Article
Agronomy
Wei Xiang, Bo Yan, Yiping Duan, Zhe Tang, Lan Ma, Jiajie Liu, Jiangnan Lv
Summary: In response to the labor-intensive and inefficient decortication of ramie fiber, we have designed a simple automatic ramie decortication machine that meets the requirements and market demand through innovative design and theoretical analysis of key components. We have developed a mathematical model and determined the optimal operating parameters for ramie decortication. Experimental validation has shown that the machine achieves efficient production and meets the standards for ramie fiber. This study lays a theoretical foundation and provides technical support for fully automatic ramie decorticators.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Saikrishnan Ganesh, Sumesh Keerthiveettil Ramakrishnan, Vijayanand Palani, Madhu Sundaram, Nagarajan Sankaranarayanan, Suganya Priyadharshini Ganesan
Summary: This study aimed to optimize the mechanical performance of ramie and kenaf fibers in epoxy composites developed using the hand layup technique, with the conclusion that composites with 10wt% ramie, 10wt% kenaf, and 5wt% benzoyl chloride treatment exhibit good mechanical properties.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Yebin Ju, In Jung Kim, Suhyeung Kim, Ibukunoluwa Fola Olawuyi, Kyung-Min Kim, Soo Rin Kim
Summary: This study demonstrates that alkaline deacetylation prior to acid pretreatment is effective in improving fermentation performance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass. Acetate inhibition can be overcome by this treatment, resulting in increased ethanol productivity.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Velasco-Galilea, Miriam Piles, Yuliaxis Ramayo-Caldas, Juan P. Sanchez
Summary: This study investigated the impact of gut microbiota on rabbit feed efficiency and found that including microbial information in models can improve the prediction of complex phenotypes such as rabbit growth and feed efficiency.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hong Yu, Jiayang Li
Summary: This article highlights the need for a 50% increase in agricultural productivity by the end of this century to address global food challenges. Recent studies have introduced de novo domestication of wild plants as a novel crop breeding strategy.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Mohammad Munir Hossain, Shafiquzzaman Siddiquee, Vijay Kumar
Summary: The study evaluated the feasibility of seawater, freshwater, and municipal wastewater for kenaf retting, showing that these alternative macerating solvents can increase cellulose portions and crystallinity index of kenaf fibers significantly, with municipal wastewater causing the least material losses.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL FIBERS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Raphael Ismagilov, Anvar Shakirzyanov, Valichon Abdulloev
Summary: The main difference in fodder quality among winter rye, triticale, and wheat grains lies in the content of anti-nutritive substances, such as water-soluble pentosans and the viscosity of the aqueous extract. This study aims to make a comparative assessment of the quality of these grains and found that winter wheat has higher protein and starch content compared to winter rye, while winter triticale and wheat show similar levels of arabinoxylans and aqueous extract viscosity. These results have practical implications for fodder production and animal husbandry.
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hongdong Jie, Yushen Ma, De-Yu Xie, Yucheng Jie
Summary: This study investigated the effects of gibberellin and ethylene on the growth and plant metabolism of feeding ramie. The combination of gibberellin and ethylene promoted plant growth and increased biomass, while altering the content of compounds in leaves and stems. Transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses revealed that these changes were associated with multiple plant metabolisms, especially plant secondary metabolism. Genes and metabolites related to lignin and flavonoid biosynthesis were identified, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Marjorie Cellier, Birte L. Nielsen, Christine Duvaux-Ponter, Hannah B. R. Freeman, Rina Hannaford, Briar Murphy, Emma O'Connor, Kevan R. L. Cote, Heather W. W. Neave, Gosia Zobel
Summary: By studying the feeding habits and preferences of goats, their welfare can be improved. The results showed that goats prefer to eat leaves over grass, and the height and type of feeder can affect their feeding posture and choices.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Amir Ghalkhani, Farid Golzardi, Azim Khazaei, Ali Mahrokh, Arpad Illes, Csaba Bojtor, Seyed Mohammad Nasir Mousavi, Adrienn Szeles
Summary: Water scarcity hinders forage crop production in arid and semi-arid regions. This study in Iran evaluated the impact of different irrigation methods and water deficit stress on forage sorghum cultivars. Drip irrigation showed higher forage yield and water-use efficiency, while plant height and leaf-to-stem ratio were suitable indicators for comparing yield and quality. The study recommended growing the Pegah cultivar and compensating for 75% of soil moisture deficiency using drip irrigation to achieve optimal forage yield and quality.
