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Field experiments were carried out over a period of three years to evaluate the effect of cover cropping faba bean with fibre sorghum, compared to mono-crop cultivation, on yield (dry matter), nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) and N fertilizer recovery fraction of sorghum. Experimental sites were located in central Greece on a fertile, clayey to loamy textured soil, and on a sandy soil of moderate fertility. A factorial combination of four nitrogen application rates (0, 50, 100, 150 kg ha−1) and three legume treatments (incorporated into the topsoil or harvested before the sowing of sorghum and mono-cropping) were tested in a split plot design in three blocks. The results showed importance of legume cover crops for both soil types as sorghum total dry biomass yield for clayey soil fluctuated from 23 to 27 t ha−1 for control plots, from 25.2 to 30.9 t ha−1 when faba bean was harvested and from 26.3 to 32.5 t ha−1 when incorporated, and for sandy soil the yield fluctuated from 18.1 to 22.1 t ha−1 for control plots, from 22 to 27 t ha−1 when faba bean was harvested and from 23.1 to 28.1 t ha−1 when incorporated. The NUE was estimated at 62 kg kg−1 and 60 kg kg−1 for clayey and sandy soils respectively. The N recovery fraction was doubled after incorporating faba bean as green manure, reaching large amounts for both soil types. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Processing tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is regarded amongst the most dominant horticultural crops globally. Yet, due to its elevated water and fertilization needs, its environmental footprint is significantly high. The recent efforts to reduce the footprint of agriculture have rekindled the search for optimized fertilization regimes in tomato. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of different urea fertilizers and tomato pomace-based composts on the performance and quality traits of processing tomato. A two-year field experiment was conducted in the Larissa region, Central Greece, during 2018-2019. The experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with five treatments: control, urea (Urea), urea with nitrification and urease inhibitors (Urea + NI + UI), processing tomato pomace with farmyard manure (TP + FM), and processing tomato pomace with compost from plant residues (TP + CM). Measurements included soil total nitrogen (STN), soil organic matter (SOM), root length density (RLD), arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) colonization, dry weight per plant, fruit yield (number per plant, total yield, weight, diameter), fruit firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), lycopene content and yield, and fruit surface color ( L* , a* , b* , CI). Overall, the best results in soil properties and quality traits were reported in the organic fertilization treatments (STN, SOM, AMF, TSS, TA, lycopene content, L* , a* , b* ) and the differences among TP + FM and TP + CM were insignificant in their majority. On the contrary, fruit yield and its components were significantly improved in Urea + NI + UI.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) constitute a ubiquitous group of soil microorganisms, affecting plant and soil microorganism growth. Various crop management practices can have a significant impact on the AM association. This study investigated the AMF inoculation contribution on growth and productivity of two-rowed barley crop by identifying the underlying mechanisms both in conventional and organic cropping systems. A two-year field trial was set up as a split-plot design with 2 main plots [AMF inoculation: with (AMF+) and without (AMF-)] and five sub-plots (fertilization regimes: untreated, 100% recommended dose of fertilizer in organic and inorganic form, and 60% recommended dose of fertilizer in organic and inorganic form) in three replications. According to the results, AMF+ plants presented higher plant height and leaf area index (LAI), resulting in increased biomass and, as a result, higher seed yield. With regard to the quality traits, including the nitrogen and phosphorus uptake and their utilization indices, the AMF inoculated plants showed higher values. Furthermore, the level of fertilization, particularly in an inorganic form, adversely affected AMF root colonization. Consequently, it was concluded that substitution of inorganic inputs by organic, as well as inputs reduction, when combined with AMF inoculation, can produce excellent results, thus making barley crop cultivation sustainable in Mediterranean climates.

Lentil is an important legume crop for human and animal dietary needs due to its high nutritional value. The effect of genotype and growing environment was studied on seed yield (SY), crude protein (CP) and mineral nutrients (macro and micronutrients) of five lentil genotypes grown at four diverse locations for two consecutive years under organic and conventional farming. The location within each year was considered as a separate environment (E). Data were subjected to over environment two-way analysis of variance, while a genotype (G) plus genotype × environment (GGE) biplot analysis was performed. Our results indicated the E as the main source of variation (62.3-99.8%) for SY, CP and macronutrients for both farming systems, while for micronutrients it was either the E or the G × E interaction. Different environments were identified as ideal for the parameters studied: E6 (Larissa/Central Greece/2020) produced the higher CP values (organic: 32.0%, conventional: 27.5%) and showed the highest discriminating ability that was attributed to the lowest precipitation during the crucial period of pod filling. E7 (Thessaloniki/Central Macedonia/2020) and E8 (Orestiada/Thrace/2020) had fertile soils and ample soil moisture and were the most discriminating for high micronutrient content under both farming systems. Location Orestiada showed the highest SY for both organic (1.87-2.28 t ha -1 ) and conventional farming (1.56-2.89 t ha -1 ) regardless the year of cultivation and is proposed as an ideal location for lentil cultivation or for breeding for high SY. Genotypes explained a low percentage of the total variability; however, two promising genotypes were identified. Cultivar "Samos" demonstrated a wide adaptation capacity exhibiting stable and high SY under both organic and conventional farming, while the red lentil population "03-24L" showed very high level of seed CP, Fe and Mn contents regardless E or farming system. This genetic material could be further exploited as parental material aiming to develop lentil varieties that could be utilized as "functional" food or consist of a significant feed ingredient.

