Plot Area Research Articles

DETERMINATION OF THE EFFECTIVE DOSE OF INTERFERON FOR THE CONTROL OF VIRUSES ON WINTER GARLIC

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of various concentrations of Interferon on the winter garlic degeneration. Methods. Field, biometric, weighing, statistical. The study was conducted at the Institute of Vegetable and Melon Growing of NAAS. Domestic cultivar ‘Merefianskyi Bilyi’ included in the Register of Varieties approved for growing in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine was used in the tests. The experiments were carried out in accordance with the "Methods of Experimentation in Vegetable Melon Growing" in four replications. The record plot area was 10 m2. The plots were arranged according to a 70x8 cm scheme. The planting rate was 1.5-1.8 t/ha. The forecrop was is early potato. The effect of foliar treatment with Interferon at concentrations of 0.025, 0.050, 0.100, and 0.150% was assessed. Two-year data (2017-2018) are presented. Results. There was a significant mitigation in the manifestation of viral diseases upon cascade treatment of the winter garlic plantation with Interferon. Interferon concentrations of 0.025, 0.050, 0.100, and 0.150% were tested. In almost all investigated variants, a stimulating effect was observed as manifested as improved biometric parameters of garlic plants. In particular, the plant height and the number of leaves were increased, boosting the photosynthetic activity. There was a significant rise in the yield (by 0.5-0.9 t/ha) attributed to the use of Interferon, with the yield 3.3 t/ha in the control. However, the maximum yield of 4.2 t/ha was harvested at the 0.100% Interferon. Conclusions. The data indicate the absence of symptoms of damage to the garlic seed plantation by viral diseases after foliar treatment with 0.100% Interferon. At the same time, there was an increase in basic biometric indicators and an increase in the yield by 26.3-27.3%, depending on the agent concentration.

The influence of subtidal Laminaria canopies on local environmental conditions and the structure of understorey communities.

Understanding the role of species interactions (e.g. competition and facilitation) in structuring communities is a fundamental goal of ecology. It is well established that large canopy-forming seaweeds (e.g. kelps and fucoids) exert a strong influence on community structure, by offering biogenic habitat, altering environmental conditions and interacting with other species. While many studies have manipulated the density of seaweeds to causatively examine their effects on the local environment and associated communities, they are biased towards certain regions and canopy-forming species. We conducted a manipulative experiment at two subtidal sites characterised by mixed Laminaria canopies, in southwest England, UK. Three treatments were established in multiple replicate circular plots (area of 7.1m2): 0% kelp removal (i.e. unmanipulated control), 50% kelp removal (i.e. thinning), and 100% removal. Within each plot, temperature, light levels and sedimentation rates were monitored over 3 months, and after 5 months the density of juvenile kelp recruits, the biomass of understorey macroalgae and the abundance of recruiting fauna were quantified. We found kelp canopies had no impact on temperature or sedimentation rates but their removal led to marked increases in light availability, juvenile kelp recruitment and understorey macroalgal biomass. Overall, our study shows that physical disturbance to Laminaria canopies alters resource availability (i.e. light and space), leading to increased abundances of kelp recruits and understory algae. Significant reductions in kelp canopy density, driven by storm disturbance, harvesting or decreased water quality for example, would lead to shifts in community structure and ecological functioning.

Characteristics of economically valuable traits of synthetic hexaploid of spring common wheat lines CIMMYT in the Central region of the Non-Blackearth part of Russia

The current paper has presented the study results of 14 synthetic spring wheat lines developed at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). The study was conducted at the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. Field trials were carried out at the field experimental station in 2022–2023. Agricultural technology was typical for the zone. The plot area was 1 m2 with a threefold sequence. Weather data were obtained from the V. A. Mikhelson Meteorological Observatory. There has been found that the spring wheat lines 70, 220 and 221 are early maturing under the conditions of the Central Region of Non-Black Earth Area. The rest lines are middle maturing, with 7–10 days later with the standard variety. The lines 70, 178, 215 and 220 are resistant to powdery mildew and brown rust. The lines 147, 217 and 223 are the most stable in productivity. A positive correlation was identified between yield and the number of grains per ear (r = 0.56), as well as between yield and grain weight per ear (r = 0.83*). Additionally, a moderate positive correlation was observed between the length of the growing season and the weight of 1000 grains (r = 0.57*).

