Higher Net Income Research Articles

Influence of preceding crop and tillage system on forage yield and quality of selected summer grass and legume forage crops under arid conditions

Among the crop production factors, preceding crop and tillage management affect the sustainable use of soil resources and ultimately crop growth and productivity. This study aimed at investigating the impact of preceding winter crops (grass or legume) and different tillage systems on forage yield, quality and nutritive values of three summer grass (Sudan grass, pearl millet and teosinte) and two legume forage crops (cowpea and guar) under arid conditions. The results exhibited that growing forage crops after legumes (as berseem clover) produced the highest fresh and dry forage yields and quality attributes compared with grasses (as wheat) with the exception of crude fiber content, which was decreased. Moreover, tillage practices showed positive impact on forage yields and quality attributes. The maximum forage yields and quality parameters were recorded under conventional tillage (CT) practice compared with reduced tillage (RT) and no-tillage (NT) systems. Among the evaluated crops, the highest yields of fresh forage, dry forage, crude fiber, crude protein and total digestible nutrient were exhibited by grass forage crops (Sudan grass, pearl millet and teosinte), whereas the highest crude protein content and the digestible energy values were produced by legume forage crops (cowpea and guar). The maximum fresh forage, dry forage, crude fiber, crude protein, total digestible nutrient and digestible crude protein yields were produced by pearl millet followed by Sudan grass under CT and RT after berseem clover. The highest net return was recorded by sowing pearl millet after berseem clover and applying CT followed by RT practices, which could be recommended for the commercial production. Moreover, it could be assumed that the combination of growing grass forage crops after legume crops under CT or RT systems could enhance forage crop yield and quality with an improvement in soil properties for sustainable agriculture with low cost and the highest net income.

Limited irrigation and fertilization in sand-layered soil increases nitrogen use efficiency and economic benefits under film mulched ridge-furrow irrigation in arid areas

Hetao Irrigation District (HID) in the upper Yellow River Basin of China is vulnerable due to the scarcity of water resources and environmental pollution caused by nutrient leaching. Appropriate irrigation and fertilization management are essential for improving crop productivity and developing sustainable agriculture in the HID. A two-year field experiment investigated the effects of irrigation and fertilization regimes on soil water, nitrogen accumulation and distribution in the soil profile and plant organs, nitrogen use efficiency, and economic benefits of spring maize (Zea mays L.) under film mulched ridge–furrow system. Three irrigation levels—I1 (high, 400 mm), I2 (medium, 300 mm), and I3 (low, 200 mm)—and two fertilization levels—F1 (high, 300 kg N ha−1) and F2 (low, 150 kg N ha−1) were designed. Mean soil NO3−-N contents did not significantly differ between I2 and I3 and were significantly higher than I1. I1F1 and I1F2 remarkably increased soil NO3−-N accumulation in the 80 − 100 cm soil layer at harvest. High irrigation increased the risk of N leaching into the deep soil layer. I2F2 increased plant nitrogen accumulation and promoted nitrogen transport to grains, improved nitrogen harvest index, and internal use efficiency. Under 400 or 300 mm irrigation amount, soil moisture and plant growth had little difference. Grain yields among I1F1, I1F2, I2F1, and I2F2 did not significantly differ in 2017 and 2018. In the relatively poor rainfall year (2017), I2F2 had 13.1%, 211.8%, and 294.1% higher net income than I2F1, I3F1, and I3F2, respectively, but 24.5% and 33.0% lower net income than I1F1 and I1F2, respectively. In 2018 with normal rainfall, I2F2 had 38.5%, 4.8%, 29.5%, 114.3%, and 96.2% higher net income than I1F1, I1F2, I2F1, I3F1, and I3F2, respectively. Therefore, the film mulched ridge–furrow irrigation system with 300 mm irrigation and 150 kg N ha−1 fertilization is a promising approach for reducing water supply and nitrogen leaching, and obtaining acceptable grain yield and economic benefits for spring maize production in the upper Yellow River Basin of China.

