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The intensification of Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. (black-grass) is becoming a major problem due to its growing resistance to a broad spectrum of acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate the resistance level of a black-grass population to iodosulfuron plus mesosulfuron and to identify the underlying resistance mechanism. Dose-response studies revealed that the resistance population is 22 times less sensitive to iodosulfuron plus mesosulfuron than the susceptible population. The probable resistance mechanism identified was the target-site substitution of proline (Pro) by threonine (Thr) at the 197^th position of the ALS enzyme. Furthermore, whole plant response bioassay experiments demonstrated that this population is also resistant to pinoxaden, chlorotoluron, diflufenican plus pendimethalin plus chlorotoluron, fenoxaprop and flufenacet plus diflufenican. In summary, the current findings recommend using alternative herbicides in integrated weed management to interrupt the possible evolution of herbicide resistance in these species.

Emerging economies often establish commodity futures markets to discover price signals, manage price risks and improve market integration, but establishing a futures market may not be feasible for agricultural perishables. In this study, we evaluated the function of the world’s first fresh fruit futures contract for apples. Combining partial cointegration with state-space modelling, we derived time-varying price discovery metrics for the apple futures market. Our findings revealed a limited and time-varying dominance of price discovery by the futures market, while a substantial share of price discovery occurred in the spot market. Moreover, poor convergence of disaggregated spot prices to the futures price suggests that commercial traders in the apple supply chain tended to focus more on the spot market than on the futures market. Thus, emerging economies should be cautious about the new establishment of futures markets for agricultural perishables. Future research using more specific data on the spot market may provide a better insight on the limited function of the futures market.

In this article, we present applied research in the field of price transmission modelling with the generalised additive model. In line with recent studies on nonlinear time series models for price transmission, we introduce a nonparametric technique of generalised additive modelling to provide evidence of nonlinear patterns in price linkages and compare the degree of nonlinearity in price transmission between feed maize and poultry product markets in the Visegrád Group countries. The results of our empirical approach contribute to knowledge about market competitiveness in the Visegrád Group countries and provide information to policymakers.

The environment is characterised by subtle and major mutations that cause changes in land use/land cover. Analysis of its dynamics and identification of vulnerable areas are critical to maintaining ecosystem services. The aim of this research is to quantify and qualify land cover dynamics over a 30-year period. It will also highlight forest degradation from a supervised classification of Landsat satellite imagery (L5 TM1987, L7 ETM+ 2000, and L8 OLI/TIRS 2019). The dynamics of land use/land cover were investigated by a maximum likelihood approach using geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS). Six major land use and land cover (LULC) types were mapped (build-up, agriculture, forest, clearing, matorral and olive cultivation). The classification reports made it possible to assess a reduction in forest cover (from 14 470.11 ha to 5 203.26 ha) and an increase in buildings (from 6 033.69 ha to 9 515.61 ha), and agricultural land (from 9 517.59 ha to 12 338.19 ha). The results were validated by a kappa coefficient of 0.93, 0.91, and 0.96, which showed that the model had successfully predicted LULC changes. We anticipate that the results will provide a basis for decision-making as well as a starting point for further in-depth studies in sustainable management and development of natural resources in the study region.

To investigate the impact of different seedling transplanting times on rice growth, the present study evaluated seedling age and root pruning using treatments consisting of root pruning (RC20, RC30, and RC40) and no root pruning (CK20, CK30, and CK40). Quantitative analysis using curve fitting of the changes in dry matter accumulation (DMA) during the seedling and field stages was performed, and the changes in root parameters during the re-greening stage were observed. The results showed that the seedling stage could be divided into a gradual increase period, a rapid increase period, and a slow increase period. Transplanting at different time periods resulted in different transplanting shock effects. During the field stage, the DMA exhibited a slow-fast-slow "S" shaped curve as the developmental time progressed. However, significant differences were observed in growth parameters among the different treatments. Root injury promoted early maturity in young seedlings but also prolonged the whole growth period in older seedlings. The inhibitory effect of root pruning on rice root growth increased with young seedling age. The present results provide a theoretical basis for the design of seedling needle structure and the optimisation of rice seedling cultivation practices.

