The aim of the Teagasc Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme is to develop and transfer cost-effective crop production systems, along with evidence-based knowledge to support and underpin the development of an environmentally sustainable, competitive and profitable agri-food sector.

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  • Application of Endophytic Pseudomonas fluorescens and a Bacterial Consortium to Brassica napus Can Increase Plant Height and Biomass under Greenhouse and Field Conditions

    Lally, Richard D.; Galbally, Paul; Moreira, António S.; Spink, John; Ryan, David; Germaine, Kieran J.; Dowling, David N.; Science Foundation Ireland; Institutes of Technology Ireland (IoTI); Institute of Technology Carlow (ITC); et al. (Frontiers Media SA, 2017-12-22)
    Plant associated bacteria with plant growth promotion (PGP) properties have been proposed for use as environmentally friendly biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture; however, analysis of their efficacy in the field is often limited. In this study, greenhouse and field trials were carried out using individual endophytic Pseudomonas fluorescens strains, the well characterized rhizospheric P. fluorescens F113 and an endophytic microbial consortium of 10 different strains. These bacteria had been previously characterized with respect to their PGP properties in vitro and had been shown to harbor a range of traits associated with PGP including siderophore production, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity, and inorganic phosphate solubilization. In greenhouse experiments individual strains tagged with gfp and Kmr were applied to Brassica napus as a seed coat and were shown to effectively colonize the rhizosphere and root of B. napus and in addition they demonstrated a significant increase in plant biomass compared with the non-inoculated control. In the field experiment, the bacteria (individual and consortium) were spray inoculated to winter oilseed rape B. napus var. Compass which was grown under standard North Western European agronomic conditions. Analysis of the data provides evidence that the application of the live bacterial biofertilizers can enhance aspects of crop development in B. napus at field scale. The field data demonstrated statistically significant increases in crop height, stem/leaf, and pod biomass, particularly, in the case of the consortium inoculated treatment. However, although seed and oil yield were increased in the field in response to inoculation, these data were not statistically significant under the experimental conditions tested. Future field trials will investigate the effectiveness of the inoculants under different agronomic conditions.
  • Enhancing the diversity of breeding invertebrates within field margins of intensively managed grassland: Effects of alternative management practices

    Fritch, Rochelle A.; Sheridan, Helen; Finn, John A.; McCormack, Stephen; Ó hUallacháin, Daire; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; RSF 06 382 (Wiley, 2017-10-19)
    Severe declines in biodiversity have been well documented for many taxonomic groups due to intensification of agricultural practices. Establishment and appropriate management of arable field margins can improve the diversity and abundance of invertebrate groups; however, there is much less research on field margins within grassland systems. Three grassland field margin treatments (fencing off the existing vegetation “fenced”; fencing with rotavation and natural regeneration “rotavated” and; fencing with rotavation and seeding “seeded”) were compared to a grazed control in the adjacent intensively managed pasture. Invertebrates were sampled using emergence traps to investigate species breeding and overwintering within the margins. Using a manipulation experiment, we tested whether the removal of grazing pressure and nutrient inputs would increase the abundance and richness of breeding invertebrates within grassland field margins. We also tested whether field margin establishment treatments, with their different vegetation communities, would change the abundance and richness of breeding invertebrates in the field margins. Exclusion of grazing and nutrient inputs led to increased abundance and richness in nearly all invertebrate groups that we sampled. However, there were more complex effects of field margin establishment treatment on the abundance and richness of invertebrate taxa. Each of the three establishment treatments supported a distinct invertebrate community. The removal of grazing from grassland field margins provided a greater range of overwintering/ breeding habitat for invertebrates. We demonstrate the capacity of field margin establishment to increase the abundance and richness in nearly all invertebrate groups in study plots that were located on previously more depauperate areas of intensively managed grassland. These results from grassland field margins provide evidence to support practical actions that can inform Greening (Pillar 1) and agri-environment measures (Pillar 2) of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Before implementing specific management regimes, the conservation aims of agri-environment measures should be clarified by defining the target species or taxonomic groups.
  • A review of water quality policies in relation to public good benefits and community engagement in rural Ireland

