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The objectives of this paper are to present the dynamic of organic food and farming (OFF) research and innovation, to outline challenges in deploying programs and accessing funding, and to define key actions to foster the development of tailored quality research on organic farming in Italy. The baseline starts from the main outcomes that emerged during the World Café held in the frame of the Salone Internazionale del biologico e del naturale (SANA Expo) in 2018, where the Italian OFF research community met to build a convergence on scope and modus operandi in the research endeavor. These outcomes were examined in the light of the key features of the research and innovation projects funded in Italy in the last 10 years, respectively by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture and the regional administrations through the innovation support instruments in the Rural Development Plan programming periods. In the period 2009–2018, 70 research projects for a total funding of 21.081 million € (<0.1% of the value of the sector) were launched, addressing nine different topic areas. Over a similar period (2007–2019), 53 regional innovation projects addressing organic farming were activated for a total budget of 14.299 million € (<10% of the entire available funding). The implementation of interventions in the research and the innovation areas were often scattered in terms of the topics, disciplines, and types of supply chain/network addressed. The relatively high share of multi/interdisciplinary research and innovation projects as well as the acknowledgement of the multi-actor approach as a fundamental step toward co-research and co-innovation were upshots that emerged from our analysis. The outcomes of this study can be used by competent national and the regional authorities to design their future research and innovation policies and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb) species is a hexaploid genotype that has a morphologically polygamous gyonodioecious sexual system. D. kaki bears unisexual flowers. The presence of male flowers resulted in the presence of seeds in the varieties. The fruits of persimmon are classified according to their astringency and the pollination events that produced seeds and modify the levels of astringency in the fruit. The presence of seeds in astringent varieties as pollination variant astringent (PVA), pollination variant non-astringent (PVNA) and pollination constant astringent (PCA) resulted in fruits not marketable. Molecular markers that allow selection of the varieties according to the type of flowers at the plantlet stage would allow selection of seedless varieties. In this study, a marker developed in D. lotus by bulk segregant analysis (BSA) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers, named DlSx-AF4, has been validated in a germplasm collection of persimmon, results obtained agree with the phenotype data. A second important trait in persimmon is the presence of astringency in ripened fruits. Fruits non-astringent at the ripen stage named pollination constant non-astringent (PCNA) are the objective of many breeding programs as they do not need removal of the astringency by a postharvest treatment. Astringency in the hexaploid persimmon is a dominant trait. The presence of at least one astringent allele confers astringency to the fruit. In this paper we checked the marker developed linked to the AST gene. Our goal has been to validate both markers in germplasm from different origins and to test the usefulness in a breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water, energy, and biodiversity are essential components for building a sustainable food system in a developing country like Nepal. Green Revolution technologies and the package of practices largely ignored the role of ecosystem services, leaving a large population of small farmers' food- and nutrition-insecure. Biodiversity, especially, agrobiodiversity is in decline and this vital cross-cutting element is less discussed and interlinked in nexus literature. The interlinking food system with water–energy–biodiversity nexus, therefore, is essential to achieve a resilient food system. It ensures the vital structures and functions of the ecosystem on which it is dependent are well protected in the face of increasing socio-economic and climatic stress. This paper reviews the food system of Nepal through the lens of the food–water–energy–biodiversity (FWEB) nexus to develop a more robust food system framework. From this approach, food system foresight can benefit from different nature-based solutions such as agro-ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation and climate-resilient agro-ecological production system. We found that the FWEB nexus-based approach is more relevant in the context of Nepal where food and nutrition insecurity prevails among almost half of the population. Improvement in the food system requires the building of synergy and complementary among the components of FWEB nexus. Hence, we proposed a modified framework of food system foresight for developing resilience in a food system, which can be achieved with an integrated and resilient nexus that gives more emphasis to agro-ecological system-based solutions to make the food system more climate resilient. This framework can be useful in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) numbers 1, 2, 3, 6, 13, and 15 and can also be used as a tool for food system planning based on a broader nexus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biocontrol of crown gall has been practised in Australia for 48 years. Control is so efficient that it is difficult to find a galled stone fruit tree, when previously, crown gall had been a major problem. This paper explains how it works and why only pathogens are inhibited. A commercial biopesticide is available in Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, Turkey, the USA, South Africa and Japan. The challenges of commercialising a biopesticide are outlined. Rigid regulations are preventing the wider use of biocontrol organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is affecting all sectors of human activities worldwide, including crop production. The aim of the paper was to evaluate the average daily air temperatures measured at one hundred meteorological stations across Slovakia in 1961–2010 and calculate the maximum length of the vegetation period for Solanum lycopersicum L., Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata and Daucus carota L. Future trends predictions of the temporal and spatial development across the duration of the vegetation period in Slovakia were elaborated for decades 2011–2020, 2041–2050, 2071–2080 and 2091–2100. Our results show that there was an earlier start to the vegetation period in spring and a later termination in autumn for past 30 years. There is a predicted trend of prolongation of the maximum duration of the vegetation period up to 20 days (Solanum lycopersicum L., Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) and 15 days (Daucus carota L.) in comparison with the refence decade 2001–2010. The maximum vegetation period duration will extend from the south of Slovakia towards the north of the country. The predicted potential increase in crop vegetation periods will be limited by other constraints such as the availability of arable land and soil water availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of a study aimed at assessing the total respiration of arable soil under maize fodder cultivation in the climate conditions of Central Poland over the dry growing season. The study was carried out between 22 April and 30 September 2012 (24 test dates). Total CO2-C emissions from the soil were measured in situ by means of the chamber method. The measured total CO2-C fluxes showed a high variability over the study period (3.63–302.31, mean 84.58 mg CO2-C m−2 h−1). Cumulative CO2-C soil emissions reached 3214.9 kg CO2-C ha−1 during the maize growing season and 106.8 kg CO2-C ha−1 in the post-harvest month. In the specific weather conditions of the year of the study (summer drought), CO2-C fluxes from the soil were stronger correlated with the soil NO3−-N content than with atmospheric temperature and soil moisture. The relationship between total soil CO2-C emissions and soil NH4+-N content was described by a negative correlation. Intensive CO2-C fluxes from the soil coincided with rapid maize development stages (8–15 leaf stage) and, to a lower extent, with earlier leave development stages. Total CO2-C emissions during the emergence, pre-reproductive and reproductive maize stages and, particularly, in the post-harvest period, were lower. Intensive nitrification of the soil, in dry season such as the one of 2012, could serve as an indicator of high CO2-C emissions from the soil. However, further studies are needed to confirm this finding. Decomposers probably used soil NH4+-N in the organic matter degradation process intensively and could compete with nitrifiers and maize roots for this soil source of mineral nitrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Côte d'Ivoire, the use of fertilizers in rice farming still remains low. Credit constraints have been frequently reported as the main reason hampering rice farmers from reversing this