, this is the first paper on the adaptation of the YES test for medicine and slurry samples, extending its applicability. The adapted YES test turned out to be a sensitive, robust and reliable method for testing samples with potential estrogenic effect. Our dual approach was successful in evaluating the estrogenic effect of the slurry samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predicting groundwater nitrate pollution risk, especially in terms of changes in fertilizing, has not been fully investigated so far. In particular, there is no comprehensive method to assess this risk in areas of different land use type, and not only in agricultural areas. The aim of this study was to develop a novel multicriteria methodology for groundwater nitrate pollution risk assessment, which meets these issues. A further aim was to determine how much this risk would change if the amount of organic and synthetic fertilization was reduced. An assumption was that groundwater pollution risk is a combination of the potential adverse impacts of land use, fertilization, and intrinsic groundwater vulnerability to pollution. The impact of fertilization was holistically evaluated by balancing nitrogen from spatially differentiated the size of the breeding, species of livestock, manure and synthetic fertilizers input, and spatially differentiated topsoil, with nitrogen uptake by different crops. The nitrate concentration in the leachate was used as a measure of the impact of fertilization. This concentration was compared to the natural baseline nitrate concentration in groundwater. Three fertilization scenarios for groundwater pollution risk assessment in two study areas were discussed. Under typical agricultural, climatic, soil, and geological conditions in Europe for the current total fertilization level of 95-120 kg N ha−1 groundwater nitrate pollution risk is low and moderate, but for fertilization of 150-180 kg N ha−1, a reduction in the total fertilization (synthetic and manure) by 40 to 50% may be required to achieve low risk of degradation of natural groundwater quality. Predictive simulations of groundwater nitrate pollution risk confirmed that reducing synthetic and organic fertilization has an effect, especially in areas with intensive fertilization. This method may allow for a holistic and scenario-based assessment of groundwater pollution risk and may help decision-makers introduce solutions to manage this risk under conditions of climate change, preservation of groundwater quality, and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work aimed to develop an accurate analytical method for the simultaneous analysis of twenty-four antimicrobials in soil:compost and animal manure samples by means of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer (UHPLC-QqQ). For this purpose, the effectiveness of two extraction techniques (i.e. focused ultrasound solid–liquid extraction (FUSLE) and QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe)) was evaluated, and the clean-up step using solid-phase extraction (SPE) was also thoroughly studied. The method was successfully validated at 10 μg·kg−1, 25 μg·kg−1, and 50 μg·kg−1 showing adequate trueness (70–130%) and repeatability (RSD < 30%), with few exceptions. Procedural limits of quantification (LOQPRO) were determined for soil:compost (0.45 to 7.50 μg·kg−1) and manure (0.31 to 5.53 μg·kg−1) samples. Pefloxacin could not be validated at the lowest level since LOQPRO ≥ 10 μg·kg−1. Sulfamethazine (7.9 ± 0.8 µg·kg−1), danofloxacin (27.1 ± 1.4 µg·kg−1) and trimethoprim (4.9 ± 0.5 µg·kg−1) were detected in soil samples; and tetracycline (56.8 ± 2.8 µg·kg−1), among other antimicrobials, in the plants grown on the surface of the studied soil samples. Similarly, sulfonamides (SAs), tetracyclines (TCs) and fluoroquinolones (FQs) were detected in sheep manure in a range of 1.7 ± 0.3 to 93.3 ± 6.8 µg·kg−1. Soil and manure samples were also analysed through UHPLC coupled to a high-resolution mass-spectrometer (UHPLC-qOrbitrap) in order to extend the multitarget method to suspect screening of more than 22,281 suspects. A specific transformation product (TP) of sulfamethazine (formyl-sulfamethazine) was annotated at 2a level in manure samples, among others. This work contributes to the efforts that have been made in the last decade to develop analytical methods that allow multitarget analysis of a wide variety of antimicrobials, including TPs, which is a complex task due to the diverse physicochemical properties of the antimicrobials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrient management is arguably a key factor for achieving several of the UN Sustainability Development Goals. It plays a key role in the production of sufficient amounts of nutritious food, while poor nutrient management leads to nutrient losses (notably of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) and contributes to air and water pollution and biodiversity loss. Nutrient management in China is complicated because of the diversity in farming systems and environments, the countless number of farm households and small farms, and the fragmented agricultural supply and advisory system. Current nutrient management in China's agriculture has become a global concern because of the implications of the large N and P inputs and losses. In this perspective, we identify and discuss several barriers for implementing environmentally-sound nutrient management, and highlight that farmers currently have limited farm-specific techniques, tools and incentives for precision and environmentally sound nutrient management. Most crop farmers manage primarily by choosing fertilizer bag size and nutrient formulation, while many livestock farmers have a headache of manure management, because of a lack of appropriate manure recycling opportunities. We argue that nutrient management in China is at the crossroads; decisions have to be made about the development and testing of farm-specific techniques and tools to provide farmers a customary dashboard with indicators and a steering wheel for precision and environmentally-sound nutrient management. Likewise, integrated crop-livestock systems and sustainability-driven farm business models have to be developed, within the context of Agriculture Green Development, which aims at greening agriculture and enhancing ecosystem services. There is also a need for in-depth and long-term studies of whole farming systems to better understand the impact of farmers' decisions on nutrient cycling, use efficiency and losses, to test and improve nutrient management tools, and to explore the effects of policy measures. Such approaches could be applied and tested first in Science and Technology Backyards and then up-scaled to other villages and counties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese government aims at reducing nutrients losses from agriculture through incentivising the substitution of synthetic fertilizer by animal manure applications. This paper addresses the question how different substitution ratios affect crop yield, nitrogen (N) utilization efficiency (NUE), ammonia (NH3) volatilization and the N