Cereal production is a key component of food security and economic stability in Bangladesh; however, it is increasingly influenced by the interplay between climatic stress and non-climatic pressures, including land-use change and ecological degradation. Nevertheless, no study at the national level has jointly quantified the long-term effects of these drivers. Using a multidisciplinary systematic framework involving detrending of the time series through linear regression, followed by iterative refinement and diagnostic validation of model robustness, this study addresses that gap by evaluating annual data spanning 1961–2022. All 11 explanatory variables were subjected to model selection, which revealed that the final model retained four significant predictors: land under cereal production (LUCP), arable land, observed annual precipitation, and forest area. The results indicate that land-use structure and ecological trade-offs are stronger predictors of cereal yield than annual climatic variability alone. The strongest predictor was forest area (β = −0.607, p < 0.001), followed by LUCP (β = 0.300, p < 0.001) and arable land (β = −0.147, p = 0.012), whereas annual precipitation had an independent effect that remained statistically non-significant (β = 0.037, p = 0.303). These findings imply that climate is not the sole determinant of agricultural productivity; rather, the allocation, management, and transformation of land also play critical roles. This evidence underscores the need for policy priorities to focus on sustainable intensification of existing cereal land, restoration of degraded arable land, and integrated governance of land use. Such an approach will directly contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Olive leaves and two-phase olive pomace (alperujo) are abundant agro-industrial by-products with potential as sustainable sources of bioactive compounds. In this study, aqueous and 70% ethanolic extracts obtained from leaves of the Ascolano and Grappolo cultivars and from alperujo were characterized for their phenolic composition and evaluated for antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella Enteritidis. Phenolic compounds were analyzed by HPLC-UV/Vis, and antimicrobial activity was assessed by broth microdilution and minimum bactericidal concentration assays. In general, ethanolic extracts showed broader phenolic profiles and stronger antimicrobial effects than aqueous extracts, indicating more efficient recovery of active compounds by hydroalcoholic extraction. The ethanolic extract of Grappolo leaves showed the highest antibacterial activity, achieving > 90% inhibition against B. cereus, E. coli, and S. aureus, and was the only extract to exhibit bactericidal activity at 50% against these microorganisms. This extract was also characterized by high hydroxytyrosol content, whereas the ethanolic alperujo extract showed the highest oleuropein concentration. The stronger activity of ethanolic extracts is likely related to their greater ability to solubilize phenolic compounds with antimicrobial relevance, particularly hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein, which may act through membrane disruption, interference with permeability, and impairment of essential cellular functions. Overall, the results support olive leaves and alperujo as promising low-value raw materials for recovering phenolic-rich extracts with potential applications as natural antimicrobial agents in food systems. To improve reproducibility and practical applicability, standardization of extract yield and concentration should be considered in future studies.

Washingtonia fruit, an underutilized Egyptian resource, was characterized as a novel functional ingredient for bakery fortification through comprehensive analyses of chemical composition, minerals, vitamins, phytochemicals, and sensory attributes in flesh and seeds. The flesh exhibits high moisture (13.90%) and fiber (16.77%; p <0.01 vs. seeds), promoting hydration and digestive health, while the seeds provide protein (8.20%), lipids (17.82%), and bioavailable iron/zinc. Prominent phytochemicals include betulin and campesterol (flesh) alongside myristic acid isobutyl ester (seeds), with β-carotene at 33 mg/kg (flesh) and Vitamins A/C in both (HPLC-validated). Sensory optimization revealed that 1-3% flesh powder incorporation significantly enhances cupcake aroma, flavor, and overall acceptability (ANOVA, p<0.05 vs. control), whereas 5% compromise the texture. These findings position Washingtonia fruit as a sustainable antioxidant/nutraceutical source, guiding precise formulations for functional foods amid global demand for natural bakery enhancers.

