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Non-Destructive Appraisal of Macro- and Micronutrients in Persimmon Leaves Using Vis/NIR Hyperspectral Imaging
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The Effect of Mycorrhiza Fungi and Various Mineral Fertilizer Levels on the Growth, Yield, and Nutritional Value of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
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Effect of Fertigation on the Physicochemical Quality and Antioxidant System of ‘Fino’ Lemons during Postharvest Storage
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Design and Test of Dislocation Baffle Roller Bionic Picking Device for Fresh Corn
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Challenges of Pasture Feeding Systems—Opportunities and Constraints
Journal Description
Agriculture
Agriculture
is an international, scientific peer-reviewed open access journal published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubAg, AGRIS, RePEc, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Agronomy) / CiteScore - Q2 (Plant Science)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 18.6 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2022).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Companion journals for Agriculture include: Poultry, Grasses and Crops.
Impact Factor:
3.408 (2021);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.459 (2021)
Latest Articles
Air Frosts in Poland in the Thermal Growing Season (AT > 5 °C)
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1228; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061228 (registering DOI) - 10 Jun 2023
Abstract
Frosts cause damage to plants in field crops and also trees, thus contributing to heavy economic losses in agriculture. One of the consequences of climate warming is the lengthening of the thermal growing season (AT > 5 °C) and acceleration of phenological phases
[...] Read more.
Frosts cause damage to plants in field crops and also trees, thus contributing to heavy economic losses in agriculture. One of the consequences of climate warming is the lengthening of the thermal growing season (AT > 5 °C) and acceleration of phenological phases as well as the lengthening of the frost-free period. This favourable element allows the extension of the range of cultivated plants to include plants requiring warmth and a longer development period. The present study concerns the area of Poland. The data on mean and minimum 24-h period air temperature (200 cm above ground level—AGL) were obtained from 52 meteorological stations of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management—National Research Institute (IMGW-PIB) for the period 1971–2020. A day with air frost was identified when the recorded minimum air temperature was below 0.0 °C and the mean 24-h period air temperature was above 0.0 °C. All calculations concerning frosts were limited to the period with mean 24-h period air temperature >5 °C (the growing season) as determined with the Gumiński method. The obtained results show that in the thermal growing season (AT > 5 °C) in Poland, no statistically significant change in the average number of days with air frosts in the period 1971–2020 was found. On average, in Poland, in the years 1971–2020, a lengthening of the thermal growing season by 6.2 days over 10 years was identified. Earlier disappearance of the latest air frosts in spring was identified as 2 to 3 days over 10 years, and the later occurrence of air frosts in autumn as 1 to 4 days over 10 years. The share of severe (−4.1°C ÷ −6.0 °C) and very severe (<−6.0 °C) frosts in the total number of days with air frosts in Poland amounts to, on average, 5.8% in spring and 2.6% in autumn.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Agrometeorology and Climatology)
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Development of Multiplex RT-PCR Assay for the Simultaneous Detection of Four Systemic Diseases Infecting Citrus
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1227; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061227 (registering DOI) - 10 Jun 2023
Abstract
The citrus systemic diseases, including citrus Huanglongbing (caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas)), citrus tristeza (caused by citrus tristeza virus (CTV)), citrus tatter leaf (caused by citrus tatter leaf virus (CTLV)), and citrus exocortis (caused by citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd)), are
[...] Read more.
The citrus systemic diseases, including citrus Huanglongbing (caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas)), citrus tristeza (caused by citrus tristeza virus (CTV)), citrus tatter leaf (caused by citrus tatter leaf virus (CTLV)), and citrus exocortis (caused by citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd)), are threats to citrus production in Taiwan. Reliable diagnostic methods are important for the management of these systemic diseases. In this study, we developed a multiplex reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay to detect four pathogens simultaneously. Herein, the specific amplicons from each pathogen (295 bp for CLas, 468 bp for CTV, 120 bp for CTLV, and 196 bp for CEVd) were successfully produced using the optimized multiplex RT-PCR described here. The sensitivity evaluation showed that low titers of pathogens could be detected using this multiplex RT-PCR. Compared with the published simplex assays, the detection of field samples using the multiplex RT-PCR developed in this study showed a better performance. The detections using multiplex RT-PCR revealed that these four citrus systemic pathogens were commonly found in fields, and 30.0% of field samples were mix-infected. To our knowledge, this is the first study of a survey of the four important citrus systemic diseases in Taiwan, and it provides insights for improving disease management. Therefore, the multiplex RT-PCR assay provides a useful method for routine disease surveying and the production of pathogen-free citrus plants.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Protection, Diseases, Pest and Weeds)
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Assessment of the Effects of the Herbicide Aclonifen and Its Soil Metabolites on Soil and Aquatic Environments
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1226; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061226 (registering DOI) - 10 Jun 2023
Abstract
Aclonifen is an herbicide with a global market that is expected to grow in the period 2021–2027. This study focuses on revealing the effects of both aclonifen and of its soil metabolites on aqueous and soil environments. The soil’s physicochemical parameters and activities
[...] Read more.
