In the period from 2020 to 2022, the biological and pomological characteristics of the early ripening plum varieties ‘Ruth Gerstetter’, ‘Tuleu Timpuriu’, ‘Katinka’, ‘Tegera’, ‘Hanita’, ‘Cacaks Early’, ‘Cacaks Beauty’, ‘Green Renclode’ and ‘Top First® were investigated in the experimental plantations of the Research Institute of Mountain Livestock Breeding and Agriculture Trojan (RIMSA) - Trojan. The parameters analyzed included the flowering phenophases, ripeni ng time, pomometric and physicochemical characteristics of the fruit, and yield of the trees, in each case in comparison with the standard variety ‚Cacaks Beauty‘. In the period studied, the earliest flowering was observed in ‚Tuleu Timpuriu‘ (April 7-12), while ‚Ruth Gerstetter‘ had the longest flowering period (15 days). The shortest flowering phase (12 days) was observed in ‚Cacaks Early‘, which also bore the largest fruit (55.30 g). Early ripening plum varieties grown in the Trojan region have a lower dry matter value compared to the standard. Th e highest values of total polyphenols were found in ‚Katinka‘ (376.83 mg/g), followed by ‚Tule Timpuriu‘ (303.22 mg/g). The highest yield was observed in the standard variety (44 kg/tree), followed by ‚Cacaks Early‘ and ‚Katinka‘ (31-32 kg/tree). Varieties ‚Green Renclode‘, ‚Hanita‘ and ‚Tegera‘ are not only suitable for fresh consumption but also show potential for processing into juices, nectars and distillates.
In view of an increase in the world’s population and a potential problem of food shortages in the future, a task of the profession is to find a way to produce sufficient food while reducing a burden imposed on production. This paper’s objective is to illustrate the possibilities of using the algae as a source of proteins in the domestic animals’ feeding, with a particular reference to their use in different animal species and the advantages and disadvantages of their use in modern feeding. The algae are increasingly being researched, as they can be a source of proteins in animal nutrition, and various organic compounds can be extracted that can be subsequently used as an additive to the animal feed. Most algae have been proven to exert a positive effect on the domestic animals’ production indicators, product quality, health, and fertility. However, with all the positive aspects that the algae may offer, attention should also be paid to their toxicity. If the algae are incorporated in the domestic animals’ feeding, it should be clearly defined what quantities are acceptable. There is a necessity to further study the effect of algae on the ruminants and monogastric animals, as a vast majority of the research conducted is based on poultry. As the profession advances and the algae-production and -processing technology is being developed, it can be expected that the algae will be more widely added to the domestic animals’ feeding in the future.
This study focuses on the distribution and impact of the invasive species tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill) Swingle) in the easternmost county of the Republic of Croatia. The research was conducted from May to September 2022 and 2023, utilizing the systematic random sampling method. The presence of tree-of-heaven was recorded in both rural and urban environments, where only the number of trees having a medium tree trunk diameter at breast height (DBH) of 10-20 cm and a small DBH of 5-10 cm was significantly higher in rural compared to urban sites. The negative effects of the tree-of-heaven population are due to its vigorous clonal growth (biological characteristics; p < 0.001) and dense monoculture stands, resulting in decreased plant species richness and native species diversity (ecological impact; p < 0.001. The harmful effects of invasion depend on the site where plants grow. Still, serious damage, based on significant factor loadings (eigenvalue >1), was recorded not only on environmental but also on functional, safety, and aesthetic aspects, causing economic loss and mechanical damage.
The aim of our paper was to study the relationship between somatic cell count, milk productivity, and specific technological parameters of the milking process in cows during the summer period. The research was conducted on a commercial farm in the central part of Ukraine from June to August 2024 on the Holstein cows with 1 to 5 lactations. Milk analysis was performed in a commercial laboratory using Bentley Instruments equipment. The following was analyzed: fat content (FC, %), protein content (PC, %), lactose content (LC, %), somatic cell count (SCC, thsd./cm3), and milk urea nitrogen (MUN, mg/100 ml). General linear model (GLM) and correlation analysis were applied. To analyze the influence of the “group of SCС” factor on the milk composition, all studied milk samples were divided into three groups according to the SCC in them: 1) ≤300; 2) 300–500; 3) ≥500. There was an established negative correlation between the LС, somatic cell score (SCS, -0.387, p < 0.001) and single milk yield (-0.225, p < 0.001). It was found that most traits, such as the FC, F/P, and MUN concentrations, increased in August if compared to the other summer months. The SCS decreased every month during the summer and was lowest in August (3.04±0.048).
