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Parametri uspešnog čuvanja zrna pasulja
No full textPasulj - Phaseolus vulgaris L., je jednogodišnja biljka visoke biološke vrednosti iz porodice mahunarki, poreklom iz Južne Amerike. Pasulj ima veliki značaj. Pasulj, posebno njegove mahune, ima lekovita svojstva: smanjuje nivo šećera u krvi i ublažava upalu bubrega. U zrnima pasulja nalaze se neorganska i organska jedinjenja. Zrno sadrži oko: 27% proteina, 53% ugljenih hidrata, 2,2% masti, lecitin, kalijum, kalcijum, fosfor, gvožđe. Da bi se sprovele sve neophodne operacije u tehnološkom procesu skladištenja i čuvanja zrna pasulja do momenta prerade, potrebno je poznavati njihov hemijski sastav
Plant Essential Oils as Biopesticides in Organic Agriculture
No full textTherapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants: The Science Behind Natural Remedies, investigates the bioactive compounds and functionality of medicinal plants and herbs which are recommended to help certain health conditions and overall well-being while highlighting cultivation that can be done sustainably to promote biodiversity conservation
Effects of organic agricultural practices on climate change mitigation
No full textAgriculture faces permanent shifts in temperatures and weather variabilities, i.e. climate changes, which significantly affect soil fertility, production stability, and the onset of diseases and pests. These changes can be alleviated and overcome by organic farming, which is based on environmentally friendly practices and the biodiversity conservation. There many advantages of organic farming including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, improvement of soil quality, and the increase of ecosystem resistance to drought and soil erosion. Crop rotation, the use of compost and green manure, as organic farming practices provide healthier agroecosystems. Nevertheless, organic production also tackles difficulties, such as reduced yields and susceptibility to extreme weather conditions. Strategies such as crop diversification, agroforestry, and the integrated pest management can improve the system of resistance against these difficulties. This paper presents the analyses of the organic agriculture prospects in terms of climate change, underlining its role in sustainable production and the necessity to better contemporary practices and policies
Significant technologies for improving forage production: a review
No full textAs the expansion of arable land reduces natural pastures and their productivity, the need to use new technologies in the production of fodder crops has arisen. The production of fodder plants is the most important and most expensive input in sustainable livestock breeding. The main limitations in the production of green fodder are the unavailability of land for fodder, greater need for labor, longer growing time. Also, the unavailability of fodder of the same quality throughout the year, uncertain rainfall, the need for manure and lack of water are one of the limiting factors for the development of fodder plant production.The application of new technologies in the production of fodder plants is considered a necessary approach that can ensure stable production. Seed technology, system approach, hi-tech farming, and mechanization in fodder production are the four categories under which improved fodder production techniques can be categorized. Technological innovations in preparation hay and silage, including quality-enhancing additives, balaging, haylage preservation, and the creation of dehydrated goods like pellets and cubes, are examples of improved preservation techniques
Soil physical response to winter cover crop integration in soybean production
No full textThis study examines the effects of different production systems and
winter cover crops on soil physical properties, focusing on bulk density in
soybean production. The experimental design included two farming systems,
low-Input production and organic production and three cover crop
treatments: rye, a mixture of pea and oat, and a control with no winter cover
crops. Samples were collected over three consecutive years (2020, 2021,
and 2022) prior soybean harvest. Soil physical properties, particle density
(2.14 – 2.72 g/cm3) and dry bulk density (1.11 – 1.67 g/cm3), had varied over
years, and it was influenced by selection of cover crops. The results indicated
that both cover crop type and production system significantly influenced soil
bulk density. First year (2020) had the highest values for both observed
parameters. Decrease in bulk density indicates better aeration and lower soil
compaction, which was observed during 2021 and 2022. Use of cover crops,
especially the pea and oat mixture, significantly contributes to the reduction
of soil compaction over the three-year period, as reflected in the continuous
decrease of bulk density compared to the control. The findings suggest that
integrating winter cover crops, particularly in organic and low-input systems,
can positively affect soil physical properties by reducing soil compaction and
enhancing soil porosity
Enhancing wheat yield and quality through optimized weed control timing and seeding density
No full textWheat yield in Pakistan is constrained by improper seed rates and weed interference. A two-year field trial (2020–2021) was conducted to determine the optimal seed rate and critical weed competition period for wheat. Treatments included three seed rates (37, 74, and 111 kg ha−1) with weed competition and weed-free periods up to 45, 60, and 75 days after sowing (DAS), along with full-season competition. The treatments were arranged in an RCBD in three replications. Results showed that a seed rate of 111 kg ha−1 with a weed-free period up to 75 DAS significantly reduced weed cover, density, and dry weight. It also enhanced plant height, productive tillers, grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, biological yield, crop vigor, growth rate, leaf area index, test weight, and grain protein content of wheat. Weed-free up to 45 DAS resulted in better performance than the same duration of weed competition, showing that early-season weed control is important. The study confirms that the critical period for weed management may begin before 45 DAS and extend to around 75 DAS and recommends a seed rate of 111 kg ha−1 with at least 60 DAS weed-free period to maximize growth, yield, and quality of wheat
Exploring the potential of wheat landraces for drought resilience: a screening of morphophysiological traits
No full textBread wheat plays a key role in ensuring food security, as it is the most widely cultivated crop
globally. While early innovations, such as selective breeding and the introduction of reduced-height
genes during the Green Revolution, dramatically increased yields, today’s climate challenges,
particularly the rising frequency and intensity of droughts, are causing significant yield reductions.
