Pesticide residues in agricultural soils represent an environmental concern that requires special attention due to their potential ecological and public health risks. We analyzed 614 pesticides in 188 wheat fields across Europe subjected to both conventional and organic farming systems. At least one pesticide residue was detected in 141 soils. Seventy-eight pesticides or their metabolites were detected. The presence of pesticides was significantly higher in both number and concentration in conventional fileds (up to 0.98 mg kg^-1) compared to organically managed sites (up to 0.40 mg kg^-1). A total of 88 % of conventional fields and 63 % of organic fields contained two or more pesticides. Conversion from conventional to organic farming does not guarantee that soils will be pesticide-free in the short term. Fenbutatin oxide was the most frequently detected pesticide in both farming systems, followed by AMPA. Other substances, such as boscalid, epoxiconazole, diflufenican, tebuconazole, dinoterb, bixafen, and DEET, were found in ≥ 10 % of samples. Some Persistent Organic Pollutants, including dieldrin, endosulfan sulphate, and chlorpyrifos, were also detected. Ecological risks were higher in conventionally managed fields, with 46 % exhibiting high-risk levels, compared to just 1 % in organic fields. Epoxiconazole and boscalid were the substances with the highest risk levels.

Intensive potato farming heavily relies on mineral fertilizers which can be detrimental to the environment. Microbial inoculants emerge as a sustainable alternative to such fertilizers due to their potential to improve nutrient availability and plant health. Nevertheless, their effect on potato rhizosphere and tuberosphere require further elucidation. A field experiment was conducted in Southeast Spain on potato using a randomized block design involving four fertilization treatments: conventional mineral fertilization (F100); 50% fertilization reduction (F50); and F50 combined with two distinct microbial inoculants (F50 + BA, containing Azospirillum, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas; and F50 + BAFU, containing Azotobacter, Bacillus, and non-mycorrhizal fungi). Soil samples from the bulk, rhizosphere, and tuberosphere were collected at four key growth stages: pre-planting, pre-inoculation, post-inoculation, and at harvest. Microbial community composition and diversity were assessed using sequencing data and estimated absolute abundance. The functional potential of the soil microbiome was evaluated by quantifying key genes involved in carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles via quantitative PCR. In the post-inoculation stage, the estimated absolute abundance of potential pathogenic fungi such as Neocosmospora, Botryotrichum, and Gibellulopsis was significantly decreased in the F50 + BAFU and F50 + BA treatments compared to the F50 treatment, which showed the highest estimated absolute abundance values (1.48 × 105, 1.20 × 106, and 6.87 × 105 copies g⁻1 soil, respectively) (p-value < 0.05). Shannon diversity significantly varied across plant growth stages and soil compartments (p-value < 0.001), with the tuberosphere generally exhibiting the highest richness. Notably, during the post-inoculation period, diversity was significantly higher in the F50 + BA treatment than in F100 (p-value < 0.05), indicating a positive effect of microbial inoculation under reduced fertilization. By normalizing functional gene abundance to total microbial biomass (gene/16S rRNA ratio) during the post-inoculation period, we observed not only a quantitative increase but also evidence of a treatment-driven functional enrichment, as in the F50 + BAFU and F50 + BA treatments, that significantly increased the abundances of key nitrogen cycling genes, such as nifH (0.09 and 0.06 copies g‒1 soil in April, respectively) and nirK (0.008 and 0.011 copies g‒1 soil in April, respectively), as well as gene GH7 (0.012 copies g‒1 soil in May), compared to the F100 and F50 treatments (p-value < 0.05). Microbial inoculants offer a promising strategy for reducing chemical fertilizer inputs in semi-arid potato cultivation by enhancing beneficial soil functions, temporarily promoting beneficial microbes, improving nitrogen cycling, and suppressing pathogens, thereby supporting a resilient crop microbiome.

