Search

Techniques for classifying data using data mining are now a day prevalent in agriculture. The method of classifying seeds involves grouping various seed varieties according to their morphological characteristics. To accomplish categorization of the typical Charotar region (generally comprising Anand and Kheda districts of the Gujarat State of India) Gujarat Wheat (GW) varieties (TRITICUM – AESTIVUM) viz. GW 273, GW 496, GW 322, LOK-1, and GDW 1255 (TRITICUM – DURUM), Weka Explorer was used. The features used are area, perimeter, solidity, aspect ratio, major and minor axis of seed kernel, Hue, Saturation, Value, and SF1 (empirical). Features reduction was done using Information Gain (IG) and its modified version Gain Ratio (GR). This paper compares performance of Tree based data mining algorithms in classifying wheat varieties. For classification we used purely tree-based machine learning algorithms viz. J48, Random Forest, Hoeffding Tree, Logistic Model Tree (LMT), and REPTree. LMT- logistics regression method gives higher accuracy 96.4% compared to other classifiers. Hoeffding Tree classifiers stood second with 96% accuracy. For validation 10-fold cross validation was used. By reducing the number of folds in cross validation performance of most algorithms decreased except J48. The percentage of correctly classified instance increased for all algorithms when features were selected by GR except for J48. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy and market incentives are rapidly expanding to promote soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in global croplands. Evidence suggests that long-term increases in SOC can influence both crop yield and nitrogen (N) fertilizer requirements, with the potential to help address two important sustainability challenges. However, increases in SOC may also trigger higher soil nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions, which would represent an important tradeoff for climate change mitigation. We tested the hypothesis that long-term increases in SOC are associated with higher crop yields and fertilizer N use efficiency (NUE), but at the cost of higher N 2 O emissions. Wheat was grown in two soils (SOC low and SOC high) under three N fertilizer rates (0, 100, and 200 kg N ha−1) in a mesocosm experiment. Soils were obtained (0–25 cm) from a 22-yr field experiment on no-till and cover cropping in California. Results indicate that total biomass and grain yield were higher for SOC low than SOC high at 100 kg N ha−1 but not the other N levels. Crop N uptake was also 28% greater for SOC low at 200 kg N ha−1, resulting in higher overall NUE. Soil N 2 O emissions increased for SOC high by 25–112% compared to SOC low , likely due to long-term changes in labile C and N pools, microbial activity, and soil structure influencing porosity and gas diffusion. While there are well-documented crop and environmental benefits from enhancing SOC in agricultural soils, results from this study suggest that changes in soil N 2 O emissions should be considered to accurately determine net GHG emission reductions. • Soil N 2 O emissions increased 25–112% with long-term soil carbon sequestration • Crop yields were not higher with increased SOC • Crop nitrogen uptake and nitrogen use efficiency decreased with increased SOC • Elevated N 2 O emissions presented a tradeoff for net GHG emission reductions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their interest for agro-ecological transition, grain legumes remain poorly cultivated in France. One reason is the low availability of seed innovations for farmers which, to a large extend, is related to the low incentives to innovate for these crops which represent a small acreage. In this article, we analyze the link between market size and the efforts made to create, diffuse and value innovation. We compare two value chains related to two field crops in France that mainly differ in terms of market size, namely, pea and wheat. Our analysis focuses more specifically on the seed-related innovations created in the upstream part of these value chains. In both of these cases, innovation relies on multiple complementary activities carried out by different actors, including the creation of the innovation, the production and diffusion of technical knowledge, the production and distribution of the innovation, and its valorization by downstream users. The two case studies on the pea and wheat sectors were conducted using a qualitative approach based on public documentation, 16 semistructured interviews with various actors in the innovation system of the two value chains and data on commercialized pea and wheat varieties. We show that the level of investment in each of these activities is highly related to market size. This result is first explained by the fact that part (if not all) of the cost of these activities is fixed; that is, these activity costs do not depend on the diffusion of innovation. This result is also explained by the complementarity of these activities, which makes the investment in one activity less beneficial if the investment in complementary activities is low. As a consequence, the effect of market size on innovation is self-reinforcing in those cases where innovation relies on different activities managed by different actors. In agricultural sectors, where there is a need for innovations in both large and small markets, this result calls for an evolution of innovation funding mechanisms to attenuate the impact of market size. [Display omitted] • Seed innovation involves investments by multiple actors performing complementary activities • Pea and wheat value chains differ mainly according to market size • Most innovation-related activities represent a fixed cost • Investments in innovation activities are positively related to market size. • The low level of investment by actors in complementary activities self-reinforces the effect of market size on innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As) contaminated irrigation water caused a significant buildup of its level in the agricultural soil and edible tissues of wheat. High levels of As negatively impact grain quality, wheat yield, and human health consequently. It is still unknown how wheat varieties respond to As stress at the proteomic level. Therefore, the present study aimed to deliver mechanistic details regarding the role of proteins in tolerance mechanism against As stress. Two wheat varieties (BARANI-70 and NARC-2009) were exposed to arsenate treatment (200 µM) in a hydroponic experiment to evaluate the impacts of arsenic stress using proteomics. Roots of both varieties were used for protein extraction, digestion, and LC-MS/MS analysis to identify differentially abundant proteins (DAPs). Furthermore, various bioinformatic tools were used to study subcellular localization, functional categories, and pathway analysis. The findings identified 67 DAPs in BARANI-70 (up-regulated=56; down-regulated=11) and 89 DAPs in NARC-2009 (up-regulated=34; down-regulated=55). Subcellular localization revealed significant up-regulation of DAPs in mitochondria and chloroplast for BARANI-70 but down-regulation in NARC-2009 under As stress. Functional analysis revealed significant upregulation of DAPs for glutathione, peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, lactoylglutathione lyase, and glutathione-s-transferase in BARANI-70. Pathway analysis showed regulation of DAPs involved in tetrapyrrole biosynthesis and glycolysis-TCA particularly in BARANI-70 compared to NARC-2009. Furthermore, BARANI-70 showed better growth response under As stress compared to NARC-2009. Thus, better synthesis of stress-responsive DAPs and important pathways in BARANI-70 contributed towards its tolerance against As stress. The present research supports the use of tolerant varieties and identified protein biomarkers to enhance crop resilience against As stress. [Display omitted] • BARANI-70 showed significant upregulation of DAPs compared to NARC-2009. • Stress-responsive proteins were highly upregulated in BARANI-70. • BARANI-70 showed upregulation of mitochondrial, and chloroplast located proteins. • Glycolysis-TCA cycle pathway was significantly regulated in both varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many heavy metal stresses in agricultural biological systems, especially cadmium (Cd) stress, which prevent the full growth of plants, lead to a serious decline in crop yield, and endanger human health. Molybdenum (Mo), an essential nutrient element for plants, regulates plant growth mainly by reducing the absorption of heavy metals and protecting plants from oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of Mo (1 μM) application on wheat plants under conditions of Cd (10 μM) toxicity. The biomass, Cd and Mo contents, photosynthesis, leaf and root ultrastructure, antioxidant system, and active oxygen content of the wheat plants were determined. Mo increased the total chlorophyll content of wheat leaves by 43.02% and the net photosynthetic rate by 38.67%, and ameliorated the inhibitory effect of cadmium on photosynthesis by up-regulating photosynthesis-related genes and light-trapping genes. In addition, Mo reduced the content of superoxide anion (O 2 •—) by 16.55% and 31.12%, malondialdehyde (MDA) by 20.75% and 7.17%, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) by 24.69% and 8.17%, and electrolyte leakage (EL) by 27.59% and 16.82% in wheat leaves and roots, respectively, and enhanced the antioxidant system to reduce the burst of reactive oxygen species and alleviate the damage of Cd stress on wheat. According to the above results, Mo is considered a plant essential nutrient that enhances Cd tolerance in wheat by limiting the absorption, accumulation and transport of Cd and by regulating antioxidant defence mechanisms. Cadmium (Cd)，is one of the most toxic heavy metals in the environment, and Cd pollution is a global environmental problem that threatens food security and human health. Molybdenum (Mo), as an essential plant nutrient, is often used to resist environmental stress. However, the mechanism of Mo treatment on wheat subjected to Cd stress has not been reported. In this study, we systematically analysed the effects of Mo on the phenotype, physiology, biochemistry, ultrastructure and Cd content of wheat subjected to Cd stress, and comprehensively analysed the transcriptomics. It not only reveals the mechanism of Mo tolerance to Cd stress in wheat, but also provides new insights into phytoremediation and plant growth in Cd-contaminated soil. [Display omitted] • Mo mitigates the inhibitory effect of Cd on wheat seedling growth. • Mo up-regulates photosynthesis and light-trapping related genes. • Mo reduces the burst of reactive oxygen species by enhancing the antioxidant system of wheat under Cd stress. • Mo reduces Cd uptake and maintains ion homeostasis by regulating the expression of Cd related transport genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate variability plays a pivotal role in rainfed agriculture, especially within arid regions. Analyzing these fluctuations across diverse climatic conditions establishes a foundation for subsequent investigations. In Iran, the FAO 56 aridity index categorizes the nation into very dry, dry, semidry, and humid climate classifications. This study aimed to explore equations derived from multiple linear regression (MLR) and the disparities between predicted and observed yields of rainfed wheat and barley across Iran's varying climates. Meteorological data, encompassing rainfall (R), mean temperature (T mean), solar radiation (S), and wind speed (U 2), were compiled from 44 synoptic stations spanning 1981–2020. These data constituted inputs for the MLR models employed to simulate rainfed wheat and barley yields. The Global Performance Indicator (GPI), a 5-point statistical criteria index, was utilized to assess MLR model performance. The findings unveiled superior MLR model performance in dry climates (R2=0.84 for wheat and R2=0.9 for barley) compared to humid climates (R2=0.69 for wheat and R2=0.66 for barley), evidenced by lower statistical error criteria values. Moreover, across all climates, the MLR models exhibited more accurate predictions for rainfed wheat yield (GPI=1559.3) in contrast to rainfed barley (GPI=1536). In conclusion, this study sheds light on the notable role of climate in rainfed agriculture, showcasing the efficacy of MLR models in predicting yields across varying climatic contexts. • Strong correlation between rainfall and crop yield underscores water's impact on productivity. • MLR models demonstrate higher accuracy in drier climates compared to humid ones. • Rainfall and wind speed emerge as crucial predictors of crop yields, overestimating across climates. • GPI analysis reveals MLR's excellence in estimating yields in dry climates. • Importance of tailored models for accurate yield predictions, with GPI introduced for comprehensive evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of antimony (Sb) in plants and its potential effects on human health are of increasing concern. Nevertheless, only a few countries or regions have established soil Sb thresholds for agricultural purposes, and soil properties have not been taken into account. This study investigated the accumulation of