Livestock rearing is one of the major occupations in India and is making significant contribution to the country GDP. The regional and seasonal variations in the teperature and rainfall distribution have been the majo...Livestock rearing is one of the major occupations in India and is making significant contribution to the country GDP. The regional and seasonal variations in the teperature and rainfall distribution have been the major factors influencing the economy of a region. It is a matter of serious concern that out of 11 districts of central India, 9 districts are showing increasing trend in maximum temperature with a rate of 0.01°C to 0.15°C/year. A significant long-term decreasing trend (Slope = -4.26) was found in annual rainfall series at Jhansi. At Jhansi, moderate to severe drought occurs once in five years. But in the last decade, 7 years experienced moderate to disastrous drought in Jhansi region, wherein rainfall deficiency ranged between 40% and 60% from normal value. Of special mention was the year, 2006, which experienced a worst drought ever recorded for this region. Studies related to crop simulation model was carried out for fodder sorghum and its application for agronomic management and assessing the impact of climate change. Crop modeling studies on forage sorghum (C4) and cowpea (C3) showed increased dry matter biomass by 3% in sorghum but more prominent in cowpea by 46% under elevated CO2 from 330 ppm to 770 ppm. The interaction study of enhanced CO2 and temperature showed prominent negative impact on yields of both the crops. Evapotranspiration and crop coefficient (Kc) of several fodder crops i.e. berseem, lucerne, oat, sorghum, teosinte, maize + cowpea, guinea + berseem were worked out. In berseem, the highest Kc (1.81) was found during 2nd cutting followed by 3rd and 4th cuts. Estimates on irrigation scheduling for the guinea grass + berseem showed that the cropping system requires 7 irrigations at an interval ranging from 13 to 30 days to fulfill the 567.6 mm of water per season as net irrigation under mar soil (black) type whose actual water holding capacity (AWHC) is 175 mm. Similarly, if the cropping system is grown under kabar (AHWC = 140 mm) soil, then it requires nine irrigation with a total water requirement of 591.5 mm at an interval ranging from 10 to 24 days. For integrated pest management (IPM) scheme of lucerne, degree day based model was developed to monitor the lucerne weevil population in central region.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
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
Different crops need different kinds of nutrients. In this paper,formula of special fertilizer for common field crops in Guangxi is explored from the angle of grain crops,fruits,vegetables,sugar crops,oil crops,etc.,a...Different crops need different kinds of nutrients. In this paper,formula of special fertilizer for common field crops in Guangxi is explored from the angle of grain crops,fruits,vegetables,sugar crops,oil crops,etc.,and corresponding production equipment and methods are provided,which could convenience for agricultural precision fertilization and theoretical basis and technical reference for cost saving and efficiency increasing of fertilizer.展开更多
From a very early period,the Chinese already vaguely sensed that the cultivation of crops required an intricate system.The third century BCE work Master Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals(Lüshi chunqiu吕氏春秋)s...From a very early period,the Chinese already vaguely sensed that the cultivation of crops required an intricate system.The third century BCE work Master Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals(Lüshi chunqiu吕氏春秋)states that crops were fed by heaven and raised by earth,and that harvests depended on the farmers who worked the land.Therefore,these three elements,that is,heaven,earth,and farmers,together with crops,jointly constituted a complex community.According to the ancient Chinese,moving a crop away from its native place could bring huge benefits to the new area to which the crop was moved.When writing and compiling Fundamentals of Agriculture and Sericulture(Nongsang jiyao农桑辑要),the officials of the Agricultural Extension Bureau司农司in the Yuan dynasty(1271–1368)excitedly noted the changes brought about by non-native crops to the agriculture of the Central Plains of China中原:“Ramie(Boehmeria nivea)is a crop native to southern China,while cotton(Gossypium herbaceum)comes from the Western Regions西域.In recent years,nevertheless,ramie has been introduced to Henan,while cotton has started to be planted in Shaanxi.The two crops thrive and show no difference from local crops.Farmers in the two regions benefit a lot therefrom”(Agricultural Extension Bureau 1888,juan 2:21).展开更多
Studies on peri urban farming in Zambia have not adequately tackled the issues pertaining to heavy metal contaminated wastewater irrigation farming. The study investigated heavy metal contamination of water, soils and...Studies on peri urban farming in Zambia have not adequately tackled the issues pertaining to heavy metal contaminated wastewater irrigation farming. The study investigated heavy metal contamination of water, soils and crops at two peri urban areas in Zambia. Two study sites were New Farm Extension in Mufulira Town in the Copperbelt Province and Chilumba Gardens in Kafue Town in Lusaka Province. The heavy metals investigated were lead, copper, cobalt, nickel and chromium. These heavy metals were found to be higher than acceptable limits in wastewater used to irrigate crops and there are potential human health risks associated with consumption of heavy metal contaminated food crops which have implications on the livelihoods of people. Samples of water, soil and crops were collected and analysed for lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The data on heavy metals was analysed using mean, standard error and T-test. The results indicated that the levels of heavy metals in wastewater, soil and food crops were above acceptable limits at two study sites. It can be concluded that there was heavy metal contamination of wastewater, soil and food crops at the two peri-urban areas in Zambia. The study highlighted the actual levels of heavy metal contaminant uptake in food crops consumed by the peri urban population. The information from this study can be used by the relevant authorities to develop appropriate measures for monitoring and control of heavy metal contamination in wastewater irrigation farming systems in peri urban areas inZambia.展开更多
