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Micronutrient application rate and tillage practices are considered important factors in triggering the productivity of oilseed crops, especially canola (Brassica napus L.). The soil in the area is deficient in available zinc (Zn) and sulfur (S), which necessitates the supplementary application of these nutrients for sustainable crop development. The following study was conducted to evaluate the interactive effect of tillage and micronutrient on the growth, quality, and yield of canola and weed density. The present study was executed consisting of two tillage systems along with four treatments of micronutrients application including control, soil application of recommended doses of zinc (10 kg ha−1), soil application of a recommended dose of sulfur (45 kg ha−1), and combined application of a recommended dose of Zn + S (10 kg + 45 kg ha−1) during the crop growing seasons of 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. The results showed that the combined use of Zn and S under different tillage systems significantly affected crop growth, yield, and quality parameters. An increase of 0.99% in plant height, 6.33% in number of branches, 33% in silique length, 6.25% number of siliques per plant, 10% in number of seeds per silique, 4.64% in thousand seed weight, 0.74% in grain yield, and 0.42% in biological yield was recoded under conventional tillage practices as compared to zero tillage. In crux, the combined application of Zn and S at 10 and 45 kg ha−1 respectively, to canola crops under conventional tillage practices could be a sustainable option to improve canola crop growth, yield, and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional paddy-wheat-green gram cropping system in the North-Bihar, area experienced issues such as diminishing yield, water constraint, and uneven fertilizer usage. Researchers wanted to boost sustainability and productivity by testing alternative tillage and crop establishment (TCE) practices within this cropping pattern. The research was conducted out at the Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) the village in the Muzaffarpur region of Bihar. The purpose was to compare five distinct (TCE) utilization in the present rice–wheat-green gram cropping system. The study indicated that the TCE technique designated SN 5 (ZTDSR-HSZTW-HSG) resulted in the greatest yields across all crops, with 15–18% greater rice yield, 20–25% higher wheat yield, and 20–22% higher green gram yield compared to other TCE methods. Additionally, SN 5 produced 20.2% larger net returns employing a conservation agriculture (CA)-based system compared to the conventional technique. These results suggest that CA-based TCE outperformed conventional approaches in terms of net returns and overall efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The minimum disturbance of soil is gaining popularity in different parts of the world because of definite advantages over conventional tillage (CT) especially with respect to rice cultivation. Conventionally, rice is transplanted in puddled soil in which soil is completely broken down and destroyed in presence of standing water to create an impervious layer below the surface so as to hold the rainwater for the rice. Such practice noticeably hampers the growth of the succeeding winter crop grown under conventionally tilled soil because of alteration of soil physical characteristics. Taking into consideration, a field experiment was conducted from 2016 to 2019 to assess the alterations in soil properties resulting from various tillage systems in the cultivation of rice followed by Indian mustard, either through transplanting or direct seeding, after the cultivation of Sesbania aculeata. The experiment was conducted with 20 treatment combinations comprising of five tillage practices combining minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT) viz., T1: CT (S: Sesbania)-CT (TR: Transplanted rice)-CT (IM: Indian mustard), T2: MT (S)-CT (TR)-MT (IM), T3: MT (S)-CT (DSR: Direct seeded rice)-CT (IM), T4: MT (S)-MT (DSR)-MT + rice residue @1.5 tha−1 (IM), T5: MT (S)-MT (DSR)-MT (IM) and four weed management practices viz., W1: recommended herbicides (S and IM: pendimethalin 0.75 kg ha−1 pre-emergence; rice: pretilachlor 0.75 kg ha−1 pre-emergence) W2: IWM: integrated weed management (W1 + manual weeding), W3: manual weeding/hoeing, W4: weedy check, laid out in a split-plot design with tillage practices in the main plots and weed management practices in the sub-plots with three replications. Weed management is excluded from the results and discussion section of the paper due to no treatment effect on soil properties. The soil properties studied under the investigation were microbial population, microbial biomass carbon, soil enzymes such as dehydrogenase, phosphomonoesterase and fluorescein di-acetate, soil available NPK, soil organic carbon, bulk density, water holding capacity, total porosity, water stable aggregates, and mean weight diameter of aggregates were significantly changed under direct seeded rice based system as compared to puddled rice based system. Findings of the experiment suggested that by minimizing soil disturbance and residue retention in winter crop not only improved soil properties but also system productivity in terms of average rice equivalent yield (18.60%) of rice-Indian mustard cropping sequence over conventional tillage system. Minimum tillage in Sesbania-direct seeded rice-Indian mustard with rice residue retention improved macro water stable aggregates (> 0.25 mm sized aggregates) (62.08%) and mean weight diameter of aggregates (1.34 mm) at 0–30 cm soil depth as compared to conventional tillage system (60.04% and 1.27 mm, respectively). The same treatment improved total porosity and water holding capacity of 0–15 cm of soil depth by 47.42% and 45.87%, respectively as compared to conventional tillage after three years of investigation. Regression analysis shows that one unit reduction in bulk density increased total porosity of soil by 1.47 units; whereas a unit improvement in total porosity improved water holding capacity of soil by 1.25 units. Other soil properties viz., soil organic carbon (16.75% in 0–15 cm depth and 25.86% in 15–30 cm depth), available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (1.04%, 5.40% and 1.54%, respectively); bacterial and fungal population, microbial biomass carbon (49.90%), and activity of dehydrogenase, phosphomonoesterase and fluorescein di-acetate (25.39%, 17.02% and 48.94%, respectively) were also improved under the same treatment over conventional tillage system. A significant (P ≤ 0.01) positive correlation of soil macro-aggregates, water holding capacity, soil microbial biomass carbon with soil organic carbon as well as phosphomonoesterase, dehydrogenase and fluorescein di-acetate activities with soil microbial carbon was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates soil phosphorus (P) partitioning and transformations through chemical fractionation and modeling across various land uses to elucidate their impact on P dynamics and the potential for eutrophication. Geo-referenced soils (0–30 cm at various depth intervals) were collected from diverse land uses, including corn, soybean, wheat stubble, modified relay intercropping, corn-soybean with rye under conventional tillage and no-till systems, and sheep pastures, alongside an adjacent forest (control). Processed soils were sequentially extracted to quantify soluble reactive (SRP), exchangeable (EP), Ca and Mg bound (CaMgP), Fe and Al bound (FeAlP), particulate organic (POP), residual (RP), and total P pools. Results showed significant effects of land use and soil depth on extracted P pools. Notably, corn-soybean with rye exhibited a higher SRP accumulation (2.8 mg/kg) compared to the forest. The labile (SRP + EP), moderately labile (FeAlP + CaMgP + POP), and non-labile P (RP) pools accounted for 1 to 2, 23 to 29, and 65 to 76% of total P, respectively. The structural equation model elucidated soil P transformation, indicating the contribution of labile, moderately labile, and non-labile P pools to SRP accumulation in various land uses. Our findings underscore the critical link between land use, soil P dynamics, and eutrophication risk, offering valuable insights for developing agricultural management practices aimed at mitigating edge-of-field P loss and protecting water quality against eutrophication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No-tillage is one of the most important technologies in conservation agriculture. It is also crucial to understand the impact of no-tillage on grain crop yields, in order to promote the no-tillage application for food security. In this study, a metaanalysis was carried out to determine the regional yield and influencing factors of no-tillage on the three major crops in China. The data was collected from the published literature in Chinese (English) between 1995 and 2023. Conventional tillage (plowing, rotary tillage, or harrowing, depth < 18 cm) was taken as a control. Meta-analysis was employed to quantitatively investigate the overall and regional effects of no-tillage on the yield and yield components of three major grain crops (wheat, maize, and rice). Results showed that there was no significant effect of no-tillage on the regional yields of wheat, maize, and rice on the national scale. However, the regional analysis revealed that the no-tillage significantly increased the wheat yield by 4.1% and 2.2% in the Southwest and Northwest, respectively. There was a significant decrease in the maize yield by 2.4%, 2.6%, and 3.5% in the Northeast, Northwest, and Southeast, respectively. The rice yield was reduced by 1.0% in the Southeast. No significant effects were observed on the wheat and maize yields in North China, or on the wheat and rice yield in the rest regions. The yield components showed that the primary yield effect of no-tillage was attributed to the variation in the effective spikes. The influencing factors were examined on the regional crop yield. The mean annual precipitation was the main contributor to the wheat and maize yield, with the contribution rates of 12.7% and 13.6%, respectively. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content was the primary influencing factor (approximately 16.2%) on regional rice yield under no-tillage. The northwest region was characterized by mean annual temperatures <10 °C, annual precipitation <400 mm, and low soil nutrient content (SOC <10 g/kg, and total nitrogen <1 g/kg). Furthermore, no-tillage significantly increased the wheat yield under single and continuous cropping. Low annual precipitation (< 400 mm) promoted the maize yield in the Northwest, while the high soil pH (>8) and single or triple cropping in two years significantly reduced the crop yield. Specifically, the maize yield decreased in the Northeast and Southeast, which were influenced by the low (< 10 °C) and high (> 15 °C) temperatures, respectively. In the Southeast, the rice yield effects were influenced by the high annual precipitation (>800 mm), soil nutrient content (SOC >15 g/kg, and total nitrogen >1.5 g/kg), as well as the nitrogen and potassium fertilizer inputs. No-tillage was combined with the straw returning and scientific fertilization, in order to minimize the negative yield effect or even increase crop yield. The notillage technology was required to fully consider the crop types, regional climate, soil fertility, and cropping systems. These findings can provide a scientific basis to promote no-tillage technology in different agricultural regions in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation tillage technology possesses substantial potential to enhance agricultural production efficiency and tackle issues such as wind erosion and land degradation in semi-arid regions. The integration of no-tillage and straw mulching technologies in the conventional aeolian semi-arid agricultural zones of western Liaoning, China, has led to notable improvements in crop yield and soil quality. However, a comprehensive assessment of the mechanisms and kinetics involved in soil nutrient variations is yet to be conducted. During a two-year study period, we assessed four tillage systems in the aeolian semi-arid regions of Northern China: no-tillage with full straw mulching (NTFS), no-tillage with half straw mulching (NTHS), no-tillage without straw mulching (NT), and conventional tillage (CT). The investigation focused on examining nutrient conditions, enhancing photosynthetic activity, and increasing maize yield while improving water use efficiency (WUE). Our findings emphasize the beneficial impact of combining no-tillage and straw mulching on enhancing soil water retention, resulting in a notable rise in soil moisture levels during the crucial growth phases of maize. This approach also positively influenced soil nutrient levels, particularly in the 0–20 cm layer, fostering an environment conducive to maize cultivation. In terms of ecological benefits, no-tillage with straw mulching curtailed soil sediment transport and wind erosion, notably at 30–40 cm heights, aiding in the ecological protection of the region. The yield and WUE were substantially higher under NTFS and NTHS than under CT, with NTHS demonstrating the most significant gains in yield (14.5% to 16.6%) and WUE (18.3% to 21.7%) throughout the study period. A TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) analysis confirmed NTHS as the optimal treatment, achieving the highest scores for soil water, nutrient availability, wind erosion control, maize photosynthesis, yield, and WUE, thus emerging as the most effective conservation tillage strategy for sustainable agriculture in aeolian semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil enzymes and microbial activity are an indicator of soil quality for assessing the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems. The present study determined the persistence of metribuzin and clodinafop-propargyl and response of soil quality indicators to (1) conservation agriculture (continuous zero tillage and surface residue retention) and conventional agriculture (continuous tillage and removal/incorporation of residues) practices and (2) weed management practices in a wheat field under rice-wheat system. The shift from conventional to conservation agriculture practices increased the dissipation of metribuzin and clodinafop propargyl and significantly enhanced soil dehydrogenase (DHA) and urease activity. The residues of metribuzin and clodinafop in grain and straw samples from all treatment were below maximum residue limits (<0.01 µg g−1). Post-emergence application of clodinafop-propargyl plus metribuzin caused significant inhibition in DHA and urease activity at 7 days after treatment (DAT) compared to unsprayed control. However, from 31 DAT till crop harvest (115 DAT), herbicide treated plots had higher enzymatic activity than unsprayed plots. Intervention of one hoeing following herbicide application had greater stimulation in enzyme activity than sole herbicide. Conservation agriculture practices had higher colony development (CD) and ecophysiological (EP) indices than conventional agriculture practices for heterotrophic bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes. All tillage, residue and weed management practices had non-significant effect on alkaline phosphatase activity and phosphate solubilizers, in soil. Adoption of conservation agriculture practices along with integrated weed management seems to be the best way of sustaining the soil biological parameters and cycling of various important soil nutrients which may potentially alter vital soil processes resulting in increased agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice–wheat rotation cropland is one of the most important agroecosystems in South China, the escalation of conflict between food demand augment and water supply shortage increased with climate change. Water use efficiency plays a more significant role in optimising water and carbon management. Thus, the diurnal and seasonal variations of water use efficiency were assessed by the 3‐year eddy covariance observations in the Shouxian National Observatory, a typical rice–wheat rotation station. The results revealed a 'U'‐shaped diurnal pattern of water use efficiency for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). Seasonal water use efficiency had two peaks with the highest in the winter wheat‐growing season. The average water use efficiency for the rice–wheat rotation cropland was 2.85 g C kg−1 H2O over the whole year with 2.62 and 3.11 g C kg−1 H2O for winter wheat and rice, respectively. However, gross primary productivity and evapotranspiration of rice were higher than those of winter wheat. Temperature, photosynthetically active radiation were the principal impact factors of water use efficiency in the rice‐growing season. Comparatively, soil water and vapour pressure deficit dominated the water use efficiency changes in the winter wheat‐growing season. Our analyses can help understand the water use requirements for carbon assimilation on rice–wheat rotation cropland on the field scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of no-till farming and green manure is key to nourishing the soil and increasing crop yields. However, it remains unclear how to enhance the efficiency of green manure under no-till conditions. We conducted a two-factor field trial of silage maize rotated with hairy vetch to test the effects of tillage methods and returning. Factor 1 is the type of tillage, which is divided into conventional ploughing and no-tillage; factor 2 is the different ways of returning hairy vetch as green manure, which were also compared: no return (NM), stubble return (H), mulching (HM), turnover (HR, for CT only), and live coverage (LM, for NT only). Our findings indicate that different methods of returning hairy vetch to the field will improve maize yield and quality. The best results were obtained in CT and NT in HM and LM, respectively. Specifically, HM resulted in the highest dry matter quality and yield, with improvements of 35.4% and 31.9% over NM under CT, respectively. It also demonstrated the best economic and net energy performance. However, other treatments had no significant effect on the beneficial utilization and return of nutrients. The LM improved yields under NT by boosting soil enzyme activity, promoting nitrogen transformation and accumulation, and increasing nitrogen use efficiency for better kernel development. Overall, NTLM is best at utilizing and distributing soil nutrients and increasing silage maize yield. This finding supports the eco-efficient cultivation approach in silage maize production in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of cover crops can contribute to the increase in phosphorus content at depth by root decomposition. The aim of this work was to verify the effect of cover crops on soil phosphorus availability and use by successive plants, and the accumulation of soil P in a no-tillage system conducted for 14 years. This research was carried out during the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 crop seasons, whose treatments have been installed and maintained since 2003. The experimental design was a randomized block design, and the plots consisted of spring crops: pearl millet, forage sorghum, sunn hemp, and additionally, a fallow/chiseling area. The evaluation of available P was determined by P fractionation. In general, in the two years of evaluation, the accumulation of P in the shoot dry matter was higher in sunn hemp growth, on average 25% higher than pearl millet in 2016 and 40% higher than sorghum in 2017. The highest contents of labile inorganic P were in the sorghum–soybean and fallow/chiseling–soybean successions, with values higher than 50 mg kg−1 of P in the 0–0.1 m soil layer. However, in the other layers analyzed, the cover crops obtained higher