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This study aimed to evaluate ozone (O₃) phytotoxic potential using AOT40F (accumulated O₃ concentration over a threshold of 40 ppb for forest protection), document visible foliar O₃ injury across eight forest monitoring plots, analyse MDA (malondialdehyde) content in leaves and needles, and assess the relationship between visible injury and plot conditions. Initial findings are based on data from the 2021 and 2022 vegetation seasons. AOT40F values exceeded the critical level of 5 ppm·h^–1 at all plots, with higher values in 2022. The correlation between AOT40F and visible injury was inconsistent; in 2021, minimal visible O₃ injuries were observed, while these were more frequent in 2022, notably on Fagus sylvatica leaves. The altitude effect on O₃ concentration indicates greater vegetation damage at higher altitudes. In contrast, the AOT40F-altitude relation was not significant. The 2021 vegetation season was characterised by lower temperatures and higher relative air humidity and soil moisture in comparison to 2022. Stomatal conductance conditions were similar in both years, except for lower soil moisture in 2022. Soil moisture, air humidity, and temperature together accounted for about 50% of the variance in visible injury in 2022. The findings suggest that the AOT40F capability for predicting damage to vegetation is limited and highlight the importance of future research focusing on stomatal O₃ flux-based approaches.

The establishment of the reference ambient background concentrations (ABCs) and quality reference values (QRVs) for trace metal (TM) concentrations in soils are required for the environmental assessment and any implementation of a protective action. This information is lacking for soils of the eastern Mitidja plain, which is an important agricultural production area in Algeria. Data for the aqua regia extractable Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations from 180 composite topsoil samples taken across the Mitidja plain in a stratified random pattern were statistically analysed. Descriptive statistical methods and linear regression equations were applied to determine the upper limit of the ABCs for the TMs. After removal of outliers, the derived QRVs were: Cd 0.24, Cr 62.1, Cu 99.3, Fe 45 590, Ni 47.7, Pb 33 and Zn 115 mg/kg. Iron is a macro element in the soils, but is included as its concentration can be used to normalise the concentrations of the other elements. The derived QRVs are similar or less than those reported for other regions of the world, apart from Cu, where a wide range (36 to 206 mg/kg) is reported. These reference values can be used to identify areas that may require follow-up surveys or to identify priority sites for decision making.

Missouri Ozark woodlands are a unique, but imperilled ecosystem type due to fragmentation, lack of proper management and a changing climate. The management, restoration, and conservation of Ozark woodlands is a conservation priority. The Ozark woodlands contribute to the sequestration of carbon and nutrients through their robust productivity, effectively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in the biomass and soil while cycling essential nutrients to support the ecosystem's health and vitality. We have assessed the over- and mid-storey leaf production, collecting leaves in baskets every autumn in a 1 200-ha conservation area in southwest Missouri since 2000. The leaf production data from 2000 to 2021 were compared among sites; control (not burnt for over 80 years), burnt (fire resumed in March of 1999 and repeated in 2001, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2021) and reference (fire resumed in 1980 and repeated every 2 years). The average oak leaf production was statistically higher in the burnt site than the reference site, but only marginally higher than the control site. The leaf production varies statistically between the years. We applied a regression analysis among the productivity, temperature, and precipitation to associate the temporal variability in the weather with the productivity. The reference woodland showed statistical significance with the precipitation, but not with the temperature, while the other sites did not show any statistical significance with the precipitation. No statistically significance difference was observed between the productivity and temperature across any of the woodland burn histories. The March–June, March–May, and June–August precipitation statistically predicted the productivity. The results indicate that long-term burning is predictably associated with woodland leaf production and precipitation, but the precipitation is uncoupled with the productivity in woodlands that were more recently burnt or where burning has been suppressed. Sassafras saplings of approximately 1 m in height have emerged as the dominant species in the understorey of burnt woodlands while being completely absent from the control and reference woodlands. However, the productivity is the highest in the woodlands where burning has been suppressed and 20 years of prescribed fire does not significantly reduce the productivity. Oak regeneration over 20 years of burning is being suppressed by competition with sassafras, which may result in a significant shift in the ecosystem variables.