balance of a typical winter wheat–summer maize double cropping system. A field experiment was conducted with six treatments, including a no N treatment and five N substitution ratios (100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0%), between October 2016 and September 2018. The yield and NUE were highest with a partial N substitution (75% inorganic N fertilizer + 25 manure N). Mean yields were 8553 kg ha−1 for wheat and 10,620 kg ha−1 for maize in the treatment with 75% inorganic N + 25% manure N. Mean NUE was 55% for wheat and 45% for maize in this treatment. The mean N balance, N uptake, and soil residual Nmin increased, while NH3 emissions and N surpluses decreased with an increasing substitution of synthetic N fertilizer by manure N. A substitution of 25% of the inorganic N fertilizer by manure N showed the best performance. Selecting the appropriate ratio of synthetic N fertilizer to manure is an effective pathway for green agricultural development, as it ensures a high crop yield and N utilization, and reduces the environmental cost of food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the taxonomic structure of the fungal community during the processing of cow manure with straw using Eisenia fetida worms have been studied using fundamentally different methods—cultural and metabarcoding (by amplification and high-performance sequencing of ITS2 rDNA). Significantly more fungal taxa have been identified in substrates and vermicompost using metabarcoding than by the plating method (66 and 33 species, respectively). Single species have been identified simultaneously by both methods. The method of metabarcoding has revealed the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota, Glomeromycota, Basidiobolomycota, Rozellomycota, and Aphelidiomycota; fungi from Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mucoromycota were isolated by the culture method. The species richness of the community decreased during the first 10–20 days of substrate processing, then grew and reached maximum values in the vermicompost (60 days). Both methods showed the dominance of ascomycetes at all stages of transformation of substrates by E. fetida. Metabarcoding showed the dominance of Sordariomycetes of the order Sordariales (48–53%), mainly Zopfiella spp., and the fungi of the orders Pezizales, Microascales, Hypocreales, Pleosporales, Chaetothyriales, Onygenales, and Eurotiales had the representation at the level of several percents. The increase in the portion of Chytridiomycota in the community (from 1.1 to 3.2%) was observed during vermicomposting. At the same time, the representation of fungi of Mortierellomycota (5.7 to 1.5%) of genus Mortierella and Basidiomycota (from 8 and 21 to 3%) decreased with an increase in their diversity. Among basidiomycetes, Coprinellus marculentus, Coprinellus subdisseminatus, Coprinus annuloporus, and Occultifur sp. prevailed. According to the plating method, ascomycetes also prevailed during waste processing and in the vermicompost, but it was other species: Diplodascus geotrichum; genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, Talaromyces, Trichoderma, and Fusarium; mucoromycetes of the genus Mucor; and basidiomycetes (Filobasidium wieringae). Fungi capable of the decomposition of various polymer compounds in waste, active destructors of lignocellulose, have been identified. Coprophiles, keratinophiles, and thermophilic and thermotolerant species, representatives of the genera Trichoderma and Penicillium, capable of determining the suppressive properties of vermicompost to phytopathogens and human pathogens, have been found. The differences in mycobiota during the composting and vermicomposting of various wastes are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsustainable soil management is one of the drivers of soil degradation, but impact assessment requires the development of indicators. Oribatids might be considered as early indicators of disturbances due to the stability of their community. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of oribatids as bioindicators of sustainable agricultural practices. Under a dry Mediterranean climate, three fertilization experiments – two under a two-crop rotation system and one under maize monoculture and established 12 years earlier – were sampled 3× for oribatid identification during the last annual cropping cycle. The hypothesis was that different nutrient and crop managements affect the number of oribatid species and individuals present, and these parameters could be used as indicators of soil degradation. In total, 18 oribatid species were identified, and 1974 adult individuals were recovered. Maximum abundance was found prior to sowing. Pig slurry (PS) vs. control, and dairy cattle manure (CM) vs. mineral fertilization increased oribatid abundance. This increase was evident when the average applied rates with PS were ca. 2 Mg of organic matter (OM) ha− 1 yr− 1, or higher than ca. 4 Mg OM ha− 1 yr− 1 for CM. When the preceding crop was wheat and PS or CM were used, Oribatula (Zygoribatula) excavata (which reproduces sexually) predominated. In maize monoculture fertilized with CM, Tectocepheus sarekensis and Acrotritia ardua americana (which can reproduce through parthenogenesis) prevailed vs. Oribatula, which indicated a heavily disturbed soil. Under this specific Mediterranean environment, the predominance of certain parthenogenic oribatid species and the number of individuals provide advanced warning on soil degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid transition of livestock husbandry in the 20th century involved a broad adoption of slurry-based livestock housing systems that resulted in farm economic benefits, but also in societal debate related to the environment and animal welfare. In this article, we apply the method of topic modeling to four major German newspapers to identify thematic emphases and changes in coverage around "slurry". We considered more than 2300 articles published between 1971 and 2020. Our results show that reporting encompasses economic, environmental, and social topics in which slurry is represented mostly critically ("poisonous substance"), occasionally neutrally ("scent of countryside"), or rarely positively ("input for the bioeconomy"). Three meta-themes overarch the majority of issues and reflect public discourse on agriculture: (i) the dichotomy of agricultural industrialization and family farming; (ii) contrasting actualities of factory farming and animal welfare; and (iii) the responsibility of policy for the emergence, existence and solution of livestock and slurry-related problems. A more balanced recognition of mutual values and constraints by the media could contribute to a discursive reconciliation of public and private interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gypsum (CaSO4∙2H2O) amendment can reduce phosphorus (P) export from agricultural fields and protect water quality. Past studies have examined the impact of gypsum application rate, but limited research has been conducted to assess the effect of the time interval between gypsum application and P fertilization on