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In order to ensure reliable inferences in scientific experiments, sampling criteria should be determined and defined during the experimental design phase. Determining plot and sample sizes without scientific criteria could result in resource and labor inefficiencies with no gain in experimental precision. In this work we estimate plot and sample sizes for biometric variable analyses in lettuce seedlings. The seedlings were sown in four expanded polystyrene foam transplant trays with 128 and 200 cells. Foliar area, stem diameter, shoot height, root length, root volume, root area, fresh and dry shoot and root masses. The methods described by Paranaiba (PARANAIBA et al., 2009) and Cochran (COCHRAN, 1977) were used for plot size and sample size estimations, respectively. Sample size varied according to the variables analysed and transplant tray cell number. Root variables required the highest number of samples. For a 10% margin of error, 12 seedlings were necessary for evaluations in a 128 cell tray, while 11 seedlings were required for analysis in 200 cell trays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radioactive fission product 90Sr has a sufficient half-life (28.8 years) to be detected long after its appearance in the environment. After its uptake into the soil-edible plant system, it enters the food chain and represents a potential source of contamination that threatens human health. Due to these facts, tracking the distribution of the artificial radionuclide 90Sr in the soil–edible plant system is a subject of intense research. The tracking of the 90Sr radionuclide distribution in the soil profile, as well as in the crops on the long-term experimental fields was carried out using beta radiation spectrometry. The radiochemical analytical method was used to analyze the 90Sr content in cultivated soil and crops. The conducted study focused on the experimental substantiation of the developed model for predicting the behavior of 90Sr in the cultivated soil–crop system. The results of using the applied radioecological model for the transfer of 90Sr from the soil to the above-ground part of crops showed a relatively good agreement with the experimentally determined values of the soil–crop transfer factor, which indicates that the used model can be successfully applied for the prediction of the behavior of 90Sr in the soil–soil solution–crop system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar can significantly alter soil properties and therefore can play an important role in increasing the resilience of agricultural systems to salt conditions. To match biochar to salt-affected soil constraints and application needs, a thorough understanding of the impact of biochar, soil properties and experimental conditions on crop productivity and soil salinity is necessary. This meta-analysis (MA) of the available literature for the first time quantitatively assessed the effect of not only biochar applied to salt-affected soils but also that of different salt-affected soil properties on crop productivity and soil salinity. The results showed that biochar was most effective at improving crop productivity in salt-affected soils, with an application rate ranging from 40–50 t/ha, a C/N ratio ranging from 40–60, a pyrolysis temperature ranging from 450–550 °C and a pH ranging from 7–8. Biochar with an EC of < 2 mS/cm, an application rate of 20–30 t/ha, a C/N ratio of > 80 t/ha or a pyrolysis temperature of < 450 °C reduced the soil salinity. Regardless of climatic and soil conditions, biochar applied to salt-affected soils increased crop productivity under different climatic conditions. Biochar increased soil salinity under different temperature and soil pH conditions and decreased soil salinity in salt-affected soils treated with all types of salts. Biochar was most effective at improving crop productivity and soil salinity in sulfate-dominated saline soils. Regardless of the planting and management practices, biochar increased crop productivity in salt-affected soils. The combined application of biochar and inorganic fertilizer significantly increased crop productivity and kept soil salinity unchanged. This meta-analysis provides the first quantitative review of the effect of biochar on crop productivity and soil salinity in salt-affected soils, which is critical for developing engineered biochar to restore salt-affected soils and promote food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An optimization method of fracturing fluid volume strength was introduced taking well X-1 in Biyang Sag of Nanxiang Basin as an example. The characteristic curves of capillary pressure and relative permeability were obtained from history matching between forced imbibition experimental data and core-scale reservoir simulation results and taken into a large scale reservoir model to mimic the forced imbibition behavior during the well shut-in period after fracturing. The optimization of the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) fracturing fluid volume strength should meet the requirements of estimated ultimate recovery (EUR), increased oil recovery by forced imbibition and enhancement of formation pressure and the fluid volume strength of fracturing fluid should be controlled around a critical value to avoid either insufficiency of imbibition displacement caused by insufficient fluid amount or increase of costs and potential formation damage caused by excessive fluid amount. Reservoir simulation results showed that SRV fracturing fluid volume strength positively correlated with single-well EUR and an optimal fluid volume strength existed, above which the single-well EUR increase rate kept decreasing. An optimized increase of SRV fracturing fluid volume and shut-in time would effectively increase the formation pressure and enhance well production. Field test results of well X-1 proved the practicality of established optimization method of SRV fracturing fluid volume strength on significant enhancement of shale oil well production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is the main grain crop in our country, and the traditional wheat yield estimation method is time-consuming and laborious. By estimating wheat yield efficiently, quickly and non-destructively, agricultural producers can quickly obtain information about wheat yield, manage wheat fields more scientifically and accurately, and ensure national food security. Taking the Xinxiang Experimental Base of the Crop Science Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences as an example, hyperspectral data for the critical growth stages of wheat were pre-processed. A total of 27 vegetation indices were calculated from the experimental plots. These indices were then subjected to correlation analysis with measured wheat yield. Vegetation indices with Pearson correlation coefficients greater than 0.5 were selected. Five methods, including multiple linear regression, stepwise regression, principal component regression, neural networks and random forests, were used to construct wheat yield estimation models. Among the methods used, multiple linear regression, stepwise regression and the models developed using principal component analysis showed a lower modelling accuracy and validation precision. However, the neural network and random forest methods both achieved a modelling accuracy R2 greater than 0.6, with validation accuracy R2 values of 0.729 and 0.946, respectively. In addition, the random forest method had a lower cross-validation RMSE value, with values of 869.8 kg/hm−2, indicating a higher model accuracy. In summary, the random forest method provided the optimal estimation for wheat yield, enabling the timely and accurate pre-harvest wheat yield prediction, which has significant value for precision agriculture management and decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk assessment relies on cost–benefit analysis by prey species in relation to predator behavior. The lunar cycle can have strong influences on the way that predator and prey species behave in their environment as light levels can influence activity patterns. By examining how lunar phase influences behavior, we may be able to better predict instances of human–wildlife conflict. As part of the Elephants and Sustainable Agriculture in Kenya project, over 5 years of study have been dedicated to mitigating human–elephant conflict in the Kasigau Wildlife Corridor in southern Kenya, focusing on the construction of deterrent fences and the collection of environmental data in and bordering the Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary. Elephant presence around crop fields was hypothesized to have a negative relationship with lunar light levels because of an increase in perceived risk from typically greater human activity with moonlight, and a positive relationship with increased darkness during the waning moon phases. The lunar phase data were compared to elephant presence within 12 m of experimental crop fields along the boundary of their wild habitat and human agricultural land to provide insight for potential crop raiding events. Elephants were present significantly less during the full and gibbous moon phases when compared to the new moon phase, and significantly more during the new and waning moon phases. Our findings are