Average Yield Research Articles

BJRI Mesta 4: A newly released improved vegetable Mesta variety of Hibiscus sabdariffa L.

Vegetable mesta, also known as roselle, is a common species in many countries for confectioneries and a good source of nutrients and antioxidants. BJRI Mesta 4 is a nutrient-rich, climate-smart and widely adaptable vegetable Mesta cultivar that was developed by the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) and released by the National Seed Board (NSB) in 2022. To explore the superiority of the new variety, a study was conducted on yield and yield components using multivariate analysis over two planting seasons compared with the well-known variety BJRI Mesta 2. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.01 or 0.05) were recorded among the qualitative and quantitative traits. It also possesses in Multi-location Trials during 2018 and 2019, the average yield of leaf, fruit and calyx of BJRI Mesta 4 was found 7.25%, 11.51% and 10.49% higher in BJRI regional stations respectively compared to the check variety. Plant height, branches per plant, fruit yield and leaf yield were taken into consideration during selection to create vegetable mesta types with appropriate yield. However, based on yield capacity, adaptability and nutraceutical properties, the newly released cultivar BJRI Mesta 4 can be recommended and promoted to the herbal food product industry in addition to being a substitute for leafy vegetables. With these views kept in mind, the study that has been conducted now may help in creating trustworthy selection criteria for programs to improve vegetable mesta breeding in the future.

Milk production and viability of the various smallholder dairying models used in Zimbabwe.

An evaluation of milk yield, dairy products and viability of the smallholder dairy production models used in Zimbabwe was carried out. We used secondary data on 1167 smallholder dairy farmers. These were categorised into commercial dairying (119), Milk collection centre (MCC) bulking and processing (145), MCC bulking and delivering to processor (87), farm gate (468) and other (348) models. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25.0. The average daily milk yield per cows was highest in the Commercial dairying model (9.20 ± 0.4l) but was not significantly different from the MCC bulking and processing and MCC bulking and delivering to processor models. Average lactation milk yield per cow was highest (P < 0.05) in the commercial dairying model (2804.91 ± 133.9l) and was significantly different from the rest of the models. The processed milk products identified in the study were fermented milk, pasteurised milk and unspecified products but production volumes were very low in the respective models. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in gross margin across all the smallholder dairying models. The commercial dairying model surpassed all models on proportion of pure exotic dairy breeds, number of milking cows, milk yield. However, it was discovered that all models were underperforming but smallholder dairy farmers can be recommended to adopt the commercial dairying model if measures to improve milk yield per cow and reduce milk production costs are established.

Quantifying the rainfall variability effects on crop growth and production in the intensified annual forage - winter wheat rotation systems in a semiarid region of China

Replacing summer fallow period (July to September, SF) with annual short-season forages in the traditional fallow-winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system may maintain grain yield and improve productivity in the semi-arid environments. But the uneven and variability rainfall led to instable productivity of the annual forage–winter wheat cropping system. The aims of this study were to 1) quantifying rainfall variability effects on annual forage–winter wheat system crop growing process and productivity; 2) determine the optimal annual forage–winter wheat production system that will response better to future climate change. A four-year (2016–2020) field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of replacing summer fallow period with annual forages including oat (FO, Avena sativa L.), soybean (SB, Glycine max L.), and vetch (FV, Vicia sativa L.) on plant height (H), leaf area index (LAI), and above-ground biomass (AByield) growth index dynamics under three different levels of rainfall manipulation i.e. 30 % of ambient rainfall exclusion (R-30 %), natural rainfall (CK), and 30 % of ambient rainfall increase (R+30 %). Additionally, we assessed the correlations between forage and winter wheat production with growing season precipitation across 12 rainfall scenarios. Average forage biomass values of oat, soybean, and vetch were 5.50, 4.29, and 2.82 t ha−1, respectively during summer fallow period. The average winter wheat grain yield values in SF, FO, SB, and FV were 3.78, 3.12, 4.02, and 3.18 t ha−1, respectively. Integrating oat into fallow period had negative effects on wheat growth and production, and the H, LAI, and AByield for FO were 63.7 %, 50.9 %, and 29.9 % lower than SF in dry year, but the wheat grain yield in SB were 18.2 % and 24.8 % greater than SF in normal and wet years. Across the four growing seasons, the forage and wheat yields were shown to be strongly related to precipitation, and increasing precipitation significantly enhanced the production. In 2016–2017 growing season, LAI of wheat in SF, FO, SB, and FV with R+30 % scenario was increased by 30.2 %, 21.7 %, 32.7 %, and 19.8 % and that with R-30 % scenario decreased by 23.2 %, 17.8 %, 24.7 %, 16.5 % compared CK, respectively. The traditional summer fallow practice had advantage for maintaining stability in wheat gain production, especially under dry years. In consideration of forage and wheat production to rainfall variability, integrating soybean into fallow season may be an efficient option to maintain wheat yield and produce high forage amount under future climate change on the Loess Plateau and similar semi-arid regions.