treatment effectiveness and P mobility. To address this question, a mesocosm-scale experiment was conducted using 36 soil columns packed with either Brookston clay-loam (total phosphorus, TP: 0.46 g kg−1) or Fincastle silt-loam soil (TP: 4.63 g kg−1). For each soil type, 9 columns were treated with gypsum (5 Mg ha−1) and an equal number served as untreated controls. At different time intervals (2, 30, and 58 days after gypsum application), one-third of the columns received P fertilizer (34 kg P ha−1). Rainwater was added to generate leachate that was collected over a 3-week period and analyzed for pH, sulfate (SO4−2), dissolved reactive P (DRP), and TP. At the end of each leaching period, soil columns were sliced (2–5 cm layers), and the amount of water-extractable P (WEP) and Olsen-P was quantified. The gypsum treatment had generally no effect on Olsen-P, but it consistently resulted in lower WEP level (1.8-fold) compared to controls. Likewise, during the later stage of the experiment (> 30 days), the gypsum treatment resulted in DRP concentration reduction (28–52%) in leachate from the Fincastle soil columns (but the effect was marginal in the Brookston columns likely due to limited distribution of surface applied gypsum in this fine-textured soil). These results indicated that the effect of gypsum on DRP leaching varies with the timing of P application. Depending on soil type, an interval of 1–2 months (shorter interval for coarse-textured soils; longer interval if soils are fine-textured) should be adopted before applying P fertilizer in order to optimize the effectiveness of the gypsum treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the industrial and scientific acceptance of life cycle assessment (LCA) to determine the environmental performance of products, none of the existing information on LCA provides explicit and clear recommendations on how to apply it when evaluating bio-based fertilizer (BBF) production systems. This situation affects the reliability of the results and causes confusion among practitioners, technology developers, and other stakeholders. Here, we first present the practitioners' current LCA methodological choices and then discuss the extent to which LCA standards and guidelines are correctly applied. This review intends to identify LCA methodological application hotspots towards the definition of consensual LCA methodological choices for BBFs. Method: LCA studies for BBF production systems were reviewed together with currently available LCA standards and guidelines to define which LCA methodological options are adopted by LCA practitioners in the first place, and then to determine whether these options are within the framework of existing LCA standards and guidelines. The results obtained are presented and discussed to finally debate and evidence the need for consensual LCA methodological choices for BBFs. Results and discussion: A total of 48 documents were reviewed between LCA standards and guidelines (8) and studies (40). Most of the reviewed studies state that BBFs are the main product of the system (30), while the remaining ones state them as secondary products. Although the standards and guidelines statements are interrelated, it is challenging to follow their recommendations when applied in studies evaluating BBF production. For instance, LCA studies do not clearly define the studies' promotor, motivation, and specific research question which leads to a lack of justification regarding the taken choice between attributional or consequential LCA. Therefore, the next LCA methodological choices such as functional unit, allocation criteria, biogenic carbon management, and end-of-life status of feedstock, are not justified. Conclusion: It has been evidenced that the lack of consensual LCA methodological choices is affecting the proper use of the LCA by practitioners that aim to assess BBFs production systems. Thus, it shall be imperative for researchers and technology developers to work on the definition of common LCA methodological choices. This study has concluded that more guidance on the process of defining the study's promotor, motivation, and specific research question is highly needed by practitioners since this would lead to the definition of common goals and scopes, first, and then, set the path to define standard LCA methodological choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The intake of selenium, an essential element for animals and humans, in ruminants is largely determined by selenium concentration in ingested forages, which take up selenium mainly from soil. Ruminant excreta is a common source of organic fertilizer, which provides both nutrients and organic matter. This study aims to unentangle the unclear effect of applying different types of ruminant excreta in soils of different organic matter contents on selenium uptake by forage. Methods: Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was grown in soils of different organic matter contents. Urine and/or feces collected from sheep fed with organic or inorganic mineral supplements, including selenium, were applied to the soils. The selenium in the collected samples were analyzed using ICP-MS. The associated biogeochemical reactions were scrutinized by wet chemistry. Results: The application of urine and/or feces resulted in either the same or lower selenium concentrations in perennial ryegrass. The excreta type did not affect total selenium accumulation in grass grown in low organic matter soil, whereas in high organic matter soil, feces resulted in significantly lower total selenium accumulation than urine, which was attributed to a possible interaction of selenium sorption in soil and microbial reduction of Se. Conclusion: This one-time excreta application did not increase, but further decrease in some treatments, selenium concentration and accumulation in the perennial ryegrass. Consequently, to increase ruminant selenium intake, supplementing selenium directly to animals is more recommended than applying animal manure to soil, which might drive selenium reduction and decrease selenium uptake by grass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the dynamics of mycobiota during composting the cow manure and wheat straw was carried out, using DNA barcoding and cultural method. Fungi of phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota, Rozellomycota and Aphelidiomycota have been found using DNA barcoding. Cultural (plating) method identified fungi of phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mucoromycota. All the orders of fungi determined by the plating method, with the exception of Saccharomycetales in Ascomycota and Mucorales in Mucoromycota, have been also discovered using DNA barcoding, but many other orders have been identified using the latter method. The coincidence of the species detected by both methods was very rare. The changes in the number of colony-forming and operational-taxonomic units of taxa of different levels have been observed during the transformation of manure with straw into compost. The DNA barcoding allowed to identify more fully the changes in the taxonomic and