Explore the vast range of titles available.

   Aims Investigations into the nutrient contents and changes in the stoichiometry and nutrient resorption strategies of different original forests during their development are of great significance toward the establishment of healthy, high-quality forest ecosystems. Methods A total of 24 sample plots with age gradients were established in natural Larix principis-rupprechtii forests and plantations, from which mature and senescent leaves, new branches, fine roots, and soil were collected and analyzed. The carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents were determined, and the stoichiometric ratios and resorption efficiencies were calculated. Results and conclusions The soil organic carbon and total nitrogen of the forests accumulated with advancing age, whereas the total phosphorus decreased because of higher consumption. Plantation trees tended to reduce the storage of nutrients in inactive plant structures to prevent nutrient loss, whereas natural forest trees maintained a stable nutrient concentration within their active organs. Plantation and natural forest trees adopted highly conservative N and P utilization strategies through improved resorption efficiencies. However, plantation forests were more conservative than their natural counterparts. The mature leaves, litter, branches, and fine roots of natural forests were influenced to a greater degree by the soil P, whereas those of plantation forests were more affected by the soil N. Nutrient concentrations within the active organs of plantation trees were more strongly dependent on soil than natural forests. We considered that natural forests likely possessed a more extensive range of strategies to deal with the variable compositions and concentrations of soil nutrients, which might strengthen their resilience against the effects of aging.

This study evaluates the feasibility of utilizing suspension fertilizers as alternatives to conventional organic fertilizers in drip irrigation systems. The investigation focused on several key aspects, including storage stability, particle size distribution, soil organic matter (OM) content, seed germination, and nutrient utilization efficiency. Suspension fertilizers maintained excellent storage stability, with no stratification or deterioration observed over prolonged storage (≥ 30 days). Their particle size distribution remained suitable for drip irrigation systems, ensuring uniform application and reducing clogging risks. The application of suspension fertilizers significantly increased soil OM content across different soil layers (5–20 cm depth) by 25.3 to 44.1%. The phosphorus-use efficiency of banana seedlings increased 9.1- to 12.6-fold relative to the control. The germination index of cucumber and radish seeds improved by 41.7 to 184.6%. The results demonstrate that suspension fertilizers are a viable alternative to traditional organic fertilizers in drip irrigation systems. They enhance soil fertility, promote seed germination, and improve nutrient utilization efficiency. Future research should focus on long-term field trials to validate these benefits across diverse agricultural settings and soil types.

The present study evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion of spirulina on productive performance, nutrient utilization, and egg quality of Japanese quails. One hundred twenty quails were included in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replicates. Treatments consisted of a control diet and three diets containing 0.3, 0.6, or 0.9% of spirulina powder. Spirulina inclusion had no effect (p > 0.05) on the productive performance, digestibility coefficients of dry matter and ether extract, calcium and phosphorus retention, weight and pH of the eggs, yolk index, albumen quality, and eggshell thickness when compared with the control diet. However, crude protein consumption was higher (p < 0.05) and the digestibility coefficient of crude protein was lower (p < 0.05) in birds in the 0.9% and 0.3% spirulina inclusion groups, respectively. The weights of the yolk and eggshell were improved (p < 0.007) by the inclusion of 0.6% and 0.9% and 0.9% spirulina, respectively. Quails fed diets containing 0.3% and 0.6% spirulina exhibited lower specific gravity of eggs (p < 0.019) than those fed diets containing 0.9% spirulina. Therefore, spirulina inclusion at 0.9% improved the eggshell quality and reduced the total lipid levels in the yolks.

The crop phosphorus (P) utilization efficiency of commercial fertilizers is only 10–15%, leaving much P fixed in the soil. Coating fertilizer can lessen this problem, but most of the current available options are potentially toxic and expensive. This study-investigated nanobiochar as a coating material for engineering “smart” di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer that controls P and nitrogen (N) release in soil, ultimately enhancing nutrient utilization by maize. Biochar was produced from farmyard manure and ball-milled to obtain nanobiochar. Different nanobiochar concentrations (2.5%, 5%, and 10% w/w) were used to coat the DAP granules in a fluidized-bed coater. The release of N and P was studied after immersing both coated and uncoated DAP fertilizers in water. In a pot experiment, five treatments, i.e.i) control (C), ii) uncoated DAP (UF), iii) 2.5% nanobiochar-coated DAP (CUNB1), iv) 5% nanobiochar-coated DAP (CUNB2), and v) 10% nanobiochar-coated DAP (CUNB3) were introduced, after which maize was sown. The presence of a uniform nanobiochar coating on DAP was confirmed by the discrete carbon peaks observed through X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopic analyses. In a laboratory study, the slowest release of N and P was observed for CUNB3. Remarkably, the application of CUNB1 substantially increased the microbial biomass carbon and N by 104% and 147%, respectively, while enhancing the plant-available P, N, and potassium (K) by 40%, 70%, and 46%, respectively, compared with those of C. This treatment increased maize shoot dry matter yield by 88%, accompanied by marked increases of 229%, 205%, and 67% in maize P, N, and K uptakes compared to C, respectively. However, other coating treatments failed to increase these parameters compared with those of UF, confirming that these coatings had the slowest nutrient availability for short-duration crops. The 2.5% nanobiochar concentration can be recommended for coating DAP fertilizer to reduce problems of P fixation and enhance P availability, crop growth and nutrients uptake, hence contributing to sustainable fertilizer management practices in agroecosystem.

