The current research aimed to investigate the effect of water deficit irrigation and plant density on yield and yield components of promising lines of grain sorghum. The experiment was conducted in a split-plot factorial design with three replications at Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII) for two years (2015-2016). Irrigation was considered as the main factor (60, 120 and 180 mm evaporation from pan class A) and plant spacing on row (8, 12 and 15 cm) and lines (KGS23, KGS32 and KGS36) were as factorial in the subplot. The combined analysis of variance indicated that there was a significant difference between the lines in terms of grain yield (P≤0.01). The lines KGS23 and KGS36 exhibited the highest grain yield at 5333 and 4645 kg ha^-1, respectively, while line KGS32 produced the lowest grain yield of 4011 kg ha^-1. There was a response of grain sorghum lines to irrigation. Under water deficit irrigation, the line KGS23 had a significant advantage in comparison to the other two lines in terms of high yield, morphological characteristics, and adaptation to drought stress conditions. Grain yield was positively correlated with panicle weight, biological yield, and 1000-grain weight. As well, Line KGS36 performed better than KGS32 in terms of grain yield and drought tolerance. The highest grain yield (7964 kg ha^-1) was observed for line KGS23 under normal irrigation and plant space on row spacing of 12 cm in the second year. Moreover, the effect of plant density on grain yield was not significant (P≤0.05).

Barley is one of the most important cereal crops globally. In Ukraine it is grown on an area of 2.4-2.8 million hectares annually and is the second largest grain crop in Ukraine after wheat. Barley grain export is about 4.3 million tons p.a.. At the same time, one of the limiting factors for obtaining a high-quality yield are diseases, in particular, leaf spots. In recent decades, there have been significant changes in the technology of cultivation, the composition of varieties and the pathogenic complex. Net blotch (Pyrenophora teres Drechsler) in net and spot forms and spot blotch (Bipolaris sorokiniana Shoem.) remain the most common among the diseases of barley leaves. They occur in all regions where barley is grown. Barley scald (Rhynchosporium secalis (Oudem.) Davis) is distributed mainly in Forest and Western part of Forest-Steppe zones and has become more widespread in years with rainy summers. Outbreaks of stripe spot (Pyrenophora graminea S. Ito & Kurib.) occur sporadically. Ascochyta leaf spot (Ascochyta spp.) was found in Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk regions in 2020, and in Lviv, Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions in 2021. In the field, spots can be misdiagnosed as barley scald, so its prevalence can be much higher. In 2021 during seed ripening period, ramularia leaf spot was found in Kherson and Vinnytsia regions. The disease was diagnosed in the laboratory by obtaining a typical conidial sporulation of the fungus Ramularia collo-cygni B. Sutton & J.M. Waller on affected tissues (wet chamber). So, last years the composition of the barley leaf spot pathogens has became wider and needs further investigation.

Nowadays there is an increasing demand for foods capable of fulfilling the nutritional needs of consumers, leading to a search for food products with a nutrient content able to promote a healthier lifestyle. In this study an agronomic biofortification itinerary of Triticum aestivum L. (cv. Paiva) was conducted in an experimental field, located in Beja, Portugal, comprising a foliar fertilization with ZnSO₄ and with Tecnifol Zinc, in three different concentrations for each fertilizer, along the plant cycle. A mineral quantification (S, K, Ca and Zn) of whole bread wheat flours and refined bread wheat flours was measured by using a XRF analyzer, whereas the µ-EDXRF was used to quantify the minerals within the different regions of the wheat grain (embryo, endosperm and vascular bundle). All the minerals presented lower values in the refined flour relatively to the whole bread wheat flour, in which K had higher values followed by S and finally Ca with the lower values in both types of flours. The different minerals were spread around the various regions of the grain however, they were more concentrated in the embryo and vascular bundle. The values are similar for both fertilizers, with a slight difference regarding Zn values, namely increasing with ZnSO₄. To sum up, as the different minerals tend to accumulate in the embryo and vascular bundle, the whole bread wheat flour presents a richest option, promoting a healthier diet for the consumers.

