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Song J, Liu Y, Cai W, Zhou S, Fan X, Hu H, Ren L, Xue Y. Unregulated GmAGL82 due to Phosphorus Deficiency Positively Regulates Root Nodule Growth in Soybean. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1802. [PMID: 38339080 PMCID: PMC10855635 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen fixation, occurring through the symbiotic relationship between legumes and rhizobia in root nodules, is crucial in sustainable agriculture. Nodulation and soybean production are influenced by low levels of phosphorus stress. In this study, we discovered a MADS transcription factor, GmAGL82, which is preferentially expressed in nodules and displays significantly increased expression under conditions of phosphate (Pi) deficiency. The overexpression of GmAGL82 in composite transgenic plants resulted in an increased number of nodules, higher fresh weight, and enhanced soluble Pi concentration, which subsequently increased the nitrogen content, phosphorus content, and overall growth of soybean plants. Additionally, transcriptome analysis revealed that the overexpression of GmAGL82 significantly upregulated the expression of genes associated with nodule growth, such as GmENOD100, GmHSP17.1, GmHSP17.9, GmSPX5, and GmPIN9d. Based on these findings, we concluded that GmAGL82 likely participates in the phosphorus signaling pathway and positively regulates nodulation in soybeans. The findings of this research may lay the theoretical groundwork for further studies and candidate gene resources for the genetic improvement of nutrient-efficient soybean varieties in acidic soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Song
- College of Coastal Agricultural Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (J.S.); (Y.L.); (H.H.)
| | - Ying Liu
- College of Coastal Agricultural Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (J.S.); (Y.L.); (H.H.)
- South China Branch of National Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Technology Innovation Center, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Wangxiao Cai
- College of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (W.C.); (S.Z.); (X.F.)
| | - Silin Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (W.C.); (S.Z.); (X.F.)
| | - Xi Fan
- College of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (W.C.); (S.Z.); (X.F.)
| | - Hanqiao Hu
- College of Coastal Agricultural Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (J.S.); (Y.L.); (H.H.)
- South China Branch of National Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Technology Innovation Center, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Lei Ren
- College of Coastal Agricultural Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (J.S.); (Y.L.); (H.H.)
- South China Branch of National Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Technology Innovation Center, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Yingbin Xue
- College of Coastal Agricultural Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (J.S.); (Y.L.); (H.H.)
- South China Branch of National Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Technology Innovation Center, Zhanjiang 524088, China
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2
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Ahvo A, Heino M, Sandström V, Chrisendo D, Jalava M, Kummu M. Agricultural input shocks affect crop yields more in the high-yielding areas of the world. NATURE FOOD 2023; 4:1037-1046. [PMID: 37945784 PMCID: PMC10727984 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-023-00873-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The industrialization of agriculture has led to an increasing dependence on non-locally sourced agricultural inputs. Hence, shocks in the availability of agricultural inputs can be devastating to food crop production. There is also a pressure to decrease the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in many areas. However, the combined impact of the agricultural input shocks on crop yields has not yet been systematically assessed globally. Here we modelled the effects of agricultural input shocks using a random forest machine learning algorithm. We show that shocks in fertilizers cause the most drastic yield losses. Under the scenario of 50% shock in all studied agricultural inputs, global maize production could decrease up to 26%, and global wheat production up to 21%, impacting particularly the high-yielding 'breadbasket' areas of the world. Our study provides insights into global food system resilience and can be useful for preparing for potential future shocks or agricultural input availability decreases at local and global scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aino Ahvo
- Water and Development Research Group, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Matias Heino
- Water and Development Research Group, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Vilma Sandström
- Water and Development Research Group, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Daniel Chrisendo
- Water and Development Research Group, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Mika Jalava
- Water and Development Research Group, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Matti Kummu
- Water and Development Research Group, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.
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3
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Bai Z, Liu L, Obersteiner M, Mosnier A, Chen X, Yuan Z, Ma L. Agricultural trade impacts global phosphorus use and partial productivity. NATURE FOOD 2023; 4:762-773. [PMID: 37550541 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-023-00822-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
The spatio-temporal distribution, flow and end use of phosphorus (P) embedded in traded agricultural products are poorly understood. Here we use global trade matrices to analyse the partial factor productivity of P (output per unit of P input) for crop and livestock products in 200 countries and their cumulative contributions to the export or import of agricultural products over 1961-2019. In these six decades, the trade of agricultural P products has increased global partial factor productivity for crop and livestock production and has theoretically saved 67 Tg P in fertilizers and 1.6 Tg P in feed. However, trade is now at risk of contributing to wasteful use of P resources globally due to a decline in trade optimality, as agricultural products are increasingly exported from low to high partial factor productivity countries and due to P embedded in imported agricultural products mainly lost to the environment without recycling. Integrated crop-livestock production systems and P-recycling technologies can help.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohai Bai
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China.
