Crop Production In Areas Research Articles

Delineation of Management Zones for Site‐Specific Soil Nutrient Management for Sustainable Crop Production

ABSTRACTSoil nutrients deficiencies are one of the major causes of soil degradation in different parts of World, adversely impacting crop production. Delineation of soil nutrients management zones (MZs) is one of the commonly used techniques for evaluating spatial distribution pattern of soil parameters for adoption of site‐specific nutrient management. We, therefore, conducted the present study to understand the spatial distribution pattern of soil nutrients and their associated soil properties, and to delineate soil nutrients MZs in a north‐western Indian Himalayan (NWIH) region. A total of 18,930 representative surface (0–15 cm depth) soil samples were collected and processed. The processed soil sample were analyzed for pH, and electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC), available N (AN), available P (AP), available potassium (AK), exchangeable Ca (Ex. Ca), exchangeable Mg (Ex. Mg), available S (AS), available Zn (AZn), available Fe (AFe), available Cu (ACu), available Mn (AMn) and available B (AB). The values of studied soil parameters varied widely with coefficient of variation ranging from 11.8% to 156%. Semivariogram analysis revealed stable, exponential and Gaussian best‐fit models for different soil parameters with weak (AP and AB), moderate (rest of soil parameters) and strong (AS) spatial dependence. Varied distribution pattern of soil parameters was visualized from ordinary kriging interpolation. Five soil nutrient management zones (MZs) were identified (using fuzzy performance index and normalized classification entropy values) by employing the techniques of principal component analysis and fuzzy c‐means clustering. Principal components with Eigen value > 1 were considered for further analysis. The soil parameters of identified MZs differed significantly. Thus, the study highlighted the usefulness of MZ delineation technique for site‐specific soil nutrient management in different cultivated areas for sustainable crop production. The developed MZ maps could suitably be used for efficient management of agronomic inputs especially fertilizer nutrients for improved environmental and economic efficiency.

Climate change effects on the diversity and distribution of soybean true bugs pests.

Climate change and pests are two major factors in the reduction of global soybean yields. The diversity and geographic distribution of soybean true bug pests vary across soybean production areas worldwide, and climate change impacts are different across species and regions. Therefore, we integrated spatial and temporal predictions at the global scale to predict the impact of global warming on the distribution of 84 soybean true bug pests by the maximum entropy niche model (MaxEnt) under present (1970-2000) and future (2041-2060) scenarios. We produced an ensemble projection of the potential distribution of pests and crop production areas to estimate how and where climate warming will augment the threat of soybean true bug pests to soybean production areas. Our results indicated that Southeast North America, Central South America, Europe and East Asia were the regions with the higher richness of soybean true bug and the most vulnerable areas to invasion threats. Climate change would promote the expansion of the distribution range and facilitate pest movement pole wards, affecting more soybean cultivated areas located in mid-latitudes. Moreover, species with different distribution patterns responded differently to climate change in that large-ranged species tended to increase in occupancy over time, whereas small-ranged species tended to decrease. This result indicates that some pests that have not yet become notable may have the chance to develop into serious pests in the future due to the expansion of their geographical range. Our findings highlight that soybean cultivated regions at mid-latitudes would face general infestations from soybean true bug pests under global warming. These results will further facilitate the formulation of adaptation planning to minimize local environmental impacts in the future. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Selected farm-level crop protection practices in Europe and Argentina: Opportunities for moving toward sustainable use of pesticides

Extensive use of plant protection products (PPP) in the last decades contributes to negative impacts on ecosystems, animals and humans. For the strategies of PPP reduction and replacement of hazardous pesticides, farm-level data on agronomic management practices and crop protection applications are crucial. In this study, we strategically collected data for the 2021 season at the SPRINT project case study sites (CSS) in 10 European countries and Argentina, on perennial, arable and vegetable crops. Data collection included strategically selected farm and field data, pesticide records and farming practices. Results involved more than 1700 recorded PPP applications across various crops with more than 170 different active substances from PPP in organic, integrated pest management and conventional farming practices. We explored differences in application patterns (fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and non-PPP, e.g. adjuvants, growth regulators, and fertilizers) between and within crops, countries and farming systems and calculated the costs of PPP use. The pesticide dosages applied during the crop season varied up to a factor of 20 around recommended doses. Regarding the costs of PPPs use perennial crops had the highest costs per ha crop production area. Finally, we analysed the active substances applied in different farming systems in terms of their hazard statements. Our results shed light on how PPPs are used across different crop and farming types and will help elucidate how pesticide application patterns can be changed in the future. Finally, we highlighted non-PPP use practices which help to reduce dependency on PPP use. This might be used to support decision-making and policies within agricultural advisory/support systems.

