Search

The COVID-19 pandemic affected many aspects of human life including consumer behavior. The main aim of this paper was to identify basic patterns of changes in consumer attitudes towards agri-food products under the influence of the 2020 pandemic and to better understand to what extent and what kind of food market problems appeared for the inhabitants of the Danube microregion. For this purpose, an explorative study was elaborated. Assuming that the experience of COVID-19 affected consumer attitudes and sense of food security, a hybrid survey was conducted in the Danube microregion (Croatia, Serbia and Romania) during 2022. Data collected from a total of 903 respondents were statistically analyzed in SPSS. Descriptive statistics, PCA, ANOVA and t-Test were employed. The main results have shown that although the surveyed population of the Danube microregion during the pandemic in 2020 was generally not afraid of food shortages, food was in most part available for their families and their shopping habits have not changed to a large degree, the experience of the pandemic has raised the level of awareness about some issues related to food and specifically the prices of food products. Also, three different patterns of attitude and behavior towards food and agriculture, which emerged as a result of the experience of the pandemic in 2020, were identified. These patterns also proved to be different for different segments of the population. The findings suggest the need for stronger support for the development of locally affordable food systems with the use of ICT as a coping mechanism in crises.

Increased energy consumption and climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, pose significant risks to global sustainability. Concerns about using agricultural land for fuel production and its competition with food production have made feedstocks like corn (Zea mays) highly controversial. This study explores the potential of alternative feedstocks, such as hemp (Cannabis sativa) and cucurbits (family Cucurbitaceae), for biofuel production amidst environmental concerns linked to fossil fuel usage. Hemp is widely acknowledged as a promising feedstock for sustainable biorefinery due to its agricultural adaptability and its ability to produce oil and carbohydrates. Cucurbits seeds are characterized by a high oil content, which can be utilized in the food industry or for energy production as biofuel. As a byproduct of cucurbits processing, a significant number of seeds often remains, which constitutes waste. By examining hemp and cucurbit byproducts and waste, which are suitable for bioenergy production, this research highlights the promise these alternative feedstocks hold for the biofuel industry. Utilizing these resources presents a viable route to diminish dependence on fossil fuels and transition toward a more environmentally sustainable energy future.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of digital image analysis (DIA) as a substitute for standard analysis (SA) in assessing corn ear traits in agrotechnical field trials. Accurate and timely prediction of corn yield through corn ear traits can lead to precise agricultural management recommendations for the improvement of production. Four replications with 10 plots each were subjected to different fertilization regimes and analyzed using DIA and SA to determine the kernel number per ear (KN), ear length (EL), and ear diameter (ED). For both methods, the results showed that only nitrogen doses had a significant effect on the examined corn ear traits, and the correlation matrix revealed a strong and significant relationship between yield and corn ear traits. The post-hoc test showed no discrepancy in cases between the two methods for KN and EL, with a 6.7% discrepancy for ED. For both methods, a linear plateau was the best fit for KN and EL with increasing nitrogen doses, whereas a quadratic plateau was the best fit for ED. The regression equations for both methods provided similar recommendations regarding nitrogen requirements. The findings suggest that DIA can be used as a substitute for SA of corn ear traits obtained from different fertilization variants and can provide nitrogen fertilization recommendations for optimal corn yields.

In vitro hemp seed germination is crucial for investigating factors impacting production conditions. It is laborious and time-consuming to measure and evaluate the morphological traits of seedlings grown in vitro. One of the most well-known machine vision techniques is image processing, which offers detailed information and more reliability and accuracy than traditional counting and visual determination of seedlings. The study aimed to determine if hypocotyl images obtained with semi-automatic processing through SmartRoot could be replaced with faster, automatic processing. Seedlings were scanned in RGB color profile in 300 dpi, using an open lid flatbed scanner HP Scanjet G4050. The images were processed in ImageJ software.

