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Agriculture
Volume 14
Issue 7
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Agriculture, Volume 14, Issue 7 (July 2024) – 237 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Fungi offer a sustainable non-animal protein source, requiring less land and growing on waste. Due to population growth, there is the need to boost yields and quality without using synthetic fertilizers. Wood distillate (WD), a product from wood pyrolysis, is rich in bioactive substances like polyphenols and alcohols and is approved for organic farming. This study examines WD's effect on cultivating P. eryngii at concentrations of 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5%, and 1%. The results showed that WD significantly increased the content of total soluble protein, phenols, and vitamin C, while reducing glycogen, especially at 0.2%. These findings suggest biostimulants like WD can enhance mushroom nutrition, warranting further research. View this paper
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29 pages, 1294 KiB  
Article
The Attractiveness of Employee Benefits in Agriculture from the Perspective of Generation Z
by Michaela Heřmanová, Kateřina Kuralová, Michal Prokop and Ladislav Pilař
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1204; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071204 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 664
Abstract
This article addresses the pressing issue of attracting Generation Z to the agriculture sector in the Czech Republic, a vital issue given its crucial role in ensuring food security and sustainability. During demographic changes and declining interest from younger generations to work in [...] Read more.
This article addresses the pressing issue of attracting Generation Z to the agriculture sector in the Czech Republic, a vital issue given its crucial role in ensuring food security and sustainability. During demographic changes and declining interest from younger generations to work in agriculture, it is essential to understand and meet the specific needs of this generation. This article examines the alignment between advertised employee benefits and the preferences of Generation Z, offers a new employee benefits categorization, and highlights possible interventions to increase the attractiveness of the agricultural sector in the labor market. Based on a literature review, quantitative content analysis of job advertisements, and a questionnaire survey, the research aims to evaluate the current offers of employee benefits in the agricultural sector in the Czech Republic in terms of their attractiveness and how they are perceived by Generation Z before then categorizing these employee benefits. The results show that benefits from the “Holiday and times off” category have the highest value for Generation Z and that, on the contrary, they value benefits from the “Benefits for work–life balance” category the least. A total of seven categories of employee benefits have been newly identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture and Food Supply: Scientific, Economic and Policy Aspects)
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16 pages, 9829 KiB  
Article
Modeling the Discharge Rate of a Screw Conveyor Considering Hopper–Conveyor Coupling Parameters
by Peng Chen, Tianci Huang, Bei Wu, Huaiyuan Qian, Fangping Xie, Baohua Liu, Dawei Liu and Xu Li
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1203; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071203 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 513
Abstract
Developing a flow rate model for the screw feeder and optimizing discharge performance are crucial for achieving automated intelligent precision feeding. This study constructs a mass flow rate model for screw conveyors, considering the coupled structural parameters of the hopper and screw conveyor. [...] Read more.
Developing a flow rate model for the screw feeder and optimizing discharge performance are crucial for achieving automated intelligent precision feeding. This study constructs a mass flow rate model for screw conveyors, considering the coupled structural parameters of the hopper and screw conveyor. The model is developed using single-factor tests and central composite design (CCD) response surface tests and is validated through actual discharge tests. Results indicate that the discharge rate in the hopper–screw conveyor system is primarily influenced by the screw conveyor itself. Among the structural parameters, the hopper inclination angle and the hopper discharge opening length significantly affect the filling coefficient. Validation tests show an average error of 6.8% between the predicted and simulated mass flow rates and 5.0% with the actual mass flow rate, demonstrating the model’s high precision and accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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13 pages, 1469 KiB  
Article
The Biostimulant Potential of Clove Essential Oil for Treating Soybean Seeds
by Joao Paulo Costa, Vinícius Guimarães Nasser, Willian Rodrigues Macedo, Mario Ferreira Conceição Santos and Geraldo Humberto Silva
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1202; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071202 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 547
Abstract
Increasing soybean productivity can be achieved by treating seeds with biostimulants. To this end, an investigation was conducted into the potential of a formulation prepared with clove es-sential oil (CEO) diluted in soybean oil for seed treatment. Soybean seeds were treated with CEO [...] Read more.
Increasing soybean productivity can be achieved by treating seeds with biostimulants. To this end, an investigation was conducted into the potential of a formulation prepared with clove es-sential oil (CEO) diluted in soybean oil for seed treatment. Soybean seeds were treated with CEO concentrations between 0.5 to 3.0 mL/L, and subjected to germination, vigor, and sanity analyses. The CEO at 1.6 mL/L exhibited favorable outcomes regarding germination, root length, and re-duced fungal infection. In this way, a two-crop field experiment evaluated soybean seeds treated with CEO at 1.6 mL/L. Soybean seeds treated with CEO in the field in 2021/2022 were not different from the controls. However, in 2019/2020, there was a higher percentage of emergence, nodulation, and production of 749 kg/ha more than in the industrial treatment. These results highlight the potential use of CEO as a biostimulant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agronomic Practices for Improving Growth, Quality, and Yield of Vegetables)
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25 pages, 9463 KiB  
Article
Impact of Structural Parameters on the Collision Characteristics and Coefficient of Restitution of Soybean Particles on Harvester’s Cleaning Screens
by Xiaohu Guo, Shiguo Wang, Shuren Chen, Bin Li, Zhong Tang and Yifan Hu
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1201; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071201 - 21 Jul 2024
Viewed by 701
Abstract
Inadequate parameter design of the cleaning device in soybean combine harvesters leads to elevated levels of machine harvesting losses and impurity rates. To provide fundamental data for the optimization of structural parameters of soybean cleaning sieves, it is of great significance to study [...] Read more.
Inadequate parameter design of the cleaning device in soybean combine harvesters leads to elevated levels of machine harvesting losses and impurity rates. To provide fundamental data for the optimization of structural parameters of soybean cleaning sieves, it is of great significance to study the collision and bouncing characteristics of soybeans on the cleaning sieve surface and the impact of parameters on the coefficient of restitution (COR). The current study designed a collision platform, using soybeans at the harvest stage as the research subject. The experimental factors included drop height, wall inclination angle, wall movement speed, and wall material. Through single-factor experiments and orthogonal experiments, the effects of different collision parameters on the rebound trajectory and COR of soybeans were investigated. This study focuses on soybeans at the harvest stage as the test subjects. Experiments were conducted on a collision platform and recorded with a high-speed camera to capture the three-dimensional motion trajectories of the soybeans using the principle of specular reflection. Through single-factor experiments, the jumping characteristics of the soybeans on sieve surfaces with different motion characteristics were analyzed. The impact of drop height (400–650 mm), wall inclination angle (8–13°), wall movement speed (0.6–1.1 m/s), and wall material (stainless steel plates and polyurethane plates) on the coefficient of restitution (COR) was calculated and clarified. Multi-factor orthogonal experiments were conducted to determine the significance order of the different factors affecting the COR. Three-dimensional models of the soybeans and the collision platform were constructed using SolidWorks software, and the collision between the soybeans and the cleaning wall was simulated using EDEM software. The micro-forces and energy transfer during the soybean collision were analyzed. The results indicated that the COR of soybeans decreases as the drop height increases, but increases with wall inclination angle and wall movement speed. Additionally, the COR is higher when the soybeans collide with stainless steel plates compared to polyurethane plates. The order of influence of the four factors on the COR were: wall material > wall inclination angle > wall speed > drop height. This study provides important reference value for the efficient and low-loss design of cleaning devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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20 pages, 5896 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Study of Different Dimensionality Reduction Algorithms for Hyperspectral Prediction of Salt Information in Saline–Alkali Soils of Songnen Plain, China
by Kai Li, Haoyun Zhou, Jianhua Ren, Xiaozhen Liu and Zhuopeng Zhang
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1200; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071200 - 21 Jul 2024
Viewed by 696
Abstract
Hyperspectral technology is widely recognized as an effective method for monitoring soil salinity. However, the traditional sieved samples often cannot reflect the true condition of the soil surface. In particular, there is a lack of research on the spectral response of cracked salt-affected [...] Read more.
