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Understanding society's demand for forest ecosystem services (FES) is crucial for effective forest management and the development of supportive instruments, such as payments for ecosystem services (PES). This study surveyed visitors at 'Forestry Days 2024' in Slovakia through face-to-face questionnaires, capturing their views on FES and necessary management changes. Results show that regulating services and biodiversity are prioritised over cultural and provisioning FES. Respondents indicated a clear need for changes in forest management to reflect their FES preferences. Notably, perceptions of specific FES varied by gender, age, forestry background, and forest ownership but not by residence type. Public PES were considered the most acceptable policy for enhancing FES management, providing valuable insight for aligning public preferences with sustainable practices in Slovakia.

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

Environmental conditions are known to influence the dairy cow health, with most research focusing on the detrimental effects of heat stress. However, the impact of non-summer weather patterns in temperate climates on udder health carry-over between lactations is not well understood. This pilot study evaluated the effect of various weather factors (temperature, humidity, precipitation, sunshine) during 1-day to 90-day periods before dry-off on udder health in the first month post-calving (represented by somatic cell count, conductivity, lactose, and mastitis incidence) in 199 Holstein cows in Central Europe. The scope of the experiment was limited to one farm and one year of observations. Moreover, we also evaluated milk quality, milkability, and udder health parameters during the same periods before dry-off on udder health after calving. We aimed to identify viable indicators across available automatically collected data from weather stations and milking parlour analysers. We found that the long-term (30- to 90-day) exposure to colder temperatures, high humidity, and low sunshine duration before dry-off was significantly associated with worse udder health after calving. In contrast, short-term weather conditions (1- to 7-day) had no significant effect. Monitored milk quality and udder health parameters showed a significant relation to udder health after calving during the immediate periods before dry-off, while milkability parameters were insignificant. If lactose was decreased or protein content, conductivity, and somatic cell count were elevated during the 1- and 7-day period before dry-off, cows after calving showed worse udder health. These findings identify prolonged cold and damp conditions as a significant environmental risk factor for poor udder health in the subsequent lactation, expanding our understanding beyond the conventional focus on heat stress.

There is significant interest in the propagation of bananas due to their substantial global economic importance, which is why this study aimed to develop an efficient protocol for in vitro propagation through somatic embryogenesis (SE) of the ‘Manzano’ and ‘Pelipita’ cultivars. Immature male flower bud explants were used for embryogenic callus induction. The ‘Manzano’ cultivar showed a higher percentage of embryogenic callus induction than ‘Pelipita’. Stereomicroscopic observations revealed that the embryogenic callus was asynchronous, as various stages of somatic embryos were noted. White translucent pro-embryogenic callus was efficiently utilized to establish embryogenic cell suspension. The development of different stages in the regeneration process of embryogenic cell suspension was also recorded. Embryos in the late coleoptilar stage, characterized by an opaque white morphology, were selected and transferred to an appropriate medium to evaluate the germination percentage. We found that the germination rate was highly efficient for both cultivars, exceeding 90% when using these embryos in the selected stage. Additionally, we observed that embryos that were 90 days old showed a 10–12% increase in germination compared to those that were 60 days old, confirming the importance of embryo maturation duration and the selection of embryogenic aggregates through the sieving of suspended cells to optimize regeneration efficiency.

Bio-fertilisation has gained popularity due to its sustainability in agricultural practice. One of the cyanobacterial-based bio-fertilisers is Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina platensis), which contains phycocyanin, a blue protein pigment that is abundant in Spirulina sp., that boosts the growth yield and bioactive content of plants. The aim of the current study is to determine the alteration in antioxidant and phenolic content in red cabbage microgreens (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) by treating different organs of the plant with phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis. The phycocyanin application did not significantly affect the phenolic content of the cotyledon leaves. However, soaking with phycocyanin solution significantly affected the phenolic content of seeds. Regarding the antioxidant capacity of the microgreens, no significant effect was detected on the antioxidant activity of the seeds among the phycocyanin concentrations. The phycocyanin application significantly increased antioxidant activity compared to control soaked in deionised water. The results clearly demonstrate that phycocyanin application to seed and cotyledon leaves affected the antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of the microgreens. Although there are several studies about the effects of phycocyanin on growth parameters, this study has different perspectives in terms of the method of phycocyanin application and evaluation of the bioactive compounds in microgreens.

