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Drought stress induces a range of physiological changes in plants, including oxidative damage. Ascorbic acid (AsA), commonly known as vitamin C, is a vital non-enzymatic antioxidant capable of scavenging reactive oxygen species and modulating key physiological processes in crops under abiotic stresses like drought. Chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.), predominantly cultivated in drought-prone regions, offers an ideal model for studying drought tolerance. We explored the potential of AsA phenotyping to enhance drought tolerance in chickpea. Using an automated phenomics facility to monitor daily soil moisture levels, we developed a protocol to screen chickpea genotypes for endogenous AsA content. The results showed that AsA accumulation peaked at 30% field capacity (FC)—when measured between 11:30 am and 12:00 noon—coinciding with the maximum solar radiation (32 °C). Using this protocol, we screened 104 diverse chickpea genotypes and two control varieties for genetic variability in AsA accumulation under soil moisture depletion, identifying two groups of genotypes with differing AsA levels. Field trials over two consecutive years revealed that genotypes with higher AsA content, such as BDNG-2018-15 and PG-1201-20, exhibited enhanced drought tolerance and minimal reductions in yield compared to standard cultivars. These AsA-rich genotypes hold promise as valuable genetic resources for breeding programs aimed at improving drought tolerance in chickpea.

Although soil temperature (Tₛ) is generally considered as the primarily factor influencing soil respiration (Rₛ), the correlation between soil respiration and soil temperature is often affected by soil moisture (Mₛ). In this study, we analyzed the correlation between Rₛ and Tₛ under different soil moisture condition in semiarid high-altitude grassland in northwestern China. The results showed that (1) when the values of Mₛ were higher than the field capacity (FC), Rₛ were mainly controlled by Mₛ. (2) FC was also an important threshold to affect the selection of Rₛ–Tₛ model and the determination of temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀). Our findings highlight that Rₛ is significantly influenced by Mₛ in a threshold manner, and FC is an important moisture threshold for Rₛ and its temperature response in high altitude semiarid ecosystems.We suggested that the effect of Mₛ on Rₛ cannot be neglected in high altitude semiarid ecosystems.

Many activities are conducted with the view of reducing CO2 emission from fossil fuels, but mining extraction will continue to be important for energy sources, mineral and metal ores, and the general economy. This activity has negative environmental consequences such as habitat loss, water scarcity, and soil degradation in novel ecosystems. Additionally, climate change, drought, and desertification accelerate important problems with water retention. From one point of view, identifying and conserving critical regions for ecological sustainability are issues of fundamental importance, but on the other hand, post-mine sites could provide additional carbon sinks and improve regional water retention (WR). This review paper analyses different studies focusing on the impact of the reclamation of mining sites on the water retention properties of soil. Water retention in reclaimed mining soil (RMS) increased considerably after various restoration efforts were implemented. The amount of water holding capacity in RMS was mostly affected by reclamation methods, soil properties, soil biota, restoration duration, and vegetation type. The major conclusions from the analysis were that (i) the bulk density of reclaimed mining soil ranges from 1.35 to 1.50 g/cm3 and decreases with restoration duration; (ii) Soil fauna increases soil water storage capacity and plant litter and earthworms convert litter to fecal pellets, which increases water field capacity; and (iii) water holding capacity increases with duration of reclaimed sites and type of plants, i.e., afforestation and tree communities have higher WR than younger grasslands. Therefore, identification of the suitable reclamation method, restoration duration, vegetation type, and soil fauna are important factors for increasing water retention capacity at a regional scale.