ecological-trophic structure of the fungal community during composting of manure and straw. They were manifested in a significant increase in the representation of basidiomycetes, especially Coprinus spp., Coprinellus spp., in compost, capable to transform lignin, complex organic substances of manure, and a decrease of the fraction of abundantly spore-bearing "sugars" and cellulolytic ascomycetes predominating in the initial substrates: Sordariomycetes in manure and Dothideomycetes in straw. Significant rearrangements occurred during composting in the composition of coprophilic, epiphytic, and phytopathogenic fungi. The importance of toxin-forming, allergenic, and thermophilic species of fungi that pose a danger to human health, and the possibility of assessing the readiness of compost for application to the soil as a biofertilizer, taking into account data on mycobiota, have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we present the genomic characterization of an Acinetobacter bohemicus strain QAC-21b which was isolated in the presence of a quaternary alky-ammonium compound (QAAC) from manure of a conventional German pig farm. The genetic determinants for QAAC, heavy metal and antibiotic resistances are reported based of the whole genome shotgun sequence and physiological growth tests. A. bohemicus QAC-21b grew in a species typical manner well at environmental temperatures but not at 37 °C. The strain showed tolerance to QAACs and copper but was susceptible to antibiotics relevant for Acinetobacter treatments. The genome of QAC-21b contained several Acinetobacter typical QAAC and heavy metal transporting efflux pumps coding genes, but no key genes for acquired antimicrobial resistances. The high genomic content of transferable genetic elements indicates that this bacterium can be involved in the transmission of antimicrobial resistances, if it is released with manure as organic fertilizer on agricultural fields. The genetic content of the strain was compared to that of two other A. bohemicus strains, the type strain ANC 3994T, isolated from forest soil, and KCTC 42081, originally described as A. pakistanensis, a metal resistant strain isolated from a wastewater treatment pond. In contrast to the forest soil strain, both strains from anthropogenically impacted sources showed genetic features indicating their evolutionary adaptation to the anthropogenically impacted environments. Strain QAC-21b will be used as model strain to study the transmission of antimicrobial resistance to environmentally adapted Acinetobacter in agricultural environments receiving high content of pollutants with organic fertilizers from livestock husbandry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasslands are the largest contributor of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in the agriculture sector due to livestock excreta and nitrogen fertilizers applied to the soil. Nitrification inhibitors (NIs) added to N input have reduced N2O emissions, but can show a range of efficiencies depending on climate, soil, and management conditions. A meta-analysis study was conducted to investigate the factors that influence the efficiency of NIs added to fertilizer and excreta in reducing N2O emissions, focused on grazing systems. Data from peer-reviewed studies comprising 2164 N2O emission factors (EFs) of N inputs with and without NIs addition were compared. The N2O EFs varied according to N source (0.0001–8.25%). Overall, NIs reduced the N2O EF from N addition by 56.6% (51.1–61.5%), with no difference between NI types (Dicyandiamide—DCD; 3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate—DMPP; and Nitrapyrin) or N source (urine, dung, slurry, and fertilizer). The NIs were more efficient in situations of high N2O emissions compared with low; the reduction was 66.0% when EF > 1.5% of N applied compared with 51.9% when EF ≤ 0.5%. DCD was more efficient when applied at rates > 10 kg ha−1. NIs were less efficient in urine with lower N content (≤ 7 g kg−1). NI efficiency was negatively correlated with soil bulk density, and positively correlated with soil moisture and temperature. Better understanding and management of NIs can optimize N2O mitigation in grazing systems, e.g., by mapping N2O risk and applying NI at variable rate, contributing to improved livestock sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spreading of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in crops and food products represents a global concern. In this study, we conducted a survey of resistomes in maize rhizosphere from Michigan, California, the Netherlands, and South Africa, and investigated potential associations with host bacteria and soil management practices in the crop field. For comparison, relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is normalized to the size of individual metagenomes. Michigan maize rhizosphere metagenomes showed the highest abundance and diversity of ARGs, with the detection of blaTEM-116, blaACT-4/-6, and FosA2, exhibiting high similarity (≥ 99.0%) to those in animal and human pathogens. This was probably related to the decade-long application of manure/composted manure from antibiotic-treated animals. Moreover, RbpA, vanRO, mtrA, and dfrB were prevalently found across most studied regions, implying their intrinsic origins. Further analysis revealed that RbpA, vanRO, and mtrA are mainly harbored by native Actinobacteria with low mobility since mobile genetic elements were rarely found in their flanking regions. Notably, a group of dfrB genes are adjacent to the recombination binding sites (attC), which together constitute mobile gene cassettes, promoting the transmission from soil bacteria to human pathogens. These results suggest that maize rhizosphere resistomes can be distinctive and affected by many factors, particularly those relevant to agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited field research has investigated the impact of poultry litter (PL) on urea-nitrogen (N) recovery in irrigated cropping systems. This study investigated the effect of PL (nil or 15t ha−1) on the fate of 15N-labelled urea at different rates (0, 50, 150, and 300 kg N ha−1) and changes in soil N mineralisation-immobilisation dynamics on an irrigated cotton farm. Our study highlighted multiple soil and plant N benefits from the use of PL, while limited improvements were seen on fertiliser 15N plant uptake and recovery. Total 15N recoveries were some of the highest observed for Australian cotton studies (61.0–92.3%) and PL increased overall plant N uptake (398–421 kg ha−1) compared to urea-only treatments (325–370 kg ha−1). Poultry litter stimulated soil NH4-N and NO3-N release at the start of the season then immobilised soil NO3-N for the remainder, which helped to retain residual 15N-urea (12% 15N recovery) in the soil surface after harvest. Despite high total 15N-fertiliser recoveries, the crop sourced most of its N (67.1–92.6%) from existing soil and PL reserves rather than current-season urea, potentially due to high native soil N supply rates and urea immobilisation in the microbial pool. These results confirm the lack of N rate response on