This article provides a review of recent studies on the extent to which the use of organic acid elicitors such as salicylic, jasmonic, humic and ascorbic acids has been successful in alleviating the exposure of Lamiaceae plants to unfavourable environmental conditions such as drought and salinity. Overall, the results concluded all organic acid elicitors enhanced the morphological and physiological characteristics of biochemical and secondary metabolite contents. These improvements have enabled plants of the Lamiaceae family to adapt to environmental stress conditions to some extent and survive, thus achieving sustainability in the production of plants of this family. It can be recommended to use salicylic acid in concentrations 0.5–2.5 mM, and it should not exceed it so as not to cause poisoning and disruption of the vital and physiological processes within the plant. In contrast, these plants have limited studies on the relationship between jasmonic acid/ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid. Since vitamins such as ascorbic acid are essential for plant metabolism and growth regulation, their effect on these plants remains unstudied at concentrations 2–10 mM under different abiotic stresses. Further research is needed to understand the impact of Nano-SA, JA, HA, ASA, and citric acid on Lamiaceae plants under various environmental stress conditions. Limited studies exist on the relationship between jasmonate/humic acid and Lamiaceae plants under abiotic stress. The Lamiaceae family needs more studies on adaptation to various environmental conditions and the toxicity of stimulants used to confront these conditions. This research contributes to improving agricultural practices in challenging environmental regions.

The effect of mineral, organic (manure or straw + intercrop) and combined fertilisation on the development of soil nutrient contents over time and their mutual ratios was evaluated in a long-term field trial, IOSDV (established in 1984 at two sites), differing in the soil-climatic conditions. Three cropping cycles, from 2016 to 2018, 2019 to 2021, and 2022 to 2024, were studied in the following crop rotation: winter wheat-winter barley-root crop (sugar beet at Ivanovice na Hané and potatoes at Lukavec). Potassium and phosphorus in mineral fertilisers have not been applied since the year 2020 due to their high content found in soils after dry years with low yields. Consequently, their content decreased, most in the third rotation, both by the Mehlich 3 method and especially the exchange fraction extractable with NH₄-acetate (Ivanovice: P 5–14%, 32–40% and K up to 12%, 9–20% determined by Mehlich 3 and NH₄-acetate, respectively; Lukavec: Mehlich 3 – P increase: 5–16%, K decrease: 0–8%; NH₄^- acetate decrease – P: 10–13%, K 8–23%). The mutual ratio of nutrients equivalents K : Mg : Ca was lower than required values 1 : 2–3 : 10–15 at both sites and all studied treatments, however a slight increase was observed during the studied period, above all in system with only mineral fertilisation (Ivanovice: K : Mg : Ca from 1 : 1.2 : 5.6 to 1 : 1.4 : 6.8, Lukavec: from 1 : 1.0 : 7.7 to 1 : 1.0 : 9.6). A correctly balanced ratio of nutrients in the soil is important for maintaining soil fertility. In this long-term field experiment, the increase in nutrient levels in soils over reasonable levels was observed, highlighting the necessity of regular nutrient testing in agricultural soils, especially when multiple types of fertilisers are used simultaneously.

Biotic and abiotic stresses severely compromise economically important food crops' nutritional quality, growth, and yield. Conversely, the conventional reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides has generated substantial environmental and health risks, necessitating the development of sustainable alternatives. Seaweeds are rich sources of bioactive primary and secondary metabolites, and also promising natural biostimulants for enhancing plant resilience and productivity. Specific seaweed-derived metabolites function as molecular elicitors, mimicking pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and activating multi-layered plant defence mechanisms. This review aims to capture recent literature on the biological efficacy of seaweed extracts and their constituent metabolites, such as polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and fatty acids, against diverse biotic stressors (e.g., bacteria, viruses, oomycetes, fungi (ascomycetes and basidiomycetes), nematodes, and herbivorous insect pests) and abiotic stressors (such as salinity, drought, extreme temperatures, and heavy metals). The biochemical, physiological, and molecular mechanisms by which seaweed-derived bioactive compounds modulate plant defence responses and stress tolerance pathways are also discussed in detail. In conclusion, seaweed extracts and derived metabolites show promising stress-type-specific effects against biotic and abiotic stresses through diverse mechanisms. However, field validation, dosage optimisation, and the discovery of novel bioactives are essential to harnessing their potential fully in sustainable agriculture.

