The two-year study (2020–2022) investigated the effects of seed hydropriming, supplementary irrigation and foliar amino acid application on a rainfed wheat cultivar at Ekbatan Research Station, Hamedan, Iran. Conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications and a factorial arrangement, the experiment evaluated three factors: supplementary irrigation (applied at sowing, flowering, grain filling or no irrigation), seed hydropriming (soaking seeds in tap water for 10 hours vs. unprimed) and foliar sprays (lysine, methionine at 50 mg/l, or water) at the heading stage. The absence of supplementary irrigation maximized leaf soluble protein content. Foliar application of amino acids reduced leaf proline levels by 5 %. The highest proline accumulation was observed in the second year under non-irrigated and unprimed conditions. Supplementary irrigation during flowering and methionine foliar spray decreased catalase activity by 9.7 and 2.6 %, respectively, compared to their controls. In the second year, with an 18 % reduction in rainfall, seed hydropriming increased superoxide dismutase activity by 28 %, carotenoid content by 21 % and grain yield by 28.6 % compared to unprimed seeds. Supplementary irrigation at flowering with seed hydropriming enhanced total chlorophyll by 39.1 % relative to unprimed seeds. Methionine application increased grain yield by 5.4 % compared to water spray. Therefore, seed hydropriming with tap water, supplementary irrigation at flowering and methionine foliar application are recommended to enhance rainfed wheat growth and yield in Hamedan.

The goal of this study was to assess starch degradability, protein fractionation and fermentation profile of wet brewers grain (WBG) ensiled with maize or sorghum grains. Two treatments were prepared: maize + WBG, maize rehydrated with WBG; and sorghum + WBG, sorghum rehydrated with WBG, with 10 replications per treatment, adjusted to 55% dry matter (DM). Data were analysed in a completely randomised design using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Losses and pH were lower in maize + WBG; however, it also presented higher lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, moulds and lactic acid (P < 0.001). Acetic acid did not differ, but propionic acid was lower in maize + WBG. The DM and EE were higher in maize + WBG, whereas ash, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and crude protein were lower in this treatment. Starch concentration was similar, however with higher degradability in maize + WBG. The A1, A2 and C protein fractions were higher for maize + WBG, while B1 and B2 were lower. Overall, WBG ensiled with maize showed higher A1 (ammonia) and A2 (soluble protein) protein fractions and higher starch degradability compared with sorghum silages rehydrated with WBG.

Sugar beet production demands sustainable intensification approaches to enhance both yield and quality. This study examined the effects of foliar nano-ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) applications on five sugar beet cultivars – JAMPOL, BTS 9830, DEL 1135, ASEEL and Raspoly – over two growing seasons in Egypt’s Nile Delta, using a split-plot randomized complete block design. Three nano-NH4NO3 concentrations (0, 50 and 100 ppm) were sprayed twice each season to assess impacts on growth, yield and quality parameters. The results indicated limited influence of treatments on primary yield metrics; taproot yields remained unaffected across all cultivars and seasons. Nonetheless, the 50 ppm treatment preserved optimal sugar quality, with sucrose content reaching 19.4 %, compared to 18 % in the controls. Carotenoid levels increased by 12 % under the 100 ppm treatment, reflecting enhanced nutritional quality. Among cultivars, ASEEL yielded the best results with taproot outputs of 34 t/ha and sugar yields of 6.1 t/ha under optimal conditions, demonstrating significant cultivar-dependent variation. Multivariate analysis revealed distinct response patterns among cultivars and treatments, with three-way interactions (Season × Cultivar × Nanoparticle) affecting several traits. Clustering identified four trait groups and three treatment clusters, highlighting sugar beet’s complex response to nanoparticles. Economic analysis shows limited benefits, with no significant increase in taproot yield, despite a rise in secondary metabolites. While nano-NH4NO3 can modify biochemical parameters, the lack of yield improvements casts doubt on its economic feasibility. Cultivar choice primarily influences sugar beet performance, with environmental conditions also affecting treatment efficacy.

The inclusion of legumes in crop rotations can provide numerous benefits to crop productivity and environmental sustainability. However, these benefits have primarily been documented in systems that involve regular fertilisation, limiting our understanding of legume effects under low-input or long-term unfertilised conditions. Though soybean (Glycine max L.) is one of the globally most important cultivated legumes, data on its effect on subsequent common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop in low-input European systems are scarce. This study builds on long-term historically consistent trails of two rotation systems: maize-winter wheat (M-W) and maize-soybean-winter wheat (M-S-W) under rainfed conditions on a Chernozem in Serbia, maintained without fertilisation for over 70 years. The aim of our work was to evaluate the effect of soybean as pre-crop on wheat yield and yield components and accumulation of Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn in grain. Over five growing seasons, the soybean pre-crop effect resulted in a grain yield increase ranging from 43% to 301%. Results showed that threefold higher soil mineral N promoted productive tillering, spike development and grain setting in M-S-W. Two-year data on micronutrient concentrations in grain revealed significantly higher levels of Zn and Cu in M-S-W, as well as grain protein content. However, the yield dilution effect in the M-S-W rotation led to reduced levels for both Fe and Mn in one growing season. This long-term field experiment underscores the agronomic and environmental significance of soybean-based rotations, enhancing soil N fertility and carbon sequestration and offering a sustainable solution for winter wheat production.

The aim of this study was to determine soil quality index (SQI) for hazelnut gardens managed under organic and conventional agricultural systems. Additionally, the predictability of soil quality was evaluated using the XGBoost algorithm. To determine soil quality, a multi-criteria decision-making process was applied to the total data set (TDS) using standard scoring functions (linear and non-linear). Additionally, the minimum data set (MDS) was obtained using principal component analysis (PCA). Then, the model verification process was performed using SQI and yield data. According to the results, although SQI values in conventional agriculture were statistically significantly higher, the correlation between yield and soils under organic agriculture was higher than in conventional agriculture. The SQI averaged 0.4576 in conventionally farmed soils and 0.4417 in organically farmed areas. Root mean square error values obtained for SQI estimation with the XGBoost algorithm using basic soil properties ranged from 0.038 to 0.065. The mean error rate was approximately 8%. Lin’s concordance correlation coefficients for the SQI estimated by MDS and TDS were 0.60 and 0.61, respectively. The most effective basic soil properties for estimating SQI with the XGBoost algorithm were N, K, organic matter, and P. It was concluded that the XGBoost algorithm can be evaluated for soil quality prediction. In addition, the spatial distribution patterns of the values predicted by this algorithm and of the observed values were similar. The exclusive use of soil analyses in the study can be considered a limiting factor for the model. More comprehensive studies are planned using reflectance measurements from remote sensing technologies.

Fertiliser input in annual cropping systems can benefit crops and weeds. The effects of organic and inorganic fertilisers on weed species composition were evaluated across two agroecological zones in Eswatini: the Highveld and the Middleveld. Weed field surveys and weed seed bank studies were conducted over two cropping seasons, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, in fields managed by smallholder farmers practising maize and cattle production. Fertiliser regimes were cattle manure only, cattle manure plus inorganic fertiliser, and inorganic fertiliser only, replicated six times in each region. The weed survey was conducted using three 25-m transects, and the weed seed bank was assessed at sampling depths of 0–10 and 10–20 cm. Results showed that cattle manure only and cattle manure plus inorganic fertiliser regimes had higher species richness and diversity than the inorganic fertiliser only regime. However, weed seed distribution did not differ between sampling depths or fertiliser regimes. Twelve weed species, including bermudagrass, crabgrass, and goosegrass, were key contributors to the differences in species composition between fertiliser regimes and agroecological zones, and were the most prevalent weeds in the seed bank. The study established that fertiliser type influences weed species composition and diversity. Proper cattle manure composting is essential to mitigate weed proliferation and enhance sustainable maize production. These findings demonstrate the need for integrated weed management and fertiliser strategies to improve crop yield and agricultural sustainability for smallholder farmers.

This study aimed to compare the pre-defoliation heights of Marandu palisade grass (MPG) grown in full sun conditions versus those grown in a silvopastoral system with varying levels of shading over two years of pasture management. The experimental design adopted was completely randomised, and the treatments were arranged in a split-plot design, with different shading levels implemented between the silvopastoral system rows. The shading treatments included silvopastoral with 55–60 %, 50–55 %, 45–50 %, and 40–45 % shading, along with an additional treatment of MPG grown in full sun (monoculture). In the subplots, four pre-defoliation management heights for MPG were tested: 30, 40, 50, and 60 cm. The results revealed that the total number of tillers was higher in the full sun treatment, showing an average of 12.5 % more tillers per m2 over the two years compared to the highest shading treatment in the silvopastoral system. Additionally, pre-defoliation heights of 40 and 50 cm demonstrated the highest total chlorophyll indices in the MPG plants. The greatest dry mass productivity of MPG was also observed at pre-defoliation heights of 40 and 50 cm. Increasing shading levels negatively impacted the productivity of the MPG. However, MPG managed at pre-defoliation heights of 40 and 50 cm exhibited better adaptation to the shaded system. This reinforces its suitability for silvopastoral systems due to its good shade tolerance (40–45 %) and the flexibility it provides in pasture and livestock management.

Water scarcity is a growing challenge for sustainable agriculture, particularly in water-intensive crops like rice. This study evaluates the impacts of three irrigation methods; drip irrigation (DI), alternate wetting and drying (AWD), and continuous flooding (CF) on rice yield, water productivity and economic returns over three years. Two irrigation levels (I1: Application of water equal to 25 % of the water between the saturation point and field capacity when the soil moisture was near field capacity, I2: Application of water to field capacity when 25 % of the available water holding capacity was depleted) were applied. Results revealed that irrigation methods and levels significantly influenced rice yield at the 1 % level. The highest average yield (7.95 t/ha) was obtained from CF, followed by AWDI1 (7.60 t/ha) and DI1 (6.39 t/ha). Drip irrigation and AWD reduced water use by 30–57 % compared to CF but resulted in yield losses of 2–52 %. However, the AWDI1 treatment recorded the highest water productivity and net income (US$2455 ha), outperforming CF and DI1. Economic analyses confirmed the viability of AWD and drip irrigation as sustainable alternatives to CF, balancing water conservation with profitability. These methods are particularly effective in regions with limited water availability, offering a sustainable approach to rice cultivation without significant trade-offs in yield quality. This study also underscores the importance of integrating physical and economic indicators when selecting irrigation strategies to ensure food security and resource sustainability in the face of water scarcity.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate 30 previously uncharacterised pure plant secondary metabolites (PSM) for effects on in vitro gas production (GP) and methane concentration. Purified compounds (n = 4) were incubated in buffered rumen fluid for 48 h at a rate of 25 mg per g substrate. Gas production was measured using ANKOM RF pressure analysers and gas composition was measured using gas chromatography. Dry matter and fibre digestibility and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were determined. Data were analysed using a linear mixed model with fixed effect of treatment, random effect of experimental run and blank as a covariate and Dunnett’s test to compare each treatment to a control. Sabenine, apigenin, galangin, isoliquiritigenin, quercetin, rutin, vitexin, abscisic acid and uridine reduced methane concentration, with a tendency for reduction by kaempferol. Sabenine, thymol, apigenin, quercetin, rutin, vitexin, abscisic acid and uridine reduced methane production, with the greatest reduction occurring for rutin (81.8 %), vitexin (81.7 %) and thymol (80.5 %). Eight compounds increased methane production compared to control, with stigmasterol having the greatest increase (173.0 %). Out of the compounds that reduced methane emissions, a reduction in fibre digestibility was observed for all except quercetin and thymol. Minimal effects of PSM on VFA profile were observed, with myrtenal increasing proportion of acetate, alpha-humulene, alpha-longipinene and beta-caryophyllene increasing proportion of propionate and thymol, apigenin, hyperoside and verbenone increasing proportion of butyrate. Results suggest that quercetin and thymol warrant further exploration as potential feed additives to reduce methane emissions.

