This study investigated the effect of conservation agriculture (CA) practices (e.g. no-tillage (NT) and maize-soybean (MS) intercrops) on the yield and profitability of maize and cotton within the first two years of a crop rotation system. A factorial design that compared two tillage practices (conventional tillage, CT and NT) and two cropping systems (sole maize, M and MS) was implemented on an experimental station in Northern Benin. All treatments were replicated thrice in 2022 and 2023. Soybean yield, maize grain yield and yield components, and seed-cotton yield and yield components were measured. Gross margin, labour productivity, and benefit:cost ratio were calculated, and a sensitivity analysis was done on the economic indicators under five scenarios (S0: gross margin calculation based on actual costs; S1: 30% higher fertiliser price; S2: 30% lower fertiliser price; S3 and S4, respectively: considering +/−1 standard deviation to the maize grain + soybean and seed-cotton yield). Tillage options and cropping systems significantly affected maize and cotton performance, but effects tended to vary between seasons. Treatment NT+MS produced the highest grain yield (4487 kg ha–1) and rain use efficiency (4.12 kg mm–1) in 2022, while CT+M produced the highest grain yield (3195 kg ha–1) and rain use efficiency (2.84 kg mm–1) in 2023. In the case of cotton, NT produced higher seed-cotton yield (1720 kg ha–1), boll number (7.38 bolls/plant), and rainfall use efficiency (1.56 kg mm–1) compared to CT in 2022. In 2023, cotton preceded by maize-soybean intercrops (NT+MS and CT+MS) produced significantly higher yield, aboveground and belowground biomass than cotton preceded by sole maize (NT+M and CT+M). For maize plus soybean, treatment NT+MS resulted in a significant increase in the gross margin, with an average of 582 US$ ha–1 with respect to CT+M under all scenarios in 2022, whereas CT+M and NT+MS attained a significantly higher maize/soybean gross margin in 2023. In the case of cotton, NT increased gross margin by 90-314% compared to CT across the sensitivity analysis scenarios in 2022. In 2023, cotton preceded by MS intercrops (NT+MS and CT+MS) showed a higher gross margin than preceded by sole crops (NT+M and CT+M) across all scenarios. To the well-documented effects of diversification on crop productivity, this study adds evidence on its positive impact on economic performance in a West African context. On-farm research and rural extension are necessary to further fine-tune these practices to fit the reality of smallholder cotton-based cropping systems of Benin.

Light access is the primary factor affecting yields in cacao-based agroforestry systems (CAFS). While CAFS ecosystem services provision is extensively documented, research on improving light access in CAFS remains scarce. Shade canopy pruning, a developing technique in Latin America, is part of the long-term SysCom Bolivia trial. It is undertaken twice a year, at the start of the rainy and dry seasons. This paper presents the results of a 5-year study on the relationship between CAFS canopy cover, flowering levels, cocoa yields, and pruning events from this trial.

The seasonality and peak periods of flowering and pod production were independent from the cropping system, underlining both climatic- and genetically determined production patterns. Yet, flowering levels depended on canopy cover levels during the rainy season, which translated into different pod production levels in the following months. Average annual yields were 1300 kg ha-1 for full sun cacao, 780 kg ha-1 for agroforestry systems (AF), and 640 kg ha-1 for dynamic agroforestry systems (DAF), with rainy season canopy covers maintained at 25–35% for AF and 40–60% for DAF.

The relationships between canopy cover, flowering, and cocoa yield were found to be exponential, indicating that the lower the canopy cover, the greater the yield increase could be expected from pruning. The lower levels of cover obtained in AF after the ‘flowering’ pruning triggered better flowering levels in comparison to DAF. However, these did not systematically translate into significantly higher yields, underlining the probable significance of the ‘ripening pruning’ for DAF’s cocoa yield. Overall, our results show (i) the great potential of timely shade canopy pruning and (ii) the need to adapt such a technique to systems’ diversity and density to make it cost/labour-effective and support its scalability.