This research investigated the effect of different storage temperatures on the compositional changes, physicochemical characteristics, and functional properties of hawthorn berries. Storage at 25 °C resulted in the gradual decrease of the moisture, hardness, sugar, titratable acid, and colour of hawthorn berries. These changes decreased with decreasing storage temperature, and the minimal changes happened at frozen storage (–18 °C). Similarly, the decreasing rate of ascorbic acid, extractable polyphenol (EPP), and flavonoids during storage also decreased with reducing storage temperature (25 °C > 4 °C > –18 °C). Hydrolysable polyphenol (HPP) was relatively stable during the hawthorn storage, and non-extractable proanthocyanidins (NEPA) increased with decreasing temperature. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of EPP and HPP decreased at 25 °C, while polyphenolic oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities decreased. Decreasing the storage temperature can improve the stability of the nutritional properties, antioxidant capacity, and enzyme activity of hawthorn. The specific storage temperature depends on the final processing conditions and the purposes of the hawthorn berries.

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) is a common pathogen around the world that can cause disease with symptoms of diarrhoea. We collected all clinical DEC isolates from diarrhoea samples in three sentinel hospitals for active surveillance of foodborne diseases in Huzhou, China, between 2020 and 2022. The isolates were characterised according to demographic characteristics, time distribution, distribution of suspected culprit foods, antimicrobial results of susceptibility testing, analysis of virulence genes, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing. The positive detection rate was 7.28%, the highest for enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) strains, followed by enterotoxic E. coli (ETEC) strains. The predominant virulence genes were astA/pic in EAEC (57.25%) and estIa/estIb in ETEC (17.94%) strains. The proportion of cases was relatively high in children aged 6 years old (15.27%), and the peak of incidence was between June and September. The rates of drug resistance in DEC were high in Huzhou, and the spectrum of drug resistance was wide. The highest rate of drug resistance was for AMP (63.51%), and multiple drug resistance was common. The household was the leading site of DEC infection, and meat and meat products were the main suspected culprit foods (18.15%). EAEC strains showed 52.4–100.00% sequence identity, and ETEC strains showed 52.2–100.00% sequence identity. All cases of DEC infection in Huzhou were sporadic between 2020 and 2022. Strengthening continuous surveillance will be useful in the risk assessment of foodborne diseases caused by DEC.

Most farmers use urea as a nitrogen fertiliser to raise mustard (Brassica juncea L.), although its nitrogen (N) content is quickly lost due to its hygroscopic nature. Nitrogen loss in the form of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitrates (NO₃^–) has been causing low nitrogen fertiliser efficiency in vegetable cultivation. This investigation aims to assess the impact of urea fertiliser coated with biochar or activated charcoal on losses of N₂O and NO₃^– concentration in the soil during mustard production. The experiment used a randomised block design with five treatments of urea fertiliser coated with biochar/activated charcoal. The observed data included N₂O flux, nitrate, and ammonia content in soil and water. The results showed that urea fertiliser coated with activated charcoal from corn cobs tended to suppress N loss more effectively than urea coated with biochar or activated charcoal from coconut shells. Biochar and activated charcoal from coconut shells suppressed N-N₂O loss as much as 3.1% and 52.5% (7 days after planting (DAP)), respectively, and 68.7% and 71.6% (21 DAP), respectively. Biochar and activated charcoal from corn cob reduce N-N₂O loss by 46.5% and 66.5% (7 DAP), respectively, and by 70.7% and 77.8% (21 DAP). Urea-coated activated charcoal fertiliser increases mustard plant biomass and nitrogen uptake. Biochar and activated charcoal from coconut shells and corncobs increase nitrogen use efficiency by 5, 24, 6, and 17%, respectively. Biochar/activated charcoal coatings are a promising technology for boosting nitrogen use efficiency in vegetable crops, including mustard crops.

