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Agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and is vulnerable to climate change. Regenerative agriculture, which focuses on increasing soil carbon, has been recognized as a potential climate solution. A recent study found that seven regenerative practices, including planting cover crops and using non-chemical fertilizers, all increased carbon sequestration. However, the study also highlights that regenerative agriculture has other benefits beyond carbon sequestration, and the focus should not solely be on carbon credits. The popularity of regenerative agriculture is growing, but there is a risk of it being co-opted and losing its essence. [Extracted from the article]

To feed a rapidly growing human population in an era of climate change and increasingly uncertain weather—such as drought and flood—humanity will need crops with increased yields, greater resiliency to extreme weather, and more resistance to disease. Appropriately enough in the Century of Biology, that means turning to genetic tools such as CRISPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, recognition has grown of the significant role that food systems play in driving climate change, constituting about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, while also playing a key role in sequestering carbon and adapting to climate changes. The COP28 climate conference signaled a pivotal shift, spotlighting food and agriculture in discourse. However, despite pledges and declarations, concrete plans and targets to address emissions from food chains remain elusive. Urgent action is imperative to transform food systems and avert surpassing critical warming thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant share of anthropogenic global warming comes from livestock production. There is debate about whether there can be any role for livestock in a climatically sustainable future; the debate is particularly heated for cows and sheep, largely due to the methane they burp out. However, short-lived gases like methane affect climate in a fundamentally different way than long-lived gases like carbon dioxide. Consequently, climate stabilization does not require zeroing-out cattle herds. But this doesn't mean we can eat our beef and have it (a tolerable climate) too—livestock still contribute to global warming. Preventing or limiting future growth in livestock-related emissions can represent a sensible part of the portfolio of responses to the climate crisis, particularly when carbon dioxide emissions are not on track to reach net zero sufficiently quickly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticide-free agricultural strategies need new tools for disease prevention. Better than early detection of disease, detection of conditions favorable to their appearance can be a progress. In the case of fungal diseases, the presence of water on the plant surface is necessary. In order to detect remotely this presence early and at the scale of a crop field, we propose a low-cost solution based on laser reflection. Here, experimental results in a controlled environment are presented on both hydrophobic and hydrophilic leaves (rapeseed Brassica Napus and grapevine Vitis Vinifera, respectively). We first assess the water detection on a leaf surface by recreating the dew formation process. We next evaluate the influence of the scanning measurement and leaf inclination on the detection to get closer to in-field conditions. Results show that this method is very sensitive on both types of leaves. Water detection is possible from a low surface coverage with a high temporal precision at 1 m. In the hydrophobic case, water on a leaf surface leads to an increase of the detected signal up to three times compared to a dry leaf. The corresponding minimum surface coverage detectable at 1 m is evaluated at 1.6% thanks to 2D ray-tracing numerical simulations. In the hydrophilic case, on the contrary, water on a leaf surface leads to a decrease of the detected signal by almost half. For both types, the dew detection delay is contained under 5 min and can be improved. Finally, the presented results pave the way to a field application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Potato varieties have diverse biophysical characteristics, so it is important for breeders to have the capacity to choose those that meet the preferences of end users, such as mealiness, firmness, and taste, among others. Combining user preferences with descriptive information regarding the sensory characteristics of boiled potatoes can contribute to the improvement of consumer‐driven varieties. This study aimed to factor in the preferences of end users to improve the prospects for varietal acceptance, adoption, and discrimination among genotypes in potato breeding. RESULTS: The priority quality traits (traits that play the most significant roles in acceptance and adoption) of the boiled potatoes were determined by evaluating gender and livelihood using the G+ tool. The G+ tool is designed to assess gender impact on roots, tubers and bananas (RTB) traits by serving as a validation check to reflect on important gender‐based issues in agricultural food systems in order to reduce harm and promote positive impact. Potato genotypes