Articles tagged with Crop Yields
Scientists at KAUST developed a new nanoplastic mulch that cools greenhouses by 25 degrees Celsius, increasing Chinese cabbage crop yields by nearly 200%. The biodegradable mulch reduces microplastic waste and energy consumption in hot cities.
Researchers have uncovered two major genes responsible for sorghum's double-grain spikelet, leading to a significant increase in grain number and crop yield. The study found that the DG1 gene regulates floret meristem formation and differentiation, restoring fertility to the lower floret and resulting in the double-grain trait.
New University of Sheffield research reveals agrivoltaics can meet UK electricity demand four times over, boosting crop yields and conserving water. Regions identified for effective deployment include Cambridgeshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, and the broader East and South East of England.
Researchers have identified two ABCG family SL transporter genes, SbSLT1 and SbSLT2, responsible for sorghum's resistance to Striga. Knocking out these genes inhibits SL secretion, preventing Striga germination and infestation. This breakthrough has wide-ranging applications in enhancing parasitic plant resistance across various crops.
Farmers in African mountains reported increased temperatures, reduced fog, and changes in rainfall patterns, leading to lower crop yields, livestock production, and human health concerns.
Researchers found that cacao grafting increases crop yield by 45% after just two years, while preserving native arthropod diversity. This approach rejuvenates old cacao crops with minimal ecological impact.
Researchers at Okayama University have identified the Shoot-Silicon-Signal protein as a crucial regulator of silicon uptake and accumulation in rice and other grasses. The study highlights the importance of silicon in enhancing plant resilience and productivity, particularly under climate change conditions.
Researchers have uncovered how soybean varieties respond to different types of nematode infections, revealing new insights into plant defense mechanisms. The study found that resistant plants activate genes involved in immune responses, while susceptible plants fail to do so, making them vulnerable to attack.
A new study by researchers at the University of Minnesota found that the benefits of corn-soybean crop rotation are extremely sensitive to climate change. The study suggests that increasing crop rotation can improve overall yields and highlight its potential as a climate adaptation strategy in the US Midwest.
Scientists discover unique hornworts with natural CO2-concentrating mechanism, optimizing photosynthesis and potentially revolutionizing agriculture. The discovery could lead to increased crop yields and improved food security, making it a promising direction for sustainable agriculture.
Plant roots use a silent molecular 'language' to direct fungi to attach, providing phosphates. Researchers discovered that strigolactone activates fungal genes associated with phosphate metabolism, leading to new strategies for cultivating hardier crops and combatting disease-causing fungi.
Research shows nanomaterials can blunt heavy metal contamination's effects while increasing crop yields and nutrient content. Nanonutrients reduce pollution's impact by 38%, enhancing soil fertility, leading to improved crops.
New research on genetically modified crops reveals potential environmental impacts, including increased pesticide use, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions. The study highlights the need for further research to support sustainable agriculture practices.
A new study finds nearly half of northern Central America is suitable for growing coca, a lucrative cash crop. The region's favorable climate and soil conditions make it an attractive location for criminal groups seeking to expand their operations.
Research reveals native plants and non-native crops attract pests that spread diseases, causing harm to both plant populations. The studies also found viruses transmitted from crops to wild plants, which can have devastating effects on native ecosystems.
Researchers study droughts, wildfires, and precipitation changes across the US Southeast and globally. The Great Salt Lake's drying exacerbates regional droughts, while a Maui wildfire is linked to atmospheric patterns.
Researchers discovered zinc's crucial role in nitrogen fixation of legumes, optimizing crop efficiency and reducing synthetic fertilizer reliance. This finding could enhance nitrogen delivery, improve yields, and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
A new study by RIKEN CSRS shows that biomass from purple photosynthetic marine bacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum is an excellent nitrogen fertilizer, effective as inorganic synthetic fertilizers but with lower environmental side effects. The biomass boosts plant growth without altering soil pH or salinity.
A study found that smallholder farmers in Tanzania used more fertilizer and had higher crop yields after an intervention, but the benefits did not last. The researchers attribute the lack of long-term adoption to liquidity constraints and structural factors such as fertilizer availability.
The study found that existing corn varieties are not ideal for future climates and that new crops with specific traits will be necessary. The research suggests that warmer temperatures, drier air, and increased CO2 will lead to decreased yields unless adaptations are made.
