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Taking China as an example in this study, we aim to reveal the enabling effects of agricultural science and technology advancement on the progress of rural industrial incorporation at a relatively more refined level. The main innovation in this study lies in the decomposition of agricultural science and technology advancement, followed by an analysis of its effect on rural industrial incorporation along both linear and non-linear dimensions. The study results show that, along the linear dimension, agricultural science and technology advancement, agricultural knowledge advancement and agricultural technology advancement play significant driving roles in the progress of rural industrial incorporation. However, although the estimated coefficient of the integration of agricultural knowledge advancement and technology advancement is positive, it is not statistically significant. Along the non-linear dimension, agricultural science and technology advancement, agricultural knowledge advancement and agricultural technology advancement all exhibit significantly positive effects across different intervals. However, although the integration of agricultural knowledge advancement and technology advancement also shows a positive effect, its significance appears only in the second interval, indicating that the effect of this variable in promoting rural industrial incorporation can be realised only under certain conditions

A root detector is a non-destructive technology developed to indicate the radial distribution of tree roots, which are not often visible on the surface. This study aims to assess the accuracy of the root detector in estimating the radial distribution of both exposed and buried tree roots. Six Agathis loranthifolia Salisb. trees were selected, three with exposed roots and three with buried roots. The Fakopp® root detector, an acoustic-based tool, was used in this study. Root estimation was based on a combination of threshold values (> 400 m·s^–1), average values, and the peak of the sound wave velocity. Soil excavation was manually conducted at a depth of 30 cm within a 100 cm radius of the tree trunk. The results showed that under similar soil conditions, the root detector achieved an accuracy of over 80% in detecting the actual radial root distribution, as validated by the excavation method. Root diameter exhibited the strongest correlation with sound velocity in detecting lateral roots. However, root depth and inclination angle contributed to detection inaccuracies in estimating the radial distribution of lateral roots.

Moisture content regulation of root crops is crucial in post-harvest processing operations, not only in the price stipulation but also to avoid aflatoxin contamination. To prolong their storage life, they are processed into dried chips to extend their usability in feed formulations and starches. In this study, we use the capacitance-based method to evaluate the performance of an analogue-based electronic meter for the cassava, sweet potato, and taro chips. The meter was calibrated against the oven-drying method, yielding high R² values of the different root crops. The established calibration models were validated and revealed high R² values with 0.9580 for the cassava, 0.9958 for the sweet potato, and 0.9798 for the taro. The trendline equations are y = 59.44x^0.56, y = 54.38x^0.47, and y = 52.94x^0.62, respectively. The results revealed that the moisture meter is capable of reading the moisture content on a weight basis (% MC_wb) with accuracy and reliability at specified limits of 8% < x < 69% for the cassava, 15% < x < 59% for the sweet potato, and 9% < x < 57% for the taro. This study presents the performance of a portable analogue-based moisture meter as a reliable and accessible solution to small-scale operations, especially for farmers, offering an on-site rapid moisture content measurement in root crop processing.

Peptides play regulatory roles in various plant development and defence processes. They function as molecular messengers that detect threats and trigger defence responses. This study aimed to identify the genes encoding endogenous plant elicitor peptide precursors (PROPEPs) in bananas and their role in inducing resistance to Ralstonia syzygii subsp. celebesensis (Rsc). Two precursor genes, MaPROPEP1 and MbPROPEP1, were discovered and predicted to encode the precursor proteins of elicitor peptides, namely, MaPep1 and MbPep1. Both elicitor peptides contained 23 amino acids of the active elicitor peptide, which activated innate immune responses in banana resistance to Rsc. The disease assessment was conducted by inoculating banana plants with Rsc isolate MY4101 using the root-stabbing method. The results demonstrated that MaPep1 and MbPep1 pretreatment enhanced resistance to banana blood disease, as indicated by reduced disease severity and the absence of wilting for 7 days after infection. The expression of the MaPROPEP1, MbPROPEP1, MaLOX7, and Pr-10 genes was evaluated using qPCR and found to be upregulated by MaPep1 and MbPep1 injection followed by Rsc infection in aboveground banana tissues within 7 days. These findings prove that MaPep1 and MbPep1 are members of the Pep family and exhibit conserved functions across various plant species. This approach may be used to develop strategies for enhancing disease resistance in banana cultivation.

