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Nitrogen management and irrigation methods play crucial roles in determining rice’s grain yield and quality (Oryza sativa L.). However, limited knowledge exists on how interactions between nitrogen forms and irrigation regimes regulate starch-metabolising enzyme activity to influence rice yield and quality. A soil-growth experiment was conducted using a high-lodging-resistance rice cultivar under three irrigation methods, namely, submerged irrigation (0 kPa), alternate wetting and moderate drying (−20 kPa), and alternate wetting and severe drying (−40 kPa), as well as three nitrogen forms, namely, ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), mixed ammonium + nitrate (50 : 50), hereafter denoted as 50 : 50, and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^–-N). Results indicated that compared with the other treatments, alternate wetting and moderate drying interacted with 50 : 50 treatment, resulting in the following: improved grain yield by 11.7–21.0%, milling, appearance, eating and cooking, and nutritional qualities including milled-rice and gel consistency; and decreased chalky rice, chalky size, chalky degree, amylose content, and protein content by 20.0–23.1, 29.6–33.3, 44.1–48.5, 6.2–9.6 and 10.1–13.9%, respectively. The activities of adenosine phosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), starch synthase (SS), starch-branching enzyme (SBE), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) enzyme in the grains also improved, with an increase of 20.0–35.0, 11.8–20.0, 13.6–26.3 and 21.2–39.6%, respectively. Conversely, severe drying and NO₃^–-N treatment negatively impacted grain yield and quality due primarily to decreased SS activity in grains under each irrigation method. Correlation analysis showed that starch-metabolising enzyme (AGPase, SS and SBE) activity at 14 days after anthesis (DAA) and 28 DAA exhibited a positive correlation with grain yield, milling quality and gel consistency, whereas negatively correlated with appearance and nutritional qualities. In summary, the adoption of alternate wetting and moderate drying and 50 : 50 interaction treatment can synergistically boost grain yield by increasing the filled-grain rate and 1 000-grain weight and enhance grain quality of rice by upregulating the activities of starch-metabolising enzyme activity.

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.

Overgrazing affects typical steppe community in ways similar to grasslands in other areas. Exclusion of livestock grazing is one of the main management practices used to protect grasslands. However, it is not known if long-term exclusion of livestock grazing has positive effect on above- and belowground community properties in typical steppe of the Loess Plateau. We studied the long-term (20-year) cumulative effects of exclusion of livestock grazing on above- and belowground community properties compared with that before exclusion of livestock grazing in a typical steppe of the Loess Plateau, NW China. Our results show that twenty-year exclusion of livestock grazing significantly increased above- and belowground biomass, species richness, cover and height for five different communities. Most of belowground biomass was in the 0-20 cm horizon and grazing exclusion increased biomass especially at the depth of 0-10 cm. Our study suggests that long-term exclusion of livestock grazing can greatly improve community properties of typical steppe in the Loess Plateau.

This study explores the construction of small reservoirs (SRs) as a strategic solution to address water scarcity in Kashkadarya Province, Uzbekistan, where agricultural productivity is heavily dependent on irrigation. By utilising geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) technologies, optimal locations for reservoirs were identified, focusing on improving the water availability for irrigation during critical periods. The research highlights the socio-economic and environmental benefits of SRs, including enhanced agricultural yields, increased employment opportunities, and reduced reliance on energy-intensive pumping stations. The findings indicate that the construction of an 18 Mm³ reservoir in the Ayakchisoy River could supply water to 26.5 thousand hectares, thereby improving the region’s resilience to climate variability. This approach offers a sustainable framework for managing water resources in arid regions, contributing to food security and economic stability.

In the present study, a field establishment was initiated in 2018 with eight treatment conditions using biochar application rates of 0, 10, 20, or 30 t/ha and nitrogen application rates of 0 or 150 kg/ha. After two years, the impact of biochar on carbon-nitrogen distributions, soil aggregate stability, and wheat yields was then assessed. The predominant mechanical aggregates after two years were > 5 mm and 2–5 mm granular aggregates, with notable increases in the amounts of these aggregates following the application of biochar with or without nitrogen that coincided with an increase in soil aggregate mechanical stability. Relative to control conditions, aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric weight diameter (GMD) values rose by 17.6% and 24.3% for biochar with nitrogen treatment (N: 150 kg/ha; biochar: 20 t/ha), respectively. Biochar application alone and the application of both biochar and nitrogen fertiliser were associated with 6.4–20.2% and 20.7–42.7% increases in spring wheat yields, respectively. Overall, the results of these analyses highlight the value of applying biochar to improve soil quality and boost crop yields proximal to the study site. This study provided the scientific basis for the rational fertilisation and scientific management of biochar combined with nitrogen fertiliser in the irrigation area of Northern Xinjiang, China.