Ability to modify plants at the genomic level by advanced molecular technology has enhanced the scope of improvements in plant traits attempted earlier through conventional breeding methods. Techniques such as genetic...Ability to modify plants at the genomic level by advanced molecular technology has enhanced the scope of improvements in plant traits attempted earlier through conventional breeding methods. Techniques such as genetic transformation have opened new vistas whereby functional genes, not commonly present in a particular species can be added from other species. The traits incorporated into the genetically engineered plants in the beginning were confined to those governed by dominant genes, e.g. insecticide resistance and herbicide tolerance but advancements with time now also permit the transfer of complexly inherited traits such as drought and cold tolerance. Transgenic technology is also useful in understanding gene expression and metabolic pathways which can then be used to harness the full genomic potential of the plant. This review presents a narrative on development of transgenics and their use for the improvement of field, industrial and pharmaceuticals crops. In addition, discussions are made on current status on genetically modified crops, hurdles to genetic engineering, overcoming strategies and future scope.展开更多
S?o Paulo State is the main sugar cane producer and these agricultural activities are carried out in predominantly sandy soils, which require large amounts of phosphate fertilizers and amendments. This work evaluated ...S?o Paulo State is the main sugar cane producer and these agricultural activities are carried out in predominantly sandy soils, which require large amounts of phosphate fertilizers and amendments. This work evaluated the fertilizer-effect on the Al, Ba, Fe, Mn and Ni released in a watershed with influence of sugar cane crops in the S?o Paulo State, Brazil, namely the Monjolo Grande Stream basin. Five surface water sampling campaigns were carried out at the mouth of Monjolo Grande Stream in February, April, June, September and November 2010, characterizing the following parameters: discharge, pH, temperature, electric conductivity, dissolved oxygen and total and dissolved concentrations of Al, Ba, Fe, Mn and Ni. Approximately 99% of Al and Fe are transported annually in association with suspended sediments carried to the Monjolo Grande Stream by sheet erosion. The results also demonstrated that the increasing Al, Ba, Fe and Mn concentrations dissolved in the waters of the Monjolo Grande Stream basin in the wet season are associated to phosphate fertilizers and amendments that are used extensively in agrichemical activities. However, with the current application rates, there has been no increase in the dissolved concentrations of these metals at levels that could pose risks to human health.展开更多
The present review critically examines the role of neglected and underutilized crops(NUCs)in enhancing the resilience of South Asian cropping systems and diets in the context of climate change and nutritional challeng...The present review critically examines the role of neglected and underutilized crops(NUCs)in enhancing the resilience of South Asian cropping systems and diets in the context of climate change and nutritional challenges.This analysis reveals that integrating NUCs,such as millets,sorghums,amaranth,and indigenous legumes,into existing cropping systems can significantly improve the climate resilience,dietary diversity,and ecological sustainability of the food systems.These crops exhibit superior tolerance to abiotic stress and offer higher nutritional density compared to staple cereals,such as rice and wheat.However,their adoption faces challenges,including limited research investment,fragmented value chains,etc.We further identify that complementary cropping strategies and climate-smart agriculture(CSA)practices can optimize resource use while boosting smallholder farmers’income.NUCs are pivotal for the transformation of exist cropping systems towards nutrition-sensitive and climate-resilient agricultural and food systems.Strategic integration of NUCs can simultaneously address food insecurity,biodiversity loss,and rural poverty.Yet,unlocking their potential requires coordinated efforts in genetic improvement,market development,and policy frameworks tailored to regional contexts.This synthesis provides a comprehensive roadmap for policy-makers,researchers,and farmers to leverage NUCs as“Future Smart Food”.By bridging agronomic,nutritional,and socioeconomic perspectives,this study highlights the transformative potential of NUCs in achieving Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)across South Asian countries.展开更多
Surface ozone(O_(3))pollution showed a continuous increasing trend during the recent decades in China,posing an increasing threat to food security.A wide range of yield reductions have been reported and thus more stud...Surface ozone(O_(3))pollution showed a continuous increasing trend during the recent decades in China,posing an increasing threat to food security.A wide range of yield reductions have been reported and thus more studies are needed to narrow down the uncertainty resulting from spatiotemporal accuracy of O_(3) metrics and extrapolation methods.Based on a high spatial resolution(0.1°)hourly surface O_(3) data,here we analyzed the spatiotemporal O_(3) pollution patterns and impacts on yield,production and economic losses for wheat,rice,and maize in China during 2005–2020.The accumulated O_(3) exposure over a threshold of 40 ppb(AOT40)increased by 10%during 2005–2019,and a decrease of 5.56%was observed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 lockdowns.Rising O_(3) pollution reduced national level wheat,rice and maize yields by 14.51%±0.43%,11.10%±0.6%,and 3.99%±0.11%,respectively.A Business-As-Usual projection suggested that the relative yield loss(RYL)would potentially reach 8%–18%at the national scale by 2050 if no emission control is implemented.COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 led to significantly reduced RYL for maize(0.52%)and rice(2.17%)but not for wheat(0.11%),with the largest reduction(1.88%–9.4%)in North China Plain,highlighting the potential benefits of emission control.Our findings provided robust evidence that rising O_(3) pollution has significantly affected China’s crop yields,production and economic losses,underscoring the urgent need to curb O_(3) pollution to safeguard food security,particularly in densely populated and industrialized regions.展开更多