Evaluation of Promising Lines of Lai Patta (Brassica juncea var rugosa L.) Suitable for Cultivation in North Eastern India

The present study was carried out with ten accessions of laipatta (Brassica juncea var rugosa L.) in Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat in order to identify suitable high yielding variety(s) with desirable quality characters. The accessions viz., JorMLG-1, JorMLP-2, MLG-3, MLP-4, MLG-5, MLP-6, ShLG-7, KjLP-8, ChL-9 (Check), and KL-10(Check) were collected from different districts of Assam and North East. They were evaluated consecutively for three years in station trials in the Dept. of Horticulture, AAU, Jorhat for plant yield and other quantitative and quality characters. The accessions were tested in Multilocation trials in five research stations. In these trials. among all genotypes JorMLG-1 and JorMLP-2 were found to be the best for plant yield and other component characters. The On Farm trials conducted in 12 farmers’ fields in Jorhat and Kokrajhar districts of the state exhibited average plant yield of 350.1 q/ha in JorMLG-1 and 318.2 q/ha in JorMLP-2 with 34 – 48% yield increase over the best check variety (ChL-9). JorMLG-1was a green leaf variety whereas JorMLP-2 was a greenish purple variety. The edible leaves could be harvested upto 60 days in JorMLG-1 and 55 days in JorMLP-2 after transplanting till the initiation of bolters. However, the best check variety ChL-9 showed bolting at 25 days after transplanting. Estimation of quality characters revealed 147.6 mg ascorbic acid, 186 mg calcium and 11.21 mg iron per 100g in JorMLG-1 whereas 145.2 mg ascorbic acid, 176 mg calcium and 10.61 mg iron per 100g in JorMLP-2. They have been recommended in the Zonal Research Committee Meeting and Annual Technical Committee Meeting held at Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during 2019-20 for release in the state of Assam. In view of yield performance, consumer preference and taste, the varieties are spreading very fast and getting popularity throughout entire NE states. However, more study is required on quality traits, genetic parameters and molecular aspects.

The Influence of Crossbreeding on the Composition of Protein and Fat Fractions in Milk: A Comparison Between Purebred Polish Holstein Friesian and Polish Holstein Friesian × Swedish Red Cows.

In this study, the differences in protein and fat bioactive components between the milk from purebred Polish Holstein Friesian (PHF) cows and PHF cows crossbred with Swedish Red (SRB) were investigated. The objective was to assess the impact of genetic variation on the nutritional quality of their milk. This study was conducted at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences' (WULS) experimental dairy farm in Warsaw, Poland, and involved 60 primiparous cows divided into two groups: 30 PHF×SRB crossbred cows and 30 purebred PHF cows. All cows were housed in a free-stall system with an average lactation yield exceeding 10,000 kg/lactation. The milk composition analyses included total protein, casein, whey protein, fatty acid profiles, and vitamin content. Milk from the PHF×SRB hybrids showed a significantly greater total protein content (3.53%) compared to that from the purebred PHF cows (3.28%). The casein content was higher in the hybrids' milk (2.90%) than the purebreds' milk (2.78%), while the whey protein levels were lower in the purebred milk (0.50%) than in the hybrid milk (0.63%). The hybrids exhibited higher concentrations of certain saturated fatty acids in their milk, while the purebreds' milk contained greater amounts of beneficial unsaturated fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins-E, D, and K. These results indicate that genetic selection through crossbreeding can enhance the nutritional quality of milk. The differences observed in protein, fatty-acid, and vitamin content underscore the role of the genotype in milk composition, suggesting that breeding strategies can optimize dairy products' health benefits.