Dogs and cats are the most common companion animals in urban environments. Some dogs and cats live in stable home settings, receiving regular care. However, stray dogs and cats are exposed to chronic stress due to life on the streets or in shelters. Stress is correlated with oxidative stress. The dysregulation of redox balance can lead to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which promote cellular and molecular damage. In this study, the blood samples were collected from 150 female animals (90 dogs and 60 cats) to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Total RNA was extracted from PBMCs and subjected to reverse transcription. The expression levels of SOD1 and CAT were quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Compared with those in stray animals, the SOD1 expression levels were significantly higher (P < 0.01), and the CAT expression levels were non-significantly lower in owned animals. These findings suggest that the expression of antioxidant defence genes varied between owned and stray animals. Thus, oxidative stress regulation is dependent on environmental conditions and lifestyle in companion species.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, superoxidase dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and caspase-3 (CASP3) activities, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), immunoglobulin (Ig) E, G, M and zinc (Zn) concentrations in the serum/plasma and liver tissues of rats. Forty Wistar Albino rats were separated into five equal groups as the control, 5 and 10 mg/kg, b.w./day ZnO, 5 and 10 mg/kg b.w./day ZnO NPs were administered i.p. every other day for 14 days. The plasma MDA and plasma/liver TNF-α concentrations increased in the 10 mg/kg ZnO, 5 and 10 mg/kg ZnO NPs groups. The plasma SOD, CASP3, plasma/liver GPx activities and serum Zn concentrations increased in all the Zn groups. The highest SOD, GPx and CASP3 activities were detected in the 5 mg/kg ZnO NPs group. The plasma IgG concentrations increased, especially in the ZnO NPs groups. The study findings suggest that 5 mg/kg ZnO NPs could potentially have an ameliorative effect on the possible adverse effects of oxidative stress. These nanoparticles demonstrate their ability to combat oxidative stress by increasing the plasma/tissue SOD, GPx, and CASP3 activities, TNF-α, and IgG concentrations. However, the effectiveness of the nanoparticles may vary depending on the synthesis method, application time, and concentration.

Agriculture faces increasing challenges due to climate change, underscoring the importance of beneficial microorganisms for enhancing crop resilience and improving soil health. However, the performance of microbial inoculant strains can vary widely depending on the cultivated species and environmental conditions. This study evaluated the ESALQ 1306 strain of Trichoderma harzianum, a soil fungus recognised as a biological control agent for crops such as soybean and strawberry, investigating its potential as a growth promoter in maize (Zea mays L.). Field experiments were conducted with three commercial cultivars (DKB255, DKB360, and 2B810) over two growing seasons, one under irrigation and the other under severe natural drought. The results revealed that Trichoderma (ESALQ 1306) significantly increased plant height, biomass, and grain yield, particularly under drought stress, despite lacking a formal recommendation for maize. The cv. DKB360 showed the greatest response, with yield increases of up to 60% compared to untreated controls. Inoculation also improved nutrient uptake, especially nitrogen, highlighting its potential to maintain soil health and fertility. These findings demonstrate that the ESALQ 1306 strain of Trichoderma is a promising soil bioinoculant for agriculture, capable of improving maize performance under both optimal and stressful conditions. However, it is important to emphasise that genotype-specific responses highlight the need to align bioinoculant application with selecting specific cultivars to ensure inoculation success. This insight is crucial for guiding future breeding programs and establishing clear regulatory guidelines for commercialising biological products, fostering sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

The aim of this article is to demonstrate the difference in the production of ecosystem services depending on the management method using a selected sample of fishponds from the South Bohemian region of the Czech Republic and subsequently monetarily to assess this difference. Using 16 fishponds over a 10-year period, the research evaluates key services such as biodiversity conservation, water purification, and fish production, employing the opportunity cost of foregone profits methodology. The results reveal that ecologically managed fishponds provide enhanced ecosystem services at a financial trade-off, with an average annual profit difference of EUR 142 per hectare compared to conventional management. This trade-off translates to a present value of EUR 1 288 per hectare over a decade, reflecting the additional societal value of ecosystem services from ecological management. The findings underscore the economic and ecological challenges faced by stakeholders, particularly fish farmers, in balancing conservation goals with economic viability.

