Clarifying the effect of postponing nitrogen application on yield under nitrogen reduction is of great importance for increasing yield and optimizing the nitrogen application system of Tartary buckwheat. A two-year field experiment with six nitrogen treatments, including a conventional fertilizer application pattern (CK) and five treatments under 20% nitrogen reduction, with 0% (NP1), 10% (NP2), 20% (NP3), 30% (NP4), and 40% (NP5) postponed of nitrogen amounts, topdressing at the flowering stage, was conducted on the high-yielding Tartary buckwheat variety ‘Daku 1’. Compared with CK, the NP4 treatment significantly increased osmotic adjustment substance content, antioxidant enzyme– and nitrogen metabolism–related activities, dry matter accumulation, and yield. Compared with CK, the NP2, NP3, NP4, and NP5 treatments increased yield by 8.09%, 22.06%, 66.91%, and 31.62%, respectively, whereas the NP1 treatment decreased yield by 33.09%. In summary, appropriately postponing nitrogen application can improve the yield of Tartary buckwheat by improving root activity, delaying leaf senescence, and coordinating nitrogen metabolism balance. Under the conditions of this two-year single-site field study, the NP4 treatment showed promise as a nitrogen-saving strategy for improving Tartary buckwheat yield; however, further validation across different environments, soil types, and cultivars is needed before broad production recommendations can be made.
Magnetite is widely recognized as an excellent adsorbent for mitigating aqueous arsenic (As) contamination; however, the influence of aqueous Fe(II) and organic acids on As retention under oxic conditions remains poorly understood. Here, we examined the effects of 10 mM Fe(II) and 10 mM acetic acid on the adsorption kinetics of As(III) and As(V). Magnetite preferentially adsorbed As(V) over As(III), with partial structural Fe dissolution, contributing to enhance As adsorption. Adsorption kinetics differed markedly among treatments (control, Fe(II), acetic acid, and Fe(II) + acetic acid). In the As(V) system, the adsorption was rapid and appeared to reach a near steady state by the first sampling point at 24 h, with Fe(II) addition-either alone or with acetic acid-promoting nearly complete As(V) adsorption (100% of added As) compared with the control (35% of added As). Conversely, acetic acid alone decreased As(V) sorption (29% of added As). In the As(III) system, the adsorption pattern was more complex due to concurrent As(III) oxidation. Fe(II) addition enhanced As(III) adsorption but decreased As(V) adsorption, whereas combined Fe(II) + acetic acid decreased As(III) but increased As(V) adsorption. Acetic acid promoted As(III) oxidation and reduced overall As adsorption. Overall, Fe(II) enhanced both As(V) and As(III) immobilization by magnetite under oxic conditions, whereas acetic acid increased As(III) oxidation but reduced total As retention. Our findings highlight the interactive effects of Fe(II) and organic acids on As-magnetite interactions, r
To explore the feasibility of adding rosemary to goose feed, we compared the effects of basal diet (CON), 0.02 % rosemary extract (RE) and 15 % rosemary residue (RR) feed on goose meat quality, nutritional composition, antioxidant capacity and storage performance. Compared with CON, the RR and RE significantly increased levels of muscle glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), essential amino acid (EAA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (P < 0.05), while shear force, crude fat, malondialdehyde, and saturated fatty acid levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Addition-ally, the RR group had lower a* value of muscle, total antioxidant capacity, GSH-Px, EAA and PUFA levels than RE group (P < 0.05). Notably, the total viable count in RE group was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Overall, dietary RE at 0.02 % simultaneously upgrades goose meat quality, nutritional value and storage stability, whereas 15 % RR gives moderate but still favourable changes. Consequently, RE is recommended for high-quality goose production, whereas RR can be utilized as an economical, partial substitute for conventional feed ingredients.
