Water management is a critical challenge in agriculture, particularly for small-scale farms that face resource limitations and unpredictable environmental conditions. Smart irrigation technologies that integrate the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning offer significant solutions in enhancing water efficiency and boosting crop production. This study investigates the synergistic application of IoT-enabled sensors alongside machine learning methodologies, specifically Decision Trees (DT) and Support Vector Machines (SVM), to augment irrigation effectiveness. Real-time sensor data collection, featuring elements like soil moisture, temperature, and humidity, serves to direct irrigation techniques. The proposed utilizes solution supervised learning techniques to establish optimal irrigation timetable and reinforcement learning to modify decisions based on real-world performance. Preliminary findings suggest that SVM outperforms DT in reducing false positives and negatives, leading to more precise irrigation control. The study underlines the benefits of AI-driven irrigation system, such as enhanced water conservation, higher crop yields, and increased sustainability. Furthermore, the difficulties of establishing IoT-based irrigation systems, such as data security, connectivity constraints, and cost considerations, are addressed. The findings add to the literature of precision agriculture and provide useful insights for small-scale farmers who are willing to implement smart irrigation solutions. The study's goal is to enhance efficient water use, strengthen food security, and support sustainable farming methods by combining IoT and AI. To get the most out of AI-powered irrigation systems, future research should focus on enhancing algorithm accuracy, expanding real-world trials, and tackling scalability challenges.

Honey bees need pollen and nectar to survive, and strong colonies before colony buildup season require proper feeding to support brood development. This study evaluated the impacts of supplements with varying protein content on colony performance, brood rearing, and honey production. Sixteen colonies were divided into four groups: three treatments and one control, each with four replicates. Treatments included Acacia pod flour: pollen (9:1 w/w), pea flour: pollen (9:1 w/w), and a mix of Acacia pod and pea flour: pollen (9:1 w/w); the control group received no supplementation. Feed was given in feeder supper box hives and measured every 7 days, with intake and refusal recorded. Hive resources such as pollen, nectar, brood space (cm2), adult bees, and honey were assessed using a frame-sized grid meter at the Gazgibilla apiary research site. Feed types were selected through palatability testing. The mixture of Acacia pod and pea flour had the highest consumption (243.19 g/day), brood area, pollen area, nectar area, colony size (frames covered with bees), and honey yield (35 kg/colony). The control group had the lowest values on all measures. Supplementary feeding increased honeybee populations and improved colony performance during dearth periods. The author recommends the commercial use of the Acacia and pea diet mix for sustained colony growth during the dearth periods.

This research examines how public servants in Bida town, Nigeria, diversify their income through agricultural activities. It explores their socio-economic characteristics, the types of agricultural enterprises they engage in, the factors influencing their participation, and the challenges they encounter. Using a sample of 81 respondents identified through snowball sampling, the study employed descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and factor analysis to analyze the data. The findings show that most respondents were middle-aged married men, with crop farming being their primary choice for diversification, followed by poultry and ruminant farming. Key factors driving diversification were demographic, economic, and environmental, while occupational factors had a lesser influence. Respondents highlighted market instability, insufficient resources, and a lack of farming experience as major challenges to their diversification efforts. The study illustrates that agricultural diversification is a practical strategy for improving income stability among public servants. However, overcoming barriers like fluctuating markets, limited access to resources, and skill gaps is essential. It recommends implementing policies that provide targeted support, establishing training programs to build capacity, and promoting gender-inclusive initiatives to enhance sustainable diversification.

Spodoptera exigua is a major pest of shallots (Allium ascalonicum L.), capable of causing up to 100% yield loss if uncontrolled. Streptomyces sp. is a soil-dwelling Actinomycetes bacterium that can be used to control S. exigua. This study aimed to determine the potential of Streptomyces spp. isolates from shallot fields as an entomopathogen against S. exigua. The research employed a Factorial Complete Randomized Design (CRD). The first factor consisted of one Streptomyces spp. isolate obtained from the Pare-Kediri region (BMP) and three isolates from Sidera-Palu (BMS1, BMS2, and BMS3). The second factor was the concentration of the Streptomyces sp. suspension consist of 0%; 5%; 10%; and 15% with three replication per treatment (48 units total). Data on larval mortality and damage intensity were analyzed using RStudio via ANOVA and DMRT (α=5%). The BMP (15%) treatment demonstrated the highest efficacy, achieving 76.67% larval mortality while maintaining the lowest damage intensity of 0.20% on shallot plants. These results highlight BMP isolate at 15% concentration as the most promising biocontrol agent and support its further field evaluation as a sustainable alternative to chemical insecticides.