Soil health refers to the ongoing ability of soil as a living ecosystem to maintain environmental quality, support crop productivity, and ensure human health. Evaluating and enhancing soil health is crucial for ensuring more productive and resilient agricultural systems. The aim of this work is to assess soil health using both on-farm and computational methods. The study was carried out on a slope with textural variation at Ponta Grossa–Paraná State, Brazil. The slope was divided into three segments based on altitude and clay content: upper, middle, and lower positions. In each segment, twenty points were sampled, resulting in a total of sixty points along the slope. Soil health was analysed at these points by visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS), and samples were also collected to use the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) approach in the 0–0.10 m and 0.10–0.20 m soil layers. The indicators used in this approach were soil organic carbon, macroaggregates, bulk density, water-filled pore space, pH, phosphorus, and potassium. The data were analysed using analysis of variance, mean comparison with Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). In addition, principal component analysis was performed on the soil health index (SHI) and its components (chemical, physical, and biological) with clay content and VESS scores. The study discovered that the upper position had the highest clay content, lower visual scores (2.44), and a higher SHI (up to 0.80) compared to the middle (3.7 and 0.78) and lower positions (2.9 and 0.73). This study highlights the significant influence of soil texture, particularly clay content, on soil structural quality and health as assessed by VESS and SMAF. Higher clay content improved soil aggregation and health, while lower clay content in the middle and lower slope positions resulted in poorer structure. VESS proved to be an effective field-based tool for rapid assessment of soil health, complementing the more detailed SMAF framework. The integration of both methods is essential for the development of adaptive and sustainable soil management strategies.

In recent years, Southern Thailand has witnessed an increase in surface planted with oil palm, driven primarily by smallholders who contribute over 90% of Thailand’s oil palm output. Despite their significant contribution, oil palm smallholders have consistently achieved lower yields compared to agro-industries, and limited research has been conducted to understand the limiting factors, such as management practices. Structured interviews were conducted to gather information about management practices and estimate the fresh fruit bunch yield in a network of 18 plantations in Krabi province, Thailand. A clustering approach, combining principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis, was used to characterise the diversity of smallholder management practices. Four clusters of management practices were highlighted, characterised by varying intensities of fertiliser application (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), mechanical versus chemical weeding, and harvest intervals. Notably, the farmers in our study applied less fertiliser, on average, than the recommendations of Thai Good Agricultural Practices. A significant portion of plots in the area (12 out of 18 plots) achieved good yields compared to attainable yields. A clear relationship between management practices and yield could however not be established. The large diversity of oil palm smallholders’ management practices and their performances highlighted in this study need to be better taken into account and understood in order to improve sustainability and foster certification schemes such as Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

Assessment of new genotypes in on-farm trials and under different tillage options is a current strategy for in-station experiments to enhance the breeding process and its final output in farmers’ fields, which can help increase productivity and sustainability in variable rainfed conditions. The objectives were to evaluate the agronomic performance of barley genotypes under different tillage systems in farmers’ fields and to provide suggestions to help farmers use resources more efficiently and sustainably for their proper field management. Five barley genotypes including four cultivars (Abider, Sararood1, Nader, Efes-3) and a promising breeding line (Yea168) were tested in three tillage methods, that is, conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT) and no tillage (NT) in on-farm trials in two locations (Sarabnilofar and Dalahoo) and three cropping seasons (2018–2021). The results revealed high variability in productivity and other studied traits in farmers’ conditions that were significantly affected by genotypes, tillage managements, locations, and years. Barley genotypes, except Efes-3, positively interacted with CT. The highest grain yield was observed in CT conditions (2613 kg/ha), followed by NT (2520 kg/ha) and RT (2470 kg/ha), showing about 5.8% and 3.6% better performance in CT than in RT and NT, respectively. Across locations and years, breeding line Yea168 outperformed all four cultivars in all three tillage systems and should be recommended for cultivation under rainfed conditions. The results of genotype by trait (GT) biplot analysis indicated that the traits relations and traits profiles of genotypes are different among tillage systems and locations. High-yielding genotypes had their own specific traits that resulted in their better performance. Breeding line Yea168, followed by Nader cultivar performed well in Sarabnilofar location, where 1000-kernel weight (TKW), plant height (PLH), number of grains per spike (NGPS), normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and spike per square metre (spike/m2) were the most important traits in deciding grain yield in this location, whereas in Dalahoo location, Sararood1 performed well and TKW, SPAD (chlorophyll content), NGPS, and spike/m2 had considerable contributions to grain yield. The findings demonstrated the breeding line Yea168 as the best-performing genotype across tillage systems, making it highly recommended for cultivation in rainfed areas of western Iran.

