Vegetable Production Research Articles

Synergistic Effect of Iron and Zinc Nanoparticles with Recommended Nitrogen Dose on Production and Grain Quality of Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars Under Drought Stress

Abiotic factors, such as drought, can significantly impact the vegetative growth and productivity of maize. To investigate the effects of the combined foliar application of zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) nanoparticles with the recommended nitrogen dose (RND) on maize production and grain chemical composition under different water regimes, two field experiments were conducted in El-Ayyat city, Giza, Egypt, during the summer seasons of 2022 and 2023. This study utilized a split-split-plot experimental design with three replications. The main plots were designated to different water regimes (100, 80, 60, and 40% of estimated evapotranspiration), while the sub-plots were randomly distributed with Zn and Fe nanoparticle concentrations (0, 100, and 200 mg/L). The sub-sub-plots were randomly allocated to three maize cultivars (SC-P3062, SC-32D99, and SC-P3433). The results revealed that exposure to drought conditions resulted in a significant decline in the yield and yield-related attributes across all maize cultivars examined. Grain yield decreased by 10–50% under drought conditions. However, the foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles was found to significantly improve grain yield, protein content, oil content, starch content, crude fiber, ash, and macro- and micronutrient concentrations in the maize cultivars under control and drought stress conditions. The foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles at a concentration of 200 mg/L to the SC-P3433 maize cultivar led to the greatest grain yield per hectare, reaching 11,749 and 11,657 kg under the irrigation regimes with 100 and 80% total evapotranspiration, respectively. According to the assessment using the relative drought index, the SC-P3062 maize cultivar demonstrated tolerance (T) to water stress conditions. In conclusion, the foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles (100–200 mg/L) effectively mitigated the negative effects of drought stress on maize plants. This approach can be recommended for farmers in arid and semi-arid regions to maintain and improve maize yield and grain quality under water-deficit conditions.

Effects of Seven-Year-Optimized Irrigation and Nitrogen Management on Dynamics of Soil Organic Nitrogen Fractions, Soil Properties, and Crop Growth in Greenhouse Production

Exploring the temporal evolution dynamics of different soil organic nitrogen (N) components under different water–N management practices is a useful approach to accurately assessing N supply and soil fertility. This information can provide a scientific basis for precise water and N management methods for greenhouse vegetable production. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of optimized irrigation and nitrogen management on the dynamics of soil organic nitrogen fractions, soil properties, and crop growth. This research was conducted from 2017 to 2023 in a greenhouse vegetable field in North China. Four treatments were applied: (1) high chemical N application with furrow irrigation (farmers’ practice, FP); (2) no chemical N application with drip irrigation (DN0); (3) 50% N of FP with drip irrigation (DN1); and (4) 75% N of FP with drip irrigation (DN2). The volume in drip irrigation is 70% of that in furrow irrigation. The results showed that in 2023 (after seven years of field trials), compared with FP, the soil organic carbon (SOC), total N, and water use efficiency of the DN1 and DN2 treatments increased by 15.9%, 11.4%, and 11.3% and 7.7%, 47.2% and 44.6%, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in the total crop yield except in the DN0 treatment. Soil organic N was mostly in the form of acid-hydrolyzed N (AHN). After seven years of optimized irrigation and N management, the DN1 treatment significantly increased the content of ammonium N (AN) and amino sugar N (ASN) in AHN compared with the FP treatment. The results of further analysis demonstrated that SOC was the main factor in regulating AHN and non-hydrolyzable N (NHN), while the main regulatory factors for amino acid N (AAN) and ASN in the AHN component were dry biomass and water use efficiency, respectively. From a time scale perspective, optimization of the water and N scheduling, especially in DN1 (reducing the total irrigation volume by 30% and the amount of N applied by 50%), is crucial for the sustainable improvement of soil fertility and the maintenance of vegetable production.

