The impact of single and combined amendment of elemental sulphur and graphene oxide on soil microbiome and nutrient transformation activities.

Background: Sulphur (S) deficiency has emerged in recent years in European soils due to the decreased occurrence of acid rains. Elemental sulphur (S) is highly beneficial as a source of S in agriculture, but it must be oxidized to a plant-accessible form. Micro- or nano-formulated S may undergo accelerated transformation, as the oxidation rate of S indirectly depends on particle size.

Biodegradation of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate after soil inoculation with microbial consortium: Soil microbiome and plant responses to the changed environment.

Biodegradable plastics play a vital role in addressing global plastics disposal challenges. Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) is a biodegradable bacterial intracellular storage polymer with substantial usage potential in agriculture. Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate and its degradation products are non-toxic; however, previous studies suggest that P3HB biodegradation negatively affects plant growth because the microorganisms compete with plants for nutrients.

Does poly-3-hydroxybutyrate biodegradation affect the quality of soil organic matter?

The search for eco-friendly substitutes for traditional plastics has led to the production of biodegradable bioplastics. However, concerns have been raised about the impact of bioplastic biodegradation on soil health. Despite these concerns, the potential negative consequences of bioplastics during various stages of biodegradation remain underexplored.

Effect of Mycotoxins in Silage on Biogas Production.

Mycotoxins can pose a threat to biogas production as they can contaminate the feedstock used in biogas production, such as agricultural crops and other organic materials. This research study evaluated the contents of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA), fumonisin (FUM), and aflatoxin (AFL) mycotoxins in maize silage prior to it being processed in a biogas plant and in digestate produced at the end of the anaerobic digestion (AD) process. In the experiment, three samples of silage were collected from one silage warehouse: Variant 1 = low contamination, Variant 2 = medium contamination, and Variant 3 = heavy contamination, which were subjected to investigation.

Does biochar in combination with compost effectively promote phytostabilization of heavy metals in soil under different temperature regimes?

The article presents the effect of a combined amendment, i.e., biochar+compost (BC), on the process of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn immobilization in soil cultivated with L.

Nickel (Ni) phytotoxicity and detoxification mechanisms: A review.

Scientists studying the environment, physiology, and biology have been particularly interested in nickel (Ni) because of its dual effects (essentiality and toxicity) on terrestrial biota. It has been reported in some studies that without an adequate supply of Ni, plants are unable to finish their life cycle. The safest Ni limit for plants is 1.

The combined effect of graphene oxide and elemental nano-sulfur on soil biological properties and lettuce plant biomass.

The impact of graphene oxide (GO) nanocarbon on soil properties is mixed, with both negative and positive effects. Although it decreases the viability of some microbes, there are few studies on how its single amendment to soil or in combination with nanosized sulfur benefits soil microorganisms and nutrient transformation. Therefore, an eight-week pot experiment was carried out under controlled conditions (growth chamber with artificial light) in soil seeded with lettuce () and amended with GO or nano-sulfur on their own or their several combinations.

Overlapping SigH and SigE sigma factor regulons in .

The sigma H (σ) and sigma E (σ) subunits of RNA polymerase belong to Group 4 of sigma factors, also called extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors. Genes of the σ regulon that are involved in heat and oxidative stress response have already been defined, whereas the genes of the σ regulon, which is involved in cell surface stress response, have not been explored until now. Using the RES167 strain and its derivative Δ with a deletion in the anti-σ gene, differential gene expression was analyzed by RNA sequencing.

Time-dependent impact of co-matured manure with elemental sulfur and biochar on the soil agro-ecological properties and plant biomass.

Farmyard manure is the most common type of organic fertilizer, and its properties depend mainly on the type of livestock, bedding material and the conditions of fermentation. Co-maturing of manure with other amendments to modify its final properties has been seen as a win-win strategy recently. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in the effect of unenriched manure and manures co-matured with biochar, elemental sulfur or both amendments on the soil physico-chemical and biological properties, and plant (barley, maize) biomass production.

Effect of Digestate Modified with Amendments on Soil Health and Plant Biomass under Varying Experimental Durations.

A digestate with amendments provides plants with available nutrients and improves the microbiological properties of treated soil. Modification of a digestate through the addition of a biochar and sulphur source is less well-known. This pot experiment aimed at comparing the short- and long-time fertilization effects of a digestate enriched with biochar, with elemental sulphur, or with a combination of both on soil health and plant biomass.

Assessment of digestates prepared from maize, legumes, and their mixed culture as soil amendments: Effects on plant biomass and soil properties.

Digestate prepared from anaerobic digestion can be used as a fertilizer, as it contains ample amounts of plant nutrients, mainly nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. In this regard, digestates produced from mixed intercropped cereal and legume biomass have the potential to enrich soil and plants with nutrients more efficiently than monoculture-based digestates. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of different types of digestates applied at a rate of 40 t·ha of fresh matter on soil properties and crop yield in a pot experiment with lettuce () as a test crop.

Soil Properties and Maize Yield Improvement with Biochar-Enriched Poultry Litter-Based Fertilizer.

Conversion of poultry litter into fertilizer presents an environmentally friendly way for its disposal. The amendment of stabilizing sorption materials (e.g.

Bentonite as a Functional Material Enhancing Phytostabilization of Post-Industrial Contaminated Soils with Heavy Metals.

