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 - Q1 (Plant Science)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 20.2 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.3 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
- 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:
3.3 (2023);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.5 (2023)
Latest Articles
A Lightweight Cotton Verticillium Wilt Hazard Level Real-Time Assessment System Based on an Improved YOLOv10n Model
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1617; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091617 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
Compared to traditional manual methods for assessing the cotton verticillium wilt (CVW) hazard level, utilizing deep learning models for foliage segmentation can significantly improve the evaluation accuracy. However, instance segmentation methods for images with complex backgrounds often suffer from low accuracy and delayed
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Compared to traditional manual methods for assessing the cotton verticillium wilt (CVW) hazard level, utilizing deep learning models for foliage segmentation can significantly improve the evaluation accuracy. However, instance segmentation methods for images with complex backgrounds often suffer from low accuracy and delayed segmentation. To address this issue, an improved model, YOLO-VW, with high accuracy, high efficiency, and a light weight, was proposed for CVW hazard level assessment based on the YOLOv10n model. (1) It replaced conventional convolutions with the lightweight GhostConv, reducing the computational time. (2) The STC module based on the Swin Transformer enhanced the expression of foliage and disease spot boundary features, further reducing the model size. (3) It integrated a squeeze-and-excitation (SE) attention mechanism to suppress irrelevant background information. (4) It employed the stochastic gradient descent (SGD) optimizer to enhance the performance and shorten the detection time. The improved CVW severity assessment model was then deployed on a server, and a real-time detection application (APP) for CVW severity assessment was developed based on this model. The results indicated the following. (1) The YOLO-VW model achieved a mean average precision (mAP) of 89.2% and a frame per second (FPS) rate of 157.98 f/s in assessing CVW, representing improvements of 2.4% and 21.37 f/s over the original model, respectively. (2) The YOLO-VW model’s parameters and floating point operations per second (FLOPs) were 1.59 M and 7.8 G, respectively, compressed by 44% and 33.9% compared to the original YOLOv10n model. (3) After deploying the YOLO-VW model on a smartphone, the processing time for each image was 2.42 s, and the evaluation accuracy under various environmental conditions reached 85.5%, representing a 15% improvement compared to the original YOLOv10n model. Based on these findings, YOLO-VW meets the requirements for real-time detection, offering greater robustness, efficiency, and portability in practical applications. This model provides technical support for controlling CVW and developing cotton varieties resistant to verticillium wilt.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Digital Agriculture)
Open AccessArticle
Effects of Nitrogen Addition on Soil Microbial Biomass: A Meta-Analysis
by
Chen He, Yunze Ruan and Zhongjun Jia
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1616; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091616 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
Most studies about the effects of N addition on soil microbial biomass evaluate soil microbial and physicochemical characteristics using single-test methods, and these studies have not been integrated and analyzed to comprehensively assess the impact of N fertilization on soil microbial biomass. Here,
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Most studies about the effects of N addition on soil microbial biomass evaluate soil microbial and physicochemical characteristics using single-test methods, and these studies have not been integrated and analyzed to comprehensively assess the impact of N fertilization on soil microbial biomass. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis to analyze the results of 86 studies characterizing how soil microbial biomass C (MBC), N (MBN), and P (MBP) pools respond to exogenous N addition across multiple land use types. We found that low N addition (5–50 kg/hm2) rates significantly affect soil microbial biomass, mainly by increasing MBC but also by decreasing MBP and significantly increasing MBC/MBP. N addition affects soil physicochemical properties, significantly reducing pH and significantly increasing the soil dissolved organic N and inorganic N content. Our analysis also revealed that the effects of N application vary across ecosystems. N addition significantly decreases MBP and total P in planted forests but does not significantly affect soil microbial biomass in grasslands. In farmland soil, N addition significantly increases total P, NH4+, NO3−, MBN, and MBP but significantly decreases pH. Although N addition can strongly influence soil microbial biomass, its effects are modulated by ecosystem type. The addition of N can negatively affect MBC, MBN, and MBP in natural forest ecosystems, thereby altering global ecosystem balance.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Soils)
Open AccessArticle
Rice Yield Estimation Using Machine Learning and Feature Selection in Hilly and Mountainous Chongqing, China
by
Li Fan, Shibo Fang, Jinlong Fan, Yan Wang, Linqing Zhan and Yongkun He
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1615; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091615 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
To investigate effective techniques for estimating rice production in hilly and mountainous areas, in this study, we collected yield data at the field level, agro-meteorological data, and Sentinel-2/MSI remote sensing data in Chongqing, China, between 2020 and 2023. The integral values of vegetation
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To investigate effective techniques for estimating rice production in hilly and mountainous areas, in this study, we collected yield data at the field level, agro-meteorological data, and Sentinel-2/MSI remote sensing data in Chongqing, China, between 2020 and 2023. The integral values of vegetation indicators from the rice greening up to heading–filling stages were determined using the Newton–trapezoidal integration method. Using correlation analysis and importance analysis of permutation features, the effects of agro-meteorological variables and vegetation index integrals on rice yield were assessed. The chosen characteristics were then combined with three machine learning techniques—random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and partial least squares regression (PLSR)—to create six rice yield estimate models. The results showed that combined vegetation indices were more effective than indices used in separate development phases. Specifically, the correlation coefficients between the integral values of eight vegetation indices from rice greening up to heading–filling stages and rice yield were all above 0.65. By introducing agro-meteorological factors as new independent variables and combining them with vegetation indices as input parameters, the predictive capability of the model was evaluated. The results showed that the performance of PLSR remained stable, while the prediction accuracies of SVM and RF improved by 13% to 21.5%. After feature selection, the inversion performance of all three machine learning models improved, with the RF model coupled with variables selected during permutation feature importance analysis achieving the optimal inversion effect, which was characterized by a coefficient of determination of 0.85, a root mean square error of 529.1 kg/hm2, and a mean relative error of 5.63%. This study provides technical support for improving the accuracy of remote sensing-based crop yield estimation in hilly and mountainous regions, facilitating precise agricultural management and informing agrarian decision making.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Remote Sensing in Agricultural Soil and Crop Mapping)
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Open AccessArticle
Research on an Identification and Grasping Device for Dead Yellow-Feather Broilers in Flat Houses Based on Deep Learning
by
Chengrui Xin, Hengtai Li, Yuhua Li, Meihui Wang, Weihan Lin, Shuchen Wang, Wentian Zhang, Maohua Xiao and Xiuguo Zou
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1614; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091614 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
The existence of dead broilers in flat broiler houses poses significant challenges to large-scale and welfare-oriented broiler breeding. To ensure the timely identification and removal of dead broilers, a mobile device based on visual technology for grasping them was meticulously designed in this
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The existence of dead broilers in flat broiler houses poses significant challenges to large-scale and welfare-oriented broiler breeding. To ensure the timely identification and removal of dead broilers, a mobile device based on visual technology for grasping them was meticulously designed in this study. Among the multiple recognition models explored, the YOLOv6 model was selected due to its exceptional performance, attaining an impressive 86.1% accuracy in identification. This model, when integrated with a specially designed robotic arm, forms a potent combination for effectively handling the task of grasping dead broilers. Extensive experiments were conducted to validate the efficacy of the device. The results reveal that the device achieved an average grasping rate of dead broilers of 81.3%. These findings indicate that the proposed device holds great potential for practical field deployment, offering a reliable solution for the prompt identification and grasping of dead broilers, thereby enhancing the overall management and welfare of broiler populations.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Vision Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Smart Farming—2nd Edition)
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Open AccessCommunication
Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Loci and New Candidate Gene Controlling Seed Germination in Rice
by
Shaona Chen, Guanlong Chen, Zepeng Peng, Jiping Liu, Yixiong Zheng and Bin Yang
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1613; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091613 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
Improving seed germination and seedling development can potentially increase crop yield and improve quality in direct-seeded rice. This study aimed to detect loci or genes associated with rice seed germination. We reported the phenotypic analysis of seed germination in 103 rice accessions across
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Improving seed germination and seedling development can potentially increase crop yield and improve quality in direct-seeded rice. This study aimed to detect loci or genes associated with rice seed germination. We reported the phenotypic analysis of seed germination in 103 rice accessions across two years, and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to identify loci underlying the genetic regulation of seed germination. A total of seven genetic loci were found to be associated with seed germination, including five loci that overlapped with the previously reported loci/genes, and two novel loci. Of these, two loci (qGP2 and qGP4.1) were stable across different environments. GP4 (Germination percentage 4), encoding a 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase, was identified as the candidate gene of the major locus qGP4.1. A sequence analysis of GP4 revealed that four functional polymorphic sites in the coding region were significantly associated with germination percentage. The disruption of GP4 by gene editing resulted in faster seed germination and seedling establishment. Taken together, we have identified GP4 as a novel gene involved in rice seed germination, and we provide a potential target gene for improving rice seed vigor via gene editing or molecular breeding.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Diversity Assessment and Phenotypic Characterization of Crops)
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Open AccessArticle
Coupling Coordination Degree of Land, Ecology, and Food and Its Influencing Factors in Henan Province
by
Xian Yang, Donghao Li, Miao Wang, Xinjie Shi, Yong Wu, Ling Li and Wenpei Cai
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1612; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091612 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
Studying the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the coupling coordination of the land–ecology–food system (LEF) aids in promoting green agricultural development and regional resource management. This study enriches food indicators under the dietary structure and uses the coupling coordination degree model to analyze the
