Journal Description
Agronomy
Agronomy
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on agronomy and agroecology published monthly online by MDPI. The Spanish Society of Plant Physiology (SEFV) is affiliated with Agronomy and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- 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, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Plant Sciences) / CiteScore - Q1 (Agronomy and Crop Science)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 15.5 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.6 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 Agronomy include: Seeds, Agrochemicals, Grasses and Crops.
Impact Factor:
3.3 (2023);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.7 (2023)
Latest Articles
Design of an Adaptive Height Control System for Sugarcane Harvester Header
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1644; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081644 - 26 Jul 2024
Abstract
This study addresses the issue of low control accuracy and harvesting efficiency resulting from the manual adjustment of the header height during the sugarcane harvesting process in hilly and mountainous regions. An adaptive header height adjustment system was designed and implemented. A test
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This study addresses the issue of low control accuracy and harvesting efficiency resulting from the manual adjustment of the header height during the sugarcane harvesting process in hilly and mountainous regions. An adaptive header height adjustment system was designed and implemented. A test bench for the sugarcane harvester header was designed and constructed, incorporating a LiDAR to measure the ground height at the sugarcane growth point in front, and a draw-wire displacement sensor to monitor the real-time height of the header. I/O ports were allocated, and the control program was developed in the TIA Portal environment. The PLC control system achieves the precise adjustment of the cutting height based on the collected data. The experimental results indicate that the system can quickly respond and adjust the cutting height under complex terrain conditions. When the cutting height into the soil is 0 mm, the adaptive control system’s average cutting height error is 0.28 cm, and the average response time is 2.3 s. When the cutting depth into the soil is 2 cm, the average cutting height error is 0.21 cm, and the average response time is 2.31 s.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precision Operation Technology and Intelligent Equipment in Farmland—2nd Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Chemical Control of the Field Dodder (Cuscuta campestris) in New-Seeded Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
by
Fariba Meighani, Ebrahim Mamnoei, Sepideh Hatami, Elham Samadi-Kalkhoran, Behrooz Khalil-Tahmasebi, Nicholas Emmanuel Korres and Ali Ahsan Bajwa
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1643; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081643 - 26 Jul 2024
Abstract
Field dodder (Cuscuta campestris yuncker) is an important parasitic weed that has negative impacts on the growth and yield of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Effective control of field dodder in alfalfa crops is necessary to reduce yield losses. Field studies were
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Field dodder (Cuscuta campestris yuncker) is an important parasitic weed that has negative impacts on the growth and yield of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Effective control of field dodder in alfalfa crops is necessary to reduce yield losses. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of various herbicides on field dodder in a new-seeded alfalfa crop at three locations (Karaj, Jiroft, and Urmia) in Iran during 2020–2021. The herbicides evaluated were imazethapyr (100 g a.i. ha−1), glyphosate (six doses ranging from 143 to 348 g a.i. ha−1 + ammonium sulfate at 8 kg ha−1), and propyzamide (1250, 1500, and 1750 g a.i. ha−1). The results demonstrated that propyzamide at 1750 g a.i. ha−1 provided complete control of field dodder in terms of percentage change in biomass at first (100%) and second (99%) cuttings of alfalfa in Urmia. The imazethapyr at 100 g a.i. ha−1 provided 96 and 87% control at the first and second cuttings, respectively, whereas propyzamide at 1750 g a.i. ha−1 showed the best efficacy in increasing alfalfa biomass at the first (up to 82%) and the second cuttings (up to 81%), depending on the location. Glyphosate provided reasonable control of the field dodder at the first (73%) and the second cutting (82%). However, at higher rates (307 and 348 g a.i. ha−1), it caused significant reductions in alfalfa biomass due to crop injury, especially at the first cutting. The use of propyzamide at 1750 g a.i. ha−1 is recommended for highly effective control of field dodder in alfalfa crops without compromising the crop yield.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Weed Science and Weed Management)
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Open AccessArticle
Mechanisms and Applications of Pseudomonas monteilii SX001: A Promising Agent for Improving Cucumber Tolerance to Salt Stress
by
Bin Li, Zhexuan Wang, Bo Qiao, Tongxin Liu, Sen Li, Lixiang Zhao, Lincao Wei and Lingjuan Han
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1642; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081642 - 26 Jul 2024
Abstract
To investigate the effects of Pseudomonas monteilii SX001 on various parameters of cucumber plants under salt stress, the salt-sensitive cucumber variety “Jinyou No. 4” was used as the test material, and coconut bran was used to simulate salt stress by applying NaCl solution.
