Search Results (547)

This study analyzes the competitive asymmetries and trade effects of the proposed EU–Mercosur Trade Agreement on the European Union’s (EU) and Polish agri-food sectors. The comparative analysis reveals that Mercosur holds a significant structural advantage driven by substantially lower labor costs, cheaper agricultural land, and a climate permitting multiple harvests. This cost advantage is further compounded by weaker regulatory standards (e.g., on pesticides and antibiotics). This structural edge is most pronounced in high-volume commodities, leading to Mercosur trade surpluses in products such as soybeans, sugar cane, and wheat, which pose the primary competitive threats to the EU market. Conversely, the EU maintains an intensive advantage through superior yields in intensive farming (e.g., maize) and specialization in high-value, processed products. This creates quantifiable export opportunities for EU/Polish producers in sectors where Mercosur is a consistent net importer, notably other frozen vegetables, preserved tomatoes, and apples. The findings confirm an asymmetric effect of liberalization, which necessitates a dual strategy of internal structural reform (e.g., the EU Protein Strategy) and the implementation of external protective mechanisms, including strategic Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) adaptations and safeguard clauses, to maintain the long-term competitiveness and Supply Chain Resilience of European agriculture. Full article

Sizing is a critical operation in woven fabric production, as it enhances weaving efficiency by improving warp yarn performance. Conventional sizing agents include maize starch, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and commercial carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). In this study, a low-cost and biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose derived from wheat straw (CMC_ws) was investigated as an alternative sizing agent for cotton open-end yarns with a count of Nm 12.2. The high degree of substitution (DS = 1.23) of CMC_ws indicates extensive carboxymethylation, which enhances the polymer’s hydrophilicity and solubility in water. This, in turn, contributes to a higher apparent viscosity (η = 903.03 cP at 300 s⁻¹), reflecting stronger molecular chain interactions and better film-forming ability. CMC_ws was applied using a high-pressure squeezing technique, and its effect on yarn performance was evaluated in terms of tensile properties, film characteristics, and yarn surface morphology. The results showed that CMC_ws provided a tenacity gain of 28.57%, a hairiness reduction of 54.34%, and an abrasion resistance gain of 37.14%. These values fall within acceptable industrial ranges and are comparable to those obtained using conventional sizing agents. Furthermore, the optimized CMC_ws formulation, containing plasticizer and lubricant additives, exhibited good desizing efficiency, with effective removal achieved in hot water. The findings indicate that wheat-straw-derived CMC_ws is a viable, sustainable alternative to traditional sizing agents for woven fabric production. Full article

Delayed sowing has become a key constraint on winter wheat production in the Guanzhong Plain, Shaanxi Province, China, due to the widespread adoption of late-maturing maize and the delayed harvest of preceding crops. A two-year field experiment was conducted on the Guanzhong Plain to elucidate the physiological mechanisms behind yield reduction under delayed sowing and to explore potential mitigation strategies. The study examined the effects of sowing time (normal, 10-day delay, and 20-day delay) and plastic film mulching on yield components, crop development, and water and nitrogen uptake and use in winter wheat. Compared to normal sowing, delayed sowing significantly reduced grain yield (7.64–17.19%), spike number (11.65–21.3%), 1000-grain weight (5.2–9.05%), growth duration (7–16 d), dry matter accumulation (21.79–58.07%), and partial factor productivity of nitrogen fertilizer (7.64–17.2%). Late sowing slowed overall growth and development, shortened the growth cycle, and suppressed root system expansion and plant height, particularly under the 20-day delay. However, plastic film mulching under delayed sowing improved seedling emergence, root growth, tiller number (8.42–51.23%), water use efficiency (10.15–18.15%), and nitrogen productivity, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of delayed sowing on resource capture. Mulching enabled wheat sown with a 10-day delay to achieve yields comparable to normal-sown crops and alleviated 9.1–10.3% of the yield loss under a 20-day delay, although it did not fully restore yields to the non-delayed level. These findings provide practical insights for managing winter wheat under delayed sowing conditions. Full article

