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Assessing the environmental and energy aspects of fertilizer application in sustainable agriculture
No full textThe adoption of advanced agricultural practices in Serbia represents a significant leap towards sustainability in the sector. Through precision nitrogen fertilization and reduced tillage, a notable 32% enhancement in energy efficiency within cropping systems is feasible, reducing energy consumption per unit of food produced from 5 GJ to 3.4 GJ per hectare, alongside a tangible decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, thus bolstering efforts to combat climate change. Embracing these integrated techniques in Serbia and beyond holds promise in addressing the imperative to augment agricultural productivity while safeguarding ecological balance, amid projections of global mineral fertilizer consumption reaching 200 million tons by 2025. Advocating for the adoption of organic fertilizers in tandem with precision agriculture technologies offers further potential for mitigating adverse environmental impacts, bolstering soil health, biodiversity, and optimizing resource allocation. Moreover, these practices can lead to significant economic efficiency gains, reducing production costs and increasing overall profitability in agricultural operations. Additionally, investing in sustainable agriculture can create new job opportunities and stimulate economic growth in rural areas. Energy efficiency emerges as a cornerstone in modern agriculture, with the transition to integrated and low-intensity farming systems poised to slash energy usage by over 60%, making a significant contribution to overall energy conservation. Achieving these objectives necessitates a thorough assessment of existing agricultural practices in Serbia, alongside collaborative efforts from governmental bodies, agricultural experts, and farmers, underpinned by adequate funding and training. With the right approach and support, Serbia has the potential to emerge as a regional leader in sustainable agriculture, charting a path towards a productive, environmentally conscious, and economically resilient future
Application of yarrow broth in order to reduce the intensity of infection of pot marigold leaf powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) U. Braun & Shishkoff.)
No full textThe paper examined the influence of a plant preparation = broth based on yarrow to reduce the intensity of infection of pot marigold leaf powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) U. Braun & Shishkoff.). The goal of the work arose from the need for a solution to one of the most economically significant diseases of pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L. cv. "Domaći oranž"). This disease is caused by the fungus Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) U. Braun & Shishkoff., which occurs during the cultivation of pot marigold. The location of the research was the collection of the Institute for Medicinal Plants Research "Dr. Josif Pančić" located in Pančevo (44°52'20"N; 20°42'06"E; 74 m.a.s.l.). The experiments were conducted during the growing season in 2022, on the soil of the humogley (black soil), according to a random block system in four repetitions. The size of the plot was 5.0 m2 (2 x 2.5 m), and the effect of the broth based on yarrow was evaluated according to a scale from 1 to 5 of the presence of disease on the pot marigold leaf. The plants were treated with this preparation in three variants: The first variant - one treatment at the beginning of the disease, the second variant - at the beginning and two weeks after the disease and the third variant - at the beginning, after two weeks and four weeks after the disease. The fourth variant was a control variant, i.e. a variant without the use of broth. During the last treatment, an evaluation of the plants' infection with powdery mildew was made. In the tests, number 1 represented the least sensitivity, and number 5 the most sensitive variant of this disease. After the evaluation of the infection of plants with powdery mildew, the best results were shown by the third variant with the least presence of powdery mildew (on average 1.8 i.p.), the second variant in second place, the first in third place and the control variant in fourth place with the highest presence examined diseases (on average 4.0 i. p.)
