Impact of residual antibiotics on microbial decomposition of livestock manures in Eutric Regosol: Implications for sustainable nutrient recycling and soil carbon sequestration.

The land application of livestock manure has been widely acknowledged as a beneficial approach for nutrient recycling and environmental protection. However, the impact of residual antibiotics, a common contaminant of manure, on the degradation of organic compounds and nutrient release in Eutric Regosol is not well understood. Here, we studied, how oxytetracycline (OTC) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) affect the decomposition, microbial community structure, extracellular enzyme activities and nutrient release from cattle and pig manure using litterbag incubation experiments. Results showed that OTC and CIP greatly inhibited livestock manure decomposition, causing a decreased rate of carbon (28%-87%), nitrogen (15%-44%) and phosphorus (26%-43%) release. The relative abundance of gram-negative (G-) bacteria was reduced by 4.0%-13% while fungi increased by 7.0%-71% during a 28-day incubation period. Co-occurrence network analysis showed that antibiotic exposure disrupted microbial interactions, particularly among G- bacteria, G+ bacteria, and actinomycetes. These changes in microbial community structure and function resulted in decreased activity of urease, ß-1,4-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, alkaline protease, chitinase, and catalase, causing reduced decomposition and nutrient release in cattle and pig manures. These findings advance our understanding of decomposition and nutrient recycling from manure-contaminated antibiotics, which will help facilitate sustainable agricultural production and soil carbon sequestration.

Organic waste recycling application increases N availability and mitigates N2O emission without crop yield penalty in the North China Plain.

Introduction: Agricultural organic waste recycling can supply nutrients for crop production and partially replace chemical nitrogen fertilizers, which is beneficial for waste management and environmental protection. Nevertheless, comprehensive evaluation of the effects of different organic materials applications on crop yield and the environment is limited. Methods: Therefore, in this study, a comprehensive investigation of the synergistic effects of straw, pig manure, and biogas residue recycling on the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) systems was carried out in the North China Plain. Field experiments were conducted from 2019 to 2021, comprising five treatments: straw (ST), pig manure (PM), and biogas residue (BR) partially replacing chemical nitrogen fertilizer, sole application of chemical nitrogen fertilizer (CF), and a control with no nitrogen application (WN). Results and discussion: The results showed that organic materials significantly increased soil total nitrogen (3.04%-9.10%) and N recovery efficiency (REN; 42.21%-44.99%), but pig manure was more beneficial in increasing crop yields (3.50%), especially wheat yields (8.72%), and REN was significantly higher than that of the other treatments. Organic materials performed differently in wheat and maize seasons, and wheat yield could be improved by organic materials return. Organic materials stimulated N2O emission in wheat season (4.28%-32.20%), while biogas residue inhibited the N2O emission in maize season (47.47%). The negative effect of straw and biogas residue on yield decreased with increasing years of return, and pig manure continued to contribute to yield. In conclusion, pig manure is the optimal alternative that can increase crop yield, soil N content, and REN without stimulating N2O emissions.

Pyrolytic conversion of cattle manure into value-added products and application of biochar for adsorption of sulfamethoxazole.

This study investigated the thermochemical conversion of cattle manure (CM) to propose a sustainable platform for its valorization, and explored the applicability of CM-derived biochar (CMB) as an environmental medium for the adsorptive removal of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ). CM pyrolysis was conducted under two atmospheric conditions (N2 and CO2), and the pyrogenic products were quantified and characterized. Real-time syngas monitoring revealed that CO2 enhanced CO generation from the CM, leading to the formation of a highly porous carbon structure in the produced biochar (CMBCO2). The adsorptive removal of SMZ by CMBCO2 was highly dependent on the pH conditions. The adsorption kinetics of SMZ onto CMBCO2 reached equilibrium within 540 min, following a pseudo-second-order model. The SMZ adsorption isotherms fit the Langmuir-Freundlich model, highlighting the importance of chemisorption in the adsorption process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that SMZ was adsorbed by non-electrostatic mechanisms, including hydrogen bonding, Lewis acid-base interactions, surface complexation, and π-π electron-donor acceptor interactions. This study presents an exemplary strategy for converting livestock waste into valuable resources, enabling the harvesting of energy resources and the production of treatment media for environmental remediation.

