Harvest Stage Research Articles

Role of Chitosan in the Coloring of Berries and Phytochemical Changes in Physalis angulata L. During Harvest Maturity

Physalis angulata L. berries are green in the initial stage of maturity and turn yellow when fully mature due to an increase in carotenoids. However, the coloration of the epidermis of the berry should not be the reference for harvesting maturity, since the calyx is fully closed. The use of an edible chitosan coating delays the color changes in the berry by reducing the respiration rate. This work studies the effect of harvest maturity and chitosan on the shelf life and berry coloring in Physalis angulata L. Three factors were considered, being harvest maturity stage (green mature (GM), yellowish-green (YG) and yellow (Y)), chitosan coating (0, 0.5, and 1%), and storage time (10, 20, 30 days). The fruits were stored at 20 °C and 85% Rh. The results showed that on the harvesting stage, chitosan coating had a significant effect on the quality and shelf life of berries during storage time. The value of carotenoid and phenol contents, flavor index, chroma, and hue significantly increased with berry maturity. Chitosan delayed the decrease in chlorophyll, phenol contents, antioxidant capacity, berry maturity, and color change. The results show that in the berries coated with 1% chitosan during storage, changes in color were less in comparison with the control condition (no chitosan). The highest decrease of hue angle and color index (17.92°) was observed in the control. The highest total antioxidant (78.42%) was observed after 30 days of storage in MG berries treated with a 0.5% chitosan coating.

Innovative Tillage Practices to Establish Productive and Sustainable Forage Production Systems in Degraded Alfalfa Pastures in Semiarid Regions

ABSTRACTTillage management practices play a critical role in maintaining sustainable forage production systems in degraded alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) pastures. However, climate change leads to the precipitation exhibits greater variability, the impacts of tillage practices on alfalfa productivity and forage quality as well as the relationships between water consumption and soil properties remain poorly understood. The field trial conducted from 2018 to 2020 aimed to investigate the impacts of different tillage treatments (i.e., no tillage [CK], strip subsoiling tillage [ST], strip rotary tillage [RT], and strip rotary tillage after strip subsoiling [SRT]) on soil properties, water use efficiency (WUE), and forage productivity. Compared with CK, tillage practices significantly increased forage biomass and crude protein yield (CPY), particularly in the case of the SRT treatment, in which the increase was 20.8% and 25.3% higher, respectively (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the net income in the SRT treatment exhibited the greatest value (US $1922.0 ha−1), showing a 17.0% increase compared with that in the CK treatment. The relationship of soil structure and crop water consumption became evident when tillage practices were applied in the degraded alfalfa pasture. The soil bulk density under the ST, RT, and SRT treatments decreased by 6.9%, 5.4%, and 8.6%, whereas the soil porosity increased by 8.6%, 6.7%, and 10.7% in the 0–60 cm soil layer, respectively (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the soil water content at a depth of 0–60 cm increased by 12.1% in the SRT treatment compared with the CK treatment at the harvesting stage, and the SRT treatment obtained the highest WUE of dry matter (16.9 kg ha−1 mm−1) and precipitation use efficiency of dry matter (15.8 kg ha−1 mm−1). In addition, total nitrogen in the ST, RT, and SRT treatments increased significantly by 21.4%, 11.1%, and 27.0%, respectively, and soil organic carbon in the ST, RT, and SRT treatments also increased significantly by 5.5%, 3.3%, and 10.4%, respectively, compared with those in the CK treatment (p < 0.05). Our study has demonstrated that tillage practices can optimize soil structure, improve water utilization, and increase soil fertilizer for enhancing forage productivity. The SRT practice could be a preferable approach for sustainable agricultural production of degraded alfalfa grassland in the semiarid region of China.

Both the Positioned Supplemental or Night-Interruptional Blue Light and the Age of Leaves (or Tissues) Are Important for Flowering and Vegetative Growth in Chrysanthemum.

In this study, the effects of supplemental or night interruptional blue light (S-BL or NI-BL) positioning on morphological growth, photoperiodic flowering, and expression of floral genes in Chrysanthemum morifolium were investigated. Blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at an intensity of 30 μmol·m-2·s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) were used for 4 h either (1) to supplement the white LEDs at the end of the 10 h short-day (SD10 + S-BL4) and 13 h long-day conditions (LD13 + S-BL4), or (2) to provide night interruption in the SD10 (SD10 + NI-BL4) and LD13 (LD13 + NI-BL4). The S-BL4 or NI-BL4 was positioned to illuminate either the shoot tip, the youngest leaf (vigorously growing the third leaf from the shoot tip), or the old leaf (the third leaf from the stem base). In the text, they will be denoted as follows: SD10 + S-BL4-S, -Y, or -O; SD10 + NI-BL4-S, -Y, or -O; LD13 + S-BL4-S, -Y, or -O; LD13 + NI-BL4-S, -Y, or -O. Normally, the LD13 conditions enhanced more vegetative growth than the SD10 periods. The growth of leaves, stems, and branches strongly responded to the S-BL4 or NI-BL4 when it was targeted onto the shoot tip, followed by the youngest leaf. The SD10 + S-BL4 or +NI-BL4 on the old leaf obviously suppressed plant extension growth, resulting in the smallest plant height. Under LD13 conditions, the flowering-related traits were significantly affected when the S-BL4 or NI-BL4 was shed onto the youngest leaf. However, these differences do not exist in the SD10 environments. At the harvest stage, other than the non-flowered LD13 treatment, the LD13 + S-BL4 irradiating the youngest leaf induced the most flowers, followed by the shoot tip and old leaf. Moreover, LD13 + NI-BL4 resulted in the latest flowering, especially when applied to the shoot tip and old leaf. However, the SD10 + S-BL4 or + NI-BL4 irradiated the shoot tip, youngest leaf, or old leaf all significantly earlier and increased flowering compared to the SD10 treatment. Overall: (1) Generally, vegetative growth was more sensitive to photoperiod rather than lighting position, while, during the same photoperiod, the promotion of growth was stronger when the light position of S-BL4 or NI-BL4 was applied to the shoot tip or the youngest leaf. (2) The photoperiodic flowering of these short-day plants (SDPs) comprehensively responded to the photoperiod combined with blue light positioning. Peculiarly, when they were exposed to the LD13 flowering-inhibited environments, the S-BL4 or NI-BL4 shed onto the leaves, especially the youngest leaves, significantly affecting flowering.

Prevalence and abundance of plant-parasitic nematodes associated with corn (Zea mays L.) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka  

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) are important pests of corn (Zea mays L.) Globally, while corn production has recently expanded in Sri Lanka. The population abundance, distribution, and pathological effects of nematodes that adversely affect corn production in Sri Lanka are poorly understood. This study was conducted to identify the prevalence of major PPN genera, population abundance, and their reproduction associated with corn fields in the Anuradhapura district. Over 92% of the corn fields were positive for PPN from the fields sampled in February 2021. Major PPN genera identified were Pratylenchus (71.4%) Helicotylenchus (28.6%), Meloidogyne (21.4%), Criconemella (21.4%), and Hoplolaimus (35.7%). The mean population of the Pratylenchus was 2020 kg-1 of soil, which was above the threshold level (1000 Pratylenchus kg-1 of soil), while other genera were lower than the threshold. All genera, except Meloidogyne, were observed from the intensive sampling from the selected fields during the next cropping season from November 2021 (seedling stage) to February 2022 (harvesting stage). Pratylenchus abundance in all the fields was lower than the threshold at the seedling stage and it was 2 to 10 times higher during the harvesting stage, except in Kelenikawewa where the initial Pratylenchus population (1865 kg-1 of soil) was also above the threshold. According to our results, Pratylenchus have the potential to impact corn yield in Anuradhapura. Future field experiments will determine the impact of PPN on corn production in Sri Lanka.

Assessing the Synergistic Effects of Deficit Irrigation and Growth Retardants on Insitu Sprouting and Quality Parameters of Groundnut VRI 8

Background: Groundnut is a crucial oilseed crop cultivated year-round, with seed dormancy controlled by genetic and environmental factors. Preventing pre-harvest sprouting is essential, as it is a common issue. To study the effect of deficit irrigation management and foliar application of growth retardant chemicals on pre-harvest sprouting control efficiency to achieve higher yield of groundnut. Methodology: In a field experiment conducted during early summer 2024 at the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, the effectiveness of different growth retardant chemicals and deficit irrigation management on reducing in-situ sprouting of groundnut kernels was investigated. The experiment included three irrigation management strategies: conventional irrigation and two deficit irrigation treatments where irrigation was withheld from 90 to 105 DAS (Days After Sowing) and 85 to 100 DAS. Additionally, foliar sprays of growth retardant chemicals were applied at 75 and 90 DAS. The chemicals tested were maleic hydrazide (MH) @ 1250 ppm, cycocel (CCC) @ 1000 ppm, abscisic acid (ABA) @ 750 ppm, and salicylic acid (SA) @ 750 ppm. Proper agronomic practices were followed throughout the crop growth cycle. Results: Among the growth retardant chemicals tested, MH @ 1250 ppm proved effective in inducing dormancy. Withdrawal of irrigation from 90 to 105 DAS also significantly contributed to dormancy induction, extending dormancy by more than 5 days post-harvest as well as reduced the pod loss which significantly increased pod yield. It was because of the reduction in soil moisture content during harvest stage and alteration in the hormonal activities. Specifically, the combined treatment of foliar application of MH @ 1250 ppm and no irrigation from 90 to 105 DAS reduced germination percentage by 12.6%, 36.8% and 60.5% immediately 5, 10 and 15 days after harvest respectively. Conclusion: The reduction in soil moisture content during the harvest stage, coupled with changes in hormonal activities, significantly impacts seed sprouting. These factors can lead to stress conditions that hinder germination, ultimately affecting crop yields. Addressing these issues is crucial for ensuring optimal seed development and enhancing agricultural productivity.

Effects of subsurface drip fertigation on potato growth, yield, and soil moisture dynamics

AimsThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of subsurface drip fertigation (SDF) on soil moisture content, potato growth, and tuber yield in loam soils, and compare these results with conventional surface drip fertigation (CF). The focus was on determining whether SDF could improve water use efficiency and yield quality, particularly in water-scarce regions.MethodsThe experiment was conducted during the 2022 spring growing season in Xunyang, Ankang, Shaanxi Province, China. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with three treatments: subsurface drip fertigation (SDF), conventional surface drip fertigation (CF), and a no-fertilization control (NF), with four replications per treatment. Soil moisture content at a 20 cm depth was monitored, and plant growth parameters such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf color index, and chlorophyll fluorescence index were measured during the flowering and harvest stages. Tuber yield characteristics, including tuber diameter, number of tubers per plant, total yield, and marketable yield, were also assessed.Important findingsThe results indicated that subsurface drip fertigation significantly improved soil moisture content, with up to 45.5% higher moisture retention compared to conventional fertigation, particularly in the early stages of fertilization. This improved moisture availability led to enhanced plant growth and tuber development. Tuber diameter increased by 6.9 mm, and the number of tubers per plant increased by 18.1% under SDF. Marketable tuber yield was approximately 10% higher in the SDF treatment compared to CF. However, the study found that soil texture plays a critical role in the effectiveness of SDF, and further research is needed to explore its application in other soil types.

The Interaction Effect of Nitrogen Levels on Growth Characteristic of Wheat Crop (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present research work was carried at the Agronomy Farm, Department of Agronomy, Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Narendra Nagar (Kumarganj) Faizabad (U.P.), during Rabi season of 2014-2015. This farm is located at a distance of 42 Km. from Faizabad district headquarters at Faizabad – Raibareilly road. The ANOVA of the research trail used a design: randomized block design (factorial) to evaluate growth traits, comprising of initial plant population, plant height (cm), number of shoots (m-2). The data indeed suggested that initial plant population was not significantly influenced by either variety levels or nitrogen levels. Contrastingly, the data showed that variety levels and nitrogen levels significantly affected plant height at 30, 60, 90 days after sowing (DAS) and at harvest. The number of shoots at 30 DAS was not affected significantly by variety levels and nitrogen levels in the data. In addition, Variety levels showed a significant effect on the shoot number at 60 and 90 DAS and also at harvest stage, while nitrogen levels did not show significant effects in growth attributes of wheat under study.

Do moderate salinity and harvest stages interfere with gas exchange and quality of yellow melon fruits?

Do moderate salinity and harvest stages interfere with gas exchange and quality of yellow melon fruits?

Unraveling cell wall polysaccharides during blueberry ripening: insights into the roles of rhamnogalacturonan-I and arabinogalactan proteins in fruit firmness.

Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) undergo significant texture changes during development and ripening, notably a consistent decrease in firmness, which affects fruit quality, consumer preference, transportability, and shelf life. This study examined the composition and structural modifications of the cell wall in five commercially available blueberry varieties with differing firmness levels at harvest. Our approach integrated various biochemical techniques for a comprehensive analysis of cell wall components to elucidate firmness differences at the harvest stage. One of the conclusions was the relationship between a low degree of pectin methylesterification and the presence of increased egg-box structures, which correlated with increased firmness. The data suggest that low-abundance pectins in blueberry cell walls, such as rhamnogalacturonan-I participate in firmness modulation through their side branches or by linking to arabinogalactan proteins. Additionally, the xyloglucan structure can be one of the determinants of fruit firmness. Although, this work provides a broad insight into the relationship between cell wall composition and firmness in blueberry, a more detailed analysis, specifically focusing on pectin and hemicelluloses, would be of significant value.

Enhancing growth and yield attributes through bio priming approach in direct seeded rice

Sowing pregerminated and primed rice seeds was found to be advantageous in shortening the numbers of emergence, heading, and maturity days. Reduction in the maturity period of rice by 14.1 days is a significant phonological achievement. Therefore, to ensure the benefits of seed enhancing techniques on seed yield and yield components of rice (Oryza sativa L.),field experiment was conducted in Split Plot Design with four replications using PMK(R)4 with fourteen different seed biopriming liquid microbial cultures and its combinations. The results showed that the seeds soaked in equal volume of liquid microbial cultures Azospirillum+ Phosphobacteria 20% for 18hrs recorded maximum plant height at 45(29.2cm), 90DAS(105.2 cm) and harvest stages (113.3 cm). The leaf area index(10), number of productive tillers, panicle length(36.3 cm), number of spikelets per panicle (106) and panicle weight were maximum in co-inoculated priming treatment Azospirillum + Phosphobacteria and Azospirillum+ Phosphobacteria+ Silicate Solublizing Bacteria followed by Azosprillium 20% for 18hrs and minimum with non-primed seeds. Combined application of Azospirillum + Phosphobacteria was found to be most effective treatment in improving seed yield per plot(6.6g), seed yield per hectare and 1000 seed weight (24.72 g) over non-primed seeds.

Processes of assembly of endophytic prokaryotic and rhizosphere fungal communities in table grape are preponderantly deterministic

Understanding the assemblage of microbial communities is important for the health maintenance and post-harvest quality of fruit crops. However, systematic studies on the core microbiomes of table grapes and microbial community assembly of soil-plant continuum are still rare. To address this, samples were collected and analyzed from key microbiome compartments (bulk soil, rhizosphere of new roots and old roots, endosphere of new and old roots, and endosphere of leaves and fruits) of five table grape cultivars (Balado Black, Jingya, Fujimino, Victoria and Kyoho) at the swelling stage and harvest stage in the field plots. Prokaryotic and fungal communities were analyzed using 16S rRNA and ITS rRNA high-throughput sequencing, respectively. The compartment was the major factor attributable to the variations in both prokaryotic (52.5 %) and fungal communities (23.2 %), respectively. The richness and phylogenetic diversity of both prokaryotic and fungal communities decreased significantly along the compartment continuum from soil to fruit endosphere, but did not differ between the five cultivars across all samples. Occupancy-abundance distribution was used to define 97 core bacteria, 29 core fungi for rhizosphere soil and five core bacteria, 172 core fungi for endosphere. Functional annotations of the rhizosphere core bacteria were mostly associated with ureolysis and chemoheterotrophy, while endophytic core bacteria were mostly fermentative and symbiotic. Rhizosphere core fungi were saprophytic and the endophytic fungi were putatively pathogens. From rhizosphere soil to aboveground organs, the relative importance of deterministic processes for prokaryotic community assembly gradually increased but the contribution of stochastic processes increased for fungal community assembly. These findings highlight niche-specific microbial communities and shared core microbiomes in different grapevine cultivars. The deterministic processes contribute more to the assembly of prokaryotic communities in the aboveground than in the belowground while the assembly of fungal communities exhibits opposite trends. Management practices aiming at niche-specific microbiome should be developed for sustainable grape production.

Aflatoxin B1 in senna pods from field to storage in Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT Senna, a medicinal herb, is highly susceptible to aflatoxin contamination, which often limits the export value of the final products due to the regulatory limits of importing countries. Presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was investigated in 229 senna pod samples at various stages from field to storage over three years. Higher incidence of AFB1 was revealed during the late harvest stage with a mean level of 52.4 µg/kg and a range of LOD-206 µg/kg. Out of 48 late harvest samples, 37 exceeded the AFFB1 limit of 2 µg/kg. In contrast, the majority of preharvest samples showed lower levels of AFB1 (1.0 µg/kg). During drying, increase in the mean AFB1 level to 4 µg/kg was observed and it could further increase to 18.1 μg/kg in storage. These results highlight the status of aflatoxin contamination in senna pods and emphasise the importance of implementing good agricultural practices in senna cultivation to mitigate AFB1 contamination.

Photoperiod and temperature as dominant environmental drivers triggering chemical compositions of garlic bulb during growth

Photoperiod and temperature are crucial for plant growth and development, but the accumulation patterns and regulatory mechanisms of garlic in response to these factors remain unclear. Compared to normal conditions (12/12 h light/dark; 22/15 °C day/night), increasing the photoperiod by 1 h each month with normal temperature (13/11, 14/10, 15/9, 16/8 h; light/dark; 22/15 °C day/night) or increasing photoperiod by 1 h with a 1.5 °C increase in temperature (13/11, 14/10, 15/9, 16/8 h light/dark; 23.5/16, 25/17, 26.5/18, 28/19 °C day/night) at monthly intervals substantially affects garlic growth in early G204, mid-G666, and late G390 harvest cultivars. For both increased photoperiod and temperature, the environment most favorable for bulb growth is characterized by the maximum accumulation of hormones (IAA, JA, and ZT) during bulb formation, while higher levels of ACC, phenolic acids, and organosulfur compounds are observed during the harvesting stage. Furthermore, the accumulation patterns of alliin and allicin in garlic bulbs for G204, G666, and G390 cultivars significantly increased, with fold changes of (2.0, 1.8, and 1.9) and (1.8, 1.7, and 1.5), respectively, in response to increased photoperiod and temperature conditions. Additionally, the accumulation pattern in G204, and G666 was similar but notably distinct from late harvest G390 during growth. In this study, metabolomics models were constructed to assess chemical composition variations and predict the differences among three garlic varieties during the growth stages. These models revealed functional component variations and provided reliable predictions, offering valuable insights for estimating garlic chemical compositions and identifying optimal environmental conditions for growth.

Effects of LDPE and PBAT plastics on soil organic carbon and carbon-enzymes: A mesocosm experiment under field conditions

Although the effects of plastic residues on soil organic carbon (SOC) have been studied, variations in SOC and soil carbon-enzyme activities at different plant growth stages have been largely overlooked. There remains a knowledge gap on how various varieties of plastics affect SOC and carbon-enzyme activity dynamics during the different growing stages of plants. In this study, we conducted a mesocosm experiment under field conditions using low-density polyethylene and poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) debris (LDPE-D and PBAT-D, 500–2000 μm (pieces), 0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%), and low-density polyethylene microplastics (LDPE-M, 500–1000 μm (powder), 0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%) to investigate SOC and C-enzyme activities (β-xylosidase, cellobiohydrolase, β-glucosidase) at the sowing, seedling, flowering and harvesting stages of soybean (Glycine Max). The results showed that SOC in the LDPE-D treatments significantly increased from the flowering to harvesting stage, by 12.69%–13.26% (p < 0.05), but significantly decreased in the 0.05% and 0.1% LDPE-M treatments from the sowing to seedling stage (p < 0.05). However, PBAT-D had no significant effect on SOC during the whole growing period. For C-enzyme activities, only LDPE-D treatments inhibited GH (17.22–38.56%), BG (46.7–66.53%) and CBH (13.19–23.16%), compared to treatment without plastic addition, from the flowering stage to harvesting stage. Meanwhile, C-enzyme activities and SOC responded nonmonotonically to plastic abundance and the impacts significantly varied among the growing stages, especially in treatments with PBAT-D (p < 0.05). These risks to soil organic carbon cycling are likely mediated by the effects of plastic contamination and degradation soil microbe. These effects are sensitive to plastic characteristics such as type, size, and shape, which, in turn, affect the biogeochemical and mechanical interactions involving plastic particles. Therefore, further research on the interactions between plastic degradation processes and the soil microbial community may provide better mechanistic understanding the effect of plastic contamination on soil organic carbon cycling.

Regulation of crop load and quality in sweet cherry cv. ‘Sweet Heart’ using blossom thinning

ABSTRACT Self-fertile cultivars of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) produce heavy crop load that is often associated with small and poor-quality fruits. Therefore, a crop load-management strategy is required to improve the quality of the fruit. In this study, the effect of blossom thinners on fruit set, yield and quality of the fruits was evaluated. Three types of blossom thinners were used at three different concentrations viz., ammonium thiosulphate (ATS) (1, 1.5 and 2%), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (20, 40 and 60 ppm) and corn oil emulsion (1, 2 and 3%). These were sprayed at 80% of the bloom stage. The vegetative, flowering, fruit set and yield parameters were observed and recorded. Fruit quality was evaluated by measuring the physical and chemical characteristics of the fruits at the harvest stage. Negative correlation was found between fruit set and quality of fruit. The reduction in the crop load was associated with enhanced vegetative growth, including higher leaf:fruit ratio, higher supply and availability of photosynthates to the remaining fruitlets and reduced fruit firmness and titratable acidity. Fruit size, weight, volume, hue value, chroma value, soluble solid content (SSC), total sugars, SSC/acid ratio, anthocyanin and ascorbic acid content were enhanced as a result of thinning. The foliar spray of ATS at 2% and NAA at 60 ppm, at 80% bloom proved to be the most effective in reducing crop load and enhancing the fruit quality.

Growth Parameters and Protein Content of Maize as Influenced by Sowing Methods and Different Levels of Nitrogen

The field experiment was carried out at Research Farm, Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India during Kharif season, 2021. The experiment envisages to study the effect of Sowing methods and different Nitrogen levels on yield and attributes of maize crop. The experiment was laid down in the Split Plot Design and the treatments were replicated three times. The maximum plant height of 56.92 cm, 235.17 cm and 237.16 cm was observed in the ridge method of sowing at knee height stage, tasselling stage and at harvest stage, respectively. Among nitrogen levels, the maximum plant height of 57.61 cm, 235.29 cm and 238.38 cm was observed at knee height stage, tasselling stage and at harvest stage, respectively in the treatment (N5) 25% N through granular urea + 75% N through Nano-urea. Among nitrogen levels, the maximum DMA of 86.30, 425.36 and 1287.73 g sqm-1 day-1 was observed at knee height stage, tasselling stage and at harvest stage, respectively in the treatment (N5) 25% N through granular urea + 75% N through Nano-urea. At harvest stage number of leaves per plant were highest in the S1 (14.33) and N5 (16.13) treatment. Among nitrogen levels, the maximum leaf area index (LAI) of 1.55, 2.49 and 1.9 was observed at knee height stage, tasselling stage and at harvest stage, respectively in the treatment N5. Among sowing methods, highest protein content was found in the ridge method (10.14%) followed by flat method (9.81%) and broadcast method (9.42%) of sowing. The protein yielded maximum of 586.15 kg ha-1 in the N5 treatment. All parameters showed better in granular urea application rather than nano-urea, when used solely.

Effect of Plant Spacing and Harvesting Stage on Chemical Composition and In-Vitro Digestibility of Desho Grass (Pennisetum Glaucifolium L.) at Midland of Guji, Oromia Region

The experiment was conducted to evaluate appropriate combination harvesting stage and plant spacing on chemical compositions, digestibility and its rumen degradability potentials of Desho grass. Three-by-three randomized complete block design was used to set up the experiment. factorial arrangements in three replications. The experiment employs three harvesting stages (75, 105 and 135 days) and three plant spacing (10, 30 and 50 cm). Prior to planting 100 kg/ha-1 combinations of Nitrogen, phosphate and sulfur fertilizer were applied to all plots. The chemical composition such as CP, DM, TA, NDF, ADF, ADL, cellulose and CPY and DMY yield parameters differed considerably (p&lt;0.01). Hemi cellulose concentration, however, was not substantially (p&gt;0.05) impacted. With the 30*105 combination, a higher dry matter yield (31.87 t/ha) was achieved. The treatment combination of 30*105 had the greatest CP content (12.37%). Treatment combinations have an impact on the properties of crude protein and dry matter in-sacco degradability. Thus, it is possible to conclude that, the treatment combination 30 cm*105 days has resulted in optimum yield and nutritive values of Desho grass under the current experiment around Adola. However, there is a need for further studies on different combinations of harvesting stage and plant spacing over years and locations to arrive at dependable conclusions

水射流技术在农业领域的应用研究现状

Water jet technology, as a non-contact cutting and crushing technique, is commonly used in industries such as cleaning, rust removal, cutting, drilling, and mining. It enables a green and environmentally friendly production process by avoiding environmental pollution, heat generation, blade replacement, and sharpening issues. Cutting, cleaning, and crushing techniques are widely applied in various stages of agricultural production, but mostly through contact-based methods. The application of non-contact water jet technology in the agricultural field is still in its infancy. This paper summarized the current application status and research progress of water jet technology in different operational stages of agriculture, including sowing, management, field harvesting, and post-harvest processing. The specific requirements of key parameters for different operational objects and stages were analysed. Furthermore, the challenges encountered in the application of water jet technology in agriculture and provides prospects for future research directions were discussed. The review is intended to provide references for the promotion and green sustainable development of water jet technology in the agricultural field.

