Datura stramonium is a serious weed in soybeans and a source of toxic tropane alkaloids. Late-season weed escapes can contaminate the crops during harvesting. The spatiotemporal spread patterns of D. stramonium in Austria and its significance for soybean cultivation based on an exhaustive distribution dataset were analyzed. Drone images and an automatic image recognition method were used to study late-season infestation in soybean fields (n = 159) in eastern Austria. The results show that this species has spread in fields in Austria, particularly in the lowlands where the largest soybean cultivation areas are located. D. stramonium puts approximately 22% of the soybean cultivation area at risk. The maps derived from the drone images revealed that late-season infestation by D. stramonium varied considerably between the soybean fields (detections per ha: 316.2 ± 957.1), with areas close to the field border being at a higher risk of infestation than areas in the field core. The preceding crop and crop sequence diversity appeared to be important drivers of the extent of infestation. The results provide an opportunity to raise awareness of D. stramonium among farmers, regulatory bodies, and food and feed producers. Recommended management options include treatment of field edges and adapted crop rotation.
The inclusion of organic and locally grown foods in school meal programs has recently gained attention with the focus on improving child nutrition, supporting local agriculture, and reducing the environmental impacts. This research examines the financial implications of replacing imported conventional apple shares with locally grown conventional and organic apples in Czech school meals for children aged 7–10 and 11–14. Using real cost data and typical meal compositions, several substitution scenarios were modeled, including full replacement of apples and partial (5% of the meal portion) inclusion of local organic apples. Findings revealed that even at the complete replacement of imported apples with local organic apples, the total meal price increased by a small percentage (1.67%–1.89%) depending on the age group. The introduction of 5% share of organic apples resulted in minimal cost increases (0.54%–1.27%). These results are contrary to the public assumption that local and organic food sourcing imposes unsustainable costs on public institutions. The results also provide a feasible pathway for stepwise school meal reform in the Czech Republic. The study confirmed that gradual integration of organic produce is cost-friendly and supports goals related to child nutrition, regional food nutrition, and environmental sustainability.
The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought stress on the morphological and photosynthetic traits of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). This study systematically investigated the morpho-physiologic and biochemical responses of five common bean genotypes under controlled PEG-induced drought conditions (10% and 15% PEG). Mild drought stress (10% PEG) elicited significant adaptive responses, including enhanced root elongation, shoot growth, and biomass accumulation in select genotypes, notably G4 and G5, which also sustained higher chlorophyll content and protein accumulation. Conversely, severe drought (15% PEG) markedly impaired growth parameters and photosynthetic efficiency, reflecting stomatal and non-stomatal limitations. Correlative analyses demonstrated strong interrelationships among photosynthetic pigments, biomass traits, and gas exchange parameters, while principal component analysis elucidated distinct trait clusters underlying drought tolerance mechanisms. Elevated water use efficiency under moderate stress further underscores genotype-specific drought adaptation strategies. These findings highlight the complex interplay between morphological and physiologic traits in conferring drought resilience, offering critical insights for breeding programs aimed at enhancing common bean performance in water-limited environments.
Dauergrünlandböden sind in Österreich aufgrund ihrer hohen Humusvorräte und beträchtlichen Flächengröße wichtige Speicher von organischem Kohlenstoff (C). Im Dauergrünland werden ca. 90 % vom gesamten organischen Kohlenstoffvorrat im Boden gespeichert. In österreichischen Dauergrünlandböden beträgt der Vorrat an organischem Bodenkohlenstoff in 0–30 cm Bodentiefe im Durchschnitt 93 t C pro Hektar. Beträchtliche Mengen an organischem C (> 40 %) werden im Unterboden (10–50 cm) gespeichert. Unterböden haben ein großes Potenzial zur langfristigen Bodenkohlenstoffsequestrierung. Klima, Bodeneigenschaften und Bodenmerkmale (insbesondere Bodenwasserhaushalt, Bodengründigkeit), Vegetationstyp (Wurzelmasse) und Bewirtschaftungsintensität prägen den Humusvorrat von Dauergrünlandböden. Pflanzenwurzeln und kohlenstoffreiche organische Dünger (Mist, Stallmistkompost) haben für die Humusbildung eine zentrale Bedeutung. Im Dauergrünland ist die Bodenkohlenstoffspeicherung bei mittlerer Bewirtschaftungsintensität (Viehbesatz: 1,2-1,5 GVE pro ha, 2–4 Schnittnutzungen pro Jahr, jährliche entzugsorientierte Düngung mit Mist oder Stallmistkompost) am höchsten. Eine Humusanreicherung erfolgt in Dauergrünlandböden sehr langsam und ist nur bis zur Erreichung des höchstmöglichen lokalen Ertragspotenzials sinnvoll. Humuserhaltende Maßnahmen sowie Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung der Humusqualität und zur Beschleunigung des jährlichen Humusumsatzes im Boden sind wichtiger als jene zur Erhöhung des Humusvorrats im Boden. Bei der Umsetzung von humussteigernden Maßnahmen müssen Nebenwirkungen und Zusatznutzen berücksichtigt werden. Eine Bodenkohlenstoffsequestrierung kann im Dauergrünland Zielkonflikte zwischen Klima- und Naturschutz auslösen.
