Commercial Farms Research Articles

Assessing the Establishment of American Mink (Neogale vison) Escapees from the Fur Industry in Bulgaria

Mink farming has seen a resurgence in Bulgaria since 2013, and this has led to a high risk of American mink escaping and establishing feral populations. The largest active commercial farm in the country has a capacity of nearly 130,000 animals. The aims of this study were to gather first-hand evidence of the presence of mink in the wild around the farm, assess their level of establishment, and document the native species and local communities for future impact assessment. Surveys were conducted using camera traps within a 3.7 km radius around the farm in the period 2020–2021 at ten stations with 1943 realised trap-nights. Some early signs of the establishment of the American mink in Bulgaria were documented. A large number of registrations was made, as frequently as the Eurasian otter and golden jackal and more frequently than other mustelids in the study area. Mink were observed throughout the two-year study, and escaped mink have been registered in the region as early as 2017. These factors are interpreted as signs of the early stages of establishment. When considering environmental, economic, public health, and social factors, we recommend that mink farming should be banned in Bulgaria and further monitoring and management actions must be undertaken for the individuals in the wild.

Comparative Pharmacokinetics and Egg Residues of Amoxicillin, Single and in Combination with Bromhexine, in Laying Hens

The need for antibiotics in commercial laying hens is increasing owing to intensive farming systems. Amoxicillin trihydrate (AMX), an aminopenicillin β-lactam antibiotic, exerts broad bactericidal activity. However, its short half-life necessitates frequent administration to ensure efficacy, thus limiting its use. Herein, we investigated the effect of concurrent administration of bromhexine hydrochloride (BRM), a mucolytic agent, on AMX pharmacokinetics, performing a comparative pharmacokinetic analysis of AMX administration alone and in combination with BRM. AMX (50 mg/kg) was administered by oral gavage once daily for three days alone or in combination with 10 mg/kg BRM. Plasma and egg samples were collected to evaluate pharmacokinetic profiles and egg residues. The area under the curve and maximum plasma concentration values were significantly higher in the AMX + BRM group than the AMX only group. However, there were no significant differences in AMX half-life in the elimination phase (T1/2), elimination rate constant (kel), or apparent clearance (CL/F) values. In the egg residue study, the withdrawal period for AMX was 5 days in both groups, with no significant difference when using the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 10 μg/kg. The concentration of BRM in the eggs remained at 100 μg/kg up to the fourth day following drug administration. Conclusion: These results confirmed that BRM co-administration increased systemic exposure to AMX, with a negligible residual impact of amoxicillin in eggs.

Extracellular Enzymes of Soils Under Organic and Conventional Cropping Systems: Predicted Functional Potential and Actual Activity

Conventional cropping systems (CCSs) rely heavily on large-scale and intensive crop production, using mechanical tillage and synthetic inputs such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides. While these methods can be economically beneficial, they can also be environmentally destructive. Organic cropping systems (OCSs), on the other hand, offer a more sustainable approach with less harmful effects on the environment. CCSs exhibit higher prevalence rates compared to OCSs. This means that there is less research on soil processes in organic fields and the impact of these processes on soil quality. In this study, we aim to assess the functional potential of soils by analyzing their ability to transform carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. We use shotgun sequencing data to predict the activities of enzymes involved in these cycles. These predictions are then compared to the actual enzyme activity measured in the soil. The objects of study are samples of Chernozem soil from fields cultivated for 11 years using the OCS method and 20 years using the CCS method. It was found that the chemical properties of the studied soils differed significantly in terms of total carbon and total and available nitrogen and phosphorus. Except for phosphorus, the concentration of these elements was significantly higher in the CCS than in the OCS. We assessed the quality of the soils by measuring their enzymatic activities. A comparison of the two cropping systems showed that the activities of the enzymes involved in the C, N, P, and S cycles were, on average, 2.91, 1.89, 1.74, and 1.86 times higher in the CCS than in the OCS, respectively. A two-way PERMANOVA showed that the cropping system was the main variable (F = 14.978, p < 0.01) determining the enzymatic activity of soils, followed by soil depth (F = 9.6079, p < 0.01). We used shotgun sequencing to identify functional genes involved in C, N, P, and S metabolism, as well as genes encoding the measured soil enzymes. Compared to the OCS, the CCS soils had a higher relative abundance of genes involved in N-conversion (log2(FC) +0.22), C-conversion (log2(FC) +0.14), P-conversion (log2(FC) +0.47), and S-conversion (log2(FC) +0.24). At the same time, we found no significant differences between the systems in the relative abundance of genes encoding the measured soil enzymes. Thus, the comparison of the two cropping systems studied showed that the soil microbiome in the CCS has a greater functional potential to support biogeochemical cycles of the key biogenic elements than in the OCS. In addition, this study links the data on the representation of functional genes with the actual activity of enzymes. Based on the results, it would be helpful to focus more specifically on actual enzyme activity or to combine several indicators to obtain a more accurate understanding of soil quality.

Acute phase responses in clinically healthy multiparous Holsteins with and without calcium dysregulation during the early postpartum period

Patterns of calcium dysregulation resulting in low total serum calcium concentrations (tCa) at 4 DIM, known as dyscalcemia, commonly occur in multiparous Holsteins. Dyscalcemia is associated with risk of disease, decreased production, and poor reproductive performance. Inflammation is well-documented early in lactation and is associated with similarly suboptimal outcomes. The acute phase response produces markers and mediators of inflammation; therefore, the objective of our case-control study was to evaluate postpartum patterns of 3 positive acute phase proteins in cows with and without dyscalcemia. We hypothesized that dyscalcemic cows would experience more activated inflammation than eucalcemic cows and that inflammation would precede dyscalcemia diagnosis. Multiparous Holstein cows at 2 commercial dairy farms in central New York were enrolled from a parent study based on tCa at 4 DIM, at a 2:1 ratio of eucalcemic (tCa >2.3 mmol/L; n = 32) to dyscalcemic cows (tCa <2.2 mmol/L; n = 16). Blood was collected 1 to 3 d before parturition and once every 24 h postpartum through 4 DIM. Samples were analyzed for 3 acute phase proteins, serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP). Patterns of protein concentrations in blood over time were compared using linear mixed effects models including fixed effects of calcium status group, time, parity group, farm, relevant 2-way interactions, and the random effect of cow. Overall, dynamics of acute phase proteins showed that dyscalcemic cows experienced increased acute phase responses compared with eucalcemic cows, and that these responses preceded dyscalcemia diagnosis at 4 DIM. Dyscalcemic cows had elevated concentrations of SAA beginning at 2 DIM (eucalcemic: mean = 13.88 µg/mL, 95% CI = 11.34 to 16.99 µg/mL; dyscalcemic: mean = 32.95 µg/mL, 95% CI = 24.55 to 44.21 µg/mL). and continuing through 4 DIM (eucalcemic: mean = 8.14 µg/mL, 95% CI = 6.66 to 9.95 µg/mL; dyscalcemic: mean = 30.01 µg/mL, 95% CI = 22.60 to 39.83 µg/mL). Haptoglobin concentrations were also elevated in the blood of dyscalcemic cows from 2 DIM (eucalcemic: mean = 0.39 g/L, 95% CI = 0.31 to 0.49 g/L; dyscalcemic: mean = 1.11 g/L, 95% CI = 0.79 to 1.56 g/L) through 4 DIM (eucalcemic: mean = 0.27 g/L, 95% CI = 0.21 to 0.34 g/L; dyscalcemic: mean = 1.65 g/L, 95% CI = 1.19 to 2.28 g/L). Concentrations of LBP exhibited a different pattern with a small difference between groups at 3 DIM (eucalcemic: mean = 4.67 µg/mL, 95% CI = 4.02 to 5.42 µg/mL; dyscalcemic: mean = 7.91 µg/mL, 95% CI = 6.49 to 9.63 µg/mL) that became larger at 4 DIM (eucalcemic: mean = 4.88 µg/mL, 95% CI = 4.22 to 5.64 µg/mL; dyscalcemic: mean = 10.79 µg/mL, 95% CI = 8.84 to 13.17 µg/mL). Our work supports the hypothesis that dyscalcemia and inflammatory activity are associated in dairy cows under naturally occurring postpartum conditions. While the causal structure of this relationship remains unknown, improved understanding of inflammation and dyscalcemia may provide insight into mechanisms by which some cows experience maladaptation during the early postpartum period.

Impact of training dairy farm personnel on milking routine compliance, udder health, and milk quality

Among various farm procedures, an appropriate milking routine is crucial for reducing mastitis and enhancing milk safety and quality. However, inadequate compliance with milking routines remains a primary factor contributing to variability of milk quality among herds. Training farm workers is essential for ensuring compliance with milking routines, which directly impacts milk quality and udder health. In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of a training session on dairy farm workers' understanding of the milking routine, behavioral changes during milking, and subsequent effects on milk quality and udder health. Farm workers (n = 112) from 16 commercial dairy farms in Michigan and Ohio participated in the project. The training session was delivered using an active learning approach prioritizing group discussions, and focused on the pathogenesis, identification, and risk factors for mastitis, and the rationale and importance of each step in the milking routine. Pre- and post-training evaluations were conducted to measure changes in knowledge, parlor evaluations were performed to determine behavioral change, and data from clinical mastitis cases and bulk tank somatic cell count were used to estimate udder health and milk quality. Segmented and linear mixed regression analyses were used to assess the impact of the training intervention. Participants were mostly milking technicians (61.1%) with 70% of them having less than 1 year of experience and a median tenure in their jobs of 9 mo. Knowledge of the milking routine increased from 49.3% to 67.6% of correct answers after training. Based on parlor evaluations, the pre-milking disinfectant contact time increased by 9 s per cow. The percentage of milkings with inadequate preparation time decreased from 69% (before training) to 48% (after training). The proportion of insufficient teat coverage during post-milking disinfection decreased from 9.8% (77 out of 782) before training to 5.9% (34 out of 572) after training. There was a significant increase in clinical mastitis cases during the immediate week after the training. Additionally, the upward trend in bulk tank somatic cell count was halted. Our results suggest an improvement in overall mastitis identification and milk quality, underscoring the importance of targeted training programs for farm workers in improving milking routine compliance, enhancing milk quality, and promoting better udder health.

The Cotton Road

Abstract Cotton is one of the most culturally significant crops in Central Asia today, and it has a complex history, long predating the collective-labour and intensive-irrigation systems of the Soviet period. In this paper, we explore the ancient history of cotton cultivation in Central Asia. We aim to understand when cotton cultivation switched from low-investment to intensive large-scale agriculture and to theorise about the dispersal routes, type of cotton cultivated, and processing systems that existed before the introduction of hybrid forms of cotton from the Americas in the nineteenth century. We incorporate new archaeobotanical data, historical-linguistic evidence and archaeological materials into our discussion. Furthermore, we provide an overview of archaeobotanical evidence from across Europe, Asia and North Africa, aiming to assess common trends in the spread of cotton.

Knockdown resistance in Stomoxys calcitrans stable fly populations on German dairy farms: kdr alleles explain susceptibility of individual flies to deltamethrin

AbstractThe stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, is a globally important pest causing stress, economic losses and transmission of pathogens in livestock. Control on commercial farms relies predominantly on the use of insecticides, with pyrethroids being the most frequently used class of insecticides in industrialised countries. Here, laboratory isolates were obtained from four dairy farms in Brandenburg (Germany) and tested for phenotypic resistance to deltamethrin in comparison to a susceptible reference isolate using topical application. Individual flies were subsequently genotyped using allele-specific real-time PCRs. Phenotypic resistance was observed in all four field isolates with resistance ratios between 46 and 119 compared to the susceptible laboratory strain. At position 1014 of the voltage-sensitive sodium channel, allele-specific PCRs detected the wild-type, kdr-his and kdr genotypes encoding leucine, histidine and phenylalanine, respectively. In the susceptible laboratory isolate, only the wild-type was identified. On the farms with very high LD50 values, the kdr variant was most prevalent and logistic regression analysis revealed that the kdr variant increased the odds to survive exposure to deltamethrin more than the kdr-his genotype. Flies carrying two resistance alleles were less susceptible than flies that also carried one wild-type allele. In three out of four field isolates, the allele frequencies were significantly different from the expectations of the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium suggesting ongoing selection. The data show that the phenotype can be largely explained by the kdr genotype and represent high frequencies of the L1014F kdr and L1014H kdr-his variants conferring high levels of resistance in northern Germany.

Effect of Stakeholders’ Management on Programme Performance: A Case of Crop Intensification Programme in Ngoma District, Rwanda (2018-2023)

Effect of Stakeholders’ Management on Programme Performance: A Case of Crop Intensification Programme in Ngoma District, Rwanda (2018-2023)

Influence of hormonal treatments on progesterone levels to enhance embryo survival and kidding rates in goats.

This study investigated the efficiency of different estrous synchronization programs and hormonal treatments in improving reproductive outcomes in goats. Conducted on a commercial farm in southern Thailand, the study used multiparous Shami and Anglo-Nubian breed goats. In experiment 1, goats were randomly allocated to two estrous synchronization treatments: 11-day (CI11D) and 13-day (CI13D) intravaginal progesterone implants, followed by artificial insemination (AI) with frozen-thawed semen. Various hormonal treatments (human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), GnRH analogue, progestogen) were administered on day 5 post-AI to elevate progesterone levels. Experiment 2 assessed embryo survival after transferring early- and late-stage embryos, using GnRH analogue to increase progesterone levels in the recipient goats. Results showed that GnRH analogue significantly increased pregnancy rates, kidding rates, and the number of kids born in the CI13D group. Progesterone levels were higher in treated groups, particularly with GnRH analogue, though estradiol levels varied between synchronization protocols. Late-stage embryo transfers significantly improved pregnancy rates and reduced embryonic loss compared to early-stage transfers. GnRH analogue supplementation reduced early embryonic mortality, enhancing embryo survival and overall reproductive performance. This study demonstrates the efficacy of tailored estrous synchronization and hormonal treatments in optimizing goat reproductive outcomes, with significant implications for improving fertility management in commercial goat farming. Although no significant differences were observed in progesterone levels, the administration of GnRH analogue reduced early embryonic mortality and improved reproductive outcomes, demonstrating its potential to enhance embryo survival and reproductive performance in goats.

Phytophthora heterospora is the causal agent of black rot disease on the orchid Cattleya leopoldii in Brazil.

Widely produced and marketed worldwide, orchids suffers from several diseases that have a negative effect on production. Black rot disease is among the most common and severe disease, characterized by black spots of rot on leaves, pseudobulbs and roots, which usually lead to the plant death. The world literature lists some Phytophthora species as causal agents of the disease, but there is no advanced study on the etiology of this disease in Brazil, which makes it difficult to determine an efficient control method. This work aims to contribute to the study of the etiology of black rot on Cattleya leopoldii in Brazil. Severely diseased C. leopoldii plants with typical symptoms of black rot, collected from a commercial orchid farm in Brazil, were taken to the laboratory and used to isolate the pathogen. Based on morphological characters analysis combined with molecular data, the isolates were identified as belonging to the species Phytophthora heterospora. This is the first worldwide report of P. heterospora causing black rot disease on orchids.

Challenges to Climate Change Resilience and Financial Support for Commercial Farmers in the Philippines: Implications for Sustainable Agricultural Production

Challenges to Climate Change Resilience and Financial Support for Commercial Farmers in the Philippines: Implications for Sustainable Agricultural Production

Impact of Organic Farming in Economic Development in Agriculture

Organic farming is valued for its self-sustaining, environmentally friendly methods that protect surrounding ecosystems of plants and animals. It reduces weed growth through techniques like crop rotation and integrates traditional knowledge alongside natural processes. This approach optimizes inputs, strengthens regenerative abilities, and ensures effective conservation of resources and nutrients. The cost-benefit ratio in sustainable agriculture is notably better, as it requires fewer primary inputs compared to conventional methods, which often incur high costs for fertilizers and pesticides, lowering profit margins. Additionally, conventional farming's heavy reliance on chemicals can lead to significant health risks, both mental and physical. Organic farming, by following natural principles and using non-synthetic, traditional practices, creates a balanced environment that allows crops to thrive. This approach helps counteract the negative impacts of chemical-dependent agriculture, increasing production sustainably and supporting population growth without harming the ecosystem. Core principles of organic farming include health, ecology, fairness, and care. The benefits range from natural pest and disease resistance, specialization potential, healthier soil, support for pollinators, no GMO concerns, safer work conditions for farmers, and on-farm input production. Farmers and companies must meet stringent, government-approved standards, undergo regular certification, and comply with inspections to ensure the high quality of organic products produced with renewable resources. This paper aims to delve into the origins of organic farming, its environmental, social, economic, and agricultural advantages, and underscore its importance for the future. Similarly, on a larger scale, it can provide rural populations with greater earnings, better resource management and more chances to generate revenue Keywords: Organic Farming, Sustainability, Farmers, Health, Ecology.

Intensive white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) culture integrated with green mussel (Perna viridis), seaweed (Gracilariopsis bailiniae), and tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus): impacts on water quality and growth of the shrimp

The production of Litopenaeus vannamei has significantly intensified, and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) has emerged as an effective farming technique to sustain the shrimp industry. Integrated aquaculture reduces pollution while increasing aquaculture production. This production system could give both ecological and economic benefits. Its contribution to the reduced amount of nutrients from intensive shrimp farming effluents and to the improvement of water quality conditions and growth of white shrimp are significant. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts on water quality and growth performance of shrimp (L. vannamei) at the same time assess the viability of rearing shrimps integrated with either green mussel, Perna viridis (GM alone), GM+seaweed (Gracilariopsis bailiniae), GM+tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), or GM+seaweed+tilapia. Shrimps were cultured outdoors for 60 days in a recirculating system at an average water exchange rate of 6 L hr-1. Shrimps were stocked at 400 shrimp m-3 in shrimp tank while seaweed (2kg m-2), green mussels (50 individuals per meter line), and tilapia (350 grams m-3) were cultivated separately in plastic baskets inside the biofiltration tank. Shrimp effluents were recirculated from the shrimp tank to the biofiltration tank. After 60 days of culture, results showed that shrimps without integration had the lowest average body weight (ABW), survival, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), biomass gain, and high feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to shrimps with integration. This experiment confirmed that shrimp can be cultured intensively with either green mussel (GM alone), GM+ seaweed, GM+tilapia, or GM+seaweed+tilapia without adversely affecting the water quality and its growth performance and could even result in better yield than the shrimp cultured without integration. This research demonstrated the benefits of integrated aquaculture and could be further verified using large-scale culture.

Smart agriculture as source of sustainability in intensive greenhouse production

Abstract The article addresses the interaction between smart agriculture and sustainability within the specific context of intensive greenhouse agriculture in southeast Spain. Combining a literature review and expert interviews, the methodology is based on a qualitative data analysis, whose main goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon under study. The results identify three key areas of technology that strongly influence this type of agriculture. The first relates to soil, water savings, sensor utilization, and environmental improvement, while the second encompasses robot use, labor reduction, resulting cost improvement, and economic sustainability. Finally, the third group, albeit of lesser importance, links artificial intelligence with ethical issues such as data control, usage, and technological dependence. In summary, the application of smart agriculture is projected to have positive impacts on economic and environmental sustainability, relegating the social dimension to a more distant level. This imbalance suggests that social and ethical aspects could be subordinated to more immediate benefits. The results also suggest that the need for future investments could create polarization in the sector. Not all farmers and businesses can afford these investments, leading to progressive deterioration and even abandonment of agricultural activities in some cases.

Raising Children, Rising Debt: Mortgage Debt Among American Families

American households owe more than $12 trillion in mortgages, which represents the main source of a family’s debt. Scholars connect mortgages to the desire of families, especially better-off households, to seek housing in neighborhoods with good schools for their children, which tend to be more expensive. Although this perspective assumes a children–mortgage link, we do not know whether having children actually increases mortgage, nor whether and how this relationship varies by household income. To examine these issues, we use eleven waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics data between 1997 and 2017 and individual fixed effects, as well as propensity score matching and a quasi-experimental design. Our analyses show that generally, (1) families with children are more likely to have mortgage debt and in greater amounts; (2) it is families in the 60th to 100th income percentile who have the most mortgage debt; and (3) critically, families in the roughly 10th to 60th income percentile have more mortgage debt due to having children. These findings defy assumptions that it is well-to-do families that take on more mortgage debt as part of intensive or concerted cultivation parenting practices. Rather, our findings suggest that families who take on mortgage debt related to their children tend to be those in more economically precarious positions for whom debt for the sake of kids may be a financial burden. As such, our findings provide suggestive evidence that financially intensive parenting may contribute to growing wealth inequality among American families with children.

