Tashkent State Agrarian University (Uzbek: Toshkent davlat agrar universiteti, Russian: Ташкентский государственный аграрный университет) or TSAU is an agricultural university located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The optimization of crop production in the context of agricultural land use and production inputs is a strategic element of sustainable development. Fertilization and irrigation are vital components of agricultural engineering, driving crop quantity and quality. The objective of the study discussed here was to assess greenhouse gas emissions from carrot cultivation depending on the variant of the fertilization and irrigation processes. One tonne of marketable carrot yield was selected as the functional unit. A controlled field experiment in a split-plot configuration was carried out to deliver the objective. Calculation of the total quantity of greenhouse gases emitted from the crop was carried out according to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. Boundaries of the system encompassed the production and use of fertilizers and pesticides, the consumption of energy for agro-engineering activities and irrigation, as well as GHG emissions from soil resources and crop residue. The reference unit for the study was an object (plot) irrigated according to production practice in the area where the study was conducted. Under those conditions, greenhouse gas emissions totaled 75.68 kg CO2 . t(-1) of the commercial product. Optimization, involving precise irrigation and fertilization using slow-release fertilizers, reduced the carbon footprint to 54.33 kg CO2 . t(-1) of the commercial product. GHG emissions were thus reduced by 30%. The use of slow-release fertilizers resulted in a reduction of total greenhouse gas emissions per unit of marketable yield by 15% for non-irrigated crops and by 17% for irrigated crops. Irrigation, in turn, resulted in a reduction of total GHG emissions by 8% for conventional fertilization and by 11% for slow-release fertilization.
Zea mays L. (maize) is a globally important cereal crop whose productivity is highly vulnerable to abiotic stresses, particularly drought and salinity. Biochar (BC) and plant growth regulators such as gibberellic acid (GA3) have been proposed as sustainable strategies to enhance crop performance under adverse conditions; however, evidence for their combined effects under controlled stress environments remains limited. This pot experiment (10 kg soil per pot) was conducted under a Completely Randomized Design to evaluate BC and GA3, alone and in combination, under drought stress (40
Effective and sustainable photocatalysts are crucial for removing persistent pharmaceutical antibiotics from wastewater systems. The present work reports the successful synthesis of NdFeO3 (NFO), Ce-Mn co-doped NdFeO3 (NCFMO), and Ce-Mn co-doped NdFeO3/g-C3N4 (NCFMO/g-CN) nanocomposites through a facile hydrothermal and ultra-sonication route to examine the cerium and manganese dual-doping and g-C3N4 (g-CN) incorporation. The structural, morphological, electrical, magnetic, optical, and photolytic features were studied using XRD, FTIR, SEM, BET, VSM, EIS, UV-Vis, and PL analyses. The structural and morphological studies confirmed the perovskite type orthorhombic phase in consort with Ce and Mn dual-doping and g-CN incorporation in pure NFO having average grain size in the 20-40 nm range. The magnetic and electrical analysis via VSM, I-V and EIS demonstrated enhancement of the electrical conductivities (6.2 & times; 10-4 S center dot m-1 to 98.27 S center dot m-1) and magnetic behaviour of the Ce-Mn co-doped NCFMO. Optical band gap revealed narrowing of the band gap (2.17 to 1.94 eV) and a red shifting in absorption of the visible light upon co-doping and g-CN integration. The photocatalytic performances of the as-fabricated materials were investigated via degradation of levofloxacin (LVF) and lomefloxacin (LMF) antibiotics under visible light irradiation. The Ce-Mn co-doped NCFMO/g-CN composite achieved superior photocatalytic activity with degradation efficiencies of 96.8% for LVF and 94.5% for LMF within 70 min, compared to 85.2% and 82.6% for Ce-Mn co-doped NCFMO and 64.6% and 61.2% for pure NFO, respectively. The improved activity of the NCFMO/g-CN hybrid catalyst was accredited to combine effects of Ce-Mn co-doping and g-CN addition, which efficiently forms heterojunction with NCFMO, which improved light harvesting, delayed charge partition, and effective creation of active species. The NCFMO/g-CN nano-hybrid demonstrated outstanding stability and reusability, retaining 88.7% efficiency after 4 consecutive cycle runs, highlighting its potential for wastewater remediation.
The southern regions of Kazakhstan, characterized by aridity and a continental climate, are currently facing a complex interplay of emerging challenges in the agricultural sector. Therefore, transitioning to advanced agrotechnologies in soybean production in this region might support broader science-driven solutions. Field trials were conducted between 2021 and 2023 to assess the effects of plant growth stimulator and micronutrients on soybean productivity under the harsh conditions of South Kazakhstan. The treatments were as follows: control without any application; seed priming with Vimpel (0.5 L/ton) and Orakul (1.5 L/ton) was applied in T1. In T2 and T3, these applications were supplemented with foliar treatments of Vimpel (0.5 L/ha) and Orakul (2.0 L/ha) at the 3–5 leaf stage and the bud formation stage. In T4, additional foliar Vimpel (0.5 L/ha), Orakul (2.0 L/ha), and Orakul Kolofermin (2.0 L/ha) were applied at the bud formulation stage. Results showed that soybean yield increased progressively in response to the multi-stage application of plant growth stimulator along with micronutrients. The grain yield reached 2063 and 2,185 kg/ha in T2 and T3, surpassing the control by 30.4 and 38.1%, respectively. The greatest increase (54.6%) was observed in T4, highlighting the potential of the multi-stage applications for greater efficacy with balanced nutrient interventions. In this treatment, the water productivity (WP) value also enhanced by 48.6% and the harvest index (HI) by 17.9%, contributing to more efficient water use strategies. This study presents the advantages of the applied innovative nutrient management practices in enhancing soybean production under adverse agroecosystems in southern Kazakhstan, while simultaneously reducing dependence on widely used chemical fertilizers.
Stripe rust of wheat, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is one of the most devastating diseases that seriously threatens global wheat security. In the 21st century, Pst biology, epidemiology, and evolutionary pace have been altered far more quickly than expected because of climate variability. Warmer winters, along with erratic rainfall and increasing periods of leaf wetness, are continuously changing the geographic distribution of Pst. This may accelerate the emergence of races adapted to high temperatures and enhanced virulence, enabling their expansion into new agroecosystems. Despite extensive breeding efforts, varietal resistance is increasingly short-lived under the pressure of rapidly evolving lineages of the pathogen. Pst infection can be managed through integrative management practices, including biological control agents (BCAs), cultural and agronomic practices, rotation, and targeted application of fungicides. Varietal resistance, as well as disease management, is discussed in addition to recent advances in understanding pathogen biology, climatic influences, virulence evolution, and host resistance. Furthermore, this review highlights the need for climate-smart disease-resistant varieties breeding, a disease surveillance network, and diversified, eco-friendly control strategies to safeguard wheat production in an era of rapid environmental change.