yield observed in this study and commonly seen in other cotton farm studies. We suggest future research to follow post-harvest soil N into consecutive growing seasons to determine how to best manage integrated PL-urea applications to preserve soil N and improve fertiliser-N use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Turkey, facilities for the use of biomass resources in energy production are increasing, and new conversion facilities are commissioned every year to provide environmentally friendly energy production. Therefore, reliable energy potential estimates are needed. In this study, the animal manure-based-biogas potentials of Antalya, Isparta, and Burdur provinces in the Western Mediterranean Region of Turkey were calculated. Here, special information on cattle, small ruminants, and poultry, and animal age, number, and manure amount information were used in detail. In addition, carbon dioxide emissions, coal, electricity, and thermal energy, methane emission values with the Tier 1 and Tier 2 approaches were calculated and predicted by machine learning algorithms. To determine the model with the best results, machine learning algorithms support vector machine (SVM), multi-layer perceptron (MLP), and linear regression (LR) were used, and hyper-parameter optimization was performed. According to the results of biogas potential, CO2 emission, electricity production, and thermal energy estimations SVM models are seen as the best models with R2 = 0.999. When the coal amount estimation is examined, the LR models produce better results than SVM and MLP with R2 = 0.997. In the estimation of CH4 using the Tier 1 approach, the MLP model can perform the best estimation with R2 = 0.977. In the CH4 modeling obtained using the Tier 2 approach, the LR models were superior to the other models with the performance value of R2 = 0.962. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South Saskatchewan River Basin (SSRB) is considered one of the most intensively farmed regions in Canada, with high densities of livestock and expansive areas of irrigated cropland. We measured concentrations of seven veterinary antimicrobials (VAs) in 114 surface water samples from feedlot environs and 219 samples from irrigation conveyances in the SSRB. Overall, detection frequencies in feedlot environs were 100% for chlortetracycline (CTC) and tetracycline (TC), 94% for monensin (MON), 84% for tylosin (TYL), 72% for lincomycin (LIN), 66% for erythromycin (ERY), and 23% for sulfamethazine (SMZ). For irrigation conveyances, detection frequencies for CTC and TC remained high (94–100%), but dropped to 18% for ERY, 15% for TYL, 10% for MON, and 4% for SMZ. Lincomycin was not detected in irrigation conveyance water. Maximum concentrations of VAs ranged from 1384 µg L−1 (TC) to 17 ng L−1 (SMZ) in feedlot environs while those in irrigation conveyances were 155 ng L−1 (TC) to 29 ng L−1 (ERY). High detection frequencies and median concentrations of VAs in both feedlot environs and irrigation conveyances were associated with high amounts of precipitation. However, an irrigation district (ID) with high livestock density (Lethbridge Northern) did not exhibit higher concentrations of VAs compared to IDs with less livestock, while levels of VAs in irrigation conveyances were less influenced by the degree of surface runoff. The ubiquity of CTC and TC in our study is likely a reflection of its widespread use in intensive livestock operations. Additional investigation is required to link environmental concentrations of VAs with livestock densities and increase our understanding of potential antimicrobial resistance in high-intensity agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper nutrition practices are a crucial aspect of potato production. The utilization of various nutritional sources not only influences the growth of potatoes but also their yield and quality. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effects of mineral fertilizer (without or with 250–110-110 kg/ha N-P-K) and farmyard manure (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 tonnes/ha) on plant growth, tuber yield, and tuber quality. Agria which is widely grown in Turkey was used in this study. The experiment was conducted using a split-plot design based on a randomized complete block design, with four replications. In the experiment, the respective values were recorded for each variable; plant height 65.5 – 102.1 cm, number of stem per plant 2.6 – 3.6, chlorophyl readings 50.0 – 55.9, number of tubers per plant 6.1 – 9.0, first-class tuber ratio 73.3 – 90.7%, second class tuber ratio 5.8 – 21.4%, discarded tuber ratio 1.7 – 5.4%, total tuber yield 31.4 – 45.1 t/ha, dry matter 15.70 – 18.78%, chips L value 45.65 – 54.81, and French fry L value 46.62 – 64.38. The application of both mineral fertilizer and animal manure positively impacts plant growth and development, but combining mineral fertilizer with farmyard manure results in even better plant growth, quality, and higher yield. Consequently, it was demonstrated that the application of mineral fertilizer together with 30 t/ha of farmyard manure provided the most optimal outcome for potato growth, yield, and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control of infectious diseases has always been a top medical priority. For years during the so-called antibiotic era, we enjoyed prolonged life expectancy and the benefits of superior pathogen control. The devastating failure of the medical system, agriculture and pharmaceutical companies and the general population to appreciate and safeguard these benefits is now leading us into a grim post-antibiotic era. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) refers to microorganisms becoming resistant to antibiotics that were designed and expected to kill them. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, AMR was recognised by the World Health Organization as the central priority area with growing public awareness of the threat AMR now presents. The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, a project commissioned by the UK government, predicted that the death toll of AMR could be one person every 3 seconds, amounting to 10 million deaths per year by 2050. This review aims to raise awareness of the evergrowing extensiveness of antimicrobial resistance and identify major sources of this adversity, focusing on agriculture's role in this problem and its solutions. Keypoints: • Widespread development of antibiotic resistance is a major global health risk. • Antibiotic resistance is abundant in agricultural produce, soil, food, water, air and probiotics. • New approaches are being developed to control and reduce antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays an important role in improving soil quality, however, how long-term fertilization influences SOC and contrasting active C (AC) and passive C (PC) pools at large scale remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of long-term fertilization on SOC, including AC and PC, across four typical croplands in China and to explore the potential relationships and mechanisms. Methods: We assessed the