bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on Corporate Social Responsibility: Insights and Future Directions
Authors: Kharabsheh Buthiena , Al-Shammari Hussam , Bataineh Khaled
Published: February 2023

Our current review paper aims to discuss the various issues pertaining to the future research avenues of CSR, and possible expansions that this scholarly field could have considering the growing interests from numerous academic disciplines and practitioners across the globe. In particular, we briefly discuss the work that has been performed on CSR, major theories that guided this area of research, and a summary of prior research findings. Then, we suggest future directions on specific drivers that motivate firms to engage in CSR activities. Specifically, we provide insights on how research should focus on within-firm variables, namely personality traits of TMTs and their possible impact on their firms’ stances towards CSR. We also briefly discuss the need for more advanced method of CSR rankings that takes into account consumers’ perception about the existing CSR rankings, such as KDL, and also consumers’ satisfaction and responses towards firms’ CSR. Finally, we highlight the need for two separate measurements of CSR; a measure that speaks to external stakeholders of the firm, and another measure that speaks to the internal stakeholders of the firm.
Preserving Heritage of Humanity: A Systematic Study of the Pandemic Impacts and Countermeasures of the SMEs
Authors: Yunus Erlinda Nusron , Ernawati Erni , Nuraini Endah , Yuniarti Kartika
Published: February 2023

This study explores the most significant changes experienced by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. It reveals the SMEs’ strategies to survive and prosper amid the crisis. These actions are becoming increasingly invaluable and crucial for entrepreneurs in the heritage of humanity, such as Indonesian batik, who must stay in business to preserve national culture. This study conducts a systematic literature review of 42 relevant articles published between 2020 and the present and furthers the investigation using the Most Significant Change technique, involving in-depth interviews with 15 SME entrepreneurs. The results show that Indonesian batik SMEs struggled during the pandemic and experienced at least a 70% revenue reduction. Those who survived implemented retrenchment, persevering, and innovation strategies to achieve their short- and long-term goals. A temporary exit strategy was also applied in which business actors engaged in a different, more profitable business while awaiting normalcy. This study also found that true entrepreneurs’ qualities, namely creativity and resilience, emerge in exceptionally difficult business situations.
Experimental and Correction Methods for Responsivity Temperature Dependence in the SWIR Bands of a Spaceborne Scanning Polarimeter
Authors: Dong Hao , Liu Zhenhai , Lei Xuefeng , Li Congfei , Tao Fei , Zhao Xinxin , Ling Mingchun , Yan Lei , Sun Zhen , Cong Qiang , Zou Peng , Song Maoxin , Hong Jin
Published: February 2023

Photodetector spectral responsivity is usually affected by photosensitive surface temperatures. The Photosensitive Surface Temperatures (PSTs) of the long wavelength-type InGaAs detector used in the Polarized Scanning Atmospheric Corrector (PSAC), which adopts an active Constant-Current Cooling (CCC) scheme, can be changed with ambient temperature. To correct this responsivity temperature characteristic, a Responsivity Temperature Dependence Correction (RTDC) model was established with parameters obtained using an instrument-level experiment. Moreover, a detector-level experiment under ambient conditions was also explored to acquire model parameters. The instrument-level and detector-level experimental results show that the responsivity of a PSAC 2250 nm channel operating on orbit (PST ≈ −65 °C) with a 35 °C PST difference is reduced by approximately 1.2% and 1.5% compared with a laboratory-based radiometric test (PST ≈ −30 °C). The 1.08% responsivity change (−61 °C < PST < −38 °C) in the temperature drift simulation experiment is reduced to approximately 0.38% and 0.34%, respectively. The consistency between the two experimental results preliminarily verifies the substitutability of this detector-level experiment for this type of detector. The RTDC experiments are applicable to other spaceborne remote sensors. The detector-level experiment explored herein provides a reference for realizing RTDC under ambient temperature conditions at low costs.
Detection and Correction of Abnormal IoT Data from Tea Plantations Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Wang Ruiqing , Feng Jinlei , Zhang Wu , Liu Bo , Wang Tao , Zhang Chenlu , Xu Shaoxiang , Zhang Lifu , Zuo Guanpeng , Lv Yixi , Zheng Zhe , Hong Yu , Wang Xiuqi
Published: February 2023

This paper proposes a data anomaly detection and correction algorithm for the tea plantation IoT system based on deep learning, aiming at the multi-cause and multi-feature characteristics of abnormal data. The algorithm is based on the Z-score standardization of the original data and the determination of sliding window size according to the sampling frequency. First, we construct a convolutional neural network (CNN) model to extract abnormal data. Second, based on the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm, the Gaussian radial basis function (RBF) and one-to-one (OVO) multiclassification method are used to classify the abnormal data. Then, after extracting the time points of abnormal data, a long short-term memory network is established for prediction with multifactor historical data. The predicted values are used to replace and correct the abnormal data. When multiple consecutive abnormal values are detected, a faulty sensor judgment is given, and the specific faulty sensor location is output. The results show that the accuracy rate and micro-specificity of abnormal data detection for the CNN-SVM model are 3–4% and 20–30% higher than those of the traditional CNN model, respectively. The anomaly detection and correction algorithm for tea plantation data established in this paper provides accurate performance.
Temporal and Spatial Variations in Soil Elemental Stoichiometry Coupled with Alterations in Agricultural Land Use Types in the Taihu Lake Basin
Authors: Liu Chonggang , Li Jiangye , Sun Wei , Gao Yan , Yu Zhuyun , Dong Yue , Li Pingxing
Published: February 2023