High demand for soybeans requires farmers to achieve higher yields. One of the most important challenges in soybean production is weed control management, especially in the early growing stages. Successful soybean production is inconceivable without the use of herbicides, which can be applied as PRE-em—before seedling emergence, and as POST-em—after seedling emergence. On the other hand, herbicides can negatively affect germination capacity and can cause plant damage/injury, and finally result in lower seed yield. Therefore, this research aimed to examine the possible influence of different weed management treatments on weed infestation, soybean yield, and its components. A field experiment was set up during 2014 and 2015 in a randomized block design. The research included 7 treatments: a control treatment and 6 different herbicide treatments with the active substances metribuzin, oxasulfuron, thifensulfuron, s-metolachlor, and cycloxydim in full and reduced doses. Dominant weeds were Abutilon theophrasti, Amaranthus retroflexus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Chenopodium album, and Fallopia convolvulus. Herbicide application resulted in weed density reduction from 62.7 to 76.8% in 2014 and from 26.4 to 71.9% in 2015 compared to the control. Lack of herbicide efficacy due to adverse weather conditions during application and vegetation resulted in higher weed infestation and ultimately lower yields, lower nodes, and pods in 2015. Statistically significant differences were found between herbicide treatments regarding yields, whereby average yields were highest on POST-em treatments with split application.
In the present study, variation, correlation relationships, and grouping among four agronomically important traits in maize were examined: the anthesis-silking interval (ASI), grain yield (GY), ear length (EL), and the number of rows per ear (RN). A total of 75 maize hybrids from the mid-early maturity group (FAO 400–500), tested in competitive variety trials over a three-year period (2022–24), were evaluated. The aim of the study was to assess the importance of the anthesis-silking interval and its effect on the grain yield. The results demonstrate a strongly negative impact of increased ASI (up to 5 days) on grain yield in 2024, as confirmed by both simple and multiple correlation analyses. The cluster analysis, conducted using Ward’s method and presented as a dendrogram, grouped the hybrids and provided a useful tool for evaluating the optimal combination of the studied traits within a single genotype. The selection of hybrids with a short or even negative anthesis-silking interval can be employed as an indirect method for drought tolerance selection, also known as a tandem selection.
The peel of traditional apple varieties represents a rich source of phenolic compounds, known for their potential health benefits. This study investigated the release kinetics of phenolic compounds from the peel of the traditional apple variety ‘Kolačara’ during simulated gastrointestinal digestion using a modified first-order kinetic equation. During digestion, anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols were undetectable after the intestinal phase, while dihydrochalcones, phenolic acids, and flavonols demonstrated greater stability. Kinetic analysis revealed that the release followed first-order kinetics. During the gastric phase, half-life values ranged from 2.3 to 7.9 minutes, indicating that most phenolic compounds were released within the first 10 minutes of digestion. In the intestinal phase, half-life values reached up to 2.4, 6.6, and 31.1 minutes for phenolic acids, flavonols, and dihydrochalcones, respectively. The study highlights the rapid release of phenolic compounds from the peel of a traditional apple variety peel, with dihydrochalcones showing the highest resistance to intestinal degradation. These findings provide valuable insight into the digestive behavior of bioactive compounds derived from valuable traditional fruit sources.
A multifaceted field experiment for soybean was carried out in Croatia to assess the influence of tillage (TS) on selected economic indicators, that is, gross margin (GM), rate of profitability (ROP), cost-effectiveness (E), and productivity (P), and to provide a regression model for production planning. The investigated TS comprised the following parameters: CT - plowing (depth of 30 cm), DT - discing (depth of 8–12 cm), LT - soil loosening (depth of 35 cm), and no-tillage (NT). Randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used, with four replications. Experimental plot for a given TS measured 540 m². Economic indicators were calculated based on the established economic formulae and standard evaluation criteria. The SAS software version 9.3 and Microsoft Excel 2016 were used for statistical analysis. GM was in the following range: NT (+12.9 %) > DT (+7.1 %) > LT (-15.4 %), with a significant difference concerning the CT (€278.60 ha-1). ROP on the LT was lower (-14.5 %) and higher on NT (+21.4 %) significantly compared to CT. The production of one ton of soybeans on the NT took 1.75 working hours, which was significantly less compared to other TS. The results with the regression model highlight the varying economic viability of the TS, with notable differences in input costs, profitability, and efficiency, thereby offering valuable insights for sustainable and economically optimized soybean production.
