Tom 27 (2023): Zeszyt 1 (January 2023)

This paper proposes a new biostimulant coating for soybean seeds. The aim of the study was to create a coating for Glycine max (L.) Merr. soybean seeds, using root infusion from Arctium lappa L. as a biostimulant component. The effectiveness of the produced coating was evaluated in a three-year field study. The analysis of the effectiveness of the developed coating was based on the evaluation of plant biometric traits and yield. The study showed that the designed and manufactured soybean seed coating based on the root infusion of Arctium lappa L. can be considered as a new agronomic strategy to improve the productivity of soybean Glicyne max (L.) Merr. under actual field conditions. The application of the biostimulant coating resulted in soybean plants with significantly increased biometric traits (plant height, height of the first pod set, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod) and productivity (yield improvement of more than 10%). Only a reduced weight of 1,000 seeds compared to control samples was noted.

In India, drip irrigation with plastic mulch is a common practise for irrigation that conserves water. For the design and administration of irrigation regimes, a thorough understanding of the distribution and flow of soil water in the root zone is required. It has been demonstrated that simulation models are effective tools for this purpose. In this work, an automated drip-irrigated Okra field with seven treatments namely T1- Soil moisture-based drip irrigation to 100% FC, T2- Soil moisture-based drip irrigation to 80% FC, T3- Soil moisture-based drip irrigation to 60% FC, T4- Timer based drip irrigation to 100% CWR, T5- Timer based drip irrigation to 80% CWR, T6- Timer based drip irrigation to 60% CWR and T7- Conventional drip irrigation at 100% CWR were utilised to mimic the temporal fluctuations in soil water content using the numerical model HYDRUS- 2D. With the help of the observed data, the inverse solution was used to optimise the soil hydraulic parameters. The model was used to forecast soil water content for seven field treatments at optimal conditions. Root mean square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2) were used to assess the congruences between the predictions and data. With RMSE ranging from 0.036 to 0.067 cm3 cm- 3, MAE ranging from 0.020 to 0.059, and R2 ranging from 0.848 to 0.959, the findings showed that the model fairly represented the differences in soil water content at all sites in seven treatments.

The research investigated physical properties of baobab seeds to determine suitable equipment for the processing of its seeds. Pods of baobab used in the study were collected at a local farm in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria. Physical properties of the samples, such as moisture contents, mass, axial dimensions, shape indices, true and bulk densities, porosity, angle of repose and surface area were determined. The results showed that physical properties of baobab seeds were stable for moisture content, ranging between 12 to 18% dry mass (dm). The 100 seed mass (g) and geometric mean diameter increased from 0.60 g to 0.62 g and 10.12 to 10.27 mm respectively, in the moisture range of 12 to 18% dm. Other studied ranges of physical properties ranges included: average length (12.22 to 12.63 mm), width (10.10 to 10.28 mm), thickness (8.23 to 8.42 mm,), sphericity, (81.23 to 82.56 mm), surface area (319.42 to 332.53 mm²), 50 seed mass (0.60 and 0.62 g), and 1000 seed mass (12 and 12.4 g) within the moisture content range of 12 to 18% dm. The angle of repose of baobab seeds decreased with an increase in moisture content. The maximum value of 29.18^o was obtained at 14% moisture content while a minimum value of 24.42^o was obtained at 18% moisture. Moisture content had a significant effect on coefficient of friction of baobab seeds on glass, stainless steel, plywood and rubber. In the same moisture range (12-18%), the static coefficient of friction for baobab seeds ranged from 0-739 to 0-905 on stainless steel, 0-960 to 1-190 on galvanized steel, 0-812 to 1-055 on plywood and 0-496 to 0-950 on glass. The least coefficient of friction values were recorded on stainless steel and glass which implies that baobab seeds will move with lower resistance on these surfaces in post-harvest handling. On the other hand, the resistance will be higher on plywood and glass. The data obtained will serve as guide for agricultural and food engineers, food processors and technicians involved in design and construction of post-harvest equipment used for separating, cleaning, milling and other production processes, to which baobab seeds are subjected.

In precision agriculture, it is possible to use satellite monitoring of fields. Satellite monitoring systems allow you to get free images with a resolution of up to 10 m per pixel, which is sufficient to determine the state of vegetation of plants on such indicators as the normalized vegetation index NDVI. However, the NDVI indicator already indicates the existing problems of correction which will not help to restore the lost yield of crops, but only helps to prevent further losses. Using the NDSI soil salinity index, it is possible to determine the difference in its properties from spectral images. Also, you can study the vegetation of plants in the early stages of their development, in fact immediately after germination. Soil-adjusted vegetation index, such as MSAVI, is used for this purpose. Studies indicate the possibility of using NDSI and MSAVI indicators for early diagnosis of confirmed crops NDVI and NDRE (indicating chlorophyll activity in plants) at later stages of their development. Studies conducted on soybean, spring barley and maize crops sown in the spring of 2021 indicate a correspondence between raster field maps show-ing the above indices made from March to July. Statistical analysis of raster images of field maps using specialized software showed a correlation between NDSI and MSAVI in March and May, respectively, with NDVI and NDRE indexes in June and July. Therefore, it is possible to judge the expediency of using NDSI and MSAVI indicators for early diagnosis of possible problems with plant vegetation, as well as for the creation of maps of differential fertilization.

