Milan Ugrinović

Sweet pepper is a valued vegetable, both among producersand consumers. During the 2017 and 2018 greenhouseexperiments and a field trials with different microbiologicalfertilizers were used to analyze the yields and profitabilityof sweet pepper production. Contrary to the yields obtainedin the greenhouse (14.23 and 13.42 t/0.1ha), the yields inthe open field had significantly lower values (4.324 and4.877 t/0.1ha). Also, the key difference is in the number ofrealized harvests and their dynamics during the productionseason which is also connected to market prices and profit.The coefficients of cost-effectiveness were 1.88 and 1.99in the greenhouse, and 1.39 and 1.45 in the open field, in2017 and 2018 respectively. Producers should be opted tothe greenhouse production because of the higher yieldsand number of harvests outside the main season, whenproduct prices are higher.

The research examines the influence of year, sowing date, sweet corn genotype (Zea mays L. saccharata Sturt.), and irrigation norm on productive traits and sugar content in sweet corn kernels. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized block design with four replications. In both years, sowing was done in two periods: end of April - beginning of May and mid-July. Three hybrids (Enterprise, Union, and Sweet Nugget) were observed under three irrigation treatments: full norm (100%), reduced norm (50%) and natural wetting (control). Combined analysis of variance (pooled ANOVA) showed a statistically significant effect on all examined yield and sugar content parameters, as well as their higher-order interactions. Hybrid Enterprise stood out as the most productive, with the highest values of ear weight, kernel weight (up to 272.13 g) and kernel yield (up to 16.25 t ha-1 in the first year and up to 13.66 t ha-1 in the second year), especially in the second sowing date with full or reduced irrigation norm, with a shelling percentage over 70%. The highest content of total sugars (39.71% in the first year and 40.39% in the second year) was achieved in the Sweet Nugget hybrid in the first sowing date under natural moisture conditions, where a slight water deficit stimulates sugar concentration. The obtained results highlight the advantages of the Enterprise hybrid for high yield under irrigation conditions and the Sweet Nugget hybrid for kernel quality (sweetness), and underscore the importance of factor interactions.

In a two-year period, the influence of the application of microbiological fertilizer and different cover crops on the moisture content of kernel and the popping volume in the ZPSC 611k popcorn hybrid was investigated. The experiment was conducted on the experimental field of the Maize Research Institute "Zemun Polje" (Serbia) and set up according to a split-plot design in 4 replications. The cover crops consisted of plant species: common vetch, winter oats, winter forage pea and winter forage kale, and two mixtures (common vetch and winter oats, winter forage pea and winter oats) were included in the experiment, as well as a variant with mulch and a control. Application of microbiological fertilizer and cover crops had a statistically significant effect on the kernel quality of the tested hybrid. The average values of moisture content in kernel ranged from 13.1% to 15.0%. The dominant influence on both traits was the interaction of year factor x microbiological fertilizer x cover crop, which indicates a strong synergistic effect of meteorological conditions and agrotechnical measures. The highest average values of popping volume were obtained in varieties with legumes and their mixtures, especially with the application of microbiological fertilizer, at an optimal moisture content of about 14%. The results show that the use of cover crops, especially legumes and their mixtures with cereals, along with the application of microbiological fertilizers, is an effective way to improve the technological quality of popcorn kernels in conditions of a moderate continental climate.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of irrigation level, soil type, and microbial biostimulants on fruit weight and fruit number per plant of the pepper genotype "Moravska lepotica". The experiment was conducted during 2025 in the greenhouse of the Institute for Vegetables Crops Smederevska Palanka, on land originating from three locations important for the production of peppers in Serbia (Ruski Krstur, Donja Lokošnica and Smederevska Palanka). The experiment included a control treatment and three treatments with biostimulators (Azoter F - Trichoderma atroviride, Biofor active and Folisu) in three repetitions with 10 plants per treatment. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) showed a significant effect of factors and the interaction of irrigation × locality × treatment on fruit weight per plant. The highest fruit weight per plant (110.95 g) was measured at the full irrigation norm on the land from Donja Lokošnica in the Biofor active treatment. In contrast, at the reduced norm, the highest value (86.45 g) was recorded on land from Smederevska Palanka. The lowest average weight (32.22 g) was measured on the soil from Ruski Krstur in the Azoter F treatment at 50% of the irrigation norm. At the reduced irrigation norm, the highest number of fruits was obtained on Ruski Krstur with Azoter F (8.7) and Folis (7.8), while the control yielded the fewest (4.5).

Two experiments were conducted in a glasshouse without heating and additional lighting. The effects of different substrates on the number of leaves and yield per plant of lettuce and spinach, grown as baby leaves were examined. Preliminary test shows significantly higher yield achieved on natural peat based substrates with added zeolites. In the final experiment, compared to pure commercial substrates T2-T4, significantly higher yields (g/plant) were obtained in their combinations with enriched zeolites T5-T7 (8.3, 8.23, 8.12, i.e. 9.9, 9.96, and 9.84g for treatments i.e. species respectively). The use of enriched zeolites improves the productivity of natural peats and commercial substrates.

The research was performed in 2024 at two sites in Serbia, at the Institute for Vegetable Crops Smederevska Palanka and a family farm in Donja Lokošnica near Leskovac. The paper researched the differences in crude fiber content between two pepper genotypes: ‘Moravska lepotica’ and ‘Lokošnička’. The crude fiber content was determined by the Scharrer-Kürschner method. Data were analyzed by using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 26.0. A higher crude fiber content was recorded in the fruit of the genotype ‘Lokošnička’ (locality Smederevska Palanka 3.75% and Donja Lokošnica 2.89%) compared to the genotype ‘Moravska Lepotica’ (locality Smederevska Palanka 3.25% and Donja Lokošnica 0.53%). The values at the Donja Lokošnica locality are on average 51.3% lower than at the Smederevska Palanka locality. The high uniformity of the results within the groups, shown by the minimal interquartile range, additionally confirms the stability of the obtained differences.

Triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye, is valued for its high yield potential, adaptability to marginal soils, and nutritional quality. Grain yield and quality are influenced by genotype, fertilization, and environmental conditions. Understanding the interactions among these factors is essential for optimizing productivity, especially on acidic soils where nutrient availability can be limited. In a two-year study, variations in grain yield, hectoliter weight and 1000 grain weight of triticale were investigated, depending on the genotype, fertilization and the year of the study. Genotype Triamo (G2) achieved the highest grain yield (6.50 t ha-¹) in the T5 treatment in the second year, compared to the control treatment (3.66 t ha-¹), with a significant factor interaction (p<0.05). The hectoliter weight was the highest in the Triamo genotype (65.80 kg hL-¹) in all treatments, while the Odisej genotype in the first year in the T5 treatment had the highest of 1000 grain weight (48.20 g). The correlation between grain yield and hectoliter mass was positive (r=0.44**), while between grain yield and 1000 grain weight, a weak negative relationship was established (r=-0.03). The results indicate the importance of an optimal combination of genotype and agrotechnical measures in order to achieve optimal yields and quality of triticale grains on acidic soils.

Competition is a fundamental ecological interaction among plants, arising when species utilise the same limited resources such as light, water, nutrients, and space. Resource limitations reduce the growth and survival of less competitive species, altering ecosystem structure. In agroecosystems, weed–crop competition is a major challenge, reducing yield and quality. Weeds often exhibit greater adaptability and resource efficiency, enabling them to outcompete crops. Competition intensity is influenced by population density, morphology, phenology and survival strategies. Understanding plant competitive interactions is crucial for ecologists and agronomists to develop sustainable weed management and resource optimization strategies. Climate change further alters competitive dynamics, favoring resilient and plastic species. Mechanisms like allelopathy, aboveground and belowground competition and adaptive growth responses shape community structure. Strategies to reduce weed pressure include breeding competitive crops and integrating cultural practices such as optimal sowing density, narrow row spacing, and cover cropping. Future research should address plant responses to multiple simultaneous stressors, the ecological role of allelochemicals under varying conditions, and the genetic mechanisms of competitive adaptability. A comprehensive understanding of these interactions is essential for designing resilient, high-performing agroecosystems in changing environmental conditions.

The aim of the research was to examine the influence of different light treatments on the growth, phytochemicals and antioxidant potential of broccoli microgreens. Plants were grown in a growth chamber under LED (light-emitting diode) cold whi...

Limited soil fertility and unfavorable climatic conditions significantly affect vegetable production, which requires the application of innovative fertilization strategies. In this research, the influence of organic fertilizer based on plant extracts containing phenolic compounds and phytohormones on the productive and morphological characteristics of melon (Cucumis melo) grown on acidic and poorly supplied soil (pH 3.74, humus 2.4%) was investigated. The experiment was set up in 2024 on the experimental field of the Institute of Vegetables in Smederevska Palanka according to a random block system in three repetitions. The treatments included one (Tr1), two (Tr2) and three (Tr3) fertilizer applications, as well as a control without fertilization. The results showed no statistically significant differences in fruit weight between treatments (1.03-1.23 kg). However, the number of fruits per plant was significantly higher in Tr3 (24), while Tr1 had the highest number of lateral branches (23.80). The largest peel thickness was determined in Tr2 (0.51 cm), which may contribute to better post-harvest durability of the fruits. The highest chlorophyll content was measured in the control variety (65.43 SPAD units), while there were no significant differences in sugar content between treatments (11.31-11.97 ºBrix). Correlation analysis showed a positive highly significant relationship between fruit mass and sugar content (r = 0.41**), while the number of fruits and the number of side branches were negatively related (r = -0.31**). The results indicate that organic fertilizer based on plant extracts can improve certain productive properties of melon in nutrient-poor soil conditions. Further research is needed to optimize the application strategy in different agroecological conditions.