In light of global sustainability challenges and the limited availability of conventional protein sources for livestock, it became essential to find alternative protein sources. In this context, the reintroduction of grain legumes into crop production systems may represent a promising strategy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the replacement of soybean meal by Lupinus albus, on gut microbiota modulation in weaned piglets’ diet. Twenty weaned piglets (Landrace x Large White) were involved in the trial for 28 days. Animals were divided into two experimental groups balanced per weight and sex: the control (CTRL, n = 10) receiving basal diet with 7.3 % soybean meal and the treatment (LUP, n = 10) receiving 10 % of Lupinus albus (L. albus) meal. Microbiota analysis showed a limited modulation in terms of richness and evenness in LUP group compared to CTRL group. However, the dietary inclusion of lupin seed meal resulted in changes in the relative abundance of several bacterial genera, with higher abundances of Methanobrevibacter, a hydrogenotrophic methanogen associated with microbial fermentation, as well as Allobaculum and Romboutsia, which have been associated with the utilization of fibre and complex carbohydrates. In conclusion, the inclusion of L. albus as a replacement for soybean meal, in piglets’ diets could represent a viable strategy to reduce dependence on soybean protein by supporting local protein production systems, particularly suitable for organic farming as well as for extensive livestock systems supplying local markets.

Understanding how large-scale climate teleconnections affect staple crop yield is essential for anticipating production risks and strengthening food security in a warming world. This study examines the influence of major teleconnection patterns on potato yield across Europe, where potatoes remain a key component of the food supply. To account for differences in cropping calendars, Europe was divided into three regions (North, Center, South) based on potato growing season timing. Nine machine learning techniques were applied to model regional yield responses using a dataset spanning 1961–2023, incorporating multiple teleconnection indices with lags of up to 36 months. Among all models, the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) performed best in every region, with the highest accuracy in the South (R2 = 0.79) and lower but still robust skill in the North (R2 = 0.62). Explainable artificial intelligence using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) showed that the East Atlantic (EA) and East Atlantic/West Russia (EA/WR) patterns were consistently the most influential predictors, although their importance varied regionally. Lagged EA indices emerged as particularly significant, indicating a strong climate-memory effect in potato production. Despite the highest prediction accuracy in the South, this region exhibited the lowest historical yield levels, likely reflecting combined heat and water stress. By demonstrating that regional potato yield is strongly modulated by specific teleconnection patterns, these findings highlight the value of teleconnection-aware prediction systems for climate-risk management and underscore the need to integrate climate indices into long-term agricultural and food security planning in Europe.

The cultivation of elephant grass [Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone] may help mitigate dry-season forage shortages due to its high regrowth potential and nutritive value. In this context, cultivar selection and harvest frequency are key factors affecting forage accumulation and nutritive value. This study evaluated the nutritive value of elephant grass cultivars of different plant sizes (two tall: Elephant B and IRI 381; and two dwarf: Mott and Taiwan A-146 2.37) under irrigation and two harvest frequencies (60 and 90 days) during dry and rainy seasons. The experiment was conducted under tropical conditions in Brazil, from September 2019 to May 2022. The experimental design used was randomized complete block with split plots arrangement and four replications. Greater crude protein (CP) concentrations (109.9 vs. 89.1 g/kg DM) were observed during both rainy and dry seasons under 60-day harvest frequency. Ether extract and hemicellulose concentrations were greater during the rainy season, while total carbohydrates and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were greater in the dry season. Tall-size genotypes exhibited greater neutral and acid detergent fibre concentrations in leaves, whereas the dwarf-type Mott showed lower stem fibre fractions and greater stem IVDMD. In general, harvesting every 60 days improved forage nutritive value, while extending the regrowth period promoted genotype- and season-dependent changes in CP and fibre fractions. Overall, harvest frequency exerted a greater influence on forage nutritive value than plant size, indicating that harvest management should be adjusted according to genotype and seasonal conditions.

