Weather and climate are key factors influencing the development of fungal plant diseases. The most significant meteorological drivers of pathogen incidence are temperature, relative humidity and the amount of precipitation. These factors influence sporulation, germination of phytopathogen spores and survival during the winter, which is crucial for the development of the disease in the following season. Here we aim to evaluate and compare the influence of weather and varietal characteristics of winter wheat on tan spot (pathogen Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) and the concentration of spores in the air to substantiate elements of the methodology for monitoring and forecasting epiphytoties. The study showed that weather variability makes a greater contribution to both the variability in the number of P. tritici-repentis conidia and the development of the disease than genetic differences between varieties. Moreover, among weather variables, temperature is the prevailing factor. However, the weather factor may vary from year to year. Therefore, the "year" factor is a better choice for the subsequent development of monitoring methods and forecasting models. It reflects the totality of all possible weather factors affecting the plant pathogen in each specific year. The “variety” factor, reflecting varietal susceptibility to the phytopathogen, will be of secondary importance in the proposed methodology. The obtained results will enable the development of a monitoring methodology and a model for predicting the incidence of tan spot in crops.
The activation and natural reproduction of entomophages play an important role in the regulation of the number of phytophages in crop cenoses making it possible to abandon chemical treatments. The development of ecological and organic technologies for the cultivation of grain and row crops is growing in significance for preserving and maintaining environmental stability and producing clean food. The purpose of this research was to study the regulatory role of entomophages of the main pests of grain and row crops as part of pesticide-free protection in organic crop production. The studies were carried out in 2024-2025 based on an experimental scientific crop rotation of the Federal Scientific Center for Biological Plant Protection (Krasnodar, Russia) and at the main organic farm of Urozhainoe OJSC, Stavropol Krai. In the biocontrol of the sunn pest, a significant role is played by egg parasites of the genus Telenomus (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae), the most common and effective of which are the species Trissolcus grandis Thomson and Telenomus chloropus Thomson. Imagoes of the sunn pest Eurygaster integriceps were infested with two species – the golden phasia Clytiomyia helluo F. and the gray phasia Alophora subcoleopterata L. The golden and gray phasias infested, respectively, 64.2% and 35.7% of imagoes in 2024 and 73.6% and 26.3% in 2025. The abundance of aphidophages was high, with Coccinella septempunctata L. as the dominant bioindicator species. In all collections throughout the growing season, the seven-spotted ladybird accounted for 62.3% of all Coccinellidae, the 14-spotted ladybird Propylea quatuordecimpunctata L – for 18.9%, and Adalia bipunctata L – for 3.6%. Coccinellidae made up the largest share of the total number of entomophages – 85.8%. Determination of the species composition of reproducible populations of oviparasites established that Trichogramma pintoi amounted to 4%, and a significant share was made up by the species T. dendrolimi (72%) and T. evanescens (24%). A method has been developed for the conservation and accumulation of natural entomophage populations at the level of agroecosystems, including the early introduction of mixed (semi-species) Trichogramma populations into agricultural and natural cenoses with an additional food base (Sitotroga eggs).
Reusing aquaculture pond waste for horticultural crops is a promising approach in integrated farming and the circular bioeconomy, but its economic value under different fish feeding systems is still not clear. The type of feed given to tilapia may affect the nutrient content of pond waste and its usefulness for melon production. Hence, there is a need to compare the economic performance of melon using pond waste generated under different tilapia feeding systems. A research was conducted in a naturally ventilated greenhouse at Soboman, Ngestiharjo, Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia (7° 48' S; 110° 20' E; 70 m above mean sea level) between February and May 2026, comparing the economics of melon (Cucumis melo L. cv. Sky Rocket) raised over Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) ponds and watered with the waste those ponds produced under two feeding systems. The melons grew in planting tubs set above cement ponds, and a timer-driven automatic system delivered the nutrient-rich pond water to them every three days. A completely randomised design with three replications pitted two treatments against each other: waste from pellet-fed tilapia (L1) and waste from maggot–Azolla-fed tilapia (L2). Fixed and variable costs, revenue, farm income, net profit, the revenue–cost (R/C) ratio, the benefit–cost (B/C) ratio and profitability were all worked out per hectare and tested statistically. Mean fruit weight was higher under L2 (563.7 g/plant) than under L1 (302.2 g/plant), and the combined melon-and-fish revenue came to IDR 755.1 million/ha for L2 versus IDR 521.6 million/ha for L1. The maggot–Azolla system delivered the stronger figures across the board, with net profit of IDR 400.2 million/ha, an R/C ratio of 2.13, a B/C ratio of 1.13 and profitability of 112.8%, against IDR 153.5 million/ha, 1.42, 0.42 and 41.7% for the pellet system. Both were financially viable (R/C greater than 1), yet the maggot–Azolla option cut feed cost sharply and lifted economic efficiency, pointing to a promising circular route for integrated tilapia–melon production.
Barnyardgrass is a significant threat to rice production, causing substantial yield losses and evolving resistance to multiple herbicides. However, the occurrence of Butachlor resistance in Central Vietnam remains poorly understood, highlighting the need for its assessment in Hue City rice fields. This study evaluated the resistance of Barnyardgrass populations to Butachlor in Kim Tra ward, Hue City (16°30′35″ N, 107°31′56″ E; elevation: 0 m) during the 2024–2025, where Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) had been consistently observed surviving after herbicide application. A single-factor experiment was conducted with five treatments: a control (no herbicide application), and Butachlor applications at 0.5x, 1.0x (recommended dose of 0.3 kg a.i./ha), 1.5x, and 2.0x the recommended dose. Results indicated that Barnyardgrass in this region has begun to develop resistance to Butachlor. At the recommended dose, herbicide efficacy was only 38.9% at 14 days after treatment (DAT). While the 2.0x dose achieved 100% efficacy, Barnyardgrass survived and competed with rice at the recommended dose, leading to a 2.1% yield loss compared to weed-free conditions. In contrast, untreated plots suffered a 22.2% yield reduction. These findings suggest an urgent need for revised weed management strategies in Central Vietnam to mitigate the spread of herbicide resistance.
Efficient management of water and nutrients is essential for sustainable cauliflower production, helping to improve productivity while conserving natural resources in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Fluctuations in temperature, soil moisture and nutrient availability often affect crop growth, yield and curd quality. Hence, there is a need to identify suitable drip fertigation levels under protected and open field conditions for better crop performance and resource use efficiency. A two-year study was conducted during the winter seasons of 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 at the Research Centre for Smart Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha, India, to evaluate the effect of different drip fertigation levels on the growth, yield and quality of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) under polyhouse and open field conditions. The experiment was designed based on randomized block design with three replications and eight treatments of 100%, 80 and 60% of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) applied in drip fertigation under polyhouse and open field condition and conventional soil application. The pooled data were analysed for growth, yield, quality, chlorophyll index and leaf nutrient content. All the parameters studied showed significant differences between the different treatments. The crop performance of polyhouse cultivation system with drip fertigation was significantly better than the open field cultivation system. The plant height (60.1 cm), functional leaves (18.9/plant), chlorophyll index (62.1 SPAD), curd weight (796.1 g) and marketable yield (28.0 t/ha) and total yield (29.5 t/ha) were the highest in 100% RDF with drip fertigation under polyhouse conditions (T₁). The treatment also resulted in better quality parameters such as dry matter (12.1 %), total soluble solid (6.80 °Brix), ascorbic acid (58.5 mg/100 g) and shelf life (11.1 days), and the highest level of nitrogen (3.46 %), phosphorus (0.70 %) and potassium (3.40 %) in the leaves. As the fertigation levels decreased, growth, yield and quality parameters reduced and were minimum in conventional soil fertilization. The results reveal that use of polyhouse and 100% RDF drip fertigation is an effective production practice to improve productivity, produce quality and nutrient uptake of cauliflower crops.
