Articles tagged with Crops
A recent study found that Florida's winters are getting more extreme, causing plants to flower later and potentially shrinking the growing seasons for some of the state's most vital crops. The researchers' work highlights the complexity of a changing climate in a warming world.
Researchers found that subjecting horseradish root stocks to hot water at 47 degrees Centigrade for 20 minutes effectively controls Verticillium and Fusarium pathogens. This simple, safe, and cost-effective method is expected to boost crop yields and improve the quality of commercial horseradish.
A study compiled field studies across the US to identify influences on biomass yield of switchgrass. Lowland and upland switchgrass types showed varying yields, with annual averages of 12.9 metric tons per hectare for lowland and 8.7 metric tons for upland ecotypes.
Researchers found that organic farming increases beneficial predator populations, reducing insect pests and promoting larger potato plants. This biodiversity conservation may be the secret behind organic farmers' success in achieving high yields.
Phytophthora blight affects all cucurbits and peppers, causing up to 100% crop loss in parts of the state. Illinois-grown processing pumpkins account for nearly 95% of US supply, with a gross value exceeding $160 million per year.
Researchers found that improving soil structure was a significant variable contributing to positive potato yield. Supplementing traditional soil sampling with spectral measurement provided detailed insights into how the potato crop interacts with its environment.
Research found that adding straw residue to hairy vetch cover crops can reduce legume nitrogen losses, but may lower crop yields. The study revealed that straw residue reduced soil inorganic nitrogen content by an average of 7.3% compared to treatments with only legume residues.
A new study finds that adding straw residue to hairy vetch cover crops can reduce nitrogen loss into waterways. However, this method also results in reduced crop yields due to the straw's removal from the field for sale. The research suggests integrating legume cover crops with synthetic fertilizers could improve sustainability.
Six new corn inbred lines with resistance to aflatoxin contamination have been found free of foreign seed-borne diseases. Seeds are now available in the United States for further evaluation and breeding towards commercialization. Data from these lines will provide insight into their value in reducing food safety risks.
A new book chapter by American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America highlights critical agricultural research areas receiving federal funding, including biofuel production, environmental quality, food safety, and nutrition. The chapter highlights $429 million increase in NIFA's compe...
Researchers at the University of Illinois have found Sudangrass to be an effective solution for controlling Canada thistle, with a 95% control rate in test plots. The smother crop can be mowed and left as a surface mulch or grazed, making it suitable for both organic and conventional farmers.
Atrazine is the single most widely used herbicide in sweet corn, accounting for only 9% of total weed management costs. The study found that phasing out atrazine would burden growers with particularly weedy fields and early season crop production.
Astronauts may soon have a sweet treat in space thanks to Purdue University's discovery of a low-maintenance strawberry cultivar. The Seascape strawberry meets NASA guidelines for space crops due to its ability to thrive under shorter daylight periods, reducing energy requirements and labor needs.
A team of scientists has turned an ornamental plant into a tool for combating citrus greening, a bacterial disease threatening the world's citrus crop. Periwinkle plants were found to be effective in screening treatments and responded well to antibiotic compounds tested to reduce infection rates.
The global biofuel drive poses a significant risk of eviction for African farmers as their lands are allocated for crop cultivation. Research highlights the need to consider the impact on food security, particularly in countries where food is scarce already.
A new calculator program helps farmers estimate crop yields and irrigation needs in semi-arid regions. The MultiCalculator CD uses three simple Excel spreadsheets to predict non-irrigated crop yields and estimate irrigation water needs, considering factors such as soil type, precipitation, and crop selection.
A recent study found that the Texas Pecan Promotion Program effectively increased demand for Texas pecans and total pecan sales over an 8-year period. The program generated a net revenue of $35 per checkoff dollar spent, benefiting mainly improved pecan varieties.
Researchers found that switchgrass can provide a suitable substrate for short-production-cycle woody crops, with fine-milled switchgrass being more consistent with normal nursery container substrates. The study showed that roses grown in switchgrass substrate had low to moderate levels of calcium and iron but were of high quality.
Growing energy crops like warm season grasses and short-rotation woody crops can promote long-term carbon sequestration and provide biofuel feedstock. Removing crop residues from fields, however, can lead to soil erosion, water pollution, and reduced nutrient cycling.
Research found that spray gun technique and application rate significantly affect the effectiveness of pesticide deposition on ivy pot plants. The study suggests using a disc-core nozzle with high-pressure equipment to improve performance.