availability of labile inorganic P. The systems using cover crops recovered 100% of the P fertilized in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of a no-till system presents difficulties in maintaining the potential crop yield under long-term conditions when compacted soil layers are observed in the field. The research objective was to assess the benefits of soil intervention in a traditional area of no-till system while considering the production parameters of corn (Zea mays L.) under tropical conditions. The area was installed considering 24 experimental units, including 6 treatments, a 3 × 2 scheme, and 4 repetitions (3 soil management systems and 2 crop hybrids). The soil scarification was carried out at two depths, 0.15 m and 0.30 m, to compare its influence on corn yield. The number of days of plants' emergence, seed depth, longitudinal distribution of seedlings, phytotechnical parameters, and crop yield in the field were evaluated. The dataset was subjected to the F Test and Tukey test (p < 0.05) to compare the means by each attribute and treatment. The adopted hybrids, as well as soil-management systems in the experimental area, did not interfere with the quality of the sowing and quantitative parameters of the crop (CV = 15% for normal distribution on plants' spacing within rows). So, there is no need to scarify soil with the aim of increasing corn yield under the evaluated field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acceleration of the climate crisis and increased demand for water have caused water stress in many agricultural lands worldwide. This issue is of utmost importance as water stress represents one of the most crucial challenges for the agricultural sector and food security, affecting the growth and yield of crops. Developing agricultural strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of water stress and improve crop stress tolerance and crop yield is therefore crucial. This review aimed to analyze the effect of agricultural practices such as elicitation and biostimulation on mitigating the effects of water stress in vegetables. This manuscript provides relevant and recent information about the studied effects on various vegetable species and their responses under water deficit and agricultural and non-agricultural strategies to mitigate water stress, highlighting the use of elicitors and biostimulants. Inclusion criteria were scientific reports and book chapters published from 2000 to 2024, including keywords as follows: water stress + vegetables, water deficit + effects, drought stress management, agricultural strategies for water stress management, eustressors + water stress, elicitors and biostimulants + water stress mitigation. According to the reported literature, it was found that the physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of vegetables to water stress depended on factors such as the severity and duration of the water deficit, the plant species, and the phenological state of the plants. Traditional agronomic strategies such as tillage, mulching, and intercropping for crop drought management were evaluated. Recently, alternative strategies for mitigating the effects of water stress have gained significant interest, such as the exogenous application of phytohormones and osmoprotectants, nutrient management, and the use of UV-B light, radiation, and acoustic waves, among others, whose eustressive effects (as biostimulants and elicitors) have been demonstrated. Among these eustressors, those of physical origin show great potential for mitigating water stress. To improve the individual potential of eustressors for water stress mitigation, we proposed the combination of practices such as tillage, mulching, application of hormones and osmoprotectants, and physical elicitors and biostimulants such as gamma rays, He-Ne laser, and UV-B. Further exploration is required to establish doses, application conditions, and effects on water stress mitigation and vegetable yield, underscoring the importance and ongoing nature of this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Rapid population increase, urbanization, soil degradation and inappropriate management practices have put tremendous pressure on natural resources, particularly on soil, water, and vegetation. Soil resource is vital for farming to provide food and nutritional security performing ecosystem functions and services and achieving Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs). Worldwide, ~33% soil resource has been adversely degraded by diverse processes. To protect soil resource from further degradation, there is a strong need of sustainable soil management practices for enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC), soil health, and crop production in a sustainable manner. "No-till farming (NT)/conservation agriculture (CA)" has been widely practiced worldwide on about 210 million ha. The long-term NT experiments play a significant role in improving soil health, SOC sequestration, and in-depth understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, climate change mitigation and optimizing resource use efficiency, to cater for the needs of the present- and future-generations. According to FAO, NT/CA is a farming system that promotes minimum soil disturbance (i.e., no tillage), maintenance of a permanent soil cover, and diversification of plant species. This system increases biodiversity and natural biological processes in above- and below-ground surface, which helps in enhanced water- and nutrient use-efficiency and sustained crop production. From the literature, it is evident that shift from traditional/conventional tillage (CT) with residue burning/removal to NT/CA farming has been recognized as an important soil management practice/strategy for sustaining soil health, reducing soil erosion and reversing soil degradation. This chapter deliberates the effect of NT/CA on soil health, nutrient stratification, SOC dynamics through modeling, SOC sequestration, GHG emissions, socio-economic condition in adoption and also suggesting the future perspectives on NT and CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Purpose Methods Results Conclusions Predicting the accurate preoperative staging of bladder cancer (BLCA), which markedly affects treatment decisions and patient outcomes, using traditional clinical parameters is challenging. Nevertheless, emerging studies in radiomics, especially machine learning‐based computed tomography (CT) image‐based radiomics, hold promise in improving stage prediction accuracy in various tumors. However, the comparative performance and clinical utility of models for BLCA are under investigation.We aimed to investigate the application value of machine learning‐based CT radiomics in preoperative staging prediction by comparing the performance of clinical, radiomics, and clinical–radiomics combined models.A retrospective cohort of 105 patients with initial BLCA was randomized into training (70%) and testing (30%) cohorts. Radiomics features were extracted from CT images using the optimal feature filter, followed by the application of the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm for optimum feature selection. Furthermore, machine learning algorithms were used to establish a radiomics model within the training cohort. Independent risk factors for muscle‐invasive BLCA (MIBC) obtained by multivariate logistic regression (LR) analysis were separately used to construct a clinical model. For a clinical–radiomics fusion model, radiomics features were combined with clinical parameters. Performance was evaluated based on receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, decision curve analysis (DCA), and standard performance metrics.Patients exhibited a significantly higher age (p = 0.029), larger tumor size (p = 0.01), and an increased neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR; p = 0.045) in the MIBC group than in the NMIBC group. LR analysis revealed age (p = 0.026), tumor size (p = 0.007), and NLR (p = 0.019) as significant predictors for constructing the clinical model. In the testing cohort, the radiomics model, which used an Support Vector Machine classifier, achieved the highest area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.857. The clinical–radiomics model outperformed the remaining two models, with AUC values of 0.958 and 0.893 in the training and testing cohorts, respectively. DeLong's test indicated significant differences between the three models. Calibration curves showed good agreement, and DCA confirmed the superior clinical utility of the clinical–radiomics model.Machine learning‐based CT radiomics combined with clinical parameters was a promising approach in staging BLCA accurately, which outperformed the individual models. Integrating radiomics features with clinical information holds the potential to improve personalized treatment planning and patient outcomes in BLCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To address issues related to shallow soil tillage, low soil nutrient content, and single tillage method in maize production in the Western Inner Mongolia Region, this study implemented various tillage and straw return techniques, including strip cultivation, subsoiling, deep tillage, no-tillage, straw incorporation with strip cultivation, straw incorporation with subsoiling, straw incorporation with deep tillage, and straw incorporation with no tillage, while using conventional shallow spinning by farmers as the control. Methods: We employed Xianyu 696 (XY696) and Ximeng 6 (XM6) as experimental materials to assess maize 100-grains weight, grain filling rate parameters, and grain nutrient quality. This investigation aimed to elucidate how tillage and straw return influence the accumulation of grain material in different maize varieties. Results and discussion: The results indicated that proper implementation of tillage and straw return had a significant impact on the 100-grains weight of both varieties. In comparison