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Forest headwater streams serve as critical interfaces between terrestrial forests and downstream aquatic ecosystems, playing essential roles in the storage and movement of carbon (C) and nutrients. However, despite their importance, our understanding of the dynamics of plant litter calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) stocks within these streams remains limited. In this study, we conducted a quantitative analysis of the spatiotemporal dynamics of plant litter Ca and Mg concentrations and stocks in a subtropical forest headwater stream from March 2021 to February 2022. We found that: (1) the average concentrations of litter Ca and Mg were 9.9 and 0.7 mg/g, respectively, with mean stocks of 8 792.3 and 620.8 mg/m², respectively; (2) significant variations in litter Ca and Mg concentrations were observed among non-woody debris (13.1 and 0.9 mg/g), fine woody debris (9.0 and 0.5 mg/g), and coarse woody debris (6.1 and 0.4 mg/g), though plant litter type did not significantly affect the stocks of Ca and Mg; and (3) the stocks of Ca and Mg were positively correlated with factors such as rainfall amount, rainfall frequency, water temperature, flow velocity, water depth, electrical conductivity, and discharge, while negatively correlated with stream water alkalinity and dissolved oxygen levels. These findings highlight the critical role of plant litter in headwater streams as a component of forest nutrient stocks and provide empirical support for incorporating headwater streams into the assessment of nutrient stocks and fluxes in forest ecosystems.

The Yellow River Delta, an important area of reserved arable land resources in China, is faced with the problem of crop productivity being typically limited by low soil quality. Developing techniques that raised crop yield without environmental damage was critically needed. To date, the knowledge about the joint impacts of biochar (C) and phosphorus (P) addition on soil properties and maize production under different weather conditions in this area is seriously lacking. Consequently, a full factorial field experiment including three biochar intensities (0 (C0), 5 000 (C1), and 10 000 (C2) kg/ha), three phosphorus fertilisation levels (0 (P0), 60 (P1), and 120 (P2) kg P/ha), and their combinations was conducted in Binzhou, Shandong province of China from 2021 to 2022. Compared to 2022, the maize yield was dramatically reduced in 2021 (with a 35% mean decrease) due to excessive rainfall in the maize reproductive growth stage (P < 0.01). C addition caused greater proportions and contributions of dry matter and nutrient remobilisation from pre-anthesis vegetation organs to grain. Subsequently, maize yield was much more promoted in 2021 (23%) than in 2022 (5%) by adding C, in which the discrepancies between C1 and C2 were relatively small and insignificant. On the other hand, these corresponding effects of P and C × P were relatively modest. From the soil perspective, soil physical (hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and bulk density) and chemical properties (soil organic carbon, total N, and soil available N) were significantly improved by C addition (P < 0.01). More importantly, we detected negative interactions of C × P on soil available P and phosphorus activation coefficient (P < 0.01), as soil available P was lowered with more input of C and P together (particularly under P2 series). The two-year outcomes suggested that C addition could enhance maize growth and ensure crop yield stability. Still, the combined incorporation of this kind of C and P (especially for C2P2) was not recommended in the saline-alkali land. The present study delivered useful insight into the rational utilisation of C and P fertilisers in the Yellow River Delta.

Several phosphorus (P) extraction tests are being used as soil P tests, but many studies have shown that the correlation of extractable P with plant yield and P uptake varies and sometimes is poor. Infinite sink extraction methods may be superior in estimating plant P availability. Soil P tests were evaluated for their power in determining plant-available P pools. Thirty arable soils covering different soil groups were tested for soil characteristics and extractable P pools. Rye was grown on these soils for six weeks and analysed for shoot yield and shoot P concentrations. Correlations between soil P concentrations, shoot yield and shoot P content were investigated. Extractable P pools mostly significantly correlated with soil pH, texture and amorphous iron oxide content. High and significant correlations were found among most of the extractable soil P pools, except for calcium acetate lactate (CAL)-extractable P. In contrast to previous studies, diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT)-extractable P employed in our pot experiment did not perform better than other extraction methods in correlating with plant available P and uptake, likely because water availability was not a limiting factor of P diffusion. Plant-available P in the soils investigated in this study was controlled by P quantity (i.e. the amount of adsorbed P) and P intensity (i.e. the soil solution P). We conclude that the advantage of infinite sink extraction methods over equilibrium-based techniques becomes less apparent if P is not strongly intensity-controlled and water availability is not a limiting factor of P diffusion.

