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Microgreens represent a healthy alternative in nutrition, due to their high nutritional value and unique sensory characteristics. The light, the temperature or the density influences the photosynthetic and metabolic activity of microgreens, having a beneficial effect on their nutritional quality. In 2023, an experiment was carried out with microgreens from a hemp variety at IULS Iasi. This explored two growing environments, controlled versus uncontrolled (growth chamber versus window) and seven different seeding densities ranging from 40 to 280 microgreens/100 cm². The results revealed that the variant with 280 microgreens/100 cm² in the growth chamber recorded the highest fresh matter of 12.864 g/100 cm², while the variant with 40 microgreens/100 cm² in the growth chamber presented the highest content of chlorophyll pigments (13.1 CCI). The highest value of vitamin C (58.0 mg/100 g product) was found in D160 variant and the highest content in total soluble solids (4.33°Bx) belongs to the D200 variant, both from the growth chamber. Results underline the importance of selecting appropriate growth conditions and seeding densities for optimizing the qualitative and quantitative properties of hemp microgreens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to corn, sorghum is more sensitive to the action of synthetic chemicals in the administered herbicides and most of the time the plant stagnates in growth for a few days, even if the application doses are moderate. As the spectrum of weeds is quite diverse in Romania, there are species that are difficult to control in sorghum culture, such as Sorghum halepense, Setaria ssp. or Echinochloa crus-gali L., in this research we tested several variants of weed control using herbicides applied in pre and post emergence. The most valuable variant in combating weeds in grain sorghum crop proved to be the variant with Dual Gold (S-metolachlor 960 g/l) 1.5 l/ha applied in pre-emergence + Trek P 334 SE (Pendimetalin 64 g/l + Terbuthylazine 270 g/l) 2.5 l/ha applied post-emergence, variant which had a calculated Abott's coefficient of 98.2%. The combination of Dual Gold (S-metolachlor 960 g/l) 1.5 l/ha + Casper 0.4 l/ha (5% prosulfuron+50% dicamba) also provided a high cultural hygiene assurance, and was close to the previous variant with a calculated coefficient of 97.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thus, the paper presents the results of the research carried out on the winter wheat crop, in the period 2020-2023, in the pedoclimatic conditions from A.R.D.S. Secuieni-Neam?, regarding the influence of three tools, namely, the plough, the chisel, and the disk, works carried out at four working depths (15 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm and 30 cm + 10 cm) and two working modes (work done out in every year in alternation: one - two - three years), and two working modes (work done out in every year in alternation: one - two - three years). During the three years of experimentation, the averages of the winter wheat yield varied within quite large limits, from 4676 kg ha-1, in the variant where the land was permanently worked with the disk at a depth between 12-15 cm, and the maximum of 5936 kg • ha-1, in the version in which the work carried out was to plow at 30 cm + 10 cm. Regarding the content of protein, oil, and starch, they had close values between the variants, the tillage not influencing these quality indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cereals are essential for human nutrition. Unfortunately, the worldwide demographic evolution (continually increasing) makes it difficult to maintain the security of this food source. To overcome this situation, increasing the yield of these species is necessary. The aim of the present research is to make a comparative economic analysis between different varieties of winter barley, winter wheat and triticale varieties in the period 2018-2023 at Agricultural Research and Development Station (ARDS) Secuieni, Neamt County, Romania. The economic indicators taken into consideration were: yield, production value, production cost, total expenditures, gross and net profit. The data were processed and statistically interpreted based on variance analysis, coefficient of variation, using Microsoft Excel and ANOVA 2013 programs. The results regarding yield showed that on the first place is winter wheat with an average yield of 7,413 kg · ha-1, the second place is winter barley with an average yield of 6,340 kg · ha-1, and the last place is triticales, with an average yield of 6,145 kg · ha-1. From an economic point of view, winter wheat is on first place, with a net profit of approximately double compared to the other two cereals. The net profit was 3,109 lei · ha-1 for winter wheat, 1,766 lei · ha-1 for winter barley, and 1,635 lei · ha-1 for triticale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenges we face today envisaging environmental protection, starting from global warming and climate change, up to natural resources depletion, creates opportunities for developing new technologies for biofuel production. Considering that most biofuels used at the moment are based on energy-intensive crops, the question arises whether occupying large areas of land to the detriment of food is justified or not, especially as these crops generally deplete the soil of nutrients. In the present paper we propose a different approach for assessing an easily adaptable energy plant named Sweet Sorghum, that can grow with low input requirements, in difficult growing conditions, on contaminated or poor-nutrient and dry soils, and yet having a high productivity potential. Our research directions are targeted towards identifying the best opportunities for producing bioethanol from Sweet sorghum testing different varieties and sustainable planting conditions. We have been established several experimental cultures and evaluated the potential for producing biofuels using different techniques, such as juice extraction and fermentation and lignocellulose processing.

