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Surface runoff and soil losses in the case of potato cultivation using de-stoning technology on gentle slopes (Haplic Cambisol) were studied in 2020–2022. Different ridges shapes were compared: control (smooth shaped ridges), pits, pits plus loosening, pits plus loosening plus cover crop (Triticum aestivum L.) sowing in trail furrows. Runoff and soil losses were studied approximately 1 and 2 months after planting potatoes. The obtained results showed the highest reduction of surface runoff and soil losses in the treatment with cover crop sowing. In this variant, soil losses were reduced by 65–81% (1 month after planting) and 54–85% (2 months after planting) in case of simulated rainfall on the soil with natural moisture (or these losses were reduced by 51–93% and 50–76% in case of 15-min rainfall). On average, tuber yields reached 29.4 t/ha (pits + loosening) to 30.6 t/ha (pits) in 2020–2022. The different abilities of the tested shapes of ridges and furrows to retain water did not significantly affect the achieved yields of tubers, as rainfall was not a limiting factor in the monitored period. The yield differences among all tested treatments reached units of tons per hectare if the entire dose of nitrogen was applied at planting. Splitting the total nitrogen dose (50% at planting, 50% at loosening) gave significantly (P < 0.05) higher yields (34.2 t/ha) than a single application at planting. The treatment pits plus loosening with fertilisation provided a 19–26% higher tuber yield than pits plus loosening with a total N dose applied at planting.

Corn stover is one of the potential lignocellulosic biomasses as the raw material of biogas production. Pretreatment of lignocellulose substrates can enhance biodegradability and biogas yield. This study investigates the effect of oxalic acid pretreatment on biogas production during batch anaerobic digestion of corn stover. First-order, logistic, modified Gompertz and transference models predicted kinetic parameters during biogas production from pretreated corn stover. Results showed that oxalic acid pretreatment significantly affected biogas production (P < 0.05). The highest cumulative biogas yields of pretreated and untreated corn stover were 95.14 mL/gVS and 57.55 mL/gVS, respectively. Pretreated substrates improved biodegradability by 165%. Four kinetic models provided the determination coefficients R² higher than 0.9. The logistic model and modified Gompertz provided the best deviation of 1.57 and 3.75%, respectively. The logistic model proved the best fitting in predicting cumulative yields and simulating the kinetic model of anaerobic digestion of pretreated corn stover among the three models.

Optimising diagnostic methods in shelters so that they are as economical as possible for the shelter is especially important because shelters often have a significant lack of funds and so usually do not carry out preventive screening of cats. Dermatophyte fungi spread quickly and can infect shelter staff. The aim of our work was to identify the occurrence of Microsporum canis in shelter cats. It aimed to determine the prevalence of M. canis in cats at the selected shelter and compare the efficiency of detection using a Wood’s lamp and culturing on Sabouraud’s agar. All cats present in the shelter at the time of the study (n = 70) were examined with Wood’s lamp and hair sampling followed by subsequent culturing on Sabouraud’s agar. Identification of fungi was based on microscopic proof of macroconidia and microconidia. The prevalence of M. canis by diagnosis on Sabouraud’s agar was 64.29% of cats, with the help of Wood’s lamp 48.57% of cats showed positive fluorescence. The sensitivity of the Wood lamp examination was 71% and the specificity was 92%. Our study suggests that Wood’s lamp could be used by trained shelter personnel for the first examination of cats at reception and could significantly reduce the risk of spreading M. canis in shelters.

Steinernema glaseri is a potential biocontrol agent against white grubs of the Phyllophaga spp. complex; however, its suitability for in vitro multiplication has been scarcely investigated. In this study, the effects of the surface culture of NJ-43 strain with its symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus poinarii on egg-yolk agar (P2), chicken-liver agar and nutrient meat-peptone (MP) agar on infective juvenile (IJ) productivity and their virulence against Galleria mellonella larvae were investigated. The bacteria on the surface of the agar were first incubated in darkness at 30 °C for 54–102 h, and then 100 surface-sterilised IJs were added. After two harvests, the accumulated productivity was higher on chicken-liver agar (536 × 103 IJs/m2 day) and P2 agar (534 × 103 IJs/m2 day) than on nutrient MP agar (58 × 103 IJs/m2 day). The mean virulence of the in vitro produced IJs was 46–60% and showed no statistically significant difference among the three culture media. In conclusion, the maximum multiplication factor of S. glaseri NJ-43 on solid media was 385, and its original virulence was retained.

Gallbladder atrophy (GBA) is characterised by a reduction in the size and volume of the gallbladder. In human medicine, it is well-established that GBA frequently occurs together with pathologies affecting the gallbladder and pancreas. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is currently a dearth of reported cases of GBA in dogs within the veterinary field. In this study, we present a case report of GBA in a 7-year-old Yorkshire Terrier. The diagnosis of GBA was confirmed using abdominal ultrasonography and advanced imaging techniques, including computed tomography, which were performed over a 4-year period. The patient initially presented with predominantly gastrointestinal symptoms, which were subsequently diagnosed and treated as pancreatitis. Concurrently, a gallbladder nodule and an anomalous structure suspected to be cholelithiasis were identified. However, during the 4-year follow-up, the gallbladder structure regressed, leaving only the presence of the gallbladder nodule. Notably, cholecystectomy was not performed, and apart from pancreatitis-related symptoms, the patient did not show any gallbladder-related problems throughout the spontaneous atrophic process. Based on these findings, we propose that the observed GBA was likely induced by cholecystitis associated with pancreatitis. This case underscores the significance of considering GBA as a potential diagnosis in canine patients presenting with pancreatitis and gastrointestinal symptoms. Furthermore, it highlights the value of comprehensive diagnostic imaging in accurately determining the underlying cause of these symptoms.

Wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) is one of the most discussed game species, distributed across Europe, therefore the management of this species is considered important. This management should be based on data presented, population quality and preferences and craniometric dimensions show the development of the individual and its prosperity. A sample of 148 male and 153 female wild boar mandibles was studied to compare differences in craniometric measurements, especially to find out wild boar environmental demands and population trends. The width of the caput mandibulae and angle of the mandible showed significant difference between males and females. Measurements analysed with forest area size and other data also showed that larger craniometric dimensions were reached in hunting areas with at least 200 ha of forested area, which may be due to the wild boar's need for safety and vegetative cover in the first months of piglet development with respect to its home range. The development of young wild boar is dependent on rest and shelter in the first months of life. A forest cover of at least 200 ha appears to be sufficient in this respect. Information on habitat preferences and individual development can lead to improvements in wild boar management.

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.

The APETALA 2/ethylene response factors (AP2/ERFs) are considered essential in plant disease resistance responses. In this study, a novel eggplant AP2/ERF transcription factor gene, StPti5, was identified and functionally described from wild eggplant (Solanum torvum Sw.). The results of bioinformatics analysis show that StPti5 protein contains a DNA-binding AP2/ERF domain and shares high degree of amino acid similarity with the other known AP2/ERF domain. Subcellular localization assay shows that StPti5 protein was localized in the nucleus. Expression of StPti5 was induced by infection with Verticillium dahliae, ethylene, and methyl jasmonate. Analysis of expression patterns suggests that the function of StPti5 in resistance to Verticillium wilt was most closely linked to ethylene signaling. Overexpression of StPti5 in Arabidopsis thaliana could improve disease resistance to V. dahliae and activate genes linked to the ethylene signaling pathway. Studies on the A. thaliana defence response revealed that the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased considerably following overexpression of StPti5. In summary, our analysis suggest that StPti5 gene is a functional gene that could improve eggplant's resistance to V. dahliae.

