📄 agriculture

Shade tree species richness and functional composition shape soil dynamic independently of tree density in cocoa agroforestry systems: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis reveals that in cocoa agroforestry systems, soil nutrient dynamics are shaped by shade tree species richness and functional composition independently of tree density, though these effects are often non-linear and nutrient-specific, indicating that diversity alone is insufficient for predicting soil fertility without considering functional traits and density.

Lubasi Limweta, Michael J. A. Ruggeri Tiritante, Joseph Anokye, Evans Dawoe, Daniel Hending, Jesús Aguirre-Gutiérrez, Na (…)2026-08-24
📄 agriculture

Agricultural Frontiers in Northern Ontario: Opportunities, Constraints, and Strategies for Crop Breeding and Agronomy

This study uses GIS-based analysis to demonstrate that while climate change may enable the expansion of grain and oilseed farming into Northern Ontario through improved crop breeding and adaptive agronomy, realizing this potential requires balancing economic opportunities with significant ecological trade-offs from converting forests and wetlands.

Javed Sidiqi, Krishna Bahadur KC, Evan D.G. Fraser2026-08-24
📄 agriculture

Dose-dependent effects of Paenibacillus mucilaginosus on maize growth, rhizosphere soil properties, and bacterial community structure

This study demonstrates that *Paenibacillus mucilaginosus* promotes maize growth and alleviates oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner by restructuring the rhizosphere bacterial community and enriching specific metabolic functions, thereby providing a scientific basis for its optimized application as a biofertilizer.

Wen Zhang, Fengfan Wang, Xinan Li, Yuehua Liu, Qiaoling Zhao, Gaole Chen, Yi Yang, Junli Jiang, Hao Yu, Yunchao Kan2026-08-24
📄 agriculture

Temporal rhizosphere restoration by montmorillonite-modified biochar reconstructs positive plant-soil feedbacks in cucumber continuous cropping

This study demonstrates that while bio-organic fertilizer provides early-stage biogeochemical activation, montmorillonite-modified biochar uniquely reconstructs positive plant-soil feedbacks in continuous cucumber cropping by acting as a late-stage habitat stabilizer that sustains nutrient retention, compresses fungal niches, and suppresses *Fusarium* pathogens to ensure long-term yield and soil health.

Eric Cyubahiro, Hongxia Zhao, Zhaoning Li, Jiayin Pang, Minghua Zhou2026-08-24
📄 agriculture

Antiviral evaluation of a phenolic-rich fraction of Memecylon umbellatum: First evidence of in vitro, in ovo, and in vivo activity against Newcastle disease virus

This study provides the first comprehensive evidence that a phenolic-rich fraction from *Memecylon umbellatum* leaves exhibits potent antiviral activity against Newcastle disease virus across *in vitro*, *in ovo*, and *in vivo* models by suppressing viral replication and reinforcing endogenous antioxidant defenses.

Chintha Venkataramaiah2026-08-24
📄 agriculture

CRISPR/Cas12a-based Simplified Lateral Flow Assay for Sensitive Detection of OTA and AFB1

This study presents a simplified, cost-effective, and highly sensitive multiplex CRISPR/Cas12a-based lateral flow assay (MC-LFA) that enables the simultaneous detection of Ochratoxin A and Aflatoxin B1 without magnetic separation or crRNA replacement, offering a versatile tool for food safety monitoring in resource-limited settings.

Wenjun Jiang, Yidan Zhu, Jingyi Kang, Ziyi Zhu, Kun Qian, Qian Xu, Qi Wang, Yuling Qin, Li Wu, Haiwei Ji2026-08-24
📄 agriculture

AGROMINDS - Historic and projected global agro-meteorologic indicators for major summer crops

AGROMINDS is a global, high-resolution dataset spanning 1971–2100 that integrates historical reanalysis and CMIP6 climate projections with dynamic crop phenology to provide annually resolved, season-specific agro-meteorological indicators for major summer crops, thereby enabling more realistic assessments of climate impacts on agriculture.

Thomas Oberleitner, Nikolay Khabarov, Christian Folberth2026-08-24
📄 agriculture

Diversify or specialize? Household livestock strategies along an oasis urbanization gradient in southeastern Algeria

This study of 240 households in southeastern Algeria reveals that while livestock diversification is more common in rural areas for risk management, specialization driven by larger herd sizes yields higher economic returns, highlighting a critical trade-off between risk mitigation and income maximization as urbanization progresses.

Abdelbasset BOUMADDA, Mohamed Lakhdar DADAMOUSSA, Mohammed Hafed BELAROUCI, Yamina BEN BESSISS, Brahim KORICHI2026-08-24
📄 agriculture

Improving drought resilience, yield stability, and grain carbohydrate compositions of guar through integrated nutrient and water management approaches

This study demonstrates that integrating superabsorbent polymers with sustainable nutrient management strategies, particularly a combination of reduced chemical fertilizers and microbial consortia, significantly enhances the drought resilience, yield stability, and grain quality of guar under water-limited field conditions.

Mohammad Dorjahangir, Sahar Amiri Dumari, Amir Salari, Mohammad Hesam Arefi2026-08-24