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19 pages, 515 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytohormones Promote the Growth, Pigment Biosynthesis and Productivity of Green Gram [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek]

by Asif Iqbal, Muhammad Aamir Iqbal, Iqra Akram, Muhammad Abdullah Saleem, Rana Nadeem Abbas, Mashael Daghash Alqahtani, Raees Ahmed and Junaid Rahim

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9548; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129548 - 14 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1529

Abstract

Globally, optimized doses of exogenously applied growth regulators hold the potential to sustainably boost the growth and productivity of leguminous crops, including green gram. A field investigation was undertaken at the Agronomy Farm of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan in 2021–2022 to [...] Read more.

Globally, optimized doses of exogenously applied growth regulators hold the potential to sustainably boost the growth and productivity of leguminous crops, including green gram. A field investigation was undertaken at the Agronomy Farm of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan in 2021–2022 to determine the highest-performing doses of foliar-applied salicylic acid (S₁ = 0 and S₂ = 75 ppm) and gibberellic acid (G₁ = 0, G₂ = 30, G₃ = 60, G₄ = 90 and G₅ = 120 ppm) for green gram (cv. NIAB-MUNG 2011) sown under irrigated conditions in a semiarid climate. The response variables included physiological growth traits (CGR and net assimilation rate (NAR)), yield attributes (plant height (PH), PBs and the number of pods per plant⁻¹ (NP), pod length (PL) and SW, grain (GY) and biological yields (BY), the biosynthesis of pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll along with carotenoids) and protein (P) contents. The results revealed that S₂G₅ remained unmatched in that it exhibited the highest crop growth rate, while it remained on par with S₂G₄ and S₂G₃ in terms of its net assimilation rate. Additionally, S₂G₅ maximized plant height, the number of pod-bearing branches and pods per plant, pod length, seed number per pod⁻¹ and 1000-seed weight, which led to the highest grain yield and biological yield (104% and 69% greater than those of the control, respectively). Moreover, the same treatment combination also surpassed the rest of the treatments because it recorded the largest amounts of chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, and the P content was increased to 24% greater than that observed for the control treatment. Thus, the exogenous application of salicylic acid (75 ppm) and gibberellic acid (120 ppm) might be recommended to green gram growers to sustainably increase the plant’s yield and nutritional value, and these findings may serve as a baseline for conducting more studies to test higher doses of these growth regulators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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18 pages, 5407 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Role of Biotransformation of Acacia nilotica Metabolites by Aspergillus subolivaceus in Boosting Lupinus termis Yield: A Promising Approach to Sustainable Agriculture

by Rasha M. E. Gamel, Samia A. Haroun, Omar Abdullah Alkhateeb, Eman A. Soliman, Arafat B. Tanash, Abdel-Dayem A. Sherief, Mamdoh Abdel-Mogib, Ahmed Hassan Abdou, Howayda Said Ahmed Mohamed Ali, Nadi Awad Al-Harbi, Khaled Abdelaal and Amany M. Kazamel

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9509; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129509 - 13 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1504

Abstract

Biotransformation plays a significant role in sustainable agriculture. This process involves utilizing microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, to transform organic compounds and metabolites into bioactive compounds which have beneficial effects on plant growth, yield, and soil characters. Accordingly, the present study aims [...] Read more.

