Cultivated Area Research Articles

Investigation of the impact of diverse climate conditions on the cultivation suitability of Cinnamomum cassia using the MaxEnt model, HPLC and chemometric methods in China

Cinnamomum cassia Presl. is a subtropical plant that is used for food and medicine. Climate change has changed the suitable habitats of medicinal plants, which might have repercussions for the efficacy of herbal remedies. In this study, the potential distribution in each period of Cinnamomum cassia was predicted and the quality in different suitable habitats was evaluated. According to the results, (1) precipitation, temperature, and soil are the primary environmental variables influencing C. cassia distribution. (2) The high-suitable habitats of current climate scenarios were predominantly located in the southern regions (Guangdong and Guangxi etc.) of China, with an area of 706,129.08 km2. Under future climate scenarios, suitable habitats will increasingly move northward, with a greater concentration south of the Yangtze River, particularly in the 2090s SSP585 scenario, the total area of newly extended suitable habitat reaches 312,963.53 km2. (3) HPLC and FTIR, combined with chemometrics, can be effective methods for identifying different suitable habitats of C. cassia. The content of trans-cinnamaldehyde (0.85%) is significantly higher in the high suitability habitat compared to the medium-low suitability habitat (0.30%). Our findings can offer valuable guidance for the identification of suitable C. cassia cultivation areas in China, as well as for the evaluation of C. cassia resource quality and the rational use of resources in different suitable habitats.

MSMTRIU-Net: Deep Learning-Based Method for Identifying Rice Cultivation Areas Using Multi-Source and Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Images.

Identifying rice cultivation areas in a timely and accurate manner holds great significance in comprehending the overall distribution pattern of rice and formulating agricultural policies. The remote sensing observation technique provides a convenient means to monitor the distribution of rice cultivation areas on a large scale. Single-source or single-temporal remote sensing images are often used in many studies, which makes the information of rice in different types of images and different growth stages hard to be utilized, leading to unsatisfactory identification results. This paper presents a rice cultivation area identification method based on a deep learning model using multi-source and multi-temporal remote sensing images. Specifically, a U-Net based model is employed to identify the rice planting areas using both the Landsat-8 optical dataset and Sentinel-1 Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) dataset; to take full into account of the spectral reflectance traits and polarimetric scattering traits of rice in different periods, multiple image features from multi-temporal Landsat-8 and Sentinel-1 images are fed into the network to train the model. The experimental results on China's Sanjiang Plain demonstrate the high classification precisions of the proposed Multi-Source and Multi-Temporal Rice Identification U-Net (MSMTRIU-NET) and that inputting more information from multi-source and multi-temporal images into the network can indeed improve the classification performance; further, the classification map exhibits greater continuity, and the demarcations between rice cultivation regions and surrounding environments reflect reality more accurately.

Evapotranspiration measurements in pasture, crops, and native Brazilian Cerrado based on UAV-borne multispectral sensor.

In Brazil, agriculture consumes most of the available freshwater, especially in the Cerrado biome, where the rain cycle is marked by long periods of drought. This study, conducted at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) Research Corporation unit in Santo Antônio de Goiás, Goiás, Brazil, estimated evapotranspiration (ET) in different crops and soil cover. Using multispectral unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images, Sentinel satellite data, weather station information, and towers employing the eddy covariance method, we applied the "Simple Algorithm for Evapotranspiration Retrieving" (SAFER) to calculate ET in common bean, pasture, and semideciduous seasonal forest areas. The results showed a good agreement between UAV and satellite data, with R2 = 0.84, also validated with flow towers by the eddy covariance method. UAV-based ET was observed to correspond well to tower (EC) during full vegetative development of beans but is underestimated at the beginning of planting and in the final periods of plant senescence, due to the influence of soil or straw cover. These findings contribute to a better understanding of water dynamics in the system and to enhancing sustainable agricultural practices. This method, adapted for multispectral aerial imaging, can be applied flexibly and on-demand, in different contexts and ground cover. The study highlights the importance of integrated agricultural practices for better management of water resources and preservation of the Cerrado in balance with cultivation areas.

