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The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill) established the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program. The program funded $75M for 5 years, split evenly between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), both programs within the US Department of Agriculture. The agencies solicited joint programs from states with high densities of feral swine in two phases. In Texas, NRCS and APHIS submitted three multi-county project areas along watersheds for Phase I funding and one eradication effort along with two crop protection projects in Phase II. The eradication project was adjacent to a Phase I project area and after extensive surveillance, it was determined to be successful, the first such project in Texas. All the remaining projects were designed with a direct management effort, a self-help effort through trap loans and a damage assessment process. Landowner in-kind contributions were identified and captured to detail the effects of the program.

Tillage management practices play a critical role in maintaining sustainable forage production systems in degraded alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) pastures. However, climate change leads to the precipitation exhibits greater variability, the impacts of tillage practices on alfalfa productivity and forage quality as well as the relationships between water consumption and soil properties remain poorly understood. The field trial conducted from 2018 to 2020 aimed to investigate the impacts of different tillage treatments (i.e., no tillage [CK], strip subsoiling tillage [ST], strip rotary tillage [RT], and strip rotary tillage after strip subsoiling [SRT]) on soil properties, water use efficiency (WUE), and forage productivity. Compared with CK, tillage practices significantly increased forage biomass and crude protein yield (CPY), particularly in the case of the SRT treatment, in which the increase was 20.8% and 25.3% higher, respectively (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the net income in the SRT treatment exhibited the greatest value (US $1922.0 ha−1), showing a 17.0% increase compared with that in the CK treatment. The relationship of soil structure and crop water consumption became evident when tillage practices were applied in the degraded alfalfa pasture. The soil bulk density under the ST, RT, and SRT treatments decreased by 6.9%, 5.4%, and 8.6%, whereas the soil porosity increased by 8.6%, 6.7%, and 10.7% in the 0–60 cm soil layer, respectively (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the soil water content at a depth of 0–60 cm increased by 12.1% in the SRT treatment compared with the CK treatment at the harvesting stage, and the SRT treatment obtained the highest WUE of dry matter (16.9 kg ha−1 mm−1) and precipitation use efficiency of dry matter (15.8 kg ha−1 mm−1). In addition, total nitrogen in the ST, RT, and SRT treatments increased significantly by 21.4%, 11.1%, and 27.0%, respectively, and soil organic carbon in the ST, RT, and SRT treatments also increased significantly by 5.5%, 3.3%, and 10.4%, respectively, compared with those in the CK treatment (p < 0.05). Our study has demonstrated that tillage practices can optimize soil structure, improve water utilization, and increase soil fertilizer for enhancing forage productivity. The SRT practice could be a preferable approach for sustainable agricultural production of degraded alfalfa grassland in the semiarid region of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problems of the unreasonable fertilization, the increase of quantity, decrease of quality in supply and so on in the production of protected vegetable in Hebei Province, facility tomato was as the research object, treatments of farmers' habit fertilization and different fertilization measures were set to study on tomato yield, quality, nutrient utilization and economic benefits. The results showed that compared with the treatment of farmers' habit fertilization, rational formula fertilizer and its combination with biological bacteria and calcium fertilizer could improve tomato single fruit weight 2.9%-29.7%, yield 3.8%-43%, dry matter accumulation 0.62%-17.4%, N and P absorption and utilization 26.2%-74.1%, 24.6%-71.6%, improve fruit Ve up to 6.4%, soluble sugar up to 34.4% and decrease total acidity up to 15.7%, in- crease pure economic benefit. IFI2 (inorganic formula fertilizer combined with biological fertilizer produced by Chunyu) and IFI3 (inorganic formula fertilizer combined with self-made bacteria agent and calcium fertilizer) had better comprehensive effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the response of rice growth, development, and nutritional characteristics to zinc fertilizer in the Yangzi River Basin. Field experiment with four plots were set up with no fertilizer (CK), farmers’ customary fertilizer practice (FFP) and zinc fertilizer (ZnSO4 7H2O) of 20 and 40 kg / hm2 (FFP+Zn20, FFP+Zn40) based on FFP to study the effects of zinc fertilizer on rice growth, yield, and nutrient absorption. The results showed that compared with FFP, FFP+Zn20 and FFP+Zn40 increased 1 000-grain weight and seed-setting rate of rice,with FFP+Zn40 achieving a significant increase in the 1 000-grain weight and seed-setting rate(P<0. 05). The yield and net benefit of FFP+Zn40 were the highest in the four treatments, increasing significantly by 14. 5% and 15. 6% compared with FFP. The combined application of N and Zn is beneficial for the increase of N and Zn content in the leaves, stems, sheaths, and panicles of rice at maturity, with FFP+ Zn40 having the highest increase. Increasing the application of zinc fertilizer is beneficial for increasing yield, income, and quality of rice in the region. The application of N,P2O5,and K2O at 164, 54, 126 kg / hm² respectively, combined with the application of ZnSO4·7H2O at 40 kg / hm² in the base fertilizer soil, has the best effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Wheat is a key cereal crop that is substantial to global food security. Fertilizers are crucial in wheat production and significantly impact the yield. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of inorganic, organic, and integrated fertilizers in terms of sustainable wheat production and economic and environmental benefits. For this review, we thoroughly examined 133 previous research findings. The results indicate that inorganic fertilizers play a vital role in improving wheat yield. However, continuous use of inorganic fertilizers pollutes the environment, affects beneficial microorganisms in the soil, and increases the emissions of greenhouse gases, consequently decreasing crop yield. Organic fertilizers enhance soil quality, which is critical for crop growth and development. However, a high concentration of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2) are emitted from organic fertilizers, but the CO2 emission rate is less than the sequestration rate. Integrated fertilizers trade off the drawbacks of both inorganic and organic fertilizers. Integrated fertilizers decrease nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3) emissions and carbon loss by 11%–24%, 13%–27%, and 18%, respectively, compared to the sole use of fertilizers. From the review analysis, the highest grain yield (4855 kg ha−1) and net benefit ($2836.66) are achieved by using a combination of 75% organic and 25% inorganic fertilizers at a rate of 120 kg N ha−1. Therefore, this combination is recommended for the users. Furthermore, a site‐specific approach research is needed on integrated fertilizers that simultaneously focus on economic and environmental profits. Also, there must be a policy that supports the farmers in teaching, training, and subsidizing them to adopt integrated fertilizers for sustainable wheat production and improving food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Railway Construction Technology is the property of Railway Construction Technology 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.)

