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Vanilla, a quintessential flavoring agent, experiences burgeoning demand globally, particularly for natural variants. In response, Taiwan has ventured into vanilla cultivation, aiming to reduce the energy consumption associated with international transportation by fostering domestic production. This study investigates the sensory attributes of Taiwan and Madagascar vanilla beans amid increasing global demand for natural vanilla. We extended our sensory evaluations to vanilla ice cream products to assess their quality. Employing sensory evaluation questionnaires and experimental techniques, we utilized purposive and snowball sampling methodologies for participant recruitment. Our primary aim is to discern the edible disparities between Taiwan and Madagascar vanilla beans by scrutinizing variations in consumer sensory preferences. Our findings reveal statistically significant disparities between Taiwan and Madagascar vanilla beans concerning product texture and overall aroma in sensory evaluations, while other attributes do not exhibit notable differences. This suggests that the sensory experience of vanilla ice cream products derived from Taiwan and Madagascar vanilla beans primarily diverges in terms of product texture and overall aroma, with negligible disparities elsewhere. Remarkably, Taiwan vanilla beans consistently outperform Madagascar vanilla beans across many evaluation criteria, underscoring the superior quality and competitive edge of Taiwan's vanilla beans. This empirical evidence highlights the exceptional quality and value proposition of Taiwan vanilla beans, offering insights for the expansion and deepening of sensory evaluations pertaining to vanilla beans. Furthermore, our study contributes to environmental sustainability by promoting local production and presents new avenues for Taiwan's vanilla processing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is widely used to maintain crop yields and the sustainability of agroecosystems due to its characteristics. However, its effect on vegetable yield and quality in southern acidic soils has not been fully elucidated. The effects of two kinds of biochar application rates (3 t ha−1 and 12 t ha−1) on the nutrient availability, nutrient absorption, yield, and fruit quality of sandy acid oxide soil in South China were studied in a 2-year field experiment using two varieties of wax gourd (Tiezhu No. 2 and Dadao). The results showed that optimized fertilization (OPT, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were reduced by 20.0%, 20.6%, and 21.1%, respectively) did not reduce the yield of the different varieties of wax gourd compared to FP (farmer practice). On the basis of the OPT treatment, the application of biochar increased the yield of Tiezhu No. 2 and Dadao wax gourd by 16.0–27.3% and 7.7–13.3%, respectively. The increase in yield was attributed to the improvement in soil organic carbon content which increased by 4.5–19.7%, nutrient effectiveness (NO3−-N and Olsen-P content enhanced by 23.7–27.0% and 15.3–23.4% in Tiezhu No. 2), and nutrient uptake (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg accumulation increased significantly by 21.1%, 46.1%, 36.8%, 25.7%, and 31.9%, respectively) by the plant after the biochar application. Different types of biochar also have some differences in these three aspects. Specifically, under the same dosage, rice biochar has a more significant effect on increasing the yield of winter melon, and has a better effect on the improvement of soil physical and chemical properties, while sawdust biochar has a more significant effect on nutrient absorption. In addition, the commercial quality, namely hardness and glossiness, and the nutritional quality, namely soluble sugar, soluble protein, VC content, and sugar–acid ratio of wax gourd fruits, were significantly improved after the biochar application. In summary, biochar application on acidic soils in South China could achieve a win–win situation in terms of increasing soil nutrient effectiveness to improve vegetable yield and quality while reducing chemical fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen fertilizer is the most frequently used fertilizer in the cultivation of medicinal plants, and has a significant contribution to their yields and quality. Yet, there is biased and excessive N application in medicinal crops. This study aims to quantitatively analyze the recommended N application concentrations for diverse medicinal species and disentangle the intricate relationships between soil fertility, N application rate (NAR), and the quality/yield of medicinal crops. We first characterized 179 medicinal species and 7 classes of phytometabolites therein, including terpenoids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, phenolics, alkaloids, etc., reported during the past three decades from the phylogenetic and spatial perspectives. The relationships between soil fertility, NAR, and medicinal crops were then subjected to statistical analyses. The pharmaco-phylogenetic and geographic distributions of NAR suggest that the impact of ecological/environmental factors on the N demand of medicinal plants was much greater than that of genetic endowments. We found that different medicinal species were distinct in N demand, which is related to soil fertility levels in different production areas. The NAR reported by China, 215.6 ± 18.6 kg/ha, was higher than that of other countries (152.2 ± 20.3 kg/ha; p = 0.023). Moderate N application generally increases the yield and phytometabolite content of medicinal crops, but excessive N application has the opposite effect. It is necessary to plan N concentration and formula fertilization on a case-by-case basis and with reference to empirical research. Our results provide baseline information and references for the rational application of N fertilizer in the precision agriculture of medicinal crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of trace element iron has become a key factor restricting vegetable yield and quality improvement. To address the low production efficiency of water–fertilizer coupling in agricultural production, we used a combination of experimental research, theoretical analysis, and mathematical modeling to systematically determine the effects of magneto-electric water irrigation with iron application on spinach growth and physiology, its yield and quality, and soil water transport characteristics. Compared with conventional water irrigation, under magneto-electric water irrigation, the water volume and applied iron concentration average increased the total accumulation of nitrogen, carbon, and iron in the aboveground part of spinach by 3.71%, 10.16%, and 14.14%, respectively, and the aboveground part of spinach had the highest total accumulation of nitrogen and carbon when irrigation water was 3300 m3 ha−1 and iron fertilizer application at 0.15%. Additionally, magneto-electric water irrigation increased spinach aboveground fresh weight and soluble sugar and protein content by an average of 13.34, 18.26, and 11.61%, respectively. Based on a comprehensive quantitative evaluation and analysis of aboveground nutrient accumulation in spinach, aboveground fresh weight, water use efficiency, and soluble sugar and protein content, we determined the optimal irrigation water and iron fertilizer application for spinach growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of poor water and fertilizer retention in sandy soils can lead to physiological growth restriction and yield and quality decline in apples. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) formula can improve the soil structure and increase the water- and fertilizer-holding capacity of the soil, and Biogenic Stimulant (BS) can improve the drought stress resistance of crops and promote the physiological growth of crops. Considering that CMC and BS may improve the physiological characteristics of sandy soil apples, in this study, CMC was coupled with BS in sandy apples, and the effects on the physiological characteristics, yield, and quality of apples were systematically investigated. The results showed that CMC and BS could increase leaf N, P, and K content, with the greatest increases seen in the Y2C2 treatment (9.28, 0.61, and 0.56 g kg−1, respectively) compared with the CK treatment. The SPAD values of leaves following the coupled CMC and BS treatment compared to the CK treatment were elevated in the range of 4.47–24.29% at the flowering and fruiting stage, 2.84–26.50% at fruit expansion stage, and 6.64–19.41% at maturation stage. In the light response data of different treatments, the maximum net photosynthetic rate occurred in the Y2C2 treatment, and the net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance were all the highest in the Y2C2 treatment during the fruit expansion stage, with the net photosynthetic rate being higher than that of the CK treatment by 5.09 µmol m−2 s−1. The combination treatments of CMC and BS increased apple yield by 10.69 to 27.62% as compared to the CK treatment, and also increased soluble reducing sugar, soluble solids, and VC and reduced the titratable acid content. There was no correlation between the SPAD value during fruit expansion (p > 0.05) and the other physiological indexes (p < 0.05). Through the established functional relationship between the application rate of CMC and BS and apple yield, the recommended BS application rate of 27 kg ha−1 and CMC application rate of 20.625 kg ha−1 could yield up to 43,357.8 kg ha−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of different water-saving treatments on rice plant growth and select suitable water-saving irrigation strategies for aerobic rice varieties, we conducted relevant field experiments from June to October 2023 at Jiangsu Runguo Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., China, which is located in a north subtropical monsoon climate where the soil is alkaline sandy loam. Four water treatments were set up, including the control of local conventional irrigation (CK, without water stress), mild water-saving treatment (W1, 20% more water saved than CK), moderate water-saving treatment (W2, 30% more water saved than CK), and severe water-saving treatment (W3, 40% more water saved than CK). The experiment results showed that rice plant heights were inhibited and leaf chlorophyll contents increased under all water-saving treatments compared to CK. Among them, the MDA content in paddy leaves under the W1 treatment decreased, while the activities of SOD and POD were enhanced and the membrane lipid peroxidation capacity of rice was also enhanced. Meanwhile, the results showed that the rice yield and quality under the W1 treatment significantly improved. Based on those experiments, a comprehensive evaluation of rice plant height, chlorophyll content, grain yield, yield components, and rice quality was conducted using the TOPSIS entropy weight method. It was preliminarily concluded that the suitable irrigation scheme for south and central Jiangsu was 20% water-saving irrigation compared with CK. In summary, under the premise of maintaining the economic yield of rice cultivation, an appropriate water irrigation plan helped save water resources and promote rice growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to determine the optimal nitrogen application rate for strong-gluten wheat cultivation in the North China Plain. Employing Zhongmai 578, a strong-gluten wheat variety, a field experiment was conducted with the following four nitrogen levels: 0 kg/ha (N0), 150 kg/ha (N1), 210 kg/ha (N2), and 270 kg/ha (N3). The research focused on examining the impact of nitrogen application on the photosynthesis, yield, and quality of strong-gluten wheat. The findings revealed that the N2 treatment (210 kg/ha) yielded the highest results compared to the N0 treatment. Photosynthetic parameters, including chlorophyll content in wheat flag leaves, generally exhibited an increase followed by a decrease, peaking at 7 days after anthesis (except for the transpiration rate, which peaked at 14 days post-anthesis). In the first year, quality indices such as water absorption, capacity, sedimentation value, ductility, protein, and wet gluten initially increased and then decreased with rising nitrogen levels. Conversely, in the second year, these quality indices, including hardness, showed a progressive increase with elevated nitrogen application. These results indicate that enhanced nitrogen application can significantly improve the photosynthetic characteristics of strong-gluten wheat, thereby augmenting both yield and quality. Within the parameters of this experiment, an application of 210 kg/ha of nitrogen emerged as the optimal rate, promoting the superior yield and quality of strong-gluten wheat in the North China Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of cotton fiber plays a pivotal role for both producers and processors, influencing the market value and end-product quality. Certain cotton fiber properties, such as length, strength, micronaire, and uniformity index, are crucial determinants of cotton quality. Despite its prominence as a cotton-producing region, the Aegean region in Türkiye lacks comprehensive studies examining the quality of its cotton fiber across different subregions and seasonal variations. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the variations in cotton fiber quality across different years and subregions within the Aegean. This study involved the evaluation of a total of 368,686 individual fiber quality analyses conducted over seven years across three subregions within the Aegean in Türkiye. The fiber samples collected from Bergama, Söke, and Menemen underwent high-volume instrument (HVI) analysis to evaluate the variations in cotton fiber quality across years and subregions, considering the phenological stages of cotton and climate conditions. The findings highlighted significant variations in the fiber quality traits among subregions, with environmental factors such as temperature and humidity playing crucial roles. Higher average daily temperatures during the flowering stage to boll formation contributed to higher strength values, while limitations on fiber length were observed due to prevalent high temperatures. Additionally, variations in micronaire values were linked to temperature and humidity conditions during boll development stages. This study underscores the importance of comprehensively considering climatic factors to understand their impacts on cotton fiber quality and suggests further research into the cotton plant's phenology and specific climate conditions for a more thorough understanding of environmental effects on fiber quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a common vegetable variety, asparagus is rich in B vitamins, vitamin A, and trace elements such as folate, selenium, iron, manganese, and zinc. With the increasing market demand, China has become the world's largest cultivated area for asparagus production and product exportation. However, traditional asparagus grading mostly relies on manual visual judgment and needs a lot of manpower input to carry out the classification operation, which cannot meet the needs of large-scale production. To address the high labor cost and labor-intensive production process resulting from the large amount of manpower input and low accuracy of existing asparagus grading devices, this study proposed an improved asparagus grading system and method based on TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution) objective evaluation and SVM (support vector machine) prediction. The key structure of classification device was analyzed first, the key components were designed, and the structural parameters were determined by theoretical calculation. Through analysis of the factors affecting asparagus quality, three key attributes were determined: length, diameter, and bruises, which were used as reference attributes to conduct experimental analysis. Then, the graded control groups were set up, combining the TOPSIS principle with weighting, and a score for each asparagus sample was determined. These scores were compared with those of a graded control group to derive the grade of each asparagus, and these subsets of the dataset were used as the training set and the test set, excluding the error caused by the subjectivity of the manual judgment. Based on a comparison of the accuracies of different machine learning models, the support vector machine (SVM) was determined to be the most accurate, and four SVM methods were used to evaluate the test set: linear SVM, quadratic SVM, cubic SVM, and medium Gaussian SVM. The test results showed that the grading device was feasible for asparagus. The bruises had a large influence on asparagus quality. The training accuracy of the medium Gaussian SVM method was high (96%), whereas its test accuracy was low (86.67%). The training accuracies and test accuracy of the quadratic and cubic SVM methods were 93.34%. The quadratic SVM and cubic SVM were demonstrated to have better generalization ability than the medium Gaussian SVM method for predicting unknown grades of asparagus and meeting the operational requirements of the asparagus grading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the sporadic number of scientific studies on vermicomposting apple pomace waste, this research conducts a comparative analysis of vermicomposting processes using Eisenia fetida, focusing on apple pomace both independently and in combination with wheat straw and/or manure (experiment 1: 60% apple pomace and 40% cattle manure; experiment 2: 60% wheat straw and 40% cattle manure; experiment 3: 80% apple pomace, 10% wheat straw, and 10% cattle manure; and experiment 4: 100% apple pomace). After a 240-day substrate transformation period, all four variations of vermicompost produced demonstrated favorable sensory properties, along with high microbiological and physicochemical quality. Throughout the vermicomposting process, the pH of all vermicomposting mixtures changed, converging towards approximately neutral values by the process's conclusion. There was an increase in dry matter content, as well as total N, P, K, Ca, and Mg, along