To investigate the effects of different water and fertilizer coupling on photosynthetic performance and plant nutrient utilization of post-anthesis flag leaf of wheat, a field experiment was conducted at the experimental base of Qingdao Agricultural University from October 2016 to June 2017. And two water levels (I1 and I2) and four fertilization levels (F1, F2, F3 and F4) were set. In terms of flag leaf light and performance of wheat, reasonable irrigation and fertilization (I1F1 and I1F4) of wheat can maintain a higher concentration of chlorophyll content, increase Gs, Pn and Tr, and reduce Ci. The Tr in I2F2 and I2F3 of wheat was very small, which was not conducive to CO 2 assimilation and to photosynthesis in wheat. In regard to nutrient utilization, the contents of N, P and K contents in roots, stems and leaves of wheat decreased gradually from elongation stage to filling stage. Reasonable coupled treatment (I1F1, I1F3, and I1F4) of water and fertilizer could increase the contents of N, P and K in root, stem and leaf of wheat. The results showed that I1F1 and I1F3 treatments played a favorable role in the photosynthetic performance of flag leaves and plant nutrient utilization, indicating that the treatment with 60 mm irrigation amount was more conducive to photosynthesis and plant nutrient utilization of wheat.

IntroductionSoybean breeding in southwestern China has vastly improved soybean yields with the increasing demand for nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). This study aimed to assess the impact of soybean breeding on P and N utilization efficiencies.MethodsField experiments with split-plot experimental designs were conducted at two locations [Dafang (DF) and Shiqian (SQ)] in the 2019 growing season to determine the agronomic efficiency of P fertilizer (AEp), P and N utilization efficiencies, and P and N accumulation and partitioning in different soybean organs under 0 (P0) and 35 (P35) kg ha−1 P supply.ResultsThe results showed that soybean breeding targeting high seed yield also improved AEp ( p < 0.05) and P ( p < 0.05) and N utilization efficiencies ( p < 0.05), with the improvement in AEp associated with the high yield response to P supply. P and N accumulation significantly increased in pods ( p < 0.05) and leaves ( p < 0.05) but not in stems or roots with year of release, while P and N concentrations did not change in any organ with year of release. In addition, only pod dry weight significantly increased ( p < 0.01) with year of release, and P and N partitioning increased to pods ( p < 0.05) but decreased to stems ( p < 0.05) with year of release. Correlation and PCA analyses revealed P and N utilization efficiencies positively correlated with P and N partitioning to pods but negatively correlated with P and N partitioning to stems. While P supply increased P and N accumulation, it reduced P utilization efficiency.DiscussionWe conclude that (1) soybean breeding improved AEp and P and N utilization efficiencies; (2) the increased P and N partitioning to pods but decreased partitioning to stems contributed to the high P and N utilization efficiencies in new soybean cultivars, reducing the demand for N and P; (3) P supply increased nutrient accumulation but reduced P utilization efficiency. These results highlight the significance of appropriate resource allocation among organs and efficient P management for enhancing nutrient utilization and reducing fertilizer requirements.

Proper fertilization plays a dual role in maintaining high banana yield while protecting the environment. This study investigates the effects of a fertilization scheme designed based on banana nutrient absorption characteristics and fertilizer nutrient release dynamics, aiming to improve nutrient use efficiency and yield while promoting the green and sustainable development of the banana industry. The experiment utilized Zhongjiao No. 9 as the test banana variety. Initially, the total nutrient accumulation in mature banana plants was measured, and a fertilizer formula (with optimized total nutrient amounts and proportions) was developed. Subsequently, the ratio of conventional fertilizer (providing readily available nutrients) to controlled-release fertilizer (providing time-released nutrients) was adjusted to align the nutrient release patterns of the fertilizer with the nutrient uptake patterns of banana plants, resulting in a synchronized fertilization. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of this fertilization scheme, focusing on plant growth, nutrient accumulation, and yield. The results demonstrated that, compared to conventional fertilizer treatment, the synchronized fertilization significantly increased nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P 2 O 5 ), and potassium (K 2 O) accumulation by 8.66, 11.54, and 19.55%, respectively. nutrient use efficiency was also significantly enhanced, with improvements of 35.72, 94.85, and 29.41% for N, P 2 O 5 , and K 2 O, respectively. Additionally, the fresh weight and dry weight of banana plants increased by 20.93 and 56.14%, respectively, while banana yield increased by 7.03%. These findings indicate that the synchronized fertilization, tailored to the nutrient absorption characteristics of banana plants and the release dynamics of fertilizers, significantly enhances nutrient utilization efficiency, improves plant nutrient status, and boosts yield. Therefore, this fertilization strategy represents an economically viable and environmentally sustainable solution, offering a promising approach for the green and sustainable development of the banana industry.