This study has evaluated the genetic characteristics and wheat processing-related properties of four Korean wheat landraces (KWLs). The KWLs were found to possess the vernalization alleles vrn-A1, vrn-B1, and Vrn-D1 and the photoperiod alleles Ppd-A1b, Ppd-B1b, and Ppd-D1a. The Korean cultivated variety Keumgang also shared these alleles with the exception of vrn-D1. With regard to grain hardness, KWL 2 was shown to possess Pina-D1a and Pinb-D1b like Keumgang, while other KWLs were classified as carrying Pina-D1a and Pinb-D1a. All KWLs were found to be non-waxy, carrying the alleles Wx-A1a, Wx-B1a, and Wx-D1a. With regard to the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) genes, all four KWLs carried low-activity alleles, in contrast to the Keumgang sample. The assessment of physicochemical properties revealed that KWL 1, 3, and 4 had a higher amylose content but a lower protein content than KWL 2 and Keumgang. In tests of solvent retention capacity KWL 1 and KWL 2 exhibited the lowest and highest values, respectively, for all four solvents used in the tests. With regard to the dough properties, the results of Mixolab analysis indicated a faster starch gelatinisation in KWL1, while in KWL 2 a high water absorption and the longest dough development and stability times were found. KWL 3 and 4 exhibited similar dough behaviours. Principal component analysis of the four KWL lines revealed distinct clustering based on their physicochemical and dough-related traits.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils threatens crop productivity and food safety. This study examined the use of dolomite and calcite amendments in reducing Cd toxicity in pak choi grown in Cd-contaminated soil. Treatments included: control (CK), Calcite 1 (Cal1, 10 g/kg soil), Calcite 2 (Cal2, 20 g/kg soil), Dolomite 1 (Dol1, 10 g/kg soil), and Dolomite 2 (Dol2, 20 g/kg soil). Amendments significantly increased soil pH (P ≤ 0.05), with Cal2 (6.5) and Dol2 (6.2) achieving the highest values at harvest. Cd availability declined (P ≤ 0.05), with Dol2 being the most effective, reducing the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure-extractable Cd from 0.03 to 0.01 mg/kg, NH₄NO₃-extractable Cd from 0.05 to 0.02 mg/kg, and CaCl₂-extractable Cd from 0.40 to 0.01 mg/kg. Dol2 improved biomass and chlorophyll content, while reducing Cd accumulation in shoots by 73.3% and in roots by 70% relative to the control. Antioxidant enzymes were regulated, with decreased peroxidase and superoxide dismutase indicating reduced oxidative stress, while Dol2 maximised urease, catalase, invertase, phosphatase, and phenol oxidase activities. Dissolved organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon also increased, thereby enhancing microbial activity. Dolomite and calcite significantly reduced biological concentration factors, biological accumulation coefficients, and translocation factors, thereby restricting Cd uptake. Overall, dolomite, especially at higher levels, effectively mitigated Cd toxicity, improved plant resilience, and enhanced soil health in contaminated systems.

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.

Cowpea, an annual legume widely grown and consumed in Nigeria, has been observed to contain between 27–33% impurities when freshly harvested and threshed. This poses a threat to humans when consumed and in large-scale agricultural processing. Therefore, this study is aimed at developing and evaluating the performance of a multi-variety cowpea cleaner (MVCC). Using standard methods, some selected engineering properties of the cowpea varieties were examined and used in the design of the MVCC. The cowpea had a moisture content of 8–14%, depending on the locations and varieties. Other properties investigated include the length, width, thickness, sphericity, geometric mean diameter, unit volume, arithmetic mean diameter, aspect ratio, surface area, unit weight, true density, terminal velocity, and angle of repose. The MVCC comprised the hopper, winnower, cleaning unit, fan assembly, and frame. The performance of the MVCC was also evaluated. The efficiency of separating good products of honey, drum, and Sokoto White beans was 95, 91, and 84%, respectively, while separating bad products was 87, 94, and 96%, respectively.

