Economic Yield Research Articles

Multispecies fisheries management of the Sultanate of Oman using bioeconomic model.

A bioeconomic analysis using the Gordon-Schafer surplus production model was conducted on Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta), Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), Kingfish (Scomberomorus commerson), and Indian Oil Sardine (Sardinella longiceps) based on data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Wealth, and Water Resources of Oman from 1990 to 2020. The alignment of biological and economic yields with the ideal fishing efforts needed to attain maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and maximum economic yield (MEY) was considered in order to evaluate the economic efficiency of existing fisheries management. The long-term sustainability of Oman's fisheries is improved by this analysis, which identifies inefficiencies in resource use and suggests viable remedies. Rastrelliger kanagurta exhibited the highest growth rate (r=0.260), with similar catchability coefficients (q) between R. kanagurta (2.18E-05) and S. commerson (2.93E-05), and T. albacares (8.48E-06) and S. longiceps (8.41E-06). Optimal fishing effort was calculated using the catch per unit effort (CPUE) hypothesis. The effort to achieve maximum sustainable yield (EMSY) for R. kanagurta, T. albacares, S. commerson, and S. longiceps were estimated at 5982, 6614, 2222, and 6913, respectively. The harvest limit to achieve maximum economic yield (HMEY) was 9987.41 tons for R. kanagurta, 12928.77 tons for T. albacares, 2267.75 tons for S. commerson, and 135490.31 tons for S. longiceps. A discount rate of 10-20% was suggested for long-term expansion. The findings aim to guide policymakers in designing sustainable management plans for Oman's fisheries. Stricter fishing rules and the use of industry taxes to control effort levels are two of the study's recommended remedies for overfishing. The objective of these strategies is to maintain long-term sustainability while balancing biological and economic returns, under the supervision of both public and private sector entities.

Landscape Transformations (1987–2022): Analyzing Spatial Changes Driven by Mining Activities in Ayapel, Colombia

Gold mining is an activity that has developed in Colombia due to the great availability of mineral resources geographically distributed throughout the territory. The extraction techniques used are linked to the domain of illegality and to armed actors who have generated notable landscape impacts. This study, focused on the Municipality of Ayapel, Colombia, identifies the landscape units and analyzes the changes in land use and cover resulting from gold mining between the years 1987, 2002, and 2022, applying the CORINE Land Cover methodology, an adapted legend for Colombia, using Landsat satellite images. For this, the recognition of the physical geographical characteristics of the area was carried out in order to group homogeneous landscape units through a cartographic overlay of various layers of information, considering variables such as topography, geomorphology, and lithology. This research identifies a total of 16 landscape units, 8 of which were intervened in 1987, mainly associated with denudational hills. However, in 2022, 13 landscape units were intervened, with a considerable increase in the affected area. Particularly noteworthy is the occupation of landscape units associated with alluvial valleys, with an average of more than 30% of their total area. This demonstrates that they are the most attractive and vulnerable areas for mining exploitation, as they are the zones with the greatest potential for hosting mineral deposits. This impact has worsened over the last decade due to the introduction of other extraction techniques with machinery (dredges, dragon boats, backhoes, and bulldozers) that generate higher productive and economic yields but, at the same time, cause deep environmental liabilities due to the lack of administrative controls. The changes in extraction techniques, the increase in the international price of the commodity, and the absence of government attention have been the breeding ground that has driven gold mining activity.

Effect of application of steel slag based-sulphur fertilizer on yield and quality of cauliflower, cabbage and capsicum

