The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the contribution of epiphytic microbiota on alfalfa (AL), oat (OT), and red clover (RC) to ensiling characteristics and bacterial community diversity of oat. With the irradiation of γ-ray, sterile OT (~233 g/kg dry matter (DM)) was inoculated by sterile water (STOT), epiphytic microbiota from OT (OTOT), AL (OTAL) and RC (OTRC), respectively. Triplicate silage-bags for each treatment were sampled after different days (1, 3, 7, 15, 30 and 60) of fermentation, respectively. Similar chemical compositions were found between fresh oat and STOT. Lower (P < 0.05) contents of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and higher (P < 0.05) accumulation of lactic acid were found in OTAL compared with OTRC and OTOT on day 3. The greatest (P < 0.05) NH3-N, acetic acid concentrations and pH and the lowest (P < 0.05) concentration of lactic acid were found in OTRC on day 60. After 3 days of ensiling, Lactobacillus accounted for a big proportion in OTAL and OTOT, and Hafnia-Obesumbacterium was predominant in OTRC. The bacterial communities in OTAL and OTOT had lower (P < 0.05) abundances of ‘Genetic Information Processing’ than OTRC after 3 days. Overall, the composition, diversity, and activity of epiphytic microbiota can notably influence the ensiling characteristics of forage oat. The lactic acid bacteria (hetero-fermentative type) and Enterobacteriaceae species played an important role in producing ethanol contents during the ensiling of forage oat.

Early-season rice often faces limited market competition due to its lower quality, which diminishes farmers' incentives to cultivate it. Developing specific early-season rice varieties tailored for rice noodle production represents a practical solution to this challenge. However, limited information exists on the varietal differences regarding the yield and quality of noodles produced from early-season rice and their determinants. To address this gap, this study conducted field experiments with 15 early-season rice varieties during 2022 and 2023. The results revealed significant varietal differences in rice noodle yield per unit of land area and cooking and eating (texture) qualities of the noodles, with the variety Zhuliangyou 4024 standing out for its ability to produce rice noodles that are both high yielding and of superior cooking and eating qualities. Correlation analysis showed the yield of rice noodles per unit of land area was significantly related to grain yield per unit of land, which in turn was linked to grain weight. Additionally, the analysis showed the cooking loss rate of rice noodles and their chewiness were significantly correlated with both amylose and amylopectin content, whereas the hardness, springiness, and resilience of cooked rice noodles were significantly correlated only with amylose content. However, partial correlation analysis indicated that all these quality traits were significantly correlated solely with amylose content when controlling the influence of other chemical properties. These findings indicate that selecting early-season rice varieties with high grain weight and high amylose content can lead to the production of high-yield and high-quality rice noodles.

Biofertilizers, such as arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), have been reported to enhance plant growth under water stress conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different biofertilizers on potato photosynthesis and growth under water deficit stress. The experiment was conducted over two crop years (2019 and 2020) using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Four irrigation intervals (70, 90, 110 and 130 mm of cumulative evaporation) and six biofertilizer treatments (PSB, Funneliformis mosseae [FM], Rhizoglomus fasciculatum [RF], PSB + FM, PSB + RF and no use) were applied. Severe moisture stress (130 mm evaporation) compared to no stress (70 mm evaporation) increased substomatal carbon dioxide concentration. The application of biofertilizers improved tuber yield under severe moisture stress, with FM showing the highest increase (62.9%), followed by RF (59.8%) and PSB (48.4%). The use of PSB along with mycorrhizae led to a significant decrease in mycorrhizal colonization percentage at all irrigation levels. The highest percentage of colonization and net photosynthesis was obtained from the application of both mycorrhizal species under irrigation conditions after 70 mm of evaporation. The application of PSB alone resulted in a 14.6% increase in the transpiration rate, additionally, the use of mycorrhiza led to an 18.7% increase in stomatal conductivity compared to no-biofertilizer. The results suggest that the simultaneous use of PSB and mycorrhizae can be effective in mild moisture stress, but in severe moisture stress, the use of mycorrhizal species alone is more effective.