This study investigated the effects of temperature on the performance of anaerobic digesters for biogas production. Digesters were filled with a 1 : 1 ratio of substrate to water, containing 15 kg of cow dung and 3 kg of crop waste, and maintained at temperatures of 50 ± 2 °C and 30 ± 2 °C, corresponding to the thermophilic and mesophilic biodigesters, respectively. The experiments run for 75 days, and biogas production rate and purity were measured. The thermophilic digester produced 48.4% more biogas and had a slightly higher pH (7.65) than did the mesophilic digester (7.37) by the end of the observation period. However, gas chromatography revealed that the CH₄ and CO₂ contents did not significantly differ between the two treatments. The CH₄ concentration in the mesophilic environment was 42 ± 10%, whereas that in the thermophilic environment was 53.5 ± 10%. The CO₂ composition was 32.5 ± 1% and 35.5 ± 1% for the mesophilic and thermophilic setups, respectively. These were supported by the wavelength (460 nm to 620 nm) of the flame colour, indicating that the biogas from both setups is predominantly composed of methane. In conclusion, thermophilic anaerobic digesters may have a relatively high biogas production rate, but the biogas purity is not significantly different from that of mesophilic digesters.

Ornamental perennials are highly popular and irreplaceable plants commonly used for enhancing public spaces and private gardens. One of the most frequently occurring pathogens is powdery mildew, a parasitic fungus that covers leaves, stems, and flowers with a whitish to light grey mycelium and reproductive structures. It significantly reduces not only the lifespan of plants but also their aesthetic value. A field survey of ornamental plants infected with powdery mildew was conducted during the growing seasons of 2021–2023 in the Czech Republic. Thirty-nine species and cultivars of infected plants from 17 families were collected from botanical gardens, private gardens, and city parks, and 26 species of powdery mildew were identified. Species identification was based on a combination of morphological and PCR-based molecular analyses. The most frequently represented genus was Golovinomyces (13 species and varieties of powdery mildew on 21 plant samples from eight families), followed by five species of the genus Erysiphe on seven plant species from five families, and seven species of the genus Podosphaera on ten plant species from five families. The species Neoërysiphe galeopsidis was identified on a single plant sample. Two new powdery mildew species (Golovinomyces savulescui, Erysiphe knautie) were identified in the Czech Republic, and the host range of several species was clarified. Golovinomyces bolayi was confirmed on Campanula lactiflora and Veronica longifolia, Erysiphe macleaye on Dicentra spectabilis, and Podosphaera xantii on Calendula officinalis, Chrysanthemum sp., Dahlia pinnata, and Gerbera × hybrida.

Tree-ring analysis is a valuable tool for understanding long-term climate patterns and their influence on tree growth. This study investigates the climate–growth relationships of Khasi pine (Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon) in Doi Khuntan National Park, northern Thailand (at elevations of 850 to 1 035 m a.s.l.), to reconstruct past climate and inform forest management. Using 48 cross-dated increment cores, we developed an 83-year chronology (1936–2018). Standard dendrochronological methods and regression models were applied. The radial growth of P. kesiya was primarily influenced by moisture availability, showing significant positive correlations with March rainfall (r = 0.39, P < 0.01) and April–July relative humidity (r = 0.45, P < 0.01). Growth was negatively correlated with April–July mean temperature (r = –0.47, P < 0.01), indicating that warmer wet seasons induce stress. False-rings served as complementary intra-annual drought proxies, linked to cool-dry transitional periods. Multiple regression models explained 40.6% of radial growth variance and 65.6% of false-ring frequency variance. Reconstructed climate series revealed significant warming trends since the 1930s, most pronounced in April extreme minimum temperature, which increased by +0.98 °C over the study period (Mann-Kendall test, P < 0.01). These findings highlight the vulnerability of montane pine forests to increasing temperatures and atmospheric dryness, providing a multi–proxy baseline for climate change adaptation.