Smallholder maize production in sub-Saharan Africa is constrained by soil fertility decline and erratic rainfall, leading to low dietary diversity. A four-season on-farm study (2018/2019-2021/2022) was conducted with six farmers in Murehwa District, Zimbabwe, to evaluate the effects of maize-legume strip cropping on soil nutrient dynamics, crop yield, and total system nutritional yield. The experiment was a 2 x 6 factorial arranged in a split-plot randomized complete block design, comparing sole maize with maize strip-cropped with pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Mills), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet), velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC), and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), with and without Brachiaria ssp. (cv. Mulato II (CIAT36087) grass border. Rainfall ranged from 495 to 1053 mm, influencing crop and soil responses. Strip cropping affected soil properties between the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, notably pH, exchangeable potassium (K), and soil organic carbon (SOC). Maize + cowpea improved K (+65 %) and pH (+30 %), while maize + groundnut improved SOC (+5 %). Maize grain yield was strongly influenced by season and its interaction with the strip cropping system. Maize + velvet bean yielded 2.4 t ha(-1) in 2018/19 and 2020/21, although sole maize produced the highest overall yield (3.2 t ha(-1)). Maize + pigeonpea consistently produced the highest grain yield among legumes (approximate to 1.0 t ha(-1)) and total system protein yield (>0.3 t ha(-1)), while starch yield was highest under sole maize in 2020/21. Overall, maize-legume strip cropping, particularly pigeonpea, cowpea, and groundnut, improved system-level nutrient yield and selected soil properties, demonstrating its potential for climate-resilient smallholder farming.
Reflectance spectroscopy in the visible to near-infrared range (vis-NIR) offers a non-destructive method to assess the biochemical quality of leafy vegetables. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of vis-NIR spectroscopy to predict total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves, and to identify robust spectral quality indicators at the leaf level. Two spinach cultivars were grown under open-field conditions across two growing seasons (2020/2021 and 2021/2022), with six nitrogen fertilization levels (0–250 kg N ha−1). Spectral signatures were collected at the leaf level and matched with laboratory measurements of TPC, TFC, and dry matter content (DM). Partial least squares regression (PLSR) showed limited performance in predicting TPC on a fresh weight basis (TPC_FW: R2 = 0.47; RMSEσ = 0.72), while it achieved better results for TFC_FW (R2 = 0.68; RMSEσ = 0.55) and DM (R2 = 0.63; RMSEσ = 0.61). The random forest (RF) algorithm showed moderate performance for TFC_FW (R2 = 0.58; RMSEσ = 0.65) and DM (R2 = 0.60; RMSEσ = 0.65) but was ineffective for TPC_FW. Key wavelengths selected by both models showed overlapping regions related to chemical absorption features, revealing partial spectral redundancy between traits. However, the influence of DM on analyte prediction was limited. This work demonstrates the feasibility of developing rapid, leaf-level spectral proxies for nutraceutical traits in fresh spinach, offering a step toward in-field quality monitoring for leafy vegetables.
Seaweed extracts are widely used as biostimulants and biofertilizers to enhance crop growth and yield. The green-tide-forming macroalga Ulva prolifera represents a promising and sustainable source for such extracts, valorizing a potential ecological burden into a high-value agricultural input in line with circular economy principles. This study evaluated the effects of U. prolifera-derived bio-fermentation (UF) extract on cherry radish (Raphanus sativus var. radicula) growth, nutritional quality and soil fertility. Plants were treated with UF extract at concentrations of 5 %, 10 %, 20 % and 30 %, alongside pure water (negative control) and Hoagland solution (positive control), over 40 days. Growth parameters, nutritional quality, and soil properties were assessed. Results showed that low-concentration (5 % and 10 %) UF extracts significantly improved root development and nutritional quality, with the 10 % concentration yielding the highest root weight (5.1 g plant-1), anthocyanin (4.3 mg g-1 FW), soluble protein (10.1 mg g-1 DW), soluble carbohydrate (23.4 mg g-1 DW), and leaf pigment contents (0.77, 0.27, and 0.16 mg g-1 FW for chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids, respectively). Conversely, higher UF concentrations (20 %-30 %) diminished these growth-promoting effects, although they increased root vitamin C content, soil nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N, P and K) levels, and induced soil acidification. These findings indicate that 10 % UF is optimal for enhancing cherry radish yield and nutritional quality, while highlighting the potential of U. prolifera bio-fermentation extract as a dual-functional plant growth promoter and soil conditioner for sustainable agriculture.
