Plant-parasitic nematodes pose a silent yet devastating threat to global agriculture, causing significant yield losses and economic damage. Traditional detection methods such as soil sampling, microscopy, and molecular diagnostics are slow, labor-intensive, and often ineffective in early-stage infestations. Nano biosensors: cuttingedge analytical tools that leverage nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes, graphene, and quantum dots to detect nematode-specific biochemical markers such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oesophageal gland secretions, with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The real breakthrough lies in the fusion of artificial intelligence (AI) and nano-biosensor technology, forging a new frontier in precision agriculture. By integrating AI's powerful data analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive capabilities with the extraordinary sensitivity and specificity of nano-biosensors, it becomes possible to detect biomolecular changes in real-time, even at the earliest stages of disease progression. AI-driven nano biosensors can analyze real-time data, enhance detection precision, and provide actionable insights for farmers, enabling proactive and targeted pest management. This synergy revolutionizes nematode monitoring, paving the way for smarter, more sustainable agricultural practices. This review explores the transformative potential of AI-powered nano-biosensors in advancing precision agriculture. By integrating these technologies with smart farming systems, we move closer to real-time, costeffective, and field-deployable solutions, ushering in a new era of high-tech, eco-friendly crop protection.

With changing climate and increased frequency of wet weather extremes, increased attention is being directed towards understanding the resilience of agroecosystems and the goods and services they deliver. The world's most instrumented and monitored farm (the North Wyke Fam Platform - a UK National Bioscience Research Infrastructure) has been used to explore the resilience of sediment loss regulation delivered by lowland grazing livestock and arable systems under conventional best management. The robustness of water quality regulation was explored using exceedance of modern background (i.e. pre-World War II) net soil loss rates (i.e., sediment delivery) during both typical (2012-13, 2015-16) and the most extreme (2013-14, 2019-20, 2023-24) winters (December - February, inclusive), in terms of seasonal rainfall totals, over the past similar to decade. Exceedances of maximum modern background sediment loss rates from pasture were as high as 2.4X when scheduled ploughing and reseeding for sward improvement occurred immediately prior to the winters in question. Exceedances of maximum modern background sediment loss rates in the arable system (winter wheat and spring oats) were as high as 21.7X. Over the five monitored winters, the environmental damage costs for cumulative sediment loss from the permanent pasture system ranged from pound 163-203 and pound 197-245 ha(-1) to pound 321-421 and pound 386-507 ha(-1). Over the same five winters, environmental damage costs for cumulative sediment loss from catchments subjected to reseeding and, more latterly, arable conversion, ranged between pound 382-584 and pound 461-703 ha(-1) to pound 1978-2334 and pound 2384-2812 ha(-1). Our data provide valuable quantitative insight into the impacts of winter rainfall and land use on the resilience of sediment loss regulation.

Biodegradable mulch films are essential for reducing plastic pollution in agriculture; however, current production methods often rely on complex and costly chemical processes. This study presents an innovative, ecofriendly approach to developing fully biodegradable mulch films using untreated vegetable stalks and sodium alginate through a simple blending method. By eliminating the need for pretreatment, this process significantly reduces energy consumption and maximizes agricultural waste utilization. The optimized film formulation (30 % vegetable stalk, 3 % solution, 40 % glycerin) demonstrated excellent mechanical and barrier properties, including tensile strength (6.8 MPa), elongation at break (29 %), water vapor permeability (1.88 x 10-12 g & sdot;cm-1 & sdot;Pa-1 & sdot;s-1), and UV-blocking efficiency (98.5 %), and thermal insulation and moisture retention properties. Rheological analysis showed that the addition of vegetable stalks impacted the film-forming solution's properties, enhancing processing and application performance. Additionally, the films facilitated seed germination and maintained functionality on the surface of moist soil, while rapidly degrading when buried in moist soil. Life Cycle Assessment confirmed that the biodegradable films significantly reduce environmental impacts, supporting their potential for widespread adoption in sustainable agricultural practices. This study provides a scalable and cost-effective strategy for converting agricultural residues into high-performance biodegradable films, addressing the need for sustainable solutions in agriculture and environmental protection.

