Critical Growth Stages Research Articles

Evaluation of Dicamba Drift Injury and Yield Loss on Soybean Using Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and Multispectral Imaging Technologies

Highlights The response of dicamba-susceptible soybean to three simulated rates and growth stages has been studied. Soybean physiological data, such as plant height and phototoxicity, was collected at the selected growth stage. Aerial images of the experiment field using UAV were collected on specific days after treatment. Soybean yield, biological response, and the correlation of vegetative indices in predicting soybean yield were achieved. Abstract. Many dicotyledonous weeds can be selectively controlled by dicamba application during the growing season. However, vapor or spray drift from dicamba application could cause significant yield loss on non-target species such as soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] that do not contain the dicamba resistance trait. In this study, the impact of simulated dicamba drift was investigated on dicamba-susceptible soybeans during different growth stages. A field experiment was conducted employing small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) and multispectral image sensors to assess the dose-response relationship between dicamba drift and soybean yield. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design, with main plots representing three distinct soybean growth stages (third trifoliate, sixth trifoliate, and early reproductive stage) and sub-plots encompassing various simulated dicamba drift rates. The analysis, involving non-linear regression and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) regression, revealed that visible soybean injuries were observed at minimal dicamba rates. However, significant yield loss occurred during the V6 growth stage at a dicamba rate of 98 g.ai ha-1, emphasizing the critical growth stage sensitivity. Moreover, a moderate yet meaningful relationship (R2 = 0.46) was established between sUAS multispectral NDVI data and soybean yield, highlighting the potential for sUAS with multispectral sensors to predict soybean yield losses. These results contribute valuable insights into the impact of dicamba drift on soybeans and the efficacy of remote sensing technology in assessing yield outcomes. Keywords: Dicamba-drift injury, Multispectral image, Precision agriculture, Soybean yield, sUAS, Yield prediction.

Chlorophyll content and yield responses for withholding irrigation and Si foliar spray at normal and Nano source under different critical growth stages of wheat

Chlorophyll content and yield responses for withholding irrigation and Si foliar spray at normal and Nano source under different critical growth stages of wheat

Consumer Psychology: A Factor Analysis of Adolescents Impulsive Spending on Live Online Shopping Platform

In the environment of the Internet, with the rapid development of e-commerce, more and more young people tend to consume in the studio and online shopping platforms. However, considering that young people are at a critical stage of physical and mental growth, their consumption behavior in the broadcast room and online shopping platform is often more susceptible to impulsive psychology. Therefore, the goal of this study is to deeply study the factors that affect young peoples impulsive consumption in the broadcast room and online shopping platform and put forward corresponding countermeasures. In this internet-filled era, young people are eager to consume in broadcast rooms and online shopping platforms, which are often driven by impulse psychology. In order to deal with this problem, we need to conduct in-depth research on young peoples consumption behavior in the broadcast room and online shopping platform, analyze the influencing factors, and formulate feasible coping strategies.

Model for Detecting Boom Height Based on an Ultrasonic Sensor for the Whole Growth Cycle of Wheat

Ultrasonic feedback energy is affected by the variety, planting, and growth state of crops; therefore, it is difficult to find applications for this energy in precision agriculture systems. To this end, an ultrasonic sensor was mounted in a spray boom height detection system. Winter wheat was used as the test object to obtain feedback energy values for the spray boom height from the top of the wheat in the field during six critical growth stages: the standing stage, the jointing stage, the booting stage, the heading stage, the filling stage, and the maturity stage. The relationship between the actual value of the height from the spray boom at the top of the wheat (Habw) and the detected value of the height from the spray boom at the top of the wheat (Hdbw) was analyzed. A spray boom height detection model based on the ultrasonic sensor during the full growth cycle of wheat was determined. Field validation tests showed that the applicability of the spray boom height detection distance (Dd) of the spray boom height detection model proposed in the present study was 450~950 mm. Within the applicable Dd range, the detection error of the detection model was ≤50 mm during the full growth cycle. This study provides a method for constructing a boom height detection model based on the whole growth cycle of wheat, which improves the reliability and accuracy of ultrasonic boom height detection for different wheat growth stages. The proposed method solves the problem of low accuracy of repeated detection of low-cost ultrasonic sensors in different environments and can provide technical support for improving field applications of the boom height control system based on ultrasonic sensors.

