Journal Description
Agriculture
Agriculture
is an international, scientific peer-reviewed open access journal published semimonthly 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 19.2 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 1.9 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second 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
Detection of Aflatoxin B1 in Maize Silage Based on Hyperspectral Imaging Technology
Agriculture 2025, 15(10), 1023; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15101023 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2025
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is widely present in maize silage feed and poses strong toxicity, seriously threatening livestock production and food safety. To achieve efficient and accurate non-destructive detection of AFB1, this study proposes a quantitative prediction method based on hyperspectral imaging technology. Using
[...] Read more.
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is widely present in maize silage feed and poses strong toxicity, seriously threatening livestock production and food safety. To achieve efficient and accurate non-destructive detection of AFB1, this study proposes a quantitative prediction method based on hyperspectral imaging technology. Using the full-spectrum bands after SG, SNV, MSC, FD, SD, and SNV + FD, MSC + FD, SNV + SD, MSC + SD preprocessing, the characteristic wavelengths selected by CARS, BOSS, and RF feature selection methods, and the augmented bands generated by Mixup data augmentation as input features, three models were developed for AFB1 content prediction: a linear WPLSR_SD_Mixup_QPE model, a nonlinear SVR_SD_Mixup_PCA model, and a deep learning CNN_SD_Mixup_WMSE_SA model. The results demonstrated that SD preprocessing was the most suitable for AFB1 detection in maize silage, and the Mixup data augmentation method effectively improved model performance. Among the models, SVR_SD_Mixup_PCA achieved the best performance, with an of 0.9458, RMSEP of 3.1259 μg/kg, and RPD of 4.2969, indicating high prediction accuracy and generalization capability. This study fills the gap of hyperspectral image technology fused with artificial intelligence algorithm in the application of quantitative detection of AFB1 content in maize silage and provides a new technical method and theoretical basis for nondestructive testing of corn silage feed.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Digital Agriculture)
►
Show Figures
Open AccessArticle
Development of an RGB-GE Data Generation and XAI-Based On-Site Classification System for Differentiating Zizyphus jujuba and Zizyphus mauritiana in Herbal Medicine Applications
by
So Jin Park, Hyein Lee, Yu-Jin Jeon, Da Hyun Woo, Ho-Youn Kim, Jung-Ok Kim and Dae-Hyun Jung
Agriculture 2025, 15(10), 1022; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15101022 - 8 May 2025
Abstract
Herbal medicines have significant industrial value in East Asia. Zizyphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa, used in Korea for treating insomnia, is often confused with Zizyphus mauritiana Lam., which has unverified medicinal properties yet is sold at premium prices. This misclassification undermines consumer
[...] Read more.
Herbal medicines have significant industrial value in East Asia. Zizyphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa, used in Korea for treating insomnia, is often confused with Zizyphus mauritiana Lam., which has unverified medicinal properties yet is sold at premium prices. This misclassification undermines consumer trust and poses health risks. This study proposes a deep learning-based classification system trained on RGB-GE data, combining grayscale and edge-detected images with RGB inputs to enhance feature extraction while reducing color-dependency. Our method achieves superior generalization while maintaining cost-effectiveness. The system incorporates Grad-CAM for model interpretation and reliability. By comparing accuracy and speed across basicCNN, DenseNet, and InceptionV3 models, we identified an optimal solution for on-site herbal medicine classification, achieving 98.36% accuracy with basicCNN, ensuring reliable quality control.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Digital Agriculture)
Open AccessArticle
Multimodal Feature-Driven Deep Learning for the Prediction of Duck Body Dimensions and Weight
by
Wenbo Xiao, Qiannan Han, Gang Shu, Guiping Liang, Hongyan Zhang, Song Wang, Zhihao Xu, Weican Wan, Chuang Li, Guitao Jiang and Yi Xiao
Agriculture 2025, 15(10), 1021; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15101021 - 8 May 2025
Abstract
Accurate body dimension and weight measurements are critical for optimizing poultry management, health assessment, and economic efficiency. This study introduces an innovative deep learning-based model leveraging multimodal data—2D RGB images from different views, depth images, and 3D point clouds—for the non-invasive estimation of
[...] Read more.