Biotransformation plays a significant role in sustainable agriculture. This process involves utilizing microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, to transform organic compounds and metabolites into bioactive compounds which have beneficial effects on plant growth, yield, and soil characters. Accordingly, the present study aims to explore the role of biotransformation of Acacia nilotica metabolites by Aspergillus subolivaceus in boosting L. termis yield, as an important strategy in agricultural sustainability. A pilot experiment was performed on five fungal strains (Fusarium oxysporium A. aculeatus, Aspergillus. subolivaceus, Rhizopus oryzae and Trichoderma viride) which were grown on different parts of plants (A. nilotica leaves; green tea leaves, green pepper fruits and pomegranate fruits), and the results indicated that the most active metabolite for the growth of L. termis seeds was the fungal metabolite of A. subolivaceus growing on A. nilotica. More specifically, we assess how metabolites produced by Aspergillus subolivaceus using A. nilotica leaves affect the biochemical properties and chemical composition of L. termis seeds. A. subolivaceus was grown on leaves from A. nilotica to obtain metabolites and fractionated into four extracts. Two concentrations of each extract were examined by pretreating the seeds of L. termis. The study found that all four extracts contributed to an increase in yield and some biochemical properties of the yielded seeds. The best results were obtained by treating the L. termis seeds with an extract obtained from diethyl ether, which led to a significant increase in total nitrogen, amino nitrogen, glucose and protein contents of the seeds. According to ¹H NMR guided GC/MS analysis, our results showed an increase in phytochemicals such as terpenes, fatty materials, and flavonoids including 3′,4′,7-trimethoxyquercetin and 4-methyl-p-menth-8-en-3-one, which have not been stated before from A. nilotica suggesting that biotransformation may have occurred due to the presence of A. subolivaceus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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14 pages, 3073 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi for Boosting Antioxidant Enzyme Metabolism and Mitigating Saline Stress in Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

by Abdurrahim Yilmaz, Ertan Yildirim, Hilal Yilmaz, Hakkı Ekrem Soydemir, Emrah Güler, Vahdettin Ciftci and Mehmet Yaman

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5982; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075982 - 30 Mar 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2050

Abstract

Salinity is one of the outstanding abiotic stress conditions that a significant part of the world faces. In recent years, beneficial microorganisms started to be utilized in plants to overcome several abiotic factors, including salinity. The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) mixture [...] Read more.

Salinity is one of the outstanding abiotic stress conditions that a significant part of the world faces. In recent years, beneficial microorganisms started to be utilized in plants to overcome several abiotic factors, including salinity. The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) mixture on growth and enzymatic responses in basil under salt stress were investigated using saline doses of 0 mM (Control), 150 mM, and 300 mM. Results showed that AMF enhanced all growth parameters, but only the leaf number was statistically significant. However, antioxidant enzymes, such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX) by 25%, catalase (CAT) by 25%, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) by 5%, significantly enhanced. At the same time, the accumulation of oxidative enzymes, like hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA), was reduced, from 12.05 μmol g⁻¹ fw (control) to 11.17 μmol g⁻¹ fw (AMF) and from 14.29 μmol g⁻¹ fw to 10.74 μmol g⁻¹ fw, respectively. AMF also significantly alleviated the chlorophyll loss caused by increasing saline doses. Multivariate analyses revealed the co-occurrence of stress metabolism enzymes as well as the proximate effect of AMF inoculation on basil yield and enzymatic activity. As a result, AMF was considered an appropriate tool for increasing growth and reducing salt stress under both stress-free and saline conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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15 pages, 1561 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biochemical Response of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) to Selenium (Se) under Drought Stress

by Jawad Ali, Ibadullah Jan, Hidayat Ullah, Shah Fahad, Shah Saud, Muhammad Adnan, Baber Ali, Ke Liu, Matthew Tom Harrison, Shah Hassan, Sunjeet Kumar, Muhammad Amjad Khan, Muhammad Kamran, Mona S. Alwahibi and Mohamed S. Elshikh

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5694; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075694 - 24 Mar 2023

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3121

Abstract

Drought stress restricts the growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) by disrupting its biochemical and physiological functions. The current study was conducted to evaluate the role of selenium (0, 1, 2, and 3 mg Se L⁻¹ as a foliar application) in [...] Read more.

Drought stress restricts the growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) by disrupting its biochemical and physiological functions. The current study was conducted to evaluate the role of selenium (0, 1, 2, and 3 mg Se L⁻¹ as a foliar application) in improving okra tolerance to drought (control (100% field capacity-FC), mild stress (70% FC), and severe stress (35% FC)) imposed 30 days after sowing (DAS). Drought (severe) markedly decreased chlorophyll (32.21%) and carotenoid (39.6%) contents but increased anthocyanin (40%), proline (46.8%), peroxidase (POD by 12.5%), ascorbate peroxidase (APX by 11.9%), and catalase (CAT by 14%) activities. Overall, Se application significantly alleviated drought stress-related biochemical disturbances in okra. Mainly, 3 mg Se L⁻¹ significantly increased chlorophyll (21%) as well as anthocyanin (15.14%), proline (18.16%), and antioxidant activities both under drought and control conditions. Selenium played a beneficial role in reducing damage caused by oxidative stress, enhancing chlorophyll and antioxidants contents, and improved plant tolerance to drought stress. Therefore, crops including okra especially, must be supplemented with 3 mg L⁻¹ foliar Se for obtaining optimum yield in arid and semiarid drought-affected areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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18 pages, 2304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physiological, Morphological, and Biochemical Responses of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] to Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) Leaf Extract Application on Pb-Contaminated Soil

by Ahlam Khalofah and Shahid Farooq

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4352; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054352 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1718

