Articles tagged with Crops
A study published in Food Chemistry shows that reducing water usage for cherry tomato crops by 50% maintains quality and increases carotenoid levels. This technique can be applied to other crops, offering a sustainable solution for farmers and consumers.
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 Rutgers University study confirms that an abundance of wild bees is essential for efficient pollination in agricultural settings. The research found that over half of the observed species were necessary for pollination at one or more farms, highlighting the importance of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem services.
A new study reveals that increasing temperature enhances 'pod shatter' in oilseed rape, a major issue for farmers worldwide. The research establishes a genetic link between temperature and the problem, bringing closer the prospect of creating crops better adapted to warmer temperatures.
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.
A Brazilian startup has developed an AI-powered pest control system that uses IoT technology to help farmers apply agrochemicals at the right time and in the right amount. The system, which integrates integrated pest management techniques with machine learning algorithms, is expected to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Research classifies olive varieties by their susceptibility to anthracnose, with Picual variety found to be highly resistant. Almost all Spanish cultivars are classified as susceptible or moderately susceptible, highlighting the need for farmers to choose resistant varieties.
Domesticated honeybees contribute to wild bee declines through resource competition and disease spread. Researchers recommend policies to limit managed honeybee impact, including hive size limits and controls on hives in protected areas.
A new study from WCS, Duke University, and the Centre for Wildlife Studies in India found that communities near Rajasthan wildlife reserves show a high tolerance for wildlife. Despite experiencing losses, 85% of respondents believed protecting wildlife was important.
A study by Marty Williams found that workhorse sweet corn hybrids consistently perform well across ideal and less-than-ideal growing conditions, making them a better choice for processors. The research suggests that the 'workhorse' hybrid is preferred over the 'racehorse' due to its stability in variable weather conditions.
A new multi-institution report offers agronomic data for five cellulosic feedstocks, including switchgrass, Miscanthus, and sorghum. The study provides yield potential maps across the US, highlighting areas with high yield potential, but also notes limitations due to droughts and fertilizer application.
Researchers identified annual ryegrass as the most economically viable option to provide early season forage after alfalfa winterkill. This forage crop offers high yields and nutrient content, making it an effective way for farmers to offset losses.
Engineers at Iowa State University have developed a new type of wearable sensor for plants, using graphene technology to measure water use in crops. The sensors are made by patterning and transferring graphene-based nanomaterials onto tape, allowing for precise measurements of transpiration from leaves.
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.
Researchers found that high temperatures weaken plant defenses while strengthening bacterial attacks, making plants more vulnerable to infection. However, treatment with a chemical that mimics salicylic acid can effectively protect plants from infection at elevated temperatures.
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.
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have discovered the molecular processes behind crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis in succulents. They found that the PPCK enzyme is essential for optimizing CO2 capture and storage, and that alterations in the circadian clock can affect CAM function.
MIT researchers have developed sensors that can be printed onto plant leaves to reveal when they are experiencing a water shortage. These sensors take advantage of plants' stomata and can detect even slight changes in water pressure, allowing for early warnings in agricultural settings.
The University of California, Santa Cruz, has developed solar greenhouses that can generate electricity while promoting plant growth. Eighty percent of plants showed no impact, while 20% grew better under the magenta windows.
A UC-led genomic study suggests that humans gathered wild grapes for centuries before cultivating them as a crop. The research found evidence of human consumption of grapes dating back approximately 22,000 years, prior to the traditional domestication period of around 7,000-10,000 years ago.
Scientists at the University of Georgia developed an efficient living mulch system that benefits both corn production and soil health. By removing portions of clover after each harvest, farmers can reap cost savings from reduced herbicide and nitrogen fertilizer usage.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a promising approach called synthetic incompatibility to prevent interbreeding between genetically engineered and unaltered organisms. This technology effectively makes engineered organisms a separate species unable to produce viable offspring.
A team of Rutgers scientists has discovered a way to increase the nutritional value of corn by inserting a bacterial gene that produces methionine, a key amino acid. This breakthrough could benefit millions in developing countries who rely on corn as a staple food, and significantly reduce worldwide animal feed costs.
New technologies like Scintillometer and Eddy Covariance can estimate water requirements for crops with higher accuracy. A new system called Cosmic-ray Soil Moisture Observation System also determines optimal water application amounts.
A team of researchers is using genomic breeding approaches to develop disease-resistant, nutrient-rich banana varieties for smallholder farmers in East Africa. The goal is to boost yields by 30% and create high-yielding hybrids by 2019.
Agricultural insurance can have a range of unintended ecological and social consequences, including declining biodiversity and soil quality. Insured farmers may adopt riskier cultivation strategies, leading to further environmental problems.
Exceptionally preserved trilobite fossils reveal that at least two species evolved a stomach structure 20 million years earlier than thought. This discovery contradicts previous assumptions about trilobite digestive systems and evolution, suggesting a more complex evolutionary history.
Researchers made significant strides in transferring disease- and stress-resistance traits from wild relatives of several legumes to their domesticated varieties. This research improves the resilience of domestic legume varieties and sustains agriculture in semi-arid regions.
Researchers found that preemergence weed control in fall or early February is crucial to address kochia emergence and seed production. Effective methods include cover crops, tillage, and stale seedbed techniques.