Study on Cost and Returns of Cash Crops in Sirmour District, Himachal Pradesh, India

The present study examines the cost and returns of major cash crops raised by different category of farmers in district Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh. The study also identified the different production problems faced by farmers using weighted rank method. Two stage stratified random sampling technique was followed to select a sample of villages and the ultimate farmers. A random sample of 60 farmers was chosen for the study. The major findings revealed that production of vegetables varied from 6.42 qtl for peas to as high as 25.93 qtl of tomato per farm. Garlic being a spice crop recorded the production of 14.37 quintal per farm. In the study, per hectare cost of cultivation was found to be highest for tomato, i.e., Rs. 34200, followed by garlic (Rs. 26134) and beans (Rs. 15427) and lowest for peas (Rs. 11247), The per hectare net return was found to be higher for garlic crop (Rs.115066) when compared to tomato crop (Rs. 55785), beans and peas (Rs. 17108 to Rs. 6703). Therefore, garlic crop was found to be the most profitable crop with the net return of Rs. 115066 which was more and double of profit earned from tomato (Rs. 55785), peas (Rs. 6703) and beans (Rs. 17108). Similarly, the cost of cultivation was found to be highest for the large farmers and the per hectare net return also seemed to be the highest for the large farmers. Likewise, gross returns were also found highest for large farmers than that of small farmers. Further, the study revealed that major production problems faced by the farmers were availability of quality seed, high cost of inputs which were rated at top, followed by monkey & stray animals, quality of seed not available, high cost of inputs and high incidence of pest and pesticides etc. In order to increasing farm production and to minimise operational costs, the availability of high yielding variety seeds, reasonable prices of inputs like seed, fertilizers, pesticides etc., may enhance the farmers’ net return and income.

Determinants of Market Participation among Vegetable Growers in West Coast Region, The Gambia

Aims: This study aimed to identify factors that influencing vegetable growers' decision to participate in output market in the West Coast Region of The Gambia. Study Design: A cross-sectional data involving a sample of 138 vegetable producers were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. Methodology: Data was collected through in-person interview using semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and Probit model. Results: Results from Probit model analysis show that gender, access to transportation, access to credit, belonging to a farmer association, and access to market information were the main significant factors influencing vegetable growers to participate in the output market. Conclusion: The findings highlight that government and other stakeholders dedicated to supporting the well-being of vegetable growers need to improve the existing infrastructure, strengthen farmer organizations, and enhancing access to credit and market information.

Assessing the Impacts of Urbanization and Climate Change on NPP Under Different Habitat Quality Conditions over the Last Two Decades in the Tibetan Plateau, China

The processes of urbanization and climate change have exerted a marked influence on net primary productivity (NPP). However, the underlying mechanisms that drive these effects remain intricate and insufficiently understood. The processes of urbanization and climate change both have an adverse effect on habitat quality (HQ) and biodiversity loss. The HQ has a direct influence on the health and stability of ecosystems, which regulate the level of NPP. A higher HQ is associated with stronger NPP. Now, the quantification and assessment of the impacts of climate change and urbanization on NPP are still challenging because of the various driving factors and the intricate mechanisms influencing the production of terrestrial vegetation. Therefore, a new perspective was adopted to study the effects of urbanization and climate change on NPP in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China during 2000–2020. The spatiotemporal analysis method was employed to investigate the impact of the night light urbanization index and climate factors on NPP in different HQ regions (the HQ is divided into five levels, with each area type corresponding to a specific HQ level). Then, the coupled coordination model (CCD) was used to analyze the coupling coordination relationship between NPP and HQ. Finally, the relative contribution of urbanization and climate change to NPP was studied using scenario simulation. The results showed that (1) NPP in the whole Tibetan Plateau increased very little, with an average growth rate of 0.42 g C m⁻2 per year. (2) It was surprising to find that NPP in urban areas did not decline significantly as a result of urbanization. However, there was a notable decline in NPP in higher HQ areas. (3) The mean contribution of urbanization to NPP change was found to be 17%, while the mean contribution of climate change and other factors to NPP change was 69% and 14%, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights into the interactions between human development and environmental factors, enhancing our comprehension of their role in the Tibetan Plateau’s carbon cycle.

Carbon Sequestration Zoning and Management in Megacities from a Sustainable Perspective: A Case Study of Beijing