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

Soil water energy determines soil water balance, plant water uptake, and soil thermal properties, but the effects of cover crops (CCs) on in situ measured soil water energy and temperature are not well understood. This study investigated how CCs affect in situ measured soil water potential (SWP), temperature, and saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_fs) during 2 years, with the hypothesis that CC-induced water transpiration can lower SWP. The CCs used included crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestavum L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), oats (Avena sativa), triticale (Titicale haxaploide Lart.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), and winter peas (Lathyrus hirsutus L.). Soil water potential and temperature sensors were installed at 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm depths. Additionally, K_fs was measured in situ using a Guelph permeameter. Results showed that actively growing CCs can lower SWP, leading to increased water transpiration from the field compared with no cover crop (NC) management. Also, by lowering soil temperature, CCs can increase evapotranspirational efficiency compared to NC management. Further, by increasing evapotranspirational efficiency, CC, management resulted in increased subsurface water infiltration and storage as shown by higher K_fs values compared to NC management. In general, CCs have the potential to reduce SWP and temperature during their growth stages and this can be beneficial to seed germination and microbial activities.

The purpose of this study is to facilitate the detection of provenances relevant to the reforestation practice in Bulgaria. Studies were carried out in a Douglas-fir provenance trial plantation established at an altitude of 800 m a.s.l. on the northern slopes of Rila Mountain. To establish the productivity, assess the stands and rank provenances biometric procedures, methods of descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used. The diameter at breast height, average height, dominant height, total growing stock volume, assortment timber structure and survival of trees were analyzed in the stands of 55 Douglas-fir provenances. The provenances were characterized in terms of productivity of forest stands at 20 years of age and their ability to produce high quality timber was evaluated. Provenances: Newhalem No. 4 (Seed zone 402), Darrington No. 7 (Seed zone 403), Parkdale No. 19 (Seed zone 661) and Idanha No. 29 (Seed zone 452) have been recommended. Among the recommended provenances are those with growing stock volume with branches from 296 to 354 m³.ha^-1, mean annual increment from 14.8 to 17.7 m³.ha^-1 and dominant heights of up to 17.9 m.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of the treatment on twenty wild birds presenting with fractures that were stabilised with modified Meynard external fixators. The study material consisted of a total of twenty birds of eight different species, six white storks (Ciconia ciconia), one eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca), one European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), one long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus), three common buzzard (Buteo buteo), one northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), one Armenian gull (Larus armenicus), and six yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis), which were diagnosed with fractures in their extremity bones following clinical and radiological examinations. The lesions of the twenty cases evaluated in the study were diagnosed as humerus fractures in nine cases, ulna fractures in three cases, tibiotarsus fractures in seven cases and a femur fracture in one case. The external fixators were removed between weeks five and nine postoperatively. While healing was seen in twelve of the twenty evaluated cases, the complete functional recovery occurred in six of these and they were released into nature. It was concluded that modified Meynard external fixator, which was made applicable for fractures in birds, could be an alternative method for fracture treatments in wild birds.

The effects of Aroclor 1254 on the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20β-P) in female Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio Bloch) at the time of their natural spawning were determined. Aroclor 1254 at doses of 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/kg body weight was dissolved in 500 ml of oil and was administered three times intraperitoneally or rectally to female Prussian carp every 24 h for three days. Blood samples were collected after 3 days of Aroclor 1254 administration to determine the LH and 17,20β-P concentrations using ELISA. At 6, 12, and 24 h after injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-A) blood samples were collected for stimulated LH secretion determination. Aroclor 1254 administered intraperitoneally (0.1 and 1 mg/kg)and rectally (0.01 and 1 mg/kg) significantly increased spontaneous LH secretion. In the case of GnRH-A-stimulated LH release, Aroclor 1254 (administered intraperitoneally only) at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mg/kg significantly decreased gonadotropin release. The intraperitoneal injections of the lowest tested concentration of Aroclor 1254 also significantly decreased 17,20β-P secretion. The results show that Aroclor 1254 can affect the reproductive system of Prussian carp by changing the secretion of two very important hormones, LH and 17,20β-P, at the time of natural spawning.