being shared with the farmers living in the KWC and may be useful to others living in high HEC areas by providing a form of early warning system that also may have broader applications in the mitigation of other human–wildlife interactions. HIGHLIGHTS Dynamic landscape of fear provides novel insight on elephant behavior near agricultural lands with applications for conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to estimate genetic parameters and select sorghum lines for forage purposes based on agronomic and chemical traits. A total of 100 inbred lines, comprising the biomass/bmr, biomass, dual purpose (sweet/forage), and forage types, were evaluated in the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 crop years. We analyzed the data using a linear mixed model approach. Genetic variance, line mean-based heritability, selection accuracy, genetic correlation between traits and crops and the coefficient of experimental variation were estimated. The breeding values of the lines were predicted, and the factor analysis and genotype-ideotype distance index based on BLUP (FAI-BLUP) were applied for multi-trait selection. Biomass production and cell wall composition traits were measured. There was genetic variation among the lines, with moderate to high heritability. The lines selected by the FAI-BLUP index resulted in significant genetic gains expected with selection for all traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the convergence confinement theory, it is an effective measure to control the large deformation of high ground stress in fractured soft rock tunnels by using yielding support. The yielding support can be classified as either radial or circumferential yielding support. Circumferential yielding support is achieved by transforming radial displacement into circumferential tangential closure without compromising the support capacity of the primary lining support structure. Based on this, and inspired by the design principle of dampers, a yielding support structure system with spring damping elements as its core was developed, based on the connection characteristics of steel arches in highway tunnel, which can provide increasing support resistance in the yielding deformation section. Then the mechanical properties of spring damping elements were obtained through indoor axial pressure and flexural tests. In addition, according to these results with numerical calculations, the yielding support structure system with embedded spring damping elements can reduce the internal force of the support structure by approximately 10% and increase the area of the plastic zone of the surrounding rock by 11.23%, which can fully utilize the self-bearing capacity of surrounding rock and verify the effectiveness of circumferential yielding support. Finally, the spring damping support structure system was designed with reference to the construction process of the tunnel excavated by drilling and blasting method, and the transformation of the spring damping element to spring damping support structure was achieved. Based on field test results, surrounding ground pressure for the yielding support optimization scheme was reduced by 40% and more evenly distributed, resulting in the successful application and a reduction in the construction cost of large deformation tunnels in soft rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study's main aim was to evaluate the effects of complex mineral fertilizers on the complex properties of heavy loam soils in the grey forests of Russia in terms of applying individual soil nutrition components from experiments with fodder beets. This study employed a rigorous and systematic approach to accomplish the defined goal. Specifically, the research was conducted within a seven-field crop rotation system, with fodder beets serving as the primary experimental crop. In addition, a model experiment resembling a vegetation trial was undertaken, incorporating seven distinct schemes involving various types of fertilizers. This design facilitated the evaluation of the effectiveness of each fertilizer type. The study results demonstrate that complex fertilizers impact the soil's chemical and biophysical parameters. Soil acidity decreases through the use of complex, high-nitrogen fertilizers. Major chemical nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) in plant biomass and soil also have a high degree of transition. It is explained by the effects of combining elements on the destruction intensity of the crystalline lattice in the basic structures of potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. There is also evidence that complex fertilizers can improve humus quality and replenish its reserves. All the aforementioned impacts of complex fertilizers on the crop contribute to the high productivity and yield of forage beet. The results of the study may help optimize the fertilization process, improve the quality and quantity of agricultural products, as well as increase soil fertility, and reduce the negative impact of agrochemicals on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising adoption of agricultural technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) or "smart farming" aims to boost crop production in terms of both quantity and quality. This study compares the benefits of a smart farm employing an IoT-based hydroponic system with those of a conventional hydroponic farm, using Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis L.) as the experimental crop. Our primary objective was to automate environmental monitoring, achieving pH level and electrical conductivity (EC) maintenance through smartphone or computer interfaces for nutrient and acid–base solution adjustments. Additionally, we evaluated plant growth and crop quality, finding superior results with the smart hydroponic system. On average, there were substantial increases in various parameters, including total fresh weight (27.14%), total dry weight (48.90%), plant height (11.14%), stem diameter (32.89%), leaf area (94.30%), leaf width (32.36%), leaf length (38.12%), and chlorophyll content (22.73%). Nitrate accumulation in the edible parts of Chinese cabbage remained within safe limits for both systems, reflecting careful nutrient management. These findings highlight the potential of IoT-based technology in enhancing productivity and quality in hydroponic farming, marking a significant step towards revolutionizing traditional agricultural practices for more efficient crop production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of bioinoculants once released into the field remains largely unexplored; thus, more information is required about their survival and interactions after root colonization. Therefore, specific primers were used to perform a long-term tracking to elucidate the effect of Hartmannibacter diazotrophicus on wheat and barley production at two experimental organic agriculture field stations. Three factors were evaluated: organic fertilizer application (with and without), row spacing (15 and 50 cm), and bacterial inoculation (H. diazotrophicus and control without bacteria). Hartmannibacter diazotrophicus was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction on the roots (up to 5 × 105 copies g−1 dry weight) until advanced developmental stages under field conditions during two seasons, and mostly in one farm. Correlation analysis showed a significant effect of H. diazotrophicus copy numbers on the yield parameters straw yield (increase of 453 kg ha−1 in wheat compared to the mean) and crude grain protein concentration (increase of 0.30% in wheat and 0.80% in barley compared to the mean). Our findings showed an apparently constant presence of H. diazotrophicus on both wheat and barley roots until 273 and 119 days after seeding, respectively, and its addition and concentration in the roots are associated with higher yields in one crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the concept of agroecology and the importance of integrating different knowledge systems to achieve sustainable nutrient management and climate resilience in agriculture. It emphasizes the value of traditional ecological knowledge and farmer knowledge, alongside Western scientific research, in understanding and managing agroecosystems. The article advocates for collaborative approaches and the inclusion of diverse perspectives to develop effective agroecological practices. It also discusses the potential benefits of ecological approaches to nutrient management, such as enhancing internal nutrient cycling processes and increasing agroecosystem resilience. The article concludes by highlighting the need for an integrated and participatory approach to researching and understanding agroecosystems, which recognizes and respects the contributions of traditional knowledge and Indigenous practices. [Extracted from the article]