Intercropping annual cash crops with grasses is a strategy that promotes both diversification and intensification of production in the same area, contributing to sustainable food systems. This study evaluated the impact of intercropping maize with different Urochloa species on maize and subsequent soybean yields over three years in the Brazilian Savannah. The treatments included: (1) maize monoculture; (2) maize intercropped with Urochloa ruziziensis; (3) maize intercropped with U. brizantha cv. Marandu; and (4) maize intercropped with U. brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguás. The evaluations included maize grain yield, land equivalent ratio (LER), forage biomass and soybean yield in succession. The results confirmed that maize intercropped with U. brizantha cv. Marandu and U. brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguás achieved grain yields comparable to monoculture. Demonstrating that these forage species do not significantly compete with maize in 2018 and 2019 in Montividiu and 2018 and 2020 in Rio Verde. In Montividiu, intercropping with U. brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguás resulted in an average LER of 1.13 over three years, highlighting its advantage in optimising land use. In addition, the intercropping system was particularly beneficial in sandy soils, where faster biomass decomposition accelerated improvements in soil structure, moisture retention, and nutrient availability, leading to earlier benefits in soybeans grain yield compared to clay soils. These findings emphasise the potential of maize-forage intercropping to enhance land-use efficiency and soil health while maintaining crop yields in tropical agroecosystems. However, site-specific management is essential to maximise benefits and minimise trade-offs. Future research should focus on long-term soil health dynamics and refining intercropping strategies to improve sustainability in different environmental conditions.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is crucial for food security in Rwanda, but its production growth has slowed. Improved potato varieties are urgently needed for Rwanda potato farmers. Crop breeding can effectively support smallholder farmers when it aligns with their environmental conditions and preferences. Additionally, integrating citizen science into variety development can enhance variety adoption and suitability for smallholder farmers. We assessed the insights from a crop trial following a triadic comparison of technology options (tricot) approach, linking the results with environmental, socio-economic, and on-station trial data. Under a tricot trial, 460 farmers tested eleven potato varieties, randomly allocated in incomplete blocks of three, allowing each farmer to test and compare three varieties. Biological data, reflecting breeding and variety genotypic values, were generated from multi-environmental tests conducted during 2018–2019 to evaluate the adaptability of new varieties. This research revealed that Rwandan farmers preferred the pre-1990 varieties (Cruza and Kirundo), while Gisubizo and Kazeneza, post-2018 varieties, were also considered competitive. Farmers’ preferences were influenced by diverse environmental and socio-economic conditions, with taste being crucial for home consumption and yield prioritized for market sales. Additionally, seasonal temperatures influenced the yield performance ranking of potato varieties across regions, while economic considerations and gender dynamics shaped different patterns of variety preferences. Despite challenges in aligning on-station and on-farm data, our integrated approach provides actionable insights for breeding programmes to develop potato varieties that better align with farmers’ needs, as well as environmental and socio-economic conditions. This innovative method can enhance breeding efficiency, variety adoption, and potato productivity, contributing to food security and agricultural sustainability.

This study was designed to explore changes in soil bulk density (BD), soil organic carbon (SOC) content, SOC stocks, and soil labile organic carbon (C) fractions after 5 years of soil tillage management under the double-cropping rice system in southern of China. The experiment included four soil tillage treatments: rotary tillage with all crop residues removed as a control (RTO); conventional tillage with crop residues incorporation (CT); rotary tillage with crop residues incorporation (RT); and no-tillage with crop residues retention. Our results revealed that soil tillage combined with crop residue incorporation (CT and RT) significantly decreased BD at 0–20 cm soil layer compared to RTO treatment. SOC content and stocks were increased with the application of crop residues. Compared with RTO treatment, SOC content and stocks were increased by 16.8% and 9.8% in CT treatment, respectively. Soil non-labile C content and proportion of labile C were increased due to crop residue incorporation. Compared with RTO treatment, soil proportion of C mineralisation (Cmin), permanganate oxidisable C (KMnO4), particulate organic C (POC), and microbial biomass C (MBC) was increased by 196.1%, 41.4%, 31.4%, and 17.1% under CT treatment, respectively. These results were confirmed by the carbon management index, which was significantly increased under soil tillage with crop residue incorporation. Here, we demonstrated that soil tillage and crop residue incorporation can increase the pool of stable C at surface soil layer while increasing labile C content and proportion. In conclusion, conventional or rotary tillage combined with crop residue incorporation is a soil management able to improve nutrient cycling and soil quality in paddy fields in southern China.