were differentiated by penetration (textural parameters as measured by standard texture probe) and the procedure was repeatable, as there was no significant difference between the cooking replicates at 40 min of cooking. Instrument‐based texture parameters, such as penetration peak force (hardness/firmness) and area (area under the curve, which represents energy needed to penetrate) of boiled potato tubers were significantly associated with sensory attributes such as fracturability and hardness in the mouth. An attempt to differentiate genotypes using near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) revealed that the average results observed for the calibration for yellow color (r2 = 0.70), homogeneity of color (r2 = 0.48), moisture in mass (r2 = 0.40), and uniformity of texture (r2 = 0.56) suggested that these parameters could be used for initial breeding screening purposes. CONCLUSIONS: The preferred traits of the boiled potato can be integrated into the potato‐breeding program/product profile. Near‐infrared spectroscopy shows strong potential to predict potato color and the ability of NIRS models to predict some texture attributes is also promising. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Gari and eba, forms of cassava semolina, are mainly consumed in Nigeria and other West African countries. This study aimed to define the critical quality traits of gari and eba, to measure their heritability, to define medium and high throughput instrumental methods for use by breeders, and to link the traits with consumer preferences. The definition of a food product's profiles, including its biophysical, sensory, and textural qualities, and the identification of the characteristics that determine its acceptability, are important if new genotypes are to be adopted successfully. RESULTS: Eighty cassava genotypes and varieties (three different sets) from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) research farm were used for the study. Participatory processing and consumer testing data on different types of gari and eba products were integrated to prioritize the traits preferred by processors and consumers. The color, sensory, and instrumental textural properties of these products were determined using standard analytical methods, and standard operating protocols (SOPs) developed by the RTBfoods project (Breeding Roots, Tubers, and Banana Products for End‐user Preferences, https://rtbfoods.cirad.fr). There were significant (P < 0.05) correlations between instrumental hardness and sensory hardness and between adhesiveness and sensory moldability. Principal component analysis showed broad discrimination amongst the cassava genotypes and the association of the genotypes concerning the color and textural properties. CONCLUSIONS: The color properties of gari and eba, together with instrumental measures of hardness and cohesiveness, are important quantitative discriminants of cassava genotypes. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective modulation of the (0 4 1) facets exposure of phosphogypsum (PG) promotes preferential adsorption, internalization and fixation of urea. Urea presents two models fixed in PG lattice, exhibiting excellent thermal stability and water resistance, contributing to high N-use efficiency for plant growth. [Display omitted] • Innovation design of mineral slow-release fertilizers by facet-engineering. • Modulation of (0 4 1) facet occupancy of phosphogypsum facilitates urea fixation. • Promotion of N use efficiency in plants through urea fixation by phosphogypsum. • Revelation of the intricate interplay of urea in phosphogypsum lattice. Phosphogypsum (PG) presents considerable potential for agricultural applications as a secondary primary resource. However, it currently lacks environmentally friendly, economically viable, efficient, and sustainable reuse protocols. This study firstly developed a PG-based mineral slow-release fertilizer (MSRFs) by internalization and fixation of urea within the PG lattice via facet-engineering strategy. The molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that the binding energy of urea to the (0 4 1) facet of PG surpassed that of the (0 2 1) and (0 2 0) facets, with urea's desorption energy on the (0 4 1) facet notably higher than on the (0 2 1) and (0 2 0) facets. Guided by these calculations, we selectively exposed the (0 4 1) dominant facet of PG, and then achieving complete urea fixation within the PG lattice to form urea-PG (UPG). UPG exhibited a remarkable 48-fold extension in N release longevity in solution and a 45.77% increase in N use efficiency by plants compared to conventional urea. The facet-engineering of PG enhances the internalization and fixation efficiency of urea for slow N delivery, thereby promoting nutrient uptake for plant growth. Furthermore, we elucidated the intricate interplay between urea and PG at the molecular level, revealing the involvement of hydrogen and ionic bonding. This specific bonding structure imparts exceptional thermal stability and water resistance to the urea within UPG under environmental conditions. This study has the potential to provide insights into the high-value utilization of PG and present innovative ideas for designing efficient MSRFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconciling environmental conservation with growing demands for food, water, and energy is a global challenge. Brazil, a major agricultural producer, grapples with deforestation's environmental costs. The Araguaia River basin, vital for Brazil's economic growth, undergoes significant land use changes. Assessing data from 1987 to 2019, we studied annual water surface variations, considering deforestation, agriculture, livestock farming land, and central pivot irrigation, and historical water flow series from 1980 to 2020 from 21 monitoring stations. We observed notable reductions in flooded areas (angular coefficients from 130 a 2,276 ha/year) and water flow the entire basin (b = − 13.84; t = − 4.8; P < 0.001) and its regions (Upper Araguaia: b = − 3.32; t = − 4.5; P < 0.001; Middle Araguaia: b = − 8.70; t = − 4.8; P < 0.001; Lower Araguaia: b = − 45.49, t = − 4.7; P < 0.001) over recent years. Water flow reductions persist year-round, with a marked decrease during low water periods (F3,8 = 8.82; P = 0,006), aligning with heightened water demand for intensive agriculture. Tributaries and the main channel show similar reduction processes (t = 0.16; g.l. = 19; P = 0.873). Ensuring the basin's ecological flow is imperative for the aquatic ecosystem's minimum requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically examines why urban studies should be interested in the emergence of controlled environment agriculture. Over the last decade, there has been significant commercial and urban policy interest in controlled environment agriculture systems for producing food in enclosed environments. Furthermore, there has been a significant expansion in research publications on urban controlled environment agriculture, stressing the novel character of these systems and the complex relationships with the conventional concerns of urban agriculture. The paper subjects these claims to critical scrutiny and then reconceptualises urban controlled environment agriculture as an emergent urban infrastructure of artificial, highly productive microclimates and ecosystems for non-human life designed to increase the productive use of 'surplus or under-utilised' urban spaces. We argue that controlled environment agriculture tries to secure food production through three spatial–temporal fixes: (1) the enclosure move – holding food closer by substituting the increasingly hostile outdoors for the controlled indoors in order to optimise yield, quality, efficiency and the 'cleanness' of the food; (2) the urban move – holding food closer to the city by substituting rural agricultural space for urban space to shorten supply chains and thereby help secure food production and improve its green credentials; and (3) combining 1 and 2, the urban interiorisation move – holding food yet closer still by moving food production into city buildings and intricate infrastructural systems, increasing control by securing total environments. In these ways, the paper shows how urban controlled environment agriculture selectively extends existing logics of urban and rural agriculture and identifies the future research challenges for urban studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Professor Rajeev K. Varshney's transformative impact on crop genomics, genetics, and agriculture is the result of his passion, dedication, and unyielding commitment to harnessing the potential of genomics to address the most pressing challenges faced by the global agricultural community. Starting from a small town in India and reaching the global stage, Professor Varshney's academic and professional trajectory has inspired many scientists active in research today. His ground‐breaking work, especially his effort to list orphan tropical crops to genomic resource‐rich entities, has been transformative. Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Varshney is recognized by his colleagues as an exemplary mentor, fostering the growth of future researchers, building institutional capacity, and strengthening scientific capability. His focus on translational genomics and strengthening seed system in developing countries for the improvement of agriculture has made a tangible impact on farmers' lives. His skills have been best utilized in roles at leading research centres where he has applied his expertise to deliver a new vision for crop improvement. These efforts have now been recognized by the Royal Society with the award of the Fellowship (FRS). As we mark this significant milestone in his career, we not only celebrate Professor Varshney's accomplishments but also his wider contributions that continue to transform the agricultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous Psychology within Australia reflects the traditional knowledges of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and their understanding of the cultivation of relational social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB). However, these perspectives are poorly incorporated into dominant "Western" psychological theories and practice, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). This represents a barrier to the cultural safety of current mental health practice and its decolonisation within Australia. This study brought together CBT Practitioners and