Modeling the functional role of the microorganisms in the daily exchanges of carbon and nitrogen in intercropping system under Mediterranean conditions

ArticleCarbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sequestration in plants and soil micro-organisms is considered as a major phenomenon against global warming. The modeling of this phenomenon aims at highlighting the role that the legumes-cereals mixed crop can play in the reduction of greenhouse gases. It is based on field experiments in maize (Zea mays L.)-common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercropped system of the cereal agroecosystem in Setif region of Algeria. For this purpose, the MOMOS model was selected and validated in a calcareous soil and low phosphorus (P) conditions. It revealed some mechanisms that control the C and N sequestration in the compartments of the complex soil-plant-atmosphere-microorganism system. CN modeling results show that the daily growth of intercropped maize with common beans is positively correlated with the microbial CN transformation during the cropping cycle, under limited P and N conditions. Thus, this approach revealed the functional role of rhizobial symbiosis in maintaining the balance between the different C and N exchanges from soil to atmosphere and from atmosphere to soil

Trans-sinusal frontal approach for olfactory groove meningiomas

Background We report on our experience with the trans-sinusal frontal approach in removing olfactory groove meningiomas in the department of neurosurgery of Univesity Hospital Center of Annaba (Algeria).Methods Ten tumours were operated on by the trans-sinusal frontal approach, using a bicoronal incision, tree tumours developed on one side, and there were seven bilateral olfactosellar tumours. Our procedure : steotomy of the anterior wall of the frontal sinus was performed with an oscillating saw. The posterior wall of the sinus was resected and the tumour was removed through a real subfrontal route along the plane of the anterior skull base. Ethmoidal blood supply was early controlled at the initial stages of the operation, allowing avascular tumour debulking. Tumour extensions toward the sella and the optic canals were removed without brain retraction. Results Seven patients made a good neurologic recovery. Two was dead in the 24 hours after intervention and one four days after. Olfactory nets were preserved on the contralateral side in unilateral tumours. Conclusions The trans-sinusal frontal approach represents an excellent way for tumours developed in the central anterior skull base, especially for olfactory groove meningiomas, whatever their size

Short-term effect of sawdust biochar and bovine manure on the physiological behavior of turnip (Brassica rapa L.) grown in open fields in the Algiers region

ArticleThis study was designed to determine the effect of different doses of biochar (B) 5.10, 20tha-1alone and mixed with manure (F) 10tha-1on turnips. The results showed that the OM (organic matter) rate had a maximum of 93.7% for (B20*F) and a minimum of 14.5% for (F); the CEC (cation exchange capacity) showed a maximum of 32.2% for (B10*F) and a minimum of 0.2% with (B5*F) compared to the control (T) and finally the pH to be increased with a maximum value of 11.2% for (B20*F) and a minimum value of 1.7% for (F) compared to (T) (≤0.01).For the chemical parameters of the turnip, the maximum nitrogen rate was 93.8% with (B10) and 2% for (B20). The highest value for phosphorus was recorded in (F) and a minimal value in (B5) (≤0.01).The potassium level was high 4.2% for the treatment (B20*F) with the lowest value of 4.4% for (B5) and (B10) compared to (T) (0.05).For the yield components, thefresh weight of the most important bulb was obtained with (F) with the value of 116.8% and minimum weight of 0.4% in the treatment (B5). The highest bulb length value was 36.8% in (F) and the lowest was 0.5% obtained with (B20*F). The bulb diameter was the largest in the treatment (F) and the smallest was 4.8% in (B20). Finally, the fresh weight of the leaves showed a maximum of 106.9% in (F) and an increase of 6% in (B20) compared to (T) (≤0.01)

Intercropping Promotes the Ability of Legume and Cereal to Facilitate Phosphorus and Nitrogen Acquisition through Root- Induced Processes

Intercropping of cereal and legume can improve the use of resources for crop growth compared to cropping system. An increase in soil phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) acquisition by root-induced biochemical changes of intercropped species has been reported as key processes of facilitation and complementarily between both intercropping legumes and cereals. Indeed, the functional facilitation prevails over interspecific competition under nutrients limiting for crop growth. Results showed that P availability significantly increased in the rhizosphere of both species, especially in intercropping under the P-deficient soil conditions. This increase was associated with high efficiency efficiency in use of rhizobial, plant growth and resource use efficiency as indicated by higher land equivalent ratio (LER) and N nutrition index. In addition, the rhizosphere P availability and nodule biomass were positively correlated (r2 = 0.71**, and r2 = 0.62**) in the intercropped common bean grown at P-deficient soil. The increased P availability presumably improved biomass and yield in intercropping, although it mainly enhanced intercropped maize grain yield. Exploiting belowground parameters in a legume-cereal intercropping is likely necessary to maximize rhizosphere-interspecific interactions as a strategy to improve the symbiotic rhizobial efficiency and microbial activities, as a result of root-induced pH and N availability changes under low P soils

