Volume 26, No. 3 (September, 2025)

1. PAIMAN*, NURCAHYONO, NUGRAHINI SUSANTINAH WISNUJATI, DHAREND LINGGA WIBISANA, ARDIYANTA AND ARGAWI KANDITO [Salibu rice cultivation in Indonesia’s lowlands: A review of agronomic innovations and sustainability pathways]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 389-399 (2025). Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture Universitas PGRI Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta 55182, Indonesia *(email: paiman@upy.ac.id)

ABSTRACT

The Salibu system is an indigenous rice cultivation technique developed by farmers in West Sumatra, Indonesia, which allows multiple harvests from a single planting through the regeneration of tillers from post-harvest rice stubble. Despite its promising potential to enhance rice productivity and sustainability, its adoption remains limited, highlighting the need for a comprehensive review of its principles, applications, and constraints. The structure of this review comprises seven main sections, including an overview of Indonesia’s lowland rice agroecosystems, the Salibu system, innovations, productivity impacts, adoption strategies, challenges, and future development recommendations. This review synthesizes agronomic principles, regional applications, and the sustainability potential of the Salibu system within Indonesia’s lowland rice agroecosystems, and key innovations such as precision stem cutting, alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation, and the use of biofertilisers. Drawing from scientific literature, field reports, and local practices, this article identifies that these innovations can improve regenerative growth, yield stability, and environmental efficiency. However, broader implementation faces challenges, including incompatible rice varieties, variable soil conditions, limited farmer knowledge, and inadequate institutional support. The findings suggest that successful adoption depends on targeted farmer training, participatory extension models, and supportive agricultural policies. In conclusion, the Salibu system offers strong potential to increase rice yields, reduce environmental impacts, and support smallholder livelihoods. Coordinated efforts in research, policy, and on-farm implementation are essential to scale its impact and integrate it into national climate-resilient food strategies.

2. MIRUNA, M*, R. REX IMMANUEL AND G. BARADHAN [Enhancing rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity in coastal environments through real-time nitrogen management and zinc fertilisation]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 400-407 (2025). 1Department of Agronomy, Annamalai University Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram-608 002 (Tamil Nadu), India *(e-mail: mirunamalarvannan@gmail.com)

ABSTRACT

Rice, the staple food for two-thirds of India’s population, faces productivity constraints from resource degradation, labour scarcity, climate change and nutrient imbalances. Low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) due to blanket N recommendations leads to yield loss and environmental issues. Zinc deficiency, intensified by soil P–Zn antagonism, calls for integrated Zn fertiliser and Zn-solubilising bacteria use for sustainable production. Based on this, field experiments were conducted in Annamalai University Experimental Farm, Annamalai Nagar during Kharif (June to September 2024) and Rabi season (October 2024 to January 2025). The study was laid out in RBD with three replications using short-duration rice variety ‘ADT 43’ (110 days) under ten nutrient management treatments combining N, K, real-time CCI-based top dressing, Zn fertilizers, and Zn-solubilizing bacteria to develop an eco-friendly and economically viable production technology for enhancing transplanted rice productivity in the coastal Cauvery delta region. The pooled analyses of two seasons indicated that, application of Basal fertilisers (30 kg N/ha) + Top dressing @ 20 kg N/ha when CCI<29 + ZSB soil application + Foliar application of ZnO significantly enhanced all growth & yield parameters and it was more economically viable. The experiments demonstrated that integrating RTNM with zinc fertilisation improves rice productivity while nitrogen use efficiency, making it a promising strategy for coastal rice-growing regions.

