Search Results (27,946)

Soil salinization and alkalization caused by global climate change have become major constraints on crop production worldwide. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), owing to its exceptional adaptability to adverse environmental conditions, is considered a promising crop for saline–alkali agriculture. Successful screening and evaluation of saline–alkali-tolerant germplasm at the germination stage is essential for breeding quinoa varieties with enhanced tolerance to compound saline–alkali stress. In this study, 23 quinoa accessions originating from different regions were evaluated for saline–alkali tolerance by exposing seeds to compound saline–alkali solutions at different concentrations in a Petri dish germination assay. During the germination stage, relative vigor index, germination rate, germination energy, shoot length, root length, and fresh weight were determined, and saline–alkali tolerance was assessed using multivariate statistical analyses. The germination ability and seedling growth potential of quinoa germplasm gradually declined with increasing saline–alkali stress. Based on the comprehensive saline–alkali tolerance index at the germination stage, eight accessions were identified as highly tolerant and four accessions as highly sensitive to saline–alkali stress. Among them, LL1 and Z27 exhibited outstanding tolerance and were identified as elite saline–alkali-tolerant germplasm resources. The results indicated that vigor index and fresh weight at the germination stage can serve as key parameters for evaluating saline–alkali tolerance in quinoa germplasm. Overall, this study provides valuable germplasm resources and a practical basis for breeding new quinoa varieties with enhanced saline–alkali tolerance, as well as for the identification and utilization of stress-resistance-related genes in quinoa. Full article

Jackfruit seeds (JFSs) are an underutilized agro-industrial by-product with considerable nutritional and functional potential for sustainable food fermentation. This study evaluated the feasibility of using jackfruit seed flour as a partial malt substitute in beer brewing at replacement levels of 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% (w/w). Fresh jackfruit seeds were processed into flour, gelatinized, and mashed with pale ale malt in the presence of α-amylase before fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lutra kveik ale yeast. The physicochemical properties of the raw materials, starch hydrolysis during mashing, beer quality attributes, and volatile aroma compounds were investigated. Compared with pale ale malt, JFS contained higher crude protein (13.22%), total phenolic content (476.66 mg GAE/100 g), and antioxidant activity. HPLC-IR analysis demonstrated the formation of fermentable sugars during mashing, although starch conversion from JFS remained incomplete at higher substitution levels. Increasing JFS substitution significantly enhanced beer foamability (up to 142.22%) and foam stability (112.84 s), which was attributed to the higher protein content of the seeds. However, beers containing higher proportions of JFS exhibited darker color and increased turbidity, reaching 680 NTU at 75% substitution. HS-SPME-GC-MS analysis revealed changes in alcohols, esters, and ketones with increasing JFS substitution. These findings demonstrate that jackfruit seed flour can serve as a sustainable malt adjunct for beer production, improving selected quality attributes while valorizing agricultural by-products. The study highlights the potential of jackfruit seeds as a functional brewing ingredient that supports the development of sustainable and next-generation fermented beverages. Full article

Romanian agricultural landscapes have undergone substantial transformation between 2000 and 2024, driven by agricultural modernization, market integration, and uneven regional development. This study assesses the opportunities and risks associated with these changes within a landscape-scale sustainability framework. Using 24 indicators describing land use, crop structure, productivity, mechanization, irrigation, input use, and socio-economic characteristics, we combined paired-sample t-tests, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis to examine temporal and spatial patterns of agricultural transformation across Romanian counties. The results reveal significant increases in arable land, mechanization, labour productivity, and cereal yields, accompanied by declining agricultural employment and growing crop specialization. PCA identified six key dimensions of transformation, highlighting increasing differentiation between intensive, productivity-oriented systems and traditional agricultural structures. Cluster analysis revealed nine distinct agricultural typologies and increasing spatial polarization between highly modernized, input-intensive lowland systems and persistent grassland-based mountain agroecosystems. The comparison between 2000 and 2024 indicates stronger specialization, technological intensification, and territorial differentiation of agricultural systems. These changes create opportunities through improved labour productivity and efficiency, while also reflecting increasing landscape simplification and evolving agri-environmental management patterns. The findings emphasize the need for regionally differentiated policies that support agricultural competitiveness, territorial cohesion, and sustainable rural development. Full article

