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Karkanis A, Asprogeraka AC, Paouris E, Ntanasi T, Karavidas I, Rumbos CI, Athanassiou CG, Ntatsi G. Yellow mealworm frass: A promising organic fertilizer for common sowthistle ( Sonchus oleraceus L.) and bristly oxtongue ( Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub) cultivation. Heliyon 2024; 10:e35508. [PMID: 39170546 PMCID: PMC11336730 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Common sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus L.) and bristly oxtongue [Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub] are winter broad-leaved weeds that have gained interest for cultivation as leafy vegetables. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of frass from the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) on nutrient content in soil, growth parameters, and nutrient content in above-ground plant tissues of common sowthistle and bristly oxtongue. Thus, two pot experiments were carried out with 5 treatments [control, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) applied at a dose of 100 kg N ha-1, and insect frass applied at a rate of 3500 kg ha-1 (0.5 % w/w) 7000 kg ha-1 (1 % w/w), and 14,000 kg ha-1 (2 % w/w)]. Our results showed that the lowest values of growth parameters for both plant species were recorded in the control treatment. At the final rosette growth stage [e.g., 152 days after sowing (DAS)], the CAN treatment exhibited the highest values of rosette diameter and above-ground dry weight, followed by the highest rate of insect frass. Similarly, at 152 DAS the SPAD index values in the CAN treatment were 28.4-41.5 % higher compared to the control treatment in both species. Regarding root dry weight, the highest values were found in the CAN and insect frass 2 % treatments. In addition, the application of insect frass significantly enhanced soil fertility, with the highest levels of P and K recorded in the insect frass 2 % treatment. In contrast, the CAN treatment resulted in the highest NO3-N content in the soil (15.83 and 19.26 mg kg-1 in common sowthistle and bristly oxtongue, respectively). Moreover, both P and K content in the above-ground plant tissues had the highest values in the insect frass 2 % treatment, while the content of Mg, Mn, and Cu in plant tissues was not affected by the fertilization sources. Therefore, our findings indicate that insect frass can be an additional option in crop fertilization programs as it can improve both the soil fertility and growth of crops compared to conventional inorganic fertilizer sources. However, the effects of insect frass in mixtures with inorganic fertilizers needs to be taken into consideration in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anestis Karkanis
- Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece
| | | | - Efthymios Paouris
- Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece
| | - Theodora Ntanasi
- Department of Crop Production, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Karavidas
- Department of Crop Production, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Christos I. Rumbos
- Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece
| | - Christos G. Athanassiou
- Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece
| | - Georgia Ntatsi
- Department of Crop Production, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
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Garg K, Dhar S, Kumar S, Azman EA, Sharma VK, Meena RP, Hashim M, Awasthi MK, Kumar S, Onte S, Kumar D, Giri BS, Rajawat MVS. Enhancing agricultural output: Investigating the impact of advanced organic formulations on crop productivity, nutrient use efficiency, and profitability in a multi-crop system. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 366:121759. [PMID: 38981257 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
The significance of integrating agricultural by-products such as paddy husk ash (PHA) and potato peels with organic fertilizers lies in enhancing soil fertility, increasing crop yields, and reducing reliance on traditional organic fertilizers like farmyard manure (FYM) or compost alone. Grounded in sustainable agriculture and nutrient management frameworks, this study examines the impact of diverse formulations derived from agricultural waste on productivity, nutrient efficiency, and profitability in a pigeon pea-vegetable mustard-okra cropping system. A two-year field experiment (2020-2022) at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi tested seven nutrient sources viz., (T1) control, (T2) 100% RDN through FYM, (T3) 100% RDN through improved RRC, (T4) 100% RDN through PHA based formulation, (T5) 75% RDN through PHA based formulation, (T6) 100% RDN through PPC based formulation and (T7) 75% RDN through PPC based formulation that were tested in RBD and replicated thrice. Treatment T4 had significant effect on seed yield of pigeon pea (1.89 ± 0.09 and 1.97 ± 0.12 t ha-1), leaf yield of vegetable mustard (81.57 ± 4.59 and 82.97 ± 4.17 t ha-1), and fruit yield of okra (13.54 ± 0.82 and 13.78 ± 0.81 t ha-1) grown in rotation, followed by treatment T6 and T2 during both the years respectively over control. Enhanced system uptake of N, P and K along with system gross and net returns in T4, showed increases of 78.9%, 83.8%, 72.4%, 54.4% and 56.8% in the first year and 77.5%, 80.8%, 77.7%, 54.8% and 57.4% in the second year, respectively, over control. Treatment T4 significantly improved apparent recovery by 66.3% and 69.2% in pigeon pea, 64.7% and 47.9% in vegetable mustard, and 72.7% and 79.4% in okra over T3, averaged across two years. Based on the above findings, (T4) 100% RDN through PHA-based formulation, and (T6) 100% RDN through PPC-based formulation can be recommended for areas with a shortage of FYM but availability of rice husk ash/potato peels for sustainable agricultural wastes and improved sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamal Garg
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India; ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132001, Haryana, India
| | - Shiva Dhar
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132001, Haryana, India.