Researchers are studying plant stress response mechanisms to improve crop productivity and survival under drought and extreme weather conditions. By understanding how plants respond to different types of stress, scientists hope to develop new breeding approaches that enhance crop resilience without sacrificing yields.
Scientists found that prior herbicide use, rather than irrigation, is crucial to a herbicide's effectiveness and environmental impact. The study revealed that herbicides like atrazine degrade faster in fields with previous applications, leading to reduced weed control and deeper soil penetration.
This study investigates the impact of landscape position on biomass crop yield, finding that summit positions produce higher yields than flat areas. Corn stover yield is positively influenced by terrain slope, nitrogen, and soil darkness profile.
The US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service has released new geospatial data products, including satellite images of agricultural land cover across most of the nation. These cropland data layers can be used to monitor crop rotation patterns, land use changes, and water resources.
Researchers have found a yeast called Pichia anomala that can compete with unwanted mold Aspergillus flavus for nutrients and space, reducing aflatoxin contamination in tree nuts by up to 97%. The versatile yeast may also protect other crops from various microorganisms.
Scientists at the University of York have created a genetic map for Artemisia annua, which will enable rapid improvement of the species and development of high-yielding crops. The project aims to meet soaring demand for effective malaria treatments by 2012, when production is expected to double.
A new miscanthus rhizome root harvester and planter will be unveiled at the Bioenergy Feedstocks Symposium, reducing harvesting and planting costs by 50%. The Rizomgen Harvester/Planter package has shown a 200% increase in rhizome collection over manual systems.
A study by Oregon State University economists found that countries like France and the US fare well due to competitive crop production and few trade barriers. In contrast, low-income countries suffer from higher trade restrictions and below-average productivity.
A new study analyzes data from five continents to conclude that existing strategies can be used to predict, monitor and manage insect resistance. By understanding what accelerates and delays resistance, farmers can more effectively thwart pest resistance using tactics like refuge strategy and pyramided crops.
Researchers analyzed DNA sequences from two inbred corn strains and discovered significant differences, including the presence of unique stretches of genetic material. This diversity is believed to be behind hybrid vigor, which can improve crop traits such as protein content or biomass production.
A team of scientists, led by UCR professor Sean Cutler, has made significant discoveries on how plants survive drought using the stress hormone abscisic acid. Recent studies have built upon Cutler's initial findings, shedding light on the signaling pathway that enables plants to adapt to water scarcity.
A team of researchers completed the first draft of the cassava genome, which contains an estimated 95% of cassava genes. The availability of this sequence enables the development of a genome variation database to aid farmers in improving cassava resistance to CBSD.
The K-State team is developing tools that can predict the consequences of water policy decisions on communities. The interdisciplinary study examines how changes in policy and water use practices affect everything from land use practices to population shifts.
Researchers developed a dynamic tool, Trellis Tension Monitor (TTM), to estimate grape yields in trellised crops. The system detects weight change on trellised grapevines, enabling growers to create more efficient timetables for grape-picking operations.
Mechanical fruit thinning improves pecan yield and nut quality, leading to increased profit potential. The study found that thinned trees had a higher return crop value in the off-year, offsetting any loss in yield, resulting in overall increased profitability for 'Cape Fear' and 'Sumner' pecan varieties.
Applying reflective films to orchard floors increases fruit size and color, leading to increased profits for apple growers. The use of these films can result in a 26% increase in fruit picked at first harvest, meeting European Union grade standards.
A new report by NIST demonstrates that iris recognition algorithms can maintain their accuracy and interoperability with compact images, affirming their potential for large-scale identity management applications. The study's results show that two compression standards, JPEG2000 and PNG format, performed well in preserving image quality.
Researchers find that removing fruit from 'Pixie' mandarin trees reduces floral intensity of return bloom by inhibiting budbreak. Growers can investigate degrees of fruit thinning or pruning to mitigate alternate bearing, which is exacerbated by holding fruit on the tree to extend commercial harvest period.
A new pest, the Spotted Wing Drosophila fly, has been identified in Oregon's Willamette Valley wine grapes, causing significant losses to cherry and peach crops. The fly's larvae are small and shapeless, but culture methods can confirm its identity.
Researchers at the University of Virginia have identified a gene in cowpea that confers resistance to Striga, a parasitic flowering plant that attacks the roots of host plants. The discovery is significant as it could help develop strategies for improving resistance to Striga in other affected crops.