Phosphorus acquisition processes in the field: study of faba bean cultivated on calcareous soils in Algeria

Little is known about the occurrence of phosphorus (P) acquisition processes in the field, especially for faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in calcareous soils. We sampled soil, rhizosphere and plant materials in 12 calcareous field sites in Algeria and performed physicochemical analysis during two growing seasons. Both proton exudation and root exploration increased in P-deficient soils as compared to P-sufficient soils. Inhibition of nitrogen (N) fixation and rhizosphere alkalization were observed in N-rich soils. We also found that calcium (Ca) concentrations in both shoots and roots significantly increased with P-deficiency. The same trend, although less significant, was observed with respect to Ca uptake. These field observations suggested that acidifying roots acquired P from dissolving Ca-P minerals. The concomitant increase of the ratio Ca/P uptake should further enhance their dissolution. Other rhizosphere processes such as the mineralization of organic P should control P acquisition as alkalization occurred in the root zone in response to the inhibition of N fixation. In conclusion, P-acquisition processes in the field were consistent with previous findings made at the laboratory. In addition, the variety of faba bean cultivated by local farmers appeared relatively well adapted to field conditions thanks to the deployment of rhizosphere processes. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Modeling the functional role of the microorganisms in the daily exchanges of carbon and nitrogen in intercropping system under mediterranean conditions

Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sequestration in plants and soil micro-organisms is considered as a major phenomenon against global warming. The modeling of this phenomenon aims at highlighting the role that the legumes-cereals mixed crop can play in the reduction of greenhouse gases. It is based on field experiments in maize (Zea mays L.)-common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercropped system of the cereal agroecosystem in Setif region of Algeria. For this purpose, the MOMOS model was selected and validated in a calcareous soil and low phosphorus (P) conditions. It revealed some mechanisms that control the C and N sequestration in the compartments of the complex soil-plant-atmosphere-microorganism system. CN modeling results show that the daily growth of intercropped maize with common beans is positively correlated with the microbial CN transformation during the cropping cycle, under limited P and N conditions. Thus, this approach revealed the functional role of rhizobial symbiosis in maintaining the balance between the different C and N exchanges from soil to atmosphere and from atmosphere to soil. © 2019, Eesti Pollumajandusulikool. All rights reserved

Advantage of intercropping maize [i](Zea mays[/i] L.) and common bean ([i]Phaseolus vulgaris[/i] L.) on yield and nitrogen uptake in Northeast Algeria

Legume-cereal intercropping, is a productive and sustainable system by its nutrients facilitation, and its effect to increase N uptake for intercropped cereal; via symbiotic nitrogen (N2) fixation. The aim of this work was to test effect of maize-common bean intercropping system on the growth, nodulation, yield and N uptake. This field study was conducted in Setif region, North of Algeria. The study was carried out using intercropping system with one Cvs of common bean and one maize CV which were cultivated locally by the farmers of the region. The results showed a positive correlation between the nodule and shoot dry weight, this correlation is more significant in the intercropping than sole crop. However intercropping increase maize yield by more than 12.5%, the N concentration in shoot (20.8%) and seed (33.5%); as consequence N concentration in rhizosphere soil was significantly enhanced for intercropped common bean. Intercropping advantage was observed especially; at low concentration of nitrogen in indigenous soil. We conclude that nitrogen symbiotic fixation was contributes to facilitate N uptake for intercropped maize

Effect of Maize-common bean intercropping on nitrogen uptake

Legume-cereal intercropping, is a productive and sustainable system because its resource facilitation, and its effect on N input from symbiotic nitrogen fixation into the cropping system. The aim of this work was to study the effect of maize-common bean intercropping system on the growth, nodulation, crop and nutrients uptake especially nitrogen and phosphorus. The study was carried out using intercropping system with one Cvs of common bean bean and one maize CV which were cultivated locally by the farmers of the region. The results showed a positive correlation between the nodule dry weight and shoot dry weight, this correlation is more significant in the intercropping than monoculture. Moreover, intercropping increase maize yield (39.2%), the N content in the shoot (38.6%) and N in grain yield. On the other hand, in intercropping system; the N content in the soil showed a high increase at common bean rhizosphere. However, the P content in maize grain yield knows an increase (16%) under the effect of intercropping. We conclude that the nitrogen symbiotic fixation was contributes to increase nitrogen and phosphorus content and the maize yield in intercropping system

