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Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 24 April 2024 | Viewed by 60418

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naveed

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
Interests: recycling of organic wastes; formulation of bio-organo-fertilizer; biochar production and utilization; bacterial seed endophyte; impregnation of fertilizers with endophyte; microbial ecology/diversity; plant growth under stress conditions; micronutrient fertilization
Dr. Adnan Mustafa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Environmental Protection, Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, 61200 Brno, Czechia
Interests: soil fertility and plant nutrition; biogeochemistry of C and N; soil organic matter (SOM); recycling of organic wastes; biochar production and utilization; plant growth under stress conditions; phytoremediation of emerging pollutants; bioremediation; biofertilizers; composting from organic wastes; soil microbial biomass
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Global demand for food is expected to continue increasing markedly in the coming decades, mainly due to human population growth, but also to rising incomes in developing countries. In fact, an increase of 47% in the global food consumption has been estimated for the period 2010–2050. Consequently, sustaining crop production and food security has become an alarming and pressing issue for the scientific community. On the other hand, the increase in industrialization has caused the deterioration of soil, environment, and ultimately food quality. Agricultural crop production has been especially threatened by climatic extremes, including but not limited to droughts, salinity stress, heavy metal stress, water logging, heat waves, potentially toxic elements (PTEs), and attack by pathogens. Agricultural development in this regard has served to sustain crop production under stressed environments, but often with negative impacts on the environment. Therefore, more suitable strategies should be considered to produce more food on the existing land base, while simultaneously reducing environmental impacts. Pertinent to this, novel agricultural approaches to sustain agricultural production on marginal/degraded lands have been developed, our understanding of the effects of innovative (organic and inorganic) amendments on crop stress (biotic and abiotic) tolerance is limited. Recently, plant–microbe interactions have gained the attention of the scientific community to combat plant stresses. This Special Issue will also focus on such interactions, rhizospheric modifications/engineering, and the role of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in sustainable crop production.

This Special Issue in the journal Sustainability will aim to gather a collection of high-quality works on sustainable agro-ecosystems through supporting crop production under polluted environments using advanced organic and inorganic amendments.

We are pleased to welcome original and technical articles, reviews, short communications, and meta-analyses pertaining to the following keywords.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naveed
Dr. Adnan Mustafa
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

  • sustainable agriculture
  • food security
  • environmental pollution
  • phytostimulants
  • heavy metal stress
  • salt stress
  • drought
  • plant pathogens
  • biochar
  • compost
  • zeolite
  • PGPR
  • nano-composites
  • crop physiology
  • agronomic practices
  • C sequestration
  • plant nutrition
  • phytoremediation
  • plant growth
  • stress tolerance mechanisms

Published Papers (22 papers)

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19 pages, 1673 KiB  
Article
Metal Resistant Enterobacter cloacae ZA14 Enhanced Seedling Vigor and Metal Tolerance through Improved Growth, Physiology and Antioxidants in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Irrigated with Textile Effluents
by Zainab Naseem, Muhammad Naveed, Hafiz Naeem Asghar and Mansoor Hameed
Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13619; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142013619 - 20 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1693
Abstract
The presence of toxic heavy metals and dyes in textile wastewater is a serious problem contaminating vegetables by irrigation. This contaminated food upon consumption undermines human health and is lethal for human life. The endophytic bacteria have the ability to degrade textile dyes [...] Read more.
The presence of toxic heavy metals and dyes in textile wastewater is a serious problem contaminating vegetables by irrigation. This contaminated food upon consumption undermines human health and is lethal for human life. The endophytic bacteria have the ability to degrade textile dyes and remediate heavy metals. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate useful concentration levels of textile wastewater (TWW) for irrigation in combination with the endophytic bacterium Enterobacter cloacae ZA14 to remediate heavy metals for improving growth of the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant. The tomato seedlings showed inhibited germination (52%); suppressed root length (55%) and shoot length (53%); declined RWC (47%); lowest CSI (34%); reduced MSI (32%); increased accumulation of heavy metals Cr, Pb, and Cd in roots and shoots; with decreased metal tolerance index; and rise in production of total thiols (57%) at use of 100% TWW without bacterial application. On the contrary, the supplementation of endophytic bacterium ZA14 showed improved germination (100%), a decline of 3 and 5% in root and shoot length respectively, increased CSI (13%), decrease in MSI (6%), reduced bioaccumulation of Cr (root 30 and shoot 56%), Pb (root 58 and shoot 65%), and Cd (root 21 and shoot 58%), total thiols (76%), when irrigated with 25% TWW. Hence, it is concluded that the irrigation with 25% TWW, along with the application of Enterobacter cloacae ZA14, may improve the growth of tomato by mitigating the phytotoxicity of dyes and heavy metals from textile wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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17 pages, 11005 KiB  
Article
Insight into Membrane Stability and Physiological Responses of Selected Salt-Tolerant and Salt-Sensitive Cell Lines of Troyer Citrange (Citrus sinensis [L.] x Citrus trifoliata [L.] Raf.) under Salt Stress
by Houda ElYacoubi, Fatine Mouhssine, Hamada Imtara, Imane Ouallal, Sara Ech-cheddadi, Ayolié Koutoua, Mohamed Lagzouli, Badriyah S. Alotaibi, Omkulthom Al kamaly, Mohammad Khalid Parvez and Atmane Rochdi
Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9583; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159583 - 04 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1298
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the membrane integrity and some physiological responses of rootstock citrus calli under exposure to different concentrations of NaCl. Selected salt-tolerant cell lines were compared with salt-sensitive calli of Troyer’s citrange (Citrus sinensis [L.] x [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the membrane integrity and some physiological responses of rootstock citrus calli under exposure to different concentrations of NaCl. Selected salt-tolerant cell lines were compared with salt-sensitive calli of Troyer’s citrange (Citrus sinensis [L.] x Citrus trifoliata [L.] Raf.) (TC) with respect to growth, water content, Na+, K+ and Cl− ion content as well as cell membrane stability under exposure to different NaCl concentrations. The results show that the stressed sensitive lines have a consistently high ion efflux. The values recorded for these sensitive calli are 3 to 6 times higher than those of the tolerant calli. Thus, only selected halotolerant calli were able to maintain the integrity of their membranes under salt stress conditions. In the sensitive calli, NaCl always induces a slowing down of growth even from 4 g L−1, and the reduction in the relative growth rate is higher than 50% and reaches more than 90% for the three culture durations at 8 g L−1 NaCl. For the salt-tolerant selected lines, the relative growth rate seems to be slightly slowed down until the second month of culture but becomes equal to that of the control at the third month, whether at 4 or 8 g L−1 NaCl. At the end of the third month, the relative growth rate of the selected calli is 100% at 8 g L−1 NaCl. The water content is twice as high in the selected tolerant calli as in the sensitive ones after three months of salt treatment at 8 g L−1 NaCl. After long-term culture, the halotolerant calli absorbed similar or even higher amounts of Na+ and Cl− than the salt-sensitive lines. However, by the 3rd month, the recorded accumulation rate dropped in the unselected but continued to increase in the tolerant calli (4-fold higher at 12 g L−1 NaCl than the control). Furthermore, exposure of both types of calli (salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant) to equal concentrations of NaCl resulted in greater loss of K+ by the NaCl-sensitive lines. However, for tolerant lines, K+ uptake is not affected at 4 g L−1 NaCl and the decrease in tissue content is less than 25% at 8 g L−1 NaCl. From this observation, it can be concluded that growth and the ability to retain high levels of internal K+ are correlated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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20 pages, 2097 KiB  
