Search

Despite garlic (Allium sativum L.) being recognized as the second most important species in the Allium genus, a limited number of varieties are available worldwide. Aiming to develop new purple garlic varieties, a representative sample was used to determine the extent of phenotypic variability for commercially desirable characteristics. Initially, 360 bolting bulbs were selected based on their size and abundant external scales. After further assessment, 243 bulbs were discarded due to undesirable traits such as light purple color, numerous small cloves, or damage from Fusarium spp. and mites. Although garlic reproduces asexually, each bulb was considered to represent a distinct family. Thus, 117 families were planted in a randomized complete block design during the 2021–2022 growing season. Physiological, morphological, and phenological traits were assessed for each family, along with damages caused by pests and pathogens. As a result of these evaluations, 103 families were selected for a second trial the following season. Due to increased selection pressure, only 23 families remained in the program at the end of the second trial. High variability was observed for most traits, with a strong influence from family lineage. Environmental conditions significantly impacted the performance of the families, highlighting the need to evaluate them under diverse environments. The high variability within the selected sample indicates a strong potential for developing new garlic varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protection of high-yielding winter wheat (WW) with fungicides increases the productivity of nitrogen (N) present in the soil–crop system during the growing season. As a consequence of the action of fungicides, the nitrogen gap (NG) reduces. This hypothesis was verified on the basis of data from a field experiment conducted with WW during three growing seasons (2013/2014; 2014/2015, 2015/2016) in Poland. The field experiment included two crop protection systems (CP): (i) CP-0—without fungicides and CP-F—with fungicides and (ii) six N doses increased gradually by 40 kg N ha−1 from 0 to 240 kg N ha−1. The grain yield (GY) of WW treated with fungicides was significantly higher than that of the unprotected. The difference in yields between both CP systems was 17.3% on a plot fertilized with 200 kg N ha−1 (9.13 vs. 11.2 t ha−1). The fungicide yield gap increased progressively with Nf doses from 0.76 t ha−1 in the Nf control plot to 2.17 t ha−1 in the fertilized with 200 kg ha−1. The use of fungicides increased the amount of N in grain (Ngr) from 15 kg N ha−1 in the control N plot to 51 kg N ha−1 in the plot with 200 kg N ha−1. The main source of additional N in grain (Ngr) was inorganic N released from the soil (Ng89) during the WW growing season. The maximum Ng89 values were 64.4 and 83.0 kg N ha−1. These values corresponded to Nf doses of 94.4 and 80.8 kg N ha−1. The Ng89 of 70.1 kg N ha−1 conditioned 100-percentage Nf recovery. As a consequence, the prediction reliability of GY and Ngr was highest when Ng89 was used as a predictor. The net increase in the absolute NG size in response to increasing N input was significantly slower and therefore smaller in fungicide-protected than in unprotected WW. It can be concluded that the use of fungicides due to the increase in inorganic N productivity in the soil–crop system reduces the potential threat of N dispersion into the environment. In the light of the results obtained, it should be concluded that the fungicidal protection of crop plants should be treated as a factor significantly reducing the nitrogen gap and, thus, the yield gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The globally increasing frequency of extreme drought events exacerbates the contradiction between the supply of water and the demand for high-quality urban greening. However, the mechanism of the response of urban shrubs to drought stress remains unclear. In this study, three typical urban shrubs (Euonymus japonicus, golden vicary [Ligustrum × vicaryi], and Japanese purple barberry [Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea]) that are used for greening in northern China were exposed to three levels of water (full irrigation, natural rain-fed, and extreme drought) in different periods of the growing season (April to May, June to July, and August to September) to investigate the responses of leaf water potential and photosynthetic parameters. The main results were as follows: (1) all the leaf water potentials (Ψ) and photosynthetic parameters (Pn) showed a typical linear relationship along the water gradient in the middle of the growing season. Extreme drought decreased the photosynthetic rates by 1.26~11.03 μmol·m−2·s−1 compared with the irrigated groups. However, the responses were less pronounced in the early and late growing seasons. (2) Different shrubs responded with different intensities and mechanisms. B. thunbergii var. atropurpurea showed clear anisohydric behavior throughout the whole growing season, while L. × vicaryi and E. japonicus showed stronger isohydric behavior during the early and late growing seasons. These findings are important to improve the sustainability of maintenance of ornamental plants from the scope of the efficient utilization of urban water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare Fe, Zn, Mn, Al and Li contents in table potato tubers, obtained from seven potato cultivars with different flesh colour, and one cultivar characterised by light-coloured flesh. The study material consisted of potato tubers produced in a one-factor field experiment carried out at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Zawady belonging to the University of Siedlce, Poland (52°03′ N, 22°33′ E) in 2021–2023. The following cultivars were tested: Eurostar (light yellow flesh), Rote Emmalie and Herbie 26 (red flesh), Provita, Salad Blue, Blaue Annelise, Vitelotte Noire and Bora Valley (purple and blue flesh). The study showed that the genetic characteristics of the cultivars determined the nutrient content and uptake with tuber yield. Of the tested minerals which are important for human nutrition (Fe, Zn, Mn), red and purple cultivars accumulated more Fe than the light yellow-fleshed Eurostar. Zn content was the highest in red-fleshed cultivars compared with light and purple-fleshed cultivars. Mn content was the highest in the tubers of the light yellow-fleshed Eurostar and lowest in red Rote Emmalie. Fe, Zn, Mn and Al contents and uptake with tuber yield were influenced by weather conditions during the growing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The winged bean is only one of the members of the leguminous species that has the potential for duo-purpose for its pod and tuber yields. The protein and nutritional content in the tuber can be used as alternative crops for animal feed. Previous studies identified the winged bean varieties as having high potential for tuber production, although their tuber development remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the development of winged bean tubers based on their size and weight during eight months of growth. Tuber yields of high-potential winged bean varieties (W018 and W099) were compared to commercial varieties (Ratchaburi) under field conditions over two years. The experiments were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications in the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 growing seasons. The tuber formation of winged bean exhibited a significant increase in tuber weight and size in the fourth month of growth in all varieties, with a gradual change from fibrous roots to tubers. Particularly in the W018 and W099 varieties, tuber development persisted up to eight months after transplanting. On the other hand, the Ratchaburi variety had small tuber size, resulting in the tubers weighing less than in the W018 and W099 varieties. The results indicated that winged bean varieties had different tuber development, with the W018 and W099 varieties being suitable for tuber harvesting at eight months. The large tuber size can be an appropriate alternative to animal feed materials. At the same time, the Ratchaburi variety requires only five months since it is cultivated primarily for tuber consumption, which is concerned with size and shape. Moreover, the yields of the W018 and W099 varieties were significantly higher compared to Ratchaburi at 22.4, 19.3, and 7.423 T/ha in the 2021–2022 growing season and 8.4, 7.9, and 5.6 T/ha in the growing season of 2022–2023, respectively. The protein content in the winged bean tubers increased to 13.00% at eight months. The years (Y) and genotypes (G) differed considerably for tuber formation. The variation in both Y and G and the shoot/root ratio are also discussed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drip irrigation with saline water is frequently adopted to realize the sustainable utilization of saline–sodic soil with high water tables, and soil enzyme activities can be used to indicate changes in soil quality. In the current study, spatiotemporal changes in soil urease enzyme (URE), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and invertase (INV) activities were investigated during consecutive growing seasons. Soil in beds was sampled before planting (0 y) and one, two, three and four years after the growing season (1 y, 2 y, 3 y, 4 y), and these samples were distributed at four horizontal distances from the drip line (0, 10, 20 and 30 cm) and four vertical soil depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–30 and 30–40 cm). The results showed that a distribution pattern of URE and ALP activities formed during the first growing season, while the distribution of INV activity formed until the third growing season. All three soil enzyme activities in the upper soil layers and positions close to the drip line were more greatly affected by planting year. The average URE activity of the soil profile decreased slightly during the first year and increased by about 220% and decreased by 20% after reclamation for two and three years, and finally, it increased to 4.9 μg NH4+·g−1·h−1 at the end of the fourth growing season. ALP activity remained stable during the first two years and rapidly increased in the following years; in particular, in the fourth year, it reached 32.7 μg ph(OH)·g−1·h−1. INV activity increased continually with the number of years after planting and reached 1009.0 μg glu·g−1·h−1 at the fourth season's end. An analysis of variance indicated that URE, ALP and INV activities varied insignificantly among the time points of 0 y, 1 y, 2 y and 3 y (p < 0.05), while they were significantly higher for 4 y than for 0 y and 1 y. In addition, all three enzyme activities of the soil profile had an