Practitioners of an Aboriginal Wellbeing practice ("Wayapa") to engage in a series of yarns (guided focus groups) to share perspectives, insights, and stories on their own and each other's practices. Indigenous qualitative research approaches including Research Topic Yarning were engaged to decolonise the research environment and support dialogue at the cultural interface of the two practices. Through experiencing Wayapa, CBT practitioners reflected on gaps in their own practice, with an enthusiasm for the opportunities that Wayapa provided to decolonise their practice. Wayapa practitioners were able to celebrate the holistic nature of their practice and the possibility for it to inform dominant "Western" psychological theories and practice, such as CBT, and encourage a more connected and culturally safe way of working with First Nations peoples. Creating safe cultural interfaces between "Western" and Indigenous Psychologies, and building awareness of the value of Aboriginal grounded wellbeing models, can help to promote and expand culturally safe practices within Australian psychological practice. What is already known about this topic: The cultural safety and relevance of CBT for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples remains uncertain. There is limited knowledge of Aboriginal wellbeing practices and Indigenous Psychologies amongst non-Indigenous Australian mental health practitioners, including psychologists. Broadened understanding of Aboriginal wellbeing practices such as Wayapa Wurrrk, may contribute to decolonising psychology in Australia. What this topic adds: CBT and Wayapa share common and unique tools and concepts that can support the social emotional wellbeing of all Australians. Wayapa Wurrrk concepts such as earth mindfulness and the centring of Country as a foundation for wellness and social emotional wellbeing represent gaps in current CBT practice. Work at the cultural interface of "Western" and Indigenous Psychology offers a pathway to promote appreciation for, and active utilisation of, Indigenous psychologies including the social emotional wellbeing framework (SEWB). In this article, we recognise both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the First Nations of Australia. We acknowledge and pay respect to the knowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are unique, all with their own languages, knowledge systems, beliefs, and histories. We recognise the collective terms they prefer also vary. With respectful consideration to these preferences, typically we will specify Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples when referring to First Nations Peoples in this article. From time to time, we use the term Indigenous. However, we note that for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, this is not preferred. As such, we have only used this where we are referencing it's use from another source, or it is the established use of the term, such as its use in "Indigenous knowledges". Where referring to individual Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, we have endeavoured to incorporate their preferences, including for example, reference to the Country they are connected to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weedy rice, a pervasive and troublesome weed found across the globe, has often evolved through fertilization of rice cultivars with little importance of crop‐weed gene flow. In Argentina, weedy rice has been reported as an important constraint since the early 1970s, and, in the last few years, strains with herbicide‐resistance are suspected to evolve. Despite their importance, the origin and genetic composition of Argentinian weedy rice as well its adaptation to agricultural environments has not been explored so far. To study this, we conducted genotyping‐by‐sequencing on samples of Argentinian weedy and cultivated rice and compared them with published data from weedy, cultivated and wild rice accessions distributed worldwide. In addition, we conducted a phenotypic characterization for weedy‐related traits, a herbicide resistance screening and genotyped accessions for known mutations in the acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene, which confers herbicide resistance. Our results revealed large phenotypic variability in Argentinian weedy rice. Most strains were resistant to ALS‐inhibiting herbicides with a high frequency of the ALS mutation (A122T) present in Argentinian rice cultivars. Argentinian cultivars belonged to the three major genetic groups of rice: japonica, indica and aus while weeds were mostly aus or aus‐indica admixed, resembling weedy rice strains from the Southern Cone region. Phylogenetic analysis supports a single origin for aus‐like South American weeds, likely as seed contaminants from the United States, and then admixture with local indica cultivars. Our findings demonstrate that crop to weed introgression can facilitate rapid adaptation to agriculture environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective dispersal among plant populations is dependent on vector behaviour, landscape features and availability of adequate habitats. To capture landscape feature effects on dispersal, studies must be conducted at scales reflecting single‐generation dispersal events (mesoscale). Many studies are conducted at large scales where genetic differentiation is due to dispersal occurring over multiple generations, making it difficult to interpret the effects of specific landscape features on vector behaviour. Genetic structure at the mesoscale may be determined by ecological and evolutionary processes, such as the consequences of vector behaviour on patterns of gene flow. We used chloroplast haplotypes and nuclear genome SNP surveys to identify landscape features influencing seed and pollen dispersal at a mesoscale within the Rogue River Valley in southern Oregon. We evaluated biotic and abiotic vector behaviour by contrasting two annual species with differing dispersal mechanisms; Achyrachaena mollis (Asteraceae) is a self‐pollinating and anemochoric species, and Plectritis congesta (Caprifoliaceae) is biotically pollinated with barochoric seeds. Using landscape genetics methods, we identified features of the study region that conduct or restrict dispersal. We found chloroplast haplotypes were indicative of historic patterns of gene flow prior to human modification of landscapes. Seed dispersal of A. mollis was best supported by models of isolation by distance, while seed‐driven gene flow of P. congesta was determined by the distribution of preserved natural spaces and quality habitat. Nuclear genetic structure was driven by both pollen and seed dispersal, and both species responded to contemporary landscape changes, such as urban and agricultural conversion, and habitat availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ca2+ signals orchestrate spatial-temporal patterns regulating plant growth and stress. • Ca2+ sensors like CaM/CBL decode signatures to actuate divergent programs. • Compartmentalized Ca2+ signaling integrates intra/extracellular cues for stress. • Ca2+ signature dynamics encoded by channels/pumps activate stress genes. • Engineering Ca2+ sensor-effector modules enhances abiotic stress resilience. Calcium ions (Ca2+) serve as ubiquitous signaling molecules and are involved in diverse biological processes, particularly pivotal in plant growth and stress response. When plants sense environmental changes, an initial response involves an intracellular shift in free Ca2+ levels, with the spatiotemporal characteristics influenced by the nature, intensity, and duration of the stimulus. Decoding and relaying these changes into biological processes require the utilization of Ca2+ sensors. Abiotic stresses impact plant physiology and development by causing environmental fluctuations beyond optimal ranges. Abiotic stressors encompass suboptimal temperature, osmotic disturbances, hazardous ions, and nutrient deficiency. Recognizing and transducing signals in response to these stressors involve multiple components and methods due to their complexity. Additionally, plants contend with biotic factors, triggering calcium signaling cascades. However, understanding of gene functions related to managing specific transient calcium signals during particular stresses is limited. This review delves into the emerging conceptual implications of Ca2+ signaling in plant abiotic stress responses at both intracellular and extracellular levels. It also explores the potential influence of Ca2+ signaling on various agricultural stresses in future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical lameness has an impact on animal welfare and profitability in different livestock industries. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and incidence rate of clinical lameness within New Zealand dairy goat farms. Up to 3246 goats on three dairy goat farms were observed 4–5 times over one year. Data on locomotion scores and animal information were collected between June 2019 and June 2020. A 5-point (0–4) locomotion scoring scale was used, where scores 3 and 4 were classified as clinical lameness. The average herd-level prevalence of clinical lameness for farms A, B, and C were 23, 12, and 10%, respectively. The annual incidence rate of clinical lameness for farms A, B, and C were 104, 56, and 55 cases per 100 goat-years, respectively. Lameness appears to be a significant welfare issue, with incidence varying between farms and between goats. Investigating both farm-level and goat-level factors is required to understand the epidemiology of lameness and design evidence-based control and prevention measures. Further investigation should be undertaken to identify variables affecting the goat's odds of becoming clinically lame. This study sets the foundation for future study of lameness in commercial dairy goat farms nationally and internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of agroecosystems may help to assess regional carbon cycles and ensure carbon neutrality. However, farmland NEE is influenced by climate change, phenological period, and crop management. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the time-lag effects of climate change on the phenology and NEE of winter wheat, as well as the influence of crop management. We found that the impact of climate change on the phenology of winter wheat exhibits a time lag of 1 to 2 months, with notable spatial and temporal heterogeneity. When accounting for time-lag effects, the correlation between climate change and both phenology and NEE significantly strengthens, with the lagged impact on NEE primarily mediated through changes in phenology. Specifically, climate change accelerates the green-up and heading dates but delays the maturity date, while crop management extends the phenological period. Our findings indicated that during the green-up stage, NEE is mainly influenced by temperature changes resulting from climate change. During the heading stage, it is predominantly affected by crop management, and during the maturity stage, it is impacted by both factors, with crop management having a more significant effect. Overall, the accelerated green-up stage and delayed heading and maturity stages contribute to enhanced carbon sequestration. This research provides new insights into carbon exchanges in agricultural ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality japonica rice, distinguished by its unique flavor and enriched nutritional value, has attracted significant attention across Asia. The over-application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers, however, is a growing concern, threatening both the rice quality and the environmental sustainability of its production. This situation calls for a reevaluation and modification of traditional agricultural practices. Our study investigates the effects of reduced N fertilizer use, complemented by foliar fertilizer application, on the physiological attributes and yield of high-quality japonica rice. The aim is to achieve efficient N use and enhanced crop productivity. The experiment employed 'Sujing 1180', a high-quality japonica rice cultivar, utilizing urea as the N source and a comprehensive macronutrient-rich water-soluble fertilizer for foliar application. Five treatments were established: conventional N application (270 kg ha− 1, N100), 10% N reduction (N90), 10% N reduction with foliar application (N90 + FF), 20% N reduction (N80), and 20% N reduction with foliar application (N80 + FF). These treatments were meticulously examined throughout various growth stages. Photosynthetic parameter analysis indicated that N90 + FF significantly boosted the net photosynthetic rate during the heading stage. N80 + FF maintained higher stomatal conductance at the maturity stage, suggesting that foliar fertilizer is effective in enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and stomatal conductance. In terms of N metabolism, N90 + FF notably increased the accumulation of nitrate N during the jointing stage, surpassing other treatments. While N90 and N80 showed reductions in both nitrate and ammonium N levels compared to N100, N90 + FF was particularly effective in elevating nitrate and ammonium N as well as free amino acid concentrations. Regarding N fertilizer efficiency, N90 + FF surpassed N100 across several critical parameters, specifically total N absorption, N recovery efficiency, N agronomic efficiency, and N physiological efficiency. Significantly, N90 + FF showed marked improvements in both N agronomic efficiency and N partial factor productivity. In examining yield and its components, the N90 + FF treatment achieved a higher yield of 9872.48 kg ha− 1, surpassing the 9383.75 kg ha− 1 of N100. N90 + FF had better results in seed-setting rate and average grain number per panicle, with its 1000-grain weight similar to that of N100. The N90 and N80 treatments, however, were less effective in terms of yield and its components. The integrated study findings demonstrate that a strategy incorporating moderate N reduction and foliar fertilizer application markedly optimizes rice photosynthesis, augments N metabolism, and enhances utilization efficiency, leading to increased yields. These insights are valuable for advancing precision agriculture, enhancing japonica rice production efficiency, and promoting sustainable farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Combining research from infant and child development, public health, anthropology, and history, this research examines the relationship between growth, growth disruption, and skeletal indicators of chronic and/or episodic physiological stress (stress) among juvenile individuals (n = 60) interred at the late antique infant and child cemetery at Poggio Gramignano (PG) (ca. 5th century CE), associated with a rural agricultural community. Materials and methods: Growth disruption—evidenced by decreased long bone length compared to dental age—and stress experience—evidenced by skeletal stress indicators—within these individuals are compared to those within juveniles from a comparative sample (n = 66) from two urban Roman‐era cemeteries, Villa Rustica (VR) (0–250 CE) and Tragurium City Necropolis (TCN) (0–700 CE). Results: Results indicate that individuals from PG had significantly smaller femoral lengths‐for‐age than those from VR and TCN; however, the frequency of skeletal stress indicators was higher among juveniles from VR and TCN. Discussion: These differences in growth and stress experience are likely related to the different biosocial and ecological environments present in these two regions. For the community at PG, internal and external violent conflicts, as well as social, political, and economic turmoil, and subsistence shortages, endemic and epidemic infectious disease, nutritional deficiencies, and inherited or acquired anemia may have synergized to create chronically and/or episodically deleterious conditions for its juveniles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the evolving nature of social and agrarian relations between A1 villagised beneficiaries of the Fast Track Land Reform in Zimbabwe (FTLRP) and former farm workers. Using a case study from Zvimba District, Mashonaland West, I investigate how after FTLRP farm workers are accessing land and a host of livelihoods through social relations with the A1 beneficiaries. The article argues that after FTLRP, farm workers have established social relations with beneficiaries of FTLRP, which have enabled them to access land, agricultural inputs, and other socioeconomic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholders of dryland ecosystems continue to live below the poverty line while facing significant economic and social deprivation with decreasing landholding. Most dryland farmers perform conventional disintegrated farming practices due to a lack of knowledge and resource inefficiency. This study investigates the possibility of an Integrated Farming System (IFS) to address the current dryland farming issues and explore various factors affecting its adoption among the farming community. This study aims to apply and compare supervised learning techniques to assess the primary drivers affecting the adoption of the IFS in rural southern India. The study shows that organic fertilizer production, farmers' age, and involvement in the extension activity are the major factors affecting the adoption of IFS among dryland farmers. The study supports that small and marginal farmers have a high possibility of realizing the higher benefit from IFS. The study recommends that these components be given proper policy consideration in designing and implementing an effective farming system in dryland areas to improve farmers' income levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lives of rural households are predominantly based on agriculture and its allied activities. However, there are signs of an agricultural crisis resulting in dependence on alternative sources of income. This paper analyzes the factors that influence the decision of farm households to participate in non-farm activities for alternative income. The official data for two years on the Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households are explored and a pooled probit regression model is run to examine the determinants of income diversification. Our findings reveal that farm income and irrigated land negatively influence diversification. However, diversification of those having lower access to farm holdings, socioeconomic deprivation, and improved access to education, informal credit, and crop insurance point out positive participation in non-farm enterprises. In addition, the population belonging to hilly and coastal plain regions and the age group 30–64 years are more likely to diversify. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed dormancy is the key factor determining weed emergence in agricultural fields and there is growing interest in weed seeds as a target for weed management. A foremost limitation to this approach is the lack of molecular insight into the mechanisms regulating dormancy in weed seeds. Alopecurus myosuroides (blackgrass) seeds were collected from a wheat field in the UK. At low temperatures, dormant (D) and after‐ripened (AR) seeds germinate similarly and at warm temperatures dormancy is enforced. RNAseq analysis at both temperatures for D and AR seeds demonstrated distinct mechanisms, involving abscisic acid and gibberellin signalling, are involved in after‐ripening and cold‐induced dormancy release. Exogenous application of selected plant growth regulators provided further insight into the phytohormone processes involved in seed dormancy in blackgrass. An untargeted analysis of the transcriptome revealed dormancy‐related processes beyond the regulation of germination, such as seed defence processes, which may have potential as targets for weed seedbank management. Our findings suggest that dormancy breaking can occur via multiple independent but connected hormone‐mediated mechanisms and provide a case study for the use of next‐generation sequencing to uncover the mechanisms involved in seed dormancy in weed and non‐model species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a longstanding and contentious debate about the future of glyphosate use in the European Union (EU). In November 2023, the European Commission approved the renewal of the use registration for glyphosate for a further 10 years. Nevertheless, the EU Farm to Fork strategy calls for a 50% reduction in pesticide use by 2030. In November 2022, the European Weed Research Society organised a 2 day workshop to identify critical glyphosate uses in current EU cropping systems and to review the availability of glyphosate alternatives. Workshop participants identified four current, critical uses in EU cropping systems; control and management of perennial weeds, weed control in conservation agriculture, vegetation management in tree and vine crops and herbicide resistance management. There are few herbicide alternatives that provide effective, economic, broad‐spectrum control