To address the contradiction between the development of megacities and ecological restoration, as well as the carbon sequestration capacity guarantee, this study was based on the sustainable development framework and adopted the research approach of "clarifying carbon sequestration characteristics, evaluating carbon sequestration suitability, and comprehensively dividing carbon sequestration areas" to propose carbon sequestration zoning and management measures for Beijing under the sustainable development framework. First, we used the improved Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach （CASA） model and soil microbial respiration equation to quantitatively estimate the net ecosystem productivity （NEP） of vegetation in Beijing from 2001 to 2020. The spatiotemporal distribution pattern and evolution characteristics were analyzed and trend, volatility, and continuity were used as evaluation indicators for carbon sequestration characteristics. Second, from a sustainable perspective, considering the natural, social, and economic conditions of Beijing, the driving factors of NEP in Beijing were analyzed from the perspectives of single-factor detection and interactive detection using geographic detector methods. Finally, the driving factors were used as suitability evaluation indicators for sustainable carbon sequestration. Risk detection was used to assign values to different intervals of the driving factors based on their corresponding NEP mean values. Combined with the NEP carbon sequestration characteristics in Beijing, the sustainable carbon sequestration zones in Beijing were determined. The results showed that： ① On the time scale, the overall trend of NEP change in Beijing from 2001 to 2020 was fluctuating upward, and on the spatial scale, NEP in the northwest was larger than that in the southeast. The overall trend showed a divergent expansion from the center of Beijing, and 79.6% of the regional NEP showed an increasing trend； however, the scope of the region with a sustainable growth or a reversal from a decrease was still relatively small. The region with the least volatility among the carbon sequestration regions included Huairou, Yanqing, and Fangshan Districts. ② The major drivers of spatial variability of NEP in Beijing were, in descending order of explanatory degree, vegetation cover, land use type, elevation, degree of human interference, slope, level of economic activity, population density, GDP, and average temperature. The interaction of the drivers was a two-way enhancement or non-linear enhancement and the characteristics of spatial variability of NEP were affected by the joint action of multiple drivers. ③ Combined with the evaluation of the suitability of sustainable carbon sequestration and the characteristics of the evolution of carbon sequestration, Beijing was divided into five categories： carbon sequestration core areas, carbon sequestration key areas, carbon sequestration priority areas, carbon sequestration potential areas, and carbon sequestration supplemental areas, which accounted for 47.5%, 17.7%, 15.4%, 11.4%, and 8.0% of the municipal area, respectively. The results of this study can provide a basis for the delineation of carbon sequestration areas and the formulation of management measures in Beijing. To realize sustainable development and carbon neutrality, megacities should define carbon sequestration zones by combining the effects of multiple drivers and the evolutionary characteristics of carbon sequestration, to adopt targeted carbon sequestration strategies.

Spatio-temporal Variation in Monthly Vegetation NPP and Its Responses to Climate and Terrain Factors in Chang-Zhu-Tan Green Heart Area

The Chang-Zhu-Tan ecological Green Heart area is the largest urban agglomeration Green Heart area in China. To clarify the spatiotemporal changes and driving factors of net primary productivity （NPP） of vegetation in the Chang-Zhu-Tan Green Heart area, an improved Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach （CASA） model was used to estimate the monthly vegetation NPP from 2011 to 2020 based on measured and remote sensing data. With the help of ArcGIS 10.2 software, linear regression and spatial partial correlation analysis were used to explore the spatiotemporal variations in monthly vegetation NPP and its responses to climate and terrain factors. The results showed that the monthly vegetation NPP in the Chang-Zhu-Tan Green Heart area showed an overall trend of first increasing and then decreasing, with an average vegetation NPP growth rate （measured in C, the same below） of 5.75 g·（m2·month）-1 from January to July and a monthly decrease rate of 2.64 g·（m2·month）-1 from August to December. The spatial distribution of monthly vegetation NPP in the Green Heart area showed a significant difference, with a coefficient of variation ranging from 34.52% to 48.76%. The high values of vegetation NPP in each month were concentrated in the ecological core areas of the central and eastern parts in the Green Heart area, whereas the low values were mainly distributed along the Xiangjiang River in the western part and in the narrow and elongated areas in the southern part of the Green Heart Area. The impact of climate and terrain factors on the monthly NPP of vegetation in the Green Heart area had both positive and negative inhibitory effects. Among climate factors, solar radiation was the major controlling factor for monthly vegetation NPP changes. The impact of terrain factors on vegetation NPP was relatively weak, with slope orientation having a greater positive impact on vegetation NPP than altitude and slope.

MUTU KIMIA PADA KALDU BUBUK NABATI BERBAHAN BAKU JAMUR MERANG (VOLVARIELLA VOLVACEA) DAN WORTEL (DAUCUS CAROTA L.)