Predicting chlorophyll and nitrogen content in rice using multiple regression models

Chlorophyll and nitrogen (N) content in rice at critical crop growth stages are important input parameters for crop growth and nutrient uptake models used to optimize N application. Hence, the study was conducted to predict chlorophyll and N content in rice using multiple regression-based models involving normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD), Customized leaf color chart (CLCC), chlorophyll and N content. An experiment was conducted with six varieties i.e. CR Dhan 312, CR Dhan 310, Lalat, Shatabdi, Swarna Shreya, CR Dhan 206 with four N levels (i.e. 0, 80, 100 and 120 kg N ha−1) in split plot design and replicated thrice. The NDVI, SPAD and CLCC readings were taken at 45, 49 and 54 days after transplanting (DAT). Plant sampling was done for estimating the chlorophyll and nitrogen content in laboratory following standard methodology. Multiple linear regressions were performed between NDVI, SPAD and CLCC readings and chlorophyll & N content in rice in different variables combinations. Multiple linear regression (MLR) models with two variables i.e. NDVI and SPAD predicted the chlorophyll and N content of rice varieties. The predicted values for nitrogen and chlorophyll were comparable to those obtained using models from individual varieties when combined data from six different varieties were used to create MLR models. The study concludes that variations in chlorophyll and N concentrations in rice can be estimated using data from optical sensors with notable accuracies.

The interlink between chrono-nutrition and stunting: current insights and future perspectives.

Stunting is the one factor that is responsible for the irretrievable damage to children's mental and physical health. Stunting imitates chronic undernutrition throughout the most extreme critical stages of growth and development of a child in their early life, and due to that stunted child does not completely develop and are too short for their age. Stunting is mainly linked with brain underdevelopment, along with lifelong damaging consequences, comprising weakened mental and learning capacity, deprived performance in school during childhood, and enhanced risks of nutrition linked to chronic long-lasting ailments, such as diabetes, hypertension, diabesity, and obesity in the future. In this review, the authors mainly summarize the latest studies related to chronic nutrition and how it is related to stunting. Optimal nutrition, particularly during pregnancy and the first 24 months of a child's life, is crucial in preventing stunting. Circadian rhythms play a significant role in maternal and fetal health, affecting outcomes such as premature birth and stunting. Maintaining a balanced diet, avoiding late-night carbohydrate-heavy meals during pregnancy, and promoting breastfeeding align with the body's biological clock, which can benefit newborns in various ways. Providing dedicated spaces for breastfeeding in public places is important to support infant health.

Identifying Crop Growth Stages from Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence Data in Maize and Winter Wheat from Ground and Satellite Measurements