3. HAYDER ABID AL-RAZZAQ BAQIR AND NAJAT HUSSEIN ZEBOON* [Effect of foliar spraying with Pyridoxin (Vitamin B6) on improvement of some vegetative growth characteristics for two varieties of bread wheat]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 408-414 (2025). College of Agriculture Engineering Science University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq *(e-mail: najat.Zeboon@coagri.uobaghdad.edu.iq)

ABSTRACT

Wheat is a staple crop essential for global food security, yet its productivity in Iraq remains low compared to international levels. Although undernourishment has declined globally due to improved crop yields, challenges in Iraq persist due to limited use of high-yielding varieties and excessive reliance on chemical fertilizers. Attention in recent research has focused on the use of safe and environmentally friendly materials such as vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), which may improve crop growth, productivity, and quality while reducing environmental and health risks. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out in the fields of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences / University of Baghdad / Al-Jadriya for the two winter seasons 2023-24 and 2024-25, to find out the effect of spraying with vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) on some growth characteristics of two wheat cultivars. The experiment was conducted using a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with a split-plot arrangement and three replicates. The experiment included two factors, the main factor was the two cultivars (Bhooth 10 and Bangal). In contrast, the second factor included three concentrations of Pyridoxine, which are 1, 2 and 3 g/L, in addition to the control treatment (spraying with water only). The spraying was done in two stages (tillering and the beginning of flowering). The results showed that the cultivar Bhooth 10 was superior in most of the growth characteristics (number of tillers, dry weight, and crop growth rate), while the cultivar Bangal was superior in plant height (85.43 and 86.08 cm) leaf content of total chlorophyll (185.92 and187.55 µg/cm3) for the two seasons. The concentration of 3 g/L exceeded in height, several tillers, leaf content of total chlorophyll, while the concentration of 2 g/L exceeded in flag leaf area, dry weight at flowering, and crop growth rate.

4. M. SUBISHAN, S. VISHNUDEVI, A. SUNDARI* AND G. BARADHAN [Impact of herbicides on transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.) under an integrated rice–fish–poultry farming system]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 415-420 (2025). 1Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University Annamalai Nagar-608002, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India *(e-mail: sundariagronomy@gmail.com)

ABSTRACT

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) sustains over half the global population, but weed competition remains a major constraint, causing 20-60% yield losses. Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAT is increasingly impractical due to labour scarcity and cost, highlighting the need for effective weed management strategies within integrated farming systems to enhance productivity, profitability, and sustainability. Based on this, a field study was established to determine the influence of herbicides in an integrated Rice + Fish + Poultry operation with regard to the growth and yield parameters of transplanted rice. The study compared unweeded control, hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAT, azolla @ 1 t/ha, and pre-emergence applications of Butachlor (1.25 kg a.i./ha), Metsulfuron-methyl + Chlorimuron-ethyl (20 g a.i./ha), Pretilachlor + Bensulfuron-methyl (660 g a.i./ha), and Pretilachlor + Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl (615 g a.i./ha) at 3 DAT. Of the treatments evaluated, those with a pre-emergent application of pretilachlor (6%) in combination with bensulfuron-methyl (0.6%GR) @ 660 g a.i./ha on 3 DAT (T6) performed the best in terms of yield of grains along with higher yields of meat derived from fish and poultry components. The study concluded that establishing a Rice + Fish + Poultry system and using the pretilachlor + bensulfuron-methyl herbicides, at the recommended rate, will yield better and provide greater economic benefits to the farmers growing rice, fish, and poultry.

5. R. Yu. Danilov*, D. S. Istomin, O. Yu. Kremneva, K. E. Gasiyan, M. V. Zimin and A. V. Ponomarev [Correlation between chlorophyll content and spectral characteristics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) affected with fungal diseases]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 421-428 (2025). Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution «Federal Research Center of Biological Plant Protection» 350039, 62 Kalinin st., Krasnodar, Russia *(e-mail: daniloff.roman2011@yandex.ru)

ABSTRACT

Wheat, a globally dominant cereal crop, suffers substantial yield losses due to fungal diseases, necessitating precise and timely monitoring. Spectral analysis, particularly hyperspectral techniques, offers a promising non-invasive approach to detect plant health changes by assessing reflectance linked to chlorophyll content and disease symptoms. Studies have been conducted to study the relationship between chlorophyll content and disease development with the spectral characteristics of winter wheat crops to improve the interpretation of spectral analysis results. In 2022 growing season, experimental plots with winter wheat of the Alekseich variety were laid out in the experimental field of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Research Center of Biological Plant Protection” (FSBSI FRCBPP), Russia, Krasnodar. In the experimental plots, the method of artificial infection of winter wheat crops with spores of phytopathogens was used, and field phytopathological surveys were carried out. Field surveys were accompanied by ground-based spectrometric measurements and remote sensing using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The chlorophyll content in winter wheat plant tissues was determined under laboratory conditions. The results of the analysis showed that the correlation between the content of chlorophylls a and b and the spectral characteristics of the studied winter wheat crops was determined by the predominant influence of the development of a specific disease in the prevailing conditions of a certain period of research. The possibility of differentiating the spectral characteristics of the studied winter wheat crops by the levels of disease development was determined. The assessment of the correlation of these variables of the SBC of ground-based spectrometric measurements and remote sensing also showed their statistically significant relationship in individual spectral channels.