to CK (farmer's rotary rotation), the most notable rise in 100-grains weight was observed under the DPR treatment (straw incorporation with deep tillage), with a maximum increase of 4.84% for XY696 and 6.28% for XM6. The proper implementation of tillage and straw return in the field resulted in discernible differences in the stages of improving the grain filling rates of different maize varieties. Specifically, XY696 showed a predominant increase in the filling rate during the early stage (V1), while XM6 exhibited an increase in the filling rates during the middle and late stages (V2 and V3). In comparison to CK, V1 increased by 1.54% to 27.56% in XY696, and V2 and V3 increased by 0.41% to 10.42% in XM6 under various tillage and straw return practices. The proper implementation of tillage and straw return had a significant impact on the nutritional quality of the grains in each variety. In comparison to CK, the DPR treatment resulted in the most pronounced decrease in the soluble sugar content of grains by 25.43% and the greatest increase in the crude fat content of grains by 9.67%. Conclusion: Ultimately, the proper implementation of soil tillage and straw return facilitated an increase in grain crude fat content and significantly boosted grain weight by improving the grouting rate parameters at all stages for various maize varieties. Additionally, the utilization of DPR treatment proved to be more effective. Overall, DPR is the most promising strategy to improve maize yield and the nutritional quality of grain in the long term in the Western Inner Mongolia Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise soil water content (SWC) measurement is crucial for effective water resource management. This study utilizes the Cosmic-Ray Neutron Sensor (CRNS) for area-averaged SWC measurements, emphasizing the need to consider all hydrogen sources, including time-variable plant biomass and water content. Near Mead, Nebraska, three field sites (CSP1, CSP2, and CSP3) growing a maize–soybean rotation were monitored for 5 (CSP1 and CSP2) and 13 (CSP3) years. Data collection included destructive biomass water equivalent (BWE) biweekly sampling, epithermal neutron counts, atmospheric meteorological variables, and point-scale SWC from a sparse time domain reflectometry (TDR) network (four locations and five depths). In 2023, dense gravimetric SWC surveys were collected eight (CSP1 and CSP2) and nine (CSP3) times over the growing season (April to October). The N0 parameter exhibited a linear relationship with BWE, suggesting that a straightforward vegetation correction factor may be suitable (fb). Results from the 2023 gravimetric surveys and long-term TDR data indicated a neutron count rate reduction of about 1% for every 1 kg m−2 (or mm of water) increase in BWE. This reduction factor aligns with existing shorter-term row crop studies but nearly doubles the value previously reported for forests. This long-term study contributes insights into the vegetation correction factor for CRNS, helping resolve a long-standing issue within the CRNS community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the use of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT imaging to differentiate between scrub typhus and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients presenting with lymphadenopathy. We carried out a retrospective analysis of 18 scrub typhus patients and seven SLE patients, using various imaging parameters, including lymph node size, spleen and liver lengths, the distance between the two farthest lesions (Dmax), and assessments of glucose metabolism. On FDG PET images, we measured the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the lymph nodes, spleen, and liver and the mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) of the liver and spleen. The Dmax values of scrub typhus patients were significantly longer than those of SLE patients, indicating that lymphadenopathy is more generalized in the patients with scrub typhus. The SUVmax values for the lymph node, spleen, and liver were also higher in patients with scrub typhus, while the SUVmean of the liver and spleen did not differ between the two groups. This study is the first to compare FDG PET/CT images between these two conditions, suggesting the potential of this imaging modality to provide critical diagnostic distinctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Symbiotic association with different microbes is an integral and ecologically vital component of legumes. Most previous studies focused on sole application of microbial agents, with limited studies investigating the effects of co-inoculation of different microbial agents under different tillage practices on soil properties. The current study aimed to assess the effect of tillage practice and seed treatment with different biofertilizers inoculations on the soil chemical properties and nodulation under faba bean (Vicia faba L.) crop. Methods: The study was conducted in factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with two tillage system viz., T1 : Conventional tillage (CT), T2 : Zero tillage (ZT) and eight biofertilizer inoculation combinations of Rhizobium spp., phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) replicated three times during rabi 2019-20. Result: Zero tillage and biofertilizer inoculations significantly increased organic carbon, available nitrogen and phosphorus content of the soil. The number of nodules/plant, nodules fresh and dry weight/plant were recorded significantly higher in ZT as compared to CT and in seed treatment with Rhizobium spp. + PSB + VAM over other inoculations except Rhizobium spp. + VAM. The content of DTPA (Diethylenetriamine pentaacetate)-extractable Fe and Mn in soil was significantly enhanced by seed treatment with biofertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: [68Ga]Ga-PSMA PET imaging has been extensively utilized for the detection of biochemical recurrence (BCR) in prostate cancer. However, the detection rate declines to merely 10–40% when PSA levels are < 0.2 ng/mL employing short axial field-of-view (SAFOV) PET. Prior studies exhibited superior detection rates with total-body [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET compared to SAFOV [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET in BCR patients with PSA > 0.2 ng/mL. Nevertheless, the diagnostic utility of total-body [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET for BCR patients when PSA is < 0.2 ng/mL remains unclear. This study aimed to assess whether total-body [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT could improve the detection rate compared to SAFOV [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in BCR patients with PSA < 0.2 ng/mL. Methods: Eighty BCR patients with PSA < 0.2 ng/mL underwent total-body [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT. These patients were matched by baseline qualities to another 80 patients who received SAFOV [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT. The detection rates of total-body [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and SAFOV [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT were compared utilizing a chi-square test and stratified analysis. Image quality of total-body [68Ga]Ga-PSMA PET/CT and SAFOV [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT was assessed based on subjective scoring and objective parameters. The objective parameters measured were SUVmax, SUVmean, standard deviation (SD) of SUV, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of liver and gluteus maximus. Results: The image quality of total-body [68Ga]Ga-PSMA PET/CT was superior to that of SAFOV [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in both early and delayed scans. The detection rate of total-body [68Ga]Ga-PSMA PET/CT for BCR patients with PSA < 0.2 ng/mL was significantly higher than that of SAFOV [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT (73.75% vs. 43.75%, P < 0.001). Total-body [68Ga]Ga-PSMA PET/CT resulted in noteworthy modifications to the treatment regimen when contrasted with SAFOV [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT. Conclusions: In BCR patients with PSA < 0.2 ng/mL, total-body [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT not only demonstrated a significantly higher detection rate compared to SAFOV [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT but also led to significant alterations in treatment regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Proton therapy is a form of radiotherapy commonly used to treat various cancers. Due to its high conformality, minor variations in patient anatomy can lead to significant alterations in dose distribution, making adaptation crucial. While cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a well‐established technique for adaptive radiation therapy (ART), it cannot be directly used for adaptive proton therapy (APT) treatments because the stopping power ratio (SPR) cannot be estimated from CBCT images. Purpose: To address this limitation, Deep Learning methods have been suggested for converting pseudo‐CT (pCT) images from CBCT images. In spite of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have shown consistent improvement in pCT literature, there is still a need for further enhancements to make them suitable for clinical applications. Methods: The authors introduce the 3D vision transformer (ViT) block, studying its performance at various stages of the proposed architectures. Additionally, they conduct a retrospective analysis of a dataset that includes 259 image pairs from 59 patients who underwent treatment for head and neck cancer. The dataset is partitioned into 80% for training, 10% for validation, and 10% for testing purposes. Results: The SPR maps obtained from the pCT using the proposed method present an absolute relative error of less than 5% from those computed from the planning CT, thus improving the results of CBCT. Conclusions: We introduce an enhanced ViT3D architecture for pCT image generation from CBCT images, reducing SPR error within clinical margins for APT workflows. The new method minimizes bias compared to CT‐based SPR estimation and dose calculation, signaling a promising direction for future research in this field. However, further research is needed to assess the robustness and generalizability across different medical imaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease indicated by joint inflammation and cartilage destruction. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes play an influential role in inflammation by affecting the invasion and degradation of anatomical barriers. In this way, the current study investigated the relationship between the MMP-9-1562C/T gene polymorphism and this enzyme's serum level in RA. The serum levels of MMP-9 in RA patients and healthy controls were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RA was confirmed using rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Then the MMP-9-1562C/T gene polymorphism was analyzed utilizing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Also, multivariate analysis investigated the connection between this polymorphism and the risk of RA. In this study, the increase of MMP-9 in patients due to the development of single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of this gene (−1562 C→T) was confirmed by increasing the frequency of heterozygous genotype (CT). Logistic regression analysis also demonstrated that the chance of development of RA is higher in people with CT/CC genotype than in other alleles. We demonstrated that MMP-9-1562C/T gene polymorphism can play a significant role in the occurrence of RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants respond to their environment through adaptations; for example, earthworms that create heterogeneity can lead to local adaptation of roots. This research identifies a mechanism to explain plant responses to earthworms and how these mechanisms are related. Our results show that tillage intensity has a negative effect on earthworms and root volume. The mean root volume and earthworm biomass under conventional tillage were lower than in reduced tillage and no-tillage. The root volume and the root diameter in the field with residues were higher than in the field without residues, while the root length density and earthworm biomass in the field with residues were lower than in the field without residues. This study demonstrates that the mean of the root length density and biomass of the earthworms were higher in sandy loam than in loam. Therefore, sand content had a positive effect on root length density (R2 = 0.72, p < 0.01) and earthworm biomass (R2 = 0.74, p < 0.01). Earthworm biomass had a positive effect on root volume (R2 = 0.54, p < 0.05) and length density (R2 = 0.88, p < 0.01). This confirms our hypothesis on the effect of earthworms on root systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By improving soil properties, cover crops can reduce wind erosion and sand damage to emerging cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants. However, on the Texas High Plains, questions regarding cover crop water use and management factors that affect cotton lint yield are common and limit conservation adoption by regional producers. Studies were conducted near Lamesa, TX, USA, in 2017–2020 to evaluate cover crop species selection, seeding rate, and termination timing on cover crop biomass production and cotton yield in conventional and no-tillage systems. The no-till systems included two cover crop species, rye (Secale cereale L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and were compared to a conventional tillage system. The cover crops were planted at two seeding rates, 34 and 68 kg ha−1, and each plot was split into two termination timings: optimum, six to eight weeks prior to the planting of cotton, and late, which was two weeks after the optimum termination. Herbage mass was greater in the rye than the wheat cover crop in three of the four years tested, while the 68 kg ha−1 seeding rate was greater than the low seeding rate in only one of four years for both rye and wheat. The later termination timing produced more herbage mass than the optimum in all four years. Treatments did not affect cotton plant populations and had a variable effect on yield. In general, cover crop biomass production did not reduce lint production compared to the conventional system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon footprints from plants, soil, and the environment are needed to evaluate C balance of an agroecosystem, which indicates if a system is a C source or sink for mitigating climate change. There is scarce information about C footprint and C balance in dryland agroecosystems. We measured C storage of above‐ and belowground crop biomass, CO2 fluxes, soil C sequestration rates, and C balances of three long‐term (34‐year‐old) dryland cropping sequences from 2016 to 2018 in the US northern Great Plains. Cropping sequences were no‐till continuous spring wheat (NTCW; Triticum aestivum L.), no‐till spring wheat–pea (NTWP; Pisum sativum L.), and conventional till spring wheat–fallow (CTWF). Carbon storage in grain, straw, root, and rhizodeposit were 29%–61% greater for NTCW and NTWP than CTWF. The CO2 flux peaked immediately after tillage, planting, fertilization, and intense precipitation (>10 mm) for 3 months in 2016–2017. Cumulative annual CO2 flux was 8%–37% greater for NTCW than NTWP and CTWF in 2016–2017, but was not different among cropping sequences in 2017–2018. Soil C sequestration rate at 0–10 cm measured from 2012 to 2019 was in the order: NTCW (0.27 Mg C ha−1 year−1) > NTWP > CTWF (−0.23 Mg C ha−1 year−1). Carbon balance remained negative and was not significantly different among cropping sequences but varied by year. Carbon loss increased with increased precipitation, regardless of cropping systems. Although a C source, the legume–nonlegume rotation can reduce C loss due to greater grain C output than other cropping sequences in the semiarid region of the northern Great Plains. Core Ideas: Above‐ and belowground C inputs were greater for continuous cropping than crop‐fallow.Cumulative annual CO2 flux was greater for continuous cropping than crop‐fallow in the wet year.Soil C sequestration rate was also greater for continuous cropping than crop‐fallow.All dryland cropping systems were C sources.Legume–nonlegume rotation may reduce C loss and enhance grain C output compared to other cropping sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limestone is the most widely used agricultural input for soil acidity correction and calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) fertilization. However, other materials have the potential to fulfill these purposes, such as steel slags, also known as silicates. Silicates have higher solubility than limestone, serving as agents for increase pH in no‐till, in addition to being a source of Ca, Mg, and silicon (Si). This study aimed to compare the effects of surface application of dolomitic lime and calcium magnesium silicate on soil chemical properties, soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] nutritional status, and grain yield under no‐till. The experiment was installed in the northwest Paraná State, Brazil, on a Rhodic Eutrustox. Lime and silicate rates were applied by broadcasting before the sowing of soybean. Silicate treatment increases soil Ca2+, pH, and base saturation up to a depth of 0.10 m. By contrast, liming effects on soil chemistry were restricted to the 0.05 m top layer after 24 months of application. The acidity correction and Ca2+ supply to greater soil depths and the increased leaf Si as a beneficial element provided by silicate treatment contributed to increasing soybean yield in the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons. Lime application, regardless of the rate, did not improve soybean yield. Waste from the steel industry can be used as acidity correctives and source of Si, Ca, and Mg, improving the agronomic performance of soybean. Core Ideas: Silicate is more efficient in maintaining soil fertility compared to lime.Changes in soil fertility were observed up to a depth of 0.10 m after 24 months.Silicate increases silicon content in soybean leaf.Surface application of silicate increased soybean yield up to 43%.Soybean yield did not improve with lime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of using cover crops for improving soil and water quality are well known. Less clear is whether cover crops, especially those forming a taproot system, can favor solute transport down to the groundwater by modifying soil hydraulic properties and solute dynamics. In this study, we employed 12 lysimeters to conduct a comparative analysis between a taproot cover crop, specifically forage radish (FR), and bare soil (BS), under three water table management conditions. Our objective was to evaluate whether the enhancement of root‐derived macroporosity could have modified water and solute dynamics, and offset the benefits provided by FR that is commonly used to mitigate solute leaching. A tracer solution of bromide (Br−) was added to lysimeters, and solute flux concentrations were determined at different depths during a 25‐day test. Soil moisture and pressure heads were monitored. Water and solute transport parameters were estimated by inverse modeling using HYDRUS‐1D. A complementary laboratory experiment was performed to quantify the effect of FR root apparatus on the macropore structure by using noninvasive X‐ray microtomography (µCT). Results showed that the growth of FR within the lysimeters induced alterations in water and solute dynamics compared with BS. This is primarily attributed to its proficiency as solute scavenger, with an uptake capacity of up to 47% of the total injected tracer. Our comparative analysis instead revealed subtle differences in soil structure and hydraulic properties