Effects of organic fertilizers on yield, soil physico-chemical property, soil microbial community diversity and structure of Brassica rapa var. Chinensis

Enhancing soil health through balanced fertilization: a pathway to sustainable agriculture and food security

Sustainable soil health management is pivotal for advancing agricultural productivity and ensuring global food security. This review comprehensively evaluates the effects of mineral-organic fertilizer ratios on soil microbial communities, enzymatic dynamics, functional gene abundance, and holistic soil health. By integrating bioinformatics, enzyme activity assays, and metagenomic analyses, we demonstrate that balanced fertilization significantly enhances microbial diversity, community stability, and functional resilience against environmental stressors. Specifically, the synergistic application of mineral and organic fertilizers elevates β-glucosidase and urease activities, accelerating organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling while modulating microbial taxa critical for nutrient transformation and pathogen suppression. Notably, replacing 20-40% of mineral fertilizers with organic alternatives mitigates environmental risks such as greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient leaching while sustaining crop yields. This dual approach improves soil structure, boosts water and nutrient retention capacity, and increases microbial biomass by 20-30%, fostering long-term soil fertility. Field trials reveal yield increases of 25-40% in crops like rice and maize under combined fertilization, alongside enhanced soil organic carbon (110.6%) and nitrogen content (59.2%). The findings underscore the necessity of adopting region-specific, balanced fertilization strategies to optimize ecological sustainability and agricultural productivity. Future research should prioritize refining fertilization frameworks through interdisciplinary approaches, addressing soil-crop-climate interactions, and scaling these practices to diverse agroecosystems. By aligning agricultural policies with ecological principles, stakeholders can safeguard soil health-a cornerstone of environmental sustainability and human wellbeing-while securing resilient food systems for future generations.

Polyphenolic and Immunometric Profiling of Wheat Varieties: Impact of Organic and Conventional Farming on Allergenic and Bioactive Compounds

This study investigates the impact of organic and conventional farming on the allergenic and bioactive properties of wheat. The primary aim was to assess the immunometric parameters and polyphenolic composition in four varieties of winter and four varieties of spring wheat cultivated under both farming systems. Immunometric assays focused on gluten content, the allergenic QQQPP peptide, and the panallergenic profilin Tri a 12. While gluten levels (15-20 g/kg) showed no clear dependence on farming type, organic wheat exhibited a mild yet significant increase in QQQPP-dependent immunoreactivity in five samples (>20 µg/g). However, all organic wheat samples demonstrated a notable reduction in profilin content (<0.6 µg/g), suggesting that the type of wheat cultivation could influence allergenic risk for individuals with wheat-related allergies. Polyphenolic profiling revealed that kaempferol, p-coumaric acid, and gallic acid were the predominant compounds, with organic wheat displaying slightly higher polyphenol levels on average. Despite these differences, the variations were insufficient to determine a superior cultivation method. These findings highlight the potential allergenic and nutritional implications of organic versus conventional wheat farming.

Natural soil biotin application activates soil beneficial microorganisms to improve the thermotolerance of Chinese cabbage

Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. syn. B. rapa), a widely cultivated leafy vegetable, faces significant challenges in annual production due to high-temperature stress, which adversely affects plant weight and quality. The need for an effective solution to mitigate these impacts is imperative for sustainable horticulture. This study explored the effects of a novel biofertilizer, natural soil biotin (NSB), on Chinese cabbage under high-temperature conditions. NSB, rich in organic matter-degrading enzymes, was applied to assess its impact on crop yield, growth, nutrient use efficiency, product quality, and safety. The study also examined the soil microbial community response to NSB application, particularly the changes in the rhizosphere soil's fungal population. The application of NSB led to an increase in the abundance of Oleomycetes, which was associated with a decrease in the diversity and abundance of harmful fungi in the rhizosphere soil. This microbial shift promoted the growth of Chinese cabbage, enhancing both plant weight and quality by fostering a more favorable growth environment. Furthermore, NSB was found to reduce lipid peroxidation in Chinese cabbage leaves under high-temperature stress (40°C/30°C, 16 h/8 h, 24 h) by boosting antioxidant enzyme activity and osmoregulatory substance content. The findings suggest that the NSB application offers a promising approach to environmentally friendly cultivation of Chinese cabbage during high-temperature seasons. It contributes to improving the crop's adaptation to climate change and soil degradation, supporting the development of sustainable agricultural practices. The integration of NSB into agricultural practices presents a viable strategy for enhancing the resilience of Chinese cabbage to high-temperature stress, thereby potentially increasing yield and improving the quality of the produce, which is crucial for the advancement of sustainable horticulture.

Increasing silage maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency as a result of combined rabbit manure and mineral nitrogen fertilization

Combined application of organic and mineral fertilizers is crucial to obtaining high crop yields, increasing the utilization of nutrients by plants, and limiting their dispersion, thus protecting the environment, which underscores the importance of sustainable and minimally invasive agriculture. The aim of the field experiment was to determine the effect of application of rabbit manure (RM) and mineral nitrogen (Nmin) on the dry matter (DM) yield of maize and on nitrogen content, uptake, and use efficiency (NUE). RM application was tested at levels of 0, 20, 40 and 60 t·ha-1, and Nmin application at 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg·ha-1. Significant differences were noted in yield and in the content and uptake of nitrogen depending on both experimental factors. Increasing the application of RM and Nmin led to an increase in the yield of harvested maize and in the content and uptake of nitrogen. In terms of DM yield and nitrogen uptake (yield of crude protein), the most beneficial fertilizer variant was 60 t·ha-1 RM applied together with 100 kg·ha-1 Nmin. The highest NUE value was obtained following application of 20 t·ha-1 RM together with 150 kg·ha-1 Nmin.