[Objective] The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different agricultural managements on soil microbial population,activity,functional diversity and soil enzyme activity in continuous mono-cropp...[Objective] The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different agricultural managements on soil microbial population,activity,functional diversity and soil enzyme activity in continuous mono-cropping field of strawberry.[Method]A field plot experiment was carried out to evaluate characteristics of soil microbial community by soil enzyme analysis,microbial cultivation and Biolog analysis.[Result]The results showed that bacteria population proportion,the ration of bacteria to fungi,microorganism amount,AWCD,soil dehydrogenase activity,the Shannon,Simpson,and Mcintosh indices of soil microbial communities were obviously increased under strawberry-rice rotation,soil solarization with rice bran,and calcium cyanamide（CaCN2）treatments,in addition,soil urease activity was significantly increased under strawberry-rice rotation and soil solarization with rice bran treatment,when compared with no fertilization.When compared with conventional fertilization treatment,strawberry-rice rotation and soil solarization with rice bran both significantly increased AWCD and Mcintosh index of soil microbial communities,meanwhile respectively increased soil urease and dehydrogenase activity.PCA analyses suggested that carbon utilization of soil microbial communities under strawberry-rice rotation,soil solarization with rice bran,and calcium cyanamide treatment was obviously different from that of conventional fertilization and no fertilization treatment.[Conclusion] strawberry-rice rotation and soil solarization with rice bran were effective agricultural managements to control soil biological degradation under Continuous Cropped Strawberry.展开更多
Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge(SMB)has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.Growing clinical usage has led to a huge demand for artificial planting of SMB.Thus,c...Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge(SMB)has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.Growing clinical usage has led to a huge demand for artificial planting of SMB.Thus,continuous cropping of SMB is an important challenge that needs to be addressed.Continuous cropping can alter the metabolic profile of plants,resulting in poor growth and low yield.In this study,we tried to image the spatial location and variation of endogenous metabolites in continuously cropped SMB using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging(MALDIMSI).Spatially resolved expressions of tanshinones,salvianolic acids,polyamines,phenolic acids,amino acids,and oligosaccharides in normal and continuously cropped SMB roots were compared.The expressions of dihydrotanshinone Ⅰ,tanshinone Ⅱ A,dehydromiltirone,miltirone,dehydrotanshinone ⅡA,spermine,salvianolic acid B/E,tetrasaccharide,and pentasaccharide in continuously cropped SMB roots were much lower than those in normal roots.There was little difference in the expressions of caffeic acid and salvianolic acid A in normal and continuously cropped SMB roots.Ferulic acid was more widely distributed in xylem of normal SMB but strongly expressed in xylem,phloem,and cambium of continuously cropped SMB.The spatially resolved metabolite information enhances our understanding of the metabolic signature of continuously cropped SMB and also provides insights into the metabolic effects of continuous cropping in other plants.展开更多
Maize(Zea mays L.)-soybean(Glycine max L.Merr.)relay intercropping provides a way to enhance land productivity.However,the late-planted soybean suffers from shading by the maize.After maize harvest,how the recovery gr...Maize(Zea mays L.)-soybean(Glycine max L.Merr.)relay intercropping provides a way to enhance land productivity.However,the late-planted soybean suffers from shading by the maize.After maize harvest,how the recovery growth influences the leaf and nodule traits remains unclear.A three-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of genotypes,i.e.,supernodulating(nts1007),Nandou 12(ND12),and Guixia 3(GX3),and crop configurations,i.e.,the interspecific row spacing of 45(I45),60(I60),75 cm(I75),and sole soybean(SS),on soybean recovery growth and N fixation.The results showed that intercropping reduced the soybean total leaf area(LA)by reducing both the leaf number(LN)and unit leaflet area(LUA),and it reduced the nodule dry weight(NW)by reducing both the nodule number(NN)and nodule diameter(ND)compared with the SS.The correlation and principal component analysis(PCA)indicated a co-variability of the leaf and nodule traits in response to the genotype and crop configuration interactions.During the recovery growth stages,the compensatory growth promoted soybean growth to reduce the gaps of leaf and nodule traits between intercropping and SS.The relative growth rates of ureide(RGR_U)and nitrogen(RGR_N)accumulation were higher in intercropping than in SS.Intercropping achieved more significant sucrose and starch contents compared with SS.ND12 and GX3 showed more robust compensatory growth than nts1007 in intercropping.Although the recovery growth of relay intercropping soybean improved biomass and nitrogen accumulation,ND12 gained a more significant partial land equivalent ratio(pLER)than GX3.The I60 treatment achieved more robust compensation effects on biomass and N accumulation than the other configurations.Meanwhile,I60 showed a higher nodule sucrose content and greater shoot ureide and N accumulation than SS.Finally,intercropping ND12 with maize using an interspecific row spacing of 60 cm was optimal for both yield advantage and N accumulation.展开更多
Declines in populations of pollinators in agricultural based landscapes have raised a concern, which could be associated with various factors such as intensive farming systems like monocropping and the use of non-sele...Declines in populations of pollinators in agricultural based landscapes have raised a concern, which could be associated with various factors such as intensive farming systems like monocropping and the use of non-selective synthetic pesticides. Such practices are likely to remove beneficial non-crop plants around or nearby the cropped fields. This may in turn result into losses of pollinators due to loss of the natural habitats for insects therefore, interfering the interaction between beneficial insects and flowering crop plants. Initiatives to restore friendly habitats for pollinators require multidisciplinary approaches. One of these could be the use of pesticidal flowering plants as part of field margin plants with the aim of encouraging the population of pollinators whilst reducing the number of pests. Farmers should be fully engaged in the efforts of creating conducive environments to pollinators and be well equipped with the knowledge of proper habitats management strategies in agricultural fields. Developing appropriate conservation strategies to combat decline of pollinators is of high importance and thus there is a need to evaluate management practices, which potentially favour the populations of pollinators. Therefore, this review aims at unravelling available evidences on habitats manipulation options through provision of flowering plants along the field margins that have shown to increase plant biodiversity surrounding the cropped fields. It also summarizes the options for increasing plant biodiversity, which have improved habitats for the pollinating insects and beneficially boosting pollination services in agro-ecosystems.展开更多