Under current Dutch regulations, accurate assessment of the amount of P secreted in milk is essential, as it determines manure P output. The two main aims were: 1) to predict P content in bovine milk using a broad range of predictor variables, and 2) to obtain predicted milk P contents representative of the Dutch dairy cow population. A secondary objective was to evaluate seasonal variation in milk P content. Weekly bulk milk samples (week 14 in 2017 up until week 13 in 2018) were collected from 14 dairy plants located across the Netherlands and pooled per week as representative samples of Dutch bovine milk. Milk samples were analysed for macronutrients and mineral contents. The mean P content of milk was 101.2 mg/100 g, and significant seasonal variation was observed, with the highest values found during winter and the lowest during summer. The contents of fat, protein, casein, Ca, Mg and Mn in milk were found to be highly correlated with the milk P content. The preferred multiple regression equation to predict the milk P content (mg/100 g) included the predictor variables milk fat (g/100 g), Ca (mg/100 g) and K (mg/100 g), viz. milk P content = – 58.6 (±14.09) + 0.28 (±0.104) × Ca + 11.46 (±2.559) × fat + 0.48 (±0.094) × K, and explained 80% of the variation (R2adj) in milk P content. The contribution of milk K content to explain variation in milk P content cannot be physiologically explained.

Wheat production is increasingly threatened by high-temperature stress. The Tarai belt of eastern India, a non-traditional wheat-growing region, remains understudied regarding heat stress impacts. This study evaluated five wheat cultivars under late-sowing-induced terminal heat stress (THS) condition, assessing physiological, biochemical, and agronomic traits and their interrelationships. Three late-sowing environments (LSE) were tested: 15-day (LSE-I), 30-day (LSE-II), and 45-day (LSE-III) delay, compared to timely-sown control (NSE). A 15-day delay had minimal impacts, whereas 30- and 45-day delays significantly reduced grain number per ear, ear length, and 1000-grain weight, resulting in 24% and 51% yield losses, respectively. Under LSE-II and LSE-III, substantial increases were recorded in flag leaf catalase (166–214%), peroxidase (191–227%), and proline (88–105%), while membrane stability index (MSI), relative water content (RWC), and chlorophyll index (SPAD) declined by 23–28%, 9–14%, and 7–17%, respectively. Prominent changes in antioxidant enzyme activities, proline, and phenol content were observed between anthesis and the soft-dough stage. Multivariate linear regression models indicated that yield was positively associated with RWC, MSI, SPAD, and canopy temperature, whereas enzymatic and secondary metabolite effects on yield were comparatively less pronounced. Among the cultivars, HD 2967 and K 0370 performed best under late-sown conditions, with HD 2967 showing the highest stability. Overall, the results highlight that sowing before 5 December and selecting suitable cultivars are essential for alleviating THS in the Tarai region of eastern India. RWC, MSI, and SPAD emerge as key physiological traits conferring resilience to THS, warranting their validation across a broader genotypic pool in future studies.

The potassium (K) balance is a key indicator of the suitability and sustainability of grassland nutrient management practices. K inputs can impact soil fertility, biomass yield and herbage quality. This study evaluated data from a long-term grassland experiment established in 1970 in Northern Ireland with eight treatments: control, mineral fertilizer (NPK), cow and pig slurry at three application rates (50, 100 and 200 m3/ha). The objectives were to investigate the nutrient treatment effects on: (i) soil extractable K (SEK) (using a ammonium acetate solution), (ii) herbage K concentration and K offtake and (iii) the long-term K balance. Cow slurry provided significantly greater K inputs than pig slurry. Thus, the concentrations of SEK increased for the cow slurry treatments, but decreased significantly for the pig slurry, NPK and control treatments. The decrease in SEK was greater with soil depth. Increasing slurry rate had a positive effect on the concentrations of SEK and herbage K. The low rate of pig slurry had a herbage K concentration less than the required critical level. High rates of cow slurry led to luxury consumption of K which increases the risk of herbage cationic imbalance that could trigger tetany for livestock. Assessment of the long-term partial K balance revealed a K deficit for the NPK and pig slurry treatments, however high rate of cow slurry had a large K surplus. Refinement of nutrient management should carefully balance K inputs and losses to avoid K deficiency and excessive K inputs to grasslands.

