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The intensification of Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. (black-grass) is becoming a major problem due to its growing resistance to a broad spectrum of acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate the resistance level of a black-grass population to iodosulfuron plus mesosulfuron and to identify the underlying resistance mechanism. Dose-response studies revealed that the resistance population is 22 times less sensitive to iodosulfuron plus mesosulfuron than the susceptible population. The probable resistance mechanism identified was the target-site substitution of proline (Pro) by threonine (Thr) at the 197^th position of the ALS enzyme. Furthermore, whole plant response bioassay experiments demonstrated that this population is also resistant to pinoxaden, chlorotoluron, diflufenican plus pendimethalin plus chlorotoluron, fenoxaprop and flufenacet plus diflufenican. In summary, the current findings recommend using alternative herbicides in integrated weed management to interrupt the possible evolution of herbicide resistance in these species.

Changing political demands requires the search for alternatives to glyphosate, which has often been used in the stale seedbed method. In three field trials between 2020 and 2023, three electrophysical treatments (XPower System, Zasso®) differing in speed, three mechanical treatments (disc harrow, rotary harrow, cultivator) and three chemical treatments (glyphosate, maleic hydrazide, pelargonic acid + maleic hydrazide) were evaluated concerning the efficacy and economic performance in stale seedbed method in Alopecurus myosuroides control. Process costs for each treatment were calculated. Furthermore, the maximum investment costs for the XPower system were calculated to be on the same level as the other treatments. In all treatments, the density of A. myosuroides in autumn was significantly lower than in the control. In general, the fewest plants and heads were found in the chemical treatments. Despite the lower plant density, the electrophysical method did not show a significant difference in the number of heads compared to the untreated control, especially at higher speeds. Calculated process costs ranged between
40 €/ha (glyphosate) and 430 €/ha (pelargonic acid + maleic hydrazide). To be economically comparable with the other treatments, the investment of the XPower should be at maximum between – 219 000 € (glyphosate) and 300 000 € (pelargonic acid + maleic acid), depending on the driving speed. In a holistic view, electrophysical control, as well as pelargonic acid and maleic hydrazide as glyphosate alternatives in the stale seedbed method, are not suitable. A stale seedbed with mechanical control of A. myosuroides is recommended.

Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip. is one of the most economically important and yield-reducing weeds in cereals in Europe. Random and systematic monitoring of this weed might provide an early warning for the farmers and slow down the pace of the evolution of herbicide resistance. This study aimed to identify resistant populations of T. inodorum in the Czech Republic and elucidate their possible resistance mechanism/s. Monitoring and screening of T. inodorum for herbicide resistance against acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors and synthetic auxins was carried out. Greenhouse experiments and molecular-genetics studies were conducted to characterize the resistance. While all the tested populations were found to be susceptible to synthetic auxins, two populations (MATIN 2 and MATIN 4) were found to be resistant against tribenuron (ALS inhibitor). However, their cross-resistance to florasulam was not confirmed. The resistance mechanism detected was the target-site substitution of Pro197 at the ALS gene. The two populations carried different point mutations: Pro197Ser (MATIN 2) and Pro197Gln (MATIN 4). This is the first study in the Czech Republic to identify the survival mechanism in T. inodorum for resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Our results from this research will provide basis for resistance management in T. inodorum in the Czech Republic and other countries.

Alluvial soils have high importance for both agriculture and biodiversity; however, these soils can also contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions including carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄). In this study, we examined GHG fluxes of three grassland and two cropland sites with alluvial soils in Abava river floodplain, Latvia (Europe). Soil CO₂ fluxes representing heterotrophic respiration (R_het) were determined using a portable CO₂ gas analyser, while ecosystem respiration (R_eco), soil CH₄ and N₂O fluxes were quantified using a manual closed chamber method combined with gas chromatography. Most alluvial soils acted as source of GHG emissions with the exception of two grassland site where annual CH₄ exchange reflected a slight CH₄ removal from the atmosphere. Mean total GHG emissions (sum of net CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O) were 7.0 ± 3.3 t CO₂ eq./ha/year in grassland sites and 14.5 ± 4.8 t CO₂ eq./ha/year in cropland sites. Net CO₂ contributed the most to total annual GHG emissions with mean values of 6.2 ± 3.3 t CO₂/ha/year in grassland and 13.6 ± 4.8 t CO₂/ha/year in cropland sites. Although the number of study sites is limited, the results support that, in the context of climate change mitigation, grassland represents a more climate-friendly type of floodplain land use than cropland in the hemiboreal region.