With the rapid growth of the global population and the increasing demand for healthier diets,improving the nutrient utilization efficiency of staple food crops has become a critical scientific and industrial chal-leng...With the rapid growth of the global population and the increasing demand for healthier diets,improving the nutrient utilization efficiency of staple food crops has become a critical scientific and industrial chal-lenge,prompting innovation in food processing technologies.This review introduces first the common nutritional challenges in the processing of staple food crops,followed by the comprehensive examination of research aiming to enhance the nutritional quality of staple food crop-based foods through innovative processing technologies,including microwave(MW),pulsed electric field(PEF),ultrasound,modern fer-mentation technology,and enzyme technology.Additionally,soybean processing is used as an example to underscore the importance of integrating innovative processing technologies for optimizing nutrient utilization in staple food crops.Although these innovative processing technologies have demonstrated a significant potential to improve nutrient utilization efficiency and enhance the overall nutritional pro-file of staple food crop-based food products,their current limitations must be acknowledged and addressed in future research.Fortunately,advancements in science and technology will facilitate pro-gress in food processing,enabling both the improvement of existing techniques as well as the develop-ment of entirely novel methodologies.This work aims to enhance the understanding of food practitioners on the way processing technologies may optimize nutrient utilization,thereby fostering innovation in food processing research and synergistic multi-technological strategies,ultimately providing valuable references to address global food security challenges.展开更多
Identification of management practices that can improve soil health is critical to improving the sustainability of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production. The objective of this study was to examine the long-term ...Identification of management practices that can improve soil health is critical to improving the sustainability of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production. The objective of this study was to examine the long-term effects of continuous soybean, corn-soybean, and soybean-cotton rotations with chicken litter and cover crops (hairy vetch, wheat, fallow) on soil health parameters, including nutrient accumulation and soil organic matter dynamics under a split plot design. The depth intervals of soil sampling were 0 - 15, 15 - 30, 30 - 60, and 60 - 90 cm. Chicken litter resulted in 62.1% and 32.8% higher water extractable organic soil N content than fallow and wheat, respectively, in the surface 0 - 15 cm of soil only. However, there was no significant difference in 1-day Solvita respiration, water extractable organic C, C/N ratio, health score, moisture, earthworm, organic matter, pH, or CEC of soil among fallow, hairy vetch, chicken litter, and wheat regardless of soil depth. Unexpectedly, annual application of chicken litter at 4.4 Mg ha−1 as an N source or growing a winter-season cover crop such as hairy vetch or wheat for continuous 16 years did not significantly increase soil organic matter or water extractable organic soil C. Annual application of chicken litter at 4.4 metric tons (Mg) ha–1 for 16 years increased soil nitrate-nitrogen (NO3−-N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) contents by 92%, 400%, 134%, 20%, 43%, 206%, and 430% in 0 - 15 cm depth compared with their initial soil values, respectively, extracted with Haney H3A-2 (2 g L–1 lithium citrate + 0.6 g L–1 citric acid + 0.4 g L–1 malic acid + 0.4 g L–1 oxalic acid) solution. The increases enhanced soil supply of these nutrients to following crops, but also increased the risks of losing them to the environment. Hairy vetch caused higher H3A extracted soil manganese (Mn) content than fallow and chicken litter in 0 - 60 cm. There was no significant difference in 1-day Solvita respiration, water extractable organic C and N, health score, moisture, organic matter, pH, CEC, or population of earthworm of soil among continuous soybean, corn-soybean, and soybean-cotton in any soil depth. Another major finding of this study was that continuous soybean exerted no adverse effect on soil health relative to the commonly used corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean and soybean-cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) rotations under no-tillage after 16 years. To mitigate the risks of nutrient runoff and leaching from long-term chicken litter application, we recommend reducing litter application rates and integrating cover crops into crop rotations to enhance nutrient cycling and reduce environmental impacts.展开更多
Rising atmospheric CO2 levels pose many challenges to global climate, thus to all forms of life including plants. The impact of elevated CO2 on plant growth and development and the nutritional quality in relation to m...Rising atmospheric CO2 levels pose many challenges to global climate, thus to all forms of life including plants. The impact of elevated CO2 on plant growth and development and the nutritional quality in relation to major nutrients in many crops has been explored extensively. However, information on the elevated CO2 effects on the health-promoting phytochemicals in food crops is rather limited. Major nutrients in food crops including protein, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc and other micronutrients in many food crops are known to be suppressed at elevated CO2 levels. Elevated CO2 increases carbohydrate accumulation but decreases nitrogen accumulation in plants thus affecting their C-N ratio. A number of studies show that high C-N ratio and nitrogen limiting conditions in plants can result in the accumulation of carbon-based secondary metabolites, many of which are health-promoting phytochemicals and allelochemicals involved in plants’ defense against pathogens and herbivory. Although the results from these studies are variable, it can be concluded that while elevated CO2 is known to suppress the content of major nutrients, it may actually have a favorable impact on the accumulation of carbon-based phytochemicals in food crops.展开更多