33P‐isotope labelling ammonium phosphate fertilizers reveals majority of early growth maize phosphorus is soil‐derived

AbstractIn soils managed to have adequate to high Mehlich‐3 phosphorus (P) concentrations throughout the US Maize Belt, the majority of crop P is soil‐derived. Struvite, a low water solubility ammonium phosphate fertilizer, may be therefore substituted for relatively high water‐soluble monoammonium phosphate (MAP) without adversely impacting maize (Zea mays L.) P uptake and growth, while minimizing fertilizer P loss risk. We determined the relative contribution of struvite and MAP to maize P uptake and soil solution P in soils representative of the US Maize Belt by radiolabelling fertilizers with 33P. We found 8% (struvite) to 22% (MAP) of early‐to‐mid vegetative growth stage (V7) maize P was fertilizer‐derived, and thus, 78%–92% was soil‐derived. Despite similar aboveground P uptake and maize growth, maize P use efficiency (PUE) determined directly by 33P was &lt;5% for MAP (4.9%) and struvite (1.9%) indicating that in soils with adequate to high crop‐available P, early season fertilizer PUE is relatively low. If prorated to harvest stage, in‐season PUE was estimated to be 8% for struvite and 20% for MAP. MAP and struvite did not differ in relative contributions to water‐extractable P, a proxy for P loss risk, potentially reflecting lag effects in struvite P dissolution and/or the relatively fine particle size of synthesized fertilizers (&lt;0.1 mm diameter). Since maize aboveground biomass and P uptake were similar for both struvite and MAP, struvite could be an effective P fertilizer for soils with adequate to high Mehlich‐3 P concentrations common across the US Maize Belt.

Monitoring and zoning soybean maturity using UAV remote sensing

Timely and accurate determination of the maturity status during the soybean harvest period is crucial for devising strategic harvesting plans, significantly enhancing the intelligent management of soybean production and minimizing losses. To explore the maturation dynamics of soybeans and pinpoint the precise maturity stage for optimal harvesting, we collected Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) remote sensing data, along with physical and chemical parameters, during the Beginning maturity(R7)-Full maturity(R8) stages from 2021 to 2022. We analyzed the variations in these parameters throughout the maturation period. Employing UAV multispectral technology and correlation analysis algorithms, we established a relationship between the spectral and physicochemical parameters during the maturation period, which led to the formulation of a soybean maturity evaluation index. Furthermore, we incorporated the concept of precision management zoning. In line with actual field production requirements, this index, combined with real-time moisture content, established a standard for grading soybean maturity. Additionally, our study examined the impact of spatial scale on maturity assessments by conducting a theoretical analysis of regionalized variables and analyzing the spatial correlations and variability of soybean maturity across different field plots. We determined the optimal theoretical model for various sampling distances, thereby establishing feasible zoning ranges. Comparative analysis of zoning algorithms, including Hierarchical Clustering (HC), K-Means, and its optimized versions K-Means++ and Mini Batch K-Means, was conducted using the partition performance index as the criterion. This analysis identified the most suitable algorithm for assessing soybean field maturity, which was subsequently verified through field tests. Results indicated that soybean leaf chlorophyll content and photosynthesis decreased sharply initially, then stabilized at a low rate. Water content in both soybean plants and seeds decreased rapidly before slowing, with plant dehydration rates exceeding those of the seeds. Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(GNDVI) showed a positive correlation with various physiological indicators, and soybean maturity was classified into three levels using the unit gridding management method, considering actual moisture content. Spatial correlation analysis of maturity variations in small and large test fields revealed Moran indices ranging from 0.78 to 0.95 and 0.70–0.90, respectively. Optimal detection ranges were determined to be 2.00–30.00 m for small fields and 2.00–67.00 m for large fields. The zoning categories for small and large fields were three and four, respectively. Comparative studies showed that the Mini Batch K-Means algorithm, an optimization of K-Means, achieved Calinski-Harabasz Index(CH) scores and silhouette coefficients of 10521.97, 109508.27, and 0.57, 0.54, respectively, indicating comparable zoning effectiveness to K-Means and K-Means++ and superiority over the HC algorithm. The zoning speeds were 12.50 s and 191.68 s, respectively, underscoring its efficiency in maturity zoning. Furthermore, zoning results corresponded well with actual soybean maturity. Terrain had little impact on soybean maturity, which was more susceptible to slope aspect. This study provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidelines for applying UAV remote sensing technology in determining soybean maturity and optimal harvesting periods, thereby reducing potential harvest losses.