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Abstract The present study was undertaken to know the suppression of weed growth through Dryopteris serrato-dentata (Beddome) Hayata (Dhekishak) and Blumea lacera Dc. (Shialmutra) residues and to estimate the manures and fertilizers effect with the Dhekishakand Shialmutra residues on boro rice at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during the period from November 2022 to April 2023. There were two rice varieties viz., BRRI dhan29 (V1) and BRRI dhan89 (V2) having seven different treatments comprising of residues of Dryopteris serrato-dentata (Beddome) Hayata and Blumea lacera Dc., manures and fertilizers (t ha−1): Control (R1), Residues1.5 + Cowdung 5 (R2), Residues1.5 + Cowdung 2.5 + 50% of recommended dose Fertilizer (R3), Residues 1.5 + Vermicompost 5 (R4), Residues 1.5 + Vermicompost 2.5 + 50% of recommended dose Fertilizer (R5), Residues 1.5 + Trichocompost 10 (R6) and Residues 1.5 + Trichocompost 5 + 50% of recommended dose Fertilizer (R7) and was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Eleven weed species from seven families were found in this study. Minimum weed growth (1.68) was found in treatment V2R5 (BRRI dhan89 × Residues 1.5 + Vermicompost 2.5 + 50% of recommended dose Fertilizer) and the maximum was (67.40) in V2R1 (BRRI dhan89 × Control). The grain yield as well as the yielding parameters such as the effective tillers hill−1 (8.83), grains panicle−1 (124.98), grain yield (5.33 t ha−1), straw yield (6.49 t ha−1) were recorded highest in V2R5 (BRRI dhan89 × Residues 1.5 + Vermicompost 2.5 + 50% of recommended dose Fertilizer). It was obvious from the study that the residues had capability to suppress the weed growth and integrated manures and fertilizers enhances the yield performance of boro rice. Therefore, Dryopteris serrato-dentata (Beddome) Hayata and Blumea lacera Dc. residues combined with manures and fertilizers might be an efficient source of eco-friendly weed management and yield enhancement tool for sustainable boro rice production.

Abstract Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana L.) commonly known as Indian jujube, is an underutilized seasonal fruit rich in nutrients and consumed directly. A punching type mechanism was developed to separate the seed and pulp of ber fruit, based on the analysis of its physical (length, width, thickness measured by vernier caliper) and mechanical properties (cutting and extruding forces measured by texture analyzer). The Pearson correlation coefficient showed that the physical parameters (width, thickness, geometric mean diameter, arithmetic mean diameter) were strongly correlated with the sphericity and surface area of the ber fruits and seeds, whereas length was not significantly correlated. The developed punching type de-seeding mechanism consists of a fruit resting seat, punching rod, guider, crank and lever mechanism, supporting stand, handle, and base. The performance of the developed de-seeder was analyzed, showing fruit pulp wastage from 1.89% to 8.62% and efficiency from 91.38% to 98.11%. The Pearson correlation coefficient indicated that the performance parameters (pulp wastage and efficiency) of de-seeder are negatively correlated. The capacity of the developed de-seeder varies from 15 – 17 kg/ h and 220 – 280 fruits/ h. The developed de-seeder reduces the labour requirement by 67%. In economic evaluation, the de-seeder has reduced the cost of operation (₹ h−1) by 73% and increase the net benefit (₹ year−1) by 6960 over manual operation. Its high efficiency and less pulp wastage make the machine preferable for progressive farmers. Graphical Abstract

Abstract To assess the agronomic performance and genetic stability for grain yield, a set of 36 spring wheat genotypes were grown consecutively for two crop seasons in six environments with varying sowing dates at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi using randomized complete block design with three replications. Significant genotypic differences were observed for all the studied morpho-physiological characters in both the crop seasons suggesting the presence of substantial genetic variability among the genotypes studied. Parametric and nonparametric stability analysis methods, along with advanced techniques like AMMI and GGE biplot analysis, were employed to understand genotype-environment interactions. Positive correlations were found between yield and stability parameters, highlighting the importance of selecting genotypes with both high yield and stability. Based on the wide-ranging evaluations, three out of 36 genotypes viz., DW1615, HD3262, and DW1631, emerged most promising ones consistently demonstrated superior performance across multiple methodologies. The study underscores the need to follow a multifaceted approach for genotype evaluation to ensure sustainable improvement in wheat production systems, enabling breeders to make informed decisions for resilience and productivity in diverse/varying environmental conditions.

The Bangshi River flows through the industrial regions of Dhaka and Tangail, polluted by various wastes, including industrial effluents. This study assessed water quality and heavy metal concentrations in the river, focusing on two fish species, Tengra (Mystus nigriceps) and Tara baim (Macrognathus aral). Fish samples were taken from one station during the wet season, whereas water samples were taken from three stations throughout the dry season (June to August 2022) and wet season (February to May 2022). The parameters analyzed included water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), alkalinity, and the concentrations of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn). Water temperature ranged from 30.5 to 32.3°C during the wet season and 19.91 to 20.5°C in the dry season, remaining within acceptable limits. pH values were within the standard range. However, EC exceeded irrigation standards during the dry season (828 to 903 µS/cm). TDS levels were 83 to 175 ppm in the wet season and 328 to 563 ppm in the dry season, with most dry season samples exceeding fish culture limits. DO values (1.98 to 4.26 ppm) were consistently below recommended levels, while BOD (2.33 to 4.83 ppm) and alkalinity (80.7 to 382.23 ppm) surpassed permissible thresholds, particularly in the dry season. Heavy metals in water were generally within safe limits except for Pb (4.40 to 5.002 ppm). In fish, Pb concentrations exceeded permissible levels (5.35 ppm in Tengra, 4.46 ppm in Tara baim), while Cd, Cu, and Mn were within acceptable thresholds. The elevated Pb levels likely stem from effluents released by glass, textile, and paint industries. These findings highlight potential risks to human health from consuming water and fish from the Bangshi River, underscoring the urgent need for improved pollution control strategies.

Abstract Diversity in the plant gene pool provides breeders with the opportunity to improve targeted traits. Enhancing the genetic background through the introgression of desired gene(s) is an effective strategy to combat stresses like heat. Two field experiments were carried out in 2019–20 and 2020–21 at the research fields of Genetics and Plant Breeding at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh, to identify heat-tolerant wheat advance lines. In F4 generation, 60 advanced lines were selected from a pool of 160 line and in the F5 generation, 16 lines were selected from the previous selection. Analysis of variance revealed significant variation in both the F4 and F5 generations, with the F5 populations outperforming the check varieties. Grain weight demonstrated the highest heritability and genetic advance, while the plant yield exhibited moderate to high performance. Plant height had the most significant direct effect at the genotypic level, while grain weight had the highest impact at the phenotypic level. A total of 77 alleles were identified with an average of 4.53 alleles per locus. The genetic similarity analysis showed that Shatabdi and BARI Gom 25 had the highest similarity at 94%, followed by P3-18-10 with P3-11-3 at 90%, and P3-24-10 with P3-21-10 at 85%. The PCA, structural, and dendrogram analyses all indicated the same grouping of the selected lines. Therefore, selecting of these lines for the F6 generation would enhance resilience against heat stress.

Abstract To replace the traditional manual cabbage harvesting method commonly practiced by Indian farmers, a self-propelled walk-behind electric cabbage harvester was developed at the Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, IIT Kharagpur. The key concept was to cut the cabbage head from its stem and push the cut cabbage head to a storage unit with the help of a real-time vision-based precise cabbage pushing mechanism. Two counter-rotating disk cutters were used as cutting tools. The performance of the developed harvester was evaluated in a field (20 × 12 m) with three Indian cabbage varieties i.e., Pusa Mukta, Pusa Drumhead and September Early. The developed harvester had a working width of 0.6 m and when operated at a forward speed of 0.25 m/s, the actual field capacity and field efficiency were found to be 0.029 ha/h and 54.86%, respectively. The maximum value of cutting efficiency was found to be 80% for Pusa Mukta variety. The maximum instantaneous power consumption for cutting, pushing, conveying and propelling was found to be 948.53 W. Economic analysis of the developed harvester was carried out and it was found that operational cost was 26.85% lower than traditional harvesting method. The break-even point of the developed cabbage harvester was calculated as 6.43 ha/year. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Ensuring a stable supply of nutritious food for the growing global population is a major challenge, especially through a sustainable food system. Maize is host to a vast microbial community in its root zone. Microorganisms associated with maize play an essential role in enhancing plant growth and productivity. The purpose of this review is to explore the interactions within the rhizosphere of maize, focusing on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), contribute to improved phosphorus solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and overall plant health. Through the synthesis of 200 papers, elucidated the interactions within the maize rhizosphere, highlighting the activity and assembly mechanisms of soil microorganisms crucial to maize crop production that have been widely analyzed. Incorporating microbial benefits into sustainable agricultural practices presents several challenges, including environmental variability (temperate vs tropical), unpredictable field performance, and the influence of advanced crop management techniques on microbial communities. To address these challenges, future research should prioritize microbiome engineering, precision agriculture, and the development of climate-resilient microbial strains. A deeper understanding of the maize microbiome holds significant potential for advancing biofertilizer development and sustainable farming practices by overcoming technological, environmental large-scale implementation.