with organic matter. Notably, the levels of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb) in both the vermicomposting materials and resulting vermicomposts remained significantly below the maximum permissible levels stipulated by Republic of Serbia and European Union legislation, which is directly linked to the ecological origin of the raw materials used. The microbiological quality of the final vermicomposts was deemed satisfactory. Over time, there was a decrease in the counts of aerobic mesophilic bacteria as well as Escherichia coli. The counts of sulfite-reducing clostridia in all substrates remained below 102 CFU/g, while Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected in either the composting materials or the resulting composts. The vermiculture of apple pulp exhibited advantageous characteristics, notably a shortened vermicomposting period (150 days) compared to other agricultural waste. This reduction in processing time contributes an additional layer of advantage to the overall quality and efficiency of the resulting vermicompost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological and climatic factors significantly influence the expression of quality and quantity properties of spring wheat. This study aims to quantify the effects of weather conditions and fertilizer systems on spring wheat yield, quality (protein content), and physiological indicators (leaf vapor pressure deficit, evapotranspiration, surface temperature of the flag leaf) and to identify a suitable spring wheat genotype for the Transylvanian Plain. The experimental factors were: Y represents the year (Y1, 2019; Y2, 2020); F represents the fertilizer variant (F1, a single rate of fertilization: 36 kg ha−1 of nitrogen; F2, two rates of fertilization: 36 kg ha−1 of nitrogen + 72 kg ha−1 of nitrogen; F3, two rates of fertilization: 36 kg ha−1 of nitrogen + 105 kg ha−1 of nitrogen); and S represents the genotype (S1, Pădureni; S2, Granny; S3, Triso; S4, Taisa; S5, Ciprian; and S6, Lennox). This multifactorial experiment with three factors was conducted on Phaeozem soil. Regardless of weather conditions, fertilization with N100–110 at the head swollen sheath (stage 10, Feeks Growth Scale for Wheat) is deemed the most suitable variant because it yields an average grain yield of 5000 kg ha−1 of good quality (13.84% protein) with a considerable flag leaf area (29 cm2) where physiological processes can optimally support the well-being of the spring wheat plants. Beyond this level of fertilization, the average grain yield tends to plateau, but the protein content considerably increases by 13–23%, depending on the genotype. High yields were achieved in the Lennox and Triso genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in soils not only reduces the productivity of forage crops, but also results in inadequate dietary zinc intake for livestock. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different rates and methods of applying ZnSO4 to both soil and foliage on the yield and quality of fodder maize grown in a sandy loam soil testing low in DTPA-extractable Zn. A 2-year field experiment was conducted with six treatments including control, foliar application of 0.3% ZnSO4 at 30 days after sowing (DAS) (F1), foliar application of 0.3% ZnSO4 at 30 and 40 DAS (F2), soil application of 16 kg ha−1 ZnSO4 (S16) and a combination of both soil and foliar ZnSO4 application (S16 + F1 and S16 + F2). Increase in green herbage yield by 25%, dry matter yield by 47% and Zn content by 79% was observed under S16 + F2 treatment over the control. Zinc application improved N, K, Cu and crude protein content of herbage significantly over the control. Thus, the study shows that significant improvement in growth parameters, herbage yield and quality of maize can be achieved with soil Zn application + two foliar sprays of ZnSO4 at 30 and 40 DAS, thereby ensuring availability of improved fodder Zn to the livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buckwheat microgreens are rich in nutrients and have a unique flavor that is favored by consumers. The light environment is closely related to the growth and development of the plant. In order to study the effects of treatments with different combinations of red and blue light on the edible organ morphology and nutritional quality of buckwheat microgreens, five experimental treatments were designed, with energy ratios of red light to blue light of 5:1 (R5B1), 3:1 (R3B1), 1:1 (R1B1), 1:3 (R1B3) and 1:5 (R1B5), respectively, and a white light treatment used as the control (CK). The results showed that different combination treatments of red and blue light had obvious effects on the growth of buckwheat microgreens. The hypocotyl length and main root length of buckwheat microgreens treated with a high proportion of red light (R5B1) were obviously higher than those of other treatment designs. However, contents of soluble protein, chlorophyll, rutin and total flavonoids in buckwheat microgreens showed an increasing trend with an increase in the proportion of blue light. Considering the fresh weight, dry weight and quality indexes of the edible organ, the combination of red light and blue light with a ratio of 1:1 was most suitable for buckwheat microgreen production. The results could provide a reference for the production of buckwheat microgreens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world seeks alternatives to fossil fuels, agrivoltaics offer a promising solution by integrating solar panels with farming practices. This review examines three key agrivoltaic setups—static tilted, full-sun tracking, and agronomic tracking—dissecting their engineering features' roles in optimizing both the electricity yield and the fruit productivity of some fruit crops. We emphasize the microclimatic modifications induced by agrivoltaic systems, mainly encompassing changes in solar radiation, air temperature, humidity, and wind. The data collected in this survey reveal a strong spatial heterogeneity distribution over different locations and a significant influence on fruit crops' growth, yield, and quality, with variations among species. Such findings on the overall performance recommend a 30% shading threshold to prevent substantial declines in fruit characteristics, i.e., fruit yield and quality. Shading conditions over this threshold influence the leaf morphophysiological characteristics, impacting the photosynthesis capacity and fruit dry matter accumulation. This emphasizes the importance of further investigation into spectral radiation quality and carbon assimilation kinetics as daily responses for different fruit species to be cultivated in such new environments. Starting from this point, this review underscores the need to extend studies on various fruit crops, particularly those cultivated in semi-arid horticultural regions (i.e., for saving water), and suggests the use of comprehensive and standardized indicators for comparability across studies. Finally, the authors conclude that engineering improvements, along with new research programs on agrivoltaic systems, could lead to agricultural, environmental, and economic sustainability, as well as their practical implementation and attractiveness to farmers in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biochemistry underlying seed coat darkening of lentil due to extended storage is limited. This study investigated the relationship between seed coat darkening over time during storage and changes in concentration of phenolic compounds (total phenolic compounds, total condensed tannins, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins) in two red lentil cultivars (PBA Hallmark and PBA Jumbo2), stored at two grain moisture contents (10 and 14%, w/w) and two temperatures (4 and 35 °C) for 360 days. Seed coat darkening was only significant (p = 0.05) at high temperatures (35 °C) but not at low temperatures (4 °C), irrespective of grain moisture content and cultivar. The concentration of all phenolic compounds tested in this study reduced significantly (p = 0.05) throughout the study period, regardless of temperature and grain moisture treatments. The changes in seed coat brightness and redness followed a linear pattern, except for yellowness, where phenolic compounds initially reduced linearly and then remained constant thereafter. Darkening of seedcoat was only associated with the reduction in phenolic compounds tested in this study at 35 °C, and not at 4 °C. This suggests that seed coat darkening due to extended storage may not be directly linked to broad reductions in the groups of phenolic compounds or individual compounds assessed in this study. This information prompts further research to identify the actual biochemical processes that cause the darkening of seed coats during storage and assist in developing cultivars with stable seed coat colour by selecting and modifying such processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the bio-tools that contribute to making the strawberry production system more sustainable are arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which can be used as biofertilizers. Thus, five doses of phosphorus (P) applied to plants with AMF and a control (100% P, no AMF) were analyzed in order to differentiate the horticultural potential of the 'Camarosa' cultivar. We used an on-farm inoculant made up of six fungal species. The univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the addition of AMF to the growing substrate made it possible to reduce the P supply in the nutrient solution by 75% without compromising the fruit yield. In addition, this combination improved the phytochemical quality of strawberries, the plant's root system morphology, and the accumulation of nutrients in plant organs (roots, crowns, aerial part and fruits). We conclude that the use of a multi-species on-farm inoculant based on AMF associated with a reduction in the P supply in the nutrient solution modifies the horticultural potential of the 'Camarosa' cultivar. We confirmed the action of a native AMF community as a biofertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The double-season rice system plays an important role in ensuring food security in China. However, changes in the grain yield and quality of recently released rice varieties are still not fully understood, especially early indica rice (Oryza sativa). In this study, we collected the yield and quality traits of 224 early indica rice varieties released in China's Hunan and Jiangxi provinces from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that rice grain yield, but not quality, was significantly improved in early indica rice from 2000 to 2020, and the improvement in grain yield was mainly the result of an increased spikelet number per panicle. Quality traits such as head rice rate, chalky rice rate, and amylose content remained stable while the milled rice rate and degree of chalkiness showed adverse changes during early indica rice breeding. These results suggested that improving grain yield, but not quality, has been prioritized during early indica rice breeding in the past few decades. Further analysis showed that the degree of chalkiness had the largest coefficient of variation among the studied quality traits in the 224 early indica rice varieties, indicating that there is still great potential to decrease the degree of chalkiness through rice breeding. Interestingly, the results showed that lower degrees of chalkiness were associated with lower amylose contents and chalky rice rates but with a higher length-to-width ratios and a gel consistency. Therefore, focusing on the degree of chalkiness seems a promising strategy to synergistically improve the quality traits of early indica rice. Overall, our results have value for guiding future research on high-yield and high-quality breeding in early indica rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flowering stage is a critical period for water sensitivity and quality formation of broomcorn millets. However, the effects and mechanisms of drought stress on the quality formation of broomcorn millets are not clear. We used the drought-resistant variety Hequ red millet (H) and the drought-sensitive variety Yanshu No. 10 (Y) were used as materials for drought stress treatment during the flowering stage, metabolomics and physiological methods were used to study the differences in protein, starch, amino acids, medium and medium-long chain fatty acids, and their response characteristics to drought in broomcorn millet. The results showed that different genotypes of broomcorn millets exhibited different response mechanisms in the face of drought stress. In Hequ red millet, drought stress significantly increased the contents of amylopectin (2.57%), pyridoxine (31.89%), and anthocyanin, and significantly decreased the contents of water-soluble protein (5.82%), glutelin (10.07%), thiamine (14.95%) and nicotinamide (23.01%). In Yanshu No. 10, drought significantly decreased amylose by 6.05%, and significantly increased riboflavin and nicotinamide contents by 21.11% and 32.59%. Correlation analysis showed that total starch and amylose were highly significantly positively correlated with methyl palmitate; negatively correlated with amylopectin, vitamins, proteins, free amino acids, and medium-long chain fatty acids; and amylopectin was significantly positively correlated with water-soluble protein, riboflavin, and pyridoxine. Water-soluble protein and glutelin were significantly positively correlated with most free amino acids, medium-long chain fatty acids, and nicotinamide. Thiamine showed significant positive correlation with nicotinamide and significant negative correlation with pyridoxine. Riboflavin was significantly positively correlated with nicotinamide, pyridoxine, and water-soluble protein, and pyridoxine was significantly positively correlated with water-soluble protein. Hequ red millet transforms into amylopectin by consuming water-soluble protein and glutelin, and improves drought resistance by accumulating pyridoxine, and changes its physicochemical properties by decreasing the content of amylose and protein and elevating the content of amylopectin. Yanshu No. 10 resisted drought by catabolizing lipids to produce fatty acids and by consuming amylose for conversion into other metabolites. The present study helps to understand the response of the nutritional quality of millets to drought stress at the flowering stage and provides a theoretical basis for the selection and breeding of superior varieties of millets and drought resistance research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing prices and market demand for organic products are stimulants of organic farming. However, this sector is a challenge for producers and further improvements are still necessary. The present study case was conducted to compare the effects of organic (OF) and conventional (CF) farming on lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) oil yield, plant pigments and essential oil composition. The study was conducted for two years in the period 2019–2020. Six private farms were included in the experiment with conventional and organic agriculture systems. They are located in Kazanlak Valley, Southern Bulgaria. Organic lavender inflorescences were determined to have chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll within a narrow range between 251.3 and 275.7 μg·g−1 and between 375.5 and 487.0 μg·g−1 compared to conventional ones—between 245.9 and 377.5 μg·g−1 and 385.3 and 595.4 μg·g−1 respectively. However, carotenoids and anthocyanins were in a wide range in organic lavender between 36.9 and 72.2 μg·g−1 and 410 and 1240 µg cyn-3-gly.g−1 compared to conventional ones—between 55.5 and 77.3 μg·g−1 and 200 and 780 µg cyn-3-gly.g−1, respectively, for both studied years. The key constituents in essential oil were linalyl acetate (28.42–38.23%), linalool (20.01–31.04%) and β-caryophyllene (7.95–14.97%). The composition was compared with the parameters set out in the international standard for lavender oil. The influence of the type of agricultural system on essential oil yield and its composition was not found. According to the obtained results, levels of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll were higher in conventional farming than in organic farming for the second year of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanilla, a quintessential flavoring agent, experiences burgeoning demand globally, particularly for natural variants. In response, Taiwan has ventured into vanilla cultivation, aiming to reduce the energy consumption associated with international transportation by fostering domestic production. This study investigates the sensory attributes of Taiwan and Madagascar vanilla beans amid increasing global demand for natural vanilla. We extended our sensory evaluations to vanilla ice cream products to assess their quality. Employing sensory evaluation questionnaires and experimental techniques, we utilized purposive and snowball sampling methodologies for participant recruitment. Our primary aim is to discern the edible disparities between Taiwan and Madagascar vanilla beans by scrutinizing variations in consumer sensory preferences. Our findings reveal statistically significant disparities between Taiwan and Madagascar vanilla beans concerning product texture and overall aroma in sensory evaluations, while other attributes do not exhibit notable differences. This suggests that the sensory experience of vanilla ice cream products derived from Taiwan and Madagascar vanilla beans primarily diverges in terms of product texture and overall aroma, with negligible disparities elsewhere. Remarkably, Taiwan vanilla beans consistently outperform Madagascar vanilla beans across many evaluation criteria, underscoring the superior quality and competitive edge of Taiwan’s vanilla beans. This empirical evidence highlights the exceptional quality and value proposition of Taiwan vanilla beans, offering insights for the expansion and deepening of sensory evaluations pertaining to vanilla beans. Furthermore, our study contributes to environmental sustainability by promoting local production and presents new avenues for Taiwan’s vanilla processing industry.

