Commercial Farms Research Articles

Molecular characterization of reassortant infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) strains of genogroup A3B1 detected in some areas of Britain between 2020 and 2021

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) causes a major immunosuppressive disease of chickens. As part of ongoing epidemiological surveillance for IBDV, the hypervariable region (HVR) of the VP2 capsid gene encoded by segment A, and a region of the VP1 polymerase gene, encoded by segment B, were sequenced from 20 IBDV-positive bursal samples obtained in 2020 and 2021, from 16 commercial British broiler farms. Birds had received a live IBDV vaccine at 17–22 days of age, and samples were obtained at 25–55 days of age. Of the 16 farms, none contained very virulent (vv) strains, one contained a classical virulent strain, two contained vaccine strains, and five contained sequences of reassortant strains with a vv segment A and a non-vv segment B belonging to genogroup A3B1. In eight of the farms, we identified the sequences of both genogroup A3B1 reassortant strains and vaccine strains in the same samples. Therefore, the majority of the farms (13/16 (81%)) contained genogroup A3B1 reassortant viruses. Of the flocks containing reassortant strains, 5/13 (38%) had HVR mutations Q219L, G254D, D279N, and N280T, consistent with a recently described Western European clade, but the rest had other mutations or no mutations, demonstrating that multiple clades were present in the samples. Taken together, vv strains were not detected, but reassortant strains predominated in the farms, which belonged to different clades, and were frequently found together with vaccine strains.

Effect of Different Weed Management Practices on growth and yield in Potato at Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the fifth most important crops in the world in terms of production with an estimate of 375 million metric tons. In Nepal, potato ranks second in terms of production and sixth in terms of area coverage. Potato production is affected by weed infestation. Weeds compete with crops for nutrients, water and other resources, which eventually reduce the crop yield. The critical period of crop-weed competition for potato is 25-40 days from planting depending on the climatic-zone and planting seasons. The most common method of weed control in Nepal is manual method, while herbicides are uses in less areas. Weeds are considered as the major problem in conventional and organic farming, due to lower yields by weeds and higher costs of labor for weed control. Mulching is one of the best and safest practice for effective weed management in potato due to which micro-climate manipulation is developed. Metribuzin is widely used herbicides in potato that controls a range of broadleaf weed species and suppresses many grassy weeds. To study the performance of different weed management practices in potato ten treatments were set up viz., three herbicides (pendimethalin@ 1.0 kg a.i ha-1, metribuzin@ 0.5 kg a.i ha-1 and atrazine @ 0.25 kg a.i ha-1) constituting seven treatments, one mulching with rice straw, one treatment with two manual hoeing, and another treatment with no any weed management practices as control.The treatments were laid out in RCB design with 4 replications. The potato variety Janak Dev was planted on 12th Feb 2021 and 23rd Jan 2022 with tuber rate of 4.1 t.ha-1 with row spacing of 60 cm and plant to plant 20 cm in a plot size of 4 x 3 meter in flat bed. Growth parameters such as plant height, plant fresh and dry biomass were recorded. Data on weed density, weed dry biomass, and tuber yield were taken.The economics of the different treatments were calculated. Among the treatments metribuzin@ 0.25 kg a.i ha-1 as pre-emergence proved effective in controlling weeds showing highest weed control efficiency (200.7 %) and tuber yield (32.79 t ha-1) . However, the treatment rice straw mulch @ 6 t ha-1 produced the highest tuber yield (38.31 t ha-1), 73.4 % increased yield over control, weed control efficiency(147.1%), economic benefit (NRS 13,40,850), benefit cost ratio (4.93).The treatment rice straw mulch @ 6 t ha-1 showed superiority among the different weeds management practices.

Solar-powered modern poultry farm: a case study BAYAT complex Ouargla, Algeria

Energy consumption in poultry farming systems has a direct impact on the thermoregulation of the chickens, the ventilation of the house, and the quality of the air to provide a suitable indoor environment for chicken health. This makes the poultry industry an energy-intensive sector, with gas and electricity as major expenses. Therefore, the integration of solar photovoltaic systems can enhance energy saving in poultry farming, and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Accordingly, this study conducts thermal analysis to predict heat losses in winter and heat gains in summer according to the method described in the Regulatory Technical Documents (DTR). Our industrial poultry farm is the BAYAT Complex located in the Wilaya of Ouargla. The results obtained show that the total heating power is about 117.67 kW for a livestock building of 120x14 m² area containing 16000 chickens, while the cooling power for the same building is 553.92 kW. In the case of heating, the greatest heat loss comes from losses by transmission, about 88%. In the case of cooling, the internal thermal contributions represent 81% of that which enters through the structure of the building, of which 40% are latent internal contributions while 41% are sensitive.

