Harvest Yield Research Articles

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

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

Harvest and trade of wild edible russula griseocarnosa in North Vietnam

This study examines the harvest and trade of wild edible Russula griseocarnosa in north Vietnam. Russula griseocarnosa is an edible forest mushroom, but there is no reliable information on harvesting practices and trade in this species in Vietnam. This study aims to provide ethnomycological and marketing knowledge for this mushroom. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with mushroom collectors and traders over 2 years; harvest yields were obtained from local officials; and policy settings were sought from forest managers. About 85% of mushroom collectors were women of the Dao, Lo Ursula, Muong, Nung, Mong, San Chi, San Diu, and Tay ethnicities. The collecting season was bimodal, with the wet season beginning (May) and ending (September). The traders were Hoa, Kinh, Nung and Tay, and 57% were women. Fresh mushrooms sold for 9.1-10.5 US$/kg on dry days and 7.0-7.9 US$/kg on wet days. The best grade of dried product fetched 70.4-83.3 US$/kg. A number of interim policies have been established to encourage local people to protect forests and to help create a sustainable edible wild mushroom market. Our study provides the first detailed account of the role of edible wild mushrooms in northeast Vietnam, and this will inform the co-development of rural livelihood and sustainable forest management plans.

Parabolic logistic equation with harvesting involving the fractional Laplacian

This paper deals with a class of parabolic reaction-diffusion equations driven by the fractional Laplacian as the diffusion operator over a bounded domain with zero Dirichlet external condition. Using a comparison principle and monotone iteration method, we establish existence and uniqueness results. We apply the existence result to the logistic growth problems with constant yield harvesting by constructing an ordered pair of positive sub- and supersolution of the corresponding elliptic problem.

Knowledge Development of the Beard Community through Socialization of Community Empowerment of Toga, Chili and Eggplant Plants

The community service program in Jenggot Village, Krembung District, Sidoarjo Regency, aims to improve the welfare of village communities through empowering family medicinal plants (TOGA), chili and eggplant. This program is implemented with the KKN-T scheme and the theme "Collaboration with the Community for Progressive Villages and Branches". Jenggot Village faces challenges in overcoming pests and diseases in Family Medicinal Plants (TOGA) as well as chili and eggplant plants which often reduce harvest yields. The methods used included observation, outreach, and giving away 400 chili and eggplant seeds for free. As a result, the people of Jenggot village gained understanding and insight into the empowerment of family medicinal plants, chili and eggplant, and were able to overcome the challenges they faced in dealing with pests and diseases in plants

Detection, Counting, and Maturity Assessment of Blueberries in Canopy Images using YOLOv8 and YOLOv9

Blueberry growers currently rely on manual or subjective approaches to harvest decision-making and yield estimation. Canopy image-based, pre-harvest blueberry detection provides a promising means for automated harvest maturity assessment, fruit counting, and yield estimation to optimize crop management and reduce labor costs. Data-driven deep-learning-based object detectors, especially the YOLO (You Only Look Once) series models, have emerged as a powerful tool for a diversity of computer vision tasks in agriculture. However, the detection of such small, densely populated objects as blueberries in unstructured scenes can pose great challenges, especially given the lack of dedicated datasets for model development. This study, therefore, presents the first publicly available dataset of blueberry canopy images with 17,955 ripe and unripe blueberries, which were captured in diverse orchard conditions, and performance evaluation of YOLOv8l (large) and YOLOv9-c (compact) with comparable complexity for blueberry detection and whereby fruit counting and ripe fruit percentage estimation. At the input image resolution of 2560 × 2560 pixels, both models performed similarly in terms of detection accuracy with around 91% mAP@50, except that YOLOv9-c was far more time-consuming to train. Trained with the input of higher resolution images of 3520 × 3520 pixels, YOLOv8l achieved an overall mAP@50 of nearly 93%, and an RMSEs (root-mean-square errors) of 10.4 in fruit counting and 3.62% in estimating the percentage of ripe fruit of each image. Both the dataset and software programs11https://github.com/vicdxxx/BlueberryDetectionAndCounting of this study have been or will be made publicly available, which are expected to be useful for promoting greater community efforts for further algorithm development.

A case study of the regional bioeconomy in Central Germany: construction with renewable resources

In response to global challenges like climate change and resource depletion, national and international policies are increasingly emphasising sustainability. The bioeconomy represents a promising field to reconcile environmental integrity with economic development. The objective of this study is to examine the role of renewable resources in the construction industry within the framework of the bioeconomy, with a particular focus on Sustainable Development Goal 11: ‘Sustainable cities and communities’. The case study analyses the practical challenges and opportunities for innovation in Central Germany through a comprehensive regional analysis of construction practices using renewable resources. The methodology involved monitoring biomass flows by assessing harvest yields, area shares and biomass potentials. It also analysed the importance of the bio-based economy by examining employment data and identifying potential growth sectors. Stakeholder engagement was facilitated through knowledge transfer workshops to encourage collaboration and innovation. The results of the study highlight key trends within the industry, including the increasing prevalence of timber buildings, wood as a renewable carbon source in the chemical industry and the growing demand for wood-based packaging solutions. Policy initiatives are playing a supportive role in driving these developments, taking advantage of the region’s extensive wood resources (14.7 million m3 harvested in 2021) and the significant employment contribution of the forestry, wood and construction industries (2% of total employment, representing no less than 81,506 employees). These figures demonstrate the potential for sustainable construction practices to drive local economic growth and contribute to wider environmental objectives.

Development of a low-damage maize threshing system based on discrete element technology to effectively improve maize harvest quality and yield

During maize harvesting, the mechanical action and suboptimal design of threshing systems often lead to kernel breakage and loss, which can reduce both maize quality and yield. This study introduces a novel rasp bar threshing element designed to minimize kernel loss. The effects of the structural parameters of this threshing element on its performance are analyzed using a flexible discrete element model of maize. Moreover, the performance of the novel threshing element is compared to that of a traditional threshing element, and the simulation results are verified through experimental tests. Test data shows that, compared to the traditional threshing element, the novel threshing element results in a relative decrease of 26.94 %, 21.95 %, and 27.05 % in the broken rate, unthreshed rate, and the entrainment loss rate, respectively. Finally, this research provides technical support for high-quality, low-loss maize production.

Farmed crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) raised with dermestids (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) suffer from reduced and delayed growth, but not enough to explain reports of dramatic yield loss.

The mass production of insects for food and feed is an expanding North American industry. Facilities that mass rear insects are at risk of pest infestations because the optimal environmental conditions for rearing beneficial species may also support the development of pest species. Here, we present the first recorded results detailing the interactions between dermestids and farmed crickets. Cricket farms have reported extremely low harvest yield during heavy dermestid infestations, but the exact reasons for this low yield are unknown. Many dermestid larvae are covered in dense, detachable, barbed setae called hastisetae, which are used by the larvae as an active trapping system against arthropod predators. We designed a series of experiments to test the hypotheses that a dermestid pest of cricket farms, black larder beetle (Dermestes ater DeGeer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)), may be directly impacting Gryllodes sigillatus Walker (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) yield through the physical effects of hastisetae ingestion and/or indirectly impacting cricket yield through competition for fishmeal, a primary source of protein in conventional cricket feed. Our predictions that G. sigillatus life history and survival would be negatively affected by dermestids were largely refuted. Females fed infested diets grew less mass, but not smaller body size, compared to females fed uninfested diets. We also found that while G. sigillatus experienced delayed growth early in life after living with dermestids, they were able to tolerate living with, and consuming, dermestid larvae. We discuss how these findings have led to new hypotheses concerning how dermestid infestations drive reductions in cricket farm yield.

Pengabdian Pertanian Penanaman Cabai Guna Meningkatkan Ketahanan Pangan di Desa Rantau Panjang Kiri

This community service program was conducted in Rantau Panjang Kiri Village, Riau, with the goal of enhancing food security through chili cultivation as the main commodity. The village faces significant challenges in food security due to heavy reliance on rice as the staple crop, making it vulnerable to climate change and market price fluctuations. To address these issues, training and mentoring were provided to farmers to develop their skills in sustainable chili cultivation. The program involved a series of phases including socialization, practical training, and evaluation. Socialization aimed to provide a basic understanding of the importance of crop diversification, while hands-on training focused on chili cultivation techniques, ranging from seed selection and land preparation to pest and disease control. Evaluation was conducted to measure the improvement in participants' knowledge and skills, as well as the impact of the program on chili production in the village. The results of the program showed a significant increase in farmers' understanding and skills regarding chili cultivation, as well as an increase in harvest yields, which helped strengthen the village's food security. Additionally, the program successfully raised farmers' awareness of the importance of optimal land use and reduced dependency on rice. Thus, this community service program not only supports local food security but also improves farmers' economic welfare through agricultural commodity diversification.

Effects of Water Clover Density and Submerged NPK Fertilizer on Rice Production

Water clover is an important weed that causes a decrease in rice yields by 15-42%. This study examined the effects of water clover density andNPK fertilizer application on rice yields. This study was arranged in a complete randomized block design with two factors. The first factor was water clover density with three levels, consisting of no water clover, one water clover, and two water clover. The second factor was the application of NPK, which was applied to the surface, submerged in 3, 6, and 9 cm—performed with three replications. Water clover density affected the number of rice panicles, the number of rice grains per panicle, the weight of 100 seeds, rice biomass, and water clover biomass. The application of submerged NPK affected rice biomass. The application of NPK on the surface reduced the highest rice biomass. Two water clovers per rice plant reduced the number of rice panicles by 39% compared to without weeds. Rice biomass decreased by 40% and 50% at weed density of one and two water clover weeds per rice plant, respectively. The higher the density of clover weeds, the higher the decline in harvest yields and the higher the biomass of clover weeds.

Revolutionizing Agritech with Deep Learning-Enhanced Remote Sensing for Precision Agricultural Management

A new method of farm management that makes use of cutting-edge information technology is known as precision agriculture management. By reducing the waste of water, fertilizers, pesticides, fuel, and other types of agricultural inputs, as well as by optimizing agrarian income and limiting adverse effects on the environment, precision agriculture management seeks to boost agricultural output and quality. Traditional agricultural management methods often lead to inefficient use of resources, higher environmental impacts, and decreased crop yields. Finding efficient, scalable, and accurate ways to track important agricultural variables over large regions is a huge challenge. This paper proposes a new framework called ARS-DLConvNN to handle these issues and enhance the management of agritech and precise agriculture. This framework Integrates High-Resolution Agricultural Remote Sensing (ARS) data and Deep Learning (DL) methods like Convolutional Neural Networks (ConvNN). This approach uses Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network specifically designed to handle hyperspectral data collected from UAVs and multi-spectral satellite photos. These algorithms can assess crop stress in real-time, provide recommendations on effectively managing water, fertilizer, and insects, and learn to estimate weight and yield. It will be quite easy to see how the proposed method improves agriculture management effectiveness and harvest yields. Improved agricultural management efficiency and crop production were striking when using the suggested deep-learning remote sensing system. On average, crop yields increased by 18% compared to traditional methods, according to field trials in various locations. decrease output. With a 92% success rate in detecting crop illnesses early and an 89% success rate in forecasting water stress, the model allowed for prompt treatments.

Enhancing the commercial viability of commercial algal bioethanol production: The role of technological advancements

Malaysia's economic growth relies on depletable fossil fuels that raise atmospheric CO2. Accordingly, researchers search for sustainable fuels that sequester significant levels of CO2. Chlorella vulgaris meets these criteria, but high production costs hamper its adoption. The hypothesis is that technological advances improve the commercial viability of algal bioethanol. A large-scale agricultural model is modified to study algal cultivation. Algal bioethanol becomes competitive if algal producers experience an annual 2 % harvest yield gain or a 3 % annual production cost reduction. Algal bioethanol is predicted to produce 4249.21 megalitres in 2059 for harvest yield gains. It sequesters 9.72 megatons of CO2-equivalent tailpipe emissions and 12.78 megatons of flue gas in 2059. Meanwhile, production cost reductions yield 1607.61 megalitres in 2064. It sequesters 3.68 megatons of CO2-equivalent tailpipe emissions and 10.68 megatons of flue gas in 2059. Thus, the hypothesis is supported that technological advancements improve the commercial viability of algal bioethanol.

Determining the Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Rajasthan, India

A field experiment was conducted at experimental farm, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Mewar University Gangrar, Chittorgarh (Rajasthan) during Rabi season of 2022-23 to effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield characters of barley variety “Rd-2036‟ was used in this study. The required quantities of fertilizers as per treatments were applied. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications consisting of nine treatments combinations. The increased yield parameter such as number of per siliqua, seed yield, stover yield harvest index was recorded with T9 (Azotobacter + PSB + 30 kg ha-1 N through inorganic Fertilizer + 30 kg ha-1 N through poultry manure). The data revealed that the maximum plant height (97.05 ccm), total numbers of tillers (70.25) and yield attributes spike length (7.68 cm), number of grains/spike (44.96), grain yield (42.58 q/ha), straw yield (60.15 q/ha), biological yield (102.73 q/ha) and net return (53406.30 Rs/ha) was recorded with treatment T5-75% RDF + PSB + Azotobacter.

Environmental Factors Affecting Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Crop-Exploiting Species: Implications for Coexistence Between Agricultural Production and Avifauna Conservation in Wetlands

Bird communities in agroecosystems bring both ecosystem services (e.g., pollination) and disservices (e.g., crop exploitation) to farmers. However, in the proximity of wetland reserves, farmers disproportionately experience harvest yield loss due to large aggregation of bird species that can utilize various agricultural resources. This often results in negative human–wildlife interactions which lower conservation support among farmers. Knowledge about the distribution of avian species that negatively influence yields, and its environmental drivers is thus fundamental to reconcile crop production and bird conservation. This study aims to examine the spatio-temporal patterns in richness and abundance of bird species known to cause agricultural yield loss as well as species-specific distribution patterns for the six bird species that are most challenging for local farmers. In combination with interview surveys of local farmers (n = 367) and seasonal bird surveys (n = 720), we investigated distribution of crop-exploiting avian species in the Indawgyi wetland ecosystem in Myanmar. Our results showed high richness and abundance of crop-exploiting species in the water habitat across all seasons, with most challenging species exhibiting higher presence closer to these water sources. The crop phenology had positive effect on species richness and abundance during the growing season. The agricultural use of crop-exploiting species was season- and species-specific, where the presence probability in the agricultural habitat was higher in habitat generalists than wetland specialists. Therefore, we suggest improved management of natural wetland habitats (e.g., habitat restoration), sustainable coexistence mechanisms in farms close to water (e.g., bird-friendly rice farming and Ecolabel certification) to reduce avian impacts on the farming communities and, at the same time, to promote bird conservation in wetlands of international importance.

Influence of Sowing Techniques, Timing of Herbicide Application and on Weed Infestation and Yield of Rice in Southern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria

Field trial was conducted at the research field of National Cereals Research Institutes Badeggi experimental field, Niger state located at (latitude 9o041 02.05’’N and longitude 0.6o011 3.31’’E) and Bacita located at (latitude 9o1 16’N and longitude 5o59’E) both in the Southern Guinea Savannah Agro Ecological Zone of Nigeria during the wet season of 2021 and 2022. To determine the best combination of sowing techniques and time of herbicide application for optimizing rice yield while minimizing weed infestation and crop injury in the Southern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria. The experiment consists of five sowing methods (broadcasting dry, broadcasting wet, dibbling wet, dibbling dry, and transplanting) and two herbicide application timings (2 and 3 weeks after sowing) were tested in a factorial experiment. Data were collected on weed count before herbicide application, weed count at harvest and grain yield per hectare. The result indicated that the Transplanting technique of sowing significantly improved rice productivity in the study area at both seasons, less weed infestation at harvest was recorded with transplanted methods compared to other panting techniques, herbicide application at early growth stage of 2 weeks after sowing (2WAS) promote healthy crop growth and minimize weed competition

East Pacific ENSO Offers Early Predictive Signals for Harvest Yields

Abstract Annual wheat yields have steadily risen over the past century, but harvests remain highly variable and dependent on myriad weather conditions during a long growing season. In Kansas, for example, the 2014 crop year brought the lowest average yield in decades at 28 bushels per acre, while in 2016 farmers in the Wheat State, as Kansas is often called, enjoyed a historic high of 57 bushels per acre. It is broadly known that remote forces like El Niño–Southern Oscillation contribute to meteorological outcomes across North America, including in the wheat-growing regions of the U.S. Midwest, but the differential imprints of ENSO phases and flavors have not been well explored as leading indicators for harvest outcomes in highly specific agricultural regions, such as the more than 7 million acres upon which wheat is grown in Kansas. Here, we demonstrate a strong, steady, and long-term association between a simple “wheat yield index” and sea surface temperature anomalies, more than a year earlier, in the East Pacific, potentially offering insights into forthcoming harvest yields several seasons before planting commences.

Government Efforts to Boost Rice Farmers' Harvest Yields

General Background: Economic development in developing countries aims to enhance economic growth, job opportunities, income distribution, and balance the economic structure. Specific Background: Indonesia, known as an agrarian country due to its fertile land, still relies on rice imports despite its agricultural potential. Knowledge Gap: The effectiveness of government roles in increasing rice production remains unclear, especially at the local level, where farmers face challenges with seed and fertilizer assistance. Aims: This study examines the government's role in increasing rice yields in Karangtanjung Village, Candi District, Sidoarjo Regency, focusing on its function as a stabilizer, innovator, pioneer, and implementer. Results: The findings reveal that the government’s role has been implemented but not fully effective. Farmers perceive challenges with assistance, notably in obtaining superior seeds and affordable, environmentally friendly fertilizers. Moreover, government efforts to enhance production through agricultural support face obstacles, including irrigation issues and limited farmer participation in training programs. Novelty: This study highlights the gaps in the current government interventions, emphasizing the need for improved policies to provide superior seeds and sustainable farming practices tailored to the specific conditions of Karangtanjung Village. Implications: For the government to enhance rice production effectively, there must be efforts to address the supply of superior seeds and environmentally friendly fertilizers, tailored training programs, and better irrigation systems to meet the needs of local farmers. This study underscores the importance of a more targeted approach in agricultural policy to ensure sustainable and increased crop yields. Highlights: Government acts as a stabilizer, innovator, pioneer, and implementer to support rice farming. Empowerment programs include providing seeds, fertilizer, irrigation systems, and agricultural machinery. Challenges remain in distribution, farmer education, and ensuring sustainable farming practices. Keywords: Government Role, Crop Yield, Rice Farmers, Agricultural Regulation, Village Empowerment

Effect of Nitrogen Management and Biofertilizer on Productivity and Profitability of Rapeseed

