Significant Yield Variation Research Articles

Performance assessment of a 1 MW grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (GCRPV) plant on an institutional building in composite climate of Northern India

In recent years, rooftop solar photovoltaic systems have gained significant attention for the curtailment of electricity bills and the reduction of carbon footprints. In the study, the operating performance of a 1 MW grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (GCRPV) plant was assessed using actual recorded data installed on the university buildings in Lucknow, India, using IEC 61724. The real performance of GCRPV was compared with three simulation softwares: PVsyst, SAM, and PVLIB. The objective of the research is to evaluate the simulation software’s accuracy to predict the operating performance of large-scale solar PV plants. The results reveal significant variations in final yield: PVLIB estimated 5.09 h/day, PVsyst 3.73 h/day, and SAM 4.64 h/day, against the actual value of 3.45 h/day. Annual energy generation projections by PVLIB, SAM, and PVsyst were 1858.80, 1699.92, and 1365.79 MWh, respectively, compared to the actual value of 1255.77 MWh. Plant efficiencies and performance metrics are comparable with Indian installations. These findings offer valuable insights into the performance and potential of solar photovoltaic systems in similar climates, providing a foundation for site selection and system optimisation in India and similar regions worldwide.

Influence of Boron and Gibberellic Acid on Growth and Yield of Summer Tomato

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a globally significant vegetable crop, valued for its nutritional and economic contributions. However, maximizing its yield and quality, particularly under challenging summer conditions, remains a critical agricultural concern. To assess the influence of boron (B) and Gibberellic Acid (GA3) on the growth, yield and quality of summer tomato (BARI Hybrid Tomato 8), a field experiment was conducted at the Department of Agriculture, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, from May 2023 to August 2023. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications of each treatment. The unit plot size was 1.0 m × 1.0 m. There were 4 treatments T0: control (without Gibberellic acid and Boron), T1: 50 ppm GA3, T2: 100 ppm Boron and T3: combinations of T1 and T2 in the experiment comprising Boron (100 ppm) and GA3 (50 ppm). The effect of boron, gibberellic acid and their combined effect showed significant variations in growth, yield and quality of tomato. In this study between the individual application of Boron @ 100 ppm and GA3 @ 50 ppm, GA3 gave the higher plant height, leaf number, fruit weight and yield per plant than Boron. Combined effect of GA3 and Boron at treatment T3 (50 ppm GA3 + 100 ppm Boron) gives the highest plant height (104.23), branch number (18.76), no. of leaves per plant (82.5), flower clusters per plant (14.05), flower per plant (52.1), fruit per plant (17.72), fruiting percentage (34.05), fruit weight per plant (964.21g), total yield (33.06 t ha-1). From this experiment, it can be concluded that the interactive effect of 50 ppm GA3 with 100 ppm Boron treatment is suitable dose for higher yield of tomato by improving all the parameters numerically.

Effects of five extraction methods on the physicochemical properties, antioxidant, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of polysaccharides from wild jujube flesh

Wild jujube, known as “green gem”, is rich in polysaccharides. This study evaluated the effects of various extraction techniques, including hot water extraction, alkali extraction, acid extraction, and enzyme extraction, on the physicochemical properties, antioxidant properties, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of polysaccharides extracted from wild jujube flesh (WJFP). The results showed significant variations in polysaccharide yield and characteristics among five WJFPs. The total polysaccharide content ranged from 47.31% to 67.60%, while the protein content ranged from 1.29% to 1.87%. Despite similar monosaccharide compositions (arabinose, xylose, galactose, and glucuronic acid), their proportions showed notable differences. Infrared spectroscopy indicated that the samples contained similar typical polysaccharide peaks, while nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed consistent glycosyl residue types across all WJFPs. In terms of bioactivity, WJFP-Ac exhibited hydroxyl radical scavenging, while WJFP-HA and WJFP-E demonstrated effective α-glucosidase inhibition. WJFP-HA also demonstrated strong antioxidant abilities, including DPPH scavenging and total antioxidant characteristics. The findings of this study highlighted how molecular weight and monosaccharide composition influenced the bioactivity of WJFP, providing a foundation for optimizing the extraction and utilization of WJFPs in various applications.