Palmyrah jaggery, a traditional sweetener valued for its nutritional qualities, is susceptible to adulteration, compromising its authenticity and safety. This study aimed to develop a simple, cost-effective on-site protocol by examining the relationships between sensory attributes, physico-chemical properties, and adulterant test results in market samples compared to a control (QC) sample. Twenty jaggery fresh samples from local producers and a laboratory-prepared QC sample were analyzed. Sensory evaluation assessed the attributes of jaggery such as taste and aroma by Difference From Control method, while physico-chemical parameters, including conductivity, total ash content, moisture content, Brix, pH, and color, were measured using standard methods. Adulterant-specific tests, such as sedimentation, iodine, and saccharin detection, were used to identify impurities like rice bran, starch and CaCO3.The sensory evaluation identified significant differences (p < 0.05) in taste and aroma in 12 samples compared to QC, and 9 tested positive for adulterants like starch and CaCO3. Conductivity and total ash content were reliable indicators of adulteration, as adulterated samples displayed lower values, reflecting reduced mineral content compared to the QC. Moisture content, Brix, pH, and color parameters were less reliable indicators of adulteration due to manufacturing variability, such as processing temperature and filtration methods. Additionally, all market samples exceeded the SLS 521:1981 limit for insoluble matter, suggesting inadequate processing. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a stepwise detection method combining sensory, physico-chemical, and adulterant-specific tests. The findings provide a foundation for ensuring the authenticity of palmyrah jaggery, promoting sustainable production, consumer safety, and market trust.Palmyrah jaggery, a traditional sweetener valued for its nutritional qualities, is susceptible to adulteration, compromising its authenticity and safety. This study aimed to develop a simple, cost-effective on-site protocol by examining the relationships between sensory attributes, physico-chemical properties, and adulterant test results in market samples compared to a control (QC) sample. Twenty jaggery fresh samples from local producers and a laboratory-prepared QC sample were analyzed. Sensory evaluation assessed the attributes of jaggery such as taste and aroma by Difference From Control method, while physico-chemical parameters, including conductivity, total ash content, moisture content, Brix, pH, and color, were measured using standard methods. Adulterant-specific tests, such as sedimentation, iodine, and saccharin detection, were used to identify impurities like rice bran, starch and CaCO3.The sensory evaluation identified significant differences (p < 0.05) in taste and aroma in 12 samples compared to QC, and 9 tested positive for adulterants like starch and CaCO3. Conductivity and total ash content were reliable indicators of adulteration, as adulterated samples displayed lower values, reflecting reduced mineral content compared to the QC. Moisture content, Brix, pH, and color parameters were less reliable indicators of adulteration due to manufacturing variability, such as processing temperature and filtration methods. Additionally, all market samples exceeded the SLS 521:1981 limit for insoluble matter, suggesting inadequate processing. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a stepwise detection method combining sensory, physico-chemical, and adulterant-specific tests. The findings provide a foundation for ensuring the authenticity of palmyrah jaggery, promoting sustainable production, consumer safety, and market trust.

Despite the government and non-governmental organizations have promoted sustainable land management practices to improve agricultural productivity, however; the adoption rate of these practices among smallholder farmers remains low. This study aimed to analyze the determinant factors influencing the adoption of sustainable land management practices and identify the major challenges and constraints in adopting these practices. The data was collected from 267 households randomly using a multistage sampling technique, which included household survey, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions from three sample kebeles in Sekota district during in 2024 production season. Descriptive, inferential statistics and multinomial logit models were used for analyzing quantitative data while the qualitative data was analyzed by interpretation, narrations, and conceptual generalization. The multinomial regression result indicates that; the adoption of livestock manure was positively influenced by household age, education, livestock holdings, and income (P ≤ 10%), while the slope of farmlands and farm size negatively the adoption of livestock manure; compost adoption was positively linked to education, livestock holdings, credit access, and training (P ≤ 10%, whereas age, slope of farmlands and farm size negatively the adoption of compost. Inorganic fertilizer adoption was influenced by education, farm experience, credit access, and income (P ≤ 10%) age, distance to farmlands, slope of farmlands and farm size negatively the adoption of inorganic fertilizer. Integrated methods were positively affected by education, livestock holdings, family size, credit access, and training (P ≤ 10%), while the slope of farmland negatively affects the adoption of integrated methods. Most respondent farmers articulated that changes in the price of agricultural inputs (44.94%), lack of capital (19.1%), tenure security (16.1%), small livestock unit (14.61%), and labor intensiveness (5.24%) were the major challenges related to the adoption of these practices. Therefore, improving access to training, extension services, and credit, experience sharing, improving land productivity per unit area, and addressing the major challenges specific to each practice are crucial to promoting sustainable land management in the district.

