Lowest Average Yield Research Articles

Status of Groundnut Production in Africa: A Review From 2012 to 2022

Food safety, and security remains a major concern in developing nations. Groundnuts rank the second globally in oil seed production after soya beans and the 11th most important crop for human intake. Limited productivity against the potential of existing crops due to biotic, abiotic, market, and policy factors causes the poor food production trends. This work uses a systematic review approach to determine the productivity of groundnut as a major food crop in Africa for the last 10 years based on the trend of declining yields of groundnut in this duration, and the role of influencing factors. The extracted data is summarized creating a feasible proposal on how the productivity, and quality of the crop could be improved to meet the food security need. Among the top 11 producers of groundnuts in Africa, West Africa accounts for 55% with regions like Nigeria, and Senegal having the highest productivity of 3.3 t, and 1.1 t respectively over the last ten years. In East Africa, Sudan has the highest production of 2.04 t over the 10 years. Despite being the second continent in the size of area under production of groundnut, Africa has the lowest average yields per hectare (1 t/ha), compared to America (3 t/ha), and Asia (1.8 t/ha). Regions that used improved varieties had higher yield than those using local varieties, and less technologies. High disease infestation shows a direct correlation with declining yields of groundnut. Therefore, the low productivity of groundnuts could be associated with social, cultural, and economic factors that create disparities in accessing improved technologies, farming, production and marketing resources. Development of improved varieties and policies in the region that support improved agronomic inputs are feasible practices for attaining cultivars that resist the yield, and quality limiting parameters.

Evaluation of Physical Properties in Carboxymethyl Chitosan Modified Glass Ionomer Cements and the Effect for Dentin Remineralization: SEM/EDX, Compressive Strength, and Ca/P Ratio.

The aim of this article was to evaluate the effects of modifying glass ionomer cement (GIC) with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) on surface morphology and remineralization outcomes by examining dentin morphology and calcium ion composition changes. Thirty holes in a cylindrical acrylic mold were filled with three groups of restorative materials: GIC, GIC modified with CMC (GIC-CMC) 5%, and GIC-CMC10%. The surface morphology of each group's materials was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The compressive strength measurement was performed using a universal testing machine. The dentin remineralization process was performed by applying GIC, GIC-CMC5%, and GIC-CMC10% materials for 14 days on demineralized dentin cavities treated with 17% ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) for 7 days. A morphological evaluation was conducted using SEM. The calcium ion composition and calcium-to-phosphorous (Ca/P) ratio were examined using an energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). The Kruskal-Wallis and post-hoc Mann-Whitney U tests were performed to compare all four groups of calcium ions (p < 0.05). The modification of GIC with CMC affected the morphological changes in the materials in the form of reduced porosity and increased fractures. A significant difference was found in compressive strength between the GIC-CMC modification materials of GIC-CMC5% and GIC-CMC10% and the GIC control group. The dentin tubule morphology and surface changes were observed after applying GIC, GIC-CMC5%, and GIC-CMC10% materials for 14 days, as evaluated by SEM. The EDX examination showed an increase in calcium ion content and hydroxyapatite formation (Ca/P ratio) after applying the GIC-CMC10% material. The surface porosity of the GIC modification material with the addition of CMC tended to decrease. However, an increase in cracked surfaces that widened, along with the rise in CMC percentage, was found. This modification also reduced the compressive strength of the materials, with the lowest average yield at 10% CMC addition. Therefore, the modification of GIC with CMC affects changes in morphology, calcium ion composition, and Ca/P ratio in demineralized dentin.

