In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, cognitive, cultural, and entrepreneurial factors affect the farm decision-making and sustainable practices of exemplary farmers. The research used qualitative methodologies and thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with eight exemplary farmers from (KEFO) organization in Erbil, Duhok, Sulaimani, and Halabja to clarify the impact of strategic planning, supervision, and emotional commitment on their management practices. The results show that farmers perceive farming as both a way of life and a business that requires planning, organisation, and adaptability. Their concepts are in line with worldwide trends that support entrepreneurial resilience and strategic leadership. Good farmers also know how to mix traditional knowledge and cultural identity with market adaptability and systematic management. This makes them local leaders and innovators who show others how to execute their work by setting an example and showing them the best ways to do things. The study states that in order to improve farm management in transitional agricultural economies like Kurdistan, individual experiences need to be connected with policy and institutional aid to encourage sustainability, diversity, and resilience in rural areas.
Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) is a cash crop that is very rich in nutrients. Knowledge of the agronomic performance of genotypes cultivated for broad adaptation in growing environments is necessary. The objective of this study was to identify high-performance genotypes in Burkina Faso. Thus, 42 genotypes were evaluated using an Alpha Lattice design of 21 genotypes × 2 blocks in four replicates during the 2021-2022 growing season. The combined analysis of variance showed significant effects of genotype, environment, and genotype x environment interaction for most of the measured variables. The representation of the effect of genotypes and the genotype x environment interaction revealed high-performing and specific genotypes in each environment. For the number of leafy shoots, genotypes K35J and B45J have performed well in environment 2 (E2) and N1MC have performed well in environment 1 (E1). For tuber yield, B44MC and K25MC performed best in E2 and K35J and K28J in E1. These genotypes could be promoted for the production of tiger nut in the Sudanese and Sudano-Sahelian zones of Burkina Faso, taking into account the needs of producers and consumers.
Sweet cherry is a horticultural crop of major importance both nationally and internationally. Spring frosts are a limiting factor for quality yields, while data on the susceptibility of new cultivars remain scarce. Thermal variability during critical flowering and fruiting stages necessitates the assessment of cultivar resilience to thermal stress. This 2025 study at the Moara Domnească Experimental Station, in a 2021 plantation, evaluates sweet cherry resilience to thermal stress in a frost-prone continental climate. The study aimed to assess the resilience of sweet cherry cultivars to thermal stress from late frosts by comparing their morphological and physiological performance under subcritical temperatures. The research sought to identify highly adaptable cultivars suitable for cultivation under current climate change conditions. Two commercial cultivars of interest, 'Kordia' and 'Regina', were analyzed under similar soil and agricultural technology conditions. Post-frost assessments included fruit weight, size (height and diameter), firmness, pH, sugar content (%BRIX), titratable acidity, and dry matter, with data collected using standardized laboratory methods and statistical analysis, while meteorological conditions were monitored via an automated weather station. 'Kordia' showed superior fruit quality after late frost, with higher weight (6.87 g vs. 4.42 g), diameter (22.93 mm vs. 18.79 mm), height (23.64 mm vs. 20.58 mm), and sugar content (16.33 %Brix vs. 15.48 %Brix). Frost damage to buds was similar: 29% for 'Regina' (‘Gisela 5’) and 30% for 'Kordia' (‘Gisela 6’). Despite this, 'Regina' yielded more, indicating better production tolerance to frost. Differences in firmness, pH, and citric acid were minor. Overall, 'Kordia' excelled in quality, 'Regina' in yield under frost-prone conditions. Assessing sweet cherry resilience to late frosts supports climate change adaptation and informed cultivar choice. 'Kordia' offers high fruit quality for frost-prone markets, while 'Regina' ensures better yields in stable climates. Matching cultivars to site conditions can optimize profitability and reduce economic losses from frost damage.
Vine age is believed to correlate with grape and wine quality. In this study two vine age categories were investigated - Fetească neagră young vines (8 years) and old vines (58 years) - at the Tohani Vineyard in the Dealu Mare region, over three consecutive vintages. Physico-chemical analyses were determined using standardized laboratory methods. Considering vintage as an independent factor, the 2017 vintage exhibits significantly higher values for grape sugar content (249.83 g/L), wine alcohol content (14.9% v/v), and total dry extract (38.19 g/L). Grape total acidity, wine total acidity, and non-sugar dry extract remained relatively constant across the 2015-2017 vintages. The interaction between vine age and vintage revealed that older vines show significantly higher values for grape sugar concentration, wine alcohol content, total dry extract, and non-sugar dry extract in 2015 and 2016, but not in 2017. When analyzing vine age as an isolated factor, older vines consistently exhibit higher grape sugar concentrations (245.44 g/L), alcohol content (14.63% v/v), and both total (37.51 g/L) and non-sugar dry extract (33.92 g/L) values. Vine age did not influence the total acidity. In conclusion, older vines demonstrate a higher potential for producing superior quality grapes and wines, although this potential is partially influenced by vintage variation.
Changing climate patterns especially in spring, negatively influences the flowering process, hence the yields in stone and pome fruits. During flowering period in sweet cherry orchard (BBCH 60-65) negative temperatures were recorded in five consecutive days between 06-11.04.2025, culminating with -5.5 ⁰C, which caused important fruit losses. In the present study we investigate the effects of frost on flower buds of ‘Tamara’, ‘Kordia’, ‘Lapins’ cultivars grafted on ‘GiSelA 3,5,6’ rootstocks in different combinations and several autochthonous (‘Cociuvaș’, ‘Tentant’, ‘Superb’, ‘Severin’, ‘Adreiași’, ‘Spectral’, ‘Daria’, ‘Ludovan’, ‘Romaria’, ‘Jubileu 30’) as well as foreign cultivars (Sweatheart, Bigareau Burlat) grafted on ‘IP-C5’ and ‘IP-C7’ rootstocks. Sweet cherry trees in the research plots showed significant frost damage, with cultivars sufefring a yield loss of 98-100%. The damage caused within apple trees had the same pattern, whereas over 90% of floral buds were severely affected. The apple trees which were between the green bud stage (BBCH 56) and the pink bud stage (BBCH 57) phenophases, suffered severe frost damage. The cultivars 'Willtons Star Red Jonaprince Select Eco'/B9 and 'Golden Reinders'/M9 were severely affected. The complex planting system, cultivars, rootstocks, location of the orchard, the age of trees, influenced the different frost resistance of cultivars and species.