Effects of straws on greenhouse gas emissions in the ectopic fermentation system.

Straws are commonly used padding materials in the ectopic fermentation system, but their effects on greenhouse gas emissions are not well understood. This study compared the effects of rape, rice and corn straws on the fermentation performance of the ectopic fermentation system. Compared with corn straw, the treatment groups with rape straw and rice straw significantly increased the alpha diversity of the fermentation system, and simultaneously mitigated the cumulative emissions of CO2 and N2O by up to 32.4% and 93.9%, respectively. The CO2 and N2O peak emission in the treatment group with corn straw reached 1.4 × 106 and 36.2 mg/m2/d, respectively. CH4 peak emission was one order of magnitude lower than that of N2O in the ectopic fermentation system. Redundancy analysis showed that Pseudoxanthomonas sp000510725 was the key specie that positively affect the fermentation temperature, CO2 and N2O emissions in the fermentation system. Nitrogen metabolism genes, such as nosZ, nirK, and nirS were more abundant in the surface layer of the fermentation system, indicating more active nitrogen metabolism in this region, and the core zone could be the primary source of N2O emissions. Those findings indicated that rape and rice straw can be potential padding materials for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in large-scale ectopic fermentation system.

Bio-organic substitution in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L) cultivation: Optimum strategy to lower carbon footprint and boost net ecosystem economic benefit.

The partial substitution of organic manure for chemical nitrogen fertilizers, known as organic substitution, is widely regarded as a cleaner and more sustainable production strategy. However, few studies have quantified greenhouse gas emissions, product income and net ecosystem economic benefit (NEEB) using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, particularly for typical tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) production. Here, we quantified the yield and quality of a typical tobacco production in Qujing, Yunnan, China, through field experiments and calculated its carbon footprint and NEEB using the LCA approach. Four organic substitution strategies were established with equal nitrogen inputs, including synthesized chemical fertilizer (SN), farmyard organic manure (NF), commercial organic manure (NC), and bio-organic (Trichoderma viride Pers.) manure (NT), each substituting 15% of synthesized nitrogen fertilizer. Compared to the SN strategy, the NT strategy significantly increased yield and income by 10.3% and 9.6%, respectively. In contrast, the NF strategy significantly reduced income, while the NC strategy showed no significant difference. Both the NC and NT strategies significantly reduced N2O cumulative emissions (by 15.9% and 8.0%, respectively), increased δSOC (by 38.4% and 15.0%, respectively), and decreased carbon footprint compared to the SN strategy. However, the NF strategy significantly increased the income-scaled carbon footprint, even though it also notably reduced N2O cumulative emissions (by 22.6%) and increased δSOC (by 7.9%). The NT strategy achieved a win-win scenario of low environmental risk and high economic returns of tobacco production with significantly increased NEEB (by 10.6%) compared to the SN strategy (37.60 × 103 CNY yr-1). This suggests that the bio-organic Trichoderma manure substituting 15% synthesized nitrogen fertilizer is the best organic substitution strategy for sustainable tobacco production.

Degradation characteristics and effect mechanisms of estrogens during aerobic composting of chicken manure based on the orthogonal test.