Raw cow’s milk is one of the most strictly controlled commodities in the food industry. Besides basic hygienic and nutritional parameters, the presence of inhibitory and contaminant substances plays a critical role in technological quality and safety. While the vast majority of inhibitory residues are represented by antibiotics originating from mastitis prevention and therapy, milk also contains a broad spectrum of naturally occurring native antimicrobial compounds. These include immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, phosphatases, lipases, and proteases acting as integral elements of the innate immune system within the mammary gland. Although these substances are not legislatively regulated, they significantly influence milk processing, starter culture growth, cheese yield, and shelf-life of final dairy products. Their concentration is strongly associated with animal health status, especially mastitis, and may thus also serve as an indirect quality indicator. This review provides a comprehensive overview of native inhibitory compounds in bovine milk, their concentration ranges, biological significance, impact on dairy technology, and the analytical methods currently used for their detection.

Studies on the sustainability assessment of supply chain performance in tropical fruit still have limitations, whereas similar studies are more widespread in the manufacturing sector. This study aims to assess the sustainability performance of the tropical fruit supply chain in Indonesia. Performance evaluations were conducted for three producer organisations of tropical fruit with members ranging from 70 to 200 people in Banyuwangi Regency, the largest production centre in Indonesia. This study proposes a new approach, the best-worst method (BWM), to prioritise supply chain performance criteria derived from the SCOR (Supply Chain Operations Reference) model based on assessments by experts managing producer organisations. In the SCOR model, environmental and social criteria are added, resulting in seven criteria for evaluating supply chain performance, which include reliability, responsiveness, agility, cost, asset management, GreenSCOR, and social. Thus, the integration of BWM and SCOR can ensure higher consistency and reliability than traditional methods for assessing sustainable supply chain performance. The results revealed that reliability is the most important criterion for supply chain performance, which shows how important the maintenance of product quality is. In contrast, agility received the lowest score, indicating that there is a need to improve performance with respect to responding to high demand, managing safety stocks, and overtime in the shipping process. Moreover, this study gives a glimpse into the importance of evaluating sustainability performance for the tropical fruit sector, having perishable characteristics and great contributions to rural development. Hence, this study provides a solid practical guide for decision-makers in assessing the sustainable supply chain of tropical fruits in Indonesia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in western Algeria between February and October 2024, aimed at determining the prevalence of bovine mastitis, Gram-negative bacilli, and their associated risk factors. A total of 524 cows were sampled using clinical examination and the California mastitis test. Milk samples from the affected quarter were subjected to bacteriological assays. Three generalised linear mixed models were used to identify the risk factors for clinical mastitis (CM) and subclinical mastitis (SCM), as well as Gram-negative bacilli isolates associated with bovine mastitis. Model selection was performed using the Akaike information criterion. The prevalence of mastitis was 59.7% at the cow level, of which 12.6% was CM and 47.14% SCM. Overall, 65.5% of the mastitis cows showed a positive culture for Gram-negative bacilli. The most commonly isolated bacteria were Escherichia spp. (44%), Klebsiella spp. (23.1%), and Pseudomonas spp. (11.6%). The parity, contact with visitors, and daily milk yield (l/day) were identified as risk factors for SCM in dairy cows. However, foremilk discarding reduced the risk of developing SCM. A history of mastitis, udder injuries, udder and leg hygiene scores, and parity were identified as risk factors for CM. Nevertheless, none of the variables examined were risk factors for an udder infection by the Gram-negative bacilli isolates.

Biochar has demonstrated potential for stabilising high yields and sequestering carbon in dryland farmland, but it is unclear whether biochar affects the carbon sequestration capacity and carbon balance of annual farmland ecosystems. For this purpose, we conducted a plot control trial in salinised farmland in 2019–2021, where we set three treatments, control, and two biochar rates, 0 (CK), 15 (B15), and 30 t/ha (B30). The results showed that biochar application decreased soil organic carbon stocks in the early part of the experiment (first freeze and freeze period); these increased in the later part, and overall, the biochar treatments increased soil organic carbon storage by 3–6% compared with the control. Compared with the control (CK), biochar inhibited the total soil respiration rate and microbial respiration rate significantly (P < 0.05) during the crop growing period compared with the freeze-thaw period. After two years of freeze-thaw cycling, biochar application increased sunflower plant carbon sequestration and net primary productivity and suppressed total soil microbial respiration, thereby increasing net ecosystem productivity. Therefore, the application of biochar is conducive to carbon sequestration in farmland ecosystems and presents a carbon sink effect, thus being a good choice for improving the soil carbon pool and reducing emissions in the northern dry zone.