    Daly, Karen; Breuil, Marion; Buckley, Cathal; O’ Donoghue, Cathal; Ryan, Mary; Seale, Catherine (Sciendo, 2017-04-06)
    This paper examines current recreational water use in the rural landscape in Ireland and reviews current EU policies and national regulations aimed at protecting water quality and the wider environment under agri-environmental schemes. Specifically, we review policy instruments that protect water for recreational use, their impacts and the challenges they pose for rural development against current requirements to increase public awareness and participation. In Ireland, there is limited experience in public participation in water quality protection and restoration and we highlight how this can be addressed by focussing on the specific contribution of water quality in rural areas in relation to the provision of recreational ecosystem services. These services provide the infrastructure for much of Ireland’s rural tourism sector. In this context, emerging participatory approaches to policy implementation are also assessed as national and local government prioritise community engagement for the second cycle under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD).
  • Molecular characterization of Ralstonia solanacearum strains from Ethiopia and tracing potential source of bacterial wilt disease outbreak in seed potatoes

    Abdurahman, A.; Griffin, D.; Elphinstone, J.; Struik, P. C.; Schulz, S.; Schulte‐Geldermann, E.; Sharma, K.; Walsh Fellowship of Teagasc -Ireland; US Agency for International Development (USAID); Centre for Crop Systems Analysis of Wageningen University; et al. (Wiley, 2017-02-06)
    Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is emerging as a major threat to potato production in Ethiopia, reaching epidemic proportions in the Chencha district recently, with a prevalence of 97% of potato fields in 2015. The recent disease outbreak in the district coincided with a significant introduction of seed potatoes. This research was therefore initiated to genetically characterize the pathogen so as to trace its source, identify its relationship with outbreaks in the rest of the country, and make intervention recommendations. Ralstonia solanacearum isolates were sampled both from seed and ware potato fields in Chencha and from seed potato fields in production regions suspected of being potential sources of the pathogen. Multiplex PCR and phylogenetic analysis of partial endoglucanase gene sequences identified all of the isolates as phylotype IIB sequevar 1. VNTR sequence analysis distinguished 11 different haplotypes, nine of which were unique to the Chencha district. However, one of the haplotypes was common to all seed potato producer regions of Ethiopia except for the Shashemene area. The unique and diverse VNTR haplotypes of the pathogen in Chencha indicates that it is well established in the district. When a geographical map of the VNTR haplotypes was superimposed with the main cross-regional seed potato distribution pattern of the country, it became evident that the pathogen was being disseminated via latently infected seed from the Holeta-Jeldu area in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia. Identification of largely uninfected highland districts and multiplication of high-grade seed potato exclusively in those districts should be given priority.
  • Draft Genome Sequence of Three Endophyte Strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens Isolated from Miscanthus giganteus

    Moreira, António S.; Germaine, Kieran J.; Lloyd, Andrew; Lally, Richard D.; Galbally, Paul T.; Ryan, David; Dowling, David N. (American Society for Microbiology, 2016-10-27)
    We report here the draft genome sequence of three Pseudomonas fluorescens strains (L111, L228, and L321) isolated from Miscanthus giganteus. The draft genome analyses uncovered a group of genes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and for plant growth promotion.
  • Control of Zymoseptoria tritici cause of septoria tritici blotch of wheat using antifungal Lactobacillus strains

