Production Constraints Research Articles

Inter‐comparison and validation of high‐resolution surface air temperature reanalysis fields over Italy

AbstractSurface air temperature (t2m) data are essential for understanding climate dynamics and assessing the impacts of climate change. Reanalysis products, which combine observations with retrospective short‐range weather forecasts, can provide consistent and comprehensive datasets. ERA5 represents the state‐of‐the‐art in global reanalyses and supplies initial and boundary conditions for higher‐resolution regional reanalyses designed to capture finer‐scale atmospheric processes. However, these products require validation, especially in complex terrains like Italy. This study analyses the capability of different reanalysis products to reproduce t2m fields over Italy during the 1991–2020 period. The analyses encompass ERA5, ERA5‐Land, the MEteorological Reanalysis Italian DAtaset (MERIDA), the Copernicus European Regional ReAnalysis (CERRA), and the Very High‐Resolution dynamical downscaling of ERA5 REAnalysis over ITaly (VHR‐REA_IT). The validation we conduct pertains to both the spatial distribution of 30‐year seasonal and annual normal values and the daily anomaly records. Each reanalysis is compared with observations projected onto its respective grid positions and elevations, overcoming any model bias resulting from an inaccurate representation of the real topography. Key findings reveal that normal values in reanalyses closely match observational values, with deviations typically below 1°C. However, in the Alps, winter cold biases sometimes exceed 3°C and show a relation with the elevation. Similar deviations occur in the Apennines, Sicily, and Sardinia. Conversely, VHR‐REA_IT shows a warm bias in the Po Valley up to 3°C in summer. Daily anomalies generally exhibit lower errors, with MERIDA showing the highest accuracy and correlation with observational fields. Moreover, when aggregating daily anomalies to annual time scales, the errors in the anomaly records rapidly decrease to <0.5°C. The results of this study empower reanalysis users across multiple sectors to gain a more profound insight into the capabilities and constraints of different reanalysis products. The knowledge and the characterization of the reanalyses t2m bias against observations can indeed be crucial when incorporating these products into their research and practical applications.

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Affecting Growth and Sporulation of <i>Corticium koleroga (Cke) Hoehnel</i>

A numerous production constraints have been affecting coffee production and productivity. Among the constraints, coffee diseases attacking fruits, leaves, stems and roots that reducing coffee yield and marketability are economically important across the country. Coffee thread blight disease considered as a minor for 40 years in Ethiopia is currently emerging as a significant bottleneck to the sector. Recently, the occurrence and significant damage due to this disease have been frequently reported from different coffee production areas. However, there is the lack of profiled information on intrinsic and extrinsic character of the pathogen. Hence, this study was initiated to determine the effect of temperature and artificial media on the growth and sporulation of C. koleroga. Collected sample from Metu sub-center have been isolated and purified. Then after, purified isolate was characterized on five different artificial media namely PDA, MEA, Sabouraud, yeast and Czapeck and three temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C) ranges for growth and sporulation. The result revealed, there was a significant difference (P<0.001) among media and temperature ranges in the sporulation and radial growth rate of the pathogen. The fastest radial growth 3.57 and 3.51mm/day was recorded from PDA and Sabouraud media when incubated at 25°C, respectively. Whereas, the lowest growth rate was observed on yeast extract agar. On the other hand, the highest spore amount (116 spores/ml) was recorded from Sabouraud medium followed by potato dextrose agar and Yeast extract agar media at 25°C. The study confirmed that the three media (Sabouraud, Yeast extract agar and potato dextrose agar) with 25°C temperature are the best combination for proper radial growth and sporulation of Corticium koleroga. In general future studies should focus on alternative intrinsic and extrinsic factors for the growth and sporulation of this pathogen.

