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Understanding the growth adaptive strategies of Amorpha fruticosa in response to the changes of saline soil environment under different mulch types (plastic mulch [PM]; sand mulch [SM]; rice straw mulch [RSM]; and control with non-mulching [CK]) is very important, as this determines afforestation success in a moderately saline soil. The species' soil microenvironments, fine root traits, and biomass allocation patterns were investigated in 2016 and 2017. Compared to CK, electrical conductivity of saturated paste extracts (EC e) reduced significantly under the mulching treatments especially under PM. Both PM and SM effectively increased soil temperature (T soil) and available nitrogen (AN), but reduced soil organic carbon (SOC) in 2016; while RSM increased soil nutrients, but reduced T soil. The A. fruticosa under RSM (following PM and SM) invested more biomass, to shoots relative to roots, to coarse roots relative to fine roots, and to stems and leaves at the expense of coarse roots and fine roots from 2016 to 2017, as its saline soil environment especially the low T soil improved. In both years, the fine roots of A. fruticosa under PM employed exploitation potential or 'extensive strategy' (fine root mass density; fine root length density) more successfully at the 0-40 cm, while the fine roots under CK used higher exploitation efficiency or 'intensive strategy' (specific root length; and specific root area). The indicators of intensive strategy at the 40-60 cm were higher under PM than SM and RSM. Therefore, PM will better help A. fruticosa adapt to the harsh soil environment during afforestation in a moderately saline wasteland.

High-output modern agriculture based on synthetic chemicals (biocides, pesticides, and fertilizers) feeds the growing global population. To completely abandon the use of pesticides and fertilizers will undoubtedly cause a severe food crisis worldwide, and sustainable alternative solutions are urgently demanded to stop biocides and fertilizers overuse. Herein, a versatile and green strategy is proposed for seed protection and long-term storage of grains using a cellulose-based photothermal coating (PDA NPs@Cell-N+) that consists of photothermal polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) and a positive-charged cellulose derivative (Cell-N+) to eradicate seed-borne bacteria and fungi simply under infrared irradiation. In vitro and in vivo assays and the seedling-stage phenotypes of mung bean (Vigna radiata) suggest that pathogenic microbes, including the tough Aspergillus flavus (inhibition ratio >99%), can be efficiently eliminated by photothermal therapy. Thus, the seed-borne diseases of mung beans can finally be prevented. Owing to excellent solubility and biocompatibility, the PDA NPs@Cell-N+ coating can be washed off and recycled without food safety concerns. PDA NPs@Cell-N+ can be a nature-based solution for seed protection and long-term grain storage.

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