This review uses a case study based on an executed afforestation project to comprehensively describe the administrative procedure regarding afforestation of agricultural land in the Czech Republic, Central Europe. We consider the official proceedings for obtaining a permit to land-use change (i.e. changing the nature of land use and the mode of land use in the real estate cadastre) as a very complex and protracted procedure, which can substantially reduce the motivation of people to establish new forests. Therefore, we propose a simplification of the administration process of land-use change. The main idea is to make the procedure as simple as possible in those areas where afforestation is desirable, especially from the environmental point of view. It assumes the possibility of quick, precise and, if possible, automatic distinction whether the afforestation is suitable or not. The situation in the Czech Republic is compared with the surrounding Central-European countries: Poland and Slovakia. In these countries, the official procedure connected with afforestation seems to be rather less complicated.

Stem canker of Rosa pendulina, collected in south-eastern Switzerland (canton of Graubünden) in August 2022, was studied in details. The causal agent of the disease was first identified as Valseutypella tristicha (Valsaceae, Diaporthales, Ascomycota) based on microscopic characteristics. The subsequent molecular analysis classified it into the genus Cytospora and indicated that it is identical with C. rosicola, described from China in 2020 based on the molecular data, however, V. tristicha is an older name than C. rosicola, so this has priority. Thus, a new combination of the name is proposed for this fungus.

This article presents guidelines for assessing the optimal dimensions of forest road pipe culverts, based on input of actual and experimental data to standard engineering techniques. In doing so, we assess the need for (i) changes in the parametrisation of inputs (i.e. culvert micro-catchment dimensions, rainfall and resultant culvert flow, and culvert flow rates during culvert hydraulic dimensioning), and (ii) the need to redesign culvert outlets in relation to flow speed. Our results demonstrate that values for most inputs presently used under current technical practice for forest road pipe culvert sizing are significantly higher than those achieved under experimental conditions. The data on outlet flow velocities strongly suggests that strengthening of culvert outlet aprons will be crucial for their future operation.

To promote the sustainable consumption of prepared dishes, this study examines how green attribute information (GAI) and live streaming scenes experience (LSSE) influence consumers' green perceptions (GP) – including perceived green value (PGV) and perceived green trust (PGT) – and subsequently affect their purchase intention (PI). A green perception model was developed and tested using a mixed-method approach. Word cloud analysis was conducted on consumer comments collected from e-commerce platforms to extract key descriptors and concerns, which informed the design of a structured questionnaire. A total of 291 valid responses were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Results show that: (i) GAI does not directly impact PI, indicating that GP is a necessary mediator; (ii) GAI significantly influences PGV, but not PGT; (iii) GP fully mediates the GAI–PI relationship, although PGV has a negligible direct effect on PGT; (iv) LSSE significantly enhances both GP and PI; (v) GP partially mediates the LSSE–PI relationship. These findings highlight the dual role of LSSE in facilitating information adoption and emotional engagement, and suggest that enhancing LSSE design and enriching GAI are effective strategies to increase consumers' green perception and purchase intention towards prepared dishes.

In order to remove soil tetracycline residue and identify the effect of tetracycline on soil nematode community, agricultural waste returning was applied in a maize monocropping field, northeast China. The results showed that plant parasites were the dominant genera in high concentration of soil tetracycline; however, bacterivores were the dominant genera in all organic matter amendments. Maturity index, structure index and enrichment index showed the highest values in biochar and compost mixed amendments and these treatments had the highest tetracycline removal rate and the highest concentration of macro-aggregates, total organic C and available N, followed by biochar seperate amendments. Overall, biochar and compost mixed amendments efficiently reduced the risk of soil tetracycline pollution below the threshold, with the characteristics of cheap, improving soil fertility and above all, environmentally friendly.