Aclonifen is an herbicide with a global market that is expected to grow in the period 2021–2027. This study focuses on revealing the effects of both aclonifen and of its soil metabolites on aqueous and soil environments. The soil’s physicochemical parameters and activities of enzymes found in the soil (urease, dehydrogenase, catalase, alkaline phosphatase) were evaluated in laboratory conditions for soil treated with various doses of aclonifen (from half of a normal dose, 2.1 g/ha, to three times the normal dose) every 7 days for a period of 28 days. A computational approach was used to calculate the acute toxicity of aclonifen and of its soil metabolites on aqueous organisms and to evaluate the possible interactions of these compounds with soil enzymes. The results obtained in the experimental study showed a significant inhibitory effect of the herbicide aclonifen on the investigated enzymes; those activities were not recovered after 28 days in the presence of high doses of aclonifen. Statistically significant effects of the herbicide dose and exposure duration on enzymes’ activities were observed using post hoc analysis at the p < 0.001 level. Pearson’s correlations revealed that the investigated enzyme activities were usually strongly (p < 0.001) influenced by the organic matter, available phosphorus content, and nitrogen level. The outcomes of the computational study revealed moderate acute aqueous toxicity of aclonifen and of its metabolites. All metabolites were also able to bind to the investigated enzymes and may have an inhibitory effect on their activities.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment of Herbicides on Crops and Environment)
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Theoretical Calculations and Experimental Studies of Power Loss in Dual-Clutch Transmission of Agricultural Tractors
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1225; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061225 (registering DOI) - 10 Jun 2023
Abstract
Recent carbon neutrality policies have led to active research in the agricultural tractor sector to replace internal combustion engines, making it imperative to minimize power losses to improve efficiency. Dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs) have been employed in agricultural tractors primarily due to their short
[...] Read more.
Recent carbon neutrality policies have led to active research in the agricultural tractor sector to replace internal combustion engines, making it imperative to minimize power losses to improve efficiency. Dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs) have been employed in agricultural tractors primarily due to their short shift time and smooth shift feel. However, DCTs have a relatively large number of components and complex structures owing to spatial constraints, making it challenging to predict power losses. Therefore, to predict DCT power losses, this study defined oil churning by considering the structural characteristics and oil circulation and comparing and analyzing the theoretical calculation and test results of power losses at different oil levels. Power loss was calculated based on ISO standards and fluid viscosity theory, and tests were performed to verify. We calculated power losses based on the defined oil churning of a DCT in agricultural tractors and confirmed that their consistency in test results improved when reflecting the lubrication state, considering the structural features and oil circulation. In addition, the factors contributing to power loss under low- and high-speed conditions were analyzed by calculating the power loss for each component.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Mechanical Systems and Related Farming Machinery)
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Open AccessCommunication
Could Fibrinogen Concentration Be a Useful Indicator of Cattle Herd Health Status? Approaches to Setting Reference Values
by
, , , , , , , and
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061224 (registering DOI) - 10 Jun 2023
Abstract
Fibrinogen is used in the diagnosis of inflammation as an acute phase protein. The research objective set by the authors of this study was to assess the applicability of fibrinogen concentration measurement in the blood plasma of the peak of lactating dairy cows
[...] Read more.
Fibrinogen is used in the diagnosis of inflammation as an acute phase protein. The research objective set by the authors of this study was to assess the applicability of fibrinogen concentration measurement in the blood plasma of the peak of lactating dairy cows through the evaluation of the reference values by using the functional PT-derived (Prothrombin Time-derived) method. Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 259 HF (Holstein-Friesian) and white-backed cows. The animals were clinically healthy. Fibrinogen concentration was determined by automated PT-derived method. Fibrinogen concentrations were calculated as the mean of duplicate samples. Samples with differences between duplicate results greater than 5% were rejected. Results: In the group of HF cows, the average fibrinogen concentration was 11.75 ± 4.80 g/L. In white-backed cows, it was 9.53 ± 4.79 g/L. At total of 76.01% of the results of the fibrinogen concentration in HF cows and 82.05% of the results obtained in the group of white-backed cows were within the ±1 SD (Standard Deviation) range. Conclusions: Based on our own research, the PT-derived method may be applied in order to determine the concentration of fibrinogen in cattle herds in animal health monitoring studies. An individual laboratory should focus more on verifying reference intervals established elsewhere.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welfare, Behavior and Health of Farm Animals)
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Do Conservative Agricultural Practices Improve the Functional Biological State of Legume-Based Cropping Systems?