Purpose of ReviewThis review imparts the information on melanin as a multifunctional biomolecule, emphasizing the diversity of sources like microbial, plant, and human, and accentuating its potential as a sustainable material. It deliberately focuses on current advances in utilizing melanin for inventive applications in important areas such as food, cosmetics, environmental improvement, and agriculture, as well as its increasing significance in promoting eco-friendly and industrial solutions.Recent FindingsMelanin derived from microbial, plant, and human sources has a broad spectrum of bioactivities, which includes protection from UV radiation, strong antioxidant capabilities, and the strong ability to affiliate and neutralize environmental contaminants. Recently its natural origin and biocompatibility have caught the eye in its usage as a food coloring and preservation. Not only this, it is also known to create a spark in the cosmetic industry by providing skin protection, pigmentation balance, and anti-aging effects, with both plant- and human-derived melanin playing their important roles.Environmentally, microbial and plant-based melanin built a strong resilience in the elimination of heavy and toxic metals and compounds. In agriculture, microbial melanin is well known for improving soil health in addition to increasing plant tolerance to stress and shielding biocontrol chemicals from UV destruction and showing their high capacity and significant role in different industries, making it one of the most promising byproducts of the cellular process.Recent FindingsMelanin derived from microbial, plant, and human sources has a broad spectrum of bioactivities, which includes protection from UV radiation, strong antioxidant capabilities, and the strong ability to affiliate and neutralize environmental contaminants. Recently its natural origin and biocompatibility have caught the eye in its usage as a food coloring and preservation. Not only this, it is also known to create a spark in the cosmetic industry by providing skin protection, pigmentation balance, and anti-aging effects, with both plant- and human-derived melanin playing their important roles.Environmentally, microbial and plant-based melanin built a strong resilience in the elimination of heavy and toxic metals and compounds. In agriculture, microbial melanin is well known for improving soil health in addition to increasing plant tolerance to stress and shielding biocontrol chemicals from UV destruction and showing their high capacity and significant role in different industries, making it one of the most promising byproducts of the cellular process.SummaryMelanin, derived from different sources-microorganisms, plants, and humans-represents a flexible and sustainable biomaterial that is becoming increasingly important in the various fields. Its multifunctional qualities make it extraordinary application for use in food preservation, cosmetics, environmental improvement, and sustainable agriculture. This review summarizes melanin's potential for long-term innovation and industrial progress by amalgamating the ideas from several biological sources.

Among the abiotic stresses, water stress is a key factor that limits agricultural productivity worldwide by reducing crop yield through numerous biochemical and physiological disruptions. The use of nanomaterials in commercially available products is rapidly expanding, with significant applications in agriculture and phytoremediation. Current advancements in nanotechnology have introduced iron nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) as a promising approach to enhance crop resilience against stress conditions. Iron (Fe) plays a critical role in photosynthesis, enzyme activation, chlorophyll synthesis, and oxidative stress management, which are pivotal to plant response against water stress. Due to high surface area, small size, and controlled reactivity, Fe-NPs exhibit exceptional advantages over traditional Fe sources, viz., improved bioavailability and nutrient uptake. The current review explores Fe-NP's potential to mitigate the adverse effects of water stress in crop plants by activating various beneficial mechanisms, including improvement in antioxidant defence, osmotic adjustment, and modulating stress related to phytohormones. Particularly, Fe-NPs improve water use efficiency (WUE) and root development, facilitating water and nutrient uptake under stress conditions. Moreover, Fe-NPs assist in antioxidant enzyme regulation, which reduces the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby reducing oxidative damage and sustaining the metabolic activities of plants under limited water availability. However, FeNP use in agriculture poses potential health and environmental risks, including water and soil contamination, soil microbial alteration, and residues in edible crop plants, which require careful consideration. Furthermore, Fe-NP effectiveness may vary depending on factors, viz., size of nanoparticles (NPs), concentration, method of application, and crop type. The paper concludes by discussing potential research avenues, highlighting the necessity of sustainable application methods, optimal Fe-NP formulations, and thorough environmental effect evaluations. Fe-NPs are a promising element in creating next-generation, nano-enabled farming techniques meant to increase crop resistance to water stress, which could ultimately improve food security in the face of a changing climate.

Application of organic mulches has repeatedly been shown to reduce infestation with Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), the Colorado potato beetle (CPB). In order to determine if the nutritional status of potatoes as affected by mulch could explain the mulch effects in potatoes against CPB, we determined potato leaf nutrient composition in unmulched control plots and plots mulched with grass-clover or triticale-vetch and assessed mulch effects on CPB damage and development in the field during 3 years and under controlled conditions. In mulched plots, foliar Mo, Cl, and K contents were consistently higher than those without mulch, and leaf damage by CPB was reduced significantly. In addition, increased B contents were associated with undamaged plant material, while higher Zn contents were associated with leaves damaged by CPB. Under controlled conditions, CPB fitness was not affected by mulch application. Overall, reduced CPB damage could not be clearly attributed to altered foliar nutrient contents due to mulching. It is thus more likely that CPB reductions in mulched systems are due to mechanisms other than an altered nutrient balance.