The European Green Deal to tackle climate change sets emission reduction targets for 2050. Particular attention has been paid to the agricultural sector, where there is a strong need to reduce carbon emissions and re-establish the natural carbon cycles. The concept of carbon neutrality is emerging in a scenario where it is necessary to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from cultivation to near zero. The quantification of carbon emissions was carried out by the carbon footprint (CF) of conventional, organic and zero residue potato cultivation in Sicily. In order to provide farmers and consumers with answers regarding the most sustainable cultivation regime, the results showed that the organic and zero residue methods have the best results in terms of emissions; the latter instead revealed the positive results in economic terms. It becomes a new model to follow in the pursuit of sustainability as it is based on the reduction of synthesis inputs and is free from the constraints imposed by organic production standards.

The development of intelligent systems for the tracking of free-range livestock is a challenge to both information and communication technology (ICT) scientists and those in the animal sciences. Cyber-physical systems make it possible to track and control processes involving intelligent objects from the physical and virtual worlds. In the case of free-range grazing, it is necessary to manage processes in two domains ‒ that of the intelligent pasture management and that of the animals. Due to the differences in the conditions of different types of pastures – plain or high land and the characteristics of the cattle breeds, ready-made models cannot be used, but it is necessary to build a specific multi-aspect model for the behaviour and life cycle of cows. Our team organised their research on cows from two different breeds (Rhodope Shorthorn Cattle and Bulgarian Rhodope Cattle) raised in similar technologies, grazed on two different types of pasture. The aim of the study is to develop a comprehensive model for determining cattle behavioural activities on pastures using sensor groups, by incorporating physical observations and appropriate statistical models.

Starch granules in their native state are insoluble and semi-crystalline. There are three forms of starch/amylopectin in nature: A, B, and C: in cereals (A), tubers and high amylose starches (B), and some varieties of peas and beans (C). Crystallinity and rate of starch hydrolysis depend on the plant species and growing conditions. The changes during food preparation include gelatinisation, the formation of amylose-lipids and amylose-protein complexes, and resistant starch (RS) origin. They are accompanied by changes from crystal to amorphous form and vice versa. Starch in human food is mostly rapidly or slowly digestible. Rapidly digestible starch is formed by gelatinisation, cooking extrusion, breaking down of starch granules, or hydrolysis to maltodextrins. By definition, RS is not digested in the small intestine. This review addresses the influences of biochemical processes in the human body on starch digestibility. It is strongly influenced by the degree of chewing, the activity of α-amylase in the intestine, and transit time through the stomach and small intestine. Resistant starch and endogenous intestinal mucus support the growth of specialist microbes in the large intestine that produce a variety of short-chain fatty acids, causing the perception of satiety, lowering pH, and inhibiting pathogens in the colon.

The need of vernalisation, controlled by the gene VRN-1, impacts wheat adaptation and yield stability, yet field evidence on the plasticity of VRN-1 homoeologs expression is limited. We quantified VRN-1 homoeolog dynamics across two sites and two seasons in seven cultivars, by sampling their apex and leaf. VRN-A1 varied with genotype (P < 0.001***), tissue (apex > leaf; P < 0.001***), apex development (P < 0.001***), day length (P < 0.001***), and to a lesser extent, on short-term freezing exposure, quantified as a 5-day freezing-degree sum (FDS; P = 0.019*). Photoperiod class (Ppd-D1a vs Ppd-D1b) added an additional effect (P = 0.001***). VRN-B1 showed strong genotype effects (P < 0.001***), a modest effect of site on its expression (P = 0.025*), and pronounced associations with microclimate variables (day length, thermal sums, freezing exposure; all P < 0.001***). Directionally, Ppd-D1a backgrounds tended to advance the development while showing earlier apex VRN-A1 peaks. Overall, VRN-A1 expression mainly reflected developmental stage and seasonal forcing, whereas VRN-B1 might be more microclimate-responsive, indicating complementary roles for timing and stress-response plasticity. To isolate causal effects and to further explain these dynamics, targeted sequencing and tests in near-isogenic lines will be needed in future work.

