Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 2, February 2026 | pp. 49–54

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120210

Research Article

Title: Postharvest Quality Conservation in Fragaria ananassa Fruit Using Chitosan-Based Antimicrobial Edible Coatings

Names of Authors: Al-Saeed, H. M.¹, Ibrahim, F. A.¹, and El-Mousa, Z. M.²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Plant Production, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. ²Department of Horticulture, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.

Abstract: Strawberries (Fragaria ananassa) are highly perishable fruits characterized by rapid postharvest softening, moisture loss, and high susceptibility to grey mold infections caused by Botrytis cinerea. This investigation evaluated the preservation performance of a 1.5% chitosan edible coating matrix enriched with essential oils from Thymus vulgaris (thyme) stored at 4 degrees Celsius for 15 days. Uncoated control groups showed severe fungal decay and tissue degradation by day 6. Conversely, the composite chitosan coating preserved fruit firmness metrics, delaying cell wall polygalacturonase activity. Weight loss in coated strawberries was limited to 4.3%, compared to 12.8% within the reference control groups by the end of the storage period. Total titratable acidity and ascorbic acid retention remained significantly higher in treated fruits. Sensory evaluation scores confirmed that the antimicrobial coating successfully controlled decay without causing off-flavors, extending marketable shelf-life parameters up to 14 days.

Keywords: Postharvest technology; Edible preservation layers; Strawberry decay; Chitosan matrix; Extended shelf life; Fruit quality.

Manuscript Timeline: Received November 12, 2025; Revised January 06, 2026; Accepted January 30, 2026; Published February 28, 2026.

Citation: Al-Saeed, H. M., Ibrahim, F. A., and El-Mousa, Z. M. (2026). Postharvest Quality Conservation in Fragaria ananassa Fruit Using Chitosan-Based Antimicrobial Edible Coatings. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(2), pp. 49–54.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 2, February 2026 | pp. 44–48

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120209

Research Article

Title: Phytochemical Screening and Anthelmintic Potency of Extract Formulations from Azadirachta indica Against Haemonchus contortus

Names of Authors: Mwangi, J. N.¹, Osei, C. A.², and Bekele, T.³

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Animal Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Juja, Kenya. ²Department of Animal Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana. ³Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Abstract: Gastrointestinal nematode infestations, particularly involving Haemonchus contortus, cause major economic losses within small ruminant production systems. Widespread anthelmintic resistance to synthetic commercial drugs requires evaluating alternative botanical options. This study assessed the in vitro anthelmintic efficacy of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica (Neem) against egg hatching and larval development phases of H. contortus. Phytochemical profiles revealed high concentrations of condensed tannins, saponins, and azadirachtin compounds. The ethanolic extract formulation produced an LC50 value of 1.45 mg/mL during egg hatch assays, completely blocking larval development at 4.0 mg/mL concentrations. Microscopic checks showed structural damage to the nematode outer cuticle layer and cuticular scaling after 24 hours of exposure. Adult worm motility assessments showed paralytic effects comparable to reference albendazole treatments (p is less than 0.05). The findings confirm that A. indica derivatives contain bioactive compounds capable of breaking livestock parasite lifecycles.

Keywords: Ethno-veterinary medicine; Neem extract; Haemonchus contortus; Small ruminants; Parasite management; Anthelmintic efficacy.

Manuscript Timeline: Received November 08, 2025; Revised January 03, 2026; Accepted January 28, 2026; Published February 28, 2026.

Citation: Mwangi, J. N., Osei, C. A., and Bekele, T. (2026). Phytochemical Screening and Anthelmintic Potency of Extract Formulations from Azadirachta indica Against Haemonchus contortus. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(2), pp. 44–48.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 2, February 2026 | pp. 39–43

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120208

Research Article

Title: Effects of Conservative Tillage Strategies on Organic Carbon Pools and Aggregate Stability in Silty Clay Loam Soils

Names of Authors: Petrovic, M.¹, Kovacevic, D.¹, and Novak, J.²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. ²Institute of Soil Science and Cultivating Plants, Pulawy, Poland.

Abstract: Continuous intensive plowing reduces structural organic carbon reservoirs and degrades topsoil integrity. This long-term experiment analyzed the effects of alternative management styles, specifically No-Till (NT), Reduced Tillage (RT), and Conventional Tillage (CT), on Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) distribution and water-stable aggregates in a silty clay loam soil. After seven consecutive crop rotations, NT layouts significantly increased SOC accumulation within the upper 0-10 cm layer, reaching 28.4 g/kg compared to 16.2 g/kg under CT. The Mean Weight Diameter (MWD) of water-stable aggregates expanded by 42.6% in NT plots, demonstrating high resistance to water erosion forces. Permeable macro-aggregate fractions (greater than 0.25 mm) contained a higher proportion of young carbon pools, as validated via permanganate-oxidizable carbon (POXc) measures. Soil bulk density increased slightly under NT configuration but remained within non-limiting root growth ranges (1.32 g/cm³). The outcomes confirm that reducing soil disturbance patterns preserves macro-aggregate formations and protects carbon stocks from microbially mediated oxidation.

Keywords: Carbon sequestration; Conservation tillage; Soil aggregate stability; Sustainable agriculture; Soil erosion; Macro-aggregates.

Manuscript Timeline: Received November 05, 2025; Revised December 29, 2025; Accepted January 26, 2026; Published February 27, 2026.

Citation: Petrovic, M., Kovacevic, D., and Novak, J. (2026). Effects of Conservative Tillage Strategies on Organic Carbon Pools and Aggregate Stability in Silty Clay Loam Soils. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(2), pp. 39–43.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 2, February 2026 | pp. 33–38

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120207

Research Article

Title: An Integrated Hyperspectral Imaging Approach for Early Detection of Black Sigatoka Disease in Musa acuminata Varieties

Names of Authors: Lopez, A. R.¹, Gomez, F. E.¹, and Martinez, J. L.²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan, Merida, Mexico. ²Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Homestead, USA.

Abstract: Black Sigatoka caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis remains a highly destructive foliar disease affecting banana cultivars (Musa acuminata). Visible symptoms typically emerge after significant internal cellular degradation has occurred, limiting the performance of protective fungicides. This research established a non-destructive early diagnostic model using hyperspectral imaging across the 400–1000 nm spectral spectrum. Reflectance indices were extracted from healthy, latently infected, and symptom-bearing leaves from susceptible and resistant banana cultivars. Machine learning models using Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithms classified asymptomatic leaf zones with an overall accuracy of 92.5%. The primary spectral variations occurred within the green peak (550 nm) and red-edge (710–740 nm) zones, matching early reductions in chlorophyll content and structural cell wall modifications. Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI) values dropped significantly 6 days before visual necrotic spots appeared. This remote sensing technique allows targeted fungicide applications, reducing environmental chemical exposure and input costs.

Keywords: Remote sensing; Spectral signature; Pathogen detection; Banana cultivation; Machine learning; Precision crop protection.

Manuscript Timeline: Received November 02, 2025; Revised December 27, 2025; Accepted January 24, 2026; Published February 26, 2026.

Citation: Lopez, A. R., Gomez, F. E., and Martinez, J. L. (2026). An Integrated Hyperspectral Imaging Approach for Early Detection of Black Sigatoka Disease in Musa acuminata Varieties. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(2), pp. 33–38.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 2, February 2026 | pp. 12–16

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120203

Review Article

Title: Harnessing Rhizospheric Microbiomes for Soil Salinity Amelioration: Mechanisms and Future Prospects

Names of Authors: Kumar, A.¹, Patel, S. R.¹, and Takahashi, K.²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. ²Department of Biological Production, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Abstract: Soil salinization currently limits arable land yield capacities, impacting over 20% of irrigated agricultural spaces worldwide. Traditional remediation pathways involving chemical flushing or excessive gypsum applications present high long-term operational liabilities. This review synthesizes alternative biological interventions leveraging Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and halotolerant fungal consortia to improve salt stress symptoms. The predominant operational modes include the enzymatic production of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, which actively breaks down stress ethylene. Additionally, micro-organisms trigger structural changes via exopolysaccharide production, binding sodium ions (Na+) within the soil root boundary to restrict root uptake. Microbial inoculation boosts structural expression of plant high-affinity potassium transporters, maintaining optimal cellular K+/Na+ balances under salt pressures up to 150 mM NaCl. Biochemical alterations include the upregulation of antioxidant enzymatic systems such as superoxide dismutase and catalase within host root tissues. This manuscript categorizes commercial inoculant delivery constraints and highlights digital multi-omics frameworks required to manage soil-microbe-crop interactions in degraded terrains.

Keywords: Microbial ecology; Salinity remediation; Biofertilizers; ACC deaminase; Ion homeostasis; Sustainable soil.

Manuscript Timeline: Received October 20, 2025; Revised December 15, 2025; Accepted January 14, 2026; Published February 19, 2026.

Citation: Kumar, A., Patel, S. R., and Takahashi, K. (2026). Harnessing Rhizospheric Microbiomes for Soil Salinity Amelioration: Mechanisms and Future Prospects. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(2), pp. 12–16.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 2, February 2026 | pp. 28–32

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120206

Short Communication

Title: Impact of Biochar Particle Size on Heavy Metal Immobilization and Microbial Biomass Carbon in Contaminated Mining Soils

Names of Authors: Nguyen, T. V.¹, Nguyen, M. H.¹, and Kim, S. J.²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Environmental Sciences, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam. ²Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.

Abstract: Heavy metal toxicity restricts agro-ecological restoration around legacy mining fields. This research investigated how varying the particle size of rice husk biochar (fine: less than 0.5 mm, medium: 0.5–2.0 mm, coarse: greater than 2.0 mm) influences cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) bioavailability, along with soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC). Biochar applications were fixed at a 2.5% weight ratio into multi-metal contaminated soils. Fine particle fractions reduced extractable Cd and Pb concentrations by 54.2% and 68.7% respectively, outperforming coarse variants. The expanded surface area of the fine biochar facilitated superior surface complexation and ion-exchange interactions. Concurrently, soil MBC increased from 112 mg/kg in untreated fields to 245 mg/kg within fine fraction environments after 60 days of incubation. Soil basal respiration rates steadied, confirming minimized toxicological inhibition of localized microflora. Enzymatic diagnostics revealed a 40.5% boost in dehydrogenase activities, showing improved biological functional status. These findings demonstrate that adjusting the physical dimensions of pyrolyzed organic amendments can accelerate the rehabilitation of polluted agricultural zones.

Keywords: Soil remediation; Pyrolysis footprint; Cadmium binding; Soil enzymes; Bioavailable fractions; Heavy metals.

Manuscript Timeline: Received October 30, 2025; Revised December 22, 2025; Accepted January 22, 2026; Published February 25, 2026.

Citation: Nguyen, T. V., Nguyen, M. H., and Kim, S. J. (2026). Impact of Biochar Particle Size on Heavy Metal Immobilization and Microbial Biomass Carbon in Contaminated Mining Soils. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(2), pp. 28–32.