effect of chemical fertilizer and manure amendment (standard rate and 1.5 × standard rate of inorganic fertilizer (NPK) with or without manure (M), with a Control for comparison) at three soil depths (0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, 40–60 cm) on SOC, AC and PC. Results: We found that SOC, AC and PC increased in the order NPK < NPKM < 1.5NPKM. 1.5NPKM resulting in a significant increase in SOC, AC and PC, of 76.3%, 53.0% and 108.5% respectively across the soil profile (0–60 cm) compared with Control. The response ratio of PC to long-term fertilization was 2.1 times greater than that of AC across four sites on average. In addition, clay was identified as the most important factor in explaining the response of AC and PC to different fertilization application. Conclusions: Long-term fertilization enhanced both AC and PC, but the greater response of PC suggests that fertilization application could enhance the stability of C and thus the potential of cropland for SOC accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, many agricultural wastes such as rice straw are produced in different countries that need to be managed and converted into valuable materials. The present study was planned to design a bioprocess for fast production of enriched biocompost from rice straw (RS) as an available lignocellulosic biomass. Three native bacterial strains (MC: 107 cells/gram RS), chicken manure (CM), and vinasse were used as starter cultures and accelerators, respectively. The research was conducted in a completely randomized design with five treatments (each 18 kg) in insulated composters. The treatments included RS as control; RS and chicken manure (CM) (T1); RS, CM, and microbial cocktail (MC) (T2); RS, CM, vinasse, and MC (T3); and RS, vinasse, and MC (T4). Treatment T2 showed maximum changes in bulk density, color, odor, pH, EC, and temperature increase (55 °C). Significant reduction of C/N and NH4+/NO3− (36%) ratios and a maximum increase of nutrient content were observed for T2. In the supplementary experiment that followed, application of T2 (5% w/w) showed significant effects on wheat growth factors, including plant height (47.11 cm), leaf area (15.35 cm2), fresh weight (3.18 g), dry weight (0.57 g), and special leaf area. The use of native effective microorganisms and chicken manure enhanced efficient lignocellulose degradation, reduced the composting process time, and increased the quality of the compost from RS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The farmyard manure application maintains quality of arable soils, provides nutrients, mitigates climate change by soil carbon sequestration. Biochar and other complex carbon rich amendments may stabilize organic matter derived by composting and decelerate organic carbon mineralization. However, how the combined utilization of biochar, humic substances and manure effects on soil chemical and biological properties have been least explored, especially their effect on soil basal and substrate induced respirations are needed to be further explored. Therefore, the potential of biochar and Humac (a commercial humic substances product) in combination with manure to improve the soil properties and plant growth was investigated in this experiment using barley under a short-term (12 weeks) and maize under long-term (following 12 weeks, a total of 24 weeks) cultivation. Results: In the early phase of cultivation (12 weeks) Humac- or biochar-enriched manures (M + H, M + B, respectively) enhanced the contents of nutrient elements (carbon + 5.6% and + 7%, nitrogen + 6.7% and − 5%, sulphur − 7.9% and + 18.4%), the activity of enzymes including (β-glucosidase + 32% and + 9.6%, phosphatase + 11% and 6.3%), and dry aboveground biomass (+ 21% and + 32%), compared to the control and manure-treated soil. However, these impacts of M + H and M + B manures were reduced under longer period, i.e., at the experiment end (24 weeks). After 24 weeks of cultivation, a decrease in absolute values of all determined enzyme activities indicated putative reduction of mineralization rate due to presumed higher recalcitrance of manure-derived organic matter, with Humac, biochar amendments. Increased stability of soil organic matter reduced microbial activity due to lower availability of nutrients. Possibly, the shortened period of manure maturation could help preserve a higher amount of less degraded organic matter in the enriched manures to counteract these observed features. Conclusions: We summarized that the biochar and humic substances combined with manure have the potential to improve the soil characteristics, plant biomass and soil health indicators but the improvements faded away in a cultivation time-dependent manner. Further studies are required to explore the structure and functioning of microbial activities under long-term experimental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Microbial immigration is essential for understanding microbial mechanisms involved in nutrient cycling under different fertilization strategies. Here, we aimed to illustrate the effects of fertilization on microbial immigration in the wheat rhizosphere. Materials and methods: Bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS sequencing were applied to determine the microbial composition in the wheat rhizosphere. Co-occurrence networks, spatiotemporal source models, and structural equation models (SEMs) were conducted to investigate microbial immigration in two different niches (bulk soil and rhizosphere) and at two growth stages with different fertilization strategies (control without fertilization (CK), chemical fertilization (NPK), and organic manure fertilization (OM)). Results and discussion: OM greatly decreased the network complexity ratio of the rhizosphere to bulk soil for bacteria (CK/NPK/OM ratio: 4.14/1.65/0.64) and fungi (CK/NPK/OM ratio: 1.09/1.35/0.72). The proportion of bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere sourcing from the bulk soil was highest under OM treatment (94.34%; 88.78%), followed by NPK (88.69%; 83.86%) and CK (85.30%; 76.40%) treatments. The jointing stage contributed more than the flowering stage to microbial immigration. In comparison to fungi, the proportion of bacteria in the rhizosphere derived from the bulk soil was much higher. Structural equation model indicated that the increase of total carbon under OM treatment affected the composition of bacteria and fungi by promoting microbial immigration from the bulk soil to the rhizosphere. Conclusions: OM treatment enhanced microbial immigration in the wheat rhizosphere, providing novel insights into plant-soil-microbiota interactions in the wheat rhizosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manure production and its management in the livestock sector have been increasingly receiving global attention due to its contribution to generating greenhouse gases, especially methane (CH4). This study was conducted to quantify and characterize daily manure including its moisture, dry matter (DM), ash, volatile solid (VS) contents, and model CH4 production rate as a function of feed intake and mass of pigs. Two