The swift integration of AI, robotics, and advanced sensing technologies has revolutionized agriculture into a data-centric, autonomous, and sustainable sector. This systematic study examines the interplay between artificial intelligence and agricultural robotics in intelligent farming systems. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, swarm robotics, and generative AI are analyzed for crop monitoring, precision irrigation, autonomous harvesting, and post-harvest processing. Employing PRISMA to categorize more than 10,000 high-impact publications from Scopus, WoS, and IEEE. Drones and vision-based models predominate the industry, while IoT integration, digital twins, and generative AI are on the rise. Insufficient field validation rates, inadequate crop and regional representation, and the implementation of explainable AI continue to pose significant challenges. Inadequate model generalization, energy limitations, and infrastructural restrictions impede scalability. We identify solutions in federated learning, swarm robotics, and climate-smart agricultural artificial intelligence. This paper presents a framework for inclusive, resilient, and feasible AI-robotic agricultural systems.

Endophytic microorganisms associated with medicinal plants are of particular interest as they are a potential source of new bioactive chemicals effective against novel emerging and drug-resistant pathogens. Agave americana is a tropical medicinal plant with antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer properties. We studied the biodiversity of fungal endophytes of A. americana and their antimicrobial production potential. Isolated endophytic fungi were classified into 32 morphotypes (15 from stem and 17 from leaf) based on their cultural and morphological characteristics. Among the fungal crude extracts tested, 82% of isolates from the leaves and 80% of the isolates from the stem showed antibacterial activity against the bacterial strains (Escherichia coli ATTC 25902, Staphylococcus aureus ATTC 14775, and Bacillus subtilis NRRL 5109) tested. Extracts from four fungal isolates from leaves showed antifungal activity against at least one of the fungal strains (Candida albicans ATTC 10231 and Aspergillus fumigatus NRRL 5109) tested. Crude extracts of seven fungal isolates showed a zone of inhibition of more than 11 mm at 10 mgml-1 against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria tested. Penicillium, Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes, and Pleurotus are the main endophytes responsible for bioactive potential. These results indicate that A. americana harbors endophytes capable of producing antimicrobial metabolites.

Rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion in aquifers pose significant challenges for South Florida agriculture, leading to increased groundwater salinity and potential crop losses. Utilizing salttolerant crop species presents a potential solution for saline soils and regions with active saltwater intrusion. However, the effects of soil salinization through groundwater alone remains less studied. This research investigates the impact of short-term, below-ground saltwater stress on the growth, survival, and overall health of commonly grown cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). The objectives of the study are to: 1) determine the impact of saline groundwater on tomato plant health and 2) compare the nutrient content of soil and tomato plant tissue exposed to varying concentrations of saline water. Established cherry tomato plants were exposed to varying concentrations of NaCl solution, simulating saltwater intrusion into groundwater. Over 28 days, plant height, leaf chlorophyll levels, and disease occurrences were monitored. It was found that the NaCl treatments did not significantly affect cherry tomato performance under the parameters of height, chlorophyll levels, or leaf nutrition when compared to the control group. This study suggests that cherry tomatoes can tolerate short-term exposure to NaCl in groundwater. Further exploration of more intense salt stress conditions from groundwater could be beneficial for utilizing this crop in areas with saline soils or polluted groundwater. Identification of salt-tolerant cherry tomato varieties can provide alternative crop options for non-arable land affected by high soil salinity.

This study demonstrates the efficacy of employing Rhizopus oryzae fungus inoculum as a potential solution to improve soil erodibility in coastal environments. A set of unconfined compression tests is conducted on Miami Beach sand treated with a R. oryzae inoculum. Our findings suggest that the R. oryzae fungus inoculum effectively improves the stability of sand by acting as a natural binding agent. This finding aligns with previous studies that utilized different Rhizopus species, such as Rhizopus oligosporus, to improve sand properties. However, a notable difference is observed; the R. oryzae-treated sand exhibits remarkable durability, maintaining significant strength over an extended period without water or dietary supply. The durability is likely attributable to the morphological characteristics of R. oryzae that extensively branches its mycelial network. This paper shares the new discovery to the bio-geotechnics research community, potentially allowing for the customization of soil improvement process by choosing between the fast-acting R. oligosporus and the longer-lasting R. oryzae.

