Agricultural Research最新文献

Balanced nutrition is imperative for efficient nutrient management and has an important role in enhancing crop yield. Sulfur application can increase the N use efficiency, the most required nutrient in maize-wheat cropping system, however N over-dosage may have detrimental effect on many other nutrients. During the 2019–2020 growing season, a field experiment was conducted in two different locations (Peshawar and Buner) to investigate the effect of various nitrogen and sulfur sources on maize-wheat productivity and N:S uptake. Nitrogen sources:urea and FYM were used at three levels: 90, 120, and 150 kg ha⁻¹ (50% inorganic from urea and 50% organic from FYM). One control and with five different sources of sulfur such as: elemental sulfur, gypsum, potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, and aluminum sulfate. In Peshawar 20 kg of sulfur ha⁻¹, whereas in Buner 40 kg produce higher yield and yield component of maize and wheat. In this experiment, we studied different maize and wheat growth parameters like 1000 grain weight, grain yield, biological yield, nitrogen and sulfur uptake. The results showed that application of 150 kg ha⁻¹ of nitrogen, (50% organic and 50% inorganic), had a significant influence on all growth parameters during growth periods in the two given seasons (Kharif and Rabi). The use of (50% organic and 50% inorganic) nitrogen sources @ 150 kg N ha⁻¹ produced higher yield of maize and wheat, which were followed up with other given treatments. 1000 grain weight, grain yield, and biological yield, nitrogen and sulfur uptake, were recorded highest in the treatment which received 20 kg S ha⁻¹ at Peshawar and 40 kg S ha⁻¹ at Buner as a source of ammonium sulfate followed by other sources of sulfur, but the control plots had the lowest. There was also a strong correlation between nitrogen and sulfur sources. The experimental units which received 150 kg N ha⁻¹ (50% organic and 50% inorganic) combined with 20 kg S ha⁻¹ at Peshawar and 40 kg S ha⁻¹ at Buner as source of ammonium sulfate had the highest 1000 grain weight, grain, and biological yield, as well as nitrogen and sulfur uptake. This experiment reveals that application of 150 kg N ha⁻¹ (50% organic, 50% inorganic) in combination with 20 kg S ha⁻¹ at Peshawar and 40 kg S ha⁻¹ at Buner as a source of ammonium sulfate produces higher maize-wheat yields and N:S uptake over time.

Changes in the soil fertility, physiological traits, and fruit quality of Morinda citrifolia were investigated between January 2012 and December 2020. Soil samples, physiological properties, and fruits of M. citrifolia were collected in a factorial scheme 2 × 2 × 2, with the use of intercropping with Musa spp., mulching, and biofertilization (e.g., presence and absence) within five blocks. We evaluated soil reaction (pH), P by Melich-1, soil exchangeable cations, potential acidity (H⁺ + Al³⁺), sum of bases, CEC, SOC, F_m, F₀, F_v, F_v/F₀, F_v/F_m, photochemical quenching, non-photochemical quenching, apparent electron transport rate, firmness, refractometric index, soluble sugar content, acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and fruit mineral content. Our results emphasized the influence of agroecological practices on soil chemical properties, plant physiological traits, and fruit quality of M. citrifolia. The combined use of intercropping, mulching, and biofertilization showed high values of soil pH, available P, Mg²⁺, electron transport rate, firmness, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity, fruit Zn content, and fruit Na content and low values of Ca²⁺ and K⁺ under field conditions. The results of this study highlight the importance of considering agroecological practices as promoters of fruit quality, and thus improving fruit properties with high importance for human mental health, fruit palatability, fruit development, fruit postharvest storage, and redox state of the human body.

Zinc (Zn) is deficient all over the world, mainly in the developing countries, and zinc sulfate is applied as a source of Zn fertilizer. However, the major portions of applied zinc sulfate become unavailable to plant in the soil and can be reverted back to available by inoculating zinc-solubilizing bacteria. Given the significance of the problem, this investigation aimed to enhance wheat yield and zinc biofortification. The approach involved inoculating the crop with native zinc-solubilizing bacteria and applying zinc sulfate to calcareous soil. In this study, a pot and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of treatment combinations (control (without Zn and bacterial inoculation), 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 kg Zn ha⁻¹ were applied to soil without and with inoculation of zinc-solubilizing bacteria to seed of wheat cultivar, i.e., Wadaan-17 and Zincol-16). Results showed that zinc-solubilizing bacteria in conjunction with zinc sulfate significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased the yield by 61%, grain zinc concentration by 139%, and apparent Zn recovery efficiency varied from 0.5 to 4.8% as compared to control under pot conditions. Similarly, under field conditions, the observations showed a 38% increase in yield, a 112% increase in grain zinc concentration and a 166% increase in zinc uptake. Additionally, the apparent zinc recovery efficiency ranged from 0.6% to 3.6% compared to the control. Among the treatment combinations, inoculation of Zn-solubilizing bacteria in conjunction with 8 kg Zn ha⁻¹ substantially boosted yield and yield attributes of wheat crop under both the pot and field conditions. Hence, it can be concluded that Zn-solubilizing bacteria have immense potential to be used as inoculants as they synergize the effect of chemical Zn, increase yield and improve the nutritional value of wheat under alkaline calcareous soil.

Land use and land cover (LULC) change is a multifaceted and dynamic process influenced by factors like population growth, economic development, and climate shifts. This study delves into the LULC changes spanning 1991–2021 in Berhampore, a district headquarters in Murshidabad, West Bengal, India. Notable findings include expanding built-up land from 5.25 to 9.30%, reducing agricultural land from 81.98 to 72.36%, and increasing plantation or forest land from 8.45 to 13.23%. The change transition matrix highlights significant shifts, notably the transformation of agricultural land into built-up areas (15.92 km²) and conversion to plantation or forest land (25.96 km²) and water bodies (5.54 km²). A chord diagram visually represents the transition matrix’s outcomes. Utilising the future land use simulation (FLUS) model, the study forecasts Berhampore’s LULC for 2031. Forecasts indicate an ongoing increase in built-up land and a decrease in agricultural land. Concurrently, the area of plantation or forest land is projected to expand. Employing remote sensing and GIS techniques, the research tracks LULC changes and engages in a focus group discussion with local stakeholders. Findings underscore the intricate interplay between LULC, urbanisation, and environmental dynamics. The study underscores the urgency of sustainable city planning, resource management, and community involvement to manage these transformations while preserving community well-being and ecological equilibrium. As cities expand and populations grow, this research highlights the imperative to balance development with environmental preservation for the more significant benefit of society and nature.

An experiment in a system of randomized block was conducted to evaluate the effect of different antioxidants and phytoregulators on fruiting and physicochemical–biochemical characteristics of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cv. New Castle. Antioxidants and phytoregulators were applied at pink bud and pit hardening stages of growth. The results revealed that among the various treatments applied, significantly highest fruit yield, fruit weight and fruit size was found under plants treated with 0.005% gibberellic acid. Whereas, application of 0.2% ascorbic acid gave highest pulp-to-stone ratio and total soluble solids. Both GA₃ at 0.005% and ascorbic acid at 0.2% gave highest fruit set, fruit retention and ascorbic acid content. Reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and total sugars were significantly better in plants treated with different concentrations of antioxidants. With respect to most of the parameters, ascorbic acid at 0.2% performed at par with 0.005% gibberellic acid. Therefore, the findings suggest that since antioxidants are organic compounds and are more readily acceptable than synthetic chemicals, these compounds can be considered as good alternative to chemicals in fruit production.

The traditional milpa system, a polyculture originating in Mesoamerica, centers around maize (Zea mays L.), associated with pumpkin (Cucurbita sp.) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) under a milpa agrosystem has been little explored. In this study, a maize crop in a milpa system was fertilized with the PGPR Pseudomonas fluorescens UM270 during the 2021 and 2023 seasons, and various phytoparameters (plant height, root length, chlorophyll concentration, root dry weight and total plant dry weight), total production, and grain nutrition were evaluated. The results showed that UM270 improved chlorophyll concentration and increased plant height, root length, and dry weight in maize plants. Co-fertilization with UM270 and diammonium phosphate (DAP) significantly improved plant and corn cob weight compared to controls with single fertilizations in both the 2021 and 2023 seasons. Notably, corn production increased by more than 40% in the corn monoculture inoculated with UM270 compared to the uninoculated plants. The UM270 + DAP cofertilization in the monoculture was also increased by more than 50% in both cycles. When analyzing the nutritional content of the corn cob, nitrogen and phosphorus increased with the inoculation with UM270, while other elements, such as potassium and calcium, were higher in treatments co-inoculated with UM270 + DAP. Based on our research, this study is the first to report the milpa as a suitable model for bioinoculation with PGPR, demonstrating its potential to increase maize yield and benefit other associated crops.

