Root penetration ability and plant growth in agroecosystems

Root penetration ability is critical for plant growth and development. When roots encounter soil impedance, hormones are activated that affect cells and tissues, leading to changes in root morphology and configuration that often increase root penetration ability. Factors, such as root system architecture, root anatomic traits, rhizosphere exudation and root-induced phytohormones, influencing root penetration ability and how they affect plant performance under soil impedance were summarized. Root penetration ability affects plant capturing water and nutrients, and thus determines plant performance and productivity in adverse environments. Great efforts have been made in searching for the underlying mechanisms of root penetration ability, and tools have been developed for phenotyping variability in root penetration ability. Therefore, with the continued development of agroecosystems based on the advocated low input costs and controlled tillage, crops or genotypes of a crop species with stronger root penetration ability may have the potential for developing new varieties with enhanced adaptation and grain yield under mechanical impedance in soil.

Challenges and opportunities for reducing anthelmintic use in ruminant livestock systems: Insights from a sheep farmer survey in France

Today's level of anthelmintic use in livestock production is a major threat to both the livestock industry and the environment. In this context, the research community is looking for ways to equip farmers with preventive and treatment strategies that can decrease livestock-industry dependence on anthelmintics. Production practices for a sustainable control of parasites have been advocated for almost forty years, but farmers' uptake of these practices has been too slow to address the issues at stake. In this paper, we examine the rationales behind the under-adoption of sustainable worm control practices in grassland-based livestock systems. This research builds on 25 semi-structured interviews with dairy sheep farmers in southwestern France. The interview material was analysed via qualitative discourse analysis. We highlight farmers' social representations and rationales underpinning adoption or non-adoption of the 'low anthelmintics use' strategy. We identify six profiles for nematode control according to the way each farmer included treatment and coprology in their on-farm practice. We identify that the low-use strategy has low adoption potential due to its low perceived relative advantage; low perceived trialability; unclear compatibility with previous experiences, needs, and values; and higher complexity than the status quo option. We show that holistic, pro-environmental, and collaborative attitudes are associated with adoption of the low-use strategy. We then discuss ways to improve uptake, such as increased communication, trainings, and farm visits involving farmers, extension agents and veterinarians.