Water use dynamics of almond and pistachio crops in the Mediterranean region amid climate change

Almond and pistachio are socio-economically significant tree crops grown in California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV). Continuing commercial production with efficient irrigation planning under changing climate requires an extensive understanding of their biophysical interactions such as altered phenology, biomass accumulation, transpiration, and other processes. This study examines the phenology and water use (ETc) responses of almonds […]

Native cover crops enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services in hazelnut orchards

Agroecological restoration aims to restore biodiversity and ecosystem function in agricultural landscapes while sustaining crop production. Adopting native plants as cover crops may restore ecological value to cropping systems such as nut orchards. We focused on Oregon hazelnut orchards and compared how four seed mixes (native annuals, native perennials, conventional cover crops and unseeded controls) […]

Intercropping alfalfa during almond orchard establishment reduces winter soil nitrogen and water losses, provides on‐farm revenue

The ecosystem benefits linked to intercropping and diversified agroecosystems is an area with increasing research interest, particularly in sustainable food production and farm resilience to extreme climate variability. Interrow cropping of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb] orchards during the 3–4 non-bearing, establishment years has potential to advance sustainable […]

Pecan-medicinal crops intercropping improved soil fertility and promoted interactions between soil microorganisms and metabolites

Background: Pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) Koch] is a widely cultivated dried fruit and woody oil tree with high economic value. Continuous sole planting of pecan caused some land to lie idle and deterioration of soil conditions. Tree and medicinal crops intercropping represents an environmental-friendly and economically feasible solution to these issues. Thus, we aimed to […]

Sustainable livelihoods through cashew cultivation: insights from smallholder farmers in the southern region of India

Cashew cultivation has emerged as an important agricultural activity in promoting sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers. The present study investigates the impacts of cashew cultivation on sustainable livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Southern region of India, addressing a significant research gap in the understanding of how this crop affects various aspects of farmers’ lives. […]

Incorporating date palm fibers for sustainable friction composites in vehicle brakes

The demand for eco-friendly materials in automotive components has spurred research into natural fibers as sustainable alternatives for brake pads. This study examines the potential of date palm fibers, particularly the palm frond midrib (PFM), in brake pad composites. The effects of epoxy, PFM, and calcium carbonate on the composites’ mechanical and tribological properties were […]

Phenolic compounds from macadamia husk: An updated focused review of extraction methodologies and antioxidant activities

  This review explores the potential of agri-food waste materials, with a particular focus on macadamia nut by-products. Industrial processing of macadamia nuts yields a significant volume of by-products, including green husk and woody shell. Recent research has highlighted these by-products as readily available, cost-effective rich sources of phenolic compounds, renowned for their potent antioxidant […]

Cashew Nut Shell Waste Derived Graphene Oxide

The particular properties of graphene oxide (GO) make it a material with great technological potential, so it is of great interest to find renewable and eco-friendly sources to satisfy its future demand sustainably. Recently, agricultural waste has been identified as a potential raw material source for producing carbonaceous materials. This study explores the potential of […]