Covering hop waste composting piles with semipermeable membrane after the thermophilic phase until spring, when the compost was ready to use, reduced the volume of leachate and leached nutrients amounts significantly; there was a negligible amount of leachate and low amount of leached nutrients during winter and spring at all treatments. At treatments with additives (biochar, preparation effective microorganisms) and larger percent of particles of 2–5 cm, it was indicated that composting pile should probably also be covered in the first months of composting and be opened only when turning/mixing it; on the other hand, the amount of leachate was much lower in a pile without additives and particles of 2–10 cm by the time of covering (2.2- and 2.5-fold less respectively) and the amount of leached nutrients as well. All treatments produced compost without a bad smell, had a total nitrogen content greater than 2%, could be considered as mature (the C : N ratio was below 20) and stable, and the biomass hygienisation threshold was reached. However, there were some significant differences among them. The compost of the pile with added biochar and starting hop waste biomass particles of 2–5 cm was considered phytotoxic (germination index of radish was 31%); also, its other results were less promising in comparison to other treatments. The pile with no additive and the starting particles of waste hop biomass 2 to 10 cm, mixed properly related to regular temperature measurements in the thermophilic phase, reached the best results; the leachate amount and leaked nutrients amount were significantly the lowest, while the final compost contained significantly higher amount of nutrients and had the highest germination index.

This study investigated the potential risks of cadmium (Cd) toxicity in buffaloes grazing on forages that were cultivated in soils irrigated by various sources of wastewater. The absorption of trace metals (TM) by plants and their subsequent entry into the food chain pose a significant danger to grazing animals through the accumulation of contaminated fodder. The mean concentration of Cd in the water ranged from 0.18–1.78 mg/L, in the soil 0.63 to 1.87 mg/kg, in the forage 0.20 to 1.32 mg/kg, and in the blood 0.26 to 1.98 mg/L. Among all three sites, canal water (CW Site I), groundwater (GW Site II), and sewage water (SW Site III), the concentration factor (CF) values were below the threshold of 1 (CF < 1), indicating the nominal environmental concern regarding Cd contents in the soil-plant interface. In addition, a prominent variation was noticed in the transfer factor (TF) of Cd across different sites, with the highest TF observed in Avena sativa L. at SW Site III (0.8) and the lowest in Pennisetum glaucum L. at CW Site I (0.27). Furthermore, the hazard quotient (HQ) exhibited a substantial fluctuation, ranging from 0.39 to 2.6, reflecting varying levels of potential health risks associated with Cd exposure. The outcomes of the current investigation suggested that the prominent increase in Cd levels was recorded at sampling site SW Site III due to continuous wastewater irrigation. Prolonged exposure and increased Cd absorption in buffaloes grazing at these sites could have harmful long-term effects on their health. The correlation analysis between Cd concentrations in water, soil, forage, and blood showed a positive but non-significant relationship for water-soil, soil-forage, and forage-blood interactions. This highlights the need for further research to assess the long-term implications of wastewater irrigation on heavy metal accumulation in livestock.

This study evaluated a novel slow-release copper fertiliser (soileos Cu) as a sustainable alternative to conventional copper sources for improving wheat yield and nutrient use efficiency. Traditional Cu fertilisers are often limited by rapid leaching and low efficiency, especially on sandy soils with low organic matter, contributing to environmental pollution. They also exhibit low plant-use efficiency due to strong adsorption and immobilisation in soils rich in organic matter and clay minerals, thereby reducing copper availability in the soil solution and contributing to environmental pollution. A multi-scale approach was employed, including laboratory incubation, greenhouse experiments, and multi-site field trials. Copper release was quantified in water over 30 days. Greenhouse experiments compared soileos Cu with copper sulfate (CuSO₄) across multiple application rates, assessing grain yield, biomass, spike count, chlorophyll index (SPAD), and tissue and grain nutrient concentrations. Field trials were conducted at four sites in Canada and the United States with contrasting soil Cu availability. Soileos Cu exhibited controlled, non-linear Cu release with substantially reduced leaching compared to CuSO₄. In greenhouse conditions, soileos Cu achieved maximum grain yield, biomass, and spike number at 25–26% lower Cu application rates than CuSO₄, indicating higher nutrient use efficiency. Field trials confirmed that yield responses were strongly dependent on baseline soil Cu levels, with the greatest yield increase (up to 13.3%) observed at a Cu-deficient site. Overall, soileos Cu provides an effective and environmentally responsible strategy for improving Cu nutrition and wheat productivity, particularly under Cu-limiting conditions.