Abstract Grain legumes are a rich source of dietary proteins and hence are essential for achieving food and nutritional security, worldwide. Grain legumes are negatively affected by salt stress, which results in decreased growth, yield, productivity, and other financial losses. Salt stress causes severe phytotoxicities, like specific ion toxicities, hormonal and nutritional imbalances, disruptions of stomatal conductance, and alterations in leaf water potential and rate of photosynthesis. To enhance agricultural productivity under salt stress conditions, several ecofriendly methods have been tried recently. Out of these, the use of biostimulants gained particular attention due to their ease of availability and high-stress ameliorative potential. It includes the use of non-microbial biostimulants like humic acid and seaweed extracts (SWE), as well as microbial biostimulants like mycorrhiza, plant growth-promoting and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which promote plant growth and development. Biostimulants successfully alleviate salt stress-induced toxicities in legumes, when introduced either alone or in combination with other macro- or microorganisms in the soil. In response to salinity, plants raise their cellular levels of osmolytes (proline and glycine betaine) and polyamines, as well as phytohormones. The application of biostimulants in grain legumes alleviates the salt stress-induced toxicity by improving the seed germination, seedling growth, rate of photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, absorption and uptake of minerals, grain development, yield, ROS homeostasis and osmoregulation. Many of the reviews have lacked the assessment of the effect of these ecofriendly biostimulants on mitigation of salt stress in grain legumes. The development of integrated, eco-friendly and sustainable use of various biostimulants and their mode of action in managing salt stress in legume production is discussed in the present review.

Abstract Horticulture crops are extremely vulnerable to climate change all over the world. The changes in seasonality, temperature extremity, and unpredictable rainfall conditions directly influence the phenological stages of horticulture crops. The present study focuses on horticultural fruit crops, changes in the trend of climate indices, and the various impacts faced by the farmers. This study has taken into consideration the research work of worldwide scholars, published between the periods of 2000 and 2023 that is indexed in the Scopus database. This study draws attention to the year-wise publication numbers, highly cited papers, country-wise distribution of documents, and frequently used keywords in the Scopus dataset. A total of 443 articles from 220 journals are found to be most relevant based on the present topic. The result shows that, among the publications from 57 countries, the highest number of publications came from India with 293 publications, followed by Germany with 156 publications, and China with 152 publications. The highest number of citations is received by the publications from Germany, followed by the USA and Australia. Climate change, phenology, temperature, horticulture, and dormancy are some of the frequently used keywords in the present database. The Scopus database is analysed using VOSviewer software and RStudio. Based on this bibliometric analysis, it appears to be a new research topic that has gained attention in the last decade. India holds a significant global position in this field, although developed countries continue to lead in conducting more relevant and impactful research.

Abstract Bioethanol production from cereal straw is a sustainable alternative to meet the current energy demand, but its low nitrogen (N) content and high carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio are problematic during bioethanol processing. Intercropping cereals with legumes may increase the N content and reduce the C/N ratio in the harvested straw biomass. In order to investigate the combined production of food, feed, and suitable feedstock (low C/N ratio) for lignocellulosic bioethanol production, a field experiment on cereal-legume intercropping was carried out in southern Sweden. In the experiment, autumn-sown cereals (wheat, triticale, and rye) were grown as monocrops with two different N fertilization levels (60 and 120 kg N ha−1) or intercropped with autumn-sown or spring-sown (undersown) clover-grass, autumn-sown or spring-sown (undersown) alfalfa, or autumn-sown faba bean. Total grain dry matter yield, cereal grain protein content, straw dry matter yield, and straw biomass C/N ratio were estimated. The results showed that the intercrops produced more straw biomass and had a lower C/N ratio, but produced less grain, than cereal monocrops. Among the cereals, rye showed significantly higher grain and straw yields, but lower grain protein content, in all treatments. Among the intercrop treatments, cereal with spring-sown clover-grass produced higher grain and straw yields and had a significantly lower C/N ratio (38:1) than the other treatments. Thus, cereal with spring-sown (undersown) clover-grass is a promising cropping system for lignocellulosic bioethanol production.

Abstract A field experiment was conducted to assess the impact of spray frequency and application rates of Agro-lambacin (Agro-lambacin Super 315 EC, containing profenfos 30% and lambda-cyhalothrin 1.5%) insecticide on the management of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Sorghum. The study evaluated foliar application rates of 0.2 L ha⁻1, 0.4 L ha⁻1, and 0.6 L ha⁻1, with application frequencies of once, twice, and thrice, alongside an untreated control. This was carried out at the Sirinka and Kobo sites using a randomized complete block design with three replications during the main cropping season of 2020 (July to November). Fall armyworm (FAW) larval infestation, foliar damage, Sorghum head weight, and overall yield were recorded. Results indicated significant variations across treatments. Notably, the three-time application of 0.6 L ha⁻1 and 0.4 L ha⁻1 consistently resulted in lower mean larval populations per plant and reduced foliar damage throughout the cropping season. These treatments also yielded higher grain yield, with percentage yield increases of 29.47% and 20.76%, respectively, compared to the untreated control at Kobo. In contrast, while treatment effects were evident at Sirinka during the spray regimes, the yield did not reflect this due to ongoing infestations after the completion of the spray applications. Therefore, a three-times application of Agro-lambacin, starting approximately 22 days after planting at ten-day intervals, using the manufacturer's recommended rate of 0.4 L ha⁻1 or an increased rate of 0.6 L ha⁻1, is deemed effective and economically viable for Kobo and similar areas. However, for Sirinka, further research is necessary to explore the optimal spray sequence or total number of applications required for effective management of FAW in Sorghum.

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of planting windows on grain yield and oil yield of three sunflower varieties (Hysun33, Record, and K/Fedha) across two locations in 2023. The two factors (varieties and planting windows) were laid out in a split plot arrangement and fitted into randomized complete block design in three replicates. The first planting window (PW1) occurred in late January, the second (PW2) in mid-February, and the third (PW3) in early March. Weather parameters evaluated included minimum and maximum temperatures, average monthly rainfall and rainfall during the growth period. The weather data revealed trends of decreasing minimum and maximum temperatures, as well as fluctuating average rainfall over the period. Total rainfall did not significantly differ between the three planting windows (PW1, PW2, PW3). However, there was significant variation in rainfall amounts at different phenological stages between planting windows (P = 0.001). Grain yield and oil yield were highest in PW3 (1.50 t/ha and 360.2 L, respectively), as well as for the Hysun33 variety (0.92 t/ha and 22.95 L, respectively). High grain and oil yields were influenced by high germination and survival percentages, high rainfall during leaf development and stem elongation, flowering time and interactions between planting window, variety, and locations. Study showed that PW3 and HYsun33 offers the most favorable options for optimal sunflower production in Kilwa District. However, multi-environment trials, repeated over several seasons is recommended to explore the influence of environmental variables. The results may also prompt a revision of the sunflower planting calendar for the southern zone.

Abstract Animal manure is a valuable organic resource of nitrogen (N) for crops, but it can also be a potential source of environmental pollution, depending on how it is managed and utilized at the farm level. Whilst manure is commonly used as an organic fertilizer amendment in crop production in many smallholder farming systems in southern Africa, this is not necessarily the case in South Africa. The objective of this study was to investigate and evaluate the productivity of crop and livestock components. The study focused on the quantities of manure production and its utilization as N source in croplands using a case study of the Eastern Province Cape, which typifies smallholder rural South Africa. A purposive random sampling of one hundred and fourteen households in the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality was interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. The households practice an integrated crop-livestock system, in which livestock rearing is the dominant diversified component, with 69.3% of the households raising more than one type of animal. The majority (78.7%) of farmers with access to communal arable land had outfields with land sizes ranging from 0.6 to 2 hectares (ha). Only 35.1 and 22.8% of households used manure and processed it before applying it to crop fields as N fertilizer. The overall quantities of manure utilized in crop fields amounted to 515 t, and manures that remained unutilized were 4367 t. The findings of this study show the weak linkage between the crop and livestock enterprises regarding manure use. The underutilization of manure and its impacts on the environment requires further study to assist in defining sustainable management practices for this and similar smallholder environments.