6. GHEBRIEL O DEKIN*, VALERY A BURLUTSKY AND TUMUZGHI TESFAY [Predicting grain yield in a novel soft winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) population using spike traits and machine learning approaches]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 429-437 (2025). RUDN University 6 Miklukho-Maklaya St, 117198, Moscow, Russia Federation *(e-mail: ghebrielokba@gmail.com)

ABSTRACT

Accurate yield prediction in soft winter wheat breeding requires precise quantification of spike architecture traits, which are key determinants of grain production. The study aimed to predict wheat grain yield using machine learning, taking spike attributes as input variables. The study was conducted on a novel hybrid population of winter wheat comprising 6,999 spikes, cultivated at Kaluga, Moscow, Russia, during the 2021-22 study period. Spike morphology traits (length, weight, spikelet counts) and derived metrics such as density distributions, fertility %, attributive value, and grain yield coefficient were employed with machine learning models: partial least squares (PLS), random forest (RF), and gradient boosting (GB). Python 3.11.7 was used for modelling, and the dataset was randomly split into training (70%) and testing (30%) data, fitted, trained, and predictions were made. Performance of models was evaluated using mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), root MSE (RMSE), R2, and ratio of performance to deviation (RPD). Grain weight was strongly correlated with density-based traits (spike weight (r = 0.594), grain number (r = 0.353), grain weight density (r = 0.617) and physiological traits such as fertility percentage (r = 0.523) and attributive value (r = 0.674). In predictive modelling, the PLS formed the best with RMSE = 0.1110, R² = 0.8957, followed by RF and GB models, respectively. RF prioritised structural traits such as spike length and spikelet number, whereas the GB model emphasised physiological traits like attributive value. The findings highlight the importance of integrating both structural and physiological trait optimisation in wheat breeding.

7. Yeldana Rysbaeva*, Zhanikha Lesova, Aigul Akhmetova**, Kaya Ayla AND Seisembay Meiirman [Impact of various plant extracts on heavy metal uptake in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 438-443 (2025). Scientific Production and Technical Center Zhalyn Almaty, Kazakhstan (e-mail: *eldana-90@mail.ru; **utgnbk@gmail.com)

ABSTRACT

Soil contamination with heavy metals poses a serious threat to plants, their productivity and food safety. Plant growth regulators offer an environmentally friendly strategy to reduce metal uptake and mitigate plant stress responses. The study was conducted in 2024 at the Zhalyn Scientific and Production Technical Center to assess the effect of plant growth regulators on the accumulation of heavy metals in soil and wheat plants. Wheat seeds were pre-soaked in plant extracts, then the seeds were sown in plots. On the 7th and 14th days, plant samples were taken for analysis. Heavy metal concentrations in roots and shoots were quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry. The results showed that alfalfa extract most effectively reduced the accumulation of heavy metals in both roots and shoots. Pre-treatment with plant extracts significantly reduced the absorption of toxic metals, in particular, cadmium and copper. A noticeable effect was observed when using 0.75% alfalfa extract, which reduced the content of heavy metals up to 100 times in roots and up to 106 times in shoots.