The ecological and human health risks of heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) in soils around tungsten (W) mining sites have often disregarded the presence of W. In this study, we aimed to investigate the concentrations of 10 HMs (including W and other accompanying elements) in 18 agricultural soil samples obtained around a W mining site in southern Jiangxi, China. Furthermore, we determined the contamination status, source identification, and ecological and health risks of HMs in soils. Our findings revealed that HMs were extensively accumulated in soils within the study area, with the highest mean concentrations of W found. W concentrations were above background values at all sites. Multivariate analysis revealed that W mining activities, including extracting and transporting W ore, were the primary source of HMs in the soil (61.40%). The ecological risk assessment revealed that the potential ecological risk across the survey area exhibited a high risk, and the cadmium (Cd) and W should be prioritised as control pollutants for soils around the W mine site. The human health risk assessment displayed that 73.43% of children with an unacceptable non-carcinogenic risk, and W contributed the most to the overall non-carcinogenic risk (42.32%), followed by Cd and arsenic (As). In addition, 22.03% of children and 13.4% of adults were under a significant carcinogenic risk. Overall, our findings emphasise the importance of considering element W in future studies investigating the contamination of HMs around W mining areas. As such, we calculated a safe limit value for element W in soil (141.01 mg/kg) to facilitate the conservation and development of soils in W mining areas in China. Our study provides valuable information for pollution prevention and soil contamination risk mitigation in W mining areas.

The study aimed at the isolation of microorganisms from aminopyralid (AP)-contaminated soil, evaluation of their ability to degrade AP, and examination of the effects of AP on microbial growth. Geotrichum candidum, Cladosporium herbarum, Candida subhashii, and Paenarthrobacter nicotinovorans were isolated and identified using enrichment. None of those strains were able to degrade 100 ppm AP within 2–3 weeks. In contrast, collection strains Pleurotus ostreatus ‘Spoppo’ and Bacillus velezensis FZB42 reduced AP concentration by 35.1% and 47.8%, respectively. Low sensitivity of growth to AP (400 ppm) on the malt-extract-agar medium was observed; inhibition values for C. herbarum and G. candidum were 52.4% and 22.8%, respectively, compared to 33.7% inhibition found with P. ostreatus ‘Spoppo’. Promotion of fungal growth was observed at low AP concentrations in the Czapek-Dox medium, the highest effect being in G. candidum. The growth promotion effect was confirmed with P. ostreatus ‘Spoppo’growing on wheat straw contaminated with Mustang Forte and Corello herbicides; total fruiting body mass yield increased 1.25- and 1.37-fold, respectively. The study offers insight into future strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of synthetic auxin herbicides.

Denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox), and ferric iron reduction coupled with anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Feammox) are the nitrogen removal pathways in natural ecosystems. In this study, the differences between these three nitrogen removal pathways in a Phragmites australis covered site (LW), artificial grassland covered site (CD), poplar covered site (YD), and topsoil tillage after harvesting reed site (GD) in the Yinchuan Yellow River wetland were investigated using isotope tracing, metagenome, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) techniques. No ³⁰N₂ accumulation was detected in ¹⁵NH₄⁺ addition incubations, indicating that Feammox was weak in all sites, which is consistent with a low abundance of the Feammox functional bacteria Acidimiprobiaceae sp. A6. The denitrification rates were 0.36 (LW), 0.5 (CD), 0.76 (YD) and 0.12 (GD) mg N/kg/day. The Anammox rates were 0.18 (LW) and 0.26 (GD) mg N/kg/day; other sites did not detect Anammox rate. Denitrification was the dominant pathway except for the CD site. The YD site had the highest abundance of denitrification genes, which was consistent with the denitrification rate.

In the present study, a field establishment was initiated in 2018 with eight treatment conditions using biochar application rates of 0, 10, 20, or 30 t/ha and nitrogen application rates of 0 or 150 kg/ha. After two years, the impact of biochar on carbon-nitrogen distributions, soil aggregate stability, and wheat yields was then assessed. The predominant mechanical aggregates after two years were > 5 mm and 2–5 mm granular aggregates, with notable increases in the amounts of these aggregates following the application of biochar with or without nitrogen that coincided with an increase in soil aggregate mechanical stability. Relative to control conditions, aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric weight diameter (GMD) values rose by 17.6% and 24.3% for biochar with nitrogen treatment (N: 150 kg/ha; biochar: 20 t/ha), respectively. Biochar application alone and the application of both biochar and nitrogen fertiliser were associated with 6.4–20.2% and 20.7–42.7% increases in spring wheat yields, respectively. Overall, the results of these analyses highlight the value of applying biochar to improve soil quality and boost crop yields proximal to the study site. This study provided the scientific basis for the rational fertilisation and scientific management of biochar combined with nitrogen fertiliser in the irrigation area of Northern Xinjiang, China.

This work aims to differentiate the rural land of Slovakia in view of the possibility of effective sunflower growing. The differentiation is based on pedo-climatic and production-economic parameters. Soil categorisation took into account the correlation between the site properties (soil and climatic conditions) and the biological and agrotechnical requirements of the crops. Sunflower requirements were included in yield databases using software filters such that a given site property excluded or limited sunflower growing, which was reflected in predicted production. The prediction was subsequently interpolated into four suitability categories: soils unsuitable for sunflower growing, less suitable soils, suitable soils and very suitable soils. A map of categories of soil suitability for sunflower growing was created using a Geographic Information System on the distribution of soil parameters in Slovakia. According to our calculation in Slovakia, 18.8% of farmland is very suitable for sunflower growing, 24.9% is suitable, 16.6% is less suitable, and 39.7% is unsuitable for sunflower growing. These categories are characterised and specified in detail in the paper in terms of geographical, soil, climatic, production and economic parameters. The analysis of the actual sowing of sunflowers between 2018 and 2021 showed that 51% of the areas were located in very suitable soils, 32% in suitable, 10% in less suitable soils and 7% in unsuitable soils for cultivation.