Nitrogen fertilizer is the most frequently used fertilizer in the cultivation of medicinal plants, and has a significant contribution to their yields and quality. Yet, there is biased and excessive N application in medicinal crops. This study aims to quantitatively analyze the recommended N application concentrations for diverse medicinal species and disentangle the intricate relationships between soil fertility, N application rate (NAR), and the quality/yield of medicinal crops. We first characterized 179 medicinal species and 7 classes of phytometabolites therein, including terpenoids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, phenolics, alkaloids, etc., reported during the past three decades from the phylogenetic and spatial perspectives. The relationships between soil fertility, NAR, and medicinal crops were then subjected to statistical analyses. The pharmaco-phylogenetic and geographic distributions of NAR suggest that the impact of ecological/environmental factors on the N demand of medicinal plants was much greater than that of genetic endowments. We found that different medicinal species were distinct in N demand, which is related to soil fertility levels in different production areas. The NAR reported by China, 215.6 ± 18.6 kg/ha, was higher than that of other countries (152.2 ± 20.3 kg/ha; p = 0.023). Moderate N application generally increases the yield and phytometabolite content of medicinal crops, but excessive N application has the opposite effect. It is necessary to plan N concentration and formula fertilization on a case-by-case basis and with reference to empirical research. Our results provide baseline information and references for the rational application of N fertilizer in the precision agriculture of medicinal crops.