Copyright of Journal of South China Agricultural University is the property of Gai Kan Bian Wei Hui 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.)

Copyright of Journal of South China Agricultural University is the property of Gai Kan Bian Wei Hui 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.)

Introduction: Due to limited arable land resources, intercropping has emerged as an efficient and sustainable production method for increasing total grain yield per unit land area. Maize-soybean strip intercropping (MSSI) technology is being widely promoted and applied across China. However, the combination of optimal density for achieving higher production efficiency of both soybean and maize remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in yield, economic benefits, land, and nitrogen (N) efficiency in MSSI systems under different densities. Methods: Five maize/soybean density combinations (67,500/97,500 plants ha-1, D1; 67,500/120,000 plants ha-1, D2; 67,500/142,500 plants ha-1, D3; 60,000/142,500 plants ha-1, D4; 52,500/142,500 plants ha-1, D5) were set under the same N input in the field experiment. Results and discussion: The results demonstrated that optimizing the density in the intercropping system could enhance production efficiency. Increasing the density of soybean and maize significantly increased the total grain yield (D3 > D2 > D1 > D4 > D5). The D3 treatment, exhibiting the best comprehensive performance, also promoted increases in leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, and N absorption and utilization. Path analysis indicated that density had the most substantial impact on maize yield, while grain number had the greatest influence on soybean yield, with contribution rates of 49.7% and 61.0%, respectively. These results provide valuable insights into optimal field density for summer planting in MSSI, facilitating its wider adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean European cities are characterized by high population density and limited space for large-scale implementation of renewable energy installations. This paper addresses the optimization of renewable energy installations in Mediterranean dwellings with the scope of increasing their energy contribution and cost-effectiveness. In a case study for Malta, the three technologies studied were solar photovoltaics, solar water heating, and heat pump water heating. Technical and economic analyses were performed on a number of reference configurations using Polysun software (version 2022.8). Sensitivity analyses were also conducted to study the impact that different technical and economic factors have on the performance of the configurations considered. Finally, comparisons were made between the techno-economic results obtained from the reference and sensitivity analyses. Based on data collected, the presence of renewable energy source (RES) technologies in the residential sector of Malta was characterized and correlated with the types of dwellings considered. Among the results obtained, it was found that although a solar RES installation may experience some shading, this does not mean that it is rendered economically unfeasible. Moreover, from the simulations conducted, electrical energy storage technology was considered as too premature unless strongly subsidized, making economic sense only in specific circumstances. On the other hand, although heat pump water heating technology is also relatively modern, it was concluded to be the most beneficial in terms of both energy yield and economic benefit, generally speaking. Furthermore, it was determined that in a higher occupancy dwelling, solar water heating (SWH) and heat pump water heating (HPWH) result in considerably more attractive energy savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Outpatient oncology practice is a growing area of opportunity for pharmacists to provide clinical services and evidence-based care. Methods: This single-center, retrospective chart review analyzed the clinical and economic benefits of a board-certified oncology pharmacist after integration into the ambulatory oncology clinic setting. Primary outcomes were total cost avoidance for pharmacist interventions and impact on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) OP-35 measures. Pharmacist interventions were characterized into distinct types which were then assigned a cost avoidance value. Cost avoidance was calculated per hour and then extrapolated to a yearly estimate based on a 40-h work week for one year for one full-time equivalent pharmacist. Data collection for the primary clinical outcome was performed by compiling provider-specific emergency department (ED) and inpatient admission rates for diagnoses specified in CMS OP-35 measures within 30 days after receiving outpatient chemotherapy. The rates for the data collection period were compared to the rates six months prior to pharmacist integration to assess pharmacist impact. Results: In six months, 516 total interventions were made by the oncology pharmacist. The incidence of ED visits was 3.34% and 1.72% during the pre- and post-pharmacist intervention periods, respectively. The incidence of inpatient admissions was 2.43% and 0.34% pre- and post-pharmacist intervention, respectively. Total cost avoidance was estimated to be US$375,795 and when accounted for the median pharmacist salary at our institution, total cost savings was US$204,437. Conclusion: The presence of an oncology pharmacist specialist in the ambulatory cancer clinic provided clinical and economic benefits to the cancer clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of cold season supplementation with different nutrient level diets on the production performance and apparent digestibility of nutrients and economic benefits of Tianzhu white yaks. Ten Tianzhu white yak bulls of 0.5, 2.5 and 4.5 years of age in good condition were selected and randomly divided into high nutritional level group (group H) and low nutritional level group (group L) for feeding, with 5 bulls in each group. The integrated net energy of feed (NEmf) of group H and group L were 97.84 MJ/kg and 81.54 MJ/kg, respectively, with a pre-feeding period of 15 d, and a positive test period of 90 d. The results showed that: daily weight gain, carcass weight, and slaughter rate of yaks at the three age between the two groups showed no significant differences (P>0.05), and the feed-to-weight ratio of the three age groups of group H was lower than that of group L yak. The apparent digestibility of dry matter and acid detergent fiber of group H at 0.5 years of age was extremely or significantly lower than that of group L (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and that the digestibility of dry matter and acid detergent fiber nutrients of group H at 2.5 years of age was significantly lower than that of group L (P<0.05), and the apparent digestibility of crude protein in group H at 4.5 years of age was highly significantly higher than that of group L, while the apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber was lower than that of group L (P<0.01). The apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber of yaks in groups H and L at different ages increased significantly with age (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The profit of group L was higher than that of group H in all three age groups when yaks were fed with equal amounts of diets. The results showed that 35∶65 of ratio of dietary concentrate to crude in the cold season could significantly improve the production performance and economic benefits of Tianzhu white yaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medizinische Klinik: Intensivmedizin & Notfallmedizin is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Due to increasing competition among rental service providers, creating and enhancing perceived value is a critical element for sustainable growth. Given the growing interest in sustainable consumption practices, this paper examines the role of perceived benefit in the online rental industry, particularly the relative impacts of economic, social, and environmental benefits on customer patronage behaviors toward service providers. The proposed model is tested using data from 404 online rental platform customers in the United States. The results of partial least squares structural equation modeling show a positive impact of perceived benefits on both consumer attitude and personal norms. In addition, the impacts of attitude and norms on behavioral intention are confirmed. Finally, differences in customer behaviors between low- and high-frequency rental platform users are identified. The economic benefit on subjective norm is only significant among high-frequency customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current food crisis has become a serious threat to humanity. Other issues such as climate change, farmer regeneration, and excessive use of chemical inputs at the producer level threaten sustainability in agriculture. The sustainability of agricultural practices among farmers remains questionable due to the small number of organic farmers in Indonesia. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of sustainability of rice cultivation and the factors that influence the sustainability of rice cultivation in various types of cultivation in Yogyakarta. Research on farm sustainability that is analyzed in a multidimensional (5 dimensions) and compares 3 types of cultivation has not been widely carried out in Indonesia. This research was conducted in Bantul and Sleman with 90 respondents. The analysis method used Multidimensional Scaling-RAPFISH and Tobit regression. The results showed interesting findings where the 3 types of rice cultivation are in the sufficient (moderately sustainable) category even though the 3 have differences in the use of inputs, especially in the ecological dimension. The factors of education, frequency of attending extension and activity in farmer groups, the use of good agricultural practices, land ownership, and type of cultivation had a positive effect on increasing the sustainability of rice cultivation in various types of cultivation in Yogyakarta. The results of this research have an impact on agricultural extension field education provided by the government to increase the sustainability of rice cultivation in Yogyakarta. It is recommended that the 3 types of rice farmers to pay more attention to the use of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to increase sustainability.

