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The objective of the study is to reveal the impact of agricultural subsidies provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on the costs of certain forage crops in Erzurum province. The study used data obtained from 306 surveys conducted through a simple random sampling method from farms producing alfalfa, sainfoin, and vetch in Erzurum province during the 2021 production year. All data obtained from the surveys were averaged per decare and analyzed. The cost calculation includes all expenses incurred to produce a crop. In alfalfa farms, the cost of alfalfa was calculated as 1.05 ₺/kg before receiving subsidies. However, after receiving subsidies, this cost decreased to 0.86 ₺/kg. In sainfoin farms, the production cost was determined to be 1.32 ₺/kg for farms not receiving subsidies, while it was 0.99 ₺/kg for farms receiving subsidies. In vetch farms, the production cost was found to be 1.49 ₺/kg for farms not receiving subsidies, while it was 1.25 ₺/kg for farms receiving subsidies. The research explains the difference that agricultural subsidies make in the production of these forage crops. The findings indicate that agricultural subsidies have the potential to reduce costs, which can increase farmers' income and encourage agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese millet (Echinochloa esculenta (A. Braun) H. Scholz) is an annual warm-season grass species that can be used as emergency forage source. An experiment was conducted for 2 years in southwestern Quebec to determine the effects of seeding rate and developmental stage at harvest on forage yields. Seeding rates (15–30 kg ha−1) had no effect on yields; in contrast, response to harvest stage differed depending on the year but yields were always maximized with one harvest at heading stage (6569 kg dry matter (DM) ha−1) and lowest with two harvests at a vegetative stage (3166 kg DM ha−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies are being conducted to develop strategies to reduce the adverse effects of salinity stress. In the present study, it was aimed to determine the interactive effects of salinity stress with biochar on plant growth-the physiological and biochemical attributes of forage peas (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L.). Salt applications were carried out with irrigation water at concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM NaCl. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three applications [control: 0 (B0), 2.5% biochar (B1), and 5% biochar (B2)], five salt doses [0 (S0), 25 (S1), 50 (S2), 75 (S3), and 100 (S4) mM NaCl], and three replications, arranged in a 3 × 5 factorial arrangement. In the salt-stressed environment, the highest plant height (18.75 cm) and stem diameter (1.71 mm) in forage pea seedlings were obtained with the application of B1. The root fresh (0.59 g/plant) and dry weight (0.36 g/plant) were determined to be the highest in the B1 application, both in non-saline and saline environments. A decrease in plant chlorophyll content in forage pea plants was observed parallel to the increasing salt levels. Specifically, lower H2O2, MDA, and proline content were determined at all salt levels with biochar applications, while in the B0 application these values were recorded at the highest levels. Furthermore, in the study, it was observed that the CAT, POD, and SOD enzyme activities were at their lowest levels at all salt levels with the biochar application, while in the B0 application, these values were determined to be at the highest levels. There was a significant decrease in plant mineral content, excluding Cl and Na, parallel to the increasing salt levels. The findings of the study indicate that biochar amendment can enhance forage peas' growth by modulating the plant physiology and biochemistry under salt stress. Considering the plant growth parameters, no significant difference was detected between 2.5% and 5% biochar application. Therefore, application of 2.5 biochar may be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant increase in wintertime air temperature, especially the reduced cold extremes under climate change, might be beneficial to the winter survival of perennial crops. However, climate warming could result in less snowfall, reduced snow cover, as well as changes in climate conditions for fall hardening and winter thaws. How these changes might impact the risks of winter damages to overwintering crops, such as perennial forage crops requires a comprehensive assessment for proactively adapting to climate change in the agricultural sector, especially the beef and dairy industries. Based on the most up-to-date climate projections from a set of global climate models, we used a snow model and a suite of agroclimatic indices for perennial forage crops to assess potential changes in the risks of winter injury to perennial forage crops across Canada in the near-term (2030s), the mid-term (2050s), and the distant future (2070s). Our results show that the risk of exposure to extremely low temperatures (daily Tmin ≤ −15 °C) without snow protection is projected to decrease across Canada with improved conditions for fall hardening. However, winter thaws and rainfall are projected to increase, and this would increase the risk of winter injury due to loss of hardiness together with potential soil heaving and ice encasement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted during kharif of 2020, 2021 and 2022 at Veterinary College, Shivamogga to study the integrated nutrient management in hybrid napier cultivar CO-4. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments comprisesT1: recommended package of practices, T2: 50 per cent N through inorganic fertilizer + 50 per cent N through FYM, T3: 50 per cent N through inorganic fertilizer + 50 per cent N through poultry manure, T4: 50 per cent N through inorganic fertilizer + 50 per cent N through horse manure, T5: 50 per cent N through inorganic fertilizer + 50 per cent N through vermicompost, T6: 50 per cent N through inorganic fertilizer + 50 per cent N through swine manure, T7: 50 per cent N through inorganic fertilizer + 50 per cent N through sheep and goat manure, T8: recommended package of practices + Azotobacter were replicatedthrice. The pooled data of experimental results revealed that integrated application of 50 per cent N through inorganic fertilizer + 50 per cent N through vermicompost recorded significantly superior growth parameters of the CO-4 hybrid napier viz., plant height, number of tillers and number of leaves/tillers and green fodder yield (254.27 t/ha/year) as compared to other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root rot is a major disease that causes decline of alfalfa production, and Fusarium is a major pathogen associated with root rot. In this study, 13 Fusarium isolates were obtained from alfalfa with root rot in Gansu Province, the major alfalfa production region in China. The isolates were characterized by molecular genotyping (ITS, TEF 1-α and RPB2 fragments) and identified as six species, which included the F. acuminatum, F. incarnatum, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. redolens, and F. solani. We found that their morphology varied significantly at both the macro- and micro-levels, even for those from the same species. We developed a low cost and fast pathogenicity test and revealed that all isolates were pathogenic to alfalfa with typical root rot symptoms such as leaf yellowing and brown lesions on the root and stem. However, the virulence of the isolates differed. We also found that the conidia of all isolates germinated as early as 24 hours post inoculation (hpi), while hyphae colonized the root extensively and invaded the xylem vessel by 48 hpi. Together our results reveal that different virulent Fusarium isolates use a similar invasion strategy in alfalfa. This natural plant-fungus pathosystem is intriguing and warrants further examination, particularly with regard to efforts aimed at mitigating the impact of multiple similar vascular pathogens on infected alfalfa plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infertility of sandy soil hampers the growth of many crops. Typically, chemical fertilizers are used to handle this issue, but they are expensive and have deleterious implications on the ecosystem. A two-year field investigation was carried out on cowpea cultivated in sandy soil to assess the effects of different watering levels (70, 80, 90, and 100% of the actual irrigation requirements), chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers, and biofertilizer (Bradyrhizobium sp.), and their combinations on the morpho-physiological traits and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp, cv. Giza 18). Overall, the findings showed that cowpea osmoregulatory molecules (sugars, proteins, and proline) demonstrated greater accumulation, with the content depending on the watering level. The applied fertilizers demonstrated improved cowpea performance at the regular watering level, with chopped potato tops outperforming other fertilizer formulations. Furthermore, the combination of water stress treatments and fertilizer formulations was impactful in relieving the detrimental consequences of water stress as it enhanced plant growth performance, production efficiency, metabolic homeostasis, nutritional value, and mineral ions composition. Subsequently, our results demonstrated agro-wastes, particularly chopped potato tops, could be an effective substitute for chemical fertilizers in sandy soils to sustainably increase soil fertility as well as cowpea yield performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies are being conducted to develop strategies to reduce the adverse effects of salinity stress. In the present study, it was aimed to determine the interactive effects of salinity stress with biochar on plant growth—the physiological and biochemical attributes of forage peas (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L.). Salt applications were carried out with irrigation water at concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM NaCl. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three applications [control: 0 (B0), 2.5% biochar (B1), and 5% biochar (B2)], five salt doses [0 (S0), 25 (S1), 50 (S2), 75 (S3), and 100 (S4) mM NaCl], and three replications, arranged in a 3 × 5 factorial arrangement. In the salt-stressed environment, the highest plant height (18.75 cm) and stem diameter (1.71 mm) in forage pea seedlings were obtained with the application of B1. The root fresh (0.59 g/plant) and dry weight (0.36 g/plant) were determined to be the highest in the B1 application, both in non-saline and saline environments. A decrease in plant chlorophyll content in forage pea plants was observed parallel to the increasing salt levels. Specifically, lower H2O2, MDA, and proline content were determined at all salt levels with biochar applications, while in the B0 application these values were recorded at the highest levels. Furthermore, in the study, it was observed that the CAT, POD, and SOD enzyme activities were at their lowest levels at all salt levels with the biochar application, while in the B0 application, these values were determined to be at the highest levels. There was a significant decrease in plant mineral content, excluding Cl and Na, parallel to the increasing salt levels. The findings of the study indicate that biochar amendment can enhance forage peas’ growth by modulating the plant physiology and biochemistry under salt stress. Considering the plant growth parameters, no significant difference was detected between 2.5% and 5% biochar application. Therefore, application of 2.5 biochar may be recommended.

