Cultivation System Research Articles

Impact of Salinity Stress on Soybean Growth and Yield under Saturated Soil Culture in Tidal Lands: A Comparative Study of Tolerant Varieties

Salinity stress, intensified by climate change events such as El Niño and drought, presents a significant challenge to soybean production in tidal lands. This study evaluated soybean varieties’ growth, tolerance, and yield under varying salinity conditions within a saturated water cultivation system. The experiment was conducted from February to May 2024 at the IPB Experimental Station in Leuwikopo, Bogor, Indonesia, using soil samples collected from type B tidal lands in Mulyasari Village, Banyuasin, South Sumatra. A completely randomized design (CRD) was employed with three factors and three replications each. The first factor was soybean variety (“Demas-1” and “Detap-1”), the second was soil salinity (0 and 2000 ppm NaCl), and the third was irrigation salinity at different growth stages (control, 2000 ppm NaCl before/during flowering, and 2000 ppm NaCl after flowering). The results demonstrated that the “Demas-1” variety exhibited superior growth characteristics, including higher leaf greenness, dry weight of root nodules, and number of filled pods per plant. Exposure to soil salinity of 2000 ppm NaCl led to a significant reduction in plant height (29.38%), leaf number (38.01%), leaf greenness (28.67%), dry weight (49.90%-60.80%), and filled pods per plant (55.51%), while increasing plant toxicity (108%). Irrigation with 2000 ppm NaCl further exacerbated these negative impacts, resulting in decreased leaf greenness (15.42%-18.06%) and filled pods per plant (17.84%-23.94%). The interaction between soybean variety, soil salinity, and irrigation salinity significantly influenced the number of filled pods per plant. The combination of any soybean variety with 2000 ppm NaCl resulted in a reduction of filled pods per plant. Moreover, applying saline irrigation after flowering to saline soil decreased the number of filled pods per plant by 64.68%. These findings highlight the critical importance of selecting tolerant soybean varieties and implementing effective irrigation management strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of salinity on soybean production in tidal lands.

Effect of Media on Lablab (Lablab purpureus var. typicus) for Yield and Quality under Soilless Vertical Farming System

Background: Lablab (Lablab purpureus var. typicus) is one of the important leguminous vegetable crops known for its highest content of protein. The area under cultivation is shrinking due to conversion of farm land into non-agricultural purposes. Under these circumstances, soilless vertical farming system is the only alternate cultivation system for increasing production of vegetables. Media play a major role in growth and yield of vegetables under soilless conditions. With this background, the present experiment was carried out to study the effect of growing media in lablab for high yield and quality under soilless vertical farming systems. Methods: Two lablab varieties viz., CO 5 (V1) and Arka Prasidhi (V2) were raised under five different media combinations viz., 100% cocopeat (M1), 50 % cocopeat + 50 % Vermicompost (M2), 50% cocopeat + 50 % FYM (M3), 50% cocopeat + 25% vermicompost + 25% FYM (M4) and Control (M5) with three replications during 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. This experiment was laid out in FCRD. The growth and yield parameters were recorded and the data was subjected to statistical analysis. Result: The experimental results revealed that both the varieties and growing media provided significant impact on growth, yield, quality and uptake of nutrients whereas dry matter content exhibited no significant impact among the different media. The pooled season data revealed that variety CO 5 observed for the overall superior performance while the media combination of 50% cocopeat + 50% Vermicompost considered superior for growth and yield characters where 50% cocopeat + 25% vermicompost + 25% FYM showed superiority for the quality parameters and uptake of nutrients.

Research on the Multilingual Talent Cultivation System Empowered by AI under the New Liberal Arts Context

This paper explores the AI (artificial intelligence) empowerment in foreign language education within the context of “New Liberal Arts” and its impact on a diversified foreign language talent cultivation system. Though challenges brought by AI, AI empowerment could facilitate the foreign language discipline development. Drawing upon this basis, the paper further explores the breakthroughs in foreign language talent cultivation. That suggests a shift from information tools to character education, from language proficiency to core competency strengthening, from single-discipline to interdisciplinary talent cultivation, and from imparting language knowledge to advancing general education understanding. This paper proposes paths for diversified foreign language talent cultivation in the AI era, including AI empowerment character education cultivation approaches, the construction of a diversified curriculum system, the innovation of interdisciplinary curriculum clusters, AI empowerment reshaping of digital teaching practice settings, and AI empowerment reconstruction of foreign language digital teaching resources. With those approaches, the adjusting focus and methods of foreign language talents cultivation, an effective Multilingual Talent Cultivation System will be established with international perspectives, cross-cultural communication skills, and innovation capabilities to meet the development needs of the AI era.