Integrating trees and shrubs into agroecosystems increases soil nutrients and organic matter, which helps in the recovery of degraded tropical soils. However, selecting the most appropriate tree and shrub species as sources of nutrients and organic matter requires knowledge of their productive potential. The study aimed to evaluate litter productivity and nutrient input to the soil of three tropical silvopastoral fodder bank species. Litter input from Tithonia diversifolia, Leucaena leucocephala, and Moringa oleifera was quantified monthly for one year. We found that the litterfall amount was greatest (p < 0.05) from T. diversifolia (1.81 t ha–1 yr–1) compared to L. leucocephala (1.26 t ha–1 yr–1) and M. oleifera (118 t ha–1 yr–1). Indeed, T. diversifolia had a greater (p < 0.05) input of biomass from leaves (1.36 t ha–1 yr–1) compared to L. leucocephala (0.901 t ha–1 yr–1) and M. oleifera (0.869 t ha–1 yr–1). The highest biomass input (p < 0.05) occurred in September to the three species, T. diversifolia (0.516 t ha–1), L. leucocephala (0.243 t ha–1), and M. oleifera (0.233 t ha–1), and the lowest biomass input occurred in March. Furthermore, the greatest annual input of carbon (0.687 t ha–1 yr–1), nitrogen (0.030 t ha–1 yr–1), and phosphorus (0.006 t ha–1 yr–1) to the soil originated from T. diversifolia. Our study showed that T. diversifolia had the greatest capacity to produce biomass that potentially can reintroduce nutrients and contribute to the recovery process of degraded soil due to its high litter productivity, besides, a combination of these three species also improves soil nutrients in fodder banks when do not hauling forage for livestock, contributing to sustainability of system.

Drought and heat stress are a global concern affecting crop productivity. The current study investigated the daily shoot and root length growth of 48 elite African sorghum genotypes and two commonly grown check varieties in response to heat and drought stresses applied individually and in combination at the early (7-day-old) and late (21-day-old) seedling stages. Genotype, stress, and their interaction significantly affected root and shoot length at both stages. Our findings indicated that the combined stresses suppressed daily shoot length growth at both stages. Drought, heat, and combined stresses equally suppressed daily root length growth during the early seedling growth stage, and drought applied separately showed the highest negative effect on root length at the late seedling stage. In general, the stress treatments showed the utmost negative effects in daily shoot and root length growth at early seedling stage than the late stage. Heat stress induced the highest relative growth reduction of 78% in hypocotyl length followed by combined stresses at 77.6% and 70.8% for drought stress. The average hypocotyl length changes ranged between 0.37 and 2.31 mm per day at early seedling stage. Root length daily growth was reduced by 69.1% under combined stress, 67.6% under heat stress, and 63.3% under drought stress at early seedling stage. Root length changes ranged between 0.35 and 2.96 mm per day at early seedling stage. At late seedling stage, the highest relative daily growth reduction was observed in shoot length (36.6%) under combined stresses while drought stress induced the highest relative daily root length reduction of 10.8%. The average shoot length changes ranged between 5.1 and 8.1 mm per day at late seedling stage while root length changes ranged between 2.7 and 3.5 mm. In reference to the independent genotypic effects, genotype IS13904 displayed the highest performance in hypocotyl and root length growth at the early seedling stage. At the late seedling stage, genotypes IS6994 and NPGRC1478 showed tolerance to at least two of the assessed stress conditions in terms of daily root length growth. Genotypes IS30164, IS30015, and IS9567 showed similar resistance in shoot growth. The overall analysis of both shoot and root daily length growth at both seedling stages revealed the resistance of genotypes NPGRC1478 and IS30164 to drought stress applied separately and combined stressors. The identified sorghum genotypes can be used as potential donors towards tolerance to combined stresses at both seedling stages and are recommended for utilization in hot and dry agroecologies of sub-Saharan Africa due to their potential vigour in early establishment.