Constraints in production of finger millet

Constraints in production of finger millet

Resource use efficiency and constraints of sugarcane production in Ayodhya district of Uttar Pradesh

Resource use efficiency and constraints of sugarcane production in Ayodhya district of Uttar Pradesh

Morphological and Biochemical Characterization of Strains of Ralstonia solanacearum, Causal Agent of Bacterial Wilt in Tomatoes in Cameroon and Screening of Virulent Strains

Ralstonia solanacearum is a major constraint in tomato production. The aim of this work was to identify the different biovars and races of R. solanacearum which infect tomato plants in Cameroon and determine the most virulent in a gnotobiotic environment. Thirty (30) samples were collected in the field of 03 different agro-ecological zones considered as major tomato production area in Cameroon. The bacteria were isolated on modified Kelman solid medium, and identified based on morphological and biochemical characterization. The pathogenicity test was performed in a gnotobiotic environment by root inoculation. Twenty-nine (29) isolates showed colonies characteristic of virulent strains. Water, motility, catalase, KOH, Kovac oxidase, glucose reduction, and sucrose tests were positive. However, gram staining, spore production, arginine test and sulfate reduction were negative. The biovar tests carried out revealed the presence16.66% biovar 2 (bv 2) and 76.66% biovar 3(bv 3). The tobacco hypersensitivity tests carried out revealed the presence of two (02) races: race 1 and race 3 (majority). A predominance of race3 biovar 3 was observed in Cameroon. Results from pathogenicity test revealed that two (02) strains, FM6 (race 3 bv2) and BFo (race 3 bv 3) were high virulent, causing up to 100% loss of seedlings on the sixth day post-inoculation.

Genetic Characterization of Water Yam (Dioscorea alata L.) and Production Constraints of Yam in Pwani Region and Unguja Island, Tanzania

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a tuber crop cultivated in over 30% of all regions in Tanzania, contributing to the carbohydrate needs of many households. The morphological and genetic diversity of water yam (D. alata L.) local cultivars collected from Pwani region and Unguja Island were evaluated using 26 agro-morphological characters and 10 Short Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers. Cluster analysis using morphological characters classified nine water yam local cultivars into two main clusters with three subclusters. Tuber flesh and leaf colour were the main descriptors for clustering. The genetic diversity of 128 water yam genotypes using ten polymorphic SSR markers generated a total of 40 alleles that ranged from 2 to 7 per SSR marker. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.3 to 0.9, with a mean of 0.56. Cluster analysis separated 128 yam genotypes into two main clusters with five subclusters. The findings revealed relatively high genetic diversity of D. alata in the study areas. A structured questionnaire revealed drought (29.3%) and lack of planting materials (23.3%) as the major constraints to yam production in the study areas. Information reported in this study is useful in improving, reviving and promoting yam through breeding and conservation programs.

Stalk rot species diversity and molecular phylogeny associated with diseased maize in India.

Stalk rot disease is a major constraint in maize production and till date reported to be caused by two to three species of phytopathogenic fungi but, in our present study, we disclose the first report of stalk rot is caused by complex species of phytopathogens, which belongs to five different genera. Therefore, to substantiate these findings, a total of 105 diseased samples of maize were collected from 21 different locations in six different geographical locations of India from which 48 isolates were used for the research study. Morphological features such as pigmentation, colony color, type of mycelium and pattern of mycelium was examined using macro and microscopic methods. A total of 11 different spp. of pathogens belonging to the five different genera: Fusarium verticillioides (56.25%), F. equiseti (14.5%), F. andiyazi (6.25%), F. solani (2.08%), F. proliferatum (2.08%), F. incarnatum (2.08%), Lasidioplodia theobrame (6.25%), Exserohilum rostrtum (4.16%), Nigrospora spp. (4.16%). and Schizophyllum commune (2.08%) were identified by different housekeeping genes (ITS, TEF-1α, RPB2 and Actin). Fusarium verticillioides, F. equiseti and F. andiyazi were major pathogens involved in stalk rot. This is the first report on F. proliferatum, F. solani, F. incarnatum, Lasidioplodia theobrame, Exserohilum rostrtum, Nigrospora spp. and Schizophyllum commune causing stalk rot of maize and their distribution in the different states of India. Studies on population dynamics of PFSR will enhance the understanding of pathogen behavior, virulence, or its association with different pathogens across India, which will facilitate the development of resistant maize genotypes against the PFSR.