    Lynch, K.M.; Zannini, E.; Guo, J.; Axel, C.; Arendt, E.K.; Kildea, S.; Coffey, A.; CRS/07/CR03; 08RDCIT600; 08RDC607 (Wiley, 2016-07-19)
    Aims This study explored an effective biological control agent based on lactic acid bacteria culture or culture supernatant, which was effective against fungicide-resistant Zymoseptoria tritici, which causes septoria tritici blotch (STB). Methods and Results Three lactic acid bacteria strains which exhibited broad antifungal activity were investigated for their potential to control Z. tritici. Plate assays, liquid culture growth inhibition assays and STB biocontrol seedling tests were employed. Lactobacillus brevis JJ2P and Lactobacillus reuteri R2 caused significant fungal inhibition as observed by large mycelium clearing on modified MRS agar. Cell-free culture supernatants of Lact. brevis JJ2P and Lact. reuteri R2 showed antifungal activity against Z. tritici, as observed by mycelial radial growth inhibition and liquid culture growth inhibition. Cell-free supernatants of these anti-Z. tritici LAB strains were assessed in vivo for their abilities to inhibit STB development in seedling tests. Lact. brevis JJ2P was capable of inhibiting disease development and significantly reduced the diseased leaf area covered with pycnidia. Conclusions Biological control accomplished by beneficial micro-organisms such as Lact. brevis JJ2P may represent an alternative control strategy for reducing STB. Significance and Impact of the Study Globally, STB is regarded as one of the most important diseases of wheat. Control of Z. tritici is heavily reliant on fungicide application. The recent emergence of resistance or reduced sensitivity to fungicides among Z. tritici populations has urgently called for the development of new control strategies.
  • Beneficial Microbes: The pharmacy in the gut

    Linares, Daniel M.; Ross, Paul; Stanton, Catherine; Science Foundation Ireland (SFI); 02/CE/B124; 07/CE/B1368 (Taylor & Francis, 2015-12-28)
    The scientific evidence supporting the gut microbiome in relation to health maintenance and links with various disease states afflicting humans, from metabolic to mental health, has grown dramatically in the last few years. Strategies addressing the positive modulation of microbiome functionality associated with these disorders offer huge potential to the food and pharmaceutical industries to innovate and provide therapeutic solutions to many of the health issues affecting modern society. Such strategies may involve the use of probiotics and prebiotics as nutritional adjunct therapies. Probiotics are generally recognized to be a good form of therapy to keep harmful, intestinal microorganisms in check, aid digestion and nutrient absorption, and contribute to immune function. Probiotics are reported to improve microbial balance in the intestinal tract and promote the return to a baseline microbial community following a perturbing event (dysbiosis) such as antibiotic therapy. Prebiotics are selectively fermented ingredients that allow specific changes, both in the composition and/or activity in the gastrointestinal microflora, which confers benefits upon host well-being and health.
  • Soil multifunctionality: Synergies and trade‐offs across European climatic zones and land uses

    Zwetsloot, Marie J.; Leeuwen, Jeroen; Hemerik, Lia; Martens, Henk; Simó Josa, Iolanda; Broek, Marijn; Debeljak, Marko; Rutgers, Michiel; Sandén, Taru; Wall, David P.; et al. (Wiley, 2020-10-08)
    With increasing societal demands for food security and environmental sustainability on land, the question arises: to what extent do synergies and trade-offs exist between soil functions and how can they be measured across Europe? To address this challenge, we followed the functional land management approach and assessed five soil functions: primary productivity, water regulation and purification, climate regulation, soil biodiversity and nutrient cycling. Soil, management and climate data were collected from 94 sites covering 13 countries, five climatic zones and two land-use types (arable and grassland). This dataset was analysed using the Soil Navigator, a multicriteria decision support system developed to assess the supply of the five soil functions simultaneously. Most sites scored high for two to three soil functions, demonstrating that managing for multifunctionality in soil is possible but that local constraints and trade-offs do exist. Nutrient cycling, biodiversity and climate regulation were less frequently delivered at high capacity than the other two soil functions. Using correlation and co-occurrence analyses, we also found that synergies and trade-offs between soil functions vary among climatic zones and land-use types. This study provides a new framework for monitoring soil quality at the European scale where both the supply of soil functions and their interactions are considered.
  • Barriers and opportunities of soil knowledge to address soil challenges: Stakeholders’ perspectives across Europe