Accurate body dimension and weight measurements are critical for optimizing poultry management, health assessment, and economic efficiency. This study introduces an innovative deep learning-based model leveraging multimodal data—2D RGB images from different views, depth images, and 3D point clouds—for the non-invasive estimation of duck body dimensions and weight. A dataset of 1023 Linwu ducks, comprising over 5000 samples with diverse postures and conditions, was collected to support model training. The proposed method innovatively employs PointNet++ to extract key feature points from point clouds, extracts and computes corresponding 3D geometric features, and fuses them with multi-view convolutional 2D features. A Transformer encoder is then utilized to capture long-range dependencies and refine feature interactions, thereby enhancing prediction robustness. The model achieved a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 5.73% and an R2 of 0.953 across seven morphometric parameters describing body dimensions, and an MAPE of 10.49% with an R2 of 0.952 for body weight, indicating robust and consistent predictive performance across both structural and mass-related phenotypes. Unlike conventional manual measurements, the proposed model enables high-precision estimation while eliminating the necessity for physical handling, thereby reducing animal stress and broadening its application scope. This study marks the first application of deep learning techniques to poultry body dimension and weight estimation, providing a valuable reference for the intelligent and precise management of the livestock industry with far-reaching practical significance.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precision Livestock Farming and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Livestock Systems)
►▼
Show Figures

Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Landscape Character Assessment for Sustainable Rural Development in Border Insular Areas: A Case Study of Ano Mirabello, Crete
by
Aikaterini Gkoltsiou
Agriculture 2025, 15(10), 1020; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15101020 - 8 May 2025
Abstract
This article seeks to demonstrate the value of landscape character assessment in addressing the unique needs of remote areas, located at national insular borders, with lower levels of development and economic activity. The paper assesses and presents the predominant landscape character of a
[...] Read more.
This article seeks to demonstrate the value of landscape character assessment in addressing the unique needs of remote areas, located at national insular borders, with lower levels of development and economic activity. The paper assesses and presents the predominant landscape character of a remote agricultural area in the north part of the island of Crete in Greece, the specific assets of various landscape character types with the main productive economic sectors, leading to a proposal for tourism development sustainable strategies. To achieve this, a landscape character assessment methodology was applied in combination with a literature review and landscape evaluation per each economic sector. The goals of a landscape strategy for the area were formulated to preserve and enhance the landscape character and uniqueness, as natural and cultural heritage, for the benefit of the island inhabitants. At the end, landscape strategies for the planning, management and protection of the specific area were proposed for its sustainable development.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Development of Rural Areas in Border Territories: Threats and Opportunities)
►▼
Show Figures

Graphical abstract
Open AccessArticle
Evaluation of Deep Learning Models for Insects Detection at the Hive Entrance for a Bee Behavior Recognition System
by
Gabriela Vdoviak, Tomyslav Sledevič, Artūras Serackis, Darius Plonis, Dalius Matuzevičius and Vytautas Abromavičius
Agriculture 2025, 15(10), 1019; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15101019 - 8 May 2025
Abstract
Monitoring insect activity at hive entrances is essential for advancing precision beekeeping practices by enabling non-invasive, real-time assessment of the colony’s health and early detection of potential threats. This study evaluates deep learning models for detecting worker bees, pollen-bearing bees, drones, and wasps,
[...] Read more.
Monitoring insect activity at hive entrances is essential for advancing precision beekeeping practices by enabling non-invasive, real-time assessment of the colony’s health and early detection of potential threats. This study evaluates deep learning models for detecting worker bees, pollen-bearing bees, drones, and wasps, comparing different YOLO-based architectures optimized for real-time inference on an RTX 4080 Super and Jetson AGX Orin. A new publicly available dataset with diverse environmental conditions was used for training and validation. Performance comparisons showed that modified YOLOv8 models achieved a better precision–speed trade-off relative to other YOLO-based architectures, enabling efficient deployment on embedded platforms. Results indicate that model modifications enhance detection accuracy while reducing inference time, particularly for small object classes such as pollen. The study explores the impact of different annotation strategies on classification performance and tracking consistency. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of deploying AI-powered hive monitoring systems on embedded platforms, with potential applications in precision beekeeping and pollination surveillance.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Precision Beekeeping)
Open AccessArticle
Grasping Force Optimization and DDPG Impedance Control for Apple Picking Robot End-Effector
by
Xiaowei Yu, Wei Ji, Hongwei Zhang, Chengzhi Ruan, Bo Xu and Kaiyang Wu
Agriculture 2025, 15(10), 1018; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15101018 - 8 May 2025
Abstract
To minimize mechanical damage caused by an apple picking robot end-effector during the apple grasping process, and on the basis of optimizing the minimum stable grasping force of apple, a variable impedance control strategy based on a reinforcement learning deep deterministic policy gradient
[...] Read more.
