Sustainable use and management of fertilizers depend on the plant nutrition and fertilizer recommendation approaches. The Build-Up and Maintenance approaches are based on the concept of “Feed the soil and Feed the crop” where fertilizers are applied over the selected time period until nutrient levels are raised to the critical soil test levels, then applications are continued at a rate to maintain the nutrient levels to sustain that soil test. The common approach of fertilizer adjustments based on Soil test rating equates general or blanket recommendation to medium fertility status of soil available NPK. For soils testing low or high category, the fertilizer recommendations are increased or decreased by 30 per cent of the general recommendations. Nutrient recommendations through post-harvest soil test values prediction equations have much practical significance. The relevance and value of soil testing increases through yield targeting based fertilizer recommendations. Futuristic approaches like precision agriculture, use of GIS, GPS and RS, Cloud computing, and Big data are versatile components of plant nutrients / fertilizer recommendation. In these approaches, variability of conditions in each field is accounted for and fertilizer recommendation is made precisely so as to optimize the use of soil resources, increase yield, reduce production costs, minimize negative impacts to the environment and ensure optimum returns from its investment. Digital Ag and Big Data analytics bring new opportunities to yield optimization by precision fertilizer management.

Indonesia, as a country with a tropical climate, has a forest area of 94.1 million ha, and in 2019 deforestation reached 3,500,637.7 ha due to large-scale illegal logging for various activities. In addition, the area of primary forest has decreased over the last 15 years and is positively correlated with land degradation, carbon sequestration, and crop production. The low carbon sequestration capacity triggers global warming which has an impact on increasing the average temperature in Indonesia. Therefore, the restoration of forest functions to support ecosystem stability is the first step in forest management planning. The integration of trees and plants, namely agroforestry, is an option in the management of vegetation that is beneficial to the ecosystem. Tree-based farming systems have the capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere above ground, such as trunks, branches, and leaves, and below ground, namely the root system. Agroforestry has three main functions, namely regulating rainwater (soil and water conservation), sequestering carbon (reducing the impact of global warming), and supporting the microclimate (crop production). These three functions are supported by vegetation. Agroforestry systems provide options to reduce the effects of global warming, increase crop yields, and support ecosystem stability. Thus, a well-managed and sustainable agroforestry system is the best vegetation management that can solve the problem of deforestation.

In 2019, the market for ready-made meals in Japan has increased by 27% in the past ten years and was valued at around 10 trillion yen. Minced meat is one of the most convenient ingredients for ready-made meals because it can be used in a wide variety of dishes, either by itself, or in combination with other ingredients. Processes that are necessary to obtain minced meat increase the area in contact with air. Consequently, these processes can compromise the quality of minced meat products, which tend to be more damaged compared to chopped meat or steak. Therefore, it is necessary to select an appropriate processing method to prevent lipid oxidation in meat. Lipid oxidation is a major cause of meat deterioration. Several factors, such as the degree of unsaturation of fatty acids, exposure to light and heat, and the presence of molecular oxygen as well as pro-oxidant and antioxidant components, affect lipid oxidation. Suppressing lipid oxidation is important for inhibiting the damage to meat products. Radical scavengers donate hydrogen to lipid radicals, stop the chain reaction, and suppress the progression of lipid oxidation. Chelating agents trap metal ions, thereby inhibiting the progress of lipid oxidation. Furthermore, a combination of the two methods to suppress lipid oxidation has also been reported. In light of this, combining chelating agents with other chemicals is expected to inhibit lipid oxidation.