Hyperspectral imaging technology has emerged as a prominent research area for quantitatively estimating soil nutrient content owing to its non-destructive, rapid, and convenient features. Our work collected the data from soil samples using the hyperspectrometer. Then, the data were processed. The competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) algorithm reduced the original 148 bands to 13, which accounted for 8.8% of the total bands. These selected bands possess a certain level of interpretability. Based on the modelling results, it can be concluded that the prediction model constructed by the least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) exhibited the highest accuracy. The coefficient determination, root mean square error, and ratio performance deviation were 0.8295, 2.95, and 2.42, respectively. These findings can provide theoretical support for the application of hyperspectral technology in detecting the content of the AHN in soil. Moreover, they can also serve as a reference for the rapid detection of other soil components.

Due to the length of egg-laying period (> 80 days), two applications of insecticides against cabbage stem weevil (Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus Marsh.) are currently needed. However, resistance of pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus F.) to pyrethroids complicates the choice of suitable insecticide for the second application. The active ingredients cypermethrin, etofenprox, pymetrozine, indoxacarb and chlorpyrifos-ethyl applied as second spring applications to winter oilseed rape crops were assessed under field conditions from 2016 to 2018 to ascertain how they could reinforce the effects of the first spring application (beta-cyfluthrin) on cabbage stem weevil. Chlorpyrifos-ethyl and etofenprox strengthened the effects of the first spring spray on cabbage stem weevil markedly more than cypermethrin. Pymetrozine and indoxacarb, effective on resistant populations of pollen beetles, showed the lowest contribution to increase the effects. Indoxacarb showed a low effect on C. pallidactylus in laboratory tests too. The impacts of the bans on active ingredients chlorpyrifos-ethyl and pymetrozine are discussed.

More than 50% of agricultural land is threatened by water erosion in the Czech Republic. With respect to soil erosion, maize (Zea mays L.) belongs to the most problematic crops; one of the possibilities to increase protection against erosion is intercropping. In this study, we attempted to find out the effects of individual intercrops and their mixtures (sown 4-6 weeks after sowing maize) or a mixed culture (maize plus lupine) on the soil losses and surface runoff in the period 2019-2021. The study was realised in a sugar beet growing region (Haplic Luvisol); a field rainfall simulator was used. From the used variants with Lolium perenne L., Trifolium repens L., Vicia villosa Roth, Lolium multiflorum Lam., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Triticum aestivum L. or a mixture (Vicia villosa plus a Trifolium hybrid diploid), the variants with Lolium perenne, Lolium multiflorum, Vicia villosa or Vicia villosa plus the Trifolium hybrid diploid, established between the maize rows (hybrid maize, cultivar Walterinio) on May 27, were the most efficient in case of both the soil losses and runoff reductions in the year 2019. For example, Triticum aestivum between the maize rows mostly reduced the soil losses and the surface runoff was similar (or higher) compared with the control (maize without any intercrop). The variant with Trifolium repens had mostly higher (or similar) soil loss values (compared with the control); in this variant, the runoff was lower compared with the control. We proved our hypothesis with regards to the higher reduction in the soil losses than with the runoff in the variant with Lolium perenne. The results from the years 2020 (the used variants with Lolium multiflorum, Secale cereale L., Trifolium incarnatum L., Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth., Lolium multiflorum plus Trifolium incarnatum, Lolium multiflorum plus Vicia pannonica Crantz) and 2021 (the variants with Lolium multiflorum, Lolium multiflorum - early sowing, Secale cereale, Trifolium incarnatum, Phacelia tanacetifolia, Lolium multiflorum plus Trifolium incarnatum, a mixed culture = maize plus Lupinus albus L.) showed the variants with Trifolium incarnatum, the mixture (Lolium multiflorum plus Trifolium incarnatum), Phacelia tanacetifolia (in the year 2020) or the mixture (Lolium multiflorum plus Trifolium incarnatum) and a mixed culture (maize plus Lupinus albus) (2021) had the most positive effect - the soil loss and surface runoff values were lower when the maize was > 2 m compared with the maize < 1 m. The results obtained in the period 2019-2021 showed the grasses were the most efficient in decreasing the soil losses when the maize was < 1 m and when the maize was > 2 m with the used mixtures.

