Journal Description
Agronomy
Agronomy
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on agronomy and agroecology published monthly online by MDPI. The Spanish Society of Plant Physiology (SEFV) is affiliated with Agronomy and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubAg, AGRIS, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Agronomy) / CiteScore - Q1 (Agronomy and Crop Science)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 15.8 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.4 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Companion journals for Agronomy include: Seeds, Agrochemicals, Grasses and Crops.
Impact Factor:
3.7 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
4.0 (2022)
Latest Articles
Inversion Tillage Combined with Organic Fertilizer Application Increased Maize Yield via Improving Soil Pore Structure and Enzymatic Activity in Haplic Chernozem
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 927; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050927 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Inversion tillage and organic fertilizer application can break the plow pan and improve soil quality. However, the effects of combining these practices on the soil microbial resource limitation and maize yield in Haplic Chernozem are unclear. In this research, a field experiment was
[...] Read more.
Inversion tillage and organic fertilizer application can break the plow pan and improve soil quality. However, the effects of combining these practices on the soil microbial resource limitation and maize yield in Haplic Chernozem are unclear. In this research, a field experiment was established in 2018, and soil samples were collected in 2021 in Longjiang County in Northeast China, which is a Haplic Chernozem region. Four treatments comprising conventional tillage (T15), conventional tillage with organic fertilizer (T15+M), inversion tillage (T35), and inversion tillage with organic fertilizer (T35+M) were randomly arranged with four replications. Compared with T15 and T15+M treatments, soil bulk density significantly decreased by 11.1–16.3% in the 15–35 cm layer under T35 and T35+M treatments, accompanied by the improvement in soil pore structure (e.g., soil porosity, circularity, and Euler number). T15+M treatment significantly increased soil organic carbon and soil nutrient contents by 11.1–16.3% and 3.9–24.5% in the 0–15 cm layer compared with other treatments. However, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus content, microbial biomass, and enzymatic activities reached the maximum values in the 0–35 cm layer under T35+M treatment. In addition, T35+M treatment had the highest maize yield and sustainable yield index. Extracellular enzymatic stoichiometry suggested that soil microorganisms are generally co-limited by carbon and phosphorus in Haplic Chernozem. However, T35+M treatment significantly reduced soil microbial resource limitation, which was one important factor impacting maize yield and sustainability. Random-forest and partial least-squares path modeling showed that T35+M treatment could reduce soil microbial resource limitation and increase the stability and sustainability of the maize yield by improving soil available nutrients, microbial biomass, and pore structure. Therefore, the incorporation of inversion tillage and organic fertilizer is a suitable soil management practice in view of increasing soil quality and crop yields in a Haplic Chernozem region.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Arable Farming Measures on Soil Quality)
►
Show Figures
Open AccessArticle
Impacts of High-Frequency Chicken Manure Biochar Application on N2O and CH4 Emissions from Vegetable Field in Subtropical China
by
Mohammad Jawad Alami, Xuejuan Fang, Dongliang Zhong, Weijun Zhou, Bing Gao, Wei Huang and Shenghui Cui
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 926; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050926 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Vegetable production in Subtropical China is distinguished by excessive nitrogen (N) fertilization, frequent irrigation, and multiple crop rotations in a single year. The aforementioned variables are closely related to soil nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions. Hence, we
[...] Read more.
Vegetable production in Subtropical China is distinguished by excessive nitrogen (N) fertilization, frequent irrigation, and multiple crop rotations in a single year. The aforementioned variables are closely related to soil nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions. Hence, we conducted a field trial to measure N2O and CH4 emissions using static chamber–gas chromatograph. Four treatments were used: control (CK) with no fertilizer, 100% chemical N fertilization (CN), the conventional 30% chicken manure N plus 70%CN (CMN + CN), and 30% chicken manure biochar N plus 70%CN (CMBN + CN). The annual cumulative N2O emissions reached 12.4, 63.5, 111.8, and 44.1 kg N2O-N ha−1 for the CK, CN, CMN + CN, and CMBN + CN treatments, respectively. Compared to the CN and CMN + CN treatments, the CMBN + CN treatment reduced N2O emissions by 35.9%–65.7%, while it simultaneously increased the total vegetable yield by 16.1% compared to the CN treatment. Seven seasons mean N2O emission factors are 1.3% for CN, 3.8% for CMN + CN, and 0.9% for CMBN + CN. The CH4 emission was negligible, ranging from 0.07 kg CH4-C ha−1 for the CK treatment to 0.8 kg CH4-C ha−1 for the CN treatment. N2O emissions peaked under the conditions of an interior chamber temperature of around 31.9 °C and the water-filled pore space (WFPS) of the soil being approximately 60%. Future climate change will intensify, triggering higher N2O emissions from subtropical vegetable fields. CMB can be one of the best substitutes for direct chicken manure application as a soil supplement because it has a beneficial effect on improving vegetable yield and reducing N2O emissions in Subtropical China.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Net-Zero Emissions for Sustainable Food Production and Land Management)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
U-Net with Coordinate Attention and VGGNet: A Grape Image Segmentation Algorithm Based on Fusion Pyramid Pooling and the Dual-Attention Mechanism
by
Xiaomei Yi, Yue Zhou, Peng Wu, Guoying Wang, Lufeng Mo, Musenge Chola, Xinyun Fu and Pengxiang Qian
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 925; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050925 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Currently, the classification of grapevine black rot disease relies on assessing the percentage of affected spots in the total area, with a primary focus on accurately segmenting these spots in images. Particularly challenging are cases in which lesion areas are small and boundaries
[...] Read more.
