Journal Description
Agronomy
Agronomy
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on agronomy and agroecology published monthly online by MDPI. The Spanish Society of Plant Physiology (SEFV) is affiliated with Agronomy and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubAg, AGRIS, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Plant Sciences) / CiteScore - Q1 (Agronomy and Crop Science)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 15.5 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Companion journals for Agronomy include: Seeds, Agrochemicals, Grasses and Crops.
Impact Factor:
3.3 (2023);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.7 (2023)
Latest Articles
Chemical Composition of Anabasis articulata, and Biological Activity of Greenly Synthesized Zinc Oxide Composite Nanoparticles (Zn-NPs): Antioxidant, Anticancer, and Larvicidal Activities
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1742; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081742 (registering DOI) - 8 Aug 2024
Abstract
The synthesis of nanoparticles utilizing green techniques is becoming increasingly important due to its low cost, biocompatibility, high productivity, and eco-friendliness. Herein, the current work focused on the biosynthesis, characterization, and biological applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) from Anabasis articulata, including
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The synthesis of nanoparticles utilizing green techniques is becoming increasingly important due to its low cost, biocompatibility, high productivity, and eco-friendliness. Herein, the current work focused on the biosynthesis, characterization, and biological applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) from Anabasis articulata, including antioxidant anticancer and larvicidal properties, as well as modifications to the phytochemical ingredients. Hence, the tannin, phenolic, and flavonoid concentrations of the produced nanoparticle samples were lower than those of the original aqueous extract. When compared to the results of ascorbic acid (12.78 mg/mL), the produced extract of A. articulata and its zinc nanoparticles showed remarkable efficacy as antioxidant agents with IC50 values of 27.48 and 69.53 mg/mL, respectively. A normal lung fibroblast cell line (WI-38) and three tumor cells were used to test the compounds’ anticancer properties. With an IC50 of 21.19 µg/mL, the ZnO-NPs of A. articulata showed the greatest cytotoxicity against HePG-2 cell lines. Additionally, A. articulata zinc nanoparticles showed significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and PC3 tumor cell lines, with IC50 values of 30.91 and 49.32 µg/mL. The biogenic ZnO-NPs had LC50 and LC90 values of 13.64 and 26.23 mg/L, respectively, and are very effective against Aedes aegypti larval instar (III). Additionally, the percentages of larval mortality increased from 28.61% at 5 ppm to 84.69% at 25 ppm after 24 h post-treatment. The overall results of this study point to the potential of A. articulata as a substitute biological agent for potential therapeutic/leutic uses in the medical domains and for preventing the proliferation of malarial vector insects.
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(This article belongs to the Section Plant-Crop Biology and Biochemistry)
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Open AccessArticle
Transcriptomic Analysis of Alfalfa Flowering and the Dual Roles of MsAP1 in Floral Organ Identity and Flowering Time
by
Xu Jiang, Huiting Cui, Zhen Wang, Ruicai Long, Qingchuan Yang and Junmei Kang
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1741; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081741 (registering DOI) - 8 Aug 2024
Abstract
Flowering, the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive stage, is vital for reproductive success, affecting forage quality, the yield of aboveground biomass, and seed production in alfalfa. To explore the transcriptomic profile of alfalfa flowering transition, we compared gene expression between shoot
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Flowering, the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive stage, is vital for reproductive success, affecting forage quality, the yield of aboveground biomass, and seed production in alfalfa. To explore the transcriptomic profile of alfalfa flowering transition, we compared gene expression between shoot apices (SAs) at the vegetative stage and flower buds (FBs) at the reproductive stage by mRNA sequencing. A total of 3,409 DEGs were identified, and based on gene ontology (GO), 42.53% of the most enriched 15 processes were associated with plant reproduction, including growth phase transition and floral organ development. For the former category, 79.1% of DEGs showed higher expression levels in SA than FB, suggesting they were sequentially turned on and off at the two test stages. For the DEGs encoding the components of circadian rhythm, sugar metabolism, phytohormone signaling, and floral organ identity genes, 60.71% showed higher abundance in FB than SA. Among them, MsAP1, an APETALA1 (AP1) homolog of Arabidopsis thaliana, showed high expression in flower buds and co-expressed with genes related to flower organ development. Moreover, ectopic expression of MsAP1 in Arabidopsis resulted in dwarfism and early flowering under long-day conditions. The MsAP1-overexpression plant displayed morphological abnormalities including fused whorls, enlarged pistils, determinate inflorescence, and small pods. In addition, MsAP1 is localized in the nucleus and exhibits significant transcriptional activity. These findings revealed a transcriptional regulation network of alfalfa transition from juvenile phase to flowering and provided genetic evidence of the dual role of MsAP1 in flowering and floral organ development.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Industrial Crops Physioecology and Sustainable Cultivation)
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Open AccessArticle
Selection and Characterization of Somaclonal Variants of Prata Banana (AAB) Resistant to Fusarium Wilt
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Mileide dos Santos Ferreira, Tamyres Amorim Rebouças, Anelita de Jesus Rocha, Wanderley Diaciso dos Santos Oliveira, Ana Carolina Lima Santos dos Santos, João Pedro Falcón Lago de Jesus, Andresa Priscila de Souza Ramos, Claudia Fortes Ferreira, Janay Almeida dos Santos-Serejo, Fernando Haddad and Edson Perito Amorim
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1740; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081740 (registering DOI) - 8 Aug 2024
Abstract
