Organic farming has gained increasing relevance worldwide due to its environmental benefits and its prominent role in sustainable food systems; however, the persistence of organic farms remains uneven across regions, particularly within the European Union. While the number of organic farms has grown overall in the EU, significant exits from organic production highlight the need to better understand the factors shaping farm survival, especially in newer Member States, where organic conversion and maintenance support schemes are often implemented through area-based CAP payments. This study aims to identify the structural and contextual determinants of short-term organic farm persistence in Hungary within a broader European context. Using farm-level data for the period 2020–2023, including Standard Output (SO) indicators, we applied a combined modelling framework based on Logistic Regression, Decision Trees, and Random Forest algorithms to assess the relative importance of economic, structural, and regional variables. The results show that organic farm persistence is primarily driven by structural characteristics such as farm size, economic scale, degree of conversion to organic farming and regional embeddedness, while production specialization and organizational features play a secondary, conditional role. The convergence of results across modelling approaches indicates that survival is shaped by hierarchical structural constraints rather than isolated management decisions. Our findings suggest that policy measures aiming to stabilize and expand the organic sector should move beyond uniform incentives, such as area-based payments, and should place greater emphasis on the structural conditions of farms and region-specific support mechanisms.

In response to the subjective issues, inconsistent quality standards, high labor intensity and low sorting efficiency during the drying process of green pepper, an improved YOLOv11 algorithm was proposed for quality detection. A multi-scale edge enhancement module (MEEM) is introduced into the backbone network, replacing the original basic C3K2 module with C3K2-MEEM to enhance the extraction of detailed features in images of dried green Sichuan pepper and prevent missed detections, false detections, and boundary confusion. The LRSA module is integrated into the 10th layer of the backbone network to improve the clarity of the tumor-like texture of the Sichuan pepper and reduce the influence of impurities, automatically allocating attention based on feature similarity to preserve local information. In the neck layer, the DPCF module is added to the FPN+PAN feature fusion stage to achieve multi-scale feature collaboration, meeting the detection requirements of dried green Sichuan pepper. The results show that the accuracy recall rate, mean average precision, and model size of the improved MLD-YOLOv11 algorithm are 92.1%, 96.6%, 95.6%, and 11.06 MB, respectively. Compared with the training results of the original YOLOv11 model, the average accuracy of the improved model has increased by 2.2 percentage points, and GFLOPs have definitely decreased by 2 G, with parameter reduction of approximately 3.10%. Compared with other mainstream models, the MLD-YOLOv11 model has significant advantages in terms of mean average precision, model size, and floating point operations per second, making it more suitable for industrial applications and providing an efficient, accurate, and lightweight solution for the quality detection of dried green Sichuan pepper.

This study assesses the impacts of climate change (CC) on maize production in Bosnia and Herzegovina, comparing ten maize-producing municipalities and using Gradiška as a case study. Agroclimatic indicators and ISAREG-based soil water balance simulations were used to evaluate regional suitability for future maize production. Projections indicate substantial increases in average temperatures of 2 to 6 Celsius by the end of the century, depending on the RCP scenario, together with important reductions in accumulated mean precipitation, particularly during summer. Rising temperatures accelerate maize phenology, shortening growth cycles and enabling double-cropping opportunities for short-season cycles. Medium-season cycles may become feasible in most regions, while long-season cycles remain constrained in high-altitude areas due to thermal requirements. Rainfed maize in Gradiška is expected to face increased relative evapotranspiration deficits under future ‘hot & dry’ conditions, with potential relative yield losses due to water deficit of up to 12%. Irrigated maize shows a variation in irrigation requirements from −26% to +8% relative to the baseline, which reflects the combined effect of a shortened crop growth cycle under higher temperatures and increased evapotranspiration demand under drier conditions. Regions with high soil water-holding capacity are the most resilient, while areas with shallow soils or Mediterranean climates are more vulnerable under future conditions. The findings underscore the need for agronomic adaptation measures to the projected CC impacts, including supplemental irrigation, drought-tolerant cultivars, and potential adjustment of sowing.