The Loess Plateau is a typical dryland agricultural region where water scarcity constrains crop production. Plastic film mulching is widely used to mitigate this limitation, but its long-term application has caused soil degradation and environmental pollution, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. This study evaluated the effects of post-wheat sequential green manure cropping—common vetch (CV) and winter rape (CR)—on soil water balance, potato yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and economic returns within a winter wheat-potato rotation system. A field experiment (2019–2023) was conducted on the Loess Plateau, comparing CV, CR, plastic film mulching (PM), and no mulching (NM). Soil water content (0–200 cm), evapotranspiration (ET), tuber yield, WUE, and economic performance were measured. Although CV and CR depleted soil water in the 0–100 cm layer during their growth, subsequent fallow precipitation (86 mm) and low soil water loss replenished the deficit, resulting in comparable soil water storage at potato sowing among CV, CR, and NM (518.8, 508.8, and 518.9 mm, respectively). Over the full rotation cycle, a positive soil water balance (63.1–147.5 mm) was maintained across all treatments, indicating no detectable net depletion within the measured 0–200 cm profile over the four potato seasons. Potato tuber yield increased by 61.7% (CV), 52.4% (CR), and 74.8% (PM) relative to NM. The WUE of CV (73.5 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹) and CR (71.5 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹) was comparable to that of PM (74.2 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹) and significantly higher than that of NM (46.1 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹). Net incomes under CV and CR did not differ significantly from PM, while their input costs were lower. Collectively, the integrated system combining post-wheat sequential green manure cropping—particularly with common vetch—and straw mulching represents a technically feasible, economically viable, and environmentally beneficial alternative to plastic film mulching, contributing to sustainable dryland agriculture on the Loess Plateau and analogous semi-arid regions. Full article

It is well-known nowadays that the usage of conventional opaque photovoltaics in agricultural practices has negative effects on crops growth, mainly due to the shading effect they cause. On the other hand, most of the emerging semi-transparent solar cells do not demonstrate the appropriate optical characteristics and scalability to attain their viable integration in agriculture, undermining their commercialization. This study deals with the development of wavelength-selective semi-transparent dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using the scalable slot-die deposition method. These devices are designed to provide high transparency in the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) region and effectively exploit the near-ultraviolet to blue-visible spectrum for power production, simultaneously protecting cultivations from harmful short-wavelength irradiation. To this aim, a new quinoline-based dye and a highly transparent iodine-free electrolyte were employed in DSSCs, giving an external quantum efficiency of 70% for wavelengths up to 500 nm and a PAR transmittance on the level of 50% (55% crop growth factor). Additionally, the light-to-electricity conversion efficiency of these devices is high for both front- and rear-side illumination under all-weather irradiation conditions (up to 94% bifaciality factor). Finally, two new figures-of-merit (greenhouse compatibility factor, agrivoltaic performance factor) are introduced to quantify the balance of photovoltaic performance and agronomic functionality. Full article

The Internet of Plants (IoP) represents the convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) within protected agricultural systems. This study presents an IoP platform designed to collect, process, and analyze real-time environmental data using specialized IoT sensors capable of monitoring critical variables, including carbon dioxide concentration (CO₂), pH, air temperature, and relative humidity in hydroponic production systems. The proposed framework integrates advanced machine-learning algorithms, including Random Forest Regressor and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks, to process large volumes of environmental data and support crop management. In addition, the platform incorporates Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) and Growing Degree Days (GDD) analyses to provide crop-specific recommendations and support informed decision-making. This platform establishes a benchmark for smart agriculture in Mexico’s Laja–Bajío region, facilitating informed decision-making and maximizing the sustainability of food systems. Experimental validation was conducted under both controlled and semi-controlled environments using Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivated in hydroponic systems. These environments represented contrasting climatic conditions, allowing evaluation of platform stability and forecasting performance under varying thermal regimes. The Random Forest Regressor model, trained using growth chamber data consisting of 19,836 valid observations, reproduced the deterministic VPD relationship with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.90 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.08 kPa, confirming internal consistency and identifying temperature as the dominant contributing variable rather than predicting an independent outcome. The dynamic alarm system, integrated with crop phenological stages, demonstrated greater effectiveness than conventional static-threshold approaches by generating alerts according to crop developmental requirements. Furthermore, the web-based visualization platform enabled users to interpret environmental conditions through intuitive graphical representations, facilitating decision-making without requiring specialized technical expertise. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the IoP platform as a comprehensive environmental management tool for protected agricultural systems. The proposed framework provides a scalable solution for precision agriculture applications in the Laja–Bajío region of Mexico and in other regions with similar production systems. Full article