Hyperspectral technology is widely recognized as an effective method for monitoring soil salinity. However, the traditional sieved samples often cannot reflect the true condition of the soil surface. In particular, there is a lack of research on the spectral response of cracked salt-affected soils despite the common occurrence of cohesive saline soil shrinkage and cracking during water evaporation. To address this research, a laboratory was designed to simulate the desiccation cracking progress of 57 soda saline–alkali soil samples with different salinity levels in the Songnen Plain of China. After completion of the drying process, spectroscopic analysis was conducted on the surface of all the cracked soil samples. Moreover, this study aimed to evaluate the predictive ability of multiple linear regression models (MLR) for four main salt parameters. The hyperspectral reflectance data was analyzed using three different band screening methods, namely random forest (RF), principal component analysis (PCA), and Pearson correlation analysis (R). The findings revealed a significant correlation between desiccation cracking and soil salinity, suggesting that salinity is the primary factor influencing surface cracking of saline–alkali soil in the Songnen Plain. The results of the modeling analysis also indicated that, regardless of the spectral dimensionality reduction method employed, salinity exhibited the highest prediction accuracy for soil salinity, followed by electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium (Na+), while the pH model exhibited the weakest predictive performance. In addition, the usage of RF for band selection has the best effect compared with PCA and Pearson methods, which allows salt information of soda saline–alkali soils in Songnen Plain to be predicted precisely. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Saline–Alkali Land Ecology and Soil Management)
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16 pages, 3734 KiB  
Article
Computational Fluid Dynamics Model with Realistic Plant Structures to Study Airflow in and around a Plant Canopy on a Cultivation Shelf in a Plant Factory with Artificial Light
by Xuan Gu and Eiji Goto
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1199; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071199 - 21 Jul 2024
Viewed by 803
Abstract
Airflow plays a crucial role in plant growth because it supplies CO2, O2, and energy to plants in a plant factory with artificial light (PFAL). Therefore, understanding how various factors affect airflow in and around a plant canopy is [...] Read more.
Airflow plays a crucial role in plant growth because it supplies CO2, O2, and energy to plants in a plant factory with artificial light (PFAL). Therefore, understanding how various factors affect airflow in and around a plant canopy is essential. In this study, we developed a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with realistic plant structures created using structure-from-motion imaging to investigate airflow in and around a plant canopy. The averages of the absolute percentage errors of simulated air velocity in three conditions were 6.7%, 10.1%, 12.7%, respectively. The simulated and measured air velocities agreed well, confirming the accuracy of the developed CFD model. The effects of inflow velocities and plant canopy structures on the airflow in and around the plant canopy were analysed using the validated CFD model. The inflow velocities significantly decreased stagnant zones (from 62.4% to 7.2%) and increased the airflow uniformity in and around the plant canopy. A staggered layout of the plant canopy slightly decreased stagnant zones (from 16.4% to 13.2%) and increased the airflow uniformity. The airflow in and around the plant canopy was further inhibited by a large plant structure. This CFD model provided a basis for improving the airflow status in and around a plant canopy in a PFAL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Plant Production in Greenhouse and Plant Factory Systems)
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16 pages, 1265 KiB  
Article
The Asymmetric Tail Risk Spillover from the International Soybean Market to China’s Soybean Industry Chain
by Shaobin Zhang and Baofeng Shi
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1198; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071198 - 21 Jul 2024
Viewed by 678
Abstract
China is the largest soybean importer and consumer in the world. Soybean oil is the most-consumed vegetable oil in China, while soybean meal is the most important protein feed raw material in China, which affects the costs of animal husbandry. Volatility in the [...] Read more.
China is the largest soybean importer and consumer in the world. Soybean oil is the most-consumed vegetable oil in China, while soybean meal is the most important protein feed raw material in China, which affects the costs of animal husbandry. Volatility in the international soybean market would generate risk spillovers to China’s soybean industrial chain. This paper analyzed the channel of risk spillover from the international soybean market to China’s soybean industry chain and the asymmetry of the risk spillover. The degree of risk spillover from the international soybean market to the Chinese soybean industry chain was measured by the Copula–CoVaR model. The moderating role of inventory and demand in asymmetric risk spillovers was analyzed by quantile regression. We draw the following conclusions: First, the international soybean market impacts China’s soybean industry chain through soybeans rather than soybean meal and oil. The price fluctuation of China soybean market is obviously lower than that of the international soybean market. Second, there are apparent asymmetric risk spillovers from the international soybean market to China’s soybean industry chain, especially the soybean meal market. Third, increasing the Chinese soybean inventory and growing demand could effectively prevent the downside risk spillover from international markets to China’s soybean market. This also explains the asymmetry of risk spillovers. The research enriches the research perspective on food security, and the analysis of risk spillover mechanisms provides a scientific basis for relevant companies to develop risk-management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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16 pages, 570 KiB  
Article
Environmental Concerns of Agri-Food Product Consumers: Key Factors
by Sergio Valdelomar-Muñoz and Eva María Murgado-Armenteros
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1197; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071197 - 20 Jul 2024
Viewed by 665
Abstract
Growing consumer interest in caring for the environment has motivated the development of multiple studies focused on discovering this variable’s impact on purchasing behaviour. However, a major gap still exists between attitude and pro-environmental behaviour caused by the need for greater environmental awareness, [...] Read more.
Growing consumer interest in caring for the environment has motivated the development of multiple studies focused on discovering this variable’s impact on purchasing behaviour. However, a major gap still exists between attitude and pro-environmental behaviour caused by the need for greater environmental awareness, among other things. Therefore, knowing the environmental issues that worry consumers of agrifood products is important. This work digs deeper into this issue by analysing these environmental concerns and examining differences between countries with different levels of environmental sensitivity. CAWI methodology has been used to conduct an online survey in four countries (Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Denmark), with 3200 valid responses analysed using qualitative and quantitative techniques. The obtained results highlight the existence of 11 major environmental dimensions or issues for consumers of agri-food products. In addition, a correspondence analysis identifies two key factors, the first focused on a range of environmental problems of a more general nature and the second with greater interest focused on concern for biodiversity conservation. This study has implications for both the agri-food sector and European agricultural policy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Globalisation, Regionalisation, Market Integration and Price Analysis of Agricultural Products)
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11 pages, 232 KiB  
Article
Ozone Treatment as a Sustainable Alternative for Suppressing Blue Mold in Mandarins and Extending Shelf Life
by Darija Lemic, Marija Andrijana Galešić, Mario Bjeliš and Helena Viric Gasparic
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1196; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071196 - 20 Jul 2024
Viewed by 702
Abstract
Citrus fruits, particularly mandarins, are highly valued globally for their nutritional benefits and versatile culinary uses. However, the challenge of post-harvest decay, primarily due to blue mold (Penicillium italicum) infections, results in significant food losses and necessitates effective preservation strategies. Traditional [...] Read more.