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) accelerated floret opening in rice, crucial for addressing inconsistent floret opening in hybrid seed production of indica × japonica hybrids. However, indica and japonica rice exhibited notable differences in their sensitivity to MeJA’s impact on floret opening, with indica responding faster. To clarify the molecular basis of MeJA-induced floret opening sensitivity differences between indica and japonica rice, after 1 h of MeJA spraying, transcriptomes and endogenous floret opening regulators were compared between indica and japonica rice, with histology differences observed. The results showed that MeJA quickly activated plant hormones in indica and japonica rice, but JAZ genes in JA signalling pathway upregulation were greater in indica rice. Alpha-linolenic acid, starch and sucrose metabolism pathways responded faster in indica rice. MeJA boosted endogenous JA synthesis more in indica rice, which had 5–6 middle-layer cells, more than japonica’s 3–4 layers, resulting in thicker glumes. The metabolic pathways regulating floret opening, including plant hormone signal transduction, alpha-linolenic acid and starch and sucrose metabolism, along with endogenous JA and soluble sugars, could respond to exogenous MeJA. However, the more intense and rapid responses of these regulatory pathways and endogenous substances to MeJA in indica, resulted in the difference in sensitivity to MeJA between indica and japonica rice.

This study examined the fermentation duration in relation to the effectiveness of tannin levels in mangrove (Sonneratia alba) fruit during the fermentation process using Aspergillus niger. The tested durations were 7, 10, 13, and 16 days in anaerobic conditions. The outcomes measured included crude fat, crude fibre, and nitrogen-free extract digestibility. Microbial biomass, protozoa population, and methane gas production were also recorded as responses to the rumen microbial activity. The results showed that 16 days of fermentation gave the highest average for all responses. The protozoa population reached around 4.07 × 10⁵ cells/ml and methane gas amounted to 33.9 ml/g of dry matter (DM). This is caused by a decrease in the anti-nutrient tannin content in mangrove (S. alba) fruit due to fermentation by A. niger according to treatment. The conclusion of this research is that the 16-day fermentation treatment (T4) of mangrove fruit is the optimal time to be used as a source of concentrate feed for livestock in terms of the increase in nutritional value and gastrointestinal microbes represented by total protozoa population, crude fibre digestibility, crude fat digestibility, and the highest nitrogen-free extract digestibility. However, microbial biomass and methane gas production were not significantly different in this study.

This study compares soil temperature data collected between 2019 and 2022 in Hrušky, South Moravia, Czech Republic. Soil temperature was measured at five depths (5, 10, 20, 50, 100 cm) in the forest shelterbelt (windbreak) and at three distances from it to investigate the impact of the shelterbelt on the climatic conditions of adjacent field plots. In particular, monthly averages, calculated from average daily temperatures, were employed to characterise the temperature course. These are calculated as averages of measured temperatures at 15-minute intervals. Absolute and relative differences and, where appropriate, base indices, were calculated to facilitate the comparison of individual measurement points (sites) and soil depths. The soil temperature values and their dynamics during the year differ between the measurement point in the forest shelterbelt (90-0) and those in the field. Additionally, the field measurement points exhibit some degree of variation, with the more distant field measurement point (180-90) displaying distinct characteristics from the closer field measurement points (90-45, 90-90). During the winter months (December, January, February), the temperature increases with soil depth, being highest within the windbreak. In spring (February and March), the temperature at different soil depths starts to equalise; however, in April, the temperature decreases with soil depth. Throughout the summer, the measurement station within the windbreak has lower temperatures than in the field, where the soil shows higher temperatures at all depths compared to the windbreak measurement station. In August, the temperature differences in depth begin to equalise again. In September, the temperature trend reverses, and from October, the temperatures increase with soil depth, especially in the lower layers of the soil. The temperature trend in November has a more or less winter character. Soil temperatures in the forest shelterbelt are lower in the summer months and higher in the winter months than in the field. The protective effect of the windbreak is more pronounced at measurement stations closer to the belt, as the temperatures at the farthest field measurement station are higher in summer and lower in winter compared to the closer field measurement stations.