In the Italian apple market, where consumption is deeply rooted in tradition and innovation increasingly focuses on developing climate-resilient varieties, consumer preferences are evolving accordingly. This study applies principal component analysis (PCA) and best-worst scaling (BWS) methods to identify the key factors driving apple purchasing decisions in a sample of 2,096 Italian consumers and examines how these preferences relate to attitudes towards sustainable and novel apple varieties. Particular attention was given to the influence of food neophobia and neophilia in shaping consumer responses to innovation and sustainability-related attributes. Three clusters were identified: sustainability-oriented innovators valued all three pillars of sustainability, environmental, economic, and social, and showed strong interest in certifications, local origin, and novel varieties, while being less price-sensitive. Sustainability-oriented traditionalists also prioritized environmental and economic sustainability and placed the highest importance on sensory qualities and local origin but were more conservative toward novelty. Sustainability-reluctant, in contrast, showed low interest in sustainability-related attributes, and were more price-driven, assigning relatively greater importance to brand and variety. Findings highlight the heterogeneity in consumer expectations and the central role of sustainability, particularly economic and short supply chain, in shaping preferences. Organoleptic characteristics remain crucial, especially for tradition-oriented consumers, while openness to innovation aligns with stronger engagement in sustainability. These insights have strategic implications for producers, marketers, and policymakers aiming to support sustainable innovation in the fruit sector. Targeted communication and product development strategies should align with the values of distinct consumer profiles to foster a more resilient and sustainable agri-food system.

Indirect prediction of pulp dry matter content (DM) was investigated using near-infrared spectra acquired from fruit stems. The spectral difference between stem and pulp spectra, together with pulp DM, was used to adjust the stem spectra, thereby integrating pulp-related information into the stem spectral data. Partial least squares regression models were developed using unprocessed, preprocessed, and adjusted stem spectra for comparison. The adjusted spectra model achieved a prediction correlation coefficient of 0.828 and a root mean square error of prediction of 1.630%, marginally outperforming the unprocessed and preprocessed models. The best preprocessed model and the adjusted spectra model were subsequently used to build support vector machine classifiers. In binary classification, the adjusted spectra model showed slightly improved performance on the test set, with average accuracy, precision, and recall values of 0.882, 0.833, and 0.923, respectively. This study should be viewed as a proof of concept. Future validation using independent samples from different seasons, orchards, production lots, and environmental conditions is necessary to confirm the robustness and generalizability of the approach.

Precision agriculture (PA) utilizes advanced technological systems to enhance crop productivity and farm efficiency while minimizing negative ecological consequences. Contemporary agricultural challenges, including weeds, plant diseases, pest infestations, inefficient irrigation and soil management, and suboptimal crop practices, have resulted in significant yield losses and negative environmental impacts. These issues are compounded by the rising global demand for food, driven by population growth, and the finite availability of arable land. Addressing these complex problems requires innovative and adaptive solutions. PA offers a viable pathway forward, leveraging its core strengths of flexibility, accuracy, cost-efficiency, and enhanced operational effectiveness to transform production systems. In this article, we examined the convergence of advanced technological systems, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), variable-rate application technologies, remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), to tackle the pressing agricultural constraints imposed by shrinking natural resources and rising global population demands. Additionally, we provided a review of the contemporary status of PA, encompassing recent technological advancements in unmanned aerial systems (drones), sensor networks, and machine learning (ML) applications. The scope for future innovation in this domain is extensive, heralding a transformative phase in agriculture characterized by heightened efficiency and sustainability, which is critical for ensuring global food security.

Black tea is one of the most widely consumed infusions worldwide, whose quality changes during storage due to physicochemical and color changes. However, quantitative prediction of key physicochemical parameters, such as pH and water activity (Aw), during storage has been scarcely explored using hyperspectral imaging and machine learning. This study evaluated visible–near infrared (VIS–NIR) spectra acquired by hyperspectral imaging (HSI) from samples stored under different conditions to predict pH and Aw. A reproducible machine learning pipeline (second-order Savitzky–Golay derivative + standard normal variant (SNV), train–test baseline evaluation followed by stratified cross-validation) was implemented, and PLS, elastic net, random forest, support vector regression (SVR)-radial basis function (RBF), and XGBoost were compared. SVR-RBF showed the best performance (pH R² ≈ 0.94, Aw R² ≈ 0.82). Consensus-based spectral attribution identified relevant bands in the visible (390–550 nm), associated with polyphenolic chromophores, and in the short NIR (870–960 and 980–1000 nm), linked to O–H and C–H overtones. Leave-one-band-out (LOBO) validation revealed minimal variations (ΔR² ≈ 0), confirming informational redundancy and robustness against band exclusion. In conclusion, VIS–NIR combined with machine learning is a potentially effective and portable tool for monitoring critical quality parameters in black tea, reducing the need for recalibration and facilitating the implementation of compact sensors in at-line and on-line applications.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which emerged in late December 2019. The present study assessed the potential of herbs and spices from the Zingiberaceae family to inhibit binding of the wild-type SAR-CoV-2 spike protein to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) using an in vitro binding inhibition assay. From the 21 assessed Zingiberaceae extracts, 10 significantly inhibited binding at 200 µg/mL. The binding inhibitory potential of the extracts did not correlate directly with total phenolic and flavonoid content, but rather with specific phytochemicals (active compounds). Among the tested extracts, B. rotunda extracts from three different sources exhibited significant inhibitory activity (42%–46% non-inhibition). Panduratin A (identified compound) and 4-hydroxypanduratin A (tentatively identified compound) were identified as active compounds responsible for the binding inhibitory activity in B. rotunda extracts. The inhibitory dose-response curve for binding inhibition was obtained for panduratin A, yielding an IC₅₀ of 0.38 µg/mL. Overall, Zingiberaceae plants, especially A. biflorum, B. rotunda, C. aromatic, C. mangga, C. zedoaria, K. parviflora, Kaempferia sp., and Z. montanum, exhibited potent binding inhibitory activity against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry. Although this finding indicates the potential of Zingiberaceae plants as anti-SAR-CoV-2 agents, further research is needed, as the present study was limited to a biochemical assay using the wild-type spike protein. Thus, further validation using clinically relevant SARS-CoV-2 variants, cell-based viral infection models, and in vivo studies is required before antiviral efficacy can be concluded.