Growing awareness of the risks posed by pollution of the soil environment is leading to the development of new remediation strategies. The technique of aided phytostabilization, which involves the evaluation of new heavy-metal (HM)-immobilizing amendments, together with appropriately selected plant species, is a challenge for environmental protection and remediation of the soil environment, and seems to be promising. In this study, the suitability of bentonite for the technique of aided phytostabilization of soils contaminated with high HM concentrations was determined, using a mixture of two grass species.

Food and agricultural wastes-derived biochars in combination with mineral fertilizer as sustainable soil amendments to enhance soil microbiological activity, nutrient cycling and crop production.

The ever-increasing human population associated with high rate of waste generation may pose serious threats to soil ecosystem. Nevertheless, conversion of agricultural and food wastes to biochar has been shown as a beneficial approach in sustainable soil management. However, our understanding on how integration of biochar obtained from different wastes and mineral fertilizers impact soil microbiological indicators is limited.

Co-composting of cattle manure with biochar and elemental sulphur and its effects on manure quality, plant biomass and microbiological characteristics of post-harvest soil.

Improvement of manure by co-composting with other materials is beneficial to the quality of the amended soil. Therefore, the manure was supplied with either biochar, elemental sulphur or both prior to fermentation in 50 L barrels for a period of eight weeks. The manure products were subsequently analyzed and used as fertilizers in a short-term pot experiment with barley fodder ( L.

Plant-endophyte mediated improvement in physiological and bio-protective abilities of marigold ().

Endophytic bacteria improve the growth, physiology, and metabolite profile of plants. They are known as potential biocontrol agents of soil-borne diseases. This study evaluated the effects of endophytic bacterial strains on growth, vase life, biochemical attributes, and antioxidant and nematicidal activities of French marigold ().

Influence of Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate Micro-Bioplastics and Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics on the Soil Organic Matter Structure and Soil Water Properties.

Adverse effects of microplastics on soil abiotic properties have been attributed to changes in the soil structure. Notably, however, the effects on the supramolecular structure of soil organic matter (SOM) have been overlooked, despite their key role in most soil properties. This work accordingly investigated the influence of plastic residues at various concentrations on the SOM supramolecular structure and soil water properties.

Deciphering the Potential Role of Symbiotic Plant Microbiome and Amino Acid Application on Growth Performance of Chickpea Under Field Conditions.

The unprecedented rise in the human population has increased pressure on agriculture production. To enhance the production of crops, farmers mainly rely on the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which have, undoubtedly, increased the production rate but at the cost of losing sustainability of the environment in the form of genetic erosion of indigenous varieties of crops and loss of fertile land. Therefore, farming practices need to upgrade toward the use of biological agents to maintain the sustainability of agriculture and the environment.

Rhizosphere Bacteria in Plant Growth Promotion, Biocontrol, and Bioremediation of Contaminated Sites: A Comprehensive Review of Effects and Mechanisms.

Agriculture in the 21st century is facing multiple challenges, such as those related to soil fertility, climatic fluctuations, environmental degradation, urbanization, and the increase in food demand for the increasing world population. In the meanwhile, the scientific community is facing key challenges in increasing crop production from the existing land base. In this regard, traditional farming has witnessed enhanced per acre crop yields due to irregular and injudicious use of agrochemicals, including pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, but at a substantial environmental cost.

Effect of carbon-enriched digestate on the microbial soil activity.

Objectives: As a liquid organic fertilizer used in agriculture, digestate is rich in many nutrients (i.e. nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, potassium); their utilization may be however less efficient in soils poor in organic carbon (due to low carbon:nitrogen ratio).

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy vibrational bands study of Spinacia oleracea and Trigonella corniculata under biochar amendment in naturally contaminated soil.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy detects functional groups such as vibrational bands like N-H, O-H, C-H, C = O (ester, amine, ketone, aldehyde), C = C, C = N (vibrational modes of a tetrapyrrole ring) and simply C = N. The FTIR of these bands is fundamental to the investigation of the effect of biochar (BC) treatment on structural changes in the chlorophyll molecules of both plants that were tested. For this, dried leaf of Spinacia oleracia (spinach) and Trigonella corniculata (fenugreek) were selected for FTIR spectral study of chlorophyll associated functional groups.

Evaluation of Jatropha curcas L. leaves mulching on wheat growth and biochemical attributes under water stress.

Background: Organic mulches are widely used in crop production systems. Due to their benefits in improving soil fertility, retention of soil moisture and weed control. Field experiments were conducted during wheat growing seasons of 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 to evaluate the effects of Jatropha leaves mulch on the growth of wheat varieties 'Wadan-17' (rainfed) and 'Pirsabaq-2013' (irrigated) under well irrigated and water stress conditions (non-irrigated maintaining 40% soil field capacity).

Nano Zero Valent Iron (nZVI) as an Amendment for Phytostabilization of Highly Multi-PTE Contaminated Soil.

In recent years, a lot of attention has been given to searching for new additives which will effectively facilitate the process of immobilizing contaminants in the soil. This work considers the role of the enhanced nano zero valent iron (nZVI) strategy in the phytostabilization of soil contaminated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The experiment was carried out on soil that was highly contaminated with PTEs derived from areas in which metal waste had been stored for many years.