Research on Strategies for Digital Empowerment of the Ice and Snow Sports Tourism Industry

The era of the data economy, driven by digital technologies such as big data, blockchain, and cloud computing, has arrived. It is essential to leverage the digital economy to promote the high-quality development of the ice and snow sports tourism industry. This paper employs methods such as literature review and inductive reasoning to argue that the digital economy enhances the high-quality development of the ice and snow sports tourism industry through three main aspects: improving supply efficiency, achieving industrial transformation, and promoting industry integration. However, China’s ice and snow sports tourism industry faces several challenges, including inadequate institutional supply, a lack of high-quality talent, traditional operational models, and a singular investment body. To address these challenges, this paper proposes several strategies: strengthening government leadership to create a suitable policy environment; establishing a talent cultivation system to support the upgrading of the ice and snow sports tourism industry; empowering the industry through technology to promote integration; and fostering a collaborative approach among diverse stakeholders to innovate the industry’s business models.

The Effect of LED Lighting Durations on Growth, Yield and Quality of Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) under Greenhouse Condition

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) show promise as a radiation source for intensive crop cultivation systems, especially for vegetables in the greenhouse. Regarding mustard greens, most studies have investigated the effects of LED lights at the seedling stage under chamber conditions for microgreens not addressed throughout their growing period up to harvest. Therefore, this study is focused to evaluate the effect of additional LED lighting time from 6 pm on the growth, yield and quality of mustard greens under a greenhouse in Kien Giang province as a typical tropical region. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with 3 replications, from August 1st to September 18th, 2023. Four treatments: AL0, AL2, AL4 and AL6 correspond to lighting durations of 0, 2, 4 and 6 h of LED light, which includes a combination of 3 white lights: 1 pink light, 58 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD, and a Blue (18 %): Green (41 %): Red (41 %) ratio. Results showed that AL4 had the most significant positive impact on mustard plant growth, with higher dry and fresh weight, plant height, leaf width and length. However, AL6 inhibited most parameters except leaf number. Additionally, under AL4 conditions, mustard allocated more biomass to leaves, while those under AL6 conditions allocated more biomass to stems. In terms of quality, LED lighting duration negatively influenced protein content. For instance, AL0 showed the significantly greatest protein value (2.87 ± 0.08 g·kg−1) compared to others. Apart from AL0, AL6 had a considerably higher value of protein content (2.58 ± 0.2 g·kg−1) compared to AL2 (1.74 ± 0.04 g·kg−1) and AL4 (2.17 ± 0.07 g·kg−1). The additional durations of LED lighting influenced mature mustard greens’ morphology, physiology and quality, providing valuable scientific information for improving vegetable quality and quantity in tropical zones. HIGHLIGHTS 4 hours of additional LED light had the most significant positive impact on mustard plant growth, with higher dry and fresh weight, plant height, leaf width, and length. Additionally, leaf number increased under 6 hours of additional LED light. Under 4 hours of additional LED light, mustard allocated more biomass to leaves, while those under 6 hours of additional LED light allocated more biomass to stems. Lighting with LED resulted in a lower protein value, and different durations of LED lighting resulted in varying protein content values. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

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

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

Reinvesting the cellular properties of human amniotic epithelial cells and their therapeutic innovations.

Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) have shown promising therapeutic effects in numerous studies on various diseases due to their properties such as low immunogenicity, immunomodulation, paracrine effect, and no teratoma formation in vivo. Nevertheless, there are still many problems in archiving the large-scale clinical application of hAECs, ranging from the vague definition of cell properties to the lack of clarification of the motion of actions in cell therapies, additionally, to the gap between cell quantities with limited proliferation capacity. This review provides a detailed overview of hAECs in the aspects of the lineage development of amniotic epithelial cell, cell characteristics and functional roles, ex vivo cell cultivation and expansion systems, as well as their current status and limitations in clinical applications. This review also discusses the advantages, limitations and feasibility of hAECs, and anticipates their prospects as cell therapy products, with the aim of further promoting their clinical applications.