Currently, the classification of grapevine black rot disease relies on assessing the percentage of affected spots in the total area, with a primary focus on accurately segmenting these spots in images. Particularly challenging are cases in which lesion areas are small and boundaries are ill-defined, hampering precise segmentation. In our study, we introduce an enhanced U-Net network tailored for segmenting black rot spots on grape leaves. Leveraging VGG as the U-Net’s backbone, we strategically position the atrous spatial pyramid pooling (ASPP) module at the base of the U-Net to serve as a link between the encoder and decoder. Additionally, channel and spatial dual-attention modules are integrated into the decoder, alongside a feature pyramid network aimed at fusing diverse levels of feature maps to enhance the segmentation of diseased regions. Our model outperforms traditional plant disease semantic segmentation approaches like DeeplabV3+, U-Net, and PSPNet, achieving impressive pixel accuracy (PA) and mean intersection over union (MIoU) scores of 94.33% and 91.09%, respectively. Demonstrating strong performance across various levels of spot segmentation, our method showcases its efficacy in enhancing the segmentation accuracy of black rot spots on grapevines.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computer Vision and Deep Learning Technology in Agriculture: Volume II)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Nitrogen-Rich Sewage Sludge Mineralized Quickly, Improving Lettuce Nutrition and Yield, with Reduced Risk of Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil and Plant Tissues
by
Margarida Arrobas, Ramily Meneses, Andressa Gribler Gusmão, Julieta Moreira da Silva, Carlos Manuel Correia and Manuel Ângelo Rodrigues
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 924; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050924 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2024
Abstract
Sewage sludge should primarily find use in agriculture, reducing the quantity directed towards alternative disposal methods like incineration or deposition in municipal landfills. This study evaluated the agronomic value and the risk of soil and plant tissue contamination with heavy metals in sewage
[...] Read more.
Sewage sludge should primarily find use in agriculture, reducing the quantity directed towards alternative disposal methods like incineration or deposition in municipal landfills. This study evaluated the agronomic value and the risk of soil and plant tissue contamination with heavy metals in sewage sludge obtained from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The experiment was arranged as a 2 × 5 factorial (two sewage sludges, five sanitation treatments), involving lettuce cultivation in pots over two growing cycles. The two sewage sludges were sourced from the WWTPs of Gelfa and Viana do Castelo and underwent five sanitation and stabilization treatments (40% and 20% calcium oxide, 40% and 20% calcium hydroxide, and untreated sewage sludge). The Gelfa sewage sludge, characterized by a higher initial nitrogen (N) concentration, resulted in greater dry-matter yield (DMY) (12.4 and 8.6 g plant−1 for the first and second growing cycles, respectively) compared to that from Viana do Castelo (11.0 and 8.1 g plant−1), with N release likely being a major factor influencing crop productivity. The high N concentration and the low carbon (C)/N ratio of sewage sludge led to rapid mineralization of the organic substrate, which additionally led to a higher release of other important nutrients, such as phosphorus (P) and boron (B), making them available for plant uptake. Alkalizing treatments further stimulated sewage sludge mineralization, increasing soil pH and exchangeable calcium (Ca), thereby enhancing Ca availability for plants, and indicating a preference for use in acidic soils. Cationic micronutrients were minimally affected by the sewage sludge and their treatments. The concentrations of heavy metals in the sewage sludge, soils, and lettuce tissues were all below internationally established threshold limits. This study highlighted the high fertilizing value of these sewage sludges, supplying N, P, and B to plants, while demonstrating a low risk of environmental contamination with heavy metals. Nevertheless, the safe use of sewage sludge by farmers depends on monitoring other risks, such as toxic organic compounds, which were not evaluated in this study.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Potential Aspects of Agro-Industrial By-Products in Circular Agriculture)
Open AccessArticle
The Impact of Microplastic Concentration and Particle Size on the Germination and Seedling Growth of Pisum sativum L.
by
Yibo Li, Genshen Yang, Chen Yu, Xiaoting Lei, Xuguang Xing, Xiaoyi Ma and Yan Sun
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 923; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050923 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2024
Abstract
Hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of varying particle sizes (5 μm, 0.1 μm, and 0.08 μm) and concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/L) of polystyrene plastic microspheres (PS-MPs) on the germination and growth of P. sativum
[...] Read more.
Hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of varying particle sizes (5 μm, 0.1 μm, and 0.08 μm) and concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/L) of polystyrene plastic microspheres (PS-MPs) on the germination and growth of P. sativum seeds in order to investigate the effects of the microplastic environment on crop seed germination and seedling growth. The findings demonstrated that PS-MPs significantly harmed P. sativum seed germination. Specifically, low concentrations or high particle sizes weakened or promoted P. sativum seed germination, indicating varying susceptibilities to PS-MP treatment at different particle sizes. The strongest inhibitory effect on growth was observed under small particle size (0.08 μm) and high concentration (2000 mg/L). Stress had less of an impact on P. sativum in environments with low concentrations of PS-MPs, but in environments with medium and high concentrations, physiological and biochemical indicators like germination rate, stem length, and root length were significantly impacted. Furthermore, the particle size and concentration of PS-MPs had an impact on the growth effect of P. sativum seedlings. The indices of P. sativum seed germination were significantly impacted by the particle size of PS-MPs, despite the fact that PS-MP concentration was low. When the concentration of PS-MPs is low, the effects of varying PS-MP particle sizes on seed germination and root length are as follows: 0.1 μm > 5 μm > 0.08 μm. The concentration of PS-MPs had a significant impact on how it affected the buildup of dry matter and photosynthetic pigment.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant-Crop Biology and Biochemistry)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Analysis of Microbial Diversity in Rhizosphere Soil of Panax notoginseng under Different Water and Microbial Fertilizer Conditions
by
Leilei Yao, Lei Kong, Qiliang Yang, Hongjuan Nian and Jiaping Liang
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 922; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050922 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2024
Abstract
Panax notoginseng is a highly regarded medicinal plant that has obstacles associated with continuous cropping. Understanding soil microorganisms is crucial, as they play a major role in this regard. However, soil microorganisms are affected by multiple factors; therefore, we need to conduct more
[...] Read more.
Panax notoginseng is a highly regarded medicinal plant that has obstacles associated with continuous cropping. Understanding soil microorganisms is crucial, as they play a major role in this regard. However, soil microorganisms are affected by multiple factors; therefore, we need to conduct more in-depth research. This study investigated the combined effects of irrigation and microbial fertilizer treatments (J1F1, J1F2, J2F1, J2F2, J3F1, J3F2, and CK) on the diversity of bacterial and fungal microbial communities in the rhizosphere of Panax notoginseng. The bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq. The results showed that, without microbial fertilizer (CK), the microbial community abundance and diversity were significantly lower than in the other treatments; moreover, among the microbial fertilizer treatments, the microbial abundance in F1 was higher than that in F2. Under the same microbial fertilizer application, the incidence rate of Panax notoginseng root rot was J2 > J1 > J3, and the yield of Panax notoginseng was J3 > J2 > J1. Under the same irrigation conditions, the incidence rate of Panax notoginseng root rot was F1 > F2, and the yield of Panax notoginseng was F2 > F1. This study provides important guidance for Panax notoginseng plant microbiota and sustainable agriculture.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
Open AccessArticle
Yield, Protein Content and Water-Related Physiologies of Spring Wheat Affected by Fertilizer System and Weather Conditions
by
Felicia Chețan, Diana Hirișcău, Teodor Rusu, Marius Bărdaș, Cornel Chețan, Alina Șimon and Paula Ioana Moraru
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050921 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2024
Abstract
Technological and climatic factors significantly influence the expression of quality and quantity properties of spring wheat. This study aims to quantify the effects of weather conditions and fertilizer systems on spring wheat yield, quality (protein content), and physiological indicators (leaf vapor pressure deficit,
[...] Read more.
Technological and climatic factors significantly influence the expression of quality and quantity properties of spring wheat. This study aims to quantify the effects of weather conditions and fertilizer systems on spring wheat yield, quality (protein content), and physiological indicators (leaf vapor pressure deficit, evapotranspiration, surface temperature of the flag leaf) and to identify a suitable spring wheat genotype for the Transylvanian Plain. The experimental factors were: Y represents the year (Y1, 2019; Y2, 2020); F represents the fertilizer variant (F1, a single rate of fertilization: 36 kg ha−1 of nitrogen; F2, two rates of fertilization: 36 kg ha−1 of nitrogen + 72 kg ha−1 of nitrogen; F3, two rates of fertilization: 36 kg ha−1 of nitrogen + 105 kg ha−1 of nitrogen); and S represents the genotype (S1, Pădureni; S2, Granny; S3, Triso; S4, Taisa; S5, Ciprian; and S6, Lennox). This multifactorial experiment with three factors was conducted on Phaeozem soil. Regardless of weather conditions, fertilization with N100–110 at the head swollen sheath (stage 10, Feeks Growth Scale for Wheat) is deemed the most suitable variant because it yields an average grain yield of 5000 kg ha−1 of good quality (13.84% protein) with a considerable flag leaf area (29 cm2) where physiological processes can optimally support the well-being of the spring wheat plants. Beyond this level of fertilization, the average grain yield tends to plateau, but the protein content considerably increases by 13–23%, depending on the genotype. High yields were achieved in the Lennox and Triso genotypes.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring the Potential for Crop Productivity by Applying Novel Agrochemicals, including Fertilizers, Biochar, Biostimulants, and Plant Nutrition Regulators)
Open AccessArticle
Oligonychus perseae (Tetranychidae) Invasion in the Canary Islands: History, Management and Current Situation
by
Eduardo Torres, Carlos Álvarez-Acosta, Francisco Ferragut and Estrella Marina Hernández-Suárez
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 920; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050920 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2024
Abstract
Avocado production has boomed worldwide in recent years, and Spain, including the Canary Islands, has been no exception. The number of avocado growers in the region has increased significantly as growers recognize the potential of this crop. However, several species of spider mites
[...] Read more.