Winter wheat is a popular cultivated grain. In order to produce high and good quality yields, it requires proper fertilization. In a field experiment, the reactions of winter wheat, cv. RGT Kilimanjaro to multi-component foliar fertilization were assessed. The tested factor were foliar fertilizers used in various combinations: (A) - Control, (B) - YaraVita Gramitrel, (C) - YaraVita Kombiphos, (D) - YaraVita Thiotrac, (E) - YaraVita Gramitrel + YaraVita Kombiphos, (F) - YaraVita Gramitrel + YaraVita Thiotrac, (G) - YaraVita Kombiphos + YaraVita Thiotrac, (H) - YaraVita Gramitrel + YaraVita Kombiphos + YaraVita Thiotrac. The variable weather conditions in the years of the research had a modifying effect on the yields obtained. The best results were achieved by applying three times foliar fertilization (variant H). The increase in grain yield in relation to control (A) amounted to 0.62 t⸱ha^-1. The innovation of the experiment is the possibility of limiting the doses of soil fertilizers in the cultivation of winter wheat without reducing the size and quality of the grain yield. This has an important ecological and economic aspect. The combinations of foliar fertilizers used contained quickly digestible micro- and macronutrients. Compared to the control, the content of protein and microelements in the grain increased and the fibers decreased. Plant field measurements showed that index SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) and LAI (Leaf Area Index) readings increased after foliar fertilization, but the index MTA (Mean Tip Angle) was decreased compared to the control. In the case of the stomatal conductance of leaves (Gs), the applied fertilization in variant H resulted in a reduction of measurements in relation to the control.

Soils provide plants both with a physical home and all the essential nutrients and support they crave to thrive. Such a circumstance paves the way to a close analysis of the level of viability of different types of soils. Hence the need to assess the suitability of the experimental field in which to implement an agronomic biofortification itinerary. Thus, soil samples were collected from different sites of the wheat field. A rectangular grid was applied. Afterwards, pH and electrical conductivity were determined with a potentiometer; the mineral quantification was measured using an XRF analyzer and color analyzes were performed with Minolta CR 400 colorimeter. Moisture and organic matter contents were also carried out. No significant differences were found when considering the moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, and the mineral values of Fe and Mn. As opposed to this, slight differences were observed in organic matter content, color parameters and in Ca, K, S, Cu, and Zn. Concerning the macroelements, the most prevalent mineral was Ca, followed by K and S. As for the microelements, Zn was the least dominant mineral, as opposed to Cu, Mn and Fe. Data showed that this experimental field has proven to be eligible to implement an agronomic biofortification workflow due to the slightly acid pH and the lower amount of organic matter content.

Worldwide maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereals in food and feed. It is highly susceptible to fungal contamination and when mycotoxigenic fungi are present, maize also shows high susceptibility to mycotoxin contamination at pre and post-harvest. The adoption of good pest management practices in the storage of maize is mandatory for grain quality assurance and the search of biobased solutions to avoid the mycotoxin contamination is a current challenge.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the biobased products mustard powder and rice bran oil as post-harvest mitigation strategies towards maize quality control. Dried maize (moisture <15%) was stored in barrels simulating the real ‘in silo’ conditions during ten months.

The application of mustard powder (0.2%, m/m) showed an apparent negative effect on aflatoxins biosynthesis and after six months of storage the levels of aflatoxins (Afla B1 + Afla B2) were lower than in the control (4.8 µg kg^-1 and 7.6 µg kg^-1, respectively). However, the levels of fumonisins in maize increased during first six months of storage. The application of rice bran oil (1%, v/m) shows apparent effect on the reduction of fumonisins on the maize grain during the first six months of storage when compared with the control.

The results obtained with mustard and rice bran oil applications for mycotoxin mitigation in stored maize under real ‘in silo’ conditions are promising, but further research are needed for deliver useful recommendations to the different maize chain stakeholders.