situation. However, there is no empirical evidence on the link between rice farmers' access to credit (AC) and fertilizer intensification (FI). This article examines this issue by using a sample of 600 rice farmers randomly selected in seven rice areas. Data are analyzed by the IV-Probit and IV-Tobit models. The results reveal that FI and AC reciprocally influence each other, implying that they are endogenous. An increase of credit by XOF 100 could increase the quantity of fertilizer used by 2.70 kg, all other things being equal. Moreover, FI and AC are strongly influenced by some socio-economic, rice farm, and institutional factors. Policymakers should take actions to facilitate rice farmers' access to credit and subsidized fertilizers. Other relevant explanatory variables should be considered in rice farming development policies. By providing empirical evidence of the link between rice farmers' access to credit and fertilizer intensification in Côte d'Ivoire, this paper contributes to the agricultural finance literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques are largely employed in several fields. As an example, NMR spectroscopy is used to provide structural and conformational information on pure systems, while affording quantitative evaluation on the number of nuclei in a given chemical environment. When dealing with relaxation, NMR allows understanding of molecular dynamics, i.e., the time evolution of molecular motions. The analysis of relaxation times conducted on complex liquid–liquid and solid–liquid mixtures is directly related to the nature of the interactions among the components of the mixture. In the present review paper, the peculiarities of low resolution fast field-cycling (FFC) NMR relaxometry in soil science are reported. In particular, the general aspects of the typical FFC NMR relaxometry experiment are firstly provided. Afterwards, a discussion on the main mathematical models to be used to "read" and interpret experimental data on soils is given. Following this, an overview on the main results in soil science is supplied. Finally, new FFC NMR-based hypotheses on nutrient dynamics in soils are described [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure polyethylene (PE) is enriched with several additives to make it a smart application material in protected cultivation, as a cover material for either greenhouses or screenhouses. When this material completely or partially absorbs ultraviolet (UV) solar radiation, then it is called UV blocking material. The current work presents a review on the effects of the UV blocking covering materials on crop growth and development. Despite the passage of several years and the evolution of the design technology of plastic greenhouse covers, UV blocking materials have not ceased to be a rather interesting technique for the protection of several vegetable and ornamental species. Much of the research on UV blocking materials focuses on their indisputable effect on reducing the activity of pests and viral-related diseases, rather than on the effects on the crop physiology itself. In the present paper, representative studies dealing with the effect of the UV blocking materials on the agronomic factors of different crops are presented and discussed. The results reveal that UV blocking materials have mainly positive effects on the different plant physiological functions, such as photosynthesis and transpiration rate, and on growth characteristics, while they might have a negative effect on the production and content of secondary compounds, as anthocyanins and total phenolics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apples are one of the most kind of important fruit in the world. China has been the largest apple producing country. Yield estimating, robot harvesting, precise spraying are important processes for precise planting apples. Image segmentation is an important step in machine vision systems for precision apple planting. In this paper, an apple fruit segmentation algorithm applied in the orchard was studied. The effect of many color features in classifying apple fruit pixels from other pixels was evaluated. Three color features were selected. This color features could effectively distinguish the apple fruit pixels from other pixels. The GLCM (Grey-Level Co-occurrence Matrix) was used to extract texture features. The best distance and orientation parameters for GLCM were found. Nine machine learning algorithms had been used to develop pixel classifiers. The classifier was trained with 100 pixels and tested with 100 pixels. The accuracy of the classifier based on Random Forest reached 0.94. One hundred images of an apple orchard were artificially labeled with apple fruit pixels and other pixels. At the same time, a classifier was used to segment these images. Regression analysis was performed on the results of artificial labeling and classifier classification. The average values of Af (segmentation error), FPR (false positive rate) and FNR (false negative rate) were 0.07, 0.13 and 0.15, respectively. This result showed that this algorithm could segment apple fruit in orchard images effectively. It could provide a reference for precise apple planting management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the beliefs which drive some agricultural sectors to consider the lunar influence as either a stress or a beneficial factor when it comes to organizing their tasks. To address the link between lunar phases and agriculture from a scientific perspective, we conducted a review of textbooks and monographs used to teach agronomy, botany, horticulture and plant physiology; we also consider the physics that address the effects of the Moon on our planet. Finally, we review the scientific literature on plant development, specifically searching for any direct or indirect reference to the influence of the Moon on plant physiology. We found that there is no reliable, science-based evidence for any relationship between lunar phases and plant physiology in any plant–science related textbooks or peer-reviewed journal articles justifying agricultural practices conditioned by the Moon. Nor does evidence from the field of physics support a causal relationship between lunar forces and plant responses. Therefore, popular agricultural practices that are tied to lunar phases have no scientific backing. We strongly encourage teachers involved in plant sciences education to objectively address pseudo-scientific ideas and promote critical thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the development of a cost-effective automatic system for greenhouse environment control. The architectural and functional features were analyzed in the context of the realization of a controlled-environment agricultural system through all its stages: installation, deployment of the software, integration, maintenance, crop control strategy setup and daily operation of the grower. The proposed embedded platform provides remote monitoring and control of the greenhouse environment and is implemented as a distributed sensing and control network integrating wired and wireless nodes. All nodes were built with low-cost, low-power microcontrollers. The key issues that were addressed include the energy-efficient control, the robustness of the distributed control network to faults and a low-cost hardware implementation. The translation of the supervisory growth-planning information to the operational (control network) level is achieved through a specific architecture residing on a crop planning module (CPM) and an interfacing block (IB). A suite of software applications with flows and interfaces developed from a grower-centric perspective was designed and implemented on a multi-tier architecture. The operation of the platform was validated through implementation of sensing and control nodes, application of software for configuration and visualization, and deployment in typical greenhouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have reported that biochar can improve soil properties which are linked with higher crop yields and this effect is long-term. This paper aimed to study the effects of biochar (0, 10 and 20 t ha−1) and its combinations with N-fertilization (zero, first and second level of N-fertilization) after 3 and 4 years of its application on improving soil characteristics of loamy Haplic Luvisol and crop yields (Dolná Malanta, Slovakia). The results indicated an increase in soil pH (+7%), improvement in sorption properties (hydrolytic acidity decreased by 11%, sum of basic cations and base saturation increased by 20% and 5%, respectively) and soil organic carbon rose by 27% with increasing biochar rate in the soil. N-fertilization applied to biochar treatments was a stabilizing moment in C sequestration even in the case of its labile forms. Overall, humus stability and quality were not significantly changed, however in biochar treatments without N-fertilization, the humus stability and quality decreased 3 and 4 years after biochar application. Yield parameters differed with relation to climate conditions during both vegetation crop seasons, however the combination of 20 t ha−1 of biochar with the first and second level of N-fertilization had the highest potential to increase the grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feed quality of 34 species (27 