Vol. 2 (2026): Precision Crop Production Current Issue
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Articles
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Identifying maize yield drivers using statistical analysis and multilayer perceptron modelling
Views:18Maize yield formation is jointly determined by crop-year conditions, water availability, nutrient management, and their interactions, which may include complex nonlinear relationships. This study aimed to identify the principal agronomic and physiological variables associated with maize yield using classical statistical analyses complemented by multilayer perceptron modelling. Field data collected in Debrecen, Hungary, during 2024–2025 included crop year, irrigation, fertilizer treatment, phenological stage, SPAD chlorophyll readings, and grain yield. Pearson correlation and linear regression quantified individual relationships, while four MLP scenarios evaluated combined predictive effects. Fertilizer was positively associated with yield in both years and irrigation regimes, with the strongest relationship under irrigation in 2025 (r = 0.770; R² = 0.594). The SPAD–yield relationship generally strengthened during crop development, reaching its maximum at R3 under irrigation in 2025 (r = 0.916; R² = 0.839). The best-performing MLP scenario included year, fertilizer, and irrigation, confirming their central role in yield prediction and formation.
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The role of precision farming in crop production’s adaptation to climate change
Views:13As a result of climate change, agricultural production is facing ever-greater challenges, including rising temperatures, changes in the distribution and quantity of precipitation, and an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. The aim of this study is to outline the role of precision farming in adapting to climate change, with a particular focus on remote sensing, drone-based data collection, water and soil management, and the application of vegetation indices. The methodological basis of the research is a comprehensive review of relevant domestic and international literature. The study carries out a comparative assessment of the climate adaptation technologies and practical applications of precision farming, drawing on scientific publications, book chapters, doctoral theses, as well as statistical and specialist data sources. Following a review of the literature, it can be concluded that precision technologies contribute to the continuous monitoring of cropland, the implementation of site-specific interventions and the more efficient use of resources. Vegetation indices – in particular the NDVI, GNDVI, NDRE, NGRDI (VIGreen) and the leaf area index (LAI) – have proved to be particularly important in practical application, as they provide objective information on the current condition of the crop and support evidence-based decision-making regarding cultivation techniques. When combined with an appropriate agronomic approach and state-of-the-art digital technologies, precision farming can significantly increase the adaptability of agriculture, thereby contributing to the realisation of sustainable crop production. From a practical perspective, the findings of this review can facilitate the more targeted selection and application of precision technologies and vegetation indices, thereby directly supporting farmers’ data-driven decision-making, increasing resource efficiency, and mitigating production risks arising from climate change.
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Stimulating maize growth under different water regimes through foliar application of micronutrients
Views:27Drought and nutrient stress constrain maize growth, production and productivity. Precision agricultural tools such as foliar fertilisation and irrigation enhance maize growth through mitigation of stresses at different growth stages. The study conducted at Látókép Crop Production Experimental Site, University of Debrecen, Hungary during year 2023, assessed the physiological and growth performance of two maize hybrids exposed to foliar fertilisation under precision drip irrigation and non-irrigated conditions. Foliar fertilizers composed of; nitrogen (10 g/l), zinc (8 g/l), K2O (8.5 g/l), P2O5 (0.83 g/l), and S (8.93 g/l). Data on plant height, leaf area index (LAI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) were collected at the V12, R1, R4, and R6 analysed using a T-test in Genstat software (12th edition). Results showed significant increases in all parameters at the V12, R1, and R4, but NDVI, LAI, and SPAD declined at R6 under both irrigation and non-irrigated conditions. Foliar fertilisation of the two maize hybrids under precision drip irrigation conditions showed that NDVI and plant height had a significant difference (p < 0.05) while no significance difference was noted for SPAD and leaf area index. The percentage LAI due to foliar fertilisation under irrigated conditions was 16.86% and 18.39% for FAO490 and FAO290 respectively however the effect was slightly higher for FAO290 than FAO490. FAO490 and FAO290 hybrids recorded a 23.45% and 10.05% foliar fertilisation effect respectively over control under non-irrigated conditions. FAO490 hybrid consistently performed better under irrigated conditions compared to FAO290 which performed better under non-irrigated conditions. FAO490 hybrid consistently performed better under irrigated conditions compared to FAO290 which performed better under non-irrigated conditions.
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Evaluating relationships between multi-depth EM38-derived soil electrical conductivity and maize yield under contrasting tillage systems in irrigated conditions
Views:25Soil spatial variability influences crop productivity and is increasingly assessed using electromagnetic induction technologies. This study investigated the spatial and temporal variability of EM38-derived apparent soil electrical conductivity at 0.5 m and 1.0 m depths and its relationship with maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield under contrasting tillage systems in an irrigated production environment in eastern Hungary during the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons. Conductivity measurements were collected during vegetative and cob formation stages using an EM38 sensor operated in vertical dipole mode. Relationships between ECa and maize yield were examined using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and analysis of variance. Significant differences in maize yield were observed among tillage systems in both seasons, with strip tillage producing lower yields than winter ploughing and ripping tillage (p < 0.05). Strong positive correlations were found between conductivity measurements at 0.5 m and 1.0 m depths (r = 0.807–0.928, p < 0.001), indicating consistent spatial conductivity patterns across the soil profile. However, ECa was not significantly correlated with final maize grain yield in either season. These results demonstrate that EM38 sensing effectively characterises soil spatial variability but has limited value as a stand-alone predictor of maize yield under uniformly irrigated conditions.
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Evaluation of the yield and quality of maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) with different genotypes
Views:15The nutritional values of maize – protein, starch and oil content – play a decisive role in its use in industry, animal feed and the food industry. The development of these nutritional characteristics is influenced by numerous factors, including genetic background, crop year, agronomic factors and the ecological environment. By selecting the appropriate hybrid and applying appropriate cultivation techniques, these nutritional parameters can be tailored to different objectives, thereby ensuring economical and sustainable use. Precision technologies enable sustainable, climate-responsive farming and help farmers make faster, real-time, data-driven decisions. In these long-term field trials, smart machinery and tools are used and smart irrigation management ensures an optimal water supply, whilst sensor data supports the reliability of smart decisions. The analyses were aimed at reliably assessing the yield and yield quality of maize hybrids with different genotypes and growth periods (FAO 300, 400, 480) across two different growing seasons. In 2024 and 2025, in an experiment designed to assess field yield potential, the maize hybrids achieved varying but outstanding yields. Based on an analysis of the effects of the growing seasons, it was found that the average yield achieved in the more favourable year of 2024 (19.96 t/ha) significantly exceeded the yield achieved in 2025 (18.44 t/ha) by 1.52 tonnes per hectare. The genotypes studied achieved different yield and nutritional composition results in the years under investigation (2024, 2025). The greatest difference was observed in the FAO 300 hybrid, where, in the favourable growing season (2024), the yield was reliably 3.27 tonnes per hectare higher. The FAO 400 hybrid demonstrates good adaptability; its yield was reliably 1.07 tonnes per hectare higher in 2024 compared with the 2025 result. The FAO 480 hybrid produced an excellent yield, but this did not differ significantly between the two years studied. From a feed perspective, the nutritional values of maize kernels are very important. The starch content of the maize hybrids of different genotypes and maturity stages under investigation was very stable across the two crop years examined (62.18–63.42%). In the favourable growing season (2024), the starch content of the FAO 480 hybrid was favourable (63.15%), but did not differ significantly from that of the shorter-maturing hybrids. In the more favourable growing season (2025), a significant difference was observed only between the starch content of the FAO 300 and FAO 480 hybrids. The starch content of the FAO 300 hybrid was 1.24% higher than that of the FAO 480 hybrid. Protein content is a key characteristic of maize genotypes, and crop years also have a significant effect on it. Analysing the values for the two different crop years examined, it was found that the crop year has a significant effect on the protein content of maize kernels. The oil content of maize kernels is important in animal feed, but is of particular value in industrial processing. The oil content, averaged across the maize hybrids, showed a significant difference between the two crop years.
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