The efficiency of pig production using nutrients has increased over the years. Still, better efficiency of nutrient utilization can be achieved by feeding pigs with diets adjusted to their estimated requirements. An increase in nutrient efficiency of utilization represents economic gains while maximizing environmental performance. The objective of this paper is to review the impact of different methods of diet formulation that provide farm animals with the amount of nutrients to satisfy their needs while minimizing nutrient excretion and greenhouse gas emissions. Diet formulation is one tool that can help to maximize nitrogen and energy utilization by decreasing crude protein content in diets. The use of local feedstuff and non-human-edible products (e.g., canola meal) associated with synthetic amino acid inclusion in the diet are valuable techniques to reduce carbon footprint. Precision feeding and nutrition is another powerful tool that allows not only daily tailoring of diets for maximal nutrient efficiency of utilization but also to reduce costs and improve nitrogen efficiency of utilization. In this review, we simulated through mathematical models the nitrogen and energy efficiency of utilization resulting from crude protein reduction in the diet. An 8% crude protein reduction in the diet can increase nitrogen efficiency of utilization by 54% while costing 11% less than a control diet without synthetic amino acids. The same reduction in crude protein represented a major improvement in available energy due to the decrease of energetic losses linked to protein deamination. Urinary and hindgut fermentation energy losses were 24% lower for pigs fed with low-protein diets when compared to control diets. In terms of modern feeding techniques and strategies, precision feeding and nutrition can decrease nitrogen excretion by 30% when compared to group phase feeding. The benefits of feeding pigs with low-protein diets and precision feeding techniques are additive and might result in a 61% nitrogen efficiency of utilization. There is room for improvement in the way nutrient requirements are estimated in pigs. Improving the understanding of the variation of nutrient utilization among pigs can contribute to further environmental gains.

Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the effect of increasing β-mannanase supplementation in diets containing copra meal (CM) on growth performance, meat quality, liver health, intestinal morphology, and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens.Methods: A total of 1,600 3-d-old Ross 308 broiler chickens (initial body weight±standard deviation = 43.3±1.08 g) were randomly allotted to 1 of 5 treatment groups with 8 replicates. One group was fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet (control). Other 4 diets were prepared by inclusion of 10% commercial CM in the control diet with 0, 400, 800, and 1,600 U β-mannanase/kg. Experiments lasted for 32 d.Results: Birds fed the control diet had less (p = 0.001) feed conversion ratio (FCR) than those fed diets containing 10% CM without β-mannanase supplementation. Increasing supplementation of β-mannanase in diets containing 10% CM had no linear and quadratic effects on body weight gain, feed intake, and FCR in broiler chickens. The control diet had greater (p<0.01) apparent total tract retention (ATTR) of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE), and N as compared to the diets containing 10% CM without β-mannanase supplementation; however, no differences in the ATTR of Ca and P were identified between 2 diets. There were no linear and quadratic effects of increasing supplementation of β-mannanase on the ATTR of DM, GE, N, Ca, and P in broiler diets containing 10% CM. Both inclusion of 10% CM and increasing supplementation of β-mannanase in broiler diets did not affect apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and N-corrected AME (AMEn) values in treatment diets.Conclusion: The use of 10% CM in broiler diets during growing and finishing period impairs growth performance by decreasing energy and nutrient utilization in diets. Increasing β-mannanase supplementation in diets containing 10% CM has no positive effects on performance, meat quality, liver health, intestinal morphology, and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens.

Legumes are key components of cropping systems due to their biological nitrogen fixation ability. The beneficial role of legumes as pre-crops for cereals in cereal-based rotations is well studied, but the evaluation of pre-crops for legumes is not. This study aims to identify which is the best pre-crop for faba bean and narrow-leafed lupin by comparing various nutrient utilization indices for 11 elements. The elemental composition of the two grain legumes was significantly different. There was a significant and positive pre-crop effect of barley, and to a lesser extent oat, on the nutrient composition and indices of both grain legumes, but not on their yield and protein concentration. Barley as a pre-crop was associated with higher concentrations of Mg, Mn and Zn in narrow-leafed lupin seeds and of S in faba bean seeds. Principal component analysis demonstrated similarities in the nutrient uptake of both legumes, and also revealed a consistent association between Fe and Si in narrow-leafed lupin. Use of different nutrient utilization indices allows the detection of pre-crop effects in rotations and the assessment of nutrient cycling of different crop sequences. The mineral utilization index was particularly informative. Attention to the appropriate pre-crop can further increase the sustainability of legume-supported cropping systems.