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Qing-Song Xu, Chuan-Quan Li, Xiaoyan Wang, Hongdong Li
Summary: The research proposes an ISSVD method for biclustering analysis in multi-sources datasets, which can handle data of different scales and achieve better performance, suitable for applications in biology, chemistry, and other fields.
CHEMOMETRICS AND INTELLIGENT LABORATORY SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Othman Alqaisi, Eva Schlecht
Summary: This study investigates the impact of changes in feed ingredient prices and availability on dairy ration composition, cost, and methane emissions. As milk production levels increase, the inclusion of alfalfa hay in feed rations decreases, and reducing methane production is associated with higher feed costs.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kenneth R. Szulczyk, Ramez Abubakr Badeeb
Summary: The economic evaluation of using hemp, jatropha, and kenaf as feedstocks for biodiesel production in Malaysia shows that hemp and kenaf are economically feasible and sustainable, while jatropha is not economically viable without valuable coproducts. The production of hemp and kenaf biodiesel also has positive impacts on agricultural employment and carbon dioxide emissions reduction.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
N. M. Zukiwsky, M. Afrouziyeh, F. E. Robinson, M. J. Zuidhof
Summary: The study found that increasing the body weight of female broiler breeders did not reduce feeding and feed-seeking behavior or negatively impact reproductive performance.
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Harry Sisley, Guvenc Dik, James McGree, Paul Corry
Summary: This paper examines the challenges of managing the supply chain for seasonal crops in Australia and introduces a supply chain model that manages the production of multiple crops across different regions. By using deterministic mixed integer programming and a heuristic solution method, the proposed model can solve the problem faster and with less deviation in the planning process.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Textiles
Yu-Fu Wang, Zofija Jankauskiene, Cai-Sheng Qiu, Elvyra Gruzdeviene, Song-Hua Long, Efthymia Alexopoulou, Yuan Guo, Jan Szopa, Dong-Mei Hao, Ana Luisa Fernando, Hui Wang
JOURNAL OF NATURAL FIBERS
(2018)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Moritz Von Cossel, Iris Lewandowski, Berien Elbersen, Igor Staritsky, Michiel Van Eupen, Yasir Iqbal, Stefan Mantel, Danilo Scordia, Giorgio Testa, Salvatore Luciano Cosentino, Oksana Maliarenko, Ioannis Eleftheriadis, Federica Zanetti, Andrea Monti, Dagnija Lazdina, Santa Neimane, Isabelle Lamy, Lisa Ciadamidaro, Marina Sanz, Juan Esteban Carrasco, Pilar Ciria, Ian McCallum, Luisa M. Trindade, Eibertus N. Van Loo, Wolter Elbersen, Ana Luisa Fernando, Eleni G. Papazoglou, Efthymia Alexopoulou
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Federica Zanetti, Terry A. Isbell, Russ W. Gesch, Roque L. Evangelista, Efthymia Alexopoulou, Bryan Moser, Andrea Monti
BIOMASS & BIOENERGY
(2019)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Calliope Panoutsou, Efthymia Alexopoulou
Article
Agronomy
Efthymia Alexopoulou, Federica Zanetti, Eleni G. Papazoglou, Konstantinos Iordanoglou, Andrea Monti
Article
Agronomy
Eleni G. Papazoglou, Efthymia Alexopoulou, George K. Papadopoulos, Garifalia Economou-Antonaka
Review
Energy & Fuels
Ioannis Gazoulis, Panagiotis Kanatas, Panayiota Papastylianou, Alexandros Tataridas, Efthymia Alexopoulou, Ilias Travlos
Summary: Lignocellulosic biomass is a key renewable energy resource for sustainable biofuel production, and weed management strategies play a crucial role in the establishment of lignocellulosic crops like giant miscanthus and switchgrass. Cultural practices, such as delayed planting and increased seeding rates, can enhance the competitiveness of crops against weeds, while mechanical weed control during critical growth stages is essential for effective weed management in crops like sweet sorghum and kenaf. Further research is needed to develop more efficient weed management strategies for these prominent lignocellulosic crops.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Sara Berzuini, Federica Zanetti, Myrsini Christou, Efthymia Alexopoulou, Michal Krzyzaniak, Mariusz J. Stolarski, Federico Ferioli, Andrea Monti
