Decline In Yield Research Articles

Amplicon-based metagenomics to study the effect of coir age and wood biochar on microbiome in relation to strawberry yield

In the UK, strawberry is mostly grown in coconut coir substrate under protection. Coir substrate is usually used only for one or two cropping seasons because the continuous reuse of coir without any treatment leads to yield decline. In this study, we investigated the changes in bacterial and fungal communities in strawberry roots and bulk coir in relation to (i) the coir substrate age (cropping seasons) and (ii) oak or beech biochar amendment at planting. Coir age did not affect fungal/bacterial alpha (within-sample) diversity but affected beta (between-sample) diversity. Amendment with either oak or beech biochar did not lead to significant changes in either alpha or beta diversity for both fungi and bacteria, but it did alter the relative abundance of 13 fungal ASVs. This study identified six bacterial and 20 fungal ASVs with a significant positive linear relationship with coir age and also eight bacterial and 22 fungal ASVs with a significant negative linear relationship with coir age. Notably, the observed strawberry yield decline in reused coir substrate could be associated with a generalist root pathogen, Ilyonectria destructans (ex. Cylindrocarpon destructans), of which the abundance increased annually by 225% and 426% in strawberry root and bulk coir, respectively. Future research is needed to confirm the role of I. destructans in reused coir on strawberry plant health and fruit productivity and then to identify management strategies for yield decline mitigation.

Evaluating the Effects of Drought Stress on Biomass and Yield Traits in Sorghum Genotypes

The study aimed to identify drought-tolerant sorghum genotypes by evaluating twenty sorghum genotypes over two Rabi seasons (2021-22 and 2022-23) under irrigated and rainfed conditions using a split plot design. Results showed that moisture stress significantly affected sorghum performance, including leaf and stem dry matter accumulation, grain yield per plant, stover yield, and harvest index. Among the genotypes, BJV-44 and M-35-1 exhibited the least decline in grain yield per plant under rainfed conditions, with yields of 76.17 and 73.50 g/plant, respectively, compared to irrigated conditions. Conversely, genotypes M 148-138 and Tandur L experienced the most significant reductions in grain yield per plant under rainfed conditions. Basavana pada exhibited the highest harvest index. The study concluded that BJV-44 and M-35-1 are drought-tolerant sorghum genotypes with relatively higher grain yields per plant under rainfed conditions, providing valuable insights into sorghum genotype performance and resource utilization in drought-prone regions.

Demystifying the wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield penalty due to delay in sowing: Empirical evidence from eastern India

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield in Indo-Gangetic plain of eastern India is much less than its actual potential. Apart from several yield deterministic factors, late sowing of wheat is one of the major reasons for sub-optimal wheat yield. The persistent yield gap poses a threat to future food security of this region with a vast population that is growing rapidly. In the present research, an attempt was made to quantify and classify the yield losses in wheat due to late sowing which is prevalent in this part of India. On-farm participatory agronomic trial was conducted at 1073 plots in 3 districts of eastern India, 2 from Uttar Pradesh and 1 from the state of Bihar. The trial was conducted during four consecutive winter season from 2016–17 to 2019–20. Following a split-plot design, main plots were categorized based on wheat sowing time and sub-plots were classified depending on the wheat varietal class. A sample survey of randomly selected 629 wheat farmers was conducted in 2017–18 wheat season in these 3 districts. Results from the agronomic trial showed that wheat yield decreased by 58 kg/ha for every one-day delay in sowing. Moreover, the yield of long-duration improved wheat variety (HD-2967) was statistically same (P=0.479) compared to the most preferred short-duration variety (PBW-373) in a very late-sown scenario (late December). Farmers’ survey data reconfirmed that the wheat yield has a very strong negative correlation with the sowing dates, but the yield decline was statistically insignificant until mid-November. Wheat yield in this part of India can be adequately boosted if sowing time of wheat advances and adoption of long-duration improved wheat varieties improves.