This study investigates the impact of prolonged sugarcane cultivation on the pedo-morphological characteristics and physicochemical properties of three soil types: Entisols, Inceptisols, and Vertisols, as a basis for determining the improvement step ensuring the sustainability of sugarcane production in Indonesia. Soil samples were collected from fields of sugarcane cultivated for 10, 20, and 30 years to analyse pedo-morphological and physicochemical properties. The results indicate that while Entisols and Inceptisols exhibited significant changes in soil properties with increasing cultivation duration, the pedo-morphology of Vertisols remained relatively stable. All soil types developed Ap horizons due to sugarcane cultivation, with anthropogenic practices leading to more dynamic changes in surface horizons. Extended cultivation reduced soil organic matter, N-total, and available nitrogen, while phosphorus and exchangeable cation availability were influenced by mineral composition. Notably, cation exchange capacity (CEC) decreased in Entisols and Inceptisols but increased in Vertisols. For productivity, Vertisols demonstrated the most stable and highest sugarcane productivity with long-term monoculture cultivation. There is a need for tailored sustainable soil management across different soil types and practices to mitigate soil degradation and maintain nutrient availability to ensure the sustainability of sugarcane production in Indonesia.

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

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.

This study develops and validates a multilayer diffusion model of wheat grain hydration that incorporates layer-dependent diffusion coefficients for bran, endosperm, and germ. The moisture transport is formulated using Fick’s law with two interface formulations: (i) classical continuity of the concentration and flux and (ii) an interlayer resistance formulation that permits concentration discontinuities. Diffusion coefficients and geometric parameters were determined experimentally; A 3D grain model (structured-light scanning, COMSOL Multiphysics) informed the computational domain. Numerical solutions combined eigenfunction expansions with finite-difference discretisation near the interfaces. Across eight winter wheat varieties, the diffusion coefficients spanned 11.6 – 20.5 × 10–12m2·s–1 (mean 16.27 ± 3.08 × 10–12m2·s–1 ). Relative to the continuity model, the resistance model reduced the early-stage endosperm over-prediction by ~ 0.6–1.0 % (absolute) and lowered the whole-grain RMSE by ~ 20–30% over 0–240 min. These results support the role of thin moisture-retaining films as active barriers and yield smooth, real-time-ready outputs suitable for the automated control of pre-milling hydration; the framework is extensible to full 3D transient simulations.

The avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a high value fruit crop in Indonesia. This exotic commodity is affected by dieback disease, an unrecorded disease in the country that threatens the production. The objectives of the present study were to characterise the pathogen and culturable non-pathogenic fungi associated with the dieback disease of avocado plants. Fungal isolates were collected from branches of avocados showing dieback symptom in the Standard and Instrument Tropical Fruit Applied Institute (SITFAI) experimental orchards during 2022–2023. A total of 17 fungal isolates selected from 73 fungal isolates isolated from three location were characterised morphologically, molecularly, phylogenetically, and by pathogenicity tests. The fungal isolates were tested for their pathogenicity to the local variety of avocado with two stages and three replications. The identification of the fungal species was conducted on the morphological characteristics and molecular analysis obtained from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the 28S region of the ribosomal DNA, and translation elongation factor 1 (TEF1). The results revealed that the artificial inoculation of Avo7 and Avo3.2 isolates, identified as Lasiodiplodia theobromae, caused necrosis and wilt symptoms on the avocado seedlings. Several fungal species from the Botryosphaeriaceae, Eurotiomycetes, and Sordariomycetes groups were found alongside the pathogen responsible for causing the dieback symptoms in the avocados. The most frequently isolated genera were fast growing, Botryosphaeriaceae (58.9%), followed by Penicillium spp. (20.5%), Pestalotiopsis spp. (15.1%) and Colletotrichum spp. (5.4%). The information in this article should be used as new insights about the incidence of dieback disease caused by L. theobromae and proper management strategies against dieback disease on avocado need to be developed.