It is ordinarily common for forage production in southern Kyushu to adopt a double cropping system, composed of summer forage crops (e.g. maize and sorghum) cultivated from late March to early September, and winter gr...It is ordinarily common for forage production in southern Kyushu to adopt a double cropping system, composed of summer forage crops (e.g. maize and sorghum) cultivated from late March to early September, and winter grass crops (e.g. Italian ryegrass (IR) and oat) from mid-October to the following May. However, if high total digestible nutrient (TDN) production is aimed to introduce winter cereal crops (e.g. wheat and barley) as a replacement of IR, it is necessary to cultivate tropical grass, which has a rapid-growth potential with high crude protein (CP) concentration in a switching period between summer and winter crops. In this study, teff (Eragrostis tef) was tried to evaluate as a candidate crop in the switching period. Yield and quality of two types of triple forage cropping system were determined under maize-teff-barley and maize-teff-wheat in the first and second year, respectively. Compared with the normal year, summer temperature was higher and summer and winter precipitations were lower in the first year, while no climatic disorder was observed in the second year. Even though dry matter yield of teff was minimal in the present system due to weed damage, CP concentration was the highest among crops and TDN yields of the present cropping system tended to be higher in the second year with no drought stress than in the conventional maize-IR system in the region.展开更多
Heterotrimeric G protein serves as a central hub in plant signal transduction,playing a pivotal role in integrating endogenous developmental signals and external environmental cues.While significant advances have been...Heterotrimeric G protein serves as a central hub in plant signal transduction,playing a pivotal role in integrating endogenous developmental signals and external environmental cues.While significant advances have been made in understanding G protein signaling mechanisms in model plants such as Arabidopsis and major crops like rice and maize,the precise regulatory roles in growth,development,and adaptation in horticultural crops are still poorly understood.In this review,we systematically summarize recent advances in uncovering both conserved and species-specific regulatory mechanisms of G protein signaling across diverse plant species.We also highlight key discoveries on the crosstalk between G protein-mediated pathways and other signaling cascades,such as hormone signaling,transcriptional regulation,and stress response networks.Finally,we discuss the potential applications of G protein signaling research in future crop improvement,offering new perspectives for advancing sustainable horticultural production.展开更多
Production of synthetic antibiotics has rapidly expanded to meet the increasing demands in human healthcare,animal husbandry,and agriculture.Meanwhile,however,substantial quantities of untreated antibiotics entered th...Production of synthetic antibiotics has rapidly expanded to meet the increasing demands in human healthcare,animal husbandry,and agriculture.Meanwhile,however,substantial quantities of untreated antibiotics entered the agricultural environment through animal waste,reclaimed wastewater,or biosolids.The existence of drugs in farmland will not only have adverse effects on plant growth and productivity but also lead to antibiotics accumulation and drug resistance.To address this emerging drug contamination issue,this article conducts an indepth and comprehensive analysis of the research on antibiotic pollution in cropland and crops within 20 years.In this article,the bioaccumulation mechanisms of antibiotic in crops were systematically analyzed and discussed,with emphasis on the effects of important influencing factors such as the physico-chemical properties of antibiotics,cultivation environment,and plant morphology.Additionally,this article briefly discusses the various antibiotic extraction and analytical methods,as well as calculation indexes on human risk assessment.At last,the author further analyzed the environmental challenge of antibiotic resistance and provided insights into pollution remediation pathways for future research.展开更多
Seed size is an important agronomic trait determining crop yield.Identifying key genes involved in seed size regulation and elucidating their molecular mechanisms are of great significance for crop breeding.Recent stu...Seed size is an important agronomic trait determining crop yield.Identifying key genes involved in seed size regulation and elucidating their molecular mechanisms are of great significance for crop breeding.Recent studies in crops have uncovered numerous genes that control seed size and weight,many of which function by modulating phytohormone biosynthesis,metabolism,or signaling pathways.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the genetic and molecular mechanisms by which phytohormones regulate seed size and weight and their cross-talks in modulating seed size.We highlight the functional conservation and divergence of homologous genes that control seed size across species.A particular focus is placed on those genes that have promising potential for yield improvement.Finally,we discuss current challenges in phytohormone regulation of seed size and molecular design breeding strategies for translating this knowledge into crop improvement.展开更多
Plants undergo dynamic morphological changes in response to fluctuating light conditions.Despite significant progress in elucidating the mechanisms of light signal transduction,the precise influence of light on the de...Plants undergo dynamic morphological changes in response to fluctuating light conditions.Despite significant progress in elucidating the mechanisms of light signal transduction,the precise influence of light on the development and regulation of shoot architecture remains a central research question.Studies focusing on model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana and rice suggest light modulates shoot architecture through intricate regulatory networks.However,the molecular mechanisms governing the diverse effects of light on horticultural crops are still poorly understood.This review primarily focuses on horticultural crops,integrating research on model plants,including Arabidopsis and rice,to provide an overview of the regulatory mechanisms of light signals in plant architectural development.It also explores the prospects for manipulating light environments in greenhouse management strategies.展开更多
