This study sought to determine the effects of foliar fertilization (FF) on both the quantity and quality of maize grains using principal component analysis (PCA). This chemometric approach enabled the selection of the best foliar treatment model for enhancing maize yield and quality. The results were analyzed via PCA, providing valuable insights into identifying the FF recipe with the greatest influence on maize grain production and quality. These field experiments were run during the time period 2020–2022 in the university’s experimental field. Seven experimental variants with three repetitions were tested, including a control group and various FF formulations labeled V1 through V7, each with different chemical compositions. FF applications were conducted during specific vegetative phases of the maize, respectively, in stages 15–16 BBCH (5–6 unfolded leaves) and 20–22 BBCH (10–12 unfolded leaves), with application rates varying from 2 to 6 Lha¹ according to the product’s chemical properties. The application of FF treatments positively impacted both the production and quality of maize grains, as evidenced by specific quality indices such as moisture, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, fiber, and mineral content.

The aim of the paper is to assess the impact of Foliar Fertilizations (FF) on the yield and quality of sunflower seeds. This research was carried out in the agricultural years of 2019–2021 in the experimental field of the university. The method of planting in the field was carried out in subdivided plots with three repetitions and six fertilization options. The experimental variants were as follows: Control (Mt), V1—FF 10:10:10+ME (microelements), V2—FF 8:10:0+8B (Boron)+ME, V3—FF 15:0:0+2S (Sulfur)+1B+ME, V4—FF 15:0:0+4B+ME, and V5—FF 8:8:8+ME. FF treatments were carried out in the vegetation phases specific to the sunflower crop. These varied from 2–6 L ha⁻¹, depending on the chemical composition of the product. The application of treatments with FF to the sunflower culture positively influenced both production and its quality expressed by specific quality indices, namely the content of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, fibers, and minerals. The results were discussed not only in view of classical statistics but also using the Principal Components Analysis (PCA), which allows a more complex evaluation of the effects of foliar treatments on the production and quality of sunflower seeds.

(1) Background: Hibernation in Lutrasil-covered enclosures led to elevated mortality rates for Cornu aspersum on Romanian farms. This two-year study evaluated the feasibility of adapting indoor hibernation technology to the Italian outdoor snail farming (IOSF) system as a solution for overwintering mature C. aspersum snails. (2) Methods: Body weight, survival rates, and mortality factors during key hibernation phases (purging and overwintering) were monitored in three commercial snail farms using different hibernation scenarios. Labor efficiency was evaluated, comparing the use of micro shelters vs. hand-picking for snail collection. We analyzed post-purging/post-hibernation weight loss and mortality in hibernation spaces with and without proper thermal insulation. Mortality causes were also investigated. (3) Results: Using micro shelters significantly reduced labor time for snail collection. Weight loss during purging, but not during overwintering, were similar between groups. Post-hibernation survival ranged from 69% to 79% for comparable hibernation durations. Significantly lower survival was associated with significantly higher weight loss and using hibernation spaces with minimal thermal insulation. Predators exerted a very limited effect on post-hibernation survival, with most death appearing to be related to environmental causes. (4) Integrating indoor hibernation into the IOSF system is a promising strategy for the successful rearing of C. aspersum in colder climates.

Agriculture must secure food supply while reducing its pressure on the environment, yet evidence for Central and Eastern Europe, particularly outside the EU and after the 2022 shock, remains limited. This study assesses the eco-efficiency, dematerialisation and decarbonisation of agricultural systems in 11 EU member states, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine over 2000–2023. Using the most recent complete FAOSTAT data (336 country-year observations), it combines a Slacks-Based Measure model with undesirable outputs, a global Malmquist–Luenberger index and the Tapio decoupling elasticity. Non-EU systems, mostly low-input, were, on average, more eco-efficient (0.83 vs. 0.64), but by 2022–2023 both groups had converged at 0.74, as member states improved and non-EU countries deteriorated. Environmentally adjusted productivity grew by almost 1% per year, mainly through technical change in member states. Dematerialisation was selective: land, labour, energy and emission intensities fell, whereas fertiliser intensity rose. Eight countries achieved strong decoupling over the full period, but after 2022 only Czechia and Poland reduced emissions without reducing output. High eco-efficiency in extensive systems does not guarantee resilience; agricultural policies should combine input-use efficiency with investment in technology and adaptation to shocks.