Zinc (Zn) is a vital micronutrient required for optimal plant growth and soil fertility. Its use in the form of nanoparticles (NPs) has gained significant attention in agricultural applications. Green synthesized Zn-based NPs offer an eco-friendly solution to several conventional problems in agriculture. Several plants, bacteria, fungi and yeast have shown significant potential in fabricating Zn NPs that can provide environmentally friendly solutions in agriculture and the approach is aligned with sustainable agricultural practices, reducing the dependency on harmful agrochemicals. Zn-based NPs act as plant growth promoters, enhance crop yield, promote resilience to abiotic stressors and are efficient crop protection agents. Their role as a smart delivery system, enabling targeted and controlled release of agrochemicals, further signifies their potential use in agriculture. Because agriculture requires repeated applications hence, the toxicological aspects of Zn NPs cannot be ignored. Zn NPs are reported to cause phytotoxicity, including root damage, physiological and biochemical disturbances, and genotoxic effects. Furthermore, exposure to Zn NPs poses risks to soil microbiota, and aquatic and terrestrial organisms potentially impacting the ecosystem. The green synthesis of Zn-based NPs has a promising aspect for advancing sustainable agriculture by reducing agrochemical use and improving crop productivity. Their diverse applications as plant growth promoters, crop protectants and smart delivery systems emphasize their potential. However, the toxicological aspects are essential to ensure the standardization of doses for their safe and effective use. Further research would help address such concerns and help in developing viable and eco-friendly solutions for modern agriculture. (c) 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Hydrogel, as a typical representative of functional materials, constructs a three-dimensional network structure through physical or chemical cross-linking of hydrophilic polymer chains, which are rich in hydrophilic groups such as hydroxyl (-OH), carboxyl (-COOH), and amino (-NH2) on the molecular chain and exhibit excellent high water absorption (water absorption multiplication rate of 10-20 times and up to more than 500 times after nanocomposite modification). Studies have shown that the modified hydrogel removes more than 95 % of heavy metal ions (e.g., Pb2+, Cr3+) and possesses pH and temperature responsive swelling behavior. In response to the pressing problems faced by global agriculture, such as water scarcity, low fertilizer utilization, and soil heavy metal pollution, hydrogels show great potential for application in precision controlled release of fertilizers, water and moisture conservation, and pollution remediation. In this paper, we systematically review the performance characteristics of hydrogel, optimization strategies, and preparation methods, focusing on its innovative applications in agriculture and mechanistic role based on the environmental response mechanism to achieve the synergistic management of nutrients, water, and pollutants, which provides significant technological support for the development of sustainable agriculture.

The study explored the long-term efficiency of an integrated electrodialysis-forward osmosis (EDFO) treatment technology for nutrient recovery and its application in irrigating and fertilizing high-value crops. Results showed a stable energy profile with consistent electrical conductivity (EC) trends in both municipal and dairy digestates, highlighting the system's capacity to maintain ionic stability, essential for long-term operation. Fouling resistance was indicated by gradual and minimal declines in current density, reflecting stable performance after three cycles and reducing the need for chemical cleaning. A greenhouse trial assessed the impact of using treated and untreated wastewater for irrigation on plant growth and nutrient dynamics in southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. interspecific hybrid). The plants were grown in a soilless potting media and irrigated with a modified Hoagland nutrient solution (control), untreated municipal or dairy digestate, or recovered nutrient water from municipal or dairy digestate treated by the EDFO process. Leaf area and shoot biomass were similar among the treatments, confirming that wastewater irrigation did not adversely affect blueberry growth. Furthermore, pH levels in the potting media were near or within the optimal range for blueberry cultivation (4.5-5.5), while EC exceeded salinity thresholds for the crop (> 2 dS m(-1)) but did not visibly damage the plants, suggesting that salt levels were manageable with periodic freshwater flushing. Mass-spectrometry-based, non-targeted analysis detected significant reductions in organic pollutants across treatment cycles. In particular, pharmaceuticals and pesticides in untreated digestate were reduced by over 90 % post-treatment, affirming the system's efficacy in removing emerging contaminants that could pose risks in agriculture and consumers. Given the favorable nutrient recovery and contaminant removal, the EDFO system offers a sustainable solution for wastewater reuse, enabling nutrient cycling in agricultural systems and reducing freshwater dependence.

Microplastic pollution from the agriculture industry presents a growing environmental and public health concern, driven in part by the widespread use of poly(ethylene) (PE)-based mulch. While plastic mulch is essential for sustaining an increasing global population, its contribution to microplastic pollution necessitates alternative solutions. This work addresses the urgent need for biodegradable mulches (BDMs) that match the performance of traditional PE films. A comprehensive methodology is proposed for the development and characterization of novel BDM formulations, informed by scientific literature, regulatory guidelines, commercial practices, and industry standards. The proposed approach emphasizes scalable formulation and processing of biodegradable polymer feedstocks, avoiding toxic solvents through thermal blending. For laboratory-scale production, hot melt pressing and blow film molding techniques are highlighted for their ability to produce uniform and reproducible films. Uniaxial mechanical testing of dog bone-shaped samples is recommended for rapid performance screening against industry benchmarks while film stability, water absorption, and biodegradation are evaluated under simulated agricultural conditions. Analytical techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry are employed to characterize key properties, ensuring that the developed BDMs align with practical and environmental demands.