Biochar amendment holds promise for improving saline soils, yet its efficacy is often constrained by the uncertainty of application rates. In this study, a large field trial and associated statistical modeling were conducted to explore the mechanisms by which biochar affects wheat yield in coastal saline soils of northern China. Results showed that biochar application significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC) content (R2= 0.615, p < 0.001) but induced marked spatial heterogeneity across the field, with the coefficient of variation (CV) reaching 30.2%. Given the difficulty of uniformly applying biochar in the field, subplot-level SOC was used as a proxy for effective biochar distribution. Stepwise regression identified soil electrical conductivity (EC) as the dominant yield constraint (standardized coefficient = −0.69), rather than water and nutrients, and a quadratic relationship was observed between SOC and EC. Structural equation modeling (SEM) further suggested a trade-off: SOC was associated with higher yield through reduced bulk density (BD) (path coefficient = −0.603), whereas high SOC levels were also associated with increased EC under this coastal saline field setting (path coefficient = 0.243), thereby indirectly constraining growth. Consequently, the agronomic response showed a threshold-like transition: the peak wheat yield occurred at an SOC threshold of 13.87 g kg−1 (equivalent to 44.41 t ha−1), which exceeded the point of minimum salinity (11.71 g kg−1, equivalent to ~29.90 t ha−1 biochar). These results suggest that the agronomic benefit of biochar in saline soils depends on maintaining application within an estimated beneficial buffering zone.

Climate change-induced variability in temperature and precipitation increasingly constrains crop production on sandy-textured soils with low water-holding capacity and limited nutrient retention. Such soils, classified as Brunic Arenosols, are widespread across the temperate climate zone of Central Europe, particularly in post-glacial landscapes, where they constitute a significant proportion of marginal agricultural lands. This study evaluated the relative influence of growing-season weather conditions and selected soil physicochemical properties on the yield of Camelina sativa and Brassica carinata cultivated under low-input management on Brunic Arenosols in northwestern Poland during the 2023 season. Yields varied markedly among sites. Camelina sativa produced yields from 300 to 930 kg ha−1, with the highest yield recorded at the site characterized by higher BS and phosphorus availability. Brassica carinata produced yields from 0 to 370 kg ha−1, including complete yield loss at one location due to severe pathogen infestation. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed that temperature was a key determinant for both crops (r = 0.77 for C. sativa; r = 0.82 for B. carinata). For Camelina sativa, yield was strongly associated with BS (r = 0.80) and available P (r = 0.69), whereas Brassica carinata was more sensitive to climatic variability, showing a negative relationship with precipitation (r = −0.63). The results indicate species-specific responses to soil fertility and weather conditions under water- and nutrient-limited conditions typical of Central European sandy soils. While Camelina sativa performance was more closely linked to soil chemical status, Brassica carinata appeared predominantly climate-driven. These findings highlight the broader relevance of the study for temperate regions of Central Europe and support the integration of soil fertility management with climate-adaptive strategies when introducing alternative oilseed crops to marginal lands.

To combat climate change, farmers want to develop sustainable agriculture that enhances food production while strengthening their capacity to cope with extreme weather events and pest and disease pressures. Promoting agroecological farming practices is a promising approach in enhancing sustainability and strengthening the climate-resilient farming systems. Recent research often overlooks to what extent the agroecological farming practices (AFP) provide a measurable advantage over non-AFP methods under increasing environmental challenges. In this regard, this study compares the extent of climate resilience between AFP mango-based farming systems and non-AFP mango-based farming systems in southern Ethiopia. AFP adopters applied ecological principles like intercropping, integrated pest management, agroforestry, canopy management, varietal diversity, and water and soil preservation to enhance biodiversity and soil health, and boost productivity and ecosystem services. The study employed a mixed-method design, drawing on the data from 395 selected households. The resilience of AFP and non-AFP farming systems was assessed by computing the 13 agroecosystem indicators of climate resilience using the Self-evaluation and Holistic Assessment of Climate Resilience of Farmers and Pastoralists (SHARP+) tool. Households in AFP mango-based farming system demonstrated greater diversification in agricultural production system compared to those in non-AFP mango farming system. The analysis of climate resilience indicators showed that the mango production systems under the AFP were more climate-robust than their conventional systems. Both the compound resilience score and the household resilience index showed that the mango farming systems under AFP substantially enhanced climate resilience. Hence, coordinated supports from the extension services, NGOs, and researchers are needed to scale up these benefits of AFP. Strengthening the AFP mango farming requires addressing the key barriers such as market access, input availability, and crop diversification strategies. This paper identifies important avenues for further AFP research in Sub-Saharan African countries.