Fast neutron generation with few-cycle, relativistic laser pulses at 1 Hz repetition rate

Laser-driven deuterons generate neutrons with a mean energy of 2.5 MeV, through the 2H(d,n) fusion reaction in a deuterated polyethylene (dPE) tablet. The deuterium ions are accelerated by 12 fs, 21 mJ laser pulses interacting with a 0.2 µm thin dPE foil at a peak intensity of 1018 W/cm2. The laser was operated at 1 Hz repetition rate in bursts of 75 shots. The interaction was characterized and recorded for each laser shot. The ion spectra were measured in the forward and backward directions by Thomson ion spectrometers. Neutron events were detected by a time-of-flight (ToF) system consisting of four plastic scintillators positioned at various angles around the experimental chamber. The maximum cut-off energy of the forward accelerated protons and deuterons was close to 1.4 MeV and 1 MeV, while the mean values are 428 ± 63 keV and 433 ± 80 keV, respectively. Analysis of ToF distributions from 3128 shots resulted in an average yield of 1142 ± 59 neutrons per shot in the energy range of 1.5–4 MeV. The energy distribution of forward-directed neutrons peaks between 3 and 3.5 MeV. Angular dependence analysis showed a perpendicular minimum and a maximum along the deuteron beam, consistent with the expected distribution from the literature and our simulation results.

Grain yield predictor model using agronomic aspects and vegetative indices of soybean

The objective of this work was to evaluate, through a predictive model, which factors influence soybean yield, using agronomic aspects and vegetative indices, in addition to identifying the best soybean cultivar for the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul. The experimental design used was strips with randomized blocks, consisting of 10 cultivars and five blocks. Analyzing the quantitative characters, the positive contributions to yield came from the grain weight of vegetables with two grains, and the grain weight of the plant, having a strong influence on the average grain yield. The vegetable grain weight with three grains contributed negatively to the yield, as the average grain weight was lower than expected, lowering the average grain yield. For the vegetation indices that contributed positively, the GRAY, IGB and RGRI index stand out, while the BGI, GLI2, GRAY2, IGR, IRB, NRBDI and NG indices had negative contributions to the average grain yield. The NEO 581 E cultivar showed better yield performance, reaching 5780 kg ha⁻1, followed by the SOYTECH 541 I2X cultivar, which reached a yield of 5356 kg ha⁻1. The predictive model identified the main variables that influenced final yield, with Cercospora sojina and Corynespora casiicola, grain weight in three-grain legumes, plant grain weight, GRAY index, IGB, NGBDI and RGRI, the variables that contributed positively to grain yield.

Are narwhals critical for the meat supply in East Greenland ?

In East Greenland, the recommendations for the closure of the narwhal (Monodon monoceros) hunt coincide with a pressing demand to continue hunting for meat to supply local communities. By analysing catch statistics and estimating average meat yields, the available meat from marine mammals, polar bears (Ursus maritimus), and muskox (Ovibos moschatus) in East Greenland can be assessed. On average, there was approximately 426 tonnes of meat available per year during this period. However, this quantity declined due to reduced catches of hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) and ringed seals (Phoca hispida) after 2007. This decline was somewhat offset by the inclusion of new species in the hunt, such as dolphins (Delphinidae), killer whales (Orcinus orca), and pilot whales (Globicephala melas). The average annual meat availability per inhabitant decreased from 150 kg before 2008 to 94 kg afterward. Narwhals consistently contributed approximately 5–6% of the total annual meat supply in Greenland over the observed period, which suggests that narwhal meat is not critical for the overall food supply. The inclusion of the need for meat in discussions surrounding sustainable harvest levels has been a point of controversy, particularly in cases where an urgent halt to hunting is needed.

Improved material properties of wire arc additively manufactured Al-Zn-mg-cu alloy through severe deformation interlayer friction stir processing and post-deposition heat treatment

In this study, Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys were prepared by wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) combined with interlayer friction stir processing (IFSP). To enhance the FSP region, an improved stirring pin was designed to broaden the stir zone effectively. Moreover, the effects of typical T6 and T73 heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of as-deposited (AS) specimen were meticulously investigated. The results indicated that heat treatments had minimal impact on grain size, dislocation density, and texture strength, but significantly altered the type, size, and distribution of precipitates. The differences in strength were primarily attributed to precipitation strengthening rather than grain boundary or dislocation strengthening. Following T6 heat treatment, the precipitates were predominantly η’, which were smaller in size and exhibited a significantly increased number density compared to AS specimen. Therefore, the average yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased by 39.51 % (500.21 MPa) and 15.84 % (584.26 MPa), respectively. In contrast, T73 treatment caused a substantial number of fine η’ to transform into coarser η, leading to a significant decrease in precipitate number density. Consequently, compared to T6 specimen, the average YS and UTS decreased by 47.19 % and 13.13 %, respectively.