Soil elemental stoichiometry, expressed as the ratios of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), regulates the biogeochemical processes of elements in terrestrial ecosystems. Generally, the soil C:N:P stoichiometry characteristics of agricultural ecosystems may be different from those of natural ecosystems, with distinct temporal and spatial variations along with the alterations of agricultural land use types (LUTs). The balance of soil C, N, and P reflected by their stoichiometry is primarily important to microbial activity and sustainable agricultural development. However, information on soil stoichiometric changes after long-term alterations in land use is still lacking. We characterized the temporal and spatial changes in soil elemental stoichiometry coupled with alterations in agricultural LUTs in the Taihu Lake basin. By using the ArcGIS method and meta-data analysis, our results showed that the C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios of agricultural soil in the Taihu Lake basin were much lower than the well-constrained values based on samples from forest, shrubland, and grassland at a global scale. Generally, these elemental ratios in soils increased from the 1980s to the 2000s, after experiencing changes from agricultural to other land use. The soil C:N:P stoichiometry may have maintained the increasing trend according to the meta-data analysis from the 341 peer-reviewed publications since 2010. Nevertheless, different regions showed inconsistent change patterns, with the Tianmu Mountain area surrounding the downstream of the Taihu Lake basin experiencing a reduction in those ratios. The changes in LUTs and their corresponding management practices were the major drivers shaping the spatial and temporal distributions of soil C:N, C:P, and N:P. Paddy soil generally achieved higher C sequestration potential due to more straw input and a more rapid transfer of straw C into soil C in the upstream of the Taihu Lake basin than other land use types. These results provide valuable information for the agricultural system of intensive cultivation on how their soil elemental stoichiometry characteristics vary temporally and spatially due to the alteration of agricultural land use types.
Do Glycogen Content and Thermal Preference in Worker Bees Vary Depending on Geographical Origin? A Comparison of Carniolan Honeybees, Central European Honeybees and Caucasian Honeybees
Authors: Grodzicki Przemysław , Bacia Joanna , Piątkowska Katarzyna , Piechowicz Bartosz
Published: February 2023

Among the honeybee subspecies, Polish beekeepers most commonly rear three of them, i.e., Apis mellifera carnica, A. m. mellifera and A. m. caucasica. They differ in morphological and physiological features. Our goal was to find a linkage between their thermal behaviour and body glycogen content that could be decisive for their wintering perspective. We compared the temperature preference and body glycogen concentration in six honeybee groups of three subspecies obtained from hives in two seasons, on 12 May 2021 (summer bees) and on 20 September 2020 (autumn bees preparing for wintering). In the Carniolan and Central European honeybees, the glycogen content in worker bodies was higher in autumn bees preparing for wintering than in summer bees. The Caucasian honeybee deviated from this pattern. The choice of ambient temperature by a given subspecies depended neither on the season nor the geographical race.
Engineering Design, Kinematic and Dynamic Analysis of High Lugs Rigid Driving Wheel, a Traction Device for Conventional Agricultural Wheeled Tractors
Authors: Md-Tahir Hafiz , Zhang Jumin , Zhou Yong , Sultan Muhammad , Ahmad Fiaz , Du Jun , Ullah Amman , Hussain Zawar , Xia Junfang
Published: February 2023

Traction failure on loose terrain is common in conventional agricultural wheeled tractors due to poor traction ability and lower power transfer efficiency of drive wheels, which leads to excessive energy consumption and soil compaction in agriculture. To overcome the problem, this paper presents a new design of a rigid lugged wheel for use in field tillage operations. This wheel was designed according to field operational requirements and also provided with rubber pads for smooth on-road drives. Kinematic and dynamic analysis of new wheel designs were carried out to study how they move, how they interact with the soil, and how they generate drive force in loose terrain soil. The relationship of wheel lug motion trajectories, displacement, and velocity of the wheel relative to field conditions, different travel reduction rates, and lug penetration/wheel sinkage were analyzed. Wheel-terrain interaction and shear stress-shear displacement relationships when the wheel is driven in soft, deformable terrain were studied using classic soil mechanics principles. It is found that the component of thrust in the direction of driving, i.e., driving force, is ranged between 81.52% and 86.17%, while the vertical component is reported to be less than 30% and further decreases to 9%, which is the compaction avoiding factor. The relationships, thus developed, of wheel parameters, soil stress and thrust characteristics, and wheel drive force were derived and revealed that the traction performance, power transfer efficiency, and trafficability of tractors in loose terrain can be improved by using the newly proposed wheel. A finite element method was used to analyze the designed wheel model for structural stability and optimization. The theoretical analysis results of the new drive wheel are convincing, so further tests and field operation research are recommended for sustainable adoption.
Assessment of Earthworm Services on Litter Mineralisation and Nutrient Release in Annual and Perennial Energy Crops (Zea mays vs. Silphium perfoliatum)
Authors: Wöhl Lena , Ruf Thorsten , Emmerling Christoph , Thiele Jan , Schrader Stefan
Published: February 2023