The current study investigates the performance of various sampling designs in providing accurate estimates for crucial maize yield traits (intended for silage) including plant height, fresh/dry/ear weight, number of maize ears per plant, and total ear weight per plant, using spatial maize data. The experiment took place in an experimental field area at Aristotle University (AUTH) farm during the 2016 growing season. Nine sampling designs were statistically analyzed and compared with spatial data from an Italian maize hybrid (AGN720) to identify the most suitable and effective sampling design for dependable maize yield estimates. The study's results indicate that, among the different sampling techniques, Stratified Random Sampling is the most effective and reliable method for obtaining accurate maize yield estimates. This new approach not only provides precise estimates but also requires fewer measurements, making it suitable for experiments where not all plants have emerged. These findings suggest that Stratified Random Sampling can be employed effectively as an alternative to harvesting the entire plot for effectively estimating maize crop traits in experimental plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special issue of the journal Foods that focuses on pesticide residue monitoring and risk assessment in food. The articles included in this special issue discuss various methods and technologies for detecting and quantifying pesticide residues in different types of food. The studies also assess the health risks associated with pesticide residues in these foods. The findings suggest that while some pesticide residues may be present in food, the overall health risks are low. However, further research is needed to fully understand the dietary risks and ensure the safe use of pesticide-containing products. The article discusses the detection and risk assessment of pesticide residues in food, including the presence of multiple pesticide residues in samples and the development of a quantitative prediction model for pesticide degradation. The authors emphasize the need for refinement of detection methods and the use of multi-methodology and integrated risk assessment approaches. [Extracted from the article]

The ecotoxicological hazard assessment of pesticide use on crops was performed. The study was conducted in 2021-2023 at the experimental field of the Skvyra Research Farm of the Institute of Agroecology and Environmental Management of National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, located in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine. The influence of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides on the formation of environmental hazards in crop agrocenoses was studied: experiment (1) - peas, winter wheat, buckwheat; experiment (2) - winter wheat, buckwheat, oats. The ecological risk was assessed taking into account the ecotoxic properties of the chemical active ingredients of pesticides. It was found that the main parameters characterizing the occurrence of environmental risks are: (i) the pesticide load, i.e. the amount of toxicant applied per unit of sown area; (ii) the ecotoxicity of the pesticide (LD50), which is established by hygienic standards; (iii) the persistence of the pesticide in the soil, namely, its half-life (DT50), etc. The calculations proved that the pesticides used had a low environmental risk of impact on agrocenoses. This is evidenced by the ecotoxicity index (E). The total pesticide load (ΣE) on the agrocenosis of each crop during the three years of the study (2021-2023) was calculated. It was found that in experiment (1) - ΣExperiment 1 = 0.23 conventional units (c.u.); in experiment (2) - ΣEexperiment 2 = 0.04 c.u. The results obtained indicate an insignificant environmental risk of pesticide use for experimental plots of crops of the studied farm. However, prolonged use of pesticides certainly leads to the concentration of their persistent residues in the soil. This can lead to contamination of crop products and environmental. The cereals (buckwheat and oats) grown on the farm are intended for dietary consumption. To confirm the reliability of the hypothesis of the safety of the obtained grain and cereal products, it is advisable to further study their quality in terms of pesticide residues. It is shown that this methodology can be used to assess the risk of pesticide contamination of an agroecosystem. The ecotoxicity criterion (E) can be considered as a management tool for reducing environmental risks in agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the demonization and weaponization of conventional agriculture in recent years, as well as the promotion of radical agricultural transformation. It emphasizes the need for improvements in current agricultural practices through science-based technologies, such as improved crop varieties, soil management strategies, and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The article also examines two claims that have been used to support radical agricultural transformation: the loss of plant genetic diversity and the contribution of smallholder farmers to global food production. It questions the validity of these claims and highlights the potential for misleading policy decisions based on questionable estimates. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of evidence-led policies for sustainable food production. [Extracted from the article]

The demand for soybeans as one of cereal commodities increases every year, however, to meet the production and demand level is still challenging in Indonesia. One of the causes of low soybean production is stress during cultivation, lack of nutrients, or poor quality of soybean seeds. One solution is to increase seed protection by coating the seeds with an environmentally friendly biological seed coating. This study aims to obtain the best biological seed coating for increasing soybean seed viability, vigor, and yield. The research was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture Experimental Station of Universitas Padjadjaran, Jatinangor from August to November 2021. Two sets of experimental design were employed in this study, a Completely Randomized Design for the viability and vigor parameters in laboratory, and a Randomized Block Design with four replications for evaluation of the yield components in the field. The experiment was carried out with a combination of soybean cultivar and biological seed coating. The cultivars used in this study were Anjasmoro cv. (yellow) and Detam-4 cv. (black) and the biological seed coatings were B. subtilis, Trichoderma sp., and Rhizobium sp. Post-hoc test after F-test used Least Significance Different (LSD) with a significant level of 5%. The results showed that the application of the three biological seed coatings was not significantly affect seed physiological traits. However, the seed coating treatments increased the number of seeds per plant and seed weight per plant in yellow soybeans. Meanwhile, the application of B. subtilis and Rhizobium sp. in black soybeans increased the number of seeds per plant and the weight of seeds per plant. The best biological seed coating in this experiment was B. subtilis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the latest environmentally friendly methods in soybean production technology is the pulsed electromagnetic field of low frequencies (PEMP). The paper presents the results of the influence of electromagnetic stimulation of soybean seeds on grain yield, protein and oil yield, depending on different agroclimatic conditions, exposure time and frequency. In the 2012-2017 research period, the soybean cv. Valjevka was used in the Institute of Field and Vegetable Agriculture experimental field, Novi Sad, Serbia. Immediately before sowing, the seeds were subjected to PEMP treatment, with a pulse generator and a tape applicator, in the following variants: electromagnetic field frequencies of 16, 24 and 30 Hz, and exposure time of 0, 30 and 60 min. The most successful variant of seed stimulation for all three examined parameters was at 16 Hz and 30 min, where the research results show that this measure can increase the examined parameters by more than 10%. The average yield of grain for all years of research with seed stimulation was 4.85% (3 338 kg/ha) compared to the control (3 203 kg/ha). The average grain protein yield in the treatments with PEMP was 1 315 kg/ha, which was 4.26% higher compared to the variant without PEMP (1 260 kg/ha), and the treatment was 4% higher in the average oil yield, 703 kg/ha compared to the control 676 kg/ha. Also, the analysis of the mutual dependence of the indicators is in a positive correlation, which is essential for plant breeding and the development of new technologies, which have economic justification, are safe for use and have a positive impact on adverse effects such as drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought and climate change have decreased water availability for agriculture, especially in the desert of southwestern USA. Efficiency enhancements in irrigation management aimed at conserving water are key to adjust to limits in water supply, improve profitability and sustainability of alfalfa production in arid and semiarid areas. This study intended to conduct a field-scale analysis to develop yield and ET estimation tools for the effective use of irrigation water in a desert alfalfa production system. Extensive data collection and trials were carried out over three years in nine fully irrigated commercial alfalfa fields in the low deserts of California. The seasonal crop water consumption measured using the residual of energy balance method varied from 1381 mm to 1596 mm across the experimental sites and crop seasons. Variable seasonal dry mater (DM) yields ranged from 23.01 Mg ha−1 