Oilseed Production Research Articles

Exploring the Synergistic Role of Zinc in NPK Fertilization on the Agronomic Performance of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)

Safflower is a multipurpose, underutilized annual crop that could be an alternate oilseed crop for normal and marginal lands around the world. Zinc as a nutrient plays a critical role in enzyme activity and nutrient absorption, leading to improved productivity and quality of oilseeds. However, imbalances between NPK and Zn can result in antagonistic interactions, leading to nutrient deficiencies. Therefore, this field experiment at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, was conducted to explore the synergistic effects of NPK and Zn on safflower growth, yield, and oil content. Safflower accession (UAF-SAFF-100) was treated with ten different combinations of zinc and NPK having different concentrations, i.e., T0 = control, T1 = NPK at 40:40:40 kg ha−1, T2 = NPK at 50:50:40 kg ha−1, T3 = NPK at 60:60:40 kg ha−1, T4 = NPK at 70:70:40 kg ha−1, T5 = NPK at 80:80:40 kg ha−1, T6 = T1 + zinc at 7.5 kg ha−1, T7 = T2 + zinc at 7.5 kg ha−1, T8 = T3 + zinc at 7.5 kg ha−1, T9 = T4 + zinc at 7.5 kg ha−1, and T10 = T5 + zinc at 7.5 kg ha−1. The results indicated that the application of T9 (NPK @ 70:70:40 kg/ha−1 + zinc @ 7.5 kg/ha−1) showed the most promising results in terms of growth and yield attributes. This treatment significantly improved key metrics such as capitulum diameter, the number of capitula per plant, seed yield, petal yield, and oil content. Thus, this treatment (T9) is proposed as an effective strategy for enhancing safflower growth and productivity, particularly in semi-arid regions. This study underscores the importance of optimizing nutrient management to achieve superior crop performance and suggests that tailored NPK and Zn applications can be a promising approach to maximizing safflower yield and oil quality.

Instability Analysis and Decomposition of Output of Oilseeds Crops in Rajasthan and India

Aim: The study deals with analysis of instability of area production and productivity of major oilseeds in Rajasthan and India. It also includes calculation of sources of growth of production over the period of study. Area effect, yield effect and interaction effect for crop production were calculated. Place and Duration: The time series data of thirty years, 1990-91 to 2019-20, was analyzed. The data were further divided into Three decades, period I(1990-91 to 1999-2000), period II (2000-01 to 2009-10) and period III (2010-11 to 2019-20). Area production and productivity of major oilseed crops (Rapeseed-mustard, groundnut and soybean) for all three decade in Rajasthan and India were analyzed. Methodology: This paper deals with the analysis of instability in area production and productivity of major oilseed crops in Rajasthan and India. The Cuddy Della Vella Index has been used for instability analysis. It also includes the decomposition analysis to determine factors that were responsible for the change in production of the crops. The additive decomposition method has been used to determine area, yield and interaction effect. Results: Calculations revealed that the magnitude of instability in Rajasthan during period II (2000-01 to 2009-10) remained high for all the selected crops. There was instability of 32.49 percent and 34.40 percent for area and production, respectively, while 13.34 percent of variation was found in productivity. In Rajasthan, the lowest instability was observed during period III (2010-11 to 2019-20) with variation of 7.44 percent, 9.47 percent and 6.62 percent for area production and productivity of groundnut. In India, the highest instability was during period II. The area of Rapeseed-mustard has shown the highest (17.72%) instability compared to the instability of the area of other crops. Variation of production and productivity of groundnut was recorded at 24.79 and 21.88 percent, respectively, which is highest among the selected crops. The decomposition analysis revealed that the area effect was a major source for the growth of production of oilseed in Rajasthan as compared to the yield effect and interaction effect. During period I (1990-91 to 1999-2000), the area effect for rapeseed mustard, groundnut and soybean was 68.08, 87.97 and 91.35 percent. In India, both area and yield effect have a major contribution to the growth of production. During period I, the yield effect (57.50 %) was responsible for growth of rapeseed-mustard production, while groundnut and soybean had a high contribution of area effect with magnitudes of 70.86 percent and 84 percent. Area effects for groundnut and soybean were 118.44 percent and 58.06 percent during period II, respectively. Area effect (42.90%) and yield effect (45.76%) were equally responsible for the growth of rapeseed-mustard. During period III, the yield effect for rapeseed-mustard and soybean was 101.34 percent and 257.7 percent, respectively, while the area effect (52.29 %) was responsible for growth in groundnut production. Conclusion: It has been found that groundnut was the most stable crop in term of area production and productivity. The major source for the growth of production was area effect and Yield effect while interaction effect has least impact on production of crops.

