Agricultural management practices can affect soil structure and soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient stocks, which are important for sustainable agriculture. There is however limited understanding of the long-term impact of management practices on SOC and total nitrogen (N), sulphur (S) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in aggregates from different soils, and consequent effects on SOC and nutrient storage in agro-ecosystems. Soils from long-term (16–46 years) management systems in semi-arid (Luvisol, at Condobolin, NSW), Mediterranean (Luvisol, at Merredin, WA) and sub-tropical (Vertisol, at Hermitage, QLD) environments in Australia were collected from 0 to 10 cm, 10 to 20 cm and 20 to 30 cm depths. Dry- and wet-sieving techniques were used to fractionate the soils into mega-aggregates (>2 mm), macro-aggregates (2–0.25 mm), micro-aggregates (0.25–0.053 mm), and silt-plus-clay particles, including micro-structures ( In the Luvisol at Condobolin, the PP and NT had significantly (p   mega-aggregates across all the treatments and was higher in the PP at Condobolin (0–10 cm depth), and in the SR at Merredin (all soil depths) than the other corresponding treatments. Further, at Merredin, both SR and SB had higher P concentration in macro- and micro- than mega-aggregates. Across all the practices, SOC and N concentrations were higher in the dry- and wet-sieved silt-plus-clay fractions or micro- than mega- and macro-aggregates in both Luvisols, with no differences in the Vertisol. In summary, although the PP, NT, and SR (compared with other corresponding treatments at each site) had minimal impact on total SOC and nutrient stocks in bulk soils, these practices increased aggregate stability in some systems (i.e. Condobolin), and SOC and nutrient concentrations in the silt-plus-clay fractions or micro-aggregates in both Luvisols. These findings suggest that reducing soil disturbance and enhancing crop residue input in farming systems are important for SOC and nutrient storage, particularly in finer aggregate fractions.

Agricultural management practices impacted carbon and nutrient concentrations in soil aggregates, with minimal influence on aggregate stability and total carbon and nutrient stocks in contrasting soils

Optimizing water use efficiency and economic return of super high yield spring maize under drip irrigation and plastic mulching in arid areas of China

Optimization of drip irrigation and fertilization regimes for high grain yield, crop water productivity and economic benefits of spring maize in Northwest China

Ridge–furrow with plastic film mulching practice improves maize productivity and resource use efficiency under the wheat–maize double–cropping system in dry semi–humid areas

Human mineral malnutrition or hidden hunger is considered a global challenge, affecting a large proportion of the world’s population. The reduction in the mineral content of edible plant products is frequently found in cultivars bred for higher yields, and is probably increased by intensive agricultural practices. The filling of grain with macro and micronutrients is partly the result of a direct allocation from root uptake and remobilization from vegetative tissues. The aim of this bibliographic review is to focus on recent knowledge obtained from ionomic analysis of plant tissues in order to build a global appraisal of the potential remobilization of all macro and micronutrients, and especially those from leaves. Nitrogen is always remobilized from leaves of all plant species, although with different efficiencies, while nutrients such as K, S, P, Mg, Cu, Mo, Fe and Zn can be mobilized to a certain extent when plants are facing deficiencies. On the opposite, there is few evidence for leaf mobilization of Ca, Mn, Ni and B. Mechanisms related to the remobilization process (remobilization of mineral forms from vacuolar and organic compounds associated with senescence, respectively) are also discussed in the context of drought, an abiotic stress that is thought to increase and known to modulate the ionic composition of grain in crops.

https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/8/1/14/pdf

Macro and Micronutrient Storage in Plants and Their Remobilization When Facing Scarcity: The Case of Drought

Grain yield and water use efficiency of maize as influenced by different irrigation regimes through sprinkler irrigation under temperate climate

Effect of irrigation regime on yield, harvest index and water productivity of soybean grown under different precipitation conditions in a temperate environment

Soil water deficit has an adverse effect on crop productivity and is one of the main limiting factors of global food security. Field experiments were conducted in Vojvodina, Serbia, to expand and improve knowledge about the effects of different levels of irrigation on maize grain yield and quality. The studied irrigation treatments were: full irrigation (I100), 75% (I75) and 50% (I50) of I100, and no irrigation (I0) – rainfed. The irrigation level affects maize grain yield; protein, starch, and oil content; and mineral composition. The results show that that yield decreases with increasing water deficit in three study years. On average, full irrigation results in the highest oil content and rainfed conditions in the lowest. The starch content increases and the oil content decreases with decreasing irrigation. Irrigation significantly increases the concentrations of K, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn, and reduces the Ca concentration compared to the rainfed treatment. A 25% water deficit (I75) has a positive effect on certain maize grain nutrients and the yield is significantly reduced. The highest grain yield and oil content are achievable with full irrigation. For good nutrientional quality of maize, treatment I75 can be proposed under similar soil and climate conditions.

