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Agriculture
Volume 16
Issue 11
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Agriculture, Volume 16, Issue 11 (June-1 2026) – 122 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Grazing in Gran Canaria (Spain) is part of an innovative project implementing livestock territory use as a management tool to create patchy landscapes that facilitate firefighting while ensuring biodiversity conservation. Within this framework, sheep farmers receive payments for ecosystem services related to their contribution to wildfire prevention. Using grazing exclosures and GPS collars on the animals, our results suggest that controlled grazing at moderate intensities contributes mainly to creating spatial discontinuities that facilitate both firefighting and wildfire prevention. Moreover, maintaining moderate grazing pressure may help conserve vegetation heterogeneity, which is crucial for ecosystem resilience and biodiversity conservation. View this paper
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24 pages, 3725 KB  
Article
Interpreting Yield–Spectral Relationships in Wheat and Cotton Using a Unified Sentinel-2 Indicator Framework
by Emmanouil Psomiadis, Antonia Oikonomou, Marilou Avramidou and Antonis Kavvadias
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1252; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111252 - 5 Jun 2026
Viewed by 349
Abstract
Accurate estimation of crop yield from remote sensing remains challenging due to the crop-specific nature of yield drivers and the difficulty of interpreting spectral indicators across agronomic systems. While many studies prioritise predictive accuracy through complex models, fewer explicitly examine the stability and [...] Read more.
Accurate estimation of crop yield from remote sensing remains challenging due to the crop-specific nature of yield drivers and the difficulty of interpreting spectral indicators across agronomic systems. While many studies prioritise predictive accuracy through complex models, fewer explicitly examine the stability and physiological relevance of individual spectral and phenological indicators under controlled analytical conditions. This study investigates yield–spectral relationships in wheat and cotton using a unified Sentinel-2 indicator framework applied across multiple growing seasons in a Mediterranean agricultural environment. A consistent set of spectral and thermal indicators was derived from two phenologically targeted Sentinel-2 acquisitions per season and analysed using correlation analysis, univariate regression, constrained multivariate modelling, and recurrence analysis within an identical workflow for both crops. Distinct crop-specific patterns were observed. Wheat yield was most strongly associated with water-sensitive and canopy-related indicators, with NDWI-based metrics reaching Pearson correlations up to r = 0.85 and multivariate models explaining a substantial proportion of yield variability (up to R2 ≈ 0.70) under controlled analytical conditions. In contrast, cotton yield variability was dominated by thermal accumulation, with growing degree day indicators showing correlations up to |r| = 0.59 and multivariate performance reaching R2 = 0.74. Recurrence analysis indicated consistent recurrence of these indicator families across analytical stages under the examined conditions. Overall, the results indicate that parsimonious, physiologically interpretable indicator combinations can account for a meaningful proportion of yield variability without reliance on highly complex or high-dimensional modelling approaches, supporting crop-aware indicator selection for precision agriculture applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote and Proximal Sensing for Arable Crops Monitoring and Yield Assessment)
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24 pages, 4223 KB  
Article
Influence of Altitudinal Grassland Systems on Forage Antioxidant Potential and Nutritional Quality of Beef from Cattle Raised in Caraș-Severin County, Romania
by Alexandra-Ioana Ibric, Ileana Cocan, Ersilia Alexa, Călin Jianu, Monica Negrea, Cristian Argyelan, Alina Dragoescu-Petrica and Tiberiu Iancu
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1251; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111251 - 5 Jun 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 314
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of altitudinal grassland systems on forage antioxidant properties and the nutritional composition of beef produced in Caraș-Severin County, Romania. We hypothesised that cattle raised at higher altitudes would produce beef with a superior [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of altitudinal grassland systems on forage antioxidant properties and the nutritional composition of beef produced in Caraș-Severin County, Romania. We hypothesised that cattle raised at higher altitudes would produce beef with a superior nutritional profile, characterised by a more favourable lipid composition and enhanced antioxidant-related characteristics. Samples of fresh grass and hay were gathered from three representative areas: plain (Sacu, 154 m), hill (Văliug, 550 m), and mountain (Cozia, 1130 m). The beef samples were represented by two categories of commercially important muscles: Longissimus thoracis (loin) and Semimembranosus (topside), sourced from animals raised in each location. The proximate composition of forage samples indicated substantially higher levels of fatty acids, protein, and ash in mountain grasslands compared to lowland regions (p < 0.05). The total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (DPPH test) revealed a similar pattern, with the strongest antioxidant activity (lowest IC50 value) recorded for Cozia hay (GHC) samples. The composition of beef was additionally influenced by the production area. Samples derived from mountainous regions exhibited elevated protein concentrations, moderate intramuscular fat levels, and enhanced mineral composition in comparison to samples from plain areas. Fatty acid analysis revealed that mountain-sourced beef had significantly reduced levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and elevated concentrations of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), including the nutritionally beneficial n-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Principal component analysis distinctly classified beef samples based on production method, with mountain-origin samples indicating better lipid properties and enhanced antioxidant-related variables. The findings demonstrate that natural grasslands at higher altitudes may enhance both the bioactive quality of fodder and the nutritional value of beef. Mountain pasture systems are a sustainable approach for producing high-quality beef with enhanced lipid composition and increased market value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on the Nutrition and Physiology of Dairy and Beef Cattle)
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15 pages, 1651 KB  
Article
Nitrogen Additions Suppress Microbial Diversity but Enhance Carbon Accumulation in Desert Soil Profiles
by Chenhua Li, Yugang Wang, Lisong Tang and Yan Liu
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1250; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111250 - 5 Jun 2026
Viewed by 274
Abstract
Desert reclamation into oases promotes soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation across soil profiles, with nitrogen (N) fertilization being a key driver. However, the possible role of soil microorganisms in coupled C–N processes remains poorly understood in desert regions. We conducted a soil incubation [...] Read more.
Desert reclamation into oases promotes soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation across soil profiles, with nitrogen (N) fertilization being a key driver. However, the possible role of soil microorganisms in coupled C–N processes remains poorly understood in desert regions. We conducted a soil incubation experiment to evaluate the effects of N addition to varied soil layers on soil properties, CO2 efflux, and microbial communities. The fertilized treatments (N, NP, and NPK) were compared with the unfertilized control (CK). All treatments were derived from the original desert soil. After incubation, SOC content decreased by 8–28% below the topsoil (20–100 cm) in the CK treatment, while it increased by 6–32% throughout the soil profile (0–100 cm) in all fertilizer treatments. Compared to the CK, all fertilizer treatments reduced daily and cumulative CO2 emissions throughout the soil profile, with NP and NPK treatments showing greater reductions (3–19%). Fertilizer addition consistently enriched the phylum Firmicutes—notably the genera Virgibacillus and Bacillus—while lowering the relative abundance of other major phyla. After incubation, all treatments reduced microbial diversity and richness, with the most pronounced declines observed under fertilization. These community shifts were closely linked to changes in SOC and total N below the topsoil. These findings demonstrate that N-based fertilization promotes SOC accumulation in desert regions through microbial community restructuring. This study highlights the important role of exogenous nutrients, particularly N, in regulating C–N cycling and organic C sequestration in deep soil during desert oasis transformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harnessing Microbial Mechanisms for Synergistic Nitrogen and Carbon Management in Agricultural Soils)
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7 pages, 206 KB  
Editorial
From Agricultural Soils to Human Health: Heavy Metal Sources, Biogeochemical Controls, Crop Accumulation, and Risk Assessment
by Min Liang, Hui Guan and Hui Huang
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1249; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111249 - 5 Jun 2026
Viewed by 423
Abstract
Heavy metals and metalloids (denoted as “HMs”) in agricultural soils remain a persistent concern for sustainable agriculture, food safety, ecosystem functioning, and human health [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Agricultural Soils to Human Health: Exposure Sources, Intake Pathways, and Accumulation of Heavy Metals)
14 pages, 1754 KB  
Article
Biochar Mitigates Root Exudate-Induced Priming of Native SOC Decomposition via Soil Phosphorus Availability and Microbial Structure
by Zheng Jiang, Lingyan Zhou, Huifeng Sun, Xianxian Zhang, Liuming Hai, Cong Wang, Jining Zhang and Sheng Zhou
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1248; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111248 - 5 Jun 2026
Viewed by 376
Abstract
Biochar amendment is increasingly recognized as a promising strategy for enhancing soil carbon sequestration in cropland systems; however, the mechanisms governing its effects on root exudate-induced decomposition of native soil organic carbon (SOC) remain poorly understood. We conducted a controlled laboratory incubation experiment [...] Read more.