Three treatments of sprayed humic acid water-soluble fertilizer (TF), fresh water (TW) and conventional fertilization without spraying (CK) were set up in a plot experiment to study the effects of spraying humic acid water-soluble fertilizer on the growth, yield, nutrient contents and economic benefits of asparagus. The results showed that TF was significantly superior to TW and CK in terms of the biological characteristics of asparagus stems (number of stems per plant, length, stem thickness and mass). TF increased significantly asparagus yield by 9. 5% and 13. 1% compared with TW and CK (P<0. 05), respectively. TF significantly (P<0. 05) increased the total flavonoids, saponins and polysaccharides contents of asparagus shoots by 6. 8%, 2. 9% and 15. 1%, respectively, compared with CK. However, the amino acid content of asparagus shoots from the three treatments did not differ significantly (P>0. 05). TF increased the net economic benefits of asparagus by 9 966 and 12 552 yuan / hm 2 compared with TW and CK, respectively. Therefore, spraying humic acid water-soluble fertilizer on asparagus is worth further popularization and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prime objective of this study is the simultaneous network reconfiguration with distributed generation (DG) and capacitor placement in radial distribution networks (RDN) to get the techno and economic benefits for two separate objectives, which are the minimization of actual power loss and annual economic loss as well as a multi objective combining these two single objectives using an oppositional arithmetic optimization algorithm (OAOA). It is an improved version of the currently suggested arithmetic optimization algorithm (AOA) used in the field of engineering for the optimization task. Though the recently developed AOA shows its efficacy in different optimization tasks but to improve the quality of solutions, convergence behavior, and to avoid the local optima, oppositional behavior is added to AOA. The efficacy and exactness of OAOA are tested on three test systems (33‐bus, 69‐bus, and 118‐bus). For the reduction of power loss and annual economic loss as well as the multi objective optimization, two scenarios with different cases are executed using OAOA in RDNs. In scenario 1, the installation of the capacitor (case 1), the installation of unity power factor (UPF) based DG (case 2), and the placement of optimal power factor (OPF) based DG (case 3) have been executed. In scenario 2, allocation of UPF based DG and capacitors simultaneously (case 1), placement of OPF based DG and capacitors simultaneously (case 2) and simultaneous reconfiguration with installation of OPF based DG and capacitor (case 3) has been executed. This recommended OAOA algorithm provides the percentage improvement in real power loss and yearly economic loss for all cases of 33‐bus, and 69‐bus systems (34.28%, 65.50%, 94.43%, 93.26%, 94.89%, and 95.11%), (28.54%, 56.69%, 83.42%, 79.62%, 83.65%, and 83.71%), and (35.51%, 69.16%, 98.10%, 97.52%, 98.22%, and 98.25%), (30.26%, 61.68%, 88.75%, 85.42%, 88.81%, and 88.98%), respectively. The results and comparative study reveal that the OAOA is better than several optimization algorithms in terms of solution quality and good results. This algorithm has a good speed of response and convergence behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Maptaphut industrial area, one of the largest petrochemical complexes in Thailand, is the major cause of the various air pollutants. The larger concern is that a significant volume of air pollution is emitted and that air quality management needs to be improved. This is in part due to a lack of deeper understanding of how anthropogenic emissions are emitted from different sources in this area— especially volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Moreover, it has complicated relationship results of air pollution, disease mechanisms, and health effects. As a result, its available data can only give a rough indication of them. These factors are often assumed to be associated with economic consequences, but assessing the health-related economic losses caused by air pollution remains limited in many ways. Four targeted VOCs were analyzed, including benzene, 1,3-butadiene, 1,2-dichloroethane, and vinyl chloride from industrial and non-industrial sources, namely stacks, flares, storage tanks, wastewater treatment plants, transportation and marketing, fugitive losses, slurry/open equipment/vessel, and on-road mobile emissions. Source apportionment can be conducted using emissions inventory (EI) to establish pollution source databases, the dispersion model, and then imported on the risk model by determining receptors. The AERMOD dispersion model coupled with the IRAP-h view model was used to predict the spatial distribution of the ground-level concentration and analyze the inhalation health risk covering cancer and non-cancer risks— as well as the prioritization of pollutants. The risk assessment results indicated that the highest risk occurred most from 1,3-butadiene for cancer and chronic non-cancer risks contributed to fugitive sources, about 83% and 94%, and most benzenes for acute non-cancer risk contributed to on-road mobile sources, at about 56%. Consequently, the benzene classified as the most important priority depending on its risk results, comprehensive epidemiological studies, and discharge volumes. With the economic benefits assessment, BenMAP-CE was further utilized to estimate the health impacts and economic value of multiple scenarios to facilitate decision-making for benzene reduction. Overall, the 10% rollback policy for benzene concentration, monetized value of about 13.13 billion US dollars for all mortalities, gave the best practical scenario for the most economically viable option based on the B/C (benefit/cost) ratio results in Maptaphut. Ultimately, policymakers need to take additional measures to improve air quality and reduce health impacts while also considering economic benefits, especially benzene reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term excessive use of fertilizers and intensive cultivation not only decreases soil organic carbon (SOC) and productivity, but also increases greenhouse gas emissions, which is detrimental to sustainable agricultural development. The purpose of this paper is to identify organic amendments suitable for winter wheat growth in the North China Plain by studying the effects of organic amendments on the economic benefits, carbon emissions, and carbon sequestration for winter wheat fields and to provide a theoretical basis for the wide application of organic amendments in agricultural fields. The two nitrogen rates were N0 (0 kg ha−1) and N240 (240 kg ha−1), and the four organic amendments were straw, manure, mushroom residue (M R), and biochar. The results showed that, compared to N0, N240 significantly increased the yield by 244.1–318.4% and the organic carbon storage by 16.7–30.5%, respectively, but increased the carbon emissions by 29.3–45.5%. In addition, soil carbon stocks increased with all three types of organic amendments compared to the straw amendment, with the biochar treatment being the largest, increasing carbon storage by 13.3–33.6%. In terms of yield and economic benefits, compared to the straw amendment, the manure and biochar amendments increased winter wheat yields by 0.0–1.5% and 4.0–13.3%, respectively, and M R slightly decreased wheat yield; only the economic benefit of the M R amendment was greater than that of the straw amendment, with an increase in economic benefit of 1.3% and 8.2% in the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons, respectively. Furthermore, according to the net ecosystem productivity (NEP), N0 was the source of CO2, while N240 was a sink of CO2. The TOPSIS results