Pistachio (Pistachio vera L.) is an economically valuable crop, and Iran is among the biggest producers and consumers of this product in the world. The pistachio psyllid (Agonoscena pistaciae) is one of the most destructive pests of this crop, resulting in severe damage in terms of yield and quality. Therefore, pistachios are subjected to multiple sprayings with various pesticides during the growing season. As pistachio nuts are exported and largely consumed freshly in Iran, investigating zero-pollution strategies such as applying environmentally safe and non-chemical pesticides to control this pest is essential. In this research, the efficacy of potassium silicate and potassium sulfate against A. pistaciae was investigated in a pistachio orchard and compared with some common pesticides, i.e., acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam. Pistachios were sprayed with commercial formulations of each pesticide and their recommended dosage and water (control) using a complete randomized block design (CRBD) with three replicates. Populations of A. pistaciae nymphs were evaluated 1 day before and 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days following sprayings by randomly collecting 60 leaves from each treatment. Results showed that all pesticides reached their maximum efficacies (>85%) 3 days after spraying, and no significant differences were observed between the compounds (P=0.15). Over time, however, the efficacy of pesticides decreased dramatically, and potassium silicate (37.97%) and acetamiprid (14.58%) showed the highest and lowest efficacies, respectively (P<0.01). Our results suggest acceptable efficacies of potassium silicate and potassium sulfate, as environmentally safe compounds, against the pistachio psyllid compared to common chemical pesticides.

The Indian agriculture sector is undergoing a seminal shift in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era from being a sector driven by traditional techniques to a technologically advanced, well-equipped industry, driven by Smart and Precision Farming. India is the 2nd largest producer (9.95 million tonnes) and 3rd biggest exporter of groundnut in the world. Groundnut is the highest exported oilseed crop in India, exporting it to China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Russia, Ukraine and UK. The exports have increased by 142% from last year. The groundnut production estimate was 8.25 million tonnes for 2021-22. Majority of its export goes out as bird feed in different countries which limits its usage as an edible vegetable oil. Besides that, the south Asian market doesn't fetch good prices thus affecting the income of farmers. Groundnut needs a proper layout to drive it to a market oriented high-income generating solution. Despite its increased demand in the international market, the groundnut production in the country is facing a backlash from the farmers as production area is decreasing in many parts of the country. Fluctuating weather, subsequent increase in the cost of cultivation, erosion of river beds, poor irrigation system and lack of government support in decreasing the groundnut production acreage. This paper by understanding the market dynamics unfolds predictability of demand and forecasting of groundnut prices in the domestic as well as international market based on advanced technology of machine learning and deep learning. Nutix can enhance the farmers income by two-three folds with its disruptive solution. Forecasting of prices of commodities, especially those of agricultural commodities is very difficult because they are not only governed by demand and supply but by so many other factors which are beyond control like weather vagaries, storage capacity, transportation etc. Forecasting of food prices are intended to be useful for farmers, policy makers and agribusiness industries. In the present era of globalization, management of food security in the agriculture dominated developing countries like India needs efficient and reliable food price forecasting models more than ever. Sparse and time lag in the data availability in developing economies, however, generally necessitate reliance on time series forecasting models. The recent innovation in Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modelling methodology provides a potential price forecasting technique that is feasible given the availability of data in developing economies. The fluctuations of agricultural commodity prices can significantly affect the global economies and living standards in many countries. Under COVID-19 crisis pressure, an accurate AI/ML forecast solution has never been more important for business leaders and agricultural authorities to make better decisions. Nutix will study the domestic as well as international groundnut market and forecast the pricing of it.

The onset of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 raised new concerns about the resilience of agri-food supply chains. The increase of uncertainty in global food supply chains and unclear long-term socio-economic effects of the pandemic have renewed national governments’ interest towards food security and self-sufficiency. Estonian trade balance for food stuff and agricultural products has been negative with the exception of milk and grains. Grain production has been increasing rapidly, facilitated in part by several crises in animal production in the last decade.
The aim of the paper was to study the COVID-19 impacts on the Estonian grain sector in 2020 and 2021. The data was collected with qualitative focus group and semi-structured interviews with grain supply chain stakeholders and was combined with quantitative analysis of production data. In 2020 Estonia reported record high grain yields and highest export volumes in decades with self-sufficiency ratio 386% for wheat and over 200% for barely and rye. The interviews with grain sector supply chain stakeholders demonstrated that the preliminary effect of COVID19 was limited. The restrictions did not significantly impact grain farmers’ access to farm inputs and labor. The initial restrictions had small impacts on the downstream processing industry and retail chains that were affected by short term panic buying and had to reorganize work. The supply chain stakeholders reported the ongoing increase in the price of inputs and shipping times. For the grain exporters, the rapid soaring of maritime shipping costs has been one of the biggest concerns.

Drought is a global problem in agriculture, which reduces the productivity of plants so is important environmental stress affecting plant metabolism and growth. In view of the increasing water scarcity related to climate change, there is a need for safe treatment that will contribute to increasing agricultural efficiency. Quercetin is a flavonoid with strong antioxidant properties and plays an important role in regulating the physiological processes in the plant. The study investigated the effect of the exogenous quercetin-copper complex (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1%) on wheat seedlings subjected to drought (30% f.w.c.). A pot experiment was performed to determine the effect of this biostimulator and to select the most effective concentration. Spraying with quercetin derivative solutions was performed twice, and physiological measurements (chlorophyll content and fluorescence as well as gas exchange) were carried out after the first and seventh day after each application. It was shown that drought stress had a negative effect on the photosynthesis process of plants. The application of spraying with a quercetin derivative caused an increase in the values ​​of the parameters in wheat plants subjected to drought stress compared to the control, which was manifested by an increase in the values ​​of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (F_v/F_m, F_v/F₀ and PI), gas exchange (P_n, g_s and E) and total antioxidant capacity. It was found that the highest dose of quercetin derivative tested (0.1%) had the best effect on plants subjected to drought stress, therefore it is necessary to conduct further research on the use of higher doses of this flavonoid.

The factor in favor of increasing the cultivation of soybean in Poland is its good adaptation to drought periods, therefore mainly for environmental and economic reasons, in addition to conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT) and zero tillage (NT) are practiced in the cultivation of this species. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of three tillage systems (conventional - CT, reduced - RT, no-tillage - NT) on productivity, seed quality and selected parameters of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence of soybean (cv. Merlin) under various hydrothermal conditions over the years of the research. A field experiment was carried out in 2017–2019 in BoguchwaÅ‚a (49^o59'49'' N, 21^o56'42'' E), Poland. In the soybean leaf higher values of fluorescence parameters were obtained in CT in comparison to RT and NT, but these dependence were only a trend. Lower values of the fluorescence parameters in NT indicate a stronger effect of stress factors on plants during their growth compared to CT and RT. In all the studied developmental stages, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) in NT was lower compared to CT and RT. Soybeans yielded significantly higher in CT than in NT. However, no significant differences in the yield level were found between CT and RT, as well as RT and NT. Significantly lower protein content in seeds was found in NT than CT, while the oil content was significantly higher in NT than CT. Higher content of P, K, Mg and Ca in soybeans was found for RT compared to CT and NT

This study aims at analyzing the effects of risk management on the agricultural performance of rural producers benefiting from the joint support of the Senegalese State and IFAD. We use data from a study commissioned by PADAER . Collection covers two regions of Senegal: Kolda and Tambacounda. After auditing; our sample comprises 1196 producers including 198 beneficiaries of the indexed harvest insurance facilitated by the PADAER. The quasi-experimental method known as the Propensity Score Matching Method is used to determine the impact of subscribing to index-based insurance on the farmer's production, agricultural investments and annual income. Although the results of the estimates show that the project has not yet had any effect on production, without the intervention of this project producers would have recorded a loss of about 57,600 FCFA. Not only did the index insurance based on the harvest facilitated by the PADAER allowed the beneficiary to cover this loss and realize a gain estimated at 12,749 FCFA.

The research aimed to evaluate the influence exerted by the removal of the testicles (orhidectomy) in roosters, on the fatty acids profile. In this regard, were formed two batches of roosters belonging to the Transylvanian Naked Neck breed, one batch was experimental (Lexp), composed of 20 castrated birds at the age of 7 weeks, and one control batch (Lm) composed of 10 uncastrated roosters. The birds of the two groups were raised under identical conditions and received the same type of compound feed; their slaughter was performed at the age of 20 weeks. The results obtained after reporting the values ​​of saturated fatty acids to unsaturated fatty acids recorded the highest value, of 0.47, in case of the muscles from the upper thighs of roosters (Lm). Regarding the ratio between polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids, the highest value, of 1.12, was calculated for the muscles of the upper thighs from capons (Lexp). Regarding the Ω3 / Ω6 ratio, the highest value, of 17.81, was calculated for the muscles of the upper thighs from the capons, while, at the opposite pole, was the result for the pectoral muscles of roosters from Lm, in value of 12.48. We recommend continuing research in this direction.

