COLUMELLA – Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Evapotranspiration of aerobic rice in large weighing lysimeter

Mihály Jancsó — 2022-12-30

Aerobic rice production is an alternative growing method to reduce water consumption of rice and thus increase the water productivity of the system without a significant reduction of yield and quality. Evapotranspiration (ETc) of a Hungarian rice variety, ‘SZV Tünde’ under aerobic conditions was measured in large weighing lysimeter during the growing season in 2020. In our experiment, 506.7 g/m² grain yield and a total above-ground biomass of 1140.4 g/m² were produced with the application of 315.6 mm of irrigation. Water use-efficiency (WUE) based on the water input and the grain yield was 0.65 g/L. Total ETc for the whole season was measured as 648.3 mm. However, ETc values were ranged 2.04-3.86 mm/day, 3.57-7.90 mm/day and 0.90-4.26 mm/day at the initial, mid and end stages, respectively. Crop coefficients for the different periods of the season were calculated as Kc_ini=0.82, Kc_mid=1.40 and Kc_end=0.77. Negative effects of drought can seriously damage rice crop; therefore irrigation scheduling has significant role in successful aerobic rice cultivation. Reliable estimation of evapotranspiration rate in different crop developmental stages can promote this goal.

Characteristics of Groundwater Level in the Szarvas-Békésszentandrás Oxbow Subbasin

Béla Gombos — 2022-12-30

The shallow groundwater has a direct and indirect effect on natural vegetation and agricultural production. The decline in groundwater level (GWL) can have negative impacts. In many areas in Hungary decreasing GWL trends in the last decades were found by earlier studies. In our research we studied the characteristics of groundwater level focusing on our study area, the subbasin of Szarvas-Békésszentandrás Oxbow. We analysed 20 years daily data of groundwater level of eight monitoring wells. Annual course and long term tendencies of groundwater level were examined. In average of 16 years the GWL reaches its maximum in April and its deepest level in autumn (September, October and November depending on the station). Four typical groups of groundwater level courses could be distinguished based on the average depth and seasonal variations of GWL. The year to year GWL variability is larger in January and April compared to July and especially to October. The trends of the middle months of the seasons are almost the same in significance and slope compared to the trends based on yearly mean time series. The differences in trends can be found between stations rather than between the months used for calculations. The larger part of the subbasin can be characterised by decreasing trend in groundwater levels (2002-2020). The change exceeds 1 m at station Szarvas 2832 (144 cm) and Szarvas 2778 (122 cm). However, there is a station with no significant trend, GWL at Csabacsűd 2779 station shows relative stability in yearly average, which is valid for some areas in the eastern part of the subbasin.

Effect of irrigation and water quality on the physiological status of sugar beet and fodder beet using SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter

Ágnes Kun — 2022-12-30

In Hungary, irrigation determines the success of water-intensive beet cultivation. Taking into account the guidelines of the circular economy, we investigated the effect of irrigation with pre-treated nutrient-rich effluent from an intensive catfish-farm on the growth stages of sugar beet and fodder beet. In the two-year-experiment (2020, 2021), two sugar beet (‘Helenika’, ‘Grandiosa’) and two fodder beet (‘Rózsaszín Béta’, ‘Béta Vöröshenger’) cultivars were grown. In addition to the effluent water of the fish farm, the water of the Körös oxbow lake and a mixed water type (1:3 effluent and Körös water, added gypsum) were used for irrigation (sprinkler irrigation methods, 4 replications). The experiment was performed in 64 lysimeter vessels/units (1 m²) in Szarvas. During the research we sought answers to the following questions: (1) whether the onset and length of sugar growth stage and accumulation stage differ depending on water quality, (2) which beet variety has the highest relative chlorophyll content, (3) whether irrigation water quality affected the relative chlorophyll content of beet cultivars. SPAD values measured with the SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter were used to estimate the relative chlorophyll content of beet leaves.

