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Through pot experiments and transcriptomic techniques, we investigated the mechanism of Zunla 1 chili pepper’s response to cadmium (Cd) stress. Soil pot experiments involved collecting soil and chili pepper samples to measure Cd content. Transcriptome sequencing analyzed the chili pepper fruit’s transcriptome profile under two Cd levels: 0 μM (control) and 50 μM. Biochemical experiments confirmed that chili pepper is a Cd hyperaccumulator, with leaves being the primary accumulation organs. After 6 hours of treatment, 2451 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, with 892 up-regulated and 1559 down-regulated genes. After 12 hours, 3338 DEGs were found, including 1766 up-regulated and 1572 down-regulated genes. GO enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs were mainly involved in catalytic activity, binding, cellular processes, and metabolic pathways. KEGG pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment in pathways such as ABC transporters, plant-pathogen interactions, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Notably, transcription factors like ERF, WRKY, and NAC, along with copper transport ATPases, are believed to play crucial roles in the chili pepper’s response to Cd stress.

Urban farming has gained significant recognition and interest in less developed countries as it has the potential to address challenges linked to rapid urbanization, unemployment, and food insecurity. This study aimed to determine the drivers of market participation and the level of market participation among smallholder urban vegetable farmers in the Sobantu and Mphophomeni township areas. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to sample 156 smallholder urban vegetable farmers. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and a double-hurdle model. The results 18 indicated that out of a total of 156 smallholder farmers, 127 farmers were market participants and 29 were non-participants. The logistic model result indicated that market participation decision among smallholder urban farmers was significantly influenced by credit use (p = 0.004), free inputs (p = 0.096), access to market information (p = 0.001), access to labour (p = 0.014), and owning a smartphone (p = 0.083). Fractional response model results indicated that the level of market participation among smallholder urban vegetable farmers were significantly influenced by age (p = 0.093), cooperative membership (0.002), road condition (p = 0.001), storage (p = 0.016), and distance to input markets (0.069). The study concludes that market participation can be enhanced by increasing the market. information sources through market-empowered extension services and improved access to market information including through targeted radio, television, and the Facebook application. The study recommends urban agriculture policies and programs by various stakeholders that Strengthen market training activities and form farmer co-operatives to meet market requirements and improve market participation among smallholder urban farmers.

The task of achieving global food security has become progressively more critical, with widespread hunger and a lack of access to adequate and nutritious food supplies. The agricultural industry including fruits and vegetable production plays a pivotal role in this endeavor. However, fruits and vegetables are perishable products which losses their quality within short period of time, unless their shelf life is extended by applying different processing techniques. Processing and the inherent properties of fruits and vegetables significantly impact their quality, shelf life, and the optimal processing system employed. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of quality and phsio-chemical Changes associated with processing and the diverse properties of fruits and vegetables.

The low production of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in Nepal is associated with the lack of high-yielding gynoecious hybrids, the long gestation period and low yields of open-pollinated varieties and cold stress in open field conditions during the off-season. An experiment was conducted at the National Horticulture Research Centre, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal, from February to July 2019 to evaluate the performance of cucumber genotypes under open field and plastic house conditions. The experiment was laid out in a two-factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) with seven genotypes (Bhaktapur Local, HRDCUC-004 × HRDCUC-001, HRDCUC-004 × HRDCUC-003, HRDCUC-006 × HRDCUC-001, HRDCUC-006 × HRDCUC-003, HRDCUC-009 × HRDCUC-001, and HRDCUC-009 × HRDCUC-003) and two growing conditions (open field and plastic house). Genotypes and growing conditions affected yield and yield attributing characters. Genotype HRDCUC-004 × HRDCUC-001 grown under the plastic house was superior in terms of the number of fruits plant−1 (28.33), yield plant−1 (12.43 kg), and adjusted yield hectare−1 (117 t ha−1). The highest benefit-cost ratio (2.99:1) was also observed for the genotype HRDCUC-004 × HRDCUC-001 grown under plastic house conditions. Overall acceptability of consumers was higher in genotype Bhaktapur Local (7.6) followed by HRDCUC-004 × HRDCUC-001 (7.2). Cucumber genotype HRDCUC-004 × HRDCUC-001 was promising for yield and yield attributing characters under both growing conditions.PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENTCucumber, a globally popular vegetable crop, holds significant economic importance and is widely used in kitchens as a salad. Despite the availability of many exotic hybrid varieties, Nepal struggles with low cucumber production. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the performance of gynoecious hybrid cucumber varieties in terms of yield, quality, and maturity to meet the national demand. Additionally, ensuring year-round cucumber production is essential to guarantee its availability in the market. The production of high yielding gynoecious cucumber hybrids within protected structures such as plastic houses could be a feasible option to fulfill the domestic demand and ensure year-round availability in the market..

The use of agricultural and food industry waste as animal feed is considered as best option to fill feed shortage gap and efficient utilization of available resources within food-feed production circularity. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of combined fruit waste meal utilization between Woyito-Guji bucks’ vs. Doyo-Gena rams in a 2 × 4 randomized crossover design with two species, four diets and four periods. The treatments were grass hay with 0% fruit waste (FW) + 100% concentrate mix (CM) (T1), 25% FW + 75% CM (T2), 50% FW + 50% CM (T3) and 75% FW + 25% CM (T4). Regardless of species variation, T1, T2 and T3 had comparable (p > 0.05) body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency values higher (p

Chinese agriculture grapples with contemporary challenges involving resource scarcity, environmental concerns, and transformations in agricultural labor structures. This work endeavors to address these challenges and foster sustainable agricultural development by advocating the principles of agricultural green development and sustainability in China. The application principles of digital technology are first expounded alongside a discussion on the foundational concepts of fuzzy systems. Subsequently, an in-depth analysis is undertaken on the composition and trajectory of China’s agricultural total factor productivity (ATFP), culminating in the construction of a Green ATFP model. The findings illuminate the heavy reliance on labor and resources in current agricultural development, with the transformation of labor structure emerging as a pivotal factor influencing progress. Notably, the trends of feminization, aging, and urbanization in rural labor have precipitated a substantial shortage, impeding agricultural development. Furthermore, under the guidance of digital technology and fuzzy systems, this paper establishes the theoretical framework of green ATFP. Evaluation results disclose a noteworthy decrease in the contribution rates of various indicators under the Green ATFP model, with the highest contribution rate approximating 1.23. This implies that the existing measures for China’s green ATFP are still imperfect, signaling a need for greater emphasis on environmental considerations in agricultural development. This work furnishes valuable insights for advancing agricultural development and contributes significantly to the ongoing efforts in promoting the green evolution of Chinese agriculture.