Chicken meat is a significant source of nutrients. It contains bioactive components that affect metabolic processes in the human body and have a positive effect on health. The modern diet pays attention to the content and properties of fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), i.e., PUFA n-6 and PUFA n-3, are important in human nutrition. This paper elaborates on the importance of chicken meat in human nutrition by putting emphasis on the intake of lipid components. It also explains PUFA n-6 and PUFA n-3 metabolism and highlights supplementation of animal diet as a way to enrich meat with PUFA n-3. Some authors recommend the health lipid indices to be used in the assessment of chicken meat quality with respect to the degree of fat saturation. Qualitative indices (PUFA/SFA, PUFA n-6/PUFA n-3, LA/ALA, and EPA+DHA), nutritional indices (AI, TI, hHI), and metabolic indices (EI, THI, Δ 9 desaturase and Δ-5+Δ-6 desaturase) are used in such assessment. When calculating the indices, certain saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids are considered.
This study analyzed the phenology metrics of maize and soybean in Croatia across the years 2021 and 2022 based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite data, focusing on median dates of occurrence and their variability. The total number of filtered parcels from the Paying Agency for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development database with area larger than 25 ha was 108 and 463 for maize, as well as 25 and 163 parcels for soybean in the years 2021 and 2022, respectively. Median maturity and peak growth stages occurred later in 2021 than in 2022 for both crops, suggesting potentially broader climatic impacts on growth duration. The correlation matrices for the study indicated strong relationships between maturity, senescence, and peak phases but not dormancy which had low levels of correlation with other measures. The presence of high and significant multicollinearity was underlined in the study by the analysis of variance inflation factors used when analyzing phenological parameters, especially with limited samplesizes. These findings suggest that dormancy and peak phenology can be useful for a characterization of crop yield and cropland conditions.
This study investigated the physiological and biochemical responses of three sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrids (Luka, Matej, and OS-H-17) under field conditions in 2021 and 2022. According to the analysed data, significant year variability was observed. In 2021, higher ambient and leaf temperatures, as well as higher radiation, led to reduced performance index (PIABS) and increased phenolic accumulation. In 2022, slightly cooler conditions with lower radiation favoured higher chlorophyll content, PIABS, and higher catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities. Principal component analysis separated years and differentiated hybrids according to their response strategies. Luka was associated with chlorophyll stability and enzymatic antioxidants, while Matej and OS-H-17 relied more on non-enzymatic mechanisms. Therefore, variations in the environment have a significant effect on the physiology and biochemical responses of sunflowers. Hybrids have exhibited specific characteristics related to adaptive mechanisms. Luka showed the most stable antioxidant and photosynthetic performance, highlighting the importance of hybrid selection in producing climate-resistant sunflowers.
As globally the fourth largest oleaginous plant, sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is particularly vulnerable to water shortages during the germination phase. Various seed-priming techniques and agents have been proven to enhance germination and promote a uniform seedling growth, especially during the abiotic stress conditions. Since hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been documented to be involved in plant metabolism, this study investigates its effects on the sunflower seeds' vigor when germinating in the drought-stress conditions. The research was conducted under the controlled conditions using the Apolon hybrid seeds, developed by the Agricultural Institute in Osijek. This study's objective was to determine a physiological role of H2S in seedlings grown from the seeds that had been previously primed in sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) solutions, having germinated under the drought-stress conditions. The results imply that the sunflower seedlings are most sensitive to the osmotic stress during the initial germination phase, particularly in the first four days. An increase in the level of osmotic stress while rising the concentrations of PEG 6000 reduced the seed vigor of the tested hybrid. The most notable positive effects of seed priming with a hydrogen-sulfide donor were observed at the low (2.5% PEG) and moderate (5% PEG) levels of osmotic stress. This study's results may provide future guidelines for the use of various H2S donors as a priming agent, aimed at an enhancement of drought resistance in early growth phases, which is crucial for the production of this strategically important oilseed faced by a significant climate change.
In the agricultural production, Perillus bioculatus is used as a biological control agent in an attempt to control the Colorado potato beetle (CPB; Leptinotarsa decemlineata), the most important potato pest. The utilization of this predator decreases the application of chemical insecticides, which is particularly significant due to the beetle's resistance to insecticides and its sustainability in potato production. Although the initial attempts to introduce the P. bioculatus to Europe were unsuccessful, in recent years the expansion of this species has been recorded in several European countries. Perillus bioculatus feeds on the eggs, larvae, and adults of the CPB and, if the CPB is not represented in the field, it feeds on other pests, mainly from the Chrysomelidae and Coccinellidae families. Despite a fact that P. bioculatus is effective in controlling the CPB, there are a number of challenges to a successful control of the beetle, such as the reduction of the P. bioculatus population due to the attacks by the parasitic wasps on their eggs, unsynchronized occurrences with the CPB, or a negative impact of chemical insecticides that can completely destroy a population. Therefore, it is significant to develop the integrated crop-protection strategies that include the biological control agents in order to reduce a negative impact of insecticides on the environment and human health.