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Studying the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the coupling coordination of the land–ecology–food system (LEF) aids in promoting green agricultural development and regional resource management. This study enriches food indicators under the dietary structure and uses the coupling coordination degree model to analyze the coupling coordination relationship among the LEF of 18 cities in Henan Province from 2011 to 2020. The gray relational degree model is used to investigate the main influencing factors determining the synergistic development of the system. The results show that the comprehensive development index of the LEF in Henan Province ranges between 0.4 and 0.6. The overall comprehensive evaluation index of various cities is ranked as Southern Henan > Eastern Henan > Central Henan > Northern Henan > Western Henan, with the greatest fluctuation observed in the food subsystem. During the study period, the coupling degree of Henan’s LEF ranged from 0.277 to 0.996, indicating stages from low- to high-level coupling. The coupling coordination degree ranged from 0.338 to 0.775, generally bordering on imbalance and barely coordinated. The impact of each subsystem evaluation index on the system’s coupling coordination degree can be ranked as food subsystem > ecology subsystem > land subsystem, with the correlation degree of internal indicators of the food and ecology subsystems with the system’s coupling coordination degree being over 85%, emphasizing the importance of strict management. In summary, the coupling coordination of the LEF system in Henan Province urgently needs to be improved; especially, the coordination of the agricultural system is particularly important. Clarifying the spatiotemporal pattern of the LEF coupling and its coordination can provide a scientific basis for the coordinated development of land use, agricultural ecology, and grain production in Henan Province.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
Open AccessArticle
Beyond Profit: Exploring the Motivators of Local Producers in Multiple Sub-Regions in Western Hungary
by
András Schlett, Marietta Lendvai Balázsné and Judit Beke
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1611; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091611 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
Most research on sustainable small-scale local producer lifestyles emphasises healthy food production but lacks the integration of mental and spiritual well-being into a holistic concept of a healthy lifestyle. This study explores the motives behind the production activity of producers engaged in sustainable
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Most research on sustainable small-scale local producer lifestyles emphasises healthy food production but lacks the integration of mental and spiritual well-being into a holistic concept of a healthy lifestyle. This study explores the motives behind the production activity of producers engaged in sustainable food production in several western Hungarian sub-regions, aiming to identify their attitudes and motivations. The small-scale entrepreneurial mindset encompasses needs beyond physical and ethical aspects, such as involvement, socio-cultural attachment to the past, tradition, nature, place, and local culture. An online questionnaire was conducted with 73 local producers in the second quarter of 2024. The results of the factor and cluster analyses were used to classify the producers into two clusters: the “Value-Creator” and the “Proud” clusters. The main features of these two clusters were illustrated in persona profiles. The “Value-Creator” cluster, mainly women, feels a strong connection to the local community and views sustainable production as a lifestyle choice. The “Proud” cluster, consisting of young men, focuses on the quality and uniqueness of their products. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of sustainable production by exploring producers’ intrinsic motivations and lifestyle choices. The findings could also inform other entrepreneurial projects, such as urban initiatives.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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Open AccessArticle
Direct Conversion of Minimally Pretreated Corncob by Enzyme-Intensified Microbial Consortia
by
Alei Geng, Nana Li, Anaiza Zayas-Garriga, Rongrong Xie, Daochen Zhu and Jianzhong Sun
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1610; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091610 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
The presence of diverse carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) is crucial for the direct bioconversion of lignocellulose. In this study, various anaerobic microbial consortia were employed for the degradation of 10 g/L of minimally pretreated corncob. The involvement of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and a
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The presence of diverse carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) is crucial for the direct bioconversion of lignocellulose. In this study, various anaerobic microbial consortia were employed for the degradation of 10 g/L of minimally pretreated corncob. The involvement of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and a CAZyme-rich bacterium (Bacteroides cellulosilyticus or Paenibacillus lautus) significantly enhanced the lactic acid production by Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum from 0.74 to 2.67 g/L (p < 0.01), with a polysaccharide conversion of 67.6%. The supplement of a commercial cellulase cocktail, CTec 2, into the microbial consortia continuously promoted the lactic acid production to up to 3.35 g/L, with a polysaccharide conversion of 80.6%. Enzymatic assays, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the substantial functions of these CAZyme-rich consortia in partially increasing enzyme activities, altering the surface structure of biomass, and facilitating substrate decomposition. These results suggested that CAZyme-intensified consortia could significantly improve the levels of bioconversion of lignocellulose. Our work might shed new light on the construction of intensified microbial consortia for direct conversion of lignocellulose.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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Open AccessArticle
PlLAC15 Facilitates Syringyl Lignin Deposition to Enhance Stem Strength in Herbaceous Peony
by
Yuehan Yin, Shiqi Zuo, Minghao Zhao, Jun Tao, Daqiu Zhao and Yuhan Tang
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1609; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091609 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
Stems are prone to bending or lodging due to inadequate stem strength, which seriously reduces the cut-flower ornamental quality of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.). Plant LACCASE (LAC), a copper-containing polyphenol oxidase, has been shown to participate in the polymerization process of
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Stems are prone to bending or lodging due to inadequate stem strength, which seriously reduces the cut-flower ornamental quality of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.). Plant LACCASE (LAC), a copper-containing polyphenol oxidase, has been shown to participate in the polymerization process of monolignols; however, the role of LAC in regulating the stem strength of P. lactiflora remains unclear. Here, the full-length cDNA of PlLAC15, which demonstrated a positive association with stem strength, was isolated. It consisted of 1790 nucleotides, encoding 565 amino acids that had four typical laccase copper ion-binding domains. Moreover, PlLAC15 was highly expressed in the stem, and its expression level gradually significantly increased during stem development. Furthermore, PlLAC15 was found to be localized specifically to the cell wall, and its recombinant protein exhibited laccase activity. Additionally, the role of PlLAC15 in regulating the stem strength of P. lactiflora was confirmed by transgenic studies. When PlLAC15 was overexpressed in tobacco, stem strength increased by more than 50%, S-lignin was significantly deposited, and the lignification degree of stem xylem fiber cells increased. These results suggested that PlLAC15 facilitated S-lignin deposition to enhance stem strength in P. lactiflora, which would provide precious information that benefits future exploration of stem bending or lodging resistance in plants.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological Response, Genetic Research and Quality Improvement of Ornamental Crops)
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Open AccessArticle
Combining Vegetation Indices to Identify the Maize Phenological Information Based on the Shape Model
by
Huizhu Wu, Bing Liu, Bingxue Zhu, Zhijun Zhen, Kaishan Song and Jingquan Ren
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1608; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091608 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
Maize is the world’s largest food crop and plays a critical role in global food security. Accurate phenology information is essential for improving yield estimation and enabling timely field management. Yet, much of the research has concentrated on general crop growth periods rather
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Maize is the world’s largest food crop and plays a critical role in global food security. Accurate phenology information is essential for improving yield estimation and enabling timely field management. Yet, much of the research has concentrated on general crop growth periods rather than on pinpointing key phenological stages. This gap in understanding presents a challenge in determining how different vegetation indices (VIs) might accurately extract phenological information across these stages. To address this, we employed the shape model fitting (SMF) method to assess whether a multi-index approach could enhance the precision of identifying key phenological stages. By analyzing time-series data from various VIs, we identified five phenological stages (emergence, seven-leaf, jointing, flowering, and maturity stages) in maize cultivated in Jilin Province. The findings revealed that each VI had distinct advantages depending on the phenological stage, with the land surface water index (LSWI) being particularly effective for jointing and flowering stages due to its correlation with vegetation water content, achieving a root mean square error (RMSE) of three to four days. In contrast, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was more effective for identifying the emergence and seven-leaf stages, with an RMSE of four days. Overall, combining multiple VIs significantly improved the accuracy of phenological stage identification. This approach offers a novel perspective for utilizing diverse VIs in crop phenology, thereby enhancing the precision of agricultural monitoring and management practices.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization Techniques for Crop Planning: Current Achievements and Future Directions)
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Open AccessArticle
Oxalic Acid Boosts Phosphorus Release from Sewage Sludge Biochar: A Key Mechanism for Biochar-Based Fertilizers
by
Marcela Granato Barbosa dos Santos, Camila Rodrigues Costa, Gilberto de Oliveira Mendes, Andressa Blasi Paiva, Ludmila Soares Peixoto, Jéssica da Luz Costa, Giuliano Marchi, Éder de Souza Martins and Cícero Célio de Figueiredo
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1607; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091607 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
Sewage sludge biochar (SSB) exhibits higher phosphorus (P) concentrations than the original sewage sludge (SS) and can be used as a P fertilizer. However, SSB-associated P is strongly retained in chemical compounds, which hinders its release and subsequent plant uptake. The use of
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Sewage sludge biochar (SSB) exhibits higher phosphorus (P) concentrations than the original sewage sludge (SS) and can be used as a P fertilizer. However, SSB-associated P is strongly retained in chemical compounds, which hinders its release and subsequent plant uptake. The use of organic acids facilitates P solubilization from SSB. Herein, we evaluated the effect of oxalic acid on P release from SSB applied to soil over time. Biochar was produced at 300 °C (SSB300) and 500 °C (SSB500). P release from SSB increased with an increasing concentration of oxalic acid in the SSB incubation solution and in SSB-treated soil. P speciation in SSB showed that P was predominantly inorganic (Pi), which represented 81% and 92% of the total P in SSB300 and SSB500, respectively. Pi in SSB consisted mainly of non-apatite P, accounting for 91% and 96% of all Pi in SSB300 and SSB500, respectively. Because SSB is predominantly insoluble in water, oxalic acid is crucial for the release of P from SSB. Oxalic acid increased P release from SSB300 and SSB500 by 103- and 600-fold, respectively, compared to the control, from which P was extracted with water. Oxalic acid enhancement of P release from SSB increases the possibility of using SSB as a sustainable source of P for agriculture.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biochar-Based Fertilizers for Sustainable Agriculture: Feedstocks, Production, and Effects on the Soil-Plant System)
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Open AccessArticle
Photosynthetic Performance and Heterogeneous Anatomical Structure in Prunus humilis under Saline–Alkaline Stress
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Yongjiang Sun, Xiang Wang, Qiwen Shao, Qi Wang, Siyuan Wang, Ruimin Yu, Shubin Dong, Zhiming Xin, Huijie Xiao and Jin Cheng
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1606; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091606 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
Prunus (P.) humilis is a small woody shrub that has been widely planted in northern China due to its high nutritional value and resistance to environmental abiotic stress. However, little information about the responses of photosynthetic performance and the anatomical structure of P.
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Prunus (P.) humilis is a small woody shrub that has been widely planted in northern China due to its high nutritional value and resistance to environmental abiotic stress. However, little information about the responses of photosynthetic performance and the anatomical structure of P. humilis to saline–alkaline stress (SAS) under field conditions is available. Here, we investigated the behavior of the photosynthetic apparatus of P. humilis by measuring the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters under moderate (MS) and severe (SS) saline–alkaline stress and analyzing their relationship to leaf anatomical traits. The results showed that SAS significantly decreased the net photosynthetic rate (An) but increased the substomatal CO2 concentration (Ci). The maximum photochemical quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) and the efficient quantum yield of PSII [Y(II)] decreased under MS and SS conditions, and this decrease was greater in the distal (tip) than in the proximal (base) leaf. Compared to the leaf tip, the base of P. humilis leaves seemed to have a stronger ability to cope with MS, as was made evident by the increased quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation in PSII [Y(NPQ)] and decreased excitation pressure (1-qP). Under MS and SS conditions, the shapes of the chlorophyll a fluorescence transient (OJIP) changed markedly, accompanied by decreased PSII acceptor-side and donor-side activities. The palisade–spongy tissue ratio (PT/ST) increased significantly with increasing stress and showed a significant correlation with the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in the leaf base. These results suggested that the activity of PSII electron transfer in the upper leaf position tended to be more sensitive to saline–alkaline stress, and a chlorophyll fluorescence analysis proved to be a good technique to monitor impacts of saline–alkaline stress on photosynthetic function, which may reflect the non-uniformity of leaf anatomy. In addition, among the anatomical structure parameters, the palisade–spongy tissue ratio (PT/ST) can be used as a sensitive indicator to reflect the non-uniform of photosynthetic function and leaf anatomy under stress.
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(This article belongs to the Section Crop Production)
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Open AccessArticle
Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Saccharina latissima and Ulva lactuca on Growth Performance and Gut Health in Growing Rabbits
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Sabela Al-Soufi, Ana Paula Losada, Marta López-Alonso, Alejandra Cardelle-Cobas, Azucena Mora, Alexandre Lamas, Rosario Panadero, Marta Miranda, Antonio Muíños, Eugenio Cegarra and Javier García
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1605; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091605 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
Rabbit meat production faces challenges due to the prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases in rabbits, exacerbated by restrictions on antibiotic use in European animal production. Marine macroalgae, rich in bioactive compounds such as soluble polysaccharides, represent promising solutions to this problem. However, research on
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Rabbit meat production faces challenges due to the prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases in rabbits, exacerbated by restrictions on antibiotic use in European animal production. Marine macroalgae, rich in bioactive compounds such as soluble polysaccharides, represent promising solutions to this problem. However, research on the effects of macroalgae and the underlying mechanisms in rabbits is limited, especially in commercial settings. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Saccharina latissima (dehydrated) and Ulva lactuca (dehydrated and hydrolyzed extract) on rabbit on growth performance and gut health in a commercial farm context. A total of 96 litters (8 rabbits/litter) of crossbred rabbits weaned at 33 days of age were randomly assigned to 4 experimental groups (control, Saccharina latissima dehydrated, Ulva lactuca dehydrated and Ulva lactuca hydrolyzed extract; 24 replicates/treatment) and monitored from weaning to slaughter at 61 days of age. The key indicators of gut health were assessed 14 days post-weaning by counting coccidia, isolating specific microflora and examining histological samples. Additionally, the relevant intestinal markers (microbiome composition, mucin content and gene expression related to immune response and tight junction proteins) were determined in order to elucidate the potential mechanisms involved. The inclusion of macroalgae in the diet did not influence growth performance of the animals. S. latissima had a positive effect in reducing coccidia counts (p = 0.10) and improving mucosal morphology (p < 0.001), which can possibly be attributed to modulation of the microbiota and improved mucosal functionality. Ulva lactuca had a favorable effect on gut tight junction proteins (p < 0.001), enhancing intestinal barrier function. These findings suggest the potential of macroalgae to modify the intestinal microbiome by reducing the presence of inflammatory bacteria. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms involved and optimize macroalgae supplementation in rabbit nutrition for enhanced gut health.