Pig manure, a significant by-product of the swine industry, presents challenges and opportunities regarding management and environmental sustainability, especially in developing countries. The manure is composed of undigested feed remnants, including cellulose, proteins, minerals, and other excretory products, which makes it a nutrient-rich yet problematic resource. This review summarizes the state of knowledge up to the year 2024 by evaluating 201 relevant scientific articles on the physicochemical properties of pig manure and its biocarbon derivatives, highlighting their potential agricultural and environmental benefits. Understanding the factors influencing manure and biochar characteristics is critical in driving manure management and sustainability policies. Literature exploration showed that the carbon-rich products from carbonization have a higher pH (8–12), carbon (38%–75%), and ash (13%–72%) contents compared to the original manure, making them suitable for applications such as soil-crop improvement, renewable energy production, feed supplementation, and bioremediation. These biocarbon derivatives also exhibit enhanced surface area, porosity, and redox-active properties, fostering a beneficial soil or gut microbiome and overall environmental health improvements. The char characteristics are dependent on the manure quality and processing methods, with co-pyrolysis with other carbon-rich materials improving the char quality. However, the results from some of the selected studies on biochar properties and its production protocols were poorly characterized, which may be a major drawback for generalizing results. Overall, the thermal conversion of pig manure to biocarbon provides a sustainable solution to on-farm manure recycling, while mitigating pollution challenges in pig farming.
Im Bundesland Niederösterreich wird in großem Umfang Winterweizen angebaut, der im Klimawandel, sowohl infolge zunehmender Trockenheit ganzjährig wie auch hoher Temperaturen in der generativen Phase, Ertragseinbußen erwarten lässt. Insbesondere der Einfluss von Niederschlägen im Winter ist fraglich. Auf Basis großer Datensätze aus sechs verschiedenen Bezirken Niederösterreichs aus den 14 Erntejahren 2006–2019, die auch Angaben zur Bodenbearbeitung vor der Weizenaussaat enthalten, wurden die Einflüsse der Niederschläge (in vier Perioden während der Weizen-Entwicklung), der Einfluss hoher Temperaturen (im Frühjahr und Frühsommer) sowie der Effekt des Pflugeinsatzes auf den Kornertrag geprüft. Ein Einfluss der Winterniederschläge (16.11.–28./29.2.) war, ebenso wie jener der Frühjahrs- bzw. Frühsommerniederschläge (1.3.–15.7.) nicht nachweisbar. Die Herbstniederschläge (16.7.–15.11.) sowie die Gesamtniederschläge eines Erntejahres (16.7.–15.7.) zeigten einen positiven Einfluss auf den Weizenertrag, der allerdings relativ gering ausfiel. Hingegen wirkten sich die Anzahl der Hitzetage mit über 27 °C Maximaltemperatur im Frühjahr und Frühsommer sowie hohe Tagesdurchschnittstemperaturen in der generativen Phase (1.5.–15.7.) negativ auf den Weizenertrag aus. Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen die große Bedeutung von Hitzestress auf Weizenbestände im Frühjahr und Frühsommer, während sich die Niederschläge nur in der Jahressumme sowie jene im Herbst positiv auswirkten. Die Auswertung des Pflugeinsatzes vor der Saat ergab, mit Ausnahme des Bezirks Mistelbach, einen signifikant negativen Einfluss des Pflugeinsatzes auf den Kornertrag, wobei sich ein Minderertrag von rund 500 kg ha−1 im Mittel aller Bezirke ergab. Dieses Ergebnis bestätigt den Vorteil reduzierter Bodenbearbeitung auf relativ trockenen Standorten.