Unraveling the intriguing potential of protein-rich microbial biostimulants for horticultural crops

Nutritional security and minimizing the impact of farming practices on the environment are major challenges in modern farming systems. Currently, the horticulture sector is growing fast and moving towards sustainability and profitability. Indiscriminate and improper use of chemical inputs to ensure high yields of horticultural products could lead to significant contamination of soil and water bodies. Under these circumstances, farmers must optimize their input management to reduce pollution and preserve the economic margin by following sustainable production practices. The use of precision horticulture techniques is more sustainable than conventional to intensive farming methods. Among the various eco-friendly inputs, plant biostimulants are highly effective and can enhance plant growth and production as well as mitigate the adverse effects of abiotic stressors. Protein Hydrolysates (PHs) are a significant class of plant biostimulants based on amino acid and peptide mixtures. Because of their beneficial effects on crop performance, PHs has drawn increased amounts of attention recently. Compared with other biostimulants microbial biostimulants are more prevalent in crop production. A new approach is the formulation of a mixture of plant growth-promoting microorganisms/microbe-derived metabolites and protein hydrolysates as single biostimulants, to nourish the soil, plants and microbes. This review presents a thorough summary of recent research on the postulated modes of action of PHs and microbial biostimulants in horticultural crops. Furthermore, this study highlights the potential of protein hydrolysates and microbial biostimulants and the potential of the protein-rich microbial biostimulants to make horticulture more profitable and to safeguard the environment.

Determination of Indigenous Nutrient Supplying Capacity of Soil through Omission Plot Technique in Wheat at Bhairahawa

The rapidly expanding intensive cropping systems in the Terai region of Nepal, combined with imbalanced fertilization, are leading to significant nutrient depletion in agricultural soils, raising concerns about the sustainability of wheat production. To address this issue, a field experiment was conducted at the National Wheat Research Program (NWRP) in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, during 2018-19 to evaluate the soil’s nutrient-supplying capacity and its impact on wheat grain yield. The treatments included five different nutrient levels: N- omission (75:75:5:1 P2O5:K2O:Zn:B kg ha-1), P-omission (150:75:5:1 N:K2O:Zn:B kg ha-1), K-omission (150:75:5:1 N:P2O5:Zn:B kg ha-1), adequate NPK (150:75:75, N:P2O5:K2O kg ha-1), and adequate NPK+Zn+B (150:75:75:5:1 N:P2O5:K2O:Zn:B kg ha-1). The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design with five replications, planted in five different blocks of the National Wheat Research Program (NWRP), Bhairahawa, with each block treated as a replication. Data on growth, yield attributes, grain yield, and nutrient uptake were analyzed using the Genstat statistical package. The results showed that plant height, dry matter production, spike length, grains per spike, biological yield, and grain yield variables were significant (P< 0.05), while 1000 grain weight and harvest index were not significant (P>0.05). Total N, P, and K uptake were significant (P<0.05) in different treatments, with adequate NPK showing higher NPK uptake and significantly lower in N- omission treatment. Grain yield was higher in fully fertilized treatment than in nutrient omission treatments, with significantly lower grain yield in N- omission followed by P- omission treatments. Among the major nutrients, nitrogen was found to be the most limiting factor, followed by phosphorus and potassium for wheat. Based on these results, it can be concluded that a balanced amount of NPK nutrients should be supplied to enhance the indigenous nutrient-supplying capacity of the soil and improve wheat productivity in Bhairahawa.