Onion is sensitive to soil water stress and nitrogen limitations, causing a marked reduction in yield and bulb quality. A field trial was set in the winter seasons of 2016–17 and 2017–18 to evaluate the effects of three micro-sprinkler irrigation levels at 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 ratios of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and four nitrogen levels at 0, 75, 100 and 120% of the recommended nitrogen dose (RDN), including surface irrigation at 40 mm cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) with 100% RDN (SN) using an augmented strip plot design on water and N distribution in soil, their productivities, onion yield and economics. Results indicated that the root zone water content increased by 5.2% for 1.2 ETc, and 1.4% for 0.9 ETc over the cropping period, but declined by 1.5% for 0.6 ETc with micro-sprinkler irrigation compared to surface irrigation with nitrogen fertilization (SN). The largest total root zone water depletion was in 1.2 ETc (16.7%), followed by SN (15.3%) and 0.9 ETc (15.0%). The high irrigation regime produced the maximum yield and nitrogen productivity, whereas deficit irrigation displayed the greatest water productivity. However, the coupling of micro-sprinkler irrigation at 1.2 ETc and 120% RDN led to an increase of onion bulb yield (22.6%), water productivity (42.7%), plant N uptake (29.0%) and net income (30.6%) with maximum benefit-cost ratio (3.19) compared to SN. However, as this study was only based on two seasons, more field trials will be needed to confirm the optimum amount of water and nitrogen for winter onion.

Simplified cereal-based crop rotations are widely grown due to economic reasons, leading to the cultivation of wheat after wheat and associated yield losses. In this study, a crop rotation trial was conducted in Northern Germany on a Stagnic Luvisol from 2006 to 2018 with winter wheat after the four most widely used preceding crops in the region (sugar beet, winter wheat, silage maize and winter oilseed rape) in different crop rotations to evaluate potential benefits of different preceding crops. Additionally, the effects of two different sowing dates (2016–2018) and higher crop residue input (whole period) were investigated.

While the pre-preceding crop had no effect, preceding crops winter oilseed rape and sugar beet led to a significantly higher yield of about 1.00 and 0.43 t/ha, respectively, compared to wheat after wheat. This was not modified by crop rotational diversity, including wheat monoculture. Wheat yield tended to be higher for the late sowing date after sugar beet, maize and wheat, while there was no effect of sowing date after oilseed rape. Higher crop residue input led to a significantly higher yield (0.30 t/ha) in wheat after wheat (after pre-preceding crop sugar beet). Overall, sugar beet and winter oilseed rape were found to be favourable preceding crops for winter wheat under the given site conditions. The effect of sowing date on yield and potential modifications of the preceding crop effect by sowing date needs further research in appropriate long-term trials.

The use of silvopastoral systems with tree legumes is a viable alternative to recover and develop pastures, as they add N to the system influencing pasture growth. This study hypothesized that the herbage and litter of signalgrass (Urochloa decumbens Stapf) is affected by legume trees in the pasture. Treatments were composed of (1) signalgrass + Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.; (2) signalgrass + Gliricidia sepium Jacq.; and (3) signalgrass monoculture. The 3-year experiment followed a randomized complete block design with three replications. Tree legumes were planted in double rows (15 × 1 × 0.5 m), in 1 ha paddocks. Litter samples were taken in five distance points (0, 1.8, 3.7, 5.6 and 7.5 m) perpendicular to tree legume rows. Signalgrass was taller at longer distances from the trees (P < 0.05). Signalgrass height differed between treatments, with taller signalgrass found in pastures mixed with G. sepium (15.6 cm) compared to M. caesalpiniifolia (9 cm) (P < 0.05). Herbage N content decreased with increasing distance from tree rows (P < 0.05). Litter N content followed a similar pattern, ranging from 23 g/kg under the trees to 12 g/kg at 7.5 m away from tree rows. Signalgrass did not grow under the tree crown (0–1.8 m), especially when intercropped with M. caesalpiniifolia. The findings of this study suggest that the type of legume trees used in the silvopastoral system has the potential to modify the pattern of grass growth and content of N in pasture litter.