Avocado production has boomed worldwide in recent years, and Spain, including the Canary Islands, has been no exception. The number of avocado growers in the region has increased significantly as growers recognize the potential of this crop. However, several species of spider mites (Tetranychidae) pose a risk to this crop, with the genus Oligonychus being the most diverse and having the greatest economic impact. In particular, Oligonychus perseae (Tuttle, Baker and Abbatiello) has been reported as the one mainly responsible for the economic damage in major avocado-producing regions worldwide. In this paper, we aim to present an overview of the studies conducted and the measures implemented to mitigate the impact of O. perseae after its arrival in the Canary Islands. Our objective is to provide a detailed description of the current status of this pest (O. perseae), with special attention to its situation 17 years after its first appearance in avocado crops in the Canary Islands. In doing so, we aim to provide valuable insights and knowledge to understand and manage better the challenges posed by O. perseae in this region.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment, Monitoring and Control of Agricultural Pests)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Enhances Rice Yield, Dry Matter, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency
by
Xiaoe He, Haijun Zhu, Ailong Shi and Xuehua Wang
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 919; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050919 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2024
Abstract
Optimizing nitrogen fertilizer management can effectively improve soil ecology, promote agricultural production, and increase the income of farmers and workers. Nitrogen fertilizer is an important factor in the growth and development of rice, and it is important to find out the optimal amount
[...] Read more.
Optimizing nitrogen fertilizer management can effectively improve soil ecology, promote agricultural production, and increase the income of farmers and workers. Nitrogen fertilizer is an important factor in the growth and development of rice, and it is important to find out the optimal amount and frequency of fertilizer application for the super-hybrid early rice ‘Zhu LiangYou 819’ in Hunan Province, to give full play to its high quality and high yield characteristics. Various N fertilizer application frequencies (P1, basal–tiller fertilizer = 5:5; P2, basal–tiller–spike fertilizer = 4:3:3; P3, basal–tiller–spike–grain fertilizer = 4:3:2:1) and N application amounts (N1, 90 kg ha−1; N2, 150 kg ha−1; N3, 210 kg ha−1) were applied to the hybrid rice ZLY819. The results show that, under the same frequency of N application, ZLY819 had the highest yield, agronomic efficiency, and physiological utilization rate of N fertilizer with the N2 treatment, averaging 7.53 t ha−1, 18.10 kg kg−1, and 34.34%, respectively, with the yield under N2 being 19.38% higher than that under N1. For the same amount of N application, the yield, agronomic efficiency, partial factor productivity of N (PFPN), N contribution to seed, and N use efficiency (NUE) increased with an increase in the frequency of N application, mainly in the order of P3 > P2 > P1, whereby the yield of P3 was 10.11% higher than that of P1. According to the regression equation, the yield is higher when the amount of nitrogen application is 202.15 kg ha−1 and the fertilization frequency is four times. Appropriate N fertilizer management (P3N2) improved the rice growth characteristics, dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, dry matter transport rate, dry matter contribution rate, and NUE, thus promoting an increase in the rice yield and efficient use of nitrogen.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fertigation Effects on Water and Nutrient Use Efficiency for Agro-Crop Plants)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Impact of Hood Steaming on Tuber Vitality of Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)
by
Jeroen Feys, Sander De Ryck, Clara Sciffer, Dirk Reheul, Joos Latré, Danny Callens and Benny De Cauwer
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 918; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050918 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Cyperus esculentus is a hard-to-control, destructive perennial weed propagating and spreading through rhizomes and tubers. Currently, a combination of mechanical, cultural, and chemical measures sustained over time is required for satisfactory control of arable crops. Hood steaming is a promising thermal technique for
[...] Read more.
Cyperus esculentus is a hard-to-control, destructive perennial weed propagating and spreading through rhizomes and tubers. Currently, a combination of mechanical, cultural, and chemical measures sustained over time is required for satisfactory control of arable crops. Hood steaming is a promising thermal technique for rapid depletion of the soil tuber bank. The effect of hood steaming on C. esculentus tuber vitality was investigated using a dose–response experiment on two localities in Belgium. Steaming was performed for five durations (2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 min). Moreover, the effects of tuber burial depth (5, 15, and 25 cm), genetic C. esculentus clone (three different clones), and pedohydrological parameters (sandy and sandy, loamy soil) on hood steaming efficacy were determined. Additionally, the heat sensitivity of genetically diverse C. esculentus tubers was investigated in a laboratory incubator experiment in which incubation temperature and duration varied. To control tubers at depths of 5, 15, and 25 cm, treatment durations of 8, 16, and 32 min were required, respectively. In general, clones producing large tubers showed lower heat sensitivity. As pedohydrological parameters may affect heat transfer into the soil, they may affect steaming efficacy as well. To obtain complete control of C. esculentus tubers, soil temperature should be 50 °C or more for at least 42 min. Hood steaming is a highly suitable alternative technique for a rapid and strong depletion of the soil tuber bank in small well-delineated C. esculentus patches.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Weed Science and Weed Management)
Open AccessArticle
Calibration and Evaluation of the SIMPLE Crop Growth Model Applied to the Common Bean under Irrigation
by
Miguel Servín-Palestina, Irineo López-Cruz, Jorge A. Zegbe, Agustín Ruiz-García, Raquel Salazar-Moreno and José Ángel Cid-Ríos
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 917; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050917 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Bean production is at risk due to climate change, declining water resources, and inadequate crop management. To address these challenges, dynamic models that predict crop growth and development can be used as fundamental tools to generate basic and applied knowledge such as production
[...] Read more.