Relay strip intercropping of soybeans and maize achieves high net ecosystem economic benefits by boosting land output and alleviating greenhouse gas emissions.

Cereal-legume intercropping provides a solution for achieving global food security, but the mechanism of greenhouse gas emissions and net ecosystem economic benefits of maize-soybean relay intercropping are poorly understood. Hence, we conducted a two-factor experiment to investigate the effects of cropping systems, containing maize-soybean relay intercropping (IMS), monoculture maize (M) and monoculture soybean (S), as well as three nitrogen levels at 0 (N0), 180 (N1), 240 (N2) kg N ha-1 on crop grain yield, greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon stock and net ecosystem economic benefit (NEEB). The average grain yield of IMS (7.7 t ha-1) increased by 28.5% and 242.4% compared with M (6.0 t ha-1) and S (2.2 t ha-1). The land equivalent ratio (LER) of IMS was 2.0, which was mainly contributed by maize (partial LER: 1.2) rather than soybean (partial LER: 0.8). Although the total grain yield of IMS remarkably enhanced by 43.6% and 45.5% in N1 and N2 contrast in N0, the LER was 37.5% and 38.6% lower in N1 and N2 than in N0. The net global warming potential (GWP) of maize and soybean was 11.6% and 1.8% lower in IMS than in the corresponding monoculture, which resulted from a decline in GWP and enhanced soil organic carbon stock rate. Moreover, NEEB was 133.5% higher in IMS (14 032.0 Chinese yuan per year) than in M, mainly resulting from an increase in total economic gains and a decline in GWP cost. A more robust response in yield gain rather than total costs to N inputs of IMS led to 46.8% and 48.3% higher NEEB in N1 and N2 than in N0. Maize-soybean relay intercropping with 180 kg N ha-1 application can obtain yield advantages without raising environmental costs, which provides an approach to achieving sustainable agricultural production. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Optimization of Potato Cultivation Through the Use of Biostimulator Supporter

Seed potato treatment is vital for plant protection, yield enhancement, and product quality. In the conducted research, the plant biostimulator Supporter was applied to evaluate its impact on potato yields and its structure. Supporter contains both synthetic and SL amino acids, which promote plant growth by enhancing nutrient utilization and fostering the development of a more effective root system. Such a formulation allows to maintain better resistance to environmental stresses, which may include drought or nutrient deficiency, among others. The field study was conducted in 2015–2017 in four towns located in different regions of Poland (Barankowo, Głubczyce, Kędrzyno, and Ryn) using a randomized complete block design with a split-plot design. Varieties (‘Innovator’, ‘Lilly’, ‘Lady Claire’, and ‘Verdi’) were tested. The experiment compared the cultivation technology using Supporter biostimulator with which seed potatoes were treated compared to conventional cultivation (control object) by soaking the tubers in distilled water before planting. The total yield of potato tubers after Supporter application was higher by 13.3%, while the commercial yield increased by 21.1% compared to the traditional cultivation method. The most productive, regardless of cultivation technology and years of research, in terms of total tuber yield was the ‘Lilly’ variety with an average yield of 47.95 t∙ha−1, while the least productive variety was the ‘Innovator’ variety with an average yield of 29.93 t∙ha−1. The ‘Lady Claire’ variety had the highest commercial tuber yield, while the ‘Innovator’ variety had the lowest.