Citrus fruits, particularly mandarins, are highly valued globally for their nutritional benefits and versatile culinary uses. However, the challenge of post-harvest decay, primarily due to blue mold (Penicillium italicum) infections, results in significant food losses and necessitates effective preservation strategies. Traditional methods often rely on fungicides, raising concerns about chemical residues and environmental impact. This study investigates the efficacy of ozone as an alternative approach to controlling blue mold in mandarins. Various gaseous ozone treatments were tested, including single, double, and triple treatments, with durations ranging from 10 to 60 min and concentrations from 3.3 to 20 ppm. Additionally, ozonated water treatments were evaluated with concentrations of 2, 4, and 6 ppm. To simulate a realistic infestation scenario, mandarins were artificially infected with P. italicum spores before undergoing both gaseous ozone and ozonated water treatments. The storage conditions for the mandarins were meticulously controlled, maintaining a humidity level of 50–60% and a temperature range of 10–12 °C. Each fruit was analyzed, and the presence of P. italicum infection was determined two and three weeks after the ozonation. Results indicated that ozone treatments significantly reduced mold growth, with gaseous ozone demonstrating efficacy rates up to 97.5% and ozonated water treatments achieving preservation rates between 95% and 97%. These results underscore ozone’s potential as a safe, efficient, and sustainable alternative to conventional fungicides, offering promising solutions for extending the shelf life of mandarins. Further research is recommended to optimize ozone treatment parameters, assess long-term effects on fruit quality and nutritional content, and refine application techniques to harness ozone’s potential in citrus fruit preservation fully. This approach not only addresses food security challenges but also aligns with global efforts to reduce chemical inputs in agriculture and promote environmentally sustainable practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Product Quality and Safety)
25 pages, 9515 KiB  
Article
The Marginal Effect and LSTM Prediction Model under the Chinese Solar Greenhouse Film
by Weiwei Cheng, Yu Wang, Changchao Wang and Zhonghua Liu
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1195; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071195 - 20 Jul 2024
Viewed by 435
Abstract
The solar greenhouse is a significant agricultural facility in China. It enables the cultivation of crops during periods that do not coincide with the natural growing season, thus alleviating the pressure on the supply of fruits and vegetables during the winter months. The [...] Read more.
The solar greenhouse is a significant agricultural facility in China. It enables the cultivation of crops during periods that do not coincide with the natural growing season, thus alleviating the pressure on the supply of fruits and vegetables during the winter months. The primary rationale behind the necessity of greenhouse cultivation lies in the fact that the temperature conditions conducive to optimal crop growth can be precisely replicated within this controlled environment. However, it is important to acknowledge that a distinct low-temperature area persists under the film during the overwintering period, with the precise delineation of its boundaries and distribution patterns remaining uncertain. In order to investigate the characteristics of the temperature distribution within the marginal region under the solar greenhouse film, experimental studies, CFD simulations, and LSTM prediction models were employed. The results of these studies indicate that, during the overwintering period, a low-temperature region was observed with approximately equal temperatures near the film membrane. The maximum horizontal distance from the south-side bottom corner was 6130 mm, while the minimum height from the ground was 600 mm. The lowest temperature in the low-temperature region was 4 °C, and the maximum observed temperature difference within the same period in different months was 1 °C. Additionally, a region of elevated temperatures was observed under the film. The lowest temperature in this region was 36.7 °C, and the highest temperature point was within the optimal range for crop growth. The CFD numerical simulation results were consistent with the actual observations, and the LSTM prediction model demonstrated high reliability. The findings of this study offer a theoretical foundation for the distribution of high and low temperatures in solar greenhouses. Furthermore, the developed prediction model provides the necessary buffer time for control, thus enhancing the efficiency of greenhouse cultivation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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17 pages, 1810 KiB  
Review
Evolution Characteristics of Cultivated Land Protection Policy in China Based on Smith Policy Implementation
by Bo Chen and Na Yao
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1194; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071194 - 20 Jul 2024
Viewed by 538
Abstract
(1) Background: In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and based on the historical evolution of cultivated land protection policy, we used the Smith model to address the problem of policy implementation bias and provide recommendations on how to ensure that [...] Read more.
(1) Background: In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and based on the historical evolution of cultivated land protection policy, we used the Smith model to address the problem of policy implementation bias and provide recommendations on how to ensure that cultivated land protection policy does not deviate in the implementation process. (2) Methods: The historical evolution process of China’s cultivated land protection policy was elucidated using literature analysis and the inductive deduction method; moreover, the issues regarding local evolution were investigated. In addition, utilizing the Smith model, which has an important role in policy implementation, the restoration direction of cultivated land protection in China was summarized. (3) Project: China’s cultivated land protection policy has demonstrated success in two stages of its historical development—from the basic stage of pursuing equal quantity and quality to the new stage of the trinity of “quantity–quality–ecology” of cultivated land. However, the trend of cultivated land protection policy development based on the regional division of labor in China still has some problems, i.e., the total quantity of cultivated land is insufficient, the quality is low, and the implementation of the trinity is unclear. These regional divisions depend on solving the balance of China’s grain security, and using the Smith model to solve the problem of policy implementation has become an important measure to resolve the issue of grain security and achieve the goal of cultivated land protection. (4) Conclusions: The Smith model is suitable for the implementation of China’s cultivated land protection policy. By utilizing the Smith model, the policy target group was found to be conducive to contributing to the maturity of and improvement in China’s cultivated land protection policy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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10 pages, 1626 KiB  
Article
MutL Significantly Regulates the Formation of Biofilms in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens YT1
by Huafei Zhou, Min Chen, Baoyan Li, Haining Chen, Hongtao Wang, Shaoli Wang, Binghui Luan and Baoyou Liu
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1193; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071193 - 19 Jul 2024
Viewed by 616
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to discover and excavate more key factors and signaling pathways that regulate the formation intensity of biofilms and to fully reveal the possible models affecting biofilm formation. By using gene homologous recombination and bioinformatics technology, a MutL [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study is to discover and excavate more key factors and signaling pathways that regulate the formation intensity of biofilms and to fully reveal the possible models affecting biofilm formation. By using gene homologous recombination and bioinformatics technology, a MutL protein-directed deletion mutant strain was successfully constructed. The growth status of the mutant strain was observed, and it was confirmed that, except for the change in cell morphology, there were no significant differences in growth and reproduction between the mutant strain and the wild-type strain. By using the induced biofilm formation technique, the significant decrease in biofilm formation in the MutL mutant strain was successfully verified. The plate confrontation test confirmed that the inhibitory ability of the mutant strain against rice blast fungus was not significantly different from that of the WT strain. The colonization ability of the mutant strain on rice stems was tested, and it was confirmed that the colonization ability of the mutant strain was significantly lower than that of the WT strain. In terms of the prevention and control effect of rice blast disease, the mutant strain showed a significant decrease. By using transcriptomic big data, the gene and pathway expression differences between the mutant strain and the WT strain during biofilm formation were analyzed. The analysis revealed no significant correlation with the previously reported spo0A and tapA-sipW-tasA pathways. The key factor capB of the polyglutamic acid signaling pathway, which affects the formation of the biological model, was found to have a significant decrease in expression. A mechanical hypothesis was proposed: MutL may participate in regulating the formation intensity of Bacillus biofilms by regulating the formation of glutamic acid to polyglutamic acid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Protection, Diseases, Pests and Weeds)
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12 pages, 848 KiB  
Article
Effect of Introgression of Ty-1 and ty-5 Genes on Productivity, Quality, and Antioxidant Compounds in De la Pera Tomato Breeding Lines
by José Ángel Cabrera, Pedro Carbonell, Juan Francisco Salinas, Adrian Grau, Aranzazu Alonso, Francisca Hernández, Juan José Ruiz and Santiago García-Martínez
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1192; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071192 - 19 Jul 2024
Viewed by 597
Abstract
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a crop that is affected by more than a hundred viral species. De la pera is a local varietal type of tomato that is very popular in southeastern Spain. However, it is highly susceptible to several viruses, [...] Read more.