Fusarium wilt, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), is one of the most devastating diseases affecting banana cultivation worldwide. Although Foc tropical race 4 (TR4) has not yet been identified in Brazilian production areas, the damage caused by races
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Fusarium wilt, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), is one of the most devastating diseases affecting banana cultivation worldwide. Although Foc tropical race 4 (TR4) has not yet been identified in Brazilian production areas, the damage caused by races 1 and subtropical 4 is the main cause of production losses, especially affecting cultivars of the Prata subgroup. Thus, the induction of somaclonal variation is a promising strategy in biotechnology to generate genetic variability and develop resistant varieties. This study aimed to induce somaclonal variation in the Prata Catarina cultivar (AAB genome) using successive subcultures in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium enriched with the plant regulator Thiadizuron (TDZ) at two concentrations: 1 and 2 mg/L. After evaluating the symptoms, we selected 13 resistant somaclones that were not infected by the fungus. Histochemical and histological analyses of the somaclones indicated possible defense mechanisms that prevented colonization and/or infection by Foc, such as intense production of phenolic compounds and the presence of cellulose and callose in the roots. Some somaclones showed no pathogen structures in the xylem-conducting vessels, indicating possible pre-penetration resistance. Furthermore, molecular studies indicated that the genetic alterations in the somaclones may have induced resistance to Foc without compromising the agronomic characteristics of the commercial genotype.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Breeding and Genetics)
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Open AccessArticle
Effects of Biogas Digestate on Winter Wheat Yield, Nitrogen Balance, and Nitrous Oxide Emissions under Organic Farming Conditions
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Felizitas Winkhart, Harald Schmid and Kurt-Jürgen Hülsbergen
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1739; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081739 (registering DOI) - 8 Aug 2024
Abstract
Biogas digestate is increasingly used in organic farming to improve soil nutrient supply and sustainably increase yields. However, biogas digestate can also lead to environmentally relevant N2O emissions. The benefits, opportunities, and risks associated with the use of digestate as a
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Biogas digestate is increasingly used in organic farming to improve soil nutrient supply and sustainably increase yields. However, biogas digestate can also lead to environmentally relevant N2O emissions. The benefits, opportunities, and risks associated with the use of digestate as a fertilizer in organic farming are a subject of ongoing debate, in part due to a lack of conclusive experimental results. A field trial conducted in southern Germany examined the short-term and long-term impacts of digestate fertilization on winter wheat yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and N2O-N emissions. The four-year results from the years 2019 to 2022 are presented. Digestate was applied with a nitrogen input of up to 265 kg ha−1, with 129 kg ha−1 NH4+-N. The application of digestate resulted in a significant increase in wheat yield, with an average increase of 53% (2019) to 83% (2022) compared to the unfertilized control. It is notable that the treatment applied for the first time did not reach the yield of the long-term fertilized treatment, with a yield gap of 0.5 to 1.2 Mg ha−1 (6% to 15%). The highest N2O-N emissions (up to 3.30 kg ha−1) in the vegetation period from spring to autumn were measured in the long-term fertilized treatment. However, very high N2O-N emissions (up to 3.72 kg ha−1) also occurred in two years in winter in the unfertilized treatment. An increase in soil inorganic N stocks and N2O-N emissions was observed following the wheat harvest and subsequent tillage in all treatments. No significant differences were identified between the fertilizer treatments with regard to product-related emissions. The experimental results demonstrate that N2O-N emissions are not solely a consequence of N fertilization, but can also be attributed to tillage, post-harvest practices, and previous crops, with considerable variability depending on weather conditions. The experimental data provide comprehensive insight into the influence of cultivation, soil characteristics, and meteorological conditions on N2O-N emissions at an agricultural site in southern Germany.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Innovative Cropping Systems)
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Open AccessArticle
Optimizing Nitrogen Dosage and Planting Density to Improve Japonica Rice Yield
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Liming Zhao, Hang Zhou, Liang Tang, Yongguang Na, Shaobiao Duan, Dianfeng Zheng, Naijie Feng and Xuefeng Shen
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1738; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081738 (registering DOI) - 8 Aug 2024
Abstract
In Northeast China’s black soil rice cropping area, nitrogen (N) application is lower than in the south, yet excessive N fertilizer use persists, particularly in base fertilizers. This study aimed to assess the impact of reduced N and increased planting density on rice
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In Northeast China’s black soil rice cropping area, nitrogen (N) application is lower than in the south, yet excessive N fertilizer use persists, particularly in base fertilizers. This study aimed to assess the impact of reduced N and increased planting density on rice yields and photosynthetic matter production. From 2019 to 2020, a field split-plot experiment was conducted with two N rates (conventional N, CN: 120 kg ha−1 and reduced basal N, RN: 108 kg ha−1) and two planting densities (D1: 33.3 × 104 hills ha−1 and D2: 27.8 × 104 hills ha−1) using the rice varieties Kongyu131 (KY131) and Kendao24 (KD24). The results showed that RN increased the effective panicle formation rate but decreased the tiller numbers, dry matter accumulation, stems/sheaths transport capacity, leaf photosynthetic capacity, and yield by 2.67% compared to CN. D1 significantly boosted the dry matter accumulation, stems/sheaths transport, effective panicles, grains per square meter, and yield by 8.26% compared to D2. Interaction analysis revealed that RN under D2 conditions reduced the effective panicle percentage, harvest index, filled grain number, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), and net assimilation rate (NAR) but increased the seed setting rate and 1000-grain weight. Under D1, RN reduced the LAI, CGR, and NAR at the tillering and heading stages but increased the NAR post-heading. Compared to CND2, RND1 increased the biomass, stems/sheaths transport, LAI, CGR, NAR, seed setting rate, 1000-grain weight, panicle numbers, and filled grains per square meter, compensating for the lower harvest index and effective panicle rate, achieving a 5.36% yield increase. KD24 outperformed KY131 in yield improvement. In summary, using 108 kg ha−1 with a planting density of 33.3 × 104 hills ha−1 promotes tillering, enhances photosynthetic substance production stems/sheaths dry matter transport, and increases rice yields.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Innovative Cropping Systems)
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Open AccessArticle
Dynamic Evaluation and Risk Projection of Heat Exposure Based on Disaster Events for Single-Season Rice along the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River, China
by
Mengyuan Jiang, Zhiguo Huo, Lei Zhang, Fengyin Zhang, Meixuan Li, Qianchuan Mi and Rui Kong
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1737; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081737 (registering DOI) - 7 Aug 2024
Abstract
Along with climate warming, extreme heat events have become more frequent, severe, and seriously threaten rice production. Precisely evaluating rice heat levels based on heat duration and a cumulative intensity index dominated by temperature and humidity is of great merit to effectively assess
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Along with climate warming, extreme heat events have become more frequent, severe, and seriously threaten rice production. Precisely evaluating rice heat levels based on heat duration and a cumulative intensity index dominated by temperature and humidity is of great merit to effectively assess regional heat risk and minimize the deleterious impact of rice heat along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR). This study quantified the response mechanism of daytime heat accumulation, night-time temperature, and relative humidity to disaster-causing intensity in three categories of single-season rice heat (dry, medium, and wet conditions) using Fisher discriminant analysis to obtain the Heat Comprehensive Intensity Index daily (HCIId). It is indicated that relative humidity exhibited a negative contribution under dry heat, i.e., heat disaster-causing intensity increased with decreasing relative humidity, with the opposite being true for medium and wet heat. The Kappa coefficient, combined with heat duration and cumulative HCIId, was implemented to determine classification thresholds for different disaster levels (mild, moderate, and severe) to construct heat evaluation levels. Afterwards, spatiotemporal changes in heat risk for single-season rice through the periods of 1986–2005, 2046–2065 and 2080–2099 under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 were evaluated using climate scenario datasets and heat evaluation levels carefully constructed. Regional risk projection explicitly revealed that future risk would reach its maximum at booting and flowering, followed by the tillering stage, and its minimum at filling. The future heat risk for single-season rice significantly increased under SSP5-8.5 than SSP2-4.5 in MLRYR. The higher risk would be highlighted in eastern Hubei, eastern Hunan, most of Jiangxi, and northern Anhui. As time goes on, the heat risk for single-season rice in eastern Jiangsu and southern Zhejiang will progressively shift from low to mid-high by the end of the twenty-first century. Understanding the potential risk of heat exposure at different growth stages can help decision-makers guide the implementation of targeted measures to address climate change. The proposed methodology also provides the possibility of assessing other crops exposure to heat stress or other extreme events.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Farming Sustainability)
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Open AccessArticle
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Effects of Exogenous Gibberellin on the Germination of Solanum torvum Seeds
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Saimei Wu, Qidong Si, Kejie Yang, Wenwei Zhang, Laining Zhang, Thomas W. Okita, Yanyan Yan and Li Tian
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1736; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081736 (registering DOI) - 7 Aug 2024
Abstract
Solanum torvum, a wild relative of eggplant in the Solanaceae family, is widely used as a rootstock to prevent various soil-borne diseases. Despite this valued trait, S. torvum seeds exhibit strong seed dormancy, resulting in low-frequency germination and uneven emergence rates during
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Solanum torvum, a wild relative of eggplant in the Solanaceae family, is widely used as a rootstock to prevent various soil-borne diseases. Despite this valued trait, S. torvum seeds exhibit strong seed dormancy, resulting in low-frequency germination and uneven emergence rates during agricultural production. In this study, exogenous gibberellin (GA) was applied to induce the germination of seeds, thereby enabling the application of transcriptome analysis to explore the effects of exogenous GA on germination. A total of 9723 genes were identified to be involved in GA-induced germination of S. torvum seeds. These GA-associated genes were enriched in amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, glycolysis, the citrate cycle, pyruvate metabolism, hormone biosynthesis, and signaling transduction. Further analysis of these genes reveals that exogenous GA impaired the endogenous biosynthesis of GA. Analysis of the 285 key genes influenced by GA, auxin, abscisic acid (ABA), and other hormones suggests mutual crosstalk in the signaling of various hormones, enabling the joint regulation of the germination of S. torvum seeds. Additionally, a total of 440 genes encoding transcription factors were identified to be responsible for transcriptional reprogramming during GA-induced seed germination, and putative candidate genes responsible for S. torvum seed dormancy and germination, including ABI5, DOG1, DRM1, LEC1, and PIF, were significantly down-regulated in germinated S. torvum seeds. These findings provide the first insights into transcriptome regulation during GA-induced germination of S. torvum seeds.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Agronomic Treatment on Seed Germination and Dormancy)
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Open AccessArticle
Study on the Diversity of Bacterial Communities in the Rhizosphere Soils of Different Wild Celery Species in Jilin Province