Covering hop waste composting piles with semipermeable membrane after the thermophilic phase until spring, when the compost was ready to use, reduced the volume of leachate and leached nutrients amounts significantly; there was a negligible amount of leachate and low amount of leached nutrients during winter and spring at all treatments. At treatments with additives (biochar, preparation effective microorganisms) and larger percent of particles of 2–5 cm, it was indicated that composting pile should probably also be covered in the first months of composting and be opened only when turning/mixing it; on the other hand, the amount of leachate was much lower in a pile without additives and particles of 2–10 cm by the time of covering (2.2- and 2.5-fold less respectively) and the amount of leached nutrients as well. All treatments produced compost without a bad smell, had a total nitrogen content greater than 2%, could be considered as mature (the C : N ratio was below 20) and stable, and the biomass hygienisation threshold was reached. However, there were some significant differences among them. The compost of the pile with added biochar and starting hop waste biomass particles of 2–5 cm was considered phytotoxic (germination index of radish was 31%); also, its other results were less promising in comparison to other treatments. The pile with no additive and the starting particles of waste hop biomass 2 to 10 cm, mixed properly related to regular temperature measurements in the thermophilic phase, reached the best results; the leachate amount and leaked nutrients amount were significantly the lowest, while the final compost contained significantly higher amount of nutrients and had the highest germination index.

The aim of this work is to characterize the physicochemical and techno-functional properties of dried fig flour to investigate its effect on the qualities of biscuits on the one hand and to encourage the use of this aromatic and medicinal plant in the agri-food industry. During this study, figs and wheat grains were dried and subsequently ground to obtain a flour that was used in various proportions of 0%, 50% and 100%, respectively in the manufacture of the biscuit. The flours were examined for proximate composition, polyphenol and tannin levels, along with functional properties. Flour derived from dried figs showed higher levels of crude ash, sugar, fiber, polyphenol and tannin, as well as greater water absorption capacity and density. The results indicated that incorporating dried and rehydrated fruits increased the total antioxidant activity of the biscuits compared to the control sample. The detailed organoleptic analysis, conducted through a tasting test revealed that all tasters found the dry biscuits acceptable. Biscuits formulated with 50% fig powder exhibited improved sensory attributes, including attractive colour, a crispy texture, and a more pronounced flavour. The use of this aromatic and medicinal plant in the food industry, particularly in biscuit production, holds significant potential. It enhances the nutritional value while imparting a sweet taste, distinctive flavour and natural colour. Additionally, its use contributes to improving the functional attributes of biscuit products, offering a sustainable approach to valorizing dried fig flour.

In an era marked by an ageing agricultural workforce and intensifying environmental pressures, agricultural infrastructure plays a crucial role in enhancing green productivity. This study investigates the impact of agricultural infrastructure construction and population ageing on agricultural green total factor productivity (agricultural GTFP), utilising provincial panel data from 2004 to 2022 in China. Our findings reveal that the agricultural infrastructure construction significantly boosts agricultural GTFP and significantly mitigates the negative effects of ageing on agricultural green production at the 0.01 level. Notably, different types of infrastructure exhibit varying impacts, with electricity and irrigation infrastructure demonstrating the most significant positive effects. We further identify a strong mediating effect of farmland transfer and agricultural mechanisation in facilitating infrastructure-driven agricultural GTFP growth. Our analysis reveals a pronounced regional heterogeneity, with non-food producing, central, western regions of China benefiting most from agricultural infrastructure investments. To address the challenges posed by ageing, we recommend giving priority to expanding agricultural infrastructure construction, fostering agricultural socialised services, and tailoring infrastructure programs to regional resource endowments. These strategies aim to compensate for labour shortages, enhance resource utilisation, and ultimately drive improvements in agricultural green productivity.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of different particle sizes of hens diets on blood biochemical parameters, ileal digesta viscosity and nitrogen retention. In the experimental part, the effects of different physical structure were investigated on two groups of laying hens of the Bovans Brown hybrid from 76 to 80 weeks of age. A finely ground mash diet [geometric mean diameter (GMD), 632 µm] and a coarsely ground mash diet (GMD, 1 258 µm) with the equal nutritional content were used. In the experiment, the particle sizes of the feed mixtures were analysed and compared with the particle size of unaccepted feed residues using a feed separator. Furthermore, feed consumption, live weight of laying hens, blood biochemical parameters, digestive viscosity and nitrogen retention coefficient were assessed. The study revealed that the particle sizes of hens’ diets significantly influenced the nitrogen retention coefficient, with higher values observed in the finely ground diet as compared to the coarsely ground diet (30.3 vs 24.0%; P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in feed intake, live weight, blood biochemical parameters, or digesta viscosity between the dietary groups (P > 0.05). This finding highlights the potential of diet structure optimisation to improve nutrient utilisation efficiency, which is particularly relevant for reducing nitrogen excretion and its environmental impact. These novel insights provide a foundation for further research on the effects of feed structure on productivity and organ health.

