Search Results (64)

Apomixis-mediated fixation of heterosis could transform hybrid breeding in alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a globally important forage crop. The parthenogenesis-inducing morphogenetic regulator BABY BOOM (BBM) represents a promising candidate for enabling this advancement. Here, we identified BBM homologs from three alfalfa genomes, characterized their promoter regions, and cloned a 2082 bp MsBBM gene encoding a 694-amino acid nuclear-localized protein. Three alfalfa BBM gene promoters primarily contained light- and hormone-responsive elements. Phylogenetic and conserved domain analyses of the MsBBM protein revealed a high sequence similarity with M. truncatula BBM. Expression profiling demonstrated tissue-specific accumulation of MsBBM transcripts, with the highest expression in the roots and developing pods. Hormonal treatments differentially regulated MsBBM. Expression was upregulated by GA₃ (except at 4 h) and SA, downregulated by NAA, MeJA (both except at 8 h), and ABA (except at 4 h), while ETH treatment induced a transient expression peak at 2 h. As an AP2/ERF family transcription factor showing preferential expression in young embryos, MsBBM likely participates in reproductive development and may facilitate apomixis. These findings establish a molecular framework for exploiting MsBBM to enhance alfalfa breeding efficiency through heterosis fixation. Full article

Electrostatic spraying systems can improve the pesticide application efficiency by enhancing droplet deposition and coverage within crop canopies. This study evaluated the droplet size spectra and charge-to-mass ratio (CMR) of five electrostatically charged hollow-cone nozzles and one flat-fan nozzle paired with an electrode. Each nozzle was mounted on a moving boom in a wind tunnel and operated with the electrode and voltage that produced the highest CMR. Their effects on the spray coverage and deposition inside boxwood shrubs at wind speeds of 0 and 2.24 m s⁻¹ were assessed. The nozzles operated with the optimized electrode had average improvements in the canopy deposition and canopy coverage of 1.33 µg cm⁻² and 4.4% at a wind speed of 0 m s⁻¹ and 0.26 µg cm⁻² and 0.9% at a wind speed of 2.24 m s⁻¹. The airborne drift measurements at various heights above the wind tunnel floor showed an average 0.50 µg cm⁻² reduction in the drift at 0.1 m, variable results at 0.35 m, and minimal changes at heights of 0.7 m and above at a downwind distance of 2 m. These findings highlighted the potential of optimized electrostatic spraying systems to enhance pesticide deposition inside the crop canopy under various wind speeds while reducing the spray drift potential. Full article

In the context of the booming development of precision agriculture and plant phenotyping, plant 3D reconstruction technology has become a research hotspot, with widespread applications in plant growth monitoring, pest and disease detection, and smart agricultural equipment. Given the complex geometric and textural characteristics of plants, traditional 2D image analysis methods are difficult to meet the modeling requirements, highlighting the growing importance of 3D reconstruction technology. This paper reviews active vision techniques (such as structured light, time-of-flight, and laser scanning methods), passive vision techniques (such as stereo vision and structure from motion), and deep learning-based 3D reconstruction methods (such as NeRF, CNN, and 3DGS). These technologies enhance crop analysis accuracy from multiple perspectives, provide strong support for agricultural production, and significantly promote the development of the field of plant research. Full article

Pollarding is an ancient agroforestry practice that greatly contributes to the sustainability of farming but is slowly becoming extinct because traditional pollards are not viable from a financial and social viewpoint. In particular, the cutting of pollards is too slow, expensive and dangerous for modern farmers to apply. This study presents the first test of mechanized pollarding, performed with two different devices: a set of shears and a disc saw. Both devices were fitted to the boom tip of a tracked excavator and were tested on poplar rows in a typical alley-cropping system. The introduction of those simple devices restored productivity and safety to pollarding as a modern practice. Tree topping incurred a cost around 1 € tree⁻¹, or 250–350 € ha⁻¹. This cost would need to be balanced against the revenue obtained from the treetops sold as biomass and the increased yields of the alley crop, prolonged for several years. Mechanization also allows cutting the treetops several metres above ground level, so that the trunks of the pollarded trees may yield valuable timber when they are eventually harvested. Full article

Peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) crops in the southeastern U.S. suffer significant yield losses from diseases like leaf spot, southern blight, and stem rot. Traditionally, growers use conventional boom sprayers, which often leads to overuse and wastage of agrochemicals. However, advances in computer technologies have enabled the development of precision or variable-rate sprayers, both ground-based and drone-based, that apply agrochemicals more accurately. Historically, crop disease scouting has been labor-intensive and costly. Recent innovations in computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), and remote sensing have transformed disease identification and scouting, making the process more efficient and economical. Over the past decade, numerous studies have focused on developing technologies for peanut disease scouting and sprayer technology. The current research trend shows significant advancements in precision spraying technologies, facilitating smart spraying capabilities. These advancements include the use of various platforms, such as ground-based and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based systems, equipped with sensors like RGB (red–blue–green), multispectral, thermal, hyperspectral, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and other innovative detection technologies, as highlighted in this review. However, despite the availability of some commercial precision sprayers, their effectiveness is limited in managing certain peanut diseases, such as white mold, because the disease affects the roots, and the chemicals often remain in the canopy, failing to reach the soil where treatment is needed. The review concludes that further advances are necessary to develop more precise sprayers that can meet the needs of large-scale farmers and significantly enhance production outcomes. Overall, this review paper aims to provide a review of smart spraying techniques, estimating the required agrochemicals and applying them precisely in peanut fields. Full article

Spraying is currently one of the main methods of pesticide application worldwide. It converts the pesticide solution into fine droplets through a sprayer, which then deposit onto target plants. Therefore, in the process of pesticide application, improving the effectiveness of spraying while minimizing or preventing crop damage has become a key issue. Combining the advantages of electrostatic spraying technology with the characteristics of ground boom sprayers, a contact-type electrostatic boom spraying system based on a rod–plate electrode structure was designed and tested on a self-propelled boom sprayer. The charging chamber was designed based on the characteristics of the rod–plate electrode and theoretical analysis. The reliability of the device was verified through COMSOL numerical simulations, charge-to-mass ratio, droplet size, and droplet size spectrum measurements, and a droplet size prediction model was established. The deposition characteristics in soybean fields were analyzed using the Box–Behnken experimental design method. The results showed that the rod–plate electrode structure demonstrated its superiority with a maximum spatial electric field of 2.31 × 10⁶ V/m. When the spray pressure was 0.3 MPa and the charging voltage was 8 kV, the droplet size decreased by 26.6%, and the charge-to-mass ratio reached 2.88 mC/kg. Field experiments showed that when the charging voltage was 8 kV, the spray pressure was 0.3 MPa, the traveling speed was 7 km/h, and the number of deposited droplets was 8517. This study provides some basis for the application of electrostatic spraying technology in large-scale field operations. Full article

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of boom height above a crop stand and the spacing between nozzles and diffusers in an over-row sprayer on the uniformity of the horizontal spray distribution and the uniformity of the air velocity distribution. The experimental setup involved a prototype over-row sprayer equipped with a boom with a working width of 8 m and ten air diffusers with spray nozzles. Air diffusers were connected to one or two nozzles each, and they were installed on the boom at intervals of 60, 80, and 90 cm. Terminal airflow velocity at a canopy is determined by the height of a sprayer boom and the diffuser spacing, ranging from around 2 m s^–1 to around 27 m s^–1. The sprayer boom should be positioned at a height of 50 cm above a crop stand due to the difference between the minimum and maximum airflow velocities. The horizontal spray distribution was more uniform when the sprayer was equipped with hollow-cone nozzles instead of flat-fan nozzles; hollow-cone nozzles should be applied if the distance between nozzles needs to be adjusted to the row width and row spacing. The analyzed coefficients did not exceed 10% when the boom was positioned 50 cm above the crop stand and when the nozzles were spaced 80 cm apart, which suggests that, in this configuration, sprayers equipped with hollow-cone nozzles can also be applied to close-grown crops. Full article

Wild boars are an opportunistic wildlife species that has successfully colonized the human-modified landscape in Europe. However, the current population boom has negative consequences, which result in a rapid increase in human–wildlife conflicts and disease transmission, including African swine fever (ASF). The increasing frequency of conflicts requires adequate solutions for these issues through various measures. Application of deterrents is a common non-lethal measure whose effects have been insufficiently verified until recently. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of odor fences, often applied as a barrier against wild boar movement. For this purpose, 18 wild boars were marked with GPS collars. After 22 days of initial monitoring, 12 sections of odor fences were installed on their home ranges. The monitored wild boars crossed the area 20.5 ± 9.2 times during the pre-installation period and 19.9 ± 8.4 times after the odor fence installation. Moreover, the average home range varied between 377.9 ± 185.0 ha before and 378.1 ± 142.2 ha after the odor fence installation. Based on GPS telemetry results, we do not support using odor repellent lines for crop protection or for limiting wild boar movement to lessen ASF outbreaks. Full article

