Evaluating Slow Pyrolysis of Parthenium hysterophorus Biochar: Perspectives to Acidic Soil Amelioration and Growth of Selected Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Varieties

Application of biochar on acidic soils may improve soil fertility and crop productivity. This study aimed to explore the relevance of parthenium biochar-induced changes in the physicochemical properties and agronomic performance of the selected wheat varieties in acidic soils. A pot trial was used in determining the effect of slow pyrolysis parthenium biochar on acidic soils and the agronomic performance of wheat varieties. A general linear model (GLM) of multivariate analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) was used to compare functional variation among soil assayed parameters with biochar dosages and years. Biochar-treated acidic soils did not show significant differences in their physical properties. However, a significant incremental trend was observed in the soil moisture content. The biochar-amended acidic soils showed noticeable differences in the soil pH, available phosphorous, and exchangeable bases (Ca, K, and Na) compared to the control. In all soil samples, a decreasing trend in the soil micronutrients was observed with an increase in the biochar amounts. The analysis also unveiled significant changes in root length, root and shoot dry biomass, and plant height of wheat varieties in response to the biochar amendments. The application of 19.5 t/ha and 23 t/ha dosages of biochar gave the maximum changes in the agronomic performance of Kekeba and Ogolcha varieties, while the minimum was obtained in the 26.5 t/ha and the control. Furthermore, PCA axis 1 accounted for 74.34% of the total variance within a higher eigenvector value (10.4076), and most of the soil parameters were positively correlated with CEC (0.29), available phosphorous (0.29), and soil pH (0.28); however, the micronutrients were negatively correlated. In conclusion, Parthenium hysterophorus biochar has the potential to amend acidic soils, and thus, the application of 16.0, 19.5, and 23 t·ha−1 biochar dosages are considered suitable to reduce the soil acidity level and improve the agronomic performance of wheat varieties. However, extensive research will be needed to determine the effects of biochar on soil properties and crop production in field conditions.

Action on Invasive Species: Control Strategies of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on Smallholder Farms in Kenya

Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae) is an invasive alien weed with detrimental effects on agricultural production, biodiversity, human and animal health, threating rural livelihoods in Asia and Africa. The problem emerged recently in the Kenyan Rift Valley, where it began to affect the landholdings of both agro-pastoralists and crop farmers. These vulnerable smallholders depend heavily on natural resources for their livelihoods. In this study, we assessed the severity of parthenium invasion and farmers’ management responses using a sample of 530 agro-pastoralists in Baringo County, Kenya, in 2019. We hypothesise that the implementation of existing management strategies depends on the state of parthenium invasion and household socio-economic characteristics. The prevalence and severity of parthenium invasion differed greatly among field plots. To control weeds, farmers resort to either hand weeding, the use of synthetic herbicides, or intensive tillage, sometimes in combination with mulching. A multivariate probit regression model shows that households’ characteristics determine the type of control strategies used as well as their complementarity and substitutability. Hand weeding is the most common option, adopted by almost 40% of farmers. The use of agrochemicals or soil-based control strategies appears to be related to knowledge and information characteristics such as access to extension services, membership in organisations and the educational level of household heads. While hand weeding and the use of synthetic herbicides depict significant substitutability, the latter strategy is limited to a few larger farms with market-oriented production. As parthenium invasion continues, policies need to improve farmer awareness and access to knowledge to enable pro-poor and environmentally sustainable control of parthenium on smallholder farms.

Antipathetic Effect of Parthenium Hysterophorous on Staphylococcus Aureus

All the plants are medicinally beneficial for human beings, insect and microbes. Parthenium hysterophorus is weed. It has different type of secondary products and these all products are natural products. The natural plant products are used for the control of microorganisms causing plant and human diseases. The effect of plant extracts was 25% - 2.66, 50% -5.33, 70% - 6.00 and 100% - 7.33 respectively, but in controlled hole no inhibition zone.

Las arvenses como hospedantes de microorganismos en un agroecosistema de sucesión Zea mays L.-Phaseolus vulgaris L.

La competencia entre las plantas arvenses y los cultivos es un tema de gran interés, ya que esta interacción puede causar grandes pérdidas en la agricultura. A pesar de algunos estudios en este tema, poco se sabe sobre la importancia de los microorganismos. Las plantas arvenses tienden a presentar interacciones positivas con la microbiota del suelo, mientras que los cultivos presentan interacciones neutras o negativas. La competición entre las plantas arvenses y los cultivos promueven cambios en la comunidad microbiana del suelo. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar los microorganismos de mayor relevancia en la rizófora de las principales especies de arvenses colectadas en los cultivos de maíz y frijol sembrados en sucesión durante tres años. Sobre un suelo Ferralítico Rojo, se condujeron seis experimentos para conocer los posibles beneficios del manejo oportuno de las arvenses en los cultivos del maíz (Zea mays L.) y del frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) en un sistema sucesional para lo cual se determinaron los cambios estructurales de las arvenses e influencia de estas, sobre la presencia de microorganismos. La especie dominante de arvense fue Sorghum halepense L. en ambos cultivos. Las relaciones interespecíficas arvenses-cultivos incrementaron la biodiversidad asociada al sistema productivo. Se registraron 31 especies de arvenses (15 en maíz y 16 en frijol). Amaranthus dubius L., S. halepense y Parthenium hysterophorus L. y junto a ellas, Eleusine indica L. y Lepidium virginicum L., albergaron la mayor cuantía de microorganismos en la rizósfera. del suelo, mientras que los cultivos presentan interacciones neutras o negativas. La competición entre las plantas arvenses y los cultivos promueven cambios en la comunidad microbiana del suelo. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue caracterizar los microorganismos de mayor relevancia en la rizófora de las principales especies de arvenses colectadas en los cultivos de maíz y frijol sembrados en sucesión durante tres años. Sobre un suelo Ferralítico Rojo, se condujeron seis experimentos para conocer los posibles beneficios del manejo oportuno de las arvenses en los cultivos del maíz (Zea mays L) y del frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris L) en un sistema sucesional para lo cual se determinó los cambios estructurales de las arvenses e influencia de éstas sobre la fertilidad presencia de microorganismos del suelo. La especie dominante de arvense fue Sorghum halepense (L.) en ambos cultivos. Las relaciones interespecíficas arvenses-cultivos incrementaron los nutrientes y la biodiversidad asociada al sistema productivo. Se registraron 31 especies de arvenses (15 en maíz y 16 en frijol). Amaranthus dubius Mart., Sorghum halepense (L.) y Parthenium hysterophorus (L.), y junto a ellas, Eleusine indica (L.) y Lepidium virginicum (L.), albergaron la mayor cuantía de microorganismos en la rizofera.