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.