Mushroom-based flavoring is one of the vegetable source food additives that contain glutamate so that it can be used as a substitute for artificial flavoring. Mushrooms that can be used are straw mushrooms. The addition of carrots aims to add nutrients to vegetable stock powder products. This aims of this study was to determine the combination of straw mushroom and carrot on chemical quality and the best treatment produced by vegetable stock powder. This research is an experimental research conducted in the laboratory. The first thing that was done was making vegetable stock powder with combination of straw mushroom and carrot then continued with chemical analysis. The results showed that the best treatment for the powdered stock of straw mushroom and carrot based on the chemical quality in this study was treatment J1 (100% merang mushroom: 0% carrot) with a value of 11.32% moisture content, 9.20% ash content and 12.63% crude fiber.

Quantitative assessment of the relative impacts of climate change and human activities on net primary productivity of vegetation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

IntroductionAs an important part of terrestrial ecosystem, vegetation plays a vital role in the terrestrial carbon cycle. As one of China’s three major urban clusters, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has experienced significant changes in vegetation due to climate change and large-scale ecological restoration efforts. Climate change and human activities are two factors that have important effects on the carbon cycles of terrestrial ecosystems. Quantitative assessment of the relative effects of climate change and human activities on vegetation dynamics is of paramount importance for regional sustainable development and ecological security.MethodsIn this study, based on ground meteorological data and remote sensing data including NDVI, an improved Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach model was employed to estimate the net primary productivity (NPP) of vegetation in the region from 2000 to 2020. Utilizing methods such as trend analysis, Mann-Kendall significance test, and correlation analysis, we investigated the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation NPP and its correlations with precipitation, temperature, and solar radiation. Furthermore, the partial derivative trend residuals method was adopted to separate and quantify the impacts of climate change and human activities on vegetation NPP in different years.ResultsThe results show that: (1) from 2000 to 2020, the overall trend of vegetation NPP in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region exhibited an increasing trend, with a spatial distribution pattern showing a step-like distribution from low to high to low from northwest to southeast. The multi-year average NPP was 384.90 g Cm−2, with an annual average growth rate of 3.00 g Cm−2. The NPP values of different vegetation types from large to small were: forests (578.40 g C m−2), shrubland (386.57 g C m−2), grassland (380.17 g C m−2), and cropland (324.91 g C m−2). (2) The proportion of regions with a positive correlation coefficient between average temperature and vegetation NPP in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region from 2000 to 2020 was 69.85%, while the proportions of regions with positive correlations between precipitation and solar radiation with vegetation NPP were 92.1% and 89.19%, respectively. This indicates that vegetation NPP in most regions is positively correlated with precipitation, solar radiation, and temperature, with precipitation exerting a greater influence on vegetation NPP than temperature and solar radiation. (3) Vegetation improvement in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is mainly driven by both climatic factors and human activities, while vegetation degradation is primarily caused by human factors. The relative contributions of climate change and human activities to changes in vegetation NPP in the study area are 45.11% and 54.89%, respectively. The areas where they positively contribute account for 48.64% and 73.95% of the total study area, respectively, with the proportions of areas with relative contribution rates >60% being 45.86% and 28.86%, respectively.DiscussionThe findings of this study can provide scientific basis for vegetation restoration, low-carbon development, and ecosystem management decision-making in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

Selenium mobility in soils under greenhouse vegetable production system: a comparative study on adsorption and desorption behavior and management implications

Selenium mobility in soils under greenhouse vegetable production system: a comparative study on adsorption and desorption behavior and management implications

Research and design of multiple gas mixing system in modified atmosphere packaging

Despite the abundant production of fruits and vegetables in Xinjiang, there is an increasing trend in waste rates. Gas-controlled packaging techniques are employed post-harvest to enhance freshness and extend shelf life. However, the multi-gas mixing system at the core of this equipment often encounters challenges such as insufficient stability, limited precision, high costs, and inadequate intelligence. In this context, we have developed and designed a multi-gas mixing system for gas-conditioned packaging. The system integrates Internet of Things technology, uses a programmable controller as the core, proposes a ternary gas distribution model based on the ideal gas equation and Dalton’s law of partial pressures, and utilizes RS-485 bus, TCP/IP protocol, among others. This ensures communication between the equipment and data transmission with the cloud server while enabling remote control of the gas mixing and blending process via a mobile phone terminal. The system runs stably through testing, with the average relative deviations of CO2 and O2 gas concentrations being 0.86% and 0.72%, respectively. This fulfills the technical prerequisites for achieving a gas concentration precision of less than 1%, addressing challenges related to inadequate precision in gas blending, unstable performance, and limited visual representation. Moreover, it significantly reduces equipment costs and operational complexities while serving as a valuable reference for advancing multivariate gas mixing and blending technology in Xinjiang’s fruit and vegetable gas-conditioned packaging.