Biochar amendment is increasingly recognized as a promising strategy for enhancing soil carbon sequestration in cropland systems; however, the mechanisms governing its effects on root exudate-induced decomposition of native soil organic carbon (SOC) remain poorly understood. We conducted a controlled laboratory incubation experiment using 13C-labeled glucose as a proxy for root exudates to quantify native SOC decomposition in wheat soil with or without long-term biochar amendment. Glucose addition induced a strong positive priming effect in unamended control soils, increasing native SOC decomposition by 354.4 μg CO2 g−1 soil over 30 days, whereas biochar amendment substantially suppressed this response by 75.7%. This suppression was attributed to biochar-enhanced phosphorus availability and a shift in microbial community composition toward greater fungal dominance, which collectively reduced microbial nutrient mining from native SOC pools. Our findings demonstrate that biochar can effectively mitigate the priming effect through coordinated alterations in nutrient dynamics and microbial community structure, thereby promoting long-term SOC stabilization. These results strengthen the scientific basis for biochar application as a climate change mitigation strategy in agricultural ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions and Carbon Sequestration in Agriculture)
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21 pages, 1733 KB  
Article
Evaluation of High-Yield Potential, Yield Stability, and Adaptability of Different Varieties Under Long-Term Environmental Conditions
by Shixiao Fang, Yilei Long, Yin Wang, Xiutong Wu, Teng Liu, Shen Jin, Yinan Yang, Shengwu Chen and Xiantao Ai
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1247; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111247 - 5 Jun 2026
Viewed by 358
Abstract
To identify upland cotton varieties with consistently high yields and stable performance across variable growing seasons in Xinjiang, we evaluated yield data for 11 varieties over 4 consecutive years (2022–2025). Among the tested varieties, 02 achieved the highest average yield (10.85 kg per [...] Read more.
To identify upland cotton varieties with consistently high yields and stable performance across variable growing seasons in Xinjiang, we evaluated yield data for 11 varieties over 4 consecutive years (2022–2025). Among the tested varieties, 02 achieved the highest average yield (10.85 kg per plot). Variety ZMBH1939 showed the most stable yield across years (coefficient of variation = 0.1557). Analysis of variance showed that variety, year, and their interaction significantly affected yield (p < 0.01 for all). Further evaluation using two complementary multi-environment trial models (AMMI and GGE) revealed consistent findings: 02 and FC190 were high-yielding but moderately stable; W21 and TH02 showed moderate yield with good stability; and XLM108 combined high yield potential with excellent stability. The control variety Z49 (CK) exhibited good stability but only moderate yield. Among the four trial years, 2023 was the most representative and discriminatory environment, making it ideal for screening superior varieties. Exploratory analysis of climatic covariates suggested that accumulated temperature (≥10 °C) may be associated with interannual yield variation (R2 = 0.464), and low precipitation was linked to stronger environmental discrimination. However, given the limited number of environments (n = 4), these findings are preliminary and hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory. This study provides a framework for understanding climate-driven yield variation in regional cotton trials and identifies promising germplasm (notably XLM108 and 02) for further breeding and promotion. Validation in multi-location or longer-term trials is required before drawing definitive conclusions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis of Crop Yield Stability and Quality Evaluation)
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21 pages, 1314 KB  
Article
Effect of In Ovo Injection Time of Various Plant Byproducts on Hatching Traits, Productive Performance, and Physiological Aspects of Hatched Chicks
by Karrar Imad Abdulsahib Al-Shammari, Meaad Rasool Mohammad and Justyna Batkowska
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1246; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111246 - 5 Jun 2026
Viewed by 406
Abstract
Using plant byproducts as bioactive sources for in ovo injection (IOI) can enhance embryo development. This study evaluated the effects of air cell IOI of sweet orange peel (SP), pomegranate peel (PP), and olive leaf (OL) aqueous extracts on embryonic days 10 and [...] Read more.
Using plant byproducts as bioactive sources for in ovo injection (IOI) can enhance embryo development. This study evaluated the effects of air cell IOI of sweet orange peel (SP), pomegranate peel (PP), and olive leaf (OL) aqueous extracts on embryonic days 10 and 18, assessing chicken hatching and post-hatch performance up to 42 days of age. Nine hundred eggs were assigned to 10 treatments. Each treatment had three replicates (n = 30 eggs/replicate) with a 5 × 2 factorial design (uninjected negative control, injection with distilled water as positive control, or injection with 1% SP, PP, or OL on day 10 or 18 of embryogenesis). Compared to the negative control, the results revealed that in ovo-injected substances (IOSs) did not alter hatchability but significantly decreased pipped-chick percentage, the heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, malondialdehyde, cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels. However, IOSs were found to increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, liveability, and final body weight. Specifically, SP maximised hatch weight, gut length, and thymus weight, whilst decreasing eggshell conductance and uric acid. SP and OL reduced liver enzyme activities, whereas PP lowered creatinine. Compared to day 10, IOI on day 18 improved hatchability, packed cell volume, SOD activity, liveability, and organ development. In conclusion, IOI with SP or OL, particularly on day 18 of incubation, is recommended to improve antioxidant status, biochemical indices, and cumulative body weight. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Medicinal Plants and Their Derivatives in Animal Production and Health)
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25 pages, 5220 KB  
Article
The Effects of Co-Application of Biochar and Phosphogypsum on Regulating the Microenvironment of Saline–Alkali Soils to Promote Safflower Growth and Quality Development
by Hong-Jie Long, Hai Sun, Cai Shao, Yan-Mei Cui, Wei-Yu Cao, Yue Wang, Jia-Peng Zhu, Xiao-Meng Geng and Ya-Yu Zhang
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1245; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111245 - 5 Jun 2026
Viewed by 385
Abstract
The utilization of saline–alkali lands and the competition between medicinal plants and grain crops are urgent issues. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of combined biochar and phosphogypsum application on soil physicochemical properties, microbial communities, and safflower growth, yield, and bioactive component [...] Read more.