    Vanino, Silvia; Pirelli, Tiziana; Di Bene, Claudia; Bøe, Frederik; Castanheira, Nádia; Chenu, Claire; Cornu, Sophie; Feiza, Virginijus; Fornara, Dario; Heller, Olivier; et al. (Elsevier, 2023-01)
    Climate-smart sustainable management of agricultural soil is critical to improve soil health, enhance food and water security, contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity preservation, and improve human health and wellbeing. The European Joint Programme for Soil (EJP SOIL) started in 2020 with the aim to significantly improve soil management knowledge and create a sustainable and integrated European soil research system. EJP SOIL involves more than 350 scientists across 24 Countries and has been addressing multiple aspects associated with soil management across different European agroecosystems. This study summarizes the key findings of stakeholder consultations conducted at the national level across 20 countries with the aim to identify important barriers and challenges currently affecting soil knowledge but also assess opportunities to overcome these obstacles. Our findings demonstrate that there is significant room for improvement in terms of knowledge production, dissemination and adoption. Among the most important barriers identified by consulted stakeholders are technical, political, social and economic obstacles, which strongly limit the development and full exploitation of the outcomes of soil research. The main soil challenge across consulted member states remains to improve soil organic matter and peat soil conservation while soil water storage capacity is a key challenge in Southern Europe. Findings from this study clearly suggest that going forward climate-smart sustainable soil management will benefit from (1) increases in research funding, (2) the maintenance and valorisation of long-term (field) experiments, (3) the creation of knowledge sharing networks and interlinked national and European infrastructures, and (4) the development of regionally-tailored soil management strategies. All the above-mentioned interventions can contribute to the creation of healthy, resilient and sustainable soil ecosystems across Europe.
  • Long-term elevation of temperature affects organic N turnover and associated N2O emissions in a permanent grassland soil

    Jansen-Willems, Anne B.; Lanigan, Gary J.; Clough, Timothy J.; Andresen, Louise C.; Müller, Christoph; Walsh fellowship programme; LOEWE excellence programme FACE2FACE, AGRI-I; German Science foundation; 10/SC/716; DFG 2337 (Copernicus GmbH, 2016-11-30)
    Over the last century an increase in mean soil surface temperature has been observed, and it is predicted to increase further in the future. In order to evaluate the legacy effects of increased temperature on both nitrogen (N) transformation rates in the soil and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, an incubation experiment and modelling approaches were combined. Based on previous observations that gross N transformations in soils are affected by long-term elevated-temperature treatments we hypothesized that any associated effects on gaseous N emissions (e.g. N2O) can be confirmed by a change in the relative emission rates from various pathways. Soils were taken from a long-term in situ warming experiment on temperate permanent grassland. In this experiment the soil temperature was elevated by 0 (control), 1, 2 or 3 °C (four replicates per treatment) using IR (infrared) lamps over a period of 6 years. The soil was subsequently incubated under common conditions (20 °C and 50 % humidity) and labelled as NO315NH4 Gly, 15NO3NH4 Gly or NO3NH4 15N-Gly. Soil extractions and N2O emissions were analysed using a 15N tracing model and source-partitioning model. Both total inorganic N (NO3− + NH4+) and NO3− contents were higher in soil subjected to the +2 and +3 °C temperature elevations (pre- and post-incubation). Analyses of N transformations using a 15N tracing model showed that, following incubation, gross organic (but not inorganic) N transformation rates decreased in response to the prior soil warming treatment. This was also reflected in reduced N2O emissions associated with organic N oxidation and denitrification. Furthermore, a newly developed source-partitioning model showed the importance of oxidation of organic N as a source of N2O. In conclusion, long-term soil warming can cause a legacy effect which diminishes organic N turnover and the release of N2O from organic N and denitrification.
  • Genome sequence and genetic diversity of European ash trees

    Sollars, Elizabeth S. A.; Harper, Andrea L.; Kelly, Laura J.; Sambles, Christine M.; Ramirez-Gonzalez, Ricardo H.; Swarbreck, David; Kaithakottil, Gemy; Cooper, Endymion D.; Uauy, Cristobal; Havlickova, Lenka; et al. (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2016-12-26)
    Ash trees (genus Fraxinus, family Oleaceae) are widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere, but are being devastated in Europe by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, causing ash dieback, and in North America by the herbivorous beetle Agrilus planipennis1,2. Here we sequence the genome of a low-heterozygosity Fraxinus excelsior tree from Gloucestershire, UK, annotating 38,852 protein-coding genes of which 25% appear ash specific when compared with the genomes of ten other plant species. Analyses of paralogous genes suggest a whole-genome duplication shared with olive (Olea europaea, Oleaceae). We also re-sequence 37 F. excelsior trees from Europe, finding evidence for apparent long-term decline in effective population size. Using our reference sequence, we re-analyse association transcriptomic data3, yielding improved markers for reduced susceptibility to ash dieback. Surveys of these markers in British populations suggest that reduced susceptibility to ash dieback may be more widespread in Great Britain than in Denmark. We also present evidence that susceptibility of trees to H. fraxineus is associated with their iridoid glycoside levels. This rapid, integrated, multidisciplinary research response to an emerging health threat in a non-model organism opens the way for mitigation of the epidemic.
  • The effect of machine traffic zones associated with field headlands on soil structure in a survey of 41 tilled fields in a temperate maritime climate