Oil palm is currently the world’s leading vegetable oil crop, with Indonesia and Malaysia as the two largest producers and exporters of palm oil in the world. In order to meet the demand for palm oil, the mills generate huge quantities of by-products causing an alarming concern on environmental impact. Hence, the effort to transform “waste to gold” is very crucial. This review focused on the extraction methods for holocellulose and lignin, as well as processing methods to produce value-added components such as nanoparticles, fermentable sugar, bioethanol, biochemicals, biofuel and phenolic compounds because the oil palm biomass (OPB) generated contain high amounts of nutritional or bioactive components. Processes such as chemical extractions, enzymatic hydrolysis, microorganism fermentation, organic solvent extractions and green extraction technology using deep eutectic solvents, protic ionic liquid, and supercritical fluid, were used to transform OPB into value-added bio-products for various industries especially food, agricultural, and pharmaceutical industries. Chemical extraction was crucial to extract cellulose and hemicellulose from the lignocellulosic material of OPB prior to other processing methods to produce a variety of valuable components. Sequential mild chemical extraction, cellulase cocktail hydrolysis, supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and ethanol extraction successfully extracted OPB value-added components with improved physical and chemical properties.

Recently, metabolomics has grown rapidly in the fields of food and agriculture. Complex physiological changes after harvest prompted the development of a new metabolomic analytical method offering more profound insight into these changes. This review presents the feasibility of a metabolomics approach to elucidate physiological changes during ripening, senescence, and disorders. Additionally, we introduce metabolomics for the authentication of agricultural products. Confirmation of species, varieties, and geographical origin via metabolomics can be useful to tackle adulteration and certify quality.

Climate change and industrial farming activities have negative environmental consequences on living organisms that are of considerable significance to human health and are directly or indirectly linked to agriculture. Global agricultural systems are facing numerous unexpected threats in current diversified climate change era. However advanced technologies such as nanotechnology are a helpful method to improve crop production and ensure sustainability to achieve food security. Nanotechnologies have an extensive series of application in agriculture especially in term of crop production and crop protection. Nanotechnology has potential usages in all extents of the food industry and are capable of altering their taste, and color according to the dietary requirements of the consumer. One of the most promising mechanisms through which various nanomaterials can support to decontaminate water and other heavy metals. Nanomaterials help in the conversion of radioactive materials into less toxic compounds. Similarly, environmental remediation requires various methods for the elimination of contaminants from different media in which nanotechnologies are helpful. The article concluded that substantial studies have been carried out on the usage of nanomaterials in food systems; the commercialization of nanoscale-based foods requires further analysis. Efforts to enhance consumer understanding and approval of novel nano-based food and agricultural goods are also required. The present review also discusses the role of nanotechnology in agricultural products and their food security on a sustainable basis.

In farm animals, both genetic and non-genetic factors affect reproductive traits. These factors can be categorized as intrinsic and extrinsic. Extrinsic factors relate to the animal’s environment, while intrinsic factors are related to its genotype. Various reproductive traits are studied concerning age, season, management, nutrition, body score, and birth type. In addition, genetic variations of the transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) superfamily including BMPR-1B, BMP15, and GDF9 have been studied for their effect on sheep reproduction. Numerous other genes that affect reproductive characteristics in sheep have also been identified, including melatonin receptor 1A, SLC5A1, CCNA1, ABCC1, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1), leptin receptor, prolactin, GREM1, and numerous other new candidates. These reproductive traits vary based on differences in environmental conditions and the genetic composition of livestock. Genetic and environmental factors that influence livestock traits can be improved by understanding those factors, but genetic and phenotypic associations that affect livestock traits are scarce. Accurate genetic evaluation and development of breeding goals require a more accurate evaluation of genetic parameters, in particular correlations with phenotypic traits. As a result, understanding how genetic and environmental factors interact becomes critical to developing efficient and effective management plans for sheep. This review provides insight into the factors that influence sheep reproductive performance.

Agricultural activities have been connected to greenhouse gasses (GHG) emissions, with carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane being the most GHGs emitted. Despite the fact that broiler production produces less GHG than other animal production farms, the broiler farm does emit GHG, with feed production and broiler excreta handling accounting for the majority of the emissions. It has been confirmed that fermenting and using agricultural byproducts as broiler feed ingredients reduces the use of energy- and protein-rich diets, and so reduces the carbon footprint. Feeding fermented agricultural byproducts to broilers improves feed digestibility and nutrient utilization (especially protein), hence reducing nitrogen excretion as a source of nitrous oxide. This review article provides a brief overview on the role of fermentation in improving the nutritional properties of agricultural byproducts and their use in diets to reduce the carbon footprint of broiler production.