to 29.90 Mg ha−1. The results indicated that the first five cuttings each year were the most productive cuttings with a mean DM value ranged between 3.29 (cut 1) and 4.21 (cut 4) Mg ha−1 but declined in later cuttings. An average annual water productivity (WP) value of 17.0 kg ha−1 mm−1 was determined across the sites varying from 15.5 to 18.9 kg ha−1 mm−1. The findings suggested that one may lose up to 1.44 Mg ha−1 alfalfa yields with moderate summer deficit irrigation strategies, using 40% less water applied than full irrigation practices over the summer period of July–September. A more severe summer water deficit, with no irrigation event over the summer period of July–September may result in a potential water savings of 0.234–0.246 (ha·m) ha−1 and 19–21% seasonal yield losses in the desert environment. This study describes the seasonal yield pattern, the crop water use-production function, and the crop coefficient values for various harvest cycles over the crop season. These tools may assist farmers to quantify water savings and estimate yield losses for more accurate and effective irrigation management strategies to meet water conservation objectives and for the resiliency of alfalfa production in the desert region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review of the Dark Emu debate we start out by summarising Bruce Pascoe's original work and Peter Sutton and Keryn Walshe's critique. However, the majority of this contribution is to place this Australian-focussed debate into broader conceptual, methodological and evidential contexts generally associated with the investigation of early agriculture in other parts of the world. If we are to apply the term "agriculture" to Aboriginal plant management practices, then this requires a global, rather than a continental-centric comparative perspective. We argue debates regarding the character of plant exploitation practices on the Australian mainland, including whether they included forms of agriculture or experimental horticulture, have been hindered by a lack of terminological clarity, the absence of a methodological framework to assess empirically verifiable evidence, and - even more problematically - a lack of relevant data on the putative plants and practices involved. Here, terminology is clarified and a bottom-up, practice-based method is advocated for the assessment of recent (using oral, visual and written histories) and ancient (using archaeological, archaeobotanical and palaeoecological evidence) forms of food plant exploitation in Australia. The terminology and methodological framework are heuristically applied to three scenarios: (1) ethnographic and historical records for the exploitation of underground storage organs (USOs) on the Australian mainland; (2) historical documentation regarding the botany, potential human roles in dispersal, and Aboriginal exploitation of banana (Musa spp.), taro (Colocasia esculenta) and greater yam (Dioscorea alata) in northern Australia and (3) archaeobotanical evidence for the exploitation of USOs and other plants from The Top End. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract scientists are concerned about the utilizing of biostimulants-based amino acids in plant feeding and mitigating negative effects of water stress. As a result, two-year field experiments were conducted at Faculty of Agriculture's experimental station at Cairo University to study the effectiveness of liquid yeast waste (CMS) and Cargo amino acids (AAs) on the agro-physiological features of broccoli plants with different irrigation frequencies (every 5, 10, and 15 days). Compared with control plants, the foliar application of AAs and CMS significantly increased plant height, photosynthesis pigments, head weight, head diameter, head height, plant yield, and quality at different irrigation frequencies. Likewise, both treatments (CMS and AAs) significantly improved ascorbic acids by 16.65% and 15.95% and increased total phenol content by 24.10% and 36.60%, respectively, compared to control plants. Accordingly, the highest productivity was achieved for broccoli grown under irrigation every five days with the CMS bio-stimulant, where it was 3111.17 kg ha-1, while the lowest productivity was achieved for the control treatment in which no biostimulants were added and irrigation frequency every 15 days, and the productivity was 1376.22 kg ha-1. Plants irrigated every 15 days produced the highest levels of abscisic acid (ABA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), followed by plants irrigated every 10 days and every 5 days. Exogenous application of amino acids bio-stimulants could be suggested to improve vegetative growth, biochemical characteristics, productivity, and nutritional value as well as to mitigate negative effects of water scarcity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most widely produced grain legume for human consumption in the world is the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). This plant is native to the Americas, where it plays an important role in the daily diet. The environment where beans are grown is varied, from tropical zones to high mountains, with different growth habits and production systems, from highly technical to traditional. Therefore, efforts in bean crop modeling should start from identifying the type of bean and the target system. Beans are very sensitive to abiotic stress, a fact that has encouraged the modeling of their possible response under climate change scenarios. For this, a literature review was carried out to identify modeling exercises carried out in Latin America, which include growth studies (node production rates and leaf area), phenology and yield. The models used in these studies include EcoCrop, CROPGRO-DRYBEAN (implemented on the DSSAT platform), and in one case of each, Maxent and CLIMEX. Four studies are described in detail: in the two countries with the highest production in the world (Brazil and Mexico), and in Central America as a region highly vulnerable to climate change. Studies agree that bean productivity could suffer serious negative effects in the course of the 21st century because of climate change. Finally, a recent exercise to collect historical data from bean trials in Latin America is reported to feed future modeling efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative investigation of the utilization characteristics of precipitation resources and the production capacity of the intercropping production system under the soybean maize intercropping mode in northern China is of great significance for improving the resource utilization rate of dryland agriculture and regional sustainable development. This study adopted a completely randomized block design, and six planting modes were set up: soybean monoculture, maize monoculture, and four soybean maize intercropping modes. Plant height and grain yield data were observed, and precipitation resource utilization efficiency was calculated. Based on the FAO-56 recommended crop coefficients, the crop coefficients were corrected according to the actual growth of crops in the experimental area; combined with meteorological data, the crop water demand under different planting modes was estimated based on the Penman-Monteith principle. The results showed that crops' daily growth water demand under different planting modes was generally deficient in water in the early and middle stages of growth, and surplus in the later stages. Compared with the monoculture mode, there were significant differences in precipitation resource utilization efficiency under different intercropping modes (P < 0.05), with soybeans reduced by 67.50% ~ 89.56%, and maize reduced by 43.99% ~ 61.05%. Based on the semi-humid and semi-arid area of the eastern Loess Plateau, an appropriate irrigation system needs to be designated for soybean and maize intercropping systems in the early and middle stages of crop growth. Under a certain proportion of water resource supply, different modes have different water resource utilization efficiency and final production capacity for the intercropping system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant loss occasionally occurs in field experiments with coffee crops in experimental plots. In breeding programs, such loss can be harmful, especially when the corresponding statistical analyses are not consistent with the experimentally generated data. Herein, we analyzed productivity data to determine whether the compensatory effect occurs in coffee crops, evaluated the need to correct experimental failures, and identified the best stand correction method. We used productivity data from six harvests of eleven experiments with Coffea arabica plants. The experiments were implemented in a randomized block design, with four replications and six plants per plot. The following stand correction methods were evaluated: rule of three; Zuber; Vencovsky and Cruz covariance of the average or ideal stands; and Cruz, and the data were compared without correction adjustments. The most adequate correction methods were selected based on genetic variance, selective accuracy, and progeny ordering. The compensatory effect was evident from the analyzed data, with stand correction being evidenced as beneficial in progeny competition experiments. The best results were obtained for the covariance methods using average or ideal stands, followed by the method proposed by Cruz. The rule of three and Zuber method exhibited unsatisfactory results and are not recommended for stand correction in progeny competition experiments with coffee crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted in the experimental field of the Crop Sciences Department at the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences - University of Baghdad during fall seasons of 2021 and 2022. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of nano and metallic boron foliar nutrition on yield, components, water use efficiency, and water consumption under water stress for sweet corn (Zea mays L.). Randomized Complete Block Design was used within split -plot arrangement with three replicates, where the main plots included three levels of water stress (irrigation at 40, 60, and 80% of available water) coded as W1, W2, and W3, respectively. The nano and metallic boron spray concentrations represented 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg L-1 coded as N1, N2, M1, and M2, respectively. Results showed that nano and metallic boron concentrations significantly affected all the studied traits. The concentration of 5 mg L -1 of nano boron N1 significantly exceeded other concentrations under study in increasing ear length, number of rows per ear, number of grains per row, and weight of 500 grains, which positively reflected on improving grain yield of 5.93 and 5.96 t ha-1 . The interaction between water stress treatments and nano and metallic boron concentrations was significant for all the studied traits except for ear length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important direction of modern agrotechnologies of crop production is the greening of intensive technologies and energy conservation, this contributes to the use of biological preparations that can increase yields, improve grain quality, increase profitability by saving mineral fertilizers and protective equipment. Therefore, field experiment was conducted during 2019-2021 in the dry-steppe zone of chestnut soils of the Volgograd region. The scheme of the experiment included four sites with late-autumn; early-spring; late-spring application dates and control, without the use of nitrogen fertilizers. All records and surveys were carried out according to the methodology of the state variety testing of agricultural crops: calculation of germination, determination of tillering coefficient, determination of the weight of aboveground biomass of plants, the density of productive stems. As a result of studying the issue conducted in various weather conditions of the test years, it was established that the period of application of nitrogen fertilizers had a significant impact on the growth, development and yield of experimental crops. The highest yield indicators were recorded at the time of early spring application of nitrogen fertilizers @ 38.0, 30.8 and 40.2 q/ha in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. With the delay in the application of nitrogen fertilizers in the spring, the yield decreased by 8-13% during the observation period, and 32.94 28.2 and 35.8 q/ha in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The introduction of nitrogen fertilizers in autumn, as close as possible to the end of the growing season, led to a decrease in yield by only 2-4% and amounted to 36.5, 29.8 and 39.5 q/ha in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until recently, mouldboard ploughing was used as the main tillage in almost the entire territory of Ukraine and Russia. However, mouldboard technologies contribute to the formation of a "plough pan", which contributes to additional soil compaction. The intensity of agricultural production exacerbated the problem of soil compaction by machine and tractor units. The over-consolidation of soil results in stunted plant root growth, lack of oxygen, and water and nutrient restrictions. Soil compaction can be reduced by deep local chiselling. The aim of the study was to determine the density of the soil at different depths during continuous traditional cultivation (reverse ploughing). The density of the soil was evaluated by resistance to penetration into the soil in a vegetable-forage crop rotation on an experimental field with continuous traditional tillage. The measurement of penetration resistance was carried out using an automatic electronic hardness tester "DATAFIELD". The boundaries of the experimental field were determined, a computer map of the experimental field was compiled with automatic "grid" of plot sizes, two-dimensional mapping was carried out, and the sequence and place of measurements were developed. As a result, the level of soil compaction at different penetration depths and resistance to root growth was determined. It has been established that with constant traditional reverse tillage, the soil at a depth of more than 10 cm is sufficiently compacted. At a depth of 15 cm, a strong compaction of the soil is observed, which indicates its physical and hydrological degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought severely damages crop production, even under conditions so mild that the leaves show no signs of wilting. However, it is unclear how field-grown plants respond to mild drought. Here, we show through six years of field trials that ridges are a useful experimental tool to mimic mild drought stress in the field. Mild drought reduces inorganic phosphate levels in the leaves to activate the phosphate starvation response (PSR) in soybean plants in the field. Using Arabidopsis thaliana and its mutant plants grown in pots under controlled environments, we demonstrate that PSR occurs before abscisic acid response under progressive mild drought and that PSR plays a crucial role in plant growth under mild drought. Our observations in the field and laboratory using model crop and experimental plants provide insight into the molecular response to mild drought in field-grown plants and the relationship between nutrition and drought stress response. Even mild drought impacts crop production significantly. Here, the authors develop an experimental mild drought system induced by ridges in the field and find that phosphate starvation response occurs before ABA response in early mild drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate whether, in the context of a higher incidence of Ustilago maydis and Fusarium spp. at optimal and delayed harvest times, a higher incidence of mycotoxin contamination in maize grains could be expected. The field experiment was carried out at the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry experimental fields over three consecutive years (2020–2022). Two maize hybrids (Duxxbury and Lapriora) with different FAO numbers were used. The experimental design in the field was a randomized complete block design. Harvesting took place at three different times: first at physiological maturity, and then 10 (±2) and 20 (±2) days after the first harvest. Each hybrid had four repetitions at different harvest times. The U. maydis infection was only detected in 2021 and after the first harvest cobs were further divided into four different groups with four repetitions: healthy cobs, cobs visually infected with Fusarium spp., cobs visually infected with common smut, and cobs visually infected with both pathogens. No U. maydis-damaged maize cobs were found in 2020 and 2022. The levels of Fusarium microscopic fungi in maize grains were also from 4 to 16 times higher in 2021 than in 2020 and 2022. Harvest delays in 2020 led to a significant deoxynivalenol concentration increase in the Duxxbury hybrid and an HT-2 concentration increase in the Lapriora hybrid. In 2021, deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, and HT-2 concentrations significantly rose in both hybrids, but the T-2 concentration significantly increased only in the Lapriora hybrid. Deoxynivalenol concentrations were, respectively, 110 and 14.6 times higher than in cobs only infected with Fusarium spp. or U. maydis. Concentrations of 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol were, respectively, 60, 67, and 43 times higher than in asymptomatic cobs and cobs only infected with Fusarium spp. or U. maydis. Cobs contaminated with both pathogens also had higher concentrations of 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol. T-2 and HT-2 were detected in maize grains harvested from cobs infected only with Fusarium spp. The presence of U. maydis and Fusarium fungi in maize cobs, along with harvest delays, led to significant increases in mycotoxin concentrations, highlighting the importance of timely harvesting and pathogen management to mitigate mycotoxin contamination in maize grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop characterization is considered a prerequisite to devising effective strategies for ensuring successful implementation of sustainable agricultural management strategies. As such, remote-sensing technology has opened an exciting horizon for crop characterization at reasonable spatial, spectral, and temporal scales. However, the presence of shadows on croplands tends to distort radiometric properties of the crops, subsequently limiting the retrieval of crop-related information. This study proposes a simple and reliable approach for radiometrically compensating crops under total occlusion using brightness-based compensation and thresholding approaches. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery was used to characterize crops at the experimental site. In this study, shadow was demarcated through the computation and use of mean spectral radiance values as the threshold across spectral channels of UAV imagery. Several image classifiers, viz., k-nearest neighbor (KNN), maximum likelihood, multilayer perceptron (MLP), and image segmentation, were used to categorize land features, with a view to determine the areal coverage of crops prior to the radiometric compensation process. Radiometric compensation was then performed to restore radiometric properties of land features under occlusion by performing brightness tuning on the RGB imagery. Radiometric compensation results revealed maize and soil as land features subjected to occlusion. The relative error of the mean results for radiance comparison between lit and occluded regions revealed 26.47% deviation of the restored radiance of occluded maize from that of lit maize. On the other hand, the reasonable REM value of soil was noted to be 50.92%, implying poor radiometric compensation results. Postradiometric compensation classification results revealed increases in the areal coverage of maize cultivars and soil by 40.56% and 12.37%, respectively, after being radiometrically compensated, as predicted by the KNN classifier. The maximum likelihood, MLP, and segmentation classifiers predicted increases in area covered with maize of 18.03%, 22.42%, and 30.64%, respectively. Moreover, these classifiers also predicted increases in the area covered with soil of 1.46%, 10.05%, and 14.29%, respectively. The results of this study highlight the significance of brightness tuning and thresholding approaches in radiometrically compensating occluded crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the backdrop of excessive global nitrogen fertilizer use, the loss of nitrogen fertilizer has led to environmental pollution and resource waste. Therefore, finding effective mitigation measures is of great significance for sustainable agricultural development. This study examined the problems of nitrogen fertilizer loss in soil and the potentials of nitrification inhibitors and urease inhibitors to reduce it by using quantitative analysis methods. Different soil types and treatment areas at the ecological agriculture experimental station were included in the study with different ratios of nitrification inhibitor, 3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP), and urease inhibitor, N- (n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) treatments. The indicators for the degree of nitrogen fertilizer loss measurement included ammonia volatilization, nitrogen leaching, and nitrogen fertilizer utilization efficiency. The results showed that, by using the CO (NH2)2+DMPP+NBPT treatment method, the cumulative losses of ammonia volatilization in sandy soil and clay soil after 15 days were 5,430.36 g N/hm² and 4,130.36 g N/hm², respectively. The nitrogen runoff loss rates were approximately 36-60% and 34-45%, respectively. The nitrogen leaching loss rates were about 20-74% and 15-50%, respectively. The nitrogen fertilizer utilization efficiency for wheat was approximately 36.1-37.4% and 44.3-45.6%, respectively. The results indicated that the utilization of nitrification/urease inhibitors could significantly reduce nitrogen fertilizer loss and improve its overall utilization efficiency. The results of this study offered valuable insights for enhancing environmental conservation and promoting food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the importance of intercropping as one of the methods of agricultural intensification, this research was conducted on caraway and pea crops at Experimental Farm, Fac. Agric., Zagazig Univ., Egypt during 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons. The aim of this work was studying the influence of intercropping system (sole planting of each crop as control, 1: 1, 2: 2, 2: 3 and 3: 2 as ridge ratio of caraway: pea, respectively), phosphorus fertilization levels (0.00, 15.50, 31.00 and 46.50 kg P2O5/feddan) as well as their combination treatments on growth, productivity and competitive indices between caraway and pea plants. Results showed that, in most cases, alternating two ridges of caraway with two ridges of pea recorded the highest values in plant height, branches number per plant and total dry weight of both crops, fruits and volatile oil yield per caraway plant and pods yield per pea plant as well as total chlorophyll content and phosphorus percentage of both crops compared to the other intercropping systems. Additionally, the most of the measured parameters for the two crops showed a substantial rise at the maximum level of phosphorus fertilization. When compared to the other combinations, the 2: 2 intercropping system + 46.50 kg P2O5/feddan treatment was the most effective. Generally, land equivalent ratio referred to that using the intercropping system of 2: 2 and phosphorus fertilization at 46.5 kg P2O5/ feddan, one feddan may yield the same yield as 1.386 or 1.453 feddan of each crop grown separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores how the ancient practice of intercropping maize, beans, and squash known as the Three Sisters-reduces pest damage through plant teamwork. Topics discussed include how the plants attract beneficial insects, the challenges of replicating these benefits with other crops, and the role of volatile chemicals in pest control.

Plant growth, flowering, square and boll formation are significantly affected by plant density in cotton production. The research was carried out in the field of experimental Özaltın Agriculture Company Experiment Fields in 2019 with four replication according to the split plot design with two different cotton genotypes with open (Karayel) type and closters (Lodos) type under five different plant densities (7,000 plants/da, 14,000 plants/da, 21,000 plants/da, 28,000 plants/da and 35,000 plants/da). The aim of the study was to determine the effects of different plant densities on yield, yield components and fiber quality characteristics of cotton varieties with different plant types (different boll distribution on branch of plant). With the increase in plant density (28,000 and 35,000 plants/da), plant height, number of fruit branches, number of vegatatif branches, boll weight, boll number were decrased, on the other hand the number of node on the first fruit branch, the first hand harvest rate, the number of days of opening the first boll, micronare values were increased. It was determined that there was no significant effect on fiber quality properties and lint percentage except for micronaire. Cotton varieties with different cotton biomass architecture such as open type and closter type showed different reactions in terms of cotton boll yield at different plant densities. According to the mean of both cultivars in each plant density, the highest boll yield (649.4 kg/da) and fiber yield (275.8 kg/da) were obtained from plant density of 14,000 plants/da. When genotype x plant density interaction is evaluated in terms of cotton boll yield, the plant density in genotypes with open boll distribution type should not be more than 21,000 plants/da plant density; It was determined that plant density should not be less than 14,000 plants/da for the cotton genotypes with closter boll distribution type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Top‐down suppression of herbivores is a fundamental ecological process and a critical service in agricultural landscapes. Adoption of bioenergy cropping systems is likely to become an increasingly important driver causing loss or gain of this service in coming decades. We measured natural pest suppression potential in ten model bioenergy crops in a long‐term experimental array by deploying plasticine sentinel caterpillar mimics, which record imprints from predator attacks. Cropping systems included three intensive annual row crop systems and a range of simple perennial monocultures and more complex polycultures. We compared attack rates across the ten cropping systems and assessed differences over time within a growing season and between the ground level and canopy. We found strong differences in attack rates across cropping systems, usually with more attacks in perennial crops than annuals. However, outcomes varied in space and time, both within and among cropping systems. Birds and small mammals were responsible for most, and sometimes all, attacks in annual crops and were most important early in the season. Chewing arthropod attacks increased over the course of the growing season and were responsible for most attack events in perennial systems. In late summer there were almost no attacks in annual crop canopies, while attack rates in perennial canopies at the same time were quite high and were carried out almost entirely by chewing arthropods. Our results underscore the lack of trophic complexity in annual bioenergy cropping systems relative to perennials. They also illustrate the dramatic changes in predator activity and predation intensity that occur both seasonally and between the ground and plant canopy. Policies and practices that increase the footprint of annual crops