Direct Seeding of wheat Using Happy Seeder in Paddy Residue Conditions in Madhya Pradesh, India

Trials were conducted on direct sowing of wheat variety GW-322 through happy seeder in combine harvested rice fields in district Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh, during two successive year’s viz. 2015-16 and 2016-17. The control treatment was conventional field preparation after combine harvesting of rice followed by sowing of wheat by seed cum fertilizer drill. District Narsinghpur lies in Central Narmada valley region of India. The average annual rainfall of the district is 1136 mm [1] (Yadav et.al. 2021). Soils of the district come under the vertisol category. Results showed that crop yield and net return under the direct sowing of wheat through happy seeder was higher than that obtained under the conventional method. Direct sowing through happy seeder fetched an average crop yield of 47.45 q/ha whereas under the conventional method it was 43.10 q/ha. The net return under direct sowing through happy seeder was Rs. 59025/- per ha whereas it was only Rs. 48850/- per ha under the conventional method. Happy seeder is an innovative technology and is being widely adopted to reduce stubble problem and conserve soil and environment. The results showed that the direct sowing of wheat through happy seeder performed better than conventional field preparation followed by sowing through conventional seed cum fertilizer drill in combine harvested rice fields.

Cotton Response to Foliar Potassium Application in South Texas Dryland

Potassium (K) deficiency is common in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)-growing areas. This study aims to investigate the effects of different rates of foliar K fertilizer application on three cotton varieties: NG 5711 B3XF (V1), PHY 480 W3FE (V2), and FM 1953GLTP (V3). Potassium fertilizer was dissolved in water and was foliar-applied at 34, 50, and 67 kg ha−1. Cotton plant height (CH) and canopy width (CW) were monitored throughout the growing season. The results showed that foliar K fertilizer application significantly impacted the CH and CW in dry years. Although insignificant, the cotton lint yield increased by 15% and 20% with 34 and 50 kg ha−1 in 2020 and by 9% and 7% with 50 and 67 kg ha−1 in 2021, indicating the potential for improved lint yield with foliar K application in rainfed production systems. Similarly, variety V3 had significantly greater lint and seed yields than V1 in 2020. The average lint yield among the varieties was 32%, and the seed yield was 27% greater in 2020 than in 2021. The cotton fiber color grade was significantly greater at 50 kg ha−1 in 2020 and 67 kg ha−1 in 2021. Cotton variety significantly affected color grade, uniformity, staple length, Col, RD, and Col-b contents in 2020 and 2021. The results suggest that foliar K application can enhance cotton production in rainfed production systems. However, more research is required to quantify varietal and foliar K application rates for improved lint yield and quality.

Pre-extension Popularization of Improved Dual Purpose Koekoek Chickens in Tahtay Maichew District Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Central zone of Tigray has potential and poultry stock. However, the productivity in terms of egg and meat is low since the majority of household depends on local chickens and rearing of their chickens through a traditional production practices. Then, the objectives of the pre-extension popularization of Koekoek breed was i) to popularize and evaluate the production performance the Koekoek breed chickens in the small holder Farmers and ii) To analyze farmers feedback towards this improved Koekoek chickens breed at smallholder farmers' management. T/maichew District, My-sie kebelle was selected based on the project financial support of Irish Aid Operational Research (OR) purposely. A total of 17 household heads willingly participated to adopt the Koekoek breeds. Data record sheet and semi-structured questionnaires were prepared to collect the required data. Then, using simple descriptive and Likert measurement level used to achieve result. The finding of the research shows that an annual average yield was found to be 204 eggs per year/ chicken. Similarly, the respondents agreed on that the chickens have well adapted, good growing ability, relatively resistance to diseases, have good scavenging ability, and productivity as well have medium eggs size and good egg and meat tasty of Koekoek chickens. The improved chickens’ breed (Koekoek) is better to be transferred to other mandate areas of Axum Agricultural Research Center. In addition, collaboration of stakeholders needs to be strengthening so that large scale demonstration community production system is going to be functional. Strengthen the human resource and institutional innovations are important point for dissemination of the improved poultry breeds to all beneficiaries of small holder farmers.

Comparative study of the reproductive activity of Calliptamus barbarus (Costa, 1839) and Calliptamus wattenwylianus (Pantel, 1836) in a subhumid bioclimatic region

The reproductive activity of Calliptamus barbarus and Calliptamus wattenwylianus was investigated to understand population dynamics and reproductive potential in a subhumid bioclimatic zone. Specimens were collected from July to October and dissected to assess ovarian development and egg-laying activity. The number of ovarioles, determined at birth, ranged from 62 to 67 for C. wattenwylianus and 48 to 58 for C. barbarus. Higher fertility was observed in C. wattenwylianus, with egg production increasing during the first oviposition for both species. The average reproductive yield was notable for C. barbarus (85.99%) and C. wattenwylianus (86.56%). Oocyte resorption occurred mainly during drought (August-September) and cold periods (October-November). C. wattenwylianus females reached maturity earlier, beginning in August, compared to C. barbarus. Egg production began in July for C. wattenwylianus and in September for C. barbarus. Oocyte retention rates were 5% for C. barbarus and 9% for C. wattenwylianus. These findings provide insights into reproductive patterns in North African Orthoptera, with implications for pest control in subhumid regions.

