Intensive farming has caused soil degradation, including the loss of humus, soil structure breakdown, compaction, and a decrease in both potential and effective fertility. Therefore, research into ...farming systems is highly relevant. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to scientifically substantiate, develop, and implement an ecologically friendly modern farming system under Ukrainian conditions. The primary methods used to determine the effectiveness of various farming systems and ensure the accuracy and reliability of experimental data were field, laboratory, and statistical methods. The study substantiated that an industrial farming system with the input of approximately 12.0 tonnes per hectare of crop rotation area of organic matter (8.0 tonnes per hectare of manure and 4.0 tonnes per hectare of plant residues) produces about 0.81 tonnes per hectare of humus, although 1.33 tonnes per hectare of it is mineralised, leading to a negative humus balance in the soil. The output of grain units in this system is 8.21 tonnes per hectare, feed units – 9.63, and digestible protein – 0.86 tonnes per hectare, with stability at 91.2% and profitability at 88.0%. The organic farming system, which includes the use of 24 tonnes per hectare of organic fertilisers and biological products to control weeds, diseases, and pests in agrocenoses, does not ensure a positive humus balance in the soil (-0.14 tonnes per hectare) and has significantly lower productivity. The no-till system, which involves the application of 12 tonnes per hectare of organic fertilisers in the form of root and stubble residues, by-products of crop production, and mineral fertilisers during sowing and foliar feeding, ensures a positive humus balance (+0.12 tonnes per hectare) but has productivity levels comparable to the organic system. The ecological system provides stable, economically viable, and resource-adequate productivity of arable land, enhances the quality indicators of products, and preserves and restores soil fertility. It increased the output of grain units by 8.9%, feed units by 7.2%, and digestible protein by 8.1%, ensuring high stability at 94.1% and an increase in production profitability by 8.5% compared to the control. The materials in this study are of practical value for agricultural enterprises of various ownership forms and will serve as technological guidelines for the implementation of modern, ecologically safe, economically and energetically justified agricultural production
•Utilization subject, management pattern, and social function of cultivated land changed.•Shows a trend of integrating primary and tertiary industries.•Proposes the transfer of “household” as a unit ...instead of “labor”.•Ecological farming should be implemented.
Cultivated land provides the basic guarantee for food production and security, and changes in its utilization have been a focus of attention in China. Since China’s “reform and opening up,” major changes have taken place in the country’s social economy and cultivated land use. Based on statistical data analysis and literature review, this study systematically reviewed long-term changes in cultivated land use in China. On that basis, future trends are identified, which can provide new insights for future research on cultivated land use and protection management. The findings indicate that while cultivated land use is diversified, smallholder farmers still account for the main part. Further, the scale of cultivation is expanding but still fragmented, profits derived from land cultivation are slowly growing, and the proportion of those profits in total household income has dramatically declined. It was also found that the social security function of cultivated land has been weakened, cultivated land management has become more diversified, and grain output has risen steadily. To meet the needs of social and economic development, the government should promote the transfer of the “household” as a unit instead of “labor.” Moreover, innovation in the land use system should be stimulated based on industrial convergence, and policy incentives for ecological farming should be increased.
As global ecological disasters, green tide outbreaks have been observed in the Southern Yellow Sea (SYS) of China since 2007, resulting in considerable economic losses and environmental damage to the ...coastal cities of Jiangsu and Shandong Provinces. Therefore, prevention of green tides is crucial. Previous studies have revealed that a relatively small green tide outbreak scale in the SYS was observed in 2018 and 2020, with the green tides covering areas of 193 km2 and 192 km2 and durations of 91 days and 64 days, respectively. Killing green macroalgae attached to cultivation ropes in Neopyropia aquaculture areas, which has been considered a primary source of the blooms, early removal of Neopyropia aquaculture rafts, and green tide prevention in the SYS are the key reasons for the decrease in green tides in 2018 and 2020. Furthermore, to address the challenges associated with the current green tide source prevention measures, we proposed a comprehensive control method that combines ecological farming, early green tide prevention, and resource utilization. Potential secondary pollution caused by the chemicals used to control Ulva prolifera can be minimized. Conversely, Neopyropia yezoensis quality may be enhanced through continuous improvement of its culturing process, which in turn, could reduce the green tide blooming scale.
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•Introducing the source prevention measures of green tides in the Southern Yellow Sea•The green tide prevention strategies are effective in 2018 and 2020.•Preliminary analysis of the reasons for the large scale of green tides in 2021•Providing suggestions for further research on green tide prevention
Melatonin — This is important to know Kołodziejczyk, Izabela; Kaźmierczak, Andrzej
Science of the total environment,
04/2024, Letnik:
919
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
MEL (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a well-known natural compound that controls cellular processes in both plants and animals and is primarily found in plants as a neurohormone. Its roles have been ...described very broadly, from its antioxidant function related to the photoperiod and determination of seasonal rhythms to its role as a signalling molecule, imitating the action of plant hormones (or even being classified as a prohormone). MEL positively affects the yield and survival of plants by increasing their tolerance to unfavourable biotic and abiotic conditions, which makes MEL widely applicable in ecological farming as a stimulant of growth and development. Thus, it is called a phytobiostimulator. In this review, we discuss the genesis of MEL functions, the presence of MEL at the cellular level and its effects on gene expression and plant development, which can ensure the survival of plants under the conditions they encounter. Moreover, we consider the future application possibilities of MEL in agriculture.
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•Melatonin is a conserved molecule that performs important functions in all organisms.•Melatonin is a biostimulator which upregulates growth and development of plants with promising application potential.•As a phytobiostimulant increases plant tolerance to environmental stresses and resistance to unfavourable conditions.•It may allow maintaining cultivations in good condition without application unnatural compounds into the environment.
The purpose of this research was to evaluate the protein levels in the production of granola from amaranth and agroecological quinoa. The study was carried out at the IQ Alimentos company, since it ...has the machinery and the required business line; the botanical identification of the plant samples used as raw materials were carried out and the strategies for agroecological cultivation applied. The study used an experimental design based on the proportion of each of the components used in the formulation of the product. A mixture of 50% quinoa, 40% amaranth, and 5% egg and honey was chosen after the protein and moisture content were quantified. A 9.67% moisture and 11.59% protein was found to be the best analytical result obtained in all formulations tested, meeting the requirements of the standard NTE INEN 2595:2011. The percentage of moisture was determined by cooking the sample at 125ºC for 13 min; the percentage of moisture was reduced while the protein was not significantly altered or degraded. A stability analysis was carried out on the final product, following the national regulations, and it was concluded that the shelf life of the processed food is 20 weeks, since in this period of time there are no values outside the permissible limit by the standard.
Keywords: Quinoa, Amaranth, Granola, Protein, Moisture, Agro-ecological farming.
Resumen
La presente investigación tuvo como finalidad el evaluar los niveles de proteína en la producción de granola a partir de amaranto y quinua agroecológica, de este modo el estudio se emplazó en la empresa IQ Alimentos ya que la misma cuenta con la maquinaria y la línea de negocio pertinente, se realizó la identificación botánica de las muestras vegetales utilizadas como materia prima y las estrategias aplicadas para el cultivo agroecológico. Se determinó un diseño experimental sobre las cantidades de participación de cada uno de los componentes de la formulación del producto llegando a elegir una formación de un 50% de quinua, 40% de amaranto 5% de huevo y miel de abeja, tras la evaluación del porcentaje de proteína y humedad se cuantifico un 9,67 % de humedad y 11,59 % de proteína, siendo este el mejor resultado analítico obtenido en todas las formulaciones planteadas, cumpliendo con los requerimientos de la norma NTE INEN 2595:2011. El porcentaje de humedad fue determinado tras el proceso de cocción de la muestra donde se aplicó una temperatura de 125∘ C durante 13 minutos, la muestra disminuye su porcentaje de humedad muestras la proteína no se ve alterada o degradado de forma significativa. Se realizó un análisis de estabilidad en el producto final, a bajo la normativa vigente en el país, pudiendo concluir que el tiempo de vida útil del alimento elaborado es de 20 semanas, ya que en este periodo de tiempo no se aprecian valores fuera del límite permisible por la norma.
Palabras Clave: Quinua, Amaranto, Granola, Proteína, Humedad, Cultivo Agroecológico.
Traditional agriculture relies heavily on chemical inputs, which pose significant threats to the environment and deplete natural resources. The environmental challenges posed by chemical-based ...agriculture and emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable alternatives in the face of climate change. Acknowledging the detrimental impact of environmental stressors on global agriculture sets the stage for exploration of PGPR as a promising solution. Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) have emerged as a sustainable alternative, fostering plant development, and enhancing stress resilience. A comprehensive understanding of the underlying signalling pathways and stress management mechanisms is essential to maximizing their potential. Plant health has been demonstrated, nutrient uptake has improved, and environmental stress has been reduced with the help of PGPR. Identifying the specific plant signalling pathways that are impacted by PGPR and comprehending their function in stress mitigation are critical to creating efficient and sustainable farming practises. Utilizing PGPR-mediated stress control may reduce the need for chemical inputs, encouraging environmentally friendly farming methods. By creating genetically engineered crops with increased stress tolerance, the knowledge gathered in this review can help ensure food security in the face of climate change. The signalling pathways involved, the processes underpinning PGPR-plant interactions, and the responses of plants to diverse stressors when PGPR is present have been explored. This review offers helpful insights into the intricate link between PGPR and plants, putting light on the uncertainties that beg for additional research by critically analysing the present literature and highlighting knowledge gaps.
