Soybean is an important crop due to its multiple uses but also due to its agronomic advantages. Regardless of the agrotechnical system practiced, in the success of the crop, a very important role is represented by weed control. Soybeans are sensitive to infestation with weeds both at the early stages of growing season until the plants cover the soil, but also to maturity after the leaves fall. A soil tillage system applied, through its effect on the soil and on weed control, influences the soybean crop. This paper presents the evolution of soybean crop weeds and soybean yield under the influence of soil tillage systems (conventional, minimum tillage and no tillage) and climatic conditions from 2017 to 2021. The soil’s mobilization by plowing significantly reduces the infestation with weeds, especially the perennial ones. Reducing the intensity of the soil tillage system and the depth of tillage causes an increase in the amount of weeding and, especially, perennial weeds. This determines a lower production of soybean crop by 23–243 kg ha⁻¹ in the minimum tillage system and by 675 kg ha⁻¹ in the no-tillage system, compared to the conventional system. Differentiation of the weed control strategy is required depending on the soil tillage system.

The present pilot study investigates the blood biochemical changes induced by hemp seeds in rats with diabetes. The composition of industrial hemp seeds, antioxidant activity, identification and quantification of phenols and fatty acids from hemp oil were determined. The Wistar adult rats used in the experiment were divided into three groups (n = 6) and kept under standard conditions. Group one, the control group (individuals without diabetes), and group two (diabetic individuals) received water and normal food ad libitum, while the third group, also including diabetic individuals, received specific food (hemp seeds) and water ad libitum. Subsequent blood biochemical parameters were determined. Hemp seeds had higher phenol (14 compounds), flavonoids and PUFA contents compared to other plants seeds. In addition, the antioxidant activity in Cannabis sativa was also increased. Moreover, the ratio between n-6 and n-3 was 4.41, ideal for different diseases. Additionally, all biochemical parameters showed significant changes following the treatment. It was shown that high doses of hemp seeds decreased diabetes-induced biochemical damage in rats most probably due to the high content of active compounds. In order to use these seeds in humans, it is essential to find out which hemp compounds are particularly responsible for these effects. Moreover, for the objective investigation of their effects, longer-term studies are needed.

Agronomic systems that can guarantee consistent and sufficient crop yields must be developed and implemented in order to address the problems presented by climate change, especially the increase in average annual temperatures and the unequal distribution of precipitation. Over the course of five successive growing seasons (2019–2024), a Poly-Factorial field experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Research and Development Station (ARDS) Turda, Romania, which is situated in the hilly region of the Transylvanian Plain. The study investigated the combined effects of soil tillage system (conventional tillage—CS; no-tillage—NT) and fertilization strategies (N₄₈P₄₈K₄₈ at sowing vs. N₄₈P₄₈K₄₈ at sowing + N₄₀.₅CaO₁₀.₅MgO₇ applied in early spring at the growth resumption) on the quantitative and qualitative performance of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Results showed a modest yield difference of 206 kg ha⁻¹ between the two tillage systems, favoring conventional tillage. However, the application of additional early-spring fertilization resulted in a significant average yield increase of 338 kg ha⁻¹. Yield variability across the five years ranged from 262 to 1797 kg ha⁻¹, highlighting the strong influence of climatic conditions on crop performance and emphasizing the need for adaptive management practices under changing environmental conditions.

This study, which began in the 2013/2014 agricultural year, aimed to assess the suitability of two soil tillage systems for wheat cultivation: conventional soil tillage (CS), which involved moldboard plowing to a depth of 28 cm followed by a single pass with a rotary harrow to prepare the seedbed, and no-tillage (NT). It also sought to analyze the impacts of these systems on weed infestation levels and, consequently, on yield. A moderate level of fertilization was applied. The experimental field was established with a three-year crop rotation system: soybean–winter wheat–maize. The total number of weed species was 30 in CS, the representative species being Xanthium strumarium, and in NT there were 29 species, with Xanthium strumarium, Cirsium arvense, Bromus tectorum, and Agropyron repens predominating. There was an increase in the number of perennials (dicots and monocots). The total dry matter of weeds was 35.4 t ha⁻¹ in CS and 38.8 t ha⁻¹ in NT. After 11 agricultural years, it was found that there were no significant differences between the two soil tillage systems in terms of wheat yield (6.55 t ha⁻¹ in CS and 6.46 t ha⁻¹ in NT). The uneven rainfall negatively affected wheat growth and favored the spread of weeds, especially dicotyledonous ones.

This study evaluated the long-term effects of soil tillage systems on weed dynamics and maize (Zea mays L.) yield in the Transylvanian Plain, Romania, over an eight-year period (2018–2025). A long-term field experiment was established under a split-plot design with four tillage systems: conventional tillage (CS), minimum tillage with chisel (MTC), minimum tillage with disk (MTD) and no-tillage (NT). Results indicated that reduced soil disturbance significantly increased total weed density, with a clear shift in community structure toward perennial species under conservation tillage systems. Weed infestation ranged from 8 to 9 plants m⁻² in CS to 18–25 plants m⁻² in NT. Maize yield showed a progressive decline with decreasing tillage intensity, from 7283 kg ha⁻¹ in CS to 4725 kg ha⁻¹ in NT. ANOVA results confirmed highly significant effects of tillage system (F = 2451.15; p < 0.001) and year (F = 79.62; p < 0.001), as well as a significant tillage × year interaction (F = 2.15; p < 0.05), indicating temporal variability in treatment responses under changing climatic conditions. Under the specific pedoclimatic conditions of the Transylvanian Plain, reduced tillage systems showed lower maize productivity compared with conventional tillage, indicating that the balance between soil conservation and yield performance depends on local environmental and management conditions.

In order to identify important sources of germplasm that can be used in the hybridization process to obtain specific soybeans, 140 genotypes from Asia and Europe were analyzed. The chemical analyses were performed using spectrophotometry, besides the protein and oil content, one unsatured fatty acid (stearic) and three saturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, linolenic) were determinated. In general, a higher protein content has been identified in Asian material. In terms of fatty acid profile, similar results were obtained in both types of germplasm. ES Indicator and Suinong 35 varieties were identified with the highest values for protein content, while for fat content NS-L50101 genotype and Hefeng 54 varieties were noted. The strong negative relationship identified between protein and oil hightlights that it is difficult to create genotypes that are rich in both parameters. The regression exemplified for the fat and protein content shows that varieties with a protein content of more than 35% and fat higher than 21.75% have not been identified within the European or Asian biological material.