Agricultural Production Research Articles

The effect of day-to-day temperature variability on agricultural productivity

Abstract With rising extreme weather events due to climate change, the impact on agricultural production has become increasingly severe. Yet, there has been a significant gap in research that assesses the influence of day-to-day temperature variability on agricultural productivity on a global scale. Our study addresses this gap by exploring the effects of day-to-day temperature variability and the change of rainfall patterns on agricultural productivity worldwide from 1961 to 2018. The results reveal that day-to-day temperature variability not only has a direct, negative impact on agricultural Total Factor Productivity (TFP), but also influences it by modulating the effects of monthly average temperatures and wet days. One unit increase of day-to-day temperature variability leads to a 2% decrease in TFP. Day-to-day temperature variability neutralizes the impact of monthly average temperature on TFP, while exacerbating the impact of wet days on TFP. Furthermore, extreme rainfall events result in a consistent negative marginal effect across all countries/seasons/rainfall intervals. This study also identifies differentiated impacts across countries with varying income levels. Low-income regions’ TFP demonstrates markedly significant sensitivities to both monthly average temperatures and daily temperature fluctuations, which means less resilient. Furthermore, the impacts of general and extreme rainfall are comparatively less pronounced in high-income countries, indicating higher resilience to climate variability in these regions and a relative vulnerability to extreme weather events in low-income regions. Our findings illuminate the intricate and multifaceted role that daily temperature variability plays in agricultural productivity, providing a theoretical basis for understanding the heterogeneous impacts of climate change on agriculture and contributing insights into the broader discourse on climate resilience and agricultural sustainability.

CRISPR Technology Acts as a Dual-Purpose Tool in Pig Breeding: Enhancing Both Agricultural Productivity and Biomedical Applications

Pigs have long been integral to human society for their roles in agriculture and medicine. Consequently, there is an urgent need for genetic improvement of pigs to meet human dual needs for medicine and food. In agriculture, gene editing can improve productivity traits, such as growth rate and disease resistance, which could lower farming costs and benefit consumers through enhanced meat quality. In biomedical research, gene-edited pigs offer invaluable resources as disease models and in xenotransplantation, providing organs compatible with human physiology. Currently, with CRISPR technology, especially the CRISPR/Cas9 system emerging as a transformative force in modern genetics, pigs are not only sources of sustenance but also cornerstones of biomedical innovation. This review aims to summarize the applications of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in developing pigs that serve dual roles in agriculture and biomedical applications. Compared to ZFNs and TALENs, the CRISPR/Cas9 system offers several advantages, including higher efficiency, greater specificity, ease of design and implementation, and the capability to target multiple genes simultaneously, significantly streamlining the process of genetic modifications in complex genomes. Therefore, CRISPR technology supports the enhancement of traits beneficial for agricultural productivity and facilitates applications in medicine. Furthermore, we must acknowledge the inherent deficiencies and technical challenges of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology while also anticipating emerging technologies poised to surpass CRISPR/Cas9 as the next milestones in gene editing. We hypothesize that with the continuous advancements in gene editing technologies and successful integration of traits beneficial to both agricultural productivity and medical applications, the goal of developing dual-purpose pigs for both agricultural and medical use can ultimately be achieved.

Road Freight Demand Forecasting Using National Accounts’ Data—The Case of Cereals

This paper investigates the potential of utilising historical agricultural production data for enhancing road freight transport forecasting, focusing on cereal production. This study applies a multiple linear regression analysis using national statistical accounts and secondary data. The data were sourced from Finland’s Statistics Agency and the Natural Resources Institute. The analysis identifies an observable correlation between agricultural production and road freight volumes, although this correlation is not statistically significant. The highest adjusted R² observed in the models was 0.62. The analysis reveals that previous years’ production data can help forecast future road freight volumes, with vehicle mileage estimable from recent production and stock levels. Additionally, annual percentage changes in the volume of transported cereals can be partially predicted by the changes in total available cereals and opening stocks from two years prior. This exploratory research highlights the untapped predictive potential of agricultural production variables in forecasting road freight demand, suggesting areas for further forecasting enhancement.

