Conventional Farming Methods Research Articles

Biotechnological Breakthroughs: Paving the Path to Cleaner and More Productive Agriculture through Bioremediation

In recent years, biotechnological advancements have played a pivotal role in transforming traditional agricultural practices into sustainable and environmentally conscious systems. This article explores the revolutionary concept of bioremediation and its potential to address soil pollution, enhance crop productivity, and mitigate the environmental impact of conventional farming methods. Bioremediation involves harnessing the power of microorganisms, plants, or enzymes to detoxify or remove pollutants from soil, presenting a promising solution to the challenges posed by agrochemicals and industrial wastes. The first section of this abstract delves into the current state of agriculture, highlighting the widespread use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, which has led to soil degradation, water contamination, and loss of biodiversity. These issues necessitate a paradigm shift towards sustainable agricultural practices that prioritize soil health and ecosystem balance. The second section explores the fundamental principles of bioremediation, emphasizing its versatility in addressing a wide range of pollutants, including heavy metals, pesticides, and organic contaminants. Through the use of genetically engineered microorganisms or naturally occurring plant-microbe partnerships, bioremediation offers a targeted and eco-friendly approach to soil restoration. Moving forward, the paper examines specific biotechnological breakthroughs that have propelled the field of bioremediation. From the development of genetically modified crops with enhanced phytoremediation capabilities to the use of engineered microbes for efficient pollutant degradation, these innovations showcase the potential of biotechnology in revolutionizing agriculture. Furthermore, the paper explores the economic and environmental benefits associated with the adoption of bioremediation techniques in agriculture. By reducing the reliance on synthetic chemicals, farmers can lower production costs, while simultaneously preserving soil fertility and safeguarding water resources. The potential for increased crop yields and improved food quality further underscores the positive impact of bioremediation on agricultural productivity.

A Survey Paper On: Uplifting Farmers with Mobile Applications: An Overview of Modern Agricultural Utilities

Indian agriculture although it forms the foundation of the nation’s economy, the sector nevertheless faces a number of challenges. One of the major problems is that farmers lack access to markets and knowledge. Therefore, a mobile app may be essential in resolving this problem. The design and development of this software are intended to address the challenges faced by Indian farmers while purchasing seeds and fertilizer. An Android-based application powers it. In this paper, we look at the agricultural technology options that are already available, think about the challenges that Indian farmers face, and highlight some potential benefits from this Android app. An androidbased approach that could fundamentally alter how Indian farmers get seeds, fertilizer, and essential agricultural knowledge is provided in this paper. The ”App- Based Implementation of Modern Agriculture Utilities in Android” intends to close the technological and agricultural gap between conventional farming methods. by giving farmers simple access to essential resources and equipment via their smartphones.

A STUDY ON HYDROPHONIC FARMING

Hydroponics technology is possibly the most intensive and a versatile method of growing crops production at present as it allows optimum utilization of nutrient solution, water and space, as well as a better control of climate and plant protection factors. Hydroponic technology can be an efficient mean for food production from extreme environmental ecosystems such as deserts, mountainous regions, or arctic communities. Furthermore, hydroponics production increases the quality of crops and its productivity, which results in higher competitiveness and economic income. Several types of hydroponics systems can be used to grow the crops. Commercially Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) has been used across a globe for successful production of the leafy as well as other exotic vegetables cultivation. Hydroponic systems use mineral nutrient solutions to feed the plants in water of using several non-soil growing media. Despite of having few disadvantages, Hydroponics technology provides variety of benefits when compared with conventional farming methods Hydroponic farming is an innovative soil-less cultivation method that has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential for sustainable and efficient food production..