exponentially increasing trend with the number of years after planting. These results indicated the soil quality in saline–sodic soils could be improved with time under drip irrigation with local saline groundwater, especially around the drip line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate assessment of the rise in nitrous oxide (N2O) under global changes in grasslands has been hindered because of inadequate annual observations. To measure the seasonal response of N2O emissions to increased water and nitrogen (N) deposition, one year round N2O emissions were investigated by chamber weekly in the growing season and every two weeks in the non-growing season in semi-arid temperate grasslands northern China. The results showed the temperate semi-arid grassland to be a source of N2O with greater variability and contribution during the non-growing season. The individual effects of water or N addition increased N2O emissions during the growing season, while the effects of water or N addition depended on the N application rates during the non-growing season. Soil properties, particularly soil temperature and water-filled pore space (WFPS), played key roles in regulating N2O emissions. Structural equation modeling revealed that these factors explained 71% and 35% of the variation in N2O fluxes during the growing and non-growing season, respectively. This study suggested that without observations during the non-growing season it is possible to misestimate the annual N2O emissions and the risk of N2O emissions increasing under global change. This would provide insights for future management strategies for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antioxidant properties, betalain profiles and biochemical composition were studied in table beets with maroon and yellow root colors. Features of dynamic changes during the growing season were described. Significant differences in antioxidant activity were found in table beet accessions with differently colored roots. Negative dynamics of antioxidant activity were observed in all accessions. Statistically significant differences were registered among the accessions in the total amounts of phenolic compounds, chlorophylls, and betalains. The group of maroon accessions demonstrated strong positive correlations between their antioxidant activity and total phenolics (r = 0.91), antioxidant activity and betacyanins (r = 0.80), and between betacyanins and phenolics (r = 0.90). The antioxidant activity in the accessions with yellow roots was associated with chlorophyll b (r = 0.85), ascorbic acid (r = 0.83), and total phenolics (r = 0.83). The data are presented on the structure of betalains in two table beet groups contrasting in their root color. The results of the study made it possible to identify key components in the biochemical profile of differently colored beetroots, associated with their high antioxidant activity. Dynamic changes were shown for the antioxidant activity and fractional composition of betalains in table beet during its growing season, and a conclusion was made concerning the higher nutritional value of maroon cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to investigate the interactions among wheat varieties and microorganisms within rhizosphere and how conventional agriculture affects these dynamics during the growing season. Indeed, little is known about how commercial bread varieties modulate root exudates and how agrochemicals affect the microbiological processes. Therefore, this study investigated the changes in soil microbiological features such as enzyme activities (β-glucosidase, xylosidase, glucoronidase, chitinase, leucine-aminopeptidase, acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterases, inositol phosphatase, phosphodiesterase, pyrophosphatase–phosphodiesterase, arylsulphatase) and microbial biomass as a function of treatment (fungicides and plant growth regulator—PGR) and wheat varieties (Skyfall, SY Moisson, Aquilante, Bandera, Tintoretto, Antille, and Bologna) at the sowing, heading, and harvesting stage. A total of 168 samples (2 treatments × 7 varieties × 3 field replicates × 4 sub-samples taken in each plot) were collected in each period and analyzed. We found that soil microbial biomass was a sensible indicator in the fungicide/PGR application, with reduced values in treated plots at the heading. At this stage, the soil enzymatic activities were in general more expressed, confirming that the microbial processes are more proactive due to the growth of plants. Overall, the soil enzymatic activities responded differently according to the wheat varieties, highlighting specific capabilities to interact with microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the responses of winter wheat yield to meteorological dryness/wetness variations is crucial for reducing yield losses in Henan province, China's largest winter wheat production region, under the background of climate change. Data on climate, yield and atmospheric circulation indices were collected from 1987 to 2017, and monthly self-calibrating Palmer drought severity index (sc-PDSI) values were calculated during the winter wheat growing season. The main results were as follows: (1) Henan could be partitioned into four sub-regions, namely, western, central-western, central-northern and eastern regions, based on the evolution characteristics of the time series of winter wheat yield in 17 cities during the period of 1988–2017. Among them, winter wheat yield was high and stable in the central-northern and eastern regions, with a remarkable increasing trend (p < 0.05). (2) The sc-PDSI in February had significantly positive impacts on climate-driven winter wheat yield in the western and central-western regions (p < 0.05), while the sc-PDSI in December and the sc-PDSI in May had significantly negative impacts on climate-driven winter wheat yield in the central-northern and eastern regions, respectively (p < 0.05). (3) There were time-lag relationships between the sc-PDSI for a specific month and the atmospheric circulation indices in the four sub-regions. Furthermore, we constructed multifactorial models based on selected atmospheric circulation indices, and they had the ability to simulate the sc-PDSI for a specific month in the four sub-regions. These findings will provide scientific references for meteorological dryness/wetness monitoring and risk assessments of winter wheat production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal for food sovereignty, extensively planted due to its adaptation to various agroecological conditions. Climatic conditions and pests can affect its production. Concerning the latter, natural enemies could be considered in biological control programs. The objective of this study was to estimate the influence of the presence of insects, damage to plants and cobs, and their incidence on corn yield in two planting seasons. During the rainy (February to May) and dry seasons (Jun to October) of the year 2023, in Calceta, Lodana, and Quevedo, three important corn-growing areas on the Ecuadorian coast, corn plots of 1126 m2 were planted. The diversity of phytophagous and natural enemies was estimated. Damage to young plants and cobs was observed, and corn yield was determined. Of the 9073 insects observed, 44.2% and 55.8% constituted phytophagous and natural enemies, respectively. A moderate diversity (Shannon-H Index = 2.474–2.629 and Margalef Index = 2.734–3.110) of insects associated with corn was determined. Yield (range: 6.9 to 15.3 t) was negatively correlated with rainfall and cob damage (p < 0.05). Although precipitation is necessary for planting in rainy season, frequent and intense rains could be affect corn yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro-induced microrhizomes are promising for producing disease-free planting materials in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), spice and medicinal crops threatened by several soil-borne diseases. The study examined microrhizome induction, genetic homogeneity, and field performance in ginger. The condition combination of 3.0 mg·L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), 100 g·L−1 sucrose, and a 12-h photoperiod (the optimal conditions) produced the largest number of microrhizomes among all treatments but resulted in a lower average fresh weight during the 60-day culture period. Larger microrhizomes exhibited greater tolerance to water loss and a higher percentage of sprouting. Therefore, additional efforts were made to increase the size of the microrhizomes. Under the optimal conditions, the fresh weight increased significantly to 280.3 mg and 403.4 mg after 30 days of additional culture and in vitro culture of small-sized microrhizomes, respectively. Flow cytometry analysis and SSR characterization confirmed the genetic homogeneity of the regenerated plants with microrhizomes (MR) and those obtained by directly sowing sprouted microrhizomes into the substrate without acclimatization (FMR). At harvest, the MR had the most robust growth, a significantly higher fresh rhizome weight (206.1 g per plant) than the FMR (121.8 g per plant) and conventional tissue-cultured plants (TC), and similar rhizome finger size (11.5 g and 10.2 cm2) to the FMR. These findings suggest that both the MR and the FMR have advantages over the TC in producing seedling rhizomes of ginger in the first growing season. The established approach may be useful for large-scale production of disease-free ginger rhizomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using conservation tillage to grow crops that enhance soil quality, such as legumes, seems to be one of the best solutions for sustainable agriculture. The field study was conducted to identify the effect of soil cultivation technology and fertilization, via strip-tilling (reduced) vs. plowing (conventional), on the availability and uptake of NPK and Mg, as well as on the growth of shoots and roots and yield of green peas (Pisum sativum L.). The research was carried out in central Poland (53°05′16.8″ N, 19°06′14.4″ E) over two growing seasons of green peas in 2016 and 2017. Our study has shown that the spatial distribution of macroelements in the soil is influenced by the tillage method. The availability and nutrient uptake by green peas, their growth parameters, and yield were also influenced by the tillage system. However, the effect was observed mainly in the first year of the study, which had less precipitation and higher temperatures. In general, in our study, the strip-till has a positive impact on the nutrient uptake by plants, contributing to longer shoots and roots and higher biomass accumulation, especially in the first part of the growing season. In 2016, with less rainfall, green peas under strip-tilling produced more pods