Theoretical Assessment of Agro-Waste for Biogas Production Based on Novel Methodology Related to Biochemical Potential

Agricultural and waste biomasses present viable solutions for utilization in the energy sector, achieving sustainable and long-term transformation into energy and fuel. However, it is important to carefully evaluate the competing applications for these feedstocks, considering both short- and long-term stability. Biomass for biogas production in agriculture and waste management is used due to its availability and ease of handling. Considering everything mentioned, evaluating the most suitable raw materials for biogas production is crucial for meeting sustainability criteria and promoting biomass as an energy source. In this paper, an examination of different biomass sources as possible feedstock to produce biogas by applying a theoretical approach to the proximate and final analysis results of those materials is presented. Based on data from the raw material analysis, the theoretical biochemical methane potential (TBMP) for the considered samples was calculated. Furthermore, the mass and energy balance for the case study biogas plant was also performed. According to the obtained results, the considered feedstocks show the validity of their use for biogas production considering the fulfillment of the raw material minimum quantity, mandatory residue arrangement, and achieving higher efficiency of the energy conversion process.

Progress in Agronomic Crops Lodging Resistance and Prevention: A Review

ABSTRACTCrop lodging is recognised as one of the yield‐limiting factors in agricultural production. Therefore, better understanding to improve lodging resistance and to prevent lodging‐induced losses in agronomic crops is necessary. Besides yield losses, lodging severely affects the crop harvesting process and increases the production cost. However, achieving the objective of higher crop yields and yield quality without increasing lodging risk is quite challenging. To this end, it is essential to interpret the underlying mechanism of plant stem buckling and failure of root anchorage and optimise the fundamental trade‐off between lodging resistance and yield performance in agronomic crops. In the present review, we made an effort to discuss recent and innovative research insights that guarantee greater lodging resistance along with advanced lodging prevention strategies while sustaining higher crop yield and yield quality.

Correlation Analysis of Vertical Ground Movement and Climate Using Sentinel-1 InSAR

Seasonal vertical ground movement (SVGM), which refers to the periodic vertical displacement of the Earth’s surface, has significant implications for infrastructure stability, agricultural productivity, and environmental sustainability. Understanding how SVGM correlates with climatic conditions—such as temperatures and drought—is essential in managing risks posed by land subsidence or uplift, particularly in regions prone to extreme weather events and climate variability. The correlation of periodic SVGM with climatic data from Earth observation was investigated in this work. The European Ground Motion Service (EGMS) vertical ground movement measurements, provided from 2018 to 2022, were compared with temperature and precipitation data from MODIS and CHIRP datasets, respectively. Measurement points (MP) from the EGMS over Italy provided a value for ground vertical movement approximately every 6 days. The precipitation and temperature datasets were processed to provide drought code (DC) maps calculated ad hoc for this study at a 1 km spatial resolution and daily temporal resolution. Seasonal patterns were analyzed to assess correlations with Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (ρ) between this measure and the DCs from the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (DCCEMS), from MODIS + CHIRP (DC1km) and from the temperature. The results over the considered area (Italy) showed that 0.46% of all MPs (32,826 MPs out of 7,193,676 MPs) had a ρ greater than 0.7; 12,142 of these had a positive correlation, and 20,684 had a negative correlation. DC1km was the climatic factor that provided the highest number of correlated MPs, roughly giving +59% more correlated MPs than DCCEMS and +300% than the temperature data. If a ρ greater than 0.8 was considered, the number of MPs dropped by a factor of 10: from 12,142 to 1275 for positive correlations and from 20,684 to 2594 for negative correlations between the DC1km values and SVGM measurements. Correlations that lagged in time resulted in most of the correlated MPs being within a window of ±6 days (a single satellite overpass time). Because the DC and temperature are strongly co-linear, further analysis to assess which was superior in explaining the seasonality of the MPs was carried out, resulting in DC1km significantly explaining more variance in the SVGM than the temperature for the inversely correlated points rather than the directly correlated points. The spatial distribution of the correlated MPs showed that they were unevenly distributed in clusters across the Italian territory. This work will lead to further investigation both at a local scale and at a pan-European scale. An interactive WebGIS application that is open to the public is available for data consultation. This article is a revised and expanded version of a paper entitled “Detection and correlation analysis of seasonal vertical ground movement measured from SAR and drought condition” which was accepted and presented at the ISPRS Mid-Term Symposium, Belem, Brasil, 8–12 November 2024. Data are shared in a public repository for the replication of the method.

The Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network: Cross-site transdisciplinary science to support a sustainable and resilient agriculture.

The Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network is a collaborative initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, aimed at advancing sustainable, resilient agriculture through coordinated research conducted on croplands, grazing lands, and integrated crop/livestock systems. Here we provide an overview of the LTAR network, highlighting its vision, mission, initiatives, recent network activities, and future directions. Network-level research is critical for developing contextually relevant solutions to the challenges faced by agricultural producers. Long-term data collection, stakeholder engagement, and the integration of scientific knowledge are needed to enhance agricultural productivity and its resiliency, environmental quality, profitability, and social well-being into the future.

The state of the Russian agricultural machinery market under sanction pressure conditions

The article is devoted to assessing the development of the Russian market of agricultural machinery (AHT) over the past 10 years. An analysis of the production of the main types of agricultural products, market dynamics, changes in market structure, volumes of purchases by agricultural producers, and the presence of agricultural products in Russian agriculture are presented. For a comparative analysis of the agricultural tractors being sold, their main technical and economic indicators are presented. Calculations were made of the main operational properties (performance, fuel consumption) of tractors of similar traction classes of the Belarus family and Chinese-made tractors presented on the Russian market. Based on correlation analysis, the relationship and direction of indicators were verified: renewal rates, retirement rates and the availability of a fleet of agricultural machinery; acquisition of agricultural equipment and renewal and disposal rates; acquisition of agricultural equipment and availability of agricultural machinery in agricultural organizations. Quite a strong relationship between the indicators: “purchase of agricultural products” and “availability in agricultural organizations” (correlation coefficient r = 0.676 — 0.99), a significant relationship between the indicators: “retirement rate” and “availability of combine harvesters” (correlation coefficient r = from — 0.588 to -0.664), “purchase of tractors” and “disposal coefficient” — r = –0.445, there is practically no relationship between the indicators: “purchase of tractors” and “availability of tractors” — r = –0.06, “renewal coefficient” and “availability grain harvesters” — r = -0.183, “purchase of forage harvesters” and “disposal rate” — r = –0.187. When analyzing the performance properties determined in this study, it was revealed that Chinese tractors presented on the agricultural machinery market will provide significant competition to tractors of the Belarus family.

Delineation and Mapping of Groundwater Quality Assessment in Salem District, Tamil Nadu, India using GIS Techniques

Groundwater is a crucial natural resource with significant economic importance, supporting industrial activities, irrigation, and drinking water supplies. However, its extensive use for these purposes depletes water tables, which diminishes its future availability and leads to increased salinity, stream depletion, and land subsidence. A study was conducted to evaluate and map groundwater quality across different blocks in Salem district viz., Salem, Gangavalli, Thalaivasal, Attur, Pethanaickenpalayam, Valappady, Ayothiyapattinam, Yercaud, Panamarathupatty, Veerapandi, Edappadi, Sankari, Kadayampatti, Kolathur, Konganapuram, Magudanchavadi, Mecheri, Nangavalli, Omalur, and Tharamangalam. Sampling was conducted in February 2024, during which a total of 200 samples were collected and examined for pH, electrical conductivity, cations like Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+, anions like CO32-, HCO3-, SO42-, and Cl-. Based on the ionic concentration, the water quality parameters are derived such as Sodium Adsorption Ratio(SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC). The pH and EC values were ranged from 7.08 to 8.58 and 0.74 to 2.75 dS/m, respectively. The residual sodium carbonate (RSC) concentration ranged from -7.3 to 10.1 meq/L, while the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) ranged from 0.7 to 9.7 meq/L. According to the CSSRI, Karnal Water Quality Classification, approximately 66.5 % of the samples fit into the good quality category, approximately 13% of the samples fit into the alkaline water category, and 20% of the samples fit into the saline water category in the Salem district. Using this classification, thematic maps depicting groundwater quality in the Salem district were generated with ArcGIS software. The study concludes that the majority of the samples are classified as good-quality water, while saline and alkali water emerge as the next major concern. Using this saline water for irrigation can change the soil's physical properties and lower agricultural productivity. Thus, it's crucial to apply soil amendments like gypsum and provide proper drainage to avoid long-term soil damage.

