Agronomy
December 15, 2022
Sarana Rose Sommano, Ratchuporn Suksathan, Thanarat Sombat et al.
16 citations
Medicinal mushrooms, including both edible and psilocybin-containing types, are used to prevent and treat ailments and support healthy diets. Their fruiting bodies, mycelia, and cultured broth contain phytochemicals such as triterpenes, lectins, steroids, phenols, polyphenols, lactones, statins, alkaloids, and antibiotics. Psilocybin-containing mushrooms have been used by indigenous communities for generations for hallucinogenic, medicinal, and mind-manifestation properties. Recent clinical research suggests these psychedelics can treat addiction, depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns, increasing demand for natural products. This review examines therapeutic mushrooms, especially Psilocybe, and biotechnological approaches for cultivation and secondary metabolite production, aiming to guide sustainable production of functional foods and pharmaceuticals and reduce stigma around psychedelic mushrooms.
Agronomy
June 23, 2022
Moumini Guindo, Bouba Traoré, Birhanu Zemadim Birhanu et al.
Applying a microdose of compost at 2.5 t ha⁻¹ improved sorghum growth rate, plant height, grain yield, and biomass yield by 15%, 18%, 47%, and 27%, respectively, compared to a control receiving only DAP fertilizer. No statistical difference in yield (2061 kg ha⁻¹) was observed between microdosing at 2.5 t ha⁻¹ and broadcasting at 5 t ha⁻¹. Microdosing allowed a 100% increase in fertilized surface area and over 55% nitrogen use efficiency, yielding an economic gain of 334,800 XOF ha⁻¹—27% higher than broadcasting. However, broadcasting contributed more to soil nitrogen stock (100% vs. 12–20% for microdosing). Cotton stems offer an opportunity for farmers to adopt microdose technology to double fertilized area and boost sorghum productivity in southern Mali.
Agronomy
November 12, 2019
Adama Coulibaly, Kamkam Woumou, Jens B. Aune
In the drylands of West Africa, low-cost methods such as seed priming and microdosing of fertilizer can boost sorghum and millet yields, but their effectiveness depends on local rainfall. Over four years in Mali, microdosing 0.4 g NPK per hill (4 kg/ha) worked best in central Mali, while 0.8 g NPK per hill (20 kg/ha) was best in southern Mali. Seed priming helped in central but not southern Mali. Adding a urea top dressing (1 g per hill, 25 kg/ha) improved yields only in southern Mali. Sorghum responded better to microdosing than pearl millet. A decision tree was created to guide farmers on crop and fertilizer choices based on rainfall.