Differential regulation of glucosinolate-myrosinase mediated defense determines host-aphid interaction in Indian mustard Brassica juncea L.

India's oilseed economy falls short of self-sufficiency and is supplemented by huge imports every year. Increasing national productivity of the major oilseeds is confronted with yield losses due to diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. The productivity of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea Linnaeus), belonging to the family Brassicaceae, is significantly reduced due to damage caused by mustard aphids (Lipaphis erysimi Kaltenbach, Hemiptera: Aphididae). Rapid colonization by the nymphs makes it difficult to protect the crop through agrochemicals. Aphids release effector molecules to modulate the host-defence responses. Glucosinolates (GSLs) extensively found in Brassicaceae family, are hydrolysed by myrosinase into toxic compounds that deter herbivore insects. Here, we investigated the differential activation of the glucosinolate-myrosinase pathway in mustard manifesting susceptibility and resistance to different aphid species. Mustard plants were challenged by two different aphid species mustard aphid and cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch, Hemiptera: Aphididae) leading to complete host-susceptibility in one case and resistance in the other, respectively. Differential regulation of the GSL biosynthetic pathway and myrosinase activity was assessed by gene expression study and ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC- QToF-ESL-MS). Gene expression study identified selective transcriptional attenuation of the key GSL biosynthetic and myrosinase gene in mustard when challenged with mustard aphid. In contrary, the activation of GSL biosynthetic genes in conjunction with myrosinase at the transcriptional level was profound in mustard, when challenged with cowpea aphid. UPLC-MS analysis showed higher turnover in the hydrolysis of glucosinolates by myrosinase which led to concomitant generation of glucose as byproduct in response to cowpea aphid in mustard plants. GSL-myrosinase pathway is specifically attenuated by the successful aphid species in mustard and thus plays a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the B. juncea-aphid interaction. The results open up a new genetic modification strategy for developing resistance against aphids.

Роль малых предприятий в аграрной экономике: оценка вклада в сельскохозяйственное производство

Small businesses and peasant (farm) households play a key role in agricultural production in Russia, making a significant contribution to the development of the agricultural sector. The relevance of this study is due to the need to analyze the contribution of small enterprises to the total volume of agricultural production and assess their impact on the country's economy. The purpose of the article is to study the role of small enterprises and farms in the agricultural economy of Russia based on data on the share of small enterprises in agricultural production and the main indicators of farmers' activities. The hypothesis of the study is that small enterprises play an important role in the production of crop products, but their contribution to livestock farming remains relatively small. The conducted data analysis showed that small enterprises provide a significant part of the production of grain and oilseeds, but their share in the livestock sector is small. In addition, farms demonstrate steady growth in crop production, especially in the production of grain and oilseeds. The conclusions of the article highlight the importance of further development of small businesses and farms through improved access to financial resources, government support and the introduction of innovative technologies to increase their competitiveness and sustainable growth in the agricultural economy.

Serendipita indica: A Promising Biostimulant for Improving Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Sugar Accumulation in Camellia oleifera

Serendipita indica is a very promising root-associated endophytic fungus that is widely used on various plants; however, whether it affects the growth and physiological activity of an oilseed crop (Camellia oleifera) under field conditions remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the effects of S. indica inoculation on root colonization rate, growth rate, photosynthetic parameters, mineral element concentrations and related gene expression, and sugar concentrations and expression of their transporter genes in four-year-old C. oleifera trees in the field. The results showed that the root colonization rate of C. oleifera increased from 3.37% to 9.42% following being inoculated with S. indica. Inoculation with S. indica significantly increased the plant height (46.81%), net photosynthetic rate (69.16%), nitrogen balance index (14.44%), chlorophyll index (21.08%), leaf K (7.4%), leaf Ca (13.52%), root P (17.75%), root K (12.80%), soil NH4+-N (17.78%), available K (26.66%), Olsen-P (184.30%), easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (39.26%), and soil organic carbon (16.25%) concentrations compared to the uninoculated treatment. Inoculation with S. indica also significantly up-regulated the expression of CoHKT1;1 and CoCAX1;2 in the leaves and roots and CoPht1;1, CoPht1;2, and CoPht1;3 in the leaves. Plants inoculated with S. indica also presented significantly higher leaf glucose, fructose, and sucrose concentrations, accompanied by up-regulated expression of CoSWEET2a, CoSWEET7, CoSWEET9b, CoSWEET17a, and CoSWEET17b. These results suggest that S. indica has significant potential as a biostimulant for enhancing the growth and nutritional profile of C. oleifera, thereby contributing to sustainable oilseed production.

Продуктивность подсолнечника в зависимости от основной обработки почвы и агрохимикатов

In modern conditions the most effective way to increase the gross production of sunflower oilseeds is the selection of the most productive hybrids and realisation of their potential productivity by improving sunflower cultivation technology for specific soil and climatic conditions of the zone. Therefore, this topic is certainly relevant. Field experience was conducted on the experimental field of LLC ‘Kolos’ Mikhailovsky district of Volgograd region in 2020-2023. The main purpose of the research was to determine the optimal methods of basic cultivation, as well as a comprehensive assessment of the productivity of sunflower hybrids for the subzone of dark chestnut soils of the Volgograd region. On average for 2021-2023 years, the lowest photosynthetic potential of sunflower Suzuka was formed on the variant of disc tillage at a depth of 0.18-0.20 m without the use of leaf fertilisers with microfertilisers and was equal to 1062 thousand m2 day/ha. The lowest photosynthetic potential of sunflower Suzuka was formed on the variant of disc tillage at a depth of 0.18-0.20 m without the application of leaf fertilisers with microfertilisers and was equal to 1062 thousand m2 day/ha. The highest photosynthetic potential of 1755 thousand m2 day/ha was formed on the variant of ploughing to a depth of 0.25-0.27 m with the application of fertiliser Fulvigrain. The lowest biological yield on average for 2021-2023 years was formed on the variant of shallow disc cultivation without application of leaf fertiliser and was 2.04 t/ha. The highest biological yield was formed on the variant of ploughing to a depth of 0.25-0.27 m with the application of fertiliser Fulvigrain and was 3.02 t/ha.The lowest economic yield on average for 2021-2023 years was formed on the variant of shallow disc cultivation without application of leaf fertiliser and was 1.94 t/ha.On the variant with application of fertiliser Aidamin economic yield was 0.13 t/ha higher.In the variant with application of Fulvigrain fertiliser the economic yield was 0.21 t/ha more compared to the control variant.On variants of flat-cutting tillage at a depth of 0.25-0.27 m economic yield in comparison with variants on the background of disc tillage at a depth of 0.18-0.20 m was 0.48-0.63 t/ha more.The highest economic yield was formed on the variant of ploughing to a depth of 0.25-0.27 m with the application of Fulvigrain fertiliser and was 2.88 t/ha.

Enhancing Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Productivity and Biochemical Traits: A Comparison of Straw Mulch and Polythene Mulch Under Prolonged Salinity Stress

ABSTRACTThe escalating population growth has spurred a demand for increased oilseed production, necessitating urgent attention. However, the expansion of saline‐affected regions posed a significant obstacle to maintain peanut productivity in these areas. Thus, to tackle the productivity decline in saline‐affected regions, we investigated whether substituting polythene mulch with straw mulch, as part of an agronomic management strategy, could mitigate the rapid decrease in peanut productivity. Three mulching methods (control, polythene mulch and straw mulch) were employed to cultivate the crop (cv. TG 37A) under salinity levels of 0.5, 2, 4 and 6 dS m−1. As salinity levels increased, there was a notable decrease in germination percentage, growth, yield and biochemical characteristics, including pod and haulm yields were reported. Despite salinity reduced free amino acids and oil content, it exhibited significant increase in protein and sugar content. Saline irrigation water led to a reduction in pod yield, haulm yield and oil content by 24.67%, 23.84% and 5.07%, respectively, at a salinity level of 6.0 dS m−1 compared to the control with 0.5 dS m−1 salinity. Moreover, straw mulching resulted in a boost in pod yield, haulm yield and oil content by 30.09%, 4.83% and 1.75%, respectively, compared to the control. The reduction in pod yield and oil content under the interaction of mulching and salinity was 46.44% and 6.87% at M0S6, 21.42% and 4.44% at M1S6, and 7.55% and 3.87% at M2S6 compared to M0S0, M1S0 and M2S0, respectively. A similar trend was also observed in 100‐pod weight, 100‐kernel weight and shelling percentage. Accordingly, it was concluded that the declining trend in all attributes under straw mulching at various salinity levels surpassed polythene mulching, ensuring superior peanut production under salinity stress conditions.

A quantitative framework for characterizing the current and obtaining a future sustainable agricultural production mix meeting environmental, nutritional, and economic goals

Transitioning toward sustainable agriculture production is key in achieving sustainable development goals. However, quantifying the sustainability status of current agricultural mix and figuring out a future sustainable crop and livestock production mix that is nutritionally adequate, low in environmental impact and profitable to farmers, is a formidable challenge for any country. Here through a case-study on Indian agriculture, we demonstrate the application of a framework to first characterize the current agricultural mix by comparing 31 sustainability indicators with respective benchmarks across nutrition (social), environment and economic dimensions in each of the 36 Indian states. Next, we demonstrate the application of mathematical optimization algorithms to calculate the sustainable production mix in each state with the objective of maximizing the farmers’ profit under the constraint that the total national agricultural production meets the nutritional requirements of population without exceeding the current environmental footprint levels. Characterization results show that India does not produce enough of certain micronutrients (vitamin-E, and choline) and the carbon, nitrogen and freshwater footprints exceed their planetary boundaries while the farmers’ income remains below national targets. Optimization algorithm generated the sustainable production amounts of 138 crop and livestock items in each state and showed that fruits, vegetables, legumes, and oilseeds production needs to increase by 50%–100% while the cereals production amounts need to reduce to 50% of current levels in India. This will result in an increase in farmer’s income by 25% on average, fulfil the nutritional requirements of population and reduce the environmental footprint by 10%. Our approach can act as a template for other countries in collecting necessary data on sustainability indicators and determining optimum crop and livestock mix.

Toxicological, morphological and cytochemical effects caused by the agrochemical Fastac Duo in africanized Apis mellifera tolerant to neonicotinoid thiamethoxam

Agriculture is one of the main bases of the Brazilian economy, its production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds is breaking records. This great productivity needs handling and care to maintain itself. Due to the occurrence of pests there is a need to use agrochemicals, which in addition to their direct effect on killing insect pests, also affects the viability of beneficial insects to Apis mellifera bees. These insects play an essential role in the pollination of many species. These pollinators have declined for at least 14 years due to several factors, including the large-scale use of agrochemicals. Thus, our research group is maintaining colonies of A. mellifera bees tolerant to the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam, given the importance of this agrochemical in pest control. Due to the high number of available agrochemicals, in the present study the toxicity, changes in chromatin and morphology of the midgut of workers A. mellifera F4 tolerant to thiamehtoxam, submitted to oral exposure with the agrochemical Fastac Duo (combination of acetamiprid and alpha -cipermethrin). Adult forage workers of A. mellifera F4 tolerant were collected and submitted to in vitro bioassays, by oral exposure for 24 and 72 hours. After this period, the workers were analyzed to check for mortality, dose/response ratio, using the cytochemical technique Critical Electrolyte Concentration (CEC). The most digestion occurs in bees to observe the morphology of this region of the digestive tract. The results showed that there was a high mortality of workers in the treatments performed indicating that there is no cross tolerance, that is, F4 is not tolerant to Fastac Duo, but there is a positive dose/response correlation, where the higher the dose used, the greater the mortality. The changes in the chromatin structure suggest that there is condensation of the chromatin and a decrease in gene expression in two concentrations analyzed at 24 and 72 hours. As for the morphology of the midgut, changes were detected at the cellular level, but the peritrophic membrane was preserved. Thus, the use of Fastac Duo should be avoided, or at least, used in minimum doses necessary to avoid the mortality of A. mellifera bees.

ROMANIAN VEGETABLES – A TRADE BALANCE ANALYSIS

In the post-accession period, along with the repositioning of various crops and expansion of cereals and oilseeds production, areas under vegetables and potatoes and their respective productions decreased. Nevertheless, demand increased in quantities, as well as in quality and diversity, and the result was a significant increase in imports. The present paper makes a detailed analysis of the main trends of trade flows in vegetables and potatoes, in terms of values, quantities, prices, directions and composition. The results show a significant increase in the share of imports in the availabilities of agri-food products for consumption, along with an increase of trade deficit for almost all kinds of vegetables.

Influence of Soil Additives (Gypsum and Dolomite) on Peanuts Productivity and Soil Properties: A Review

Although India is steadily progressing in oilseeds production, but the average yields of most of the oilseeds like groundnut are still extremely low when compared to those prevailing in other countries of the world. This is because oilseeds are cultivated mostly in marginal and sub-marginal land of semi-arid areas with very less management, hence remain vulnerable to vagaries of nature. Among oilseed crops groundnut is an important source of vegetable oil and protein. Lack of appropriate management practices leads to decreased yields of the crop. Applications of amendments like gypsum and dolomite based on soil pH is necessary to provide a better environment for roots and plant growth.

Interactive Effect of Nitrogen, Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) on the Growth and yield Characteristics of Gobhi Sarson (Brassica napus L.)

Brassica napus L., commonly known as Gobhi Sarson in India, is a vital oilseed crop contributing significantly to the agricultural economy. India stands as the fourth-largest producer of oilseeds, with mustard-rapeseed, including Brassica napus, constituting about 28.6% of the total oilseed production [1]. The experiment titled "Study on Foliar Application of Nitrogen, Zinc (Zn), and Iron (Fe) on the Growth and Yield Characteristics of Gobhi Sarson (Brassica napus L.)" was conducted at the research farm of Lovely Professional University, Punjab, during the Rabi season of 2023-24. A total of nine treatments with three replications were evaluated using a Randomized Block Design. The findings indicate that Treatment 9 (75%RDF + 1% Urea + 0.5% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4) demonstrated the highest plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, leaf area, primary and secondary branches per plant, number of siliquae per plant, seeds per siliquae, 1000-seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, and oil content. Treatment 5 (50%RDF + 1% Urea + 0.5% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4) also performed well across these parameters, albeit to a slightly lesser extent. (T9) recorded the highest seed yield (19.7 q ha-1), significantly outperforming all other treatments, with Treatment 5 being statistically comparable. Moreover, Treatment 9 exhibited the maximum oil content (41.2%), followed closely by Treatment 5 with oil content of 40.6%. Conversely, the control treatment (T1) yielded the lowest oil content. These results underscore the efficacy of foliar application of 75% RDF with 1% Urea, 0.5% FeSO4, and 0.5% ZnSO4 in enhancing the growth and yield characteristics of Gobhi Sarson, with Treatment 5 showing similar trends.