    Ward, Mark; McDonnell, Kevin; Metzger, Konrad; Forristal, Patrick Dermot; Teagasc Walsh Fellowship (Elsevier, 2021-06)
    Machinery traffic imposes a negative effect on soil structure, leading to soil compaction. Studies to date have primarily focused on the influence of applied wheel loads on soil structure. Few studies have assessed the impact of commercial farm operations on soil structure and crop performance, particularly on field headlands in a temperate maritime climate such as Ireland. A survey was conducted on 41 conventionally managed field sites to investigate the effect of field position (field edge, turning, transition and in-field zones) in relation to machinery operations on soil structure. Soil texture classes ranged from sandy loam to clay loam. All sites used plough-based crop establishment. Soil structural condition was assessed visually using the visual evaluation of soil structure method (VESS) for the topsoil (0−250 mm), and Double Spade below plough depth (250−400 mm). Quantitative soil measurements such as shear strength, bulk density and porosity using soil cores post-harvest, and soil cone penetration resistance were taken at two time points in the crop growth cycle. For most measurements of soil structure, the in-field zone of least machinery traffic produced the best scores (Sq 2.81 & DS 2.48), and the turning zone returned the poorest scores in the 0−250 mm soil layer (Sq 3.31 & DS 2.91). The strongest quantitative scores for the in-field and turning zones, respectively, were for trowel penetration resistance in the upper (2.49 & 3.20) and lower (3.41 & 4.05) soil depth layers and for shear vane (38.17 & 53.59 kPa) for the same zones. The visual assessments and some of the quantitative measurements (0−250 mm soil layer) followed the zone order trend of: turning, field edge, transition and in-field, for increasing machinery traffic. The results show that the visual soil indicators used in this study are more sensitive than quantitative soil measurements such as soil bulk density (ρb) or porosity (TP and MP) at detecting soil structural differences between zones, particularly below plough depth (>250 mm soil depth).
  • Field scale estimates of soil carbon stocks on ten heavy textured farms across Ireland

    Tuohy, P.; O'Sullivan, L.; Fenton, O. (Elsevier, 2021-03)
    The world's soils store vast amounts (≈2,500 GT) of Carbon which acts as a vital sink to counterbalance the effects of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. There have been fruitful efforts to quantify soil Carbon stocks at national scales, which are required for policy level decisions but lack the high resolution required to support farm specific decisions. It is hypothesised that farm scale evaluations of soils can provide insight that is masked in national scale studies and can allow for spatially explicit management approaches to optimise soil Carbon storage and sequestration, such that it can be prioritized within profitable production systems. The objective of the present study was to estimate Carbon stocks on a range of heavy textured soils at field and farm scale and to quantify Carbon storage relative to national scale estimates. Ten grassland dairy farms (mean area of 52.2 Ha) were surveyed, sampled and classified to determine soil types and quantify soil Carbon stores. The level of Carbon present (mean: 346.0 T/Ha) at these sites was greater than previous averages on such soils quantified at national scale (by a factor of 1.1–3.9 depending on soil type). Furthermore, if Carbon saturation potential was realised, the amount of Carbon stored could be increased by an average of 792.1 T/Ha in each profile (from 346.0 to 1138.1 T/Ha). Current management has fostered the retention of large stores of soil Carbon on such soils/farms which co-exist within highly productive farm systems. As there is a societal demand to retain and enhance soil carbon stores to mitigate climate change, high Carbon soils should be identified and, under appropriate policies, commodified to offer a direct incentive to retain soil Carbon. The value of this resource should be recognised and polices to ensure a spatially explicit approach for soil Carbon management should be adopted.
  • Dairy processing sludge and co-products: A review of present and future re-use pathways in agriculture