Agriculture has been the most common way of food resources for centuries, and it is also closely linked to food security, rural development, and poverty reduction. Traditionally, the soil has been thought to be the most important prerequisite for growing food crops, but hydroponics techniques are currently considered one of the most popular plant-growing systems around the world. Plants are grown in a soil-free environment with the appropriate fertilizer solution, exactly required water, and no pesticides. Hydroponics is classified into distinct systems based on the principles of operation. Hydroponics has been utilized as a standard method for many aspects of plant biology research employing various systems, automation, and operation control methods. Aside from promoting healthy plant growth, using hydroponics there are other various advantages, including year-round production, enhanced yields, quality, and environmental benefits. Much research has been conducted utilizing hydroponics to investigate plant responses to biotic and abiotic stressors. This agriculture system will aid in the advancement of technology as a mission for future generations to become a self-sustaining model, as it is a promising way in the face of a global food security crisis.

Adiponectin is a hormone that belongs to a group known as adipokines that white adipose tissue is a primary source of it. This hormone has multiple functions in livestock, including lipid metabolism, energy regulation, immunity, and insulin sensitivity, with energy metabolism and ovarian function being the most important. Adiponectin’s action is determined by its interactions with its receptors, including AdipoR1 and AdipoR2. These receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) are found in multiple tissues, including adipose tissue, skeletal muscles, and other tissues. Besides, these receptors are expressed in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and gonadotropin-releasing glands. Accordingly, adiponectin and its receptors are believed to affect livestock productivity and reproduction. Adiponectin promotes skeletal muscle proliferation by interacting with the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) pathway, thereby influencing carcass characteristics (including meat marbling, ribeye muscle area, and carcass fat thickness). Besides, it appears to be related to mammal fertility because adiponectin is located on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, which is involved in mammal reproductive functions. However, the physiological action of adiponectin in livestock needs to be clarified. It is crucial to investigate the association of adiponectin with productive and reproductive traits in livestock. This review summarizes the adiponectin effects on productivity along with reproductive traits in livestock.

Postharvest technology plays a vital role in preserving fruits. In particular, banana is a climacteric fruit with a short shelf-life; thus, good postharvest practice through the supply chain is essential to maintaining its quality. Prior to applying proper postharvest technology, it is important to understand the physiological changes in banana during the ripening process. This review describes the physiological characteristics of banana after harvesting as well as the technologies being studied and adopted practically to achieve postharvest goals. The discussion herein highlights the critical quality control points in the banana supply chain, e.g., storage, artificial ripening, and transportation. By assembling the current knowledge, this review could contribute on quality improvement through applying the proper postharvest technologies.

Earthquakes are natural phenomena that cause terrible disasters for human society. Many of the disasters caused by earthquakes around the world serve as warnings to us about the fragility of life and the immaturity of science - especially construction science. For earth dams, which are made up mostly of compacted earth, the most common type of construction in the world, an earthquake can have enormous consequences if it causes a dam failure. Thus, proper seismic safety evaluations are of the utmost importance in terms of assuring the safety of earth dams. Along with the advancements in science and technology, knowledge in the field of earthquake engineering has been expanding. Many studies have been done on the effects of earthquakes on earth dams and many methods have been developed to estimate the deformation of these dams during earthquakes. This paper firstly presents the observed seismic performance of earth dams in past earthquakes which can help provide insight into the general effects of earthquakes on earth dams as well as the seismic response of dams during an earthquake. The paper also summarizes the methods presently available for estimating the seismic deformation of earth dams. These methods can provide design engineers with confidence when dealing with one of the most difficult geotechnical engineering challenges they will ever face.