Evaluation of Black-jack (Bidens pilosa L.) substrate for the production of Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) mushroom

Using commonly used agricultural byproducts as a substrate for cultivating mushrooms is challenging due to their high cost. Finding economically viable alternative substrates with a high biomass return, particularly for mushroom production like P. ostreatus, is essential. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of the weed (Black-jack straw) for oyster mushroom cultivation. Oyster fruiting bodies were obtained from mushroom growers in Mekelle city, Ethiopia. Mycelial culture was secreted via tissue culture and it was used as inoculum for spawn development. The substrates were chopped, weighed (500 g dry weight of substrate), and sterilized. The substrates were packed in polyethylene bags, inoculated with 4% (w/w) spawn. The five treatments, consisting of various blends of Black-jack and wheat straws, were arranged in completely randomized design with triplicates. The highest average total yield (351 g/bag) and biological efficiency (70.20%) were obtained from 100% Black-jack straw. However, lower yield (199 g/bag) and biological efficiency (39.80%) were obtained from 100% wheat straw. Higher (8.78 cm) mean cap diameter and higher (3.48 cm) mean stipe length were recorded from 75% wheat straw + 25% Black-jack straw and 50% wheat straw + 50% Black-jack straw. This study revealed that the best substrate for overall mushroom yield and biological efficiency was 100% Black-jack. Therefore, the Black-jack straw can be considered as low-cost substrate to effectively substitute wheat straw for the cultivation of oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) mushroom in the studied area.

Enhancing soybean yield stability and soil health through long-term mulching strategies: Insights from a 13-year study

Sustainable agriculture systems incorporate important stabilizing mechanisms, such as mulching, for increasing yield and improving soil health. However, the synergistic effects of different long-term mulching practices on soybean yield stability and soil health remain unexplored. In this study, we conducted a 13-year long-term investigation to evaluate the impacts of various mulching methods—no mulching (CK), straw mulching (SM), plastic mulching (PM), and ridged and plastic mulching (RM)—over a 13-year period on soil nutrients, and soybean yield, stability, and sustainability. Our findings revealed that SM, PM, and RM treatments significantly increased the average yields by 28.02 %, 20.49 %, and 51.56 %, respectively. Moreover, SM and RM treatments significantly enhanced yield stability (SM +107.90 %, RM +98.82 %) and sustainability (SM +47.85 %, RM +37.14 %). Additionally, compared to CK, the SM treatment significantly increased the average soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (STN) content by 16.78 % and 16.23 %, respectively. Meanwhile, mulching practices also improved soil reactive carbon and nitrogen pools. Compared to CK, plastic mulch reduced microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content (PM −8.85 %, RM −0.73 %) and soil ammonium nitrogen (AN) content (PM −8.19 %, RM −1.20 %), while increasing microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) content (PM +8.73 %, RM +9.47 %). The SM treatment increased MBC, AN, and MBN contents by 0.24 %, 7.23 %, and 8.94 %, respectively. Additionally, SM and RM treatments significantly increased β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) activity (SM +98.74 %, RM +128.25 %) and decreased and β-1,4- n -acetamido-glucosidase (NAG) + 1-leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) (NAG + LAP) activity (SM −28.74 %, RM −25.33 %) compared to CK. Furthermore, SM, PM, and RM treatments significantly increased the Chao1 index by 35.30 %, 68.08 %, and 52.23 %, respectively, compared to CK. Finally, results of the Mantel test and random forest model indicated that the increases in yield and stability were due to improved soil temperature (ST), active carbon and nitrogen pools, enzyme activity, and diazotrophic bacterial diversity. In summary, our findings suggest that ridged and plastic mulching enhances soil nutrient effectiveness by maintaining soil moisture and regulating diazotrophic bacterial community structure, thereby increasing soybean yields. Conversely, straw mulching continuously supplies nutrients to the soil, enhancing soil quality and diazotrophic bacterial community structure, thus improving yield stability. Over all, our findings provides new insights into global long-term agricultural sustainability.