| | - Elisa Azura Azman
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India; Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Crop Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia
| | - V K Sharma
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Rajendra Prasad Meena
- ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, 263 601, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Mohammad Hashim
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, 208024, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar Awasthi
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Taicheng Road 3 Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Sourabh Kumar
- Veer Kunwar Singh College of Agriculture, Dumaraon, Buxar, 802136, Bihar, India
| | - Santosh Onte
- Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Calicut, 673571, India
| | - Dileep Kumar
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226002, India
| | - Balendu Shekher Giri
- Sustainability Cluster, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India
| | - Mahendra Vikram Singh Rajawat
- Dhanuka Agritech Limited, Dhanuka Agritech Research and Technology Center, Palwal-Aligargh Road, Sihol, 121102, Haryana, India
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van der Wiel BZ, Caspersen L, Whitney C, van Middelaar C, Weijma J, Wichern F. Participatory modelling of scenarios to restore nitrogen cycles in a nutrient-saturated area. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 919:170335. [PMID: 38272076 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
This paper aims to find socially acceptable solutions of circularity as measure to reduce nitrogen (N) losses and prevent environmental damage by combining participatory modelling and scenario Substance Flow Analyses (SFA). A local perspective was taken on the agro-food-waste system in the animal production-dominated German district Cleves. Three scenarios were programmed as Monte Carlo simulation of SFA with stakeholder input regarding crop allocation, livestock composition, livestock reduction, and manure allocation following the elimination of feed imports. The three scenarios either utilized the unaltered stakeholder input (PS), altered crop allocation to satisfy the demand for feed (CBS), or adjusted the livestock numbers to match the locally available feed (LBS). In the reference year (2020) agricultural losses amounted to 68 kg N year-1 ha-1 agricultural land and 116 kg N in feed was imported year-1 ha-1 agricultural land. In the PS feed import elimination led to deficits in feed availability. The LBS showed the biggest reduction of agricultural N losses and improved N use efficiency (+6 %), however agricultural losses were still high (50 kg N year-1 ha-1 agricultural land). The results show a limited effect of feed import elimination on N losses if no further measures are taken, such as reduced consumption of animal-based products. Further, the study shows that it is important to improve stakeholders' knowledge about approaches to circular agro-food-waste systems. The discrepancy between stakeholder visions and N circularity provide policy makers with the recommendation to improve stakeholders' visions of a circular agro-food-waste system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernou Zoë van der Wiel
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Marie-Curie-Straße 1, 47533 Kleve, Germany; Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Lars Caspersen
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 6, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Cory Whitney
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 6, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Corina van Middelaar
- Animal Production Systems, Wageningen University & Research, De Elst 1, 6708 WD Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Weijma
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Florian Wichern
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Marie-Curie-Straße 1, 47533 Kleve, Germany
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Pagliaccia D, Ortiz M, Rodriguez MV, Abbott S, De Francesco A, Amador M, Lavagi V, Maki B, Hopkins F, Kaplan J, Ying S, Vidalakis G. Enhancing soil health and nutrient availability for Carrizo citrange (X Citroncirus sp.) through bokashi and biochar amendments: An exploration into indoor sustainable soil ecosystem management. SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE 2024; 326:112661. [PMID: 39308799 PMCID: PMC11415263 DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
This study investigated the efficacy of organic soil amendments: bokashi (Bok), biochar (BC), and their combination (Bok_BC) in promoting soil health, nutrient availability, and growth of Carrizo citrange (X Citroncirus sp. Rutaceae, Parentage Citrus sinensis × Poncirus trifoliata) under indoor greenhouse settings. Results indicate significant alterations in soil parameters like total carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), and C:N ratio due to Bok, BC, and Bok_BC treatments. BC treatments boosted total C, while Bok increased total N, compared to controls. A note-worthy 25 % average decrease in C:N ratio was observed with Bok and Bok_BC, nearing the optimal 24:1 C:N for microbial growth. This highlights the potential of waste by-products in balancing nutrient release to benefit soil health and plant development. Analysis of nitrite (NO2-), nitrate (NO3-), and ammonium (NH4-N) levels revealed a dynamic relationship between soil treatments and time. Bok and Bok_BC amendments combined with both fertilizer doses [700 and 1400 Electrical Conductivity, EC] showed an initial NH4-N spike (averaging 1513 and 1288 μg N/g dry, respectively), outperforming control soils (average 503 μg N/g dry). Other key elements like phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and chlorine also experienced initial surges in Bok and Bok_BC soils before declining, suggesting a gradual nutrient release. The concentration of potentially toxic elements remained mostly stable or inconclusive, warranting further exploration. Bok, BC, and Bok_BC treatments considerably influenced germination rate and plant growth. The germination rate averaged 24.2 %, 23 %, and 22.5 % for Bok, BC, and Bok_BC, compared to the 15.9 % control. Plant height increased with Bok, BC, and Bok_BC to 18.4 cm, 18.7 cm, and 16.4 cm, respectively, from the 14.8 cm control. The results remained consistent across fertilizer doses, emphasizing the soil amendments' role in bolstering soil and plant health. In summary, the research underscores the potential of carbon-based amendments like bokashi and biochar in enhancing soil health, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and fostering sustainable soil ecosystems. The insights are pivotal for advancing sustainable agriculture in indoor greenhouse settings for nursery plant production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Pagliaccia
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
- California Agriculture and Food Enterprise (CAFÉ), University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Michelle Ortiz
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Michael V Rodriguez
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Sophia Abbott
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Agustina De Francesco
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (CBGP, UPM-INIA), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) — Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Madison Amador
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Valeria Lavagi
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Benjamin Maki
- Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Francesca Hopkins
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Jonathan Kaplan
- Department of Economics, Sacramento State University, Sacramento CA, United States
| | - Samantha Ying
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
- Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Georgios Vidalakis
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
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Soil Nitrogen Supply: Linking Plant Available N to Ecosystem Functions and Productivity. NITROGEN 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/nitrogen3030030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen (N), a common chemical element in the atmosphere (78% of our atmosphere) yet less common within the Earth’s crust (less than 2%), is a crucial nutrient for life [...]
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