Abundant and functionally diverse earthworm communities in perennials deliver ecosystem services like increasing nutrient availability by incorporating organic matter. This study aimed to analyse the decomposition of annual and perennial energy crop residues, and the subsequent nutrient release, depending on earthworm functional diversity. In a laboratory experiment, two ecological earthworm groups—anecics (detritivorous Lumbricus terrestris (L.)) and endogeics (geophagous Aporrectodea caliginosa and A. rosea)—were incubated with wilted cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) and maize (Zea mays) litter for 4 or 8 weeks. Decomposition and consumption rates were calculated. The C, N and P in litter and casts were analysed. Mineralisation was a function of earthworm biomass and the number of individuals. Functional diversity had no beneficial effect. Decomposition was found to be highest in treatments with detritivorous earthworms, i.e., higher earthworm biomass, yet consumption and nutrient turnover in relation to earthworm biomass were higher in treatments with geophages indicating enhanced competition. N limitation became apparent in both litter treatments and was predominant with cup plant litter. N limitation and recalcitrant cell wall compounds affected consumption rates and the egestion of total C and P. While N in casts was lower than expected, P was increased. We observed that the effects manifested at different stages of decomposition of maize and cup plant, highlighting differences in temporal development of decomposition and nutrient turnover between litter types. Our results indicate that earthworms promote decomposition of recalcitrant litter and nutrient turnover, but N limitation may hamper nutrient release. Cup plant systems offer a suitable habitat for soil-dwelling organisms, but management approaches must consider the adequate input of organic matter as an energy and nutrient source to enhance ecosystem service provision.
Variation in Fruit and Seed Morphology of Selected Biotypes and Cultivars of Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb. in North-Eastern Europe
Authors: Bieniek Anna , Bieniek Arkadiusz , Bielska Natalia
Published: February 2023

Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb., also known as “cherry silverberry”, “cherry elaeagnus”, and “goumi” has been used for a long time in traditional Chinese medicine as a phytosterol-rich plant. Today, the fruits of this species are also becoming more popular as a “superfood” in Europe, but the cultivation of these plants is not yet carried out on a large commercial scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield and morphological quality of the fruit of nine E. multiflora biotypes and two cultivars, ‘Jahidka’ and ‘Sweet Scarlet’, to determine their suitability for cultivation in the climatic conditions of Poland. The lowest yields (an average of 0.49 kg per bush) were recorded in 2021. In this year, the fruits of the biotypes and cultivars were distinguished by the highest mean fruit weight, fruit-to-seed weight ratio, and total soluble solids content. Our research shows that due to the greatest weight of fruits, cultivar ‘Jahidka’ and the biotype B11 can be recommended for cultivation in north-eastern Poland. Biotype B11 was distinguished by the highest yield (an average of 4.02 kg per bush). The smallest share of stone in relation to the weight of the fruit was shown for the cultivars ‘Jahidka’, and biotype B4.
Impact of African Swine Fever Epidemic on the Cost Intensity of Pork Production in China
Authors: Yan Zhaohui , Wang Mingli , Li Xujun , Jiang Hui
Published: February 2023

China’s African swine fever (ASF) outbreak, which started in 2018, has had a huge and far-reaching impact on China’s hog industry, and it has not been completely eliminated so far. This article analyzes the impact of the ASF epidemic on the costs and technical efficiency of hog production in China based on data from the China Agricultural Product Cost–Benefit Compilation (2012–2021) using a stochastic frontier trans-log production function model. The results show that, after the outbreak of the ASF epidemic in China, feed costs, medical and epidemic prevention costs, and other costs of hog production in China increased significantly; the technical efficiency of China’s hog production decreased significantly; large-scale hog farms were the most responsive to and greatly affected by the ASF epidemic; and there are regional differences in the impact of the ASF epidemic on technical efficiency of hog production. Future policies should focus on strengthening the R&D investment and technology promotion capacity of hog production, developing moderate-scale farming, and enhancing regional cooperation to improve technical efficiency of hog production.
On Precision Agriculture: Enhanced Automated Fruit Disease Identification and Classification Using a New Ensemble Classification Method
Authors: Mehmood Abid , Ahmad Muneer , Ilyas Qazi Mudassar
Published: February 2023

Fruits are considered among the most nutrient-dense cash crops around the globe. Since fruits come in different types, sizes, shapes, colors, and textures, the manual classification and disease identification of a large quantity of fruit is time-consuming and sluggish, requiring massive human intervention. We propose a multilevel fusion method for fruit disease identification and fruit classification that includes intensive fruit image pre-processing, customized image kernels for feature extraction with state-of-the-art (SOTA) deep methods, Gini-index-based controlled feature selection, and a hybrid ensemble method for identification and classification. We noticed certain limitations in the existing literature of adopting a single data source, in terms of limited data sizes, variability in fruit types, variability in quality, and variability in disease type. Therefore, we extensively aggregated and pre-processed multi-fruit data to simulate our proposed ensemble model on comprehensive datasets to cover both fruit classification and disease identification aspects. The multi-fruit imagery data contained regular and augmented images of fruits including apple, apricot, avocado, banana, cherry, fig, grape, guava, kiwi, mango, orange, peach, pear, pineapple, and strawberry. Similarly, we considered normal and augmented images of rotten fruits including beans (two categories), strawberries (seven categories), and tomatoes (three categories). For consistency, we normalized the images and designed an auto-labeling mechanism based on the existing image clusters to label inconsistent data to appropriate classes. Finally, we verified the auto-labeled data with a complete inspection to correctly assign it to the relevant classes. The proposed ensemble classifier outperforms all other classification methods, achieving 100% and 99% accuracy for fruit classification and disease identification. Further, we performed the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test to validate the statistical significance of the classifiers’ outcomes at α = 0.05. We achieved F-values of 32.41 and 11.42 against F-critical values of 2.62 and 2.86, resulting in p-values of 0.00 (<0.05) for fruit classification and disease identification.
Pasture Quality Monitoring Based on Proximal and Remote Optical Sensors: A Case Study in the Montado Mediterranean Ecosystem
Authors: Serrano João , Mendes Sara , Shahidian Shakib , Marques da Silva José
Published: February 2023

