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The study investigates the long-term impact of Lophodermium needle cast on open-pollinated Scots pine progenies in Latvia. A significant impact of cumulative needle cast damage on growth and survival was found. Notably, 51% of trees experienced severe damage after the 4th growing season. Genetic factors played a role in survival at 12 years. Height growth was significantly affected, with height at age 3 and cumulative needle cast damage as key predictors for heights at ages 12 and 16. Genetics demonstrated a substantial impact, with heritability coefficients of 0.25 for cumulative needle cast damage and 0.24 for height, and negative genotypic correlations (rG ≥ -0.71) between the traits. Selecting the top 10% families based on height at 12 years yielded a 14.2% improvement in height and a simultaneous 8.4% reduction in cumulative needle cast damage, enhancing survival by 9.8%. Thinning somewhat mitigated the negative effect of needle cast. The findings highlight the need for adaptive forestry strategies in the Baltic Sea region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tidal freshwater marshes (TFMs), found in the upper tidal reaches of river estuaries, are characterized by high diversity and productivity. These ecosystems are threatened by climate change, but unlike other coastal wetlands, there is a lack of information about the impact and their response to this threat. To understand the resilience of Jug Bay TFMs to sea level rise (SLR), surface elevation change was measured in low and mid-high marsh areas along primary and secondary channels. Elevation change exhibited significant temporal and spatial variability. A marked seasonality showed higher elevation during the growing season, and episodic storms altered elevation trajectories. Spatially, elevation change was significantly affected by channel category and marsh zone. Low marsh along primary channels lost elevation (−11.57 mm year−1), while the mid-high marsh gained elevation (+2.65 mm year−1). In secondary channels, both low (+11.29 mm year−1) and mid-high marshes (+5.43 mm year−1) gained elevation. A shoreline change analysis for the Patuxent and Western Branch rivers (2007–2018) showed change rates between −0.35 and −0.90 m year−1. A 2019 upland migration study indicated that most TFMs studied are not able to migrate due to steep slopes. Overall, marsh in more protected areas, along secondary channels, are more resilient, while low marsh in primary channels the most vulnerable to SLR. With low upland migration potential, studied marshes have to rely mainly on vertical elevation gain to keep up with SLR. If restoration is considered in this system, it should focus on the vulnerable low marsh zones along primary channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bracken ferns (genus Pteridium) are among the most prevalent plants worldwide, with their distribution expanding due to their invasive nature. The environmental implications of their proliferation in areas affected by human activity, natural disasters, or land-use changes are concerning, primarily because of the carcinogenic illudane glycosides they produce. These compounds cause domestic and wildlife animal poisoning, as well as contamination of dairy products and drinking water. Several illudane glycosides are known, but usually only ptaquiloside (PTA) is monitored. This study investigates the spatial and temporal variations in illudane glycosides PTA, caudatoside (CAU) and ptesculentoside (PTE) across two phenotypes of Pteridium aquilinum (vars. aquilinum and latiusculum) over a broad geographic range spanning Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, encompassing 66 locations. We analysed different parts of the fern fronds (the tips and the lowest pinnae) using LC–MS and statistically explored the influence of phenotype, frond part, geographic location, sunlight exposure, and the surrounding ecosystem on glycoside content. Our findings reveal that PTA accounts for approximately two-thirds of the total illudane glycoside content, followed by CAU at nearly one-third, and a minor contribution from PTE. Glycoside levels were not influenced by phenotypic varieties or the studied environmental factors, but were significantly affected by geographic location. Specifically, CAU levels increased progressively towards the northeast, while PTA concentrations were highest in Denmark and markedly decreased in northeastern countries by over threefold, presumably due to climatic gradient. It has been further supported by temporal analysis in selected PTA-dominant regions indicating a reduction in PTA towards the end of the growing season, aligning its levels with those of CAU. Our study highlights that CAU concentrations in bracken ferns may equal or surpass PTA, contesting the prevailing view that PTA is the only notable illudane glycoside in Bracken. To provide unbiased assessment of the potential risks posed by P. aquilinum in the region, environmental and toxicological research should include measurements of not only PTA, but also CAU and, if possible, PTE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop yield forecasting is becoming more essential in the present environment, when food security must be maintained despite climate, population, and climate change concerns. Machine learning is a useful decision-making tool for predicting agricultural yields, as well as for deciding what crops to plant and what to do throughout the crop's growth season. To aid agricultural production prediction studies, a number of machine learning methods have been used. Wheat is a significant food source in India, particularly in the north. The wheat crop is categorised using deep learning techniques in the proposed research. The suggested system uses deep learning CNN, RNN, and LSTM applications to classify wheat crops. The results showed that the test accuracy ranged from 85 % to 95.68 % for varietal level classification. Hence, the proposed approach results are accurate and reliable, encouraging the deployment of such an approach in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 2022 growing season, commercial crops of onion (Allium cepa cv. Medusa) were found to be affected by an extensive leaf blight in south western Slovakia. The pathogen present on diseased leaves was isolated and identified as Stemphylium vesicarium through morphological and molecular analyses, utilizing three DNA markers (ITS, tef1-α, and β-tubulin). A detailed description and illustration of the fungus are provided. Although this pathogen is already present in Slovakia, this is the first record of S. vesicarium causing leaf blight on A. cepa in the country. Pathogenicity tests with a fungal isolate were performed on three local cultivars of onion plants in the laboratory, indicating varying susceptibility of the cultivars to S. vesicarium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucking pests in recent years have become a concern for cotton cultivation worldwide. In this sense, the study aimed to identify cotton genotypes resistant to sucking insect attacks. The experiment was conducted in Cassilândia in the 2016/2017 harvest, using thirteen cotton genotypes. During the crop season, weekly samples of cotton aphid, Silverleaf whitefly, and cotton stainer were obtained. The data obtained were subjected to the analysis of variance and the Scott-Knott clustering algorithm at the level of 5% probability. Cotton genotypes G. thuberi, Gba04, PAYM, G. trilobum, Gba01, Gba02, and Gba03 had the lowest populations of adults and nymphs of Silverleaf whitefly in the period. The genotypes PAYM, TX25, TX16, TX19, GBA03, IAC19, CO417, and EMPI were the most preferred for feeding by the cotton aphid. The cotton genotype IAC19 was the least preferred for feeding by cotton stainer; conversely, PAYM, Gba01, and TX25 were the most preferred for feeding by these insects. G. thuberi, Gba04, PAYM, G. trilobum, Gba01, and Gba02 were less harmed by the attack of Silverleaf whitefly adults and nymphs; however, Gba01, Gba02, and Gba04 were the least preferred for feeding by cotton aphids, and IAC19 was the least preferred for feeding by cotton stainer. The cotton aphids and Silverleaf whitefly adults and/or nymphs have a high negative correlation with cotton yield, making the pests more harmful to the harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of herbarium materials of the Ephedra dahurica Turcz. collected in the Torey Lakes region in different years has revealed the morphological variability of its pollen grains. An inverse relationship has been established between the development of the number of pseudosulci and plicae (ridge) of pollen grains and the values of temperature and humidity during the growing season. During wet seasons, the plant produces pollen grains with few pseudosulci. The number of pseudosulci increases during dry and cool growing seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shifts over time (phenology) and space (latitude and elevation range) represent common ecological responses to climate change. However, the factors determining how changes in phenology and distribution interact, and the consequences for conservation, remain uncertain. Here, we assess how phenology responded to temperature over four decades of warming across the elevation ranges of 18 univoltine butterfly species in four mountain regions of Spain. Using count data from intermittent surveys in 166 sites between 1985 and 2022, we tested for (1) effects of monthly temperature and elevation on mean annual flight date; (2) changes to