The most promising strategy to mitigate these challenges is the development of wheat varieties with high and stable yields across variable environments. It is estimated that the vast genetic diversity stored in genebanks, particularly landraces, represents a valuable source of alleles associated with drought tolerance. However, their use in developing new varieties has been limited, primarily because pre-breeding is both time-consuming and costly. In addition, much of the material
conserved in genebanks remains poorly characterized. Recent advances in plant phenotyping and
genotyping have led to the development of innovative breeding approaches that facilitate the more
efficient use of genetic resources. In this context, 38 Serbian hexaploid wheat landraces were
evaluated under rainfed conditions during the 2024/25 growing season at the experimental trials at
Rimski Šančevi, Serbia. The evaluation was conducted at three growth stages, using 14 traits
associated with yield and water use efficiency. Meteorological data were recorded, and the following non-destructive phenotyping devices were used: the LI-600 porometer/fluorometer, the DUALEX optical leaf clip meter, and the Literal sensor (Hiphen). ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences among landraces for the analyzed traits, enabling the identification of promising candidates for further high-throughput phenotyping under drought conditions using advanced platforms
Sequential dual-phase NADES extraction of bioactive compounds from pumpkin
No full textNatural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have been recognized as sustainable, biodegradable, and non-toxic alternatives to conventional organic solvents in the extraction of bioactive compounds from plant materials. Their adjustable polarity makes them suitable for extracting compounds with diverse chemical characteristics. In this study, a sequential NADES-based extraction method was applied to evaluate the carotenoid and polyphenol content in three different Cucurbita moschata varieties, aiming to assess both extraction efficiency and compound specificity.
The extraction protocol was designed to selectively isolate hydrophobic and hydrophilic bioactive compounds from a single plant matrix. In the first step, a hydrophobic NADES composed of octanoic acid and decanoic acid (3:1, molar ratio) was used to extract carotenoids, targeting their non-polar, fat-soluble nature. Previously optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction parameters included a temperature of 50 °C, ultrasonic power of 60% (52.5 W/cm³), a solvent-to-solid ratio of 7 mL/g, and an extraction time of 1 h (10 min for carotenoids, 50 min for polyphenols). Carotenoids were subsequently isolated from the hydrophobic extract to obtain purified compounds suitable for quantification. The remaining biomass was subjected to a second extraction step using a hydrophilic NADES (glycerol:urea 1:1) to recover polar compounds, specifically polyphenols. This two-step sequential method enhances total yield while minimizing waste by reusing the same plant material.
Comparative analysis among the three C. moschata varieties revealed considerable differences in carotenoid content, with one variety exhibiting the highest concentration of 548.12 µg β-car/g compared to 73.02 and 84.92 µg β-car/g in the other two. A similar trend was observed for polyphenol content, although inter-varietal differences were less pronounced. The same high-carotenoid variety also showed the highest polyphenol concentration, 8.97 µg GAE/ml, followed by 5.78 and 4.36 µg GAE/ml in the remaining varieties. These findings highlight the importance of variety selection in developing functional foods and nutraceutical formulations.