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To investigate the effects of Pseudomonas monteilii SX001 on various parameters of cucumber plants under salt stress, the salt-sensitive cucumber variety “Jinyou No. 4” was used as the test material, and coconut bran was used to simulate salt stress by applying NaCl solution. The results indicated that salt stress significantly reduced the morphological structure, relative growth rate, root morphology, and photosynthetic parameters of the cucumber plants. Leaf starch, soluble sugar, and sucrose contents significantly increased, whereas their levels in roots decreased. Cell membrane damage leads to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde, with notable increases in the activities of major antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, and POD. Nitrogen metabolism was disrupted, as evidenced by a significant decrease in nitrate nitrogen content and an increase in ammonium nitrogen content, as well as a significant reduction in the activity of NR enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism. The enzyme activity in the cucumber rhizosphere soil decreased. However, Pseudomonas monteilii SX001 significantly enhanced the growth of cucumber seedlings under salt stress, improved photosynthetic efficiency, and facilitated sugar transformation and transport via glucose metabolism. Additionally, Pseudomonas monteilii SX001 reduced the reactive oxygen content and increased antioxidant enzyme activity. It also increased the activity of substrate enzymes and decreased the diversity of rhizosphere soil microorganisms but also increased the abundance of Asticcacaulis, Acinetobacter, Brevundimonas, Pseudomonas, and Enterobacter. These findings demonstrate that Pseudomonas monteilii SX001 is a promising bioinoculant for alleviating salt stress in cucumber production and improving soil health.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress on Pathogenicity of Fungi in Crops—2nd Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Combined Effect of Light and Temperature on Wheat and Rice Growth: A Case Study in Controlled Environment Agriculture
by
Megan Thies, Rhuanito Soranz Ferrarezi and Matthew Realff
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1641; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081641 - 26 Jul 2024
Abstract
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In light of projected climate changes that are expected to disrupt crop yields in previously stable regions, it is essential to understand how these changes will affect food supplies. This study investigated the combined effect of light and temperature on the yield of
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In light of projected climate changes that are expected to disrupt crop yields in previously stable regions, it is essential to understand how these changes will affect food supplies. This study investigated the combined effect of light and temperature on the yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) in a controlled environment. Three treatment combinations were tested: 30.2 mol.m−2.d−1 with a 17.5 °C average (“low”), 38.9 mol.m−2.d−1 and 22.5 °C (“medium”), and 47.5 mol.m−2.d−1 and 27.5 °C (“high”). The low treatment resulted in the highest wheat yield, with total dry biomasses of 233 g, 140 g, and 115 g for the low, medium, and high treatments. Rice showed the highest growth in the medium and high treatments, with total dry biomasses of 145 and 144 g. The medium and high treatment biomasses were not statistically significant for wheat or rice at 95% confidence. However, the wheat’s edible biomass did significantly decrease between every treatment. These results demonstrate that wheat thrives in colder climates, even with less light available, while an increase in temperature will have either a positive or insignificant effect on rice within this study’s temperature range.
Full article
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Open AccessArticle
Improving the Accuracy of Agricultural Pest Identification: Application of AEC-YOLOv8n to Large-Scale Pest Datasets
by
Jinfan Wei, He Gong, Shijun Li, Minghui You, Hang Zhu, Lingyun Ni, Lan Luo, Mengchao Chen, Hongli Chao, Jinghuan Hu, Caocan Zhu, Heyang Wang, Jingyi Liu, Jiaxin Nian, Wenye Fan, Ye Mu and Yu Sun
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1640; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081640 - 26 Jul 2024
Abstract
Crop diseases and pests are important factors restricting agricultural production. Traditional pest detection methods are mainly targeted at a single pest species, which is difficult to meet the needs of multi-target identification and rapid response in real scenes. Therefore, this paper improves the
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Crop diseases and pests are important factors restricting agricultural production. Traditional pest detection methods are mainly targeted at a single pest species, which is difficult to meet the needs of multi-target identification and rapid response in real scenes. Therefore, this paper improves the YOLOv8n model for efficient multi-target pest detection. Two feature enhancement modules, EMSFEM and AFEM_SIE, are proposed in this paper. The EMSFEM module enriches the model’s receptive field through the combination of multi-scale asymmetric convolution kernel and different expansion rates and can better extract the width, height, texture, and edge information of the target. The AFEM_SIE module captures the similarities and differences between upper and lower features through spatial information exchange and enhances feature representation through inter-feature information exchange. In addition, an improved feature fusion operation, Concat_Weighting, is proposed on the basis of Concat. The module uses the learned weights to carry out channel weighting and feature graph weighting for input features, which realizes more flexible and effective feature fusion. The results of experiments conducted on the publicly available large-scale crop pest and disease dataset IP102 show that the performance of the AEC-YOLOv8n model is significantly improved compared with the original YOLOv8n model, with mAP50 increased by 8.9%, accuracy increased by 6.8%, and recall rate increased by 6.3%. The AEC-YOLOv8n model proposed in this study can effectively identify and deal with a variety of crop pests and has achieved the best detection accuracy on the IP102 dataset, which has high application value.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Pest and Disease Management)
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Open AccessArticle