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Shanshan Chen, Yan Zou, Chunbo Zhao, Shuang Liu, Yue Yu, Junhai Jiang, Yue Zou and Jianlei Qiao
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1735; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081735 (registering DOI) - 7 Aug 2024
Abstract
The bacterial communities in the rhizosphere soil of plants facilitate the cycling of nutrient elements in the rhizosphere and regulate soil fertility. By analyzing the microecological structure of rhizosphere soil surrounding wild celery, we can provide a basis for the bionic cultivation of
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The bacterial communities in the rhizosphere soil of plants facilitate the cycling of nutrient elements in the rhizosphere and regulate soil fertility. By analyzing the microecological structure of rhizosphere soil surrounding wild celery, we can provide a basis for the bionic cultivation of wild celery. In this experiment, rhizosphere soil samples from various wild celery varieties in Jilin Province were used as test materials, and high-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze and compare the rhizosphere bacterial community structures of these samples. After screening and removing chimeric sequences, a total of 1,020,108 high-quality sequences were obtained. Species classification results revealed that these bacteria encompassed 60 phyla, 183 classes, 431 orders, 702 families, and 1619 genera. There were certain differences in the composition and structure of bacterial communities among different rhizosphere soil samples. According to the richness indices, the performance order among samples was Tonghua water celery > Linjiang large-leaf celery > Linjiang old mountain celery > Tonghua large-leaf celery > Jiangyuan large-leaf celery > Tonghua old mountain celery > Linjiang water celery > artificially cultivated wild large-leaf celery > Huadian large-leaf celery > Huadian small-leaf celery > Dongfeng water celery > Jiangyuan old mountain celery. Among all bacterial communities, Pseudomonadota (37.79–22.48%) had the highest relative abundance across different regions, followed by Acidobacteriota (17.97–13.51%). RDA analysis indicated that soil pH, available phosphorus, available potassium, and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen in the celery rhizosphere were the primary factors influencing changes in bacterial communities. Based on the experimental analysis, it was demonstrated that there were differences in rhizosphere soil bacterial community diversity and composition among Tonghua large-leaf celery, Linjiang large-leaf celery, Jiangyuan large-leaf celery, Huadian large-leaf celery, Tonghua old mountain celery, Linjiang old mountain celery, Jiangyuan old mountain celery, Tonghua water celery, Linjiang water celery, Dongfeng water celery, Huadian small-leaf celery, and artificially cultivated wild large-leaf celery in Jilin Province.
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(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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Open AccessArticle
Identification and Functional Analysis of the EPF/EPFL Gene Family in Maize (Zea mays L.): Implications for Drought Stress Response
by
Hanchao Xia, Qi Wang, Ziqi Chen, Xiaopeng Sun, Fangfang Zhao, Di Zhang, Jianbo Fei, Rengui Zhao and Yuejia Yin
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1734; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081734 - 7 Aug 2024
Abstract
Maize, a vital cereal in global agriculture, faces significant yield challenges due to drought exacerbated by climate change. This study explores the genetic and molecular bases of drought resilience in maize, focusing on the EPF/EPFL gene family known for its role in stomatal
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Maize, a vital cereal in global agriculture, faces significant yield challenges due to drought exacerbated by climate change. This study explores the genetic and molecular bases of drought resilience in maize, focusing on the EPF/EPFL gene family known for its role in stomatal regulation. Through a genome-wide analysis across seven grass species, we identified and characterized 16 ZmEPF/EPFL genes in maize. Focusing on their gene structure, expression patterns, and evolutionary relationships. The study integrated genome-wide searches, phylogenetic analysis, gene expression profiling under drought and other abiotic stresses, and qRT-PCR validation to elucidate the functional roles of these genes in drought response. Our results demonstrate that specific ZmEPF/EPFL genes are differentially expressed under varying drought conditions, suggesting their involvement in the plant’s adaptive response to water scarcity. Furthermore, interaction analyses reveal that these genes are linked to key processes such as stomatal development and oxidative stress management. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the ZmEPF/EPFL gene family’s contribution to stomatal development and drought tolerance, offering insights that could guide future breeding strategies for drought-resistant maize varieties.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Breeding and Genetics)
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Open AccessArticle
Rep-ViG-Apple: A CNN-GCN Hybrid Model for Apple Detection in Complex Orchard Environments
by
Bo Han, Ziao Lu, Jingjing Zhang, Rolla Almodfer, Zhengting Wang, Wei Sun and Luan Dong
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1733; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081733 - 7 Aug 2024
Abstract
Accurately recognizing apples in complex environments is essential for automating apple picking operations, particularly under challenging natural conditions such as cloudy, snowy, foggy, and rainy weather, as well as low-light situations. To overcome the challenges of reduced apple target detection accuracy due to