Alternanthera philoxeroides (A. philoxeroides) is one of the worst invasive alien species in the world and poses serious threats to both ecological security and agricultural production in China. However, the effects of environmental factors on its growth across different habitat types remain insufficiently understood. To reveal the determining natural factors influencing the growth of A. philoxeroides, fieldwork, including 50 sample quadrats in six field sites, was conducted in the Yangtze River Basin of Hubei Province. In every quadrat, soil properties, soil moisture, pH, soil temperature, soil nutrients (N, P, and K), light intensity, plant cover, and aboveground plant fresh biomass were measured. Cluster analysis showed that A. philoxeroides habitats can be divided into five cluster groups: wetland, grassland, forest understory, farmland and aquatic communities. The results showed that both total community biomass and A. philoxeroides biomass were positively correlated with water content, whereas no significant relationships were found between biomass and soil nutrients, including N, P, and K. The biomass of A. philoxeroides was significantly higher in aquatic habitats, while no significant differences were observed among the other four terrestrial habitats. These findings suggest that hydrological management, together with early control in aquatic habitats, may be an effective strategy to limit the spread of A. philoxeroides. Full article

The present study examined the supplementation of Spirulina platensis (SP) in various ratios in the basal diet of laying hens targeting the determination of the optimum amount that is required for the improvement of egg quality parameters and oxidative stress. A total of 300 24-week-old Lohmann Brown laying hens were selected and kept at a commercial farm (Vasileios Kompoulis Ltd. farm, Megara, Attiki, Greece). The employed farm was supplied with 25 similar cages. The control group was fed the basal diet, whereas the experimental feedstuff was fortified with SP by 0.1, 0.2, 2 and 5% w/w. At the end of the trial the addition by 5% w/w improved the egg weight, the yolk color, carotenoids, protein content and enhanced the eggshell strength. Additionally, the specific treatment improved the oxidative stress of the employed laying hens by recording the lowest values in TBARS and CARBs content. On the contrary the fortification with 5% w/w enhanced TAC, GSH and CAT activity. Overall, SP addition forms an intriguing approach for the improvement of the performance, physiology, and health of laying hens, with a parallel contribution to the development of more sustainable and viable feed ingredients for poultry production systems. Full article

Goose bone paste is an underutilised poultry-processing by-product and a potential source of taste-active peptides. A nominal 1–3 kDa peptide fraction (F2), operationally designated an umami peptide fraction by analogy with comparable bone-hydrolysate fractions reported in the literature, was isolated from a neutral-protease hydrolysate by sequential ultrafiltration and encapsulated in sodium alginate (SA) microcapsules using extrusion–dripping ionic gelation. Single-factor screening identified the following formulation conditions: 2.0% (w/v) SA, 2.5% (w/v) CaCl₂, 0.3% (w/v) SE-15, a core-to-wall mass ratio of 0.3, and a preparation temperature of 50 °C. A verification batch prepared under these conditions gave an encapsulation efficiency of 75.44%, with the ±1.07% denoting the SD of three technical determinations from that batch. The dried microcapsules had a moisture content of 2.98 ± 0.21% and passable flowability. The mean particle diameter was 856 ± 52 μm, with a within-batch coefficient of variation of 5.56 ± 0.28%; a complete particle-size distribution was not recorded. In pepsin-free simplified simulated gastric fluid, the apparent release from the microcapsules rose from about 6% at 1 h to about 13% at 5 h, whereas the apparent detection ratio of free F2 rose from about 56% to about 99%. The calculated concentrations fell at or below the validated limit of quantification, the microcapsule-group absorbances lay near the photometric floor of the instrument, and only three sampling times were used. These percentages and the kinetic fits are therefore qualitative to semi-quantitative. The data support only the relative statement that alginate encapsulation lowered the apparent release of F2 under the tested acidic conditions. They do not establish an exact release rate, an error estimate for the microcapsule group, or a specific release mechanism. Full article