To minimize mechanical damage caused by an apple picking robot end-effector during the apple grasping process, and on the basis of optimizing the minimum stable grasping force of apple, a variable impedance control strategy based on a reinforcement learning deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) algorithm is proposed to achieve compliant grasping control for apples. Firstly, according to the apple contact force model, the gradient flow algorithm is adopted to optimize grasping force in terms of the friction cone, force balancing condition, and stability assessment index and to obtain a minimum stable grasping force for apples. Secondly, based on the analysis of the influence of impedance parameters on the control system, a variable impedance control based on the DDPG algorithm is designed, with the reward function adopted so as to improve the control performance. Then, the improved control strategy is used to train the optimized impedance control. Finally, simulation and experimental results indicate that the proposed variable impedance control outperforms the traditional impedance control by reducing the peak grasping force from 4.49 N to 4.18 N while achieving a 0.6 s faster adjustment time and a 0.24 N narrower grasping force fluctuation range. The improved impedance control successfully tracks desired grasping forces for apples of varying sizes and significantly reduces mechanical damage during apple harvesting.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
►▼
Show Figures

Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
An Integrated Multi-Media Modeling System for Regional- to National-Scale Nitrogen and Crop Productivity Assessments
by
Yongping Yuan, Xiuying Wang, Verel Benson and Limei Ran
Agriculture 2025, 15(10), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15101017 - 8 May 2025
Abstract
Excessive nutrients transported from agricultural fields into the environment are causing environmental and ecological problems. This study uses an integrated multi-media modeling system version 1 (IMMMS 1.0) linking air, land surface, and watershed processes to assess corn grain yield and nitrogen (N) losses
[...] Read more.
Excessive nutrients transported from agricultural fields into the environment are causing environmental and ecological problems. This study uses an integrated multi-media modeling system version 1 (IMMMS 1.0) linking air, land surface, and watershed processes to assess corn grain yield and nitrogen (N) losses resulting from changing fertilization conditions across the contiguous United States. Two fertilizer management scenarios (FMSs) were compared and evaluated: 2006 FMS, developed based on the 2006 fertilizer sales data; and 2011 FMS, developed based on 2011 fertilizer sales and manure. Corn grain yields captured historical reported values with average percent errors of 4.8% and 0.7% for the 2006 FMS and 2011 FMS, respectively. Increased nitrogen (N) application of 21.2% resulted in a slightly increased corn grain yield of 5% in the 2011 FMS, but the simulated total N loss (through denitrification, volatilization, water, and sediment) increased to 49.3%. A better correlation was identified between crop N uptake and N application in the 2006 FMS (R2 = 0.60) than the 2011 FMS (R2 = 0.51), indicating that applied N was better utilized by crops in the 2006 FMS. Animal manure could create nutrient surpluses and lead to greater N loss, as identified in the regions of the Pacific and Southern Plains in the 2011 FMS. Manure nutrient management is important and urgently needed to protect our air and water quality. The IMMMS 1.0 is responsive to different FMSs and can be utilized to address alternative management scenarios to determine their impact when addressing the sustainability of food production and environmental issues.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ecosystem, Environment and Climate Change in Agriculture)
►▼
Show Figures

Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
The Grain Protein Content of Polish Cereals Other than Wheat: Can It Be Increased by Combining a Crop Sequence System, Cultivar Selection, and Plant Protection?
by
Marta K. Kostrzewska and Magdalena Jastrzębska
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 1016; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15091016 - 7 May 2025
Abstract
After legumes, cereals are the most important source of protein for humans and livestock worldwide. One way to meet growing nutritional demands is to increase the grain protein content (GPC) of cereals. Breeding advances in this regard should be supported by optimized agricultural
[...] Read more.
After legumes, cereals are the most important source of protein for humans and livestock worldwide. One way to meet growing nutritional demands is to increase the grain protein content (GPC) of cereals. Breeding advances in this regard should be supported by optimized agricultural practices. The GPCs of winter rye, winter triticale, spring barley, and spring oats grown in 2018–2022 in northeast Poland were evaluated to determine the influence of the crop sequence system (continuous monocropping, crop rotation), cultivar (two for each species), plant protection level (control treatment, herbicide, herbicide, and fungicide), and interactions among these factors. The cultivar selection was a significant GPC determinant in all cereals. Growing triticale in crop rotation after a legume increased its GPC compared to continuous monocropping, but decreased the GPC of rye and had no effect on the GPCs of spring cereal that followed non-legume crops. Using herbicides and herbicides combined with fungicides promoted the GPC of rye and oats, but not of triticale and barley. The heterogeneity of the interaction effects of the studied agricultural practices on the GPCs of the individual cereals prevents the identification of a universal combination that would ensure the highest GPC levels. The inter-annual weather variability played a significant role in shaping the GPCs of cereals and in modifying the influence of the controlled factors.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies to Improve the Security and Nutritional Quality of Crop Species—2nd Edition)
►▼
Show Figures

Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Detection of Seed Potato Sprouts Based on Improved YOLOv8 Algorithm
by
Yufei Li, Qinghe Zhao, Zifang Zhang, Jinlong Liu and Junlong Fang
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 1015; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15091015 - 7 May 2025
Abstract
Seed potatoes without sprouts usually need to be manually selected in mechanized production, which has been the bottleneck of efficiency. A fast and efficient object recognition algorithm is required for the additional removal process to identify unqualified seed potatoes. In this paper, a
[...] Read more.
