The projected climate change substantially impacts agricultural productivity and global food security. The cropping system models (CSM) can help estimate the effects of the changing climate on current and future crop production. The current study evaluated the impact of a projected climate change under shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) on the grain yield of winter wheat in the North China Plain by adopting the CSM-DSSAT CERES-Wheat model. The model was calibrated and evaluated using observed data of winter wheat experiments from 2015 to 2017 in which nitrogen fertigation was applied to various growth stages of winter wheat. Under the near-term (2021–2040), mid-term (2041–2060), and long-term (2081–2100) SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, the future climate projections were based on five global climate models (GCMs) of the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). The GCMs projected an increase in grain yield with increasing temperature and precipitation in the near-term, mid-term, and long-term projections. In the mid-term, 13% more winter wheat grain yield is predicted under 1.3 °C, and a 33 mm increase in temperature and precipitation, respectively, compared with the baseline period (1995–2014). The increasing CO₂ concentration trends projected an increase in average grain yield from 4 to 6%, 4 to 14%, and 2 to 34% in the near-term, mid-term, and long-term projections, respectively, compared to the baseline. The adaptive strategies were also analyzed, including three irrigation levels (200, 260, and 320 mm), three nitrogen fertilizer rates (275, 330, and 385 kg ha⁻¹), and four sowing times (September 13, September 23, October 3, and October 13). An adaptive strategy experiments indicated that sowing winter wheat on October 3 (traditional planting time) and applying 275 kg ha⁻¹ nitrogen fertilizer and 260 mm irrigation water could positively affect the grain yield in the North China Plain. These findings are beneficial in decision making to adopt and implement the best management practices to mitigate future climate change impacts on wheat grain yields.

Delayed sowing of wheat is a common problem in Punjab that exacerbates serious yield loss. However, individual or combined applications of seed rate and slow-release nitrogen fertilizer significantly impacted their efficacy in improving crop growth and productivity. In this regard, the present study explored the potential of slow-release nitrogen fertilizers (control (CK), simple urea (SU), neem-coated urea (NCU), and sulfur-coated urea (SCU)) to improve the growth, yield, and physiological and biochemical attributes of delayed sown wheat with three seed rate [(100 kg ha⁻¹ (S1), 125 kg ha⁻¹ (S2), and 150 kg ha⁻¹ (S3)]. The study was carried out at the Postgraduate Agricultural Research Station of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in 2018–19 and 2019–20. The study findings revealed that the sulfur-coated urea performed better under S3 seed rate. Combining SCU with S3 significantly increased leaf area index by 0.99 cm² and plant height by 8.24% compared to simple urea, maximum spikelets, and spike length by 3.9 and 3.8 cm, respectively. The SCU with S3 treatment also increased the biological yield by 43% and 41% and the grain yield by 46% in 2018–2019 and 2019–2020, respectively, compared to CK. Similarly, higher N contents in straw and grain were recorded in the interaction of SCU with S3 treatment. Likewise, the SCU with S3 treatment enhanced the physiological attributes, i.e., chlorophyll contents and transpiration rate, by 18% and 25%, respectively, and decreased internal CO₂ by 25.5%, compared to CK. In conclusion, applying sulfur-coated urea with a seed rate of 150 kg ha⁻¹ could be considered a potential strategy for improving the growth and productivity of delayed sown wheat.

Apocynum pictum and Apocynum venetum are two medicinal important halophytes' plants from Xinjiang, China. However, honey derived from these plants, remains unexplored. This study investigated the physicochemical properties, essential elements, enzymatic activity, and metabolomic profiles of both types of honeys. This study identified A. pictum honey significantly higher peroxidase (POD) activity (19.2 ± 1.1 U/g vs. 7.5 ± 0.3 U/g), adenine content (17.5 ± 0.1 mg/g vs. 6.2 ± 0.1 mg/g), and protein levels (13.0 ± 0.5 mg/g vs. 11.2 ± 0.4 mg/g) compared to A. venetum honey. Mineral analysis showed potassium (76.5 ± 1.2 mg/L, 2.8 ± 0.1, 46.0 ± 1.5 mg/L), magnesium, and zinc in A. pictum honey, aligning with its adaptation to arid conditions. Total 735 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), such as flavonoids (diosmetin, chrysin), phenolic acids (homogentisate), and alkaloids (tryptamine), linked to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Thus, approved A. pictum honey superior nutritional and therapeutic values.

Adverse climatic conditions lead toward reduction in agricultural crop production that is a serious threat for global food security. Reduced irradiance in crop season affects plant physiology, growth and yield. To alleviate shade stress, foliar application of thiourea (TU) has not been comprehensively tested on maize. In this regard, a greenhouse study on maize crop was established with different TU application (as foliar) rates; CK (0 mg L⁻¹), T₄ (400 mg L⁻¹), T₈ (800 mg L⁻¹) and T₁₆ (1600 mg L⁻¹) under shaded and non-shaded conditions. The results indicated that TU increased physiologically photosynthetic rate (Pn), biochemically chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and leaf water content. In term of nutrient concentration, stem and leaf nitrogen contents were increased by 18.30% and 23.55% respectively in T₁₆ as compared to CK. Overall, higher amount of TU (T₁₆) increased plant height (5.10%), stem diameter (11.90%), stem fresh weight (5.16%), stem dry weight (5.22%), 100-kernel weight (23.58%) and grain yield (9.08%) than that of CK. However, TU application under shaded environment could not produce similar yield as that of non-shaded plants. Overall, non-shaded plant had 9.71% higher grain yield than that of shaded conditions. But it can be concluded that foliar application of TU at higher concentration could be a promising option to maintain maize productivity under shaded conditions. Furthermore, combination of TU with other plant nutrients should be tested to improve maize growth under shaded conditions.

Droplet impact angle and shear stress are important indicators of surface runoff under sprinkler irrigation, and determining the distribution characteristics of these two indicators on sloping land is of great significance for preventing soil surface erosion. Therefore, three slopes (0, 10%, and 20%) and two directions (uphill and downhill) under a Rainbird LF1200 rotary sprinkler were considered in this study. The distribution of droplet impact angles and shear stresses along the radial direction were investigated under various working conditions. The correlations among the droplet impact angle, shear stress, and distance from the sprinkler were also analyzed. These results indicated that the closer to the sprinkler, the larger the droplet impact angle and the smaller the shear stress, and the two indicators gradually decreased and increased with the increase of distance from the sprinkler, respectively. Accordingly, there was a very high potential for soil surface runoff at the spray jet end. It was also observed that the uphill direction generally had a greater impact angle and less shear stress than flat land, while the downhill direction had exactly the opposite result. However, regardless of the direction, an increase in the slope could intensify its effect on the droplet shear stress and impact angle. Therefore, there is an urgent need to focus on the occurrence of surface runoff in soils with larger slopes. In addition, two radial droplet shear stress distribution models were developed, and it was verified that Model 2 had higher accuracy (MAE = 176.6 N m⁻², MBE = 32.8 N m⁻², and NRMSE = 14.4%) and could be used to predict the average droplet shear stresses at different slopes, directions, and distances from the sprinkler. This study contributes to the soil erosion prevention and the sprinkler irrigation system optimization on sloping land.

Knowledge of the response of growth parameters of almond (Badam) trees to different water supply conditions is important for Badam production. To identify growth parameters that are sensitive to water deficit in almond trees, field experiments were conducted during a median water year to monitor the major growth characteristics of almond trees under different irrigation conditions in Shache County, Xinjiang, China. A field (in-situ) monitoring system was also constructed using various sensors for the continuous and non-destructive monitoring of the growth parameters, such as soil water in the root zone, canopy temperature depression, trunk diameter, and fruit diameter of almond trees. The results confirmed the reliability of the monitoring system. Both canopy temperature depression and the diameter shrinkage of the trunk and fruit were significantly negatively correlated (r values ranging from −0.996 to −0.823) with the irrigation water quantity. This correlation was observed from the young fruit stage to the maturation stage of almond trees, under irrigation conditions representing 50–100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc). These parameters were sensitive (|r| ≥ 0.778) to the water deficit status of almond trees from 14:00 to 18:00 in sunny weather. These results can provide both technical and theoretical support for real-time non-destructive assessment of the water deficit status of almond trees.