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In the years 2011-2014, winter wheat grain yield, qualitative and economic parameters were evaluated according to different fertiliser treatments: (1) control: unfertilised treatment; (2) farmyard manure (FYM) and (3) FYM + NPK (farmyard manure applied together with mineral NPK). The highest yields (8.10 t/ha) were recorded in the FYM + NPK treatment, while significantly lower yields (6.20 t/ha and 5.73 t/ha) were recorded in FYM and control treatments, respectively. Similarly, statistically significantly higher values of the quality parameters were found in the FYM + NPK treatment (13.55% of crude protein content and 43.56 mL of Zeleny's sedimentation test), compared to control (10% and 22.44 mL, respectively). The modelling expert system (AGROTEKIS-Crop Technology and Economy) was used for the evaluation of economy. This software is based on technological methods of cultivation and norms of material input costs and costs of individual mechanised works. The economic benefits and profitability were evaluated for three different levels of grain market price. The highest gross profit per ha was recorded in the FYM + NPK treatment. According to the gross profit, the control treatment provided better results than the FYM treatment.

Chemical additives can reduce ammonia emissions from ammonium-containing fertilisers. We aimed to investigate the effect of an additive based on carboxylic acid derivatives on ammonia emissions from slurry. In a randomised multi-plot field trial, three slurry treatments with increasing amounts of the additive based on carboxylic acid derivates were tested in comparison to untreated slurry and mineral fertiliser. Ammonia emissions were measured with so-called passive samplers, a method already used in numerous studies. However, problems arose during the evaluation of the collected data, so we examined the methodology used in more detail. The results of the measurements were analysed with regard to their spatial distribution and temporal variation. The results show that the more additives were used, the less ammonia was emitted, up to an emission reduction of 48% at the highest additive application rate. However, the spatial distribution of ammonia emissions reveals a drift of ammonia and, thus, an interaction between the plots. Thus, even in unfertilised plots, ammonia emissions of up to 50% of the treatment with the highest emissions were determined. Furthermore, it was also proven that the different times at which the slurry was applied influenced the level of ammonia emissions. Due to the interaction between the plots and the temporal differences in the application of the slurry, measuring ammonia emissions with passive samplers in multi-plot field trials, as presented in this study, is not suitable to quantify differences between the ammonia emissions from different treatments. Based on these results, recommendations for the use of passive samplers to measure ammonia emissions in field trials are proposed.

The presented research deals with the effect of plot size changes on the crop yield. Three plots were chosen in a company engaged in conventional agriculture, on which yields were monitored from 2019 using yield maps. In 2020, the plots (initial size > 30 ha) were divided into different parts sized < 30 ha. In 2021, these newly arisen parts of the plots were harvested. Changes in the yield of grown crops were analysed using yield maps acquired by the harvesting machines. Relative yields (%) and absolute yields (t/ha) were determined on all experimental land parts arising from the initial plots’ division. The values were then compared with yields recorded before the division of individual plots using zonal statistics. Measured relative yield values clearly show (P < 0.05) that the division of plots resulted in the increased heterogeneity of crop yields. On the initial plots as well as on the newly arisen plots, the relative yield was divided into the following categories: < 70, 70–85, 85–95, 95–105, 105–115, 115–130 and > 130%, with the value of 100% representing average yield. The analysis of measured yield data showed that the division of plots into smaller parts resulted in an uneven yield distribution because if a divided plot was heterogeneous in terms of yield levels, a cumulation of "higher yield levels (> 100%)" could have occurred in one specific newly arisen plot at the expense of another one. Moreover, new marginal parts of lands came into being during the division of larger soil complexes, and hence zones with potentially reduced yields.

Based on strip-tillage technology, this study explores the optimal seedbed environment for maize growth through a three-year field agronomic experiment. A comparative analysis of two planting modes, flat planting and ridge planting, was conducted, and a two-factor, three-level experimental design was implemented (furrow-breaking width: 8, 10 and 12 cm; furrow-breaking depth: 2, 3 and 4 cm), with manual soil covering without furrow breaking as the control group. Analysis of the averaged data over three years indicates that furrow-breaking treatment significantly increased maize yield under both flat and ridge planting modes, highlighting the importance of furrow breaking for maize growth. Ridge planting increased yield by an average of 7.58% compared to flat planting. The optimal yield was achieved at a furrow-breaking width of 10 cm and a depth of 4 cm, where ridge and flat planting yields were 10.37% and 10.43% higher than the average values at each level, respectively. Additionally, at the optimal yield level, the chlorophyll soil-plant analysis development (SPAD) values for ridge and flat planting were 15.36% and 17.06% higher than the average values. The emergence rates of ridge and flat planting maize were 5.43% and 4.93% higher than the average values, respectively. This not only enhanced crop stress resistance but also improved overall economic benefits.