This study is aimed at assessing agricultural and environmental performance and analyzing whether observable productivity changes stem from technologically induced or environmentally induced components. Based on individual farm household data from Hubei Province covering the period 2004 to 2010, we decompose total factor productivity (TFP) into technical efficiency change (TEC), technical change (TC), scale effect (SE), and the environmentally related allocative effect (AE) as a means of evaluating environmental performance. The empirical results indicate that the average TFP decrease rate is 2.8%, which reflects the comprehensive outcome of all relevant components. Regarding direct pollution-related inputs (fertilizer and land), improving nitrogen (N) fertilizer application efficiency and land use efficiency can contribute not only to less cropland expansion and greater productivity growth but also to N loss reduction and N pollution abatement in the short and long term. Concerning indirect pollution-related inputs (labor, intermediate input, etc.), although increases in quasi-fixed inputs (labor and intermediate input) can lead to both N and productivity growth, the magnitude of the positive effects of quasi-fixed inputs on productivity cannot offset the negative effect of fertilizer on productivity; thus, more scientific and economical fertilizer application is the key to improving agricultural productivity and benefiting the environment and the ecosystem.

Mango (Mangifera indica Linn) fruits weigh from small to large about 1 kg in some cultivars. It easily ripens within 6 months, turn reddish and ready for consumption. Most of the produced mango fruit can be consumed fresh and less amount (less than 2%) of it become processed to different products including juice. During processing of mango fruit for consumption, large quantity of mango by- products which can be used as animal feeds and some important antioxidants can be produced. Mango seed kernel (MSK) is a by-product of mango used for both human and animal consumption after several treatment options. In mango fruit, MSK constitutes about 45% to 75% of the whole seed. Mango seed kernel composes greater amount of carbohydrate, protein, fiber, fat, amino acids, important anti-oxidants and minerals comparable to maize. Mango seed kernel contains some important acids which can be fractionated in to the different oils and used in chocolate making by replacing some forms of butter in developed countries. Although MSK is cheap and contains high amount of metabolizable energy, MKS is rich in anti-nutritional factors like tannin which is difficult for animals to consume. However, research reports showed that effective treatment methods like boiling, soaking and drying reduced the anti-nutrient to the level safe for both ruminants and monogastric animals. It is concluded that MKS is a potential energy feed resource for farm animals and inclusion of mango seed kernel up to 25% in layer, up to 30% in broiler nutrition and up to 40-60% in ruminants nutrition has no detrimental effect, profitable and can be best alternative feed sources if well treated by using the best technical methods of anti-nutritional factors reduction like boiling.

Drought and salt stress are the most common abiotic stresses resulting in yield reduction or complete loss of agricultural production in recent years. Stress mitigation by external biostimulator molecules has been an active research topic recently. Neurotransmitters (NTs) dopamine and progesterone, found in both animal and plant kingdom were shown to take role in plant abiotic and biotic stress defense in limited number of studies. This study investigated the effects of exogenous dopamine and progesterone application in tomato seedlings under drought and salt stress by examining various morphological and physiological parameters (tissue length and weights, relative water content, ion leakage, malondialdehyde and proline levels), as well as expressions of various genes encoding enzymes; superoxide dismutase (FeSOD), catalase (CAT2), glutathione reductase (GR1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX1), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS2) and delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS), that play a direct role in the antioxidative defense system or measured as stress indicators. The results showed that dopamine and progesterone alleviated drought stress mainly by increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase antioxidative enzyme gene expressions and decreasing ethylene production in tomato seedlings, thereby improving cell membrane integrity and increasing root dry weight. Although morphological and physiological responses of the seedlings were mostly similar under drought and salinity stresses, antioxidative defense enzyme gene expressions were not upregulated under salinity stress, except for the GR1 expression under progesterone treatment.

The experiment was conducted to determine the irrigation scheduling effect on hot pepper green pods, yield attributes, and irrigation water productivity (WP) in the Arba Minch area. Field trials comprised five levels of treatments: 140 % MAD, 120% MAD, 100% MAD, 80% MAD and 60% MAD. The results revealed that different depletion levels had significantly affected hot pepper’s yield and related attributes. The maximum yield of hot pepper was observed under 100% MAD without significant variation of 120% MAD whereas the minimum was under 140% MAD in both years of experimentation. WP was also highly influenced by depletion, and the maximum water productivity of (24.67 kg/ha-mm, 24.72 kg/ha-mm was observed under 120% MAD and minimum (19.26 kg/ha-mm, 16.49 kg/ha-mm) under 60% MAD in the year 2019 and 2021, respectively. The results revealed that as the level of depletion increased, irrigation frequency (event) increased, yield and water productivity decreased of hot peppers. 120% MAD offered the highest economic return (11,795.96 US$) and saved water, wage, and irrigation events compared to more frequent applications. The current findings showed that applying 120% MAD is better for hot pepper production in the Arba Minch areas and similar ecology.

AbstractThe geologically complex Kyzylzharma groundwater field is located in the south-central part of Kazakhstan in the lower Syr Darya Basin. It supplies the 243,000 population of Kyzylorda City by drinking and agricultural water needs. Numerical modeling was used to predict the consequences of increased groundwater withdrawal for future water supply needs. The results displayed a mean squared error for the groundwater simulations of about 0.6 m and was thus acceptable. The validated transmissivity was between 2 × 10−7 and 2 × 10−5 m/d. These parameters showed that the planned groundwater withdrawal will result in a depression cone reaching 90–100 m below present levels in 2040. Maximum groundwater level drawdown may reach 130 m below present levels. This drawdown increases risks for brackish saltwater intrusion into the main groundwater aquifer. The results point at the depletion of groundwater resources in the Syr Daria Artesian Basin and the risks for groundwater quality, particularly increase in mineralization. The key outcome is the recognition that effective joint management of the Syr Daria Artesian Basin’s groundwater resources, involving both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, necessitates development and operation of a joint numerical aquifer model. Building this model is a crucial tool for assessing the sustainable groundwater resources in the region.

The cycle of food insecurity caused by poor water management practices poses major concerns for the sustainability of living balance in Southwestern Ethiopia’s smallholder agricultural areas. The prior study looked at crop land suitability assessments. However, there are still knowledge gaps on irrigation infrastructure sites. As a result, this research was launched to evaluate the surface water irrigation (SWI) potential of river watersheds in the Gomma area, southwestern Ethiopia. To identify possible SWI, biophysical parameters such as topography, stream order, soil texture, land use-land cover, drainage density, and climate elements were analyzed. Potential SWI sites were identified using multiple-criteria decision-making analysis from the sources of information reviewed, which were applied for selecting suitable sites. A comparison matrix, weighted analysis, Boolean-operations, and survey approaches. The analysis findings reveal that about 16% of the Gomma is highly suitable (S1) for drip or sprinkler surface water irrigation (SWI) schemes, while 7% and 77% of the total fall under the categories of moderate and unsuitable for SWI, respectively. At the catchment level, the most irrigable catchments in Didessa, Naso, Awetu, Tamsa, and Urgessa were found to be approximately 1838, 1626, 1484, 1107, and 910 ha of total area, respectively. In contrast to prior outcomes, the eventual eligibility map of foreseeable SWI zones are squarely distributed over the study region. In conclusion, to optimize the impact on agricultural productivity and water resource management, it is advised to prioritize the implementation of drip or sprinkler surface water irrigation (SWI) schemes in areas identified as highly suitable.