A Study on Constraints Faced by Millet Stakeholders in Tamil Nadu, India

Millets, highly nutritious grains, are crucial for food security and nutrition due to their resilience in challenging agricultural conditions and rich nutritional content. This study investigates the constraints faced by stakeholders involved in the millet industry in Tamil Nadu, The research focuses on farmers, market intermediaries, and consumers, highlighting their challenges within the millet supply chain. A purposive sample of 90 millet-growing farmers and various market intermediaries was selected from key millet-producing districts. Data collection involved structured interviews and analysis using descriptive statistics and Garrett Ranking Technique. Results reveal significant production constraints for farmers, including price fluctuation, high seed costs, and pest and disease occurrence. Market intermediaries face challenges such as supply-demand imbalance and high transportation costs. Consumers encounter issues like limited availability and high prices of millet-based products. These findings underscore the multifaceted challenges within the millet industry, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address constraints and enhance the sustainability and accessibility of millets in Tamil Nadu.

Serological and RT-PCR evaluation of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst ex. A. Rich) Harms) accessions to viral resistance under field condition

African yam bean (AYB) (Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst ex. A. Rich.) harms) an underutilized legume that produces nutritionally healthy seeds and tubers in some variety. The low yield of the crop is attributed to production constraints such as attacks by pest and disease-causing organisms such as fungi, bacteria and viruses. In this study, one hundred AYB accessions were evaluated for resistance to viral infection. The AYB accessions were planted using a randomized complete block design on the experimental field at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, Nigeria. Viral disease severity was assessed at 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 weeks after planting (WAP) based on disease symptoms using disease severity index on visual scale of 1–5. Antigen–coated plate enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were used to index diseased leaf samples collected from the field. Result from five virus species (Cowpea mild mottle virus, Cowpea mottle virus, Southern bean mosaic virus, Cowpea mosaic virus and Bean common mosaic virus) were detected in few accessions while mixed infections were observed in some accessions. TSs-552, TSs-577, TSs-580, TSs-560 and TSs-600 were devoid of viruses and could be resistant. There were no significant differences at p < 0.05 in the mean disease incidence (DI) of viral diseases. However, at 18 weeks after planting, TSs-604 had the highest (100%) mean DI while TSs-584 had the lowest (13.33%) mean DI. Cluster analysis based on the AUDPC produced 6 main clusters, the clusters revealed grouping patterns in which AYB lines with similar resistance ratings were shown to form unique clusters. The information generated from this study will contribute to the development of strategies in the management of virus diseases infecting AYB.

Farmers’ production constraints, preferred varietal traits and perceptions on sorghum grain mold in Senegal

Improving sorghum adoption rates by developing adapted varieties that meet end-user preferences is a major challenge in West Africa. In this study, a participatory rural appraisal was undertaken to identify the main sorghum production constraints, farmers’ preferred variety traits and their perceptions on sorghum grain mold. The study was conducted in four representative rural communities located in the main sorghum producing area of Senegal. A total of 260 farmers were interviewed and data were collected through focus group discussions and individual questionnaires. Our results indicated that Striga, insects, poor soil fertility and drought are the major sorghum producing constraints in Senegal. Grain mold was identified as the second most important sorghum disease after the damping-off. Discoloration on grain surface was the most important criteria farmers used to recognize the disease. The most important sorghum traits farmers desired in improved varieties are medium to short plant maturity cycle, medium plant height, large open or semi-compact panicle, big and white grain, and adaptation to local growing conditions. The results showed that the sorghum cropping system is dominated by male farmers who mainly grow local landraces. These results will provide updated recommendations for the breeding products profile to meet end-user preferences in Senegal.