Analisis Karakteristik Fisik Lahan Kawasan Perumahan di Dusun Jering VI, Desa Sidorejo, Kecamatan Godean, Kabupaten Sleman

Land characteristics include land factors that can be measured or estimated in size such as slope, rainfall, soil texture, available water and so on. The study was conducted at a housing location in Jering VI Hamlet, Sidorejo Village, Godean District, Sleman Regency which is located on Mount Wungkal. The condition of Mount Wungkal before being used as housing had dense vegetation, but with the large-scale opening of housing land, there were changes that occurred on Mount Wungkal. The opening of the land caused several impacts on the environment so it is important to know the physical characteristics of the land in the area. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the physical characteristics of the land in the research area. The method used is the survey and mapping method in data collection and descriptive analysis. The results of the study obtained are the physical characteristics of the land of the Godean Jogja Hills housing area, there are several criteria that are appropriate and inappropriate. The criteria that are not appropriate are slope gradient, area of green open space, drainage infrastructure capacity, not located in a disaster-prone area (landslides, floods, erosion, and abrasion), not located in an agricultural/buffer cultivation area, distance to educational facilities, health facilities and trade and commerce facilities and the appropriate criteria are the area for building houses, water availability, not located in the border area of rivers/coasts/reservoirs/lakes/springs/irrigation channels/railways and safe flight areas, not located in protected areas, avoiding technical irrigation rice fields, wastewater disposal systems and garbage disposal systems

Estimation of Rice Crop Acreage in Kuttanad Region, Kerala Using Landsat 8 OLI IMAGES and GIS Techniques

Aims: The study aimed to delineate rice accurately (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation areas in the Kuttanad region, Kerala, during the Puncha season of 2023-24 using medium- to high-resolution optical satellite data, particularly Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI), to aid in preharvest prediction of agricultural production and policy making. Study Design: This study used a remote sensing-based approach for rice area estimation, focusing on supervised classification methods. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Kuttanad, Kerala, a low-lying agroecosystem, during the Puncha season of 2023-24. Methodology: The study utilised two cloud-free Landsat 8 OLI images to delineate rice-growing areas. The images were pre-processed, mosaicked, and analysed using ArcGIS software. A supervised classification approach was employed using the Maximum Likelihood Classification algorithm. The study area was classified into five categories: rice fields, other crops, low vegetation, built-up areas, and water bodies. Ground-truth data was used to validate the classification accuracy. Results: The total rice area delineated during the Puncha season was 43,550.28 hectares. The classification achieved an accuracy of 93.33%, with a kappa coefficient of 0.87, indicating high reliability. Conclusion: The accurate delineation of rice-growing areas using satellite imagery provides valuable information for assessing production levels and planning for food security. This methodology can aid in agricultural planning and contingency strategies, particularly in regions like Kuttanad, which face challenges such as flooding and soil toxicity.

The influence of meteorological conditions of the Non-Chernozem zone on the phytosanitary condition of grain bean crops

There is a tendency to expand the area of bean cultivation in the northern direction, which is due to climatic changes and breeding achievements. There are 191 varieties of beans registered in the state register of breeding achievements approved for use, of which 31 varieties are recommended for cultivation in the belt between 50° and 60° latitude. The relevance of bean cultivation in the Non-Chernozem zone is increasing. This is due to the increased demand for beans, which are characterized by high nutritional value. Also, this crop is promising as an alternative in grain crop rotations. The study of the phytosanitary condition of bean plants in potentially new cultivation regions in order to develop a crop protection system is of interest. The promotion of crops to new territories is inevitably accompanied by phytosanitary risks, which have been little studied due to insufficient information about bean diseases. The literature provides an assessment of potential threats. However, their manifestation is closely related to the climatic and weather conditions of the growing season. The analysis of the interrelationships of the phytosanitary condition of crops with the temperature and humidity regimes of the bean growing period is relevant.

Identification of stable restorers and high-yielding hybrids using diverse sorghum male sterile cytoplasmic sources and established pollen parents under different water regimes