flight dates between 1985–2005 and 2017–2022; and (3) whether shifts in flight date were related to shifts in the average elevation occupied. Mean flight dates were later in years with cooler springs, and at higher sites, with a mean delay of nearly twenty days per km elevation increase. As conditions warmed over time, average flight date advanced for two thirds of species, especially those whose average elevation was stable over time. Species with stable flight dates showed greater indication of upward range shifts, although only one species showed a significant shift in average elevation. Implications for insect conservation: We show that spring temperatures influence mountain butterfly phenology, and that shifts in phenology and elevation range could compensate for each other in determining population exposure and responses to climate change. Monitoring these changes over time, including by employing evidence from historical surveys and scientific collections, can help to understand constraints on species adaptive capacity to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The apple orchards in Liaoning, one of the four major apple-producing areas in Bohai Bay, Northeast China, play a crucial role in regulating the carbon sink effect. However, there is limited information on the variation in carbon flux and its influential factors in apple orchards in this region. To address this, CO2 flux data were monitored throughout the entire apple growth seasons from April to November in 2017 and 2018 in the apple (Malus pumila Mill. cv Hanfu) orchard in Shenyang, China. The energy closure of the apple orchard was calculated, and variations in net ecosystem exchange (NEE) at different time scales and its response to environmental factors were analyzed. Our results showed that the energy balance ratio of the apple was 0.74 in 2017 and 1.38 in 2018. NEE was generally positive in April and November and negative from May to October, indicating a strong carbon sink throughout the growth season. The daily average NEE ranged from − 0.103 to 0.094 mg m−2 s−1 in 2017 and from − 0.134 to 0.059 mg m−2 s−1 in 2018, with the lowest values observed in June and July. NEE was negatively correlated with net radiation, atmospheric temperature, saturated vapor pressure deficit, and soil temperature. These findings provide valuable insights for predicting carbon flux in orchard ecosystems within the context of global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study on the growth performance of Cedrus deodara forests in the Western Nepal Himalaya in response to climate change. The study found that tree growth was influenced by temperature and moisture levels, with warmer winters and increased evapotranspiration negatively impacting growth. The researchers also observed a decline in tree growth in one location due to local disturbances. The study emphasizes the need for further research to understand the complex interactions between climate, topography, and species physiology in determining tree growth. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Ecosystem models are valuable tools to make climate-related assessments of change when ground-based measurements of water and carbon fluxes are not adequately detailed to realistically capture geographic variability. The Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) is one such model based on satellite observations of monthly vegetation cover to estimate net primary production (NPP) of terrestrial ecosystems. Results: CASA model predictions from 2015 to 2022 for Western Europe revealed several notable high and low periods in growing season NPP totals in most countries of the region. For the total land coverage of France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, 2018 was the year with the highest terrestrial plant growth, whereas 2017 and 2019 were the years with the highest summed NPP across the UK, Germany, and Croatia. For most of Western Europe, 2022 was the year predicted with the lowest summed plant growth. Annual precipitation in most countries of Western Europe gradually declined from a high average rate in 2018 to a low average precipitation level in 2022. Conclusions: The CASA model predicted decreased growing season NPP of between − 25 and − 60% across all of Spain, southern France, and northern Italy from 2021 to 2022, and much of that plant production loss was detected in the important cropland regions of these nations. Plain language summary: Annual growth of terrestrial plant cover, also known as net primary production (NPP), must be maintained and managed by societies worldwide to meet their essential needs for food and fiber. A model of global NPP that uses monthly satellite images as inputs predicted that extreme drought in the years 2020 and 2021 across Western Europe, caused by greatly diminished precipitation totals and elevated temperatures, depressed plant production by between − 25 and − 60% compared to the previous five years in France, Italy, and Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture in Ethiopia is highly dictated by spatial patterns and temporal distributions of climate variables. The analysis of these climate variables is crucial for understanding the impacts on agricultural productivity. This study aimed to analyze spatiotemporal variability and trends of intra-seasonal rainfall and temperature using site-specific daily data from the Ethiopian Meteorology Institute (1992–2021). Standardized methods explore variability, while Mann–Kendall tests identify trends, using the Modified version for data with autocorrelation. Inverse Distance Weighted interpolation was employed for spatial analysis of rainfall, length of growing season, and temperature. The findings identified that Kiremt dominated the mono-modal rainfall pattern, contributing 72%-86% of total annual rainfall. The study found that the season typically begins early on June 13 in Adiszemen, and July 6 in Arbgebiya and ends between October 6 and October 26. The duration of the season varied across locations, averaging 95 days at Ebenat and 148 days at Adiszemen. The seasonal rainfall anomaly index shows identical patterns between ENSO episodes and seasonal rainfall. These findings inform decision-making and adaptation strategies for ENSO-driven rainfall variability. Temperatures showed predictable seasonal patterns, but have significantly increased over time, with maximum and minimum temperatures rising 0.014 °C to 0.421 °C and 0.027 °C to 0.485 °C per year respectively. This warming trend is negatively impacting water, crops, and livestock, requiring adaptation measures to build regional resilience. This study underscores the critical impact of climate variability on agriculture in the study area. The findings reveal shifts in rainfall patterns and temperature trends, providing essential insights for adapting agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally assumed that fertilizer addition is the prime driver of nitrogen (N) gas loss from modern cropping systems. This assumption has its basis in observations of nitrous oxide (N2O, an important greenhouse gas) emissions, and is contrary to theory from unmanaged ecosystems, where N losses are controlled by plant physiological influence on the soil environment. However, dinitrogen (N2) emissions are likely a major N loss pathway in both managed and unmanaged ecosystems, but these emissions are very difficult to measure. We directly measured N2 and N2O emissions from two temperate agricultural systems over the course of the growing season to test when total N gas losses are highest. We hypothesized that N2 emissions mirror those of N2O, with the largest flux immediately after fertilization, early in the growing season. Instead, we found that N2 emissions were highest at the end of the growing season, and were most strongly correlated with soil moisture, which increased after plant senescence. Dinitrogen emissions were an order of magnitude larger than N2O. Thus, while N2O emissions were highest following fertilization, overall N gas loss was greatest at the end of the growing season. These data suggest that total N gas losses are high and have different temporal patterns from N2O fluxes. Understanding the magnitude and controls over these losses are important for understanding and managing the N cycle of temperate agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textural deterioration in frozen vegetables is a result of softening after freeze-thawing and is a critical issue to address. In the present study, field experiments were conducted on broccoli using six cultivars of three sizes (i.e., different maturities) in two seasons (spring and winter) to evaluate the relationship between the level of tissue softening caused by the freezing process and composition of pectin, which is a main component of the cell wall. The mechanical properties after freeze-thawing depended more on the growing season than on the cultivar or maturity, i.e., the maximum stress after freeze-thawing of spring broccoli was higher than that of winter broccoli. Between the winter broccoli, the samples harvested at lower temperatures showed more pronounced softening after thawing. For all broccolis, the temperature during harvest was strongly correlated with the maximum compressive stress of frozen broccoli (R = 0.867). Broccoli harvested in winter had a higher ratio of galacturonic acid in water-soluble pectin than that harvested in spring, indicating weakened cell wall adhesion. However, the absence of a substantial correlation between the pectin content and mechanical properties of broccoli, suggests that other factors such as cold-responsive materials are also involved in the tissue softening of frozen broccoli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate projections across Québec indicate increased water stress and recurrent vulnerability of cropping systems. In recent years, reports of droughts and water stress have been recorded across the province. Many parts of Québec have experienced droughts in the past few years, which have had uninvestigated impacts on crops. These droughts have been described as some of the most significant in the last 80 years. On the positive side, climate change is likely to trigger shorter winters and therefore longer growing seasons for several crops. However, for crops like maple syrup, the regions suitable for their cultivation will shift northwards. Despite these projections, studies monitoring the susceptibility of barley to environmental changes, climate variability, and adaptive capacity across Québec are still limited. This study aims to provide a provincial-scale portrait of vulnerability of barley in Québec based on historical growing season precipitation, barley yield, and socioeconomic data (literacy and poverty rates) using a composite statistical model. Growing season precipitation data were downloaded from Ouranos. Barley yield data were collected from the Institut de la Statistique du Québec, and the socio-demographic data were collected from the Advisory Council of Poverty and the Institut de la Statistique du Québec. A vulnerability index with sub-indices (sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity) is deployed. It is hypothesised that (1) vulnerability is inversely associated with adaptive capacity, and (2) the peripheral regions of Québec are more vulnerable and less adaptive to climate stressors. Initial results show that when the vulnerability index for barley is more prominent, the associated index of adaptive capacity is relatively lower. A significant gradient between the peripheral and southern regions of Québec is observed, with vulnerability lowest around Montreal/Laval and gradually increasing towards the peripheral regions. A better understanding of vulnerability warrants a change in approach from focusing solely on climate-related variables to integrating socioeconomic proxies. The challenge, however, has been how to introduce these socioeconomic proxies into empirical and process-based crop models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) has higher early growth rates than Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.). To help efforts to understand possible reasons for this difference and identify appropriate regeneration methods, we labeled seedlings with 15N in the nursery to probe nitrogen (N) uptake and retranslocation in Scots pine and Norway spruce seedlings at both harsh and fertile sites in southern and northern Sweden. For this, 15N dilution was measured during the first two years after planting. We also examined the potential N2-fixation capacity in fine roots after 5–7 growing seasons. Use of 15N-labeled seedlings enabled clear discernment of contributions of uptake of new N and retranslocation of old N to new foliage. Scots pine seedlings had higher proportions of N derived from uptake (Ndfu) than Norway spruce seedlings, and higher growth. Scots pine seedlings were less responsive to site preparation treatments compared to Norway spruce that has a greater need for appropriate silvicultural measures to grow well. After the second growing season, the contribution of N derived from retranslocation (Ndfr) to N in new foliage had diminished to 10–20% at all except the harshest site, where both species were more dependent on Ndfr. The potential N2-fixation capacity in fine roots of the two species differed, but in both cases the contribution of N2-fixation to N-acquisition was negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Rice production in Northeastern Vietnam is livelihood-oriented with a small farm size in the northern mountainous and midlands region. This study aims to determine the contribution of agronomic and input factors to the total carbon (C) footprint of rice production to identify solutions that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture in this region. Methods: We used a life cycle assessment method for the C footprint of rice production from planting to harvesting. Agronomic parameters and input data in both spring and summer crops were collected through interviews conducted with 50 rice-farming households in the Quang Minh commune, Viet Yen district, Bac Giang province, using questionnaires. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted to gather information on energy used for land preparation and harvesting. Results and discussion: The C footprint per hectare and per tonne of grain of the summer rice crop (15.6 ± 3.3 t CO2-eq/ha, 2.34 ± 0.54 t CO2-eq/t) was significantly higher than that of the spring crop (9.5 ± 1.8 t CO2-eq/ha, 1.3 ± 0.26 t CO2-eq/t). GHG emissions were due mainly to direct methane emissions during rice growth, accounting for 89.5% of the total C footprint of the summer crop and 80.5% of that of the spring crop. Fertilizer emissions also contributed significantly, accounting for 5.4% and 10.4%, respectively, nearly 75% from N-fertilizer emissions. A higher C footprint (per grain basis) was generally associated with straw incorporation, continuous flooded irrigation, longer rice growth duration, and lower rice yield, indicating the importance of agronomic management of crop residues, water and nutrients, choice of varieties, and growing seasons. Small farm size did not lead to higher carbon intensity. Conclusions: The solutions to avoid direct incorporation of rice straw, to conduct intermittent irrigation, to reduce the amount of N-fertilizer, and to use short-duration rice varieties (especially for summer crop) with high yield potential along with optimal agronomic management practices should be highlighted. Greater adoption of these measures will contribute significantly to reducing the C footprint of rice production in Northeastern Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the basic foods consumed by humans globally is rice, and a variety of biotic factors, most notably weeds and plant parasitic nematodes (PPN), hinder the production of rice. The impact of weeds on rice production is well established, and among PPN, Meloidogyne graminicola, a rice root-knot nematode (RRKN), is becoming a major issue. Although the weeds and RRKN share the same habitat, it is yet unknown how these weeds contribute to the off-season survival of RRKN. Consequently, the current study was done to determine the susceptibility of weeds in the rice wetland ecosystem to RRKN. The weed survey was carried out in rice fields during both crop season and off season, followed by its susceptibility study against RRKN in pot experiment. 24 weed species were discovered to be prevalent including 17 broadleaved weeds (BLW), 5 grassy weeds (GRW) and 2 sedges (SED). Among them the GRW were more frequent (93.33%) and predominant (48.20/0.25 m2, 64.71% of all weeds) in the crop season. On the other hand, during the off season, the BLW predominated (55.17/0.25 m2, 58.16% of all weeds). Based on our susceptibility test against RRKN, we discovered that, among the 24 weed species, 9 act as good hosts with Build Up Index (BUI) > 10, 4 function as poor hosts with a BUI between 1 and 10, and 11 act as non-hosts with a BUI < 1. We are presenting information on five novel weed species that act as alternate hosts of RRKN for the first time: Macerdonia procumbens, Leptochloa chinensis, Ipomea aquatica, Ammannia baccifera and Eragrostis racemose. The weeds that were observed in both seasons such as Cyanotis axillaris (BUI-16.67), Phyllanthus niruri (BUI-15.97), Macerdonia procumbens (BUI-14.33), Eclipta alba (BUI-14.00), Sphenoclea zeylanica (BUI-13.00) and Echinocloa colona (BUI-15.00) could therefore constitute a serious threat to rice wetland cultivation by assisting the off-season survival of RRKN. The findings underline the importance of weed management strategies in managing the RRKN in rice wetland ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weed management through herbicide is costing economically and environmentally. Developing of improved weed-suppressive rice genotypes is one of the ultimate goals of rice breeders for sustainable cultivation. In the current investigation, we evaluated the weed-suppressive potential of different rice genotypes and the genetic behind transmitting this ability to their progeny. To achieve this goal, a half diallel mating system was designed and conducted to generate F1 hybrids from six genotypes. Among these genotypes a previously developed allelopathic-resistant pre-breeding advanced lines, the F1 crosses along with their parents were cultivated under weed stress and normal field condition during the 2022 summer growing season. Several vegetative, allelopathic, yield and physio-biochemical traits were studied. The results indicate that the crosses AL1/Sakha Super 300 and AL2/Sakha Super 300 have the highest yield under weed stress condition. AL1, AL2 and Sakha Super 300 have the highest general combining ability for yield and allelopathic characters under weed stress. Furthermore, the cross AL2/Sakha Super 300 ranked the highest based on the stress tolerance indices. High positive correlation was detected between grain yield and the most studied physio-biochemical characteristics. This investigation provides evidence of the potential of enhancing the allelopathic activity of rice crop through precise selection of parental genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main genetic factor which initiates the flowering is the Vrn gene system, which determines the rate of many of the plant's growth and development processes. Introgression of new Vrn gene alleles from its relatives into bread wheat makes it possible to increase genetic variables connected to the duration of the growing season parameters and individual developmental phases. Two lines of the winter cultivar of bread wheat Bezostaya 1 (Bez1) with a combination of the dominant alleles Vrn-A1L Vrn-B1a and Vrn-A1L Vrn-B1c were created which included the introgression of the Vrn-A1L (or Vrn-A1c Langdon-type deletion) allele from Triticum petropavlovskyi Udacz. et Migusch. (or T. aestivum ssp. petropavlovskyi (Udacz. et Migusch.) N.P. Gontsch). Homozygous lines were isolated from F3 hybrids by using marker-assisted selection. This lines matured earlier in relation to the original near-isogenic lines which contained the Vrn-A1L, Vrn-B1a, and Vrn-B1c alleles. The Bez1 Vrn-A1L Vrn-B1c line had a shorter germination-first node and germination-heading periods compared to Bez1 Vrn-A1L Vrn-B1a, practically showing no difference, in terms of heading, with the early-maturing line i:Bez1 Vrn-A1a. In the current paper the results of research into the productivity of the lines using different combinations of VRN-1 alleles are presented. Thus, the obtained results indicate the possibility of using the Vrn-A1L allele carrying out modification for earlier maturity arising as a result of combinations with other dominant Vrn-B1 alleles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant-available soil phosphorus rate and methods for applying phosphatic fertilizer and soil P-fixation capacity are critical factors for lower cotton productivity in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Hence, a two-year study was conducted in Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI), Multan, Pakistan, to examine the effects of various P rates and application methods on cotton crop output during the growing seasons of 2014 and 2015. Phosphorus was applied in four rates (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg ha−1 P2O5) using broadcast, band application, and fertigation methods. Results indicated that the impact of P rates was statistically significant on plant height, the number of nodes, monopodial and sympodial branches, leaf area index, harvest index, and seed cotton yield. The greater P application (120 kg P2O5 ha−1) had a better effect on cotton productivity than the lower application rates (0, 40, and 80 kg P2O5 ha−1). The band application responded better on nodes plant−1, sympodial branches plant−1, boll weight, leaf area index, lint yield, and harvest during the growing season 2015. Therefore, by adopting the band application coupled with 120 kg P2O5 ha−1 rather than the conventional method of broadcast, productivity of cotton crops could be increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies were carried out on the territory of the Kindasovo forest-bog research station of the Karelian Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, located in the middle taiga subzone (61°48′ N and 33°35′ E). The experiments were carried out in the Nenazvannoe natural mesoeutrophic bog of the aapa type in seven permanent bog areas located in different ecological and coenotic conditions. The paper presents long-term results (from 10 to 38 years) of studies of the dynamics of annual growth of 11 widespread hygro- and hydrophilic species of sphagnum mosses. Based on fluctuations in the average annual growth data during the years of study, the largest increases were observed for Sphagnum riparium (140 mm) and S. obtusum (93 mm), growing in heavily watered bog areas and not withstanding drying out; medium growths of S. fallax (65 mm), S. subsecundum (57 mm), S. majus (42 mm), S. balticum (36 mm), and S. warnstorfii (28 mm) are found in low-flow watered bogs, hollows, and on carpets; the lowest growth was shown for S. divinum (17 mm), S. centrale (15 mm), S. papillosum (12 mm), and S. fuscum (8 mm), growing on ridges, low hummocks, and carpets under conditions of sharply variable conditions hydration. A correlation analysis to study the influence of precipitation and average temperature on the annual growth of sphagnum mosses did not show any significant dependence of moss growth on temperature during the growing season. For S. fuscum, S. obtusum, and S. warnstorfii, negative dependences on the temperature of individual months are observed in different months of the growing season. Precipitation during the growing season is the main factor determining the dependence of the annual growth of sphagnum mosses. A significant dependence of annual growth on precipitation during the growing season was shown for species S. obtusum, S. papillosum, S. centrale, S. fallax, and S. subsecundum, while the significance was weak for S. divinum, S. fuscum, and S. majus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pectinophora gossypiella one of the most destructive pests of Bt cotton. P. gossypiella gradually became a serious threat after gaining resistance to Bt toxin after 2 decade owing to which resulted in huge economic losses to the cotton growers. Present investigation was carried in order to study the most favourable temperature of P. gossypiella for its growth and development under various altering temperature regimes (20:30°C, 24:30°C,28:30°C, 20:35°C, 24:35°C, 28:35°C, 20:40°C, 24:40°C and 28:40°C) of Integrated Pest Management Laboratory, Department of Entomology, PAU, Ludhiana during cotton crop season 2022-23. Three models (linear and nonlinear) were used to estimate the relation between temperature and development rate of different instars and stages of P. gossypiella. The results revealed that duration of all larval instars and total larval duration were significantly short at an alternating temperature of 28:40°C. The pupal duration, adult longevity and total developmental period of male and female were recorded significantly low at the alternate temperature of 28:40°C. The fecundity and survivability (egg, larval and pupal)was significantly highest at 28:30°C, whereas the larval and pupal weights were significantly highest at an alternate temperature of 28:35°C. The correlation between developmental parameters and fecundity showed significant negative correlation. The survival of egg, larva and pupa showed non-significant negative correlation, whereas the larval and pupal weights show non-significant positive correlation with alternate temperatures. Stinner nonlinear and Inverse second order polynomial model provided more suitable temperature conditions for the development of P. gossypiella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important cereal crop widely cultivated in tropical and semi-tropical regions of the world. It is the food source for millions of people, especially in African and Asian countries. Sorghum is infested by a number of insect pests throughout the cropping season. Panicle feeding insect pests cause huge damage to sorghum grains. The present study was carried out to evaluate the influence of panicle (earhead) compactness population build-up of panicle feeding insect pests of sorghum. Four genotypes, i.e., SSG59-3 (loose), HC308 (compact), HC136 (compact) and HJ513 (semi-compact), were selected on the basis of panicle compactness and time of emergence. The major panicle feeding insect pests observed during the crop season were sorghum midge (Stenodiplosis sorghicola), earhead bug (Calocoris angustatus), thrips (Haplothrips aculeatus), dusky cotton bug (Oxycarenus latus) and stink bug (Nezara viridula). The mean population of S. sorghicola was highest on SSG59-3, followed by HJ513, HC308, and HC136. The mean population of C. angustatus was highest on genotype HC308, followed by HC136 and HJ513. On genotype SSG 59 − 3, the population of C. angustatus was not observed. The mean highest population of H. aculeatus was observed on genotype SSG59-3, followed by HJ513 and HC308. The minimum thrips population was noticed on genotype HC136. The highest mean population of O. latus was observed on genotype HC308. N. viridula was observed only on two genotypes, i.e., HC308 and HC136. Sorghum midge and thrips preferred loose types of panicle while earhead bug, dusky cotton bug and stink bug showed their preference towards compact panicle for their growth and bild-up. Effect of abiotic factors on population build-up of these major earhed feeding insect pests was also studied. The population of panicle feeding insects is variably correlated with different abiotic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demography of herbivorous mammal populations may be affected by changes in predation, population density, harvesting, and climate. Whereas numerous studies have focused on the effect of single environmental variables on individual demographic processes, attempts to integrate the consequences of several environmental variables on numerous functional traits and demographic rates are rare. Over a 32-year period, we examined how forage availability (vegetation assessed through NDVI) and population density affected the functional traits and demographic rates of a population of Columbian ground squirrels (Urocitellus columbianus), a herbivorous hibernating rodent. We focused on mean population phenology, body mass, breeding success, and survival. We found a negative effect of population density on demographic rates, including on breeding success and pup and adult