- Xiongan Institute of Innovation, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiongan, China.
| | - Ling Liu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Michael Obersteiner
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Aline Mosnier
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
- Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Paris, France
| | - Xinping Chen
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zengwei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lin Ma
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China.
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
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4
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Jephita G, Jefline K, Willis G, Justice N. Carbon stock, aggregate stability and hydraulic properties of soils under tillage, crop rotation and mineral fertiliser application in sub-humid Zimbabwe. Heliyon 2023; 9:e15846. [PMID: 37168886 PMCID: PMC10165406 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15846] [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: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Appropriate tillage and crop diversifications can improve soil quality leading to yield sustainability. Our objective was to quantify tillage, crop rotation and mineral fertiliser application effects on carbon sequestration, aggregation and soil water movement after two cropping cycles in the smallholder sector of Zimbabwe. Two split-plot experiments were set up at four sites on sandy, loamy and clayey soils. At experiment 1, crop rotation (maize-soya bean; continuous maize) was the main plot and mineral fertiliser ((NPKS (180 N + 30P2O5+30K2O+6.5SO3 kg ha-1); control (no fertiliser added)) was the sub-plot. At experiment 2, tillage (reduced, conventional) was the main plot and mineral fertiliser (NPKS; control) was the sub-plot. Soil samples collected from 0 to 0.2 m and 0.2-0.4 m layers were analysed for soil organic matter (SOM) content, bulk density and proportion of water stable aggregates. Saturated hydraulic conductivities (Ks), steady state infiltration rates (is) and soil sorptivities (Sp) were estimated from fitting field infiltration data into the Phillip model. SOM stocks (mean = 3.483 Mg ha-1) were significantly increased by reduced tillage at the sandy site and higher (p < 0.05) in 0-0.20 m than in 0.20-0.40 m layers at clayey sites. Proportion of water stable aggregates increased (p < 0.05) under reduced tillage compared with conventional tillage and under rotation compared with continuous maize system. Bulk densities were 11% lower (p < 0.05) in the 0-0.20 m than in 0.20-0.40 m layers. The estimated Ks(1 × 10-4-8x10-4 cm s-1) and is (7.08-55 × 10-4 cm s-1) were at least 100% higher (p < 0.05) under rotation compared with continuous maize whilst sorptivities (0.050-0.143 cm s-05) did not vary across the treatments. NPKS fertiliser reduced (p < 0.05) is by up to 1.8 fold compared with the control. Short term adoption of reduced tillage and maize-soya bean rotation can mitigate soil structural degradation; increase water recharging and increase carbon sequestration quicker in sands than in the buffering clays making the practices more relevant in the smallholder sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gotosa Jephita
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Chinhoyi University of Technology, P.O. Box 7724, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
- Department of Natural Resources, Bindura University of Science Education, P. Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe
- Corresponding author. Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Chinhoyi University of Technology, P.O. Box 7724, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe.
| | - Kodzwa Jefline
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Chinhoyi University of Technology, P.O. Box 7724, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, P. O. Box 35, Zimbabwe
| | - Gwenzi Willis
- Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Nyamangara Justice
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, P. O. Box 35, Zimbabwe
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5
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Prospects and good experimental practices for photocatalytic ammonia synthesis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7908. [PMID: 36564382 PMCID: PMC9789054 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35489-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of photocatalysts is greatly hindered by false positives or non-reproducible data. Here, The authors describe the current known causes of non-reproducible results in the literature and present solutions to mitigate these false positive results.
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6
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Dissection of Crop Metabolome Responses to Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Other Nutrient Deficiencies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169079. [PMID: 36012343 PMCID: PMC9409218 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169079] [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: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Crop growth and yield often face sophisticated environmental stresses, especially the low availability of mineral nutrients in soils, such as deficiencies of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and others. Thus, it is of great importance to understand the mechanisms of crop response to mineral nutrient deficiencies, as a basis to contribute to genetic improvement and breeding of crop varieties with high nutrient efficiency for sustainable agriculture. With the advent of large-scale omics approaches, the metabolome based on mass spectrometry has been employed as a powerful and useful technique to dissect the biochemical, molecular, and genetic bases of metabolisms in many crops. Numerous metabolites have been demonstrated to play essential roles in plant growth and cellular stress response to nutrient limitations. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to summarize the recent advances in the dissection of crop metabolism responses to deficiencies of mineral nutrients, as well as the underlying adaptive mechanisms. This review is intended to provide insights into and perspectives on developing crop varieties with high nutrient efficiency through metabolite-based crop improvement.