Sb in the edible parts of pakchoi and wheat grain by adding exogenous Sb to 21 soils with varying properties. The results revealed a positive correlation between bioavailable Sb (Sb ava , extracted by 0.1 M K 2 HPO 4) in soil and Sb in the edible parts of pakchoi (R2 = 0.77, p < 0.05) and wheat grain (R2 = 0.54, p < 0.05). Both machine learning and traditional multiple regression analysis indicated Sb ava was the most critical feature and the main soil properties that contributed to Sb uptake by pakchoi and wheat were CaCO 3 and clay, respectively. The advisory food limits for Sb in pakchoi and wheat were estimated based on health risk assessment, and used to derive soil thresholds for safe pakchoi and wheat production based on Sb tot and Sb ava , respectively. These findings hold potential for predicting Sb uptake by crops with different soil properties and informing safe production management strategies. [Display omitted] • Pakchoi has a higher accumulation potential of Sb than wheat. • Phytoavailability of Sb in soils was predicted by phosphate-extraction. • Machine learning and multiple regression models were used to identify key factors. • CaCO 3 and pH was identified as major factors influencing Sb accumulation in pakchoi. • Clay content was a primary factor in controlling Sb uptake in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiotic stresses like salinity and micronutrient deficiency majorly affect wheat productivity. Applying mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSiNPs) as a smart micronutrient delivery system can facilitate better stress management and nutrient delivery. In this purview, we investigated the potential of MSiNPs and Zn-loaded MSiNPs (Zn-MSiNPs) on the growth and physiology of wheat seedlings exposed to salinity stress (200 mM NaCl). Initially, the FESEM, DLS, and BET analysis portrayed nanoparticles' spherical shape, nano-size, and negatively charged mesoporous surface. A sustained release of Zn+2 from Zn-MSiNPs at 30 °C, diffused light, and pH 7 was perceived with a 96.57% release after 10 days. Further, the mitigation of NaCl stress in the wheat seedlings was evaluated with two different concentrations, each of MSiNPs and Zn-MSiNPs (1 g/L and 5 g/L), respectively. A meticulous improvement in the germination and growth of wheat seedlings was observed when treated with both MSiNPs and Zn-MSiNPs. A considerable increase in chlorophyll, total protein, and sugar content was in consort with a substantial decline in MDA, electrolyte leakage, and ROS accumulation, showcasing the nanomaterials' palliating effects. Most importantly, the K+/Na+ ratio in shoots increased significantly by 3.43 and 4.37 folds after being treated with 5 g/L Zn-MSiNPs, compared to their respective control sets (0 and 200 mM NaCl). Therefore, it can be concluded that the Zn-MSiNPs can effectively restrain the effects of salinity stress on wheat seedlings. • Sustained release of Zn+2 from Zn-MSiNPs occur at 30 °C, diffused light, and pH 7. • Zn+2 loading also enhances the uptake and accumulation of silica in wheat. • Zn-MSiNPs ameliorated NaCl toxicity in wheat seedlings; delimiting ROS accretion. • Zn-MSiNPs improved photosynthetic efficacy and osmotic balance. • Zn-MSiNPs as controlled-release nanofertilizers will boost sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a globally recognized plant breeding organization, manually recorded field observation data is crucial for plant breeding decision making. However, certain phenotypic traits such as plant color, height, kernel counts, etc. can only be recorded during a specific time-window of a crop's growth cycle. Due to labor-intensive requirements, only a small subset of possible field observations are recorded each season. To help mitigate this data collection bottleneck in wheat breeding, we propose a novel deep learning framework to accurately and efficiently count wheat heads to aid in the gathering of real-time data for decision making. We call our model WheatNet and show that our approach is robust and accurate for a wide range of environmental conditions of the wheat field. WheatNet uses a truncated MobileNetV2 as a lightweight backbone feature extractor which merges feature maps with different scales to counter image scale variations. Then, extracted multi-scale features go to two parallel sub-networks for simultaneous density-based counting and localization tasks. The proposed method uses only point-level annotations for both counting and localization which is less labor-intensive compared to box-level annotations. Our proposed method achieves an MAE and RMSE of 3.85 and 5.19 in our wheat head counting task, respectively, while having significantly fewer parameters when compared to other state-of-the-art methods. Our experiments and comparisons with other state-of-the-art methods demonstrate the superiority and effectiveness of our proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil cadmium (Cd) contamination poses a significant threat to global food security and the environment. Astaxanthin (AX), a potent biological antioxidant belonging to the carotenoid group, has been demonstrated to confer tolerance against diverse abiotic stresses in plants. This study investigated the potential of AX in mitigating Cd-induced damage in wheat seedlings. Morpho-physiological, ultrastructural, and biochemical analyses were conducted to evaluate the impact of AX on Cd-exposed wheat seedlings. Illumina-based gene expression profiling was employed to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of AX. The addition of 100 μM AX alleviated Cd toxicity by enhancing various parameters: growth, photosynthesis, carotenoid content, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), while reducing Cd accumulation, malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) levels. RNA sequencing analysis revealed differentially expressed genes associated with Cd uptake and carotenoid metabolism, such as zinc/iron permease (ZIP), heavy metal-associated protein (HMA), 3-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (3-beta-HSD), and thiolase. These findings suggest that AX enhances Cd tolerance in wheat seedlings by promoting the expression of detoxification and photosynthesis-related genes. This research offers valuable insights into the potential use of AX to address Cd contamination in agricultural systems, highlighting the significance of antioxidant supplementation in plant stress management. • Application of AX alleviates Cd toxicity and improves plant growth in wheat. • AX treatment leads to reduced Cd levels, lowers oxidative stress, and enhances photosynthesis. • AX modulates the expression of specific genes involved in Cd absorption and tolerance mechanisms. • AX induces carotenoid metabolism-related genes expression mediates AX's beneficial effects under Cd stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to use the agricultural weed and silica (Si) hyperaccumulator Equisetum arvense as Si fertilizer in plant cultivation. We investigated (1) the Si uptake in various Equisetum species, (2) where Si accumulates in the Equisetum plant, (3) processing methods to release as much Si as possible from dried, ground E. arvense plants and (4) which treatment yields gives the highest uptake of Si in young wheat plants cultivated in soil containing ground E. arvense. The results showed that E. arvense containes 22% Si and was among the best Si accumulators. Equisetum arvense accumulates Si as both soluble and firmly bound fractions. Amorphous silica (SiO 2) accumulates in the outer cell walls of epidermis of the entire plant. Regarding the processing method, a longer treatment time, greater concentration of Equisetum , boiling, and the addition of sodium bicarbonate increased the Si availability in ground, dried E. arvense. The addition of untreated, ground, dried E. arvense to the soil, corresponding to 160 kg Si ha−1, increased the available Si in the soil and the Si uptake in wheat plants by five-fold, compared with the control. Boiling the ground E. arvense increased the Si uptake by 10 times, and the of sodium bicarbonate increased the availability and uptake by 40 times, compared with the control. In conclusion, dried, ground E. arvense can be used as a Si fertilizer as is, after boiling for a slightly better effect, or with sodium bicarbonate (up to a similar amount as the ground material) for best effect. [Display omitted] • Equisetum arvense accumulates 22 % Si of dry weight. • Amorphous silica accumulates in the outer cell walls of epidermis of the entire plant. • Ground, dry Equisetum releases Si to soil and increases Si uptake in wheat. • Boiling ground Equisetum increases the release of Si to soil 10 times. • Sodium bicarbonate increases the release of Si from Equisetum 40 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the contribution of diverse nitrogen (N) sources in agricultural systems is pivotal for optimizing sustainable farming practices. While knowledge exists about the roles of various N sources, there's limited comprehensive data on the relative contributions of manure compost, fertilizer, and root residues to subsequent plant uptake. A comprehensive field study was conducted in Shandong Province, China, utilizing 15N labeling techniques to clarify these contributions. Four treatments were established, each incorporating four exogenous nitrogen sources (manure compost + urea + maize root + residual urea) applied concurrently at wheat seeding, with only one source being 15N labeled per treatment. Additional two treatments served as controls, one without 15N labelling and another without manure compost. During a wheat growing season, the N contribution from each individual source to subsequent wheat growth was quantified. Manure contributed 10% of the wheat seed N, while urea contributed 18% and maize root contributed 0.3%. Nitrogen recovery in distinct components of the wheat plant (seeds, straw, and roots) was assessed, revealing urea's superior use efficiency within the total wheat biomass at 55%. In contrast, both manure compost and maize root showed a recovery rate of 29%. Although this study spans only one-year, it offers fresh perspectives on the differential contribution and use efficiency of key N sources under field conditions, emphasizing their role in bolstering crop health and productivity for sustainable agriculture. [Display omitted] • Manure contributes 10% of N in wheat seeds, more than maize root (0.3%), but less than urea (18%). • Soil and other contributes 72% of the seed N, 71% of the straw N, and 65% of the root N. • N use efficiency in wheat biomass is comparable for manure and maize root (29%). • Urea shows superior N use efficiency in wheat total biomass at 55%. • Grains per spike, not spike number or grain weight, influence yield differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping pasture with grain crops provides a strategy for diversifying cropping systems and establishing a foundation for mixed crop-livestock farming systems. Investigating the effects of strip design and nitrogen (N) application on interspecific interaction, crop yield, N use efficiency (NUE), and land equivalent ratio (LER) in dryland wheat/alfalfa intercropping. We conducted a four-year field experiment, which tested three intercrops, namely, 2-row wheat with 1-row alfalfa (I21), 4-row wheat with 2-row alfalfa (I42), and 8-row wheat with 4-row alfalfa (I84), as well as sole wheat (SW) and alfalfa (SA). N rates of 150 (HN) and 75 kg ha−1 (LN) were applied for wheat. Winter wheat exhibited earlier spring green-up than alfalfa and maintained dominance during co-growth. Over the four seasons, I21, I42, and I84 resulted in wheat yield (based on the wheat strip area) increases of 19.0%, 16.7%, and 24.0%, respectively, under HN, and 34.1%, 31.9%, and 43.4% under LN. Alfalfa growth was constrained during co-growth but recovered after the wheat harvest. Alfalfa in I42 and I84 maintained forage yield (based on the alfalfa strip area) as high as SA. Intercropping increased wheat NUE under both N conditions but did not significantly affect alfalfa NUE. I84 attained the highest LER of 1.01–1.14 and 1.11–1.25 under HN and LN respectively. Net revenue of I84 was lower than SA but three times higher than SW. Wide-strip wheat/alfalfa intercrop with low-N showed the best performance, which is promising in diversifying farming system and improving agricultural sustainability. • Wheat yield improvement was more significant under low nitrogen. • Intercropping increased both wheat ear density and 1000-grain weight. • Land equivalent ratio of wheat/alfalfa intercrop ranged in 0.79–1.31. • Wheat/alfalfa intercropping had higher yield and land advantage under low nitrogen. • Intercrop of 8-row wheat and 4-row alfalfa with low N was suggested for application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Investigation of effect of knapsack and drone spraying of herbicide on wheat crop. • Randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments. • Herbicide application by knapsack sprayer PE + drone POE Metribuzin 70 % @ 0.175 kg.a.i.ha1. • Combination of knapsack (pre emergence) and drone (post emergence) sprayer provides highest grain yield of 4256.59 kg.ha−1. Modern agriculture uses agrochemicals to boost crop yield and quality. Using knapsack sprayers, Indian farmers apply herbicides, insecticides, and other chemicals. Herbicides are applied by manually operated knapsack sprayers, which are laborious, uneven, and prone to human mistakes. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a promising agricultural spraying alternative to manual operations. Future agricultural and field scouting technology aids weed management, pest control, and automated irrigation systems. Drone herbicide spraying was compared to traditional and mechanical knapsack sprayers in this study. The study also tested knapsack (manual) and UAV herbicide pre- and post-emergence and spraying on wheat crops. Herbicide application by knapsack and drones was examined for weed control, yield-contributing characters, and wheat yield. The experiments were performed at Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth's Department of Agronomy in Parbhani, Maharashtra. A randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments, including drones and knapsack sprayers for weed management in wheat crops with different herbicide application times and repeated hoeings (cultural method), was compared to absolute weed-free, where no weeds were allowed to grow in wheat by frequent weeding and weedy inspection. The experimental field measured 7.2 m x 6 m gross land area and 6.3 m x 5.6 m net land area. When winds were light, the drone was flown at 3 m to avoid herbicide droplets drifting. The study found that unweeded wheat yields dropped 38 % owing to weed insects. The pre-emergence (PE) application using a knapsack sprayer and post-emergence (POE) herbicide application via a drone synergistically resulted in the highest growth and yield for T 3 , attaining values of 11.02 gm/plant, an average of 284.97 grains/plant, and a per-hectare grain yield of 4256.59 kg/ha. The cultural approach of weed management (T 4) reduced yield by 21.2 %; however, treatment T 3 improved yield contributing characteristics and losses by just 2.8 %. UAV-based herbicide spraying is a fast and easy method that contributes to achieving sustainable development goal (SDG) 2 for Zero Hunger by promoting sustainable plant protection and crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown that radar temporal coherence over tropical and boreal forests undergoes a diurnal cycle as a result of a combined effect of the wind-induced motion of scatterers and of the change and displacement of water within the plant in response to the transpiration process. Within this context, the objective of this paper is to investigate, for the first time, the diurnal cycle of temporal coherence over wheat crops in relation to its development and physiological functioning throughout the agricultural season. A ground-based experiment was installed in Morocco, targeting a wheat field during the 2020 agricultural season. The radar system, essentially based on a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) connected to 6C-band antennas installed at the top of a 20 m tower, has enabled quad-polarimetric acquisitions every 15 min. In parallel, evapotranspiration, soil moisture and meteorological variables are automatically measured in addition to above-ground biomass and vegetation water content collected during field campaigns. The results show that the temporal coherence with a 15 min baseline follows a marked diurnal cycle characterized by variable amplitude according to the phenological stage, with high values during the night, a significant morning drop to reach the lowest values in the late afternoon followed by an increase to recover the high nighttime values. The rate of the drop at dawn is shown to be related to the increase of evapotranspiration (r = 0.80 at VV polarization) when the wheat is covering the soil and the transpiration dominate the evapotranspiration process. This supports the assumption of a physiological effect related to water movement entailing a decorrelation. By contrast, the daily minimum of temporal coherence occurring in the late afternoon correlates well to the daily maximum of wind (r = 0.7). Interestingly enough, the amplitude of the diurnal cycle exhibit a marked seasonal evolution characterized by an increase of 85% from tillering to maturity in relation to the wheat development. At the early start of the season when the soil is almost bare, irrigation events impact slightly the diurnal cycle of temporal coherence. Likewise, it is shown that the presence of dew in the early morning has led to a decrease of the decorrelation rate. Temporal coherence dynamic has also been investigated for longer baselines up to 22 days. Results indicate a stronger decorrelation than what has been observed on tropical and boreal forests by previous studies with values below 0.4 for baselines above 2 days. Taken together, the results of this work demonstrate the unique potential of sub-daily C-band data for monitoring crop water status by future geostationary radar missions such as Hydroterra. • Diurnal cycles of 15-min C-band temporal coherence over wheat crops are analyzed. • The morning drop of the temporal coherence is related to the transpiration process. • Temporal coherence exhibits a marked seasonal dynamic according to phenological stages. • Irrigation events and morning dew have an impact on sub-daily temporal coherence. • Early morning hours showed potential for monitoring the vegetation physiological functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the agro-ecosystem scale, a combination of green manure and chemical nitrogen fertilizer improves crop yield but also exacerbates soil CO 2 emissions. However, it is unclear whether reducing nitrogen by reapplying green manure to fields can achieve high crop yields and improve carbon mitigation. This study aims to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of carbon emissions in maize fields under green manure reapplication combined with a reduction in nitrogen. A field experiment comprising five treatments (green manure reapplication combined with traditional nitrogen application (N100), green manure reapplication combined with a reduction in nitrogen of 10% (N90), green manure reapplication combined with a reduction in nitrogen of 20% (N80), green manure reapplication combined with a reduction in nitrogen of 30% (N70), and green manure reapplication combined with a reduction in nitrogen of 40% (N60)) was conducted at an arid oasis region in northwestern China from 2020 to 2022. This study investigated the effects of reducing nitrogen application while reapplying green manure to the field on maize grain yield, soil respiration rate, and carbon emission efficiency (CEE) and analyzed the relationship between soil respiration rate and soil temperature (Ts), soil water content (SWC), and crop biomass accumulation (BA). The N80 treatment significantly reduced soil carbon emissions (CE) but did not reduce maize grain yield, and it showed a significant increase in CEE of 7.7% compared with the N100 treatment. In addition, this system can ensure no reduction in net primary production (NPP), net ecosystem production (NEP), and carbon sequestration (CS) potential compared with N100 and significantly improves the NPP/CE value. Soil temperature and crop biomass significantly correlated with soil respiration, which explained 68.4–72.9% and 84.4–88.8% of the seasonal variation of soil respiration, respectively. However, there was no correlation between soil moisture and soil respiration. Therefore, reducing nitrogen application by 20% while multiple cropping with green manure application after wheat was a suitable nitrogen fertilizer management measure for improving carbon mitigation in arid areas without sacrificing maize yield. The results of this study provide valuable insights into long-term agricultural management strategies for achieving high agricultural production and environmental friendliness. • N80 ensured that maize grain yield does not decrease. • N80 reduced soil carbon emissions and improved carbon emission efficiency. • N80 ensured no reduction in NPP, NEP and Harvest-C. • N80 improved C sequestration and NPP/CE value. • Ts and BA are the main factors influencing carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The study formulates a framework for mapping the Cultivation Potential Index (CPI). • CPI was calculated using the climatic perspective of precipitation and temperature. • Precipitation and temperature were prepared by frequency analysis and remote-sensing. • Shannon-Entropy Catastrophe Scheme calculates CPI by decreasing subjectivity. • CPI delineates high-potential areas for rainfed wheat cultivation. Mapping the Cultivation Potential Index (CPI) for a specific crop is a topical research activity in agro-climate studies, which can lead to environmental and water resources protection and agriculture efficiency increase. This study formulates a framework to delineate the CPI of rainfed wheat from the climatic perspective of precipitation and temperature. Four precipitation layers were prepared using the frequency analysis of annual, autumn, spring, and June precipitation time series; also, three temperature layers comprise autumn, spring, and June temperatures obtained by remote sensing techniques. The Shannon-Entropy Catastrophe Scheme (ECS) was also formulated to combine seven layers of precipitation and temperature besides the land use layer while decreasing the inherent subjectivity. The formulated methodology was implemented in the Maragheh city, northwest of Iran. Some contrasts exist between the spatial distributions of precipitation in different time scales, which necessitates the formulation of ECS as a multi-criteria decision-making technique. ECS identifies the eastern half of the study area as the medium to relatively high CPI, which can be employed as a decision support system for planning and managing agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widely considered as ecosystem engineers to positively affect the adaptation of plants to adverse environments, but whether AMF can commonly promote root-soil relationships and reproductive allocation is unclear in dryland crops. It is crucial to reveal if AMF can promote grain filling via mediating rhizosphere interactions regardless of soil water regimes and planting densities in dryland crops for the application of AMF regarding more precise management. To address this issue, Funneliformis mosseae was inoculated in pot-cultured wheat to examine the inoculation effects on wheat growth, yield formation, rhizospheric moisture and nutrient status across four planting densities under the drought and well-watered conditions. As expected, under drought stress, wheat grain filling, shoot biomass, rhizospheric soil water content (SWC), water use efficiency (WUE), soil organic carbon (SOC) content and the ratio of SOC to soil total nitrogen (TN) contents were significantly lowered in the soils without AMF inoculation across four planting densities. Under well-watered conditions, the SWC ranged from 10.30 % to 16.64 %, while under water stress conditions, the values ranged from 5.77 % to 9.61 %. Soil mineralized nitrogen (NO 3 −-N and NH 4 +-N) contents were decreased with AMF regardless of soil water status and planting densities. Under drought stress, AMF inoculation increased wheat productivity, WUE, SWC, SOC content, the ratio of SOC to TN, and promoted the absorption of mineralized nitrogen. Particularly, AMF inoculation substantially promoted the soil easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC) content by 58.5 % and 55.6 % in the two highest densities, respectively. The soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content was totally >50 mg kg−1, whereas that of the non-AMF group was <40 mg kg−1. AMF inoculation significantly promoted grain yield up to 28.5 % under drought stress. Such a trend was tightly associated with higher WUE, rhizosphere C/N ratio and labile SOC (EOC and MBC) content owing to the enhanced absorption of soil mineralized nitrogen under drought stress with AMF. The above trend tended to become weaker with increasing densities. However, under a sufficient water supply, AMF inoculation had no such significant effect on the above parameters in low densities, and turned to generate negative effects under high densities (P < 0.05). For example, compared with well-watered, AMF inoculation reduced wheat grain yield and shoot weight by 9.78 % and 4.83 % in high planting density treatment (HC), respectively. Therefore, the inoculation effects of AMF were highly dependent on planting density and soil moisture, and the mechanism was that AMF optimized the rhizospheric interactions for better water and nutrient status under drought and low density. Our findings may provide novel insights into the application of AMF regarding agricultural sustainability under climate change. Conceptual framework depicting the responses of soil nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) cycling processes to different AMF and plant density treatments. The soil N and C cycling processes a) without and with b) AMF inoculation are shown on the left and right, respectively. Solid arrows, C and N fluxes from one pool to another, microbial biomass and activities that mediate the mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM) and soil organic carbon (SOC). The thickness of the arrows indicates the magnitude of the flux or activity. Rectangles, the pool sizes of microbial biomass and mineral N (ammonium and nitrate). Red line, AMF hyphae. Green arrows, root exudation; blue arrows, mineral N flow; orange arrows, microbial respiration; black arrows, the root water uptake; purple arrows, N competition between root and microorganism; yellow arrows, microbial activities that mediate the mineralization of SOM; brown arrows, the interactions. Further explanations are shown in the main text. [Display omitted] • AMF helped the wheat adapt to an arid environment and enhance reproduction. • AMF fostered wheat reproductive derived from optimized WUE and nutrient provision. • The effects of AMF were dependent on water level and plant density. • Our study provides novel insights into the agro-ecosystem sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) contamination is a serious challenge in agricultural soils worldwide, resulting in Cd entering the food chain mainly through plant-based food and threatening human health. Minimizing Cd bioaccumulation in wheat is an important way to prevent Cd hazards to humans. Hydroponic and pot experiments were conducted to comprehensively evaluate the effects of zinc sulfate (ZnSO 4) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) on Cd uptake, translocation, subcellular distribution, cellular ultrastructure, and gene expression in two wheat genotypes that differ in grain Zn accumulation. Results showed that high-dose nZnO significantly reduced root Cd concentration (52.44%∼56.85%) in two wheats, in contrast to ZnSO 4. The S216 exhibited higher tolerance to Cd compared to Z797. Importantly, Zn supplementation enhanced Cd sequestration into vacuoles and binding to cell walls, which conferred stability to ultracellular structures and photosynthetic apparatus. Down-regulation of influx transporter (TaHMA2 and TaLCT1) and up-regulation of efflux transporters (TaTM20 and TaHMA3) in Z797 might contribute to Zn-dependent alleviation of Cd toxicity and enhance its Cd tolerance. Down-regulation of ZIP transporters (TaZIP3 , -5 , and -7) might contribute to an increase in root Zn concentration and inhibit Cd absorption. Additionally, soil Zn provided an effective strategy for the reduction of grain Cd concentrations in both wheats, with a reduction of 26%∼32% (high ZnSO 4) and 11%∼67% (high nZnO), respectively. Collectively, these findings provide new insights and perspectives on the mechanisms of Cd mitigation in wheats with different Zn fertilizers and demonstrate that the effect of nZnO in mitigating Cd stress is greater than that of ZnSO 4 fertilizers. [Display omitted] • High Zn reduced Cd concentration in wheat roots, while low Zn increased it in shoots. • High-dose ZnO NPs was more effective than ZnSO 4 in alleviating Cd-induced toxicity. • Zn enhances Cd sequestration into vacuoles and chelation onto cell walls. • Zn downregulated TaLCT1 and TaHMA2 expression, while upregulating TaTM20 and TaHMA3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely knowledge of phenological development and crop growth is pivotal for evidence-based decision making in agriculture. We propose a near real-time approach combining radiative transfer model inversion with physiological and phenological priors from multi-year field phenotyping. Our approach allows to retrieve Green Leaf Area Index (GLAI), Canopy Chlorophyll Content (CCC) and hence Leaf Chlorophyll Content (Cab) from Sentinel-2 optical satellite imagery to quantify winter wheat growth conditions in a physiologically sound way. Phenological macro stages are based on accumulated growing degree day thresholds obtained from multi-year field phenotyping covering more than 2400 ratings from roughly 300 winter wheat varieties and reflect important physiological transitions. These include the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth and the onset of flowering, which is important information for agricultural decision support. Validation against a large data set of on-farm trials in Switzerland collected in 2019 and 2022 revealed high accuracy of our approach that produced spatio-temporally consistent results. Phenological macro stages were predicted for 970 Sentinel-2 observations reaching a weighted F1-score of 0.96. Sentinel-2 derived GLAI and CCC explained between 77 to 84% and between 79 to 84% of the variability in in-situ measurements, respectively. Here, the incorporation of phenological priors clearly increased trait retrieval accuracy. Besides, this work highlights that physiological priors, e.g., obtained by field phenotyping, can help enhancing landscape scale observations and hold potential to advance the retrieval of remotely sensed vegetation traits and in-season phenology. • We estimated crop functional traits and phenology in season. • We used physiological and phenological priors from field phenotyping. • Retrievals were validated at multiple sites. • The methodology is simple and suited for operational usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean region is a climate change hotspot due to projected precipitation decreases, soil erosion, and rising temperatures in the coming decades. In such a context, wheat productivity is expected to decrease; thus, all available croplands will need to be farmed to meet food demands. It is therefore crucial to have adequate management to help balance wheat production and environmental protection in specific target environments. With this aim, we present a study in Castile and Leon (Spain) in which we assess conventional and certified organic wheat grain yield and quality. Moreover, we spatially define wheat cultivation suitability categories and monitor crop rotation practices. For wheat suitability mapping, a fuzzy interference system was used to standardize topographic (height and slope), edaphic (pH, soil erosion, organic matter, and texture), and climatic (rainfall and temperature) variables and create marginal, suitable, and very suitable wheat cultivation suitability categories. We calculated the area of wheat suitability categories with confidence intervals and discussed factors affecting productivity. Additionally, we assessed the performance of certified organic and conventionally managed fields with organic and chemical fertilization. We also examined crop rotations using Sentinel-2 data over two seasons (2020−21). Certified organic management yielded 50% less than conventional management in similar environments while maintaining grain quality. Besides management, the main causes of the yield gap are the growing environment and variety. In conventional wheat management, organic fertilization achieves comparable yields to chemical fertilization. Crop rotation practices are uncommon, and over 50% of fields rotate wheat-to-barley or wheat-to-wheat, indicating poor soil management. The region has 25% of cropland classified as marginal wheat croplands (163,503 ± 33,796 ha) producing <2500 kg/ha. Wheat organic agriculture has decreased yield gaps in marginal croplands compared to more productive areas. By farming organic wheat in marginal croplands, the best croplands might be used for more productive farming. • The studied region in Spain has 25% of cropland classified as marginal wheat croplands. • A fuzzy interference system has proven effective to decipher wheat suitability classes. • Sentinel-2 data allowed monitoring the uncommon crop rotation practices in the region. • Certified organic management yielded 50% less than conventional in similar settings. • Wheat organic agriculture has decreased yield gaps in marginal croplands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A clear consensus has emerged that innovations are important for adapting to drought and overcoming other biophysical limitations in smallholder farming systems; however, women are notably marginalized from agricultural innovations. We examine whether and how gendered roles and responsibilities shape the adoption and usage of improved wheat varieties and simultaneously uncover opportunities to address and lessen gender-based differences in agricultural innovations. The field data were collected using snowball sampling from seven communities (three in Morocco and four in Uzbekistan) among 574 farmers (half men and half women) of different generations, genders, social statuses, and social classes. Our findings demonstrate how the complex interactions of biophysical constraints, intra-household (spousal and kinship) relations, and the broader macro-level political economy of agriculture converge to influence different identities of women and men farmers' wheat production and processing practices. We argue that without focusing on the socio-cultural factors affecting agriculture, new seed varieties alone cannot address the multifaceted problems confronting farmers in all parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of new advanced technology for finest one pass sowing solution in residue in North West India has resulted in increased interest among weed scientists to improve weed management strategies due to herbicide resistant Phalaris minor and herbicide efficacy. A study was conducted over two consecutive crop seasons at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Muktsar, Punjab, India. The objectives of the study were to find out pyroxasulfone rate required as pre emergence (PRE) in residue removal and incorporation scenarios for weed control and to compare efficacy of PRE application under simulating rainfall at 2, 5 and 10 days after sowing (DAS) and its effect on wheat grain yield. Incorporation of paddy residue (RI) gave 3.8 & 3.7% and 1.8 & 5.1% higher grain yield than residue removal (RR) at Ludhiana and Muktsar during 2020–21 and 2021–22, respectively. At Ludhiana, pyroxasulfone 191.25 g ha−1 recorded significantly less Phalaris minor than pyroxasulfone 127.5 ha-1 but provided similar control of broad leaved weeds (Rumex dentatus and Medicago denticulata). However, both doses of pyroxasulfone recorded similar control of grass and broad-leaved weeds at Muktsar. Simulated rainfall increased the efficacy of pyroxasulfone and recorded less P. minor when given at 2 DAS than 10 DAS at Ludhiana but at Muktsar all simulated rainfall events did not affect weed density and biomass. Phyto-toxicity of pyroxasulfone was not observed on wheat crop when simulated rainfall was applied 2, 5 and 10 DAS in wheat sown under different residue scenarios at both the locations. • Paddy straw residue incorporation at 7 t ha−1 gave 3.8 & 3.7% and 1.8 & 5.1% higher grain yield than straw removal (0 t ha−1) at Ludhiana and Sri Muktsar Sahib during 2020–21 and 2021-22 seasons, respectively. • 13.7 and 21.1% higher grain yield was observed in 2020–21 than in 2021–22 at PAU, Ludhiana and Muktsar due to unconventional weather conditions during 2021–22. • Pyroxasulfone 191.25 g ha−1 provided greater P. minor control than pyroxasulfone 127.5 ha−1 at Ludhiana, but both doses were not significant to affect broad leaved weeds at Ludhiana Similarly, at Muktsar, no dose effect of pyroxasulfone was observed for both broadleaf and grass weeds. • Simulated rainfall increased the efficacy of the herbicide and provided greater P. minor control with 2 DAS than 10 DAS at Ludhiana but at Muktsar all simulated rainfall events produced non-significant effect on weed density and biomass. • Phyto-toxicity of pyroxasulfone was not observed on wheat crop when simulated rainfall was applied 2, 5 and 10 DAS under all residue treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is a critical crop for global food security, but its production is often limited by both various abiotic stress forms- and events. The frequency of extreme events is increasing due to climate change. To address this challenge, it is crucial to develop effective strategies to enhance crop resilience. Drought priming is a promising approach to increase crop tolerance to abiotic stresses and to improve wheat production under adverse climatic conditions. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on drought priming in wheat, including its effects on both plant physiology and biochemistry, as well as on key molecular mechanisms involved in priming-induced stress tolerance. The article highlights the potential applications of drought priming in the agricultural sector, along with the challenges associated with its implementation. Overall, this review provides a foundation for further research to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of drought priming as a strategy for enhancing wheat resilience. • Comprehensive review of drought priming in wheat for improving crop resilience. • Discussion on the physiological mechanisms of drought priming. • Insights into key molecular mechanisms involved in priming-induced stress tolerance. • Challenges of application drought priming in agricultural sector highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responses of wheat yield in different regions to separate and joint changes in mean temperature (T mean), precipitation (Prec), and solar radiation (Rad) are the foundation for sustainable development under climate change; however, these remain uncertain. Here, we quantified the response of wheat yield variation to changes in T mean , Prec, and Rad by building multiple regression models, de-trending analysis, and MK trend tests. Multi-site meteorological data was obtained from different wheat growing areas and corresponding wheat yield data from provinces. Our findings showed that the effects of different climatic elements on wheat yield are spatially heterogeneous by region, and the combined effects of climatic elements are higher than those of single elements. Climate change caused an increase of 1% and 4.52% in winter and winter-spring wheat areas, respectively, and a loss of 3.72% in spring wheat areas. In addition, the effect of single meteorological factors on wheat yield varied depending on their rate of change. Rad and Prec are the main drivers of wheat yield variability; in winter, spring and winter-spring wheat areas, Rad significantly impacted wheat yield by 0.89%, −1.18%, and 2.46%, respectively, and Prec caused changes of −0.18%, −1.54%, and 1.33%, respectively. Considering normal and extreme climate fluctuations, we found that the contribution of climate change to wheat yield changes in different wheat-growing regions reached 26.1%, 18.6%, and 16.7%, respectively. Our results indicate that the overall climatic conditions in the spring wheat region are moving in an unfavourable direction, while Prec variability has become the main limiting factor for wheat production in the current winter and winter-spring wheat regions. These comprehensive and detailed findings provide a reference for the development of more accurate adaptation strategies and management measures in different regions. Going forward, the results of this study can be better applied to the development of region-specific climate-smart agricultural practices and extended to other crops and regions to better understand the broader impacts of climate change on global food security. [Display omitted] • Spatial differences in crop yield responses to different climate drivers at large scales. • We quantified the effects of climate variation on wheat yield variability. • Uniquely illustrates spatial patterns in the relationship between climate variability and wheat yield variability. • Uncovering the main drivers of climate change impact on wheat yield in China. • Light-efficient varieties and effective irrigation may improve China's wheat yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor irrigation practices are accelerating groundwater depletion, together with negative effects on climate change and had therefore threatened agricultural sustainability in North China Pain (NCP). Integrated optimization of cropping systems and water-saving cultivation techniques is critical. We developed a novel water-saving cultivation system that incorporates application of disposable pre-sowing irrigation in wheat to 85−90% of field capacity and irrigation only while sowing maize under winter wheat-summer maize rotation system (T1W0) and winter wheat/summer maize-single maize rotation system (three harvests in two years, T2W0). The T1W0 significantly reduced irrigation amount by 42.1% and mitigated carbon footprint by 35.5%, and achieved 92.2% of grain yield compared with conventional farming practice (three irrigation for wheat). Crop modeling showed that T2W0 had the potential of sustainable irrigation with groundwater decline at 0.12 m year−1. The T1W0 is recommended for most areas in NCP while T2W0 is for severe ground funnel areas. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress is becoming a serious problem for the global environment and agricultural sector. Different sources of iron (Fe) can provide an eco-friendly solution to remediate salt-affected soils. The Fe nanoparticles (FeNPs) and conventional sources of Fe (iron-ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid; Fe-EDTA; and iron sulfate; FeSO 4) were used to evaluate their effects on wheat crop grown in normal and salt-affected soils. Application of FeNPs (25 mg/kg) on normal soil increased the dry weights of wheat roots, shoots, and grains by 46%, 59%, and 77%, respectively. In salt-affected soil, FeNPs increased the dry weights of wheat roots, shoots, and grains by 65%, 78%, and 61%, respectively. The application of FeSO 4 and Fe-EDTA increased the growth parameters of wheat in both normal and salt-affected soils compared to the respective controls. The photosynthetic parameters, including chlorophyll a (50%), chlorophyll b (67%), carotenoids (62%), and total chlorophyll contents (50%), were increased with the application of FeNPs under salt stress. The FeNPs increased plant-essential nutrients like iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and potassium in both normal and salt-affected soils. The experiment revealed that the application of Fe plays a significant role in enhancing the growth of wheat on alkaline normal and salt-affected soils. Maximum growth response was recorded with FeNPs than other Fe sources. The future must be focused on long term field experiments to economize the application of FeNPs on a large scale for commercialization. [Display omitted] • Iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) and Fe sources (FeSO 4 , Fe-EDTA) improved yield of salt-stressed wheat. • Both Fe sources comparatively increased the uptake of nutrients by plants. • FeNPs were more effective than other sources in increasing essential nutrients in wheat grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droughts and water scarcity represent crucial issues for the agricultural sector, whose water demand is expected to increase in the next years to ensure food production for a growing population without expanding harvested areas. A proper assessment of crop water needs during the various plant growth periods provides useful information to effectively allocate water resources, highlighting the most drought-sensitive phenological stages. Winter wheat is the most widely grown cereal in the world. In Italy, it is mainly cultivated in the Po Plain, where the most severe drought of the last seventy years occurred in the summer of 2022. This work develops winter wheat drought vulnerability curves tailored to the Po Plain. The curves establish a relationship between water deficit and yield losses during various crop growth stages (establishment, vegetative, flowering and yield formation) and combinations of consecutive phases. Prediction bounds have been associated to vulnerability curves to assess the range of variation of the wheat response to water deficit. The effect of soil texture on wheat tolerance to droughts leading to water stress was investigated too. Results show that the flowering phase and the combinations including this growth stage are more sensitive to water stress with respect to the other considered phenological phases. In addition, winter wheat cultivated over clay loam soil is less sensitive to water deficit in comparison to the same crop grown on the other soil types considered in the study. The developed curves could be used in the framework of parametric insurance programs to pay indemnities based on the crop phenological stage and the soil texture. Moreover, the curves might be useful for land reclamation consortia, who could exploit them to schedule water delivery to farmers during drought or could be embedded into a drought early warning system to provide forecasts of crop yield losses in relation to the weather conditions. • Implementation of stage-specific drought vulnerability curves for winter wheat. • Design of wheat drought vulnerability curves for combinations of growth stages. • Derivation of 95% prediction bounds for the developed curves. • Flowering is the most sensitive stage to water stress. • Winter wheat grown on a clay loam soil tolerates better water stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil moisture (SM) is a key variable in agriculture and its monitoring is essential. SM determines the amount of water available to plants, having a direct impact on the development of crops, on the forecasting of crop yields and on the surveillance of food security. Microwave remote sensing offers a great potential for estimating SM because it is sensitive to the dielectric characteristics of observed surface that depend on surface soil moisture. The objective of this study is the evaluation of three change detection methodologies for SM estimation over wheat at the agricultural field scale based on Sentinel-1 time series: Short Term Change Detection (STCD), TU Wien Change Detection (TUWCD) and Multitemporal Bayesian Change Detection (MTBCD). Different methodological alternatives were proposed for the implementation of these techniques at the agricultural field scale. Soil moisture measurements from eight experimental wheat fields were used for validating the methodologies. All available Sentinel-1 acquisitions were processed and the eventual benefit of correcting for vegetation effects in backscatter time series was evaluated. The results were rather variable, with some experimental fields achieving successful performance metrics (ubRMSE ∼ 0.05 m3/m3) and some others rather poor ones (ubRMSE > 0.12 m3/m3). Evaluating median performance metrics, it was observed that both TUWCD and MTBCD methods obtained better results when run with vegetation corrected backscatter time series (ubRMSE ∼0.07 m3/m3) whereas STCD produced similar results with and without vegetation correction (ubRMSE ∼0.08 m3/m3). The soil moisture content had an influence on the accuracy of the different methodologies, with higher errors observed for drier conditions and rain-fed fields, in comparison to wetter conditions and irrigated fields. Taking into account the spatial scale of this case study, results were considered promising for the future application of these techniques in irrigation management. [Display omitted] • Soil moisture was estimated in rain-fed and irrigated wheat fields using Sentinel-1 data. • Three change detection methods were evaluated. • Different methodological alternatives were proposed for applying change detection methods at the field scale. • The results of two methods improved when correcting for the vegetation influence on backscatter. • Soil moisture was generally overestimated for dry conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The common species and distribution pattern of weeds in wheat fields was analyzed. • The current states of research in weed perception technologies were presented. • The trend of weed detection algorithms was summarized. • The future development of weed detection in wheat fields was proposed. Weeds pose a serious threat to the safe wheat production. They are an important factor contributing to the reduction in wheat yield and quality. The current weed control methods in wheat fields have relied primarily on chemical control. The inability to determine the precise location of weeds has led to excessive usage and low utilization rate of pesticides, causing severe pollution. As agronomic operations evolve towards Agriculture 4.0, weed control technology in wheat fields is progressively becoming more precise and intelligent. Weed detection technologies and methods in wheat fields may provide the groundwork for improving the accuracy and efficiency in weeding. This study begins with a review of common weed species and distribution pattern in wheat fields and provides an in-depth analysis of current technologies and developments for weed detection. We focused on the current states of research in spectroscopy, image, imaging spectroscopy, depth information, and multi-modal information fusion for weed detection in wheat fields. We also summarized the trend of weed detection algorithms from traditional machine learning to deep learning and proposed trends of future development in wheat field weed detection. Our study has contributed to the implementation of more automatic and precise weeds management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicide application in agricultural systems is currently critically discussed because of its possible adverse effects on the environment and human health. Currently, governments and food industry actors search for solutions to reduce herbicide use on farms. Yet, potential consequences of herbicide reductions on a farm-level are not well known. The goal of this article is to develop and apply a bio-economic modelling approach to simulate how farmers and agricultural systems react to a potential ban of glyphosate and eventually of all herbicides. We apply this approach for Swiss Extenso wheat production, which is a widespread form of wheat production in Switzerland, where pesticide use is currently limited to herbicides and seed treatments. Our modelling approach combines spatially explicit, detailed information on weed pressure, possible yield effects of weeds and efficacy and costs of 140 weed control strategies in a spatially explicit economic decision model. We assess the strategies optimal for farmers in response to i) glyphosate-free and ii) herbicide-free production requirements in terms of economic losses, yield reductions and environmental impacts. We find economic losses in the glyphosate-free production scenario of up to CHF 119/ha and in the herbicide-free scenario of up to CHF 192/ha, with respective yield reductions ranging between 0.8 and 2.7 dt/ha (i.e. of up to 6%). However, possible economic losses would be outweighed by existing Swiss agri-environmental