Farming Methods Research Articles

Agricultural Decision Support System

Abstract: In India, agriculture stands as the backbone of the economy, yet farmers encounter persistent challenges rooted in conventional farming methods that result in suboptimal yields and environmental degradation. To address these issues, a transformative shift towards precision agriculture is imperative. Our Agricultural Decision Support System (ADSS) represents a pioneering initiative harnessing advanced machine learning algorithms to confront these challenges head-on. By scrutinizing soil characteristics alongside critical weather parameters encompassing temperature, humidity, pH levels, and precipitation, our system furnishes tailored recommendations for crop selection and optimal fertilizer application. Through the implementation of our innovative solution, farmers stand poised to diversify their crop cultivation, augment yields, and pave the way for sustainable agricultural practices. The integration of our system offers farmers the opportunity to explore new crop varieties, potentially leading to heightened profitability and the mitigation of soil pollution concerns.

EVALUATION AND VALORIZATION OF PERI-URBAN WASTELAND IN ALGERIA USING DATABASE INDICES

This study examined the transformation of fertile peri-urban land surrounding large Algerian cities. Khemis El Khechna municipality in Boumerdes province was a case study for this phenomenon. Researchers utilized remote sensing techniques through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to quantify land-use change. Specifically, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) contributed to finding regions with high biodiversity and healthy vegetation, while the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) highlighted areas of concentrated buildings. This data was crucial in identifying wastelands or potential wastelands. The ultimate goal was to promote the development of such areas as an alternative to encroaching on productive farmland. The indexes and their database hold great promise for agriculture in the form of a national cadaster. The method could also be easily applied to other African countries, by promoting the utilization of wasteland and the adoption of precise farming methods.

The Provision of Agricultural Extension Services to Rural Farmers as a Strategy to Improve Agricultural Practices in South Africa

The government of South Africa has shown a commitment to providing extensive support to farmers by providing agricultural extension services. This qualitative study on providing agricultural extension services to rural farmers to improve agricultural productivity was conducted in Msinga Local Municipality. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Participants were sampled purposively, and data was analysed using content analysis. The agricultural extension officers played an important role in helping farmers with the provision of extension services, including seeds, manure, and the implementation of irrigation schemes and farm fencing. The extension services also included training and assisting farmers with vaccinating crops and livestock to protect them from diseases. Rural farmers were unable to attend training sessions and meetings organised by extension officers, and this has turned out to be a problem since farmers lack knowledge of farming methods and available information on possible financial assistance. There is a need to establish agricultural cooperatives that will liaise with agricultural extension officers and be able to communicate with other farmers when the officials are planning to meet with them for the provision of extension services.

Awareness about the Agriculture Needs through Interactive Web Application for Farmers

Agriculture occupies an important position in the Indian economy. Indian farmers today are facing the problem of low income due to the lack of information about government schemes, fertilizers, farming equipment, etc. Some smallholders Agriculture occupies an important position in the Indian economy. Indian farmers today are facing the problem of low income due to the lack of information about government schemes, fertilizers, farming equipment, etc. Some smallholders and marginalized farmers have low awareness as most of them live in remote areas and don't have access to information about soil properties, seeds, recently used tools, fertilizers, etc. The document proposes an intelligent, portable system that uses natural language processing Agriculture occupies an important position in the Indian economy. Indian farmers today are facing the problem of low income due to the lack of information about government schemes, fertilizers, farming equipment etc. Some smallholders and marginalized farmers have low awareness as most of them live in remote areas and don't have access to information about soil properties, seeds, recently used tools, fertilizers, etc. The document proposes an intelligent, portable system that uses natural language processing methods to help farmers use different farming methods, and further help them to answer their queries and solve their basic and intermediate-level doubts using a chatbot which will save their time. To meet all the requirements of farmers, a chatbot is proposed using natural language processing technology. The system will act as an interactive virtual assistant for farmers, answering all queries related to agriculture. This paper will go through the implementation of the chatbot using the chatterweb bot libraries and the Django framework