Comparative evaluation of commercial DNA isolation approaches for nanopore-only bacterial genome assembly and plasmid recovery

The advent of Oxford Nanopore Technologies has undergone significant improvements in terms of sequencing costs, accuracy, and sequencing read lengths, making it a cost-effective, and readily accessible approach for analyzing microbial genomes. A major challenge for bacterial whole genome sequencing by Nanopore technology is the requirement for a higher quality and quantity of high molecular weight DNA compared to short-read sequencing platforms. In this study, using eight pathogenic bacteria, we evaluated the quality, quantity, and fragmented size distribution of extracted DNA obtained from three different commercial DNA extraction kits, and one automated robotic platform. Our results demonstrated significant variation in DNA yield and purity among the extraction kits. The ZymoBIOMICS DNA Miniprep Kit (ZM) provided a higher purity of DNA compared to other kit-based extractions. All kit-based DNA extractions were successfully performed on all twenty-four samples using a single MinION flow cell, with the Nanobind CBB Big DNA kit (NB) yielding the longest raw reads. The Fire Monkey HMW-DNA Extraction Kit (FM) and the automated Roche MagNaPure 96 platform (RO) outperformed in genome assembly, particularly in gram-negative bacteria. Based on our finding, we recommend a minimum read coverage and raw read N50, obtained from the appropriate DNA extraction kit for each bacterial species, to optimize genome assembly and plasmid recovery. This approach will assist end-users in selecting the most effective kit-based extraction method for bacterial whole-genome assembly using only long-read nanopore sequences.

Comparative Chloroplast Genome Analysis in High-Yielding Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis

Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis, a species endemic to Yunnan, China, accounts for over 90% of Yunnan’s Pinus resin production. However, there is significant variation in resin yield among individuals, and molecular markers for identifying high-yielding individuals have yet to be developed. In this study, a comparative analysis of complete chloroplast genomes of P. kesiya var. langbianensis was conducted to perform a phylogenetic analysis and differentiate high-yielding individuals. Both high-yielding (HY) and low-yielding (LY) trees possess a typical quadripartite structure, with respective genome sizes of 119,812 bp and 119,780 bp. Each chloroplast genome contains 112 genes, including 72 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNAs, and 4 rRNAs. Furthermore, HY and LY trees contain 30 and 34 SSRs, respectively, with mononucleotide repeats being predominant; neither genome exhibited trinucleotide or pentanucleotide repeats. Six highly variable regions were identified: trnI-CAU-psbA, trnH-GUG-trnI-CAU, rpl16, rrn4.5-rrn5, petG-petL, and psaJ. Phylogenetic analysis based on 72 Pinus species revealed that HY and LY trees clustered separately, with the HY tree grouping with P. kesiya and the LY tree with P. yunnanensis. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the molecular identification of high-yield P. kesiya var. langbianensis individuals and enriches the understanding of its phylogenetic relationships.

Growth, Yield and Quality Attributes of Determinate Tomato Genotypes in Parwanipur, Bara of Nepal