Summary: Crambe, with its high seed oil content and drought tolerance, has attracted attention from the bio-based industry. Field trials in Greece, Poland, and Italy showed that the highest seed yields were in Italy and Greece, while Poland had heavier seeds due to lower temperatures during seed filling.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
K. Maninder Walia, Federica Zanetti, W. Russ Gesch, Michal Krzyzaniak, Christina Eynck, Debbie Puttick, Efi Alexopoulou, Aritz Royo-Esnal, J. Mariusz Stolarski, Terry Isbell, Andrea Monti
Summary: Winter camelina, a multifunctional oilseed crop, shows variability in seed qualitative traits across different environmental conditions. Factors such as growing degree days and precipitation distribution can significantly impact seed oil content, fatty acid composition, and overall seed quality. Consideration of growing conditions is crucial for large scale production of camelina, as climate variables are likely to influence seed quality and suitability for various end-uses.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Francesco Latterini, Walter Stefanoni, Chris Cavalaris, Christos Karamoutis, Luigi Pari, Efthymia Alexopoulou
Summary: The study investigates the use of chemical products to decrease residual moisture in castor plants for mechanical harvesting. It finds that Diquat has a significant effect in reducing capsule moisture, while Glyphosate and Spotlight result in the lowest plant moisture. However, the use of Diquat leads to the highest seed loss from impact.
Article
Agronomy
Luigi Pari, Efthymia Alexopoulou, Walter Stefanoni, Francesco Latterini, Chris Cavalaris, Nadia Palmieri
Summary: This study evaluates the economic and environmental impacts of high-input and low-input castor crop production under Mediterranean climate and farming conditions. The findings show that castor oil produced with high inputs is more sustainable due to its higher yield, while low-input field management reduces greenhouse gas emissions. From an economic perspective, the high-input scenario has the best ratio between economic performance and greenhouse gas emissions.
Article
Agronomy
Chris Cavalaris, Francesco Latterini, Walter Stefanoni, Christos Karamoutis, Luigi Pari, Efthymia Alexopoulou
Summary: This study evaluated the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems and field measurements to assess the effectiveness of three harvest aid chemicals in terminating castor crops and monitoring crop ripening. The results showed that diquat and Spotlight(R) had rapid action, while glyphosate took longer. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) proved to be accurate in predicting moisture content of stems and leaves, while OSAVI and SIPI2 were effective for predicting moisture of capsules.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Walter Stefanoni, Francesco Latterini, Valantis Malkogiannidis, Vlasis Salpiggidis, Efthymia Alexopoulou, Luigi Pari
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of equipping a combine harvester with a sunflower header for the mechanical harvesting of castor beans. The results showed that the sunflower header significantly reduced seed loss and did not negatively affect the cleaning capacity of the combine harvester. This provides an important starting point for the full mechanization of castor bean harvest.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Calliope Panoutsou, Sara Giarola, Dauda Ibrahim, Simone Verzandvoort, Berien Elbersen, Cato Sandford, Chris Malins, Maria Politi, George Vourliotakis, Vigh Eniko Zita, Viktoria Vasary, Efthymia Alexopoulou, Andrea Salimbeni, David Chiaramonti
Summary: Sustainable biofuels are crucial for reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector, especially in aviation, maritime, and heavy-duty industries. This paper explores the potential of cultivating low indirect land use change risk biomass crops in European agro-ecological zones, providing additional feedstocks for biofuels with low environmental impact and economic benefits for farmers.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Review
Agronomy
John Clifton-Brown, Astley Hastings, Moritz von Cossel, Donal Murphy-Bokern, Jon McCalmont, Jeanette Whittaker, Efi Alexopoulou, Stefano Amaducci, Larisa Andronic, Christopher Ashman, Danny Awty-Carroll, Rakesh Bhatia, Lutz Breuer, Salvatore Cosentino, William Cracroft-Eley, Iain Donnison, Berien Elbersen, Andrea Ferrarini, Judith Ford, Joerg Greef, Julie Ingram, Iris Lewandowski, Elena Magenau, Michal Mos, Martin Petrick, Marta Pogrzeba, Paul Robson, Rebecca L. Rowe, Anatolii Sandu, Kai-Uwe Schwarz, Danilo Scordia, Jonathan Scurlock, Anita Shepherd, Judith Thornton, Luisa M. Trindade, Sylvia Vetter, Moritz Wagner, Pei-Chen Wu, Toshihiko Yamada, Andreas Kiesel
Summary: The demand for sustainably produced biomass is expected to increase in order to meet the commitments of COP26 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Perennial biomass crops (PBCs) have shown potential environmental benefits for the growing bioeconomy, but their deployment has been hindered by social, economic, and policy uncertainties.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jingmo Zhou, Shubin Wu, Ying Liu
Summary: Expenditure isolation of lignin and the understanding of its structural variations during different isolation processes are crucial for the high-value utilization of lignin. This study proposed a green deep eutectic solvent (DES) consisting of choline chloride, ethylene glycol, and 4-chlorobenzene sulfonic acid for rapid lignin separation from poplar. The structural variations of DES lignin and its relationship with alkali pre-extraction of hemicellulose were investigated. The results showed that alkali pretreatment enhanced the DES separation of lignin and promoted the cleavage of specific linkages, resulting in reduced molecular weight and thermal stability of isolated DES lignin. Moreover, DES lignin obtained from integrated utilization displayed higher purity and S/G ratio compared to lignin obtained from direct DES treatment.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yuping Li, Ziyan Xie, Yun Huang, Jiangyi Zeng, Chao Yang, Ling Yuan, Ying Wang, Yongqing Li
Summary: In this study, the characteristic flavonoids (CFs) of three licorice species were identified through integrated metabolic and transcriptomic analysis. The key regulators of CF biosynthesis were also identified. These findings provide valuable information for understanding the biosynthesis of CFs and future breeding of Glycyrrhiza varieties.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Xianjie Pan, Zhaoyi Luo, Fanqi Liu, Quanqian Yi, Yanning Zeng
Summary: This study presents a novel strategy for fabricating fully bio-based epoxy vitrimers using peach gum and itaconic acid, which exhibit superior mechanical properties and thermostability. The materials were characterized and the self-healing and recycling capabilities were evaluated. The results demonstrate the potential of using these materials for sustainable industrial applications.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Mohsen Sabzi-Nojadeh, Mohammad Pouresmaeil, Mina Amani, Mehdi Younessi-Hamzekhanlu, Filippo Maggi
Summary: This study shows that inoculating Summer savory plants with endophytic fungus Trichoderma harzianum can improve plant growth and increase salt tolerance. The fungus enhances growth, restores chlorophyll and antioxidant levels, reduces harmful substances, and increases proline and soluble sugar levels, thereby increasing crop productivity in saline conditions.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yu Liu, Lei Li, Aichen Zhao, Xiuming Song, Lulu Wei, Mengdi Fang, Chuchu Zheng, Xiaodong Zhu
Summary: This study investigates the impact of peppermint essential oil microcapsules on the unpleasant odor emissions from wax oil coated wood products. The results show that microcapsules can improve the time and stability of odor release.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Mesut Budak, Mirac Kilic, Hikmet Guenal, Ismail Velik, Mesut Sirri
Summary: This study assessed land suitability for rapeseed production using topography, climate, and soil data by analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the Mamdani Fuzzy Inference System (MFIS). The study area covered land in the Diyarbakir province of southeastern Turkiye. The results indicated the proportions of different land suitability classes and showed the compatibility of AHP and MFIS methods in assessing suitability.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rui Tian, Yue Liu, Chao Wang, Weikun Jiang, Srinivas Janaswamy, Guihua Yang, Xingxiang Ji, Gaojin Lyu
Summary: In this study, hollow and solid lignin nanoparticles were synthesized through self-assembly and their application in PVA nanocomposite films was investigated. The results showed that the presence of hollow lignin nanoparticles in the films resulted in a room-like network structure, while the solid lignin nanoparticles induced different structural changes. The inclusion of LNPs improved the mechanical properties of the films, and both types of LNPs exhibited good hydrophobicity.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Marcos Vinicius Silva de Andrade, Simone Ribeiro Lucho, Renato Delmondez de Castro, Paulo Roberto Ribeiro
Summary: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, commonly known as stevia, is a widely cultivated shrub with highly sweetening metabolites. It has gained significant interest in the food and beverage industries due to its extremely sweet taste and various health benefits. Researchers are currently focused on studying biotechnological strategies to enhance the biosynthesis of stevia plant metabolites for improved cultivation and production.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Eleonora Cintura, Paulina Faria, Luisa Molari, Luca Barbaresi, Dario D'Orazio, Lina Nunes
Summary: This study investigated the properties of Arundo donax as a building material and found that it has strong adaptability, high hygroscopicity, and unique sound absorption behavior. The mechanical tests also demonstrated the applicability of the Arundo donax-based composite. This opens up new possibilities for the further application of Arundo donax-based materials.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Stiina Kotiranta, Juha-Matti Pihlava, Titta Kotilainen, Pauliina Palonen
Summary: The effect of light spectra, particularly far-red and short wavelength radiation, on the growth and secondary metabolites of cannabis is significant. Altering the R:FR ratio can increase the concentration and yield of secondary metabolites, while short wavelength radiation does not significantly affect plant morphology and secondary metabolite concentrations.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Xuze Liu, Fangmin Liang, Jinyuan Cheng, Xuelian Zhou, Jia Wang, Guigan Fang, Kuizhong Shen, Xianzhi Meng, Chen Huang, Arthur J. Ragauskas
Summary: A novel Na2S-facilitated DES pretreatment method was proposed to fractionate moso bamboo, which achieved high lignin removal and preserved most cellulose and hemicellulose with excellent enzymatic digestibility.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Zechun Ren, Xinyuan Zhou, Kejiao Ding, Tong Ji, Hao Sun, Xiang Chi, Yunzhao Wei, Min Xu
Summary: This study prepared a thermal/magnetic/light-triggered multi-stimuli responsive shape memory polymer composite with excellent properties by adding magnetic nanoparticles into a polyurethane composite. The composite showed high shape recovery rate, fast response behavior, and suitability for 3D printing. Controllable external stimuli allowed for dynamic, remote, and precise control of 4D transformations. This work is significant for the design of smart materials and devices.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yurany Camacho Ardila, Jaiver Efren Jaimes Figueroa, Maria Regina Wolf Maciel
Summary: The higher heating value (HHV) and elemental composition are important properties of biomass, and their prediction using proximate and ultimate analysis is accurate.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Xiaohan Chen, Xianke Wang, Lili Shang, Xinxin Ma, Changhua Fang, Benhua Fei, Huanrong Liu, Shuqin Zhang
Summary: This study focuses on the comprehensive characterization of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of bamboo parenchyma and the evaluation of its tensile and compressive properties, as well as the analysis of its failure mechanisms. The study found that the measured tensile strength and elastic modulus of the parenchyma tissue are 48.81 MPa and 706.48 MPa, respectively. Compression failure modes in parenchyma tissue encompass compression bending and cell fracture, shear failure of the middle lamella, and detachment and debonding of the cell wall.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Tianfeng Liu, Yuxin Liu, Yunlin Fu, Mengji Qiao, Penglian Wei, Zhigao Liu, Yingjian Li
Summary: This study explored the formation mechanism of agarwood induced by fungus and its potential application in high-quality and high-yielding agarwood production. The results showed that the transition layer played a critical role in the continuous accumulation of agarwood, and the parenchyma cells of the xylem rays and interxylary phloem were the main action site of fungus. The accumulation and distribution of chemical composition in different layers were also investigated. The study identified the drivers of specific compounds and provided a theoretical foundation for future agarwood production.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2024)