In broiler breeders, while floor eggs are associated with a negative impact on hatching performance, the role of laying sequence position remains poorly understood and may contribute a further source of variation to egg quality and embryo development. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of laying environment and sequence position. In Experiment 1, eggs were classified as first collection floor eggs (FCFE) or second collection floor eggs (SCFE) and incubated to embryonic day 12 (ED12). In Experiment 2, eggs were classified as first collection nest eggs (FCNE), FCFE and SCFE to assess internal and external quality, compositional traits and eggshell mineral composition. In Experiment 1, embryos from FCFE were significantly lighter at ED12 compared with those from SCFE, despite greater initial egg size. In Experiment 2, albumen parameters differed, with first collection eggs, FCNE and FCFE, showing greater albumen weight and proportion than second collection eggs, SCFE. Shell thickness was greater in FCNE and FCFE. Mineral analysis revealed higher sodium concentrations in first collection eggs, lower zinc and molybdenum concentrations in floor eggs, reduced manganese in FCNE and higher arsenic in FCFE. Together, these findings demonstrate that laying sequence and environment alter egg composition, shell quality and mineral deposition, with egg-laying sequence demonstrating potential downstream effects on embryonic development. Improved understanding of the underlying mechanistic contribution of egg sequence to egg quality and embryo development will contribute to our understanding of achieving high and consistent hatch success in broiler breeders.

Livestock manure is a major source of agricultural air ammonia (NH3) emissions that pose significant environmental and health concerns, particularly in intensive livestock housing systems. This experiment investigated the effects of temperature and manure urea concentration on NH3 production from simulated cattle manure using an in-vitro microchamber system. Fresh cattle faeces were combined with simulated urine containing varying urea concentrations (0, 5, 12.5, 20 g urea-N/L) to produce simulated manure with concentrations of 0, 2.4, 6.0 and 9.6 g urea/kg. A 4 × 3 factorial randomized block design tested four urea treatments at three temperatures (25, 30 and 35 °C), with matched air and manure temperatures, using microchambers with controlled airflow. Ammonia concentrations were measured over 90 min using acid traps and colorimetric analysis and NH3 production rates were calculated from these. Both temperature and urea concentration increased NH3 production rates, with a significant interaction between urea concentration and temperature (P < 0.001). Relative to 25 °C, temperatures of 30 and 35 °C substantially increased NH3 production rates across all urea concentrations, with estimated increases of 3.9 to 5.2 and 7.5 to 10.0 mg NH3/m2/min, respectively. At 25 °C, NH3 production was similar across all urea amended treatments, whereas at 30 and 35 °C production increased from 2.4 to 6.0 g urea/kg manure, but showed little additional increase at 9.6 g urea/kg manure. Adding urea immediately increased manure pH (by approximately 1.2 units) and also increased final pH values. Temperature exerted a greater influence on NH3 production than urea concentration within the range tested.

Maize (Zea mays L.), a global staple in food and feed systems, faces intensifying threats from drought, heat, flooding, and shifting pest dynamics under climate change. Building resilient maize systems is essential to sustain yield and secure rural livelihoods. Unlike earlier reviews that address genetics, agronomy, or policy separately, this study presents the first integrative roadmap uniting five domains: genetic innovation, climate-smart agronomy, predictive modelling, microbiome engineering, and enabling policy frameworks. Genetic breakthroughs, including Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based editing, genomic selection, and doubled haploids, are accelerating stress-tolerant hybrid development. Agronomic practices such as conservation agriculture, intercropping, precision irrigation, and nutrient optimisation enhance soil health, resource efficiency, and yield stability. Digital tools, including remote sensing, AI-enabled forecasting, and decision-support systems, strengthen early warning and adaptive capacity. Microbiome interventions, particularly drought-adaptive rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, are emerging as frontiers for resilience and nutrient uptake. Socioeconomic enablers, seed system governance, gender-responsive extension, and public–private partnerships, remain decisive for equitable scaling. Case studies from Africa, Asia, and Latin America demonstrate 20–50 % yield gains under stress conditions through integrated approaches. Yet, major gaps persist in multi-stress breeding pipelines, genotype × microbiome × environment studies, and predictive analytics tailored for smallholder systems. By explicitly linking technological, ecological, and institutional innovations, this review advances a systems-level framework for climate-resilient maize. It calls for AI-driven breeding pipelines, carbon-smart agriculture, and inclusive, farmer-centric innovation models to secure maize-dependent livelihoods and future-proof global food systems.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of malic acid on diets containing different levels of calcium (Ca) on performance, egg quality and tibia characteristics in laying quails. A total of 256 laying quails, 35 weeks old, were randomly distributed into eight experimental groups during the 84-day trial period and were tested in a 2 × 4 factorial design. Each experimental group consisted of eight replicates of four birds each. The experiment had a randomised design consisting of a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement with two levels of Ca (2.0 and 2.5 g/100g diet) and four levels of malic acid (0, 1, 2 and 4 g/kg). Reducing dietary Ca level increased body weight change (BWC) and feed intake (FI) but it decreased eggshell ratio, tibia breaking strength and tibia ash. Egg weight (EW) tended to increase at the 1 g/kg level of dietary malic acid and to decrease at the 4 g/kg level compared to the group without malic acid. Addition of malic acid to the diet at 1 and 4 g/kg levels negatively affected the tibia breaking strength. In conclusion, while the addition of malic acid to diets containing 2.0 g/100g diet Ca tended to improve performance, eggshell quality and tibia characteristics, these parameters were negatively affected by the addition of malic acid (especially 4 g/kg) to diets containing 2.5 g/100g diet Ca in laying quails.

