Fertilizer use, critical for enhancing soil fertility and promoting plant growth, directly intersects with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Primarily, it contributes to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by increasing agricultural productivity and food security. However, the relationship is complex, as responsible usage is required to prevent negative impacts. Overuse or improper application of fertilizers can lead to water contamination and soil degradation, affecting SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). It can also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly nitrous oxide, impacting SDG 13 (Climate Action). To reconcile these issues, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) promotes more sustainable and efficient fertilizer use, balancing the need for productivity with environmental stewardship.
Facultative polyandry protects females from compromised male fertility caused by heatwave conditions
Animal Behaviour, Volume 178, August 2021
Why is polyandry such a common mating behaviour when it exposes females to a range of significant fitness costs? Here, we investigated whether polyandry protects females against reduced male fertility caused by thermal stress from heatwave conditions. Sperm production and function are vulnerable to heat, and heatwave conditions are forecast to increase as our climate warms, so we examined these effects on female reproduction and mating behaviour in the flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, a promiscuous ectotherm model in which fertility is damaged by environmental warming.
One of the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations (UN) aims by 2030 to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”. Fertilizers will play a pivotal role in achieving that goal given that ~90% of crop production growth is expected to come from higher yields and increased cropping intensity. However, materials-science research on fertilizers has received little attention, especially in Africa.
All crops require nitrogen (N) for the production of a photosynthetically active canopy, whose functionality will strongly influence yield. Cereal crops also require N for storage proteins in the grain, an important quality attribute. Optimal efficiency is achieved by the controlled remobilization of canopy-N to the developing grain during crop maturation. Whilst N will always be required for crop production, targeting efficient capture and use will optimise consumption of this valuable macronutrient.