Goat milk is valued for health benefits like easy digestibility and low allergenicity, with “goaty flavor” as one of its characteristics, yet studies on the milk flavor of Liaoning cashmere goats (LCG) remain scarce. Using milk components as surrogates for flavor, this study preliminarily employed combined flavoromics and transcriptomics to screen functional genes (LPL, FMO3, ACSS2, ACSF3) associated with LCG milk components. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping based on PCR-seq revealed genotype-trait associations: at LPL-C17065T, the CC genotype was superior for milk components milk fat (Fat), crude protein (Cru.Prot) and body size traits, while TT favored cashmere yield; at FMO3-C16170T, CC benefited milk components and body size, and CT was better for cashmere; at ACSF3-C8287T, CC was optimal for milk components and cashmere, and TT favored body size; at ACSS2-G43516A, GA benefited milk components and cashmere, and GG favored body size. Phenotypic analysis showed Total Solids (TS) correlated positively with milk fat and negatively with lactose; milk fat correlated positively with cashmere content and negatively with effective fiber number. After false discovery rate (FDR) correction, Multi-Locus Genotype Combination (MLGCs) (e.g., H2H2, H4H6) significantly affected milk components. These findings provide key genetic markers for LCG breeding and a theoretical basis for its genetic improvement.
Astragalus fasciculifolius Boiss (Astragalus) is an important medicinal plant whose growth and development are negatively influenced by drought stress. To examine the potential of seed priming in inducing drought tolerance in A. fasciculifolius, a factorial experiment with four replications was conducted in a completely randomized design within a research greenhouse at Torbat Heydarieh University, Iran, in 2024. The experimental treatments were two drought stress levels (no stress: irrigation at 90 % of field capacity (FC), and drought stress: irrigation at 50 % of FC) and eight seed priming treatments including no priming (control), hydropriming (HP), priming with gibberellin (GA3), salicylic acid (SA), potassium nitrate (KNO3), zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), humic acid (HA), and silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs). The results illustrated that drought stress significantly reduced the growth parameters and macro-elements absorption in A. fasciculifolius. However, seed priming with GAS, ZnSO4, and HA could moderate the adverse effects of water deficit, leading to significant improvements in plant height, aboveground biomass, and root nutrient uptake (N, P, K). This was associated with increased carotenoid and chlorophyll (Chl) levels. Seed priming with KNO3 or SA did not significantly differ from the control treatment in terms of growth, physiological and biochemical parameters. The SiO2-NPs treatment not only failed to induce drought stress tolerance in A. fasciculifolius, but also resulted in significantly lower growth parameters compared to the control. Essentially, the PCA results clearly demonstrated that seed priming with GAS, ZnSO4, and HA effectively mitigated the adverse effects of water deficit on A. fasciculifolius production, possibly through enhanced macro-nutrients uptake and increased photosynthetic pigment content.
The global textile industry consumes over a million tons of synthetic dyes annually, posing environmental and health risks due to their persistence and toxicity. Microbial pigments offer a sustainable alternative. This study evaluated the dermal irritation potential of pigments (blue green, brown, red, yellow, rose, and orange) produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Azotobacter chroococcum, Serratia marcescens, Micrococcus luteus, Micrococcus roseus, and Micrococcus kristinae in a rat-based screening model adapted from OECD 404 principles but not fully compliant. No irritation was observed under the tested conditions. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the neutral red uptake assay in WI 38 human lung fibroblasts. The orange pigment was non toxic up to 150 mg/mL, while half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for other pigments ranged from 46.7 to 113.5 mg/mL. Dyeing trials on cotton fabric showed the best performance with the red pigment from S. marcescens. This isolate was taxonomically identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which was 99.8 % DNA identical to S. marcescens ATCC13880. The prodigiosin pigment of LRe6 was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. These findings suggest microbial pigments as promising eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic dyes, though further validated testing is required.