A field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Mewar University Gangrar, Chittorgarh (Rajasthan) during Rabi season of 2023-24 to effect of nitrogen and bio-fertilizer on growth and yield characters of Rapeseed variety “T-9” was used in this study. The required quantities of fertilizers were applied as per treatments. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications consisting of nine treatments combinations i.e. T1-Azotobacter + 60 kg ha-1 N through inorganic Fertilizer (RDF), T2-Azotobacter + 45kg ha-1 N through inorganic Fertilizer + 15kg ha-1 N through poultry Manure (PM), T3-Azotobacter + 30kg ha-1 N through inorganic Fertilizer + 30kg ha-1 N through poultry Manure (PM), T4-PSB + 60kg ha-1 N through inorganic Fertilizer (RDF), T5-PSB + 45kg ha-1 N through inorganic Fertilizer + 15kg ha-1 N through poultry Manure (PM), T6-PSB + 30kg ha-1 N through inorganic Fertilizer + 30kg ha-1 N through poultry Manure (PM), T7-Azotobacter + PSB + 60kg ha-1 N through inorganic Fertilizer (RDF), T8-Azotobacter + PSB + 45kg ha-1 N through inorganic Fertilizer +15kg ha-1 N through poultry Manure (PM) and T9-Azotobacter + PSB + 30kg ha-1 N through inorganic Fertilizer + 30kg ha-1 N through poultry Manure (PM). The increased yield parameter such as a number of per siliqua, seed yield, stover yield harvest index was recorded with T9 (Azotobacter + PSB + 30 kg ha-1 N through inorganic Fertilizer + 30 kg ha-1 N through poultry manure).

Decision Support System for the Assessment and Enhancement of Agrobiodiversity Performance

The industrialisation of agriculture and changes in production systems have contributed to a biodiversity decline worldwide. Developing accurate and adequate assessment methods can encourage farmers to support more sustainable agricultural management. This study presents a decision support system to promote agrobiodiversity that incorporates not only a quantitative assessment of relevant indicators of agrobiodiversity performance but also provides enhancement practice recommendations and associated benefits, presenting an action plan in order of priority. Additionally, the decision support system allows a visual comparison between biodiversity composite indicators and indicators representing pest control and crop yield. Since grape cultivation is considered one of the most intensive agricultural systems, thus significantly impacting biodiversity, the elaborated decision support system was tested on a viticultural agroecosystem in the demarcated Douro region in Portugal. The results demonstrated the decision support system functioning according to the selected methodology and allowed the identification of future lines for investigation. During the analysed period, the following were verified: an increase of 2% in the biodiversity indicator, 130% in harvest yield, and 2077% in the enemy-to-pest ratio. It is expected that the elaborated DSS will offer a significant contribution by bridging communication gaps on alternative management options to improve biodiversity performance in agricultural systems.

The Soil Microbiomes of American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) Cultivated in North America Differ by Location but Not Always by Disease Status

One of the greatest challenges faced by ginseng producers is control of fungal pathogens that adversely affect harvest yields and are a contributing factor to replant failure syndrome. The goal of this project was to survey the soil microbiome of healthy versus diseased American ginseng grown in North America. Soils associated with healthy and diseased plants were collected from commercial farms in Garett County, Maryland, and Marathon County, Wisconsin. Environmental DNA metabarcoding was used to compare the bacterial and fungal microbiomes of healthy versus diseased plants from both locations. The most common bacteria occurred within the phylum Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota and the most common fungi occurred within Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Glomeromycota. Overall, alpha- and beta-diversities were statistically significant between the two locations. Community analyses (beta-diversity) of the Maryland site revealed a significant difference in the bacterial composition of soils associated with healthy versus diseased plants but not in the fungi. Conversely, there was a significantly different assemblage of fungi in healthy versus diseased associated soils from the Wisconsin site, but not for bacteria. Our results, when compared to previous metabarcoding studies, suggest that there is little congruence between the soil microbiomes associated with cultivated ginseng and that we are still in the early stages of ginseng soil rhizosphere exploration. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .