Esmaeil Rezaei-Chiyaneh

Ensuring food and energy security under increasing resource constraints requires production systems that simultaneously enhance productivity, improve resource‐use efficiency, and maintain biochemical seed quality traits, including oil content and phenolic compound accumulation. Intercropping and biochar application are promising strategies for sustainable agriculture; however, their combined effects in oilseed–cereal systems remain insufficiently understood, particularly under semi‐arid field conditions. This study provides field‐scale evidence integrating optimized canola–oat intercropping ratios with biochar application to simultaneously evaluate productivity, biochemical seed quality, and land‐use efficiency. This 2‐year field study was conducted in Naqadeh, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran, a semi‐arid region, over two consecutive growing seasons (2021–2022 and 2022–2023). The experiment evaluated three canola–oat intercropping ratios (2C:4O, 3C:6O, and 4C:8O) with and without biochar application (0 and 10 t ha ⁻¹ ) to assess effects on yield performance, oil content, phenolic compounds, and land‐use efficiency. Intercropping reduced yields of individual crops compared with monoculture but significantly increased overall system productivity, as indicated by land equivalent ratios (LER) consistently greater than one. Additionally, the relative value total (RVT) index confirmed the economic advantage of intercropping, showing increases from 0.64–0.93 in control plots to 0.84–1.22 under biochar application, with the 4C:8O configuration exhibiting the highest economic return. The 4C:8O intercropping ratio combined with biochar achieved the highest system advantage, with a total LER of 1.69, indicating 69% more efficient land use than monocropping. Biochar improved not only land‐use efficiency but also economic performance (via RVT enhancement) by 26%–31% relative to unamended treatments. Biochar application also increased seed oil content by up to 11% and promoted the accumulation of phenolic compounds. These improvements indicate enhanced biochemical seed quality and improved economic efficiency without compromising overall system productivity. Overall, integrating biochar with optimized canola–oat intercropping simultaneously enhanced land‐use efficiency, economic return, and seed quality traits, providing a viable strategy for sustainable oilseed–cereal production under semi‐arid conditions.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of organic mulches as a sustainable strategy to mitigate water deficit stress in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). A field experiment was conducted using a split-plot design with three irrigation regimes—no stress (Irr100, 100% field capacity (FC)), mild stress (Irr80, 80% FC), and severe stress (Irr60, 60% FC)—and four mulch treatments (straw, biochar, vermicompost, and an unmulched control). Severe water stress (Irr60) reduced grain yield and oil yield by 48% and 54%, respectively, compared with optimal irrigation (Irr100). Organic mulching significantly alleviated these losses, with biochar consistently outperforming the other treatments. Under optimal irrigation, biochar increased grain yield by 170% relative to the control, and this advantage increased to 188% under severe stress. Biochar also produced the highest 100-grain weight (0.25 g) and improved oil quality by increasing oleic acid content to 50.28%. Mulch application enhanced plant water status and stress tolerance, as indicated by increased relative water content (up to 26% with straw under Irr100), chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase and superoxide dismutase) under stress. In addition, biochar-treated plants under severe stress showed the greatest accumulation of osmolytes, including proline (55%) and total phenolics (42%). Overall, biochar was the most effective mulch for enhancing physiological resilience, yield, and oil quality in sesame grown under water-limited conditions, highlighting its potential as a practical management strategy for sustainable sesame production in water-scarce environments.

This study investigated the effects of three mulch types (straw, vermicompost and “plastic”) plus an untreated control, and three irrigation regimes (RFD: rainfed conditions; SIF: one supplemental irrigation at the flowering stage; SIVF: two supplemental irrigations at the vegetative and flowering stages) on the growth, seed yield, oil composition, and biochemical status of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.). Linseed plants were best affected by SIVF and straw mulch in terms of seed yield (300 and 222.4 g m⁻², respectively), biomass yield (887.9 and 703 g m⁻², respectively), and concentration of oleic and linoleic acids. Under rainfed conditions, “plastic” mulch application increased stearic acid concentrations, while SIF increased palmitic acid concentrations. Rainfed conditions promoted the accumulation of proline (10.1 μmol g⁻¹ fresh weight), total phenols (6.68 mg g⁻¹ fresh weight), and DPPH radical scavenging capacity (56.5%). Under RFD, plants grown in straw-mulched soil showed the highest total phenol content and DPPH radical scavenging capacity, while control (unmulched) plants displayed the highest proline concentration at this irrigation regime. Enzyme activities, including catalase and superoxide dismutase, were enhanced under straw and “plastic” mulch compared to control plants under rainfed conditions. Our findings suggest that straw mulch represents an effective, sustainable strategy to successfully manage linseed crops, mitigating the adverse effects of water deficit stress on plant performance.

The effects of three mulch types (vermicompost, plastic, and straw) plus an untreated control, in factorial combination with three irrigation regimes (RFD: rainfed condition; SIF: one supplemental irrigation at the flowering stage; SIVF: two supplemental irrigations at the vegetative and flowering stages) on linseed growth, seed yield and oil composition, and biochemical status were investigated. Linseed plants under two irrigations and straw mulch showed the highest seed yield (300 g and 222.4 g m-2, respectively), biological yield (887.9 g m-2), and concentration of oleic and linoleic acids. The plastic mulch application under rainfed conditions or one irrigation increased stearic and palmitic acid concentrations, respectively. Water deficit stress encouraged the accumulation of proline (10.1 μmol g-1 fresh weight (FW)), total phenols (6.68 mg g-1 FW), and DPPH radical scavenging capacity (56.5%). Plants grown in straw mulched soil showed the highest total phenol content and DPPH radical scavenging capacity, while control plants displayed the highest proline concentration. Enzyme activities, including catalase and superoxide dismutase, were enhanced under straw and plastic mulch compared to control plants under rainfed conditions. Our findings suggest that straw mulch represents an effective, sustainable strategy to successfully manage linseed crops, mitigating the adverse effects of water deficit stress on plant performance.

