Population Fluctuation of Disonycha teapensis Blake (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Crotalaria longirostrata Hook. & Arn. (Fabales: Fabaceae) in Huimanguillo, Tabasco, Mexico

Objective: To establish the population fluctuation of Disonycha teapensis adults and larvae and to determine its relationship with the amount of damaged foliage, temperature, and precipitation. Methodology: The study was carried out in a n=48 Crotalaria longirostrata plant crop. The following data was recorded every week: number of adults and larvae, damaged leaflets percentage, plant phenology, temperature, and precipitation. Based on these data, monthly averages were calculated, and correlation analysis were performed between the population fluctuation of D. teapensis and the fluctuation of the damaged foliage percentage, temperature, and precipitation. Results: All the phenological stages of C. longirostrata were affected by the pest, which showed a constant population growth. The population fluctuation resembled the fluctuation of the damaged foliage percentage, with a significant positive correlation between both variables. Regarding temperature and precipitation, the correlation was negative but not significant; therefore, the relationship between population fluctuation and these climatic factors is not clear. Study Limitations: It was not possible to conduct the study for a full year. Conclusions: The population development of D. teapensis depends on the increase in the amount of foliage of its host plant. This insect attacks plants in all their phenological stages and the amount of damaged foliage is considerable.

Sewage sludge enhances tomato growth and improves fruit-yield quality by restoring soil fertility

Among the various disposal strategies for sewage sludge (SS), soil application is the most suitable. This study was conducted to evaluate soil amendment with SS (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 g/kg) and its impact on soil fertility and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) growth. The SS significantly improved the agromorphological attributes, the number of produced fruits, and the fruit biomass of tomato plants. The 30 g/kg application of SS led to the highest growth rate and fruit yield. Considering the fruits, the best safe enrichment of metal nutrients was recorded at 30 g/kg, with a significant increase in the micronutrient metals Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, and Fe with 624, 193, 125, 70, and 32%, respectively, compared to the control. The SS amendment enhanced soil fertility, and heavy metals were within the permissible ranges for agricultural soils. Bioaccumulation factors (BFs) indicated that SS application induced the accumulation of most of the studied metals in the roots, and the BF values of Zn, Cu, Ni, and Pb were > 1. The current study concluded that recirculating SS nutrient components to agricultural soils could offer a valid solution for the sustainable management of this organic waste and enhance plant-crop productivity.

The Evaluation and Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources Collected in Lithuania

The present work compiles the results of three-year expeditions organized between 2011 and 2013 aimed at plant crop collection in the area of Lithuania, an Eastern European country. Accessions of fruit trees, vegetables, cereals, forage, industrial, fibrous, medical, and spice crops as well as accompanying segetal plants were collected in 5 ethnographic regions of Lithuania. In total, 1010 samples of seeds, bulbs, and plant grafts were obtained. The majority of the collected samples belonged to the Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Solanaceae, Alliaceae, and Rosaceae families. The accessions were described and deposited in the long-term storage in Lithuanian and Polish Gene Banks. Almost all collected cucumbers, pumpkins, squashes, and oat plants were morphologically characterized in field experiments. Cucurbita pepo accessions showed high morphological diversity, while limited diversity of cucumber accessions was observed. Oat plants were characterized by high morphological diversity and resistance to diseases present in some of the investigated accessions. Further characterization of collected apple trees and other accessions is underway. Obtaining germplasm in the area of Lithuania fulfills a gap in current plant crop collections. Collected material could be valuable for pre-breeding evaluation and further breeding programs as well as the study of genetic diversity.

UAVs for Vegetation Monitoring: Overview and Recent Scientific Contributions

This paper reviewed a set of twenty-one original and innovative papers included in a special issue on UAVs for vegetation monitoring, which proposed new methods and techniques applied to diverse agricultural and forestry scenarios. Three general categories were considered: (1) sensors and vegetation indices used, (2) technological goals pursued, and (3) agroforestry applications. Some investigations focused on issues related to UAV flight operations, spatial resolution requirements, and computation and data analytics, while others studied the ability of UAVs for characterizing relevant vegetation features (mainly canopy cover and crop height) or for detecting different plant/crop stressors, such as nutrient content/deficiencies, water needs, weeds, and diseases. The general goal was proposing UAV-based technological solutions for a better use of agricultural and forestry resources and more efficient production with relevant economic and environmental benefits.