This study examined the effects of drought stress on sweet corn yield, morphological traits, water use efficiency, and chemical composition under semi-arid climatic conditions. Field experiments were carried out in 2022 and 2023, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Two irrigation levels were tested: full irrigation (FI) and deficit irrigation (DI) at 50 % field capacity. Actual evapotranspiration (ETa) ranged from 360 to 615 mm across both years. Water use efficiency (WUE) varied between 0.79 and 1.00 kg/m3, and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) ranged from 0.94 to 1.44 kg/m3. Grain yield varied from 3530 to 5170 kg/ha depending on irrigation regime. Other yield components such as ear length (12.8–17.0 cm), grain number per ear (412–538), grain weight per ear (40–57 g), thousand-kernel weight (104–135 g), and hectolitre weight (39–54 kg) also showed significant variation. The CROPWAT model estimations of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) were generally consistent with observed values but showed discrepancies under deficit irrigation. Morphological parameters declined significantly under drought stress. Irrigation levels also influenced chemical composition. Quality parameters ranged as follows: protein (8.7–9.0 %), oil (10.7–12.6 %), ash (1.09–1.28 %), starch (33.7–39.2 %), and crude fibre (6.0–7.4 %). Higher starch and fibre contents were observed under full irrigation. The results highlight the impact of irrigation strategies on both yield and quality components of sweet corn over two growing seasons.

Different methodologies have been reported in the literature for cultivation in extraplanetary regolith for Lunar, Mars, and Asteroid simulants. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of planting methods that use regolith as a plant growth substrate, highlighting species and environmental parameters controlled in research. It examines the nutritional adjustments and soil amendments necessary to enable cultivation, synthesizing findings from experiments documented in the literature. The review proposes an optimized methodology for future cultivation efforts and experimental designs by identifying disparities and successful cases. The ultimate goal of this report is to challenge researchers to master a regolith-based agricultural design that enables thriving plant ecosystems on the Moon and transforms regolith into a viable substrate for future space cultivation.

To optimize productivity and prevent pasture degradation, management strategies such as the use of thermal sum (TS) to adjust grazing intervals can improve forage efficiency. The aim was to evaluate the effect of different TS as grazing intervals on the bromatological and structural composition of wheat cv. XFront®. The experiment followed a block design with repeated measures over time, with six plots and two treatments: T1) 330 TS and T2) 550 TS, in 2 years of evaluation. TS were defined by leaf emission speed, based on the phyllochron (110 days). The botanical (wheat) and structural composition was determined by manual separation of components. In general, management by TS did not influence (P > 0.05) the contents of dry matter (13.9%), organic matter (10.9%), in vitro dry matter digestibility (65.7%), percentage of leaves (54.0%) or percentage of other species (9.7%). However, there was an effect of TS (P < 0.05) on the percentage of dead material (7.7% vs. 10.4%), height (26.7 cm vs. 32.8 cm), dry matter yield (9369 vs. 7305 kg/ha) and yield per cycle (1787 vs. 2043 kg/ha) for TS 330 and TS 550, respectively. The variables crude protein (28.8% vs. 33.0%), hemicellulose (23.4% vs. 23.7%) and percentage of stem plus sheath (24.5% vs. 29.9%) differed between years of evaluation. In conclusion, management with lower TS, i.e., shorter rest intervals, resulted in better nutritional quality of forage biomass, due to greater tissue renewal and reduced senescence.