Abstract

Lead (Pb) is a non-essential element; however, plants uptake it from soils rich in Pb. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is an important legume crop, and Pb toxicity exerts negative impacts on its growth and yield. This study investigated the role of [...] Read more.

Lead (Pb) is a non-essential element; however, plants uptake it from soils rich in Pb. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is an important legume crop, and Pb toxicity exerts negative impacts on its growth and yield. This study investigated the role of foliar-applied loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) leaf extract in improving the morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits of soybean plants under Pb toxicity. Soybean plants were exposed to four Pb concentrations (0, 200, 400, and 800 µg/L) and supplemented with 0% or 5% loquat leaf aqueous extract (EJLE). Data relating to pigments, proline, total soluble sugars, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), non-enzymatic antioxidant, i.e., [ascorbic acid (AsA), glutathione (GSH), total phenolic contents (TPC), and total flavonoids content (TFC)] and enzymatic antioxidant, i.e., [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR)] were recorded. Total chlorophyll contents and carotenoids were significantly decreased by Pb stress, while lycopene and anthocyanin contents were increased. Similarly, proline, total soluble sugars, MDA, H₂O₂, AsA, GSH, TPC, TFC, SOD, CAT, POD, APX, and GR were increased under Pb stress. Foliar spray of EJLE lowered MDA and H₂O₂ accumulation and increased the contents of chlorophylls, carotenoids, lycopene, anthocyanins, proline, total soluble sugars, and the antioxidant system. The increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes lowered the adverse effects of Pb stress in soybean. Similarly, the application of EJLE lowered Pb accumulation in different plant parts compared to those receiving no EJLE. It is concluded that EJLE can improve the Pb tolerance of soybean plants by enhancing morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits. However, the actual mechanisms behind these improvements warrant further investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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19 pages, 2575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Value-Added Fertilizers Enhanced Growth, Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency through Reduced Ammonia Volatilization Losses under Maize–Rice Cropping Cultivation

by Muhammad Yaseen, Adeel Ahmad, Noman Younas, Muhammad Naveed, Muhammad Asif Ali, Syed Shahid Hussain Shah, Muhammad Hasnain and Adnan Mustafa

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2021; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032021 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3213

Abstract

Plant nutrition is an essential element for crop production and enormous amounts of fertilizers are used in agricultural systems. However, these sources emit toxic gasses and compounds in the environment that not only deteriorate soil quality but also cause a reduction in the [...] Read more.

Plant nutrition is an essential element for crop production and enormous amounts of fertilizers are used in agricultural systems. However, these sources emit toxic gasses and compounds in the environment that not only deteriorate soil quality but also cause a reduction in the use efficiency of applied nutrients. Therefore, the value addition of these fertilizer sources by coating micronutrients, microbes, polymers or other organic and inorganic compounds have been advocated recently. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of value-added fertilizer sources for growth and yield improvement of Zea mays (Pioneer-30T60) and Oryza sativa (Super Basmati-515) with a reduction in ammonia volatilization and an improvement in nutrient recovery by crop grains. Different phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer sources (Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), polymer coated DAP, zarkhez plus NPK, urea, polymer-coated urea and zabardast urea) were used in different combinations keeping one control for N. The results revealed that maximum growth, yield and nutrient recovery was shown by polymer-coated urea and DAP followed by zarkhez plus NPK and zabardast urea. Moreover, a minimum ammonia emission was recorded by polymer-coated fertilizers, but other value-added fertilizers were found inefficient in reducing ammonia emission, though these sources improved all growth and yield attributes. Nutrient recovery efficiency was patterned as; polymer coated fertilizers > zarkhez plus NPK + zabardast urea > zarkhez plus NPK + urea > DAP + zabardast urea > DAP + urea > DAP. Thus, the use of polymer-coated fertilizers was beneficial for both the reduction in ammonia volatilization and for improving nutrient use efficiency with maximum crop benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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18 pages, 4799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physiological, Morphological and Biochemical Responses of Exogenous Hydrogen Sulfide in Salt-Stressed Tomato Seedlings