Improved soil physicochemical, biological properties and net income following the application of inorganic NPK fertilizer and biochar for maize production

A field experiment was conducted in 2019 (minor season) and 2020 (major season) to study soil properties and net income response to inorganic NPK fertilizer and biochar application for maize production. The experiment was made up of 2 × 3 factorial combinations of biochar (0 kg ha−1, 2000 kg ha−1) and inorganic NPK fertilizer (0:0:0 kg NPK ha−1, recommended rate; 90:60:60 kg N: P:K ha−1, half of recommended rate; 45:30:30 kg N:P:K ha−1). In both seasons, biochar and inorganic NPK fertilizer applied separately or in combination improved soil properties (dehydrogenase activity, CEC, organic carbon, bacterial and fungal population, microbial biomass carbon and basal respiration rates) and yield significantly. In 2019, however, mineral N and available P did not increase in biochar amended plots. Significant interaction effect was observed between biochar and NPK fertilizer application which could be related to positive soil conditioning of biochar and biochar surface charges which enhanced retention and steady release of nutrient supplied by NPK fertilizer for maize use. Maize grain yield and profit in both crop seasons increased significantly and followed an increasing order of control < sole biochar < NPK (half rate) < NPK (full rate) < combined biochar + NPK (full rate) = combined biochar + NPK (half rate). Farmers in this agro ecological zone are encouraged to apply biochar + inorganic NPK fertilizer (45:30:30) due to its low total production cost, improved maize grain yield and high net income compared to the full rate (90:60:60) or full rate + biochar.

Verification of phosphorus critical level for bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Kofole District of West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Verification of phosphorus critical level for bread wheat was conducted in Kofole District in 2019 cropping season with the objectives to verify phosphorus critical (Pc) level and determined during soil test crop response based phosphorus fertilizer calibration and to create awareness on soil test crop response based fertilizer recommendation. Composite soil samples at the depth of 0-20 cm in the zigzag method were collected from 10 farmers’ fields for Eutric Vertisols. Likewise, soil samples analyses were made to identify available P in the level of the required phosphorus in the select crop fields for the actual experiment. The treatments included (1) soil test based phosphorus calibration result; (2) farmers’ practice in the area which was assessed by the surrounding farmers’ and (3) no fertilizer application (control) and each treatment was planted on 10*10m experimental plot &amp; the design was randomized complete block design replicated over farmers. Bread wheat, Ogolcho variety, was used with seed rate of 150 kg ha-1and other cultural practices such as weed and rust management were used from which had been recommended for the area. The partial budget analysis showed that the highest net income (71630.48 ETB) was from the soil test based recommended and the lowest net benefit (44378.55 Birr ha-1) was obtained from control treatment with a marginal rate of return (653.38%) which is greater than the minimum rate of return (MRR) 100%. The result showed that the average grain yield of 4745 kg ha-1 was obtained from the application of soil test based phosphorus calibration (Pc and Pf) followed by blanket recommendation (3853 kg ha-1) and 2778 kg ha-1 for the control treatment. The recommended N rate, 69 kg N ha-1 with soil test based phosphorus critical level gave a 58.54% grain yield advantage over the control. In general, soil test and crop response based fertilizer recommendation for crops increases crop yields through the application of adequate nutrient rates for the identified soil nutrient deficiencies in specific locations.

Economic Evaluation of Tomato Sole and Tomato Onion Intercropping Systems of Smallholders in District Muzaffargarh, Pakistan

The objective of this research was to conduct an economic evaluation of smallholders’ practices i.e tomatoonion intercropping (toi) and tomato sole cropping (ts). Primary farmer’s field-level data was used in the study. Resource use efficiency and financial profitability indicators were calculated for comparison of two tomato cultivation systems. A financial model based on a modified Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) approach was used as a method of research. The result indicates that 53 percent respondent adopts the tomato-onion intercropping system and remaining 47 percent respondents follows sole tomato system. Tomato-onion intercropping gave higher private profitability (US$. 1556/acre) with a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 2.35 compared to sole tomato with private profitability of US$.913 per acre with BCR 1.88. A higher BCR was found in tomato-onion intercropping than in the sole tomato cropping system. Tomato onion intercropping (toi) has more resource use efficiency with less Private Cost Ratio (PCR) value 0.30 as compared to tomato sole with PCR value 0.38. In conclusion, the tomato-onion intercropping system resulted in higher net income may be a viable option for smallholders to mitigate the economic risk of sole tomato cultivation. The result proved that the sole tomato cropping system is also economically viable however tomato-onion intercropping proved promising practice to minimize the economic risk of sole tomato crop. The findings have implicates that tomato-onion intercropping has the potential to increase the livelihoods of the smallholders in the study area.