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Accurately recognizing apples in complex environments is essential for automating apple picking operations, particularly under challenging natural conditions such as cloudy, snowy, foggy, and rainy weather, as well as low-light situations. To overcome the challenges of reduced apple target detection accuracy due to branch occlusion, apple overlap, and variations between near and far field scales, we propose the Rep-ViG-Apple algorithm, an advanced version of the YOLO model. The Rep-ViG-Apple algorithm features a sophisticated architecture designed to enhance apple detection performance in difficult conditions. To improve feature extraction for occluded and overlapped apple targets, we developed the inverted residual multi-scale structural reparameterized feature extraction block (RepIRD Block) within the backbone network. We also integrated the sparse graph attention mechanism (SVGA) to capture global feature information, concentrate attention on apples, and reduce interference from complex environmental features. Moreover, we designed a feature extraction network with a CNN-GCN architecture, termed Rep-Vision-GCN. This network combines the local multi-scale feature extraction capabilities of a convolutional neural network (CNN) with the global modeling strengths of a graph convolutional network (GCN), enhancing the extraction of apple features. The RepConvsBlock module, embedded in the neck network, forms the Rep-FPN-PAN feature fusion network, which improves the recognition of apple targets across various scales, both near and far. Furthermore, we implemented a channel pruning algorithm based on LAMP scores to balance computational efficiency with model accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate that the Rep-ViG-Apple algorithm achieves precision, recall, and average accuracy of 92.5%, 85.0%, and 93.3%, respectively, marking improvements of 1.5%, 1.5%, and 2.0% over YOLOv8n. Additionally, the Rep-ViG-Apple model benefits from a 22% reduction in size, enhancing its efficiency and suitability for deployment in resource-constrained environments while maintaining high accuracy.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation of Intelligent Detection and Pesticide Application Technology for Horticultural Crops)
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Open AccessArticle
Design and Parameter Optimization of a Combined Rotor and Lining Plate Crushing Organic Fertilizer Spreader
by
Bing Xu, Qingliang Cui, Lina Guo and Lirong Hao
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1732; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081732 - 7 Aug 2024
Abstract
To address the inefficient crushing of fertilizer during the mechanized spreading process caused by the caking of high-humidity organic fertilizer, a fertilizer spreader with a combined rotor and lining plate crushing mechanism was proposed in this paper. With the introduction of the basic
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To address the inefficient crushing of fertilizer during the mechanized spreading process caused by the caking of high-humidity organic fertilizer, a fertilizer spreader with a combined rotor and lining plate crushing mechanism was proposed in this paper. With the introduction of the basic structure and working principle of the spreader, a particle group model for an organic fertilizer consisting of both caked and bulk fertilizer was built, based on the Hertz–Mindlin model with bonding and the Hertz–Mindlin model with JKR contact, in EDEM to construct an organic fertilizer-crushing-and-spreading model. With the rotor speed, the axial distance of the hammer, and the number of circumferential hammer groups as the experimental factors and the maximum broken bond rate of the caked organic fertilizer and the minimum coefficient of variation of spreading uniformity as the experimental indices, the Box–Behnken test method was employed to establish regression equations for response surface analysis and multi-objective optimization of the test results. The results indicated that, when the rotor speed was 6.47 Hz, the axial distance of the hammer was 90.30 mm, the number of circumferential hammer groups was five, the broken bond rate reached 90.86%, and the coefficient of variation was 21.45%. Verification tests under these conditions showed a broken bond rate of 90.03% and a coefficient of variation of 22.12%, which were consistent with the optimization results. Therefore, our research provides a reference for the structural design of an organic fertilizer spreader and the optimization of its working parameters.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Precision and Digital Agriculture)
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Open AccessArticle
The Content of Soil Glomalin Concerning Selected Indicators of Soil Fertility
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Jindřich Černý, Jiří Balík, Pavel Suran, Ondřej Sedlář, Simona Procházková and Martin Kulhánek
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1731; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081731 - 6 Aug 2024
Abstract
The glomalin content is generally considered an indicator of the soil organic matter (SOM) quality. The content of easily extractable glomalin (EEG) and the total glomalin (TG) content was investigated across 71 different sites in the Czech Republic with arable soil and crop
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The glomalin content is generally considered an indicator of the soil organic matter (SOM) quality. The content of easily extractable glomalin (EEG) and the total glomalin (TG) content was investigated across 71 different sites in the Czech Republic with arable soil and crop production (12 chernozems, 30 luvisols, 17 cambisols, and 12 fluvisols). The majority of the crops in the crop rotation were cereals (45.5%—mainly winter wheat, winter barley, and spring barley). The proportion of winter canola within the crop rotation was 15.9%. The contribution of other crops was substantially smaller (alfalfa, clover, potatoes, beet, silage maize, grain maize). The representation of crops in the crop rotation is standard for conventional farming in the Czech Republic. Based on the results of long-term field monitoring at 71 sites in different soil–climate conditions, we can state the following. The TG content was significantly correlated with the soil organic matter carbon content (CSOM), as well as another important indicator of SOM quality (humic and fulvic acid carbon content ratio—CHA/CFA). A significant and positive correlation was also determined for the TG and clay content (size < 0.002 mm), as well as particles smaller than 0.01 mm. The easily extractable glomalin content (EEG) did not differ based on the reference soil group (RSG). On the other hand, the total glomalin content (TG) was significantly higher in the chernozem RSG in comparison with other RSGs (luvisols, cambisols, fluvisols). There was no relationship between the pHCaCl2 and glomalin (EEG; TG). The same can be said about the relationship between glomalin (EEG; TG) and the bulk density and porosity. No link was established between the glomalin content (EEG; TG) and phosphorus plant-available content. There was no relationship between the amount of applied organic matter (carbon inputs) and the soil glomalin content (EEG; TG). This relationship was not influenced by the type of applied organic fertilizer. No significant relationship was found for either straw, manure, or compost. The data on the glomalin content are significantly influenced by the site (soil type and soil texture).