Modelling human health risks from pesticide use in innovative legume-cereal intercropping systems in Mediterranean conditions

Background: The adoption of innovative cropping systems with low pesticide inputs would reduce environmental degradation and dependency on the use of plant protection products. Evaluating the pesticide risk to human health is a growing concern in the assessment of the sustainability of cropping practices. The assessment of human health risks linked to pesticide use in either conventional or innovative cropping systems is poorly documented in the literature. Objectives: This study focused on the assessment of pesticide exposure and human health risks from pesticide use in arable cropping systems (two monoculture and one intercropping system) associated with the use of various tillage practices (conventional tillage, reduced tillage, and no tillage). Methods: Human exposure (operators and residents) and health risks from pesticide use were assessed and compared between three conventional and six innovative cropping systems. We used the previously published BROWSE (Bystanders, Residents, Operators, and WorkerS Exposure) model based on data collected from interviews with the farmers and expert knowledge to compare the human health risk from pesticide use in the Setif area. Environmental conditions and the physical characteristics of the farmers were collected on three different farms from 2019 to 2021. Results: The modelling results demonstrate that human exposure to pesticides was systematically high under conservation tillage (no or reduced tillage) and monoculture cropping (pea and barley) conditions. It was also confirmed that operators experienced the highest cumulated exposure to pesticides (56 mg kg−1 bw day−1), followed by resident children seven days after pesticide application (0.66 mg kg−1 bw day−1). BROWSE simulations showed that dermal absorption was the most dominant route and represented more than 98% of the total amount of pesticides applied in all cropping × tillage system combinations. Regarding the overall results of the simulated human health risk, barley-pea intercropping was the most interesting system to reduce the risks for both operators and residents for all tillage practices. In addition, intercropping combined with conventional tillage was the most sustainable cropping system in terms of both agronomic performance (crop yield, Land Equivalent Ratio) and human health risk. Furthermore, the availability of advanced crop protection equipment was associated with a significant decrease in exposure and human health risk for both operators and residents. Conclusions: The prediction of human health risks using BROWSE could help farmers to make the decision to adopt conventional barley-pea intercropping as a good alternative to barley monocultures and pea monocultures under conservation tillage. © 2022 The Author

The first calibration and evaluation of the STICS soil-crop model on chickpea-based intercropping system under Mediterranean conditions

Soil-crop models are widely used as valuable tools to assess the combined effects of cropping practices, soil management and climate on the agro-environmental indicators. They provide a wide range of predictive information that are useful to design and evaluate innovative cropping systems. However, intercropping modeling is still under development, especially for grain legumes-based intercropping system. We performed here the first calibration of the STICS (v 9.2) model on chickpea grown under contrasting nitrogen (N) levels during two copping seasons (2018/2019 and 2019/2020). This calibration allowed us to simulate a wide range of agronomic scenarios (climate, N-fertilization and cropping system) to optimize intercrops (durum wheat-chickpea) management. 37 parameters were estimated by using a sequential optimization method. Our results showed that STICS performs well in predicting Leaf Area Index (LAI), above ground biomass (AGB) and N uptake (AGPN) for both intercropped and sole cropped species, with satisfactory model efficiency (EF ranged from 0.62 to 0.93). In addition, grain yield was correctly predicted by the model with small error (NRMSE≤13%) especially for wheat crop (EF≥0.50), while it was less correctly predicted for chickpea crop (EF≤0.24 and NRMSE≤21%). STICS predicted well root depth under the conditions of our field study (EF ≥ 0.65 and NRMSE ≤ 37%). For soil outputs variables, the model simulated adequately soil water content with a satisfactory model efficiency (EF ≥ 0.65) and low relative error (NRMSE ≤. 8.8%) especially for sole cropped and intercropped chickpea. The soil N stocks were less adequately predicted (EF ≤ 0.28) with high relative error (NRMSE ≥ 56%) in sole cropping system, while it was moderately adequately predicted (EF ≤ 0.44) in intercropping. Under the two contrasted years and N-application conditions of this study, the temporal dynamic was well reproduced by the model for both plant and soil outputs with low simulation errors. RMSE values were lesser than 0.6 m2m-2 (9%), 0.2 t ha-1 (14%) and 30 kg ha-1 (12%), respectively for LAI, grain yield and AGPN of sole cropped chickpea. The dynamic of soil water content was also well reproduced among all N-application rate and during the two cropping year, with RMSE equal to 27 mm (<10%). The present work provides the first calibration for chickpea sole crop and an evaluation for durum wheat-chickpea intercrops, which will allow to use the STICS model to simulate scenarios of innovative cropping practices based on crop diversification (i.e. grain legumes and cereals) and N-fertilization management. © 2021 Elsevier B.V