Effect of Sesbania sesban L. as a Green Manure on Yield of Rainfed-lowland Rice

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the most important grain crop for more than half of the world's population especially in Asia. Nitrogen (N) plays a crucial role in rice production. The incorporation of the cover crop as a pre- rice crop is the potential to improve the nitrogen used by rice crops. The experiment was conducted on the clay loam of Svay Rieng Province Cambodia in 2022 during the rice cropping season. The trial was designed using Spit-Plot design, with 4 levels of nitrogen (N) as main-plot and Cover Crop (CC) as a sub-plot. The CC was either the absence of CC or the use of incorporated Sesbania sesban L. (30 kg ha-1 ) as a pre-rice crop. The application rate of nitrogen was 0, 35, 70 and 105 kg ha–1 , respectively. Direct-seeded rice (DSR) was 100 Kg ha-1 . The size of each plot was 16 m2 (4 m×4 m). The experiment was conducted in 3 replicates. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) on Plants Height revealed a significant difference at 1% (P &lt; 0.01) effect of nitrogen level. N35 had the greatest average height (82.95 cm) and N0 was the shortest plant height (77.15 cm). Additionally, a significant difference at 1% (P &lt; 0.01) of planting (CC). CC1 was the tallest plant height (81.75 cm), while CC0 was the shortest plant height (78.49 cm). However, the interaction between N level and CC was not statistically significant (P &gt; 0.05) on Plant height. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) on Grain yield showed a significant difference at 1% (P &lt; 0.01) N70 had the highest average yield (4.92 tons/ha) and N0 had the lowest yield averaging (3.53 tons/ha). Planting (CC) was a significant difference at 1% (P &lt; 0.01). CC1 had the highest average yield (4.60 tons/ha), while CC0 had the lowest average yield (4.13 tons/ha). the interaction between N level and CC was not statistically significant (P &gt; 0.05) The results suggested that among 4 levels of nitrogen, The application of any rates of fertilizers increased the grain yield compared to non-N application. The grain yield was even higher with the incorporation of CC as a pre-rice crop.

Cropping system typologies perform differently under climate stress in Manitoba, Canada: multi-criteria assessment

Information is required to understand how novel biodiversity strategies can improve cropping system resilience to climate change. A “business as usual” (BAU) rotation (wheat–canola–wheat–soybean) was compared with a “warm-season crop” (WS) rotation (corn–sunflower–dry bean–canola); a “biodiverse” (BD) rotation (fall rye with cover crop– corn/soybean intercrop—pea/canola intercrop–green fallow mixture); a “perennial grain” (Kernza) rotation (Kernza grain intermediate wheatgrass); and an organic (ORG) rotation (millet-green fallow mixture-wheat). Drought conditions prevailed in both study years. The BAU rotation had the lowest average yield (1821 kg ha−1 compared with 2533 and 3083 kg ha−1 for the BD and WS rotations, respectively), less post-harvest residual biomass, and a lower net return than the WS rotation. The WS rotation was limited by herbicide-resistant weeds in dry beans. Kernza seed yield was five times lower than for spring wheat. ORG wheat yielded the same as other wheat and had a higher net return. Live roots days, a measure of soil health potential, were 95 for the BAU rotation and 174 and 113 for the BD and WS rotations, respectively; the most were recorded for Kernza (365). Seasonal crop growth duration was increased by including Kernza and fall rye for early season growth, and corn, sunflower, a corn–soybean intercrop, a cover crop, and fall-seeded rye for late season growth. WS and BD rotations outperformed the BAU rotation and the BD system accomplished this with half the N fertilizer. Results demonstrate the potential of biodiverse rotations; barriers to their adoption should be addressed.

Yield and quality responses of Megathyrsus maximus and Cynodon spp. forage grasses to irrigation

Periodic variations in rainfall have resulted in longer periods of drought in traditional rainfed livestock systems on savanna areas in Brazil. However, irrigation management techniques and rotational grazing have improved the productivity of these systems by mitigating soil water stress on forage grasses. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the response of Megathyrsus maximus cv. Tanzania and Cynodon spp. cv. Tifton 85 (Cynodon nlemfuensis × Cynodon dactylon) forage grasses to irrigation, and to determine their irrigation water productivity (IWP). The experiment was conducted at the University of São Paulo in Brazil. Plant height (PH), dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were measured, and IWP was calculated. Tifton 85 had a higher CP content than Tanzania but a lower average DM yield. The irrigation management (IM) treatments did not influence CP levels of both forage grasses, but in most situations, did affect their average DM yield. The IWP of Tanzania and Tifton 85 forage grasses did not differ among irrigation management treatments.

Incomplete milking before drying off does not impair the udder health of cows infected with minor pathogens.