Bean production is at risk due to climate change, declining water resources, and inadequate crop management. To address these challenges, dynamic models that predict crop growth and development can be used as fundamental tools to generate basic and applied knowledge such as production management and decision support. This study aimed to calibrate and evaluate the SIMPLE model under irrigation conditions for a semi-arid region in north-central Mexico and to simulate thermal time, biomass (Bio), and grain yield (GY) of common beans cv. ‘Pinto Saltillo’ using experimental data from four crop evapotranspiration treatments (ETct) (I50, I75, I100, and I125) applied during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons. Both experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Model calibration was carried out by posing and solving an optimization problem with the differential-evolution algorithm with 2020 experimental data, while the evaluation was performed with 2021 experimental data. For Bio, calibration values had a root-mean-square error and Nash and Sutcliffe’s efficiency of < 0.58 t ha−1 and > 0.93, respectively, while the corresponding evaluation values were < 1.80 t ha−1 and > 0.89, respectively. The I50 and I100 ETct had better fit for calibration, while I50 and I75 had better fit in the evaluation. On average, the model fitted for the predicted GY values had estimation errors of 37% and 22% for the calibration and evaluation procedures, respectively. Therefore, an empirical model was proposed to estimate the harvest index (HI), which produced, on average, a relative error of 6.9% for the bean-GY estimation. The SIMPLE model was able to predict bean biomass under irrigated conditions for these semi-arid regions of Mexico. Also, the use of both crop Bio and transpiration simulated by the SIMPLE model to calculate the HI significantly improved GY prediction under ETct. However, the harvest index needs to be validated under other irrigation levels and field experiments in different locations to strengthen the proposed model and design different GY scenarios under water restrictions for irrigation due to climate change.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predictions and Estimations in Agricultural Production under a Changing Climate—Volume II)
Open AccessArticle
Fertilising Maize with Bio-Based Mineral Fertilisers Gives Similar Growth to Conventional Fertilisers and Does Not Alter Soil Microbiome
by
Marcia Barquero, Cinta Cazador, Noemí Ortiz-Liébana, Maurizio Zotti, Javier Brañas and Fernando González-Andrés
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 916; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050916 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
The production of mineral fertilisers relies heavily on mineral deposits that are becoming depleted or is based on processes that are highly energy demanding. In this context, and in line with the circular economy and the European Green Deal, the recovery of nitrogen
[...] Read more.
The production of mineral fertilisers relies heavily on mineral deposits that are becoming depleted or is based on processes that are highly energy demanding. In this context, and in line with the circular economy and the European Green Deal, the recovery of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) from organic wastes using chemical technologies is an important strategy to produce secondary raw materials for incorporation into mineral fertilisers, partially replacing the traditional sources of N, P, and K. However, there are very few studies on the agronomic and environmental effects of such substitution. The aim of this work was to evaluate plant growth under microcosm conditions and the effect on the soil microbiome of mineral fertilisers in which part of the N, P, or K content comes from bio-based materials (BBMFs), namely ash, struvite, and a patented chemical process. The crop was maize, and a metataxonomic approach was used to assess the effect on the soil microbiome. The BBMF treatments were compared with a control treated with a conventional mineral fertiliser. The conventional fertiliser performed significantly better than the bio-based fertilisers in terms of maize biomass production at the first sampling point 60 days after sowing (DAS), but at the last sampling point, 90 DAS, the BBMFs showed comparable or even better biomass production than the conventional one. This suggests that BBMFs may have a slightly slower nutrient release rate. The use of fertiliser, whether conventional or BBMF, resulted in a significant increase in microbiome biodiversity (Shannon index), while it did not affect species richness. Interestingly, the use of fertilisers modulated the composition of the bacterial community, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacterial taxa considered to be plant-growth-promoting bacteria, without significant differences between the conventional mineral fertilisers and the BBMFs. The predominance of PGPRs in the rhizosphere of crops when BBMFs are used could be part of the reason why BBMFs perform similarly or even better than conventional fertilisers, even if the rate of nutrient release is slower. This hypothesis will be tested in future field trials. Thus, BBMFs are an interesting option to make the food chain more sustainable.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
Open AccessArticle
Comparison of Morphological, Physiological, and Related Gene Expression Responses to Drought Stress in Five Camellia vietnamensis Cultivars
by
Shuaishuai Shen, Wuping Yan, Shuao Xie, Jing Yu, Guanglong Yao, Ya Liu, Dongmei Yang, Yougen Wu and Huageng Yang
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 915; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050915 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
The main production area of Camellia vietnamensis (C. vietnamensis) is in the low mountain and hilly areas of southern China. The low survival rate of seedlings caused by drought is one of the main obstacles restricting the development of the C.
[...] Read more.