Abstract Many studies have examined various aspects of rice cultivation in Bangladesh, such as yield, sustainability, and the socioeconomic conditions of farmers. However, there is a noticeable gap in field-based research explicitly addressing the productivity, profitability, and challenges Boro rice producers face in wetland areas of Bangladesh. To address this gap, the current study assessed the productivity and profitability of different rice farming systems in the wetland areas of Sunamganj district, Bangladesh. Utilizing farm-level survey data, the study assessed opportunities and constraints to increase the productivity and profitability of Boro rice across diverse farming systems. The data were collected from 60 out of 157 farmers who cultivated Boro rice using a purposive sampling technique. A cost and return analysis was conducted to calculate the profitability of Boro rice cultivation in wetland areas of Bangladesh. The Cobb–Douglas production function was used to identify the factors that influence Boro rice yield in these regions. For BRRIDhan28 and BRRIDhan29 rice production, small farmers (US$2206.57) and landless farmers (US$342.55) had the highest net returns per hectare (ha) [(Alam and Swapan (2011) classified farms into four landholding-sized classes: marginal (

Abstract The development of Integrated Enset processing technology is significant for the easy availability of stable food in the current condition for fulfilling the pangs of hunger in Ethiopia, currently; individual manual technologies such as decortication, corm granting, bulla extraction, and fermenting techniques eventually contribute to utilizing food security such as Kocho, which is not affordable for the marginal farmers of Ethiopia. However, there is a lack of integrated compromise of the all-function process of corm granting, decortication, and pulverization in one machine wholesome of the product such as Kocho, and bulla within consuming time and labor. Therefore, it is decided to design and develop an integrated enset processing machine for central high land of Ethiopian farmers with high-quality production. The physical and mechanical properties of the enset is studied to get an efficient and robust design of the various components. The overall design and development of proposed machine components were carried out at Adama Science and Technology University, Ethiopia by using ANSYS 2023 R1 software by considering the engineering economics and material specifications as per ASTM standards. The process parameters of the proposed machine are identified as feed rate, drum speed, concave to drum clearance, power requirement, etc. Also, the enset characteristics were considered as decorticating and granting, fiber cutting resistance, fiber length, dimension, shape, and weight. The overall developed enset integrated machine assembles are analyzed for granting and decorticating with drum clearance and bulla extraction throughput capacity, reliability, simplicity, safety, and overall cost. The machine's safety from a Design Perspective is checked and validated by a simulation study on the critical parts subjected to higher stresses. The cost of available individual decorticators, granting, pulverized, and bulla squeezer machines is costly to the farmer’s community. Therefore; the proposed Integrated enset machine will be handy to the marginal and low-cost enset-producing farmers of West Shewa Zone Ethiopia.

Abstract Grapes (Vitis vinifera) are extensively grown in tropical and sub-tropical climate for its wine as well as direct consumption as table grapes or raisin. Grape production substantially contributes to the economy of smallholder farmers of developing countries. Despite the relevance of grape production in the international market and the potential for boosting rural economy, the automation in grape production is very low. Mechanization in grapevine cultivation is an indispensable factor for timely operations and cost-savings. Therefore, the technological interventions for grapes production as well as its management in vineyards have been reviewed in the paper. Vineyards are undergoing a gradual transformation into a mechanized way with the advent of newer and ready to adopt technologies like planting, pruning, weeding, spraying, fertilizer application, irrigation and harvesting. However, selective in nature, some operations are still carried out manually like pruning, weeding, and harvesting in developing countries. Although complete mechanization is possible for each production and cultivation process tedious and labor-consuming practices must be prioritized for mechanization and automation. This review systematically summarizes the existing technologies and explores the future prospects for researchers to automate grapevine production and crop management technology for grapevine cultivation.

Abstract Rainfall is vital for determining crop growth factor and yield in areas where irrigation facility is limited and a major part of maize area in Nepal is under rainfed system. This experiment was conducted to identify superior yielding genotypes with higher grain yield and yield governing traits with respect to prevailing scenario under rainfed and irrigated cropping system. The experiment was conducted from first may, 2022 to 26th august, 2022 in RCBD design with nine genotypes and three replications under both irrigated and rainfed conditions. Among the tested genotypes, maximum plant height was reported in genotype Deuti and Manakamana-3 in irrigated and rainfed condition, respectively. Days to anthesis and silking were earlier in sano ghogha in both condition and minimum anthesis silking interval was reported in Deuti followed by Kanchan 101 and Thulo ghogha in both conditions. Cob characteristics varied significantly except NOGPR across environments and the highest hundred kernel weight was reported in Thulo ghogha in both conditions. Correlation analysis revealed that grain yield shows a positive correlation with cob-characteristics showing considerable increase in yield with increase in cob-traits. The highest grain yield was reported in Bisco (11.6t/ha) and Kanchan 101 (9.6 t/ha) in irrigated condition, and in rainfed condition highest yield was reported in Godavari (9.06t/ha), Kanchan 101 (8.93 t/ha) and Bisco gold (7.9t/ha). Thus, Kanchan 101 and Bisco gold 941 should be further evaluated in response to other agronomic practices and adopted for commercial cultivation in mid-hill rainfed areas.

Abstract This paper presents a bibliometric content analysis of the research on biostimulants to examine their roles in improving the sustainability of agriculture. The research on biostimulants is developing and has been attracting significant attention. It has focused on understanding the functional mechanisms of biostimulants and their impact on various indicators of sustainability. It suggests that biostimulants improve crop yield and product quality, reduce external application of fertilizers, enhance water-use efficiency, and improve crops’ capability to tolerate abiotic stresses. Given the growing negative externalities of intensive agriculture to natural resources, human health, and the environment and the predictions of climate becoming more severe, there is a need to focus more on basic and applied research on biostimulants.

Abstract Scald and net form net blotch caused by fungal pathogens Rhynchosporium secalis and Pyrenophora teres f. teres, respectively, are significant foliar diseases affecting barley production on a global scale, and they lead to substantial reductions in both yield and quality. In the current study, the reactions of 100 malt barley genotypes to the diseases were evaluated under natural conditions in Ethiopia. Again, several methods of genotype reaction determination were assessed to select a suitable method. Field trial was conducted using a simple lattice design. The grain yield of ten middle rows (5 m2) was evaluated, and the results were converted to t ha−1. The relationship between independent and dependent variables was analyzed using the Pearson correlation in ellipses predictor at a P-value of 0.05 and 0.01. Logistic and Gompertz models were used for disease rate analysis. Genotypes HB#P786 and HB#P875 scored the highest (4.7 t ha−1) and lowest (0.8 t ha−1) grain yield, respectively. Eyal classes and Eyal and Brown reaction types were selected from several methods of genotype reaction determination. Out of one hundred genotypes evaluated, 41% were susceptible, 52% were moderately susceptible, 5% were moderately resistant, and 2% were resistant to scald disease. Genotypes such as HB#P1063 and HB#P239 were resistant to scald disease. Moreover, 16% were susceptible, 68% moderately susceptible, 12% were moderately resistant, and 4% were resistant to net form net blotch disease. Genotypes such as HB#P1063, HB#P239, SARC#41, and HB#P793 were resistant to net form net blotch disease. Therefore, these genotypes can be used for crop improvement in subsequent breeding schemes. A negative correlation (r = − 0.1) between plant height and leaf blotch severity indicated that the highest plant height genotype could be used for scald resistance. The current research suggests that the breeder can use the identified resistant and moderately resistant genotypes for future breeding schemes.