Digitisation enables the integration of science, technology and finance, and this trend toward integration can in turn enhance the innovation efficiency of listed agricultural enterprises. By leveraging the quasi-natural experiment of China's 2011 pilot program for technology finance – also known as science, technology, and finance, this paper uses the difference-in-differences (DID) model to demonstrate that the science and technology finance policy positively impacts the innovation levels of agriculture-related listed enterprises. That said, the policy's effect varies across different regions and enterprise sizes. Furthermore, moderating-effect analysis reveals that the digitalisation level of agriculture-related listed enterprises is a critical factor, while the evolutionary game model elucidates this factor's underlying mechanism. Based on these findings, policy recommendations are proposed to further develop science and technology finance platforms for agricultural-related listed enterprises.

Enhancing economic and environmental efficiency is a fundamental objective shared by all European economic sectors, with agriculture being a particular area of focus. In this study, economic and environmental efficiency are considered in parallel and compared in terms of their long-term development. From an economic perspective, the classical production factors of labour, capital and land are compared with economic production output. The environmental perspective of the study focuses on greenhouse gases and acidifying gases, with the investigation based on data from Eurostat from 2009 to 2020. Due to constraints regarding the  availability of data , the study encompassed 22 EU countries.  The findings indicate that Greece, Spain, the Netherlands and Poland demonstrate high levels of economic efficiency, while Ireland and Finland exhibit notable enhancements in this regard. Low economic efficiency scores are evident in Latvia and Austria, where substantial catching-up processes are observable. With respect to ecological efficiency, Greece, Spain and Italy have been found to be dominant, as have Finland, Sweden and Slovakia. Ireland, Luxembourg and Poland have lower ecological efficiency scores, but only Ireland shows signs of convergence. The present study seeks to minimise the impact of volatility and dispersion with a view to providing valid long-term trends for the purpose of benchmarking efforts and r policy decisions.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a significant cause of infertility and is often linked to autoimmune aetiologies. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation is a well-established model of autoimmune POF in rodents. Immunomodulatory treatments involving corticosteroids, frankincense, and targeted secondary antibodies have been hypothesised to mitigate the autoimmune response, reduce anti-ovarian antibody (AOA) levels, and restore ovarian function in an LPS-induced POF rat model. A POF model was established in female albino rats via the intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The rats were then divided into groups that received no treatment (LPS control), dexamethasone (DEX-treated LPS-treated rats), methylprednisolone (MP-treated LPS-treated rats), frankincense (Frankincense-treated LPS-treated rats), or secondary anti-ovarian antibodies (secondary Ab-treated LPS-treated rats) for 3 to 4 weeks. The serum levels of AOA, 17β-oestradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinising hormone (LH) were assayed via commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Ovarian tissues were examined histopathologically to assess structural damage and recovery. LPS induction successfully created a POF phenotype, as evidenced by significantly elevated AOA levels (P < 0.001), reduced 17β-oestradiol (P < 0.001), elevated FSH/LH (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively), and severe histopathological damage, including follicular atresia. All the treatments restored 17β-oestradiol levels. Secondary antibody therapy was most effective, normalising all hormonal parameters, significantly reducing AOA levels, and demonstrating complete histological recovery with healthy follicles and corpora lutea. MP potently suppressed AOA but paradoxically elevated FSH, without improving ovarian histology. DEX and frankincense showed intermediate efficacy, improving some hormonal and serological markers but failing to achieve full histological restoration. These findings demonstrate that targeted immunotherapy using secondary antibodies is superior to broad immunosuppression or anti-inflammatory treatment for restoring ovarian function in patients with autoimmune POF. While corticosteroids effectively reduce AOA titres, they may not reverse ovarian damage and can disrupt the hormonal balance. This underscores the need for precise, biomarker-guided therapies over nonspecific immunosuppression in patients with autoimmune ovarian insufficiency.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) seed powder on the performance and gut health of broilers challenged with E. coli. A total of 720 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 72 pens across two separate rooms, following a 2 × 6 factorial design. The factors per room included (i) challenge: no or yes, and (ii) feed additive: control (none), antibiotic [oxytetracycline (OTC) at 0.5 g/kg], MO 0.1%, MO 0.2%, MO 0.4%, and MO 0.8%. At 9 days old, birds in both challenged and non-challenged rooms were inoculated with 1.5 ml of E. coli-O157:H7 inoculant (3.8 × 10⁸ CFU) and 1.5 ml of saline, respectively. Performance data showed that, throughout the study, unchallenged birds had better weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than challenged birds. On day 35, broilers given OTC and all MO levels showed improved WG (P < 0.001) and FCR (P < 0.003). Interactions between challenge and additives were observed on day 10 for FCR (P = 0.031); on days 24 and 35 for WG (P < 0.001); and on days 24 and 35 for FCR (P < 0.004 and P = 0.002, respectively). On day 24, challenged birds fed all MO levels exhibited higher WG and better FCR than challenged controls, while on day 35, both challenged and unchallenged MO-fed birds showed improved WG and FCR compared to control groups. E. coli significantly increased crypt depth (CD), jejunum muscle thickness, and caecal E. coli colonies. MO significantly enhanced villus height (VH), the VH : CD ratio, villous tip width, and surface area, while decreasing CD, muscle thickness, and E. coli colonies. Challenged birds had significantly lower serum total protein, albumin, and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) titres, while serum alanine aminotransferase ALT activity was higher than in non-challenged birds. Overall, Moringa at 0.4% showed comparable or better results than OTC in preventing E. coli-induced declines in broiler performance and gut health.

