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Utilizing APSIM model for predicting wheat yield in no-tillage farming systems in Ninawa
No full textReceived: July 25th, 2025 ; Accepted: September 17th, 2025 ; Published: October 23rd, 2025 ; Correspondence Email: [email protected] research explored how wheat responds agronomically when cultivated under no-tillage and multi-tillage farming scenarios, representing conservational and conventional systems, respectively. Using site-specific soil data, the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) was calibrated to investigate the long-term (7 winter seasons) influence of tillage-induced soil health on crop yield, and some of the yield components. As a results, wheat yields and yield components were significantly (p-value <0.05) higher under no-tillage conditions. In years with moderate rainfall (≈ 230 to 400 mm in-season), the predicted values of grain yield and total biomass between no-tillage and multi-tillage systems showed superiority to no-tillage system. Despite the demonstrated superiority of the no-tillage system in providing the best values for the investigated indicators under dry conditions, the differences in grain yield and total biomass between the two farming systems decreased with increasing rainfall. The differences in simulated and observed data were 13% and 8% for grain yield and biomass, respectively, under no-tillage condition, and approximately 6% and 10% for grain yield and total biomass, respectively, under multi-tillage condition. APSIM simulated outcomes showed that increased productivity, and annual yield under no-tillage system, was able to increase total financial incomes of wheat by USD120–396 ha−1 depending on in-season rainfall and the tillage system practiced. Therefore, no-tillage appears to offer a more sustainable and viable approach to boosting nutrition uptake and grain yield compared to the conventional technique in waterlimited environments
Valguse kättesaadavuse mõju sambla lehestiku struktuursetele, keemilistele ja füsioloogilistele tunnustele
No full textDoctoral Thesis in Applied Biology.Doktoritöö rakendusbioloogia erialal.ABSTRACT. Light is essential to all green plants for photosynthesis, but it is highly variable environmental factor. It varies at temporal and spatial scales, both across the habitats and within the plant canopies. The plant canopy is adapted to light harvesting, interception and photosynthetic production, but it can only acclimate to changing light conditions within certain limits. The overall objective of this thesis was to gain insight into how the moss canopy as a whole responses to variations in light availability.
Leaf area index (LAI) is one of the most widely used measurements for describing vascular plant canopy structure, and it characterizes the capacity of canopies to exchange energy and matter with the environment. The LAI and its underlying structural canopy traits were investigated in eleven moss species, eight acrocarpous species (Aulacomnium palustre, Ceratodon purpureus, Dicranum polysetum, D. scoparium, Hedwigia ciliata, Polytrichum commune, Racomitrium canescens and Syntrichia ruralis) and three pleurocarpous species (Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi and Pseudoscleropodium purum). We found that structural traits were highly variable while LAI variability was low due to the underlying trait trade-offs (leaf size vs. leaf number and total shoot leaf area vs. shoot number) as in vascular plants. Despite this, moss LAI values were higher than typical vascular plants. The great structural variability found in every level (leaf, shoot and canopy) indicate that the structural differentiation serves multiple roles: maintenance of moss hydration, avoidance of photoinhibition and efficient light harvesting for photosynthesis. Using P. schreberi as an example we demonstrate how further there are major variations in moss chemical and physiological traits across the habitats and from top to bottom of the moss canopies. At the same time across-habitat variation in photosynthesis was low as is characteristic to shade plants and within-canopy trait acclimation to reduction in light availability was strongly curbed by an interacting age gradient. Overall, the data shown in this thesis collectively highlight that moss canopy functioning profoundly differs from vascular plant canopies.LÜHIKOKKUVÕTE. Valgus on kõigi roheliste taimede jaoks fotosünteesiks hädavajalik, kuid see on väga muutuv keskkonnategur. Valgus varieerub nii ajas kui ruumis, nii kasvukohtade vahel kui ka taime lehestiku sees. Iga taime lehestik on kohastunud püüdma valgust, kuid ta suudab muutuvate valgustingimustega kohaneda vaid teatud piirides. Käesolev doktoritöö püüab anda ülevaate sambla lehestiku struktuursetest, keemilistest ja füsioloogilistest tunnustest ja nende muutustest, mis võimaldavad samblal erinevates valgusetingimustes paremini hakkama saada. Üks enim kasutatavaid näitajaid lehestiku struktuuri kirjeldamiseks on lehepinna indeks (LAI), mille väärtus iseloomustab lehestike võimet vahetada energiat ja ainet keskkonnaga. Antud