The impact of four spacing of cooking banana (CB) within the immature rubber avenues on some soil fertility attributes, maturity rate of rubber trees and dry rubber content (DRC) during the initial six years after pla...The impact of four spacing of cooking banana (CB) within the immature rubber avenues on some soil fertility attributes, maturity rate of rubber trees and dry rubber content (DRC) during the initial six years after planting (YAP) were evaluated in a humid forest area of South Eastern Nigeria relative to sole rubber. The CB spacings within immature rubber avenues were 6.7 × 3.4 m;4.0 × 2.0 m, 3.0 × 3.0 m and 2.0 × 2.0 m, while the sole rubber was at 6.7 × 3.4 m, all laid out in randomized complete block design with five replications. Quantities of soil organic C, extractable P, Ca, Mg and earthworm activities were significantly higher in the intercrops, with the highest value coming from the 4 × 2 m CB spaced plots. However a significantly higher value of K stock was observed in the sole rubber plot and declined as the CB spacing narrowed. While the highest proportion (>90%) of matured hevea tree at six YAP was observed in the 2 × 2 m CB spaced plots;the highest DRC of 1.7 t?ha–1?yr–1 was obtained from CB 4 × 2 m treatment. Consequently, with some of the observed soil fertility attributes and DRC recorded, 4 × 2 m CB spacing seems to be a more suitable CB spacings within immature rubber avenues, especially in view of the levels of K in the 2 × 2 CB plots.展开更多
Photorespiration consumes photosynthetically fixed carbon and reduces yields by 20%–50%in C3 crops.In an attempt to increase photosynthetic efficiency in rice by bypassing the carbon-consuming process of photorespira...Photorespiration consumes photosynthetically fixed carbon and reduces yields by 20%–50%in C3 crops.In an attempt to increase photosynthetic efficiency in rice by bypassing the carbon-consuming process of photorespiration,a photorespiratory bypass consisting of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii glycolate dehydrogenase and Cucurbita maxima malate synthase(termed the GMS bypass)was introduced into the rice cultivar Zhonghua 11 and osplgg1b,a mutant of the rice chloroplast glycolate transporter,to generate GMS/ZH11 and GMS/osplgg1b transgenic plants.The GMS bypass reduced photorespiration and increased photosynthesis in the transgenic plants.The straw biomass of GMS/ZH11 and GMS/osplgg1b increased by up to 16.0%and 85.7%,respectively.The yield of GMS/ZH11 increased by 22.0%–34.7%in paddy fields.Thus,the GMS bypass can increase photosynthetic efficiency and yield in rice.展开更多
A growing global population and the increasing prevalence of diet-related health issues such as“hidden hunger”,obesity,hypertension,and diabetes necessitate a fundamental rethinking of crop design and breeding.Synth...A growing global population and the increasing prevalence of diet-related health issues such as“hidden hunger”,obesity,hypertension,and diabetes necessitate a fundamental rethinking of crop design and breeding.Synthetic metabolic engineering offers a method to modify and redesign metabolic pathways to increase the nutritional value of crops.We summarize recent advances in the biofortification of key nutrients including provitamin A,vitamin C,vitamin B9,iron,zinc,anthocyanins,flavonoids,and unsaturated fatty acids.We discuss the potential of multi-gene stacking,gene editing,enzyme engineering,and artificial intelligence in synthetic metabolic engineering.We propose future research directions and potential solutions centered on leveraging AI-driven systems biology,precision gene editing,enzyme engineering,agrobacterium-mediated genotype-independent transformation,and modular metabolic engineering strategies to develop next-generation nutritionally enhanced super crops and transform global food systems.展开更多
Betalain,an economically valuable water-soluble natural plant pigment,is prized for its strong antioxidant activity,making it popular as a dietary supplement and a visual marker for plant transformation.However,market...Betalain,an economically valuable water-soluble natural plant pigment,is prized for its strong antioxidant activity,making it popular as a dietary supplement and a visual marker for plant transformation.However,market demand significantly outstrips current production capacity.This study reports the development of an efficient push-and-pull multigene strategy based on polycistronic expression and metabolic flux regulation to enhance betalain biosynthesis in transgenic maize(Zea mays L.)endosperm.We engineered a novel enhanced RUBY(eRUBY)system derived from the original polycistronic RUBY construct(CYP76AD1P2ADODA1P2ADOPA5GT unit,abbreviated CDG)by introducing arogenate dehydrogenase(ADHα)to increase the L-tyrosine substrate supply.All the genes were driven by the endosperm-specific promoter.Fusion of ADHαinto a single polycistronic eRUBY construct(CDGA)produced significantly higher betanin(6.88 mg g−1 dry weight)and isobetanin(1.81 mg g−1 dry weight)levels than in CDG+A,which stacked the ADHαcassette independently with CDG.The high betalain accumulation in CDGA lines(which also exhibited higher transgene copy number)resulted in a 2.85–7.58-fold improvement in endosperm antioxidant capacity compared to WT(versus 2.48–2.80-fold in CDG+A).Importantly,transgenic plants maintained a normal phenotype.Transcriptome and metabolome analyses further indicated that metabolism of phenylalanine,alanine,aspartate,and glutamate contributes to betalain production.Hybridization with sweet corn successfully created a high-sugar eRUBY maize variety.Collectively,these results demonstrate the successful development of a novel maize germplasm with significantly enhanced nutritional value through high betalain accumulation.展开更多
The Crop Journal is a bimonthly scientific journal co-sponsored by the Crop Science Society of China and the Institute of Crop Science,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,and China Science Publishing&Media Gr...The Crop Journal is a bimonthly scientific journal co-sponsored by the Crop Science Society of China and the Institute of Crop Science,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,and China Science Publishing&Media Group Ltd.It is published by Science Press and KeAi(founded by China Science Publishing&Media Ltd.and Elsevier).展开更多
The Crop Journal is a bi-monthly,international,peer-reviewed research journal co-sponsored by Crop Science Society of China,Institute of Crop Sciences,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,and China Science Publish...The Crop Journal is a bi-monthly,international,peer-reviewed research journal co-sponsored by Crop Science Society of China,Institute of Crop Sciences,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,and China Science Publishing&Media Group Ltd.(Science Press).展开更多
As we welcome the spring of 2026,we extend our sincere greetings and best wishes to colleagues worldwide in the field of crop science,our partners,and all those committed to sustainable agricultural development!The Ye...As we welcome the spring of 2026,we extend our sincere greetings and best wishes to colleagues worldwide in the field of crop science,our partners,and all those committed to sustainable agricultural development!The Year of the Horse symbolizes endeavor and far-reaching journeys,reflecting our own spirit of continuous exploration and breakthrough innovation on the path of crop science.Here,I extendmysincere appreciation to all our authors and reviewers for their invaluable time,expertise,and dedication,which are instrumental in the success of The Crop Journal,establishing it as a premier platform for the global crop science research community.The Crop Journal publishes its 2026 first issue as a special issue themed“Synthetic Biology for Crop Improvement”,ably vip-edited by four young scientists.The issue provides a comprehensive overview of major advances in the field.In the past few years,crop science has made long strides in metabolic engineering of important pathways in secondary metabolism.The achievements expedite the emergence of synthetic biology as a potent methodology for crop breeding and represent a fundamental paradigm shift from“deciphering crops”to“designing crops”,which is further empowered by artificial intelligence(AI).At this turning point of the New Year,I would like to take this opportunity to provide a brief retrospective and future perspective.展开更多
We sincerely acknowledge all the experts who have dedicated their time and expertise during 2025 for reviewing manuscripts submitted to The Crop Journal.