Hemp is cultivated for its high content in natural, durable, resistant fibres and for its oil-rich seeds. Hemp for seeds is cultivated to fulfil the requests in the technical, cosmetic, food, fodder fields. Hemp has the highest industrialization capacity of all technical plants. Because for a long period of time, the cultivation of hemp in Europe as well as in Romania was in decline, being continuously practiced only in certain European states, it is desired to emphasize how hemp can make an essential contribution to the development of innovative solutions regarding the relaunch of the industrial hemp sector. The paper presents some research results obtained during the realization and experimentation of some technical equipment intended for the mechanization of the works within the hemp cultivation technologies in different systems. The technology of establishing, managing and valorising the hemp culture for fibre or seed can have perspectives starting with the conventional system, the ecological or successive one and at the level of experimental lots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impressive production potential of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is limited by the lack of herbicides authorized for use in this crop in Romania. The aim of this research was to establish the tolerance of industrial hemp to herbicides applied in preemergence and postemergence to control dicotyledonous weeds: Amaranthus retroflexus L., Atriplex patula L., Chenopodium album L., Polygonum convolvulus L., Sinapis arvensis L., Xanthium strumarium L., respectively monocotyledonous: Echinochloa crus-galli L., Setaria spp., Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. and Poa annua L. A number of 13 herbicides were tested, and the results demonstrate that monocotyledonous weeds can be controlled very well by the active substances cletodim (89.67%) and fluazifop-P-butyl (91.33%), and dicotyledonous weeds are effectively combated by aclonifen (80.0%) applied in pre-emergence and oxyfluorfen (84.0%) applied pre-emergence, but oxyfluorfen causes phytotoxicity (9.0%) of the treated hemp plants. Also, the good effect of clopiralid on Xanthium strumarium and other weeds from the Asteraceae family should be mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breeding research for the common wheat crop has focused on quality and yield. These are closely related to each other because high yield without adequate quality or good quality without satisfactory production are not profitable for the farmer. At A.R.D.S. Secuieni, in the period 2019-2022, Romanian winter wheat varieties were tested in order to establish their yield and quality. These were influenced by the variety, the climatic conditions but also by the phase fertilization applied. On average in the three years studied, the productions had values between 7108 kg/ha (Pitar) and 8442 kg/ha (Semnal) in the case of fertilized variants and between 6201 kg/ha (Miranda) and 7669 kg/ha (Abundent) in the case of unfertilized variants. Regarding the quality of common wheat varieties, the content in protein, starch and gluten was monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the climatic conditions of the Center of Moldavia (Romania), there are eight sorghum hybrids cultivated for grains (Arsky, Foehn, Albanus, Shamal, Kalatur şi Armorik, Elan and Alimentar) in order to establish their adaptability to the conditions of the area, by taking into account the current problems of agriculture caused by climate change and the need to find a solutions to fight hunger and improve human health. This study focused on two directions, namely: identifying genotypes that achieve the highest productions and establishing food value and the benefits of sorghum grains on human health by analysing the physico chemical composition of the grains, by determining the mineral content of the grain and by determining the composition in amino acids. The grain production had ranged from 8623 kg/ha to 11181 kg/ha. This production had characterized by a protein content between 8.84 % and 12.80 %, in lipid content between 3.39 % and 4.15 %, in raw fibre content between 2.15 % and 3.95 % and the starch content was between 66.70 % and 74.66 %. The analysed mineral content of the sorghum samples has the following values (mg/100g a.s.): phosphorus - 280 - 330; potassium - 520 - 610; calcium - 2.4 - 3.9; magnesium - 260 - 290; iron - 11.6 - 18.9; zinc - 1.94 - 2.42; copper - 0.23 - 0.36; manganese - 1.60 - 1.97. Analysing the amino acid composition of sorghum samples it can be said that the samples contain all the essential amino acids, in concentrations that, some of them, exceed the recommended daily dose (FAO/WHO/UNU): leucine, isoleucine, histidine, valine. Also the analysed sorghum seeds add an important content of methionine, threonine and phenylalanine.

