Search Results (15)

Given the diversity and richness of China’s grain varieties, traditional physicochemical quality testing methods for rice, while providing accurate results, suffer from drawbacks such as time-consuming procedures, high costs, substantial reagent consumption, cumbersome sample preparation, and reliance on destructive or semi-destructive techniques. This study aims to employ near-infrared spectroscopy technology to establish rapid and non-destructive predictive models for key quality indicators of japonica rice. The research analyzed 133 samples from 71 widely cultivated japonica rice varieties across five major production regions in China, utilizing spectral data within a wavelength range of 660–1080 nm. Predictive models for moisture, protein, amylose, and fatty acid values were constructed using three algorithms—partial least squares regression (PLSR), ridge regression (RR), and extremely randomized trees (ERT)—linear regression and the extreme randomization tree (ERT)—their optimal parameters were determined using a 10-fold cross-validation optimization method. Eighty percent of the total dataset served as the training set, while the remaining 20% formed the test set, yielding a final test set comprising 26 samples. Performance comparisons revealed that the PLSR and RR models demonstrated superior predictive performance: the coefficient of determination (R_p²) exceeded 0.9 for all four indicators, with the R² value for fatty acid prediction reaching as high as 0.99; the root mean square error (RMSEP) of the PLSR and RR models ranged between 0.0534% and 0.3360%, confirming their high predictive accuracy. Although all ERT models (except the protein model) achieved R_p² values exceeding 0.9, their overall performance was slightly inferior to the first two methods. The protein ERT model demonstrated relatively low performance, with an R_p² value of 0.6984 on the test set, which may be attributed to the limited sample size and weak protein spectral response signals. Although the samples covered five major production regions and 71 japonica rice varieties, their distribution was uneven (multiple varieties were represented by only one or a few samples). This study provides an efficient rapid quality assessment method for japonica rice; however, the generalization ability of the models requires further validation in future studies employing larger and more balanced sample sizes. Full article

In order to investigate the application potential of lightweight agricultural robots utilizing carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) as the primary structural material, this study developed a dedicated rubber-tracked chassis tailored for peanut pest and disease monitoring robots. The chassis design is anchored to the widely applied “single ridge with double rows” cultivation pattern in peanut production and incorporates a real-time track tension monitoring mechanism integrated with pressure sensors. The overall structural configuration of the chassis fully conforms to the standard ridge parameters of mechanized peanut planting while fully considering the intrinsic material properties of CFRP. Additionally, a sprocketless drive wheel structure is specifically adopted to realize higher-precision motion control performance. A mathematical model was constructed to quantitatively characterize the tension correlation between the tight side and slack side of the rubber track, as well as the variation law of initial tension influenced by multiple factors including the total mass of the robot platform. With the curb weight of the robot platform set at 45 kg, the theoretical initial tension is calculated to be 24.5 N (equivalent to approximately 2.5 kg, taking the gravitational acceleration g = 9.8 m/s²). The prototype shows potential for maintaining consistent tension, though a mechanical weakness was identified and will be addressed in future work. Performance validation tests show that the chassis maintains stable operation with no sprocket slippage during field visual inspection. Full article

This study investigated how fertilization regimes and ridge furrow planting patterns influence the soil nutrient conditions and microbial taxonomic composition and function in the rhizosphere of spring maize in Northeast China. Three treatments were compared: CK (compound fertilizer, small ridge), KF (formula fertilization, small ridge), and BMP (formula fertilization, large double-row ridge). High-throughput sequencing was used to characterize the soil bacterial and fungal community composition and diversity. The results showed that the combination of formula fertilizer and wide-ridge cultivation synergistically improved soil physicochemical properties and significantly increased maize yield (p < 0.05). Compared with CK, both BMP and KF significantly improved the composition and diversity of microbial communities. Notably, the BMP treatment increased the relative abundances of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota—key decomposers of soil organic matter, lignin, and cellulose—which suggested enhanced nutrient cycling potential under this integrated management practice. Among the three treatments, BMP (N:P₂O₅:K₂O = 1:2:1, 130 cm wide-ridge double-row planting) achieved the highest maize yield (859 ± 14 kg ha⁻¹), representing an 11.0% increase over conventional practices (CK, 774 ± 13 kg ha⁻¹). We propose that integrating optimized fertilization with ridge configuration is an effective strategy for improving soil quality, microbial functionality, and crop productivity in Northeast China’s black soil region. Full article