8. Sandy Vilchez-Navarro*, Arturo Morales-Pizarro, Henry Morocho- Romero, Sebastian Casas-Niño, Gabriela Cárdenas-Huamán, Leslie Diana Velarde-Apaza and Flavio Lozano-Isla [Biostimulant-induced enhancement of germination and early seedling growth in creole and hybrid purple maize (Zea mays L.)]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 444-457 (2025). Directorate of Supervision and Monitoring of Agricultural Experimental Stations National Institute of Agrarian Innovation, Lima, Peru *(e-mail: sandygracielavilcheznavarro@gmail.com; ORCID: 0009-0002-1784-5563)

ABSTRACT

Purple maize native to the Peruvian Andes, is a key source of anthocyanins with notable antioxidant properties. In field cultivation, seed germination and early seedling development are critical stages influencing crop establishment and yield. This study evaluated the effects of three stimulants, namely seaweed extract, sulfur dioxide, and milk whey, on the germination and early development of creole and hybrid purple maize varieties under controlled laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Seeds of each variety were subjected to seven pre-sowing treatments in a completely randomised design with three replications. Germination indices (imbibition rate, germination percentage, speed, and index) were assessed, followed by evaluation of eleven biometric traits at 15 days after emergence. Seaweed extract significantly enhanced plant height, shoot dry weight, and leaf dimensions in both varieties, particularly at 1.5 L/200 L. Sulfur dioxide improved root biomass and length, while low-dose milk whey treatments favoured moderate root growth. Creole seeds showed higher vigour in early germination, while hybrids responded better to stimulant application during early development. These findings demonstrate that biostimulants, particularly seaweed extract, can effectively enhance early growth traits in purple maize, offering potential for improving seedling establishment in sustainable production systems.

9. Dinara Kaldybayeva, Raigul Abdikarimova, Balnur Kabylbekova, Timur Turdiyev, Zarina YusSupova, Sati Tokibayev and Aigul Madenova* [Application of in vitro techniques to eliminate mixed viral infections in pear cultivars]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 458-464 (2025). Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology Center Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, 050010, Almaty, Kazakhstan *(e-mail: madenova.a@mail.ru)

ABSTRACT

Viral diseases pose a serious threat to commercial horticulture, reducing crop yields, fruit quality, and the longevity of fruit trees. Pear (Pyrus communis L.) is susceptible to a variety of viral pathogens, among which Apple mosaic virus (ApMV), Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV), and Apple rubbery wood virus 1 (ARWV-1) were selected for this study due to their known latent nature and difficulty of early detection. Effective plant recovery from viruses is key to creating healthy planting material and implementing clonal micropropagation programs. This study evaluated the effectiveness of in vitro thermotherapy combined with meristem culture for virus elimination in pear cultivars: “Noyabrskaya” “Talgarskaya Krasavitsa”, “Anjou” and “Harrow Delight”. For each variety combination, two methods were tested: (1) direct cultivation of apical meristems and (2) preliminary thermotherapy followed by meristem isolation. Viral infection was diagnosed using a double antibody in the DAS-ELISA format and confirmed by real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR); the results of both methods were completely consistent. The combined approach resulted in significantly higher virus elimination rates (up to 85.7%) compared to the isolated meristem method (up to 50%). The highest recovery efficiency was recorded in the “Noyabrskaya” infected with two viruses (ApMV and ARWV-1). Despite the lower survival rate after thermotherapy, this method demonstrated high reliability in obtaining virus-free material. The results obtained confirm the feasibility of using in vitro thermotherapy in combination with meristem culture in the production of certified pear planting material.

10. Debashis Mandal*, C. Lalrinsangi, Noel Lalhruaitluangi, Agnes Vanlalnghaki Fanai and R. C. Lalduhsangi [Melatonin enriched chitosan coating prolonged shelf life and preserved postharvest qualities of ambiently stored banana]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 465-475 (2025). Department of Horticulture, Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Mizoram University, Aizawl-796004, Mizoram, India *(e-mail: debashismandal1982@gmail.com)