Climatic microrefugia allow some forest tree species to persist outside their main distribution range by locally decoupling site conditions from the regional climate. At its western, oceanic range margin in the Swiss Prealps, the Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra L.) occurs on large boulders embedded within subalpine forests dominated by Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.]. We hypothesised that these landforms generate a continental-like microclimate enabling P. cembra persistence under otherwise sub-oceanic conditions, and we aimed to quantify this phenomenon. Using high-resolution data loggers, we measured air and soil temperature, thermal amplitudes, and soil moisture on the summits and at the bases of ten limestone boulders over a two-year period. Linear mixed-effects models revealed a pronounced microclimatic decoupling between positions. Boulder summits were consistently warmer and drier during the growing season. In contrast, during winter, summits were significantly colder, while boulder bases remained thermally stable due to persistent snow insulation. The strongest microclimatic divergence occurred in spring, when temperatures at the bases remained stable near 0 °C, whereas summit temperatures were markedly warmer and more variable. This continental-like microclimate likely promotes P. cembra persistence. Our results highlight the importance of topographic heterogeneity for maintaining marginal tree populations.

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) is a globally important crop valued for its flavour diversity and health benefits. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed to compare genomic variation and functional potential between clone Yabukita and locally adapted clone I.1.93. Using next-generation sequencing, approximately 10× genome coverage was achieved for both clones, with high mapping efficiency (98.24% for Yabukita and 97.88% for clone I.1.93), ensuring reliable downstream analyses. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis revealed distinct genomic patterns, with Yabukita showing a more uniform chromosomal SNP distribution, while clone I.1.93 exhibited higher SNP densities on specific chromosomes, particularly chromosomes 5 and 13. Silent mutations predominated in Yabukita (48.21%), whereas missense mutations were more frequent in clone I.1.93 (57.97%), suggesting greater functional divergence. Most SNPs occurred in non-coding regions, indicating potential regulatory roles. GO and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed highly similar shared pathways, including photosynthesis and protein interactions, alongside clone-specific enrichment related to photosynthesis in Yabukita and stress responses in clone I.1.93. miRNA profiling identified distinct regulatory patterns, including the clone-specific miR530 in clone I.1.93. Biosynthetic gene cluster analysis further predicted secondary metabolite pathways associated with terpenoid, polyketide, and saccharide biosynthesis. These findings provide valuable genomic insights for tea improvement and breeding programs.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of papaya peel addition on the quality and in vitro ruminal digestion of napier grass silage. Fresh napier grass was mixed with papaya peel at 0% (control), 15%, 30%, and 45% of fresh weight and ensiled under anaerobic conditions. After fermentation, silages were analysed for pH, organic acids, ammonia-N, and nutrient composition. In vitro ruminal fermentation was conducted using the rumen fluid collected from buffaloes to assess gas production, volatile fatty acid profiles, and hydrogen release. The results showed that papaya peel addition significantly affected silage fermentation and nutrient composition. The inclusion at 15% lowered pH and increased lactic acid concentration compared with the control (P < 0.05). Higher inclusion levels (30% and 45%) reduced neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre content, increased total digestible nutrients and relative feed value (P < 0.05). In vitro ruminal fermentation showed that, compared with the control, hydrogen production was significantly reduced in the 15% treatment, and the acetate-to-propionate ratio was highest in the 45% treatment as a result of decreased propionate acid concentration (P < 0.05). Our results suggested that co-ensiling napier grass with papaya peel improved fermentation quality and feed value, with 15% addition yielding the most desirable balance of fermentation characteristics and ruminal fermentation outcomes. This approach provides a practical strategy for enhancing the forage preservation and utilising fruit-processing by-products in tropical livestock systems.

