sustainability-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Frontiers in Soil Microbial Ecology and Its Role in Sustainable Agroecosystems

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 6819

Special Issue Editors

Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
Interests: soil science; soil microbiology; abiotic stress; rhizobacteria; plant growth; heavy metals
Department of Agronomy, The University of Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Interests: agroecosystem; climate change; soil ecology; agronomy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Soil Science, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
Interests: soil science; climate chnge; soil ecology; C and N cycling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The world population continues to increase and there is a real concern regarding our ability to feed all of these people, an endeavor that requires a continual increase in agricultural productivity. Thus, more than ever, obtaining high yields is the main challenge for agriculture. Sustainable crop production should switch from growing plants to the cultivation of plant–microbial communities, which can reach high productivity under minimal energy and chemical investments along with minimal pressure on the environment. Much effort and cooperation among experts in different fields of science is, therefore, needed in order to be successful in attaining microbial-based technologies. Many of today’s environmental problems in crop production are due to applications of chemical fertilizers that provide an imbalance of mineral nutrients. In this context, soil microorganisms with beneficial activity on plant growth and health represent an attractive alternative to conventional agriculture. In recent years, several microbial inoculants have been formulated, produced, marketed, and applied successfully by an increasing number of growers. Although all parts of the plant are colonized by microorganisms, the rhizosphere represents the main source of microorganisms with plant-beneficial activities. The microbes generally promote plant growth in two ways: direct stimulation and biocontrol. The positive effect of many soil microorganisms on plants is mediated by a range of mechanisms including the improvement of mineral nutrition, the enhancement of plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress, and the modification of root development, as well as the suppression of soil-borne diseases. The microorganisms’ traits involved in these activities include nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, iron sequestration, the synthesis of phytohormones, the modulation of plant ethylene levels, and the control of phytopathogenic microorganisms. This Special Issue provides insights into the “Frontiers in Soil Microbial Ecology and Its Role in Sustainable Agroecosystems”.

Dr. Muhammad Zafar-ul-Hye
Guest Editor

Dr. Shah Fahad
Dr. Muhammad Shaaban
Co-Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microorganisms
  • rhizosphere
  • biocontrol
  • bioremediation
  • plant growth
  • soil ecology

