Phosphorus (P) is a finite natural resource and is increasingly considered to be a challenge for global sustainability. Agriculture in China plays a key role in global sustainable P management. Rhizosphere and soil-based P management are necessary for improving P-use efficiency and crop productivity in intensive agriculture in China. A previous study has shown that the future demand for phosphate fertilizer by China estimated by the LePA model (legacy phosphorus assessment model) can be greatly reduced by soil-based P management (the building-up and maintenance approach). The present study used the LePA model to predict the phosphate demand by China through combined rhizosphere and soil-based P management at county scale under four P fertilizer scenarios: (1) same P application rate as in 2012; (2) rate maintained same as 2012 in low-P counties or no P fertilizer applied in high-P counties until targeted soil Olsen-P (TPOlsen) level is reached, and then rate was the same as P-removed at harvest; (3) rate in each county decreased to 1–7 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 after TPOlsen is reached in low-P counties, then increased by 0.1–9 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 until equal to P-removal; (4) rate maintained same as 2012 in low-P counties until TPOlsen is reached and then equaled to P-removal, while the rate in high-P counties is decreased to 1–7 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 until TPOlsen is reached and then increased by 0.1–9 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 until equal to P-removal. Our predictions showed that the total demand for P fertilizer by whole China was 693 Mt P2O5 and according to scenario 4, P fertilizer could be reduced by 57.5% compared with farmer current practice, during the period 2013–2080. The model showed that rhizosphere P management led to a further 8.0% decrease in P fertilizer use compared with soil-based P management. The average soil Olsen-P level in China only needs to be maintained at 17 mg kg^–1 to achieve high crop yields. Our results provide a firm basis for government to issue-relevant policies for sustainable P management in China.

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is an effective approach of in vitro regeneration that depends on plant cell totipotency. However, largely unknown of molecular mechanisms of SE in woody plants such as Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume), limits the development of the woody plant industry. Here, we report the MADS-box transcription factor CmAGL11 in Chinese chestnut. CmAGL11 transcripts specifically accumulated in the globular embryo. Overexpression of CmAGL11 in chestnut callus enhanced its SE capacity, and the development of somatic embryos occurred significantly faster than in the control. RNA-seq results showed that CmAGL11 affects the expression of several genes related to the gibberellin, auxin, and ethylene pathways. Moreover, the analysis of DNA methylation status indicated that the promoter methylation plays a role in regulation of CmAGL11 expression during SE. Our results demonstrated that CmAGL11 plays an important role in the SE process in Chinese chestnut, possibly by regulating gibberellin, auxin, and ethylene pathways. It will help establish an efficient platform to accelerate genetic improvement and germplasm innovation in Chinese chestnut.

How do Chinese agricultural exports to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) evolve? And what factors affected the evolution pattern? This study measures the trade margins of Chinese agricultural exports to ASEAN by utilizing the 2000–2015 Harmonized System’s six-digit agricultural trade data, and further analyzes their determinants by developing an augmented gravity model of international trade. The results indicate that, the main growth source of Chinese agricultural exports to ASEAN has shifted from the extensive margin before the formal establishment of CAFTA (China–ASEAN Free Trade Area) in 2010 to the intensive margin since the formal establishment of CAFTA, but changes in Chinese agricultural exports to ASEAN have always mainly depended on the intensive margin. Since the formal establishment of CAFTA, the evolution pattern of Chinese agricultural exports to ASEAN has shifted from “more varieties, low price, and small quantity” to “less varieties, high price, and large quantity”. Relative economic scale, relative population scale, capacity of agricultural export, trade integration, global financial crisis, and common border significantly affect the trade margins of Chinese agricultural exports to ASEAN.

To deal with concerns in China about environmental degradation and a growth in population accompanied by increased consumption of livestock products, a meat alternative is required. This study compared the environmental impacts of producing different protein sources for nutrition, including crops, livestock products, and cultured meat. The results showed that cultured meat has the lowest land use per unit of protein and unit of human digestible energy. China’s crops have the lowest energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per unit of energy and protein. The energy use in cultured meat production is slightly higher than that of current pork production in China, whereas GHG emissions are lower. It is concluded that the overall impact of replacing livestock products with cultured meat would be beneficial for China’s environment and would potentially improve food security because less land is needed to produce the same amount of protein and energy.

Pregnancy toxemia is a metabolic disorder of lipid and glucose. Recent investigations have found that angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) can contribute to disorder of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The present study was conducted to investigate the change of ANGPTL3 expression during pregnancy toxemia. We firstly cloned the full-length cDNA of ANGPTL3 in Liuyang Black goats, revealing that goat ANGPTL3 had the typical structure of the angiopoietin-like family, and its mRNA was exclusively expressed in liver. Pregnancy toxemia of pregnant goat does with twins during late gestation was induced by being fasted for 72 h, and then they were recovered after 5 d of refeeding. Hepatic ANGPTL3 gene expression was significantly down-regulated concomitantly with decreased serum glucose concentration, elevated serum β-hydroxybutyrate and free fatty acid levels in pregnant toxemic goats, and these changes were reversed after refeeding. These results suggest ANGPTL3 may play a certain role in the development of pregnancy toxemia in goats.