Zinc (Zn) still represents an important health problem in developing countries, caused mainly by inadequate dietary intake. A large consumption of cereal-based foods with small concentrations and low bioavailability of Zn is the major reason behind this problem. Modern cultivars of cereals have inherently very small concentrations of Zn and cannot meet the human need for Zn. Today, up to 50% of wheat-cultivated soil globally is considered poor in bioavailable Zn. Agricultural strategies that are used to improve the nutritional value of crop plants are known as biofortification strategies. They include genetic biofortification, which is based on classical plant breeding and genetic engineering for larger nutrient concentrations, and greater agronomic biofortification, which is based on optimized fertilizer applications. This review focuses on agronomic biofortification with Zn, which has proved to be very effective for wheat and also other cereal crops including rice. Molecular and genetic research into Zn uptake, transport and grain deposition in cereals are critically important for identifying ‘bottlenecks’ in the biofortification of food crops with Zn. Transgenic plants with large Zn concentrations in seeds are often tested under controlled laboratory or glasshouse conditions with sufficient available Zn in the growth medium for the entire growth period. However, they might not always show the same performance under ‘real-world’ conditions with limited chemical availability of Zn and various stress factors such as drought. What purpose can an upgraded transport and storage system serve if the amount of goods to be transported and stored is limited anyway? Given the fact that the Zn concentrations required to achieve a measurable impact on human health are well above those required to avoid any loss of yield from Zn deficiency, providing crop plants with sufficient Zn through the soil and foliar fertilizer strategy under field conditions is critically important for biofortification efforts.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ejss.12437

Agronomic biofortification of cereals with zinc: a review

Publisher Summary Crop residues, usually considered a problem, when managed correctly can improve soil organic matter dynamics and nutrient cycling, thereby creating a rather favorable environment for plant growth. The intelligent management and utilization of crop residues is essential for the improvement of soil quality and crop productivity under rice-based cropping systems of the tropics. Viable option is to retain residue in the field; burning should be avoided. The major issue is adapting drills to sow into loose residues. Strategies include chopping and spreading of straw during or after combining or the use of disc-type trash drills. Residues rich in lignin and polyphenol contents experience the lowest decay. Decomposition of crop residues occurs at a rapid rate—about 80% of crop residue C is lost in the first year—under the warm and humid conditions of the tropics. Factors that control C decomposition also affect the N mineralization from the crop residues. Decomposition of poor-quality residues with low N contents, high C:N ratios, and high lignin and polyphenol contents generally results in microbial immobilization of soil and fertilizer N. Nutrient cycling in the soil–plant ecosystem is an essential component of sustainable productive agricultural enterprise. Although during the last three decades, fertilization practices have played a dominant role in the rice-based cropping systems, crop residues—the harvest remnants of the previous crop still play an essential role in the cycling of nutrients. Incorporation of crop residues alters the soil environment that in turn influences the microbial population and activity in the soil and subsequent nutrient transformations.

Crop residue management for nutrient cycling and improving soil productivity in rice-based cropping systems in the tropics

Agrochemical characterisation of "alperujo", a solid by-product of the two-phase centrifugation method for olive oil extraction.

Carbon mineralization from organic wastes at different composting stages during their incubation with soil.

To improve C sequestration in soils and mitigate climate change, it is essential to understand how nutrient management strategies impact on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and labile fractions. This study was designed to explore changes in soil bulk density (BD), SOC concentrations, SOC stocks and soil labile organic C fractions (mineralizable C (Cmin), microbial biomass C (MBC), dissolved organic C (DOC), particulate organic C (POC), light fraction organic C (LFOC) and permanganate oxidizable C (KMnO 4 -C)) under 26-year fertilization regimes in a wheat-maize rotation system in the North China Plain. Soil from the following six treatments was analyzed: (1) Control with no amendment addition (CK); (2) Standard rate of mineral fertilizer treatment (SMF) reflecting local farmers' practice; (3) Standard rate of organic manure treatment (SMA) with total N input equal to SMF; (4) Half the standard rate of mineral fertilizer plus half the standard rate of organic manure treatment (1/2 SMF + 1/2 SMA); (5) Double standard rate of mineral fertilizer treatment (DMF); (6) Double standard rate of organic manure treatment (DMA). Results showed that all long-term fertilization regimes significantly decreased BD in topsoil compared to CK except for SMF, with treatments that included organic manure resulting in the lowest BDs. Treatments that included organic manure had significantly higher SOC concentrations and stocks than mineral or unfertilized treatments. The organic manure treatments also had higher concentrations of non-labile C but at the same time a higher proportion of labile C than the mineral or unfertilized treatments. This was confirmed by the carbon management index (CMI) which was significantly increased by organic manure addition. Control and mineral fertilized treatments had higher efficiencies of C retention (RE) from added inputs (crop residues only). Differences in Cmin, POC and KMnO 4 -C were affected by differences in MA-C, however, changes in rhizodeposition-C, stubble-C and root-C significantly affected DOC, MBC and LFOC. This study demonstrates that fertilization strategies that include organic manure can increase the pool of stable C in the surface soil layer, while at the same time increasing concentrations and proportions of labile C. Organic manure use can therefore contribute to improved nutrient cycling services and higher soil quality in the North China Plain.

/pdf/soil-labile-organic-carbon-fractions-and-soil-organic-carbon-1esusgj1p4.pdf

Soil labile organic carbon fractions and soil organic carbon stocks as affected by long-term organic and mineral fertilization regimes in the North China Plain

Laboratory studies on the application of wheat straw and pig slurry to soil and the resulting environmental implications.

Carbon mineralization kinetics in soils under urban environment

A laboratory experiment was performed during a 40-day incubation period in order to evaluate changes in organic and inorganic compounds of soil amended with two doses of sludge obtained from olive-oil processing waste waters. Differences between the amounts of organic components of the amended soil and those of the control, although related to doses and sampling time, disappeared at the end of the experimental period. On the contrary, the inorganic anion contents were still different for the various treatments, which suggest, especially for NO3
− and SO4
2−, a transient inhibition in the soil-sludge system. A germination test, carried out on the soil amended with different doses of sludge, indicates that after about twenty days even the soil containing the highest dose of sludge did not show toxicity any longer.

Effect of the disposal of sludge from olive processing on some soil characteristics: Laboratory experiments

Decomposition of vegetation-water sludge in soil

Physiological and biochemical characteristics were evaluated in dandelion plants (Taraxacum officinale) growing naturally in an urban environment. The study area was located in Pisa, Italy, and 27 sites in the municipality were chosen to assess the biochemical and physiological features of dandelion plants and the trace metal content in the urban soil. Concentrations of elements including, Cr, Cu, Mn and Zn were analysed in the soil together with dandelion shoot and root tissues collected from the various sites. Chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis, the pigment content, antioxidant power and phenol content were determined in dandelion. The results showed very limited soil pollution due to trace metals in the urban sites. However, dandelion showed Zn uptake and translocation although no damage was observed in the plants. Our results highlight that dandelion plants are able to survive in a constrained environment thanks to the high phenol content which is effective in combatting the oxidative stress induced by heavy metals.

Are the Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics in Dandelion Plants Growing in an Urban Area (Pisa, Italy) Indicative of Soil Pollution?

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