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

26 pages, 27821 KiB  
Article
New Fungal Strains from Peat Soil in Malaysia: Morphological and Molecular Characteristics
by Efaq Ali Noman, Adel Ali Al-Gheethi, Baliks A. Talip, Radin Maya Saphira Radin Mohamed, Reyad Almoheer, Fairoz Ali Al-Wrafy, Najeeb Al-Shorgani and Hesham Ali El Enshasy
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5902; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15075902 - 28 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1565
Abstract
Fungi have unique properties and are used in many areas of agriculture and industry because they can produce different enzymes. This study aims to study the fungal diversity in peat soil from Pontian in Johor, Malaysia. The fungal isolates were described on different [...] Read more.
Fungi have unique properties and are used in many areas of agriculture and industry because they can produce different enzymes. This study aims to study the fungal diversity in peat soil from Pontian in Johor, Malaysia. The fungal isolates were described on different culture media and on a new culture medium called EVA medium and were identified using the phenotypical characteristics and molecular properties of the D1/D2 domain of the 28S large subunit ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA) and ITS (ITS1-ITS4) rDNA regions. The results revealed that 14 fungal species (15 isolates) were identified, among them, 6 were categorized as newly isolated strains and recorded in Malaysia; these include Aspergillus arenarioides EAN603, A. iizukae EAN605, Paraconiothyrium brasiliense EAN202, Parengyodontium album EAN602, Penicillium pedernalense EAN604, and Purpureocillium lilacinum EAN601. The cultural, morphological, microstructure, and molecular characteristics of these new strains have been described in this study. It was noted that the EVA medium exhibited a moderate support for fungal growth and sporulation compared to other culture media. Furthermore, the efficiency of the new medium as an enrichment medium to isolate fungi from peat soils with high ligninolytic content was discussed. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1621 KiB  
Article
Precision Nitrogen Management in Bt Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) Improves Seed Cotton Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Reduces Nitrous Oxide Emissions
by Rajeev Kumar Gupta, Arun Shankar, Bijay-Singh, Rajan Bhatt, Asma A. Al-Huqail, Manzer H. Siddiqui and Ritesh Kumar
Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2007; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14042007 - 10 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1854
Abstract
Field experiments were conducted to establish precision N management technology for nitrogen (N) topdressings in Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) along with the quantification of nitrous oxide emissions from the soil. The treatments consisted of five fixed N [...] Read more.
Field experiments were conducted to establish precision N management technology for nitrogen (N) topdressings in Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) along with the quantification of nitrous oxide emissions from the soil. The treatments consisted of five fixed N rates (0, 60, 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha−1 applied in two split doses) and eight site-specific N management (SSNM) treatments of applying different N rates at 40 days after sowing (DAS) and the application of leaf colour chart (LCC)-guided 30, 45 or 60 kg N ha−1 at 55 DAS only in four treatments and at both 55 and 85 DAS (first flowering and boll formation stages) in the remaining four treatments. A higher R2 value between the total N uptake and the leaf N concentration at 85 DAS than at 55 DAS strongly suggested that fertilizer N management based on leaf N concentration measured in terms of LCC scores led to an adequate total N uptake resulting in a respectable yield. Topdressings of 45 to 60 kg N ha−1 at 40 DAS and an LCC-based application at 55 DAS produced seed cotton yields on a par with the addition of 150 kg N ha−1 based on a soil test basis along with an improved recovery and agronomic efficiency use, and remarkably lowered the nitrous oxide emissions as estimated using the CCAFS (Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security)-Mitigation Option Tool. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2007 KiB  
Article
Application of Zinc Fertilizer and Mycorrhizal Inoculation on Physio-Biochemical Parameters of Wheat Grown under Water-Stressed Environment
by Syeda Fasiha Amjad, Nida Mansoora, Israr Ud Din, Rana Khalid Iqbal, Ghulam Hussain Jatoi, Ghulam Murtaza, Samia Yaseen, Maliha Naz, Subhan Danish, Shah Fahad and Rahul Datta
Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 11007; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131911007 - 04 Oct 2021
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 2050
Abstract
Drought stress and poor zinc (Zn) are major constraints for commercial agriculture. Their detrimental effects significantly decrease crop’s growth and yield. Less water uptake disturbs the metabolic processes in plants. However, the deficiency of Zn leads to the inactivation of many enzymes. It [...] Read more.
Drought stress and poor zinc (Zn) are major constraints for commercial agriculture. Their detrimental effects significantly decrease crop’s growth and yield. Less water uptake disturbs the metabolic processes in plants. However, the deficiency of Zn leads to the inactivation of many enzymes. It is well documented that cereal crops, especially wheat, are susceptible to drought and Zn deficiency. Scientists suggest the supplementation of Zn along bio-fertilizers for the sustainable management of these issues. That is why the current experiment was conducted to explore the best combination of Zn and bio-fertilizer for wheat. There were two different recommended concentrations of Zn sulfate (Zinc level 1 (Zn1) = 20 and Zinc level 2 (Zn2) = 40 kg ha−1) applied under normal irrigation (75% field capacity = FC) and severe drought stress (40% FC). Sole and combined inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM) with Zn1 and Zn2 was also performed. Osmotic stress (40% FC) significantly decreased the examined growth parameters. It also significantly enhanced antioxidant and oxidative indicators in wheat. A significant increase in root fresh weight, root dry weight, and shoot length while a significant decrease in EL, SOD, POD over the control validated the efficacious role of Zn2 + AM. It is concluded that Zn2 + AM can improve wheat root fresh weight and root length wheat under 40% FC. Under different climatic zones, wheat varieties, and soil types, more investigations are recommended to declare Zn2 + AM as the best amendment for improving wheat growth attributes under osmotic stress. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop