Journal of Agriculture and Food Research最新文献

{"title":"AI-driven radiometric correction of crop covered-net distortions for proximal multispectral vineyard imaging","authors":"Carlos Alberto Pérez-Pérez,&nbsp;Claudia Gonzalez Viejo,&nbsp;Sigfredo Fuentes,&nbsp;Rick L. Swenson,&nbsp;Juan Ignacio Valiente-Banuet","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103332","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103332","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Net covers are widely used in vineyards to mitigate biotic and abiotic stressors. However, these structures introduce wavelength-dependent attenuation that alters multispectral reflectance, thus compromising the comparability of vegetation indices across illumination conditions required for remote sensing applications. Existing radiometric correction strategies typically rely on calibration panels, irradiance sensors, or paired open-sky reference acquisitions, which limit their applicability in netted vineyards. This study proposes a proximal multispectral correction framework to remove radiometric distortions caused by covering nets. The approach uses a combination of reference-based adjustment and a lightweight artificial neural network (ANN) model capable of reference-free correction. Multispectral images were acquired at the canopy level under shade-net and open-sky conditions using a fixed proximal imaging configuration. A snapshot experimental design was adopted to isolate illumination effects while minimizing temporal variability. Region-of-interest preprocessing and percentile-based distribution matching were used to generate training targets for ANN modeling. The ANN successfully inferred open-sky radiometric intensity distributions from shaded inputs across visible and near-infrared bands, achieving high correlations with reference imagery (R = 0.97) and slopes close to unity. Vegetation indices derived from corrected images closely matched unnetted grapevine values, with RGB-based indices reaching correlations up to R = 0.99 and multispectral indices up to R = 0.97. After supervised training with paired shaded and open-sky images, the proposed ANN-based model enables deployment-stage correction of shaded multispectral images without auxiliary instrumentation or concurrent reference acquisition. This ability to operate without references during inference restores radiometric consistency and supports robust computation of multispectral indices in netted vineyards.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 103332"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149154011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Production process, microbiota, and physicochemical composition of traditional cheese products: A case study of Khiki cheese","authors":"Aziz A. Fallah,&nbsp;Elham Sarmast,&nbsp;Tina Jafari,&nbsp;Mohammad Ghasemi,&nbsp;Amin Mousavi Khaneghah","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103245","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103245","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditional cheese production is an integral part of each region's nutritional heritage. Khiki cheese, a diverse group of traditional cheeses produced in Iran, is made from raw sheep and/or goat milk and ripened in a sheep- or goat-skin bag, which imparts unique physicochemical, structural, sensory, and microbiological characteristics. This study reviewed the production procedures for Khiki cheese across different regions of Iran and summarized the product's physicochemical, structural, sensory, and microbial characteristics. Moreover, the effects of ripening on the cheese's most important features, the characteristics of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains isolated from Khiki cheese, their potential use as starter and adjunct non-starter cultures and probiotic supplements, and their application in fermented food production were discussed. Khiki cheese has a semi-hard, crumbly texture, a white or cream color, a high-fat content, a sharp acidic and salty taste, and a intense buttery flavor. The microflora of raw milk and the skin bag is critical for providing the cheese's unique texture and sensory characteristics. Several LAB strains from Khiki cheese show potential for use as starters, adjunct non-starter cultures, and probiotic supplements and applied to produce fermented foodstuffs. The possibility of raw milk contamination with pathogenic microorganisms and the transfer of pathogens to cheese is a significant concern. Therefore, it is worthwhile to formulate starter and adjunct non-starter cultures from LAB strains of Khiki cheese to produce a hygienic product from pasteurized milk with original characteristics on an industrial scale.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 103245"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149154008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unlocking the potential of Chenpi for healthy diets: Insights into bioactive compounds and health-promoting benefits","authors":"Guoqiang Zhang,&nbsp;Run-Yang Zhang,&nbsp;Yuanhui Wang,&nbsp;Zhao Qin,&nbsp;Hua-Min Liu,&nbsp;Mutamed Ayyash,&nbsp;Shaobo Zhou,&nbsp;Bin Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103335","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103335","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With rapid global population growth and climate change, food systems face immense pressure to provide adequate nutrition for all. This challenge could further exacerbate global health concerns. In this context, developing and providing healthier and affordable food ingredients and introducing them into daily diets are important strategies to address this challenge. Chenpi is a traditional medicine-food homology ingredient in China and is widely utilised in the development of food products and domestic cooking as a flavouring. Chenpi has received much attention due to its various health-promoting benefits, and its wider inclusion and promotion in daily diets could contribute to providing health support for all and preventing diet-related diseases. Therefore, this review provides insights into the potential of Chenpi and summarises the <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> research evidence to improve understanding of its health-promoting properties, aiming to maximise its potential for supporting healthy diets for all.