Article
Ammonium and Phosphate Recovery from Biogas Slurry: Multivariate Statistical Analysis Approach
by Aftab Ali Kubar, Qing Huang, Kashif Ali Kubar, Muhammad Amjad Khan, Muhammad Sajjad, Sumaira Gul, Chen Yang, Qingqing Wang, Genmao Guo, Ghulam Mustafa Kubar, Muhammad Ibrahim Kubar and Niaz Ahmed Wahocho
Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5617; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14095617 - 06 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2266
Abstract
Livestock biogas slurry is an effluent containing nutrients such as ammonium and phosphate that are released by the industries. Therefore, recovery and reuse of ammonium and phosphorus is highly necessary. In recent years, many studies have been devoted to the use of different [...] Read more.
Livestock biogas slurry is an effluent containing nutrients such as ammonium and phosphate that are released by the industries. Therefore, recovery and reuse of ammonium and phosphorus is highly necessary. In recent years, many studies have been devoted to the use of different multivariate statistical analyses to investigate the interrelationship of one factor to another factor. The overall objective of this research study was to understand the significance of phosphate and ammonium recovery from biogas slurry using the multivariate statistical approach. This study was conducted using a range of salts that are commonly found in biogas slurry (ZnCl2, FeCl3, FeCl2, CuCl2, Na2CO3, and NaHCO3). Experiments with a biogas digester and aqueous solution were conducted at pH 9, with integration with NH4+, Mg2+, and PO43− molar ratios of 1.0, 1.2, and 1.8, respectively. The removal efficiency of ammonium and phosphate increased from 15.0% to 71.0% and 18.0% to 99.0%, respectively, by increasing the dose of respective ions K+, Zn2+, Fe3+, Fe2+, Cu2+, and CO32−. The elements were increased from 58.0 to 71.0 for HCO3−, with the concentration increasing from 30 mg L−1 to 240 mg L−1. Principal component, regression, path analysis, and Pearson correlation analyses were used to investigate the relationships of phosphate and ammonium recovery under different biochar, pyrolysis temperature, element concentration and removal efficiencies. Multivariate statistical analysis was also used to comprehensively evaluate the biochar and struvite effects on recovery of ammonium and phosphate from biogas slurry. The results showed that combined study of multivariate statistics suggested that all the indicators positively or negatively affected each other. Pearson correlation was insignificant in many ionic concentrations, as all were more than the significant 0.05. The study concluded that temperature, biochar type, and varying levels of components, such as K+, Zn2+, Fe3+, Fe2+, Cu2+, CO32−, and HCO3−, all had a substantial impact on P and NH4+ recovery. Temperature and varying amounts of metal salts enhanced the efficacy of ammonium and phosphate recovery. This research elucidated the methods by which biochar effectively reuses nitrogen and phosphate from biogas slurry, presenting a long-term agricultural solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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18 pages, 2044 KiB  
Article
Soil Amendment with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Biochar Improves Salinity Tolerance, Growth, and Lipid Metabolism of Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
by Ndiaye Ibra Ndiate, Qamar uz Zaman, Imade Nosakahre Francis, Oyeyemi Adigun Dada, Abdul Rehman, Muhammad Asif, Deborah Goffner, Aboubacry Kane, Cai Liqun and Fasih Ullah Haider
Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3210; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063210 - 09 Mar 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2793
Abstract
Salt stress in soils impacts grain crop yield. Soil amendment with biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal alone has been analyzed to improve the growth of several crops under salinity stress. However, the combined application of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for the remediation of [...] Read more.
Salt stress in soils impacts grain crop yield. Soil amendment with biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal alone has been analyzed to improve the growth of several crops under salinity stress. However, the combined application of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for the remediation of salinity and improvement of crop productivity in wheat are rarely discussed and have remained unclear. Therefore, this experiment was performed to investigate the effect with biochar (150 g biochar per each treated pot containing 3 kg soil) and/or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (20 g AMF inoculum containing 80% mycorrhizal roots, 100–160 spores, and extraradical hyphae per each treated pot) on the productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under four salt stress gradients; 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl. The results show salinity significantly reduced plant height (9.9% to 22.9%), shoot fresh weight (35.6% to 64.4%), enzymatic activities (34.1% to 39.3%), and photosynthetic pigments—i.e., total chlorophyll contents (75.0%) and carotenoids contents (56.2%) of plants—as compared with control. Under exclusive biochar application, the plants were moderately tolerant to salinity stress, which was evident in their growth, moderately reduced fatty acid content, partially impaired enzymatic activity, and photosynthetic pigments, while under the exclusive AMF application, the wheat plants were relatively sensitive to salinity stress, resulting in impaired growth rate, decreased unsaturated fatty acid composition, enzymatic activity, and photosynthetic pigments. Conversely, under the co-application of biochar and AMF, wheat plants partially increased plant height (14.1%), shoot fresh biomass (75.7%), root fresh biomass (24.9%), partially increased enzymatic activity (49.5%), and unimpaired photosynthetic pigments (30.2% to 54.8%) of wheat under salinity stress. Current findings concluded that exclusive incorporation of biochar, and the synergistic application of AMF and biochar, could be utilized as a promising way to reduce the deleterious effects of salinity stress in wheat production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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17 pages, 2836 KiB  
Article
Effect of Consecutive Application of Phosphorus-Enriched Biochar with Different Levels of P on Growth Performance of Maize for Two Successive Growing Seasons
by Farman Wali, Shahid Sardar, Muhammad Naveed, Muhammad Asif, Mohammad Tahsin Karimi Nezhad, Khurram Shehzad Baig, Mohsin Bashir and Adnan Mustafa
Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 1987; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14041987 - 10 Feb 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2257
Abstract
Sustainable management of phosphorus (P) is one of the burning issues in agriculture because the reported P losses, when applied in the form of mineral fertilizer, give rise to another issue of water pollution as P is considered one of the limiting nutrients [...] Read more.