The objective of this research was to determine whether a mass sperm motility in native ejaculate and a sperm dose-count (SDC) affect in vivo boar fertility. Total of 983 ejaculates taken from Landrace (n=16 animals), Large White (n=19 animals) and Duroc (n=7 animals) breed boars has been analysed. Concentration of native sperm was assessed by means of a colorimeter and the evaluation of mass sperm motility was done by a subjective assessment using a microscope. On average 20.70 doses for insemination were obtained per ejaculate and they were divided into three classes (SDC= ≤2.50; 2.51-4.00; ≥4.01 x10⁹). The insemination of 7661 breeding females has been performed twice. The assessment of the effect was performed by means of General Linear Model in a SAS 9.1.3 statistical package, using a model that includes a breed fixed effect and linear regression effect of motility nested within the class of sperm count in a dose. Average values of return rate (%), farrowing rate (%) and litter size at birth accounted for: 15.53%, 73.41% and 12.65 live piglets, respectively. All the traits of in vivo fertility varied under the effect of breed (p<0.001). Increase of motility by one unit (%) resulted in decreased percentage of return rate by 0.11% (p<0.001) in all three SDC classes. On the other hand, farrowing rate increased by 0.12-0.13% (p<0.001) depending on SDC class. When litter size at birth is in question a linear regression effect of motility was determined inside SDC with the highest sperm count (b=0.01; p<0.05).

Toxic metal pollution in the soil is seen as a worldwide issue, with the majority of cases occurring in developing nations. The current work focuses on a contaminated site in Mexico which is used for recreational purposes. The contaminated site in Cerrito Blanco in San Luis Potosi, Mexico is close to an abandoned mining area surrounded by non-cultivated farmland. Analyses of topsoil samples indicated the presence of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). This work has estimated the potential harmful impacts of toxic metals by using the Contamination factor (C_f), Ecological risk factor (E_r), and potential Ecological Risk Index (RI) by Hakanson’s method. The results indicate that the soil contamination factors (C_f) of toxic metals were: As >Zn >Cu >Pb >Ni. It is concluded that Cu, Pb, and Zn have been found in the soil samples because of past mining activities. The highest contamination factor (C_f) of As (11.94 mg/kg) in the soil was in the extremely high contamination category. It is also believed that the As concentration in the soil is high because arsenic-contaminated water was regularly used for irrigating the land. The Ecological risk factors (E_r) for toxic metals were: As >Cu >Pb >Zn >Ni. In the surface soils of this region, As posed a considerable ecological concern and contributed the most to potential ecological risk indices (RI). It is also acknowledged that various anthropogenic factors contributed significantly to the potential ecological risk index (RI). The spatial distribution of toxic metal contamination in the soil was also mapped using a Geographic Information System (GIS). This study concludes that a regular assessment is needed to estimate the risk level of toxic metal contamination in the soil.

Black pod rot, caused by several species of Phytophthora, is responsible for greater losses than any other disease affecting cacao. Due to the widespread distribution of this disease, the development of resistant germplasm would benefit farmers around the globe. Breeders use various approaches to screen material for resistance to Phytophthora spp. These include calculating the incidence of infected pods in the field, and evaluating lesion development on pods and leaves following artificial inoculation. Due to significant variability, the method utilized for assessing disease resistance can influence conclusions. To determine how screening methods affect final disease resistance ratings, four cacao clones (BE 10, HY 271419, RIM 15 [MEX], and EET 236 [ECU]) were assessed using disease incidence calculated from field evaluations and lesion area seven days after inoculation (dai) of detached pod. Disease incidence differed significantly among clones (p<0.0007), ranging from 6.1% for BE 10 to 24.0% for HY 271419. RIM 15 [MEX] and EET 236 [ECU] were moderately susceptible with 10.3% and 21.9%, respectively. Differences among clones were also detected based on lesion area (p< 0.032), however, their relative ranking differed: BE 10 (53.9 cm²), HY 271419 (80.64cm²), RIM 15 [MEX] (95.7cm²), and EET 236 [ECU] (102.4cm²). This variation may be due to differences in the resistance component assessed by each method (pre- vs. post-penetration) or the inability to distinguish between diseases causing identical lesions in the field. The improved understanding of the how screening methods used can affect the disease resistance determination in cacao germplasm will benefit breeders and farmers.