Ecuador es un país destacado internacionalmente por la exportación de productos petroleros y no petroleros; dentro de estos últimos los productos acuícolas y particularmente la producción de camarón constituye un importante pilar para la economía nacional, sustentado por empresas productivas y/o exportadoras radicadas en la zona costera. Una de estas empresas es EXPORTQUILSA S.A, de la provincia del Guayas; donde se realiza esta investigación con enfoque mixto y alcance exploratorio, que tiene como objetivo elaborar una propuesta de plan estratégico para dicha empresa en el período 2024-2026. Como resultado se obtuvo un plan fundamentado en herramientas novedosas de planeación estratégica que sirvió de base para actualizar el diagnóstico interno y externo, identificar fortalezas, oportunidades, debilidades y amenazas, plantear estrategias genéricas y establecer las principales líneas de acción; para asegurar el crecimiento de la organización en el período determinado; además se reafirmó la validez de constructo y la consistencia interna del instrumento aplicado para conocer la percepción de directivos y empleados de la empresa EXPORTQUILSA S.A., sobre el tema investigado. También quedan abiertas las posibilidades para investigaciones futuras relacionadas con el tema, de indudable importancia para el sector productor y/o exportador de camarón en Ecuador. Palabras clave: Camarón, Exportación, Planeación estratégica, Producción.

El presente trabajo aborda la problemática de la rendición de cuentas en el segundo nivel de pensiones alimenticias en zonas rurales de Ecuador, donde los sistemas judiciales y las dinámicas económicas rurales en su mayoría basadas en la agricultura de subsistencia influyen de manera significativa en el cumplimiento de las obligaciones alimenticias y la administración de los recursos destinados al bienestar infantil. Utilizando un enfoque de análisis multicriterio, se identifican y ponderan los factores críticos que condicionan el uso adecuado de las pensiones alimenticias. Los resultados destcan importantes barreras estructurales y socioeconómicas que complican el cumplimiento de estas obligaciones y, por ende, la protección de los menores. Finalmente, se proponen estrategias adaptadas al contexto rural para mejorar la transparencia y eficiencia en el manejo de estos recursos. Palabras clave: In dubio pro infante, Agroecosistemas, Contexto rural, Análisis multicriterio.

La morera es una planta multipropósito utilizada en la biorremediación de suelos contaminados, la alimentación animal, y como principal alimento del gusano de la seda. Se propaga básicamente a partir de estacas pero algunas variedades tienen baja tasa de enraizamiento. Una alternativa es mediante las técnicas de cultivo in vitro, pero su éxito depende de la supervivencia de las plantas en condiciones ex vitro. La investigación tuvo como objetivo evaluar la influencia del Pectimorf® y el sustrato en la aclimatización de plantas in vitro de morera variedad Acorazonada. En condiciones in vitro se evaluaron diferentes concentraciones de Pectimorf® (0; 5,0; 10,0 y 15,0 mg l-1) en el medio de cultivo de enraizamiento; en condiciones ex vitro se utilizaron diferentes mezclas de sustratos que contenían abonos orgánicos (humus de lombriz, estiércoles vacuno y ovino) combinados con zeolita y el control suelo Pardo Sialítico Carbonatado. En la respuesta morfológica de las plantas se determinó la supervivencia y altura de las plantas, número, ancho y largo de las hojas; así como, las variables fisiológicas concentración interna del CO2, conductancia estomática, tasa de transpiración, tasa fotosintética y eficiencia cuántica potencial del fotosistema II. Con el empleó del Pectimorf® en el medio de cultivo de enraizamiento se obtuvo un 90 % de supervivencia en la aclimatización de las plantas in vitro de morera. Tanto el efecto residual del Pectimorf®, como los abonos orgánicos con zeolita favorecen la tasa de transpiración, tasa fotosintética, conductancia estomática y concentración interna de CO2 en morera variedad Acorazonada. Palabras clave: Bioproducto, Biofertilizante, Conductancia estomática, Fotosíntesis, Morera, Transpiración.

El actuar de los abogados en zonas rurales presenta características particulares que difieren de los entornos urbanos. Los tribunales rurales suelen estar ubicados en áreas geográficamente distantes y de difícil acceso, lo que implica desafíos logísticos y de recursos para los profesionales del derecho. Además, estos tribunales tienden a gestionar un volumen menor de casos, pero con mayor proximidad entre los actores involucrados, lo que genera un ambiente judicial más cercano y comunitario. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar las barreras que enfrentan los abogados en tribunales rurales y las estrategias que utilizan para superarlas. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal, con enfoque cuantitativo, no experimental. La técnica utilizada fue la observación y la encuesta, realizada a 20 abogados activos en instituciones educativas. Se obtuvo como resultado que, a pesar de su compromiso y esfuerzos, existen barreras significativas que limitan el acceso a la justicia en estas comunidades. La identificación de estas barreras y la percepción positiva sobre los métodos alternativos de resolución de conflictos sugieren que hay oportunidades para implementar cambios que mejoren la práctica legal y fortalezcan la justicia en contextos rurales. Palabras clave: Zonas rurales, Tribunales, Abogados.

El incremento del femicidio en Ecuador se ha visto agudizado por la inestabilidad en el sistema político y judicial. Esta investigación analiza las causas y factores que contribuyen a la aparición de femicidios en comunidades rurales de Ecuador, utilizando un enfoque cualitativo-causístico basado en el estudio de casos y entrevistas. Se examinaron factores socioeconómicos, culturales y geográficos que influyen en la violencia de género y los obstáculos en el acceso a la justicia en estas zonas. Los factores causales predominantes son la dependencia económica de la víctima (64 %), las normas patriarcales (56 %) y el aislamiento geográfico (60 %) son los principales factores que contribuyen a los femicidios en zonas rurales. La fuga del femicida (30 %) y la ausencia de juzgamiento en ausencia dificultan la aplicación de justicia en estos casos. Los femicidios en zonas rurales se ven más afectados por el aislamiento geográfico y la falta de acceso a la justicia, lo que agrava la situación de vulnerabilidad de las mujeres rurales. Los líderes comunitarios confirmaron que la violencia de género es culturalmente aceptada en un 60 % de las comunidades rurales, y que los programas de prevención son insuficientes (80 %). Las barreras judiciales y la desigualdad en el acceso a la justicia agravan la impunidad en estas zonas. Se recomienda fortalecer los mecanismos judiciales, implementar juzgamientos en ausencia y desarrollar programas educativos que desafíen las normas patriarcales y promuevan la igualdad de género. Palabras clave: Comunidades rurales, Acceso a la justicia, Juicios.

El cambio climático representa uno de los mayores desafíos globales del siglo XXI, este fenómeno se manifiesta en eventos climáticos extremos que impactan significativamente en varios sectores económicos, especialmente la agricultura. En Ecuador, la influencia del cambio climático es cada vez más evidente por el aumento en la frecuencia e intensidad de fenómenos climáticos extremos que han provocado pérdidas significativas en la producción agrícola, que impactan la economía del país y en la seguridad alimentaria de su población. En este país existe gran dependencia del sector agrícola, pilar fundamental de su economía; por tanto, se plantea como problema la situación que enfrenta el sector agrícola ecuatoriano debido al cambio climático; al cual responde esta investigación con enfoque mixto y, alcance descriptivo y correlacional; que tiene como objetivo evaluar el impacto del cambio climático en la gestión empresarial del sector agrícola en el cantón Cayambe. Como resultado se demostró una fuerte correlación entre la variables cambio climático y gestión empresarial agrícola y se confirmó que los indicadores del cambio climático estudiados son buenos predictores y afectan de manera respectiva, inversa y directa a los indicadores de la gestión empresarial agrícola e impactan en su vulnerabilidad y sostenibilidad. También se abre la posibilidad a futuras investigaciones relacionadas con el tema; no solo en el cantón Cayambe, sino en otras unidades territoriales de Ecuador. Palabras clave: Agricultura, Adaptación, Cambio Climático, Gestión empresarial, Mitigación.

El estudio de la criminalidad en las zonas rurales de Ecuador es esencial para comprender y enfrentar las amenazas que este fenómeno plantea a la seguridad ciudadana y al buen vivir de sus habitantes. La presente investigación analizó el aumento de los índices de criminalidad en las zonas rurales de Ecuador, enfocado en el impacto de factores sociales, económicos y la limitada presencia del Estado. El objetivo fue identificar las causas de la creciente inseguridad y proponer soluciones efectivas para mitigarla. La investigación empleó un enfoque mixto, que combinó el análisis documental de normativas y estudios previos con datos estadísticos recientes. Se utilizaron métodos inductivos y deductivos para la formulación de hipótesis, apoyados por un enfoque analítico-sintético que permitió una visión integral del fenómeno. Los resultados revelaron un incremento preocupante en la violencia y los delitos, incluidos el narcotráfico y el abigeato, especialmente en áreas rurales. Este aumento se atribuyó a la pobreza, la desigualdad y la falta de servicios básicos, que han permitido el crecimiento del crimen organizado. Además, la débil infraestructura judicial y la limitada presencia policial en estas zonas han facilitado la expansión de actividades delictivas. Las principales conclusiones sugieren que es esencial fortalecer la presencia estatal, mejorar el acceso a la justicia y promover el desarrollo económico local para enfrentar estos desafíos. Se destacó la necesidad de implementar estrategias preventivas que aborden las causas estructurales del delito, así como de mejorar las oportunidades para los jóvenes en las zonas rurales. Palabras clave: Criminalidad rural, Narcotráfico, Zonas rurales, Bienestar ciudadano, Desarrollo económico, Agricultura y Seguridad.