The use of antibiotics as growth promoters in pig farming has been largely restricted, driving the search for alternative natural additives, like phenolic compounds. This systematic review coupled to a meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of the inclusion of both flavonoids and tocopherols in the diet of finishing pigs regarding zootechnical performance and meat quality. A search was conducted at the PubMed, Scopus, SciELO and Web of Science databases up to May 2024, following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 15 articles published between 1999 and 2020 were included, totalling 888 animals. Phenolic compounds were grouped as flavonoids and tocopherols, and variables associated to productive performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality parameters were assessed. The meta-analysis revealed that flavonoid inclusion results in a quadratic effect on feed conversion, with an estimated optimal point of 502.20 mg/kg. Tocopherol inclusion, in turn, leads to a quadratic trend concerning final body weight, with an estimated optimal point of 139.61 mg/kg. Regarding meat quality, flavonoids decreased the values of the colour parameters a* and b*, while tocopherols positively influenced parameters L* and a* and displayed a propensity to reduce lipid peroxidation (TBARS/MDA). The findings reveal that flavonoid supplementation favors productive performance, while tocopherols are noteworthy for their antioxidant action and pork quality benefits. More well-designed studies, however, are required to determine optimal inclusion levels and elucidate the mechanisms of action of these compounds.

The objective was to evaluate effects of age at first joining (7 or 19 months), ewe genotype and age on ewe performance between 2 and 8 years of age and that of their progeny to slaughter. Three genotypes were represented: Belclare (Bel), F1 Suffolk × Belclare (Suf × Bel) and ≥0.75 Suffolk ancestry (Suf75). The flock (424 ewes initially) was managed in a grass-based system based on rotational grazing at the Athenry Research Centre; ewes were housed from mid-pregnancy to lambing and exited the flock when culled (health/welfare reasons) or they died. There were no significant interactions between first-joining age and ewe genotype. Ewes joined to first lamb at 1 year of age required significantly less lambing assistance and produced heavier lambs at birth, with lower lamb mortality. Bel and Suf × Bel ewes produced larger litters and reared significantly more lambs per ewe than Suf75. Barrenness was lower for Suf × Bel than Suf75, and their lambs were younger at slaughter. Ewe longevity was unaffected by age at first joining or genotype. Mortality of lambs from Bel ewes was lower than those from Suf75. Ewe and lamb performance traits increased with ewe age to a plateau starting around 5 to 6 years of age. Number of lambs reared per ewe reached a maximum at age 6 and exhibited a major decline (−0.4) at 8 years, reflecting lower prolificacy and increased barrenness. Lamb growth rate increased and age at slaughter declined as ewes aged.

Cultural weed management through intercropping helps in weed suppression, resulting in improved crop productivity. Cereal–legume intercropping is one of the major eco-friendly approaches to suppress weeds and improve crop performance and soil fertility. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was carried out at the campus of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Ranchi, Jharkhand during the monsoon season of 2023 and 2024 in a randomized block design with three replications using eight cropping systems. Results revealed that sole black gram ensured highest weed control efficiency (55.9%), followed by intercropping system of finger millet and black gram (1:2) (49.5%). Finger millet + black gram (1:2) and sole black gram recorded higher growth attributes and yields of finger millet and black gram, respectively. However, finger millet + black gram (1:2) also recorded high growth and yield attributes of black gram. System productivity was maximum in sole black gram (4730 kg/ha), followed by intercropping system of finger millet and black gram (1:2) (3900 kg/ha), along with protein content (23.4%) and consequently, the production economics (net return: Rupees 56830/ha; benefit: cost of 1.90). It also resulted in the highest residual soil fertility. Additionally, the combined land equivalent ratio (1.44) was higher in the 1:2 intercropping system of finger millet and black gram, indicating a 44% yield advantage. Thus, in Eastern Plateau and Hill Zone of India, an intercropping system of finger millet and black gram (1:2) is recommended for cultivation in monsoon to achieve high weed suppression, crop productivity, and economic profitability.