The main production area of Camellia vietnamensis (C. vietnamensis) is in the low mountain and hilly areas of southern China. The low survival rate of seedlings caused by drought is one of the main obstacles restricting the development of the C. vietnamensis industry. An exploration of the key adaptation mechanism of C. vietnamensis to drought stress is important in order to improve its drought resistance. We conducted a study on the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and drought resistance-related genes of five C. vietnamensis cultivars grown in Hainan province under varying degrees of drought stress. The results indicate that drought stress can lead to a decrease in the relative water content and photosynthetic capacity of C. vietnamensis leaves. Compared with the control, the drought damage index, malondialdehyde, relative electrical conductivity, soluble protein, soluble sugar and proline contents of the five C. vietnamensis cultivars increased with drought-stress duration and degree. With increasing drought-stress intensity, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of related metabolites (total polyphenols, total flavonoids, tea saponins) gradually increased, and the expression levels of phenylpropanoid pathway-related genes (Cv4CL1, CvCAD1, CvCAD2, CvPOX1, CvPOX2, CvPOX3) were upregulated. Based on the results of the drought tolerance coefficients, principal component analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis, we classified five C. vietnamensis cultivars into drought-tolerant cultivars (‘Haida 1’); moderately drought-tolerant cultivars (‘Haida 4’ and ‘Wanhai 4’); and drought-sensitive cultivars (‘Wanhai 3’ and ‘Wanhai 1’). The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the promotion and cultivation of C. vietnamensis and the selection of drought-resistant cultivars.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Breeding and Genetics)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Effects of Different N Fertilizer Doses on Phenology, Photosynthetic Fluorescence, and Yield of Quinoa
by
Yan Deng, Yan Zheng, Jingying Lu, Zeyun Guo, Xiaojing Sun, Li Zhao, Hongxia Guo, Liguang Zhang and Chuangyun Wang
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 914; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050914 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is gaining recognition as a pseudocereal due to its nutritional attributes and adaptability to challenging conditions and marginal soils. However, understanding the optimal fertilization for quinoa growth remains a challenge. This study investigates the effects of nitrogen fertilization
[...] Read more.
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is gaining recognition as a pseudocereal due to its nutritional attributes and adaptability to challenging conditions and marginal soils. However, understanding the optimal fertilization for quinoa growth remains a challenge. This study investigates the effects of nitrogen fertilization (0, 90, 120, and 150 kg using urea) on quinoa phenology, growth, and photosynthesis in the Loess Plateau region of China, a critical area facing soil erosion and ecological degradation. The results showed that nitrogen fertilization significantly influenced quinoa phenology, prompting early flowering and shorter growth at an optimum rate of 120 kg ha−1. Nitrogen application enhanced growth traits such as plant height, stem diameter, and chlorophyll content, particularly at the heading and flowering stages. Photosynthesis-related parameters, including net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO2 concentration, were affected by nitrogen application, with higher values observed at 120 kg ha−1. Non-photochemical quenching was significantly increased by nitrogen application, indicating the efficient dissipation of excess energy. The study demonstrated a positive correlation between grain yield and growth traits, photosynthesis-related traits, and chlorophyll content. In conclusion, quinoa yield could be significantly improved at the Loess Plateau region under rainfed conditions by an optimal nitrogen fertilizer rate of 120 kg ha−1, which reduces the growth duration while increasing photosynthesis traits.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agroecology Innovation: Achieving System Resilience)
Open AccessArticle
Complete Plastomes of Ten Rorippa Species (Brassicaceae): Comparative Analysis and Phylogenetic Relationships
by
Ting Ren, Lulu Xun, Yun Jia and Bin Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 913; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050913 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
The genus Rorippa belongs to the family Brassicaceae, and its members usually have high medicinal value. The genus consists of approximately 75 species and mainly grows in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring in every continent except Antarctica. The taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of Rorippa
[...] Read more.
The genus Rorippa belongs to the family Brassicaceae, and its members usually have high medicinal value. The genus consists of approximately 75 species and mainly grows in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring in every continent except Antarctica. The taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of Rorippa are still unsettled, largely due to complex morphological variations in Rorippa, which were caused by frequent hybridization events. Here, we sequenced four complete plastid genomes of Rorippa species by Illumina paired-end sequencing. The four new plastid genomes of Rorippa ranged in total size from 154,671 bp for R. palustris to 154,894 bp for R. sylvestris. There are 130 genes in the four plastomes, embodying 8 rRNA, 37 tRNA, and 85 protein-coding genes. Combining with six published plastid genomes, we carried on comparative and phylogenetic analyses. We found that the ten Rorippa plastid genomes were conservative in gene number and order, total size, genomic structure, codon usage, long repeat sequence, and SSR. Fourteen mutational hotspot regions could be selected as candidate DNA barcoding to distinguish Rorippa plants. The phylogenetic trees clearly identified that ten Rorippa species displayed monophyletic relationships within the tribe Cardamineae based on plastomes and nrDNA ITS sequences. However, there are significant cytonuclear discordances in the interspecific relationships within Rorippa, as well as the intergeneric relationships between Rorippa and its related genera. We inferred that the cytonuclear discordance is most likely a result of interspecific hybridization within Rorippa, as well as intergeneric hybridization with its related genera. These plastid genomes can offer precious information for studies of species authentication, evolutionary history, and the phylogeny of Rorippa.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recognition and Utilization of Natural Genetic Resources for Advances in Plant Biology through Genomics and Biotechnology Volume II)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Agronomic Biofortification of Fodder Maize (Zea mays L.) with Zn for Improving Herbage Productivity and Its Quality
by
Balwinder Kumar, Hari Ram and Jeff Schoenau
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 912; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050912 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Zinc (Zn) deficiency in soils not only reduces the productivity of forage crops, but also results in inadequate dietary zinc intake for livestock. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different rates and methods of applying ZnSO4 to
[...] Read more.