showed that N240 with a mushroom residue amendment could be recommended for increasing soil carbon stocks and economic benefits for winter wheat in the NCP and similar regions. Low-cost M R can increase farmer motivation and improve soil organic carbon, making a big step forward in the spread of organic materials on farmland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feed utilization rate of straw resources in China is low, because of the low crude protein content and high lignocellulose content of straw, which hinder the degradation of nutrients of straw by rumen microorganisms, so direct feeding cannot meet the nutritional needs of beef cattle. According to the content of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber in different harvest periods of straw in different regions, the optimal combination technology can effectively improve the palatability and nutrient structure of straw, and increase the utilization rate of straw feed, which is of great significance to solve the shortage of high-quality roughage and feed utilization of straw resources in China. This paper introduced the effects of optimized combination technology on gas content, microbial protein, fermentation parameters, and nutrient level of straw in vitro fermentation, and expounded the principle of optimized combination technology and its effects on growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, rumen fermentation, microflora, and breeding efficiency of beef cattle, in order to improve the rational utilization of straw resources for feed. It provides reference for the development and utilization of straw optimization combination technology in beef cattle production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment aims to explore the optimal harvesting time for alfalfa in the Tumochuan Plain, providing scientific reference for the large-scale production and application of alfalfa. The experiment was set up with three treatments: bud initiation, early flowering, and full bloom, with each treatment replicated three times. The experiment measure the yield traits, nutritional quality, and economic benefits of alfalfa (WL319HQ) at different harvesting times in the Tumochuan Plain. The results showed that when alfalfa was harvested at the bud stage, the annual dry hay yield was 13 011.60 kg/hm². The contentrations of CP, NDF, and ADF were 20.69%DM, 36.91%DM, and 26.64%DM, respectively, with an RFV of 172.11, and the income ranged from 16 131.34 to 20 034.83 yuan/hm². When harvested at the early flowering stage, the annual dry hay yield was 12 829.81 kg/hm², with CP, NDF, and ADF contentrations of 18.55%DM, 41.03%DM, and 30.70%DM, respectively, an RFV of 147.78, and the income ranged from 11 791.53 to 15, 640.47 yuan/hm². When harvested at the full flowering stage, the annual dry hay yield was 14 444.64 kg/hm², with CP, NDF, and ADF contentations of 16.80%DM, 45.82%DM, and 35.57%DM, respectively, an RFV of 124.40, and the income was less than 9 889.27 yuan/hm². The research indicates that alfalfa harvested at the bud stage on the Tumochuan Plain has higher nutritional value and economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of allicin on the growth performance, meat quality, and economic benefits of finishing pigs, and to determine the optimal supplemental level of allicin in finishing pigs. A total of 280 healthy finishing pigs with similar body weights were selected and randomly divided into four groups, with seven replicates per group and 10 of pigs per replicate. The control group of finishing pigs was fed a basic diet, while the experimental groups were fed a basic diet supplemented with 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of allicin, respectively. The preliminary trial lasted for 1 week, followed by a formal experimental period of 60 days. The results showed that compared to the control group, the average daily weight gain of pigs fed with 400 and 800 mg/kg of allicin increased by 10.53% and 7.89%, respectively (P<0.05), and the feed-to-gain ratio decreased by 9.19% and 7.42% (P<0.05), respectively. Compared to the control group, feeding 400 and 800 mg/kg of allicin improved the carcass weight, lean meat rate, and slaughter rate of finishing pigs (P<0.05), and reduced the backfat thickness (P<0.05). Compared to the control group, feeding 400 and 800 mg/kg of allicin reduced the L* value of the meat color and the drip loss and shear force (P<0.05), and increased the pH24 h value of the back longest muscle after slaughter of finishing pigs (P<0.05). Compared to the control group, the weight gain income of the allicin groups increased by 4.12%, 10.34%, and 7.67%, profits increased by 8.80%, 27.40%, and 20.83%, respectively. The study indicates that an appropriate amount of allicin can improve the growth performance, slaughter performance, and meat quality of finishing pigs, increase breeding profits, and the optimal addition level of allicin is 400 mg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis was conducted on the issues present in the filling system at Tonglushan CuFe Mine, including low filling concentration, tailings deposition in the feedwell, outdated equipment and instruments, and high pipeline resistance underground. A comprehensive and efficient automated digital mine filling system upgrade plan was proposed. The cost estimate and economic benefit analysis for the upgrade showed an estimated cost of approximately 16.86 million yuan, with a direct reduction in operating and hinder costs by 3. 113 7 million yuan/a, indicating significant economic benefits. After the upgrade, an industrial trial of paste filling was conducted. The trial results demonstrated that the new paste filling system at Tonglushan Cu-Fe Mine achieved good filling operation indicators, with a filling concentration of 66%-69%, a filling flow rate of 100-120 m³/h, and a 17.8% reduction in unit binder consumption compared to the previous system. This significantly reduced filling costs, improved filling efficiency, enhanced the mining environment, ensured the quality of the fill, and lowered the risk of pipeline blockages and ruptures. The upgrade had a remarkable effect, providing a valuable reference for similar mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve sustainable development of the tea industry in China, it is necessary to reduce the use of chemical fertiliser rationally. With conventional fertilisation (CF) treatment as the control, five different chemical fertiliser-reduced regimes, including tea-specific formula fertiliser (T1), T1 + acidification amendment (T2), organic substitution based on T1 (T3), urea formaldehyde slow-release fertiliser (T4) and carbon-based organic fertiliser (T5), were conducted and evaluated on a green tea plantation from 2018 to 2021. The results showed that the spring tea yield of T1–T5 increased by 4.65–28.67%, while the free amino acids, tea polyphenols and sensory evaluation scores did not remarkably decrease. In addition, the T1–T5 treatments had a slight effect on soil acidification mitigation (except T2) and maintained the essential nutrients for tea production. Nutrient use efficiency improved, with agronomic efficiency (AE) increasing by 0.01–0.08 kg kg−1, shoot nutrient use efficiency (NUE) by 0.14–0.70% and partial factor productivity (PFP) by 0.05–0.18 kg kg−1. The net economic benefits also improved, with T1 showing a 135.28% increase, followed by T3 (67.53%), T2 (48.65%), T4 (38.07%) and T5 (33.35%). Overall, our results indicated that the T1 treatment could maintain the tea yield and quality while reducing the chemical fertiliser input and maximising the net economic benefit and AE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agronomica Sinica is the property of Crop Science Society of China 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.)