The article examines the impact of increased aridization of the territory due to an increase in air temperature,reduced precipitation,and the formation of moisture deficiency on grain yields in Northern Kazakhstan.The...The article examines the impact of increased aridization of the territory due to an increase in air temperature,reduced precipitation,and the formation of moisture deficiency on grain yields in Northern Kazakhstan.The most important result of the work is the revealed inverse relationship between grain yields and the temperature of the growing season:low-yielding years are associated with high temperatures and droughts,and high-yielding years are associated with lower temperatures and an optimal ratio of heat and moisture.The novelty of this study is the use of the method of hydrological and climatic calculations in identifying the nature of temperature variability and precipitation in the territory of Northern Kazakhstan for the modern period(1991–2020)compared with the base period(1961–1990).At all the studied meteorological stations,there is a tendency for the average annual temperature and the temperature of the growing season to increase:in the forest-steppe zone with an average warming intensity of 0.3–0.33℃ per decade;in the steppe zone by 0.2–0.43℃ per decade;and in the growing season by 0.2–0.7℃ per decade.The air temperature in the steppe zone is rising more intensively than in the forest-steppe zone,and precipitation in the forest-steppe zone has changed more than in the steppe zone.An increase in the average annual air temperature during the growing season(May–August),combined with a shortage of atmospheric moisture or a constant amount of it,led to an increase in the degree of aridization of the territory,an increase in the frequency of droughts in the steppe zone of Northern Kazakhstan.展开更多
文摘Livestock rearing is one of the major occupations in India and is making significant contribution to the country GDP. The regional and seasonal variations in the teperature and rainfall distribution have been the major factors influencing the economy of a region. It is a matter of serious concern that out of 11 districts of central India, 9 districts are showing increasing trend in maximum temperature with a rate of 0.01°C to 0.15°C/year. A significant long-term decreasing trend (Slope = -4.26) was found in annual rainfall series at Jhansi. At Jhansi, moderate to severe drought occurs once in five years. But in the last decade, 7 years experienced moderate to disastrous drought in Jhansi region, wherein rainfall deficiency ranged between 40% and 60% from normal value. Of special mention was the year, 2006, which experienced a worst drought ever recorded for this region. Studies related to crop simulation model was carried out for fodder sorghum and its application for agronomic management and assessing the impact of climate change. Crop modeling studies on forage sorghum (C4) and cowpea (C3) showed increased dry matter biomass by 3% in sorghum but more prominent in cowpea by 46% under elevated CO2 from 330 ppm to 770 ppm. The interaction study of enhanced CO2 and temperature showed prominent negative impact on yields of both the crops. Evapotranspiration and crop coefficient (Kc) of several fodder crops i.e. berseem, lucerne, oat, sorghum, teosinte, maize + cowpea, guinea + berseem were worked out. In berseem, the highest Kc (1.81) was found during 2nd cutting followed by 3rd and 4th cuts. Estimates on irrigation scheduling for the guinea grass + berseem showed that the cropping system requires 7 irrigations at an interval ranging from 13 to 30 days to fulfill the 567.6 mm of water per season as net irrigation under mar soil (black) type whose actual water holding capacity (AWHC) is 175 mm. Similarly, if the cropping system is grown under kabar (AHWC = 140 mm) soil, then it requires nine irrigation with a total water requirement of 591.5 mm at an interval ranging from 10 to 24 days. For integrated pest management (IPM) scheme of lucerne, degree day based model was developed to monitor the lucerne weevil population in central region.
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 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.
文摘Different crops need different kinds of nutrients. In this paper,formula of special fertilizer for common field crops in Guangxi is explored from the angle of grain crops,fruits,vegetables,sugar crops,oil crops,etc.,and corresponding production equipment and methods are provided,which could convenience for agricultural precision fertilization and theoretical basis and technical reference for cost saving and efficiency increasing of fertilizer.
文摘From a very early period,the Chinese already vaguely sensed that the cultivation of crops required an intricate system.The third century BCE work Master Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals(Lüshi chunqiu吕氏春秋)states that crops were fed by heaven and raised by earth,and that harvests depended on the farmers who worked the land.Therefore,these three elements,that is,heaven,earth,and farmers,together with crops,jointly constituted a complex community.According to the ancient Chinese,moving a crop away from its native place could bring huge benefits to the new area to which the crop was moved.When writing and compiling Fundamentals of Agriculture and Sericulture(Nongsang jiyao农桑辑要),the officials of the Agricultural Extension Bureau司农司in the Yuan dynasty(1271–1368)excitedly noted the changes brought about by non-native crops to the agriculture of the Central Plains of China中原:“Ramie(Boehmeria nivea)is a crop native to southern China,while cotton(Gossypium herbaceum)comes from the Western Regions西域.In recent years,nevertheless,ramie has been introduced to Henan,while cotton has started to be planted in Shaanxi.The two crops thrive and show no difference from local crops.Farmers in the two regions benefit a lot therefrom”(Agricultural Extension Bureau 1888,juan 2:21).
文摘Studies on peri urban farming in Zambia have not adequately tackled the issues pertaining to heavy metal contaminated wastewater irrigation farming. The study investigated heavy metal contamination of water, soils and crops at two peri urban areas in Zambia. Two study sites were New Farm Extension in Mufulira Town in the Copperbelt Province and Chilumba Gardens in Kafue Town in Lusaka Province. The heavy metals investigated were lead, copper, cobalt, nickel and chromium. These heavy metals were found to be higher than acceptable limits in wastewater used to irrigate crops and there are potential human health risks associated with consumption of heavy metal contaminated food crops which have implications on the livelihoods of people. Samples of water, soil and crops were collected and analysed for lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The data on heavy metals was analysed using mean, standard error and T-test. The results indicated that the levels of heavy metals in wastewater, soil and food crops were above acceptable limits at two study sites. It can be concluded that there was heavy metal contamination of wastewater, soil and food crops at the two peri-urban areas in Zambia. The study highlighted the actual levels of heavy metal contaminant uptake in food crops consumed by the peri urban population. The information from this study can be used by the relevant authorities to develop appropriate measures for monitoring and control of heavy metal contamination in wastewater irrigation farming systems in peri urban areas inZambia.