The diversity of phytoplanktons serves as an ecological indicator for aquatic ecosystems due to their fast response to environmental changes. Relationship between phytoplankton distribution and 10 water physicochemical parameters was conducted in a natural pond of the Belezma biosphere reserve (Northern East of Algeria). Monthly sampling was conducted in three stations over 2 years between April 2017 and March 2019. The inventory comprising 72 samples identified 50 phytoplankton taxa from 6 phyla, 6 classes, 21 orders, and 31 families. The majority of water physicochemical parameters exhibited seasonal variability. Most of the taxa were of constant accuracy (58%); few were accessory (22%), while 10% were accidental and very accidental with five taxa each. The highest Shannon diversity index (H' = 2.70) was observed in spring 2018. The lowest value of H' (2.20) was noted in autumn 2018. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that the abundance of phytoplankton varied with water temperature, turbidity, salinity, nitrates, and ammonium. Chlorophyceae, Dinophyceae, Zygnematophyceae, and Cyanophyceae were the most represented groups in summer, whereas Bacillariophyceae and Euglenophyceae were abundant within spring and autumn. These results enabled us to open new perspectives for the conservation and protection of the ecosystem “pond” in the protected area.
Climbing perch, Anabas testudineus, is one of the important freshwater fish species with a high economic value. Currently, the climbing perch fish has been cultivated in Indonesia and other Asian countries. But, breeding has not been supported by good hatchery technology, so the availability of high-quality larvae in sufficient quantities has not been resolved. In artificial spawning, hormone injections are often carried out to stimulate the ovulation process in fish. In this study, the OVASPEC was tested for climbing perch. Ovaspec contains the sGnRHa hormone and anti-dopamine. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to determine the optimum dosage of OVASPEC for climbing perch female broodfish. Four dosages of OVASPEC were tested, namely, 0.1 ml kg−1 body weight (BW), 0.3 ml kg−1 BW, 0.5 ml kg−1 BW, and 0.7 ml kg−1 BW of broodfish. The results show that the administration of OVASPEC with different doses had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the latency period, fertilization, hatching, and survival rates of climbing perch. Fish injected with OVASPEC at a dose range of 0.1–0.7 ml kg−1 BW succeeded in inducing ovulation in climbing perch. The best results were recorded at the dosage of 0.5 ml kg−1 BW.
Sapindus mukorossi (Gaertn.), commonly known as soapnut, is a valuable species within the Sapindaceae family, known for its saponin-rich fruits with extensive applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and natural detergents. However, the hard seed coat of S. mukorossi imposes significant dormancy, posing a challenge for propagation. This study evaluates the effectiveness of various pretreatment methods in breaking seed coat dormancy and enhancing germination. The pretreatments included a control (untreated seeds), 15-min hot water soak, 15 min heat at 200 °C, sulfuric acid soak for 1, 2, and 3 h, and mechanical scarification using sandpaper. Over a 30-day period, germination performance was assessed through final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG), time to 50% germination (T50), and mean daily germination (MDG). Results showed that the 2-h sulfuric acid treatment achieved the highest FGP at 96.67%. The control group exhibited a low FGP of 7.50%, indicating high seed dormancy in untreated seeds. Heat treatment and mechanical scarification also improved FGP to 15.83% and 11.67%, respectively. No germination occurred after a hot water soak. Statistical analysis showed significant differences among the treatments for all germination traits (FGP, MGT, CVG, T50, and MDG) with p-values <0.001. This study provides valuable insights into this economically important species’ large-scale propagation and cultivation.
As part of the European Joint Programme on Agricultural Soil Management (EJP Soil) Programme, an online questionnaire was used to reveal the views and opinions of different stakeholders on sustainable agricultural soil management. The results offered valuable insights into stakeholders' perspectives and highlighted the most pressing issues. The importance of knowledge exchange was emphasised, as was the need for increased financial resources to implement climate-friendly management practices and for adopting adequate laws and guidelines. The main challenges identified by all stakeholder groups were to avoid soil erosion, maintain or increase soil organic carbon, prevent soil sealing and create an optimal soil structure. However, for certain topics, the overall opinion of the stakeholder groups varied substantially due to differing knowledge, perspectives and focus among the participants (e.g. farmers focussed on productivity and economic persistence, whereas scientists were interested in the soil profile, measurements or calculations of emissions). Overall, it became clear that the enormous amount of knowledge available needs more and better dissemination. This calls for new and innovative communication approaches.
Summary E-waste has one of the greatest impacts on the environment and is the fastest-growing waste stream globally. The ever-ongoing growth in our economy and unsustainable consumption patterns ask for a change. Use-oriented product-service systems (u-PSS) are a promising business model to address this change by acting toward a circular economy. However, the implementation of u-PSS can face various challenges because it requires a fundamental shift in how companies interact with consumers as well as consumers’ preferences. Therefore, this study aims to identify factors of acceptance for adopting u-PSS for electronic devices in Austria. To gather specific data, an online survey was conducted with 287 participants. The hypotheses were tested using multiple regression analysis. The results reveal that out of the tested factors, environmental awareness and information are the most important factors of acceptance. For a successful implementation, key determinants include service provision, device durability, and comprehensive information about u-PSS.
Summary This study aimed at determining the diversity of forage plants utilized for small ruminant feeding in rural and peri-urban sites in Imo state, Nigeria. The survey was carried out at rural and peri-urban sites in Aboh Mbaise and Mbaitoli Local Government Areas (LGAs), respectively. Ten small ruminant farmers were purposively selected from each LGA across the study communities. Data on fodder diversity, proximate composition, and mineral concentration were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviation. It was observed that a higher diversity of fodder plants existed at the rural sites compared to the peri-urban sites and 43.4% of the fodder plants were common to both sites. Respondents identified 60.8% of the fodder plants also as food-bearing plants, with 55.6% and 80% of these found at the rural and peri-urban sites, respectively. There were no significant differences ( p > 0.05) between the relative proximate or mineral supplies to the animals at the two sites. It was, therefore, concluded that despite the diversity and differences in forage selection at the two sites, the relative nutrient supplies to small ruminants will be similar if the cafeteria system of forage provision practiced at the sites is adhered to.
Summary In recent years, the agriculture practices have seen a growing interest in innovative technologies aimed at enhancing productivity while promoting sustainability. Nano-biofertilizers, a novel approach to crop nutrition, have emerged as a potential game-changer. This study is aimed comprehensively to uncover the potential and current utilization status of nano-biofertilizers in soil health improvement and sustainable enhancement of crop productivity. The methodology used in this study involved the application of systematic literature review (SLR) methods in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review focused on scientific literature published from 2013 to 2023, utilizing databases such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, and PubMed. A total of 631 articles were identified through this process. Out of this pool, 10 articles were chosen based on their relevance and topic and they underwent a comprehensive and detailed review. The results showed that use of nano-biofertilizers improves the soil health, plant growth, and productivity significantly. The biological selenium nanoparticles (100 mg/mL) significantly increased the length and weight of spike, root, and shoot, grain quantity in spike, and 1000 grain weight by 5%–40% compared to control. Comamonas testosteroni biofertilizer combined with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) could alleviate the salinity threatening plant growth. Nano-biofertilizers enhance plant growth, elevate their nutritional value, improve productivity, extend shelf life, and bolster their defenses against biotic and abiotic stress factors.
Zusammenfassung Um einen Beitrag zur Erforschung der Einstellungen von Jugendlichen zu Bioprodukten und deren diesbezüglichem Kaufverhalten zu leisten, wurde 2018 eine Umfrage (n = 565) an berufsbildenden höheren Schulen im ländlichen Niederösterreich durchgeführt. Dabei wurden die Schülerinnen und Schüler zu Interessensgebieten befragt, die ihnen in ihrem Leben wichtig sind. Diese wurden zu kulturellen Präferenzen gebündelt. Die Analyse des Zusammenhangs der kulturellen Präferenzen mit den Einstellungen und dem Kaufverhalten der Schülerinnen und Schüler ergab, dass besonders die kulturellen Präferenzen „Gesundheit und Umwelt” mit den Interessensgebieten „Gesundheit“, „Ernährung“, „Natur- und Umweltschutz“ sowie „Klassik” mit den Interessensgebieten „Theater“ und „klassische Musik“ mit einer sehr positiven Einstellung zu Bioprodukten und deren häufigerem Einkauf verbunden sind. Trotz allgemein hoher Zustim-mung zu Bioprodukten, weisen im Vergleich die Schülerinnen eine deutlich positivere Einstellung zu Bioprodukten auf und kaufen diese auch häufiger ein als ihre Schulkollegen.
Summary We present data from producers in the upper Great Plains of the US for whom at least one Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract expired in the last seven years. The survey covered two groups, one with a retired CRP contract and a second with a retired CRP contract who then enrolled in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) program. Most respondents at least tried to re-enroll into CRP, many unsuccessfully. The CRP group primarily moved to crops on the former CRP land, while EQIP respondents focused on cattle and grazing. Awareness of the EQIP program on the part of the CRP group was only 58%. We compared groups regarding what they considered doing with the land at the end of their respective programs, CRP and EQIP. We examined group differences in motivations and attitudes and found evidence of convergence. We also evaluated these differences using effect size statistics to determine their importance to our overall questions. Our overall conclusion is that the groups have a long history of program participation and there is little difference between them in both their motivation to participate and willingness to do so in the future.
Summary This study reports the first official record of a golden jackal ( Canis aureus ) in the capital city of Austria, Vienna. The specimen, a young male individual, was discovered as a roadkill in the northern part of the city on January 25 th , 2023. It suffered from notable endoparasite and ectoparasite infestations, as well as bacterial pneumonia. Additional field studies with bioacoustic stimulation and the use of a scat detection dog to search for further indications of presence in the area of the accident revealed no further proof of other golden jackals, indicating a high probability of this animal being a disperser in search of a mating partner. This event exemplifies the species' range expansion, driven by a combination of factors. The significance of this discovery and the challenges within the context of mammal research and urban ecology are discussed.
Summary Macrozoobenthos is a sedentary aquatic biota and is often used as a bioindicator for assessing water conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the species diversity of the macrozoobenthos and to analyze the heavy metal contamination in Faunus ater in the Rasian and Asahan estuaries in Aceh Province, Indonesia. The sampling was carried out in July 2022 on a squared transect of 1 m × 1 m for the collection of macrozoobenthos samples at random locations. The results showed that there were 17 macrozoobenthos species from both locations, of which 14 species were found in the Rasian River estuary and seven species in the Asahan River estuary. The diversity index of macrozoobenthos was in a moderate category. Terebralia sulcata had a higher density in the Asahan River, while F. ater had a higher density in the Rasian River. The results of the heavy metal analysis in the F. ater sample showed that this macrozoobenthos was contaminated by mercury, cadmium, and lead, of which the concentration of mercury exceeded the threshold limit, and they are, therefore, not safe for consumption.
Summary The Russian invasion of Ukraine represents an unforeseen and significant market disruption for global trade with wide-ranging effects on global trade, particularly on the economies of the major import countries of Ukrainian agricultural commodities. The general impact and consequences of the war on the global economy are described, and key components of the market disruptions are identified and put into a historical and geographical context. The degree of interconnectedness between the war in Ukraine and world trade and global gross domestic product (GDP) indices is highlighted. Changes in production and export volumes of the main Ukrainian agricultural commodities and their impact on major import countries are described. Actual and future measures to stabilise and soften the volatility of affected agricultural markets are presented.
Summary One of the key factors influencing agricultural development and farm performance is access to finance. There are several factors that influence access to finance, including financial management capacity, which is linked to financial literacy. The paper analyzes the factors which determine farmers’ financial management behavior, in the case of Kosovo, based on a structured farm survey focusing on the vineyard sector. The findings suggest that half of the interviewed farmers did not keep records regarding costs and incomes. The likelihood to keep financial records is linked to several household and farm attributes. Market-oriented farmers who had contracts were more likely to keep financial records than those who did not. Policymakers through public advisory services as well as financial institutions should address the need to improve financial literacy among farmers.
Zusammenfassung Die ergriffenen Maßnahmen zur Eindämmung der COVID-19-Pandemie sowie Einstellungs- und Verhaltensänderungen der Konsumenten haben sich global auf Lebensmittelwertschöpfungsketten ausgewirkt. Um die Auswirkungen von COVID-19 auf die österreichische Landwirtschaft zu untersuchen, wurden im Frühjahr 2021 Interviews mit 34 Landwirt:innen geführt. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen einer qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse wird deutlich, dass die vielfältigen und heterogenen Auswirkungen von COVID-19 auf landwirtschaftliche Betriebe sowohl Chancen als auch Herausforderungen verursachen. Zu den negativen Auswirkungen zählen Absatzschwierigkeiten durch die Schließung von Gastronomie und Märkten, das Verbot nichtlandwirtschaftlicher Aktivitäten, die gestörte Verfügbarkeit von Arbeitskräften und Betriebsmitteln sowie Belastungen der Landwirt:innen. Die Mitigation negativer Auswirkungen durch staatliche Hilfen und Interessenvertretung zeigte eine begrenzte Wirksamkeit. Dennoch wurde die Funktionsfähigkeit der landwirtschaftlichen Produktion aufgrund geringfügiger direkter Auswirkungen und adäquater Anpassungen aufrechterhalten. Positive Auswirkungen resultieren aus der gestiegenen Nachfrage in der Direktvermarktung und im Lebensmitteleinzelhandel, der verbesserten Wahrnehmung der Landwirtschaft in der Gesellschaft und Vorteilen im Privatleben der Landwirt:innen. Langfristige Veränderungen der landwirtschaftlichen Betriebe werden vor allem durch Digitalisierung, Investitionen und Anpassungen der Vermarktung ausgelöst.