Do Agricultural Productive Services Impact the Carbon Emissions of the Planting Industry in China: Promotion or Inhibition?

Reducing carbon emissions from planting (PCE) is crucial for achieving the “dual carbon” objective within the agricultural sector. This paper aims to investigate the impact of agricultural productive services (APSs) on carbon emissions in the planting industry, providing novel insights into reducing carbon emissions in this field. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces and regions in China from 2005 to 2021, this study measured the PCE and the level of APSs. The internal relationship between the APSs and PCE is subsequently examined empirically using various statistical models, including the fixed effect model, instrumental variable model, mediating effect model, and threshold effect model. The findings suggest that the PCE experienced an initial increase, followed by a subsequent decrease between 2005 and 2021, with the peak observed in 2015. APSs has a significant inhibitory effect on PCE, which remains significant even after conducting various robustness tests. However, the carbon emission reduction effect of APSs varies across different crop-producing areas. The study also revealed that APSs can inhibit PCE by facilitating land transfer. Additionally, the inhibitory effect of APSs on PCE is influenced by the scale of land management and exhibits a U-shaped nonlinear relationship. To effectively reduce PCE and achieve sustainable agricultural development, policymakers should actively promote the integration of APSs with modern agriculture and form moderate-scale operations by facilitating land transfer to maximize APSs’ carbon emission reduction effect.

Isocycloseram, a novel isoxazoline insecticide seed treatment for protection of wheat and barley and mortality of wireworms, Limonius californicus (Coleoptera: Elateridae).

Populations of various economic species of wireworms are increasing in the key cereal crop production areas of Canada and the United States. To address this problem, seed treatments are under development that both provide crop protection and significantly reduce populations equivalent in effectiveness to the formerly used but now deregistered organochlorine lindane. Herein, we evaluated isocycloseram (PLINAZOLIN technology), the first isoxazoline (GABA-gated Chloride Channel Allosteric Modulator) agricultural insecticide, as a seed treatment for the protection of cereal crops from the sugarbeet wireworm, Limonius californicus (Mannerheim). In wheat and barley field trials conducted over 4 years under extreme wireworm pressure, isocycloseram applied as a seed treatment at 5.0-7.5 g AI/100 kg seed was as effective as or more effective than the current industry standard thiamethoxam at 20.0 g AI/100 kg seed in protecting crop stand and yield. Isocycloseram also reduced neonate wireworms (produced from eggs during the growing season) and resident wireworms (in the field at the time of planting) to levels expected from the formerly used seed treatment lindane.

New population of Solanum pimpinellifolium backcross inbred lines as a resource for heat stress tolerance in tomato.

The occurring temperature increase in crop production areas worldwide is generating conditions of heat stress that negatively affect crop productivity. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), a major vegetable crop, is highly susceptible to elevated temperatures. Under such conditions, fruit set is dramatically reduced, leading to significant yield losses. Solanum pimpinellifolium, a wild species closely related to the cultivated tomato, was shown to have beneficial attributes under various abiotic stress growth conditions. We have utilized a new population of backcross inbred lines originated from a cross between S. pimpinellifolium and S. lycopersicum, in order to evaluate its potential as a new genetic resource for improvement of reproductive performance of cultivated tomato under heat stress conditions. This population was screened for various heat stress-related traits, under controlled heat stress and non-stress conditions. Our results show that significant variation exists for all the heat stress related traits that were examined and point at individual lines with better reproductive performance under heat stress conditions that share a common introgression from the wild S. pimpinellifolium parent, suggesting several candidate genes as potential drivers of thermotolerance. Thus, our results place this population as a valuable new resource for the discovery of heat stress related genetic loci for the future development of heat stress tolerant tomato cultivars.