文摘Ability to modify plants at the genomic level by advanced molecular technology has enhanced the scope of improvements in plant traits attempted earlier through conventional breeding methods. Techniques such as genetic transformation have opened new vistas whereby functional genes, not commonly present in a particular species can be added from other species. The traits incorporated into the genetically engineered plants in the beginning were confined to those governed by dominant genes, e.g. insecticide resistance and herbicide tolerance but advancements with time now also permit the transfer of complexly inherited traits such as drought and cold tolerance. Transgenic technology is also useful in understanding gene expression and metabolic pathways which can then be used to harness the full genomic potential of the plant. This review presents a narrative on development of transgenics and their use for the improvement of field, industrial and pharmaceuticals crops. In addition, discussions are made on current status on genetically modified crops, hurdles to genetic engineering, overcoming strategies and future scope.
文摘S?o Paulo State is the main sugar cane producer and these agricultural activities are carried out in predominantly sandy soils, which require large amounts of phosphate fertilizers and amendments. This work evaluated the fertilizer-effect on the Al, Ba, Fe, Mn and Ni released in a watershed with influence of sugar cane crops in the S?o Paulo State, Brazil, namely the Monjolo Grande Stream basin. Five surface water sampling campaigns were carried out at the mouth of Monjolo Grande Stream in February, April, June, September and November 2010, characterizing the following parameters: discharge, pH, temperature, electric conductivity, dissolved oxygen and total and dissolved concentrations of Al, Ba, Fe, Mn and Ni. Approximately 99% of Al and Fe are transported annually in association with suspended sediments carried to the Monjolo Grande Stream by sheet erosion. The results also demonstrated that the increasing Al, Ba, Fe and Mn concentrations dissolved in the waters of the Monjolo Grande Stream basin in the wet season are associated to phosphate fertilizers and amendments that are used extensively in agrichemical activities. However, with the current application rates, there has been no increase in the dissolved concentrations of these metals at levels that could pose risks to human health.
文摘The present review critically examines the role of neglected and underutilized crops(NUCs)in enhancing the resilience of South Asian cropping systems and diets in the context of climate change and nutritional challenges.This analysis reveals that integrating NUCs,such as millets,sorghums,amaranth,and indigenous legumes,into existing cropping systems can significantly improve the climate resilience,dietary diversity,and ecological sustainability of the food systems.These crops exhibit superior tolerance to abiotic stress and offer higher nutritional density compared to staple cereals,such as rice and wheat.However,their adoption faces challenges,including limited research investment,fragmented value chains,etc.We further identify that complementary cropping strategies and climate-smart agriculture(CSA)practices can optimize resource use while boosting smallholder farmers’income.NUCs are pivotal for the transformation of exist cropping systems towards nutrition-sensitive and climate-resilient agricultural and food systems.Strategic integration of NUCs can simultaneously address food insecurity,biodiversity loss,and rural poverty.Yet,unlocking their potential requires coordinated efforts in genetic improvement,market development,and policy frameworks tailored to regional contexts.This synthesis provides a comprehensive roadmap for policy-makers,researchers,and farmers to leverage NUCs as“Future Smart Food”.By bridging agronomic,nutritional,and socioeconomic perspectives,this study highlights the transformative potential of NUCs in achieving Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)across South Asian countries.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2018YFA0606001)the Ozone Formation Mechanism and Control Strategies Project of Research Center of Eco-Environmental Sciences+3 种基金Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.RCEES-CYZX-2020)the Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42171463)H.T.and S.P.were supported by the US National Science Foundation(No.1903722)Andrew Carnegie Fellowship(No.G-F-19–56910).
文摘Surface ozone(O_(3))pollution showed a continuous increasing trend during the recent decades in China,posing an increasing threat to food security.A wide range of yield reductions have been reported and thus more studies are needed to narrow down the uncertainty resulting from spatiotemporal accuracy of O_(3) metrics and extrapolation methods.Based on a high spatial resolution(0.1°)hourly surface O_(3) data,here we analyzed the spatiotemporal O_(3) pollution patterns and impacts on yield,production and economic losses for wheat,rice,and maize in China during 2005–2020.The accumulated O_(3) exposure over a threshold of 40 ppb(AOT40)increased by 10%during 2005–2019,and a decrease of 5.56%was observed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 lockdowns.Rising O_(3) pollution reduced national level wheat,rice and maize yields by 14.51%±0.43%,11.10%±0.6%,and 3.99%±0.11%,respectively.A Business-As-Usual projection suggested that the relative yield loss(RYL)would potentially reach 8%–18%at the national scale by 2050 if no emission control is implemented.COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 led to significantly reduced RYL for maize(0.52%)and rice(2.17%)but not for wheat(0.11%),with the largest reduction(1.88%–9.4%)in North China Plain,highlighting the potential benefits of emission control.Our findings provided robust evidence that rising O_(3) pollution has significantly affected China’s crop yields,production and economic losses,underscoring the urgent need to curb O_(3) pollution to safeguard food security,particularly in densely populated and industrialized regions.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFD2100205)the Fujian Province Science and Technology Plan Project,China(2023N3008).