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7
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McCullough EB, Quinn JD, Simons AM. Profitability of climate-smart soil fertility investment varies widely across sub-Saharan Africa. NATURE FOOD 2022; 3:275-285. [PMID: 37118199 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00493-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Soil fertility investments in sub-Saharan Africa, where budgetary resources are scarce, must be well targeted. Using a causal forest algorithm and an experimental maize trial dataset matched with geocoded rainfall, temperature and soils data, we modelled site-specific, ex ante distributions of yield response and economic returns to fertilizer use. Yield response to fertilizer use was found to vary with growing season temperature and precipitation and soil conditions. Fertilizer use profitability-defined as clearing a 30% internal rate of return in at least 70% of the years-was robust to growing season climate and the fertilizer-to-maize price ratio in several locations but not in roughly a quarter of the analysed area. The resulting profitability-assessment tool can support decision makers when climate conditions at planting are unknown and sheds light on the profitability determinants of different regions, which is key for effective smallholder farm productivity-enhancing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen B McCullough
- Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Julianne D Quinn
- Department of Engineering Systems and Environment, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - Andrew M Simons
- Department of Economics, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA.
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8
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Brownlie WJ, Sutton MA, Reay DS, Heal KV, Hermann L, Kabbe C, Spears BM. Global actions for a sustainable phosphorus future. NATURE FOOD 2021; 2:71-74. [PMID: 37117414 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-021-00232-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Will J Brownlie
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh, UK.
- School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | | | - David S Reay
- School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kate V Heal
- School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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9
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Ros MBH, Koopmans GF, van Groenigen KJ, Abalos D, Oenema O, Vos HMJ, van Groenigen JW. Towards optimal use of phosphorus fertiliser. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17804. [PMID: 33082411 PMCID: PMC7576788 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74736-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Because phosphorus (P) is one of the most limiting nutrients in agricultural systems, P fertilisation is essential to feed the world. However, declining P reserves demand far more effective use of this crucial resource. Here, we use meta-analysis to synthesize yield responses to P fertilisation in grasslands, the most common type of agricultural land, to identify under which conditions P fertilisation is most effective. Yield responses to P fertilisation were 40-100% higher in (a) tropical vs temperate regions; (b) grass/legume mixtures vs grass monocultures; and (c) soil pH of 5-6 vs other pHs. The agronomic efficiency of P fertilisation decreased for greater P application rates. Moreover, soils with low P availability reacted disproportionately strong to fertilisation. Hence, low fertiliser application rates to P-deficient soils result in stronger absolute yield benefits than high rates applied to soils with a higher P status. Overall, our results suggest that optimising P fertiliser use is key to sustainable intensification of agricultural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mart B H Ros
- Soil Chemistry and Chemical Soil Quality Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Soil Biology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Gerwin F Koopmans
- Soil Chemistry and Chemical Soil Quality Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kees Jan van Groenigen
- Department of Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Diego Abalos
- Soil Biology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Oene Oenema
- Soil Biology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hannah M J Vos
- Soil Chemistry and Chemical Soil Quality Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Soil Biology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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10
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Falconnier GN, Corbeels M, Boote KJ, Affholder F, Adam M, MacCarthy DS, Ruane AC, Nendel C, Whitbread AM, Justes É, Ahuja LR, Akinseye FM, Alou IN, Amouzou KA, Anapalli SS, Baron C, Basso B, Baudron F, Bertuzzi P, Challinor AJ, Chen Y, Deryng D, Elsayed ML, Faye B, Gaiser T, Galdos M, Gayler S, Gerardeaux E, Giner M, Grant B, Hoogenboom G, Ibrahim ES, Kamali B, Kersebaum KC, Kim SH, van der Laan M, Leroux L, Lizaso JI, Maestrini B, Meier EA, Mequanint F, Ndoli A, Porter CH, Priesack E, Ripoche D, Sida TS, Singh U, Smith WN, Srivastava A, Sinha S, Tao F, Thorburn PJ, Timlin D, Traore B, Twine T, Webber H. Modelling climate change impacts on maize yields under low nitrogen input conditions in sub-Saharan Africa. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:5942-5964. [PMID: 32628332 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) currently grow rainfed maize with limited inputs including fertilizer. Climate change may exacerbate current production constraints. Crop models can help quantify the potential impact of climate change on maize yields, but a comprehensive multimodel assessment of simulation accuracy and uncertainty in these low-input systems is currently lacking. We evaluated the impact of varying [CO2 ], temperature and rainfall conditions on maize yield, for different nitrogen (N) inputs (0, 80, 160 kg N/ha) for five environments in SSA, including cool subhumid Ethiopia, cool semi-arid Rwanda, hot subhumid Ghana and hot semi-arid Mali and Benin using an ensemble of 25 maize models. Models were calibrated with measured grain yield, plant biomass, plant N, leaf area index, harvest index and in-season soil water content from 2-year experiments in each country to assess their ability to simulate observed yield. Simulated responses to climate change factors were explored and compared between models. Calibrated models reproduced measured grain yield variations well with average relative root mean square error of 26%, although uncertainty in model prediction was substantial (CV = 28%). Model ensembles gave greater accuracy than any model taken at random. Nitrogen fertilization controlled the response to variations in [CO2 ], temperature and rainfall. Without N fertilizer input, maize (a) benefited less from an increase in atmospheric [CO2 ]; (b) was less affected by higher temperature or decreasing rainfall; and (c) was more affected by increased rainfall because N leaching was more critical. The model intercomparison revealed that simulation of daily soil N supply and N leaching plays a crucial role in simulating climate change impacts for low-input systems. Climate change and N input interactions have strong implications for the design of robust adaptation approaches across SSA, because the impact of climate change in low input systems will be modified if farmers intensify maize production with balanced nutrient management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc Corbeels