Problems of the Organic Agricultural Production Development as Threats to Ukraine's Economic Security

Purpose: The research is aimed at the mechanisms of solving the identified problems in the development of organic agricultural production against the background of the ongoing Russian invasion. Taking into account the need to increase the volume of such output in response to the demands of world markets, the development of state stimulation tools that have been tested in the EU to help achieve both the individual Sustainable Development Goals and to strengthen the components of Ukraine's economic security, which are currently under constant attack. Design/Method/Approach: Based on the data of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Diia Business, OrganicInfo, and World Bank, we used economic and statistical methods: average, relative values of dynamics, structure, coordination, Le Masne similarity index, Herfindahl-Hirschman concentration index, non-parametric criterion for assessing the tightness of the connection (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient) and graphically depicted the obtained results. Findings: Ukrainian organic production is characterized by imbalance and weak diversification. In 2021, 96.85% of the area of domestic crop production was allocated to the cultivation of grain and oil crops. In 2022, the volume of sales of organic products in the domestic market of Ukraine fell by almost half (-48%). Unlike in European countries, organic products are not a priority for retail trade in Ukraine. The hypothesis about the non-randomness of the correlation between the consumption of organic products and GDP per capita was confirmed: with a probability of 99.9%, there is a direct and strong (0.86) correlation between the indicators. Theoretical Implications: The work identifies the current problems of organic agricultural production and possible ways to solve them, in particular, based on state incentive mechanisms approved in the EU, the introduction of which will strengthen the economic security of Ukraine. Practical Implications: Calculations prove that the reorientation of the Ukrainian producer to the domestic consumer is not a solution to the problems associated with blocking the export of Ukrainian agricultural products until the level of GDP per capita is similar to European indicators. Originality/Value: The development of organic production is one of the priorities of the agricultural policy of the EU from the financial perspective of 2021-2027. It is a direction for realizing Ukraine's competitive advantages against the background of the ongoing Russian invasion. Research Limitations/Future Research: In further research, it is advisable to compare the development trends of Ukrainian organic production with European ones since this article focuses on internal problems. Paper Type: Empirical JEL Classification: Q01, Q14, Q18

PCA and fuzzy clustering-based delineation of soil nutrient (S, B, Zn, Mn, Fe, and Cu) management zones of sub-tropical Northeastern India for precision nutrient management

Understanding the spatial distribution of plant available soil nutrients and influencing soil properties and delineation soil nutrient management zones (MZs) are important for implementing precision nutrient management options (PNMO) in an area to achieve maintainable crop production. We assessed spatial distribution pattern of plant available sulphur (S) (PAS), boron (B) (PAB), zinc (PAZn), manganese (PAMn), iron (PAFe), and copper (PACu), and soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) to delineate soil nutrients MZs in northeastern region of India. A total of 17,471 representative surface (0–15 cm depth) soil samples were collected from the region, processed, and analysed for above-mentioned soil parameters. The values of PAS (0.22–99.2 mg kg−1), PAB (0.01–6.45 mg kg−1), PAZn (0.05–13.9 mg kg−1), PAMn (0.08–158 mg kg−1), PAFe (0.50–472 mg kg−1), PACu (0.01–19.2 mg kg−1), SOC (0.01–5.80%), pH (3.19–7.56) and EC (0.01–1.66 dS m−1) varied widely with coefficient of variation of 15.5–108%. The semivariogram analysis highlighted exponential, Gaussian and stable best fitted models for soil parameters with weak (PACu), moderate (PAB, PAZn, PAFe, SOC, pH, and EC) and strong (PAS, and PAMn) spatial dependence. The ordinary kriging interpolation revealed different distribution patterns of soil parameters. About 14.8, 27.5, and 3.40% area of the region had PAS of ≤15.0 mg kg−1, PAB of ≤0.50 mg kg−1, and PAZn of had ≤0.90 mg kg−1, respectively. About 67.5, and 32.5% area had SOC content >1.00 and < 1.00%, respectively. Soil pH was ≤5.50, and >5.50 to ≤6.50 in 41.7 and 40.3% area of the region, respectively. The techniques of principal component analysis and fuzzy c-mean algorithm clustering produced 6 MZs of the region with different areas and values of soil parameters. The MZs had different levels of deficiency pertaining to PAS, PAB, and PAZn. The produced MZ maps could be used for managing PAS, PAB, PAZn, SOC and soil pH in order to implement PNMO. The study highlighted the usefulness of MZ delineation technique for implementation of PNMO in different cultivated areas for sustainable crop production.

Student Dropout: The Case of Government Schools in South Ethiopia Region

Attainment of targets set to control dropout was by far behind in the government schools in Ethiopia. Thus, this study was designed in order to address student dropout experienced in the study area. The study employed mixed research method and parallel convergent design. Data were collected from students, teachers, parents and related stakeholders. The quantitative data were analyzed using mean, independent samples t-test and pearson’s correlation, whereas the qualitative ones through narration. The study revealed that the overall dropout status was moderate yet varying with the types of the community’s economic activity. Factors of dropout among the pastoralist community and that of agrarian and cash crop production areas also vary accordingly. Thus, developing community engagement project involving essential collaborators was suggested for intervening with the challenges identified. Further rigorous studies need also be conducted to intensify and scale up the impact.

Population dynamics and seasonal migration patterns of Spodoptera exigua in northern China based on 11 years of monitoring data.

The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), is an important agricultural pest worldwide that has caused serious economic losses in the main crop-producing areas of China. To effectively monitor and control this pest, it is crucial to investigate its population dynamics and seasonal migration patterns in northern China. In this study, we monitored the population dynamics of S. exigua using sex pheromone traps in Shenyang, Liaoning Province from 2012 to 2022, combining these data with amigration trajectory simulation approach and synoptic weather analysis. There were significant interannual and seasonal variations in the capture number of S. exigua, and the total number of S. exigua exceeded 2,000 individuals in 2018 and 2020. The highest and lowest numbers of S. exigua were trapped in September and May, accounting for 34.65%±6.81% and 0.11%±0.04% of the annual totals, respectively. The average occurrence period was 140.9±9.34 days during 2012-2022. In addition, the biomass of S. exigua also increased significantly during these years. The simulated seasonal migration trajectories also revealed varying source regions in different months, primarily originated from Northeast China and East China. These unique insights into the migration patterns of S. exigua will contribute to a deeper understanding of its occurrence in northern China and provide a theoretical basis for regional monitoring, early warning, and the development of effective management strategies for long-range migratory pests.

Multi-Objective Optimization of the Planting Industry in Jiangsu Province and Analysis of Its “Water-Energy-Carbon” Characteristics

The modern development of the planting industry needs to not only ensure food supply but also to consider social and environmental issues. This poses higher demands for rational planning of planting structures to achieve green development while meeting demands and conserving resources. Therefore, this paper takes Jiangsu Province as a representative case, accounting for and analyzing the water footprint, energy consumption, and carbon emissions of seven major crops. Based on this analysis, a multi-objective planning model is established to explore the optimization of its planting structure. The results show that: (1) from 2010 to 2020, the overall water footprint of these seven crops in Jiangsu Province initially increased and then decreased, while energy consumption showed a fluctuating upward trend; (2) carbon emissions from planting in Jiangsu Province initially increased and then fluctuated downward over time, and exhibited significant spatial clustering characteristics, with overall emissions being higher in northern Jiangsu, followed by central Jiangsu, and then southern Jiangsu; (3) the optimization results indicate that economic benefits increased by 4.06%, while the carbon emission and grey water footprints decreased by 3.78% and 7.62%, respectively, resulting in comprehensive improvements in economic and ecological benefits. This study can provide theoretical support for adjusting the planting structure in crop-producing areas and promoting the green and sustainable development of the planting industry.

Evaluation of probiotic properties of a Brevibacillus laterosporus strain.