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

This study aims to compare the soil quality indexing model by adding and weighting the soil under different land uses and slope positions on the southwest slope of Mount Merapi, Indonesia. Soil sampling was carried out based on a landscape analysis divided into four geomorphological units (slopes): upper, middle, lower and foot slopes. The research design was nested where the soil sample was located (surface soil 0–30 cm). Based on the research results, soil quality indices (SQI) of forest on the upper slopes is very high. SQI of dry fields on the middle, lower and foot slopes is low to medium. SQI of mixed gardens on the middle and lower slopes is low to medium. SQI of snake fruit land on the middle, lower and foot slopes is medium to high. SQI of grassland on the lower slopes is medium to high, and SQI of paddy fields on the foot slopes is medium to high. Weighted soil quality index (SQIw) has a higher correlation (R² = 0.90) and can predict soil quality better than the adding soil quality index (SQIa) model (R² = 0.76). Indicators that most influence soil quality are the percentage of sand, total N, C-POM, C-Min, pH, and aggregate stability, that indicators are entirely influenced by organic matter, site-specific management to maintain SQI by maintaining organic matter. The selected indicators in this study can be used to determine the SQI in similar areas.

We examined the antibacterial efficacy of streptomycin, hibiscus acid, and their combination against multidrug-resistant Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Salmonella Typhimurium in mice. We determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for streptomycin, hibiscus acid, and their combination against STEC and Salmonella. Fifteen sets of six mice in each set were utilised: six groups were orally exposed to 4 log₁₀ colony forming units (CFUs) of S. Typhimurium and another six to STEC, and three acted as the controls. Six hours post-inoculation, specific groups of mice received either oral solutions containing hibiscus acid at 5 and 7 mg/ml; streptomycin at 50 and 450 µg/ml; hibiscus acid/streptomycin (5 mg/ml hibiscus acid and 50 µg/ml streptomycin); or isotonic saline. The study determined the MIC and MBC of 7 mg/ml of hibiscus acid; 300 and 450 µg/ml of streptomycin; and two concentrations of hibiscus/streptomycin (3 mg/ml / 20 µg/ml and 5 mg/ml / 50 µg/ml). Interestingly, the mice that were infected and subsequently treated with hibiscus acid at 7 mg/ml alone or in conjunction with streptomycin did not have either STEC or Salmonella in their faecal samples, and none of the mice died. In contrast, the untreated mice and those exclusively treated with streptomycin had the pathogens present in their stool, leading to the mortality of all the subjects.

Agribusiness is currently faced with the challenge of providing sufficient quality food for a growing population with limited natural resources. Egg production, as an important source of nutrition, is a dynamically developing sector of livestock production on a global scale. Simultaneously, the increasing public and legal considerations of animal welfare affect egg-producing operations. This paper aims to provide insight into missing evidence in the trade-offs between animal welfare and efficiency in egg-producing farms in the Czech Republic and the European Union. Detailed data were gathered on the extent of the enriched cage and indoor cage-free housing systems (aviaries/barns) among the main 30 Czech table-egg-producers. Original micro data enlarged the information on table-egg producers collected using the Orbis database. For the efficiency analysis at the EU level, data on the housing systems were obtained from Eurostat and combined with aggregated data from the Orbis database. A robust data envelopment analysis was applied which benefits from including animal-welfare variables directly into the efficiency evaluation. The results showed a negative, but statistically insignificant, relationship between the animal welfare and efficiency of the egg producers for the Czech Republic table-egg producers as well as those on the EU-country level.

Hokkaido brown bear (Ursus arctos yesoensis) meats are used as ingredients of game cuisines. In contrast, shank meats are unsuitable as edible meats due to gamy tastes and tough meats. Here, new meat sauces were developed using glutinous rice koji and food enzymes for the application of the underutilised meat i.e. shank meat. The proximate analysis showed that the obtained sauces were reduced-salt sauces at approximately 6.4–7.7 g·(100 g)^–1 as salt equivalent. The sauces had a light colour, no unacceptable odours, and strong sweetness and umami taste. The sauce with good sensory acceptability was rich in glutamic acid, leucine, lysine, and alanine. Besides, the essential amino acid contents were remarkably high at approximately 55.6%. In addition, the tested sauces had good antioxidative activities, scavenging activities against reactive oxygen species such as superoxide anion radicals and hydroxyl radicals, and angiotensin I-converting enzyme and hyaluronidase inhibitory activities. These results suggested that Hokkaido brown bear shank meat sauces, which had positive effects for human health, could be used as one of novel condiment with consumer demands.