Zinc (Zn) deficiency in soils not only reduces the productivity of forage crops, but also results in inadequate dietary zinc intake for livestock. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different rates and methods of applying ZnSO4 to both soil and foliage on the yield and quality of fodder maize grown in a sandy loam soil testing low in DTPA-extractable Zn. A 2-year field experiment was conducted with six treatments including control, foliar application of 0.3% ZnSO4 at 30 days after sowing (DAS) (F1), foliar application of 0.3% ZnSO4 at 30 and 40 DAS (F2), soil application of 16 kg ha−1 ZnSO4 (S16) and a combination of both soil and foliar ZnSO4 application (S16 + F1 and S16 + F2). Increase in green herbage yield by 25%, dry matter yield by 47% and Zn content by 79% was observed under S16 + F2 treatment over the control. Zinc application improved N, K, Cu and crude protein content of herbage significantly over the control. Thus, the study shows that significant improvement in growth parameters, herbage yield and quality of maize can be achieved with soil Zn application + two foliar sprays of ZnSO4 at 30 and 40 DAS, thereby ensuring availability of improved fodder Zn to the livestock.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Transcriptome Analysis and Validation of Anthracnose Resistance Genes in Walnut Varieties
by
Xiuzhen Li, Yuman Wang, Long Zhao, Wenxuan Ding, Sudan Chen, Xueqiang Li and Peijie Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 911; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050911 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Anthracnose is extremely detrimental to walnut production, because it seriously affects its yield. Therefore, this study aimed to identify anthracnose resistance genes in walnuts, to lay the foundation for cultivating novel anthracnose-resistant walnut varieties. In this study, the fruits of walnut varieties “Qinyou
[...] Read more.
Anthracnose is extremely detrimental to walnut production, because it seriously affects its yield. Therefore, this study aimed to identify anthracnose resistance genes in walnuts, to lay the foundation for cultivating novel anthracnose-resistant walnut varieties. In this study, the fruits of walnut varieties “Qinyou 1” and “Qinyou 2”, exhibiting relatively weak resistance to anthracnose, were used for transcriptome sequencing and identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Thereafter, we used a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to verify the reliability of the transcriptome data using the walnut varieties Qinyou 1, Qinyou 2, Qinyou 3, Liaohe 1, and Diamond 1. We identified 6326 DEGs post-infection in Qinyou 1, of which 3065 were upregulated and 3261 were downregulated. We also found 2055 DEGs (969 upregulated and 1086 downregulated genes) in the two varieties, after 6 days of anthracnose infection. Based on GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the transcriptome data, we noted that the DEGs were primarily involved in metabolic processes, cell composition, cell structure, catalytic activity, and binding activity. Furthermore, KEGG functional enrichment analysis showed that the amino acid biosynthesis pathway and plant–pathogen interaction may be activated under anthracnose infection. We also noted that the expression levels of anthracnose resistance genes in different walnut varieties were significantly different. Thus, the findings of this study provide important genetic resources and molecular markers for the cultivation of novel anthracnose-resistant walnut varieties.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Breeding and Genetics)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Detection of Gannan Navel Orange Ripeness in Natural Environment Based on YOLOv5-NMM
by
Binbin Zhou, Kaijun Wu and Ming Chen
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 910; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050910 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
In order to achieve fast and accurate detection of Gannan navel orange fruits with different ripeness levels in a natural environment under all-weather scenarios and then to realise automated harvesting of Gannan navel oranges, this paper proposes a YOLOv5-NMM (YOLOv5 with Navel orange
[...] Read more.
In order to achieve fast and accurate detection of Gannan navel orange fruits with different ripeness levels in a natural environment under all-weather scenarios and then to realise automated harvesting of Gannan navel oranges, this paper proposes a YOLOv5-NMM (YOLOv5 with Navel orange Measure Model) object detection model based on the improvement in the original YOLOv5 model. Based on the changes in the phenotypic characteristics of navel oranges and the Chinese national standard GB/T 21488-2008, the maturity of Gannan navel oranges is tested. And it addresses and improves the problems of occlusion, dense distribution, small target size, rainy days, and light changes in the detection of navel orange fruits. Firstly, a new detection head of 160 × 160 feature maps is constructed in the detection layer to improve the multi-scale target detection layer of YOLOv5 and to increase the detection accuracy of the different maturity levels of Gannan navel oranges of small sizes. Secondly, a convolutional block attention module is incorporated in its backbone layer to capture the correlations between features in different dimensions to improve the perceptual ability of the model. Then, the weighted bidirectional feature pyramid network structure is integrated into the Neck layer to improve the fusion efficiency of the network on the feature maps and reduce the amount of computation. Lastly, in order to reduce the loss of the target of the Gannan Navel Orange due to occlusion and overlapping, the detection frame is used to remove redundancy using the Soft-NMS algorithm to remove redundant candidate frames. The results show that the accuracy rate, recall rate, and average accuracy of the improved YOLOv5-NMM model are 93.2%, 89.6%, and 94.2%, respectively, and the number of parameters is only 7.2 M. Compared with the mainstream network models, such as Faster R-CNN, YOLOv3, the original model of YOLOv5, and YOLOv7-tiny, it is superior in terms of the accuracy rate, recall rate, and average accuracy mean, and also performs well in terms of the detection rate and memory occupation. This study shows that the YOLOv5-NMM model can effectively identify and detect the ripeness of Gannan navel oranges in natural environments, which provides an effective exploration of the automated harvesting of Gannan navel orange fruits.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Precision and Digital Agriculture)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessEditorial
Introduction to Special Issue on “The System of Rice Intensification (SRI)—Contributions to Agricultural Sustainability”
by
Norman Uphoff
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 909; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050909 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
The ideas and methods that constitute the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) were first synthesized in Madagascar by Henri de Laulanié in the early 1980s [...]