Regenerative agriculture increasingly relies on organic soil amendments to improve soil fertility and crop productivity. This study evaluates the effects of dried algae (DA), vermicompost (VC), liquid hydrolyzed fish and seaweed fertilizer (LA), and a control (S0, untreated soil without amendments) on the soil fertility, growth, nutrient uptake, and physiology of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), a key cover crop for soil improvement. Treatments were applied at 1 ton/ha (DA), 3 ton/ha (VC), and 8 mL/L (LA). Plants were grown for 10 weeks, during which plant growth, chlorophyll content, and biomass were measured. Soil and plant samples were analyzed for macro- and micronutrients. S0 and DA treatments produced the highest biomass, with S0 showing the highest total carbon and organic matter content. LA-treated soils exhibited elevated phosphorus, potassium, and sodium levels, while DA and S0 shoots had significantly higher sulfur and zinc concentrations. LA treatment notably increased chlorophyll content by the study’s end. Overall, DA demonstrated strong potential as a nutrient-rich organic amendment, while S0 provided a robust baseline for biomass production. VC enriched phosphorus and potassium but resulted in the lowest total biomass. LA promoted shoot growth and chlorophyll content but required root development and sodium management optimization. These findings highlight the need to align the amendment choice with soil characteristics and environmental conditions to optimize crop productivity and soil health in sustainable farming systems.

Cyanobacteria, an important addition to biofertilizers, are gaining popularity for their multifaceted benefits in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem restoration. However, harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater, predominantly caused by cyanobacteria, prevent sunlight penetration into the water and develop hypoxic and anoxic conditions. We collected cyanobacteria slurry from Lake Jesup (Central Florida, USA), repurposed it as a biofertilizer, and incorporated it in a typical South Florida calcite soil for high-value okra (Abelmoschus esculentus; var: Clemson spineless) production. Experiments were conducted at the Organic Garden Shade House and Greenhouse located inside the main campus of the Florida International University (FIU), FL, USA. A two-year experiment with four different treatments was conducted, namely, (a) control (C; no fertilizer applied), (b) total synthetic (TS), (c) total biofertilizer (TB; only cyanobacteria biofertilizer was applied), and (d) half and half (HH; 50% biofertilizer + 50% synthetic fertilizer), which were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six replications for each treatment. Our results indicate that TB and TS produced about 29 to 33% higher SPAD (soil plant analytical development) readings than the control. The absence of interveinal chlorosis (yellowing of leaves) in the TB and HH treatments suggests that the cyanobacteria-based biofertilizer had a role in supplying one of the critical micronutrients, iron (Fe). Analysis of the biofertilizer indicated 2000 ppm Fe content, which directly supports our observation. Similarly, average plant height (61 cm), yield (130 gm per pot), and crop biomass (67 gm) productions were significantly higher in TB than in the control. Overall, this study documents the potential of cyanobacteria biofertilizers as a viable option compared to synthetic fertilizers for sustainable crop production and soil health improvement.