Long-term human activities substantially altered floodplain regions of temperate Europe. Forest management and extensive changes in hydrology greatly affected natural floodplain soil properties, in which microbes play key roles. This study aims to assess the effects of human activities through a gradient of forest management intensity on soil microbial community (SMC), its biomass, activity, and structure. Soil chemical and physical-chemical properties were used to explain the general associations and within-site variation using principal component analysis (PCA), linear regression (LR) and linear mixed-effect regression (LMER) models. It was found that forest management application, regardless of its intensity, led to significant microbial biomass reduction. PCA revealed that microbial biomass, expressed as a sum of phospholipid fatty acids along with recalcitrant carbon fraction (ROC) best explained the variability in data. LR and LMER highlighted that bacteria are affected by floodplain forest management more than fungi, and that bacterial response to pH was highly diversified. Also, pH was identified as the best predictor of SMC structure and activity but not of its size. The study calls for further investigation in SMC interactions with ROC, soil-available Fe and Mn, and the role of redox-active metals in soil organic carbon degradation.

Achieving the desired level of caramelisation in a date powder requires considerable effort. Consequently, an assessment was conducted on efficacy of thin-layer infrared dehydration for date paste. Various parameters were considered, including airflow velocities of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m·s^–1, radiation intensities of 0.076, 0.1528, and 0.228 W·cm^–2, and date paste layer thicknesses of 3 mm and 5 mm. The study's findings indicated a positive correlation between drying rate and lowering airflow velocity and a negative correlation between drying time and decreasing airflow velocity, the thickness of date paste, and rising intensity of infrared. The effective moisture diffusivity (D_eff) was caculated by employing Fick's diffusion equation. For all situations under investigation, the mean values were within the range of 3.94 × 10^–11 m²·s^–1 to 6.01 × 10^–10 m²·s^–1. A relationship has been established between D_eff and moisture content. Seven distinct mathematical models were subjected to rigorous validation by applying non-linear regression analysis, aiming to accurately characterise the drying process of date paste. The modified two-term model provided the most accurate forecast of the drying process for date paste layers.

Wheat Fusarium head blight (FHB) leads to losses of grain yield and quality. Ingestion of diseased grain is detrimental to human health due to the mycotoxins present in the grain. Developing resistant cultivars for environments where FHB is prevalent is therefore an important breeding objective. One of the most effective wheat genes conferring type II resistance to FHB is Fhb1, originally discovered in the Chinese cultivar (cv) Sumai 3. Another excellent FHB resistance gene is Fhb7 located on the long arm of Lophopyrum elongatum chromosome 7E. Several alleles of Fhb7 have been identified. Allele Fhb7^The2 was found in disomic substitution lines 7E(7A), 7E(7B) and 7E(7D) derived from amphiploid AgCS. The amphiploid was produced from a hybrid Triticum aestivum cv Chinese Spring × L. elongatum. To find if combining Fhb7^The2 with Fhb1 confers higher resistance in wheat than single genes, an introgression line derived from AgCS and possessing Fhb7^The2 was recurrently backcrossed to bread wheat cv Rollag and MN-Washburn possessing Fhb1. Experimental lines possessing both Fhb7^The2 and Fhb1 were developed and validated cytogenetically and with the L. elongatum genome-wide Sequenom SNP MassARRAY. Spikes of these lines, parental cv Rollag and MN-Washburn, and those of disomic addition line 7E possessing Fhb7^The2 plus controls were inoculated with Fusarium in a twice-replicated trial in controlled greenhouse environmental conditions. FHB infection rates were significantly lower in lines combining Fhb7^The2 with Fhb1 than in materials with Fhb7^The2 or Fhb1 alone.

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.

Global climate change (GCC) is putting increasing pressure on forest ecosystems, leading to more frequent disturbances such as pest outbreaks and other climate-related stressors, all of which threaten forest stability. This study examines how different technical water retention measures (infiltration pits) can enhance the resilience of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) to these climatic challenges, focusing on their impact on radial growth, sap flow, and acclimatisation to moisture conditions at two sites in Czechia (430–440 m a.s.l.). Three treatments were compared: a water infiltration pit under a culvert mouth, an infiltration pit without a culvert and a control plot without a technical solution. Results showed that maximum daily transpiration rates of beech ranged between 90–120 L per day. Air temperature had a stronger influence on beech radial growth than precipitation, particularly at the waterlogged sites. The lowest radial growth occurred in the treatment involving a water infiltration pit under a culvert mouth, while treatments with an infiltration pit without a culvert demonstrated notable seasonal stem shrinkage and swelling (tree water deficit – TWD), especially in early spring. On the other hand, no differences were found between the three treatments including the control variant in the maximum growth or the context of minimum TWD. In conclusion, these technical measures had limited or short-term effects on the growth and physiological processes of European beech. Despite the high costs of implementation, sap flow and dendrochronological measurements do not support the construction of infiltration pits as a means of improving water retention in forest ecosystems.