The study found that winter chill in California will decline by up to 80% by the end of the century, making many tree crops unsuitable for growing. Growers may need to develop new tree cultivars and management strategies to mitigate the impact of reduced winter chill.
Researchers at the University of Warwick discovered that an ancient form of barley could survive water stress better than modern varieties. The study found that a mutation in six-rowed barley led to its transformation into two-rowed barley, which was cultivated for over three millennia.
Dr. G. V. P. Reddy's research aims to eliminate toxic insecticides by introducing a predatory mite and applying biopesticides, improving eggplant farming in Guam. The study will inform growers of the risks associated with conventional methods and promote ecologically sound IPM practices.
The updated TAIR9 genome release includes detailed information on all 33,518 genes of Arabidopsis thaliana, including 114 newly discovered genes and 168 new pseudogenes. The new features promise to accelerate research on designing new crops for food, biofuels, industrial materials, and medicines.
Research found that DOC losses from tile drains were not affected by crop management practices, but drainage hydrology and manure application played a role. The study highlighted the importance of understanding DOC contributions to surface waters in agricultural watersheds.
A University of Colorado at Boulder team discovered a large manioc field in the ancient village of Ceren in El Salvador, which was buried under volcanic ash around A.D. 600. The cultivation system is believed to be the first evidence of intensive manioc farming at any New World archaeology site.
A new study published in The Plant Genome suggests that acquiring cheap genome sequence data can improve the quality of feedstocks used to create biofuels, potentially reducing carbon footprint. This could lead to more sustainable high-yield production with minimal inputs.
Researchers warn that unregulated biofuel crop planting poses a significant threat to Hawaii's environment due to their high invasiveness. The study identifies high-risk biofuel crops that could be grown with implemented measures to reduce their risk of spreading out of control.
A new study reveals that farmers' overreliance on Roundup Ready crops and glyphosate-based herbicides is leading to the development of resistant weeds. Rotating crops and using different herbicides can slow down this process, extending the life of the technology.
Researchers at North Carolina State University discovered that growing duckweed on hog wastewater produces starch for ethanol, outperforming corn by five to six times per acre. The process generates clean water and turns pollutants into a fuel production system.
Researchers found that leaf-cutting ants and their fungal gardens actively combat invading fungi, ensuring mutualism health. The garden itself can also compete with incoming microbes, strengthening the ants' hygiene practices.
A new study published in Crop Science found that the root structure of corn crops plays a key role in the historical yield increases in the US Corn Belt. The research revealed that changes in root systems allow for more efficient water capture and sustain biomass accumulation.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have created a corn variety with increased biomass, which can be used as an energy crop and as feed for livestock. The modified plants produce larger stalks and more leaves, leading to increased sugar content in the stalks.
Researchers found that digital images can effectively characterize canopy coverage and light interception in tomato crops using free software and commercial cameras. The study demonstrated practical advantages over traditional methods, including the ability to measure at any time of day and without bright sunlight.
Researchers found that mechanical thinning increased fruit size by 9% compared to conventional hand-thinning or non-thinned control trees. The technology also reduced labor time by 50% while maintaining average fruit sizes within the desired range, offering economic benefits for growers.
A study published in HortScience found that foliar particle film can increase the weight of red-skinned wine grapes by 7% and soluble solids concentration by 11%. However, it did not prevent sunburn on exposed fruit when vines were under stressful growing conditions. The results support anisohydric classification for these grapes.
Researchers found that converting Conservation Reserve Program grasslands to bioenergy grain crops does not result in significant loss of sequestered soil organic carbon. No-till farming practices can conserve and even enhance soil carbon sequestration in these areas.
A recent study in Crop Science proposes data-driven methods to group breeding programs compatible for germplasm exchange. The researchers identified three mega-targets of selection among barley breeding programs, which could produce adapted genotypes with high yields.
Research shows that putting a price on carbon dioxide emitted by different land use practices can significantly change how land is used. The study found that addressing the land-based carbon is essential for stabilizing greenhouse gases at low levels.
Researchers found that high crop biodiversity leads to less dissolved nitrogen in surrounding watersheds, suggesting a buffer effect from grasslands and woodlands. This could indicate a reversible impact if policy changes prioritize farming practices like crop rotation, smaller fields, and native perennial grasses.