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Contributions to Agricultural Sustainability-II)
Open AccessArticle
Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of Plasma Membrane H+-ATPases Associated with Waterlogging in Prunus persica (L.) Batsch
by
Yuyan Zhang, Qinsi Mao, Xin Guo, Ruijuan Ma, Mingliang Yu, Jianlan Xu and Shaolei Guo
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 908; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050908 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Plant plasma membrane H+-ATPase is a transport protein that is generally located on the plasma membrane and generates energy by hydrolyzing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to pump hydrogen ions (H+) in the cytoplasm out of the cell against a concentration
[...] Read more.
Plant plasma membrane H+-ATPase is a transport protein that is generally located on the plasma membrane and generates energy by hydrolyzing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to pump hydrogen ions (H+) in the cytoplasm out of the cell against a concentration gradient. The plasma membrane H+-ATPases in plants are encoded by a multigene family and potentially play a fundamental role in regulating plant responses to various abiotic stresses, thus contributing to plant adaptation under adverse conditions. To understand the characteristics of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase family in peach (Prunus persica), this study analyzed the plasma membrane H+-ATPase family genes in peach. The results showed that there were 27 members of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase family in peach with amino acid sequences ranging from 943 to 1327. Subcellular localization showed that 23 of the 27 members were located on the cell membrane, and the phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that peach plasma membrane H+-ATPase members were divided into five groups. There were four genes with tandem repeat relationships, and six plasma membrane H+-ATPase genes were differentially expressed after 5 days of flooding and under non-flooding conditions based on the RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analyses. This study also investigated the characteristics and possible functions of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase family members in peach. The results provide theoretical support for further studies on their biological functions in peach.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Journal Menu
► ▼ Journal Menu-
- Agronomy Home
- Aims & Scope
- Editorial Board
- Reviewer Board
- Topical Advisory Panel
- Instructions for Authors
- Special Issues
- Topics
- Sections & Collections
- Article Processing Charge
- Indexing & Archiving
- Editor’s Choice Articles
- Most Cited & Viewed
- Journal Statistics
- Journal History
- Journal Awards
- Society Collaborations
- Conferences
- Editorial Office
Journal Browser
► ▼ Journal BrowserHighly Accessed Articles
Latest Books
E-Mail Alert
News
Topics
Topic in
Agronomy, Agriculture, Crops, Seeds
Advances in Industrial Crops Physioecology and Sustainable Cultivation
Topic Editors: Wei Hu, Zhiguo Zhou, Wenqing ZhaoDeadline: 30 April 2024
Topic in
Agronomy, Climate, Earth, Remote Sensing, Water
Advances in Crop Simulation Modelling
Topic Editors: Mavromatis Theodoros, Thomas Alexandridis, Vassilis AschonitisDeadline: 15 June 2024
Topic in
Agronomy, Beverages, Fermentation, Horticulturae, Plants
Grapevine Facing Climate Change: From Land, through Plants to Grapes and Wine
Topic Editors: Othmane Merah, Ana Fernandes De Oliveira, Daniela Satta, Mario Cunha, Jesus Yuste, Jalloul BouajilaDeadline: 30 June 2024
Topic in
Agronomy, Environments, Microorganisms, Pollutants, Sustainability, Water
Soil and Water Pollution Process and Remediation Technologies, 2nd Volume
Topic Editors: Hongbiao Cui, Ru Wang, Yu Shi, Haiying Lu, Lin ChenDeadline: 15 July 2024
Conferences
Special Issues
Special Issue in
Agronomy
Fruits Crops Improvements in View of Marker Development, Genetic Diversity, Population Structure Traits Tagging and GWAS
Guest Editor: Manosh BiswasDeadline: 1 May 2024
Special Issue in
Agronomy
Mitigation of Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Livestock Systems
Guest Editors: David Fangueiro, José L. S. PereiraDeadline: 20 May 2024
Special Issue in
Agronomy
The Effects of Inoculation with Microorganisms on Plant Nutrition, Yield and Quality
Guest Editors: Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho, Mariangela HungriaDeadline: 30 May 2024
Special Issue in
Agronomy
Spatially-Based Services and Applications in Precision Farming: From Data to Field Information
Guest Editor: Enrico Corrado Borgogno MondinoDeadline: 20 June 2024
Topical Collections
Topical Collection in
Agronomy
Advances of Agricultural Robotics in Sustainable Agriculture 4.0
Collection Editors: Xiangjun Zou, Yunchao Tang, Junfeng Gao, Liang Gong, Simon van Mourik, Ya Xiong
Topical Collection in
Agronomy
Machine Learning in Digital Agriculture
Collection Editors: Thomas Scholten, Karsten Schmidt, Ruhollah Taghizadeh-Mehrjardi
Topical Collection in
Agronomy
A Series of Special Reviews and Topic Analyses That Explore Major Trends and Challenges in Agronomy
Collection Editors: Peter Langridge, Leslie A. Weston, Ilias Travlos
Topical Collection in
Agronomy
Agro-Ecology for Grassland-Based Farming Systems
Collection Editor: Gianni Bellocchi