La cooperación eficaz se ha consolidado como una herramienta clave en el sistema penal ecuatoriano, especialmente en la lucha contra delitos complejos, incluso en las zonas rurales. Por consiguiente, este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la efectividad de la cooperación eficaz en dicho sistema, al visualizar su aplicación en las zonas rurales. Así como determinar el impacto en impacto en los procesos investigativos y la sanción de delitos complejos en proporción con la protección de los cooperantes y sus familias. Para ello, se realizó una metodología mixta, cualitativa y cuantitativa, basada en la revisión bibliográfica y jurídica de del derecho penal ecuatoriano. Los resultados indicaron que la cooperación eficaz ha contribuido significativamente a la desarticulación de organizaciones delictivas y al esclarecimiento de casos penales. Sin embargo, también se identificaron deficiencias en la protección de los cooperantes, al limitar su disposición a colaborar. En conclusión, se estableció que, aunque la cooperación eficaz ha mostrado ser efectiva, es imperativo fortalecer las medidas de protección para los cooperantes y establecer criterios claros para la proporcionalidad entre la información proporcionada y los beneficios en las penas, al garantizar así un sistema penal más justo y eficiente. Palabras clave: Investigación penal, Colaboración ciudadana, Testigos protegidos, Criminalidad organizada.

El presente trabajo de investigación aborda el acceso al agua potable en las comunidades indígenas de la Provincia de Chimborazo, en el contexto del cambio climático y la necesidad de una agricultura resiliente. Las comunidades indígenas de Chimborazo enfrentan graves problemas relacionados con el acceso al agua potable, consumiendo agua entubada no tratada, lo que provoca desnutrición y enfermedades estomacales, violando su derecho al Buen Vivir. A pesar de ser guardianes de las fuentes de agua, no se les garantiza agua potable, evidenciando discriminación y desigualdad. La infraestructura hídrica es inadecuada y requiere inversión en modernización y ampliación, incluyendo la construcción de plantas de tratamiento. Las prácticas agrícolas tradicionales son vulnerables al cambio climático, afectando la seguridad alimentaria y sostenibilidad. El análisis VIKOR identifica la construcción de plantas de tratamiento como la mejor alternativa, seguido de la modernización de redes de distribución, sistemas de captación de agua de lluvia y capacitación en técnicas agrícolas. Es crucial reconocer el acceso al agua potable como un derecho humano fundamental y desarrollar políticas públicas que aseguren igualdad y acceso a servicios básicos de saneamiento en estas comunidades. Palabras clave: Cambio climático, Prácticas agrícolas, Infraestructura hídrica, Sostenibilidad.

El abandono de adultos mayores en Ecuador ha emergido como una problemática social alarmante que vulnera los derechos humanos y la dignidad de estas personas, en especial a los que residen en las zonas rurales. Por lo tanto, el estudio se ha enfocado en analizar la indignidad por abandono de adultos mayores en Tulcán para fomentar el establecimiento de sanciones a los herederos responsables dentro del marco jurídico ecuatoriano. Así como promover una mayor conciencia social, sobre todo en comunidades rurales, conocidas como las de mayor impacto social. La investigación se desarrolló mediante encuestas y entrevistas, al recopilar datos sobre la percepción social y la situación legal actual relacionada con el abandono de adultos mayores en diversas comunidades ecuatorianas. Los resultados indicaron una alta conciencia social sobre la gravedad del abandono y un amplio apoyo a la inclusión de sanciones legales. Así como el apoyo de la mayoría de los encuestados a favor de fomentar la reforma del Código Civil para incorporar esta causal de indignidad. En consecuencia, se concluyó que es imperativo reformar la legislación ecuatoriana para proteger de forma efectiva a los adultos mayores. Además de fomentar la sensibilización y la educación sobre sus derechos, donde se prevenga el abandono y se promueva un entorno más solidario tanto en zonas urbanas y rurales. Palabras clave: Desamparo, Legislación, Protección, Conciencia social, Ancianos.

El análisis sobre los asambleístas de procedencia rural y los requisitos para ejercer funciones políticas resalta la importancia de su formación, experiencia y conocimientos para garantizar una representación justa. Los requisitos establecidos, como los presentes en el artículo 119 de la Constitución de Ecuador, han suscitado debates sobre su idoneidad y pertinencia. La Constitución de 2008 simplificó los criterios de elegibilidad, lo que ha generado inquietudes sobre la capacidad y calidad de los asambleístas. Además, los líderes rurales enfrentan barreras específicas, como acceso limitado a la educación y oportunidades laborales, lo que afecta su participación política. El estudio tiene como objetivo analizar el grado de cumplimiento de los requisitos formales por parte de los asambleístas de procedencia rural y proponer estrategias que faciliten el acceso de asambleístas rurales a cargos políticos y promover una representación más equitativa. Para lo cual se aplicó una entrevista y una encuesta. Se concluyó que, con el apoyo adecuado, los asambleístas rurales pueden superar las limitaciones actuales y contribuir eficazmente a la política nacional. Se proponen medidas que podrían mejorar la representación de las áreas rurales y fomentar una participación política más equitativa. Palabras clave: Representación justa, Funciones políticas, Áreas rurales.

La caña de azúcar constituye un cultivo de importancia económica en Ecuador, representa el 8,7% del producto interno bruto, por ello, resulta relevante que los cañicultores cuenten con un material de apoyo actualizado de las principales enfermedades que afectan a las plantaciones en el país, donde se establezca la mejor forma de combatirlas y evitar grandes pérdidas económicas, al constituir estos organismos patógenos una amenaza permanente. Las más importantes por los daños que ocasionan son: carbón, roya café, raquitismo de la soca, escaldadura de la hoja, síndrome de la hoja amarilla y virus del mosaico de la caña de azúcar. La mejor medida de control para erradicar estas enfermedades es la utilización de cultivares resistentes, como la ECU-01, ECU-02, ECU-03 y ECU-04, empleo de semilla categorizada para realizar las nuevas plantaciones comerciales, la desinfección de las herramientas usadas en campo, principalmente el machete, utilizando una solución de formol al 1% o amonio cuaternario, otra medida no menos importante es el control de pulgones que sirven como vectores de varias enfermedades, además de mantener una vigilancia fitosanitaria permanente. Para el control de enfermedades en el cultivo de caña de azúcar no se recomienda el uso de productos químicos por los efectos perjudiciales que ocasionan sobre el ambiente. Palabras clave: Caña de azúcar, Enfermedades, Medidas de control, Semilla categorizada.

Existen indicios que en comunidades rurales los derechos del trabajador agrícola son violentado. El objetivo es analizar los factores que influyen en el acceso y cumplimiento de los derechos laborales de los trabajadores y operarios rurales en Ecuador. Se utilizó un análisis multivariado que incluyó: Regresión múltiple, Análisis de Componentes Principales y Análisis de Correspondencias Múltiples. La educación y tipo de contrato son los factores más influyentes en el acceso a derechos laborales. Los trabajadores con mayor nivel educativo y contratos formales tienen más probabilidades de acceder a la seguridad social y salario mínimo. Existen diferencias de género, con las mujeres rurales enfrentando mayores dificultades para acceder a sus derechos laborales en comparación con los hombres. Las zonas remotas presentan un cumplimiento más bajo de derechos laborales, debido a la falta de supervisión y control en estas áreas. Los trabajadores informales están en desventaja significativa, con menos acceso a beneficios laborales, lo que refleja la precariedad de este tipo de empleo en el sector rural. El estudio concluye que existen desigualdades significativas en el acceso a los derechos laborales en el sector rural, influenciadas por factores como la educación, el tipo de contrato y la ubicación geográfica. Se recomienda implementar políticas de formalización del empleo, reformas legislativas que promuevan la equidad de género, y una mayor presencia institucional en las zonas remotas para garantizar el cumplimiento de los derechos laborales en el ámbito rural. Palabras clave: Comunidades agrícolas, Fuerza de trabajo, Derechos humanos.