statistical (multiple linear regression and polynomial regression) and three machine learning algorithms (ridge regression, random forest regression, and artificial neural network) were employed to predict CH4 emission. The result showed body mass ranged from 60 to 90 kg pig produced around 4.78 kg of manure per day consisting of 67% moisture content and 33% DM. The manure's ash content was 28% DM (0.45 kg pig−1 day−1), while the VS was 72% DM (1.21 kg pig−1 day−1). Moreover, the average CH4 production rate was estimated as 0.018 kg pig−1 day−1 which was lower than IPCC's (2006) recommended value for Oceania, Western Europe, and even North America regions. The current study found that the performance of the ridge regression was comparatively better, where the model with a coefficient of determination (R2) greater than 90% was suitable for describing the relationship between the explanatory (feed intake and mass of pigs) and the response (CH4 emissions) variables. Further research may be conducted to improve this model's prediction accuracy, providing a wider range of diets and management conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Manures and synthetic fertilisers can affect soil pH and plant-microbe processes and thus influence P forms and composition. Aims: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of the 40-year application of synthetic fertilisers or pig manure combined with synthetic fertilisers on the P forms and composition and the response of corn growth and yield to changes in P availability. Methods: A long-term field experiment with unfertilised, urea, urea+superphosphate, pig manure+urea and pig manure+urea+superphosphate fertilised soils was studied. 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to quantify P compounds. Results: The maximum corn yield was found when adding pig manure+urea, despite Olsen-P was lower than on adding manure+superphosphate. Other monoester P compounds, typically related to microbial biomass and processes were highest on adding pig manure+urea. When adding superphosphate+urea+pig manure a reduction of these P compounds was observed as well as the highest accumulation of inositol hexakisphosphate (IHP). Synthetic fertilisers increased Olsen-P, orthophosphate and other monoester and total IHP and largely decreased soil pH. The addition of pig manure greatly increased the stereoisomers of IHP (myo-IHP, scyllo-IHP, neo-IHP, and D-chiro-IHP) and the concentration of orthophosphate diesters. D-chiro-IHP was not found in unfertilised soils while neo-IHP was not detected in synthetically fertilised soils. Conclusions: P compounds related to microbial processes, such as other monoester, increased when adding pig manure. Additions of superphosphate on top of manures reduced other monoester, while they increased on adding synthetic fertilisers alone. Unfertilised soils were virtually free of P compounds related to microbial processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of modern and safe techniques to increase plant growth and yield is of significance. There is little data, to our knowledge, on the use of organic fertilization and ozonated water (ozone (O3) affecting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growth and quality. Different tomato growth and fruit quality parameters including yield, fruit number, leaf fresh and dry weight, leaf and inflorescence number, plant height and stem diameter, distance from the first inflorescence to the collar, total soluble solids, total acidity, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total were determined. O3 treatment resulted in significant affects in all tomato parameters. One of the interesting results of the present research is the increased concentration of the antioxidant ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in response to ozonation, which can also improve tomato quality. However, organic fertilization and its interaction with the O3 treatment significantly affected only some of the measured tomato parameters. Ozonated water, at proper concentrations, may improve tomato growth and fruit quality, and if combined with organic fertilization, its positive effects may increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry systems (AFS) are recognized as one of the practices with high potential to store carbon in soils. In the Itasy region, AFS were introduced to improve farmers’ livelihoods by diversifying income sources and to address problems related to soil degradation. Previous studies in the region have shown the potential of AFS to store organic carbon in the soil. In the present work, we carried out further studies to assess the main factors affecting SOC stocks in AFS. In 2014, we performed a soil sampling on 137 AFS farmers’plots to assess SOC stocks in different AFS. In 2018, a second sampling was carried out to calculate SOC storage rates using the diachronic approach on 30 most representative AFS. The results revealed that the factors “age of the system” and “type of organic inputs” significantly affected SOC stocks in AFS. SOC stocks increased significantly over time in AFS plots, benefiting from regular organic inputs such as manure and/or compost. In contrast, SOC stocks remained unchanged over time in AFS plots where no organic fertilization was used. Our study showed a substantial SOC storage up to 47‰ year−1, mainly explained by regular additions of organic inputs to maintain soil fertility and crop production. However, to fully understand the process of SOC storage in this context, further works, such as the analysis of the link between organic matter quality and the SOC storage process, and the quantification of the share of soil carbon inputs derived from tree biomass should be undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Harnessing soil microbiomes is a major demand for development of sustainable and productive agriculture. Here we aimed to assess the impact of two different types of organic material amendments in combination with chemical fertilizer on the plant-soil microbiota in maize farming and its link to soil fertility and crop productivity. Methods: Soils and roots were collected from a long-term wheat-maize rotation system involving three experimental treatments: chemical fertilizer (CF); chemical fertilizer plus seasonal application of manure (OM); and chemical fertilizer plus one-time application of peat and vermiculite (PV). Crop residues were returned in all three treatments each season. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS sequencing were conducted to elucidate the treatment-specific response of the microbiota in bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, and root compartment. Results: Relative to CF and OM treatments, PV amendment led to significant increases in soil organic carbon (SOC) content, aboveground plant biomass, and grain yield over the five-year field study. The PV-induced changes in microbial composition involved the greatest treatment-specific "effect size" on indicator ASVs (amplicon sequence variants) in bulk and rhizosphere soils. The number of interactions was more than doubled in the PV co-occurrence network relative to those in the CF and OM co-occurrence networks. Potential beneficial microbes, such as Glomeromycota (arbuscular mycorrhiza), Basidiomycota, and various members of the Actinobacteria and Burkholderiales, were most enriched in the root compartment of the PV treatment. Conclusions: Peat-vermiculite enhanced microbiota-driven soil fertility and crop productivity, thereby providing new insights into plant-soil-microbiota interactions that can be harnessed for smart farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A better understanding of the fate of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is critical for designing appropriate N management and for evaluating the total N use efficiency under plastic mulching on farmland. A two-year field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of manure and plastic mulching on the fate of 15 N-labelled urea. Urea was applied at the same rate to spring maize (Zea mays L.) growing in soils under three different treatments (no film mulching + mineral fertilizer, CK; film mulching + mineral fertilizer, FN; and film mulching + mineral fertilizer + cow manure, FNM) in 2018 and 2019, but 15 N-labelled urea was applied in 2018 only. FN and FNM increased the maize grain yields for both years. FN increased the total N uptake in the aboveground biomass by 20% in 2018, whereas no significant difference in 15 N uptake was observed in 2018 compared with that of the CK. The residual 15 N in the 0–1 m soil layer fell within a range of 8–20% two years later and was mostly retained in the top 0.2 m. FN and FNM significantly increased the total N uptake after two years, while the opposite trend was observed for potential N loss. The decreases in potential loss were 6% under FN and 39% under FNM. Therefore, our results indicate that plastic film mulching combined with manure application could not only increase maize grain yields and N uptake but also reduce the loss of fertilizer N, affecting the fate of urea-N in maize production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In dairy production systems, the efficient use of resources is required to guarantee its sustainability. Worldwide, the efficiency of feed utilization and its effects have been widely studied. However, few studies have quantified animal nitrogen use and its corresponding soil contribution in small-scale production systems. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the efficiency of feed utilization and quantify the soil chemical composition in small-scale production systems using two different feeding strategies. Twelve dairy farms were evaluated from May 2016 to April 2017. Data analysis was performed using an ANOVA following a completely randomized model and using feeding strategies as treatment. Regarding the feeding systems’ characteristics, significant differences (P < 0.05) were only observed in land surface and land used to produce mixed-grass and corn. Nitrogen (N) input and output in dairy cattle were significantly different (P < 0.05) for crude protein intake. The highest results were observed in grazing feeding systems. The cut and carry strategies excreted 71% of the consumed N in the manure; grazing strategies excreted 72%. The efficiency of feed utilization (EFU) is low; only 19% of the consumed N is recovered during milk production. As for the soil chemical composition, significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in the percentage of total N and the carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio. The remaining components behaved similarly in both feeding systems. Systems that include crops and livestock can positively change the biophysical and socioeconomic dynamics of agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of organic amendments such as livestock manures and compost is commonly listed amongst strategies with potential to sequester soil organic carbon (SOC) in agriculture and contribute to climate change mitigation. However, quantifying this potential is hampered by the paucity of data on amounts and characteristics of organic amendments applied to land, and limited understanding of the carbon dynamics during storage, processing and following land application. The objective of this study was to evaluate this potential for the State of Queensland, Australia, by collating and analysing information on organic amendments and modelling SOC sequestration in illustrative cropping locations. An estimated 2.7 million tonnes (Mt) dry matter (dm) of organic amendments has likely been land applied in Queensland in 2015/16, supplying significant quantities of carbon (C) to the soil. Simulations with Australia’s national inventory modelling tool predicted that, in a favourable location, high annual applications of manure and compost (10 t / 15 t fresh matter (fm) per hectare and year (ha−1 yr−1) could result in SOC increases of 0.9% and 0.55%, respectively, per year averaged over 20 years of continuous cropping, exceeding the aspirational goal of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 4 per 1000 Initiative. In less favourable conditions, C stocks may continue to decline but at a slower rate than without organic amendments. Based on regional analysis and review of current understanding of the dynamics of organic matter in soils, we identified a set of research priorities to enable more accurate assessments of the C sequestration potential to support development of policies and frameworks for use of organic amendments in agricultural soils for climate, food security and waste management benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of biochar to be used as filter or as additive for the adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from cattle manure is investigated. The employed biochar was produced from cattle manure after slow pyrolysis at 550 °C (under nitrogen). Towards this, in-house-made glass emission reactors were filled with fresh cattle manure samples and a thin layer of biochar (10% w/w) was placed on the top of the manure layer. The mixture was left for 24 h to equilibrate and air samples were collected from the headspace air. The samples were then analyzed using the headspace solid-phase micro-extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) method. Cattle manure emissions are considered unpleasant and odoriferous. The respective changes in the emitted cattle manure VOCs were reported; these included mainly reduction in sulfur- (thiols and sulfides) and oxygen-containing VOCs (alcohols, ketones, phenolics), showing a promising application of biochar for the removal of such compounds from manure wastes. Also, five VOCs were selected as sorbents for further laboratory studies: hexane, dimethyl trisulfide, phenol, p-cresol, and 2-methyl-3-pentanone. The results of cattle manure-derived biochar, revealed a reduction in their emitted concentrations (low ppbv). The present application highlights a straightforward example of cyclic economy, where a waste product is reused after being processed; its re-usage as odor adsorbent serves again the agriculture sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]