Agricultural Production Systems Research Articles

Location Optimization Strategies for Corn Production and Distribution towards Sustainable Green Supply Chain

Background: The corn supply chain is vital for food security and economic stability regionally and globally. This study integrates sustainable supply chain management with location optimization to address trade-offs from climate change, economic viability, and environmental impact while assuming the constant social obligation inherent in the supply chain structure. Methods: This study employs a mixed-integer programming (MIP) framework to optimize facility locations in North Dakota, including corn production zones as suppliers and ethanol plants as consumers. Primary objectives include cost minimization and greenhouse gas reduction, enabling the prioritization of economic or environmental goals as per organizational strategies and regulations. This approach ultimately maximizes resource utilization by ensuring efficient production and distribution practices. Results: The case study results highlight the optimal selection of 20 out of 30 corn production zones to meet statewide ethanol plant demand efficiently. Using compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of diesel could potentially save USD 2 million annually and cut carbon emissions by up to 1148 thousand tons per year, demonstrating meaningful progress toward economic and environmental sustainability within the supply network. Conclusions: The presented work offers a systematic methodology for designing sustainable supply chains for various agricultural products, aligning with the broader goal of promoting sustainability and resilience for efficient agricultural production and distribution systems.

Кey elements of the domestic quality management system for agricultural and food products

Кey elements of the domestic quality management system for agricultural and food products

Integrated Pest Management: Success Stories and Key Takeaways

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has revolutionized pest control in various agricultural settings, including orchards. By blending cultural, biological, and chemical methods, IPM aims to minimize pest damage while reducing environmental and health impacts. One of the most successful strategies within IPM is mating disruption, which uses synthetic pheromones to confuse male insects and prevent them from finding mates. This technique has been particularly effective against pests like the codling moth in apple and pear orchards, significantly reducing insecticide use by up to 90% in some regions.The implementation of IPM in orchards has numerous long-term advantages. Lower manufacturing costs, less environmental contamination, and increased worker safety have all resulted from reduced pesticide use. Furthermore, a healthier ecological balance has been promoted by the rise in natural predators and parasitoids brought about by the decrease in chemical treatments. Many growers have reported greater fruit quality due to more targeted pest control and healthier trees, despite worries that reduced use of pesticides would harm fruit quality. Important pests have also been suppressed regionally as a result of IPM's efficacy, such as the codling moth in the Pacific Northwest, whose populations have dropped to the point where little intervention is needed. Economic assessments highlight IPM's financial sustainability by demonstrating considerable long-term cost savings. According to one study, IPM adopters in apple orchards in Nova Scotia had 25% reduced pest management expenses over a ten-year period than those using conventional approaches. These results demonstrate how integrated pest management (IPM) has the ability to provide long-term, efficient pest control that is advantageous to growers, the environment, and consumers alike. IPM's widespread use attests to its effectiveness and sustainability. Integrative pest management (IPM) ensures the long-term health and production of agricultural systems by combining various pest control techniques into a balanced solution that satisfies both ecological and financial requirements.

Coupled weather and crop simulation modeling for smart irrigation planning: a review

ABSTRACT Efficient irrigation scheduling is essential for optimizing crop yields and water-use efficiency. This review examines crop simulation models and methods for improving irrigation management, with a focus on integrating weather forecast data. The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) developed models such as AquaCrop, WOFOST (WOrld FOod Studies), DSSAT (Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer), and APSIM (Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator), exploring the incorporation of forecasted ETo (reference evapotranspiration) calculated based on forecasted values of weather through the Penman-Monteith method and rainfall data into the models using modified rule-based approaches with various forecast horizons, which enhances irrigation planning. Optimization methods, including genetic algorithms coupled with crop models, are also assessed and have shown significant water savings and profit gains compared with traditional farming practices. Emerging real-time irrigation scheduling tools, including simulation-optimization, field data assimilation, and human–machine interactions, further improve productivity and water conservation. Studies have also shown that web-based decision support using satellite remote sensing and crop models can be used to effectively monitor crop water status and predict real-time irrigation needs. Ongoing innovations like coupling crop models with optimization techniques, weather forecasting, remote sensing, and recommendations based on field experiments have shown promise for transforming irrigation planning and management.

PENDAMPINGAN PETERNAK KAMBING PADA WILAYAH PENYANGGA PERUSAHAAN PTPV VII KABUPATEN LAMPUNG TENGAH

In the context of rural economic development, it is important to implement a social innovation collaborative model with social agents (industry, government, NGOs, and other organizations), where farmers take collective action to build a sustainable agricultural production system. Using the INRM (Integrated Natural Resource Management) method, the FEB Unila Community Service Team developed an Inclusive Social Business Model that encourages local farmer groups to collaborate on economic and social development activities through goat farming. INRM is a method of development-oriented research that aims to simultaneously reduce poverty, increase food security, and achieve environmental protection. The result of the community service is the formation of a livestock farmer group organization which is expected to become a local institution that plays the role of the Inclusive Social Business Model, encouraging sustainable economic and social programs to increase the income of farmers particularly, and the community of Mekar Jaya Village in general.

Carbon balance analysis of agricultural production systems in oasis areas

China is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the world, and agricultural GHG emission accounts for nearly a fifth of the total emission in China. To understand the carbon absorption and emission characteristics of agricultural production systems in those arid oasis areas, a typical representative city in northwestern China, Zhangye City, was selected for study.The emission factor method was used to analyze and calculate the characteristics of changing carbon emission dynamics in the whole agricultural production system in Zhangye city region (38,592 km2) from 2010 to 2021.The results revealed that carbon emissions during agricultural planting mainly come from fertilizers, which account for the highest proportion (47.9%) of total carbon emissions in agricultural planting. Animal enteric fermentation emissions from local livestock farming are the main contributor (86%) to GHG emissions. The annual average carbon absorption intensity is 4.4 t C-eq ha−1 for crop and 2.6 t C-eq ha−1 for the agricultural production system. The ratio of total carbon emissions from agricultural production to carbon sequestration of crops is 1:1.7. We find that the total carbon sequestration slightly exceeds its total carbon emissions in the study region, with an annual average of 41% for its sustainable development index. Carbon emissions of the agricultural production system in this oasis area are mainly driven by the livestock industry, mostly CH4 emissions from cattle raising.Reducing the local carbon emissions from the livestock industry, typically the cattle raising, will play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions from this local agricultural production system and maintaining its net positive carbon balance.

Influence of pre-inoculation of soybean seeds with Bradyrhizobium 15 days before sowing

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for the soybean cultivation, which can be fully supplied by the biological nitrogen fixation process. This study evaluated the effectiveness of pre-inoculation of soybean seeds with the inoculant Biofix Protec (Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens SEMIA 5080 and Bradyrhizobium japonicum SEMIA 5079, 5x109 UFC/mL), accompanied by cell protector and chemical treatment. Four trials were done in Brazilian states during the soybean harvest 2021/2022, following a randomized complete block design with six replications. The cultivars used were TMG 7067 IPRO Inox, BRS 245 RR, N 7780 PRO, and Extrema IPRO, chosen according to the characteristics of each region. The treatments were: T1- Control, without inoculation; T2- Fertilization with 200 kg/ha of nitrogen; T3- Inoculation with commercial inoculant (50 mL/50 kg of seeds) on the day of sowing; T4- Biofix Protec (100 mL/50 kg of seeds), cell protector (0.5 mL/kg), Potenzial TS (0.2 mL/kg) and CoMo Platinum (100 mL/ha), all applied 15 days before planting. The results indicated that the application of Biofix Protec 15 days before planting increased the nodulation of the main root and the dry mass of nodules. The pre-inoculation of Biofix Protect, with protective agents and chemical treatments, demonstrated comparable efficacy to the inoculation carried out at the time of sowing and increase in yield between 4.8-11%, compared to the control, being statistically equivalent or superior to the commercial inoculant available in the market, applied on the day of sowing. The use of Biofix Protec favored nodulation and enhanced productivity, being recommended for the treatment of soybean seeds in agricultural production systems.

The role and place of big data in official agricultural statistics

The agro-industrial sector, like other industries, is increasingly data-driven and data-analytical. From crop selection to assessing consumer food preferences, data is collected at every stage of the agricultural chain. The huge amounts of data collected and processed have already fundamentally changed the structure and efficiency of various agricultural production and supply systems. Modern digital technologies are being actively introduced into agriculture, from laboratory conditions to open and protected fields. The use of machine learning tools, robotics and big data technologies significantly transforms and optimizes not only production processes, but also methodological approaches for scientific research. The results of the study suggest that the use of big data sources in addition to statistical observations helps to reduce the burden on respondents, which is an important task for national statistical services.

The dual role of low-carbon ammonia in climate-smart farming and energy transition

The changing climate poses unprecedented risks and challenges to agricultural production and energy systems worldwide, necessitating innovative technology and policy solutions that transcend traditional boundaries. This paper highlights the critical intersection of energy and agricultural systems and identifies low-carbon intensity ammonia (LCIA) as a pivotal element in reducing the carbon footprint of US agricultural production, particularly in fertilizer use. It presents a comprehensive analysis of the ammonia market and value chain, emphasizing its potential to decarbonize agricultural fertilizers and serve as an alternative clean energy source. The technical review covers various ammonia production methods, from natural gas-based processes with carbon capture and storage to electrolysis using renewable energy. These methods’ economic and environmental implications are examined to provide insights into the levelized costs and emissions of LCIA applications across various scenarios. A case study focusing on the Permian Basin and Southern High Plains regions is conducted to illustrate the regional synergy between the agriculture and energy sectors, proposing a framework for integrating LCIA into the US agricultural sector. The proposed framework, Sustainable Ammonia for Resilient Agriculture, outlines policy recommendations and strategic investments to overcome market and infrastructure barriers, aiming to develop a resillient and sustainable LCIA value chain. Future research direction should emphasize the need for local value chain development plans encompassing agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and workforce development under a unified policy framework.

Optimizing the Nitrogen Fertilizer Management to Maximize the Benefit of Straw Returning on Early Rice Yield by Modulating Soil N Availability

Straw returning has gradually been adopted as an effective approach to address the serious degradation of farmland. However, the carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio of rice straw is generally too high for microorganisms to decompose the organic materials and release nutrients, which may minimize the benefits of straw returning to the agricultural production system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of straw returning on rice production and propose optimum nitrogen (N) management for early rice production under a straw returning system. The total N fertilizer that was evaluated was 165 kg N ha-1, urea (46% N), applied in different proportions in three stages of rice cultivation: basal, tillering, and panicle. Using no straw returning with the N fertilizer ratio of basal:tillering:panicle = 5:2:3 treatment (T1) as the control, four different N fertilizer ratios of basal:tillering:panicle, including 5:2:3 (T2), 5:2:2 (T3), 5:4:1 (T4), and 5:5:0 (T5) were set under straw returning. The return of straw decreased the available N in the soil at the tillering stage, and impeded root growth and the crop canopy from establishing, which decreased the effective panicles by 10.1% compared with that of T1, limiting the increases in rice grain yield. Increasing the N fertilizer ratio 10–20% (T3 and T4) at the tillering stage effectively increased the content of soil ammonium and nitrate nitrogen, improved the root growth, and increased the root activities by 16.0–40.5% at the tillering stage. As a result, the effective panicle number increased by 5.1–16.2%. Among these, T4 treatment maximized the benefits of straw returning the most. Additionally, increasing the N fertilizer ratio at the tillering stage increased the shoot uptake across the early rice growing season and synchronized crop N uptake with the accumulation of carbon assimilates, which enhanced the crop growth rate and increased the rice yield by 13.5–25.1%. It is concluded that increasing the N fertilizer ratio by 20% at the tillering stage is a promising strategy to increase the availability of N in the phases of high demand for this nutrient.

Systematic Review of the Agro-Ecological, Nutritional, and Medicinal Properties of the Neglected and Underutilized Plant Species Tylosema fassoglense

Neglected and Under-utilized plant Species (NUS) can contribute to food system transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa, but many are understudied. Here, we conducted a systematic review of 37 empirical studies to synthesize the evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa about the agro-ecological characteristics, nutritional properties, and medicinal properties of the NUS Tylosema fassoglense. Overall, the evidence is highly fragmented and lacks a comprehensive description of the species characteristics, properties, and benefits. Most reviewed studies focus on the eastern part of Africa and a few on the southern part, suggesting its limited geographic distribution. Studies on agro-ecological properties, and especially on morphological characteristics, indicate that the species’ long tuberous roots and large vegetative systems help it adapt to harsh climatic conditions. The species is also utilized for medicinal and nutrition purposes by different communities across its range due to its phytochemical, macro-, and micronutrient content, along with its favorable physico-chemical properties. In particular, the seeds contain many different amino acids, while their calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and carbohydrate content is comparable to Tylosema esculuntum, the better studied species in the Tylosema genus. These demonstrate the species’ potential to contribute to nutrition and food security. Furthermore, parts of the plant contain many phytochemicals, such as phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoid, terpenoids, and tannins (mainly in the roots), and for this reason local communities use it to treat various conditions. Overall, our systematic review suggests that although Tylosema fassoglense has some potential to contribute towards food security, nutrition, health, and livelihoods, there are many remaining knowledge gaps that constrain its effective integration into agricultural production systems and possible contribution to food system transformation in the region.

Precision nitrogen management strategies and high yielding genotypes for enhanced growth, yield, economics, and nitrogen use efficiency in wheat

Current agricultural production systems face challenges of poor economic returns, soil fatigue and negative environmental outcomes from excess use of nitrogenous fertilizers, especially in wheat production under middle gangetic plains. To overcome these challenges, the current study was conducted to optimize nitrogen management in different wheat genotypes with precision nitrogen management tools and approaches. The field experiment was laid out in split-plot design, with three genotypes assigned to the main plot and six nitrogen management practices to the sub-plot. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture, with low levels of organic carbon and available nitrogen, and medium levels of available phosphorus and potassium. Results revealed that the HD-2967 genotype outperformed others in terms of growth, grain yield (4.7 and 4.81 t ha−1), gross return (1417.41 and 1505.48 US$ ha−1), net return (953.43 and 1019.76 US$ ha−1), and B-C ratio (2.04 and 2.08) in 2015-16 and 2016-17, respectively. Among the nitrogen management practices, application of 150 kg N ha−1 in three equal splits demonstrated improved crop growth, grain yield (4.7 and 4.81 t ha−1), and economic returns (gross return, 1500.40 and 1607.65 US$ ha−1, net return, 1025.40 and 1110.38 US$ ha−1 and B: C ratio, 2.17 and 2.23) in 2015-16 and 2016-17, respectively. However, it resulted in higher nitrogen losses. Green seeker guided N application significantly reduced apparent nitrogen losses compared to all other nitrogen applied treatments. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing wheat production by selecting appropriate genotypes and implementing precision nitrogen management techniques to enhance yield, profitability, and environmental sustainability.

Improving the value of planting and breeding waste compost in agricultural applications: A zucchini cultivation case and circular agricultural models analysis

An important way of utilizing agricultural wastes to improve soil quality is the use of planting and breeding waste compost (PBWC). However, the impact of compost on agricultural production systems is unclear. Therefore, in order to study the effect of PBWC on crop growth, soil environment, and circular agriculture, PBWC [sheep manure (SM): tail vegetable (TV): corn straw (CS) = 6: 3: 1] was used based on chemical fertilizer reduction for zucchini production. In zucchini production systems, R9 (chemical fertilizer reduction by 30 % + 9,000 kg ha−1 PBWC) treatment was most effective in improving the quality and yield of zucchini fruits, mainly by improving the soil microenvironment, manifested in (1) increasing soil alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN) available potassium(AK), and soil organic matter (SOM), reducing EC, and improving C/N. (2) Increasing the richness and metabolic capacity of bacterial community. (3) Increasing the abundance of Proteobacteria, a phylum with absolute dominance (up to 32.46 %). Then, an optimization model of “summer corn − greenhouse zucchini − fattened sheep” was constructed to analyze the effect of changes in fertilizer dosage usage on the whole model. Compared with the local traditional recycling model, the optimized system reduced the ratio of inorganic to organic nitrogen input from 2.8:1 to 1.4:1, increased the recycling rate of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) by 31.28 %, 50.84 %, and 30.25 %, respectively, and the net energy yield ratio (EYR) increased by 1.04. The optimized recycling system had significant economic and environmental benefits, which would become the basis for moving towards more sustainable farming. Overall, the circular agriculture model with PBWC returning as the core achieves sustainable production by improving material recycling and soil microenvironment. Therefore, chemical fertilizer reduction by 30 % combined with 9000 kg ha−1 PBWC can be used in practical production to improve the productivity of the circular agriculture model and achieve high yield and high quality crops.

Construction of a High-Resolution Waterlogging Disaster Monitoring Framework Based on the APSIM Model: A Case Study of Jingzhou and Bengbu

This study investigates waterlogging disasters in winter wheat using the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model. This research explores the effects of soil hypoxia on wheat root systems and the tolerance of wheat at different growth stages to waterlogging, proposing a model to quantify the degree of waterlogging in wheat. Remote sensing data on soil moisture and wheat distribution are utilized to establish a monitoring system for waterlogging disasters specific to winter wheat. The analysis focused on affected areas in Bengbu and Jingzhou. Experimental results from 2017 to 2022 indicate that the predominant levels of waterlogging disasters in Bengbu and Jingzhou were moderate and mild, with the proportion of mild waterlogging ranging from 30.1% to 39.3% and moderate waterlogging from 14.8% to 25.6%. A combined analysis of multi-source remote sensing data reveals the key roles of precipitation, evapotranspiration, and altitude in waterlogging disasters. This study highlights regional disparities in the distribution of waterlogging disaster risks, providing new strategies and tools for precise assessment of waterlogging disasters.

Integrating rainfall index-based insurance with optimal crop management strategies can reduce financial risks for Australian dryland cotton farmers

Drought undermines the financial sustainability of farmers. While farmers have adopted various strategies to mitigate some drought impacts, they remain exposed to substantial drought risk. Insurance could be useful in managing climatic risks and for encouraging farmers to take sensible risks (e.g., changing their sowing date to increase yield), but it can be costly. Here, we tested whether the integration of a change in sowing date with rainfall index-based insurance could improve farmer profitability and income stability. We used the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM)-Cotton model to simulate cotton lint yields for various sowing dates, taking into account different management strategies, across three dry-land cotton research farm sites – Dalby, Goondiwindi, and Theodore – from 1940 to 2022. We designed the index-based insurance payout when the average rainfall received during the growing season falls below a predefined level, such as the 5th, 10th, or 20th percentile of rainfall. Our study, which involved 3.9 million cotton lint simulations and 3,000 rainfall index-based insurance products, showed that combining a shift in sowing date with insurance can lead to an income improvement of up to 21.5% at some study sites. Additionally, in drought years, the income improvement for farmers who combined optimal sowing dates with rainfall index-based insurance was up to 48.0%. The framework developed in this study could aid in devising financial strategies to enhance farming resilience during climate extremes.

Digital Twin System of Pest Management Driven by Data and Model Fusion

Protecting crops from pests is a major issue in the current agricultural production system. The agricultural digital twin system, as an emerging product of modern agricultural development, can effectively achieve intelligent control of pest management systems. In response to the current problems of heavy use of pesticides in pest management and over-reliance on managers’ personal experience with pepper plants, this paper proposes a digital twin system that monitors changes in aphid populations, enabling timely and effective pest control interventions. The digital twin system is developed for pest management driven by data and model fusion. First, a digital twin framework is presented to manage insect pests in the whole process of crop growth. Then, a digital twin model is established to predict the number of pests based on the random forest algorithm optimized by the genetic algorithm; a pest control intervention based on a twin data search strategy is designed and the decision optimization of pest management is conducted. Finally, a case study is carried out to verify the feasibility of the system for the growth state of pepper and pepper pests. The experimental results show that the virtual and real interactive feedback of the pepper aphid management system is achieved. It can obtain prediction accuracy of 88.01% with the training set and prediction accuracy of 85.73% with the test set. The application of the prediction model to the decision-making objective function can improve economic efficiency by more than 20%. In addition, the proposed approach is superior to the manual regulatory method in pest management. This system prioritizes detecting population trends over precise species identification, providing a practical tool for integrated pest management (IPM).

Exploring adaptation strategies for smallholder farmers in dryland farming systems and impact on pearl millet production under climate change in West Africa

Understanding and identifying appropriate adaptation optons for cropping systems and management practices at spatial and temporal scales is an important prerequisite for scaling. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br.) could be regarded as a risk-reducing measure crop under climate change when coupled with tactical agronomic management practices. In this study, we assess the impacts of adaptation strategies such as cultivar type, planting windows, and fertilizer strategies on pearl millet production under rainfed farming systems over Nigeria and Senegal using the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model. The impact of climate change on millet yield was evaluated using a validated APSIM-millet module that utilized yield data collected through participatory research and extension approach (PREA) in contrasting environments. The climate model projections for the mid-century period (2040–2069) were compared against a baseline period of 1980–2009 for both locations. During the simulation, two millet varieties (improved local and dual-purpose) with two sowing regimes were considered comparing traditional farmers’ sowing window (dry sowing) and agronomic sowing window (planting based on the onset of the rainfall) at three different fertilizer levels [low (23 kg N ha−1), medium (40.5 kg N ha−1), and high (68.5 kg N ha−1) respectively]. The performance of the APSIM-millet module was found to be satisfactory as indicated by the low Root Means Square Error (RMSE) and Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) values. The range for grain yield was between 17.7% and 25.8%, while for AGB it was between 18.6% and 21.4%. The results showed that farmers’ sowing window simulated slightly higher grain yield than the agronomic sowing window for improved local millet cultivar indicating yield increased by 8–12%. However, the projected changes in the mid-century (2040–2069) resulted in a decline in yield against baseline climate for both varieties and sowing windows, indicating the negative impact of climate change (CC) on yield productivity. The comparison between dual-purpose millet and improved local millet indicates that disseminating the improved millet variety and implementing early sowing could be an effective adaptation strategy in reducing risks and losses caused by climate change. Similarly, low magnitude impacts simulated on grain yield (< −8% in Nigeria compared to > −8% in Senegal) even though both locations are in the same agroecological zone.