In pursuit of a low-cost, pollution-free, and scalable technology for remediating heavy metal pollution in mining areas, this study examines a gold mining area with heavy metal pollution (Cd, Pb, and Hg) and employs soil replacement, biochar passivation, and a combination of hyperaccumulators for the remediation. Results show that both soil replacement and the application of biochar significantly reduce the effective content of these three heavy metals, with pig manure biochar demonstrating superior passivation effects on Pb and Hg compared to fruitwood biochar. Combining biochar with hyperaccumulators leads to better results than using either method alone. The combined approach achieved maximum reductions of 69.8, 70.1, and 56.0% for Cd, Pb, and Hg, respectively. The application of biochar improves the originally coarse soil structure, with maximum increases in organic carbon, available potassium, available phosphorus, and total nitrogen under different treatments being 6.26 times, 4.66 times, 4.04 times, and 3.21 times, respectively. Biochar anchors heavy metals around roots, while hyperaccumulators utilise their excellent stress-resistant physiological characteristics to thrive in nutrient-deficient soil enriched with biochar, thereby absorbing the heavy metals anchored by biochar. The synergy of biochar and hyperaccumulators enhances their individual effectiveness, showing promise for remediating polluted mining areas.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyse the production of gluten-free, low protein cookies, which can easily be consumed by celiac and phenylketonuria (PKU) patients. The formula was adopted to prepare the control cookies (without dried fruits) from maise starch, stabilisers, salt, sodium bicarbonate, protein-reduced milk powder, and sunflower oil. Different cookies were made by adding raisins (R), dried black currants (Cu), dried dates (D), dried apples and cinnamon (A) separately. In cookies, two different stabilisers were calculated according to starch weight [pectin (P): 0.15%, glycerol monostearate (GMS, G): 0.4%]. The effects of stabilisers and dried fruits on the physicochemical and sensory properties of cookies were investigated. The protein content was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the cookies including R with pectin (PR), Cu with pectin (PCu), and A with pectin (PA). The amount of phenylalanine (Phe) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in PR. The values of dietary fibre were the highest in the A cookies, while the lowest values appeared in the control (C). In the sensory evaluation (appearance, tasting properties, and affordability), it was found that PD (pectin with dries dates) was chosen as the best cookie (P < 0.05).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition of 17 samples of mead originating from the Czech Republic. The samples included honey wines (made only from water and honey) and dessert meads which were treated mainly by the addition of sugar or alcohol. The following chemical parameters were analysed: ethanol, sugar-free extract, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), sugars (monosaccharides, disaccharides), organic acids, assimilable nitrogen, and polyphenols. Substantial differences were found between samples: i) the content of glucose and fructose was 2.5-113.1 g L^-1 and 17.3-136.3 g L^-1, respectively; ii) the HMF content ranged from 1.0 mg L^-1 to 87.7 mg L^-1. The most abundant organic acids were lactic acid (average 1.0 g L^-1), gluconic acid (0.6 g L^-1), and acetic acid (0.4 g L^-1); the amount of phenolic compounds was 151.9-385.3 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) L^-1. Honey wines typically contained turanose (2.0-7.6 g L^-1) and trehalose (1.1-10.1 g L^-1), while dessert mead was characterised by an increased sucrose content (up to 76.5 g L^-1).

The Inner Mongolia cashmere goat is famous for its bright white cashmere fibre. However, little attention is given to the excellent characteristics of this breed's meat. We used label-free proteomics to analyse the total protein content in five different muscles, and 1 227 proteins were detected. Through sequential windowed acquisition of all theoretical fragment ions (SWATH), 16, 33, 49, 39, and 31 differentially expressed proteins were successfully detected in the five muscles. Protein-protein interaction network analysis of differentially expressed proteins revealed many strong interactions related to fatty acid beta oxidation and muscle development. Based on SWATH in five muscles, 25 differentially expressed proteins related to muscle development were detected, including seven muscle fibre structural proteins (ACTG2, ACTN4, TAGLN, MYL3, MYL1, MYL6B and MYH4). Finally, immunohistochemical analysis of MYL3 showed that the proportion of MYL3 may be a potential molecular marker for muscle toughness.

Adequate assessment of ecosystem services is important for the development of policies and management plans related to forestry activities and the environment. Carefully identified ecosystem values can determine which options policy makers should prioritize to provide the greatest benefit. There are numerous methods used by researchers to evaluate ecosystem services. The most widely applied methods are monetary valuation methods, they are often deemed to be the most pragmatic language when it comes to communication with political and business institutions. The main goal of this review is to analyse available literature using the methodology particular to the scoping review approach in order to identify and describe valuation methods that can be applied for monetary assessment of ecosystem services. As a result of the scoping review, over 20 monetary valuation techniques (including several less common methods such as willingness to sell and Delphi method) were derived from 16 literature sources. In the process of compiling the range of different methods, a few flaws and gaps in the communication of methods were observed such as lack of consistency in the names of different methods and mixing up concepts. In addition, a few areas for future research are suggested.