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Organic Matter Contributes to Soil Health)
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Open AccessArticle
Moderate Drought Stress Interferes with the Physiological State and Promotes the Accumulation of Isoflavone in Reproductive Iris domestica Rhizomes
by
Qiang Ai, Ailin Dai, Mei Han, Limin Yang and Cuijing Liu
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1730; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081730 - 6 Aug 2024
Abstract
Drought stress is one of the main factors affecting the growth and secondary metabolism of plants. Iris domestica, rich in isoflavones, is a common herbal medicine in China. In this study, the effects of drought stress and rehydration on resistance physiological characteristics
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Drought stress is one of the main factors affecting the growth and secondary metabolism of plants. Iris domestica, rich in isoflavones, is a common herbal medicine in China. In this study, the effects of drought stress and rehydration on resistance physiological characteristics and the secondary metabolism of two-year-old I. domestica during the vegetative and reproductive growth period were investigated. The results showed that the dry weight and fresh weight of rhizomes and roots under severe drought stress were significantly decreased, while those under moderate drought stress were not significantly changed. Meanwhile, the SOD activities, POD activities, MDA content and Pro content increased to resist drought at D1 and D2. In the vegetative growth period, the changes in isoflavone concentration and the expression levels of genes in isoflavone synthesis were more dramatic. Isoflavone accumulation was promoted, to some extent, in the reproductive growth period under the D1 drought treatment. In the actual production process, different measures, namely short-term stress regulation in the vegetative growth period and moderate drought stress (13.44% < soil water content ≤ 16.8%) in the reproductive growth period, need to be adopted to regulate isoflavone biosynthesis.
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(This article belongs to the Section Horticultural and Floricultural Crops)
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Open AccessArticle
PMLPNet: Classifying Multi-Class Pests in Wild Environment via a Novel Convolutional Neural Network
by
Liangliang Liu, Jing Chang, Shixin Qiao, Jinpu Xie, Xin Xu and Hongbo Qiao
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1729; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081729 - 6 Aug 2024
Abstract
Pest damage is a major factor in reducing crop yield and has negative impacts on the economy. However, the complex background, diversity of pests, and individual differences pose challenges for classification algorithms. In this study, we propose a patch-based neural network (PMLPNet) for
[...] Read more.