Researchers propose switchgrass as a solution to China's poor air quality by reducing particulate emissions from soil erosion. The crop's ability to hold soil and produce biomass makes it an attractive alternative to coal, with potential for widespread adoption in the Loess Plateau region.
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.
Satellite data can optimize fertilizer use, protect groundwater, and monitor agricultural areas more efficiently. The DEMMIN soil measurement and validation site is a key player in this initiative.
Researchers are developing crops that use RNA interference to block protein translation in target pests, providing a subtle yet effective method of pest control. The technology has the potential to reduce or eliminate the need for chemical pesticides and address environmental and human toxicity concerns.
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.
The study reveals that ancient Rapa Nui people consumed a balanced diet of seafood and terrestrial resources, with evidence suggesting deliberate management of agricultural crops. This challenges the ecocide hypothesis, which attributes societal collapse to environmental destruction.
A new web application provides historical climate data to farmers, allowing them to compare current year's conditions with past ten years. The app covers the Texas region and offers information on soil temperature, growing degree days, and precipitation.
Two large-scale field studies reveal that neonicotinoids harm bees by reducing reproductive success and survival, with effects varying by environment. Neonicotinoid exposure also impairs worker bee life expectancy and queen colony stability.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that cellulosic biofuels can provide a climate benefit, but only if certain conditions are met, including using native perennial species on marginal lands and minimizing nitrogen fertilizer use.
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 at the University of Lincoln are exploring innovative approaches to stop Drosophila suzukii, a major agricultural pest affecting soft and stone fruit crops worldwide. The team will investigate using yeasts as bait and developing intelligent 'bio-inspired' robotics systems to mimic insect vision.
Scientists have identified a large chromosomal swap in banana crops, which may help explain their reduced fertility and increased susceptibility to diseases like Panama disease. The study found that this chromosomal rearrangement was preferentially transmitted to progeny, highlighting its significance for breeding programs.
A new study found that camelina seed yields were 54% lower at Hays than at Moccasin due to environmental conditions. However, seed protein content was significantly higher at Hays, and oil composition differed between the two test sites.
A study by UCLA and University of Houston researchers reveals significant groundwater loss in the Central Valley during two droughts, with losses totaling 16.5 cubic kilometers and 40 cubic kilometers, respectively. The increase in groundwater loss was attributed to reduced precipitation, snowmelt, and changes in crop cultivation, high...
Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered a gene that is turned on when plants compete for resources, including nitrogen fixing bacteria. This finding has potential implications for reducing manmade fertilizer use in agriculture.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University are developing sustainable clean-tech solutions for global potable water and clean food production. The project aims to improve energy and water consumption, as well as environmental and carbon footprint in closed greenhouses.
A new study by University of Delaware researchers explores the history of sika deer in Dorchester County, Maryland, revealing a complex relationship with native white-tailed deer. The study suggests that sika deer may be outcompeting white-tails for resources, causing ecological concerns and challenging management strategies.
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.
A study by Cornell University found that pesticides pose a significant risk to honeybees, with over 60% of found pesticides attributed to non-sprayed orchards and surrounding farmland. The research analyzed the bees' food stores and revealed high levels of pesticide exposure in 17% of colonies.
A recent study found that cover crops can mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing soil carbon sequestration. The research suggests that cover cropping can be an effective adaptive management tool to maintain yields and minimize nitrogen losses as the climate warms.
Ants cultivated and maintained vast subterranean farms producing fungi, dating back to 30 million years ago. These ancient agricultural ants have evolved complex societies, with crops dependent on ant farmers for survival.
African forests, which feed and provide subsistence means to at least 100 million people, are being cleared at a rate of over 10% by 2025 due to expanding agricultural production. The study recommends policies that prioritize forest conservation and local control of land to mitigate deforestation.
Researchers at Cornell University discovered that strawberries produce higher yields when blooming directly after an apple bloom. This method allows growers to manipulate the timing of crop blooms without relying on natural habitats, providing a more sustainable solution for boosting crop yields.
Researchers found that timing strawberry blooms directly after neighboring apple blossoms results in higher yields due to increased pollinator activity. This strategy allows growers to capitalize on the services of pollinators without relying on external inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.
Scientists have developed a new oilseed crop that is more resistant to heat, drought, and diseases than oilseed rape. The breakthrough technology keeps bitter defense compounds out of the seeds while maintaining them in the rest of the plant, enabling cultivation in areas previously unsuitable for oilseed crops.
Researchers are using wild relatives to breed more resilient sunflower varieties, reducing the impact of diseases, weeds, and insects. The study highlights the importance of annotating genetic information in wild relative collections to preserve traits for future use.
Researchers found that energy crops can be grown on CRP land without increasing nitrous oxide emissions in a small portion of the landscape. The study suggests that once established, large emissions from the footslope can be suppressed.
A new study examines neonicotinoid pesticides' effect on wood frog development, finding slight delays that may not be detrimental. Additional studies are needed to investigate the indirect effects of these pesticides on amphibian populations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced funding for fundamental and applied research on canola to increase productivity and profitability in various growing environments. This $766,000 grant program aims to develop new commercial products from canola and improve production systems.