Effects of Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emission Relevance to Environmental Stress on Horticultural Crops

Global climate change significantly impacts the yield and quality of sustainable horticulture crops. Rising global temperatures have forced the agricultural community to modify planting and harvesting timetables, frequently calling for earlier crop production. Notably, several concerning elements are brought about by climate change, including greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), higher temperatures, higher concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4), ozone depletion (O3), and deforestation. All of these factors exacerbate environmental stresses on crops. Climate change is, therefore, likely to have a negative impact on livestock production and crop yields. Thus, the main goal of the review paper is to provide a thorough summary of the various aspects that affect the production of fruits, vegetables, and plantation crops in horticulture, with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions and environmental stressors like high temperatures, droughts, salinity, and CO2 emissions. This assessment will also look at how new greenhouse technologies and horticultural crop varieties can be used to lessen the adverse effects of climate change on crops.

Livelihood diversification strategies and food security in the Weaving-based livelihood system of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Background Livelihood diversification involves households earning through various economic activities, such as non-farm businesses, entrepreneurship, and off-farm jobs, improving sustainability, resilience, risk sharing, employment opportunities, and reducing poverty and food insecurity. However, little research has been done on the status, factors and relation of livelihood diversification and food security. This study explores the relationship between food security and livelihood diversification in the Chencha district of southern Ethiopia, focusing on determinants and their connection with household food security. Methods Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 303 randomly selected households using surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and observations. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, Ordered probit regression and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results The result revealed that subsistence farming (52.1%) and weaving (38.6%) activities were reported as the primary and secondary main income sources of households. A majority of households (90.7%) diversified their livelihood. Based on income share, non-farm, on-farm, and off-farm income sources contributed, 72.96%, 25.3%, and 1.74% of total household income, respectively. Formal employment, weaving, barber/hairdresser, cattle production and sale, cereal production, and vegetable production (Potato) were highly paying livelihood activities in order. Households who combined on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm have gained far larger mean income followed by on-farm and non-farm strategies. Ordered Probit model results showed that landholding size, livestock holding size, and access to farmer training center (FTC) have positively affected the extent of livelihood diversification. Positive association was found between livelihood diversification and the food security status of households. Conclusion thus, the majority of weaving-based livelihood groups diversify their livelihood activities to on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm activities. Hence, supporting the weaving activity and motivating females’ participation, increasing other livelihood options, and modernizing the system with appropriate training, education, and market linkage seems inevitable.

Physiological Adaptations of Vegetables to Climate Stress

Vegetables, being rich in vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals, proteins and antioxidants are essential for overcoming micronutrient deficiencies, offering higher incomes and more employment opportunities per hectare to smallholder farmers compared to staple crops. Major challenges faced by vegetable growers are increased terminal heat stress, rainfall variability leading to flooding, drought, irrigation water availability, salinity, incidence of pests and diseases, extreme weather events. These gets further worsened in the future due to climate change. Vegetables exhibit various physiological adaptations to cope with changing environmental conditions such as enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, improved water-use efficiency, and altered phenological development. Higher temperatures accelerate the life cycle of vegetables cause increased respiration, leading to earlier maturation and potentially lower yields. Increased frequency of heat waves can cause heat stress, affecting growth and development. Moreover elevated temperatures increase the incidence of pests and diseases, leading to higher crop losses. Changes in precipitation patterns alter water availability, impacting growth and productivity. Nevertheless drought conditions cause stomatal closure limiting water loss besides reducing CO2 uptake. Excessive rainfall can lead to waterlogging, disrupting root function and nutrient uptake. Variability in climate conditions lead to inconsistent yields, making it challenging for farmers and necessitating adaptive strategies to ensure crop resilience and productivity. Genetic improvement through breeding for heat and drought tolerance helps to develop resilient vegetables. Additionally, agronomic practices like mulching, organic farming, and resource conservation technologies help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. Understanding these physiological responses could streamline sustainable vegetable production in the face of a changing climate.

Consumer Preferences for Dehydrated Vegetables

Why do buyers purchase certain products but not others? How do they determine how much to purchase? Under what circumstances does a sensible customer spend his money and what is his goal? These are some of the important questions to which we seek answers. The overall vegetable production for 2023-24 is expected to be around 205.80 million tonnes, screening a balanced trend. Substantial growths are expected in crops like tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, tapioca, bottle gourd, pumpkin and cucumber. Globally, it has been estimated that 42% of all of fruit and vegetable calories produced are ultimately wasted. Our sample consisted of a total of 100 participants who have been consuming the dehydrated vegetables. The study was conducted in the year 2023-24. Our focus in the physical sampling exercise was on important locations around Jabalpur, MP. Due to the location VAM Agro, selection of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh as study area for examining scope of dehydrated vegetables with specific reference to VAM Agro Processing Private Limited was therefore quite strategic and justified. We relied on convenient sampling in picking the study participants. It was found that more male members are there in the dehydrated vegetable consumer group in comparison with females. Of the major proportion of consumers interested in dehydrated vegetables, 78% fall within the age bracket of 21-25 years. 40 per cent of the respondents use them in instant foods such as potato chips and ready-to-eat foods, citing convenience and speed. A cool, dry place was best preferred by most consumers for storing their dehydrated vegetables, as it allows quality maintenance and prevents spoilage from moisture.

A drone-based population survey of Delacour's langur (Trachypithecus delacouri) in the karst forests of northern Vietnam

The Critically Endangered Delacour's langur (Trachypithecus delacouri) is presently found only in a few isolated karst areas in northern Vietnam, where conducting field surveys has proven challenging due to the difficult terrain. Accurate population estimates from a scientifically sound method are needed to inform management of the species. From October to December 2022, we used a drone equipped with optical and thermal cameras to survey the species in Kim Bang Forest, a critical site for the species. We estimated langur abundance from the resulting point count data using N-mixture models including abiotic and biotic variables. We also compared the effectiveness and efficiency of the drone method with two commonly used ground-based methods. The drone survey recorded 16 groups with 104 individuals. We estimated a density of 0.87 groups per km2 and a population of 25 groups and 175 individuals. This estimate is 80–113 % higher than previous ground-based estimates, attributed primarily to the higher area coverage by the drone survey. The estimate reaffirms the conservation importance of Kim Bang Forest for the species. The modelling also indicated that Delacour's langur abundance was correlated negatively with Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis) presence and positively with vegetation productivity. Other variables (elevation, terrain ruggedness and distance to forest edge) were much less important in explaining langur abundance. Compared to the ground-based methods, the drone approach proved effective and resource-efficient for surveying Delacour's langurs. We recommend the drone method for future Delacour's langur surveys, with potential applicability to other arboreal mammals in difficult-to-access karst forests.

Additional far-red increases fruit yield of greenhouse sweet pepper mainly through enhancing plant source strength

Supplementary lighting is necessary for year-round greenhouse production of fruit vegetables in high-latitude regions. Far-red (FR) radiation can influence plant photomorphogenesis as well as photosynthesis. We aimed to identify the effects of supplementary FR on fruit set and yield of sweet pepper, and its underlying mechanisms via a yield component analysis. A 24-week greenhouse experiment was conducted with cultivars 'Gialte' and 'Margrethe', where FR was added to 190 μmol·m−2·s−1 of white supplementary light in four treatments: 0, 50 or 100 μmol·m−2·s−1 FR throughout the whole generative growth phase (since 8 weeks after transplanting), or 100 μmol·m−2·s−1 FR for only four weeks (12 to 16 weeks after transplanting). Fruit yield increased linearly with the cumulative amount of FR provided in supplementary light. The increased fruit dry weight with additional FR was mainly associated with an increased plant dry weight, accompanied by a marginal increase in the fraction of dry matter partitioned to fruits. The increase in plant dry weight resulted from an increased light use efficiency (plant dry weight per unit of supplementary photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) incident on top of the canopy) and an increased incident PAR (due to taller plants closer to the lamps). However, additional FR reduced radiation use efficiency (plant dry weight per unit of supplementary PAR plus FR incident on top of the canopy), indicating that additional FR was used less efficiently than PAR for biomass production. Additional FR enhanced fruit set percentage and fruit set fluctuations over time, where both long-term and short-term FR application elevated the subsequent fruit set peak after the start of FR application. Without additional FR, 17% fruits in 'Gialte' and 25% in 'Margrethe' showed medium or severe cracking. Additional FR substantially reduced this percentage to 8% in both cultivars. We conclude that additional FR improves sweet pepper fruit set and yield in greenhouses, mainly by enhancing plant source strength.