The utilization of saline–alkali lands and the competition between medicinal plants and grain crops are urgent issues. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of combined biochar and phosphogypsum application on soil physicochemical properties, microbial communities, and safflower growth, yield, and bioactive component accumulation in moderately saline–alkali soil of western Jilin, and to identify key soil factors driving these responses. To achieve this, outdoor pot experiments were conducted using safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), with the application of 1% biochar + 1% phosphogypsum to moderately saline–alkali soil. The results showed that the amendment significantly reduced bulk density (BD), pH, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), total alkalinity (TA), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), while increasing soil water content (SWC), soil organic matter (SOM), nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and beneficial ions. Soil sucrase, urease, alkaline phosphatase, and catalase activities were enhanced. Copiotrophic taxa (Pseudomonadota, Sphingomonas, Vicinamibacter) increased, whereas oligotrophic taxa (Gemmatimonadetes, Longimicrobium, Luteitalea) decreased, with stronger effects on bacteria than fungi. Safflower growth indices improved; leaf Na+/K+ ratio, superoxide radicals, and malondialdehyde decreased; and soluble protein, proline, and antioxidant enzyme activities increased. Bioactive components (hydroxysafflor yellow A, kaempferol) and yield reached 1.41%, 0.056%, and 343.23 mg/plant, representing 1.74–27.68-fold increases over moderate and mild saline–alkali soils. Correlation analysis identified SOM, total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), BD, SWC, pH, SAR, TA, and ESP as key factors. In conclusion, co-application of 1% biochar and 1% phosphogypsum improves soil physicochemical and microbial properties, alleviates saline–alkali stress, and enhances safflower quality and yield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Biochar on Soil Improvement and Crop Production)
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24 pages, 2587 KB  
Review
Regulating Gut Microbiota in Post-Weaned Pigs: The Role of Digestive Capacity and Substrate Flow
by Kathryn Ruth Connolly, Shane Maher, Torres Sweeney and John V. O’Doherty
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1244; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111244 - 5 Jun 2026
Viewed by 443
Abstract
In commercial pig production systems, early weaning imposes abrupt nutritional, environmental and social challenges before full gastrointestinal maturation has occurred, increasing susceptibility to post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) and impaired growth performance. Although enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is frequently implicated in PWD, pathogen presence alone [...] Read more.
In commercial pig production systems, early weaning imposes abrupt nutritional, environmental and social challenges before full gastrointestinal maturation has occurred, increasing susceptibility to post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) and impaired growth performance. Although enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is frequently implicated in PWD, pathogen presence alone does not adequately explain variation in disease expression among pigs and production systems. Increasing evidence indicates that gastrointestinal stability following weaning is determined by interactions among digestive capacity, substrate flow, microbial metabolism, epithelial integrity and host immune responses. In this review, substrate flow refers to the quantity, composition and regional distribution of undigested dietary and endogenous substrates moving through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and becoming available for microbial fermentation. The review proposes substrate flow as the central mechanistic interface linking digestive physiology with microbial metabolic activity during the post-weaning transition. Commercial weaning frequently occurs before complete adaptation to cereal- and plant-based diets has developed. Reduced feed intake, elevated gastric pH, incomplete pancreatic adaptation and reduced brush-border enzyme activity impair nutrient digestion during this transition, increasing nutrient overflow to the distal intestine. Under these conditions, microbial metabolism shifts from predominantly saccharolytic fermentation towards proteolytic pathways associated with production of ammonia, phenols, indoles and branched-chain fatty acids. These metabolites impair epithelial integrity, alter luminal conditions and favour proliferation of opportunistic bacteria. Conversely, effective digestion supports saccharolytic fermentation, short-chain fatty acid production, epithelial integrity and microbial stability. Microbial dysbiosis is therefore more accurately interpreted as a metabolic consequence of altered substrate availability and fermentation dynamics rather than solely as a compositional imbalance of bacterial taxa. By integrating digestive physiology, microbial ecology and nutritional management, the substrate-flow concept provides a mechanistic framework for development of more biologically coherent nutritional strategies aimed at improving gastrointestinal resilience and reducing antimicrobial reliance in modern pig production systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Gut Microbiota to Improve Pig Health and Growth)
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18 pages, 580 KB  
Review
Fermentation-Oriented Viticulture: A Narrative Review Linking Climate Change, Soil Fertility, Crop Protection and Must Microbiota Ecology
by Eleonora Daniela Ciupeanu-Calugaru, Ana Maria Dodocioiu and Gilda-Diana Buzatu
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111243 - 5 Jun 2026
Viewed by 406
Abstract
This narrative review develops fermentation-oriented viticulture as an agronomic-oenological framework linking vineyard environment, management and must ecology to fermentation performance. The literature from 2010 to April 2026 was synthesized through structured searches in PubMed and Google Scholar, complemented by targeted searches in MDPI, [...] Read more.
This narrative review develops fermentation-oriented viticulture as an agronomic-oenological framework linking vineyard environment, management and must ecology to fermentation performance. The literature from 2010 to April 2026 was synthesized through structured searches in PubMed and Google Scholar, complemented by targeted searches in MDPI, Frontiers, Nature, ScienceDirect, OENO One, PNAS and European Union regulatory sources, with emphasis on 2020–2026 publications and retention of older foundational sources. Current evidence indicates that must microbiota is not a linear derivative of soil or berry surfaces, but a network outcome of connected habitats spanning the viticultural biotope and grapevine-associated biocenosis (soil, rhizosphere, phyllosphere, berry, insect, atmospheric and winery). Climate warming, drought, altered phenology, soil fertility, nitrogen nutrition, crop-protection programs and bio-based inputs jointly modify berry chemistry, yeast-assimilable nitrogen (YAN), microbial inocula and pre-fermentative selection pressures. The review distinguishes fermentation-oriented viticulture from descriptive microbial terroir by defining practical endpoints: fermentation onset and completion, sluggish or stuck fermentation risk, microbial stability, spoilage taxa, volatilome development and wine typicity. It also proposes operational indicators and a decision matrix for integrating vineyard and winery management. The framework supports future multi-vintage studies combining climate, soil, agronomic metadata, YAN, microbiome profiling and microvinification outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Plant Phenology: Challenges for Fruit Production)
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25 pages, 37224 KB  
Article
Effects of Potassium Management on Yield Formation and Nutrient Utilization in Japonica Rice Cultivars with Contrasting Nitrogen Efficiency Under a Simplified Nitrogen Regime
by Liqiang Chen, Haoyang Jia, Yunfei Xu, Jiajun Xu, Yuqi Liu, Xiao Liang and Wenzhong Zhang
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1242; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111242 - 4 Jun 2026
Viewed by 399
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) co-management is critical for optimizing grain yield in rice. However, the interactive effects of N supply and K application timing on cultivars with contrasting N efficiencies remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted a two-year field experiment (2020 and [...] Read more.
Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) co-management is critical for optimizing grain yield in rice. However, the interactive effects of N supply and K application timing on cultivars with contrasting N efficiencies remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted a two-year field experiment (2020 and 2021) using two japonica rice cultivars, Shennong 265 (SN265) and Meifengdao 61 (MFD61), under three N rates (180, 225, and 270 kg ha−1) and three K application ratios (basal: panicle = 3:7, 5:5, and 7:3). SN265 exhibited a 20.31% higher average grain yield than MFD61, primarily attributable to increased crop growth rates during the tillering–booting (14.08%) and grain-filling–maturity phases (31.88%). Under moderate N supply (N180 and N225), increasing the proportion of basal K application (K7:3) consistently improved dry matter accumulation, enzyme activity, and grain yield in both cultivars. However, under high-N conditions (N270), excessive early-season K application reduced grain yield in MFD61 by 7.69%. For SN265, further yield improvement required an enhanced net assimilation rate during the tillering–booting phase. Although this study was conducted at a single site with only two cultivars, it provides a physiological and agronomic framework for cultivar-specific N–K co-management strategies to improve grain yield and nutrient use efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis of Crop Yield Stability and Quality Evaluation)
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19 pages, 4447 KB  
Article
Vertical Migration Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Soil Nitrogen in Sloped Croplands of Purple Soil Regions
by Yi Wang, Jiupai Ni, Xiaoning Hang, Xueting Yang, Dunxiu Liao and Deti Xie
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1241; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111241 - 4 Jun 2026
Viewed by 255
Abstract
The vertical migration of soil nitrogen (N) losses in sloped farmlands under natural rainfall conditions remains inadequately understood. This study conducted a two-year (March 2023–February 2025) in situ runoff field monitoring experiment on purple loam slopes in Chongqing, China, systematically investigating the effects [...] Read more.