Good agricultural practices (GAP) adoption intensity and production constraints in apple orchards of western Nepal

The declaration of ‘Fruits Decade 2016/17–2026/27’ and the enaction of the ‘NepalGAP Scheme’ by the Government of Nepal has redirected increased public investments to promote apple production and marketability in the western high hills of Nepal. This study explores major good agricultural practices (GAP) related to orchard management, factors influencing their adoption intensity, and key underlying constraints to production using cross-sectional survey data from apple growers in Dolpa district, Nepal. The results showed that farmers mostly adopted GAP such as frequent weeding, intercropping, and nutrient management in apple orchards. Based on the negative binomial regression estimates, household characteristics such as gender of the orchard owner, experience, and number of literate household members were found influential in determining the GAP adoption intensity. The analysis of the problem severity index implied that apple production is mostly constrained by limited access to production inputs and transportation. The findings provide useful insights to the farmers and policymakers regarding the current scenario of GAP adoption along with the diversity of barriers that severely limits the realization of apple production potential in western Nepal.

Analysis of Production Capacity, Profitability, and Constraints in The South African Aquaculture Industry: Case of Gauteng Province Food Fish Aquaculture

Gauteng province’s aquaculture was grossly underdeveloped and very little was known about its profitability and the possible constraints faced by its operators. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the production capacity, and profitability of existing aquaculture projects and to identify the constraints responsible for the underdevelopment of the industry in the province. To achieve these, data was collected from five fish farms located in the province using structured questionnaires and interviews. Gross margin analysis and gross profit margin ratio were used to determine the profitability of aquaculture production. The fish farmers in the study used 36% of the capacities of the established aquaculture projects leading to lower tonnage of fish per cycle of production in all the farms. This is an indication of the underutilization of the production capacities of the established fish farms. The profit margins were greater than 40% in all the projects surveyed, proof that aquaculture has good potential as a business enterprise in the province. However, the study identified several constraints which include lack of skilled workforce, poor access to funding, and lack of established input suppliers within the province as being responsible for the underdevelopment of the sector.

Joint stochastic optimisation of open-pit mine production scheduling with ramp design

ABSTRACT Stochastic optimisation of open-pit mine production scheduling maximises the NPV of a mine’s extraction sequence while satisfying production constraints and minimising deviations from targets. Past approaches consider mining block access based on slope constraints, thus providing no guarantee that the infrastructure required for equipment access is feasible. To address this issue, a joint stochastic optimisation of life-of-mine production scheduling and ramp design is proposed, ensuring feasible equipment access to the related mining blocks. An application at a gold mine demonstrates the value of considering the complex relationship that exists between ramp design, equipment access and production scheduling during optimisation.

Parasitic Nematodes of Sugarcane: A Major Productivity Impediment and Grand Challenges in Management.

Sugarcane is an important cash crop grown in 137 countries, accounting for 80% of global sugar production. It supports the livelihood of more than 100 million people and up to 25% of the rural population in some countries. Plant-parasitic nematodes are one significant constraint in sugarcane production and can lead to a loss of up to 30% in productivity. More than 300 species of parasitic nematodes have been discovered in sugarcane soil. Owing to limited data, the potential damage to sugarcane crops caused by parasitic nematodes is often underestimated. The main nematodes present in sugarcane fields are root-lesion (Pratylenchus spp.), spiral (Helicotylenchus spp.), root-knot (Meloidogyne spp.), dagger (Xiphinema spp.), stunt (Tylenchorhynchus spp.), ring (Criconemella spp.), and stubby (Paratrichodorus spp.). Among these, Meloidogyne javanica and Pratylenchus zeae are the most damaging nematode species. Management of nematodes is a challenging task as there are no clear symptoms of their presence, and they often come in multiple species with varying levels of pathogenicity. Moreover, the management options available are not always effective. Integrated nematode management is a sustainable strategy for controlling nematode infestations. It involves using all possible methods to suppress the parasitic nematode population in a compatible manner and reduce it below economic threshold levels. This article focuses on the challenges of managing nematodes in sugarcane and highlights the opportunity for implementing a sustainable nematode management strategy.