In the period 2008-2012 a study on the biodiversity of 26 local populations of scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.) in the north-eastern Romania was accomplished; the morphological and physiological peculiarities, as well as the agro-productive value of the promising biological material were analyzed. The assortment differs particularly in the flower colour (white, carmine red and red with white spots) and in the seed colour (white, purple with black patterns and beige with brown patterns). No significant differences from the phenological point of view were revealed; the vegetation period is about 100-120 days. Yield components and yield vary very much; the evaluated yield ranges from 1,733 to 3,745 kg/ha.

The study of temporary meadows is of particular scientific importance, because they make possible the edification and characterization of some essential aspects regarding the relationship between the diversity, stability and maturity of ecosystems; the relationships between species; the biological balance between natural and artificial ecosystems; aspects that are greatly debated nowadays. They can replace degraded permanent meadows, or on arable land intended for fodder. When creating the mixtures, the basic requirement that must be taken into account is that they form a uniform grass cover and are well adapted to stationary conditions. The importance of developing temporary meadows led to the initiation of studies at ARDS Secuieni, starting with 2017, with the aim of creating the best mixtures adapted to the pedo-climatic conditions in the area. The results obtained in the conditions of Central Moldavia showed that fertilization with different doses of fertilizer influenced the production of dry matter compared to the non-fertilized variants. The variant fertilized with the dose of N80P40 kg/ha had the highest fodder production, i.e.16.13 t/ha d.m.; the difference compared to the control was quite a significant one; and the lowest production was obtained with the control variable (N0P0), i.e. 9.47 t/ha d.m. Analysing the data obtained, it can be easily noticed that, in the variants studied, there were five production cuttings; alternating hay mowing with that for simulating grazing (mixed regime). Analysing the results obtained, for the first cutting, regarding the influence of fertilization and the mixture used on the percentage of grass and leguminous species, it was found that in the mixture of 85% grasses (Dactylis glomerata 60% + Lolium perenne 25%) and 15% perennial leguminous (Lotus corniculatus 15%), the percentage of grasses participation in the grass cover was between 64.5% for the variant fertilized with N40P40 and 86.0% for the variant fertilized with N80P40. The leguminous that are part of the grass cover were between 12.7% for the variant fertilized with N80P40 and 34.6% for the variant fertilized with N40P40, and the percentage of participation of various species was between 0.5% and 1.4%. The participation percentage of perennial grasses and leguminous varied depending on the dose of fertilizer applied, and the quality of the fodder obtained was good for all the mixtures studied, being primarily determined by the doses of fertilizers administered, but also by the species and the proportion of their participation in the sowing rate under the conditions of Central Moldavia from 2017 to 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the efficiency of nitrogen use in winter wheat, cultivar 'Ciprian' through the combined application of nitrogen with phosphorus fertilizers, between 2016 and 2021. The research was organized within ARDS Lovrin, Timiş County, Romania, under the conditions of a chernozem soil type. The experimental factors considered were: experimental factor A - year of experimentation - six years 2016-2021; experimental factor B - mineral nitrogen fertilizers, with the following graduations: 0 kg N ha-1 (control), 30 kg N ha-1, 60 kg N ha-1, 90 kg N ha-1 and 120 kg N ha-1; experimental factor C - mineral phosphorus fertilizers, with the following five graduations: 0 kg P ha-1 (control), 40 kg P ha-1, 80 kg P ha-1, 120 kg P ha-1 and 160 kg P ha-1. Production has been taken into consideration for NEU evaluation (Y, kg ha-1), the total nitrogen (Ntot) content (%) of the grains, N uptake (%) in relation to the experimental factors considered. Differences in NUEs had different significance compared to each experimental factor, and the interaction between A×B, A×C and B×C factors generated differences in statistically safe conditions (p<0.05 in A×C case, and p<0.001 in A×B and B×C case). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to climate change and human activity, biotic constrainers are anticipated to expand to regions where they were previously irrelevant. This will present new management challenges for crops, particularly in cropping systems dependent on minor cereals diversification. In Central and Eastern Europe, Secale cereale is a minor cereal that contributes to the diversity of crop species, particularly in marginal areas where wheat cultivation is unfavourable. During 2020-2021, using different chemical and biological pesticide formulations, a plant-pest-pathogen interaction profile was observed on Suceveana rye genotype in a randomized complete block design with three replications in dry area from South of Romania. The best protection against leaf rust (Puccinia recondita f. sp. secalis) was provided by Poliversum (Pythium oligandrum M1, 1×10.000.000 oospors/g product) for the 1st assessment - attack degree = 0.65% and for the 2nd assessment - attack degree = 1.42%, while against pests was provided by Bioinsekt and deltametrin (0.75 ml/ha). Negative and significant correlation of leaf rust attack with grain yield (r =-0.8561***) and pests attack with grain yield (r =-0.8631***) were found during 2020-2021 cropping season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the research was to identify the optimal technology for cultivating industrial hemp, so that the obtained biomass can be fully processed at the farm level, without special equipment in this regard. The variety used in the experiment was Zenit, created by the Agricultural Research and Development Station Secuieni, Neamt county. Within the cultivation technology, three technological variants were tested: uncut plants, plants cut once and plants cut twice ("Secuieni" method of hemp cultivation). The optimal technological variant for the full use of hemp biomass was the cultivation technology with a single cut, where the production of grains and biomass ensured the best economic efficiency of the hemp culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted during 2017-2019, within ARDS Secuieni and aimed to analyse the influence of fertilization and species mixture on fodder quality, as well as the determination of fodder content in crude protein (CP), NDF (neutral detergent fiber), ADF (acid detergent fiber) and calculation of relative forage quality (RFQ). Experimental factors were represented by fertilization (factor A), with four graduations: a1-N0P0; a2-N40P40; a3-N80P40; a4-N80+40P40, and by the mixture of perennial grasses and perennial legumes (factor B), with five graduations: b1 - 20% perennial grasses + 80% legumes; b2 - 65% perennial grasses + 35% legumes; b3 - 70% perennial grasses + 30% legumes; b4 - 70% perennial grasses + 30% legumes; b5 - 80% perennial grasses + 20% legumes. The results showed that the lowest content in crude protein, of 15.24 g/100 g d. s. was achieved in the variant fertilized with N40P40 and the highest value of CP (15.94 g/100 g d. s.) was obtained in the non-fertilized variant (control). The applied fertilizers influenced the crude protein content of each of the studied mixtures, the differences obtained being statistically assured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we intend to provide an updated situation on the land used in organic agriculture system and registered in the database of the Agency for Payments and Intervention for Agriculture - Vâlcea County Center, during the campaigns for submitting single payment applications, related PNDR framework 2014-2020. The amounts granted as financial support for the implementation of Measure 11 - organic agriculture are also highlighted in terms of value. Compared to the areas that benefited from support through Measure 11, it was observed an increase during the studied period from 10.56 ha in 2015 to 6,054.98 ha in 2020, areas that include several categories of land uses: arable land, permanent crops and permanent pastures. As for the number of farmers who have accessed this form of support, it has increased from 3 in 2015 to 37 at the end of 2020. The average value of payments - expressed in euro - at the farmer level registered an increasing trend, starting from 2,138.21 euros in 2015 and reaching a maximum of 16,625.58 euros in 2020, with a total of payments of 615,146.67 euros related to this measure in Vâlcea County, in the year 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bread quality of wheat is one of the most important aspects targeted by crop technologies, given the great diversity of foods obtained from this crop and given the fact that bread is one of the main foods in the daily diet of many people. This paper highlights the role of mineral fertilization with nitrogen on the accumulation of gluten