This study investigated the impact of stress modifiers in intercropping systems on seed yield and yield components, physiological traits, and antioxidant activity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under rainfed (water deficit) conditions. The experimental design included three stress modulator levels [control, 1 mM salicylic acid (SA), and 10 mM selenium (Se)] and five planting patterns [intercropping one row of safflower and two rows of chickpeas (1S:2C), two rows of safflower and four rows of chickpeas (2S:4C), and three rows of safflower and five rows of chickpeas (3S:5C), and sole cropping of safflower (Ss) and chickpea (Cs)]. The results revealed that Ss treated with Se produced the highest safflower biological yield (4,905.50 kg ha⁻¹) and seed yield (1,259.50 kg ha⁻¹), while Cs produced the highest chickpea biological yield (2,799.67 kg ha⁻¹) and seed yield (852.44 kg ha⁻¹), followed by Cs treated with SA (2,419.25 kg ha⁻¹ and 764.83 kg ha⁻¹, respectively). Conversely, the 3S:5C intercropping ratio (IR) with Se application recorded the highest safflower oil content (32.08%), while Ss treated with Se produced the highest oil yield (358.62 kg ha⁻¹). The 2S:4C configuration with Se application produced the highest unsaturated fatty acid (oleic and linoleic acids) concentrations in safflower, while 2S:4C and 3S:5C treated with Se produced the highest chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents in safflower and chickpea. Furthermore, 1S:2C and 2S:4C treated with SA or Se produced the highest proline and total soluble sugars in safflower and chickpea. The SA and Se treatments in the intercropping systems increased catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities compared to the respective control plants (sole cropping) and enhanced oil contents, fatty acid composition, physiological traits, and antioxidant properties. These results underscore the potential of intercropping systems coupled with stress modulator treatments as a sustainable approach for safflower and chickpea cultivation under rainfed conditions.

The intercropping system is known for its multifaceted benefits; however, it has been mostly evaluated to quantify yield, land resource use efficiency and monetary gains. There are several underlying advantages relevant in the present context of global warming and climate change. Intercropping systems have the potential to ensure the regulation of climatic factors, efficient soil moisture utilization, maximum use of solar radiation, reduced greenhouse gas emission, more carbon sequestration and greater ecosystem services. These beneficial aspects of intercropping system have been revisited in the article. In recent times, as per the recommendation of the United Nations (UN), a major emphasis has been placed on the agricultural production systems to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while the intercropping system is the environmentally friendly and cost-effective cropping system that can address three SDGs such as zero hunger (SDG-2), climate action (SDG-13) and life on land (SDG-15). The present article focuses on the prospects of intercropping systems to meet the food security of the increasing population in the modern era of the changing climate.

Biofertilizers has potential to improve crop productivity in a sustainable manner yet their impact on forage crops yields and forage quality indices have not been extensively explored. In this study, the impact of different cropping patterns and fertilizer sources on the forage yield and quality of ajowan (Carum copticum L.), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum‐graecum L.), and pea (Pisum sativum L.) was investigated. The findings shed light on the importance of biofertilizer application as a sustainable solution for enhancing forage production and quality in agricultural systems. The experimental treatments involved six cropping patterns [ajowan monoculture, fenugreek monoculture, pea monoculture, intercropping of one row ajowan + one row fenugreek + one row pea (1:1:1), two rows ajowan + two rows fenugreek + two rows pea (2:2:2), and three rows ajowan + three rows fenugreek + three rows pea (3:3:3)] and five fertilizer sources [no fertilizer (control), 100% chemical fertilizer (CF), chemical fertilizer + humic acid (CF + HU), chemical fertilizer + biofertilizer (CF + BF), and humic acid + biofertilizer (HU + BF)]. The results revealed that the 2:2:2 intercrop fertilized with CF + BF had the highest N, P, and K concentrations for the three species. The monoculture systems with CF + BF produced the highest forage yields for ajowan (5492 kg/ha), fenugreek (3811 kg/ha), and pea (12,695 kg/ha). In addition, 2:2:2 intercrop fertilized with CF + BF produced the highest forage quality for all three species, decreasing the crude fiber, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber contents and increasing forage ASH, dry matter intake, water‐soluble carbohydrates, and relative feed value. The 2:2:2 intercrop ratio combined with CF + BF application could be recommended to farmers as an eco‐friendly strategy (decreasing chemical fertilizer use) for improving forage productivity and quality in sustainable agricultural systems.

The current geological epoch is characterized by anthropogenic activity that greatly impacts on natural ecosystems and their integrity. The complex networks of ecosystem services (ESs) are often ignored because the provision of natural resources, such as food and industrial crops, is mistakenly viewed as an independent process separate from ecosystems and ignoring the impacts on ecosystems. Recently, research has intensified on how to evaluate and manage ES to minimize environmental impacts, but it remains unclear how to balance anthropogenic activity and ecosystem integrity. This paper reviews the main ESs at farm level including provisioning, regulating, habitat, and cultural services. For these ESs, synergies are outlined and evaluated along with the respective practices (e.g., cover‐ and intercropping) and ES suppliers (e.g., pollinators and biocontrol agents). Further, several farm‐level ES trade‐offs are discussed along with a proposal for their evaluation. Finally, a framework for stakeholder approaches specific to farm‐level ES is put forward, along with an outlook on how existing precision agriculture technologies can be adapted for improved assessment of ES bundles. This is believed to provide a useful framework for both decision makers and stakeholders to facilitate the development of more sustainable and resilient farming systems.