Crop growth stages are integral components of plant phenology and are of significant ecological and agricultural importance. While the use of remote sensing methods for phenology identification in cropland ecosystems has been extensively explored in previous studies, the focus has often been on land surface phenology, primarily related to the start and end of the growing season. In contrast, the monitoring of crop growth within an agronomic framework has been limited, particularly in the context of recently developed solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) data. Additionally, some critical growth stages have not received adequate attention or evaluation. This study aims to assess the utility of SIF data, collected from both ground and satellite measurements, for identifying critical crop growth stages within the realm of remote sensing phenological estimation. A comparative analysis was conducted using enhanced vegetation index (EVI) data at the Shangqiu site in the North China Plain from 2018 to 2022. Both SIF and EVI time-series data, obtained from ground and satellite sources, undergo a comprehensive phenological estimation framework encompassing pre-processing, modeling, and transition characterization. This approach involves reconciling time-series phenological patterns with crop growth stages, revealing the necessity of redefining the mapping relationship between these two fundamental concepts. After preprocessing the time-series data, the framework incorporates the phenological modeling process employing two double logistic models and a spline model for comparison. Additionally, it includes phenological transition characterization using four different methods. Consequently, each input dataset undergoes an assessment, resulting in 12 sets of estimations, which are compared to select the ideal estimation portfolio for identifying the growth stages of maize and winter wheat. Our findings highlight the efficacy of SIF data in accurately identifying the growth stages of maize and winter wheat, achieving remarkable results with an R-square exceeding 0.9 and an RMSE of less than 1 week for key growth stages (KGSs). Notably, SIF data demonstrate superior accuracy, robustness, and sensitivity to phenological events when compared to EVI data. This study establishes an estimation portfolio utilizing SIF data, involving the Gu model, a double logistic model, as the preferred phenological modelling method together with various compositing methods and transition characterization methods, suitable for most KGSs. These findings create opportunities for future research aimed at enhancing and standardizing crop growth stage identification using remote sensing data for a wide range of KGSs.

Maternal Prenatal Depressive Symptoms and Fetal Growth During the Critical Rapid Growth Stage

Fetal growth in the critical rapid growth stage (CRGS) before delivery, approximately between 30 to 37 gestational weeks, carries significant implications for subsequent overweight, obesity, and arterial health. Previous evidence has demonstrated the association between maternal depressive symptoms and fetal growth trajectories from early to late pregnancy, but there remains limited understanding of the association of these symptoms with the longitudinal fetal growth change within the CRGS. To investigate the association between maternal depressive symptoms and fetal growth during the CRGS before delivery. This prospective birth cohort study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2020. Volunteer pregnant women were enrolled in their first trimester of prenatal visits. Women with severe disease before pregnancy and multiple births, fetuses with congenital anomalies, and preterm or postterm births were excluded. This multicenter study was based in 13 hospitals covering 81 counties across 12 cities in Sichuan Province, China. Follow-up visits were performed at the second trimester, the third trimester, and 24 hours after delivery. The analysis was conducted from January to May 2023. Maternal depressive symptoms, as a continuous variable, measured by the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) at a median gestational week of 24 (range, 14 to 27) weeks of gestation. A higher score on the EPDS indicates worse depressive symptoms. The main outcomes included ultrasonography-measured biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL), and abdominal circumference (AC), along with calculated estimated fetal weight (EFW). These parameters were evaluated longitudinally at a median gestational week of 30 (range, 28 to 32) and 37 (range, 35 to 39) weeks. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the associations between maternal depressive symptoms and fetal growth parameters. A total of 2676 mother-offspring dyads were included, in which the mean (SD) age of mothers was 28.0 (4.4) years, and 1294 (48.4%) of the offspring were female. The median (IQR) maternal EPDS score was 5.0 (4.0 to 9.0). After adjustment for confounders, a significant correlation was found between a higher score of depressive symptoms in mothers and a slower rate of fetal growth across FL (β = -0.40; 95% CI, -0.58 to -0.22), AC (β = -1.97; 95% CI, -2.90 to -1.03), and EFW (β = -50.11; 95% CI, -68.46 to -31.75). These associations were stronger in female fetuses or those with better family socioeconomic conditions. In this prospective cohort study, maternal depressive symptoms were associated with slower fetal growth rate in the CRGS before delivery. Early screening for depressive disorders in pregnant women appears to be essential for fetal growth and later health.

Identification of drought tolerant wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes using stress tolerance indices in the western terai region of Nepal

Drought is the leading abiotic factor influencing global wheat production. To evaluate the drought performance of wheat genotypes, it is essential to identify and employ stress tolerance indices. These indices are essential for evaluating variation among genotypes in their response to drought, ultimately contributing to the development of more resilient and sustainable wheat production systems worldwide.. Thus, a field experiment was conducted in alpha lattice design with twenty genotypes including three checks viz., Bhrikuti, Gautam, and RR 21 at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Paklihawa Campus, Rupandehi, Nepal, under irrigated and drought conditions, to identify drought tolerance wheat in winter season of 2022. In irrigated condition, five irrigations were applied at different critical growth stages. Whereas in drought conditions, only initial irrigation was applied after field preparation, for the germination of seed, and a poly house was constructed, to restrict all forms of natural precipitation. Genotypes were harvested when they attained harvestable maturity, grain yield was recorded, and stress tolerance indices were calculated. The mean grain yield reduction was 86.88 % in drought condition. Correlation analysis showed that Yield under Stress conditions (Ys) had a significant positive correlation with Yield Stability Index (YSI)(0.911**), Geometric Mean Productivity (GMP)(0.918**), and Stress Tolerant Index (STI)(0.911**). Thus, YSI, GMP, and STI are the important stress tolerance indices considered while selecting drought tolerance genotypes. Principal component and biplot analysis revealed that Bhrikuti, BL 5116, NL 1447, NL 1508, and Gautam were stable and high-yielding drought tolerant wheat genotypes.

The nutrient intake spectrum: Analyzing the impact of gender and living arrangements in student’s diets

Introduction: University students experience critical stages of growth while pursuing higher education, necessitating proper nourishment to support physical, mental, and cognitive health. However, maintaining a healthy diet is challenging due to various factors such as academic pressures, social obligations, financial constraints, and the availability of unhealthy food options. Prior research has often focused on specific aspects of student nutrition, overlooking the complex interplay of factors such as gender and living arrangements that significantly influence dietary choices. Aim: This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors affecting nutrient consumption among university students, considering the roles of gender and living arrangements, to inform targeted interventions for improving students' dietary behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 296 students from a public university in Bangladesh was conducted using stratified random sampling to ensure the representation of different residence types and genders. Data were collected via a semi-structured questionnaire and a validated 24-hour dietary recall. Nutrient intakes were calculated using the standardized food composition table of Bangladesh, and statistical analyses, including independent sample t-tests, were applied to assess the significance of differences in dietary intake. Results: The study found variations in both macro and micronutrient intake based on living arrangements and gender. Male dormitory residents showed a higher intake of energy, while home-based female students consumed more calcium. Iron and copper intake was highest among male students living at home. Significant differences in nutrient intake were identified, highlighting the complex influence of living arrangements and gender on students' dietary choices. Conclusion: Gender and living arrangements are pivotal in shaping the nutritional intake of university students. The study’s findings emphasize the need for university administrators and policymakers to consider these factors when designing educational programs and meal plans to ensure they meet the diverse nutritional needs of the student population. Such targeted interventions could significantly enhance the dietary habits and overall health of students in university settings

The Decreased Availability of Soil Moisture and Canopy Conductance Dominate Evapotranspiration in a Rain-Fed Maize Ecosystem in Northeastern China

Evapotranspiration (ET) determines the crop productivity in rain-fed agriculture. Global climate change alters the trade-off between soil water supply and atmospheric demand, energy partitioning, and community biophysical and structural properties; however, the interactive effects of these biotic and abiotic factors on ET and its components remain unclear. ET was measured in 2005–2020 in a rain-fed maize ecosystem in northeastern China using the eddy covariance method. By decomposing ET into transpiration (T) and evaporation (E) with the Shuttleworth–Wallace model, we investigated the abiotic and biotic interactive effects on ET and its components at annual levels. Results showed that available energy and albedo exhibited no significant time-series trends, but the Bowen ratio exhibited an increasing trend. Precipitation exhibited no significant trends; however, soil water content (SWC) decreased with time, accompanied by significantly increased air temperature (Ta) and a vapor pressure deficit (VPD). The ET decline was controlled by T, rather than E. The T decline was mainly controlled by canopy conductance and SWC. CO2 concentrations and the VPD exhibited indirect effects on T by reducing canopy conductance, while Ta and precipitation had indirect effects on T by reducing SWC. Our results indicated that decreasing ET may be more severe with crop physiological adaptability for a decreased SWC. Aiming to enhance water resource efficiency, the practice of returning crop residues to the field to reduce soil evaporation, coupled with adjusting the sowing time to mitigate the risk of seasonal droughts during critical growth stages, represents an effective strategy in agricultural water resource management.