With the aim of identifying suitable open pollinated determinate tomato genotypes, investigation was carried out at Directorate of Agricultural Research (DoAR), Parwanipur in two consecutive winter seasons of 2020/21 and 2021/22. Experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 16 treatments and replicated thrice. Crop geometry was maintained 75×60 cm and fertilizers and manure was applied at the rate of 200:150:120 kg N: P2O5:K2O kg + 20 tons FYM per hectare. Analysis of results showed significant variation in yield and yield attributing characters among genotypes. The maximum plant height (75.67 cm) was recorded on genotypes AVTO 0301.The genotypes AVTO 1716 and AVTO 0301 showed significantly earlier to 50% flowering (45 days) while AVTO 1711 recorded shortest days to first harvest (81 days). The highest plant vigour (5 scales) showed by AVTO 1712, AVTO 0302 and Pusa Ruby check variety. The maximum fruit diameter (7.52 cm), length (6.54 cm) and fruit weight (49.9 g) recorded on genotype AVTO 1711. The highest number of fruits/ plant (56.7) and marketable yield (58.08 t ha-1) was recorded in AVTO 1610 and AVTO 1711 respectively. The genotype AVTO 1712 showed the highest firmness (1.92 kg cm-2) and Vitamin C (59.36 mg/ 100 g). The maximum pericarp thickness of fruits (7.43 mm) obtained on AVTO 1610. The genotype Pusa Ruby showed the maximum total soluble solid (5.6 Obrix) and Titratable acid 0.75 %. Similarly, the highest colorimetric value of a* (12.62) was recorded on Pusa Ruby and the highest value of b* (19.37) was found on AVTO 1713 while the highest value of L* (30.56) was observed on AVTO 171. Considering the overall performance, genotypes AVTO 1711, AVTO 1702 and AVTO 1712 were performed better in terms of the highest yield and other horticultural traits.

Study of the varietal behavior of 07 durum wheat varieties (Triticum durum Desf.) in the Oued Righ Valley (ITDAS Station)

Cereal production in the Oued Righ Valley is limited by several factors, including high temperatures and the salinity of irrigation water. These constraints cause significant variations in crop behavior and yield. This study aims to evaluate the performance of seven durum wheat varieties at the El Arfiane demonstration and seed production farm (ITDAS) in the Oued Righ Valley in the south East of Algeria. The evaluation focuses on morphological parameters and yield components To identify the variety or varieties that demonstrate favorable performance and yield, thus encouraging local farmers to cultivate them. The results of this study indicate significant differences in morphological parameters such as plant height, spike length, number of spikes per square meter, and number of grains per spike. However, other measured parameters, such as the number of tillers per plant, thousand-grain weight TGW, grain yield, and harvest index, The methodology employed in this study follows a completely randomized block design with three replications. The experimental design includes a set of experimental units arranged in blocks, with treatments randomly assigned within each block, hence the term "completely randomized block." Each treatment appears only once in each block. The blocks are typically placed contiguously to facilitate observations and task execution. This design is widely used in agronomy as it simplifies task execution and the comparison of treatments. Despite an acceptable thousand-grain weight this year, ranging from 37.06g for variety T4 to 27.6g for variety T1, the yields were low. The highest biological yield was 33.11 quintals per hectare for variety T5, while the lowest yield was 11.39 (T2) quintals per hectare. Several factors, including pigeon attacks and harvest losses, contributed to the reduced real yield.

Productive Poplar Genotypes Exhibited Temporally Stable Low Stem Embolism Resistance and Hydraulic Resistance Segmentation at the Stem-Leaf Transition.

Breeding tree genotypes that are both productive and drought-resistant is a primary goal in forestry. However, the relationships between plant hydraulics and yield at the genotype level, and their temporal stabilities, remain unclear. We selected six poplar genotypes from I-101 (Populus alba) × 84 K (P. alba × Popolus tremula var. glandulosa) for experiments in the first and fourth years after planting in a common garden. Measurements included stem embolism resistance, shoot hydraulic resistance and its partitioning between stems and leaves, vessel- and pit-level anatomy, leaf carbon acquisition capacity, carbon allocation to leaves, and aboveground biomass (yield proxy). Significant genetic variations in hydraulic properties and yield were found among genotypes in both years. Productive genotypes had wide vessels, large thin pit membranes, small pit apertures, and shallow pit chambers. Hydraulic resistance was negatively correlated with yield, enabling high stomatal conductance and assimilation rates. Productive genotypes allocated less aboveground carbon and hydraulic resistance to leaves. Temporally stable trade-offs between stem embolism resistance and yield, and between hydraulic segmentation and yield, were identified. These findings highlight the tight link between hydraulic function and yield and suggest that stable trade-offs may challenge breeding poplar genotypes that are both productive and drought-resistant.

Genotype by environment interaction across water regimes in relation to cropping season response of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa).