This article explores the implementation of Augmented Reality (AR) in retail, focusing on the furniture sector. It outlines the process undertaken to gain Retail business managers' approval for a proof of concept utilizing AR, supported by a Storyboard demonstrating potential business benefits. The proof of concept aimed to illustrate how AR could increase sales and decrease return rates of furniture by allowing customers to visualize products in their own space before purchasing. Metrics for evaluating 3D model suppliers used in the AR platform are also discussed. The company's team developed the platform internally using Google's ARCore technology. This study highlights the practical applications of AR in retail and its impact on enhancing consumer interaction and operational efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences is the property of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences Editorial Department 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.)

The application effects of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of chemical fertilizers were respectively reduced under the application rate of commercial organic fertilizer 45 t/hm² to screen out the best ratio of organic fertilizers to replace chemical fertilizers suitable for honey peach in Xinyi area. The yield and quality of juicy peaches were statistically determined, and the economic benefits and fertilizer agronomic efficiency of organic fertilizer substitution were analyzed. The analysis of economic benefits and fertilizer utilization showed that although the cost of increasing organic fertilizer and reducing chemical fertilizer application by 10% and 20% was higher than that of increasing organic fertilizer and reducing application by 30% and 40%, the yield increased more and the economic benefit increased. The overall economic benefits and fertilizer agronomic efficiency were improved. The replacement of chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers could improve fruit quality and potentially increase economic benefits. The treatment of replacing chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer increased the fertilizer agronomic efficiency, and reducing the application rate by 10% and 20% was the best for the use efficiency of chemical fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of excessive nitrogen fertiliser has been found to have a detrimental impact on the growth and development of cotton in Xinjiang, China. This has resulted in a reduction in cotton yield and economic benefit. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential for reducing the input of inorganic N fertiliser while maintaining the quality and yield formation of cotton. The objective of this study was to examine the growth, photosynthesis, and yield of cotton crops subjected to varying fertiliser treatments. The experiment was conducted in 2021–2022 with eight treatments in the experiment: no fertiliser (CK); conventional application of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser (T0); T1–T3, with 8%, 16%, and 24% reduction in inorganic nitrogen fertiliser application, respectively; and T4–T6, with organic fertilisers replacing the reduced inorganic nitrogen fertiliser application of T1–T3, respectively. In comparison to T0, T5 demonstrated the most notable agronomical performance and yield components across both years. This is attributable to the spatial distribution of cotton bolls, which was more conducive to the net photosynthetic rate and yield formation. This, in turn, led to an augmented photosynthetic capacity, enhanced biomass accumulation, and an elevated harvesting index. The results of the economic benefit analysis demonstrated that in comparison to the control treatment (T0), the net profit of all treatments except T3 increased. In conclusion, the economic benefit reached its maximum in the range of a 9.90–14.10% reduction in nitrogen and a 16.60–17.60% substitution of organic fertiliser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research of the quality control of logistics services relevancy is determined by the increasingly dynamic and competitive nature of the market requires companies to ensure the high quality of their logistics services, especially in the sphere of business-to-consumer (B2C). The research aims to analyse and identify optimal approaches and strategies for quality control of logistics services in B2C interactions. Among the methods used were the analytical method, statistical method, functional method, system analysis method, deduction method, synthesis method and comparison method. In the process of the study, the current practice of quality control in B2C logistics was analysed. An economic relevance assessment identified how service quality can affect business and also assessed the potential benefits of improving it. Approaches to quality control were analysed, including such methods as statistical data analysis, internal and external audits, application of quality standards, and use of technology for monitoring and tracking processes. Opportunities to optimise logistics processes and their impact on overall quality were also considered. A comparative analysis of practices in the industry identified best practices and innovations. The study summarised current trends and provided practical recommendations for companies seeking to optimise quality control of logistics services on a costeffective basis. The practical relevance of the findings is to provide companies with valuable tools and insights to improve their logistics operations and enhance customer service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research deals with increasing agricultural water productivity in Tajen basin of Mazandaran province by using optimal allocation. In the current research, to find the most optimal allocation of water from the available water sources in the study area, the optimization method with genetic algorithm with non-superior ranking was used and SWMM model was used to estimate the runoff resulting from precipitation. Since the model of optimal allocation of water resources is multi-objective and has more than one optimal response, none of which is superior to the other, and the appropriate response is selected based on the management conditions, three responses were selected from the optimal responses in the form of three scenarios to be compared with the current conditions of water allocation. The results showed that the optimization of water allocation caused an increase in agricultural water productivity by 76 percent for citrus fruits, 47 percent for rice, 60 percent for oilseeds, 59 percent for corn, 65percent for wheat, 77 percent for vegetables and 76 percent for cotton for the third scenario. which is a desert scenario. Also, the economic profit has increased by 33 percent on average. According to the results, wheat products, vegetables and oilseeds after rice and citrus have the highest production and yield compared to other products in the study area. The optimal cultivated area for these products is equal to 3200, 2700, 5523 hectares, respectively. By optimizing the allocation of water resources while saving significant water consumption, the production product per water consumption as well as the economic profit can be increased depending on the chosen solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ethiopia, common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) productivity remains low because of low soil fertility. However, both plant production and soil fertility benefit from integrated application of fertilizers. Thus, this study investigates the effect of integrated application of inorganic, organic and biofertilizers on selected soil properties and yield components of common bean. A field experiment was conducted at three sites in southern Ethiopia, under two consecutive cropping season (2021 and 2022). The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments included three levels of inorganic fertilizer (Triple Superphosphate, TSP), applied at 0, 42.5, and 85 kg TSP ha⁻1 for Kokate; 0, 29, and 58 kg TSP ha⁻1 for Hawassa; and 0, 35.5, and 71 kg TSP ha⁻1 for Alage, tailored to the specific conditions of each site. Additionally, the experiment incorporated three levels of organic inputs 0, 5 t biochar ha⁻1, and 5 t compost ha⁻1 as well as Rhizobium inoculation (HB-429) applied at 500 g ha⁻1. These treatments were designed to assess the combined effects of inorganic, organic and biofertilizers on soil health and crop performance. Results showed that the integrated application of inorganic, and organic fertilizers significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved soil pH, soil organic carbon, and available P compared with the sole fertilizer application plots. Similarly, the integrated use of inorganic, organic and biofertilizers increased nodule numbers, seed weight, grain yield, and biomass yield. We also found that 23 and 24 % higher grain yield were achieved with integrated applications of TSP fertilizer with compost on Hawassa and Alage sites than sole inorganic fertilizer application. On the other hand, the integrated application of TSP fertilizer with biochar increased by 18 % grain yield on Kokate over the sole application of inorganic fertilizer. The highest economic benefit of 69,460 and 63,250 ETB was obtained from the integrated application of TSP fertilizer with compost at Hawassa and Alage sites, respectively. The highest economic benefit for the Kokate site was 53,583 ETB at TSP fertilizer with biochar application. Overall, the study confirms that site-specific integrated soil fertility management appears to be a prerequisite for sustainable and profitable common bean production over sole fertilizer application in southern Ethiopia.