High-Yield Preparation and Properties of Phenolic Resin-Based Carbon Microspheres.

This study aims to enhance the production efficiency of carbon microspheres (CS) and expand their potential applications. To this end, resorcinol-formaldehyde microspheres (RFS) were prepared in high yield through the modified Stöber method, utilizing resorcinol and formaldehyde as carbon sources, ammonia as a catalyst, and sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) as a soft template. The resulting RFS were then carbonized to obtain high yield CS. This study examined the impact of key factors, namely, the concentration of resorcinol, ammonia, and the SDBS concentration, along with the temperature of carbonization, upon the properties of the resulting CS, which were observed with regard to microscopic morphology, average particle size, homogeneity, and yield. The findings demonstrated that the proclivity of RFS to agglomerate with one another at high carbon source concentrations was markedly diminished, while the yield of CS was notably enhanced through the introduction of the anionic surfactant SDBS. The particle size of RFS can be modified within the range 200-1000 nm by adjusting the resorcinol and ammonia concentration. The prepared RFS exhibited a regular spherical morphology and a smooth surface. Furthermore, the CS displayed a uniform spherical morphology following high-temperature carbonization, with no agglomeration or cross-linking observed between adjacent particles. It was observed that the yield of RFS reached a maximum of 93.2 g/L when the resorcinol concentration was 0.7 mol/L. Following carbonization at 800 °C, the yield of CS was found to be 41.9 g/L, with a diameter of 770 nm and good monodispersity.

Sizing Up the Farm Bill Safety Net

Lower commodity prices and higher production costs over the past couple of years have crop producers concerned about tighter margins and cash flow for their operations. The federal farm income safety net provides substantial support to producers through commodity programs, crop insurance programs, and disaster assistance. Crop insurance has been the primary safety net tool for producers in recent years as commodity prices generally fluctuated at levels above commodity program support levels. Even declining markets in the past couple years left prices that remained above Price Loss Coverage (PLC) support levels and revenue calculations above Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) guarantees unless there were significant yield losses at the county level for ARC-CO or the individual farm level for ARC-IC. The outlook is changing however as declining prices run into support levels that are increasing based on the past few years of higher prices. The ARC program provides a revenue guarantee tied to 86% of a benchmark revenue calculated from a five-year moving average price and a five-year moving average trend-adjusted yield. The PLC program provides support if prices fall below the higher of a legislated reference price or 85% of a five-year moving average price. With the higher prices experienced during the past few years, the five-year moving average price has increased and both ARC and PLC support levels have gotten stronger. A look at ARC and PLC protection and payment levels provides a picture of what current support and cash flow may look like and what future support could be under current or future farm legislation.

Informing community pharmacists on COPD case-finding methods: A scoping review.

Early detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a strategy to address the increasing human and economic costs of this condition. This study aimed to inform pharmacists' case-finding strategies by providing an overview of case-finding approaches by health care practitioners. A scoping review was conducted based on the Joanna Briggs Institute and the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA ScR) guidelines. Included studies were analyzed under the following themes: population characteristics, inclusion and exclusion criteria, setting, case-finding strategies and yield, health care practitioners involved, interprofessional collaboration and the provision of preventive services. Studies were then characterized by highest yields (the weighted average of each approach expressed as a percentage of the total number of new COPD cases divided by the total number of patients screened using the same approach). The screening process produced 170 eligible studies. Twenty case-finding approaches with average yields of new COPD cases ranging from 3.8% to 29% were identified. The approach with the highest yield involved the use of a questionnaire, peak flow meter and pre-post spirometry. In 14 of these approaches, the process was initiated with the use of questionnaires. In many of the studies, case-finding was targeted at high-risk and/or symptomatic patients. Characteristics of studies with the highest case-finding yields included provider education/training, patient education, active screening, multistep approaches to case-finding, provider engagement, diagnostic criteria by guidelines and engagement of other health care practitioners. In our scoping review of case-finding methods for patients with COPD, we found the greatest yield from pre-post spirometry following initial screening with a peak flow meter and questionnaire. Pharmacists and health researchers can use these approaches to identify high-risk patients for interventions.