The mechanisation of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) planting remains a significant challenge due to the crop’s small, fragile seeds and non-uniform shape, which hinder the effectiveness of standard seeding systems. Crop emergence and production are adversely affected by poor singulation and uneven seed distribution, which are frequently caused by conventional and general-purpose planting equipment. For sesame, consistency in seed distribution and emergence is very important, necessitating careful consideration of agronomic conditions as well as seed properties. This study was conducted as a systematic review following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines to critically evaluate the existing literature on advanced planting methods that prioritise precision, efficiency, and seed protection. A comprehensive search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed studies published from 2000 to 2025. Studies focused on the agronomic parameters of sesame, planting technologies, and/or simulation integration, such as Discrete Element Modelling (DEM), were included in this review, and studies unrelated to sesame planting or not available in full text were excluded. The findings from these studies were analysed to examine the interaction between seed metering mechanisms and seed morphology, specifically seed thickness and shape variability. Agronomic parameters such as optimal seed spacing, sowing depth, and population density are analysed to guide the development of effective planting systems. The review also evaluates limitations in existing mechanised approaches while highlighting innovations in precision planting technology. These include optimised seed plate designs, vacuum-assisted metering systems, and simulation tools such as DEM for performance prediction and system refinement. A total of 22 studies were included and analysed using systematic narrative synthesis, grouped into agronomical, technological, and simulation-based themes. The studies were screened for methodological clarity, and reference list screening was performed to reduce reporting bias. In conclusion, the findings of this research support the development of crop-specific planting strategies tailored to meet the unique requirements of sesame production.

Pasture dieback is a rapidly expanding decaying pasture syndrome that affects millions of hectares of agricultural land in Queensland, Australia, making it useless for the cattle industry and decimating farmers' income and welfare. Since the syndrome was first identified in the early 1990s, farmers and agronomists have tried various methods for pasture recovery, including slashing, burning, ploughing and resowing grass, fertilising, destocking, and overstocking. In most cases, after a minimal initial improvement, the grass reverts to dieback within a few weeks. Here, we present an application of potassium humate, a well-known plant growth stimulator, as a possible long-term recovery option. Humate was applied once at the rate of 12 ml per m². Humate application did not alter the alpha or beta diversity of soil bacterial communities, nor did it change the mineral profile in the soil. However, humate application altered soil microbiota-mineral temporal interactions and introduced subtle changes in the microbial community that could assist pasture recovery. A single humate application increased paddock plant biomass significantly up to 20 weeks post-application. Eleven months after the single application, the paddock was grazed to the ground by the cattle just before the rainfall season. After pasture regrowth, the humate-treated plots significantly improved root morphometric indicators for both grass and dicots and increased the ratio of grass/weeds by 27.6% compared to the water-treated control. While this treatment will not resolve the dieback syndrome, our results invite more research to optimise the use of humate for maximum economic benefit in paddock use under pasture dieback syndrome conditions.

Nigella sativa, also known as black cumin, is esteemed for its rich reservoir of health-benefitting phytoconstituents nestled within its seeds. The composition of its seeds can be influenced by factors such as genotype diversity and agricultural practices. Understanding these dynamics is important for maximizing the nutritional and medicinal attributes of the seeds. This study investigated how different genotypes, growing densities, and sowing times affect oil yield and phytoconstituents of Nigella seeds in Northern Australia. The aim was to find the optimal combination of these factors to maximize desirable compounds. Our findings revealed variability in oil yield and phytoconstituents among different genotypes, growing densities, and sowing times. No single genotype stood out as having elevated levels of all desired compounds. For instance, genotype AVTKS#5 had high total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity, while AVTKS#8 and AVTKS#7 excelled in thymoquinone (TQ) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), respectively. Planting density had a nuanced impact, with no significant effect on oil yield and CUPRAC values, but higher densities decreased TPC, FRAP, and TQ. Interestingly, seeds cultivated at 20 and 30 plants/m² had higher ratios of MUFAs/SFAs, PUFAs/SFAs, and (MUFAs + PUFAs)/SFAs, indicating the importance of planting density in shaping fatty acid profiles. Sowing times also had a noticeable effect, with late sowing leading to a decrease in oil yield from 19% to 14%. May-sown seeds had higher TPC, FRAP, CUPRAC, and fatty acid ratios, while TQ levels peaked in June-sown seeds. Our study highlighted positive correlations among TPC, FRAP, CUPRAC, and TQ, emphasizing their collective contribution to the nutritional and medicinal potency of Nigella seeds. Fatty acids, on the other hand, showed no significant correlation with these parameters, indicating independent regulation. In summary, our comprehensive analysis provides insights into the factors (genotype and agronomic practice) that shape the phytochemical profile of Nigella seeds, and suggests better genotype, planting density, and time of sowing for the cultivation and quality production.

Sesame is an emerging crop of interest in Australia and has attracted widespread interest due to the health-benefitting properties of its bioactive compounds, including fatty acids, lignans, and polyphenols. This study aimed to investigate the impact of drought stress on these bioactive compounds, using eleven cultivars of black sesame seeds grown in Australia. Specific varieties responded positively to water deficit (WD) conditions, showing increased levels of TPC, FRAP, CUPRAC, and lignans. Varieties 1, 4, 7, and 12 showed significantly increased FRAP values ranging from 158.02 ± 10.43 to 195.22 ± 9.63 mg TE/100 g DW in the WD treatment compared to the well-watered (WW) treatment, whereas varieties 7, 10, 12, 13, and 18 demonstrated the highest CUPRAC values of all varieties (2584.86 ± 99.68–2969.56 ± 159.72 mg TE/100 g) across both WW and WD conditions, with no significant variations between irrigation regimes. Moreover, lignan contents (sesamin and sesamolin) were higher in varieties 1, 2, 5, and 8 grown in WD conditions. Compared to the optimal unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio (Σ UFA/Σ SFA ratio) of 0.45, all sesame genotypes showed superior ratios (ranging between 1.86 and 2.34). Moreover, the ω-6/ω-3 PUFA ratio varied from 33.7–65.5, with lower ratios in varieties 2, 4, 5, 8, and 18 under WD conditions. The high levels of phenolic compounds and healthy fats suggest the potential of black sesame to be incorporated into diets as a functional food. Furthermore, the enhanced phytochemistry of these cultivars in WD conditions is promising for widespread adoption. However, larger trial studies to confirm these findings across different geographic locations and seasons are warranted.

Understanding the extraction process of Nigella oil is crucial due to its significant impact on yield, quality, and therapeutic effectiveness. This study explored the effects of various screw press temperatures (40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C, 70 °C, and 80 °C) on the quantity and quality of Nigella oil to optimize conditions that maximize yield while maintaining its nutritional and therapeutic attributes. Our findings indicate a linear increase in oil yield as screw press temperatures rose from 40 °C to 80 °C. There were no significant differences observed in total phenolic content (TPC), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), or the composition and ratio of fatty acids across oils extracted at different temperatures. However, the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) was highest in oils extracted at 60 °C, while the thymoquinone (TQ) content peaked between 40 °C and 60 °C. These results underscore the importance of optimizing screw press temperatures to strike a balance between maximizing oil yield and preserving its valuable therapeutic and nutritional properties