survival to the next year. We found diverging effects of vegetation phenology on demographic rates: positive effects of a later start of the growing season on adult and yearling female survival, and juvenile survival, but no clear effect on male survival. Interestingly, neither population density nor vegetation affected population phenology or body condition in the following year. Vegetative growth rate had a positive influence on female mass gain (somatic investment) over a season, but both vegetative growth rate and biomass, surprisingly, had negative effects on the survival of young through their first hibernation. Thus, ground squirrels appeared to benefit more from later timing of vegetation than increases in vegetative biomass per se. Our study provides evidence for complex ecological effects of vegetation and population density on functional traits and demographic rates of small mammal populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northwest China has undergone notable alterations in climate and vegetation growth in recent decades. Nevertheless, uncertainties persist concerning the response of different vegetation types to climate change and the underlying mechanisms. This study utilized the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and three sets of meteorological data to investigate the interannual variations in the association between vegetation and climate (specifically precipitation and temperature) from 1982 to 2015. Several conclusions were drawn. (1) RNDVI-GP (relationship between Growing Season NDVI and precipitation) decreased significantly across all vegetation, while RNDVI-GT (relationship between Growing Season NDVI and temperature) showed an insignificant increase. (2) Trends of RNDVI-GP and RNDVI-GT exhibited great variations across various types of vegetation, with forests displaying notable downward trends in both indices. The grassland exhibited a declining trend in RNDVI-GP but an insignificant increase in RNDVI-GT, while no significant temporal changes in RNDVI-GP or RNDVI-GT were observed in the barren land. (3) The fluctuations in RNDVI-GP and RNDVI-GT closely aligned with variations in drought conditions. Specifically, in regions characterized by VPD (vapor pressure deficit) trends less than 0.02 hpa/yr, which are predominantly grasslands, a rise in SWV (soil water volume) tended to cause a reduction in RNDVI-GP but an increase in RNDVI-GT. However, a more negative trend in SWV was associated with a more negative trend in both RNDVI-GP and RNDVI-GT when the VPD trend exceeded 0.02 hPa/yr, primarily in forests. Our results underscore the variability in the relationship between climate change and vegetation across different vegetation types, as well as the role of drought in modulating these associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Part of the gaseous carbon dioxide (CO2) produced in karst soils / epikarst is transported into underground cavities / caves during the growing season by advective flux, diffusive flux, and flux associated with degassing of seeping water. In dynamic caves, accumulated CO2 is released into the outside atmosphere during the autumn-winter period through advective flux associated with ventilation of the cave in the upward airflow mode. This case study from the Moravian Karst (MK) showed that the net weight of CO2 released annually from the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves (total volume of 131,580 m3 and a total area of 17,950 m2) into the external atmosphere was 348 kg. Extrapolating this value to all known MK caves (area about 352,080 m2) yielded a total of CO2 flux of 6820 kg yr−1. This flux is representing only 0.024‰ of the annual soil respiration from entire MK area (about 2.81 × 108 kg CO2 yr−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examines seasonal and regional trends in chlorophyll-a concentrations and the dynamics of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in 32 fishponds (resulting in 150 pond-year cases) employed for fish production. Fishponds have a poor ecological state, requiring further insights for pond management. To gain those insights, monthly data on the pond environment were collected over the growing seasons from April to September (up to 14 years) across lowland to highland regions in Czechia. We used a ratio of dissolved inorganic nitrogen to total phosphorus (DIN:TP) to investigate seasonal patterns of N and P limitations. Results: Fishponds in the lowland region (below 199 m above sea level, a.s.l.) were predominantly N-limited (80%), while ponds in the midland region (200–449 m a.s.l.) exhibited P limitation at the beginning of the growing season (April–May) and N limitation by the end of the season (August–September; 90% of fishponds). Highland fishponds (above 450 m a.s.l.) showed frequent P limitations, especially during the beginning of the season. Chlorophyll-a concentrations varied on both regional and seasonal scales, with the overall phytoplankton biomass peak at 31 ha of pond surface area. Chlorophyll-a remained stable at the beginning of the season regardless of the DIN:TP ratio but increased with a lower DIN:TP ratio by its end. The chlorophyll-a concentrations were lowest at the beginning and highest at the end of the season and decreased with altitude. Conclusions: Seasonal and regional variations in nutrient limitations and chlorophyll-a occur in fishponds. Our study suggests that targeted seasonal nutrient input and enhanced monitoring can significantly improve fishpond management practices and ecosystem stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Flavonoids are compounds that result from the secondary metabolism of plants and play a crucial role in plant development and mitigating biotic and abiotic stresses. The highest levels of flavonoids are found in legumes such as soybean. Breeding programs aim to increase desirable traits, such as higher flavonoid contents and vigorous seeds. Soybeans are one of the richest sources of protein in the plant kingdom and the main source of flavonoid derivatives for human health. In view of this, the hypothesis of this study is based on the possibility that the concentration of isoflavones in soybean seeds contributes to the physiological quality of the seeds. The aim of this study was to analyze the content of flavonoids in soybean genotypes and their influence on the physiological quality of the seeds. Seeds from thirty-two soybean genotypes were obtained by carrying out a field experiment during the 2021/22 crop season. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications and thirty-two F3 soybean populations. The seeds obtained were subjected to germination, first germination counting, electrical conductivity and tetrazolium vigor and viability tests. After drying and milling the material from each genotype, liquid chromatography analysis was carried out to obtain flavonoids, performed at UPLC level. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and, when significant, the means were compared using the Scott-Knott test at 5% probability. The results found here show the occurrence of genotypes with higher amounts of flavonoids when compared to their peers. The flavonoid FLVD_G2 had the highest concentration and differed from the others. Thus, we can assume that the type and concentration of flavonoids does not influence the physiological quality of seeds from different soybean genotypes, but it does indirectly contribute to viability and vigor, since the genotypes with the highest FLVD_G2 levels had better FGC values. The findings indicate that there is a difference between the content of flavonoids in soybean genotypes, with a higher content of genistein. The content of flavonoids does not influence the physiological quality of seeds, but contributes to increasing viability and vigor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and variability continue to affect crop production across the world in general and in Quebec in particular. Therefore, it is important to better understand this climate-yield nexus. Unfortunately, in Quebec, there are currently no studies that analyse both precipitation and barley yield. This study aims at filling this research gap by comparing standardised precipitation (SPI) against barley yield gaps across Quebec for three peripheral and three southern/central regions of Quebec. The study uses growing season precipitation data from Ouranos and barley yield data from Institut de la Statistique du Québec. This work deploys the use of standardised index (SPI) index and a machine learning yield gap algorithm (actual barley yield minus projected barley yield) to provide a provincial portrait of the relationships between SPI and barley yield. The results show that the peripheral regions record below zero SPIs (Abitibi-Temiscamingue − 0.48, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean − 0.14 and Outaouais − 0.10) and more yield gap years, while the southern/central regions record positive SPIs (Estrie 1.17, Centre du Quebec 0.86 and Monteregie: 0.33) and fewer years with yield gaps. This shows that there is a south-north gradient in the variations of SPI and yield gaps. The SPI and yield patterns can be explained by prolonged winters further north of Quebec and recently winters with insufficient snow cover which triggers rapid snow melt and thus shortening the growing season for barley. Policy actions around drought-resistant varieties within a co-creation context and more research that explores daily and monthly liquid precipitation totals during the growing season of the crop need to be explored. There is also