A case study on the use of inter-row cover crops on a new and old vineyard cv. ‘Assyrtiko’ in Santorini Island

In Santorini Island, Greece, the research and revival of cultivation techniques are crucial to the adaptation of viticulture in the current unique and extreme climatic and cultural conditions, including the increasingly extreme climatic phenomena resulting from climate change. This work presents the use of cover crops, in a new planting and productive Assyrtiko vineyard in Santorin Island. Our study is the first reflection of the use of cover crops in the special conditions of the island to mitigate wind and sandblasting damages and reduce high ground temperatures during days with high temperatures. We showed that the use of cover crops could play a significant role in reducing the wind speed and the resulting sandblasting that cause almost every year damage to young and productive vines when they are at critical growth stages.

Iodine status and associated dietary factors among preschool children in Shanghai.

Children aged 3-6 years undergo a critical stage of growth and development and are irreversibly affected by their iodine status. In order to reveal iodine status in preschool children, we detected iodine concentrations in urine samples from 1382 children aged 3-6 years based on a cross-sectional study. The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of children was 193.36 μg/L and was 336.96 μg/g·Cr corrected for creatinine. The study developed a link between dietary habits and iodine status, revealing that regular calcium supplement (OR: 1.79, (95% CI: 1.03, 3.12)) increased deficiency risk, while moderate seafood consumption (OR: 0.60, (95% CI: 0.38, 0.95)) decreased it. Additionally, modest intake of shellfish (OR: 0.58, (95% CI: 0.33, 1.00)), vegetables (OR: 0.61, (95% CI: 0.38, 0.97)), and eggs (OR: 0.53, (95% CI: 0.30, 0.95)) was found to protect against excess iodine. The findings underline the importance of balanced diets and various nutrients' roles in preschoolers' iodine status.

Agronomic strategies to enhance the early vigor and yield of maize part II: the role of seed applied biostimulant, hybrid, and starter fertilization on crop performance.

Maize cropping systems need to be re-designed, within a sustainable intensification context, by focusing on the application of high-use efficiency crop practices, such as those that are able to enhance an early plant vigor in the first critical growth stages; such practices could lead to significant agronomic and yield benefits. The aim of this study has been to evaluate the effects of the cultivation of hybrids with superior early vigor, of the distribution of starter fertilizers at sowing, and of the seed application of biostimulants on promoting plant growth and grain yield in full factorial experiments carried out in both a growth chamber and in open fields. The greatest benefits, in terms of plant growth enhancement (plant height, biomass, leaf area) and cold stress mitigation, were detected for the starter fertilization, followed by the use of an early vigor hybrid and a biostimulant seed treatment. The starter fertilization and the early vigor hybrid led to earlier flowering dates, that is, of 2.1 and 2.8 days, respectively, and significantly reduced grain moisture at harvest. Moreover, the early vigor hybrid, the starter NP fertilization, and the biostimulant treatment increased grain yield by 8.5%, 6.0%, and 5.1%, respectively, compared to the standard hybrid and the untreated controls. The combination of all the considered factors resulted in the maximum benefits, compared to the control cropping system, with an increase in the plant growth of 124%, a reduction of the sowing-flowering period of 5 days, and a gain in grain yield of 14%. When choosing the most suitable crop practice, the diversity of each cropping system should be considered, according to the pedo-climatic conditions, the agronomic background, the yield potential, and the supply chain requirements.