The vertical migration of soil nitrogen (N) losses in sloped farmlands under natural rainfall conditions remains inadequately understood. This study conducted a two-year (March 2023–February 2025) in situ runoff field monitoring experiment on purple loam slopes in Chongqing, China, systematically investigating the effects of different rainfall patterns (TR, HR, MR, LR) and planting stages (CPS, SFS, MPS, WFS) on the vertical migration of nitrogen at four depths (0, 20, 40, and 60 cm) under natural rainfall conditions. The results demonstrate that rainfall is the key driver of vertical nitrogen migration. The migration loads of total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) all increased significantly with increasing rainfall intensity (p < 0.01), showing the strongest correlation with rainfall amount in the shallow soil layer (L1). Nitrogen migration loads exhibited a clear decreasing trend with increasing soil depth, declining progressively from the surface (L1) to deeper layers (L3). However, higher loads of nitrate nitrogen were maintained in deeper layers, given its strong mobility. The study found that although extreme rainfall events (TR and HR) accounted for only 6.05% of total rainfall events, they contributed to more than 60% of the total nitrogen migration load, highlighting extreme rainfall as the primary driver of nutrient loss. Over 70% of nitrogen loss occurred during the corn planting stage (CPS) with high fertilizer demand, highlighting that this period is critical for nitrogen loss and represents a key window for risk management. The increased soil depth functions as a “sink”, exhibiting certain nitrogen retention and filtration effects. The total nitrogen content in deeper soil layers (L2, L3) shows cumulative accumulation, confirming the nitrogen migration pattern from sources (surface layers) to sinks (deep layers) within the soil profile. This study elucidates the core driving mechanisms and critical risk periods for vertical nitrogen migration in purple soil on sloped farmland, providing crucial scientific evidence for precise regional nitrogen fertilizer management and non-point source pollution control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ecosystem, Environment and Climate Change in Agriculture)
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13 pages, 1185 KB  
Article
Why Is Agricultural Productivity Slowing Down in Israel? Measurement, Data Revisions, and Emerging Constraints
by Daniel Grandisky Lerner and Ayal Kimhi
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111240 - 4 Jun 2026
Viewed by 408
Abstract
This paper examines whether total factor productivity (TFP) in Israeli agriculture has genuinely slowed or declined in recent years, or whether the reported trend is primarily driven by methodological choices, data limitations, and measurement error. We compare two widely used approaches to TFP [...] Read more.
This paper examines whether total factor productivity (TFP) in Israeli agriculture has genuinely slowed or declined in recent years, or whether the reported trend is primarily driven by methodological choices, data limitations, and measurement error. We compare two widely used approaches to TFP measurement—those of the Bank of Israel and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)—which differ in their definitions of output, treatment of inputs, and assumptions regarding factor shares. We reconstruct and refine the underlying datasets, addressing important limitations in the existing measures, including the omission of foreign labor, inconsistencies in agricultural land measurement, and the application of non-representative input shares. Despite data improvements and methodological adjustments, both approaches yield similar qualitative conclusions. Following rapid increase in earlier decades, TFP growth in Israeli agriculture appears to have stagnated or declined since the early 2010s. A decomposition of output growth further indicates that recent production patterns have been driven primarily by greater input intensity per unit of land rather than by technological progress or efficiency gains. As a result, agricultural output has shown little or no net growth over the past decade. We discuss potential explanations for this slowdown, including climate change, the growing reliance on reclaimed and other marginal water sources, and the long-term decline in agricultural research and development (R&D) investment relative to sectoral output. Overall, the findings suggest that the productivity slowdown is real rather than an artifact of measurement and underscore the need for renewed investment in agricultural innovation and climate adaptation to sustain domestic production and strengthen food security. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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42 pages, 22170 KB  
Article
Digital Soil Mapping of the Steppe Zone in Northern Kazakhstan: Predicting Agrochemical Properties of Soils Using Multimodal Satellite Data and Machine and Deep Learning Techniques
by Aliya Yskak, Gulnaz T. Yermoldina, Almabek B. Nugmanov, Berik S. Rakhimbayev, Zhanna B. Suimenbayeva, Vladimir D. Fominov, Zhassulan B. Irzhanov, Tatiana A. Paramonova, Sergey V. Mamikhin and Aleksandr G. Bulaev
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1239; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111239 - 3 Jun 2026
Viewed by 587
Abstract
Digital soil mapping (DSM), based on multimodal satellite data, is a crucial tool for the transition to precision agriculture. However, systematic studies using this method and machine and deep learning techniques are lacking for the arid and semi-arid regions of Central Asia, where [...] Read more.
Digital soil mapping (DSM), based on multimodal satellite data, is a crucial tool for the transition to precision agriculture. However, systematic studies using this method and machine and deep learning techniques are lacking for the arid and semi-arid regions of Central Asia, where multimodal satellite data can provide valuable insights into soil conditions. This work provides, for the first time, benchmark metrics for the predictive ability of six soil agrochemical properties (pH, Soil Organic Carbon, NO3, P2O5, K2O, and S) in the dry steppe zone of Central Asia, with a quantitative assessment of the difference between “standard” and “fair” validation strategies. This has methodological significance for the entire field of DSM research. A comprehensive comparison of 11 machine learning (ML) models and four deep learning (DL) architectures was conducted to predict soil agrochemical properties using a set of 530 features extracted from various satellite datasets. These features were extracted from Sentinel-2, Landsat-8, Sentinel-1 SAR, SRTM DEM, and ERA 5-Land using Google Earth Engine (GEE) automated pipeline. All models were evaluated using three spatial validation strategies with increasing stringency: Leave-One-Field-Out CV (LOFO-CV), Leave-One-Farm-Out CV (Farm-LOFO), and an optimized spatial split. We propose a three-level hierarchical validation scheme that allows for the quantitative separation of spatial leakage and feature selection leakage, a methodology that can be applied to any spatial ML problem. Local models have been shown to outperform the global SoilGrids v2.0 product in terms of accuracy, demonstrating the need for high-resolution regional models for precision agriculture. Local models outperformed SoilGrids v2.0 by 3.6× in Spearman ρ for pH (0.750 vs. 0.208), quantitatively confirming the necessity of regional calibration over global soil products. Multi-season ConvNeXt with SE-blocks on 54-channel composites improved R2 for NO3 by 36% (0.422 → 0.575), confirming the value of temporal dynamics for mobile elements; however, it underperformed RF on tabular features for most properties at the available sample size (n = 1085). Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Artificial Intelligence and Digital Agriculture)
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29 pages, 2243 KB  
Review
Research Progress on Key Technologies, Restrictive Factors and Optimization Strategies of Detasseling for Maize Seed Production
by Yang Li, Yiteng Lei, Zhen Ma and Cundeng Wang
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1238; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111238 - 3 Jun 2026
Viewed by 486
Abstract
Maize hybrid seed production is a core factor in increasing maize yield. It is the key to ensure seed purity to remove tassels from female plants. This paper analyzes the inherent connections between seed production agronomy, biomechanics, computer vision, and intelligent devices at [...] Read more.