by Ertan Yildirim, Melek Ekinci, Metin Turan, Selda Ors and Atilla Dursun

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021098 - 6 Jan 2023

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2794

Abstract

Salinity causes yield and quality losses in agricultural production and therefore great economic losses around the world. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is known to play a crucial role to ease physiological and metabolic processes in plants, and also increases the tolerance of [...] Read more.

Salinity causes yield and quality losses in agricultural production and therefore great economic losses around the world. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is known to play a crucial role to ease physiological and metabolic processes in plants, and also increases the tolerance of the plant against many abiotic stress conditions. In this study, we investigated the effects of H₂S treatments (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 µM NaHS were applied as H₂S donor) to the tomato seedlings to alleviate the harmful effects of salt stress (0, 75 and 150 mM NaCl). There was a significant decrease in plant growth and development in parallel with the increased salt level. Visible changes in plant development were observed after the dose of 75 mM NaCl in the tomato seedling. The effects of different doses of exogenous H₂S treatment were found to be significant. H₂S treatment increased the stress tolerance in tomato seedlings by arranging the mineral element and hormone content. Furthermore, H₂S relieved the effect of stress in plants by increasing photosynthetic activity (photosynthesis rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductivity (gs) and intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci)) of the plant. In addition, the effect of H₂S on salt stress tolerance in tomato seedlings may be due to its positive effect on mineral element contents. As a result, based on the beneficial effects of H₂S in tomato seedlings under salt stress, this treatment can be considered as an alternative resilience method for cultivation in saline soils or irrigation with low quality waters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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10 pages, 807 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Participatory Assessment of Potato Production Systems and Cultivar Development in Rwanda

by Jean Baptiste Muhinyuza, Alphonsine Mukamuhirwa, Marie Chantal Mutimawurugo, Jean Damascène Mazimpaka, Delitha Girumugisha Muhinyuza and Rodomiro Octavio Ortiz Rios

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16703; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416703 - 13 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2595

Abstract

Potato cultivars grown in Rwanda are very old, low yielding and not amenable to food processing. High yielding and late blight tolerant cultivars for this country should be evaluated at different agro-ecozones prior to releasing them to farmers, who are yet to be [...] Read more.

Potato cultivars grown in Rwanda are very old, low yielding and not amenable to food processing. High yielding and late blight tolerant cultivars for this country should be evaluated at different agro-ecozones prior to releasing them to farmers, who are yet to be integrated into potato breeding. The objectives of this study were to assess farmers’ preferred traits in potato cultivars and to gather knowledge from farmers about potato clones bred in Rwanda. Four respondents per village in 36 villages each for the districts of Musanze, Burera and Nyamagabe participated in the survey, whose questionnaire was about farm size, gender balance, land allocated to potatoes and other main crops, potato “seed” sourcing, potato production constraints and most important potato attributes. Potato was rated as the most important food and cash crop. ‘Kirundo’, ‘Cruza’, ‘Mabondo’ and ‘Victoria’ were the most popular cultivars. Among them, Mabondo’ was the most resistant to the oomycete Phytophthora infestans causing late blight. Potato production in Rwanda is limited by lack of improved cultivars, high temperature, drought, acidic soil, pathogens, insects, weeds, inadequate storage of tubers as planting material, post-harvest technology, low market price of tubers at harvest, lack of access to credit, climate change, and gaps such as inadequate fertilizer and fungicide applications. The most important cultivar attributes were high tuber yield, host plant resistance and high specific gravity or dry matter. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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21 pages, 2656 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Biochar and Process Water Derived from the Co-Processed Sewage Sludge and Food Waste on Garden Cress’ Growth and Quality

by Raziye Kul, Ertan Yıldırım, Melek Ekinci, Metin Turan and Sezai Ercisli

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16652; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416652 - 12 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2286

Abstract

Very little is known about how products derived from the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of municipal waste affect the availability and uptake of nitrogen in plant nutrition. This study examined the effects of 60% sewage sludge and 40% food waste HTC products, i.e., biochar [...] Read more.

