https://journal.fi/afs/issue/feedAgricultural and Food Science2023-12-31T09:26:56+02:00Tuula Puhakaineneditor@afsci.fiOpen Journal Systems<p>Agricultural and Food Science (AFSci) is a peer-reviewed journal, published quarterly. AFSci publishes original research reports on agriculture and food research in relation to primary production in boreal agriculture. Acceptable papers must be of international interest and have a northern dimension. We especially welcome papers related to agriculture in Boreal and Baltic Sea Region.</p>https://journal.fi/afs/article/view/131722Nitrogen Enriched Organic fertilizer (NEO) elevates nitrification rates shortly after application but has no lasting effect on nitrification in agricultural soils2023-11-12T05:36:42+02:00Hesam MousaviThomas CottisSvein Øivind Solberg<p><span id="cell-157278-contents" class="gridCellContainer"><span class="label">Amidst population growth, escalating food costs, limited arable land, and farmland degradation, the adoption of innovative technologies—like organic waste recycling and nutrient recovery—is crucial for enhancing the resilience of global agri-food systems. Nitrogen-Enriched Organic fertilizer (NEO) is produced using a new method, where dinitrogen (N<sub>2</sub>) is captured from the air through a plasma process and mixed with slurries or digestates as nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>) and nitrite (NO<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup>). This process leads to solid slurry acidification and a high NO<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup> content, potentially yielding toxic inorganic or organic N compounds. This study investigated the impact of NEO derived from cattle slurry and biogas digestate on soil nitrification—conversion of NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> to NO<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup> and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> by aerobic autotrophic bacteria and archaea. We investigated and compared the potential nitrification rates in soil samples from two agricultural trials (cereal and grass) treated with NEO and other fertilizers after two consecutive fertilization years. Additionally, we examined the immediate nitrification response to NEO through 73-hour soil incubations. Our results revealed that NEO significantly stimulated nitrification rates in agitated soil slurries, regardless of the feedstock used, surpassing rates observed in ammonium controls. Similarly, this pattern was also observed in loosely placed soil samples, with high nitrification rates occurring with NEO and ammonium chloride. Interestingly, the differences in nitrification rates between field-fertilized soil samples were minimal and inconsequential, suggesting that while NEO exhibits a rapid boost in nitrification rates shortly after application, this effect is not sustained ≈ six months after fertilization under field conditions. Consequently, NEO indicates its potential as an environmentally benign fertilizer without adversely affecting soil nitrification.</span></span></p>2023-12-31T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Hesam Mousavi, Svein Øivind Solberg, Thomas Cottishttps://journal.fi/afs/article/view/131550Gypsum amendment influences soil and plant chemical composition temporarily2023-08-15T09:32:25+03:00Markku Yli-HallaAntti TaskinenPetri Ekholm<p>Field application of gypsum (CaSO<sub>4</sub> × 2H<sub>2</sub>O) is a tool to decrease phosphorus (P) load to watercourses. Effects of gypsum application (4 tons ha<sup>-1</sup>) on soil and crop composition were monitored up to four years after the treatment in the Savijoki catchment, southwestern Finland. Eleven amended fields and 17 control fields were analyzed for easily soluble P, Ca, Mg, K, S, pH(H<sub>2</sub>O), electrical conductivity (EC) and loss-on-ignition. Plant samples were analyzed for most nutrients and Se. Downward S transport was monitored in two fields. In the first spring after gypsum application, but not later, S concentrations and EC were substantially but not harmfully elevated in the plough layer, with no other significant effects on soil composition. Sulfur leached out slightly less rapidly from clay than from the coarse mineral soil. Plant S concentration increased for the first and the second year. In conclusion, gypsum application did not have adverse effects on soil or crop chemical composition in this survey of predominantly clay soils. </p>2023-12-31T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Markku Yli-Halla, Antti Taskinen, Petri Ekholmhttps://journal.fi/afs/article/view/137136Evaluating the effects of wilting, mixing with timothy and silage additive application on red clover silage quality2023-10-26T11:45:32+03:00Marketta RinneMarcia FrancoKatariina ManniArto Huuskonen<p>Red clover is typically produced as a mixed stand with grasses, which may lead to suboptimal fertilization and harvest time practices, resulting in poor survival of red clover. Further, unknown proportions of red clover in mixed swards complicate ration formulation for livestock. Thus, producing red clover as pure stands could offer benefits, but it may be difficult to ensile. The objective of the current study was to evaluate major management possibilities such as wilting, inclusion of timothy grass and different types of additives in optimizing the ensilage of red clover. Low DM silages were poorly preserved with high pH, elevated acetic acid concentrations and proportions of ammonia-N in total N, as well as depleted water-soluble carbohydrate levels. Moderate wilting clearly improved the fermentation quality of silages. Further, the use of formic acid-based additives improved the fermentation quality of the silages, the effect being more pronounced in the low than medium dry matter silages. The composition of red clover and timothy were rather similar regarding dry matter content and ensilability. This was probably the reason why clear benefits in silage quality from timothy inclusion could not be demonstrated.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Marketta Rinne, Marcia Franco, Katariina Manni, Arto Huuskonenhttps://journal.fi/afs/article/view/131638Can strip cropping reduce pest activity density and damage while increasing yield? A case study of organic cabbage and faba bean2023-11-28T17:02:03+02:00Joonas MäkinenSari HimanenPirjo KivijärviStéphanie SaussureJanne KasevaJames Blande<p>This study assessed how strip cropping white cabbage (<em>Brassica</em> <em>oleracea</em>) and faba bean (<em>Vicia</em> <em>faba</em>) affects the <br />activity density of pests – diamondback moth (<em>Plutella</em> <em>xylostella</em>) and flea beetles (<em>Phyllotreta</em> spp.) – and how this affects crop yields. The setup consisted of three 270m<sup>2</sup> plots representing monocrops of faba bean and cabbage, and a plot of alternating strips of the two. The setup was established in 2018 and 2019. Activity density of <em>P</em>. <em>xylostella</em> was determined through yellow sticky trapping and <em>Phyllotreta</em> spp. activity density was determined by pitfall trapping. Crop yields were determined at harvest, and foliar damage to cabbage leaves was also assessed. The results showed that strip cropping reduced the activity density of <em>P</em>. <em>xylostella</em>, but no suppression effect was observed for <em>Phyllotreta</em> spp. Average foliar damage to cabbage was higher in the strip crop plot, but in 2018 the yield was also higher. Average faba bean yield was lower in the strip crop plot in both years. Our results indicate potential for cabbage-faba bean strip cropping to reduce the activity density of <em>P</em>. <em>xylostella</em> but not <em>Phyllotreta</em> spp. and to increase cabbage yield when overall pest pressure is moderate, but at the cost of faba bean yield. The case study shows that a Brassica vegetable – legume strip cropping system has potential for pest suppression in northern conditions, but agronomic compatibility of crop plants needs attention to ensure similar or higher productivity than a monocrop system.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Joonas Mäkinen, Sari Himanen, Stéphanie Saussure, Pirjo Kivijärvi, Janne Kaseva, James Blande