Zsolt Giczi

8356730700

Publications - 14

Investigation of the Effect of a New Type of Copper–Sucrose Complex Compound on the Yield and Quality Parameters of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Publication Name: Agronomy

Publication Date: 2025-07-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 7

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

We conducted experiments on winter wheat grown in copper-deficient soil, where soil tests revealed a more pronounced deficiency in the deeper layers. As climate change reduces precipitation, plants increasingly rely on nutrients from these deeper layers. A copper–sucrose complex—previously unused in agriculture—was applied as a foliar spray during the tillering and flowering stages. Across the three-year average, significant increases were observed starting from the 1 kg ha−1 copper dose in yield, from 0.3 kg ha−1 in crude protein content, and from 0.5 kg ha−1 in wet gluten content compared to the untreated control. For all three parameters, the highest values were achieved with the 2 kg ha−1 dose. Yield increased by 1.03 t ha−1, crude protein by 0.9%, and wet gluten by 2.3% relative to the control. In 2019, high humidity and favorable temperatures during flowering led to fungal infections in control plots, with DON toxin concentrations exceeding the regulatory safety threshold. Following copper–sucrose complex application, DON levels dropped below this threshold, demonstrating a measurable protective effect.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/agronomy15071506

Physicochemical and textural properties of gummy candies prepared with fruit vinegar

Publication Name: Applied Food Research

Publication Date: 2024-12-01

Volume: 4

Issue: 2

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Foods with additional functional value derived from natural sources are becoming more and more in demand these days, including confectionary products. Therefore, the study aimed to develop a gummy candy recipe, enriched with different fruit vinegars and determine the components' effect on the products' mineral, acid, sugar, antioxidant, and polyphenol content, and texture of the confectionery products with analytical methods. In terms of macroelement content, potassium was present in the largest amount in the tested candies (167.87 and 178.83 mg kg-1) and liquid ingredients (57,71–306.93 mg kg-1). In the case of microelements, iron (4.81, 4.79 mg kg-1) and boron (4.62, 4.49 mg kg-1) were significant in the products, iron is also found in gelatin in significant quantities (3.51 mg kg-1), however, boron came exclusively from fruit-derived components (1.02–9.40 mg kg-1). Among the tested organic acids, malic acid (21.67–46.12 mg g-1), and acetic acid (47.74–50.06 mg g-1) were significant in both the raw materials and products, while the fructose content (2.44–439.35 mg g-1) was prominent among the sugars, but the glucose (75.99–163.44 mg g-1) and sucrose (73.61–157.00 mg g-1) content were also significant. Unfortunately, the polyphenol (1.37–1.46 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant (0.29–0.75 mg AAE/g) content of the products was not significant, maybe because of their heat sensitivity. In terms of the texture of the candies, the two candies prepared with different fruit vinegars had similar textural properties, however, in terms of hardness (3523.10 N/m2), gumminess (3266.25 N/m2), and chewiness (3425.33 N/m2) the gummy candy with apple cider vinegar proved to be better. Unlike many other confectionery products, the sugar content of the developed product is provided only by the used the apple concentrate, it does not contain added sugar or sweeteners. The addition of fruit vinegars has been proven to have a positive effect on the nutritional values of candies. By replacing gelatin with another gelling agent, the product can also be prepared in a vegan form.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.afres.2024.100473

Effect of pH, Carbonate and Clay Content on Magnesium Measurement Methods on Hungarian Soils

Publication Name: Soil Systems

Publication Date: 2024-06-01

Volume: 8

Issue: 2

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

More exact information on soil nutrient management is crucial due to environmental protection, nature conservation, decreasing sources for mining, general precaution, etc. Soil magnesium (Mg) analytical methods of potassium chloride (KCl), Mehlich 3 (M3), water (WA) and cobalt hexamine (CoHex) extractions are compared with an elemental analysis and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The ratio of the available to the total Mg content was calculated and compared on the whole dataset. The results showed that the linear regressions between all the pairs of Mg content measurement methods were significant. The linear relationship between the KCl and CoHex methods has the highest determination coefficient (R2 = 0.96), followed by WA–M3 (R2 = 0.68), M3–CoHex (R2 = 0.66) and M3–KCl (R2 = 0.60). The M3 solution demonstrated a greater capacity for extracting Mg from the soil. The second part is the analysis of the influence of CaCO3, pH, soil texture and clay content on the measurable magnesium content of soils. It was established that the extraction methods, the soil and the classification method of the soil properties affect the evaluation. These results may help through the nutrient replenishment and the melioration of soils. These results can help the examination of mineral nutrients, especially the Mg uptake.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems8020049