Crop yield and quality are affected by abiotic stresses such as drought,low and high temperature,salinity,and heavy metals,which threaten the survival of human beings and the development of industry.As a new plant hor...Crop yield and quality are affected by abiotic stresses such as drought,low and high temperature,salinity,and heavy metals,which threaten the survival of human beings and the development of industry.As a new plant hormone derived from carotenoid,strigolactone(SL)is produced in the roots of plants.It was first reported that SL can induce seed germination of root-parasitic plants.In recent years,it has been shown that strigolactone plays a regulatory role in plant response to abiotic stresses.By eliminating oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species,it can potentially increase photosynthetic rate,chlorophyll content,and thus enhance plant drought resistance.Transcriptome studies have explored signal transduction,antioxidant enzyme activity,transcription factors,and expression of stress-and metabolism-related genes induced by extrinsic strigolactone in plants,the effects of strigolactone on plant growth and development have been preliminarily determined,but the studies on inducing crop tolerance to abiotic stresses are still unknown.In this review,the physiological and molecular aspects of the induction of the response to stress in horticultural crops by strigolactone were reviewed.It is important to improve the tolerance and productivity of horticultural crops under abiotic stress.展开更多
Industrial activities have caused widespread arsenic(As)contamination in soil and medicinal crops across south-ern Asia.This study constructed interplanting systems combing medicinal crops with Pteris vittata L.,aimin...Industrial activities have caused widespread arsenic(As)contamination in soil and medicinal crops across south-ern Asia.This study constructed interplanting systems combing medicinal crops with Pteris vittata L.,aiming to mitigate the risk of As exposure in medicinal crops,while simultaneously achieving ecological remediation of contaminated soil.The results revealed that interplanting with P.vittata significantly enhanced the yield of Gynos-temma pentaphyllum by 31.90%(P<0.05)compared with monoculture systems.Under monoculture conditions,the As concentration in G.pentaphyllum leaves reached 2.34 mg/kg,exceeding the national food safety standard(GB2762–2017,2 mg/kg).However,interplanting with P.vittata effectively reduced the As concentration in G.pentaphyllum leaves to 1.82 mg/kg.Furthermore,the interplanting of P.vittata with Rhus chinensis significantly inhibited As translocation from belowground to aboveground tissues in R.chinensis.Compared to monoculture,the stem biomass of P.vittata was significantly increased by 57.50%and 70.32%when interplanted with G.pentaphyllum and Cassia obtusifolia L.(P<0.05).So the As enrichment of P.vittata was enhanced in interplanting systems,which is beneficial for the As removal from contaminated soil.The study demonstrated that interplant-ing primarily regulates plant As uptake through modifications of rhizosphere physicochemical properties and As bioavailability,especially for water-soluble As that is easily absorbed by plants.In conclusion,the interplant-ing models integrating medicinal crops and P.vittata can achieve the goal of“remediating while producing”in As-contaminated soil.展开更多
[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the effects of soil selenium(Se)content and exogenous Se supplementation on crop Se levels and provide a theoretical basis for the production of Se-enriched agricult...[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the effects of soil selenium(Se)content and exogenous Se supplementation on crop Se levels and provide a theoretical basis for the production of Se-enriched agricultural products.[Methods]Thirty three representative townships in Xiayi County,Ningling County,and Yongcheng City were selected.Soil Se content and its impact on wheat Se level were measured.The effects of exogenous Se supplementation on the Se content of crops including soybean,wheat,peanut,corn,sweet potato,grape,crisp pear and apple were also investigated.[Results]Showed that the soil Se content in 18 townships of Xiayi County ranged from 0.08 to 0.34 mg/kg,and Se-adequate areas,Se-deficient areas and severely Se-deficient areas accounted for 27.78%,66.67%,and 0.055%of the total,respectively.In Ningling County,the soil Se content in 11 townships ranged from 0.13 to 0.23 mg/kg,and among them,Se-adequate areas and Se-deficient areas comprised 18.18%and 81.82%,respectively.In Yongcheng City,the soil Se content in 4 townships ranged from 0.16 to 0.23 mg/kg,and Se-adequate areas and Se-deficient areas constituted 75.00%and 25.00%,respectively.The soil Se content in 33 townships across Xiayi County,Ningling County,and Yongcheng City ranged from 0.07 to 0.34 mg/kg.However,the Se levels in wheat from all 33 townships fail to meet the standard for Se-enriched agricultural products.It indicates that relying solely on soil Se supply is insufficient for crops to achieve the Se level required for Se-enriched agricultural products.Exogenous Se supplementation could effectively increase the Se content in soybean,wheat,peanut,corn,sweet potato,grape,crisp pear,and apple.Among these,soybean,wheat and peanut showed the highest Se levels after supplementation,all exceeding 0.10 mg/kg and meeting the industry standard for Se-enriched agricultural products.[Conclusions]The results of this study indicates that exogenous Se supplementation can serve as a key measure for producing Se-enriched agricultural products.展开更多
Vegetation plays an important role in the environmental transport behavior of organic pollutants,however,the different roles of crops and natural vegetation have been ignored in most previous studies.In this study,we ...Vegetation plays an important role in the environmental transport behavior of organic pollutants,however,the different roles of crops and natural vegetation have been ignored in most previous studies.In this study,we developed the BETR-Urban-Rural-Veg model to quantitatively evaluate the influences of both natural vegetation and crops on the multimedia transport processes of Phenanthrene(PHE)and Benzo(a)pyrene(BaP)in mainland of China.The geographic distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAH)emissions and concentrations were consistent,displaying higher levels in northern China while lower levels in southern China.Under seasonal simulations,for both natural vegetation and crops,PAH concentrations in winter and spring were 1.5 to 27-fold higher than in summer and autumn,especially for PHE.Owing to the higher leaf area index(LAI)of natural vegetation and harvesting of crops,the filter and sequestration effect of natural vegetation was stronger than crops,while the seasonal changes of PAH concentrations in crops were more significant than natural vegetation.Temperature,precipitation rates and LAI might have important influences on seasonal concentrations and overall persistence of PAHs.PHE was more sensitive to the impacts of seasonal environmental parameters.Under different landscape scenarios,average annual PAH concentrations in natural vegetation were always a little higher than those in crops,and the overall persistence of BaP was greatly affected increasing by 15.15%-16.47%.This improved model provides a useful tool for environmental management.The results of this study are expected to support land use plans and decision-making in China's mainland.展开更多