Determining Economical Irrigation Depths in a Sandy Field Using a Combination of Weather Forecast and Numerical Simulation

Advancement of modern technologies has given numerical simulations a crucial role to effectively manage irrigation. A new numerical scheme to determine irrigation depths was incorporated into WASH 2D, which is a numerical simulation model of crop response to irrigation. Based on two predicted points of cumulative transpiration—water price and quantitative weather forecast—the scheme can optimize an irrigation depth in which net income is maximized. A field experiment was carried out at the Arid Land Research Center, Tottori, Japan, in 2019, to evaluate the effectiveness of the scheme on net income and crop production compared to a tensiometer-based automated irrigation system. Sweetcorn (Zea mays L., Amaenbou 86) was grown in three water balance lysimeters per each treatment, filled with sandy soil. The scheme could achieve a 4% higher net income, due to a 7% increase in green fodder yield, and an 11% reduction in irrigation amount, compared with the automated irrigation method. These results indicate that the numerical scheme, in combination with quantitative weather forecasts, can be a useful tool to determine irrigation depths, maximize net incomes which are farmers’ targets, and avoid large investments that are required for the automated irrigation system.

Influence of basic tillage systems on economic efficiency of soybean cultivation

Soybeans have become widespread in the world crop production as a valuable oilseed and high-protein crop with a unique biochemical composition. In the Russia in 2015-2019 annually there is an increase in acreage, yield and gross yield of soybeans. The research purpose is to substantiate the most effective system of basic soil cultivation during the soybeans cultivation in the Samara region. The research tasks included: to study the peculiarities of the soybeans yield formation depending on the main tillage systems, to evaluate the economic efficiency of the main tillage systems. It was found that the basic tillage system provided the best conditions for the formation of the soybean in 2018-2019. Thus, the highest yield was obtained in the variant with plowing by 20-22 cm and amounted to 14.9 cwt/ha, the lowest in the variant without autumn mechanical tillage - 10.1 cwt/ha. The calculation showed that the soybeans cultivation in all variants was effective. Direct costs in the soybeans cultivation varied according to the studied options from 15879.28 rubles/ha to 17767.34 rubles/ha, the cost price - from 1192.4 rubles/cwt to 1572.2 rubles/cwt. The basic tillage system with elements of minimization reduced direct costs, however, due to the lower yield, the highest net income was obtained in the variant with plowing by 20-22 cm and amounted to 19482.7 rubles/ha, with a profitability of 109.7%.

Water and economic productivity using different planting and irrigation methods under dry and wet seasons for wheat

ABSTRACT This study aims to evaluate the water and economic productivity of wheat using different planting and irrigation methods under dry and wet seasons. They were carried out in randomized blocks according to the split-plot design with three replications for two growing seasons. The main plots were P1: Conventional flat planting (CFP), P2: Raised-bed planting (RBP); sub-plots were; I0: Rainfed conditions (RFC), I1: Surface irrigation (SI); basin irrigation (BI) and/or furrow irrigation (FI) and I2: drip irrigation (DI). The highest grain yield (4.61 t ha−1) was in the CFP and BI. Irrigation water productivity (IWP) in the CFP and RBP were 1.31 and 1.60 kg m−3, respectively. DI resulted in 1.82 kg m−3 compared to the SI (1.09 kg m−3). The highest net income, 828 $ ha−1, was in the CFP and BI and the second (749 $ ha−1) was in the RBP and FI. Water economic productivity (WEP) was 0.171 $ m−3 in the CFP compared to 0.151 $ m−3 in the RBP. The SI resulted in more WEP (0.164 $ m−3) than DI (0.159 $ m−3). Thus DI and RBP were not feasible in the study region. All data evaluated were much higher in the wet season.