Abiotic stressors are the main barriers to successful crop production in this era. The balance of redox and metabolic activities in plants is negatively impacted by abiotic stresses, which ultimately limit the plants’ capacity to grow and develop. The phytohormones are tiny molecules that control how plants grow and develop, as well as how they react to alterations in their environment. Phytohormone, gibberellic acid (GA) has been proven in a number of recent research to increase plants’ ability to withstand abiotic stress. By regulating numerous physio-biochemical and molecular processes, GA plays a crucial part in reducing the perturbations caused by abiotic stresses in plants. Recent findings have shown that GA controls the activity of antioxidant enzymes, stress-responsive genes, photosynthetic machinery, and reduced oxidative damage. Besides, GA has been involved in cross-talk with other phytohormones to regulate abiotic stress in plants. This review summarises the current research on the application of GA and discusses how GA might support crop growth and production in adverse conditions. The interaction of GA with other phytohormones, potential mechanisms for reducing abiotic stress in plants, the disadvantages of employing GA, and its promise for the future are also covered in this review.

In this study, the effects of standard fertilisation versus variable fertilisation with mineral and organomineral fertilisers on N, P, K, Ca and Mg leaching from the ploughed layer and yields of winter wheat and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were studied. The losses of calcium were the highest, and phosphorus from phosphates was the lowest of all studied nutrients when simulated rainfall and lysimeters were used after the crops were harvested. The use of variable rate fertilisation reduced nitrates leaching in all the studied plots. Nevertheless, leaching of calcium, which is present in higher concentrations in soils (and also magnesium leaching), seems to be more dependent on the used fertilisers (or their combinations) and doses. As found in different studies, we proved that variable rate fertilisation may not increase grain yields.

Diagnostic morphological traits distinguishing Tilia cordata and T. platyphyllos are not always apparent. Precise species identification is crucial for conservation management and for establishing genetic resources of forest reproductive material. In this study, we employed fifteen microsatellite (SSR) markers to identify diagnostic loci for reliable species discrimination between T. cordata and T. platyphyllos species and to evaluate the genetic diversity. A total of 250 trees were sampled from eight natural autochthonous populations of T. cordata and T. platyphyllos in the Czech Republic, and additional ten individuals of T. tomentosa were included for comparison. Markers Tc8 and Tc918 were identified as diagnostic, exhibiting species-specific alleles for T. cordata and T. platyphyllos. Contrary to the previously published results, we obtained PCR amplicons at locus Tc918 with an allele size of 226 bp in T. cordata. An analysis of the fifteen SSR loci revealed a high level of genetic variability in both the T. cordata and T. platyphyllos populations. No clonally identical genotypes were detected across the eight study sites. The genetic differentiation (Fst) was higher between T. platyphyllos and T. tomentosa (0.316) than between T. platyphyllos and T. cordata (0.205). Bayesian clustering further revealed distinct genetic structures for T. cordata, T. platyphyllos, and T. tomentosa.

Enhancing sustainability in agriculture requires innovative practices that boost crop productivity while conserving natural resources. This two-season field study (2023–2025) in sandy soils of El Sadat City, Egypt, evaluated the combined effects of nano-fertilisers and seed priming on the growth and yield of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). Five fertilisation regimes, ranging from 100% conventional to 100% nano-formulations, were tested under both primed and unprimed seed treatments. The results demonstrated that the integration of nano-fertilisers with seed priming significantly improved sugar yield (up to 36.1 t/ha), sucrose content (20.35%), and nitrogen use efficiency (55.1 kg sugar/kg N). Post-harvest soil analysis showed improved nutrient retention, indicating enhanced environmental performance. This approach supports climate-smart agriculture by optimising nutrient input, reducing losses, and improving soil sustainability. Our findings highlight the potential of nano-agronomic inputs to contribute to global food security under conditions of climate change.