Phytohormones and their derivatives are essential components of the signaling networks that regulate plant defense mechanisms against abiotic stress. A novel class of carotenoid-derived plant hormones, strigolactones (SLs), has been shown to modulate various physiochemical processes in plants under drought stress (DS). This study presents unique findings by optimizing the concentration of SLs to mitigate the detrimental effects of DS on maize seedlings. Drought stress significantly reduced plant growth attributes and leaf chlorophyll pigments due to excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The foliar application of SLs improved growth attributes, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and stomatal traits, while significantly reducing oxidative damage, as evidenced by a decrease in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide (O-2(-)) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p <= 0.05). Furthermore, the DS + SL3 treatment significantly improved leaf ultrastructure and reduced oxidative damage, as evidenced by decreases in H2O2, O-2(-) and MDA content by 32.49 %, 33.31 %, and 55.23 % (p <= 0.05) respectively. This treatment also increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) by 31.64 %, 49.61 %, 53.18 %, and 101.35 %, respectively. Strigolactones enhanced chloroplast structure, supported cell expansion, protected cell walls, and significantly improved stomatal traits, including number, length, and width. These findings suggest that the foliar application of SLs can mitigate the adverse effects of drought stress by upregulating chlorophyll pigments and activating antioxidant defense mechanisms to mitigate ROS damage.
Freshwater resources are continuously depleting over time due to the combination of various climatic, political and anthropogenic factors. The freshwater shortage has compelled farmers to use sewage water as an irrigation source for vegetable cultivation. However, urban sewage water contains a sufficient amount of heavy metals which can easily damage soil, crops and affect human health. The present study compared the concentrations of toxic metals including copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd) lead, (Pb) and cobalt (Co) in radish and soil irrigated with sewage water (SW) versus canal water (CW). The results showed that the SW contains a significant number of heavy metals e.g., Cu (1.735 mg/kg), Fe (3.775 mg/kg), Zn (1.885 mg/kg), Mn (0.375 mg/kg), Cd (0.044 mg/kg), Co (0.05 mg/kg), Pb (0.062 mg/kg), and Mo (0.07 mg/kg), leading to increase the accumulation in the radish and soil by increasing their permissible limits. The irrigation water sources also have the potential to affect soil physicochemical properties and proximate composition of the radish. The sewage water irrigation notably increased salinity, nutrients, and soil organic matter, however it also increased the contamination risks. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) and Bio-concentration Factor (BCF) metrics revealed that sewage water has substantial adverse health impacts due to high metal contamination. There is an urgent need to adopt the innovative management strategies to improve the irrigation water sources to prevent soil health threats from metal pollution.
Biofertilizers play an important role in sustainable agriculture as they are environmentally friendly practice. Hence, the present study was conducted to investigate and compare the performance of four organic-based nutrient solutions (NSs) from fish farm waste (NSB), humic acid (NSC) and (NSD), and plant source (NSE) with an inorganic fertilizer (NSA) as control on lettuce cv 'Lollo bianda' grown in a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Vertical hydroponic system. Plant growth parameters, yield, mineral content, phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and individual phenolic compounds have been identified and quantified in response to different NSs. Among the organic-based NSs used, NSB and NSE produced a slightly lower crop yield (185 and 189 g/plant) than the inorganic NSA (211 g/plant). Organic NSs resulted in lower leaf nitrate levels in the lettuce leaf (9.5-15 mg kg(-1) DW) as compared to the control (189 mg kg(-1) DW). Notably, Organic NSs gave higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity, with the highest level in NSC and NSD (96.65 and 98.51 mg g(-1), respectively) than the control (68.48 mg g(-1)). Chlorogenic acid, trans-ferulic, and benzoic acid levels were significantly higher, while vanillic acid and 4-hydroxy benzoic acid levels were lower in organically grown plants than those of inorganic NS. Overall, the findings provided evidence that the NS has a direct impact on the phenolic compounds content and their profile which may elucidate the mechanism of the plant response to NSs from different sources. The study offers a promising avenue for sustainable hydroponics and agricultural practices in arid environments.
Growing garlic, the main ingredient of Korean kimchi, is becoming increasingly difficult due to climate change, especially frequent droughts and rising temperatures. In this study, an irrigation method based on evapotranspiration was investigated to address the inefficient water use of conventional irrigation methods. To find out the effect of this method on drought resistance of two garlic varieties ('Namdo' and 'Hongsan'), hormone adaptation through the abscisic acid metabolites (ABAs), which regulate the water stress response of plants, was analyzed. The 'Namdo' showed remarkable adaptability in Penman-Monteith (PM)-based irrigation, with a 205 % increase in phaseic acid levels compared to the conventional method. The PM-based irrigation method kept garlic in optimal moisture conditions while reducing water consumption by 34 %. This improved water efficiency and hormone adaptation were achieved without impeding the synthesis of useful compounds, such as allicin and other organosulfur metabolites, which determine the nutritional and medicinal value of garlic. Evapotranspiration-based irrigation succeeded in optimizing water use while maintaining the quality of garlic crops in drought conditions. This approach could be useful for areas experiencing water scarcity, and it has the potential to be applied to other high-value crops with similar physiological responses to water stress.