The aim of the research was to demonstrate the possibility of using hydrogen peroxide with silver (H₂O₂-Ag+) and selected fungicides for treating narcissus bulbs and their impact on plant growth and development. In the experiments were used compounds such as hydrogen peroxide with silver (H₂O₂-Ag+) and captan (Biszop 80 WG), pyraclostrobin + boscalid (Signum 33 WG) and methyl thiophanate + tetraconazole (Yamato 303 SE) to soak narcissus bulbs before planting for the period of 20 minutes. The research showed that stimulation of growth and development by some of the tested concentrations of H₂O₂-Ag+ used to treat bulbs was shown with regard to plant height, leaf length, fresh flower weight, dry flower weight, the number of days from taking plants out of cold storage to flowering, the weight of fresh above-ground parts without flowers, the weight of dry above-ground parts without flowers, the diameter of the flowers, the height of the flowers, petals length, the width of the petals and the length of the corolla. In turn, the tested fungicides stimulated the length of leaves, the fresh weight of plants without flowers, and Signum 33 WG and Biszop 80 WG also the dry weight of flowers. No phytotoxicity of hydrogen peroxide with silver and tested fungicides was found for narcissus.

Organic farming is a topic often discussed in the scientific community and public space. The current European policy strongly supports the enhancement of organic farming concerning the environment, sustainability, and social aspects. It is generally assumed that a lower intensity of production, yields, livestock utility, fertilisation, and total costs should be compensated by premium prices, subsidies, or higher economic performance. Research revealed that achieving premium prices for organic products on the market is not obvious for organic farmers as some organic commodities have been sold on the conventional market. Our study focused on the price difference reached by the sample of farms on the organic and conventional markets for two organic commodities (winter wheat and milk) and the farm's economic results. We combined and compared data from two unique databases on organic farming in the Czech Republic. We used the statistical methods of ANOVA and regression for analysis. We found the difference between evaluated market prices. Price variability is wide in both types of organic and conventional markets but the influence of the prices on farm performance was not significant.

Agricultural methane emissions strongly contribute to global greenhouse gas production. Under these circumstances, meeting international climate goals, including the Global Methane Pledge or the European Green Deal, requires developing targeted mitigation strategies. However, research using advanced clustering techniques in a multilevel context remains scarce and mostly limited to CO₂ emissions. This lack of time-series studies addressing regional variability hinders efforts to develop effective mitigation strategies. This study addresses three main research questions: (i) What are the main trends in agricultural methane emissions in the EU-27 countries from 2013 to 2022? (ii) How can the EU countries be classified based on agricultural methane emissions per capita? (iii) What is the impact of selected agricultural and economic indicators, including the number of live bovine animals and land use, on the clustering of methane emissions? Combining hierarchical and k-means clustering with trend analysis, this research integrates data from Eurostat and the World Bank, thereby classifying the EU-27 countries into four clusters based on their agricultural practices and methane emissions profiles. The results highlight distinct emission patterns across the EU-27 regions, with farming systems characterised by high stocking rates and intensive production generating the highest per capita emissions. By contrast, extensive systems with lower animal density exhibit reduced methane intensities. These findings underscore the need to devise effective, region-specific, data-driven policies and strategies for mitigating methane emissions.

Enrichment of yoghurt with probiotic bacterial strains and prebiotic plant substrates has gained increasing interest among both consumers and food manufacturers. In this study, limited growth and fermentation activity of the commercial probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v were observed when cultured in ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk. Electron microscopy revealed the strain's ability to adhere to the surface of prebiotically active plant particles, specifically quinoa, lucuma, and baobab powders. Supplementation of these plant substrates at a concentration of 1% (w/v) slightly enhanced the growth of L. plantarum 299v in UHT milk and improved its viability over a 28-day storage period at 5 ± 1 °C. Co-cultivation of L. plantarum 299v with the yoghurt starter culture YC-381 (in a 1 : 0.5 ratio), along with the addition of 1% (w/v) of lucuma, quinoa, or baobab powders to UHT milk, was successfully achieved. These substrates positively influenced the stability of L. plantarum 299v during the 28-day storage and in the case of quinoa of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus during 21-day storage at 5 ± 1 °C. Moreover, the addition of 1% (w/v) plant powders slightly stimulated the production of lactic and acetic acids in yoghurt containing L. plantarum 299v.