Environmental estrogens are currently a significant research topic, and poultry manure serves as a crucial source. This study investigated the degradation characteristics and effect mechanisms of six estrogens (E1, 17α-E2, 17ß-E2, E3, 17α-EE2, and DES) during the aerobic composting of chicken manure. An orthogonal test comprising four factors (aeration rate, calcium-magnesium-phosphorus fertilizer (Ca-Mg-P fertilizer), coconut shell biochar, initial moisture content) and three levels of aerobic composting was conducted over a 45-day period to monitor the changes in estrogens and basic parameters. The results indicated that the factors influencing the estrogen degradation rate ranked as: initial moisture content (MC) > Ca-Mg-P fertilizer > aeration rate > coconut shell biochar. These factors significantly influenced the abundance of estrogen-degrading genera. Optimal composting conditions for estrogen degradation were identified as the addition of 10% coconut shell biochar, maintaining an initial moisture content of 60%, and using an aeration rate of 0.08 L min-1∙kg-1DM (dry matter), with an average degradation rate of 86.88% for the six estrogens under these conditions. During the composting process under various treatments, five known estrogen-degrading genera were observed with high relative abundance (max 31.08%), and the predominant genera were Staphylococcus and Brachybacterium for 17α-E2, 17ß-E2, E3, 17α-EE2, and DES, and Pusillimonas for E1. The composition of microbial community structure changed significantly, and the dominated environment factors effecting the composition and succession of these genera were carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) and MC. The research results can provide both a theoretical basis and practical reference for the effective degradation of estrogens during the composting of chicken manure.

Green manure (Ophiopogon japonicus) cover promotes tea plant growth by regulating soil carbon cycling.

Introduction: In mountainous tea plantations, which are the primary mode of tea cultivation in China, issues such as soil erosion and declining soil fertility are particularly severe. Although green manure cover is an effective agricultural measure for restoring soil fertility, its application in mountainous tea plantations has been relatively understudied. Methods: This study investigated the effects of continuous green manure cover using the slope-protecting plant Ophiopogon japonicus on tea plant growth and soil microbial community structure. We implemented three treatments: 1 year of green manure coverage, 2 years of coverage, and a control, to study their effects on tea plant growth, soil physicochemical properties, and soil bacterial and fungal communities. Results: Results demonstrate that green manure coverage significantly promote the growth of tea plants, enhanced organic matter and pH levels in soil, and various enzyme activities, including peroxidases and cellulases. Further functional prediction results indicate that green manure coverage markedly promoted several carbon cycling functions in soil microbes, including xylanolysis, cellulolysis, degradation of aromatic compounds, and saprotrophic processes. LEfSe analysis indicated that under green manure cover, the soil tends to enrich more beneficial microbial communities with degradation functions, such as Sphingomonas, Sinomonas, and Haliangium (bacteria), and Penicillium, Apiotrichum, and Talaromyce (fungi). In addition. Random forest and structural equation models indicated that carbon cycling, as a significant differentiating factor, has a significant promoting effect on tea plant growth. Discussion: In the management practices of mountainous tea plantations, further utilizing slope-protecting plants as green manure can significantly influence the soil microbial community structure and function, enriching microbes involved in the degradation of organic matter and aromatic compounds, thereby positively impacting tea tree growth and soil nutrient levels.

Effects of manure and nitrogen fertilization on soil microbial carbon fixation genes and associated communities in the Loess Plateau of China.

The effects of long-term fertilization on soil carbon (C) cycling have been a key focus of agricultural sustainable development research. However, the influences of different fertilization treatments on soil microbial C fixation profiles are still unclear. Metagenomics technology and multivariate analysis were employed to inquire changes in soil properties, soil microbial C fixation genes and associated bacterial communities, and the influence of dominant soil properties on C fixation genes. The contents of soil C and nitrogen fractions were signicficantly higher in manure or combined with nitrogen fertilization (NM) than other treatments. The composition of soil microbial C fixation genes and associated bacterial communities varied among different fertilization treatments. Compared with other treatments, the total abundance of microbial C fixation genes and the abundance of Proteobacteria were significantly higher in NM than in other treatments, as well as the abundances of C fixation genes involved in dicarboxylate/4-hydroxybutyrate cycle and reductive citrate cycle. Key functional genes and main bacterial communities presented in the middle of the co-occurrence network. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and microbial biomass nitrogen were the dominant soil properties influencing microbial C fixation genes and associated bacterial communitis. Fertilization increased the abundance of C fixation genes by affecting the changes in bacterial communities abundance mediated by soil properties. Overall, elucidating the responses of soil microbial C fixation genes and associated communities to different fertilization will enhance our understanding of the processes of soil C fixation in farmland.

Biochemical, toxicological, and microbiological assessment of calcined poultry manure for potential use as bone scaffold material.