This study aims to compare the chromium (Cr) mobility in two soils with different Cr sources. The first one is an anthropogenically contaminated soil from an area of a piston ring production factory, and the second one is a serpentine soil with a naturally increased Cr level from the National Nature Reserve Mohelno serpentine steppe in the Czech Republic. To assess the influence of naturally occurring environmental factors on the Cr mobility, two sets of column leaching experiments were constructed, namely an acidified water treatment (AW) and a simulated root exudate treatment (SRE). It was found that the anthropogenically contaminated soil leached out many times more Cr for both (the AW and SRE) treatments in comparison with the serpentine soil. Generally, all the samples showed enhanced leaching from the bottom layer, respectively the horizon, for both treatments. Only the anthropogenic soil showed some differences in the bottom layer, which was more susceptible to the AW treatment than to the SRE one. These findings show the high dependence of the leachability of Cr on the Cr content origin. It has been proven that naturally enriched sites where elevated levels of Cr originate from the bedrock are more resistant to Cr leaching than anthropogenically contaminated soils. Feasible causes of these differences are discussed in this study.

In this study, the effects of Aloe vera gel and coconut oil on wound healing were investigated and compared in rats. Forty-two Wistar albino rats were used during the experiment, in which they were operated on under general anaesthesia to create two full-thickness open skin wounds (created with a 0.5 cm diameter punch biopsy apparatus) on both back sides of the median line. A total of 42 rats were divided into three groups of 14 animals each to receive the topical application of Aloe vera gel (AV group – n = 14), coconut oil (CO group – n = 14) and cold cream (CONT group – n = 14). The medical applications were performed twice a day in all the groups. The wound borders were marked on a transparent sheet every day. Afterwards, this sheet was transferred to the millimetre graph paper. On days 0, 7, and 14, the unhealed wound area was measured in all the groups. On days 7 and 14, seven rats in each group were euthanised. Then, skin samples including the intact skin were taken from the wound sites for histopathological and biochemical evaluations. The topical application of Aloe vera gel showed a significant increase in the healing process of the open wounds in terms of the clinical evaluation, histopathological and biochemical data averages when compared with the coconut oil and cold cream groups of rats (P < 0.05). The results obtained in the present study demonstrate that Aloe vera gel may provide a good alternative for the treatment of open wounds.

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region is one of the most important players in global agricultural trade. They have vast potential to strengthen their position as a result of the region's opportunities to increase agricultural production when combined with growing global demand, which could help the region's economy thrive. To discover the LAC potential agricultural trade pattern, this paper aims to analyse the determinants of LAC agricultural bilateral export for the period 1995-2019. The gravity model of trade was employed by estimating various Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood (PPML) models including zero trade flows for panel data. The findings show that importers' GDP of LAC countries has a greater impact on agricultural trade compared to LAC exporters. Cultural similarities (common language) and countries' participation in Southern Common Market [Mercado Común del Sur (MERCOSUR)] stimulated agri-food export. Conversely, distance (transportation), past colonial links, and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) raised trade costs, having a negative impact on the export of agricultural products. The impacts of environmental regulations are ambiguous. This paper contributes to the literature by investigating the factors of agri-food export in LAC countries, which can be an important instrument for decision-makers adjusting agricultural trade policy.

We studied sessile oak (Quercus petraea) growing on six dry sites to understand adaptability responses to drought stress. Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) on a moderately dry site was tested in parallel. We analyzed accessions from mostly dry sites that were less sensitive to soil drought and found that the growth performance ranking was not the same before and after treatment. We used phenological plasticity approaches to study seed development and plant development before and after drought: the treatments included stem length, root length, and collar diameter, as well as dry above- and below-ground biomass performance. Additionally, after drought treatment, osmolytes and root surface were tested in Q. petraea. According to the analyses and results, the ranked sites did not maintain their ranking status, with Q. petraea exhibiting different rates of growth during each developmental stage from seed development until the end of the treatment of plant material. The smallest seeds came from the driest site, which may indicate more adaptability to drought stress. After drought treatment, large differences were found between the dry biomass performance, stem length, root length, and collar diameter of oaks grown on different sites. The osmolality of Q. petraea on most of the dry sites was higher under the reduced treatment than under the optimal treatment, but not significantly. After drought treatment, all accessions - and especially those from the driest site - showed large differences in growth performance between the treatments. The relationship between seed weight and seedling development before and after drought treatment differed according to the developmental stage.

