Search Results (6)

This study proposes an improved methodology based on life cycle assessment (LCA), which is used to calculate the carbon footprint of agriculture, provides a simple and feasible calculation path, and constructs a streamlined framework for calculating the carbon footprint based on the agricultural traceability system records. Using important economic crop (Onion) as research subject, and choose the largest planting area in R.O.C. (southern Taiwan) as a case study. A total of 64 farm production history records have been collected, includes all of farms certified with a traceable agricultural products (TAP) label. Through a detailed analysis of the traditional carbon footprint calculation method, found that agricultural traceability system records could replace the data source in carbon footprint verification (CFV) process, and system records could be used as activity data after being organized. With our method, no need to go through a complicated CFV process, just download the existing data on agricultural traceability system, can start calculating carbon footprint as soon as possible. To compared to traditional assessment method, results show a margin of error is less than 6% compared to traditional assessment methods. Advantages of improved method were be found, such as easy data acquisition, simplified calculation steps, and improved data transparency and accuracy. From statistical data, show that at least seven categories of carbon emission sources for carbon footprints, the most significant of carbon emission impact are fertilizers. The result of improved methodology based on life cycle assessment (LCA), show that using the improved methods can help promote the carbon footprint management efficiency of agricultural organizations such as Farmers’ Association or Agricultural Production Marketing Group, promptly monitor the carbon footprint status of their fields and adjust strategies to reduce carbon footprints in real-time, advancing towards the goal of net-zero carbon emissions. Full article

This study investigated the effectiveness of nanoparticles and chemical inducers in managing onion white rot caused by Sclerotium cepivorum. The pathogen severely threatens onion cultivation, resulting in significant yield losses and economic setbacks. Traditional fungicides, though effective, raise environmental concerns, prompting a shift toward eco-friendly alternatives. In this study, four S. cepivorum isolates were utilized, each exhibiting varying degrees of pathogenicity, with the third isolate from Abu-Hamad demonstrating the highest potency. During the in vitro studies, three nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated, including Fe₃O₄ NPs, Cu NPs, and ZnO NPs, which demonstrated the potential to inhibit mycelial growth, with salicylic acid and Fe₃O₄ NPs exhibiting synergistic effects. In vivo, these nanoparticles reduced the disease incidence and severity, with Fe₃O₄ NPs at 1000–1400 ppm resulting in 65.0–80.0% incidence and 80.0–90.0% severity. ZnO NPs had the most positive impact on the chlorophyll content, while Cu NPs had minimal effects. At 1000 ppm, Fe₃O₄ NPs had variable effects on the phenolic compounds (total: 6.28, free: 4.81, related: 2.59), while ZnO NPs caused minor fluctuations (total: 3.60, free: 1.82, related: 1.73). For the chemical inducers, salicylic acid reduced the disease (10.0% incidence, 25.0% to 10.0% severity) and promoted growth, and it elevated the chlorophyll values and enhanced the phenolic compounds in infected onions. Potassium phosphate dibasic (PDP) had mixed effects, and ascorbic acid showed limited efficacy toward disease reduction. However, PDP at 1400 ppm and ascorbic acid at 1000 ppm elevated the chlorophyll values and enhanced the phenolic compounds. Furthermore, this study extended to traditional fungicides, highlighting their inhibitory effects on S. cepivorum. This research provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of these approaches, emphasizing their potential in eco-friendly onion white rot management. Full article

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci (Lindeman), is a major pest of dry bulb onion throughout the US and across the world. Yield and quality damage from thrips feeding and the expense of insecticides used for thrips management have jeopardized profitable and sustainable onion production. To improve approaches to thrips management, researchers in multiple US onion-producing regions developed novel, integrated pest management (IPM)-based strategies employing threshold-based insecticide treatments and reduced fertilization practices. The purpose of this study was to estimate the benefits from public investment in research to develop IPM-based onion thrips management techniques using a cost–benefit analysis. Benefits were extended over a 20-year timespan and were measured by reduced insecticide and fertilizer costs. The estimated net present value of benefits from improved pest management tactics will depend on the adoption and use of novel approaches to management. Using a scenario that assumes a maximum adoption rate of 58%, the estimated net present value of the research is $15.91 million, the benefit–cost ratio is 4.00, and the internal rate of return is 32%. Assuming a scenario with a maximum adoption rate of 29%, the estimated net present value of the research is $8.3 million, the benefit–cost ratio is 3.34, and the internal rate of return is 24%. Even when estimated assuming conservative adoption scenarios, results indicate a healthy return on investment in research to develop and refine new approaches to manage onion thrips and optimize dry bulb onion production. Full article