Spatial Scale Effects on Erosive Runoff and Sediment Flow Behavior on Loessial Slopes: An Erosive Energy Basis

ABSTRACTRunoff erosion response associated with sediment transport as influenced by erosive energy variability is a highly scale‐dependent process. Identifying the spatial scale effect on erosive runoff energy is important to understand the spatial pattern of sediment flow behavior across various sites. This issue was resolved by establishing thresholds for erosive runoff based on frequency analysis, which considered four selected threshold parameters: runoff duration (T), stream power (ω), stream energy factor (SE), and area‐specific sediment yield (SSY). Based on these thresholds, 77 erosive events were identified and separated from nonerosive events for further analysis of energy–sediment relationships. The threshold for T was roughly constant at hillslopes but rapidly increased at the entire slope. Thresholds for ω and SE exhibited positive linear relationships with the plot area, whereas the threshold for SSY showed a general increasing trend along the downslope direction. The R2 values of erosive energy–sediment relationships at inter‐ and intra‐event time scales were generally higher for erosive events than for nonerosive events. The sediment delivery capacity (Cd) for erosive runoff ranged from 0.075 to 0.115 kg·m·J−1. It demonstrated an initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease from the upper hillslope to the entire slope. Conversely, Cd for nonerosive runoff increased with the rise in plot area, and it ranged from 0.053 to 0.083 kg·m·J−1. The sediment‐increasing capacity (Ci) for erosive runoff ranged from 0.43 to 4.47 kg·m−2·W−1, whereas Ci for nonerosive runoff varied from 3.39 to 17.6 kg·m−2·W−1. The sediment reduction benefit by regulation unit stream energy factor varied from 5% at the entire slope to 65% at the upper hillslope. Therefore, anti‐erosion measures should be implemented at the upper hillslope to prevent nonerosive runoff from becoming erosive runoff.

Voltamper-metrical definition of potential protective virus medicine sodium salt of 3-nitro-4-hydroxy-7-metiltio-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazinide monohydrate

The sodium salt of 3-nitro-4-hydroxy-7-methylthio-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazinide monohydrate (compound (1)) is one of the promising compounds that showed potential antiviral activity against Coxsackie B3 virus. It was established by cyclic voltammetry that the electrochemical activity of compound 1 on a glass-carbon electrode in Britton-Robbinson buffer solution (BBR) is due to the electroreduction of the nitro group. A method for the determination of compound 1 by direct cathodic square-wave voltammetry was developed. The linearity area of the graduation plot using the developed method in BBR solution (pH 2.0 ± ٠.١) is 10-300 mg/L (R2 = 0.999) with detection and determination limits of 1.27 and 4.11 mg/L, respectively.

Classification of Plant-Based Drinks Based on Volatile Compounds.

The increasing popularity of plant-based drinks has led to an expanded consumer market. However, available quality control technologies for plant-based drinks are time-consuming and expensive. Two alternative quality control methods, gas chromatography with ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and an electronic nose, were used to assess 111 plant-based drink samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were used to compare 58 volatile organic compound areas of GC-IMS gallery plots and 63 peptide sensors of the electronic nose. PCA results showed that GC-IMS was only able to completely separate one sample, whereas the electronic nose was able to completely separate seven samples. LDA application to GC-IMS analyses resulted in classification accuracies ranging from 15.4% to 100%, whereas application to electronic nose analyses resulted in accuracies ranging from 96.2% to 100%. Both methods were useful for classification, but each had drawbacks, and the electronic nose performed slightly better than GC-IMS. This study represents one of the first studies comparing GC-IMS and an electronic nose for the analysis of plant-based drinks. Further research is necessary to improve these methods and establish a rapid, cost-effective food quality control system based on volatile organic compounds.