In pursuit of a low-cost, pollution-free, and scalable technology for remediating heavy metal pollution in mining areas, this study examines a gold mining area with heavy metal pollution (Cd, Pb, and Hg) and employs soil replacement, biochar passivation, and a combination of hyperaccumulators for the remediation. Results show that both soil replacement and the application of biochar significantly reduce the effective content of these three heavy metals, with pig manure biochar demonstrating superior passivation effects on Pb and Hg compared to fruitwood biochar. Combining biochar with hyperaccumulators leads to better results than using either method alone. The combined approach achieved maximum reductions of 69.8, 70.1, and 56.0% for Cd, Pb, and Hg, respectively. The application of biochar improves the originally coarse soil structure, with maximum increases in organic carbon, available potassium, available phosphorus, and total nitrogen under different treatments being 6.26 times, 4.66 times, 4.04 times, and 3.21 times, respectively. Biochar anchors heavy metals around roots, while hyperaccumulators utilise their excellent stress-resistant physiological characteristics to thrive in nutrient-deficient soil enriched with biochar, thereby absorbing the heavy metals anchored by biochar. The synergy of biochar and hyperaccumulators enhances their individual effectiveness, showing promise for remediating polluted mining areas.

Manganese (Mn) is often underestimated in plant nutrition. Its availability to plants is influenced by several factors, which can lead to Mn deficiency or toxicity. The objective was to evaluate the transformation of soil Mn over 21 years in a long-term field experiment. Fertilising with (i) sewage sludge 1 (SS1); (ii) sewage sludge 3 (3 times higher nitrogen (N) dose, SS3); (iii) farmyard manure (FYM); (iv) mineral nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) and (v) mineral nitrogen in addition to straw (Nst) was studied to evaluate the transformations of Mn in soil using different extraction methods at the 5 locations. There was a general reduction in the pH during the experiment. Soil acidification caused by mineral N fertiliser increased the bioavailable Mn forms under NPK treatment. This Mn was mobilised from soil reserves, leading to depletion of Mn sources. Application of SS and FYM led to an increase in non-bioavailable Mn fractions, while the expected increase in biologically available Mn was not observed. As the high pH of soil limits Mn availability, foliar Mn application can be recommended for agricultural practice in high-pH soils. On the contrary, liming can be recommended for low-pH soil with high bioavailable Mn content to mitigate the risk of Mn toxicity.

Soil salinisation is a key determinant in soil fertility decline, exerting a direct negative impact on soil organic carbon. In the context of global warming, investigating the response mechanisms of soil organic carbon pools with varying salinity levels to climate change is essential for accurately assessing the carbon cycle and emission potential of degraded soils. Based on soil samples (B1–B6) collected along a coastal salinity gradient, indoor incubation experiments were conducted at 15 °C and 25 °C to characterise soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity (Q10). Double-exponential models were used to simulate soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralisation, characterising active and stable organic carbon pools. The results demonstrated that the Q₁₀ value of the stable organic carbon pool (7–8% of SOC mineralisation) was 103% higher than that of the active organic carbon pool (the initial 1% of SOC mineralisation). The Q₁₀ value of the stable organic carbon pool was 32.6% higher at the high-salinity sites (B1, B2) than at the low-salinity sites (B4, B5). Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen (TN), and total salt (TS) were key regulators of Q₁₀. The Q₁₀ of the active organic carbon pool correlated positively with SOC and TN but negatively with TS, whereas the stable pool showed the opposite trends. The stable organic carbon pool exhibits a salinity-amplified Q₁₀, implying that predictive models must account for this mechanism to avoid substantially underestimating carbon losses from degraded saline soils.

Rice paddy fields serve as an important source of stable food supply and a notable contributor to atmospheric methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Rice cultivar selection acts as a pivotal factor in regulating greenhouse gas (GHGs) of CH₄ and N₂O emissions from rice paddy fields. However, little is known about how different types of rice cultivars affect CH₄ and N₂O emissions. In the study, three types of rice cultivars, including Japonica-type Indica-Japonica hybrid rice (JHR: ZJY1578 and JHY5), Indica-type hybrid rice (IHR: ZZY8 and JFY2), and inbred rice (IR: J67 and XS121), were selected to evaluate differences in mitigating GHGs. Results showed that the total CH₄ and N₂O emissions of two Japonica-type Indica-Japonica hybrid rice cultivars were 49.81–60.01 kg/ha and 0.67–0.83 g/ha, respectively, which were lower than those of the other two rice cultivar types. The total equivalent of carbon dioxide emissions of CH₄ and N₂O (TCO₂-eq) of two Japonica hybrid rice significantly reduced by 16.7–46.9%, compared with the other two types of rice cultivars (IHR and IR). CH₄ contributed 85.5–89.9% to the GWP, while 65.6–80.4% in the field of planting inbred rice. The reduction in GHGs emissions is mainly attributed to yield, available carbon and nitrogen contents, root morphological characteristics, and functional genes. Consequently, GHGs emissions in paddy fields could be mitigated by selecting or breeding cultivars with high yield, lower root exudates, and greater root porosity.