This study analyzes the length of a growing season for maize cultivation in Osijek- Baranja County utilizing a land-surface phenology metrics derived from the Sentinel-2 imagery according to a normalized-difference vegetation index (NDVI). The three key phenological indicators were calculated, including the start of a season (SOS), end of a season (EOS), and the length of a season (LOS) for the years 2017 and 2022. The mean monthly air temperatures during the maize-growing season were significantly higher than the 30-year average, while a total precipitation was notably lower, particularly in August, suggesting a direct impact on maize phenology, with the LOS values exhibiting a non-normal distribution and differing variances between the years studied. This research contributed the insights for the improvement of yield forecasting and the adaptive management strategies in response to a climate variability, ultimately supporting food security and sustainable land management practices in the region. A future work should be expanded on these methodologies to enhance their applicability across the diverse agricultural contexts.
S obzirom na povećanje broja svjetskoga stanovništva i na moguć problem nestašice hrane u budućnosti, zadatak je struke pronaći način kako proizvesti dovoljno hrane, a istovremeno smanjiti opterećenje proizvodnje. Ciljevi su ovoga rada prikazati mogućnosti uporabe alga kao izvora bjelančevina u hranidbi domaćih životinja, s posebnim osvrtom na njihovu primjenu kod različitih vrsta životinja te prednostima i nedostatcima njihove uporabe u suvremenoj hranidbi. Alge se sve više istražuju jer su izvor bjelančevina u hranidbi životinja te se od njih mogu dobiti razni organski spojevi, koji se potom mogu koristiti kao dodatak hrani za životinje. Većina alga dokazano pozitivno utječe na proizvodne pokazatelje domaćih životinja, na kvalitetu proizvoda te zdravlje i plodnost. Ipak, uza sve pozitivne strane koje alge nude, treba obratiti pozornost na njihovu toksičnost. Kod uključivanja alga u obroke domaćih životinja treba biti jasno definirano koje su dopuštene količine. Potrebno je detaljnije istražiti i ispitati djelovanje alga na preživače te monogastrične životinje s obzirom na to da je velika većina provedenih istraživanja bazirana na peradi. Uz napredak struke i tehnologije proizvodnje te obrade alga, može se očekivati njihovo opsežnije implementiranje u hranidbu domaćih životinja u budućnosti.
This paper investigates the profile of fatty acids, as well as qualitative (∑PUFA/∑SFA, ∑n-6 PUFA/∑n-3 PUFA, LA/ALA, EPA+DHA), nutritional (NVI, AI, TI, SI, hHI, HPI), and metabolic (EI, THI, ∆9-desaturase, ∆5+∆6 desaturase, KAI) indices in the table eggs obtained from four different producers (A, B, C, and D). For the purpose of this research, forty L-class eggs were bought in a grocery store. The eggs were produced on four farms in Croatia. The health-lipid indices were calculated on the basis of a fattyacid profile in egg yolks. The most favorable qualitative indices were determined in the lipids of D eggs, with an exception of the EPA+DHA indices. The most nutritional indices were more favorable in the eggs of group A than in the eggs of groups B, C, and D. The metabolic indices THI and EI were more favorable in the eggs of the A and B group, respectively, while the ∆9-desaturase and the ∆5+∆6 desaturase indices were more favorable in the eggs of group D. A correlation between the selected health-lipid indices was also established. A very strong positive correlation (r = 0.97) was determined between the quantitative lipid indices of the LA/ALA and the ratio of ∑n-6 PUFA/∑n-3 PUFA, while a very strong negative correlation was determined between the quantitative indices of ∑PUFA/∑SFA, ∑n-6 PUFA/∑n-3 PUFA, and LA/ALA and the metabolic indices of the 5+6 desaturase. An egg-group ranking based on all health indices resulted in the following value order: A = 42, B and D = 38, and C = 32.
The research was conducted with the objective of determining the influence of inoculation with the live mycorrhizal mycelium on the grape ripening and the concentration of aromatic compounds in the Graševina variety’s must in the winegrowing region of Kutjevo. Graševina was grafted onto the Vitis berlandieri x Vitis riparia SO4 vine rootstock. The vines were of the Guyot variety, pruned with up to ten buds per vine. A mycorrhizal suspension in the amount of 20 ml, with approximately two thousand propagation units of living mycorrhizal mycelium, was inoculated into the immediate root zone. Climatic conditions in the research years differed significantly, as did the harvest dates. The first year was characterized by extremely rainy conditions, with excessive precipitation. During the second research year, the average air temperature at the time of grape ripening was approximately higher by 3 °C higher than that in the first year, and the average amount of precipitation was in the optimal range. The experiment was executed in two treatments with four repetitions, according to the scheme of a random block arrangement. A statistically significant difference was detected neither in the grape-ripening dynamics of grape ripening nor in the nature, but the mycorrhizal treatment had a higher average bunch weight in 2015. In the grape must of the 2014 harvest, mycorrhiza influenced a higher concentration of 1-hexanol, whereas a lower concentration of nerol was detected in 2015.