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la aplicación de la suspensión condicional de la pena en delitos cometidos en zonas rurales, con el fin de comprender cómo las condiciones sociales, económicas y geográficas de estos territorios influyen en la decisión judicial de conceder esta medida y en el cumplimiento de las condiciones impuestas a los condenados. Para ello, se empleó una metodología mixta que incluyó la revisión de la legislación vigente, el análisis de expedientes judiciales, entrevistas en profundidad con jueces, fiscales, defensores públicos y personal penitenciario, así como la realización de encuestas a personas que cumplen condenas bajo este régimen. Los resultados revelaron que, si bien la suspensión condicional de la pena es vista como una herramienta eficaz para evitar la sobrepoblación carcelaria y favorecer la reinserción social, su implementación en zonas rurales enfrenta importantes desafíos. Entre los principales obstáculos se identificaron la falta de recursos para la supervisión efectiva de los condenados, la escasez de programas de rehabilitación accesibles y la limitada coordinación entre las instituciones encargadas de monitorear el cumplimiento de las condiciones. A pesar de estas dificultades, la medida es bien valorada por las comunidades rurales, que ven en ella una alternativa viable al encarcelamiento. Se evidencia la necesidad de adaptar las políticas públicas a las realidades rurales, mejorando los mecanismos de supervisión y fomentando una mayor colaboración entre las autoridades judiciales y las comunidades locales para garantizar el éxito de la medida y una reintegración efectiva de los condenados. Palabras clave: Delitos rurales, Zonas rurales, Condiciones sociales, Reinserción social.

En el ámbito de la seguridad social, el pago de las pensiones a los jubilados es fundamental para garantizar un nivel de vida digno. Lo anterior tiene mayor significación en las comunidades rurales, debido a la presencia de limitaciones en los servicios básicos. La gestión de estos pagos a nivel municipal implica procesos que deben ser eficientes y transparentes. Así se asegura que los jubilados reciban sus beneficios a tiempo. La investigación realizada en el municipio ecuatoriano de Riobamba, evidenció deficiencias en la efectividad y equidad de los pagos del seguro social en estas comunidades. Es crucial que las normativas relacionadas con estos procesos sean claras y actualizadas. Además, deben garantizar los derechos de este segmento vulnerable de la población ecuatoriana. La gestión financiera y administrativa de los fondos de seguro social requiere planificación cuidadosa y supervisión constante. Es fundamental que todos los trabajadores jubilados, independientemente de su género, etnia, ubicación geográfica o nivel socioeconómico, reciban pensiones justas y adecuadas. Estos elementos se analizaron en la investigación desde un enfoque cualitativo y cuantitativo. Los métodos empleados en el estudio fueron analítico, sintético, inductivo, deductivo e histórico-lógico. Todo lo anterior mostró la necesidad de desarrollar políticas públicas que fortalezcan la seguridad social y garanticen los derechos de los jubilados en las comunidades agropecuarias. Palabras clave: Comunidades rurales, Pensiones jubilatorias, Equidad.

La investigación no experimental se desarrolló con el objetivo de caracterizar la situación actual de los suelos agrícolas en la Comunidad Rey del Oriente mediante diagnóstico participativo y el análisis de los componentes socio económico, productivo, ambiental y ecológico, que permitan recomendar acciones para la preservación, protección y conservación de áreas cultivables y agroecosistemas; para ello, se realizó observación directa, al aplicarse una encuesta, creada para este fin y validada según criterio de expertos, a las 44 familias que la conforman, principalmente al jefe de hogar, la cual permitió conocer la percepción de los comuneros respecto a varios componentes de las dimensiones de la sostenibilidad en agroecosistemas. En el cantón Santa Clara, comunidad Rey del Oriente no se efectúa diversificación de la producción agropecuaria, al centrarse solamente en el monocultivo, no cuentan con sistemas agroforestales como alternativa eficaz en la protección del ambiente y generadora de ventajas como la producción de biomasa vegetal, regulación de sombra y mejoramiento de la fertilidad del suelo. Se adolece de una cultura de aprovechamiento de residuos y producción de fertilizantes orgánicos a partir del reciclaje de excretas generadas por animales productivos, además no cuentan con un plan de capacitación que contribuya a elevar su conocimiento sobre la aplicación de alternativas ecológicas que posibiliten reducir las afectaciones a la salud de los consumidores y de los suelos agrícolas. Palabras clave: Diagnóstico participativo, Prácticas agroecológicas, Recuperación del suelo, Comunidad Rey del Oriente, Sostenibilidad.

La importancia de adoptar un enfoque multidisciplinario y colaborativo para proteger a las comunidades rurales ecuatorianas frente a las estafas informáticas, permite el fortaleciendo tanto las capacidades tecnológicas como legales del país. El objetivo de la investigación es evaluar el impacto y la vulnerabilidad de las comunidades agrícolas del interior de Ecuador frente a las estafas informáticas. El enfoque utilizado es mixto, que combinó encuestas cuantitativas y entrevistas cualitativas, se analizó cómo el bajo acceso a la tecnología, la falta de conocimiento en ciberseguridad y la insuficiencia de la legislación ecuatoriana actual han dejado a estas comunidades expuestas a los fraudes electrónicos. Los resultados revelaron una alta incidencia de desconocimiento en torno a las medidas de protección frente a estafas digitales. La mayoría de los encuestados, aunque utilizan tecnología en sus actividades diarias, no saben cómo prevenir fraudes, lo que pone en riesgo tanto sus datos personales como su economía. Asimismo, las entrevistas con líderes comunitarios y expertos legales destacaron que la legislación vigente no es adecuada para abordar la creciente amenaza de los delitos informáticos en zonas rurales, lo que impide una respuesta efectiva ante estos crímenes. Además, se identificaron importantes deficiencias en la infraestructura de seguridad digital y en la capacidad de las autoridades locales para investigar y sancionar estos delitos. La necesidad urgente de una serie de reformas: desde la actualización del marco legal hasta la implementación de programas educativos y preventivos, pasando por la capacitación de las autoridades locales en el uso de herramientas tecnológicas avanzadas. Palabras clave: Fraude, Ciberseguridad, Comunidad rural, Tecnologías.

Las desigualdades en el acceso a los servicios de salud en los residentes de las comunidades rurales agrícolas de Riobamba, representa una violación flagrante de su derecho a vivir en un ambiente sano y equilibrado. Las limitaciones en estos servicios, favorece la prevalencia de enfermedades y lesiones entre los trabajadores, reduce la mano de obra calificada y afecta la productividad y la seguridad alimentaria. La investigación realizada analizó en profundidad este fenómeno utilizando una metodología mixta que combinó enfoques cuantitativos y cualitativos, con aplicación de los métodos histórico-lógico, analítico, y sistemático. Los hallazgos revelaron que la desigualdad se manifiesta a través de prejuicios basados en la apariencia física, la edad, la cultura y la etnia, creando un ambiente hostil y excluyente. La conclusión principal de la investigación evidenció la necesidad imperiosa de implementar medidas concretas para combatir la desigualdad en el acceso a los servicios de salud. La capacitación obligatoria para los profesionales de la salud es fundamental para sensibilizarlos sobre la importancia de la atención inclusiva y equitativa. Se requiere una transformación cultural en los profesionales del sector de la salud pública, que promueva el respeto por la diversidad y garantice el pleno acceso a servicios de la mejor calidad posible para todos los ciudadanos, con independencia de su origen o condición social. Lo que favorecerá la disponibilidad de trabajadores agrícolas, la elevación de la productividad del trabajo y la mejora de la calidad de vida en estas comunidades. Palabras clave: Transformación cultural, desigualdades, salud rural.