A multifaceted analysis of pesticide utilization in market gardening along the Ruzizi plain: Exploring factors, farmer perceptions & media influence

Along the Ruzizi plain, subsistence agriculture constitutes households' primary food source. Regardless of the environment, the low level of pesticide use ensures less effective disease and pest control. This is why a study was carried out in the Ruzizi plain to identify the main determinants of pesticide use on vegetable crops for effective control of diseases and pests that significantly reduce the yield of these crops, which play an economically important role for producers and the role of the media in this context. The data was collected using a closed-type survey questionnaire on 90 market gardeners distributed equally between localities applying the probit model. The results of the probit model estimation reveal that about nine factors positively influence the use of pesticides: membership in a cooperative (p=0.0012), access to agricultural credit (p=0.0153), experience in agriculture (p=0.0008), experience in market gardening (p=0.0197), standard of living (p=0.0139), yield (p=0.0001), capacity building (p=0.0035), the area exploited (p=0.0011) and the cultivation system (p=0.0233). In addition, tomatoes are the leading vegetable crop grown by many market gardeners (61.1%), followed by amaranth (20%) and onions (18.9%). Also, 67.8% of market gardeners use pesticides compared to 32.2% who do not use them. Thus, considering these factors would contribute to decision-making when carrying out certain activities to improve market gardening, contributing considerably to the fight against food insecurity. Also, it is advised that the media work harder to inform rural residents and areas about the agenda for rural development.

The impact of agriculture on tropical mountain soils in the western Peruvian Andes: a pedo-geoarchaeological study of terrace agricultural systems in the Laramate region (14.5° S)

Abstract. This integrated pedo-geoarchaeological study focuses on three abandoned pre-Hispanic terrace agricultural systems near Laramate in the southern Andes of Peru (14.5° S), aiming to unravel the pedological and land-use history of the region, which served as a significant agricultural hub during pre-Hispanic times. The key objectives of the investigation involved contextualizing the former agricultural management system within its geomorphological and palaeoecological framework and assessing the impact of agricultural practices on soil development and quality by comparing non-irrigated agricultural terrace soils with their undisturbed palaeo-pedological counterparts. The Laramate terrace complex, with its diverse terrace systems and varied geomorphological and geological settings, provided an ideal setting for the investigation. This comprehensive examination integrated a range of methodologies, including field surveys, digital mapping, and geomorphological analysis based on GIS and remote sensing applications, soil analysis (e.g. grain size, bulk chemistry, nutrient budget), plant microfossils (phytoliths and starch), and radiocarbon dating. In the Laramate region, the geomorphological setting of terrace agricultural systems promotes their optimal functioning. The terraces are often located in sun-sheltered areas with western exposure on middle and lower slopes or valley bottoms, which mitigate intense solar radiation, reduce evapotranspiration, increase soil moisture, and minimize erosion. The study identifies three soil groups in the Laramate region: Phaeozems, Andosols, and Anthrosols. Unique characteristics of Phaeozems challenge typical descriptions, influenced by factors such as climatic seasonality, vegetation, fauna, lithology, and aeolian inputs. The terrace soils in the Laramate region are classified as Terric Anthrosols, showing no significant degradation even after long-term use. Their balanced acidity and nutrient levels support Andean crop cultivation. Traditional non-mechanized tools, such as the chaquitaclla and rucana, likely minimized soil disruption. The terrace tillage horizons have high organic matter, indicating intentional organic manuring. Phytolith concentrations suggest intensive agricultural activity, particularly maize cultivation, with varying patterns suggesting changes in cultivation, fertilization, or mulching practices over time. Starch grain identification aligns with phytolith analyses, reinforcing maize's significance in the region. Although the use of animal-origin fertilizers requires further investigation, there is no evidence of nutrient maintenance through seasonal burning. Irrigation was minimal, and the abandonment of the pre-Hispanic cultivation system was unlikely due to soil exhaustion or terrace instability. Overall, the pre-Hispanic history of terrace agriculture in the Laramate region extends over four development phases, reflecting dynamic interactions between environmental, cultural, and agricultural factors. The initial phase, from the Formative Paracas period to the Early Nasca period (800 BCE–200 CE), witnessed the establishment of agricultural terraces with simple terrace architecture, while the Middle Horizon (600–1000 CE) saw systematic areal expansion influenced by the Wari culture. Adaptations to drier conditions included terrace agriculture on volcanic soils. The Late Intermediate period (1000–1450 CE) witnessed hydrological variability and further terrace expansion to lower altitudes and less agriculturally suitable locations. The final phase, marked by the onset of the Hispanic colonial period in 1535 CE, saw the gradual abandonment of terrace agricultural systems due to demographic shifts and reorganization of production systems. Despite this, the historical trajectory underscores the adaptability and resilience of pre-Hispanic communities in the Laramate region, showcasing innovative terrace agriculture as a means of coping with changing environmental conditions across diverse landscape units.

