Europe is highly dependent on soybean meal imports and anticipates an increase of domestic plant protein production. Ongoing climate change resulted in northward shift of plant hardiness zones, enabling spring-sowing of freezing-sensitive crops, including soybean. However, it requires efficient reselection of germplasm adapted to relatively short growing season and long-day photoperiod. In the present study, a PCR array has been implemented, targeting early maturity (E1-E4, E7, E9, and E10), pod shattering (qPHD1), and growth determination (Dt1) genes. This array was optimized for routine screening of soybean diversity panel (204 accessions), subjected to the 2018-2020 survey of phenology, morphology, and yield-related traits in a potential cultivation region in Poland. High broad-sense heritability (0.84-0.88) was observed for plant height, thousand grain weight, maturity date, and the first pod height. Significant positive correlations were identified between the number of seeds and pods per plant, between these two traits and seed yield per plant as well as between flowering, maturity, plant height, and first pod height. PCR array genotyping revealed high genetic diversity, yielding 98 allelic combinations. The most remarkable correlations were identified between flowering and E7 or E1, between maturity and E4 or E7 and between plant height and Dt1 or E4. The study demonstrated high applicability of this PCR array for molecular selection of soybean towards adaptation to Central Europe, designating recessive qPHD1 and dominant Dt1, E3, and E4 alleles as major targets to align soybean growth season requirements with the length of the frost-free period, improve plant performance, and increase yield.

This study aimed to explore the effects of different nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ratios on the yield and nutritional quality of greenhouse tomatoes under a water and fertilizer integration model. Greenhouse tomatoes were used as the research object, and the \"3414\" fertilizer trial design was employed to assess tomato growth, yield, quality, and soil indicators across various treatment combinations. The goal was to determine the optimal fertilization scheme and recommend appropriate fertilizer quantities for tomato cultivation and production. The results revealed that different fertilizer ratios significantly affected both the quality and yield of tomatoes. Overall, the tomato yield tended to increase with higher fertilization amounts, with potassium exhibiting the most pronounced effect on yield increase, followed by phosphorus and nitrogen. The comprehensive analysis of principal components indicated that the N2P2K1 treatment yielded the highest nutritional quality and yield. Therefore, the best fertilization combination identified in this study consisted of nitrogen fertilizer at 197.28 kg hm-2, phosphorus fertilizer at 88.75 kg hm-2, and potassium fertilizer at 229.80 kg hm-2. These findings provided the scientific basis for optimizing fertilization practices in greenhouse tomato cultivation and production in the Jilin Province.

Leaf inclination angle (LIA) and tillering impact the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) population canopy structure. Understanding their effects on water use (WU) parameters and yield can guide water-saving strategies through population control. In this study, six near-isogenic lines (NILs) and their parents were selected as materials. These special materials were characterized by varying tillering at the current sowing density, a similar genetic background, and, particularly, a gradient in mean flag leaf LIA. The investigation focused on the jointing to early grain-filling stage, the peak water requirement period of wheat crops. Population-scale transpiration (PT) and evaporation from the soil surface (E) were partitioned from total evapotranspiration (ET) by the means of micro-lysimeters. The results showed decreased PT, E, and ET with increased population density (PD) within a narrow density range derived from varying tillering across genotypes. Significant correlations existed between PD and ET, E, and PT, especially in the wettest 2017-2018 growing season. Within such narrow PD range, all the correlations between WU parameters and PD were negative, although some correlations were not statistically significant, thereby suggesting the population structure\'s predominant impact. No significant correlation existed between LIA and both ET and PT within the LIA range of 35°-65°. However, significant correlations occurred between LIA and E in two growing seasons. Genotypes with similar LIA but different PD produced varied ET; while with similar PD, the four pairs of genotypes with different LIA each consumed similar ET, thus highlighting PD\'s more crucial role in regulating ET. The yield increased with higher LIA, and showed a significant correlation, emphasizing the LIA\'s significant effect on yield. However, no correlation was observed with PD, indicating the minor effect of tillering at the current sowing density. Therefore these results might offer valuable insights for breeding water-saving cultivars and optimizing population structures for effective field water conservation.