Sustainable management of phosphorus (P) is one of the burning issues in agriculture because the reported P losses, when applied in the form of mineral fertilizer, give rise to another issue of water pollution as P is considered one of the limiting nutrients for eutrophication and so results in costly water treatments. In the present study, the enrichment of biochar with mineral P fertilizer was supposed to reduce such losses from the soil. Additionally, P can also be recycled through this technique at the same time as biochar is derived from biomass. Biochar was prepared using wheat straw followed by its enrichment with di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) at the ratio of 1:1 on a w/w basis. The first pot trial for spring maize (cv. Neelam) was conducted using phosphorus-enriched biochar (PEB) at 0% and 1% with different levels of recommended P (0%, 25%, 50%, and 100%). The treatments were arranged factorially under a complete randomized design (CRD) with three replications. After harvesting the spring maize, pots were kept undisturbed, and a second pot trial was conducted for autumn maize in the same pots to assess the residual impact of 1% PEB. In the second pot trial, only inorganic P was applied to respective treatments because the pots contained 1% PEB supplied to spring maize. The results revealed that the application of 1% PEB at P level 50% significantly increased all the recorded plant traits (growth, yield, and physiological and chemical parameters) and some selected properties of post-harvest soil (available P, organic matter, and EC) but not soil pH. In terms of yield, 1% PEB at 50% P significantly increased both the number of grains and 100-grain weight by around 30% and 21% in spring and autumn maize, respectively, as compared to 100% P without PEB. It is therefore recommended that P-enriched biochar should be used to reduce the inorganic P fertilizer inputs; however, its application under field conditions should be assessed in future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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18 pages, 18683 KiB  
Article
Silicon Fertigation Regimes Attenuates Cadmium Toxicity and Phytoremediation Potential in Two Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars by Minimizing Its Uptake and Oxidative Stress
by Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Abida Parveen, Shahid Ullah Khan, Iqbal Hussain, Xiukang Wang, Huda Alshaya, Mohamed A. El-Sheikh and Shafaqat Ali
Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1462; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14031462 - 27 Jan 2022
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 2454
Abstract
Silicon (Si) is an important plant-derived metabolite that is significantly involved in maintaining the stability of a plant’s metabiological, structural and physiological characteristics under the abiotic stressed environment. We conducted the present study using maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars (Sadaf and EV-20) [...] Read more.
Silicon (Si) is an important plant-derived metabolite that is significantly involved in maintaining the stability of a plant’s metabiological, structural and physiological characteristics under the abiotic stressed environment. We conducted the present study using maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars (Sadaf and EV-20) grown in sand artificially contaminated with cadmium (500 µM) in Hoagland’s nutrient solution to investigate its efficiency. Results from the present study evidenced that the toxic concentration of Cd in sand significantly reduced shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight and root dry weight by 88, 94, 89, 86 99 and 99%, respectively, in Sadaf while decreasing by 98, 97, 93, 99, 84 and 91%, respectively, in EV-20. Similarly, Cd toxicity decreased total chlorophyll and carotenoid content in both varieties of Z. mays. Moreover, the activities of various antioxidants (superoxidase dismutase, peroxidase and catalase) increased under the toxic concentration of Cd in sand which was manifested by the presence of membrane permeability, malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Results additionally showed that the toxic effect of Cd was more severe in EV-20 compared with Sadaf under the same conditions of environmental stresses. In addition, the increased concentration of Cd in sand induced a significantly increased Cd accumulation in the roots (141 and 169 mg kg−1 in Sadaf and EV-20, respectively), and shoots (101 and 141 mg kg−1 in Sadaf and EV-20, respectively), while; EV-20 accumulated higher amounts of Cd than Sadaf, with the values for both bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and translocation factor (TF) among all treatments being less than 1. The subsequent negative results of Cd injury can be overcome by the foliar application of Si which not only increased plant growth and biomass, but also decreased oxidative damage induced by the higher concentrations of MDA and H2O2 under a Cd-stressed environment. Moreover, external application of Si decreased the concentration of Cd in the roots and shoots of plants, therefore suggesting that the application of Si can ameliorate Cd toxicity in Z. mays cultivars and results in improved plant growth and composition under Cd stress by minimizing oxidative damage to membrane-bound organelles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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15 pages, 3361 KiB  
Article
Exploring Potential of Seed Endophytic Bacteria for Enhancing Drought Stress Resilience in Maize (Zea mays L.)
by Sulman Siddique, Muhammad Naveed, Muhammad Yaseen and Muhammad Shahbaz
Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 673; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14020673 - 08 Jan 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2566
Abstract
Water scarcity is abiotic stress that is becoming more prevalent as a result of human activities, posing a threat to agriculture and food security. Recently, endophytic bacteria have been proven to reduce drought stress and increase crop productivity. Here, we explored the efficacy [...] Read more.