Machine Learning Models for Predicting Bioavailability of Traditional and Emerging Aromatic Contaminants in Plant Roots.

To predict the behavior of aromatic contaminants (ACs) in complex soil-plant systems, this study developed machine learning (ML) models to estimate the root concentration factor (RCF) of both traditional (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls) and emerging ACs (e.g., phthalate acid esters, aryl organophosphate esters). Four ML algorithms were employed, trained on a unified RCF dataset comprising 878 data points, covering 6 features of soil-plant cultivation systems and 98 molecular descriptors of 55 chemicals, including 29 emerging ACs. The gradient-boosted regression tree (GBRT) model demonstrated strong predictive performance, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.75, a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.11, and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.22, as validated by five-fold cross-validation. Multiple explanatory analyses highlighted the significance of soil organic matter (SOM), plant protein and lipid content, exposure time, and molecular descriptors related to electronegativity distribution pattern (GATS8e) and double-ring structure (fr_bicyclic). An increase in SOM was found to decrease the overall RCF, while other variables showed strong correlations within specific ranges. This GBRT model provides an important tool for assessing the environmental behaviors of ACs in soil-plant systems, thereby supporting further investigations into their ecological and human exposure risks.

Growth, Ecophysiological Responses, and Leaf Mineral Composition of Lettuce and Curly Endive in Hydroponic and Aquaponic Systems.

Against the backdrop of climate change, soil loss, and water scarcity, sustainable food production is a pivotal challenge for humanity. As the global population grows and urbanization intensifies, innovative agricultural methods are crucial to meet rising food demand, while mitigating environmental degradation. Hydroponic and aquaponic systems, has emerged as one of these solutions by minimizing land use, reducing water consumption, and enabling year-round crop production in urban areas. This study aimed at assessing the yield, ecophysiological performance, and nutritional content of Lactuca sativa L. and Cichorium endivia L. var. crispum grown in hydroponic and aquaponic floating raft systems, with Oreochromis niloticus L. integrated into the aquaponic system. Both species exhibited higher fresh biomass and canopy/root ratios in hydroponics compared to aquaponics. Additionally, hydroponics increased the leaf number in curly endive by 18%. Ecophysiological parameters, such as the leaf net photosynthesis rate, actual yield of PSII, and linear electron transport rate, were also higher in hydroponics for both species. However, the nutritional profiles varied between the two cultivation systems and between the two species. Given that standard fish feed often lacks sufficient potassium levels for optimal plant growth, potassium supplementation could be a viable strategy to enhance plant development in aquaponic systems. In conclusion, although aquaponic systems may demonstrate lower productivity compared to hydroponics, they offer a more sustainable and potentially healthier product with fewer harmful compounds due to the reduced use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and the absence of chemical residue accumulation. However, careful system management and monitoring are crucial to minimize potential contaminants.