When implementing the transition from regular milk production to the dry period, drying off is mostly conducted simply by abrupt cessation of milking. Efforts to reduce milk synthesis before cessation of milking aim to reduce stress in cows as well as to lower the risk of mastitis. A previous study demonstrated that incomplete milking during the last ten days of lactation gradually reduced the milk yield of healthy, high-yielding cows. However, a reduction period of ten days might be too long for cows with lower yields. Therefore, a follow-up study was conducted on an organic dairy research farm with a lower average milk yield. We investigated whether automated incomplete milking can reduce milk synthesis within one week without impairing the health status of udder quarters infected with minor pathogens. Before drying off, 15 German-Holstein cows with 58 lactating quarters, 21 of which were infected with minor pathogens (coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS) and Corynebacterium bovis), were milked twice daily using the software module AutoDry (GEA Farm Technologies) with the 5%-step-down-per-day-program. The level of udder emptying was gradually reduced over 8-10 milkings beginning at a mean milk yield of 17.2 ± 4.4 kg d-1. During the last three milkings before drying off, milking clusters were automatically removed when a milk flow rate of 0.3 kg min-1 was reached. Quarter fore-milk samples were collected at two time points (14 d before and at the date of the last milking, ie drying off) and were analysed for mastitis pathogens and somatic cell count. The gradual reduced emptying of the udder induced a clear decline in milk yield by 0.8 ± 0.3 kg d-1. Within the reduction period, the somatic cell count of quarter foremilk did not change regardless of the infection status. Furthermore, no cow suffered from clinical mastitis. Thus, a reduction in milk synthesis could be achieved within less than one week before drying off without any impairment in udder health of cows, even when infected with minor mastitis pathogens.

Treating Garlic Seed Cloves with Negative Temperatures Increases the Productivity of Noble Garlic in the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region

The treatment with low temperatures, for a certain period, stimulates the accumulation of phytohormones in garlic seed cloves, which influence the growth and development of the plants. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the effects of garlic seed cloves under negative temperatures for different periods on the development and productivity of noble garlic cultivated in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Two experiments were carried out and analyzed separately in the municipalities of Mossoró and São Miguel, RN, Brazil, in which three temperature ranges (−5 to −3 °C, −2 to 0 °C and 1 to 3 °C) and three periods (50, 55, and 60 days) were tested. Low-temperature conditioning of the garlic seed cloves was carried out in a temperature-controlled freezer. Relative humidity during treatment ranged from 60 to 70%. Seed cloves submitted to temperatures below zero provided the differentiation of cloves, even in unfavorable edaphoclimatic conditions for cultivating noble garlic. Seed cloves conditioned with negative temperatures increased the productivity of garlic grown in Mossoró, but with a lower average yield than garlic produced in São Miguel. Garlic seed cloves treated at negative temperatures in São Miguel provided garlic productivity equivalent to the yield of garlic grown in the states of the southern region. In addition, it produced class 6 and 7 bulbs, which have greater commercial value and acceptance by consumers. The results demonstrated the potential of garlic seed cloves treated with temperatures below zero to increase the production of noble garlic in the semi-arid region of the country.

Response of Cotton Varieties to Transplanting Technique under Drip Irrigation System and Iraqi Conditions

The low average cotton yield per unit area in Iraq during the long growth season invites us to look for possible means to increase the yield by looking for new ideas in agriculture to improve production. Important results were obtained through two field experiments applied to the cotton crop during the period from January 1 to October 16, 2017, in the new Baquba nursery affiliated to the Directorate of Agriculture in Diyala Governorate within the cotton development project in Iraq. There have been a number of attempts by a number of Iraqi researchers - over the previous years - focused on how to raise the yield of cotton fibers by the unit area and also during the season, especially if there is a desire of farmers to use the same land to planting a winter crop, but we did not see practical achievements in this regard, which led us to use modern ideas to improve crop production and achieve planting winter crop after it. Planting the seeds inside the greenhouse for the purpose of producing seedlings and then transferred to the field on time rather than planting seeds directly in the field, Has had a positive effect on exceeding temperatures unsuitable for seed germination, growth and early access to the first harvest. It was positively reflected in increase hair cotton yield, with an average of 2.24, 2.69 and 2.81 tons. ha−1 for varieties Koker, Lashata and Ashore, compared to the traditional cultivation method, which recorded 0.63, 0.68 and 0.80 tons. h−1, with an increase of 255.6, 295.6 and 251.3% for the three varieties, respectively and the increase in the number of harvesters during the season to four harvesters (July, August, September and October) compared to the traditional method, which registered only three during the season (August, September and October) as well as the possibility of relying on three harvests when planting with the seedling technique (July, August and September) while achieving the cultivation of a winter crop after the cotton crop, such as wheat, to provide sufficient time for soil service operations such as plowing, softening, leveling, weed control and others. We conclude from the current study that use of the transplanting technique has preserved three harvests with a high yield that appeared clearly since the first harvest, as the date of the third harvest was on September 13, and therefore the aim of cultivating a winter crop after cotton has been achieved to provide sufficient time to conduct soil servicing operations for the crop.