Correlation of secondary salinization and soil conditioning in vegetable production under irrigation with saline water

Arzu Rivera-García — 2022-12-30

Secondary salinization is a main problem around the world due to climate change and intrusion of salts in the soil by improper irrigation. Our aim was to study the soil salinization process by simulating vegetable production under irrigation with saline water (total soluble salt content ⁓700 mg L^-1). We tested 6 different technologies of soil conditioner application and 3 vegetable crops with different sensitivity to salinity in a small plot experiment set up on a meadow chernozem soil. During the irrigation season in 2020, we regularly measured the electric conductivity (EC_a) and the soil moisture content (v/v%) in the topsoil (0.1 m) and analysed these parameters with Pearson’s bivariate correlation method. As our hypothesis, we expected that there is correlation (PCC) among EC_a, soil moisture content, soil conditioning, and providing the possibility to quantify the secondary salinization process. We found that all the 4 biosynthetic soil conditioners technologies minimized the harmful effect of saline irrigation. In the case of the not salt tolerant (NT) peas, the PCC correlation was higher to compost application and control expressing more intense salinization. NT beans showed a weaker correlation with lower PCCs, which must be due to its higher root activity leading to intensive leaching resulting in a lower degree of salinization. In the case of chilli with low salt tolerance (LT), micro dosing of soil conditioners was not effective in mitigating the harmful effect of secondary salinization, only full doses decreased the PCC. The salt tolerance of the investigated vegetable crops was also manifested in the yields. We found that PCC is a suitable statistical method to understand and quantify the process of secondary salinization.

A narrative review on the use of camera traps and machine learning in wildlife research

Hanna Bijl — 2022-12-30

Camera trapping has become an important tool in wildlife research in the past few decades. However, one of its main limiting factors is the processing of data, which is labour-intensive and time-consuming. Consequently, to aid this process, the use of machine learning has increased. A summary is provided on the use of both camera traps and machine learning and the main challenges that come with it by performing a general literature review. Remote cameras can be used in a variety of field applications, including investigating species distribution, disease transmission and vaccination, population estimation, nest predation, animal activity patterns, wildlife crossings, and diet analysis. Camera trapping has many benefits, including being less invasive, allowing for consistent monitoring and simultaneous observation (especially of secretive or aggressive animals even in dangerous or remote areas), providing photo/video evidence, reducing observer bias, and being cost effective. The main issues are that they are subject to their environment, dependent on human placements, can disrupt animal behaviour, need maintenance and repair, have limitations on photographic data, and are sensitive to theft and vandalism. When it comes to machine learning, the main aim is to identify species in camera (trap) images, although emerging technologies can provide individual recognition as well. The downsides in- clude the large amount of annotated data, computer power, and programming and machine learning expertise needed. Nonetheless, camera trapping and machine learning can greatly assist ecologists and conservationists in wildlife research, even more so as technology further develops.

Influence of agricultural effluent irrigation on common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) and garden basil (Ocimum basilicum L.): preliminary results

Noémi Júlia Valkovszki — 2022-12-30

The agricultural costs can be reduced with waste water application. The effect of water quality was tested on several parameters of purslane and basil. Four treatments were applied (Irr0: non-irrigated control; Irr1: effluent water from an intensive African catfish farm; Irr2: diluted effluent water with gypsum; Irr3: Körös-oxbow lake water as irrigated control). Completely random sampling was used, ten plants were measured per treatment.

For basil the benefical effects of Irr3 irrigation were detected; there were significant differences among the treatments. The highest values of the parameters were in Irr3: plant height (47.96 cm), root length (23.22 cm), biomass (164 g plant^-1, fresh floral shoot tip (85.56 g plant^-1), fresh stem (78.44 g plant^-1) and fresh root weight (9.38 g plant^-1). At basil very strong positive correlation was evinced between the biomass, and fresh root weight (p=0.01; Pearson’s r=0.87). The significantly more yield was achieved by irrigation on basil. Irrigation with undiluted effluent water (Irr1: biomass: 124.50 g/plant) is similarly effective to increase yield, as in Irr3.

Assessment of some morphological and physiological parameters in lettuce (Lactuca sativa l.) cultivated in hydroponic system

Dorin Camen — 2022-12-30

Lettuce is a valuable leaf vegetable for a well-balanced diet, since it is rich in nutrient elements, has low calories and provides dietary antioxidants. Compared to soil-based cultivation, the hydroponic system is an alternative associated with a shortening of growing cycles and a reduction of wasted water amount. The aim of this study was to analyze the growth of lettuce plants under hydroponic and soil cultivation systems, during three phenological growth stages (45; 47 and 49) according to BBCH scale. During the study different morphological and physiological parameters were evaluated: Plant height (PH); Stem diameter (SD); Fresh mass (FM); Dry mass (DM); Leaf area (LA); Chlorophyll content (CC); Transpiration rate (TR). The research was carried out using a complete randomized design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of cultivation system and growth stages. Plants grown in hydroponic system presented higher values of most parameters, except for DM and TR. The cultivation system had the highest effect on PH, SD and LA. The highest variation between growth stages were observed for PH, LA and CC. Finally, we can conclude that lettuce plants cultivated under hydroponic system, presented better growth parameters associated with higher head weight and yield.

Macro-, mesoelement and sodium content of plant parts of energy willows irrigated with effluent water of agricultural origin

Ildikó Kolozsvári — 2022-12-30

Irrigation of recycled water can be considered as an element of integrated water management, in which the nutrients in the water are used and decomposed by natural processes, while water retention is realized at the local level. In our study, we used the effluent of an intensive African catfish farm for irrigation. The farm uses thermal water for fish farming, which is characterized by a high sodium content. At the same time, the effluent is rich in organic matter and minerals. The planting of the willow plants in the study area, which is close to 3 ha, took place in the spring of 2014 with a variety candidate 'Naperti'. During the experiment, seven treatments were set up, of which one was non-irrigated, three were irrigated with the water of the Körös oxbow lake and three were irrigated with the effluent water. Three doses of irrigation water (15, 30, 60 mm) were applied to the one-week irrigation intervals with a microspray irrigation system. At the end of the growing season, samples of the plant parts (leaf, stem, root) were collected, during which mineral element analysis was performed with special regard to nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium levels. The results of the study showed a significant difference in macroelements only for nitrogen for all plant parts. However, there was no significant difference in case of the mesoelements. In the case of sodium, compared to the leaf and stem plant samples, the root part accumulated a significant amount of salt, especially in the samples irrigated with 30 mm effluent water, where the Na content reached 521 mg/kg

Investigation of different nutrient levels applied during irrigation in the self-rooted and grafted watermelon production

Patrik Krizsán — 2022-12-30

My work in the form of water-soluble fertilizers for self-rooted and grafted watermelon cultivation, applied simultaneously with irrigation, it concentrates on examining different nutrient levels during the growing season. Within that, I focused on the application of macronutrients - nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium. Therefore, I set up 4 different nutrient levels for both types of seedlings, in two replicates, of which I developed a phosphorus, a nitrogen, and a potassium overweight nutrient level, and a nutrient level in which all three nutrients were in equal proportions. The latter formed the control. For both self-rooted and grafted seedlings, I wondered whether changes in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium would affect, and if so, the positive or negative direction of plant development, or the quality or the weight of the crops.

My research pointed out that at the beginning of the growing season, before or during the first flowering period, higher amounts of phosphorus applied simultaneously with irrigation have a positive effect on the development and yield and quality of grafted plants throughout the growing season. Higher phosphorus content applied by irrigation before and during the first flowering period also promotes flowering of self-rooted plants and improves their crop quality. But in their case, the higher potassium active substance applied during the ripening period has the most positive effect on their yield results.

Respectively, the experiment showed that the nutrients applied during nutrient solution are of great importance.

Sexual differences in morphology and winter diet of the Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) in Hungary

Miranda Imeri — 2022-12-30

Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) is a widely distributed, common species of the Corvidae family. Since magpies have lived close to humans for centuries, we have much information about the species. However, there are few data about morphological and dietary differences between sexes, primarily due to their monomorphic and omnivorous, and opportunistic characteristics. The aim of the study was to analyse the sexual differences in the morphological characteristics, simultaneously provide the body measurements for both sexes with a high level of accuracy and determine the diet composition through stomach content analysis during the winter. The samples were taken from hunting in February of 2020, in Hungary. The linear measurements of body parts (eight variables considered) have been done for all individuals (n=30), and the values were compared between the sexes. The stomach contents were categorized among five main food components, and comparisons of stomach contents and their weights were also performed between males and females. The results concluded that there were no significant differences between the sexes in the studied morphological variables. The dietary analysis revealed that during the winter magpies fed on a range of different food types, with seeds, invertebrates, and vertebrates being the most frequently consumed food. We revealed slight differences between sexes in the consumption of the two latter categories. Our investigations supported earlier findings on the high morphological and dietary similarities of the two sexes also in case of a Hungarian magpie population. These results can serve as a potential basis for further research on magpies in Europe.

Effect of cereal-legume intercrops on the soil enzymatic activity

Attila Rácz — 2022-12-30

Sowing and harvesting cereals with legumes is an old crop production practice. The main goal of cultivation is to make the best use of the area and to increase the quality and yield of the crops. The intercropping of cereals and legumes can stimulate the biological activity of the soil, thus increasing the recycling of soil organic matter. Competition between two or more plants has a positive effect on the nitrogen fixation of legumes. In organic form the soil enzyme activity increasing is more effective which is provided by the winter pea (Pisum sativum L.) in this crop production system. We set up our experiment at the experimental sites of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Plant Production and Agrotechnical Research Station, Szeged-Öthalom and Fülöpszállás in 2020/2021. The experiments were performed on 10 m² plots, in four replicates, with four cereals and one winter pea species, in different phenological phases. We were used fluorescein diacetate to determine the total microbial activity of the soil. As the phenophases progress, the enzymatic activity of the soil decreases, and activity is affected by soil type. The soil enzyme activity was lower on meadow chernozem soil and higher on calcareous meadow soil. Cereal-legume intercrop systems are better able to adapt to drought. The values are higher in cereal-legume intercropping system than in cereals sowed alone. Based on our results, it can be concluded that the enzymatic activity of the soil can be increased by using soil inoculation with bacteria and mycorrhiza fungi preparations.

Marginal note on wastewater recycling margins from the perspective of simultanism of sustainability and technological development

Róbertné Kovács — 2022-12-30

The main feature of our time is the "duality": we demand livable environment, on the other hand we use it in an
unsustainable way to ensure the overflowing comfort of welfare societies. As a result, the use of the environment
– namely the environmental elements and their systems, processes and structures – has now led to overloading
(pollution, damage). So the state of our habitats, reflects our actions, there is no doubt about that. That is, our
activity is an imprint of our thinking. Changing/modification requires innovations that facilitate the development
and application of the embedded technologies of the future, building on the intersubjectivity of individuals.
One of the cornerstones of the European Green Deal is that "economic growth should be decoupled from
resource use". Among our resources, the water – especially drinking water – is a scarce commodity. However,
with prudence, care and ingenuity, we can do a lot to reduce the amount of wastewater.
Our short paper demonstrates, through an example of wastewater recyclability, that increasing volumes are no
longer just a problem to solve. Rather, it is a challenge, and technological development offers a way out of its
trap, so that the society does not have to face the negative effects of declining water supply.

The Effects of Tillage Practices on Water Management of Soybean (Glycine max L.)

Boglárka Bozóki — 2022-12-30

Continuous world population growth imposes the need to produce higher-quality food. Due to the high content of valuable protein and high concentration of carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, soybean (Glycine max L.) is one of the most essential leguminous and oilseed crop that contributes to human alimentation and animal nutrition. This study assesses the possible impacts of soybean seedling development and seeds’ quality indicators correlate to water supply aboveground and in the root zone. The level of water management is crucial in and out of the growing season; however, the increase in temperature may adversely affect climatic conditions. As a consequence of water contained in soil, leguminous crops can improve soil texture and the capacity of minerals if admissible water is available for the crop. Soil tillage is cardinal for agricultural water management; by practising proper tillage continuously, soil properties can increase, and exposedness can decrease in the long term.

Examination of water and salt stress for five different maize hybrids

Ádám Komlósi — 2022-12-30

In today's climatic conditions, the yield-reducing effects of drought are increasingly being felt. Farmers should take every opportunity to mitigate these effects. Irrigation is the easiest and most effective way to eliminate the damage caused by drought, however, a new promising method has also emerged in hybrid production. The production of drought-tolerant hybrids is a new trend that can easily affect the amount and quality of crops to be harvested in a drought year. In the course of the research, we investigate the drought responses of different hybrids, in different water doses, in an environment closed from external precipitation in several replicates.

Effect of precipitation on the nutrient reaction of triticale varieties

István Kristó — 2022-12-30

Triticale is the first man made genus hybrid of wheat and rye. The basic aim of its production was to combine yield potential and grain quality of wheat with the disease and environmental tolerance of rye. In the past decades, triticale crop area has been increasing in Hungary, which climate change has also contributed. The triticale is produce well in dry climatic conditions, so it becomes more and more popular among farmers. Our country is the one of the top 10 triticale producing countries in the World. In the long-term fertilization experiment, at Fülöpszállás, on calcic meadow chernozem soil we carried out experiments in three growing seasons (2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021) with three winter triticale varieties (Hungaro, Mv Talentum, GK Maros,) in 4 replications, on 20 square meter random layout plots. In our experiment, we examined 15 different fertilization treatments, in every year, which can be used as different fertilization strategies. From the results of our experiments, we concluded that the yield of triticale is largely determined by genotype and nutrient supply, which is strongly influenced by the average annual precipitation. In the dry year, the effect of nutrients on yield was greater than in the rainy growing season.

Comparative experiment of various irrigation technologies in maize (Zea mays L.)

Gábor Bencze — 2022-12-30

Development of domestic maize cultivation largely depends on the applied agrotechnics. In keeping the increase in crop increases, the goal is to minimize crop fluctuations, and there is also an important role in the proper water supply. In our country, the yield of maize is a good water supply. The yield of maize can be significantly increased by improving the water supply of the plant. In many areas there are only very few water available for professional irrigation, so it is increasingly need to focus on modern, most water-saving irrigation technologies. In our experiment, we compare two irrigation techniques. The rain-like watering with console and the solenoid valve-controlled tape drip irrigation. Our examinations extend to mapping the properties of maize that can cause changes in the effect of irrigation and, of course, to develop crop quantities available by various irrigation technologies, since these results provide the proper income for the producer. The research was carried in Szarvas, at the school experimental field of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Irrigation and Melioration, in 2020.

Statistical analysis of excess water on drainage systems in the northern part of Serbia

Milica Vranešević — 2022-12-30

Drainage systems in Serbia are mainly designed to evacuate excess water generated in the winter-spring period, which occurs as a result of snow accumulation during the long and wet winter and its sudden melting with the parallel appearance of spring rains. Dimensioning of the drainage system is done in such a way as to satisfy the needs of draining the design excess water, which is usually calculated using the water balance. Applying statistical analysis based on distributions of probability, the results of the future occurrence of excess water can be predicted. The paper tests the distribution that best corresponds to the empirical distribution of excess water obtained by applying the water balance. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Anderson-Darling, and χ2 tests were used to test a number of theoretical distributions, and basis on those tests Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distribution was selected, which is often used in hydrological analyzes. The probabilities of excess water on drainage systems for the return period of 5, 10, 50, and 100 years were obtained. The results of the calculations can be used in the reconstruction of existing drainage systems, since most of them were designed more than 50 years ago, or in the planning and design of new drainage systems.