    Shi, W.; Healy, M.G.; Ashekuzzaman, S.M.; Daly, k.; Leahy, J.J.; Fenton, O.; European Union; 814258 (Elsevier, 2021-09)
    The dairy industry is one of the largest global producers of wastewater and generates huge volumes of dairy processing sludge (DPS). There are two main types of DPS, lime-treated dissolved air floatation sludge and bio-chemically-treated activated sludge. These sludge types may also be converted to STRUBIAS (STRUvite, BIochar, AShes) products which have potential as fertilizers, secondary feedstocks for phosphate fertiliser granules, and soil amendments. A small number of studies indicate that these products have variable nutrient and metal contents, which differ across sludge and STRUBIAS product types. This is due to many factors such as the type of dairy plants, wastewater treatment process and production technologies. Although such products are land applied, the phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer equivalency value (FEV) are often unknown and not factored into application rates, and therefore need study under field conditions (across soil and crop types). This review identifies a need to quantify antimicrobial drugs, hormones, pesticides, disinfectants, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), microplastics and nano-particles in all DPS and STRUBIAS types. Where detected, testing should follow the transfer of these contaminants to the soil, crop and water continuum. Further knowledge in the areas identified would enable both agronomic and environmental goals to be met and promote higher uptake of DPS and STRUBIAS re-use in agriculture.
  • Selecting appropriate plant indicator species for Result-Based Agri-Environment Payments schemes

    Ruas, Sara; Rotchés-Ribalta, Roser; hUallacháin, Daire Ó; Ahmed, Karzan D.; Gormally, Michael; Stout, Jane C.; White, Blánaid; Moran, James; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; RSF15_S_619 (Elsevier, 2021-07)
    Agri-Environment Schemes (AES) have long been implemented across Europe to incentivise farmers to alter their management practices to improve biodiversity and water, air and soil quality. However, the cost-effectiveness of traditional action-based schemes has been questioned, and Result-Based Payment (RBP) schemes have been recommended as an alternative. To evaluate the effectiveness of management actions, RBP approaches often rely on indicator species to monitor changes in environmental conditions. The selection of appropriate indicator species for RBP follows several steps and criteria. One of the mentioned criteria is that the species should react to the farmer’s management choices. Thus, the main objective of this study is to understand how existing lists of indicator plant species (aimed at assessing ecological integrity of grasslands and hedgerows in Ireland) are suitable for RBP schemes, by assessing how different environmental and management variables are related to the presence of the plant species selected. Extensive field surveys were conducted to assess the presence and cover of indicator species in grasslands and hedgerows in two study regions in Ireland. The indicator plant species occurrence and diversity (species richness and Simpson’s Diversity Index) were correlated with variables within farmers’ control and variables outside farmers’ control. Results showed that grassland indicator species occurrence and diversity was mainly related to grassland semi-naturalness and to the diversity of habitats existing on the farm – both variables within farmers’ control – and thus were appropriate indicators for assessing the effectiveness of management and suitable for use in RBP schemes. Conversely, the occurrence and diversity of hedgerow indicator species was not strongly related to any of the explanatory variables, making them unsuitable for use in a RBP scheme. For a RBP scheme targeted at hedgerows, clear objectives will need to be established and the farmers’ management choices need to be better linked to the selected indicator species. The selection of indicator species needs to undergo scientific scrutiny to develop fair results assessments as shown by the results of this study. The analyses conducted highlight the importance of testing if the species react to the farmers’ management choices and should be a key methodological step before final indicator species lists are implemented in RBP schemes. Recommendations for results assessments in RBP approaches are discussed based on the results of this study.
  • Differing effects of increasing calcium ammonium nitrate, urea and urea + NBPT fertiliser rates on nitrous oxide emission factors at six temperate grassland sites in Ireland