Abiotic stresses such as transplant shock and low-temperature events represent major constraints to early crop establishment and productivity in horticultural systems. This study evaluated the effect of the fermentation-derived biostimulant BiH2-B obtained from the exhausted fermentation broth of dark biohydrogen production (BiH2 technology, Biorenova S.p.A.) in mitigating transplant and chilling related stress in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) grown in climatic chambers conditions. In tomatoes, five BiH2-B doses (10–25 L ha⁻¹) were applied via fertigation at and after transplanting; growth and physiological parameters were monitored during early vegetative development. BiH2-B significantly increased leaf chlorophyll (SPAD) and leaf area up to 15 L ha⁻¹, with a maximum leaf area increase of 7.5% and higher aerial fresh biomass at intermediate doses, without affecting the root biomass or inducing phytotoxicity. In peppers, the same application rates (10–25 L ha⁻¹) were foliar-applied as foliar sprays before and after an imposed chilling event (6 ℃ for 48 h). Intermediate rates (12–15 L ha⁻¹) enhanced SPAD (+10.3%) and plant height (7.4%) and markedly reduced chilling injury compared with the untreated control, while higher rates did not provide additional benefits. Overall, these results identify an optimal application range for BiH2-B between 12 and 15 L ha⁻¹ and support the use of fermentation-derived biostimulants as sustainable tools to enhance physiological resilience to abiotic stress in horticultural crops, without exerting a fertilizing effect and in line with the European Union (EU) definition of plant biostimulants.

Effective management of Septoria tritici blotch (STB) remains a major challenge in durum wheat-growing regions, particularly as Triticum durum production continues to suffer from increasing disease pressure. The reduced effectiveness of previously resistant cultivars highlights the urgent need to identify new genetic resources and alternative control strategies. This study evaluated both genetic resistance and biological control approaches to improve STB management. Seven Tunisian durum wheat genotypes, including six previously abandoned due to low productivity, were assessed for their response to STB. Analysis of variance of area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), transformed AUDPC, and percentage of infected leaf area revealed highly significant differences among genotypes, enabling clear discrimination of resistance levels. Across all disease parameters, mean comparisons showed that Beskri, Chetla, and Rommani exhibited consistently high tolerance to STB, whereas Chili and Swabaa Algiaa exhibited a moderate tolerance. In contrast, Jneh Kottifa and Karim were classified as susceptible genotypes, displaying the highest levels of disease severity and disease development. In parallel, the antifungal potential of six plant-derived essential oils was investigated using fumigation and contact bioassays. Essential oils derived from Thymus capitatus, Rosmarinus officinalis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Artemisia herba-alba, and Cinnamomum bark were evaluated at three concentrations (2, 5, and 10 µL for fumigation assays and 20, 40, and 80 µL for contact bioassays) to assess their antifungal activity. In fumigation assays, inhibition of mycelial growth varied depending on oil type and dose. Cinnamomum and Thymus oils achieved complete inhibition at 2 µL, whereas Eucalyptus reached a maximum inhibition of 69% at 10 µL. Artemisia herba-alba showed moderate activity, while Rosmarinus officinalis displayed the lowest effectiveness. In contact bioassays the antifungal activity assessed after 12 days, confirming significant inhibitory effects. Cinnamomum oil caused total inhibition at 20 µL. Eucalyptus oil produced inhibition rates ranging from 63.5% to 100% at volumes between 20 and 80 µL. Artemisia herba-alba exhibited a dose-dependent response, with inhibition between 32.92% and 67.46%, whereas Thymus oil showed limited activity, not exceeding 20.7%. The identification of STB-tolerant Tunisian durum wheat genotypes provides promising new sources of resistance that may offset the declining performance of previously reliable cultivars. Their integration into breeding programs, combined with plant-based antifungal agents, represents a valuable strategy for sustainable and long-term control of Septoria tritici.

In this study, we aimed to explore the scientific literature development of life cycle assessment (LCA) in agri-food value chain analysis, provide a detailed LCA approach implementation at various stages of value chain networks, and propose future research directions and strategies for advancing sustainable agri-food value chains. We used the systematic literature review method and the PRISMA review reporting system with selected scientific research papers from the Scopus database via VosViewer, R-Biblioshiny, and Excel sheet software. Bibliometric analysis revealed that the LCA in the agri-food value chain increased with the three major clusters, and some crucial topics emerged, including waste valorization, a circular economy, and sustainability. Content analysis revealed that the most commonly evaluated commodity was fruit and vegetables, the studies focused on the production stage, and mostly used the economic LCA method. Although the LCA approach has been used to assess agri-food value chains, the simultaneous integration of economic, social, and environmental LCAs is rarely utilized to comprehensively evaluate sustainable agri-food value chains, particularly in the whole-chain system. We found that the method for assessing the agri-food value chain has experienced several developments and adjustments regarding the type of variables utilized, including the economic dimension, social, and environmental LCA. The development of studies refines the method for advancing sustainable agri-food value chain practices in the chain from production-to-consumer. This study provides benefits for strengthening the application of LCA to foster a more sustainable agri-food value chain.

In ruminant production systems, inefficient rumen fermentation may contribute to enteric methane production and suboptimal nitrogen utilization, potentially reducing the efficiency of dietary energy and protein use. The combination of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) and tannin-containing feed ingredients may influence rumen fermentation; however, the magnitude of the response depends on the ingredient source, inclusion level, and fermentation conditions. The present in vitro study investigated how the inclusion of PFAD in mangrove fruit-based tannin wafer rations influences rumen fermentation profiles and nutrient utilization. This study consisted of two stages. Stage 1 evaluated the physical characteristics of the complete-feed wafers prior to in vitro fermentation. Stage 2 conducted an in vitro evaluation of feed wafers, assessing rumen fermentation parameters (pH, NH₃, partial VFA profile), nutrient digestibility (digestibility of nutrient and fiber fractions), microbial activity (protozoan population, microbial biomass, and protein synthesis), and methane gas production. A randomized block design with four treatments was applied: T1 (wafer ration + 4% mangrove fruit), T2 (T1 + 1% PFAD), T3 (T1 + 2% PFAD), and T4 (T1 + 3% PFAD). The result showed that increasing PFAD levels had significant effects (P < 0.05) on improving nutrient and fiber digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, and partial VFA production, while reducing NH₃ concentration, methane production, and protozoa population. Compared with T1, T4 reduced methane production by 32.64% and NH₃ concentration by 21.70%, while increasing microbial protein synthesis by 7.29%. Dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein digestibility increased by 8.91%, 11.20%, and 15.36%, respectively. Overall, 3% PFAD in wafer rations containing 4% mangrove fruit was associated with the most favorable responses among the evaluated treatments, including higher nutrient digestibility and microbial protein synthesis and lower methane production.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the regulatory role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in interspecific interactions in a ginger–pepper intercropping system, using the ginger cultivar ‘Luoping Yellow Ginger’ and the pepper cultivar ‘King 336’ as plant materials. A two-factor pot experiment was conducted involving monoculture versus intercropping and AMF inoculation with Funneliformis mosseae. The results revealed that the mycorrhizal colonization rate was significantly higher in ginger (96.6%) than in pepper (45.0%). AMF inoculation increased the total biomass of ginger in the monoculture by 49.8% and enhanced the dry weight of pepper fruits. However, under intercropping conditions, AMF inoculation did not significantly enhance system productivity, as land equivalent ratio (LER) values (1.03–1.08) did not differ from those of non-inoculated controls (P > 0.05). Instead, AMF inoculation caused a decrease in the partial LER (PLER) of ginger from 0.34 to 0.29 (P < 0.05), whereas the PLER of pepper remained stable at 0.74. Morphologically, AMF promoted root branching and elongation in ginger, while in pepper it induced root thickening and modulated shoot architecture by increasing stem diameter and reducing plant height, leading to a more compact growth habit. Consistent with our hypothesis that AMF would differentially affect the two species and that stronger morphological responses would not necessarily confer competitive advantage, these results demonstrate that AMF does not provide synergistic benefits to this system and that its ecological function is highly dependent on crop combinations. Therefore, its application requires a precise evaluation of interspecific interactions.

This study aimed to develop an effective method for detecting wheat flour contamination in rice flour using near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI), with the goal of supporting raw material quality control and food safety. Rice flour samples contaminated with varying levels (0%–100%) of low-gluten and high-gluten wheat flour were analyzed using NIR-HSI, and classification models were developed using partial least squares–discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The developed models successfully discriminated between pure rice flour and wheat flour–contaminated rice flour. The selected models based on the original spectra achieved classification accuracies of 98.18% and 100.00% for low-gluten and high-gluten wheat flour, respectively, in the independent prediction set. For the low-gluten wheat flour model, sensitivity, specificity, and F1-score values were 97.78%, 100.00%, and 98.88%, respectively, while all classification metrics for the high-gluten wheat flour model were 100.00%. The original spectra provided comparable or better classification performance than the SNV- and second derivative–pretreated spectra. In addition, color maps generated from the PLS-DA models enabled visualization of the spatial distribution of wheat flour contamination across the investigated concentration range. These findings demonstrate the potential of NIR-HSI combined with PLS-DA as a rapid and non-destructive approach for detecting and visualizing wheat flour contamination in rice flour.

γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid naturally present in rice with health benefits. GABA is synthesized through glutamate decarboxylation, facilitated by glutamate decarboxylase, due to drought stress in the environment. This study assesses the effects of drought stress on GABA content in black glutinous rice during vegetative and generative stages, followed by an investigation of rewatering effects at each growth stage. Drought stress was simulated in vivo using PEG-6000 concentrations of 0% and 10%, applied at vegetative and generative stages. In the generative phase, providing 10% PEG-6000 increased GABA content, H₂O₂, and MDA levels, while also causing photosynthetic disruption and chlorophyll reduction. In contrast, due to the rewatering process, GABA production decreased, along with upregulation of GABA-T gene expression during both vegetative and generative stages. These findings suggest that increased GABA production may contribute to tolerance to PEG-induced osmotic stress in black glutinous rice, based on metabolic adjustment, gene expression, and antioxidant activity. Increased GABA accumulation was associated with enhanced physiological and biochemical response to PEG-induced osmotic stress, suggesting that GABA metabolism may contribute to the adaptive response of black glutinous rice under osmotic stress.

Micronutrient deficiency in staple crops is a global health challenge. Simultaneous biofortification with multiple elements (Fe, Zn, Se) provides a critical physiological solution; however, its field efficacy via innovative delivery across diverse genotypes remains underexplored. To evaluate this, a field experiment in Xinxiang, Henan Province, China during the 2024–2025 growing season assessed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-mediated foliar applications. Eight winter wheat varieties received an Fe-Zn-Se cocktail at three application rates (T1–T3) during the heading and filling stages. Results showed highly genotype- and rate-dependent concentrations (P < 0.01), with maximum absolute gains reaching 38.31 mg/kg for Fe (in ZM895), 30.12 mg/kg for Zn (in JZ439), and 0.44 mg/kg for Se (in JZ439). While Fe concentration was primarily genotype driven, Zn and Se levels were highly sensitive to application rates, peaking at T3. Furthermore, this application synergistically increased Cu and Ca without disrupting Mn, Mg, or P homeostasis. Ultimately, successful UAV biofortification requires coupling optimal application rates with responsive genotypes. Varieties LD1, ZM895, and JZ439 demonstrated exceptional multi-element enrichment capacity and are highly recommended for large-scale agricultural programs.

In this study, we aimed to enhance the nutritional and bioactive properties of cookies by utilizing pumpkin peel powder (PPP), a readily available plant waste in Saudi Arabia. Different levels of PPP (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) were used as a substitute for wheat flour in the cookie formulation. The effects on amylograph parameters, physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant properties, color, texture, and sensory attributes were evaluated. PPP exhibited higher levels of lipids (4.90%), ash (6.70%), and crude fiber (17.26%), along with increased redness (a* = 3.27) and yellowness (b* = 31.32) compared to wheat flour. Incorporating 5% to 20% PPP significantly increased lipids, ash, and dietary fiber in the cookies. Regarding color, increasing PPP substitution progressively decreased lightness (L* from 72.68 to 54.44) while increasing redness (a* from 0.54 to 5.10). Texture analysis revealed that PPP incorporation reduced cookie hardness from 12.54 N (control) to 9.99 N at 5% PPP and further to lower values, while fracturability increased from 2.87 mm (control) to 10.92 mm at 20% PPP, indicating improved crispness. The spread factor decreased with higher PPP levels, from 12.65 (control) to 9.98 (20% PPP). The inclusion of PPP improved the antioxidant activity and phenolic content of the cookies, attributed to its scavenging ability (26.95%) and high total phenolic content (10.91 mg GAE/g). Sensory evaluation showed no significant difference between the control cookies and those with 5% and 10% PPP across all attributes. Cookies containing 20% PPP received an overall acceptability score of 6.2 on a 9-point hedonic scale, corresponding to "like slightly," indicating that they were acceptable to panelists, albeit with lower scores for texture, taste, and aroma compared to lower substitution levels. In conclusion, adding up to 20% PPP to cookies is sensorially acceptable and enhances their nutritional value, antioxidant activity, and textural properties, with 5–10% substitution providing the best overall consumer acceptance.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is an important bioactive fatty acid in ruminant milk due to its potential anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antiatherogenic properties. However, milk CLA concentration varies considerably among dairy production systems, and the ruminal mechanisms underlying this variation remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate rumen fermentation characteristics, nutrient digestibility, partial volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles, methane production, and lipid biohydrogenation characteristics of diets associated with extremely high and low milk CLA concentrations. In total, 300 milk samples were collected from dairy farms in Pangalengan, Kebon Pedes, and Kunak. Fifteen diets associated with the highest milk CLA concentrations (>2.4% of milk fat) and fifteen diets associated with the lowest CLA concentrations (<0.92% of milk fat) were selected and reformulated according to field feeding practices. The diets were evaluated using in vitro fermentation and digestibility techniques. Measured parameters included ruminal pH, ammonia, total and partial VFAs, gas and methane production, microbial protein synthesis, nutrient digestibility, and unsaturated fatty acid biohydrogenation indices. Substantial variation was observed among diets in terms of fermentation, digestibility, and lipid metabolism. Total VFA concentration ranged from 93.37 to 144.37 mM, while methane production ranged from 5.03 to 23.31 mL/g dry matter (DM). Dry matter digestibility and organic matter digestibility ranged across 52.68–80.19% and 51.18–80.64%, respectively. Several high-CLA-associated diets exhibited relatively lower acetate-to-propionate ratios (1.80–1.96) and higher incomplete biohydrogenation (IBH) ratios, although substantial overlap occurred between high- and low-CLA-associated diets. This overlap indicated that general fermentation intensity alone could not fully explain CLA variation. Milk CLA variation showed relatively stronger associations with ruminal lipid biohydrogenation characteristics, particularly IBH and the persistence of unsaturated fatty acid intermediates, than with overall fermentation characteristics. However, substantial overlap among diets prevented the identification of a single VFA profile or biohydrogenation index as a consistent characteristic associated with milk CLA concentration.

Sugar beet is an economically important crop, and optimizing potassium (K) fertilization is essential for improving productivity, particularly in sandy soils. In this study, we evaluated the effects of five potassium rates (0, 39.5, 79.1, 118.6, and 158.1 kg K ha⁻¹) on sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) growth, yield, and canopy spectral response under field conditions. Two consecutive seasons (2023/2024 and 2024/2025) were conducted at the National Research Centre experimental farm, El-Behaira, Egypt, using a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Canopy reflectance (350–1100 nm) was measured using an ASD FieldSpec, and vegetation indices (NDVI, CRI1, ARI1, PSRI, and SIPI) were derived to characterize plant physiological status. Potassium application significantly improved agronomic traits and spectral indicators compared with the control, with 118.6 kg K ha⁻¹ providing the most consistent and efficient response across seasons. By improving yield stability and nutrient use efficiency, the proposed potassium management strategy contributes to improving sugar beet productivity and nutrient management efficiency under arid and semi-arid conditions. The combined use of field spectroscopy and conventional growth measurements offers a practical approach for identifying suitable potassium rates and supporting more efficient nutrient management in sandy soil environments.