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• Agrometeorological characteristics of the 2025 maize growing season in the Debrecen region

  45-55

  Béla Gombos

  János Nagy

  Views:

  158

  In Hungary, soil drought, atmospheric drought, and extremely high temperatures often interact in complex ways to cause significant maize yield losses, so the issue of drought was also the focus of the agrometeorological study for 2025. As in previous years, the main meteorological factors determining crop yield were analysed and the weather in the Debrecen region was evaluated in relation to the individual phenological phases.
  At the beginning of the growing season, the upper soil layers were saturated with water, but slightly less water than usual reached the deeper layers. April, which is favorable for maize (sowing and germination period), was followed by a particularly cool May, significantly slowing down plant development. Due to the very dry, very hot June, signs of water stress were already visible to the naked eye in the second half of the month (plant height, leaf condition), as a result of increasing soil drought and regular atmospheric drought during the daytime. July proved to be favorable with rainy and moderately warm weather, which was the main reason why the average maize yield was above average. In line with previous research results, this year's harvest proves that the seemingly extremely unfavorable weather in June does not in itself prevent above-average yields.

• Prospectives of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) production in the context of its drought and salt tolerance

  121-137

  József Zsembeli

  Mawia Sobh

  Views:

  89

  Unfavourable climatic and soil conditions, as well as climate change, force us to grow crops that are inherently resistant to abiotic stresses, thus ensuring the maintenance of food security. Legumes are the second most important food source after cereals. Legumes are preferred not only for their nutritional (mainly high protein content) and health (bioactive compounds) value but also for their economic (cheap meat replacement, especially in poorer regions) and ecological (nitrogen fixation) advantages. This study is intended to analyse the significance of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.), with special regard to its drought and salt tolerance. Grass pea is a plant with a short growth cycle, which has excellent adaptability to adverse environmental factors. Thanks to its drought, cold, and moderate salt tolerance, grass pea can be grown in diverse climatic and soil conditions, even in places where other cultivated plants cannot. The production and breeding of drought- and salt-tolerant grass pea varieties should be considered in many places to adapt to abiotic environmental stress factors and maintain production capacity.

• Effects of fertilisation frequency on the development of 'Australian yellow leaf' lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa) under aeroponic cultivation

  23-43

  Edit Gorliczay

  Kornélia Montvai

  János Tamás

  Attila Nagy

  Views:

  53

  The high nutritional value and mineral content of lettuce has attracted the interest of many researchers in indoor experiments. Therefore, in our research, we chose ’Australian yellow leaf’ lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa) as the experimental plant. In aeroponic systems, the droplet size, the intensity of the nutrient application and the light are the most important parameters that determine the physical and nutritional parameters of the plants. Based on these, the aim of the study was to determine the effect of different nutrient application intensities on aeroponically grown ’Australian yellow leaf’ lettuce. Four treatments were set up in the aeroponic system (AeroFlo20) which means 1st treatment – 10×15 min/day, 2nd treatment – 8×8 min/day, 3rd treatment – 4×15 min/day, 4th treatment – 2×30 min/day. During the nine weeks of the experiment, leaf number (pcs/plant) and root length (cm) development, total chlorophyll (µg/g) and carotenoid content (µg/g), water potential (bar) and stress parameters (Fv/Fm, Fv/Fo) were measured. Based on our results, it can be concluded that leaf number, plant height and root length increased with decreasing nutrient application intensity in ’Australian yellow leaf’ lettuce, so that 30 min of nutrient application twice daily is sufficient if these parameters are taken into account. In the case of water potential, significantly higher values were obtained for the treatment with most daily nutrient applications (10 times 15 min/day) (-3.72±0.33 bar) than for the treatment where plants were given nutrient solution twice a day (p<0.05).

• Examination of drought tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.)