Permanent dryland pastures are the basis of animal feed in extensive grazing systems. Seasonality and inter-annual climatic variability, associated with shallow, acidic, and not very fertile soils, result in low productivity and rapid degradation of pasture quality, which requires the supplementation of animal feed. In this study, carried out in a biodiverse pasture field in the Mediterranean region of southern Portugal, the vegetation index (NDVI, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) obtained from measurements performed by a proximal optical sensor (PS) and satellite images (RS) was used to assess pasture quality parameters (pasture moisture content, PMC, crude protein, CP, and neutral detergent fiber, NDF). The monitoring was carried out throughout the 2021/2022 pasture growing season. Significant correlations were obtained between the NDVI obtained by PS and RS (R2 of 0.84) and the reference values of pasture parameters obtained in laboratory protocols: PMC (R2 of 0.88 and 0.78, respectively), CP (R2 of 0.67 and 0.63, respectively), and NDF (R2 of 0.50 and 0.46, respectively). This case study also demonstrated the spatial and temporal variability of vegetative vigour and, consequently, of pasture quality in the Montado, the characteristic Mediterranean ecosystem. These results show the pertinence of these technologies in supporting the decision-making process of the farm manager, namely, to estimate the supplementation needs of animals in critical phases, especially after the spring production peak and before the autumn production peak.
Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals the Regulatory and Metabolic Mechanisms Underlying Low-Nitrogen Tolerance at the Flowering Stage in Rice
Authors: Wang Yanru , Jiang Jing , Qian Yukang , Miao Siyu , Wang Wensheng , Xu Jianlong , Fu Binying , Zhang Fan , Zhao Xiuqin
Published: February 2023

Crop productivity depends on nitrogen fertilization, but plants take up only an average of 30–50% of the applied nitrogen. Developing rice cultivars with improved nitrogen use efficiency or low-nitrogen (LN) tolerance is critical for sustainable agriculture. In this study, a backcross introgression line (G9) with 15 introgressed regions from donor parent and its recurrent parent Shuhui 527 (G1), which are differentially responsive to LN stress, were used to investigate the mechanism mediating rice LN tolerance at the flowering stage based on metabolome and transcriptome profiles. Three genes (LOC_Os02g40010, LOC_Os11g25260 and LOC_Os11g47300) involved in purine metabolism, which are located in the introgressed regions, were detected with significantly higher expression levels in G9 than in G1 under LN stress, and the contents of two relative metabolites (uric acid and guanine) were significantly different between the two genotypes. Additionally, two genes (LOC_Os02g36880 and LOC_Os08g05830) located in the introgressed regions and relative metabolites (3-phosphoglyceric acid and sedoheptulose 7-phosphate) involved in glycosis and pentose phosphate pathway are differentially expressed between G9 and G1. In addition to the two nitrogen metabolism-related genes (OsLHT1 and OsACR9) located in the introgressed regions, 23 differentially expressed genes mainly involved in nitrogen metabolism were identified between genotypes or treatments. With the comprehensive analysis of transcriptomes and metabolomes, our results reveal that the active purine metabolism may be the main factor contributing to LN tolerance in rice at the flowering stage, and also provide five new candidate genes for improving LN tolerance during the molecular breeding of rice.
Microbial Solution of Growth-Promoting Bacteria Sprayed on Monoammonium Phosphate for Soybean and Corn Production
Authors: Silveira Cristiane Prezotto , Andreote Fernando Dini , Ferraz-Almeida Risely , Carvalho Jardelcio , Gorsuch John , Otto Rafael
Published: February 2023

Common fertilizers present a low use efficiency caused by nutrient losses (e.g., through leaching, volatilization, adsorption, and precipitation in solution as well as through microbial reduction and immobilization) that create a significant limiting factor in crop production. Inoculation with Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) is presented as an alternative to increasing fertilizer efficiency. The goal of the study was to test the hypothesis that PGPB (solution with Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus pumilus) can be a strategy to increase the monoammonium phosphate (MAP) efficiency, root growth, and nutrient assimilation of soybean and corn cultivated in arenosol and oxisol. A greenhouse study was developed with the rates of PGPB (rates: 0, 1, 1.33, and 1.66–2.0 L per ton of fertilizer) sprayed on MAP and applied in an arenosol and oxisol cultivated with soybean and corn. Results showed that in both soils and crops, there was a variation in soil biological activity during the experiment. On day 45, PGPB + MAP promoted the beta-glucosidase and ammonium-oxidizing microorganism activities in the arenosol. The PGPB + MAP increased crop root growth in both soils and crops. Plant dry matter was associated with the phosphorous content in the soil, indicating that the phosphorous applied was absorbed by the plants, consequently resulting in a higher accumulation in the plant. Based on the results, the conclusion is that PGPB + MAP increases the growth and phosphorous accumulation of soybean and corn cultivated in the arenosol and oxisol, with a direct effect on crop rooting.
Efficacy of Pendimethalin Rates on Barnyard Grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv) and Their Effect on Photosynthetic Performance in Rice
Authors: Onwuchekwa-Henry Chinaza B. , Coe Robert , Ogtrop Floris Van , Roche Rose , Tan Daniel K. Y.
Published: February 2023