Black mustard [ Brassica nigra (L.) Koch] is mainly cultivated as a seed crop, and there is a lack of information on biomass quality and its potential for animal feeding. A 2-year field experiment was set up in a split-plot design with 2 main plots (plant densities: 46 and 76 plants m -2 ), 4 sub-plots (fertilization levels: control, compost, urea with and without urease and nitrification inhibitors) and 3 replications for each treatment. The highest dry matter yield (17.55-18.34 tn ha -1 ) was observed in high-density plots fertilized with urea fertilizer coated with double (nitrification and urease) inhibitors. In terms of the qualitive parameters of total above-ground biomass, the highest crude protein (CP) content was achieved in plots with low density and urea with double inhibitors. Moreover, the highest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents of above-ground biomass were found under compost and urea with double inhibitors. The high ADF, NDF and relatively high CP content characterized that black mustard aerial biomass can meet the requirements of lactating animals, and therefore the production of black mustard biomass as a forage crop could be of great importance. As a conclusion, black mustard cultivated at plant densities higher than 46 plants m -2 and under inorganic fertilization, especially with urea coated with double inhibitors, could be successfully used as a novel forage crop in ruminants' diets.

Drought affects common bean productivity, and the severity of its impact is expected to increase due to climate change. The use of versatile genotypes could contribute to securing future bean production. This study investigates the adaptability of 10 common bean genotypes of indeterminate growth type under water scarcity conditions by measuring agronomic and physiological parameters. The evaluation occurs under irrigation treatments applied at two different phenological stages (anthesis (WDA) and seed filling initiation (WDSF)). The recorded adaptabilities of the genotypes (G) showed that G10 produced the highest overall seed yield in the normal irrigation (NI) (197.22 g plant -1 ) and WDA (192.78 g plant -1 ), while the G6 had the highest yield at WDSF (196.71 g plant -1 ). For the genotype's average mean, chlorophyll content decreased by 10.5% under drought at WDSF. Net photosynthetic rate ( P n ), and transpiration rate (E) were reduced at WDA by 53%, 80.8%, and 61.4% and at WDSF by 43.75%, 57.7%, and 36%, respectively, while relative water content (RWC) reduced by 16.48%, on average, for both stages. G10 and G6 showed adaptability when water scarcity occurred at an early (WDA) or later stage (WDSF), respectively, providing insights into using germplasm resources to cope with the drought effect.g s ), and transpiration rate (E) were reduced at WDA by 53%, 80.8%, and 61.4% and at WDSF by 43.75%, 57.7%, and 36%, respectively, while relative water content (RWC) reduced by 16.48%, on average, for both stages. G10 and G6 showed adaptability when water scarcity occurred at an early (WDA) or later stage (WDSF), respectively, providing insights into using germplasm resources to cope with the drought effect.

Lidocaine is an amide local anesthetic and clonidine is an antihypertensive (α2-adrenergic agonist). The use of these two drugs in combination is recommended to enhance the analgesic effect of lidocaine. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of clonidine co-administration on the extent of lidocaine binding to rat serum, heart and maxillofacial tissues in vivo and in vitro. Thirty-two Wistar rats received either lidocaine alone, or lidocaine and clonidine, in the masseter muscle, and were then sacrificed 15 or 30 min after treatment. Serum, masseter, mandible and heart samples were then isolated and incubated in 0.9% NaCl solution for 12 h at 8°C. The extent of binding in the incubation medium and the serum was estimated by ultrafiltration, and the free lidocaine fraction was determined by the radioscopic method in a β-counter. An in vitro procedure was also performed. Serum, heart, masseter and mandible samples were incubated at 37°C for 15 or 30 min in Ringer's solution containing either lidocaine or lidocaine and clonidine, and the samples were similarly subjected to ultrafiltration. The percentage binding of lidocaine was again estimated by the radioscopic method. Lidocaine levels were found to be increased by clonidine co-administration in vivo and the free lidocaine fraction was enhanced in vitro as well in the examined tissues, obviously through mechanisms related to protein binding alterations.