Comprehensive analysis of soybean (Glycine max L.) by-products: nutritional value, phenolic composition, and bioactive properties

Soybeans are key components in vegetable beverage production, generating two by-products: soybean hulls and okara. For every ton of soybeans, 50-80 kg of hulls and 120 kg of okara are produced, being often discarded or used in low-value applications like fertilizers or feed. This study aims at characterizing their biochemical and nutritional profiles to assess their potential reintroduction into the food chain. Both by-products have high levels of protein and dietary fiber, mainly insoluble. Okara and hulls predominantly contain oleic acid and linoleic acid, respectively. Seventeen phenolic compounds, mainly isoflavones, were identified, with genistein as the main compound. Hulls exhibit superior antioxidant activity compared to okara. Neither extract showed cytotoxicity or anti-inflammatory effects and exhibited limited antimicrobial activity. However, both demonstrate prebiotic potential, promoting beneficial gut bacteria growth. The results suggest that these by-products have significant potential as new ingredients for their protein, isoflavone, and fiber content, alongside prebiotic properties.

Developing an early warning land degradation indicator based on geostatistical analysis of Ecosystem Functional Types dynamics

Identifying and quantifying ecosystem degradation and recovery is of critical importance for ecosystem health, biodiversity, food security and the livelihoods of local communities. Remote sensing datasets and techniques, particularly land cover maps, provide crucial data for capturing spatial and temporal changes, supporting informed decision-making and targeted interventions. However, these maps often emphasize structural rather than functional attributes and, also due to their thematic and temporal resolution, may not detect early degradation signs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Ecosystem Functional Attributes (EFAs) and Ecosystem Functional Types (EFTs) as early warning indicators of ecosystem degradation. Using Sentinel-2 derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from 2016 to 2022, we conducted qualitative and quantitative EFA/EFT analysis on two fragile protected areas, Moyowosi Game Reserve (Kigoma region, Tanzania) and the Sheikh Jamal Inani National Park (Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh). Firstly, EFA analysis characterized vegetation productivity and seasonality, revealing temporal trends and spatial patterns of change. Secondly, EFTs served as indicators of change levels. Our findings showed significant insights into productivity shifts due to human activities and climate anomalies, identifying specific temporal events and turning points. Variogram-based geostatistical analysis highlighted changes in vegetation diversity’s spatial distribution. Integrating EFA/EFT analysis with geostatistical methods proved effective for early detection of land degradation, surpassing traditional land cover change analysis. Hence, the presented approach forms a robust framework for an early warning system, aimed at monitoring and evaluating environmentally fragile areas and aiding decision-makers in mitigating environmental degradation and promoting sustainable land management.

Reducing Total Plate Count of Bacteria through Dark Sealed Storage for Plant Factory Nutrient Solution Sterilization

Plant factories are efficient systems for vegetable production under a clean and controlled environment. To improve the sterilization efficiency of nutrient solutions (NS) in plant factories, this study examined the changes in the number and composition of colonies from in-use and post-use stored NS. The sterilization effect under ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diode light was also investigated. The results indicated that the total plate count of bacteria (TPC) of newly prepared NS was 3.99 lg CFU/mL (9870 CFU/mL); within 7 days of cultivation, this number sharply increased ∼7.8 times to 4.88 lg CFU/mL (76,000 CFU/mL), then remained stable. After dark sealed storage (DSS) of post-use NS, TPC dramatically decreased by 82.8% and reached its lowest point at 4.29 lg CFU/mL (19,566 CFU/mL) on day 3, equivalent to a log survival ratio of −0.76, then rapidly rebounded by 235.6% to 4.82 lg CFU/mL (65,666 CFU/mL) on day 4. During storage, bacterial community composition was also remarkably changed, and the relative abundance of heterotrophic bacteria such as Variovorax paradoxus and Pararhizobium giardinii and photosynthetic bacteria such as Pseudo-Nitzschia multiseries were greatly decreased. The log survival ratio for in-use and post-use stored NS under UV sterilization were −1.29 and −1.30, respectively, and was not significantly different. Coupled with the dramatic decrease in TPC during DSS, the overall log survival ratio of post-use NS UV sterilization was −2.06 and was the most effectively form of sterilization in our study. In short, TPC of in-use NS remained high for a long period, and DSS may serve as a low-cost NS sterilization method in plant factories.