Soil phosphorus plays an important role in the soil ecological environment and sustainable development of the fruit industry in the soil hilly region of southern China, but the impact of different mulching measures on soil available phosphorus and phosphorus fractions in orchards remains unclear. In this study, soil basic physicochemical properties, available phosphorus, inorganic phosphorus fractions and their interrelationships under natural grass cover (NG), film mulch (FM) and clean tillage (CK) in orchards were explored. Compared to CK treatment, both FM and NG treatments have been shown to increase the contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and available nitrogen (AN). Additionally, compared with the FM treatment, the NG treatment increased total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), available potassium (AK), and soil acid phosphatase (S-ACP), resulting in greater improvements in soil fertility. The NG treatment increased the contents of aluminium-bound phosphate (Al-P) and iron-bound phosphate (Fe-P) in the 0–40 cm soil layer, whereas the FM treatment decreased the contents of Fe-P and Al-P and increased the content of occluded phosphate (O-P). Compared with the CK treatment, the NG treatment significantly increased the available phosphorus in the 0–40 cm soil layer, whereas the FM treatment significantly decreased it. Redundancy analysis revealed that pH and S-ACP were the main factors affecting soil phosphorus components. Al-P, Fe-P, and S-ACP were the three factors with the highest correlations with available phosphorus. However, according to multiple stepwise analyses, only Al-P was directly related to available phosphorus. Overall, in the southeast hilly orchards, the NG treatment improved soil nutrient and enzyme activity and is considered an effective strategy to increase the biological effectiveness of phosphorus while reducing leaching losses.

The Ili region hosts China’s largest lavender cultivation base, yet soil bacterial diversity in its primary cultivation areas remains understudied. To address this, we compared soil bacterial communities across four major cultivation counties (Chabuchar, Agricultural Research Institute, Yining, and Huocheng). Essential oil profiles, soil properties, and bacterial community characteristics were analysed to elucidate microbial variations and environmental interactions. The results showed that: (1) The essential oil yield (1.14%) and linalool content (41.04%) in the Huocheng County cultivation area were significantly higher than those in other areas, and the essential oil quality was relatively the best; (2) the soil bacterial communities in different main cultivation areas shared certain commonalities. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Gemmatimonadota, and Actinobacteriota were the dominant phyla, and their relative abundances varied by region and soil layer, and (3) the redundancy analysis results showed that soil bacterial communities were comprehensively affected by environmental factors such as pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, soil organic carbon, longitude, and altitude. The significant positive correlations between the abundance of Vicinamibacteraceae (Acidobacteriota) in Huocheng County soils and both soil total phosphorus and linalool content suggest a putative mechanism whereby this bacterial taxon enhances lavender terpenoid synthesis by facilitating phosphorus cycling. Overall, these results suggest that geographically driven climatic variations dynamically alter the soil bacterial community, thereby influencing lavender growth and the final essential oil quality.

This study evaluated the effects of hybrid, vegetation period duration, weather conditions, and harvest timing on sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) yield and technological quality under short-rotation cropping systems in the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Field experiments were conducted in 2022–2024 on commercial fields using six industrial hybrids and five harvest intervals from late September to mid-November. Root yield, sugar content, sugar yield, α-amino nitrogen, K⁺ and Na⁺, invert sugars, and the technological quality index (Iq) were assessed using ANOVA, correlation analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). Extending vegetation from 185 to 200 days increased root yield by 11–12% and sugar yield by 0.8–1.2 t/ha. The optimal harvest window (10–25 October) provided the highest performance, with root yields of 68–73 t/ha, sugar content of 16.2–16.6%, and sugar yields of 14.6–16.3 t/ha. Early harvest resulted in reduced sugar content and Iq, whereas harvesting after 10 November did not increase yield and caused deterioration of technological quality due to elevated α-amino nitrogen and molasses-forming ions. PCA showed that over 85% of the total variation was explained by technological quality and moisture-related factors. Strube hybrids demonstrated greater stability under extended vegetation compared with KWS hybrids. These results define an optimal harvest window for maximising sugar beet productivity and quality under temperate meteorological conditions.