Steel slag, a waste from steel manufacturing, cannot be directly used in agriculture despite its nutritional characteristics. The present research deciphered the response of sulfur enriched steel slag (16-20% S) on cauliflower, cabbage and capsicum. The performance of steel slag based sulfur fertilizer (SSSF) at 30, 45 and 60 kg S ha-1 with 100 and 50% NPK fertilizer application was evaluated in terms of growth, yield and quality attributes i.e., total antioxidant capacity, ascorbic acid, phenolic content, and pigment system (anthocyanin, lycopene, â carotene, total carotenoid and chlorophyll content). The application of SSSF caused a significant increase (~25%) in economic yield. An increase in physiological and nutritional attributes including antioxidants was also evidenced with the supplementation of the SSSF. The study showed that steel slag based fertilizers can be applied to complement the conventional chemical fertilizers without causing any soil toxicity and phyto-toxicity. In fact, SSSF application helped to save costs (up to 50%) towards NPK chemical fertilizers without any negative impact on the economic yield and nutritional quality of cabbage, cauliflower and capsicum. The study does not reveal any negative effect of steel slag based fertilizer on soil characteristics. Thus, it supports the possibility that an enriched-amended steel slag can be used as source of mineral nutrients in agriculture.

Sheep Manure-Tail Vegetable-Corn Straw Co-Composting Improved the Yield and Quality of Mini Chinese Cabbage.

In order to fully utilize the resources of agricultural waste in Gansu Province's semi-arid area. Local commercial organic fertilizer (ST1) was selected as the control, and four kinds of planting and breeding waste composts (PBCs) were designed with sheep manure (SM), cow manure (CM), tail vegetable (TV), mushroom residue (MR), and corn straw (CS) to study the effects of the different PBC formulations on the yield and quality of mini Chinese cabbage. In contrast to local commercial organic fertilizer, the STS (SM:TV:CS = 6:3:1) treatment increased the economic yield by 5.56%. Additionally, STS also significantly increased the VC content of mini Chinese cabbage, increased the organic acid by 14.66%, increased the free amino acid by 38.98%, and the nitrate concentration was significantly reduced by 41.05%. Meanwhile, the STS formula also increased the concentrations of polyphenols and essential amino acids of mini Chinese cabbage and also had excellent performance in volatile compounds. As a result, the STS formula can make full use of local planting and breeding waste resources and produce high yield and high quality of local mini Chinese cabbage. The study provided a theoretical foundation and technical guidance for screening suitable local compost formulas, as well as for the achievement of high-yield and high-quality mini Chinese cabbage production in the semi-arid areas of central Gansu province.

Integrating vermicompost, black soldier fly, and inorganic fertilizers enhances corn growth and yield.

To achieve good agricultural practices and maximize the economic yield of corn, farmers should reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers. A field experiment was conducted in the Chonnabot district, Khon Kaen province, Thailand, during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. The aim was to assess the impact of different organic fertilizers and their combinations on the growth and yield of commercial sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata) and waxy corn (Zea mays L. var. ceratina) hybrids. The results showed that sweet corn had significantly higher ear fresh weight, protein, fat, and fiber content compared to waxy corn, with values of 7,529.20kgha-1, 14.48%, 4.74%, and 1.30%, respectively. Two treatments, F4 (190.63kgNha-1+46.88kgPha-1+46.88kgKha-1) and F3 (6,250kgha-1 of black soldier fly (BSF)+95.31kgNha-1+23.44kgPha-1+23.44kgKha-1) resulted in the highest ear fresh weight, with 6,569.90 and 6,275.40kgha-1, respectively. In contrast, F4 showed higher protein (12.04%), fat (4.62%), and fiber content (0.91%) than F3. Significant improvements were observed in SPAD value, biomass, and yield parameters. Corn plants treated with a combination of vermicompost, BSF, and inorganic fertilizer showed higher ear length, ear diameter, ear fresh weight, and dry biomass than control plants (no fertilizer management, F1). The F1 treatment led to higher carbohydrate content in both corn cultivars tested, with a notable impact on pink waxy corn (82.06%). Our findings suggest that using a combination of BSF and inorganic fertilizers is promising for reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers and providing the highest net income among the three fresh corn cultivars. Pink waxy corn showed greater adaptability under low soil fertility conditions owing to better yield components than purple waxy corn when evaluated without fertilizers.