Understanding the impact of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith) leaf damage on maize yields.

Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith), a serious pest of maize and other cereals, recently invaded the Old World potentially threatening the food security and incomes of millions of smallholder farmers. Being able to assess the impacts of a pest on yields is fundamental to developing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches. Hence, working with an early maturing, medium maturing and late maturing variety, we inoculated maize plants with 2nd instar S. frugiperda larvae at V5, V8, V12, VT and R1 growth stages to investigate the effects of FAW induced damage on yield. Different plants were inoculated 0-3 times and larvae were removed after 1 or 2 weeks to generate a wide range of damage profiles. We scored plants for leaf damage at 3, 5 and 7 weeks after emergence (WAE) using the 9 point Davis scale. While at harvest we assessed ear damage (1-9 scale), and recorded plant height and grain yield per plant. We used Structural Equation Models to assess the direct effects of leaf damage on yield and indirect effects via plant height. For the early and medium maturing varieties leaf damage at 3 and 5 WAE, respectively, had significant negative linear effects on grain yield. In the late maturing variety, leaf damage at 7 WAE had an indirect effect on yield through a significant negative linear effect on plant height. However, despite the controlled screenhouse conditions, in all three varieties leaf damage explained less than 3% of the variation in yield at the plant level. Overall, these results indicate that S. frugiperda induced leaf damage has a slight but detectable impact on yield at a specific plant developmental stage, and our models will contribute to the development of decision-support tools for IPM. However, given the low average yields obtained by smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa and the relatively low levels of FAW induced leaf damage recorded in most areas, IPM strategies should focus on interventions aimed at improving plant vigour (e.g. through integrated soil fertility management) and the role of natural enemies, as these are likely to result in greater yield gains at lower cost than a focus on FAW control.

Beekeeping in Europe facing climate change: A mixed methods study on perceived impacts and the need to adapt according to stakeholders and beekeepers

The beekeeping sector is suffering from the detrimental effects of climate change, both directly and indirectly. Despite numerous studies conducted on this subject, large-scale research incorporating stakeholders' and beekeepers' perspectives has remained elusive. This study aims to bridge this gap by assessing the extent to which stakeholders involved in the European beekeeping sector and European beekeepers perceive and experience the impacts of climate change on their operations, and whether they had to adapt their practices accordingly. To this end, a mixed-methods study including in-depth stakeholder interviews (n = 41) and a pan-European beekeeper survey (n = 844) was completed within the frame of the EU-funded H2020-project B-GOOD. The development of the beekeeper survey was informed by insights from literature and the stakeholder interviews. The results highlighted significant regional disparities in the perceived impacts of climate change, with beekeepers in Southern European regions expressing more negative outlooks, while Northern European beekeepers reported more favourable experiences. Furthermore, survey analysis revealed beekeepers who were classified as ‘heavily impacted’ by climate change. These beekeepers reported lower average honey yields, higher colony winter loss rates and a stronger perceived contribution of honey bees to pollination and biodiversity, underscoring climate change's detrimental impacts on the beekeeping sector. Multinomial logistic regression revealed determinants of the likelihood of beekeepers being classified as ‘heavily impacted’ by climate change. This analysis indicates that Southern European beekeepers experienced a 10-fold likelihood of being classified as heavily impacted by climate change compared to Northern European beekeepers. Other significant factors distinguishing ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ were self-reported level of professionalism as a beekeeper (ranging from pure hobbyist to fully professional, Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.31), number of years active in beekeeping (OR = 1.02), availability of floral resources throughout the bee season (OR = 0.78), beehives located in a forested environment (OR = 1.34), and the presence of local policy measures addressing climate change-related challenges (OR = 0.76).

Effect of Force Field Resolution on Membrane Mechanical Response and Mechanoporation Damage under Deformation Simulations.

Damage induced by transient disruption and mechanoporation in an intact cell membrane is a vital nanoscale biomechanical mechanism that critically affects cell viability. To complement experimental studies of mechanical membrane damage and disruption, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed at different force field resolutions, each of which follows different parameterization strategies and thus may influence the properties and dynamics of membrane systems. Therefore, the current study performed tensile deformation MD simulations of bilayer membranes using all-atom (AA), united-atom (UA), and coarse-grained Martini (CG-M) models to investigate how the damage biomechanics differs across atomistic and coarse-grained (CG) simulations. The mechanical response and mechanoporation damage were qualitatively similar but quantitatively different in the three models, including some progressive changes based on the coarse-graining level. The membranes yielded and reached ultimate strength at similar strains; however, the coarser systems exhibited lower average yield stresses and failure strains. The average failure strain in the UA model was approximately 7% lower than the AA, and the CG-M was 20% lower than UA and 27% lower than AA. The CG systems also nucleated a higher number of pores and larger pores, which resulted in higher damage during the deformation process. Overall, the study provides insight on the impact of force field-a critical factor in modeling biomolecular systems and their interactions-in inspecting membrane mechanosensitive responses and serves as a reference for justifying the appropriate force field for future studies of more complex membranes and more diverse biomolecular assemblies.

Relationship between periparturient diseases, metabolic markers and the dynamics of hair cortisol concentrations in dairy cows

Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) might represent a promising marker for retrospective welfare assessment of dairy cows. The objective of the study was to explore the dynamics of HCC in diseased and healthy cows from eight-week ante partum (AP) to eight-week post partum (PP). Twenty-four pregnant cows were followed from drying off to week eight PP. Tail hair was used to measure cortisol at five different time points. The occurrence of peripartum diseases, lameness and the body condition score (BCS) were monitored on a weekly basis. Blood β-hydroxybutyric acid, non-esterified fatty acids, calcium and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations were measured. The temperature-humidity index (THI) was continuously recorded.The median values of HCC in all cows were 0.4, 0.3, 0.6, 0.8 and 0.5 pg/mg at weeks eight, four AP, calving, weeks four, eight PP, respectively. There was no association between HCC and the occurrence of peripartum diseases (P ≥ 0.05). A positive correlation between HCC and BCS loss (P < 0.01) and THI (P < 0.05) was observed. The occurrence of peripartum diseases was associated with low IGF-1 during the study period but no relationship was found between cortisol and IGF-1 levels (P ≥ 0.05). Brown Swiss cows showed higher HCC (P < 0.01) at weeks eight, four AP, and week four PP and lower average milk yield (P < 0.05) than Holstein–Friesian cows. In conclusion, HCC was not a suitable marker for peripartum diseases but it could reflect a stress response, which is linked to BCS loss, heat stress and breed.

CFLD: An Effective Approach To Improve Production Potential Of Groundnut In Guntur District Of Andhra Pradesh

Cluster Frontline Demonstration (CFLD) is a unique approach to demonstrate the production potential of newly released technologies on the farmers’ fields. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, LAM, Guntur had conducted the Cluster Frontline Demonstration (CFLDs) on oilseeds during 2016 to 2019. The KVK had organized 150CFLDs on Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) in fivevillagesviz.,Yazilli, Danduvaaripaalem, Pachala Thaatiparru, Kaskarru and Karlapalem of Guntur district. To get the adequate size of the sample, 150 CFLDs beneficiary farmers were selected as the sample for the present study.Highest average yield of 40.25 q/ha was recorded in groundnut variety Kadiri 7 Bold, while the lowest average yield was 22.5 q/ha (Kadiri 6) with 12.9 and 12.4 percent increase in yield respectively. Extension gap were observed as 3.9, 4.6 and 3.6 in Kadiri 6, Kadiri 7 bold and Kadiri Haritandra. Technology index ranges from 9.75 to 19.6 in demonstrated groundnut varieties in CFLD programme. There was a significant increase in area from 25 to 230 ha (increased up to 205 %), 10 to 110 ha (increased up to 100 %), 30 to 190 ha (increased up to 160 %) area in Kadiri 6, Kadiri 7 bold and Kadiri Haritandra groundnut varieties respectively. Impact on adoption (per cent change) is prominent in case of Kadiri 6 (820 %), Kadiri Haritandra (533.3%) and Kadiri 7 bold (90.9 %) because of their yield potential, crop management practices fallowed by the farmers suggested by kvk scientists through CFLD. maximum (48.6%) number of respondents highly satisfied with the services rendered through CFLDThe Local variety of groundnut varietyTAG-24 was replaced by improved varieties developed by ANGRAU, Andhra Pradesh such as Kadiri-6, Kadiri 7 bold and Kadiri Harithandra‘. Thus, it can be inferred that CFLDs is an effective extension intervention to demonstrate the production potential of improved technologies in Groundnut on farmers’ field. Therefore, it is recommended that the extension agencies engaged in transfer and application of agricultural technologies on farmer‘s field.

Simulating Long-Term Effects of Sowing Date on the Yield of Dryland and Irrigated Winter Wheat

Highlights This study employed AquaCrop model to simulate winter wheat growth in Oklahoma. Different sowing dates and water availability at the time of sowing were investigated. 5 October was found to be the most optimum sowing date by producing overall greater wheat yields. 25% decrease in dryland crop yield was noted when soil water content at sowing was decreased from 100% to 40% of total available water. Abstract. Dryland winter wheat is the most widely grown crop in Oklahoma, where water availability and temperature variations are the major factors affecting the yield of this crop. These effects were assessed using the AquaCrop model. Model calibration and validation were performed using field measurements collected from 11 site-years. The validated model satisfactorily simulated soil water content, maturity biomass, and yield, with overall normalized root mean square errors of 11%, 5%, and 9%, respectively. The model was then used in long-term (1994-2019) simulations of winter wheat at three locations in Oklahoma’s wheat belt under five sowing dates (15 Sept., 25 Sept., 5 Oct., 15 Oct., and 25 Oct.) and three soil water contents (SWC) of 40%, 70%, and 100% of the total available water at sowing. The highest simulated average dryland yields (6.4 to 6.6 Mg ha-1) were obtained for early to mid-October sowing dates under the largest SWC at sowing. The lowest average yields (2.67 to 4.15 Mg ha-1) belonged to earlier sowing (mid-September) under the smallest SWC at sowing. Irrigation had a positive impact on the yield of winter wheat and this impact increased for later sowing. The yield of winter wheat sowed in mid-September increased by 0.28 Mg ha-1 under irrigation when averaged for all years and sites, while late-October average yield was 0.96 Mg ha-1 higher than dryland average yield. Irrigation water productivities also increased with later sowing dates. Keywords: AquaCrop, Irrigation water productivity, Oklahoma, Soil water content.

Morphological and Molecular Identification of Fungi Associated with Sesame Diseased Plants of the Three Agroclimatic Zones of Burkina Faso

Sesame is Burkina Faso’s second essential agricultural export after cotton. It’s consequently a supply of income for producers and foreign exchange for the country. However, sesame production is characterized by low average yields of about 538 kg·ha-1 at the farmer’s field as compared to the potential yield of the improved varieties (1500 - 2000 kg·ha-1). Fungal diseases are some of the major constraints to sesame production in Burkina Faso. The present study contributes to the development of means to control pathogenic fungi of this crop, which are responsible for significant losses. The objective is to identify the fungi associated with diseased sesame plant samples. To this end, 149 samples of diseased sesame plants were collected from different production sites located in three agro-climatic zones of the country. The analysis of the samples according to the blotting paper method, based on the morphological characteristics of the fungi, allowed the identification of 18 genera with prevalence rates from 2.68% to 97.98%. The most frequently identified genera were Macrophomina (97.98%), Cercospora (86.57%), Fusarium (85.23%), Phoma (62.41%) and Colletotrichum (61.07%). The results also showed a variable distribution of fungi according to the agro-climatic zone with the predominance of Macrophomina in all three zones. Molecular identification by DNA sequencing of 120 isolates belonging to the different fungi detected allowed the identification of 25 species of which the most representative were Macrophomina phaseolina, Cercospora sesami, Corynespora cassiicola, Alternaria simsimi, Alternaria porri, Fusarium oxysporum, F. fujikuroi, F. equiseti, Colletotrichum capsici, and C. gloesporiodes. The present study showed that diseased sesame plants collected from different production sites in Burkina Faso housed several species of fungi. The fungi presence in diseased plants indicates the need to inform and raise the stakeholders’ awareness about the phytosanitary problems of sesame, but also to develop effective and appropriate control methods against these crop pathogens in Burkina Faso.

The Efficiency of Environmental Project Financing with Green Bonds in the Energy Sector: Evidence from EU Countries

This paper investigates whether the issue of green bonds by energy companies allows lowering the cost of funding for their environmental projects. We use empirical data on green bond placement in the energy sector and comparable conventional bond yield curves to prove the existence of the green bond yield discount. The sample includes 37 plain vanilla green bond issues and comparable yield curves of EU energy companies for 2017–2020 with total volume EUR 25 bn. We demonstrate that green bonds have a 4.7 bps lower average yield compared to conventional bonds. This green bond discount is statistically significant at a 5% level and does not depend on issue size or debut status of the issue. We draw three main conclusions: (1) energy companies may lower cost of funding by issuing green bonds, making environmental projects more economically attractive, (2) the green bond discount is present for both inaugural and subsequent green bond issues, which makes it reasonable to finance all environmental projects with green bonds, (3) the green bond discount does not depend on the issue size, which makes green bonds an appropriate choice for financing capital-intensive projects.

The impact of the long-term application of mineral nitrogen and sewage sludge fertilizers on the quality of soil organic matter

BackgroundSoil fertility is substantially influenced by soil organic matter quality and quantity. Much attention has also been given to glomalin content as one of the qualitative parameters of soil fertility. Glomalin content is considered an indicator of soil fertility due to its positive correlation with soil organic carbon.AimThis study aim to (i) determine the influence of different fertilization systems on maize yield and soil organic matter quality parameters, (ii) ensure that changes in total glomalin content (TG) and easily extractable glomalin (EEG) content are sensitive enough to reflect changes in the SOM quality resulting from long-term fertilization, and (iii) determine whether both forms of glomalin must be determined or if the easily extractable glomalin (EEG) content is sufficient, even for a fertile chernozem.Materials and methodsLong-term field experiments with silage maize monocultures were used to study relationships under different rates of mineral nitrogen and sewage sludge fertilization. The trials comprised 5 treatments: (i) no fertilization control (Con), (ii) and (iii) two different calcium ammonium nitrate rates (N120 and N240 at doses of 120 and 240 kg N ha−1 year−1, respectively), and iv) and v) two different sewage sludge rates (S120 and S240 corresponding to mineral N doses). Topsoil (0–30 cm) analysis was performed 28 years after the onset of the experiment to determine soil organic carbon, the fractions of humic substances, potentially mineralizable carbon and dissolved organic carbon, the potential wettability index, soil aggregate stability, EEG, and total glomalin (TG).ResultsThe control treatment, which did not include fertilization, showed significantly lower average yields (9.76 t DM ha−1 year−1) than the fertilization treatments (on average 12.3 DM ha−1 year−1). Significant differences in yields were not found between the fertilization treatments. A positive correlation between glomalin (EEG, TG) content and soil organic matter carbon content was observed. A periodic application of sewage sludge increased the content of glomalin. However, the highest quality of SOM was found in the control treatment (nonfertilized). This treatment had the highest values for the humic/fulvic acid ratio and the highest contents of humic acids and potentially mineralizable carbon. Furthermore, the Con treatment showed the highest soil aggregate stability and potential wettability index. Mineral N fertilization significantly reduced soil aggregate stability values.ConclusionsThe unfertilized control showed the highest SOM quality but the lowest yields. The data on glomalin content can be used to study soil organic matter quality. Because the EEG extraction method is easy to apply, uses lower quantities of chemicals and consumes less time, it presents a better option than TG extraction. The sensitivity of the methods for SOM quality determination decreases with increasing SOM content.Graphical

Field-scale studies quantify limitations for wheat grain zinc biofortification in dryland areas