This review presents the analysis of interrelating factors such as pH-parameter, mass content of connective tissue and lipids, proteolytic enzyme activity, as well as animal age, and their influence on the quality of farm-raised and hunted venison produced in New Zealand, Russia, and Spain. It was established that differences in meat shear stress observed between venison from different countries were not associated with stress at the time of slaughter. It was shown the presence of seasonal effects that compensate for the obvious after-stress effects. In general, the country of origin did not affect the total content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in meat, and the levels of monounsaturated fatty acids in venison of New Zealand and Russian production tended to increase. However, n-6/nFactor-3 of venison from all the countries was less than 4 in average values. The ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids to unsaturated fatty acids, the content of total fatty acids and the n-6/n-3 ratio of animal fats obtained during winter hunting were higher than that of summer grazing deer. There was observed an effect of the country of origin and type of hunting on the amino acid profile of venison. Spanish and Russian venison contained more common essential and non-essential amino acids than New Zealand farm venison. In addition, the composition of venison produced in summer had a higher ratio of essential/non-essential amino acids than venison hunted in winter. Since the mineral composition of venison is closely related to the natural environment in which the deer grazes, the difference in mineral content is not related to the level of stress, but to seasonal changes and forage rations. It has been established that in summer venison contains less than half of the zinc needed as a part of alkaline phosphatase, which is an enzyme necessary for calcium deposition in bone tissue. The reason that may explain the seasonal difference is calcium and magnesium phosphate, which can replace calcium and form horns and bones.

The function of water for plants is crucial, including playing the roles in metabolic reactions. The aims of this article are to give information on the effects of drought stress on plant morphology, physiology, and biochemistry, as well as mitigation methods in drought stress management for plant production. Plants manage drought stress using a mechanism, namely drought escape, drought avoidance and drought tolerance. Drought escape is the ability of plants to accelerate flowering or life cycle, drought avoidance is the ability of plants to reduce water loss and increase water absorption through morphological changes in the root system, drought tolerance is the plant adaptation to drought by changes in plant physiological and biochemical processes. Physiological changes that occur include closing the stomata and decreased photosynthesis. The biochemical responses include the synthesis of solute compounds as a form of osmotic adjustment in the cell called osmotic adjustment to reduce water loss from the cell. The biochemical indicators are the increased concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA), proline, and sugar (trehalose). ABA acts as a signal to stimulate stomatal closure to reduce the transpiration rate. Proline is an indicator of plants adapting to drought stress, playing a role in the osmotic adjustment of cells to retain in the cell. Trehalose is a compatible sugar acting as an osmoprotectant, it can maintain the integrity of cell membranes (water replacement) and form hydrogen bonds (water entrapment). Plants under drought stress conditions can adapt by making morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses by osmotic adjustment. These conditions need to be managed so that appropriate strategies and technologies are needed as mitigation measures.

The purpose of the review was to analyze soil pollution with various chemical compounds of silver (oxides, sulfides, nitrates, nanoparticles) and the ecotoxic effect on the response of microbiological indicators, enzymatic activity, initial growth, and development of plants to soil pollution. The objectives of the study were to analyze modern literature sources, versus to data on chemical compounds, silver concentrations, and duration of exposure. The analytical review is devoted to the presentation and analysis of the ecotoxicity of chemical compounds of silver (Ag) for animals, plants, and soil. It has been established that the main anthropogenic sources of Ag pollution of the environment, including soils, are emissions from thermal power plants when burning coal, the operation of non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy enterprises, cement plants, waste storage at solid waste landfills, the production of photographic and electrical materials, the use of pesticides, and the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer. The published values for the Ag content in contaminated soil range from 8 to 35 mg/kg, and in soils of ore deposits up to 7000 mg/kg. The negative effect of Ag is manifested in a decrease in the length of roots and biomass of plants, suppression of the growth and reproduction of earthworms, a decrease in the number of soil bacteria, and inhibition of the activity of soil enzymes. It is concluded that it is necessary to conduct experiments aimed at assessing the consequences of the entry of various chemical compounds of Ag into soils and ecosystems. The duration of experiments is from days to a year, when using concentrations of oxide, sulfide, nitrate, and nanoparticles of Ag more than 0.5 mg/kg. It is advisable to develop maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) and approximate permissible concentrations (APCs) for Ag chemical compounds in the soil.