Genetic features of avian influenza (A/H5N8) clade 2.3.4.4b isolated from quail in Egypt

Several genotypes of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus H5N8 subtype within clade 2.3.4.4b continue to circulate in different species of domestic birds across Egypt. It is believed that quail contribute to virus replication and adaptation to other gallinaceous poultry species and humans. This study provides genetic characterization of the full genome of HPAI H5N8 isolated from quail in Egypt. The virus was isolated from a commercial quail farm associated with respiratory signs. To characterize the genetic features of the detected virus, gene sequencing via Sanger technology and phylogenetic analysis were performed. The results revealed high nucleotide identity with the HPAI H5N8 virus from Egypt, which has multiple basic amino acid motifs PLREKRRKR/GLF at the hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site. Phylogenetic analysis of the eight gene segments revealed that the quail isolate is grouped with HPAI H5N8 viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b and closely related to the most recent circulating H5N8 viruses in Egypt. Whole-genome characterization revealed amino acid preferences for avian receptors with few mutations, indicating their affinity for human-like receptors and increased virulence in mammals, such as S123P, S133A, T156A and A263T in the HA gene. In addition, the sequencing results revealed a lack of markers associated with influenza antiviral resistance in the neuraminidase and matrix-2 coding proteins. The results of the present study support the spread of HPAIV H5N8 to species other than chickens in Egypt. Therefore, continuous surveillance of AIV in different bird species in Egypt followed by full genomic characterization is needed for better virus control and prevention.

Machine learning-based analysis of nutrient and water uptake in hydroponically grown soybeans

Recent advancements in sustainable agriculture have spurred interest in hydroponics as an alternative to conventional farming methods. However, the lack of data-driven approaches in hydroponic growth presents a significant challenge. This study addresses this gap by varying nitrogen, magnesium, and potassium concentrations in hydroponically grown soybeans and conducting essential nutrient profiling across the growth cycle. Statistical techniques like Linear Interpolation are employed to interpolate nutrient data and a feature selection pipeline consisting of chi-squared testing methods, Linear Regression with Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) and ExtraTreesClassifier have been used to select important nutrients for predicting water uptake using non-parametric regression methods. For different nutrient growth media, i.e. for soybeans grown in Hoagland + Nitrogen and Hoagland + Magnesium media, the Random Forest regressor outperformed other methods in predicting water uptake, achieving testing Mean Squared Error (MSE) scores of 24.55 (R2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\ ext{R}}^{2}$$\\end{document} score 0.63) and 8.23 (R2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\ ext{R}}^{2}$$\\end{document} score 0.81), respectively. Similarly, for soybeans grown in Hoagland + Potassium media, Support Vector Regression demonstrated superior performance with a testing MSE of 4.37 and R2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\ ext{R}}^{2}$$\\end{document} score of 0.85. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values are examined in each case to elucidate the contributions of individual nutrients to water uptake predictions. This research aims to provide data-driven insights to optimize hydroponic practices for sustainable food production.

Marketing antibiotics as vaccines? Analyzing the successful marketing of a pharmaceutical innovation: the case of tulathromycin in veterinary medicine

This article aims to explain the success of tulathromycin in the cattle and pig industry by tracing the ‘social life’ of this antibiotic. To do so, it draws on interview data with veterinarians working in the pharmaceutical industry, observations from training sessions conducted by them, and data from professional journals. The article demonstrates that tulathromycin’s success primarily stems from its unique properties as a long-acting macrolide antibiotic, positioning it as an innovative solution in the veterinary market. By providing immediate and prolonged protection with a single injection, it addresses organizational challenges in the cattle and pig sectors. It thus serves as a ‘quick fix’ for disease control in intensive farming systems and appears, as such, more suitable than vaccination. Its presentation and commercial name, Draxxin, is reminiscent of “vaccine”, which contributes to the confusion about its nature and plays a key role in its widespread adoption.

Impact of Harvest Method on Development of European Sea Bass Skin Microbiome during Chilled Storage

European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is one of the most significant species farmed in the Mediterranean, yet a very perishable product. Its quality deteriorates rapidly as a result of three mechanisms: microbial activity, chemical oxidation, and enzymatic degradation. Microbial spoilage is the mechanism that contributes most to the quality deterioration of fresh and non-processed fish. To this end, our study aims to identify for the first time the combined effect of aquatic environment and harvest method on the composition and trajectory at storage at 0 °C of the European sea bass skin microbiome. Sampling was performed in two commercial fish farms in Western (WG) and Central Greece (CG) where fish were harvested using different methods: direct immersion in ice water or a mixture of slurry ice; application of electro-stunning prior to immersion in ice water. Samples were collected on harvest day and one week post-harvest. To profile the bacterial communities in the fish skin, 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was used. The results and the following analyses indicated that the aquatic environment shaped the original composition of the skin microbiome, with 815 ASVs identified in the WG farm as opposed to 362 ASVs in the CG farm. Moreover, Pseudomonas and Pseudoalteromonas dominated the skin microbiome in the WG farm, unlike the CG farm where Shewanella and Psychrobacter were the dominant genera. All these genera contain species such as Shewanella putrefaciens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudoalteromonas spp., and Psychrobacter sp., all of which have been implicated in the deterioration and spoilage of the final product. The different harvest methods drove variations in the microbiome already shaped by the aquatic environment, with electro-stunning favoring more diversity in the skin microbiome. The aquatic environment in combination with the harvest method appeared to determine the skin microbiome trajectory at storage at 0 °C. Although Shewanella had dominated the skin microbiome in all samples one week post-harvest, the diversity and the relative abundance of genera were strongly influenced by the aquatic environment and the harvest method. This study sheds light on the hierarchy of the factors shaping the fish skin microbiome and their importance for controlling post-harvest quality of fresh fish.