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a crop that is affected by more than a hundred viral species. De la pera is a local varietal type of tomato that is very popular in southeastern Spain. However, it is highly susceptible to several viruses, such as Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), which is considered one of the most important diseases of tomato crops and is a limiting factor for production in both outdoor and protected crops, making it difficult to eradicate. This study shows the effect of gene introgression on the performance of traditional lines of De la pera by combining two genes that offer tolerance to TYLCV, Ty-1 and ty-5, on some yield and quality traits and on the antioxidant capacity of tomato fruits. Two pear tomato breeding families, UMH175 and UMH220, were evaluated. Four lines from each of the families with all homozygous combinations of the Ty-1 and ty-5 genes were studied. The results showed that the introgression of the ty-5 allele produced a slight negative effect on yield, mean fruit weight, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity, in contrast to Ty-1, which produced a large negative effect. None of the introgressions showed a negative effect on the antioxidant compounds. ty-5 is a promising gene for use in breeding programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Breeding Techniques to Improve Disease Resistance in Horticultural Crops)
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21 pages, 2832 KiB  
Article
Comparison between Liquid Immersion, Laser Diffraction, PDPA, and Shadowgraphy in Assessing Droplet Size from Agricultural Nozzles
by Salvatore Privitera, Emanuele Cerruto, Giuseppe Manetto, Sebastian Lupica, David Nuyttens, Donald Dekeyser, Ingrid Zwertvaegher, Marconi Ribeiro Furtado Júnior and Beatriz Costalonga Vargas
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1191; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071191 - 19 Jul 2024
Viewed by 583
Abstract
Spray droplet diameters play a key role in the field of liquid plant protection product (PPP) application technology. However, the availability of various measurement techniques, each with its unique operating principles for evaluating droplet size spectra, can lead to different interpretations of spray [...] Read more.
Spray droplet diameters play a key role in the field of liquid plant protection product (PPP) application technology. However, the availability of various measurement techniques, each with its unique operating principles for evaluating droplet size spectra, can lead to different interpretations of spray characteristics. Therefore, in this study, four measurement techniques—Liquid Immersion (LI), Laser Diffraction (LD), Phase Doppler Particle Analysis (PDPA), and Shadowgraphy (SG)—were utilized to evaluate the droplet size distribution of agricultural spray nozzles. Additionally, PDPA and SG were used to assess the average velocity of spray droplets. Experiments were conducted in three different laboratories with the main aim of comparing results obtained with various types of equipment utilized under ordinary practical conditions. Spraying tests were carried out using three flat fan nozzles and an air-induction flat fan nozzle. As a general trend, the lowest values for droplet diameters were measured using the Laser Diffraction technique, followed by Shadowgraphy. The PDPA technique provided the highest values for mean diameters (D10, D20, and D30) and the numeric median diameter (Dn0.5), whereas the Liquid Immersion method yielded the highest values for the Sauter mean diameter (D32) and volumetric diameters (Dv0.1, Dv0.5, and Dv0.9). Importantly, all measurement techniques were able to discriminate the four nozzles based on their Dv0.5 diameter. Average droplet velocities showed a similar pattern across the four nozzles with the PDPA and the SG measurement techniques. The differences in diameter values observed with the four measurement techniques underline the necessity of always including reference nozzles in spray quality assessments to base classifications on relative rather than absolute values. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology for the Development of Agricultural Sprays)
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22 pages, 3088 KiB  
Article
Potential and Pathways of Carbon Emission Reduction in China’s Beef Production from the Supply Chain Perspective
by Lijun Zhang, Gaofei Yin, Zihao Wei, Wenchao Li, Cha Cui, Mingli Wang, Chen Zhao, Huifeng Zhao and Fengrui Xue
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1190; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071190 - 19 Jul 2024
Viewed by 503
Abstract
Beef production is the primary contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in animal husbandry. But the carbon emission distribution, potential for carbon reduction, and pathways in the main links of the beef cattle industry chain are not yet clear. Balancing efficiency and fairness while [...] Read more.
Beef production is the primary contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in animal husbandry. But the carbon emission distribution, potential for carbon reduction, and pathways in the main links of the beef cattle industry chain are not yet clear. Balancing efficiency and fairness while taking tailored emission reduction paths according to local conditions is crucial in helping to achieve the low-carbon animal husbandry and “dual carbon” goals. This research adopts an industry chain perspective to assess four leading beef production regions’ carbon emissions, potential, and pathways in China from 2007 to 2021. We use life cycle assessment, the potential index which considers efficiency and fairness; the results are as follows: (1) The potential for carbon emission reduction in China’s beef industry showed an inverted U-shaped change trend from 2007 to 2021, and the average potential for carbon emission reduction in most provinces fluctuated around 0.500. (2) The main producing areas of China’s beef industry were divided into four areas of high efficiency and low fairness (Area A); high efficiency and high fairness (Area B); low efficiency and low fairness (Area C); and low efficiency and high fairness (Area D). (3) Differentiated emission reduction pathways were designed to reduce emissions, highlighting the need to implement region-specific carbon reduction policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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17 pages, 7839 KiB  
Article
Biocontrol Potential and Mitigation of Abiotic Stress Effects of Meyerozyma guilliermondii on Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
by Arancha Gomez-Garay, Darío Bonaventura Roca-Campos, Sofía Irles Sánchez and Beatriz Pintos López
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1189; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071189 - 19 Jul 2024
Viewed by 572
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the biocontrol potential of Meyerozyma guilliermondii (CECT13190), an endophytic yeast, and its role in mitigating the adverse effects of abiotic and biotic stress in cucumber plants. The relevance of this study lies in addressing the threat of Fusarium [...] Read more.