Experimental Analysis of a Solar-Powered Centre Pivot Irrigation Site and Hyperlocal Evapotranspiration Data

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 114

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 787-792

Description:

In countries such as Hungary, the utilisation of solar energy for irrigation represents a pivotal consideration. As a consequence of climate change, the crop rotation period is characterised by an increased availability of sunny and bright days. A paucity of cloud cover and precipitation has distinguished recent Hungarian summers. The necessity for adaptation in agriculture, which produces raw materials for food, will also arise as a result of the increasingly extreme weather conditions caused by global climate change. The irrigation of crops is a vital process during increasingly frequent periods of drought. However, the cost of irrigation can be expected to rise significantly in response to elevated energy prices. The objective of this research is to ascertain the viability of utilising irrigation systems powered by renewable energy sources. Hungary is on the verge of a significant investment in its national irrigation infrastructure. Nevertheless, the investment may prove to be unprofitable as a result of the expense associated with the energy required for irrigation. In three research areas, the energy production of the solar farms associated with the pivot irrigation system has been monitored, and the hyper-local evapotranspiration data has been calculated. Regression analysis was employed to evaluate the results. The findings indicate that the dataset is significant. The field results and analysis can be useful for upfront investment in such projects. Precipitation, as a third variable, has a positive impact on the relationship between energy production and crop water demand.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET24114132

Determination of the health-protective effect of different Sempervivum and Jovibarba species

Publication Name: Journal of King Saud University Science

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 36

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This study aimed to examine the micro- and macroelements, as well as the total antioxidant, and polyphenol content of 22 different types of dried houseleek, and fresh plant decoctions. The measurement of antioxidant and polyphenol content was carried out with two drying methods- a drying cabinet and lyophilization. The plants, without exception, were provided by Berger Trio Kft. from Jánossomorja (Hungary), thus, the influencing effect of the environment is negligible in the case of the tested species. Based on the results, the type of houseleek has a clear influencing effect on the amount of the tested constituents. The investigated microelements were B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, while Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, and S were examined among the macroelements. In terms of microelement content, Mn was present in outstanding amounts (20.67–148.00 mg/kg DW), while among macroelements Ca (44.43–95.27 g/kg DW) and Na (24.07–128.50 g/kg DW) was present in larger quantities in the samples. It can be said that in the case of samples with a high amount of antioxidants and polyphenols, the element content is low and the reverse is also true. During the examination of the dried houseleeks, outstanding values were obtained for the tested compounds. The antioxidant values of the dried leaves were between 2.22 and 317.74 mg AAE/g DW, while their polyphenol contents ranged from 5.52 to 144.16 mg GAE/g DW, however, the drying methods had some influencing effect. Regarding fresh plant decoctions, the polyphenol contents (0,02–1,11 mg GAE/g FW) were negligible, while the amount of antioxidants (2,38–4,61 mg AAe/g FW) were low. With other solvents (e.g. alcoholic extraction - tinctures), better results are likely to be achieved. Houseleek species (especially in dried form) are an excellent source of trace elements, antioxidants, and phenolic components so they can even be used as additives to functional foods or consumed on their own in the form of encapsulated dietary supplements.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.jksus.2023.102998

Effects of Biostimulant and Zinc (Zn) Treatment on Qualitative and Quantitative Indicators of Winter Rape (Brassica Napus L.)

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 114

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 769-774

Description:

Winter rapeseed production has completely changed in Hungary in recent years. The use of hybrids has become commonplace, and intensive cultivation techniques are widespread. At the same time, average yields also increased, making rapeseed one of the most profitable crops. Maintaining profitability is a priority task, and in addition to further increasing average yields, improving quality parameters and crop safety is also decisive. Rapeseed production today faces significant challenges. As a result of climate change, the cultivation routine of decades is changing, and biostimulators are becoming more and more perspective in addition to foliar fertilisation with macro- and microelements. During this research, a 3-year small-plot field experiment was set up with a winter rapeseed indicator. The main objective of the experiment was to study the physiological reactions of rape plants to different doses of Zn and the combined reaction of the biostimulator and Zn. During the experiment, the reaction of the rapeseed test plant on zinc-deficient calcareous chernozem soils was investigated under the influence of different doses of Zn and combined doses of Zn and biostimulation. The aim of the study is to determine whether rapeseed plants respond to zinc supplementation and the combined effect of the bio stimulator and zinc with increased yield and improved nutritional values (protein content, oil content). In the first annual study, two treatments were performed, one in autumn (BBCH 16-18 phenological stage) and one in spring (BBCH 29 phenological stage). Zinc tetramine hydroxide was used in 4 different doses (2, 5, 10, 20 L/ha), zinc tetramine hydroxide enriched with copper in 2 different doses (5 and 10 L/ha), Quantis in the manufacturer's prescribed dose of 2 L/ha, biostimulant enriched with zinc, and a usual foliar fertiliser used in rapeseed growing with Wuxal boron at the dose recommended by the manufacturer. During the growing season, the development of root mass, root length, SPAD values, as well as the yield and oleic acid content were evaluated by mathematical statistical method. It can be stated that there was no significant difference in the root mass, root length, and SPAD values, but there was a significant yield difference in the amount of the crop in the second-year experiment (P = 10 %). Studies have shown that biostimulants have the greatest influence on the development of measured parameters.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET24114129

Foliar Application of Copper-Tetramine-Sulphate from Microelectronic Waste to Improve Yield and Quality Parameters of Winter Wheat

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 114

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 1069-1074

Description:

The growth of the world's population is an increasing challenge for agricultural production. Improving soil productivity is the key to ensuring the quantity, quality and safety of food for a growing population. In addition to macroelements, microelements also play an important role in the biochemical processes. A large percentage of soils in Hungary show a deficiency in copper. For three years, we treated the leaves of winter wheat with a copper-tetramine-sulphate complex derived from microelectronic waste. Aim to provide an alkaline pH range of 9.3 for effective foliar treatment. Treatments were applied on 10 m2 small plots at 0; 0.1; 0.3; 0.5; 1.0; and 2.0 kg×ha-1 copper dose in the budding and flowering phenological stages with copper-tetramine-sulphate produced from microelectronic waste. After harvesting the crop from the plots, the yield, raw protein, and gluten content were measured. In the copper-deficient soil, a significant increase in yield and protein and gluten levels was observed after treatment with copper foliar fertiliser. The most significant increase in yield was obtained in the treatment at flowering (0.40 t/ha), with a 0.37 % increase in crude protein content and a 1.95 % increase in wet gluten content.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET24114179

Calibration of an Arduino-based low-cost capacitive soil moisture sensor for smart agriculture

Publication Name: Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

Publication Date: 2022-09-01

Volume: 70

Issue: 3

Page Range: 330-340

Description:

Agriculture faces several challenges to use the available resources in a more environmentally sustainable manner. One of the most significant is to develop sustainable water management. The modern Internet of Things (IoT) techniques with real-time data collection and visualisation can play an important role in monitoring the readily available moisture in the soil. An automated Arduino-based low-cost capacitive soil moisture sensor has been calibrated and developed for data acquisition. A sensor- and soil-specific calibration was performed for the soil moisture sensors (SKU:SEN0193 - DFROBOT, Shanghai, China). A Repeatability and Reproducibility study was conducted by range of mean methods on clay loam, sandy loam and silt loam soil textures. The calibration process was based on the data provided by the capacitive sensors and the continuously and parallelly measured soil moisture content by the thermogravimetric method. It can be stated that the response of the sensors to changes in soil moisture differs from each other, which was also greatly influenced by different soil textures. Therefore, the calibration according to soil texture was required to ensure adequate measurement accuracy. After the calibration, it was found that a polynomial calibration function (R2 ≥ 0.89) was the most appropriate way for modelling the behaviour of the sensors at different soil textures.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.2478/johh-2022-0014

Weed Composition in Hungarian Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.) Seed Production: Could Tine Harrow Take Over Chemical Management?

Publication Name: Agronomy

Publication Date: 2022-04-01

Volume: 12

Issue: 4

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Phacelia tanacetifolia, an excellent cover, green manure and honey crop is now widely cultivated throughout the world. One of its principal European seed production regions is north‐western Hungary, where the recent withdrawal of a potent herbicide, linuron, created a new challenge for many growers. The goal of this study is to identify the main factors determining weed species composition in the phacelia fields of the region and to assess the efficiency of tine harrow and clopyralid herbicide in reducing weed abundance and biomass. We carried out a series of weed surveys across the study region following a two‐level design: (i) we estimated the cover of all weed species in 205 fields (broad‐scale survey, BS); and (ii) in 22 of these fields, we provided more precise biomass measurements (counting the individuals and measuring the dry weights of all weed species) in microplots samples (fine‐scale survey; FS). To characterize the fields, 34 background variables were also collected for all of the studied fields. In both investigations, Chenopodium album was by far the most abundant weed. Within the BS, using a minimal adequate model containing 11 terms with significant net effects, 20.93% of the total variation in weed species data could be explained. The variation in species composition was determined by environmental factors (soil pH, clay and K; precipitation and temperature), non‐chemical management variables (crop cover, preceding crop, irrigation and tillage system) and herbicides (linuron and clopyralid). Variation partitioning demonstrated the dominance of environmental and cultural components in shaping the weed species composition. Although the effect of mechanical treatments was most likely masked in the BS by the soil properties, our FS suggests that tine harrow could efficiently decrease the total number and biomass of weeds and can be a useful tool in the phacelia management of the future.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/agronomy12040891

Impact of environmental and soil factors in the prediction of soil carbon dioxide emissions under different tillage systems

Publication Name: Ecocycles

Publication Date: 2022-01-01

Volume: 8

Issue: 1

Page Range: 27-39

Description:

Understanding the roles of natural drivers in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of arable fields is crucial for adequate agricultural management. This study investigated the combined effect of two tillage treatments (NT - no-tillage; CT - tillage with mouldboard ploughing) and environmental (air pressure, air temperature) and soil factors (total organic carbon, gravimetric water content and soil penetration resistance) on soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in maize in 2020 and 2021. The soil tubes required for the laboratory measurement were derived from three different altitudes of the two differently cultivated fields from Fejér county, Hungary. The typical soil type was Chernozem in both fields. At the time of soil sampling, soil penetration resistance was measured with a 06.15SA Penetrologger in 10 repetitions. To preserve the moisture content of the soil columns during the investigation, moisture replenishment was performed equal to the degree of weekly theoretical evapotranspiration. Emissions measurements of soil columns were performed by close chamber technique for five weeks from sampling, 15 times, in 3 repetitions in laboratory conditions. The data were evaluated by two-way ANOVA, followed by the Tukey HSD multiple comparison test and two-tailed Student's T-test at a significance level of p<0.05. The combined effect of environmental factors on soil carbon dioxide emissions was investigated using stepwise multiple linear regression. It has been proved that the observed difference between soil penetration resistance and soil carbon dioxide emissions was significant between CT and NT cultivation at different stages of the growing season. The analysis of the interaction of the experimental factors revealed that the combined effect of soil penetration resistance, total organic carbon and moisture content in tillage system (adjusted R2=0.92 at a significance level of p=0.05) in 2020, while the combined effect of moisture content and air temperature in the no-tillage system (adjusted R2=0.79 at a significance level of p=0.085) has the most significant effect on soil CO2 emissions in 2020. In 2021, the air temperature for the tillage system (adjusted R2=0.74 at a significance level of p=0.05) and the combined effect of air temperature and pressure for no-tillage systems (adjusted R2=0.69 at a significance level of p=0.1) played an important role in soil CO2 emissions. These observations highlight that different soil and environmental factors of different tillage significantly impact the soil carbon dioxide emissions in different years.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.19040/ecocycles.v8i1.216

Study of the antifungal effect of a copper-containing foliar fertilizer

Publication Name: Cereal Research Communications

Publication Date: 2021-06-01

Volume: 49

Issue: 2

Page Range: 337-341

Description:

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important arable crops. Copper-containing fertilizers are used in crop production to treat or reduce the negative effects of copper deficiency. Various copper compounds are also widely used as effective fungicide agents. The influence of a copper-containing foliar fertilizer prepared from a copper solution and sucrose had been tested on the yield and raw protein content of winter wheat in previous field experiments. In this work, we studied the antifungal effect of this particular foliar fertilizer in an in vitro trial, wherein the fungicide effect on growth and reproduction of specific plant pathogens, i.e., Fusarium graminearum and Drechslera sorokiniana, was evaluated with the agar well diffusion method. The results showed that doses of the foliar fertilizer corresponding to field applications of at least 1 kg ha−1 had antifungal effects, which were significant (P < 0.01) above the concentration level of 3337 mg L−1, corresponding to 2 kg ha−1 application, against both fungal pathogens. A linear correlation (r2 > 0.95) was found between copper concentration and fungicide efficiency in the concentration range studied. The fungicide efficiency of the foliar fertilizer was lower than that of the commercially available copper-oxychloride fungicide. The sole use of the foliar nutrient tested probably cannot replace fungicide treatments. However, in addition to its plant nutrition effect, its antifungal properties should also be taken into consideration.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/s42976-020-00108-y

The effect of soil physicochemical characteristics on zinc analysis methods

Publication Name: Soil and Water Research

Publication Date: 2021-01-01

Volume: 16

Issue: 3

Page Range: 180-190

Description:

Zn is an essential micronutrient involved in a wide variety of physiological processes. Soils are tested for zinc in many countries with several extractants. Each country has its validated methods, best-suited for its soils. The current study was designed to compare different zinc content measuring methods with seventy-one samples from Hungary. The data were first compared for the whole dataset and then in certain categories such as CaCO3-content, pH, texture and clay content. The zinc content was determined by the water extraction, KCl-EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), Mehlich 3, CoHex (cobalt hexamine trichloride), and XRF (X-ray fluorescence) methods. Based on the analyses of all the data, we can conclude that all the methods are different. However, further analyses during the comparison of the methods based on the influencing factors, such as the pH, lime content, texture class, and clay content proved that, in some of the cases, there are similarities among the methods and, this way, we can get more knowledge on the measurements and the results provided. Farmers can gain extra knowledge from the comparison of the influencing factors to know where intervention is needed to use extra Zn for the proper fertilisation of their plants.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.17221/53/2020-SWR

Past-present-future in hungarian soil analyses

Publication Name: Agrokemia Es Talajtan

Publication Date: 2020-12-01

Volume: 69

Issue: 1

Page Range: 127-151

Description:

The purpose of the present paper isAuthors aim was to deliver a compilation of to summarize the Hungarian soil analysies methods and theas well as to present the advisory system for nutrient management advisory system. Both of them are based on several decades of work. We need to should learn from these past experiences of reasonable and good agricultural practices. We can only apply the present and future results of soil science and find out what direction should we develop, if we were aware of the results of the past and we calculate with their governing effects. The majority of our recent methods are based on historical researches and the present current statesituation of our field of scientific fieldce can only be judged and developed further if we knew the former history of the methodological findings. The recent Hungarian soil analysis system provides useful results that can be used very well today, however, the adaptation of the new international methods, learned from the follow-up of the international trends can might provide open new perspectives in for the Hungarian laboratory analyses methodology. TThe subject is extremely timely because there are hea never- met demand for cost and time effective, environmentally friendly soil analysis methods underpin how actual and hot the topic is. nowadays.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1556/0088.2020.00061

Comparison of magnesium determination methods on Hungarian soils

Publication Name: Soil and Water Research

Publication Date: 2020-01-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 3

Page Range: 173-180

Description:

Magnesium is one of the most important nutrient elements. Soils are tested for magnesium in many countries with several extractants. Each country has its own validated methods, best-suited for its soils. The current study was designed to compare different magnesium content measuring methods with 80 Hungarian samples. The magnesium content was determined by the potassium chloride (1 M KCl 1:10), Mehlich 3 and CoHex (cobalt hexamine trichloride) methods. The maximum, mean and median values resulting from all the Mg determination methods showed the following order of measured magnitude: KCl < CoHex < M3.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.17221/92/2019-SWR