Automated hydroponic nutrient control system for smart agriculture

<p><span>Hydroponics is a type of soil-free farming that uses less water and other resources than conventional soil-based farming methods. Hydroponic cultivation system has high yield per acre of land with minimal consumption of water and can be a possible to meet the growing food demand of the world. The hydroponic plants fertility must be preserved, proper nutrition, a environmental temperature, and nutrient stability are crucial. It will be simpler for a farmer to keep track of all hydroponic plants by automatically monitoring nutrient flow and ambient temperature stability. By implementing artificial intelligence-based regulating algorithms in the agriculture industry, recent technology advancements are highly helpful in resolving these issues. This paper presents, automated hydroponic nutrient control system (AHNCS) for smart agriculture. System architecture is consisting of sensors network, Raspberry pi 4 microcontroller and actuators. Raspberry pi 4 microcomputer read sensor values from sensors process and activates particular actuator. The automation of the hydroponic system helps to avoid human intervention. The utilization of sensors and actuators, promptly act for the needs of the plant without any delay. The AHNCS having high accuracy, high efficiency and less delay. Hence, automation of the existing hydroponic system can reduce human dependency, provide accurate results, constant monitoring of plant health.</span></p>

Mitigating Tipburn True Foliar Calcium Application in Indoor Hydroponicly Grown Mini Cos Lettuce

Hydroponic systems provide a highly advantageous environment for cultivating green leafy vegetables. Among these advantages, there is a significant acceleration in harvest compared to conventional farming methods, the attainment of high yields, enhanced leaf coloring, increased nutritional content, and improved sweetness, all of which are crucial factors. However, a particular issue known as tip burn is encountered when cultivating, especially Yedikule (Romaine) type lettuce in hydroponic systems. This study investigates various calcium dosages applied via foliar spray to mitigate tip burn on Thespian and Suntred lettuce varieties (green and red Romaine mini types). Different calcium dosages were employed for both lettuce varieties. This experiment examined various parameters for both lettuce types, including plant height, root length, stem diameter, plant age, dry weight, root dry and fresh weight, macro and micronutrient content, dry matter, and total yield. The results indicate that combining foliar calcium and adequate ventilation effectively mitigates tipburn. This research emphasizes the significance of such a combined approach in preventing tip burn in hydroponically grown lettuce, specifically Thespian and Suntred varieties.

The Applicability of the Solar Powered Aquaponics Mobile Unit at Sharjah Campus for Sustainable Perspective of Food Security

By recognizing the limitations of conventional farming methods in meeting the escalating global population and the resulting increased demand for food, this study emphasizes the crucial need for sustainable agriculture techniques. This work focuses on establishing a solar-powered aquaponics system as a sustainable, cost-effective, and ecologically responsible approach to ensure food security in the UAE. This paper describes the implemented aquaponics prototype within the mobile learning unit at the Sharjah Campus of the Higher College of Technology by integrating fish and plant cultivation in a closed-loop system to prioritize water conservation and eliminate reliance on soil, align with United Nations sustainable development goals and promoting sustainable farming practices for robust food production in the UAE. The solar energy system was employed for 6 photovoltaic modules for LED lights and 13 photovoltaic modules for the pumping system, with a total installation area of 50 m2. It is found that the power requirements are comparatively lower than the vertical setup, which requires 6 photovoltaic modules for the LED and 14 photovoltaic modules for the pumping system. This paper assesses the functional parameters, including electricity consumption by solar panels and water pump energy usage. Furthermore, investigates the impact of fish and plant interactions on water quality and nitrification efficiency, addressing deficiencies in traditional farming and aquaculture. Monthly evaluations reveal favorable conditions, with pH levels of 6.4-7.2, temperatures between 31.8°C and 34.7°C, and ammonia levels at 1 mg.L-1. Aquatic life exhibits an 83% survival rate and a specific growth rate of 3.92% daily.

