Abbreviation (ISO4): Chin Agric Sci Bull
Editor in chief: Yulong YIN
To improve the yield and quality of colored wheat in southwest Shandong, this study explored the effects of different proportions of organic fertilizer instead of chemical fertilizer nitrogen on dry matter accumulation, yield and quality of colored wheat, aiming to clarify the optimal fertilization scheme for colored wheat in this area. A field experiment was conducted from 2022 to 2023, to systematically study the effects of no fertilizer (CK), single chemical fertilizer (CF), 25% (M25), 50% (M50) and 75% (M75) organic fertilizer replacing nitrogen fertilizer on dry matter accumulation, grain yield, quality of two colored wheat varieties (A1 ‘Shannongzimai 1’ and A2 ‘Jilanmai 1’). The results showed that compared with CK treatment, different fertilization treatments could increase grain yield, quality and the dry matter accumulation of wheat at wintering, regreening, flag-picking and maturity stages to varying degrees. In term of dry matter accumulation at the maturity stage, there was no significant difference between organic fertilizer and CF in A1 cultivars, and M25 was the highest; compared with CF, both M25 and M50 were much higher in A2 variety, and there was no significant difference with M75. The variation law of grain yield of the two varieties under different fertilization treatments was basically the same, with the increase of the proportion of organic fertilizer replacing chemical fertilizer, grain yield were gradually decreased. Compared with CF, M25 and M50 treatments could increase the grain yield, with a range of 1.01% to 3.76% for variety A1 and 3.48% to 5.0% for variety A2. M75 treatment reduced grain yield. In M25 treatment, the crude protein content of the two varieties increased by 3.14% and 1.81%, the content of wet gluten increased by 1.70% and 2.46%; the ductility increased by 1.10% and 0.79%, respectively. With the increase of organic fertilizer replacing nitrogen fertilizer, the crude protein content and wet gluten content decreased, volume weight and the ductility of A2 variety were no significant difference. In summary, M25 treatment could effectively improve grain yield, quality of colored wheat in the wheat planting area of southwest Shandong.
A bare barley planting experiment was carried out from November 2023 to May 2024 in the coastal reclamation area of Nantong, Jiangsu Province to study the effects of different amounts of silicon fertilizer on soil fertility and yield and quality of bare barley, with ‘Suluomai No.2’ as the test variety. Five different silicon fertilizer application rates were set up in the treatment, including CK, SiF1, SiF2, SiF3 and SiF4 (0, 75, 150 and 225 kg/hm2). The results showed that: (1) compared with CK, the soil available phosphorus concentration increased by 19.31%, 18.99%, 23.16% and 17.71% respectively under SiF1, SiF2, SiF3 and SiF4 (P<0.05). The concentrations of soil soluble organic carbon and easily oxidizable organic carbon increased by 11.46% and 11.61%, 11.77% and 8.39%, 14.21% and 9.03%, respectively under SiF2, SiF3, and SiF4 treatments (P<0.05); there were no significant differences in the concentrations of total carbon, organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen under different silicon fertilizer application treatments (P>0.05). (2) Compared with CK, the yield of bare barley in the coastal tidal flat area increased by 17.02% under SiF2 treatment (P<0.05), and the β-glucan content of bare barley under SiF2 treatment increased the most. In terms of yield components, the number of spikes increased significantly under SiF2 and SiF3 treatments, while there were no significant changes in thousand-grain weight and the number of grains per spike under different silicon fertilizer treatments. In conclusion, the soil fertility of coastal tidal flat was improved by increasing the application of silicon fertilizer, and the yield and β-glucan content of bare barley in coastal tidal flat area were increased by increasing the appropriate amount of silicon fertilizer (150 kg/hm2).