Rabi groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) yield in different agro-ecologies of eastern India: Factors analyses

Improving edible oilseed production is a need of the hour to ensure food security in India. Numerous efforts were made to fasten these efforts, including implementation of Cluster Frontline Demonstration (CFLDs). In this initiative, the groundnut crop has also been promoted in various parts of India in the form of CFLD under different agro-ecological zones of eastern India through the lead taken up by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, the Farm Science Centre (KVK) of Odisha and West Bengal. The assessment aimed at underlying the relative importance of the factors affecting the groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yield in this region. A study was carried out in the winter (rabi) season 2018–22, revealed that the application of improved technologies, namely seed treatment, use of biofertilizers, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), irrigation etc. increased groundnut yield to the tune of 46.83%. The benefit-cost ratio of demonstrated plot was much higher (2.04) against the traditional practices (1.63). Further, seed treatment, application of bio-fertilizer, and Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) were the major determinants behind enhancement of groundnut yield. These critical factors can significantly contribute towards augmenting the yield of groundnut followed by enhancing the profitability of farmers, besides addressing the agroecological challenges in different agro-ecological zones of eastern India.

Heat Stress in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.): A Critical Review of Impacts and Adaptation Strategies

Indian mustard, a member of the Brassicaceae family, is a cool-season crop cultivated extensively in various agro-ecological conditions, contributing significantly to vegetable oilseed production. However, being a thermosensitive and C3 plant [1], Indian mustard is highly susceptible to high-temperature stress, particularly during critical developmental stages [2]. High temperatures disrupt physiological, morphological, and biochemical mechanisms essential for plant growth and development. From altered chlorophyll content and osmotic water potential to impaired photosynthesis and reduced seed oil accumulation, heat stress detrimentally affects various aspects of Indian mustard physiology. This comprehensive review examines the impacts of heat stress on Indian mustard, a significant oilseed crop, and explores adaptation strategies to mitigate its adverse effects. Additionally, heat stress during reproductive stages leads to flower abortion, reduced fertility, and poor seed development, significantly impacting yield potential. To cope with heat stress, plant response mechanisms involve intricate signaling pathways, leading to cellular readjustments at transcriptome, epigenome, proteome, and metabolome levels. Breeding approaches, including conventional techniques and advanced molecular tools like CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing, offer promising avenues for developing heat-tolerant cultivars. Integration of multi-omics approaches aids in identifying stress-responsive genes and metabolic pathways crucial for adaptation. Agronomic strategies, such as nutrient management and microbial inoculation, play vital roles in mitigating heat stress effects and enhancing plant resilience. Collaborative efforts and interdisciplinary research are essential to deepen our understanding of heat stress responses and develop sustainable solutions to ensure oilseed crop productivity and food security in the face of climate change. This review underscores the urgency of addressing heat stress challenges in Indian mustard cultivation and highlights the need for concerted efforts to develop effective adaptation strategies for sustainable agriculture.

Understanding the effectiveness of minimum support price policy on area, production and productivity of oilseed crops in India

The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy on the expansion of oilseed cultivation area, production and productivity in India, aiming to address the country’s heavy reliance on costly edible oil imports, which exceed 65 percent of its total requirements, costing over `70,000 crores annually. The study aimed to assess how the implementation of the MSP policy could contribute to increasing domestic oilseed production and reducing the dependence on imports.The data on MSP, oilseed cultivation area, production, and productivity was collected for the period 1985 to 2020. Compound Annual Growth Rate, correlation analysis, and scatter plots were utilized to analyze the trends and associations between MSP and the area, production and yield of key oilseed crops in India, namely Groundnut, Sunflower, Rapeseed-Mustard, Soybean, and Safflower. The study revealed that there was a positive and statistically significant Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) between the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and yield for all five oilseed crops. Additionally, a positive and significant trend was observed in the CAGR of Soybean and Rapeseed-Mustard for both area and production. The scatterplots and Spearman correlation analysis further supported these findings, indicating a strong positive correlation between the MSP of Soybean and Rapeseed-Mustard with their respective area, production, and yield. It was also noted that the government provided higher MSP support to oilseed crops such as Sunflower, Safflower, and Groundnut, where a negative CAGR in the area was observed.

Agro-ecological aspects of soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivation in Ukraine

The article highlights the role and significance of soybeans in Ukraine as the main legume crop of today. The analysis of literature sources proves that soybean cultivation not only ensures food security of the state, but also acts as an environmental component while maintaining soil fertility. Soybean plants contribute to the nitrogen balance of soils, serving as a good precursor for many crops. They also have a positive impact on the physical, agronomic and physicochemical properties of soils, improving water and nutrient regimes. Soybeans can be grown in main crops, post-harvest crops and post-mowing crops. In addition, soybeans quickly adapt to organic production schemes. The authors characterise the soybean belt in Ukraine and describe the main three soybean growing zones. It is established that the most favourable for soybean cultivation are Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Khmelnytsky, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Ternopil, Zakarpattia, Chernivtsi and Kyiv regions. Here, soybeans consistently provide stable high productivity of this crop. The analysis of literature publications has confirmed that the problem of sufficient production of adequate vegetable protein can be solved by continuously increasing the production of food resources, primarily protein and oilseeds, the main source of which is soybeans, one of the world's leading crops. Soybean cultivation in Ukraine has undergone global changes over the past 30 years. It has rapidly moved from being a niche crop to a key agricultural commodity. Thanks to soybeans, Ukraine has rapidly increased its production of protein and oilseeds and significantly strengthened its position on the global market. Over the past few years, the area under soybean cultivation in Ukraine has been ranging from 1.5–2.0 million hectares, with the main growing areas being the Forest-Steppe and Polissya. Significantly smaller areas are located in the northern and central Steppe. In the southern Steppe, soybean cultivation is possible only under irrigated conditions. Soybeans are very versatile in their use, and stand out among other crops due to the large number of products made from their raw materials. Soybean seeds are used to make various analogues of meat and dairy products, egg powder substitutes, confectionery, cheeses, canned food, sauces, etc. Scientists have noted that the most favourable meteorological conditions for soybeans are characterised by an annual rainfall of 500–600 mm, of which 250–400 mm should be received during the growing season, and 180–200 mm during the most critical period of flowering — full bean filling. Organic farming is one of the most promising areas of soybean cultivation. Currently, around 80% of soybean seeds are produced using genetically modified material. Therefore, it is important to use the latest zoned varieties of local breeding to green soybean production, as this will help to build up our own organic seed base and improve the environmental component of soybean cultivation. Thus, soybeans and their products are extremely important for Ukraine's economy as they consistently provide a significant portion of foreign exchange earnings. However, further increase in soybean production requires a reduction in the use of chemical protection products, namely, their maximum possible approximation to natural growing conditions, i.e., organic cultivation.