Decoding epigenetic markers: implications of traits and genes through DNA methylation in resilience and susceptibility to mastitis in dairy cows

ABSTRACT Cattle farming faces challenges linked to intensive exploitation and climate change, requiring the reinforcement of animal resilience in response to these dynamic environments. Currently, genetic selection is used to enhance resilience by identifying animals resistant to specific diseases; however, certain diseases, such as mastitis, pose difficulties in genetic prediction. This study introduced the utilization of enzymatic methyl sequencing (EM-seq) of the blood genomic DNA from twelve dairy cows to identify DNA methylation biomarkers, with the aim of predicting resilience and susceptibility to mastitis. The analysis uncovered significant differences between cows resilient and susceptible to mastitis, with 196,275 differentially methylated cytosines (DMCs) and 1,227 Differentially Methylated Regions (DMRs). Key genes associated with the immune response and morphological traits, including ENOPH1, MYL10 and KIR2DL5A, were identified by our analysis. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) were also highlighted and the body weight trait was the most targeted by DMCs and DMRs. Based on our results, the risk of developing mastitis can potentially be estimated with as few as fifty methylation biomarkers, paving the way for early animal selection. This research sets the stage for improved animal health management and economic yields within the framework of agricultural sustainability through early selection based on the epigenetic status of animals.

Chili pestiferous thrips Thrips parvispinus (Karny, 1922) and Thrips tabaci (Lindman, 1889) (Thripidae: Thysanoptera) antennal structural characterisation

Thrips are among the most serious pests attacking many economically important crops. They causes significant damage to plants by lacerating and sucking sap from the leaves, growing tips, flowers, and fruits leading to silvery spots, stunted growth, flower drop, and fruits deformation, ultimately resulting in severe economic yield losses in many crops. In addition to the damage caused, they act as vectors for various viral plant diseases. Antennal sensilla plays a crucial role in the chemical communication of thrips. However, studies on the types of sensilla in thrips are limited to a few species. Therefore, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), this study examined the different types of sensilla in two pestiferous thrips species, Thrips parvispinus Karny and T. tabaci Lindman. The antenna of the thrips were found to consist of nine types of sensilla viz., Bohm bristles (BB), microtrichia (MT), sensilla basiconica(SB), sensilla campaniformia(SCa), sensilla cavity(SCav), sensilla chaetica(SCh), sensilla coeloconica(SCo), sensilla styloconica(SSt), and sensilla trichoidea(ST). The microscopy observations revealed that all these sensilla were present in T. parvispinus while SSt was absent in T. tabaci. Sensilla chaetica were more abundant in Thrips tabaci than in Thrips parvispinus. Based on the results, the types of antennal sensilla and their functions in thrips are also discussed.

Characterization of bacterial endophytes of King chilli for biocontrol potential and plant growth promotion

Bacterial endophytes associated with host plants provide various beneficial effects. This study assessed the diversity of bacterial endophytes in King chilli, focusing on their biocontrol potential and plant growth-promoting (PGP) activities. The survey was carried out in King chilli-growing regions and identified anthracnose and fruit rot diseases as significant contributors to economic yield loss. A total of 20 bacterial endophytic isolates were obtained using the sterility check method and identified as Pseudomonas through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In in-vitro studies, isolates P. fluorescens KEB15, P. putida KEB5, and P. putida KEB7 exhibited notable mycelial growth inhibition rates of 66.67 %, 69.26 %, and 66.30 % against Pythium, Fusarium, and Colletotrichum, respectively. Of the 20 isolates, 5, 16, and 17 isolates demonstrated positive production of hydrogen cyanide (HCN), ammonia (NH3), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), respectively. The efficacy of crude antibiotics from the best-performing antagonistic endophytes was tested against the linear growth of Fusarium, with KEB11 showing the largest inhibition area of 35.14 mm. Sequence analysis using the maximum likelihood method revealed close relationships among the potent Pseudomonas isolates, identifying KEB5 and KEB7 as P. putida and KEB15 as P. fluorescens. Field evaluations indicated that KEB7 was most effective in controlling bacterial wilt, anthracnose, and dieback diseases, achieving a maximum plant height of 85.10 cm and a yield of 3683.67 kg/ha. This study demonstrates that bacterial endophytes can effectively exhibit antifungal activity and promote plant growth in King chilli.