This study aims to clarify the key role of plant terpenoid synthase (TPS) in terpenoid biosynthesis and its complex regulation mechanism, and to explore its diverse biological characteristics and broad application prospects. Based on existing literature and research findings, we employed systematic review and comprehensive analysis methods to investigate the functional mechanisms and environmental response patterns of TPS from multiple dimensions: functional classification, evolution, structural catalytic characteristics, and multi-level regulation (DNA, transcription, and post-transcription). TPS catalyzes the formation of various terpenoid skeletons through its diverse structural domains, and the catalytic process is highly complex. The activity of TPS is strictly regulated by multiple levels; transcriptional regulation is mediated by various transcription factors; post-transcriptional regulation encompasses mRNA stability, translation efficiency, and protein post-translational modification. Environmental factors (e.g., biotic/abiotic stresses) have been demonstrated to significantly influence TPS gene expression and enzyme activity, thereby modulating the synthesis and accumulation of specific terpenoid products. Members of different TPS families exhibit divergence in evolution, and their functional differentiation is closely related to plant adaptability and terpenoid diversity. The relationship between the structure and function of TPS provides a molecular basis for understanding their substrate selectivity and product specificity. Research on TPS provides a core theoretical foundation for elucidating terpenoid biosynthesis and its regulatory mechanisms, significantly promoting their applications in agriculture, medicine, fragrances, cosmetics, and industry. This work holds substantial importance for sustainable development, human health, and the improvement of quality of life.
To study the changes in growth traits and physiological responses of Fraxinus hybrid seedling under salt stress and understand the salt tolerance of different hybrid seedlings, seven kinds of Fraxinus hybrid seedlings and two new varieties of Fraxinus were used as test materials to study their physiological responses to salt stress (0‰, 4‰, 8‰, 12‰), and the salt tolerance of nine kinds of Fraxinus seedlings was comprehensively evaluated by membership function method. The results showed that with the increase of salt stress intensity, the growth of hybrid seedlings was inhibited. The plant height and ground diameter of ‘327’ and ‘325’ decreased less, and the effect of salt damage was not obvious, while the inhibition of salt stress on the growth of ‘Qingbi’ and ‘344’ was more obvious. Compared with other combinations, the conductivity and MDA content of ‘327’ and ‘325’ changed more smoothly under salt stress, the chlorophyll content decreased less, the SOD activity in leaves increased more, and the proline content and soluble sugar content increased more than other hybrid seedlings. The conductivity and MDA content of ‘Qingbi’ and ‘344’ increased significantly, the chlorophyll content decreased greatly, and the SOD enzyme activity, proline content and soluble sugar content in leaves increased less. It indicated that under salt stress, ‘327’ and ‘325’ had stronger antioxidant enzyme protection system, more complete cell membrane structure, lower membrane lipid peroxidation, lower chlorophyll loss, more photosynthetic accumulation of photosynthetic products, faster plant growth and higher salt tolerance, while ‘Qingbi’ and ‘344’ had poor salt tolerance. The salt tolerance of 9 kinds of Fraxinus seedlings was comprehensively evaluated by membership function method, and the order of salt tolerance was ‘327’>‘325’>‘Lula 6’>‘318’>‘317’>‘346’>‘342’>‘344’>‘Qingbi’.
The aim is to better understand the ecological characteristics of Lauraceae plants, select the species suitable for cultivation and popularization in southwest Guangxi. In this study, seeds of 7 species of Lauraceae from 3 genera (Machilus, Beilschmiedia, Cinnamomum) were collected, and the growth, physiological and nutrient accumulation characteristics of their 4-year-old plants were studied and evaluated after seeding in Nanning. The results showed that: (1) the plant height and ground diameter of B. yaanica and B. fordii were the largest, and the seedling elongation and thickening of Beilschmiedia were better than those of Machilus and Cinnamomum, while the height-diameter ratio of Machilus was smaller and the overall growth was more balanced. (2) M. thunbergii had the largest single leaf area and the strongest instantaneous photosynthesis. The overall leaf growth and photosynthetic characteristics of Machilus were better than those of Beilschmiedia and Cinnamomum (the overall antioxidant enzyme activity of the seedlings was higher). The content of MDA (membrane peroxidation degree) was lower in the Beilschmiedia seedlings. (3) The overall nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrient accumulation of Machilus spp. seedlings was better. M. rufipes was limited by nitrogen, M. thunbergii, M. minkweiensis and B. yaanica were limited by phosphorus, but other species were not limited by nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. (4) Through membership degree analysis, it can be seen that M. thunbergii had the best comprehensive performance (average membership of 0.625), followed by B. yaanica and M. minkweiensis. C. saxatile and M. rufipes had the worst comprehensive performance (average membership of 0.302 and 0.292, respectively). In summary, M. thunbergii is most suitable for the promotion in Nanning, and attention should be paid to the supplement of nitrogen and phosphorus elements and the guarantee of water and fertilizer conditions during cultivation, followed by B. yaanica and M. minkweiensis, while the cultivation conditions and cultivation methods of C. saxatile and M. rufipes need to be optimized.