Weak Solar Radiation Significantly Decreased Rice Grain Yield and Quality—Simulated Shading Could Be a Foretell for Climate Change
by
Lin Guo, Wenle Qi, Zeen Bao, Yumei Wang, Jiale Wu, Xiaohua Pan, Yongjun Zeng and Xiaobing Xie
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1639; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081639 - 26 Jul 2024
Abstract
The southern rice-growing region plays a crucial role in ensuring national food security in China. However, rice production in this area is often affected by unfavorable weather conditions such as rainy and dim days, which significantly impact rice yield. Therefore, we conducted two
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The southern rice-growing region plays a crucial role in ensuring national food security in China. However, rice production in this area is often affected by unfavorable weather conditions such as rainy and dim days, which significantly impact rice yield. Therefore, we conducted two field experiments to explore and compare the effects of climate variations and simulated shading on rice yield and quality. The results indicated that (a) both interannual climate variation and simulated shading had adverse effects on rice yield and quality, (b) the impact of interannual climate variation on yield was less severe compared with simulated shading, but it had a more significant negative effect on rice quality, and (c) different cultivars/quality groups of rice exhibited variations in response to weak solar radiation, with high-quality rice being more susceptible. The findings suggest that in the production of high-quality rice, it is important to select cultivars that are resilient to interannual climate variation and to develop supporting cultivation techniques to cope with growing incidence of weakened solar radiation in the future. Breeders can try to tap into potential weak-light-resistance genes and cultivators can try to use different cultivation methods to determine the optimal water and fertilizer regimes.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation of Crops to the Environment under Climate Change: Physiological and Agronomic Strategies—Volume III)
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Open AccessArticle
Borrow Pit Disposal of Coal Mining Byproducts Improves Soil Physicochemical Properties and Vegetation Succession
by
Jawdat Bakr, Agnieszka Kompała-Bąba, Wojciech Bierza, Damian Chmura, Agnieszka Hutniczak, Jacek Kasztowski, Bartosz Jendrzejek, Adrian Zarychta and Gabriela Woźniak
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1638; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081638 - 26 Jul 2024
Abstract
The way of disposing of rock mineral material has a significant impact on subsequent spontaneous vegetation succession, soil properties, and respiration. We compared seven spontaneously vegetated samples from a large (2 km2) borrow pit used to dispose of the byproducts of
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The way of disposing of rock mineral material has a significant impact on subsequent spontaneous vegetation succession, soil properties, and respiration. We compared seven spontaneously vegetated samples from a large (2 km2) borrow pit used to dispose of the byproducts of a hard coal mine with seven plots from four coal mine spoil heap piles. We used BIOLOG EcoPlates to assess the microbial catabolic activity of the substrate. The substrate in the borrow pit was characterized by higher water content and lower temperature compared to the heap pile substrate. The borrow pit had a more diverse plant community structure. Higher Rao’s quadratic entropy, functional richness, and functional divergence were also calculated from plant functional traits in borrow pit samples. Although borrow pit samples showed higher total microbial biomass, bacteria/fungi ratio, and gram+/gram− ratio, and heap pile samples showed higher soil enzymatic activity, microbial functional diversity, and catabolic activity, these differences were not significant. Soil respiration from the borrow pit substrate was two folds higher. The borrow pit method of disposing of rock mineral material can be suggested to speed up spontaneous vegetation succession. This research provides new insights into the effects of burying hard coal byproducts in borrow pits and offers guidance for the management of hard coal mining.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Diversity of Soil Microbial Communities in Environments Shaped by Anthropogenic Activities)
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Open AccessArticle
Relationship between Chilling Accumulation and Heat Requirement for Flowering in Peach Varieties of Different Chilling Requirements
by
Juan Yan, Zhixiang Cai, Zheng Chen, Binbin Zhang, Jiyao Li, Jianlan Xu, Ruijuan Ma, Mingliang Yu and Zhijun Shen
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1637; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081637 - 26 Jul 2024
Abstract
Previous studies have shown a negative correlation between chilling accumulation (CA) and heat requirements (HRs) in peaches (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch), consistent with findings in other plants in spring events. However, there is a lack of comparative research on the CA–HR relationship
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Previous studies have shown a negative correlation between chilling accumulation (CA) and heat requirements (HRs) in peaches (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch), consistent with findings in other plants in spring events. However, there is a lack of comparative research on the CA–HR relationship in peach varieties with different chilling requirements (CRs), and the specific impact of CA on HR reduction remains poorly described. To address this, we investigated the effects of CA on the days and HR for flowering in 54 peach varieties of differing CRs. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the effects of CA on the phenology of floral organ development in a selected peach variety. Our results indicate that, in general, peaches exhibit a reduced HR and accelerated flowering as the CA increases, but that the strength and trend of the CA–HR relationship is influenced by the CR and the variety. Low-CR varieties showed less sensitivity to CA increments, requiring higher relative increases in CA to significantly lower the HR, whereas high-CR varieties appeared to be more sensitive, with even modest changes leading to substantial reductions in HR. However, variations from this generality exist, even within varieties displaying the same rCA (the ratio of CA to CR). Additionally, we provide a summary of the relationship between the rCA and drHR in peaches of differing CRs, and identify several varieties exhibiting a strong response in the CA–HR relationship. This study also highlights the impact of CA on flower bud development, revealing slower progression under lower CA levels and accelerated growth with an increased CA. In particular, we identified the critical period of the enlargement and initiation of green scales as indicative of successful pollen grain formation. Finally, we present a schematic of the CA–HR relationship for flowering in peaches.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Horticultural and Floricultural Crops)