Maize hybrid seed production is a core factor in increasing maize yield. It is the key to ensure seed purity to remove tassels from female plants. This paper analyzes the inherent connections between seed production agronomy, biomechanics, computer vision, and intelligent devices at the system engineering level. The paper first elaborates on the role of crop growth models and genetic male sterility techniques in expanding the time window of mechanical operations. Secondly, based on the perception decision execution framework, this paper discusses how the biomechanical characteristics of male spikes directly determine the dynamic parameter design of the male removal actuator; in-depth analysis was conducted on the performance and limitations of deep learning algorithms in handling lighting changes, leaf occlusion, and high-throughput recognition in unstructured field environments. In addition, this paper compares the technical game between the detasseling success rate and leaf damage rate of two mainstream execution paths, cutting and extraction. This review highlights that future research should focus on the development of lightweight intelligent operation platforms and full-life-cycle digital decision-making systems, to realize high-efficiency and low-damage precision detasseling of seed maize. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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25 pages, 8560 KB  
Article
Research on Field Weed Detection Methods for Sweet Corn Seedlings and Laser Weed Control Experiments
by Yuqi Zhang, Xuehai Wang, Yang Zhou, Lili Fu and Yanlei Xu
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1237; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111237 - 3 Jun 2026
Viewed by 395
Abstract
Sweet corn has high economic value and is consumed directly, requiring strict environmental and management conditions. However, weed infestation during growth seriously affects yield and quality, while conventional chemical weed control may compromise product safety. Laser weeding offers an effective alternative, with precise [...] Read more.
Sweet corn has high economic value and is consumed directly, requiring strict environmental and management conditions. However, weed infestation during growth seriously affects yield and quality, while conventional chemical weed control may compromise product safety. Laser weeding offers an effective alternative, with precise weed detection and localization as its core requirement. This study proposes YOLO-GFD, a lightweight weed detection algorithm for sweet corn fields. Compared with the original model, YOLO-GFD increased mAP@0.5 by 10.61 percentage points, reduced floating-point operations by 0.6 percentage points, and achieved an average precision of 95.77%. Field trials further showed a real-time weed detection rate of 93.1% and a corn seedling misdetection rate of 1.1%, indicating strong practical applicability. In addition, weed control experiments using 110 W near-infrared and blue lasers under different power levels and irradiation durations identified suitable laser parameters for field laser weeding. Overall, YOLO-GFD meets the real-time accuracy requirements of autonomous laser weeding and provides a reliable basis for visual recognition and laser parameter optimization in sweet corn production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Protection, Diseases, Pests and Weeds)
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20 pages, 3302 KB  
Article
Remediation Effects and Mechanisms of Biochar Derived from Agricultural Waste on Soils Contaminated with Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb)
by Xiang Zhang, Chunyi Kuang, Ziying Han, Xiaoyuan Chen, Zhihong Gao and Yongyong Zhu
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1236; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111236 - 3 Jun 2026
Viewed by 471
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are ubiquitous toxic heavy metals in farmland soils, posing a threat to agricultural product safety and human health through food chain transmission. Biochar is widely used for in situ immobilization of heavy metals; however, systematic comparisons of the [...] Read more.
Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are ubiquitous toxic heavy metals in farmland soils, posing a threat to agricultural product safety and human health through food chain transmission. Biochar is widely used for in situ immobilization of heavy metals; however, systematic comparisons of the immobilization performance of rice straw biochar (RSB) and sugarcane bagasse biochar (SCB) under single and combined Cd–Pb contamination remain limited. This study systematically evaluated their immobilization performance and mechanisms through pot and batch adsorption experiments. Without altering total soil Cd and Pb contents, both biochars significantly regulated heavy metal bioavailability in the soil–plant system. In batch adsorption, RSB exhibited maximum Cd and Pb adsorption capacities 2.1 and 3.0 times those of SCB, respectively, with chemisorption as the dominant mechanism. In pot experiments, RSB reduced Pb uptake in pakchoi by 60.0% and 81.0%, but increased Cd uptake. SCB increased Cd uptake under single Cd contamination, had no significant effect on Pb under single Pb contamination, yet reduced Cd and Pb uptake under co-contamination by 44.4% and 31.6%, respectively. These differential effects are attributed to distinct mechanisms: Pb was primarily immobilized via stable mineral precipitation, whereas Cd was bound through weakly reversible ion exchange. Both biochars improved soil fertility and maintained core bacterial ecological functions without posing additional ecological risks. This study clarifies the feedstock-dependency and metal-specificity of biochar in remediating Cd- and Pb-contaminated farmlands, guiding precise biochar selection under varying contamination scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Soils)
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22 pages, 1510 KB  
Article
IoT-Based Monitoring and Recommendation System for Real-Time Moisture and Nutrient Management in Large-Scale Rice Fields
by Sangtong Boonying, Nantiya Tantidontanet, Likit Chamuthai, Anek Putthidech, Amnaj Sookjam and Salinun Boonmee
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1235; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111235 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 427
Abstract
Rice cultivation in climate-sensitive regions necessitates adaptive irrigation and nutrient management strategies to enhance resource utilization efficiency and mitigate operational uncertainty. This study investigated the operational feasibility of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring and recommendation system for real-time soil moisture and nutrient-related [...] Read more.
Rice cultivation in climate-sensitive regions necessitates adaptive irrigation and nutrient management strategies to enhance resource utilization efficiency and mitigate operational uncertainty. This study investigated the operational feasibility of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring and recommendation system for real-time soil moisture and nutrient-related operational monitoring in large-scale rice farming environments in Thailand. An integrated IoT-assisted monitoring and recommendation framework comprising sensing, communication, analytics, and recommendation components was developed and evaluated under practical field-deployment conditions. The system incorporated soil moisture monitoring and nutrient-related operational sensing, cloud-based data processing, machine learning-assisted prediction, and mobile notification services to support irrigation and fertilizer management. A comparative evaluation between conventional and IoT-assisted management conditions revealed lower irrigation water use (947.38 vs. 7638.38 m3/ha), reduced fertilizer utilization (41.40 vs. 347.56 kg/ha), and lower production costs (4230.88 vs. 30,664.69 THB/ha) under IoT-assisted conditions. Average profit also increased from 2357.68 to 23,920.00 THB/ha. User evaluation indicated high overall satisfaction (mean = 4.28/5.00). The findings suggest that integrating IoT-based sensing, machine learning-assisted prediction, and optimization-driven recommendation workflows within a unified field-deployment framework may improve adaptive irrigation management, resource-allocation efficiency, and operational decision support under climate-sensitive rice cultivation environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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20 pages, 1285 KB  
Article
Do Grain Imports Improve Water Use Efficiency in Grain Production? A Cost Competition Perspective
by Ziqiang Li, Weijiao Ye and Ciwen Zheng
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1234; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111234 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 289
Abstract
Water scarcity poses a major constraint on efficient and sustainable grain production in China. Drawing on the New New Trade Theory and Induced Technological Innovation Theory, this study empirically investigates the relationship between cost competition from grain imports and water use efficiency in [...] Read more.