dicotyledonous and 7 grasses) present in the vegetation of the Pyrenean mountain hay meadows rich in species subject to extensive management is analyzed in this paper. For this, just before mowing, samples were taken in the field and their organic and mineral components were determined in the laboratory. The results indicate that some species, such as Taraxacum officinale, Sanguisorba minor, Chaerophyllum aureum, and Lotus corniculatus, are outstanding in their forage feed value and, in the cases of T. officinale and C. aureum, also for their mineral content. The non-leguminous forbs studied presented quality comparable to legumes and higher than grasses, which provide worse nutritional values in this type of late-cut meadow. The forbs are shown to have higher content than grasses and legumes in Mg, K, and Na, as well as intermediate Ca content. All species present suitable mineral content for animal nutrition, except in the case of P, which is low. The Ca:P ratio is higher than adequate in half of the species analyzed, while the K:(Ca + Mg) ratio is appropriate for all species. The ratios between the elements N, P, and K indicate that most of the species studied grow under N-limited conditions, which are adequate for their conservation in the meadows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being a natural soil-forming process, soil acidification is a major agronomic challenge under humid climate conditions, as soil acidity influences several yield-relevant soil properties. It can be counterbalanced by the regular application of agricultural lime to maintain or re-establish soil fertility and to optimize plant growth and yield. To avoid underdose as well as overdose, lime rates need to be calculated carefully. The lime rate should be determined by the optimum soil pH (target pH) and the response of the soil to lime, which is described by the base neutralizing capacity (BNC). Several methods exist to determine the lime requirement (LR) to raise the soil pH to its optimum. They range from extremely time-consuming equilibration methods, which mimic the natural processes in the soil, to quick tests, which rely on some approximations and are designed to provide farmers with timely and cost-efficient data. Due to the higher analytical efforts, only limited information is available on the real BNC of particular soils. In the present paper, we report the BNC of 420 topsoil samples from Central Europe (north-east Germany), developed on sediments from the last ice age 10,000 years ago under Holocene conditions. These soils are predominantly sandy and low in humus, but they exhibit a huge spatial variability in soil properties on a small scale. The BNC was determined by adding various concentrations of Ca(OH)2 and fitting an exponential model to derive a titration curve for each sample. The coefficients of the BNC titration curve were well correlated with soil properties affecting soil acidity and pH buffer capacity, i.e., pH, soil texture and soil organic matter (SOM). From the BNC model, the LRs (LRBNC) were derived and compared with LRVDLUFA based on the standard protocol in Germany as established by the Association of German Agricultural Analytic and Research Institutes (VDLUFA). The LRBNC and LRVDLUFA correlated well but the LRVDLUFA were generally by approximately one order of magnitude higher. This is partly due to the VDLUFA concept to recommend a maintenance or conservation liming, even though the pH value is in the optimum range, to keep it there until the next lime application during the following rotation. Furthermore, the VDLUFA method was primarily developed from field experiments where natural soil acidification and management practices depressed the effect of lime treatment. The BNC method, on the other hand, is solely based on laboratory analysis with standardized soil samples. This indicates the demand for further research to develop a sound scientific algorithm that complements LRBNC with realistic values of annual Ca2+ removal and acidification by natural processes and N fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the principles of the circular economy requires the effective recycling of organic waste, especially since its volume is increasing from year to year. Therefore, one of the best solutions to solve this problem is the composting of organic waste. This paper presents the results of a comparative study of 10 different composts in terms of their quality. The composts varied with regard to waste materials used for composting, the adopted composting method, and the degree of compost maturity. Both biological (seed germination rate and intensity of plant root growth) and chemical methods (contents of macro- and micronutrients, presence of heavy metals, as well as the quality and quantity of humus compounds) were applied to evaluate the fertilisers, providing comprehensive characteristics of individual composts. It was found that composts prepared on the basis of sewage sludge had the highest contents of macro- and micronutrients as well as heavy metals. In addition, these composts contained the greatest amounts of humic substances, although these were of low quality. These composts also strongly inhibited seed germination and plant root growth. The least desirable chemical composition was found for the composts based on yard trimmings and household wastes prepared in home composters. These composts contained good quality humus compounds and had a positive effect on seed germination and plant root growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silphium perfoliatum L. (Silphium) is one of the most promising perennial herbaceous plants, mainly due to its high biomass yield and multiple uses. It can be grown as a fodder, ornamentally, for energy (mainly as a biogas source), and as a honey crop (source of nectar and pollen for pollinators). Despite the considerable qualities of this crop, the Silphium cultivation area in Europe is small. The main limiting factors are the significant costs of plantation establishment and the lack of biomass yield in the first year of cultivation. Considering these aspects, research was undertaken at the Agricultural Experimental Station Lipnik of West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, to assess two methods of establishing a plantation: generative, by sowing seeds (seeds); and vegetative, by transplanting seedlings grown from seeds (planting), on the yield and quality of Silphium biomass attended for combustion and its heating value and chemical composition. In 2016–2019, annual aboveground biomass was harvested after the end of vegetation to obtain the raw material for combustion. The collected dry mass yield (DMY) of Silphium significantly differed between the years and methods of establishing the plantation. The biomass yields increased in the first two years of full vegetation from 9.3 to 18.1 Mg∙ha−1·yr−1, and then decreased in the third year of vegetation to ca. 13 Mg∙ha−1·yr−1 because of drought. Significantly higher DMY was obtained by sowing seeds (ca. 13.9 Mg∙ha−1·yr−1) compared to the planting method (ca. 13.0 Mg∙ha−1·yr−1), due to the higher plant density obtained after the sowing method compared to the planting method. The calorific value in the third year was the highest and amounted to ca. 17.8 MJ·kg−1 DM. The paper also presents changes in soil chemical properties before and after four years of Silphium cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers an exploratory microeconomic analysis of water use in the cultivation of almonds when water is considered a limiting production factor. When a crop is subjected to water limitation, the microeconomic principles behind irrigation decisions are based upon the water-yield relationship. The analysis is applied to an estimated water-yield response function for irrigated almond trees in southern Spain; our research focuses on determining the optimal irrigation dose when deficit irrigation is applied, as it is usual in water-scarce contexts. The situation in Spain is compared to that of other countries where water rights are less constrained. The economic analysis of the water production function is crucial, since it determines farmers' income and helps them make appropriate management decisions, such as simultaneous decisions regarding the allocation of limited water to crops and the size of the irrigated area for almond production. Furthermore, public institutions need this basic information for the allocation of water in times of increasing water demand and of limited and decreasing resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During air-assisted spraying operations in orchards, the interaction between the droplets and the target leaves has a decisive influence on the retention of the droplets on the leaves and the final deposition state. Based on the observation of the final deposition effect of the droplets in the spray test, the retention state of the droplets on the leaves is divided into three categories: uniform distribution (hereinafter referred to as uniform), accumulation, and loss. During the initial interaction between the droplets and the leaves, the adhesion or sliding state of the droplets has an important influence on the final deposition state of the droplets, which is determined by the target leaf adhesion work in this paper. Based on obtaining