Terminal heat stress poses a significant challenge to chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production, necessitating effective strategies to enhance crop resilience. This study evaluated the impact of three sowing dates (1 November, 20 November and 10 December) and four paddy straw mulch levels (0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha) on minimising terminal heat stress by improving agroclimatic indices, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception and seed yield. Field experiments were conducted during the winter seasons of 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to assess agroclimatic indices such as growing degree days, helio-thermal units, photo-thermal units and pheno-thermal index along with PAR interception and yield attributes under different treatments. Results indicated that sowing on 1st November and application of 4 t/ha straw mulch significantly mitigated terminal heat stress by enhancing agroclimatic indices and PAR interception, leading to significantly higher yield attributes and yield. Although 6 t/ha mulch provided slightly higher benefits, they were marginal compared to 4 t/ha, making 4 t/ha the most practical and cost-effective choice. Lower mulch levels (0 and 2 t/ha) were less effective in alleviating heat stress impacts. Overall, early sowing (1st November) combined with 4 t/ha straw mulch was identified as the most effective strategy, minimising terminal heat stress and enhancing chickpea resilience and productivity. These findings emphasise the importance of timely sowing and optimised mulch application as practical, sustainable strategies for improving chickpea productivity under terminal heat stress.

Water scarcity and soil degradation pose major challenges to traditional rice. This two-year field study (2019–2020) in northern Iran evaluated the potential of direct seeding as an alternative to transplanting to reduce water. The study examined four different irrigation methods (sprinkler, I1; flooding, I2; wet & dry, I3; tape, I4) and three cultivation techniques (direct seeding, C1; direct seedling, C2; traditional transplanting, C3). The experiment followed a randomized complete block design with three replications. Throughout the season, applied water, yield, yield components and water productivity were measured and calculated. Overall, the results indicate that the direct cultivation method of rice (C1 and C2) consumed significantly less water than the traditional transplanting method (C3). However, the direct method also resulted in a lower rice yield compared to the traditional method. The highest yield (8206 kg/ha) was recorded in I2C3. In C3, changing from I2 to I1, I3, and I4, led to yield decreases of about 14 %, 9 %, and 11 %, respectively. The highest water use was recorded for I2C1 (12 490 m3/ha). Transitioning from I2C3 to I4C2 led to a 24 % decrease in yield and a 45 % decrease in water consumption. In this scenario, physical and economic water productivity reached 0.9 kg/m3 and 0.45 $/m3, respectively. The study suggests that direct seeding of rice, compared to the traditional method, can significantly reduce non-beneficial water usage. To address the reduction in yield and adopt water-saving methods, it is important to offer encouraging incentives.

Beef produced originating from the dairy herd forms an integral part of beef supply chains globally. The objective of this study was to quantify the economic and environmental performance of three dairy-beef genotypes differing in beef genetic merit and managed under three contrasting pasture-based feeding treatments, using a farm-level systems model and data from an animal systems experiment. The three steer genotypes modelled were: 1) high beef-merit Angus sires (HA); 2) low beef-merit Angus sires (LA); and 3) Holstein-Friesian (HF) sires. Each genotype was evaluated across one of three feed treatments: 1) control (CTL), grass-only during both grazing seasons; 2) low concentrate (LC), supplemented with concentrate during the first grazing season, pasture only during the second grazing season; and 3) high concentrate (HC) supplemented with concentrate during the first and second grazing season; amounting to nine scenarios. High Angus steers were most profitable (€424/animal, €1362/ha), followed by LA (€337, €1126) and HF (€188, €659). There were no interactions between genotype and feed treatment, with the CTL treatment having highest profit per head due to lower concentrate input costs. High Angus scenarios had the lowest greenhouse gas emissions between genotypes, and concentrate use reduced emissions per kg of beef, but CTL had the lowest total emissions per ha and per farm due to greater forage use. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the financial and environmental benefits of high beef genetic merit sires in dairy herd for dairy-beef systems and producers.