Two experiments were conducted for the objective of isolating and characterizing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from elephant grass and using selected strains as inoculants in elephant grass to enhance its quality as silage. A total of 156 LAB strains were identified in the different periods (0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days). The main LAB present during the fermentation period were Weissella cibaria at day 1, W. paramesenteroides at day 3, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and L. pentosus after the 7th day of fermentation. For inoculation in elephant grass, three strains (L. plantarum 28.19, L. pentosus 28.22 and Lacticaseibacillus casei 28.26) were selected. There was a significant effect of inoculant × period interaction on all silage variables analysed, except for the mould population, which was affected only by fermentation period. At the beginning of fermentation (day 1), silages inoculated with the strains L. plantarum, L. pentosus, and Lc. casei had significantly lower pH compared to the control and commercial inoculant treatments silages. The LAB population in the silages did not differ significantly during the fermentation period, except on days 1 and 7. Silages inoculated with the selected strains had significantly higher crude protein concentrations compared to the control silage. Therefore, selected strains of LAB showed promise for producing better quality elephant grass silage.

Use of snaplage residue in an integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) allows adding beef production between two corn growing seasons, providing greater profitability with efficient land use. However, the effects on soil properties and the subsequent crop production remain uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term impact of residue grazing on the soil physical and chemical properties and subsequent crop yield. The treatments were two stocking rates (SR): (1) low stocking rate (LS; 3.5 AU/ha) and (2) high stocking rate (HS; 7.0 AU/ha), and ungrazed control (CT). Crossbred beef heifers (n = 48) were assigned to 16 paddocks (3 heifers/paddock). Pre-planned contrasts were used CT vs. HS + LS and HS vs. LS with a significance P ≤ 0.05. Multivariate analysis was performed using principal component analysis. Initial residual mass was no different for all treatments (9,683 kg DM/ha). There was a lower final mass for grazed than ungrazed. There was also less total pre-planting mass for grazed than ungrazed. No grazing or stocking rate effects were detected for penetration resistance. The total nitrogen returned was increased by grazing (82% compared to ungrazed). The soil phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were also increased with grazing (28 and 72%, respectively). The total yield mass increased by grazing (15% compared to ungrazed) in the subsequent crop. In conclusion, grazing residue had no negative short-term effects on the physical characteristics of the soil, while increasing concentrations of macronutrients from animal supplementation positively affected subsequent corn yield.

Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) is a halophyte species with high potential for supporting sustainable food production and agrobiodiversity. Despite this potential, studies on its domestication and standardized cultivation protocols remain highly limited. In the current study, the agronomic performance and phytochemical diversity of three ecotypes (Atlantic ecotype and native Turkish ecotypes) were evaluated under Mediterranean conditions over two growing seasons. Fresh biomass increased by 76 % in the second growing season compared with the first year. This indicates that the plants were successfully established under the experimental conditions and maintained productive growth. Differences among ecotypes were statistically significant; the Atlantic ecotype exhibited superior yield potential compared with the native ecotypes. Bio-fertilizer application significantly increased canopy development and total biomass while also supporting marketability. Phytochemical profiling revealed distinct distributions among plant parts. Flowers were superior in terms of total phenolic and reducing power, whereas leaves stood out as the main reservoir of vitamin C, carotenoids and radical-scavenging activity. The average essential oil yield was 1.6 ml/100 g dry matter, and compositional analysis showed that the native ecotypes contained high levels of dillapiole, whereas this compound was detected only at trace levels in the Atlantic ecotype. Overall, these findings confirm that sea fennel is a resilient and chemically valuable crop suitable for Mediterranean agriculture and offers a feasible strategy for crop diversification by farmers.