This study aims to evaluate the biocontrol potential of Meyerozyma guilliermondii (CECT13190), an endophytic yeast, and its role in mitigating the adverse effects of abiotic and biotic stress in cucumber plants. The relevance of this study lies in addressing the threat of Fusarium wilt, a major fungal disease that impacts cucumber crop productivity, as well as the exacerbation of food scarcity caused by climate change-induced abiotic stress factors such as high temperatures and drought. The study was conducted in a greenhouse environment where Cucumis sativus seedlings were exposed to biotic (F. oxysporum inoculation) and abiotic stress conditions (heat and water deficit). The impact of M. guilliermondii on treated plants’ physiology, growth, development, and flowering was assessed. The study confirmed the biocontrol activity of M. guilliermondii against F. oxysporum and highlighted its positive effects as a plant growth promoter. It enhanced overall plant health, activated natural defense mechanisms against F. oxysporum, and alleviated the detrimental impacts of abiotic stress. Notably, M. guilliermondii also induced early flowering in cucumber plants. This research underscores the potential of M. guilliermondii as a biocontrol agent for managing Fusarium wilt, enhancing stress tolerance, promoting early flowering, and offering promising prospects for sustainable crop production amidst fungal diseases and climate change-induced stressors. The findings emphasize the importance of utilizing M. guilliermondii to improve cucumber crop productivity and address food scarcity challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Protection, Diseases, Pests and Weeds)
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17 pages, 5133 KiB  
Article
Design and Experiment of the Profiling Header of River Dike Mower
by Mingsheng Li, Yulin Yan, Lin Tian, Xingzheng Chen and Fanyi Liu
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1188; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071188 - 19 Jul 2024
Viewed by 497
Abstract
Drawing upon advancements in profiling technology, this paper presents an innovative lateral profiling mechanism for the header to improve mowing efficiency and the ability to adapt to terrain for river dike mowers. It delves into the imitation principle and forced situations. Furthermore, a [...] Read more.
Drawing upon advancements in profiling technology, this paper presents an innovative lateral profiling mechanism for the header to improve mowing efficiency and the ability to adapt to terrain for river dike mowers. It delves into the imitation principle and forced situations. Furthermore, a novel lawn protection boot design has been introduced, capable of adjusting mowing heights with swift transitions. The structural integrity of this boot has been optimized through rigorous finite element analysis. Meanwhile, the rolling shaft and cutter have been carefully selected and designed, with a mechanical model of the cutter established to examine its motion and force characteristics. In addition, hydraulic circuits tailored to fulfill the required functions of the header have been devised, and key hydraulic components have been appropriately selected. Key components are subjected to finite element analysis by using ANSYS to verify and optimize their structural strength. Prototype testing and field trials are subsequently conducted, revealing that the mower can achieve a mowing speed of 0.85 m/s on flat ground and a 25-degree slope, thereby fulfilling the design requirements for mowing speed. The imitation mechanism adapts to different embankment terrains. Notably, the lawn protection boots offer adjustable mowing heights of 10.4 cm, 12 cm, and 14 cm, respectively, with a height adjustment range of approximately 2 cm for each position, meeting the requirement for adjusting mowing heights. In addition, the transition time between different positions of the lawn protection boots is less than 5 min, achieving rapid switching and operational efficiency. Furthermore, a mowing uniformity test is conducted by using a header equipped with profiling functionality. The results reveal that the mowing effect of the profiling header meets design requirements, demonstrating its effectiveness and reliability in agricultural applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precision Planting Technology and Equipment in Advanced Crop Cultivation)
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15 pages, 5189 KiB  
Article
Design and Test of Automatic Feeding Device for Shed Pole of Small-Arched Insertion Machine
by Xiao Chen, Jianling Hu, Yan Gong, Qingxu Yu, Zhenwei Wang, Xiaozhong Deng and Xinguo Pang
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1187; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071187 - 19 Jul 2024
Viewed by 455
Abstract
China’s small-arched shed-building machinery mostly adopts manual pole casting and mechanical planting, which have low building efficiency and mechanization. Therefore, we designed an automatic feeding device for shed poles to realize automatic single separation, orderly conveyance and timely dropping of poles. Considering shed [...] Read more.
China’s small-arched shed-building machinery mostly adopts manual pole casting and mechanical planting, which have low building efficiency and mechanization. Therefore, we designed an automatic feeding device for shed poles to realize automatic single separation, orderly conveyance and timely dropping of poles. Considering shed pole-pitching pass rate as the evaluation index for the regression model, we adopted a three-factor, three-level experimental design and established the speed of the reclaiming ring, height of the falling shed poles and reclaiming ring spacing as the main influencing factors, obtaining 23.94 r/min, 408.799 mm and 1350 mm, respectively in experiments with a trellis qualification rate of 95.36%. Design-Expert 13 was used to perform analysis of variance and determine the optimal parameter combinations. The average measured trellis qualification rate in tests with the bench adjusted and the optimal parameter combination was 94.23%, with 1.13% relative error between test and theoretical optimization values. This confirmed the optimal parameter combination’s dependability. In field verification test results, pick-up card ring speed was 24 r/min; height of trellis pole drop, 410 mm; pick-up card ring spacing, 1350 mm; and pitching rate, 95.37%, obtaining 0.01% error compared with theoretically optimized values. The prototype operational performance was stable and satisfied design requirements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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19 pages, 6138 KiB  
Article
Spectral-Frequency Conversion Derived from Hyperspectral Data Combined with Deep Learning for Estimating Chlorophyll Content in Rice
by Lei Du and Shanjun Luo
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1186; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071186 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 657
Abstract
As a vital pigment for photosynthesis in rice, chlorophyll content is closely correlated with growth status and photosynthetic capacity. The estimation of chlorophyll content allows for the monitoring of rice growth and facilitates precise management in the field, such as the application of [...] Read more.
As a vital pigment for photosynthesis in rice, chlorophyll content is closely correlated with growth status and photosynthetic capacity. The estimation of chlorophyll content allows for the monitoring of rice growth and facilitates precise management in the field, such as the application of fertilizers and irrigation. The advancement of hyperspectral remote sensing technology has made it possible to estimate chlorophyll content non-destructively, quickly, and effectively, offering technical support for managing and monitoring rice growth across wide areas. Although hyperspectral data have a fine spectral resolution, they also cause a large amount of information redundancy and noise. This study focuses on the issues of unstable input variables and the estimation model’s poor applicability to various periods when predicting rice chlorophyll content. By introducing the theory of harmonic analysis and the time-frequency conversion method, a deep neural network (DNN) model framework based on wavelet packet transform-first order differential-harmonic analysis (WPT-FD-HA) was proposed, which avoids the uncertainty in the calculation of spectral parameters. The accuracy of estimating rice chlorophyll content based on WPT-FD and WPT-FD-HA variables was compared at seedling, tillering, jointing, heading, grain filling, milk, and complete periods to evaluate the validity and generalizability of the suggested framework. The results demonstrated that all of the WPT-FD-HA models’ single-period validation accuracy had coefficients of determination (R2) values greater than 0.9 and RMSE values less than 1. The multi-period validation model had a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.664 and an R2 of 0.971. Even with independent data splitting validation, the multi-period model accuracy can still achieve R2 = 0.95 and RMSE = 1.4. The WPT-FD-HA-based deep learning framework exhibited strong stability. The outcome of this study deserves to be used to monitor rice growth on a broad scale using hyperspectral data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Applications of Optical Sensors and Machine Learning in Agricultural Monitoring—2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 11764 KiB  
Article
Influence of Rotor Cage Structural Parameters on the Classification Performance of a Straw Micro-Crusher Classifying Device: CFD and Machine Learning Approach
by Min Fu, Zhong Cao, Mingyu Zhan, Yulong Wang and Lei Chen
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1185; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071185 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 494
Abstract
The rotor cage is a key component of the classifying device, and its structural parameters directly affect classification performance. To improve the classification performance of the straw micro-crusher classifying device, this paper proposes a CFD-ML-GA (Computational Fluid Dynamics-Machine Learning-Genetic Algorithm) method to quantitatively [...] Read more.
The rotor cage is a key component of the classifying device, and its structural parameters directly affect classification performance. To improve the classification performance of the straw micro-crusher classifying device, this paper proposes a CFD-ML-GA (Computational Fluid Dynamics-Machine Learning-Genetic Algorithm) method to quantitatively analyze the coupled effects of rotor cage structural parameters on classification performance. Firstly, CFD and orthogonal experimental methods are used to qualitatively investigate the effects of the number of blades, length of rotor blades, and blade installation angle on the classification performance. The conclusion obtained is that the blade installation angle exerts the greatest effect on classification performance, while the number of blades has the least effect. Subsequently, four machine learning algorithms are used to build a cut size prediction model, and, after comparison, the Random Forest Regression (RFR) model is selected. Finally, RFR is integrated with a Genetic Algorithm (GA) for quantitative parameter optimization. The quantitative analysis results of GA indicate that with 29 blades, a blade length of 232.8 mm, and a blade installation angle of 36.8°, the cut size decreases to 47.6 μm and the classifying sharpness index improves to 0.62. Compared with the optimal solution from the orthogonal experiment, the GA solution reduces the cut size by 9.33% and improves the classifying sharpness index by 9.68%. This validates the feasibility of the proposed method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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21 pages, 8463 KiB  
Article
Rapid Detection of Fertilizer Information Based on Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Machine Learning and the Design of a Detection Device
by Yongzheng Ma, Zhuoyuan Wu, Yingying Cheng, Shihong Chen and Jianian Li
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1184; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071184 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 636
Abstract
The online detection of fertilizer information is pivotal for precise and intelligent variable-rate fertilizer application. However, traditional methods face challenges such as the complex quantification of multiple components and sensor-induced cross-contamination. This study investigates integrating near-infrared principles with machine learning algorithms to identify [...] Read more.
The online detection of fertilizer information is pivotal for precise and intelligent variable-rate fertilizer application. However, traditional methods face challenges such as the complex quantification of multiple components and sensor-induced cross-contamination. This study investigates integrating near-infrared principles with machine learning algorithms to identify fertilizer types and concentrations. We utilized near-infrared transmission spectroscopy and applied Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Back-Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) algorithms to analyze full spectrum data. The BPNN model, using S-G smoothing, demonstrated a superior classification performance for the nutrient ions of four fertilizer solutions: HPO42−, NH4+, H2PO4− and K+. Optimization using the competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) method yielded BPNN model RMSE values of 0.3201, 0.7160, 0.2036, and 0.0177 for HPO42−, NH4+, H2PO4−, and K+, respectively. Building on this foundation, we designed a four-channel fertilizer detection device based on the Lambert–Beer law, enabling the real-time detection of fertilizer types and concentrations. The test results confirmed the device’s robust stability, achieving 93% accuracy in identifying fertilizer types and concentrations, with RMSE values ranging from 1.0034 to 2.4947, all within ±8.0% error margin. This study addresses the practical requirements for online fertilizer detection in agricultural engineering, laying the groundwork for efficient water–fertilizer integration technology aligned with sustainable development goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Applications of Optical Sensors and Machine Learning in Agricultural Monitoring—2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 1631 KiB  
Article
Decentralization versus Centralization: What Ensures Food Security? Empirical Evidence from 170 Prefecture-Level Cities in China’s Major Grain-Producing Areas
by Jiahao Li and Liqi Chu
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1183; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071183 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 522
Abstract
Whether fiscal decentralization will lead to agricultural land “non-grainization” has been widely debated in academic circles. How to improve the efficiency of financial support to agriculture and optimize the grain planting structure by clarifying the relationship between central and local powers and responsibilities [...] Read more.
Whether fiscal decentralization will lead to agricultural land “non-grainization” has been widely debated in academic circles. How to improve the efficiency of financial support to agriculture and optimize the grain planting structure by clarifying the relationship between central and local powers and responsibilities is the key to ensuring food security. Based on the panel data of 170 cities in China from 2004 to 2017, this paper uses system moment estimation and a threshold effect model to explore the impact of fiscal decentralization on grain planting structure. The results show that (1) fiscal decentralization has a significant negative effect on the share of food crop cultivation in the major grain-producing areas. (2) Taking the wage level, financial support for agriculture, and land finance as the threshold variables, the test finds that there is a threshold effect of fiscal decentralization on the proportion of food crop cultivation, in which land finance dependence and rises in the wage level are conducive to mitigating the negative effect of fiscal decentralization on the proportion of food crop cultivation. (3) For the three major types of food crop varieties, the negative impact of fiscal decentralization on the share of wheat and corn crop cultivation is subject to the threshold effect of wage level, financial support for agriculture, and land finance, while the impact of fiscal decentralization on the share of rice crop cultivation is not significant. The results of the study have an important guiding role for the government to deepen the reform of the tax-sharing system, improve the long-term mechanism of stable growth of financial support for grain, and optimize the layout of the grain industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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18 pages, 475 KiB  
Article
Farmers’ Perception and Practice of Soil Fertility Management and Conservation in the Era of Digital Soil Information Systems in Southwest Nigeria
by Sakiru O. Akinbode, Olusegun Folorunso, Taiwo S. Olutoberu, Florence A. Olowokere, Muftau Adebayo, Sodeeq O. Azeez, Sarafadeen G. Hammed and Mutiu A. Busari
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1182; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071182 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 635
Abstract
This study assessed the perception and use of digital applications for soil fertility management and conservation strategies among small-scale crop farmers in southwest Nigeria. A total of 376 farmers were randomly selected across the six southwest states. The data collected were analyzed using [...] Read more.
This study assessed the perception and use of digital applications for soil fertility management and conservation strategies among small-scale crop farmers in southwest Nigeria. A total of 376 farmers were randomly selected across the six southwest states. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The majority of the farmers relied on perception and other non-scientific approaches such as the appearance of weeds and performance of crops in the previous season to assess soil fertility. Only 1.1% and 0.3% of the farmers assessed soil fertility through soil tests and digital applications, respectively. Most farmers adopted bush fallowing and the use of inorganic fertilizers to improve soil fertility. Although 4.8% of the farmers indicated that they had digital applications on their mobile phones, only 2.9% claimed to have used these. More than half (56.4%) of the farmers stated that a lack of awareness of the existence of digital applications and internet-enabled telephones were the reasons they have not been able to use digital applications. The majority of the farmers (97.3%) indicated their willingness to embrace the use of new farm decision digital applications which could provide more information, especially on soil fertility, if introduced. More extensive services focusing on older, less literate farmers and farmers who hitherto did not belong to any farmers’ association are advocated for in order to encourage the use of digital applications and soil fertility management and conservation practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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15 pages, 2767 KiB  
Article
An Electric Gripper for Picking Brown Mushrooms with Flexible Force and In Situ Measurement
by Haonan Shi, Gaoming Xu, Wei Lu, Qishuo Ding and Xinxin Chen
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1181; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071181 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 496
Abstract
As brown mushrooms are both delicious and beneficial to health, the global production and consumption of brown mushrooms have increased significantly in recent years. Currently, to ensure the quality of brown mushrooms, selective manual picking is required, and the delicate surface of the [...] Read more.