APSIM-based modeling approach to understand sorghum production environments in Mali

Sorghum production system in the semi-arid region of Africa is characterized by low yields which are generally attributed to high rainfall variability, poor soil fertility, and biotic factors. Production constraints must be well understood and quantified to design effective sorghum-system improvements. This study uses the state-of-the-art in silico methods and focuses on characterizing the sorghum production regions in Mali for drought occurrence and its effects on sorghum productivity. For this purpose, we adapted the APSIM-sorghum module to reproduce two cultivated photoperiod-sensitive sorghum types across a latitude of major sorghum production regions in Western Africa. We used the simulation outputs to characterize drought stress scenarios. We identified three main drought scenarios: (i) no-stress; (ii) early pre-flowering drought stress; and (iii) drought stress onset around flowering. The frequency of drought stress scenarios experienced by the two sorghum types across rainfall zones and soil types differed. As expected, the early pre-flowering and flowering drought stress occurred more frequently in isohyets < 600 mm, for the photoperiod-sensitive, late-flowering sorghum type. In isohyets above 600 mm, the frequency of drought stress was very low for both cultivars. We quantified the consequences of these drought scenarios on grain and biomass productivity. The yields of the highly-photoperiod-sensitive sorghum type were quite stable across the higher rainfall zones > 600 mm, but was affected by the drought stress in the lower rainfall zones < 600 mm. Comparatively, the less photoperiod-sensitive cultivar had notable yield gain in the driest regions < 600 mm. The results suggest that, at least for the tested crop types, drought stress might not be the major constraint to sorghum production in isohyets > 600 mm. The findings from this study provide the entry point for further quantitative testing of the Genotype × Environment × Management options required to optimize sorghum production in Mali.

Optimization of Well Placement in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Bayesian Optimization Framework under Permutation Invariance

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) stands as a pivotal technological stride toward a sustainable future, with the practice of injecting supercritical CO2 into subsurface formations being already an established practice for enhanced oil recovery operations. The overarching objective of CCS is to protract the operational viability and sustainability of platforms and oilfields, thereby facilitating a seamless transition towards sustainable practices. This study introduces a comprehensive framework for optimizing well placement in CCS operations, employing a derivative-free method known as Bayesian Optimization. The development plan is tailored for scenarios featuring aquifers devoid of flow boundaries, incorporating production wells tasked with controlling pressure buildup and injection wells dedicated to CO2 sequestration. Notably, the wells operate under group control, signifying predefined injection and production targets and constraints that must be adhered to throughout the project’s lifespan. As a result, the objective function remains invariant under specific permutations of the well locations. Our investigation delves into the efficacy of Bayesian Optimization under the introduced permutation invariance. The results reveal that it demonstrates critical efficiency in handling the optimization task extremely fast. In essence, this study advocates for the efficacy of Bayesian Optimization in the context of optimizing well placement for CCS operations, emphasizing its potential as a preferred methodology for enhancing sustainability in the energy sector.

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) improvement: Challenges and prospects—A review