Effect of insect pollinators on quantitative yield parameters of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in mid-Himalayan region

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] is an often cross-pollinated crop with up to 19–42% of cross pollination assisted by insects and planned pollination may improve the economic fruit yield and biological parameters. The present study was carried out during rainy (kharif) seasons of 2021 and 2022 at Research Farm of ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Hawalbagh, Almora, Uttarakhand to assess the pollinator diversity and possible results (both biological and economical) of planned bee pollination. The study on floral visitors of okra recorded 28 insect spp. belonging to four insect orders, among which five spp., viz. Apis cerana indica (Fabricius) 1798, Apis mellifera (Linnaeus) 1758, Bombus haemorrhoidalis (Smith) 1852, Lithurgus atratus (Smith) 1853 and Xylocopa latipes (Drury) 1773 were predominant. The foraging activity and pollination behaviour showed that two non-Apis bee species (X. latipes and B. haemorrhoidalis) were swift flyers and visited more numbers of flowers per unit time. It was noticed that, peak period of pollinator’s visitation was between 9.00–11.00 h accounting to 113.76±7.65 insects/m2/10 min, during which stigma receptivity and pollen germination were at its peak. Assessment of yield related parameters of insect pollinated flowers showed superior quality fruits with better capsule length (17.4–20.9 cm), capsule girth (6.56–7.84 cm), seeds/capsule (51.4–60.6), test weight of 100-seeds (7.05–8.38 g) and even the seed yield (1.86–3.04 tonnes/hectare) than closed control and hand pollination (emasculated and cross pollinated). In conclusion, ecological engineering of okra fields enhances the pollination rate and ultimately the yield and seed quality.

Fungal Diversity Associated with Strawberry Fruit Loss in the Gorakhpur Division, U.P. India

Background: Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) is highly nutritious and economically important fruit crop, cultivated worldwide is severely affected by fruit rot disease, leading to significant yield and economic yield loss.Present study aimed to provide the first report of fungal pathogens associated with strawberry fruit rot, which cause significant losses in India. Overall, the research provides valuable insights into the fungal pathogens responsible for strawberry fruit rot in India. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the disease and offer a foundation for effective field control measures against the disease. Methods: Survey and sampling (triplicate) of infected strawberry fruits were conducted from 2020-2023 across various sites of Gorakhpur division. The data analysis was performed by using R software. Isolation of fungal pathogen was done by Agar Plate methods and standard blotter technique. Morphological characterization was performed based on colony morphology and microscopic characteristics. Result: More than 350 symptomatic strawberry fruits were collected from 3 different cultivation sites, from which 211 fungal strains were isolated and morphologically identified as 15 different species. Among them, Botrytis cinerea, accounted for a higher proportion of all the strains present, comprising 64.6 % loss of fruits; followed by Colletotrichum spp. (17.4%,), Rhizopus stolonifer (9.6%), Fusarium spp. (4.6%) and rest of the isolated fungi like, Phytopthora spp., Mucor mucedo., Saccharomyces cerevisiae., Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp and Curvularia spp caused 3.6% loss of fruits respectively. All isolates were found to be aggressive on both wounded and unwounded strawberry fruit.

Enhancing Non-enzymatic Antioxidants and Yield in Summer Green Gram Through Rhizobium, Putrescine and Calcium Application