Study on performance of cabbage (Brassica oleraceae var. capitata L.) under different production systems

Coimbatore is located in the western part of Tamil Nadu and nestled against the foothills of the Western Ghats. This region's cool climate and favourable terrain make it ideal for cultivating hill vegetables. Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) is a significant cole crop known for its high nutritional value. Excessive chemical usage in cabbage cultivation leads to residual effects on soil and produce. This study aimed to identify the best production system for cabbage cultivation in the northwestern parts of Tamil Nadu. An experiment was conducted during the winter season of 2023-2024 at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with four treatments and five replications. The organic farming system exhibited the highest values for plant height (21.47 cm), stalk length (8.49 cm), dry matter accumulation (71.34 g per plant), days to head formation (18.75 days), days to harvest (56.25 days), head diameter (17.70 cm), head compactness (33.91), head weight (945.35 g per plant) and cabbage yield (24.92 t ha-1), surpassing both conventional and natural farming systems. A similar pattern was observed in quality parameters, including TSS (6.54 °Brix), shelf life (12.21 days) and ascorbic acid content (44.26 mg per 100 g). This study highlights an efficient cabbage cultivation system in the Coimbatore region, leading to improved yield, soil health and quality.

Friend or foe? Early life adversity to improve farmed animal welfare

Early life experiences can have lasting impacts on an animal’s development. Extensive research evidence aligns across both human and non-human rodent and primate laboratory animals showing negative impacts of early life adversity such as impairments in neurological and behavioural development. Farmed animals experience a range of adversities across their production lifetimes, often early in life, including species atypical social groupings, invasive husbandry procedures, and transport. Correspondingly, farmed animals also demonstrate a wide range of impairments such as stereotypic, injurious, and other abnormal behaviours. An individual, however, needs to experience adversity to be able to develop resilience and coping mechanisms that facilitate dealing with challenges later in life. Not all individuals will experience stress vulnerability following adversity, with some individuals instead developing stress resilience. This mini review collates evidence on the positive effects of early life adversity on improving adaptability in farmed species, both terrestrial and aquatic. While evidence across farmed animal species is currently much less than for humans, laboratory rodents or non-human primates, similar patterns emerge where mild adversity early in life, can improve the adaptability of the animal in the face of future stressors. Many views of optimised welfare posit that farmed animals should be housed in as natural environments as possible to limit many of the typical adversities they face. However, strategic mild exposure to early life adversity may facilitate improved animal welfare under intensive commercial farming conditions. Future research into this area could provide management tools to better predict and promote stress resilience over stress vulnerability.

The Integration of Land Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Practices in Sustainable Food Systems of Africa: A Systematic Review

Land degradation poses a significant global challenge, adversely affecting soil quality and diminishing the productivity of arable land, which, in turn, impacts food production and ecosystem services. This degradation manifests in various forms, including soil compaction, salinity, nutrient depletion, loss of biodiversity, and contamination, ultimately rendering soil unproductive and exacerbating climate change. Given the challenges arising from conventional farming practices and climate change, there is an urgent necessity to develop agricultural systems that not only enhance agronomic efficiency but also improve environmental performance. This study focuses on addressing food security in Africa by investigating the role of land restoration and biodiversity in sustainable food systems through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis for documents between 2010 to 2023, identifying 64 relevant documents. The analysis reveals insights into the most-cited documents and thematic evolution, underscoring the significant contributions from Ethiopia and advocating for collaborative efforts among African nations. Key themes identified include “climate change”, “food security”, “biodiversity conservation”, and “agroecosystems”, all highlighting the importance of sustainable agricultural practices. The study anticipates a continued prioritization of agroecosystems, smart agriculture, and biodiversity conservation to tackle food security challenges in the face of climate change. Collaboration, investment in research, and practical initiatives emerge as essential components for achieving sustainable food security and mitigating climate change impacts in Africa. This research provides valuable insights into the current landscape and future trends regarding the contributions of land restoration and biodiversity to food systems in Africa, emphasizing the critical need for concerted efforts to address these pressing issues.