Gossypol is an anti-nutritional factor in cottonseed products, and its toxicity is reduced mainly by transforming free gossypol (FG) to bound gossypol (BG). However, the safety of BG chronic consumption in relation to liver and reproduction has not been fully examined. This study aimed to assess the effects of chronic BG exposure on liver and male reproductive function. BG with a purity of 97.38 % was prepared from whole egg solution and acetate gossypol, and its digestive stability was investigated by in vitro and in vivo digestion experiments. In vitro, digestion experiment of BG in the simulated gastric and intestinal fluid was performed. In vivo, thirty 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into 3 groups, and the effects of BG on the liver and reproductive function of mice were studied by administering 24.8 mg/(kg center dot BW) BG (contains 0.67 mg FG) (marked as BG group), through gavage for 90 days, and administrated with 0.67 mg/(kg center dot BW) FG as a control group (C group), administrated with vehicle as a negative control group. Results show that BG dissociated into FG in simulated gastrointestinal environments. Long-term BG administration hindered the growth performance of the male mice, during which higher FG was detected in the feces of BG-administrated mice. This BG administration also increased serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, as well as the balloon degeneration and binucleate cells in the liver. Sperm concentration, sperm motility, epididymis coefficient, and the lactate dehydrogenase-X activity in the testis were inhibited by BG administration. Taken together, we reported that long-term administration with BG at a low dosage of 24.8 mg/(kg center dot BW) damages the growth performance, liver, and reproductive function, which may guide the modest use of cottonseed in foods and feeds.
There is a constant search for safer, eco-friendly and effective insect control agent alternatives of natural origin due to concerns in human health, ecology and development of insect resistance to conventional chemical insecticides. Accordingly, a fumigant molecule, isosecotanapartholide (ISTP) from Artemisia vulgaris L., has been isolated and characterized following laboratory bioassays against stored grain insect pests. Physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses correlated with literature data to yield the structure of ISTP, a volatile organic compound. The isolated organic compound is highly toxic to adults of Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) and Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) with LC50 50 values of 1.82, 2.19 and 1.83 mu g/L respectively. ISTP also exhibits potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor activity in vivo and in vitro analysis. Additionally, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation analysis provide insight into the possible interaction between ISTP and AChE of S. oryzae, , without any adverse effect on seed germination. In summary, ISTP from A. vulgaris source is a potential insecticide against stored grain insect pests and alternative to synthetic pesticides.
Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is the largest contiguous grazing area in the world, while its soil has a low soil selenium (Se) content, an essential rare element for human health. Grazing and Se addition are two common management practices in the regional grasslands, but their interactions with the vegetation growth of alpine meadows in the QTP remain largely unknown. Here, we conducted a two-year field experiment (2017 and 2018) to explore the effects of grazing [two stocking rates (0 and 6 sheep months ha- 1 )] and Se addition [six Se addition levels (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 g ha- 1 )] on above-ground biomass (AGB), below-ground biomass (BGB), root-to-shoot ratio (R/S), species richness and Shannon- Wiener's diversity index of an alpine meadow at the Maqu county in the Eastern QTP. The results indicate that AGB peaked at a Se addition rate of 21 g ha- 1 combined with no grazing (i.e., exclosure) and at a rate of 20 g ha- 1 Se addition with a stocking rate of 6 sheep months ha- 1 ; BGB was highest under a Se addition of 23.5 g ha- 1 (under exclosure) and 23 g ha- 1 (under grazing). After Se addition, the species richness and Shannon-Wiener index of the alpine meadow under the grazing treatment were significantly lower than those in the exclosure treatment, which was mainly driven by the reduction of sedges and forbs. The structural equation model showed that grazing reduced the biomass of sedge, gramineae, and forbs, while Se addition increased the soil available nitrogen and phosphorus content and promoted the growth of sedge, gramineae, and forbs. Our results suggested that moderate grazing combined with Se addition is a suitable management method for maintaining alpine meadow productivity.
