Search Results (2)

Climate warming poses significant challenges for the sustainable management of natural water resources, making efficient planning and usage essential. This study evaluates the water requirements, irrigation demand, and rainfall deficits for two key vegetable crops, carrot and white cabbage, under projected climate scenarios RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 for the period 2031–2100. The analysis was conducted for Kraków and Rzeszów Counties in southern Poland using projected monthly temperature and precipitation data from the Klimada 2.0 portal. Potential evapotranspiration (ETp) during the growing season (May–October) was estimated using Treder’s empirical model and the crop coefficient method adapted for Polish conditions. The reference period for comparison was 1951–2020. The results reveal a significant upward trend in water demand for both crops, with the highest increases under the RCP 8.5 scenario–seasonal ETp values reaching up to 517 mm for cabbage and 497 mm for carrot. Rainfall deficits are projected to intensify, especially during July and August, with greater shortages in Rzeszów County compared to Kraków County. Irrigation demand varies depending on soil type and drought severity, becoming critical in medium and very dry years. These findings underscore the necessity of adapting irrigation strategies and water resource management to ensure sustainable vegetable production under changing climate conditions. The data provide valuable guidance for farmers, advisors, and policymakers in planning effective irrigation infrastructure and optimizing water-use efficiency in southern Poland. Full article

The purpose of this study was to determine essential oil yield, composition, and antioxidant activity during two different maturation stages of umbels with seeds(I stage: premature–waxy; and II stage: mature–fully ripening) of wild carrot (Daucus carrota var. carota) from the Montenegrin coast. A higher yield of carrot essential oil (CEO) was determined in mature, fully ripening umbels (1.96 mL/100 g p.m) than in premature umbels at the waxy stage (mL/100 g p.m). Thirty-three components were identified in premature umbels, with β-bisabolene (32.3%), 11-α-(H)-himachal-4-en-1-β-ol (27.9%), elemicin (10.1%), and α-longipipene (7.7%) being the main components. They were followed by α-pinene (3.7%), (E)-asarone (3.4%), (E)-anethole (3.2%), and β-himachalene (2.0%). Thirty-two components were identified in CEO from mature umbels, with β-bisabolene (41.0%), 11-α-(H)-himachal-4-en-1-β-ol(21.1%), elemicin (14.8%), andα-longipipene (5.7%) being the most abundant. These components were followed by (E)-asarone (3.9%), cis-α-bisabolene (2.4%), and β-himachalene (2.0%). The CEO isolated from mature umbelsshowed better antioxidant activity (EC₅₀ value of 31.80 mg/mL) in comparison to the CEO isolated from premature umbels (EC₅₀ value of 49.18 mg/mL) during the incubation time of 60 min. The degree of DPPH radical neutralization increased as the incubation time increased from 20 to 60 min. Therefore, our findings recommend that wild carrot could be harvested in the fully ripening stage when the umbel improves CEO yield and antioxidant activity, without the risk of seed shedding from the umbel and seed losses. Full article