Due to changes in the climate and the existence of a wide range of Asparagus officinalis L. cultivars, it is necessary to identify their suitability for cultivation in Poland and investigate their susceptibility to infection by the most common pathogens. The identification of the species composition of fungi of the Fusarium genus found in green spears of edible A. officinalis cultivars and the factors contributing to their occurrence will enable the effective protection of these crops. The study was conducted on seven A. officinalis cultivars bred in different countries, which were dioecious cultivars with male and female specimens: 'Ariane' (Germany), 'Cipres' (France), 'Eposs' (Germany), as well as cultivars with male specimens only: 'Andreas' (France), 'Gynlim', 'Grolim' (Netherlands), and 'Hannibal' (Germany). The analysis of the composition of the fungi isolated from the green A. officinalis spears showed that most of the isolates belonged to the Fusarium genus (F. culmorum Wm.G. Sm., F. equiseti (Corda) Sacc., F. oxysporum Schltdl., F. proliferatum (Matsush.) Nirenberg ex Gerlach & Nirenberg, F. solani (Mart.) Sacc., and F. fujikuroi Nirenberg). Other fungal species (Alternaria, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Stemphylium) were rarely isolated. The majority of the Fusarium genus isolates came from the spears of the 'Ariane' and 'Eposs' cultivars showing disease symptoms and from the spears of the 'Grolim' cultivar without showing disease symptoms. The fungi of the Fusarium genus colonised both the spears with and without disease symptoms, but there were always more isolates on the ones with disease symptoms. Fungi of the Fusarium genus occurred more often in the epidermis than in the parenchyma. F. oxysporum was the dominant fungus in the A. officinalis spears under analysis. The number of fungi isolates of the Fusarium genus collected from the green A. officinalis spears tended to increase at the consecutive harvest dates, which means that the spears harvested at the latest date (late June) were the most heavily colonised by fungi. All of the fungi isolates of the Fusarium genus collected from the spears exhibited pathogenicity against A. officinalis plants.

In this study, the drying of bitter gourd slices with a halogen dryer was done at different thicknesses of bitter gourd (3, 5, and 7 mm) and temperatures (60, 65, and 70 °C). The effect of varying drying characteristics in the experiment was explored. Experimental results were evaluated based on the drying time and moisture content. The results indicate that the material drying thickness and drying temperature significantly impact the drying time and the equilibrium moisture content. Furthermore, the Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) model is also used to train and predict the moisture content of bitter gourd in this research. The temperature, thickness of the bitter gourd, and drying time were used as input parameters for the model. Two measures R² and Root Mean Ssquare Error (RMSE) were used to determine the accuracy of the trained MARS model. During training, the values of R² and RMSE obtained were 0.9846 and 3.7324, respectively. The test of trained MARS was successful, with a satisfactory correlation between experimental data points and predicted points. The results show that MARS can accurately predict the moisture content of bitter gourd in a halogen dryer.

The application of nutrient solutions to the foliage of plants is an alternative means to fertilise crops. Foliar fertilisation is used to overcome the disadvantages of soil applications. Variable plant responses to these foliar fertilisation spray solutions have often been described in the literature. However, knowledge about the penetration mechanisms, the role of a leaf-applied inorganic or organic solution, and the results obtained by its application is still limited. The complex character of the factors determining the effects of sprays hinders the development of suitable foliar fertilisation strategies, applicable under variable local conditions and for various plant types. This review describes some basic factors involved in the penetration process of foliar sprays in olive (Olea europaea L.) trees. Chemistry, leaf penetration, and plant nutrition principles will be merged with the aim of clarifying the constraints, opportunities, and future perspectives of sprays to cure olive tree nutrient deficiencies and, hence, both increase the yield and improve the fruit quality.