ABSTRACTThe infertility of sandy soil hampers the growth of many crops. Typically, chemical fertilizers are used to handle this issue, but they are expensive and have deleterious implications on the ecosystem. A two-year field investigation was carried out on cowpea cultivated in sandy soil to assess the effects of different watering levels (70, 80, 90, and 100% of the actual irrigation requirements), chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers, and biofertilizer (Bradyrhizobium sp.), and their combinations on the morpho-physiological traits and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp, cv. Giza 18). Overall, the findings showed that cowpea osmoregulatory molecules (sugars, proteins, and proline) demonstrated greater accumulation, with the content depending on the watering level. The applied fertilizers demonstrated improved cowpea performance at the regular watering level, with chopped potato tops outperforming other fertilizer formulations. Furthermore, the combination of water stress treatments and fertilizer formulations was impactful in relieving the detrimental consequences of water stress as it enhanced plant growth performance, production efficiency, metabolic homeostasis, nutritional value, and mineral ions composition. Subsequently, our results demonstrated agro-wastes, particularly chopped potato tops, could be an effective substitute for chemical fertilizers in sandy soils to sustainably increase soil fertility as well as cowpea yield performance.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a water limitation in different ecotypes and one variety of Lotus corniculatus L. on the production of secondary metabolites and their antioxidant activity in response to a water deficit (WD) through other seasonal times. A randomized block experimental design with three replicates was used. Two levels of soil water content and five genotypes were arranged in a factorial way (2 × 5) with ten treatments for replication. The 255301 ecotype showed significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) concentrations of total phenols, with a concentration of 86.6 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/gram of fresh weight (gFW); total flavonoids, with a concentration of 63.2 mg Quercetin Equivalent (QE)/gFW); total tannins (71.7 mg GAE/gFW); and radical scavenging activity, with an average of 200 mg Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC)/gFW) in winter under a WD. The 255305 ecotype showed an increase in radical scavenging activity of 230 mg (TEAC)/gFW) and a total tannin concentration of 65.3 mg GAE/gFW in winter and spring, respectively, under a WD. The 255301 ecotype showed an increase in the concentration of total saponins (254.8 mg saponins/gFW) in summer under a WD. All these responses were triggered to mitigate a water deficit and extreme temperatures.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a water limitation in different ecotypes and one variety of Lotus corniculatus L. on the production of secondary metabolites and their antioxidant activity in response to a water deficit (WD) through other seasonal times. A randomized block experimental design with three replicates was used. Two levels of soil water content and five genotypes were arranged in a factorial way (2 × 5) with ten treatments for replication. The 255301 ecotype showed significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) concentrations of total phenols, with a concentration of 86.6 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/gram of fresh weight (gFW); total flavonoids, with a concentration of 63.2 mg Quercetin Equivalent (QE)/gFW); total tannins (71.7 mg GAE/gFW); and radical scavenging activity, with an average of 200 mg Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC)/gFW) in winter under a WD. The 255305 ecotype showed an increase in radical scavenging activity of 230 mg (TEAC)/gFW) and a total tannin concentration of 65.3 mg GAE/gFW in winter and spring, respectively, under a WD. The 255301 ecotype showed an increase in the concentration of total saponins (254.8 mg saponins/gFW) in summer under a WD. All these responses were triggered to mitigate a water deficit and extreme temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Menoufia Journal of Plant Production is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Soil salinity is a key factor to limiting agricultural products throughout the world, especially in arid and semi-arid areas, since it intervenes with plant morpho-physiology, resulting in reduced growth and development, as well as disruption of ion homeostasis. This work examined the effects of salinity stress on the mono-cropping of T. pratense, F. arundinacea, and M. sativa and CaSO4 and MgSO4 on the mixed-cropping of T. pratense and F. arundinacea under saline conditions. Plants were assessed by dry weights, physiological parameters (photosynthesis rate, SPAD, SLA), forage quality, and ion concentrations. The biomass of all mono species decreased under salinity, except M. sativa, and mixed cropping was affected less than mono-cropping. The values of the mono-cropping of SPAD were decreased in the long term, and SLA was higher than the control in mixed cropping, with the photosynthesis rate of mono-cropping being higher in medium salinity in the long-term; moreover, CaSO4 and MgSO4 enhanced the photosynthesis rate of mixed cropping. Overall, we concluded that M. sativa is tolerant to medium salinity, and mixed cropping plus MgSO4 and CaSO4 were efficient under salinity stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular breeding has revolutionized the improvement of forage crops by offering precise tools to enhance the yield, quality, and environmental resilience. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current technologies, applications, and future directions in the field of forage crop molecular breeding. Technological advancements in the field, including Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWASs), genomic selection (GS), and genome-editing tools such as CRISPR-Cas9, have significantly advanced the identification and incorporation of beneficial traits into forage species. These approaches have dramatically shortened the breeding cycles and increased the efficiency of developing cultivars with improved yield, disease resistance, stress tolerance, and nutritional profiles. The implementation of these technologies has led to notable successes, as demonstrated by case studies on various forage crops, showcasing enhanced forage quality and adaptability to challenging environmental conditions. Furthermore, the integration of high-throughput phenotyping with advanced bioinformatics tools has streamlined the management of large-scale genomic data, facilitating more precise selection and breeding decisions. Looking ahead, this review explores the potential of emerging technologies, such as the application of artificial intelligence in predictive breeding, along with the associated ethical and regulatory considerations. While we stand to gain benefit from these innovations, the future of molecular breeding in forage crops must also confront the challenges posed by climate change and the imperative of sustainable agricultural practices. This review concludes by emphasizing the transformative impact of molecular breeding on the improvement of forage crop and the critical need for ongoing research and collaboration to fully realize its potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing demand for efficient solutions to face the challenges posed by population growth and climate change, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) emerges as a promising solution for monitoring biophysical and physiological parameters in forage crops due to their ability to collect high-frequency and high-resolution data. This review addresses the main applications of UAVs in monitoring forage crop characteristics, in addition to evaluating advanced data processing techniques, including machine learning, to optimize the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production systems. In this paper, the Scopus and Web of Science databases were used to identify the applications of UAVs in forage assessment. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, the search resulted in 590 articles, of which 463 were filtered for duplicates and 238 were selected after screening. An analysis of the data revealed an annual growth rate of 35.50% in the production of articles, evidencing the growing interest in the theme. In addition to 1086 authors, 93 journals and 4740 citations were reviewed. Finally, our results contribute to the scientific community by consolidating information on the use of UAVs in precision farming, offering a solid basis for future research and practical applications.

Plastic mulches play an important role in reducing water consumption. An experiment was conducted at Research Greenhouse, Razi University, Iran. The experiment was a completely randomized design with three treatments and three replications. Plants used for testing were barley and oat. Treatments included control (without plastic mulch), transparent plastic mulch with half coverage and plastic mulch with almost full coverage. This study aimed at determining the percentage of the plastic cover that had the highest dry matter production and water use efficiency. Results showed that treatment of plastic mulch with almost full coverage had the lowest water consumption and the treatment without the plastic mulch had the highest water consumption. The treatment of barley with full coverage had a water-saving of almost 40 percent compared to control. Water use efficiencies for both plants treated with almost full coverage were highest among treatments. There was no significant difference between plastic mulch treatments in terms of leaf relative water content, fresh and dry weight of stem, fresh and dry weight of leaves, plant height, and leaf area in oat and barley. In this way, by applying a coating on the soil surface and preventing the loss of soil moisture, water consumption can be significantly reduced, while the dry matter produced is not reduced.

Most plant conservation strategies generally overlook the intra-specific genetic diversity of crop gene pools. Focusing on forage crops and their wild relatives, we present a novel approach to address the conservation of these species on meadows. Two-thirds of Swiss agricultural land is green land, mostly used for forage purposes, and their genetic diversity is being threatened. We focused here on eight plant associations gathering at least 18 taxa considered priority crop wild relatives of forage crops. Since 2020, about 1,217 high-quality surfaces (representing 1,566 hectares) nationwide have been integrated into an innovative auction-based policy instrument dedicated to conserving these populations. Here, we report the benefits and hurdles of implementing this bottom-up approach and try to estimate the quality of conservation of the forage plants' CWR gene pool. Although we focus on the Swiss case, our approach to in situ conservation offers opportunities to effectively guide conservation in other contexts. We also discuss possible ways to improve CWR conservation policy, particularly the need to better consider the populations and habitat levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Little research has been done on managing soil health for large-scale, outdoor hemp production, contributing to the possible overuse of black plastic for weed suppression. Our experiment aimed to understand the performance of alternative ground covers including forage crops and hay as well as a less disruptive tilling method called strip-tilling compared to black plastic. Results: Yield and soil health data were taken from three experimental plantings from two different outdoor CBD hemp farms in Vermont, USA. We find that hay may be a competitive alternative to black plastic in terms of producing heavier plants. Our research also found that clover seed and hay are both more cost-effective options than black plastic which may sway some farmers to adopt these alternative ground cover options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, which was conducted to determine the agricultural characteristics of some Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica L.) genotypes, was conducted in two locations, Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute Konya central land and Soil, Water and Desertification Research Institute Karapınar land, for one year under precipitation dependent conditions (2016-2017 growing season) was carried out in winter. In the study, a total of 21 genotypes, including 18 pure accessions of Hungarian vetch and 3 witness Hungarian vetch cultivars (Altınova, Beta and Tarm Beyazı) were used. The study was set up as three replications according to the Random Blocks Trial Design. According to the results obtained; 50% flowering time of Hungarian vetch genotypes 161.3 - 169.7 days, main stem length 69.2-85.3 cm, main stem thickness 1.4-2.1 mm, natural plant height 58.3-75.0 cm, green herbage yield 1.914-3.503 kg/da, dry herbage yield 417 -755 kg/da, grain yield varied between 130-186 kg/da. Significant differences were determined between Hungarian vetch genotypes in terms of the examined characteristics. According to the results of the research carried out in two locations, the highest yield in terms of green and dry herbage yield was obtained from the genotype DMF-15, while the highest grain yield was obtained from the genotype DMF-1. In both locations, the DMF-15 genotype stood out with its dry herbage yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is one of the most serious environmental factors limiting the yield of plants. Because many crops experience yield losses due to the harmful effects of high salt content in soil and water. The increase in the area of land affected by salt has the potential to create problems in terms of food safety. In this context, it is necessary to develop some cultural practices to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of salinity. This study investigated the effects of salty groundwater at different depths on the yield and soil salinity of some forage crops grown in semi-arid regions for three years. The experiment was conducted using the randomized block split-plot design. The effect of water table depths on the yields of the cultivars in the first year was found to have a statistically significant (p

Intensive dairy farming systems in the sandy soil of northwestern Morocco are based on three successive forage crops per year, including corn. The aim was to evaluate the productivity and the quality of different intensive crop successions based on corn in sandy soil. Three forage crops per year (winter, spring, and summer cropping seasons) were tested according to six successions: 1. fallow-corn-corn, 2. oat-corn-corn, 3. berseem-corn-corn, 4. pea/triticale-corn-corn, 5. oat-soybean-corn, and 6. berseem-corn-soybean. Each succession of crops was evaluated in two years field experiment using a randomized complete block design. Results revealed that oat-corn-corn and pea/triticale-corn-corn successions produced the highest dry biomass (46.5 t ha-1 year-1). The crop succession of berseem-corn-soybean resulted in the lowest biomass (30.8 t ha-1 year-1). The highest net energy for lactation was recorded at oat-corn-corn and pea/triticale-corn-corn successions (303 103 MJ ha-1 year-1). The crop successions based on one corn (oat-soybean-corn and berseem-corn-soybean) recorded the lowest net energy for lactation (195.5 103 MJ ha-1 year-1). The oat-corn-corn, pea/triticale-corn-corn, and oat-soybean-corn successions recorded the highest crude protein values (3.9 t ha-1 year-1). Soil organic matter and the content of soil on total N, P, and Mg were similar for the different crop successions at the end of the experimental years.

This study was conducted during two seasons 2020-2021and 2021-2022 at two main different locations ofSulaimani, and Halabja governorate; each with some sub-locations, to estimate green forage yield, dry forageyield, dry matter percentage and animal unit. The result confirmed the highest plant height of grasses wererecorded in Sulamani location; however, Halabja location provided highest plant height for legumes for thetwo seasons. In regarding to the effect of seasons on plant height, the second season was taller than the firstseason for grasses and legumes. Maximum green yield, dry yield and dry matter percentage exhibited inSulaimani location for two seasons. Regarding seasonal effect, the second season exceeded the first season ingreen and dry yields and dry matter percentage; Maximum total forage yield and animal unit in 3 monthsprovided maximum value by Sulamani location for both seasons. Results of chemical analysis for the grassplants showed that there were differences between two locations. The Sulamani location gave the maximumpercentage of protein, phosphorus and calcium content. In which Halabja location was recorded maximumvalue for carbohydrate, Potassium, and ash content for the first season. While for legumes, plants recordedhighest value for protein, phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium and ash content except carbohydrate content gavehigh value at Halabja location. In the relevant of the effect of seasons on chemical components for grass plants,the second season 2021-2022 predominated the first season in the chemical contents of protein, carbohydrate,phosphorus, potassium, calcium and ash. Whereas for legume plants the second season also gave maximumvalue for all contents, excepted protein content recorded high value in the first season

Most plant conservation strategies generally overlook the intra-specific genetic diversity of crop gene pools. Focusing on forage crops and their wild relatives, we present a novel approach to address the conservation of these species on meadows. Two-thirds of Swiss agricultural land is green land, mostly used for forage purposes, and their genetic diversity is being threatened. We focused here on eight plant associations gathering at least 18 taxa considered priority crop wild relatives of forage crops. Since 2020, about 1,217 high-quality surfaces (representing 1,566 hectares) nationwide have been integrated into an innovative auction-based policy instrument dedicated to conserving these populations. Here, we report the benefits and hurdles of implementing this bottom-up approach and try to estimate the quality of conservation of the forage plants’ CWR gene pool. Although we focus on the Swiss case, our approach to in situ conservation offers opportunities to effectively guide conservation in other contexts. We also discuss possible ways to improve CWR conservation policy, particularly the need to better consider the populations and habitat levels.