NS 5735, hibrid kukuruza
No full textRešenje Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede, Uprave za zaštitu bilja, Broj: 320-04-02086/2/2022-11, od 24.04.2024
Editorial: Speed breeding systems for food
No full textSustainable food production systems hold great promise for addressing the global challenges of food security and environmental sustainability. This Research Topic centers around food systems that incorporate speed breeding technologies, vertical hydroponics, and data-driven smart sensor applications. This special edition Research Topic sheds light on sustainable food production systems from plants, which offer promising alternatives to conventional agriculture, delivering high yields, efficient resource utilization, and reduced environmental impact. Speed breeding has the potential to revolutionize plant breeding, accelerating the development of new crop varieties and contributing to food security by increasing productivity and resilience. The integration of innovative technologies and data-driven approaches will further advance these systems, and make them more accessible for widespread adoption
Cutting-edge breeding tools for soybean yield prediction
No full textSoybean is a crop of major economic and environmental importance. Due to its broad
importance, there is a need for developing long-term breeding strategies based on state-of-theart
technologies that involve breeding predictive tools. Genomic prediction (GP), highthroughput
phenotyping prediction (HTPP), and Fourier transformed near-infrared reflectance
spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) are selected as the three main pillars for predictive models because they
reflect certain parts of soybean plant biology. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data
describes molecular differences between genotypes, while NIR spectra can be considered as
surrogates for overall tissue chemical composition and reflect the culmination of physiological
processes, and HTPP can detect subtle differences in canopy growth and developmental changes.
Implementation of these prediction models through their compilation has the potential for
application in a cost-effective manner. Estimating the accuracy and effectiveness of each specific
model and describing their interaction is an essential step in understanding the complicated
relationships between yield predictors. For that purpose, two sets of field trials are established to
simulate the real breeding evaluation process (early and late-stage panels). For prediction model
compilations, several strategies are used. The first strategy treats all data sets equally, while the
second and third approaches take into account data set hierarchy and the application of different
algorithms. Using all the strategies for combining prediction models should provide an answer
to whether it is possible to improve the precision and accuracy of soybean phenotype prediction
within and between environments as a key indicator for increasing genetic gain
Preparation and characterization of carboxymethylated pullulan/butyric acid-modified chitosan active sustainable bi-layer coatings intended for packaging of cheese slices
No full textDependence of the food industry on conventional plastic and the generation of enormous amounts of food waste caused by microbiological spoilage have been imposed as inspiration for this work, to develop active sustainable packaging for sliced cheese using the bi-layer design. Pullulan was modified using a green approach to obtain a polyanionic character in the coating formulation. Chitosan, which has a cationic character in an acidic environment, has been modified using a butyric acid to obtain an amphiphilic character. The formed active bi-layer has demonstrated an improved barrier (decreased permeability for moisture vapor 72.2 and 77.7 times) and mechanical properties (increased tensile strength value up to 3.9 and 9.4 times) compared to the monolayer films. A novel approach to microbiological control of sliced cheese has been established, which implies a synergistic effect of Helichrysum italicum essential oil (EO) and corresponding hydrolate (HY) incorporated in separated layers. This design has ensured avoiding surfactants and preserving cheese's sensory properties, prolonging its shelf-life by 50 % at least. Improvements in cheese storage conditions using this packaging lie in the improved barrier, mechanical and antimicrobial properties, the order of lamination, and a good covering of the cheese surface by spraying
Quality Optimization and Evaluation of New Cookie Product with Celery Root Powder Addition