The principles of replication, randomization and local control as put forward by R.A. Fisher a century ago are all well known and adhered to in most experiments. In some applications, however, lack of randomization is still practised. One particular area where this is common is on-farm experimentation. Hence, revisiting these important principles seems useful. In this paper, we particularly consider the use of uniformity trial data to empirically assess the validity of experimental designs in terms of the estimation of error and empirical Type 1 error rates. We compare classical designs such as the completely randomized design and the randomized complete block design to systematic designs. Moreover, following a suggestion in Fisher’s 1925 book, we propose a design optimized for a positional covariate of the plots. These designs are compared to two systematic designs. In addition to simple linear models, we consider a specific kind of spatial model for analysing systematic designs. Our results show that properly randomized designs yield valid inferences, whereas with systematic designs there is a risk of biased estimates of error. The design optimized for the positional covariate, while entailing some mild restriction on randomization, still provided valid inferences. In conclusion, our recommendation is to always use properly randomized designs.

Accurate crop growth models are essential for predicting yield and evaluating adaptation potentials under climate change. As one of Europe’s most important forage crops, silage maize (Zea mays L.) requires a model that captures genotype-specific growth traits and environmental variability. The current study presents HUME-Maize (Hannover University Modelling Environment), a new process-based model for silage maize, specifically adapted to conditions in Northern Europe. Model development relied on an extensive dataset from two field trials (2007–2008, 2021–2022) at five sites across Germany, involving two mid-early maize hybrids released 12 years apart. Calibration was based on the older hybrid and evaluated on both, testing the need for hybrid-specific parameter adjustments. Model scalability and predictive accuracy were assessed with a nationwide dataset covering 287 site-year combinations. The baseline model, parameterized using an older hybrid, reproduced biomass formation well (d = 0.98 and 0.95). Application to a newer hybrid without adjustment revealed systematic differences in leaf development and yield formation associated with breeding progress. Hybrid-specific adjustments of physiological traits, e.g. leaf growth rate, specific leaf area and radiation use efficiency, substantially improved model performance, reflecting the enhanced radiation use efficiency of the newer hybrid. On the national scale, the model achieved low prediction errors for final yield (16 % for the older and 21 % for the newer hybrid). Drought and nitrogen stress responses remain areas for refinement. HUME-Maize thus provides a robust framework for simulating hybrid-specific silage maize growth, supporting yield prediction and physiological analysis across hybrids and environments.

Reducing nitrogen (N) application represents a strategy for sustainable rice production. The combined effects of deep fertilization (DF) and urease inhibitor (UI) under reduced N input on ammonia (NH3) volatilization, N-use efficiency (NUE) and yield in double-cropping rice remain uncertain. A two-year field trial in Hunan, China, using early-and late-season rice (ESR and LSR), established seven treatments: conventional fertilization (CF, manually broadcast); DF with 30% N reduction; DF with 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25 and 1.5% NBPT (DF + UI1–DF + UI5, respectively); and a zero-N control (CK). In ESR and LSR, the total NH3 loss rates under CF were 46.9% and 54.2% (2024), and 51.6% and 52.5% (2025), respectively. DF + UI significantly reduced the cumulative NH3 loss rates to 6.9–16.0% (2024) and 9.4–16.4% (2025) for ESR, and to 10.6–17.4% (2024) and 3.6–9.9% (2025) for LSR. DF + UI effectively mitigated NH3 volatilization by lowering surface water ammonium, inhibiting urease activity and delaying urea hydrolysis; it also increased grain yield and apparent N recovery efficiency by 5.6–21.1% and 13.8–33.4 percentage points, respectively. These benefits were attributed to the dual effect of delaying the NH3 volatilization peak by two days while reducing its intensity, which improved synchronization between N supply and rice demand, enhanced total N uptake, promoted N accumulation and increased panicle number and spikelets per panicle. Overall, reducing N input by 30% under DF with 1.25% UI effectively reduced NH3 volatilization while enhancing NUE and rice yield in double-cropping systems.