The soil minerals determine essential soil properties such as the cation exchange capacity, texture, structure, and their capacity to form bonds with organic matter. Any alteration of these organo-mineral interactions due to the soil moisture variations needs attention. Visible near-infrared imaging spectroscopy is capable of assessing spectral soil constituents that are responsible for the organo-mineral interactions. In this study, we hypothesized that the alterations of the surface soil mineralogy occur due to the moisture variations. For eight weeks, under laboratory conditions, imaging spectroscopy data were collected on a 72 h basis for three Silty Loam soils varying in the organic matter (no, low and high) placed at the drying-field capacity, field capacity and waterlogging-field capacity treatments. Using the Spectral Information Divergence image classifier, the image area occupied by the Mg-clinochlore, goethite, quartz coated 50% by goethite, hematite dimorphous with maghemite was detected and quantified (percentage). Our results showed these minerals behaved differently, depending on the soil type and soil treatment. While for the soils with organic matter, the mineralogical alterations were evident at the field capacity state, for the one with no organic matter, these changes were insignificant. Using imaging spectroscopy data on the Silty Loam soil, we showed that the surface mineralogy changes over time due to the moisture conditions.

The use of digital systems in precision agriculture is becoming more and more attractive for farmers at every level. A few years ago, the use of these technologies was limited to large farms, due to the considerable income needed to amortize the large investment required. Although this technology has now become more affordable, there is a lack of scientific data directed to demonstrate how these systems are able to determine quantifiable advantages for farmers. Thus, the transition towards precision agriculture is still very slow. This issue is not just negatively affecting the agriculture economy, but it is also slowing down potential environmental benefits that may result from it. The starting point of precision agriculture can be considered as the introduction of satellite tractor guidance. For instance, with semi-automatic and automatic tractor guidance, farmers can profit from more accuracy and higher machine performance during several farm operations such as plowing, harrowing, sowing, and fertilising. The goal of this study is to compare semi-automatic guidance with manual guidance in wheat sowing, evaluating parameters such as machine performance, seed supply and operational costs of both the configurations.

The objective was to evaluate the production of Megathyrsus maximus genotypes (Syn. Panicum maximum), under different levels of water in the soil. This was a 5x5 factorial completely randomized design conducted in a greenhouse, combining five genotypes of M. maximus (B55, C10 and PM30, cv. Massai and cv. BRS Tamani) and five levels of soil field capacities (20%, 40%, 60%, 100% and 140%), with three replications. Dry matter production was evaluated: leaf, stem, dead material, root, shoot and total dry matters, as well as the number of tillers and leaf:stem and aboveground:root ratios. The qualitative factor (genotypes) was subjected to Duncan test at 5% probability. The quantitative factor (% field capacity) was subjected to regression, adopting 5% as a critical level of probability. There was no interaction between the factors for any of the evaluated characteristics. Significant differences among the genotypes were detected for tiller number, dead material dry mass, root and total dry mass and leaf:stem ratio. There was no significant effect of the percentage of field capacity on most of the characteristics, except for leaf:stem and aboveground:root ratios. Cultivar Massai showed the best forage production compared to the other genotypes, regardless of the percentage of field capacity evaluated. In general, the evaluated genotypes were more tolerant to excess water stress than to water deficit