An Overview of Recent Advances in Greenhouse Strawberry Cultivation Using Deep Learning Techniques: A Review for Strawberry Practitioners

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) has been widely accepted as the “Queen of Fruits”. It has been identified as having high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants that are beneficial for maintaining cardiovascular health and maintaining blood sugar levels. The implementation of advanced techniques like precision agriculture (PA) is crucial for enhancing production compared to conventional farming methods. In recent years, the successful application of deep learning models was represented by convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in a variety of disciplines of computer vision (CV). Due to the dearth of a comprehensive and detailed discussion on the application of deep learning to strawberry cultivation, a particular review of recent technologies is needed. This paper provides an overview of recent advancements in strawberry cultivation utilizing Deep Learning (DL) techniques. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the most up-to-date techniques and methodologies used in this field by examining recent research. It also discusses the recent advanced variants of the DL model, along with a fundamental overview of CNN architecture. In addition, techniques for fine-tuning DL models have been covered. Besides, various strawberry-planting-related datasets were examined in the literature, and the limitations of using research models for real-time research have been discussed.

Evaluating growth attributes and soil heath under long term implementation of organic farming in fodder cowpea

A study was conducted to evaluate the impact of organic and conventional production system on fodder cowpea growth and soil health. This study was conducted in a farmers field of Erode, Tamil Nadu in a randomized block design with three replications. For the study, six farmers' fields involving organic (ORG) practices and one conventional (CON) production system were selected. Soil and plant samples were collected at the time of harvest and analyzed for growth, and soil health parameters. The results revealed that significant differences were found in the growth parameters of fodder cowpea among the organic and conventional production system. The analyzed chemical properties ., soil reaction, electrical conductivity viz(EC), macro nutrients, and biological indicators ., soil organic carbon (SOC), organic matter (SOM), vizmicrobial biomass carbon (MBC), culturable microbes, and yield were found to be higher in organically managed soils than the conventional farming method

Towards Sustainable Agriculture: Evaluating the Feasibility and Perception of Natural Farming in Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh, India

Background: The Indian agricultural industry has faced numerous challenges, including heavy reliance on chemical inputs, declining soil quality, rising cultivation costs and farmer distress. Natural farming, which emphasizes organic and agroecological practices, has emerged as a viable alternative to address these issues and promote environmental and economic sustainability. This research article explores the potential of natural farming as a pathway to sustainable agriculture in India. Methods: The study focuses on the state of Andhra Pradesh, specifically in the Vizianagaram district, where the adoption of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) has been significant. A comprehensive economic analysis is conducted, comparing natural farming with conventional farming methods. Primary data is collected through surveys and interviews with farmers practicing natural farming and conventional farming methods. Result: The results highlight the perception and attitudes of farmers towards natural farming. While both Natural Farmers and Conventional Farmers acknowledge the feasibility and benefits of natural farming, they differ in their views on complexity, scalability, input preparation and the challenges of acquiring and maintaining Desi cows. Based on the findings, policy recommendations are provided to promote and support the adoption and expansion of natural farming practices. These recommendations include awareness and education campaigns, training and capacity building, financial support, research and development initiatives, collaboration and networking, policy integration, market support and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

The improvement of kinsenoside in wild-imitated cultivation Anoectochilus roxburghii associated with endophytic community

Due to the low content of active ingredients and poor efficacy in herbal medicine in modern large-scale planting conditions, a growing number of methods for improving the content of active ingredients have been studied, such as improving planting techniques, developing and applying microbial engineering bacteria. In recent years, most studies have focused on improving the quality of Anoectochilus roxburghii through conventional farming methods. However, the role of endophytes in improving the quality of herbal medicine was often ignored. Although some studies have shown that microorganisms can regulate Anoectochilus roxburghii growth, there are still few studies on their regulation of plant active ingredients in plants. In this study, endophytic community and active ingredient content under the three culture patterns were examined through amplicon sequencing and high performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detector, and the correlation between the abundance of endophytes and kinsenoside content was analyzed. The results indicated a significant alteration in the diversity and network complexity of endophytic community within Anoectochilus roxburghii under the three culture conditions. After being cultivated in a wild-imitated environment for 3 months, the microbial composition of wild-imitated cultivated Anoectochilus roxburghii differentiated and converged toward that of wild-tending planted Anoectochilus roxburghii. Correlation analyses showed that the diversity of bacterial community has a significant positive relationship with the content of kinsenoside, and Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia is the key taxa affecting kinsenoside content. In addition, acetylacetyl-CoA reductase, a key enzyme for the synthesis of kinsenoside, was significantly enriched in wild-imitated cultivated and wild tending cultivated Anoectochilus roxburghii. The study proposed that the medicinal quality of wild-imitated cultivated and wild tending cultivated Anoectochilus roxburghii, with high content of kinsenoside, which is likely attributed to the Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia and acetylacetyl-CoA. This study provides a basis for the improvement and sustainable utilization of Anoectochilus roxburghii resources.