BACKGROUND: The simultaneous prediction of yield and maturity date has an important impact on ensuring food security. However, few studies have focused on simultaneous prediction of yield and maturity date for wheat-maize in the North China Plain (NCP). In this study, we developed the prediction model of maturity date and yield (PMMY) for wheat-maize using multi-source satellite images, an Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) model and a random forest (RF) algorithm.
RESULTS: The results showed that the PMMY model using peak leaf area index (LAI) and accumulated evapotranspiration (ET) has the optimal performance in the prediction of maturity date and yield. The accuracy of the PMMY model using peak LAI and accumulated ET was higher than that of the PMMY model using only peak LAI or accumulated ET. In a single year, the PMMY model had good performance in the prediction of maturity date and yield. The latitude variation in spatial distribution of maturity date for WM was obvious. The spatial heterogeneity for yield of wheat-maize was not prominent. Compared with 2001-2005, the maturity date of the two crops in 2016-2020 advanced 1-2 days, while yield increased 659-706 kg ha-1. The increase in minimum temperature was the main meteorological factor for advance in the maturity date for wheat-maize. Precipitation was mainly positively correlated with maize yield, while the increase in minimum temperature and solar radiation was crucial to the increase in yield.
CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous prediction of yield and maturity can be used to guide agricultural production and ensure food security. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

UNASSIGNED: With increasing labor shortage and production costs, water scarcity and climate change, there is increased interest in ratooning as a green, resource-efficient technology to boost sustainable rice production, especially in China. Since the performance of ratoon rice (regenerating a second crop from the stubble left in the fields after the main harvest) and the impact of agronomic practices on its yield have shown mixed results across the world, a better understanding is needed to determine under which conditions ratoon rice performs well.
UNASSIGNED: The objectives are (i) to quantify variation in rice yield of main and ratoon crops, (ii) to assess genetic variation in and impact of agronomic practices on rice yield, focusing on the yield of ratoon crop and total yield (main and ratoon crops), and (iii) review of economic and environmental benefits of ratoon rice in comparison with single and double rice cropping.
UNASSIGNED: In researching ratoon rice, we compiled a database from 68 studies published from 2000 to 2023. Descriptive data analysis was performed.
UNASSIGNED: Studies from non-tropical regions account for about 70%. Large variation exists in the yield of ratoon crop across the studies, with lower yield from the tropics than non-tropics. The ratio of yield of ratoon crop to that of main crop also varied widely from 0.13 to 0.67 with 0.36 and 0.5 in tropics and non-tropics, respectively. The yield of ratoon crop was positively related to the yield of main crop, crop duration and nitrogen fertilizer application rate, which were generally higher in non-tropics. Hybrid varieties out-yielded inbred varieties in both main and ratoon crops in non-tropical regions. Direct seeding and AWD had a positive impact on the yield of ratoon crop. The impact of stubble cutting height was mixed. While agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (AEN) during entire ratoon rice cropping was similar to that reported for single rice cropping in previous studies, AEN for ratoon crop in tropical regions tended to be lower than those from previous studies on single rice cropping. Ratoon rice cropping reduced labor input and production cost and increased net economic return compared with double rice cropping.
UNASSIGNED: We propose a research agenda, with the focus on improvement of genetic and agronomic practices to explore the potential of ratoon rice cropping, especially in the tropics.
UNASSIGNED: This study provides insight into the progress in ratoon rice research over the past two decades globally, and specifically in the tropics.

Corn (Zea mays L.) is the most abundant food/feed crop, making accurate yield estimation a critical data point for monitoring global food production. Sensors with varying spatial/spectral configurations have been used to develop corn yield models from intra-field (0.1 m ground sample distance (GSD)) to regional scales (>250 m GSD). Understanding the spatial and spectral dependencies of these models is imperative to result interpretation, scaling, and deploying models. We leveraged high spatial resolution hyperspectral data collected with an unmanned aerial system mounted sensor (272 spectral bands from 0.4-1 μm at 0.063 m GSD) to estimate silage yield. We subjected our imagery to three band selection algorithms to quantitatively assess spectral reflectance features applicability to yield estimation. We then derived 11 spectral configurations, which were spatially resampled to multiple GSDs, and applied to a support vector regression (SVR) yield estimation model. Results indicate that accuracy degrades above 4 m GSD across all configurations, and a seven-band multispectral sensor which samples the red edge and multiple near-infrared bands resulted in higher accuracy in 90% of regression trials. These results bode well for our quest toward a definitive sensor definition for global corn yield modeling, with only temporal dependencies requiring additional investigation.

Enhancing saline water productivity in arid regions is essential for sustainable agriculture. Adding biochar can improve the quantity and quality of tomato yield under higher levels of salinity and lower levels of irrigation. The experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of biochar on enhancing tomato fruit quality and yield under salinity and drought stress. The experiment combines two treatments for irrigation water quality (0.9 and 2.3 dS m-1), four irrigation levels (40, 60, 80, and 100%) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and the addition of 5% of biochar to treated soil (BC5%) and untreated soil (BC0%). The results showed that the decrease in the water quality and irrigation levels negatively impacted the yield and properties of tomato fruit, while 5% of biochar application positively improved the yield. Adding biochar decreased the tomato yield by 29.33% and 42.51% under lower-saline-irrigation water than the control, negatively affecting the fruit\'s physical parameters and mineral content. In contrast, adding biochar and irrigating with saline water at 60% of ETc improved the firmness and quality characteristics of the fruit by 56.60%, 67.19, 99.75, and 73.57% for vitamin C (VC), total titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), and total sugars (TS), respectively, compared to the control, and also reduced the sodium content of the fruits under all irrigation levels compared to untreated plants by biochar. Generally, biochar with saline water under deficit irrigation with 80 and 60% of ETc could be an excellent strategy to enhance the qualitative characteristics of tomato fruits and save approximately 20-40% of the applied water.

