The Effect of Nano‐Fertilization With NPK and Spraying With Potassium Silicate on Improving the Physical Characteristics of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) Fruits of Khastawi and Khadhrawi Cultivars

This study was conducted during the 2024 growing season at the Palm Research Station in Al-Zafaraniya, Baghdad, Iraq. A total of 54 uniform date palm trees (Khastawi and Khadhrawi cultivars), approximately 15 years old and planted at 10-m spacing, were selected for experimental treatments. The objective was to evaluate the effects of three concentrations of nano […]

Evaluation of the crop sequence boundary (CSB) dataset for field boundary mapping and spatial overlap analysis supporting pesticide risk assessment

Accurate delineation of field boundaries is essential for translating pixel-level remote sensing data into actionable field-scale agricultural decision-making. This study evaluates the accuracy of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Crop Sequence Boundaries (CSB) dataset, which derives crop field polygons from eight years of Cropland Data Layer (CDL) data by analyzing crop rotation history […]

Effects of introduced macadamia on soil organic carbon and water stocks in subtropical agroforestry systems of southwestern China

Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia)-based agroforestry systems, widely adopted in Yunnan Province, China since 1981, are critical for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. However, their effects on SOC stocks and coupling mechanisms with soil water dynamics remains poorly understood. This study quantified changes in SOC and soil water stocks following the conversion from primary forest to macadamia […]

Mitigating tropical cyclone susceptibility in pecan (Carya illinoinensis) orchards

The production of tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and pecans is a globally important agricultural industry. Climate risk posed to tree nut orchards was recently brought to light by a series of severe tropical cyclone impacts to the primary pecan-producing areas of Georgia, USA which caused $1.2 billion USD in losses. Understanding how […]

From waste to wrap: Pistachio shell powder–reinforced chitosan biocomposite for eco-friendly packaging

Chitosan (Cs) is a biopolymer which has exceptional biocompatibility, biodegradability and antibacterial properties. On the other hand, pistachio shell (Ps) powder is environmentally friendly, sustainable, biodegradable and non-toxic. Therefore, the combination of these two biomaterials may lead to a biocomposite with numerous attractive properties. In this work, we report the preparation and characterization of a […]

Mathematical modeling of powdery mildew disease in cashew plants with optimal control and cost-effectiveness analysis

This study aimed to determine the optimal and cost-effective strategy for controlling powdery mildew disease (PMD) in cashew plants by incorporating resistant varieties, cultural practices, and chemical control into a mathematical model. A deterministic model was developed and analyzed to study the impact of implementing these three time-dependent controls on disease transmission dynamics. Pontryagin’s maximum […]

Carbon-water coupling in California almond orchards: a multi-scale assessment of ecosystem water use efficiency using eddy covariance and remote sensing

Water use efficiency (WUE) at the ecosystem level is a critical ecophysiological indicator that integrates carbon-water coupling processes and provides essential insights for sustainable agriculture in water-limited environments. This study investigated the dynamics of WUE in California almond orchards, a high-value and water-intensive crop system of global economic significance, by combining eddy covariance (EC) measurements […]