per plant and the yield was higher than under plowing (by 13.8%). In 2017, with higher precipitation, an increase in yield under strip-tilling compared to plowing was also observed (by 9.1%), but this difference was not statistically significant. To sum up, strip-tillage seems to have a positive impact on the spatial distribution of macroelements, growth parameters, and yield of green peas, and can be recommended as a technology for the sustainable production of this crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of remote sensing, which is non-destructive and cost-efficient, has been widely used in crop monitoring and management. This study used a built-in multispectral imager on a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to capture multispectral images in five different spectral bands (blue, green, red, red edge, and near-infrared), instead of satellite-captured data, to monitor soybean growth in a field. The field experiment was conducted in a soybean field at the Mississippi State University Experiment Station near Pontotoc, MS, USA. The experiment consisted of five cover crops (Cereal Rye, Vetch, Wheat, Mustard plus Cereal Rye, and native vegetation) planted in the winter and three fertilizer treatments (Fertilizer, Poultry Liter, and None) applied before planting the soybean. During the soybean growing season in 2022, eight UAV imaging flyovers were conducted, spread across the growth season. UAV image-derived vegetation indices (VIs) coupled with machine learning (ML) models were computed for characterizing soybean growth at different stages across the season. The aim of this study focuses on monitoring soybean growth to predict yield, using 14 VIs including CC (Canopy Cover), NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), GNDVI (Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), EVI2 (Enhanced Vegetation Index 2), and others. Different machine learning algorithms including Linear Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest (RF) are used for this purpose. The stage of the initial pod development was shown as having the best predictability for earliest soybean yield prediction. CC, NDVI, and NAVI (Normalized area vegetation index) were shown as the best VIs for yield prediction. The RMSE was found to be about 134.5 to 511.11 kg ha−1 in the different yield models, whereas it was 605.26 to 685.96 kg ha−1 in the cross-validated models. Due to the limited number of training and testing samples in the K-fold cross-validation, the models' results changed to some extent. Nevertheless, the results of this study will be useful for the application of UAV remote sensing to provide information for soybean production and management. This study demonstrates that VIs coupled with ML models can be used in multistage soybean yield prediction at a farm scale, even with a limited number of training samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to assess the health status and seed yield of selected soybean cultivars grown in the climate conditions of Central Europe. The health of 22 soybean cultivars was assessed during the study period (2017–2022). Cultivars from two earliness classes (1 and 2) were included in order to capture the entire spectrum of variation in the degree of infection with seven fungal diseases throughout the growing season, i.e., from sowing to harvest. Based on analysis of meteorological conditions in the critical phase of soybean development (from flowering to pod formation), two distinct periods were distinguished according to temperature and rainfall: normal (2017–2019) and anomalous (2020–2022). Ward's cluster analysis distinguished two clusters that differed in terms of the weather conditions and severity and number of diseases observed for analyzed soybean cultivars during six years of the study. The first cluster included the period 2017–2019, which was characterized as normal in terms of temperature and rainfall. The second cluster included the period 2020–2022, which was characterized as anomalous in terms of temperature and rainfall. In the normal years (2017–2019), only Fusarium of the leaves was not observed during the soybean growing period. Seven diseases were observed in the anomalous years (2020–2022), and the degree of infection of the plants was greater. The Aligator cultivar in class 2, with a longer growing period, showed the highest yield stability. In the anomalous years, yield stability was highest for the class 2 cultivar Viola and lowest for the Acardia cultivar of the same class. In the whole study period, the Abelina cultivar (class 1) had a low coefficient of variation for yield, which means that this soybean cultivar is one of the most stable in terms of yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increasingly frequent unfavorable climate changes, achieving a high grain yield of wheat is a challenge for breeders. The relationships between wheat productivity and photosynthesis traits are not very well understood during the growing season. This study investigated the effect of chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters (maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry (TRO/ABS) and performance index on absorption basis (PIABS)) on grain yield and the yield-related and technological quality traits of six wheat varieties over two growing seasons. In the first growing season (2021/2022), grain yield was significantly positively correlated with 1000 kernel weight and TRO/ABS at the second measurement point (growth stage 25 (GS 25)). Only the highest-yielding variety Bubnjar (104.0 dt ha−1) showed values of TRO/ABS at the same significance level between the second and third measurement points. Due to elevated virus and disease infections in the second growing season (2022/2023), the grain yield of the investigated varieties decreased between 37.9% (Bubnjar) and 67.6% (Anđelka) relative to the first growing season. The three highest-yielding varieties (Bubnjar, Rujana, and Silvija) in 2022/2023 were the tallest, were later in maturity, escaped yellow rust pressure at the stem elongation stage more efficiently, and also showed the lowest increase in TRO/ABS at this stage (fourth measurement point at GS 47, compared to the third at GS 32). In addition, the highest-yielding variety Bubnjar showed the highest increase in PIABS at the last measurement (seventh) at GS 71 compared to the sixth (GS 69), thus maintaining the vitality of flag leaves at the grain-filling stage, while the other varieties showed a very small increase or even a significant decrease. Therefore, plant photosynthetic activity over the entire growing season contributes to crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suboptimal temperatures at sowing and emergence affect the early development of maize, with potentially irreversible effects later in the growing season. We studied recovery from cold stress of an inbred line (B73) and 13 Doubled Haploid lines derived from a European flint maize landrace. After a cold treatment (20–12 °C, day–night) from sowing to seedling establishment, seedlings were transplanted and grown in the greenhouse until the V8 stage (eight leaves fully developed), when we measured agronomically relevant plant traits and spectral indices of mature leaves. Survival rates of transplanted seedlings after cold treatment ranged from 10% to 100%. After a strong delay in early development due to cold, the surviving plants were able to compensate for this delay at later stages of recovery. They reached the V8 stage after only five more growing degree days than plants grown under the control treatment (25–18 °C, day–night). Plants from the most cold-tolerant genotypes (PE0401 and PE0100) accumulated more root and shoot biomass at the end of the recovery phase compared with the same genotypes exposed to the control treatment. The genotypes with the most plastic leaf morphological traits (PE0161 and PE0072) had little reduction in leaf biomass at the end of the recovery phase in comparison with less responsive genotypes such as PE0171. We conclude that genotypes that survived cold treatment with minimal cold damage of seedling leaves can be candidates for further cold recovery studies and breeding. Nevertheless, such studies must take trait acclimation for other suboptimal conditions into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The yield of cowpea varieties is affected by environmental variability. Hence, candidate varieties must be tested for yield stability before release. This study assessed the impacts of genotypes, environments, and their interaction on the performance of elite cowpea lines for key adaptive, grain yield, and associated traits across different locations. A total of 42 elite genotypes were evaluated in five Nigerian environments, representing various savanna ecologies, during the 2021 growing season. The experimental design employed was an alpha lattice arrangement, with each genotype replicated three times. The results revealed significant differences among genotypes, environments, and genotype-by-environment interaction (G × E) for most traits, including days to maturity, 100-seed weight, and grain yield. The genotype and genotype-by-environment interaction (GGE) biplot showed G21 (IT14K-2111-2) and G25 (IT15K-2386-1) as the most stable genotypes across the five environments, G41 (IT11K-61-82) was best adapted to Ibadan and Shika, G5 (245-1) was best adapted to Bagauda and Gumel, and G30 (IT16K-2365-1) was best adapted to Bauchi. G21 (IT14K-2111-2) and G25 (IT15K-2386-1) could be recommended across the five test environments, whereas G41 (IT11K-61-82), G30 (IT16K-2365-1), and G5 (245-1) were specific to the adapted environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial residue nitrogen can indicate soil quality and is crucial for soil nitrogen retention and supply. However, it is still unclear how the dynamic changes in soil microbial residue nitrogen affect crop nitrogen uptake in agricultural practice. Based on a long-term wheat-maize rotation experiment with different nitrogen application rates (150 kg N ha−1, 200 kg N ha−1, and 300 kg N ha−1), 15N-labeled nitrogen fertilizer was applied during the wheat season to track the dynamics of soil microbial residue nitrogen and its mediated fertilizer nitrogen. The results showed that nitrogen addition was beneficial to the accumulation of microbial residue nitrogen (mainly fungal microbial residue nitrogen). Its contribution rate to soil total nitrogen is 54.87–56.55%, and the fertilizer nitrogen allocated to it accounts for 27.10–47.50% of the remaining fertilizer nitrogen in the soil. Ultimately, 6.77–10.24% of the nitrogen fertilizer applied remained in the soil as microbial residue nitrogen. In addition, microbial residue nitrogen is mainly mineralized