As brown mushrooms are both delicious and beneficial to health, the global production and consumption of brown mushrooms have increased significantly in recent years. Currently, to ensure the quality of brown mushrooms, selective manual picking is required, and the delicate surface of the mushrooms must not be damaged during the picking process. The labor cost of picking accounts for 50–80% of the total labor cost in the entire production process, and the high-humidity, low-temperature plant environment poses a risk of rheumatism for the laborers. In this paper, we propose a novel underactuated gripper based on a lead screw and linear bearings, capable of operating with flexible force control while simultaneously measuring the diameter of the mushrooms. The gripper features three degrees of freedom: lifting, grasping, and rotation, and enabling it to approach, grasp, and detach the mushroom. A thin-film force sensor is installed on the inner side of the fingers to achieve accurate grip force measurement. The use of a PID algorithm ensures precise grip force control, thereby protecting the brown mushrooms from damage. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed gripper has a static grasping force error of 0.195 N and an average detachment force overshoot of 1.31 N during the entire picking process. The in situ measurement of the mushroom diameter achieves 97.3% accuracy, with a success rate of 98.3%. These results indicate that the gripper achieves a high success rate in harvesting, a low damage rate, and accurate diameter measurement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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17 pages, 5407 KiB  
Article
Variable-Rate Fertilization for Summer Maize Using Combined Proximal Sensing Technology and the Nitrogen Balance Principle
by Peng Zhou, Yazhou Ou, Wei Yang, Yixiang Gu, Yinuo Kong, Yangxin Zhu, Chengqian Jin and Shanshan Hao
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071180 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 519
Abstract
Soil is a heterogeneous medium that exhibits considerable variability in both spatial and temporal dimensions. Proper management of field variability using variable-rate fertilization (VRF) techniques is essential to maximize crop input–output ratios and resource utilization. Implementing VRF technology on a localized scale is [...] Read more.
Soil is a heterogeneous medium that exhibits considerable variability in both spatial and temporal dimensions. Proper management of field variability using variable-rate fertilization (VRF) techniques is essential to maximize crop input–output ratios and resource utilization. Implementing VRF technology on a localized scale is recommended to increase crop yield, decrease input costs, and reduce the negative impact on the surrounding environment. This study assessed the agronomic and environmental viability of implementing VRF during the cultivation of summer maize using an on-the-go detector of soil total nitrogen (STN) to detect STN content in the test fields. A spatial delineation approach was then applied to divide the experimental field into multiple management zones. The amount of fertilizer applied in each zone was determined based on the sensor-detected STN. The analysis of the final yield and economic benefits indicates that plots that adopted VRF treatments attained an average summer maize grain yield of 7275 kg ha−1, outperforming plots that employed uniform-rate fertilization (URF) treatments, which yielded 6713 kg ha−1. Through one-way ANOVA, the yield p values of the two fertilization methods were 6.406 × 10−15, 5.202 × 10−15, 2.497 × 10−15, and 3.199 × 10−15, respectively, indicating that the yield differences between the two fertilization methods were noticeable. This led to an average yield increase of 8.37% ha−1 and a gross profit margin of USD 153 ha−1. In plots in which VRF techniques are utilized, the average nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rate is 627 kg ha−1. In contrast, in plots employing URF methods, the N fertilizer application rate is 750 kg ha−1. The use of N fertilizer was reduced by 16.4%. As a result, there is a reduction in production costs of USD 37.5 ha−1, achieving increased yield while decreasing the amount of applied fertilizer. Moreover, in plots where the VRF method was applied, STN was balanced despite the reduced N application. This observation can be deduced from the variance in summer maize grain yield through various fertilization treatments in a comparative experiment. Future research endeavors should prioritize the resolution of particular constraints by incorporating supplementary soil data, such as phosphorus, potassium, organic matter, and other pertinent variables, to advance and optimize fertilization methodologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Smart Agriculture with Remote Sensing as the Core and Its Applications in Crops Field)
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19 pages, 5795 KiB  
Article
Interaction Mechanisms between Blades and Maize Root–Soil Composites as Affected by Key Factors: An Experimental Analysis
by Xuanting Liu, Peng Gao, Hongyan Qi, Qifeng Zhang, Mingzhuo Guo and Yunhai Ma
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1179; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071179 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 438
Abstract
To design a high-performance stubble-breaking device, studying the interaction mechanisms between blades and root–soil composites is urgent. A simplified experimental method was proposed to investigate the cutting process and the effects of key factors on cutting by conducting cutting experiments on remolded root–soil [...] Read more.
To design a high-performance stubble-breaking device, studying the interaction mechanisms between blades and root–soil composites is urgent. A simplified experimental method was proposed to investigate the cutting process and the effects of key factors on cutting by conducting cutting experiments on remolded root–soil composites and maize root–soil composites. The results showed that the soil support force and root–soil interface force significantly impacted cutting. Higher soil compaction and root–soil interface forces helped avoid root dragging, but higher soil compaction and thicker roots led to greater resistance. The superposition and accumulation effects significantly increased the cutting force, especially when root distribution was denser; as the oblique angle and bevel angle increased, the root-cutting force and dragging distance first decreased and then increased. Compared with orthogonal cutting, the optimal angles were both 45° and reduced the root-cutting force by 60.47% and 15.12% and shortened the dragging distance by 22.33 mm and 8.76 mm, respectively. Increasing the slide-cutting angle and cutting speed helped reduce the root-cutting force and dragging distance; however, it also faced greater pure-cutting force. Consequently, the interaction mechanisms between blades and root–soil composites revealed in this study provide a design and optimization basis for stubble-breaking devices, thus promoting the development of no-till technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)
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26 pages, 20247 KiB  
Review
Peanut-Shelling Technologies and Equipment: A Review of Recent Developments
by Xuan Liao, Huanxiong Xie, Zhichao Hu, Jiannan Wang, Minji Liu, Jiyou An, Hai Wei and Huijuan Zhang
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1178; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071178 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 728
Abstract
Peanut is an important oil crop and cash crop, with a wide range of applications in many fields such as the food industry, light industry, and chemical industry. Mechanized shelling is a necessary part of the post-production processing of peanuts, and it is [...] Read more.