Temperature increase may cause some regions in the world to become marginal or unsuitable for Arabica coffee cultivation, due to either heat and/or marked water deficit. The feasibility of sustainable coffee production in these regions promotes good opportunity of income and value addition for rural producers within an expanding market. This study aimed to identify short-stature Arabica coffee cultivars with the best agronomic and qualitative performance in a low-altitude region. The experiment was located in northeastern São Paulo state, Brazil, at 565 m above sea level. During the experimental period (2014–2018) the average annual and November temperatures were 23.0 and 24.3°C, respectively, with an average annual water deficit of 109 mm. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with four replicates, and the treatments consisted of 17 short-stature cultivars. The cultivars Catuaí Amarelo IAC 62, Catuaí Vermelho IAC 99, IAC Ouro Amarelo, Obatã IAC 1669-20, Obatã IAC 4739, Tupi IAC 1699-33, IAC 125 RN and IPR 100 stood out in terms of yield, reaching approximately 50 bags/ha. The appropriate choice of Arabica coffee cultivar in a low-altitude region may result in yield increment of up to 74%. The cultivars Catuaí Vermelho IAC 99, Tupi IAC 1699-33 and IAC 125 RN produced grains with the best quality and highest hundred-grain weight, processing yield and percentage of grains retained on sieve 17. Therefore, it is possible for an Arabica coffee cultivar to have high yield and high grain and beverage quality in a low-altitude region, promoting production alternatives for farmers.

The spatial distribution of maize plants influences the number of kernels set per plant by modifying the radiation environment during the critical period for kernel number determination. A two-year field experiment was conducted in Sardinia to explore whether, in a Mediterranean environment, a reduction in row distance can have a positive effect on grain yield of full-season maize hybrids and, if it does, whether this effect is also affected by plant density. Treatments were a factorial combination of three plant densities (6, 8 and 10 plants/m2) and two row spacings (35 and 70 cm). Grain yield and grain number benefited from a reduction in row distance from the canonical 70 cm to 35 cm irrespective of plant density and yield level (14.7 t/ha on average in 2021, 9.9 t/ha in 2022 vs 13.7 and 8.8 t/ha with canonical row distance). Row distance did not affect either the coefficient of extinction of radiation or the intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) during the critical period for grain number determination. The higher grain number per unit area at the smaller row distance translated into a greater grain yield, which cannot solely be attributed to radiation interception and plant growth rate during the period of kernel number determination. Halving the common row distance is a valuable management option for full-season hybrids grown in Mediterranean environments without nitrogen and water limitations as it seems capable of increasing grain yield via an increase in kernel number per unit area, regardless of plant density and yield level.

In order to improve the regional applicability of existing evaporative misting systems, a new evaporative misting system based on photovoltaic/thermal and ventilation heat exchange is proposed for sow farms. Compared to traditional systems, the proposed system can help to improve their regional applicability and reduce their energy consumption. Meanwhile, its simulation model is constructed and the reliability is verified for its core equipment. The maximum error is less than 14.5% for the above models. Through simulation, the optimal regulation variable ranges in the proposed system are determined for mass flow rate of working fluid (MFWF) and misting power by analysing its operating characteristics. The results show that its optimal ranges of MFWF and misting power are 7245–9245 kg/h and 40–45 kW, respectively. The annual performance is further quantified and analysed under different load ratios for the proposed system in Guangzhou. It can be found that the annual exergy loss, heat exchange coefficient and solar energy benefits of the proposed system in Guangzhou are negatively correlated with load ratio, but its annual energy consumption and energy efficiency ratio are positively correlated. Meanwhile, the system performance and benefits are not significantly improved by increasing device investment and sow density when load ratio exceeds 120% in sow farms. The above conclusion can contribute to improving the existing evaporative misting systems in sow farms and guiding the operating regulation of the proposed system.