This study aims to evaluate the perceptions of Spanish primary producers on waste management practices and different regulatory and administrative proposals. In addition, it identifies the socioeconomic and technical factors influencing these perceptions and highlights the types of agricultural residues that present the greatest management challenges for primary producers. To achieve these objectives, a survey was conducted among 396 primary producers throughout Spain. Results revealed two distinct groups of producers: younger, more educated individuals who showed higher awareness of waste management and older, less educated producers who perceived waste management as less critical. The study also analysed the magnitude of the relationships between these influencing factors and waste management perceptions. Agricultural plastics, biomass, and used oil emerged as the most problematic waste types. The findings suggest the need for a national strategy to improve agricultural waste management in Spain, including awareness campaigns, financial incentives, and stricter regulations to ensure sustainable practices.

The genus Solanum comprises numerous wild and cultivated species that are important for potato breeding. This pilot-scale study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity in 44 accessions from Solanum sect. Petota, comprising wild species, Andean landraces, and modern cultivars, obtained from the Potato Research Institute Havlíčkův Brod, Ltd. and the Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. Nuclear microsatellite markers (SSR, 29 loci) were applied via five multiplex PCR reactions and analysed using capillary electrophoresis. Binary data matrices were analysed using DARwin software to generate dendrograms reflecting allelic polymorphism. The SSR panel effectively differentiated cultivated accessions from wild types, consistent with the current taxonomy of the genus Solanum, with particularly clear clustering of Andean landraces and modern varieties. However, resolution among wild accessions was limited, likely due to their high genetic complexity and interspecific overlap. These results support the suitability of the SSR panel for analysing diversity in cultivated potatoes. while also highlighting the challenges in resolving wild Solanum taxa. This study contributes to germplasm characterisation and provides a molecular basis for future breeding programmes.

Alpine meadows, one of the most widespread and important vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, are facing severe degradation. This study examines how degradation affects soil medium and trace elements in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, along with their relationships with plant traits and soil properties. Results indicate that alpine meadow degradation significantly reduces vegetation coverage, height, biomass, soil water content (SWC), and the levels of soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), while increasing soil bulk density (BD), pH, and potassium (K) content. Soil Ca, Zn, and Mo decrease with degradation, whereas Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, and Co increase, with Ca, Fe, and Mn showing the strongest changes. Correlation and redundancy analyses indicate that aboveground biomass, SWC, SOC, N, and P positively correlate with Ca, Mo, and Zn, while pH, BD, and K associate with Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Mg, and Cu. Therefore, alpine meadow degradation significantly influences the distribution of certain soil physicochemical properties and medium and trace elements in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Meanwhile, these medium and trace elements are also affected by specific soil physicochemical properties. Future grassland restoration should consider not only macronutrients and basic soil properties but also key elements like Ca, Fe, and Mn. This study provides foundational data for the ecological restoration of degraded alpine meadows.