AbstractFinger millet is a climate‐resilient and highly nutritious small grain crop widely grown in the semi‐arid tropics. It has multiple uses, including for food, feed and beverage preparations. However, finger millet is an under‐utilized and under‐researched crop with a mean yield of &lt;1.0 t/ha despite a potential productivity of up to 8 t/ha. The yield gap is attributed to several production constraints, such as biotic and abiotic stresses, a lack of access to improved seeds and production inputs and poor agronomic management practices. There are valuable genetic resources and genetic variability of finger millet in its centres of diversity and global gene banks for variety design, product development and commercialization. The genetic variability can be harnessed further to integrate essential traits into candidate varieties through conventional and modern breeding methods. Breeding and genetic innovations such as genomics‐assisted breeding, mutation breeding and genome editing would accelerate finger millet breeding and new variety design and deployment. The objective of this review was to document the opportunities, challenges and prospects of finger millet improvement as a guide for variety development and deployment with enhanced grain yield and nutritional contents. The first section describes global production status and yield gains, major production and productivity challenges in finger millet. This is followed by an in‐depth presentation on breeding and genetic progress on variety development with improved agronomic and nutritional quality traits, drought and salinity tolerance, and fungal diseases, weeds and insect pest resistance. Further, the review summarized finger millet's genetic and genomic resources, reference genomes, whole genome re‐sequencing and transcriptomics of finger millet technologies, genetic engineering and genome editing and their integration with conventional breeding methods for variety design with desired end‐use traits. The review provides foundational information to expedite the development of new‐generation finger millet cultivars with desirable product profiles, including high grain yield potential, early maturity, desirable seed colour, compact head type, food and feed nutrients quality and high marketability through modern breeding approaches.

Multi-objective genetic algorithm embedded with reinforcement learning for petrochemical melt-flow-index production scheduling

In the petrochemical industry, product type conversion can cause capacity loss and produce transition products, leading to waste. Our study aims to minimize these transition products and tardiness in meeting customer due dates. We introduce the Engineering Experience Heuristic (EEH), which utilizes scheduling reference sheets to identify key production traits and constraints, thereby generating efficient schedules. Further building on the EEH, we propose a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II enhanced with reinforcement learning (NSGAeRL) to address the multi-objective scheduling optimization problem. The incorporation of reinforcement learning (RL), particularly through a model-based Markov Decision Process (MDP), allows for the dynamic adjustment of genetic algorithm (GA) parameters, including crossover and mutation mechanisms, based on the optimal policy derived from RL. We validate our proposed methodologies through empirical studies and numerical experiments. The results demonstrate that NSGAeRL outperforms standard benchmarking algorithms, offering superior performance in minimizing transition products and scheduling tardiness.

Constraints Faced by the Farmers in Production and Marketing of Cauliflower in Haryana, India

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis) is one of the most important remunerative vegetable crops grown on commercial scale in India. It is widely grown across India and is a popular vegetable among the people. It is known for its white, tender head or curd, which is used in curries, soups, and for pickling. Cauliflower is a crucial winter vegetable grown in India. A survey was conducted among a group of cauliflower growers to understand the challenges they encounter during cauliflower production and marketing. The objective of the study was to identify the production and marketing constraints faced by the cauliflower growers. Panipat and Sonipat districts were purposively selected due to their significant cauliflower cultivation areas in the state. A total of 200 cauliflower growers were conveniently chosen to gather the necessary data. In Panipat and Sonipat district, the study revealed that the major constraints in cauliflower production included the high cost of cauliflower seeds, expensive fertilizers, labour scarcity during peak periods, and other similar challenges. In terms of cauliflower marketing, respondents reported multiple constraints such as high transportation costs, numerous intermediaries in the marketing process, price fluctuations, lack of awareness about the Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana (BBY) and its complex procedures, and the higher margins of middlemen. To address these constraints, it is recommended to establish sufficient storage facilities that enable producers to distribute their sales throughout the year. Efforts should be made to ensure the availability of quality seeds and protect producers from experiencing low prices during peak seasons.

Constraints of Sugarcane Farmers During Cultivation and Marketing in Kerala, India

The study analysed the constraints faced by farmers during cultivation and marketing of sugarcane in Kerala. A multi-stage random sampling technique was adopted for the data collection and information was obtained from 120 sugarcane farmers and 10 marketing intermediaries. The farmers ranked and used Garrett's ranking technique to analyze the main production and marketing constraints. The major production constraints identified were wild animal and rodent attack, followed by shortage of labour and high labour cost, high cost of inputs and delay in harvesting. Price fluctuations of sugarcane and absence of regulated markets were major marketing constraints. Valuable suggestions were implementing effective measures to mitigate wildlife damage, government should purchase farmers products at reasonable price.