This research aimed to examine the impact of varying levels of dietary copper (Cu) hydroxychloride on the performance, egg quality, yolk antioxidant capacity, tibia traits, and mineral excretion in laying quails. 125 female 10-week-old quails were randomly distributed into five experimental groups with five replicates, each consisting of five quails. Five experimental isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were designed to contain different Cu hydroxychloride (54% Cu) levels at 7.20 (basal diet), 15, 30, 45 and 60 mg/kg respectively. Quails were fed with trial diets for 12 weeks. Performance, egg production, eggshell quality, and biomechanical traits of the tibia were not impacted (P > 0.005) by variations in dietary Cu levels. Yolk antioxidant capacity, measured as yolk DPPH value, exhibited an increase (P < 0.01) in the high-dose group (60 mg/kg). Regarding tibia mineral concentration, Cu concentration decreased linearly (P < 0.001) with increasing Cu level, manganese and zinc content recorded the highest values in quails that had received 60 mg/kg Cu in the diet (P < 0.01), while the lowest phosphorus content was described for 45 and 60 mg/kg. Contrarily, increases (P < 0.01) in dietary Cu resulted in raised faecal Cu content, while phosphorus, manganese, and zinc, were reduced when Cu was added. It can be inferred that adding Cu to the diet of laying quails would not be necessary, which in turn decreases Cu excretion and prevents substantial environmental harm.

Two 10-day in vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the relationship between nitrogen (N) isotope discrimination (δ15N) and ammonia (NH3) emissions from sheep manure. In Exp. 1, three different manure mixtures were set up: control (C); C mixed with lignite (C + L); and grape marc (GM), with 5, 4 and 5 replications, respectively. For C, urine and faeces were collected from sheep fed a diet of 550 g lucerne hay/kg, 400 g barley grain/kg and 50 g faba bean/kg; for C + L, urine and faeces were collected from sheep fed the C diet and 100 g ground lignite added to each incubation system at the start of the experiment; for GM, urine and faeces were collected from sheep fed a diet consisting of C diet with 200 g/kg of the diet replaced with GM. In Exp. 2, three different urine-faeces mixtures were set up: 2U:1F, 1.4U:1F and 1U:1F with urine to faeces ratios of 2:1, 1.4:1 and 1:1, respectively, each with 5 replications. Lignite in C + L led to significantly lower cumulative manure-N loss by 81 and 68% in comparison with C and GM groups, respectively (P = 0.001). Cumulative emitted manure NH3-N was lower in C + L than C and GM groups by 35 and 36%, respectively (P = 0.020). Emitted manure NH3-N was higher in 2U:1F compared to 1.4U:1F and 1U:1F by 18 and 26%, respectively (P < 0.001). This confirms the relationship between manure δ15N and cumulative NH3-N loss reported by earlier studies, which may be useful for estimating NH3 losses.

Bread wheat and durum wheat genotypes were grown in field experiments at two locations in New South Wales, Australia across several years and using two sowing times (‘early’ v. ‘late’). Genotypes were grouped based on genetic similarity. Grain yield, grain size, soil characteristics and daily weather data were collected. The weather data were used to calculate water and heat stress indices for four key growth periods around flowering. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to predict grain yield and to identify the most influential features (a combination of index and growth period). A novel approach involving the crop water supply–demand ratio effectively summarized water relations during growth. LASSO predicted grain yield quite well (adjusted R2 from 0.57 to 0.98), especially in a set of durum genotypes. However, the addition of other important variables such as lodging score, disease incidence, weed incidence and insect damage could have improved modelling results. Growth period 2 (30 days pre-flowering up to flowering) was the most sensitive for yield loss from heat stress and water stress for most features. Although one group of bread wheat genotypes was more sensitive to water stress (drought) in period 3 (20 days pre-flowering to 10 days post-flowering). Evapotranspiration was a significant positive feature but only in the vegetative phase (pre-flowering, period 1). This study confirms the usefulness of LASSO modelling as a technique to make predictions that could be used to identify genotypes that are suitable candidates for further investigation by breeders for their stress-tolerance ability.