Recent trends in agriculturally relevant climate in Central America

AbstractThis study examines the climatology and trends in climate in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador over the past four decades, against the background of potential impacts on rainfed agriculture, livelihoods, and migration. The results show that there has been a significant warming of surface temperatures, an earlier start to the monsoon, a drier and longer mid‐summer drought, and a delay in the second peak of precipitation from September to October. These changes have led to an increase in vapour pressure deficit (VPD) in northern Guatemala and along the Pacific coast in winter. High VPD can stress plants and lead to reduced yields. The study also finds that the thresholds that cause a decline in coffee yield have already been reached in El Salvador, but the average VPD has also risen in Guatemala and Honduras over the past 42 years. Maize yields have also been negatively affected with an inverse relationship with daily maximum temperatures during the summer flowering season. Observed changes and trends in these climate factors are believed to have direct implications for crop yields and livelihoods, potentially driving shifts in migration patterns.

Physiological, biochemical and transcriptomic insights into the mechanisms by which molybdenum mitigates cadmium toxicity in Triticum aestivum L

There are many heavy metal stresses in agricultural biological systems, especially cadmium (Cd) stress, which prevent the full growth of plants, lead to a serious decline in crop yield, and endanger human health. Molybdenum (Mo), an essential nutrient element for plants, regulates plant growth mainly by reducing the absorption of heavy metals and protecting plants from oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of Mo (1 μM) application on wheat plants under conditions of Cd (10 μM) toxicity. The biomass, Cd and Mo contents, photosynthesis, leaf and root ultrastructure, antioxidant system, and active oxygen content of the wheat plants were determined. Mo increased the total chlorophyll content of wheat leaves by 43.02% and the net photosynthetic rate by 38.67%, and ameliorated the inhibitory effect of cadmium on photosynthesis by up-regulating photosynthesis-related genes and light-trapping genes. In addition, Mo reduced the content of superoxide anion (O2•—) by 16.55% and 31.12%, malondialdehyde (MDA) by 20.75% and 7.17%, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by 24.69% and 8.17%, and electrolyte leakage (EL) by 27.59% and 16.82% in wheat leaves and roots, respectively, and enhanced the antioxidant system to reduce the burst of reactive oxygen species and alleviate the damage of Cd stress on wheat. According to the above results, Mo is considered a plant essential nutrient that enhances Cd tolerance in wheat by limiting the absorption, accumulation and transport of Cd and by regulating antioxidant defence mechanisms. Environmental ImplicationCadmium (Cd)，is one of the most toxic heavy metals in the environment, and Cd pollution is a global environmental problem that threatens food security and human health. Molybdenum (Mo), as an essential plant nutrient, is often used to resist environmental stress. However, the mechanism of Mo treatment on wheat subjected to Cd stress has not been reported. In this study, we systematically analysed the effects of Mo on the phenotype, physiology, biochemistry, ultrastructure and Cd content of wheat subjected to Cd stress, and comprehensively analysed the transcriptomics. It not only reveals the mechanism of Mo tolerance to Cd stress in wheat, but also provides new insights into phytoremediation and plant growth in Cd-contaminated soil.

Reduced belowground allocation of freshly assimilated C contributes to negative plant-soil feedback in successive winter wheat rotations

Abstract Aims Successive winter wheat (WW) rotations are associated with yield reduction, often attributed to the unfavorable soil microbes that persist in the soil through plant residues. How rotational positions of WW affect the allocation of freshly assimilated carbon (C), an energy source for soil microbes, above and belowground remains largely unknown. Methods A 13CO2 pulse labeling rhizotron experiment was conducted in the greenhouse to study freshly fixed C allocation patterns. WW was grown in soil after oilseed rape (W1), after one season of WW (W2), and after three successive seasons of WW (W4). We used an automatic manifold system to measure excess 13C of soil respiration at six depths and five different dates. Excess 13C was also measured in dissolved organic C (DOC), microbial and plant biomass pools. Results There was a strong yield decline in successive WW rotations accompanied by distinct changes in root growth. Higher excess 13C of soil respiration was measured in W1 compared to W4, especially in the topsoil during at later growth stages. Higher excess 13C of the DOC and the microbial biomass was also traced in W1 and W4 compared to W2. Less 13C was taken up by successive WW rotations. Conclusions Our study demonstrates a mechanism through which the rotational position of WW affects the allocation of freshly assimilated C above and belowground. WW after oilseed rape sustains belowground allocation of freshly assimilated C for a longer time than successively grown WW and incorporates more of this C to its biomass.

