In the context of global climate change, the agricultural sector is one of the most responsive. This study focused on changes detected in temperature requirements for maize crops based on growing season length and the growing degree day indices in Central Romania (Cluj County). Daily air temperature data over the period 1981–2013 was derived from two databases with different spatial resolutions: Agri4Cast Resources Portal and ROmanian ClimAtic Dataset. Further analysis, performed for the entire period and three 10/13-y sub-periods, focused on calculating and mapping the area of arable land for each suitability zone. The main findings were: there were differences up to 16% in the area of suitability zones when switching from the results obtained based on the coarse spatial resolution to the improved one; the differences were larger for the shorter and more recent sub-periods than for the entire period or for the first decade; and there was considerable improvement of thermal conditions for maize crops in the focus region over the considered period—suitability zone I was not detected for the first sub-period and became dominant for the last one. It can be concluded that using or developing a better spatial resolution database is very important for maximizing the profitability of agriculture.

The objective of this paper is to analyze the extent to which the system of indicators that is used in the Monitoring Framework for the transition to the circular economy (CE) is efficient and relevant in their contribution to the sustainable development of European communities. The fundaments of the transition framework and the main characteristics of the circularity indicators are presented. A critical review was performed in order to fulfill the objective of analyzing the current indicators. It is concluded that the indicators in the current framework are (as a selection from a very broad range of indicators theoretically proposed and with estimated practical applicability) limited from the perspective of circularity only to waste generation and recycling processes containing recyclable materials, without including important circularity indicators related to the prolonging and extending the life cycle of products and materials. This paper proposes and defines such an indicator, based on the consideration of the fundamental scalars describing economy, mass, energy, time, and value, respectively. The indicator is described and its applicability in all the phases of the economy is estimated.

Researches carrying evidence for various uses and bioactive principles of Agastache spp. are justifying the upscaling into cultivation of these medicinal species. But, hindrances in their cultivation exist due to the insufficient documentation of their biology under field conditions. Because productivity of these medicinal species (herba) is ensured by the combined contribution of plant agronomic traits, these are related to the feasibility of the crop and therefore, can be used as predictors for successful cultivation. The aim of this study was to evaluate comparatively four valuable Agastache species (A. mexicana, A. scrophulariifolia, A. foeniculum) and one cultivar (A. rugosa ‘After Eight’), in order to identify the favourability for cultivation in local conditions (Romania). Based on the structural indicators of plant morphology (plant height, shoot number, leaf number, leaf length and width, inflorescence length, verticillaster number and flower number), registered over the span of two years, were explored relationships and similarities as well as their implications in previsioning the phenotypic potential. The results showed that studied species acclimatized successfully and all agronomic parameters studied increased in values in the second year. The average plant height in second year (2020) was 109.8 cm and average inflorescences length 9.6 cm. Stable positive correlations between inflorescence length with plant height and shoot number were observed, while differences among species became pronounced as plants become established, evidenced by clearer distinction in the second year. Phenotypic potential in the absence of inputs enables the feasibility assessment for medicinal plants introduced for cultivation in new regions.

Our aim is to evaluate the changes in arbuscular mycorrhiza characteristics of winter wheat in a three-year experiment. Study results show that fertilizers produce strong variations in arbuscular mycorrhiza extension, with colonization frequency values within 76–98%. The intensity of colonization is only 12% when phosphorus (P) exceeds nitrogen (N) in autumn, but reaches 38% when the N:P ratio is equal. Root colonization shows no consistency from one experimental year to another, with the largest fluctuations recorded in colonization intensity (22–65%) and arbuscules abundance (0–5%). Arbuscules are maintained below 1% by fertilizer with more P than N. Colonization forecasting models indicate P as a factor for the reduction of symbiosis. Each kg of applied P can reduce the colonization frequency by 0.28% and intensity by 0.37%. The maximum of the colonization degree is 61% due to the synergy of equal N and P doses in autumn and ammonium nitrate applied in spring. The application of multiple moderate doses acts as a stimulant for the development of a large root-fungal interface.

Recently, there has been a growing interest in supplementing plant nutrition with foliar fertilizers. Foliar application of nutrients is considered a promising environmentally friendly strategy for improving the yield and nutrient efficiency of crops. Little work with foliar appliances on perennial fruits bushes, blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.), respectively, has been reported. This study was conducted to evaluate the growth and yield response of three blackcurrant varieties to macro and micronutrients’ foliar fertilizer solutions. Principal component analysis and factors environmental fitting were performed for the global assessment of growth and increases in branches length responsible for yield production throughout the entire vegetation period and reported to the final development. The results endorsed the benefits of foliar fertilization. Each variety has a preference for a specific foliar treatment. The highest increases in branches length for Ruben variety was with Ascovigor foliar fertilizer; for Tiben with Kombimax; for Tines with Mikromix. The varieties growth dynamics due to fertilizers was best fitted to foliar Kombimax. Stable models were found to all blackcurrant varieties depending on developmental stage and foliar fertilization application. Application of foliar fertilizer is very profitable in terms of pairing each variety with optimum product, which will increase its specific yield potential.