Ascochyta blight, caused by a complex of pathogenic fungi including Didymella pinodes, Ascochyta pisi, and Phoma pinodella, is a major disease of field pea (Pisum sativum), causing severe losses through lesions on leaves, stems, and pods. Mutation breeding using gamma irradiation is a non-GMO strategy to induce genetic variation and accelerate the development of improved genotypes. In this study, the M₂ generation of the forage pea cultivar Dodoni (Pisum sativum L. var. arvense), derived from M₀ seeds irradiated with 100 Gy, was evaluated for tolerance to D. pinodes (CBS 251.47) using a detached-leaf assay under controlled greenhouse conditions. Disease progression was quantified via image-based analysis on the 3^rd and 5^th days post-infection, calculating diseased area and disease severity index. Extensive phenotypic evaluation was also conducted on 16 families in the greenhouse and 100 families under field conditions, using an augmented incomplete block design. Screening revealed several M₂ families with significantly improved tolerance compared to non-irradiated controls. Among these, some individuals combined enhanced resistance with improved yield-related traits, such as higher pod number and biomass, while others exhibited reduced agronomic performance. These findings highlight the phenotypic diversity induced by gamma irradiation and demonstrate the potential to generate dual-purpose pea genotypes with both disease resistance and enhanced productivity, providing valuable material for future breeding of resilient cultivars.

The multifaceted nature of agricultural management and environmental factors complicates the production of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). This study evaluated 25 varieties (21 hybrids and four populations) in three growing seasons (2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23) in Poland. The focus was on yield, fat content, and resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The analyses revealed significant variability among the varieties, with the hybrids performing better consistently in terms of yield and fat content. The level of resistance to Sclerotinia was similar in hybrid and population varieties. Furthermore, DK Excited was found to be the highest-yielding variety, while Duke had the highest fat content. Derrick was the most resistant to S. sclerotiorum. Advocat and Dynamic were identified as the best varieties. In the analysed series of field trials, yield was found to be affected by high temperatures and a lack of rainfall in March, June, and July. For fat content, a lack of rainfall in July was the main limiting factor.

To enhance the biomechanical database of plant root systems for soil reinforcement and erosion control in arid and semi-arid regions, and to provide a scientific basis for selecting superior native shrub and herb species in forestry and grassland measures for desertification control in central and western Inner Mongolia, this study investigated the root-soil interfacial friction characteristics of five typical native plant species – Caragana korshinskii and Hippophae rhamnoides, the semi-shrub Hedysarum mongolicum, and the perennial herbs Medicago sativa and Astragalus adsurgens – in two widely distributed non-zonal soils: loessial soil and aeolian sandy soil. Single-root pull-out tests were conducted on indoor-prepared root-soil composite samples to examine their responses to varying soil moisture levels. The results showed that within a soil moisture range of 4.6% to 20.6%, the single-root pull-out resistance and shear strength of all five species in both soil types followed a quadratic model Y = ax² + bx + c (with all multiple correlation coefficients > 0.5), initially increasing and then decreasing with rising moisture content. Peak values occurred at 8.6% moisture, with consistently higher values observed in loessial soil than in aeolian sandy soil. This indicates an optimal soil moisture level for maximising root-soil interfacial friction resistance. Among the species, Hippophae rhamnoides and Medicago sativa exhibited superior pull-out performance in both soils, with Hippophae rhamnoides showing greater sensitivity to environmental variations in loessial soil. Redundancy analysis identified soil type and moisture content as key factors explaining variations in root pull-out shear strength. These findings demonstrate that mixed-species plantations, leveraging complementary root traits, can form more complex and stable root-soil structures, thereby enhancing surface soil mechanical stability. Further research is needed to elucidate the adaptive mechanisms linking plant traits, environmental conditions, and biomechanical characteristics.

Alluvial soils have high importance for both agriculture and biodiversity; however, these soils can also contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions including carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄). In this study, we examined GHG fluxes of three grassland and two cropland sites with alluvial soils in Abava river floodplain, Latvia (Europe). Soil CO₂ fluxes representing heterotrophic respiration (R_het) were determined using a portable CO₂ gas analyser, while ecosystem respiration (R_eco), soil CH₄ and N₂O fluxes were quantified using a manual closed chamber method combined with gas chromatography. Most alluvial soils acted as source of GHG emissions with the exception of two grassland site where annual CH₄ exchange reflected a slight CH₄ removal from the atmosphere. Mean total GHG emissions (sum of net CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O) were 7.0 ± 3.3 t CO₂ eq./ha/year in grassland sites and 14.5 ± 4.8 t CO₂ eq./ha/year in cropland sites. Net CO₂ contributed the most to total annual GHG emissions with mean values of 6.2 ± 3.3 t CO₂/ha/year in grassland and 13.6 ± 4.8 t CO₂/ha/year in cropland sites. Although the number of study sites is limited, the results support that, in the context of climate change mitigation, grassland represents a more climate-friendly type of floodplain land use than cropland in the hemiboreal region.

The capacity for flexibility, personal development, and intrinsic motivation is a crucial aspect needed by employees in the process of transforming agricultural organisations. This paper aims to determine the typically oriented groups of employees in terms of their motivation and verify whether the identified groups are invariant even under changing conditions over time. The data from 2019–2023 (from 374 respondents employed in agricultural enterprises in south-central Slovakia) were evaluated using descriptive and inferential (K-means cluster) statistics. According to preferences and constancy of attitudes, three clusters of employees called ‘Materialists’, ‘Team progressives’, and ‘Preferences settled’ were determined. The clusters were also solved in terms of stability over time. Despite the differences in the preferences of these clusters, relational factors indeed played one of the most critical roles, even in the case of materialistically oriented employees. The practical result of the research is the possibility of designing a differentiated motivation program specifically targeted to individual groups of employees with similar motivational preferences based on a competent statistical analysis of motivation. The results are used by agricultural businesses to design motivation programs for similarly motivationally oriented employees sophisticatedly.

Elderberries belong to the spontaneous flora of Sambucus nigra L., being considered wild fruits and even improper to be consumed. Dark violet-black and slightly glossy elderberry fruits are rich in bioactive compounds such as agglutinin, total anthocyanins and polyphenols. The importance of heating is claimed by the seasonal and toxic specific elderberry fruits. Moreover, the need to transform the fruits from not suitable for consumption into functional products and to prolong the shelf life of the product should be highlighted. Based on these affirmations, the aim of the study was to preserve the elderberries as jam with or without refined sugar. Phytochemical, textural, colour and sensory analyses were used to characterize three samples of jams (one without sugar, one with refined sugar and one with stevia sugar). The samples with stevia sweetener addition showed the highest values of anthocyanins (1.43 ± 0.16 mg·g^–1 dry matter, DM) among the processed samples; as for the raw fruits, the anthocyanin content showed a decrease. The antioxidant activity determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay revealed similar values between all the analysed elderberry jams. In accordance with the other results, the most appreciated sample by the sensory evaluation was the sample with stevia sweetener. As a conclusion, the total sugar substitution could contribute to a more valuable matrix than the original one. The novelty of the study consists in the use of such popular spontaneous flora of Sambucus nigra L. berries and in a change of the inedible character of the raw fruits into edible functional foods with a prolonged shelf-life.

Some herbs can be used as phytogenic additives as they naturally contain specific bioactive phytochemicals that are effective in controlling coccidiosis and some other poultry diseases due to their immunostimulatory effects and they can be also nutritious. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of Artemisia absinthium (WW) meal inclusion to a diet on the production performance, oocyst output and minerals content of meat in broilers infested by Eimeria oocysts. Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to four dietary groups. Broilers in the control group were fed basal diets without coccidiostat or WW. Broilers of the R group were fed starter and grower diets supplemented with coccidiostat robenidine. Broilers in the W3 and W6 groups were fed diets containing 3 and 6% of WW in feed, resp. At the age of 16 days, all broilers were infested by oocysts of Eimeria spp. to induce a mild coccidiosis infection. The WW meal had no effect on the production performance and carcass traits of broilers (P > 0.05). However, the used levels of administered WW meal were not effective in reducing the number of oocysts faecal output in infested broilers. Administration of coccidiostat robenidine prevented the development of Eimeria oocysts in the intestine as long as 4 days after the cessation of feeding the medicated diet to broilers (P < 0.05). As for minerals of breast meat, broilers of the W3 group displayed a higher Ca level compared to those in the R group (P < 0.05). On the contrary, the R group showed the highest Cu level compared to all other dietary groups assessed (P < 0.01). It can be concluded that for the coccidiosis control in poultry production, it is advisable to monitor the content of specific bioactive substances with proven anticoccidial activity when using WW products.

Assessments of routine ejaculated samples were used to evaluate the conventional semen variables (sperm motility, semen volume, sperm concentration) as initial decision-making criteria to freeze or not to freeze. However, the association of these attributes to the cryotolerance of ram sperm has not been adequately studied yet. The aim of this study was therefore to analyse if the semen volume, sperm motility and concentration can be used to predict post-thaw ram sperm motility. Additionally, in the present study we tested if the order of ejaculate sampling (first versus second, within a single collection session) and the breed of rams influenced cryopreservation outcomes.

The aim of the paper is to examine the resilience of Czech agricultural enterprises through the perceptions of farm managers and to assess the areas where these businesses perceive themselves as resilient and where they feel vulnerable. The analysis is based on data from a survey conducted by the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Information (IAEI) in June 2022, involving 521 Czech agricultural managers. The study focuses on six key areas: climate change and its impacts, agricultural inputs, labour force, market outlets, land prices and availability, and changes in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Across all areas, managers reported that businesses were more frequently vulnerable than resilient, particularly in relation to agricultural inputs and climate change. The results also highlight differences in the perception of resilience across enterprises of varying sizes, with significant variation noted in how changes to the CAP were viewed. Contrary to the common belief that larger enterprises are more resilient, the survey found that Czech medium-sized and large enterprises (with 200 hectares or more of agricultural land) were more frequently perceived as vulnerable.

Measuring the reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) is difficult and costly. Some regions can have variable microclimates and these can often be quite far from climate stations. Therefore, it is optimal to use local measurements rather than a regionally calculated ET₀. In this respect, one piece of equipment that provides cheap and reliable measurement results is ET_Gauge equipment. In this study, ET₀ values measured with ET_Gauge equipment were compared with daily and monthly ET₀ values calculated by five different commonly used empirical methods (Thornthwaite_Adj, Blaney-Criddle, Penman-Monteith = PM, Jensen-Haise and ASCE standardised Penman-Monteith = ASCE SZ PM). During the measurement period, daily ET₀ values measured with ET_Gauge varied between 0–10 mm/day and the average was determined as 4.5 ± 2.7 mm/day in the study area. In the calculations made with the empirical models, the change in Thornthwaite_Adj is 1.3–6.6 mm/day with an average of 3.8 ± 1.6 mm/day, the change in Blaney-Criddle is 1.8–7.2 mm per day with an average of 5.1 ± 1.4, the change in PM is 1.2–10.5 mm/day with an average of 5.8 ± 2.7 mm/day, the change in Jensen-Haise was 5.8 ± 2.7 mm/day with an average of 5.5 ± 2.7 mm/day, and the change in ASCE SZ PM was calculated as 1.0–10.1 mm/day with an average of 5.4 ± 2.5 mm/day. Considering the obtained results, the ET_Gauge equipment can be used safely in creating irrigation programmes.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mannan-oligosaccharides (MOSs) in broiler chicken feed throughout the complete rearing cycle, focusing on zootechnical performance and lactic acid bacteria. Over a period of 49 days, a total of one thousand and eighty (1 080) day-old ISA 15 chicks were divided into two (control and experimental) groups of 540 subjects each (9 replicates of 60 chicks per treatment). They were fed the same basic diet, but only the experimental group received a yeast cell wall extract-based prebiotic (AGRIMOS^®, France), administered continuously at a dose of 2 g/kg throughout the different rearing phases. Under our local conditions, the prebiotic supplementation resulted in a significant increase in body weight gain (P < 0.01), reaching 1 559.82 ± 41.47 g during the growth phase and 913.20 ± 72.58 g during the finishing phase. Moreover, a significant reduction in the feed conversion ratio was observed throughout the rearing cycle (P < 0.05). Across all segments of the analysed intestinal tract (duodenum, ileum, and caecum), the data showed that chickens supplemented with the prebiotic had a significantly higher number of lactic acid bacteria than the control group at the start, growth, and finishing phases (P < 0.01). Our findings demonstrated a clear impact of the prebiotic on the feed utilisation under our rearing conditions, which required further studies to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action.