Thailand’s significant contribution to the global chicken meat industry demands the adoption of sustainable broiler waste management practices, particularly as countries worldwide strive to implement strict policies aimed at reducing emissions from agricultural products. This study employed the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to analyze diverse stakeholder perceptions regarding the adoption of these practices, utilizing a multi-criteria decision-making approach. Experts prioritized environmental concerns (0.4386), emphasizing sustainability, while farm owners prioritized economic factors (0.5987), reflecting profit-driven motives. Subcriteria analysis highlighted the significance of financial aspects, with “Capital cost” attaining the highest weight (26.05%), followed by environmental concerns like “Climate change” (11.05%). Technical feasibility and societal considerations received moderate prioritization. Stakeholder preferences for waste management methods further highlighted divergent perspectives, with experts favoring gasification for its environmental benefits, while owners prioritized land application for its cost-effectiveness. Composting emerged as a balanced choice. These findings emphasize the importance of considering diverse criteria in waste management decision-making, highlighting the need for comprehensive approaches to ensure sustainability in Thailand's broiler waste management practices.

Cocoa is a product with high economic potential throughout the world. Fermentation of cocoa beans is the most important process in processing cocoa beans, because at this stage the distinctive taste and aroma of chocolate will be formed in the cocoa beans. Getting quality dry cocoa beans requires extensive post-harvest handling. Therefore, it is hoped that this research can speed up the fermentation process while maintaining the quality of cocoa beans by adding NKL yeast to the process. This research was conducted using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) using 2 factors. The first factor is fermentation time which consists of 3 levels, namely 2 days, 4 days and 6 days. Meanwhile, the second factor is yeast concentration which consists of 3 levels, namely 0%, 1% and 2%. The parameters measured include the number of seeds per 100 grams, cut test, fat content water content and temperature. The research results showed that interaction of the length of fermentation time with the concentration of yeast feeding had a significant effect on the variable number of seeds per 100 grams, and had a very significant effect on the variables of water content and fat content, while the effect was not significant on the cut test variable. The best combination of treatments was the combination of period of fermentation time (6 days) and yeast concentration of 2% (L3R3).

The fertility status of Ethiopian soil is greatly dynamic across different landscapes. However, fertilizer recommendation is the use of nitrogen and phosphorus regardless of this landscape variation. Fine-tuning fertilizer recommendations and crop yield variability within and between landscapes attracted research attention in Ethiopia and across the globe. A field study was conducted in 2021 in the Tehuledere district of the South Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region to identify major yield-limiting nutrients for tef across three different landscape positions in a catena slope of 0-5%, 5-15%, and >15%. Fertilizer rates of 80, 57,7,30,1 and 0.3 Kg/ha of N, P2O5, S, K20, Zn, and B respectively were evaluated. The randomized complete block design was used. Dunckun's multiple range test was employed for comparison of treatment means for those which were statistically significant. Micronutrients and K didn't impose significant yield differences compared to the recommended nitrogen and phosphorus. The only difference is the control, percentage reduction, and increment in treatments. The study identifies phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) as the dominating yield-limiting nutrients in tef production in the Tehulederie district, while micronutrients, potassium, and sulfur contributed nothing to yield. The results showed that raising N and P application rates, particularly to 150% of the recommended rates, significantly increased tef grain yield at all topographic positions, emphasizing the need for optimal fertilizer management. Additional research should be conducted to determine specific rates of N and P application at the study area and other similar agroecologies, further focusing on potential micronutrient deficiencies on hill slopes.

The growth of maize is often influenced by soil fertility, and municipal solid waste (MSW) has the potential to enhance soil quality when appropriately processed and supplemented with necessary nutrients, MSW can function as a beneficial fertilizer, supporting plant growth and improving soil health. This study investigates the effect of different Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK) fertilizer rates combined with MSW on the growth and yield of maize. A pot experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ekiti State University, using a completely randomized design with three replicates. The treatments consisted of 25% NPK+MSW, 50% NPK+MSW, 75% NPK+MSW, 100% NPK+MSW, and a control. Fifty kilograms of MSW were weighed into 15 different pots, with various levels of NPK 15:15:15 (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) incorporated. Growth metrics such as plant height, leaf area, number of leaves per plant ear height, and stem girth were accessed and yield parameters such as, Length of cob, Diameter of cob, Number of grains per cob, 100 grain weight, and Yield (g/pot) were also measured. The results revealed that the combination of 100% NPK with MSW resulted in significantly higher values for all growth and yield parameters compared to the control. This suggests that the use of MSW in combination with NPK fertilizer, especially at the 100% rate, can significantly enhance maize growth and lead to improved yield, while also contributing to waste management.