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Open AccessArticle
A Preliminary Assessment of the Combined Effects of a Novel Microbial Biostimulant Product, Fertilizers, and Herbicides on the Growth and Yield of Field Crops in Greece
by
Ioannis Gazoulis, Stavros Zannopoulos, Metaxia Kokkini, Nikolaos Antonopoulos, Panagiotis Kanatas, Marianna Kanetsi, Triantafyllia Demirtzoglou and Ilias Travlos
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1636; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081636 - 26 Jul 2024
Abstract
Field trials were conducted (2022–2023) in a randomized complete block design to evaluate the combined use of a microbial biostimulant, P-K Stim, which contains phosphate and potassium solubilizing bacteria (109 Colony Forming Units mL−1), various fertilization rates, and herbicide use
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Field trials were conducted (2022–2023) in a randomized complete block design to evaluate the combined use of a microbial biostimulant, P-K Stim, which contains phosphate and potassium solubilizing bacteria (109 Colony Forming Units mL−1), various fertilization rates, and herbicide use on weed growth and the productivity of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), and durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). The following treatment list was the same on all trial fields: (1) 100% basal fertilization (100N), (2) 20% basal fertilization and application of microbial biostimulant P-K Stim (20N + PK), (3) 100% basal fertilization and post-emergence herbicide treatment (100N + H), (4) 20% basal fertilization together with the application of P-K Stim and a post-emergence herbicide treatment (20N + PK + H), and (5) 50% basal fertilization together with the application of P-K Stim and a post-emergence herbicide treatment (50N + PK + H). The combined use of fertilization, biostimulants, and herbicides significantly affected crop yield, its components and weed biomass (p ≤ 0.05). The concentrations for potassium and phosphorus were higher in the 20N + PK + H and 50N + PK + H treatments for all crops compared to other treatments. Nutrient concentrations were remarkably high across all crops, closely approximating the values of the recommended nitrogen fertilization. Crop yield and its components were positively influenced by the 20N + PK + H and 50N + PK + H treatments. Weed biomass was significantly lower in these plots compared to other treatments.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Weed Science and Weed Management)
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Open AccessEditorial
The Adaptation of Crops to the Environment under Climate Change: Physiological and Agronomic Strategies—Volume II
by
Rosa Porcel
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1635; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081635 - 26 Jul 2024
Abstract
This Special Issue “Adaptation of Crops to the Environment under Climate Change: Physiological and Agronomic Strategies—Volume II” compiles eleven original research articles, addressing different strategies to cope with the current climate change scenario [...]
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation of Crops to the Environment under Climate Change: Physiological and Agronomic Strategies — Volume II)
Open AccessArticle
Performance of Machine Learning Models in Predicting Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Crop Nitrogen Using NIR Spectroscopy
by
Marcos Silva Tavares, Carlos Augusto Alves Cardoso Silva, Jamile Raquel Regazzo, Edson José de Souza Sardinha, Thiago Lima da Silva, Peterson Ricardo Fiorio and Murilo Mesquita Baesso
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1634; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081634 - 26 Jul 2024
Abstract
Beans are the main direct source of protein consumed by humans in the world and their productivity is directly linked to nitrogen. The short crop cycle imposes the need for fast methodologies for N quantification. In this work, we evaluated the performance of
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Beans are the main direct source of protein consumed by humans in the world and their productivity is directly linked to nitrogen. The short crop cycle imposes the need for fast methodologies for N quantification. In this work, we evaluated the performance of four machine learning algorithms in nitrogen estimation using NIR spectroscopy, comparing predictions between complete spectral data and only intervals obtained with the variable importance in projection (VIP). Doses of 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha−1 of N were applied and leaf reflectance was collected. Weka software was used to test the algorithms. The selection of the most effective spectral zones was made with the variable importance in projection (VIP). The intervals of 700–740 nm and 983–995 nm were considered the most important for the study of nitrogen. More efficient predictions were verified for RF and KNN models (R2 = 0.89, RMSE = 2.23 g kg−1; and R2 = 0.80, RMSE = 2.89 g kg−1, respectively) when only the most important spectral regions were included. The efficiency of nitrogen prediction based on NIR reflectance combined with machine learning was verified, which can serve as an important tool in precision agriculture.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Use of NIR Spectroscopy in Smart Agriculture)
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Open AccessArticle
S-Benzyl-L-Cysteine Inhibits Growth and Photosynthesis, and Triggers Oxidative Stress in Ipomoea grandifolia
by
Danielly Caroline Inacio Martarello, Luiz Henryque Escher Grizza, Marcela de Paiva Foletto-Felipe, Ana Paula da Silva Mendonça, Renato Polimeni Constantin, Ana Paula Ferro, Wanderley Dantas dos Santos, Rodrigo Polimeni Constantin, Rogerio Marchiosi and Osvaldo Ferrarese-Filho