- AIDA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
- CIMMYT, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - Myriam Adam
- CIRAD, UMR AGAP, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- AGAP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France
| | - Dilys S MacCarthy
- Soil and Irrigation Research Centre, School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Alex C Ruane
- Climate Impacts Group, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY, USA
| | - Claas Nendel
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Anthony M Whitbread
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Éric Justes
- PERSYST, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Folorunso M Akinseye
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Kano, Nigeria
| | - Isaac N Alou
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Kokou A Amouzou
- West Africa Program, African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI), Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire
| | | | - Christian Baron
- CIRAD, UMR TETIS, Montpellier, France
- TETIS, Univ Montpellier, AgroParisTech, CIRAD, CNRS, IRSTEA, Montpellier, France
| | - Bruno Basso
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | | | | | - Andrew J Challinor
- Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Yi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Delphine Deryng
- Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environment Systems (IRI THESys), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- NewClimate Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maha L Elsayed
- MALR-ARC, Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC), Giza, Egypt
| | - Babacar Faye
- Crop Science Group, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas Gaiser
- Crop Science Group, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marcelo Galdos
- Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Sebastian Gayler
- Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Biogeophysics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Michel Giner
- AIDA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
| | - Brian Grant
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Esther S Ibrahim
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Bahareh Kamali
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Müncheberg, Germany
| | | | - Soo-Hyung Kim
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Michael van der Laan
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Louise Leroux
- AIDA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UPR AIDA, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Jon I Lizaso
- CEIGRAM-Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, ETSIAAB, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bernardo Maestrini
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Meier
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Fasil Mequanint
- Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Biogeophysics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | | | - Eckart Priesack
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Upendra Singh
- International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development, Muscle Shoals, AL, USA
| | - Ward N Smith
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Amit Srivastava
- Crop Science Group, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sumit Sinha
- Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Fulu Tao
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Peter J Thorburn
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Dennis Timlin
- Crop Systems and Global Change Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | | | - Tracy Twine
- Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Heidi Webber
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Müncheberg, Germany
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11
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Better Agronomic Management Increases Climate Resilience of Maize to Drought in Tanzania. ATMOSPHERE 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos11090982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Improved access to better seeds and other inputs, as well as to market and financing, provides greater harvest security for smallholder farmers in Africa, boosting their incomes and increasing food security. Since 2015, a variety of agronomic measures have been introduced and adopted by smallholder farmers under a program led by the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP) called the Patient Procurement Platform (PPP). Here, we integrate a variety of agronomic measures proposed by the PPP to more than 20,000 smallholder farmers in Tanzania into 18 management strategies. We apply these across the country through grid-based crop model (DSSAT) simulations in order to quantify their benefits and risk to regional food security and smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. The simulation demonstrates current maize yields are far below potential yields in the country. Simulated yields across the nation were slightly higher than the mean of reported values from 1984 to 2014. Periodic droughts delayed farmers’ sowing and reduced maize yield, leading to high risk and low sustainability of maize production in most of the maize areas of the country. Better agronomic management strategies, particularly the combination of long-maturity, drought tolerance cultivars, with high fertilizer input, can potentially increase national maize production by up to five times, promoting Tanzania as a regional breadbasket. Our study provides detailed spatial and temporal information of the yield responses and their spatial variations, facilitating the adoption of various management options for stakeholders.
