Research Progress of Selenium-enriched Agricultural Crops and Horticultural Crops in China

Selenium（Se） is one of the essential trace elements required by humans and animals. It will cause diseases for humans and animals when Se is excessive or lack in the environment.The research status of selenium-enriched agricultural crops and selenium-enriched horticultural crops, functional mechanism and application status of selenium, and the latest progress in the study of selenium enrichment were summarized in this paper.

Allelopathic effects of Lantana camara on germination and growth behavior of some agricultural crops in Bangladesh

An experiment was conducted to understand the growth inhibitory effects of aqueous extracts derived from Lantana camara L. （a globally recognized invasive alien weed） on six popular agricultural crops of Bangladesh. The test was conducted in sterilized petridishes with a photoperiod of 24 hours and an average temperature of 29℃. The effect of different concentrations ofL. camara leaf extracts were recorded and compared with control （i.e., distil water）. Result showed different concentrations of aqueous leaf extracts caused significant inhibitory effect on germination, root and shoot elongation and development of lateral roots of receptor crops. Bioassays also indicated that the inhibitory effect was proportional to the concentrations of the extracts and higher concentration had the stronger inhibitory effect whereas the lower concentration showed stimulatory effect in some cases. The inhibitory effect was much pronounced in root and lateral root development rather than shoot and germination.

Bioenergy: Examining the Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Biomass as a Source of Sustainable Renewable Energy in Louisiana

The use of renewable energy is steadily being adopted as a mitigative measure for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By assessing biomass production and consumption estimates from Louisiana parishes, this study examines the utilization of agricultural biomass as a convenient renewable energy source, and the potential of marginal lands for growing bioenergy crops in Louisiana. This was achieved by retrieving parish-level acreage production of some biofuel crops recorded in 2021 using the Quick Stats Database, to map out the spatial locations and distribution of the biofuel crops. To examine the potential of Louisiana’s marginal lands in bioenergy crop production, data was obtained from the Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) database and mapped-out according to the eight Land Capability Classes numbered I-VIII. The results of the mapped-out acreage data revealed that 25% of the 64 parishes including Morehouse recorded high corn production estimates, while 43%, such as East Carroll, recorded high soybean production. Meanwhile, cotton production estimates were relatively low, as recorded in only 9 parishes, with one parish, Tensas, having the highest acreage production of around 23,000. Although the identified marginal lands in parishes such as Allen and Vernon had no records of corn, soybean, or cotton production, the soil survey database revealed that these marginal lands have high nutrient soils like Alfisols, Entisols and Inceptisols with optimal nutrient balance essential for high yield bioenergy crop production. Hence, this paper highlights Louisiana’s agricultural biomass to be leveraged as sustainable renewable sources while adhering to clear production guidelines, biofuel sustainability certification, and internationally agreed sustainability criteria.

Phosphorus losses via surface runoff in rice-wheat cropping systems as impacted by rainfall regimes and fertilizer applications

Phosphorus（P） losses from agricultural soils contribute to eutrophication of surface waters. This field plot study investigated effects of rainfall regimes and P applications on P loss by surface runoff from rice（Oryza sativa L.） and wheat（Triticum aestivum L.） cropping systems in Lake Taihu region, China. The study was conducted on two types of paddy soils（Hydromorphic at Anzhen site, Wuxi City, and Degleyed at Xinzhuang site, Changshu City, Jiangsu Province） with different P status, and it covered 3 years with low, high and normal rainfall regimes. Four rates of mineral P fertilizer, i.e., no P（control）, 30 kg P ha^（–1） for rice and 20 kg P ha^（–1） for wheat（P_（30＋20））, 75 plus 40（P_（75＋40））, and 150 plus 80（P_（150＋80））, were applied as treatments. Runoff water from individual plots and runoff events was recorded and analyzed for total P and dissolved reactive P concentrations. Losses of total P and dissolved reactive P significantly increased with rainfall depth and P rates（P〈0.0001）. Annual total P losses ranged from 0.36–0.92 kg ha^–1 in control to 1.13–4.67 kg ha^–1 in P150＋80 at Anzhen, and correspondingly from 0.36–0.48 kg h^–1 to 1.26–1.88 kg ha^–1 at Xinzhuang, with 16–49% of total P as dissolved reactive P. In particular, large amounts of P were lost during heavy rainfall events that occurred shortly after P applications at Anzhen. On average of all P treatments, rice growing season constituted 37–86% of annual total P loss at Anzhen and 28–44% of that at Xinzhuang. In both crop seasons, P concentrations peaked in the first runoff events and decreased with time. During rice growing season, runoff P concentrations positively correlated（P〈0.0001） with P concentrations in field ponding water that was intentionally enclosed by construction of field bund. The relative high P loss during wheat growing season at Xinzhuang was due to high soil P status. In conclusion, P should be applied at rates balancing crop removal（20–30 kg P ha^–1 in this study） and at time excluding heavy rains. Moreover, irrigation and drainage water should be appropriately managed to reduce runoff P losses from rice-wheat cropping systems.