Reliability and validity of the Child Perception Questionnaire 8 ~ 10 (CPQ8~10) in China: an instrument for measuring oral health-related quality of life among 8-10-year-old children.

Children aged 8-10 are in a critical stage of growth and development, facing complex and specific oral health problems. In China, there is no specific assessment questionnaire for this age group. The Child Perception Questionnare 8 ~ 10 (CPQ8~10) has been widely used in many countries, with good reliability and validity. This study aimed to translate the CPQ8~10 into Chinese and assess its reliability and validity, and ascertain its applicability for 8-10-year-old children in China. Brislin's translation model was used in developing the Chinese version of CPQ8~10. Internal consistency, retest reliability, criterion validity, and confirmatory factor analysis were performed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the CPQ8~10 among 494 8 ~ 10-year-old children in China. A Chinese version of the CPQ8~10, aligned with Chinese culture and social features, was developed. The criterion validity was 0.719 (P < 0.001). The item-level content validity index (I-CVI) and scale-level content validity index (S-CVI) for the Chinese version of the CPQ8~10 were 0.80 ~ 1.00 and 0.968, respectively. Factor analysis revealed a logical relationship among the items in the Chinese version of the CPQ8~10. The Cronbach's α coefficient, retest reliability, and Guttman split-half reliability coefficient for the Chinese version of the CPQ8~10 were 0.819, 0.830, and 0.849, respectively. The Chinese version of the CPQ8~10 exhibited a structure consistent with the original questionnaire, displaying good reliability and validity. This study facilitates the application of CPQ8~10 in China. The Chinese version of the CPQ8~10 is a brief and suitable tool to evaluate oral health-related quality of life of 8 ~ 10-year-old children.

Overnutrition in adolescents and its associated factors in Dale district schools in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Adolescence is the critical stage of an individual's growth and development that determines their nutritional status in the future. Adolescent overnutrition has become an increasing public health concern in developing countries like Ethiopia. This study was designed to determine the magnitude and determinants of overnutrition among school-going adolescents in Dale District of Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study was done between November and December 2020. A total of 333 school-going adolescents aged 10-19 years participated in this study. Socio-demographic, lifestyle, physical activity level, dietary energy intake, and height and weight data were collected. Body Mass Index for age Z-score (BAZ) was computed. Binary and multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the association of outcome variable with explanatory variables, and results were reported using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval. The magnitude of overnutrition was 7.2% (10.8% in the urban versus. 3.6% of rural schools). Overnutrition was positively associated with lack of sufficient play area within the school (AOR = 2.53, 95% CI [1.02-6.26]), being an urban resident (AOR = 3.05, 95% CI [1.12-8.29]), positive energy balance (AOR = 9.47, 95% CI [1.58-56.80]), consuming fast foods within a month before the survey date (AOR = 2.60, 95% CI [1.93-6.83]), having moderate (AOR = 9.28, 95% CI [6.70-71.63]) or low physical activity (PA) (AOR = 7.95, 95% CI [1.12-56.72]), and consuming snack within last one week before the survey date (AOR = 3.32, 95% CI [1.15-9.58]). The magnitude of overnutrition among school-going adolescents was suboptimal. Sedentary lifestyles, excess calorie intake, having inadequate play areas within the school, and having snack and fast foods were determinants for overnutrition in the study area.

Effect of Different Weed Management Practices on Growth Characters of Chickpea in Mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh, India