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Penuelas J, Janssens IA, Ciais P, Obersteiner M, Sardans J. Anthropogenic global shifts in biospheric N and P concentrations and ratios and their impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem productivity, food security, and human health. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:1962-1985. [PMID: 31912629 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The availability of carbon (C) from high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and anthropogenic release of nitrogen (N) is increasing, but these increases are not paralleled by increases in levels of phosphorus (P). The current unstoppable changes in the stoichiometries of C and N relative to P have no historical precedent. We describe changes in P and N fluxes over the last five decades that have led to asymmetrical increases in P and N inputs to the biosphere. We identified widespread and rapid changes in N:P ratios in air, soil, water, and organisms and important consequences to the structure, function, and biodiversity of ecosystems. A mass-balance approach found that the combined limited availability of P and N was likely to reduce C storage by natural ecosystems during the remainder of the 21st Century, and projected crop yields of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment indicated an increase in nutrient deficiency in developing regions if access to P fertilizer is limited. Imbalances of the N:P ratio would likely negatively affect human health, food security, and global economic and geopolitical stability, with feedbacks and synergistic effects on drivers of global environmental change, such as increasing levels of CO2 , climatic warming, and increasing pollution. We summarize potential solutions for avoiding the negative impacts of global imbalances of N:P ratios on the environment, biodiversity, climate change, food security, and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josep Penuelas
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, Spain
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain
- Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan A Janssens
- Research Group Plants and Ecosystems (PLECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Philippe Ciais
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, IPSL CEA CNRS UVSQ UPSACLAY, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Michael Obersteiner
- Ecosystems Services and Management, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Jordi Sardans
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, Spain
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain
- Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
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13
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Paseka RE, Bratt AR, MacNeill KL, Burian A, See CR. Elemental Ratios Link Environmental Change and Human Health. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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Pasley HR, Cairns JE, Camberato JJ, Vyn TJ. Nitrogen fertilizer rate increases plant uptake and soil availability of essential nutrients in continuous maize production in Kenya and Zimbabwe. NUTRIENT CYCLING IN AGROECOSYSTEMS 2019; 115:373-389. [PMID: 32684799 PMCID: PMC7357727 DOI: 10.1007/s10705-019-10016-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Low fertilizer application rates for several decades have depleted soil nutrients in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and contributed to relatively stagnant maize (Zea mays L.) yields. As maize is a staple crop, nutrient depletion has resulted in major food insecurity. While one potential solution is to apply more nitrogen (N) fertilizer, previous studies in SSA have found maize yield responses to be variable, likely because N is often not the only limiting nutrient. This study aimed to determine the impact of consecutive N fertilizer applications on plant uptake and available soil reserves of non-N nutrients. Maize was grown continuously in 3 sites that were representative of the ecosystem variability found in East/Southern Africa (Embu, Kenya; Kiboko, Kenya; Harare, Zimbabwe) at 4 different N fertilizer rates (0-160 kg N ha-1) from 2010 to 2015. Following the final season, grain, stover, and soil (sampled at different depths to 0.9 m) samples were analyzed for essential plant nutrients. Nitrogen fertilizer increased plant uptake of P, S, Cu, and Zn by up to 280%, 320%, 420%, and 210%, respectively, showing potential for mitigating non-N nutrient deficiencies in 2 of the 3 sites. Cumulatively, however, there was a net negative effect of higher N rates on the P, K, and S soil-plant balances in all sites and on the Mn and Cu soil-plant balance in Kiboko, indicating that applying N fertilizer depletes non-N soil nutrients. While N fertilizer enhances the uptake of non-N nutrients, a balanced application of multiple essential nutrients is needed to sustainably increase yields in SSA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jill E Cairns
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), PO Box MP163, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Tony J Vyn
- Agronomy Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN USA
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Sharpley A, Jarvie H, Flaten D, Kleinman P. Celebrating the 350th Anniversary of Phosphorus Discovery: A Conundrum of Deficiency and Excess. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2018; 47:774-777. [PMID: 30025053 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2018.05.0170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
2019 will be the 350th anniversary of the discovery of phosphorus (P) by the alchemist Henning Brandt. This perspective traces the historical threads that P has weaved through the fabric of our society and identifies challenges to improve P stewardship in the future and for our future. A century after Brandt's discovery, P was identified in bone ash, which became the primary source of P until guano and ultimately rock P was mined to provide the various mineral formulations used today. Owing to limited supplies, a strategic shift in resource management ethics-from exploiting to conserving P resources-is needed. In agriculture, remedial strategies should consider when conservation practices can transition from P sinks to sources; however, a broader, long-term strategy for P stewardship is needed. This must include educing P loss in food and other wastes, ecovering P from waste streams, eusing P generated beneficial by-products, and estructuring production systems. A key action to enact such changes will be collaboration across all sectors of society and the supply chain, from field to fork and beyond. As this will likely increase the cost of food, fiber, and feed production, it will require an innovative mix of public and private initiatives.