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(This article belongs to the Section Farm Animal Production)
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Open AccessArticle
Fatigue Analysis of Shovel Body Based on Tractor Subsoiling Operation Measured Data
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Bing Zhang, Tiecheng Bai, Gang Wu, Hongwei Wang, Qingzhen Zhu, Guangqiang Zhang, Zhijun Meng and Changkai Wen
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1604; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091604 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2024
Abstract
This paper aims to investigate the effects of soil penetration resistance, tillage depth, and operating speeds on the deformation and fatigue of the subsoiling shovel based on the real-time measurement of tractor-operating conditions data. Various types of sensors, such as force, displacement, and
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This paper aims to investigate the effects of soil penetration resistance, tillage depth, and operating speeds on the deformation and fatigue of the subsoiling shovel based on the real-time measurement of tractor-operating conditions data. Various types of sensors, such as force, displacement, and angle, were integrated. The software and hardware architectures of the monitoring system were designed to develop a field operation condition parameter monitoring system, which can measure the tractor’s traction force of the lower tie-bar, the real-time speed, the latitude and longitude, tillage depth, and the strain of the subsoiling shovel and other condition parameters in real-time. The time domain extrapolation method was used to process the measured data to obtain the load spectrum. The linear damage accumulation theory was used to calculate the load damage of the subsoiling shovel. The magnitude of the damage value was used to characterize the severity of the operation. The signal acquisition test and typical parameter test were conducted for the monitoring system, and the test results showed that the reliability and accuracy of the monitoring system met the requirements. The subsoiling operation test of the system was carried out, which mainly included two kinds of soil penetration resistances (1750 kPa and 2750 kPa), three kinds of tillage depth (250 mm, 300 mm, and 350 mm), and three kinds of operation speed (4 km/h low speed, 6 km/h medium speed, and 8 km/h high speed), totaling 18 kinds of test conditions. Eventually, the effects of changes in working condition parameters of the subsoiling operation on the overall damage of subsoiling shovels and the differences in damage occurring between the front and rear rows of subsoiling shovels under the same test conditions were analyzed. The test results show that under the same soil penetration resistance, the overall damage sustained by the subsoiling shovels increases regardless of the increase in the tillage depth or operating speed. In particular, the increase in the tillage depth increased the severity of subsoiling shovel damage by 19.73%, which was higher than the 17.48% increase due to soil penetration resistance and the 13.07% increase due to the operating speed. It should be noted that the front subsoiling shovels consistently sustained more damage than the rear, and the difference was able to reach 16.86%. This paper may provide useful information for subsoiling operations, i.e., the operational efficiency and the damage level of subsoiling shovels should be considered.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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Open AccessArticle
Current Framework of Italian Agriculture and Changes between the 2010 and 2020 Censuses
by
Luca Altamore, Pietro Chinnici, Simona Bacarella, Stefania Chironi and Marzia Ingrassia
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1603; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091603 - 13 Sep 2024
Abstract
This study aims to describe the current framework of the Italian agricultural sector and the changes that occurred in the decade between the two general censuses of agriculture of 2010 and 2020, and the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) programming period 2014–2020. The
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This study aims to describe the current framework of the Italian agricultural sector and the changes that occurred in the decade between the two general censuses of agriculture of 2010 and 2020, and the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) programming period 2014–2020. The General Census of Agriculture is an economic census carried out to fulfill international and EU legislation requirements, but also to meet national information needs. It consists in counting farms and identifying their characteristics. For this study, the official data of the 7th Italian General Census of Agriculture (GCA) of 2020 were collected, analyzed, and compared to those of the previous 6th GCA of 2010. Farms’ type of activities, structure, digitalization/computerization, innovation, and workforces’ characteristics were analyzed. Correlations between farms with investments in innovation and other variables like the age and the educational qualification of entrepreneurs and the farm’s size (agricultural used area) were calculated. Groups of similar Italian regions for types of farm and types of farming (segmenting the sector into subsets of regions that share common characteristics), and groups of similar farming characteristics in the entire agricultural sector, were highlighted. The results showed a notable positive correlation between farms’ investment in innovation and farms’ size, and a medium but positive correlation also with other two variables, the entrepreneur’s range of age and educational qualification. Results found groups of regions that are similar in terms of types of farm and farming types, highlighting that the agricultural sector in Italy is not homogeneous among all the regions of north, center, and south. Moreover, the discovered different groups of farming characteristics highlighted the Italian “farm profiles”, i.e., descriptions of key information about different specific types of farm. The overall analysis of all the results of this study provided the current situation of the Italian agricultural sector and discussion about its characteristics and changes during the last ten years. Based on our knowledge, this study is the first one with such a level of comprehensiveness. Findings are of high interest to academics in agriculture economics and policy maker, because they contribute to identifying the farms’ and territories’ strategic elements that require strengthening to foster economic and social development. Moreover these findings may provide food for thought on the effectiveness of the development strategy of the EU CAP 2023–2027 (through greening and digitization) at the regional and European levels, starting from the baseline situation of this country, which is certainly one, but which is among the most relevant ones in the European agri-food system and also globally.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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Open AccessArticle