Soil aggregate stability (SAS) is an important factor for soil quality and fertility. There are limited possibilities to influence this soil property, but one investigated method is the application of additives which have the potential to improve SAS. We established a four-year field experiment on a clay-loam Luvisol with poor soil structure to monitor SAS following the application of additives and grassland revegetation. Treatments included: (1) the untreated control; (2) compost; (3) biochar; (4) liming; (5) cattle manure; (6) woodchips; (7) woodchips + fungi inoculation; (8) pellets; (9) pellets + fungi; (10) hydrogel and (11) the change of arable land to grassland. The lowest 23.39% average SAS value was recorded for the untreated control, and then 23.92% for lime treatment, and the highest 27.69% average value was for hydrogel treatment, followed by woodchips with 27.22% and woodchips + fungi with 27.02%. A significant SAS increase of more than 200% was evident on the grassland two years after the trial’s establishment, and this was also associated with other improved physical and chemical soil properties. Finally, while most of our applied soil additives were relatively ineffective in agricultural practice, grassland revegetation is highly recommended for its rapid increase in soil aggregate stability.

Nitrogen dynamics in soil produce N2O emissions. To decrease N2O emissions and conserve N, recent studies have focused on chemicals derived from root exudates that inhibit nitrification. However, selective plant breeding could be used to control nitrification activity in soil instead of fertilisers or synthetic nitrification inhibitors. In this study, we investigated the relationship between nitrification rates (NR) and related N dynamics and plant characteristics for 11 maize varieties with varying levels of nitrification inhibition (NI) compared to Brachicaria humidicola (Bh) as the positive control. In a greenhouse experiment, soil concentrations of NI, NR, NH4+-N, and NO3--N and nitrogen uptake by plants were measured. Six maize varieties had a 1.1–1.6 times lower NR than Bh. Low-NR varieties had higher NI and lower root-to-shoot ratios. NI was positively correlated with total N and shoot N content but not with cumulative N2O and NH4+-NO3-. These results show that maize has the capacity to reduce soil nitrification while increasing the total N in the soil and shoot N content in maize.

Phosphate fertilisers rank among limited conventional production aids, requiring eco-unfriendly mining methods. On the other hand, wheat is an indispensable agricultural commodity essential in the food industry. For this reason, it is appropriate to monitor the potential bivariate relationship between these commodities and to follow their future development closely. The article aims to identify a correlation (Kendall’s tau) and causal (Granger causality test) between the price of Moroccan phosphate and wheat, applying vector autoregression (VAR). The results show a medium-to-strong correlation between phosphate and wheat, while causal analysis suggests a reciprocal relationship. The final prediction indicates the price stability of Moroccan phosphate and a fall in wheat prices, showing steady trends of the Moroccan phosphate and wheat market affected by the alarming situation in Ukraine. The article’s drawbacks are a narrow market specialisation, which ignores other agricultural commodities. Our findings contribute to national officeholders and professional public, private and non-profit agrarian organisations. Investors may benefit from exploring turbulent exogenous variables like a critical geopolitical deadlock in Ukraine. The main contribution highlights the fact that the conventional fertiliser and wheat market situation appears to be stable and free from elements of uncertainty.

This study focused on drying moringa leaves using a cabinet dryer. The impact of the 40, 50, and 60 °C drying air temperatures on the moisture content of the leaves at a constant air velocity with variation in weight (40, 80, and 120 g) was considered. Ten drying models were fitted to the drying data to describe the drying parameters of moringa leaves. The best model was chosen based on the highest coefficient of determination (R²), and the lowest sum of square error (SSE) and root mean square error (RMSE) values. The Henderson and Pabis model best described the drying characteristics of the moringa leaves having the highest R² (0.9888) and lowest SSE (0.0401) and RMSE (0.0604). The effective moisture diffusivity increased with the temperatures ranging from 8.72 × 10^–9 to 1.40 × 10^–8 m²·s^–1. The activation energy ranged from 90.4636, 40.4884, and 22.7466 KJ·mol^–1 for 40, 80, and 120 g, respectively.