The biosafety of thermally calcined poultry manure as a hydroxyapatite source for potential use as bone-making material was investigated in this study. In vitro assays were used to determine the sensitivity of the antioxidant properties to the thermal calcination temperature used to process the poultry manure (750, 800, and 850 °C ). The effect of the extract of both calcined poultry manure (local) and analytical grade hydroxyapatite (foreign) at various concentrations of 100%-25 % inclusion at (100 mg/kg) body weight intubation for 21 days on kidney, liver, and serum of animal model used was assessed. The results show that the thermally calcined poultry manure-derived hydroxyapatite generally possessed good antioxidant properties with the poultry manure treated at 750 °C having the most promising antioxidant properties compared to those treated at 800 and 850 °C , and hence a more likely improved anti-toxicity potential. The various blends of the analytical high-grade hydroxyapatite and thermally calcined poultry manure hydroxyapatite samples are safe compared to the normal control rats with regards hepatic function and renal function parameters with the equal blend of analytical high grade and thermally calcined poultry manure-derived hydroxyapatite (1:1) possessing the lowest activity concentrations. In addition, the enzymatic (glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic (reduced glutathione) antioxidant concentrations of the experimental animals administered the varied compositions of the analytical high grade and thermally calcined poultry manure-derived hydroxyapatite, were lower when compared to normal control rats. The microbiological evaluation suggests that the calcined poultry manure inclusion at various concentrations could not pose a negative effect on various pathology in the liver, kidney, and blood.

A combination of calcium hydroxide and sodium hydrosulphate controls pathogens causing environmental mastitis in recycled manure solids.

Recycled manure solids (RMS) are dried cow dung processed using a manure dewatering machine and subsequently sun-dried to ~ 20% moisture. Benefits of RMS include abundant availability, low cost, and eco-friendliness, but its use as bedding material for cows is hindered by a moisture content that promotes microbial growth. This in vitro study evaluated impacts of calcium hydroxide (CH; 5 and 7.5%) and sodium hydrosulphate (SHS; 6 and 8%), independently and in combinations, at various depths of RMS, on physicochemical and microbial properties. The CH-treated groups had increased pH and reduced moisture on Day 0. Incorporating 7.5% CH + 6% SHS at 15-20 cm, and 7.5% CH + 8% SHS at all depths, effectively suppressed Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. Furthermore, a combination of 7.5% CH + 8% SHS at 20 cm inhibited coliform growth, whereas 7.5% CH with 6% SHS inhibited Streptococcus spp. In conclusion, a combination of 7.5% CH with either 6 or 8% SHS at a depth of 15 cm in RMS was particularly effective in controlling environmental mastitis-causing pathogens, specifically E. coli and Klebsiella spp.

Optimizing the management of aerobic composting for antibiotic resistance genes elimination: A review of future strategy for livestock manure resource utilization.

Aerobic composting technology is an efficient, safe and practical method to reduce the residues of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) due to unreasonable disposal of livestock manure. Nowadays, it remains unclear how aerobic composting works to minimize the level of remaining antibiotics and ARGs in manure. Moreover, aerobic composting techniques even have the potential to enhance ARGs level. Therefore, this study conducted a literature review on ARGs variation during the composting process to assess the fate, migration, and risk features of antibiotics and ARGs in different livestock manure and compost. The relationship between ARGs reduction and crucial factors (temperature, heavy metal, and microbial community structures) in the composting process was discussed. The merits and limitations of different technologies used in compost was summarized. The effects on ARGs reduction in the aerobic composting process with various strategies was examined. We attempt to provide a fresh and novel viewpoint on the advancement of global aerobic composting technology.

Antibiotic resistance genes are transferred from manure-contaminated water bodies to the gut microbiota of animals through the food chain.

