Aug 2026· Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture· Vol 38· 0 citations· 33 references
Abstract
Pistachio shell residues are generated in large quantities during pistachio processing, yet their potential as a sustainable soil amendment has received limited attention under field conditions. This study evaluated the effects of pistachio shell compost on soil physical properties, leaf nutrient status, fruit quality, and culturable soil bacterial communities in a semi-arid pistachio orchard in Gaziantep, Türkiye. A field experiment was conducted during the 2022–2023 growing season using a randomized complete block design with five fertilization treatments: unfertilized control, mineral fertilizer, vermicompost plus mineral fertilizer, farmyard manure plus mineral fertilizer, and pistachio shell compost plus mineral fertilizer. Soil physical properties, leaf macro- and micronutrient concentrations, fruit quality characteristics, and culturable bacterial populations identified by MALDI-TOF MS were evaluated. Pistachio shell compost significantly improved soil water-related physical properties, including field capacity, infiltration rate, and water-holding capacity, compared with mineral fertilization alone. Compost application also increased leaf nutrient concentrations and improved fruit quality traits, while culture-dependent analyses indicated greater abundance and diversity of dominant culturable bacterial taxa in compost-amended soils. These findings demonstrate that recycling pistachio shell residues as compost improves soil functionality, plant nutritional status, and orchard performance while promoting beneficial soil microorganisms. Pistachio shell compost therefore represents a promising organic amendment for sustainable nutrient management and circular agricultural practices in semi-arid pistachio production systems.
The intensive use of mineral fertilizers in horticultural systems has improved crop productivity but also increased concerns regarding soil degradation and environmental sustainability. In this context, vermicompost derived from buffalo manure may represent a sustainable alternative for nutrient management and organic waste valorization. This study evaluated the effects of four fertilization strategies on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) grown in loam and clay soils: unfertilized control, mineral fertilization, vermicompost applied at an equivalent nitrogen rate, and the residual effect of vermicompost from a previous cauliflower crop. Agronomic performance, fruit quality, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and antioxidant-related traits were assessed. Mineral fertilization produced the highest marketable yield, reaching 9.68 and 7.69 kg m−2 in loam and clay soils, respectively, mainly through increased fruit number. Direct vermicompost application maintained substantial productivity, with yields of 7.55 and 5.18 kg m−2 in the two soils. The fertilization strategies also induced distinct changes in fruit composition. Mineral fertilization increased total free amino acids to approximately 160 mg g−1 DW, mainly through the accumulation of glutamine, glutamate, asparagine and γ-aminobutyric acid, but was associated with lower soluble solids and antioxidant activity. Vermicompost promoted the highest lycopene concentration, approximately 2.1 mg g−1 DW, in clay soil and maintained intermediate antioxidant activity and amino acid concentrations. Soil texture also influenced carbohydrate partitioning, with greater fructose accumulation in clay soil and greater starch accumulation in loam soil. The residual vermicompost treatment alone did not adequately sustain tomato productivity or metabolic activity, particularly in clay soil. Overall, vermicompost partially replaced mineral fertilization while maintaining satisfactory yield and modulating fruit metabolic quality, although its effectiveness depended strongly on soil texture.
G. M. Fusco, I. Mola, E. Cozzolino et al.· Agriculture· 0 citations
Sandy soils are characterized by low organic matter content, weak nutrient retention, and limited water-holding capacity, which restrict crop productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. This study evaluated the individual and combined effects of biochar, Azolla pinnata, and eggshell powder on soil properties and the productivity of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in sandy soil. Field experiments were conducted during two consecutive growing seasons (2021–2022) at the Ismailia Agricultural Research Station, Egypt, using a randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replicates. Soil chemical properties, photosynthetic pigments, vegetative growth, biomass accumulation, and yield parameters were evaluated. The combined application of biochar, Azolla, and eggshell powder significantly improved soil fertility compared with the control treatment. Soil organic matter increased to 0.70%, while available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium reached 51.10, 6.67, and 200 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The integrated treatment also enhanced chlorophyll content, plant growth, biomass production, and seed yield across both seasons. Correlation analysis indicated strong positive relationships between soil organic matter, nutrient availability, and crop productivity. These results demonstrate that the integrated application of biochar, Azolla pinnata, and eggshell powder can effectively improve soil fertility and enhance the productivity of Phaseolus vulgaris in sandy soil systems.
D. M. Khalifa, A. Alrashidi, Ammar Al-Farga et al.· Scientific Reports· 0 citations
gA field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2024-25 and 2025-26 at the Student Instructional Farm, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India to evaluate the impact of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on soil physico-chemical properties and soil fertility under Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with three replications comprising ten nutrient management treatments involving different combinations of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and Azotobacter. Soil samples collected after harvest were analyzed for physical and chemical properties. Integrated application of organic manures, biofertilizers and inorganic fertilizers significantly improved soil health over the control. The treatment comprising 50% RDF + PSB + 2.0 t ha-1 vermicompost + 5.0 t ha-1 FYM (T10) recorded the lowest bulk density (1.24 Mg m-3), particle density (2.34 Mg m-3), soil pH (7.47) and electrical conductivity (0.32 dS m-1), while exhibiting the highest total porosity (46.02%), water holding capacity (39.51%), cation exchange capacity (14.15 Cmol(p⁺) kg-1), organic carbon (0.451%), exchangeable calcium (3.40 Cmol(p⁺) kg-1) and magnesium (1.00 Cmol(p⁺) kg-1) in T10. However, the highest available nitrogen (198.83 kg ha-1) was recorded under 100% RDF (T2), whereas the maximum available phosphorus (24.08 kg ha-1), potassium (228.42 kg ha-1) and sulphur (9.75 kg ha-1) were observed under 75% RDF + PSB + 1.0 t ha-1 vermicompost + 2.5 t ha-1 FYM (T6). The study demonstrates that integrated nutrient management effectively enhances soil physical and chemical properties while improving nutrient availability, thereby contributing to sustainable mustard production.