Soil chemical quality indicators for agricultural life cycle assessment: a case of study in Brazil

AbstractModern agriculture has had to face complex environmental issues, many of which result from land use, which includes the degradation of its fertility properties. Soil quality is fundamental to the sustainability of the planet, as it also affects other natural resources. Therefore, it must be seen as a fundamental action for the sustainability of the planet and be evaluated using methodologies capable of holistically relating the environmental impacts of production systems, as does the Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. However, due to the lack of suitable models, LCA is still ineffective in assessing soil quality. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the use of chemical soil quality indicators in the context of LCA, contributing new information to the debate. To this end, a set of soil quality indicators from the APOIA-NovoRural method were applied in some agricultural production systems in southern Brazil. Thus, the LCA results confirmed soil quality maintenance activities as those that most contribute to impacts, particularly in the categories of climate change, (eco)toxicities and land use. However, the indicators efficiently contributed direct information about the agricultural environment, relating them to the impacts estimated by the LCA. Therefore, the use of indicators makes it possible to improve soil management by adjusting chemical parameters, accurately contextualizing activities, and use of inputs to the real conditions of the area assessed. Thus, we demonstrate that indicators can be useful in providing information for agricultural environmental management in interrelation with LCA, whose application alone is not yet capable of achieving such results.

Evaluación de cepas Antárticas de Bacillus sp. como bacterias promotoras del crecimiento vegetal

In agriculture, efficient microorganisms are used, among them plant growth-promoting bacteria. This work aimed to determine, in vitro, the mechanism of action in strains of Bacillus sp. isolated from Antarctica. The analyzed characteristics of the bacterium were: catalase and hemolysis tests, Gram stain, phosphate solubilization, growth without a nitrogen source, siderophore production, and survival at different values of pH, NaCl, and temperature, which confirmed the ecological plasticity and adaptation of these strains in environments other than their origin. According to the desirable characteristics, the T5, GB-70, and B-6 strains were chosen and added to two substrates: clay and clay-compost mixture, which were sterilized and placed in 200 mL glass bottles, and a corn seed was planted in each of them. After two weeks, the following parameters were evaluated: length of root (LR), seedling height (AP), and shoot diameter (DT). The simple effect of the strains as independent variables and their interaction did not significantly affect the response variables evaluated, recording the following averages: 12.84 cm (LR), 15.28 cm (AP), and 2.26 cm (DT). Considering the substrate, the compost + clay significantly (p<0.05) influenced the LR and DT characteristics of the seedlings, with averages of 14.44 and 2.38 cm, respectively. The observed mechanisms of action distinguish promising strains that could be validated at the field level in agricultural production systems when inoculated in organic fertilizers. Keywords: antarctic microorganisms, beneficial bacteria, plant growth.

A Review of Environmental Impacts of Wheat Production in Different Agrotechnical Systems

In light of the environmental challenges currently facing humanity, the issue of the environmental sustainability of crop production is becoming increasingly pressing. This is due to the fact that global population growth and the related demand for food are placing significant pressure on the environment. Wheat is a strategic crop globally due to its extensive cultivation area, high production and consumption levels, and vital nutritional properties. It is cultivated across diverse climatic conditions and within various agricultural production systems. It is of the utmost importance to pursue sustainable wheat production on a global scale, given the necessity to protect the environment and climate. The application of life cycle assessment (LCA) enables the identification of potential avenues for enhancing wheat production processes, thereby reducing the negative environmental impacts associated with these processes. This paper presents a synthesis of the existing literature on the environmental LCA of wheat grain production. It compares the impacts of different production systems, highlights critical stages in wheat cultivation, and provides recommendations for sustainable practices and directions for future research.