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1633; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081633 - 25 Jul 2024
Abstract
L-cysteine, a precursor of essential components for plant growth, is synthesized by the cysteine synthase complex, which includes O-acetylserine(thiol) lyase (OAS-TL) and serine acetyltransferase. In this work, we investigated how S-benzyl-L-cysteine (SBC), an OAS-TL inhibitor, affects the growth, photosynthesis, and oxidative
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L-cysteine, a precursor of essential components for plant growth, is synthesized by the cysteine synthase complex, which includes O-acetylserine(thiol) lyase (OAS-TL) and serine acetyltransferase. In this work, we investigated how S-benzyl-L-cysteine (SBC), an OAS-TL inhibitor, affects the growth, photosynthesis, and oxidative stress of Ipomoea grandifolia plants. SBC impaired gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence, indicating damage that compromised photosynthesis and reduced plant growth. Critical parameters such as the electron transport rate (J), triose phosphate utilization (TPU), light-saturation point (LSP), maximum carboxylation rate of Rubisco (Vcmax), and light-saturated net photosynthetic rate (PNmax) decreased by 19%, 20%, 22%, 23%, and 24%, respectively. The photochemical quenching coefficient (qP), quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry (ϕPSII), electron transport rate through PSII (ETR), and stomatal conductance (gs) decreased by 12%, 19%, 19%, and 34%, respectively. Additionally, SBC decreased the maximum fluorescence yield (Fm), variable fluorescence (Fv), and chlorophyll (SPAD index) by 14%, 15%, and 15%, respectively, indicating possible damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. SBC triggered root oxidative stress by increasing malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, and conjugated dienes by 30%, 55%, and 61%, respectively. We hypothesize that dysfunctions in sulfur-containing components of the photosynthetic electron transport chain, such as the cytochrome b6f complex, ferredoxin, and the iron–sulfur (Fe-S) centers are the cause of these effects, which ultimately reduce the efficiency of electron transport and hinder photosynthesis in I. grandifolia plants. In short, our findings suggest that targeting OAS-TL with inhibitors like SBC could be a promising strategy for the development of novel herbicides.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Horticultural and Floricultural Crops)
Open AccessArticle
The Biological Activity of an SfMNPV-Based Biopesticide on a Resistant Strain of Spodoptera frugiperda Developing on Transgenic Corn Expressing Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2 + Cry1F Insecticidal Protein
by
Fernanda Carla Santos Geisler, Liliane Nachtigall Martins, Inessa Emanuelle da Fonseca Machado, Lara Fernandes Matozo, Willian Furtado Lucena, Vanessa Nogueira Soares, Juliano de Bastos Pazini, Ana Paula Schneid Afonso Schneid da Rosa and Daniel Bernardi
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1632; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081632 - 25 Jul 2024
Abstract
Insecticides based on baculoviruses have become an alternative for pest control in different agricultural crops. The aim of this study was to assess the biological activity of the bioinsecticide Cartugen™ (SfMNPV: Baculoviridae: Alphabaculovirus) on larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda J. E.
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Insecticides based on baculoviruses have become an alternative for pest control in different agricultural crops. The aim of this study was to assess the biological activity of the bioinsecticide Cartugen™ (SfMNPV: Baculoviridae: Alphabaculovirus) on larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) resistant to Bt corn expressing the insecticidal proteins Cry1A.105+Cry2Ab2+Cry1F. In addition, we assessed the efficiency of SfMNPV on S. frugiperda control in the field from natural infestation of the pest during two agricultural seasons. The results showed that no larvae survived 10 days after being inoculated with Bt and non-Bt corn leaves contaminated with 1.50 × 1010 occlusion bodies (OBs)/L (equivalent to the recommended dose of the product). However, when using doses equivalent to 50% (7.50 × 109 OBs/L) and 25% (3.75 × 109 OBs/L), the larval mortality ranged from 21.12% to 46.55%, respectively. Although larvae resistant to the Cry1A.105+Cry2Ab2+Cry1F proteins, when exposed to 50% of the SfMNPV dose (7.50 × 109 OBs/L), showed reductions in larval weight (52 to 67% reduction), pupal weight (32 to 59% reduction), and total fecundity (67 to 86% reduction) compared to the control. Furthermore, doses above 25% (3.75 × 109 OBs/L−1) caused a population decrease in the growth of the species in both Bt and non-Bt corn according to the fertility life table. In the field, at 7 and 10 DAA (days after application), corn plants sprayed with SfMNPV (1.50 × 1010 OBs/L) showed reductions in leaf damage according to the Davis scale. However, from 14 to 21 DAA, there was an increase in leaf damage in corn leaves from both treatments, with or without the application of SfMNPV. This shows that SfMNPV may be an important strategy in the integrated management and resistance management of S. frugiperda.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges for the Management of Lepidopteran Pests—2nd Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Design and Test of Novel Uniform Application Equipment with Nozzles Swinging Horizontally Used for UAVs
by
Shuangshuang Wang, Han Zhang, Guozhong Zhang and Haopeng Liu
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1631; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081631 - 25 Jul 2024
Abstract
Given the problems such as insufficient control on pests and diseases or pesticide damage on plants caused by uneven distribution of pesticide droplets during the current application process by UAVs, this paper designed novel uniform application equipment with nozzles swinging horizontally based on
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Given the problems such as insufficient control on pests and diseases or pesticide damage on plants caused by uneven distribution of pesticide droplets during the current application process by UAVs, this paper designed novel uniform application equipment with nozzles swinging horizontally based on a UAV platform in order to improve the distribution uniformity of droplets volume. Nozzles swinging periodically are able to increase the overlap probability of spray fans generated from nozzles. It is helpful to further the spray deposition uniformity improvement. Through droplet motion analysis, CFD simulation, and spray tests, it was determined that the key factors affecting uniformity were the oscillating rod length, spray height, and nozzle angle. The best parameter combination was explored as the length of 175 mm, the height of 1.5 m, and the angle of 15°. Based on this combination, the prototype was produced and installed on the UAV platform. A field test was carried out to verify its performance. The results showed that the CV of the improved UAV was 26.41%, which was 6.43 percentage points lower than the traditional UAV, and the decrease was 19.58%, meaning that it is feasible to use this equipment to improve uniformity.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Environment and Intelligent Plant Protection Equipment—2nd Edition)
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Open AccessArticle
Wheat Response to Foliar-Applied Phosphorus Is Determined by Soil Phosphorus Buffering
by
Raj Malik, Craig Scanlan, Andrew van Burgel and Balwinder Singh
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1630; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081630 - 25 Jul 2024
Abstract
In no-till cropping systems, banding of phosphorus (P) fertiliser at seeding results in low use efficiency due to chemical reactions in soil. Foliar P has the potential to allow grain producers to respond tactically with P application after sowing when P supply from
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In no-till cropping systems, banding of phosphorus (P) fertiliser at seeding results in low use efficiency due to chemical reactions in soil. Foliar P has the potential to allow grain producers to respond tactically with P application after sowing when P supply from soil and fertiliser is not meeting crop demand. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of foliar P on wheat grain yield, grain quality, biomass yield, P uptake and P use efficiency indices. Nine field experiments were conducted to investigate the response of wheat to foliar P. Three rates of P, 0, 2.5 and 5.0 kg/ha, as phosphoric acid (H3PO4 85%) were applied to wheat at three different growth stages: first tiller emergence (Z21), first node detection (Z31) and flag leaf emergence (Z39). Grain yield responses ranging from 176 kg/ha to 505 kg/ha to foliar-applied P were observed in six out of nine experiments. The percent grain yield response to foliar P was negatively related to the P buffering index (PBI, 0–10 cm soil depth), which is attributed to greater sorption by soil of the foliar P at the higher PBI levels. Mean agronomic efficiency (AE) across the experiments was 111 kg/kg P but reached up to 232 kg/kg P. It was also evident that foliar P has the potential to improve P concentration in shoots and grains and increase P uptake but with no or minimal effect on grain quality. Our results suggest that a combination of tissue testing at the seedling stage and soil P buffering can be used to guide when foliar P application is likely to increase grain yield in wheat.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foliar Fertilization: Novel Approaches and Field Practices)
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Open AccessArticle
Nitrogen and Potassium Application Effects on Grain-Filling and Rice Quality in Different Japonica Rice Cultivars
by
Liqiang Chen, Jiping Gao, Wenzhong Zhang, Hongfang Jiang, Ya Liu, Bingchun Yan and Xue Wan
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1629; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081629 - 25 Jul 2024
Abstract
Northeast China is an important commercial grain base for China, but also the largest japonica rice production area. However, N, and K fertilizer application and unreasonable application times are prominent contradictions that restrict the development of japonica rice. This study aimed to investigate
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Northeast China is an important commercial grain base for China, but also the largest japonica rice production area. However, N, and K fertilizer application and unreasonable application times are prominent contradictions that restrict the development of japonica rice. This study aimed to investigate how to rationally apply N and K fertilizers to affect grain filling and ultimately increase the quality of the rice. In this field study, two N application levels and three K application ratios were set in 2020 and 2021 using Shennong 265 (SN265) and Meifengdao 61 (MF61). We found that the final seed growth and filling rate of SN265 were higher than those of MF61, and their filling characteristics were slow in the early stage and fast in the later stage, with large fluctuations. Appropriate reductions and increases of N and K fertilizer applications, respectively, in the early stage could improve grain filling. Compared with SN265, MF61 had a 3.2% increase in head rice rate, lower amylose and protein content, a decrease of chalkiness degree and chalkiness percentage by 23.96 and 34.00%, respectively, and more reasonable protein components. With the N application increase, the processing quality improved, the amylose and protein content and chalkiness increased, the protein components increased except for the milled rice glutelin, and the rice taste value decreased. At low N levels, increasing the proportion of K application was consistent with the effect of increasing N. The taste value of SN265 decreased linearly with the increase in the ratio of N application to pre-application of K, the highest taste value was obtained when the N fertilizer was applied at a rate of 180 kg ha−1, and the ratio of before and after K fertilizer application was about 1:2. The taste value of MF61 decreased linearly with the N application increase and showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing with the K application increase in the early stage. The taste peak gradually shifted back with the N application increase, and the highest taste value was obtained when N fertilizer was applied at 180 kg ha−1; the ratio of before and after K fertilizer application was about 3:2. By constructing the grain-filling quality evaluation system, the characteristic parameters of superior and inferior grains at the early and late stages of grain filling, respectively, greatly affected the rice taste value. Additionally, the percentage of the rice grain weight at the maximum grain-filling rate to the final rice grain weight (I) of superior grains, glutelin content, and value of the RVA profile characteristics were all critical reference indicators for rice taste quality.