Deficit irrigation and magnetically treated water can be sustainable agronomic techniques to improve water use efficiency, plant development, and agricultural crop yield. A pot study was conducted to investigate the impact of distinct deficit irrigation regimes using magnetically treated and untreated water on the development and grain yield of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek.] crops in a clayey soil of the Brazilian Cerrado. Mungbean plants were irrigated with magnetized water (MW) and non-magnetized water (N-MW) using four deficit irrigation regimes [20, 40, 60, and 80% of soil field capacity (FC)], considering a 2×4 factorial scheme, with four repetitions. The plants were maintained under distinct deficit irrigation regimes with MW or N-MW throughout the crop's entire growth and development cycle (80 days). Plant growth rate, relative chlorophyll index, plant morphological traits, production components, and crop grain yield were measured. The results showed that the deficit irrigation regime of 60% and 80% of FC improves the rate of plant growth and development and grain yield of the mungbean crop. Although mungbean is considered a drought-tolerant crop, low soil water availability causes severe inhibition of plant growth and development and drastically reduces the crop's grain yield. Irrigation with magnetized water had no beneficial effect on mungbean crops' plant growth and development and grain yield. Plant growth rate, plant height, shoot dry matter, relative chlorophyll index, and number of grains per pod positively correlate with grain yield. In contrast, root length has a highly negative correlation with the grain yield of mungbean crops. El riego deficitario y el agua tratada magnéticamente pueden ser técnicas agronómicas sostenibles para mejorar la eficiencia del uso del agua, el desarrollo de las plantas y el rendimiento de los cultivos agrícolas. Se realizó un estudio en macetas para investigar el impacto de distintos regímenes de riego deficitario utilizando agua tratada magnéticamente y sin tratar en el desarrollo y rendimiento de granos de cultivos de frijol mungo [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek.] en un suelo arcilloso del Cerrado brasileño. Las plantas de frijol mungo se irrigaron con agua magnetizada (MW) y agua no magnetizada (N-MW) utilizando cuatro regímenes de riego deficitario [20, 40, 60 y 80% de la capacidad de campo del suelo (FC)], considerando un factorial de 2×4. esquema, con cuatro repeticiones. Las plantas se mantuvieron bajo distintos regímenes de riego deficitario con MW o N-MW durante todo el ciclo de crecimiento y desarrollo del cultivo (80 días). Se midieron la tasa de crecimiento de las plantas, el índice relativo de clorofila, los rasgos morfológicos de las plantas, los componentes de la producción y el rendimiento de granos de los cultivos. Los resultados mostraron que el régimen de riego deficitario de 60% y 80% de FC mejora la tasa de crecimiento y desarrollo de las plantas y el rendimiento de grano del cultivo de frijol mungo. Aunque el frijol mungo se considera un cultivo tolerante a la sequía, la baja disponibilidad de agua en el suelo provoca una grave inhibición del crecimiento y desarrollo de las plantas y reduce drásticamente el rendimiento de grano del cultivo. El riego con agua magnetizada no tuvo ningún efecto beneficioso sobre el crecimiento y desarrollo de las plantas de los cultivos de frijol mungo ni sobre el rendimiento de granos. La tasa de crecimiento de las plantas, la altura de las plantas, la materia seca de los brotes, el índice relativo de clorofila y el número de granos por vaina se correlacionan positivamente con el rendimiento de granos. Por el contrario, la longitud de las raíces tiene una correlación altamente negativa con el rendimiento de grano de los cultivos de frijol mungo. A irrigação com água tratada magneticamente é uma técnica agronómicas sustentável para melhorar a eficiência do uso da água, o desenvolvimento das plantas e o rendimento das culturas agrícolas. Um estudo em vasos foi conduzido para investigar o impacto de diferentes regimes de irrigação deficitários usando água tratada e não tratada magneticamente no desenvolvimento e produtividade de grãos de culturas de feijão-mungo [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek.] em solo argiloso do Cerrado brasileiro. As plantas de feijão mungo foram irrigadas com água magnetizada (MW) e água não magnetizada (N-MW) utilizando quatro regimes de irrigação deficitários [20, 40, 60 e 80% da capacidade de campo do solo (FC)], considerando um fatorial 2×4. esquema, com quatro repetições, conduzidas por 80 dias. Foram medidos a taxa de crescimento das plantas, o índice relativo de clorofila, as características morfológicas das plantas, os componentes de produção e o rendimento de grãos da cultura. Os resultados mostraram que o regime de irrigação deficitário de 60% e 80% de FC melhora a taxa de crescimento e desenvolvimento das plantas e o rendimento de grãos da cultura do feijão mungo. Embora o feijão mungo seja considerado uma cultura tolerante à seca, a baixa disponibilidade de água no solo causa severa inibição do crescimento e desenvolvimento das plantas e reduz drasticamente o rendimento de grãos da cultura. A irrigação com água magnetizada não teve efeito benéfico no crescimento e desenvolvimento das plantas de feijão mungo e no rendimento de grãos. A taxa de crescimento das plantas, a altura das plantas, a matéria seca da parte aérea, o índice relativo de clorofila e o número de grãos por vagem correlacionam-se positivamente com o rendimento de grãos. Em contraste, o comprimento da raiz tem uma correlação altamente negativa com o rendimento de grãos das culturas de feijão mungo. 