Rapid global population growth has caused an increasing global consumption of meat and has resulted in the surging demand for meat analogue products over the last few years. There are many reasons why consumers and food producers are looking for alternatives to meat and meat products, including environmental, health, and ethical aspects. This study reviews recent scientific reports on quality aspects related to meat analogue based on single cell protein, insect protein and plant protein. The scope of the review includes the following: alternative protein sources, composition and nutritional value, and processing technologies of meat analogue. Protein from single cell protein (algae, mold, yeast, bacteria), plants (soybean, wheat gluten, legumes), and insects were described. The need for further research in this area, particularly on the nutritional value, technology for producing meat analogue, and food safety of meat analogue, was demonstrated.

The study investigated methodological approaches to economic crises and characterised crisis phenomena in the economy. The reasons for the development of the crisis in agriculture are considered and the prerequisites for the exit of the agro-industrial complex from the crisis are systematised. The factors of increasing the instability of the agricultural sector in the context of the global economic crisis are analysed. The study highlighted a set of circumstances that determine the negative and positive effects of the crisis, as well as the prerequisites for overcoming it. Without their consideration, it is difficult to objectively determine the probable losses and predict potential options for the development of the agro-industrial complex in Kazakhstan. Based on a comparative analysis of existing approaches to economic crises, special attention was paid to the structural crisis. A method for diagnosing crisis phenomena in the agricultural sector of Kazakhstan was developed, which constitutes a set of methods and techniques that allow establishing and studying alarming conditions in the agricultural sector to predict and prevent them in the future. It was concluded that the situation in the agricultural sector does not fall within the conventional classification of economic crises and it was proposed to supplement the methods for assessing periodic crises by including a systemic crisis.

Sprouts are of great interest to consumers owing to their easy growth, beneficial traits, and health-promoting compounds. However, maintaining freshness after harvest and improving the shelf life of sprouts is challenging because of their rapid deterioration rate. This is the result of several factors, including high respiration rate, rapid dehydration, discoloration, texture changes, and high susceptibility to several foodborne pathogens. Therefore, various decontamination and storage techniques have been used to maintain quality and eliminate pathogens during postharvest handling of sprouts. This review summarizes sprout quality attributes and their dynamic changes during storage. Additionally, approved postharvest technologies to maintain sprout quality, minimize microbial growth, and prolong shelf life are discussed. Finally, the need for further research to develop or modify postharvest technologies, which can ensure both the safety and quality of this popular vegetable, is considered.

Coffee attracts consumers worldwide for its unique sensorial properties. Its unique flavor is affected by numerous factors. The biochemical properties associated with geographical features are among the essential aspects that may modulate coffee’s distinct sensorial profiles, and may be employed for its origin determination and authentication. This systematic literature review served to assess the newest techniques for coffee authentication, origin determination, and adulteration detection from analytical and nondestructive approaches. This study focused on the last 10 years’ high-quality research in the field. Accordingly, 78 articles using both analytical and nondestructive methods for the determination of coffee origin and fraud detection were found in leading journal databases. Apart from the compound profile and instrumentation, data analyses including statistics, machine learning, and multivariate models which have been commonly used are discussed as well. In addition, other important information, such as data validation methods and the predictive capability of the above techniques are also reflected in this review.

Research interests on the exploration of bioactive compounds especially for their use in the food processing have been significantly increasing. This phenomenon is due to their potential health benefits in addition to their conventional use as antioxidant and antimicrobial agent. A plenty of herbs and spices which was traditionally used for enhancing health or healing different kind of diseases is promising for uses in functional food formulations. However, using herb and spice in food formulation may have some drawbacks including alteration of the flavour of the food as well as its low bioavailability. To overcome these issues, nanoencapsulation is then developed by the scientists. This review discusses the recent updates of nanoencapsulation of herb and spice extracts. To give a deeper insight, the potential bioactive compounds contained in various herbs and spices are also covered in this review. At the end, the potential application of nanocapsules containing herb and spice extracts in food and its related products, including nutraceuticals and food packaging is given. This area of study may be interesting for the scientists to conduct researches for further development of the nanocapsules.