Dynamic Measurement Method for Steering Wheel Angle of Autonomous Agricultural Vehicles
by
Jinyang Li, Zhaozhao Wu, Meiqing Li and Zhijian Shang
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1602; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091602 - 13 Sep 2024
Abstract
Steering wheel angle is an important and essential parameter of the navigation control of autonomous wheeled vehicles. At present, the combination of rotary angle sensors and four-link mechanisms is the main sensing approach for steering wheel angle with high measurement accuracy, which is
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Steering wheel angle is an important and essential parameter of the navigation control of autonomous wheeled vehicles. At present, the combination of rotary angle sensors and four-link mechanisms is the main sensing approach for steering wheel angle with high measurement accuracy, which is widely adopted in autonomous agriculture vehicles. However, in a complex and challenging farmland environment, there are a series of prominent problems such as complicated installation and debugging, spattered mud blocking the parallel four-bar mechanism, breakage of the sensor wire during operation, and separate calibrations for different vehicles. To avoid the above problems, a novel dynamic measurement method for steering wheel angle is presented based on vehicle attitude information and a non-contact attitude sensor. First, the working principle of the proposed measurement method and the effect of zero position error on measurement accuracy and path tracking are analyzed. Then, an optimization algorithm for zero position error of steering wheel angle is proposed. The experimental platform is assembled based on a 2ZG-6DM rice transplanter by software design and hardware modification. Finally, comparative tests are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness and priority of the proposed dynamic sensing method. Experimental results show that the average absolute error of the straight path is 0.057° and the corresponding standard deviation of the error is 0.483°. The average absolute error of the turning path is 0.686° and the standard deviation of the error is 0.931°. This implies the proposed dynamic sensing method can accurately realize the collection of the steering wheel angle. Compared to the traditional measurement method, the proposed dynamic sensing method greatly improves the measurement reliability of the steering wheel angle and avoids complicated installation and debugging of different vehicles. The separate calibrations for different vehicles are not needed since the proposed measurement method is not dependent on the kinematic models of the vehicles. Given that the attitude sensor can be installed at a higher position on the wheel, sensor damage from mud blocking and the sensor wire breaking is also avoided.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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Open AccessArticle
Residues of Symbiont Cover Crops Improving Corn Growth and Soil-Dependent Health Parameters
by
Sundoss Kabalan, Flórián Kovács, Enikő Papdi, Eszter Tóth, Katalin Juhos and Borbála Biró
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1601; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091601 - 13 Sep 2024
Abstract
Cover crops have emerged as a crucial tool in promoting sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in improving soil quality and soil–plant health. This study investigates the impact of single cover crop plants each with varying fungal and/or bacterial symbiosis capacities in a pot experiment.
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Cover crops have emerged as a crucial tool in promoting sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in improving soil quality and soil–plant health. This study investigates the impact of single cover crop plants each with varying fungal and/or bacterial symbiosis capacities in a pot experiment. The growth of non-symbiont Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata), the associative bacterium symbiont black oat (Avena strigosa) and the double (fungus–bacterium) endosymbiont broad bean (Vicia faba) was studied on three distinct soil types, namely a less-fertile sandy soil (Arenosol), an average value of loam soil (Luvisol) and a more productive chernozem soil (Chernozem). Beside the biomass production, nitrogen content and frequency of AM fungi symbiosis (MYCO%) of cover crops, the main soil health characteristics of electrical conductivity (EC), labile carbon (POXC) and fluorescein diacetate enzyme activity (FDA) were assessed and evaluated by detailed statistical analysis. Among the used soil types, the greatest biomass production was found on Chernozem soil with the relatively highest soil organic matter (2.81%) content and productivity. Double symbiotic activity, assessed by soil nitrogen content and mycorrhiza frequency (MYCO%), were significantly improved on the lowest-quality Arenosols (SOM 1.16%). In that slightly humous sandy soil, MYCO% was enhanced by 45%, indicating that symbiosis was crucial for plant growth in the less-fertile soil investigated. After the initial cover crop phase, the accumulated biomass was incorporated into the Luvisol (SOM 1.64%) soil, followed by the cultivation of corn (Zea mays, DK 3972) as the main crop. The results indicate that incorporating cover crop residues enhanced labile carbon (POXC) by 20% and significantly increased the FDA microbial activity in the soil, which positively correlated with the nutrient availability and growth of the maize crop. This study emphasizes the importance of selecting suitable cover crops based on their symbiotic characteristics to improve soil quality and enhance soil–plant health in sustainable agricultural systems.
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(This article belongs to the Section Crop Production)
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Open AccessArticle
Scheduling of Collaborative Vegetable Harvesters and Harvest-Aid Vehicles on Farms
by
Xiao Han, Huarui Wu, Huaji Zhu, Jingqiu Gu, Wei Guo and Yisheng Miao
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1600; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091600 - 13 Sep 2024
Abstract
Transporting harvested vegetables in the field or greenhouse is labor-intensive. The utilization of small harvest-aid vehicles can reduce non-productive time for farmers and improve harvest efficiency. This paper models the process of harvesting vegetables in response to non-productive waiting delays caused by the
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Transporting harvested vegetables in the field or greenhouse is labor-intensive. The utilization of small harvest-aid vehicles can reduce non-productive time for farmers and improve harvest efficiency. This paper models the process of harvesting vegetables in response to non-productive waiting delays caused by the scheduling of harvest-aid vehicles. Taking into consideration harvesting speed, harvest-aid vehicle capacity, and scheduling conflicts, a harvest-aid vehicle scheduling model is constructed to minimize non-production waiting time and coordination costs. Subsequently, to meet the collaborative needs of harvesters, this paper develops a discrete multi-objective Jaya optimization algorithm (DMO-Jaya), which combines an opposition-based learning mechanism and a long-term memory library to obtain scheduling schemes suitable for agricultural environments. Experiments show that the studied model can schedule harvest-aid vehicles without conflicts. Compared to the NSGA-II algorithm and the MMOPSO, the DMO-Jaya algorithm demonstrates a better diversity of solutions, resulting in a shorter non-productive waiting time for harvesters. This research provides a reference model for improving the efficiency of vegetable harvesting and transportation.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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Impact of Linking Livelihood Resilience of Smallholder Households and the Risk Management Strategies: The Case of China from Socioeconomic Perspectives
by
Xinming Liu, Zhe Song, Jie Xu, Weilin Feng and Wei Liu
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1599; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091599 - 13 Sep 2024
Abstract
The government of China has implemented the Southern Shaanxi Disaster Resettlement program since 2011, which aims to address the problems of reduced livelihood resilience, increased livelihood risks, and single-risk management strategies caused by the frequent occurrence of natural disasters. This study considers the
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The government of China has implemented the Southern Shaanxi Disaster Resettlement program since 2011, which aims to address the problems of reduced livelihood resilience, increased livelihood risks, and single-risk management strategies caused by the frequent occurrence of natural disasters. This study considers the specific situation of disaster resettlement in Ankang Prefecture, southern Shaanxi Province, and draws on Quandt’s measurement idea to quantify livelihood resilience at the household scale in terms of five types of capital assets: natural, physical, human, financial, and social. A coarsened exact matching model was used to control confounding factors in the observational data to reduce sample selection bias, and then multinomial logit regression models were used to examine how livelihood resilience affects risk management strategies; moreover, the effects of different indicators of livelihood resilience, relocation characteristics, and follow-up support measures on risk management strategies were analyzed. Results show that livelihood resilience is higher among new-stage relocation, voluntary relocation, and centralized resettlement households, and working outside of the home accounts for the largest proportion of risk management strategies chosen by the sample households. In addition, livelihood resilience and its dimensions and indicators, relocation characteristics, and follow-up support measures have different impacts on risk management strategies. These results have considerable significance in guiding research on risk management strategies at the household scale and can serve as a reference for disaster resettlement in other developing nations and regions.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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Open AccessArticle
The Impact of a Full-Cost Insurance Policy on Fertilizer Reduction and Efficiency: The Case of China
by
Yu Xiao, Caiyan Yang and Lu Zhang
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1598; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091598 - 13 Sep 2024
Abstract
Excessive fertilizer input and inefficient utilization in agricultural production have caused significant negative environmental impacts. Based on provincial panel data in China from 2005 to 2021, this study adopts the full-cost insurance pilot launched in 2018 and uses the DID method to empirically
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Excessive fertilizer input and inefficient utilization in agricultural production have caused significant negative environmental impacts. Based on provincial panel data in China from 2005 to 2021, this study adopts the full-cost insurance pilot launched in 2018 and uses the DID method to empirically analyze its impact on fertilizer application intensity and utilization efficiency. The study reveals the following findings: (1) Implementing full-cost insurance can reduce fertilizer application intensity by 21.761% and increase utilization efficiency by 1.915%. (2) Full-cost insurance reduces fertilizer application intensity and improves fertilizer utilization efficiency by expanding the land scale and reducing the agricultural labor force. (3) Full-cost insurance significantly improves fertilizer utilization efficiency in high-risk and low-risk areas. Nevertheless, while the policy significantly reduces fertilizer application intensity in high-risk areas, its effect on low-risk areas is not apparent. (4) Full-cost insurance has an environmental protection effect. It can significantly reduce 11.593% of nitrogen pollution emissions, 2.577% of phosphorus pollution emissions, and 35.400% of equivalent pollution emissions. The implementation of full-cost insurance plays an important role in reducing fertilizer use and improving utilization efficiency. So, we should continue to intensify the promotion of full-cost insurance policy to fully leverage the advantages of agricultural insurance and promote sustainable agricultural development.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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