Microorganisms associated with medicinal plants are of great interest as they are the producers of important bioactive compounds effective against common and drug-resistant pathogens. The characterization and biodiversity of fungal endophytes of the Petiveria alliacea plant and their antimicrobial production potential are of great interest as they are known for their antimicrobial and anticancer properties. In this study, we investigated the endophytic fungal microbiome associated with P. alliacea, and the endophytic fungal isolates were classified into 30 morphotypes based on their cultural and morphological characteristics. Ethyl acetate extract of fungal endophytes was obtained by liquid–liquid partitioning of culture broth followed by evaporation. The crude extract dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide was screened for antimicrobial activity against three bacterial strains (Escherichia coli ATTC 25902, Staphylococcus aureus ATTC 14775, Bacillus subtilis NRRL 5109) and two fungal strains (Candida albicans ATTC 10231 and Aspergillus fumigatus NRRL 5109). Among the crude extracts from endophytes isolated from leaves, 65% of them showed antimicrobial activity against the bacteria tested. Similarly, 71 and 88% of the fungal crude extracts from endophytes isolated from root and stem, respectively, showed inhibitory activities against at least one of the bacterial strains tested. Crude extracts (at a concentration of 10 mg/mL) from ten of the fungal isolates have shown a zone of inhibition of more than 12 mm against both Gram-positive and negative bacteria tested. Sequenced data from isolates showing strong inhibitory activity revealed that Fusarium solani, F. proliferatum, and Fusarium oxysporium are the major endophytes responsible for bioactive potential. These results indicate that Petiveria alliacea harbors fungal endophytes capable of producing antimicrobial metabolites. Future studies need to focus on testing against drug-resistant bacteria (ESKAPE group) and other pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening, is an insidious disease in citrus and has become a threat to the sustainability of the citrus industry worldwide. In the U.S., Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) is the pathogen that is associated with HLB, an unculturable, phloem-limited bacteria, vectored by the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP, Diaphorina citri). There is no known cure nor treatment to effectively control HLB, and current control methods are primarily based on the use of insecticides and antibiotics, where effectiveness is limited and may have negative impacts on beneficial and non-target organisms. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of effective and sustainable treatment options to reduce or eliminate CLas from infected trees. In the present study, we screened citrus-derived endophytes, their cell-free culture supernatants (CFCS), and crude plant extracts for antimicrobial activity against two culturable surrogates of CLas, Sinorhizobium meliloti and Liberibacter crescens. Candidates considered high-potential antimicrobial agents were assessed directly against CLas in vitro, using a propidium monoazide–based assay. As compared to the negative controls, statistically significant reductions of viable CLas cells were observed for each of the five bacterial CFCS. Subsequent 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that each of the five bacterial isolates were most closely related to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, a species dominating the market of biological control products. As such, the aboveground endosphere of asymptomatic survivor citrus trees, grown in an organic orchard, were found to host bacterial endophytes capable of effectively disrupting CLas cell membranes. These results concur with the theory that native members of the citrus microbiome play a role in the development of HLB. Here, we identify five strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens demonstrating notable potential to be used as sources of novel antimicrobials for the sustainable management of HLB.

A novel kinetic model has been developed to explain the degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons. Micro -biome engineered biochar amendment may result in a synergistic impact on degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs). Therefore, the present study analyzed the potential of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria A designated as Aeromonas hydrophila YL17 and B as Shewanella putrefaciens Pdp11 morphological characterized as rod shaped, anaerobic and gram-negative immobilized on biochar, and the degradation efficiency was measured by gravimetric analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Whole genome sequencing of both strains revealed the existence of genes responsible for hydrocarbon degradation. In 60 days remediation setup, the treatment consisting of immobilization of both strains on biochar proved more efficient with less half-life and better biodegradation potentials compared to biochar without strains for decreasing the content of TPHs and n-alkanes (C12-C18). Enzymatic content and microbiological respiration showed that biochar acted as a soil fertilizer and carbon reservoir and enhanced microbial activities. The removal efficiency of hydrocarbons was found to be a maximum of 67% in soil samples treated with biochar immobilized with both strains (A + B), followed by biochar immobilized with strain B 34%, biochar immobilized with strain A 29% and with biochar 24%, respectively. A 39%, 36%, and 41% increase was observed in fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis, polyphenol oxidase and dehydrogenase activities in immobilized biochar with both strains as compared to control and individual treatment of biochar and strains. An increase of 35% was observed in the respiration rate with the immobilization of both strains on biochar. While a maximum colony forming unit (CFU/g) was found 9.25 with immobilization of both strains on biochar at 40 days of remediation. The degradation efficiency was due to synergistic effect of both biochar and bacteria based amendment on the soil enzymatic activity and mi-crobial respiration.