Praziquantel (PZQ) is a drug effective against several parasitic diseases of fish caused by Platyhelminthes. The study assesses the efficacy of selected in-feed PZQ doses in eliminating metacercariae Diplostomum pseudospathaceum in grass carp. The fish were infected with D. pseudospathaceum in laboratory conditions and subsequently treated with PZQ at daily doses of 30 (PZQ1), 50 (PZQ2), and 100 (PZQ3) mg/kg bw for seven days. The treatment trial was followed by a 23-day observation period during which the fish were parasitologically examined on days 0, 2, 8 and 23. Smaller fish were infected with a significantly higher (P < 0.05) number of metacercariae than bigger fish among three weight groups as follows: up to 7 g > 7 to 12 g > 12 g. The in-feed PZQ at doses of 30, 50 and 100 mg/kg bw for seven days was 47%, 84% and 88% effective against metacercariae D. pseudospathaceum, respectively. A significant decrease (P < 0.01) in moving and an increase (P < 0.01) in the immotile metacercariae in the eye’s lens were recorded in all the trial groups on each sampling day. An increasing proportion of motile metacercariae in the post-treatment observation period was seen in PZQ2 and PZQ3, indicating a decreasing trend in the actual efficacy in an environment with no reinfection possibility.

Erratum in: Vet Med-Czech. 2024 Nov 29;69(11):401. doi: 10.17221/97/2024-VETMED

Asian sand dust (ASD), also called China dust or yellow dust, mainly occurs in East Asia during spring and autumn. Because ASD enters the body mainly through the respiratory system, it can cause respiratory disorders or worsen underlying diseases. Because of this, it has become an important health concern that threatens the well-being of humans and animals. In this study, we investigated the effects of 15 and 30 mg/kg of Pycnogenol (PYC15 and 30 groups), a pine bark extract, on ASD-induced pulmonary inflammation in mice. We evaluated the inflammatory cell counts, inflammatory cytokines, and matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression in animal models. PYC administration significantly decreased inflammatory cell infiltration into lung tissue; this was accompanied by a reduction in the levels of proinflammatory mediators including interleukin (IL)-1β (P < 0.01), IL-6 (P < 0.01) and tumour necrosis factor-α (P < 0.01) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of ASD-exposed mice (ASD group). Histological analysis revealed that PYC suppressed ASD-induced pulmonary inflammation. Moreover, PYC suppressed the levels of matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in the lung tissue of ASD-exposed mice, indicating that PYC reduced ASD-induced pulmonary inflammation by suppressing MMP-9. Together, these results indicate that PYC as the potential to treat ASD-driven pulmonary inflammation.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of feeding regime (FR) and the combination of FR with pasture on the carcass composition and meat quality parameters of fast-growing chickens. Ross 308 chickens were split into three groups: Group 1 was fed ad libitum, and Groups 2 and 3 had a restricted diet. The chickens were feed-restricted at a rate of 70% ad libitum from 8 to 14 days of age. In Group 3, after restriction at the age of 21 days, chickens were kept on a pasture until the end of the experiment at 35 days of age. The chickens were fed ad libitum prior to and following restriction. Feed restriction and the combination of feed restriction and pasture significantly reduced final body weight, but the dressing out percentage was not affected. The breast percentage was the highest (P = 0.005) in the ad libitum group (30.5%), followed by the restricted group (28.2%) and the lowest in the group with a combination of feed restriction and pasture (27.4%). Breast pH and colour measured 24 h post mortem were not affected, whereas texture expressed as F_max was the lowest in the group with the combination of feed restriction and pasture (P = 0.05). There was no effect of the group on meat dry matter, crude protein, cholesterol, and fatty acid content, but ether extract was the highest, and significantly so, in the ad libitum-fed group. In summary, feed restriction and the combination of feed restriction and pasture negatively affected final body weight and breast and abdominal fat percentages, which might be related to a short realimentation period for compensatory growth. However, these conditions negligibly affected carcass composition and the physical and chemical parameters of the meat.