a need to better understand the economic costs and benefits of the associated yield gaps as well as the impacts of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evergreeness is a substantial strategy for temperate and boreal plants and is as common as deciduousness. However, whether evergreen plants switch foliage functions between seasons remains unknown. We conduct an in natura study of leaf senescence control in the evergreen perennial, Arabidopsis halleri. A four-year census of leaf longevity of 102 biweekly cohorts allows us to identify growth season (GS) and overwintering (OW) cohorts characterised by short and extended longevity, respectively, and to recognise three distinct periods in foliage functions, i.e., the growth, overwintering, and reproductive seasons. Photoperiods during leaf expansion separate the GS and OW cohorts, providing primal control of leaf senescence depending on the season, with leaf senescence being shut down during winter. Phenotypic and transcriptomic responses in field experiments indicate that shade-induced and reproductive-sink-triggered senescence are active during the growth and reproductive seasons, respectively. These secondary controls of leaf senescence cause desynchronised and synchronised leaf senescence during growth and reproduction, respectively. Conclusively, seasonal switching of leaf senescence optimises resource production, storage, and translocation for the season, making the evergreen strategy adaptively relevant. A study of perennial Arabidopsis in its natural habitat revealed a seasonal switch in leaf senescence control that optimizes resource production, storage, and translocation, making the evergreen strategy adaptively relevant in seasonal environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The individual and population parameters of the lady orchid Orchis purpurea Huds. (Orchidaceae) under various growing conditions are compared. The ontogenetic type of cenopopulations, age, efficiency, recovery indices, vitality of individuals, and plasticity index are determined. The largest number of plants is noted in forest communities. The demographic and morphological parameters differ nonsignificantly. Slight fluctuations in the vitality of individuals are noted depending on the habitat and the conditions of the growing season. The pollination success of plants in steppe biotopes is much higher than that in forest biotopes: the average fruit set in steppe biotopes was 39.63%, while in forest biotopes it was 4.97–5.84%. However, it did not affect reproductive success, the main indicator of which is the presence of new generations of plants: in all cenopopulations studied, a high proportion of individuals of the pregenerative period was noted. It is established that O. purpurea has a wide ecological amplitude and high adaptability to various conditions. It can grow in different habitats without changing the morphological, demographic, and ontogenetic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of comprehensive studies in Arbakalir Lake and Charskii Hot Spring during the growing season in 2021, the physical and chemical parameters of water and the species and phytocenotic diversity of vegetation were studied. In the flora of water bodies, 56 taxa from seven divisions, of which 31 species belong to flowering plants, 22 species to macroalgae, and one species in each to bryophytes, horsetails, and lycophytes were identified. Two species are included in the Red Book, at both the federal and regional levels. Two species are classified as relict. The structure of the flora contains species of three ecotypes, of which 38 species (67.9%) belong to true aquatic plants. In the syntaxonomic structure of aquatic and coastal aquatic vegetation, 18 associations from 12 formations were identified. Based on factor analysis, the main factors influencing the distribution of phytocenoses are the water temperature, pH, mineralization, and the main cation, anion, and nutrient contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast and accurate provision of within-season data of green area index (GAI) and total N uptake (total N) is the basis for crop modeling and precision agriculture. However, due to rapid advancements in multispectral sensors and the high sampling effort, there is currently no existing reference work for the calibration of one UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)-based multispectral sensor to GAI and total N for silage maize, winter barley, winter oilseed rape, and winter wheat. In this paper, a practicable calibration framework is presented. On the basis of a multi-year dataset, crop-specific models are calibrated for the UAV-based estimation of GAI throughout the entire growing season and of total N until flowering. These models demonstrate high accuracies in an independent evaluation over multiple growing seasons and trial sites (mean absolute error of 0.19–0.48 m2 m−2 for GAI and of 0.80–1.21 g m−2 for total N). The calibration of a uniform GAI model does not provide convincing results. Near infrared-based ratios are identified as the most important component for all calibrations. To account for the significant changes in the GAI/ total N ratio during the vegetative phase of winter barley and winter oilseed rape, their calibrations for total N must include a corresponding factor. The effectiveness of the calibrations is demonstrated using three years of data from an extensive field trial. High correlation of the derived total N uptake until flowering and the whole-season radiation uptake with yield data underline the applicability of UAV-based crop monitoring for agricultural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To develop a methodology to study uptake and redistribution by plants of NH4+ from deep soil, applying it to investigate deep root N uptake by cultivated grassland species. Methods: A slow-release 15NH4+ label adsorbed to clinoptilolite was placed into soil (depth 42 cm) well below the densest root zone in well-established monospecific stands of five grass and two clover species. Species showing a variety of deep rooting patterns, N acquisition strategy, forage qualities, and persistence in hemiboreal conditions were chosen. The label was placed in early spring and tracked throughout one or two growing seasons in two repeated experiments. Results: After two growing seasons ~ 90% of the label was tracked in the soil and harvested herbage of grasses, less in clovers. Deep N uptake was limited in spring, increased during mid-season, and was strongest in autumn in all species, despite lower herbage yield in autumn. Species differed in ability to recover and maintain 15N in the soil–plant system. In one growing season, Lolium perenne L., Phleum pratense L., Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P.Beauv. and Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort herbage recovered ~ 65% of the label, Poa pratensis L. 54%, and Trifolium pratense L. and Trifolium repens L. 36–48%. Label transport to topsoil was observed, mainly attributable to plant nutrient redistribution rather than physical diffusion. Conclusions: The innovative slow-release 15N label enabled tracing species differences and seasonal changes in uptake of NH4+ from deep soil. Among the tall-growing grasses, growth vigor appeared as important for deep N uptake as expected root depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Okavango River Basin (ORB) which includes a renowned World Heritage site Okavango Delta, contains highly biodiverse ecosystems. Most of its rural population relies on rain-fed subsistence farming. Limited research has been done on future changes in rainfall and temperature in this region. Here, such changes are analysed for the periods 2030–2059 (near term) and 2070–2099 (long term), relative to the historical period 1985–2014. The analysis is based on the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), under the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) SSP245 and SSP585. The projected changes vary over the ORB. For rainfall, the models project some significant decreasing trends over Ngamiland in the central/southern ORB, but none are significant over the northern ORB. The significant trends during the near term period include those projected by the model average (-30.60 mm/decade) in March–April (MA) under the SSP585 scenario. Some significant decreasing rainfall trends have also been found in December-February (DJF), but none are significant in October–November (ON). DJF is the main growing season whereas ON (MA) is the onset (end) of the rainy season. For temperature, significant warming trends have been found over both Ngamiland and the northern ORB, with the strongest warming in ON particularly during the near term period. For this ON season over the northern ORB, under the SSP585 (SSP245) scenario, the model average projects a warming trend of 0.56 °C/decade (0.67 °C/decade). These findings may help with the management of agricultural activities, water resources and the highly biodiverse ecosystems in the ORB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arid and semi-arid lands (drylands) are under the influence of extreme environmental conditions and cover large areas on Earth's land surface. Determining temporal and spatial variations of the greenhouse gas and energy exchange in these ecosystems will provide a better understanding of both, the dynamics between the drylands's surface and the atmosphere and the importance in climate change. In this study, CO2 exchanges over a shrub steppe ecosystem were determined using the Eddy Covariance