Klimatske promene značajno utiču na gajene kulture, smanjujući stabilnost prinosa i kvalitet semena. Adaptabilnost suncokreta na promenu klime ima ključnu ulogu u perspektivi gajenja ove kulture u Evropi. Prilagođavenjem besplatne agrotehničke mere kao što je datum setve suncokreta, poljoprivrednici mogu povećati prinose. Cilj istraživanja je da analizira i proceni kako različiti genotipovi reaguju na različite datume setve u uslovima promenjene klime, te da identifikuje najpovoljnije uslove za maksimalne prinose semena, ulja, kvalitet proizvedenog semena i morfološke osobine. Istraživanje je sprovedeno od 2020. do 2022. godine na oglednim poljima Instituta za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo Novi Sad. Ogled se sastojao od tri izolacije u četiri ponavljanja sa šest genotipova, kao simulacija semenske proizvodnje osnovne kategorije semena i setrifikovane kategorije semena I generacije. Svi genotipovi su posejani u četiri različita datuma setve sa razmakom od dve nedelje između datuma. Analizom rezultata može se primetiti da datum setve, genotip i njihova interakcija značajno utiču na variranje ispitivanih osobina. Utvrđeno je da povećanje prinosa semena prati povećanje kvaliteta proizvedenog semena u svim datumima setve. Korelacijama je utvrđeno da, smanjenje padavina u fazi nalivanja semena utiče na smanjenje prinosa semena i ulja. Primećeno je da visoke temperature od nicanja do butonizacije imaju negativan uticaj na prinos semena, ali povećavaju visinu biljke, energiju klijanja i klijavost proizvedenog semena. Visoke temperature tokom cvetanja negativno utiču na energiju klijanja i klijavost proizvedenog semena, ali pozitivno na prečnik glave. Prilagođavanje datuma setve može biti pouzdan alat za odgovor na buduće klimatske promene. Pomeranje optimalnih datuma setve (sredina aprila) na kasniji period (početak ili sredina maja) može smanjiti stresne uslove tokom oplodnje i nalivanja semena, rezultirajući većim prinosima i boljim kvalitetom proizvedenog semena, što je cilj s, Climate change has a significant impact on cultivated crops, reducing yield stability and seed quality. The adaptability of sunflower to climate change plays a key role in the perspective of growing this crop in Europe. By adjusting a free agrotechnical measure such as the sunflower sowing date, farmers can increase yields. The goal of the research is to analyze and evaluate how different genotypes react to different sowing dates in conditions of a changed climate, and to identify the most favorable conditions for maximum yields of seeds, oil, quality of produced seeds and morphological characteristics. The research was conducted from 2020 to 2022 on the experimental fields of Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad. The experiment consisted of three isolations in four replications with six genotypes, as a simulation of seed production of the basic seed category and the certified seed category of the first generation. All genotypes were sown on four different sowing dates with a two-week interval between dates. Analyzing the results, it can be observed that the date of sowing, the genotype and their interaction significantly affect the variation of the tested traits. It was found that the increase in seed yield is accompanied by an increase in the quality of the produced seed on all sowing dates. Through correlations, it was determined that the decrease in precipitation during the seed-filling phase affects the decrease in seed and oil yields. It was observed that high temperatures from germination to budding have a negative effect on seed yield, but increase plant height, germination energy and germination of the seeds produced. High temperatures during flowering have a negative effect on the energy of germination and germination of the seeds produced, but a positive effect on the diameter of the head. Adjusting sowing dates can be a reliable tool to respond to future climate change. Shifting the optimal sowing dates (mid-April) to a later period (early

Cilj ovog rada je bio da se u datim agroekološkim uslovima ispitaju dinamika nakupljanja suve materije u zrnu i visina prinosa u zavisnosti od hibrida kukuruza različite dužine vegetacije. Ogled je postavljen po RCB dizajnu sa 12 hibrida, u četiri ponavljanja, na oglednom polju Rimski Šančevi, Instituta za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo. Praćenje dinamike nakupljanja suve materije u zrnu je vršeno u periodu od svilanja do fiziološke zrelosti, na svaka tri dana, za svaki hibrid. Prikupljeni podaci o dinamici suve materije u zrnu su analizirani u programu SegReg. Na osnovu vremenske analize, kod svih hibrida je nakupljanje suve materije pratilo linearni trend do maksimuma tj. prelomne tačke, od koje se sadržaj suve materije nije menjao. Kod najranijeg hibrida (NS-1) je maksimalni sadržaj suve materije (0.255g) postignut 39 dana nakon svilanja (DNS), dok je kod najkasnijeg hibrida (NS-12) maksimalni sadržaj suve materije iznosio 0.249g i postignut je 42 DNS., The aim of this study was to examine the dynamics of dry matter accumulation in the grains of maize hybrids of different maturity groups and their yield in the provided agroecological conditions. The trial was organised as a RCB design, with 12 hybrids in four replications, and was conducted at the Rimski Šančevi experimental field of Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad (IFVCNS). The progression of dry matter accumulation in the grain was monitored in the period from silking to physiological maturity, at three-day intervals, for each hybrid. Collected data were analyzed in the SegReg program. The dry matter accumulation followed a linear trend until the breaking point (linear plateu regression), from which its content remained stable. The earliest hybrid (NS-1) achieved the maximum dry matter content (0.255g) at 39 days after silking (DAS), while the latest hybrid (NS-12) reached its maximum dry matter content (0.249g) at 42 DAS.