Panax japonicus (T. Nees) C.A. Mey is a rare plant that is used in Chinese herbal medicine. Two-year-old Panax japonicus seedlings were grown in open-top chambers under ambient CO₂ (aCO₂), moderately (e1CO₂: 550 ± 15 μmol/mol) or substantially (e2CO₂: 750 ± 15 μmol/mol) elevated CO₂ to study their effects on plant growth and nitrogen (N) content. After 27 days, the net photosynthetic rate (P_n) of e2CO₂-treated seedlings was significantly higher (20.09%) than that of seedlings grown under aCO₂. However, by day 51, the Pn of e1CO₂- and e2CO₂-treated seedlings was 12.87% higher and 9.57% lower, respectively, than that of seedlings grown under aCO₂. On day 27, chlorophyll a + b content, Rubisco activity, soluble protein and starch content of e1CO₂- and e2CO₂-treated seedlings showed no significant change and significant increase compared to aCO₂-treated. By contrast, at 51 days, chlorophyll a content, Rubisco activity, starch and N content of P. japonicus was significantly increased by moderately eCO₂ condition but was significantly decreased by substantially eCO₂ condition. The results suggest that exposure to moderately eCO₂ was beneficial for P. japonicus growth, whereas under substantially eCO₂, growth were promoted in short-term but inhibited in long-term. Owing to the temporal effect of eCO₂ on P. japonicus growth, there was no significant correlation between N content and P_n of P. japonicus under eCO₂.

Mango (Mangifera indica) is extremely perishable with a short shelf life that limits its marketability. Chitosan may extend mango storage by preventing moisture loss and gaseous exchange while preserving the nutritional quality. Therefore, the current study was designed to assess the effect of chitosan on the shelf life and quality of fresh-cut mangoes. Manually cubed mango was dipped into 0 (control), 10, 15, 20, 30, and 50 ppm chitosan solution in airtight jar and stored at ambient (25–28 °C) and refrigeration (4 °C) condition. Changes in various microbial, physical, and chemical characteristics were documented to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments in prolonging and sustaining the freshness and quality of mango. Treated mangoes significantly retarded growth of total mold and bacterial counts compared to the control sample in both storage conditions and found it lower under refrigeration. Likewise, chitosan also preserved various fruit quality attributes to a significant extent by retaining vitamin C, fat, titratable acidity, soluble sugar, and protein. However, the refrigerator stored mangoes have better ability to retard moisture loss and drop in sensory quality. Among the other solutions, 10 ppm chitosan solution exhibited better performance in reducing perishability of mango while maintaining prolonged shelf life and quality attributes. Overall, the findings revealed that chitosan solution at low temperature effectively preserves mango quality during storage and offers promising approach for the successful commercialisation of chitosan as a natural preserver for mango sellers and consumers to prolong shelf life.

This study examined the genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance in the F₄ generation of sorghum to enhance grain productivity. The study was conducted at Citayam Research Station, Depok Indonesia (March–September 2023), and evaluated 102 progenies of the F₄ population from a Bioguma (a mutant line) × Gando Keta (a local variety) cross using an Augmented block design with four replications. The results of this experiment indicated that the F₄ generation outperformed the Gando Keta grain yield components, but remained inferior to Bioguma. The yield traits were influenced by the non-additive gene action, with genetic factors playing a significant role in grain weight variation. The top 20% of F₄ progenies exhibited improved yield characteristics, including thicker stems, larger panicles, and increased grain weight.