The LTAR Cropland Common Experiment at Lower Chesapeake Bay.

The Lower Chesapeake Bay (LCB) Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Common Experiment (CE) located in Beltsville, MD, focuses on research of concern to producers of the major regional crops, which are corn (Zea mays L.), soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and various forage species. Livestock production in the region includes broiler and laying chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus L.) and dairy and beef cattle (Bos taurus L.). The LCB region is among the most heavily populated in the United States. Urban development pressure is high for both farms and natural areas. The need to restore Chesapeake Bay water quality is a major influence on regional agricultural practices. Conservation practices such as cover cropping, no-till agriculture, and nutrient management planning are more common in the region compared to nationally. However, farmers still face management challenges implementing practices that address water quality and the rise of herbicide-resistant weeds. Researchers at the LCB site recognize the need to protect the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays and maintain farmer profitability. The LCB CE compares a 3-year crop rotation system featuring alternative crop management (cover crop intensification, crop rotation diversification, and integrated weed management [IWM]) with a prevailing 2-year system (no cover crops and no IWM), both under continuous no-tillage, to identify the optimal balance to promote the sustainability of regional cropping systems. The LTAR LCB site provides data-driven tools and solutions to support farmers in the mid-Atlantic region.

Lepidoptera larvae (Insecta) responsible for herbivory on Vanilla spp. (Orchidaceae) in the Federal District, Brazil

Given its culinary importance and high market value, the cultivation of Vanilla (Orchidaceae) has been expanding annually in Brazil. As observed in many crops, the increase in cultivated areas leads to a greater incidence of insects associated with species of this genus. This study reports the herbivory of larvae from Cremna thasus (Stoll, 1780) (Papilionoidea: Riodinidae: Riodininae), Hypercompe cunigunda (Stoll, 1781) (Noctuoidea: Erebidae: Arctiinae), and Spodoptera cosmioides Walker, 1858 (Noctuoidea: Noctuidae: Noctuinae) on Vanilla bahiana Hoehne and V. planifolia Andrews in the Federal District, Brazil. A list of 19 Lepidoptera species from six families associated with Vanilla spp. worldwide is provided based on a literature review. Most (n=15) of them exhibit polyphagous larvae. Given reports of exotic larvae spreading with orchids worldwide and the discussed larval polyphagy, we address precautions that producers of Vanilla and other orchids should take to reduce the incidence of insect pests in crops, especially in areas with intensive cropping systems involving annual commodities such as maize and soybean.

Cichlidogyrosis in tropical aquaculture: pathological effects and infection dynamics in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, a case study in Campeche, Mexico

ABSTRACT Cichlidogyrus spp. are dactylogyridean ectoparasites of wild cichlids and cultured Nile tilapia that occur in several regions worldwide. They can be abundant in intensive Nile tilapia culture and cause mild to severe gill pathogenic effects that frequently are overlooked. From January to June 2018, a follow-up study was conducted on an intensive farm where 360 Nile tilapia were sampled and analyzed throughout a six-month culture cycle. During the survey, a population of monogeneans was observed to increase steadily over the course of the production cycle. To corroborate the status of these parasites, 13 additional farms were visited from January to April 2020, where a total of 130 Nile tilapia were examined. This secondary sampling aimed to identify and corroborate the dominant monogenean species and the infection dynamics, including the associated histopathological damages. Nine species of the genus Cichlidogyrus (Cichlidogyrus sp. C. bifurcatus, C. dossoui, C. halli, C. haplochromii, C. longicornis, C. sclerosus, C. thurstonae and C. tilapiae) were recovered from the gills and identified. Overall, Cichlidogyrus sclerosus was the most prevalent and abundant parasite. Also, significant differences were found in the monthly prevalence and intensity of C. sclerosus, especially in the fourth month of culture when the population peaked (Chi-square, p < .001; p < .001, respectively). Correlations were observed between temperature, nitrite, and C. sclerosus intensity. Four left gill arches of 130 Nile tilapia collected in the farms were removed and fixed at 10% formalin for histopathological examination. Histological alterations in gills tissues were graded by severity scores. Gills, at the site of monogenean attachments, showed mucus secretion, hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and lamellar fusion involving mucous cells, depending on the intensity of the damage.