Drought is a major abiotic stressor that limits crop growth and is often associated with oxidative stress. We evaluated whether foliar silicon (Si) application affects primary root anatomy, plant height, and phenolic metabolism in three common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) cultivars (La Harpe, Panda, and Smuga) exposed to water deficit. Plants were grown under controlled conditions in four treatments: control; drought; control + Si, and drought + Si. Qualitative anatomical assessment revealed that Si promoted more advanced development of the primary root central cylinder, most notably in La Harpe under drought conditions, where a continuous ring of secondary xylem and a well-developed pith were observed. Drought significantly reduced plant height in all cultivars; Si partially alleviated this reduction in La Harpe and Panda, but not in Smuga. Drought generally increased total phenolic content (TPC) and phenolic acid content (PAC) in both leaves and roots, and Si further enhanced these responses, with the highest values under drought + Si. Overall, the results indicate cultivar-dependent effectiveness of foliar silicon (Si) and suggest that Si contributes to coordinated structural and biochemical adjustments under water deficit conditions. To assess the transferability of these responses, further verification across a broader range of genotypes and under different intensities and durations of drought is warranted.

Hemp is becoming increasingly popular, and many new varieties are coming onto the market to meet the requirements of different industries. In this study, the seed and stem yield, seed nutritional properties and the biochemical characteristics of the inflorescences of seven European varieties (Fedora 17, Futura 75, KC Dóra, Monoica, Santhica 27, Tiborszallasi, USO 31) were investigated in a 3-year field trial. Futura 75 and Tiborszallasi stand out as varieties with the highest potential in the conditions of the experiment (humid continental climate with oceanic influences, heavy soil). Futura 75 achieved the highest seed yield (505 kg/ha dry matter), stem yield (8 036 kg/ha fresh matter), protein yield (140 kg/ha) and oil yield (181 kg/ha). There were no differences in protein content (average 21.0%) among varieties. The total unsaturated fatty acid content was as high as 87.6% at Tiborszallasi. The best ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids was 3 : 1 in Tiborszallasi, which had also the highest oil content (30.2%), the highest total phenolic content (2.8 mg caffeic acid (CA)/g) and the best antioxidant potential (6.69 EC50 DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) mg/L). Most varieties had higher cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol contents in the inflorescence at seed maturity (from 0.22 to 3.3 for cannabidiol (CBD) and from 0.00 to 0.32 for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) compared to full flowering (from 0.17 to 4.33 for CBD and from 0.00 to 0.52 for THC, on average 2.64% for CBD and 0.19% for THC), presenting an opportunity for dual-purpose use.

Global warming has altered regional temperatures and precipitation, potentially leading to deviations from planned biofuel production and emission-reduction targets. This study revisits the market equilibrium of agricultural and biofuel production under climate risk, using updated IPCC projections. It employs a two-stage stochastic programming model to examine the overall effect of climate change on Taiwan's biofuel production. The results indicate that biofuel production depends on the level of climate impact and emission prices. In addition, total input use is generally between 2.79 and 4.72 million tonnes. The higher the gasoline price, the sooner the producer will exhaust its production capacity. While Taiwan could sustain biofuel production when gasoline and emission prices are high, a substantial land-use change would occur. Approximately 74 500–81 900 hectares of idle land will return to production. However, the increase in cropland supply may not lead to biofuel expansion, as it has a limited ability to offset emissions.

