Researchers applied compost to apple orchards, finding it increased the number of beneficial bacteria that recycle nutrients. This leads to more nutrients available for apple trees, reducing the need for fertilizers and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.
A team of researchers has identified key characteristics related to popcorn expansion, enabling more efficient selection and breeding of high-quality popcorn. The study found that kernel outer layer thickness is a critical trait for increased popping expansion.
Researchers have grown shrub willow on a semi-commercial scale to better understand its nuances as a bioenergy crop. Key findings include determining the best varieties to plant and how to handle planting and harvesting. The study also highlights the crop's ability to store carbon, host pollinators, and provide ecosystem services.
Research has identified two stevia varieties that can withstand freezing temperatures, making them suitable for growth in temperate climates. The study aims to improve the yield and taste of stevia while reducing production costs.
A study published by Lindsey Slaughter found that adding manure to pastures increases soil organic carbon and microbial activity. The results took almost a year and a half to manifest, highlighting the challenges of implementing this method in dry climates.
Researchers have identified chickpea varieties with natural resistance to Pythium ultimum, a soil-born water mold threatening the crop's production. These resistant varieties will be used to breed new kabuli chickpea varieties with improved disease resistance.
Researchers developed a way to measure levels of specific carbon nanotubes in plant tissues using programmed thermal analysis. This method can detect small amounts of carbon nanotubes in leaves, stems, and roots, providing crucial insights into their environmental fate and potential human exposure.
Researchers are using digital imaging technology to measure seed traits, enabling faster development of new crop varieties. Plant breeders aim to create seeds with more calories, improved nutrition and resilience to stress, ultimately ensuring sustainable food production.
A new collection of genetic data helps breeders understand yam characteristics, reducing the need for trial and error. The catalog provides valuable information on physical traits, such as stem number and tuber weight, to inform breeding decisions.
Agricultural expert Angelia Seyfferth investigates how contaminants in soil affect rice plants, finding that adding rice husk residue can lower arsenic and cadmium levels. This discovery has potential to mitigate food contamination and protect global staple food populations.
Researchers are using plant breeding and genetic engineering to develop less allergenic varieties of wheat and peanuts. They focus on reducing gluten content in wheat and one specific protein that regulates gluten production, aiming to increase food options for people with allergies.
Researchers have developed five new bean varieties that combine the best of both worlds for farmers and consumers. These heirloom-type beans are now more resistant to disease, yield 50% more than traditional types, and offer high culinary quality.
A new framework measures nitrogen loss across a wide variety of crops and food products, revealing significant differences between crops and livestock. The research highlights the importance of dietary change and economic incentives to reduce nitrogen loss and promote sustainable agriculture.
A recent study by Morgan Grabau found that cattle grazing on corn residue in the spring can increase soybean yields and minimize soil compaction. Contrary to initial concerns, the team discovered that even high-intensity grazing did not significantly affect subsequent crop growth.
Native to the US, tepary beans are drought-heat tolerant and require less water than common bean crops. They can be used as forage or cover crops, adding atmospheric nitrogen to soil and improving food security.
Certain bacteria living in sorghum roots work together with the plant to reduce drought stress, leading to overall plant success. The microbiome plays a critical role in determining crop productivity, and manipulating it may hold the key to developing crops that can thrive in harsh conditions.
Almond trees have unique needs and challenges for farmers, but researchers are finding ways to balance nutrient inputs with environmental quality. Conservation practices like nutrient budgeting and fertigation can help achieve this balance.
A new soybean line has been developed with reduced allergic sensitivity, which can be tested on pigs to ensure safety for consumers and animals. Eliot Herman's research focuses on eliminating the allergenic protein in soybeans, aiming to improve lives and reduce medical expenditure.
A recent study tested various cover crops to determine their effectiveness in protecting soil. While some cover crops had little impact, others showed promise in reducing erosion and nutrient loss. Researchers recommend choosing cover crops that can survive winter, grow well in spring, and hold onto soil for extended periods.
Researchers tested various cover crops to protect soil in Midwestern states like Illinois. While some cover crops showed promise, most failed to improve soil properties due to harsh winters and limited survival rates.
Researchers tested using wild crop relatives in breeding programs to improve crop resilience. The results showed that these relatives provided increased resistance to heat, drought, and some diseases, making them a promising approach to address climate change adaptation. However, breeders must also consider the potential impact on indu...
Researchers used UAVs to collect NDVI data at the seed increase stage of a CIMMYT wheat breeding program, showing heritable correlations with grain yield. Selection based on NDVI outperformed visual selection, suggesting improved resource-use efficiency and genetic gain.
A new study suggests that climate change may increase rice yields in Japan and other tropical areas due to longer growing seasons. Researchers found that combining a normal harvest time with a high cutting height can lead to higher yields in rice ratooning, a farming practice where the crop is cut and regrown.
Researchers found that char can rapidly restore soil carbon and sulfate concentrations, but did not affect physical properties or crop yields. The study suggests char as a potential strategy to enhance soil properties and crop yields in low-carbon soils.
A team from Pennsylvania State University analyzed the root systems of various beans and legumes to identify beneficial characteristics for breeding. They found that roots can balance nutrient exploration in topsoil and subsoil, leading to improved crop resilience under stress.