The darkness of the kernel and the lack of simultaneous ripening of the mesocarp and endocarp are among the most significant challenges in Iranian walnut orchards. The mentioned problems appear more in areas with hot and humid summers. The research focused on the quality of the kernel in terms of colour and marketability, as well as the dry matter of the kernels. Additionally, the ease of mesocarp separation from endocarp was examined. Experimental trials were designed with 27 treatment combinations to address the mentioned issues using varying concentrations of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethephon) at different harvest dates. In this study, using 1 920 ppm of ethephon on August 22nd resulted in the best quality walnut kernels and mesocarp. Researchers in this project successfully achieved the highest quality of walnut kernels and nuts in a region where over 90% of the harvest consisted of dark-kernel walnuts.

A free electricity tandem-twin-hybrid-solar-biomass dryer comprised of two drying rooms and operated with solar and biomass energy combustion of 10 kg rubber wood per hour separately to dry Robusta coffee cherries with 3, 6, 9, and 12 cm bed thicknesses were studied with the drying completion time (tc), number of defects (ND), and colour parameters, i.e., lightness (L*), hue angle [H(^o)], and chroma (C), used as the performance indicators. The experimental results indicated that the drying room, bed thickness, and drying room-bed thickness interaction significantly affected the tc and ND and bed thickness only significantly affected C for both the solar energy drying and the biomass energy drying. The solar energy drying generated a drying air temperature of 44.6 ± 3.5 °C with a tc of 70.9–90.2 h for the front drying room and 40.1 ± 2.8 °C with a tc of 77.2–116.5 h for the rear drying room, whereas the biomass energy drying produced a drying air temperature of 57.2 ± 3.6 °C with a tc of 34.1–44.9 h for the front drying room and 45.6 ± 6.0 °C with a tc of 56.3–96.6 h for the rear drying room. Both drying processes produced coffee beans with the NDs less than 11 qualified for Grade 1 with similar colour characteristics.

Strip tillage is a very popular form of conservation tillage that is used in places with a higher risk of soil erosion. It is commonly accepted that strip tillage reduces the effects of water erosion; however, the exact way this effect is produced is very hard to quantify. This study focuses on the way strip tillage influences soil moisture and the way it changes with different intensities of rainfall, in comparison with conventional tillage. This study was conducted near Petrovice, Středočeský kraj, Czechia, over the course of four years (2021–2024). The conditions of all four test sites were comparable, both in terms of slope and soil type present. The soil moisture of strip tillage in a depth of 15 cm was changing differently in comparison with conventional tillage. During lower intensity rainfall events, the soil moisture of the strip tilled plot changed significantly less in comparison with conventional tillage. On the contrary, when more intense precipitation occurred, the soil moisture in the strip-tilled plot responded with significantly higher changes in comparison with conventional tillage. Soil drying after precipitation was also studied, with the speed of drying of strip tillage being higher than that of conventional tillage. These findings help better understand the changes strip tillage introduces into the soil and to the crops it is used with.

This study investigated the effects of slaughter weight and breed on carcass characteristics, meat quality, and technological properties in purebred Balkan and F1 crossbred (Balkan × Saanen) male goats. A total of 48 animals, divided into four slaughter weight groups (10, 15, 18, and 22 kg), were analysed for carcass composition, muscle traits, and fat distribution. ANOVA and multivariate analyses (PCA and HCA) revealed significant effects of weight and breed on key carcass and meat quality parameters. Heavier animals exhibited higher intramuscular fat and primal cut yields with superior water-holding capacity (WHC), while lighter goats had leaner carcasses with less muscle pigment. Crossbred F1 goats demonstrated a more balanced muscle-to-fat ratio, whereas pure Balkan goats tended to accumulate fat more rapidly at higher weights. These findings indicate that optimal slaughter weight selection should align with market demands, such as producing leaner meat in lighter Balkan goats, or achieving increased marbling and better economic returns in heavier crossbred animals. Future research should explore genetic effects on muscle and fat deposition and assess consumer preferences to refine breeding and production strategies.