http://www.pjoes.com/pdf-76674-24335?filename=How Irrigation Water.pdf

How Irrigation Water Affects the Yield and Nutritional Quality of Maize ( Zea mays L.) in a Temperate Climate

Cognition of chemical composition and nutritive values of triticale grain as well as the effect of its application in non-ruminant animal nutrition were pointed out in this paper. There is a high level of proteins in the grain of triticale (2 to 3% more than wheat and 4% more than rye), with very beneficial amino acid composition, and is the reason for its usage in domestic animals nutrition. Nowadays, people are of the opinion that triticale is one of potential plant species with the brightest perspective in the production of food for domestic animals. Considering the increased production of triticale, some detail researching of its nutritional value is necessary due to the required evaluation of the role and significance in domestic animal nutrition based on triticale. Due to intensive plant breeding programs, there are new varieties of triticale in the market, distinctive by the higher yield and wide range of desired traits. As a result of this, triticale is becoming very attractive and is occupying larger portions of arable land. These review will show if there are some advantages of triticale compared to other cereals and how large the frame of these advantages is, as well as how it will affect the further spreading of triticale on arable land.

/pdf/implementation-of-triticale-in-nutrition-of-non-ruminant-4343yb7yoe.pdf

Implementation of triticale in nutrition of non-ruminant animals

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of land use changes on the aggregate size distribution, soil structural stability, and soil erodibility in Luvisols on Central Serbia's rainfed farms at a depth of 0.00-0.30 m. Six sites, selected for the study, contained adjacent land uses of natural grassland and arable land that have undergone conversion from grassland for more than 10 years. The inherent problems of Luvisols include weak structured surface horizons susceptible to structure deterioration, where tilled when wet or when heavy machinery is used. Aggregate size distribution and soil structural stability in the topsoil was tested by soil dry and wet sieving. Soil erodibility was assessed with the USLE-K factor. The natural grassland served as a control against which to assess changes in soil properties resulting from the removal of natural vegetation or cultivation of soil. The results showed that conversion of natural grassland to dry land farming led to a significant degradation of the soil structure. Aggregate separation by dry-sieving indicated that the natural grassland had significantly fewer unfavorable cloddy aggregates (>10 mm) and more agronomically most valuable aggregates (0.25-10 mm) than the arable soils. The mean weight diameter of dry aggregates (MWDdry) was greater in the grassland ( 7.0 mm) compared to the arable soils (9.7 mm). The arable soil had significantly lower (1.03) structure coefficient (Ks) than grassland soils (2.77). Higher percentages of water stable aggregates (WSA) >0.25 mm were found under natural grassland ( 50 %) than in arable fields ( 41 %). In addition, grassland soil had significantly higher mean weight diameter (0.92 mm) of wet stable aggregates (MWDwet) than arable soils (0.81 mm). Tillage of the unaltered grassland significantly increased the soil erodibility measured by the USLE-K factor. The USLE-K factor was approximately by 17% greater in the arable soil than in the grassland, indicating the vulnerability of the arable soil to water erosion. In summary, the results showed that the tillage of the grassland degraded the soil structure, leaving soils more susceptible to the erosion in the temperate climate zone. This suggests that land disturbances should be avoided in the grasslands in the study region of the Central Serbia.

/pdf/land-use-effects-on-aggregation-and-erodibility-of-luvisols-22msue2c3e.pdf

Angelina Tapanarova

Papers

Grain yield and water use efficiency of maize as influenced by different irrigation regimes through sprinkler irrigation under temperate climate

Effect of irrigation regime on yield, harvest index and water productivity of soybean grown under different precipitation conditions in a temperate environment

How Irrigation Water Affects the Yield and Nutritional Quality of Maize ( Zea mays L.) in a Temperate Climate

Implementation of triticale in nutrition of non-ruminant animals

Land use effects on aggregation and erodibility of luvisols on undulating slopes