Given the increasing global demand for sustainable agricultural practices, there is a growing need to evaluate the effectiveness of governance mechanisms. This paper presents a case study analysis of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) and their impact on maintaining soil health in the context of soybean production, specifically in the Brazilian Savannah (Cerrado biome). The sustainability of soybean production certified by VSS ProTerra and Roundtable on Responsible Soy was evaluated on 35 farms, considering factors such as land use, deforestation, cultivation methods, pesticide usage, and their effects on soil health. The assessment of these factors was conducted through a comprehensive methodology that included field visits, soil sampling and laboratory analysis, remote sensing techniques using satellite imagery, and structured interviews with farm managers. VSS are private governance mechanisms that establish quality standards to be followed in various areas. The study shows that the standards are generally respected on certified farms and, in particular, excluding deforestation. The VSS promote incremental improvements within the overall context of large-scale, business-as-usual agriculture by promoting practices that enhance soil fertility, reduce erosion, and optimise input use. These actions can contribute to stronger soil health, boosting resilience, and productivity. The urgency of reconciling food production with climate change mitigation and adaptation will increase interest in and demand for sustainable agriculture certification in the coming decades. Therefore, the monitoring and verification of the effectiveness of those standards, as shown in our study, are fundamental to provide true benefits, transparency, and confidence to the market.

Soil health is a term used to describe the general state or soil quality in an agroecosystem. The study of aggregate formation pathways has been successfully used to assess soil quality, especially chemistry, particularly in measuring the impact of different forms of use and management on soil health. This study aimed to (i) verify the contribution of biogenic (Bio) and physicogenic (Phy) aggregates to soil fertility; (ii) evaluate the total carbon (TC), nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), and potassium contents and their respective stoichiometric ratios in these aggregates; and (iii) analyse the relationship between the P fractions (labile, moderately labile, and non-labile) and these aggregates. Three management systems were evaluated (permanent pasture, PP; no-tillage system, NT; and no-tillage + Urochloa system, NT+B) as well as a reference area (Atlantic Forest biome vegetation, NF). All the sample areas are located on soils with a sandy texture in the surface horizons. Aggregates were separated, identified, and classified according to their genesis into Bio (biotic factors) and Phy (abiotic factors). Only the PP system had significant increase in the values of TC, TN, TP, TK, and organic and inorganic P. The NT+B system favoured a proportional increase in TC content compared to the aggregates of the NF and NT areas, especially in the subsurface layer (ranging from 31 to 44%). For Bio aggregates, there were increments in TC and TN contents compared to Phy ones, especially in the NT and NT+B systems (8 to 30% for TC and 56 to 239% for TN). Bio aggregates also had the lowest values of C/N ratio in the surface layer (< 30), highest values of C/P ratio in the subsurface layer (> 33), and greater participation of the organic form of P in TP in the surface layer (between 26 and 42%). The chemical attributes in the aggregates were affected differently by the soil management systems, especially PP and NT+B systems. The results verified for Bio aggregates strengthen the hypothesis that these structural units are important sources of nutrients for the soil and reiterate the importance of studying the formation pathways in assessment soil health.

Biological products used in soybean seed treatment can enhance soil microbial activity, thereby improving soil health. Brazil is the world‘s largest producer of soybeans and has a vast and diverse cultivation area characterized by varying weather and soil conditions. However, there is a lack of studies that have assessed the soil health response to soil biological conditioners based on calcium sulfate dihydrate applied by seed treatment at large-scale farmer-led and over extended periods in Brazilian soybean fields. To address this gap, we carried out a large-scale farmer-led study across a 3000-km transect to evaluate the soil health responses to a biological conditioner over three consecutive years. Soil health indicators including soil organic carbon, extracellular ß-glucosidase enzyme activity, soil bulk density, soil pH, available phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium were measured, interpreted, and integrated into a soil health index (SMAF-SHI) to compare experimental strips with and without of the soil biological conditioner. A dataset of 87 sampling points collected from 15 farmer-led experiments over three consecutive years of the soil biological conditioner application (i.e., 2021 corresponds to one application, 2022 to two applications, and 2023 to three applications) was analyzed. The results showed site- and year-specific alterations on soil chemical, physical, and biological indicators, as well as overall SMAF-SHI. In general, the effects of the soil biological conditioner application were subtle and statistically undetectable for most of the metrics over three consecutive years of application. However, we observed potential changes in soil organic carbon, extracellular β-glucosidase enzyme activity, and soil bulk density indicators after two and three years of the soil biological conditioner application. To further understand the long-term effects of biological conditioners on soil, we propose continued soil health monitoring over time, with a particular focus on the rhizosphere, and the inclusion of molecular biology methods to measure the abundance, diversity and functionality of the soil microbiome.