A new study found that removing hedgerows and field margins decreases the diversity and abundance of arthropods, which can lead to reduced natural pest control. The research suggests that using flowering plants in field margins and implementing agri-environmental measures can be effective ways to increase farmland biodiversity.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a framework to predict crop yield using satellite images of solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence. This approach could help farmers react to changing conditions, improve crop health, and reduce poverty. By leveraging satellite data, the method is cheaper and faster than traditional yiel...
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem introduced a non-invasive technique for evaluating chickpea water status, offering farmers a powerful tool to fine-tune irrigation schedules. The method amplifies both crop yields and water efficiency, resonating with global food security efforts.
A study published in Nature Food reveals that optimized phosphorus use can extend its stock for up to 531 years, reducing the demand by 3,000 kt annually. Currently, around 30-40% of farm soils have over-applications, mainly due to European and North American countries.
Researchers have discovered the gene responsible for producing a unique type of chlorophyll in marine algae. This breakthrough could lead to improved crop yields on less land, making it a key step towards achieving a more sustainable food supply. The study also demonstrated that a land plant can produce this specific type of chlorophyll.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discovered that different plant species use varying regulatory systems to control the same gene, leading to extreme genetic makeovers over millions of years. This finding highlights the importance of understanding genetic regulation in predicting crop genome engineering outcomes.
A major research programme found that climate change risks to human and natural systems greatly increase with global warming, leading to droughts, flooding, crop yields decline, and loss of biodiversity. Limiting global warming to 1.5 ºC could reduce these risks by up to 61% in some countries.
A new study found that potassium deficiency is a significant threat to global food security, affecting 20% of agricultural soils worldwide. The researchers recommend six policies and practices to mitigate the issue, including better management of soil potassium and intergovernmental coordination.
Research reveals that aquifer depletion can curb crop yields even when it appears saturated enough to continue meeting irrigation demands. As groundwater dwindles, agricultural losses escalate, especially for corn and soybean yields.
Plant scientists have discovered a sophisticated RNA defense system that plants use to attack gray mold cells, sending mRNA molecules that disrupt fungal cellular processes. This innovative approach could lead to the development of eco-friendly fungicides with minimal environmental impact and no harm to humans or animals.
Researchers analyzed gene expression and single-nucleotide polymorphisms in two modern Japanese malting barley cultivars to uncover the 150-year history of Japanese beer barley breeding. They found unique features related to malting quality and BaYMV resistance, highlighting the importance of preserving genetic diversity.
A new analysis by Aalto University reveals that industrial agriculture is highly sensitive to shocks in agricultural inputs such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The study models the impacts of these shocks on crop yields and food availability globally, identifying high-risk areas for the greatest yield losses.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo have developed an AI-powered drone system that analyzes young plants to predict their expected growth characteristics. By identifying optimal harvest times, farmers can reduce waste and improve their income by up to 20.4%, while also benefiting consumers and the environment.
Researchers found that globally abandoned cropland could feed up to 476 million people per year if recultivated and help pull planet-warming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through reforestation. The study highlights the potential of this often-neglected resource in supporting both food security and climate change mitigation.
Researchers have identified an essential stage in the takeover of rice cells by a fungus, which could accelerate treatment or prevention of rice blast disease. The discovery involves a modification in tRNA molecules that aid in protein construction, and its absence leads to reduced virulence.
Researchers from Okayama University used CNNs to estimate rice yield from pre-harvest photographs, achieving accuracy of 68-69%. The model highlighted the importance of panicles in yield estimation and showed promise for monitoring rice productivity at regional scales.
Gray mold is a fungus that causes billions of dollars in crop losses each year, but researchers have discovered a way to control it without using toxic chemicals. The discovery reveals that gray mold uses lipid 'bubbles' to deliver RNA molecules that silence plant immune systems.
Researchers developed a smart agrochemical delivery platform using biomimetic mineralization, which improves crop yield and fruit zinc content. The platform, named MiZIFs, uses zeolitic imidazolate frameworks to encapsulate a synthetic growth regulator, promoting plant growth and stress tolerance.
Researchers successfully modified the ethylene synthesis pathway in the Japanese luxury melon to increase its shelf-life. The study found that introducing a mutation into the CmACO1 gene reduced ethylene generation, resulting in firmer fruit and longer shelf life.
A new study suggests that while winter cover crops can reduce nitrogen pollution by up to 30%, their effectiveness will decrease under future climate scenarios. Illinois' corn yields are expected to suffer more than soybean yields, especially in southern regions, as warmer temperatures and changing rainfall patterns impact crop growth.
