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The development of introduced pulse varieties has made valuable contributions to the development of the global agricultural industry, and China is one of the largest pulse producers in the international market. A special type of pulse, the red kidney bean, has made a major contribution to improving the rural economy. Taking Kelan County, Shanxi Province, as an example, this paper expounds on the formation of the kidney bean industry and its impact on local development. The existing research used a qualitative case study (QCS) method to examine the driver and impact of kidney beans in the agricultural industry. This study found that (1) the development of the kidney bean industry has benefited from its adherence to a market demand-oriented strategy, focusing on breeding and retaining excellent varieties, and vigorously supporting the construction of technical systems and the cultivation of the main body of the industrial chain. Developing new varieties, creating brands, and industrial integration are the key driving forces for development. (2) The kidney bean industry promotes local development by increasing farmers' income, forming a more complete kidney bean supply chain, highlighting the brand effect, and promoting sustainable rural development. This study suggests that disease-resistant and mechanized-adapted varieties need to be developed in the future. Market and demand trends should be constantly monitored when determining reproductive paths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) is an important crop grown worldwide as a food and fodder crop owing to its potential nutritional and feed values. High-efficiency herbicide varieties is crucial to achieving efficient weeding and ensuring successful foxtail millet production. Herbicides affect several morphological and physiological indicators of foxtail millet. In this study we aimed to evaluate the damage caused by herbicides, improve their effectiveness, and select indicators that accurately reflect herbicide resistance in foxtail millet. Jingu 21, which has the largest planting area in Shanxi province and even the whole of China, is selected as the experimental material to be sown in the field in 2022. A total of 31 herbicides were applied, and 21 traits, including morphological, physiological, and yield-component traits, were measured to assess millet resistance. Principal component analysis was employed to transform these 21 conventional traits into seven independent and comprehensive indexes. These indexes were screened using regression analysis, resulting in the selection of the following indicators: the surface area of the second leaf from the top, peroxidase activity, catalase activity, malondialdehyde content, chlorophyll (a + b), grain weight per ear, and yield. Through membership function and cluster analyses, the resistance of Jingu 21 to 31 herbicides was divided into five categories: extremely weakly resistant, weakly resistant, moderately resistant, strongly resistant, and extremely strongly resistant. Jingu 21 exhibited extremely strong resistance to lactofen, butachlor, and anilofos. After an investigation into the effectiveness of herbicides, it was found that eight herbicides had good effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production plays an extremely important role in the southeast of the Loess Plateau. Planting patterns have great influence on improving soil water storage and yield, and should be matched with different seeding rates. In order to assess the effect of different sowing methods on the drought resistance and stable yield of dryland wheat, a field experiment was conducted in Wenxi County Dryland Wheat Experimental Base in Shanxi Province, China. In the current study, the effects of three planting techniques (drilling sowing, furrow sowing, and film-mulched sowing) and four seeding rates (150, 225, 300, and 375 kg ha−1) were examined on water storage, dry matter formation, yield, and water use efficiency (WUE). The results showed that furrow sowing (FS) and film-mulched sowing (FM) treatments increased soil water storage in the 0–300 cm soil layer at overwintering and jointing stages. In addition, FS and FM increased soil water consumption in the 0–300 cm soil layer from overwintering to maturity of wheat. Furthermore, FS and FM significantly increased the dry matter accumulation from the overwintering to the mature stage, promoted its accumulation in vegetative organs and translocation to grains after anthesis, viz., increased yield by 6.2% and 7.9%, and WUE by 4.6% and 5.3%, respectively, as compared with those of the drilling sowing (DS) treatments. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that grain yield had a significantly positive correlation with soil water storage at overwintering and jointing. Moreover, grain yield was significantly positively correlated with soil water consumption in the 0–300 cm soil layer from jointing to maturity. Additionally, the seeding rate of 150 kg ha−1 with FS could obtain higher WUE and grain yield. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the seeding rate of 150 kg ha−1 is used with FS to improve the grain yield and WUE of dryland agricultural systems in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]