Water scarcity is abiotic stress that is becoming more prevalent as a result of human activities, posing a threat to agriculture and food security. Recently, endophytic bacteria have been proven to reduce drought stress and increase crop productivity. Here, we explored the efficacy of seed endophytic bacteria in maize crops under water deficit conditions. For this purpose, twenty-seven endophytic bacteria have been isolated from three distinct maize cultivars seeds (Malka 2016, Sahiwal Gold and Gohar-19) and evaluated for desiccation tolerance of −0.18, −0.491, and −1.025 MPa induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000. The nine isolates were chosen on the basis of desiccation tolerance and evaluated for maize growth promotion and antioxidant activity under normal and drought conditions. Results showed that drought stress significantly decreased the growth of maize seedlings. However, isolates SM1, SM4, SM19, and SM23 significantly improved the root and shoot length, plant biomass, leaf area, proline content, sugar, and protein content under normal and drought conditions. Antioxidant enzymes were significantly decreased at p-value < 0.05 with inoculation of seed endophytic bacteria under drought conditions. However, further experiments of seed endophytic bacteria (SM1, SM4, SM19, and SM23) should be conducted to validate results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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15 pages, 555 KiB  
Article
Trace Metal Accumulation in Rice Variety Kainat Irrigated with Canal Water
by Zafar Iqbal Khan, Asim Mansha, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Farah Tariq, Kafeel Ahmad, Tasneem Ahmad, Muhammad Umer Farooq Awan, Muyassar H. Abualreesh, Aishah Alatawi and Shafaqat Ali
Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13739; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413739 - 13 Dec 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2383
Abstract
Due to the rapid increase in industrial and urban areas, environmental pollution is increasing worldwide, causing unwanted changes in the air, water, and soil at biological, physical, and chemical levels, ultimately causing negative effects for living things. This work was performed in Jhang, [...] Read more.
Due to the rapid increase in industrial and urban areas, environmental pollution is increasing worldwide, causing unwanted changes in the air, water, and soil at biological, physical, and chemical levels, ultimately causing negative effects for living things. This work was performed in Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan, and examined and measured heavy metal levels in various plant parts of the rice (Oryza sativa) variety Kainat (roots, shoots, and grains) with results been set in relation to the soil around the root area. The samples were taken from five different sites. The mean level of trace metals (mg/kg) in grains was soil-dependent and varied from cadmium (Cd) (2.49–5.52), zinc (Zn) (5.8–10.78), copper (Cu) (4.82–7.85), cobalt (Co) (1.48–6.52), iron (Fe) (8.68–14.73), manganese (Mn) (6.87–13.93), and nickel (Ni) (2.3–8.34). Excluding Cd, the absorption of all metals under inspection was recorded within permissible limits, as recommended by the FAO and WHO. The pollution load index for Cd was highest at all sites. The enrichment coefficient of Co, Cd, and Cu were greater. The bioaccumulation factor at all studied sites was present, in order: Cu ˃ Zn ˃ Fe ˃ Mn ˃ Co ˃ Ni ˃ Cd. The translocation factor was present at five different sites: Mn ˃ Fe ˃ Cu ˃ Zn ˃ Co ˃ Cd ˃ Ni. The health risk index of all inspected metals was lower than 1 and was within safe limits. The higher pollution of Cd suggested maintenance of rice crop is recommended, decreasing health risks in humans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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17 pages, 973 KiB  
Article
Health Risk Assessment, Pore Water Chemistry, and Assessment of Trace Metals Transfer from Two Untreated Sewage Sludge Types to Tomato Crop (Lycopersicon esculentum) at Different Application Levels
by Ghulam Murtaza, Umair Riaz, Humera Aziz, Nabila Shaheen, Muhammad Irfan Sohail, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Muyassar H. Abualreesh, Aishah Alatawi and Shafaqat Ali
Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12394; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132212394 - 10 Nov 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1589
Abstract
The application of untreated sewage sludge to cropland in water-deficient areas is common practice. A study was conducted to investigate the transfer of trace elements from sewage sludge to tomato crop and the potential health risk to humans. Two types of sewage sludge, [...] Read more.
The application of untreated sewage sludge to cropland in water-deficient areas is common practice. A study was conducted to investigate the transfer of trace elements from sewage sludge to tomato crop and the potential health risk to humans. Two types of sewage sludge, ISS (I-9 Sector wastewater treatment plant, Islamabad) and WSS (Water and Sanitation Authority wastewater treatment plant, Faisalabad), were applied at 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% w/w and compared with control (without any amendment). The test crop was tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Results revealed that the ECe of soil was increased by these treatments with respect to all application levels. The levels of Pb (lead) and Zn (Zinc) solubility in soil were increased about 46- and 28-fold by the application of ISS at 1.5% and 16- and 22-fold by the application of WSS at 1.5%, respectively. The highest shoot biomass was recorded with 0.5% level of WSS, while higher rates (1.0% and 1.5%) of both ISS and WSS showed significant (p < 0.001) decline in shoot biomass production, and the lowest SFW was recorded with the addition of ISS at 1.5% application rate (a significant reduction of 44%) compared to control. The pore water analysis and correlation depicted that dissolved organic carbon (DOC) controlled the release of Zn and Pb. The PLI (value < 1) indicated that the overall pollution of trace metals in the investigated samples was absent, but the Igeo and CF showed the contamination potential for Cd, Cu, and Ni was moderate to strong. DIM and HRI analysis suggested that the tomato was safe for human consumption. The HRI values for all trace metals were below the permissible limit (HRI = 1) described by USEPA-IRIS. It was concluded that a lower rate of both sewage sludge types produces more biomass and less accumulation of trace metals in the test crop. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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13 pages, 1315 KiB  
Article
Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Basmati Rice: Implications for Public Health
by Farah Tariq, Xiukang Wang, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Zafar Iqbal Khan, Kafeel Ahmad, Ifra Saleem Malik, Mudasra Munir, Shehzadi Mahpara, Naunain Mehmood, Tasneem Ahmad, Hafsa Memona, Ilker Ugulu, Sajid Fiaz and Shafaqat Ali
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8513; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13158513 - 30 Jul 2021
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 3667
Abstract
Basmati rice is increasingly recognized and consumed in different parts of the world due to its different tastes and nutritional properties. This research focused on determining the cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) content [...] Read more.