Exploring the relationship of the winter-spring crop’s rice yield with meteorological drought and water resources in Ben Tre province

Recent environmental changes have significantly impacted rice cultivation in Ben Tre province, the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD) coastal province. This research employed the Mann-Kendall (MK) non-parametric method and Sen’s slope (SS) technique to detect trends in the rice yield of the winter-spring crop (WSC) in Ben Tre province and environmental parameters from 2009 to 2020. These environmental parameters include the meteorological drought index and key water resource metrics, potentially affecting the region’s rice yield. Furthermore, it established the relationship between these environmental parameters and rice yield using multiple linear regression. The results indicated an average decrease of 0.13 ton/ha/year in the WSC’s rice yield, with a severe reduction to 2.86 ton/ha in 2016. This decline in rice yield is likely attributed to environmental shifts, particularly during years with extreme hydrological events. The study found that during the months of dry season, from January to April, there was a decrease of 0.14 per year in the minimum Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI-4min) at the Ben Tre meteorological station; an increase in the minimum daily discharge at the Tan Chau station (QTCmin) by 81 m3/s/year; a decrease in the mean daily water level at the My Thuan station (QMTmean) by 0.22 cm/year; and an increase in the maximum daily water level at the Ben Trai station (HBTmax) by 0.67 cm/year. However, the maximum daily salinity concentration at the Tra Vinh station (STVmax) showed no significant trend, oscillating between 6.5 and 15 g/l, potentially because the three-hourly monitoring intervals might not have fully captured peak salinity levels. The regression model identified SPEI-4min (with a Correlation Index (CI) of 0.450) and STVmax (CI = 0.372) as the primary factors influencing rice yield. Additionally, QTCmin and HBTmax were also significant, though to a lesser extent, with correlation indices of 0.310 and 0.303, respectively. Conversely, QMTmean had a relatively minor influence, with a correlation index of 0.136. These findings are crucial to developing adaptive strategies and policies for improving the resilience of rice production in the study province and throughout the VMD.

Evaluating different green manuring plant species and stool destruction methods for enhancing sugarcane yield at Wonji-Shoa Sugar Estate, Ethiopia

The long-term intensive production system employed in the Sugar Estates in Ethiopia, characterized by monoculture, preharvest burning, and excessive tillage, has led to soil degradation with a concomitant decline in sugarcane yield. Therefore, a study was conducted at Wonji-Shoa Sugar Estate (WSSE) with the objective of evaluating the effectiveness of different green manuring plant species and cane stool destruction methods (SDMs) in improving cane yield. To that end, seven green manure plant species (sunn-hemp, lablab, cowpea, soybean, mungbean, dhaincha, and sugarcane trash) were evaluated under three SDMs (cultivating-out, spraying-out with herbicide, and maintaining the stool as it is) using a split-plot design. The experimental fields were established on two major soil types, with green manure crops incorporated into the soil before planting the sugarcane. The dry matter production and nitrogen contribution of the green manure plants, as well as the height, population, diameter, and yields of sugarcane, were determined and subsequently subjected to statistical and economic analysis. The results showed that cowpea, followed by lablab, dhaincha, and sunn hemp, were the most effective green manures in terms of improving cane performance, with up to 17–20 % yield advantage and 21–40 % net economic benefits over the control treatment. Additionally, the spraying-out MSD was as effective as the cultivating-out MSD, but both outperformed maintaining the stool. In conclusion, utilizing these green manuring crops in combination with the spraying-out SDM presents notable advantages for improved cane yield and enhanced economic benefits in a sustainable manner. Adoption of these practices, therefore, holds significant potential for reversing the constantly declining sugarcane yields at WSSE.

High night temperature stress on rice (Oryza sativa) - insights from phenomics to physiology. A review.