Pest damage is a major factor in reducing crop yield and has negative impacts on the economy. However, the complex background, diversity of pests, and individual differences pose challenges for classification algorithms. In this study, we propose a patch-based neural network (PMLPNet) for multi-class pest classification. PMLPNet leverages spatial and channel contextual semantic features through meticulously designed token- and channel-mixing MLPs, respectively. This innovative structure enhances the model’s ability to accurately classify complex multi-class pests by providing high-quality local and global pixel semantic features for the fully connected layer and activation function. We constructed a database of 4510 images spanning 40 types of plant pests across 4 crops. Experimental results demonstrate that PMLPNet outperforms existing CNN models, achieving an accuracy of 92.73%. Additionally, heat maps reveal distinctions among different pest images, while patch probability-based visualizations highlight heterogeneity within pest images. Validation on external datasets (IP102 and PlantDoc) confirms the robust generalization performance of PMLPNet. In summary, our research advances intelligent pest classification techniques, effectively identifying various pest types in diverse crop images.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Machine Learning in Agriculture)
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Open AccessArticle
The Analytical Theory of Water Activity in the Paddy Rice Drying Process
by
Han Wang, Shengtao Li, Ye Zhang, Khaled Abdeen Mousa Ali, Weihui Wu and Changyou Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1728; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081728 - 6 Aug 2024
Abstract
Drying involves the evaporation of moisture, accompanied by simultaneous heat transfer, mass transfer, and momentum transfer. While the diffusion law is considered an applicable model for explaining the drying phenomenon, the actual drying process cannot be accurately predicted using an analytical solution with
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Drying involves the evaporation of moisture, accompanied by simultaneous heat transfer, mass transfer, and momentum transfer. While the diffusion law is considered an applicable model for explaining the drying phenomenon, the actual drying process cannot be accurately predicted using an analytical solution with a constant diffusion coefficient. Energy efficiency in the drying process is low due to an insufficient understanding of the mechanisms governing moisture migration from solids to air. The development of drying theory has stalled due to an unsolvable discrepancy between experimental results and analytical results. This study analyzes the effect of the binding energy of moisture in paddy rice on the diffusion coefficient. The theoretical relationship between water activity and drying rate in paddy rice was investigated, and the drying process was successfully explained by analyzing free energy transfer and transition theory. The mechanism of rice grain drying was described using a new theoretical solution for the drying process. These results provide new insights into the development of a scientific evaluation standard for assessing the efficiency of actual drying processes.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering)
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Open AccessArticle
Inducing Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng “Qinan” Agarwood Formation with Chemical Reagents
by
Qilei Zhang, Xiaojin Liu, Xiaofei Li, Xiaoying Fang, Yongmei Xiong and Daping Xu
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1727; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081727 - 6 Aug 2024
Abstract
Agarwood is a highly sought-after resinous wood for use in medicine, incense, and perfume production. However, the process of agarwood formation is slow. In this study, the induction of agarwood formation in three-year-old Aquilaria sinensis “Qinan” trees through treatment with ethephon, hydrogen peroxide,
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Agarwood is a highly sought-after resinous wood for use in medicine, incense, and perfume production. However, the process of agarwood formation is slow. In this study, the induction of agarwood formation in three-year-old Aquilaria sinensis “Qinan” trees through treatment with ethephon, hydrogen peroxide, sodium chloride, distilled water, and wounding was investigated. The results showed that the starch content significantly decreased and that the soluble sugar content significantly increased during the process of agarwood formation, with no significant difference between the different treatment groups. The net photosynthetic rate significantly decreased. Except for the sodium chloride treatment, the total antioxidant capacity and the contents of flavonoids and phenols significantly increased during the process of agarwood formation. The essential oil yield of the ethephon and hydrogen peroxide treatment groups was significantly higher than that of the other treatment groups, with the highest essential oil yield in the ethephon treatment group. Compared to the control group, salt treatment produced the lowest essential oil yield of agarwood. The results indicate that appropriate concentrations of ethephon and hydrogen peroxide can promote the formation of agarwood in A. sinensis “Qinan”.
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(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering)
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Open AccessArticle
Effects of Phosphorus and Potassium Supply on Photosynthetic Nitrogen Metabolism, Nitrogen Absorption, and Nitrogen Utilization of Hydroponic Rice
by
Ya Liu, Jiping Gao, Min Zhong, Liqiang Chen and Wenzhong Zhang
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1726; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081726 - 6 Aug 2024
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) stress significantly affect the growth, physiological characteristics, and nutrient uptake of rice plants. This study investigated the photosynthetic nitrogen (N) metabolism, N uptake, and N utilization of plants under varied P and K supplies. Two local conventional high-yield
[...] Read more.
Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) stress significantly affect the growth, physiological characteristics, and nutrient uptake of rice plants. This study investigated the photosynthetic nitrogen (N) metabolism, N uptake, and N utilization of plants under varied P and K supplies. Two local conventional high-yield rice varieties (Shennong 265 and Liaojing 294) were used. These varieties were subjected to the following hydroponic experimental treatments: HPHK (normal P and K concentrations), HPLK (normal P and 1/20 normal K concentration), LPHK (normal K and 1/20 normal P concentration), and LPLK (1/20 normal P and K concentrations). The results showed that the mesophyll cells had a relatively complete nuclear and chloroplast structures, and the antioxidant enzymes of the plants were significantly reduced under the HPHK treatment. Compared to the LP treatments (LPHK and LPLK), the HPHK treatment was found to have the following potential effects: effectively optimize plant configuration; promote leaf development (Pn, E, Ci, and Tr, chlorophyll, and leaf area index); significantly increase the N-metabolism-related enzyme activity of leaves and roots and the accumulation of N in the plant in the main growth stages; and significantly increase the rice yield and N-related efficiency. In conclusion, the HPHK treatment was found to be beneficial in improving the plant configuration, promoting photosynthetic N metabolism, and increasing grain yield and N-related utilization efficiency.
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(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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Open AccessArticle
Influence of Weather Conditions and the Aphid Population on the Potato Virus Y Infection of Tobacco in the Field
by
Marcin Przybyś, Teresa Doroszewska, Andrzej Doroszewski and Tomasz Erlichowski
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1725; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081725 - 5 Aug 2024
Abstract
Potato virus Y (PVY) is a major tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) pathogen that causes severe crop losses. We studied the influence of meteorological factors and a population of twelve aphid species on the development of PVY in field-grown tobacco from 1996 to
[...] Read more.