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(This article belongs to the Section Plant-Crop Biology and Biochemistry)
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Open AccessArticle
YOLO-Peach: A High-Performance Lightweight YOLOv8s-Based Model for Accurate Recognition and Enumeration of Peach Seedling Fruits
by
Yi Shi, Shunhao Qing, Long Zhao, Fei Wang, Xingcan Yuwen and Menghan Qu
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1628; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081628 - 25 Jul 2024
Abstract
The identification and enumeration of peach seedling fruits are pivotal in the realm of precision agriculture, greatly influencing both yield estimation and agronomic practices. This study introduces an innovative, lightweight YOLOv8 model for the automatic detection and quantification of peach seedling fruits, designated
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The identification and enumeration of peach seedling fruits are pivotal in the realm of precision agriculture, greatly influencing both yield estimation and agronomic practices. This study introduces an innovative, lightweight YOLOv8 model for the automatic detection and quantification of peach seedling fruits, designated as YOLO-Peach, to bolster the scientific rigor and operational efficiency of orchard management. Traditional identification methods, which are labor-intensive and error-prone, have been superseded by this advancement. A comprehensive dataset was meticulously curated, capturing the rich characteristics and diversity of peach seedling fruits through high-resolution imagery at various times and locations, followed by meticulous preprocessing to ensure data quality. The YOLOv8s model underwent a series of lightweight optimizations, including the integration of MobileNetV3 as its backbone, the p2BiFPN architecture, spatial and channel reconstruction convolution, and coordinate attention mechanism, all of which have significantly bolstered the model’s capability to detect small targets with precision. The YOLO-Peach model excels in detection accuracy, evidenced by a precision and recall of 0.979, along with an mAP50 of 0.993 and an mAP50-95 of 0.867, indicating its superior capability for peach sapling identification with efficient computational performance. The findings underscore the model’s efficacy and practicality in the context of peach seedling fruit recognition. Ablation studies have shed light on the indispensable role of each component, with MobileNetV3 streamlining the model’s complexity and computational load, while the p2BiFPN architecture, ScConv convolutions, and coordinate attention mechanism have collectively enhanced the model’s feature extraction and detection precision for minute targets. The implications of this research are profound, offering a novel approach to peach seedling fruit recognition and serving as a blueprint for the identification of young fruits in other fruit species. This work holds significant theoretical and practical value, propelling forward the broader field of agricultural automation.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI, Sensors and Robotics for Smart Agriculture—2nd Edition)
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Open AccessArticle
Reduction in Chemical Fertilizer Rates by Applying Bio-Organic Fertilizer for Optimization Yield and Quality of Hemerocallis citrina Baroni
by
Songhai Wu, Zhou Li, Yanfei Yang, Jin Sun, Dongmei Lian, Zhengfeng Lai and Jianji Hong
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1627; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081627 - 25 Jul 2024
Abstract
In this study, we investigated if reducing the amount of chemical fertilizer by combining it with organic fertilizer in Hemerocallis citrina Baroni (H. citrina) cultivation could improve plant growth and photosynthetic capacity and, consequently, increase yield and quality. A continuous two-year
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In this study, we investigated if reducing the amount of chemical fertilizer by combining it with organic fertilizer in Hemerocallis citrina Baroni (H. citrina) cultivation could improve plant growth and photosynthetic capacity and, consequently, increase yield and quality. A continuous two-year field experiment was conducted at a research farm in Zhangzhou City, China, during 2021–2022. Six fertilization levels with two locally grown H. citrina cultivars, “Taidong 6” and “Shibage”, were tested. The results showed that 100% of the recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (RDF) with bio-organic fertilizer yielded superior effects in promoting both vegetative and reproductive growth in comparison to RDF alone. However, reducing the application rate of chemical fertilizers, especially by more than 40%, resulted in a significant decline in certain agronomic traits such as plant width, leaf width, and scape length. Compared to RDF, the use of 100% or 80% RDF in combination with bio-organic fertilizer significantly increased chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, and transpiration rate as well as yield production, while excessive reductions in chemical fertilizer rate produced results that demonstrated an opposite trend. The co-application of chemical and bio-organic fertilizer enhanced the contents of soluble sugar and lowered total acidity, whereas excessive chemical fertilizer reduction decreased vitamin C, total flavonoids, and soluble protein levels. Utilizing radar chart analysis for a comprehensive assessment of yield and quality demonstrates that the application of bio-organic fertilizer with 80% RDF could be a better field fertilization regime for H. citrina cultivation.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agroecology Innovation: Achieving System Resilience)