文摘With the rapid growth of the global population and the increasing demand for healthier diets,improving the nutrient utilization efficiency of staple food crops has become a critical scientific and industrial chal-lenge,prompting innovation in food processing technologies.This review introduces first the common nutritional challenges in the processing of staple food crops,followed by the comprehensive examination of research aiming to enhance the nutritional quality of staple food crop-based foods through innovative processing technologies,including microwave(MW),pulsed electric field(PEF),ultrasound,modern fer-mentation technology,and enzyme technology.Additionally,soybean processing is used as an example to underscore the importance of integrating innovative processing technologies for optimizing nutrient utilization in staple food crops.Although these innovative processing technologies have demonstrated a significant potential to improve nutrient utilization efficiency and enhance the overall nutritional pro-file of staple food crop-based food products,their current limitations must be acknowledged and addressed in future research.Fortunately,advancements in science and technology will facilitate pro-gress in food processing,enabling both the improvement of existing techniques as well as the develop-ment of entirely novel methodologies.This work aims to enhance the understanding of food practitioners on the way processing technologies may optimize nutrient utilization,thereby fostering innovation in food processing research and synergistic multi-technological strategies,ultimately providing valuable references to address global food security challenges.
文摘Identification of management practices that can improve soil health is critical to improving the sustainability of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production. The objective of this study was to examine the long-term effects of continuous soybean, corn-soybean, and soybean-cotton rotations with chicken litter and cover crops (hairy vetch, wheat, fallow) on soil health parameters, including nutrient accumulation and soil organic matter dynamics under a split plot design. The depth intervals of soil sampling were 0 - 15, 15 - 30, 30 - 60, and 60 - 90 cm. Chicken litter resulted in 62.1% and 32.8% higher water extractable organic soil N content than fallow and wheat, respectively, in the surface 0 - 15 cm of soil only. However, there was no significant difference in 1-day Solvita respiration, water extractable organic C, C/N ratio, health score, moisture, earthworm, organic matter, pH, or CEC of soil among fallow, hairy vetch, chicken litter, and wheat regardless of soil depth. Unexpectedly, annual application of chicken litter at 4.4 Mg ha−1 as an N source or growing a winter-season cover crop such as hairy vetch or wheat for continuous 16 years did not significantly increase soil organic matter or water extractable organic soil C. Annual application of chicken litter at 4.4 metric tons (Mg) ha–1 for 16 years increased soil nitrate-nitrogen (NO3−-N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) contents by 92%, 400%, 134%, 20%, 43%, 206%, and 430% in 0 - 15 cm depth compared with their initial soil values, respectively, extracted with Haney H3A-2 (2 g L–1 lithium citrate + 0.6 g L–1 citric acid + 0.4 g L–1 malic acid + 0.4 g L–1 oxalic acid) solution. The increases enhanced soil supply of these nutrients to following crops, but also increased the risks of losing them to the environment. Hairy vetch caused higher H3A extracted soil manganese (Mn) content than fallow and chicken litter in 0 - 60 cm. There was no significant difference in 1-day Solvita respiration, water extractable organic C and N, health score, moisture, organic matter, pH, CEC, or population of earthworm of soil among continuous soybean, corn-soybean, and soybean-cotton in any soil depth. Another major finding of this study was that continuous soybean exerted no adverse effect on soil health relative to the commonly used corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean and soybean-cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) rotations under no-tillage after 16 years. To mitigate the risks of nutrient runoff and leaching from long-term chicken litter application, we recommend reducing litter application rates and integrating cover crops into crop rotations to enhance nutrient cycling and reduce environmental impacts.
文摘Rising atmospheric CO2 levels pose many challenges to global climate, thus to all forms of life including plants. The impact of elevated CO2 on plant growth and development and the nutritional quality in relation to major nutrients in many crops has been explored extensively. However, information on the elevated CO2 effects on the health-promoting phytochemicals in food crops is rather limited. Major nutrients in food crops including protein, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc and other micronutrients in many food crops are known to be suppressed at elevated CO2 levels. Elevated CO2 increases carbohydrate accumulation but decreases nitrogen accumulation in plants thus affecting their C-N ratio. A number of studies show that high C-N ratio and nitrogen limiting conditions in plants can result in the accumulation of carbon-based secondary metabolites, many of which are health-promoting phytochemicals and allelochemicals involved in plants’ defense against pathogens and herbivory. Although the results from these studies are variable, it can be concluded that while elevated CO2 is known to suppress the content of major nutrients, it may actually have a favorable impact on the accumulation of carbon-based phytochemicals in food crops.
文摘It is ordinarily common for forage production in southern Kyushu to adopt a double cropping system, composed of summer forage crops (e.g. maize and sorghum) cultivated from late March to early September, and winter grass crops (e.g. Italian ryegrass (IR) and oat) from mid-October to the following May. However, if high total digestible nutrient (TDN) production is aimed to introduce winter cereal crops (e.g. wheat and barley) as a replacement of IR, it is necessary to cultivate tropical grass, which has a rapid-growth potential with high crude protein (CP) concentration in a switching period between summer and winter crops. In this study, teff (Eragrostis tef) was tried to evaluate as a candidate crop in the switching period. Yield and quality of two types of triple forage cropping system were determined under maize-teff-barley and maize-teff-wheat in the first and second year, respectively. Compared with the normal year, summer temperature was higher and summer and winter precipitations were lower in the first year, while no climatic disorder was observed in the second year. Even though dry matter yield of teff was minimal in the present system due to weed damage, CP concentration was the highest among crops and TDN yields of the present cropping system tended to be higher in the second year with no drought stress than in the conventional maize-IR system in the region.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.32172650,32430092)the Starry Night Science Fund of Zhejiang University Shanghai Institute for Advanced Study(Grant No.SN-ZJU-SIAS-0011)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(Grant No.226-2024-00119)the Innovative Development of Horticulture Discipline of Zhejiang University(Grant No.B231220.0005-25).