Basmati rice is increasingly recognized and consumed in different parts of the world due to its different tastes and nutritional properties. This research focused on determining the cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) content in locally grown basmati rice in Pakistan and assessing the risks of these values to human health. Root, shoot and grain samples of basmati rice were taken, along with soil samples from the five regions studied. Metal mean concentrations (mg/kg) in grains fluctuated from 2.70 to 9.80 for Cd, 4.80 to 9.85 for Zn, 1.16 to 1.46 for Cu, 1.84 to 10.86 for Co, 2.05 to 13.07 for Fe, 5.03 to 11.11 for Mn and 3.24 to 13.28 for Ni, respectively. All metal values were within permissible limits except for Cd. The enrichment factor for Cd was highest among all sites. Cobalt and zinc had the highest bioaccumulation factor and translocation factor. The highest enrichment factor was noticed for Cd and the lowest for Cu. The health risk index at all examined sites was less than one. Consistent examination is recommended to limit health hazards instigated by the use of rice polluted with a greater concentration of Cd. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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15 pages, 1352 KiB  
Article
Determining the Optimum Level of Soil Olsen Phosphorus and Phosphorus Fertilizer Application for High Phosphorus-Use Efficiency in Zea mays L. in Black Soil
by Khalid Ibrahim, Qiong Wang, Le Wang, Weiwei Zhang, Chang Peng and Shuxiang Zhang
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5983; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13115983 - 26 May 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2739
Abstract
Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient, both as a component of several important plant structural compounds and as a catalyst in the conversion of numerous important biochemical reactions in plants. The soil Olsen P (OP) level is an important factor affecting crop production and [...] Read more.
Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient, both as a component of several important plant structural compounds and as a catalyst in the conversion of numerous important biochemical reactions in plants. The soil Olsen P (OP) level is an important factor affecting crop production and P-use efficiency (PUE). We tested the effect of six OP levels and P doses on maize yield, where the P doses were 0, 22, 44, 59, 73, and 117 kg P2O5 ha−1, with three replications, from 2017 to 2019. The response of crop yield to the OP level can be divided into two parts, below 28 mg kg−1 and above 28 mg kg−1. The change point between the two parts was determined as the agronomic critical level for maize crops in the study area. The PUE (%) increased with soil OP levels and decreased with P fertilizer application rates. In addition, results for the low P application rate (P2), 22 kg P2O5 ha−1, showed that PUE significantly increased with an increase in the soil OP level compared with PUE at a low OP level (OP1), 0 kg P2O5 ha−1. The PUE value increased by 49.5%, 40.1%, and 32.4% at a high OP level (OP6) in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively, compared to that at a low OP level (OP1). At the same OP levels, in all three years, the PUE at a high P application rate (P6) decreased significantly, in the range of 62.8% to 78.7%, compared to that at a low P application rate (P2). Under an average deficit of 100 kg ha−1 P, the OP level of the soil in all three years decreased by 3.9 mg kg−1 in the treatment without P addition (P1) and increased by 2.4–3.5 mg kg−1 in the P treatments for each 100 kg ha−1 P surplus. A phosphorus application rate of 44 kg P2O5 ha−1 and an OP level of 28 mg kg−1 are sufficient to obtain an optimum yield, increase the PUE, and reduce environmental hazards in the study area in northeastern China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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14 pages, 1548 KiB  
Article
Assessing Yield Response and Relationship of Soil Boron Fractions with Its Accumulation in Sorghum and Cowpea under Boron Fertilization in Different Soil Series
by Muhammad Babar Javed, Zaffar Malik, Muhammad Kamran, Ghulam Hassan Abbasi, Asma Majeed, Muhammad Riaz, Muhammad Adnan Bukhari, Adnan Mustafa, Sunny Ahmar, Freddy Mora-Poblete, Muhammad Rafay and Syed Asad Hussain Bukhari
Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4192; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13084192 - 09 Apr 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2217
Abstract
Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient in the growth of reproductive plant parts. Its deficiency and/or toxicity are widespread in arid and semi-arid soils with low clay contents. This study was planned to determine the response of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L., non-leguminous [...] Read more.
Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient in the growth of reproductive plant parts. Its deficiency and/or toxicity are widespread in arid and semi-arid soils with low clay contents. This study was planned to determine the response of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L., non-leguminous crop) and cowpea (Vigna sinensis L., leguminous crop) to boron (0, 2, 4, and 16 µg g−1) on four distinct soil series from Punjab, Pakistan i.e., Udic Haplustalf (Pindorian region), Typic Torrifluvent (Shahdra region), Halic Camborthid (Khurianwala region), and Udic Haplustalf (Gujranwala region). Overall, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in yield between the sorghum (3.8 to 5.5 g pot−1 of 5 kg dry soil) and cowpea (0.2 to 3.2 g pot−1 of 5 kg dry soil) in response to B application. The highest yield was observed in both sorghum and cowpea either in control or at 2 µg g−1 B application in all four soils. Cowpea showed the same yield trend in all four soils (i.e., an increase in yield at 2 µg g−1 B application, followed by a significant decrease at the higher B levels). In contrast, sorghum exhibited greater variability of response on different soils; Udic Haplustalf (Pindorian region) produced the greatest yield at low levels of B application. However, Halic Camborthid produced its lowest yield at that level. Boron concentration in shoots increased with the levels of B application, particularly in sorghum. In cowpea, the plant growth was extremely retarded—and most of the plants died at higher levels of B application even if a lower concentration of B was measured within the shoot. Hot water-extractable B was the most available fraction for cowpea (R2 = 0.96), whereas the easily exchangeable B was most available for sorghum (R2 = 0.90). Overall, these results have implications for micronutrient uptake for both leguminous and non-leguminous crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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15 pages, 6116 KiB  
Article
Combined Citric Acid and Glutathione Augments Lead (Pb) Stress Tolerance and Phytoremediation of Castorbean through Antioxidant Machinery and Pb Uptake
by Fanrong Zeng, Zahid Imran Mallhi, Naeem Khan, Muhammad Rizwan, Shafaqat Ali, Awais Ahmad, Afzal Hussain, Abdulaziz Abdullah Alsahli and Mohammed Nasser Alyemeni
Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 4073; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13074073 - 06 Apr 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2780
Abstract
Lead (Pb) is one of the most toxic elements on earth. The main origins of Pb pollution are automobiles, paint and electroplating industries. Pb-induced stress has very toxic effects on plant growth and biomass. The concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant [...] Read more.