Natural products from medicinal plants provide a huge opportunity for the emergence of new drugs. Crataegus monogyna, also known as common hawthorn, is a medicinal shrub whose bioactive compounds gain importance worldwide because of its efficiency in treating chronic disease conditions. Due to increase in the need of these bioactive compounds, use of appropriate and standard analytical techniques holds a great demand. Analytical techniques include extraction, isolation, identification and quantification of bioactive compounds from C. monogyna. Numerous new methods have been established under each category of analytical techniques. However, standard methods for recovering, processing and utilising bioactive compounds remains a major gap both in pilot as well as industry levels. Therefore, the main aspect of this review is to exploit all analytical techniques employed on C. monogyna, highlighting critical parameters such as time, temperature, yield of extract, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity in order to enrich the production of antioxidant-rich bioactive compounds from C. monogyna plant extract.

A major environmental stressor for the poultry industry is heat stress, which results in substantial economic losses. Heat stress has recently garnered increasing public awareness and concern for its adverse effects on poultry welfare. Several physiological changes happen under heat stress, including oxidative stress, acid-base imbalance, and immunosuppression, leading to increased mortality and decreased feed efficiency, body weight, feed intake, and egg production. Reduced nutrient intake is a significant contributor to the reduction in growth performance in heat-stressed animals, perhaps because they consume less feed to reduce heat production. Hence, heat stress can be attenuated in poultry using several different strategies, each with varying degrees of effectiveness. Nanotechnology strategies have gained more attention and are found to reduce heat stress’s detrimental effects. Nanotechnology focuses on creating materials with nano-sized particles that have improved physical, chemical, and biological properties. Also, nanotechnology can be used in poultry production to improve the ability of birds to absorb nutrients and, in turn, increase growth performance, nutrient digestion, and productivity. Therefore, this review provides scientific evidence regarding the adverse effects of high ambient temperatures on poultry health and performance and potential nanoparticle approaches to mitigate those detrimental effects and their challenges.

Broodiness behavior is usually seen in avian species. This behavior is dominant in wild birds and indigenous poultry compared to modern egg-laying strains. Eggs laid by indigenous chickens are usually hatched by the broody hens. Due to broodiness behavior, the broody hen sits on a clutch of eggs and incubates them to get offspring. Small-scale farmers generally depend on the broody hen to procure chicks. Like an artificial egg incubator, the broody hen controls temperature, humidity, aeration, and turning by herself. The hatchability of broody hen reported seems similar to an artificial egg incubator. The broody hen might be acknowledged as a natural incubator for operational efficiency and effectiveness. Although broodiness is associated with reduced egg production, it contributes a significant role in enhancing the rural poultry population by supplying chicks. Moreover, the loss of egg production due to broodiness can be minimized through management interventions. The importance of broodiness, broody behavior, regulation of broodiness, performances of broody hens, and their management have been discussed in this study.

The rhizosphere is the soil that surrounds, and is influenced by, the roots of a plant. It is considered one of the most complex ecosystems on the planet due to the intense interactions that occur between plants and microorganisms, as well as the competition that occurs among the microbial components. Due to this competition and beneficial interactions, a contribution of paramount relevance occurs in terms of chemical, physical, and biological characteristics that allow the plant and crop development. To mitigate ecosystem disturbances, it is necessary to compensate the imbalance of these conditions. Unfortunately, human activities involving strong soil disturbance have significantly affected plant development. Therefore, currently it is a priority to avoid the deterioration of soil ecosystems to remediate the damages that have already occurred. In the case of soil microbiology area, there are many solutions that can be designed and applied with beneficial microorganisms, including both fungi and bacteria, that interact mutualistically with plants or crops. At the same time, a deep understanding of these interactions remains challenging due to their complexity. In this review, biotechnological developments with agricultural or forestry importance are analysed. These include plant growth promoter bacteria, the Azolla-Anabaena symbiotic system, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ectomycorrhizal fungi, as well as their relevance in the production of agricultural and forestry biofertilizers.