Irrigation with treated wastewater is essential for increasing crop production in arid and semi arid regions. Field experiments were conducted on rainfed clayey soil to investigate the impact of water quality, cultivation, and different cropping systems on cumulative infiltration (F_(t)), field saturated hydraulic conductivity (HC_fs), penetration resistance (PR), and water stable aggregates (WSA). Treatments were: (1) barley fields tilled for the past 20 years (C_B-T), (2) olive tree fields tilled for the past 20 years (C_O-T), (3) non-cultivated field for 20 years, tilled for the last 2 years (NC-T_2yr), and (4) non-cultivated non-tilled field (NC-NT) for the past 20 years (control). Results indicated that F_(t), HC_fs, PR, and WSA in NC-NT were significantly higher than in all other treatments. Compared to fresh water (FW), treated wastewater (TWW) significantly reduced F_(t) and HC_fs in all treatments. This study showed that irrigation with TWW and protection of soil from any physical manipulation improved soil hydraulic and physical properties to acceptable levels. Therefore, application of such practices could be recommended in arid clayey soils.

The unsustainable conversion of forest areas into agricultural land poses a serious danger to the soil eminence of Arunachal Pradesh’s environmentally delicate hilly topography. Understanding the impacts of this land-use change is crucial for preventing further degradation. This study aimed to develop soil quality indices (SQIs) for different land use types: natural forest (NF), current jhum cultivation (JC), fallow jhum land (FJC), and pineapple cultivation (PA). Samples of soil were taken at a depth of 0 to 15 cm and examined for 22 potential soil quality indicators, with 19 showing significant (P < 0.05) influence from land use, constituting the total dataset (TDS). Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed on TDS to identify the minimum data set (MDS), comprising dehydrogenase activity, diethylenetriaminpentahacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable iron, and bulk density, contributing 73%, 19%, and 8% to the overall SQI, respectively. Subsequently, different SQIs were estimated using linear/nonlinear and additive/weighted scoring functions. The results revealed substantial alterations in SQIs among the land use types, through NF exhibiting the highest soil quality. Notably, the nonlinear SQIs exhibited greater sensitivity to land use conversion compared to their linear counterparts, indicating their potential as a more robust tool for assessing soil quality changes. This study concludes that the transformation of land use in the hilly regions of subtropics of Arunachal Pradesh has led to the deterioration of soil quality. The proposed indexing framework, leveraging the sensitivity and clarity of nonlinear SQIs, can effectively evaluate and compare soil quality across different land use scenarios, thereby informing sustainable land management strategies.

This study evaluated test-day records of clinical mastitis (CM), somatic cell count, and nine udder conformation traits. Somatic cell count was log-transformed into somatic cell score (SCS) in 10 periods, each 30 days long and overall, for the first lactation. CM is a complex disease closely connected with somatic cell count. The optimum udder conformation traits significantly affect dairy cattle health. The CM binary trait was monitored in seven periods throughout lactation, each 50 days long, and for the whole lactation. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the risk of CM. The model included a fixed effect of herd-year-season, age at first calving, and a fixed effect of the linear type traits of the random effect of the animal. The phenotypic correlations for udder conformation traits, CM, and SCS ranged from –0.13 to 0.69 and standard errors were 0.01–0.99. The highest CM incidence and SCS were observed for the medial ligament scores 1–2: convex base of the udder. According to the logistic regression assessment, the medial ligament scores 1–2: convex base of the udder and the CM incidence to 50 days in milk reported a 3.79 times higher probability of the CM incidence at the reference level (extremely deep medial ligament) at the same stage of the lactation. CM incidence and SCS significantly decreased with decreasing udder depth. Udder depth below the hock was associated with the highest risk of CM. For udder depth and the whole lactation, the CM ODDS ratio was 1.00–2.56, CM least squares means were 0.18–0.44, and SCS least squares means were 3.20–4.10. Our study confirmed that the start of lactation is critical for the onset of CM, and somatic cell count is manifested throughout lactation. The effect of the udder conformation is then observable in somatic cell count and CM during the whole lactation.