Experiments under field conditions were conducted in the Meher season from mid-July to December 2019 and 2020 at Kulumsa and Arsi Robe, Southeast Ethiopia. The study intended to evaluate white cumin accessions for agronomic and quality traits. Fifteen genotypes were laid out in a randomized complete block design in three replications. The analysis of variance pooled over the two locations and years showed highly significant differences (p

A field experiment replicated over two seasons examined allelopathic effects of eleven sorghum accessions with known sorgoleone content on sorghum growth and yield, weed density and biomass at Panmure Experiment Station, in Shamva, Zimbabwe in the 2017/2018 summer and in late winter to summer in 2018. The trial was a 2 × 11 factorial in a randomized complete block design plus two control treatments replicated thrice. Factor A was weeding regime with two levels: clean weeding and no weeding. Factor B were 11 sorghum accessions. There was a significant sorghum accession × weeding regime interaction effect (p 0.05) between sorgoleone content and weed density and biomass, suggesting that sorgoleone may not instantly cause allelopathic effects on weeds upon its release from root hairs because it is strongly sorbed in soil, and inhibition of density and biomass might have been caused by other allelopathic compounds. Future research should trace uptake and translocation of allelopathic compounds to target sites of receiver plants, and demonstrate that subsequent damage symptoms are caused by the allelopathic compounds.

Horticulture is an important sub-sector of the Kenyan economy that contributes to food and nutrition security as well as a source of income to small-scale farmers. However, the sub-sector is largely affected by climate variability. Although various efforts have been initiated towards climate-smart horticulture (CSH) practices to reduce the challenges, most farmers have not adopted the practices and the reasons for this are not comprehensively documented. This study sought to address this knowledge gap by analyzing the determinants of the intensity of adoption of CSH practices in Taita-Taveta County in Kenya. The study used primary data from 403 randomly selected farmers who grow green grams and tomatoes. Negative binomial regression model was applied to analyze the determinants of the number of CSH practices adopted. Results show that the main CSH practices adopted were crop rotation, well-adapted seed varieties, live barriers to prevent soil erosion and organic manure. The extent of adoption of CSH practices varied greatly in the three locations due to their geographical and agro-ecological differences. Mobile phone use on CSH, access to agricultural extension services, awareness of CSH and trust on information relayed through the mobile phones increased the intensity of adoption of the identified CSH practices by 24%, 17%, 54% and 12%, respectively. However, climate change awareness and increase in farm size under crop reduced the intensity of adoption of CSH practices by 29% and 4%, respectively. The intensity of adoption of CSH practices was positively affected by mobile phone use, education level, gender, trust and CSH awareness. However, farm size and climate change awareness were found to negatively affect the intensity of adoption of CSH practices. These findings point to the need for location-specific CSH practices and credible climate-smart agriculture (CSA) information. Institutional support services such as agricultural extension, technical skills and mobile phone services should be packaged innovatively to meet the specific requirements of horticulture farmers in different crop enterprises and agro-ecological conditions rather than a one-size fits all approach.

Kopyor coconut (Cocos nucifera L. family Arecaceae) is a mutant nut from Indonesia and Jember Regency serves as a center for the growth in the country. The population and morphology in this area have not been explored extensively to describe diversity. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the morphology and kinship of kopyor coconut in three sub-districts, namely Wuluhan, Ambulu and Gumuk Mas. A random sampling was conducted to select 10 trees from each dwarf (yellow and green dwarf kopyor (GKK and GHK)) and tall kopyor coconut (green, yellow and brown tall kopyor (DHK, DKK and DCK)). GPS-marked population was processed using GIS program to create a map for the distribution of kopyor coconut. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected on stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and endosperm. The results showed that there were 31 areas of kopyor coconut populations in Jember Regency. The high diversity was observed in the number of female flowers, as well as the percentage of kopyor fruit per bunch. DCK had the smallest and largest flower and fruit index values, respectively. In addition, the level of endosperm structure was classified into four types. Tall kopyor coconut had a low phylogenetic relationship of 29%, while DKK and DCK types reported the closest. This information was valuable in complementing the lack of data on the phenotype as well as the diversity of the population used for conservation, breeding programs, and production purposes.

There are about two billion people suffered malnourished because of the failing global food system, historical emphasis on crop yield, notably lacking in Fe and Zn. Breeding biofortified staple crops is a sustainable strategy to tackle this issue, but it poses challenges, primarily due to limited genetic resources in modern breeding populations. Simultaneously, global climate change, marked by rising temperatures and increased atmospheric CO2, threatens the stability of micronutrient concentrations in harvest organs, such as gain, fruit, root, tubers etc. The rich biodiversity of crop wild relatives, including wild species, landraces, and natives, offers a promising genetic response to climate change. Advanced breeding technologies, like marker-assisted selection breeding, genomic selection, gene editing provide opportunities to enhance Fe and Zn concentrations in staple crops, such as rice, maize, wheat, cassava, etc. Genome-wide association studies and population genetics research will help found qualitative genes and major-effect homeostasis genes for Fe and Zn, which purpose is to uncover the molecular mechanisms governing Fe and Zn regulation in staple crops. Despite these strides, enhancing Fe and Zn bioavailability for human, requires considering absorption enhancers and inhibitors, rather than solely increasing concentrations. Absorption testing systems like the Caco-2 cell line, elucidating the meta-process of Fe and Zn absorption in the human body should be considered when breeding Fe and Zn biofortified crops through traditional and molecular breeding.

This study aimed to evaluate the performance level of agribusiness actors by applying the basic price of Arabica coffee in North Toraja Regency and to determine the role and relationship between the subsystems involved. This research used qualitative and quantitative descriptive approaches. Data analysis techniques used interpretive structural modeling (ISM) to determine the key factors in the agribusiness institutional system and used importance–performance analysis (IPA) to measure each institution’s performance level. The performance of Arabica coffee agribusiness actors in North Toraja Regency revealed that the actors who have high interests and low performance included farmers, agrochemical industries, companies, collecting traders, agricultural extension workers, and the agriculture office. By contrast, the actors with high interest and good performance include the Department of Agriculture, companies, coffee shops, and farmer groups. Moreover, the actors with low stakes and low performance included farmer groups, MSMEs, and coffee shops. At the same time, the actors with low interest and good performance included the agromechanical industry, farmers, and cooperatives. The findings were used to map the actors with the most important role in the agribusiness system and the linkages between Arabica coffee subsystems in the North Toraja Regency.

New photovoltaic panels are installed on agricultural land every day and yet their effect on the quality of the soil has not yet been fully verified. Unfortunately, there are not many scientific works that focus on the effect of photovoltaic panels on real soil in real conditions. The presented work intended to establish the basic principles through which the placement of photovoltaic panels changes the quality of the surrounding soil. Since the soil is a very complex system, six basic soil properties were worked on, which were labeled as soil ‘master properties’ in the work by Kuzyakov and Zamanian. It was found that the photovol power plants can have a positive effect on the soil under certain conditions. According to our conclusions, it can be assumed that the placement of PV panels will have a positive effect on a number of soil properties, we can mainly expect an increase in the stability of soil aggregates, an increase in the content of organic matter and an increased development of the microbial community.