Revealing Cropping Intensity Dynamics Using High-Resolution Imagery: A Case Study in Shaanxi Province, China

Reliable and continuous information on cropping intensity is crucial for assessing cropland utilization and formulating policies regarding cropland protection and management. However, there is still a lack of high-resolution cropping intensity maps for recent years, particularly in fragmented agricultural regions. In this study, we combined Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 imagery to generate cropping intensity maps from 2019 to 2023 at a 10 m resolution for Shaanxi Province, China. First, the satellite imagery was harmonized to construct 10-day composite enhanced vegetation index (EVI) time series. Then, the cropping intensity was determined by counting the number of valid EVI peaks within a year. Assessment based on 578 sample points showed a high level of accuracy, with overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient values exceeding 0.96 and 0.93, respectively. We further analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of cropping intensity and generated a map of abandoned cropland in Shaanxi. The results indicated that cropland in Shaanxi Province was mainly utilized for single-cropping (52.9% of area), followed by double-cropping (35.2%), with non-cropping accounting for 11.9%. Cropping intensity tended to be lower in the north and higher in the south. Temporally, the average cropping intensity of Shaanxi increased from 1.1 to over 1.3 from 2019 to 2023. Despite this upward trend, large areas of cropland were abandoned in northern Shaanxi. These results demonstrate the potential of utilizing Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 imagery to identify cropping intensity dynamics in fragmented agricultural regions and to guide more efficient cropland management.

Assessment of soil erosion risk and vulnerability in the transboundary Sio-Malaba-Malakisi watershed in Kenya and Uganda

Persistent soil erosion poses a significant threat to water quality, ecosystem viability and soil health in many regions of the world. Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive understanding of local soil erosion rates, including the identification of vulnerable areas, to facilitate effective and integrated environmental management. In East Africa, however, many affected regions are data poor and lack measured hydrological data from which soil erosion estimates can be derived. This study used the physically based Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model to estimate the annual rate of soil erosion in the transboundary Sio-Malaba-Malakisi catchment, straddling Kenya and Uganda. Soil erosion events were quantified by integrating input factors derived from physical datasets using a Geographical Information System (GIS). The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique was then used to assess the importance of selected physical factors influencing the soil erosion process in order to identify regions of increasing environmental vulnerability. The results obtained indicate a wide range of soil erosion rates across the region, with an estimated mean annual rate of 250 t ha−1 yr−1 for the whole catchment. Upstream areas characterized by intensive agricultural activity had erosion rates of up to 2000 t ha−1 yr−1, while downstream areas recorded erosion rates below 600 t ha−1 yr−1. Areas with intensive agriculture, unprotected soils, and a soil loss tolerance value above 12 t ha−1 yr−1 were found to be most vulnerable. Rainfall and vegetation cover were identified as key factors influencing erosion susceptibility. Regions with soil erosion rates above 50 t ha−1 yr−1 were identified as high priority regions for targeted soil and water conservation measures. The identification of vulnerability zones, including the classification of their severity, provides an opportunity to prioritize sustainable environmental management interventions; a process that can be replicated for such affected regions elsewhere.

Prevalence of Passalurus ambiguus in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Karbala province, Iraq