A Modeling Study of Climate Change and Its Implication for Agriculture in China Part II: The Implication of Climate Change for Agriculture in China

The potential CO2-induced impacts on the geographical shifts of wheat growth zones in China were studied from seven GCMs outputs. The wheat growth regions may move northward and westward under the condition of a doubling CO2 climate. The wheat cultivation features and variety types may also assume significant changes. Climatic warming would have a positive influence in Northeast China, but high temperature stress may be produced in some regions of central and southern China. Higher mean air temperatures during wheat growth, particularly during the reproductive stages, may increase the need for earlier-maturing and more heat-tolerant cultivars.

Beginning of Summer

The"Beginning of Summer"(Lixia)is the seventh of the 24 solar terms.It falls on May 5this year on the Gregorian calendar.After the"Beginning of Summer",trees exuberantly put out leaves,crops grow fast,the heat of summer approaches and farmers are very busy.People have attached great importance to the"Beginning of Summer"since ancient times.It is a vital moment in the agricultural cycle.

Filling agricultural waste into coal mine goafs:a potential carbon sequestration in China

China is a significant atmospheric carbon dioxide producer.Burning of agricultural waste in China is also a problematic issue,raising environmental and carbon-emission-related concerns.Furthermore,the coal-dependent economy is accompanied by the formation of large coal mine goaf areas,particularly in Shanxi Province.In this context,the idea of filling crop residues into the coal mine goafs is proposed.This concept addresses multi-functions:(1)carbon sequestration,(2)an alternative disposal method of crop residue in rural areas,and(3)coal mine goaf remedy.

Engineering crop nutrient efficiency for sustainable agriculture

Increasing crop yields can provide food,animal feed, bioenergy feedstocks and biomaterials to meet increasing global demand; however, the methods used to increase yield can negatively affect sustainability. For example, application of excess fertilizer can generate and maintain high yields but also increases input costs and contributes to environmental damage through eutrophication, soil acidification and air pollution. Improving crop nutrient efficiency can improve agricultural sustainability by increasing yield while decreasing input costs and harmful environmental effects. Here, we review the mechanisms of nutrient efficiency(primarily for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and iron) and breeding strategies for improving this trait, along with the role of regulation of gene expression in enhancing crop nutrient efficiency to increase yields. We focus on the importance of root system architecture to improve nutrient acquisition efficiency, as well as the contributions of mineral translocation, remobilization and metabolic efficiency to nutrient utilization efficiency.

China's Entry into the WTOWill Invite a Bumper Crop of Foreign Investment in Its Agriculture

China’sentryintotheWorldTradeOrganizationwillinviteabumpercropofforeigninvestmentinitshugeagriculturaleconomy,anofficialfromtheMinistryofAgriculturesaid."Expansionofthecountry’sagricultureand’ruraleconomymeansever-increasingdemandsonforeignfundsandte...

Natural and anthropogenic rates of soil erosion

Regions of land that are brought into crop production from native vegetation typically undergo a period of soil erosion instability,and long term erosion rates are greater than for natural lands as long as the land continues being used for crop production.Average rates of soil erosion under natural,non-cropped conditions have been documented to be less than 2 Mg ha^(-1) yr^(-1).On-site rates of erosion of lands under cultivation over large cropland areas,such as in the United States,have been documented to be on the order of6 Mg ha^(-1) yr^(-1)or more.In northeastern China,lands that were brought into production during the last century are thought to have average rates of erosion over this large area of as much as 15 Mg ha^(-1) yr^(-1) or more.Broadly applied soil conservation practices,and in particular conservation tillage and no-till cropping,have been found to be effective in reducing rates of erosion,as was seen in the United States when the average rates of erosion on cropped lands decreased from on the order of 9Mg ha^(-1) yr^(-1) to 6 or 7Mg ha^(-1) yr^(-1) between 1982 and 2002,coincident with the widespread adoption of new conservation tillage and residue management practices.Taking cropped lands out of production and restoring them to perennial plant cover,as was done in areas of the United States under the Conservation Reserve Program,is thought to reduce average erosion rates to approximately 1 Mg ha^(-1) yr^(-1) or less on those lands.