Exogenous Melatonin Application Improves Shade Tolerance and Growth Performance of Soybean Under Maize-Soybean Intercropping Systems.

Maize-soybean intercropping is widely practised to improve land use efficiency, but shading from maize often limits soybean growth and productivity. Melatonin, a plant signaling molecule with antioxidant and growth-regulating properties, has shown potential in mitigating various abiotic stresses, including low light. This study investigated the efficacy of applying foliar melatonin (MT) to enhance shade tolerance and yield performance of soybean under intercropping.

Long-Term Year-Interval Effect of Continuous Maize/Soybean Intercropping on Maize Yield and Phosphorus Use Efficiency.

The increasing global food demand, the degradation of one-third of agricultural land, and climate change pose significant threats to food production. Maize and soybean intercropping can enhance yields and land use efficiency, yet the year-interval effects of continuous intercropping on yield, yield sustainability, and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) remain unclear. This study evaluates the effects of continuous maize/soybean intercropping over year intervals on yield, PUE, and sustainability.

Synergetic Effect of Potassium, Biochar and Cattle Manure on the Growth and Yield of Maize, and Soil Physio-Chemical Characteristics.

Biochar (BC) and cattle manure (CM) are carbon-nutrient-rich organic substances and have long been used to improve crop yield and soil fertility. Nevertheless, their combined effect with potassium (K) fertilizer remains unknown. Against the previous context, a 2-year (2021-2022) field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of K fertilization coupled with BC and CM on the growth and yield of maize and soil physio-chemical characteristics.

Insect frass fertilizer as a regenerative input for improved biological nitrogen fixation and sustainable bush bean production.

Bush bean ( L.) production is undermined by soil degradation and low biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) capacity. This study evaluated the effect of black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF) on bush bean growth, yield, nutrient uptake, BNF, and profitability, in comparison with commercial organic fertilizer (Phymyx, Phytomedia International Ltd.

Conservation agriculture and weed management effects on weed community and crop productivity of a rice-maize rotation.

In recent years, an increase in weed infestation, which is adversely affecting crop growth and productivity has been a major challenge facing the farmers of South Asia. The adoption of a permanent bed in combination with residue retention-based crop management practices may reduce weed abundance and increase crop productivity. In a two-year field study, we evaluated the responses of different organic weed management practices with contrasting tillage and residue (R) management strategies to weed dynamics and crop productivity under rice-maize rotation.

Maize/soybean intercropping increases nutrient uptake, crop yield and modifies soil physio-chemical characteristics and enzymatic activities in the subtropical humid region based in Southwest China.

Intercropping, a widely adopted agricultural practice worldwide, aims to increase crop yield, enhance plant nutrient uptake, and optimize the utilization of natural resources, contributing to sustainable farming practices on a global scale. However, the underlying changes in soil physio-chemical characteristics and enzymatic activities, which contribute to crop yield and nutrient uptake in the intercropping systems are largely unknown. Consequently, a two-year (2021-2022) field experiment was conducted on the maize/soybean intercropping practices with/without nitrogen (N) fertilization (i.

Revitalizing the Biochemical Soil Properties of Degraded Coastal Soil Using Biochar.

Biochar is an effective soil amendment with capabilities of boosting carbon sequestration and enhancing soil fertility, thus enhancing plant growth and productivity. While numerous studies have documented the positive effects of biochar on improving soil properties, a number of studies have reported conflicting results. Therefore, the current study was conducted to evaluate the impact of biochar (0, 2.

Impact of Different Fertilizer Sources under Supplemental Irrigation and Rainfed Conditions on Eco-Physiological Responses and Yield Characteristics of Dragon's Head ().

The effects of the irrigation regime and different fertilizer sources on the eco-physiological responses and yield characteristics of dragon's head were explored in a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with 12 treatments and 3 replications in the 2019 growing season. The treatments included six different fertilizer sources (animal manure, vermicompost, poultry manure, biofertilizer, chemical fertilizer, and control) and two irrigation regimes (rainfed and supplemental irrigation). The results indicated the positive effects of supplementary irrigation and the application of vermicompost, poultry manure, and animal manure by increasing the absorption of nutrients (phosphorus and potassium) and improving relative water contents, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, and the fixed oil percentage of dragon's head.

Maize-soybean intercropping at optimal N fertilization increases the N uptake, N yield and N use efficiency of maize crop by regulating the N assimilatory enzymes.

Introduction: Surplus use of chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizers to increase agricultural Q9 production causes severe problems to the agricultural ecosystem and environment. This is contrary to N use efficiency and sustainable agricultural production.

Methods: Hence, this study was designed to investigate the effect of maizesoybean intercropping on N uptake, N yield, N utilization use efficiency, and the associated nitrogen assimilatory enzymes of maize crops under different N fertilization for two consecutive years 2021-2022.

Maize/soybean strip intercropping produces higher crop yields and saves water under semi-arid conditions.

Sustainable increases in crop production require efficient use of resources, and intercropping can improve water use efficiency and land productivity at reduced inputs. Thus, in a three-year field experiment, the performance of maize/soybean strip intercropping system differing with maize plant density (6 maize plants m-2, low, D1; 8 maize plants m-2, medium, D2; and 10 maize plants m-2, high, D3) was evaluated in comparison with sole maize or soybean cropping system. Results revealed that among all intercropping treatments, D2 had a significantly higher total leaf area index (maize LAI + soybean LAI; 8.

Nitrogen fertilization coupled with foliar application of iron and molybdenum improves shade tolerance of soybean under maize-soybean intercropping.

Maize-soybean intercropping is practiced worldwide because of some of the anticipated advantages such as high crop yield and better utilization of resources (i.e., water, light, nutrients and land).

Nitrogen fertilization coupled with iron foliar application improves the photosynthetic characteristics, photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency, and the related enzymes of maize crops under different planting patterns.

Photosynthetic rate (Pn) and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) are the two important factors affecting the photosynthesis and nutrient utilization of plant leaves. However, the effect of N fertilization combined with foliar application of Fe on the Pn and PNUE of the maize crops under different planting patterns (i.e.

Growth tolerance, concentration, and uptake of heavy metals as ameliorated by silicon application in vegetables.

Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are among the heavy metals with phytotoxic and toxic effects on vegetables resulting in a significant decrease in crop yields. On the contrary, silicon (Si) has beneficial effects in enhancing plants' tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses such as that imposed by heavy metals. This study evaluated the effects of Pb and Cd on the growth, biomass, and ameliorative mechanism of Si on concentration and uptake by leafy vegetables: spinach, kale, and amaranth.

Effect of Cadmium Toxicity on Growth, Oxidative Damage, Antioxidant Defense System and Cadmium Accumulation in Two Sorghum Cultivars.

Heavy metal stress is a leading environmental issue reducing crop growth and productivity, particularly in arid and semi-arid agro-ecological zones. Cadmium (Cd), a non-redox heavy metal, can indirectly increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inducing cell death. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different concentrations of Cd (0, 5, 25, 50, 100 µM) on physiological and biochemical parameters in two sorghum ( L.