Copyright of Petroleum Refinery Engineering is the property of Petroleum Refinery Engineering 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.)

Building communities in rural areas is an important factor in social and economic development. The purpose of this article is to analyze the benefits of community building in rural areas of Lithuania. The literature review discusses the concept of rural community, examines the content of the benefits of creating rural communities, and the research part analyzes the results of semi-structured interviews collected from communities in rural areas of Lithuania. The study found that building rural communities strengthens social ties and reduces social isolation. The community initiatives such as local markets and craft centers help create new business opportunities and jobs, increasing local income and encouraging entrepreneurship. In addition, communities, in cooperation with local authorities and international organizations, can receive financial support, which allows developing infrastructure and improving the quality of services. From a cultural point of view, organized festivals and other events help to maintain and popularize traditions, strengthen community identity and attract tourists.

Objective The traditional urban rail transit AFC (automatic fare collection) system suffers from maintenance problems such as slow speed, outdated method, unreasonable plan and high cost. It is necessary to adopt digital and intelligent active monitoring and maintenance methods, and build an urban rail transit AFC intelligent operation and maintenance system architecture drive by dual-core of data and model, transforming periodic scheduled maintenance into condition-based and predictive maintenance, so as to improve the efficiency of operation and maintenance and reduce the cost. Method The architecture and main functions of AFC intelligent operation and maintenance system for urban rail transit is introduced. Firstly, the terminal equipment data are collected through multi-sensor fusion and uploaded to the big data platform for processing. Then, the collected data are analyzed by deep learning algorithm and BAS (beetle antennae search algorithm), and the model is optimized to further identify the failure mode and predict the potential equipment failure. In addition, the system uses automated workflow management tools to analyze the execution efficiency of the operation and maintenance tasks, and optimize the routine maintenance and emergency response strategies. Result & Conclusion The system performs well in the trial operation on Shanghai Metro Line 3, and it can realize intelligent maintenance, dynamic equipment history management, remote monitoring, mobile terminal, paperless maintenance and other functions, featuring stable running, convenient operating, and smooth workflow. The benefit analysis shows that the system effectively improves the maintenance efficiency and reduces the operation cost.

This study investigates the feasibility and potential impacts of transitioning Nigeria's aviation industry towards carbon-neutral operations through the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). By examining Nigeria's aviation landscape, international efforts for carbon-neutral aviation, and factors such as feedstock availability, infrastructure, and economic considerations, the paper assesses the viability of SAF adoption. Environmental and economic benefits, including reduced carbon emissions, improved air quality, job creation, and economic diversification, are explored. Challenges such as regulatory hurdles, investment requirements, and public awareness are analyzed, with recommendations provided for policy support, industry collaboration, research and development, and public education campaigns. Despite the absence of specific SAF adoption case studies in Nigeria, insights from international experiences inform the recommendations. The findings suggest Nigeria's potential to lead in SAF adoption regionally, contributing to environmental sustainability and economic growth in the aviation sector, while also offering broader implications for the global industry's transition towards a more sustainable future.