A study of maize hybrid varieties over 81 years found that while maize's tolerance to moderate heat stress has improved, its tolerance to severe heat stress has decreased. This shift in tolerance could have significant implications for climate change's impact on agriculture.
A new computer model forecasts yield for four key crops in the southeastern US, drawing on climate, groundwater, and agricultural data. The tool helps farmers and water resource managers identify ways to maximize crop yields while efficiently utilizing water and energy.
Researchers developed a copper-based hydrogel that captures nitrate waste and transforms it into ammonia for reusable fertilizers. The system increased crop yields while reducing environmental impacts.
Scientists have identified a natural gene variant in barley that enables plants to flower up to 18 days earlier, allowing for improved adaptation to climate change. This discovery could lead to the development of climate-resilient barley varieties with stable yields.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have identified new genes that regulate the surge protector in plants, which can help increase photosynthesis efficiency and boost corn yields. The discovery could lead to breeding plants better equipped to capitalize on yield-boosting sunlight.
A new study from Tufts University predicts a significant increase in extreme temperatures affecting wheat yields in the US and China. The research warns of potentially disastrous consequences for global food supplies if crops are impacted by heat stress, which can occur at temperatures above 27.8°C.
Researchers from the University of Arkansas found that organic sweetpotato growers can improve yields by selecting top-performing cultivars and using winter cover crops. The study also showed benefits for conventional production systems, as limited herbicides are available for weed management in sweetpotatoes.
A new study reveals that Indian farmers have adapted to climate change by changing management practices and using hardier crop varieties. However, the impact of climate change on crop yields varies across crops and regions, with some areas experiencing greater benefits than others.
Researchers used drones to capture images of corn fields damaged by wild pigs in Texas, finding an average loss of 3,416 kg of corn per hectare and a direct cost to producers of up to $48.24 per hectare. The damage occurred mainly in later growth stages, when corn ears were maturing.
Researchers suggest that biochar produced from straw pyrolysis can significantly reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions from Chinese staple crops. The addition of an integrated energy system also produces biogas and bio-oil, which can replace fossil fuels and further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Chinese scientists have identified a key gene involved in crop alkaline tolerance, which may greatly improve crop yield in sodic environments. The study found that the gene negatively regulates alkaline stress by modulating the efflux of H2O2 under environmental stress.
A team of MIT researchers has created an 'unclonable' label system to combat counterfeit seeds in Africa, where fake seeds can cost farmers up to two-thirds of expected crop yields. The system uses biodegradable silk-based tags with unique codes that cannot be replicated.
Researchers found that Greenlandic glacial rock flour can capture large amounts of CO2 through enhanced weathering, improving crop yields by up to 24% in Danish fields. The fine powder also acts as a natural fertilizer, providing a wider array of nutrients than commercial organic fertilizers.
Wheat yields decline by 4% due to extreme heat and drought, with regions like Russia and China experiencing greater losses. Maize yields also drop by 3%, with North America and Eastern Europe seeing more severe reductions.
A study by the University of Göttingen found that arranging rows of trees at right angles to semi-natural habitats increases pollination performance and nut production. The design also promotes easy movement of bees through the plantation.
Researchers at the University of Turku found that reducing pesticide pollution and harvesting intensity can increase crop yields and contribute to climate change mitigation. By optimizing carbon sequestration and storage in soils, farmers can improve plant resilience and productivity, while minimizing environmental harm.
Researchers have discovered licorice leaf extract as a potent bactericide and fungicide, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic pesticides. The extract modulates plant immune responses to pathogens and acts against resistant oomycetes, making it a potential solution for naturally controlling plant diseases.
Researchers conducted a three-year field study to determine how black swallowwort responds to common controls. The study found that annual applications of glyphosate were effective in reducing aboveground biomass, but less effective in reducing cover and stem densities.
Researchers found that nitrified urine fertilizers, such as Aurin and CROP, can be used safely and productively in agriculture. The study tested these fertilizers on cabbage cultivation, with results showing yields comparable to conventional fertilizer products.
Researchers discovered a species of grass, seashore paspalum, that can tolerate diverse stresses and aid in crop development. The study revealed the plant responds to nutrient deprivation by doubling its production of a sugary molecule called trehalose, which helped corn seedlings grow faster and larger without added nutrients.