The lack of trace element iron has become a key factor restricting vegetable yield and quality improvement. To address the low production efficiency of water–fertilizer coupling in agricultural production, we used a combination of experimental research, theoretical analysis, and mathematical modeling to systematically determine the effects of magneto-electric water irrigation with iron application on spinach growth and physiology, its yield and quality, and soil water transport characteristics. Compared with conventional water irrigation, under magneto-electric water irrigation, the water volume and applied iron concentration average increased the total accumulation of nitrogen, carbon, and iron in the aboveground part of spinach by 3.71%, 10.16%, and 14.14%, respectively, and the aboveground part of spinach had the highest total accumulation of nitrogen and carbon when irrigation water was 3300 m3 ha−1 and iron fertilizer application at 0.15%. Additionally, magneto-electric water irrigation increased spinach aboveground fresh weight and soluble sugar and protein content by an average of 13.34, 18.26, and 11.61%, respectively. Based on a comprehensive quantitative evaluation and analysis of aboveground nutrient accumulation in spinach, aboveground fresh weight, water use efficiency, and soluble sugar and protein content, we determined the optimal irrigation water and iron fertilizer application for spinach growth.

Three different photoperiod treatments (8 h/16 h, 12 h/12 h, and 16 h/8 h of light/dark) were implemented to investigate the impact of growth, biomass, and phytochemical accumulation in two celery cultivars, namely 'Zhangqiubaoqin' (BQ) and 'Hongchenghongqin' (HQ), within a plant factory setting. The findings demonstrated that the 12 h/12 h photoperiod stimulated the growth of both celery varieties, while the 16 h/8 h photoperiod hindered their growth. Notably, the root length, shoot fresh and dry weight, plant height, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid content of both celery cultivars exhibited the highest values under the 12 h/12 h light and dark photoperiod. Furthermore, the effective quantum yields of the electron transfer ratio (ETR) and the photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) displayed superior value under the 12 h/12 h light and dark photoperiod. With the exception of cellulose, the levels of soluble sugar, soluble protein, total phenol, and vitamin C were also highest under the 12 h/12 h photoperiod for both cultivars. BQ demonstrated the highest total apigenin content under the 12 h/12 h (light and dark) photoperiod, whereas HQ exhibited the highest content under the 16 h/8 h (light and dark) photoperiod. In summary, celery plants exhibited optimal performance and biomass production when subjected to the 12 h/12 h (light and dark) photoperiod treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring the technical and technological possibility of regularly obtaining fresh, high-quality plant production in Antarctic stations is an urgent task of our time. This work is devoted to studying the growth and development of leaf vegetable crops and the main quality indicators of their edible parts when grown in the phytotechnical complex greenhouses at the "Vostok" Antarctic station and at the agrobiopolygon of the Agrophysical Research Institute (AFI). The plants, belonging to 13 varieties of 9 types of leaf vegetable crops (arugula, garden cress, cabbage, mustard, leaf radish, leaf lettuce, amaranth, dill, parsley leaf), were studied during five growing seasons at the "Vostok" station and at the AFI agrobiopolygon under controlled conditions (control). The experimental data obtained demonstrate the high productivity of the phytotechnical complex for most of the investigated crops per unit of useful area, with lower costs of electricity and water consumption per unit of production compared with a number of greenhouses at foreign Antarctic stations and greenhouse complexes with controlled conditions located on other continents. Lettuce crops were the most adapted to the growing conditions at the Antarctic station "Vostok". They did not differ in their evaluated characteristics from the control. All other investigated crops, while not differing in their development rate and quality, had statistically significant (16–61%) decreases in their yield per 1 m2 per year. This may demonstrate the difference in the "genotype–environment" interaction in plants grown at the Antarctic station and AFI agrobiopolygon, probably due to the different barometric pressure and partial pressure of oxygen at the two locations. The positive psychological effects of the greenhouses were identified along with nutritional and other qualities of the plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) is determined by the presence of decay caused by phytopathogenic fungi. This can develop in the field and rapidly spread among oranges during postharvest storage. Currently, the conventional treatments applied to control this problem are chemical fungicides. However, consumers demand eco-friendly and non-polluting alternatives with low chemical residues. Therefore, the aim of this work is the preharvest application of sodium bicarbonate (SB) and potassium silicate (PS) solutions at 0.1 and 1% to Navel and Valencia oranges to elucidate the effect on fruit quality and fungal decay at harvest and after 42 days of storage at 8 °C. Results showed that oranges treated with SB 0.1%, PS 0.1, and PS 1% maintained quality traits at similar levels to the control ones. However, SB 1% reduced firmness and increased weight loss, respiration rate, maturity index, and citrus color index. The total carotenoid content significantly increased in oranges treated with SB 1%, and no differences were observed in the other treatments compared to the control. Total antioxidant activity and total phenolic content decreased in oranges treated with SB at 0.1 and 1%, contrary to the results observed in oranges treated with PS, where both parameters increased. Regarding fungal decay, the best results were obtained in oranges treated with the highest doses of SB and PS. Therefore, the use of SB and PS in preharvest sprays could be an alternative to control fungal decay without affecting orange quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is an important secondary metabolite that maintains the mechanical strength of horticultural plants and enhances their ability to respond to external environmental changes such as biotic and abiotic stresses. However, excessive accumulation of lignin can lead to lignification of horticultural products, reducing their taste quality and nutritional value. Therefore, the lignin content of horticultural products needs to be controlled at a reasonable level, and studying and regulating lignin metabolism is very meaningful work. This article focuses on the synthesis, accumulation, and regulation of lignin in horticultural crops in recent years, provides a systematic analysis of its molecular mechanism and application prospects, and sheds insights into the directions that need further research in the future. This article provides an important basis for the regulation of lignin accumulation and lignification in horticultural crops and proposes new ideas for improving the quality of horticultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silage maize is cultivated due to its high nutritional value as a forage. China's recent agricultural policy promotes the popularization and cultivation of silage maize. The production of silage maize is affected by planting density and nitrogen application. Based on investigating the planting habits of local farmers, we adjusted the planting density and nitrogen application rate to optimize the growth of silage maize. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of planting density (65,000 plant ha−1 (D1), 80,000 plant ha−1 (D2), and 95,000 plant ha−1 (D3)) and nitrogen rate (150 kg ha−1 (N1), 230 kg ha−1 (N2), and 310 kg ha−1 (N3)) on growth, yield, and quality of silage maize using a two-factor random block design. Planting density and nitrogen fertilizer significantly affected plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and starch of silage maize. In summary, the combination of a planting density of 80,000 plants ha−1 and a nitrogen application rate of 310 kg ha−1 produced a higher crude protein and starch yield and better palatability and quality; this result can aid silage maize growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare agro-phenological and technological traits in advanced durum wheat lines differing in responses to Hessian fly larval attacks. A field experiment was carried out during the 2014/2015 cropping season at the main research stations of Marchouch and Tassaoute in a randomized completed block design. Twenty-two durum wheat genotypes comprising twenty advanced lines from the INRA breeding program and two commercial varieties were used in this study. Agro-phenological and grain quality determinations were concerned with plant height, grain yield, days to heading, protein content, wet gluten content, gluten strength, and yellow pigment content. The analysis of variance revealed significant environment, genotype, and genotype-by-environment (G × E) effects for the majority of the measured traits. A high level of heritability was also observed for grain yield (94.9%), followed by gluten strength (90.7%), yellow pigment content (79.3%), wet gluten content (77.79%), plant height (71.5), and protein content (70.02%); moderate levels of heritability were recorded for days to heading (65.8%). The data for Hessian fly resistance in both the field and infested greenhouse demonstrated three distinct group of genotypes: "resistant" with 4 genotypes, "susceptible without field escape to Hessian fly attack" with 16 genotypes, and "susceptible with field escape to Hessian fly attack" with 2 genotypes. The ANOVA analysis indicated the existence of significant differences between groups of genotypes for grain yield, days to heading, protein content, yellow pigment content, and gluten strength at the Tassaoute station, while at the Marchouch site, the differences were significant only for plant height and gluten strength. Protein content and wet gluten content revealed highly significant positive correlations, indicating the possibility of effective selection of the two traits simultaneously. Biplot analysis indicated that the first two Principal Components (PCs) accounted for 56.04% and 56.34% of the relationships between the genotypes and all of the attributes at the Marchouch and Tassaoute sites, respectively. The results of principal component analysis and Cluster based on agro-phenological and grain quality traits categorized the genotypes into three separate groups for the Marchouch site and four groups for the Tassaoute site. Individuals within each group are characterized by well-defined precocity, productivity, and technological criteria. The different behaviors of the lines studied in the present work are of great interest and can be exploited in breeding programs in order to improve agro-phenological and technological traits in durum wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absence of calcium decreases the production of peanuts compared to any other element. To investigate the influence of calcium (Ca) applications on the production and seed quality of four diverse peanut cultivars from different regions—USA (NC-7), Egypt (Giza-6) and Nigeria (Samnut-23 and Samnut-24)—under clay soil conditions, two experiments were carried out at the Agricultural Experimental and Research Station, Cairo University, Egypt, during the two seasons of 2016 and 2017. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in a spilt-plot arrangement with three replications. The main plots were allocated to four peanut cultivars (Giza-6, Samnut-23, Samnut-24 and NC-7), and the sub-plots were devoted to calcium applications (soil application in the form of calcium sulfate dihydrate, foliar application in the form of calcium oxide and the control treatment of distilled water). Results indicated that all four peanut cultivars responded differently to the application of calcium fertilizers. The calcium application significantly enhanced peanut growth, yield components, biological, pod, seed, oil yields, seed oil, free fatty acids and seed calcium percentages in different cultivars. Soil calcium application significantly improved peanut production compared to foliar calcium application. NC-7 cultivar treated with the soil Ca application resulted in the maximum values of biological yield (92.9-ton ha−1), pod yield (6.8-ton ha−1), seed yield (4.4-ton ha−1), oil yield (2247.0 kg ha−1), pod index (203.2 g) and seed index (84.1 g). The interaction between the NC-7 cultivar and soil calcium applications is recommended to attain the best combination, leading to the highest yield and seed quality of peanuts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive irrigation and nutrient management practices in agriculture have given rise to serious issues in aquifer water depletion and groundwater quality. This review discusses the effects of irrigation and nitrogen management practices on potato growth, yield, and quality, and their impacts on water and nitrogen use efficiencies. This review also highlights the economics and consequences of applying deficit irrigation strategies in potato production. Many researchers have demonstrated that excessive irrigation and nitrogen application rates negatively impact potato tuber yield and quality while also increasing nitrate leaching, energy consumption, and the overall costs of production. An application of light-to-moderate deficit irrigation (10–30% of full irrigation) together with reduced nitrogen rates (60–170 kg/ha) has a great potential to improve water and nitrogen use efficiencies while obtaining optimum yield and quality in potato production, depending on the climate, variety, soil type, and water availability. There is an opportunity to reduce N application rates in potato production through deficit irrigation practices by minimizing nitrate leaching beyond the crop root zone. The best irrigation and nitrogen management techniques for potato production, as discussed in this review, include using sprinkle and drip irrigation techniques, irrigation scheduling based on local crop coefficients, soil moisture content, and crop modeling techniques, applying slow-release nitrogenous fertilizers, split nitrogen application, and applying water and nitrogenous fertilizers in accordance with crop growth stage requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of different water-saving treatments on rice plant growth and select suitable water-saving irrigation strategies for aerobic rice varieties, we conducted relevant field experiments from June to October 2023 at Jiangsu Runguo Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., China, which is located in a north subtropical monsoon climate where the soil is alkaline sandy loam. Four water treatments were set up, including the control of local conventional irrigation (CK, without water stress), mild water-saving treatment (W1, 20% more water saved than CK), moderate water-saving treatment (W2, 30% more water saved than CK), and severe water-saving treatment (W3, 40% more water saved than CK). The experiment results showed that rice plant heights were inhibited and leaf chlorophyll contents increased under all water-saving treatments compared to CK. Among them, the MDA content in paddy leaves under the W1 treatment decreased, while the activities of SOD and POD were enhanced and the membrane lipid peroxidation capacity of rice was also enhanced. Meanwhile, the results showed that the rice yield and quality under the W1 treatment significantly improved. Based on those experiments, a comprehensive evaluation of rice plant height, chlorophyll content, grain yield, yield components, and rice quality was conducted using the TOPSIS entropy weight method. It was preliminarily concluded that the suitable irrigation scheme for south and central Jiangsu was 20% water-saving irrigation compared with CK. In summary, under the premise of maintaining the economic yield of rice cultivation, an appropriate water irrigation plan helped save water resources and promote rice growth.