method during both dry and wet growing seasons in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. The net ecosystem exchange (NEE) was modeled using the extreme gradient boosting method (XGBOOST). Variables influencing NEE were estimated employing the SHapley Additive exPlanations algorithm (SHAP). The XGBOOST predictions demonstrated impressive results across all growing seasons, with high performance metrics (R2 = 0.821; NSE = 0.817), particularly notable during the wet season (R2 = 0.932; NSE = 0.929). The total NEE changed between 79.7 and -110.4 gC m−2 throughout the growing seasons. Especially the precipitation before the growing period has a positive impact on carbon sequestration in the shrub ecosystem in the following dry season. A high similarity was found in the patterns of daily NEE of all growing seasons and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), albedo, soil water content, temperature, sensible heat flux, the difference between air and soil temperature in desert shrub ecosystem. Although NDVI was the dominant factor during the wet season, there was a weaker relationship between these factors and NEE in the dry season than in the wet season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proportion of leaves of downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) damaged by insects at ten sites of coniferous forest along the pollution gradient of the Middle Ural copper smelter was analyzed. The study was conducted during periods of moderate (2009) and low (2019) emissions in early and late summer. The proportion of damaged leaves was higher in 2019 and increased towards the end of the growing season but was not associated with distance to the smelter and lead concentration in leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaise traps and sweep nets are commonly used to study sawfly faunas, seasonality and communities. Here we analyse a large dataset obtained with these methods in Slovakia and Hungary over the last two and a half decades. The dataset included collections from twenty-one sites, each covering the entire growing season, eleven of which were obtained with the Malaise trap and ten with the sweep net. We conclude that both methods are suitable for faunistic studies of sawflies (Hymenoptera, Symphyta), although they may lead to certain biased results for some Symphyta groups. Special attention should be paid to Siricidae, Orussidae, Xiphidriidae and Cimbicidae, which were only weakly recorded with both methods. Argidae, Blennocampinae, Dolerinae and Tenthredininae were underrepresented in the Malaise trap samples and Allantinae in the sweep net samples. Both methods gave equally good results in measuring species richness in an one-year study. Ideally, they should be used together as they complement each other well. The net method has a great advantage in determining the exact population density. In contrast, the Malaise trap collections were often heavily dominated by only a few species, with males being preferentially trapped. Use of Malasie trap should be preferred for the study of seasonal flight activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China, as the world's biggest soybean importer and fourth-largest producer, needs accurate mapping of its planting areas for global food supply stability. The challenge lies in gathering and collating ground survey data for different crops. We proposed a spatiotemporal migration method leveraging vegetation indices' temporal characteristics. This method uses a feature space of six integrals from the crops' phenological curves and a concavity-convexity index to distinguish soybean and non-soybean samples in cropland. Using a limited number of actual samples and our method, we extracted features from optical time-series images throughout the soybean growing season. The cloud and rain-affected data were supplemented with SAR data. We then used the random forest algorithm for classification. Consequently, we developed the 10-meter resolution ChinaSoybean10 maps for the ten primary soybean-producing provinces from 2019 to 2022. The map showed an overall accuracy of about 93%, aligning significantly with the statistical yearbook data, confirming its reliability. This research aids soybean growth monitoring, yield estimation, strategy development, resource management, and food scarcity mitigation, and promotes sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of warming freshwater habitats, protection of Atlantic salmon populations requires an understanding of the effects of temperature on somatic growth during the juvenile life stage. However, quantifying the effect of temperature on growth is challenging given differences among methodologies, metrics of growth, and their underlying assumptions. Using short term studies (2000–2002) in two Canadian populations of wild Atlantic salmon (Margaree and Miramichi rivers), we investigate whether different hierarchical modeling approaches influence the derivation of temperature-growth relationships, by contrasting seasonal growth trajectories (von Bertalanffy; VBGF) to size-at-age data models built with instantaneous growth rates. Size-at-age data analysed seasonally with the VBGF framework failed to detect an effect of temperature, whereas instantaneous growth rates from the same dataset were strongly related to temperature metrics. However, instantaneous growth rates cannot be used to extrapolate predictions into meaningful metrics for fisheries management (e.g., size at the end of the growing season). Nevertheless, we show that size at the end of the growing season can be predicted with VBGF models accounting for site-level variation, which in turn are related to temperature metrics, as observed for instantaneous growth rates. Taken together, these results show that combining these two approaches (size-at-age, growth rates) can circumvent their intrinsic drawbacks and reveal essential ecological patterns that may otherwise remain undetected. In cases where instantaneous growth rates are not available, relating predicted size-at-age from hierarchical VBGF to temperature provides an interesting alternative for detecting subtle environmental effects, even if the VBGF parameters or its residuals are unrelated to temperature metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Partitioning the measured net ecosystem carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange into gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration remains a challenge, which scientists try to tackle by using the properties of the trace gas carbonyl sulfide (COS). Its similar pathway into and within the leaf makes it a potential photosynthesis proxy. The application of COS as an effective proxy depends, among other things, on a robust inventory of potential COS sinks and sources within ecosystems. While the soil received some attention during the last couple of years, the role of plant roots is mostly unknown. In our study, we investigated the effects of live roots on the soil COS exchange. Methods: An experimental setup was devised to measure the soil and the belowground plant parts of young beech trees observed over the course of 9 months. Results: During the growing season, COS emissions were significantly lower when roots were present compared to chambers only containing soil, while prior to the growing season, with photosynthetically inactive trees, the presence of roots increased COS emissions. The difference in the COS flux between root-influenced and uninfluenced soil was fairly constant within each month, with diurnal variations in the COS flux driven primarily by soil temperature changes rather than the presence or absence of roots. Conclusion: While the mechanisms by which roots influence the COS exchange are largely unknown, their contribution to the overall ground surface COS exchange should not be neglected when quantifying the soil COS exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Productive Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands in the Baltic region ensure high-quality sawlogs for the timber market and contribute to carbon sequestration. Spike knots are serious stem defects, which reduce the proportion of valuable timber; therefore, the extent of genetic control of their occurrence and relationship with other traits must be assessed for the potential to reduce negative impact via tree breeding. We aimed to evaluate the family effect on the presence of spike knots and its relation to growth traits in open-pollinated Scots pine progenies. A higher incidence of spike knots was associated with better height growth and the presence of lammas shoots. The family had a statistically significant effect on growth and spike knots, yet a mainly weak genotypic correlation was observed between both traits (rG = − 0.25 ... 0.40). The family mean heritability of the spike knots was moderate (hf2 = 0.42 ... 0.46), opposite to very low (h2 = 0.02... 