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The rapid growth of the livestock sector in some areas of Europe has caused an imbalance between the generation of livestock manure and the availability of agricultural soil for its direct application as a fertilizer. Since the transport of pig slurry to other areas with nutrient-deficient soils is costly from an economic point of view due to its high water content, the application of new technologies for the concentration of this waste is considered key for reducing management costs. Consequently, the main objective of this study was to demonstrate the potential of vibratory shear enhanced processing (VSEP) operated with reverse osmosis membranes to recover nutrients from the liquid fractions of pig slurry (LF-pig slurry) and digestate (LF-digestate) and obtain concentrated fertilizing products. Use of the VSEP unit permitted reductions in the water contents of the LF-pig slurry and LF-digestate, around 77% and 67%, respectively. Both VSEP concentrates were characterized by their significant nutrient contents and showed a nitrogen fertilizer replacement value similar to that of mineral fertilizer as demonstrated in a barley crop pot-test, although the salinity of the digestate concentrate was identified as a key limitation, negatively impacting the agronomic yield of the test crop.

Due to intensive agricultural practices, agricultural lands are subject to continuous degradation. Agricultural productivity depends to a great degree on soil characteristics — soil is the substrate which when managed properly can support plant growth, but when abused requires additional inputs. Research is increasingly focused on the development of new non-synthetic and non-fossil-based products having less impact on the environment and health. In this context, the use of algae biomass (macro and micro) has been widely researched as a fertilizer for agricultural production as a “green economy” alternative product. Currently, the production of marine algae far outstrips the production of microalgae and its main use is for food consumption and some industrial applications. The cost of production is also variable, as marine algae are usually cultivated in integrated multitrophic aquaculture systems. The production of microalgae involves many variables, among them the species, the culture medium, obtaining process, final application, etc. and, based on these, its production cost is estimated. Some researchers point out that the use of simplified technology and increased production capacity tend to reduce operating costs within the ideal photosynthetic yield. This review sought to highlight the importance of algae and their extracts as natural biofertilizers and biostimulants, as well as the mechanisms of action and the possible relationship of these organisms with cultivated plants. Highlights • Macroalgae are potentially highly advantageous for sustainable agriculture. • Microalgae can serve as biofertilizers or biostimulants. • Algal extracts promote plant growth and nutrients uptake. • The economic viability of biofertilizer production must be addressed.

The series of the field experiments on pea inoculation with three kinds of bacteria were conducted in Dnipropetrovsk province situated in the northern part of steppe zone of Ukraine. The main objective of our research was to study effects of combined seed treatment of two pea cultivars with bacterial inoculants. The largest leaf surface area of pea cultivars was formed in the stage of flowering in the combine inoculation with bacterial strains Rhizobium leguminosarum, Bacillus megaterium and Paenibacillus polymyxa (PP). The three-component mixture provided nitrogen fixation with rhizobium (R) and phosphorus soluble mobilization (PSB) and has led to a significant increase both the total number of nodules (by 1.4-2.0 times) and their active forms (by 1.3-2.0 times) on the pea root system. The treatment of seeds of two pea varieties with bacterial inoculants made it possible to increase the yield of pea grain up to 13%. The effect of pea seeds bacterial inoculation against the N20P40 background was less effective. The highest effect was recorded after inoculation of pea seeds with Rhizobium leguminosarum. The use of a double (PSB + PP) and triple mixture (PSB + PP + R) of bacterial inoculants provided the second place to an increase in the nitrogen content in the foliar mass of plants in both treatments (without and with mineral fertilizers). The amounts of phosphorus and potassium uptake in the foliar mass were higher in the PSB version (without fertilizers), and in the treatment with the use of P.Polymyxa - with the use of N20P40 fertilizers.

This paper is part of a project that has received funding from the PRIMA Call 2020, Work program Topic 2.2.1, InnovaTive Resilient fArmiNg Systems in MedITerranean envIrONments (TRANSITION).

Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. are the causative agents of Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis, respectively. These flagellates have complex transmission cycles involving a variety of mammal hosts, some of which may serve as potential reservoirs for both parasites. The region of Urabá, located in northwestern Colombia, is the most widely used migratory route in Latin America where the largest migration phenomenon in the last 15 years has occurred. In this study, we evaluated the co-circulation and co-infections with T. cruzi and Leishmania spp. in the municipalities of Apartadó, Turbo, Necoclí and San Pedro de Urabá using a One Health approach. Integrated efforts included (i) a cross-sectional serological study to assess human infection, (ii) an entomological survey to assess the presence and natural infection of vectors, and (iii) an evaluation of synanthropic mammal infection by both parasites using molecular tools. Our study found recent T. cruzi transmission in Turbo and Necoclí, with an infection frequency of 2.42% (95% CI: 1.28–3.56), and identified 11 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis, with two individuals coinfected with both pathogens. We collected 57 triatomine bugs ( Rhodnius pallescens ) and found that 68.4% (n = 39) were infected with T. cruzi . In addition, we collected 2,334 sand flies, with Pressatia dysponeta as the most abundant species (79.9%), and detected natural Leishmania spp. infection in Lutzomyia gomezi (n = 3) , Psychodopygus panamensis (n = 1) and Nyssomyia trapidoi (n = 1). Finally, Didelphis marsupialis (n = 21) was the most frequently captured mammal; 40,9% tested positive for T. cruzi , 27,3% for Leishmania spp., and one specimen was positive for both pathogens. This study highlights the active transmission and co-circulation of T. cruzi and Leishmania spp. parasites in Urabá, demonstrating not only the high risk for the local population but also for migrants traversing this area, raising concerns about the potential spread of these parasites to other regions of the continent.

ObjectiveThe primary objective was to assess the performance of a new generation thin-strut sirolimus-eluting coronary stent with abluminal biodegradable polymer in an all comer population. The secondary objective was to detail differences in contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) practice worldwide.Methodse-Ultimaster was an all-comer, prospective, global registry (NCT02188355) with independent event adjudication enrolling patients undergoing PCI with the study stent. The primary outcome measure was target lesion failure (TLF) at 1 year, defined as the composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction and clinically driven target lesion revascularisation. Data were stratified according to 4 geographical regions.ResultsA total of 37 198 patients were enrolled (Europe 69.2%, Asia 17.8%, Africa/Middle East 6.6% and South America/Mexico 6.5%) and 1-year follow-up was available for 35 389 patients (95.1%). One-year TLF occurred in 3.2% of the patients, ranging from 2% (Africa/Middle East) to 4.1% (South America/Mexico). In patients with acute coronary syndrome, potent P2Y12 inhibitors were prescribed in 48% of patients at discharge, while at 1 year 72% were on any dual antiplatelet therapy. Lipid-lowering treatment was administered in 80.9% and 75.5% of patients at discharge and 1 year, respectively. Regional differences in the profile of the treated patients as well as in PCI practice were reported.ConclusionsIn this investigation with worldwide representation, contemporary PCI using a new generation thin-strut sirolimus-eluting coronary stent with abluminal biodegradable polymer was associated with low 1-year TLF across clinical presentations and continents. Suboptimal adherence to current recommendations around antiplatelet and lipid lowering treatments was detected.