Seed potatoes without sprouts usually need to be manually selected in mechanized production, which has been the bottleneck of efficiency. A fast and efficient object recognition algorithm is required for the additional removal process to identify unqualified seed potatoes. In this paper, a lightweight deep learning algorithm, YOLOv8_EBG, is proposed to both improve the detection performance and reduce the model parameters. The ECA attention mechanism was introduced in the backbone and neck of the model to more accurately extract and fuse sprouting features. To further reduce the model parameters, Ghost convolution and C3ghost were introduced to replace the normal convolution and C2f blocks in vanilla YOLOv8n. In addition, a bi-directional feature pyramid network is integrated in the neck part for multi-scale feature fusion to enhance the detection accuracy. The experimental results from an isolated test dataset show that the proposed algorithm performs better in detecting sprouts under natural light conditions, achieving an mAP0.5 of 95.7% and 91.9% AP for bud recognition. Compared to the YOLOv8n model, the improved model showed a 6.5% increase in mAP0.5, a 12.9% increase in AP0.5 for bud recognition, and a 5.6% decrease in the number of parameters. Additionally, the improved algorithm was applied and tested on mechanized sorting equipment, and the accuracy of seed potato detection was as high as 92.5%, which was sufficient to identify and select sprouted potatoes, an indispensable step since only sprouted potatoes can be used as seed potatoes. The results of the study can provide technical support for subsequent potato planting intelligence.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Digital Agriculture)
►▼
Show Figures

Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Precision Agriculture for Dragon Fruit: A Novel Approach Based on Nighttime Light Remote Sensing
by
Tianhao Zhan, Xiaosheng Liu and Liang Zhong
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 1014; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15091014 - 7 May 2025
Abstract
The dragon fruit industry holds significant market potential and is crucial for rural economic development. However, a comprehensive understanding and precise technical approach for analyzing the spatiotemporal dynamics of dragon fruit agriculture remain lacking. This study utilizes Nighttime Light (NTL) remote sensing data
[...] Read more.
The dragon fruit industry holds significant market potential and is crucial for rural economic development. However, a comprehensive understanding and precise technical approach for analyzing the spatiotemporal dynamics of dragon fruit agriculture remain lacking. This study utilizes Nighttime Light (NTL) remote sensing data and proposes the Vegetation and Impervious area Adjusted Nighttime light Dragon fruit Index (VIANDI) to extract artificial light sources associated with dragon fruit cultivation. Furthermore, a regression model is constructed to estimate production based on light intensity. By integrating geospatial analysis methods, this study reveals the spatiotemporal evolution of dragon fruit cultivation area and production in Guangxi, China, from 2017 to 2022. The results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively monitors the dynamics of dragon fruit agriculture, achieving a Kappa Coefficient of 0.72 for area extraction and a Mean Relative Error (MRE) of 8.90% for production estimation. The spatial pattern of dragon fruit production follows a northwest–southeast distribution, with its centroid located in Nanning. The spatial expansion of cultivation areas exhibited an initial growth phase followed by stabilization, whereas production distribution transitioned from expansion to aggregation, maintaining an overall upward trend. Notably, 2019 marks a key turning point in these trends. Additionally, the rapid increase in light pollution intensity within cultivation areas warrants further attention. The study results have advanced precise monitoring of dragon fruit agriculture and enhanced understanding of its spatiotemporal evolution patterns.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Digital Agriculture)
Open AccessArticle
Factors Influencing the Spatial Distribution of Soil Total Phosphorus Based on Structural Equation Modeling
by
Yameng Jiang, Jun Huang, Xi Guo, Yingcong Ye, Jia Liu and Yefeng Jiang
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 1013; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15091013 - 7 May 2025
Abstract
Soil total phosphorus plays an important role in soil fertility, plant growth, and bioge-ochemical cycles. This study aims to determine the spatial distribution characteristics of soil total phosphorus and identify its main influencing factors in the study area, thereby providing a basis for
[...] Read more.