Simulating the dynamics of cultivated land use in the farming regions of China: A social-economic-ecological system perspective

Greater comprehension of the intricate impacts of cultivated land use change on social and natural systems is of paramount importance for both immediate and long-term policy decisions and sustainable agricultural development. While prior research has examined specific elements of cultivated land use, there has been limited empirical research assessing interactions and feedback to examine the interplay among the intricacies of economic growth, social change, and their environmental impacts within a cultivated land use system. Hence, we introduce a nuanced system dynamics simulation model designed to evaluate the intricate interplay among social, economic, and ecological subsystems within the context of cultivated land use, with the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China serving as the case study. Our research elucidates that economic expansion tends to precipitate increased agrochemical application, highlighting that strategies to synchronize economic advancement with agricultural land conservation may alleviate the environmental stressors tied to regional land use. Furthermore, our analysis indicates that an integrative development strategy, which carefully balances economic acceleration with the reinforcement of agricultural land protection, can yield a measurable enhancement in agrarian environmental standards. This presents a feasible trajectory toward synergistic regional development.

Novel three-stage microalgal cultivation system for lipid production utilizing nutrients derived from refinery waste

The pollution and transformation of refineries are receiving increasing attention. The carbonic anhydrase in Tetradesmus obliquus was found exhibiting a hysteresis phenomenon in response to periodic changes in the composition of external carbon sources, with a surge in inorganic carbon concentration stressing the carbonic anhydrase activity to increase by 6–9 times. On this basis, a novel three-stage culture system of T. obliquus was proposed, which mainly uses refinery waste as the nutrients. By controlling the nutrient content in the environment, especially the composition of carbon sources, microalgae could sequentially complete rapid biomass accumulation, efficient inorganic carbon assimilation, and oil production. Compared to a single-environment culture system, the biomass yield increased by 1.34 times, the oil content increased by more than 6%, and the oil productivity increased by 2.08 times. Above findings may lay a partial theoretical foundation for the future evolution of traditional refineries towards “fossil–algal-biomass” hybrid refineries.

Integrating Resilience Theory Into a Cultivated Land System: Empirical Insights From China's Key Grain‐Producing Regions

ABSTRACTExploring cultivated land use and conservation from a resilience perspective is crucial to address regional food security concerns. This article first examines the theoretical applicability of resilience in the context of cultivated land use systems and subsequently introduces a specific concept of cultivated land system resilience (CLSR). Focusing on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, a major grain‐producing area in China, the study constructs a measurement system that encompasses five dimensions: endowment of production, socioeconomic factors, scale structure, ecological pressure, and food security. This system is used to evaluate the spatio‐temporal evolution and influencing mechanisms of CLSR in the region from 2001 to 2020. The results indicate that the level of CLSR increased by 7.2% overall and exhibits a distinct spatial pattern, with high‐value areas expanding from the center to the surrounding regions. Furthermore, CLSR shows a positive spatial correlation with rising levels of agglomeration. The spatial heterogeneity of CLSR is influenced by the interaction of various factors, resulting in a partially nonlinear two‐factor enhancement. The influence of each factor varies between different time periods, shifting from ecological pressure to scale structure, ultimately affecting food security. Thus, the resilience perspective offers greater explanatory power to identify key vulnerabilities in the regional cropland system. This approach can improve the efficient allocation of cropland resources and promote sustainable and healthy development at the regional level.

Efficient Regeneration of Transgenic Rice from Embryogenic Callus via Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation: A Case Study Using GFP and Apple MdFT1 Genes

Genetic transformation is a critical tool for gene manipulation and functional analyses in plants, enabling the exploration of key phenotypes and agronomic traits at the genetic level. While dicotyledonous plants offer various tissues for in vitro culture and transformation, monocotyledonous plants, such as rice, have limited options. This study presents an efficient method for genetically transforming rice (Oryza sativa L.) using seed-derived embryogenic calli as explants. Two target genes were utilized to assess regeneration efficiency: green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and the apple FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like gene (MdFT1). Antisense MdFT1 was cloned into a vector controlled by the rice α-amylase 3D (Ramy3D) promoter, while eGFP was fused to Cas9 under the Ubi promoter. These vectors were introduced separately into rice embryogenic calli from two Korean cultivars using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic seedlings were successfully regenerated via hygromycin selection using an in vitro cultivation system. PCR confirmed stable transgene integration in the transgenic calli and their progeny. Fluorescence microscopy revealed eGFP expression, and antisense MdFT1-expressing lines exhibited notable phenotypic changes, including variations in plant height and grain quality. High transformation efficiency and regeneration frequency were achieved for both tested cultivars. This study demonstrated the effective use of seed-derived embryogenic calli for rice transformation, offering a promising approach for developing transgenic plants in monocot species.

Enhanced Growth and Productivity of Arthrospira platensis H53 in a Nature-like Alkalophilic Environment and Its Implementation in Sustainable Arthrospira Cultivation

Synthetic culture media, such as Zarrouk’s medium (ZM), are widely used in industrial Arthrospira cultivation but rely heavily on chemical fertilizers, raising concerns over cost and environmental impact. In natural habitats where Arthrospira blooms, the macronutrient concentrations are much lower than those provided by synthetic media. We hypothesized that natural growth may be facilitated by a microbial consortium. To test this, we developed a lab-scale Arthrospira platensis H53 cultivation system using a newly developed organic compost medium (OCM), designed to mimic the natural nutrient composition and microbial interactions. Compared to ZM, A. platensis H53 grown in OCM exhibited elevated growth by day 7. The specific growth rate in OCM was 0.20 day−1, higher than that of 0.17 day−1 in ZM, with optical density values reaching 1.57, compared to 1.13 in ZM. A 1.63-fold increase in biomass was observed in OCM, despite lower initial macronutrient concentrations. Nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in OCM was significantly improved, with nitrate (NO3−) and phosphate (PO43−) utilization up to 5.8-fold higher. Additionally, A. platensis H53 filaments in OCM were more tightly coiled, indicating a physiological change in response to lowered macronutrient concentrations. Microbial composition analysis using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed the presence of growth-promoting bacteria, including Pontibacter spp., Brevundimonas spp., and Aliihoeflea spp., likely contributing to nutrient cycling and enhanced growth. These findings suggest potential symbiotic interactions between cyanobacteria and non-cyanobacteria in the OCM system, promoting increased growth and productivity. This study is the first to propose such symbiosis in an extremely alkalophilic environment, offering another sustainable alternative to traditional chemical-based Arthrospira cultivation methods.

Significantly enhanced energy efficiency through reflective materials integration in plant factories with artificial light

Plant factory with artificial light (PFAL) based on vertical farming is a promising technology for resource-efficient plant production, especially in urban areas or arid regions. However, the lighting system of PFAL requires a large amount of energy, which makes the total energy cost much higher than open-field and greenhouse farming. To address this issue, in this work, a cultivation system integrated with highly reflective materials is demonstrated in PFAL, which reduces light energy consumption by more than 36 %. A low-cost reflective film is fabricated with an overall reflectivity of 96.5 % in the entire photosynthetically active radiation spectrum. The effectiveness of this reflective film in reducing energy consumption is further demonstrated with optical simulation analysis and the corresponding computational fluid dynamics simulation based on an experimental cultivation rack. The corresponding field experiments of 3 different types of lettuce, Crunchy, Butterhead and Grand Rapids, under different light intensities are conducted in the cultivation unit. With reflective film properly installed, a 36 % reduction of light energy consumption is demonstrated while the dry weight and fresh weight still increase. An additional benefit is that the light reception area of lettuce becomes larger due to the more uniform lighting with the integration of reflective material. This work presents a simple yet reliable strategy for enhancing the energy efficiency in PFAL systems and can achieve the cost-effective daily production of lettuce with significantly reduced energy input.

Light emitting diodes for the improvement of postharvest quality of wild rocket in soilless and soil-bound cultivation systems

Wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC cv. Dallas) is a leafy green vegetable appreciated for its pungent taste and healthy properties, often consumed as a ready-to-eat product. The cultivation system is crucial in determining the overall quality, while postharvest storage is fundamental for preserving nutritional quality, phytochemicals, and vitamins. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical content and microbiological quality of soilless (SS) and soil-bound (SB) wild rocket during cold postharvest storage under blue, red, and green Light Emitting Diode (LED). Blue LED increased chlorophylls and carotenoids in SB after two days of storage, and chlorophyll a in SS after seven days. Furthermore, it reduced H2O2 levels after two days (SS and SB) and lipid peroxidation in SB. Red LED increased phenols in both SS and SB but was detrimental to chlorophyll, carotenoids, and oxidative markers. Green LED had less significant effects. Microbiological growth varied with LED treatment: green light increased mesophilic bacteria in SB, and red light did so in SS by day four, while blue light reduced bacterial growth at the end of storage. Overall, Blue LED was the most effective LED in preserving postharvest quality. Soilless cultivation was particularly beneficial in reducing lipid peroxidation and maintaining cell membrane integrity during long-term storage, and it might also be more effective in preserving ascorbic acid. Conversely, soil-bound cultivation methods could enhance initial polyphenol content or better preserve it during early storage. This study highlights the complex interplay of pre-harvest conditions, postharvest quality, and shelf-life performance.

Metabolic profile of fatty acids, phenolic compounds, and methylxanthines of cocoa kernels (Theobroma cacao L.) from different cultivars produced in cabruca and full sun farming systems

The demand for high-quality cocoa beans has increased in line with the growing global demand for chocolate. The chemical composition of cocoa beans can vary according to their origin and growing conditions. In this context, this study evaluated the influence of the cultivar type (CCN51 and PS1319) and the cocoa management system (cabruca and full sun) on the chemical composition of unfermented cocoa kernels. The cultivation system influenced the fatty acid composition of cocoa kernels, with higher values of linoleic acid associated with the full sun system, although higher total lipid contents were obtained in the cabruca system. The cultivar influenced the content of saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and the saturated/unsaturated ratio (S/U). Lower levels of total phenolic compounds, total anthocyanins and antioxidant properties were found in the full sun system, especially in the PS1319 cultivar. Higher levels of epicatechin and catechin were found in the cocoa kernel of the CCN51 cultivar. Theobromine and caffeine were not influenced by the treatments. Neither the PCA of total lipids and fatty acids, nor the PCA of antioxidant properties, phenolic compounds and methylxanthines indicated an isolated clustering between cultivar and cultivation system. The results showed that the factors under study influenced the chemical composition of the unfermented cocoa kernel. Furthermore, they indicated that the migration from traditional systems, such as cabruca, to full sun systems can reduce the total lipids and phenolic compounds content of the cocoa beans. When planning new plantations, the choice of genetic material should also be carefully considered to produce higher-quality cocoa butter and beans with a higher phenolic compound content.

Integrated rather than organic farming history facilitates soil nitrogen turnover and N2O reduction in a green rye – silage maize cropping sequence

AbstractSoil gross mineral N production and consumption processes are crucial regulators of plant productivity and N loss from croplands. Substituting synthetic fertilizers by integrating legumes in cultivation systems is common in organic farming, but research on its long-term impact on dynamics of gross soil N transformation and associated environmental N loss is scarce. In particular, studies at a temporal resolution that allows for a mechanistic understanding of long-term effects of organic farming are missing. Therefore, we determined gross N turnover rates of ammonification, nitrification, and ammonium and nitrate immobilization at monthly temporal resolution during a full green rye-maize cropping sequence. Measurements were carried out at sites with same pedo-climatic background but organic farming (OF) and integrated farming (IF) history. During green rye growing, N turnover rates for OF and IF were low and not significantly different, likely owing to low temperatures. During silage maize growing, IF exhibited significantly higher average N turnover rates of 1.86, 4.46, and 5.57 mg N kg⁻1 dry soil d⁻1 for gross ammonification, ammonium immobilization, and nitrate immobilization, respectively, compared to OF values of 1.11, 1.80, and 2.90 mg N kg⁻1 dry soil d⁻1. The significantly higher N turnover rates were likely due to higher soil organic C, N and microbial biomass which result from different long-term management practices. Especially the increased immobilization potential on the IF site contributed to significantly lower area-scaled N₂O emissions (1.45 vs. 4.36 kg N ha⁻1) during periods of high nitrification. This shows that for low SOC soils, integrated farming history with high C return enhances soil N cycling and reduces the risk of N losses in the form of N2O emission.