Dairy cows enter the negative energy balance in the early post-partum period, which negatively affects milk yield, health status and reproduction. This study aimed to determine if milk yield (MY) and fat/protein (F/P) ratio could be used as reliable indicators for predicting the quality of aspirated oocytes and their further use for in vitro fertilisation. A secondary goal was to compare different periods before oocyte aspiration to determine which period had the most significant impact on the oocyte development in donor cows. All tested Holstein cows were at their first lactation (n = 68). The first ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration in donor cows was done on average at 58.7 days in milk (DIM). Usually, a second aspiration followed a week later if no problems were detected. In total, 102 aspirations were performed. Three model equations with different F/P ratio distributions and variants of MY production were tested in statistical evaluation. On average, 3.6 oocytes were retrieved per donor per aspiration, with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 12. The maturation rate was 62.2%, with a high probability of reaching metaphase II (90.45%). The highest number of oocytes was obtained from low-yielding cows with a low F/P ratio in all evaluated periods (P < 0.01). The quality and expansion of cumulus-oocyte complexes were unaffected by the metabolic status. However, a tendency for better quality oocytes in donors with lower MY and F/P ratios was observed in all models. Our preliminary results showed that the prediction of oocyte quality in a homogeneous group of the first-lactation cows was related to the chosen data acquisition model. Data about milk yield and F/P ratio obtained from on-farm systems provide a valuable source of information for the selection of oocyte donors.

Lymantria dispar, a well-known defoliating pest species, also presents a health challenge due to the allergenic potential of its hairs, making it interesting to study from various perspectives. As chemical control methods decline in popularity, the search for effective natural enemies of this pest, such as predators, parasites and parasitoids, are expanding. On this occasion, we report the discovery of the primary parasitoid Glyptapanteles liparidis and the secondary parasitoid Gelis areator for the fauna of Slovenia. Illustrations and a short biology are given for both species.

The effects of large granular slow-controlled release fertiliser prepared by a double coating of sulfur and sodium alginate on peanut growth, nitrogen fertiliser utilisation, and soil microbial community were investigated through peanut pot experiments, with a view to providing a theoretical and practical basis for the development of large granular slow-controlled release fertiliser. The results showed that the homemade large granular fertiliser could promote the root development of peanuts, and the root volume increased by 45.10% compared with the uncoated fertiliser at the fruiting stage. At the same time, the soil NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–-N content were reduced at the seedling stage and increased at the fruiting stage to achieve the fertiliser’s slow and controlled release effect. A significant contribution to the net photosynthetic rate was made for growth development and yield in the middle and late stages. Pod dry weight was significantly higher at the blooming stage than uncoated fertiliser, 4.8% higher at the fruiting stage, and 22.9% higher in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). In terms of microbial bacterial communities, the large granular slow-release fertiliser promoted the diversity of the treated bacterial communities to some extent, with little difference in the relative abundance of soil bacterial communities. These results showed that a one-time application of homemade large granular slow-release fertiliser positively affected peanuts in terms of yield increase, promotion of nitrogen uptake and improved nitrogen utilisation under nitrogen application with urea equivalent, but the overall effect on soil microbial community was small.

Global climate change leads to frequent occurrence of low-temperature stress (LTS), which poses a serious threat to global food security. Here, environment-control phytotron experiments were conducted on cold-responsive cv. XM26 and cold-tolerant cv. YN19 during the anther differentiation period. Six LTS levels (4, 2, 0, −2, −4, −6 °C) and a control treatment (10 °C) were set to study the effects of different levels of LTS on wheat seed-setting characteristics and yield. LTS significantly decreased grain number per spike, 1 000-grain weight, and grain yield per plant (GYPP) of the two wheat cultivars. Each spike’s grain number and weight distribution showed a quadratic curve, and the near-medium dominance of grain development was not affected by temperature. The grain number percentage and grain weight of wheat at different grain positions were G2 (2^nd grain position) ≥ G1 (1^st grain position) > G3 (3^rd grain position) > G4 (4^th grain position), in which G3 and G4 grain positions were more sensitive to LTS. In summary, LTS during the anther differentiation in wheat mainly led to a decrease in GYPP by significantly reducing the number and weight of inferior grains. Improving wheat cultivation measures and promoting the development of inferior grains are significant ways to prevent disasters and increase wheat quality and productivity in the future.