Soil total phosphorus plays an important role in soil fertility, plant growth, and bioge-ochemical cycles. This study aims to determine the spatial distribution characteristics of soil total phosphorus and identify its main influencing factors in the study area, thereby providing a basis for the scientific management of soil total phosphorus. Here, we conducted a comprehensive analysis by combining classical statistical analysis, ge-ostatistics methods, Pearson correlation analysis, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the spatial distribution patterns of soil total phosphorus and its influencing factors. The results showed that soil total phosphorus in the study area ranged from 161.00 to 991.00 mg/kg, with an average of 495.71 mg/kg. Spatially, soil total phosphorus exhibited a patchy distribu-tion pattern, with high values primarily concentrated in cultivated areas along rivers and low values mainly located in forested areas in the southeastern and central re-gions. Additionally, the nugget effect of soil total phosphorus was 71.5%, indicating a moderate level of spatial variability. The Pearson correlation analysis revealed that soil total phosphorus content was significantly correlated with multiple factors, including land use types, soil parent material, distance from settlements, slope, and soil pH. Based on these findings, we employed ANOVA to analyze the impacts of various fac-tors. The results indicated that soil total phosphorus content showed significant differences under the influence of different factors. Subsequently, we further explored in depth the action paths through which these factors affect soil total phosphorus us-ing SEM. The SEM results showed that the absolute values of the total effects of the influencing factors on soil total phosphorus, ranked from highest to lowest, were as follows: land use types (0.499) > soil parent material (0.240) > distance from settle-ments (0.178) > slope (0.161) > elevation (0.127) > soil pH (0.114) > normalized differ-ence vegetation index (0.103). These findings provide a scientific foundation for the effective management of soil total phosphorus in similar study areas.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Soils)
►▼
Show Figures

Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Optimizing Sulfur Fertilization for Enhanced Physiological Performance, Grain Filling Characteristics, and Grain Yield of High-Yielding Winter Wheat Under Drip Irrigation
by
Hongxiao Duan, Wenlu Li, Yulei Jiang, Yihang Du, Ludi Zhao, Jing Jia, Shanzhang Liu and Changxing Zhao
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 1012; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15091012 - 7 May 2025
Abstract
The North China Plain is one of the major wheat cultivation regions. As a cornerstone of global food security, wheat makes the enhancement of its yield critically important. Sulfur critically regulates photosynthesis, antioxidant defense, and grain filling dynamics. To elucidate the physiological mechanisms
[...] Read more.
The North China Plain is one of the major wheat cultivation regions. As a cornerstone of global food security, wheat makes the enhancement of its yield critically important. Sulfur critically regulates photosynthesis, antioxidant defense, and grain filling dynamics. To elucidate the physiological mechanisms of S in wheat grain filling and guide field practices, a two-year field experiment (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) was conducted in the North China Plain using two dominant cultivars, Jimai 20 (JM20) and Yannong 999 (YN999). Four sulfur (ammonium sulfate) gradients (S1: 15 kg ha−1; S2: 30 kg ha−1; S3: 45 kg ha−1; S4: 60 kg ha−1) and a control (S0) were applied at the jointing stage via a drip fertigation system. The key findings reveal that optimal S application (YN999: 45 kg ha−1; JM20: 30–45 kg ha−1) enhanced post-anthesis photosynthetic capacity by increasing flag leaf SPAD values and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, thereby delaying leaf senescence. These improvements translated into optimized grain filling parameters: YN999 and JM20 exhibited 2.27–5.62% and 13.20–13.86% increases in mean grain filling rate, 3.92–4.73% and 2.11–4.36% extensions in grain filling duration, and 7.62–7.83% and 9.55–10.23% boosts in thousand grain weight, respectively. Consequently, yield increased by 0.58–1.54 t ha−1 for YN999 and 1.36–1.49 t ha−1 for JM20. Under drip fertigation conditions in the North China Plain, sulfur application at 30–45 kg ha−1 effectively enhances wheat yield. These findings provide fertilization guidance for the development of precision agriculture and can help alleviate the local soil sulfur deficiency trend.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Production)
►▼
Show Figures

Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Analysis of the Relationship Between Assimilate Production and Allocation and the Formation of Rice Quality
by
Jianming Tu, Fengting Wen, Feitong Li, Tingting Chen, Baohua Feng, Jie Xiong, Guanfu Fu, Yebo Qin and Wenting Wang
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 1011; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15091011 - 7 May 2025
Abstract
Rice is one of China’s primary staple crops, serving as the main food source for over 60% of the population. With the resolution of basic food security issues in China in recent years, the demand for high-quality rice has been steadily increasing. The
[...] Read more.
Rice is one of China’s primary staple crops, serving as the main food source for over 60% of the population. With the resolution of basic food security issues in China in recent years, the demand for high-quality rice has been steadily increasing. The taste quality of rice, a crucial indicator for evaluating rice quality, has attracted more attention from consumers. Although factors like variety, growing environment, and cultivation methods affect rice taste quality, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown, and no reliable control methods exist. This study selected 10 major rice cultivars, including 6 indica and 4 japonica varieties, and compared their differences in taste quality, focusing on yield and its components, taste quality, and dry matter accumulation. Among the tested varieties, Songxiangjing 1018 had the best taste quality, but not the highest yield. Zhongzheyou 8, Huazheyou 261, and Quanyousimiao showed both excellent taste quality and high yield. There was no significant correlation between taste quality and yield, suggesting the feasibility of breeding rice varieties with both superior taste and high productivity. Correlation analysis indicated that dry matter mass and net photosynthetic rate were significantly positively correlated with yield, but not with taste quality, highlighting the complexity of taste quality formation. Using a membership function comprehensive evaluation method (combines the outputs of multiple membership functions into a single composite value using specific rules (e.g., weighted average, extremum, logical operations) to produce a new membership degree.), a rice variety selection system balancing yield and quality was constructed, and three varieties (Zhongzheyou 8, Huazheyou 261, and Quanyousimiao) were identified as having both high yield and excellent quality. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for research on cultivation techniques and variety breeding aimed at synergistically improving rice yield and quality.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Product Quality and Safety)
Open AccessArticle
Inoculant Formulation for Bradyrhizobium spp.: Optimizing CMC/Starch Blends for Improved Performance
by
Jaqueline Carvalho de Almeida, Vinício Oliosi Favero, Janaina Ribeiro Costa Rouws, Carla de Sant’Anna Freitas, Érica Barbosa de Sousa, Jéssica Feitoza da Rocha, Nainicelle Cibelle Sousa Chantre, Gustavo Ribeiro Xavier, Paulo Jansen de Oliveira and Norma Gouvêa Rumjanek
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 1010; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15091010 - 7 May 2025
Abstract
Inoculating legumes with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Bradyrhizobium, can significantly reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. To optimize this process, a suitable rhizobial strain must be carefully selected and formulated. This study aimed to develop a biopolymer blend formulation for Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi
[...] Read more.