Commercial rabbit farming is primarily focused on the production of rabbit meat, although the presence of gastrointestinal disorders can impede their productivity. Endoparasites significantly contribute to the development of several diseases in rabbits, leading to higher rates of illness and death. Passalurus ambiguus is a widely distributed nematode that commonly infects the intestines of rabbits and hares. Parasitic disease can have a substantial economic impact on the industry by reducing the commercial value of rabbit meat and skins, impeding growth and development, and leading to mortality. This study aims to examine the frequency of gastrointestinal parasites in domestic rabbits that are bred in Karbala province, Iraq. Throughout the trial, fecal samples were collected from a randomly selected group of 48 live rabbits. The feces are collected directly from the anus of each living animal. The samples were tested and the presence of eggs and nematodes was detected in the infected samples. Analysis of samples was carried out at the Parasitology Laboratory, college of Veterinary Medicine, Kerbala university, using the flotation technique. Feces from 48 rabbits (ages 1-2) years. The feces are taken out of each animal directly from the anus. Upon testing, it was found that 16 out of 48 fecal samples, accounting for a prevalence of 33.33 %, were infected with at least one nematode. Chi-square (χ2) statistics. Age and genders are not statistically significant at P values ≥ 0.05. This study identified the presence of Passalurus ambiguus in rabbits of varying ages residing in Karbala region, Iraq, including both male and female domestic rabbits. Determining the age and gender of rabbits affected by passalurosis would enable the management of the infection level in these animals. Regular use of a consistent and dependable diagnostic method is essential in industrial rabbit farms to detect and monitor gastrointestinal parasite illnesses. Gastrointestinal parasites continue to be significant health issues that lead to the mortality of rabbit litters in production. Stress and a reduction in immune response may be crucial factors driving this phenomenon.

Towards Sustainable Productivity of Greenhouse Vegetable Soils: Limiting Factors and Mitigation Strategies.

Greenhouse vegetable production has become increasingly important in meeting the increasing global food demand. Yet, it faces severe challenges in terms of how to maintain soil productivity from a long-term perspective. This review discusses the main soil productivity limiting factors for vegetables grown in greenhouses and identifies strategies that attempt to overcome these limitations. The main processes leading to soil degradation include physical (e.g., compaction), chemical (e.g., salinization, acidification, and nutrient imbalances), and biological factors (e.g., biodiversity reduction and pathogen buildup). These processes are often favored by intensive greenhouse cultivation. Mitigation strategies involve managing soil organic matter and mineral nutrients and adopting crop rotation. Future research should focus on precisely balancing soil nutrient supply with vegetable crop demands throughout their life cycle and using targeted organic amendments to manage specific soil properties. To ensure the successful adoption of recommended strategies, socioeconomic considerations are also necessary. Future empirical research is required to adapt socioeconomic frameworks, such as Science and Technology Backyard 2.0, from cereal production systems to greenhouse vegetable production systems. Addressing these issues will enable the productivity of greenhouse vegetable soils that meet growing vegetable demand to be sustained using limited soil resources.

Strategic cultivar and sowing time selection for weed management and higher redgram productivity in semi-arid Indian regions

IntroductionRedgram (Cajanus cajan L. Mill sp.), a leguminous crop commonly grown in tropical and subtropical climates, is highly valued for its high protein content (21%), which contributes significantly to food and nutritional security. However, its production faces challenges primarily due to terminal dryness experienced during critical growth stages because of changing rainfall patterns. To overcome this, adaptive techniques become imperative as the productivity of this crop is intricately linked to environmental factors and the crop’s growth cycle.MethodsHence, the field experiment was conducted at the National Pulses Research Centre, Vamban, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, in South India under rainfed condition, during the kharif (monsoon) seasons of 2017–18 and 2018–19. The primary objectives were to determine the optimal sowing time and identify suitable redgram cultivars, especially in the context of the late onset of the monsoon in Tamil Nadu, a common issue under changing climate conditions. The experiments tested six different sowing dates with three redgram cultivars.Results and discussionThe findings highlighted the substantial influence of different redgram cultivars and sowing times on the crop’s growth characteristics and yield. Among the six sowing dates tested, planting in later half of June (S6) resulted in notably higher plant height (201 cm), a greater number of pods per plant (287), a seed yield of 1,112 kg ha−1, and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.61 Notably, this sowing period (S6) demonstrated comparable performance with the treatment of redgram sowing in the latter part of September (S4). CO 6 (V1) is the most productive of the three redgram cultivars, with the highest mean pant height (200 cm), number of pods per plant (237), grain yield (1,017 kg ha−1), and benefit cost ratio (2.38). Extended phenological phases along with extra days to reach phenological stages could account for the increased yield in comparison to the other cultivars. Among the two short-duration cultivars, VBN (Rg) 3 (V3) had a significantly higher mean grain yield of 958 kg ha−1 with the benefit-cost ratio of 2.24. Even though CO 6 (V1) obtained a higher yield due to its long duration nature, it matured in 187 days whereas VBN (Rg) 3 (V3) matured within 129 days. Consequently, the short-duration redgram cultivars emerge as highly suitable choices for integrating into crop sequences, thereby augmenting farm cropping intensity.

