Evaluating the nitrification inhibition potential of selected botanicals and their non-target effects

Nitrification inhibitors (NI) are aimed at improving N-fertilizer use efficiency in cropping systems. This study aimed to assess the nitrification inhibition potential and non-target effects of dry leaf powders (botanicals) of ten plant species [neem (Azadirachta indica), lantana (Lantana camara), karanda (Pongamia pinnata), Brachiaria humidicola, cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), wild-sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia), mee (‎Madhuca longifolia), nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) and pepper (Piper nigram)]. The effect of botanicals on the growth of three ammonia oxidizing bacteria isolates (M4, M5 and M7) and NO3The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Woodchip biochar with or without synthetic fertilizers affects soil properties and available phosphorus in two alkaline, Chernozemic soils

Fertility enhancement with biochar application is well documented for tropical acidic soils; however, benefits of biochar co-applied with synthetic fertilizers on soil fertility are not well documented, particularly for alkaline chernozems. We examined the short-term interactive effects of woodchip biochar amendment with fertilizers on selected soil properties, available phosphorus (P) and P fractions of two alkaline Chernozems from Manitoba. Treatments were (1) urea and monoammonium phosphate fertilizers, (2) biochar at 10 g kgThe accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Antibiotic use in commercial broiler chicken farming and its consequential resistance development in root colonizing bacteria of carrot grown in manure applied soils in a middle-income country

Broiler chicken litter (BCL) is a cheap manure for vegetable crops in developing countries. Extensive antibiotic use in poultry production could increase antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) in manure and eventually in crop root-microbiome. We investigated the prevalence of ARB in BCL from medium- and large-scale farms (n=33) and in carrot (Dacus carotova) grown in BCL applied soils in Sri Lanka. All the BCL samples contained aerobic bacteria resistant to 10 g/mL of oxytetracycline or enrofloxacin. The abundance of ARB determined by viable plate-count method ranged from 0.05% to 30.10% of aerobic bacterial population. Soil from two fields applied with BLC for three years (short history, SH) and ten years (long history, LH) were treated with BCL (10%, w/w) and oxytetracycline (10 and 100 mg/kg) in a pot experiment alongside an un-amended control. Adding BCL and oxytetracycline had a significant (PThe accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author