Saving water resources in agriculture is a topic of current research in Mediterranean environments, and rational soil management can allow such purposes. The Beerkan Estimation of Soil Transfer parameters (BEST) procedure was applied in five olive orchards of Salento peninsula (southern Italy) to estimate the soil physical and hydraulic properties under alternative soil management (i.e., no-tillage (NT) and minimum tillage (MT)), and to quantify the impact of soil management on soil water conservation. Results highlighted the soundness of BEST predictions since they provided consistent results in terms of soil functions or capacitive-based soil indicators when (i) the entire data set was grouped by homogeneous classes of texture, bulk density, and capillarity of the soil, (ii) the predictions were compared with the corresponding water retention measures independently obtained in lab, and (iii) some correlations of literature were checked. BEST was applied to establish a comparison at Neviano (NE) and Sternatia (ST) sites. The two neighboring NT soils compared at NE showed substantial discrepancies in soil texture (i.e., sandy loam (NE-SL) or clay (NE-C)). This marked difference in soil texture could determine a worsening of the relative field capacity at the NE-SL site (relative field capacity, RFC < 0.6), as compared to NE-C where RFC was optimal. The current soil management determined a similar effect (RFC < 0.6) at Sternatia (ST-MT vs. ST-NT), but the worsening in soil properties, due to soil tillage, must be considered substantially transient, as progressive improvement is expected with the restoration of the soil structure. The results of this work suggest that strategic MT can be a viable solution to manage the soil of Salento olive orchards.

Farmers have to finish their harvesting with high efficiency, because of time and cost. However, farmers are lacking knowledge and information required for selecting suitable combine harvesters and giving the conditions of their rice fields, because both information factors (combine harvester and field condition) impact the field capacity. The field capacity model was generated from combine harvesters with the Thai Hom Mali rice variety (KDML-105). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prediction model for effective field capacity to combine harvesters when harvesting the Thai Hom Mali rice variety (KDML-105). The methods began by collecting data of 15 combine harvesters, such as field, crop, and machine conditions and operating times; to generate the prediction model for the KDML-105 variety. The prediction model was then validated using 12 combine harvesters that were collected similarly to the model creation. The results showed a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.24 m2/s for the model. The prediction model can be applied for farmers to select the proper combine harvesters and give their field conditions.

Sampled soil volume is a main experimental factor which must be properly considered to obtain a reliable estimation of soil physical quality (SPQ) and, thus, to obtain credible evaluation of the impact of a conservative-conventional soil management system on the soil air–water relationship. In this investigation, two ring sizes were used to sample two fine textured soils and soil management for durum wheat cultivation, namely, conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT). The soil water retention was determined; soil bulk density (BD), macroporosity (MACpor), air capacity (AC), and relative field capacity (RFC) were estimated to assess the soil physical quality indicators, in agreement with the guidelines suggested in the literature. The main results showed that the sampling volume of the soil affected the soil water retention estimation (θ) and, consequently, affected the SPQ estimation, given that (i) higher θ values (by a factor 1.11 as mean) were generally obtained with a large diameter than a small one; these differences decreased (by a factor 1.20, 1.10 and 1.03) as the imposed pressure head value decreased (respectively, at h = 0, −10 and −100 cm); (ii) among SPQ indicators considered, soil volume samples seemed to impact the BD–RFC estimation more than AC–MACpor, as statistical differences were identified only in the former case; iii) NT soil was significantly more compact, and had lower macroporosity or air capacity, when compared with CT; at the time of sampling, the mean SPQ was always poor for AC–RFC, or optimal for BD, regardless of soil management, and it was intermediate or poor when the MACpor was evaluated under CT or NT. This study contributes toward understanding the impact of soil management on soil physical properties in Mediterranean agro-environments.