Rice is a major grain crop in numerous countries. In lowland areas, high iron levels in the soil severely hinder its cultivation. The current study explored high-yielding and Fe-toxicity-tolerant irrigated lowland rice (340 lines) among a population derived from a cross between Suakoko 8 and Bao Thai in Edozighi and Ibadan, Nigeria. In contrast to Ibadan, the soils in Edozighi contain a significant amount of iron. For the stated purpose, we carried out a two-year experiment using an alpha lattice design. The data showed significant differences between genotypes for the days to heading, plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of panicles per plant, panicle length, and grain yield. The results revealed that multiple characteristics had both direct and indirect effects on cultivated rice yields. There was a direct and positive influence on the number of days in the 50% heading period (0.31), a direct and negative effect on plant height (-0.94), a direct and positive effect on tiller and panicle numbers, and a direct but negative effect on panicle length (-0.56). The leaf bronzing score was adversely correlated with yield, panicle length, and plant height, while it was positively correlated with the number of panicles, tillers, and days to heading. The findings showed significant changes in yield and yield characteristics between genotypes. Grain yields ranged from 283 to 11,700 kg/ha in the absence of iron in the soil, contrary to 0 to 8230 kg/ha in soil with iron toxicity, with losses estimated between 6 and 94%, demonstrating the resulting disaster. In contrast to the elite parents and varieties used in this study, the ten top genotypes exhibited smaller losses in yield. The authors strongly recommend using these lines for further studies as donors or releasing them in farmer fields in Africa.

Extreme weather events have led to widespread yield losses and significant global economic damage in recent decades. African agriculture is particularly vulnerable due to its harsh environments and limited adaptation capacity. This systematic review analyzes 96 articles from Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, focusing on biophysical studies related to maize in Africa and worldwide. We investigated the observed and projected extreme weather events in Africa, their impacts on maize production, and the approaches used to assess these effects. Our analysis reveals that drought, heatwaves, and floods are major threats to African maize production, impacting yields, suitable cultivation areas, and farmers\' livelihoods. While studies have employed various methods, including field experiments, statistical models, and process-based modeling, African research is often limited by data gaps and technological constraints. We identify three main gaps: (i) lack of reliable long-term experimental and empirical data, (ii) limited access to advanced climate change adaptation technologies, and (iii) insufficient knowledge about specific extreme weather patterns and their interactions with management regimes. This review highlights the urgent need for targeted research in Africa to improve understanding of extreme weather impacts and formulate effective adaptation strategies. We advocate for focused research on data collection, technology transfer, and integration of local knowledge with new technologies to bolster maize resilience and food security in Africa.

Currently, China\'s soybean self-sufficiency rate is only 15%, highlighting the soybean crisis and the supply chain risks that pose a major threat to China\'s food security. Thus, it has become imperative to step up efforts to boost soybean production capacity while promoting the green and sustainable development of regional farmland ecosystems. In this context, the present study comprehensively investigated the effects of intercropping and nitrogen application rate on soybean yield, as well as the changes in gradients generated by different levels of nitrogen application. Based on six consecutive years of maize-soybean intercropping planting patterns, the inter-root soils of soybeans were collected at the flowering stage and evaluated for soil nitrogen content, nitrogen-assimilating enzyme activities, and microbial community composition of soybean, which were correlated with yield, to clarify the main pathways and modes of intercropping effects. The N2 level (80 kg·ha-1) was favourable for higher yield. In comparison to monocropping, the intercropping reduced yield by 9.65-13.01%, photosynthetic characteristics by 1.33-7.31%, and plant nitrogen-assimilating enzyme activities by 8.08-32.01% at the same level of N application. Likewise, soil urease and catalase activities were reduced by 9.22 and 1.80%, while soil nitrogen content declined by an average of 6.38%. Gemmatimonas and Bradyrhizobium enrichment significantly increased soil nitrogen content, photosynthetic characteristics, and soybean yield, while it was reduced by Candidatus_Udaeobacter and Candidatus_Solibacte enrichment. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for further optimising maize-soybean intercropping, which is crucial for enhancing the agricultural production structure and improving the overall soybean production capacity.