This study was to assess the water-saving and yield-increasing differences between subsurface drip irrigation (SSDI) and surface drip irrigation (SDI) under various regional, crops, climatic, soil, field management, and drip irrigation technical factors. The data for this study were collected from literature published before November 4, 2023. The selection criteria included: 1) experiments conducted in fields in northern China; 2) data collection limited to field experiments only; 3) experiments involving both subsurface drip irrigation and surface drip irrigation treatments, with all other field trial conditions strictly consistent; 4) the article must provide at least paired data on yield, water use efficiency, or economic benefits (net benefits), as well as sample size and standard deviation. A total of 223 sets of yield data, 148 sets of water use efficiency data, and 31 sets of economic benefit (net benefit) data were obtained.The results showed that compared to SDI, SSDI could increase crop yield by 6.66% overall, improve water use efficiency by 9.34% and increase net benefits by 6.94%. When the average annual temperature was ≥12℃and <12℃, SSDI could significantly increase crop yield by 11.05% and 5.69%, respectively, and significantly improve water use efficiency by 8.18% and 9.27%, respectively, but the inter-group differences were not significant. Compared to SDI, when the annual precipitation was ≤200 mm and 200 400 mm, SSDI could significantly increase crop yield by 7.11% and 6.39%, respectively, and significantly improve water use efficiency by 7.29% and 3.89%, respectively. Compared to SDI, SSDI could significantly increase crop yield by 7.02% and 5.04% in the northwest and north China regions, respectively, and significantly improve water use efficiency by 8.57% and 10.46%, respectively, while the watersaving and yield-increasing effects were not significant in the northeast region. Compared to SDI, SSDI could significantly increase the yield of vegetables, cash crops, and food crops by 9.7%, 8.88%, and 5.14%, respectively, and significantly improve water use efficiency by 14.04%, 6.54%, and 4.9%, respectively, but the water-saving effect on fruit crops was not significant. Compared to SDI, when the soil bulk density was ≥1.4 g/cm³ and <1.4 g/cm3, SSDI could significantly increase crop yield by 5.81% and 4.23%, respectively, and significantly improve water use efficiency by 7.36% and 5.23%, respectively. Compared to SDI, SSDI performed better under fine-textured and coarse-textured soil conditions, significantly increasing crop yield by 10.52% and 9.19%, respectively, and significantly improving water use efficiency by 8.6% and 6.03%. Compared to SDI, with and without mulching, SSDI could significantly increase crop yield by 7.58% and 5.18%, respectively, and significantly improve water use efficiency by 5.18% and 8.72%, respectively, but the difference between the two mulching measures was not significant. The higher the irrigation and fertilization frequency, the better the water-saving and yield-increasing effect of SSDI compared to SDI. When the depth of buried pipes was 20～30 cm, the spacing of drip pipe was not more than 60 cm, the emitter spacing of drip pipe was 20～30 cm, and the emitter discharge of drip pipe was between 1.5～2.5 L/h, it was more conducive to realizing the advantages of SSDI, and the water-saving and yield-increasing effect was significant. In northern China, subsurface drip irrigation has a significant water-saving and yield-increasing effect compared to surface drip irrigation, especially in arid and low rainfall climate conditions. This study provided a theoretical basis for the promotion and application of subsurface drip irrigation in northern China [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundant light and heat in the Hexi Oasis Irrigation Area in China provide superior natural conditions for agricultural development. To study the maize–soybean planting system of intercropping and determine superior group yield and economic benefits in the Hexi Oasis Irrigation Area, eight treatments were set up in 2022–2023: maize–soybean intercropping with a bandwidth of 1.8 m and a row ratio of 2:3 (M1S3), a bandwidth of 1.8 m and a row ratio of 2:4 (M1S4), a bandwidth of 2.0 m and a row ratio of 2:3 (M2S3), a bandwidth of 2.0 m and a row ratio of 2:4 (M2S4), a bandwidth of 2.2 m and a row ratio of 2:3 (M3S3), a bandwidth of 2.2 m and a row ratio of 2:4 (M3S4), monocropping maize (M), and monocropping soybean (S). We analyzed the effects of changes in bandwidth–row ratios on photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and interspecific relationships in these treatments during two crop reproductive periods. Our results showed the following: (1) Under the intercropping system, the photosynthetic capacity of maize was highest when the row ratio was 2∶3 and bandwidth was 1.8 m. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) increased by 1.72% to 48.90%, the transpiration rate (Tr) increased by 5.53% to 118.10%, and stomatal conductance (Gs) increased by 2.82% to 86.49% compared with other planting systems. Increasing the bandwidth from 1.8 m to 2.2 m improved the photosynthetic characteristics of soybean, increasing Pn, Tr, and Gs by 3.44% to 74.21%, 3.92% to 53.69%, and 2.41% to 55.22%, respectively. (2) The yield of maize and soybean under monocropping was significantly higher than that under intercropping. In the intercropping treatments, the average yield of crops in the M3S3 system was 16,519.4 kg ha−1, an increase of 6.48% compared with the M3S4 system, indicating that the reduction of one row of soybean in the same bandwidth system increases crop yield; The average economic benefit of the M3S3 system over two years was 35,171.73 CNY ha−1, which increased by 13.3 and 80% compared with the average economic benefit of maize and soybean monocropping, indicating that the intercropping system leads to better economic results for farmers than monocropping. (3) In the two-year experiment, the land equivalent ratio (LER) was highest in the M3S3 model, averaging 1.25 over the two years, showing better land productivity compared with other intercropping systems. (4) When bandwidth was 1.8, 2.0, or 2.2 m, the LER decreased by 8.3, 5.9, and 5.6% when planting an additional row of soybeans, the relative crowding coefficient of soybeans in the respective bandwidths increased by 4.59, 4.72, and 0.75%, the competition ratio of maize (CRM) increased by 22.94, 16.97, and 12.74%, the competition ratio of soybean (CRS) decreased by 20.47, 17.61, and 16.78%, and the competitive power of maize was greater than that of soybean, indicating that the increase in soybean rows in the same bandwidth system would weaken the competitive advantage of soybean, resulting in crop yield and economic benefit reduction. When the row ratio was 2:3 or 2:4, bandwidth increased from 1.8 m to 2.2 m, LER decreased by 3.31 and 0.86%, intercropping maize aggressiveness (AM) decreased by 7.55 and 12.50%, CRM decreased by 18.04 and 24.84%, and CRS increased by 17.32 and 22.77%, respectively, which indicated that the increase in bandwidth under different row ratio systems could improve the competitive advantage of intercropping soybean, thereby improving crop yield and economic benefits. (5) The AHP method, entropy weight method, and TOPSIS analysis showed that M3S3 ranked first, with the highest comprehensive evaluation (0.6017). In conclusion, the M3S3 planting system can better coordinate crop interspecies relationships, with higher land yield and economic benefit, and can be used as a suitable maize–soybean intercropping system in the Hexi oasis irrigation area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cold regions are located in high latitudes and cold climates. The local excellent ornamental plant resources are relatively scarce. The plant species that are suitable for both ornamental and productive benefits of landscape of flower sea construction are also even fewer. Therefore, it is imperative to introduce and screen the plant resources suitable for cold regions to create the landscape of flower sea. The rape, an oilseed crop, was used as a research object in order to create a productive flower landscape with both ornamental and economic values in cold regions. Four rape flower varieties, Qingza No. 5, 7, 9, and 11, were introduced from Qinghai Hufeng Agricultural Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd. They were planted in the experimental practice base of Northeast Agricultural University in three batches. Development characteristics and seed yield of rape flowers on different sowing dates were studied. The fuzzy probability method was used to comprehensively evaluate the varieties. The results showed that the rape flowers grew well in Harbin City during the experimental sowing period, which could form a good landscape of flower sea and had a considerable rapeseed yield. It could be widely used in cold urban and rural areas, such as Harbin City. In view of the experimental results, the strategies of creating a productive landscape of rape flower sea were proposed and the economic benefits were analyzed. It could change the status quo of a uniform landscape of flower sea in cold regions, help the development of rural tourism, and promote local economic income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Urban Mass Transit is the property of Urban Mass Transit 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.)

