<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Though profitable crop production can be more simply achieved by using synthetic pesticides, the research of alternative plant protection solutions is necessary. The effect of the volatile oils of cinnamon, thyme, and a copper ingredient fertilizer were tested for their activity against apple scab and powdery mildew in apple orchards in 2014 and 2017. Oils applied alone or in combination were effective against apple scab in 2014 and in 2017 and against powdery mildew on leaves in 2017. The copper ingredient fertilizer product improved the efficacy of the oils. The results of these trials show that the tested volatile oils are suitable candidates for further research and for the development of organic fungicides against the diseases of apple.</abstract>

Faculty of Horticultural Sciences, Department of Plant Pathology

Faculty of Horticultural Sciences, Department of Biometrics and Agricultural Informatics

The efficacy of essential oils against <italic>Venturia inaequalis</italic> (Cooke) G. Winter and <italic>Podosphaera leucotricha</italic> (Ellis &amp; Everh.) E. S. Salmon <italic>in vivo</italic>

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In the last decade, the rate of the industrial usage of fixed-wing and blended wing aircraft has increased. A 1–2-km2 area can be surveyed by such a drone within 30 to 60 minutes, without any special infrastructure, and this can be repeated at any time. This provides an opportunity to conduct automatized surveys and time series data testing, which can be used as a basis to decide specific processes. The state and the development of the plants can be monitored as well as the spread of pests and the efficiency of the procedures that protect against them. During the surveys, thousands of images are taken of the area, which can be converted to a georeferenced large-sized map within 20 to 40 hours, including post-production and a resolution varying from 0.01 to 0.1 cm/pixel. The paper provides a solution to the industrial post-production of these high-quantity data, in which a deep learning-based automated process using Matlab is presented, including a comparison of the results to the GIS data.</abstract>

Automated evaluation of agricultural damage using UAV survey

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The soil loss susceptibility model, made for the Baraolt Depression, offers useful information for the farmers regarding the areas that should be used in a certain way and for a certain purpose, with farming methods which aim at the protection of their most important means of production – soil.</abstract>

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Technical and Human Sciences

Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania

Soil loss susceptibility model of the Baraolt Depression

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Use of biomass energy is on the increase in rural areas of Nigeria, and its use poses serious environmental challenges. The study assessed the awareness of the environmental implications associated with the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources among rural households in Jigawa State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents for the study using structured questionnaire. Collected data were analysed using descriptive (frequency counts, percentage, mean, and rank) and inferential statistics (chi-squared test). The result revealed that the majority of the respondents were male (94.2%), married (90.8%), and between 31 to 40 years, with a mean age of 39.8 years. Results further revealed that the majority of the respondents were farmers (56.7%), had Qur’anic education (71.7%), and earned a monthly income of <strike>N</strike>10,000–<strike>N</strike>20,999 (52.5%), with a mean monthly income of ₦13,816.67. Use of fuel wood (100%) and charcoal (100%) were the dominant biomass energy sources used. Results at the level of awareness revealed that the majority of the respondents (80.8%) had low awareness of the environmental implications associated with the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources. The respondents’ main source of information on the environmental implications associated with the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources were radio (64.17%) and extension agents (54.2%). The high cost of other alternatives, scarcity of refilling stations, scarcity of the alternatives, and lack of funds to purchase other alternatives are some of the major constraint bedevilling the use of non-solid energy sources. Level of education (χ2 = 6.584; p &lt; 0.1) and average monthly income (χ2 = 8.277; p &lt; 0.1) were significantly related to awareness of the environmental implication of the unsustainable use of biomass energy. It is therefore recommended that people should be enlightened on the environmental implications associated with the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources. Furthermore, policies favouring a switch of energy source should be considered.</abstract>

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension

Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development

Department of Environmental Sciences and Toxicology

Awareness of the environmental implications of the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources among rural households in Jigawa State, Nigeria

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">A survey was performed in four locations of Semel District – as follows: Sartenk, Qesir yazdin, Sharia, and Grshin (Bawerde) – by selecting 4 greenhouses planted with cucumber plants (<italic>Cucumis sativus</italic> L.) on each location, during both growing seasons (spring and autumn) of the year 2015. The results showed that the incidence of root-knot disease increased to its maximum level (37.48%) in the autumn season and then decreased to its minimum level (34.67%) in the spring season. According to the surveyed locations, the highest disease incidence (73.05%) was recorded in Sartenk location and the lowest (13.54%) in Sharia location. Results of the interaction between the locations and seasons revealed that the highest disease incidence (80.5%) appeared in Sartenk location during the autumn growing season followed by 65.60% in the same location during the spring growing season, whereas the lowest percentage was reported in Sharia during the spring season (3.47%). Depending on the perineal patterns for species identification of <italic>Meloidogyne</italic> spp. on cucumber plants, results showed the presence of <italic>Meloidogyne javanica</italic> in all surveyed locations. Generally, in one of the greenhouses of Sartenk location, the population density of <italic>M. javanica</italic> reached its maximum level (1,762 nematodes/200 gm soil) in September 2015, while the minimum level (337.5 nematodes/200 gm soil) was recorded in May the same year.</abstract>

Disease incidence, identification, and monthly fluctuations in the population density of root-knot nematodes <italic>Meloidogyne javanica</italic> on cucumber plants in Semel District, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The contribution of beekeeping is perhaps one of the most important income-generating activities for millions of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. This study was intended to assess beekeeping practices and potential in three districts of Afar Region, northern Ethiopia. Primary data were collected from 120 respondents proportionally selected from each district. Semi-structured questionnaire were employed to collect the primary data. Focus-group discussion was also used to support interpretation of the interview data. Basically, descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. All respondents use traditional honey production system despite some recent trials. The mean live colony ownership of the sample beekeepers is 10.08 colonies per household, with a maximum ownership of 62 colonies. The study showed that the annual honey production per beehive varies from 4 to 17 kg, with a mean production of 9.66 kg. The majority of the respondents harvest two times per year, while 18%, 19%, and 14.2% of the respondents harvest three, four, and five times per year respectively. This might be due to the special floral calendar of tropical plants found in the areas. 67.5% of respondents supplement their colonies during dry season. Producers travel more than seven kilometres to sell their honey. On average, beekeepers sell 77.86 kg per year individually, with a range of 0 to 353 kg. The main constraints of honey production in the area are recurrent drought, poor extension service, lack of access to improved technology, deforestation, etc. Therefore, it requires intervention to change the old beekeeping practices through training and introducing improved production systems.</abstract>

Beekeeping practice and honey production potential in Afar Regional State, Ethiopia

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The study determines the physico-chemical parameters of water from Odo-Ebo River with a view to providing information on the effects of discharge from carwash on the River’s water quality. Samples (48) for physico-chemical water quality were collected monthly over a period of an annual cycle (February 2015–January 2016) from four stations, namely: upstream (about 500 m before the carwash), two discharge points (1st and 2nd discharge points), and downstream (about 500 m after the carwash). The discharge points had higher mean values in 9 out of the 13 investigated water quality parameters, especially plant nutrient ions (phosphate, nitrate, and sulphate), with the discharge points significantly differing from the other stations in terms of phosphate concentration and apparent colour. This led to reduction in dissolved oxygen and zooplankton abundance, changes in apparent water colour, and increase in COD at the effluent receiving points. Furthermore, the higher mean values of dissolved oxygen, BOD5, turbidity, and true colour recorded upstream and downstream were reflections of higher biological productivity and organic detritus at these stations as compared to discharge points. The specific presence of some eutrophic species at the discharge points has only further proven the negative effects the effluent from the carwash had on the river, thus posing a potential threat to its aquatic organisms’ diversity. This eutrophication effect was observed downstream as an increase in zooplankton abundance and diversity. Therefore, environmental protection regulations are needed to reduce anthropogenic influence on the rivers in Nigeria.</abstract>

Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies

Department of Environmental Biology and Public Health

Effects of discharge from carwash on the physico-chemical parameters and zooplanktonic abundance of Odo-Ebo River, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The object of the research is developed around the historical gardens belonging to certain historical monuments, more precisely in relation to the palaces and manors of aristocratic families from the Banat area. These gardens are selected according to certain criteria that preserve physical and documentary stylistic and memorial values. The aim of the research is the studying of a frequently met phenomenon both as specialists in the field and as simple citizens, that is, the loss of values of a building and its surroundings, which at the time of their construction had a special historical and architectural value, but with the passing of time they lost some of these values due to political, social, and cultural changes. The gardens, manors, and palaces are testimonies of the past. They present a private and urban lifestyle at a certain social, cultural, and architectural level. This paper has the purpose of investigating these still existing landscape arrangements as well as the main factors that lead to their transformation, their problematics being discussed from its historical, architectural, and social-cultural perspective.</abstract>

The case study of 10 historical gardens in the Banat region

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The goal of the research was to determine the level of abrasion of different types of nozzles during different types of uses and at different pressure values.The experiment assembly consists of an ATOM-300 carried sprayer, manufactured by S.C. TEHNOFAVORIT S.A. Bonţida-Cluj, and a stand for testing the distribution uniformity of the vineyard and orchard sprayers Herbst ED20-900, manufactured by Ernst Herbst Prüftechnik e. K. Hirschbach-Germany.The 4 types of nozzles used were Lechler Ceramic 1.0 and 1.2; Lechler TR 80-30 and Lechler ITR 80-015 with air induction.The measurements were made on a water pressure of 10 bar and 20 bar, and the testing period was equivalent with the duration of a campaign. The study below presents the variations of the debit measured in each type of nozzle according to the time and pressure.</abstract>

Ion Ionescu de la Brad University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine

University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine

Researches on the reliability of spraying machines in vineyards and orchards

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 15 (2023): Issue 1 (December 2023)

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Volume 13 (2021): Issue 1 (December 2021)

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Volume 10 (2018): Issue 1 (December 2018)

Volume 9 (2017): Issue 1 (December 2017)

Volume 8 (2016): Issue 1 (December 2016)

Volume 7 (2015): Issue 1 (December 2015)

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Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Agriculture and Environment

The series Agriculture and Environment publishes exclusively original research papers, review papers, and in some cases technological descriptions (provided that new methods are presented) in various fields of agriculture – with specific focus on plant breeding and protection – and environment, including management, protection, and evaluation.  We particularly encourage empirical field studies addressing cross-scale interactions between agricultural practices and their environment. Papers must have well-elaborated methods, including well-designed replications over the seasons and years. Review papers must have well-documented and current data, including meta-analyses. New methods that include well-designed and modern technologies are encouraged.  All manuscripts are initially screened on their topic suitability. The Journal’s core subject-matter fields/topics include (but are not limited to):    Complex relationships and mechanisms between biological, chemical, and physical features and agroecosystems.  Particular crop production, protection, and their complex interrelations.  Plant–animal interactions in agroecosystems, with particular focus on plant protection, plant breeding, and plant chemical defences.  Abiotic interactions between agroecosystems and the environment (soil, air, water, toxins).  Biological and ecological processes that govern ecosystem services.  Complex relationships between anthropological factors and agroecosystems, including all human impacts on the environment and on agroecosystems.  Empirical studies related to land-use intensification and other human impacts (soil degradation and erosion, water and waste management, and associated mitigation approaches).  Empirical studies on biodiversity conservation, land management, and ecological restoration.  The following topics are discouraged:    Only locally important questionnaire-based surveys made on local populations and plots.  Studies involving only locally important crops.  Surveys on consumers’ preferences and opinions.  Animal breeding and health studies of any form.  Political opinions and any other related surveys.  Studies on theoretical models or methodologies with low application possibilities.   Why Submit  Fast process, strict review.    All submitted papers are screened carefully for their eligibility, checked with highly sophisticated anti-plagiarism software, and authors are informed about the results.  All papers are revised first by the series editors, and a decision on their suitability for any further external review is reported in a few days.  Decisions, based on external reviewers’ submitted reports on the papers, are made within 4–6 weeks.  Papers accepted are published online first within a short period of time.    Papers are published in the Gold Open Access regime – no fees or any charge from authors are requested.   The printed and online versions of the journal are identical.  Rejection Rate    65%    Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process.  Article Processing Charge (APC)  The journal does not have article processing charges (APCs) nor article submission charges. 

Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Agriculture and Environment

Volume 10 (2018): Issue 1 (December 2018)

The efficacy of essential oils against Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) G. Winter and Podosphaera leucotricha (Ellis & Everh.) E. S. Salmon in vivo