New information on the growth analysis for different cassava genotypes grown under different irrigation managements during the early growth phase could support decision-making to improve crop productivity. This study aimed to determine the performance of 20 cassava genotypes grown under different irrigation management practices during the early growth phase. A strip-plot design with four replications was used during two growing seasons (2019/2020 and 2020/2021). Three levels of irrigation from 30 to 180 days after planting (DAP) were assigned as factor A (W1 = 100%, W2 = 60% and W3 = 20% of the crop water requirement), whereas 20 cassava genotypes were assigned as factor B. Crop data were recorded on SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR), specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf area index (LAI) at 180 and 330 DAP, relative growth rate (RGR) from 180 to 330 DAP and harvest index (HI) at 330 DAP. The genotypes CMR36-31-381 and Huay Bong 90 had high values of HI, indicating a good partitioning of photosynthate to the storage root. These two genotypes also showed superior performances in terms of SCMR, SLA and RGR inW2 and W3 treatments when compared to the other genotypes. They also had LAI values within the optimum range during the period of maximum canopy size. Therefore, the genotypes CMR36-31-381 and Huay Bong 90 could be used as genetic resources to improve cassava productivity under different irrigation levels.

Understanding the water use of drought-tolerant crops of the drought-prone Mediterranean regions is important for sustainable agriculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield and yield responses of amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus L.) to different irrigation strategies conducted in 2019 and 2020 under Mediterranean climatic conditions using surface drip (SD) and subsurface drip (SSD) systems. Strategies investigated were: regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), conventional deficit irrigation (DI25, DI50, DI75), full irrigation (FI) and rainfed treatment. The highest grain yield was observed in FI treatments; RDI treatments produced 5% lower grain yield than the FI treatments, although the RDI treatments resulted in water savings of 23 and 21% for SD and SSD systems, respectively. DI treatments resulted in lower leaf water potential (LWP) and higher crop water-stress index (CWSI) compared to FI in both systems values. The results showed that optimum irrigation conditions to obtain the highest amaranth grain yields were associated with an LWP of −1.0 MPa and an average CWSI of about 0.25. The FI treatments under SSD systems had the highest grain production, followed by FI under SD and RDI under both the drip systems. Under SD and SSD systems, RDI saved 23 and 21% water, respectively, and produced a yield statistically comparable to that of FI. The SSD methods generated higher net income than SD. From these results it can be concluded that both RDI and DI75 could be a good alternative to FI under the conditions of water scarcity in the Mediterranean region.

To assess the potential for enhancing lodging resistance in legumes through the application of plant growth regulators (PGR) and changes in stem structure, the stem morphological and anatomical characteristics, as well as the chemical composition, of Vicia sativa and Vicia pannonica were analysed before and after treatment with different doses of PGR trinexapac-ethyl. The aim was to identify stem morpho-anatomical components that impact lodging resistance, quantify the dose-dependent effect of the chosen PGR on the Vicia stem and examine if stem lodging resistance could be improved through PGR application, as well as determine if some of the stem characteristics could be used as markers for lodging resistance prediction.

Although in both species lodging index increased (14–126%), suggesting improved resistance to lodging, and stem height decreased (12–38%) upon PGR application, the impact on V. sativa was more pronounced. The findings indicate that, apart from stem height, none of the examined morpho-anatomical characteristics showed a high and significant correlation with the lodging index. Therefore, none of these characteristics can be used as a marker for predicting lodging resistance. Increased proportion of cortex, cylinder parenchyma and collenchyma, along with reduced central cavity, might contribute to a greater lodging resistance in V. sativa. PGR decreased the amount of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose. These results encourage the use of PGR for lodging resistance improvement in vetches, through the reduction of stem height, since this modification did not adversely affect the stem structure or grain yield.