The Future of Rice Farming: A Review of Natural and Eco-Friendly Practices

Recognizing rice as a staple for a significant global population, the review underscores the environmental challenges posed by traditional and conventional rice farming methods. It emphasizes the promise of sustainable rice cultivation, focusing on innovations like the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and climate-friendly techniques that mitigate environmental impacts. Furthermore, it delves into the benefits of crop rotation, sustainable water management, soil health preservation through mycorrhizal associations, companion planting, and the role of precision agriculture empowered by artificial intelligence. The abstract discusses the challenges, including climate change, water scarcity, soil health, and labor shortages, and proposes prospects involving innovation, sustainable practices, policy support, and collaborative partnerships. It highlights real-world successes in eco-friendly rice farming, such as initiatives, and emphasizes the importance of empowering farmers through education and training in eco-friendly methods. Ultimately, role of eco-friendly practices in ensuring the sustainability, productivity, and food security of global rice farming.

Assessing the ecosystem service values of tea plantations using conventional and organic farming methods: Is organic farming always better?

Low-elevation mountainous (LEM) areas in some countries are reclaimed for agriculture (especially, for deep cultivation of tea trees) due to their accessibility, higher temperature, and more rainfall, contributing to biodiversity and ecological balance. However, extensive development in these areas causes lasting ecological damage; and hence it is crucial to evaluate the ecological value of these areas for formulating relevant ecological protection policies. Therefore, this study evaluated the ecosystem service value of tea plantations in LEM areas using the contingent valuation method based on the subjective consciousness of farmers, rather than an objective assessment. A questionnaire survey was conducted on tea farmers in Mingjian Township (which is one of the major tea-producing LEM areas in Mid-Taiwan); and ecosystem service values of tea plantations between conventional farming methods (CFMs) and organic farming methods (OFMs) were compared. Firstly, the differences in willingness to pay (WTP) for the samples including and excluding protest responses were investigated, and then a regression analysis to estimate the WTP price for maintaining the tea plantation ecology was conducted. Empirical results showed a significantly negative correlation between the WTP price and the education level of farmers in tea plantations using CFMs, but a significantly positive correlation in tea plantations using both CFMs and OFMs. Most respondents were male and used CFMs to operate tea plantations; and those with higher monthly income and using both CFMs and OFMs were willing to pay more. Regarding ecosystem services of tea plantations, the respondents preferred the “provisioning” ecosystem services, and were willing to pay an average of NT$ 718.92 and NT$ 794.32 per year for maintaining the ecology of tea plantations using CFMs and OFMs, respectively. The unit ecological value of tea plantations was not inferior to those of coniferous and broad-leaved forests, paddy fields, and algae reefs from previous studies. Finally, some suggestions are proposed for a reference in formulating relevant ecological protection policies.