during the jointing and filling stages of wheat. In a word, the accumulation and mineralization of soil microbial residue nitrogen during the application of 200 kg N ha−1 better guaranteed the uptake of nitrogen by wheat, which provided a reliable basis for guiding farmland fertility improvement and nitrogen fertilizer reduction in the North China Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A better understanding of the responsiveness of grain phenotypic indices to terminal water stress (TWS) in wheat might help explain grain weight variations and determine which grain traits are most affected. A two-year field experiment (2020–2021 and 2021–2022) was conducted to identify how TWS and exogenous cytokinin application might affect grain weight and grain dimensions in three bread wheat cultivars using high-throughput digital image phenotyping. The results showed that the effects of growing seasons, irrigation, and cultivars were significant on grain weight and phenotypic indices. In our study, TWS significantly reduced thousand grain weight (24.62%, 14.65%) and grain development in the width directions MinFeret, i.e., minimum caliper diameter (10.70%, 6.64%) and Minor, i.e., the minor axes of the best fitted ellipses to the grains (10.91%, 6.65%), or synthesized indices including Area/Perim. (9.01%, 5.42%), Area × Circ. (17.30%, 10.13%), Minor/Solid. (10.26%, 6.32%), MinFeret/Solid. (10.01%, 6.11%), Area × Solid (13.94%, 7.96%), Perim. × Circ. (9.07%, 5.42%), A1 (29.99%, 17.09%), and A2 (30.20%, 17.27%) in each growing season, respectively. Regardless of the factors causing these variations, a sustained relationship was found between thousand grain weight and phenotypic indices, with significant positive correlations. The stronger positive correlation between thousand grain weight and grain width indices (r ≥ 0.965) showed important implications for grain development and filling. The Torabi cultivar performed better than the Sirvan and Pishgam in both growing season conditions. In addition, the technical advantages of developing phenotyping approaches, the present study could contribute to a better physiological evaluation of wheat cultivars in multivariate environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Texas, the cotton fleahopper (Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter)) is considered a highly economically damaging pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Current control methods rely heavily on foliar chemical insecticides throughout the growing season. Considering the cost of insecticides and the critical timeliness of their application, chemical control methods are often not optimized to reduce potential yield losses. The Mpp51Aa2.834_16 gene in cotton (ThryvOn) has shown effectiveness against thrips and several piercing and sucking mirid insect pests, suggesting it has the potential to mitigate yield losses caused by the cotton fleahopper. Choice and no-choice caged feeding assays were conducted to assess the impact of cotton fleahoppers on ThryvOn cotton square retention under controlled laboratory conditions. In the choice assay, feeding by cotton fleahoppers significantly reduced square retention in the gene-lacking cotton to 46%, while the ThryvOn cotton retained 60% of the squares. In the no-choice assay, cotton fleahopper nymph feeding significantly reduced square retention in the cotton not expressing Mpp51Aa2 to 61%, whereas the ThryvOn cotton was unaffected. Based on the differences in square retention observed in both the choice and no-choice feeding assays, our findings indicate that the Mpp51Aa2 protein influences cotton fleahopper feeding preferences and the susceptibility of cotton plants to damage caused by cotton fleahoppers. Our study offers confirmation of the activity of ThryvOn on cotton fleahoppers observed in the field. The ThryvOn trait's activity towards cotton fleahoppers is consistent with that found for other mirid pests in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is one of the main crops in Uzbekistan, which makes a major contribution to the country's economy. The cotton industry has played a pivotal role in the economic landscape of Uzbekistan for decades, generating employment opportunities and supporting the livelihoods of countless individuals across the country. Therefore, having precise and up-to-date data on cotton cultivation areas is crucial for overseeing and effectively managing cotton fields. Nonetheless, there is currently no extensive, high-resolution approach that is appropriate for mapping cotton fields on a large scale, and it is necessary to address the issues related to the absence of ground-truth data, inadequate resolution, and timeliness. In this study, we introduced an effective approach for automatically mapping cotton fields on a large scale. A crop-type mapping method based on phenology was conducted to map cotton fields across the country. This research affirms the significance of phenological metrics in enhancing the mapping of cotton fields during the growing season in Uzbekistan. We used an adaptive feature-fusion network for crop classification using single-temporal Sentinel-2 images and automatically generated samples. The map achieved an overall accuracy (OA) of 0.947 and a kappa coefficient (KC) of 0.795. This model can be integrated with additional datasets to predict yield based on the identified crop type, thereby enhancing decision-making processes related to supply chain logistics and seasonal production forecasts. The early boll opening stage, occurring approximately a little more than a month before harvest, yielded the most precise identification of cotton fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is well established in the Texas High Plains as a drought-tolerant forage that often requires additional feed to provide adequate protein for livestock. Intercropping sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), a legume, with forage sorghum, may increase crude protein. However, the optimal intercrop seeding ratio of sunnhemp to sorghum to improve crude protein content and maintain sufficient biomass is unknown. A two-year field experiment was conducted near Canyon, TX, USA, in 2020 and 2021 using sunnhemp intercropped at three seeding rates (16.8, 33.6, and 50.4 kg ha−1) with forage sorghum at four seeding rates (0, 2.8, 5.6, and 11.2 kg ha−1) under drip irrigation. This study was conducted to (1) evaluate growth potential for sunnhemp in a semiarid environment, (2) find a seeding ratio that can maintain forage sorghum dry matter production and improve forage quality, and (3) determine if a midseason harvest can be supported and further improve quality of the forage produced. Midseason, full-season, regrowth biomass, and forage quality were evaluated. Results indicated that a sunnhemp–forage-sorghum intercrop produced dry matter comparable to forage sorghum when sufficient heat units were obtained in the growing season. Forage with higher nutritive value was produced when the intercrop was harvested twice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural montane peatlands are generally not a significant source of nitrous oxide (N2O) due to environment limitations, including phosphorus (P) scarcity and temperature lowness. Phosphorus enrichment and warming caused by global change are altering these limitations, and are likely to increase the source function of N2O. However, the combined effects of P addition and warming on N2O fluxes and biotic/abiotic factors in peatlands are still uncertain. To address this, we investigated the long-term (12 yrs) effects of P addition (5 and 10 kg ha−1 yr−1) and its interaction with warming on N2O fluxes in a peatland. The results showed that although long-term P addition did not significantly affect the source/sink function of N2O in the peatland, it stimulated enzyme activities and promoted peat decomposition. However, warming amplified the effect of P addition to increase N2O emissions by stimulating enzyme activities and changing soil stoichiometry, so even turned the peatland into a significant source of N2O with an emission of approximate 100 g m−2 during the growing season. Our study suggests that P enrichment against the current background of global warming will enhance the possibility of strong N2O emissions in montane peatlands, which may increase the risk that global warming will be further aggravated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic soil productivity (BSP) is the productive capacity of farmland soils with their own physical and chemical properties during a specific crop season under local field management. Improving BSP as an effective way to increase or maintain crop yield, and researching its changes and potential driving factors under long-term fertilization are crucial for ensuring high and stable crop yields. In this study, the yields of BSP were simulated using the decision support system for agrotechnology transfer (DSSAT) crop model based on three long-term experiments, and its changing characteristics and driving factors were investigated under various fertilization treatments in wheat–maize rotation systems during 1991–2019. Five treatments were included: (1) unfertilized control (CK); (2) balanced mineral fertilization (NPK); (3) NPK plus manure (NPKM); (4) high dose of NPK plus manure (1.5NPKM); and (5) NPK plus crop straw (NPKS). This study found that the BSP of wheat and maize exhibited a fluctuating increase or stable change trend under four fertilization treatments at the Yangling (YL) and Zhengzhou (ZZ) sites, while a fluctuating reduction trend was observed at the Qiyang (QY) site. Compared with CK, NPKM, 1.5NPKM and NPKS significantly (p < 0.05) improved the BSP of wheat and maize at the YL and ZZ sites. The BSP of both maize and wheat under NPKM and 1.5NPKM was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that under NPK or NPKS, whereas no statistically significant difference was found between NPK and NPKS at the QY site. The contribution rates of basic soil productivity (CBSP) of maize and wheat at the YL (41.5–60.7% and 53.0–64.3%) and ZZ sites (44.4–59.2% and 56.8–66.7%) were overall higher than that at the QY site (25.8–37.6% and 48.3–60.1%). In most cases, the difference in CBSP among different fertilization treatments was consistent with that in BSP. Moreover, a significant positive correlation was recorded between BSP and soil pH (r = 0.73, p < 0.01; r = 0.87, p < 0.01), TN (r = 0.56, p < 0.01; r = 0.62, p < 0.01) and TK content (r = 0.49, p < 0.01; r = 0.58, p < 0.01) in maize and wheat. Soil pH significantly correlated positively with the BSP of maize (R2 = 0.54, p < 0.001) and wheat (R2 = 0.49, p < 0.001) at the QY site, but negative correlation (R2 = 