Water scarcity poses a major constraint on efficient and sustainable grain production in China. Drawing on the New New Trade Theory and Induced Technological Innovation Theory, this study empirically investigates the relationship between cost competition from grain imports and water use efficiency in grain production from a virtual water trade perspective. The results show the following: (1) From 2003 to 2020, China’s overall grain production water use efficiency exhibited an upward trend, with the Huang-Huai-Hai and Northeast regions increasing by 66.35% and 28.49%, respectively. (2) Cost competition from grain imports can force improvements in water use efficiency. For every 1 billion tons of virtual water saved through imports, water use efficiency increases by 0.008. However, when annual virtual water savings exceed 11 billion tons, import competition surpasses a critical threshold. Due to technological and facility constraints, even previously efficient producers cannot further improve efficiency in the short term, and the allocative efficiency of production factors is undermined, leading to a decline rather than an improvement in water use efficiency. (3) The positive effect of import cost competition on water use efficiency is stronger in northern regions and non-major grain-producing areas. (4) Import cost competition improves water use efficiency by reducing domestic grain production profits. This study validates the applicability of the pro-competitive effect of trade and induced technological innovation in grain trade, expands the research boundaries of virtual water trade, and provides policy insights for improving China’s grain production water use efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Water Management)
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26 pages, 15779 KB  
Article
A Two-Stage G×E Modeling Framework Improves Crop Yield Prediction and Adaptive Selection
by Qi Wang, Xiaohe Liang, Jiayu Zhuang, Jiajia Liu and Ailian Zhou
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1233; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111233 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 367
Abstract
Accurate maize yield prediction across diverse environments is pivotal for modern breeding programs. While machine learning (ML) excels at capturing non-linear environmental effects, Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (GBLUP) remains a benchmark for modeling polygenic small-effect contributions. However, principled integration of these paradigms—while [...] Read more.
Accurate maize yield prediction across diverse environments is pivotal for modern breeding programs. While machine learning (ML) excels at capturing non-linear environmental effects, Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (GBLUP) remains a benchmark for modeling polygenic small-effect contributions. However, principled integration of these paradigms—while explicitly accounting for genotype-by-environment interaction (G×E)—remains a formidable challenge. We propose a two-step framework evaluated on the Genomes to Fields (G2F) 2022 dataset. In Step 1, ML models are employed to fit environmental main effects; in Step 2, genomic residuals are modeled via additive-dominance relationship matrices, augmented by an explicit low-rank G×E matrix. Candidate interaction markers were screened through plasticity-based genome-wide association studies (GWAS) across six phenotypic stability metrics and used to construct a low-rank candidate G×E representation, with a cross-validation-selected scaling parameter applied to control the contribution of the predicted G×E component. TwoStep_G×E_alpha0.33, achieved a within–environment Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) of 0.376, outperformed both GBLUP and the competition-winning model (PCC = 0.357) in within-environment ranking. Furthermore, environment-adaptive selection yielded a genetic gain of 0.454 Mg ha−1, representing a 34.7% improvement over GBLUP. Overall, the proposed framework provides a practical approach for environment-specific yield prediction and adaptive selection in maize breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Genetics, Genomics and Breeding)
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20 pages, 10669 KB  
Article
Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Fusarium spp. Associated with Triticum aestivum L. Based on DNA Barcoding
by Deyana Gencheva, Daniela Stoeva and Georgi Beev
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1232; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111232 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 371
Abstract
Fusarium spp. are active producers of mycotoxins that enter the food chain and pose risks to human health. Identifying pathogenic agents is a key step in developing disease management strategies. For the first time in Bulgaria, we identified eight Fusarium species in wheat, [...] Read more.
Fusarium spp. are active producers of mycotoxins that enter the food chain and pose risks to human health. Identifying pathogenic agents is a key step in developing disease management strategies. For the first time in Bulgaria, we identified eight Fusarium species in wheat, harvest 2024–2025, through the application of DNA barcoding. For a genetic marker and construction of phylogenetic tree, the protein-coding gene β-tub was chosen. Among 26 identified isolates, F. sporotrichioides (42.3%) dominated, followed by F. proliferatum (23.1%), F. avenaceum (7.7%), F. armeniacum (7.7%), and F. poae (7.7%). F. tricinctum (3.8%), F. oxysporum (3.8%), and F. equiaseti (3.9%) were weakly expressed. Phylogenetic analysis classified the isolates into five species complexes: FSAMSC, FFSC, FTSC, FIESC, and FOSC and highlighted the genetic distances between them. Molecular genetic analysis showed that 84.6% of the wheat samples contained only one species of Fusarium, and in 15.4% the co-presence of two species was established. The largest share was in samples with a low infestation of 2–4%, which represented 35% (n = 32) of all positives. No statistically significant difference was found between varieties and contamination level, but a statistically significant positive correlation was demonstrated by the preceding crop (rapeseed, sunflower, and maize). Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Protection, Diseases, Pests and Weeds)
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35 pages, 17863 KB  
Article
Wheat Size and Plant Distance Measurement Using LiDAR and Convex Hull Method
by Md Rejaul Karim, Md Nasim Reza, Dae-Hyun Lee and Sun-Ok Chung
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1231; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111231 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 414
Abstract
Interest in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) for the precise monitoring of vegetative growth of grain crops has increased. The study was conducted to estimate wheat size and plant distance using LiDAR and the convex hull method (CHM) compared to the voxel grid [...] Read more.
Interest in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) for the precise monitoring of vegetative growth of grain crops has increased. The study was conducted to estimate wheat size and plant distance using LiDAR and the convex hull method (CHM) compared to the voxel grid method (VGM). A commercial LiDAR system was used for data collection in the middle and late growth stages using static and dynamic scanning. A small number (ten) of data frames, consisting of a region of interest (ROI) of 1 m × 0.9 m for each frame, were selected as data samples. The data processing workflow consisted of data conversion, targeted data frame selection, visualization, region of interest (ROI) segmentation, outlier and untargeted point removal, downsampling, denoising, voxelization, preparation of the convex hull, and 3D PCD density map. To estimate the plant size and distance of wheat, the results obtained using CHM and VGM were compared with measured data results, and both methods were applied for the middle and late growth stages of wheat. The relative accuracy of LiDAR-estimated plant height, canopy volume, plant spacing, and row distances with respect to the measured results were 94%, 87%, 94%, and 87%, respectively, using CHM, and 76%, 72%, 62%, and 71% by VGM for static data scanning; for dynamic scanning, the estimated relative accuracy percentages were 87%, 91%, 94%, and 93%, respectively, using CHM, and 77%, 74%, 75%, and 74%, respectively, using VGM. The same methods were applied to the late growth stage data sets. Between the two methods, CHM provided higher accuracy for static and dynamic data-scanning approaches in the middle and late growth stages because the complex geometry of plants, thin and sparse leaf area, and structure complicated voxelization. Despite several challenges in PCD collection and processing, this study supports size and distance estimation for wheat and similar grains as non-destructive methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote and Proximal Sensing for Arable Crops Monitoring and Yield Assessment)
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28 pages, 2507 KB  
Systematic Review
Valorization of Babassu (Attalea speciosa) Waste: A Systematic Review of Phytochemical Extraction Methods and Antioxidant Capacity
by Anna Paula Azevedo de Carvalho, Mayara Regina da Silva de Figueiredo and Carlos Adam Conte-Junior
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1230; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111230 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 387
Abstract
Babassu (Attalea speciosa) is one of the most abundant palm species in the Brazilian Amazon and an important unconventional crop, playing a key socioeconomic role due to the commercial exploitation of its oil-rich almonds. However, approximately 90–93% of the fruit biomass—mainly [...] Read more.