The grain filling and physiological traits of different phosphorus-tolerant rice cultivars and phosphorus fertiliser rates have not been fully studied. A pot-growth experiment with cv. Lianjing 7 (weak phosphorus tolerance) and cv. Yongyou 2640 (strong phosphorus tolerance) was conducted using four phosphorus rates, namely, 0 (P0), 0.44 (P1), 0.88 (P2), and 1.32 g/pot (P3). Results indicated that grain yield, net photosynthetic rate, soil and plant analyser development (SPAD) value, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in leaves, and adenosine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) and sucrose synthase (SuSase) activity in grains increased and then decreased with increasing phosphorus fertiliser rate, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) content in leaves decreased first and then increased. The above indexes of cv. Lianjing 7 and cv. Yongyou 2640 were optimal at P2 and P1 treatments, respectively. The grain yield, net photosynthetic rate, SPAD value, AGPase content, SuSase content in grains, and SOD and CAT activity in the leaves of cv. Yongyou 2640 were higher, whereas the MDA content was lower than those of cv. Lianjing 7. Correlation analysis showed that AGPase and SuSase activity in superior and inferior grains, photosynthetic rate, and SOD and CAT activity in the leaves were significant or highly significantly positively correlated with grain-filling rate and rice yield. Therefore, the adoption of appropriate phosphorus fertiliser rates can increase the activity of enzymes related to starch synthesis in different phosphorus-tolerant rice, enhance antioxidant systems in leaves at the filling stage, reduce leaf MDA content, and delay leaf senescence. These effects are beneficial to grain filling and increase grain yield.

A field experiment was conducted with potatoes to examine the effects of hydrogel application and weather conditions on total tuber yield and the content of potentially harmful compounds – glycoalkaloids and nitrates. The first experimental factor comprised three table cultivars: Lawenda, Rima and Provita. The second factor consisted of three treatments: the application of the hydrogel AgroNanoGel Basic at 60 and 90 kg/ha, and a control treatment without hydrogel. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant effects of cultivar, hydrogel application rates, and hydrothermal conditions in the study years on potato tuber yield. The highest yields were produced by cv. Lawenda, and the most favourable yield-forming effects were observed when the hydrogel had been applied at 90 kg/ha. The levels of antinutritional compounds were significantly affected by the experimental factors and weather conditions during the study years. Cv. Rima accumulated the lowest levels of glycoalkaloids, whereas cv. Lawenda contained the least nitrates (V). The hydrogel increased the content of both glycoalkaloids and nitrates relative to the control treatment, although their levels posed no risk to human health. Higher concentrations of antinutritional compounds were recorded in the dry and warm 2024 season than in the cooler and more humid 2025 season.

The Yellow River Delta, an important area of reserved arable land resources in China, is faced with the problem of crop productivity being typically limited by low soil quality. Developing techniques that raised crop yield without environmental damage was critically needed. To date, the knowledge about the joint impacts of biochar (C) and phosphorus (P) addition on soil properties and maize production under different weather conditions in this area is seriously lacking. Consequently, a full factorial field experiment including three biochar intensities (0 (C0), 5 000 (C1), and 10 000 (C2) kg/ha), three phosphorus fertilisation levels (0 (P0), 60 (P1), and 120 (P2) kg P/ha), and their combinations was conducted in Binzhou, Shandong province of China from 2021 to 2022. Compared to 2022, the maize yield was dramatically reduced in 2021 (with a 35% mean decrease) due to excessive rainfall in the maize reproductive growth stage (P < 0.01). C addition caused greater proportions and contributions of dry matter and nutrient remobilisation from pre-anthesis vegetation organs to grain. Subsequently, maize yield was much more promoted in 2021 (23%) than in 2022 (5%) by adding C, in which the discrepancies between C1 and C2 were relatively small and insignificant. On the other hand, these corresponding effects of P and C × P were relatively modest. From the soil perspective, soil physical (hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and bulk density) and chemical properties (soil organic carbon, total N, and soil available N) were significantly improved by C addition (P < 0.01). More importantly, we detected negative interactions of C × P on soil available P and phosphorus activation coefficient (P < 0.01), as soil available P was lowered with more input of C and P together (particularly under P2 series). The two-year outcomes suggested that C addition could enhance maize growth and ensure crop yield stability. Still, the combined incorporation of this kind of C and P (especially for C2P2) was not recommended in the saline-alkali land. The present study delivered useful insight into the rational utilisation of C and P fertilisers in the Yellow River Delta.

Changes in the content of mineral nutrients (Ca, Mg, K, Na) and risk elements (Mn, Cd) in the assimilatory organs of selected plant species were studied along the altitudinal gradient of A‒D zones polluted by alkaline emissions from the magnesite factory Lubeník (Slovak Republic). Multivariate statistical analysis and comparison with background values in other studies demonstrate persistent intoxication of some plants by Mg (all study plants), K (Lactuca saligna, Dryopteris filix-mas), Mn (Quercus polycarpa, Carpinus betulus, Betula pendula, Lactuca saligna) and Cd (Quercus polycarpa, Carpinus betulus, Betula pendula, Lactuca saligna). Overall, Lactuca saligna accumulated the highest amounts of Mg, Cd, Na and K near the magnesite plant, suggesting its potential as an effective bioindicator of elemental pollution. Unbalanced Ca/Mg ratios, lower than 1, were recorded predominantly in all plant species sampled near the magnesite plant; unbalanced K/(Mg + Ca) ratios were predominantly in woody species.

Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas L.) is one of the most problematic weed species, mainly in rainfed Moroccan and Tunisian cereal crops. The overuse of acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibiting and/or auxinic herbicides led to the spread of corn poppies resistant to both chemical families in this region. In order to identify and understand the selection drivers of resistance, appropriate characterisation of the resistance profile is necessary. Two experiments were carried out: biological sensitivity tests with ALS inhibiting herbicides (tribenuron-methyl and florasulam) and auxinic herbicides (2,4-d) were carried out with populations sampled in the field where the herbicide failure was observed. Bioassay tests confirmed resistance in all studied populations with an average frequency of 75.13, 30.81, 33.17 and 11.52% with tribenuron, florasulam, 2,4-d and florasulam + 2,4-d, respectively. Corn poppy sampled from both countries exhibited similar frequencies within populations for each tested herbicide. The molecular analysis was conducted with next-generation sequencing (Illumina), allowing massive, precise and rapid sequencing regions of the ALS gene carrying resistance codons. Using this technology, ALS mutant alleles were found in all populations at frequencies ranging from 1.4% to 63.3%, with an average of 16.7%. This study highlights the need to elucidate resistance mechanisms to understand herbicide responses and develop effective strategies for managing resistant corn poppy in rainfed cereals as an essential step to maintain the effectiveness of these molecules as long as possible.

The aim of the study was to assess the quantitative and qualitative changes in crude protein of the white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) green mass during the growing season in stands of three cultivars of white lupin (ZULIKA, AMIGA, DIETA), intended for feeding purposes as protein roughage, when grown under the same soil and climatic conditions in the Czech Republic. Changes in the crude protein and amino acid content were monitored during the growing season from the 9^th to the 18^th week of stand age. Changes in the crop dry weight were characterised by a statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in crude protein from the 9^th to the 15^th week of stand age (ZULIKA 203.50–176.82 g/kg, AMIGA 190.58–161.59 g/kg, DIETA 201.41–175.84 g/kg). In the following period, during the maturation of lupin pods, from the 15^th to the 18^th week, the change in the crude protein content of the green matter was not statistically significant (ZULIKA 176.82–162.12 g/kg, AMIGA 161.59–150.95 g/kg, DIETA 175.84–175.24 g/kg). For most of the amino acids studied, a decrease in their content in the dry weight of the green matter was demonstrated from the 9^th to the 15^th week, with a subsequent statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase from the 15^th to the 18^th week of stand age. Interesting differences were observed in the arginine content, which showed a statistically significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) during the growing season (ZULIKA 7.93–16.03 g/kg, AMIGA 6.88–13.04 g/kg, DIETA 7.56–17.45 g/kg). Changes in the dry weight of the crop in the crude protein and amino acid content can be considered characteristic of lupin crops because of the identical evidence in all three white lupin cultivars studied.

Soil salinisation is a major factor limiting plant growth and land utilisation in arid and semiarid regions. This study focused on the native halophyte Suaeda salsa in western Inner Mongolia to explore halophyte-associated microbial resources with plant growth-promoting potential under saline conditions. A total of 30 salt-tolerant bacteria strains were isolated from its rhizosphere. Among them, Bacillus infantis strain 29 tolerated up to 10% NaCl (w/v) and exhibited multiple plant-growth-promoting traits, including highly active 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, phosphorus solubilisation, potassium mobilisation and diazotrophic potential as indicated by growth on nitrogen-free medium. Under pot conditions, inoculation with strain 29, particularly in combination with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), promoted plant growth under saline stress. In Suaeda salsa, the combined treatment significantly increased fresh weight and root length relative to the control, and positive growth responses were also observed in Zea mays and Medicago sativa. This study proposes an effective "halophyte-PGPR-AMF" synergistic strategy and provides a potential biological approach and microbial resource reference for improving plant growth and crop performance in salt-affected soils of western Inner Mongolia and other arid and semiarid regions with similar environmental conditions.