Pendimethalin herbicide toxicity to rice plants and barnyard grass invasion have increasingly affected the productivity of direct-seeded rice (DSR) in the fields. Whether and how to promote DSR productivity and sustain weed management depend on the appropriate pre-emergence herbicide application rate to minimise its toxicity in the rice ecosystem. Pot experiments were conducted to determine the effects of pendimethalin rates (1.5, 1.75, 2.0 kg a.i. ha−1, two control treatments include the untreated control and the treated control with 1.5 kg a.i. ha−1 S-metolachlor) on barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beaux) and their potential toxicity risk to photosynthetic performances of rice (Topaz and Sen pidao). All the pendimethalin treatments provided excellent control of barnyard grass. Among the treatments, 1.5, 1.75, 2.0 kg a.i. ha−1 pendimethalin and 1.5 kg a.i. ha−1 S-metolachlor (treated control) decreased leaf area of barnyard grass significantly by 38.9, 49.6, 49.6 and 46.2%, respectively, compared with the untreated control at 40 days after sowing (DAS). The above-ground biomass of barnyard grass significantly decreased by 40% (1.48 g plant−1) with 2.0 kg a.i. ha−1 pendimethalin and by 46.2% (1.33 g plant−1) when 1.5 kg a.i. ha−1S-metolachlor was applied at 40 DAS compared with the untreated pots. Higher pendimethalin rates increased toxicity in Topaz and Sen pidao varieties, and 2.0 kg a.i. ha−1 pendimethalin significantly reduced effective quantum yield (light-adapted) of photosystem (PS) II by 18% (0.58) and 19% (0.52), respectively, compared with the untreated control. Application of 2.0 kg a.i. ha−1 pendimethalin rate significantly decreased the maximum quantum yield (dark-adapted) of Sen pidao (0.66) compared with 1.5 kg a.i. ha−1 pendimethalin (0.68) including the untreated control. All pendimethalin treatments suppressed above-ground biomass at 55 DAS, but above-ground biomass of barnyard grass significantly decreased by 59.9% when 2.0 kg a.i. ha−1 pendimethalin was applied compared with the untreated control. Although application of 1.5 kg a.i. ha−1 pendimethalin rates reduced the effective quantum yield (light-adapted) of photosystem II of Sen pidao (0.55) by a small percentage (8%) than Topaz (0.65), it was non-toxic for both varieties compared with 2.0 kg a.i. ha−1 pendimethalin. Therefore, the use of 1.5 kg a.i. ha−1 pendimethalin can be used for effective weed management in the direct seeding of rice at an early growth stage.
Soil Salinity Assessing and Mapping Using Several Statistical and Distribution Techniques in Arid and Semi-Arid Ecosystems, Egypt
Authors: Fadl Mohamed E. , Jalhoum Mohamed E. M. , AbdelRahman Mohamed A. E. , Ali Elsherbiny A. , Zahra Wessam R. , Abuzaid Ahmed S. , Fiorentino Costanza , D’Antonio Paola , Belal Abdelaziz A. , Scopa Antonio
Published: February 2023

Oasis lands in Egypt are commonly described as salty soils; therefore, waterlogging and higher soil salinity are major obstacles to sustainable agricultural development. This study aims to map and assess soil salinization at El-Farafra Oasis in the Egypt Western Desert based on salinity indices, Imaging Spectroscopy (IS), and statistical techniques. The regression model was developed to test the relationship between the electrical conductivity (ECe) of 70 surface soil samples and seven salinity indices (SI 1, SI 2, SI 5, SI 6, SI 7, SI 8, and SI 9) to produce soil salinity maps depending on Landsat-8 (OLI) images. The investigations of soil salinization and salinity indices were validated in a studied area based on 30 soil samples; the obtained results represented that all salinity indices have shown satisfactory correlations between ECe values for each soil sample site and salinity indices, except for the SI 5 index that present non-significant correlations with R2 value of 0.2688. The SI 8 index shows a higher negative significant correlation with ECe and an R2 value of 0.6356. There is a significant positive correlation at the (p < 0.01) level between SI 9 and ECe (r = 0.514), a non-significant correlation at the (p < 0.05) level between soil ECe and SI 1 index (r = 0.495), and the best-verified salinity index was for SI 7 that has a low estimated RMSE error of 8.58. Finally, the highest standard error (R2) was represented as ECe (dS m−1) with an R2 of 0.881, and the lowest one was SI 9 with an R2 of 0.428, according to Tukey’s test analysis. Therefore, observing and investigating soil salinity are essential requirements for appropriate natural resource management plans in the future.
Improving the Sustainability of Rice Cultivation in Central Thailand with Biofertilizers and Laser Land Leveling
Authors: Pame Anny Ruth P. , Vithoonjit Duangporn , Meesang Nisa , Balingbing Carlito , Gummert Martin , Van Hung Nguyen , Singleton Grant R. , Stuart Alexander M.
Published: February 2023