töös leidsime LAI ja seda määravad struktuursed tunnused 11 samblaliigil (tippkupralised - Aulacomnium palustre, Ceratodon purpureus, Dicranum polysetum, D. scoparium, Hedwigia ciliata, Polytrichum commune, Racomitrium canescens, Syntrichia ruralis ja külgkupralised - Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi ja Pseudoscleropodium purum). Uuringud näitasid, et sambla lehestiku struktuursed tunnused olid väga varieeruvad, samas LAI varieeruvus oli väike. Selgitasime, et LAI maksimaalseid väärtusi piiravad vastandlikult toimivad tunnuste kombinatsioonid (lehtede suurus vs. lehtede arv ja võrsete suurus vs. võrsete tihedus) nii nagu soontaimedel. Vaatamata sellele on sammalde LAI väärtused kõrgemad kui tüüpiliste soontaimede omad. Leitud struktuursete tunnuste suur varieeruvus aitab neil täita nende mitmekesist rolli nii samblamati niiskuse säilitamisel, liiga tugeva valguse vähendamisel kui ka valguse efektiivsel püüdmisel. Ühe sambla liigi (P. schreberi) näitel demonstreerime, kuidas kasvukohtade vahel ja lehestikus ülevalt alla esineb sammalde keemilistes ja füsioloogilistes tunnustes olulisi erinevusi. Samal ajal fotosünteesi varieeruvus oli väike, mis on sammaldele kui varjutaimedele üldiselt omane. Lehestiku sisest kohanemist valguse vähenemisele vähendas aga lehestiku samaaegne vananemine, sest sambla tipmise kasvu tõttu arenevad uued lehed võrsete tippudes. Kokkuvõttes rõhutavad käesolevas väitekirjas esitatud andmed, et sammalde lehestike toimimine erineb oluliselt soontaimede omast.Publication of this thesis was supported by the Estonian University of Life Sciences.This study was funded by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Science
(grant SF1090065s07 and grant IUT8-3), the Estonian Research Council (grant
PRG537) and the European Commission through the European Regional
Development Fund (Center of Excellence in Environmental Adaptation and
Center of Excellence EcolChange)
Enabling semantic interoperability for smart farming
No full textReceived: January 13th, 2025 ; Accepted: April 11th, 2025 ; Published: April 15th, 2025 ; Correspondence: [email protected] strain on food security, environmental health, ecosystems, and fertile land, driven by a growing global population, can be alleviated through sustainable agriculture. To navigate this critical situation, it is essential to leverage existing technologies. The advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the evolution of the internet have opened up new possibilities such as precision agriculture, IoT-based farming, and data-driven analytics for the agriculture sector. One promising approach is the utilization of semantic web technologies in smart farming. This article presents an ontology-based method designed to enable semantic interoperability across various smart farming systems. By merging and integrating existing domain ontologies, a unified framework is proposed, that facilitates seamless data exchange, enhances decision-making, and addresses key challenges in sustainable agriculture
Eesti Vabariik 107
No full textEesti Vabariigi 107. aastapäeva piduliku sündmuse esitlus.Eesti Maaülikooli rektor Ülle Jaakma kutsus maaülikooli töötajad 20. veebruaril 2025 maaülikooli raamatukokku, et tähistada koos Eesti Vabariigi 107. aastapäeva ja tänada neid ülikoolipere liikmeid, kes pälvisid sel aastal riigi tunnustuse oma teadustöö eest ning on panustanud ühiskonna elu edendamisesse
Väimela Mäejärv
No full textPhytoplankton biomass, diversity and abundance in samples collected from Väimela Mäejärv during the period 1962-1989
Insight on the impacts of brassinosteroid- and seaweed-based biostimulants on glyphosate-resistant commercial crop growth, yield and soil microorganisms: A scoping review
No full textReceived: August 7th, 2024 ; Accepted: January 22nd, 2025 ; Published: February 21st, 2025 ; Correspondence: [email protected], compliance with the chemical regulations on the use of herbicides, particularly glyphosate, remains a challenge. Glyphosate controls various broadleaf, annual, and perennial grasses in the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. Although glyphosate targets weeds, it can also influence non-target soil microorganisms and high-value plants through earlyseason broadcast, pre-plant application, or indirectly via foliar application by droplets falling to the ground. In plants, glyphosate impacts various physiological and physiochemical processes, inhibits auxin transport, and enhances auxin oxidation in plants. Hence, biostimulants serve as a gateway in alleviating such problems. Biostimulants are agricultural products manufactured from natural materials that contain active compounds, which stimulate growth when applied in minute volumes under different growth conditions. In the past, a major focus was directed toward biostimulants' effects on commercial crops under abiotic stress conditions such as drought, heat, and salinity. However, less emphasis has been placed on the stress caused by herbicide applications. Therefore, this review focuses on future studies to explore brassinosteroid and seaweed-based biostimulants' impact on glyphosate-resistant commercial crop growth and soil microorganisms. Conclusions and recommendations could be reached using the pool of research material, which consists of research articles, reviews, book chapters, theses, research short communications, and industrial short communications from at least the last ten years