Lead (Pb) is one of the most toxic elements on earth. The main origins of Pb pollution are automobiles, paint and electroplating industries. Pb-induced stress has very toxic effects on plant growth and biomass. The concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant cells significantly increases under Pb stress, which interrupts the biochemical cycles in cells and leads to cell death. Therefore, it is essential to clean up the Pb-polluted soils. Among all techniques that are used to clean soil that is metal-contaminated, the best technique is phytoremediation. The present study intends to determine the role of citric acid (CA) and glutathione (GSH) in the phytoremediation of Pb by using castor bean plants. Plant biomass was significantly reduced due to Pb stress. Lead toxicity was also harmful to the photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant enzymes activities. In reverse, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2 concentration and electrolyte leakage (EL) were increased under Pb stress. The combined application of GSH and CA enhanced photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant enzyme activities and plant biomass and minimized MDA, H2O2 and EL under Pb stress. The amount of Pb in roots and leaves remarkably increased by the joint application of CA and GSH. The combined application of CA and GSH (5 mM + 25 mM, respectively) was proven to be beneficial compared to the control. From the present results, we can conclude that the combined application of CA and GSH promoted the phytoremediation of Pb and helped the host plant to combat Pb toxicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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17 pages, 1520 KiB  
Article
The Recovery of Phosphate and Ammonium from Biogas Slurry as Value-Added Fertilizer by Biochar and Struvite Co-Precipitation
by Aftab Ali Kubar, Qing Huang, Muhammad Sajjad, Chen Yang, Faqin Lian, Junfeng Wang and Kashif Ali Kubar
Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3827; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13073827 - 31 Mar 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3203
Abstract
Biowaste materials could be considered a renewable source of fertilizer if methods for recovering P from waste can be developed. Over the last few decades, there has been a high level of interest in using biochar to remove contaminants from aqueous solutions. This [...] Read more.
Biowaste materials could be considered a renewable source of fertilizer if methods for recovering P from waste can be developed. Over the last few decades, there has been a high level of interest in using biochar to remove contaminants from aqueous solutions. This study was conducted using a range of salts that are commonly found in biogas slurry (ZnCl2, FeCl3, FeCl2, CuCl2, Na2CO3, and NaHCO3). Experiments with a biogas digester and aqueous solution were conducted at pH nine integration with NH4+, Mg2+, and PO43− molar ratios of 1.0, 1.2, and 1.8, respectively. The chemical analysis was measured to find out the composition of the precipitate, and struvite was employed to remove the aqueous solutions. The study found that the most efficient removal of phosphate and ammonium occurred at pH nine in Tongan sludge urban biochar and rice biochar, respectively. Increasing the concentration of phosphate and ammonium increased the phosphate and ammonium content. Moreover, increasing the biochar temperature and increasing the concentration of phosphate and ammonium increased the efficiency of the removal of ammonium and phosphate. The removal efficiency of ammonium and phosphate increased from 15.0% to 71.0% and 18.0% to 99.0%, respectively, by increasing the dose of respective ions K+, Zn2+, Fe3+, Fe2+, Cu2+, and CO32.The elements were increased from 58.0 to 71.0 for HCO3− with the increasing concentration from 30 mg L−1 to 240 mg L−1.This study concluded that phosphate and ammonium can be recovered from mushroom soil biochar and rice biochar, and phosphate can be effectively recovered via the struvite precipitation method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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14 pages, 2256 KiB  
Article
Deciphering the Effects of Waste Amendments on Particulate Organic Carbon and Soil C-Mineralization Dynamics
by Xiang Ma, Qingqing Zhang, Haibing Wu and Jing Liang
Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3790; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13073790 - 29 Mar 2021
Viewed by 1560
Abstract
It is important to understand the dynamics of soil carbon to study the effects of waste amendment inputs on soil organic carbon decomposition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of waste amendment carbon input on the soil organic carbon [...] Read more.
It is important to understand the dynamics of soil carbon to study the effects of waste amendment inputs on soil organic carbon decomposition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of waste amendment carbon input on the soil organic carbon (SOC) content, soil particulate organic carbon (POC) content and soil organic carbon mineralization rate dynamics. A 60-day experiment was carried out in the laboratory. The following treatments were compared: (1) CK: soil without amendments; (2) FW1: soil with food waste compost (soil/food waste compost = 100:1); (3) FW2: soil with food waste compost (soil/food waste compost = 100:2); (4) GW1: soil with garden waste compost (soil/garden waste compost = 100:0.84); (5) GW2: soil with garden waste compost (soil/garden waste compost = 100:1.67); (6) FGW1: soil amendments mixture (soil/food waste compost/garden waste compost = 100:0.5:0.42); (7) FGW2: soil amendments mixture (soil/food waste compost/garden waste compost = 100:1:0.84); the inputs of amendment carbon to FW1, GW1 and FGW1 were 2.92 g kg−1, the inputs of amendment carbon to FW2, GW2 and FGW2 were 5.84 g kg−1. The results showed that the addition of waste amendments increased the amount of cumulative mineralization from 95% to 262% and accelerated the rate of soil mineralization. After adding organic materials, the change in the soil organic carbon mineralization rate could be divided into two stages: the fast stage and the slow stage. The dividing point of the two stages was approximately 10 days. When equal amounts of waste amendment carbon were input to the soil, there was no significant difference in SOC between food waste and garden waste. However, SOC increased with the amount of amendment addition. However, for POC, there was no significant difference between the different amounts of carbon input to the garden waste compost treatments. SOC and POC were significantly correlated with the cumulative emissions of CO2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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21 pages, 22226 KiB  
Article
Contribution of Rhizobium–Legume Symbiosis in Salt Stress Tolerance in Medicago truncatula Evaluated through Photosynthesis, Antioxidant Enzymes, and Compatible Solutes Accumulation
by Annie Irshad, Rana Naveed Ur Rehman, Muhammad Mohsin Abrar, Qudsia Saeed, Rahat Sharif and Tianming Hu
Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3369; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13063369 - 18 Mar 2021
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3000
Abstract
The effects of salt stress on the growth, nodulation, and nitrogen (N) fixation of legumes are well known, but the relationship between symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) driven by rhizobium–legume symbiosis and salt tolerance in Medicago truncatula is not well studied. The effects of [...] Read more.