Global population pressures have necessitated increased focus on protecting and developing resilient plant species that can maintain productivity despite environmental challenges.Environmental degradation,driven by cl...Global population pressures have necessitated increased focus on protecting and developing resilient plant species that can maintain productivity despite environmental challenges.Environmental degradation,driven by climate change and anthropogenic activities,poses significant threats to global food security through various forms of physical stress.Major environmental constraints affecting agricultural yields worldwide include salinity,water scarcity,nutritional imbalances(encompassing mineral toxicity and deficiencies),and extreme temperatures.Crop yield is influenced by multiple abiotic factors,including agronomic conditions,climatic variables,and soil nutrient availability.Plants develop various survival mechanisms at molecular,cellular,and physiological levels in response to stress.Abiotic stress,whether occurring individually or in combination,significantly impacts crop growth and productivity.For instance,drought stress reduces leaf area,plant height,and overall crop development.Cold stress inhibits plant development and crop efficiency,leading to diminished productivity.Salinity stress not only induces water stress in plants but also negatively affects cytosolic metabolism,cell development,membrane function,and increases reactive oxygen species(ROS)production.Elevated CO_(2)concentrations may enhance global precipitation patterns,potentially resulting in increased rainfall that can adversely affect crop development.Plants under excessive water stress exhibit reduced amylose content but increased crude protein levels.This affects both quality and quantity of crop production by inhibiting seed germination and causing growth impairment through combined effects of elevated osmotic potential and ion toxicity.Plants have evolved various escape-avoidance and tolerance mechanisms in response to abiotic stress,including physiological adaptations and integrated cellular or molecular responses.This review paper examines the impact of abiotic stress on morpho-physiological,biochemical,and molecular activities across various crops.Additionally,it analyzes crop interactions with abiotic stress regarding response and adaptation mechanisms,providing a fundamental framework for species selection and development of stress-tolerant varieties in the future.展开更多
After securing a market for their dried red chilli peppers in China,elated farmers in Uganda are expanding the spicy crop cultivation to thousands of acres.China’s increasing appetite for international cuisine and sp...After securing a market for their dried red chilli peppers in China,elated farmers in Uganda are expanding the spicy crop cultivation to thousands of acres.China’s increasing appetite for international cuisine and spices has created a most welcome demand for high-quality chillies.And given Uganda’s unique climate and soil conditions that allow for diverse chilli varieties,the East African country has a competitive edge.This has led to Uganda and China now having trade agreements in place,facilitating exports.展开更多
This study explores a novel method for processing cotton stalks—an abundant agricultural byproduct—into long strips that serve as sustainable raw material for engineered bio-based panels.To evaluate the effect of ra...This study explores a novel method for processing cotton stalks—an abundant agricultural byproduct—into long strips that serve as sustainable raw material for engineered bio-based panels.To evaluate the effect of raw material morphology on panel’s performance,two types of cotton stalk-based panels were developed:one using long strips,maintaining fiber continuity,and the other using ground particles,representing conventional processing.A wood strand-based panel made from commercial southern yellow pine strands served as the control.All panels were bonded using phenol-formaldehyde resin and hot-pressed to a target thickness of 12.7 mm and density of 640 kg/m^(3).Their mechanical and physical properties were evaluated through internal bond,bending,thickness swelling,and water absorption tests.Both cotton stalk-based panels showed improved bonding performance compared to the control.The internal bond of the strip-based panel was nearly four times higher than that of the control,while the particlebased panel exceeded it by a factor of two.The strip-based panel showed approximately 15% lower bending stiffness than the wood strand-based panel,yet it surpassed it in load-carrying capacity by 5%.In contrast,the particleboard showed significantly lower bending performance than the strip-based and control panels,despite particle processing being a more conventional method.Both cotton stalk-based panels exhibited higher water absorption and thickness swelling than the wood strand panel.Overall,cotton stalk-based panels—particularly those using strip processing—show promisingmechanical properties,suggesting potential applications in sheathing,furniture,and interior paneling.However,improvements in dimensional stability are needed for broader use.展开更多
The breakthrough in super hybrid rice yield has significantly contributed to China’s and global food security.However,the inherent conflict between high productivity and environmentally sustainable agriculture poses ...The breakthrough in super hybrid rice yield has significantly contributed to China’s and global food security.However,the inherent conflict between high productivity and environmentally sustainable agriculture poses substantial challenges.Issues such as water scarcity,energy crises,escalating greenhouse gas emissions,and diminishing farm profitability threaten longterm agricultural sustainability.In response,we applied a holistic food–carbon–nitrogen–water–energy–profit (FCNWEP)nexus framework to comprehensively assess the sustainability of distinct crop management strategies across three subsites in Central China.Field experiments were conducted in Hubei and Hunan provinces from 2017 to 2021 using a widely adopted elite super hybrid rice cultivar (Y-liangyou 900).Four crop management treatments were implemented:a control(CK,0 kg N ha^(-1)),conventional crop management (CCM,210–250 kg N ha^(-1),7:3 basal:mid-tiller fertilizer ratio),and two integrated crop management (ICM) treatments (ICM1,180–210 kg N ha^(-1),5:2:3 basal:mid-tiller:panicle initiation fertilizer ratio;ICM2,240–270 kg N ha^(-1),5:2:2:1 basal:mid-tiller:panicle initiation:flowering fertilizer ratio).Variables assessed included grain yield,carbon footprint,nitrogen footprint,water footprint,energy footprint,nitrogen use efficiency,and economic benefits.Our results showed significant yield variations,with ICM2 consistently outperforming CCM and ICM1across all three sites.In Jingzhou,Suizhou,and Changsha,ICM2’s grain yield was 30.2,24.7,and 13.3%higher than CCM,respectively.Net profits under ICM2 exceeded those of CCM and ICM1 by 31.8 and 115.2%in Jingzhou,32.2 and 109.9%in Suizhou,and 15.4 and 34.0%in Changsha,respectively.Integrated crop management,particularly ICM2,demonstrated improved nitrogen and energy use efficiency,leading to reduced carbon,nitrogen,water,and energy footprints.Overall,composite sustainability scores derived from the FCNWEP framework indicated that both ICM2 and ICM1 exhibited higher sustainability levels compared to CCM.This study provides valuable insights into practical management methodologies and offers recommendations for enhancing agricultural sustainability.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Science and Technology Funds for Agriculture(2009GB24910540)Special fund for National Public Service Sectors(Agriculture)Research(200903011)+1 种基金Natural Science Fund Project of Hohai University(2008429811)Central University Basic Research Operating Expenses Project(2010B05314)~~
文摘[Objective] The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different agricultural managements on soil microbial population,activity,functional diversity and soil enzyme activity in continuous mono-cropping field of strawberry.[Method]A field plot experiment was carried out to evaluate characteristics of soil microbial community by soil enzyme analysis,microbial cultivation and Biolog analysis.[Result]The results showed that bacteria population proportion,the ration of bacteria to fungi,microorganism amount,AWCD,soil dehydrogenase activity,the Shannon,Simpson,and Mcintosh indices of soil microbial communities were obviously increased under strawberry-rice rotation,soil solarization with rice bran,and calcium cyanamide（CaCN2）treatments,in addition,soil urease activity was significantly increased under strawberry-rice rotation and soil solarization with rice bran treatment,when compared with no fertilization.When compared with conventional fertilization treatment,strawberry-rice rotation and soil solarization with rice bran both significantly increased AWCD and Mcintosh index of soil microbial communities,meanwhile respectively increased soil urease and dehydrogenase activity.PCA analyses suggested that carbon utilization of soil microbial communities under strawberry-rice rotation,soil solarization with rice bran,and calcium cyanamide treatment was obviously different from that of conventional fertilization and no fertilization treatment.[Conclusion] strawberry-rice rotation and soil solarization with rice bran were effective agricultural managements to control soil biological degradation under Continuous Cropped Strawberry.
基金supported by the Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province(Grant No.:tsqn202103096 for C.Sun and Grant No.:ts201511068 for L.Guo)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.:82003886)the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant Nos.:2017YFC1700703 and 2017YFC-1702701).
文摘Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge(SMB)has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.Growing clinical usage has led to a huge demand for artificial planting of SMB.Thus,continuous cropping of SMB is an important challenge that needs to be addressed.Continuous cropping can alter the metabolic profile of plants,resulting in poor growth and low yield.In this study,we tried to image the spatial location and variation of endogenous metabolites in continuously cropped SMB using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging(MALDIMSI).Spatially resolved expressions of tanshinones,salvianolic acids,polyamines,phenolic acids,amino acids,and oligosaccharides in normal and continuously cropped SMB roots were compared.The expressions of dihydrotanshinone Ⅰ,tanshinone Ⅱ A,dehydromiltirone,miltirone,dehydrotanshinone ⅡA,spermine,salvianolic acid B/E,tetrasaccharide,and pentasaccharide in continuously cropped SMB roots were much lower than those in normal roots.There was little difference in the expressions of caffeic acid and salvianolic acid A in normal and continuously cropped SMB roots.Ferulic acid was more widely distributed in xylem of normal SMB but strongly expressed in xylem,phloem,and cambium of continuously cropped SMB.The spatially resolved metabolite information enhances our understanding of the metabolic signature of continuously cropped SMB and also provides insights into the metabolic effects of continuous cropping in other plants.
基金supported by the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(Soybean,CARS04-PS20)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(3187101212 and 31671625).
文摘Maize(Zea mays L.)-soybean(Glycine max L.Merr.)relay intercropping provides a way to enhance land productivity.However,the late-planted soybean suffers from shading by the maize.After maize harvest,how the recovery growth influences the leaf and nodule traits remains unclear.A three-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of genotypes,i.e.,supernodulating(nts1007),Nandou 12(ND12),and Guixia 3(GX3),and crop configurations,i.e.,the interspecific row spacing of 45(I45),60(I60),75 cm(I75),and sole soybean(SS),on soybean recovery growth and N fixation.The results showed that intercropping reduced the soybean total leaf area(LA)by reducing both the leaf number(LN)and unit leaflet area(LUA),and it reduced the nodule dry weight(NW)by reducing both the nodule number(NN)and nodule diameter(ND)compared with the SS.The correlation and principal component analysis(PCA)indicated a co-variability of the leaf and nodule traits in response to the genotype and crop configuration interactions.During the recovery growth stages,the compensatory growth promoted soybean growth to reduce the gaps of leaf and nodule traits between intercropping and SS.The relative growth rates of ureide(RGR_U)and nitrogen(RGR_N)accumulation were higher in intercropping than in SS.Intercropping achieved more significant sucrose and starch contents compared with SS.ND12 and GX3 showed more robust compensatory growth than nts1007 in intercropping.Although the recovery growth of relay intercropping soybean improved biomass and nitrogen accumulation,ND12 gained a more significant partial land equivalent ratio(pLER)than GX3.The I60 treatment achieved more robust compensation effects on biomass and N accumulation than the other configurations.Meanwhile,I60 showed a higher nodule sucrose content and greater shoot ureide and N accumulation than SS.Finally,intercropping ND12 with maize using an interspecific row spacing of 60 cm was optimal for both yield advantage and N accumulation.
文摘Declines in populations of pollinators in agricultural based landscapes have raised a concern, which could be associated with various factors such as intensive farming systems like monocropping and the use of non-selective synthetic pesticides. Such practices are likely to remove beneficial non-crop plants around or nearby the cropped fields. This may in turn result into losses of pollinators due to loss of the natural habitats for insects therefore, interfering the interaction between beneficial insects and flowering crop plants. Initiatives to restore friendly habitats for pollinators require multidisciplinary approaches. One of these could be the use of pesticidal flowering plants as part of field margin plants with the aim of encouraging the population of pollinators whilst reducing the number of pests. Farmers should be fully engaged in the efforts of creating conducive environments to pollinators and be well equipped with the knowledge of proper habitats management strategies in agricultural fields. Developing appropriate conservation strategies to combat decline of pollinators is of high importance and thus there is a need to evaluate management practices, which potentially favour the populations of pollinators. Therefore, this review aims at unravelling available evidences on habitats manipulation options through provision of flowering plants along the field margins that have shown to increase plant biodiversity surrounding the cropped fields. It also summarizes the options for increasing plant biodiversity, which have improved habitats for the pollinating insects and beneficially boosting pollination services in agro-ecosystems.
文摘The impact of four spacing of cooking banana (CB) within the immature rubber avenues on some soil fertility attributes, maturity rate of rubber trees and dry rubber content (DRC) during the initial six years after planting (YAP) were evaluated in a humid forest area of South Eastern Nigeria relative to sole rubber. The CB spacings within immature rubber avenues were 6.7 × 3.4 m;4.0 × 2.0 m, 3.0 × 3.0 m and 2.0 × 2.0 m, while the sole rubber was at 6.7 × 3.4 m, all laid out in randomized complete block design with five replications. Quantities of soil organic C, extractable P, Ca, Mg and earthworm activities were significantly higher in the intercrops, with the highest value coming from the 4 × 2 m CB spaced plots. However a significantly higher value of K stock was observed in the sole rubber plot and declined as the CB spacing narrowed. While the highest proportion (>90%) of matured hevea tree at six YAP was observed in the 2 × 2 m CB spaced plots;the highest DRC of 1.7 t?ha–1?yr–1 was obtained from CB 4 × 2 m treatment. Consequently, with some of the observed soil fertility attributes and DRC recorded, 4 × 2 m CB spacing seems to be a more suitable CB spacings within immature rubber avenues, especially in view of the levels of K in the 2 × 2 CB plots.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2020YFA0907600)the Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project(2024ZD04080)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32270252)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(2024A1515011085).
文摘Photorespiration consumes photosynthetically fixed carbon and reduces yields by 20%–50%in C3 crops.In an attempt to increase photosynthetic efficiency in rice by bypassing the carbon-consuming process of photorespiration,a photorespiratory bypass consisting of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii glycolate dehydrogenase and Cucurbita maxima malate synthase(termed the GMS bypass)was introduced into the rice cultivar Zhonghua 11 and osplgg1b,a mutant of the rice chloroplast glycolate transporter,to generate GMS/ZH11 and GMS/osplgg1b transgenic plants.The GMS bypass reduced photorespiration and increased photosynthesis in the transgenic plants.The straw biomass of GMS/ZH11 and GMS/osplgg1b increased by up to 16.0%and 85.7%,respectively.The yield of GMS/ZH11 increased by 22.0%–34.7%in paddy fields.Thus,the GMS bypass can increase photosynthetic efficiency and yield in rice.
基金supported by grants from the Guangxi Science and Technology Major Project(GKAA24206023)the Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project(2024ZD04077)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32272120)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2024YFF1000800)the Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Precise Breeding of Future Crops Major Project(FCBRCE-202502,FCBRCE-202504).
文摘A growing global population and the increasing prevalence of diet-related health issues such as“hidden hunger”,obesity,hypertension,and diabetes necessitate a fundamental rethinking of crop design and breeding.Synthetic metabolic engineering offers a method to modify and redesign metabolic pathways to increase the nutritional value of crops.We summarize recent advances in the biofortification of key nutrients including provitamin A,vitamin C,vitamin B9,iron,zinc,anthocyanins,flavonoids,and unsaturated fatty acids.We discuss the potential of multi-gene stacking,gene editing,enzyme engineering,and artificial intelligence in synthetic metabolic engineering.We propose future research directions and potential solutions centered on leveraging AI-driven systems biology,precision gene editing,enzyme engineering,agrobacterium-mediated genotype-independent transformation,and modular metabolic engineering strategies to develop next-generation nutritionally enhanced super crops and transform global food systems.
基金supported by grants from the Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project(2024ZD04077)the Invigorate the Seed Industry of Guangdong Province(2024-NPY-00-044)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32272120)the Guangxi Science and Technology Major Project(GKAA24206023)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2024YFF1000800)the Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Precise Breeding of Future Crops Major Project(FCBRCE-202502,FCBRCE-202504).
文摘Betalain,an economically valuable water-soluble natural plant pigment,is prized for its strong antioxidant activity,making it popular as a dietary supplement and a visual marker for plant transformation.However,market demand significantly outstrips current production capacity.This study reports the development of an efficient push-and-pull multigene strategy based on polycistronic expression and metabolic flux regulation to enhance betalain biosynthesis in transgenic maize(Zea mays L.)endosperm.We engineered a novel enhanced RUBY(eRUBY)system derived from the original polycistronic RUBY construct(CYP76AD1P2ADODA1P2ADOPA5GT unit,abbreviated CDG)by introducing arogenate dehydrogenase(ADHα)to increase the L-tyrosine substrate supply.All the genes were driven by the endosperm-specific promoter.Fusion of ADHαinto a single polycistronic eRUBY construct(CDGA)produced significantly higher betanin(6.88 mg g−1 dry weight)and isobetanin(1.81 mg g−1 dry weight)levels than in CDG+A,which stacked the ADHαcassette independently with CDG.The high betalain accumulation in CDGA lines(which also exhibited higher transgene copy number)resulted in a 2.85–7.58-fold improvement in endosperm antioxidant capacity compared to WT(versus 2.48–2.80-fold in CDG+A).Importantly,transgenic plants maintained a normal phenotype.Transcriptome and metabolome analyses further indicated that metabolism of phenylalanine,alanine,aspartate,and glutamate contributes to betalain production.Hybridization with sweet corn successfully created a high-sugar eRUBY maize variety.Collectively,these results demonstrate the successful development of a novel maize germplasm with significantly enhanced nutritional value through high betalain accumulation.
文摘The Crop Journal is a bimonthly scientific journal co-sponsored by the Crop Science Society of China and the Institute of Crop Science,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,and China Science Publishing&Media Group Ltd.It is published by Science Press and KeAi(founded by China Science Publishing&Media Ltd.and Elsevier).
文摘The Crop Journal is a bi-monthly,international,peer-reviewed research journal co-sponsored by Crop Science Society of China,Institute of Crop Sciences,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,and China Science Publishing&Media Group Ltd.(Science Press).
文摘As we welcome the spring of 2026,we extend our sincere greetings and best wishes to colleagues worldwide in the field of crop science,our partners,and all those committed to sustainable agricultural development!The Year of the Horse symbolizes endeavor and far-reaching journeys,reflecting our own spirit of continuous exploration and breakthrough innovation on the path of crop science.Here,I extendmysincere appreciation to all our authors and reviewers for their invaluable time,expertise,and dedication,which are instrumental in the success of The Crop Journal,establishing it as a premier platform for the global crop science research community.The Crop Journal publishes its 2026 first issue as a special issue themed“Synthetic Biology for Crop Improvement”,ably vip-edited by four young scientists.The issue provides a comprehensive overview of major advances in the field.In the past few years,crop science has made long strides in metabolic engineering of important pathways in secondary metabolism.The achievements expedite the emergence of synthetic biology as a potent methodology for crop breeding and represent a fundamental paradigm shift from“deciphering crops”to“designing crops”,which is further empowered by artificial intelligence(AI).At this turning point of the New Year,I would like to take this opportunity to provide a brief retrospective and future perspective.