In order to study the influencing factors of Actinidia arguta softwood cutting, annual branches of A. arguta were used as experimental materials to study the effects of growth regulator (IBA) concentration and cutting substrate on the rooting rate, root width, root length, and new shoot length of softwood cuttings. The membership function method was used to obtain the optimal reproductive conditions for softwood cuttings of A. arguta. The results showed that the concentration of IBA had a significant effect on rooting rate and new shoot length of female plants cuttings, while it had a significant effect on root width and root length of male plants cuttings. At the same IBA concentration, there were significant differences in some rooting indicators between female and male plants. The cutting substrate had a significant effect on the rooting rate, root width, root length, and new shoot length of A. arguta. The scoring results of the membership function indicated that the highest score for female cuttings was 0.706 at IBA 6000 mg/L, while the highest score for male cuttings was 0.780 at IBA 2500 mg/L. The order of cutting substrates scores was coconut coir: perlite=1:2 (volume ratio) (0.997)> peat: perlite=1:2 (volume ratio) (0.933)> coconut coir (0.911)> peat (0.872)> cooked rice husk: perlite=1:2 (volume ratio) (0.635)> cooked rice husk (0.027). In summary, the optimal concentration of IBA for softwood cuttings of A. arguta female plants is 6000 mg/L, and for male plants it is 2500 mg/L. The best cutting substrate for softwood cuttings of A. arguta is coconut coir: perlite=1:2 (volume ratio) and peat: perlite=1:2 (volume ratio).
The intraspecific and interspecific variations in plant leaf traits are the core carriers for revealing the mechanisms of community species coexistence and environmental adaptability, and are of great significance for understanding the mechanisms of community species coexistence and response to environmental changes. Taking Zhangye City, in the central part of the Hexi Corridor, as the research area, this study selected two typical habitats: road area (with high human interference) and park area (with low human interference). Three ornamental plants of the Oleaceae family, Ligustrum× vicaryi, Syringa oblata, and Forsythia suspensa, were selected as the research objects. Through mathematical statistics and significance tests, the variability characteristics of leaf morphology traits (5 items such as leaf area and specific leaf area), ecological stoichiometry traits (6 items such as leaf carbon/nitrogen/phosphorus content and ratio), and physiological and biochemical traits (5 items such as soluble sugar and superoxide dismutase) were systematically analyzed. The results showed that: (1) there were significant differences in the variation of leaf traits among three plant species in two different habitats. The interspecific variation coefficient of leaf traits in the road area was 1.01%-43.90%, while in the park area it was 1.51%-29.80%. The intraspecific variation coefficient was generally 2%-40%. Moreover, the interspecific variation amplitude of leaf traits in the road area was generally larger than that in the park area, indicating that plant leaf traits are more sensitive to environmental response in high disturbance environments. (2) In terms of classification, leaf area and specific leaf area showed the most significant variation in leaf morphological traits (road area coefficient of variation 27.01%-30.84%). In terms of ecological stoichiometry, nitrogen phosphorus ratio (N/P) had the largest variation in road area (43.90%), and carbon nitrogen ratio (C/N) had the largest variation in park area (29.80%). Soluble sugar content had the highest variation in physiological and biochemical traits (road area 24.03%, park area 23.80%). (3) In terms of species specificity, the coefficient of variation of leaf area and specific leaf area of Ligustrum× vicaryi is significantly higher than that of Syringa oblata and Forsythia suspensa. Syringa oblata has the highest coefficient of variation in leaf dry matter content (4.85% in the park area), while Forsythia suspensa has the highest coefficient of variation in soluble sugar and malondialdehyde content (24.03% and 23.91% in the road area, respectively). This study clarified the variation patterns and environmental driven differences in leaf traits of ornamental plants in the Oleaceae family in Zhangye City, providing a scientific basis for habitat adaptation selection of Oleaceae plants in urban green space systems in arid areas of Northwest China, such as prioritizing the allocation of strong anti-interference Ligustrum× vicaryi in road areas.