Background: Green gram (Vigna radiata (L.) is a significant pulse crop in India, renowned for its protein content and nitrogen-fixing ability. This research, which explores the impact of rhizobium, putrescine and calcium chloride on green gram’s biochemical properties, yield and yield attributes, provides valuable insights for the agricultural community, enlightening them on potential strategies to enhance green gram production. Methods: The present study was conducted during the summer season for two consecutive years (2022-23). The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with eight treatments and three replications. Treatments included individual and combined biopriming with rhizobium, foliar application of putrescine and calcium chloride. Result: Results demonstrated that all treatments significantly enhanced the measured biochemical properties and yield parameters compared to the control. Among all the treatments, the best results were found in the treatment with the combination of rhizobium, putrescine and calcium chloride (T7), showing statistically significant (p less than 0.05) improvements in most of the parameters at 30 and 60 DAS. The data analysis revealed the substantial increase in total flavanol content (0.541 mg g-1), total flavonoid content (0.816 mg g-1), PAL activity (0.078 mg g-1), bound phenol content (0.230 mg g-1), test weight (45.93 g), seed weight pod-1 (0.49 g), seed weight plant-1 (16.99g), no. of seed pod-1 (9.55), no. of seed plant-1 (34.90), biological yield (3858.77 kg/ha), economic yield (1261.50 kg/ha) and harvest index (32.70%). These findings suggest integrating microbial inoculants, growth regulators and essential nutrients can effectively enhance green gram yield and nutritional quality in summer cultivation. This study provides valuable insights for developing sustainable agricultural practices to maximize green gram production.

Effects of Time and Rate of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Phenology, Growth and Yield of Maize at Jimma, Southwestern Ethiopia

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important crops in Ethiopia in general and in the Jimma area in particular. However, its productivity is low due to the inadequate management of nitrogen fertilizer rates and inappropriate timing of fertilizer applications. Hence, a field experiment was conducted during the 2020-2022 main cropping seasons to determine the effect of different rates and times of nitrogen applications on phenology, growth, yield, and yield components of maize and to estimate the most economical rate and time of nitrogen fertilizer application. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. The experiment consisted of five rates of nitrogen (0, 46, 92,138 and 184kg N ha<sup>-1</sup>) and three times of application (Full at planting, 1/2 at planting +1/2 at the 5-leave stage, and 1/3 at planting+1/3 at 5-leave stage + 1/3 at booting). The result revealed that days to 50% tasseling, days to 90% physiological maturity, plant height, ear height, stem diameter, numbers of ears per plant, grain yield, above-ground dry biomass, and harvest index were significantly affected by either the main effects of N fertilizer rate or time of N application. The interaction of rates and time of nitrogen application affected considerably days to 50% silking. The highest mean grain yield (8355.60 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>) was recorded with applied N in three splits (1/3 at planting, 1/3 at the 5-leave stage, and 1/3 at booting) and the highest grain yield (9213.5 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>) was obtained from 184kg N ha<sup>-1</sup>. Grain yield was positively and /highly/ significantly association with days to maturity (r=35), height (r=0.30), ear height (r=0.24), girth (r=0.55), number of ears per plant (r=0.62), biomass yield (r=0.91), harvest index (r=0.35) while grain yield was negatively and/highly/ significantly association with days to tasseling (r=0.20) and days to silking (r=0.23). Partial budget analysis revealed that N in three split applications and 184kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> rate realized the maximum net benefit of 208,311.10 Birr ha<sup>-1</sup> and 226,380.2 Birr respectively. Therefore, based on the highest net benefit applying N in three splits (1/3 at planting, 1/3 at 5-leave stage, and 1/3 at booting) and 184kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> application an economic yield response and also acceptable for farmers of study areas and similar agroecology.

Response of Morphological Plasticity of Quercus variabilis Seedlings to Different Light Quality

This experiment explores the regulatory mechanisms of various light qualities on the phenotypic plasticity of Quercus variabilis seedlings during their growth. The light conditions included blue light (BL), red light (RL), far-red light (FrL), a blend of RL and FrL with a ratio of 1:1 (RFr1:1L), and a blend of RL and FrL with a ratio of 1:2 (RFr1:2L), alongside a broad-spectrum white light (WL) as the control. Each treatment was maintained at a consistent photosynthetic photon flux density of 400 µmol·m−2·s−1. Results indicate significant morphological variations in Q. variabilis seedlings under different light qualities. Compared to white light treatment, all light quality treatments enhance seedling height, with the FrL treatment exhibiting the most pronounced effect. Seedling ground diameter elongation is stimulated by all light quality treatments, except for the BL treatment. Although the BL treatment promotes leaf morphology in Q. variabilis seedlings, it inhibits root growth, leading to reduced biomass accumulation and a lower root-to-shoot ratio. FrL can mitigate the effects of RL. Under the FrL treatment, Q. variabilis seedlings exhibit a greater increase in plant height and a higher height-to-diameter ratio. While the leaf morphology of RFr1:1L treatment does not show significant advantages, it demonstrates substantial root growth, resulting in the highest biomass accumulation. Quercus variabilis displays the strongest morphological plasticity in its root system, showing greater sensitivity to variations in light quality compared to leaf morphology and biomass accumulation. Strategically optimizing light spectrum and wavelength can significantly boost economic yields and improve the quality of forestry products.

Rowing in the Same Direction Using MIX—A Tool to Initiate the Melding of Individual Disciplinary Experts into an Integrated Interdisciplinary Team

A common problem for interdisciplinary sustainability research is that scientists trained in different disciplines are often not rowing their boat effectively in the same direction. Sustainability tools can aid the implementation of this team-melding process. Here, our purpose is to illustrate our Multi-step Integrated graphical and structured discussion eXercise (MIX) tool that transforms diverse disciplinary experts into an interdisciplinary team. We use a visual puzzle-solving approach based on the blind men and the elephant metaphor (BMEM) because this story illustrates the shortcomings of siloed viewpoints and the need to integrate multiple perspectives. Our six-step MIX tool provides step-specific objectives, group activities, discussion questions, and learning outcomes. Activities promote experiential learning for team problem solving. The step-specific structured discussions are designed to get each individual to change their focus from their own discipline (i.e., an elephant trunk, tail, leg, or other isolated pieces of the whole animal) to the team’s interdisciplinary goal (i.e., the whole elephant or the entire multi-faceted problem). In our example proof of concept, we show that a narrow focus on only economic yield (trunk), ecological conservation (legs), or human values (tail) misrepresents the biologically involved sustainability problem (elephant) and blocks innovative solutions.

Effect of Particle Size and Concentration of ZnO Nanoparticles on Growth, Yield and Seedling Parameters in Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum L.)

The experiment was conducted in both field and lab conditions to study the Effect of Particle Size and Concentration of ZnO Nanoparticles on Growth, Yield and Seedling Parameters in Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum L.) Under Late Sowing Conditions in Eastern Uttar Pradesh Region the lab experiment was performed in CRD with four different size ranges of zinc oxide Nanoparticles (20-30nm, 40-50nm, 60-80nm, 80-100nm) each of three concentrations (30PPM, 60PPM, 80PPM). The field experiment was performed during Rabi season of 2022-2023 in Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj Uttar Pradesh with a control was laid out in factorial RBD with 3 Replications. The results revealed that T1(20-30nm, 30PPM for 8hrs) shows greater Performance among parameters viz Plant height 30 DAS (23.45), Plant height 80 DAS (91.36), Days to first flowering (26.11), Number of Branches (4.43), Seeds per Plant (142.39), Seed yield per plot (11.87), Seed yield per hectare (1.19), Economic Yield (11.87), Biological Yield (32.76). and Harvest Index (36.23) and T3(20-30nm, 80PPM for 8hrs) exhibit greater in Leaf surface area (22.37), Test Weight (27.34). The lab results revealed the treatment T1(20-30nm, 30PPM for 8hrs) showing greater performance in Germination Percentage (95.63), Root Length (14.57), Seedling Length (24.76), Vigor Index-1 (2369.25), Electric conductivity (0.327), Protein content (13.59), Seed metabolic efficiency and T3 (20-30nm, 80PPM for 8hrs) shows greater Performance in Shoot length (11.57), Fresh Weight (2.19), Dry Weight (0.80), Vigor Index-2 (72.67), Seed Density (0.8), Chlorophyll Content (2.84), Dehydrogenize Activity (0.996).

Logistic and Structural Equation Fitting Analyses of the Effect of Slow-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Rates on the Nitrogen Accumulation and Yield Formation Mechanism in Maize

The purpose of this study is to clarify the differential effects of the application rate of slow-release nitrogen fertilizer (SRFN) on the nitrogen (N) accumulation dynamics, nutrient organ N distribution and transportation, yield, and N utilization efficiency of maize harvested using grain-type machines. This has significant implications for the scientific application of SRFN, as well as for reducing its application rate and improving its efficiency, in the agro-pastoral transitional zone of northern China. In a long-term positioning experiment that began in 2018, five treatments consisting of different SRFN application rates were set up, namely, N120 (120 kg ha−1), N180 (180 kg ha−1), N240 (240 kg ha−1), N300 (300 kg ha−1), and N360 (360 kg ha−1), with no fertilization during the growth period used as control (CK) treatment. To explore the characteristics of nitrogen accumulation dynamics in maize populations and the main factors affecting maize yield formation under the different SRFN application rate treatments, this study adopted a combination of quantitative analyses and model fitting, including logistic models, principal component analysis, and structural equation modeling. The research results show that SRFN application increased the aboveground N accumulation of the maize population, and the fitting effect of the logistic models was significant. The maximum rate of N accumulation in both years showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase in the SRFN application rate. Compared with CK, SRFN application reduced the proportion of N distribution in the nutrient organs during the R6 stage, and it increased the N transport from the nutrient organs to the grains after the VT-R1 stage. With the increase in the SRFN application rate, both the economic yield and biological yield showed a single peak curve change and were maximized in the N240 treatment. The economic yield reached 15,342.07 kg ha−1 in 2020 and 16,323.51 kg ha−1 in 2021, increasing by 36.2% and 61.7% compared with CK, respectively. The apparent N fertilizer recovery rate, N uptake efficiency, N agronomic efficiency, and N fertilizer partial productivity all gradually decreased with the increase in the SRFN application rate. In maize populations, an appropriate SRFN application rate can adjust the characteristic parameters during the aboveground N accumulation rapid growth period, increase the N accumulation amount in aboveground parts, promote the transport of N from nutrient organs to grains, and improve yield. An application of 180–240 kg ha−1 SRFN is recommended for maize cultivation in the agro-pastoral transitional zone of northern China, as it is beneficial for stabilizing and increasing maize yield, as well as reducing the rate and improving the efficiency of N fertilizer.

Economic Analysis, Yield Optimization, and Competition Dynamics of Groundnut/Cereal Fodder Intercropping Systems in Pakistan's Semi Arid Tropics

This research focuses on the intercropping management options including aspects of yield performance, nitrogen contribution to groundnut and economical considerations through the usage of intercrop Maize, Sorghum and Pearl Millet under varying cuttings treatments. Intercropping is effective in increasing land productivity and efficiency in nutrient use and provides economic returns yet the best combinations have not been well explored. Randomised complete block design was used to assess the growth characteristics of plant height, modulation and nitrogen in sole cropping and intercropping treatments in which they make cuts. For sole crop, both, maize and pearl millet produced the highest green fodder yields of 13.40 t ha⁻¹ and 19.10 t ha⁻¹, respectively, and intercropping reduced the productivity for both crops but it was statistically significant, yield recorded in Maize (one cut) groundnut = 3.10 t ha⁻¹. Both nodulation and nitrogen content were maximum in sole groundnut, but they were lower when groundnut was grown in association with other crops. Among all competitive indices, the LER was the highest on maize (LER=1.72), pearl millet and sorghum indicated that intercropping enhances land use efficiency. This was facilitated by the Monetary Advantage Index (MAI) that provided much support to maize-groundnut intercrop, which was easily identified as the most appropriate option for inter-crop revenue generation with an MAI of Rs. 17,800. These results provide evidence for the suitability of maize as the best intercrop for the enhancement of productivity and profitability in groundnut based intercropping systems. This study adds valuable input to sustainable agriculture, particularly in that it expresses the yields and profits from distinct intercrop associations as numeral digits deemed useful by both the scientific and agricultural communities.