Mayank Kumar, Anil Kumar Singh, R. Jaiswal et al.· Genetics and Molecular Resea...· 0 citations
Declining soil fertility resulting from continuous cultivation, nutrient depletion and dependence on inorganic fertilizers poses a major challenge to sustainable crop production in Nigeria. Woody plant ashes offer a low-cost and environmentally sustainable alternative soil amendment owing to their rich mineral composition. This study evaluated the nutrient composition, heavy metal characteristics and transfer potential of ashes derived from Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus globulus and Prosopis africana applied to nutrient-deficient soil cultivated with Abelmoschus esculentus under controlled screen-house conditions. Surface soil (0–15 cm) collected from the experimental farm of Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure, Nigeria, was amended with the three wood ashes at application rates of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg per 5 kg soil. The ashes were characterized for essential macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) and selected heavy metals using standard analytical procedures. Heavy metal concentrations in harvested okra samples were determined, while transfer factors and correlation analysis were employed to evaluate metal mobility and nutrient–metal relationships. Potassium was the predominant nutrient in all ash types, with nutrient availability following the order K > Mg > S > P > Ca > N for A. indica and E. globulus, and K > S > Mg > P > Ca > N for P. africana. Metal uptake followed the trend Pb > Cr > Cu > Cd. Prosopis africana recorded the highest Cu transfer factor (2.016), whereas A. indica consistently exhibited higher transfer values for most metals. Significant nutrient associations included a strong negative correlation between Ca and Mg (r = −0.995) and positive correlations between Ca and N (r = 0.977) and S (r = 0.891). The findings demonstrate the potential of woody plant ashes as sustainable nutrient-rich soil amendment materials.
S. A. Abdallah, David F. Chinemerem, M. Ibrahim et al.· HAFED POLY Journal of Scienc...· 0 citations
Soil salinization has become a major constraint on sustainable agricultural development and the improvement of crop productivity. However, the effects of biochar combined with different organic amendments on the microbial ecology of saline–alkaline soils and crop performance remain insufficiently understood. This study evaluated the effects of different amendment strategies, including sole applications of fulvic acid (FA), organic fertilizer (OF), and biochar (BC), as well as their combinations. Soil bacterial community composition, richness, and diversity, oat agronomic traits, hay yield, and forage quality indicators were assessed. Spearman correlation analysis and the Mantel test were employed to examine the relationships among soil physicochemical properties, microbial communities, and crop performance. Combined applications exerted stronger effects on modulating soil bacterial community composition than sole applications, while FA, BC, or their combinations significantly enhanced bacterial richness and diversity. Crop responses exhibited distinct functional differentiation among combined treatments. The biochar combined with fulvic acid (BC + FA) treatment showed the greatest potential for promoting oat growth and increasing yield, with plant height and stem diameter reaching 99.20 cm and 3.99 mm, respectively, and hay yield increasing by 48.5% compared with the control treatment. In contrast, the biochar combined with organic fertilizer (BC + OF) treatment significantly increased crude protein content (CP) and reduced acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents, indicating improved forage quality. Although the crude fat content was numerically higher under BC + OF, no significant differences were observed among treatments. Correlation analyses further revealed that changes in soil physicochemical properties were associated with variations in several dominant bacterial genera, which were correlated with oat agronomic traits and forage quality indicators. Overall, the combined application of biochar with fulvic acid or organic fertilizer improved saline-alkaline soil microbial characteristics and showed potential for enhancing forage oat yield and quality, with BC + FA primarily improving yield production and BC + OF mainly enhancing forage quality.
Teng Wang, Zhen Li, Shilan Shao et al.· Land· 0 citations
Low soil fertility and restricted nutrient bioavailability are critical limiting factors for sustainable vegetable production, particularly in marginal sandy soils. This study addressed these challenges by investigating the efficacy of a novel sugarcane-derived molasses treated (SOFA) as a soil conditioner and nutrient source for eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), a crop for which comprehensive studies on such integrated approaches in these soil types are limited. Field experiments were conducted over two consecutive growing seasons to evaluate the impact of SOFA, applied either independently or in combination with mineral nitrogen (N), on soil physicochemical properties and crop performance.The study results demonstrated that integrated fertilization significantly improved soil physicochemical properties and crop performance. The treatment T3 (50% mineral N + 50% SOFA) achieved the highest total fruit yield (8.84 kg plant−1), representing a 111% increase compared to the control (4.18 kg plant−1). Similarly, T2 (75% N + 25% SOFA) significantly enhanced vegetative growth, chlorophyll content, and fruit nutritional quality. Soil organic matter increased by up to 56%, while available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium increased by up to 240%, 209%, and 67%, respectively, compared to the control. Moreover, SOFA application contributed to moderating soil alkalinity and improving nutrient availability, despite slight increases in electrical conductivity at higher application rates. Eggplant fruit quality traits were also significantly improved, with total soluble solids (TSS) increasing by 42% and anthocyanin content by 49% under optimized treatments. Economic analysis revealed that T2 and T3 achieved the highest profitability, with investment factors approaching 5.0, indicating superior economic efficiency. These findings highlight the potential of treated molasses-based amendments (SOFA) as a sustainable strategy for restoring marginal sandy soils and optimizing the productivity and nutritional quality of S. melongena.
Abdel-Haleem A. H. El-Shaieny, Ahmed N. Gad El Rab, H. Farrag et al.· Scientific Reports· 0 citations