  43-46

  Zoltán Futó

  Views:

  63

  The experiments were set up in the foil tent in Szarvas, at the Galambos experimental site belonging to the MATE KÖTI Department of Irrigation Development and Land Improvement. 10 liter white plastic buckets were used as cultivation pot. The diameter of the bucket is 27.5 cm, so the ground surface is 593.6 cm2. The wheat experiment was set up on November 4, 2020, with 3 wheat varieties, at 3 water supply levels (Field Water Capacity „FWC”; FWC40%, FWC60% and FWC80%) in 3 repetitions, in a total of 27 cultivation pots. The maize experiment was set up on April 19, 2021, with 5 maize hybrids, at 3 water supply levels, in 3 repetitions, in a total of 45 cultivation pots.
  In the soil we use, the amount of parts that can be silted is 31.6%, so it is a sandy loam physical type soil, the chemistry is weakly acidic (pHH2O 6.54), based on the total salt content soluble in water, it has a low salt content (salt%<0.1).
  In the experiment, the drought tolerance of 3 different wheat varieties (MV Nemere, GK Szilárd and Sothys) and 5 maize hybrids (GKT 4486 (Lehel), GK SILOSTAR, GKT 372, GKT 376, GKT 3385) was investigated under conditions deprived of natural precipitation.
  The following phenological parameters were measured in the experiment: Relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) with a Konica SPAD 501 instrument, Leaf area (cm2) (CI-203 Handheld Laser Leaf Area Meter), Leaf area index (LAI m2/m2), Plant height (cm), Leaf and stem weight (g), Root weight (g), Ear/Tube weight (g) and yielding parameters.
  In the experiment, all three wheat varieties responded very well to the increase in water content. Total biomass and root mass also increased, but the change from FWC40% to FWC60% was on a larger scale than from FWC60% to FWC80%.
  When examining the amount of grain yield, in the case of the lowest water supply (FWC40%), the most yield was produced by Sothys (34.15 g/cultivation pot; 5.75 t/ha), while the lowest yield was given by Mv Nemere (26.69 g/cultivation pot); 4.50 t/ha). The largest yields were obtained in the case of the best water supply. Sothys produced a very good yield (69.58 g/cultivation pot; 11.72 t/ha) with a water supply of FWC80%, and the lowest yield here was also achieved by MV Nemere (56.70 g/cultivation pot; 9.55 t/ha) with yield.
  The quality test results of the wheat showed that the quality parameters of the three investigated varieties uniformly deteriorated as a result of the increased water supply. The value of the larger amount of available water increases the yields, which negatively affected the quality.
  From the results of the maize experiment, it can be deduced that the chlorophyll content of the maize hybrids was higher with good and average water supply (FWC80% and FWC60%), and that the hybrids remained green longer and photosynthesized longer, that is, the growing time of the maize hybrids was extended with good water supply.
  In dry conditions (FWC40%), the performance of two hybrids was outstanding. Under these conditions, the maize hybrids GKT 372 and GKT 376 gave 65% more cob mass than the hybrids following them. The other important investigated property is the "irrigation reaction" of the hybrids. Based on our tests, GK SILOSTAR is a maize hybrid with a good reaction to irrigation but sensitive to drought, while GKT 376 is a maize hybrid with an excellent reaction to irrigation and also drought tolerance.

• Analysis of nutrient, heat and water deficit stress by reflectance and fluorescence measurements in sunflower plants

  25-42

  Kristóf Bene

  Ágota Besenyei

  Ádám Mészáros

  Szilvia Fóti

  De Luca Giulia

  János Balogh

  Views:

  59

  During the experiment we used several types of data collection, reflectance measurements, fluorescence measurements, photosynthesis measurements and pigment content measurements. We calculated vegetation indices from the reflectance spectra and selected the most useful ones from the fluorescence data. Photosynthesis and pigment content measurements were correlated with vegetation indices. Among the indices, the VIgreen index proved to be effective in detecting and partitioning abiotic stresses and in determining nitrogen supply. The PRI index correlated best with the level of photosynthesis and the mNDVI index showed a strong correlation with pigment content.
  By examining several fluorescence parameters, we conclude that the Fs value can be useful for detecting water stress, especially when measured in parallel with reflectance measurements from which the sensitivity to senescence index (PSRI) can be calculated.
  This observation may also be useful in field conditions, as short-term water deficit stress increases, while long-term stress decreases (due to loss of pigmentation) fluorescence (Fs).