Exploring the impact of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) on the ripening behaviour and quality of bananas under different storage conditions

ABSTRACT Bananas rapidly undergo physiological deterioration after harvest owing to their climacteric and perishable nature causing significant economic yield loss. Thus, the adoption of postharvest loss mitigation strategies becomes imperative for enhancing fruit longevity. This study aimed to assess the effect of postharvest treatment with different concentrations of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) on shelf life extension and quality sustainability of bananas, such as Grand Naine, Poovan and Ney Poovan, kept under ambient (27°C ± 2°C) and cool (17°C) conditions. The findings revealed that AVG-treated bananas reduced weight loss of banana hands (0.655–2.559 kg hand−1) and higher peel thickness (0.86–2.73 mm) and firmness (6.54–12.01 N) over untreated control at ambient storage condition, whereas under cool storage, weight loss of banana hands reduced from 0.761 to 2.579 kg hand−1, while both peel thickness (1.24–2.84 mm) and firmness (7.75–11.45 N) were retained for varieties. The physio-chemical traits of fruit, such as total chlorophyll and starch content, were improved due to AVG treatment under both storage conditions. Among the treatments, postharvest application of AVG at 700 ppm showed better performance in the morphological, physiological and quality characters irrespective of the varieties.

Machine Learning-Accelerated Multi-Objective Design of Fractured Geothermal Systems

Multi-objective optimization has burgeoned as a potent methodology for informed decision-making in enhanced geothermal systems, aiming to concurrently maximize economic yield, ensure enduring geothermal energy provision, and curtail carbon emissions. However, addressing a multitude of design parameters inherent in computationally intensive physics-driven simulations constitutes a formidable impediment for geothermal design optimization, as well as across a broad range of scientific and engineering domains. Here we report an Active Learning enhanced Evolutionary Multi-objective Optimization algorithm, integrated with hydrothermal simulations in fractured media, to enable efficient optimization of fractured geothermal systems using few model evaluations. We introduce probabilistic neural network as classifier to learns to predict the Pareto dominance relationship between candidate samples and reference samples, thereby facilitating the identification of promising but uncertain offspring solutions. We then use active learning strategy to conduct hypervolume based attention subspace search with surrogate model by iteratively infilling informative samples within local promising parameter subspace. We demonstrate its effectiveness by conducting extensive experimental tests of the integrated framework, including multi-objective benchmark functions, a fractured geothermal model and a large-scale enhanced geothermal system. Results demonstrate that the ALEMO approach achieves a remarkable reduction in required simulations, with a speed-up of 1-2 orders of magnitude (10-100 times faster) than traditional evolutionary methods, thereby enabling accelerated decision-making. Our method is poised to advance the state-of-the-art of renewable geothermal energy system and enable widespread application to accelerate the discovery of optimal designs for complex systems.

Bio-Economic Analysis of Red Snapper (Lutjanus spp.) in The Waters of Makassar City, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Effective fishery management is essential for sustaining fish resources, economic growth, and social well-being. Achieving optimal and sustainable exploitation levels requires determining key metrics: biomass, optimal effort, catch, and costs under various management regimes (sole owner/open access, MSY, MEY, and dynamic). This study aims to determine the optimal and sustainable management level of red snappers (Lutjanus spp.) in the waters of Makassar City. This research uses a quantitative analysis method with a bio-economic analysis technique. The research was conducted in the waters of Makassar City from June to December 2022. The bio-economic analysis indicates that red snapper production in Makassar waters can be further optimized, but current fishing efforts exceed the optimal limit, requiring improvements in the catch effectiveness and efficiency of the catch. The high fishing effort for red snapper in this area indicates inefficient fishing activities, which suggest the potential for fishing optimization. To reach the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY), the current fishing effort, which has reached 163,496 trips, must be reduced by 78,902 trips, or around 48.26%, to reach the optimal fishing point. Similarly, to achieve The Maximum Economic Yield (MEY), the fishing effort must be reduced by 90,925 trips, or approximately 55.61%.