of weeds, particularly perennial weeds. Mechanical weed control, and in particular, soil cultivation is the most obvious glyphosate alternative. However, this is not possible in conservation agriculture systems and, in general, increased soil cultivation has negative impacts for soil health. Emerging technologies for precision weed control can enable more targeted use of glyphosate, greatly reducing use rates. These technologies also facilitate the use and development of alternative targeted physical weed control (e.g. tillage, lasers, electricity), reducing the energy and environmental costs of these approaches. In tree crops, the use of organic and inorganic mulches can reduce the need for glyphosate use. In general, reduced use of glyphosate will require an even greater focus on integrated weed management to reduce weed establishment in agroecosystems, increase weed management diversity and limit the use of alternative resistance‐prone herbicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In southern Manitoba, Canada, a survey was carried out in 2012 and 2013 to determine the presence of Heteroderidae cyst-forming plant-parasitic nematodes, with a focus on the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Heterodera glycines). A total of 48 fields having grown soybean were sampled. A modified Fenwick elutriation-flotation technique was used to extract cysts with a 75% cyst recovery efficiency. Cyst population density averaged 0.9 cysts kg−1 soil, with a total of 65 cysts recovered. Preliminary screening of cysts, based on general body shape and vulval cone top structure, showed the presence of cysts belong to circumfenestrate, and ambifenestrate groups of cyst-forming nematodes. Limited morphological data was accessible due to poor quality or insufficient cysts for analysis; however, generated DNA sequences for nuclear rDNA ITS and D2-D3 expansion region of the 28S rRNA were obtained for four samples and matched sequences in GenBank for the cyst nematodes Cactodera milleri, C. torreyanae, C. weissi, C. estonica and unknown Cactodera species. Only one of the ambifenestrate cysts with a cone top structure of Heterodera species yielded DNA for analysis and its identification was ambiguous for soybean cyst nematode (SCN). None of the cysts were positive through SCN diagnostic PCR. Cactodera is not a pest of soybean or other crops in Manitoba. These cyst nematodes are likely to be naturally associated with weeds and grasses in the sampled fields or may be introduced from neighbouring states of the USA. Further annual surveys are needed and recommended in the near future to encompass more soybean fields and corroborate the absence of the pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we examine whether there are significant gender differences in the adoption of climate‐smart agricultural (CSA) practices in sub‐Saharan Africa. Using individual‐level data from four sites in Kenya, Uganda and Senegal, our empirical analysis provides robust evidence that men have a higher likelihood of adopting high‐return CSA practices including modern chemical fertiliser, improved high‐yielding varieties and drought/pest tolerant livestock practices. In contrast, women tend to have a higher likelihood of adopting low‐risk and low‐return traditional CSA practices such as water harvesting, crop covering, rangeland management and pest management. Our subsample analysis shows significant heterogeneity in the gender gap across countries. The results of the decomposition of the observed gender gap show that personal values and norms, access to weather and production information and farm characteristics are important factors that explain the gender differential in the likelihood of CSA adoption. Our findings imply that equalising access to key resources such as plots of land, information and decision making power will be crucial to close the gender gap in the adoption of CSA practices. This is particularly important given the differential impacts of climate change between men and women in sub‐Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are a class of cross-coupled hydrophilic networks that have an extraordinary capacity to absorb and retain water. It is primarily because of the additional ionic cross-linking of SAPs, their porous wavy structure, a large number of hydrophilic functionalities, the high elasticity of the chains, and the enlarged free volumes between the polymeric chains, that all contribute to the enhancement of the swelling capability of superabsorbent hydrogels. These exceptional attributes have endowed them to be an alternative to conventional hydrogels in various applications. In view of the importance of this class of absorbent material and their diverse appliances, this review deliberates the experimental methods for characterizing superabsorbent polymers, including the officially accepted industrial measurements of their unique attributes, namely, swelling among others. In addition, the review highlights recent advances in the field of superabsorbent polymers encompassing nanofiltration, heat resistance, and absorbency, drug delivery, disposable hygiene products, nanomedicines, and the removal of heavy metals from wastewater and agriculture domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]