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Phosphorus and Nitrogen Yield Response Models for Dynamic Bio-Economic Optimization: An Empirical Approach. AGRONOMY-BASEL 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/agronomy8040041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Sardans J, Grau O, Chen HYH, Janssens IA, Ciais P, Piao S, Peñuelas J. Changes in nutrient concentrations of leaves and roots in response to global change factors. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:3849-3856. [PMID: 28407324 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Global change impacts on biogeochemical cycles have been widely studied, but our understanding of whether the responses of plant elemental composition to global change drivers differ between above- and belowground plant organs remains incomplete. We conducted a meta-analysis of 201 reports including 1,687 observations of studies that have analyzed simultaneously N and P concentrations changes in leaves and roots in the same plants in response to drought, elevated [CO2 ], and N and P fertilization around the world, and contrasted the results within those obtained with a general database (838 reports and 14,772 observations) that analyzed the changes in N and P concentrations in leaves and/or roots of plants submitted to the commented global change drivers. At global level, elevated [CO2 ] decreased N concentrations in leaves and roots and decreased N:P ratio in roots but no in leaves, but was not related to P concentration changes. However, the response differed among vegetation types. In temperate forests, elevated [CO2 ] was related with lower N concentrations in leaves but not in roots, whereas in crops, the contrary patterns were observed. Elevated [CO2 ] decreased N concentrations in leaves and roots in tundra plants, whereas not clear relationships were observed in temperate grasslands. However, when elevated [CO2 ] and N fertilization coincided, leaves had lower N concentrations, whereas root had higher N concentrations suggesting that more nutrients will be allocated to roots to improve uptake of the soil resources not directly provided by the global change drivers. N fertilization and drought increased foliar and root N concentrations while the effects on P concentrations were less clear. The changes in N and P allocation to leaves and root, especially those occurring in opposite direction between them have the capacity to differentially affect above- and belowground ecosystem functions, such as litter mineralization and above- and belowground food webs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Sardans
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CEAB-UAB, Barcelona, Spain
- CREAF, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oriol Grau
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CEAB-UAB, Barcelona, Spain
- CREAF, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Han Y H Chen
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Ivan A Janssens
- Research Group of Plant and Vegetation Ecology (PLECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Philippe Ciais
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, IPSL, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Shilong Piao
- Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CEAB-UAB, Barcelona, Spain
- CREAF, Barcelona, Spain
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Bouwman AF, Beusen AHW, Lassaletta L, van Apeldoorn DF, van Grinsven HJM, Zhang J, Ittersum van MK. Lessons from temporal and spatial patterns in global use of N and P fertilizer on cropland. Sci Rep 2017; 7:40366. [PMID: 28084415 PMCID: PMC5234009 DOI: 10.1038/srep40366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades farmers in high-income countries and China and India have built up a large reserve of residual soil P in cropland. This reserve can now be used by crops, and in high-income countries the use of mineral P fertilizer has recently been decreasing with even negative soil P budgets in Europe. In contrast to P, much of N surpluses are emitted to the environment via air and water and large quantities of N are transported in aquifers with long travel times (decades and longer). N fertilizer use in high-income countries has not been decreasing in recent years; increasing N use efficiency and utilization of accumulated residual soil P allowed continued increases in crop yields. However, there are ecological risks associated with the legacy of excessive nutrient mobilization in the 1970s and 1980s. Landscapes have a memory for N and P; N concentrations in many rivers do not respond to increased agricultural N use efficiency, and European water quality is threatened by rapidly increasing N:P ratios. Developing countries can avoid such problems by integrated management of N, P and other nutrients accounting for residual soil P, while avoiding legacies associated with the type of past or continuing mismanagement of high-income countries, China and India.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. F. Bouwman
- Department of Earth Sciences - Geochemistry, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80021, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
- PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, PO Box 30314, 2500 GH The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - A. H. W. Beusen
- Department of Earth Sciences - Geochemistry, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80021, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
- PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, PO Box 30314, 2500 GH The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - L. Lassaletta
- PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, PO Box 30314, 2500 GH The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - D. F. van Apeldoorn
- Farming Systems Ecology group, Wageningen University, PO Box 430, 6700AK Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - H. J. M. van Grinsven
- PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, PO Box 30314, 2500 GH The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - J. Zhang
- Department of Earth Sciences - Geochemistry, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80021, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Center for Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - M. K. Ittersum van
- Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Awotwi A, Bediako MA, Harris E, Forkuo EK. Water Quality Changes Associated with Cassava Production: Case Study of White Volta Bain. Heliyon 2016; 2:e00149. [PMID: 27626092 PMCID: PMC5008957 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2016.e00149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Revised: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The outcome reveal that as the land use in the catchment areas change from mixed agricultural to cassava cultivation, the simulated loads and concentrations of nitrogen species from cassava land-use scenario recorded reduction. The resultant concentrations of nitrate and nitrite for both current and future land-use scenarios are all below the daily limit suggested by the WHO, (World Health Organization). For the phosphate concentration, an increase of 4.21% was depicted under cassava land-use scenario. The results show that SWAT is a reliable water quality model, capable of simulating accurate information for developing environmental management plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred Awotwi
- Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
| | | | - Emmanuel Harris
- Department of Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
| | - Eric Kwabena Forkuo
- Department of Geomatic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
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Zhang D, Chen X, Yao H. SWAT-CS(enm): Enhancing SWAT nitrate module for a Canadian Shield catchment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 550:598-610. [PMID: 26849324 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Nonpoint source modeling using hydrological models has been extensively studied at agriculture and urban watersheds; however, this has not been well addressed in forested ones where agricultural sources are comparatively minimal and nitrogen deposition exerts remarkable impacts on the nutrient cycles of a catchment. Thus it is critically important for hydrological models to incorporate the dynamics of nitrogen deposition and its transport processes, for reasonable nitrogen modeling. This is especially so for the Canadian Shield, which is characterized by a cold climate and special physiographic features. A revision of Soil and Water Assessment Tool for Canadian Shield (SWAT-CS) was proposed by Fu et al. (2014) to better characterize the hydrological features. In this study, more revisions were added to better simulate processes of nitrate by: 1) incorporating the dynamics of nitrogen deposition; and 2) allowing the deposition to distribute along with rapid-moving macropore flows. The newly revised model, SWAT-CS(enm) (SWAT-CS with an Enhanced Nitrate Module), and SWAT-CS were calibrated and tested with data of a subbasin of Harp Lake in south-central Ontario for 1990 to 2007. Modeling performance of nitrate flux rate in the stream for SWAT-CS(enm) was nearly acceptable with maximum daily Nash-Sutcliffe efficiencies (ENSs) for calibration and validation periods of 0.66 and 0.43, respectively; whereas the result of SWAT-CS was generally unsatisfied with maximum daily ENSs of 0.16 and 0.07, respectively. An uncertainty analysis using GLUE (generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation) showed a modest performance as about 50% of observations can be incorporated by the 95% prediction range deriving from the behavioral solutions (ENS≥0.5) for both daily and monthly simulations. It is concluded that the enhanced nitrate module improved the model performance of SWAT-CS on nitrate modeling, since the previous SWAT-CS failed to consider the effect of dynamics of nitrogen deposition and its sequential processes at the investigated site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dejian Zhang
- College of Geographic Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
| | - Xingwei Chen
- College of Geographic Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China; Cultivation Base of State Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Mountain Ecology, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Huaxia Yao
- Dorset Environmental Science Centre, Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, 1026 Bellwood Road, Dorset, P0A 1E0, Ontario, Canada
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Waithaka M, Belay G, Kyotalimye M, Karembu M. Progress and Challenges for Implementation of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Policy on Biotechnology and Biosafety. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2015; 3:109. [PMID: 26284243 PMCID: PMC4519696 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2015.00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2001, the Meeting of the COMESA Ministers of Agriculture raised concerns that proliferation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could impact significantly on trade and food security in the region. This triggered studies on a regional approach to biotechnology and biosafety policy in Eastern and Southern Africa. The studies and stakeholder consultations revealed that farm incomes would increase if they switched from conventional varieties of cotton and maize to genetically modified (GM) counterparts. Commercial risks associated with exports to GM sensitive destinations, e.g., EU were negligible. Intra-regional trade would be affected since exports of GM sensitive commodities, such as maize, cotton, and soya bean, mainly go to other African countries. These findings justified the need to consider a regional approach to biosafety and led to the drafting of a regional policy in 2009. The draft policies were discussed in regional and national workshops between 2010 and 2012 for wider ownership. The workshops involved key stakeholders including ministries of agriculture, trade, environment, national biosafety focal points, biosafety competent authorities, academia, seed traders, millers, the media, food relief agencies, the industry, civil society, competent authorities, and political opinion leaders. The COMESA Council of Ministers in February 2014 adopted the COMESA policy on biotechnology and biosafety that takes into account the sovereign right of each member state. Key provisions of the policy include recognition of the benefits and risks associated with GMOs; establishment of a regional-level biosafety risk-assessment system; national-level final decision, and capacity building assistance to member states. The policies are the first regional effort in Africa to develop a coordinated mechanism for handling biosafety issues related to GMO use. A regional approach to biotechnology and biosafety is expected to foster inter-country cooperation through the sharing of knowledge, expertise, experiences, and resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Waithaka
- Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Getachew Belay
- Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa, COMESA Secretariat, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Miriam Kyotalimye
- Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Margaret Karembu
- International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), Afri-Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
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Jarvie HP, Sharpley AN, Flaten D, Kleinman PJA, Jenkins A, Simmons T. The Pivotal Role of Phosphorus in a Resilient Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2015; 44:1049-62. [PMID: 26437086 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2015.01.0030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
We make the case that phosphorus (P) is inextricably linked to an increasingly fragile, interconnected, and interdependent nexus of water, energy, and food security and should be managed accordingly. Although there are many other drivers that influence water, energy, and food security, P plays a unique and under-recognized role within the nexus. The P paradox derives from fundamental challenges in meeting water, energy, and food security for a growing global population. We face simultaneous dilemmas of overcoming scarcity of P to sustain terrestrial food and biofuel production and addressing overabundance of P entering aquatic systems, which impairs water quality and aquatic ecosystems and threatens water security. Historical success in redistributing rock phosphate as fertilizer to enable modern feed and food production systems is a grand societal achievement in overcoming inequality. However, using the United States as the main example, we demonstrate how successes in redistribution of P and reorganization of farming systems have broken local P cycles and have inadvertently created instability that threatens resilience within the nexus. Furthermore, recent expansion of the biofuels sector is placing further pressure on P distribution and availability. Despite these challenges, opportunities exist to intensify and expand food and biofuel production through recycling and better management of land and water resources. Ultimately, a strategic approach to sustainable P management can help address the P paradox, minimize tradeoffs, and catalyze synergies to improve resilience among components of the water, energy, and food security nexus.
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Pandey R, Zinta G, AbdElgawad H, Ahmad A, Jain V, Janssens IA. Physiological and molecular alterations in plants exposed to high [CO2] under phosphorus stress. Biotechnol Adv 2015; 33:303-16. [PMID: 25797341 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2015.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Revised: 03/07/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Atmospheric [CO2] has increased substantially in recent decades and will continue to do so, whereas the availability of phosphorus (P) is limited and unlikely to increase in the future. P is a non-renewable resource, and it is essential to every form of life. P is a key plant nutrient controlling the responsiveness of photosynthesis to [CO2]. Increases in [CO2] typically results in increased biomass through stimulation of net photosynthesis, and hence enhance the demand for P uptake. However, most soils contain low concentrations of available P. Therefore, low P is one of the major growth-limiting factors for plants in many agricultural and natural ecosystems. The adaptive responses of plants to [CO2] and P availability encompass alterations at morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular levels. In general low P reduces growth, whereas high [CO2] enhances it particularly in C3 plants. Photosynthetic capacity is often enhanced under high [CO2] with sufficient P supply through modulation of enzyme activities involved in carbon fixation such as ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco). However, high [CO2] with low P availability results in enhanced dry matter partitioning towards roots. Alterations in below-ground processes including root morphology, exudation and mycorrhizal association are influenced by [CO2] and P availability. Under high P availability, elevated [CO2] improves the uptake of P from soil. In contrast, under low P availability, high [CO2] mainly improves the efficiency with which plants produce biomass per unit P. At molecular level, the spatio-temporal regulation of genes involved in plant adaptation to low P and high [CO2] has been studied individually in various plant species. Genome-wide expression profiling of high [CO2] grown plants revealed hormonal regulation of biomass accumulation through complex transcriptional networks. Similarly, differential transcriptional regulatory networks are involved in P-limitation responses in plants. Analysis of expression patterns of some typical P-limitation induced genes under high [CO2] suggests that long-term exposure of plants to high [CO2] would have a tendency to stimulate similar transcriptional responses as observed under P-limitation. However, studies on the combined effect of high [CO2] and low P on gene expression are scarce. Such studies would provide insights into the development of P efficient crops in the context of anticipated increases in atmospheric [CO2].
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Affiliation(s)
- Renu Pandey
- Division of Plant Physiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
| | - Gaurav Zinta
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2610, Belgium
| | - Hamada AbdElgawad
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2610, Belgium; Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Beni-Sueif, Beni-Sueif 62511, Egypt
| | - Altaf Ahmad
- Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 201002, India
| | - Vanita Jain
- Division of Plant Physiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
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McKenzie FC, Williams J. Sustainable food production: constraints, challenges and choices by 2050. Food Secur 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s12571-015-0441-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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