Very little is known about how products derived from the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of municipal waste affect the availability and uptake of nitrogen in plant nutrition. This study examined the effects of 60% sewage sludge and 40% food waste HTC products, i.e., biochar (BC) and process water (PW), as nitrogen sources on garden cress growth and quality. A fertilization program using four nitrogen doses [(control), 9, 12, and 15 kg da⁻¹ N] and BC, PW, chemical nitrogen (CN), and their combinations were used in a pot experiment conducted under greenhouse conditions. The highest nitrogen dose often produced better results in terms of plant growth and quality. Additionally, fertilization with PW+CN and BC+CN at the highest nitrogen dose significantly improved plant height, plant fresh and dry weight, and root dry weight parameters of garden cress over the previous treatments. The highest stem diameter, number of leaves, and plant area values were obtained in the 15 kg da⁻¹ N dose PW+BC application. The vitamin C content in cress decreased with the increasing levels of CN. The highest vitamin C content was obtained with 15 kg N da⁻¹ PW fertilization. BC+PW and CN fertilization applications improved chlorophyll a, b, and the total contents of garden cress leaves. Moreover, the nitrate (NO₃) concentration of cress increased with CN doses while it decreased in all BC and PW administrations. The 9, 12, and 15 kg N da⁻¹ doses of PW+CN and the 15 kg N da⁻¹ dose of BC+CN yielded the highest agricultural nitrogen utilization efficiency (ANUE) values. Plant nutrient content was positively affected in all fertilization applications, except for Na and Cl. However, it was determined that BC+CN fertilizer application improved plant nutrient uptake. Surprisingly, PW+CN treatment at the lowest nitrogen dosage resulted in the highest soil organic matter and total nitrogen content. In conclusion, it has been determined that biochar and process water have a synergistic effect with CN to increase plant growth by improving nitrogen efficiency, but their application alone without CN is insufficient to meet the nitrogen requirement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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13 pages, 664 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ameliorative Effects of Biochar for Cadmium Stress on Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Growth

by Esin Dadasoglu, Melek Ekinci, Metin Turan and Ertan Yildirim

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15563; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315563 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1652

Abstract

In order to investigate the changes in the morphological and biochemical characteristics of bean plants in response to biochar treatment under cadmium (Cd) stress, a pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. Bean plants were subjected to different amounts of Cd (0, 100, [...] Read more.

In order to investigate the changes in the morphological and biochemical characteristics of bean plants in response to biochar treatment under cadmium (Cd) stress, a pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. Bean plants were subjected to different amounts of Cd (0, 100, 150 and 200 mg kg⁻¹) and biochar applied at different doses (0, 2.5 and 5%). Under Cd stress, the growth and development of bean seedlings were remarkably inhibited, whereas the biochar treatment could effectively improve the heavy metal tolerance of bean seedlings. Cd stress caused an increase in the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), proline and sucrose content, catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of leaves. However, biochar treatments reduced the CAT, POD and SOD activity of bean seedlings. Growing beans on Cd medium led to a significant reduction in plant nutrient element content. However, biochar amendment to the soil elevated the plant nutrient element content compared to untreated soil. Cd content of the bean seedlings increased with increasing Cd doses. There was a sharp decrease in available concentration for Cd with the addition of biochar. In conclusion, biochar incorporation into the soil can alleviate the adverse impacts of Cd stress on the growth of bean seedlings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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18 pages, 1351 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agricultural Supply Chain Financing Strategies under the Impact of Risk Attitudes

by Shizhen Bai and Xuelian Jia

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8787; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148787 - 18 Jul 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2457

Abstract

Bank and e-commerce financing strategies are the main ways for farmers to solve the problem of capital shortage. Aiming at the uncertainty risk of the output of the agricultural product supply chain, we consider the risk attitudes of farmers; construct the Stackelberg game [...] Read more.