Pertumbuhan dan Produksi Tanaman Sawi Pakcoy (Brassica rapa L.) Akibat Dibudidayakan pada Berbagai Komposisi Media Tanam dan Konsentrasi Pupuk Organik Cair dengan Sistem Vertikultur

Pakcoy (Brassica rapa L.) is one of the important and popular vegetable crops in Indonesia. City development and massive urbanization have resulted in the shrinking of agricultural land in urban areas. Home gardens have great potential if managed optimally and planned. Therefore, the concept of urban farming with the vertical farming method can be a solution. This study aimed to determine the optimal composition of planting media and liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) concentration for the growth and production of pakcoy plants. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with two factors. The first factor was the composition of the planting medium, which consisted of three levels: soil, compost, and goat manure with a ratio of 1:1:1, 1:1:2, and 1:2:1. The second factor was the concentration of LOF and urea, which consisted of four levels: 1 gram urea, 2 ml/liter water, 4 ml/liter water, and 6 ml/liter water. The results of the study showed that the combination of planting medium composition and LOF concentration had an effect on all observation parameters. The combination of planting medium composition 1:1:2 and LOF concentration of 4 ml/liter water produced the best results for all observation parameters, namely plant height, number of leaves, total fresh weight, fresh head weight, fresh root weight, and plant dry weight. Key words : Pakcoy mustard, verticulture, media composition, concentration, LOF

Understanding the detrimental effects of heavy metal pollution in shrimp farming and treatment methods – a review

Abstract High levels of heavy metals in the environment pose a significant risk to the aquatic ecosystem and its organisms. The non-biodegradable nature and lengthy persistence of heavy metals in the environment lead to toxicity in shrimp. Using aquatic animals as bio-indicators of metal contamination provides valuable data on acute and chronic toxicity in aquatic species and environmental quality. This review aims to provide insights into the sources, impacts, diseases and mitigation strategies related to heavy metal pollution in shrimp farming and the dangers to humans. Shrimp growth and development at each stage exhibit distinct responses to toxicity, which can vary depending on the species, types of metals, their mechanisms of action, as well as the concentration of heavy metals and duration of exposure. While several heavy metals are considered essential nutrient elements that enhance shrimp growth and feed efficiency, exceeding the maximum tolerable limit threatens shrimp health, human consumers, and ecological systems’ stability. Shrimp species subjected to lethal toxic metal concentrations experience significant effects on accumulation in histopathology. Heavy metal toxicity has been linked to high mortality rates, malformation rates, oxidative stress, moulting issues, and decreased reproduction with increasing concentrations in shrimp. Various methods have been reported for removing heavy metal ions from aquatic environments, including filtration, adsorbents, removal efficacy, operating conditions, and the pros and cons of each technique. Therefore, this review provides an overview of how heavy metals can affect shrimp physiology and dangers to consumers. It aims to increase awareness about the importance of preventing and regulating their contamination in aquatic environments.

Triple Attention Mechanism with YOLOv5s for Fish Detection

Traditional fish farming methods suffer from backward production, low efficiency, low yield, and environmental pollution. As a result of thorough research using deep learning technology, the industrial aquaculture model has experienced gradual maturation. A variety of complex factors makes it difficult to extract effective features, which results in less-than-good model performance. This paper proposes a fish detection method that combines a triple attention mechanism with a You Only Look Once (TAM-YOLO)model. In order to enhance the speed of model training, the process of data encapsulation incorporates positive sample matching. An exponential moving average (EMA) is incorporated into the training process to make the model more robust, and coordinate attention (CA) and a convolutional block attention module are integrated into the YOLOv5s backbone to enhance the feature extraction of channels and spatial locations. The extracted feature maps are input to the PANet path aggregation network, and the underlying information is stacked with the feature maps. The method improves the detection accuracy of underwater blurred and distorted fish images. Experimental results show that the proposed TAM-YOLO model outperforms YOLOv3, YOLOv4, YOLOv5s, YOLOv5m, and SSD, with a mAP value of 95.88%, thus providing a new strategy for fish detection.

Design, Fabrication and Analysis of Battery Operated Brush Cutter

Crop harvesting involves either removing the plants after they have been torn out or cutting the crops close to the earth. It entails cutting coral crop stems, such as tuar, Jawar, Bajra, and maize, close to the ground. In our nation, a sharp sickle is typically used to cut things. Mainly, small-scale rice farmers are using conventional methods or, we could say, traditional methods in farming. The reaping process of the rice crop is very time-consuming as well as it requires more human effort. The labour required for farming is also more compared to other crops. So, the development of mechanical operated reaper is come but the reapers are costly for the use for the farmers those farms are small in size. They cannot afford harvesters and other expensive machinery. So, we have developed a small and low-cost solar assisted rice reaper machine which runs on electricity by use of batteries.

Prospects for the introduction of a green economy in the agricultural sector of Ukraine for the next 10 years

The relevance of the study is due to the deterioration of the environment and the low level of application of green technologies in the agricultural sector of Ukraine. The aim was to outline the current problems for farmers in the use of green farming methods and to find solutions. The study assessed the level of use of certain green technologies in agricultural production in Ukraine. The main results obtained in this work are: determining Ukraine’s place in the Green Future Index ranking in various areas during 2021-2023 and comparing it with Iceland, Finland, and Norway; identifying areas of green technologies that need to be developed in Ukraine during martial law and after the war (precision and organic farming, the introduction of biotechnology to create genetically modified organisms and the transition to alternative energy sources). The study of the dependence of farmers’ propensity to use green technologies on the size of farming confirms its undeniable presence. The analysis of foreign experience in precision agriculture allowed formulating recommendations for foreign companies entering the Ukrainian market to promote the use of precision agriculture in Ukraine. The findings on the growing electricity shortage helped to justify the further use of alternative energy sources in the context of the conflict. A study of the negative impact of the hostilities on Ukrainian land allowed classifying such types of impact and developing measures to restore the soil. The assessment of the use of technologies in agriculture helped to identify areas for the introduction of a green economy in the agricultural sector in Ukraine, which will help to increase agricultural yields without harming the environment and increase its competitiveness. The results and conclusions have practical implications for the Government in developing agricultural policy and for farmers in managing their farms

The Contribution of Subsistence Agriculture to the Livelihoods of the Smallholder Farmers in South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo

Subsistence agriculture is practiced in most parts of the world on a limited space of land by farmers. It is mainly dependent on human power that results into production of food consumed at household level, with little or no surplus for sale. A study about the contribution of subsistence agriculture to the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers in south Kivu province was carried out. A total of 303 smallholder farmers were randomly selected and interviewed to examine the effects of practicing subsistence agriculture on the socioeconomic status of the farmers. How the socioeconomic status attained by the farmers influenced their sustainable livelihoods was also assessed. Data were analyzed using means, frequency distribution, correlation, ANOVA and Chi square test. Thematic analysis was done on qualitative data. The farmers practiced shifting and primitive agriculture, intensive subsistence, and nomadic herding. There was a significant difference in the yields of crops grown (F = 0.0088; P = 0.05), while education and income status significantly affected the farmer’s socioeconomic status by practicing subsistence agriculture (P < 0.05). An average mean value of 3.12 for the components of the farmers’ livelihoods were exhibited, with the human capital mean value being highest (4.16) compared to natural, social and financial capital. The socioeconomic status attained had a significant effect on sustainable livelihoods of the farmers at P < 0.05. This implies that the smallholder farmers need to be trained by the agricultural extension workers better and sustainable methods of farming for higher crop yields. In addition, the Central Government though the Ministry of Agriculture, should avail improved seed inputs to the local community for better crop yields. All these will enable the smallholder farmers improve their socioeconomic status and at the same time attain higher sustainable livelihoods.

An updated review on significance of PGPR-induced plant signalling and stress management in advancing sustainable agriculture

Traditional agriculture relies heavily on chemical inputs, which pose significant threats to the environment and deplete natural resources. The environmental challenges posed by chemical-based agriculture and emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable alternatives in the face of climate change. Acknowledging the detrimental impact of environmental stressors on global agriculture sets the stage for exploration of PGPR as a promising solution. Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) have emerged as a sustainable alternative, fostering plant development, and enhancing stress resilience. A comprehensive understanding of the underlying signalling pathways and stress management mechanisms is essential to maximizing their potential. Plant health has been demonstrated, nutrient uptake has improved, and environmental stress has been reduced with the help of PGPR. Identifying the specific plant signalling pathways that are impacted by PGPR and comprehending their function in stress mitigation are critical to creating efficient and sustainable farming practises. Utilizing PGPR-mediated stress control may reduce the need for chemical inputs, encouraging environmentally friendly farming methods. By creating genetically engineered crops with increased stress tolerance, the knowledge gathered in this review can help ensure food security in the face of climate change. The signalling pathways involved, the processes underpinning PGPR-plant interactions, and the responses of plants to diverse stressors when PGPR is present have been explored. This review offers helpful insights into the intricate link between PGPR and plants, putting light on the uncertainties that beg for additional research by critically analysing the present literature and highlighting knowledge gaps.

Smart Poultry Farm Automation

Our case-study paper entitled "Smart Poultry Farm Automation" aims to enhance the efficiency and productivity of poultry farming through the application of advanced automation technologies. Poultry farming plays a crucial role in meeting the growing global demand for poultry products. However, traditional farming methods often face challenges related to labor intensity, resource management, and monitoring. This project proposes the design and implementation of a comprehensive automation system for poultry farms. The system will integrate sensors, actuators, and IoT (Internet of Things) technologies to automate various tasks such as environmental control, feeding, watering, and health monitoring of poultry. Real-time data collection and analysis will enable farmers to optimize farm conditions, improve bird health, and minimize resource wastage. Key components of the proposed system include environmental sensors for monitoring temperature, humidity, and ventilation; automated feeders and waterers controlled by IoT devices; and health monitoring systems utilizing image processing or sensor data for early disease detection. The system will be designed to provide farmers with remote access and control through a user-friendly interface, allowing them to monitor farm operations and receive alerts or notifications. The expected outcomes of this project include increased productivity, reduced operational costs, improved animal welfare, and better decision-making for farmers. By leveraging automation and IoT technologies, the proposed system will contribute to the modernization and sustainability of poultry farming practices

An assessment of Organic and Conventional Farming Practices for Yield, Pest Management and Soil Health

This study contrasts and compares conventional and organic farming. The purpose of the study is to assess the effectiveness and impact of each practice before deciding on the best crop-growing approach. Despite their agricultural systems can be categorized as conventional or sustainable depending on the techniques employed. Organic farming which cultivates a range of crops without the use of synthetic manures, the agricultural method that is most sustainable. While producing enough food, organic farming improves soil composition and supports biodiversity by relying on ecosystem services. The review compares the long-term effects of conventional and alternative organic farming practices on yield in which in short term organic yields were found to be 19.2% lower than conventional yield while in long term yields were lower in conventional systems by 31% and 50%, respectively, due to the long-term improvement in soil health. In soil health point of view long term practices of organic farming improves physical, chemical and biological properties of soil by increase soil carbon stock by 12 %, more nutrient release and microbial activity. Pest management is effectively controlled by crop rotation, increase beneficial population of pest in organic farming which reduce the dependency on chemical pesticides and maintain the sustainability of soil health and ecology. As a result, organic farming methods are being evaluated in a large number of research worldwide as an alternative due to their better physical, chemical and biological qualities than conventional farming methods.