Rational agronomic practice enhances crop productivity and resource use efficiency. Plastic film mulching and phosphorus (P) fertilization are widely applied in alpine agriculture to improve soil water content, temperature, and P availability. However, their effects on soil P transformation and nutrient uptake in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) remain unclear. This study conducted a field experiment to explore the effects of mulching methods and P levels on soil P fractions and nitrogen (N), P uptake in faba bean. The experiment followed a randomized block design with three film mulching treatments—no-mulching with flat planting (NMF), double ridges and furrows mulched with one film (DRM), and three ridges and furrows mulched with one film (TRM) and three P levels—P0 (0 kg P ha⁻¹), P1 (9.10 kg P ha⁻¹), and P2 (18.2 kg P ha⁻¹). The results showed that soil medium- and highly active P increased, while low-active P decreased with increasing P levels. Compared with DRM and TRM, NMF had lower low-active P and higher medium- and highly active P, particularly under P2. These changes contributed to increases in soil total P and available P. The aboveground N, P uptake and N/P ratio under NMF were significantly higher than under DRM and TRM. As P levels increased, the aboveground N, P uptake and N/P ratio increased in NMF and DRM, but decreased in TRM. In all treatments, the aboveground N/P ratio was below 14, indicating N limitation. NMF, especially with P2, alleviated N limitation to faba bean growth. Overall, NMF combined with about 18.2 kg P ha⁻¹ P fertilizer is a sustainable practice for faba bean cultivation in alpine regions. However, attention should be paid to achieving a balanced supply of N and P fertilizers. Full article

The ridge–furrow plastic mulching technique has been widely applied due to its benefits of increasing temperature, conserving moisture, reducing evaporation, and boosting yields. Hydrus-2D is a computer model designed to simulate the two-dimensional movement of water in soil characterized by a low cost and high flexibility compared to field experiments. This study, based on field experiment data from Jianping County, Liaoning Province, China, during 2017–2018, developed Hydrus-2D models for two distinct field management practices: non-mulched flat cultivation (NM-FC) and mulched ridge tillage (M-RT). Furthermore, it simulated the dynamic changes in farmland water variations during the summer maize growth period (2021–2100) under climate change scenarios, specifically medium and high emission pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5), based on the FGOALS-g3 model, which exhibits the highest similarity to the climate pattern of Jianping County in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) global climate models and the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). The results showed that in the future FGOALS-g3 model, net radiation exhibited a significant upward trend under the SSP2-4.5 scenario (Z = 2.38), while the average air temperature showed a highly significant increase under both SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, with Z-values of 6.48 and 8.90, respectively. The Hydrus-2D model demonstrated high simulation accuracy in both NM-FC and M-RT treatments (R² ranging from 0.86 to 0.96, with RMSE not exceeding 0.011), accurately simulating the dynamic changes in soil water content (SWC) under future climate change. Compared to NM-FC, M-RT reduced evaporation, increased transpiration, and effectively decreased the leakage caused by increased future precipitation, resulting in a 0.04 and 0.01 cm³/cm³ increase in surface and deep soil SWC, respectively, during the summer maize growing season, significantly improving water use efficiency. Moreover, M-RT treatment reduced the impact coefficients of climate change on various water balance parameters, stabilizing changes in these parameters and SWC under future climate conditions. This study demonstrates the significant advantages of M-RT in coping with climate change, providing key scientific evidence for future agricultural water resource management. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and farmers, particularly in developing adaptive land management and irrigation strategies, helping to improve water use efficiency and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Full article

Water management is a significant aspect of sustainable vegetable farming, especially in water-scarce regions. This, in addition to weed infestations, limits vegetable yields, which negatively affect food security in developing regions, particularly East Africa, where livelihoods chiefly depend on rain-fed agriculture. Vegetable farming, especially tomato cultivation, requires more water. By promoting mulching, a soil water conservation tool, we can control surface evaporation (E), which, together with irrigation, enhances effective water use and vegetable yields. The experiments for this study were conducted at the Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan, to evaluate the influences of different irrigation conditions and poly-mulching on weed control, tomato yields, and water use efficiency. The study was conducted from May to September 2018 on a 30 m² plot in an open-ended greenhouse using drip irrigation for tomato cultivation. Three predetermined irrigation conditions of 4, 3, and 2 mm/day were applied on black poly-mulched and bare ridges. Data on soil conditions—soil temperature, as well as meteorological variables, including solar radiation and temperature—were measured using thermocouple sensors and micro-hobo weather stations, respectively, during the tomato cultivation, while yield components—growth, yield, water productivity, and sugar content—were determined after harvest. The results of a two-way ANOVA show that irrigation conditions with poly-mulching reduced the weed biomass significantly, and improved yields and water use efficiency compared to the irrigation conditions on bare ridges. The application of 4, 3, and 2 mm/day irrigation with poly-mulching significantly reduced the weed biomass by 5% compared to the same irrigation conditions on bare ridges. Similarly, 4 and 3 mm/day irrigation conditions with poly-mulching significantly increased the tomato yield by 5% compared to 2 mm/day on bare ridges. The bigger roots were concentrated and widely distributed at the shallow soil depth (0–20 cm) of the ridges with high irrigation amounts, while the small and thin roots were in deeper soil layers (30–45 cm). This study provides scientific knowledge on the application of predetermined irrigation conditions that can be (i) integrated into irrigation scheduling and (ii) adopted for regions facing water scarcity and limited or no in situ meteorological data, to improve water use efficiency for vegetable cultivation. Full article

The arid area of Northwest China belongs to the rain-fed agricultural area of the Loess Plateau, and water resources have become one of the important factors limiting agricultural development in this area. This study employed the AquaCrop model to predict the yield advantages and environmental adaptability of maize in Dingxi City from 2016 to 2020 under two cultivation practices: ridge tillage (100% film coverage with double ridge-furrow planting) and flat planting (81.8% film coverage with wide-film planting). The numerical simulation of the tillage and fertilization process of the double-ridge seedbed was carried out by EDEM, and the key components were tested by the Box–Behnken center combination test design principle to obtain the optimal parameter combination. The results showed that ridge planting was more suitable for agricultural planting in rain-fed arid areas in Northwest China. The simulation analysis of ridging and fertilization showed that the forward speed of the combined machine was 0.50 m/s, the rotation speed of the trough wheel of the fertilizer discharger was 39 rmp, and the rotary tillage depth was 150 mm. The qualified rate of seedbed tillage was 93.6%, and the qualified rate of fertilization was 92.1%. The research shows that the whole-film double ridge-furrow sowing technology of maize is more suitable for the rain-fed agricultural area in the arid area of Northwest China. The simulation results of the ridging fertilization device are consistent with the field experiment results. The research results provide a certain technical reference for the optimization of the whole-film double ridge-furrow sowing technology. Full article

The ridge–furrow with plastic film mulching (RF) system has been widely adopted in rain-fed crop planting due to its potential to enhance crop yield and water use efficiency. However, the impact of the RF system on maize lodging resistance, particularly when nitrogen fertilizer is applied, remains uncertain. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was carried out with two planting systems (FP: flat planting and RF) and two nitrogen application rates (N180: 180 kg·N ha⁻¹ and N300: 300 kg·N ha⁻¹) to assess the risk of lodging in maize. The results showed that compared to FP, RF resulted in a significant increase of 78.7% in lodging rate. In addition, the lodging rate increased by 22.6% with increasing nitrogen fertilizer application. The lignin content increased by 43.4%, while the stalk bending strength rose by 42.5%, under RF compared to the FP system. These improvements in the mechanical properties of maize stalks contributed to the improved lodging resistance index of RF, which was found to be approximately 21.3% higher than that of FP. In addition, high nitrogen application rates increased the risk of lodging for different planting patterns over two years. In conclusion, fertilization of spring maize with 300 kg·N ha⁻¹ under the RF system led to higher yields but increased lodging rates. The risk of lodging should be considered when planting maize under the RF system. The results of this study can provide scientific basis and technical support for the optimization of rain-fed maize cultivation measures in the Loess Plateau. Full article

Ridging cultivation and root restriction cultivation are beneficial due to their improvement of the soil permeability in the root zone of grapevine, and they are widely used in southern China, Japan, and other countries. However, with the intensification of global warming, when using ridging or root restriction cultivation, the soil temperature in the root zone can often reach 30 °C or even more than 35 °C during the summer, which is not conducive to the growth of grapevines. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of high root zone temperatures on the photosynthetic fluorescence characteristics of grapevine leaves, root respiration, and degree of lignification of roots and shoots, as well as to provide a theoretical foundation for the management of grapevine production and cultivation. One-year-old potted ‘Kyoho’ was used as the study material. Three root temperature treatments were implemented for 15 days (9:00–16:00): 25 °C (CK), 30 °C (T1), and 35 °C (T2). The results showed that the malondialdehyde and H₂O₂ levels in leaves increased, while the chlorophyll content decreased. The oxygen-evolving complex was inactivated, and PSII donor and acceptor sides were blocked, thus reducing the photosynthetic gas exchange capacity at high root zone temperatures. The grapevine root activity and root/shoot ratio decreased. Simultaneously, the lignin content in the roots and shoots increased. In addition, there was a significant increase in the expression of key genes (PAL, C4H, 4CL, F5H, COMT, CCR, and CAD) in the root lignin synthesis pathway. Heightened root zone temperatures increased cyanide-resistant respiration in roots and heat release in the PPP pathway to alleviate stress damage. Therefore, it is recommended to use grass, mulching, and other cultivation management methods to maintain root zone temperatures below 30 °C in order to ensure the normal growth of grapevines and promote a high and stable yield. Full article

Plastic film mulching is widely used in water and temperature-limited regions to enhance crop yields. Phosphorus (P) fertilization can address deficiencies in soil P availability. In this four-year field experiment conducted in an alpine agricultural area, we explored the effects of nitrogen (N) and P supply imbalance on faba bean cultivation, particularly examining intensified N competition between soil microbes and plants. The randomized block design comprised three film mulching treatments—no film mulching with flat planting (NMF), double ridges and furrows mulched with one plastic film (DRM), and three ridges and furrows mulched with one plastic film (TRM)—and three P levels—P₀ (0 kg P ha⁻¹), P₁ (9.10 kg P ha⁻¹), and P₂ (18.2 kg P ha⁻¹). The results indicated that NMF enhanced soil available N and microbial biomass N (MBN) during early growth stages, consequently improving faba bean yield, nodule weight, total N, and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) compared to DRM and TRM. DRM and TRM exhibited higher soil available N and MBN during later growth stages and higher soil temperature and water content, soil water storage (SWS), soil organic C (SOC), and soil C/N ratio than NMF. In NMF and DRM, P fertilization increased grain yield, nodule weight, SOC, total N, soil C/N ratio, soil available N, and MBC but decreased MBN during early growth stages, and decreased soil water content and SWS. TRM exhibited the opposite trend. P fertilization increased soil total P and available P. Overall, NMF combined with P fertilization (~18.2 kg P ha⁻¹) significantly improved faba bean yield. However, it may also accelerate SOC decomposition, highlighting the need to consider N fertilizer application in this alpine agricultural region. Full article

Global warming and world-wide climate change caused by increasing carbon emissions have attracted a widespread public attention, while anthropogenic activities account for most of these problems generated in the social economy. In order to comprehensively measure the levels of carbon emissions and carbon sinks in Anhui Province, the study adopted some specific carbon accounting methods to analyze and explore datasets from the following suggested five carbon emission sources of energy consumption, food consumption, cultivated land, ruminants and waste, and three carbon sink sources of forest, grassland and crops to compile the carbon emission inventory in Anhui Province. Based on the compiled carbon emission inventory, carbon emissions and carbon sink capacity were calculated from 2000 to 2019 in Anhui Province, China. Combined with ridge regression and scenario analysis, the STIRPAT model was used to evaluate and predict the regional carbon emission from 2020 to 2040 to explore the provincial low-carbon development pathways, and carbon emissions of various industrial sectors were systematically compared and analyzed. Results showed that carbon emissions increased rapidly from 2000 to 2019 and regional energy consumption was the primary source of carbon emissions in Anhui Province. There were significant differences found in the increasing carbon emissions among various industries. The consumption proportion of coal in the provincial energy consumption continued to decline, while the consumption of oil and electricity proceeded to increase. Furthermore, there were significant differences among different urban and rural energy structures, and the carbon emissions from waste incineration were increasing. Additionally, there is an inverted “U”-shape curve of correlation between carbon emission and economic development in line with the environmental Kuznets curve, whereas it indicated a “positive U”-shaped curve of correlation between carbon emission and urbanization rate. The local government should strengthen environmental governance, actively promote industrial transformation, and increase the proportion of clean energy in the energy production and consumption structures in Anhui Province. These also suggested a great potential of emission reduction with carbon sink in Anhui Province. Full article

Earthworms have been studied in many ecosystems, demonstrating their high ecological value. However, there are few studies on the coupling of earthworms to irrigated paddy fields. On this basis, a symbiotic system of irrigated rice and earthworms was established with a wide-ridge cultivation model, and a combination of field experiments and pot experiments was carried out in Southern China. The results showed that the symbiosis of irrigated rice and earthworms in the pot experiment significantly loosened the soil by 5–10 cm, compacted the soil by 10–20 cm, increased the soil pH value by 0–10 cm, and increased the content of soil organic matter by 5–20 cm compared with rice monoculture. Due to the significant increase in leaf area index and grain weight at the mature stage, the white root at the heading and grain filling stages improved significantly, and the yield of irrigated rice also increased significantly by 15.39%. However, in the field experiment, due to the low survival rate of earthworms, the effect of inoculating earthworms was not significant. This study confirmed the beneficial effect of earthworm inoculation on the paddy field ecosystem, and provided a research basis for introducing earthworms into the paddy field ecosystem, realizing the sustainable development of rice cultivation, and ensuring world food security. Full article

Two loofah (Luffa) species, the ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.) and the sponge gourd (L. cylindrica (L.) M. Roem.; syn. L. aegyptiaca), are cultivated widely in Asia by smallholder famers. Both species have significant economic and nutritional importance. However, Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) and downy mildew (DM) caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis are important biotic constraints to loofah production throughout Asia. Loofah landrace-derived breeding lines, developed at the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg), were evaluated at the WorldVeg East and Southeast Asia Research and Training Station, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen, Thailand—where natural epidemics of ToLCNDV and DM regularly occur. The lines were also evaluated for other commercially important horticultural traits such as days to 50% staminate and pistillate flowering, fruit color, fruit bitterness, and market segment classification. Thirteen and 59 lines of ridge gourd and sponge gourd, respectively, were determined to be resistant to both ToLCNDV and DM. These lines covered all market segments of loofah and exhibited variability for all of the evaluated horticultural traits. The results of these evaluations and their implications on loofah breeding are discussed. Full article

Ridge–furrow cultivation with plastic film mulching has been widely used for many years to increase crop yields in semiarid regions. The long-term effects of plastic mulching on crop yield and soil water balance need to be seriously considered to assess the sustainability of this widely used field management technique. A seven-year maize field experiment was conducted during 2012–2018 to estimate the yield sustainability and soil water balance with two treatments—mulching (yes; no) and nitrogen fertilization (yes; no). This resulted in the following four groups—no film mulching, no N application (M0N0); film mulching, no N application (M1N0); no film mulching, N application (M0N1); film mulching and N application (M1N1). Our results show that plastic mulching significantly increased maize yield. A combination of mulching and nitrogen application had the highest sustainability yield index (SYI) of 0.75, which was higher than the other three treatments, with SYI values of 0.31, 0.33, and 0.39, respectively. Plastic film mulching increased soil water content and water storage in both the sowing and harvesting periods and did not cause the formation of dry soil layers. Precipitation storage efficiency (PSE) in the nongrowing season played a key role in maintaining the soil water balance and it was positively affected by plastic film mulching. Our research indicates that plastic mulching and N application could maintain maize yield sustainability and the soil water balance of agriculture in semiarid regions. In addition, we highlight the importance of nongrowing season precipitation, and thus, we suggest that mulching the field land with plastic film throughout the whole year should be adopted by farmers to store more precipitation, which is important to crop growth. Full article

Pulses play important roles in providing proteins and essential amino-acids, and contribute to soils’ nutrients cycling in most smallholder farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). These crops can be promoted to meet food and nutrition security goals in low-income countries. Here, we investigated the status of Kersting’s groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum, Fabaceae), a neglected pulse in West Africa. We explored its diversity, the production systems, the production constraints and farmers’ preferences in Burkina Faso and Ghana. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted in 39 villages with 86 respondents grouped in five sociolinguistic groups. Our results indicated that Macrotyloma geocarpum was produced in three cultivation systems: in the first system, farmers grew Kersting’s groundnut in fields, mostly on mounds or on ridges; in the second system, farmers grew it as field border; and in the third system, no clear tillage practice was identified. The main constraints of those farming systems included: difficulty to harvest, the lack of manpower and the damage due to high soil humidity at the reproductive stage. A total of 62 samples were collected and clustered in six landraces based on seed coat colors including cream, white mottled with black eye, white mottled with greyed orange eye, black, brown mottled, and brown. All six groups were found in the southern-Sudanian zone whereas only white mottled with black eye and black colors were found in the northern-Sudanian zone. The white mottled with black eye landrace was commonly known and widely grown by farmers. Farmers’ preferences were, however, influenced by sociolinguistic membership and the most preferred traits included high yielding, drought tolerance, and resistance against beetles. These findings offer an avenue to develop a relevant breeding research agenda for promoting Kersting’s groundnut in Burkina Faso and Ghana. Full article