    Rahman, Niharika; Richards, Karl G.; Harty, Mary A.; Watson, Catherine J.; Carolan, Rachael; Krol, Dominika; Lanigan, Gary J.; Forrestal, Patrick J.; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs; et al. (Elsevier, 2021-06)
    The present study evaluated the impact of three nitrogen (N) fertiliser formulations, applied at five N rates, on nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes and annual direct N2O-N emission factors (EF) in temperate grassland. Closed static chambers were used to measure direct N2O fluxes at three geographically dispersed locations in Ireland over a two-year period, generating a total of 90 EFs across the six site-years and treatments. The three fertiliser formulations tested were calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), urea, and urea amended with the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) at 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 kg N ha−1 yr−1. All treatments were applied in five equal split applications ranging from 20 to 100 kg N ha−1 split-1 over the growing season. The N2O-N EFs for CAN ranged from 0.39 − 4.68 with a mean of 1.62 (cv. 81 %), for urea from 0.04 – 1.7 with a mean of 0.46 (cv. 77 %) and for urea + NBPT from 0.18 – 1.7 with a mean of 0.60 (cv. 59 %). A significant positive relationship was found between the N rate and the annual N2O-N EFs in three (CAN), five (urea) and two (urea + NBPT) of six the site-years. For the remainder of the site-years EF was unaffected by N rate. These results indicate that fertiliser N choice and rate can be management factors that enable farmers to alter N2O losses in temperate grassland. Notably, the response of EF to increasing N rate was not consistent across the fertilisers, with the EF from urea being the most sensitive to the increasing N rate, urea + NBPT the least sensitive and CAN being intermediate. The accuracy of national greenhouse gas accounting could be improved by including N fertiliser formulation and its rate of application. Further research is also needed to understand the inconsistency in EF response to N rate across sites.
  • Modelling the effect of feeding management on greenhouse gas and nitrogen emissions in cattle farming systems

    Ouatahar, Latifa; Bannink, André; Lanigan, Gary; Amon, Barbara; Teagasc Walsh Scholarship Fund; The Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy-ATB Potsdam (Elsevier, 2021-07)
    Feed management decisions are an important element of managing greenhouse gas (GHG) and nitrogen (N) emissions in livestock farming systems. This review aims to a) discuss the impact of feed management practices on emissions in beef and dairy production systems and b) assess different modelling approaches used for quantifying the impact of these abatement measures at different stages of the feed and manure management chain. Statistical and empirical models are well-suited for practical applications when evaluating mitigation strategies, such as GHG calculator tools for farmers and for inventory purposes. Process-based simulation models are more likely to provide insights into the impact of biotic and abiotic drivers on GHG and N emissions. These models are based on equations which mathematically describe processes such as fermentation, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, denitrification, etc. and require a greater number of input parameters. Ultimately, the modelling approach used will be determined by a) the activity input data available, b) the temporal and spatial resolution required and c) the suite of emissions being studied. Simulation models are likely candidates to be able to better explain variation in on-farm GHG and N emissions, and predict with a higher accuracy for a specific mitigation measure under defined farming conditions, due to the fact that they better represent the underlying mechanisms causal for emissions. Integrated farm system models often make use of rather generic values or empirical models to quantify individual emissions sources, whereas combining a whole set of process-based models (or their results) that simulates the variation in GHG and N emissions and the associated whole farm budget has not been used. The latter represents a valuable approach to delineate underlying processes and their drivers within the system and to evaluate the integral effect on GHG emissions with different mitigation options.
  • Assessing the impact of long-term soil phosphorus on N-transformation pathways using 15N tracing

