Over the past decade, potassium deficiency has become more common across the U.S. Cotton Belt as farmers use more modern, high-yielding cotton cultivars that have greater nutrient demands. In 10 field trials conducted by Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons at three Arkansas locations, results showed that potassium fertilization increased cotton yields by up to 70 percent in potassium-deficient soils. No response was observed in soils with optimum potassium availability. The study also showed that lint turnout and quality are positively affected by potassium fertilization, with fiber elongation and strength being more strongly related to potassium availability than other lint quality parameters. As part of their studies on potassium monitoring in cotton, the experiment station researchers also tested methods for collecting cotton tissue samples. The study suggested that concentrations in the petiole had a stronger relationship with relative cotton yield — compared to maximum potential — than in the leaf throughout the growing season. Still, the researchers proposed season-long follow-up tests of both the leaf and petiole for potassium levels.

New study suggests using human urine as a fertiliser could significantly boost sustainable agriculture – but key health risks and knowledge gaps must be addressed before it could be widely adopted.

Single-nucleus RNA-seq atlas of equine skeletal muscle reveals donkey and horse distinct cell types, with species-specific age-related shifts in muscle fiber composition. The conserved upregulation pattern of LDHA reveals the critical role of propanoate metabolism in energy supply for equine locomotion. Cross-species transcriptomic comparison delineates a highly conserved atlas of skeletal muscle cell types.

McGill University researchers have discovered a new way to fold flat sheets into smooth, curved shells that can switch from floppy and flexible to stiff and load-bearing on demand. By designing a special origami pattern and threading cable-like elements through it, they can control the material’s final three-dimensional shape and how rigid it becomes. The result, a “doubly curved lens box,” could advance the technology of such objects as temporary emergency tents, morphing robots and smart fabrics, the researchers said.

A global survey traces six centuries of evolution, revealing how university botanic gardens blend historical roots with modern missions in conservation, education, and public well-being.

A pioneering study reveals rich arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in Kano State’s vegetable rhizospheres, highlighting key species for sustainable agriculture and biofertilizer development.

Biochar is often promoted as a promising tool for climate-smart agriculture, thanks to its ability to store carbon in soils and, in many cases, reduce emissions of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas. But a study published in Biochar shows that the climate benefit of biochar is not guaranteed. The way biochar is produced, and the chemical groups present on its surface, can determine whether it helps reduce nitrous oxide or unexpectedly increases it.

A global analysis suggests that biochar, a charcoal-like material made from biomass, could play a larger role in climate-smart agriculture when it is applied according to local soil and climate conditions. The study, published in Biochar, combines global meta-analysis, machine learning, and density functional theory calculations to identify how different biochar types and application rates can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from croplands while improving crop yields.