• Evaluation of maize (Zea mays L.) parameters in different phenophases as a function of heat sums in irrigated production

  85-103

  Hella Kalina

  János Nagy

  Views:

  286

  In Hungary, maize is one of the most widely grown crops, with a stable area of 0.8–1 million hectares. The reason for this is the exceptional yield of the crop, which allows a significant amount of value to be produced per unit area. Domestic production is mainly used for animal feed, particularly in the poultry and pig sectors, and for feeding ruminants. Its use is not only as food or fodder crops, but is also increasingly important for the production of oil, bioethanol and energy. The intrinsic values of maize – protein, starch and oil – are crucial for its use in industry, feed and food. The nutrient supply of maize is essential to ensure plant development. Adequate nutrient supply is essential to ensure sustainable farming and high yields. The nutrient rates applied must be adapted to the needs of the crop so that the hybrids tolerate stress caused by seasonal effects well and yield security is maintained.
  Water deficit is one of the most serious abiotic stresses that negatively affect plant growth, development and yield. Extreme weather conditions reduce yields and threaten stable production. The content, quality and industrial use of maize are closely linked to genetic, ecological and agrotechnical factors. By selecting the appropriate hybrid and applying the appropriate cultivation technology, yield indicators can be adapted to different purposes. In the agrotechnical studies for 2024, the main yield determinants were analysed, and weather was evaluated for each agrotechnical element and phenophase. The research is mainly based on meteorological measurements at the Látókép Experimental Station of the University of Debrecen. In the winter period 2023/24, 283 mm of precipitation fell in 6 months, 69 mm above the long-term average. In June, the weather was free of extremes, with evenly distributed temperatures, but above the multi-year average. The above average rainfall (66 mm), combined with soil moisture in the deeper layers of the soil, ensured a good water supply.
  The average temperatures in both July and August were close to record highs (24.2 °C). The exceptional warmth in August (mid to late August) was mainly due to the shortening of the ripening phase. The 29 mm of precipitation in July was less than half the multi-year average and the following month of August was also dry (33 mm). The summer total was 128 mm. In early September, the unseasonably warm weather continued, with the first decade showing a positive anomaly of nearly 7 °C. The physiological maturity of the maize and its rapid drainage and drying allowed early harvesting. The year 2024 was marked by a marked dichotomy in terms of maize production.
  Our field maize experiments allowed us to record the phenophases of the plants throughout the growing season (Hanway scale). As a new result, our analyses showed that, especially in the generative phase, more accurate data were obtained when taking into account the useful heat sum (HU) calculations. From emergence to silking, 60 days passed using 545 HU of heat sum. From silking to waxy maturation (R4) 32 days and 422 HU were needed. It was found that from silking to physiological maturation, typical of the genotype, 815 HU were required. The yield of maize hybrid H470 under irrigation is excellent (20.76 t/ha). The dry matter incorporation dynamics of the hybrid is outstanding. Dry matter gain was measured weekly. At the physiological maturation phenophase (30 August 2024), using 1360 HU, the dry matter content was 77.1%. The dry matter measurements allowed the evaluation of the water loss dynamics of a maize hybrid with excellent yield potential. Measurements and analyses were performed every seven days. The water loss rate was 5.5% in the first week, 5.8% in the second week, 4.6% in the third week and 6.9% in the fourth week. At physiological maturation, grain moisture showed a favourable value (22.9%). After physiological maturation, the daily water loss was 0.23% during the 21-day period.

• Evaluation of the effects of silicon and sulfur treatments on the vegetative growth and root morphological characteristics of winter oats

  19-34

  Fanni Zsuzsa Forgács

  István Csaba Virág

  Erika Tünde Kutasy

  Views:

  60

  Oats are one of the world’s major feed and food crops, possessing outstanding nutritional value. The development of the plant’s root system plays a decisive role in nutrient uptake, thereby indirectly influencing crop yield as well. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of silicon, sulfur, and the combined application of these nutrients on the vegetative development of winter oats in a pot experiment under natural weather conditions—with the exception of water supply - in a non-controlled environment.
  Sulfur (S) is an essential nutrient, as it is a component of the amino acids cysteine and methionine, making it vital for protein synthesis, and it plays an important role in enzymatic processes and plant defense mechanisms. Silicon (Si) is generally not considered an essential element; however, it has been shown to have numerous beneficial physiological effects in cereal crops, as it increases plant strength by incorporating into the cell wall and improves plants’ resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. The combined use of these two elements can result in a synergistic effect. Due to the effects of climate change in Hungary, the use of technological elements to mitigate plant stress is becoming increasingly important; foliar fertilizers containing sulfur and silicon can serve as a good alternative, thereby enhancing yield stability even under less predictable climatic conditions. The studies were conducted using instrumental measurements and objective analytical methods
  Based on our results, plants treated with silicon and sulfur showed the most favorable SPAD values, while no detectable difference was observed among treatments in terms of NDVI values. When examining plant height, the combined treatment yielded the highest average values, similarly to the tillering rate; however, these differences were not statistically significant compared to the control. For root length, the highest average values were also measured with the combined treatment, which was statistically significantly different from the results of the other treatments. Regarding root mass, the sulfur treatment yielded the highest values; however, in this case, the difference was not significant. Based on the results of our experiment, it can be concluded that the use of the combined treatment had a positive effect on SPAD, plant height, tillering rate, and root length, promoting plant growth and thereby indirectly influencing crop yield.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) in precision agriculture

  87-104

  Ottó Dorogházi

  Views:

  62

  Artificial Intelligence (AI) is opening a new era in agriculture, particularly in the field of precision farming. This paper aims to provide an insightful overview of how AI technologies can be applied to yield prediction, crop health monitoring, and early pest and disease detection. Findings from international research clearly indicate that those countries and producers who adopt these tools early will gain a long-term competitive advantage.
  The Hungarian agricultural sector faces increasing challenges: climate change, labor shortages, and market pressure. AI-based tools offer solutions through automation, precision, and cost efficiency. However, implementation requires not only access to technology but also a clear understanding, practical examples, and local case studies that demonstrate how AI works under Hungarian conditions and supports Hungarian farmers.
  The future lies not only in technology but in its comprehension. Therefore, review articles like this one play a key role in bridging the gap between science and farm-level decision-making. The methods and models discussed here provide a foundation for developing domestic case studies and decision-support systems that directly benefit farmers in their everyday operations.

• Harvest time evaluation of sweet maize (Zea mays L. convar. saccharata Koern) hybrids based on dry matter and sucrose yield dynamics

  53-68

  János Nagy

  Cintia Demeter

  Zsuzsanna Bakos

  Károly Simon

  Hajer Mohamed Ibrahim Sidahmed

  Views:

  145

  Hungarian sweet maize production, in demand worldwide, averages 500,000 tonnes over several years, thanks to well-chosen precision farming technology. In agriculture, the success of sweet maize production is influenced by many factors, and therefore we are constantly faced with practical challenges. Limited data are available on the dynamics of sugar accumulation in plants, especially under abiotic stress. We investigated a sweet maize hybrid for public cultivation in an experiment set up on the campus of the University of Debrecen, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management. Quality parameters were determined from grain samples taken at harvest under laboratory conditions at the Agricultural Instrument Centre of the Faculty. In our sweet maize field experiment, dry matter content and sucrose content were measured in grain samples taken at four sampling times. Based on our measurement results, we found that the dry matter gain dynamics of the four examined sweet maize hybrids were different, all with linear increasing trends. Based on our research results, we demonstrated that dry matter and sucrose yields of all four hybrids were most favourable for harvesting at the third sampling time. Compared to the first sampling date, in two weeks, dry matter yield increased by 46% and sucrose content tripled in a tonne of sweet maize grain yield. Thereafter, dry matter and sucrose gains slowed down.