    O'Neill, R.M.; Krol, D.J.; Wall, D.; Lanigan, G.J.; Renou-Wilson, F.; Richards, K.G.; Jansen-Willems, A.B.; Müller, C.; Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine; Teagasc Walsh Scholarship Scheme; et al. (Elsevier, 2021-01)
    A laboratory incubation study was conducted on a temperate grassland soil to quantify the main mineral nitrogen (N) transformation rates and pathways via a15N tracing approach. Soil samples were taken from a long-term phosphorus (P) trial to investigate the effects on gross N-transformations under high and low phosphorus amendment. The soils were incubated over a 2-week period and treated with ammonium-nitrate (NH4NO3) which was applied to the soil both with and without a glucose amendment and labelled with 15N either on the ammonium (NH4+) or nitrate (NO3−) moiety at 50% atom enrichment. The results showed immobilisation to greatly outweigh mineralisation and that NO3− was predominantly produced via heterotrophic nitrification. Individual pathways for NO3− production were quantified including oxidation of NH4+, recalcitrant and labile organic N. Oxidation of labile organic N to NO3−, a newly considered pathway, accounted for between 63 and 83% of total NO3− production across the various treatments and P levels. This process was significantly higher in the low-P rather than the high-P soils (p < 0.05), highlighting the effect of soil P on the microbial community.
  • An overview on deficit and requirements of the Irish national soil phosphorus balance

    O'Donnell, Ciarán; Egan, Aoife; Harrington, Joe; Barnett, Denise; Forrestal, Patrick; Power, Niamh; EU Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) Programme (Elsevier, 2021-09)
    Phosphorus (P) is an essential life-supporting nutrient for which there is no substitute. Modern farming practice and food production are supported by the application of mineral P fertiliser derived from finite mined phosphate rock. The European Union does not have indigenous mineral phosphate reserves, which poses a significant issue to food security. This research paper assesses the potential of indigenous recycled P sources to replace imported P fertiliser within the Republic of Ireland. The research is undertaken at NUTS 3 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units) regional level, the nutrient soil P requirement is established, and the extent to which the regional production of indigenous recycled P sources can offset this requirement is determined. The soil P requirement was derived from analyzing the regional soil P indexes, stocking rate and land-use. It was established that to optimise Irish agricultural production, approximately 95,500 t of P fertiliser is required by Irish agriculture per annum. Indigenous P sources were reviewed to determine their contribution to the Irish P balance; the sources included sewage sludge, dairy processing waste, and animal manures. Regional indigenous P quantities vary greatly with the South-West Region producing the largest quantity of indigenous recycled P at 42.4% of required P than the Mid-West Region only producing 22.0% of its P requirement indigenously. Sources of indigenous P also vary greatly from region to region depending on population and industry, with the highest quantity of sewage sludge being produced in the Dublin plus Mid-East Region while the greatest contributor of dairy waste is the South-West Region. In total, over 28,500 t of P is recovered from indigenous sources per annum. This indicates that approximately 30% of the national P requirement could be met by indigenous P recycling.
  • Transmission of mushroom virus X and the impact of virus infection on the transcriptomes and proteomes of different strains of Agaricus bisporus

    O'Connor, Eoin; Doyle, Sean; Amini, Aniça; Grogan, Helen; Fitzpatrick, David A.; Teagasc Walsh Scholarship; Science Foundation Ireland; 10564231; SFI 12/RI/2346(3) (Elsevier, 2021-09)
    Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus is a large horticultural industry for many countries worldwide, where a single variety is almost grown exclusively. Mushroom virus X (MVX), a complex of multiple positive-sense single stranded RNA (ss(+)RNA) viruses, is a major pathogen of typical A. bisporus crops. MVX can manifest a variety of symptoms in crops and is highly infective and difficult to eradicate once established in host mycelium. Currently our knowledge regarding the molecular response of A. bisporus fruit bodies to MVX infection is limited. In order to study the response of different A. bisporus strains with different susceptibilities to MVX, we designed a model system to evaluate the in-vitro transmission of viruses in A. bisporus hyphae over a time-course, at two crucial phases in the crop cycle. The symptom expression of MVX in these varieties and the transcriptomic and proteomic response of fruit bodies to MVX-infection were examined. Transmission studies revealed the high potential of MVX to spread to uninfected mycelium yet not into the fruit bodies of certain strains in a crop. MVX affected colour and quality of multiple fruit bodies. Gene expression is significantly altered in all strains and between times of inoculation in the crop. Genes related to stress responses displayed differential expression. Proteomic responses revealed restriction of cellular signalling and vesicle transport in infected fruit bodies. This in-depth analysis examining many factors relevant to MVX infection in different A. bisporus strains, will provide key insights into host responses for this commercially important food crop.

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