Rice production in the Central Plains of Thailand plays a key role in the country’s food security. However, the overuse of inputs coupled with the rising production costs are making it increasingly difficult for smallholder rice farming to remain economically and environmentally sustainable. Replicated production-scale field trials of Cost Reduction Operating Principles (CROP)—Thailand’s national package of best management practices for rice production—were established in tandem with laser land leveling (LLL), mechanical drum seeder, and the application of two biofertilizer products (i.e., PGPR II, that contains Azospirillum brasilense Sp. TS29 and Burkholderia vietnamiensis S45; and LDD #12, that contains Azotobacter tropicalis, Burkholderia unamae and Bacillus subtilis) and compared with farmer’s practices (FP). Performance indicators (PI) promoted by the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) were used to assess economic and environmental indicators. CROP + PGPR had significantly higher net income (79%) and nitrogen-use efficiency (57%) compared with FP. Pesticide use (28%), seed (60%), inorganic fertilizer N (41%) and total production costs (19%) were reduced in all CROP treatments compared with FP. These results demonstrate that the application of CROP, LLL, mechanical drum seeder, and biofertilizers can substantially improve the economic and environmental sustainability of rice production in the Central Plains of Thailand.
Numerical Simulation of Soil Water–Salt Dynamics and Agricultural Production in Reclaiming Coastal Areas Using Subsurface Pipe Drainage
Authors: Lu Peirong , Yang Yujie , Luo Wan , Zhang Yu , Jia Zhonghua
Published: February 2023

Soil salinization induced by shallow saline groundwater in coastal areas can be managed using subsurface pipe drainage (SPD) for agricultural land reclamation. However, a reasonable SPD system layout should comprehensively consider local hydrological conditions and crop physiological characteristics based on long-term model evaluations. The objectives of this study were to test the applicability of a crop growth model (AquaCrop) for simulating winter wheat growth in SPD-applied fields by employing the water table behaviors predicted by the soil hydrologic model HYDRUS. Model calibration and validation based on field observations suggested that HYDRUS accurately predicted the distributions of soil water–salt dynamics, and the seasonal variations of canopy cover and biomass production predicted by AquaCrop were close to the measured values. The simulation scenarios considering the long-term effect of groundwater salinity (10.53, 21.06, and 31.59 g L−1 for low, medium, and high levels), drain spacing (10, 20, 30, 40 m, and no-SPD), and precipitation category (dry, normal, and wet year) on soil solute transport, grain yield (GY), water productivity (WP), and groundwater supply (GS) were further explored using a combination of HYDRUS and AquaCrop. The simulation results indicated that narrowing the drain spacing could improve the desalination performance of SPD, but there was no continuous downward trend of soil solute concentration during the long-term application of SPD when groundwater salinity was constant. The SPD application could improve grain yield by 0.81–1.65 t ha−1, water productivity by 0.13–0.35 kg m−3, and groundwater supply by 6.06–31.03 mm compared to the no-SPD scenarios, but such increases would be less pronounced in dry years with groundwater salinity at the low level. This study demonstrated that the co-application of hydrologic and crop growth models is a feasible method for revealing the effects of SPD on agricultural land reclamation in coastal areas.
Pyramiding Rice Blast Resistance Gene Pi2 and Fragrance Gene badh2
Authors: Wang Yakun , Tang Shengjia , Guo Naihui , An Ruihu , Ren Zongliang , Hu Shikai , Wei Xiangjin , Jiao Guiai , Xie Lihong , Wang Ling , Chen Ying , Zhao Fengli , Tang Shaoqing , Hu Peisong , Sheng Zhonghua
Published: February 2023

Rice is a major food crop across the globe, but the frequent occurrence of rice blast in recent years has seriously affected the yield of rice. In addition, fragrance rice is becoming increasingly popular among consumers. In this study, the fragrant rice variety Wenxiang-1 was used as the donor of the fragrance gene badh2, and the rice variety R1179 was used as the donor of rice blast resistance gene Pi2. Plants that were homozygous for both Pi2 and badh2 were selected using marker-assisted selection (MAS) applied to the Wenxiang-1/R1179 F2 segregation population with the functional markers Pi2-1 and Badh2-1 as well as whole-genome-SNP-genotyping technology. Finally, “elite” rice varieties R365 and R403 that had both high levels of rice blast resistance (level 3 and 4) and fragrance (0.650 and 0.511 mg/kg) were bred. Genetic composition analysis indicated that 40.67% of the whole genome of R365 was inherited from Wenxiang-1, while 59.33% was inherited from R1179. Similarly, 46.26% of the whole genome of R403 was inherited from Wenxiang-1, while 53.74% was inherited from R1179. These new hybrid lines with R365 and R403 as the male parents also exhibit high yield per hectare, especially C815S/R365 and Yu03S/R403 F1, with yields per hectare of 9.93 ± 0.15 and 9.6 ± 0.17 tons. These plants also possess high levels of rice blast resistance (level 3 and 4) and fragrance (0.563 and 0.618 mg/kg).
Allelopathic Effects of the Invasive Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. on Native Plants: Perspectives toward Agrosystems
Authors: Bibi Shazia , Bibi Amina , Al-Ghouti Mohammad A. , Abu-Dieyeh Mohammed H.
Published: February 2023

Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. Is highly recognized for its invasive character and its detrimental effects on different plant species across the world. In this study, a field survey was performed to assess the impact of P. juliflora on the surrounding native plants, followed by the effect of different concentrations of its aqueous leaf extract on seed germination and seedling growth of selected Qatari flora. Our field observations indicated a high prevalence of new recruitments of P. juliflora than other native-associated plants in the study site. Germination percentage and/or seed radicle length of the test species: Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne, Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce, Sueda aegyptica (Hasselq.) Aellen, Halopeplis perfoliata (Forssk.) Bunge ex Schweinf. & Asch, and P. juliflora were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced by the extracts at different concentration levels. Moreover, the germination rate of A. tortilis was not affected; however, the seed germination of P. cineraria was significantly affected at concentrations of 6 and 8 mg mL−1. The seed radicle lengths at 2 mg mL−1 were significantly reduced for both plant species. The seed germination and radicle length of S. aegyptica and H. perfoliata were significantly decreased at 2 mg mL−1 of extract of P. juliflora. Furthermore, the height and biomass of the seedlings of Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites, Caroxylon imbricatum (Forssk.), and Tetraena qatarensis (Hadidi) Beier & Thulin were significantly reduced by the aqueous extracts at 6 and 8 mg mL−1. The aqueous extract reduced the seed germination and seedling growth at 6 and 8 mg mL−1, indicating an autotoxic effect. Such allelopathic behavior of P. juliflora designates the potential investigation of using its allelochemicals as naturally based herbicides in agrosystems.
Mapping the Invasive Species Stellera chamaejasme in Alpine Grasslands Using Ecological Clustering, Spectral Separability and Image Classification
Authors: Hu Nianzhao , Liu Yongmei , Ge Xinghua , Dong Xingzhi , Wang Huaiyu , Long Yongqing , Wang Lei
Published: February 2023

Stellera chamaejasme (Thymelaeaceae) is amongst the worst invasive species of the alpine grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau; timely and effective monitoring is critical for its prevention and control. In this study, by using high spatial resolution Planet imagery, an optimal approach was explored to improve the discrimination of S. chamaejasme from surrounding communities, integrated with TWINSAPN technique, Transformed divergence and image classification algorithms. Results demonstrated that there were obvious spectral conflicts observed among the TWINSPAN ecological communities, owing to the inconsistency of S. chamaejasme coverage within the communities. By determining the threshold of spectral separability, the adjustment of ecological classification produced spectrally separated S. chamaejasme communities and native species communities. The sensitive index characterizing the spectra of S. chamaejasme contributes to its discrimination; moderate or good classification accuracy was obtained by using four machine learning algorithms, of which Random Forest achieved the highest accuracy of S. chamaejasme classification. Our study suggests the distinct phenological feature of S. chamaejasme provides a basis for the detection of the toxic weed, and the establishment of communities using the rule of spectral similarity can assist the accurate discrimination of invasive species.
GmERF54, an ERF Transcription Factor, Negatively Regulates the Resistance of Soybean to the Common Cutworm (Spodoptera litura Fabricius)
Authors: Cai Linyan , Qin Rui , Li Xiao , Liu Xinyu , Yu Deyue , Wang Hui
Published: February 2023

Soybean is attacked by various herbivorous insect pest species during the whole course of its life cycle in the field. It is important for soybean production to improve insect resistance by identifying and utilizing soybean endogenous insect-resistant genes. The ethylene-responsive transcription factor (ERF) plays a significant role in plant biotic and abiotic stresses; however, few studies focus on its role in insect resistance in soybean. Here, based on our previous common cutworm (CCW)-induced soybean transcriptome data, a soybean ERF gene GmERF54 was cloned, which responded to CCW feeding. Transcriptional analysis revealed that GmERF54 was ubiquitous in all soybean tissues and was expressed differently in insect-resistant and insect-susceptible soybean cultivars. RNA interference of GmERF54 increased the resistance to CCW, while the overexpression of GmERF54 decreased the resistance to CCW in transgenic soybean hairy roots compared with their controls. GmERF54 was localized to the nucleus, had transcriptional activation activity, and interacted with AP2/ERF GmPLT2. Several putative hormone response elements were predicted in the promoter sequence of GmERF54. Four putative elements were only found in the GmERF54 promoter sequence of insect-resistant cultivar Wanxianbaidongdou (WX), but not in the insect-susceptible cultivar Nannong 99-10 (99-10). GmERF54 promoter sequences of WX and 99-10 were cloned into the pCAMBIA1381z vector containing the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene to generate GmERF54WX:GUS and GmERF5499-10:GUS recombinant vectors, respectively. GUS staining of soybean hairy roots containing GmERF54WX:GUS and GmERF5499-10:GUS showed that GmERF54 was induced by CCW attack and both MeJA (methyl jasmonate) and IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) treatments. Alleles in insect-resistant and insect-sensitive cultivars responded to these inductions differently. Overall, our results reveal that GmERF54 may be involved in the regulation of soybean resistance to CCW.
Effect of Microwave Treatment at 2.45 GHz on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Bacterial Community Characteristics in Phaeozems of Northeast China
Authors: Li Qi , Sun Xiaohe , Zhao Chunjiang , Yang Shuo , Gu Chenchen , Zhai Changyuan
Published: February 2023