The problem of poor water and fertilizer retention in sandy soils can lead to physiological growth restriction and yield and quality decline in apples. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) formula can improve the soil structure and increase the water- and fertilizer-holding capacity of the soil, and Biogenic Stimulant (BS) can improve the drought stress resistance of crops and promote the physiological growth of crops. Considering that CMC and BS may improve the physiological characteristics of sandy soil apples, in this study, CMC was coupled with BS in sandy apples, and the effects on the physiological characteristics, yield, and quality of apples were systematically investigated. The results showed that CMC and BS could increase leaf N, P, and K content, with the greatest increases seen in the Y2C2 treatment (9.28, 0.61, and 0.56 g kg−1, respectively) compared with the CK treatment. The SPAD values of leaves following the coupled CMC and BS treatment compared to the CK treatment were elevated in the range of 4.47–24.29% at the flowering and fruiting stage, 2.84–26.50% at fruit expansion stage, and 6.64–19.41% at maturation stage. In the light response data of different treatments, the maximum net photosynthetic rate occurred in the Y2C2 treatment, and the net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance were all the highest in the Y2C2 treatment during the fruit expansion stage, with the net photosynthetic rate being higher than that of the CK treatment by 5.09 µmol m−2 s−1. The combination treatments of CMC and BS increased apple yield by 10.69 to 27.62% as compared to the CK treatment, and also increased soluble reducing sugar, soluble solids, and VC and reduced the titratable acid content. There was no correlation between the SPAD value during fruit expansion (p > 0.05) and the other physiological indexes (p < 0.05). Through the established functional relationship between the application rate of CMC and BS and apple yield, the recommended BS application rate of 27 kg ha−1 and CMC application rate of 20.625 kg ha−1 could yield up to 43,357.8 kg ha−1.