Agriculture provides a basis for social and economic development. It is therefore crucial for society and the economy to stabilize agricultural prices. Recent large increases and decreases in Chinese agricultural commodity prices have increased production risks, heightened fluctuations in the domestic agricultural supply, and impacted the stability of the global agricultural market. Meanwhile, big data technology has advanced quickly and now serves as a foundation for the investigation of time series bubbles. Identifying agricultural price bubbles is important for determining agricultural production decisions and policies that control agricultural prices. Using weekly agricultural price data from 2009 to 2021, this paper identifies agricultural price bubbles, pinpoints their time points, and examines their causes. According to our research, prices for corn, hog, green onions, pork, and ginger all have bubbles, but garlic do not. The quantity, length, time distribution, and type of bubbles differ significantly among corn, ginger, green onion, hog, and pork. The main causes for ginger and green onion price bubbles are speculation and natural disasters. Price bubbles for hog and pork are influenced by animal disease and rising costs. Conflicts between supply and demand and changes in price policy cause corn price bubbles to form. This paper advises that the government adopt various regulatory actions to stabilize agricultural prices depending on the characteristics and causes of the various types of agricultural price bubbles, it should also improve the early warning system and response mechanism for agricultural price bubbles and focus on how policies and market processes work together. Full article

In the rice–wheat (R–W) system, inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer (urea, etc.) is the largest component of the N cycle, because the supply of N from organic fertilizers is insufficient. But the 4% Initiative aims to improve organic matter and stimulate carbon sequestration in soils using best agronomic practices (sustainable management practices) which are economically, environmentally, and socially friendly. This research project was, therefore, designed to assess the impact of various organic sources (OS, animal manure versus plant residues), inorganic N (urea), and their different combinations on the N concentrations in soils and plants (i.e., grains and straw) of hybrid rice plants. The experiments were conducted on farmers’ fields in Batkhela (Malakand), northwestern Pakistan, over 2 years (2011–2012 (Y1) and 2012–2013 (Y2)). The results revealed that N concentrations in soil as well as in rice plants ranked first when applied with urea-N, followed by the application of N in mixture (urea + OS), while the control plots (no N applied) ranked at the bottom. Among the six OS (three animal manures: poultry, sheep, and cattle; and three crop residues: onion, berseem, and wheat), application of N in the form of poultry manure was superior in terms of higher N concentrations in both soil and plants. Applying the required total N (120 kg N ha⁻¹) in the form of 75% N from urea +25% N from OS resulted in higher N concentrations in soil and plants in Y1. The required total N (120 kg N ha⁻¹) application in the form of 50% N from urea +50% N from OS produced higher N concentrations in soil and plants in Y2. It was concluded from the results, that combined application of N sources in the form of urea + OS can produce good performances in terms of higher N concentrations in soil as well as in rice plants under the R–W system. Integrated use of urea (N-fertilizer) with organic carbon sources (animal manures and crop residue) could sustain rice-based (exhaustive) cropping system. Full article

Vegetable production is an important activity, source of food and income for farmers. Vegetables are grown in many regions in Lao PDR. There is a large range of agro-climatic conditions between the two seasons - wet and dry. The dry season is suitable and favourable for vegetable production. However, the wet season has high temperature, high relative humidity, high soil moisture content and heavy rain. These conditions cause several negative impacts for vegetable production such as, low vegetable productivity and poor quality. Higher application of pesticides can also lead to food safety issues and high input cost of cultivation. These challenges could impact to inadequate domestic supply of vegetables in rainy season, low economic returns from vegetable production, and increased imports of vegetable from other countries. NAFRI and ACIAR have cooperated to research and develop a design of greenhouse structure that is economical and provides suitable growing conditions in the wet season to help farmers to mitigate the multiple constraints and successfully grow vegetables year-round. The new design was constructed and tested with several types of vegetable crops including coriander, lettuce, spring onion and tomato during 2015–2018. Evaluation was made against ambient conditions, crop needs and also a comparison with several other protected cropping designs was conducted. The new design provides improved, cooler and more suitable growing conditions for a range of crops, increasing productivity and quality of vegetable in the wet season. Full article