PASTURE-BASED POULTRY FARMING: APPROACH FOR ANIMAL WELFARE, NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Pasture-based poultry farming has emerged as a promising sustainable alternative to conventional indoor farming methods, offering potential benefits in terms of animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and nutritional quality of poultry products. This comprehensive review aims to summarize and analyze the existing literature on pasture-based poultry farming, providing insights into its advantages, challenges, and future research directions. Numerous studies have consistently reported pasture-based system in promoting animal welfare by allowing chickens to exhibit their natural behaviors, reducing stress levels, and enhancing overall health. Moreover, pasture-raised poultry products have demonstrated superior nutritional profiles, characterized by elevated levels of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. The environmental benefits of pasture-based systems include enhanced soil fertility, reduced soil erosion, and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional indoor systems. However, successful implementation of pasture-based systems requires careful management practices, addressing concerns related to predator control, disease risks, and labor requirements. This review underscores the importance of further research to optimize pasture-based poultry farming, fill knowledge gaps, and promote its sustainable adoption in meeting consumer demand for ethically and sustainably produced poultry products.

Organic vs conventional farming methods: a comparative study on tomato quality

Currently, the world choice between organic and conventional farming methods has become a critical consideration, not only for farmers but also for consumers concerned about food quality and environmental sustainability. This study explores into this vital issue by conducting a comprehensive comparative analysis of tomato quality between organic and conventional farming systems. The primary objective of this research is to shed light on the nutritional, sensory, and environmental aspects of tomato production.

IoT Based Smart Agriculture Monitoring System

The population increase, climate change, and shortage of resources are posing hitherto unheard-of difficulties to the agriculture sector. The application of Internet of Things (IoT) technology to agriculture, or "smart agriculture," has become a game-changing response as a result. An IoT-based Smart Agriculture System intended to transform conventional farming methods is presented in-depth in this paper. In order to maximise crop output, preserve resources, and advance sustainable farming practises, the suggested system makes use of sensor technology, data analytics, and real-time monitoring. Numerous sensors for monitoring temperature, nutrient levels, and soil moisture are among the main elements of the Internet of Things-based Smart Agriculture System. These sensors' wireless transmission of data to a centralised cloud-based platform, where sophisticated data analytics algorithms process the data, is done. This platform is accessible to users via Keywords: Internet of Things (IoT), Sensor Technology, Data Analytics, Sustainability, Crop Monitoring, Agricultural Productivity.

Effectiveness Test of Several Media For Propagation Biological Agent Trichoderma sp.

The ecology is negatively impacted by conventional farming methods that keep using more chemicals. Reducing the usage of chemicals is one strategy to combat these adverse effects. Trichoderma sp. is a type of organic fertilizer and pesticide that is beginning to be used extensively. A fungus called Trichoderma sp. is present in all types of soil. Technology is required to mass produce Trichoderma sp. on various types of media because its limited mass manufacturing makes its usage on a broad scale still needs to be completed. This study aims to evaluate the suitability of various mediums as propagation vehicles for Trichoderma species. The State Polytechnic of Lampung's Plant Laboratory conducted this study using a completely randomized design with 5 media treatments. Each treatment consisted of 4 replications. The propagation media used in this study were PDA media as a control, bran, sawdust, corn and rice. The results showed that the most effective growth media for Trichoderma sp. was bran media. The growth of Trichoderma sp. on bran media after 4 days of incubation was 100%. The average number of conidia of Trichoderma sp. the highest was found in bran media, which was 1.17 × 103/g of media.

Advancements in Agricultural Automation: A Comprehensive Review of Artificial Intelligence and Humanoid Robotics in Farming

This paper discusses about the modern techniques implemented in the field of agriculture which shaped the traditional farming to the smart farming (Agriculture 4.0). The rapid rise in the global population is one among the main reasons, besides monitoring of crops health and yield requires a huge labor force, which is also another reason for promoting intelligent systems into agriculture sector. Conventional farming methods are not suitable to meet this demand, which led robotics to associate with on-field agriculture by means of robot-based technologies like wheeled robots, ground vehicles (manned and unmanned) and aerial vehicles (manned and unmanned) that led to explore the possible advancement in agriculture 3.0. Currently, the evolutionary techniques, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT, are implemented in robotic vehicles to make them intelligent systems. Due to unprecedented climatic change and polluted ground water for the past few decades, the crops are being infested with new varieties of diseases. This requires new image processing techniques to classify the diseases based on color, texture and, shape of leaves. The incorporation of image processing technique into AI aids in deciding the appropriate amount of herbicide supplement to the plant based on the prediction of plant growth.