Sorghum hybrids demonstrated increased productivity and helped offset the decreasing cultivated areas, particularly in Asia. The diversity in cytoplasmic male sterility systems, stability of restorers and high yield of sorghum is an important factor for achieving food security and sustainability. In sorghum, hybrid production has been limited to A1 cytoplasmic source to date, primarily due to limited number of restorers on other cytoplasmic sources. This work aimed at filling this gap through diversifying and assessing the producibility and stability of cytoplasmic backgrounds across environments, evaluating the stability of restorers across cytoplasms and environments, and evaluating the performance of the hybrid F1 products under different water regimes across cropping seasons. The effects of genotypes and interactions between the genotypes and the tested environments were shown visually using GGE biplot, which also categorized the genotypes based on performance per se and stability. Analysis of variance revealed significant (P < 0.001) differences between genotypes, environments and their interaction components for all the plant characteristics studied. The various GGE biplot patterns revealed that the restorers G4 (IS 33844-5), G5 (M 35-1-19), G8 (ICSV 15014), and G10 (ICSR 13009) were stable across environments and cytoplasms. We observed the following order of superiority in cytoplasmic restoration and seed producibility, A2 >A1>A3 >A4. The A2 cytoplasm can therefore reliably offer seed producibility advantage to commercial seed producers. Furthermore, the which-won–where model for hybrid grain yield revealed specific adaptations of hybrid genotypes G143, G195 and G215 to first mega environment (E1 and E3), whereas G167, G110, and G112 were adapted to the second mega-environment (E2 and E4). With a GGE biplot goodness of fit of 70 % the best possible yield- and stability-based ranking of hybrid genotypes was G143, G215, G189, G200, G69, G162, G119, G54, and G81. The newly uncovered hybrid products should therefore be considered for downstream testing stages and candidates for release and commercial cultivation. Clearly, this work resulted in novel findings particularly in terms of seed producibility, universal restorers across the 4 cytoplasms and environments, and superior and stable hybrid products, all of which are expected to add value to conventional and heterosis breeding in the process of sorghum cultivar development.

Designing an Economical Water Harvesting System Using a Tank with Numerical Simulation Model WASH_2D

Newly incorporated module into the WASH_2D model has enabled simulating a rainwater harvesting system (RWHS) using a tank. The incorporated module in WASH_2D was tested for two field experiments to determine the optimal tank capacity and cultivated area that give the highest net income for farmers. The first experiment was composed of treatments A, B, and C having the same cultivated and harvested areas (plastic sheets) of 24 m2 and 12.5 m2, respectively. The capacity of the tanks for treatments A, B, and C was set at 500, 300, and 200 L, corresponding to storability of 21, 13, and 8 mm, respectively, while in the second experiment we carried out three treatments: F, G, and H having the same tank capacity of 300 L and harvested area of 12.5 m2 with variable cultivated areas as G and H were larger by two and three times than F (10.5 m2), respectively. Water was applied automatically through a drip irrigation system by monitoring soil water suction. Results of the first experiment showed that the optimal storability and seasonal net income simulated by WASH_2D were 17 mm and 5.82 USD yr−1, which were fairly close to 18 mm and 5.75 USD yr−1 observed from field data, respectively. Similarly, the results of the second experiment revealed that simulated net incomes for different cultivated areas agreed well with the observed data. We concluded that the use of the simulation model WASH_2D can be economically useful to promote small-scale irrigation in semi-arid regions and guide planning irrigation or rainwater harvesting investments.

The Effect of a Parcel-Aggregated Cropping Structure Mapping Method in Irrigation-Water Estimation in Arid Regions—A Case Study of the Weigan River Basin in Xinjiang Province

Effective management of agricultural water resources in arid regions relies on precise estimation of irrigation-water demand. Most previous studies have adopted pixel-level mapping methods to estimate irrigation-water demand, often leading to inaccuracies when applied in arid areas where land salinization is severe and where poorly growing crops cause the growing area to be smaller than the sown area. To address this issue and improve the accuracy of irrigation-water demand estimation, this study utilizes parcel-aggregated cropping structure mapping. We conducted a case study in the Weigan River Basin, Xinjiang Province, China. Deep learning techniques, the Richer Convolutional Features model, and the bilayer Long Short-Term Memory model were applied to extract parcel-aggregated cropping structures. By analyzing the cropping patterns, we estimated the irrigation-water demand and calculated the supply using statistical data and the water balance approach. The results indicated that in 2020, the cultivated area in the Weigan River Basin was 5.29 × 105 hectares, distributed over 853,404 parcels with an average size of 6202 m2. Based on the parcel-aggregated cropping structure, the estimated irrigation-water demand ranges from 25.1 × 108 m3 to 30.0 × 108 m3, representing a 5.57% increase compared to the pixel-level estimates. This increase highlights the effectiveness of the parcel-aggregated cropping structure in capturing the actual irrigation-water requirements, particularly in areas with severe soil salinization and patchy crop growth. The supply was calculated at 24.4 × 108 m3 according to the water balance approach, resulting in a minimal water deficit of 0.64 × 108 m3, underscoring the challenges in managing agricultural water resources in arid regions. Overall, the use of parcel-aggregated cropping structure mapping addresses the issue of irrigation-water demand underestimation associated with pixel-level mapping in arid regions. This study provides a methodological framework for efficient agricultural water resource management and sustainable development in arid regions.