The common 1% oil cleanup criterion was tested for pasture production according to oil type and concentration, in soil types frequently contaminated in southeastern Mexico. Reductions in aerial biomass of Brachiaria humidicola were measured over six months in soils contaminated with crude oils of varying grades (light, medium, heavy, and extra-heavy). Dose-response curves for heavy crude-contaminated soils showed acceptable criteria (90% pasture) of 0.71, 0.56, 1.23, ~0.20 and < 0.10% oil for an Arenosol, Vertisol, Gleysol, Fluvisol and an Acrisol, respectively. Generally, for all crude oils, the 1% level resulted in pasture reductions of ~20–70, ~25–60, ~50–65, and ~35–65% in the Arenosol, Vertisol, Fluvisol, and Acrisol, respectively. Still, in the Gleysol it was variable (reduction of ~10% to an increase of ~15%). Thus, the 1% oil cleanup criterion may be suitable for some soils with large amounts of smectite clays and organic matter (such as Gleysols). Still, for most soils, it may not be strict enough to prevent soil fertility deterioration, and soils with large amounts of non-smectite fines may be particularly impacted. Therefore, lower cleanup levels need to be considered, as well as low-cost regenerative agricultural practices to recover soil fertility in contaminated soils, when these cleanup levels are not achievable.

Global food security is increasingly threatened by the vulnerability of agricultural systems to climate variability, especially in sub-humid regions. Northeast China, a major maize-producing region, experiences low spring temperatures and erratic rainfall, which have prompted the widespread adoption of plastic-film mulching (PFM) combined with drip irrigation. However, systematic evaluations of how different PFM patterns affect crop productivity and resource use efficiency remain limited. This study systematically evaluated three PFM strategies – full ridge-furrow mulching (FM), ridge mulching (RM), and no mulching (NM) – in combination with 240 kg N/ha and a zero-nitrogen control under drip irrigation to determine their effects on maize (Zea mays L.) yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and nitrogen utilisation. Field experiments over two consecutive growing seasons assessed crop growth, dry matter (DM) accumulation, nitrogen dynamics, grain yield, and related efficiency parameters. Both FM and RM significantly enhanced early maize growth. At the seedling stage, FM and RM increased plant height by 43.0% and 40.1%, and leaf area index (LAI) by 141.4% and 120.4% over NM, respectively. During the same stage, DM accumulation increased by 228.9% (FM) and 224.9% (RM). These improvements reflected favourable soil hydrothermal conditions under PFM. Before heading, PFM treatments increased pre-anthesis DM accumulation by up to 19.6%, and at maturity, FM and RM raised DM by 6.1% and 5.1% over NM. PFM significantly improved grain nitrogen accumulation, with FM and RM increasing it by 31.0% and 26.9% over NM, respectively, and nitrogen harvest index (NHI), with FM and RM increasing it by 6.8% and 6.1% over NM, indicating enhanced nutrient translocation to grain. PFM also improved grain yield, with FM and RM increasing it by 15.0% and 13.5%, WUE by 17.2% and 15.7%, and nitrogen partial productivity by 16.8% and 14.1%. No significant differences in yield or WUE were observed between FM and RM. Fertilisation consistently enhanced these benefits without changing the relative efficiency ranking of treatments. Notably, the advantages of mulching diminished after the heading stage as temperature and rainfall increased. PFM (both FM and RM) under drip irrigation improves maize yield, water use, and nitrogen efficiency in sub-humid regions. This integrated practice offers a scalable and sustainable strategy to increase maize productivity and resource efficiency, supporting food security in regions facing similar climatic challenges.

Nitrogen fertiliser is a key determinant of rice yield and grain quality; however, the synergistic mechanisms through which nitrogen regulates root anatomical structure, physiological traits, and cooking quality in rice varieties with different eating properties remain unclear. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted using two moderate-eating-quality cultivars (Xudao 3 and Huageng 9) and two superior-eating-quality cultivars (Zhengdao C42 and Nangeng 9308) under four nitrogen levels (0, 0.59, 1.18, and 1.76 g/pot, designated as N0, N1, N2, and N3, respectively). Cooking quality was assessed by amylose content, gel consistency, and alkali spreading value. The results demonstrated that, with increasing nitrogen application, amylose content, alkali spreading value, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, root aerenchyma area, and aerenchyma proportion decreased initially, then increased, reaching their lowest values at the N2 level. In contrast, gel consistency, root antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT), photosynthetic rate and cortical living cell proportion increased first and then decreased, peaking at N2 treatment. Compared with moderate-eating-quality varieties, superior-eating-quality varieties exhibited significantly lower amylose content, alkali spreading value, MDA content, and aerenchyma proportion, but higher gel consistency, living cell proportion, stele-to-root diameter ratio, antioxidant enzyme activities, and photosynthetic rate. Correlation analysis revealed that root antioxidant enzyme activities, stele diameter and living cell proportion were negatively correlated with amylose content, but positively correlated with gel consistency. Conversely, MDA content, aerenchyma area and aerenchyma proportion showed opposite correlation patterns. These findings indicate that an appropriate nitrogen application rate (1.18 g/pot) enhances root physiological activity, optimises root anatomical structure, and ensures sufficient source supply to the grain sink, thereby synergistically improving cooking quality – an effect particularly pronounced in high-eating-quality rice varieties.