Manganese (Mn) is often underestimated in plant nutrition. Its availability to plants is influenced by several factors, which can lead to Mn deficiency or toxicity. The objective was to evaluate the transformation of soil Mn over 21 years in a long-term field experiment. Fertilising with (i) sewage sludge 1 (SS1); (ii) sewage sludge 3 (3 times higher nitrogen (N) dose, SS3); (iii) farmyard manure (FYM); (iv) mineral nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) and (v) mineral nitrogen in addition to straw (Nst) was studied to evaluate the transformations of Mn in soil using different extraction methods at the 5 locations. There was a general reduction in the pH during the experiment. Soil acidification caused by mineral N fertiliser increased the bioavailable Mn forms under NPK treatment. This Mn was mobilised from soil reserves, leading to depletion of Mn sources. Application of SS and FYM led to an increase in non-bioavailable Mn fractions, while the expected increase in biologically available Mn was not observed. As the high pH of soil limits Mn availability, foliar Mn application can be recommended for agricultural practice in high-pH soils. On the contrary, liming can be recommended for low-pH soil with high bioavailable Mn content to mitigate the risk of Mn toxicity.

The Songnen Plain is an important agricultural base in China and one of the important areas of distribution of saline-alkaline soils in the cold region. Saline-alkaline soils severely restrict maize growth. This study was to potentially promote the soil nutrient in the maize rhizosphere, microbes diversity, and maize yield by Trichoderma asperellum in saline-alkaline soil of the cold region. In the present study, we applied different amounts of T. asperellum in field experiments for three consecutive years. High-throughput sequencing was used to analyse the impact of Trichoderma on microbes diversity in maize rhizosphere soils. Changes in crop yield and soil nutrients were also monitored. T. asperellum treatment significantly increased the relative abundance of beneficial microbes genera. In the control treatment, the pathogenic microbes were the dominant genera. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that changes in the soil microbial community composition were closely related to soil nutrients and were highly correlated with T. asperellum treatment concentration. Further, T. asperellum treatment increased crop yield by 4.87-20.26%. These findings suggest that T. asperellum treatment optimised the microenvironment of the maize rhizosphere soil, alleviated microbial community degeneration in cold region saline-alkaline soil, and promoted maize growth.

Global food security is increasingly threatened by the vulnerability of agricultural systems to climate variability, especially in sub-humid regions. Northeast China, a major maize-producing region, experiences low spring temperatures and erratic rainfall, which have prompted the widespread adoption of plastic-film mulching (PFM) combined with drip irrigation. However, systematic evaluations of how different PFM patterns affect crop productivity and resource use efficiency remain limited. This study systematically evaluated three PFM strategies – full ridge-furrow mulching (FM), ridge mulching (RM), and no mulching (NM) – in combination with 240 kg N/ha and a zero-nitrogen control under drip irrigation to determine their effects on maize (Zea mays L.) yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and nitrogen utilisation. Field experiments over two consecutive growing seasons assessed crop growth, dry matter (DM) accumulation, nitrogen dynamics, grain yield, and related efficiency parameters. Both FM and RM significantly enhanced early maize growth. At the seedling stage, FM and RM increased plant height by 43.0% and 40.1%, and leaf area index (LAI) by 141.4% and 120.4% over NM, respectively. During the same stage, DM accumulation increased by 228.9% (FM) and 224.9% (RM). These improvements reflected favourable soil hydrothermal conditions under PFM. Before heading, PFM treatments increased pre-anthesis DM accumulation by up to 19.6%, and at maturity, FM and RM raised DM by 6.1% and 5.1% over NM. PFM significantly improved grain nitrogen accumulation, with FM and RM increasing it by 31.0% and 26.9% over NM, respectively, and nitrogen harvest index (NHI), with FM and RM increasing it by 6.8% and 6.1% over NM, indicating enhanced nutrient translocation to grain. PFM also improved grain yield, with FM and RM increasing it by 15.0% and 13.5%, WUE by 17.2% and 15.7%, and nitrogen partial productivity by 16.8% and 14.1%. No significant differences in yield or WUE were observed between FM and RM. Fertilisation consistently enhanced these benefits without changing the relative efficiency ranking of treatments. Notably, the advantages of mulching diminished after the heading stage as temperature and rainfall increased. PFM (both FM and RM) under drip irrigation improves maize yield, water use, and nitrogen efficiency in sub-humid regions. This integrated practice offers a scalable and sustainable strategy to increase maize productivity and resource efficiency, supporting food security in regions facing similar climatic challenges.