Improving Water Productivity in Irrigated Agriculture: A Review of Techniques and Water Conservation Methods in Ethiopia

Water is a scarce resource and the competition for it is increasing from time to time due to population growth and economic status change. The population growth leads to high expectations to produce more food from irrigated agriculture which could not be satisfied by rain-fed conditions. As irrigated agriculture is by far the largest water consumer in an inefficient way, improving water productivity has paramount importance both for the production of more food and for wise utilization of scarce water. Beyond these, studies suggest that improving water productivity in Ethiopia contributes to an increase in the irrigated area, reduced competition, and conflict between users, increased profitability due to reduced labor cost, water pumping and working time, and generally increased food production. Different water productivity improvement techniques and water conservation methods have been tested in different parts of the country. These include improving the performance of irrigation schemes, regulated deficit irrigation practice, partial root zone drying, application of irrigation on selected crop growth stages, supplementary irrigation, drip irrigation, surge and cutback irrigation, and water conservation methods like mulching and integrating irrigation with conservation agriculture. The level of water productivity improvement varies considerably for different methods, study areas, crop types, and seasons. Generally, more studies concentrated on deficit irrigation and irrigation application at different crop growth stages. Water conservation and integration of cultivation practices with efficient irrigation led to an improvement in water productivity. Despite few studies, scheme-level study results suggest that the level of deficit irrigation should be selected based on the available irrigation water and cultivable land area for maximizing the benefit of the scheme. According to the economic profitability, crop types and crop varieties also should be selected for production with site-specific conditions. Despite different types and levels of reduced irrigation leading to lower crop yield, the inclusion of the economic importance is essential as most crops showed higher water productivity at lower irrigation levels. On the other hand, studies on the integration of different water productivity enhancement techniques and crop planting patterns are minimal in the country, though current studies revealed better water productivity. Moreover, basin-level water productivity improvement studies could contribute to alleviating water competition and increasing irrigated areas. Therefore, studies on the optimization of these different methods could be done at the basin level for better water resource utilization. Government policies should also focus on water productivity improvement for the implementation of research findings.

Assessing the economic and nutritional value of pollination services in Nepal

Pollination is a key ecosystem service crucial for supporting agricultural production, economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. Understanding the economic value of pollination and its impact on human health and nutrition is essential for effective pollinator conservation and management. This study evaluates the economic and nutritional value of pollination services in Nepal and quantifies historic changes in pollinator reliance. Using public data on agricultural production and commodity prices, in combination with published nutritional composition values, we employ the dependency-ratio method to quantify economic and nutritional value across different regions of the country and through time. We conservatively estimate the annual economic value of pollination services in Nepal at US $477 million, representing 9% of total agricultural revenue. Pollinator-dependent crops, particularly fruits and vegetables are the source of essential nutrients; 40% of plant-based vitamin A and 14% of vitamin C are directly attributable to insect pollination. The cultivated area of these pollinator-dependent crops has increased by 91% in Nepal over 20 years – 3.7 times faster than equivalent increases in non-pollinator-dependent crops. The decline in wild pollinators during the same time period poses a threat, leading to potential pollination deficits and crop losses. Our study underscores the importance of conserving and managing pollinators to ensure sustainable agriculture, food security, and nutrition. Targeted efforts, including policy interventions and conservation strategies, are needed to safeguard pollinator populations and enhance pollination services.

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 &gt; 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.