Agriculture performs a vital role in ensuring the growing world population's feeding demands. Therefore, the water resource is essential for achieving food demands since it supports the crop's production conditions, improves productivity, reduces extreme weather impacts, and promotes environmental conservation. Nevertheless, proper agricultural water management is complex due to temporary alterations in water resources availability, climate change impacts, and multiple water decision-makers without mutual consensus adding uncertainty and increasing the risk in the decision-making process. Therefore, it is necessary to apply methods that support decision-makers allowing optimal conditions for crop productivity at minimum risk. In this sense, Mathematical Programming (MP) represents a strategy that offers various modeling techniques for supporting decision-makers on water optimization under uncertain conditions. Multistage Stochastic Programming (MSP) provides stage-structured decision-making schemes for supporting water decision-making based on scenario analysis. Consequently, the study develops a literature review on MSP for optimum agricultural water resources management and allocation under uncertainty, answering the following guiding questions: 1. What are the implications of proper water resources allocation in improving farmers' benefits? 2. What are the main difficulties faced in water allocation on agricultural irrigation practices? 3. What are the main uncertain modeling strategies related to MSP? The early findings indicate the effectiveness of MSP, Interval, and Fuzzy Programming combinations to tackle different uncertain sources providing better allocation schemes, flexible decision-making, and low-cost solutions. Besides, this work concludes that water availability based on climate change represents the primary source of uncertainty, and farmers face the most significant risk as water end-users.

Agriculture is an axis of development that faces innovation challenges every day, one of the important aspects in this field is the design of collective pressure irrigation systems. The present work aims to compare the optimal design of collective pressure irrigation networks using the Improved Economic Series (SEM) optimization method with an optimization method using Genetic Algorithm (AG). For this, a methodology with an ordered sequence was developed and after the input of the inputs such as network topology, agronomic conditions, and design parameters, the respective configurations of the two optimization models used are made. The objective function and the decision variables are defined, as well as the constraints. The design results of three networks selected for this implementation and operating in shifts, demonstrate that it is possible to use evolutionary algorithms and analytical methods for the economic design of irrigation networks.

One of the goals in eggplant breeding (Solanum melongena L.) is higher yield. The research included 20 different genotypes that are part of the collection of the Institute of Vegetables, Smederevska Palanka. Sixteen genotypes originated from Serbia, 2 from the Netherlands, 1 from Italy and 1 from Israel. The experiment was conducted at on location, Vranovo (44°36’6,35”N, 20°59’55.47”E, altitude 87 m) using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Yield parameters (earliness, plant height/cm, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight/g, fruit length and width/cm, fruit yield per genotype/kg) were examined to study the traits relations and to effects on eggplant yield. Number of fruits per plant had positive and significant correlation with yield (r=0.685**). The data showed positive correlation between each of: plant height to fruit length (r=0.812**), plant height to fruit weight (r=0.147), fruit width to fruit weight (r=0.523*). This characteristics had direct or indirect positive effect on yield so it can be taken as selection criteria to increase final yield of eggplant. Since there is genetic variability between tested genotypes, progress in breeding will depend on this variation. Earliness had negative correlation with yield (r=-0.044) and with all others parameters.

Intensive agriculture and chemical farming deplete the soils recently. The growing demand for organic agricultural products encourages the use of natural materials used for soil fertilization. Many farmers are already using granular organic fertilizers made from manure, meat-and-bone meal and others. Granular organic fertilizers are easier to handle, transport, store and spread in soils using standard fertilizers application machinery. Poultry manure contains all identified essential plant nutrients and its fertilizer value is widely researched. Biochar and biomass ash is also intensively researched as a substance for improving soil quality, plant growth and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from soil. Various studies of biomass ash used as fertilizer have shown beneficial effects. The ash improves the soil structure and supplies plants with nutrients The benefits of biochar are known for the physical properties of the soil, which manifests itself in changes in soil density and water holding capacity. However, the preparation of poultry manure, biomass ash and biochar for granulation has significant differences compared to other organic materials, due to the moisture, density, fractional composition and other parameters of the granulated material. This requires the determination of the physical and mechanical properties of the raw material and the final product. The article deals with the physical and mechanical properties of granular fertilizers made from poultry manure, biochar and biomass ash. Moisture of different raw organic materials was determined, which is important for the granulation process. The density, bulk density, fractional composition, moisture and compressive strength properties of manure with biochar, biomass ash raw material and granules made from it, produced in different technological regimes, were experimentally investigated. The obtained results showed that it is expedient to enrich manure granules with biochar and biomass ash.