for bioenergy are likely to cause a deficit in pest suppression services at local and landscape scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a dataset of crop imagery captured during the 2022 growing season in the Eastern Kazakhstan region. The images were acquired using a multispectral camera mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (DJI Phantom 4). The agricultural land, encompassing 27 hectares and cultivated with wheat, barley, and soybean, was subjected to five aerial multispectral photography sessions throughout the growing season. This facilitated thorough monitoring of the most important phenological stages of crop development in the experimental design, which consisted of 27 plots, each covering one hectare. The collected imagery underwent enhancement and expansion, integrating a sixth band that embodies the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values in conjunction with the original five multispectral bands (Blue, Green, Red, Red Edge, and Near Infrared Red). This amplification enables a more effective evaluation of vegetation health and growth, rendering the enriched dataset a valuable resource for the progression and validation of crop monitoring and yield prediction models, as well as for the exploration of precision agriculture methodologies. Dataset: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7749239 , https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7749362 , https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7748792 , https://zenodo.org/record/7860751. Dataset License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Oil Crop Sciences is the property of Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Our experiments with crop progenitors have demonstrated that these species exhibit dramatic plasticity in key traits that are affected by domestication, including seed and fruit morphology. These traits can be altered by cultivating crop progenitors for a single season, in the absence of any selection for domesticated phenotypes. We hypothesize that cultivation caused environmental shifts that led to immediate phenotypic changes in crop progenitors via developmental plasticity, similar to tameness in animals. Here we focus on the loss or reduction of germination inhibitors in an annual seed crop because seeds with high dormancy are undesirable in crops, and also present a serious barrier to selective pressures that arise from seed-saving and planting by humans. Data from four seasons of observation of the crop progenitor Polygonum erectum L. suggest that the low plant density conditions of an agroecosystem trigger a phenotypic response that reduces germination inhibitors, eliminating a key barrier to further selection. The timing of the harvest can also be used to manipulate the germinability of seed stock. These observations suggest that genetic assimilation may have played a role in the domestication of this plant. More experimental work with crop progenitors is needed to understand whether or not this phenomenon played a part in the domestication of other plants, and to accurately interpret the significance of ancient plant phenotypes in the archaeological record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat can be cultivated by hole sowing, but its border effect has not yet been studied. Therefore, we carried out a field experiment from 2021 to 2022 at the Doukou Crop Experimental Demonstration Station (108°52′ E, 34°37′ N) of Northwest A&F University in Jingyang County, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province, China. The response of dry matter, photosynthetic characteristics, and yield components of wheat to the border effects under the hole sowing method was studied. The results showed specific border effects on each index of five wheat varieties (XN136, XN175, XN527, XN536, and XN765), among which the border effects of XN175 and XN765 were the most significant, with the highest yield. Subsequent correlation analysis revealed that only grain per spike and intercellular carbon dioxide concentration responded negatively to the border effects, and the rest were positively correlated. Finally, we conducted a random forest model analysis of different indicators of wheat varieties with significant border effects. We found that net photosynthetic rate and aboveground dry matter per plant had the most significant impact and contribution to the border effects. In contrast, grain per spike had the most negligible impact on the border effects. Our results fill a gap in the study of the border effects of wheat under hole sowing cultivation for future researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw returning to the field can reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and improve the utilization rate of chemical fertilizers on the basis of improving soil fertility. Straw resources can also be effectively utilized during this time. However, there is a different replacement rate of chemical fertilizer with straw return in China, due to the varying crop planting systems with the various soil fertility. In this study, a critical review was proposed to comprehensively analyze the replacement potential of chemical fertilizer by straw returning in field experiments. The data were collected from the published literature data of “CNKI” from 2000 to 2021 and 32 field experiments of straw returning to fields in Hubei Province from 2013 to 2021. The search keywords were set as “straw return”, “nitrogen (N) fertilizer”, “phosphorus (P) fertilizer”, “potassium (K) fertilizer”, and “fertilizer replacement and reduction”. The criteria for selecting data from the literature are as follows: 1) The study was conducted in China; 2) The experimental crop was rice, wheat, maize or oilseed rape; 3) The same experiment needed to include the paired treatment and control group. The treatment group was the chemical fertilization reduction with straw return, whereas, the control group was chemical fertilization without straw return. The rest experimental conditions of the treatment and control group were strictly consistent; 4) The level ranges of chemical fertilizer were 150-250 kg/hm² (N), 40-120 kg/hm² (P2O5), and 50-150 kg/hm² (K2O); 5) There were the clear starting and ending years of the experimental period; 6) The published data included the fertilizer amount, crop yield, basic physical and chemical properties of soil. Eventually, 487 published datasets were collected during the years 2000-2021, while, 641 experimental datasets from 32 field experiments that conducted in Hubei Province from 2013 to 2021. After that, the datasets were utilized to determine the proportion of N, P, and K fertilizer reduction by straw return for the major crops, in order to estimate the chemical fertilizer saving potential of straw return on a national scale. Specifically, the average replacement ratios of N, P, and K fertilizers by straw return were 12.2%, 23.9% and 43.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the replacement ratios by straw return among the crops. In rotation systems, the average replacement ratio of N and P fertilizer by straw return in the paddy-upland rotation system (e.g., rice monoculture and rice-oilseed rape rotation) were 5.0-12.9 and 18.0-24.8 percentage points higher than those in the upland rotation system (e.g., wheat-corn rotation and corn monoculture). In addition, the supply capacity of soil nutrients was an important influencing factor on the replacement reduction potential of chemical fertilizer (especially P and K fertilizer) by straw return. The reduction ratios of P and K fertilizer by straw return were 9.1-11.5 and 6.2-14.2 percentage points lower in soil with a high nutrient supply capacity than those with the low one, respectively. According to the planting area and fertilizer consumption of various crops in 2020, the national N, P2O5, and K2O fertilizer for the rice, wheat, maize, and oilseed rape seasons could have reduced by 239.48×104, 227.73×104 and 451.98×104 t, respectively, accounting for 12.6%, 25.0%, and 48.5% of the current N, P2O5 and K2O fertilizer consumptions. The total cost of chemical fertilizer was saved 478.98×108 Yuan per year by straw return. A large number of field experiments were implemented for the comprehensive analysis of the reduction potential of chemical fertilizer by straw return. The finding can provide the theoretical basis and data support for the high-use efficiency of chemical fertilizers for the major crops in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) thermal imaging can serve as an excellent platform to rapidly obtain the spatial distribution of crop canopy temperature (CT) for dynamic variable rate irrigation (VRI). This study aims to improve the spatial distribution accuracy of crop water deficit using UAV thermal imaging. A conversion model between SRGB and CT was established to clarify the effects of flight altitude and take-off time on the spatial distribution of CT. The experiment was conducted at the water and fertilizer integration experimental base in Dacaozhuang, Hebei Province of the North China Plain (36°28'12"N, 114°54'01"E). The UAV flight area was 1.78 ha under a three-span center-pivot irrigation system with an overhang. The experimental crops were taken as winter wheat and summer maize in 2022. Three procedures were used to determine