With the intensification of global climate change, frequent extreme temperature events pose increasing challenges to agricultural production. The aim of this study is to characterize the spatiotemporal evolution of county-level agricultural total factor productivity (ATFP) under extreme temperature events, reveal key driving factors and crop-specific heterogeneity, and predict potential high-risk areas, which is crucial for providing scientific basis for risk management and adaptive policy formulation in globally climate-sensitive agricultural regions. This paper selects Jiangsu Province as a typical case study, uses the DEA-Malmquist model to measure agricultural total factor productivity (ATFP), systematically analyzes the spatiotemporal dynamic evolution characteristics of ATFP at the county scale, and selects the random forest and XGBoost ensemble models with optimal accuracy through model comparison for prediction, assessing the evolution trends of ATFP under different climate scenarios. The results showed that: (1) From 1993 to 2022, the average ATFP increased from 0.7460 to 1.1063 in the province, though development showed uneven distribution across counties, exhibiting a “high in the south, low in the north” gradient pattern. (2) Mechanization, agricultural film and land inputs are the core elements driving the overall ATFP increase but there are obvious crop differences: mechanization has a more prominent role in promoting the productivity of wheat and maize, while labor inputs have a greater impact on the ATFP of rice. (3) The negative impacts of extreme climate events on agricultural production will be significantly amplified under high-emission scenarios, while moderate climate change may have a promotional effect on certain crops in some regions. Full article

The resident microbiota in agricultural soils strongly influences crop health and productivity. In this study, we evaluated the prokaryotic diversity of two clay soils with similar physicochemical characteristics but contrasting levels of maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Yield records showed significant differences in grain production over five consecutive years. When comparing prokaryotic alpha diversity between the “non-productive” and “productive” soils, no major differences were found, and the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacterial genera such as Arthrobacter, Neobacillus, and Microvirga remained consistent across soils. Analysis of the top 20 genera showing the greatest abundance shifts by compartment (bulk soil vs. rhizosphere) revealed that genera such as Priestia, Neobacillus, Sporosarcina, and Pontibacter decreased in the rhizosphere of the non-productive soil, while in the productive soil, these genera remained unchanged. In the non-productive soil, genera such as Flavisobacter decreased in abundance in the rhizosphere, whereas Arthrobacter increased. Principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) showed no clear clustering by compartment (bulk vs. rhizosphere), but two distinct clusters emerged when grouping by soil type (productive vs. non-productive). Interaction networks varied by soil type: non-productive soils showed positive Candidatus–Bacillus and negative Massilia links, while productive soils were dominated by Flavisolibacter and negative Pontibacter. Across soils, Rhizobium–Bradyrhizobium associations were positive, whereas Neobacillus and Priestia were negative. These findings highlight that a few potential beneficial microbiota and their interactions may be key drivers of soil productivity, representing targets for microbiome-based agricultural management. Full article

Reconciling agricultural productivity with greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation remains a pivotal challenge for achieving climate-smart food systems. This study evaluates the capacity of legume-based crop rotations to balance economic viability, yield stability, and GHG reduction in the North China Plain. A two-year randomized complete block field experiment compared six cropping systems: conventional wheat–maize (WM) rotations and legume-integrated systems (wheat–soybean, WS; wheat–soybean–maize, WSM), under fertilized and unfertilized regimes. Results revealed that nitrogen fertilization increased cumulative N₂O emissions and global warming potential (GWP), with seasonal peaks occurring post-fertilization. Legume systems enhanced CH₄ uptake but showed no significant effect on N₂O emissions compared to conventional systems. N₂O fluxes correlated positively with soil moisture and soil temperature, while CH₄ uptake increased with soil moisture alone. Soybean phases reduced short-term yields by 32–52% relative to the maize yield of conventional systems, but boosted subsequent wheat/maize productivity by 2–47% through hydraulic redistribution and N priming. The wheat–soybean rotation with 200 kg N ha⁻¹ (WS200) achieved optimal sustainability, delivering the highest net profit (8061.56 USD ha⁻¹) alongside a 9% reduction in global warming potential (3980.21 kg CO_2-eq ha⁻¹) versus conventional systems. These findings provide actionable insights for sustainable intensification in global cereal systems, demonstrating that strategic legume integration can advance both food security and climate goals. Full article