Brevibacillus laterosporus is a strain of probiotic bacteria that has been widely used in pest control, cash crop, and other production areas. However, few studies have been conducted on its use as a feed additive in animals. Therefore, the probiotic potential of B. laterosporus PBC01 was evaluated by characterizing hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation activity, bile salt and simulated gastrointestinal fluid tolerance, bienzymatic, and antibacterial activity. Antibiotic susceptibility, hemolysis assays, and supplemental feeding of mice were also performed to evaluate safety features. Our results showed that B. laterosporus PBC01 had moderate hydrophobicity, high auto-agglutination ability. Meanwhile, B. laterosporus PBC01 had good tolerance to bile salt and simulated gastrointestinal fluid. It had the ability to secrete protease, cellulase, and to inhibit various pathogens. In addition, B. laterosporus PBC01 was sensitive to many antibiotics, and did not produce hemolysin. In the safety assessment of mice, it did not cause any deaths, nor did it affect the cell components of blood, antioxidant capacity, and reproductive health. The study indicated the great probiotic characteristics and safety of B. laterosporus PBC01. This may provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application and development of probiotic-based feed additives.

Can Agricultural Industry Integration Reduce the Rural–Urban Income Gap? Evidence from County-Level Data in China

The improvement in urban production efficiency has led to income distribution being skewed towards urban labor, thereby widening the urban–rural income gap. However, integration of the agricultural industry at the county level can accelerate the flow of production factors between industries. Therefore, this study evaluates the degree of agricultural industry integration at the county level using the entropy weight method and explores its impact on the urban–rural income gap, based on sample data from 1122 counties in China spanning from 2014 to 2021. The research findings reveal the following: (1) The fixed model demonstrates that enhancing agricultural industry integration can significantly narrow the urban–rural income gap; (2) The mediating model indicates that this narrowing effect can be achieved by improving the green total factor productivity of agriculture; (3) Regional heterogeneity analysis indicates that the impact of agricultural industry integration is more pronounced in the central region and main crop production areas; (4) The results of the spatial Durbin model demonstrate that agricultural industry integration also exhibits a significant positive spatial spillover effect on neighboring areas. The outcomes of this study contribute to enriching the research on agricultural industry integration for green and low-carbon agricultural development, further promoting the development of county-level agricultural industry integration, and providing valuable insights for other similar countries.

Effect of a QTL on wheat chromosome 5B associated with enhanced root dry mass on transpiration and nitrogen uptake under contrasting drought scenarios in wheat.

A sufficient nitrogen supply is crucial for high-quality wheat yields. However, the use of nitrogen fertilization can also negatively influence ecosystems due to leaching or volatile atmospheric emissions. Drought events, increasingly prevalent in many crop production areas, significantly impact nitrogen uptake. Breeding more efficient wheat varieties is necessary to achieve acceptable yields with limited nitrogen and water. Crop root systems play a crucial role as the primary organ for absorbing water and nutrients. To investigate the impact of an enhanced root system on nitrogen and water use efficiency in wheat under various irrigation conditions, this study conducted two experiments using precision phenotyping platforms for controlled drought stress treatment. Experiment 1 involved four contrasting winter wheat genotypes. It included the Chinese variety Ning0604, carrying a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 5B associated with a higher root dry biomass, and three elite German varieties, Elixer, Genius, and Leandrus. Experiment 2 compared near-isogenic lines (NIL) of the three elite varieties, each containing introgressions of the QTL on chromosome 5B linked to root dry mass. In both experiments, nitrogen partitioning was tracked via isotope discrimination after fertilization with 5 Atom % 15N-labeled KNO3-. In experiment 1 the quantification by 15N isotope discrimination revealed significantly (p < 0.05) higher nitrogen derived from fertilizer in the root organ for Ning0604 than those of the three German varieties. In experiment 2, two out of three NILs showed a significantly (p < 0.05) higher uptake of N derived from fertilizer than their respective recipient line under well-watered conditions. Furthermore, significantly lower transpiration rates (p < 0.1) were observed in one NIL compared to its respective recipient. The combination of the DroughtSpotter facility coupled with 15N tracer-based tracking of N uptake and remobilization extends the insight into the impact of genetically altered root biomass on wheat NUE and WUE under different water availability scenarios. The study shows the potential for how a modified genetic constitution of the locus on wheat chromosome 5B can reduce transpiration and enhance N uptake. The dependence of the observations on the recipient and water availability suggests a need for further research to investigate the interaction with genetic background traits.

Evaluation of farmland soil health and optimization of evaluation system under different green manure applications in a semi‐arid irrigation area

AbstractHealthy soil is essential for maintaining food security and enhancing ecosystem functions. Green manure application improves soil fertility and is an alternative to chemical fertilizers; however, research on optimizing soil health assessment systems and providing comprehensive and accurate information for local farmland green manure management models remains limited. In this study, we used maize and potato intercropped with green manure farmland in the main crop production area of a semi‐arid irrigation area in Northwest China as the research object, integrated the regional soil environment characteristics, and used principal component analysis and other methods to establish a minimum index data set including physicochemical, biological, and yield indices. A soil health assessment system applicable to the study region was constructed and optimized by drawing the scoring curve. The results showed that green manure treatment exerted a positive effect on the soil bulk density, nutrient content, extracellular enzyme activity, and the yield of maize and potato fields. This evaluation method showed that both green manure treatments could improve the soil health index of two major crop fields, with scores of 6.9 (3.7–8.6) and 6.2 (4.5–7.0) for maize and potato farmland, respectively, with a greater positive effect caused on maize. This evaluation system can not only reflect the soil conditions of farmland accurately given the application of green manure in the semi‐arid irrigation areas of northwest China but also provide reference for the promotion of organic fertilizers such as green manure and the resolution of regional soil health differences.

Hazards Associated with the Combined Application of Fungicides and Poultry Litter in Agricultural Areas.

In recent decades, the poultry farming industry has assumed a pivotal role in meeting the global demand for affordable animal proteins. While poultry farming makes a substantial contribution to food security and nutrition, it also presents environmental and public health challenges. The use of poultry litter as fertilizer for agricultural soils raises concerns about the transfer of pathogens and drug-resistant microorganisms from poultry farms to crop production areas. On the other hand, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), fungicides represent the second most used chemical group in agricultural practices. In this context, agricultural soils receive the application of both poultry litter as a fertilizer and fungicides used in agricultural production. This practice can result in fungal contamination of the soil and the development of antifungal resistance. This article explores the necessity of monitoring antifungal resistance, particularly in food production areas with co-application of poultry litter and fungicides. It also highlights the role of fungi in ecosystems, decomposition, and mutualistic plant associations. We call for interdisciplinary research to comprehensively understand fungal resistance to fungicides in the environment. This approach seeks to promote sustainability in the realms of human health, agriculture, and the environment, aligning seamlessly with the One Health concept.

The effect of fermented poultry manure on the yield and quality parameters of triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) cultivated organic way on acidic sandy soil

Triticale has been introduced into grain-growing fields and acidic sandy soils among cereals. Extensive breeding has resulted in the development of excellent triticale varieties. In our work, we used the triticale variety GK Maros as the crop, known for its high adaptability and cost- effectiveness in production. This variety's vigorous root and stem growth contributes to its tolerance to drought and heat shock. Our experiment was set up at the University of Nyíregyháza's study farm in 2023/2024, on 10 hectares. The experimental area has been under organic farming since 2015. The manure used in the experiment is a by-product of one of Europe's largest poultry breeding companies, Baromfi Coop Ltd. This granulated organic manure is successfully used in many areas of crop production. Our study aimed to investigate the impact of fermented poultry manure on triticale crops in a large-scale field experiment. Our study focused on overall triticale yield and quality parameters, including protein content, weight per hectare, and gluten content. Our findings show that using poultry manure on sandy soils for triticale production increased yield, although the first year did not show a significant increase. Our research is unique and innovative because it addresses a significant gap in knowledge. While there is extensive research showing the effectiveness of various organic fertilizers, these findings may not be applicable in organic farming, poor soil conditions, and extreme weather conditions. Our experiment aims to bridge this gap in knowledge.

Изучение особенностей накопления искусственных и естественных радионуклидов в корнях лопуха большого Arctium lappa L.

The Voronezh region has traditionally been the most significant area for crop production and agriculture. However, the development of mineral resources, the implementation of chemical fertilisers in agriculture, and the consequences of the Chernobyl accident have highlighted the necessity to ensure the food industry has access to safe and effective plant raw materials. The use of low-quality plant raw materials and products derived from them represents a significant source of exposure to various ecotoxicants, including radionuclides, which can enter the human body. Objective: to examine the accumulation of the most significant artificial and natural radionuclides in the roots of a large burdock plant, harvested in different territories of the Voronezh region, with a view to determining the extent of the anthropogenic impact. Materials and methods. Under experimental conditions, the specific activity of the main long-lived artificial radioisotopes (cesium-137, strontium-90) and naturally occurring radionuclides (thorium-232, potassium-40, radium-226) on a spectrometer (RADEK MKGB-01 radiometer) was determined in samples of the upper layers of soils and roots of large burdock. Results. All of the studied samples of large burdock roots, which had been prepared in natural and artificial phytocenoses in the Voronezh region, met the existing radiation safety requirements (first group). With an increase in the specific activity of strontium-90, cesium-137, thorium-232, potassium-40, radium-226 in the soil, there was an accompanying increase in the specific activity of these radionuclides in the roots of a large burdock. Correlation analysis of the specific activity of artificial and natural radionuclides in the soil and roots of large burdock revealed a highly significant relationship between these numerical indicators, thereby confirming the predominant transposed pollution. Conclusion. The accumulation patterns in roots of large burdock, naturally occurring and anthropogenic radionuclides are described by mathematical dependencies, with an accuracy of approximation that is as high as possible.

Microbial Pesticides: A Nigerian Perspective on Sustainability of Health and Agriculture

The concerns on the use of insecticides have been in areas of agriculture and human health. Insect pests populating the farms damage crops leading to food insecurity. The use of chemical insecticides to treat insect infestation is quite popular in Nigeria in area of food crop production and in animal and human health management. These chemical insecticides often pose some health challenges to man and animals hence the need for safer bio-pesticides. Microbial insecticides consist of living cells of microorganisms Research method employed was by collection of secondary data from literatures on previous research works done. These include reports, journal articles, seminars, symposia, and conference papers. Literatures were collected online using the Dennis Osadebay University e-library. These organisms are reared using basic microbiological techniques. Mode of action of microbial pesticides is by contact, which is by entering the host through the outer protective covering or the intestine of the insect. These microbes act on the host (insects) either by elimination or by altering some of their physiological functions. They may act directly on the insects or by the action of their toxins. The toxins can be used independently as bioactive substances in place of the microbial species. Microbial insecticides can be applied as sprays, dusts, liquid drenches, liquid concentrates, wet-table powders or granules. The bio-insecticides have the capacity to ensure the safety of humans and other non-target organisms. They leave less or no residue deposits in food and are ecologically friendly.

A Comparative Analysis of Apple Production Across Districts in Himachal Pradesh: Exploring Time Series Trends and Growth Rates

Apples (Temperate fruit) contributed significantly 81.2% to the total horticultural output in Himachal Pradesh in the year 2021-22. With the growing interest among youth over apple crop cultivation, the variations in apple production across different districts have also highlighted the importance of comprehensive understanding of trends and patterns in apple crop production. Consequently, the present study aimed to analyze apple production across districts of Himachal Pradesh, taking into consideration time series analysis, district wise production, and growth rate evaluation. The study examines the trends, growth rates, and variation in apple crop production across different districts of Himachal Pradesh, India, over a decade (2012-2022). The analysis of district wise data reveals diverse growth patterns, with some districts experiencing substantial increases in both area and apple production, while other face challenges with fluctuations in production despite moderate growth in area. The study compares district wise production and evaluates growth rates to identify districts that have experienced higher or lower rates of growth over time. The one-way ANOVA analysis confirms that the production of apple crop varies significantly across different districts in Himachal Pradesh. The regression analysis demonstrates a strong positive relationship between the area of apple crop and apple production with approximately 72.6% of the variation in production explained by the area. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers to formulate strategies that support sustainable agricultural development and address specific challenges faced by districts.