Cluster frontline demonstrations envisage high productivity and horizontal spread of oilseeds in aspirational District Moga, Punjab

Cluster frontline demonstrations envisage high productivity and horizontal spread of oilseeds in aspirational District Moga, Punjab

Устойчивое производство масличных культур: факторы и принципы

The purpose of the study is to identify the main functions and principles of sustainable production of oilseeds, taking into account the specifics of their cultivation, based on approaches to the definition of the concept of sustainability of production and presentation, based on this study of the author's interpretation of the concept of sustainable production of oilseeds. During the research, the following research methods were used: analytical, abstract-logical, etc. The article discusses the main approaches to determining the sustainability of production, both Russian and foreign, identifies the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches, which consist in the lack of complexity and narrow focus, domestic authors focus on innovative development, foreign on environmental aspects. The key factors influencing the sustainable production of oilseeds have been identified. The principles of sustainable production that underlie the work of the UN FAO and the Union of Organic Agriculture of Russia are analyzed, the basis of these principles is greening, but a number of other principles are not taken into account. In this regard, the author's set of principles of sustainable production has been proposed, which has been adapted for the production of oilseeds. Based on the conducted research, the author formulated the following definition of sustainable production of oilseeds – it is economically efficient and stable production in a certain natural and climatic zone with respect to ecological balance in the cultivation of specific oilseeds, ensuring the social well-being of the population of this territory.

Assessment of Rapeseed-Mustard Varieties for Resistance against White Rust (Albugo candida) Infection

The increasing prominence of rapeseed-mustard on the global stage as vital oilseed crop is attributed to its high yield, low moisture requirements, cost effective production, and adoptability to diverse farming condition indicating the potential for a forthcoming yellow revolution role in India's oilseed production, facing challenges from various factors affecting yield and seed quality. Notably, white rust stands out as a significant biotic stressor, causing substantial losses in both yield and seedily, 17–34% yield particularly in oil content. To address this, utilizing resistant varieties is the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach for disease management. However, the available resistant sources are limited. In a recent study during the Rabi seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23, thirty rapeseed mustard genotypes were assessed under white rust prevalent conditions. Out of 30 genotypes tested, none were found to be free of white rust disease infection and none were classified as resistant. However,11genotypes were registered as as moderately resistance, while, 19 genotypes fell under the were in the susceptible category. Promisingly, some genotypes exhibited resistance to white rust, offering potential for developing superior cultivars to effectively manage the disease in regions where mustard cultivation is prevalent. Aims: The study aimed to evaluate 30 rapeseed-mustard genotypes during the Rabi sessions of 2021-22 and 2022-23, focusing on their resistance to white rust. The primary objective was to identified genotypes with potential resistant traits, contributing to the development of superior cultivars for effective white rust management in regions where rapeseed-mustard cultivation is prominent. Study Design: Randomized Block Design. Place and Duration of Study: Experimental field of the Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, BUAT, Banda session 2021-22 and 2022-23. Results and Conclusion: None of the tested genotypes were found to be entirely free from white rust infection, and none of these achieved under resistance. However, the study identified 11 genotypes as moderately resistance and 19 genotypes fell into the susceptible category. Despite the challenges posed by white rust, sum genotypes demonstrated resistance, offering promising potential for the development of advanced cultivars. This finding holds significant for regions where rapeseed-mustard cultivation faces the threat of white rust, providing the basis for future efforts enhancing crop resilience and productivity.

Trends in Production of Pulses and Oilseeds Over Last Two Decades in Eastern India

"India is a major producer and consumer of a wide variety of pulses and oilseeds but still struggles to achieve self-sufficiency due to the growing disparity between demand and supply. The present study has made an attempt to compare and disseminate trends in acreage, production, and productivity of pulses and oilseeds over the last two decades (1999-2000 to 2018-2019). Regarding the computation of growth and instability, a modified exponential production function is fitted, and to judge the overall change in production, a decomposition of the trend in area and yield over two decades has been performed. Bihar and West Bengal stand out as the primary producers of pulses, while rapeseed and mustard take the lead among oilseed crops, followed by sesame. Odisha uniquely contributes to groundnut production, while linseed has become integral to West Bengal’s overall oilseeds output. To enhance production in these states, implementing HYV seeds, proper land preparation techniques, and adopting paira cropping in rice-fallow situations can significantly boost the current status of pulses and oilseeds in the eastern India."