Potatoes are vital for food security and subsistence farming, especially in highland regions. Enhancing production could lift people out of poverty and boost income, while promoting better nutrition and sustainable yields for farmers. The objectives of the study were to analyze the technical, allocative and economic efficiencies of potato producers and to identify factors determining technical, allocative and economic efficiencies of the potato producers. This study took a sample of 390 households from North West part of Ethiopia in South Gondar zone by using multistage sampling to draw a representative sample. The data was collected through questioner, key informant interview, focus group discussion. The study was employing both descriptive and econometric methods of data analysis. Stochastic frontier analysis model was used for this study to know production efficiency of the sampled households and two limit tobit model used to estimate source of inefficiency among potato producers. The average technical, allocative and economic efficiency (EE) score were 61%, 93% and 57%, respectively. Potato production efficiency influenced significantly by sex of the house hold, membership in cooperative, access of training, availability of credit and extension service. Based on the findings government and non-government organizations should give attention in awareness of services of cooperative, facilitate training and access of credit in relation to potato production to increase productivity of farmers.

Postharvest losses (PHLs) challenge smallholder vegetable farmers in developing countries, notably in sub-Saharan Africa, impacting food security and economic sustainability. Despite efforts to mitigate PHLs, understanding remains insufficient. This knowledge gap hinders the development and implementation of effective interventions. Therefore, this study investigated the key drivers of postharvest losses among smallholder vegetable farmers in eThekwini Municipality. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design and multi-stratified random sampling technique to gather primary data from 238 smallholder vegetable farmers through structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) Regression were used for analysis. Descriptive statistics indicated that female farmers were dominant (56%), with an average age of 45 years and an average household size of six individuals. On average, farmers have completed 12 years of schooling, and a significant portion, comprising 76%, were unemployed. The primary source of income for farmers (78%) was derived from farming activities. The ZIP model indicated that age and household size were significant at the 5% level, while years in school, farm experience, extension service, labor, storage, distance to the market, and weather conditions were significant at the 1% level. Thus, the study recommends improving extension services and capacity-building to improve agricultural productivity and reduce PHLs.

The essential oils extracted from the leaves of five Eucalyptus species: E. astringens, E. camaldulensis, E. lehmannii, E. leucoxylon, and E. sideroxylon, were investigated for their antimicrobial properties. These species were growing in the same plantation area, exposed to identical conditions, and subjected to uniform agronomic practices. Processed and analyzed under consistent parameters, the essential oil yields ranged from 0.14 to 0.96% (w/w). Chromatographic analysis were resolved into 48 compounds, with 11 common to all oils. Terpenoids (oxygenated mono- and sesquiterpenes) dominated the oil profiles, constituting 55.66–76.67% of the composition. Major components identified included 1,8-cineole (21.97–50.93%), α-pinene (2.18–15.95%), p-cymene (0.83–15.94%), spathulenol (0–20.49%), globulol (4.09–14.26%), and aromadendrene (2.37–15.03%). Genetically driven interspecific variation in composition was observed through Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), and heatmap clustering. Moreover, distinctive components were identified for each essential oil, offering a valuable tool for discriminating between Eucalyptus species and ensuring authentication and quality control in commercial samples. Results from antimicrobial disc-diffusion assays indicated robust antimicrobial activity in all essential oils, with those derived from E. camaldulensis, E. lehmannii, and E. leucoxylon exhibiting the highest effectiveness.

Variations in coleoptile elongation offer insights into rice adaptation to flooding stress during germination. Unfortunately, this trait remains understudied in African germplasms despite the prevalent direct seeding practice prone to floods. To address this gap, 44 rice genotypes, including anaerobic germination-tolerant and susceptible checks, underwent screening for coleoptile elongation after submergence in glass bottles. The Anaerobic Response Index (ARI) and Anaerobic Tolerance Index (ATI) were used, forming six clusters highlighting diverse elongation abilities. Cluster III, comprising genotypes NERICA 7, Kanamalia, Wahiwahi, Rojomena 271/10, Kubwa jinga, Faya mafuta, Mwasungo, and Ciherang Sub1 AG1 AG2, demonstrated potential for selection and adaptation to flooding, showing promising elongation characteristics. Positive correlations (0.675 for ARI, 0.66 for ATI) with anaerobic germination percentage underscored the link between elongation and germination. These findings not only advance our understanding of rice’s flood adaptability in Africa but also provide crucial breeding materials for enhancing direct-seeded rice resilience. Therefore, the promising genotypes identified in this study with enhanced coleoptile elongation mechanisms for surviving early floods following seeding are relevant for breeding initiatives aimed at increasing crop emergence and survival during these early flooding events. This resilience will ultimately enhance production and address food security challenges for farmers in flood-prone areas.

Yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) is valuable edible specie with economic significance in China. Passion fruit faces yield losses due to viral diseases. This study used tissue culture of nodal shoot segments to propagate virus-free plants. Surface-sterilized nodal shoot segments were used and shoots were initiated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of 6-Benzyladenine (6-BA) (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mg L−1). Multiple shoots were initiated (5.2 ± 1.09 shoots/explant) with a 6-BA concentration of 2.0 mg L−1. Sub-culturing of these multiple shoots on MS medium augmented with 2.0 mg L−1 6-BA and 0.2 mg L−1 IAA was successful in vitro with maximum numbers of shoots (6.6 ± 1.17) within four weeks of incubation. These regenerated shoots were assayed for presence of passion fruit woodiness virus (PWV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); only virus-free shoots were used for further propagation. Root formation was very good in each indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and (IAA) at a concentration of 0.6 mg L−1 with a maximum number of roots (7.2 ±1.30). Rooted plantlets were gradually acclimatized in a greenhouse and successfully established in soil. Thus, virus-free plants can be successfully regenerated directly from nodal shoot segments.

Access to improved water is a global issue aligned with sustainable economic development. Ethiopia plans to enhance access to safe water through low-cost tech and community mobilization. However, finance is crucial for rural water construction and rehab, and the price mechanisms through users’ contributions can improve the cost recovery of rural water supply. Hence, the objective of this study is to investigate rural households’ willingness to pay (WTP) for improved potable water supply using the contingent valuation method (CVM). Data collected from a randomly selected 272 sample households were analyzed using descriptive and econometrics analysis. The seemingly unrelated bivariate probit (SUBP) econometric model was used to calculate the mean WTP and identify the determinant factors. The results show that 70.96% of the households were willing to pay the initial bid. The results show that sex, annual farm income, off-farm income, the average time it takes to fetch water, use of water treatment and monthly water expense have a positive and significant effect. Yet, household size, perceptions of the quality and reliability of the existing water supply, and bid values have a negative and significant effect. The mean value for improved potable water supply was 1.80 ETB per 20 liters of Jerrican1. Rural households in the study area are willing to contribute up to 7.4% of their annual income. To ensure the financial sustainability and cost recovery of rural water supply, it may therefore be possible to intervene and adopt a new water price system.