Quantification of soil health dynamics relative to grazing can inform both agriculture and conservation. We conducted an experiment near Lingle, Wyoming, USA, on a semi-arid northern mixed-grass prairie from 2017–2019. Three grazing density treatments (NG – not grazed; MRG – moderate rotationally grazed a herd of 4 Angus heifers, and UHD – ultra-high density rotationally grazed a herd of 33 Angus cow-calf pairs) were replicated four times in a randomised complete block design across twelve – 0.405 ha paddocks. Soil sampling was conducted prior to grazing in June 2017, one-week post grazing in July 2019, and six weeks post grazing in August 2019 and included a suite of forage, ground cover, soil chemical, soil physical, and soil microbiological measurements. Grazing treatment did result in lower vegetation structure but had no effect on any soil variables (P > 0.05). Conversely, the sampling interval was more influential for predicting fluctuations in chemical (15 variables significantly different within at least one treatment) or microbiological (13 variables significantly different within at least one treatment) variables than grazing treatment. The study was conducted in an intact native prairie with initial and final values indicating "Very Good" soil health, including the saturated : unsaturated fatty acid ratio, an indicator of stress.

This study investigates the impact of various molecular weights (MWs) of fulvic acid (FA) on maize growth, grain yield, and nutrient uptake under different nitrogen levels (NLs). A 2 × 3 balanced design was employed, with high (0.2 g N/kg) and low (0.05 g N/kg) NLs, and three FA MW ranges (W1 ≤ 3 000 D, 3 000 < W2 ≤ 10 000 D, W3 > 10 000 D) were applied at 25 mg/kg in soil. Significant interactions between NLs and FA MWs were observed in chlorophyll a/b ratio, nitrate reductase and glutamate dehydrogenase activities, nitrogen content, and nitrogen uptake efficiency. Overall, under different NLs, FA application reduced chlorophyll a/b ratio, increased nitrogen metabolism enzyme activities, promoted maize growth, and thereby improved grain yield and nitrogen fertiliser uptake efficiency. Additionally, the promotion effect of low MW FA on these indicators outweighed that of high MW FA, yet the latter exhibited a more pronounced effect on increasing grain nitrogen concentration. Structural equation model analysis revealed direct effects of chlorophyll content, nitrogen accumulation, nitrogen uptake efficiency, NLs and FA MWs on maize grain yield, with FA MWs negatively impacting yield.

In order to the assessment of humic acid application on the qualitative characteristics of rapeseed in various plant densities, a factorial split-plot test was conducted for two cultivation years in Karaj, Iran. In this experiment, plant density considered in three levels (40, 60, and 80 plants/m²), humic acid at two concentrations (non-application and application at the concentration of 0.3%) in the main plots, and six cultivars of rapeseed embracing RGS003, Zafar, Julius, Jerry, Zabol10, and Hyola4815 in the sub-plots. The interaction effect of plant density ×humic acid × cultivar on seed yield, oil yield, oleic acid, linolenic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, erucic acid, canopy temperature, and seed glucosinolate content as well as the interaction effect of plant density × cultivar on the oil content and total chlorophyll content were significant at 1% level. Cv. Jerry had the maximum seed and oil yields under humic acid application condition with the density of 40 plants/m², and the maximum contents of oleic, linoleic, and palmitic fatty acids as well. Moreover, this cultivar, through containing the lower and standard content of erucic acid and glucosinolate, is recommendable under the circumstance of the present research.