El estudio se enfocó en el acceso al agua potable y la sostenibilidad de los agroecosistemas en comunidades indígenas de Chimborazo, Ecuador. El motivo de la investigación fue identificar las dificultades que estas comunidades enfrentan para acceder al agua potable, así como analizar el impacto de dicha problemática en la sostenibilidad agrícola. El objetivo principal fue evaluar el grado de satisfacción de la población con los servicios de agua y su percepción sobre la calidad de la misma. La metodología empleada incluyó una encuesta a 120 habitantes de la comunidad, cuyos resultados fueron procesados mediante la técnica de Iadov para medir la satisfacción. Además, se revisaron normativas y literatura relacionada con el derecho al agua y la sostenibilidad agroecológica. Los resultados indicaron que el 91% de la población estaba insatisfecha con el acceso al agua potable, y un 45% consideraba que el agua no era segura para su salud. Se identificaron problemas como la falta de infraestructura adecuada, la contaminación de fuentes de agua y las interrupciones en el suministro. Las conclusiones resaltaron que el acceso al agua potable es limitado, lo que compromete tanto la salud de los habitantes como la viabilidad de los agroecosistemas. El estudio recomienda mejorar la infraestructura y promover una gestión sostenible del agua en estas comunidades. Palabras clave: Sostenibilidad, Agroecosistemas, Consumo de agua, Comunidades indígenas.

La vegetación andina en Ecuador es diversa, muy vulnerable a cambios ambientales y antrópicos, diferenciable conforme se asciendo o desciende en altitud. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar la estructura y composición florística de la vegetación en el gradiente altitudinal de 2500 a 2850. En el bosque se instalaron seis parcelas de 20 x 20 m para árboles, se anidaron tres subparcelas de 5 x 5 m para arbustos y cinco subparcelas de 1 x 1 m para hierbas. En matorral se instalaron seis parcelas de 5 x 5 m y anidaron dos parcelas de 1 x 1 m para hierbas. En páramo se instalaron seis parcelas de 2 x 2 m. Se midieron individuos mayores a 5 cm de D1,30 m, y se registraron los arbustos y hierbas. Se determinó la composición florística, diversidad, endemismo y parámetros estructurales: densidad, frecuencia, dominancia e IVI. La composición florística se comparó con el índice de Sorensen. En el bosque se registraron 109 especies de 86 géneros y 50 familias; en matorral 46 especies de 41 géneros y 22 familias y, en el páramo 45 especies, 36 géneros y 24 familias. Se registran catorce especies endémicas. Las especies con mayor IVI son Morella pubescens y Viburnum triphyllum en el bosque, en matorral Miconia lutescens y Gaultheria reticulata y, en el páramo Orthrosanthus chimboracensis y Calamagrostis intermedia. La composición florística de las coberturas vegetales investigadas es diferente, con elevada diversidad florística y endemismo, pese a la intervención antrópica y, debe procurarse su conservación. Palabras clave: Diversidad, Bosque montano, Villonaco, Gradiente altitudinal, Loja, Sucesión vegetal, Conservación de bosques.

El presente artículo investigó el Principio de Interespecies como un marco ético, ecológico y práctico para fomentar el uso equitativo de los recursos naturales, considerando no solo las necesidades humanas, sino también los derechos y la importancia de las especies no humanas en ecosistemas interconectados. Se realizó una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura académica y legal, así como un análisis comparativo de diversas políticas ambientales, incluyendo aquellas que reconocen los derechos de la naturaleza. Para complementar este análisis, se llevaron a cabo estudios de caso en áreas protegidas de países como Ecuador, donde estas políticas han sido implementadas, y se compararon con áreas gestionadas bajo enfoques tradicionales. La metodología cualitativa incluyó entrevistas con actores clave, como legisladores, comunidades indígenas, activistas ambientales y administradores de recursos naturales, con el fin de captar una visión general de los beneficios y desafíos en la aplicación de estas políticas. Los resultados indicaron que las áreas donde se aplicaron políticas basadas en el Principio de Interespecies mostraron una mayor recuperación de la biodiversidad, mejora en la calidad del agua y del suelo, y regeneración natural, en contraste con aquellas gestionadas de manera convencional. Se concluyó que este enfoque ético no solo promueve la sostenibilidad ecológica y la preservación de la biodiversidad, sino que también ofrece un marco innovador para la gestión de recursos más equitativa e inclusiva. Esta investigación aporta nuevas perspectivas sobre el control ambiental y sugiere oportunidades para desarrollar políticas globales que reconozcan la interdependencia de todas las especies. Palabras clave: Ética ambiental, Recursos naturales, Biodiversidad, Políticas ambientales, Ecosistemas.

El estudio aborda el impacto del narcotráfico y el dominio de grupos armados en las cárceles de Ecuador sobre el tejido socioeconómico y la gobernanza de las zonas rurales del país. A lo largo del documento, se analizan los desafíos estructurales que enfrentan estas áreas, como la pobreza, la exclusión social, y la falta de oportunidades económicas. La investigación destaca cómo la violencia relacionada con el narcotráfico ha crecido de manera alarmante, afectando tanto a las zonas rurales como al sistema penitenciario. A través de un enfoque cualitativo y un método de análisis multicriterios (AHP), se identifican factores clave, como el impacto del narcotráfico, la desigualdad socioeconómica, la respuesta gubernamental y las consecuencias demográficas. Los resultados sugieren que una intervención integral que incluya reformas en el sistema penitenciario, desarrollo económico en áreas rurales y cooperación internacional es esencial para mitigar estos problemas. Palabras clave: Zonas rurales, Desigualdad socioeconómica, Gobernanza, Sistema penitenciario.

Abstract Agroecology approach is viewed as an alternative paradigm that promotes sustainable production and environmental conservation. Extension services are crucial for diffusing agroecological knowledge, facilitating the adoption of agroecological techniques. The Rural Initiatives for Participatory Agricultural Transformation (RIPAT) is a participatory extension approach developed to bridge the agricultural technology gap by disseminating sustainable agricultural innovations. This study aimed to assess the extent of agroecological transition among smallholder farmers and explore the role of RIPAT approach, alongside other factors, in this transition in Ruangwa District. Data were collected from 252 randomly selected farmers using questionnaire surveys and focus group discussion, and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results indicated that all non-RIPAT farmers (100%) were in level 1; non-agroecological. In contrast, nearly half (47.6%) of RIPAT farmers showed progress in the agroecological transition: 37.3% were at level 2 (incipient transition to agroecology), 9.5% at level 3 (system in transition to agroecology), and 0.8% at level 4 (advanced agroecological system). This progress is primarily due to the agroecology-related training they received, which enhanced their knowledge and improved their practices. RIPAT farmers achieved higher average scores (over 50%) in the agroecology elements of Recycling, Efficiency, Co-Creation and Sharing of Knowledge, and Human and Social Values. However, for elements like Synergies, Resilience, and Responsible Governance, farmers were still lagging. The study further indicated that exposure to the RIPAT approach, access to information, and farm size were statistically significant factors influencing farmers’ agroecological transition. Enhancing animal husbandry practices and promoting agroforestry techniques are recommended to foster farm synergy and resilience through integrated farming systems. Additionally, establishing producer associations could strengthen responsible governance by improving farmers' collective bargaining power. The study recommends adoption of participatory extension approaches, such as the RIPAT approach, for transferring agroecological knowledge to promote farmers’ agroecological transition.

Abstract The milpa is a historically successful Mesoamerican agroecosystem, consisting of a mixture of cultivated plants with associated vegetation that is partially managed. Conventional farming practices, like weeding and fertilization, have modified some ecological parameters of weeds, affecting their ecological, evolutionary, cultural, and productive roles. This study explores these changes from various perspectives: field experiments in fields with different management histories, contrasting treatments within these fields, farmer interviews and field walks, in San Bartolo del Llano, Ixtlahuaca, Mexico. A field experiment in milpas with different histories of farming practices (traditional vs conventional) was conducted to understand (a) the effect of the history of farming practices on richness, composition, and biomass of aboveground weed vegetation and the seed bank, (b) the effect of contrasting weeding treatments within these fields on the biomass of weeds and maize, and (c) farmers’ traditional knowledge and use of these plants. Farming practices did not affect species richness (43 species) of the aboveground weed vegetation, but a history of herbicide use increased monocot biomass and reduced useful weeds. More introduced monocots were recorded in conventionally managed fields; manual weeding led to more species, including more monocots and dicots, a higher biomass of weeds, and more native and exotic species. The composition differed between plots with different farming practices and treatments. The seed bank contained more species (54) than the aboveground vegetation. Maize ears’ and total biomass were somewhat higher in conventionally treated fields, but no differences were found between treatments. We found a considerable species turnover, with some species disappearing or becoming rare, particularly useful ones, and others being introduced‚ particularly grasses. Traditional management can help farmers keep useful weeds and higher biodiversity, thus contributing to overall productivity. Though herbicides reduce labor requirements, improved management should combine the benefits of traditional farming with some modernization.