Marketable and Banned Pesticides in Agriculture: Categorization, Simulation, and Crystallography Review

Pesticides are playing a dominant role in modern cultivation practices to increase agricultural production but are also criticized for environmental depletion and soil and underground water degradation in field applications. An imperative need for greener pesticides has emerged in alignment with new innovations in agrarian and agricultural practices. This study provides a comprehensive review of marketable and banned pesticides that have been applied in past times or are still in use in agriculture. The collected literature production disclosed 35 distinct pesticides that were identified either isolated or in mixtures and residues. These pesticides are primarily applied in agricultural fields, but some of them were also criticized for human implications. Then, these 35 pesticides were grouped into four categories: insecticides (18), herbicides (9), fungicides (6), and acaricides (2). Furthermore, their molecular types, chemical structures, pKa or log Kow values were presented. Based on their chemical structure, the pesticides were also organized into two domains: “marketable simulated” and “banned simulated”, representing 43% and 57% of total pesticides, respectively. The simulations were generated by linking the elemental composition of each pesticide in the corresponding category; therefore, three “marketable simulated” (the acaricides were not marketable representative) and four “banned simulated” were demonstrated. In addition, the calculation of “adjustment factors” (−0.33 up to +0.50) and the “as calculated/marketable (or banned) simulated pesticides” ratios (0.946 up to 1.013) enabled the identification of four clusters of homogeneous characteristics: cluster 1: “Insecticides, Fungicides, marketable”, cluster 2: “Herbicides, marketable”, cluster 3: “Insecticides, Fungicides, banned”, and cluster 4: “Acaricides, Herbicides, banned”. Subsequently, the composition of the elements of C and H enabled the crystallography characterization of only the “marketable” pesticides, not those that are “banned”, with compounds that have been already registered in the “Crystallography Open Database”. Conclusively, implications, challenges, and future research recommendations have been proposed.

Soybean cultivation in Russia under modern conditions

The article presents an analysis of the current state of soybean production in the Russian Federation. It is shown that the production of this valuable high-protein oilseed crop over the previous years has made a huge breakthrough in conquering the market and increasing its share in the country’s total agricultural production. In Russia, in 2023, a record was set for the gross soybean production in history, with a total grain of 6.8 million tons. At the same time, the production leader also changed: from the traditional Far East, where soybeans have been cultivated for more than 100 years, to the Central Federal District, which has achieved the largest gross soybean yields in the country – about 3.0 million tons. Production growth is realized not only through extensive development paths, but also through increasing crop productivity. In 2023, the average yield in the country was 1.92 t/ha, which is also a historical maximum. It should be noted that in increasing productivity, the direction has been taken, according to the Food Security Doctrine, to increase to 75% the share of seeds of domestic varieties in the total volume by 2030, and for this there are all the necessary resources.