Most farmers use urea as a nitrogen fertiliser to raise mustard (Brassica juncea L.), although its nitrogen (N) content is quickly lost due to its hygroscopic nature. Nitrogen loss in the form of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitrates (NO₃^–) has been causing low nitrogen fertiliser efficiency in vegetable cultivation. This investigation aims to assess the impact of urea fertiliser coated with biochar or activated charcoal on losses of N₂O and NO₃^– concentration in the soil during mustard production. The experiment used a randomised block design with five treatments of urea fertiliser coated with biochar/activated charcoal. The observed data included N₂O flux, nitrate, and ammonia content in soil and water. The results showed that urea fertiliser coated with activated charcoal from corn cobs tended to suppress N loss more effectively than urea coated with biochar or activated charcoal from coconut shells. Biochar and activated charcoal from coconut shells suppressed N-N₂O loss as much as 3.1% and 52.5% (7 days after planting (DAP)), respectively, and 68.7% and 71.6% (21 DAP), respectively. Biochar and activated charcoal from corn cob reduce N-N₂O loss by 46.5% and 66.5% (7 DAP), respectively, and by 70.7% and 77.8% (21 DAP). Urea-coated activated charcoal fertiliser increases mustard plant biomass and nitrogen uptake. Biochar and activated charcoal from coconut shells and corncobs increase nitrogen use efficiency by 5, 24, 6, and 17%, respectively. Biochar/activated charcoal coatings are a promising technology for boosting nitrogen use efficiency in vegetable crops, including mustard crops.

Drought is a major abiotic stressor that limits crop growth and is often associated with oxidative stress. We evaluated whether foliar silicon (Si) application affects primary root anatomy, plant height, and phenolic metabolism in three common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) cultivars (La Harpe, Panda, and Smuga) exposed to water deficit. Plants were grown under controlled conditions in four treatments: control; drought; control + Si, and drought + Si. Qualitative anatomical assessment revealed that Si promoted more advanced development of the primary root central cylinder, most notably in La Harpe under drought conditions, where a continuous ring of secondary xylem and a well-developed pith were observed. Drought significantly reduced plant height in all cultivars; Si partially alleviated this reduction in La Harpe and Panda, but not in Smuga. Drought generally increased total phenolic content (TPC) and phenolic acid content (PAC) in both leaves and roots, and Si further enhanced these responses, with the highest values under drought + Si. Overall, the results indicate cultivar-dependent effectiveness of foliar silicon (Si) and suggest that Si contributes to coordinated structural and biochemical adjustments under water deficit conditions. To assess the transferability of these responses, further verification across a broader range of genotypes and under different intensities and durations of drought is warranted.

A ¹⁵N-labelling technique was carried out to investigate the effect of wheat straw co-application with Bacillus nealsonii, Cohnella, and Paenibacillus lautus on N uptake and assimilation in Diospyros lotus. Wheat straw combined with Bacillus increased the plant height, biomass accumulation, photosynthetic capacity, and uptake of ¹⁵N by roots, with ¹⁵N accumulating mainly in leaves of D. lotus. The NO₃^–-N content in roots and leaves were decreased by wheat straw co-application with Bacillus, whereas NH₄⁺-N, soluble protein, and total N contents were increased. Wheat straw addition promoted the activities of nitrate reductase, glutamine synthase and glutamate synthase in roots rather than in leaves. These N assimilation enzymatic activities, and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase activities were markedly increased by wheat straw combined with Bacillus. Moreover, the combined application of wheat straw and Bacillus, particularly B. nealsonii, improved the N use efficiency. These findings suggest that the combined application of wheat straw and Bacillus improved D. lotus growth by increasing N uptake, metabolism, and utilisation efficiency.

Surface runoff and soil losses in the case of potato cultivation using de-stoning technology on gentle slopes (Haplic Cambisol) were studied in 2020–2022. Different ridges shapes were compared: control (smooth shaped ridges), pits, pits plus loosening, pits plus loosening plus cover crop (Triticum aestivum L.) sowing in trail furrows. Runoff and soil losses were studied approximately 1 and 2 months after planting potatoes. The obtained results showed the highest reduction of surface runoff and soil losses in the treatment with cover crop sowing. In this variant, soil losses were reduced by 65–81% (1 month after planting) and 54–85% (2 months after planting) in case of simulated rainfall on the soil with natural moisture (or these losses were reduced by 51–93% and 50–76% in case of 15-min rainfall). On average, tuber yields reached 29.4 t/ha (pits + loosening) to 30.6 t/ha (pits) in 2020–2022. The different abilities of the tested shapes of ridges and furrows to retain water did not significantly affect the achieved yields of tubers, as rainfall was not a limiting factor in the monitored period. The yield differences among all tested treatments reached units of tons per hectare if the entire dose of nitrogen was applied at planting. Splitting the total nitrogen dose (50% at planting, 50% at loosening) gave significantly (P < 0.05) higher yields (34.2 t/ha) than a single application at planting. The treatment pits plus loosening with fertilisation provided a 19–26% higher tuber yield than pits plus loosening with a total N dose applied at planting.

The study aimed at the isolation of microorganisms from aminopyralid (AP)-contaminated soil, evaluation of their ability to degrade AP, and examination of the effects of AP on microbial growth. Geotrichum candidum, Cladosporium herbarum, Candida subhashii, and Paenarthrobacter nicotinovorans were isolated and identified using enrichment. None of those strains were able to degrade 100 ppm AP within 2–3 weeks. In contrast, collection strains Pleurotus ostreatus ‘Spoppo’ and Bacillus velezensis FZB42 reduced AP concentration by 35.1% and 47.8%, respectively. Low sensitivity of growth to AP (400 ppm) on the malt-extract-agar medium was observed; inhibition values for C. herbarum and G. candidum were 52.4% and 22.8%, respectively, compared to 33.7% inhibition found with P. ostreatus ‘Spoppo’. Promotion of fungal growth was observed at low AP concentrations in the Czapek-Dox medium, the highest effect being in G. candidum. The growth promotion effect was confirmed with P. ostreatus ‘Spoppo’growing on wheat straw contaminated with Mustang Forte and Corello herbicides; total fruiting body mass yield increased 1.25- and 1.37-fold, respectively. The study offers insight into future strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of synthetic auxin herbicides.

Seed priming is an effective seed treatment procedure and has been shown to improve the emergence of seedlings in various crops. However, there is a lack of systematic research for these techniques in lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), especially for combinations of priming agents. This study aimed to screen 22 biologically active compounds and then to evaluate the potential of combinations of these agents, assessing the dynamics of germination, seedling length, and performance, in a pot experiment for selected combinations. About half of the screened agents increased germination rate (on the 3^rd day) or seedling length (from 8% to 75%), where chitosan and green tea improved total germination and seedling formation. The selected combination of priming agents improved only seedling growth compared to hydropriming and control, where the combination of fermented weed juice + green tea and H₂O₂ + thyme infusion seems effective (+61%). In the pot experiment, only a combination of mixed priming with the coating method led to improved lucerne root growth (+33% compared to the untreated control). These results can contribute to the adoption of easily available, cost-effective, and sustainable treatments with the potential to accelerate germination and lucerne seedling development.

Crop residue management and water saving are the two major issues for the sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conducted in a split-plot design to study the combined effect of three rice residues (residue incorporation (RI), residue standing (RS) and residue removal (RR) and two wheat residue incorporation (WI) and residue removal (WR) management in main plots and two irrigation regimes, i.e., flood (F) and surface drip (SD) in subplots on the growth and water productivity of direct seeded rice (DSR). During both years, RI-WI resulted in significantly higher plant height (PH), leaf area index (LAI) and dry matter accumulation (DMA) than in other residue management treatments. Drip irrigation significantly increased PH, LAI, DMA grain yield, straw, and biological yield, along with a 9.6% irrigation water savings over flood irrigation. During both years, grain yield, straw and biological yield of DSR were significantly higher in RI-WI than in RR-WR and RR-WI. RI-WI had significantly greater apparent water productivity (AWP) and actual water productivity (RWP) of DSR. Drip irrigation had significantly higher AWP and RWP during both years than flood irrigation except RWP during 2017. Transpiration efficiency (TE) in rice residue incorporation was significantly higher than in rice residue standing and removal. During both years, the TE of drip irrigation was also significantly higher than flood irrigation. So, incorporating rice and wheat residues along with drip irrigation improves crop growth and water productivity.

Summer maize cultivars are differently sensitive to soil moisture. To better understand the differences in water productivity of summer maize cultivars with different water sensitivity, a field experiment was conducted from 2020 to 2022. Three different water-sensitive summer maize cultivars were selected, including TY808 (high water-sensitive cultivar), DH605 (medium water-sensitive cultivar), and ZD958 (low water-sensitive cultivar). Soil water content (SWC), soil water storage (SWS), water consumption, water use efficiency, and grain yield were determined. The results showed that under rainfed conditions, the SWC of the medium water-sensitive cultivar DH605 in the deep soil layer was 2.1–18.2% lower than TY808 and ZD958, respectively, and the differences were significant in the 12th leaf stage (V12) and vegetative tassel stage (VT). The SWS of the high-water-sensitive cultivar TY808 was 0.7% to 6.4% higher than the other two water-sensitive cultivars from 2020 to 2022. The changes in SWS are related to the spatiotemporal distribution of precipitation. The water consumption of DH605 was higher than TY808 and ZD958 by 5.3% and 7.09% in 2020 and 2.9% and 2.8% in 2021; in 2022, DH605 is 2% higher than ZD958 and 2.8% lower than TY808, respectively. The yield of DH605 was 4.3–10.78% higher than the other two cultivars in the three-year experiment. Additionally, the 1 000-kernel weight of DH605 was the highest in TY808 and ZD958. DH605 has the highest water use efficiency, which was increased by 4.8–14.6% compared to TY808 and ZD958. Through path analysis, we found that the direct path coefficient of SWS in the VT stage on yield reached 0.999, indicating that soil moisture in the VT stage has the greatest impact on yield, followed by the blister stage (R2). In conclusion, our results suggest that the water consumption of summer maize during the VT stage is the highest, and the soil moisture condition in VT significantly affects the grain yield of summer. Planting DH605 in the North China Plain would harvest the maximum grain yield and water productivity.

Biochar can potentially increase crop production in saline soils. However, the appropriate amount of biochar that should be applied to benefit from resource preservation and increase both grain yield (GY) and quality is not clear. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of biochar applied at various rates (i.e., 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 t/ha) on the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), GY and amino acid (AA) contents of wheat plants in saline soils. The results showed that the application of 5-20 t/ha biochar increased wheat NUE by 5.2-37.9% and thus increased wheat GY by 2.9-19.4%. However, excessive biochar applications (more than 30 t/ha) had negative effects on both the NUE and GY of wheat. Biochar had little influence on leaf soil and plant analyzer development (SPAD) values, the harvest index or yield components. The AAs were significantly affected by biochar, depending on the application rate. Among the application rates, 5-30 t/ha biochar resulted in relatively higher (by 5.2-19.1%) total AA contents. Similar trends were observed for each of the 17 essential AAs. In conclusion, the positive effects of biochar occurred when it was applied at appropriate rates, but the effects were negative when biochar was overused.

In this study, we assessed the salt tolerance of 38 wheat cultivars from primary wheat cultivation regions in China using a membership function value (MFV) during the germination and seedling emergence stages. Based on salt tolerance assessment, three contrasting groups were classified, with 10 tolerant, 23 moderately tolerant and 5 sensitive cultivars under low salt stress, and 4 tolerant, 25 moderately tolerant and 9 sensitive cultivars under high salt stress and in addition to Na⁺ and K⁺ homeostasis regulation, nitrogen efficient transfer from seed to plant tissues denoted the significant positive correlation with salt tolerance, confirming the importance of nutrient spectra organisation. Salt-tolerant and moderately tolerant cultivars had lower trait network modularity than salt-sensitive cultivars, demonstrating that wheat with different salt tolerance uses alternative strategies to cope with salt stress. These results were important for germplasm evaluation and variety breeding of salt tolerance in wheat.

The frequent occurrence of years with extreme drought leads to the investigation of measures for mitigation of their impacts. The efficiency of organic mulch materials - straw and compost application as the preservation of potato production in drought conditions were verified in this study. Three mulching treatments were verified during the three experimental years (2016-2018) in an exact field trial with potatoes cv. Dicolora. Wheat straw mulch in the rate of 2.5 t/ha (SM1) and 4.5 t/ha (SM2), compost in the rate of 20 t/ha (CM), and control block without any treatments (C) were used. The yield of marketable tubers (tuber over 40 mm) showed a significant increase by 21.2% at the straw mulch treatment (SM2) in comparison with control. As for the straw mulch (SM1) and compost mulch (CM), tubers yields increased by 12.8% and 10.1%, respectively, compared to control.

Copper contamination stemming from copper-based pesticides poses a grave concern in vineyards and orchards, causing toxicity to soil organisms. Here, we present a comprehensive review of global data encompassing copper levels in these soils, coupled with variables such as the age of agricultural establishments, climate, soil organic matter content, soil pH, and farming practices (organic vs. conventional). The results suggest that there are three pivotal determinants driving copper content in vineyard and orchard soils: climate, the age of agricultural establishments, and soil organic matter content. It was impossible to estimate soil pH’s effect on soil copper content because of its dependence on precipitation. Copper content in vineyard and orchard soils worldwide follows a direct correlation with precipitation while inversely correlating with aridity (i.e. potential evapotranspiration divided by precipitation). Furthermore, a clear linkage emerges between farm age and increased copper content in soils globally. Intriguingly, the increased soil organic matter content has shown inverse impacts on soil copper levels. These effects of soil properties on soil copper contents were discussed in terms of copper losses from soil via surface runoff. However, no discernible disparities in soil copper content between organic and conventional farming systems were found. This worldwide survey not only underscores the established influence of climate on European vineyards but also sheds novel light on the historical legacy of copper contamination in these landscapes.

Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas L.) is one of the most problematic weed species, mainly in rainfed Moroccan and Tunisian cereal crops. The overuse of acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibiting and/or auxinic herbicides led to the spread of corn poppies resistant to both chemical families in this region. In order to identify and understand the selection drivers of resistance, appropriate characterisation of the resistance profile is necessary. Two experiments were carried out: biological sensitivity tests with ALS inhibiting herbicides (tribenuron-methyl and florasulam) and auxinic herbicides (2,4-d) were carried out with populations sampled in the field where the herbicide failure was observed. Bioassay tests confirmed resistance in all studied populations with an average frequency of 75.13, 30.81, 33.17 and 11.52% with tribenuron, florasulam, 2,4-d and florasulam + 2,4-d, respectively. Corn poppy sampled from both countries exhibited similar frequencies within populations for each tested herbicide. The molecular analysis was conducted with next-generation sequencing (Illumina), allowing massive, precise and rapid sequencing regions of the ALS gene carrying resistance codons. Using this technology, ALS mutant alleles were found in all populations at frequencies ranging from 1.4% to 63.3%, with an average of 16.7%. This study highlights the need to elucidate resistance mechanisms to understand herbicide responses and develop effective strategies for managing resistant corn poppy in rainfed cereals as an essential step to maintain the effectiveness of these molecules as long as possible.

Developing and employing new, sustainable, and eco-friendly biostimulants that enhance plant growth and alleviate the harmful effects of environmental challenges is a major focus for many researchers. Salt stress is a critical constraint on plant growth and a limiting factor in crop productivity, particularly during the early developmental stages in the nurseries. Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (Java plum) is an important fruit tree and widely cultivated in gardens as an ornamental plant. This study was designed to develop Cassia javanica subsp. nodosa leaf extract (CLE) as a new sustainable and eco-friendly biostimulant capable of triggering the metabolic adaptation to salt stress in Java plum seedlings grown in nurseries. CLE successfully mitigated reductions in growth, biomass yield, and secondary metabolite production caused by salinity. Although salt stress depressed morphological characters and biomass yield, CLE foliar spray enhanced these parameters. Moreover, CLE enhanced the ferric reducing antioxidant potential, catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities, increased phenolic content, and reduced hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Additionally, CLE application increased seedling biomass and stimulated antioxidant activity, osmoprotectant accumulation, and overall tolerance to salinity stress. These observations provide new insights into CLE’s potential as an eco-friendly biostimulant for enhancing salt tolerance in Java plum seedlings.

Due to ongoing climate change, the need for the application of adaptive strategies in agriculture is increasing, particularly in areas with insufficient rainfall, high temperatures and weather fluctuations during the vegetation period. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in 2020 and 2021 to determine the influence of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) on morphological, physiological and production traits of maize. SAPs were applied using a method of seed coating, which is considered cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Due to the impact of SAPs, significantly larger weights of leaves and roots, as well as the length of roots in the initial growth stage, were found. Furthermore, the SAP treatment condition found significantly larger values of leaf relative water content and spectral indexes PRI (photochemical reflectance index) and NDVI (normalised difference vegetation index). Applying SAPs also led to a significant increase in spikes per plot and grain yield of maize. Moreover, the results significantly impact the interaction between year and treatment. The correlation analysis indicates a higher correlation between the observed traits in the SAPs treatment condition, which subsequently impacted the final maize production. These results confirm that applying SAPs can be considered a suitable strategy for mitigating the impacts of adverse weather conditions, especially in terms of sustainability and maintaining maize production.

Two-year experiments were conducted on two different soil types during 2021/22 and 2022/23 to study the impact of microbiological preparations, Mycor-FAZOS and Vitality-FAZOS, on the yield and quality elements of winter wheat cultivar Maja (Agrigenetics). The experiment was set up in a split-block design with four repetitions across two soil types, with 12 different variants on each soil type. The base plot area was 40 m2, and the effective plot area was 27 m2. The research factors included: A (soil type): A1 – gley soil; A2 – eutric cambisol; B (disease control): B1 – control; B2 – chemical pesticides; B3 – biopreparates (seed treatment + foliar treatment) and C (nitrogen fertilisation): C1 – based on soil analysis; C2 – 70% of recommended application. Variables included grain yield (t/ha), grain protein content (%), hectoliter weight (kg), and plant height (cm). The highest average grain yield was achieved with variant B3C2, with a 12.50% increase compared to variant B2C1. Differences between these variants included 6.0% for protein content, 5.97% for hectoliter weight, and 7.93% for plant height. It was observed that Mycor-FAZOS seed treatment promoted root development, resulting in healthier, taller, more robust plants with a more uniform growth and darker colour than untreated seed variants (indicating increased photosynthesis index). The protection achieved with Vitality-FAZOS biopreparations (fungicidal microorganisms synthesising growth hormones) ensured healthier wheat plants, leading to higher seed yield and better quality parameters.

A new food and feed self-sufficiency model for the Czech Republic (RESTEP) was applied for the evaluation of possible adverse climate impacts uniformly reducing crop production by 5, 10, 20, and 30%. The situation was simulated for the whole country and four different agriculturally important regions. Biomass production modeling confirmed that for the whole country, the food self-sufficiency is secured up to 20% of yield decline for most crops, but even 5% yield decline of silage maize would lead to its shortage in animal feeding. On the other hand, regional results vary significantly. Regions Jižní Morava and Střední Čechy shown oversupply of feedstuff allowing them to cover the demands of cattle and pigs up to 20% or 30% decline of yield, respectively. The opposite model represents the Vysočina (VY) region which is not able to cover the demands from own sources even at the baseline scenario. The acreage extension of maize is not possible due to erosion risk restrictions at 25% of arable land at VY. The possible solution consists of extension acreage of alfalfa and clover or finding other plants sufficient for feeding as well for biogas facilities in regions rich in biomass energy consumers.

Drought is an important agricultural problem worldwide, which seriously affects the growth and yield of crops. To explore the effects of different degrees of drought on the soluble sugar content of soybeans, this study measured the soluble sugar content of two soybean cultivars at three growth stages under four levels of drought stress. The results showed that drought stress significantly affected the soluble sugar content, and there were differences among different growth stages and cultivars. At the seedling and flowering stages, the sucrose content of both Heinong44 and Heinong65 showed an unimodal trend and reached the maximum value at moderate drought. The increase rate was the highest in the leaves at the flowering stage, which increased by 36.18% and 25.79% compared with CK, respectively. The fructose and glucose contents were the highest during severe drought, and the fructose content increased the most in the leaves at the seedling stage, which increased by 18.05% and 17.67% compared with CK, respectively. The glucose content increased the most in the petioles at the flowering stage, reaching 40.66% and 35.24%. At the pod-filling stage, the three sugar contents of both Heinong44 and Heinong65 were the lowest at severe drought, and the sucrose and fructose contents decreased the most in the petioles, which decreased by 21.66% and 23.94%, 12.58% and 13.49% compared with CK, respectively. The glucose content decreased the most in the stems, which decreased by 11.72% and 9.66%. In addition, at each growth stage and drought treatment, the ratio of the soluble sugar content of Heinong44 was higher than that of Heinong65.

Hyperspectral imaging technology has emerged as a prominent research area for quantitatively estimating soil nutrient content owing to its non-destructive, rapid, and convenient features. Our work collected the data from soil samples using the hyperspectrometer. Then, the data were processed. The competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) algorithm reduced the original 148 bands to 13, which accounted for 8.8% of the total bands. These selected bands possess a certain level of interpretability. Based on the modelling results, it can be concluded that the prediction model constructed by the least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) exhibited the highest accuracy. The coefficient determination, root mean square error, and ratio performance deviation were 0.8295, 2.95, and 2.42, respectively. These findings can provide theoretical support for the application of hyperspectral technology in detecting the content of the AHN in soil. Moreover, they can also serve as a reference for the rapid detection of other soil components.

Biochar is the carbon-rich product obtained when biomass is anaerobically heated. In this study, different materials (corn straw and peanut shell) and pyrolysis temperatures (350, 450 and 550 °C) affect the elemental composition, surface structure, and biochar properties. The results showed that the carbon (C) content in biochar increased as the temperature increased, but hydrogen (H) and nitrogen (N) did not change. The alkane overpressure of corn straw and peanut shell increased first and then decreased with the increased temperature; the fatty alkyl chain disappeared, but the ash content increased at 550 °C. At high temperatures, the aromaticity (H/C ratio) and hydrophobicity (O/C ratio) of biochar become "carbon-rich particles", while the polarity (O + N)/C decreases significantly. The pore wall of biochar became thinner with the increase in pyrolysis temperature, the internal pore structure became larger, and a large number of micropores appeared in biochar. Biochar pyrolysed at 550 °C has much higher C, ash content, pore, and stronger buffering capacity, and thus is more promising to improve soil health.