Latest application-area
How Does Plant Architecture and Water Use Efficiency Impact Crop Yields?
The effects of different plant architectures on population-level evapotranspiration are not well-known. Plant architecture influences population structure, thereby altering the microclimate. Soil water use can be reduced through shading to minimize evaporation and by reducing canopy temperature. Around 97-99% of the water absorbed by plants is lost as transpiration. As water shortages are increasing and… Continue reading…
What Is Transpiration Efficiency and Why Does It Matter for Drought-Resistant Farming?
Transpiration efficiency is emerging as a crucial crop parameter to improve production in water-limited conditions. Restricting transpiration by crops is a vital strategy to increase productivity using less water. External factors like VPD, soil type, and nutrient status are also necessary to increase transpiration efficiency. Society must figure out ways to grow more food for… Continue reading…
Five Ways To Increase Harvest Index
Improving the harvest index is crucial for economic and ecological reasons. The means to increase the harvest index can vary with the crops. Plant breeding is more critical for maize, while irrigation practices are vital for rice. Growth regulators that increase source activity and strengthen sinks are needed in pineapple, while growth retardants to limit… Continue reading…
Why is Riparian Canopy Cover important for Water Quality and Wildlife
Riparian zones are the transitional areas between water bodies and uplands. Riparian zones provide several ecosystem benefits, such as bank stabilization, water quality and temperature maintenance, lowered downstream flood risks, and wildlife habitat and food. Many of the riparian zone benefits depend on a healthy old-growth canopy cover. Canopy cover and shade of riparian zones… Continue reading…
Adapted Plant Traits in Riparian Zones
Riparian plants have anatomical and morphological adaptations that help them persist in the dynamic and variable conditions of the ecotone. Plant adaptations in the riparian ecotones occur in response to periodic flooding, anoxia, low luminosity, and unstable substrate. The adaptations can be in the shoot, leaves, and root systems. Adaptations vary based on life forms,… Continue reading…
A Look Back at Root Research Breakthroughs in 2024
Several reviews that consolidate state-of-the-art show huge strides in root research. Many studies have explored underlying physiological, anatomical, and molecular causes of previously observed morphology or root responses to environmental and soil conditions. Research is focused on applying these underlying mechanisms to manipulate patterns in root morphology and growth to increase crop yield sustainably or… Continue reading…
How Leaf Spectroscopy in Agriculture Optimizes Precision Farming: Five Studies From 2024
Leaf visual and near-infrared spectroscopy is used to predict new parameters, like leaf macronutrients, micronutrients, and water content, which can have applications in advising precision agriculture decisions. Leaf spectral application in phenotyping varieties covers more crop species for crop breeding. Disease detection and leaf degradation of cut flowers through leaf spectroscopy are other critical applications.… Continue reading…
How Leaf Area Index Affects Yield
Leaf Area Index (LAI) varies with species, cultivars, growing conditions, and crop stages. The influence of LAI on yield will depend on the harvested portion of crops. An increase in LAI above a specific optimum value for fruits and seed crops will decrease yield. Leaf Area Index (LAI) is a standard vegetative trait correlated with… Continue reading…
How Does the Role of Senescence Affect Crop Productivity?
Senescence can determine and increase crop productivity. Selecting for cultivars with delayed senescence improves yield only in some species. Senescence increases plant phenotypic plasticity, helping it to adapt to abiotic stress. Senescence is a significant agricultural trait that affects crop growth, stress adaptation, yield, and postharvest storage. Plants are unusual as they can time senescence… Continue reading…
How Minirhizotrons for Nematode Detection Improve Root Health Monitoring
Early studies used minirhizotron to understand how nematode-roots interaction impacts yield. Minirhizotrons have also been used to quantify nematode damage and cultivar selection. Minirhizotrons can show symptoms like root swelling and root trait changes at infection sites. Root studies have increased in number recently due to novel data collection techniques, such as imaging through minirhizotron… Continue reading…