Potato virus Y (PVY) is a major tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) pathogen that causes severe crop losses. We studied the influence of meteorological factors and a population of twelve aphid species on the development of PVY in field-grown tobacco from 1996 to 2010 in Poland. Three PVY-susceptible tobacco varieties were used in the study. The mean virus incidence ranged from 18% in 2010 to almost 99% in 1996, 2004, and 2009. For determining the relationship between tobacco plant infection and meteorological conditions and aphid populations, logistic regression analysis was used. It was found that the probability of PVY infection is significantly dependent on the average air temperature, relative humidity, number of days with an average temperature of at least 25 °C, and the abundance of Aphis fabae and Brachycaudus helichrysi. The probability of infection of tobacco plants with potato virus Y decreased with increasing air temperature and relative humidity. In addition, with each subsequent day with a temperature of at least 25 °C, the risk of infection decreased by 24%. Furthermore, it was often observed that high populations of Aphis fabae and Brachycaudus helichrysi were associated with a high incidence of virus infection in tobacco plants.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Diseases and the Threats of Their Arthropod Vectors to Crop Health: Surveillance, Detection, and Early-Warning Systems)
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Open AccessArticle
Vegetation’s Dynamic Changes, Spatial Trends, and Responses to Drought in the Yellow River Basin, China
by
Fei Wang, Ruyi Men, Shaofeng Yan, Hexin Lai, Zipeng Wang, Kai Feng, Shikai Gao, Yanbin Li, Wenxian Guo and Yanping Qu
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1724; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081724 - 5 Aug 2024
Abstract
Drought is a complex and recurrent natural disaster that can have devastating impacts on economies, societies, and ecosystems around the world. In light of climate change, the frequency, duration, and severity of drought events worldwide have increased, and extreme drought events have caused
[...] Read more.
Drought is a complex and recurrent natural disaster that can have devastating impacts on economies, societies, and ecosystems around the world. In light of climate change, the frequency, duration, and severity of drought events worldwide have increased, and extreme drought events have caused more severe and irreversible damage to terrestrial ecosystems. Therefore, estimating the resilience of different vegetation to drought events and vegetation’s response to damage is crucial to ensuring ecological security and guiding ecological restoration. Based on meteorological and remote-sensing datasets from 1982 to 2022, the spatial distribution characteristics and temporal variability of vegetation were identified in the Yellow River Basin (YRB), the dynamic changes and recurrence periods of typical drought events were clarified, and the driving effects of different drought types on vegetation were revealed. The results indicated that (1) during the research period, the standardized vegetation water-deficit index (SVWI) showed a downward trend in the YRB, with a 99.52% probability of abrupt seasonal changes in the SVWI occurring in January 2003; (2) the characteristic values of the grid trend Zs were −1.46 and 0.20 in winter and summer, respectively, indicating a significant downward trend in the winter SVWI; (3) the drought with the highest severity (6.48) occurred from September 1998 to February 1999, with a recurrence period of 8.54 years; and (4) the growth of vegetation was closely related to drought, and as the duration of drought increased, the sensitivity of vegetation to drought events gradually weakened. The research results provide a new perspective for identifying vegetation’s dynamic changes and responses to drought, which is of great significance in revealing the adaptability and potential influencing factors of vegetation in relation to climate.
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(This article belongs to the Section Grassland and Pasture Science)
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Open AccessArticle
Maize Anthesis-Silking Interval Estimation via Image Detection under Field Rail-Based Phenotyping Platform
by
Lvhan Zhuang, Chuanyu Wang, Haoyuan Hao, Wei Song and Xinyu Guo
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1723; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081723 - 5 Aug 2024
Abstract
The Anthesis-Silking Interval (ASI) is a crucial indicator of the synchrony of reproductive development in maize, reflecting its sensitivity to adverse environmental conditions such as heat stress and drought. This paper presents an automated method for detecting the maize ASI index using a
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The Anthesis-Silking Interval (ASI) is a crucial indicator of the synchrony of reproductive development in maize, reflecting its sensitivity to adverse environmental conditions such as heat stress and drought. This paper presents an automated method for detecting the maize ASI index using a field high-throughput phenotyping platform. Initially, high temporal-resolution visible-light image sequences of maize plants from the tasseling to silking stage are collected using a field rail-based phenotyping platform. Then, the training results of different sizes of YOLOv8 models on this dataset are compared to select the most suitable base model for the task of detecting maize tassels and ear silks. The chosen model is enhanced by incorporating the SENetv2 and the dual-layer routing attention mechanism BiFormer, named SEBi-YOLOv8. The SEBi-YOLOv8 model, with these combined modules, shows improvements of 2.3% and 8.2% in mAP over the original model, reaching 0.989 and 0.886, respectively. Finally, SEBi-YOLOv8 is used for the dynamic detection of maize tassels and ear silks in maize populations. The experimental results demonstrate the method’s high detection accuracy, with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.987 and an RMSE of 0.316. Based on these detection results, the ASI indices of different inbred lines are calculated and compared.
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(This article belongs to the Section Precision and Digital Agriculture)
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