The South Florida avocado industry is being severely impacted by laurel wilt disease. Laurel wilt disease of avocado is caused by the fungal pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola (RL) and is vectored by ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus . Treatments options are limited, economically not sustainable, and require reapplication fungicides every couple of years. There is a crucial need for developing multiple modes of control using novel biological and chemical agents. The ambrosia beetle associated pathogenic fungi are known to outcompete other microorganisms by taking advantage of ethanol produced by the pathogen and the stressed tree. Endophytes, which reside inside the host plant tissue are part of the plant microbiome represent source of new potential biological control agents. In this study, three ethanol tolerant endophytic fungal species, isolated from avocado bark, were evaluated using in vitro dual culture assay and colonization tube (packed with bark/sapwood shaving) against RL. The endophytic isolates Tricoderma crissum , Tricoderma simmonsii , Lasiodiplodia theobromae were found to be highly capable of suppressing the mycelial colony growth of RL. The results suggest that combined abilities of ethanol tolerance and competitive colonization can provide useful criteria for identifying potential biocontrol agents. In vitro anti-RL activity of silver pyrazolate compound was assessed in both agar and liquid medium. Silver pyrazolate at levels of 30 and 45 ppm were found to be highly effective against RL. Further in planta research is needed to study the effects of endophytic fungal isolates and silver pyrazolate to assess their potential as additional tools for management of laurel wilt.

Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are artificial ecosystems designed to mimic the nutrient removal capabilities of natural wetlands through the hydroponic cultivation of plants on floating rafts, thereby utilizing the process of phytoremediation. This approach provides plants with protection against submersion, creating an optimal environment for the growth of valuable hydroponic crops. To ensure the removal of nutrients absorbed and incorporated into plant biomass from aquatic systems, the implementation of routine plant harvesting serves as an effective management strategy. This practice prevents the decomposition and subsequent release of nutrients back into the water. Furthermore, the cultivation of crops for commercial purposes can serve as an incentive to enhance biomass harvesting and replanting efforts, which may be financially impractical otherwise. This study aimed to assess the growth success and nutrient remediation capacities of five cut-flower species on FTWs in controlled mesocosm systems at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. The surviving species were evaluated based on growth metrics, bloom count, and nutrient removal abilities, specifically for total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN). Among the five species tested, only marigold (Tagetes erecta) survived throughout the 12-week trial on the FTWs. The marigold-planted treatment exhibited a significant enhancement in nutrient reduction efficiencies compared to the control treatment, removing 52% more TP and 33% more TN mass from the mesocosm system. This resulted in a nutrient removal rate of 0.062 g of TP ‧ m2 ‧ day−1 and 0.321 g of TN ‧ m2 ‧ day−1 in the marigold-treated mesocosm. Additionally, the marigold treatment yielded an average of 65 market-quality blooms per m2, with mean widths of 6.4±1.8 cm and lengths of 27.6±7.3 cm. Given the substantial nutrient removal and the production of marketable blooms, marigold (Tagetes erecta) shows promising potential as a commercially viable remediating crop cultivated on FTWs in South Florida.

Global food security is largely controlled by crop production. At the same time, agricultural productivity is severely affected by stress conditions. Besides climate change, other invaders like plant pests and pathogens exert a growing burden on crop production. Plant disease reduces the quality and quantity of food, fibre and biofuel crops. The most harmful plant diseases are caused by fungal pathogens, which also cause significant losses to the agriculture industry. The methods used to manage poor disease control produce the same result and they also have toxicity challenges. To overcome this condition, eco-friendly and sustainable agricultural approaches based on biological control agents have been significantly explored worldwide. Fungal species like Trichoderma species, Chaetomium species, Pythium species, Gliocladium virens and Coniothyrium minitans, as well as yeasts, arbuscular mycorrhiza, ectomycorrhiza, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and avirulent/hypovirulent strains of specific pathogens are frequently used as Biological Control Agents (BCAs) and are promising IPDM. The biocontrol agents often work to protect plants either directly through antagonistic interactions or indirectly through induced changes in plant structure and physiology. The current chapter focuses on the methods to manage plant pathogenic fungi by exploring the beneficial effects of biocontrol agents.