brought about by the presence of FR. Major changes were observed for the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), which increased from an average of 8.4–49.8 cm day−1 within the 20–45 cm layer in BS and FR, respectively. Additionally, there was a difference in immobile water content (θim), with the values in FR averaging 21% lower than those in BS. These modifications can be attributed to the formation of fissures and channels, primarily concentrated in the proximity of taproot development, without extending into deep preferential flow pathways. These structural changes were supported by the nondestructive µCT analyses. Upon aggregating the effects observed, solute movement to groundwater was not affected by FR compared to BS conditions. Core Ideas: Taproot served as solute scavenger, offsetting the risk of leaching at −60 cm, below its fleshy portion.Taproot‐induced soil hydraulic changes were mainly observed in the 0–45 cm layer.Forage radish caused an increase in the macroporosity where the taproot mainly developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To clarify the effects of maize straw retention combined with reduced fertilization and urease/nitrification inhibitors on the accumulation and leaching potential of mineral N in the deep soil profile of no-tillage agroecosystem. Methods: A 15N-tracing micro-plot experiment was conducted with four treatments (NPK, traditional NPK fertilization; NPKS, NPK with maize straw retention; RNPKS, NPKS with 20% fertilizer-N reduction; and RNPKSI, RNPKS with inhibitors application) in the Mollisol of Northeast China. We analyzed fertilizer-N transformation dynamics in different soil N pools, quantified the fertilizer N use efficiency in crops, and evaluated fertilizer-derived nitrate leaching losses throughout the complete maize growing period. Results: Our analyses revealed that, compared to the NPK treatment, NPKS, RNPKS, and RNPKSI remarkably reduced the accumulation of urea-derived mineral-N during maize seedling stage by enhancing the transformation of urea-N into fixed NH4+-N and organic-N pools, both of which could be quickly released for maize uptake following the extension of crop growth periods. At the maize ripening stage, soil NO3−-N and 15N-labeled urea-derived NO3−-N, which migrated vertically to a depth of 80–100 cm, were significantly reduced by treatments of RNPKS and RNPKSI without minimizing crop yields when compared with NPK. Conclusion: Our results suggest that combining maize straw retention with reduced fertilization and the application of urease/nitrification inhibitors can be efficient management practices for lowering urea N leaching risk, improving N use efficiency, and maintaining or even increasing crop yields by enhancing soil N retention and supply in the croplands of Northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The surface crust formed by the drop impact of rainfall and/or irrigation is a prevalent characteristic in many Mediterranean soils. However, the temporal variation of soil hydraulic properties induced by surface crust during the high-frequency irrigation has rarely been investigated. Methods: Beerkan infiltration tests in conjunction with the BEST method were used to investigate the effects of surface crusting on the spatio-temporal variation of saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (Ks, mm s−1), sorptivity (S, mm s−0.5), mean pore size (r, mm), number of effective pores per unit area (N, m−2) in Agramunt, NE Spain. Results: In response to autumn tillage, intensive tillage (IT) increased Ks and S due to higher r and N, but both declined after 60 days. Reduced tillage (RT), maintained comparable Ks and S values, despite having a lower N value. After the spring tillage, both IT and RT developed crusted layers, resulting in decreased Ks, S and N. Long-term no-tillage (NT) showed an increasing trend of Ks and S over time, except for the last sampling. Spatial variation (i.e., between the rows, B-row vs. within the row of crops, W-row) of Ks and S was found, and non-crusted soils (W-row) had consistently higher Ks and S than crusted soils (B-row). Conclusions: Conservation tillage i.e., RT and NT improve the surface soil structure and reduce the risk of crust development. Surface cover by crops may help to prevent crust formation within the row of crops, improving soil hydraulic conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to test the influence of the structural design of a no-tillage corn precision planter on vibration stability performance, a vibration model was constructed with the help of MATLAB/Simulink, and it was concluded that the vibration response curve of the no-tillage corn precision planter was relatively smooth. Based on the theory of the discrete element method (DEM), taking the planting apparatus of the no-tillage corn precision planter as the research object, firstly, a DEM single-factor test was carried out to investigate the effects of the slot inclination angle, number of slots, and rotational speed of the planter plate on the disturbance performance. Then, a three-factor, three-level orthogonal test was conducted with the maximum amount of seed discharging, the minimum average speed, and the minimum average kinetic energy as the final optimization objectives, and the qualified rate of seed discharging and the leakage rate as the evaluation indexes. The results show that the larger the inclination angle, the higher the number of slots, and the faster the rotational speed, the more violent the particle disturbance. At the same time, when the slot inclination angle of the planter plate is 60°, the number of slots is 20, and the rotational speed is 55 rpm, the seed discharge efficiency is the highest, at this time, the seed discharge qualification rate of maize particles is 95%, and the leakage rate is 3%; the results of this test can provide technical support for the research of the same kind of precision sowing equipment in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To design a high-performance stubble-breaking device, studying the interaction mechanisms between blades and root–soil composites is urgent. A simplified experimental method was proposed to investigate the cutting process and the effects of key factors on cutting by conducting cutting experiments on remolded root–soil composites and maize root–soil composites. The results showed that the soil support force and root–soil interface force significantly impacted cutting. Higher soil compaction and root–soil interface forces helped avoid root dragging, but higher soil compaction and thicker roots led to greater resistance. The superposition and accumulation effects significantly increased the cutting force, especially when root distribution was denser; as the oblique angle and bevel angle increased, the root-cutting force and dragging distance first decreased and then increased. Compared with orthogonal cutting, the optimal angles were both 45° and reduced the root-cutting force by 60.47% and 15.12% and shortened the dragging distance by 22.33 mm and 8.76 mm, respectively. Increasing the slide-cutting angle and cutting speed helped reduce the root-cutting force and dragging distance; however, it also faced greater pure-cutting force. Consequently, the interaction mechanisms between blades and root–soil composites revealed in this study provide a design and optimization basis for stubble-breaking devices, thus promoting the development of no-till technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is highly efficient in the biological N2 fixation (BNF) process through the association of bacteria of the genus Bradyrhizobium in the root nodules of the plants. However, there are still doubts about the need to complement soybean N demand through N fertilization in high‐yield environments. In addition, the real impact of co‐inoculation of soybean with Azospirillum brasilense and Bradyrhizobium spp. is not yet clear in such environments. A field experiment was conducted from 2012 to 2021 with six soybean cropping seasons in a crop rotation scheme with black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb), maize (Zea mays L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under no‐till (NT) in Southern Brazil. Soybean seeds were co‐inoculated with A. brasilense (strains Ab‐V5 and Ab‐V6) shortly after inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and different levels of N fertilization were used in top dressing at the start of pod formation (R3). Soybean nutritional status and grain yield were not benefited by co‐inoculation with A. brasilense. Since the increased inoculum rate of A. brasilense co‐inoculated with rhizobia in soybean compromised both N nutrition and grain yield, this practice should not be encouraged. There was no need to complement soybean N demand through N fertilization during the reproductive stage. Soybean achieved grain yields of 5.0–5.7 Mg ha−1 and, even so, there was no need to complement N demand through N fertilization. The results suggest that soybean N demand in a high‐yielding environment under NT could be satisfied exclusively through the optimization of BNF. Core Ideas: Benefits of co‐inoculation of soybean with Azospirillum brasilense are unclear.Late N fertilization in soybean is an unnecessary practice.Co‐inoculation and N fertilization did not improve soybean nutrition and yield.N fertilization for no‐till soybean production should not be encouraged.Increased inoculum rate of A. brasilense in soybean should not be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Justification: Water-use efficiency (WUE) is the amount of carbon assimilated as biomass or grain produced per unit of water the crop uses, and it is considered a critical factor in maintaining the balance between carbon gain and water loss during photosynthesis, particularly in the face of global warming and drought challenges. Improving agricultural WUE is essential for sustainable crop production in water-scarce regions. Objective: This