Heavy metals and physicochemical parameters of water from the Birim River and tributaries in the Birim River Basin were analysed to assess its suitability for human use and consumption after a one-year ban on ASM activities in the area. 64 water samples were collected from 32 sampling sites along the Birim River and tributaries within the basin during the dry season and the rainy season, in addition to two repeat samples and two blank samples. Six heavy metals and three physicochemical parameters were analysed and compared with World Health Organisation guidelines. Surface water from the Birim River basin was still unsafe for drinking or other domestic purposes even after a one-year ban on ASM activities. Heavy metal concentrations in surface water were: Iron (0.3 to 21.9 mg/L - wet and 0.3 to 19.3 mg/L - dry), arsenic (

Rice is an important agricultural commodity in Uganda’s economy serving both as cash and food crop and is produced in almost all regions of Uganda. As a cash crop, considerable trade in this commodity occurs within and across the borders of Uganda and South Sudan. Therefore, this study was aimed at conducting a cross border trade value chain analysis between Uganda and South Sudan. Specifically, the rice value chain was analyzed and the determinants of cross border trade were ascertained. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and probit regression analysis to determine factors influence cross border trade in rice between Northern Uganda and South Sudan. Results revealed that three quarter of traders were of Ugandans Nationals with significant level (p

Agriculture is a critical sector of Ethiopia’s economy and requires efficient and innovative methods to meet the information needs of smallholder farmers, who are the backbone of the sector. The country’s agricultural activity is dominated by smallholder farmers. Farmers need information along the agricultural value chain on what to grow, how to grow it, and when and to whom to sell it for maximum profit. Therefore, agricultural extension services could play a key role in meeting the information needs of farmers to implement good agricultural practices. Information Communication Technology (ICT)-based agricultural extension service is an emerging extension modality due to the expansion of communication technology in the country. Therefore, this review addresses the status and effectiveness of ICT-based agricultural extension and advisory services in Ethiopia. Based on an empirical literature review radio, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and Short Message Service (SMS) are the major ICT-based Agricultural extension and advisory services delivery. It has massively contributed to providing timely, relevant, and consistent information not only to the farmers but also to the wholesalers, and retailers. In particular, since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, ICT-based extension services have been widely used as an agricultural extension delivery tool. Despite the progress, the application of ICT in agricultural extension and advisory services in Ethiopia is still in its infancy. Therefore, development actors should focus on infrastructure development, digital literacy programs, content localization and diversification, and installation of ICT kiosks using a public-private partnership approach.

Ubiquitous datafication surrounds agriculture stakeholders with data as the raw material for additional value creation, resilience and innovation. Technical and soft competencies of data literacy (DL) are not comprehensively addressed in formal secondary education as an interdisciplinary and general concept. Aiming to assess DL structure set for the agricultural sector and the presence of open data (OD) in formal secondary education, we offer the methodological approach for landscaping 27 DL competencies over six areas of DL adapting the ODI Data Skills Framework for qualitative thematic analysis and quantifying DL structure. Three sources of data: undergraduate (BS) and graduate (MS) course descriptions (561), interviews (32) and course materials (8) offered to students of the University of Zagreb were used to contextualize the approach. At the MS level 47% of courses show DL with prevalent technical DL competencies. Limited DL was found at the BS level (17%) where soft and technical DL competence areas were balanced. Preliminary education guidelines regarding DL in the agricultural sector are given. Further development and use of our methodological approach can ensure core DL competencies and balance soft and entrepreneurship DL in formal secondary education for agricultural sector, but can also be extended to other domains.

In the Shapha sub-watershed, an exclosure was implemented to restore the land and promote vegetation diversity. However, further scientific evidences are necessary to assess the impact of this intervention on woody species diversity and inform sustainable practices. Therefore, this study was designed to i) examine the diversity of woody species, population structure, and regeneration status compared with open grazing land and ii) assess factors affecting exclosure sustainability. The woody species inventory was made in 60 nested quadrants (20 m × 20 m) with eight parallel lines. Systematically, 90 respondents were asked and a focus group discussion was held. Data were analyzed using diversity indices, descriptive statistics, and a logistic regression model. The results reveal that 34 woody species were recorded across the two land-use types. As a result, 32 woody species belonging to 22 families and 29 genera within the exclosure and 11 types of woody plants from eight different families, comprising 10 other genera, were observed in the adjacent grazing area. It is hereby reported that the Shannon diversity indices for exclosure and adjacent open grazing lands were found to be 2.27 and 1.02, respectively. Similarly, the Simpson indices were 0.85 and 0.57, the evenness indices were 0.87 and 0.85, and the species richness values were 0.43 and 3.4, respectively. In the exclosure, woody species displayed a reverse J-shaped pattern in contrast to the J-shaped arrangement observed on the adjacent grazing land. Seven of the nine explanatory variables were crucial for determining the sustainability of the exclosure, with the exception of land tenure and family size. Notably, exclosure has proven to be the most effective for restoring degraded vegetation in the study area because they encourage the growth of new vegetation through natural regeneration.

Teff, a versatile crop, serves both as a food source and a cash crop in Ethiopia. It is recognized for its potential to enhance the income of smallholder farmers, improve food security, and contribute to sustainable development goals. This study aims to assess the impact of Teff commercialization by smallholder farmers on food security. Both primary and secondary data were used using the 2020/2021 cropping season. A three-stage sampling procedure was used to draw 352 sample households. Food security was assessed using proxy indicators: household dietary diversity and food consumption score. The descriptive statistical results showed that 182 (51.7%) and 170 (48.3%) sample households were subsistence, and commercialized household heads respectively. Notably, commercial farmers exhibited better household dietary diversity (91.2%), whereas subsistence farmers scored lower in terms of food consumption (29.1%). Male household headship reduced HDDS for commercializing farmers (−1.6); credit usage boosted HDDS for commercialized groups (1.1), and livestock ownership improved HDDS for subsistence groups (0.21) in the second-stage endogenous switching regression. The model result also showed that, Teff commercialization positively impacted HDDS and FCS, with average treatment effects of 3.81 and 4.46, respectively. Transitional heterogeneity results showed that commercialized farmers had lower household dietary diversity (−0.47) and lower food consumption score (−14.19) than subsistence households. In light of these findings, encouraging smallholder farmers to transition from subsistence production to commercialization is crucial for supplementing their overall production. Additionally, government efforts should focus on raising awareness about nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices.

Mango harvesting remains predominantly manual despite technological advances in agriculture. Traditional manual harvesting methods are labour-intensive and often result in mechanical injuries, bruising, and sap-induced infections, leading to reduced fruit quality and market value. This study presents the development of a specialized end effector for robotic mango harvesting. The developed end effector is capable of simultaneously cutting and grasping the mango peduncle, maintaining fruit integrity while minimizing mechanical injuries, bruising, and sap-induced infections. Its compact and modular design enhances maneuverability and operational efficiency, providing a secure grip on mangoes during cutting and transport until release in the conveying unit, ensuring the harvested fruit remains undamaged and market-ready. Initially inspired by handheld tools, the design evolved from using a net bag to finger grippers, and finally, a compact unit with integrated pads, capable of cutting and holding the fruit simultaneously. The design process involved conceptualizing and evaluating three designs, with the most efficient one being fabricated and tested. The end effector operates using a single servo motor for both cutting and grasping the peduncle. In lab trials, it successfully picked 17 mangoes at a rotational speed of 105 rad/s. The developed end effector achieved a conveying efficiency of approximately 96.7% with only 2 out of 60 mangoes falling from it during the lab trials. The performance evaluation demonstrated the end effector’s ability to consistently harvest mangoes with minimal failures, validating its practicality and robustness.