The soil microenvironment greatly influences a plant’s ability to absorb nutrients and germinate. Sensing these changes in soil medium is critical to understand plant nutrient requirements. Soil being dynamic represents changes in nutrient content, element mobility, texture, water-holding capacity, and microbiota which affects the nutrient levels. These minor changes affect the plant in early growth and development and studying these changes has always been challenging. Microfluidics provides a platform to study nutrient availability and exchange in small volumes of liquid or media resembling plant microenvironments. Here, we have developed a novel microfluidic chip-embedded molecular imprinted sensor for sensing nitrate and phosphate in the media. For data acquisition and recording we have implemented a potentiostat controlled via a microcontroller allowing data storage and transfer via a long-range radio module (LoRA). The microfluidic device’s functionality was validated by germination of the legume crimson red and recoding the nitrate and phosphate levels in media for 7 d. The MIP-based sensor measures nitrate and phosphate, in the range from 1 to 1000 mM. The accuracy of detection for nitrate and phosphate showed 99% and 95% respectively. The chip coupled with MIP based sensor for nutrient analysis serves as a platform technology for studying nitrate and phosphate nutrient exchange and interaction. This chip in the future can be implemented to study plant deficiencies, drought resistance, and plant immunity.

Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are human-made ecosystems that mimic nutrient removal capacity of natural wetlands developed to grow plants hydroponically from floating rafts. The floating raft protects plants from being fully submerged, providing the potential for added value hydroponic crops to be cultivated for sale and/or consumption. This study evaluated the growth rates, bloom count, and nutrient [total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN)] remediation capacities of five cut-flower species in controlled mesocosm systems established at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. The study employed FTWs of 2.2 m2 provided for use by Beemats (Beemats LLC, New Smyrna Beach, FL, USA) in mesocosm tanks. Tanks were maintained at a water level of 0.774 m and dissolved nutrients were added weekly to maintain concentrations of 0.5 mg L-1 of P and 3.5 mg of N mg L-1 representative of local South Florida nutrient runoff rates. Of the five species evaluated, only marigold (Tagetes erecta) survived on the FTWs for the entire 12-week trial. The marigold-treated tank removed 86.15% and 64.31% of TP and TN, respectively expressed in terms of net removal over the entire trial. The marigold-treated tank had removal rates of 0.062 g of TP ‧ m2 ‧ day-1 and 0.321 g of TN‧ m2 ‧ day-1. Additionally, the marigolds produced a total of 142 market-quality blooms with flowers averaging a width of 6.35 cm. Selling at an estimated 1 USD per bloom, marigolds production on an FTW could earn a net profit of $30.52 per USD $‧m2‧yr-1 , not including labor costs. This level of nutrient removal paired with the number of blooms produced position marigold (Tagetes erecta) with potential as a commercially viable remediating crop grown on FTWs in South Florida.

“The agronomic practices of agricultural science in recent years have become more accurate, precise, and data-driven than ever before. The stable performance of an intelligent and sustainable system relies on precise monitoring that provides critical information for constructing site-specific information for evaluating soil parameters, environmental conditions, and plant growth. By implementing advanced systems like sensors, agriculture can become technology driven, more productive, and more efficient by optimizing fertilizer application and minimizing environmental impacts. As a result, multi-functional sensors are extensively used and increasingly in demand to provide accurate information to farmers, ensuring agricultural strategies tailored to specific needs and enhancing yields.”