by
, , , , and
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1223; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061223 (registering DOI) - 09 Jun 2023
Abstract
This study evaluated the response of soil microbial functions to the presence and placement of faba beans in crop rotations (rotation without legumes versus rotations with faba beans as the crop previous to wheat, with the faba beans sown three years before the
[...] Read more.
This study evaluated the response of soil microbial functions to the presence and placement of faba beans in crop rotations (rotation without legumes versus rotations with faba beans as the crop previous to wheat, with the faba beans sown three years before the wheat crops) combined with two tillage systems (conventional and reduced tillage). The study included 36 wheat-producing plots, and two agricultural practice types were defined: high-frequency–low-intensity (HF–LI) and low-frequency–high-intensity (LF–HI). The results demonstrated a significant increase in the total carbon and nitrogen (N) content under reduced tillage. Furthermore, the general path analysis suggested that arylamidase and β-glucosidase activities significantly affect N fluxes. The enzyme activities were modified by changing the soil’s physicochemical properties. These findings highlighted the significance of introducing legumes as the crop preceding wheat, especially when applying conventional tillage. Moreover, it was revealed that farmers’ management of these conservative practices is a leading factor in regulating soil functions. Pesticides and inorganic fertilization inputs were classified as HF–LI practices, while organic matter (OM) inputs and liming treatments were qualified as LF–HI practices. For instance, LF–HI practices (OM inputs and liming) directly and indirectly influenced the soil functions related to the N cycle, while HF–LI practices (pesticide, inorganic N fertilization, and previous crops) resulted in fewer soil function changes.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Enzymatic Activity and Physicochemical Properties in Agriculture System)
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Risk, Vulnerability, and Resilience in Agriculture and Their Impact on Sustainable Rural Economy Development: A Case Study of Greece
by
, , and
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1222; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061222 - 09 Jun 2023
Abstract
Promoting rural development is essential for the general economic transformation of people, hence requiring great attention from different government systems. This study assessed the risk, vulnerability, and resilience of agriculture, as well as its impact on sustainable rural economy development, using Greece as
[...] Read more.
Promoting rural development is essential for the general economic transformation of people, hence requiring great attention from different government systems. This study assessed the risk, vulnerability, and resilience of agriculture, as well as its impact on sustainable rural economy development, using Greece as the case study. The study employed a quantitative research approach based on a cross-sectional survey design. A survey questionnaire was used to gather data from 304 Greek farmers. The results show that, although farmers are no longer at risk of being short of food and clothing in Greece, they still face different challenges associated with climate change or low productivity, and this can greatly affect yields if not given great attention. The study showed that increasing farmers’ resilience and the efficacy of risk response are both essential tactics to use in order to effectively combat threats to the residential environment. However, the results show that vulnerability in agriculture has a significant negative influence on rural development. This research demonstrates how the development of a new, beautiful nation must involve improvements to and a guarantee of the safety of farmers’ rural living environments, in order to reduce the impacts of risk and vulnerability, as well as strengthen the nation’s resilience. The results show that, in rural governance, the general preservation of living conditions is not only one of farmers’ top priorities, but is also a crucial factor in enhancing their ability to deal with risks, and is the only route to real rural development. Governments should design their social protection programs to enhance agricultural production, safeguard the lives of the most vulnerable populations, strengthen their resilience, and achieve the broadest possible rural transformation.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Insurance, Risk Management and Sustainable Development-Series II)
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Electron Beam Irradiation to Control Rhizoctonia solani in Potato
by
, , , , , , , , , and
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1221; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061221 - 09 Jun 2023
Abstract
This study focuses on the influence of pre-planting irradiation on the development, health, and yield of seed potatoes infected with Rhizoctonia solani. The research was prompted by the need to ensure crop security and sustainability in the modern-day environment, which calls into
[...] Read more.
This study focuses on the influence of pre-planting irradiation on the development, health, and yield of seed potatoes infected with Rhizoctonia solani. The research was prompted by the need to ensure crop security and sustainability in the modern-day environment, which calls into question the future sufficiency of crop yields. Considering that the focus has shifted to non-chemical methods of crop treatment at all plant development stages in response to more stringent regulations governing potato production, it is particularly important to refine physics-based methods to suppress fungal diseases caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Irradiation of tubers with 20–150 Gy inhibited the potato development phases and the doses exceeding 150 Gy completely suppressed the potato sprouting. Doses ranging from 20 Gy to 100 Gy decreased the quantity of large tubers by 10–20% on average while the number of medium and small tubers increased by 5–15% and 3–10%, respectively. Irradiation of seed potatoes also decreased the sclerotia and non-sclerotia forms of diseases caused by Rhizoctonia solani in the harvested tubers. It was found that 1 MeV electron irradiation with doses ranging from 20 Gy to 30 Gy is the most efficient for the pre-planting treatment of seed potatoes since the penetration of low-energy accelerated electrons into the upper layers of potato tubers ensures the suppression of diseases caused by Rhizoctonia solani by at least 10% from the value of non-irradiated samples and prevents the reduction of total yield allowing for a maximum of 25% loss.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Methods and Technology for Resilience Agrifood Systems)
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AWdpCNER: Automated Wdp Chinese Named Entity Recognition from Wheat Diseases and Pests Text
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1220; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061220 - 09 Jun 2023
Abstract
Chinese named entity recognition of wheat diseases and pests is an initial and key step in constructing knowledge graphs. In the field of wheat diseases and pests, there are problems, such as lack of training data, nested entities, fuzzy entity boundaries, diverse entity
[...] Read more.
Chinese named entity recognition of wheat diseases and pests is an initial and key step in constructing knowledge graphs. In the field of wheat diseases and pests, there are problems, such as lack of training data, nested entities, fuzzy entity boundaries, diverse entity categories, and uneven entity distribution. To solve the above problems, two data augmentation methods were proposed to expand sentence semantic information on the premise of fully mining hidden knowledge. Then, a wheat diseases and pests dataset (WdpDs) for Chinese named entity recognition was constructed containing 21 types of entities and its domain dictionary (WdpDict), using a combination of manual and dictionary-based approaches, to better support the entity recognition task. Furthermore, an automated Wdp Chinese named entity recognition model (AWdpCNER) was proposed. This model was based on ALBERT-BiLSTM-CRF for entity recognition, and defined specific rules to calibrate entity boundaries after recognition. The model fusing ALBERT-BiLSTM-CRF and rules amendment achieved the best recognition results, with a precision of 94.76%, a recall of 95.64%, and an F1-score of 95.29%. Compared with the recognition results without rules amendment, the precision, recall, and F1-score was increased by 0.88 percentage points, 0.44 percentage points, and 0.75 percentage points, respectively. The experimental results showed that the proposed model could effectively identify Chinese named entities in the field of wheat diseases and pests, and this model achieved state-of-the-art recognition performance, outperforming several existing models, which provides a reference for other fields of named entities recognition such as food safety and biology.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence, UAV, and Remote Sensing Applications for Precision Agriculture)
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Partitioning Evapotranspiration in a Cotton Field under Mulched Drip Irrigation Based on the Water-Carbon Fluxes Coupling in an Arid Region in Northwestern China
by
and
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1219; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061219 - 09 Jun 2023
Abstract
Measuring evapotranspiration (ET) components in cotton fields under mulched drip irrigation is needed to improve water use efficiency and promote the development of water-saving agriculture. In this study, an Eddy Covariance (EC) system was used to observe the water-carbon
[...] Read more.
Measuring evapotranspiration (ET) components in cotton fields under mulched drip irrigation is needed to improve water use efficiency and promote the development of water-saving agriculture. In this study, an Eddy Covariance (EC) system was used to observe the water-carbon fluxes of cotton fields under mulched drip irrigation in an arid region during two years (2021–2022). The Underlying Water Use Efficiency (uWUE) method was used to partition the ET into transpiration (T) and evaporation (E) in order to reveal the changing characteristics of ET and its components in cotton fields under mulched drip irrigation and analyze the effects of environmental factors on each component. The results showed that the diurnal variation of ET was the same as gross primary productivity (GPP), and their course of change showed a bimodal curve at budding, blooming, and boll stages. The relationship of T at different growth stages was the same as ET, which is blooming and boll stage > budding stage > boll opening stage > seedling stage. ET and its components were mainly affected by temperature (Tair) and net radiation (Rn). This study can provide a theoretical and practical basis for the application of uWUE in cotton fields under mulched drip irrigation and a scientific basis for the rational allocation of water resources and the formulation of a scientific water-saving irrigation system for farmland in an arid region.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Water Management)
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Cavitation Reactor for Pretreatment of Liquid Agricultural Waste
by
, , , , , and
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1218; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061218 - 09 Jun 2023
Abstract
One of the most well-known methods of intensifying the process of anaerobic digestion is the pretreatment of raw materials. For the first time, the use of a jet-driven Helmholtz oscillator for biomass pretreatment is proposed. The design of the device is optimal for
[...] Read more.
One of the most well-known methods of intensifying the process of anaerobic digestion is the pretreatment of raw materials. For the first time, the use of a jet-driven Helmholtz oscillator for biomass pretreatment is proposed. The design of the device is optimal for creating hydraulic cavitation; however, in this case, acoustic oscillations are generated in the system and resonance occurs. In this study, the optimal design of this device was determined for the subsequent design of a cavitation reactor. The diameter of the resonant chamber was varied in the range from 28.3 to 47.5 mm, and its length from 6 to 14 mm; in addition, the diameter of the outlet was changed from 6.1 to 6.3 mm. Based on the experimental data obtained, it was found that the optimal ratio of the length of the resonator chamber to the diameter of the inlet nozzle is 1.73, and the inner diameter of the resonator chamber to the diameter of the inlet nozzle corresponds to 5.5. Improving the technology of agricultural waste disposal will ensure their maximum involvement in economic circulation, reduce the consumption of traditional fuel and energy resources, and improve the technological and machine-building base, which makes it possible to produce competitive cavitation reactors.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Agricultural Engineering Technologies and Application)
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Evaluation of the Dynamic Tube Method for Measuring Ammonia Emissions after Liquid Manure Application
by
and
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1217; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061217 - 08 Jun 2023
Abstract
Easy and inexpensive methods for measuring ammonia emissions in multi-plot field trials allow the comparison of several treatments with liquid manure application. One approach that might be suitable under these conditions is the dynamic tube method (DTM). Applying the DTM, a mobile chamber
[...] Read more.
Easy and inexpensive methods for measuring ammonia emissions in multi-plot field trials allow the comparison of several treatments with liquid manure application. One approach that might be suitable under these conditions is the dynamic tube method (DTM). Applying the DTM, a mobile chamber system is placed on the soil surface, and the air volume within is exchanged at a constant rate for approx. 90 s. with an automated pump. This procedure is assumed to achieve an equilibrium ammonia concentration within the system. Subsequently, a measurement is performed using an ammonia-sensitive detector tube. Ammonia fluxes are calculated based on an empirical model that also takes into account the background ammonia concentration measured on unfertilized control plots. Between measurements on different plots, the chamber system is flushed with ambient air and cleaned with paper towels to minimize contamination with ammonia. The aim of this study was to determine important prerequisites and boundary conditions for the application of the DTM. We conducted a laboratory experiment to test if the ammonia concentration remains stable while performing a measurement. Furthermore, we investigated the cleaning procedure and the effect of potential ammonia carryover on cumulated emissions under field conditions following liquid manure application. The laboratory experiment indicated that the premeasurement phase to ensure a constant ammonia concentration is not sufficient. The concentration only stabilized after performing more than 100 pump strokes, with 20 pump strokes (lasting approximately 90 s) being the recommendation. However, the duration of performing a measurement can vary substantially, and linear conversion accounts for those differences, so a stable concentration is mandatory. Further experiments showed that the cleaning procedure is not sufficient under field conditions. Thirty minutes after performing measurements on high emitting plots, which resulted in an ammonia concentration of approx. 10 ppm in the chamber, we detected a residual concentration of 2 ppm. This contamination may affect measurements on plots with liquid manure application as well as on untreated control plots. In a field experiment with trailing hose application of liquid manure, we subsequently demonstrated that the calculation of cumulative ammonia emissions can vary by a factor of three, depending on the degree of chamber system contamination when measuring control plots. When the ammonia background values were determined by an uncontaminated chamber system that was used to measure only control plots, cumulative ammonia emissions were approximately 9 kg NH3-N ha−1. However, when ammonia background values were determined using the contaminated chamber system that was also used to measure on plots with liquid manure application, the calculation of cumulative ammonia losses indicated approximately 3 kg NH3-N ha−1. Based on these results, it can be concluded that a new empirical DTM calibration is needed for multi-plot field experiments with high-emitting treatments.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Environmental Pollution, Risk Assessment, and Control)
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Farming under Urban Pressure: Business Models and Success Factors of Peri-Urban Farms
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1216; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061216 - 08 Jun 2023
Abstract
This study aims to identify the success factors and main barriers and threats to developing peri-urban farms implementing various business models. For that purpose, a survey was conducted among a group of Polish farms located in the areas surrounding the largest Polish cities.
[...] Read more.
This study aims to identify the success factors and main barriers and threats to developing peri-urban farms implementing various business models. For that purpose, a survey was conducted among a group of Polish farms located in the areas surrounding the largest Polish cities. Farms achieving economic success and implementing different business models were selected. The analyses were based on the concept of the business model developed by Osterwalder. The research shows that in recent years (due to the COVID-19 pandemic, among other things), there has been a considerable convergence in employed business solutions. The convergence process is particularly evident in the customer side of business models, i.e., customer relationships and channels. According to the respondents, the success of peri-urban farms is determined mainly by three groups of factors: (1) motivation, diligence, and creativity, (2) the high quality of products and services, and (3) the cultivation of deep bonds with customers. Thus, success comes from within the enterprise (relational capital), but the customer (service-dominant logic) is central to business model development. Farm managers indicated relatively few problems and barriers in their farms’ development process. However, urban pressure (an external factor independent from farm managers) was considered the most important factor. The research enabled the presentation of the best business solutions and formulation of a few recommendations for peri-urban farming development.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Farm Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness Management)
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Identifying the Best Strategies for Improving and Developing Sustainable Rain-Fed Agriculture: An Integrated SWOT-BWM-WASPAS Approach
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1215; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061215 - 08 Jun 2023
Abstract
The practice of rain-fed agriculture plays a vital role in both the economy and food security, yet it is subject to various challenges such as climate change and institutional barriers. This study employs the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analyses, Best-Worst Method
[...] Read more.
The practice of rain-fed agriculture plays a vital role in both the economy and food security, yet it is subject to various challenges such as climate change and institutional barriers. This study employs the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analyses, Best-Worst Method (BWM), and Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) integrated approach to identify the most effective strategies for improving and developing sustainable rain-fed agriculture in Mashhad, Iran. The SWOT analysis identifies the essential sub-factors for improving and developing sustainable rain-fed agriculture. Then, the BWM method is utilized to assign weights to each sub-factor. Finally, the WASPAS method is used to rank the 19 strategies that can help achieve sustainable rain-fed agriculture. The findings of this study reveal that the strategy of establishing an institutional framework to promote sustainable rain-fed agriculture (WT7) has received the highest score. On the other hand, strategies related to supporting policies at the farm level (ST2, WO3, WT2, WT1) were placed in the middle and final priorities. Thus, it is recommended that in the current context of rain-fed agriculture in Mashhad, policymakers prioritize institutional policies related to rain-fed agriculture over farm-level policies. This study proposes a comprehensive and systematic approach to enhance and promote sustainable rain-fed agriculture.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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Are Small Agricultural Markets Recipients of World Prices? The Case of Poland
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1214; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061214 - 08 Jun 2023
Abstract
The increased inflation in 2021–2022, and in particular the increase in the prices of energy carriers, and thus chemical fertilizers, caused an imbalance in the market of agricultural raw materials in Poland. This problem, to a greater or lesser extent, can also be
[...] Read more.
The increased inflation in 2021–2022, and in particular the increase in the prices of energy carriers, and thus chemical fertilizers, caused an imbalance in the market of agricultural raw materials in Poland. This problem, to a greater or lesser extent, can also be observed in other countries. Meanwhile, the issue of shaping domestic prices of agricultural commodities is one of the most important problems in a state’s food policy. This is evident in countries with strong agricultural traditions, such as Poland. Many tensions and misunderstandings between agricultural producers and the government concern the low purchase prices of agricultural commodities. Therefore, the degree of integration of the Polish price market with the world market was studied. Based on data from the wheat, beef and pork livestock markets, the impact of the world market on the Polish one was studied using VAR methodology. The analyzed data concern the years 2012–2022. It was found that the degree of price integration of various agricultural commodities is different, but always positive. The market of wheat turned out to be the most strongly price-integrated, and the markets of beef and pork livestock are slightly weaker. Such results call into question the effectiveness of aid programs for agricultural producers, as there will always be costs for the budget, which will have to be paid by the next generations, will not cause the increase in commodity prices expected by agricultural producers and will also be contrary to the principles of the free market.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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Estimation of Energy Value and Digestibility and Prediction Equations for Sheep Fed with Diets Containing Leymus chinensis Hay
by
, , , , , , , , , , and
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1213; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061213 - 08 Jun 2023
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the feeding value of sheepgrass, including its chemical composition, dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, and available energy, as well as the prediction equations of dry matter intake (DMI), neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD), dry matter
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The objective of this study was to investigate the feeding value of sheepgrass, including its chemical composition, dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, and available energy, as well as the prediction equations of dry matter intake (DMI), neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD), dry matter digestibility (DMD), digestible energy (DE), and metabolizable energy (ME). Two independent experiments based on a completely randomized experimental design were performed to evaluate the feeding value. The results showed that there were significant relationships between chemical composition and DMI, digestibility, and available energy. The best-fit equations were as follows: DMI (g/d·W0.75) = 121.75 + 0.06CP (%) − 0.24EE (%) − 0.10ADF (%) − 0.60NDF (%) − 0.15OM (%) (R2 = 0.85, p < 0.01), DMD (%) = −1.37 + 0.23CP (%) + 2.96EE (%) + 0.32ADF (%) − 0.82NDF (%) + 1.27OM (%) (R2 = 0.83, p < 0.01), NDFD (%) = 225.58 − 0.59CP (%) + 0.04EE (%) + 0.09ADF (%) − 2.46NDF (%) + 0.12OM (%) (R2 = 0.67, p < 0.01), DE (MJ/kg) = −5.19 + 0.38OM (%) − 0.26NDF (%) − 0.03ADF (%) + 0.16CP (%) (R2 = 0.91, p < 0.01), and ME (MJ/kg) = 5.55 + 0.67DE (MJ/kg) + 0.01CP (%) − 0.01ADF (%) − 0.08NDF (%) + 0.02OM (%) (R2 = 0.98, p < 0.01). This study found the energy value of sheepgrass to be 11 MJ/kg, which is similar to that of millet grass silage. The NDF was the main component that affected DMI and digestibility. Using a hay replacement ratio of 28.5% to determine the forage value of sheepgrass allowed accurate prediction equations to be established. The NDF demonstrated the strongest correlation with DMI, NDFD, OMD, DE, and ME. DE was estimated to be the best single predictor of ME.
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(This article belongs to the Section Farm Animal Production)
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Open AccessArticle
Combined Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic and Locust Plague on Grain Production and Trade Patterns in South Asia
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1212; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061212 - 07 Jun 2023
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and the outbreak of the locust plague in Pakistan have severely impacted grain production and trade in South Asia, thereby posing serious threats to global grain security. This study formulated a comprehensive analysis of crop yield and trade restrictions consequent
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The COVID-19 pandemic and the outbreak of the locust plague in Pakistan have severely impacted grain production and trade in South Asia, thereby posing serious threats to global grain security. This study formulated a comprehensive analysis of crop yield and trade restrictions consequent to the combined impact of COVID-19 and the locust plague with the GTAP model and quantitatively simulated the characteristics and mechanisms of changes in the production and trade patterns of major grain crops (paddy rice and wheat) in South Asia. Results indicate that COVID-19 and the locust plague affected global grain production and imports and exports to varying degrees. Grain production was reduced by 15% and global trade shrank sharply, with total imports and exports shrinking by 5.79% and 1.41%, respectively. This also led to international food prices changing significantly, which further influenced the food affordability and accessibility, especially for developing countries that are heavily dependent on imports. Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh were the regions that experienced the highest rises in grain import prices, which caused the processed rice imports of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives, and Bangladesh to drop by 81%, 77%, 80%, and 89%, respectively. Furthermore, the global grain trade patterns were also severely affected. South Asian countries’ grain trade links with China, Europe, Africa, and Latin America were weakened. Grain exports mainly converged in Africa, with Australia, the United States, and Latin America being the main exporters. The findings of this paper are helpful to identify countries facing high grain security risks and can shed light on policy measures to address the dual challenge for guaranteeing global grain security in the post-epidemic era.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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The Effects of Plastic Mulching Combined with Different Fertilizer Applications on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Intensity, and Apple Yield in Northwestern China
by
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Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1211; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061211 - 07 Jun 2023
Abstract
Plastic mulching reduces weeds, conserves soil water, and boosts crop yield. However, most studies are insufficient when determining how plastic mulching affects greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly when used in conjunction with fertilizers. The purpose of this study was to determine the combined
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Plastic mulching reduces weeds, conserves soil water, and boosts crop yield. However, most studies are insufficient when determining how plastic mulching affects greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly when used in conjunction with fertilizers. The purpose of this study was to determine the combined effect of plastic mulching and fertilizers on GHG emissions in apple orchards. A 3-year field experiment was conducted with two factors: mulching and fertilizers; (1) mulching treatments: plastic film (PM) and no mulching (NM); and (2) four fertilizer treatments: control (CK), organic fertilizer (M), inorganic fertilizer (NPK), and organic combined with inorganic fertilizer (MNPK), arranged in a two factorial randomized complete block design. The results showed that the mean annual N2O emissions ranged from 0.87 to 5.07 kg ha−1 in PM and from 0.75 to 2.90 kg ha−1 in NM. The mean CO2 emissions ranged from 2.10 to 6.68 t ha−1 in PM and from 1.98 to 4.27 t ha−1 in NM. MNPK contributed more to N2O and CO2 emissions in both PM and NM. The mean CH4 uptake rate ranged from 1.19 to 4.25 kg ha−1 in PM and from 1.14 to 6.75 kg ha−1 in NM. M treatment contributed more to CH4 uptake in both PM and NM. NKP treatments had higher greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) in PM and NM, while MNPK and NPK treatments had higher greenhouse gas potential (GWP) in PM and NM, respectively. These results suggest that plastic film mulching significantly raises the potential for soil GHG emissions and increases apple yield.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Cultivation Physiology and Farmland Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction)
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Open AccessArticle
Carbon Footprint of an Orchard Tractor through a Life-Cycle Assessment Approach
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1210; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061210 - 07 Jun 2023
Abstract
The effects of climate change are reaching a point of no return. The necessity to reduce greenhouse gasses (GHGs) is currently notorious on several levels: academic, industrial, and political. The Paris Climate Agreement set a clear roadmap to limit pollutant emissions and reach
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The effects of climate change are reaching a point of no return. The necessity to reduce greenhouse gasses (GHGs) is currently notorious on several levels: academic, industrial, and political. The Paris Climate Agreement set a clear roadmap to limit pollutant emissions and reach carbon neutrality. Consequently, everything related to product life cycles, considering the entire supply chain, needs to be analyzed and reconsidered. The agricultural sector is no exception: indeed, it is responsible for 11% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions. Agri-construction sector accounts for 20–30% of all GHG emissions referred to the agricultural field. This study aimed to evaluate the GHG emissions of an orchard-specialized tractor operating in Europe considering a service life of ten years. The assessment was conducted through the life-cycle assessment (LCA) standardized methodology, combining secondary data, primary data, and a software database (Open LCA (v 1.10.3) software, Environmental Footprint (v 4) database). First, the functional unit, and the boundaries of the analysis are defined. Then, the tractor life cycle is analyzed considering its three main stages: manufacture, use, and disposal. Lastly, the results are discussed according to gate-to-gate and cradle-to-gate approaches. What emerged from the assessment was the production of 5.75 kg CO2eq. · kgvehicle−1 · year−1 for a single orchard specialized tractor and the predominance of use phase emissions (around 90% of the total).
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Machinery and Agricultural Engineering: Current Achievements and Future Directions)
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Silkworm Bombyx mori—Sustainability and Economic Opportunity, Particularly for Romania
Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1209; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061209 - 07 Jun 2023
Abstract
The main concerns and challenges of raising silkworms include economic value, mulberry management, biodiversity conservation of genetic resources, and developing highly productive breeds for genetic variety. This study investigated the relationship between the economic relevance of the products generated throughout the value chain,
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The main concerns and challenges of raising silkworms include economic value, mulberry management, biodiversity conservation of genetic resources, and developing highly productive breeds for genetic variety. This study investigated the relationship between the economic relevance of the products generated throughout the value chain, limitations, and opportunities to generate incomes for sericulture farmers, trends, and perspectives worldwide, particularly in Romania. Seventy-seven publications were considered from online databases. The diversification of products generated at each level of the value chain of silkworm rearing and their multipurpose applications impact social and economic life. Hence, silk is well known as a valuable biomaterial for industry, suitable for textile and medicine. There are several arguments to use silkworms in human food even though they are not yet authorized as edible insects at the European level. Thus, as a nutrient-rich by-product, silkworm pupae (extract, cakes, and oil) have medicinal properties and can be used for human and animal nutrition. Sericin, silk fibroin, and chitin are bioactive compounds in cocoons and pupae with pharmacological implications and drug composition, while biomass is suitable for biodiesel and excreta for compost. The farmers’ attitudes and mentality associated with political circumstances influence the perspectives for the sericulture field. Due to the high likelihood of using their products, small-medium-scale farmers might benefit sericulture by identifying new sales marketplaces and finding new beneficiaries for directing their multiple products. The funds allotted by government subventions for supporting this fascinating activity and opportunities for jobs may aid in encouraging to start of a new sericulture business or to contribute developing the existing one.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Perspective of Insect Rearing for Food and Feed Production)
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