文摘Heterotrimeric G protein serves as a central hub in plant signal transduction,playing a pivotal role in integrating endogenous developmental signals and external environmental cues.While significant advances have been made in understanding G protein signaling mechanisms in model plants such as Arabidopsis and major crops like rice and maize,the precise regulatory roles in growth,development,and adaptation in horticultural crops are still poorly understood.In this review,we systematically summarize recent advances in uncovering both conserved and species-specific regulatory mechanisms of G protein signaling across diverse plant species.We also highlight key discoveries on the crosstalk between G protein-mediated pathways and other signaling cascades,such as hormone signaling,transcriptional regulation,and stress response networks.Finally,we discuss the potential applications of G protein signaling research in future crop improvement,offering new perspectives for advancing sustainable horticultural production.
文摘Production of synthetic antibiotics has rapidly expanded to meet the increasing demands in human healthcare,animal husbandry,and agriculture.Meanwhile,however,substantial quantities of untreated antibiotics entered the agricultural environment through animal waste,reclaimed wastewater,or biosolids.The existence of drugs in farmland will not only have adverse effects on plant growth and productivity but also lead to antibiotics accumulation and drug resistance.To address this emerging drug contamination issue,this article conducts an indepth and comprehensive analysis of the research on antibiotic pollution in cropland and crops within 20 years.In this article,the bioaccumulation mechanisms of antibiotic in crops were systematically analyzed and discussed,with emphasis on the effects of important influencing factors such as the physico-chemical properties of antibiotics,cultivation environment,and plant morphology.Additionally,this article briefly discusses the various antibiotic extraction and analytical methods,as well as calculation indexes on human risk assessment.At last,the author further analyzed the environmental challenge of antibiotic resistance and provided insights into pollution remediation pathways for future research.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,China(XDB1090000 to S.J.)the National Key Research and Development Program of China,China(2021YFF1000202 and 2022YFF1002903 to Y.L.).
文摘Seed size is an important agronomic trait determining crop yield.Identifying key genes involved in seed size regulation and elucidating their molecular mechanisms are of great significance for crop breeding.Recent studies in crops have uncovered numerous genes that control seed size and weight,many of which function by modulating phytohormone biosynthesis,metabolism,or signaling pathways.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the genetic and molecular mechanisms by which phytohormones regulate seed size and weight and their cross-talks in modulating seed size.We highlight the functional conservation and divergence of homologous genes that control seed size across species.A particular focus is placed on those genes that have promising potential for yield improvement.Finally,we discuss current challenges in phytohormone regulation of seed size and molecular design breeding strategies for translating this knowledge into crop improvement.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.32330094,U21A20233,323B2057)the Starry Night Science Fund of Zhejiang University Shanghai Institute for Advanced Study(Grant No.SN-ZJUSIAS-0011).
文摘Plants undergo dynamic morphological changes in response to fluctuating light conditions.Despite significant progress in elucidating the mechanisms of light signal transduction,the precise influence of light on the development and regulation of shoot architecture remains a central research question.Studies focusing on model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana and rice suggest light modulates shoot architecture through intricate regulatory networks.However,the molecular mechanisms governing the diverse effects of light on horticultural crops are still poorly understood.This review primarily focuses on horticultural crops,integrating research on model plants,including Arabidopsis and rice,to provide an overview of the regulatory mechanisms of light signals in plant architectural development.It also explores the prospects for manipulating light environments in greenhouse management strategies.
文摘The article examines the impact of increased aridization of the territory due to an increase in air temperature,reduced precipitation,and the formation of moisture deficiency on grain yields in Northern Kazakhstan.The most important result of the work is the revealed inverse relationship between grain yields and the temperature of the growing season:low-yielding years are associated with high temperatures and droughts,and high-yielding years are associated with lower temperatures and an optimal ratio of heat and moisture.The novelty of this study is the use of the method of hydrological and climatic calculations in identifying the nature of temperature variability and precipitation in the territory of Northern Kazakhstan for the modern period(1991–2020)compared with the base period(1961–1990).At all the studied meteorological stations,there is a tendency for the average annual temperature and the temperature of the growing season to increase:in the forest-steppe zone with an average warming intensity of 0.3–0.33℃ per decade;in the steppe zone by 0.2–0.43℃ per decade;and in the growing season by 0.2–0.7℃ per decade.The air temperature in the steppe zone is rising more intensively than in the forest-steppe zone,and precipitation in the forest-steppe zone has changed more than in the steppe zone.An increase in the average annual air temperature during the growing season(May–August),combined with a shortage of atmospheric moisture or a constant amount of it,led to an increase in the degree of aridization of the territory,an increase in the frequency of droughts in the steppe zone of Northern Kazakhstan.