Climate change projections for the 21st century pose great threats to semi-arid regions, impacting seed production and the quality of sunflowers. Crop yields are negatively affected by climate variability, especially in the event of droughts during the crucial growth stages. Understanding the relationships between agrometeorological, genetic, and agronomic factors is crucial for maintaining crop sustainability. Optimal sowing dates are an essential condition for maximizing crop genetic potential, but challenges come from annual weather variations. This study analyzes how sunflower genotypes respond to different sowing dates under climate change and focuses on the conditions for obtaining maximum seed yields and favorable agronomic traits. From 2020 to 2022, the experiment featured six genotypes sown across four different dates at two-week intervals, simulating seed sunflower production. The results obtained by ANOVA indicated that the seed yield and oil yield were significantly affected by the sowing date, the genotype, and their interaction, with coefficients of variation ranging from 7.6% for oil yield to 41.1% for seed yield. Besides seed yield and oil yield, LDA biplot and Discriminant Functions confirmed that seed germination energy also played a significant role in separating genotypes into clusters. A Visual Mixed Model showed that shifting the optimal sowing date (mid-April) to early May allows a reduction in the number of days the plants spend in critical growth stages, thereby escaping stressful conditions during pollination and seed filling. The findings resulted, on average, in increased yields and improved seed quality, which are the primary goals of seed production, but not in increased 1000-seed weight. Notably, high temperatures during the critical sunflower growth stages negatively affected the measured parameters of seed production. The increased precipitation during seed filling boosted the 1000-seed mass and seed yield. Extended flowering reduced

S obzirom na postojanje interakcije između genotipa i spoljašnje sredine, ispitivanje performansi prinosa zrna novostvorenih genotipova kukuruza vrši se na nekoliko lokacija i/ili godina u ogledima sa manjim oglednim parcelama (MESPT). Ovo bi trebalo da obezbedi izbor najboljih genotipova, što je od kritične važnosti za proces oplemenjivanja. Nivo i stabilnost prinosa zrna su najvažnije karakteristike kada je u pitanju oplemenjivanje kukuruza u okviru odgovarajućih grupa zrenja. Vema je važno izabrati eksperimentalne lokacije, sa ciljem da se pokrije raspon zemljišno-klimatskih uslova ciljnog uzgojnog područja. Kako se tokom eksperimenata ne mogu kontrolisati ni zemljišni ni klimatski faktori, kao i zbog niza drugih okolnosti, podaci koje dobijamo u ovim eksperimentima nisu uvek savršeni., Considering the existence of genotype × environment interaction, grain yield performance testing of newly created maize genotypes is performed in several locations and/or years in trials with smaller experimental plots (MESPT). This should ensure the selection of the best genotypes, which is of critical importance for the breeding process. Certainly, the level of grain yield and yield stability are the most important features when it comes to breeding corn within the framework of the appropriate maturation groups. It is important to choose the locations where the experiments will be carried out, with the aim of covering the range of soil and climatic conditions of the target cultivation area. As it is about conducting experiments where neither soil nor climatic factors can be controlled, and due to a number of other circumstances, the data we get in these experiments are not always perfect.