The quality of cotton fiber plays a pivotal role for both producers and processors, influencing the market value and end-product quality. Certain cotton fiber properties, such as length, strength, micronaire, and uniformity index, are crucial determinants of cotton quality. Despite its prominence as a cotton-producing region, the Aegean region in Türkiye lacks comprehensive studies examining the quality of its cotton fiber across different subregions and seasonal variations. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the variations in cotton fiber quality across different years and subregions within the Aegean. This study involved the evaluation of a total of 368,686 individual fiber quality analyses conducted over seven years across three subregions within the Aegean in Türkiye. The fiber samples collected from Bergama, Söke, and Menemen underwent high-volume instrument (HVI) analysis to evaluate the variations in cotton fiber quality across years and subregions, considering the phenological stages of cotton and climate conditions. The findings highlighted significant variations in the fiber quality traits among subregions, with environmental factors such as temperature and humidity playing crucial roles. Higher average daily temperatures during the flowering stage to boll formation contributed to higher strength values, while limitations on fiber length were observed due to prevalent high temperatures. Additionally, variations in micronaire values were linked to temperature and humidity conditions during boll development stages. This study underscores the importance of comprehensively considering climatic factors to understand their impacts on cotton fiber quality and suggests further research into the cotton plant’s phenology and specific climate conditions for a more thorough understanding of environmental effects on fiber quality.

This study was designed to determine the optimal nitrogen application rate for strong-gluten wheat cultivation in the North China Plain. Employing Zhongmai 578, a strong-gluten wheat variety, a field experiment was conducted with the following four nitrogen levels: 0 kg/ha (N0), 150 kg/ha (N1), 210 kg/ha (N2), and 270 kg/ha (N3). The research focused on examining the impact of nitrogen application on the photosynthesis, yield, and quality of strong-gluten wheat. The findings revealed that the N2 treatment (210 kg/ha) yielded the highest results compared to the N0 treatment. Photosynthetic parameters, including chlorophyll content in wheat flag leaves, generally exhibited an increase followed by a decrease, peaking at 7 days after anthesis (except for the transpiration rate, which peaked at 14 days post-anthesis). In the first year, quality indices such as water absorption, capacity, sedimentation value, ductility, protein, and wet gluten initially increased and then decreased with rising nitrogen levels. Conversely, in the second year, these quality indices, including hardness, showed a progressive increase with elevated nitrogen application. These results indicate that enhanced nitrogen application can significantly improve the photosynthetic characteristics of strong-gluten wheat, thereby augmenting both yield and quality. Within the parameters of this experiment, an application of 210 kg/ha of nitrogen emerged as the optimal rate, promoting the superior yield and quality of strong-gluten wheat in the North China Plain.

As a common vegetable variety, asparagus is rich in B vitamins, vitamin A, and trace elements such as folate, selenium, iron, manganese, and zinc. With the increasing market demand, China has become the world’s largest cultivated area for asparagus production and product exportation. However, traditional asparagus grading mostly relies on manual visual judgment and needs a lot of manpower input to carry out the classification operation, which cannot meet the needs of large-scale production. To address the high labor cost and labor-intensive production process resulting from the large amount of manpower input and low accuracy of existing asparagus grading devices, this study proposed an improved asparagus grading system and method based on TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution) objective evaluation and SVM (support vector machine) prediction. The key structure of classification device was analyzed first, the key components were designed, and the structural parameters were determined by theoretical calculation. Through analysis of the factors affecting asparagus quality, three key attributes were determined: length, diameter, and bruises, which were used as reference attributes to conduct experimental analysis. Then, the graded control groups were set up, combining the TOPSIS principle with weighting, and a score for each asparagus sample was determined. These scores were compared with those of a graded control group to derive the grade of each asparagus, and these subsets of the dataset were used as the training set and the test set, excluding the error caused by the subjectivity of the manual judgment. Based on a comparison of the accuracies of different machine learning models, the support vector machine (SVM) was determined to be the most accurate, and four SVM methods were used to evaluate the test set: linear SVM, quadratic SVM, cubic SVM, and medium Gaussian SVM. The test results showed that the grading device was feasible for asparagus. The bruises had a large influence on asparagus quality. The training accuracy of the medium Gaussian SVM method was high (96%), whereas its test accuracy was low (86.67%). The training accuracies and test accuracy of the quadratic and cubic SVM methods were 93.34%. The quadratic SVM and cubic SVM were demonstrated to have better generalization ability than the medium Gaussian SVM method for predicting unknown grades of asparagus and meeting the operational requirements of the asparagus grading.

Considering the sporadic number of scientific studies on vermicomposting apple pomace waste, this research conducts a comparative analysis of vermicomposting processes using Eisenia fetida, focusing on apple pomace both independently and in combination with wheat straw and/or manure (experiment 1: 60% apple pomace and 40% cattle manure; experiment 2: 60% wheat straw and 40% cattle manure; experiment 3: 80% apple pomace, 10% wheat straw, and 10% cattle manure; and experiment 4: 100% apple pomace). After a 240-day substrate transformation period, all four variations of vermicompost produced demonstrated favorable sensory properties, along with high microbiological and physicochemical quality. Throughout the vermicomposting process, the pH of all vermicomposting mixtures changed, converging towards approximately neutral values by the process’s conclusion. There was an increase in dry matter content, as well as total N, P, K, Ca, and Mg, along with organic matter. Notably, the levels of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb) in both the vermicomposting materials and resulting vermicomposts remained significantly below the maximum permissible levels stipulated by Republic of Serbia and European Union legislation, which is directly linked to the ecological origin of the raw materials used. The microbiological quality of the final vermicomposts was deemed satisfactory. Over time, there was a decrease in the counts of aerobic mesophilic bacteria as well as Escherichia coli. The counts of sulfite-reducing clostridia in all substrates remained below 102 CFU/g, while Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected in either the composting materials or the resulting composts. The vermiculture of apple pulp exhibited advantageous characteristics, notably a shortened vermicomposting period (150 days) compared to other agricultural waste. This reduction in processing time contributes an additional layer of advantage to the overall quality and efficiency of the resulting vermicompost.

Technological and climatic factors significantly influence the expression of quality and quantity properties of spring wheat. This study aims to quantify the effects of weather conditions and fertilizer systems on spring wheat yield, quality (protein content), and physiological indicators (leaf vapor pressure deficit, evapotranspiration, surface temperature of the flag leaf) and to identify a suitable spring wheat genotype for the Transylvanian Plain. The experimental factors were: Y represents the year (Y1, 2019; Y2, 2020); F represents the fertilizer variant (F1, a single rate of fertilization: 36 kg ha−1 of nitrogen; F2, two rates of fertilization: 36 kg ha−1 of nitrogen + 72 kg ha−1 of nitrogen; F3, two rates of fertilization: 36 kg ha−1 of nitrogen + 105 kg ha−1 of nitrogen); and S represents the genotype (S1, Pădureni; S2, Granny; S3, Triso; S4, Taisa; S5, Ciprian; and S6, Lennox). This multifactorial experiment with three factors was conducted on Phaeozem soil. Regardless of weather conditions, fertilization with N100–110 at the head swollen sheath (stage 10, Feeks Growth Scale for Wheat) is deemed the most suitable variant because it yields an average grain yield of 5000 kg ha−1 of good quality (13.84% protein) with a considerable flag leaf area (29 cm2) where physiological processes can optimally support the well-being of the spring wheat plants. Beyond this level of fertilization, the average grain yield tends to plateau, but the protein content considerably increases by 13–23%, depending on the genotype. High yields were achieved in the Lennox and Triso genotypes.