Abstract Principal component analysis (PCA) and breeding value analysis (BV) were used to discover genotypes with better features for future breeding efforts. This research included a thorough analysis of the 300 exceptional rice germplasms provided by the Bangladesh Rice Research In (BRRI) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). In the PCA scheme, the dendrogram generated using the UPGMA method identified Cluster II as the most favorable. This cluster comprised 125 genotypes distinguished by remarkable plant height, growth, and grain quality. Properties such as amylose content, chalkiness, and zinc concentration, which have a notable influence on crop productivity, were also taken into consideration. A biplot analysis, specifically examining principal components 1 and 2, revealed a favorable correlation between certain genotypes located in the top right quadrant and important agronomic factors like plant height, flowering, maturity dates, yield, and grain width. Genotypes 11, 31, 36, 48, 68, 78, 119, 126, 133, 195, 218, 220, 235, 241, 265, 266, 284, and 295 had favorable traits that suggested the possibility of higher rice production. The BV analysis revealed six genotypes 86, 142, 143, 239, 282, and 295 that showed promise for future breeding endeavors. Among the six, genotype 295 (IRRI 154) showed remarkable features. These studies provided a substantial contribution to the progress of rice breeding by opening up possibilities for developing rice varieties with improved yield and quality.

Abstract Pesticide residues in food crops have emerged as a significant concern due to their potential implications for food safety and human health. This comprehensive review evaluates the current state of knowledge regarding the presence of insecticide, herbicide, fungicide, and rodenticide residues in various crops, assessing their associated risks and mitigation strategies. The study highlights the widespread use of pesticides in agriculture, driven by the need to enhance crop yields and protect against pests. However, improper application, incorrect selection, and inadequate post-harvest intervals can accumulate harmful residues in produce. Through an extensive literature review, the study analyzes the levels of pesticide residues detected in diverse crops, scrutinizing the analytical methods employed for their determination. Furthermore, it delves into the potential adverse health effects associated with exposure to these residues, including neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, and increased cancer risk. The review underscores the need for stringent regulatory frameworks, adherence to maximum residue limits (MRLs), and adopting sustainable agricultural practices, such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), to minimize pesticide reliance and safeguard human health and the environment. By synthesizing existing knowledge and highlighting areas for further research, this study contributes to the ongoing efforts towards ensuring food safety and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Limitations include regional bias, as the review may not equally represent all regions, particularly developing countries. There is also variability in study methodologies and reporting standards, affecting the consistency and comparability of findings. Additionally, gaps exist in assessing long-term health impacts and these limitations highlight the need for more comprehensive and standardized research to fully understand the implications of pesticide residues on human health.

Abstract Even though small-scale irrigation (SSI) is a practical solution to address issues like poverty, food insecurity, and low farm production, its promise is often overlooked in Ethiopia. In the Demba Gofa District of southern Ethiopia, many rural households continued to rely primarily on rain-fed agriculture despite the possibility of irrigation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence the adoption of SSI in Demba Gofa and its effect on farm income. A cross-sectional explanatory research design with a mixed-methods approach was employed on a total of 369 households selected through a multistage sampling procedure. An econometric data analysis using the propensity score matching model was employed to evaluate the effect of small-scale participation on households' farm income. The analysis revealed that the gender of the household head, cultivated land area, market accessibility, livestock ownership, and credit service accessibility positively affect irrigation adoption. Households' irrigation adoption was negatively and significantly associated with the age of the household head and the distance of the farm from the irrigation site. Furthermore, households that did not adopt small-scale irrigation schemes lost 4831.77 ETB in farm revenue compared to those that did. Thus, the study advises the government to support the establishment of adequate, long canals and government-guaranteed credit services for smallholder farmers in order to boost household income and, consequently, food security. Agricultural agents ought to conduct routine evaluations of the canals' operation and offer farmers training to enhance their skills in the sustainable use of irrigation systems.

Abstract Photon efficacy (PE) is defined as the photon numbers generated by 1 joule (J) of power consumption, which is a key indicator on energy efficiency of LED lighting. PE calculated by LED datasheet includes photons irradiating in all directions, therefore deviates far from the actual PE of LED grow lights in indoor farms where only photons shining on plants are counted. To measure the PEs of different types of LEDs for plant growth accurately, we designed and fabricated LED panels for 16 types of LEDs at different wavelengths and color temperatures under plant growth conditions. We characterized the LED panels by an optical spectroscopy setup, in which an optical fiber probe mapped the optical spectra of LEDs on the plant growth area to detect the photon numbers reachable to plants. We found that at plant growth conditions, the LED panels at 660, 730 and 450 nm have higher PEs of 3.84, 3.39 and 2.38 µmol/J, respectively, followed by 2.31, 2.08 and 2.03 µmol/J for white LEDs at the color temperatures of 5700 K, 5000 K and 4000 K, respectively. We further compared the LED costs and concluded that 4000 K, 3000 K, 475 nm and 5700 K LED panels are most cost-effective to build at an LED cost of 0.15 $$-$$ - 0.21 US$ per µmol/s. Our findings provide a good reference for plant scientists and horticulture practitioners to understand LED lighting cost at different wavelengths and color temperatures for plant growth, for them to develop the lighting recipes effectively and estimate farm operating cost more precisely.

Abstract Proline, a multifunctional amino acid, plays a pivotal role in mitigating heat stress in maize. This review analyses proline's role in enhancing heat tolerance. Proline functions as an osmoprotectant, maintaining cellular hydration and turgor, and as an antioxidant, scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) to protect cellular components. These dual functions contribute significantly to cellular homeostasis under heat stress conditions. The biosynthesis and accumulation of proline in maize are regulated by complex genetic and metabolic pathways. Environmental cues, particularly heat stress, induce proline accumulation through the upregulation of biosynthetic genes and the suppression of catabolic pathways. Proline interacts with other molecular modulators, including glycine betaine, trehalose, ascorbate, glutathione, heat shock proteins (HSPs), spermidine, and abscisic acid (ABA), to collectively enhance heat stress tolerance. Moreover, proline is integrated into complex signaling networks, including ROS scavenging and calcium signaling pathways, to orchestrate cellular responses to heat stress. Understanding the regulatory networks governing proline's role in heat stress tolerance is crucial for developing maize varieties with improved resilience to climate change. By elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying proline's multifunctional role, we can identify potential targets for genetic manipulation and biotechnological interventions to enhance crop performance under heat stress conditions.

Abstract Despite noticeable benefits of appropriate planting date to manage different crop diseases, efficiency of this sustainable agricultural practice in integrated crop management is little understood. It is also highly desired to study whether planting at appropriate date can improve durability of genetic resistance and thus, improve productivity. Based on meta-analysis of 318 experimental observations, pathogen and resistance factors affected not only disease control efficiency but also yield improvement. Greater control efficiencies were obtained for Phacopsora pachyrhizi, Fusarium spp., Blumeria graminis, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Tilletia spp. and streak mosaic virus. Yield improvements for appropriate planting dates ranged within 52–213% across different pathosystems. Greater disease control efficiencies were detected for susceptible crops compared to resistant crops planted at appropriate dates. Greater yield was detected in susceptible than resistant crops. Principal component analysis signified relationships between control efficiency, genetic resistance, planting date and yield. Planting date could be considered in developing sustainable cropping systems.

Rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L.) is one of the major pest of stored connodities. In this study the extracts from n-Hexane, dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol leaf and seed/fruit of Karanja, Pongamia pinnata (L.); Mahogany, Swietenia mahogani Jacq.; Neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss and Urmoi, Sapium indicum Willd. at 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 10.0% (w/v) concentrations were evaluated for their antifeedant effect against rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae. The experiment was conducted with Completely Randomized Design with three replications at the Entomology Division, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA). All the extracts had moderate inhibitory effects on the feeding activities of rice weevil. Among the four plant extracts tested, urmoi possessed the highest feeding deterrent effect (126.52) whereas neem possessed the least deterrent effect (89.20). Mahogany and urmoi had the same and high level of efficacy (+++), whereas karanja and neem had same but low level of efficacy (++). The fruit extract had the highest total feeding deterrent effect (110.44) and the leaf extract had the least total feeding deterrent effect (98.68). The results showed that the fruit extracts were better than leaf extracts. Among the three solvents, the highest total coefficient of deterrency was observed in methanol extract (116.83). The coefficient of deterrency increased proportionally with the increase of doses. The results of this study shows that 10% urmoi plant extracts able to protect rice weevil in storage condition for their strong antifeedant effect.