Common wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare) is one of the three basic cereal crops worldwide that plays a key role in global food security. A key factor affecting the yield and traits of common wheat is an adequate nitrogen supply. Improving the efficiency of soil nitrogen use can be achieved through the application of appropriate mineral fertilizers and the proper selection of cultivars. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of residual nitrogen (N_res) after maize cultivation (the preceding crop) on the yield and chemical composition of winter and spring wheat grain. It was shown that both the variety selection and the type of nitrogen carrier had a significant impact on the characteristics related to wheat yield and grain quality. The most stable effect of the type of nitrogen, regardless of the type of corn variety, was recorded for ammonium nitrate with N-Lock. The average yield was approximately 6.1 t ha⁻¹. With the exception of the variant with N-Lock, the most progressive reaction to the type of fertilizer occurred in the stand with a three-line corn hybrid (TC, stay green). The advantage of this corn variety as a winter wheat forecrop results from the value of the site in a site without nitrogen. In the nitrogen control, the increase in yield compared to the single corn hybrid (SC) was 14%. However, in the U + N-Lock variant, it was 17%, and SG Stabilo as much as 32%. The increase in the weight of 1000 wheat grains in the stands after the SC and TC hybrid compared to stay green + roots power indicates a compensatory mechanism that became visible in the grain filling phase. Current challenges in agriculture caused by population growth and the need to ensure sufficient food production require greater awareness and knowledge regarding improved nitrogen management, including recognizing the role of residual nitrogen remaining in the soil after the preceding crop. A major advantage of slow-release fertilizers is that the nutrient (N) is released in response to the dynamic demand of the crop. This, on the one hand, increases grain yield and, on the other, does not negatively impact the agrosystem (eutrophication). Full article

Nitrogen (N) and water are key resources for crop production and improving the efficiency with which they are used remains a major global challenge in intensive cropping systems. Here, we report how crop yield, N and water use efficiency, N surplus, and economic benefits can be improved from optimized management and crop rotations. A conventional winter wheat–summer maize double cropping (CN/WM) rotation in a three-year field experiment in the North China Plain is compared with alternative optimized rotations. The first three optimized treatments were wheat–summer maize rotation with optimized N and irrigation rates, tillage and straw management (ON/WM), and partial manure substitution (ONM/WM) or biochar addition (ONB/WM); the fourth optimized treatment was winter wheat–summer maize–spring maize producing three harvests in two years (ON/WMM); and the last was spring maize incorporating green manure during the fallow season for one harvest per year (ON/GM). The results showed that the ON/WM, ONM/WM, and ONB/WM had comparable yields to CN/WM, but significantly increased N use efficiency by 19–41% and water use efficiency by 13–20% and reduced N surplus to 353–531 kg N ha⁻¹ 2yr⁻¹. From these three optimized treatments, the ONM/WM performed better, with a comprehensive evaluation index of 0.66 and the highest economic benefits. The ON/WMM and ON/GM treatments also significantly increased N and water use efficiency but resulted in relatively low crop yields and profits; nevertheless, they significantly reduced water use and are suitable for water saving cropping systems. We concluded that optimized management-combined manure with synthetic N fertilization in wheat–summer maize rotations can achieve high crop productivity, environmental, and economic benefits, which contribute to a more sustainable crop production. Full article