Forests play a significant role for maintaining the biodiversity. In order to manage sustainable forests, tree species history, distribution, and their future prospects are vital. Using standardized quantitative approaches, the age, radial growth, and size class distribution of Abies pindrow (Himalayan fir) were determined from three different altitudinal sites (i.e. high, middle, and lower). The results indicate that Himalayan fir growing in the high-altitude site (Ayubia, 2 917 m a.s.l.) of moist temperate forests of the Himalayan mountains showed lower radial growth (0.13 cm) than in the middle (Bara Gali, 2 617 m a.s.l.; radial growth = 0.13 cm) and lower (Kuldana, 2 455 m a.s.l.; radial growth = 0.22 cm) altitude sites. Correlation analysis demonstrated that age showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.001) with diameter at breast height. The tree-ring width chronology (totally 80 core samples) of Himalayan fir was developed from moist temperate forests of Himalayan mountains of Pakistan. At Ayubia site it possesses a long time-span (1703-2020 C.E.), followed by Bara Gali (1862-2020 C.E.) and Kuldana (1864-2020 C.E.). Further, the tree-ring width (TRW) chronology of Ayubia showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) with May and June temperature, and a significant negative correlation (P < 0.05) with June and October precipitation, indicating that summer temperatures are the key factor for the radial growth of Himalayan fir. For the Kuldana site, the response of TRW chronology to temperature and precipitation was the same, however, it was significant only for June temperature at Bara Gali. The size class distribution of the high-altitude region (Ayubia) showed a higher number of individuals than the lower altitude region, indicating the lowest disturbance conditions. The absence of individuals in the early size classes and the gap in middle and mature size classes indicate a lower regeneration potential and anthropogenic impact. The pointer year analysis indicated that the Bara Gali forest is more sensitive to abnormal climate events than the other sites. Based on the present study, we suggest that proper attention and conservation strategy should be provided to Himalayan fir growing in the moist temperate forests of Pakistan.

Chicken eggshells are a source of calcium and protein that can be added to restructured meat products, including patties. This study aimed to improve the chemical quality of beef patties with the addition of chicken eggshell nanopowder, including pH, protein content, ash content, fat content, antioxidant activity, calcium, microstructural quality, and identification of amino acid profiles. The method used in this study was a laboratory experiment arranged in a completely randomised design with five treatments: without the addition of chicken eggshell nanopowder as a control, the addition of chicken eggshell nanopowder 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7% (w/w) with five replications. Data were analysed using the analysis of variance. It was followed by Duncan's multi-range test when the differences were significant or very significant. The research results show that the addition of chicken eggshell nanopowder to beef patties had a very significant effect (P < 0.01%) on pH, protein content, ash content, fat content, antioxidant activity, calcium, microstructural quality through scanning electron microscopy, and several amino acids. The addition of 0.7% chicken eggshell nanopowder could improve the chemical quality of the beef patties. The patty matrix was uniform and compact, and the air voids were getting tighter with the addition of chicken eggshell nanopowder, which was increasing based on scanning electron microscopy observations. Moreover, beef patties had various types of amino acids to achieve the best treatment.

The pear psyllid [Cacopsylla pyri (L.), (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)] represents one of the most economically significant pests of pear in Serbia and worldwide. It causes direct damage throughout feeding on young stems and leaves, but also creates favourable conditions for the development of plant diseases. In this article susceptibility of C. pyri to spirodiclofen, spirotetramat, and their combinations with foliar fertilizer (carboxymethyl cellulose-boron, CMC-B) was investigated in order to assess their efficacy. Experiments were conducted in accordance with standard OEPP/EPPO methods, in field trials on two localities in the Republic of Serbia (Kula, Vrbas), during 2020/21. Results of the field trials indicate good efficacy for all variants in pear psyllid control in pear orchards. The high efficacy of spirodiclofen (87.4-95.4%), spirotetramat (82.5-91.8%), spirodiclofen + CMC-B (90.3-99.8%), spirotetramat + CMC-B (89.5-96.8%) was achieved at both localities seven days after treatment during 2020/21 field trials. Also, it can be concluded for examinations 14 days after treatment, where the efficacy of spirodiclofen (84.9-92.0%), spirotetramat (81.2-91.7%), spirodiclofen + CMC-B (88.9-97.5%), and spirotetramat + CMC-B (82.3-92.5%) was high at both of investigated localities. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that the high efficacy of the researched insecticides is a good indicator of C. pyri susceptibility in pear orchards.

Biochar-based fertiliser (BF) is beneficial to improve yield and quality, but the effect of BF on open field tomato remains unclear, especially in karst mountainous areas. The objective of this study was to identify the application effect and optimum application rate of BF. A field experiment was carried out in Southwestern China from 2019 to 2020 to study the effects of different application amounts of BF on the yield, quality, nutrients accumulation and fertiliser utilisation of open field tomatoes. The results showed that compared with the traditional fertilisation practice, BF can significantly increase the yield of open field tomato by 5-9% (2019) and 12-23% (2020), and significantly reduce nitrate content and increase vitamin C content of fruits. Meanwhile, nutrient accumulations, agronomic efficiency, and recovery efficiency of BF treatments were all significantly improved. In conclusion, the BF rate of 2 326 kg/ha improves yield and fertiliser utilisation in open-field tomatoes and could be recommended for tomato production in karst mountainous areas.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of midazolam-ketamine alone or in combination with dexmedetomidine or tramadol in a constant rate infusion (CRI) on the minimum infusion rate (MIR) of propofol and the cardiorespiratory function in cats undergoing an ovariohysterectomy (OH). This was a prospective, randomised, blinded clinical study. Twenty-four healthy female mixed-breed cats were premedicated with ketamine and midazolam. Propofol was used for the induction and maintenance of the anaesthesia (starting at 18 mg/kg/h). Cats were assigned to groups (n = 8) to receive one of the following intravenous treatments: midazolam-ketamine group (MKG; ketamine 0.6 mg/kg/h); midazolam-ketamine-dexmedetomidine group [MKDG; ketamine 0.6 mg/kg/h and dexmedetomidine loading dose (LD) 1 mg/kg, CRI 1 mg/kg/h)] or midazolam-ketamine-tramadol group [MKTG; ketamine 0.6 mg/kg/h and tramadol (LD 2 mg/kg, CRI 1 mg/kg/h)]. During the OH, the propofol infusion was adjusted based on the clinical signs to maintain adequate anaesthetic depth. Selected variables were measured before (T0) and after (T1) the anaesthesia induction and during six surgical time points (T2-T7). The mean arterial pressure was higher and the heart rate was lower in MKDG at T1 (than in MKG and MKTG). The mean ± SD MIR of propofol were 17.4 ± 3.2, 15.0 ± 2.8 and 12.6 ± 3.5 mg/kg/h for MKG, MKTG, and MKDG, respectively. We conclude that, compared to midazolam-ketamine alone, midazolam-ketamine-tramadol and midazolam-ketamine-dexmedetomidine reduced the MRI of propofol by 13.8% and 27.5%, respectively, without significant changes in the selected indicators.

Rf(fa), a new restoring fertility gene in rice, was previously located to a large region on Chromosome 10. The large number of genes within the region made cloning of Rf(fa) difficult. To perform the cloning and further elucidate the molecular mechanism, we reconstructed a mapping segregation population (BC₁F₁) of 12 000 plants. Using the population and polymorphism of simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular markers, we finally mapped Rf(fa) between the two SSR molecular markers MM2000 and RM25658, within a 78.87 kb region. By de novo sequencing of a restoring line of CMS-FA hybrid rice, we obtained the genomic sequence of the mapping region, which provided the basis for the prediction of the candidate gene(s) of the target gene and for the comparison of genomic sequence differences between wild and cultivated rice. Within the mapping region, the genomic sequence of the wild rice was significantly different from that of cultivated rice. There were ten genes in the final mapping region. A pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein gene was predicted as the candidate gene of Rf(fa). Our results laid a solid foundation for the final cloning and molecular mechanism analysis of the gene. The identified molecular markers tightly linked to Rf(fa) will facilitate the marker assisted selection in breeding of CMS-FA hybrid rice.