the characteristic parameters of the leaf surface, a theoretical model of adhesion work related to parameters such as the contact angle, rough factor, and initial tilt angle of the leaf is established. Afterward, through the connection of the droplet coverage on the macro level, the establishment of the deposition state model of the droplet group on the leaf is completed. By conducting the experiment test based on the Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM), the droplet deposition states under the influence of the spray distance, fan outlet wind speed and droplet size were studied and compared with the predicted values. The test results show that the prediction accuracies of the three states of uniform, accumulation, and loss were 87.5%, 80%, and 100%, respectively. The results of the study indicate that the established prediction model can effectively predict the deposition states of droplets on leaves and provide a reference for the selection of spray operation parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate alters pest populations and in turn, pesticide use and cost as well as use of other pest treatments. This paper analyzes the effect of the climate on pesticide expenditures by category, namely: fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides. This is done by econometrically estimating the effects of climate variables such as mean temperature and precipitation as well as the number of hot days, cold days, and wet days on the mean and variance of expenditures by category. The estimates are performed for corn, soybeans, spring and winter wheat, and potatoes. We find that climate factors influence fungicide, herbicide, and insecticide expenditures and that this influence is heterogeneous, varying in nature across crops and pesticide categories. Moreover, we find that climate extremes are more important in determining pesticide expenditures than climate averages in several cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to conducting measurements on single plants, canopy gas exchange monitored continuously and for large batches of plants can give high-value data for crop physiological models. To this end, a system including eight airtight greenhouse cabins with a ground area of 28.8 m2 and a volume of 107.8 m3 each was designed for measuring the CO2 and H2O gas exchange of crop stands following the general principle of semi-open chambers. The measuring facility consists of a set of mass flow meters allowing air exchange rates between 0.5 h−1 and 19 h−1 (i.e., m3 gas per m3 greenhouse air per hour) and CO2 supply rates up to 4 L min−1 (i.e., ca. 14.9 g m−2 greenhouse h−1) and sensors for measuring the concentrations of CO2 and H2O. There are four separated belowground troughs per cabin for the root environment that can be operated as individual gas exchange chambers measuring the belowground gas exchange for example root zone respiration. This paper outlines a demonstration of the possibilities and constraints for measuring crop gas exchange in combination with crop model validation for larger crop stands under various conditions and discusses them along with examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictions of future climate scenarios indicate that yields from perennial biomass crops (PBCs) growing in the Mediterranean region are likely to decline due to prolonged drought. Among PBCs, Miscanthus grasses with C4 photosynthesis combine high yield potentials and water use efficiencies. However, the standard commercial clone M. x giganteus (Mxg), with minimal stomatal regulation, is too sensitive to drought for reliable yields in the Mediterranean regions. This paper screened a diverse panel of thirteen Miscanthus genotypes (M. sinensis, M. floridulus, M. sacchariflorus and Mxg) to identify which types could maximize yield under summer drought conditions typical in the South Mediterranean climate. In the second growing season, significant differences were observed for plant height (from 63 to 185 cm), stem number (from 12 to 208 stems plant−1), biomass yield (from 0.17 to 6.4 kg DM plant−1) and whole crop water use efficiency (from 0.11 to 7.0 g L−1). Temporal variation in net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and instantaneous water use efficiency identified different strategies adopted by genotypes, and that genotypes selected from M. floridulus and M. sinensis were better adapted to rainfed conditions and could produce six times more biomass than the Mxg. These accessions are being used as parents in experimental breeding aimed at producing future seed-based drought resilient hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lignocellulosic residue from the palm oil industry, oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB), represents a challenge to both producing industries and environment due to its disposal difficulties. Alternatively, OPEFB can be used for the production of valuable products if pretreatment methods, which overcome OPEFB recalcitrance and allow tailored valorization of all its carbohydrates and lignin, are developed. Specifically, high-value applications for lignin, to increase its contribution to the feasibility of lignocellulosic biorefineries, demand high-purity fractions. In this study, acid-catalyzed organosolv using ethanol as a solvent was used for the recovery of high-purity lignin and digestible cellulose. Factors including catalyst type and its concentration, temperature, retention time, and solid-to-liquid (S/L) ratio were found to influence lignin purity and recovery. At the best conditions (0.07% H2SO4, 210 °C, 90 min, and S/L ratio of 1:10), a lignin purity and recovery of 70.6 ± 4.9% and 64.94 ± 1.09%, respectively, were obtained in addition to the glucan-rich fraction. The glucan-rich fraction showed 94.06 ± 4.71% digestibility within 18 h at an enzyme loading of 30 filter paper units (FPU) /g glucan. Therefore, ethanol organosolv can be used for fractionating OPEFB into three high-quality fractions (glucan, lignin, and hemicellulosic compounds) for further tailored biorefining using low acid concentrations. Especially, the use of ethanol opens the possibility for integration of 1st and 2nd generation ethanol benefiting from the separation of high-purity lignin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of bioactive compounds can act in growth stimulation and also influence the biosynthesis of the metabolites in plants. The aim of this paper is to assess the influence of the beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) bark crude extract (BBCE) on the growth and development of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) plants. Special attention was given to the analysis of volatile oil obtained from the sage treated plant. Thus, the biological activity of BBCE was assessed by determining the germination capacity, biomass accumulation, histo-anatomical aspects, and photoassimilatory pigment accumulation, quantitative, and qualitative sage volatile oil analysis. The results show stimulation of the biomass and photoassimilatory pigment accumulation. The mesophyll thickness and the vascular tissue surface are smaller in the treated variants, compared to the control. On the other hand, the amount of volatile oil was significantly higher in the treated plants. In the experimental variants, an increase in the quantity of eucalyptol, camphor, camphene, and α-caryophyllene is observed. The amount of eucalyptol increased in the experimental variant, with about 82%, compared to the control. BBCE could be properly used as natural bioregulators because according to our results seems to improve the yield of the sage crop. The results of this research have the potential to contribute greatly to ecological agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of satellites to monitor crops and support their management is gathering increasing attention. The improved temporal, spatial, and spectral resolution of the European Space Agency (ESA) launched Sentinel-2 A + B twin platform is paving the way to their popularization in precision agriculture. Besides the Sentinel-2 A + B constellation technical features the open-access nature of the information they generate, and the available support software are a significant improvement for agricultural monitoring. This paper was motivated by the challenges faced by researchers and agrarian institutions entering this field; it aims to frame remote sensing principles and Sentinel-2 applications in agriculture. Thus, we reviewed the features and uses of Sentinel-2 in precision agriculture, including abiotic and biotic stress detection, and agricultural management. We also compared the panoply of satellites currently in use for land remote sensing that are relevant for agriculture to the Sentinel-2 A + B constellation features. Contrasted with previous satellite image systems, the Sentinel-2 A + B twin platform has dramatically increased the capabilities for agricultural monitoring and crop management worldwide. Regarding crop stress monitoring, Sentinel-2 capacities for abiotic and biotic stresses detection represent a great step forward in many ways though not without its limitations; therefore, combinations of field data and different remote sensing techniques may still be needed. We conclude that Sentinel-2 has a wide range of useful