Research predicts a disease burden of 125.8 million DALYs globally due to climate change-induced crop nutrient deficiencies, primarily affecting South-East Asian and sub-Saharan African countries.
Researchers at the University of Illinois developed a robot called TerraSentia to count corn plants with high accuracy. The robot uses a suite of sensors, algorithms, and deep learning to capture each plant from top to bottom, overcoming challenges such as varying inter-plant spacing.
Rothamsted Research has developed a new approach to protecting wheat crops from the devastating take-all root fungus, by carefully selecting the first wheat variety in a cropping cycle. This reduces the disease's severity and increases yields in subsequent crop varieties.
A new defensive feedback control system has been developed to enable plants to strengthen their defenses against deadly pathogens, reducing crop waste globally. The system mimics an aircraft autopilot, detecting pathogen attacks and preventing weakening of the plant's immune response.
Climate change will dramatically increase corn crop yields' variability, leading to price hikes and global shortages. This threatens food security, particularly for poor consumers.
A new study led by the University of Essex engineers a model crop to overexpress a protein involved in recycling toxic chemicals, increasing yields by 27-47%. The approach may help farmers produce more food despite increasing temperature stress.
Researchers found radish cover crops significantly reduced soil nitrate content, but decomposed nitrogen was not returned to the soil. The study suggests radish can trap nitrogen without providing a fertilizer benefit to subsequent crops.
Crop rotation has been shown to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by up to 35% compared to continuous corn or soybean. Rotating crops also increases yield benefits of over 20%, with tillage not affecting emissions. The study highlights the importance of crop diversification and soil management in reducing environmental impact.
Researchers found that projected changes in temperature and humidity will not lead to greater water use in corn, allowing crop yields to thrive. This optimism is based on calculations of energy balance and evapotranspiration, which show a slight decrease in evaporation loss due to warmer temperatures.
A new study reveals that optimal timing of cultural management techniques such as careful rotary hoeing, delayed planting, and diverse crop rotations can significantly impact organic weed control. By reducing weed emergence and promoting soil fertility, these methods help crops become more competitive against weeds.
Researchers recommend developing best practices for revenue sharing, increasing funding for public programs, and establishing professional standards for sharing plant breeding materials. This can support the development of low-return, high-value crops that benefit both farmers and society as a whole.
Researchers evaluated aquaculture feed and land use requirements in a simulation-based study, finding that future aquaculture production needs to be four times higher than current levels. An aquaculture-dominant diet reduces feed-crop requirements and land use compared to meat-based agriculture.
Chinese croplands experienced drastic changes in management practices since the 1980s, leading to increased soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation. The study found that economics and policy-driven organic inputs dominated SOC sequestration, particularly through crop straw/stover return policies.
Researchers found that root exudates enhance soil aggregation and water repellency, particularly in sandy loam soils. The study sheds light on the complex interactions between plants and their surrounding soil, highlighting the importance of exudate production in plant nutrition and soil stability.
Researchers found that faba bean cover crops can add a significant amount of nitrogen to the soil, reducing the need for commercial fertilizer by up to half. The timing and management of faba bean residues also play a crucial role in maximizing the benefits of this practice.
Scientists have isolated a gene controlling the shape and size of wheat spikelets, which could lead to significant yield increases. The study, published in The Plant Cell, reveals that a genetic mechanism linked to another known 'Green Revolution' gene influences floral architecture in major cereals.
A new study evaluated 101 commercially available elite corn hybrids for their yield stability and crop-management adaptability. The researchers found that hybrids with stable yields under varying conditions are less responsive to environmental factors, while those with high adaptability yield well in optimal conditions but may perform ...
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory discovered that plants have a built-in brake on oil production, which can be disabled to increase biofuel and bioproduct synthesis. Disabling the gene for an inactive enzyme subunit increases oil production even under normal conditions.
A new technique uses satellite data and machine learning to distinguish between corn and soybean fields in Illinois, providing accurate crop type data every two months. The researchers used Landsat satellites and a deep neural network to analyze the data, showing promise for future innovations in agricultural applications.
Researchers at Aalto University found that El Niño and similar climate oscillations impact crop production worldwide, particularly in South Asia, Latin America, and Europe. The study highlights the potential of improved forecasting skills to improve agricultural resilience and food security.