0.20, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.30, p < 0.001) was only found in maize at the YL and ZZ sites. The BSP of maize and wheat showed a significant negative linear correlation with MAP (R2 = 0.49–0.67, p < 0.001) and MAT (R2 = 0.36–0.62, p < 0.001). Random forests (RF) and variance partitioning analysis (VPA) revealed that soil properties and its interaction with the climate showed a higher explanation rate for BSP, indicating that these factors are the key drivers of BSP change. Overall, chemical fertilizers combined with manure can effectively increase BSP, while the effects of fertilizer combined with straw on BSP vary by region. The changes in BSP in wheat–maize cropping were mainly driven by both the soil and its interactions with the climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to assess the yield of three soybean varieties of different earliness classes (Merlin, Coraline, and Viola) grown using two sowing dates (early vs. optimal) and different technologies (soil protected with biodegradable film vs. without soil protection–conventional cultivation). A three-year (2019–2021) field experiment was conducted at the Bayer Technical Advisory Center in Chechło, Poland (50°23′ N 18°44′ E). The three-factor experiment was set up in a randomized split-plot design in three replicates. The experimental factors were (i) sowing date, (ii) cultivar, and (ii) cultivation technology. The effect of agrotechnical factors and their interaction with the weather on selected biometric traits and seed yield was assessed. The results indicated that the weather conditions and its interaction with agrotechnical factors significantly influenced the biometric traits and seed yield of soybean. Optimal hydrothermal conditions significantly increased analyzed parameters and seed yield. However, too much rainfall in August had negative effects on biometric traits. It was proved that, early sowing adversely affected soybean yield. Sowing at the optimal date, i.e., the end of April, resulted in a yield of 3.8 t ha−1. The use of biodegradable film in the year with more rainfall increased soybean yield by 1 t ha−1 compared to the year with less rainfall. The early 'Merlin' cultivar grown in the system with biodegradable film produced significantly more pods and seeds per plant and a higher pod weight per plant. The cultivars with a longer growing season ('Viola' and 'Coraline') responded negatively to cultivation in the modern technology. The use of biodegradable film is recommended for cultivars with a short growing season, sown at the optimal time and in regions with moderate to high rainfall totals during the growing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of sulfur is an important factor in potato production. At the beginning of this study, a hypothesis was put forward according to which sulfur carrier affects yield (TY) and nitrogen efficiency (EN). The three-year study was conducted in a two-factor system: (1) sulfur fertilization, SF (control—without S, elemental sulfur—S0, calcium sulfate—CS), and (2) nitrogen fertilization level, NF (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 kg N·ha−1). In addition to TY, the following EN indicators were analyzed: agronomical efficiency (EA), physiological efficiency (EPh), partial factor productivity (PFP), and recovery (R). For both sources of sulfur, an increase in TY was confirmed. After applying CS, the optimum for the maximum yield was 106 kg N·ha−1, while the application of S0 resulted in 134 kg N·ha−1. The impact of SF on the nitrogen economy decreased in the direction of EA = PFP > EF > R and depended on the sulfur carrier. A positive trend was found, associated with the increase in R under the influence of S0 and the clearly higher EPh after the application of CS. A particularly strong effect of CS on EA was evident in the range of lower nitrogen doses. The EN values depended on the meteorological conditions during the research years. The strongest variability was subject to EPh, which, as a result of SF, was significantly higher in relation to the control (without S) during the growing season, with an unfavorable distribution of precipitation. The application of CS reduced the unit nitrogen uptake (UU-N). Using path analysis, a direct relationship of Ca accumulation (controlled by N and S) with TY was demonstrated. The conducted research indicates a significant impact of sulfur fertilizers, related to TY and EN, especially visible under conditions of limited nitrogen supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Finland, there is an ongoing adoption and learning process considering the cultivation of cover crops (CCs). The primary aim is to claim the benefits of CCs for agricultural production and ecosystems, which are both appreciated by Finnish farmers. A farmer survey with 1130 respondents was carried out to build an up-to-date understanding of how farmers have succeeded with CCs and whether they intend to continue with the use of CCs and to collect farmers' views on knowledge gaps that should be filled by research or better knowledge sharing. The studied groups were farmers who had selected CCs as a registered measure in 2020 to receive agricultural payments. Data came from the Finnish Food Authority. Organic farmers were slightly more positive: they have had longer experience with CCs, but organic production is also more dependent on the ecosystem services provided by CCs. A high share of respondents agreed that their experiences with CCs have improved over time and were confident that CCs had become a permanent element of their production systems. Most of the farmers also agreed that the area under CCs would expand significantly in Finland and considered the cultivation of CCs as an effective measure to improve soil conditions. They often considered that challenges in adopting CCs were exaggerated and disagreed that bad experiences prevented them from expanding or continuing the use of CCs. The agricultural payment available for Finnish farmers to support the cultivation of CCs is quite reasonable (EUR 97 + EUR 50 per hectare) to compensate for any economic risks of CCs. Free word answers from the farmers highlighted research needs (in descending order) in the following areas: crop protection, sowing practices, the use of diverse CCs and their mixtures, and impacts on yield and profitability. Many of these are universal, i.e., have been reported elsewhere. Younger farmers (≤50 years) highlighted profitability, which is, in many European countries, a key barrier to the deployment of CCs. Farmers from the east and north regions, where the growing season is short, highlighted alternative CC choices as a knowledge gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spring durum wheat occupies over 0.5 M ha in Kazakhstan and represents an important domestic and export commodity. This study aimed to characterize 151 durum wheat cultivars and advanced lines originating from eight breeding programs of the Kazakhstan–Siberia Spring Wheat Improvement Network (KASIB) between 2003 and 2018. The phenotypic characterization was performed in two contracting evaluation sites more than 1000 km apart (Almaty in the Southeast and Shortandy in the North) for two years and a total of 11 agronomic traits were recorded. Field trials at both locations followed regional agronomy practices, including sowing, harvesting, and genotype evaluation using a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The growing season was longer in Almaty, resulting in a higher number of grains per spike. Though grains are smaller in size with an overall higher yield, 243 g/m2 versus 170 g/m2, there was no correlation between germplasm performance at the two sites. Molecular characterization was performed with 10 iPBS-retrotransposons primers that resulted in a total of 345 bands and showed a mean polymorphism of 91.9%. Mean values of gene diversity (0.251), Shannon's information index (0.388), and expected heterozygosity (0.233) revealed a relatively high level of genetic diversity in the KASIB set. AMOVA revealed higher genetic variations due to differences within the populations. Marker-based cluster analysis, including STRUCTURE and neighbor-joining algorithms, divided the material into two populations with clear differences in geographic origin. Superiors and diverse germplasm identified in the study are recommended for marker assisted selection and breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phased warming in late winter and early spring can increase winter wheat grain yield. However, the effects of different durations of warming during this period on winter wheat grain yield and quality are not yet clear. Therefore, this study conducted field warming experiments in a movable polyethylene greenhouse during the late winter and early spring stages of the three wheat growing seasons from 2019 to 2022. The results showed that the accumulated growing degree days (GDD) of the warming treatment during the warming period were increased by 87.3–215.7 °C d compared to the control (CK). The warming treatment advanced and prolonged the duration of vegetative growth and spike differentiation after regreening, promoted spike and flower development, and increased grain length, grain width, and grain area. During the three growing seasons, the longer the warming duration (WD) of the warming treatment, the more obvious were the observed promoting effects on the kernel number per spike and 1000-kernel weight. From 2019 to 2021, compared to the CK, the spike number per unit area and grain yield of the warming treatments increased with the prolongation of WD. However, in the 2022 growing season the spike number per unit area and grain yield of the warming treatment were increased with longer WD, reaching the maximum at WD of 56 days and then gradually decreasing with longer WD. Compared to CK, the grain protein content, wet gluten content, and sedimentation value of the warming treatment decreased with the prolongation of WD. The promotion effect of longer WD on grain starch content and protein yield was more significant. In summary, the accumulated GDD during the warming period compared to CK was 155.8–181.2 °C d, and at WD of 50–56 days a relatively higher grain yield and protein yield could be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) improves rice drought tolerance, but its effects on rice yield and quality under drought stress during the reproductive phase remain unclear. A pot experiment was conducted to measure rice yield, grain quality, and starch physicochemical properties under three treatments: continuous flooding irrigation throughout the whole growth season (CF), ten days of −40 kPa drought stress at the heading stage (DS), and foliar spraying 100 μmol L−1 MeJA on the first three days of the