Photosynthesis and Plant/Crop Productivity and Photosynthetic Products

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
M. Chavez ◽  
M. Uchanski

The production of insect protein as human food and livestock feed (entomophagy) may provide a more environmentally beneficial alternative to traditional animal agriculture. However, the resulting waste product from insect production has resulted in large accumulations of left-over substrate and frass. Due to its nutrient and microbial profile, this left-over product has the potential to be utilised as a biofertiliser for high value crop production. Studies have been conducted using the frass of various insects (e.g. black soldier flies, houseflies, and mealworms) to monitor its impact on crop productivity. Overall, frass tends to have similar or better results when compared to inorganic fertilisers, especially when combined with them. Aside from productivity and growth, frass may also preserve soil fertility by decreasing leaching and infiltration, and reducing the prevalence of disease and pathogens. In addition, chitin found in frass also has beneficial properties for plant/crop growth and disease resistance. Monitoring the dietary inputs of industrially reared insects may be the best way of mitigating the potential negative impacts of frass application, such as increased electrical conductivity and heavy metal toxicity. No single study confirms all of these benefits at once. Future studies should focus building onto these results by demonstrating systems levels benefits.


2021 ◽  
pp. 31-58
Author(s):  
Wataru Yamori

AbstractCrop productivity would have to increase by 60–110% compared with the 2005 level by 2050 to meet both the food and energy demands of the growing population. Although more than 90% of crop biomass is derived from photosynthetic products, photosynthetic improvements have not yet been addressed by breeding. Thus, it has been considered that enhancing photosynthetic capacity is considered a promising approach for increasing crop yield. Now, we need to identify the specific targets that would improve leaf photosynthesis to realize a new Green Revolution. This chapter summarizes the various genetic engineering approaches that can be used to enhance photosynthetic capacity and crop productivity. The targets considered for the possible candidates include Rubisco, Rubisco activase, enzymes of the Calvin–Benson cycle, and CO2 transport, as well as photosynthetic electron transport. Finally, it describes the importance of considering ways to improve photosynthesis not under the stable environmental conditions already examined in many studies with the aim of improving photosynthetic capacity, but under natural conditions in which various environmental factors, and especially irradiation, continually fluctuate.


2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 514-523
Author(s):  
Ebrahem Eid ◽  
Kamal Shaltout ◽  
Saad Alamri ◽  
Sulaiman Alrumman ◽  
Ahmed Hussain ◽  
...  

Among the various disposal strategies for sewage sludge (SS), soil application is the most suitable. This study was conducted to evaluate soil amendment with SS (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 g/kg) and its impact on soil fertility and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) growth. The SS significantly improved the agromorphological attributes, the number of produced fruits, and the fruit biomass of tomato plants. The 30 g/kg application of SS led to the highest growth rate and fruit yield. Considering the fruits, the best safe enrichment of metal nutrients was recorded at 30 g/kg, with a significant increase in the micronutrient metals Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, and Fe with 624, 193, 125, 70, and 32%, respectively, compared to the control. The SS amendment enhanced soil fertility, and heavy metals were within the permissible ranges for agricultural soils. Bioaccumulation factors (BFs) indicated that SS application induced the accumulation of most of the studied metals in the roots, and the BF values of Zn, Cu, Ni, and Pb were > 1. The current study concluded that recirculating SS nutrient components to agricultural soils could offer a valid solution for the sustainable management of this organic waste and enhance plant-crop productivity.  


Author(s):  
Saulius GUŽYS ◽  
Stefanija MISEVIČIENĖ

The use of nitrogen fertilizer is becoming a global problem; however continuous fertilization with nitrogen ensures large and constant harvests. An 8 year research (2006–2013) was conducted to evaluate the relationships between differently fertilized cultivated plant rotations. The research was conducted in Lipliunai (Lithuania) in the agroecosystem with nitrogen metabolism in fields with deeper carbonaceous soil, i.e. Endocalcari Endohypogleyic Cambisol (CMg-n-w-can). The research area covered three drained plots where crop rotation of differently fertilized cereals and perennial grasses was applied. Samples of soil, water and plants were investigated in the Chemical Analysis Laboratory of the Aleksandras Stulginskis University certified by the Environment Ministry of the Republic of Lithuania. The greatest productivity was found in a crop rotation with higher fertilization (N32-140). In crop rotation with lower fertilization (N24-90) productivity of cereals and perennial grasses (N0-80) was 11–35 % lower. The highest amount of mineral soil nitrogen was found in cereal crop rotation with higher fertilization. It was influenced by fertilization and crop productivity. The lowest Nmin and Ntotal concentrations in drainage water were found in grasses crop rotation. Crop rotations of differently fertilized cereals increased nitrogen concentration in drainage water. Nmin concentration in water depended on crop productivity, quantity of mineral soil nitrogen, fertilization, and nitrogen balance. The lowest nitrogen leaching was found in the crop rotation of grasses. Cereal crop rotation increased nitrogen leaching by 12–42 %. The usage of all crop rotations resulted in a negative nitrogen balance, which essentially depended on fertilization with nitrogen fertilizer.


Author(s):  
Sujata Mulik

Agriculture sector in India is facing rigorous problem to maximize crop productivity. More than 60 percent of the crop still depends on climatic factors like rainfall, temperature, humidity. This paper discusses the use of various Data Mining applications in agriculture sector. Data Mining is used to solve various problems in agriculture sector. It can be used it to solve yield prediction.  The problem of yield prediction is a major problem that remains to be solved based on available data. Data mining techniques are the better choices for this purpose. Different Data Mining techniques are used and evaluated in agriculture for estimating the future year's crop production. In this paper we have focused on predicting crop yield productivity of kharif & Rabi Crops. 


Author(s):  
Hasrat Arjjumend ◽  
Konstantia Koutouki ◽  
Olga Donets

The use of unsustainable levels of chemical fertilizers and plant protection chemicals has resulted in a steady decline in soil and crop productivity the world over. Soil biology has undergone irreversible damage, coupled with a high concentration of toxic chemical residues in plant tissues and human bodies. Agricultural practices must evolve to sustainably meet the growing global demand for food without irreversibly damaging soil. Microbial biocontrol agents have tremendous potential to bring sustainability to agriculture in a way that is safe for the environment. Biopesticides do not kill non-target insects, and biosafety is ensured because biopesticides act as antidotes and do not lead to chemical contamination in the soil. This article is part of a larger study conducted in Ukraine by researchers at the Université de Montréal with the support of Mitacs and Earth Alive Clean Technologies. The responses of farmers who use biofertilizers (“user farmers”) and those who do not (“non-user farmers”), along with the responses of manufacturers or suppliers of biofertilizers, and research and development (R&D) scientists are captured to demonstrate the advantages of applying microbial biopesticides to field crops. Participants reported a 15-30% increase in yields and crop production after the application of biopesticides. With the use of biopesticides, farmers cultivated better quality fruits, grains, and tubers with a longer shelf life. Moreover, while the risk of crop loss remains high (60-70%) with chemically grown crops, this risk is reduced to 33% on average if crops are grown using biopesticides. The findings indicate that a large proportion of farmers would prefer to use biopesticides if they are effective and high quality products. In this context, the quality and effectiveness of products is therefore very important. Despite their benefits to soil, human health, and ecosystems, biopesticides face significant challenges and competition vis-à-vis synthetic pesticides for a variety of reasons. Therefore, the development of biopesticides must overcome the problems of poor quality products, short shelf life, delayed action, high market costs, and legal/registration issues.


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