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The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of aqueous extracts of different plant species on the grain and protein yield of soybean. The testing was conducted at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad on the seeds of the NS Apolo variety. The aqueous extracts of the above-ground part of nettle, the above-ground part of nettle and comfrey, whole banana fruit, banana peel, onion bulbs leaves, the top parts of willow twigs and the top parts of soybean plants were foliarly applied. In addition to the untreated control variant, the experiment also included a distilled water control. Control with distilled water was to show whether the effect of aqueous plant extracts was due to plant material or just water. The results of the experiment showed that the use of aqueous extracts contributed to the increase in grain and protein yield. The increase in grain yield ranged from 9.48% to 15.34%, and the increase in protein yield from 9.31% to 16.16%. The best effect was achieved by applying the aqueous extract of the whole banana fruit and the aqueous extract of the mix of nettle and comfrey. By applying them each year, a significantly higher yield was achieved in relation to the control with distilled water.

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of seed priming on seed quality parameters (germination energy, germination, seedling length and vigor index) of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense Pers.). The experiment was performed at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia. The research was conducted on the seeds of the sorghum variety NS Džin and sudangrass variety Srem. Distilled water and aqueous extracts of young willow branches (Salix matsudana) and mature banana fruits (Musa x paradisiaca) were used to prime the seeds. The seeds were primed for: 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h. The results showed that priming sorghum and sudangrass seeds in aqueous extracts of young willow branches and mature banana fruits can have a positive effect on seed quality parameters: germination energy, germination, seedling length and vigor index. The greatest effect on germination energy and seed germination was achieved in sudangrass by using an aqueous extract of young willow branches. The increase was 9.30% and 9.20%, respectively. Priming sorghum seeds in aquatic extracts of mature banana fruits had the greatest effect on seedling length and vigor index. The increase was 36.86% and 40.33%, respectively. For all research parameters, priming for 3 h was the most effective. However, in addition to the positive effect, priming can also have a negative effect. The most significant reduction was found on sorghum seeds, when primed in an aqueous extract of mature banana fruit for 24 hours. Germination energy and germination were reduced by 7.14% and 9.30%, respectively.

The development of science and technology introduces new approaches in plant breeding and various methods to increase plant productivity. One of the latest methods is the implementation of an environmentally friendly technique of using a pulsed low-frequency electromagnetic field (PEMP). The paper presents the results of the influence of the electromagnetic stimulation of soybean seeds on grain weight per plant, weight of 1,000 grains and grain yield in different agroecological conditions. In the three-year research, in the period from 2013 to 2015, the soybean variety Valjevka was used, grown with different amounts of fertilizers (control - without fertilization, 750 kg/ha and 1300 kg/ha). Before sowing, the seed was subjected to PEMP stimulation in variants: control - without stimulation and alternating magnetic field stimulation (PEMP) with induction of 30 mT and exposure time of 15 minutes. The average grain weight per plant during seed stimulation was 11.53% (12.09) higher than without PEMP (10.84). The weight of 1,000 grains with PEMP was 155.99 g, which was 2.06% higher than the weight of 1,000 grains of the variant without PEMP (152.83 g). The average soybean grain yield for all three years of research with seed stimulation was 4.85% higher (3,481.25 kg/ha) than without PEMP (3,320.14 kg/ha). Stimulation of seeds with PEMP has economic justification given the growth of soybean prices on the world stock market. The results show that the PEMP treatment of soybean seeds can significantly affect soybean grain yield and counteract side effects such as drought and lack of fertilizers.

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of electrostatic fields on seed vigor (VI), mean rate of germination (MGR) and coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG) of five soybean genotypes. Testing was conducted at the Novi Sad Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops on the seeds of five soybean varieties: Sava, NS 2024, NS 1347, NS 3127, and NS Blackstar. The seeds were exposed to different voltages of direct current (DC): 0 V (control), 3 V, 6 V and 9 V, to which the seeds were exposed for 0 min (control), 1 min and 3 min. The application of DC can be a suitable method for improving VI, MGR and CVG. In addition, the results indicate that it is necessary to adjust the DC treatment (voltage and duration of exposure of seeds) to a particular genotype, since inadequate treatments may deteriorate the quality of seeds.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of biostimulants on the morphological characteristics of soybean seedlings. The testing was conducted in the laboratory of the Faculty of Biofarming in Bačka Topola. The experimental material included three soybean varieties ('Galina', 'Sava' and 'Rubin') selected at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad. The study lasted for two years, 2015-2016, and identical biostimulant treatments were applied in both years. In order to determine the effect of biostimulants on soybean seedling root, hypocotyl and weight, the following commercial biostimulants were applied: EM Aktiv, Terra Green Hobby, Slavol and Bioplant Flora. In addition to the single application of biostimulants, two combinations of Slavol + Bioplant Flora and Slavol + Bioplant Flora + Epin Extra + Slavol S were used as treatments. EM Aktiv showed the greatest effect on root growth. The root was on average 12% longer than the control. Slavol S had the greatest influence on seedling hypocotyl and weight. The increase was 8.24% and 5.15%, respectively, compared with the control.