The effects of biogas residue as a substrate on ginseng growth and its feasibility for ginseng cultivation are unclear. The present study used biogas residue at different concentrations and maturity levels to cultivate ginseng. The biological characteristics of ginseng, soil physiochemical indices, and ginseng and soil microbial communities were investigated. The results showed that with increasing ginseng content and maturity, the total fresh weight, total length and saponin content significantly increased. The enzyme activities of soil, NO₃^–-N, and available phosphorus also increased. The microbiome analysis revealed that with the addition of biogas residue, microorganisms related to plant growth promotion, such as Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadota and Mortierellomycota, were more common in the plant or rhizosphere soil. The results based on the co-occurrence network showed that the structure of the bacterial community was more stable than that of the fungal community with increasing biogas residue content. Our results indicated that biogas residue could be used as a ginseng cultivation substrate and promote growth.

The present study aimed to determine the chemical composition and in vitro antimicrobial potential for the first time of essential oils (EOs) from six cultivars (Druzhba, Raya, Hebar, Hemus, Yubileina, Sevtapolis) of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) cultivated in Türkiye (Tekirdağ) against a panel of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms. The chemical composition of EOs, analysed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), revealed 34 different components in the six cultivars. The results indicate that the main major constituents of all EOs were monoterpenoid linalool (47.60–64.13%) and linalyl acetate (12.92–26.08%). Based on principal component analysis (PCA) cvs. Druzhba, Raya and Hebar were situated in the centre right quadrant of the plot and were characterised by linalool and linalyl acetate in subgroup one. The results of antimicrobial assays revealed that lavender EOs were active against all strains of bacteria tested. For bacteria, the strongest activity of cv. Hemus was observed against Enterococcus faecalis (IZ = 19 ± 0.10 mm, MIC = MMC = 6.25 (µg/mL), while the weakest potency was seen against the gram-negative Salmonella enterica (IZ = 21 ± 1.00 mm, MIC = MMC = 31.25 (µg/mL). Based on PCA, the first subgroup of cvs. Hebar and Raya was characterised by Lactobacillus rhamnosus, E. faecalis and Lactobacillus pentosus and was situated in the bottom right quadrant of the plot.

Evapotranspiration (ET) is one of the main components of the hydrological cycle and plays a crucial role for water resources. It is sensitive to climate change, and therefore, estimating ET under changing climatic conditions is essential in comprehending hydrological processes, particularly in agricultural water management. In this study, the impact of climate change on ET in the Central Anatolia region of Türkiye was assessed. For this purpose, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate change scenarios based on two Earth System Models, HadGEM2-ES and MPI-ESM-MR, were employed for three future time periods: 2025–2049, 2050–2074, and 2075–2098. As a baseline period for comparison, the time interval spanning 1980–2000 was considered. ET values were computed by using the Penman-Monteith equation, recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization, along with five widely utilized methods. The study revealed a consistent increase in ET depending on the employed methods for the future period in response to climate change. The average of the ET amounts for the region was determined as 1089 mm for the reference period 1980–2000. As the average of the six methods utilized, amounts estimated by HadGEM RCP4.5, HadGEM RCP8.5, MPI RCP4.5, and MPI RCP8.5 models for the future period were obtained as 1 199, 1 285, 1 166, and 1 248 mm, respectively. Considering the results, it is found that the ET amount in the Central Anatolia region of Türkiye will increase by up to 11% by the end of this century under the optimistic RCP 4.5 scenario and by up to 19% under the extreme RCP 8.5 scenario. These findings regarding increased evapotranspiration play a significant role in water resource management and agricultural production planning in the region, holding crucial implications for sustainable agriculture.