applications in agriculture, yet still with room for further improvements. Current and future ways that Sentinel-2 can be utilized are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major constraint in highly weathered tropical soils. Although phosphorous rock reserves may last for several hundred years, there exists an urgent need to research efficient P management for sustainable agriculture. Plant hormones play an important role in regulating plant growth, development, and reproduction. Humic substances (HS) are not only considered an essential component of soil organic carbon (SOC), but also well known as a biostimulant which can perform phytohormone-like activities to induce nutrient uptake. This review paper presents an overview of the scientific outputs in the relationship between HS and plant hormones. Special attention will be paid to the interaction between HS and plant hormones for nutrient uptake under P-deficient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A proper understanding of cultivar adaptation to different environments is of great relevance in agronomy and plant breeding. As wheat is the most important crop in Poland, with a total of about 22% of the total sown area, the study of its performance in environments with different productivity levels for consequent cultivar recommendation is of major importance. In this paper, we assess the relative performance of winter wheat cultivars in environments with different productivity and propose a method for cultivar recommendation, by considering the information of environmental conditions and drought stress. This is performed in the following steps: (1) calculation of expected wheat productivity, depending on environmental factors, (2) calculation of relative productivity of cultivars in the environments, and (3) recommendation of cultivars of a specific type and range of adaptation. Soil and weather conditions were confirmed as the most important factors affecting winter wheat yield. The weather factors should be considered rather in shorter (e.g., 10 day) than longer (e.g., 60 day) time periods and in relation to growth stages. The ANCOVA model with genotype and management intensity as fixed factors, and soil and weather parameters as covariates was proposed to assess the expected wheat productivity in particular environments and the expected performance of each genotype (cultivar). The recommendation of cultivars for locations of specified productivity was proposed based on the difference between the expected cultivar yield and the mean wheat productivity, and compared with the Polish official cultivar recommendation list. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf fragments and grain mixture produced by rice threshing with a combine harvester seriously affects the subsequent grain cleaning efficiency. In this paper, rice leaf breaking force was tested at different temperatures and moisture contents to analyze the influence of temperature on the tensile properties of rice leaves. The overlapping regions of rice leaf breaking force and grain separation force at different temperatures were obtained. Based on the rice leaf breaking force, the effect of the temperature change on rice leaf with different moisture content was analyzed. The results showed that tensile strength of rice leaf decreased first, then increased and finally decreased from rice sheath to the top. The tensile breaking force of the leaf sheath was about 75 N (N is Newton, 1 N = 1 kg·m/s²). The tensile fracture resistance of rice leaf was shown to weaken with the increase of temperature. The influence of the moisture content on the mechanical properties of rice leaf during the process of temperature change was small. At 30 to 35 °C, the blade was the strongest tensile fracture resistance, which was the lowest probability of fracture under the same stress condition. At this time, the rice grain separation force has the least coincidence with the rice leaf resistance to breakage. According to the breaking force of different blade layers, the number of blade layers has a significant linear relationship with its tensile limit. Therefore, the overall fracture resistance of the multilayer blade can be improved by controlling the temperature and moisture content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the impact of electromagnetic stimulation of Ulstar alfalfa seeds on fresh mass yield, the quantum efficiency of the plants' photochemical reactions, and the content of photosynthetic pigments in leaves. Before sowing, seeds were subjected to electromagnetic stimulation in the following configurations: control (C), no stimulation; stimulation with He–Ne laser light with the wavelength of 632.8 nm, surface power density of 3 mW·cm−2 and exposition time of 1 min (L1) or 5 min (L5); stimulation with alternating magnetic field with the induction of 30 mT and exposition time of 1 min (F1) or 5 min (F5). It was established that the variability of alfalfa yields at the onset of anthesis was dependent on weather conditions as well as, above all, on the electromagnetic stimulation employed. At the same time, the values of fresh mass yield of alfalfa and photosynthetic efficiency were higher in the first year of cultivation (2014) compared to the last year (2016). In terms of photosynthetic efficiency, the best results were observed for L1 and F5, respectively: 0.801 and 0.800. The significantly highest values in terms of chlorophyll a and b and carotenoid content were observed in 2014 at the onset of budding in the combination involving alternating magnetic field stimulation (F5), and were, respectively, 30%, 28% and 73% relative to the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays the heightened awareness of the critical trend in resource depletion impels to improve the eco − sustainability of any productive process. The research presented in this paper aims to quantify the environmental impact of the emerging productive process of edible flowers, focusing on two model species, i.e., Begonia x semperflorens − cultorum hort and Viola cornuta L., and two types of product, i.e., flowering potted plants sold in plastic vases and packaged flowers ready to be consumed. The study was carried out in an Italian nursery located in Tuscany, interviewing the owners in order to complete the Life Cycle Inventory, assessing the value of the impact categories, and using the "cradle to gate" approach. The information about the production of flowering potted plants and packaged flowers were inserted in a database and elaborated by the appropriate software. The results of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis referred to 1 g of fresh edible flowers and were expressed in four impact categories. Global Warming Potential (GWP) values ranged from 24.94 to 31.25 g CO2 eq/g flowers, Acidification Potential (AP) ranged from 8.169E − 02 to 1.249E − 01 g SO2 eq/g flowers, Eutrophication Potential (EP) ranged from 3.961E − 02 to 5.284E − 02 g PO43 − eq/g flowers, and Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (POCP) ranged from 8.998E − 03 to 1.134E − 02 g C2H4 eq/g flowers. Begonias showed lower emissions than violas in the GWP and POCP indexes, whereas violas showed lower values in the AP and EP impact categories. The most impactful phase was the propagation, accounting on average for 42% of the total emissions. Overall, the findings highlighted a higher environmental load for the production of both begonias and violas packaged flowers, especially if in small containers, rather than as potted plants, with an emission percentage increase from 8% to 17% among the impact categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to verify the applicability of the critical nitrogen concentration dilution curve (Nc) of wheat grown under different irrigation conditions in the field, and discuss the feasibility of using the N nutrition index (NNI) to optimize N fertilizer application. The high-yield, medium-protein wheat varieties Zhoumai 27 and Zhoumai 22 were used in field experiments in two different locations (Zhengzhou and Shangshui) in Huang-Huai, China. Plants were grown under rainfed and irrigation conditions, with five N application rates. Nc models of the leaves, stems, and whole plant were constructed, followed by establishment of an NNI model and accumulative N deficit model (Nand). As previous research reported, our results also showed that the critical N concentration and biomass formed a power function relationship (N = aDW−b). When the biomass was the same, the critical N concentration was higher under irrigation than rainfed treatment. Meanwhile, the fitting accuracy (R2) of the Nc model was also higher under irrigation than rainfed treatment in both sites, and was higher in the stems and whole plant. The NNI calculated using the Nc model increased with increasing N application, reflecting N deficiency. Moreover, there was a significant negative linear correlation between NNI and Nand, and both indices could be uniformly modeled between locations and water treatments. The accuracy of the Nand model was highest in the whole plant, followed by the leaves and stems. The models constructed in this paper provide a theoretical basis for accurate management of N fertilizer application in wheat production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil invertebrates