Background: In areas prone to water erosion, crop selection strategies should be based on assessment of their effects on soil structural properties. Aims: The present study compared the effects of the cultivation of forage maize (Zea mays L.) and forage oat (Avena sativa L.) and their cultivars on soil aggregation relative to potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) or wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at a hydrothermally limited site on the Loess Plateau, China. Methods: The water‐stable aggregate (WSA) distribution in soil was measured under three cultivars in each of maize, oat, wheat, and potato (a total of 12 cultivars from four crops) in their flowering stage of three cropping seasons, when root biomass was largest. Results: In each year, the water‐stable macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) content and mean weight diameter (MWD) of WSAs in the top 20 cm of soil did not differ between tested cultivars of every crop but increased under maize and oat, compared with those under wheat or potato. The increased soil aggregation under maize and oat, compared with wheat or potato, was consistent with the pattern of change in root biomass but was not consistent with the changes in root length density, root surface area, or root mean diameter across the crops. The water‐stable macroaggregates content and MWD of soil was positively correlated with root biomass across cultivars and crop species within each cropping season. Conclusions: We suggest that increased root biomass under maize and oat relative to potato or wheat resulted in increased soil aggregation in maize and oat cultivated soils. It is demonstrated that, in areas prone to soil water erosion, planting high‐biomass‐yielding crops such as maize and oat is more beneficial for increasing soil aggregation and stability, compared with low‐biomass‐yielding crops such as wheat or potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides an overview of the accuracy of various yield forecasting algorithms and offers a detailed explanation of the models and machine learning algorithms that are required for crop yield forecasting. A unified crop yield forecasting methodology is developed, which can be adjusted by adding new indicators and extensions. The proposed methodology is based on remote sensing data taken from free sources. Experiments were carried out on crops of cereals, legumes, oilseeds and forage crops in eastern Kazakhstan. Data on agricultural lands of the experimental farms were obtained using processed images from Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 satellites (EO Browser) for the period of 2017–2022. In total, a dataset of 1600 indicators was collected with NDVI and MSAVI indices recorded at a frequency of once a week. Based on the results of this work, it is found that yields can be predicted from NDVI vegetation index data and meteorological data on average temperature, surface soil moisture and wind speed. A machine learning programming language can calculate the relationship between these indicators and build a neural network that predicts yield. The neural network produces predictions based on the constructed data weights, which are corrected using activation function algorithms. As a result of the research, the functions with the highest prediction accuracy during vegetative development for all crops presented in this paper are multi-layer perceptron, with a prediction accuracy of 66% to 99% (85% on average), and polynomial regression, with a prediction accuracy of 63% to 98% (82% on average). Thus, it is shown that the use of machine learning and neural networks for crop yield prediction has advantages over other mathematical modelling techniques. The use of machine learning (neural network) technologies makes it possible to predict crop yields on the basis of relevant data. The individual approach of machine learning to each crop allows for the determination of the optimal learning algorithms to obtain accurate predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Natura & Scientia is the property of Semih Kale and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Molecular breeding has revolutionized the improvement of forage crops by offering precise tools to enhance the yield, quality, and environmental resilience. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current technologies, applications, and future directions in the field of forage crop molecular breeding. Technological advancements in the field, including Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWASs), genomic selection (GS), and genome-editing tools such as CRISPR-Cas9, have significantly advanced the identification and incorporation of beneficial traits into forage species. These approaches have dramatically shortened the breeding cycles and increased the efficiency of developing cultivars with improved yield, disease resistance, stress tolerance, and nutritional profiles. The implementation of these technologies has led to notable successes, as demonstrated by case studies on various forage crops, showcasing enhanced forage quality and adaptability to challenging environmental conditions. Furthermore, the integration of high-throughput phenotyping with advanced bioinformatics tools has streamlined the management of large-scale genomic data, facilitating more precise selection and breeding decisions. Looking ahead, this review explores the potential of emerging technologies, such as the application of artificial intelligence in predictive breeding, along with the associated ethical and regulatory considerations. While we stand to gain benefit from these innovations, the future of molecular breeding in forage crops must also confront the challenges posed by climate change and the imperative of sustainable agricultural practices. This review concludes by emphasizing the transformative impact of molecular breeding on the improvement of forage crop and the critical need for ongoing research and collaboration to fully realize its potential.