ABSTRACT

Banana, the cheapest energy boosting fruit, is globally consumed for its abundance in carbohydrates, fibre, minerals, particularly potassium, vitamins and phenolic compounds. Bananas are most frequently stored and traded in ambient conditions in many tropical developing countries. However, this leads to high perishability with low shelf life. Therefore, in the present experiment, Melatonin, a natural substance found to delay ripening and fruit senescence, has been used along with Chitosan, a biodegradable biopolymer, found to maintain postharvest quality, inhibit microbial growth and extend shelf life; in sole and in combination for evaluating response on quality and storability of banana cv. Vaibalhla (Tall Cavendish; AAA) at ambient condition (Temperature: 26±30C; Relative Humidity: 75±6%) in the Postharvest Research Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Mizoram University, Aizawl-796004, India during April-May, 2022. The nine postharvest treatments, viz., T1: Melatonin (MLT) 200 µM, T2: MLT 500 µM, T3: Chitosan (CH) 1%, T4: CH 1.5%, T5: MLT 200 µM + CH 1%, T6: MLT 500 µM + CH 1%, T7: MLT 200 µM + CH 1.5%, T8: MLT 500 µM + CH 1.5% and T9: Control (water dipped) were used in the present study with five replications following a complete randomised design. Results manifested that the MLT+CH combined application in mature green banana had maintained better fruit quality and shelf life during storage. Fruits treated with MLT 200 µM + CH 1% (T5) had minimum weight loss (9.87%), high fruit firmness (21.45/Ncm2), excellent skin colour (L: 87.67, a: 12.16, b: 62.97) with delayed accumulation of TSS (11.15°Brix), total sugar (11.76%) and gradual breakdown of starch (2.12%) due to slow down ripening of fruits up to 12 days after storage (DAS). This combined treatment had retained high ascorbic acid (16.96 mg/100 g), phenolics (0.49 mg GAE/g), antioxidant activity (41.36% inhibition DPPH), with minimum fruit decay (8.33%) and thus recorded maximum shelf life (17.20 days) against the control (10.60 days). Therefore, MLT 200 µM + CH 1% was proved to be a favourable approach for long preserving physicochemical qualities while extending shelf life under ambient storage.

11. RAMETSE LEBOGANG, TSEKE PONTSHO* AND MPHOSI MABOKO [Impact of increasing irrigation intervals on Citron watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. Citronides) development and growth]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 476-483 (2025). Department of Plant Production, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa (e-mail: Pontsho.tseke@ul.ac.za)

ABSTRACT

The null hypothesis suggested that the increasing irrigation intervals would not affect the development and growth of Citron watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. Citronides). The study was conducted in autumn (February-May) 2024 and validated simultaneously. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 10 replicates (n=60). Six treatments, namely, 2 (control), 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12-day irrigation intervals, were applied using a 0.5 L glass beaker per plant. The collected plant parameter data were subjected to analysis of variance through the SAS software. Mean separation was achieved using the Waller-Duncan multiple range test at the probability level of 5%. Irrigation intervals had highly significant (P d” 0.01) effects on dry shoot mass (DSM), stem diameter (SD), chlorophyll content (CC), vine length (VL), fruit weight (FW), fruit diameter (FD), and dry root mass (DRM) of Citron watermelon, contributing 97, 68, 53, 76, 44, 39 and 69% total treatment variation (TTV) in the respective variables. However, treatments did not significantly affect the fruit number (FN) of Citron watermelons, contributing 17%. The findings from this study indicated that a 4-day irrigation interval had beneficial effects on DSM (22435 kg), VL (1.973 m), and DRM (673 kg). The 6-day irrigation intervals yielded the highest SD (0.6533 cm), CC (82.12), FW (95296 kg), and FD (4.35 cm) values. In contrast, 12-day irrigation intervals resulted in decreased DSM (5482 kg), SD (0.4839 cm), (CC) (40.8), VL (0.6336 m), FW (2690 kg), FD (0.87 cm), and DRM (254 kg) compared to the 2-day control. Four and 6-day irrigation intervals highly improved some of the growth parameters.

12. SVETLANA NEKOVAL*, OKSANA MASKALENKO, IVAN GORBUNOV, ANASTASIA SADOVAYA, MAXIM CHERNYAKOVICH AND ANASTASIA ZAKHARCHENKO [Ecologically safe protection system of garden strawberries against common spider mite]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 484-491 (2025). Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution «Federal Research Centre of Biological Plant Protection» 350039, Krasnodar, Kalinina, 62, FSBSI FRCBPP, Russia *(e-mail: s.nekoval@yandex.ru)