A bacterial wilt disease (R. solanacearum) severely damages potato crops. The pathogen infects several crops in various agroclimatic areas, and it has a broad pathogenic diversity. Six phylotypes, twenty-three sequevars, five races, and six biovars have been identified to indicate the pathogenic diversity of the pathogen. Twenty-eight isolates of Phylotype II were separated into seven classes and identified 97.06% diversity. It survives in the soil for a long time. Temperature and soil moisture, affected the infection, growth, and epidemics of the pathogen. In the last three decades, scholars have reported Mondial, CIP385312-2, Cruza 148, and CIP388285-14 resistant clones and cultivars. Five quantitative trait loci responsible for resistance were identified on different potato chromosomes. LYZ‐C resistance gene and the receptor kinase gene CLAVATA 1 were used to develop potato resistance. For potato resistance, a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat has been used since bacteria do not have Ribonucleic acid interference. Biochar, compost, and bio-organic fertilizer cultural practices are important to control the disease. It has been stated that bacteria exceed fungus as a biological control. Moreover, new or unusual biological controls such as Enterobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Paenibacillus sp have been suggested. Several studies showed the effects of cultural and physical practices on other soil-borne diseases, however not on the potato bacterial wilt disease. Resistant potato clones against bacterial wilt disease are not available in developing countries. Then, the current review was proposed to assess various findings available on potato bacterial wilt pathogenic variability and management practices.

Coffee is one of the most important agricultural export commodities being relied upon to generate revenue of foreign currency. To this end, it has to be of high quality to satisfy expectation and standards of international coffee markets. However, several mycoflora are naturally associated with coffee, some of which may produce fungal toxins such as Ochratoxin A (OTA) unless the safety of the products is carefully managed. Therefore, this research was initiated to identify the prevalent mycotoxigenic fungi and evaluate the presence of OTA in coffee beans collected from the soil surface and from wet and dry processing coffee mills. A total of 77 coffee samples were collected from Gera, Gomma, Limu Kosa and Mana districts of Jimma Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Malt Extract Agar (MEA) was used for the isolation and identification of fungi using macro and microscopic characteristics of the isolates, and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to detect and quantify OTA in green coffee beans using the AOAC method. Different fungal genera, including Aspergillus (84.74%), Fusarium (8.75%), Penicillium (5.49%), and Rhizopus (1.02%), were found associated with coffee beans collected from different coffee processes. Mean OTA values of 6.24 µg/kg, 2.05 µg/kg and 1.2 µg/kg were detected in coffee bean samples collected from soil surface, dry, and wet processed samples, respectively. In the present study, coffee beans collected from soil surfaces were more contaminated with various filamentous molds and their toxins than the dry and wet processed coffee beans with relatively better safety status.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different encapsulation materials, namely Sodium alginate, Whey protein isolate, Kappa-carrageenan, and Citrus pectin, on the viability and stability of probiotics. The probiotics were encapsulated using the internal gelation method and the resulting microbeads were measured for their size and encapsulation efficiency. The viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus, both free and encapsulated, was evaluated under gastric and intestinal conditions. The results revealed that all wall materials had a significant impact (p

The importance of using agro-industrial by-products in feeding livestock is important in terms of preserve the environment and conversely, reducing the cost of feeding and production. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess how feeding jojoba meal (JOJ) affected growth performance, cost of production, and carcass features of growing lambs. Twenty-four Awassi lambs weighing 16.4 kg ± 0.17 kg were randomly selected and given two diets; a control diet without the inclusion of JOJ (CON), and JOJ100 with the presence of 100 g/kg dry matter (DM) of JOJ. The experiment lasted for 63 days preceded by 10 days as a period of adaptation. As scheduled on day 49 of the trial and, to assess nutritional digestibility and N balance, five lambs were randomly selected. During this period, lambs were housed in metabolic cages that allowed the collection of total fecal and urinary outputs. Lambs were slaughtered to investigate carcass features on day 64. Acid detergent fiber and EE intakes were greater (p ≤ 0.007) in the JOJ100 than in CON diet. Nutrient digestibility, N balance, growth rate, and carcass traits were not affected (p ≥ 0.136) by consumption of JOJ100. Cost of production declined (p = 0.046) by 17% with the JOJ100 group. High-density lipoprotein was increased (p = 0.012) with lambs consuming the JOJ100 diet. In summary, adding jojoba meal to the diet of lambs appeared to have no adverse effect on their performance, carcass quality, or health. Most importantly, this dietary supplement appeared to enhance the economic efficiency by reducing the cost of production.

The rise in world temperature has led to remarkable changes in global climate patterns, eventually devastating the crops. Climate change has led to the emergence of various abiotic factors which has decreased the crop’s productivity. Heat stress has a great role in crop production reduction among various abiotic factors. Rise in temperature at different stages of crop growth beyond threshold level has caused significant crop damage remarkably in wheat. Heat stress causes immense disturbance to the morphological, physiological, and biochemical processes of crops, eventually leading to a decrease in wheat yield. Each degree increase in global temperature has led to a 6% decline in the wheat yield. Heat stress causes a significant decrease in the plant height, photosynthesis rate, dehiscence of the anther, floret fertility, kernel weight, CO2 absorption and assimilation, photosynthesis activity, and chlorophyll content, and starch synthesis in endosperm. Among other stages of the wheat crop, the flowering stage is so prone to heat stress which decreases the seed set. The wheat crop has several tolerance mechanisms to overcome heat stress such as leaf senescence, canopy temperature depression, and heat shock protein. The effect of heat stress is minimized by the production of heat shock protein. Various biochemical and molecular approaches can aid in understanding the effects created by heat stress.

Grappling with climate change, and delving into variability among mung germplasm offers genetic stock. Therefore, harnessing RCB design, 16 mung genotypes were assessed in field & control environments through punctilious mixed models, and Duncan’s test (p ≤ 0.05) to assess stress indicators and yield attributes. This study divulges that 4 qualitative traits with a Shannon diversity index ranging from 0.41 to 0.74; 12 eigenvalues >1 contributed to 73% of variability. Likewise, the first 3 PCs accounted for variances: 19.25%, 8.39%, and 6.97%. From root architecture to yield attributes was captured in 3 PCs. Besides, elbow technique revealed that 4- clusters have a dissimilarity coefficient of 0.18; and disparate intra and inter-cluster distances, 440.6 (I) and 5959.402 (I-II), harbingering invaluable for hybridization. Path analysis revealed a positive association—post fertility traits & yield. Further, Duncan’s test elucidated that VC6370A, ideal in grain yield (2.432 tons/ha), subsequently CN95 (2.272 tons/ha). VC3960A-88 has the highest SPAD value (66.13), but Seedlings of VC6368 (46-40-3) is more apt to heat & drought-tolerant; in contrast, VC6370A has a deep root architecture, accentuating genes for water use efficiency & climate-resilient breeding. To add, MTSI disclose that VC6848, VC1973A(SC) were selected as stable & promising for improvement.

