After wheat and rice, maize is one of the most significant cereal crops worldwide. However, high-quality seed materials are prerequisites for stable yields, and low-quality maize seeds significantly contribute to low yields and deteriorate over time. Therefore, the present investigation aims to investigate the effects of seed quality and hybrid types on maize germination by emphasizing seed viability and vigor and their impact on maize crops’ overall performance and productivity. The study was separately conducted in the laboratory and on a field experiment plot under the Department of Crop Production, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, in spring 2022. Nine parental lines, six hybrids, and a controlled hybrid were tested in this study. The studies were laid out using a complete randomization design (CRD) and a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in the laboratory and in the field. The results of the study showed that there was a statistically significant difference between genotypes and number of days and their interaction in seed vigor. The parental lines showed better performance in terms of germination percentage and radicle elongation, whereas single-cross hybrids (SC) produced better plumule length. The radicle and plumule length also expanded significantly as incubation days increased. In field evaluations, as expected, hybrid lines produced better performance than parental lines, and SC hybrids were more prevalent than the other hybrids. In addition, the number of rows per ear, number of kernels per ear, 1000-kernel weight, and ear weight directly affected the final grain yield. However, further research is needed on new approaches that can assist researchers in advancing their work by considering biotic and abiotic factors to address seed-quality issues and enhance yield production.

Precision sustainable agronomic practices are crucial for achieving global food security as well as mitigating climate change. A field experiment was conducted at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Gödöllő from 2023 to 2024. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of soil tillage and foliar nutrient supplementation on winter barley yield, associated characteristics, and soil CO₂ emissions. Employing a split-plot design with three replications, the experiment included four nutrient treatments (control, bio-cereal, bio-algae, and MgSMnZn blend) and two soil tillage type (i.e., plowing and cultivator). The study found that soil CO₂ emissions were influenced by the crop growth stage across both tillage treatments throughout the growing seasons, but the tillage system itself did not have an effect. Similarly, the leaf chlorophyll content was not affected by tillage and nutrient treatments. Plant height, the leaf area index (LAI), and thousand kernel weights (TKW) were significantly affected by nutrient treatments across the growing seasons. Both nutrient and tillage treatments also had a notable effect on the number of productive tillers in winter barley. Moreover, nutrient and tillage treatments consistently influenced grain yield across the two growing seasons, and their interaction significantly impacted both grain yield and thousand kernel weights. The bio-cereal nutrient treatment combined with plowing tillage yielded the highest values for most parameters throughout the growing seasons. Therefore, it can be concluded that the combination of bio-cereal nutrient treatments and plowing tillage can boost winter barley yields. Notably, soil CO₂ emissions peak during the crops’ reproductive stage, surpassing levels from early growth.

This investigation scrutinized the yield, starch, and protein content of five distinct potato genotypes (Desiree, Borostyán, Piroska, Rubinka, and Rózsa) over 5 years of repetitive replanting. The experiment aimed to compare different potato genotypes and examine the yield reduction resulting from possible genetic deterioration over the years. The research took place in Zirc, Hungary’s temperate deciduous forest zone, at 450 m elevation from 2017 to 2021, on a 100 m² plot. Potato dry matter was measured according to MSZ 6369-4:1987, and starch content followed MSZ 6830-18:1988 standards. Tubers’ total nitrogen was gauged using the Kjeldahl method, while crude protein analysis employed the Dumas method. Pure protein evaluation adhered to the trichloroacetic acid precipitation technique, all consistent with WBSE-131:2018. Observed variations in starch content revealed Borostyán as the genotype with the highest mean starch content (75.41%) and Desiree with the least (74.98%). Protein content also varied among the genotypes; Borostyán exhibited the highest average level (10.99%), while Desiree had the least (5.52%). The remaining genotypes, Piroska, Rubinka, and Rózsa, exhibited comparable mean protein levels between 8.15 and 8.82%. Findings also noted a positive correlation between yield and starch and protein content. However, certain genotypes demonstrated a negative correlation, highlighting the impact of genetic factors and management practices such as nitrogenous fertilization and crop rotation on these associations. Additionally, the findings suggest that not only the standard Desiree variety but also the Borostyán variety can be reliably recommended for use in potato research and breeding initiatives. Conclusively, this study provides insights valuable for potato breeding and selection programs and the potential development of high-protein potato products. Further investigation is recommended to elucidate the mechanisms and genetic determinants that impact these observed relationships.

Enhancing the nutritional content of crops is crucial for safeguarding human health and mitigating global hunger. A viable method for attaining this goal is the planned implementation of various agronomic practices, including tillage and nutrient provision. A field experiment was executed at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Gödöllő in the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons. The study aimed to assess the effects of foliar nutrient supply and soil tillage methods on the grain nutritional composition and mineral content of winter barley. Employing a split-plot design with three replications, the experiment included four nutrient treatments (control, bio-cereal, bio-algae, and MgSMnZn blend) and two soil tillage types (i.e., plowing and cultivator). The results indicated that while protein content was not influenced by the main effects of nutrients and tillage, the levels of β-glucan, starch, crude ash, and moisture content were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the nutrient treatments and by growing year, treated as a random factor. Notably, bio-algae and bio-cereal nutrients, combined with cultivator tillage, enhanced β-glucan content. All applied nutrient treatments increased the level of starch compared to the control. With regard to grain mineral content, the iron and zinc content responded to the nutrient supply, tillage, and growing year. However, applying a multiple-nutrient composition-based treatment did not increase iron and zinc levels, suggesting that individual applications may be more effective for increasing the content of these minerals in grains. Cultivator tillage improved iron and zinc levels. Moreover, manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) were predominantly affected by nutrient availability and by growing seasons as a random factor. Therefore, to improve grain quality, this study emphasizes the significance of proper nutrient and tillage methods by focusing on the intricate relationships between agronomic techniques and environmental factors that shape barley’s nutritional profile.