High rates of fertilizer applications potentially have significant environmental consequences, such as soil and water contamination and biodiversity loss. This study aimed to compare the use of biofertilizers and inorganic fertilizers in a broccoli crop to determine their impact on soil microorganism abundance, microbial community structure, functional gene diversity, yield, and greenhouse gas emissions. Four different fertilization treatments were designed: (i) inorganic fertilizers applied at a rate to cover the nutritional demands of the crop (F100); (ii) 50% of the rate of inorganic fertilizers added in F100 (F50); (iii) F50 + the application of a formulation of various bacteria (BA); and (iv) F50 + the application of a formulation of bacteria and non-mycorrhizal fungi (BA + FU). The results showed that reduced fertilization and the addition of both biofertilizer products had no significant effect on soil nutrients, microbial population, microbial activity, or yield when compared to conventional inorganic fertilization. Thus, microbial inoculants were ineffective in enhancing soil microbial abundance and activity, and there were no changes in GHG emissions or crop yields. Nonetheless, crop yield was positively related to total soil N, microbial activity, and CO₂ emissions, confirming the positive effect of soil biodiversity on production. The application of biofertilizers can help reduce mineral fertilization in a broccoli crop with no negative effect on yield.

Red LED light (R LED) is an efficient tool to improve seed germination and plant growth under controlled environments since it is more readily absorbed by photoreceptors’ phytochromes compared to other wavelengths of the spectrum. In this work, the effect of R LED on the radicle emergence and growth (Phase III of germination) of pepper seeds was evaluated. Thus, the impact of R LED on water transport through different intrinsic membrane proteins, via aquaporin (AQP) isoforms, was determined. In addition, the remobilization of distinct metabolites such as amino acids, sugars, organic acids, and hormones was analysed. R LED induced a higher germination speed index, regulated by an increased water uptake. PIP2;3 and PIP2;5 aquaporin isoforms were highly expressed and could contribute to a faster and more effective hydration of embryo tissues, leading to a reduction of the germination time. By contrast, TIP1;7, TIP1;8, TIP3;1 and TIP3;2 gene expressions were reduced in R LED-treated seeds, pointing to a lower need for protein remobilization. NIP4;5 and XIP1;1 were also involved in radicle growth but their role needs to be elucidated. In addition, R LED induced changes in amino acids and organic acids as well as sugars. Therefore, an advanced metabolome oriented to a higher energetic metabolism was observed, conditioning better seed germination performance together with a rapid water flux.

Current horticultural practices typically require high demands of fertilizers, leading to significant environmental impacts and increased production costs. Alternatives based on microbial inoculants have garnered considerable interest owing to their potential to enhance soil quality whilst reducing external inputs and costs, all without compromising productivity. This study aimed to compare the impact of four fertilizer application strategies, including mineral fertilizers and microbial inoculants, on crop yield, soil fertility and functionality and soil greenhouse gas emissions in potato production in Southern Spain. Four treatments were tested: (i) mineral fertilizers added to meet the crop's nutritional needs (F100); (ii) a 50% reduction of the F100 rate (F50); (iii) a 50% reduction of the F100 rate combined with the application of a formulation containing nutrient‐solubilizing bacteria, nitrogen‐fixing bacteria and non‐mycorrhizal fungi (BAI+FU) and (iv) a 50% reduction of the F100 rate combined with a formulation of N, P and K solubilizing bacteria (BAII). Results showed that crop yield was unaffected by the different fertilizer application treatments. However, the mean tuber weight and firmness were significantly higher under the BAI+FU treatment, indicating improved product quality. CO ₂ release rates decreased by 25%, 34% and 42% with F50, BAI+FU and BAII treatments, respectively, compared with F100. The N ₂ O and CH ₄ emissions or soil nutrient contents were not affected by treatments, except for ammonium content, which was highest under the BAI+FU treatment. Additionally, whilst overall soil bacterial and fungal abundance was not significantly affected, the BAI+FU treatment resulted in a higher number of nirK (denitrification) and cbbL (carbon fixation) gene copies. Therefore, combining biofertilizers with reduced chemical fertilizer rates could represent a sustainable strategy for mitigating climate change whilst enhancing crop quality in potato production.