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 103335"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149154010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Designing edible insect proteins for food applications: Processing-Structure-Function relationships, product performance and safety trade-offs","authors":"Chi Hao Nguyen,&nbsp;Duy H. Truong","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103340","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103340","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Edible insect proteins are increasingly investigated as alternative food ingredients, but their technological value depends on more than protein content alone. This review integrates evidence primarily published from 2015 onwards using a processing-structure-function framework that links raw-material variability, protein recovery and modification, techno-functional behaviour, food-matrix performance, and safety-related trade-offs. Insect species, developmental stage, rearing substrate, lipid and chitin contents, and post-harvest history strongly influence protein quality, digestibility, extractability and functionality. Defatting, wet or dry fractionation, pH treatment, ultrasound, high-pressure processing, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation and controlled Maillard conjugation can modify protein conformation, aggregation, surface properties and peptide size, but improvements in solubility, emulsification, foaming or gelation are condition-dependent and may be accompanied by colour, flavour, bitterness, oxidative or allergenic constraints. Product performance is therefore matrix-specific: cereal foods tolerate relatively heterogeneous ingredients, structured foods require compatibility with network-forming proteins, whereas beverages and emulsions generally demand more refined and dispersible fractions. Bioactive peptide evidence remains dominated by chemical and <em>in vitro</em> assays and should not be equated with demonstrated physiological efficacy. Food safety, allergenicity, regulation and consumer acceptance should be integrated into ingredient design from the outset. Future progress will depend on standardised raw materials, reproducible processing, real-food validation and application-specific ingredient specifications rather than a single universal insect-protein ingredient.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 103340"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149154009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Shaping metabolite profile, dehydration kinetics, quality retention, and sorption properties of red water lily (Nymphaea x rubra) petals through drying technology","authors":"Traiphop Phahom,&nbsp;Kamolwan Soubsub,&nbsp;Gaelle Roudaut,&nbsp;Singhanat Phoungchandang","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103337","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103337","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Red water lily petals are rich in bioactive compounds but deteriorate rapidly owing to their high moisture content, which accelerates chemical and microbiological activity. Drying thus extends shelf life. However, information on how drying methods affect drying characteristics, moisture adsorption, and quality, especially metabolite profiles, remains scarce. To address this gap, freeze drying (FD), convective drying (TD; 50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C), and intermittent microwave drying (MWD; 450, 720, and 900 W) were applied to investigate drying characteristics, moisture adsorption behaviors, quality attributes, and metabolite profiles of red water lily petals. The correlation between bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity was investigated to identify key antioxidants. Among five models tested, the Midilli–Kucuk model best described the drying kinetics, with the highest R² (≥0.999) and the lowest χ² (≤1.25E−04), root mean square error (RMSE) (≤8.33E−05), and standard error of estimate (SEE) (≤9.53E−03). MWD reduced drying time by ∼97% compared to TD. Samples subjected to MWD exhibited lower structural shrinkage (51.11%–54.07%) than TD samples (53.99%–62.62%). FD resulted in the highest retention of antioxidant properties, comparable to MWD. Of 125 putatively identified phenolic compounds, 43 compounds (34.3%) exhibited strong correlations with antioxidant activity. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that MWD at 450 and 720 W produced quality attributes comparable to those obtained with FD. These findings suggest that MWD is a viable alternative to FD for producing functional dried flower ingredients for nutraceuticals, functional foods, and natural pigments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 103337"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149154065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Root exudate-mediated plant chemical communication induces benzoxazinoid synthesis in wheat and suppresses Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fabae activity in faba bean","authors":"Bijie Hu,&nbsp;Ting Li,&nbsp;Siyin Yang,&nbsp;Yan Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103324","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103324","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Chemical recognition and communication between plants are facilitated through root exudates, which function as signaling molecules that mediate associations between host and non-host plants. The interaction between root exudates of non-host plants and host pathogens represents a crucial mechanism by which intercropping systems control crop diseases.