Avocado production has boomed worldwide in recent years, and Spain, including the Canary Islands, has been no exception. The number of avocado growers in the region has increased significantly as growers recognize the potential of this crop. However, several species of spider mites (Tetranychidae) pose a risk to this crop, with the genus Oligonychus being the most diverse and having the greatest economic impact. In particular, Oligonychus perseae (Tuttle, Baker and Abbatiello) has been reported as the one mainly responsible for the economic damage in major avocado-producing regions worldwide. In this paper, we aim to present an overview of the studies conducted and the measures implemented to mitigate the impact of O. perseae after its arrival in the Canary Islands. Our objective is to provide a detailed description of the current status of this pest (O. perseae), with special attention to its situation 17 years after its first appearance in avocado crops in the Canary Islands. In doing so, we aim to provide valuable insights and knowledge to understand and manage better the challenges posed by O. perseae in this region. Full article

The application of robotics has great implications for future food security, sustainable agricultural development, improving resource efficiency, reducing chemical pesticide use, reducing manual labor, and maximizing field output. Aiming at the problems of high labor intensity and labor shortage in the fields of pesticide application, weeding, and field information collection, a multifunctional and electric field management robot platform is designed, which has four switching steering modes (Ackermann steering, four-wheel steering, crab steering, and zero-radius steering), and its wheel-track can be automatically adjusted. Commonly used spraying booms, weeders, crop information collectors, and other devices can be easily installed on the robot platform. A multi-sensor integrated navigation system including a satellite positioning system, an RGB camera, and a multi-line lidar is designed to realize the unmanned driving of the robot platform in a complex field environment. Field tests have shown that the robot can follow the set route, and tests under simulated conditions have indicated that it can also dynamically correct paths based on crop rows by using a visual system. Results from multiple trials showed that the trajectory tracking accuracy meets the requirements of various field management operations. Full article

This study aimed to simulate dynamic irrigation management zones (MZs) in two maize fields for a variable rate hose reel fertigation machine (VRFM) with a four-section boom control. Soil moisture content was measured from nine and four soil moisture sensors in Field 1 (8.2 ha) and Field 2 (2.5 ha), respectively, on different dates during the 2022 crop season. Three and five MZs scenarios were simulated per irrigation and the theoretical maps were processed for implementation. The application maps fitted to the VRFM showed significant spatiotemporal variations in irrigation requirements. For instance, in Field 1, 3-MZ modelling showed that the areas requiring high (H), medium (M), and low (L)-level irrigation on 21 July were 1.60, 4.84, and 1.85 ha, respectively, even though the farmer applied uniform rate over the whole field. H-level sub-areas ranged between 1.22 ha (25 July) and 3.25 ha (7 July), showing a coefficient of variation (CV) of 43.32% for the three MZs, whereas H-level sub-areas for the five MZs varied from 0.41 ha (2 July) to 1.49 ha (7 July) with a CV value of 48.84%. High levels of within-field variability can be addressed using precise and dynamic irrigation MZs fitted to the irrigation technology used. Full article

Lepista sordida is a type of high-quality rare edible and medicinal mushroom, and its research boom is just beginning. More than 80 million tons of grain crop residues are produced each year in Heilongjiang Province. To realize the exploration and utilization of wild L. sordida mushrooms and also provide a theoretical support for the high-value utilization of these resources in Heilongjiang Province, we evaluated the cultivation of L. sordida mushrooms using rice straw, corncob, and soybean straw as substrates. L. sordida grew on all three substrates, and the biological efficiency and yield of the mushrooms grown on soybean straw and corncob were 32.33 ± 1.78% and 4.20 ± 0.23 kg m⁻², and 30.15 ± 0.93% and 3.92 ± 0.12 kg m⁻², respectively, which increased by 9.38% and 2.08% compared with that on the rice straw substrate with 3.84 ± 0.12 kg m⁻² and 29.56 ± 0.89%. The time it took for the mycelia to colonize and initiate primordia on the soybean straw substrate was 22.33 ± 0.58 d and 19.67 ± 0.58 d, respectively, which was delayed by 2 d and 3 d compared with that on the rice straw substrate with 20.67 ± 2.08 d and 16.33 ± 0.58 d, respectively. The fruiting bodies grown on corncob and soybean straw substrates were relatively larger than those on the rice straw substrate. The highest amount of crude protein was 57.38 ± 0.08 g 100 g⁻¹, and the lowest amount of crude polysaccharide was 6.03 ± 0.01 g 100 g⁻¹. They were observed on mushrooms collected from the corncob substrate. The contents of the heavy metal mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium in the fruiting bodies grown on each substrate were within the national safety range. Full article