Salinity is one of the critical environmental factors that decreases the water availability and induces nutritional imbalance in crops. In order to study the effect of calcium nitrate [(Ca(NO₃)₂] in the nutrient solution under salinity conditions, an experiment was designed with different salinity (0, 50, and 100 mM) and Ca(NO₃)₂ (2, 3, and 4 mM) levels on Cucurbita pepo (zucchini). Based on the results, an increase in the salinity from 0 to 100 mM caused a decrease in the leaf potassium and calcium concentration, whereas the iron, magnesium and zinc concentrations increased. The most effective Ca(NO₃)₂ level in increasing the nutritional quality and yield of zucchini was 3 and 4 mM. Salinity at 50 and 100 mM significantly increased the leaf sodium concentration and leaf area as well as the leaf number per plant, while the application of both Ca(NO3)2 levels modulated the harmful effects of salinity. The amount of malondialdehyde (MDA), proline and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as well as the catalase (CAT) activity increased under the severe salinity conditions, whereas the application of 4 mM Ca(NO₃)₂ had the potential of removing the negative effects of severe salinity. The catalase activity increased along with the increase in the Ca(NO3)2 concentration, which was independent from the salinity level. However, the amount of proline, MDA and H2O2 decreased in plants fed with 3 and 4 mM Ca(NO₃)₂ compared to the control in the presence of salinity. These findings suggest that both the 3 and 4 mM concentrations of Ca(NO₃)₂ under 50 mM salinity could be used to improve the zucchini performance by maintaining the ion homeostasis and inducing the antioxidant defence system.

This study focused on the hydrophysical characteristics of an abandoned limestone quarry in Czechia. Six sites were examined; two sites were undergoing natural succession (the Quarry Wall and Reed Canary Grass plots, which had undeveloped arboreal layers) and four sites were undergoing managed forest reclamation. Of the four forest reclamation sites, three were classified as prospering (the Prospering Lime, Prospering Maple and Prospering Lime + Oatgrass plots) and one was in decline (the Declining Larch + Lime plot). The arboreal layer included small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata Mill.), sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.), and European larch (Larix decidua Mill.). Our results showed that Lime + Oatgrass plot retained more water than other plots. Field soil moisture measurements indicated that throughout the 1096-day monitoring period, only the soils at the successional sites reached the wilting point (Quarry Wall plot: 159 days; Reed Canary Grass plot: 43 days). Soil heterogeneity in the reclaimed areas was due to variation in the soil profile depth, disturbance from mining activities, reclamation efforts, and the availability of quality soil material. Soil conditions and the dynamics at the quarry created less than ideal conditions for tree regeneration. This primarily relates to limiting and significantly heterogeneous successional plots.

This study investigated the potential risks of cadmium (Cd) toxicity in buffaloes grazing on forages that were cultivated in soils irrigated by various sources of wastewater. The absorption of trace metals (TM) by plants and their subsequent entry into the food chain pose a significant danger to grazing animals through the accumulation of contaminated fodder. The mean concentration of Cd in the water ranged from 0.18–1.78 mg/L, in the soil 0.63 to 1.87 mg/kg, in the forage 0.20 to 1.32 mg/kg, and in the blood 0.26 to 1.98 mg/L. Among all three sites, canal water (CW Site I), groundwater (GW Site II), and sewage water (SW Site III), the concentration factor (CF) values were below the threshold of 1 (CF < 1), indicating the nominal environmental concern regarding Cd contents in the soil-plant interface. In addition, a prominent variation was noticed in the transfer factor (TF) of Cd across different sites, with the highest TF observed in Avena sativa L. at SW Site III (0.8) and the lowest in Pennisetum glaucum L. at CW Site I (0.27). Furthermore, the hazard quotient (HQ) exhibited a substantial fluctuation, ranging from 0.39 to 2.6, reflecting varying levels of potential health risks associated with Cd exposure. The outcomes of the current investigation suggested that the prominent increase in Cd levels was recorded at sampling site SW Site III due to continuous wastewater irrigation. Prolonged exposure and increased Cd absorption in buffaloes grazing at these sites could have harmful long-term effects on their health. The correlation analysis between Cd concentrations in water, soil, forage, and blood showed a positive but non-significant relationship for water-soil, soil-forage, and forage-blood interactions. This highlights the need for further research to assess the long-term implications of wastewater irrigation on heavy metal accumulation in livestock.

Focus on impoverished crops for sustainable food and nutritional security, especially sorghum, becomes increasingly important in the changing climate regime. Grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a vital cereal crop that could endure an array of biotic and abiotic stresses and is well-suited to arid ecological zones. Sorghum productivity is hindered by intense competition with weeds. However, conventional herbicide use, particularly Acetolactate Synthase (ALS) and Acetyl CoA Carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors, has led to the development of herbicide-tolerant weeds. Developing herbicide-tolerant sorghum offers an effective strategy to manage weeds while enhancing crop productivity. Conventional approaches, such as utilising genetic diversity from wild relatives, germplasm screening, and induced mutagenesis, have successfully identified and transferred tolerant traits to cultivated sorghum varieties. These methods have produced hybrids tolerant to Acetolactate Synthase and Acetyl CoA Carboxylase inhibitors, providing new options for weed management. Commercially released herbicide-tolerant sorghum production systems include InzenTM (2016, USA), iGrowth® (2020, Argentina), and Double TeamTM (2021, USA), which benefit sorghum producers globally in many countries. Additionally, molecular mapping techniques, including quantitative trait loci mapping and marker-assisted selection, are critical for identifying genes responsible for herbicide tolerance. Advances in gene-editing technologies, such as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, have enabled precise modifications to sorghum's genome, further enhancing the development of herbicide-tolerant varieties. Researchers worldwide are focusing on developing tolerance to 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD), protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)- inhibiting herbicides, Auxinic inhibitors, and Very Long Chain Fatty Acids Synthase (VLCFA) inhibitors, and this development needs to be accelerated. This review highlights the conventional and biotechnological approaches in developing herbicide-tolerant sorghum, underscoring the importance of integrating these strategies for sustainable sorghum cultivation and improved global food security.

In recent decades, Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands have become increasingly vulnerable to frequent droughts and associated outbreaks of secondary biotic pests, resulting in significant degradation of forest ecosystems. To preserve their production and ecological functions, it is necessary to apply well-adapted silvicultural practices that mitigate the risk of stand decline. This study examines the effects of two thinning intensities (moderate and heavy) on stand productivity and resilience under varying site conditions. Three long-term research sites with paired differently thinned plots located within and outside the natural range of Norway spruce in the Czech Republic were analysed. Tree-ring width measurements were used to calculate radial growth trends and four resilience indices (resistance, resilience, recovery and average relative growth reduction). Across sites Blaník (BL), Tetřeví Boudy (TB) and Železná Ruda (ZR), basal area increment (BAI) differed significantly between thinning intensities (BL: P = 0.044; TB: P = 0.0076; ZR: P < 0.001), with moderate thinning showing higher BAI at BL and TB, whereas heavy thinning reduced growth at the waterlogged TB site. Site-specific differences in tree growth responses to negative pointer years were evaluated, particularly concerning drought events. Resilience metrics computed for five drought pointer years (1976, 2000, 2003, 2015, 2019) showed no consistent differences between thinning intensities; however, at ZR, heavy thinning yielded higher resilience (Rs) and resistance (Rt) in 2015 and 2019. During drought years, the average relative growth reduction (ARGR) ranged from 3% to 31%, with the lowest values under moderate thinning. Overall, moderate thinning enhanced stand productivity and resilience, whereas heavy thinning had adverse effects at the waterlogged site. These results highlight the need to adapt silvicultural practices to local ecological conditions to ensure long-term stability and productivity.

Sorption of organic contaminants in soils and sediments is a crucial factor affecting their mobility in the vadose zone environment. Freundlich sorption isotherms were evaluated for six micropollutants identified in areas irrigated with river-water and sixteen soils. The highest Freundlich sorption coefficients, K_F, were obtained for 1,3-diphenylguanidine (11.6 ± 5.0 cm^3/nμg^1−1/n/g) followed by triethyl citrate (4.57 ± 4.91), 4-acetamidoantipyrine (1.43 ± 0.24), 6 : 2 fluorinated telomer sulfonate (1.18 ± 0.42), benzo(d)thiazole-2-sulfonic acid (1.12 ± 0.33), and naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid (0.28 ± 0.17). The K_F values for the individual compounds were correlated with soil properties. Multiple linear regressions were used to derive equations for predicting the K_F values using the soil properties. Sorption of cationic molecules was positively affected by cation exchange capacity or clay content, indicating strong sorption of cations on negatively charged sorption sites. Sorption of anionic molecules was positively correlated with organic carbon content and wettability index, suggesting hydrophobic interactions with soil organic matter. Anion sorption was also positively influenced by magnetic susceptibility, which could indicate sorption of anions on the positively charged sorption sites. Sorption of acids was in some cases also positively affected by cation exchange capacity, which could imply their sorption via cation bridges.