The purpose of this study is to explore whether remote visual control curing has the value of popularization and application, through the comparative experiment of remote control curing and field curing, the middle leaf (11-13 leaf position) of Yunyan 99 flue-cured tobacco variety was selected as the experimental material. It is concluded that although the economic benefit, chemical composition content and sensory evaluation quality of flue-cured tobacco after remote control are slightly worse than that of on-site curing, the difference is not significant, and the cured tobacco can still reach the level of high-quality tobacco. To sum up, remote visual control and curing can reach the level of on-site curing, and in the process of development in the future, it is still necessary to upgrade and improve remote visual control and curing. In order to achieve the immediate supervision of tobacco curing process and effective data collection, fundamentally ensure tobacco curing quality and improve curing efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the experiment was to study the effects of different levels of allicin on the growth performance and economic benefits of mutton sheep, and to determine the optimum level of allicin in mutton sheep breeding. Forty healthy small-tailed Han sheep with similar body weight and condition were randomly divided into four groups, with 10 sheep in each group, and each sheep was a repeat. Sheep in control group were fed basal diets, while sheep in experimental group 1, group 2 and group 3 were fed experimental diets containing allicin 400, 800, 1 200 mg/kg, respectively. The pre-feeding period was seven days, and the formal trial period was 56 days. The results showed that compared with the control group, the final weight, total weight gain, average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake of mutton sheep in experimental group 2 and experimental group 3 increased significantly (P<0.05), while the feed to weight ratio decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in experimental group 2 and experimental group 3 increased significantly (P<0.05), while tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the rumen ammonia nitrogen level and acetic acid/propionic acid concentration in experimental group 2 and experimental group 3 decreased significantly (P<0.05), while propionic acid concentration increased (P<0.05). The levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) in all the allicin groups were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the weight gain income of the allicin groups increased by 7.26%, 14.97%, and 14.06% respectively, and the breeding profit increased by 7.01%, 14.67%, and 6.49%, respectively. The study indicates that allicin can improve the growth performance, immunity, rumen fermentation function, and breeding profit of mutton sheep, and the appropriate amount of allicin is 800 mg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to study the effects of different levels of Chinese herbal medicine (mainly supplementing spleen) additives on growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility and economic benefits of Simmental beef cattle. Forty Simmental cattle aged 12 months with an average body weight of (275.15± 3.50) kg were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 replicates per group and 1 cattle per replicate. There was no significant difference in body weight between the groups. The cattle in the control group (CON group) were fed a basal diet, and the cattle in trial groups 1, 2 and 3 were fed additional 100, 150 g/(head·d) and 200 g/(head·d) of Chinese herbal medicine additive. The pretrial period lasted for 5 days and the experimental period lasted for 60 days. The results showed as follows: ①compared with the CON group, the average daily gain (ADG) of trial groups 1, 2 and 3 was increased by 39.71%, 22.06% and 17.65%, respectively (P>0.05); the ratio of feed to gain (F/G) in trial groups 1, 2 and 3 was decreased by 23.23%, 18.04%, 14.35% (P>0.05). ② Compared to the CON group, the apparent digestibility of NDF and ADF in each experimental group significantly increased (P<0.01), with the highest increase seen in experimental group 1, with increases of 0.96% and 2.79% respectively. The apparent digestibility of CP in experimental groups 1 and 2 significantly increased (P<0.01), with the highest increase observed in experimental group 1, with an increase of 2.85%. The apparent digestibility of EE in experimental groups 1 and 2 also significantly increased (P<0.05), with the highest increase seen in experimental group 1, with a 4.44% increase. There were no significant differences in CF, OM, and DM content among the groups (P> 0.05). ③ The total weight gain in trial group 1 was the highest, and the net profit was increased by 28.37% compared with CON group (P<0.05). Under the conditions of this experiment, the suitable amount of Chinese herbal additives is 100 g/(head·d), which can improve the average daily gain of Sim‐ mental cattle, reduce the ratio of feed to gain, improve the apparent digestibility of main nutrients, and increase the breeding efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was to study the effects of compound Chinese herbal additives on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, slaughter performance and economic benefit of Sanhuang chickens. A total of 288 1-day-old Sanhuang chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups with 6 replicates per group and 12 chickens per replicate. Group A was the control group, and groups B, C and D were fed 0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0% compound Chinese herbs, respectively, for 56 days. The results showed as follows: from day 1 to day 56, compared with group A, FBW, ADG and ADFI in groups B and C were significantly increased (P<0.05); there were no significant differences in T-SOD, T-AOC and GSH-Px activities in experimental groups (P>0.05), but MDA content in group C was significantly decreased (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in slaughter rate, half evisceration rate, full evisceration rate, chest muscle rate and abdominal fat rate in experimental groups (P>0.05), while leg muscle rate in group C was significantly increased (P<0.05). The total gross profit and average gross profit of the experimental group were improved. In conclusion, the compound Chinese herbs used in this experiment can improve the growth performance and slaughter performance of Sanhuang chickens, enhance the antioxidant capacity, and make Sanhuang chickens obtain higher economic benefits, the optimal additive dosage is 1.0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional methods of garlic fertilization involve large amounts of balanced fertilizer with equal proportions of N, P, and K, leading to nutrient imbalances, reduced yield and nutritional quality, and elevated risk of environmental pollution. This study for the first time measured garlic nutrient absorption and mineral elements status in garlic fields. In addition, a garlic-specific fertilizer formula and recommended rate were designed and applied in multiple garlic fields during the 2019–21 growing season. We assessed the performance of garlic-specific fertilizer in terms of yield, quality, and nutrient utilization efficiency. We showed that garlic prefers to absorb N and K, and its absorption of P was much lower. Deficiencies in Cl, Mn, S, and Fe are found in 98.7%, 56.1%, 22.8%, and 11.9% of garlic fields. Compared with farmer fertilization, the garlic-specific fertilizers increased sprout yield by 12.9% to 30.5%, bulb yield by 11.0% to 33.5%, and net income by 18.2% to 45.6%. Furthermore, it improved the nutritional quality [vitamin C (Vc), soluble sugar (SS), and soluble protein] of the garlic and reduced the accumulation of nitrate. The formula of special fertilizer was more in line with the law of garlic nutrient absorption, increasing the nutrient utilization effect, reducing the environmental risks. Application of specific fertilizer increased N, P, and K partial productivity by 26.6% to 50.1%, 82.6% to 116.5%, and 54.6% to 83.3%, respectively. These results suggest that replacing balanced fertilizers in the garlic market with garlic-specific fertilizers can improve garlic farmers' incomes and soil health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences is the property of Editorial Board of Journal of Henan 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.)