Maize holds a key role in ensuring food security in Ethiopia, yet its productivity faces challenges due to water scarcity and soil acidity. Minimizing these problems is crucial to enhance maize yield and maintain food security. This research explored the effects of deficit irrigation (DI) combined with lime, manure, and inorganic fertilizer application on maize yield and water productivity (WP) in Koga, Ethiopia. Three levels of DI, namely 80%, 60%, and 50% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), alongside 100% ETc (full irrigation) as a reference, were implemented for two consecutive seasons. Five integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) treatments were evaluated over two successive seasons: (i) combining 1.43 Mg ha–1 of lime with 3 Mg ha–1 of manure and full doses of urea + (NPSB, containing 18.9% Nitrogen, 37.7% Phosphorus, 6.95% Sulphur, and 0.1% Boron), referred to as inorganic fertilizer (L1); (ii) combining 1.15 Mg ha–1 of lime with 3 Mg ha–1 of manure and full doses of inorganic fertilizer (L2); (iii) combining 0.86 Mg ha–1 of lime with 3 Mg ha–1 of manure and full doses of inorganic fertilizer (L3); (iv) applying 3 Mg ha–1 of manure and full doses of inorganic fertilizer (M); and (v) using only full doses of inorganic fertilizer (C). Grain yield and biomass were measured at harvest from a 9 m2 sample area in each plot, with three replicates. The combined effects of DI, liming and manuring significantly influenced average grain yield and biomass. Across all irrigation scenarios, higher grain yield and biomass production were found with treatments L1, L2, L3, and M compared to treatment C. The highest WP was found with 50% ETc under all ISFM treatments. The lowest maize yield and WP were recorded with treatment C across all irrigation levels. Manuring combined with reduced irrigation increased grain yield, biomass, and WP compared to the use of inorganic fertilizer alone at 100% ETc. The combined use of lime and manure could mitigate the negative impact of DI on yield.

The impact of long-term nocturnal warming on soil aggregate stability and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sequestration was examined in agricultural fields. Employing a passive warming system, the nighttime warming experiment involved two treatments: a control check (CK) and a nighttime warming treatment (WT), spanning the entire growth seasons of wheat from 2013 to 2021. The annual average temperature increase ranged from 0.3 to 1.3°C, with an average increment of 0.71°C over the eight years. Both dry and wet sieving methods showed that nighttime warming reduced the proportion of macroaggregates and increased microaggregates compared to CK, thereby diminishing soil aggregate (SA) stability. While nighttime warming had the potential to elevate the concentrations and contents of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN), significant effects were only observed in the concentrations and contribution rates of SOC and TN. The C/N ratios across different particle sizes within SA were not significantly affected by nighttime warming. Additionally, no significant correlation was found between the SOC/TN contents and contribution rates and the stability of SA. These results suggest that eight years of nighttime warming could undermine the stability of SA, yet it did not impact the pools of N and C in the agricultural lands of central China.

The assessment of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks relies on several key factors, including the total SOC content of the soil, the bulk density (BD) of the soil, and the depth of the sampled layers. However, traditional methods, particularly those using volumetric cylinders for undisturbed soil sampling, present significant logistical challenges for large-scale projects due to their costly and time-consuming nature, often requiring the excavation of trenches. In response, automated probes, which are commonly used in geological studies, offer a promising alternative, but their application in the context of BD soil studies remains under discussion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a tractor-mounted probe in comparison to the conventional core method for the collection of undisturbed soil samples across a range of soil textures and depths. The results indicated that the coefficient of variation (CV) for the probe’s bulk density (BD) measurements ranged from 3 to 15% in sandy soils but remained consistently below 5% in clay-sandy-loam and clay textures. Despite small differences in BD values between the methods used, SOC stock assessments showed only minor variations across all layers, regardless of soil texture. Therefore, this study demonstrated that the tractor-mounted probe represents a viable and scalable solution for conducting large-scale SOC stock assessments, despite its susceptibility to minor variations in sandy soil conditions. This research contributed to the field of automated soil sampling tool validation and offered alternatives for field operationalization in large-scale carbon projects. It also raised new questions for further investigation into other field conditions