Fecal-contaminated water may enter the food chain and become an important route for the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to the human microbiome. However, little is known about the spread of ARGs from fecal contamination in water bodies along the aquatic food chain. In this study, laboratory-raised Daphnia magna and Aristichthys nobilis were used to investigate the effects of the addition of manure on target ARGs in water and their intestinal contents to determine the potential transmission route of ARGs in the aquatic food chain system. The abundance of target ARGs in water as well as D. magna and A. nobilis intestinal contents significantly increased when fecal contamination was present. ARGs bioaccumulated along the food chain, with four ARGs (tetM-01, tetX, qnrS, and sul2) detected regularly. Mn and Cr were key environmental factors that promoted the transfer of ARGs along the food chain. Fecal addition significantly changed the structure of microbial communities in water, D. magna gut, and A. nobilis gut. The ARG spectrum was significantly correlated with the composition and structure of the bacterial community. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were identified as the main host bacteria and were likely to act as carriers of ARGs to promote the spread of antibiotic resistance in the food chain. The composition and structure of bacterial communities, along with mobile genetic elements, were two key drivers of ARG transfer. These findings provide new insights into the distribution and spread of ARGs along the freshwater food chain.

The role of geospatial technologies for sustainable livestock manure management: A systematic review.

Optimal livestock production is a key contributor to the achievement of sustainable development goals. The management and disposal of livestock manure is one of the main issues facing the sector in terms of soil, water and air pollution. Proper and sustainable management of livestock manure also requires a systemic approach to the problem, considering it at different territorial levels. In order to identify existing strategies to support this issue, this review investigated the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis as a support for livestock manure management, highlighting the several GIS methodologies used to provide insight into the complexity, power, and potential offered by these approaches in study areas with different economic, social, and environmental variables, and to provide insights for future research. The study was performed on 139 papers chosen from a literature screening. Three study themes were identified by co-word analysis: Bioenergy, Environmental pollution and Landscape management/development, with a percentage division of research articles of 38 %, 47 % and 15 %, respectively. This study provides a theoretical and prospective framework for the long-term expansion of the livestock sector, which is critical to promoting a balance between sector development and environmental impact. The use of spatial analysis, along with additional tools and methods such as modelling, multivariate and spatial statistics, life cycle assessment, machine learning and multi-criteria analysis, has proven to be widely applied.

Vertical migration and leaching behavior of antibiotic resistance genes in soil during rainfall: Impact by long-term fertilization.

The vertical migration and leaching behavior of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during rainfall in soils subjected to long-term fertilization remain largely unclear. In this study, ARGs in vertical profiles (0-60 cm) and leachates from three soils (acidic, neutral, and calcareous) in a long-term (13 years) field fertilization experiment were monitored by high-throughput quantitative PCR after each rainfall event throughout an entire year. The results showed that, compared with unfertilized soils, long-term manure fertilization mainly promoted the vertical migration and leaching of aminoglycoside, beta-lactam, and multidrug resistance genes in the soil profiles. As a result, the annual cumulative loads of ARGs in leachates from the three soils with long-term manure fertilization were significantly increased compared to the controls and were in the order of acidic soil > neutral soil > calcareous soil. SourceTracker analyses revealed that manured soil was the predominant source of the ARGs in the soil leachate samples. Pseudomonas, Anaeromyxobacter, IMCC26256, and MND1 were identified as the dominant potential hosts responsible for the vertical migration and leaching of ARGs in the three soils. PiecewiseSEM analysis further showed that long-term manure fertilization affected the vertical migration of ARGs during rainfall mainly by altering soil properties (i.e., pH, soil organic carbon, and sand). Our results suggest that the ARGs in soils with long-term manure fertilization are a significant potential source of ARG pollution in groundwater, and the measures should be taken to mitigate the vertical migration and leaching of ARGs during rainfall.

Bacterial Communities of House Flies from Dairy Farms Highlight Their Role as Reservoirs, Disseminators, and Sentinels of Microbial Threats to Human and Animal Health.