Rice (Oryza sativa ) faces challenges to yield and quality due to urbanisation, deforestation and climate change, which has exacerbated high night temperature (HNT). This review explores the impacts of HNT on the physiological, molecular and agronomic aspects of rice growth. Rise in minimum temperature threatens a potential 41% reduction in rice yield by 2100. HNT disrupts rice growth stages, causing reduced seed germination, biomass, spikelet sterility and poor grain development. Recent findings indicate a 4.4% yield decline for every 1°C increase beyond 27°C, with japonica ecotypes exhibiting higher sensitivity than indica. We examine the relationships between elevated CO2 , nitrogen regimes and HNT, showing that the complexity of balancing positive CO2 effects on biomass with HNT challenges. Nitrogen enrichment proves crucial during the vegetative stage but causes disruption to reproductive stages, affecting grain yield and starch synthesis. Additionally, we elucidate the impact of HNT on plant respiration, emphasising mitochondrial respiration, photorespiration and antioxidant responses. Genomic techniques, including CRISPR-Cas9, offer potential for manipulating genes for HNT tolerance. Plant hormones and carbohydrate enzymatic activities are explored, revealing their intricate roles in spikelet fertility, grain size and starch metabolism under HNT. Gaps in understanding genetic factors influencing heat tolerance and potential trade-offs associated with hormone applications remain. The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration is needed to provide a holistic approach. Research priorities include the study of regulatory mechanisms, post-anthesis effects, cumulative HNT exposure and the interaction between climate variability and HNT impact to provide a research direction to enhance rice resilience in a changing climate.

Chemical Technology and Development Trend of Contaminated Land Remediation

In recent years, the rapid development of industry and agriculture in China has led to the destruction of soil environmental quality caused by pesticides, heavy metals and other pollutants entering the soil, and the decline of crop yield and quality. Therefore, soil pollution remediation is urgent, and it is urgent to explore the remediation technologies of polluted land with good remediation effect, low cost and popularization. This paper summarizes the relevant technologies in the literature, expounds several practical measures of chemical remediation technology of polluted land in detail, and discusses the development trend of contaminated land remediation technology in the future, in order to provide theoretical support for promoting the remediation technology of polluted land in China.

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) response to application of mineral nitrogen and bradyrhizobia on Nitisols of Teppi, Southwest Ethiopia

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), an important crop grown for its protein source for humans and livestock, is widely introduced in different parts of Ethiopia. However, the productivity of the crop is far below its potential in the country due to different factors, among which low soil fertility is a major contributor. Hence, this field experiment was conducted with the objective of determining the optimum rate of starter nitrogen (N) and bradyrhizobium inoculation on yield and yield components of soybean in the 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons. Two levels of bradyrhizobia (inoculated and uninoculated) and six levels of starter nitrogen (0, 9, 18, 27, 36, and 54 kg N ha−1) were arranged in a factorial design. The result showed that soybean grain yield increased by about 60 % with inoculation of bradyrhizobia applied with low rates of starter nitrogen fertilizer, regardless of cropping seasons. Application of a nitrogen rate above 18 kg N ha−1 leads to yield decline and has no significant variation from bradyrhizobia inoculation only. Regardless of the cropping seasons, elevated levels of starter nitrogen beyond 27 kg ha−1 suppressed nodulation and nodule dry matter. Starter N at a rate of 9 and 18 kg N ha−1 improved soybean nodulation by 125–130 % over control and 95 % over bradyrhizobia inoculation alone. Thus, it was recommended to apply bradyrhizobia strains with 9 or 18 kg N ha−1 starter nitrogen for better yield of soybean as well as adequate nitrogen fixation in Nitisols having moderate soil nitrogen levels similar to the Teppi areas.

Genome-wide identification and analysis of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) gene family in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) under various abiotic stresses.

Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) plays a critical role in molecular mechanisms such as plant development and defense against abiotic stresses. As an important economic crop, hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is vulnerable to adverse environmental conditions, such as drought, cold, salt, and oxidative stress, which lead to a decline in yield and quality. Although APX genes have been characterized in a variety of plants, members of the APX gene family in hemp have not been completely identified. In this study, we (1) identified eight members of the CsAPX gene family in hemp and mapped their locations on the chromosomes using bioinformatics analysis; (2) examined the physicochemical characteristics of the proteins encoded by these CsAPX gene family members; (3) investigated their intraspecific collinearity, gene structure, conserved domains, conserved motifs, and cis-acting elements; (4) constructed a phylogenetic tree and analyzed interspecific collinearity; and (5) ascertained expression differences in leaf tissue subjected to cold, drought, salt, and oxidative stresses using quantitative real-time-PCR (qRT-PCR). Under all four stresses, CsAPX6, CsAPX7, and CsAPX8 consistently exhibited significant upregulation, whereas CsAPX2 displayed notably higher expression levels under drought stress than under the other stresses. Taken together, the results of this study provide basic genomic information on the expression of the APX gene family and pave the way for studying the role of APX genes in abiotic stress.

Comparative Metagenomic Analysis of Marine eDNA Investigating the Production Crisis of Aquacultured Saccharina japonica

Aquaculture farms cultivating Saccharina japonica are highly active in Wando, Korea, and Rongcheng, China. However, the yield of S. japonica significantly declined in the Rongcheng region in 2022 compared to previous records, whereas that in Wando remained at a normal level, presumably due to the presence of a pathogenic microbiome. We used environmental DNA (eDNA) metagenomic analysis to compare the microbial compositions of seawater from aquaculture farms in Wando and Rongcheng. Seawater samples were collected from one Korean site in Wando (WA) and two Chinese sites in Ailian Bay (AB) and Lidao Bay (LB). Metagenomic analysis focusing on the microbial 16S rRNA identified 38 phyla and 58 families of microbiomes in all regions. Potentially pathogenic bacterial groups associated with S. japonica in AB and LB were more abundant than in WA, suggesting their potential influence on mortality and the decline in the harvest yield of S. japonica. The microbial composition of WA was distinguished from those of the other two sites, which clustered together with higher similarity. Since the S. japonica aquaculture industry is important for both countries, this comparative eDNA monitoring is a valuable initiation towards the next step of problem-solving practices in coastal management in these two aquaculture systems.

Alpha acids content in Czech hops from the 2023 harvest – forecasts, reality and trends

The most important weather factor for the hop growing season in 2023 was the rainy period in the last decade of July and the first decade of August, which replaced the previously warm and dry weather. Heavy rainfall with a total of 60–100 mm of water and temperatures in the range of 20–25 °C saved the annual hop harvest from the yield decline that occurred in 2022. However, the above-average harvest of nearly 7000 tonnes and a yield of 1.44 t/ha was achieved at the expense of the bitter compound content of most varieties. The alpha acid content of Saaz hops was well below 3.0% w/w in all hop-growing regions, one of the lowest levels for the last 10 years. It is even lower than the extremely hot and dry year 2022 and comparable to 2015. Lower levels of alpha acids were also found in Sládek (4.8–6.7% w/w), Premiant (6.9–7.9% w/w) and Saaz Special (4.3% w/w). The varieties Agnus, Rubín and Vital contained stable amounts of alpha acids in the range of 11–13% w/w, which is about the same as in previous years. The total production of alpha acids in Czech hops from the 2023 harvest was 253 tons, which is average in a longerterm comparison. Saaz hops accounted for only 55% of the total production, although they are grown on 83.3% of the harvest area.

Assessing soil erosion and farmers’ decision of reducing erosion for sustainable soil and water conservation in Burji woreda, southern Ethiopia