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•PGPR have become viable substitutes for chemical inputs by fostering plant development and stress tolerance.•To explore the potential, it is imperative to comprehend the signalling routes and stress management systems.•To promote Eco friendly farming and chemical input requirements can be decreased by PGPR-mediated stress regulation.•Climate change can be mitigated by using genetically modified crops that are more resilient to stress.•A stable crop yield can be maintained by integrating PGPR with sustainable farming practises.
Aims
Balancing yield and soil CO
2
emissions in cropping systems has become a focus of agricultural research. To explore effective ways to achieve the balance, three years (2016–2018) of field ...experiments were conducted in the oasis zone of Northwest China.
Methods
Three replications of the four tillage systems (NT, no-tillage; MT, minimal-tillage; ST, sub-tillage; FT, fold-tillage) were used in a randomized complete block design.
Results
It was found that tillage practice had no significant effect on soil carbon pools. However, FT exhibited a significantly higher soil carbon emission intensity (SCEI) and net ecosystem primary productivity (NPP). Still, poorly in terms of net ecosystem productivity (NEP) than those of the NT, MT, and ST treatments, MT performed the highest NEP and maize yield (P < 0.05). The total cumulative CO
2
emissions of the FT were 23.3%-37.6% higher than those of the other tillage practices. Furthermore, we identified that soil CO
2
emission was mainly influenced by soil temperature and soil moisture. NT increased farmers' net income and output/input ratio by 20.2% and 41.3% respectively compared with FT and demonstrated better economic benefits and net ecosystem productivity.
Conclusions
The results suggest that conservation tillage (especially NT and MT) is advantageous to local economic and ecological benefits in the short term. However, the years of continuous tillage are critical for increasing crop yields and reducing CO
2
emissions, so the feedback response of long-term tillage on farmland still needs to be observed and studied.
Farmers have adopted ecological farming to overcome the adverse effects of climate change and conventional agriculture. However, the performance of ecological approaches, especially the economic ...outcomes of ecological practices adopted as a package, has yet to be widely documented in Kenya. This paper aims to fill this gap and generate pertinent information on the implications of adopting different ecological practices bundles on farm income. The study considers five ecological practices: crop diversification, composting, mulching, minimum tillage, and integrated pest management (IPM). This study employed a multinomial endogenous switching regression (MESR) model to capture the effect of adopting different combinations of ecological practices on farm income. The results reveal that 15.3 % of the surveyed households adopted a bundle combining composting, crop diversification, and IPM. Households that adopted a comprehensive package (comprising all five ecological practices) had the largest positive impact on farm income, increasing it by 9.2 %. This package replaces chemical inputs with locally available resources, restores degraded soils and diversifies production risks to increase food production and farm income. Farming experience, off-farm activities, farm size, perceptions of the effects of conventional agriculture, and drought and floods significantly influenced the adoption of the comprehensive package. This study’s findings imply that policymakers and related stakeholders should provide timely weather-related information, enforce sustainable land use laws, and establish targeted extension services and information campaigns to heighten the adoption of all five ecological practices and enhance household welfare by increasing farm income.
•The performance of ecological farming is not widely documented in Kenya.•Effect of adoption of ecological farming practices modelled using MESR.•Farm income varied with the bundles of ecological practices a household adopted.•Households that adopted a comprehensive package increased farm income by 9.2 %.
This research was conducted in two farms with different management in north-east Slovakia. The aim of this study was to examine interrelationship between functional biochemical and microbial ...indicators of soil quality, and their suitability to differentiate areas under contrasting management regimes. Soil samples from two ecological and conventional farming were applied to Biolog EcoPlate and average colour development (AWCD), richness (R) and Shannon diversity index (H) were calculated. Additionally, selected physicochemical and microbial indices were analysed. Over the 5-year study period, it was found that ecological farming contributed to an increase of organic matter and high dose of organic amendment maintained soil pH. Enzymatic tests revealed that activity of most studied enzymes showed higher values in ecological system. Microbial population from the soil under ecological management showed higher metabolic activity. Also the differences of diversity and richness index were observed. Activity and functional diversity of microbial population in the ecological farming were significantly correlated with favourable soil reaction and a higher content of organic matter. We conclude that microbial parameters are most effective indicators of management induced changes to soil quality, and that a variety of microbial analyses should be used when considering the impact of management on soil quality.