Response of drip fertigated wheat-maize rotation system on grain yield, water productivity and economic benefits using different water and nitrogen amounts

Drip fertigation is beneficial to improve crop grain yield (GY), water productivity (WP) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), but it is not clear whether drip fertigation can improve economic benefit and how much water and nitrogen should be applied for wheat-maize rotation system in semi-humid and drought-prone regions. A two-year (2018–2020) winter wheat-summer maize rotation field experiment (including twelve drip fertigation treatments (complete combination design of three irrigation (RF: rain-fed, DI: deficit irrigation, 75% ETc, and FI: full irrigation, 100% ETc) and four nitrogen levels (N0: no nitrogen, N1: 85 kg ha−1 for wheat and 90 kg ha−1 for maize, N2: 170 kg ha−1 for wheat and 150 kg ha−1 for maize) and N3: 255 kg ha−1 for wheat and 210 kg ha−1 for maize)) and a conventional practice (Con)) was conducted to explore the response of GY, NUE, WP and net income to different water and nitrogen levels in the Guanzhong Plain of China. The results showed that water and nitrogen application levels had significant effects on GY, NUE, WP and net income of winter wheat and summer maize. For winter wheat, DIN2 (the combination of irrigation and nitrogen) achieved the highest GY (9.2 t ha−1, two-year average), WP (2.11 kg m−3) and net income (11 839 CNY ha−1). For summer maize, the highest GY (11.1 t ha−1), WP (2.32 kg m−3) and net income (14 859 CNY ha−1) were observed at DIN3, RFN3 and DIN2, respectively. For winter wheat-summer maize rotation system, the highest GY (20.2 t ha−1, winter wheat + summer maize, two-year average) and net income (26 698 CNY ha−1) were observed at DIN2; and the highest WP of 2.15 kg m−3 was obtained at RFN3, but had insignificant difference with DIN2 (2.13 kg m−3) (P > 0.05). Therefore, deficit irrigation coupled with 320 kg N ha−1 (170 kg ha−1 for wheat, 150 kg ha−1 for maize) was considered as the best drip fertigation strategy for achieving high GY, WP and net income in winter wheat-summer maize rotation system. Moreover, the response surface methodology was used to determine the optimal water consumption and nitrogen application rate based on binary quadratic regression analysis. The results showed that the GY and net income can synchronously achieve 95~100% maximum values when the water consumption ranged from 434 to 496 mm and 458–500 mm, and the nitrogen application rate ranged from 165 to 211 kg ha−1 and 187–250 kg ha−1 for winter wheat and summer maize, respectively.

GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSE OF PAK CHOI (BRASICCA RAPA) TO DIFFERENT FOLIAR FERTILIZERS UNDER PROTECTED CULTIVATION

The experiment was conducted to determine the growth and yield response of pak choi (Brasiccarapa var. Chinkang Genghis Khan) to different foliar fertilizers (viz. vermitea, commercial foliar fertilizer, effective microorganisms [EM-1] and natural farming inputs [NFI]) under protected cultivation. It aimed to evaluate the influence of the different foliar fertilizers on pak choi in terms of growth characteristics, yield components, and pests and disease incidence. Similarly, to conclude which among the foliar fertilizers evaluated will be most the economical for pak choi production. The study was done in the DA-ATI IV-A and LSPU Organic Agriculture Learning Site in the Laguna State Polytechnic University, Siniloan, Laguna in December 2015 to February 2016. A total of 300 plants were used as experimental units in the study. Every treatment was replicated three times and each replication has 10 polyethylene bags planted with two plants each. Data was collected and analysed with the use of the Duncans Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Results revealed that the foliar fertilizers used have no remarkable effect on the weekly height, weekly growth rate, length of leaves, and shoot root ratio of pak choi. Nevertheless, commercial fertilizer significantly increased the mean number of leaves (7.53cm), width of leaves (15.10cm), economic and biological yields (105.10 grams and 106.88 grams, respectively) of pak choi compared with the rest of the treatments, except for vermitea which produced a comparable width of leaves (15.04cm). Also, a significantly lower number of the damaged leaves caused by looper (TrichoplusianiHübner) was noted on plants treated with commercial foliar fertilizer (0.51 leaf per plant). The highest net income was obtained by commercial foliar fertilizer-treated plants, but plants treated with vermitea earned the highest return of investment (ROI). Therefore, the utilization of vermitea in pak choi production can reduce the cost of fertilizer and contribute to an economical production system under protected cultivation.

Оrganization of a green conveyor of zoned perennial grasses in the Far North

Relevance. The aim of the work is to create a green conveyor belt of perennial zoned grasses in floodplain meadows. For the first time in the Far North on the basis of field experience were studied species composition and mode of use of perennial grasses and legumes for green belt.Methods. The research was conducted in 2018–2020 in field conditions in the experimental field laboratory of horticulture of Yakut Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture named after M.G. Safronov in the Khangalassky ulus of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). The soil of the experimental site is permafrost floodplain turf light loamy. Sowing was carried out in summer in the first decade of July.Results. The article includes data on the yield, chemical composition and nutritional value, and economic efficiency of perennial grasses. Over the years of research, the maximum yield was obtained from the grass mixtures of rumps (20)+ wheatgrass (16) — 4.0 t/ha of green mass, which is higher than the natural herbage by 2.4 t/ha of green mass. The yield of net sowing of sickle alfalfa (8 kg/ha) was 4.5 t/ha of green mass. The maximum yield from leguminous grass mixtures was provided by a two-component mixture of alfalfa (8 kg/ha) + stalk (10 kg/ha) — 4.9 t/ha of green mass. The highest content of crude protein when creating a green conveyor from single-species cereal crops is observed in red oatmeal — 18.2%, while the content of exchange energy is 9.1 MJ, feed units — 0.66, digestible protein — 122 g in 1 kg of dry matter. Of legumes and cereals the highest content of raw protein is provided by alfalfa (8 kg/ha) — 19.0%, while the content of exchange energy is 9.3 MJ, feed units — 0.70, digestible protein is 120 g per 1 kg of dry matter. When creating a green conveyor from grass stands, a high conditional net income is obtained when sowing boneless stalk (20 kg/ha) +w heatgrass (16 kg/ha) — 5688 rubles/ha, while the cost of production is 12,000 rubles/ha, the profitability is 90%.

Economic Implications of Agricultural Land Conversion to Solar Power Production

Meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets will require a significant increase in electricity production from sustainable and renewable sources such as solar energy. Farmers have recognized this need as a chance to increase the profitability of their farms by allocating farmland to solar power production. However, the shift from agriculture to power production has many tradeoffs, arising primarily from alternative land uses and other means of production. This paper models the farmers’ decision as a constrained profit maximization problem, subject to the amount of land owned by the farmers, who have to allocate it between agriculture and solar power fields, while considering factors affecting production costs. The farmers’ problem is nested in the social welfare maximization problem, which includes additional factors such as ecological and aesthetical values of the competing land uses. Empirical analysis using data from a solar field operating in Israel shows that landowners will choose to have solar power production on their land unless agricultural production generates an unusually high net income. Adding the values of non-market services provided by agricultural land does not change this result. The consideration of the reduction in GHG emissions further increases the social welfare from solar fields.

Control of cacao (Theobroma cacao) diseases in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Ecuador

Introduction. Ecuador occupies the fourth place in cocoa exports with 293,487 tons per year, produced on 559,617 hectares. However, its yield per hectare is low mainly due to the presence of pathogens that affect the pods. Objective. To evaluates different methods of control of pathogens of the Theobroma cacao cv ‘CCN-51’ pod. Materials and methods. The work was carried out in Luz de America, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Ecuador, between 2016 and 2017. The treatments were the result of the combination of cultural practices + two fungicides (Chlorothalonil and Pyraclostrobin) + one biofungicide Serenade® (Bacillus subtilis QST713), with and without fertilizers. In total, 16 treatments were evaluated with 3 replicates or blocks, installed in a commercial cocoa plantation cv ‘CCN-51’ and under a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Results. The use of fungicides (chemical and biological), decreased the incidence of moniliasis (Moniliophthora roreri), black pod rot (Phytophthora spp.), and cherelle wilt; but the application of fertilizers did not increase the effectiveness of these products. Treatment with only cultural practices did not decrease the final incidence of moniliasis, nor of brown rot, in contrast, the final incidence of cherelle wilt increased. The number of pods and the yield were not directly related and the highest yield of fermented and dry cocoa, corresponded to T9 [Cultural labors + Serenade® (0.2 kg ha-1) (every 15 days) + Fertilizer (0.3 kg ha-1) + Fertilizer (1 kg plant-1)], a treatment that also had the highest net income per hectare. Conclusion. Chemical and biological control can manage cocoa pods pathogens. The integration of both control methods allowed the cocoa producer to obtain greater income.

Optimum Farm Plan for Higher Net Income in Southern and Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka

The present study was focused on deriving an optimum farm plan which would enhance the farm income in different farming systems in Southern and Eastern dry zones of Karnataka. Data collected from 240 respondents selected using random sampling technique from two districts viz. Mandya and Kolar. The dominant farming systems identified in the study areas were crop + dairy, crop + sheep rearing, Crop + dairy + sericulture, and crop + dairy + horticulture. Linear programming technique was used to work out the maximum attainable return. In Mandya district, crop + sheep farming system were providing an annual income of ` 92468 per farm with the total expenditure of ` 175400, whereas, an optimal plan can fetch a return of ` 278810 per farm with the similar expenditure. In Kolar district, crop + dairy was giving annual income of ` 168216 per farm with the total expenditure of ` 150000 and through an optimum plan, a farmer could earn ` 327996 per farm. Mandya district In farming system with the component of crop + dairy + sericulture, farmers were realizing an annual income of ` 296433 per farm with the total expenditure of ` 274947, where optimization can provide the farmer an income of ` 640487 per farm with similar expenditure and this system is turned out to be most remunerative among all the farming systems

Features of the formation of spring wheat grain yield in the Volga region

The results of the study of five seeding rates (variants) in the cultivation of spring durum wheat Bezenchukskaya Niva with seed treatment with Scenic Combi preparation (1.4 l/t) in order to identify the optimal rate are presented. On ordinary chernozem for 2017-2020 in the arid conditions of the Volga region, it was found out that when growing a crop for winter wheat, a decrease in seeding rates contributed to an increase in the coefficient of total and productive bushiness, the weight of grain from the ear and plant, the number of grains from the ear. On average, over the years of research, the yield of spring wheat grain at seeding rates of 2.0-5.0 million/ha was 2.00-2.22 t / ha. Under favorable weather conditions, the yield advantage was the norm of 4.0-5.0 million/ha by 6.2-37 %, in the acutely arid 2.0-3.0 million / ha by 3.4-16.4 % more, compared to other options. Wheat yield was most affected by the air temperature during the growing season (r=-0.97* to -0.99*). Of the elements of the structure, the maximum conjugacy with the yield at the norms of 1.0-4.0 is noted with the number and weight of grain from the ear and plant, the height of the plants (r=0,97*-1,0**). On average, over the years of research, the highest net income was established on the variants with the norm of 3.0-4.0 million / ha-17100.4-17442.8 rubles / ha, which is 761.9-1704.7 rubles/ha (4.7-10.8 %) more than the variants with the norm of 2.0 and 5.0 million/ha. The maximum level of profitability was revealed at the rate of 1.0 million / ha-194.6 %, which is 9.6-41.3% more than the options with the rate of 2.0-4.0 million / ha. Based on the conducted research, the seeding rate of 2.0-4.0 million/ha is recommended for the cultivation of spring durum wheat for commercial purposes. In the original seed production – 1.0 and 2.0 million/ha, providing a multiplication factor of up to 57.8 kg/kg of grain.

DETERMINANTS OF THE ADOPTION OF INNOVATIVE FINTECH SERVICES BY MILLENNIALS

FinTech Adoption Index, expressed as a percentage of the digitally active population, for 27 countries of the world in 2019 reached the level of 64%. Millennials are the generation which, compared to others, is characterized by the highest level of FinTech adoptions. In Poland, in 2019, about 75% of the Millennials used the services of FinTech. This paper aims to analyse and evaluate the selected determinants of using the innovative FinTech services by Millennials in Poland. To investigate how users adopt FinTech services, we have applied our own set of determinants – selected from an extensive literature review – covering both demographic, economic and behavioural characteristics. This approach allowed for an in-depth analysis of the examined issue. The essential empirical data were obtained based on the research using the CAWI method in December 2019 on a representative sample of Poles aged 25–40 at that time. Ultimately, 1,236 correctly completed questionnaires were used for the research. To analyse and evaluate the impact of selected determinants of FinTech adoption, a logistic regression model was used. The results obtained can thus be extremely important for managers of financial institutions. They provide information that can be used for activities aimed at maintaining FinTech’s customer base and allow to adjust the offer to the expectations of this group. Millennials most open to innovative FinTech services in Poland are young men with high and very high net income and not driven by low costs of financial services. They appreciate technological novelties, including the possibility of using a smartwatch, and when deciding on the choice of a financial institution, they do not care about the direct opinions of their relatives and friends, but take into account the opinions in social media.

THE POWER OF PEOPLE YOU OVERLOOK

AbstractThe author, President and Chief Executive Officer of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, argues that “Older workers, people with disabilities, immigrants, people with criminal records,” should not be looked upon as workplace liabilities, but as “your future talent pool.” With a declining population in the United States, the talent pool will shrink, and a “survey from McKinsey revealed that while 87 percent of executives expressed concern about a skills gap, fewer than half knew what to do about it.” Among his observations in his words: Retaining talented mature workers—and recruiting new ones—is simply smart for most organizations. Companies that incorporate candidates with disabilities see higher revenue, higher net income, reduced turnover, lower recruiting costs, increased productivity and improved customer outreach. Employers that successfully attract and hire veterans find they often outperform other employees and stay with the organization longer than the median length of service. SHRM helped produce a study revealing that while people with criminal records face additional scrutiny during the hiring process, many employees, managers, and HR professionals are open to working with and hiring them. He concludes that “leaders should do three things: invent, invest, and implement those programs best suited to our culture and communities.”

Resource-saving early potato cultivation technology

To obtain environmentally friendly early production of potatoes, the use of a technological method in the cultivation technology - light germination was studied. The cultivation technology is standard, except for the studied technique. There is a varietal reaction to reception, responds well to germination of the Luck and Bullfinch varieties. In the variant with germination, the total costs increase, but in the cost structure there is a decrease in the costs of expensive fertilizers and seeds. The cost of machinery and agricultural production does not rise much. implements in connection with additional work related to the light germination, where it is necessary to take out the planting material from the storage. These costs are not significant and the reception provides a high net energy income, high coefficients, as well as a low energy cost, which allows you to save energy resources when growing early potatoes and get maximum income. There is an increase in net energy income by 5.9 … 31.9%, energy cost coefficients by 6.3 … 32.8%, as well as a decrease in cost by 0.09 … 0.33 GJ•t−1 of tubers.

Economic and ecological values of frass fertiliser from black soldier fly agro-industrial waste processing

The sustainable utilisation of black soldier fly (BSF) for recycling organic waste into high-quality protein feed and organic fertiliser with a low environmental footprint is gaining momentum worldwide. Although BSF farming is becoming a rapidly growing agribusiness, studies on the BSF farming’s economic aspects are limited. This study analysed the economic benefits of farming BSF for animal feeds and composted frass, called frass fertiliser (FF) production using experimental data. The BSF larvae were fed on brewery spent grain amended with sawdust, biochar, and gypsum to determine the cost-effective feed and other by-products production. The agronomic performance of FF on the maize crop was assessed using field experiments. Our results demonstrated that sourcing and preparing the waste substrate for rearing the BSF larvae accounts for 81-90% of the total BSF production cost. The utilisation of FF as an additional value-added product would increase farmer’s net income by 5-15 folds compared to BSF farming alone. Feedstock amended with 20% biochar increased net income by 10-64% for BSF larvae and FF production than other feedstocks. Production of one megagram (Mg) of dried BSF larvae (USD 900) would generate 10-34 Mg of FF worth USD 3,000-10,200. Maize grown on plots treated with FF yielded 29-44% higher net income than maize harvested from plots amended with commercial organic fertiliser. Furthermore, smallholder insect farmers’ direct use of FF for maize production would generate 30-232% higher net income than farmers purchasing similar FF. Our results demonstrate for the first time the role of insect farming in circular economy and justify the opportunities for future investments that would lead to enhanced sustainability for agricultural and food systems, especially for smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries.

English

Optimistic and sustainable supply of nutrients to soil affects crop productivity and crop quality. In the present investigation, effects of Zinc (Zn), Sulphur (S), and Manganese (Mn) was observed on growth and quality attributes of onion (Allium cepa L. cv. NasikRed), belongs to family Alliaceae. For this, micronutrients were applied to soil in 8 combinations including 1 control (having no micronutrient). soil application of micronutrients ZnSO 4@ 10 kg/ha + CuSO 4 10 kg/ha + MnSO 4 @ 10 kg/ha in combination with 50 kg N, 40 kg P 2 O 5 and 40 kg K 2 O per hectare before transplanting the onion crop is the most beneficial treatment for obtaining higher vegetative growth and quality of onion bulbs resulted high net income and maximum benefit of per rupee invested. However, for low input technology soil application of ZnSO 4 @ 10kg/ha + recommended dose of NPK can also be followed.