The effects of salt stress on the growth, nodulation, and nitrogen (N) fixation of legumes are well known, but the relationship between symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) driven by rhizobium–legume symbiosis and salt tolerance in Medicago truncatula is not well studied. The effects of the active nodulation process on salt stress tolerance of Medicago truncatula were evaluated by quantifying the compatible solutes, soluble sugars, and antioxidants enzymes, as well as growth and survival rate of plants. Eight weeks old plants, divided in three groups: (i) no nodules (NN), (ii) inactive nodules (IN), and (iii) active nodules (AN), were exposed to 150 mM of NaCl salt stress for 0, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, and 48 h in hydroponic system. AN plants showed a higher survival rate (30.83% and 38.35%), chlorophyll contents (37.18% and 44.51%), and photosynthesis compared to IN and NN plants, respectively. Improved salt tolerance in AN plants was linked with higher activities of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants and higher K+ (20.45% and 39.21%) and lower Na+ accumulations (17.54% and 24.51%) when compared with IN and NN plants, respectively. Additionally, higher generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was indicative of salt stress, causing membrane damage as revealed by higher electrolyte leakage and lipid peroxidation. All such effects were significantly ameliorated in AN plants, showing higher compatible solutes (proline, free amino acids, glycine betaine, soluble sugars, and proteins) and maintaining higher relative water contents (61.34%). This study advocates positive role of Rhizobium meliloti inoculation against salt stress through upregulation of antioxidant system and a higher concentration of compatible solutes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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17 pages, 57027 KiB  
Article
The Coupled Effects of Irrigation Scheduling and Nitrogen Fertilization Mode on Growth, Yield and Water Use Efficiency in Drip-Irrigated Winter Wheat
by Muhammad Zain, Zhuanyun Si, Sen Li, Yang Gao, Faisal Mehmood, Shafeeq-Ur Rahman, Abdoul Kader Mounkaila Hamani and Aiwang Duan
Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2742; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13052742 - 03 Mar 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2495
Abstract
Sound irrigation and nitrogen management strategies are necessary to achieve sustainable yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat in the North China Plain (NCP). The coupled effects of irrigation scheduling and the nitrogen application mode (NAM) on winter wheat growth, yield and [...] Read more.
Sound irrigation and nitrogen management strategies are necessary to achieve sustainable yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat in the North China Plain (NCP). The coupled effects of irrigation scheduling and the nitrogen application mode (NAM) on winter wheat growth, yield and water use efficiency under drip irrigation were evaluated with a two-year field experiment, which consisted of three irrigation scheduling levels (ISLs) (irrigating when soil water consumption (SWC) reached 20, 35 and 50 mm, referred as I20, I35 and I50, respectively) and three nitrogen application modes (NAMs) (ratio of basal application and topdressing as 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100, referred as N50:50, N25:75 and N0:100, respectively). The experimental results showed that irrigating winter wheat at ISL I35 substantially (p < 0.05) improved the grain yield by 15.89%, 3.32% and 14.82%, 4.31% and water use efficiency (WUE) by 5.23%, 16.03% and 5.26%, 12.36%, compared with those at ISL I20 and I50 in 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 growing seasons, respectively. NAM N25:75 appeared very beneficial in terms of grain yield, yield components and WUE as compared to other NAM levels. The maximum grain yield (8.62 and 9.40 t ha−1) and water use efficiency (1.88 and 2.09 kg m−3) were achieved in treatment I35N25:75 in two growing seasons over those in other treatments. The results in this study may deliver a scientific basis for irrigation and nitrogen fertilization management of the drip-irrigated winter wheat production in the NCP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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14 pages, 2160 KiB  
Article
A Field Evidence of Cd, Zn and Cu Accumulation in Soil and Rice Grains after Long-Term (27 Years) Application of Swine and Green Manures in a Paddy Soil
by Babar Hussain, Jumei Li, Yibing Ma, Yi Chen, Chunyan Wu, Aman Ullah and Nazia Tahir
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2404; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13042404 - 23 Feb 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2403
Abstract
Although inorganic and organic manures with high concentrations of heavy metals can lead to accumulation or contamination of heavy metals in soils, there are few reports on the effects of long-term application of swine and green manures on the accumulation of heavy metals [...] Read more.
Although inorganic and organic manures with high concentrations of heavy metals can lead to accumulation or contamination of heavy metals in soils, there are few reports on the effects of long-term application of swine and green manures on the accumulation of heavy metals in rice grains in paddy soils. A long-term field experiment, which was established in 1990 in paddy soil in Hangzhou, China, was used to investigate the effects of inorganic and organic manures on the availability and accumulation of heavy metals in soil and uptake by rice plant. The results showed that long-term application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash (NPK) plus green manure or swine manure, and swine manure only increased 202%, 146%, and 100% for total Cd, and 5.5%, 7.6%, and 6.6% for total Cu in rice grains, respectively compared to the control without fertilization. Total Zn in rice grain was significantly increased by 13.9% for the treatment of NPK plus green manure. The accumulation of Cd, Zn, and Cu in rice grains after long-term application of swine and green manures is due to the combined effects of the increased concentrations of total and EDTA extractable Cd, Zn, and Cu in soil and the changes of soil properties. Furthermore, the highest bioconcentration factor for Cd was found in the treatment of NPK plus green manure while for Zn and Cu it was observed in NPK treatment. Thus, it may be concluded that green manure and manure with increased Cd, Zn, and Cu in rice grain results in a potential risk of metal accumulation in paddy soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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13 pages, 2811 KiB  
Article
Multi-Scale Evaluation of Dominant Factors (MSDF) on Forage: An Ecosystemic Method to Understand the Function of Forage
by Shanning Lou, Jiao Ning, Cheng Zhang, Chunmei Wang, Wanhe Zhu, Shenghua Chang and Fujiang Hou
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2163; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13042163 - 18 Feb 2021
Viewed by 1862
Abstract
Grassland agroecosystem plays a key role on resource cycling and sustainability of global ecosystem. Forage is the basic factor and core of the grassland agroecosystem. At a single scale, the most of forage evaluation remain in a state of qualitative or quantitative evaluation, [...] Read more.
Grassland agroecosystem plays a key role on resource cycling and sustainability of global ecosystem. Forage is the basic factor and core of the grassland agroecosystem. At a single scale, the most of forage evaluation remain in a state of qualitative or quantitative evaluation, and lack a series of quantitative evaluation at multi spatial scales and influence of society, environment and economy. This study collected dominant indicators at micro, plot, farm, ecoregional and macro scales to compile a systemic evaluation of forage in agroecosystems. A case study is presented for forage evaluation by using plot, farm, and regional data from an arid region of Gansu, China. Multi-scale evaluation of dominant factors (MSDF) was used to aggregate forage evaluation indicators. Results showed that the scale of evaluation had significant effects on the results of the evaluation. The evaluation results of the single index for the same forage species among plot, farm and ecoregional scales were different. Results implied that forage MSDF are needed to guide the evaluation of forage and then production of forage and herbivore in the future. An appropriate scale of evaluation could be selected in term of the forage production objectives and moreover, MSDF evaluation of forage should be used to improve the environmental, social and productive evaluation of forage in a grassland agroecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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14 pages, 1282 KiB  
Article
Isolation and Characterization of Phosphate Solubilizing Microbes from Rock Phosphate Mines and Their Potential Effect for Sustainable Agriculture
by Awais Qarni, Motsim Billah, Khadim Hussain, Sabir Hussain Shah, Waqas Ahmed, Sadia Alam, Aftab Ahmad Sheikh, Laila Jafri, Asia Munir, Kouser Majeed Malik and Naeem Khan
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2151; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13042151 - 17 Feb 2021
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4034
Abstract
Continuous application of phosphate (P) mineral to soil renders apatite addition during each crop growing season which is of great concern from a sustainable agriculture viewpoint. Use of efficient phosphate solubilizing microbes (PSB) is one of the most effective ways to solubilize this [...] Read more.
Continuous application of phosphate (P) mineral to soil renders apatite addition during each crop growing season which is of great concern from a sustainable agriculture viewpoint. Use of efficient phosphate solubilizing microbes (PSB) is one of the most effective ways to solubilize this apatite mineral in the soil. The current study targeted hydroxyapatite mines to explore, isolate and characterize efficient P solubilizers to solubilize apatite in the soil. Efficiency of isolated microbes to solubilize rock phosphate (hydroxyapatite) and tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) as well as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACC) activity were tested. Identification and phylogenetic analysis of bacterial and fungal isolates were carried out by 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequence analyses, respectively. The isolated bacterial strains were identified as Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus firmus, Bacillus safensis, and Bacillus licheniformis whereas fungal isolates were identified as Penicillium sp. and Penicillium oxalicum. Results showed that the impact of identified strains in combination with three phosphate fertilizers sources (compost, rock phosphate and diammonium phosphate (DAP)) was conspicuous on maize crop grown in pot. Both bacterial and fungal strains increased the P uptake by plants as well as recorded with higher available P in post-harvested soil. Penicillium sp. in combination with compost resulted in maximum P-uptake by plants and post-harvest soil P contents, compared to other combinations of P sources and bio-inoculants. Screening and application of efficient P solubilizers can be a better option to utilize the indigenous phosphate reserves of soil as well as organic amendments for sustainable agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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Review

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17 pages, 1597 KiB  
Review
Pesticides Xenobiotics in Soil Ecosystem and Their Remediation Approaches
by Xingwen Wang, Muhammad Umair Sial, Muhammad Amjad Bashir, Muhammad Bilal, Qurat-Ul-Ain Raza, Hafiz Muhammad Ali Raza, Abdur Rehim and Yucong Geng
Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3353; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063353 - 12 Mar 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4200
Abstract
Globally, the rapid rise in the human population has increased the crop production, resulting in increased pesticide xenobiotics. Despite the fact that pesticide xenobiotics toxify the soil environment and ecosystem, synthetic pesticides have increased agricultural yields and reduced disease vectors. Pesticide use has [...] Read more.
Globally, the rapid rise in the human population has increased the crop production, resulting in increased pesticide xenobiotics. Despite the fact that pesticide xenobiotics toxify the soil environment and ecosystem, synthetic pesticides have increased agricultural yields and reduced disease vectors. Pesticide use has increased, resulting in an increase in environmental pollution. Various methods of controlling and eliminating these contaminants have been proposed to address this issue. Pesticide impurity in the climate presents a genuine danger to individuals and other oceanic and earthly life. If not controlled, the pollution can prompt difficult issues for the climate. Some viable and cost-effective alternative approaches are needed to maintain this emission level at a low level. Phytoremediation and microbial remediation are effective methods for removing acaricide scrapings from the atmosphere using plants and organisms. This review gives an overview of different types of xenobiotics, how they get into the environment, and how the remediation of pesticides has progressed. It focuses on simple procedures that can be used in many countries. In addition, we have talked about the benefits and drawbacks of natural remediation methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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12 pages, 1198 KiB  
Review
Potentials, Utilization, and Bioengineering of Plant Growth-Promoting Methylobacterium for Sustainable Agriculture
by Cong Zhang, Meng-Ying Wang, Naeem Khan, Ling-Ling Tan and Song Yang
Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3941; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13073941 - 02 Apr 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4487
Abstract
Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have great potential to provide economical and sustainable solutions to current agricultural challenges. The Methylobacteria which are frequently present in the phyllosphere can promote plant growth and development. The Methylobacterium genus is composed mostly of pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophic bacteria, [...] Read more.
Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have great potential to provide economical and sustainable solutions to current agricultural challenges. The Methylobacteria which are frequently present in the phyllosphere can promote plant growth and development. The Methylobacterium genus is composed mostly of pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophic bacteria, utilizing organic one-carbon compounds as the sole carbon and energy source for growth. Methylobacterium spp. have been isolated from diverse environments, especially from the surface of plants, because they can oxidize and assimilate methanol released by plant leaves as a byproduct of pectin formation during cell wall synthesis. Members of the Methylobacterium genus are good candidates as PGPB due to their positive impact on plant health and growth; they provide nutrients to plants, modulate phytohormone levels, and protect plants against pathogens. In this paper, interactions between Methylobacterium spp. and plants and how the bacteria promote crop growth is reviewed. Moreover, the following examples of how to engineer microbiomes of plants using plant-growth-promoting Methylobacterium are discussed in the present review: introducing external Methylobacterium spp. to plants, introducing functional genes or clusters to resident Methylobacterium spp. of crops, and enhancing the abilities of Methylobacterium spp. to promote plant growth by random mutation, acclimation, and engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)
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