proteins. The study was conducted at SCDA Lovrin, in a long-term experiment with fertilizers. The Lab-on-a-Chip (LoaC) technique was used to extract gliadin and glutenin, followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Ammonium nitrate was used for fertilization, with the following graduation: N0, N30, N60, N90 and N120. Nitrogen fertilizers significantly influence the quality of wheat crop. Thus, the percentage of protein and wet gluten increase by up to 47% and 70%, respectively. The accumulation of glutenins and glutenins at the level of molecular weight, increases exponentially with the dose of fertilizer administered to the crop, the highest values being registered at doses N90 kg / ha and N120 kg / ha, values statistically assured very significant for the probability of transgression of 0.1%. Also, the gliadin / glutenin ratio, whose value is an indicator for the bread quality of the grains, records the best value (as close as possible to 1) in the variant fertilized with the maximum dose of nitrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenges of practicing a sustainable farming system include the use of renewable energy sources, fuels from residual crop biomass or biomass produced for this purpose. From the multitude of crops with high energy potential suitable for cultivation in climatic conditions in Romania, sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. var. Sacharratum). it proves to be one of the most important species, which is highlighted both by its high capacity to generate high yields, but also by the consistency and quality of fresh biomass production. Due to the stalks whose juice is rich in sugar (12-22% Brix), which can be easily converted into biofuel, either directly by fermentation or indirectly by obtaining alcohol, sweet sorghum is enlarged in culture, with obvious tendencies to increase surfaces on the European continent. The data presented in this paper were obtained from a study conducted on the chernozem soil in the Caracal Plain, in order to identify the ability of new hybrids of sweet sorghum to capitalize the climatic conditions specific to the area and to express their productive potential through high yields of fresh biomass with a high sugar content. The obtained data showed that the most valuable hybrid proved to be SASM 1, with a total biomass production of 88.1 t / ha and a ratio of stem participation to total biomass of 81.3%. The average soluble dry matter content (Brix) determined with the portable field refractometer, in the conditions of 2019 year, was 18.2% for the same hybrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was carried out in North-Eastern Romania in order to evaluate the effects of mulching and fertilization on the yield of fresh leaves for the perennial wall-rocket crop - Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) D.C. grown in the tunnel. Comparisons were made between three variants of soil mulching: non-mulched (NM), mulched with white polyethylene (WLDPE) and mulched with black polyethylene (BLDPE) and three variants of fertilization: non-fertilized (NF), chemical fertilization (Ch) and application of microorganisms (M). The best combinations in terms of production were obtained by the variants WLDPE x Ch (25.3 t·ha-1) and WLDPE x M (23.9 t·ha-1), productions that were also supported by the highest Leaf Area Index (LAI) and the highest weight of the dry matter. The highest chlorophyll content was recorded by the NM x Ch variant. Following the experiments carried out, both mulching with white film and chemical fertilization determined good production results, but the combination of the two factors led to the phenomenon of synergism, generating the highest yields. For the fall harvest cycle, the species behaves well in the North-East of Romania conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In ARDS Secuieni soil and weather conditions, we performed a factorial experiment in which three sorghum cultivars grown in Romania were subjected to several crop management sequences. These crop management sequences included four sowing densities and four fertilization doses of nitrogen and phosphorus. The results obtained revealed that fertilization had positive influences on both the phenological characteristics of plants, and on the yield and quality. Sowing density had negative influences on phenological characters and on quality of the grain, but positive on yield. The correlations were positive between fertilization with nitrogen and phosphorus and number of shoots ha-1, yield and grain quality and negative between sowing density and number of shoots ha-1 and grain quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The laborious