Attempts to develop high yielding varieties in Ghana have mostly relied on the introduction of new clones to broaden the range of planting materials for yield improvement. The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic variation and heritability for bean yield of six recommended cocoa clones using these as males in crosses with five seed garden parents. Twenty-four families obtained from a 5 × 6 North Carolina II (NC II) incomplete factorial mating design together with 19 high yielding single crosses, of which four were standard mixed hybrids, were planted in a randomized complete block design with four replications and evaluated for bean yield over 6 years. To account for the serial correlation among yield data collected from the same plants over years, six models with different covariance structures were tested. The general covariance model emerged appropriate based on Akaike information criterion values with significant (P < 0.01) family × year interaction. Average bean yield was highest in the NC II families followed by the specific crosses then the standard mixed hybrids. Combining ability analysis among the NC II was significant for female, male and female × male interaction along with a narrow-sense heritability of 0.26. Clone CRG 6035 among the males which had good general combining ability could be added to the seed garden parents, while the promising hybrids (NA 33 × SCA 9, SCA 6 × Pound 10, T60/887 × PA 121 and T79/501 × CRG 6035/103) undergo stability tests before release.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of reducing calcium (Ca) and available phosphorus (AvP) on performance, carcass yield, tibia traits and jejunum histomorphology in broilers. For this purpose, 480 one-day-old Ross 308 male chicks were distributed into four trial groups with eight subgroups. During the starter period, birds were fed with recommended or reduced Ca and AvP contents of 66.7 and 62.5 g/kg, respectively. Calcium and AvP contents of the groups were as follows: control: 8.70 g/kg Ca, 4.40 g/kg AvP for grower and 7.80 g/kg Ca, 3.90 g/kg AvP for finisher; LCP1: 8.30 g/kg Ca, 4.20 g/kg AvP for grower and 7.10 g/kg Ca, 3.50 g/kg AvP for finisher; LCP2: 7.90 g/kg Ca, 4.00 g/kg AvP for grower and 6.00 g/kg Ca, 3.00 g/kg AvP for finisher; LCP3: 7.00 g/kg Ca, 3.80 g/kg for grower and 5.00 g/kg Ca, 3.00 g/kg AvP for finisher. Performance variables have been calculated from the data of each period, and samples were obtained from the slaughtered birds on the final day of the trial (42nd day) for carcass and tibia traits and jejunum histomorphology. Reducing dietary Ca and AvP did not affect the broiler performance, carcass yield and mortality. Tibia ash decreased in LCP2 and LCP3 groups (P < 0.01). Villus width and villus surface area increased in LCP2 and LCP3. Overall, feeding with a diet 100 g/kg lower than the recommended Ca and AvP did not affect performance in broilers, but improved jejunal development.

The increase in demand for dairy products requires continued progress in dairy farming for a sustainable supply. Europe, known as the world's leading milk producer, plays a key role in meeting this growing demand. Modern dairy farming has moved beyond its historical focus on milk yield and now focuses on functional traits such as udder health, fertility and calf survival. As a result, selection indicators have become essential tools, combining multiple attributes to support selective decisions. However, these rates show considerable variability across countries, reflecting their distinct breeding goals. Poland's production and functionality (PF) Index emphasizes production and functional traits to enhance dairy cattle. Portugal uses the total economic merit (M€T) and total performance index (IPT) for a broader assessment covering a wider range of traits. Ukraine is transitioning towards a more comprehensive breeding system incorporating stress tolerance and longevity. Factors such as climate change and the need for sustainable practices drive this evolution, underscoring the economic importance of traits beyond mere production. Future trends may include features such as feed efficiency, methane emissions reduction and stress resistance. Diverse breeding objectives across countries lead to different selection index constructions, essential for effective selection, ranking and breeding of superior individuals. This comprehensive review offers insight into constantly evolving dairy farming strategies in Europe, with a focus on Poland, Portugal and Ukraine, while highlighting the key role of functional traits in shaping the future of dairy farming.