Rainfall variability and low soil fertility are negatively affecting sorghum grain yield in smallholder farming systems. This study investigated the effect of contour-based rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems and cattle manure on grain yield of two sorghum varieties Macia and Sc Sila. A factorial experiment was laid out in a split-split plot design and replicated three times. Rainwater harvesting practice (tied contour, infiltration pits, standard contour) were the main plot factor, sorghum variety (Macia, Sc Sila) sub-plot factor, cattle manure application rates (0; 5; 8; 10; 15; 20) t/ha sub-sub plot factor, and distance from rainwater harvesting practice (0–5 m; 5–10 m; 10–15 m) sub-sub-sub plot factor. Grain yield under tied contour (TC) and infiltration pits (IP) rainwater harvesting systems were compared with the control - standard contour (SC). The results showed that TC and IP improved soil moisture content by 1.83% and 1.71% respectively compared to SC. Sorghum grain yield was significantly higher (p IP (2.10 t/ha) > SC (1.49 t/ha) at cattle manure application rate of 20 t/ha. Sorghum variety Macia had the highest grain yield of 2.01 t/ha at cattle manure application of 20 t/ha. In both sorghum varieties, TC and IP had higher sorghum grain yields than SC at all distances from the RWH practice in both seasons (2016/17 and 2017/18). The findings suggest that the use of TC and SC RWH practices, and cattle manure may increase sorghum grain yields in rain-fed smallholder farming systems.

Coffee accounts for over 40% of total Ugandan exports. Coffee subsector created employment opportunities thus improved living standards of farmers. Despite significant role played by coffee, its production in Uganda is generally low, attributed to infertile and highly weathered soils in different parts of the country. To increase soil fertility, smallholder farmers are encouraged to adopt integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices. Notably, previous studies shown low adoption intensity of ISFM practices. The study, therefore, aimed to determine adoption intensity and factors affecting adoption intensity of ISFM practices in new coffee-growing regions of Mid-Northern Uganda. Data were collected from 202 farmers in Oyam and Nwoya districts, using semi-structured questionnaires. Adoption index (AI) and Tobit regression model were used to determine adoption intensity of ISFM practices and their determinants, respectively. Results show that adoption intensity of ISFM practices was 0.52. Results from Tobit model showed that farm size, access to agricultural insurance, input support, formal employment had positive and significant effect on adoption intensity, whereas household size had inverse and significant effect on adoption intensity. Our study recommends that farmers be trained on ways of accessing credit, agricultural insurance, while government should subsidize farm inputs for timely acquisition by coffee farmers.

Aflatoxin levels increase during storage due to high humidity, temperature, and insect pests. The study determined the effectiveness of three levels of natural products in controlling aflatoxins at storage, done in 2023 at Kalro Njoro in Kenya. Maize grains were collected from Kilifi and weighed to 1 kg each and placed in polypropylene bags. Three levels of Moringa oleifera powder (10g/kg, 20g/kg and 30g/kg) from young moringa leaves, wood ash at (5g/kg, 7.5g/kg and 10g/kg) from Eucalyptus globulus from a dried log of wood from Eucalyptus globulus and diatomaceous earth (1g/kg, 2g/kg and 3g/kg) and a control (no treatment) were used. A completely randomized design replicated three times was used. Grains were stored for three and six months and total aflatoxin quantification was performed using ELISA. At six months aflatoxins levels had increased up to ten times from the three months storage. In the sixth month the total aflatoxins levels were 0.84 µg/kg for wood ash at 7.5 g/kg of maize with the lowest levels. The wood ash at all three levels reduced aflatoxins effectively. Additionally, for both diatomaceous earth and Moringa oleifera powder at low and medium levels were effective. These natural products should be used during storage because they reduce aflatoxins and not harmful to humans and animals.

Mastitis is highly prevalent and causes significant economic loss in the Ethiopian dairy industry. An important aspect of monitoring dairy cow health and milk quality is understanding somatic cell count (SCC), composition and milk yield. This study aimed to evaluate milk SCC, composition, yield, and factors associated with the quality traits of Ethiopian dairy farms. A total of 3269 milk samples were collected from 1719 cows across 201 herds. The overall means and standard deviations of loge-transformed somatic cell score (SCS), fat, protein, lactose, and test day milk yield were 12.39 ± 1.61 cells/mL, 2.68 ± 1.71%, 3.17 ± 0.24%, 4.75 ± 0.36%, and 10.45 ± 5.04 litres, respectively. The results showed that 40.7% of the analysed milk samples had the SCC class ≤ 200x103 cells/mL. SCS was negatively correlated with milk yield and composition but moderately positively correlated with electrical conductivity (r = 0.41). Lactation stage, breed, parity, herd size and altitude significantly influenced most milk parameters, except fat content, which was unaffected by parity (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the highest SCS was recorded in this study. An increase in SCS negatively affects both milk yield and composition. Therefore, breed selection and herd management should focus on reducing the SCC to improve milk yield and quality.