0.05) single tree heritability. Although the presence of lammas shoots was low and was not affected by genetics, it showed a strong positive genotypic relationship with the formation of spike knots in the next growing season (rG = 0.80). The potential to select fast growing families with a low probability of spike knots was indicated, but a more comprehensive analysis is necessary to determine the extent of the genetic relationship between this stem defect and lammas shoots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring and forecasting the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation across the Loess Plateau emerge as critical endeavors for environmental conservation, resource management, and strategic decision-making processes. Despite the swift advances in deep learning techniques for spatiotemporal prediction, their deployment for future vegetation forecasting remains underexplored. This investigation delves into vegetation alterations on the Loess Plateau from March 2000 to February 2023, employing fractional vegetation cover (FVC) as a metric, and scrutinizes its spatiotemporal interplay with precipitation and temperature. The introduction of a convolutional long short-term memory network enhanced by an attention mechanism (CBAM-ConvLSTM) aims to forecast vegetation dynamics on the Plateau over the ensuing 4 years, leveraging historical data on FVC, precipitation, and temperature. Findings revealed an ascending trajectory in the maximum annual FVC at a pace of 0.42% per annum, advancing from southeast to northwest, alongside a monthly average FVC increment at 0.02% per month. The principal driver behind FVC augmentation was identified as the growth season FVC surge in warm-temperate semi-arid and temperate semi-arid locales. Precipitation maintained a robust positive long-term association with FVC (Pearson coefficient > 0.7), whereas the temperature–FVC nexus displayed more variability, with periodic complementary trends. The CBAM-ConvLSTM framework, integrating FVC, precipitation, and temperature data, showcased commendable predictive accuracy. Future projections anticipate ongoing greening within the warm-temperate semi-arid region, contrasted by significant browning around the Loess Plateau's peripheries. This research lays the groundwork for employing deep learning in the simulation of vegetation's spatiotemporal dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how cool-season C3 and warm-season C4 grasses will respond to climate change is critical for predicting future ecosystem functioning in many grasslands. With warming, C4 grasses are expected to increase relative to C3 grasses, but alterations in the seasonal availability of water may also influence C3/C4 dynamics because of their distinct seasons of growth. To better understand how shifts in the seasonal availability of water can affect ecosystem function in a northern mixed-grass prairie in southeastern Wyoming, we reduced early season rainfall (April–June) using rainout shelters and added the amount of excluded precipitation later in the growing season (July–September), effectively shifting spring rainfall to summer rainfall. As expected, this shift in precipitation seasonality altered patterns of soil water availability, leading to a 29% increase in soil respiration and sustained canopy greenness throughout the growing season. Despite these responses, there were no significant differences in C3 aboveground net primary production (ANPP) between the seasonally shifted treatment and the plots that received ambient precipitation, likely due to the high levels of spring soil moisture present before rainout shelters were deployed that sustained C3 grass growth. However, in plots with high C4 grass cover, C4 ANPP increased significantly in response to increased summer rainfall. Overall, we provide the first experimental evidence that shifts in the seasonality of precipitation, with no change in temperature, will differentially impact C3 versus C4 species, altering the dynamics of carbon cycling in this geographically extensive semi-arid grassland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How the resource use by consumers vary in different environments and time scales is one of the fundamental ecological questions. Replicated field studies are rare, however; so the extent to which nutrient use varies and why is uncertain. We studied an endangered tyrphobiotic species, the black bog ant (Formica picea), and its feeding preferences in temperate peatlands. We conducted a baiting experiment at three different sites with high nest densities, repeated over three years and three periods of growing season. Preferences for three main macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and lipids) were assessed. We hypothesised that if nutrient limitation plays a role, ants will have an increased need for proteins and lipids in early seasons when brood is raised, while carbohydrates use will increase in late seasons. We also expected that site identity would influence nutrient preferences, but not year. Our results supported the nutrient limitation hypothesis for proteins that were consumed more in the early season. In contrast, preference for carbohydrates was rather high and did not increase consistently through season. Although the occupancy of lipid baits was low overall, it increased at colder temperatures, in contrast to carbohydrate and protein baits. Nutrient preferences varied more among sites than years, with the lowest nutrient use observed in a diverse fen-meadow, consistent with the nutrient limitation hypothesis. Year affected ant abundance, but not bait occupancy. Our results suggest that black bog ants flexibly adapt their diet to environmental conditions and that an interplay between nutrient limitation and climate determines their feeding behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in climate and grazing intensity influence plant-community compositions and their functional structure. Yet, little is known about their possible interactive effects when climate change mainly has consequences during the growing season and grazing occurs off growing season (dormant season grazing). We examined the contribution of trait plasticity to the immediate responses in the functional structure of plant community due to the interplay between these two temporally disjunct drivers. We conducted a field experiment in the northern Mongolian steppe, where climate was manipulated by open-top chambers (OTCs) for two growing seasons, increasing temperature and decreasing soil moisture (i.e., increased aridity), and grazing was excluded for one dormant season between these two growing seasons. We calculated the community-weighted mean (CWM) and the functional diversity (FD) of six leaf traits. Based on a variance partitioning approach, we evaluated how much of the responses in CWM and FD to OTCs and dormant season grazing occur through plasticity. The interactive effect of OTCs and the dormant season grazing were detected only after considering the role of trait plasticity. Overall, OTCs influenced the responses in CWM more than in FD, but the effects of OTCs were much less pronounced where dormant season grazing occurred. Thus, warming (together with decreased soil moisture) and the elimination of dormant season grazing could interact to impact the functional trait structure of plant communities through trait plasticity. Climate change effects should be considered in the context of altered land use, even if temporally disjunct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capture of incoming solar radiation under unlimited light, water, and nutrient conditions by plant canopies and converting it into biomass has been described as radiation use efficiency (RUE). RUE has been computed as a function of biomass accumulation and intercepted photosynthetically active radiation without considering the loss of photoassimilates due to respiratory processes. This study evaluated the RUE in diploid potato crop (Solanum phureja Juz. et Buk.) across six experiments in Colombia. Total biomass was measured during the crop season from the early vegetative stage through maturity. However, this proposal involves not only the total biomass accumulated concerning the amount of photosynthetically active radiation intercepted but also took into account the losses by respiration, following Thornley respiration approach. This research demonstrates that the RUE is not a constant value as the respiration process leads to RUE values being variable in a non-linear way over time. The daily RUE simulation, conducted through an interpolation process, revealed significant variation from emergence to the end of the cycle. This indicates an error in assuming a constant RUE throughout the entire growth period, particularly in assessing its physiological impact across the entire growth and development crop cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Lakes region of North America has warmed by 1–2 °C on average since pre-industrial times, with the most pronounced changes observable during winter and spring. Interannual variability in temperatures remains high, however, due to the influence of ocean-atmosphere circulation patterns that modulate the warming trend across years. Variations in spring temperatures determine growing season length and plant phenology, with implications for whole ecosystem function. Studying how both internal climate variability and the "secular" warming trend interact to produce trends in temperature is necessary to estimate potential ecological responses to future warming scenarios. This study examines how external anthropogenic forcing and decadal-scale variability influence spring temperatures across the western Great Lakes region and estimates the sensitivity of regional forests to temperature using long-term growth records from tree-rings and satellite data. Using a modeling approach designed to test for regime shifts in dynamic time series, this work shows that mid-continent spring climatology was strongly influenced by the 1976/1977 phase change in North Pacific atmospheric circulation, and that regional forests show a strengthening response to spring temperatures during the last half-century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]