Influence of Crop Residue Management on Maize Production Potential

Residue management at the farm level is essential for ensuring sustainable agricultural productivity. This field experiment, initiated in 2005, provides maize data from 2016 to 2018. This study evaluates the impact of crop residue management and fertilization on maize yield and yield components. Maize was grown in a crop rotation sequence consisting of field pea (Pisum sativum L.), durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.), and maize (Zea mays L.). The measures studied include aboveground biomass removal (K), aboveground biomass incorporation (R), mineral fertilizer application (F), and their combination (RF). The results indicate that R and RF significantly improve yield parameters, such as kernel number per ear (KNE), thousand seed weight (TSW), stalk yield, and harvest index (HI), compared to control (K) or aboveground biomass incorporation alone (R). Grain yield varied across the years, with significant increases being observed for the fertilizer treatments, particularly when combined with straw or stalk incorporation. A nominal increase in grain yield of 1.43 t ha−1 for the F treatment and 1.86 t ha−1 for the RF treatment represents an increase of 39% to 51% compared to K and R. Strong positive correlations were observed between grain yield and several factors, including ears per hectare (0.61), KNE (0.94), TSW (0.61), and HI (0.85). These findings underscore the role of crop residue management and promoting sustainable crop production.

Climate Change Impacts on Agricultural Systems Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies: A Review

Climate change poses a substantial threat to global agricultural systems, impacting crop yields, livestock productivity, and resource availability through rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. This review synthesizes current understanding of climate change impacts on agriculture and explores strategies for mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while enhancing system resilience through adaptation. Mitigation approaches, such as conservation agriculture, agroforestry, and improved nutrient and livestock management, show significant potential to reduce emissions and increase carbon sequestration. However, economic, technological, and institutional barriers such as high implementation costs, limited access to finance, and inadequate policy support restrict their adoption. Adaptation strategies, including crop diversification, advanced water management, and climate-resilient technologies, are critical for sustaining agricultural productivity in variable climates. Synergies between mitigation and adaptation, such as integrating trees into croplands, can provide co-benefits, but trade-offs arise when resource competition occurs or land is diverted from food production to carbon sequestration. The review highlights the need for interdisciplinary research, robust data infrastructure, and tailored policies to bridge knowledge and resource gaps, particularly in vulnerable regions. Successful implementation requires coordinated efforts across stakeholders, supported by enabling policy frameworks that incentivize sustainable practices and align with global climate goals. Future research should prioritize understanding the long-term impacts of integrated strategies, enhancing monitoring systems, and fostering inclusive approaches that consider local contexts and socio-economic conditions. Addressing these challenges holistically will be crucial to building resilient agricultural systems capable of maintaining food security and supporting livelihoods in the face of accelerating climate change.

Effect of Organic Fertilization Based on Cattle Dung in Village Cultivation of Sugar Cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) in Immature Phase in Northern Ivory Coast

This study aimed to determine the dose of organic fertilizer adapted to the agroecological conditions of the Ferkéssédougou zone during the immature or vegetative phase with a view to improving agricultural productivity in rainfed sugar cane cultivation. The trial was conducted using a Fisher block experimental design with three (3) repetitions and six (6) treatments including the control treatment. The observations mainly focused on growth parameters. Health monitoring was also carried out to detect the presence of diseases. Regarding growth parameters, no statically significant effect of fertilizers was observed between treatments. However, the fertilizers used had a positive impact in terms of gain compared to the control. Thus, three (3) groups of fertilizers stood out. Group 1 was composed of mineral manure at the normal dose (350 kg/ha of NPK), organic manure at the normal dose (20t/ha), double dose of compost (40 t/ha) and the organo-mineral mixture, namely the normal dose of compost (20t/ha) + half dose of mineral fertilizer (175 kg/ha of NPK). These treatments promoted good emergence, good elongation of the plants with large diameters and a large number of internodes. Group 2, composed only of half a dose of compost (10 t/ha), allowed us to have a large number of stems. For group 3, corresponding to the control treatment, no growth parameter was correlated. No symptoms of major illnesses were observed during the observations. The M1400/86 variety used is resistant to termite attack.