ASPERGILLOSIS IN BROILER CHICKEN IN TUNJUK VILLAGE, TABANAN DISTRICT, TABANAN REGENCY, BALI

In the development of broiler farming in Indonesia, it is necessary to be aware of diseases that often attack livestock, namely Aspergillosis fungal infection. This case study aims to confirm the diagnosis in the death of 30-day-old broiler chickens of male sex who experienced clinical symptoms of lethargy, nasal discharge, shortness of breath, swollen eyelids, and difficulty eating for 3 days so that they were separated from the rest of the chicken population obtained at one of the farms located in Tunjuk Village, Tabanan District, Tabanan Regency, Bali. Examination of case animals included signaling, anamnesis, epidemiological data, clinical symptoms, anatomical pathology and histopathology examination, bacteriology and mycology examination, and parasitology examination. The results of the anatomical pathology examination showed congestion in the brain, petechie in the ventriculus, hemorrhage in the intestines, hemorrhage in the lungs with white nodules and white nodules in the kidneys. Histopathological examination found septa hyphae and conidiophore. In the mycological examination, the case animals identified Aspergillosis in the lung and kidney organs grown on SDA (Sabouraud Dextose Agar) media and observation under a microscope using 10% KOH dye and methylene blue. In the bacteriological examination, samples of lung and intestinal organs were cultured on general Nutrient Agar (NA) media, followed by selective Eosin Methylene Blue Agar (EMBA) media, primary tests, gram staining, biochemical tests and sugar tests until the results showed that there was a secondary infection of Klebsiella sp in the lung organ samples. The results of the examination related to parasites in the feces of case chickens by qualitative methods, namely natif (direct), sedimentation concentration, and buoyancy concentration were confirmed not to be found worm eggs or coccidia. From this case study it can be concluded that the case chicken was infected with Aspergillosis. Prevention of the spread of Aspergillosis should be done by improving farm management such as housing sanitation and good husbandry methods to prevent the risk of livestock experiencing the disease.

Development of Circular Economy in Agriculture in Hanoi, Vietnam

The introduction of circular economy principles into closed production systems is essential to address current socio-economic and ecological challenges efficiently. This approach not only saves costs, creates job opportunities, and fosters economic growth but also promotes the sustainable use of natural resources in agriculture. Transitioning to a circular economy model in agriculture contributes to achieving sustainable development goals. In Hanoi, Vietnam, sustainable agriculture development focuses on integrating natural processes and biological resources to enhance productivity while preserving the environment. Challenges persist in shifting from conventional to organic farming methods due to certification complexities and infrastructure limitations. Despite these hurdles, organic farming adoption is increasing, positively impacting agricultural productivity and biodiversity. The gradual expansion of certified organic agriculture in Hanoi indicates promising strides toward environmental conservation and economic development through a closed-loop agricultural system.

The Guidelines for Developing Competitiveness of Thai Agricultural Products: A Case Study of Durian Production in 14 Southern Provinces, Thailand

This study explores ways to make Thai durian production more competitive, concentrating on sustainable practices and difficulties experienced by durian growers. Multiple techniques were used. A thorough grasp of the market dynamics was gathered through in-depth interviews with 30 industry stakeholders, including durian producers, exporters, distributors, government officials, and industry professionals. 200 responders from 14 southern regions of Thailand, where durian production is crucial because of traditional farming practices and a favourable climate. Examining quality control practises, distribution effectiveness and sustainable farming methods revealed areas that might be improved to increase industry competitiveness. The study also revealed difficulties, including losses from post-harvest handling, barriers to entry into the market, regulatory limits, and inconsistent quality. The study also examined consumer preferences for sustainable products and their willingness to pay more. The findings reveal a sustainably produced durian goods market since they show an increasing consumer trend towards eco-friendly alternatives. Future recommendations call for incorporating technology into the supply chain, doing in-depth customer preference research, conducting a comparative analysis, and conducting long-term evaluations of sustainable practices. Policymakers, businesspeople, and researchers working to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the Thai durian industry will find this study helpful.

Solar Based Smart Irrigation System

This article presents a novel mobile application utilizing modern information and communication technology for agriculture, centered on the Internet of Things (IoT), embedded systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The proposed agricultural monitoring system, employing Arduino microcontroller boards, Wi-Fi modules, and environmental sensors, facilitates data collection on temperature, humidity, and soil moisture. UAVs gather environmental data across the farm, enabling cloud-based computation of irrigation requirements for each region. Additionally, the system remotely monitors farm conditions, including water needs, through an Android mobile application, aiding farmers. Results indicate the effectiveness of our IoT-based system in reducing unnecessary water irrigation, aligning with smart agriculture goals. As the global population burgeons, the demand for increased food production escalates. Traditional farming methods necessitate extensive labor and water usage. This paper introduces a compact automated agricultural system prototype. Employing directional guides, the hardware enables precise processes such as seeding, humidity sensing, and watering, ensuring optimal crop growth and economic viability. From seed sowing to watering, the entire system operates autonomously. Testing involved integrating the hardware with a scaled-down plantation model to validate functionality. Keywords: Solar Panels, Arduino Uno, Soil Moisture Sensor, Relay, Lithium Battery, PIR Sensor, TP4058 Module, Gear Motor, LDR Sensor, Submersible Pump, Buzzer.