The development of new papaya cultivars with high genetic potential for production, combined with quality traits that meet the demands of emerging markets, facilitates the expansion of the genetic base, reduces production costs, and broadens papaya cultivation. This study continues the largest Brazilian papaya breeding program, a partnership of over 25 years between UENF and Caliman Agrícola S.A. The objective was to evaluate the ability of inbred lines to generate hybrids with market potential in Brazil and for export. A total of 62 hybrids were obtained through topcross strategy. The lines were evaluated based on their specific combining ability (SCA), and the hybrids were analyzed through estimates of functional and varietal heterosis (VH) using three widely cultivated commercial varieties in Brazil: ‘UENF/CALIMAN 01’, ‘Tainung 01’, and ‘UC10’. Promising lines were identified for both hybrid creation and use as commercial varieties, exhibiting desirable traits for domestic and international markets, such as high fruit firmness and elevated soluble solids content (the lines UCLA08-053 and UCLA08-087 with the ‘Intermediate’ pattern and the lines UCLA08-066, UCLA08-122, and UCLA08-080 with the ‘Formosa’ pattern). Several hybrids, including H23, H26, H51, and H89 from the ‘Intermediate’ type and H4, H9, H19, and H68 from the ‘Formosa’ type, outperformed their parental lines and commercial varieties. These genotypes demonstrated superior SCA and VH compared to commercial controls, highlighting their strong genetic potential for the production market, increasing the shelf life of the fruits during storage and transportation, and allowing them to travel long distances without compromising fruit quality.

Step-change innovation in seed product design by public sector crop breeding has led to major contributions to global food security. The literature, however, provides few insights on how to identify forward-looking innovation opportunities. Inspired by discussions in the product innovation literature, this article describes our application of product concept testing in the context of hybrid maize in Uganda and Kenya. We identified the following eight maize seed product concepts based on interactions with seed companies, crop breeders, and farmers: ‘Resilience’, ‘Drought escape’, ‘Food and fodder’, ‘Home use’, ‘Green maize’, ‘Livestock feed’, ‘Intercropping’, and ‘Family nutrition’. These were described and presented to 2400 farmers using videos, where each farmer saw three concept-presentation videos. Farmers were most likely to have selected the resilience (Kenya and Uganda), drought escape (Uganda), and intercropping (Kenya) concepts. Farmers showed mixed interest in other concepts, such as home use and food and fodder, suggesting that investments in product production and promotion would be required in addition to investments in breeding. These results provide new entry points for conversations among transdisciplinary teams at regional and national levels on the current and future opportunities for crop breeding to respond to farmers’ requirements for new seed products.

This work aimed to evaluate the impact of conversion from native vegetation to pastures and agriculture on soil quality in the Brazilian semi-arid region and identify which soil attributes have the greatest potential as soil quality indicators. We collected soil samples at 0–10 and 10–20 cm layers from seven municipalities in the Brazilian semi-arid region. We determined the stocks of total soil organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), carbon and nitrogen from microbial biomass (MB-C, MB-N), oxidizable fractions, humic substances, granulometry, soil bulk density (BD), pH, P, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The evaluated systems were pasture, agriculture with different implementation times, and native forest (Caatinga biome). The results show that conventional cultivation and grazing systems lead to substantial losses of fundamental attributes needed to maintain soil quality. The study observed losses of MB-C, TOC, TN, and more recalcitrant fractions like fulvic acid and humin, along with a reduction in soil P and CEC. Soil physical, chemical, and biological attributes work as indicators of separation between environments; however, labile compartments showed greater potential as indicators of land use changes, being considered the main indicators in the soil quality assessment.

Climate change has been shown to affect different aspects of society, with agriculture and the food system taking the highest hit. Several initiatives have been put in place to dampen such effects. Climate education could play an important role in the fight against climate change. Climate education ensures that farmers understand the anthropogenic causes of climate change and the principles underlying adaptation measures, hence informing adoption of sound adaptation measures. Although such theoretical underpinnings are clear, empirical evidence is lacking. We employ a multivariate probit model to empirically investigate the role of climate education in adoption of climate adaptation practices using data from Cameroon, whose humid tropical agroecology and forests are crucial to climate change mitigation in the Congo basin. Employing a linear model, we similarly evaluate the role of climate education on farm incomes as well as the role of perception of climate change. Our results show that climate education influences adoption of adaptation measures, especially simple and cost-effective measures. However, climate education does not affect farm income, neither does farmers’ perception of climate change. These results suggest that indigenous farmers may be more willing to choose a simple low-cost adaptation measure. The generated results are crucial for influencing climate change policy related to awareness building, education, and training for optimal adaptation efforts.