Mapping Windthrow Severity as Change in Canopy Cover in a Temperate Eucalypt Forest

Storm events are significant disturbance agents that can cause considerable forest damage through windthrow. Assessment and mapping of the extent and severity of windthrow is critical to provide reliable information to forest managers to prioritize post-storm hazard reduction (including public safety and fire risk) and to guide restoration activities. Detailed on-ground assessments after windthrow are often impossible due to lack of access and safety concerns. In 2021, severe windstorms caused unprecedented and extensive windthrow in a temperate eucalypt forest in south-eastern Australia. The purpose of this study is to quantify the severity and extent of the damaged forest area as the change in percentage canopy cover using remotely sensed data. We assessed percentage canopy cover from high-resolution aerial images of 455 randomly selected plots in disturbed and undisturbed areas to train a model and machine learning framework to predict landscape scale canopy cover from Sentinel-2 images. A random forest model using all single bands and percentiles best predicted the canopy cover (R2 = 0.69). Sentinel-2 images were then used to predict canopy cover pre- and post-windthrow to assess and map the severity of windthrow as the change in percentage canopy cover. Of the total 63,471 ha of forest area assessed, 63% (39,987 ha) was impacted by windthrow, with 46% at low severity (<30% canopy cover loss), 11% at moderate (30–50% canopy cover loss) and 6% at high severity (>50% canopy cover loss). Our study provides the first quantitative mapping of windthrow severity mapping for a temperate eucalypt forest in Australia that demonstrates an effective remote assessment methodology and provides critical information to support post-windthrow management decisions.

Efficiency of Mobile Laser Scanning for Digital Marteloscopes for Conifer Forests in the Mediterranean Region

This study evaluates the performance of the ZEB Horizon RT portable mobile laser scanner (MLS) in simulating silvicultural thinning operations across three different Tuscan forests dominated by Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.), and Stone pine (Pinus pinea L.). The aim is to compare the efficiency and accuracy of the MLS with traditional dendrometric methods. The study established three marteloscopes, each covering a 50 m × 50 m plot area (0.25 ha). Traditional dendrometric methods involved a team georeferencing trees using a total station and measuring the diameter at breast height (DBH) and selected tree heights (H) to calculate the growing stock volume (GSV). The MLS survey was carried out by a two-person team, who processed the point cloud data with LiDAR 360 software to automatically identify the tree positions, DBH, and H. The methods were compared based on the time, cost, and simulated felling volume. The MLS method was more time-efficient, saving nearly one and a half hours per marteloscope, equivalent to EUR 170. This advantage was most significant in denser stands, especially the Italian cypress forest. Both methods were comparable in terms of accuracy for Douglas-fir and Stone pine stands, with no significant differences in felling number or volume, although greater differences were noted for the Italian cypress forest.

Optimizing Sampling Points and Path Planning for Soil Monitoring in Agricultural Land

Current soil mixing sampling surveys face several challenges. These challenges include significant variations in the size and shape of farmland plots, which complicate the sampling process. Additionally, the procedures for establishing mixing points are often cumbersome and non-standardized. Furthermore, when the number of mixing points is large and the plot area is extensive, sampling efficiency is significantly reduced. In this study, an automated method for establishing the layout of sampling points and a threshold-based mixed path planning algorithm are proposed. These approaches are designed to automatically arrange sampling points within delineated sampling units according to various sampling methods. Additionally, real-time path planning is conducted on the basis of the initial position of the sampling vehicle. The experimental results indicate that the maximum relative error in estimating farmland area is 0.22%, which is less than 666.67 m2. The average deviation between the locations of the sampling points generated by the sampling point layout algorithm and those established via related software is 0.0336 m. Furthermore, the threshold-based hybrid algorithm consistently yields optimal or near-optimal paths while reducing the path planning time, with an average duration of 1.0783 s for path planning. This study provides reliable technical support for standardizing the sampling point layout and enhancing the soil sampling efficiency.

Geoinformation monitoring of the condition of rice fields in Giang Province (Vietnam) according to multispectral ERS data and field spectroradiometering

The spatial distribution of areas of territory used for agricultural work is of great importance for the development of measures for managing territories and planning the rational use of land and water resources. As a result of the high development of land and its use for agricultural production, timely assessment of both the condition of soils and the growing season of crops in the fields plays an important role. Since in the conditions of the study area it is possible to choose the timing of sowing, growing and harvesting, spatial data on the location of fields for growing rice can be used to estimate the volume of water consumed for its cultivation and develop a crop rotation model for different volumes of available water based on the level of water reserves of the main crop. source. Geoinformation classification of Earth remote sensing data and the use of spectral indices can be used to monitor the dynamics of rice crop formation under existing conditions. Refinement of the results of geoinformation processing of satellite images is carried out using field standardization methods, including photo standardization, showing the real value of reflected energy during large-scale photography, and spectroradiometry, which makes it possible to determine the characteristics of the reflected energy by these objects in various spectral ranges. The results obtained made it possible to obtain statistical data on the values of the area of plots based on 4844 measurements; the average values of the area of plots were established – 0.447, standard deviation – 0.309, maximum area – 5.84 hectares, minimum 0.02 hectares. The obtained statistical results make it possible to determine on average the estimated number of plots in the territory of An Giang province, which is 442 thousand fields. Thus, when deciphering images of rice fields on satellite images, local geoinformation cartographic layers of such fields are developed, taking into account the actual characteristics and stage of plant vegetation, as well as the stage of harvesting and the stage of tillage.

Analysis of vegetation and associations of Amorphophallus beccarii in Tarlola Village, Batang Natal District, Mandailing Natal Regency

Abstract Amorphophallus is a genus of Araceae with 170 species distributed throughout the world, 25 species grow in Indonesia and 18 are endemic. Tarlola Village is one of the habitats of Amorphophallus beccarii. This research aims to analyze the distribution of Cindings and structure of A. beccarii in Tarlola Village and analyze the association of A. beccarii with other plants. The A. beccarii habitat study was carried out using the Nested method with a plot area of 1 ha and a square shape taken from the A. beccarii plot. The data taken is regional vegetation, including tree vegetation calculated on 1 ha plots, pole vegetation on 0.25 ha plots, sapling vegetation on 0.0625 ha plots, and seedling and understory vegetation calculated on 0.01 ha plots. Based on the research results, it was found that there were 30 A. beccarii individuals. The highest Important Value Index (IVI) was obtained at the understorey level with Selaginella deoderleinii 57.39%. The association results found at the lower plant level were 13 species with positive associations and 15 species with negative associations, at the seedling level there were 12 species with positive associations and 14 species with negative associations, at the sapling level there were 12 species with positive associations and 19 species with negative associations, at the pole level there were 9 species. positively associated and 15 negatively associated species, at tree level there are 14 positively associated species and 9 negatively associated species.

Influence of Planting Date on Potato Yield in Gircha Highland, Arba Minch, Ethiopia

Potatoes are the world's fourth most important food crop, with climate, variety, seed quality, planting timing, nutrition, irrigation, pests, illnesses, and weeds all influencing its growth and productivity. Planting timing is critical for maximizing yields since it regulates temperature and light. Planting date effects on potato development and yield were investigated in an experiment at Gircha Farmland, Arba Minch, from February 8, 2020 to August 19, 2020. The impact of planting dates on potato production response was investigated using the Decision Support System for Agro-technology Transfer (DSSAT) model software application program. The experiment used Gudene cultivar potato root crops in Gircha highland plot areas, with gross plot area, rows per plot, length, and spacing. Harvest area was 2.3 m<sup>2</sup>, with two rows, and soil depth was 15 cm. No additional irrigation was supplied, and 150 kg/ha N and 80 kg/ha P fertilizer was applied. Eight planting dates—February 8, February 18, February 28, March 9, March 19, March 29, April 8, and April 18—were selected for this investigation. The relationship between observed and simulated potato yield performance, with RMSE (7.256), IOA (0.842), and R<sup>2</sup> (0.962), and validation values (19.658), IOA (0.827), and R<sup>2</sup> (0.974), indicating good agreement. The latest planting date of April 18 marked the pinnacle of potato output. Furthermore, on April 18, 2020, the planting date that was closest to March 30, 2020, the maximum tuber fresh weight of 48.73 mg/ha was recorded, while on February 8, 2020, the minimum tuber fresh weight of 16.08 mg/ha was acquired. Similar to this, the planting date of April 18<sup>th </sup>yielded the maximum potato production (9746 kg/ha), while February 8<sup>th</sup> yielded the lowest yield (3215 kg/ha). Gircha's higher rainfall, lowest solar radiation, and warmer temperatures may have contributed to the crop's increased production. Potato planting date significantly affects growth and yield, with April 18, 2020 being the best date for highest yield. Delays in planting led to increased crop growth and production, influenced by rainfall, solar radiation, and mean temperature.

In silicon desinging of RANKL-targeting vaccine for protection of osteoporosis based on the epitope of Denosumab

BackgroundLife quality of osteoporosis patients is affected significantly due to the severely complications of fracture and pain. RANKL, indicated as the key mediator of osteoporosis, plays a pathogenic role of osteoclasts induction. To target this program, two medications, bisphosphonate and Denosumab, were developed and achieved remarkable advantages in clinics. Unfortunately, fracture-related side-effects always emerge unavoidably, after either long-term administration of bisphosphonates or Denosumab withdrawing. To address these challenges, vaccine-based approach has been adopted to achieve sustainable protection through induction and maintenance of effective antibodies in mild level over decades. MethodsA Denosumab binding peptide was firstly identified as the basic component of vaccine. This peptide was then fused with diphtheria toxin T domain, a widely used adjuvant protein. Its capabilities to penetrate the autologous tolerance and induce the immune responses was then demonstrated with in-silicon evaluation. Finally, the efficacy of the DR3 vaccine was assessed through immunization on the human RANKL transgenic mice model of osteoporosis. ResultsThe DTT-RANKL(220–245)3 vaccine, termed as DR3, were predicted as highly antigenic and non-allergenicity. This molecule was comprised of 46.5 % of helix, 8.5 % strand and 45.1 % coil, the optimized Z-value of the tertiary structure was 6.39, and the favored area in the Ramachandran plot was 96.1 % after refinement. Molecular docking showed a tight binding of DR3 vaccine to TLR2 (−9.2 kcal/mol) and TLR4 (−9.5 kcal/mol). In addition, the immune stimulation indicated robust responses post administration of DR3 vaccine, including high level production of of antibodies and cytokines, activated T and B lymphocytes, and the long-last immune memory. In agree with the simulation, vaccinated mice generated high titers anti-hRANKL antibodies and elevated levels of IL-4 and IL-10 at 7th week post immunization. ConclusionDR3 vaccine was aroused to benefit the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, and other bone-resorptive diseases potentially.

Strategy for early selection for grain yield in soybean using BLUPIS

In soybean breeding programs, a great deal of time is devoted to the use of methods that perform selection of individual plants during the initial generations. Our hypothesis is that BLUPIS (simulated individual BLUP) can be efficient when applied in the initial stages of soybean breeding programs. This study aimed to explore the potential of BLUPIS in the early generations of a soybean breeding program, as well as to assess the viability of the strategy of dividing the useful area of experimental plots for estimating genotypic effects and plant selection. The experiment involved 84 segregating populations and 15 soybean parents in the F2 and F3 generations. Yield data was collected from the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 cropping seasons. In the F2 generation, different data exploration methods were applied to determine the most suitable adaptation to be used in the F3 generation. The individual BLUP (BLUPI) was compared with BLUPIS using information from different replications and/or equal to the information used in BLUPI. The selection conducted by BLUPIS and BLUPI showed high concordance regarding the selected plants. In the F3 generation, segregating populations were selected based on positive genotypic effects, and individual plants within these populations were further selected according to the number of plants determined by BLUPIS. The division of the plot area was an efficient strategy for selecting segregating populations and individual plants within superior populations in the F3 generation, resulting in genetic gains of approximately 1.56 g per plant. When combined with the strategy of advancing generations in the off-season, the BLUPIS approach reduces the time required to achieve a high level of homozygosity. Therefore, BLUPIS proved to be a powerful statistical tool for early selection based on grain yield in soybeans.

Study on Path Planning in Cotton Fields Based on Prior Navigation Information

Aiming at the operation scenario of existing crop coverage and the need for precise row alignment, the sowing prior navigation information of cotton fields in Xinjiang was used as the basis for the study of path planning for subsequent operations to improve the planning quality and operation accuracy. Firstly, the characteristics of typical turnaround methods were analyzed, the turnaround strategy for dividing planning units was proposed, and the horizontal and vertical operation connection methods were put forward. Secondly, the obstacle avoidance strategies were determined according to the traits of obstacles. The circular arc–linear and cubic spline curve obstacle avoidance path generation methods were proposed. Considering the dual attributes of walking and the operation of agricultural machinery, four kinds of operation semantic points were embedded into the path. Finally, path generation software was designed. The simulation and field test results indicated that the operation coverage ratio CR ≥ 98.21% positively correlated with the plot area and the operation distance ratio DR ≥ 86.89% when non-essential reversing and obstacles were ignored. CR and DR were negatively correlated with the number of obstacles when considering obstacles. When considering non-essential reversing, the full coverage of operating rows could be achieved, but DR would be reduced correspondingly.

Unraveling the physiochemical characteristics and molecular insights of Zein protein through structural modeling and conformational dynamics: a synergistic approach between machine learning and molecular dynamics simulations

This research article presents a comprehensive investigation into the three-dimensional structure, physicochemical characteristics and conformational stability of the Zein protein. Machine learning (ML) based homology modeling approach, was employed to predict the 3D structure of Zein protein. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) were utilized for refining the model, capturing complex spatial features and improving decoy refinement. The predicted 3D structure of Zein protein showed a high-confidence score, i.e. C-score of 0.96. Physiochemical characteristic was also analyzed to investigate its protonation and deprotonation behavior across a range of pH values. A comprehensive analysis of the titration curve and electrostatic charges was performed to uncover valuable molecular insights into the zein protein’s charge distribution, electrostatic interactions and potential conformational changes. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to analyze the zein structural behavior under different pH values (2.0, 4.5, 6.8, 10.0 and 12.5), ionic strengths (0 mM, 25 mM, 50 mM, 75 mM, 100 mM) and temperatures (300K, 350K, 375K). Our results demonstrated the influence of these factors on zein protein’s stability and conformational dynamics. At extreme pH values of 2.0 and 12.5, the Zein protein exhibited increased structural deviations and potential unfolding, while intermediate pH values closer to the protein’s isoelectric point (pI) demonstrated more compact and stable conformations. Analysis of root mean square deviation, radius of gyration, solvent accessible surface area and Ramachandran plot provided clear understandings of the protein’s compactness and surface exposure, confirming the impact of pH, ionic strength and temperature on the protein’s conformation.

Customizing a mass appraisal model for residential property tax assessment: a hedonic regression approach in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia

PurposeThe paper aims to estimate the house rental values for the purpose of customizing mass appraisals in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia. It seeks to identify the critical factors affecting the rental values of residential properties and customize a mass appraisal model for such properties. The study focuses on identifying attributes that significantly affect house rental values.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopted a survey research design, utilizing a survey questionnaire, expert group discussion and document analysis. The data were analyzed using thematic, descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, including correlation and hedonic regression analysis.FindingsAmong the variables included in the model, the number of rooms, availability of schools, land value grading, type of nearest road, housing typology, built-up area, plot area, walling material, traveling cost and fencing materials were the most significant factors for predicting the annual rental value of residential properties in the city.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this study will provide valuable insights to tax assessors, property owners and local government authorities, including municipalities, concerning the key determinants of the rental values of residential properties. Besides, these findings will serve as a useful tool for valuers and researchers in the field of property value modeling.Originality/valueThis study represents the first attempt to develop a framework for mass appraisal of residential properties using annual rental values in the Ethiopian context.

Body size and abundance patterns of male orchid bees in a fragmented Neotropical landscape

Abstract Understanding the relationship between functional traits and fragmentation is crucial for promoting biodiversity and ecosystem function. Orchid bees (Euglossini) are important pollinators in Neotropical forests, but how body size may be associated with fragmentation and its influence on community organisation remains unexplored. We systematically sampled orchid bee communities across 15 plots in a fragmented area in the Ecuadorian Amazon basin to evaluate how patch size and isolation are associated with body size and abundance. Our samples comprised large‐bodied bees (Eulaema, Euglossa and the parasitic Exaerete), with small Euglossa notably absent. The relative representation of Eulaema species of varying sizes changed across the fragmented landscape, leading to shifts in overall mean body size consistent with the prediction that larger‐bodied pollinators are better at long‐distance movement. Euglossa, the most abundant genus (67% of the total sample), was found across all patches regardless of body size. Euglossa intersecta and Euglossa orellana, the largest Euglossa in the region, were the most common species across the fragmented landscape. The abundance of male euglossines experienced a general decline with decreasing patch size and increasing isolation. However, at the species level, the abundance of some species was not affected at all. Because body size often mediates dispersal ability, thermoregulation, and resource use, we reinforce the importance of assessing body size patterns to understand changes in diversity, abundance and the composition of tropical pollinator communities in fragmented landscapes.

Land price, government debt, and land-use efficiency in the coastal cities of China under the constraint of land scarcity

Land scarcity poses a significant challenge for coastal cities in supporting sustainable urban development. This study quantifies the Land Scarcity Index (LSI) for 51 Chinese coastal cities from 2008 to 2018, revealing a phased increase and a transition to high scarcity levels. The findings reveal significant differences in the land price dynamics and fragmentation between commercial-residential and industrial land plots. Under LSI constraints, both commercial-residential and industrial land plots exhibit a trend of decreasing plot areas and increasing prices. We further explore the threshold effects of local government debt (LGD) on urban land-use efficiency, demonstrating that high LGD and LSI exacerbate the price scissors gap, adversely affecting land-use efficiency. Our findings show that, when LGD exceeds 10.43%, increased commercial-residential land prices enhance land-use efficiency, whereas below this threshold, they hinder it. Similarly, the land price scissors (LPS) gap between commercial-residential and industrial land negatively impacts land-use efficiency when LGD exceeds 14.59%. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing land fiscal policies, improving urban land-use efficiency, and addressing the challenge of land scarcity in China's coastal cities.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FUNGICIDES AND FOLIAR FERTILIZATION IN PROTECTING SPRING SOFT WHEAT IN THE SOUTH OF WESTERN SIBERIA

In years with favorable moisture in the south of Western Siberia, the loss of springwheat grain yield from leaf-stem infections increases sharply to 30% or more. The use of fungicides in combination with foliar feeding allows not only to preserve the crop, but also to improve its quality indicators. The studies were conducted in 2018-2021. The soil of the experimental plot is chernozem-meadow, heavy loamy. Four-field grain-fallow crop rotation, predecessor – wheat after fallow. Two-factor field experiment, plot area 25 m2, four-fold repetition. The purpose of the work is to assess the biological effectiveness of tank mixtures of fungicides with urea and liquid complex fertilizer (LCF) on the yield and quality of spring wheat grain. The average infestation of crops by powdery mildew over 4 years is 21,8%, maximum in 2018 – 30,5, rust species in 2019 – 68, average – 52,4, in the dry year 2021 – 1.0%. The incidence of septoria is insignificant, with a maximum of 8,6% in 2019. Treatment of crops with complex fertilizer reduced the development of powdery mildew to 32, types of rust to 61,6, septoria to 28,8%, and to a lesser extent when working with urea. On average, the biological effectiveness of the variants with Abacus Ultra, a fungicide based on triazole and strobilurin, was higher and ranged from 52,5 to 99,8%, and the drug Title Trio based on triazoles was lower, from 45,7 to 97,3%. Tank mixtures of fungicides and fertilizers did not reduce their effectiveness against spring wheat diseases. Fertilizing with liquid complex fertilizer provided the most stable and significant increase in grain yield over the research period – 0,63, urea 10 kg/ha – 0,46, 15 kg/ha – 0,40 t/ha. The greatest increase – 1,21 t/ha – was provided by a tank mixture with Abacus Ultra + liquid and liquid fertilizers, and economic efficiency, respectively, was 23,8-37,5%. A fungicide containing strobilurin (pyraclostrobin) has been shown to be highly effective in increasing the quality parameters of wheat grain.