US public plant breeding programs are facing significant declines in personnel hours, budget shortfalls, and retirements of program leaders. This erosion of capacity poses a risk to US food security, natural resource resilience, and public health if not addressed with stable funding and expertise.
Scientists have identified three genes linked to high protein digestibility in sorghum, which could lead to breeding programs to enhance the crop's nutritional value. This breakthrough aims to improve the lives of people in third-world countries and US livestock producers by increasing the protein content of sorghum.
The 'Madsen' wheat cultivar exhibits excellent resistance to various diseases and stresses, contributing to its widespread success in the Pacific Northwest. Its impact has been felt globally, with researchers using it as a parent in breeding programs to protect wheat crops from numerous threats.
A new method using Vis-NIR spectroscopy reduces the cost and time required to analyze soil samples, allowing for faster restoration of ecosystems. The technology enables scientists to estimate concentration levels in impacted soil quickly and easily.
The first commercially available intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) cultivar has been released, providing a sustainable crop option for agriculture. MN-Clearwater produces high grain yields of 696 kg ha-1, with minimal lodging and disease levels, making it suitable for the US Upper Midwest, southern Canada, and Northeast regions.
Researchers have created a novel method using smartphones to measure soil density, which is crucial for nutrient and carbon stock management. The new approach involves taking high-resolution photos of soil samples with a smartphone camera and analyzing them using photogrammetry software.
Studies show that some allelopathic winter cover crops may impact row crop yields, with corn and wheat affected by cereal rye chemicals. However, clear cause-and-effect relationships are rare due to limited field studies.
Researchers Rebecca Lybrand and her team studied the interaction between ground-nesting bees and soils in agricultural settings. They found that active nesting sites were present in locations with little to no rock cover and low vegetation, which may provide a suitable habitat for these pollinators.
Researchers estimate a median 21% yield reduction for impacted corn and soybean crops, resulting in minimum economic costs of $587 million USD. The actual cost range is estimated at $0-$1.76 billion USD due to potential land area expansion.
A new variety of pinto bean has been developed with a slow-darkening trait, which improves agronomic performance and cooking time. The beans show higher yields compared to regular varieties, benefiting both farmers and consumers.
Researchers have identified key agronomic traits for high yield in short-duration rice, which can enhance source capacity during grain filling. The new breeding lines yielded 11-38% higher than the most popular short-duration variety, indicating enormous potential for developing improved varieties.
High fluorine levels in New Zealand soils are toxic to Rhizobia bacteria, which fix atmospheric nitrogen for legume plants. However, the study found no impact on the crops or livestock in question.
Researchers found that sorghum performed better under drought conditions, producing more biomass with less water. Mixed with supplements, sorghum can achieve desirable feed quality and increase profitability without sacrificing nutrition.
A team of scientists investigated an unusual wetland soil in California, discovering its peculiar properties that misled initial classification. By analyzing color, water content, vegetation, and chemical composition, they applied a new method to accurately classify the soil as hydric, crucial for conservation.
Researchers applied zinc foliar application to hard red spring wheat cultivars, increasing grain zinc concentration above the target level of 40 mg kg-1. The second application at flowering stage was necessary for this achievement, and price incentives are needed to motivate farmers to adopt biofortification.
Researchers found that GPS-guided tractors can reduce overlap and gaps in field coverage by up to 6% and 16%, respectively, leading to increased crop production and environmental benefits. This technology has the potential to be adopted by small farms, which currently lag behind larger producers in terms of technology adoption.
Research found that dynamic waterlogging enhances carbon dioxide emissions and depletes soil organic carbon. Microbes exhibit higher activity under fluctuating conditions, but not necessarily greater diversity.
The University of Minnesota has released the first food-grade wheatgrass variety, MN-Clearwater, allowing farmers to grow this beneficial crop. The new variety provides benefits such as reduced soil loss, fewer chemicals entering groundwater systems, and improved carbon storage, making it an attractive option for sustainable agriculture.
Research on crop residue management found that no-till and prescribed fire can affect nutrient availability and microbial activity in the soil. While prescribed fire showed some short-term benefits, its long-term influence is still unknown.
Researchers investigated potassium fertilization effects on pears in a long history of fertilizer use to establish critical levels. Higher K doses resulted in lower ethylene production and respiration rates, extending storage life.
A recent study by the American Society of Agronomy found that reusing chicken litter can deter growth of pathogens like Salmonella. Researchers discovered 'good' bacteria in used poultry litter can hinder Salmonella growth, providing new information on the relationship between litter environment and microbiome.
Researchers analyzed 23 years of data on native tallgrass prairie and crop-livestock systems in Oklahoma, finding that cropping systems increased nitrogen and phosphorus levels. The study highlights the importance of long-term research in understanding land management impacts on water quality.
Research reveals that incorporating cover crops with tillage increases mineralization of nutrients from cover crop biomass. However, results show mixed effects on corn-soybean grain yields when planted after cover crops, highlighting the need for suitable cover crop species selection to avoid yield reductions.
Researchers found that water rises up to 9 inches in the capillary fringe, controlling important functions like contaminant breakdown and carbon storage. The team also discovered that microbes behave differently depending on oxygen levels, requiring ideal conditions for decomposition.
Researchers found tepary bean offers rapid forage yields with a higher leaf-to-stem ratio, outperforming guar and soybean. Tepary bean is suggested as an alternate to soybean for producers, but further research is needed on its management strategies.