ABSTRACT

Only two biological preparations have been registered for the control of spider mites on garden strawberries; the search for new biological agents to control this pest is relevant. The studies were carried out in the laboratory at the Federal Research Center of Biological Plant Protection. The study was aimed at the assessment of the biological efficacy of the new industrial sample Insetim Plus, L to control common spider mites on garden strawberries in a greenhouse. The tests on the strawberries Clery variety were carried out in 2023–2024 in the greenhouse. The experimental plan included spraying the plants with the industrial sample Insetim Plus, L (four times) and the standard insectoacaricide Fitoverm, KE (twice). The control variant was treated with water. The pest population, biological efficacy of the preparations, yield, biometric indicators and biochemical composition of berries, and the taste were assessed. On the 7th day in 2023 and on the 10th day in 2024 after the second treatment, the biological efficacy of the industrial sample Insetim Plus, L was at the level of the standard and amounted up to 100.0%. Until the end of the experiment, no spider mites were noted in this option and the biological efficacy on the 14th day after the last treatment was 100.0%. The yield increase in the Insetim Plus, L option amounted up to 43.6%, which was higher than in the standard by 8.3%. In the options with the use of the preparations Insetim Plus, L and Fitoverm, KE, the number of second-rate strawberries was lower than in the control by 40.8 and 38.3%, and the number of first-rate berries, on the contrary, was almost 2 times higher than in the control. The use of Insetim Plus, L had a positive effect on the structure of the yield and biochemical parameters of strawberries.

13. Alaa Salih Ati*, Hadeel Amer Jabbar and Alaa Mahdi Akol [Water productivity and yield sustainability of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) under furrow irrigation strategies and nitrogen management in Iraq]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 492-497 (2025). College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq (e-mail: alaa.salih@coagri.uobaghdad.edu.iq)

ABSTRACT

In arid and semi-arid regions, furrow irrigation is a common method for okra cultivation, but water losses reduce its efficiency. Alternate furrow irrigation has been shown to conserve water without yield reduction, while nitrogen fertilization plays a key role in enhancing vegetative growth and productivity. Since okra yields in Iraq remain low due to poor irrigation scheduling and imbalanced fertilizer use, optimizing water and nitrogen management is crucial for sustainable production. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted in Abi Ghraq sub-district, Babylon Province, Iraq, during the 2024 growing season to evaluate the effects of furrow irrigation methods (conventional, fixed, and alternate) and nitrogen fertilizer levels (160, 240, and 480 kg N/ha) on okra yield and water productivity. The study was carried out on a silty clay loam soil with moderate fertility and an electrical conductivity of 2.11 dS/m. Results revealed that alternate furrow irrigation significantly improved water usage efficiency and pod yield compared to conventional and fixed furrow systems. The highest cumulative pod yield (6.42 t/ha) and water productivity (2.40 kg/m³) were recorded under alternate furrow irrigation combined with the highest nitrogen level (480 kg N/ha). Increasing nitrogen levels led to marked improvements in vegetative growth, photosynthetic activity, and ultimately pod development, especially when supported by balanced fertilisation with phosphorus and potassium. The findings demonstrate that alternate furrow. Irrigation, in conjunction with appropriate nitrogen fertilisation, can reduce irrigation water use by up to 35% while maintaining or enhancing okra yield. This integrated approach offers a practical and sustainable solution for improving crop productivity and resource use efficiency in fine-textured soils of arid and semi-arid regions.

14. SANTOSH D. T., LIMBRAJ P. PHOLANE*, SAGAR MAITRA, DEBASHIS MANDAL, MASINA SAIRAM, DINAKAR J. GAIKWAD AND SUMIT RAY [Effects of drip fertigation and plastic mulch on growth and productivity of okra]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 498-504 (2025). 1Agricultural and Food Engineering Department Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur-721302 (West Bengal), India *(e-mail: limbraj.pholane@cutm.ac.in)