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in soils not only reduces the productivity of forage crops, but also results in inadequate dietary zinc intake for livestock. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different rates and methods of applying ZnSO4 to both soil and foliage on the yield and quality of fodder maize grown in a sandy loam soil testing low in DTPA-extractable Zn. A 2-year field experiment was conducted with six treatments including control, foliar application of 0.3% ZnSO4 at 30 days after sowing (DAS) (F1), foliar application of 0.3% ZnSO4 at 30 and 40 DAS (F2), soil application of 16 kg ha−1 ZnSO4 (S16) and a combination of both soil and foliar ZnSO4 application (S16 + F1 and S16 + F2). Increase in green herbage yield by 25%, dry matter yield by 47% and Zn content by 79% was observed under S16 + F2 treatment over the control. Zinc application improved N, K, Cu and crude protein content of herbage significantly over the control. Thus, the study shows that significant improvement in growth parameters, herbage yield and quality of maize can be achieved with soil Zn application + two foliar sprays of ZnSO4 at 30 and 40 DAS, thereby ensuring availability of improved fodder Zn to the livestock.

Buckwheat microgreens are rich in nutrients and have a unique flavor that is favored by consumers. The light environment is closely related to the growth and development of the plant. In order to study the effects of treatments with different combinations of red and blue light on the edible organ morphology and nutritional quality of buckwheat microgreens, five experimental treatments were designed, with energy ratios of red light to blue light of 5:1 (R5B1), 3:1 (R3B1), 1:1 (R1B1), 1:3 (R1B3) and 1:5 (R1B5), respectively, and a white light treatment used as the control (CK). The results showed that different combination treatments of red and blue light had obvious effects on the growth of buckwheat microgreens. The hypocotyl length and main root length of buckwheat microgreens treated with a high proportion of red light (R5B1) were obviously higher than those of other treatment designs. However, contents of soluble protein, chlorophyll, rutin and total flavonoids in buckwheat microgreens showed an increasing trend with an increase in the proportion of blue light. Considering the fresh weight, dry weight and quality indexes of the edible organ, the combination of red light and blue light with a ratio of 1:1 was most suitable for buckwheat microgreen production. The results could provide a reference for the production of buckwheat microgreens.

It is intriguing to understand the influence of the watering volume and growing design on the growth, yield, and quality of cherry tomatoes. This study sought to identify the most effective watering volume and growing design treatment for the production and quality of the cherry tomato cultivar Ruby. This study was an exploration using a factorial experiment with an RCBD design. The treatment factors included the growing design (greenhouse, rain shelter, and screen house) and the watering volume (100% ETc, 75% ETc, and 50% ETc). The results showed that the root dry weight and root–shoot ratio were higher in the screen house design, while the fruit firmness was higher in the rain shelter design. Considering the effect of the watering volume, a higher fruit diameter, heavier fruits, more fruits per plant, higher ultimate fruit and biological yield per plant, higher root and shoot biomass, better root–shoot ratio, higher leaf chlorophyll content, greater fruit skin firmness, and greater elasticity were noted for the 100% ETc treatment. In contrast, the growth rate was higher for the 50% ETc treatment. Cultivating cherry tomatoes in a greenhouse using a watering volume of 100% ETc is recommended based on the results. These conditions led to better growth, higher fruit yield, and improved fruit quality, making them favorable options for successful cherry tomato production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of a novel weeding and fertilization scheme, namely, mechanical weeding plus a one-time deep application of a reduced amount of slow-release fertilizer for rice cultivation. The effects of the weeding and fertilization method on rice yield and quality were investigated using a split plot test as the research method. Two weeding methods, namely, chemical weeding (CW) and mechanical weeding (MW), and four fertilization methods were tested, including the conventional fertilization method (quantitative split broadcast application of fast-release N fertilizer (CK)), the quantitative split broadcast application of 80% fast-release N fertilizer (LCK), the one-time base application of slow-release fertilizer (SR), and the one-time deep application of 80% slow-release fertilizer (LSR). The results showed that the rice yield under MW with LSR treatment can maintain a high level—higher than 9.2 t ha−1 per year. This was attributed to the slow-release fertilizer and deep fertilization, which increased the number of stems and tillers in the pre-fertility and spike rate, respectively, resulting in a high panicle number with a 20% reduction of N fertilizer. Furthermore, mechanical weeding improved the seed-setting rate, resulting in a higher number of grains per panicle, a higher panicle number, and an increased thousand-grain weight, thereby maintaining a high yield. At the same time, the quality of rice under MW with LSR treatment improved, specifically reflected in the significant improvement of the processing and appearance quality of rice, a slight increase in protein content, and a reduction in the amylose content, thereby improving its nutritional quality while maintaining good cooking quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yield and rice quality indicators of crops are a direct reflection of the rational irrigation and fertilizer strategy. However, the effects of controlled irrigation (CI) combined with the split application of fertilization managements (straw returning, organic fertilizer, and conventional fertilizer) on rice quality are not clear in southeast China. This study aims at exploring the effects of three fertilization managements applied under CI or flooding irrigation on rice yield, quality, enzyme activity, and soluble sugar content including 43 indicators, to determine the optimal comprehensive evaluation model, management, and representative indexes. The results showed that compared with CF (CI + conventional fertilizer), CS (CI + straw returning) significantly increased yield (27.65%), irrigation water use efficiency (6.20%), chalky grain rate (9.67%), chalkiness (1.83%), protein content (4.29%), and amylose content (0.33%), indicating that CS improved yield and milling quality but decreased cooking and appearance quality. This was mainly because CS promoted the activities of alpha-amylase, ADPG (ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase), and GBSS (granule-bound starch synthase) and reduced the soluble sugar content in rice. Grey relational degree analysis (GRD), the entropy method (ETM), and TOPSIS (the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution) were used to comprehensively evaluate the rice quality and determined that CS treatments could synergistically improve yield and rice quality. The five indexes (adhesive strength, HPV, ADPG, soluble sugar (leaf), yield) and TOPSIS model can be used as the best indexes and model to evaluate the rice quality. These results could provide scientific management and evaluate practices for high-yield and high-quality rice cultivation, which may be promising for a cleaner production strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofertilizers and organic fertilizers are eco-friendly treatments that reduce the consumption and problems associated with chemical fertilizers. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of biofertilizers and organic fertilizers on reducing consumption and improving the effectiveness of chemical fertilizer treatments by comparing the growth parameters, yield, quality criteria, and nutrient concentration in lettuce and broccoli grown under greenhouse conditions. The biofertilizer (BM-MegaFlu®) comprised Bacillus megaterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pantoea agglomerans bacteria. The experiment consisted of six treatments comprising (1) biofertilizer (BF), (2) chemical fertilizer + biofertilizer (CF + BF), (3) chemical fertilizer (CF), (4) CF (1/2 dose) + BF, (5) CF (1/3 dose) + BF, and (6) organic fertilizer (OF + BF). BF did not adversely affect the head height and root collar diameter of lettuce; on the contrary, it showed non-significant differences with CF + BF, BF, CF (1/2) + BF, and CF (1/3) + BF treatments and CF alone. The highest total and marketable yields were obtained from CF + BF, CF, CF (1/2) + BF treatments in lettuce. The total yield was the highest in the CF + BF, CF, CF (1/2) + BF, and CF (1/3) + BF treatments in broccoli. In conclusion, the biofertilizer had a supportive effect on the use of chemical fertilizers in lettuce and broccoli production, especially the CF (1/2) + BF treatment in lettuce. The CF (1/2) + BF and CF (1/3) + BF treatments in broccoli showed similar yields to CF. In both crops, BF could provide 50% chemical fertilizer savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foxtail millet is highly valued in China; however, its optimal fertilization parameters are unknown. This study investigated the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizer combinations on foxtail millet agronomic traits, photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and quality to promote rational fertilizer application. Pot experiments were conducted using the "3414" fertilizer effect scheme and the representative crop variety was JG21, containing four NPK levels and 20 replicates per treatment, individually. The effects of N, P, and K levels on agronomic traits were analyzed during the jointing, heading, and filling stages. JG21 performed optimally under treatment with N160P90K150 (T6); the yield and fat content increased by 49.32% and 13% compared to the control. Correlation analysis revealed that N was significantly positively (negatively) correlated with the protein (amylose) content. P was significantly positively correlated with the fat and moisture content and K was correlated with the moisture, fat, and protein content, but was negatively with the amylose content. Overall, rational ratios of NPK fertilization improved foxtail millet yield and quality. Based on fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, the T6 treatment (N160P90K150) demonstrated the highest comprehensive effect among 13 NPK fertilizer combinations. Rational application of NPK in foxtail millet may improve agronomic performance by enhancing leaf photosynthetic efficiency and aboveground biomass accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned aerial seeding (UAS) is an efficient unmanned rice planting method with broad application prospects. But its optimum basic seedling number and yield and quality characteristics remain unclear. Field experiments were conducted to compare UAS, unmanned dry direct seeding (UDDS), and unmanned carpet transplanting (UCT) methods using inbred japonica rice variety Nanjing 5718. The UAS method was subdivided into four planting density treatments (UAS105, UAS150, UAS195, and UAS240 = 105, 150, 195, and 240 seedlings/m2, respectively). The results showed that increasing the basic seedling density first increased the yield but then it decreased, and UAS195 produced a significantly higher yield. On the other hand, the grain processing, appearance, and taste quality deteriorated with improved nutritional quality. Among the three planting methods, UAS (UAS195) yielded less than UCT due to there being fewer spikelets per panicle, a lower grain-filling rate, and less photosynthetic activity after heading. However, UAS (UAS195) produced more yields than UDDS by having more panicles, more spikelets per panicle, and more biomass accumulation. Both UAS195 and UDDS had poorer grain processing, appearance, and nutritional quality than UCT, but increased amylose content and taste values. Therefore, UAS195 could be an alternative planting method for inbred japonica rice with coordinated yield, quality, and production efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biochemistry underlying seed coat darkening of lentil due to extended storage is limited. This study investigated the relationship between seed coat darkening over time during storage and changes in concentration of phenolic compounds (total phenolic compounds, total condensed tannins, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins) in two red lentil cultivars (PBA Hallmark and PBA Jumbo2), stored at two grain moisture contents (10 and 14%, w/w) and two temperatures (4 and 35 °C) for 360 days. Seed coat darkening was only significant (p = 0.05) at high temperatures (35 °C) but not at low temperatures (4 °C), irrespective of grain moisture content and cultivar. The concentration of all phenolic compounds tested in this study reduced significantly (p = 0.05) throughout the study period, regardless of temperature and grain moisture treatments. The changes in seed coat brightness and redness followed a linear pattern, except for yellowness, where phenolic compounds initially reduced linearly and then remained constant thereafter. Darkening of seedcoat was only associated with the reduction in phenolic compounds tested in this study at 35 °C, and not at 4 °C. This suggests that seed coat darkening due to extended storage may not be directly linked to broad reductions in the groups of phenolic compounds or individual compounds assessed in this study. This information prompts further research to identify the actual biochemical processes that cause the darkening of seed coats during storage and assist in developing cultivars with stable seed coat colour by selecting and modifying such processes.