Study on the Value of Ecosystem Services and Land Use Change in the Area North of the Tianshan Mountains from 2000 to 2020

The northern Tianshans region in the arid zone of northwestern China plays a key role in promoting high-quality development of the ecological environment. In recent years, ecological environmental protection in this region has encountered major challenges due to the dual impacts of human activities and natural changes. In order to accurately assess the current status of the ecological environment in the northern Tianshans, this study analyzed the spatial and temporal changes in land use and ecological and environmental effects using land use data from 2000 to 2020 and explored the current status of land use, land use dynamic process, and ecosystem service value (ESV) in the region. Two-factor spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed the spatio-temporal characteristics of the value changes over the 20-year period as well as their spatial heterogeneity. The results show that: (1) land use changes are dominated by increases in cultivated land, forest land, watershed, and wetland, and decreases in grassland, glacier snow, and bare land. Of these changes, the expansion of cultivated land area is the most significant, showing a total increase of 1136.13 × 103 hm2. (2) The ESV increased and then decreased, reaching the highest value in 2005 and the lowest in 2020. The value of individual ecosystem services is dominated by regulating services, accounting for about 67% of the total value. (3) The overall regional balance of ecological environment quality and the contribution rate of the conversion from bare land to other land types is as high as 82.7986%, constituting the main factor in regional ecological environment improvement. The spatial distribution pattern exhibits the characteristic of “high in the northeast and low in the southwest”. (4) There is a positive correlation between the ESV, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and the Anthropogenic Impact Composite Index, with the NDVI being the main cause of spatial heterogeneity in the ESV. The research results provide a scientific basis for ecological protection, land management, and policy formulation in the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains and are of great significance for promoting regional sustainable development.

Establishing perennial strips in a cultivated floodplain for habitat restoration: monitoring over 4 years and success drivers

Floodplains, one of the most biologically diverse and productive ecosystems, are under threat from intensive crop production. Implementing perennial strips alongside agricultural ditches and streams could reduce negative impacts of intensive agriculture and restore wildlife habitats in cultivated floodplains. To successfully set up perennial strips, it is important to understand the parameters that drive their establishment. Here we assessed the establishment success of reed canarygrass (RCG; Phalaris arundinacea) strips in the lake Saint Pierre (LSP) floodplain, Québec, Canada by monitoring RCG biomass and vegetation height over 4 years and identify the factors driving its establishment. A total of 26 RCG strips across six municipalities of LSP were monitored. Biomass and vegetation height of RCG increased over time to reach an average of 5048 kg/ha in year 4 and 104 cm in year 3 in established strips. The RCG established successfully in 62% of surveyed plots and three environmental parameters explained 61% of this success. Establishment of RCG was most successful when a first rain came right after seeding (&lt;3 days). High clay content and low elevation were associated with establishment failures. Overall, our results highlight the ability of RCG strips to restore dense perennial vegetation cover in cultivated floodplain, thereby providing suitable habitat for fish spawning during spring floods. This study provides significant insight into the drivers of establishment of perennial grass strips in highly constrained cultivated areas such as floodplains.

Drought-Induced Agricultural and Food Security Challenges in the Baribo Basin, Cambodia

Rice production within the Tonle Sap basin is a critical driver of economic and social development in Cambodia. This region has been subject to various natural disasters, with increasing attention directed towards drought. This study aims to evaluate the impacts of drought on agriculture and food security through an in-depth case study of the Baribo basin, a sub-basin of the Tonle Sap. The analysis spans the period from 1985 to 2008, a timeframe characterized by relatively high-quality data. Drought assessment was conducted using ground observations and satellite-based products, with the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standard Vegetation Index (SVI) employed to assess meteorological and agricultural droughts, respectively. Findings from both the SPI and SVI indicate that drought constitutes a significant natural hazard contributing to food insecurity in the study area. The highest drought intensity (DI) and drought severity (DS) were recorded during the 1993–1994 period, while the most prolonged drought duration (DD) was observed from 2002 to 2006. The year 2004 witnessed the most severe impact on rice production, with approximately 46% of the total cultivated area affected. The analysis further reveals a strong correlation between the drought duration and the extent of rice cultivation affected, as well as the overall food security in the Tonle Sap basin.

Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation in Jhagadia, Netrang and Valia Taluka of Bharuch District in South Gujarat, India