ABSTRACT

Drip fertigation and plastic mulching are considered efficient methods for nutrient dynamics, physiological reactions, and yield performance of vegetables under the current context of climate change and the erratic weather conditions during summer. However, despite these advantages, the thorough study on okra is meagre. Hence, a two-year field experiment (summer of 2023 and 2024) was conducted at the PFDC Farm, IIT Kharagpur, India, to evaluate the combined effects of drip fertigation and plastic mulch on the growth dynamics, productivity, and nutrient status of okra. The study included eight treatments that varied in fertilizer doses with 100%, 80%, and 60% of the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), application methods (drip fertigation versus soil application), and mulching practices (plastic mulched versus non-mulched). Results showed that biometric parameters, such as plant height, internodal length, functional leaves, and leaf area index, were significantly improved when drip fertigation was provided with mulching. The treatment with 100% RDF and mulch (T2) exhibited the highest vegetative growth, while the treatment with 80% RDF and mulch (T4) performed quite similarly, indicating a potential 20% reduction in fertilizer inputs without compromising growth. Early flowering and increased reproductive efficiency resulted from the mulched fertigation treatments (T2 and T4), which optimized reproductive qualities such as days to flowering, flowers/plant, fruits/plant, and chlorophyll content. The treatments had substantial impacts on yield and yield components, where T2 produced the highest yield (29.0 t/ha), followed by T4 (26.9 t/ha). Further, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents in the leaves at 60 DAS were higher under fertigation with mulch, particularly in T2 and T4. The combination of drip fertigation and plastic mulch increased the growth and yield of okra. The findings emphasized the potential of using mulched fertigation at 80-100% RDF as a resource-efficient method for okra cultivation in the summer.

15. Sri Hartati*, fitria roviqowati and endang setia muliawati [Genetic diversity of Phalaenopsis species based on random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 505-512 (2025). 1Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture Sebelas Maret University, Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia *(e-mail: tatik_oc@yahoo.com)

ABSTRACT

Orchids of the Phalaenopsis genus are very popular ornamental flower plants in the world, due to their attractive phenotypic appearance and long lifespan. This makes orchids of the Phalaenopsis genus have a high selling price and become one of the promising commodities in the flower industry. This study aimed to determine the genetic diversity of Phalaenopsis orchids using RAPD markers. Six species collected from the Bungarinte Orchid Garden were analysed through DNA isolation, amplification, and electrophoresis at the Genetics Lab, Gadjah Mada University. The percentage of genetic diversity of Phalaenopsis spp. analysed by 5 RAPD primers ranged from 29% to 73%, with the division into 2 main clusters. The RAPD primer successfully amplified Phalaenopsis spp with a high polymorphism of 82%-100%. The study concludes that Phalaenopsis venosa and Phalaenopsis amboinensis showed the highest similarity (0.71), indicating good cross-compatibility but low genetic diversity, highlighting the need for inter-cluster crosses to enhance hybrid variation.

16. ALIYA KHUZHAKHMETOVA*, DARIA SAPRONOVA**, KRISTINA MELNIK AND ANNA PEREDRIENKO [Evaluating trees and shrubs for multifunctional plantations to enhance agro and urban landscape greening in arid zone environments]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 513-519 (2025). Federal Research Centre of Agroecology, Complex Melioration and Forest Reclamations of the Russian Academy of Science (Federal Research Center of Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences) 97 Universitetskiy Prospekt, 400062, Volgograd, Russia (e-mail: *avfanc@yandex.ru; ** sapronova.darya@mail.ru)

ABSTRACT

Green plantations in arid and low-forest regions often lack sufficient decorative quality and multifunctionality. Enhancing these systems requires updating species composition with well-adapted trees and shrubs. However, limited research has systematically evaluated taxa within dendro collection genera for their ecological, sanitary, and aesthetic traits. This study addresses that gap by assessing species groups to guide the development of multifunctional plantations in agricultural and urban landscapes. Therefore, a group of characteristics was refined, and a scale was developed to assess the decorative properties of plants. The research objects grow in the arboretum of the Nizhny Volga Station for the Selection of Woody Plants (Volgograd Region, Russia), which was founded in 1931 in the zone of dry steppes with chestnut soils. The assessment involved 95 taxa from the genera of the families Aceraceae, Berberidaceae, Cupressaceae, Fabaceae, Oleaceae, Pinaceae, and Rosaceae. It was found that against the background of a significant warming, the rapid accumulation of effective temperatures (above +5°C and +10°C) on the earlier onset of the initial phases of development: the beginning of sap flow, swelling and budding, and flowering. The average dates (for 2022-2024) of the onset of the main phases of woody plant development have been established, which indicates a shift in the flowering period and a 12% increase in the number of species with early spring and spring flowering periods. From the point of view of the ornamental value of plantations, the earlier and longer vegetation of adapted woody plants allows for extending the aesthetic appeal of landscaping objects up to 35-45 days. At the same time, there are also risks of reducing the ornamental value of both individual species and the plantations due to spring frosts.

17. Ipsita Priyadarsini Samal, Sameer Jena and Gyanranjan Mahalik* [Allelopathic potential of Argemone mexicana L. extract for sustainable weed management]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 520-528 (2025). Department of Botany, School of Applied Sciences Centurion University of Technology and Management, Bhubaneswar-752050 (Odisha), India *(e-mail: gyanranjan.mahalik@cutm.ac.in)

ABSTRACT

Weeds significantly reduce crop yields and increase production costs, especially for smallholder farmers. Synthetic herbicide overuse has led to resistant weed species and environmental harm. Exploring allelopathic plants like Argemone mexicana L. offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for weed management. Based on this, Argemone mexicana extract was evaluated as a bioherbicide through field experiments at Centurion University, Bhubaneswar, using weed samples from Jatani, Odisha. The study investigated the allelopathic properties of this plant for sustainable weed management, exploring eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic herbicides by harnessing natural phytotoxic compounds for effective weed control strategies. The herbicidal efficiency of aqueous extracts made from various plant parts at different concentrations (10 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL, 100 mg/mL, and 200 mg/mL) against common agricultural weeds was assessed. Significant suppression of weed seed germination and seedling growth was shown in pot trials. In field tests, applications of A. mexicana extract decreased weed density in comparison to untreated controls, confirming these findings. Alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds were shown to be the main allelochemicals in charge of the reported herbicidal action upon phytochemical investigation. According to the study, bioherbicide formulations based on A. mexicana may offer economical weed management with less of an adverse effect on the environment. These results show that A. mexicana extract has a lot of potential as a bioherbicide, providing environmentally friendly weed control that is sustainable.

18. Hala Kadhem Jbir Al-Jubouri*, Shaymaa A. K. Al-hamawandy, Israa Jabr Dagher and AbdAl Qader Turki Mahmoud [Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner against Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts (Dermestidae: Coleoptera)]. Research on Crops 26 (3): 529-537 (2025). 1Department of Plant Protection, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq *(e-mail: hala.kadhem1004@coagri.uobaghdad.edu.iq)

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted in the Entomology Laboratory of the Postgraduate Studies Division at the Department of Plant Protection, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, during the period from October 1, 2024 to May 30, 2025. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the insecticidal efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner against the Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts) and to investigate its potential for use in the biological control of this economically significant pest. The findings revealed that the application of B. thuringiensis spores had a notable impact on the mortality rates of both adults and various larval instars (second through fifth) of T. granarium. The bacterium was applied at three different concentrations: 1 × 105, 2 × 105 and 1 × 106 spores/mL. The two higher concentrations, 2 × 105 and 1 × 106 spores/mL, produced the most pronounced effects, with the highest mortality percentages recorded at seven days post-treatment. Specifically, mortality rates in adults reached 85.40% and 90.42%, respectively. For the second instar larvae, the mortality was 89.45% and 93.82%, while in the third instar larvae, the rates were 90.62% and 96.65%, respectively. Similarly, fourth instar larvae showed mortality rates of 78.00% and 83.22%, and fifth instar larvae exhibited 74.75% and 79.52% mortality, respectively, following seven days of exposure. The study also highlighted variation in the susceptibility among larval stages. The third instar larvae were the most sensitive, with a peak mortality rate of 91.07%, whereas the fifth instar larvae were the least affected, with a mortality rate of 72.76%, both observed after seven days of treatment. Furthermore, increasing concentrations of B. thuringiensis were associated with reduced seed germination loss and lower weight loss in grains infested with T. granarium. The concentration of 1 × 106 spores/mL resulted in the lowest grain weight loss (11.56%) and lowest germination loss (43.33%), in contrast to the untreated control group, which exhibited significantly higher losses: 13.48% in grain weight and 50.33% in seed germination.

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