A study found that increasing crop diversity in agricultural landscapes reduces aphid populations and decreases the need for pesticides. This is because natural enemies of aphids, such as ladybirds and spiders, have better living conditions in diverse landscapes.
The TerraSentia crop phenotyping robot, developed by the University of Illinois, measures plant traits using various sensors and transmits data in real-time to operators' phones or laptops. This allows for more objective and efficient data collection, enabling better breeding pipeline outcomes.
A University of Illinois study found that early-killed cereal rye reduces weed density by 20% and suppresses early-season weed growth by 85%. The cover crop management system also promotes easy edamame emergence, which is notoriously challenging for the soybean variety.
Researchers have improved crop water-use-efficiency by 25% without compromising yield, using a single gene. The team increased photosynthetic protein PsbS levels to conserve water, allowing plants to grow faster and yield more during dry spells.
A new study reveals that collared peccaries, red brocket deer, paca, and agoutis are the most damaging crop-raiding animals in the Amazon. Crop raiding damages farmers' livelihoods by reducing crop yields and requiring costly protection.
High crop intensification occurred in 28 countries, including Asia and Latin America, resulting in a 137% increase in energy use per hectare. Despite a 10% increase in land use, energy efficiency improved globally during later decades of the study period.
A nationwide study found that black-grass populations in England have evolved resistance to herbicides, leading to increased costs and lower crop yields. The research team recommends adopting weed-management strategies that rely less on chemicals.
Higher temperatures accelerate seed dispersal in key culinary crops like oilseed rape and mustard plants, limiting reproductive success. Researchers suggest new strategies for preparing crops for global warming, including developing temperature-resilient varieties and using gene-editing tools to delay seed release.
Researchers at University of Illinois create new maize growth model by integrating features from Community Land Model and Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator. The new model can simulate crop yields with improved accuracy and mechanism, correcting deficiencies in the original CLM model.
A team of experts has identified a gene that triggers resistance in wheat to the devastating fungal pathogen Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt). The breakthrough allows for DNA testing to identify whether a rust strain can overcome a resistance gene, enabling targeted treatment and reducing crop devastation.
The University of Tennessee is studying hops production in others states and developing educational materials to aid in the evaluation of hops production in Tennessee. The goal is to help Tennessee farmers capitalize on a new market opportunity for locally-grown specialty crops like hops.
Researchers have developed a new crop imaging system that detects chlorophyll fluorescence to monitor plant health and growth. The system can image larger areas than existing technology, providing more accurate assessments of crop health and potential applications for precision agriculture and high-throughput phenotyping.
A new study proposes a generic methodological framework to accurately quantify the greenhouse gas footprints of crop cultivation systems. The framework takes into account direct and indirect contributors, providing example values of emission factors and emphasizing the combination of measurements and model simulations.
A recent simulation study by Texas A&M AgriLife Research team found that winter wheat is a viable cover crop option for Rolling Plains cotton production. The study showed no significant impact of winter wheat on soil moisture and yield in both irrigated and dryland systems.
Researchers analyzed wheat microbiome under conventional, no-till, organic, and reduced chemical inputs management strategies, finding strong effects on microbial communities by wheat plant organ and age. The study provides foundational data for generating synthetic microbiomes to improve crop yields and disease resistance.
Researchers found that a multi-spectral camera mounted on a quad-copter provided more accurate results than a digital camera, with over 93% accuracy in estimating plant populations. The study aims to improve crop monitoring efficiency and profitability for farmers.
Researchers developed mathematical equations to calculate crop yields and optimize fertilizer use for sorghum-peanut intercropping. The study aims to improve profits and food production in West Africa, where millions of farmers face food security challenges.
A new study proposes swapping crop distributions on existing farmland to meet growing food demand and reduce water stress, resulting in a 10% increase in calorie production and 19% more protein. The proposed changes would generate substantial water savings for 42 countries, including Australia, India, and South Africa.
A breakthrough in sequencing the white Guinea yam genome has opened up possibilities for improving the staple crop's yields, sustainability, and disease resistance. This achievement will help farmers increase productivity and transform yams from a neglected 'orphan' crop to a more domesticated and economically viable food source.
Michigan State University will lead a $10 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to explore ways to boost camelina oilseed's yield. The team aims to achieve up to a 300-percent increase per acre in oil production by studying the plant's metabolic and gene expression networks.
Research suggests that soybean rust spores can travel long distances and reach the Midwestern crop earlier in the season, posing a threat to the region's soybean fields. Environmental factors like humidity, moisture, and wind speed influence short-distance movement of the disease.
Researchers at the University of Illinois are using satellite data to estimate crop yield in the US Corn Belt. By integrating various spectral bands and analyzing them together, they've uncovered valuable information on crop biomass and environmental stresses related to drought and heat.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered that maize was sufficiently domesticated 4,300 years ago in Honduras, contrary to previous Mexico-based theories. The site's exceptional preservation and high-precision dating methods revealed larger cobs with more rows than typically found in Mexico.
Researchers from Aarhus University have developed a method to match crop nitrogen requirements with a precision of 10-20 kg N/ha. This method uses a reference curve based on comparisons of leaf area and leaf reflectance at different light wavelengths, allowing for more accurate nitrogen application and reducing agricultural emissions.
Researchers discovered that plant parasitic nematodes activate plant stem cells to form galls on the roots of agricultural crops. This finding holds promise for developing resistant crop varieties and improving crop yields.
By 2050, climate change will significantly reduce crop yields in the Southwest due to reduced precipitation and increased water stress. The region's water basins, including those used for cotton and forage production, are projected to experience severe shortages.
A new study reveals that heat stress concurrent with drought or water excess can explain about 40% of the changes in wheat yields from one year to another. Water excess affects wheat production more than drought in several countries, contributing to reduced yields due to increased pests and diseases.
A new computer model predicts optimal planting designs for specific environments, reducing yield losses up to 10% with double-row spacing. The model incorporates biochemical and biophysical processes to simulate 3D plant growth, enabling farmers to make data-driven decisions.
Researchers used mathematical modelling to understand new ways of combating maize lethal necrosis, an emerging disease affecting food security in sub-Saharan Africa. The study found that a combination of crop rotation, clean seed, and insect control is the best way to prevent loss of maize crop.
A study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that varying diet formulation and pasture management can significantly affect greenhouse gas emissions on organic dairy farms. The researchers identified four feeding strategies, with diets featuring more soybeans resulting in lower nitrous oxide emissions.
Research reveals Palmer amaranth life history traits influence its growth and reproduction in various cropping systems. Crop rotation and canopy better explain trait differences.
Researchers found that a new type of nitrogen fertilizer, SuperU, can significantly reduce nitrous oxide emissions from irrigated crops by up to 53% compared to traditional granular urea. However, the effect depends on crop rotation, with yields remaining unaffected when used in corn production.
A new technique developed by James Cook University scientists helps oil palm growers predict crop yield, nitrous oxide emissions and nitrogen leaching. The research provides valuable information for on-farm decision making, enabling growers to make decisions that balance productivity and environmental sustainability.
The new Phytobiomes journal aims to bridge the gap between basic and applied research in sustainable crop production. The journal publishes high-quality research papers on phytobiomes, exploring interactions between plants and their environment.
Research found that combining crop rotations with soil amendments like poultry litter can alleviate issues associated with continuous cropping. Incorporating corn once within a 4-year cycle resulted in 8% greater yields than continuous soybean.
A study published in Journal of Cleaner Production found that cricket farming can be a more environmentally sustainable way to produce animal source foods. The research compared cricket production to broiler chicken production and identified areas for further improvement, such as exploring alternative feed sources.
A new study by UC Santa Barbara scientists has found that landscape characteristics, such as crop diversity and field size, affect insecticide use. Crop diversity was shown to reduce insecticide use by 8kg per hectare in table grapes, while larger fields use more insecticide.
Researchers explored three organic methods to suppress weeds: using cover crops instead of disks, turning them under, or flatening with a crimper. While some found cover crops to be effective in reducing weeds, the team also noted that unexpected weather conditions and soil fertility issues impacted results.
A North Carolina State University study reveals a significant shortfall in refuge cropland planting, potentially increasing Bt crop pest resistance. Researchers identified factors influencing growers' willingness to plant refuge crops, including financial incentives and high-yield non-BT seed.
A recent study has discovered the ancestry of Asian rice and its weedy cousins, revealing that rice has a natural tendency towards becoming weeds. The research found that both strains evolved from different crop varieties, with relatively few changes needed to turn the crop plant into a weed.