Influences on Consumer Behaviour Regarding the Purchase Intention of Poultry Products

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify factors influencing effective purchasing behaviours in the context of poultry products. Theoretical Framework: The investigation into agricultural product purchases remains a relatively under-researched area within academic literature, particularly concerning detailed analyses of consumer behaviour. This study responds to the theoretical need raised by Pang et al. (2021) to apply their research methodology to different contexts. Method: The methodology adopted for this research was an online survey with a sample of 358 individuals in Colombia. The data analysis was carried out using Structural Equations Modelling with structures in variance. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that aspects such as Trust, Corporate ability, Brand positioning, Consumer cognition and Health consciousness are crucial for consumers of these products. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed indicate that aspects such as Trust, Corporate ability, Brand positioning, Consumer cognition and Health consciousness are crucial for consumers of these products. These factors are considered critical for consumers engaged in purchasing these types of products and provide substantive insights for the broader market of primary consumer goods. Originality/Value: The findings contribute to the scarce literature on consumer behaviour in agricultural product purchasing, offering a nuanced understanding of the determinants that drive consumer choices in this sector.

Long-term alfalfa planting mediates the coupling of soil water and organic carbon storage in a semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau, China

The key to restoring arid and semi-arid ecosystems is maintaining soil water and organic carbon contents. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a high-yield perennial forage crop and performs ecological functions as a drought-resistance leguminous herb. It has been widely planted for reconstruction of degraded soils in the Loess Plateau in northwestern China, but long-term planting may affect soil carbon–water coupling and lead to crop yield reduction. To maximize the benefits of reconstructed grassland, this study explored the couplings of soil water, organic carbon, and alfalfa productivity along a reconstruction chronosequence in a semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau. Space-for-time substitution approach was used to select different-aged stands of reconstructed grassland (1, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30 years old). Alfalfa above-ground biomass (AGB), soil water storage (SWS), organic carbon storage (SOCS), and carbon–water coupling coordination degree (D) were measured in the 0–100 cm soil profile. Alfalfa AGB reached a peak in the 7th year, and the degradation began in the 10th year. Both SWS and SOCS varied nonlinearly with stand age. The greatest loss of SWS occurred in the 15th year (80–100 cm depth), whereas the largest increase of SOCS occurred in the 30th year (0–20 cm depth). There was a negative feedback relationship between AGB and SWS over the 30-year study period (Pearson r = −0.835, P = 0.098). AGB and SOCS initially showed a trade-off within the first 10 years (Pearson r = −0.7431, P = 0.2569), in contrast to their positive feedback in the 20–30th years (Pearson r = 0.9978, P = 0.0421). A decoupling between SWS and SOCS (D < 0.6) was observed after 12 years of alfalfa planting. For agricultural production, a greater supply of water and organic fertilizer is required from the 7th year of alfalfa planting, and reseeding may be needed around the 10th year to prolong the life of alfalfa community. Alfalfa should be planted for no more than 12 consecutive years in the study area for ecological protection.

PENINGKATAN DAYA SAING DAN KESEJAHTERAAN KT. KOMPITU HIJAU SEBAGAI GARDEN CITY MELALUI DIGITAL MARKETING

KT Kompitu Hijau faces challenges in marketing fresh agricultural products only through Whatsapp Group. Marketing of derivative products such as vegetable chips, healthy vegetable juice, dawet spinach, instant herbal medicine is limited to certain events organized by the Department. As well as less than optimal production management related to less attractive product packaging and water and electricity problems. The solution to overcome these problems requires training and mentoring in Digital Marketing as well as training and mentoring in production management. The method used in the training and mentoring of Digital Marketing and Production Management is the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) approach which involves the community in the development process. As well as the FGD method to determine the right marketing strategy. The results after carrying out community empowerment activities are KT. Kompitu can market and sell products online through GrabMart E-Commerce, Instagram and WhatsApp Business Toko Kompitu Sehat. The results of assistance and training in production management of KT Kompitu Hijau are able to produce products that are packaged and have an attractive logo. As well as having optimal waters to produce the best products. KT Kompitu Hijau won 1st place in the Yogyakarta City Vegetable Landscape Competition which was attended by 34 farmer groups in Yogyakarta City. The evaluation results show that digital literacy has increased. This community empowerment activity was organized as a contribution to increasing the competitiveness and welfare of KT. Kompitu Hijau.