Promoting Environmental Sustainability Through Vertical Farming: A Review

Vertical farming presents a transformative approach to agriculture with the potential to address pressing environmental sustainability challenges. This abstract explores the role of vertical farming in advancing environmental sustainability. By utilizing innovative techniques like hydroponics and aeroponics, vertical farming optimizes resource use, reduces land footprint, and minimizes environmental impact. Through the vertical stacking of crops in controlled indoor environments, it maximizes land use efficiency and minimizes water consumption compared to traditional farming methods. Moreover, vertical farms located in urban areas reduce transportation emissions by shortening the food supply chain. However, challenges such as high initial investment costs and energy consumption remain barriers to widespread adoption. Collaborative efforts among researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders are crucial to overcoming these challenges and scaling up vertical farming practices. Despite obstacles, vertical farming holds significant promise for promoting environmental sustainability by enhancing food security, conserving natural resources, and reducing the ecological footprint of agriculture.

An Energy-Efficient Cluster-based data aggregation for agriculture irrigation management system using wireless sensor networks

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) are becoming one of the demanding platforms, where sensor nodes are sensing and monitoring the physical or environmental conditions and transmit the data to the base station via multi-hop routing. Agriculture sector also adopted these networks to promote innovations for environmentally friendly farming methods, lower the management cost, and achieve scientific cultivation. This combination can improve crop yield, quality, and efficiency while saving energy and water. It is important to note that irrigation is one of the essential factors for agricultural success. In an agriculture irrigation application, a WSN is deployed in a specific area to control the irrigation in the field. But using WSN will generate massive redundancy in the data processing. So, there is lacking an efficient system for extensive sensor data processing. This research work presents an Energy-Efficient Cluster-Based Data Aggregation (E2CDA) Technique for agriculture irrigation systems in WSN. An improved probabilistic clustering method is used for preserving the optimal number of Cluster Head (CH) in each round of iteration. The proposed work is implemented in MATLAB, according to simulation results; the developed E2CDA method provides better result when compared with the existing approaches such as Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchical (LEACH) routing and centralized LEACH (LEACH-C) in terms of energy savings, network lifetime, packet delivery ratio, end-to-end delay, and packet drop ratio.

A Review on Effect of Organic Conditioner on Physico-chemical and Microbiological Properties of Soil

The unbalanced use of chemical fertilizers has caused adverse effects on the environment and human health, which has raised the focus on environmentally friendly agricultural techniques for sustainable farming globally. The article investigates the effects of organic conditioners on the physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics of soil, with focus on liquid organic conditioners such Panchagavya, Jeevamruth, and Beejamruth. In order to purify agricultural fields, the necessity of organic agriculture methods that are both commercially and environmentally feasible is emphasized. The advantages of applying Soil conditioners are explained, including increased crop production, quality, affordability, and safety for the environment in addition to increases in soil health, fertility, and pest resistance. An overview of the basic principles of liquid organic manures is provided, with a focus on their ability to release nutrients, stimulate microbial activity, and facilitate plant absorption. The review discusses how organic conditioners might improve the biological characteristics of soil, such as the presence of chemicals that promote plant growth and helpful microbes. Liquid organic manure adoption is essential for healthy ecosystems, sustainable agriculture, and increased soil fertility and productivity. Because liquid organic manures may be applied in a variety of ways and used as soil drenches, foliar sprays, and seedling treatments, they are a crucial part of environmentally friendly farming methods. It is advised to combine liquid and solid organic manures to reduce negative effects and guarantee a robust and fruitful farming environment.