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is one of the most important pulse legumes in many parts of the world. India is largest producer of chickpea in the world, sharing 65 and 70 % of the total global area and production, respectively. Different weed control practices use of herbicides were followed for better management. Application of herbicide at critical growth stages followed by one or two hand weeding at proper time or manipulation of row spacing for improving the weed suppressing effect of crops gives marginal improvement in crop yield. A field experiment titled “Effects of Different Weed Management Practices on Growth Characters of Chickpea in Mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh” was conducted during rabi season of 2022 at Chamelti Agriculture Farm, MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture, slightly alkaline in reaction with EC in a safer range, medium in organic carbon, available nitrogen, potassium, and high in available phosphorus. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications comprising ten weed management treatments viz. (T1) One hand weeding at 20 DAS, (T2) Two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS, (T3) Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg ha-1 (PE), (T4) Imazethapyr 10 SL @ 1.0 kg ha-1 (PoE) at 25 DAS, (T5) Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg ha-1 (PE) + One hand weeding at 30 DAS, (T6) Imazethapyr 10 SL @ 1.0 kg ha-1 (PoE) at 25 DAS + One hand weeding at 40 DAS, (T7) Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3 EC @ 60 g ha-1 (PoE) at 25 DAS + One hand weeding at 40 DAS, (T8) Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg ha-1 (PE) + Imazethapyr 10 SL @ 1.0 kg ha-1 (PoE) at 25 DAS, (T9) Weed free and (T10) Weedy Check. The recommended dose of fertilizer (30:60:30 kg ha-1) was applied through Urea, SSP, and MOP at the time of sowing. PBG-7 variety of chickpea was used for sowing. Weed management practices were done as per treatment. Other crop management practices were followed as per the recommendation of the area. Application of (T8) Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg ha-1 (PE) + Imazethapyr 10 SL @ 1.0 kg ha-1 (PoE) at 25 DAS registered higher growth parameters viz. plant height, number of branches plant-1, dry matter accumulation and crop growth rate. Thus, study suggest that chickpea can successfully grown under Mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh on (T8) Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg ha-1 (PE) + Imazethapyr 10 SL @ 1.0 kg ha-1 (PoE) at 25 DAS.

Improving estimation of maize leaf area index by combining of UAV-based multispectral and thermal infrared data: The potential of new texture index

Crop leaf area index (LAI) is one of the important indicators to evaluate crop growth and guide field management, and can be used to predict crop yield. Spectral and thermal information extracted by multispectral (MS) and thermal infrared (TIR) sensors mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be used for LAI estimation. Image texture is sensitive to the changes in crop surface grayscale or color characteristics, and can be combined with spectral and thermal information to estimate the LAI. But single texture metric has limitations in LAI estimation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to construct new texture indices based on texture metrics extracted from MS and TIR images, and combined spectral and thermal information to enhance the estimation accuracy of maize LAI. Three replicates of maize experiments under different irrigation treatments were conducted in 2020. The MS and TIR sensors were mounted on a UAV to acquire maize canopy images during critical growth stages and acquire field LAI value of samples synchronously. The LAI estimation models were established using MS data, TIR data, as well as their combination. These models were constructed by Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN), Partial least squares regression (PLSR), and Random Forest Regression (RFR). Finally, the performance of LAI estimation models was evaluated by the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE) and relative root mean square error (rRMSE). Results shown that: (i) Among the eight kinds of texture metrics extracted from MS and TIR images, the texture metric mean (MEA) has the best performance. Compared with single texture metrics, texture indices constructed by different metrics has stronger correlation with LAI. (ii) Adding texture indices to estimation models significantly improved model accuracy, especially multispectral three-texture index(MS-TTI) has higher LAI estimation potential than thermal infrared three-texture index(TIR-TTI). (iii) Compared with the use of MS or TIR data alone, the estimation model constructed by combining MS data and TIR data have better performance. The best estimation model obtained by the RFR method (R2 = 0.862, RMSE = 0.246 and rRMSE = 10.20 %) further improved the LAI estimation of maize, with R2 increasing by 6.55 % and 14.48 %, respectively. In conclusion, the combination of MS and TIR data can effectively improve the estimation accuracy of maize LAI, and also provide a feasible method for monitoring crop growth.

Nano-Biochar Enhances Wheat Crop Productivity by Vindicating the Effects of Drought: In Relation to Physiological and Phenological Stages.

Climatic changes are major hindrances to crop productivity. Likewise, water scarcity is the major obstacle during different physiological and phenological stages, which ultimately reduces the wheat crop yield. So, there is a dire need to adopt modern approaches such as soil amendments, i.e., using nano-biochar (NBC) to boost soil health and wheat crop productivity. Therefore, a case study was performed in the wire house of the Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur. CRD (completely randomized design) with four treatments of NBC, i.e., NBC0 (control), NBC1 (0.5%), NBC2 (1.00%), NBC3 (1.5%), and four drought levels D0 = control, D1 = drought at tillering, D2 = drought at flowering, and D3 = drought at grain filling was used. The hypothesis for the case study was to investigate if the NBC increases crop productivity by boosting physiological and chemical attributes under different drought conditions at different phenological stages. Results showed that among NBC treatments, NBC2 (1.00%) showed 37.10% increase in peroxidase activity, 28.60% in superoxide dismutase, 63.33% in catalase, 22.03% in ascorbate peroxidase, and 6.66% in plant height as compared to other NBC treatments, whereas among drought treatments, D0 = control stood out in comparison to water deficit treatments at critical growth and development stages, statistically analyzed data revealed that D0 was able to generate plant height 6.17 times more, 12.76% in the number of grains per spike, 4.60% in osmotic potential, and 2.96% in stomatal conductance activities of wheat crop. D3 and NBC0 were identified as treatment levels with the statistically lowest growth and yield returns, respectively. It showed a decrease of 4.69% in leaf relative water contents, 12.33% in water potential, and 23.64% in fertile tillers. It was recommended that drought is avoided at any critical growth, particularly at the grain-filling stage. The use of organic substances (fertilizers) must be promoted as they possess soil and crop health-promoting properties and also reduce different management expenses (fertilizer cost). Using NBC helps boost crop growth in the presence of a limited water supply. However, extensive research is needed to find out the impact of these organic substances (humic acid, farmyard manure, and NBC) on different crops, particularly on wheat, under stress conditions.

Prevalence and determinants of stunting among children under 5 years in remote Nepal

AbstractIntroductionThe growth and development of an individual is greatly influenced by their nutritional state during the first 5 years of life. Stunted growth and suboptimal weight gain remain major public health concerns during the most critical stages of growth and early childhood development. This study aims to assess the prevalence of stunting among children under 5 years of age and identify its associated factors in remote district of Nepal.MethodsWe conducted a survey with 487 mothers of children under 5 years of age in a remote area of Nepal. Smartphones were installed with KoBocollect software to collect the data. Trained health researchers collected the data including the anthropometric measurement (height, weight and mid‐upper arm circumference, MUAC) for assessment of the nutritional status. We followed World Health Organization guidelines for the anthropometric measurement and calculated the Z‐score using Emergency Nutrition (ENA) software. Regarding the questions related to dietary diversity, we used a validated questionnaire: household dietary diversity score, child dietary diversity score and women dietary diversity score. We analysed all the data from the survey using SPSS version 24. We performed descriptive and multivariable analyses to find the nutritional status and factors associated with stunting.ResultWe found a high prevalence of stunting, that is, 56.7% among children under 5 years of age. Sociodemographic variables like age, sex of the child and ethnicity were significantly associated with the prevalence of stunting. Male children (60.7%) were more likely to be stunted compared to females (51.8%). We found that children from the Brahmin/Chhetri ethnic group were more likely to be stunted compared to children from Dalit and Janajati. Mothers who delivered their youngest child by skilled health personnel were less likely to have their children to be stunted. Similarly, children aged 24–59 months were 2.5 times more likely to be stunted than those aged 6–23 months.ConclusionStunting among children under 5 years of age is very high in the remote district of Nepal. Sex, age of the child, ethnicity and delivery by a health professional were associated with the prevalence of stunting. There is a need for awareness and public health intervention to reduce the prevalence of stunting and improve the nutritional status of children under 5 years of age in remote districts of Nepal. Furthermore, assessment of the nutritional status of children in other remote districts of Nepal is important.