Regulators for ensuring the sustainability of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing

The necessity of developing a system of regulators to ensure the sustainability of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing is substantiated. An assessment of the efficiency of fruit production in the Russian Federation is given. The factors influencing the decrease in the stability of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing are identified: an increase in the cost of purchased resources; high cost of finished products; a reduction in the share of subsidies in the created cost of planting; the insufficiency of agricultural producers’ own financial resources for carrying out planned plantings renovations, updating production infrastructure funds and carrying out current production activities. Functional imbalances in the organization of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing have been identified: internal structural imbalances, high resource intensity of production and technological processes, non-compliance with optimal comparability of production and economic indicators. Generalizing criteria for the sustainability of reproductive processes are systematized: the ability of the system to withstand negative impacts of an economic and natural nature; increasing the possibilities of expanded reproduction of all used resources; ensuring qualitative changes in the production, socio-economic, environmental parameters of the system; increasing the conditions for subsequent improvements, preventing production declines. The article characterizes and evaluates the effectiveness of existing regulators to ensure the sustainability of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing (macroeconomic, technical, technological and economic). A system of regulators has been developed to ensure the stability of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing in functional areas of influence. An algorithm is proposed to substantiate the necessary dimensionality of regulators to ensure the stability of reproductive processes in industrial fruit growing.

Climate and political effects on agriculture: Empirical evidence from SSA

AbstractThe most of Sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries have been affected by climate change and food insecurity problems due to the reduction of production and productivity of cereal crops in the continent. The purpose of this research was to examine the short‐run and long‐run effects of climate change on agricultural productivity in 24 selected SSA countries. In the study, a systematic Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) Model was used with recent data from 24 SSA countries from 2001 to 2020. The panel regression result revealed that temperature and precipitation showed positive significant effects whereas carbon dioxide emission had negatively influenced the cereal crop productivity in the region. Specifically, the empirical result indicates that a one percent increase in precipitation increases cereal crop productivity by 0.27%. The empirical result of the GMM model revealed that political stability, temperature, GDP per capita, trade openness, carbon dioxide emission, fertilizer consumption, and precipitation have both short‐run and long‐run effects, while precipitation has only a short‐run effect on agricultural productivity in the study area. A key implication of this work is the realization of the lagging effects of climate change in determining cereal crop production and productivity. This study was unable to include all SSA countries because the excluded countries did not have sufficient data on the selected variables in the study. Hence, adopting high‐temperature and drought‐resistant types of enhanced cereal crops is advised to combat the negative effects of climate change in the study area.

Biostimulant effect of Cladophora glomerata extract on garden cress plant growth

Biostimulants that improve agriculture's productivity and environmental responsibility are widely favored and used. Algae has emerged as a viable option for sustainable agriculture. In the present study, the effects of the Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kütz. aqueous extract in three concentrations (2.5, 5, and 10 mg extract per mL of tap water) was tested on the growth and productivity of garden cress (GCR) Lepidium sativum L., plants over 12 days, and the results were compared with those of the control group (irrigated only with tap water). The effect of the algae extract was studied by assessing the changes in phenolic compounds using HPLC–DAD and determining the chlorophyll content as well as the total antioxidant capacity of the GCR using DPPH and ABTS tests. Total phenolics, as well as total flavonoids, were measured. The potential role of algae extract in promoting cress plant growth was attained when compared to the control, mainly at a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL, which exhibited the highest yield growth after 12 days and presented the highest antioxidant capacity at 13.53 ± 1.16 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g dry weight (DW), compared to 10.44 ± 0.33 mgTE/g DW for the control. The total phenolic content significantly increased (p < 0.05) from 14.34 ± 0.84 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/ g dry weight (DW) to 23.14 ± 0.55 mg GAE/g DW. Eleven phenolic compounds were identified in different tested samples of GCR, whether treated or not treated with algae extracts. Chrysin was only identified in the treated plants. Therefore, the use of algae (C. glomerata) presents promising potential as a biostimulant in agriculture, contributing to increased plant growth and improved resistance to environmental stress.