direct payments for herbicide-free and reduced tillage production systems. We find that restrictions with respect to glyphosate and herbicide use imply trade-offs between the reduction in pesticide risks for the environment and human health versus higher energy consumption. Yet, these trade-offs can be limited if incentive schemes for glyphosate and herbicide reduction are combined with requirements to prevent more intensive tillage. • We develop and apply a bio-economic modelling approach to simulate farmers weed control. • We analyze effects of a potential ban of glyphosate and eventually of all herbicides in Swiss Extenso wheat production. • The removal of glyphosate and all herbicides reflects current discussions in Swiss wheat value chains. • We quantify economic and environmental consequences arising from bans of glyphosate and all herbicides. • We find moderate economic losses and moderate yield reductions arising from bans of glyphosate and all herbicides. • Possible economic losses would be outweighed by existing Swiss agri-environmental direct payments. • We find significant reductions of risks for the environment and human health due to pesticide use if glyphosate (and all herbicides) are removed. • Effects on the energy balance of wheat production are ambiguous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limited data exist on human zinc absorption from wheat biofortified via foliar (FBW) or root (hydroponically fortified wheat, HBW) zinc application. Stable isotope labels added at point of consumption (extrinsic labeling) might not reflect absorption from native zinc obtained by intrinsic labeling.Objectives: We measured fractional and total zinc absorption (FAZ, TAZ) in FBW and HBW wheat, compared with control wheat (CW) and fortified wheat (FW). The effect of labeling method was assessed in HBW (study 1), and the effect of milling extraction rate (EXR, 80% and 100%) in FBW (studies 2 and 3).Methods: Generally healthy adults (n = 71, age: 18-45 y, body mass index: 18.5-25 kg/m2) were allocated to 1 of the studies, in which they served as their own controls. In study 1, men and women consumed wheat porridges colabeled intrinsically and extrinsically with 67Zn and 70Zn. In studies 2 and 3, women consumed wheat flatbreads (chapatis) labeled extrinsically. Zinc absorption was measured with the oral to intravenous tracer ratio method with a 4-wk wash-out period between meals. Data were analyzed with linear mixed models.Results: In study 1 there were no differences in zinc absorption from extrinsic versus intrinsic labels in either FW or HBW. Similarly, FAZ and TAZ from FW and HBW did not differ. TAZ was 70-76% higher in FW and HBW compared with CW (P < 0.01). In studies 2 and 3, TAZ from FW and FBW did not differ but was 20-48% higher compared with CW (P < 0.001). Extraction rate had no effect on TAZ.Conclusions: Colabeling demonstrates that extrinsic zinc isotopic labels can be used to accurately quantify zinc absorption from wheat in humans. Biofortification through foliar zinc application, root zinc application, or fortification provides higher TAZ compared with unfortified wheat. In biofortified wheat, extraction rate (100-80%) has a limited impact on total zinc absorption. These studies were registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01775319). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Land leasing is affected by climate and appears to be a potential climate change adaptation strategy. • Wetter conditions reduce Pacific Northwest dryland wheat farm land leasing. • Leased Pacific Northwest dryland wheat farmland would decline by 23% and 29% under RCPs 4.5 and 8.5 by 2050. Abstract Land leasing is a possible climate adaptation where risk is shared. We investigate how climate affects dryland wheat farmland rental patterns in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Using farm-level agricultural census data, we study the relationships between climate and leasing arrangements. We find that increases in precipitation reduce leased land and increase the use of cash-rent leases, while increases in precipitation variability reduce the prevalence of cash-rent leases. Using medium and high greenhouse-gas emission-based climate projections we predict that, by 2050, leased acreage will decline by 23% and, respectively 29%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few complex studies of greenhouse gas (GHG: carbon dioxide, CO 2 ; methane, CH 4 ; nitrous oxide, N 2 O) fluxes and carbon cycle components were carried out on the geographical territory of Eastern Europe and represented in world databases. Most of the investigations had focused on particular problems of carbon and nitrogen pools and fluxes, or had covered a narrow range of ecosystems. Therefore, the idea of this research was to carry out a multi-disciplinary study of carbon fluxes and pools in the sector of agriculture and land use – one of the main sources of GHG – in regions with humid continental climate that are the most affected by current climate change. Our work was aimed at solving the problem of quantifying GHG fluxes and carbon pools in crop and livestock production, analyzing the reasons for their formation and possible absorption pathways at three locations in the European part of Russia in the cold continental climate zone. The study examined both agricultural and natural ecosystems; field measurements, laboratory analyses, and simulation modelling techniques were applied. The sites included seven types of ecosystems: croplands, pastures, hayfields, fallows, forests, stockyards, and compost piles. Livestock facilities are potent sources of three main biogenic GHG (0.42 − 9.27 g C-CO 2 m-2 h-1; 2.43 − 783.51 mg C-CH 4 m-2 h-1; 0.01 − 1.49 mg N-N 2 O m-2 h-1); whereas croplands, hayfields and forests can absorb methane (from −1.10 to −118.2 μg C-CH 4 m-2 h-1), as well as pastures, hayfields, fallows and forests are weak sinks of nitrous oxide (from −0.10 to −4.57 μg N-N 2 O m-2 h-1). Ecosystems were ranked using a non-parametric test by increasing rate of CO 2 emission from soil in the following order: croplands (0.06 − 0.24 g C-CO 2 m-2 h-1) ≤ hayfields (0.06 − 0.25 g C-CO 2 m-2 h-1) ≤ pastures (0.06 − 0.22 g C-CO 2 m-2 h-1) = fallows (0.13 − 0.26 g C-CO 2 m-2 h-1) = forests (0.16 − 0.30 g CO 2 m-2 h-1) ≤ stockyards (0.42 − 1.57 g CO 2 m-2 h-1) < compost piles (1.95 − 9.27 g CO 2 m-2 h-1). According to the correlation analysis, the most important dynamic environmental factor on which the intensity of soil respiration depends is the soil temperature at the depth of 10 cm (r = 0.55 − 0.97, p < 0.05). As the regression analysis shows, hydrothermal and agrochemical controls explain the 46 − 89% variance of CO 2 emission from soil. The content of total carbon (1.31−7.95%) as well as of total nitrogen (0.12 − 0.62%) in soil follows a latitudinal pattern and increases from north to south regardless of the type of land use and farming intensity. The amount of carbon incorporated into the arable soil layer by root residues decreases in the following sequence: barley > winter wheat > spring wheat > oats > soybean from 402 to 198 kg C ha-1 yr-1. Field crop stubble is an additional source of soil carbon at 118 − 368 kg C ha-1 yr-1 in the following sequence: spring wheat > winter wheat > oats > soybean > barley. According to simulation modelling (DeNitrification-DeComposition model, DNDC; and Rothamsted Carbon model, RothC), accumulation of soil organic carbon is possible under winter wheat (270 kg C ha-1 yr-1), while under other crops its stocks decrease (from −190 to −423 kg C ha-1 yr-1). According to DNDC modelling, agrolandscapes are net sinks of carbon to a varying degree (at least 500 kg C ha-1 yr-1), with phytomass being the main pool of carbon sink, most of which is removed with yields. • Animal husbandry is the main source of GHG in humid continental climate regions. • Croplands absorb CH 4 ; pastures, fallows absorb N 2 O; hayfields, forests do both. • Soil C and N pools depend more on geographical location than anthropogenic impact. • Crop ecosystems can be sinks of carbon and sequestrate it in phytomass. • Crops return C and N into soil insufficiently, so arable soils loss these elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micronutrient malnutrition is a global challenge affecting >2 billion people, in particular those with a crop-based diet and limited access to nutrient-rich food sources. Conventional methods for measuring the crop nutrients such as wet chemical analysis of grains are time-consuming and cost-prohibitive and, consequently, unsuitable for the consistent quantification of nutrients across space and time. In this study, we propose a new method that is using PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa (PRISMA) and Sentinel-2 images to estimate the nutrient concentrations of crop grains before harvest. We collected grain samples for corn, rice, soybean, and wheat from a farm situated in Italy and measured their nutrient concentrations in the lab. These measurements together with the PRISMA and Sentinel-2 images acquired at the main phases of crop development (vegetative, reproductive, maturity) were used as input for two-band vegetation indices (TBVIs) and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) to predict Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Sulphur (S) and Zinc (Zn). Models' performances were assessed using the coefficient of determination (R2) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). For PRISMA images, the best prediction results were obtained for P in soybean (R2 = 0.69), K in soybean (R2 = 0.66), Mg in soybean (R2 = 0.58), Fe in soybean (R2 = 0.57), K in wheat (R2 = 0.57), K in corn (R2 = 0.55), P in wheat (R2 = 0.51), S in rice (R2 = 0.58) using TBVIs. In contrast to PRISMA, PLSR outperformed TBVIs when Sentinel-2 images were used as input. For Sentinel-2, the best predictions were obtained for P in soybean (R2 = 0.73), K in wheat (R2 = 0.67), Mg in soybean (R2 = 0.62), Zn in wheat (R2 = 0.56), Fe in soybean (R2 = 0.52), P in wheat (R2 = 0.52). Our study showed that estimating the nutrient composition of crops using remote sensing images has the potential to change how we approach a cost-effective, timely, and spatially explicit representation of the crops' nutritional quality. • PRISMA and Sentinel-2 images were used to predict nutrients in staple crop grains. • PRISMA SWIR bands were the most important input bands for grain nutrient predictions. • Sentinel-2 red-edge and NIR narrow bands were more important than SWIR bands. • Predicting grain nutrients early in the season helps farmers to boost grain quality. • Remote sensing has the potential to generate spatial information on grain nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhizomicrobiome is an important component of agricultural soil that may face vulnerability due to global change. Here, we focused on its response in a 2-year cropland free air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) experiment on winter wheat in combination with warming (+3 °C) and drought. To characterize bacterial abundance and prokaryotic diversity, 16S rRNA gene PCR amplicons obtained from soil DNA were analysed. Elevated CO 2 (e[CO 2 ]) increased under conventional water supply bacterial abundance, along with higher above-ground plant biomass, but had no tangible effect on the overall diversity and community composition. In contrast, drought reduced bacterial abundance under e[CO 2 ] despite higher plant biomass, while it did not affect bacterial abundance at ambient CO 2. Warming and N-fertilizer supplies increased bacterial abundance and community composition, but these responses were not modified by CO 2. Compared to the wheat growth stage and variation in N-supply, the effect of CO 2 on the overall community composition was minor, explaining 2.2% of its variation. While 7 taxa, representing only 0.3% of relative abundance and most of them affiliated with Acidobacteria , changed with the CO 2 level, many more responded to growth stages and nitrogen supply. Fewer growth stage and N supply-responsive taxa were detected with e[CO 2 ]. Our results provide strong evidence that wheat plant responses to e[CO 2 ] transfer to the rhizomicrobiome affecting the abundance composition of their constituting microbes. Additional drought conditions can strongly change the direction of these responses and should thus be considered for predicting implications of global change for the cropland soil microbiomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women's role in agriculture is widely reported to be essential; despite this, women's role in the wheat-sector is under-researched. Feminist standpoint theory is applied in analyzing 73 documents on women's role in agriculture from 1990 until 2016 to answer the following questions: How does the world look, and operate, for males and females in wheat growing households? What do we know about social relationships and mediating processes (i.e., social factors mediating men's and women's access to resources and activities) that exist in the prime wheat growing regions in Pakistan? The paper highlights a knowledge gap in relation to the life histories, local experiences, as well as unofficial and informal networks of small farmers in general, and of poor and marginalized women in particular. This neglect of rural subjects is a missed opportunity to learn and to engage in improved program design that contributes to enhanced food security and resilience in rural communities. The paper is relevant to development professionals and agriculture researchers and proposes further research questions on topics that appear to have an influence on women's role in wheat farming and food systems and women's ability to be successful in securing a wheat-based livelihood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tillage practices which improve water availability and water use efficiency ( WUE ) are beneficial for rain-fed agriculture. However, there is little consensus about the effects of ridge tillage and mulching, combined with different rainfall and N fertilization conditions, on water status and productivity in winter wheat fields. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of ridge tillage and mulching on water availability, grain yield, and WUE in rain-fed winter wheat under different rainfall and N conditions. A three-year field experiment was conducted during 2011–2014 following a split-split plot design. The experiment included two humid growing seasons (2011–2012 and 2013–2014) and one dry growing season (2012–2013). Nitrogen application rates were 0 and 180 kg N ha –1 . Tillage systems included conventional tillage (CT, as control), stalk mulching (SM), film mulching (FM), ridge tillage without mulch (RT), ridge tillage with film on ridges (RTf), and ridge tillage with film on ridges and stalk in furrows (RTfs). Results showed that averaged across growing seasons and N treatments, ridge tillage and mulching decreased evapotranspiration by 8.3%–16.2%, and increased grain yield and WUE by 4.2%–15.2% and 16.7%–36.8% compared with CT, respectively. Ridge tillage and mulching tended to increase grain yield especially when rainfall was deficient, and tended to increase WUE especially when N supply was deficient. Spike number per hectare and grain number per spike made significant contributions to grain yield when all three yield components were considered. Ridge tillage and mulching tended to increase mass-based and area-based canopy moisture during regreening (stage 6 in Feekes scale, late Feb–early Mar) to grain-filling stage (middle May) which was positively correlated with grain yield. Lower leaf area index ( LAI ) in ridge tillage and mulching treatments led to grain yield loss, but the loss was alleviated by greater total chlorophyll in flag leaves. Overall, ridge tillage and mulching improved water availability, grain yield, and WUE in rain-fed winter wheat, especially when N and rainfall were deficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is a strategic crop for Iran with respect to food security and environmental impact. In the northeastern Golestan Province irrigated and rainfed wheat production systems co-exist. In the light of climate change the comparative assessment of the two systems regarding productivity and sustainability is of urgent importance. This paper aims to contribute to a more informed debate on the viability of irrigation in marginal crop production regions. For this purpose, the present study investigates productivity and environmental impact of 540 wheat producing farm households (259 irrigated; 281 rainfed) in Golestan by partial life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology using greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and product carbon footprint (PCF) as environmental sustainability indicators. The study finds huge heterogeneity among wheat producers with regard to yield, GHG emissions and PCF. Comparing irrigated and rainfed production showed that irrigation in average leads to 22% higher yields. However, the environmental impact of irrigated production is disproportionally high leading to 110% higher GHG emissions and 62% higher PCF, which highlights the trade-off between productivity and environmental sustainability. The major contributors to total GHG emissions of wheat production are energy for irrigation (only in irrigated production), N 2 O emissions related to fertilization and residue handling, diesel for machinery, and emissions related to fertilizer production and transport. Increased GHG emissions and PCF in irrigated compared to rainfed production are not only attributed to the energy required for irrigation, but also to increased fertilizer and other production inputs. Splitting the farmers into high, medium and low yield groups indicates the potential for increasing yields through increased input intensity without negative effects on PCF. The study's results demonstrate the potential of better balancing the trade-offs between productivity and sustainability of wheat production in marginal wheat production regions of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter crops are the backbone of Australian agriculture. This study reports the first comparative analysis of the impact of temperature and water stress on yields of wheat, barley, canola, chickpea and field pea across four major production zones in Australia (North, East, South and West) using the 2009-2013 National Variety Trials (NVT). Developmental windows of 100 °Cd centred at flowering were used to sample rainfall, vapour pressure deficit (VPD), potential evapotranspiration, water supply/demand ratio, average minimum (Tmin) and maximum (Tmax) temperature, number of days below 0 °C and above 30 °C, incident radiation, photothermal quotient (PTQ) and PTQ corrected by VPD. Flowering was estimated for a mid-season cultivar for each trial using a simulation model (APSIM). There was a consistent negative association between Tmax and yields in all crops, from early in the season in the South and after flowering in the West. Our study supports that high temperature in the non-stressful range is associated with yield reduction with crop specific effects. Days exceeding 30 °C were unlikely before flowering; wheat and chickpea were sensitive to temperatures above 30 °C from early and late in grain filling respectively. Chickpea was sensitive to low temperatures from flowering. Canola was overall the most sensitive to water stress. Unequivocally, the interaction between temperature and water stress exhibited strong regional differences. In the West, with Mediterranean rainfall pattern, high Tmin before flowering was associated with higher yields in wheat, barley, canola and chickpea, indicating a role in promoting early growth and water use and reducing evaporation. In the North, crops depend on initial soil moisture, and high yields were associated with lower Tmin, likely slowing growth and early water use and lessening terminal stress. These relationships need direct experimental confirmation to show causality but there is room for large scale studies to uncover seasonal and regional patterns and highlight targets for research, breeding and management options aimed at improving yield under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought often causes tremendous agricultural impacts and economic losses, but drought impacts are difficult to assess and quantify. Improving drought monitoring and early warning systems by linking indicators to impacts can reduce social vulnerability. However, it is still challenging to establish quantitative links between drought indicators and impacts during drought stress. In this study, using experimental observation records during drought in different climatic zones in China, we established the quantitative links between the drought indicator based on soil moisture and the affected biological parameters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), determined the thresholds of the onset and severity of the impact of drought on wheat, and found that the onset thresholds had a convergence across climate zones and the severity thresholds were different in different climate zones. This study may provide a new understanding for evaluating drought stress or severity and provide an important reference to better understand the hazard itself and carry out impact-based drought monitoring and early warning. • The onset and severity thresholds of drought impacts on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were determined. • The onset threshold of drought impact on wheat converges to 50% in different climatic zones. • The severity thresholds of drought were different in different climate zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While reducing agricultural inputs (e.g., nitrogen (N) fertilizer and labor), increasing wheat yield are of great significance in wheat production. The study investigated whether "one-time root-zone N application" (ORZ), involving basal fertilizer without topdressing, can produce a high yield and N absorption compared with "conventional split N by broadcasting" (CSB) at specific N rates and sowing row spacing in wheat. A three-year field study was conducted in the Yangtze River Delta region, China, to compare ORZ and CSB for winter wheat under two sowing row spacings [equal row spacing (ER, 20 cm) and wide and narrow row spacing (WNR, 30 + 10 cm)]. The ammonium-N content in the soil at the fertilization site was 751.5 mg kg−1 (ORZ-WNR) and 539.5 mg kg−1 (ORZ-ER), which were higher than those of CSB-WNR and CSB-ER 30 days after sowing. However, no significant difference was observed 160 days after sowing. ORZ stimulated root proliferation in wheat around the fertilization site. The wheat yield of ORZ was higher than that of CSB under each N rate, and the highest yield was 8.06 t ha−1 (225 kg N ha−1), which increased by 12.9% over the CSB rate in 2017–2018. Under the ORZ treatment, wheat sowing spacing had no significant effect on yield. However, both produced higher yields than that of CSB. ORZ increased wheat yield by increasing spike number. Spike number of ORZ under ER and WNR increased 25.2%− 26.4% and 17.4%− 19.3% than CSB, respectively. The residual fertilizer N in soil under ORZ was 47.6% and 51.2% higher than that in CSB under ER and WNR, respectively, and mainly distributed in 0–20 cm soil layer. ORZ increased N recovery in wheat and soil by 29.5% (ER) and 25.6% (WNR) at the same planting row spacing compared with that of CSB. In conclusion, ORZ can significantly increase wheat yield compared with CSB. It is a suitable alternative to CSB for winter wheat in the Yangtze River Delta Region of China. • One-time root-zone N application (ORZ) increased wheat yield compared with conventional split N by broadcasting (CSB). • There was a high content of available N near the fertilization site under ORZ for a long time. • ORZ promoted the growth of wheat roots around the fertilization site. • Wheat sown in equal rows had a higher yield than wide and narrow rows under ORZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) supply is a relevant factor in wheat production, affecting yield and yield components. However, this input plays a dominant role in the environmental impact level arising within all the on-farm growing processes. To assess the effects of N fertilization on environmental impact levels, the agricultural life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed for facultative wheat as affected by sowing date (autumn versus spring) and N fertilization (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha−1) on a chernozem soil under Pannonian conditions in Eastern Austria for two years (2019/2020 and 2020/2021). In this study, an LCA was performed to find the optimal cropping design to achieve a low environmental impact with an adequate yield level. Processes from cradle to farm gate were involved within the system boundary. As the functional units, grain N yield and land demand for generating the same grain N yield were used. SimaPro software and the ReCiPe 2016 method with Midpoint and Endpoint characterization model were involved. Data were interpreted for 18 impact categories. From an environmental point of view, wheat crops with high doses of N (˃ 150 kg ha−1) were associated with the highest environmental impact. The appropriate grain N yield should be reached to balance the environmental impact resulting from the fertilizer application and all the other inputs. A sufficient increase in yield must be achieved with increased fertilization to justify additional emissions that are related to N fertilization. Variants of winter wheat with medium inputs of N (between 100 and 150 kg ha−1) were associated with the lowest impact on the environment. Consequently, according to environmental impact assessment, it is disadvantageous not to fertilize wheat with N or, on the contrary, to over-fertilize it with N. • The environmental design of facultative wheat production was assessed. • The field experiments' results were used for agricultural LCA. • Optimization of N input can reduce the environmental impact. • Grain N yield was implemented as a functional unit. • Winter wheat tended to bring a lower environmental impact than spring wheat. • Zero N fertilization can bring a higher environmental impact than medium N fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Process-based models have been recognized as cost-effective tools to assess carbon farming mechanisms through quantifying the C fluxes in the agroecosystems. A result-based approach is suggested however the wide variability of agricultural environments makes further model implementation necessary to limit the uncertainty of the results, especially on deep soil organic carbon (SOC) stock estimation and stratification and in agroecosystems characterized by a shallow water table. In this study, a comprehensive soil and crop dataset collected over a seven-year period from different pedoclimatic conditions across the Veneto Region (NE Italy) was used for EPIC model calibration and validation of SOC stock dynamics. Experimental data included yields from several crops (corn, winter and spring wheat, rapeseed, and soybean), continuous monitoring of soil water content, and SOC stocks (1872 total samples within the 0–50 cm soil profile) under conventional, cover crop and conservation agriculture systems. Modelling was performed by testing two N-C sub-models (CENTURY and PHOENIX), which differentiated in terms of mineralization/immobilization rates. Results showed that the procedure was able to obtain parameters valuable for most of the management system and pedoclimatic condition, reproducing well the tested variables. The EPIC model acceptably captured soil water dynamics (Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient – NSE – was up to 0.26), especially in the topsoil. Furthermore, simulation of weed—crop competition in conservation agriculture strongly contributed to properly explain the variability in crop production among the contrasting agricultural systems (R 2 ranged from 0.51 to 0.71). Likewise, EPIC skillfully simulated SOC stocks within the 0–50-cm profile regardless of the sub-model used (NSE was up to 0.64). Moreover, the model acceptably captured the profile SOC stratification among the different management practices. This study highlights the EPIC robustness for predicting SOC stocks and assessing with high accuracy carbon farming results. • PHOENIX vs CENTURY sub-models embedded in EPIC provided similar C-N cycle results. • EPIC well simulated C stocks in the 0–50-cm profile regardless of sub-model used. • SOC stratification was captured by the model under different management practices. • EPIC can be used for carbon farming outcomes across a variety of agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) is an essential input for food production, but at the same time N raises serious concerns for air, water and soil pollution due to its overuse. Research shows that N use is influenced by socio-economic factors beyond the environmental circumstances while heavily depending on the agronomic practices and technologies used. Micro-level studies based on real farm observations are still scarce in this context. Therefore, this study estimated N use efficiency (NUE) and its climatic and socio-economic determinants, as well as N 2 O and NH 3 emissions from organic and inorganic fertiliser-amended fields. Through exploring primary data collected from 155 wheat growers from north-western Bangladesh, we estimated NUE of wheat production as the ratio of the total quantity of N produced in the harvested grain and the total quantity of N applied to soil through inorganic and organic fertilisers. Then we estimate a Tobit model to determine the socio-economic and farm-level practices influencing NUE. Finally, for N 2 O and NH 3 emissions, we applied region-specific emission factors, which are not sensitive to management practices but can give an approximation of emission and emission intensity of the production. The estimated mean NUE for North-West Bangladesh was 37.4%, which widely varied across different farm categories and farming practices used. Agronomic practices, including those induced by climate change, positively contributed to NUE. NUE was higher for the farmers cultivating high-yielding, drought-tolerant, and short-duration wheat varieties. NUE significantly increased when a farmer applied a combination of organic and inorganic fertilisers. Irrigation water pricing was critical in NUE since it influences farmers' water management practices. A notable quantity of N loss as N 2 O (5.98 kg/ha) and NH 3 (45.58 kg/ha) was emitted, and the farms managed by landless and marginal farmers emitted quantities more than others. Farmers with better landholding size, education and access to extension services operated at a relatively higher level of NUE. The policy suggestions to increase NUE include strengthening extension services, particularly for promoting a balanced supply of nutrients from organic and inorganic fertilisers, promoting volumetric irrigation water pricing and encouraging long-term tenurial arrangement. The paper is relevant to policy makers since, unlike earlier works based on experimental data, it estimates more robust indices of NUE and considers the role of different farms and farmer-specific socio-economic, anthropogenic and institutional factors in farm production. Finally, the paper estimates N 2 O and NH 3 emissions associated with wheat production. [Display omitted] • Low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is a concern in crop production in Bangladesh, along with many countries globally. • Analysing farm survey data, the paper estimated NUE, gaseous emissions inferred based on presumed defaults. • The estimated mean NUE was 37.4% which was found to be related to several socioeconomic factors. • Farm data, as opposed to experimental data, allowed assessing the effects of variables on NUE that would be hard otherwise. • The paper is novel in finding agronomic, socioeconomic and environmental determinants of NUE including climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent international efforts have brought renewed emphasis on the comparison of different agricultural systems models. Thus far, analysis of model-ensemble simulated results has not clearly differentiated between ensemble prediction uncertainties due to model structural differences per se and those due to parameter value uncertainties. Additionally, despite increasing use of Bayesian parameter estimation approaches with field-scale crop models, inadequate attention has been given to the full posterior distributions for estimated parameters. The objectives of this study were to quantify the impact of parameter value uncertainty on prediction uncertainty for modeling spring wheat phenology using Bayesian analysis and to assess the relative contributions of model-structure-driven and parameter-value-driven uncertainty to overall prediction uncertainty. This study used a random walk Metropolis algorithm to estimate parameters for 30 spring wheat genotypes using nine phenology models based on multi-location trial data for days to heading and days to maturity. Across all cases, parameter-driven uncertainty accounted for between 19 and 52% of predictive uncertainty, while model-structure-driven uncertainty accounted for between 12 and 64%. This study demonstrated the importance of quantifying both model-structure- and parameter-value-driven uncertainty when assessing overall prediction uncertainty in modeling spring wheat phenology. More generally, Bayesian parameter estimation provided a useful framework for quantifying and analyzing sources of prediction uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increases in cereals production risk are commonly related to increases in weather risk. We analyze weather-induced changes in wheat yield volatility as a systemic weather risk in Germany. We disentangle, however, the relative impacts of inputs and weather on regional yield volatility. For this purpose we augment a production function with phenologically aggregated weather variables. Increasing volatility can be traced back to weather changes only in some regions. On average, inputs explain 49% of the total actual wheat yield volatility, while weather explains 43%. Models with only weather variables deliver biased but reasonable approximations for climate impact research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No-tillage of summer maize after the harvest of winter wheat is the main agricultural practice on the Huang-Huai-Hai (HHH) Plain of China. However, long-term no-tillage in the absence of deep tillage practices affects soil properties, and this effect is not beneficial for the growth and yield production of summer maize. Field experiments were conducted in 2016 in two agricultural sub-zones (Luancheng and Guoyang) in the HHH Plain. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of deep vertical rotary tillage (DVRT), compared to no-tillage with strip subsoiling (NTSS), on dry matter accumulation (DMA) and yield formation. DVRT significantly reduced the soil bulk density of the top soil layer (0–40 cm), especially for the lime concretion black soil in the Guoyang experimental site. Compared with NTSS, the soil water content in the 20–60 cm soil layer was increased under the condition of DVRT. DVRT also significantly increased root DMA in the 0–30 cm soil layer in Luancheng and in the 0–40 cm soil layer in Guoyang. The total shoot DMA, seed DMA, and harvest index of DVRT were significantly higher than those of NTSS, primarily due to a significant increase in post-anthesis DMA. In addition, DVRT increased the maximum and mean grain filling rate and thus significantly increased the maximum grain weight at harvest. Compared with NTSS, DVRT significantly increased grain yield by 21.3% and 27.8% under the plant density of 6.75 pl m −2 and 9 pl m −2 , respectively, in Luancheng and it increased by 12.3% in Guoyang. The present results indicate that DVRT can be used as a deep tillage practice to improve soil properties and grain yield of summer maize, and this may provide guidance regarding the requirements to cope with a diversity of deep tillage machines and develop sustainable agriculture in the HHH Plain of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River valleys in the Tien Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan have served as corridors for human dispersal since the Palaeolithic but little information exists on the history of human occupation in this remote and inaccessible region. Here, we report the results of a multidisciplinary study of Airgyrzhal-2, a high elevation (2005 m) site in the Naryn valley in central Kyrgyzstan. Two main occupation horizons were recognized, the earliest belonging to the Mesolithic (12th millennium cal. BC) and a later one dating from the Bronze Age (first half of the 2nd millennium cal. BC). Land snail analyses from the two horizons yielded almost identical assemblages of species of dry, open environments. Archaeobotanical data, however, revealed marked differences. The greater representation of willow/poplar ( Salix/Populus ) in the charcoal from the Mesolithic suggests more focused activity along the river, which might have been closer to the site at this time. The occurrence of spruce ( Picea ) and other species in the Bronze Age charcoal indicates exploitation of resources from more distant upland locations. The occurrence of the remains of cereals, including both grains and chaff, provides unexpected evidence for both consumption and cultivation of wheat and barley at this high elevation during the Bronze Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing and maintaining high productivity levels presents a major challenge facing farmers today and will continue into the near future. More integrative and complex approaches to decision-making, besides adopting new technologies, are necessary for redesigning more productive, stable, and sustainable farming systems. Thus, novel crop sequences should be implemented to improve these properties of farming systems. The aim of our research was to characterize how different preceding crops that open recurrent sequences will impact on the productivity and resource use of the following crops, in order to determine the possibilities of increasing the frequency of double crops in rotations. Three field experiments were conducted under rainfed conditions at three sites in the Rolling Pampas of Argentina. The effects of seven cropping systems on the productivity of succeeding crops were evaluated at each location. The seven cropping systems included five double crops (rapeseed/soybean, wheat/soybean, barley/soybean, field pea/soybean, and field pea/maize) and two single crops (maize and soybean). The seven cropping systems were followed by the same crop sequence: wheat/soybean double crop and maize single crop in the first and second growing seasons, respectively. Radiation use and grain yield, water use and nitrogen uptake were evaluated for each crop in the sequence. Results indicate that repeating cereal crops in the cropping sequence reduces their productivities, while well balanced sequences that include legumes resulted in the highest productivities of cereal crops. Our findings highlight that diversifying cropping systems by adopting different double crops are practical options that can contribute to a more sustainable intensification of cropping systems specialized for grain crops. Increasing crop diversity in sequence influenced nitrogen uptake, among other factors, and may explain the enhanced crop yield in such systems. Our research highlights that crop diversification is critical in designing efficient and sustainable intensified crop sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]