The perennial grass timothy (Phleum pratense) is an important forage crop in cold temperate regions. It forms three types of tillers: vegetative (VEG), generative (GEN), and non-flowering elongated (ELONG). To understand the influence of plant development and tiller formation on biomass production and the diversity in these traits, a total of 246 wild and domesticated accessions of timothy and the related species, P. nodosum and P. alpinum, were investigated. The length of different plant developmental stages and the formation of different tiller types were studied to test the hypotheses: (1) the proportion (%) of different tiller types affects biomass and is influenced by the lengths of the different plant developmental stages, (2) domestication and breeding have affected the length of developmental stages and proportions of tiller types. While timothy cultivars did not differ significantly from wild accessions in biomass, wild accessions had higher VEG%, which increased with latitude of accession origin. P. nodosum cultivars produced the highest number of ELONG of all accessions and species, and the ELONG% showed a strong positive correlation with biomass. Timothy cultivars showed later emergence and tillering, and reached stem elongation and heading earlier than wild accessions, suggesting that delayed tillering, but an overall faster development, has been favoured during breeding. The time between tillering and stem elongation showed a positive correlation with VEG%. This study reveals large diversity in developmental and tiller traits among accessions, reflecting differences in their domestication and breeding history, and highlighting the importance of considering early developmental traits and ELONG formation for yield and quality in further pre-breeding research.

This study examines the determinants of household biogas adoption among dairy farmers in West Java, Indonesia. Despite ongoing government efforts to promote renewable energy, adoption remains limited and often not sustainable. Using cross-sectional survey data from biogas users and non-users, a binary logistic regression model was applied to assess the role of socioeconomic characteristics, resource availability, and institutional support. The results indicate that perceived time savings, fuel-cost pressure, and participation in training programs are significant positive drivers of adoption. In contrast, higher levels of formal education and livestock ownership are associated with a lower likelihood of adoption, suggesting that resource availability alone does not guarantee use. Overall, the findings highlight that adoption depends not only on economic factors but also on how well biogas systems align with household practices and capabilities. The study provides policy-relevant insights for improving the design and implementation of biogas programs in rural Indonesia.

Sugarcane is an important economic crop in southern China. Affected by typhoons, it is prone to lodging, which not only increases the difficulty and loss rate of mechanical harvesting but also reduces the sugar content. The mechanical properties of the sugarcane root–soil system are crucial to its lodging resistance. However, accurate discrete element parameters are still lacking for DEM-based research on the mechanical properties of this system. Therefore, this study adopts a method combining the angle of repose test, shear force test, and discrete element simulation of single roots to calibrate DEM parameters. Using the angle of repose and maximum shear force of a single root as response values, Plackett–Burman, steepest ascent, and Box–Behnken tests are sequentially carried out with Design-Expert 13 software to calibrate the contact and bonding parameters of individual sugarcane roots. The relative errors between the physical and simulation test results for the angle of repose and shear force are 1.29% and 0.66%, respectively. This study provides a reference for the establishment of discrete element simulation models for sugarcane roots and for the subsequent development of sugarcane root–soil composite models.

Henan Province, the foremost wheat-producing region in China, frequently experiences drought stress during the wheat seedling stage. Innovating the evaluation methods for drought resistance at this stage and identifying drought-resistant varieties are crucial for the effective utilization of germplasm. This study utilized 55 wheat varieties that have been bred and promoted in Henan Province in recent years as experimental materials. A 15% PEG-6000 solution was employed to simulate drought stress, and the primary morphological indicators of seedlings, relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), and various chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were assessed. The comprehensive drought resistance scores (D values) for each variety were determined by calculating the drought resistance coefficients for each index, employing principal component analysis, and conducting membership function analysis. Based on the cluster analysis of D values, 55 varieties were categorized into four groups: high drought resistance (10), medium drought resistance (28), low drought resistance (16), and drought-sensitive (1). Seven indicators—SPAD, fresh root weight, seedling height, fresh weight of the aboveground part, Fv/Fm, PItotal, and Mo—were selected as evaluation metrics for the drought resistance of wheat through stepwise regression analysis. The comprehensive evaluation system developed in this study, which is based on morphological and photosynthetic fluorescence characteristics, can swiftly and accurately assess the drought resistance of wheat seedlings. The key indicators identified for highly drought-resistant varieties may serve as valuable references for drought-resistant wheat breeding in Henan Province.