Inoculating legumes with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Bradyrhizobium, can significantly reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. To optimize this process, a suitable rhizobial strain must be carefully selected and formulated. This study aimed to develop a biopolymer blend formulation for Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi strain BR 3262. From four commercial starches and two carboxymethylcelluloses (CMC), we developed CMC/starch blends compatibilized or not with MgO at concentrations from 0.1% to 1.0% and subjected them to autoclaving for either 30 or 60 min. The resulting inoculants were stored for 168 days. Generally, blends compatibilized with 1.0% MgO exhibited a significant decrease in cell numbers, likely due to the observed pH values of approximately 10. The best performance was observed for CMC-I/starch B blends autoclaved for 60 min, and CMC-II/starch C blends autoclaved for 30 min, both compatibilized with 0.3% MgO. These blends maintained a cell viability of 108 CFU mL−1 for approximately 130 days at room temperature. Blend optimization depends on the selection of specific interactions and quantities of each component in order to achieve a given functionality; in the conditions of this study, the capacity to maintain Bradyrhizobium cell viability for at least four months.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
►▼
Show Figures

Figure 1
Open AccessEditorial
Globalisation, Regionalisation, Market Integration and Price Analysis of Agricultural Products
by
Encarnación Moral-Pajares and Leticia Gallego-Valero
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 1009; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15091009 - 7 May 2025
Abstract
Protectionist tensions prevalent in the world economy since the 2008 financial crisis have accompanied a period of slowing trade flows among countries, affecting the exchange of agri-food products [...]
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Globalisation, Regionalisation, Market Integration and Price Analysis of Agricultural Products)
Open AccessArticle
The Effects of Multi-Scenario Land Use Change on the Water Conservation in the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Northern China: A Case Study of Bashang Region, Zhangjiakou City
by
Ruiyang Zhao, Haiming Kan, Hengkang Xu, Chao Chen, Guofang Zhang, Zhuo Pang and Weiwei Zhang
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 1008; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15091008 - 6 May 2025
Abstract
Water resource management is crucial for sustainable agricultural and ecological development, particularly in regions with complex land-use patterns and sensitive eco-systems. The Bashang region of Zhangjiakou city, located in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China, is an ecologically fragile area that is currently
[...] Read more.
Water resource management is crucial for sustainable agricultural and ecological development, particularly in regions with complex land-use patterns and sensitive eco-systems. The Bashang region of Zhangjiakou city, located in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China, is an ecologically fragile area that is currently undergoing significant land use and climate changes. Despite the importance of understanding the interplay between land use, climate change, and water conservation, few studies have comprehensively evaluated their combined effects on regional water resources. This study addresses this gap by investigating the spatiotemporal changes in the water yield (WY) and water conservation capacity (WCC) of the Bashang region under different land use and climate scenarios for the year 2035. This research employs the FLUS model to predict the future land use and the InVEST model to estimate the WY and WCC under a natural development scenario (NDS), an agricultural production scenario (APS), an ecological protection scenario (EPS), and a land planning scenario (LPS). The results reveal that the WCC is primarily influenced by precipitation, land use, and the topography. This study finds that scenarios which focus on ecological protection and land use optimization, such as the EPS and LPS, significantly enhance the water conservation capacity of the study region Notably, the LPS scenario, which limits urban expansion and increases the amount of ecological land, provides the best balance between the water yield and conservation. The findings highlight the need for integrated approaches to land use and water resource management, particularly in agro-pastoral transitional zones. The unique contribution of this research lies in its comprehensive modeling approach, which combines land use, climate data, and water resource analysis, and which provides valuable insights for sustainable land and water management strategies.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Remote Sensing and GIS for Monitoring Land Use Change and Its Ecological Effects)
►▼
Show Figures

Figure 1
Open AccessReview
Detection of Water Content of Watermelon Seeds Based on Hyperspectral Reflection Combined with Transmission Imaging
by
Siyi Ouyang, Siwei Lv and Bin Li
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 1007; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15091007 - 6 May 2025
Abstract
Watermelon is a widely cultivated fruit and vegetable that is native to Africa and has become one of the world’s important summer fruits. Watermelon seed vigor has a critical impact on watermelon planting and yield, and seed water content is a key factor
[...] Read more.