The suitable light duration for the growth and quality improvement of Platostoma palustre was determined, which provided a scientific basis for the standardized and large-scale cultivation of P. palustre. An artificial red LED light source was employed with a 12-hour photoperiod as a control to assess the impact of supplemental red lighting duration (18 hours) on plant height, biomass, root development, root vitality, soluble protein content, SOD activity, flavonoid content, soluble sugar content, and soluble pectin content of four P. palustre germplasms (TW, LS, GD and YN). The results showed that increasing the duration of supplemental red lighting promoted adventitious root growth in P. palustre cuttings, leading to root elongation, an expanded root absorption area, well-developed roots, and enhanced root vitality. This enhancement facilitated nutrient absorption in P. palustre, subsequently promoting the growth and development of its aboveground parts. The stem and leaf of TW, LS, GD and YN exhibited an increase in fresh weight by 19.36%, 49.33%, 1.73%, and 24.01%, respectively. Compared to the control, supplemental red lighting duration resulted in a reduction in flavonoid content for TW, LS and YN, a significant decrease in soluble sugar and pectin content; while GD showed a significant increase in flavonoid content by 42.32%, with no significant changes in soluble sugar and pectin content. Increasing the duration of red light exposure could enhance the growth and development of four types of P. palustre cuttings. However, there were variations in the response and light requirements among different P. palustre germplasms. Following red light supplementation, GD was suitable for cultivation, with significant improvements in growth and flavonoid content.
Cinnamon leaves are the primary source of Cinnamomum cassia essential oil. However, the lack of specialized leaf-oriented cultivars currently hinders the high-quality development of the cinnamon industry. To explore the diversity of leaf phenotypic traits and volatile oil content among different germplasms, and to screen elite leaf-use cultivars with high oil yields, this study was conducted using 300 accessions of 3-year-old F1 progeny seedlings from Guangxi. Twelve phenotypic traits (nine quantitative and three qualitative) were systematically measured, and multivariate statistical analysis was employed to decipher the phenotypic diversity and identify superior germplasm. The results are as follows. (1) The volatile oil content in the leaves of 300 cinnamon accessions ranged from 0.15% to 1.56%, with an average of 0.62%. Accession PN2 exhibited the highest content (1.56%). (2) The genetic diversity of quantitative traits was significantly higher than that of qualitative traits. For the nine quantitative traits, the coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 9.54% to 48.11% (with branch height showing the highest CV), and the diversity index (H’) ranged from 1.968 to 2.729 (with leaf volatile oil content recording the highest H’). In contrast, the three qualitative traits exhibited a CV of 12.61% to 30.88% and an H’ of 0.085 to 0.678. The genetic diversity index of nine quantitative traits was much higher than that of three qualitative traits. (3) Correlation analysis revealed that the leaf volatile oil content was significantly and positively correlated with plant height, branch height, leaf length, leaf width, and leaf drying rate (P<0.01), and significantly positively correlated with crown width (P<0.05). In contrast, a highly significant negative correlation was observed with leaf thickness (P<0.01). (4) Principal component analysis (PCA) yielded eight principal components, which collectively accounted for 86.706% of the total variance, thereby capturing the majority of the genetic information in the cinnamon germplasm. Plant height, crown width, and leaf length were identified as the key contributing factors. (5) Cluster analysis categorized the 300 germplasm accessions into 3 distinct groups. Group I (53 accessions) demonstrated the best overall performance, with a mean volatile oil content of 0.70% and a comprehensive score of 0.53. Based on a combined evaluation of these scores and oil content, 9 excellent accessions (PN5, PN11, PN18, PN20, etc.) were selected from this group, with volatile oil contents ranging from 0.885% to 1.305% and comprehensive scores between 0.563 and 0.691. This study provides high-quality germplasm resources and a theoretical foundation for breeding leaf-use cinnamon varieties.