Mexico ranks among the countries with the highest deforestation rates, increasing the demand for high-quality forest seedlings of valuable species such as Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl., which face germination limitations due to seed dormancy and low viability. Ionising radiation has emerged as an alternative pregermination treatment capable of inducing adaptive responses in plants through hormesis. This study evaluated the effects of different doses of gamma radiation (⁶⁰Co) and high-energy X-rays (linear accelerator, 6 MeV) on the germination, growth, and quality of P. pseudostrobus seedlings. A total of 1 440 seeds were irradiated per radiation source with 12 doses (0–25 Gy) and sown under nursery conditions in a completely randomised design. Germination parameters, morphological traits, photosynthetic pigment content, and quality indices were analysed. With both radiation sources, low doses (0.5–1.5 Gy) significantly enhanced germination, chlorophyll content, and seedling height and diameter, while doses above 15 Gy inhibited these responses. The LD₅₀ (median lethal dose) was estimated at 20 Gy for gamma rays and 12 Gy for X-rays, whereas GR₅₀ (median growth reduction dose) exceeded 45 Gy in both treatments. These findings demonstrate that low radiation doses elicit a beneficial hormetic effect in P. pseudostrobus, representing a viable biotechnological approach to improve seedling production and ecological reforestation efficiency.

Curcuma longa L., known as turmeric, is a plant species belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. Turmeric is generally spread in Asian countries. It is used in many sectors, especially spices. It has been predicted that increasing climatic changes will affect the agricultural crop pattern. To provide an alternative crop for countries with sub-tropical climates, such as Turkey, the yield and quality values of turmeric grown under the greenhouse and shade net conditions were determined in the present study. Moreover, morphological traits such as plant height, tillering number, and leaf area were determined. The highest fresh yield (1 333.67 g/plant) was obtained under greenhouse conditions. Furthermore, the highest antioxidant value (3.01 IC50 mg/mg 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)) was obtained under shade net conditions, while the highest total phenolic content (6.88 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g) was obtained under greenhouse conditions. Curcumin reached the highest level (1.79%) in greenhouse conditions. While the essential oil ratio varied between 5.22 and 7.32%, ar-turmerone, α-turmerone, and β-turmerone were determined as the main components in the essential oil. According to the results, turmeric can be grown in greenhouse conditions in subtropical regions.

This study evaluated a novel slow-release copper fertiliser (soileos Cu) as a sustainable alternative to conventional copper sources for improving wheat yield and nutrient use efficiency. Traditional Cu fertilisers are often limited by rapid leaching and low efficiency, especially on sandy soils with low organic matter, contributing to environmental pollution. They also exhibit low plant-use efficiency due to strong adsorption and immobilisation in soils rich in organic matter and clay minerals, thereby reducing copper availability in the soil solution and contributing to environmental pollution. A multi-scale approach was employed, including laboratory incubation, greenhouse experiments, and multi-site field trials. Copper release was quantified in water over 30 days. Greenhouse experiments compared soileos Cu with copper sulfate (CuSO₄) across multiple application rates, assessing grain yield, biomass, spike count, chlorophyll index (SPAD), and tissue and grain nutrient concentrations. Field trials were conducted at four sites in Canada and the United States with contrasting soil Cu availability. Soileos Cu exhibited controlled, non-linear Cu release with substantially reduced leaching compared to CuSO₄. In greenhouse conditions, soileos Cu achieved maximum grain yield, biomass, and spike number at 25–26% lower Cu application rates than CuSO₄, indicating higher nutrient use efficiency. Field trials confirmed that yield responses were strongly dependent on baseline soil Cu levels, with the greatest yield increase (up to 13.3%) observed at a Cu-deficient site. Overall, soileos Cu provides an effective and environmentally responsible strategy for improving Cu nutrition and wheat productivity, particularly under Cu-limiting conditions.

Order-based agriculture aligns with the fundamental requirements for the high-quality development of modern agriculture in the new era. This study investigates how social capital influences the participation of family farms in order-based agriculture across the mountainous regions of southwestern China. Drawing on survey data from 557 farms and employing logit and Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) mediation effect models, the research reveals that social capital significantly promotes participation. Specifically, stronger social networks, heightened trust, and established norms are associated with increased engagement. While access to information mediates this relationship, the direct effect of social capital remains predominant. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing both social capital and information accessibility to encourage greater involvement among family farms. Furthermore, targeting younger and middle-aged farmers engaged in single-product production is crucial for promoting sustainable development.