Abstract The decrease in the possibilities of increasing the arable agricultural areas in the world and the continuous increase in the population have led those who are engaged in plant production to seek ways to make maximum use of the existing agricultural areas. One of these ways is mixed sowing systems. It is very difficult to sow species with different grain sizes in mixtures. Special sowing machines are needed for this aim. Because of this reason, the article aims to be a guide for artificial intelligence capable of mixed sowing in forage crops. In the research, it is found that there are some differences between YOLOv4-tiny and Y0L0v4 models as Precision, Recall, F1-score, TP, FP, FN scores. For the YOLOv4-tiny model, these scores were found as 0.99, 1.00, 0.99, 90, 1, 0, respectively and the scores for the Y0L0v4 model were 1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 90, 0, 0. According to the YOLOv4-tiny and YOLOv4 tests in the lab, suggesting that the YOLOv4-tiny is faster, and the YOLOv4 is more reliable in terms of all these factors combined. This research establishes a standard for real-time recognition of forage crops based on current technology at NVIDIA Jetson TX2 due to its high performance and low power consumption and a high-performance computer with CUDA support.

Salinity is one of the most serious environmental factors limiting the yield of plants. Because many crops experience yield losses due to the harmful effects of high salt content in soil and water. The increase in the area of land affected by salt has the potential to create problems in terms of food safety. In this context, it is necessary to develop some cultural practices to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of salinity. This study investigated the effects of salty groundwater at different depths on the yield and soil salinity of some forage crops grown in semi-arid regions for three years. The experiment was conducted using the randomized block split-plot design. The effect of water table depths on the yields of the cultivars in the first year was found to have a statistically significant (p<0.01) effect while it was insignificant in the second year. According to the Duncan test results, it was determined that the H1 (40 cm groundwater depth) treatment in the first year provided the highest yield in all three cultivars and formed the first group (p<0.01) in the Duncan test. The interaction between water table depths and plant species was statistically significant at the p<0.05 level. At the end of the experiment, the salt concentration of the topsoil (40 cm depth) increased significantly (p=0.025) at all water table depths. Moreover, although the sodium adsorption ratio of the inlet water was low, it was determined that the exchangeable sodium percentage of the soils increased significantly at all groundwater levels at the end of the trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many developing countries are facing a silent increase in deficiency of micronutrients in forage crops that results in decreased levels of essential nutrients in animals. Micronutrients are essential not only for basic metabolic processes of forage crops but also for sustaining animal health. Forage productivity and quality are severely affected by soil micronutrients deficiencies, especially zinc and copper. This review summarizes the literature highlighting the significance of different methodologies used to increase the biomass and quality of forage so as to enhance the micronutrient content of the forage crops through biofortification. Biofortification is a promising and sustainable agriculture‐based strategy to reduce micronutrient deficiency in crops. The experiments and trials conducted at different locations of the world showed that copper and zinc concentrations in animal fodders can be enhanced through the process of foliar application. Additionally, agronomic biofortification showed more promising results, and thus is an outstanding, fast, and cost‐effective technique for the immediate enrichment of forage in order to overcome malnutrition in animals. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and turnip rape (B. rapa L. subsp. campestris (L.)) are important agricultural plants widely used for food, fodder and technical purposes and as green manure. Over the past decades, a large number of perspective varieties that are being currently cultivated in every region of Russia have been developed. To increase the breeding efficiency and facilitate the seed production, modern molecular-genetic techniques should be introduced as means to estimate species and varietal diversity. The objective of the presented research study was to investigate DNA polymorphism of the rapeseed and turnip rape varieties developed at Federal Williams Research Center of Forage Production and Agroecology and detect informative markers for varietal identification and genetic certification. To genotype 18 gDNA samples, 42 and 25 combinations of respective SSR and SRAP primers were used. The results obtained demonstrate that SRAP markers were more effective for polymorphism analysis: 36 % of the tested markers revealed genetic polymorphism compared with only 16.7 % of microsatellite loci. Molecular markers to detect differences at interspecific and intervarietal levels have also been found. For the investigated set, such microsatellite loci as Na12A02, Ni2C12, Ni02-D08a, Ra02-E01, Ni03H07а and SRAP-marker combinations as F13-R9, Me4-R7, F11-Em2, F10-R7, F9-Em2 and F9-R8 proved to be informative. Application of the two marker techniques made it possible to detect a higher level of DNA polymorphism in plants of different types (spring and winter varieties) if compared against the intervarietal differences within a species or a group. According to Nei’s genetic diversity index, in the cluster of winter rapeseed, VIK 2 and Gorizont varieties had the longest genetic distance, and in the spring cluster, these were Novosel and Veles. A high level of similarity was found between Vikros and Bizon winter rapeseed varieties. The results obtained have a high practical value for varietal specification of seed material and genetic certification of rapeseed and turnip rape varieties.