In conclusion, the sequential use of hydrophobic and hydrophilic NADES represents a highly efficient, eco-friendly, and selective strategy for isolating diverse bioactive compounds from pumpkins. Beyond maximizing extraction yields, this method preserves compound bioactivity and aligns with principles of green chemistry. It offers a promising platform for the sustainable valorization of agricultural by-products and the creation of high-value functional ingredients
Box–Behnken-Assisted Optimization of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Method for Enhanced Sugar Determination in Wild Sunflower Nectar
No full textSunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is a cross-pollinated species that relies on pollinators, attracted by itsnectar composition. Nectar consists primarily of sugars (up to 70%), with sucrose, glucose, and fructose being dominant, while minor components such as mannose, arabinose, xylose, and sugar alcohols (e.g., mannitol and inositol) occur in lower concentrations and vary with biotic and abiotic factors. This study developed a robust high-performance liquid chromatography method with refractive index detection (HPLC-RID) for the simultaneous quantification of eight sugars (D-ribose, xylose, arabinose, fructose, mannose, glucose, sucrose, and maltose) and two sugar alcohols (mannitol, meso-inositol) in wild sunflower nectar. A Box–Behnken design (BBD), coupled with response surface methodology (RSM), was used to systematically optimize column temperature (20–23 °C), acetonitrile concentration (80–85%), and flow rate (0.7–1 mL/min), while achieving baseline separation of critical sugar pairs, including the previously co-eluting glucose/mannitol and glucose/mannose. Satisfactory resolution (Rs > 1 for all analytes) was achieved under optimized separation conditions comprising a column temperature of 20 °C, 82.5% acetonitrile, and a flow rate of 0.766 mL/min. The RSM efficiently evaluated factor interactions to maximize chromatographic performance, resulting in an optimized protocol that provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional sugar analysis methods. Method validation confirmed satisfactory linearity across relevant concentration ranges (50–500 mg/L for most sugars; 50–5500 mg/L for fructose and glucose), with correlation coefficients (R) between 0.985 and 0.999. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for the analyzed sugars and sugar alcohols ranged from 4.04 to 19.46 mg/L and from 13.46 to 194.61 mg/L, respectively. Glucose exhibited the highest sensitivity showing LOD of 4.04 and LOQ of 13.46 mg/L, whereas mannose was identified as the least sensitive analyte, with LOD of 19.46 mg/L and LOQ of 194.61 mg/L. The described method represents a reliable tool for sugar and sugar alcohol analysis in sunflower nectar and can be extended to other plant and food matrices with suitable sample preparation
Phenotypic diversity of the lupin collection in agroecological conditions of Serbia
No full textLupins (Lupinus spp.) are protein-rich legumes valued for nitrogen fixation, making them important for sustainable agriculture. Despite their benefits, cultivation in Serbia is limited due to adaptation challenges, with no official production data. Growing interest in plant-based proteins highlights their potential as a sustainable alternative to animal protein due to lower cost and environmental impact. Research on lupins focuses on improving tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, increasing seed yield and enhancing nutritional traits. The aim of this study was to evaluate yield, yield components and key phenological stages under agroecological conditions of Serbia. A total of 112 lupin genotypes from the Saatzucht Steinach GmbH & Co KG, Germany gene collection, were tested to optimize assortment for this region, by measuring plant height, flowering duration, growing period, seed yield and thousand seed weight. The field trial was conducted on 12 March 2024 at Rimski šančevi, Serbia, using augmented design with five checks. During the growing season (March-July), precipitation was unevenly distributed, with water deficits in March-April and only a few intense rainfall events during flowering and podding. In addition, from 1 April to 31 July, there were 74 days with temperatures exceeding 25°C or 30°C affecting lupin overall performance. Genotypes were categorized by growing period: early (106 days, 17 genotypes), mid-early (115 days, 33 genotypes), mid-late (122 days, 44 genotypes) and late (127 days, 18 genotypes). Significant differences were observed in plant height (20.0-66.67 cm), flowering duration (9-20 days), growing period (106-127 days) and thousand seed weight (50.0-175.0 g). Yield of early-maturing genotypes (0.62 t/ha) outperformed late-maturing ones (0.10 t/ha), since avoided high temperatures and heavy rainfall that caused pod shattering and seed loss. Preliminary results suggest that seed yield declined with extended growing period, while genotypes maturing in 106-115 days showing greater stability under agroecological conditions of Serbia, making them promising for future breeding programs.[https://www.agrobiodiversityalongthevaluechain.eu/