Ecological stoichiometry offers critical insights into nutrient dynamics and soil–plant interactions in agroecosystems. To explore the effects of long-term fertilization on soil–cotton C, N, P stoichiometry and stoichiometric homeostasis in arid gray desert soils, this study was conducted at a national gray desert soil monitoring station in Xinjiang (87°28′27″ E, 43°56′32″ N, elevation: 595 m a.s.l.)—an arid and semi-arid region with an annual mean temperature of 5–8 °C and annual precipitation of 100–200 mm. Established in 1989, the 31-year experiment adopted a wheat–maize–cotton annual rotation system with six treatments: CK (control, no fertilizer), N (nitrogen fertilizer alone), NK (nitrogen + potassium fertilizer), NP (nitrogen + phosphorus fertilizer), PK (phosphorus + potassium fertilizer), and NPK (nitrogen + phosphorus + potassium fertilizer). Key results showed that balanced NPK fertilization significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC) by 22.7% and soil total phosphorus (STP) by 48.6% compared to CK, while the N-only treatment elevated soil N:P to 3.2 (a 68.4% increase vs. CK), indicating severe phosphorus limitation. For cotton, NPK increased seed phosphorus content by 68.2% (vs. N treatment) but reduced straw carbon content by 10.2% (vs. PK treatment), reflecting a carbon allocation trade-off from vegetative to reproductive organs under nutrient sufficiency. Stoichiometric homeostasis differed between organs: seeds maintained stricter carbon regulation (1/H = −0.40) than straw (1/H = −0.64), while straw exhibited more plastic N:P ratios (1/H = 1.95), highlighting organ-specific adaptive strategies to nutrient supply. Redundancy analysis confirmed that soil available phosphorus (AP) was the primary driver of cotton P uptake and yield formation. The seed cotton yield of NPK (5796.9 kg ha⁻¹) was 111.7% higher than CK, with NP (N-P co-application) achieving a 94.7% yield increase vs. CK—only 7.9% lower than NPK, whereas single N application showed the lowest straw yield (5995.0 kg ha⁻¹) and limited yield improvement. These findings demonstrate that long-term balanced NPK fertilization optimizes soil C-N-P stoichiometric balance by enhancing SOC sequestration and phosphorus retention, regulating cotton organ-specific stoichiometric homeostasis, and promoting efficient nutrient uptake and assimilate translocation. The study confirms that phosphorus is the key limiting factor in arid gray desert soil cotton systems, and balanced NPK supply is essential to mitigate stoichiometric imbalances and sustain soil fertility and productivity. This provides targeted practical guidance for rational fertilization management in arid agroecosystems, emphasizing the need to prioritize phosphorus supply and avoid single-nutrient application to maximize resource use efficiency. Full article

The sustainability of wheat-maize rotation systems in the North China Plain is challenged by the over-reliance on chemical fertilizers, which leads to the decline of soil organic matter and structural degradation, particularly in the unique Shajiang black soil (Vertisol). While straw return is widely recommended to mitigate these issues, the synergistic mechanisms of its long-term combination with chemical fertilizers on soil nutrient stoichiometry and aggregate stability remain inadequately quantified. A long-term field experiment was conducted with the five fertilization treatments including: (1) no fertilizer or straw (CK), (2) chemical fertilizer alone (NPK), (3) straw return chemical fertilizer (NPKS), (4) straw return with 10% straw-decomposing microbial inoculant combined with chemical fertilizer (10%NPKS), and (5) straw return with 20% straw-decomposing microbial inoculant combined with chemical fertilizer (20%NPKS) in the Shajiang black soil (Vertisol) region to investigate the effects of straw return combined with chemical fertilizers on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) stoichiometry, aggregate stability, and crop yield in winter wheat-summer maize rotation systems of North China Plain. Our study demonstrated that the co-application of straw with a straw-decomposing microbial inoculant is a highly effective strategy for enhancing soil health and crop productivity, with its efficacy being critically dose-dependent. Our results identified the 10%NPKS treatment as the optimal practice. It most effectively improved soil physical structure by significantly increasing the content of large macroaggregates (>0.5 mm) and key stability indices (MWD, GMD, WA), while concurrently enhancing nutrient cycling, as evidenced by elevated SOC, TN, and shifted C/P and N/P stoichiometry. Multivariate analyses confirmed strong positive correlations among these soil properties, indicating a synergistic improvement in soil quality. Crucially, these enhancements translated into significant yield gains, with a notable crop-specific response: maize yield was maximized under the 10%NPKS treatment, whereas wheat yield benefited sufficiently from NPKS treatment. A key mechanistic insight was that 20%NPKS treatment, despite leading to the highest SOC and TN, induced a relative phosphorus limitation and likely caused transient nutrient immobilization, thereby attenuating its benefits for soil structure and yield. We conclude that co-applying straw with a 10% microbial inoculant combined with chemical fertilizer represents the superior strategy, offering a sustainable pathway to synergistically improve soil structure, nutrient availability, and crop productivity, particularly in maize-dominated systems. Full article