Watermelon is a widely cultivated fruit and vegetable that is native to Africa and has become one of the world’s important summer fruits. Watermelon seed vigor has a critical impact on watermelon planting and yield, and seed water content is a key factor in maintaining vigor during seed storage and germination. In this study, reflectance and transmittance spectral data from hyperspectral imaging were fused to improve the detection accuracy of moisture content in watermelon seeds. First, watermelon seed samples with different water content gradients were prepared by dividing all 456 selected watermelon seeds into 10 groups and drying them in a drying oven at 60 °C for 0, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, and 50 min. Reflectance and transmission spectra of 456 watermelon seeds were collected by a hyperspectral imaging system, and the single spectral data were subsequently used to build PLSR and LSSVR models for quantitative analysis of watermelon seed moisture content. Model performance is enhanced by Competitive Adaptive Reweighted Sampling (CARS), Unrelated Variable Elimination (UVE), and primary and intermediate data fusion methods. Primary data fusion improves model predictions compared to single models based on reflectance and transmission spectra. The intermediate data fusion of the feature spectral data of reflectance and transmittance selected by the CARS algorithm improves the prediction effect of the model more obviously, in which the model with the best prediction accuracy is Raw-CRAS-LSSVR, whose and RMSEP are 0.9149 and 0.0144, respectively, which improves the prediction effect of the model built by a single full-spectrum datum by 5.72%. This study demonstrates that hyperspectral reflectance and transmission imaging techniques combined with data fusion can effectively detect watermelon seed moisture content quickly and with high accuracy.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Digital Agriculture)
►▼
Show Figures

Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Mitigating Catastrophic Forgetting in Pest Detection Through Adaptive Response Distillation
by
Hongjun Zhang, Zhendong Yin, Dasen Li and Yanlong Zhao
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 1006; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15091006 - 6 May 2025
Abstract
Pest detection in agriculture faces the challenge of adapting to new pest species while preserving the ability to recognize previously learned ones. Traditional model fine-tuning approaches often result in catastrophic forgetting, where the acquisition of new classes significantly impairs the recognition performance of
[...] Read more.
Pest detection in agriculture faces the challenge of adapting to new pest species while preserving the ability to recognize previously learned ones. Traditional model fine-tuning approaches often result in catastrophic forgetting, where the acquisition of new classes significantly impairs the recognition performance of existing ones. Although knowledge distillation has been shown to effectively mitigate catastrophic forgetting, current research predominantly focuses on feature imitation, neglecting the extraction of potentially valuable information from responses. To address this issue, we introduce a response-based distillation method, called adaptive response distillation (ARD). ARD incorporates an adaptive response filtering strategy that dynamically adjusts the weights of classification and regression responses based on the significance of the information. This approach selectively filters and transfers valuable response data, ensuring efficient propagation of category and localization information. Our method effectively reduces catastrophic forgetting during incremental learning, enabling the student detector to maintain memory of old classes while assimilating new pest categories. Experimental evaluations on the large-scale IP102 pest dataset demonstrate that the proposed ARD method consistently outperforms existing state-of-the-art algorithms across various class-incremental learning scenarios, significantly narrowing the performance gap compared to fully trained models.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Protection, Diseases, Pests and Weeds)
►▼
Show Figures

Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Exploring Determinants of and Barriers to Climate-Smart Agricultural Technologies Adoption in Chinese Cooperatives: A Hybrid Study
by
Xiaoxue Feng, Jun Chen, Zebing Mao, Yanhong Peng and Suhaiza Zailani
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 1005; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15091005 - 6 May 2025
Abstract
The loss of agricultural production due to climate change and natural disasters has attracted widespread attention. Climate-smart agricultural technologies (CSATs) are attracting attention as a solution to address climate change while achieving sustainable agricultural development. However, in the Chinese context, research on cooperatives’
[...] Read more.