A research on two maize-sowing systems was conducted on the locations Radnovac (L1) and Kujnik (L2) during 2021 and 2022. A standard sowing (SR), implying a row spacing amounting to 70 cm, was carried out by a PSK4 (S1) pneumatic vacuumsowing machine. A sowing in the twin rows (TR), with a distance amounting to 22 cm, and a distance between the two adjacent rows amounting to 48 cm, was performed by a MaterMacc Twin Row 2, which is also a pneumatic vacuum-sowing machine (S2.). Three different maize hybrids were sown, and the sowing speed was 6 km h-1. The largest and the smallest difference in the number of plants was determined in 2021 on the location L1 and amounted to 2,899 and 1,183 plants ha-1. On the location L2, the number of plant differences was between 1,511 and 1,644 plants ha-1 in the TR sowing. In the research year 2021, no statistically significant differences in grain yield kg ha-1 between the sowing systems were recorded on the location L1. However, in 2022, it was statistically confirmed that sowing in the twin rows produced a higher grain yield on both locations, L1 and L2, respectively. The largest difference in yield was recorded on the L2 location in 2022.
In the period from 2020 to 2022, the biological and pomological characteristics of the early ripening plum varieties 'Ruth Gerstetter', 'Tuleu Timpuriu', 'Katinka', 'Tegera', 'Hanita', 'Cacaks Early', 'Cacaks Beauty', 'Green Renclode' and 'Top First (R) were investigated in the experimental plantations of the Research Institute of Mountain Livestock Breeding and Agriculture Trojan (RIMSA)-Trojan. The parameters analyzed included the flowering phenophases, ripeni ng time, pomometric and physicochemical characteristics of the fruit, and yield of the trees, in each case in comparison with the standard variety,Cacaks Beauty'. In the period studied, the earliest flowering was observed in ,Tuleu Timpuriu' (April 7-12), while ,Ruth Gerstetter' had the longest flowering period (15 days). The shortest flowering phase (12 days) was observed in ,Cacaks Early', which also bore the largest fruit (55.30 g). Early ripening plum varieties grown in the Trojan region have a lower dry matter value compared to the standard. The highest values of total polyphenols were found in ,Katinka' (376.83 mg/g), followed by ,Tule Timpuriu' (303.22 mg/g). The highest yield was observed in the standard variety (44 kg/tree), followed by ,Cacaks Early' and ,Katinka' (31-32 kg/tree). Varieties ,Green Renclode', ,Hanita' and ,Tegera' are not only suitable for fresh consumption but also show potential for processing into juices, nectars and distillates.
The factors limiting a successful agricultural production worldwide are certainly the availability of phosphorus (P), the soil’s organic matter, and a pH reaction in the agricultural soils. The significant amounts of phosphorus are found in the soils, but approximately 95–99% is present as the insoluble phosphates and cannot be utilized by the plants. Therefore, the increasing efforts are invested to activate the large amounts of plant-unavailable phosphorus by improving a crop’s P use efficiency through the use of phosphorus-solubilizing microorganisms (PSM). The two primary research objectives were stated, as follows: first, to assess whether the applied microbial bioagent impacts the observed soil properties (pH, organic matter, and the available P level), and second, to assess whether a microbial bioagent applied enhances the microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP). The three independent field trials were set up as a randomized blok design, with the following treatments in four replicates: a control, “C“; a control with a microbial bioagent, “CMA“; a reduced P fertilizer with a microbial bioagent, ”PMA“; and a recommended fertilization, “RF.“ The soil samples were analyzed concerning a pH reaction, plant-available phosphorus, soil organic matter, and the microbial biomass P. A visible increase from 3.45 to 5.02 mg P and from 0.53 to 3.42 mg P due to an applied mineral fertilizer was noticed at two locations. No negative impact from applied bioagents was recorded regarding the analyzed soil properties. Very strong relationships (r = 0.9213 in 2016 and r = 0.9508 in 2017) between the available P and the microbial biomass P were stated. The results indicate a fact that the P input and the application of microbial bioagent together with the content of the plant-available phosphorus in the soil influenced the MBP pool.