ten-day −40 kPa heading stage drought stress (DM). An inbred japonica rice variety, Huaidao 5, was the experimental material, and each treatment had 11 replicates for sampling. The results indicated that DS significantly reduced rice yield and quality compared to CF. With increases in superoxide dismutase (+22.2%), peroxidase activities (+10.5%), catalase (+5.0%), and proline content (+5.7%), DM significantly increased 1000-grain weight (+8.6%), filled grain percentage (+3.6%), and yield (+11.1%) compared with DS. Regarding grain quality, DM significantly decreased the chalkiness degree (−12.3%) and protein content (−3.9%) but increased the amylose content (+17.2%) and taste value (+7.3%) relative to DS. In addition, DM improved breakdown viscosity (+17.8%), gelatinization enthalpy (+17.2%), retrogradation enthalpy (+28.0%), 1045/1022 cm−1 ratio (+3.0%), and starch granule morphology compared to DS. In conclusion, exogenous application of 100 μmol L−1 MeJA enhanced the antioxidant capacity of rice leaves, and thus improved starch physicochemical properties to increase grain yield and quality under terminal drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humic acids are plant biostimulants, which can be used in horticulture as an effective and relatively inexpensive alternative to chemical means of production. The aim of the study was to assess how the fertiliser containing humic acids affected the growth, yield, and quality of strawberry fruits. In 2021, an experiment was conducted on two-year-old strawberry bushes (Fragaria× ananassa (Duchesne ex Weston) Duchesne ex Rozier) of the 'Rumba' cultivar growing on a horticultural farm in northern Wielkopolska, Poland. During the growing season, the soil was fertilized by the mineral fertilization and the bushes were sprayed two, three, or four times with the Humi Brown Gold fertiliser containing humic acids. In the experiment, the soil enzymatic activity, biometric parameters of strawberry leaves, fruit yield and fruit quality was assessed. It was determined that, in the experimental treatments where foliar fertilisation had been applied, the activities of proteases and dehydrogenases as well as soil respiration increased by more than double and were significantly higher than in the variants where soil fertilisers had been applied. The strawberry bushes treated with the humic acids fertiliser developed more than 60% larger surface leaves, bloomed more intensively and gave a higher yield. Fruits with significantly higher firmness were harvested from such bushes, with higher weight and extract content than those where the soil fertiliser had been applied. The difference was several tens of percent. This leads to the conclusion that the foliar application of humic acids could be an effective alternative to mineral fertilisation in strawberry plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity of fodder legumes, based on internal sources of N, may be limited due to an insufficient supply of nutrients responsible for the efficient use of N accumulated by the crop during the growing season. Production risk occurs on soils that are naturally poor or depleted in nutrients that are decisive for the fixation and utilization of N2 by alfalfa. This hypothesis was validated on the basis of a field experiment with an alfalfa–grass mixture carried out over three main seasons (2012−2014) on soil low in available potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and sulfur (S). The experiment involved two factors that contained two levels of applied gypsum (GYP: 0, 500 kg ha−1) fertilized with P and K (POT: absolute control—AC, P60K0, P60K30, P60K60, and P60K120). In each main season of the alfalfa–grass mixture, the sward was mowed three times (three cuts). The total sward yield (TY) reached its maximum in the second main season (15.6 t DW ha−1), then it significantly decreased. The sward yield of the third cut was the main driver of the TY. The content of P in the first cut, and especially P and S in the third cut of the sward, affected the N:P and P:S ratios, which, in turn, determined the productivity of the alfalfa–grass mixture. The total amount of accumulated N (TN) in the sward significantly responded to gypsum and PK fertilizers. In the first and third main seasons, the highest TN was found on the plot fertilized with both gypsum and 120 kg K2O ha−1. In the second main season, the TY was determined by PK dose, being variable in successive years. The highest total N accumulation (TN) was recorded in the second main season. It reached 504 kg N ha−1 on the plots with GYP−0 and 436 kg N ha−1 for GYP−500. However, the corresponding TY was 16.7 and 17.3 t DW ha−1. This apparent discrepancy was due to the much higher productivity of N, which was 33.2 and 39.6 kg fodder DW ha−1 TN, respectively. These two characteristics clearly indicate that the productivity of the accumulated N by the alfalfa–grass sward was significantly restricted by the shortage of P and S. The studies clearly emphasized that the sward of the alfalfa–grass mixture grown on soil depleted in available K, Ca, and S responds significantly to the combined application of gypsum and potassium, but provides effective control of the P supply, even on soil rich in available P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Czech Republic, soil moisture content during the growing season has been decreasing over the past six decades, and drought events have become significantly more frequent. In 2003, 2015, 2018 and 2019, drought affected almost the entire country, with droughts in 2000, 2004, 2007, 2012, 2014 and 2017 having smaller extents but still severe intensities in some regions. The current methods of visiting cadastral areas (approximately 13,000) to allocate compensation funds for the crop yield losses caused by drought or aggregating the losses to district areas (approximately 1000 km 2 ) based on proxy data are both inappropriate. The former due to the required time and resources, the later due to low resolution, which leads to many falsely negative and falsely positive results. Therefore, the study presents a new method to combine ground survey, remotely sensed and model data for determining crop yield losses. The study shows that it is possible to estimate them at the cadastral area level in the Czech Republic and attribute those losses to drought. This can be done with remotely sensed vegetation, water stress and soil moisture conditions with modeled soil moisture anomalies coupled with near-real-time feedback from reporters and with crop status surveys. The newly developed approach allowed the achievement of a proportion of falsely positive errors of less than 10% (e.g., oat 2%, 8%; spring barley 4%, 3%; sugar beets 2%, 21%; and winter wheat 2%, 6% in years 2017, resp. 2018) and allowed for cutting the loss assessment time from eight months in 2017 to eight weeks in 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of the nematode community has been considered a key indicator of soil health. In this study, the assessment of nematodes was performed two times during the third growing season in soil contaminated by chemical elements where Miscanthus × giganteus was cultivated in the years 2019–2022. A morphological approach was used to identify the nematode communities that showed sensitivity to the level of soil contamination. In contrast, the value of M × g dry biomass was a more conservative indicator and displayed only a small yield, which decreased (3.6%) at the highest level of soil contamination by lead to 290.5 ± 75.4 µg/g. Principal component analysis revealed four trends associated with the coherent variability of contamination in soil and various organs of M × g. The variability of elements was reflected by the first three principal components and did not affect the nematode community. The variability of lead concentration was associated with principal component 4, which was the largest driver of changes in the nematode community. The trophic structure of the nematode communities was the most sensitive to soil contamination by lead. A decrease in the Structural Index was the general indicator in the transformation of the nematode community structure due to increasing levels of soil contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge about the spectral response of camelina under different regimes of nitrogen (N) fertilization is very scarce. Therefore, 2-year open-field trials were carried out in the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons with the aim of evaluating the spectral response of spring camelina to four different N fertilization regimes by using remote (UAV) and proximal (leaf-clip Dualex) sensing techniques. The tested treatments were: (i) control: no N application (T0); (ii) top dressing: 60 kg N ha−1 before stem elongation (T1); basal dressing: 60 kg N ha−1 at sowing (T2); basal + top dressing combination: 60 kg N ha−1 at sowing + 60 kg N ha−1 before stem elongation (T3). Camelina seed yield and N use efficiency were strongly affected by fertilization regimes, with the best results obtained at T2. A reduction in plant development and seed yield was detected in 2022, probably due to the rise in air temperatures. A significant effect of both growing season and N fertilization was observed on the photosynthetic pigments content with the T1 highest values in 2022. The highest seed oil content was achieved at T1, while the protein content increased with increasing N, with the best values at T3. Positive and significant correlations were observed among several vegetation indices obtained through UAV flights (NDVI, MRS705, FGCC) and seed yield, as well as between FGCC and leaf N concentration. Overall, these findings demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing remote sensing techniques from UAVs for predicting seed yield in camelina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the response of plant phenology to drought duration is helpful for accurately interpreting and predicting carbon sinks in ecosystems. Based on the response of different phenological periods of the dominant species Stipa krylovii to monthly, seasonal, and semiannual time scale drought in the typical steppe of Inner Mongolia from 1983 to 2018, the results revealed that (1) the start of the growing season (SOS) was characterized by an advance–delay–advance pattern, and the heading stage (HOS), flowering stage (FOS), and end of the growing season (EOS) all showed consistent advanced trends, which provided additional insight into the conclusions of previous studies that found the SOS was advanced in arid and semiarid regions. (2) The response mechanism of the SOS to the timing of drought was not consistent. Among the response mechanism, the SOS was delayed because of the January–February