Proximate interpretation of soil properties is essential for sustainable agriculture, demonstrating this for a possum trot farm located in South Florida, Miami Dade County (MDC), known for diverse agronomic regions over the decade. In this work, we explore the capabilities of multispectral images (Sentinel 2A and Landsat 8) for accessing the dynamic soil properties of the study site. The predefined combinations of spectral band values (spectral indices) of Sentinel 2A and Landsat 8 image on the study area were used for evaluation. The correlation coefficient and linear regression models were demonstrated to assess the relationship between the derived spectral indices and five topsoil properties (Bulk Density (BD), Soil Organic Matter (SOM), Electric Conductivity (EC), pH, and Water Content). The results illustrated that specific soil properties (SOM, EC, pH, and BD) correlated well with different spectral indices with both images. Eight spectral bands combinations were found good with three soil properties with maximum correlation coefficient (R = 0.623) for Sentinel 2A, and Landsat 8 has maximum correlation coefficient (R = 0.463) of three spectral indices for two soil properties. The influence of distinct spectral bands of multispectral satellite images in soil surface properties involved in the best-suited indices algorithms was discussed in this article. Overall, we found that the spectral indices demonstrated promising results for this study, and hence they can be accounted for in soil investigation in agriculture.

In soil, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have resulted in severe environmental deterioration, compromised soil characteristics, and negatively affect all life forms, including humans. Developing appropriate and effective clean-up technology is crucial in solving the contamination issues. The traditional methods to treat PHAs contaminated soil are less effective and not ecofriendly. Bioremediation, based on bioaugmentation and biostimulation approaches, is a promising strategy for remediating contaminated soil. The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a bioaugmentation tool is an effective technique for treating hydrocarbon contaminated soil. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are group of rhizospheric bacteria that colonize the roots of plants. Biochar is a carbon-rich residue, which acts as a source of nutrients, and is also a bio-stimulating candidate to enhance the activities of oil-degrading bacteria. The application of biochar as a nutrient source to bioremediate oil-contaminated soil is a promising approach for reducing PHA contamination. Biochar induces polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) immobilization and removes the contaminants by various methods such as ion exchange electrostatic attractions and volatilization. In comparison, PGPR produce multiple types of biosurfactants to enhance the adsorption of hydrocarbons and mineralize the hydrocarbons with the conversion to less toxic substances. During the last few decades, the use of PGPR and biochar in the bioremediation of hydrocarbons-contaminated soil has gained greater importance. Therefore, developing and applying a PGPR-biochar-based remediating system can help manage hazardous PAH contaminated soil. The goal of this review paper is to (i) provide an overview of the PGPR mechanism for degradation of hydrocarbons and (ii) discuss the contaminants absorbent by biochar and its characteristics (iii) critically discuss the combined effect of PGPR and biochar for degradation of hydrocarbons by decreasing their mobility and bioavailability. The present review focuses on techniques of bioaugmentation and biostimulation based on use of PGPR and biochar in remediating the oil-contaminated soil.