The labile fractions of organic carbon (OC), which are a reflection of the properties of soil and its use, appear to be suitable parameters for their use as indicators. The aim of this study was to determine the reliable and relatively simple indicators for detecting the chemical and physical stabilizations of OC, which would respond sensitively to land use. The study includes forest ecosystem (FE) and agroecosystem (AE) with different tillage intensities (reduced tillage, RT and conventional tillage, CT) on real farms. Parameters of the labile C and N were tested. For a depth of < 0.1 m in the FE, the hot water extractable organic carbon (HWEOC) for chemical stabilization and labile nitrogen (N_L) for physical stabilization appear as the most suitable indicators. Higher values of HWEOC indicate the OC stabilization by decreasing decomposition, pH or by increasing carbonates, recalcitrant fractions, and higher values of N_L by OC incorporation into the silt fraction and larger macro-aggregates. In the AE with RT, these are the HWEOC for chemical stabilization and carbon pool index (CPI) or index of carbon lability (LI_C) for physical stabilization. Higher values of CPI and LI_C indicate the stabilization by the formation of size-optimal dry-sieved (DSA; 1–3 mm) and wet-sieved (WSA; 1–2 mm) soil aggregates. In the AE with CT, it was the N_L. Its higher values point to the stabilization through the carbonates, alkaline cations, size-fraction of > 0.01 mm and the formation of DSA (1–3 mm). For a depth of < 0.3 m in the AE, these are the C_L (for RT), higher value of which points to the stabilization by clay and alkaline cations, and HWEOC (for CT), higher value of which indicates the stabilization in the conditions of the soil acidification.

Pink oyster mushrooms are rich in protein, dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals, making them a great addition to any diet. However, pink oyster mushrooms have the ability to accumulate high concentrations of heavy metals, some of which, such as cadmium, can cause adverse effects on human health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of pink oyster mushrooms to absorb Cd from substrates contaminated with Cd and to assess the human health risks associated with the consumption of these mushrooms. An experiment was carried out in a completely randomised design and included four treatments (four Cd contamination levels i.e. 0, 20, 50 and 100 mg·kg^–1) with three replications. Cd accumulation in mushrooms increased with increasing Cd content in substrates and ranged from 1.8 mg·kg^–1 (non-contaminated substrate) to 23.8 mg·kg^–1 of dry mass (substrate contaminated with 100 mg·kg^–1 of Cd). On the other hand, total mushroom yield showed a decreasing trend with increasing Cd levels in substrates. The results of the present study suggest that pink oyster mushrooms possess the capability to absorb Cd from the substrate in which they grow. The obtained results for target hazard quotient (THQ) of Cd point to the conclusion that the consumption of mushrooms cultivated on the Cd-contaminated substrates could produce negative health effects.

Crop residue management is a major concern in agricultural ecosystems. These residues can be recycled into biochar and compost to efficiently promote soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in farmlands. However, the influences of straw and its derived materials on SOC (especially on humus fractions) in soil aggregates of varying sizes are largely unknown. To understand these effects, a nine-year field experiment was conducted on calcareous black soil, including five treatments: CK – no fertiliser; NPK – mineral nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertiliser; NPKS – NPK + straw; NPKC – NPK + compost, and NPKB – NPK + biochar. Compared to CK and NPK, the NPKS and NPKC treatments resulted in a noticeable rise (P < 0.05) in the proportion of aggregates with > 0.25 mm size (R0.25), as well as in the mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter at 0–20 cm depth. The NPKS, NPKC, and NPKB treatments significantly (P < 0.05) increased the contents of large macroaggregates (> 2 mm), small macroaggregates (2~0.25 mm), microaggregates (0.25~0.053 mm), and non-aggregates in the 0–20 cm soil layer, as well as the levels of SOC, humic acid carbon (HAC) and humin carbon (HUC). These treatments also significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced organic carbon storage in the topsoil (0~20 cm). The effects were more pronounced after NPKB treatment relative to NPKS. Compared to CK, the application of mineral fertilisers alone and combined with organic materials significantly (P < 0.05) improved crop yields. The study’s results indicate that the application of organic materials from corn significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced both soil quality and corn yield, with straw-derived biochar showing better effects on soil carbon sequestration.

With the increasing productivity in agriculture, it has become extremely essential to look for an advanced technique that will help to minimise losses. Recently, deep learning has outperformed the task of recognition and classification of fruits and vegetables automatically from images, finding applicability in this study. This work, thus, attempts to develop an automatic spoilage detection CNN model for tomatoes. In this work, a deep learning-based CNN model is trained and validated on a self-prepared dataset for classifying tomatoes as edible and spoilt is proposed. The dataset consisted of 810 images, out of which 572 images were considered for training and 238 images for validation. The model is also trained iteratively with varying epoch and batch sizes to evaluate the model in giving the highest classification accuracy. The highest accuracy of 99.70% was achieved at epoch 20 and batch size 32. Further evaluating the performance of the developed model using a confusion matrix, a precision, recall and accuracy of 100%, 87% and 95%, respectively, was obtained for the spoilage detection of tomatoes. Also, on establishing Pearson’s correlation between the predictive model and the sensory evaluation results, a Pearson correlation of 0.895 was obtained, showing that there is strong linear correlation between them.