drought at different time scales but advanced because of the April drought at different time scales. The HOS/FOS was delayed by the June–July drought at different time scales, and the EOS was advanced by the August–September drought at different time scales. (3) More importantly, the SOS, HOS, FOS, and EOS were affected by predrought and its persistence, and the effects were greater the closer to the phenological periods that drought occurred. (4) At the monthly scale, droughts in January, June, and August were the critical drought periods affecting the SOS, HOS/FOS, and EOS, while seasonal and semiannual scale droughts in February, June–July, and September were the critical periods affecting the SOS, HOS/FOS, and EOS. The results of this study enrich our understanding of how drought at different time scales affects different phenological periods, providing a basis for improving plant phenological models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pheromone-baited traps have been widely used for the monitoring of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in order to time any control measures during the growing season. Different monitoring techniques may provide differential results regarding adult captures. However, studies on the comparative evaluation of the performance of different trap types on the captures of H. armigera are limited. To close this gap, in the present study, three different funnel traps (striped, green, and colored) were simultaneously evaluated in Central Greece, one of the main cotton-producing geographical zones in the European Union, in order to compare trap performance on the captures of H. armigera, as well as to depict the distribution of this species per trap in the study area. A differential performance of the different trap types tested, expressed as numbers of adults captured, was recorded. Specifically, the striped trap captured many more adult moths than the other two trap types. Given that the only difference among these traps was the color of the external trap surface, we hypothesize that trap color does matter in the case of H. armigera, and it is likely that brighter colors may be more attractive than darker ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various diseases and pests cause serious damage to vegetable crops during the growing season and after harvesting. Growers attempt to minimize losses by protecting their crops, starting with seed and seedling treatments and followed by monitoring their stands. In many cases, synthetic pesticide treatments are applied. Integrated pest management is currently being employed to minimize the impact of pesticides upon human health and the environment. Over the last few years, "smart" approaches have been developed and adopted in practice to predict, detect, and quantify phytopathogen occurrence and contamination. Our review assesses the currently available ready-to-use tools and methodologies that operate via visual estimation, the detection of proteins and DNA/RNA sequences, and the utilization of brand-new innovative approaches, highlighting the availability of solutions that can be used by growers during the process of diagnosing pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of crop production in a sandy soil "culture" is difficult, mainly due to its low soil-water-holding capacity, organic matter and poor fertilizer efficiency. Options to increase soil water and nutrient retention for these soils include the addition of surface mulch covers, amendment with biochar and the use of layers of a mixture of charcoal and compost material. Our objective was to measure the distribution of water and nutrients for layers of control 1 (CK1), control 2 (CK2) and compost material of different thicknesses (0.02, 0.05 and 0.10 m) buried 0.01 m from the surface in a column (0.2 m radius, 0.5 m height) filled with sand. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse located at the Agricultural Science Training Base of Ningxia University, China. There were three replicates per treatment and one soil column per replicate. The soil columns were watered with 2 L via a surface drip emitter and 45 days later, soil samples were obtained in 0.01 m increments across the diameter and depth of 0.4 m, with a total of 12 samples per column. In each sample, we measured soil water, pH, electrical conductivity, ammonium and nitrate nitrogen and available P and K. The results showed that the distribution of water content and nutrient contents were centered on the dripper and diffused to its surroundings. Notably, the horizontal diffusion distance was smaller than that of the vertical direction. In the vertical direction, compared with control 1, adding compost changed the spatial distribution of WC and nutrients and had a greater impact on available potassium (AK) than on inorganic nitrogen (IN) and available phosphorus (AP). Compared with control 1, the composting treatment decreased the content of water in the 0–10 cm surface soil, reduced the electrical conductivity (EC) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), C5 and C10 increased the available potassium. Moreover, composting treatments increased the electrical conductivity, available phosphorus, available potassium and nitrate nitrogen of the 10–30 cm substrate by 61–384%, 10–240%, 11–45% and 133–929%, respectively, when compared with control 1.The nutrients increased as the thickness of the compost interlayer increased. A principal component analysis (PCA) of the C5 and C10 treatments significantly distinguished them from control 1. A linear regression fitting analysis showed that the inorganic nitrogen, available potassium and total nutrients positively correlated with the water content and electrical conductivity of the sand. The 5 cm and 10 cm composting interlayers had a high water content and ability to conserve fertilizer for sand culture, but C10 caused an excessive accumulation of nutrients. Thus, it was concluded that a composting interlayer that was less than 5 cm reduced the base fertilizer input by 24–84%. All these results suggest that applying a composting interlayer of 5 cm could retain more suitable root zone water and fertilizer for the next crop season and provide technological support to reduce fertilizer inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize growth in narrow rows provides a more uniform spatial arrangement, but it does not always lead to increasing yield. A four-year study was conducted to investigate the effect of row spacing on silage maize growth and yield during the growing season and at harvest time. A field experiment with conventional (0.70 m) and narrow rows (0.35 m) at a plant density of 92,000 plants ha−1 was evaluated in the years 2011–2014, and the interaction of row spacing × plant density (92,000 and 110,000 plants ha−1) was tested in 2013–2014. The narrow rows clearly demonstrated potential to support plant height and weight development, together with a higher stalk proportion, at around two months after seeding. However, these contrasts were lost in the later stages and at harvest time. Some potential for non-significantly higher dry matter yield (4.6–10.8%) was shown in the narrow rows in three years of the experiment, in association with lower losses in plant numbers, when compared to conventional row spacing. The potential of yield improvement in the narrow rows showed relationships with weather conditions during the second half of the growing season. In summary, under the growing conditions of the study region, narrow row spacing significantly promoted early plant development, but these effects did not persist until harvest, thus resulting in only limited success in yield improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) maize is dominant in countries where it is grown. Significant, adverse effects of glyphosate application to GR maize have been reported, but few data from robust studies exist to determine if such effects are common. In this study, the effects of recommended application rates (single and sequential applications) were used on GR maize grown at two locations for one season and for two seasons in a third location. No significant effects of glyphosate on mineral content (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) in leaves or grain, plant height, stem diameter, ear parameters, or yield were found at any location or in any growing season. Likewise, harvested grain quality, as determined by percent starch, protein, and total lipids, was unaffected by glyphosate treatment at any location. Neither glyphosate nor aminomethylphosphonic acid, the primary degradation product of glyphosate, were found in grain from any treatment at any location, except for 20 ng g−1 of glyphosate found in grain from one season at one location. These results support the view that recommended applications of glyphosate have no significant effects on growth, grain composition, mineral content, grain quality, nor yield of GR maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by the fungus Zymoseptoria tritici Desm., is the most important disease affecting wheat in Northern Europe. There is a strong correlation between STB and weather variables; therefore, research on climate change and epidemiology is essential. In a long-term survey across 25 years, we evaluated the epidemiological development of STB at a representative location under maritime climatic conditions. The surveys conducted between 1996 and 2021 showed an increase in disease severity of STB with respect to time. At the survey location, the plants were also evaluated for other diseases, but other foliar diseases were only observed with negligible severities. However, a continuous increase in the severity of STB was observed throughout the survey. During the survey period, there was no significant relationship between disease severity and single weather parameters (e.g., temperature and precipitation). However, seasonal changes in the progression of conducive STB conditions within the season were observed during the survey. Therefore, STB infections occurred at increased temperatures due to infections later during the growth season. In general, the distribution of conducive weather conditions, which supports an infection, determines the epidemiological behaviour of STB during the growing season. Due to these enhanced STB epidemics, a decline in wheat production has been observed, especially in agronomic practices of maritime climates. This is particularly the case if temperature and precipitation during the growing season are affected by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tools quantifying phosphorus (P) status in plants help to achieve efficient management and to optimize crop yield. The objectives of this study were to establish the