South Florida’s agricultural soils are traditionally low in organic matter (OM) and high in carbonate rock fragments. These calcareous soils are inherently nutrient-poor and require management for successful crop production. Sunn hemp (SH, Crotalaria juncea) and velvet bean (VB, Mucuna pruriens) are highly productive leguminous cover crops (CCs) that have shown potential to add large quantities of dry biomass to nutrient- and organic-matter-limited systems. This study focuses on intercropping these two CCs with young carambola (Averrhoa carambola) trees. The objective was to test the effectiveness of green manure crops in providing nutrients and supplementing traditional fertilizer regimes with a sustainable soil-building option. Typically, poultry manure (PM) is the standard fertilizer used in organic or sustainable production in the study area. As such, PM treatments and fallow were included for comparison. The treatments were fallow control (F), fallow with PM (FM), sunn hemp (SH), SH with PM (SHM), velvet bean (VB), and VB with PM (VBM). Sunn hemp and VB were grown for two summer growing seasons. At the end of each 90-day growing period, the CCs were terminated and left on the soil surface to decompose in a no-till fashion. The results suggest that SH treatments produced the greatest amount of dry biomass material ranging from 48 to 71% higher than VB over two growing seasons. As a result, SH CCs also accumulated significantly higher amounts of total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) within their dry biomass that was added to the soil. Sunn hemp, SHM, and FM treatments showed the greatest accumulation of soil OM, TC, and TN. Soil inorganic N (NH₄⁺ + NO3− + NO2) fluctuated throughout the experiment. Our results indicate that generally, VB-treated soils had their highest available N around 2 months post termination, while SH-treated soils exhibited significantly higher N values at CC termination time. Sunn hemp + PM (SHM)treatments had highest soil N availability around 4 months after CC termination. Soil enzyme activity results indicate that at CC termination, SHM exhibited the highest levels of β-1-4- glucosidase and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase among all treatments. Overall, SH, SHM, and FM treatments showed the greatest potential for supplementing soil nutrients and organic matter in a no-till fruit production setting.

The biodegradation of hazardous petroleum hydrocarbons has recently received a lot of attention because of its many possible applications. Bacillus marsiflavi strain was isolated from oil contaminated soil of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Initial sequencing was done by 16s rRNA sequencing technique. Bac 144 had shown 78% emulsification index and 72% hydrophobicity content. Further, the strain displayed production of 15.5 mg/L phosphate sloubilization and 30.25 μg/ml indole acetic acid (IAA) in vitro assay. The strain showed 65% biodegradation of crude oil within 5 days by using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Whole Genome analysis of Bac 144 was performed by PacBio sequencing and results indicated that Bacillus marsiflavi Bac144 strain consisted of size of 4,417,505bp with closest neighbor Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579. The number of the coding sequence was 4662 and number of RNAs was 141. The GC content comprised 48.1%. Various genes were detected in genome responsible for hydrocarbon degradation and plant defense mechanism. The toxic effect of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil and its mitigation with Bac 144 was tested by soil experiment with three levels of oil contamination (5%, 10% and 15%). Soil enzymatic activity such as dehydrogenase and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) increased up to 49% and 40% with inoculation of Bac 144, which was considered to be correlated with hydrocarbon degradation recorded as 46%. An increase of 20%, 14% and 9% in shoot length of plant at 5%, 10% and 15% level of oil was recorded treated with Bac 144 as compared to untreated plants. A percent increase of 14.89%, 16.85%, and 13.87% in chlorophyll, carotenoid, and proline content of plant was observed by inoculation with Bac 144 under oil stress. Significant reduction of 14% and 18%, 21% was recorded in the malondialdehyde content of plant due to inoculation of Bac 144. A considerable increase of 21.33%, 19.5%, and 24.5% in super oxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase dismutase activity was also observed in plants inoculated with strain Bac 144. These findings suggested that Bac-144 can be considered as efficient candidate for bioremediation of hydrocarbons.

The negative effects of synthetic agrochemicals have created strong incentives for the search of organic-based substitutes. One current alternative to the use of synthetic fertilizers is the use of vermicompost tea. In this study we investigate how vermicompost tea enhances pest resistance in crop plants. Four-hundred and thirty tomato plants were treated weekly with vermicompost tea mixtures ranging from 1:20 (5%), 1:10 (10%) and 1:5 (20%) of vermicompost and water (v/v). Physical data such as height, biomass, and yield were recorded. Additionally, leaf tissue samples were collected and analyzed via GC/MS analysis to monitor secondary metabolite production changes across treatment groups. Results indicated that the addition of vermicompost tea improved growth parameters evaluated. Vermicompost tea also influenced secondary metabolite production. High concentration vermicompost tea altered the production and accumulation of terpenoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and alkanes. Improved physical structures and increased concentrations of monoterpenes, diterpenes and hydrocarbons from epicuticular waxes could explain enhanced pest resistance previously observed.