The purpose of this research is  to design a rounding cylinder tube on a coffee roaster using an electric heating element that will be used to roast coffee. The roasting process also uses an electric motor to rotate the cylindrical drum so that the stirring process becomes even. The research was conducted using engineering methods including identification of problems, roasting machine design formulation, prototyping, functional testing, and performance testing. The data analysed are roasting capacity, roasting temperature and the need for electrical energy used. The results showed that the roasting capacity was 2.3 kg·h^–1. The serving of coffee for dark roast maturity levels can be ended when the temperature has reached a temperature of 201 °C. The need for electrical energy in the heater for roasting arabica coffee beans with a maturity level of  a dark roast for 1 hour 54 minutes obtained an average value of 3.4 kWh, with the need for electrical energy for roasting arabica coffee beans which is 1.35 kWh.

Insects like housefly (Musca domestica L.) are future feed resources for economic animals because insects can improve growth performance by promoting the immune function and gut microbial balance. However, little is known about research reports on housefly larvae extracts containing an antibacterial peptide. This study investigated the effect of feeding diets supplemented with housefly larvae extract (HLE) containing antibacterial peptides on the growth performance of broiler chickens. Nine hundred broilers (Ross 308) were fed diets containing HLE for 35 days. Treatment groups consisted of CON (control without HLE), PC (positive control, 8 ppm of avilamycin), HLE50 (diet containing 50 ppm of HLE), HLE100 (diet containing 100 ppm of HLE), HLE150 (diet containing 150 ppm of HLE), and HLE200 (diet containing 200 ppm of HLE). Body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in HLE150 and HLE200 groups compared to those in the CON group. Spleen weights were higher in HLE150 and HLE200 groups than in the CON group. Caecal bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus counts were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in HLE150 and HLE200 groups whereas E. coli and coliform bacteria counts were higher in the CON group. Caecal acetic acid, propionic acid, and total short-chain fatty acid levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in HLE150 and HLE200 groups than in the CON group. These results show that feeding diets containing 150 ppm of HLE containing antimicrobial peptides could replace antibiotics to improve the growth performance of broiler chickens.

Agricultural products are highly perishable and, hence, we need to preserve these products after harvest. India is an agricultural country and, thus, the post-harvest storage of perishable agricultural products is important to reduce the gap between the demand and supply. Cold storage technologies have been developed and are used in India; however, these technologies are not popular in rural and remote areas due to the higher initial cost and the electrical energy requirement. Therefore, a number of low-cost technologies have been developed and, among these technologies, the evaporative cooling technology is gaining in popularity due to its simple design and lower initial cost. In this work, we have developed and tested a solar photovoltaic (PV) powered evaporative cooling system and used coconut coir as the cooling medium and compared the results with celdex pad. From this work, we observed that this system is an economical and efficient in reducing the temperature and increasing the relative humidity for the storage of agricultural products.

Biochar is a carbonaceous material derived from the pyrolysis of carbon-rich biomass that has attracted increasing research and attention because of its ability to enhance soil carbon storage, increase soil fertility, fix and transform pollutants in soil, and improve the soil environment. These enhancements directly or indirectly affect soil microorganisms’ metabolic activities and community structure. This paper reviews the effects of biochar on soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, nutrients, contaminants, and related microbial activities. In addition, this work summarises the possible mechanisms involved in the interaction between biochar and microorganisms and the potential hazards associated with biochar use. Finally, this study aims to provide a theoretical basis for future related research.