are crucial for agroecosystem functioning yet sensitive to agricultural practices, including fertilization. Considering the postulates of circular phosphorus economy, the use of fertilizers from secondary raw materials is likely to return and increase and may even become obligatory. The effects of recycled fertilizers on soil fauna communities, however, remain poorly understood. In this paper, the effect of phosphorus fertilizer (RecF) and biofertilizer (RecB) from sewage sludge ash and dried animal (porcine) blood on earthworm's occurrence in soil is discussed. RecB is RecF activated by phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria, Bacillus megaterium. Waste-based fertilizers were assessed in field experiments against commercial superphosphate and no P fertilization. Three levels of P doses were established (17.6, 26.4, and 35.2 kg P ha−1). Earthworms were collected after the test crop harvest (spring or winter wheat). In the experiments two earthworm species, Aporrectodea caliginosa and Aporrectodea rosea, were identified. A large proportion of juvenile individuals were recorded in 2017. The recycled fertilizers used in the experiments used in recommended doses, similarly to superphosphate, did not alter the density, biomass, species composition, and structure of earthworms. Further long-term field research is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to elucidate the effects of exogenous brassinolide (BL) on maize germination and seedling growth under chilling stress. The cold-resistant maize hybrid Tiannong 9 and the cold-sensitive hybrid Tianhe 1 were soaked at the germination stage (6 °C) and leaves were sprayed at seedling stage (4 °C), with BL at concentrations of 0, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/L. The germination rate of the maize seeds and the changes in seedling biomass, antioxidant, photosynthetic, and plant endogenous hormone systems and chloroplast ultrastructures were determined. The results showed that the optimum concentration of BL to alleviate chilling stress in maize seedlings was 0.1 mg/L. This rate effectively increased the germination rate and plant biomass of maize and significantly increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rate (Tr), and seedling auxin (IAA), gibberellin (GA3) and trans zeatin nucleoside (t-ZR) contents under chilling stress. In addition, BL significantly reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, abscisic acid (ABA) content, and intercellular carbon dioxide concentration (Ci). In the comparison of mesophyll cells, the chloroplast membrane of the treatment group was tightly attached to the stroma, and some of the plasma membranes were dissolved, but the overall structure of the chloroplast was relatively complete, and the osmiophilic granules were relatively few. The exogenous application of BL can effectively alleviate the damage caused by a low temperature in maize, maintain the normal characteristics of seedlings in chilling environments, and ensure the development and growth of plant tissue in the later stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thus far, knowledge network research has been quantitative research, emphasizing that in limited industries, knowledge creation increasingly strengthens through geographical proximity or institutional connections. Although it has been suggested that knowledge networks should be researched using dynamic rather than static methods, the dynamic process of knowledge networks according to spatiotemporal changes has not been sufficiently researched. This paper uses the Chinese wine industry case to conduct related research. The results show that, first of all, wine-related knowledge creation activities were carried out in the big cities that formed the early market in the mid-2000s, and the geographical conditions in which the spatial scope was expanded were in the places that gradually developed over time. Second, although the spatial scope of knowledge creation activities is expanding with the active participation of private enterprise networks, private enterprises and the overall knowledge creation process are relatively isolated. Finally, in terms of the process of knowledge creation related to wine, in the development of regional linkages organizations relate to the knowledge providers who provide the required information, and have little to do with the geographically close knowledge providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils and crops in orchard agrosystems are particularly vulnerable to climate change and environmental stresses. In many orchard soils, soil biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides are under threat from a range of natural and manmade drivers. In this scenario, sustainable soil use aimed at increasing soil organic matter (SOM) and SOM-related benefits, in terms of soil quality and fertility, plays a crucial role. The role of soil macrofaunal organisms as colonizers, comminutors and engineers within soils, together with their interactions with microorganisms, can contribute to the long-term sustainability of orchard soils. Indeed, the continuous physical and chemical action of soil fauna significantly affects SOM levels. This review paper is focused on the most advanced and updated research on this argument. The analysis of the literature highlighted that a significant part of soil quality and fertility in sustainably-managed fruit orchard agrosystems is due to the action of soil macrofauna, together with its interaction with decomposing microorganisms. From the general analysis of the data obtained, it emerged that the role of soil macrofauna in orchards agrosystems should be seriously taken into account in land management strategies, focusing not exclusively on fruit yield and quality, but also on soil fertility restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) shape information is valuable for fruit quality evaluation. Grading of the fruits is one of the important postharvest tasks that the fruit processing agro-industries do. Although the internal quality of the fruit is important, the external quality of the fruit influences the consumers and the market price significantly. To solve the problem of feature size extraction in 3D fruit scanning, this paper proposes an automatic fruit measurement scheme based on a 2.5-dimensional point cloud with a Kinect depth camera. For getting a complete fruit model, not only the surface point cloud is obtained, but also the bottom point cloud is rotated to the same coordinate system, and the whole fruit model is obtained by iterative closest point algorithm. According to the centroid and principal direction of the fruit, the cut plane of the fruit is made in the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis respectively to obtain the contour line of the fruit. The experiment is divided into two groups, the first group is various sizes of pears to get the morphological parameters; the second group is the various colors, shapes, and textures of many fruits to get the morphological parameters. Comparing the predicted value with the actual value shows that the automatic extraction scheme of the size information is effective and the methods are universal and provide a reference for the development of the related application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the effects that action 112 of the Rural Development Policy had on the socioeconomic status of Slovenian dairy farms. The data used in this paper were collected from Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), a database for applicants in action 112 (young farms transferees), from whose applications for participation in this action the data were obtained. Twenty-eight different econometric models were developed during the first stage of the research. The evaluation of the models was subsequently performed by applying valid statistical and econometric criteria. The results reveal the main positive effects that action 112 had on socioeconomic indicators of the dairy farms: number of full-time labor power, number of head of large livestock, total revenue (in euros) and net value added. Statistically significant differences in benefits from action 112 among dairy farms were determined by using two sets of dummy variables: region and level of education. The research in the field of the effect of the rural development policy action support of young farmers on socioeconomics performance of milk farms can make a significant contribution to developing the researchers' work and policy makers' decisions. Furthermore, this research is important from the agronomic point of view, since its results support two of the basic goals of Common agricultural policy after 2020: environmental care and conservation of landscape and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the effects of foliar application of the seaweed extracts Bio-algeen S90 (Ascophyllum nodosum) and Kelpak SL (Ecklonia maxima), as well as the humic and fulvic acids ini HumiPlant (leonardite extract), on the assimilation area and chlorophyll content of very early potato cultivars ('Denar', 'Lord', Miłek'). The field experiment was carried out in central-eastern Poland over three growing seasons, using Luvisol. The biostimulants were applied according to the manufacturers' recommendations. The use of biostimulants