Peanut is an important oil crop and cash crop, with a wide range of applications in many fields such as the food industry, light industry, and chemical industry. Mechanized shelling is a necessary part of the post-production processing of peanuts, and it is also the key to determining the quality of peanut products. Reducing shelling damage is an effective way to improve the quality and comprehensive benefits of peanut products. Consequently, it is of great significance to strengthen the research on damage reduction in mechanized peanut-shelling. China is a large peanut producer, but the research on mechanized shelling started relatively late, and the existing technology is not compatible with the high-quality shelling requirements of farmers. This paper reviews the status of mechanized peanut-shelling technology, compares the technical characteristics and equipment development of the world’s important peanut producing countries, it summarizes and proposes the suggestions to reduce loss from the aspects of varieties, agronomy, technology, and technical equipment; further deepen innovative research; and strengthen the construction of peanut-shelling socialized service systems. It is expected to provide reference for effectively reducing damage and improving quality of China’s mechanized shelling, and promoting the sustainable development of peanut shelling industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Current Research on Intelligent Equipment for Agriculture)
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10 pages, 1045 KiB  
Article
A Temporary Immersion System as a Tool for Lowering Planting Material Production Costs Using the Example of Pennisetum × advena ‘Rubrum’
by Mariusz Pożoga, Dawid Olewnicki and Piotr Latocha
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1177; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071177 - 18 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 476
Abstract
The aim of the study was to compare the variable costs of planting material production using the example of vitro cultures of Pennisetum × advena ‘Rubrum’. In the study, temporary immersion system (TIS)- and agar-based methods were used in innovative workday organisation. The [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to compare the variable costs of planting material production using the example of vitro cultures of Pennisetum × advena ‘Rubrum’. In the study, temporary immersion system (TIS)- and agar-based methods were used in innovative workday organisation. The workday structure involved a six-hour passaging period followed by a two-hour break for medium preparation, autoclaving, and maintenance tasks. The TIS was found to be more cost-effective than the agar cultures, with lower labour costs and comparable growing expenses. The most expensive element of agar production was labour which was 43% of the costs. The second biggest cost was materials and reagents which represented 25%. In a TIS, production materials and reagents are the most expensive part of production (44%), while labour represents 24% of costs. A TIS offers a much faster multiplication of plants than agar cultures. Plants obtained in the multiplication phase are two times cheaper using a TIS. Rooting accounted for a significant portion of production costs in both methods. Overall, the TIS demonstrated superior efficiency and cost-effectiveness compared to agar cultures in producing Pennisetum × advena ‘Rubrum’ plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Production)
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16 pages, 4344 KiB  
Article
Characteristics of Grassland Species Diversity and Soil Physicochemical Properties with Elevation Gradient in Burzin Forest Area
by Jiaorong Qian, Mao Ye, Xi Zhang, Miaomiao Li, Weilong Chen, Guoyan Zeng, Jing Che and Yexin Lv
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1176; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071176 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 426
Abstract
In order to explore the changes and interrelationships of grassland plant community species diversity and soil physicochemical properties with elevation gradient, this study takes the grassland in the Burzin forest area of Xinjiang as the research object and analyzes the responses of grassland [...] Read more.
In order to explore the changes and interrelationships of grassland plant community species diversity and soil physicochemical properties with elevation gradient, this study takes the grassland in the Burzin forest area of Xinjiang as the research object and analyzes the responses of grassland species diversity, aboveground biomass, and soil physicochemical properties to the changes of elevation gradient within the altitude range of 1000~2200 m in this area. The results of the study show that: (1) The number of species and aboveground biomass reached the highest levels at elevation gradient III and showed a tendency of increasing and then decreasing with elevation. The Margalef and Shannon–Wiener indices were the largest at elevation III, while the Simpson and Alatalo indices were the largest at elevation I. (2) With the change of elevation, the available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), soil electric conductivity (SEC), and soil pH showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing, while soil temperature decreased with elevation. Available potassium and soil water content reached their maximum values at elevation I and elevation IV, respectively. (3) The soil conductivity and diversity index were negatively correlated in elevation gradients I to III. In elevation gradient I~III, soil conductivity was positively correlated with the diversity index and aboveground biomass. Available nitrogen had a significant effect on plant diversity and biomass in elevation gradients IV to VI. (4) Aboveground biomass was significantly positively correlated with the Simpson’s index, while the relationship with the Shannon–Wiener index was less significant, and Margalef’s and Alatalo’s indices were not significant. Soil conductivity and pH significantly affected the Margalef and Simpson indices. Available nitrogen was closely related to the aboveground biomass and Margalef and Alatalo indices. Soil moisture content significantly affected Simpson’s index and the aboveground biomass. This study provides a solid theoretical foundation for the conservation and management of grassland plant community ecosystems along the elevation gradient, and has important reference value for study of the impact of environmental change on species diversity and biodiversity conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Plant-Soil Interactions, 2nd Volume)
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21 pages, 8707 KiB  
Article
Classification of Maize Growth Stages Based on Phenotypic Traits and UAV Remote Sensing
by Yihan Yao, Jibo Yue, Yang Liu, Hao Yang, Haikuan Feng, Jianing Shen, Jingyu Hu and Qian Liu
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1175; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071175 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 748
Abstract
Maize, an important cereal crop and crucial industrial material, is widely used in various fields, including food, feed, and industry. Maize is also a highly adaptable crop, capable of thriving under various climatic and soil conditions. Against the backdrop of intensified climate change, [...] Read more.
Maize, an important cereal crop and crucial industrial material, is widely used in various fields, including food, feed, and industry. Maize is also a highly adaptable crop, capable of thriving under various climatic and soil conditions. Against the backdrop of intensified climate change, studying the classification of maize growth stages can aid in adjusting planting strategies to enhance yield and quality. Accurate classification of the growth stages of maize breeding materials is important for enhancing yield and quality in breeding endeavors. Traditional remote sensing-based crop growth stage classifications mainly rely on time series vegetation index (VI) analyses; however, VIs are prone to saturation under high-coverage conditions. Maize phenotypic traits at different growth stages may improve the accuracy of crop growth stage classifications. Therefore, we developed a method for classifying maize growth stages during the vegetative growth phase by combining maize phenotypic traits with different classification algorithms. First, we tested various VIs, texture features (TFs), and combinations of VI and TF as input features to estimate the leaf chlorophyll content (LCC), leaf area index (LAI), and fractional vegetation cover (FVC). We determined the optimal feature inputs and estimation methods and completed crop height (CH) extraction. Then, we tested different combinations of maize phenotypic traits as input variables to determine their accuracy in classifying growth stages and to identify the optimal combination and classification method. Finally, we compared the proposed method with traditional growth stage classification methods based on remote sensing VIs and machine learning models. The results indicate that (1) when the VI+TFs are used as input features, random forest regression (RFR) shows a good estimation performance for the LCC (R2: 0.920, RMSE: 3.655 SPAD units, MAE: 2.698 SPAD units), Gaussian process regression (GPR) performs well for the LAI (R2: 0.621, RMSE: 0.494, MAE: 0.397), and linear regression (LR) exhibits a good estimation performance for the FVC (R2: 0.777, RMSE: 0.051, MAE: 0.040); (2) when using the maize LCC, LAI, FVC, and CH phenotypic traits to classify maize growth stages, the random forest (RF) classification method achieved the highest accuracy (accuracy: 0.951, precision: 0.951, recall: 0.951, F1: 0.951); and (3) the effectiveness of the growth stage classification based on maize phenotypic traits outperforms that of traditional remote sensing-based crop growth stage classifications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precision Remote Sensing and Information Detection in Agriculture)
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