Chickpeas play an important role in global protein production; However, this crop faces limitations primarily due to low soil phosphorus levels. Various methods are being implemented to address this challenge and improve phosphorus availability. Therefore, this research aimed to apply both bio-based and synthetic phosphorus to enhance its availability in two chickpea genotype crops. Subsequently, this experiment aimed to identify the superior genotype and evaluate the impact of Bacillus megaterium (BM) bacterium inoculation and phosphorus applications on chickpea growth, yield, protein content, and elemental composition. Regarding genotypes, Hazarmerd exhibited superior attributes when compared to Nainawa. Furthermore, BM inoculation positively influenced yield characteristics, including pod number, 100-seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, and harvest index, as well as phosphorus composition. Additionally, applying 40 kg/ha of phosphorus significantly affected pod weight, seed number, protein content, and nitrogen levels. Interestingly, BM exhibited a similar trend in protein content, and nitrogen levels were affected when compared to applying phosphorus at 40 kg/ha. However, 80 kg/ha of phosphorus has a minor effect on many characteristics. Hazarmerd treated with BM inoculum positively influenced various variables. This study provides valuable insights for farmers to adopt a sustainable approach, enhancing the quality and yield of crops in the field through cost-effective conventional methods.

Characterization of unifloral honey is of great importance for the definition of quality standards and the confirmation of the authenticity of honey. In this study, standard physicochemical analyses, pollen analyses, determination of total phenolic and flavonoid content, analysis of antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity, and qualitative and quantitative analyses of phenolic compounds by LC–MS/MS method were performed in three rare uniofloral honeys—ailanthus (Ailanthus altissima), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and raspberry (Rubus idaeus) honeys. The results showed that each honey type has specific physicochemical properties and phenolic content, which consequently influence its biological activity. All honey samples showed good characteristics, according to the compositional and quality criteria of the standard codex for honey. Generally, the ailanthus honey samples had a higher total phenolic and flavonoid content, while the fennel samples showed greater variability. The ailanthus honey samples also showed higher DPPH antioxidant activity, and the ABTS and ORAC assays revealed no differences between the honey types analysed, with the exception of the raspberry honey. In ailanthus honey, the flavonoids chrysin, quercetin, and the phenolic acid 3,4-DHBA were the most abundant. Several quercetin derivatives, including quercetin-3-glucuronide, quercitrin, and quercetin methyl ether, were detected in the fennel honey. In addition, raspberry honey exhibited a distinct phenolic profile containing catechin, epicatechin, quercetin rhamnoside, sakuranetin, tectochrysin, quercetin dimethyl ether, rhamnetin, caffeic acid benzy ether, and pinobanksin-3-O-pentanoate. The strongest results for antibacterial activity came from ailanthus honey. The increased antimicrobial activity of ailanthus honey was found especially against S. aureus and E. coli and moderately against A. baumannii. This study is the first step towards a thorough characterization of ailanthus, fennel, and raspberry honeys and may contribute to the recognition of these rare honeys and provide a good basis for their use in the pharmaceutical industry.

Hardseededness is attributed by impermeable seed coats which mechanically restricts embryo growth and delays germination even under suitable conditions. The presence of larger proportion of hard seeds delays germination and can reduce crop yield due to uneven growth and stand establishment. The information regarding the seed surface characteristics in regulating the hardseededness in green gram is still insufficient. This study addressed the knowledge gap by examining the seasonal impact on development of hard seed and seed surface characteristics in green gram. In predominantly hardseeded (HS) genotypes, there was a decrease in hard seeds during the summer season compared to Kharif season. Scanning electron microscope analysis revealed that HS genotypes had smoother surfaces, closely packed hilum cells, and closed strophioles, while non-hardseeded (NHS) genotypes had rougher surfaces, opened strophioles, and loosely packed hilum cells. Seeds from HS genotypes in the summer season had characteristics of non-hard seeds like opened strophioles and loosely packed hilum cells, making them permeable to water. Scanning electron microscope features effectively differentiated between HS and NHS genotypes and seeds produced in different seasons. This information may be used for identification of genotypes and seed lots with desirable hard seed percentage through high-throughput image analysis.