As the world seeks alternatives to fossil fuels, agrivoltaics offer a promising solution by integrating solar panels with farming practices. This review examines three key agrivoltaic setups—static tilted, full-sun tracking, and agronomic tracking—dissecting their engineering features’ roles in optimizing both the electricity yield and the fruit productivity of some fruit crops. We emphasize the microclimatic modifications induced by agrivoltaic systems, mainly encompassing changes in solar radiation, air temperature, humidity, and wind. The data collected in this survey reveal a strong spatial heterogeneity distribution over different locations and a significant influence on fruit crops’ growth, yield, and quality, with variations among species. Such findings on the overall performance recommend a 30% shading threshold to prevent substantial declines in fruit characteristics, i.e., fruit yield and quality. Shading conditions over this threshold influence the leaf morphophysiological characteristics, impacting the photosynthesis capacity and fruit dry matter accumulation. This emphasizes the importance of further investigation into spectral radiation quality and carbon assimilation kinetics as daily responses for different fruit species to be cultivated in such new environments. Starting from this point, this review underscores the need to extend studies on various fruit crops, particularly those cultivated in semi-arid horticultural regions (i.e., for saving water), and suggests the use of comprehensive and standardized indicators for comparability across studies. Finally, the authors conclude that engineering improvements, along with new research programs on agrivoltaic systems, could lead to agricultural, environmental, and economic sustainability, as well as their practical implementation and attractiveness to farmers in the coming years.

Among the bio-tools that contribute to making the strawberry production system more sustainable are arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which can be used as biofertilizers. Thus, five doses of phosphorus (P) applied to plants with AMF and a control (100% P, no AMF) were analyzed in order to differentiate the horticultural potential of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. We used an on-farm inoculant made up of six fungal species. The univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the addition of AMF to the growing substrate made it possible to reduce the P supply in the nutrient solution by 75% without compromising the fruit yield. In addition, this combination improved the phytochemical quality of strawberries, the plant’s root system morphology, and the accumulation of nutrients in plant organs (roots, crowns, aerial part and fruits). We conclude that the use of a multi-species on-farm inoculant based on AMF associated with a reduction in the P supply in the nutrient solution modifies the horticultural potential of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. We confirmed the action of a native AMF community as a biofertilizer.

The flowering stage is a critical period for water sensitivity and quality formation of broomcorn millets. However, the effects and mechanisms of drought stress on the quality formation of broomcorn millets are not clear. We used the drought-resistant variety Hequ red millet (H) and the drought-sensitive variety Yanshu No. 10 (Y) were used as materials for drought stress treatment during the flowering stage, metabolomics and physiological methods were used to study the differences in protein, starch, amino acids, medium and medium-long chain fatty acids, and their response characteristics to drought in broomcorn millet. The results showed that different genotypes of broomcorn millets exhibited different response mechanisms in the face of drought stress. In Hequ red millet, drought stress significantly increased the contents of amylopectin (2.57%), pyridoxine (31.89%), and anthocyanin, and significantly decreased the contents of water-soluble protein (5.82%), glutelin (10.07%), thiamine (14.95%) and nicotinamide (23.01%). In Yanshu No. 10, drought significantly decreased amylose by 6.05%, and significantly increased riboflavin and nicotinamide contents by 21.11% and 32.59%. Correlation analysis showed that total starch and amylose were highly significantly positively correlated with methyl palmitate; negatively correlated with amylopectin, vitamins, proteins, free amino acids, and medium-long chain fatty acids; and amylopectin was significantly positively correlated with water-soluble protein, riboflavin, and pyridoxine. Water-soluble protein and glutelin were significantly positively correlated with most free amino acids, medium-long chain fatty acids, and nicotinamide. Thiamine showed significant positive correlation with nicotinamide and significant negative correlation with pyridoxine. Riboflavin was significantly positively correlated with nicotinamide, pyridoxine, and water-soluble protein, and pyridoxine was significantly positively correlated with water-soluble protein. Hequ red millet transforms into amylopectin by consuming water-soluble protein and glutelin, and improves drought resistance by accumulating pyridoxine, and changes its physicochemical properties by decreasing the content of amylose and protein and elevating the content of amylopectin. Yanshu No. 10 resisted drought by catabolizing lipids to produce fatty acids and by consuming amylose for conversion into other metabolites. The present study helps to understand the response of the nutritional quality of millets to drought stress at the flowering stage and provides a theoretical basis for the selection and breeding of superior varieties of millets and drought resistance research.

The double-season rice system plays an important role in ensuring food security in China. However, changes in the grain yield and quality of recently released rice varieties are still not fully understood, especially early indica rice (Oryza sativa). In this study, we collected the yield and quality traits of 224 early indica rice varieties released in China’s Hunan and Jiangxi provinces from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that rice grain yield, but not quality, was significantly improved in early indica rice from 2000 to 2020, and the improvement in grain yield was mainly the result of an increased spikelet number per panicle. Quality traits such as head rice rate, chalky rice rate, and amylose content remained stable while the milled rice rate and degree of chalkiness showed adverse changes during early indica rice breeding. These results suggested that improving grain yield, but not quality, has been prioritized during early indica rice breeding in the past few decades. Further analysis showed that the degree of chalkiness had the largest coefficient of variation among the studied quality traits in the 224 early indica rice varieties, indicating that there is still great potential to decrease the degree of chalkiness through rice breeding. Interestingly, the results showed that lower degrees of chalkiness were associated with lower amylose contents and chalky rice rates but with a higher length-to-width ratios and a gel consistency. Therefore, focusing on the degree of chalkiness seems a promising strategy to synergistically improve the quality traits of early indica rice. Overall, our results have value for guiding future research on high-yield and high-quality breeding in early indica rice.