Cover crops dismantle keystone ant/aphid mutualisms to enhance insect pest suppression and weed biocontrol

Abstract Cover crops are multifunctional tools that mitigate environmental impacts of agriculture, enhance resilience to weather extremes and suppress weeds and arthropod pests. Cover crops provide non‐crop food and habitat resources that attract natural enemies of pests, but their outcomes for pest management are less clear in regions where keystone mutualisms between red imported fire ants and aphids dominate. Here, we manipulate ant exclusion treatments and cover crop treatments (living mulches and terminated cover crops) that vary in food/habitat resources and examine responses of ants, aphids, other herbivores and predators in a cotton agroecosystem. Living mulches reduced both ants and aphids in the crop canopy by 97% and 93%, respectively, relative to bare soil treatments, and terminated cover crops reduced them as well by a lesser degree (~50%). Non‐aphid herbivores occurred in low densities system‐wide and increased in living mulches, whilst native predators had variable responses to cover crops and ant exclusion. Cover crops had no effect on prey removal in the crop canopy, but living mulches tripled rates of weed seed biocontrol, relative to bare soils. Cover crops elicited a shift in fire ant foraging from cotton foliage downward to the soil‐surface, preventing competitive exclusion by keystone ant/aphid mutualists that dominate crop monocultures. Cover crops altered the system‐wide impacts of fire ants: reducing ecosystem disservices (i.e. aphid tending) and enhancing ecosystem services (i.e. weed seed biocontrol). These results provide incentives for cover crop adoption as a regenerative practice in large‐scale commercial agriculture.

Association Between Dairy Production System and Milk Functionality Based on Analysis of miRNAs in Exosomes from Milk.

Dairy farming practices significantly affect the nutritional and functional properties of milk. This study compares miRNAs in milk exosomes from extensive and intensive dairy systems and explores their potential implications for human consumers. Extensive systems are believed to produce milk of higher quality with better animal welfare compared to intensive systems. Milk samples from eight extensive and nine intensive dairy farms were analysed. Milk-derived extracellular vesicles were isolated through sequential ultracentrifugation and characterised through Dynamic Light Scattering and Nanosight to determine the size and the concentration of the extracellular vesicles, in addition to immunoblotting to ensure the presence of exosome-specific proteins in their membrane. miRNA levels were quantified using RT-qPCR, and metabolic pathways associated with miRNAs showing significant differences between farm groups were analysed. EVs from extensive farms had higher concentrations. Notably, bta-miR-451 levels were significantly higher in milk from extensive farms (p = 0.021). Like human miRNA hsa-miR-451, it is linked to pathways related to Parkinson's disease and cancer. Our research suggests that milk production in extensive systems not only provides socioeconomic and environmental benefits but may also have positive effects on human health. Further research is warranted to explore the bioactive potential of these miRNAs and their implications for human health.

A cross-regional examination of camelid herding practices in Peru from 900 BCE to 1450 CE: Insights from stable isotopes in camelid bone collagen and fiber.

The economic, socio-political, and cultural significance of camelids in the Andean region is well-recognized, yet an understanding of their management evolution over pre-historical periods remains limited. This study aims to fill this gap by conducting the first cross-regional assessment of camelid pastoralism in Peru from 900 BCE to 1470 CE, using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions from the bone collagen and fibers of 577archaeological camelids across 21 sites. This research investigates the spatio-temporal shifts in camelid dietary habits, focusing on how the rise of intensive agriculture may have influenced change and led to the evolution of distinct roles for camelids in coastal versus non-coastal Andean economies. Our analysis indicates an increase in δ13C values over time on the coast, suggesting a shift towards maize-based camelid diets. Conversely, δ13C values decrease over time in highland environments, suggesting camelids consumed relatively more wild C3 forage and/or cultivated crops such as tubers. The study also reveals a significant positive relationship between latitude and δ15N values, suggesting increasing environmental aridity enriches δ15N in bone collagen. After controlling for this latitudinal effect, we observe a rise in δ15N values in both coastal and non-coastal camelids, suggesting that in later periods camelids may have been foddered in agricultural fields that were enriched with guano or dung fertilizer used to intensify production. Importantly, this research uncovers a distinct dietary divergence between coastal and inland camelids. The observed divergence in diets suggests contrasting socio-economic uses of camelids, where coastal camelids were predominantly involved in ceremonial and political activities, while those in non-coastal areas were crucial to the subsistence economy.