This study investigated the impact of deltamethrin (DM) toxicity on brown trout (Salmo trutta fario), examining its effects on the immune system, including the white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte (Lym), total immunoglobulin (T. Ig), and lysozyme levels, as well as its neurotoxic consequences on the brain tissue. The neurotoxic effects encompassed oxidative stress, the activity of the antioxidant enzymes, such as the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and DNA damage using 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). The DM exposure led to elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-OHdG, while concurrently causing a reduction in the AChE activity, protein and lipid content, WBC count, Lym, lysozyme activity, T. Ig levels, as well as the SOD and CAT levels in the brain tissues of groups 2 and 3 when compared to those in group 1. In summary, the findings of this study strongly indicate that DM induces DNA damage, immunotoxicity, and neurotoxicity in the brain tissue of brown trout, primarily due to the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, the observed dose-dependent responses of DM to the environmental concentrations on all the investigated parameters suggest its potential utility in aquaculture risk assessment.

The effects of the foliar application of plant growth regulators (PGRs), salicylic acid (SA) and ascorbic acid (AA) were studied on yield and some qualitative traits of corn silage under drought stress in a field experiment conducted in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Khoy in two consecutive years. The experiment was performed in four replications as a split plot in a randomised complete blocks design. Irrigation treatment was in two levels, ir75 and ir150, and the foliar applications of SA and AA at seven levels (100, 200, and 300 ppm, as well as a control treatment). The amount of water consumed in ir75 and ir150 during 10 and 7 times irrigation was 6 000 and 4 200 m3/ha, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was increased over the plant growth period in both ir75 and ir150, but with the difference that its range was 3.72 to 12.9 nmol/g FW (fresh weight) under ir75 and 12.5–109.5 nmol/g FW under water shortage conditions. The results show that ir150 decreased plant height, forage yield, ear weight, and nitrogen uptake versus ir75. In plants treated with SA and AA, nitrogen uptake and chlorophyll content increases (45–33%) were observed compared to the control plants under ir75. In most traits, there was no significant difference between AA and SA levels, but plants treated with SA100 showed higher protein yield, dry forage yield, and ear yield.

One of several important pests that attack tomato plants is the silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). An eco-friendly method to control B. tabaci utilizes the entomopathogenic fungus, namely Aschersonia aleyrodis. This study aimed to determine the effect of A. aleyrodis conidia density and the frequency of its application to control silverleaf whitefly (B. tabaci) pest on tomato plants under screen house conditions. This study used a randomized completely block design (RCBD) to test ten combination treatments. Each treatment was repeated three times. The results showed that application of A. aleyrodis at conidia densities of 106 conidia/mL, 107 conidia/mL, and 108 conidia/mL with an application frequency of up to once every three weeks was still effective in controlling B. tabaci populations on tomato plants. The highest population suppression rates for B. tabaci (90.6%), tomato yield (1 009 g/plant and 16 fruits/plant), percentage of mycosis (96.6%), and percentage of mummification (97.3%) were found to occur at a conidia density of 108 conidia/mL with the application frequency of once a week.

In Thailand, vibration problems often occur with rice combine harvester automatic header height adjusting systems. This study aimed to identify parameters for reducing the vibration and managing response time for harvesting speed configuration. An experimental combine harvester header model was designed to automatically adjust three parameters: total movement time, time ratio, and final phase distance within vertical movement ranges of 200, 250, or 300 mm. These parameters were controlled using a proportional flow control valve and a professional learning community (PLC) control unit. The results showed that increased time ratio, final phase distance, and total movement time significantly reduced average vibration amplitude. Higher time ratios corresponded to lower vibration amplitude during changing stages but higher amplitude during stopping stages. Vibration amplitudes during starting, changing, and stopping stages ranged from 0.622 to 1.373 mm, 0.042 to 1.097 mm, and 0.132 to 0.902 mm, respectively, for 200, 250, and 300 mm vertical movement distances. To reduce vibration in the first and second wave phases, precise control of start and final speeds through time ratio and total movement time was necessary. Minimizing the time ratio and final phase distance effectively reduced vibration amplitude in the third wave phase.