Microwave irradiation is a new means of non-toxic, residue-free, and green soil disinfection that prevents and controls soil diseases, insects, and weeds and helps to improve crop quality and yield. Soil microorganisms, as an important part of the ecosystem, are closely related to crop growth and health. To investigate the changes of soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities during microwave soil disinfection for different time periods, phaeozems from northeastern China were selected for microwave treatment at 3, 6, 9, and 12 min, and their physicochemical properties were measured after 30 days of incubation. The test soils (0–20 cm) after 30 days of incubation were used, and high-throughput sequencing was performed to detect changes in their soil microbial structure under different microwave time treatments. Microwave treatment had significant effects on soil pH, nitrate (NO3--N), ammonium (NH4+-N), and available phosphorus (AP) content. As shown by the Shannon, Chao, and Ace indices, microwave treatment at 3 min had the lowest effect on bacterial diversity compared to the control treatment (CK). Shannon index decreased by 9.92%, 24.56%, 34.37%, and 38.43% after 3, 6, 9, and 12 min microwave treatments, respectively; Chao index decreased by 7.69%, 18.13%, 32.21%, and 57.91%, respectively; Ace index decreased by 6.40%, 6.98%, 20.89%, and 52.07%, respectively. The relative abundance of beneficial soil microorganisms Micromonospora, Fictibacillus, Paenibacillus, and Bacillus (Firmicutes) increased significantly compared to CK. The results indicated that although the microwave treatment altered the soil microbial community, beneficial soil microorganisms showed faster recovery. In addition, pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen ratio (C/N), soil-available phosphorus (AP), and NO3--N were important factors affecting bacterial community diversity and composition following microwave treatment, and bacterial community composition was driven by soil chemical properties such as soil pH, SOC, C/N, and NO3--N. Microwave treatments at different time periods affected soil microbial community structure to different degrees, and soil bacteria of copiotrophic taxa (e.g., Firmicutes) were relatively higher than the control. Overall, microwave treatment from 3–6 min may be more suitable for soil disinfection. The study of the effect of microwave on soil physicochemical properties and bacterial microbial community not only provides some scientific reference for the rational application of microwave soil disinfection, but also has positive significance for soil-borne disease control and crop quality improvement.
Rapid Detection of A282S Mutation in the RDL1 Gene of Rice Stem Borer via the Mutation-Specific LAMP Technique
Authors: Song Zijiao , Zhang Sugui , Man Wentao , Li Yao , Luo Guanghua , Yu Jinyao , Fu Yilan , Yao Junxi , Chen Yiqu , Zhao Chunqing
Published: February 2023

Rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis (Walker) is one of the most serious pests on rice and is distributed worldwide. With the long-term and continuous usage of insecticides, C. suppressalis has developed high levels of resistance to various kinds of insecticides, including phenylpyrazole insecticides. As is well known, the resistance of C. suppressalis to phenylpyrazole insecticides is determined by the A282S mutation of the GABA receptor RDL subunit. In order to efficiently detect the resistance of C. suppressalis, a rapid and sensitive loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique was established and optimized in this study. The optimal concentration of components was Bst DNA polymerase (0.24 U/μL), dNTP (0.8 mM), Mg2+ (4 mM), betaine (0.6 M), forward inner primer and backward inner primer (1.6 μM), F3 and B3 (0.4 μM), and hydroxyl naphthol blue (150 mM), respectively, and the optimal reaction condition was 63 °C for 60 min, which could reduce the cost and time of detection. In addition, the accuracy of the optimized LAMP reaction system and parameters was verified in the field strains of C. suppressalis from different regions, including Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Hu’nan provinces. The mutation (A2’S) was successfully detected in the field strains. As far as we know, this is the first report of the LAMP technique applied in the resistance monitoring of C. suppressalis to phenylpyrazole insecticides. According to our results, the optimized LAMP reaction system is feasible and easy to operate and to efficiently detect resistance-related mutation in a short time, as directly judged by the naked eye. Our results provide a new tool for detection of resistance of C. suppressalis, which is a very useful tool for comprehensive management of C. suppressalis.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Low Nitrogen Tolerance in Oat (Avena sativa L.) Seedlings
Authors: Wang Yue , Liu Kaiqiang , Liang Guoling , Jia Zhifeng , Ju Zeliang , Ma Xiang , Zhou Qingping
Published: February 2023

In oat production, the over-application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer in fields due to low N fertilizer use efficiency not only increases production costs but also causes environmental pollution. Currently, mining low N-tolerant oat varieties is an important way to promote sustainable agriculture. In this study, 30 oat varieties were grown in a seedling culture with two treatments of normal N (10 mM NH4NO3) and low N (1.25 mM NH4NO3), and the correlations between agronomic traits and plant N content and low N tolerance coefficients and indices were determined, which can be used as indicators for the evaluation of low N-tolerant oat varieties. Coefficient of variation, correlation analysis, principal component analysis, partial least-squares discrimination analysis, random forest analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and model evaluation, and membership function analysis were used for in-depth analysis of these indicators. Plant N content, root–crown ratio, and dry weight of aboveground plant parts were found to be important indicators of low N tolerance in oats. According to the membership function ranking of the 30 selected oat varieties, Jiayan 2, Qingyongjiu 035, and Qingyin 2 had strong tolerance to low N stress and Qingyongjiu 003, Qingyongjiu 021, and Qingyongjiu 016 had poor tolerance to low N stress. Thus, this study provides a reliable and comprehensive method for evaluating the low N tolerance of oat varieties as well as a reference for screening other low N-tolerant plants.