resulted in enlargement of the assimilation area, but had no effect on the specific leaf area (SLA) or chlorophyll content (Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) value). The assimilation area was larger, on average, by 0.0505 m2 and leaf area index (LAI) was higher by 0.30 compared with the plants from the control group without a biostimulant. The SLA and SPAD depend on the cultivar and weather conditions, or nitrogen and magnesium content in soil, to a greater extent. The biostimulants enhanced abiotic stress tolerance and increased marketable tuber yield (diameter above 30 mm) 75 days after planting (the end of June), on average by 2.15 t·ha−1. Bio-algeen S90 and Keplak SL produced better results in a warm and very wet growing season, whereas HumiPlant produced better results in a year with lower air temperature and with drought periods during potato growth. No correlations were found between the tuber yield and assimilation area or between the tuber yield and SPAD value, although a significant negative correlation was found between the tuber yield and SLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uses of the agricultural surface of hay meadows and crops of the mountain areas of the Spanish central Pyrenees are subject to constant transformations. This paper addresses the changes produced in the hay meadows of the Ésera river valley of the central Pyrenees (Spain) regarding the surface and the agronomic and topographic characteristics of the parcels between 1956–1986 and 1986–2016. The cartographed area is 5226 hectares, of which 1941 hectares correspond to 6416 polygons that have been mowed or cultivated on one of the three reference dates. In the period 1956–1986, there is a reduction in the agricultural area of meadows and crops (13.59%) in favor of pastures, forest, urbanized land, and water reservoirs. The surface of the meadows increases to 301.58%, to the detriment of the crops, until almost their disappearance. Between 1986 and 2016, the area of meadows is reduced to 59.11%, and the area of pastures, forests, and urbanized land increases. The topographic characteristics of the parcels with respect to surface, altitude, slope, width, and terracing and distance to the communication routes determine mechanized access and management and discriminate the transformation to pasture and forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofertilizers are increasingly explored for sustainable micronutrient delivery in agriculture. Pre-treating seeds with nanofertilizers prior to planting (i.e., seed priming) reduces concerns about nanoparticle (NP) fertilizer non-target dispersion; however, priming formulations and concentrations must be carefully selected to avoid germination inhibition and toxicity. Here we investigate changes in corn seed germination and seedling development after seed priming with ZnO NPs, ZnO bulk and ZnCl2. To evaluate the effects sterile seeds were immersed in priming solutions of 0, 20, 40, 80, 160 mg L−1 Zn for the three Zn sources. Following an 8 h priming the seeds were evaluated for germination and vigor for 5 days on germination paper. Root and shoot lengths were measured as well as fresh and dry biomass. Compared to the control, the ZnO NP and ZnCl2 seed priming promoted beneficial effects. ZnO NP seed-priming exhibited a concentration dependent profile in improving seedling growth, with greatest benefit around 80 mg L−1, providing 17%, 25% and 12% higher values than control for germination, root length, and dry biomass production, respectively. In contrast, seeds primed with bulk ZnO did not differ from the control. These findings support NP-seed priming as an alternative to delivery of essential micronutrients, such as zinc, to corn seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the tensile strength (Q) and porosity of Dystric Cambisol cylinders with and without biochars (0.1% or 5% dose) obtained from wood waste (BC1) and sunflower husks (BC2). The experiments were performed on air-dried and wetted artificial aggregates remolded from unfractionated soil and its selected fractions (1–0.25, 0.25–0.1, 0.1–0.05, and <0.05 mm). The obtained results indicated that the biochar addition reduced the tensile strength of all examined samples, regardless of the type of biomass used in pyrolysis. This effect was more significant with the larger biochar dose of 5%. When cylinders formed from a wetted 1–0.25 mm fraction with 5% BC2, the Q reduction equaled as much as 0.048 MPa. The noted decrease in tensile strength was mainly associated with the formation of macropores in the cylinders (of maximum radii: 4.77 µm BC1 and 5.78 μm BC2). The highest tensile strength was observed in the air-dried samples formed from the largest silica-rich fraction (1–0.25 mm) without biochar (0.078 MPa for the air-dried cylinders and 0.066 MPa for the wetted ones). The higher Q parameter for the air-dried remolded soil aggregates was probably related to the dehydration of soil gels and the thermal transformation of iron and alumina oxides during drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calls for a global food system transformation and finding more sustainable ways of producing healthier, safe and nutritious food for all have spurred production approaches such as sustainable intensification and biofortification with limited consideration of the copious amounts of orphan crops, traditional varieties and wild edible species readily available in many countries, mostly in and around smallholder farmers' fields. This paper explores the potential role of locally available; affordable and climate-resilient orphan crops, traditional varieties and wild edible species to support local food system transformation. Evidence from Brazil, Kenya, Guatemala, India, Mali, Sri Lanka and Turkey is used to showcase a three-pronged approach that aims to: (i) increase evidence of the nutritional value and biocultural importance of these foods, (ii) better link research to policy to ensure these foods are considered in national food and nutrition security strategies and actions, and (iii) improve consumer awareness of the desirability of these alternative foods so that they may more easily be incorporated in diets, food systems and markets. In the seven countries, this approach has brought about positive changes around increasing community dietary diversity and increasing market opportunities for smallholder growers, as well as increased attention to biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision Farming (PF) and Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) are well known concepts within agriculture, but the adoption rate of these practices by farmers is still very low, because farmers lack the needed skills or fail to see the benefits of using these practices. If farmers want to reap the full benefits, operational planning must be carried out in advance for the entire crop cycle, before the crop season begins. However, operational planning across the entire crop cycle is a non-trivial task, since the efficiency of each operation is determined by a range of selected operational features (e.g., wayline direction, operational speed, vehicle capacity, wayline sequence, and turn type). To that end, we present, in this paper, an application that can support farmers with operational planning of field operations with CTF, by automating the process. It provides the farmer with an overview of all his field operations, and acts as a decision support tool during the operational planning process. The application allows farmers to store and manage field and equipment information, which is used as input, when setting up CTF and generating way lines and route plans for the individual fields. One of the key benefits of the application is the provided comparison feature, where farmers can compare alternative solutions, based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Results from an example field, for operations with different machine setups, are presented to illustrate how KPIs and visualisations can support farmers during the decision process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk management in agriculture is at the heart of major reforms in many OECD countries and European agricultural policies. Price risks, which are generally not insurable per se, have been covered by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which has been shaped as a system of protection against market shocks and an instrument for income stabilization. However, there is an increasing propensity to combine the use of public and private risk management tools as well. In Spain, revenue insurance has not yet developed in the same way as other risk coverage insurance, although it is an upcoming target of agricultural insurance policies with the aim of ensuring income stability for agricultural producers. This paper presents the results of the methodology used to draw up a composition index or model of the average price for the season or representative market field price to be used for revenue insurance purposes in citrus fruit. High explanatory power regression models and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) were used. The results show that the average price for the season obtained reliably represents the market field prices in the country's various producer areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information that crops offer is turned into profitable decisions only when efficiently managed. Current advances in data management are making Smart Farming grow exponentially as data have become the key element in modern agriculture to help producers with critical decision-making. Valuable advantages appear with objective information acquired through sensors with the aim of maximizing productivity and sustainability. This kind of data-based managed farms rely on data that can increase efficiency by avoiding the misuse of resources and the pollution of the environment. Data-driven agriculture, with the help of robotic solutions incorporating artificial intelligent techniques, sets the grounds for the sustainable agriculture of the future. This paper reviews the current status of advanced farm management systems by revisiting each crucial step, from data acquisition in crop fields to variable rate applications, so that growers can make optimized decisions to save money while protecting the environment and transforming how food will be produced to sustainably match the forthcoming population growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is an essential component of food security, sustainable livelihoods, and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Smallholder farmers, however, are restricted in the number of crops they can grow due to small plot sizes. Agriculture inputs, such as fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides, and improved seed varieties, could prove to be useful resources to improve yield. Despite the potential of these agriculture technologies, input use throughout much of SSA remains low. This paper aims to better understand the process of innovation diffusion through information and interaction processes at the individual, social network, and community levels. A total of 203 participants were surveyed using a semi-structured interview method in four rural communities located in the Mbale, Lira, Kabale, and Masaka districts of Uganda. Participants were asked about their access to information technologies, information sources via social network ties, level of engagement in the local community, and agricultural input use. Results indicate households with higher levels of information access through cell phone use and weak-tie information sources are more likely to use inputs. Significant findings also include the interactional effect of cell phones and weak ties on fertilizer adoption. This research could inform policy makers of cost-effective methods of disseminating agriculture information and encouraging innovation diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote and non-destructive estimation of leaf area index (LAI) has been a challenge in the last few decades as the direct and indirect methods available are laborious and time-consuming. The recent emergence of high-throughput plant phenotyping platforms has increased the need to develop new phenotyping tools for better decision-making by breeders. In this paper, a novel model based on artificial intelligence algorithms and nadir-view red green blue (RGB) images taken from a terrestrial high throughput phenotyping platform is presented. The model mixes numerical data collected in a wheat breeding field and visual features extracted from the images to make rapid and accurate LAI estimations. Model-based LAI estimations were validated against LAI measurements determined non-destructively using an allometric relationship obtained in this study. The model performance was also compared with LAI estimates obtained by other classical indirect methods based on bottom-up hemispherical images and gaps fraction theory. Model-based LAI estimations were highly correlated with ground-truth LAI. The model performance was slightly better than that of the hemispherical image-based method, which tended to underestimate LAI. These results show the great potential of the developed model for near real-time LAI estimation, which can be further improved in the future by increasing the dataset used to train the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing interest within the peach and nectarine markets in obtaining and selling ready-to-eat fruits. For this, pre-ripening protocols are being applied, which do not always result in sufficiently juicy fruits. Therefore, the aim of this study is the development of objective instrumental procedures for quantification of the juiciness attributes of these fruits. In this work, we evaluated the juiciness of more than 2000 fruits belonging to 20 of the varieties of greatest interest in the southeast of Spain. An instrumental mechanical procedure based on the confined compression of a pulp specimen of known volume was designed and optimized. Instrumental juiciness was defined as the wet area (cm2) on an absorbent paper located under the compression probe. This test allowed for the defining of objective thresholds for the identification of juicy fruits; 90% of the fruits with areas higher than 5.4 cm2 were considered to be juicy. Complementarily, non-invasive supervision by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, based on pulp structural changes during ripening, allowed for estimation of the instrumental juiciness with coefficients of correlation above 0.83. The results of these instrumental procedures contribute to supporting decision tools in the logistics chain of stone fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasingly advanced remote sensing systems, more accurate retrievals of crop water status are being made at the individual crop level to aid in precision irrigation. This paper summarises the use of remote sensing for the estimation of water status in horticultural crops. The remote measurements of the water potential, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, canopy 3D structure, and vigour for water status estimation are presented in this comprehensive review. These parameters directly or indirectly provide estimates of crop water status, which is critically important for irrigation management in farms. The review is organised into four main sections: (i) remote sensing platforms; (ii) the remote sensor suite; (iii) techniques adopted for horticultural applications and indicators of water status; and, (iv) case studies of the use of remote sensing in horticultural crops. Finally, the authors' view is presented with regard to future prospects and research gaps in the estimation of the crop water status for precision irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The domestication of novel or hitherto wild food crops is quickly becoming one of the most popular approaches in tackling the challenges associated with sustainable food crop production, especially in this era, where producing more food with fewer resources is the need of the hour. The crop breeding community is not yet completely unanimous regarding the importance of crop neo-domestication. However, exploring the unexplored, refining unrefined traits, cultivating the uncultivated, and popularizing the unpopular remain the most adequate steps proposed by most researchers to achieve the domestication of the undomesticated for food and nutrition security. Therefore, in the same line of thought, this paper explores the agro-morphological characteristics of some wild Vigna legumes from an inquisitive perspective to contribute to their domestication. One hundred and sixty accessions of wild Vigna legumes, obtained from gene banks, were planted, following the augmented block design layout of two agro-ecological zones of Tanzania, during the 2018 and 2019 main cropping seasons for agro-morphological investigations. The generalized linear model procedure (GLM PROC), two-way analysis of variance (two-way ANOVA), agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to analyze the accession, block and block vs. accession effects, as well as the accession × site and accession × season interaction grouping variations among accessions. The results showed that the wild species (Vigna racemosa; Vigna ambacensis; Vigna reticulata; and Vigna vexillata) present a considerable variety of qualitative traits that singularly exist in the three studied checks (cowpea, rice bean, and a landrace of Vigna vexillata). Of the 15 examined quantitative traits, only the days to flowering, pods per plant, hundred seed weight and yield were affected by the growing environment (accession × site effect), while only the number of flowers per raceme and the pods per plant were affected by the cropping season (accession × season effect). All the quantitative traits showed significant differences among accessions for each site and each season. The same result was observed among the checks, except for the seed size trait. The study finally revealed three groups, in a cluster analysis and 59.61% of the best variations among the traits and accessions in PCA. Indications as to the candidate accessions favorable for domestication were also revealed. Such key preliminary information could be of the utmost importance for the domestication, breeding, and improvement of these species, since it also determines their future existence—that is, so long as biodiversity conservation continues to be a challenging concern for humanity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]