The study, conducted to evaluate the effects of long-term straw management combined with the application of increasing nitrogen rates on the yield of twenty winter wheat varieties, as well as on soil properties, was carried out in a long-term field trial established in 1971. The trial was monitored for twenty growing seasons under rainfed conditions in a typical chernozem zone of the southern part of the Pannonian Plain. The cropping system was a winter wheat-maize-soybean rotation. The ten SN-treatments (combinations of straw management (S) and N-fertilization) were as follows: In the plot (treatment) with straw return (S1), seven variants of nitrogen fertilization (0–180 kg N ha−1) were included, while on the plot without straw return (S0) the variants of N-fertilization were 0, 90 and 150 kg N ha−l. Based on the high relative share in the total sum of squares, variance analysis showed that wheat grain yield (GY) was significantly affected by years, SN-treatments, and their interaction, and they can explain the largest part of the total variance of GY. The results showed that straw return integrated with N fertilization could increase wheat yield to varying degrees over 20 years. On average, for all years, the highest GYs were obtained in the treatment S1 and fertilization with 180 and 150 kg N ha−1. The overall results showed that long-term straw returning significantly increased GY by an average of 8.4 ± 4.5%, with a considerable simultaneous increase in yield stability compared to straw removal. In addition, straw incorporation (SI) significantly increased soil humus, total nitrogen (TN), and soil organic carbon (SOC) contents at a soil depth of 0–30 cm by an average of 4.2, 3.8, and 11.3%, respectively. The results of our study have demonstrated that the long-term practice of straw return, in combination with the application of mineral fertilizers, has the potential to serve as a sustainable soil management strategy that is economically viable and environmenta

In recent years, GI cheese consumption has attracted increasing interest among consumers, due to its beneficial properties for local economies and the surrounding environment. Given the high importance that consumers ascribe to geographical indications, considered one of the most relevant attributes for agro-food consumers, this study aims at detecting the main variables that influence purchasing intention for GI cheese. A total of 806 consumers took part in the study from all four regions of the Republic of Serbia. For this purpose, a binary logistic regression model analysis was performed. The research highlights that tradition and origin, education, and higher knowledge only had a significant effect on consumer attitudes toward GI cheeses.

The sustainable production of agricultural commodities, such as vegetable proteins and oils, is currently facing the challenge of developing new cropping strategies more e fficient in terms of water, nutrients, and land, while being able to increase the supply of domestic feedstocks. Double cropping of camelina (Camelina sativa L.), sown in the autumn, with sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) can be proposed as a sustainable way to produce in the same growing season and land, multiple feedstocks for both energy, feed and food uses. A preliminary trial was conducted in Novi Sad (Serbia) during the 2018/19 growing season to test: yield performance, oil content and 1000 seed mass of two early sunflower hybrids (NS Dukat and NS H 7749) sown just after the harvest of two camelina varieties (NS Slatka and NS Zlatka which average yield was 920 kg/ha). Sunflower hybrids were also grown in the monocropping system as control. Both sunflower hybrids had higher seed yields in the monocropping system (+24%), but when considering the total yield of the two crops in the double cropping seed yield resulted slightly higher (+1-3%) than that of sunflower in the monocropping system. Although the average oil content and oil yield of sunflower was 6% and 27% higher in the monocropping system, respectively, the high nutritional value of camelina’s oil, which is rich in omega-3, should be also carefully evaluated.

The sustainable production of agricultural commodities, such as vegetable proteins and oils, is currently facing the challenge of developing new cropping strategies more e fficient in terms of water, nutrients, and land, while being able to increase the supply of domestic feedstocks. Double cropping of camelina (Camelina sativa L.), sown in the autumn, with sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) can be proposed as a sustainable way to produce in the same growing season and land, multiple feedstocks for both energy, feed and food uses. A preliminary trial was conducted in Novi Sad (Serbia) during the 2018/19 growing season to test: yield performance, oil content and 1000 seed mass of two early sunflower hybrids (NS Dukat and NS H 7749) sown just after the harvest of two camelina varieties (NS Slatka and NS Zlatka which average yield was 920 kg/ha). Sunflower hybrids were also grown in the monocropping system as control. Both sunflower hybrids had higher seed yields in the monocropping system (+24%), but when considering the total yield of the two crops in the double cropping seed yield resulted slightly higher (+1-3%) than that of sunflower in the monocropping system. Although the average oil content and oil yield of sunflower was 6% and 27% higher in the monocropping system, respectively, the high nutritional value of camelina’s oil, which is rich in omega-3, should be also carefully evaluated.