Bank and e-commerce financing strategies are the main ways for farmers to solve the problem of capital shortage. Aiming at the uncertainty risk of the output of the agricultural product supply chain, we consider the risk attitudes of farmers; construct the Stackelberg game model under different financing strategies to obtain the optimal decision of e-commerce and farmers; and explore the expected output factors, the degree of farmers’ risk aversion, e-commerce’s interest rates on the decision-making results. Our research found that farmers with low-risk aversion prefer to choose the e-commerce financing strategy when the e-commerce’s interest rates are lower. In addition, farmers’ risk-averse attitudes lead to lower equilibrium decision-making between farmers and e-entrepreneurs, which is not conducive to the interests of e-commerce and farmers. A higher expected output factor reduces farmers’ production inputs and e-commerce purchase price. When the expected output factor is low, the decision of whether e-commerce provides financing services to farmers is only affected by interest rates, and lower interest rates create more value for e-commerce. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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15 pages, 2146 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intercropping of Cauliflower with Lettuce Is More Effective for Sustainable Fertilizer Management and Minimizing Environmental Risks

by Metin Turan, Seda Erenler, Melek Ekinci, Ertan Yildirim and Sanem Argin

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7874; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137874 - 28 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2253

Abstract

Intercropping systems are one of the sustainable agricultural models as they play an important role in protecting soil fertility, efficient use of resources, maintaining stable yields, and reducing the effectiveness of diseases and pests. The aim of this study was to investigate the [...] Read more.

Intercropping systems are one of the sustainable agricultural models as they play an important role in protecting soil fertility, efficient use of resources, maintaining stable yields, and reducing the effectiveness of diseases and pests. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intercropping (IC) cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) with leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa) on the yield and quality parameters of cauliflower and to evaluate the overall productivity of the system under different nitrogen fertilization rates (160, 200, and 240 kg N ha⁻¹). Our results showed that the leaf chlorophyll value (SPAD), plant weight, leaf weight, head diameter, head height, head weight, and total yield of cauliflower were found to increase as the nitrogen dose increased in both the monocropping (MC) and IC systems. The most efficient nitrogen fertilizer doses for cauliflower were 234.7 kg ha⁻¹ for MC and 176.6 kg ha⁻¹ for IC, respectively. When the intercropping system was used the total yield (cauliflower and lettuce) was higher than the yield of cauliflower (MC) for the same total area and fertilizer amount. The land equivalent ratio (LER) values were greater than 1 in the intercropping system at all fertilization rates, which indicated that the IC system was more productive than the MC system for the same unit of land. Our findings also showed that intercropping was an effective method to increase fertilizer use efficiency and the soil organic matter, nitrogen content, plant available P, K, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu. In conclusion, while intercropping cauliflower with lettuce did not adversely affect the yield of cauliflower, it enabled harvesting more plants (cauliflower and lettuce) from the same land area by using the same amount of fertilizer, which makes intercropping a sustainable, economical, and ecological model that increases the land-use and fertilizer-use efficiencies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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17 pages, 1701 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Fertilizers Synergistically Bolster Temperate Soybean Growth, Yield, and Oil Content

by Muhammad Aamir Iqbal, Rana Zain Raza, Mohsin Zafar, Omar M. Ali, Raees Ahmed, Junaid Rahim, Raina Ijaz, Zahoor Ahmad and Brandon J. Bethune

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2433; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042433 - 20 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2402

Abstract

For ensuring food security and imparting sustainability to modern commercial-oriented and highly intensive temperate farming systems, organic wastes from poultry and dairy industries constitute biologically viable strategy to improve crops productivity under changing climate. A field trial was undertaken to appraise the impact [...] Read more.