Both increased plant density and wide seedling strip planting (WSP) can improve wheat grain yield. However, whether and how greater gains in grain yield can be achieved by combining WSP with an increased plant density is unclear. In this study, two winter wheat cultivars were subjected to three plant densities (lower, normal, and higher) and two planting patterns (conventional planting [CP] and WSP). The effects of plant density, planting pattern, and their combination on the solar radiation interception and conversion, biomass accumulation, harvest index, and grain yield were investigated. In response to an increase in plant density from lower to higher and a shift from CP to WSP and their combination, grain yield increased by 15.43 %, 10.85 % and 27.62 % for cultivar Taimai198, and by 13.13 %, 8.31 % and 22.41 % for Shannong30, respectively. The larger increases in grain yield were mainly ascribed to enhanced dry matter production, in particular after anthesis with no variation or a slight decline in the harvest index. The higher plant density was the dominant driver of the enhanced radiation interception, whereas WSP was mainly responsible for ameliorating the reduction in radiation use efficiency (RUE) caused by the higher plant density. The combined effects of these two management practices in increasing grain yield were much greater than the independent effects of a shift from CP to WSP or an increase in plant density. Optimizing the planting method may thus be a promising option for further improving grain yield of a densely planted wheat population by increasing the RUE.
The influence of 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl) pyridine (CP) on growth, nitrogen (N) absorption and utilization, and yield of rice were examined to offer a technical reference for enhancing rice yield and efficient production under nitrogen limitation in cold regions. In this experiment, Japonica rice was planted with six treatments: 115 kg & sdot;ha- 1 N (local conventional application, N115), application of N reduced by 20 % (N92), N reduced by 20 % + 900 g ha- 1 CP (N92 + CP), N reduced by 30 % (N80.5), N reduced by 30 % + 900 g ha- 1 CP (N80.5 + CP), and no-N fertilizer (N0) were used to study the effects of CP on factors relating to yield. In 2022, compared with N92, N92 + CP significantly increased soil available N content (SAN), N uptake (NU), and N fertilizer utilization efficiency (NUE). These factors contributed to an increase in the leaf area index of all leaves at jointing and the leaf area index of the top three leaves at heading. In 2021, the tiller number per hill, dry matter accumulation (DMA) from jointing to heading, DMA from heading to maturity (DMAH), crop growth rate (CGR) from jointing to heading, and CGR from heading to maturity (CGRH) were increased and thus contributed to an increase in total yield. Compared with N80.5, N80.5 + CP significantly increased tiller number per hill, SAN, and NUE in 2022, while the DMAH, CGRH, and yield were increased in 2021 and 2022. This study indicates that CP can maintain rice yield by increasing NU and NUE even under reduced N rates.
Phosphorus (P) fertilizer is a significant cost in crop production. Understanding the mechanisms behind P fertilizer-soil-crop interactions can enhance phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) and increasing yield. We conducted a rice cultivation bucket experiment in red soil (pH = 5.9) and lime concretion black soil (pH = 7.8) and applied single superphosphate (SSP), calcium magnesium phosphate (CMP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), triple superphosphate (TSP), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and a control group (CK, no P fertilizer). We analyzed rice P uptake and utilization patterns, evaluated the impact of varying P fertilizer formulations on rice root morphology, yield, and PUE, and investigated changes in soil P pools. In red soil, the APP treatment produced the greatest total root length, rice yield, PUE and increased soil Olsen-P, NaHCO3-Pi at anthesis. In lime concretion black soil, the TSP and APP treatments had the highest rice yields and increased Olsen-P, H2O-P, NaHCO3-Pi at anthesis. Moreover, the TSP treatment had the greatest total root length and root surface area at anthesis and the APP treatment had the largest PUE. Random forest regression analysis revealed that residual-P and Olsen-P significantly impacted rice yield in red soil and lime concretion black soil, respectively. We recommend using APP in red soil and TSP and APP in lime concretion black soil for rice cultivation to optimize soil P pool characteristics and root morphology for nutrient uptake, ultimately leading to the highest yields and PUE.