This investigation aimed to identify the production and composition of crops as feed, classify the types of integrated farming in different locations, and compare dairy goats based on their morphometric characteristics. The data used were collected from July to November, 2021 in the Malang, Lumajang, and Bangkalan regencies of Indonesia, via a survey and direct observations. Descriptive, multivariate, and variance analyses were adopted using RStudio to analyze the collected data. In Malang and Lumajang, farmers adopted agroforestry, alley cropping, and cover crops as the main types of integrated farming. The integrated farming adopted by the farmers in Malang, Bangkalan, and Lumajang helped to explain the differences in forage crops. Calliandra calothyrsus, Indigofera zollingeriana, and Thitonia diversifolia are non-grasses having high levels of average production. In Lumajang, farmers provided only a few combinations with Calliandra which was the most intensively grown crop. In Malang, six crops were combined for the dairy goat feed. Pennisetum purpureum was the crop most intensely grown to feed the PE (Etawa crossbred). In Bangkalan, Pote-Arosbaya goats were fed a combination of eight crops. Moringa oleifera, Bambusa sp., Artocarpus heterophyllus, and natural grasses were the most popular feed crops. In Malang and Lumajang, the PE Singosari and Senduro goats had a high degree of similarity based on their morphometric characteristics, respectively.

This study was carried out in the central county of Ağrı Province in order to reveal the cattle feeding habits of cattle breeders. For this purpose, data were obtained by conducting a face-to-face survey with 400 dairy cattle owners of the enterprises in the county. According to the results obtained from this study, it was determined that 91.5% of the breeders produced their forage crops. It was also found out that barley, alfalfa, and sainfoin were the most produced plants in these enterprises. However, the production of the corn silage, which is an important source of roughage for dairy cattle, was performed at a very low level (1.2%). Dry hay (93.5%) took first place among the roughage sources used in these enterprises, and it was followed by alfalfa hay (61.5%) and wheat-barley straw (28.0%). Corn silage was used at a low level (7.8%) in the cattle enterprises. It was determined that cattle breeders in the central county of Ağrı province were deficient in terms of some information about cattle feeding practices. It was also demonstrated that it was necessary to increase the usage and production of corn silage as forage crops and to implement rational animal feeding practices in place of the old traditional animal feeding habits. Therefore, cattle breeders in the central county of Ağrı province should be involved in technical training programs about the cattle feeding and forage planting. As result of the courses given to the cattle breeders, their technical information about cattle nutrition and preparation of ration would be updated. For this purpose, it is also recommended that agricultural extension service should be boosted to increase the education level and awareness of the cattle breeders in the rural areas.

Lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.), a plant of North American origin, has been cultivated in the Carpathian Basin since the end of the 19th century. It was sown for ornamental purposes, but at the same time its potential for beekeeping was also recognized. It was prophesied to save the future of the Hungarian apiculture, but in the period following the Second World War with the collapse of the large estate system, it was cultivated as a bee pasture only on a small scale. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Hungarian researchers have been studied its forage potential in several experiments. Despite the first contradictory conclusions, it has been respected as a valuable forage crop for several livestock species since the 1970s. Its excellent potential for green manuring and soil disinfection has been also confirmed in many experiments carried out in the Carpathian Basin for more than a century. Since the end of the 1970s, its exportoriented seed production has boomed both in small and large farms in the Little Hungarian Plain (in NW Hungary). This practice has been strongly linked to migratory beekeeping, which has elevated lacy phacelia to the most important melliferous plants producing monofloral honey in Hungary. Its annual production area has fluctuated between 1500 and 11,000 ha in the last 20 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Journal of Kirkuk University for Agricultural Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research was carried out to determine the physical and physiological characteristics of the seeds of the forage pea (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L.) genotypes, and to compare the genotypes in terms of these characteristics in the laboratories of the Faculty of Agriculture of Bingöl University in 2019-2020. As a material, seeds belonging to Creakerjack, Kristal, Özkaynak, Servet, Taşkent, and TTAE-YB2010 genotypes of forage peas were used. Length, width, surface area, average arithmetic diameter, and thousand-grain weight from physical properties of these seeds, germination rate, germination time, and average shoot length from physiological properties were taken into consideration. In the study, it was determined that forage pea seeds had an average length of 6.730 mm, a width of 6.118 mm, a surface area of 34.117 mm2, an arithmetic diameter of 6.424 mm, and a thousand-grain weight of 191.96 g. It was determined that forage pea seeds germinated in an average of 1,335 days, the average germination rate was 99.5% and the average shoot length was 4.775 cm. As a result of the research, it was determined that the Kristal variety gave good results in terms of physical properties and the Özkaynak variety in terms of physiological properties.