Rapid urban expansion and a booming population are placing immense pressure on our agricultural systems, leading to detrimental impacts on soil fertility and overall health. Due to the extensive use of agrochemicals in agriculture, the necessity to meet the expanding demand for food has also resulted in unsustainable farming practices. Around the world, biochar, a multipurpose carbonaceous material, is being used to concurrently solve issues with enhancing soil fertility, plant growth, and development under both normal and stressful circumstances. It improves water retention, fosters nutrient absorption, and promotes microbial activity, creating a fertile environment that supports sustainable and resilient agriculture. Additionally, biochar acts as a carbon sink, contributing to long-term carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change impacts. The major benefit of biochar is that it helps the adsorption process with its highly porous structures and different functional groups. Understanding the elements involved in biochar formation that determine its characteristics and adsorptive capacity is necessary to assure the viability of biochar in terms of plant productivity and soil health, particularly biological activity in soil. This paper focuses on the development, composition, and effects of biochar on soil fertility and health, and crop productivity. Full article

Ultrasonic feedback energy is affected by the variety, planting, and growth state of crops; therefore, it is difficult to find applications for this energy in precision agriculture systems. To this end, an ultrasonic sensor was mounted in a spray boom height detection system. Winter wheat was used as the test object to obtain feedback energy values for the spray boom height from the top of the wheat in the field during six critical growth stages: the standing stage, the jointing stage, the booting stage, the heading stage, the filling stage, and the maturity stage. The relationship between the actual value of the height from the spray boom at the top of the wheat (H_abw) and the detected value of the height from the spray boom at the top of the wheat (H_dbw) was analyzed. A spray boom height detection model based on the ultrasonic sensor during the full growth cycle of wheat was determined. Field validation tests showed that the applicability of the spray boom height detection distance (D_d) of the spray boom height detection model proposed in the present study was 450~950 mm. Within the applicable D_d range, the detection error of the detection model was ≤50 mm during the full growth cycle. This study provides a method for constructing a boom height detection model based on the whole growth cycle of wheat, which improves the reliability and accuracy of ultrasonic boom height detection for different wheat growth stages. The proposed method solves the problem of low accuracy of repeated detection of low-cost ultrasonic sensors in different environments and can provide technical support for improving field applications of the boom height control system based on ultrasonic sensors. Full article

To obtain a more consistent droplet distribution and reduce spray drift, it is necessary to keep the entire spray boom parallel to the crop canopy or ground and maintain a certain distance from the spray nozzles to the crop canopy or ground. A high-performance boom active control system was developed for boom trapezoid suspension. The hydraulic system and hardware circuit of the boom control system were designed based on analyzing the configuration of active trapezoid suspension. The mathematical models of valve-controlled hydraulic cylinders and active boom suspensions were developed. Step response and frequency domain response analysis of passive suspension were conducted by Simulink simulations, and then key parameters of the boom suspension and hydraulic system were determined. A feedforward proportion integration differentiation (FPID) control algorithm was proposed to improve the tracking performance. The designed control system was assembled on a 24 m boom with trapezoid suspension. The response characteristic of the active boom control system was tested by the step signal and the sinusoidal signal from a six-degree-of-freedom hydraulic motion platform. Firstly, the tracking performance of the active balance control system for the PID (proportion integration differentiation) and FPID control algorithms was compared for a given 0.2 Hz sine signal. Then, for the ground-following control system, the response characteristics in challenging terrain and tracking performance in less challenging terrain were tested. Field experiment results indicate that the maximum rolling angle of the chassis was $3.896°$ while the maximum inclination angle of the boom was $0.453°$. The results show that the designed boom adjustment and control system can effectively adjust the boom motion in real time and meet the requirements of field operation. Full article