The physical and chemical characteristics of composts of invasive Acacia longifolia and Acacia melanoxylon shrubs were evaluated to identify compost limitations as a substrate component. The bulk density was <0.4 g cm and the total pore space was >85% of the total volume. Air capacity, the easily available water and buffering capacity were also within acceptable recommended values for horticult...

Organic peach production systems in Florida are an attractive option for farmers selling direct-to-consumer, including U-Pick operations. Profitability is contingent upon appropriate cultivar selection, efficient nutrient and water management, preventative pest fruit a price premium during the early market window. This comprehensive 14-page fact sheet includes evidence- producer-based best prac...

The accurate prediction of winter injury caused by low-temperature events is a key component of the effective cultivation of woody and herbaceous perennial plants. A common method employed to visualize geographic patterns in the severity of low-temperature events is to map a climatological variable that closely correlates with plant survival. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Z...

DNA barcoding relies on short and standardized gene regions to identify species. The agricultural and horticultural applications of barcoding such as for marketplace regulation and copyright protection remain poorly explored. This study examines the effectiveness of the standard plant barcode markers (matK and rbcL) for the identification of plant species in private and public nurseries in nort...

Agrochemicals, veterinary drugs, antibiotics and improved feeds can increase the food supply while minimising production costs in various livestock production systems around the world. However, these days, quality-conscious consumers are increasingly seeking environmentally safe, chemical-residue-free healthy foods, along with product traceability and a high standard of animal welfare, which or...

global concern of protection of the environment has led to researches on the effects of plants, natural extracts and organic materials to help maintain the postharvest quality of horticultural crops. throughout the present study, the effects of such natural products as: mint, thyme, savory, rosemary extracts, s-carvone, and humic acid on postharvest life of cut rose flowers, and the potential o...

The effects of land management including sugarcane, horticultural crops (citrus, avocado and banana), forestry (gum, wattle and pine), kikuyu pasture, native forest and native grassland on the size and composition of the earthworm community on sugarcane estates in northern KwaZulu-Natal was investigated. Earthworm numbers followed the order: burnt sugarcane < trashed sugarcane = grassveld = gum...

Nowadays, thousands tons of chemicals material are used to increase agricultural production that provides a risky situation for the communities. Recently, biological or organic agriculture is considered to get rid of such problems. But this style of agriculture is facing with many difficulties and challenges. This study was performed in three phases by using Delphi method. In this regard, the s...

Today, the world faces a major problem called population growth, one of the consequences of which is food shortages. Therefore, organic farming is considered as one of the most effective approaches to responding to the challenges facing human beings in realizing sustainable development. The purpose of this research is to provide a comprehensive model of branding for sensory marketing based on a...

Understanding the fundamental nature of a molecular process or a biological pathway is often a catalyst for the development of new technologies in biology. Indeed, studies from late 1990s to early 2000s have uncovered multiple overlapping but functionally distinct RNA silencing pathways in plants, including the posttranscriptional microRNA and small interfering RNA pathways and the transcriptio...