Genotype × environment (GxE) interaction effects are one of the major challenges in identifying cultivars with stable performance across agri-environments. In this study we analysed GE interactions to identify quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) cultivars with high and stable yields under different soil moisture regimes, representing control conditions, waterlogging and drought. Waterlogging and drought treatments were artificially induced using normoxia, a combination of hypoxia-normoxia, and 10% PEG (Polyethylene glycol) under hydroponic growth conditions, respectively. Both waterlogging and drought conditions significantly reduced the plant height (PH), number of leaves (NoL) and number of branches (NoB), stem diameter (SD), leaf area (LA) and dry weight (DW) of quinoa genotypes. The genotype, water regime, and genotype by water regime effects all significantly affected the measured quinoa traits. Based on the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model for DW, the genotypes G18, Puno, Q4, 2-Want, Puno, Real1 x Ruy937 and Titicaca were found to exhibit tolerance and were stable across water regimes. A second-stage evaluation was conducted to test genotype × environment interaction effects in crop production field trials, selecting two contrasting seasons based on soil moisture conditions involving a diverse set of genotypes (58 varieties in total). Our results demonstrate significant variations in both growth and yield among the quinoa genotypes across the cropping seasons. The GGE analysis for grain yield indicate that field conditions matched to G × E under hydroponic experimental conditions and the cultivars G18, Q1, Q4, NL-3, G28, 42-Test, Atlas and 59-ALC were classified within a range of high productivity. Our findings provide a basis for understanding the mechanisms of wide adaptation, while identifying germplasm that enhances the water stress tolerance of quinoa cultivars at early growth stages.

Utilization of Forest Residues for Cellulose Extraction from Timber Species in the High Montane Forest of Chimborazo, Ecuador

The present study explored the extraction of cellulose from forest residues of four timber species, namely Cedrela montana Moritz ex Turcz, Buddleja incana Ruiz & Pav, Vallea stipularis L. f. and Myrsine andina (Mez) Pipoly, in the high montane forest of Chimborazo province, Ecuador, for the sustainable utilization of leaves, branches, and flowers. An alkaline extraction method was used on the residues without the need for prior degreasing. An ANOVA analysis was applied to evaluate significant differences in cellulose extraction yields among the species’ residues. The characterization techniques used were Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and polarized light optical microscopy, which confirmed the successful extraction of cellulose with characteristics comparable to standard cotton cellulose and other traditional species. The results showed significant variations in cellulose yield among the species, with Vallea stipularis L. f achieving the highest yield of 80.83%. The crystallinity of the samples was clearly evidenced by the polarity of the light in the samples during microscopy, demonstrating that the residues can be a viable and sustainable source of cellulose, contributing to a circular economy and reducing the environmental impact of forest waste.

Adaptability, stability, and productivity of potato breeding clones and cultivars at high latitudes in Europe

The aim of potato breeding is to release cultivars that exhibit high and stable performance across the target population of environments. The objective of this research was therefore to investigate the use of various methods (site regression [SREG], coefficient of variation and regression deviation [σ2δ]) for determining the adaptability and stability of productive and quality traits in the Nordic region of Europe. The multi-environment trials included 256 breeding clones and released cultivars grown by EU farmers at three distinct testing sites over two years in Sweden. There was significant (P < 0.001) variation in tuber yield, starch percentage and reducing sugars in the tuber flesh among the breeding clones and cultivars, testing environments and the genotype by environment interaction (GEI). The environments were very diverse, as revealed by the SREG biplots and particularly for the GEI patterns noted in terms of their productive and quality characteristics. The percentage of stable high-tuber yielding germplasm was greater for breeding clones (23%) than for released European cultivars (2%), thus revealing the advantage of potato breeding in the target population of environments. SLU 1415001 and SLU 1314015 were the most promising breeding clones due to their stable high tuber yield. This characteristic was best for the starch potato cultivars, although none of them exhibited a significant different σ2δ. ‘Talent’ shows an almost stable good performance among low reducing sugar cultivars and breeding clones, which are often unstable in terms of their scoring across environments. Neither a breeding clone nor a cultivar was at the top for stable tuber yield, tuber flesh starch or reducing sugars in the tuber flesh, which shows the challenge faced by potato breeding while addressing the needs of different markets.

Transcriptome Analyses Reveal Differences in the Metabolic Pathways of the Essential Oil Principal Components of Different Cinnamomum Chemotypes

The genus Cinnamomum exhibits a rich variety of chemotypes and is an economically important essential oil (EO)-producing plant belonging to the family Lauraceae. Here, we aimed to explore the potential differences in the terpenoid (the principal components of EOs) biosynthesis pathways of different chemotypes at the molecular level in four Cinnamomum species—C. camphora var. linaloolifera, C. kanehirae, C. longipaniculatum, and C. micranthum. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to elucidate the discrepancies in the chemical profiles and compositions of leaf EO terpenoids among the four Cinnamomum species. The results revealed significant variations in leaf EO yields. The main constituents of the leaf EOs from C. camphora var. linaloolifera and C. kanehirae were the acyclic monoterpene linalool, and those of C. longipaniculatum and C. micranthum were the monoterpene eucalyptol and the sesquiterpene β-caryophyllene, respectively. Furthermore, a comparative transcriptome analysis of the leaves from the four Cinnamomum species revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in terpene-related entries. Specifically, 42 and 24 DEGs were significantly enriched to the mevalonate (MVA)/2-methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathways and terpene synthase (TPS) activity, respectively. Most genes encoding proteins involved in the terpenoid precursor MVA and MEP pathways exhibited differential expression across the four species, which correlated with the distinct terpenoid profiles observed in their leaf EOs. Four acyclic monoterpene linalool synthase genes—Maker00024100, Maker00014813, Maker00014818, and Maker00018424—were highly expressed in C. camphora var. linaloolifera and C. kanehirae. A monoterpene eucalyptol synthesis gene, Maker00001509, was highly expressed in C. longipaniculatum, and a sesquiterpene β-stigmasterol synthesis gene, Maker00005791, was highly expressed in C. micranthum. These expression levels were subsequently validated through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In conclusion, the combined results of the GC-MS and transcriptome analyses revealed a strong correlation between the metabolite content of the EOs and gene expression. This research contributes to a better understanding of the differences in terpene accumulation in various chemotypes of Cinnamomum at the molecular and mechanistic levels, laying a solid foundation for the cultivation of an ideal Cinnamomum variety.

The agronomic characteristics and combining ability of glutinous Thermo-sensitive Genic Male Sterile rice (Oryza sativa) lines

Glutinous rice (Oryza sativa), despite its unique culinary qualities, typically yields less than other rice varieties, posing agricultural and economic challenges. The construction of a glutinous thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (TGMS) rice variety could indeed be a way to improve the yield and cultivation efficiency of glutinous rice. Among them, the two-line system operates by crossing a TGMS line, which is sterile at high temperatures but fertile at lower temperatures, with a normal fertile line. In this study, we conducted to access morphological characteristics and combining ability of some glutinous TGMS lines. The parental lines were characterized on 13 agronomic traits including growth duration, plant height, flag leaf width, flag leaf length, panicle length, rachis length, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, number of panicles per plant, percentage of filled grains, P1000 seeds, grain yield, and amylose content. The obtained results revealed significant variations in growth traits, yield, and amylose content of studied rice lines. Hierarchical clustering based on principal component analysis of rice lines on all measured traits showed three major clusters with high genetic diversity. Furthermore, fifteen glutinous TGMS rice lines and three testers were used in a Line x Tester mating system to produce 45 hybrids. The 45 hybrids were evaluated on 6 traits related to grain yield and morphology in a randomized complete block design experiment with three replications. A line x tester analysis was conducted to estimate the combining ability, genetic variance, and the contribution of parental lines to genetic variation in hybrids. These findings were valuable for rice breeders to orient the strategy for breeding of hybrid glutinous rice varieties with high efficiency.

Thymol-a plant-based monoterpenoid phenol compound of an essential oil for the management of sheath blight disease of rice.

Sheath blight of rice is a global disease that significantly reduces rice yield. This study reports the antifungal activity of an active compound of essential oil, thymol, at different concentrations against Rhizoctonia solani (strain RS-Gvt). In vitro assay results indicated that thymol concentrations (0.5 mg mL-1 and 0.25 mg mL-1) completely inhibited (100%) the mycelial growth of RS-Gvt (p ≤ 0.01). Microscopic observations of thymol-treated mycelium of RS-Gvt at 0.0312 mg mL-1 and above concentrations, revealed a distorted mycelial morphology with deformed hyphae. Hyphae showed a bead-like appearance, reduction in size, and constriction of the hyphae at uneven points with increased hyphal density often entangling with each other. Further, an on-field experiment was conducted to study the field bio-efficacy of thymol for two consecutive Kharif seasons of 2022 and 2023 using a factorial RCBD design. The disease severity was measured as the percent disease index (PDI), and the results of two seasons were pooled. Pathogen (RS-Gvt) and thymol were inoculated in different combinations/methods as main treatments (M1-M3), and concentrations of thymol (0.0625-1.0 mg ML-1) as sub-treatments. The results indicated that all two factors significantly (P = 0.05) influenced the PDI and grain yield. The pooled data of two seasons indicated a significant difference between the main treatments (M1: RS-Gvt + thymol together; M2: thymol sprayed first followed by RS-Gvt; M3: RS-Gvt first followed by thymol spray) on PDI (53.39-59.67) and grain yield (4.16-4.75 t ha-1). M1 exhibited a lower PDI (53.39) and a higher grain yield (4.75 t ha-1) compared to M2 and M3, indicating a protective mode of action of thymol against sheath blight disease of rice. The sub-treatments have shown significant variation in PDI and grain yield. The PDI and grain yield ranged from 33.70 (at 1 mg mL-1) to 66.21 (at 0.0625 mg mL-1) and 4.18 (at 1 mg mL-1) to 5.26 (at 0.0625 mg mL-1) t ha-1, respectively, among the thymol concentrations. This indicates that increasing concentrations of thymol have negatively influenced the PDI and positively impacted the yield. Therefore, the spray of 1 mg mL-1 of thymol at the potential disease-infection stage is most effective in controlling the sheath blight disease of rice. This study provides an alternative green bioactive compound for controlling the sheath blight disease, and thymol can be included in developing eco-friendly integrated disease management practices. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Performance of Medium Duration Rice Cultivars on Growth, Productivity and Profitability under South Andaman Condition of India

A field experiment was carried out during both July to November 2019 and 2020 on the farmers’ fields in the Guptapara village of South Andaman, India, to determine the growth and yield performance of a medium-duration rice cultivar and its suitability. The treatments included five medium-duration rice cultivars consist of Jaya, ADT 45, CARI dhan 3, CARI dhan–6, and CARI dhan-7 laid out in Randomised Complete Block Design with four replications. The results showed that medium-duration rice cultivars exhibited significant variations in growth and yield attributing characteristics, such as leaf area index, root length, root dry weight, the number of productive tillers m-2, panicle length, filled grains panicle-1, and test weight. The growth attributes of rice were significantly influenced by medium-duration rice cultivars, except plant height. Regardless of the duration of the rice cultivars, CARI dhan 7 exhibited significantly greater root length and dry weight, measuring 33.2 cm and 6.37 g hill-1, respectively. CARI dhan 7 had substantially higher productive tillers (357 m-2), filled grains panicle-1 (121.6), grain (4790 kg ha-1), and straw yield (7390 kg ha-1), which was statistically comparable to CARI dhan-6. CARI dhan 7 had the highest gross return of ` 71595 ha-1, a net return of ` 36946 ha-1, and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.07. The medium-duration rice cultivar CARI dhan 7 performed better and more suitable in low-lying areas of South Andaman.

Evaluating effectiveness of clonal plant selection of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) in mixtures: Mean performance and stability in a multi‐environment trial

AbstractAlfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) ‐ grass or alfalfa ‐ sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) mixtures are commonly used for pastures in western Canada because of their high forage quality and their low risk of causing frothy bloat in grazing animals. However, the proportion of these two legumes declines in mixed forage stands over time. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of selecting superior genotypes from clonally propagated alfalfa or sainfoin under plant competition in different growth environments. For this study, around 100 genotypes of each legume were cloned and transplanted into meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Relm.) or alfalfa swards at Saskatoon, SK and Lethbridge, AB, Canada in 2017. Genotype‐environment (G x E) interactions of alfalfa and sainfoin genotypes were analysed by an additive main‐effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model. Significant variations in plant height, spring vigour and total dry matter yield (TDM) were observed for both species. Among the measured traits, plant height was a more highly heritable trait (H2 = .16 for alfalfa and H2 = .18 for sainfoin), while TDM was the least heritable (H2 = .08 for alfalfa and H2 = .04 for sainfoin). In the AMMI Analysis of variance for TDM, the genotype explained &lt;12% of the variation for both species, suggesting a direct selection of yield would result in a low genetic gain. The biplot mean performance (Y) x weighted average of absolute scores from the singular value decomposition of the matrix of BLUPs stability index (WAASB) identified several promising genotypes with superior performance and stability across different environments that were selected for producing synthetic lines. However, the synthetic lines of both alfalfa and sainfoin did not consistently exhibit superior performance in mixtures compared to their respective check cultivars.

Responses of rice qualities to temperature and light in three different ecological environments in karst regions

Rice cultivation in Karst regions shows significant variations in both yield and quality due to temperature and light. Herein, 241 varieties including 198 indica rice and 43 japonica rice were planted in three ecological regions to investigate responses of rice qualities to meteorological factors. Results showed that in regions with higher average temperature (25.43 °C) and less daily sunshine hour (2.53 h/day), the appearance qualities (chalkiness degree, chalkiness rate and size) and processing qualities (brown rice percentage, head rice and milled rice percentages) were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). A total of 723 samples in three ecological environments were grouped into 4 clusters, arranged in descending order of cluster scores. In high-scoring cluster, the processing quality, appearance quality, protein content, hot paste viscosity, consistence viscosity, and setback viscosity were negatively correlated with temperatures (average temperature, temperature difference, effective accumulated temperature, maximum and minimum temperatures) from heading to mature stages, but positively correlated with sunshine hours. Apparent amylose contents were negatively correlated with temperatures but not significantly correlated with sunshine hours. In low-scoring cluster, only the processing quality had significant correlations with meteorological factors. These findings revealed the interaction between temperature and light for the formation of rice quality.

Impacts of Soil Temperature on Apricot Productivity in Malatya, Turkey: A Longitudinal Analysis Using Inverse Distance Weighting

This longitudinal study analyzes the impact of soil temperature on apricot productivity in Malatya, Turkey, from 2004 to 2022. Utilizing Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) to correlate detailed soil temperature maps with apricot yield and production data, we identify significant temperature-dependent variations in apricot yields. Our findings reveal that optimal soil temperature management is crucial for maximizing apricot productivity, as deviations from ideal soil temperatures correlate strongly with yield fluctuations. Specifically, periods of increased soil temperatures generally correspond with higher productivity, highlighting the delicate balance required for optimal apricot cultivation. This research underscores the importance of integrating climate considerations into agricultural planning and offers valuable insights for developing adaptive strategies to enhance apricot production in the face of global climate variability. By mapping the spatial and temporal dynamics of soil temperature and its impact on apricot yield, this study contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable agricultural practices and the economic resilience of the apricot sector in Malatya.

Regulated Deficit Irrigation to Boost Processing Tomato Sustainability and Fruit Quality

Improving water use efficiency is gaining relevance for the sustainability of agricultural practices. In semi-arid Mediterranean areas, recent studies highlighted that future climatic scenarios will be even more critical for crops, given the increase in water scarcity. In this context, the rationalization of irrigation water is necessary to sustain processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) yield and quality since this crop requires large volumes of water. The present research aimed to identify the effects of a regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategy on the environmental and economic sustainability and fruit technological and functional quality of the processing tomato crop in the Mediterranean area. A two-year, open-field experiment was carried out to compare full irrigation management (IRR, restoring 100% ETc) with an RDI strategy based on restoring 50% ETc when the first fruit cluster reached the typical size (BBCH 701 phenological stage, relative to Solanaceous fruits). Remarkable water saving (21.46%, average of the two years) was achieved under RDI without significant variations in total and marketable yield compared to the IRR regime. Consequently, improved economic water productivity (+23.17%) was observed, allowing enhanced processing tomato sustainability. The RDI strategy boosted the glucose content (+17.78%), soluble solids content (SSC, +10.17%), and dry matter of the fruits (+10.03 g%). Furthermore, a higher SSC-to-titratable acidity ratio (+15.47%) and a negative shift in fructose/glucose balance (−7.71%) were observed in RDI-treated plants. Higher levels of the drought stress markers proline (+38.99%) and total polyphenols (+20.58%) were detected in RDI- compared to IRR-irrigated tomato fruits. These findings suggested the RDI strategy as an effective and sustainable approach for increasing both water productivity and the fruit quality of the processing tomato crop under semi-arid Mediterranean climatic conditions.

Methane production from locally available ruminant feedstuffs in Ethiopia – An in vitro study

Achieving optimal nutrient composition in locally sourced ruminant feeds is important, but can be challenging in resource-limited production systems. For example, improving the composition of available local feed resources is a key obstacle to efficiently mitigating enteric methane (CH4) emissions in ruminants. This study characterized the nutritional content and in vitro methane (CH4) yield of ruminant feedstuffs accessible in Ethiopia. A survey of 60 experienced farmers in two representative districts in Amhara region, Ethiopia, provided 33 feed samples, which were classified into four ruminant feed categories: Grasses (n=10); indigenous plants (trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants) (n=13); crop residues (n=5); and agro-industrial by-products (n=5). Nutritional composition was assessed by proximate and detergent methods. Methane yield (g CH4/kg feed dry matter (DM)) and total gas yield (L/kg DM) were evaluated using a fully automated in vitro gas production system. A colorimetric assay was conducted to measure condensed tannin content (CT, mg/g) in relevant feeds. Lower crude protein (CP) values were observed for the grass (mean 65.2 g/kg DM) and crop residues (mean 54.5 g/kg DM) categories. Agro-industrial by-products had the highest CP (mean 260 g/kg DM), while indigenous plants exhibited intermediate levels (163 g/kg DM). There was significant variation in CH4 yield (P<0.01) between grasses (12.4–24.7 g/kg DM) indigenous plants (1.8–19.3 g/kg DM), and agro-industrial by-products (8.1–26.9 g/kg DM). The indigenous plant Trifolium acaule gave the lowest in vitro CH4 yield (1.8 g/kg DM). A positive relationship was observed between in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), CH4, and total gas yield. Percentage of CH4 in total gas production varied with feed category (grasses 14.5–19.6%; indigenous plants 3.1–16.9%; crop residues 15.8–20.6%; agro-industrial by-products 12.8–18.7%), and within category, e.g., Trifolium acaule (3.1%), Acacia nilotica L. (7.1%), Ziziphus spina-christi (9.9%), brewer’s spent grains (BSG) (12.8%), local liquor (areki) residues (14.1%), and local beer (tella) residues (15.1%). A negative relationship was observed between CT content and in vitro CH4 yield, with a stronger (P<0.05) correlation for soluble CTs (R2 = 0.46) than cell-bound CTs (R2 = 0.25) and total CTs (R2 = 0.29). Based on methanogenic properties and effects of CTs on in vitro CH4 yield, indigenous plants should be prioritized in ruminant rations in Ethiopia. Making nutritional composition and CH4 data publicly available could help develop environmentally sound, cost-effective rations for ruminant livestock, benefiting local farmers and leading to more sustainable and efficient livestock production in Ethiopia.