The loss of agricultural production due to climate change and natural disasters has attracted widespread attention. Climate-smart agricultural technologies (CSATs) are attracting attention as a solution to address climate change while achieving sustainable agricultural development. However, in the Chinese context, research on cooperatives’ intention to adopt such technologies is relatively limited. This study investigated the factors influencing the behavioral intentions of Chinese farmers’ cooperatives to adopt CSATs using a behavioral reasoning theory (BRT) framework. A structured questionnaire was administered to 308 participants using purposive sampling techniques. For data analysis, an artificial neural network (ANN) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) complemented the disjointed two-stage partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach to ensure the robustness of the results and provide important practical insights. The results suggest that values (perceived value of government environmental concern, value of openness to change) shape the determinants of and barriers to CSAT adoption by cooperatives, but do not have a direct impact on behavioral intentions. The “determinants” all positively influenced adoption behavioral intentions, with “agricultural extension and advisory service” having the greatest impact on behavioral intentions, followed by “opinion leaders’ recommendation” and “policy support”. Among the “barriers”, only “perceived risk” and behavioral intention were negatively correlated. Behavioral intention to adopt CSATs by cooperatives has a positive effect on willingness to pay, which motivated cooperatives to pay more to acquire the technology. Based on the findings, this study provides theoretical insights for researchers and policy implications for governments, agricultural organizations, policymakers, and agri-technology companies.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
►▼
Show Figures

Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Identification of Interannual Variation Frequency of Cropland Cropping Intensity Based on Remote Sensing Spatiotemporal Fusion and Crop Phenological Rhythm: A Case Study of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu
by
Yaohui Zhu, Qingzhen Zhu, Yuanyuan Gao, Liyuan Zhang, Aichen Wang, Yongyun Zhu, Chunshan Wang, Bo Liu, Fa Zhao, Peiying Li, Xinhua Wei and Qi Song
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 1004; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15091004 - 6 May 2025
Abstract
The scientific evaluation of cropland resource utilization efficiency is crucial for ensuring food security and promoting sustainable agricultural development. At present, the research on the utilization of cropland resources primarily focuses on the multiple cropping index and cropping intensity, but these data are
[...] Read more.
The scientific evaluation of cropland resource utilization efficiency is crucial for ensuring food security and promoting sustainable agricultural development. At present, the research on the utilization of cropland resources primarily focuses on the multiple cropping index and cropping intensity, but these data are insufficient to reveal long-term trends and potential future changes in crop production. To fill this knowledge gap, this study took Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, as a case study and proposed a method to determine the distribution and spatiotemporal change frequency of single- and double-season cropping patterns using spatiotemporal fusion and crop phenological rhythm. By combining Sentinel-2 NDVI and MOD13Q1 satellite data, a dataset with 10 m resolution was developed to show the interannual distribution frequency of the three cropping patterns in the study area. The accuracy evaluation revealed that the interannual cropping intensity distribution frequency of the three cropping patterns exhibited good verification accuracy, with an average overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient of 81.53% and 0.68, respectively. This study provides essential support for government agencies to assess future food production potential and develop policies for improving cropland use efficiency.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi- and Hyper-Spectral Imaging Technologies for Crop Monitoring—2nd Edition)
►▼
Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu
► ▼ Journal Menu-
- Agriculture Home
- Aims & Scope
- Editorial Board
- Reviewer Board
- Topical Advisory Panel
- Instructions for Authors
- Special Issues
- Topics
- Sections
- Article Processing Charge
- Indexing & Archiving
- Editor’s Choice Articles
- Most Cited & Viewed
- Journal Statistics
- Journal History
- Journal Awards
- Conferences
- Editorial Office
Journal Browser
► ▼ Journal BrowserHighly Accessed Articles
Latest Books
E-Mail Alert
News
Topics
Topic in
Agriculture, Animals, Fermentation, Microplastics, Veterinary Sciences
Livestock and Microplastics
Topic Editors: Sonia Tassone, Beniamino T. Cenci-GogaDeadline: 20 May 2025
Topic in
Animals, Antioxidants, Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture
Feeding Livestock for Health Improvement
Topic Editors: Hui Yan, Xiao XuDeadline: 30 May 2025
Topic in
Agriculture, Agronomy, Horticulturae, Plants
Optimizing Plants and Cultivation System for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)
Topic Editors: Linxuan Li, Yongming Liu, Xiumei Luo, Maozhi Ren, Xiulan Xie, Jie HeDeadline: 3 July 2025
Topic in
Agriculture, Agronomy, Crops, Horticulturae, Plants
Sustainable Crop Production from Problematic Soils to Ensure Food Security
Topic Editors: Zhongbing Chen, Safdar Bashir, Saqib BashirDeadline: 12 July 2025

Conferences
Special Issues
Special Issue in
Agriculture
Smart Spraying Technology in Orchards: Innovation and Application
Guest Editors: Pengchao Chen, Juan WangDeadline: 10 May 2025
Special Issue in
Agriculture
Genetic and Environmental Factors Influencing the Growth of Horticultural Crops
Guest Editors: Jianjun Chen, Xiangying WeiDeadline: 10 May 2025
Special Issue in
Agriculture
Research Advances in Perception for Agricultural Robots
Guest Editors: Hanwen Kang, Hugh Zhou, Yaohui ChenDeadline: 15 May 2025
Special Issue in
Agriculture
Fruit Germplasm Resource Conservation and Breeding
Guest Editors: Zhike Zhang, Xianghui YangDeadline: 15 May 2025