The aims of the study are to investigate the effects of seven soil amendments on the uptake of cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) by rice grown in the moderately to lightly heavy metal-contaminated paddy fields during the early and late growing stages, and identify effective amendments that significantly reduce heavy metal accumulation in rice grains, providing a basis for the safe production of contaminated farmland through precise amendment application. A field plot experiment was designed to evaluate seven types of soil amendments applied individually as basal fertilizers, including a nutrient-based blocking agent (ZK), Jiandifeng soil conditioner (JF), calcareous soil amendment (SH), oyster shell-based amendment (HK), Jinkuizi amendment (JK), organic soil amendment (OF), and Xinjiang soil conditioner (NK), with no amendment application serving as the control (CK). The study analyzed rice yield, Cd and As concentrations in brown rice, and selected soil physicochemical properties during both cropping seasons. The results showed that compared with the control, all seven soil amendments increased the soil pH in both early and late rice seasons to varying degrees. The SH treatment resulted in the greatest increase, with pH rising by 0.60 and 0.29 units, respectively. SH also significantly reduced soil DTPA-extractable Cd by 10.8% and 13.1% in the early and late seasons, respectively, although it showed a tendency to increase soil available As. The effects of the amendments on soil macro-nutrient elements (exchangeable Ca, exchangeable Mg and available Si) varied. SH treatment yielded the highest exchangeable Ca content (22.0% and 20.8% increases), ZK achieved the highest exchangeable Mg levels (increases of 9.9% and 12.2%), while JK significantly enhanced available Si content (increases of 89.8% and 80.1%) in early and late seasons, respectively. Five of the seven treatments significantly reduced Cd concentrations in brown rice, with reductions ranging from 26.0% to 59.6%; the greatest decrease in the early season was observed in the SH treatment. No amendment had a significant effect on the total As content in rice grains. Under the conditions of this study, the SH, ZK and HK amendments effectively increased soil pH, reduced DTPA-extractable Cd levels, and consequently decreased Cd accumulation in rice grains during both cropping seasons. These treatments maintained the rice yield and offered favorable economic benefits, highlighting their practical potential for improving grain safety in contaminated paddy fields.
To explore the effects of organic fertilizer replacing part of chemical fertilizer application on the yield of fresh broad beans and soil nutrients while the total nitrogen application rate remains unchanged, using ‘Yudou No.3’ as the material and adopting a random block design of factors, the effects of organic fertilizer replacing chemical fertilizer at ratios of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% were studied respectively. The results showed that when organic fertilizer replacing part of chemical fertilizer, the agronomic traits of fresh broad beans varied significantly with different nitrogen ratios. The plant height and pod length under 20% substitution treatment performed the best; the number of leaf stalks and branches under 60% substitution treatment performed the best; the pod width under 100% substitution treatment performed the best; under 60% substitution treatment, the solidification and mineralization intensity of soil hydrolyzable nitrogen was the lowest. Under the condition that the total nitrogen application remains unchanged, the combined application of organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer could increase the fresh pod yield of broad beans. When the substitution rate was 80%, the utilization of the fertilizer was the best, the partial productivity of nitrogen fertilizer was the highest, the contribution rate of fertilizer was also the largest, and the fresh pod yield was maximized.
To clarify the effect of combined application of bio-organic fertilizer on the rhizosphere soil microbial community of industrial hemp, metagenomic sequencing technology was used to compare and analyze the effects of different treatments of fallow land (CX), no fertilization (CB), single application of chemical fertilizer (FH), and combined application of 20% bio-organic fertilizer (FS) on the composition and structure of rhizosphere soil microbial communities of industrial hemp. The results showed that the combined application of bio-organic fertilizer increased the contents of available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK) and soil organic matter (SOM) in the rhizosphere soil of industrial hemp by 9.01%-79.41%, while reducing soil pH by 1.51%-4.16%. The combined application of bio-organic fertilizer had a regulatory effect on the rhizosphere microorganisms of industrial hemp; after application, the relative abundances of Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Sphingomonas, Nitrospira and Afipia increased. PCA analysis indicated a trend of separation in microbial communities among soil samples under different treatments, with significant differences in bacteria, fungi, and archaea between the combined bio-organic fertilizer treatment and other treatments. For the influence of soil factors on microbial community structure under different treatments, the order was AK>TN>AN>SOM>AP>TP>TK>pH. At the phylum level, the influence of soil chemical properties on microbial communities could be divided into two groups: pH alone formed one group, while other chemical properties had similar effects on soil microbial community structure at the phylum level. It was notable that Chloroflexi showed a significant negative correlation with pH. The combined application of bio-organic fertilizer increased the yield of industrial hemp and the nutrient content in rhizosphere soil, improved the soil microbial community structure, enhanced the quantity and diversity of soil microorganisms, and improved nutrient supply and transformation capacity. This study provided a theoretical basis for black soil remediation in Northeast China.