The production and quality of wheat and maize grain can be significantly affected by various pests and pathogens, with phytoplasmas posing a particular threat due to their rapid spread and potential to cause severe damage to cultivated crops. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the risk associated with these wall-less bacteria in wheat and maize crops. To achieve this, a survey was conducted in commercial fields located in southwestern Poland. Samples of winter wheat and fodder maize were collected at two distinct developmental stages, including both symptomatic and asymptomatic plants. Symptoms observed in wheat included yellowing, stunting, and excessive tillering, while maize plants showed yellow leaf striping, red discoloration, and stunted growth. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays using phytoplasma-specific primers, followed by Sanger sequencing and sequence analysis, confirmed phytoplasma infections in 2% of wheat and 1.5% of maize samples. Virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis identified the wheat-infecting phytoplasmas as belonging to subgroup 16SrI-C (‘Candidatus Phytoplasma tritici’-related strain)—a pathogen of major concern for wheat, while maize-infecting phytoplasmas were classified into subgroups 16SrI-B and 16SrV-C. Additionally, wheat plants collected during the early elongation phase were tested for Mastrevirus hordei (former wheat dwarf virus, WDV) using double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA), which confirmed the presence of WDV in all tested samples. Preliminary screening of field-collected leafhoppers revealed that 7.5% of Psammotettix alienus, the predominant species in wheat fields, carried 16SrI-C phytoplasmas. In maize fields, Zyginidia scutellaris was the most prevalent species, with 1.7% of individuals carrying 16SrV-C phytoplasma. These findings suggest that these insect species may contribute to the transmission of phytoplasmas in wheat and maize. This study provides the first documented evidence of 16SrI-C phytoplasma infecting wheat in Poland, and of 16SrV-C and 16SrI-B phytoplasmas infecting maize, expanding the known host range of these subgroups in the country and highlighting their potential phytosanitary importance. Full article

Wheat is a major staple crop in Xinjiang, China; however, comprehensive data on Fusarium mycotoxin contamination in wheat from this region remain limited. Despite recent observations of Fusarium head blight (FHB), few studies have characterized the mycotoxin profiles in wheat from Xinjiang, especially regarding emerging mycotoxins. This study aimed to systematically investigate the occurrence of both conventional and emerging mycotoxins in freshly harvested wheat from Xinjiang, to evaluate the effects of sampling year and geographical region on mycotoxin contamination levels, and to identify the Fusarium species responsible for mycotoxin production. A total of 151 freshly harvested wheat samples were collected from Southern and Northern Xinjiang in 2023 and 2024. Mycotoxins were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Fusarium isolates were obtained and identified through the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α) gene sequencing. Genotyping was assessed by genotype-specific multiplex PCR, and mycotoxigenic potential was detected by rice culture assays. A high incidence (72.9%) of co-contamination with multiple mycotoxins was observed. Conventional mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) were detected in 31.1% and 41.1% of samples. Notably, emerging mycotoxins, including enniatins (ENNs) and beauvericin (BEA), were present at significantly higher concentrations than those reported in some regions of China. Significant spatiotemporal variation was observed, with markedly higher contamination levels of emerging mycotoxins in 2024, particularly in Northern Xinjiang, where the symptoms of FHB epidemic occurred due to the humid climate and maize–wheat rotation system. Fusarium graminearum was identified as the primary producer of conventional mycotoxins, while F. acuminatum and F. avenaceum were mainly associated with emerging mycotoxins except BEA. This study provides the first comprehensive dataset on the co-occurrence of conventional and emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in wheat from Xinjiang and highlights significant spatiotemporal variations influenced by environmental factors. These findings underscore the necessity for continuous, region-specific monitoring and effective risk management strategies to address the evolving mycotoxin threat in Xinjiang’s wheat. Future research should focus on characterizing the populations of Fusarium toxin-producing fungi and the long-term impacts of mycotoxin exposure on food safety. Full article