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To examine whether signaling molecules can be involved in underground chemical interactions within the wheat-faba bean intercropping system and whether root exudates from non-host crops such as wheat can exert inhibitory effects on <em>Fusarium oxysporum</em> f. sp. <em>fabae</em> (FOF), the pathogen of faba bean.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Hydroponic culture, soil culture, and field experiments were conducted to screen and identify signaling compounds present in the root exudates of monocropped faba bean (M) and wheat-faba bean intercropping (I) systems. The response of FOF to benzoxazine compounds (BXs) in wheat root exudates and their effects on seed germination of host crops were investigated through indoor cultivation experiments.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared with monocropping, intercropping wheat with faba bean significantly upregulated metabolites, such as jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA), in the root system of faba bean and led to increased BXs concentrations in wheat leaf tissue and rhizosphere soil by 47.54%-96.09%, 19.65%-38.10%. FOF spores can accumulate in the root system of wheat. BXs can inhibit the biomass of FOF mycelium and the growth of biofilm, leading to subsequently an increase in apoptotic vesicles. Furthermore, BXs significantly enhanced germination rate, germination index, vitality index, and seedling length of faba bean seeds 5.55-58.84%, 3.13-55.00%, 112.90-962.22%, 125.81-702.99%, thereby promoting germination.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Signal transduction among crops is a key medium for the interaction among plant species. In the wheat-faba bean intercropping system, there may exist this “call for help” strategy, that is, the presence of signal substances in the root secretions of faba bean induces an increase in the content of BXs in the rhizosphere of wheat. BXs further inhibits the growth and development of FOF, leading to an increase in apoptotic vesicles and effectively controlling the occurrence of faba bean fusarium wilt.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 103324"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149154007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human breast milk as an early-life functional food: Metabolomic perspectives on growth and stunting","authors":"Megah Stefani,&nbsp;Reggie Surya,&nbsp;Nindy Sabrina,&nbsp;Wardina Humayrah,&nbsp;Happy Kurnia Permatasari,&nbsp;Nurpudji Astuti Taslim,&nbsp;Hardinsyah Hardinsyah,&nbsp;Raymond Rubianto Tjandrawinata,&nbsp;Sovia Salamah,&nbsp;Fahrul Nurkolis","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103182","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103182","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Breast milk is a dynamic and complex biological fluid that provides essential nutrients, bioactive molecules, and microbial communities required for optimal infant development. Beyond macronutrients and micronutrients, the breast milk metabolome—a diverse network of small molecules—has emerged as a potential mediator linking maternal nutrition, infant gut microbiota, and growth outcomes, particularly stunting. This review synthesizes current evidence on the composition and variability of the breast milk metabolome, highlighting region- and phenotype-specific differences and their associations with infant growth trajectories. Key metabolites, such as amino acids, human milk oligosaccharides, and short-chain fatty acids, play crucial roles in shaping immune maturation, metabolic pathways, and gut microbial colonization. However, inconsistencies in study design, methodological heterogeneity, and limited longitudinal data restrict the establishment of causal mechanisms between breast milk metabolites and stunting prevention. We propose an integrated multi-omics framework to address these gaps, enabling mechanistic insights and translational strategies for nutrition interventions. By contextualizing breast milk metabolomics within maternal health and environmental factors, this review underscores its potential as a critical target in stunting prevention and early-life nutritional policy development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103182"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148645465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid (ACC) as an efficient suicidal germination agent for controlling Striga hermonthica","authors":"Muhammad Jamil,&nbsp;Mohammed Salem,&nbsp;Jian You Wang,&nbsp;Yagiz Alagoz,&nbsp;Da Cao,&nbsp;Mariam Hashim,&nbsp;Abdugaffor Ablazov,&nbsp;Ouedraogo Margueritte,&nbsp;Djibril Yonli,&nbsp;Lynet Navangi,&nbsp;Patrick Mudavadi,&nbsp;Dennis E. Tippe,&nbsp;Lamis Berqdar,&nbsp;Dominique Van Der Straeten,&nbsp;Salim Al-Babili","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103160","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103160","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Striga hermonthica</em> is a destructive parasitic weed that threatens cereal production and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. One promising control method is “Suicidal Germination” which forces Striga seeds to germinate in host's absence, reducing the soil seed bank. As the efficiency of strigolactones (SLs) is often limited by seed dormancy, we tested whether the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) could enhance germination, either alone or in combination with synthetic SL analogs (MP3 and Nijmegen-1). In laboratory tests, ACC triggered germination in a time- and dose-dependent manner in unconditioned as well as conditioned seeds, and ACC + SL treatments achieved a germination rate of more than 73%. In greenhouse experiments, ACC reduced Striga emergence by 62%, while ACC + MP3 reduced it by 93%, and improved host plant growth. Field trials conducted in Burkina Faso in millet and maize crops showed 72-82% reduction in Striga emergence by ACC and SL treatment combinations while field trials in Kenya showed statistically non-significant reduction. Molecular analyses indicated that the treatments activated ethylene-related genes, increased ACC levels, reduced abscisic acid, and increased gibberellin levels, thereby helping to break seed dormancy. Overall, applying ACC together with SL analogs effectively stimulated suicidal germination under real field conditions. This approach provides an effective strategy for managing Striga and enhancing cereal yields in affected regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103160"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148645295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Behavioral drivers of vertical agriculture adoption among greenhouse farmers under climate and water stress in Iran","authors":"Ali Akbar Barati,&nbsp;Khodayar Naderi Mahabadi,&nbsp;Ali Asadi","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103169","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103169","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change and water scarcity have created unprecedented pressures on traditional agriculture, making the transition to innovative controlled-environment methods such as vertical agriculture (VA) an emerging strategic priority, particularly in arid regions. This cross-sectional survey study examined the psychological and behavioral mechanisms influencing VA adoption among greenhouse farmers in Alborz Province, Iran (n = 103 units, randomly sampled from a population of 539). Data were collected via researcher-developed questionnaire and analyzed using the PROCESS path analysis algorithm. An integrated behavioral model combining the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Technology Acceptance Model, and the Stimulus-Organism-Response framework was proposed and tested. Behavioral intention showed the strongest statistical association with VA adoption (β = 0.552, p &lt; 0.000), while attitude toward new technologies exhibited both direct (β = 0.260) and indirect (β = 0.231) associations with adoption-related behavior. Perceived usefulness was the strongest correlate of attitude (β = 0.365), whereas perceived ease of use showed no significant association. The model accounted for approximately 50% of the variance in adoption-related behavior. Policy implications include designing evidence-based extension programs targeting perceived usefulness, and establishing financial mechanisms, including subsidies and low-interest lending to reduce the cost barriers to VA implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103169"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148658843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-term mulching regulates soybean productivity through changes in soil quality and modulating microbial nutrient limitation","authors":"Shahzad Haider,&nbsp;Jiajie Song,&nbsp;Xing Wang,&nbsp;Gaihe Yang,&nbsp;Guangxin Ren,&nbsp;Yongzhong Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103218","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103218","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mulching is an important agronomic strategy for improving soil quality and crop productivity in arid and semi-arid agroecosystem. However, its integrated effects on soil health, microbial nutrient limitation, enzyme-mediated processes, and yield stability remain inadequately characterized. A field experiment established in 2008 was evaluated in 2019-2020 to compare straw mulching (SM), plastic-film mulching (PM), ridged plastic-film mulching (RM), and no mulching (CK), on soil quality index (SQI), microbial functionality, and soybean yield. All mulching treatments significantly enhanced soil nutrient availability and microbial biomass compared with CK. Soybean yield increased by 22.50%, 34%, and 49.50% under SM, PM, and RM, respectively, with RM showing the highest yield, stability and sustainability. SQI was elevated by 93.02%, 87.06% and 145.93% under SM, PM, and RM, respectively. Enzyme profiling indicated SM and RM promoted soil biological functioning through increased β-glucosidase activity. Eco-enzymatic vector analysis confirmed the angles below 45°, indicating microbial nitrogen limitation across treatments, while mulching differentially modified nutrient-acquisition strategies. Mantel analysis revealed strong associations among soil nutrients, microbial biomass, vector parameters, SQI, and soybean yield. Partial least square path modelling indicated that soil chemical properties exerted the strong positive effect on yield, followed by SQI. Random forest analysis identified SQI as key predicator of yield response. Overall, RM most effectively enhanced soybean productivity and microbial functionality, while SM maintained yield resilience during 2019-2020, underscoring mulching as a sustainable strategy for improving soil health, and agroecosystem stability in dryland soybean production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103218"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148771631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}