Development of tropical grassland biomass prediction model based on UAV RGB images
No full textReceived: October 6th, 2024 ; Accepted: February 20th, 2025 ; Published: March 15th, 2025 ; Correspondence: [email protected] objective of this study is to assess the predictive potential of indices derived from RGB images captured by a camera mounted on a remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) to estimate the fresh and dry forage yield of grasses from the Urochloa genus. The experiment was conducted between December 2021 and January 2023, involving four cultivars of the Urochloa genus (U. brizantha cv. Braúna, U. brizantha cv. Paiaguás, U. hybrid cv. Camello, and U. decumbens cv. Basilisk), with flights conducted at two heights (20 and 100 metres). The values of the Green Leaf Index (GLI) and Digital Vegetation Model (DVM) extracted were correlated with the yields of fresh (FFY), dry forage yield (DFY), dry matter content (DM), and crude protein (CP). The results showed that DVM exhibited greater efficiency in estimating DM and CP at a flight altitude of 20 m. In contrast, GLI proved more efficient in estimating FFY and DFY at 100 m altitude, suggesting the potential for combining DVM and GLI to develop predictive models. The RGB images obtained via RPV have potential for estimating forage productivity and quality, expanding the possibilities of pasture management techniques
Evaluation of maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines for tolerance to Aluminum toxicity using selection indices
No full textReceived: April 19th, 2024 ; Accepted: August 7th, 2024 ; Published: March 14th, 2025 ; Correspondence: [email protected] of genotypes with better yield performance when exposed to stress (biotic or abiotic) is key objective for every plant breeding program. Aluminum toxicity is one of the significant constraints to maize production in acidic soils in many parts of the world. The aim of this study was to identify desirable genotypes with Al tolerance based on selection indices at seedling stage and identify the most effective selection indices under Al stress conditions. 75 Quality Protein Maize (QPM) genotypes were evaluated in CRD with three replicates in the laboratory using a nutrient solution screening method. Additionally, the same genotypes were also screened in the greenhouse arranged in RCBD with three replicates using soil bioassays. The genotypes were exposed to aluminum (Al) toxicity and non-toxic conditions. Data were collected and seven selection indices namely: Stress susceptibility index (SSI); stress tolerance index (STI); geometric mean productivity (GMP); Tolerance index (TOL); Stress Resistance Index (SRI); Percentage Reduction (PCRD); and Mean Productivity (MP) were calculated. Dry Matter (DM) yield under Al toxicity and non-toxic conditions had highly significant (p < 0.001) effects with GMP, STI, SRI and MP, suggesting that these indices have the potential to differentiate genotypes for Al tolerance. Significant and negative correlations were observed between DM and PCRD, TOL, and SSI. Indices that had highly significant and very strong correlations amongst themselves were PCRD with SSI (r = 1.00), and GMP with STI (r = 1.00). The most desirable selection indices that can be used to select tolerant QPM genotypes included GMP, STI, SRI, PCRD, and TOL as they had strong correlations with dry matter under Al toxicity. The tested genotypes were classified into four groups using the principal component (PCA) analysis known as QPM genotypes with high performance under both environments (Group 1), those with high performance under optimum conditions (Group 2), genotypes with high performance under Al stress conditions (Group 3) and those with low performance under both conditions (Group 4). The top five most tolerant maize inbred lines were CML 486, QSY 2, IBL 9, IBL 5 and IBL 4. These tolerant genotypes could be used as parent material for hybridization programs in developing Al tolerant cultivars
Investigating the Improvement of bull In vitro fertility through seminal plasma extracellular vesicles : [presentation]
No full textSeminal plasma extracellular vesicles (EV) affect the biological function of sperm by enhancing their motility and fertilizing capability by transferring essential proteins, lipids, and RNAs, potentially affecting embryo development and offspring health. Using EVs derived from known high in vitro fertility (HF) bulls might allow for tailored IVF treatments to address specific fertility issues and improve success rates for known low in vitro fertility (LF) bulls.This study was supported by the Estonian Research Council grant PRG1665
Partsi lakes
No full textPhytoplankton biomass, diversity and abundance in samples collected from Partsi lakes during the period 1959-2014