Adult house flies (Musca domestica L.) inhabiting dairy farms not only are nuisance pests but also harbor and disseminate bacteria. We examined the bacterial community composition, diversity, environmental sources, and prevalence in individual adult female house flies and cattle manure samples collected monthly from Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee dairy farms between May and August 2021. Individual house flies carried diverse bacterial communities, encompassing all bacterial taxa (100%) identified across manure samples, and additional species likely acquired from the animals. Bacterial community assemblage in house flies and manure samples within farms varied by month. Some taxa were differentially associated with either house flies (Corynebacterium, Acinetobacter, and Staphylococcus) or manure samples (Treponema, Succinivibrio, and Clostridia). House fly bacterial communities mostly contained specialist species originating from manure, with several taxa (Escherichia, Corynebacterium, Turicibacter) being potential pathogens of livestock and humans. These findings further support the role of house flies as carriers of cattle-associated bacteria, including pathogens, and their potential for disseminating these microbes among cattle and to neighboring environments. Since their bacterial communities provide a snapshot of their surrounding environment, house flies also serve as effective sentinels in xenosurveillance strategies.

Antimicrobial Resistance in the Terrestrial Environment of Agricultural Landscapes in Norway.

The abundance and diversity of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in agricultural landscapes may be important for the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment. The aim of this study was to apply screening methods for ARB and ARGs to investigate the impact of farming on the prevalence of AMR in a country with low antibiotic usage. We have analyzed samples (n = 644) from soil and wild terrestrial animals and plants (slugs, snails, mice, shrews, earthworms, and red clover) collected over two years in agricultural fields accompanied by nearby control areas with low human activity. All samples were investigated for the occurrence of 35 different ARGs using high-throughput quantitative PCR (HT-qPCR) on a newly developed DNA array. In addition, samples from the first year (n = 415) were investigated with a culture-based approach combined with whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to identify antimicrobial-resistant E. coli (AREC). ARGs were detected in 59.5% of all samples (2019 + 2020). AREC, which was only investigated in the 2019 samples, was identified in 1.9% of these. Samples collected in the autumn showed more ARGs and AREC than spring samples, and this was more pronounced for organic fields than for conventional fields. Control areas with low human activity showed lower levels of ARGs and a lack of AREC. The use of livestock manure was correlated with a higher level of ARG load than other farming practices. None of the soil samples contained antibiotics, and no association was found between AMR and the levels of metals or pesticides. High qualitative similarity between HT-qPCR and WGS, together with the positive controls to the validation of our 35 ARG assays, show that the microfluid DNA array may be an efficient screening tool on environmental samples. In conclusion, even in a country with a very low consumption of antimicrobials by production animals, our results support the hypothesis of these animals being a source of AREC and ARGs in agricultural environments, primarily through the use of manure.

Compost derived from olive mill cake: Effects on isohumic soil quality based on humic acids characterization.

The compost effects on soil organic matter (SOM) stability were evaluated. Manure at 10 % ratio and compost at 10 %, 20 % and 40 % ratios (v/v) were added to the soil and their effects were compared to unamended control soil after 90-days of greenhouse-experiment. Humic acids (HA) and fulvic acids (FA) were extracted from two different soil-sample layers at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth. The CHA/CFA ratio and the humification parameters were determined, and the soil-HA were characterized by spectroscopic methods (E4/E6 and FTIR). The humification parameters progress with time were affected by the amendment concentration. After 90 days, the treated soils HA' FTIR spectra showed an increase in aromatic carbon polycondensation and O-containing groups reflecting the high degrees of molecular associations and humification of soil HA. Compared to 10 % manure application and 40 % compost ratio use, the applications of 10 % and 20 % compost ratios induced higher humification level and highly oxidized HA structure. Moreover, changes in the HA compositional and functional groups were noticed at the upper layer which exhibited higher reactivity compared to the lower layer which displayed more humified SOM. Through the humification process, the HA fraction was improved to reach more stable and complex macromolecules, where aromatic structures were bio-converted into highly functionalized compounds.

Optimizing crop quality and yield: Assessing the impact of integrated potassium management on Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis).