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Open AccessArticle
Saccorhiza polyschides Extract as Biostimulant for Reducing Salt Stress Effect in Common Bean Crops
by
Nada Nhhala, Salma Latique, Anass Kchikich, Amr Kchikich, Mohamed Nhiri and Penélope García-Angulo
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1626; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081626 - 25 Jul 2024
Abstract
Salinity stress emerges as an important menace to global food security, particularly affecting susceptible crops such as common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The disruption of ion balances caused by salt stress within plant cells reduces water and nutrient absorption and hampers
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Salinity stress emerges as an important menace to global food security, particularly affecting susceptible crops such as common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The disruption of ion balances caused by salt stress within plant cells reduces water and nutrient absorption and hampers growth and productivity. Sacchorhiza polyschides, a brown macroalga rich in essential elements and macrominerals, has drawn attention as a natural biostimulant, being a potential remedy to bolster crop resilience against salt stress. This study delves into the effect of water extracts of Sacchorhiza polyschides (SPE) across varying concentrations (1%, 2%, and 5%) in common bean plants under salt stress (68.4 mM NaCl) conditions. Two different methods of application were used: by spraying the aerial part of the plant or by irrigation together with the watering solution. The effects of both systems of application were studied on the aerial parts of the plants. SPE exhibited significant enhancements in morphological parameters, chlorophyll content, carbon–nitrogen activities, and antioxidant enzymatic system activities, alongside increasing osmolyte accumulation, compared to salt-stressed plants without biostimulation. Moreover, SPE reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels caused by salt stress, mitigating lipid peroxidation. The concentrations of 2% and 5% SPE applied by spraying showed the most significant results in most of the parameters analyzed. By shedding light on the underlying science behind this biostimulant effect, this research underscores the potential of SPE to enhance crop resilience and augment food production in salt-challenged environments.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytoalexins, Resistance Inducers, and Sustainable Control Measures in Crop Protection Strategies—2nd Edition)
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Open AccessArticle
Microanatomical Properties of Energy Willow (Salix spp.) Leaves after Exposure to Potentially Toxic Elements from Wastewater Solids and Wood Ash
by
Csilla Tóth, László Simon and Brigitta Tóth
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1625; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081625 - 25 Jul 2024
Abstract
This open-field small-plot long-term experiment was set up between 2011 and 2021 with willow (Salix triandra × S. viminalis ‘Inger’), grown as a short rotation coppice energy crop in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. The sandy loam Cambisol was treated with wastewater solids (WS) in
[...] Read more.
This open-field small-plot long-term experiment was set up between 2011 and 2021 with willow (Salix triandra × S. viminalis ‘Inger’), grown as a short rotation coppice energy crop in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. The sandy loam Cambisol was treated with wastewater solids (WS) in the form of municipal sewage sludge compost (MSSC, 2011, 2013, and 2016), municipal sewage sediment (MSS, 2018), and with willow ash (WA, 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2018). Control plots remained untreated since 2011. All soil treatments significantly enhanced the uptake or accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the leaves of willows. During June 2019, 53 weeks after the last soil treatments, MSSC + MSS-, WA-, and MSSC + MSS + WA-treated willows leaves had 14–68% more As, 17–48% more Ba, 31–104% more Cr, 4–12% more Cu, 6–15% more Mn, 18–218% more Pb, and 11–35% more Zn compared to the untreated control. Significantly higher Mn and Zn concentrations were measured in the MSSC + MSS + WA treatments than in the MSSC + MSS treatments. The assumption that WA reduces the accumulation of PTEs in willow leaves when applied together with MSSC and MSS was therefore only partially confirmed. The hypothesis of this study was that PTEs accumulated in the leaves would affect the microanatomical parameters of the leaves. Numerous positive changes were observed with the combined application of WS and WA. MSSC + MSS + WA treatment reduced the thickness of the mesophyll less than MSSC + MSS or WA treatments alone; the size of the cells building the palisade and spongy parenchyma and the extent of the main vein significantly increased. In the case of the combined treatment, the extent of the sclerenchymatous stock was smaller than in the control but larger than in WS- or WA-treated willow. The extent of the collenchymatous stock significantly increased compared to the control. Increases in the thickness of the adaxial epidermis and the number of stomata were statistically significant. However, the extent of the increases did not reach the extent of the increase experienced in the case of WS treatment, as the size of the stomata did not significantly decrease.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Ecophysiology Under Anthropogenic and Natural Stresses)
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