the relationships between temperature and SRGB. Firstly, the temperature and SRGB were displayed in the nine single photos. Secondly, the temperature and SRGB were extracted as the black body from the nine different temperature values, and then their photos were captured with the thermal imaging camera. Thirdly, the CT was measured with the nine stationary infrared thermometers (IRTs) that were installed in the experimental field. As such, the SRGB was obtained in these locations by the UAV thermal imaging system. In the field test, the flight date was selected in sunny and windless weather and then started at 08:00, 11: 00, 14: 00 and 17:00 with a flight altitude of 70 m and a flight period of 20 min. The flight altitude was set as 70, 90, and 110 m, according to the cruising ability of the UAV. The flight date was chosen on May 22, May 28, and June 1 at the grain-filling stage for the winter wheat, whereas, the summer maize was on August 2, August 17, and September 13 from the twelfth leaf stage to the milk stage. The reason was that the crop canopy coverage posed some influence on the accuracy of CT during the thermal imaging system, in terms of take-off time in the experiments. The flight date was also selected on July 18, 19, and 20 at the sixth leaf stage of summer maize over different altitudes. The results indicated that there was a significant linear relationship between SRGB and CT. The highest accuracy was achieved in the temperature of the black body, with a determination coefficient of 0.98. The take-off time of UAV thermal imaging had a great influence on the spatial distribution of CT. The spatial variation of CT showed a weak degree of variation at the take-off time of 08:00 and 17:00. At the take-off time of 11:00 and 14:00, a moderate degree of variation was found with the greatest difference in the CT and the smallest total irrigation amount in the prescription map of VRI. During the growing season of winter wheat, the total irrigation amount at 11:00 was 11.8%, 5.8%, and 20.6% lower than that at 08:00, 14:00, and 17:00, respectively. The total irrigation amount of summer maize at 14:00 was 13.5%, 2.7%, and 18.9% lower than that at 08:00, 11:00, and 17:00, respectively. The image resolution decreased,as the flight height increased during UAV thermal imaging. The total irrigation amount at 90 and 110 m flight height was 6.1% and 12.1% higher than that at 70 m flight height, respectively. The highest CT was achieved in the winter wheat at 11:00-15:00 and the summer maize at 11:00-16:00, indicating the optimal flying time. The findings can provide technical support to the design accuracy of variable irrigation prescription maps for the winter wheat and summer maize in North China Plain using UAV thermal imaging system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For efficient grain production in arid climate, producers need a choice of winter crop varieties. For this purpose, an ecological test of varieties of winter wheat and winter barley was carried out on experimental fields typical for the climatic conditions of the Lower Volga region of Russia. Plots with experimental crops, with an area of 10 m2, were located by the method of successive repetitions in 3-fold repetition. By the ecological test, varieties of winter crops of various originators were sown, according to the predecessor - black fallow, with seeds with a field germination rate of 90-95%, with a seeding rate of 3.5 million pcs. ha, to a depth of 5-6 cm. There were 16 varieties of winter wheat in the test, Don 93 served as the standard variety. Five varieties of winter barley were tested, the standard variety was Volzhsky 1. The obtained results of the yield of varieties were processed by analysis of variance to assess their yield. It has been established that in the technological process of production of grain of winter crops, the value of the variety is significant and has a share of 72.4%, the remaining factors of production account for 27.5%. The leader in terms of winter wheat yield (8.5 t/ha) was the Tarasovskaya variety. The lowest yield in the test was in the Governor of the Don variety 5.7 t/ha. High yield of winter wheat in the variety of local selection Kamyshanka 3 was 8.1 t/ha. The maximum biological yield of 6.4 t/ha was obtained for the winter barley variety Buran, mainly due to the larger number of productive shoots 440 pcs/m² and the largest grain mass per spike 1.46 g variety Voskhod 4.9 t/ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis is the property of Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

For seed germination and the formation of a good soybean crop, significant reserves of soil moisture are required, which depends on the autumn-winter soil preparation, weather conditions and planting dates. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of the main tillage technology on its agrophysical properties and conditions for the growth and development of soybean plants. Experimental crop rotation: soybean – winter wheat was carried out under favourable (hydrothermal coefficient 1.46) and dry (hydrothermal coefficient 0.66–0.87) weather conditions. The main tillage was carried out with a stratifier PRSM-5 to a depth of 15–17 cm or a chisel plough PCh-2.5 to a depth of 25–27 cm, with additional pre-sowing or post-sowing rolling with a ring-spur roller KKSH. Sowing was carried out at a depth of 10 cm with stable heating of the soil in three periods: the first at 8–10 °С, the second at 10–12 °С, and the third at 12–14 °С. As a result of evaluating the influence of various factors, it was found that under favourable conditions, the highest seed productivity of soybean plants (1.91–1.96 t·ha−1) was formed after treatment with the stratifier PRSM-5 at the first sowing period and at the second sowing period after chisel ploughing with additional soil compaction. In dry weather conditions, pre-sowing treatment with a stratifier PRSM-5 had an advantage in seed productivity by 7–12% compared to ploughing with a chisel plough PCH-2.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover crops are gaining traction in many agricultural regions, partly driven by increased public subsidies and by private markets for ecosystem services. These payments are motivated by environmental benefits, including improved soil health, reduced erosion, and increased soil organic carbon. However, previous work based on experimental plots or crop modeling indicates cover crops may reduce crop yields. It remains unclear, though, how recent cover crop adoption has affected productivity in commercial agricultural systems. Here we perform the first large‐scale, field‐level analysis of observed yield impacts from cover cropping as implemented across the US Corn Belt. We use validated satellite data products at sub‐field scales to analyze maize and soybean yield outcomes for over 90,000 fields in 2019–2020. Because we lack data on cover crop species or timing, we seek to quantify the yield impacts of cover cropping as currently practiced in aggregate. Using causal forests analysis, we estimate an average maize yield loss of 5.5% on fields where cover crops were used for 3 or more years, compared with fields that did not adopt cover cropping. Maize yield losses were larger on fields with better soil ratings, cooler mid‐season temperatures, and lower spring rainfall. For soybeans, average yield losses were 3.5%, with larger impacts on fields with warmer June temperatures, lower spring and late‐season rainfall, and, to a lesser extent, better soils. Estimated impacts are consistent with multiple mechanisms indicated by experimental and simulation‐based studies, including the effects of cover crops on nitrogen dynamics, water consumption, and soil oxygen depletion. Our results suggest a need to improve cover crop management to reduce yield penalties, and a potential need to target subsidies based on likely yield impacts. Ultimately, avoiding substantial yield penalties is important for realizing widespread adoption and associated benefits for water quality, erosion, soil carbon, and greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetically engineered (GE) crops are likely to be one solution when it comes to balancing the needs of a growing human population and changing climate. Recent data suggest that many U.S. adults believe that GE foods are risky for human health and the environment, despite scientific consensus that they are no more harmful to human health or the environment than conventionally bred crops. While some evidence suggests that consensus messaging could be a significant factor in publics' perceptions about technologies like GE, the effect of communicating scientific consensus and under different conditions remains unclear. We test message effectiveness in terms of individuals' consensus perceptions and beliefs about the environmental risks and benefits of GE technology. We find that consensus messaging reduces perceived environmental risks of GE crops, and that supplementing a consensus message with benefits information reduces perceived environmental risks and increases anticipated benefits. We find an interaction effect for trust in scientists, such that those who have lower trust in industry scientists exhibit a backfire effect when exposed to consensus information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]