No full textCombined drying, an energy-efficient method that includes osmotic pretreatment in molasses and shortened successive lyophilization, was used to obtain celery root powder and incorporate it in the formulation of cookies, with the aim of obtaining a new product. Wheat flour was substituted with combinedly dehydrated celery root powder at levels from 0 to 30%, and optimization of the amount of wheat flour substitution regarding technological, sensory and nutritive characteristics was performed. The optimal level of 20% substitution was determined using Z-score analysis, from the aspect of the best nutritive improvement and the mildest adverse impact on the technological and sensory quality. In the second research phase, comparison of the cookies with the 20% celery root powder substitution, dehydrated by different methods, indicated that combined dehydration showed upgraded results in terms of the overall quality of the final product, for 28.85 percentile points higher than cookies with lyophilized and for 65.24 percentile points higher than cookies with the addition of convectively dried celery root powder. The cookie containing celery powder previously osmodehydrated in molasses had higher contents of analyzed minerals (1.2–3.3 times), total phenols (10.8%) and antioxidant activities (14% for DPPH and 4% for ABTS) compared to the cookie with lyophilized powder
Impact of Simultaneous Nutrient Priming and Biopriming on Soybean Seed Quality and Health
No full textIn soybean production, numerous strategies are utilized to enhance seed quality and mitigate the effects of biotic and abiotic stressors. Zn-based nutrient priming has been shown to be effective for field crops, and biopriming is a strategy that is becoming increasingly important for sustainable agriculture. On the other hand, there is a lack of information about the effect of comprehensive nutrient priming and biopriming techniques on soybean seed quality and viability and seed health. This study was performed to assess the benefits of nutrient priming with Zn, biopriming with Bacillus megaterium and Bradyrhizobium japonicum (single and co-inoculation), and combination of nutrient priming and biopriming on the seed quality and viability, as well as seed infection caused by Alternaria spp. and Fusarium spp. Three different laboratory tests were employed: germination test, accelerated aging test, and seed health test. The results revealed that all tested priming treatments have a beneficial effect on seed germination, initial plant growth, and reduction of seed infection in normal and aged seeds. Additionally, comprehensive priming with Zn, Bacillus megaterium, and Bradyrhizobium japonicum reduced the occurrence of Alternaria spp. (−84% and −75%) and Fusarium spp. (−91% and −88%) on soybean seeds in the germination and accelerated aging tests, respectively, as compared to the control, which proved to be the most effective treatment in both optimal and stressful condition
Unmanned aerial vehicle-based evaluation of pollination performance employing clustering image processing technique
No full textThe global decline of pollinator populations is posing a threat to agricultural productivity, increasingly forcing farmers to introduce pollinators to their fields. Selecting suitable pollinator species is critical for effective crop pollination. This study presents an efficient method for early pollination assessment, utilizing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) footage for reliable estimation and timely reactions. Twelve oilseed rape (Brassica napus var. oleracea) isolation cages with three pollinator treatments were set up, including the control with no pollinators. The trial employed UAV image acquisition, generating high-resolution RGB orthomosaics. A K-means clustering algorithm was implemented to identify oilseed rape flowers, a direct indicator of pollination performance. The percentage of detected oilseed rape flower coverage within each cage was the primary metric for performance assessment. These initial results demonstrated a negative correlation of 0.92 between estimated flower coverage and expert observations, affirming the efficacy of the proposed methodology. By integrating UAVs and clustering image processing, this research contributes to precision agriculture, offering a robust approach for evaluating pollination performance. The findings underscore the potential of advanced technology to support informed decision-making in agricultural practices, addressing the urgent need for sustainable pollination management in the face of declining pollinator populations
The current state of organic production in US and the world
No full textStability and quality of agricultural production can be ensured by sustainable resource management. Health-safe products, economic benefit, preserving the environment and health can be achieved by organic production. Organic production in the World, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and North Macedonia was analyzed in this research. Agricultural land covers 76 mill. ha which is 1.6% of world land. It is noted a growth trend of the organic agricultural area in 2021 by 1.7% according data collected from 191 countries. The largest organic agricultural land areas are in Oceania (36 mill. ha or 47%) and Europe (17.8 mill. ha - 23%) followed by Latin America (9.9 mill. hа - 13%), Asia (6.5 mill. ha, 8.5 percent), Northern America (3.5 mill. hа - 4.6%) and Africa (2.7 mill. hа - 3.5%). A trend of area growth in 2021compared to 2020 was noted Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, B&H and North Macedonia. The largest increase had North Macedonia (7794 ha, 109.1%), then B&H (2495 ha, 47.5%), Serbia (23527 ha, 21.8%) and Croatia (121924 ha, 12.3%). Great export opportunity of Serbia is in that it has excellent conditions for the growth of organic production, because of its excellent geographical position and good quality land