Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food

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From clay to crops: improving water productivity in rosemary and lavender under sandy soil conditions in South Africa
(Frontiers Media SA, 2026-07-29)
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Stander, Hendrik Barend
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Wolfaardt, Gideon M.
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Goli, Imaneh
Background Increasing irrigation water productivity is a key strategy for achieving sustainable agricultural production. This study evaluated the performance of self-regulating low-energy clay-based irrigation (SLECI) as a sustainable alternative to surface and subsurface drip irrigation under water-scarce sandy field conditions, with a particular focus on quantifying the trade-off between irrigation water productivity and fresh biomass yield. SLECI system is a subsurface irrigation technology that uses microporous clay emitters buried within the crop root zone. Water is released passively in response to soil moisture deficits, as water flows through the clay pores only when soil suction exceeds the retention force of the emitter. This self-regulating mechanism delivers water directly to plant roots without the need for pumps, sensors, or external control systems. Methods The experiment was conducted on newly established, 1-year plantings of rosemary ( Salvia rosmarinus , Tuscan Blue variety) and lavender ( Lavandula stoechas , Hollandia variety) grown under open-field conditions at the Welgevallen Experimental Farm, Stellenbosch, South Africa (33°56′33″ S, 18°51′52″ E), from November 2023 to February 2024, during the hot-dry summer season. Results The highest fresh marketable yield of rosemary was obtained under subsurface drip irrigation (906 kg/ha), while lavender achieved its highest yield under conventional surface drip irrigation (3,625 kg/ha). Although yields under SLECI were lower, this system used substantially less irrigation water (533.2 m 3 /ha) over the 3-month period, compared with surface drip (6,800 m 3 /ha) and subsurface drip irrigation (3,060 m 3 /ha). Irrigation water productivity (IWP) demonstrated the water-saving efficiency of SLECI, producing 0.529 kg of fresh marketable rosemary per m 3 of applied water, nearly 4.5 times higher than surface drip irrigation. Similarly, SLECI achieved an IWP of 1.467 kg/m 3 for lavender, representing a more than 2.7-fold increase compared to surface drip irrigation (0.115 kg/m 3 ). Irrigation technique significantly affected fresh marketable yield. Subsurface drip irrigation and SLECI increased rosemary plant diameter relative to surface drip, whereas subsurface and surface drip irrigation promoted larger lavender plant diameters. Conclusion This study contributes to understanding how clay-based irrigation systems perform under severe sandy soil conditions and provides practical insights into the trade-off between water saving and crop productivity in semi-arid environments.
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Nitrogen and magnesium content of apples available on the Zagreb market.
(2026-10-01)
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ATR-FTIR spectroscopy as a rapid complementary tool for qualitative assessment of mineral fertilizers
(2026-09-15)
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Mitkova, Tatjana
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Lončarić, Zdenko
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Petek, Marko
Complementary analytical methods are crucial for the qualitative assessment of mineral fertilizers commonly applied in agriculture. In this study, both reference substances and fertilizer samples were analyzed using the ATR-FTIR technique. Pure compounds such as ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, and calcium sulfate heptahydrate were first recorded as standards to establish a reference spectral library. Fertilizer samples were ground to a fine powder (<1 mm) and placed on the diamond crystal surface for spectral measurement. The obtained absorption spectra enabled identification of the main components present in the fertilizers and provided a clear comparison with the standard spectra. Although the method allows only qualitative determination of compounds, comparison with the recorded standards provides valuable insights into the composition of the investigated samples. This approach is particularly useful when rapid screening of fertilizers is required without the need for time-consuming wet chemistry analyses. The results demonstrate that ATR-FTIR spectroscopy can serve as a reliable complementary method for routine fertilizer testing, ensuring both quality control and detection of possible adulteration or impurities. Furthermore, when combined with conventional laboratory techniques such as titrimetry, AAS, or ICP-OES, the method contributes to a more comprehensive and accurate characterization of fertilizer composition, ultimately supporting sustainable agricultural practices.
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ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF GRAPE PRODUCTION IN MACEDONIA: THE CASE OF THE SMEDEREVKA VARIETY
(Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food, 2025-06-15)
Elenov, Riste
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Sredojevic, Zorica
In the Republic of North Macedonia are 1,265 thousand hectares of agricultural land, of which about 520 thousand hectares are arable land. Of the total arable land, arable land and gardens account for 80%, meadows for 12%, vineyards for 5% and orchards for 3%. In the area under vineyards, wine varieties account for 70%, of which white varieties account for 40% and red varieties for 60% (State Statistical Office, 2025). The most common white varieties are: Smederevka, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon, and the most common red varieties are: Vranec, Kratošija, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The subject of research in this paper is the production of grapes, the Smederevka variety. The aim of the research is to analyze the results and economic justification of the production of the mentioned grape variety. Data were collected through a survey of 30 grape producers from the Vardar region. The data collected through the survey were processed using the Excel software package. Descriptive statistics indicators were also used. The results of the analysis indicate that the average yield of the Smederevka variety is 18,833 kg/ha, and the average total income is 293,937 denars. In the total income, income from the sale of grapes accounts for 73%, subsidies per area account for 14%, and subsidies per delivered quantities of grapes account for 13%. The average yield rate is 45%, and the average yield threshold is 17,055 kg/ha. The cost price of grapes is the lowest among producers with larger plantings, and they also achieve better operational results. Smaller producers should focus on association, consolidation, and modernization of their capacities, along with continuous education.
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Assessing food waste management in the restaurant sector in the Republic of North Macedonia
(Agricultural Academy, 2026-06-26)
Santa, Dushica; Bogevska, Zvezda; Velinova, Ivana; Srbinovska, Sonja
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Dose-Dependent Effects of Foliar Nano NPK and Zinc on Yield, Antioxidant Capacity, and Metabolic Profile of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
(MDPI AG, 2026-04-03)
S. T. Stojanova, Marina
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Stojanova, Monika
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Demiri, Sani
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A. Djukic, Dragutin
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Kaya, Yalcin
Foliar nanofertilization is increasingly being explored as a strategy to enhance crop nutritional quality; however, dose-dependent physiological and metabolic responses remain insufficiently defined. This study evaluated the effects of conventional NPK (20:20:20) and nano-formulated NPK combined with zinc (3 and 5 g/L) on the mineral composition, bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, and metabolic profile of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L., cv. ‘Dora’) grown under controlled conditions. Physicochemical characterization of the nanofertilizer by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy confirmed nanoscale primary particle size and revealed concentration-dependent aggregation behavior at higher Zn levels. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among treatments in macro- and microelement content, total phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant activity. The application of nano NPK combined with 3 g/L Zn resulted in the highest accumulation of total phenolics, flavonoids, and vitamin C, accompanied by enhanced antioxidant capacity, suggesting stimulation of secondary metabolism. In contrast, the higher Zn concentration (5 g/L) further increased carotenoid content but was associated with elevated proline levels, indicating the onset of physiological stress. Multivariate analyses (PCA and ROC) supported dose-dependent metabolic modulation and confirmed that combinations of selected metabolites contributed to clearer differentiation between fertilization regimes. Overall, the results highlight the existence of an optimal nano-zinc application range that enhances fruit functional quality while avoiding stress-related metabolic imbalance, emphasizing the importance of physicochemical stability in nano-enabled fertilization strategies. While this study focused on a single sweet pepper cultivar, future research should explore other pepper species to evaluate whether similar dose-dependent nano Zn effects are observed.
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КАРАКТЕРИЗАЦИЈА И УТВРДУВАЊЕ НА ГЕНЕТСКА ВАРИЈАБИЛНОСТ ПОМЕЃУ МАКЕДОНСКИ ЛОКАЛНИ ПОПУЛАЦИИ ВЕЗЕНА ПИПЕРКА
(2026-03-24)
Sandeva Atanasova Nadica
Основните цели на ова истражување се преку фенотипска и генотипска карактеризација да се оцени диверзитетот на 189 генотипови македонска везена пиперка (Capsicum spp.), да се утврди влијанието на локацијата врз варијабилноста на морфолошките дескриптори, да се детектираат потенцијални дупликати и да се идентификуваат генотипови со приоритет за долгорочна конзервација и за интегрирање во идни селекциски програми, како и да се препорачаат генотипови соодветни за производство. Фенолошките, морфолошките и продуктивните својства беа оценувани во текот на вегетацијата на три локации и лабораториски по бербата, со примена на стандардизирани меѓународни дескриптори за Capsicum. Фенотипската карактеризација потврди висока разновидност на квалитативните и квантитативните својства во колекцијата. Анализата на квантитативните параметри покажа статистички значајни ефекти на генотипот, локацијата и интеракцијата генотип × локација (p < 0,05). Деновите до никнување се издвоија како релативно стабилен дескриптор, додека деновите до цветање и плодоносење покажаа поголема варијабилност и потенцијал за селекција на раностасни генотипови. Својствата на плодот (должина, ширина, маса и дебелина на перикарп), како и должината на дршката, се потврдија како најинформативни за диференцијација на морфотипови, додека бројот на комори се потврди како претежно генотипски условен и релативно стабилен маркер. Бројот на плодови и приносот по растение се покажаа како директно зависни од условите на надворешната средина, што упатува дека препораките за производство и селекцијата треба да се темелат на стабилност во различни услови. Корелациската анализа покажа дека приносот по растение е најсилно позитивно поврзан со масата на плодот, а потоа со ширината и должината на плодот и со бројот на плодови, при јасен компромис меѓу плодноста и големината/меснатоста на плодот. PCA анализата покажа дека првите четири компоненти објаснуваат 68,94 % од вкупната варијанса, при што најголем удел имаат својствата поврзани со големината на плодот и приносно - фенолошките карактеристики. Првата компонента (PC1; 33,5 %) ја дефинира морфолошката „оска на големина на плод“, додека втората компонента (PC2; 14,72 %) претставува приносно-фенолошка оска. Врз основа на фенотипската дистанца и UPGMA-кластеризацијата беа идентификувани 10 фенотипски кластери со различна внатрешна хомогеност, што е основа за избор на генотипови за конзервација и за селекциско планирање. Генотипската карактеризација со 10 SSR-маркери потврди значаен генетски диверзитет и овозможи идентификација на тесно сродни генотипови/потенцијални дупликати и грубо структурирање на колекцијата. Анализата на генетската дистанца и PCoA укажаа на умерена потструктура со коегзистенција на многу блиски и екстремно дивергентни генотипови. Тестот Мантел покажа отсуство на значајна корелација меѓу фенотипската и генотипската матрица, што потврдува дека двата пристапа се комплементарни и неопходни за прецизно дефинирање на приоритети за конзервација и за валоризација на оваа автохтона гермплазма.
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Spatial distribution of copper in the soils under orchards in the Kumanovo region
(Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Montenegro, 2026-03-31)
Mitkova, Tatjana
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Todorovska Marija
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Phosphorus and iron content in apples in different sales channels
(University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 2025-10-01)
Petek, Marko
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Matilda Povodnik
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Tomislav Karažija
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Šatvar Vrbančić Mihaela
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Phosphorus and iron are essential elements that are necessary for various functions of plants, but also for humans. The apple, Malus × domestica Borkh., is one of the most consumed fruits in the world, also in Croatia. Since the mentioned elements influence the growth and development of the plant and also have certain health effects on humans, the presence of these elements in apples on the Zagreb market should be investigated. After collecting and sampling the apples, the phosphorus content was determined by spectrophotometry and the iron content by atomic absorption spectrometry. Apples from retail chains statistically have the highest average phosphorus content in dry matter (0.14 % P DW), while apples from organic products stores statistically have the highest phosphorus content in fresh weight (27.29 mg P/100 g fresh weight). As for iron, the statistically highest average content in both dry matter and fresh matter was found in apples from retail chains (15.99 mg Fe/kg DM and 0.261 mg Fe/100 g fresh weight). These results could be the consequences of conventional agriculture.
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SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF COPPER (Cu) IN APPLE ORCHARDS IN THE RESEN REGION
(Journal Agriculture and Forestry, 2025-12-15)
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MITKOVA, Tatjana
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PETEK, Marko

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