Potassium, a pivotal macronutrient essential for growth, development, and crop yield, serves as a critical determinant of soil productivity. Its depletion disrupts the equilibrium of soil nutrients, prompting an investigation into integrated potassium management strategies to address this challenge. A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 2020 using a randomized complete block design, with eight treatments, each replicated three times in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis). These treatments comprised standard (100 %) and reduced (75 % and 50 %) rates of the recommended dose of potassium (RDK) via muriate of potash (MOP). Variations in the inclusion and exclusion of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), farmyard manure (FYM) as 25 % of the potassium recommendation, and foliar spray of nano potash were systematically implemented. Findings unequivocally demonstrated that the treatmentT8, involving 100 % RDK +25 % K through FYM + PGPR + nano K fertilizer spray at 25 and 40 DAS, yielded significant improvements in both green fodder (64.0 t ha-1) and dry fodder (7.87 t ha-1).Moreover, T8 exhibited the highest values for total ash (8.75 %), total ash yield (68.9 ± 2.88 kg ha-1), ether extract (2.85 %), ether extract yield (22.4 ± 0.88 kg ha-1), crude protein (9.71 %), and total crude protein yield (76.4 ± 3.21 kg ha-1). Conversely, a marked reduction was observed in various fiber components and carbohydrate fractions upon application of the T8 treatment. The lowest values of yield, crude protein content, total ash ether extract were recorded in treatment T1 (control) applied with no potassium. This investigation underscores the inadequacy of the recommended potassium dose in achieving optimal productivity, necessitating a re-evaluation of potassium fertilization levels. The integrated approach involving FYM, PGPR, and nano potash, coupled with the recommended potassium dose through MOP, emerges as a promising avenue for augmenting both yield and quality parameters in Chinese cabbage.

Anaerobic digestion of poultry manure to power a poultry farm in Ba: Pilot and techno-economic study.

Although poultry is the largest meat by volume produced in Fiji, there has not been any established study, nor application of the anaerobic digestion (AD) of poultry manure (PM) in the country. This paper aims to determine the techno-economic feasibility of the AD of PM to power a poultry farm in Fiji. A pilot scale study was first conducted with mono-digestion batches of poultry manure, and co-digestions with kitchen waste (KW) and newspaper waste (NPW). Solid state anaerobic digestion (SSAD) was employed in all the batches, and the key operational parameters of AD were studied, along with its influence on biogas production. The pilot study revealed that even slight changes in environmental temperature had the greatest effect on biogas production. The most resilient to the temperature changes were the co-digested feedstocks of KW. Yet, given a substantial AD period, the anaerobes in the mono-digesters were able to eventually acclimatize to the SSAD environment, and produce the overall highest biogas production. The pilot study results were then used to conduct a feasibility study of the full-scale design. The analysis showed that the SSAD system would generate 189.46 MWh of electricity annually, with a levelized cost of energy of FJ$0.17/KWh.

Long-term application of FYM and fertilizer N improve soil fertility and enzyme activity in 51st wheat cycle under pearl millet-wheat.

Our study from an ongoing research experiment initiated in Rabi 1967 at the Research Farm of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Haryana, India, reports that during the 51st wheat cycle in pearl millet-wheat sequence, adding FYM in both seasons significantly impacted various soil parameters at different wheat growth stages compared to the rabi season. The application of 15 t of FYM ha-1 resulted in a considerable increase in dissolved organic carbon content (9.1-11.2%), available P (9.7-12.1%), and available S (12.6-17.1%), DHA levels by 7.3-22.0%, urease activity (10.1 and 17.0%), ß-Glucosidase activity (6.2-8.4%), and APA activity (5.2-10.6%), compared to 10 t FYM ha-1. Application of N120 exhibited a considerable improvement in DHA (11.0-23.2%), ß-Glucosidase (9.4-19.2%), urease (13.3-28.3%), and APA (3.3-6.2%) activity compared to control (N0). At stage 3, the box plot revealed that 50% of the available N, P, and S values varied from 223.1 to 287.9 kg ha-1, 53.0 to 98.2 kg ha-1, and 50.0 to 97.6 kg ha-1, respectively. Principal component analysis, with PC1 explaining 94.7% and PC2 explaining 3.15% of the overall variability, and SOC had a polynomial relationship with soil characteristics (R2 = 0.89 to 0.99). Applying FYM15 × N120 treatment during both seasons proved beneficial in sustaining the health of sandy loam soil in North-West India.