Babassu (Attalea speciosa) is one of the most abundant palm species in the Brazilian Amazon and an important unconventional crop, playing a key socioeconomic role due to the commercial exploitation of its oil-rich almonds. However, approximately 90–93% of the fruit biomass—mainly mesocarp, epicarp, and endocarp—is generated as underutilized residue. This systematic review aims to analyze extraction methods, phytochemical composition, and antioxidant capacity of bioactive compounds derived from different babassu fractions. Following PRISMA guidelines, searches of five databases (Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science) retrieved 410 records, of which 23 met the inclusion criteria. The results show that, although research has predominantly focused on the almond fraction, non-edible parts contain significant levels of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, phytosterols, and other bioactive metabolites with antioxidant properties. Green and non-thermal extraction technologies, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), supercritical CO2 extraction (SC-CO2), and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), demonstrated advantages in improving extraction efficiency while reducing solvent consumption and thermal degradation. Overall, the available evidence indicates that babassu residues represent a promising and still underexplored source of bioactive compounds. Their valorization may contribute to sustainable extraction strategies, waste reduction, and the development of value-added products within agricultural and bioeconomic systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Value-Added Applications of Agricultural Byproducts: Bioactive Components and Sustainable Processing)
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27 pages, 540 KB  
Article
Drivers of Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Certification Adoption: Evidence from Multi-Group Analysis in Riau Province
by Bayu Rizky Pratama, Angga Pramana, Yelly Zamaya and Jonghwa Kim
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1229; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111229 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 490
Abstract
Indonesia, as the world’s major palm oil producer, has promoted the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification to sustain its global industrial competitiveness and address growing international environmental pressures. Despite being formally introduced in 2011, smallholder participation in ISPO certification remains critically low. [...] Read more.
Indonesia, as the world’s major palm oil producer, has promoted the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification to sustain its global industrial competitiveness and address growing international environmental pressures. Despite being formally introduced in 2011, smallholder participation in ISPO certification remains critically low. In response, the Indonesian government enacted a mandatory ISPO compliance policy, with a transitional phase, for smallholders. This study examines the behavioral predictors of ISPO adoption intention and readiness among two categories of oil palm smallholders in Riau Province, Indonesia: scheme smallholders, who cooperate with firms under nucleus partnership, and independent smallholders, who rely on open market channels with minimal institutional support. Data were collected from 300 smallholders and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Multi-Group Analysis (PLS-MGA), drawing on an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework that incorporates environmental awareness (EA) and collective membership participation (COL) as additional constructs. The findings show that behavioral intention is the influential predictor associated with ISPO adoption readiness across both groups (β = 0.376 for independent; β = 0.229 for scheme smallholders), while perceived behavioral control (PBC) significantly influences readiness among scheme smallholders (β = 0.344), but not among independent smallholders (β = 0.097), reflecting the structural capacity constraints faced by the independent group, particularly land legality. Environmental awareness positively shapes adoption intention among scheme smallholders (β = 0.126) but shows no significant effect among independent smallholders. Collective farmer group membership consistently enhances both adoption intention and readiness across both groups, emerging as the most universally actionable driver of ISPO compliance. These findings underscore the need for differentiated policy interventions, particularly targeted structural support for independent smallholders in terms of land legalization, certification subsidies, and field-based capacity building, to ensure equitable and effective implementation of mandatory ISPO certification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agribusiness’ Role in Food Security)
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20 pages, 8970 KB  
Article
Data-Driven Identification of Favorable Multi-Fungal Inoculation Timing for Enhanced Humic Acid Recovery from Pretreated Crop Straws
by Peipei Zhang, Chao Zhao, Kunjie Chen, Lijun Xu, Farman Ali Chandio, Xiangjun Zhao and Bin Li
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1228; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111228 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 269
Abstract
Humic acid (HA) production from crop straw is often limited by lignocellulosic recalcitrance and insufficient coordination among functional microorganisms. In this study, a data-driven strategy was developed to evaluate multi-fungal inoculation timing for HA recovery from pretreated straws. Three substrate platforms, namely raw [...] Read more.
Humic acid (HA) production from crop straw is often limited by lignocellulosic recalcitrance and insufficient coordination among functional microorganisms. In this study, a data-driven strategy was developed to evaluate multi-fungal inoculation timing for HA recovery from pretreated straws. Three substrate platforms, namely raw wheat straw (SW), steam-exploded corn straw (SC-SE), and ammoniated steam-exploded rice straw (SR-SE-N), were comparatively evaluated across an 81-run experimental matrix. Pretreatment markedly improved lignocellulose degradation and precursor turnover, with SR-SE-N showing the best humification performance. Based on the selected substrate, a two-factor interaction (2FI) model was established to describe the effects of inoculation timing on HA yield. The model was significant for HA prediction (R2 = 0.8768, adjusted R2 = 0.8398, predicted R2 = 0.7795). Inoculation timing strongly affected HA formation, and within the investigated timing range, the highest HA yield was obtained under simultaneous inoculation of Aspergillus niger, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and Candida sp. Predicted and experimental HA yields were in close agreement, supporting the reliability of the model. These results indicate that favorable fungal inoculation timing is substrate-dependent and can be effectively identified through data-driven analysis within a bounded experimental range. The study provides a practical basis for improving HA biomanufacturing from pretreated agricultural residues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Biomass Generation and Utilization: Progress, Challenges and Prospects)
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18 pages, 14800 KB  
Article
Dynamic Alterations of the Gut Microbiota of Silkworms (Bombyx mori) Inoculated with Cordyceps militaris
by Xinqin Shi, Peng Qiao, Lingling Zhao, Lin Zhu, Hanting Wei, Chuanjie Chen, Yinyu Gu and Guang Guo
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1227; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111227 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 291
Abstract
Cordyceps militaris is a well-known edible and medicinal entomopathogenic fungus that can be cultivated using silkworm larvae as hosts. However, no reports have been found regarding the gut microbiota of silkworms (Bombyx mori) following C. militaris injection. Based on three biological [...] Read more.
Cordyceps militaris is a well-known edible and medicinal entomopathogenic fungus that can be cultivated using silkworm larvae as hosts. However, no reports have been found regarding the gut microbiota of silkworms (Bombyx mori) following C. militaris injection. Based on three biological replicates, illumina 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to investigate the changes over time in the gut bacteria and fungi of silkworms injected with C. militaris. The results indicated that following inoculation with C. militaris, the abundance of Bacillales and Basidiomycetes increased, while that of Pseudomonadales and Ascomycetes decreased. The abundance of Mammaliicoccus increased by 78% and 26% in dying silkworms compared to their pre-inoculated counterparts and blank control group, respectively. The relative abundance of Rhodotorula in dying silkworms was 2.89-fold and 80.51-fold higher than that in the pre-inoculation group and blank control group, respectively. After inoculation with C. militaris, fungi showed the greatest community variations at day 2, while bacteria displayed the most distinct differences at day 4. Under C. militaris infection, the abundance of all four pathways of Genetic Information Processing in silkworm larvae’s gut microbiota significantly increased. Taken together, the results demonstrate that inoculation with C. militaris induced significant alterations in the composition, structure, assembly, and predictive functional profiles of gut bacteria and fungi in silkworms. This study provides a theoretical basis for exploring the production of C. militaris using silkworm larvae as insect hosts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Protection, Diseases, Pests and Weeds)
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19 pages, 6103 KB  
Article
The Effects of Different Improvement Measures on Soil Moisture Characteristics in Cold-Soaked Fields and on Maize Root Development and Growth
by Chenyan Tang, Yuxuan Wang, Chengzhi Zhao, Haoqian Yang, Chengdong Jia, Lijian Zheng and Juanjuan Ma
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1226; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111226 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 282
Abstract
To clarify the effects of pond excavation and field elevation combined with biochar application on soil improvement and maize growth in cold-soaked fields in northern China, a two-year field experiment was conducted using maize as the test crop under five biochar application rates: [...] Read more.