Inadequate conservation practice affects the sustainable production of agricultural watersheds due to erosion and fertility decline. Understanding soil erosion and implementing site-specific conservation practice could enhance agriculture-based rural development. The study was aimed to document soil erosion problem and soil and water conservation effort. The specific objectives of this study were to assess soil erosion severity, practices to reduce erosion, and determinants of the decision to reduce erosion. Data were collected by interviewing 198 farm household heads, undertaking four focus group discussions, and assessing rill erosion in 10 farm fields in Morayo and Wacho sub-watersheds of southern Ethiopia. Descriptive statistics and binary logit model were applied to analyze the data. Results indicated that many of the farm households, 63% in Morayo and 83% in the Wacho sub-watershed, perceived moderate to severe soil erosion, which is characterized by big rills and small gullies on the farmlands. Rill densities of 231.4 m ha−1 and 84.1 m ha−1 in the Morayo and Wacho sub-watersheds were observed, respectively. The estimated annual soil loss due to rills was 61.2 and 23.4 Mg ha−1 in the Morayo and Wacho sub-watersheds, respectively. The soil erosion from rills alone exceeds the expected tolerable soil erosion (11 tons ha−1 year−1). Due to erosion, about 90% of farmers perceived farmland degradation as described by a progressive decline in crop yield. Farmers used to practice traditional techniques to reduce erosion and government introduced conservation measures such as soil and stone bunds. However, many farmers did not use well-promoted conservation measures such as bunds, which could have negative impact on long-term erosion control effort and sustainable implementation of the conservation options. Among the assessed explanatory variables, educational level, farm distance from home, slope of the cultivated land, and frequency of extension contact were significantly affected (p < 0.05) farmers’ sustainable use of conservation measures. Development planners and policy makers are advised to consider site-specific and innovative approaches to implement conservation measures in sustainable approach in the smallholder crop-livestock mixed agriculture system.

Root proliferation adaptation strategy improved maize productivity in the US Great Plains: Insights from crop simulation model under future climate change

Adaptation measures are essential for reducing the impact of future climate risks on agricultural production systems. The present study focuses on implementing an adaptation strategy to mitigate the impact of future climate change on rainfed maize production in the Eastern Kansas River Basin (EKSRB), an important rainfed maize-producing region in the US Great Plains, which faces potential challenges of future climate risks due to a significant east-to-west aridity gradient. We used a calibrated CERES-Maize crop model to evaluate the impacts of baseline climate conditions (1985–2014), late-term future climate scenarios (under the SSP245 emission pathway and CMIP6 models), and a novel root proliferation adaptation strategy on regional maize yield and rainfall productivity. Changes in the plant root system by increasing the root density could lead to yield benefits, especially under drought conditions. Therefore, we modified the governing equation of soil root growth in the CERES-Maize model to reflect the genetic influence of a maize cultivar to improve root density by proliferation. Under baseline conditions, maize yield values ranged from 6522 to 12,849 kgha−1, with a regional average value of 9270 kgha−1. Projections for the late-term scenario indicate a substantial decline in maize yield (36 % to 50 %) and rainfall productivity (25 % to 42 %). Introducing a hypothetical maize cultivar by employing root proliferation as an adaptation strategy resulted in a 27 % increase in regional maize yield, and a 28 % increase in rainfall productivity compared to the reference cultivar without adaptation. We observed an indication of spatial dependency of maize yield and rainfall productivity on the regional precipitation gradient, with counties towards the east having an implicit advantage over those in the west. These findings offer valuable insights for the US Great Plains maize growers and breeders, guiding strategic decisions to adapt rainfed maize production to the region's impending challenges posed by climate change.

An Effective Image Classification Method for Plant Diseases with Improved Channel Attention Mechanism aECAnet Based on Deep Learning

Since plant diseases occurring during the growth process are a significant factor leading to the decline in both yield and quality, the classification and detection of plant leaf diseases, followed by timely prevention and control measures, are crucial for safeguarding plant productivity and quality. As the traditional convolutional neural network structure cannot effectively recognize similar plant leaf diseases, in order to more accurately identify the diseases on plant leaves, this paper proposes an effective plant disease image recognition method aECA-ResNet34. This method is based on ResNet34, and in the first and the last layers of this network, respectively, we add this paper’s improved aECAnet with the symmetric structure. aECA-ResNet34 is compared with different plant disease classification models on the peanut dataset constructed in this paper and the open-source PlantVillage dataset. The experimental results show that the aECA-ResNet34 model proposed in this paper has higher accuracy, better performance, and better robustness. The results show that the aECA-ResNet34 model proposed in this paper is able to recognize diseases of multiple plant leaves very accurately.