This study evaluated the potential of spent coffee grounds extract (CGE) as an antioxidant supplement in the diet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four experimental diets with varying CGE levels were formulated: 0% (CGE0, control), 2% (CGE2), 4% (CGE4), and 6% (CGE6). Nile tilapia (initial mean body weight = 38.65 ± 0.85 g) were cultured in fiberglass tanks at a stocking density of 20 fish/m² under continuous aeration. The fish were fed three times daily at 5% of their total body weight. After an 8-week experimental period, the fish fed CGE-supplemented diets exhibited significantly higher growth rate compared to the control group, with CGE4 showing the most pronounced improvement in final body weight (P = 0.027) and weight gain (P = 0.050). However, no significant differences were observed in average daily growth (P = 0.054), specific growth rate (P = 0.256), survival rate (P = 0.487), and feed conversion ratio (P = 0.105) between the dietary treatments. Fish on the CGE6 diet exhibited the highest total plasma protein (P = 0.001) and immunoglobulin levels (P = 0.000). Moreover, CGE supplementation enhanced superoxide dismutase (P = 0.000) and glutathione peroxidase (P = 0.016) activities relative to the control group. The histopathological analysis showed significantly longer intestinal villi in fish fed CGE-supplemented diets, with the longest villi observed in the CGE6 group (P = 0.000). Fish fillets from the CGE6 group exhibited the highest springiness, while hardness was comparable between CGE6 and CGE4 but significantly higher than in CGE2 and CGE0. Additionally, CGE supplementation significantly influenced the colour expression, increasing lightness (L*) while decreasing redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) values. These findings indicate that 4% CGE supplementation is the most effective concentration, as it significantly promotes growth as evidenced by the highest weight gain, while also enhancing blood biochemical parameters, flesh quality, and antioxidative responses in Nile tilapia.

Optimum nutrition is essential for quality cut flower production and for improving soil health. The study aims to evaluate the interaction between bio-organic and inorganic nutrient sources in enhancing alstroemeria (Alstroemeria hybrida L.) cut flower production and soil health for sustainable cultivation practice. Randomised block methodology involving 20 treatment combinations of inorganic fertilisers (NPK) and biostimulants (Panchgavya and Jeevamrit) applied at varying concentrations. Significant outcomes emerged from the combined influence of inorganic and organic sources of nutrients. The application of the 100% recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF) with 75 mL of Panchgavya resulted in substantial improvements in alstroemeria growth parameters, including plant height (7.8%), early flowering (13.08%), flower diameter (20.03%) and the number of flowering stems (25.3%) over the control (100% RDF). Plant spread (24.1%) and number of florets/stem (26.6%) were improved with the application of 100% RDF with 50 mL of Panchgavya when compared with the control. Soil nutrient content, i.e. available nitrogen (11.5%), phosphorus (28.7%), potassium (13.8%) and microbial populations, i.e. fungal (35.4%) and bacterial (28.2%) colonies also exhibited noteworthy enhancements with the application of 100% RDF with 75 mL of Panchgavya over the control. The study concludes that the application of 100% RDF with 75 mL of Panchgavya increased quality cut flower production in alstroemeria.

Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein linked to udder health in dairy cows. This study aimed to develop a calibration model for LF quantification using mid-infrared spectrometry (MIR-FT), with ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as the reference method. Two sets of individual milk samples (A: n = 120; B: n = 91) were collected from five dairy farms in the Czech Republic. Set A included a higher proportion of samples with somatic cell count (SCC) above 300 000 cells/ml to ensure broad LF variability. After merging both sets and removing six outliers, a final calibration set C (n = 205) was created. The developed model achieved a cross-validated coefficient of determination of 0.588 7 and a standard error of cross-validation of 67.33 mg/l. Correlation analysis showed that several milk parameters correlated with LF determined by MIR-FT in patterns typical of mastitis (SCC: r = 0.450; lactose: r = –0.364; free fatty acids: r = 0.621; electrical conductivity: r = 0.442), indicating potential for MIR-FT in evaluating mammary gland health. The feasibility of using LF as an indicator of milk adulteration by artificial SCC reduction through centrifugation was also assessed. Two sample sets (n = 20 and n = 68) were analysed, each containing normal bulk tank milk and bulk tank milk supplemented with abnormal milk. Centrifugation caused minimal changes in LF determined by both HPLC and MIR-FT (maximum 3.27%) while SCC decreased by nearly 50%, suggesting that LF may serve as a marker for detecting artificial SCC reduction. However, practical application of MIR-FT for accurate LF determination is limited by the achieved validation parameters and the high expanded uncertainty (114.7 mg/l). The method is therefore more suitable for monitoring relative LF changes in milk than for determining exact LF content.

Natural plants are abundant in their native habitats and are traditionally used to treat a variety of health conditions. The Rosa genus stands out as an important species rich in bioactive compounds. This study, conducted in Türkiye, aimed to analyse the antioxidant and phenolic profiles of methanolic extracts obtained from different parts of Rosa canina (R.c.) and Rosa pimpinelifolia (R.p.) collected in 2021 and 2022. The antioxidant activity values of R.c. collected in 2021 and 2022 were found to be between 5 102.31–46 396.36 mmol Fe(II)/100 g in ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 141.92–377.54 mg ascorbic acid equivalents (AA)/kg in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), 2.18–24.68 µg/g in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH (EC₅₀)] and 34.31–75.77 % in DPPH (% inhibition). Antioxidant activity of R.p. collected in 2021 and 2022 ranged from 17 258.44–71 903.20 mmol Fe(II)/100 g, 271.69–479.19 mg AA/kg, 1.02–8.32 µg/g and 50.98–85.57% for FRAP, TAC, DPPH (EC₅₀) and DPPH (% inhibition), respectively. The R.p. extracts generally exhibited higher antioxidant activity than those of R.c. Considering the total identified phenolic compounds achieved from different plant parts of rosehip for both years, the highest values of total phenolic compounds were determined in R.c. leaves (222.08 mg/100 g) in 2021, and R.p. leaves (5 465.95 mg/100 g) in 2021.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of phytase supplementation in phosphorus (P)-reduced diet on the productive performance, egg quality, calcium (Ca) utilisation, and blood profile of Japanese quails. Phytase breaks down phytic acid; thereby, increasing the availability of its bound nutrients, enabling poultry to hydrolyse and utilise these nutrients effectively. A total of 480 female Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica; 28-day-old and average body weight = 94.3 ± 5.7 g) were assigned to four dietary regimens, each consisting of six replicates of 20 birds. The control diet (T0) contained 0.5% nonphytate P. The other experimental diets included: T1 = comprising 0.4% nonphytate P supplemented with 0.1% phytase equivalent to 500 Phytase Unit (FTU)/kg; T2 = comprising 0.3% nonphytate P supplemented with 0.15% phytase equivalent to 750 FTU/kg; and T3 = comprising 0.2% nonphytate P supplemented with 0.2% phytase equivalent to 1 000 FTU/kg. The addition of phytase to P-reduced diets did not affect the overall productive performance in quails. Moreover, yolk weight increased by 3.04% to 10.5% (P = 0.01) and the haugh unit increased by 0.56% to 1.11% (P = 0.04) compared to the control, whereas other quality traits, such as albumen weight, albumen and yolk indices, and eggshell weight, thickness, and breaking strength, remained unaffected following the supplementation of phytase in the P-reduced diet. Additionally, an increase in Ca output in eggshells (5.26% to 15.79%; P = 0.14) and the ratio of Ca in eggshells to Ca intake (5.59% to 16.47%; P = 0.49) correlated with the increase in blood Ca levels in the quails on the P-reduced diet (P = 0.16). In conclusion, the addition of phytase to P-reduced diets has proven effective in maintaining the laying performance, egg quality, and blood biochemical profiles of Japanese quails.