Soil salinisation is a major factor limiting plant growth and land utilisation in arid and semiarid regions. This study focused on the native halophyte Suaeda salsa in western Inner Mongolia to explore halophyte-associated microbial resources with plant growth-promoting potential under saline conditions. A total of 30 salt-tolerant bacteria strains were isolated from its rhizosphere. Among them, Bacillus infantis strain 29 tolerated up to 10% NaCl (w/v) and exhibited multiple plant-growth-promoting traits, including highly active 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, phosphorus solubilisation, potassium mobilisation and diazotrophic potential as indicated by growth on nitrogen-free medium. Under pot conditions, inoculation with strain 29, particularly in combination with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), promoted plant growth under saline stress. In Suaeda salsa, the combined treatment significantly increased fresh weight and root length relative to the control, and positive growth responses were also observed in Zea mays and Medicago sativa. This study proposes an effective "halophyte-PGPR-AMF" synergistic strategy and provides a potential biological approach and microbial resource reference for improving plant growth and crop performance in salt-affected soils of western Inner Mongolia and other arid and semiarid regions with similar environmental conditions.

The main goal of the paper is to evaluate the impact of the Russian import ban on the development of agricultural exports from EU member states. The study is based on a time-series analysis of empirical statistical indicators. The analysed period is between 2009 and 2019. The source of data for individual analyses is UN Comtrade (2021). The evaluation of export performance is extended by hierarchical cluster analysis. The study quantifies the effects of the import ban on the EU and individual member states through two scenarios. Scenario 1 is based on the cumulative loss of the value of exports. Scenario 2 assumes a continuous development of the value of agricultural exports. Based on the results, it is possible to confirm that the application of the Russian food import ban had a significant impact on EU countries. The impact of sanctions varies across EU countries. Four specific clusters could be identified in the period under investigation. In the period after the ban, the distribution of individual countries among individual clusters changed significantly. The applied ban could be understood not only as an attempt at counter-sanctions. Import restrictions also aim to reduce Russia's dependence on food imports and promote national food security.

Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is still counted among drought-tolerant tree species. However, its ability to cope with the recent extremely dry period has not yet been sufficiently studied. The objective of research was to analyse differences in the climate-growth response between silver fir, Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) growing in areas with large-scale disintegration of spruce stands. In 2019–2021, the increment cores were sampled at 16 sites along the altitudinal gradient of 340–775 m a.s.l. in different regions of the Czech Republic affected by bark beetle outbreak. The radial growth pattern of fir was compared with that of spruce or larch growing under the same site conditions. In fir, the missing rings were frequently recorded during the period of peak SO₂ pollution load in 1966–1985, but they were rarely identified in recent years. In spruce and larch, missing rings were less common and occurred mainly in the recent dry period after 2015. Fir was less sensitive to summer drought compared to larch and especially to spruce, which showed high sensitivity to summer drought regardless of the altitude. The significant positive response of fir to summer precipitation was recorded at sites up to 450 m a.s.l., however, its sensitivity to drought has increased in the last two decades. Hence, when considering the wider use of fir, it is necessary to respect its ecological requirements as much as possible in order to preserve its vitality and production potential in changing climatic conditions.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of feed restriction and the combination of feed restriction with pasture on the performance parameters of fast-growing chickens, the proportion of internal organs and the caecum microbiota. In the experiment, one-day-old Ross 308 chickens were divided into three groups. Group 1 was fed ad libitum (AL), group 2 was restricted on feed at a rate of 70% ad libitum (R), group 3 was restricted to the same age and level as group 2, and was restricted to 22 days on pasture (FR). Feed restriction and the combination of feed restriction and pasture significantly reduced body weight beginning at the age of 14 days and at the end of the experiment (at 35 days), mortality, and the European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) but improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR) beginning at the 4^th week of age. Conversely, feed restriction and the combination of feed restriction and pasture significantly increased the proportion of liver, gizzard and Lactobacillus in the caecum. In summary, feed restriction and the combination of feed restriction in the free range had negative effects on growth, feed conversion ratio and economic profit, presumably because of the short realimentation period and because pasture did not have a beneficial effect.