Secured Framework for Smart Farming in Hydroponics with Intelligent and Precise Management based on IoT with Blockchain Technology

Hydroponics is a type of soil-free farming that uses less water and other resources than conventional soil-based farming methods. However, due to the simultaneous supervision of multiple factors, nutrition advice, and plant diagnosis system, monitoring hydroponics farming is a difficult task. Hydroponic techniques utilizing the IoT show to deliver the finest outcomes, despite the usage of various artificial culture methods. Though, the usage of smart communication technologies and IoT exposes environments for smart farming to a wide range of cybersecurity risks and weaknesses. However, the adoption of intelligence-based controlling algorithms in the agricultural industry is a good use of current technical advancements to address these issues. This paper presented a secured framework for smart farming in hydroponics system. The proposed architecture is characterized into four-layer IoT based framework, sensor, communication, fog and cloud layer. Data analytics is performed using supervised machine learning techniques with intelligent and precise management and is applied at the fog layer for efficient computation over the cloud layer. The data security over channel is protected by using Blockchain Technology. The experimental results are evaluated and analyzed for several statistical parameters in order to improve the system efficacy.

Rare earths and other elements content in hen eggs sold in Italy: comparison among main types of farming methods and consumer's health risk assessment.

Recently, in Italy, consumers are choosing hen eggs from farming systems with higher ethical value, due to their perception of a related higher quality and safety. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the existence of differences in elemental content in Italian eggs from organic, barn, and caged hen farming methods and to determine the related potential consumer exposure risk to inorganic contaminants due to the consumption of eggs. One hundred seventy-six egg samples were collected and analyzed using Q-ICP-MS to investigate the content of 14 elements (Pb, As, Hg, Cd, Tl, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Se, Co, Ni, V, and Cr) and 13 rare earth elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb). The scenarios of exposure to rare earth and other elements from eggs were estimated for three age groups of consumers. The daily intake values were always lower than the respective safety reference values. In conclusion, Italian hen eggs contain low levels of rare earth and other elements, and therefore, their consumption does not represent a risk of exposure. Finally, no significant differences in contaminants between conventional and organic farming methods were found.

The exposure of field-grown maize seedlings to weed volatiles affects their growth and seed quality.

Plants exposed to volatiles emitted from artificially damaged conspecific or heterospecific plants exhibit increased resistance to herbivorous insects. Here, we examined whether volatiles from artificially damaged weeds affect maize growth and reproduction. Seven days after germination, maize seedlings were exposed to volatiles emitted by artificially damaged mugwort (Artemisia indica var. maximowiczii) or tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) plants either separately, or as a mixture of the two, for seven days. Unexposed seedlings were used as controls. Treated and control seedlings were cultivated in an experimental field without any insecticides applied. Plants exposed to either of the three volatile treatments sustained significantly less damage than controls. Additionally, seedlings exposed to either goldenrod or mixed volatiles produced more leaves and tillers than control plants. Furthermore, a significant increase in the number of ears was observed in plants exposed to the volatile mixture. In all treated plants, ear sugar content was significantly higher than that in the controls. Further, we cultivated seedlings that were either exposed to the volatile mixture or unexposed, under the conventional farming method using pesticides. Similar significant differences were observed for sugar content, number of tillers, leaves, damaged leaves, and ears. Laboratory experiments were conducted to further evaluate the mechanisms involved in the improved performance of volatile-treated plants. A significant reduction in the growth of common armyworm (Mythimna separata) larvae was observed when maize plants were exposed to the volatile mixture. This treatment did not affect the amount of jasmonic acid in the seedlings, whereas salicylic acid content increased upon exposure. The characteristic differences in chemical composition of mugwort and goldenrod volatiles were confirmed and, in turn, the volatile mixture differed significantly from the volatiles of either species.