relationship between P and nitrogen (N) concentrations of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) during the growth season to determine the critical P concentration for diagnosing P deficiency. Field experiments were arranged as split plots based on a randomized complete block design. Phosphorus levels (0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 kgP2O5 ha−1) were assigned to the main plots, and cultivars (Dingya 22, Lunxuan 2, Longyaza 1, Zhangya 2, and Longya 14) were allocated to the subplots. Shoot biomass (SB) and P and N concentrations were determined at 47, 65, 74, 98, and 115 days after emergence. Shoot biomass increased, while P and N concentrations and the N:P ratio declined with time in each year. The P concentration in respect of N concentration was described using a liner relationship (P = 0.05, N + 1.68, R2 = 0.76, p < 0.01) under non-limiting P conditions, in which the concentrations are expressed in g kg−1 dry matter (DM). The N:P ratio was fitted to a second-order polynomial equation (N:P = 11.56 × SB−0.1, R2 = 0.71, p = 0.03), based on the SB of flax. This research first developed a predictive model for critical P concentration in flax, as a function of N concentration in shoots of flax. The critical P concentration can be used as a promising alternative tool to quantify the degree of P deficiency of flax during the current growing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vegetable water production function has been one of the most significant parameters to improve the use efficiency and economic benefit of agricultural water in the greenhouse. Meanwhile, aerated irrigation unlocks the high yield potential for greenhouse crop production. Thus, water, fertilizer and air coupled production function is proposed for the optimization of the irrigation scheme during the greenhouse tomato growth period. Two seasons of greenhouse tomato experiments were conducted under aerated subsurface drip irrigation (ASDI). There were three nitrogen application rates (N1, 120 kg ha−1; N2, 180 kg ha−1; N3, 240 kg ha−1) and three aeration rates with dissolved oxygen (DO) in irrigation water (A2, 15 mg L−1; A3, 40 mg L−1 and A1, 5 mg L−1 in the non-aeration treatment) in the first crop season, while three irrigation rates of soil moisture content (W1, 50–60% field capacity; W2, 60–70% field capacity; W3, 70–80% field capacity) and two aeration rates with DO in irrigation water (25 mg L−1 and 5 mg L−1) in the second crop season. The potential yield function of tomato was constructed, and the water sensitivity index was resolved. The production function of greenhouse tomato under water, fertilizer, and air coupled irrigation was established based on the Jensen function. The water allocation scheme under multiple irrigation quotas was optimized by the dynamic programming (DP) method. The results showed that with the elapse of crop growth stages, the cumulative curve of the water sensitivity index showed an S-shaped curve, which first rose slowly and then fast, and eventually tended to be stable. The optimized irrigation increased the yield by 4.25% averagely compared with the irrigation method of fixed moisture content interval, while the crop yield in the optimized ASDI increased by 26.13% compared with non-aeration treatment. In summary, the optimal combination was the aeration rate DO of 24.55mg L−1 in irrigation water and nitrogen application rate of 281.43 kg ha−1, and the irrigation quota of 420 mm. The net yield increased by 11,012 USD ha−1 in a single crop season when compared with the non-aeration treatment. The results would provide a reference method for the optimization of technical parameters of water—fertilizer—air coupled irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study how plant architecture affects the canopy traits and water use of wheat, the Triticum aestivum L. population is expected to provide important information for cultivar improvement and the ideal population structure establishment for conserving water without causing an enormous grain yield loss. This study was conducted for three consecutive growing seasons using two genotypes with contrasting plant architectures as the materials, the upright-leafed compact type Jing 411 and the flat-leafed loose type Jinmai 47. The population-scale transpiration (PT) and soil evaporation (E) were partitioned from the evapotranspiration (ET) using micro-lysimeters, and the canopy traits population density and the canopy temperature depression (CTD) were also monitored during the period from the jointing to early grain filling stage—the largest water requirement period of wheat crops. Jinmai 47 showed a lower E than Jing 411, but a similar PT and ET, though it had a higher population density at the sowing density. The total evapotranspiration (TET) for the whole growing season was also similar in the two genotypes. This indicated that Jinmai 47 performed better in water conservation than Jing 411. With a similar PT and TET, however, Jinmai 47 showed a rather larger CTD and a significantly higher grain yield than Jing 411. If the higher population density and higher leaf net photosynthetic rate could explain its higher grain yield, the higher leaf stomotal conductance and transpiration rate and the higher population density could not explain the similar PT, ET and TET to Jing 411. Presumably, the involvement of the plant architecture disrupted the original higher transpiration–larger CTD relation, and broke up the prevailing saving water-losing yield concept. Thus, the study might suggest the important water saving value of the flat-leafed loose architecture in wheat crops and demonstrate the possibility of conserving irrigation water without causing serious grain yield loss by taking advantage of the distinct plant architecture to establish an appropriate population structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unbiased MACA CMIP5 ensemble that optimized calculation of the growing season average temperature (GST) viticulture climate classification index throughout Northern California's Fort Ross-Seaview (FRS), Los Carneros (LC), Petaluma Gap (PG), and Russian River Valley (RRV) American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) was applied to compute the GST index and Pinot noir specific applications of the grapevine sugar ripeness (GSR) model on a mean decadal basis from the 1950s to the 2090s using RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 projections of minimum and maximum daily temperature. From the 1950s to the 2090s, a 2.1/3.6, 2.4/4.2, 2.3/4.0, 2.3/4.0, and 2.3/4.0 °C increase in the GST index and a rate advance of 1.3/1.9, 1.1/1.8, 1.3/2.0, 1.2/1.9, and 1.2/1.9 days a decade was computed for FRS, LC, PG, RRV, and across all four AVAs while using the RCP4.5/RCP8.5 climate projections, respectively. The GST index and GSR model calculations were highly correlated across both climate projections and their fitted models were used to update the Pinot noir specific upper bound for the GST index throughout each AVA using a published optimal harvest window for the northern hemisphere. At a 220 g/L target sugar concentration, the updated upper bound was 17.6, 17.5, 17.6, 17.5, and 17.6 °C for FRS, LC, PG, RRV, and across all four AVAs. For a 240 g/L sugar concentration, it was 17.9, 17.8, 17.9, 17.8, and 17.9 °C. The results from this study together with comparable results recently reported for the Willamette Valley AVA of Oregon using a different downscaled CMIP5 model archive suggest spatial invariance, albeit sugar concentration dependent, for the updated Pinot noir specific upper bound for the GST climate index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer-coated urea (PCU) was developed to better synchronize nitrogen (N) supply with crop needs and reduce N losses. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different N rates prepared using combinations of urea and ESN (PCU) on corn (Zea mays L.), grain yield, yield components, in-season nutritional status, and residual soil N. Field experiments were conducted on two sites in eastern Ontario (Canada); Kemptville (sandy loam) and Winchester (clay-loam), and repeated over three years (2011–2013). A total of ten treatments were applied using combinations of three N rates (50, 100, and 150 kg N ha−1) and three fertilizer proportions (100% urea, 75:25 urea:ESN, and 60:40 urea:ESN) for each rate. The tenth treatment consisted of a non-fertilized control (0 N). Grain yield was significantly affected by N source, N rate, site, and year. There was no significant effect of the N source in most sites/years. In the wetter season 2013, treatment 100N60:40 in the sandy site produced a similar yield to treatments receiving 150 kg N ha−1. In the clay-loam site, the 150N75:25 treatment had a yield advantage of 11–12% compared with straight urea. Chlorophyll index generally increased with the higher N application rate. The other grain parameters were little affected by the N rate or source. Soil residual mineral N tended to increase with ESN blends at 100 and 150 kg N ha−1 compared with straight urea. Our findings indicate that replacing a portion of urea with PCU might save N in lighter soils prone to leaching especially in wet years without affecting yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substitution of organic with inorganic fungicides (phosphites, Phi) does not change the efficiency of fertilizer nitrogen (Nf) in winter wheat. This hypothesis was tested in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 growing seasons. A two-factorial experiment with three phosphite variants (Cu–Phi, Mg–Phi, and Cu/Mg) and six plant protection methods (fungicides + Phi ⟶ reduced fungicide frequency + phosphite ⟶ phosphite). Grain yield decreased with increasing frequency of phosphites instead of fungicides. The decrease in yields was 3.6 t ha−1 in the favorable 2016/2017 and 1.1 t ha−1 in the dry 2017/2018. The primary reason for yield decrease in a given growing season was increased wheat infestation by pathogens. The direct cause was disturbances in the nitrogen status of wheat after flowering on treatments with a predominance of phosphites. The thousand grain weight (TGW) responded negatively to reduced fungicide application frequency. The critical stage in the assessment of pathogen pressure on wheat was the medium milk phase (BBCH 75). At this stage, indices of SPAD and leaf greenness together with indices of wheat infestation with pathogens allowed for a reliable prediction of both TGW and grain yield. It can be concluded that phosphites do not substitute organic fungicides in limiting pathogen pressure in winter wheat. Moreover, increased pressure of pathogens significantly reduces Nf productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]