Many studies show that in the last 20 years, the increase in production per hectare has been achieved mainly due to the creation of new varieties and the development of plant breeding. Innovations in plant breeding are the main way to find new traits, values and tolerances, which are the only ones that can respond to the increased demand for yield and more efficient production. In addition to high and stable yields, it is very important that the soybean seed has a satisfactory technological quality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine how the application of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) affected the protein yield of soybean seed depending on the year, exposure time and frequency. The field trials were conducted in the experimental field of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad, Serbia in 2010-2013. For this research, the seeds of a medium-sized variety Valjevka exposed to a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) using a pulse generator and a strip applicator were used. A low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (16, 24, 30, 72 Hz) was used at the exposure times of 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes. The results of the research show that the application of this method can increase the yield of protein in soybean seed for more than 20%, which is a significant increase, especially in organic production, where the use of seed treatment agents is very restricted. However, this measure can also have an inhibitory effect if an adverse combination of exposure time and frequency strength is selected.

In order to examine the influence of inter-row cultivation on the soybean yield, a trial was set up in the Agricultural School in Backa Topola from 2015 to 2017. Three soybean varieties were selected at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad. Galina, Sava and Rubin were used. The trials included the different number of inter-row cultivations: control -without inter-row cultivation, one inter-row cultivation, two and three inter-row cultivations of soybean crops. Obtained results showed that an average yield of soybean increased with an increase in the number of inter-row cultivations during the soybean vegetation period. With one inter-row cultivation, the yield increase was 5.33%, with two inter-row cultivations -7.10% and with three cultivations -7.33%. In the years with a lower precipitation, the influence of intra-row cultivation was much more effective. In 2017, the increase ranged from 10.33% to 13.62%, and in 2016 from 3.09% to 4.27%. Yield was increased due to reduced evapotranspiration of soil moisture as well as prevention of descending of water into deeper layers. During summer, this allowed better water conservation in the soil for critical periods, and also increased the activity of microorganisms as well as more intensive mineralization of organic matter, which ultimately influenced the yield.

Soybean yield depends on the choice of cultivar, soil fertility, cultivation practices, and weather conditions in different years. Ploughing down crop residues increases the content of soil organic matter, and thereby positively affects soil fertility. The use of crop residues as an energy source has been promoted in recent years. It would be wrong to refer to this as a renewable energy source as the removal of crop residues from agricultural fields reduces and ultimately damages soil fertility, which in turn leads to reduced yield and a crop residue decrease in the future. Due to the reduced application of manure and organic fertilisers, it is necessary to return crop residues to the soil to preserve soil structure and prevent soil fertility decline. The effect of ploughing down crop residues of preceding crops on soybean yield has been the focus of studies for eleven years. Ploughing down maize crop residues resulted in the soybean yield increase by about 11.69%, i.e. the annual yield increase ranged from 2.89% to 15.94%.

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of primers on seed quality parameters using different starting values of germination. For this purpose, ten soybean lines selected at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad were evaluated. The starting values of germination ranged between 48% and 89%. Seeds were surface sterilized with 3% sodium hypochlorite and immersed in different primers: 1% potassium nitrate, 1% potassium chloride and 1% hydrogen peroxide. Untreated seeds were used as the control. The obtained results revealed that the effects of priming depended on soybean line and treatment, whereas the efficiency of this pre-sowing treatment was not affected by the starting value of seed germination. Some lines responded favorably to immersion, while in others priming had an inhibitory effect, causing a significant decrease in germination. There was an increase in germination up to 12% or a decrease up to 11%, depending on line and treatment. Lines that were positively affected by this method also exhibited increased values for other germination parameters: mean germination time (MGT) and time to 50% germination (T50). Lower values of MGT and T50 were observed in lines which showed a negative response to priming and a decrease in germination, but also a more rapid radicle protrusion, as compared to the control. In conclusion, there is no universal applicability of one single primer as it might cause a negative response in some lines and thus reduce seed quality.

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of soil type and forage crops on the content of magnesium in soil and roughages, as well as forage quality regarding Mg content for the prevention of animal disease ‘tetany’. The trial was carried out on chernozem and humogley under alfalfa and red clover. Samples for determination of Mg content in plant and total Mg content in soil were digested using the apparatus Milestone Ethos 1. The content of Mg was determined using the apparatus ICP-OES Vista Pro-Axial Varian. The average total Mg content in soil of the tested sites was 0.64%. Total Mg content in chernozem was higher than in humogley. A higher total Mg content was in the deeper horizon. A significant positive correlation was found between total Mg content in soil and soil pH as well as the content of CaCO3. The average Mg content in forage crops was 0.28%. A higher Mg content in the dry matter was observed in crops grown on humogley. Mg content was significantly higher in red clover. There was no risk for the occurrence of animal disease ‘tetany’ regarding Mg content in crops, because the ratio K/(Ca+Mg) was below 2.2, and K and Mg content in the dry matter of crops was below the critical value. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. TR31072: Stanje, tendencije i mogućnosti povećanja plodnosti poljoprivrednog zemljišta u Vojvodini]

Genetically modified (GM) crops and biotechnology are providing new opportunities for increasing crop productivity and tackling agriculture problems, such as diseases, pests and weeds, abiotic stress and nutritional limitations of staple food crops. As GM crops are being adopted in various locations with different ecosystems, a scientifically based understanding of the environmental effects of cultivations of GM crops would assist decision makers worldwide in ensuring environmental safety and sustainability. In this paper are discussed some of the most important problems related to the GM crops into the environment such as: plant protection, hybridisation, ecological effects of HRCs, gene flow, biodiversity, stress, ecological risks (ERA), effects on the soil ecosystem etc.