Drought early warning is important for reducing agricultural production risks and ensuring regional water security. However, existing warning systems often focus on drought propagation probabilities and average propagation times, with insufficient attention to the identification of changes in propagation time. This study constructs a meteorological drought–soil drought–groundwater drought propagation chain and uses both Granger causality and the maximum positive correlation coefficient method to quantify stage-specific propagation time. Random forest, PDP/LOWESS, and SHAP analyses are then applied to identify important environmental factors and determine their cross-method sensitive intervals. The results show that PET, NDVI, mean annual precipitation, and temperature exhibit high importance across multiple regions and stages. Additionally, sensitive intervals in which important environmental factors significantly affect propagation time were found. In Stage 1 in North China, the effect of the NDVI on propagation time decreases after it exceeds about 0.1. In Stage 2 in Southeast China, temperatures around 17–18 °C are associated with shortened propagation times. The changes are inconsistent across regions and stages. When important factors enter or approach sensitive intervals, propagation time is more likely to change. The propagation time–important factor–sensitive interval analysis framework proposed in this study provides supplementary evidence for determining whether drought propagation time exhibits nonlinear sensitivity to important environmental factors. This framework provides a new perspective for assessing drought early warning needs. The identified sensitive intervals can help recognize environmental conditions associated with rapid changes in drought propagation time, providing additional information for drought risk assessment and region-specific early warning strategies. Full article

Against the backdrop of increasing global food security pressures and tightening resource–environment constraints, enhancing grain production efficiency has become a focal international concern. Based on panel data from 16 cities in Shandong Province, China, spanning 2013 to 2022, this study employs the DEA–Malmquist index, SBM model, and Spatial Durbin model to measure grain production efficiency and analyze its spatiotemporal evolution and influencing factors. The findings reveal that Shandong’s grain production efficiency has generally improved but exhibits a spatial differentiation pattern of “higher in Western Shandong, lower in Eastern Shandong,” with significant positive spatial correlation and agglomeration effects. Mechanization significantly boosts efficiency, while urbanization, excessive fertilizer and pesticide use, and labor surplus exert notable negative impacts. This research clarifies the spatial spillover mechanisms and key constraints of efficiency, providing scientific evidence and practical guidance for optimizing agricultural resource allocation, promoting regional collaborative innovation, and formulating differentiated food security policies in Shandong Province and other regions with similar natural–economic conditions. Full article

Hemp hurds (HHs), an underutilised lignocellulosic biomass from agricultural waste, offer potential for bioconversion into high-value bioproducts within a circular bioeconomy. Building on prior work involving magnetic nanoparticle-immobilised cellulase hydrolysis of pretreated HH, this study computationally designed candidate phaCAB expression constructs for cellulolytic hosts toward future PHB production. The objective was to evaluate, in silico, the feasibility of introducing the phaC1, phaA and phaB1 genes from Cupriavidus necator H16 (assembly GCA_000009285.2; loci H16_A1437–H16_A1439) into the cellulolytic hosts Clostridium thermocellum DSM 1313 and Trichoderma reesei RUT C-30. Coding sequences were retrieved and translated individually and host-specific expression compatibility was assessed via codon adaptation index, effective number of codons, GC content and rare-codon frequency/clustering. Host-specific architectures were designed: three independent tef1-promoter cassettes with fungal Kozak contexts and cbh1 terminators for T. reesei (TrePHB3 integration construct), and a single groEL-promoter operon with graded ribosome-binding sites for the pIKM1-based C. thermocellum construct (pCtPHB1); Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3)/pET-24a(+) served only as an intermediate assembly platform. Clustal Omega alignment, virtual plasmid assembly and simulated restriction digestion (SnapGene) confirmed preservation of the open reading frames and expected fragment sizes. ProtParam analysis indicated instability indices below 40 and negative GRAVY values for PhaC, PhaA and PhaB, indicating overall hydrophilic character. This computational framework links HH valorisation, cellulolytic CBP hosts and PHB pathway design within a conceptual biorefinery, supporting future integrated biomass-valorisation platforms; it is computational only and does not demonstrate transformation, expression, PHB accumulation or biomass conversion, which require experimental validation. Full article

