Lower Input Costs Research Articles

Drone Technology in Agricultural Practices: A SWOC Analysis

Drone technology, also known as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), is transforming modern agriculture by introducing precision farming techniques that enhance crop monitoring, resource management, and sustainability. By providing real-time data on plant health, soil conditions, and irrigation needs, drones enable farmers to make informed decisions that optimize yields while reducing input costs. In India, the rapid growth of the drone sector highlights its increasing importance in addressing challenges such as labor shortages, water scarcity, and the need for more sustainable farming practices. This case study explores the adoption and impacts of drone technology in agricultural practices within Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India. The purposive sampling method was used to chosen the farmers. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and interviews with farmers who had adopted in drone technology. The study investigates the profile characteristics of farmers and evaluates the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges (SWOC) related to the adoption of drones in agriculture. Findings revealed that drone usage significantly improved farm efficiency, reduced labor dependency, and optimized the application of fertilizers and pesticides, resulting in lower input costs and more sustainable practices. However, challenges such as high upfront costs, fragmented land holdings, technical expertise gaps, and limited drone availability constrained wider adoption. This research concludes that while drones offer substantial potential to modernize agriculture and address labor and environmental challenges, further government support and farmer training are crucial to overcome adoption barriers. The study underscores the role of drones in promoting climate-resilient and sustainable farming practices.

Firm-Level Digitalization for Sustainability Performance: Evidence from Ningbo City of China

Climate change is a significant and urgent threat, gaining traction in the scientific community around the globe and requiring immediate action across many sectors. In this context, the digital economy could provide a mutually beneficial solution by utilizing innovation and technical breakthroughs to establish a sustainable future that addresses environmental deterioration, promotes economic growth, and encourages energy conservation. Against this background, this study examined the diffusion of innovation modeling-based factors affecting small and medium-sized firms’ (SMFs) adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology and its impact on SMFs’ sustainability performance related to environmental, economic, innovation, and energy conservation perspectives. The key findings revealed that (i) the relative advantage, trialability, and observability drive IoT adoption. However, compatibility and complexity hinder IoT adoption. (ii) When prioritizing the adoption factors, the relative benefit is the strongest driver, and compatibility is the most significant barrier to IoT adoption. (iii) IoT technology adopter SMFs spent less on natural resources and more on renewable energy and environmental monitoring systems than non-adopter firms, boosting their environmental sustainability. (iv) IoT technology adopter firms had greater revenue, profits, and credit access than non-adopters and lower input costs, improving their economic sustainability. (v) IoT adopter firms spent more on innovative products than non-adopter enterprises, demonstrating innovation performance. (vi) Compared to non-adopter firms, IoT technology adopter SMFs had lower utility expenses and spent more on energy-efficient technologies. (vii) To realize the full potential of the IoT for a more sustainable and inventive future, authorities may pursue a variety of policy actions involving the strengthening and implementation of IoT technology standards and regulations, securing the incentivization of financial resources to SMFs, diverting the allocation of resources to research and development avenues, prioritizing the capacity development and environmental awareness, and focusing on IoT infrastructure development.

Separation and extraction of NH4Br and (K,NH4)2SO4 from 1-Bromooctane production wastewater by crystallization method

This work provides a method for the separation and extraction of bromine salts from bromine-containing wastewater by crystallization. Wastewater from the production of 1-Bromooctane is rich in potassium and bromine salts. This will allow for the recycling of chemical resources in this aqueous salt system. Based on the need for the process design of the new method, the solubility phase equilibrium of the quaternary K+,NH4+//SO42-,Br-–H2O system at 298.15 K and 323.15 K was investigated in this paper by using the isothermal dissolution equilibrium method, and the dry basis phase diagrams were plotted using the experimental data. And the equilibrium solid phase composition was determined by X-ray diffraction. At 298.15 K, the dry phase diagram of the quaternary system K+,NH4+//SO42-,Br-–H2O consists of three invariant points and five crystalline regions (K2SO4, (NH4)2SO4, (K,NH4)2SO4, (K,NH4)Br, (NH4,K)Br). At 323.15 K, there is one invariant point in the phase diagram of this quaternary system and three crystalline regions((K,NH4)2SO4, (K,NH4)Br, (NH4,K)Br). The (K,NH4)Br crystallization zone grows while the (NH4,K)Br crystallization zone decreases with increasing temperature, according to comparisons of the dry basis phase diagrams of this quaternary system at different temperatures. Crystallization zones of solid solution (K,NH4)2SO4 replaced the K2SO4 and (NH4)2SO4 single salt crystallization zones at the same time. The Pitzer model was used to calculate the solubility of this quaternary system at 298.15 K. The results showed that the experimental values were in good agreement with the calculated values. Based on the theoretical analysis of the dry phase diagram of the quaternary system K+,NH4+//SO42-,Br-–H2O, a process route for salt extraction using bromine-containing wastewater generated from the production of 1-Bromooctane was proposed and designed. The new process was experimentally verified to be technically feasible to obtain NH4Br with 99.01 % purity and (K,NH4)2SO4. The process has significant advantages, such as production safety, low input costs and no three-waste emissions.

Effect of Seed and Fertilizer Subsidies on the Technical Efficiency of Rice Farmers in Senegal

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of seed and fertilizer subsidies (NPK and urea) on the technical efficiency of rice farmers in Senegal. Using data from the Annual Agricultural Survey (EAA) of the Directorate of Analysis, Forecasting and Agricultural Statistics of Senegal (DAPSA), the results of Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) revealed that rice farmers in Senegal have on average a technical efficiency level of 0.545. This suggests that they could increase their current production by 45.5% while using the same level of inputs. Estimation of an SFA model for technical inefficiency revealed that seed and urea subsidies have a significant effect on reducing technical inefficiency. A farmer using subsidized seed saw a reduction in technical inefficiency level by 10.5% and using urea was associated with a 5.1% decrease in inefficiency. In contrast, the model showed no association between the use of subsidized NPK or the use of herbicides and technical inefficiency. And use of organic fertilizer was estimated to worsen technical inefficiency by 4.4% (perhaps reflecting greater reliance on lower-cost inputs among less productive farm households in Senegal). With regard to socio-demographic factors, the results further revealed older respondents experienced more severe technical inefficiency, and that women on average were 9.6% more inefficient than men. These barriers to improved efficiency among older farmers and women suggest targeted supports may be necessary alongside general subsidy programming.

Sewage sludge pyrolysis ‘kills two birds with one stone’: Biochar synergies with persulfate for pollutants removal and energy recovery

The disposal and resource utilization of sewage sludge (SS) have always been significant challenges for environmental protection. This study employed straightforward pyrolysis to prepare iron-containing sludge biochar (SBC) used as a catalyst and to recover bio-oil used as fuel energy. The results indicated that SBC-700 could effectively activate persulfate (PS) to remove 97.2% of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) within 60 min. Benefiting from the appropriate iron content, oxygen-containing functional groups and defective structures provide abundant active sites. Meanwhile, SBC-700 exhibits good stability and reusability in cyclic tests and can be easily recovered by magnetic separation. The role of non-radicals is emphasized in the SBC-700/PS system, and in particular, single linear oxygen (1O2) is proposed to be the dominant reactive oxygen. The bio-oil, a byproduct of pyrolysis, exhibits a higher heating value (HHV) of about 30 MJ/kg, with H/C and O/C ratios comparable to those of biodiesel. The energy recovery rate of the SS pyrolysis system was calculated at 80.5% with a lower input cost. In conclusion, this investigation offers a low-energy consumption and sustainable strategy for the resource utilization of SS while simultaneously degrading contaminants.

Smart Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture: Design and Development of IoT-Powered Soil Health Identification Systems

This research examines smart solutions for agricultural sustainability using IoT-powered soil health detection systems. Innovative solutions are needed to manage resources and protect the environment as the world population grows and agricultural resources are under strain. IoT-enabled soil health monitoring has great potential. The suggested system uses IoT sensors to measure soil moisture, pH, nutrient content, and temperature in real time. This data is analyzed using powerful data analytics and machine learning algorithms to provide farmers soil health information. Monitoring soil quality allows farmers to make educated irrigation, fertilization, and crop selection choices, optimizing resource use and yields while minimizing environmental effect. The study also examines sensor selection, data transmission methods, and data security for IoT-powered soil health detection systems. Widespread use of these technologies might boost agricultural output, lower input costs, and enhance food security. Finally, IoT-powered soil health detection systems are a major step toward agricultural sustainability. These devices enable precision farming that is ecologically friendly and profitable by giving real-time soil data. However, effective implementation would need agricultural value chain stakeholders to collaborate and continued research to address growing issues and possibilities.

Impact of Custom Hiring Centers on Cost, Profitability, and Efficiency in Crop Production in Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh, India

This study examines the impact of custom hiring centers (CHCs) on agricultural mechanization and productivity of groundnut of cultivation in Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh in 2021. CHCs, established under the Submission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme, aim to address challenges faced by small-scale farmers in accessing improved machinery. Through farm business analysis, data envelopment analysis (DEA), and binary logistic regression, the study evaluates the adoption of improved farm machinery, changes in costs, profitability, and efficiency in crop production due to CHCs. Utilizing purposive sampling, data was collected from 160 beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmers in villages. Cost concepts were used to compare costs and returns in groundnut cultivation among CHC beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. Findings indicate that CHC beneficiaries demonstrate lower input costs and higher net returns, signaling improved efficiency and profitability. DEA analysis reveals higher technical, allocative and cost efficiency among beneficiary farms compared to non-beneficiary ones. Additionally, binary logistic regression identifies significant factors influencing farmers' decisions to hire machinery from CHCs, including machine labor, net income, hired human labor, irrigation, and yield. Overall, the study underscores the pivotal role of CHCs in enhancing agricultural productivity and efficiency, particularly among small-scale farmers. It suggests that policymakers prioritize expanding CHCs and promoting mechanization to further improve agricultural outcomes and address challenges faced by marginalized farmers.

Weed Management in Wheat: A Review

Wheat is the major staple food crop of India as well as of world. There is a need to enhance the production to feed the growing population in near future. There are many factors responsible for reduction in yield and weed infestation is one of the principle reasons among them. Weeds compete with the crops for various essential resources and do not allow the main crop plant to grow properly and have good yield. Its eradication from the field is very important for the farmers to achieve a higher produce. Different weed management techniques are used to control weeds such as mechanical methods, cultural methods and chemical methods. Chemical method of weed control is becoming very popular as well as effective against weed control due to low input cost. Different herbicides are used to control mixed flora of weeds in wheat crop according to their time of application or the type of target weed. Therefore, selection of effective measure to control the weed is essential for the better yield of crops.

The Height Pole: Measuring plot height using a single‐point LiDAR sensor

AbstractPlant canopy height is an essential trait for phenomics and plant breeding. Despite its importance, height is still largely measured by manual means with a ruler and notepad. Here, we present the Height Pole, a novel single‐point LiDAR (SPL)‐based instrument to measure and record plant and canopy height in the field quickly, reliably, and accurately. An SPL was mounted on the top of a pole and aimed downwards at an adjustable paddle that was positioned at the desired height. A custom app, written for Android OS, saved the plant height data from the SPL to a tablet. The Height Pole was tested against a ruler in the lab, in a field trial setting, and by multiple operators. Indoor and outdoor testing found no significant differences between a ruler and the Height Pole measurements. A test with five operators revealed that measuring, recording, transcribing, and digitizing were on average 20 s per plot slower with a ruler than with the Height Pole. The Height Pole required only one operator to measure and record data, reduced operator fatigue, and by directly writing the data to a .CSV file eliminated transcription errors. These improvements make it easier to collect crop height data on large experiments rapidly and accurately with low input costs.

Antimicrobial Ayurveda Crops as Superfoods for Export, Conservation & Farmers’ Benefit

Antimicrobial resistance is growing worldwide and presents risks such as a pandemic. It is caused by the overuse or misdirected use of antibiotics. Regulation of antibiotic use can be accompanied by herbal drugs such as turmeric, pepper, & clover, etc., that have been found to be effective for millennia with no emergence of resistance reported, due to their polyphenols and alkaloids or combination, also emerging as “superfoods” due to their inclusion in the regular diet. Combined herbal therapy may be synergistic, preventing the evolution of resistance among the microbes. The cultivation of such superfoods can double farmers' income due to the growing demand and low input costs and save threatened wild herbs from extinction.

The Use of Financial Tools in Small-Scale Irrigated Crops to Assess Socioeconomic Sustainability: A Case Study in Tocantins-Araguaia Basin, Brazil

To expand financial knowledge and promote the socioeconomic sustainability of agricultural production systems, this work applied financial instruments to small-scale irrigated crops, making use of agricultural projects from the Bom Sucesso/Santa Cruz Settlement, located in the Tocantins-Araguaia basin, Brazil. The economic viability indicators of two irrigated okra production systems (furrow and drip) were calculated using the following indicators: Net Present Value, Modified Internal Rate of Return, Cost–Benefit Index, Discounted Payback, and Average Cost of Production. And a risk assessment through sensitivity analysis, a tornado chart, and Monte Carlo simulation was performed in a simplified financial model. The economic viability results showed that both irrigated systems were economically viable, although the okra drip system had lower indicators and reduced financial resilience, with a 58% probability of success, while the furrow system’s was 89%. The crops’ financial return was mainly influenced by okra’s sale price and productivity, followed by harvesting and planting costs. The financial tools applied in this study demonstrated some key factors to assess socioeconomic sustainability, such as the necessity to increase producers’ organizational capacity and to achieve technical improvements, which could result in market power, competitive sale prices, lower input costs, and greater productivity. The applied instruments increased financial management and have the potential to the build economic and social strength in the area of small-scale irrigated crops, and they can be replicated using simplified tools for producers, companies, and policy makers.

Consumers’ WTP for Sustainability Turfgrass Attributes with Consideration of Aesthetic Attributes and Water Conservation Policies

This study estimates consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for sustainability turfgrass attributes such as low-input and stress-tolerance attributes, while considering potential trade-off relationships between aesthetic attributes and sustainability attributes. To address our objectives, our study conducts a choice experiment and estimates two mixed logit models. The first model includes low-input, winter kill, and shade-tolerance attributes as predictor variables, and the second model extends the first model by adding interaction terms between the aesthetic and sustainability attributes. Another choice experiment is conducted under water policies with various water rate increase and watering restriction scenarios. Results from the mixed logit models show that, overall, higher low-input cost reduction, less winter-damaged, and more shade-tolerant grasses are preferred, and that the direct effect of aesthetic attributes on consumers’ preferences is strong, but the indirect effects represented by the interaction terms are generally statistically insignificant. Our results indicate that consumers like to have a pretty lawn, but no strong consideration is given to the aesthetics of their lawn when selecting low-input and stress-tolerant turfgrasses. Our choice experiment under water policy scenarios suggests that water pricing is more effective than watering restriction in increasing consumer demand for water-conserving turfgrasses.

Delayed spinetoram application is useful in managing Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Florida strawberry.

Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an invasive, early-season pest of strawberry in Florida, causing feeding injury to young foliage that results in stunted plant growth and yield loss. Spinetoram, an effective insecticide for thrips pests with up to 3 applications per season permitted in strawberry, is often applied repeatedly during the early-season (Oct-Nov) to manage S. dorsalis, leaving few or no applications for flower thrips pests later in the season (Dec-Mar). Therefore, new strategies are needed to manage S. dorsalis with less insecticide, with the hypothesis that the first insecticide application can be delayed because young strawberry plants can compensate for minor feeding injury without compromising strawberry yield. Experiments conducted in strawberry field plots in Balm, FL, during 2018 and 2019 showed that delaying a spinetoram application for 14 days after infesting a plant with zero, 5, 10, or 20 S. dorsalis adults did not reduce the plant vigor and yield compared to spinetoram application after 4 days. Furthermore, young plants recovered from injury (10-30% bronzing injury on leaf veins and petioles) due to 1 or 2 S. dorsalis adults or larvae per trifoliate. A strategy of delaying the first spinetoram application when plants have 4-5 trifoliates should help reduce the number of insecticide applications needed for S. dorsalis management and reserve spinetoram applications for later in the season. Lower input costs in Florida strawberry without compromising yields due to thrips damage will improve the economics and sustainability of production systems.

Synthesis and application of zinc oxide nanoparticles in <i>Pieris brassicae</i> larvae as a possible pesticide effect

<p><italic>Pieris brassicae</italic> is commonly known as the cabbage moth and is a species known to be invasive, thereby causing serious damage to vegetables and subsequently leading to total crop loss. Formulations of nanopesticides can provide unique characteristics such as size and shape, in addition to having integrated properties in a single material, making them efficient in pest management and protection against diseases in a single material; it can be applied in small volumes, with a greater precision, lower input costs, and a potential reduction in environmental contamination. Nanotechnology is a type of alternative and highly effective technology in several sectors, mainly in agriculture and the enrichment and fortification of cultivars. Hydrothermal synthesis is a type of process used to obtain nanoparticles with a more uniform crystallinity and aging of nanocrystallites, where high temperatures and pressures help to reduce particle aggregation. Chemically synthesized metal nanoparticles, such as zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), can find wide applications and success against different types of pests, such as larvae. The present study focuses on the application of different concentrations of ZnO NPs (12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/L) on the body surface of <italic>P. brassicae</italic> to verify their possible pesticide activity against these larvae. The results of this study suggest a non-intuitive pesticidal activity of ZnO NPs against cabbage moth larvae. The highest mortality percentage of larvae against the treatments occurred at the concentration of 200 mg/L of ZnO NPs, represented by a rate of 100% in the 72-h period of the experiment. Finally, the results of the present study with ZnO NPs and <italic>P. brassicae</italic> larvae suggest an initial trigger for future possibilities of exploration and more in-depth studies to clarify the interaction of ZnO NPs and the possible metabolic pathways triggered in these insect pests.</p><p><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="molsci-11-04-021-g004.tif"/></p>

Replacing alfalfa hay with a novel alfalfa leaf pellet product (ProLEAF MAX) and/or alfalfa stems (ProFiber Plus) in the diet of developing dairy heifers alters dry matter intake, but does not negatively impact growth or development

Abstract Alfalfa is a commonly grown forage in the Intermountain West region of the United States and is often included in the diet of dairy cattle. Alfalfa provides a variety of different nutrients, but the nutrient content of alfalfa varies depending on factors such as the soil, region, cutting, and climate. However, alfalfa leaves tend to have less variation in their nutrient content than alfalfa stems. Fractionating alfalfa may be one way to improve control of nutrients provided when developing a ration for developing dairy heifers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether including fractionated alfalfa in the diet impacts the growth or conception rates of developing dairy heifers. Heifers were allocated to one of three treatments: a control group fed a typical diet (CON; n = 8), a diet that replaced alfalfa with fractionated alfalfa leaf pellets and alfalfa stems (ProLEAF MAX + ProFiber Plus; PLM + PFP; n = 8), or a diet that replaced alfalfa with alfalfa stems (PFP; n = 8) for 85 d. Heifers were fed individually twice daily and weight, hip height (HH), and wither height (WH) were recorded every 14 d. Additionally, blood was collected every 28 d, and conception rates were recorded at the end of the trial. Heifers receiving the PFP diet consumed less dry matter (P = 0.001) than the CON treatment. Analyses were then conducted to determine nutrient intake and heifers receiving the PFP diet also consumed less neutral detergent fiber (P = 0.02), acid detergent fiber (P = 0.02), crude protein (P = 0.001), and net energy for maintenance (P = 0.001) than heifers consuming the CON diet; however, no differences (P > 0.10) were observed between heifers fed the CON and PLM + PFP diets. Analysis of body weight gain over the feeding period showed no difference (P = 0.52) among heifers consuming the different treatment diets. Additionally, treatment did not affect average daily gain (P = 0.49), gain:feed (P = 0.82), HH gain (P = 0.20), or WH gain (P = 0.44) among heifers receiving different diets. Treatment × time altered (P < 0.001) blood urea nitrogen when analyzed as a repeated measure. Total feed cost was lowest (P < 0.001) for the PFP diet and cost of gain tended (P = 0.09) to be increased for the PLM + PFP diet compared to the CON diet. Overall, these data indicate that including alfalfa stems in a developing heifer diet may decrease dry matter intake, lower input costs, and increase profitability, without negatively impacting growth.

Antimicrobial Ayurveda Crops as Superfoods for Export, Conservation & Farmers’ Benefit

Antimicrobial resistance is growing worldwide and presents risks such as a pandemic. It is caused by the overuse or misdirected use of antibiotics. Regulation of antibiotic use can be accompanied by herbal drugs such as turmeric, pepper, & clover, etc., that have been found to be effective for millennia with no emergence of resistance reported, due to their polyphenols and alkaloids or combination, also emerging as “superfoods” due to their inclusion in the regular diet. Combined herbal therapy may be synergistic, preventing the evolution of resistance among the microbes. The cultivation of such superfoods can double farmers' income due to the growing demand and low input costs and save threatened wild herbs from extinction.

Maladies and Remedies for KVK trained Paddy Growers in Cuddalore District of Tamilnadu, India

KVK organizes a number of trainings related to paddy cultivation for improving the productivity and income of the paddy growers. To understand the maladies/constraints while attending the training and while adopting the KVK recommended technologies, the study was conducted in the Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu in the year 2023. A list of trainees from the three bocks namely Srimushnam, Bhuvanagiri, & Vridhachalam of Cuddalore district were compiled with the assistance of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK). Using a simple random sampling technique, 150 respondents were selected from the three blocks. A well-structured interview schedule was utilized to gather data, tabulate the findings, and analyze the results. It was found that inadequate training duration (77.33%) followed by inadequate demonstrations (67.33%) while attending the KVK paddy related trainings. High input costs (85.33%), the non-availability of improved varieties (73.33%), were felt as major constraints while adoption of KVK recommended Paddy technologies. Providing low-cost inputs (88.67%), and timely distribution of inputs after training (80.00%) as suggestions given by the KVK-trained farmers. The constraints and suggestions expressed by the KVK Paddy farmers should be considered while organizing any paddy related training by the KVK system for further improving the adoption level of paddy growers.

Antimicrobial Ayurveda Crops as Superfoods as For Export, Conservation & Farmers’ Benefit

Antimicrobial resistance is growing worldwide and presents risks such as a pandemic. It is caused by the overuse or misdirected use of antibiotics. Regulation of antibiotic use can be accompanied by herbal drugs such as turmeric, pepper, & clover, etc., that have been found to be effective for millennia with no emergence of resistance reported, due to their polyphenols and alkaloids or combination, also emerging as “superfoods” due to their inclusion in the regular diet. Combined herbal therapy may be synergistic, preventing the evolution of resistance among the microbes. The cultivation of such superfoods can double farmers' income due to the growing demand and low input costs and save threatened wild herbs from extinction.

Pricing Decisions for Power Battery Closed-Loop Supply Chains with Low-Carbon Input by Echelon Utilization Enterprises

Today, with the number of waste power batteries and consumers’ awareness of low-carbon both increasing, a new closed-loop supply chain model in which the node enterprises of reverse supply chains are being constructed. These are responsible for the recycling, echelon utilization and low-carbon innovation of waste power batteries. This provides a new way for the development of reverse supply chain node enterprises and lays a theoretical foundation. In this paper, we use the backward solution method to solve the Nash equilibrium solution of the Stackelberg game. Through numerical calculation and simulation, the decision variables, profit and income of the supply chain are analyzed and the equilibrium results are compared. The experimental results indicate that the implementation of low-carbon innovative production by cascaded utilization enterprises is conducive to the growth of their profits with lower cost inputs. The impact of the initial waste power battery recycling rate on the decision variables is negative, while, for the supply chain as a whole, the profit growth of the node companies can be positive and the location of the inflection point appears to be particularly important. The sensitivity coefficient of low-carbonization levels has a positive regulatory effect on decision variables and location of all parties. The closed-loop supply chain model proposed in this study promotes the overall development of a power battery closed-loop supply chain, and also provides theoretical guidance for reasonable pricing decisions of node enterprises under the new model. Based on the results of this paper, the government can implement incentives such as subsidies, or formulate reasonable policies for the development of a power battery closed-loop supply chain.

358 The Effects of Varying Levels of Cotton Gin Byproduct and Wet brewers’ Grains on Growth Performance of Growing and Finishing Steers

Abstract The abundance of craft breweries provides widespread availability of wet brewers grains (WBG) to be used by beef cattle producers as a potential feedstuff. Cotton gin byproduct (CGB) is a feedstuff typically reserved for mature beef cows due to its low and variable feed value. Both WBG and CGB have high cost of transportation but are sometimes used by producers near supply centers due to their low price. The objective of this study was to analyze animal performance of growing Angus steers fed total mixed rations with varying amounts of CGB and WBG. Sixty-four Angus steers (365 ± 26 kg) were allotted and blocked by initial body weight (BW) in a randomized complete block design to 8 dietary treatments and fed in 2 phases, growing phase (GP) and finishing phase (FP) (84-d and 69-d, respectively). Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 x 4 factorial with two levels of CGB (0 or 25% of DM) and 4 levels of WBG (0, 10, 20 or 30% of DM). The control and base of all treatments were corn, corn silage and soybean meal. Body weights were recorded on two consecutive days at the beginning and end of GP and FP. Feed samples were collected, and refusals were weighed weekly. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 with main effects of CGB, WBG, and the interaction. The linear, quadratic, and cubic effects of increasing levels of WBG and CGB were tested with polynomial contrasts. Average daily gain (ADG) did not differ among dietary treatments (0, 25% CGB and 0, 10, 20, 30% WBG) for GP, (1.67, 1.61, and 1.67, 1.57, 1.74, and 1.60 kg/d, respectively) (P > 0.3031), FP (1.53, 1.61 and 1.56, 1.53, 1.61, and 1.58 kg/d) or the overall trial (1.61, 1.62 and 1.62, 1.55, 1.68, and 1.60 kg/d). The addition of CGB increased GP dry matter intake (DMI; 11.06 vs 11.99 kg/d; P = 0.0011), while the addition of WBG linearly decreased GP DMI (11.81, 11.69. 11.81, and 10.81 kg/d; P = 0.0292). There was an interaction between CGB and WBG (P = 0.0206), with increasing levels of WBG at 0% CGB exhibiting a cubic effect (P = 0.0127), but no effect at 25% CGB. Inclusion of CGB decreased feed efficiency (FE) in the GP (6.77 vs. 7.69; P = 0.0008) but had no carry-over effect in the FP. There was no effect of WBG on FE in GP or FP. In conclusion, CGB increased DMI, reduced FE, and maintained ADG. Increasing quantities of WBG did not reduce ADG or FE, but decreased DMI with increasing feeding level. Therefore, WBG and CGB can be considered viable options for cattle producers seeking to lower input costs.