Bharuch, a heavily industrialized district on the west coast, faces challenges like over-extraction and contamination, which threaten its groundwater quality. In response, a post-monsoon 2023 assessment was conducted in the Jhagadia, Netrang, and Valia talukas, where water samples from 78 locations were collected and analyzed. These locations were identified using landforms developed through GIS. The study found that around 40% of the TGA in these blocks is used for agriculture, with 52,106 hectares for single crops and 7,843 hectares for double crops, making up 15.05% of the total cultivated area. Eastern part of Jhagadia and Netrang recorded deep water levels (10–20 m), while other areas had moderately shallow levels (5–10 m). Tube wells were mainly found in Valia, northern Jhagadia, and western Netrang, whereas dug wells dominated eastern Netrang and southeastern Jhagadia. Irrigation water pH ranged from 6.31 to 8.82, averaging 6.97, with higher pH in Jhagadia. Electrical conductivity (EC) was highest in Valia (0.66–2.94 dSm⁻¹), and medium salinity was noted in Jhagadia (1.03 dSm⁻¹) and Netrang (0.71 dSm⁻¹), affecting irrigation suitability. All samples had a SAR classification of S1 (&lt;10). Most water samples were "Suitable" based on RSC, except some in Valia with RSC &gt;1.25 meL⁻¹. Chloride levels varied from 0.50 mg/L-1 to 25.48 mg/L-1. The specific soil management practices, such as gypsum application, improving drainage and the growing of salt-tolerant crop varieties can help mitigate potential negative impacts on crop productivity.

The delineation of management zones using soil quality indices for the cultivation of irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Huila, Colombia

Conventional intensive farming systems can result in degraded soil. It is therefore important to monitor this effect periodically by delineating management zones (MZ) based on soil quality indices (SQI) in order to maintain and improve the soil characteristics in a precision farming environment and obtain homogeneous rice yields. The aim of this study was to determine and spatialise SQI and delineate MZ for cultivating flooded rice in an area of Fluvisols in Huila, Colombia. Forty-one georeferenced soil samples were collected from the 0 to 20 cm layer, and the physical, chemical and biological attributes of the soil were analysed to calculate the Integrated Quality Index (IQI) and the Nemoro Quality Index (NQI) using linear scoring functions. Geostatistical tools were then used to fit semivariogram models of the SQI, and interpolated using ordinary kriging to map the MZ using the QGIS software. The IQI and NQI showed a moderate spatial correlation, which allowed three distinct MZ to be identified and delineated. Attributes, such as bulk density (Bd), total porosity (TP), soil respiration (SR), available water (AW) and soil organic matter (SOM) were significant and can be used as a guide by farmers for restoring the quality of the soil in rice production. The method proved to be effective, and provided an information base to be used in the local management of areas of rice cultivation in the study region.

Instability of grape phenology in the late 20th – early 21st century in the northern area of industrial cultivation

Instability of grape phenology in the late 20th – early 21st century in the northern area of industrial cultivation

Research Progress on Viruses of Passiflora edulis.

Passiflora edulis, also known as passion fruit, is celebrated for its rich nutritional content, distinctive flavour, and significant medicinal benefits. At present, viral diseases pose a major challenge to the passion fruit industry, affecting both the production and quality of the fruit. These diseases impede the sustainable and healthy growth of the passion fruit sector. In recent years, with the expansion of P. edulis cultivation areas, virus mutations, and advances in virus detection technology, an increasing number of virus species infecting P. edulis have been discovered. To date, more than 40 different virus species have been identified; however, there are different strains within the same virus. This poses a challenge for the control and prevention of P. edulis virus disease. Therefore, this review discusses the different types of viruses and their characteristics, modes of transmission, and effects on the growth of the passion fruit plant, as well as the mechanisms of virus generation and preventive measures, with the hope that these discussions will provide a comprehensive understanding of and countermeasures for viruses in passion fruit.

Europium anomaly as a robust geogenic fingerprint for the geographical origin of aquatic products: A case study of nori (Neopyropia yezoensis) from the Japanese market

Rare earth element (REE) concentration patterns, while essential in geochemistry for tracing sample histories, have yet to be utilised entirely in food origin authentication. This research analysed 13 heavy metal(oid)s and REEs in Japanese edible seaweed Nori sheet samples (Neopyropia yezoensis), showing that the concentrations mirror the laver cultivation area's geological features (island arc-trench systems vs. continental crust). Thresholds for cadmium (0.5 ppm) and thorium (3.3 ppb) differentiate Japanese products from Korean imports. The slope of REE pattern, gadolinium anomalies, and yttrium/holmium ratios were also examined. However, nori samples significantly conveyed europium (Eu) anomalies, aligning with the mariculture hinterland's geochemistry. Both Japan's major seaweed mariculture areas, the Ariake Sea and the Seto Inland Sea, and Korean imports revealed distinct Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.81–0.90, 0.58–0.66, 0.71–0.77), underscoring the potential of Eu anomalies as reliable seafood origin verifiers. This was also confirmed by literature values of Chinese samples.