Keeping proper soil moisture is essential in growing good quality and efficient fruit yield. To that effect, soil moisture level must be controlled, to maintain proper watering. A smartphone application was developed to operate a smart farm watering system. It monitors the soil’s moisture and launches sprayers to water dried areas. The system’s architecture was built in a distributed client-server computing system, in a small computing grid. The grid was built across long range (LoRa) communication networks with the same ID, but different addresses. In terms of integration, the system was built using autonomous microprocessors, which consist of a server and five client microprocessors. A smartphone was used as the server of a central controller, and four moisture detection modules and a water spraying system module were used as autonomous clients. The server was inter-connected with the clients via a star-type topology network in the polling processes. Each client module autonomously analyzes the measured digital voltage of the moisture sensor plugged into the soil. When the server sends queries regarding the status of the moisture level, the client sends the request signal to the server using the LoRa communication technology. The communication between the server and the clients is based on the LoRa communication technology. The LoRa-to-Bluetooth converter is used to connect the Bluetooth and the LoRa signal. The field test was performed in a watermelon field, with an area of approximately 6600 m². The water spraying system constructed with LoRa communication technology could successfully manage and control the moisture level in the field test.

Increase of the number of tractors and harvesters working in agriculture improves significantly the number of agricultural land operations, harvest efficiency and eliminates primitive farming methods. The production expansion is either horizontal through exploitation and reclamation of more areas or vertical such as introduction of technological variables in the same unit area. The current study aims to investigate the gap of the ratio of the number of tractors and harvesters to the agricultural area, its technical indicators and its impact on the wheat crop production. Data were obtained from agricultural departments and divisions of the Salah al-Din Agriculture Directorate to calculate some of the indicators of the technological and technical evaluation. Tables were prepared with the numbers of tractors and agricultural harvesters that cover the cultivation and harvest campaign. Their horsepower was proven and then converted to the kilowatt unit, as well as the agricultural areas within the agricultural plan that is implemented by the Directorate for four seasons. The surplus power of agricultural tractors contributed to the increase in the executed agricultural areas and requirements of agricultural operations such as tillage, harrows, and leveling contrary to agricultural harvesters, in which case there was a gap in the decrease of the number of agricultural combines in relation to the implemented agricultural plan, which, as a result, may cause a loss in wheat crop harvesting on the specified date. The mechanical harvest contributed to the increase in the grain received from the wheat by the grain trading company in the province, which brings economic returns to the farmer.

Aqueous extracts of plants with proven biostimulant activity may have the potential to inhibit the growth and development of plant diseasecausing fungi. The potential use of extracts in such a role has many advantages including the fact that extracts are biodegradable, less costly, and readily available. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of aqueous infusions, decoctions, and macerates extracted from burdock roots, wormwood leaves, lovage roots, flax seeds, and mullein flowers as bioprotectants. This study was carried out by testing in vitro the ability of these bioprotectants to inhibit the growth of the fungi Thielaviopsis basicola (Berk. and Broome), and Fusarium avenaceum (Fr.) Sacc, Fusarium culmorum (Wm.G. Sm.) Sacc., Fusarium sambucinum (Fuckel), Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc., Rhizoctonia solani (J.G. Kühn), Botrytis cinerea Pers., Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib. de Bary), causing disease in soybean. The antifungal activity of macerates, infusions, and decoctions determined by the diffusion method in Petri dishes with solid PDA medium showed the potential of the tested aqueous extracts as bioprotectants able to inhibit the growth of fungi, causing soybean diseases.

The joint statutory recommendations developed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the greater consumer awareness, and environmental considerations confirm the need to reduce the consumption of saturated fatty acids in the human diet. This has contributed to the development of innovative methods for replacement of saturated fats in food products. Oleogels obtained with various methods are such an alternative. Therefore, the study was focused on the analysis of the current applications of oleogels in selected food products and elucidation of the mechanisms of oleogel formation. As indicated by many researchers, oleogels (structured oils) can replace trans and saturated fats in food products and can be used in the production of spreads as well as bakery, confectionery, and dairy products. However, there are still many challenges and technological problems preventing commercial application of oleogels in the industry. It is also important to develop oleogels with higher physical and antioxidant stability, which will be used in a wide range of food products manufactured in varying production conditions and give the final products the desired sensory properties. Nevertheless, given its nutritional and environmental values, oleogelation has great potential for future industrial use.