Global agricultural productivity is increasingly threatened by climate change, soil salinization, and freshwater scarcity. In response, edible halophytes such as Crambe maritima L. (sea kale) are emerging as resilient, promising alternative crops for biosaline agriculture. This review comprehensively evaluates the agronomic, phytochemical, and commercial potential of C. maritima and related Crambe species. We examine current propagation protocols and highlight the application of controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) to leverage “saline eustress,” strategically enhancing secondary metabolite biosynthesis without penalizing harvestable biomass. Nutritionally, Crambe species exhibit a highly favorable profile, selectively accumulating essential macro- and micro-minerals alongside potent bioactive compounds, particularly characteristic glucosinolates, including sinigrin, together with diverse phenolic acids. These specific secondary metabolites confer antioxidant defense system and antimicrobial properties, positioning the genus as an unexploited resource for functional foods, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals. However, successfully transitioning C. maritima from a wild coastal halophyte into a reliable horticultural crop necessitates overcoming critical domestication bottlenecks, including mechanical seed dormancy, polygenic salinity tolerance, and a scarcity of long-term field data. By addressing these multidisciplinary challenges through targeted breeding and advanced agronomy, C. maritima represents a highly promising candidate for dietary diversification and the advancement of climate-resilient agricultural systems. Full article

Magnetic field (MF) technologies have been explored in agriculture since the 1930s, with research activity increasing markedly since 2016. However, they have not achieved mainstream adoption, partly because no MF-specific validated methodology exists for evaluating their effects under realistic field conditions. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based multispectral sensing represents a potential pathway to address this limitation by providing spatially explicit, non-destructive estimates of key canopy physiological variables at field scale, thereby enabling, for the first time, the systematic evaluation and validation of MF treatment responses under open-field conditions. To realise this potential, however, a common evidential basis must first be established by identifying crop physiological variables that are both consistently modulated by MF treatments and reliably detectable by UAV remote sensing. This study addressed this challenge through a dual-stream evidence synthesis of 216 peer-reviewed publications, comprising 102 studies on MF treatments in agricultural crops and 114 studies on UAV-based multispectral monitoring. Evidence from both research domains was synthesised to identify physiological variables that are simultaneously responsive to MF treatments and detectable through UAV remote sensing. Five direct bridge variables were identified: chlorophyll content, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)/nitrogen assimilation, above-ground biomass (AGB), leaf area index (LAI), and yield. Chlorophyll content emerged as the strongest bridge variable, combining consistent MF responsiveness with UAV estimation accuracies of up to R² = 0.90. Based on these findings, a conceptual framework was developed linking MF treatments, UAV-derived vegetation indices, ground-truth measurements, and machine-learning approaches for field-scale validation. The review revealed a complete absence of integration between the two research domains within the reviewed corpus, despite their strong biological and methodological compatibility. The proposed framework is conceptual and remains to be experimentally validated; it provides the first operational pathway for evaluating MF technologies under realistic farming conditions and may support future research on sustainable and digitally enabled crop production systems. Full article

Regenerative agriculture is increasingly promoted as a pathway towards sustainable food production, climate resilience, and the restoration of soil ecosystem functions. However, evidence on the actual uptake of regenerative practices and the factors influencing their adoption remains limited. This study compared the self-reported prevalence of 17 soil-health-oriented regenerative practices among farmers in Poland, Germany, and Belarus using a questionnaire survey conducted in 2025 (N = 150). The survey also examined farmers’ motivations, perceived barriers, knowledge sources, and definitions of regenerative agriculture. Adoption frequencies were assessed using a five-point Likert scale and analysed using non-parametric statistical methods. Several practices, including crop rotation and soil pH management, were widely implemented across all three countries and showed only slight variation. In contrast, more complex, system-based practices, such as agroforestry, biological soil monitoring, and crop–livestock integration, showed lower and more variable levels of adoption. Additional subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the observed cross-country patterns. Although some associations weakened after stratification, many significant differences persisted. Across all countries, improving soil health was the primary motivation for adopting regenerative agriculture, whereas financial constraints and limited equipment access were the main barriers. Digital media served as the primary source of knowledge about regenerative agriculture across the surveyed countries, although in Belarus, peers and neighbours also represented a highly important source of information. Farmers in all three countries expressed a preference for online communication channels for further learning about regenerative agriculture; however, Polish and Belarusian farmers prefer social media, whereas German farmers preferred webinars and dedicated websites. In-person training sessions also attracted considerable interest among Polish and Belarusian farmers, but were the least preferred information source among German respondents. On the basis of these results, targeted investment support and direct financial incentives appear to be key priorities for promoting the further uptake of regenerative agriculture across all surveyed countries. However, communication and knowledge-transfer strategies are likely to require greater adaptation to country-specific preferences, although digital media are likely to represent the most effective primary channel for disseminating information on regenerative agriculture. Full article