Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment | ISSN (Online Version): 2708-5694

Introducing Perilla Oilseed (Perilla frutescens L) Crop in Bangladesh: Evaluating the Best Sowing Time

2026-04-27T11:13:04+00:00

To introduce a new oilseed crop, identifying the optimal sowing time is crucial. In Bangladesh, the perilla oilseed crop has been introduced relatively recently. However, research on determining the optimal sowing time is lacking. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the best sowing time of Perilla (Perilla frutescens L.) oilseed crop, with a view to introducing it as a commercial and profitable oilseed crop in Bangladesh. To evaluate sowing dates, 36 trial plots were set (Randomized Complete Block Design) in the Field Laboratory in Sher E Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka. Sowing date were evaluated against seed germination (%), germination time (days), plant height (cm), branches per plant, duration between transplanting to flowering (days), flowering to harvesting (days), single plant dry weight (g), racemes per plant, raceme size (cm), 1000- seed weight (g) and yield (g/plant). Based on the observed lifespan (70–80 days) and seed production potential (1–1.5 t/ha), this research found mid-July to mid-August as the favourable planting dates for cultivating perilla in Bangladesh. With the 70-80-day life cycle, perilla can be harvested before 15 November, facilitating the timely sowing of winter crops in the cropping sequence. Commercial cultivation of Perilla in the Kharif-2 season can contribute to the domestic edible oil supply. The findings of the research will add policy insights for the commercial cultivation of Perilla as a profitable oilseed crop in Bangladesh.

Growth and Physiological Response of Strawberry under Salt Stress: Role of Glycine Betaine and Seaweed Extract

2026-04-27T11:30:19+00:00

Strawberry is one of the most salt-sensitive horticultural economic crops. In our study, strawberry cv. Festival plants were subjected to salt stress (8 dS/m EC) to investigate the individual and combined effects of Glycine betaine (GB) (60 mM) and Seaweed extract (SWE) (8 ml/L) with different number of applications (one, two, three times) on growth, chlorophyll content, antioxidant activity, some fruit-quality parameters and yield. This research aims to alleviate salt stress-induced growth inhibition and to advance sustainable strategies for improving crop tolerance and yield under saline conditions. This experiment followed three replications and seven treatments in pots, including a control, individual GB/SWE applications, their combinations, and a salt stress level. The results indicated that GB and SWE treatments significantly improved growth characteristics, i.e. leaf area, root and vegetative growth, total yield, and fruit quality characters under salinity stress. Notably, the combined GB+SWE treatment outperformed individual applications, demonstrating 98% greater fruit weight per plant compared to salt-stressed plant and 80% over non-stressed plant, and a synergistic efficacy in restoring physiological functions by increasing antioxidant activity around 59% in the salt-stressed plant. This approach represents a highly effective strategy to mitigate salinity stress on strawberry cultivation, offering eco-friendly alternatives to maximize yield under salinity without needing freshwater-intensive practices, supporting water-scarce or saline-affected areas.

From Waste Diagnosis to Transition Design: A Multi-scale Framework for Organics-First Reform in Cusco, Peru

2026-04-27T12:29:05+00:00

Municipal solid waste systems cannot be judged by collection alone, because high service reach may coexist with weak downstream control and limited recovery. This study develops a multi-scale prioritization framework for organics-first reform in Cusco, Peru, under disposal constraint. The analysis integrates 2019–2024 official waste statistics, district and generator characterization records, tourism data, oversight documents, and field evidence from 2024 stakeholder meetings and interviews. Results show rising waste pressure, stable organics dominance, and a sharp downstream bottleneck. Total municipal solid waste increased by about 22% between 2019 and 2024, while organics remained about 58–60% of the waste stream. In 2023, 94.41% of waste still went to non-sanitary dumping, whereas composting and recovery together remained below 6%. District and generator evidence further shows that average-based planning masks operationally important differences in organics yield, recyclable quality, contamination risk, and service-design needs. The framework therefore prioritizes minimum disposal control first, organics capture at controllable nodes second, and differentiated scale-up with continuity, monitoring, and accountability third. The study contributes a practical bridge from waste diagnosis to transition design for disposal-constrained, organics-dominant cities.