Optimizing of agronomic measures is an efficient way to improve crop zinc (Zn) nutrition and human dietary Zn intake. We collected field management, soil, and plant information from 78 fields in Shuiqing, 106 fields in Yongshou, and 120 fields in Qiujialing on China’s Loess Plateau to explore limitations in wheat grain Zn and design alternative options to achieve the target grain Zn concentration (40 mg kg–1). The Shuiqing fields had an average grain yield of 5022 kg ha–1 and grain Zn concentration of 22.8 mg kg–1, with no fields achieving the target grain Zn concentration due to phosphorus (P) fertilizer overuse (254 kg P2O5 ha–1) and very low soil DTPA-Zn (0.23 mg kg–1). Two Yongshou fields reached the target grain Zn concentration but had 52.3%, 16.0%, and 51.4% lower average grain yield, P fertilizer rate, and soil Olsen-P, respectively, than other fields. The Qiujialing fields had an average grain Zn concentration of 34.8 mg kg–1, with 18.3% of fields ≥ 40 mg kg–1, of which 91% had soil DTPA-Zn ≥ 0.5 mg kg–1 and 45.2% higher grain Zn uptake than other fields due to newly released wheat cultivars, low P fertilizer rates, low soil Olsen-P, and high soil mineral nitrogen. In conclusion, a feasible framework for achieving the target grain Zn level would be using cultivars with high Zn uptake capacity, reducing P fertilizer use and soil Olsen-P, and improving soil available Zn in low Zn soils.

Bacteroidota structure in the face of varying agricultural practices as an important indicator of soil quality – a culture independent approach

The choice of appropriate agricultural practices has a major impact on soil quality, crop productivity, and bacterial community structure. The aim of our study was to gain insight into Bacteroidota structure, including the phylum, family, and genus in the context of the application of different agricultural practices (crop rotation, intercropping mixture, long-term maize monoculture) across changing seasons (spring, summer, autumn), which is undoubtedly novel among previous reports on different cropping systems. Additionally, the Spearman correlation test as well as ANOVA and RDA statistical analyses were conducted to expand the information on chemical factors directly affecting Bacteroidota abundance in the soil environment. Bacteroidota were shown to be present with varying abundance depending on the agricultural practice and the season. The highest abundance of Bacteroidota occurred when crop rotation was the main agricultural practice, where the highest average yield was also recorded. Thus, our study identified crop rotation as the best of the three agricultural practices compared. The reduction in the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, in particular Flavobacterium sp. in fields K20 (intercropping) and K21 (monoculture), and the achievement of almost twice the lower average yield in field K21 than in field K3, indicated the poorer quality of these soils. We therefore concluded that the increased abundance of Bacteroidota could indicate good quality agricultural soils. It was also proved that the genera Mucilaginibacter and Edaphobaculum are the most sensitive to soil chemistry over the changing seasons, while the genus Flavobacterium is sensitive to agricultural practices and its presence may indicate good quality of agricultural soils. Statistical analyses indicated that chemical properties have a strong influence on Bacteroidota structure formation in agricultural soils. Overall, our results have evidenced that the Bacteroidota community can be an important indicator of soil quality in studies of soil biological degradation processes, since a decrease in the abundance of these beneficial microorganisms potentially could be connected with reduction of the soil quality, fertility and ultimately affects crop yield. They have also shown that the community of this group of bacteria varies between seasons of the year.

Constraints faced by the dairy co-operative members related to Chhattisgarh state co-operative dairy federation limited in Raipur district (C.G.)

Chhattisgarh traditionally known as rice bowl of India is now also trying very hard to earn a name for itself in the dairying arena by augmenting milk production nearing levels achieved by Gujarat. The Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Dairy Federation is one of the largest Cooperative Dairy Federations in Chhattisgarh. The State Dairy Federation was formed in the year 2013 which was previously known as Raipur Dudgh Sangh (a part of MPCDF of undivided Madhya Pradesh). Thereafter its business was taken over by the federation to set up two-tier system and it is now planning for three-tier system based on Gujarat’s Anand district pattern. The study was conducted in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh state. Data were collected from 150 DCS member with the help of structured interview schedule. 15 DCS members were chosen from each selected village thus constituting a sample size of 150 by simple random method. The aim of this study was to better understand the constraints that dairy cooperative members confront from the perspectives of financial, animal health care, animal breeding, and other diverse constraints. The results revealed that the major constraints experienced by dairy cooperative members were the un-availability of green fodder throughout the year, low average milk yield of the milch animals, high cost of feed, irregular payment of milk by the societies, infrequent availability of veterinary health care facilities, lack of improved breeds, and the inability to obtain artificial insemination facilities at the appropriate time.