The objective of this research is to prepare a composite packaging film by integrating oregano essential oil (OEO) into a chitosan (CS)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to enhance the preservative properties of food packaging films. For this purpose, the study established multiple quality evaluation methods for composite films. The composite weights for each evaluation indicator were calculated through the analytic hierarchy process-coefficient of variation (AHP-CV), deriving the comprehensive score value (OD). Employing OD as the ultimate evaluation indicator, the optimal preparation formula for the OEO composite film was ascertained by applying response surface methodology (RSM), incorporating insights gained from single-factor experiments. The results showed that the optimum formulation was CS 1.51 g, PVA 3.51 g, glycerin 1.97 g, and Tween-80 0.51 g. The OD for the OEO composite film prepared under these conditions was 83.95 ± 0.12%, closely matching the predicted value of 83.91%. Characterisation further confirmed the cross-linking action between CS and PVA, while the inclusion of OEO enhanced the antimicrobial activity of the composite film. These findings suggest incorporating OEO into composite packaging films holds considerable potential for enhancing food packaging applications.

Antibiotics are still used to treat mastitis in dairy cows in Indonesia. This study aimed to analyse antibiotic resistance genes in Escherichia coli (E. coli) from subclinical mastitis milk in East Java Province, Indonesia. The samples consisted of subclinical mastitis milk from cows and goats. A total of 592-quarter cow’s milk and 71 goat’s milk samples from both halves of the udder were collected from 67 farms in Lumajang, Banyuwangi, Malang, Sidoarjo, Jember, Pasuruan, Probolinggo, and Mojokerto. Subclinical mastitis samples were screened using the California mastitis test (CMT). E. coli was identified by phenotypic and genotypic methods. E. coli was confirmed with a primer specific to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Gene resistance of E. coli was tested using the multiplex-PCR (mPCR) technique with primers encoding the genes temoneira enzyme (TEM), oxacillinase (OXA), sulfhydryl variable (SHV), and cefotaximase-munich IV (CTX-M IV). These genes were chosen because mastitis treatment generally uses oxacilline and β-lactam antibiotics. All data obtained were analysed descriptively. The results show that six isolates of E. coli (46.15%) carried a single resistance gene (TEM or SHV) and two isolates (33.33%) were confirmed as multiple drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) (TEM and SHV). The resistance genes were found in samples originating from Blitar, Banyuwangi, Lumajang, and Pasuruan Regencies. This research implies that antibiotic-resistance genes found in E. coli on certain farms are dangerous and may allow gene transmission to other bacteria that make treatment for mastitis or other bacterial infections ineffective.

In recent years, the concept of digitalization has gained increasing attention in the field of agriculture. The adoption of digital technologies such as sensors, drones, and precision farming tools has the potential to revolutionize how agricultural production is carried out, leading to increased efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. This study examines the current state of digitisation and the use of digital tools in agriculture among Hungarian farmers. The uptake of digitalisation has been slow, and more comprehensive policies and strategies are needed to improve progress. The study shows that while there are positive developments, such as the increasing use of precision technologies, there is still a lack of digital infrastructure and skills, as well as limited access to finance and information. The study concludes by making recommendations for policy makers, stakeholders and farmers to enhance the digitalisation of agriculture in Hungary.

Drip irrigation is a highly efficient method for watering crops, as  it delivers water directly to the roots and minimises wastage due to evaporation or runoff. This paper presents the development and implementation of  a low-cost drip irrigation control system that uses both time- and soil sensor-based approaches. The system’s efficiency was compared through a field experiment of melon growing, divided into three categories and four replications using a completely randomised design. The treatments include: T1 [time-based irrigation (TBI)], T2 [soil moisture-based irrigation (SMI)], and T3 [hand watering irrigation system (HWI)]. Results indicated that the TBI technique resulted in faster plant growth compared to the other treatments, as evidenced by increased leaf widths, lengths, numbers, and stem diameter. All irrigation techniques showed significant differences in yield characteristics, with TBI and SMI producing no differences in the first flowering day of female fruit widths, lengths, and weight of melon. However, the HWI treatment resulted in lower fruit length and weight yields. Cost analysis showed that the system is beneficial as  a very low-cost device that is affordable, precise, and useful for measuring and controlling irrigation-related parameters for melon cultivation.

The rice drying process in a rotary dryer gives the benefit of producing uniformly dried rice in a short drying time. This work investigated a rotary dryer's efficiency and heat consumption at various temperatures (40, 50, and 60 °C) and capacities (10, 20, 30, and 40 kg). When loaded with 10 to 30 kg of rough rice and operated at 60 °C, the dryer produced dry rice with 14% w.b. moisture content for less than 3 hours. The energy efficiency and consumption were evaluated based on the experiment and theoretical analysis. According to the observation, a high temperature significantly shortened drying time. Thus, the total energy and fuel consumption decreased even at the higher capacity. The lowest carbon dioxide emission was achieved at the highest temperature and capacity.

Studded feed rollers are widely used in seed metering units of seed drills. The flow evenness is an important indicator of the performance of studded feed rollers. With this research, the effects of studded feed rollers with different stud numbers (27, 36, and 45 studs) on flow evenness were investigated both in the laboratory and by simulation in case of using different ground speeds (1.5, 2, and 2.5 m·s^–1). While the experiments were carried out on the seed drill model prepared in the laboratory, the simulation was done with the Rocky DEM software program. In the laboratory and simulation studies, it was determined that the flow evenness increased with the increase in the number of studs and the ground speed. The results obtained from the laboratory and simulation studies show parallelism with each other. However, it was seen that the results obtained in the laboratory were slightly higher than the results obtained from the simulation. With this study, it has been seen that it would be very beneficial to use the DEM model to improve the performance of the seed metering unit and to develop a new seed metering unit.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of selected vegetable oils on the representation of dietary fatty acids in the muscle of broiler cockerels. The experiment included three groups of one-day-old cockerels of ROSS 308 genotype, 15 individuals each. The feed mixture and drinking water were fed to the cockerels, ad libitum. In accordance with the technological instructions for the hybrid combination ROSS 308, BR1 was fed to chickens up to 9 days of age with the same nutrient and oil (soybean) composition for all three groups. From day 10 to day 28 of fattening the chicks were fed BR2 and from day 29 to day 35 BR3. The components and composition of the BR2 and BR3 feeds were identical; feed mixtures differed only in oil, soybean oil was added to Group 1 (SBO), rapeseed oil to Group 2 (RSO) and sunflower oil to Group 3 (SFO). Cockerels were fed until 35 days of age and then slaughtered. Breast and thigh muscles were collected from 10 individuals from each group to determine total fat in which individual fatty acid (FA) analysis was performed. Based on the obtained results, rapeseed oil can be clearly recommended for broiler chickens in feed mixtures, for the reasons that the cockerels from the RSO group showed the highest live weight (35 days of fattening), had the lowest feed conversion ratio, had an increased n-3 FAs content in the intramuscular fat (breast and thigh), and the narrowest n-3 : n-6 FAs ratio in the intramuscular fat (breast and thigh).

Reproductive performance in pig production has gained genetic momentum resulting in large litters. Several strategies have been used to raise the number of piglets to address the challenge of a large litter size. This review provides a rationale for employing the nurse sow system as a biological way of handling large litters, exploring its step-by-step processes and its selected impacts. By exposing these steps, pig farmers will use the information to pinpoint their weak points in the chain and customize the procedures to meet their farm-specific goals for improved productivity. The nurse sow system helps to maximize pre-weaning survival by boosting the overall worth of low birth weight piglets. When piglets weaned per sow/year are used as a performance benchmark, nurse sows weaning double litters become economically advantageous. Extended time in lactation for nurse sows gives them an ample time for their uterus to involute before the next pregnancy. However, nurse sows lose their body reserves reflected in backfat thickness from high milk production. Prolonged confinement in lactation deteriorates the physical condition of nurse sows, resulting in leg ulcers and teat damage. Additionally, piglets are more distressed when taken away from their biological sow to a new sow.