Precise estimation of irrigated areas is essential for effective water management, increased production, environmental conservation, and conflict resolution. Nonetheless, discrepancies frequently exist between estimated and actual irrigated areas. To address the data gaps in actual irrigation areas within Ethiopia, we utilized high-resolution remote sensing imagery. However, the accuracy of these images under varying climatic and landscape conditions was not fully substantiated. We conducted a comparative analysis between global irrigation map and local irrigated region maps within two distinct watersheds. Field data was gathered to both train and assess by employing random forest supervised classification algorithm. This algorithm was then applied to create accurate irrigation maps using high-resolution Sentinel-1 data for the Bilate and Gumara watersheds. During the irrigation seasons, maps of irrigated regions were produced using time-series imagery. Additionally, we employed maps indicating lands suitable for surface irrigation and applied post-processing techniques to refine the actual irrigated areas. The resulting accuracy was comparably high for both watersheds, with values of 88% and 87%. The kappa coefficients were 0.74 and 0.73, respectively, indicating a very good level of agreement. However, there were significant discrepancies between the global irrigation map and the local irrigated regions map in terms of spatial distribution and the extent of irrigation. This discrepancy necessitates further analysis of both products to decipher the underlying causes of their differences. We recommend for additional studies encompassing diverse watershed characteristics to improve irrigation area mapping via remote sensing. Our findings also validate the effectiveness of post-processing techniques in remote sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using renewable energy sources, such as palm oil-based biodiesel, in diesel engines has demonstrated considerable potential. However, assessing their effectiveness requires comprehensive performance tests to facilitate economic evaluations, particularly in measuring fuel consumption. This study focuses on the gravimetric method for quantifying fuel consumption using a 40 kg scale. This research aims to develop a cost-effective and user-friendly method of the field and laboratory measurement technique. A load cell was integrated with an HX711 signal amplifier and a data processor to achieve this objective, complemented by an Arduino Uno data acquisition program. The study collected data during idle operating conditions at 700 rpm and New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) simulations in passenger cars fueled by biodiesel blend fuel with a volume ratio of 30% (B30). The recorded data was meticulously analyzed and presented using spreadsheet software. The results of the scale compared to the flow meter revealed fuel consumption rates in idle tests of 3.475 and 3.464 g/s, respectively. The result demonstrated a mere 0.32% difference between this developed method and conventional approaches in the idle test and a 5.8% difference in the NEDC cycle test. These findings reveal the viability and accuracy of the gravimetric technique, offering a cost-effective solution of real-world fuel consumption measurement in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncertainty of in situ radioactivity measurements can be influenced by the depth of sediment sampled by the spectrometer and the vertical distribution of the target radionuclide in the sediments. This study used Particle and Heavy Ion Transport Simulation code (PHITS) to evaluate the effective detection depth of a plastic scintillation fiber system (PSF) for monitoring radiocesium (RCs) in bottom sediments of agricultural ponds in Fukushima and thereafter, used 2015–2019 field measurement data from 47 ponds to evaluate the depth dependence of PSF calibration factors and its influence on measurement uncertainty. Though no significant differences were observed in PSF-derived RCs concentrations by calibration depth, PSF calibration factors and normalized mean square error (NMSE) suggest a potential dependence on the depth of sediment containing 90% of RCs inventory (L90) such that it may be the optimal choice for calibrating PSF. Accordingly, revision of PSF calibration depth from the currently adopted top 10 cm to the top 15–20 cm may be necessary for optimizing PSF measurement uncertainty not only because their calibration factors had the best coefficients of determination and yielded lowest NMSE, but also because they constituted the largest proportion of L90 among the 206 samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural tractor serves as a pivotal power source on the farm. However, the optimal utilization of tractor power has often been hindered by factors such as non-matching implement sizes and suboptimal operating skills, leading to underutilization of power potential across diverse field conditions. In response, a study was initiated to formulate a cost-effective embedded system capable of on-the-go digital display and recording of various field performance parameters, ensuring precision in geographical location tracking. An embedded system, seamlessly incorporating a global positioning system (GPS), was successfully integrated onto an agricultural tractor to facilitate the mapping of tractor-implement performance. The developed embedded system employed Hall effect sensors for measuring theoretical speeds at both tractor rear drive wheels, as well as the actual speed at the tractor front wheel. Additionally, forces at the tractor's three-point linkages were quantified with the assistance of a three-point hitch dynamometer, and tillage depth at the tractor rockshaft was measured using a rotary potentiometer. The obtained data exhibited exemplary results. This comprehensive and integrated system demonstrated the capability to measure, display and record real-time performance parameters, coupled with their precise geographical locations. The system underwent extensive and successful field demonstrations, particularly in the spatial mapping of tractor-implement field performance, utilizing a mounted offset disk harrow and a rigid tine cultivator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the effects of climate variability and human activities on runoff and sediment yield of a watershed in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia since the 1980s. In the study, innovative trend analysis, the Pettitt test, and sequential regime shift detector methods were used to analyze trends and abrupt changes during the period 1981–2020. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool model was then integrated to disaggregate the contributions of climate variability, land-use change, and direct human activities on runoff and sediment yield at the watershed scale. The result indicates that the runoff and sediment yield decreased significantly with a sudden change in 2001. The study found that direct human activities played a dominant role, accounting for 57.9%, and 53.4% of annual runoff and sediment yield reduction, respectively. On the contrary, changes in climate and land use have led to a slight increase in runoff and sediment yield after 2001. The greater impacts of human activities can be attributed to the growth rate of water abstraction, and riverbed sand excavation during the past four decades. The findings of the result could be useful in supporting decision-makers in achieving watershed sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study looked into the quality of groundwater in Hawassa City and its periphery as a baseline survey for the 'Assessment of Feasibility of Managed Aquifer Recharge'. Water quality was assessed using four water quality indices. Weighted arithmetic Water Quality Index (WA-WQI), Synthetic Pollution Index (SPI), and Entropy Weighted Water Quality Index (EWQI) were used for domestic water quality assessment. Whereas, Overall Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQ), was used for irrigation water quality assessment. Accordingly, WA-WQI results showed that 6.25 and 93.75% of the water samples were very poor and poor quality status, respectively, making them unsafe for consumption. However, according to SPI, every water sample was unsuitable for usage as potable water. According to the EWQI model, the water quality status of 22.92, 58.33, and 18.75% of the water samples was average, poor, and extremely poor, respectively. Of the three models used for assessing water quality, SPI is the robust. The primary parameters in both models used to estimate the water quality statuses (68–89%) were F–, K+, BOD5, COD, and HCO3–. The Overall IWQ score indicated fair and moderate water quality levels (6.25 and 93.75%), respectively. Sodicity and toxicity hazard classes shared (47–80%) in determining the irrigation water quality status. This result indicates that the aquifer of the city is being contaminated. This requires enforcing strict standards in septic tank construction. Additionally, increasing groundwater recharge from precipitation sources during the rainy seasons to further dilute the concentration and increase aquifer volume is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango harvesting remains predominantly manual despite technological advances in agriculture. Traditional manual harvesting methods are labour-intensive and often result in mechanical injuries, bruising, and sap-induced infections, leading to reduced fruit quality and market value. This study presents the development of a specialized end effector for robotic mango harvesting. The developed end effector is capable of simultaneously cutting and grasping the mango peduncle, maintaining fruit integrity while minimizing mechanical injuries, bruising, and sap-induced infections. Its compact and modular design enhances maneuverability and operational efficiency, providing a secure grip on mangoes during cutting and transport until release in the conveying unit, ensuring the harvested fruit remains undamaged and market-ready. Initially inspired by handheld tools, the design evolved from using a net bag to finger grippers, and finally, a compact unit with integrated pads, capable of cutting and holding the fruit simultaneously. The design process involved conceptualizing and evaluating three designs, with the most efficient one being fabricated and tested. The end effector operates using a single servo motor for both cutting and grasping the peduncle. In lab trials, it successfully picked 17 mangoes at a rotational speed of 105 rad/s. The developed end effector achieved a conveying efficiency of approximately 96.7% with only 2 out of 60 mangoes falling from it during the lab trials. The performance evaluation demonstrated the end effector's ability to consistently harvest mangoes with minimal failures, validating its practicality and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals and physicochemical parameters of water from the Birim River and tributaries in the Birim River Basin were analysed to assess its suitability for human use and consumption after a one-year ban on ASM activities in the area. 64 water samples were collected from 32 sampling sites along the Birim River and tributaries within the basin during the dry season and the rainy season, in addition to two repeat samples and two blank samples. Six heavy metals and three physicochemical parameters were analysed and compared with World Health Organisation guidelines. Surface water from the Birim River basin was still unsafe for drinking or other domestic purposes even after a one-year ban on ASM activities. Heavy metal concentrations in surface water were: Iron (0.3 to 21.9 mg/L - wet and 0.3 to 19.3 mg/L - dry), arsenic (<0.0005 to 0.0092 mg/L -wet and <0.0005 to 0.0094 mg/L - dry), lead (<0.0005 to 0.0042 mg/L - wet and 0.007- 0.011 mg/L - dry), cadmium (<0.0001 to 0.0001 mg/L - wet and 0.0001- 0.0002 mg/L - dry), mercury (<0.0001 to 0.0004 mg/L - wet and <0.0001 - 0.003 mg/L - dry) and manganese (<0.038 to 0.76 mg/L - wet and 0.022- 0.56 mg/L - dry). The T-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted. Significant changes in pH and conductivity indicate that a discharge or some other source of pollution has entered the aquatic resource, in this case, pollution from ASM activities. This paper provides relevant information for policymakers, environmental experts, and other stakeholders in enhancing water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]