For ensuring food security and imparting sustainability to modern commercial-oriented and highly intensive temperate farming systems, organic wastes from poultry and dairy industries constitute biologically viable strategy to improve crops productivity under changing climate. A field trial was undertaken to appraise the impact of broiler litter (BL = 5 tons ha⁻¹), farm yard slurry (FYS = 10 tons ha⁻¹), and chemical fertilizers including di-ammonium phosphate (DAP = 60 kg ha⁻¹) and single super phosphate (SSP = 60 kg ha⁻¹) applied solely and in conjunction with each other, along with a control treatment (NM). The synergistic fertilization regime encompassing BL+DAP triggered the vegetative growth of soybean as indicated by taller plants having thicker stems and higher leaf area per plant compared to NM. In addition, this fertilization management system improved reproductive yield attributes including pods number and 100-seeds weight which maximized the seed yield, harvest index, seed oil content, and biological yield by 66%, 5%, 31%, and 23% respectively than NM. Moreover, this fertilizers combination was followed by SSP + BL, while BL performed better than FYS and DAP remained superior to SSP. Furthermore, the correlation analyses indicated moderately stronger direct association of seed yield with vegetative growth traits and highly stronger linear relationship with reproductive yield attributes. Thus, co-application of broiler litter (5 tons ha⁻¹) with reduced doses of DAP (60 kg ha⁻¹) might be recommended to temperate soybean growers having access to poultry wastes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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13 pages, 2140 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sorghum Production Constraints, Trait Preferences, and Strategies to Combat Drought in Tanzania

by Andekelile Mwamahonje, John Saviour Yaw Eleblu, Kwadwo Ofori, Santosh Deshpande, Tileye Feyissa and William Elisha Bakuza

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 12942; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132312942 - 23 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4287

Abstract

Sorghum is an important food crop for people in drought-prone areas of the world. The production in Tanzania has been ≤1 t ha⁻¹ for a decade. The study was conducted in Iramba, Ikungi, and Kongwa districts to identify factors influencing the sorghum [...] Read more.

Sorghum is an important food crop for people in drought-prone areas of the world. The production in Tanzania has been ≤1 t ha⁻¹ for a decade. The study was conducted in Iramba, Ikungi, and Kongwa districts to identify factors influencing the sorghum production, adoption rate, and strategies to address drought in Tanzania. The study involved 240 respondents for individual interviews and focus group discussions. Thirty respondents participated in individual interviews while ten farmers participated in the focus group discussion per village. Our study found that birds, poor soil fertility, and drought were the major constraints across the study districts. Drought tolerance, high yield, and early maturity were the most preferred traits by farmers across the study areas. Farmers addressed drought stress in sorghum by practicing early planting early maturing varieties in November and using drought-tolerant varieties. However, most farmers failed to name the diseases and pests affecting sorghum. This study highlights basic information for plant breeders to incorporate traits preferred by farmers in breeding programs when developing new sorghum varieties for sustainable production. The study shows the importance of involving farmers to identify the problems and solutions of sorghum production to increase the adoption rate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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An Updated Overview on Insights into Sugarcane Genome Editing via CRISPR/Cas9 for Sustainable Production

by Shareif Hammad Hussin, Xinlong Liu, Chunjia Li, Mohamed Diaby, Ghulam Hussain Jatoi, Raees Ahmed, Muhammad Imran and Muhammad Aamir Iqbal

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12285; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912285 - 27 Sep 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3542

Abstract

Sugarcane crop constitutes one of the most vital sources of sugar and bioenergy globally; however, higher level of polyploidy makes its genome editing an intricate task. Recently, genome editing has become easier with CRISPR/Cas9 system that uses Cas9 to target sequence-specific regions and [...] Read more.

Sugarcane crop constitutes one of the most vital sources of sugar and bioenergy globally; however, higher level of polyploidy makes its genome editing an intricate task. Recently, genome editing has become easier with CRISPR/Cas9 system that uses Cas9 to target sequence-specific regions and introduce double-strand breaks into the target region. This technique has been successfully employed to develop new varieties of sugarcane having desired phenotypic and physiological traits. Several genes can be fused with the CRISPR/Cas9 system leading to successful metabolic engineering and biological improvement for ensuring sustainable enhancement in sugarcane production. This simple RNA-guided genome editing technique has become a revolutionary tool and innovative application in biology that might be effectively employed for inducing specified genomic modifications in plant tissues. This review attempts to synthesize fundamentals of genome editing techniques with an ultimate aim to find out opportunities and challenges of sugarcane genome editing. It also tends to summarize the advances and achievements of gene editing via CRISPR-based genome editing technique for numerous field crops. Lastly, the enormous potential of CRISPR/Cas9 for gene editing in sugarcane, major challenges and future perspectives have been objectively elaborated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Crop Production Management (ICPM) in Sustainable Agriculture)

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