Insufficient precipitation and low temperatures can restrict grain yield but not necessarily vegetative growth in cold–arid regions. This indicates that forage production may be more suitable than grain cultivation in these environments while also meeting the increasing demand for livestock products. In this study, we compared the effects of cultivating forage maize (Zea mays L.) and forage oat (Avena sativa L.) with those of traditional grain crops, such as potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), in terms of aboveground biomass, crude protein yield, and water use efficiency (WUE). Across the four-year study, the results showed that aboveground biomass increased by 26–125% with oat (9.10 t ha⁻¹) and maize (13.7 t ha⁻¹) cultivation compared to potato (7.23 t ha⁻¹) or wheat (6.10 t ha⁻¹). Maize and potato exhibited greater biomass stability due to longer growing seasons and better synchronization with peak precipitation. In contrast, wheat and oat exhibited higher biomass variability, reflecting their susceptibility to early spring drought. Among the four crops analyzed, maize achieved the highest crude protein yield (1068 kg ha⁻¹) and WUE (31.9 kg biomass ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹), primarily due to its superior biomass production rather than its protein concentration or elevated soil water consumption. Therefore, cultivating forage crops with longer growth periods could effectively align water demand with seasonal precipitation, thereby improving biomass accumulation and WUE in hydrothermally limited regions. Full article

Field crop cultivation in the Republic of Moldova faces significant challenges due to climate variability, market volatility, and rising input costs. Under these conditions, transitioning from conventional to conservation agriculture (CA) represents a strategic solution for improving farm resilience and competitiveness. This study evaluates the economic efficiency of the main field crops—wheat, barley, maize, rapeseed, and sunflower—by comparing income and expenditure budgets for conventional and conservation systems. The results highlight significant advantages for conservation agriculture, both in terms of profitability and the sustainable use of natural resources (water, soil, and biodiversity). The analysis, based on data from 25 representative farms collected between 2020 and 2024, shows that CA improves profitability by 15–35%, reduces fuel use by 35–40%, and decreases mechanized operations by 30–45%. These benefits result in lower production costs and greater yield stability in drought conditions. The research conclusions confirm that the implementation of conservation agriculture can contribute to the efficient adaptation of farmers to climate risks and to the consolidation of the sustainable development of the agricultural sector in the Republic of Moldova. Full article

Conventional cereal production in coastal saline–alkali drylands is constrained by low productivity and soil degradation. While diversified cropping and biochar application have each been shown to enhance soil quality, the effects of their short-term integration into continuous cereal systems remain unclear, particularly regarding crop yield, soil health, and economic returns. A field experiment was conducted to compare a continuous wheat–maize rotation (W) with systems where one cycle of that was replaced by an alfalfa–sweetpotato (A) or rapeseed–soybean (R) rotation, under biochar-amended and non-amended conditions. Diversified rotations increased subsequent wheat yields by 6.6–16.2%. System A achieved 216% and 439% higher cumulative equivalent yield and economic benefit than System W, respectively. Even without biochar, A and R systems increased soil organic matter content, aggregate stability, and fungal richness by 16.3–21.0%, 20.6–26.5%, and 8.60–10.2%, respectively, compared to W. Biochar further enhanced crop yields by 6.36–16.3% and integrated fertility score by 7.78–9.01%, but its initial cost reduced profitability. Comprehensive evaluation conducted via a weighted model indicated that system A, combined with biochar, achieved the optimal balance among productivity, soil fertility, economics, and microbial diversity. These findings demonstrate that integrating “green” (diversified cropping) and “black” (biochar) strategies offers synergistic benefits for sustainable production in coastal saline–alkali drylands. Full article