Examining the effect of different photovoltaic modules on cucumber crops in a greenhouse agrivoltaic system: A case study

Agrivoltaic systems, a fusion of agriculture and photovoltaic (PV) technology, have emerged as a sustainable solution to optimise land use by enabling simultaneous solar energy and agricultural harvesting. The experiments were conducted in a polytunnel greenhouse in Kfar Qara, Israel, deploying three types of semi-transparent solar PV panels—bifacial glass-encapsulated silicon, bifacial plastic-encapsulated silicon, and semi-transparent organic photovoltaics (OPVs) installed above the plant canopy. The impact of these PV treatments on cucumber crops was evaluated and juxtaposed against a control greenhouse with no panels, over the spring season from February to June 2022. Key growth and yield metrics were recorded during 17 harvests between April 10 and June 2, 2022. The findings revealed a negligible decline in crop yield across PV panel treatments compared to the control. Notably, the control and glass-encapsulated silicon PV treatments demonstrated an increase in yield, growth, and fruit quality. Moreover, the glass-encapsulated silicon PV panels outperformed the plastic-encapsulated and OPV module power conversion in the high heat and humidity of the greenhouse environment. This study accentuates the potential of integrating glass-encapsulated silicon PV panels in polytunnel greenhouses, heralding a promising avenue for bolstering agrivoltaic applications by ensuring a harmonious balance between agricultural yield and electrical energy production.

Green Synthesis of Au-Ni Bimetallic Nanoparticles using Aqueous Extract of Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt and their Catalytic Activity in Oxidation of Alcohols

Background: In recent years, bimetallic nanoparticles have gained remarkable attention due to their excellent physical and chemical properties. Especially, bimetallic nanoparticles are found to be highly efficient as catalysts in many important organic transformations. Objective: The objective of the present work involves green synthesis of Au-Ni bimetallic nano-particles using plant extract as the bio-reductant and to evaluate their catalytic efficiency in oxidation of alcohols. Methods: The experiment involves a simple and eco-friendly protocol for synthesis of Au-Ni bi-metallic as well as their corresponding monometallic nanoparticles that involves the use of aqueous fruit seed extract of Coccinia grandis(L.) Voigt as the bio-reductant and tannic acid as the bio-stabilizer. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by using XRD, TEM, FTIR, TGA etc., and their catalytic activity was evaluated for oxidation of alcohols. Results: The synthesized bimetallic nanoparticles have shown excellent catalytic activity towards aqueous phase oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes under ambient reaction conditions. Further-more, the results have revealed better effective performance of the bimetallic nanoparticles over the corresponding monometallic nanoparticles of gold and nickel, establishing the synergic influence of the two metals. Another attractive feature of this work is that the Au-Ni bimetallic nano-particles could be recycled and reused up to four catalytic cycles without any significant decline in product yield. Conclusion: The green synthesized bimetallic Au-Ni nanoparticles have shown excellent catalyt-ic activity toward the oxidation of alcohols in aqueous media under ambient reaction conditions. In addition, the nanoparticles are found to be successfully recyclable upto four catalytic cycles.

Analyzing the Impact of Storm ‘Daniel’ and Subsequent Flooding on Thessaly’s Soil Chemistry through Causal Inference

Storm ‘Daniel’ caused the most severe flood phenomenon that Greece has ever experienced, with thousands of hectares of farmland submerged for days. This led to sediment deposition in the inundated areas, which significantly altered the chemical properties of the soil, as revealed by extensive soil sampling and laboratory analysis. The causal relationships between the soil chemical properties and sediment deposition were extracted using the DirectLiNGAM algorithm. The results of the causality analysis showed that the sediment deposition affected the CaCO3 concentration in the soil. Also, causal relationships were identified between CaCO3 and the available phosphorus (P-Olsen), as well as those between the sediment deposit depth and available manganese. The quantified relationships between the soil variables were then used to generate data using a Multiple Linear Perceptron (MLP) regressor for various levels of deposit depth (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 cm). Then, linear regression equations were fitted across the different levels of deposit depth to determine the effect of the deposit depth on CaCO3, P, and Mn. The results revealed quadratic equations for CaCO3, P, and Mn as follows: 0.001XCaCO32 + 0.08XCaCO3 + 6.42, 0.004XP2 − 0.26XP + 12.29, and 0.003XMn2 − 0.08XMn + 22.47, respectively. The statistical analysis indicated that corn growing in soils with a sediment over 10 cm requires a 31.8% increase in the P rate to prevent yield decline. Additional notifications regarding cropping strategies in the near future are also discussed.