Benefit of weeds for crop-plant mycobiota in agroecosystems: Integrating ecological demonstration and management applicability

Agricultural intensification reduces not only biodiversity in agroecosystems but also key ecosystem functions such as soil fertility. By reintroducing biological diversity in fields, weeds may enhance soil biological fertility through their influence on crop microbiota. However, letting weeds grow in crop fields will depend on weed competitiveness, farmers’ perception and acceptance, and on crop management, which influences the occurrence and the abundance of weeds in the field. This study assessed the use of eight weed species to modify wheat plant root endospheric mycobiota, and the applicability of using these plants for mycobiota enrichment in the field. By combining controlled lab experiments and field studies, we demonstrated that weeds act either as a refuge for a high diversity of fungi or as a vector for transferring fungi to the crop, particularly symbionts. Weeds differed in their competitive effect on wheat growth and only three species significantly reduced wheat growth. Interviews with farmers’ revealed that weed species were better known and more appreciated in crop fields by organic farmers than by conventional farmers. Floristic surveys confirmed that both weed occurrence and cover were higher in organic fields than in conventional fields. A multicriteria analysis showed that Trifolium repens and V. persica had the highest potential for promoting wheat plant mycobiota. Among the weed species tested, these two are worth considering as auxiliaries to improve soil biological fertility in crop fields. Their use with the goal of selecting appropriate crop mycobiota should be relatively easier in organic farms where weeds are better accepted, whereas their use in conventional farms would require raising farmers’ awareness of the benefits of weeds for soil fertility.

Study on the Greenhouse Gas (Ghg) Emissions from Rice Field Under Various Nutrient Management Practices

Modernizing traditional farming practices and intensive cultivation on limited land has increased the reliance on fertilizers to maintain soil health. The study was conducted on rice crop from 2022 to 2023. The seven treatment combinations in which recommended dose of nitrogen applied through neem coated urea (NCU) and nano urea, viz., T1:Control (No nitrogen), T2: 1/3rd as (NCU) as basal) + 1/3rd NCU at active tillering (AT)) + 1/3rdNCU at panicle initiation (PI)), T3: 1/3rd NCU as basal + 1/3rd NCU at AT + 2sprays of NU at maximum tillering -MT and PI) @ 2 ml / litre), T4: 1/3rd NCU as basal + 1/3rd NCU at AT + 1 spray of nano-urea at PI @ 4 ml / litre), T5: 1/4 NCU as basal + 1/4 NCU at AT +2 sprays of nano-urea (at MT and PI) @ 2 ml / litre), T6 :1/3rd NCU as basal + 2 sprays of nano-urea (at AT&amp; PI) @ 2 ml / litre), and T7: 1/3rd NCU as basal + 3 sprays of nano-urea (at AT, PI, and heading) @ 2 ml / litre). The study revealed significant differences in GHG emissions, particularly nitrous oxide (N₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), among the different fertilizer management practices. The highest (p=??) N₂O emissions were observed in the T2 treatment {1/3rd RDN (NCU as basal) + 1/3rd RDN (NCU at active tillering) + 1/3rd RDN (NCU at panicle initiation)} at 352 kgCO₂eha⁻¹, while the lowest emissions were recorded in the T1 treatment (Control – without nitrogen) at 88.4 kgCO₂eha⁻¹. Similarly, CO₂ emissions were also the highest in the T2 treatment at 1376 kgCO₂eha⁻¹, with the control (T1) recording the lowest at 1165 kgCO₂eha⁻¹. Methane emissions, mainly influenced by water regimes, remained consistent across all treatments, each contributing 2112.3 kgCO₂eha⁻¹, due to similar water management across all treatments. Overall, total GHG emissions were significantly higher in fertilized treatments, with the T2 treatment exhibiting the highest total emissions of 3841 kgCO₂eha⁻¹, while the control had the lowest at 3366 kgCO₂eha⁻¹. These findings highlighted the complex trade-offs between enhancing rice yields through improved nutrient management and the associated increase in GHG emissions, emphasizing the need for strategies that balance productivity with environmental sustainability.