文摘We sincerely acknowledge all the experts who have dedicated their time and expertise during 2025 for reviewing manuscripts submitted to The Crop Journal.
基金supported by the Special projects on biological seed industry and intensive processing of agricultural products(Grant No.202402AE090004-02)National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2023YFD2001404)+1 种基金Technology talent and platform program(Grant No.202305AF150112)China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(Grant No.CARS-29-zp-6).
文摘Crop yield and quality are affected by abiotic stresses such as drought,low and high temperature,salinity,and heavy metals,which threaten the survival of human beings and the development of industry.As a new plant hormone derived from carotenoid,strigolactone(SL)is produced in the roots of plants.It was first reported that SL can induce seed germination of root-parasitic plants.In recent years,it has been shown that strigolactone plays a regulatory role in plant response to abiotic stresses.By eliminating oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species,it can potentially increase photosynthetic rate,chlorophyll content,and thus enhance plant drought resistance.Transcriptome studies have explored signal transduction,antioxidant enzyme activity,transcription factors,and expression of stress-and metabolism-related genes induced by extrinsic strigolactone in plants,the effects of strigolactone on plant growth and development have been preliminarily determined,but the studies on inducing crop tolerance to abiotic stresses are still unknown.In this review,the physiological and molecular aspects of the induction of the response to stress in horticultural crops by strigolactone were reviewed.It is important to improve the tolerance and productivity of horticultural crops under abiotic stress.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2020YFC1807805)the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangzhou,Guangdong Province,China(No.202206010176).
文摘Industrial activities have caused widespread arsenic(As)contamination in soil and medicinal crops across south-ern Asia.This study constructed interplanting systems combing medicinal crops with Pteris vittata L.,aiming to mitigate the risk of As exposure in medicinal crops,while simultaneously achieving ecological remediation of contaminated soil.The results revealed that interplanting with P.vittata significantly enhanced the yield of Gynos-temma pentaphyllum by 31.90%(P<0.05)compared with monoculture systems.Under monoculture conditions,the As concentration in G.pentaphyllum leaves reached 2.34 mg/kg,exceeding the national food safety standard(GB2762–2017,2 mg/kg).However,interplanting with P.vittata effectively reduced the As concentration in G.pentaphyllum leaves to 1.82 mg/kg.Furthermore,the interplanting of P.vittata with Rhus chinensis significantly inhibited As translocation from belowground to aboveground tissues in R.chinensis.Compared to monoculture,the stem biomass of P.vittata was significantly increased by 57.50%and 70.32%when interplanted with G.pentaphyllum and Cassia obtusifolia L.(P<0.05).So the As enrichment of P.vittata was enhanced in interplanting systems,which is beneficial for the As removal from contaminated soil.The study demonstrated that interplant-ing primarily regulates plant As uptake through modifications of rhizosphere physicochemical properties and As bioavailability,especially for water-soluble As that is easily absorbed by plants.In conclusion,the interplant-ing models integrating medicinal crops and P.vittata can achieve the goal of“remediating while producing”in As-contaminated soil.
基金Supported by Shangqiu Science and Technology Project(20240036).
文摘[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the effects of soil selenium(Se)content and exogenous Se supplementation on crop Se levels and provide a theoretical basis for the production of Se-enriched agricultural products.[Methods]Thirty three representative townships in Xiayi County,Ningling County,and Yongcheng City were selected.Soil Se content and its impact on wheat Se level were measured.The effects of exogenous Se supplementation on the Se content of crops including soybean,wheat,peanut,corn,sweet potato,grape,crisp pear and apple were also investigated.[Results]Showed that the soil Se content in 18 townships of Xiayi County ranged from 0.08 to 0.34 mg/kg,and Se-adequate areas,Se-deficient areas and severely Se-deficient areas accounted for 27.78%,66.67%,and 0.055%of the total,respectively.In Ningling County,the soil Se content in 11 townships ranged from 0.13 to 0.23 mg/kg,and among them,Se-adequate areas and Se-deficient areas comprised 18.18%and 81.82%,respectively.In Yongcheng City,the soil Se content in 4 townships ranged from 0.16 to 0.23 mg/kg,and Se-adequate areas and Se-deficient areas constituted 75.00%and 25.00%,respectively.The soil Se content in 33 townships across Xiayi County,Ningling County,and Yongcheng City ranged from 0.07 to 0.34 mg/kg.However,the Se levels in wheat from all 33 townships fail to meet the standard for Se-enriched agricultural products.It indicates that relying solely on soil Se supply is insufficient for crops to achieve the Se level required for Se-enriched agricultural products.Exogenous Se supplementation could effectively increase the Se content in soybean,wheat,peanut,corn,sweet potato,grape,crisp pear,and apple.Among these,soybean,wheat and peanut showed the highest Se levels after supplementation,all exceeding 0.10 mg/kg and meeting the industry standard for Se-enriched agricultural products.[Conclusions]The results of this study indicates that exogenous Se supplementation can serve as a key measure for producing Se-enriched agricultural products.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42107420,U23A20157,and U1910207)Shanxi Province Science Foundation for Young Scholars(No.20210302124363).
文摘Vegetation plays an important role in the environmental transport behavior of organic pollutants,however,the different roles of crops and natural vegetation have been ignored in most previous studies.In this study,we developed the BETR-Urban-Rural-Veg model to quantitatively evaluate the influences of both natural vegetation and crops on the multimedia transport processes of Phenanthrene(PHE)and Benzo(a)pyrene(BaP)in mainland of China.The geographic distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAH)emissions and concentrations were consistent,displaying higher levels in northern China while lower levels in southern China.Under seasonal simulations,for both natural vegetation and crops,PAH concentrations in winter and spring were 1.5 to 27-fold higher than in summer and autumn,especially for PHE.Owing to the higher leaf area index(LAI)of natural vegetation and harvesting of crops,the filter and sequestration effect of natural vegetation was stronger than crops,while the seasonal changes of PAH concentrations in crops were more significant than natural vegetation.Temperature,precipitation rates and LAI might have important influences on seasonal concentrations and overall persistence of PAHs.PHE was more sensitive to the impacts of seasonal environmental parameters.Under different landscape scenarios,average annual PAH concentrations in natural vegetation were always a little higher than those in crops,and the overall persistence of BaP was greatly affected increasing by 15.15%-16.47%.This improved model provides a useful tool for environmental management.The results of this study are expected to support land use plans and decision-making in China's mainland.
基金financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFE0113400)the Jiangsu Provincial Fund for Realizing Carbon Emission Peaking and Neutralization,China(BE2022305)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Fundation of China(32102411)the Project funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M722698)。
文摘Global population pressures have necessitated increased focus on protecting and developing resilient plant species that can maintain productivity despite environmental challenges.Environmental degradation,driven by climate change and anthropogenic activities,poses significant threats to global food security through various forms of physical stress.Major environmental constraints affecting agricultural yields worldwide include salinity,water scarcity,nutritional imbalances(encompassing mineral toxicity and deficiencies),and extreme temperatures.Crop yield is influenced by multiple abiotic factors,including agronomic conditions,climatic variables,and soil nutrient availability.Plants develop various survival mechanisms at molecular,cellular,and physiological levels in response to stress.Abiotic stress,whether occurring individually or in combination,significantly impacts crop growth and productivity.For instance,drought stress reduces leaf area,plant height,and overall crop development.Cold stress inhibits plant development and crop efficiency,leading to diminished productivity.Salinity stress not only induces water stress in plants but also negatively affects cytosolic metabolism,cell development,membrane function,and increases reactive oxygen species(ROS)production.Elevated CO_(2)concentrations may enhance global precipitation patterns,potentially resulting in increased rainfall that can adversely affect crop development.Plants under excessive water stress exhibit reduced amylose content but increased crude protein levels.This affects both quality and quantity of crop production by inhibiting seed germination and causing growth impairment through combined effects of elevated osmotic potential and ion toxicity.Plants have evolved various escape-avoidance and tolerance mechanisms in response to abiotic stress,including physiological adaptations and integrated cellular or molecular responses.This review paper examines the impact of abiotic stress on morpho-physiological,biochemical,and molecular activities across various crops.Additionally,it analyzes crop interactions with abiotic stress regarding response and adaptation mechanisms,providing a fundamental framework for species selection and development of stress-tolerant varieties in the future.
文摘After securing a market for their dried red chilli peppers in China,elated farmers in Uganda are expanding the spicy crop cultivation to thousands of acres.China’s increasing appetite for international cuisine and spices has created a most welcome demand for high-quality chillies.And given Uganda’s unique climate and soil conditions that allow for diverse chilli varieties,the East African country has a competitive edge.This has led to Uganda and China now having trade agreements in place,facilitating exports.
基金supported by the intramural research program of the U.S.Department of Agriculture,National Institute of Food and Agriculture,Biobased Economy Through Biobased Products,under Award#2023-68016-40132.
文摘This study explores a novel method for processing cotton stalks—an abundant agricultural byproduct—into long strips that serve as sustainable raw material for engineered bio-based panels.To evaluate the effect of raw material morphology on panel’s performance,two types of cotton stalk-based panels were developed:one using long strips,maintaining fiber continuity,and the other using ground particles,representing conventional processing.A wood strand-based panel made from commercial southern yellow pine strands served as the control.All panels were bonded using phenol-formaldehyde resin and hot-pressed to a target thickness of 12.7 mm and density of 640 kg/m^(3).Their mechanical and physical properties were evaluated through internal bond,bending,thickness swelling,and water absorption tests.Both cotton stalk-based panels showed improved bonding performance compared to the control.The internal bond of the strip-based panel was nearly four times higher than that of the control,while the particlebased panel exceeded it by a factor of two.The strip-based panel showed approximately 15% lower bending stiffness than the wood strand-based panel,yet it surpassed it in load-carrying capacity by 5%.In contrast,the particleboard showed significantly lower bending performance than the strip-based and control panels,despite particle processing being a more conventional method.Both cotton stalk-based panels exhibited higher water absorption and thickness swelling than the wood strand panel.Overall,cotton stalk-based panels—particularly those using strip processing—show promisingmechanical properties,suggesting potential applications in sheathing,furniture,and interior paneling.However,improvements in dimensional stability are needed for broader use.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32172108 and 32301940)the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by the China Association for Science and Technology (2023QNRC001)+2 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2022M710489)the Chinese Scholarship Council (202310930003)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD2301004)。
文摘The breakthrough in super hybrid rice yield has significantly contributed to China’s and global food security.However,the inherent conflict between high productivity and environmentally sustainable agriculture poses substantial challenges.Issues such as water scarcity,energy crises,escalating greenhouse gas emissions,and diminishing farm profitability threaten longterm agricultural sustainability.In response,we applied a holistic food–carbon–nitrogen–water–energy–profit (FCNWEP)nexus framework to comprehensively assess the sustainability of distinct crop management strategies across three subsites in Central China.Field experiments were conducted in Hubei and Hunan provinces from 2017 to 2021 using a widely adopted elite super hybrid rice cultivar (Y-liangyou 900).Four crop management treatments were implemented:a control(CK,0 kg N ha^(-1)),conventional crop management (CCM,210–250 kg N ha^(-1),7:3 basal:mid-tiller fertilizer ratio),and two integrated crop management (ICM) treatments (ICM1,180–210 kg N ha^(-1),5:2:3 basal:mid-tiller:panicle initiation fertilizer ratio;ICM2,240–270 kg N ha^(-1),5:2:2:1 basal:mid-tiller:panicle initiation:flowering fertilizer ratio).Variables assessed included grain yield,carbon footprint,nitrogen footprint,water footprint,energy footprint,nitrogen use efficiency,and economic benefits.Our results showed significant yield variations,with ICM2 consistently outperforming CCM and ICM1across all three sites.In Jingzhou,Suizhou,and Changsha,ICM2’s grain yield was 30.2,24.7,and 13.3%higher than CCM,respectively.Net profits under ICM2 exceeded those of CCM and ICM1 by 31.8 and 115.2%in Jingzhou,32.2 and 109.9%in Suizhou,and 15.4 and 34.0%in Changsha,respectively.Integrated crop management,particularly ICM2,demonstrated improved nitrogen and energy use efficiency,leading to reduced carbon,nitrogen,water,and energy footprints.Overall,composite sustainability scores derived from the FCNWEP framework indicated that both ICM2 and ICM1 exhibited higher sustainability levels compared to CCM.This study provides valuable insights into practical management methodologies and offers recommendations for enhancing agricultural sustainability.