To clarify the effects of pond excavation and field elevation combined with biochar application on soil improvement and maize growth in cold-soaked fields in northern China, a two-year field experiment was conducted using maize as the test crop under five biochar application rates: 0, 7.5, 15, 22.5, and 30 t/ha. The effects of biochar application on soil water characteristics, maize root development, plant growth, and yield formation were investigated. The results showed that, under the pond excavation and field elevation treatment, the application of 22.5 t/ha biochar (B3) achieved the best overall improvement effect and significantly improved soil moisture conditions. At the heading stage, the soil water content in the 0–90 cm soil layer under the B3 treatment increased by 6.18% and 27.72% in the two experimental years, respectively, compared with the 0 t/ha biochar treatment (B0). In 2025, compared with the B0 treatment, root length density, root surface area density, and root volume density under the B3 treatment increased by 38.56%, 109.31%, and 65.35%, respectively, while the average diameter of maize fine roots decreased by 8.50%. Meanwhile, the leaf area index, plant height, stem diameter, kernels per ear, 100-kernel weight, and maize yield were all significantly increased, with grain yield reaching 13,991.10 kg/ha in 2025. Correlation analysis showed that the biochar application rate was significantly positively correlated with maize plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index, root morphological traits, and grain yield, indicating that biochar application promoted maize growth and yield by optimizing canopy structure and root architecture. These results demonstrate that pond excavation and field elevation combined with an appropriate biochar application rate can effectively improve cold-soaked fields in northern China and achieve stable and high maize yields, thereby providing technical support for the management of medium- and low-yield farmlands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Biochar on Soil Improvement and Crop Production)
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18 pages, 9969 KB  
Article
Effects of Glucose Addition on Soil Organic Carbon Mineralization and Bacterial Community Structure in Orchards Along a Soil Depth Gradient
by Wei Jiang, Meng Wei, Jia Zhang, Zhihang Jia, Gangbo Li, Ting Zhang and Zhonghua Wang
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1225; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111225 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 294
Abstract
Orchard soils have distinct stratification heterogeneity, while the responses of soil organic carbon mineralization (essentially microbial-mediated decomposition of organic matter, mainly producing CO2) and bacterial communities to exogenous carbon addition in different soil layers are still unclear. In this study, a [...] Read more.
Orchard soils have distinct stratification heterogeneity, while the responses of soil organic carbon mineralization (essentially microbial-mediated decomposition of organic matter, mainly producing CO2) and bacterial communities to exogenous carbon addition in different soil layers are still unclear. In this study, a laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the differences in soil organic carbon mineralization characteristics and bacterial communities between glucose addition and no-glucose addition treatments in three soil layers (N1: 0–20 cm, N2: 20–40 cm, N3: 40–60 cm) of hilly orchards. The results demonstrated that soil organic carbon mineralization rates in all layers generally declined with increasing incubation duration. At D3, compared with the CK group, glucose addition increased the soil organic carbon mineralization rate by 3.28-fold, 9.30-fold, and 15.03-fold in the N1, N2 and N3 soil layers, respectively. Cumulative organic carbon mineralization followed the order N1 > N2 > N3. Compared with the CK treatment, glucose addition increased C0 by 65.62% and 203.97% in the N2 and N3 soil layers, respectively. Two-way ANOVA was applied to quantitatively separate and compare the contributions of carbon addition treatment, incubation time and soil layer, and Beta diversity analysis revealed that soil layer was the primary driving factor. Under glucose addition, the key microorganisms related to organic carbon mineralization varied across soil layers: Gemmatimonadota and Acidobacteriota may exert a negative effect on soil organic carbon mineralization in orchard soils, whereas copiotrophic taxa, including Sphingomonas and Bacteroidota, contributed more strongly to carbon mineralization. Our results highlight the pronounced impact of labile carbon input on soil organic carbon mineralization within different soil layers, and reveal associations between soil bacterial communities and organic carbon mineralization in orchard ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Soils)
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13 pages, 1987 KB  
Article
Effects of Parametarhizium changbaiense on the Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Sugar Beet Seedlings Under Salt–Alkali Stress
by Lin Wang, Hao Wang, Lijian Xu and Wenbo Tan
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111224 - 1 Jun 2026
Viewed by 394
Abstract
Global crop production faces serious threats from soil salinization. Microbial resources are often exploited to be used as fertilizers or seed coatings to address this issue. Parametarhizium changbaiense, as a novel beneficial microorganism, has been discovered to be capable of assisting limited [...] Read more.
Global crop production faces serious threats from soil salinization. Microbial resources are often exploited to be used as fertilizers or seed coatings to address this issue. Parametarhizium changbaiense, as a novel beneficial microorganism, has been discovered to be capable of assisting limited crops such as mung bean in resisting salt–alkali stress. To investigate the effects of P. changbaiense on sugar beet under salt–alkali stress, the salt (NaCl:Na2SO4, molar ratio 9:1) and alkali (NaHCO3:Na2CO3, molar ratio 9:1) stress were set on sugar beet germplasm 780016B. Results demonstrated that P. changbaiense improved the phenotypic characteristics of sugar beet seedlings under salt–alkali stress. The biomass parameters such as plant height and fresh weight significantly increased by growth-promoting effect. The elevated antioxidant enzyme activity could help protect plants from ROS damage induced by stress. Relative electrical conductivity and MDA content decreased with inoculation, thereby mitigating membrane lipid peroxidation and improving membrane system stability. The higher content of soluble sugar could maintain cell turgor pressure and alleviate osmotic stress. Inoculation with P. changbaiense enhanced chlorophyll content, fluorescence, and photosynthetic capacity. The more superior root vitality and architecture were suitable for the functions of metabolism and absorption. P. changbaiense could promote the growth and physiological characteristics under salt–alkali stress, so it has practical application value in agricultural production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Microbiome and Stress: Interactions, Mechanisms, and Applications)
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41 pages, 3222 KB  
Review
Research Status and Development Trends of Agricultural Machinery Chassis for Hilly and Mountainous Areas
by Xinpeng Wang, Qinghai Jiang, Zhiyu Song and Chao Luo
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1223; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111223 - 1 Jun 2026
Viewed by 737
Abstract
Hilly and mountainous regions are strategically vital for national food security. However, due to complex topographical constraints, their agricultural mechanization levels remain severely underdeveloped. This creates a critical bottleneck in agricultural modernization. Conventional agricultural machinery faces multifaceted challenges in terrain adaptability, operational efficiency, [...] Read more.
Hilly and mountainous regions are strategically vital for national food security. However, due to complex topographical constraints, their agricultural mechanization levels remain severely underdeveloped. This creates a critical bottleneck in agricultural modernization. Conventional agricultural machinery faces multifaceted challenges in terrain adaptability, operational efficiency, and safety assurance when deployed in these environments, necessitating the urgent development of specialized chassis with enhanced trafficability and stability. Following a systematic literature review of key technologies, including power transmission systems, traveling and support mechanisms, leveling control, and navigation tracking, this study reveals that current chassis technology is advancing toward intelligentization, enhanced efficiency, environmental sustainability, and improved terrain adaptability. The analysis demonstrates that multiple technological pathways, encompassing mechanical, hydraulic, and electric drives, are exhibiting convergent and complementary trends. Future research and development should prioritize the following areas: integrated intelligent coordinated control architectures, green and sustainable power system innovation, modular and reconfigurable platform design, and the establishment of collaborative frameworks among industry, academia, research institutions, and application sectors. Comprehensive standardization systems are also needed. These strategic directions are essential for comprehensively elevating agricultural mechanization levels and maximizing developmental benefits in hilly and mountainous regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Smart Agricultural Technologies in Mountain Farming Systems)
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