To explore the physicochemical indexes and nutrient status of tea plantations in the main tea producing areas of Yibin City, and to better guide the scientific application of fertilizers and soil nutrient management in local tea plantations, field surveys and soil sampling were conducted in five major tea-producing districts and counties of Yibin City. The pH and nutrient elements (Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, K, P and Al) of tea plantation soils were tested as well as nutrient indexes such as total nitrogen and total carbon, and nutrient grades were analyzed and evaluated. The results showed that: (1) the pH of tea garden soil in the main tea producing areas of Yibin City was between 3.95 and 6.90, and some areas showed a trend of acidification. (2) According to the grading standards of effective state trace elements and nutrient contents in tea garden soils, the effective K nutrients of tea garden soils in the main production areas presented a very rich state; most of the contents of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and Al were in grade Ⅰ and Ⅲ, presenting a rich and suitable state. (3) Nearly half of the tea areas were relatively deficient in elemental P and total nitrogen; Ca and Mg showed a tendency to be deficient throughout the tea areas; and the total carbon content was low. In short, the overall soil fertility of 0-40 cm soil layer in the main tea producing areas of Yibin City was higher. It is suggested that the application of organic fertilizer should be strengthened in tea garden management to adjust soil pH and increase total carbon content. Nitrogen fertilizer should be supplemented appropriately in some tea areas, and calcium and magnesium fertilizer should be applied in all tea producing areas to achieve scientific fertilization.
To elucidate the influence mechanism of meteorological factors on the green-up period of forage grass in alpine grassland and improve prediction accuracy, this study integrated 2005-2023 phenological observations and meteorological data from the Tongde County Meteorological Bureau (Qinghai Province). Using linear trend analysis, Pearson correlation, and stepwise regression, we characterized interannual variation of the green-up date, identified key climatic drivers, and established a multiple linear regression prediction model. The results demonstrated that: (1) the mean green-up date was 1 May (Julian day 121 d), exhibited pronounced interannual variability (SD=5.8 d; range: 26 d), with no significant long-term trend (0.4 d/10 a, P>0.10), indicating high sensitivity to short-term climate fluctuations. (2) Accumulated temperature ≥0℃ (AT) showed a highly significant positive correlation with the green-up date (r=0.83, P<0.001), while sunshine hours also exhibited a significant correlation (r=0.61, P<0.01), precipitation had no discernible effect. (3) The stepwise regression model retained the ordinal date of the first AT≥3℃ and AT as predictors, achieving an R2=0.869 (F=52.92, P<0.001); Backward substitution validation yielded a mean absolute error of 2.0 d (98.6% accuracy, with 95% of predictions within ±2.0 d). This study confirms that that spring heat accumulation is the dominant driver of green-up timing, whereas water availability plays a secondary role. The proposed model provides a robust framework for phonological monitoring and sustainable grazing management in alpine ecosystems.
The aim was to screen out high-quality and high-yield oat varieties suitable for planting in high altitude and harsh environment (Maduo region) of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, thereby enhancing local oat forage production standards and alleviating the shortage of forage in alpine areas. This study selected eight oat varieties with favorable traits for a comparative introduction trial conducted in Ayin Village, which is located in the Yellow River basin of Maduo County. The agronomic traits, yield characteristics, and quality attributes of different oat varieties were analyzed and evaluated. This research employed the TOPSIS multi-criteria decision-making model to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of multiple indicators across different oat varieties. The results indicated that the ‘Qinghai 444’ oat variety achieved the highest dry hay yield at 5514.67 kg/hm2, with a plant height of 58.82 cm. The ‘Qingyin No.3’ and ‘Qinghai Sweet Oat’ varieties exhibited relatively high crude protein content, at 7.25% and 6.21%, respectively. Additionally, ‘Qingyin No.3’ showed lower acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber contents, at 38.42% and 56.06%, respectively, while demonstrating a relatively high feed value of 83.76%. The TOPSIS multi-criteria decision-making model analysis revealed that both ‘Qinghai 444’ and ‘Qingyin No.1’ oat varieties exhibited superior production performance and nutritional quality, making them ideal choices for large-scale cultivation and promotion in the Maduo region.
To study the influence of drying parameters of the re-drying machine on the sensory quality stability of Henan strong-aroma type flue-cured tobacco leaves after re-drying, ‘Zhongyan 100’ C3F was used as the experimental material. The effects of different drying curves on the sensory quality of re-dried tobacco leaves were investigated to determine the optimal drying curve suitable for Henan strong-aroma type flue-cured tobacco leaves. During the production process of threshing and re-drying, drying parameters, incoming material parameters, and environmental parameters were collected, and sensory quality evaluations were conducted on the re-dried tobacco leaves. Finally, a drying parameter control model was constructed using the BP neural network algorithm to predict the results of sensory evaluation. The results showed that by applying low-temperature slow roasting technology, adopting a parabolic constant temperature mode for the drying curve, controlling the temperature difference between drying zones 1, 2, and 3 within (4.0±1.0)℃, the temperature difference between drying zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 within (2±1)℃, the total temperature of the drying zone within (380±5.0)℃, and maintaining the moisture content in the left and right cold rooms at (9.0±0.5)% with a moisture difference of ±0.8%, both the aroma quality and aroma quantity of the re-dried tobacco leaves were improved, the fineness of the smoke was enhanced, and the aftertaste was improved to varying degrees. By using the model algorithm to predict the intrinsic quality of tobacco leaves, the sensory quality of the re-dried tobacco leaves within the module was basically consistent with the sensory evaluation results predicted by the model. When parameters are adjusted, the predicted results can be used to guide production in a timely manner.
Free amino acid is an important flavor chemical component in cigar leaves, and its accurate and rapid determination is of great significance for cigar quality evaluation. A method for the simultaneous determination of 16 amino acids in cigar leaves was established based on pre-column derivatization-reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The optimal detection conditions were determined by optimizing the key parameters such as column temperature, flow rate, ultrasonic extraction time and derivatization time. The methodological performance was systematically investigated and applied to the analysis of 40 cigar leaf samples from different producing areas, parts and grades. The correlation between amino acid content and sample attributes was revealed by radar map. The results showed that the contents of 16 amino acids were in the range of 2.5-400 mg/L, the linear correlation coefficient R2≥0.998, the detection limit was 0.014-0.096 mg/L, the quantitative limit was 0.047-0.320 mg/L, the recovery rate was 89.05%-107.08%, and the relative standard deviation was 1.25%-5.72%. The method was accurate and reliable. The analysis of actual samples showed that the amino acid content in cigar leaves had significant correlations with the producing area (the overall content in B area was higher), the position (upper leaf> middle leaf> lower leaf), and the grade (second grade > third grade > fourth grade). The method has the advantages of simple operation, good separation effect and high sensitivity, and can be used for the detection of amino acid content and quality grading evaluation of cigar tobacco leaves.
In order to explore the core quality characteristics of Taishan black tea and establish its comprehensive quality evaluation system, 45 black tea samples were collected from 15 tea-producing enterprises in Taishan tea region. A systematic evaluation was conducted using sensory assessment, determination of biochemical components, and HS-SPME-GC/MS-based aroma analysis, combined with multivariate statistical methods. The results indicated that: (1) regarding sensory characteristics, Taishan black tea exhibits a reddish-brown, curly, and relatively uniform appearance, with an orange-red and bright liquor color. Its aroma is dominated by fruity notes, complemented by caramel, sweet, and floral aromas; the taste is mostly mellow or full-bodied, while some samples present slight bitterness and astringency, with the highest sensory score reaching 91.50 points (the ‘Baiye 1’ cultivar). (2) For biochemical components, the contents were as follows: water extracts 38.65%-43.35%, free amino acids 2.65%-3.90%, tea polyphenols 9.80%-15.05%, catechins 6.10%-9.00%, caffeine 1.81%-2.64%, and water soluble carbohydrates 8.32-9.09 g/100 g. The detection results of amino acid components were consistent with the sensory taste characteristics. (3) In terms of aroma characteristics, a total of 231 volatile compounds were identified. Through OPLS-DA and cluster analysis, 11 core characteristic aroma compounds were screened, including 2-methyl-butanal, 3-methyl-butanal, and trans-β-ionone. Among these, 3-methyl-butanal and 2-methyl-propanal are key components of the fruity aroma, while trans-β-ionone dominates the floral characteristic. (4) Regarding cultivar differences, black teas processed from ‘Fuding Dabaicha’ and ‘Baiye 1’ cultivars possess a cultivar-specific aroma characterized by fruitiness combined with caramel; ‘Jiukengzhong’ features a sweet floral cultivar aroma, and ‘Huangshanzhong’ exhibits a green fragrance cultivar aroma. This study clarifies the quality traits and core evaluation indicators of Taishan black tea, providing theoretical support for the formulation of quality standards, cultivar selection, and optimization of processing technologies.
To achieve high-accuracy inversion of potato leaf area index (LAI) in the complex terrain of Southwest China and explain factors potentially affecting retrieval accuracy from the perspectives of surface spatial heterogeneity and model parameters, this study focused on potato cultivation areas in Zhaojue and Butuo Counties, Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Based on Sentinel-2 imagery, an LAI inversion algorithm integrating the PROSAIL model and a neural network (NN) within SNAP was employed to achieve simple, efficient, and small-sample 10-meter LAI inversion with field validation. A comparison with the 500-m MODIS LAI product was further conducted to assess the advantages of high-resolution LAI in revealing spatial heterogeneity. The results showed that: (1) the 10-meter LAI retrieved using the PROSAIL+NN algorithm exhibited high overall accuracy, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.86 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.28 when compared with field measurements. Regional differences were evident—the retrieval accuracy in Butuo County sample area (RMSE=0.15) exceeded that in Zhaojue County sample area (RMSE=0.38), primarily associated with more complex topography (slopes 1°-14°) and higher surface heterogeneity. (2) Within 500-m pixels, the 10-meter LAI revealed an average within-pixel LAI variance of 2.17, which was 1.6 times the mean LAI of the study area. Furthermore, the maximum and minimum values of the MODIS LAI product were lower by 0.1 and 0.47, respectively, than the corresponding values from this study, and partial null pixels were present. This confirmed that the 10-meter LAI significantly surpasses the traditional 500-meter MODIS LAI product in quantifying spatial heterogeneity and ensuring data completeness. (3) Retrieval accuracy was also constrained by model input parameters: the SNAP default LAI range significantly exceeded the actual potato LAI range, resulting in some anomalous values. Additionally, insufficient representativeness of soil reflectance (ρsoil) and overestimation of the Band 12 reflectance after atmospheric correction (maximum value 0.7, exceeding the model's valid input range of 0.5) increased uncertainty. The PROSAIL+NN inversion method used in this study enables simple and efficient acquisition of 10-meter LAI products, allowing for precise characterization of the spatial heterogeneity in potato growth across the complex topography of Southwest China. With minimal ground measurements, strong mechanistic underpinnings and transferability, this approach can serve as an effective pathway for crop information acquisition in the mountainous regions of Southwest China, supporting digital agriculture, crop monitoring, and agricultural management.
This study aims to address the challenges in the cigar leaf grading process in China, where the lack of mature intelligent grading methods has led to a reliance on manual operations, resulting in inefficiency and inconsistent standards. The goal is to ensure the quality of cigar leaf products. The ‘FX-01’ variety, the main cultivar in Longyan, Fujian, was used as the research material, and a dataset of 8637 images covering nine commonly used acquisition grades was collected. Five state-of-the-art deep learning models (Swin, ViT, ResNet, Beit and ConvNext) were employed to develop intelligent grading models for upper, middle, and lower leaves, respectively. The results showed that all models met the requirements for daily response speed, with the ConvNext and ViT models achieving the best performance on the middle leaf test set, with an average accuracy of 93.3%. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of deep learning-based image technology in the intelligent grading of cigar wrapper leaves and provide technical support and theoretical guidance for further system improvement and mobile deployment, laying a foundation for the automation and standardization of cigar production.
ISSN 1000-6850 (Print)
Started from 1984
Published by: China Association of Agricultural Science Societies