Insect left-over substrate as plant fertiliser

The production of insect protein as human food and livestock feed (entomophagy) may provide a more environmentally beneficial alternative to traditional animal agriculture. However, the resulting waste product from insect production has resulted in large accumulations of left-over substrate and frass. Due to its nutrient and microbial profile, this left-over product has the potential to be utilised as a biofertiliser for high value crop production. Studies have been conducted using the frass of various insects (e.g. black soldier flies, houseflies, and mealworms) to monitor its impact on crop productivity. Overall, frass tends to have similar or better results when compared to inorganic fertilisers, especially when combined with them. Aside from productivity and growth, frass may also preserve soil fertility by decreasing leaching and infiltration, and reducing the prevalence of disease and pathogens. In addition, chitin found in frass also has beneficial properties for plant/crop growth and disease resistance. Monitoring the dietary inputs of industrially reared insects may be the best way of mitigating the potential negative impacts of frass application, such as increased electrical conductivity and heavy metal toxicity. No single study confirms all of these benefits at once. Future studies should focus building onto these results by demonstrating systems levels benefits.

FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH LEAF SPOTS OF SUGAR CANE (Saccharum officinarum L)

Survey for fungi associated with leaf spots of sugarcane in Chittoor and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh during 1986-87 revealed that 26 species of fungi belonging to 10 genera were found associated with leaf spots of sugarcane. The leaf spots found were minor ones and their incidence was meagre ranging from 1 to 3 per cent in both the districts. In common, the incidence was more in ratoon crop and also in the plant crop aged more than 6 months. The different types of minor leaf spots found on sugar­cane in the 2 districts of Chittoor and Nellore were des­cribed as : Spindle-shaped spots; dark brown linear blotches; reddish brown spindles; reddish brown lesions; Phyllachora leaf stripes; dark brown elongated lesions; dark purple streaks; dark purple midrib streaks; dark red linear lesions and dark red midribs. The morphology and taxonomy of the fungi isolated from the leaf spots were studied and the fungi were identified as belonging to 26 species classifiable into 10 genera

Current Knowledge of Content and Composition of Oat Oil—Future Perspectives of Oat as Oil Source

The oat oil composition is unique among cereals; however, the industrial exploitation of oat oil still needs more attention. The health claims authorized by the FDA and the EFSA have led to a significant increase in the industry’s interest in oats as an industrial crop. The current focus is put on the extraction of fibre/beta-glucan or oat proteins. In contrast, the fat present in oats and especially its functional components do not attract sufficient industrial attention. The paper presents a concise analysis of the current state of knowledge about the content and composition of oat oil (perceived as oil as product, not fat content) regarding oil extraction methods and analysis. The profound study suggests that oil separation should be obviously taken into account during oat fractionation for industrial products. Such an approach will be in agreement with sustainable management of natural resources and should be taken into account when planning full utilization of each plant crop.

Financial Impact of Irrigation and Nitrogen: Topdressing in Rural Enterprises of Sugarcane in Uruaçu, Brazil

The success of a project depends on a good planning of activities focused on increasing yield and minimizing production costs. The objective of the present work was to assess the economic viability of irrigated sugarcane crops (plant crop and ratoon crop) under nitrogen topdressing, in northern state of Goiás (GO), Brazil. The data needed for the research were obtained in a sugarcane crop area in the Estrela do Lago Farm, which belongs to the Uruaçu industry, in the municipality of Uruaçu, GO. The CTC4 sugarcane variety was used, which has high tillering and yield, and great adaptability to mechanized planting and harvest. The sugarcane was planted in double rows spaced 1.80 m apart. The total nitrogen topdressing rate (100 Kg ha-1) was divided into three applications with 60-day intervals during the crop development. The costs were obtained based on the following items: mechanized operations; manual operations; consumed material, and other expenses. The production cost was calculated using the total production operational cost structure used by the Brazilian Institute of Agricultural Economy. The highest costs for sugarcane in plant crop, with and without nitrogen topdressing, are due to mechanized operations and consumed material, which reached approximately 60% of the costs.

Chemical characteristics of soil after application of tannery sludge as fertilizer in the sugarcane plant crop

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of applying tannery sludge as fertilizer in the sugarcane plant crop and its impact on soil chemical characteristics. The soil in the experimental area was classified as dystrophic red latosol type (Oxisol). The experiment was set up as a randomized-block design with four replicates, with treatments represented by five doses of tannery sludge (0, 4500, 9000, 13500 and 18000 kg ha-1) plus one treatment with inorganic fertilization (90 kg ha-1 N, 180 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 120 kg ha-1 K2O). Soil chemical characteristics and sugarcane nutrition and production traits were evaluated. Tannery sludge application increased the organic matter, Ca, S and Na contents in the soil layers of 0-0.20 and 0.20-0.40 m. Heavy metal contents in the soil were not influenced by the treatments. Tannery sludge showed the potential to supply important macronutrients, especially at the highest doses tested. Tannery sludge doses between 10000 and 16250 kg ha-1 provided the greatest plant height and diameter and the highest number of stalks. The highest sugarcane yield, 149.55 t ha-1, was obtained with the sludge dose of 18000 kg ha-1.