researches concerning the soybean technology were developed at ICCPT Fundulea and ARDS Turda, but also at other agricultural research stations in the country, but they were few in the pedoclimatic area of Central Moldavia. Thus, under the A.R.D.S. Secuieni pedoclimatic conditions were performed researches at soybean crop in order to establish the optimum sowing epoch (three sowing epochs: early sowing - 04/09/2015, sowing in the optimum epoch - 20/04/2015 and sowing in the late epoch - 04/30/2015), the optimal seeding density (six sowing densities: 30 g.b./sqm, 40 g.b./sqm, 50 g.b./sqm, 60 g.b./sqm, 70 g.b./sqm and 80 g.b./sqm) and the best distance between rows (four distances: 12.5 cm, 25 cm, 37.5 cm and 50 cm). The biological materials used in these experiments were the Eugen and Onyx varieties, created at A.R.D.S. Turda. The results obtained in 2015 agricultural year, which is several droughty characterized, showed that sowing soybean in late epoch was the best option, the yields obtained in these variants reach 2653 kg/ha at the Eugen variety and 3244 kg/ha at the Onix variety. Regarding the sowing density, the 30 g.b./sqm and the 80 g.b./sqm sown variant were remarked as being the best. The yields obtained in this variants were at Eugen variety of 2994 kg/ha when the variety was sown with 30 g.b./sqm and of 3142 kg/ha when this variety was sown with 80 g.b./sqm. The Onix variety has obtained the maximum yield in the variant sown with 30 g.b./sqm of 3041 kg/ha, and in the variant sown with 80 g.b./sqm, the yield was slightly smaller but big enough of 2937 kg/ha. Given the price of soybean seed, the most convenient variant from the economic point of view is the one sown with 30 g.b./sqm, both at Eugen and Onix variety. The distance between rows also had an influence on the soybean yield. Of the four experimented distances tested, it was proven to be superior to all others, the one with 50 cm between rows. In this variant, the yields obtained amounted to 2530 kg/ha at Eugen variety and 2715 kg/ha Onix variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the SWOT analysis of a runner bean crop (Phaseolus coccineus L.) in intercropping system, using maize, sunflower and Jerusalem artichokes as associated plants, in the conditions of North-Eastern Romania. Runner bean can be cultivated in several crop systems, associated or interleaved, depending on the area, traditions, technical possibilities etc. Runner bean cultivation interspersed with maize is traditionally the best known, but it may be successfully done with sunflower or Jerusalem artichoke, whose stem is also the suport system for the runner bean plants. The SWOT analysis shows, as a main advantage, the fact that runner bean is a species with a high level of rusticity and a higher ecological plasticity than the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), due to higher resistance or tolerance to pathogens. Grown in intercropping system, it benefits from an improved microclimate, close to environmental requirements. A weak point is the competition for the elements that are necessary for the growth and development of plants, which interleaving is performed with. As an opportunity, runner bean cultivation in intercropping system can increase quality and quantity of production. Among threats, the adverse weather conditions which may compromise the crop are highlighted. In conclusion, intercropping system can be adopted with good results for runner bean cultivation in the conditions of North-Eastern Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the behavior of the runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.) in three crop trellising systems: with maize plants (intercropping), on individual string on a single row and on trellis with synthetic mesh. Runner bean and maize were sown at the same time, in early May, at a distance of 0.4 m between nests and 1 m between rows . The results were evaluated based on the main morphological and phenological plant features, including those regarding agro-productivity. The results revealed significant differences between the studied variants and highlighted the superiority of trellising system on individual string on a single row. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present the scientific results obtained from A.R.D.S. Secuieni at grain sorghum, experimented for its increased resistance to drought and to determine the grain chemical composition at the most representative varieties that are on the market in Romania. The obtained results showed a high content in protein of the species, smaller than wheat but higher compared to the rest of the cereals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]