article explores the significance of WUE enhancement in agriculture, especially under drought conditions, and discusses various strategies to optimize WUE for improved crop productivity. Methods: We searched the scientific literature for articles on water-use efficiency published between 2010 and 2023 and selected the 42 most relevant studies for a comprehensive overview of strategies, technologies, and approaches to investigate sustainable agricultural practices to improve water-use efficiency in agriculture, particularly focusing on agronomic methods such as mulching, cover crops, canopy management, deficit irrigation, and irrigation modernization. Results: This review highlights several practical techniques for enhancing WUE, including sustainable irrigation practices, crop-specific agronomic strategies, and innovative technological solutions. By adopting these approaches, farmers can improve water management efficiency, reduce crop vulnerability to water stress, and ultimately enhance agricultural sustainability. In conclusion, improving water-use efficiency is an essential factor for ensuring food security in the face of climate change and water scarcity. By implementing innovative strategies and exploiting the power of technology, we can enhance WUE in agriculture, optimize crop production, conserve natural resources, and contribute to a more sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional tillage over the long term in more intensive-cropping systems is not sustainable as it enhances soil degradation, soil moisture loss, soil erosion, and cost of cultivation and disturbs beneficial micro-organisms. Retaining crop residues as mulch has been recognized as a desirable management practice for conserving soil moisture and lowering soil temperature, which ultimately helps in improving seed emergence. However, no-tillage or reduced tillage with crop residue produced better or non-significant differences in the growth and yield attributes and crop yield than that obtained under conventional tillage. However, zero or reduced tillage combined with crop residue improves biological nitrogen fixation, nitrogenase activity, symbiotic parameters and the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Continuous adoption of conservation tillage will have a positive effect on soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties and may also be better for the sustainability of crop production. The novelty of the study is that it examines the integrated effect of conservation tillage and residue retention through mulching on the crop emergence, symbiosis and quality of soybean along with growth, productivity, and profitability of soybean, nutrient uptake by the crop and soil properties together as sustainable agricultural technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to Lebanon's 2019 economic crisis, agricultural activities intensified to enhance national food security, with implications for soil health. We investigated soil management practices on 26 small-scale farms in a mountainous region, focusing on reconciling static sustainability definitions with dynamic resilience concepts. Surveying farmers revealed varied adoption rates of regenerative practices: intercropping (85%), residue retention (73%), cover crops (61%), organic amendments (46%), integrated organic/mineral amendments (46%), improved irrigation (38%), conservation tillage (30%), crop rotation (19%), and organic/biological pest/disease treatment (11%). Farms were categorized as conventional (C), neutral (N), and regenerative (R) based on practices. Qualitative assessments using seven indicators yielded scores of 4.28 (C), 6.34 (N), and 7.88 (R). Quantitative analyses showed significant differences in soil organic matter percentage (1.86 C, 2.75 N, 3.32 R), soil respiration (156 C, 296 N, 380 R), and earthworm abundance (2.92 C, 4.24 N, 5.72 R). The Soil Quality Index (SQI) indicated varying soil health from 0.05 (C) to 0.49 (R). Our findings highlight the importance of adopting synergistic, sustainable soil management practices to ensure enduring agricultural productivity and safeguard soil resilience, especially in the Mediterranean region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of the no-till seeder is one of the most important factors that affect the success of the no-tillage. Striking the right balance between furrow opener design and residue cover is essential for optimizing seeding conditions and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices that promote both soil conservation and high-yield crop production. This study investigates the impact of residue cover on no-tillage maize seeding after wheat harvest, focusing on plant spacing, seeding depth, mean emergence time, and percent emergence. Trials with hoe-type and double-disc-type furrow openers, accompanied by plain- or ripple-disc-type coulters, were conducted in Antalya, Turkey. The results indicate that residue cover had no significant effect on mean plant spacing, but a higher residue cover increased spacing variation. The seeding depth in hoe-type furrow opener trials remained consistent, while double-disc-type furrow openers showed lower depths with 80% and 90% residue covers. The percentage of plant emergence and mean emergence time decreased as the residue cover increased in double-disc-type furrow opener trials. At 90% residue cover, PE decreased to 60%. The impact of disc coulters on hoe-type furrow openers was limited, but they increased seeding depth and MET in double-disc-type furrow openers. These findings can help optimize residue management for improved efficiency in no-till farming systems.

Understanding when gravel moves in river beds is essential for a range of different applications but is still surprisingly hard to predict. Here we consider how our ability to predict critical shear stress (τc) is being improved by recent advances in two areas: (1) identifying the onset of bedload transport; and (2) quantifying grain‐scale gravel bed structure. This paper addresses these areas through both an in‐depth review and a comparison of new datasets of gravel structure collected using three different methods. We focus on advances in these two areas because of the need to understand how the conditions for sediment entrainment vary spatially and temporally, and because spatial and temporal changes in grain‐scale structure are likely to be a major driver of changes in τc. We use data collected from a small gravel‐bed stream using direct field‐based measurements, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and computed tomography (CT) scanning, which is the first time that these methods have been directly compared. Using each method, we measure structure‐relevant metrics including grain size distribution, grain protrusion and fine matrix content. We find that all three methods produce consistent measures of grain size, but that there is less agreement between measurements of grain protrusion and fine matrix content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Obesity is a high-morbidity chronic condition and risk factor for multiple diseases that necessitate imaging. This study assesses the relationship between BMI and same-year utilization of CT and MR imaging in a large healthcare population. Methods: In this retrospective population-based study, all patients aged ≥18 years with a documented BMI in the multi-institutional Cosmos database were included. Cohorts were identified based on ≥1 documented BMI in 2021 within pre-defined ranges. For each cohort, we assessed the percentage of patients undergoing head, neck, chest, spine, or abdomen/pelvis CT and MR during the same year. Disease severity was quantified based on emergency department (ED) visits and mortality. Results: In our population of 49.6 million patients, same-year CT and MR utilization was 14.5 ±0.01% and 6.0±0.01%, respectively. The underweight cohort had the highest CT (25.8±0.1%) and MR (8.01 ± 0.05) imaging utilization. At high extremes of BMI (>50 kg/m2), CT utilization mildly increased (18.4±0.1%), but MR utilization decreased (5.3±0.04%). While morbidity differences may explain some BMI-utilization relationships, lower MR utilization in the BMI>50 cohort contrasts with higher age-adjusted mortality (1.8±0.03%) and ED utilization (32.4±0.1%) in this cohort relative to normal weight (1.5±0.01% and 25.7±0.02%, respectively). Conclusion: Underweight patients had disproportionately high CT/MR utilization, and high extremes of BMI are associated with mildly higher CT and lower MR utilization than the normal weight cohort. The elevated mortality and ED utilization in severely obese patients contrasts with their lower MR imaging utilization. Our findings may assist public health efforts to accommodate obesity trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change affects changes in rice-based systems of coastal Bangladesh. Both external pressures and system-immanent attributes influence farmers' adoption of new production practices, leading to the emergence of new land use patterns. Field and household surveys quantified recent and emerging change trends in crop yields and associated intensification-related practices in representative rice-based systems, using a diachronic approach (comparing the years 2011 and 2021). We analyzed 240 rice-producing farms, representing three rice-based cropping systems, namely extensive rice-fallow rotations, intensified irrigated rice double rotations, and diversified rice-mungbean rotations. The study sites contrasted favorable biophysical conditions (climate, soil type, water source and quality, soil fertility) in the Barishal district, and marginal (unfavorable biophysical environments) conditions at Patuakhali district in coastal Bangladesh. Soil fertility attributes were assessed at both study sites. The type, the extent, and the pathways of recent changes differed between locations, systems and seasons. We observed significant increases in aggregated yield (across crops and seasons), in individual crop yields, and in economic yields at both the marginal and the favorable sites. Crop yields varied widely (rice: 3.0-7.8 t ha-1, mungbean: 0.4-1.5 t ha-1), and rice yield was higher in dry than in the wet season. Farmers' adoption of intensification practices started earlier in the marginal study area, but the extent of the changes was larger at favorable sites. Most prominent was the mechanization of tillage operations and an increased use of mineral fertilizers, with the largest changes observed in irrigated rice and in dry season mungbean. Such site-, system-, and season-specific assessments will permit identifying drivers of change and can inform the assessment of potential future patterns of land system changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management practices such as relay cropping, cover crops, and no‐tillage may promote soil health in the North Central United States. However, soil health indicators in corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] systems involving multiple management practices are not well documented. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity of soil health metrics and the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) to contrasting management systems with different tillage, crops, and fertilization in a North Central US Mollisol. Different management systems, including conservation tillage and nitrogen fertilization strategies, cover cropping, and camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] relay intercropping, were compared to a conventional corn–soybean system. Different systems did not affect most soil health indicators compared to the conventional system. Aggregate stability was the only indicator to change due to management, where no‐till with cover crops increased aggregate stability by 38% compared with camelina relay cropping. The SMAF scores for all the soil quality indices were unaffected by treatments but displayed high values of over 90%. Overall, crop yields were more closely related to weather conditions and management systems than to soil health indicators. Soybean yields were decreased (between 1 and 2 Mg ha−1) in the camelina relay cropping system, while corn yields were lower (up to 70%) in the treatment that received no N fertilization. Ultimately, these findings suggest that soil health indicators are resilient to change due to management in these highly productive Mollisols and may not be closely associated with crop yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No‐till (NT) alleviates adverse effects of agricultural production on environmental quality, improves soil health, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, yet this has not been demonstrated in humid subtropical Mississippi. Research objectives were to evaluate nutrient and C dynamics and soil quality via Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) following 15 years of continuous management under corn (Zea mays L.) (2008–2018) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (2019–2022) on a Dundee silt loam soil. After 15 years, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks (0‐ to 30‐cm depth) under NT were 25% higher than conventional tillage (CT). Between 2020 and 2022, SOC stocks increased 3 Mg ha−1 under NT and decreased 2 Mg ha−1 under CT. Increased SOC retention under NT could represent an opportunity for increasing the systems’ profitability as C markets expand. Greater SOC and aggregation scores improved SMAF soil quality index (SQI) under NT (71%), compared to CT (66%), underscoring the critical role of organic matter in soil functioning in managed agrosystems. Soybean yields were not linked to SMAF SQI (p > 0.05), suggesting that crop yields are mostly affected by non‐edaphic factors (e.g., climate extremes). SMAF illustrated positive impacts of NT on SOC sequestration and soil health, which may foster its adoption as a conservation practice in the Lower Mississippi River basin. As such, NT stands as a climate‐smart management practice that allows for sustainable intensification in humid subtropical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paraquat (PQ) -induced pulmonary fibrosis poses a significant medical challenge due to limited treatment options and high mortality rates. Consequently, there is an urgent need for early diagnosis and accurate staging to facilitate appropriate treatment strategies. In this study, we assessed the diagnostic potential of [18F]F-FAPI-42 PET/CT imaging for early detection and disease staging in a rat model of PQ-induced lung fibrosis. Methods: After administering 80 mg/kg of PQ orally to Sprague-Dawley rats, we intravenously injected 3-3.5 MBq of [18F]F-FAPI-42 on day 7, 14, and 21 post-dosing. Dynamic PET/CT imaging was carried out for one hour immediately after the administration of [18F]F-FAPI-42. Subsequently, the lung tissues were collected for Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and NOTA-FAPI-04-MB fluorescent probe staining. Data analysis was performed using the Imalytics preclinical software, and the mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) was calculated. Results: PET signals revealed that in areas with evident lesions on CT, the SUVmean on day 14 was significantly higher than on day 7 and 21, indicating that changes in fibrosis activity levels contribute to the staging of pulmonary fibrosis. Additionally, the NOTA-FAPI-04-MB fluorescent probe staining also demonstrated the most pronounced probe uptake on day 14. In regions without apparent lesions on CT, the SUVmean gradually increased from day 7 to day 21, reflecting ongoing fibrotic activity. Moreover, HE staining and Masson's trichrome staining did not reveal pulmonary fibrosis, while PET imaging was able to detect it, serving the purpose of early diagnosis. At 30 min and 60 min, the target-to-background ratio (TBR) of the PQ groups on day 7, 14, and 21 was significantly higher than the control group, suggesting a high specificity of [18F]F-FAPI-42 binding to activated fibroblasts. Conclusion: [18F]F-FAPI-42 PET/CT imaging enables early diagnosis and staging of PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis, demonstrating its feasibility and potential for characterizing early disease stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Eutrophication due to nitrogen (N) loss from sloping farmland has a high risk in the Three Gorges Reservoir. Biochar and vegetated filter strips (VFS) are used to control nutrient runoff and increase soil water-holding capacity, soil nutrient retention, and crop yield. However, surface biochar application has limited ability to control N loss, especially from sloping farmland. Methods: In this study, different widths of ridged biochar permeable reactive barrier (RB-PRB) with VFS were employed to intercept N loss in runoff from sloping farmland. Adsorption characteristics of biochar for nitrate and ammonium N were evaluated using isothermal and kinetic adsorption models before field experiments. N index values for ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), dissolved N (DTN), particulate N (PN), and total N (TN) lost through runoff were monitored from April 2019 to January 2020. Results: NO3- and NH4+ sorption on biochar was predominantly physical adsorption with a maximum capacity of 4.51 and 4.12 mg g-1, respectively. During the research period, the dominant transportation pathway of N loss involved dissolved total N movement through subsurface flow, which accounted for 65.55% of the total loss. TN loss for CK was 1954 g⋅hm-2, while RB-PRB and VFS decreased N loss from sloping farmland by 36.7%. The interception efficiency of RB-PRB was highest at 0.3 m width. VFS successfully intercepted particulate N and reduced it by 32.75%. In terms of soil nutrients, the RB-PRB and VFS interventions led to a substantial 41.69% increase in the TN content of the soil at a 0.4 m width. Discussion: The findings suggest that biochar has a favorable adsorption effect on NH4+ and NO3-, an appropriate width of RB-PRB with VFS could effectively reduce nitrogen loss from sloping farmland. Simultaneously, it enhances the water and fertilizer retention capacity of sloping cropland soil; however, the long-term implications necessitate further validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Achieving a net zero greenhouse gas United States (US) economy is likely to require both deep sectoral mitigation and additional carbon dioxide removals to offset hard-to-abate emissions. Enhancing the terrestrial carbon sink, through practices such as the adoption of no-till and cover cropping agricultural management, could provide a portion of these required offsets. Changing domestic agricultural practices to optimize carbon content, however, might reduce or shift US agricultural commodity outputs and exports, with potential implications on respective global markets and land use patterns. Here, we use an integrated energy-economy-land-climate model to comprehensively assess the global land, trade, and emissions impacts of an adoption of domestic no-till farming and cover cropping practices based on carbon pricing. Results: We find that the adoption of these practices varies depending on which aspects of terrestrial carbon are valued. Valuation of all terrestrial carbon resulted in afforestation at the expense of domestic agricultural production. In contrast, a policy valuing soil carbon in agricultural systems specifically indicates strong adoption of no-till and cover cropping for key crops. Conclusions: We conclude that under targeted terrestrial carbon incentives, adoption of no-till and cover cropping practices in the US could increase the terrestrial carbon sink with limited effects on crop availability for food and fodder markets. Future work should consider integrated assessment modeling of non-CO2 greenhouse gas impacts, above ground carbon storage changes, and capital and operating cost considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]