Process of Salinisation of a Lagoon and a Coastal Aquifer in Annaba Area （East Algerian）

The study area is located in a Mediterranean region, so the effects of the climate variations are very important. The authors contribution to this subject is based on the compilation of many results obtained from dissertations and theses that are carried out under their supervision. The main tool used, in addition to other methods, is the water hydrochemistry as it is proved very useful in obtaining good results and helpful in getting objective interpretations regarding the presence and absence of salinity. Several factors are undertaken to show the presence of salts in waters in the plain, the lithology of the geological formations shows that they are composed of alluvium sediments where the permeability is quite high, and this enables hydraulic communication between the fresh water of the aquifer and saline water of the sea. The study of climate shows a decrease of precipitation which favors an important decrease of recharge rate to the aquifer, and hence a decrease of water resource. The strontium which is a good indicator for the origin of salinity shows a variation that indicates a variation in the distribution of the salinity, and therefore diverse origins of salinity all over the studied area. This can infer the presence of marine invasion in the down-stream part of the aquifer, whereas elsewhere salinity is caused by the presence of evaporitic formation, mainly by the argillaceous matrix in the bottom of the lake. in the up-stream part of the aquifer. In the lake, salinity is explained     

Correlation of production constraints with the yield gap of apple cropping systems in Luochuan County,China

Apple occupies a dominant position in fruit production globally, and has become the main income source of local smallholder farmers in Luochuan County in the Loess Plateau area, one of the largest apple production areas in China. However, the annual productivity of apple orchards in this region remains low and has gradually declined over the years. The distinction and correlation of production constraints can contribute to the promotion of apple orchard productivity and the development of a sustainable orchard system. In the present study, survey data from 71 smallholder farmers were analyzed using a yield gap model to distinguish the production constraints and determine their correlation with the yield gap based on the structural equation model(SEM). The results indicated that the average apple yield in Luochuan County was 29.9 t ha~(–1) yr~(–1), while the attainable yield(Y_(att); the highest yield obtained from the on-farm surveys) was 58.1 t ha~(–1) yr~(–1). The average explained and unexplainable yield gaps were 26.3 and 1.87 t ha~(–1) yr~(–1). According to the boundary line analysis, crop load,number of sprayings and base fertilizer N were the top three constraints on apple production in 9.8, 7.8 and 7.8% of the plots, respectively. Among the production constraints, crop load and fruit weight affected apple yield through direct pathways,whereas other constraints influenced apple yield through an indirect pathway based on the SEM, explaining 51% of the yield variance by all the main production constraints. These results can improve the current understanding of production constraints and contribute to the development of management strategies and policies for improving apple yield.     

Determination of the Number of SSR Alleles Necessary for the Analysis of Genetic Relationships Between Maize Inbred Lines

The amount of molecular marker information has considerable impact on the results of studies of crop germplasm genetic relationships in crop. The number of alleles required to reveal genetic relationship in maize inbred lines is a theoretical issue that needs to be addressed. In this study, 112 pairs of SSR （simple sequence repeat） primers and 97 maize inbred lines were selected to study the relationship between the number of inbred lines and the number of SSR primers and alleles required for a stable cluster. The results showed that the number of SSR primers is not tightly associated with the stability of the cluster analysis results, while an increase in the number of alleles can significantly improve the stability of cluster analysis results. The number of inbred lines （X） is significantly associated with the number of alleles required for stable cluster analysis （Y）, and the regression equation is Y- 600.8xe（-15.9/x）. This equation can be used to calculate the number of SSR alleles required for a genetic relationship study of maize inbred lines. These results provide a reference for determining of SSR alleles number in genetic relationship analysis of maize inbred line and other crop germplasm.     

Change in ^14C-soluble Sugar Involved in the Photosynthate Translocation Pathway of Tomato

Liaoyuanduoli tomato was planted in pots in a solar greenhouse. The first leaf below the second cluster was labeled by ^14CO2 with a dose of 0.555 MBq 30 days after the second cluster anthesis. Mesophyll, midrib, petiole vascular of the fed leaf, internode vascular below the fed leaf （adjacent to the fed leaf）, peduncle vascular of the second cluster, sepal, fruit pedicle, pulp, pectinic, and dissepiment were taken 2, 4, 8, 12, 20, 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively, after ^14CO2 feed to determinate the composition and specific activity of carbohydrate at different sites and different time after the labeling. The results indicated that almost all of the photosynthates resulting from 1 h of photosynthesis could be transported out of the leaf within 72 h and more than 85% of them were exported within 24 h. The greatest amount of sucrose transport occurred in the internode pedicel vascular bundle 8 h after the start of photosynthesis. Assimilates entering the fruit through the internode and pedicel vascular bundles were detectable but in small quantities 2 h after photosynthesis. Only the radio activity of sucrose but not that of glucose and fructose was detected, suggesting that some of the sucrose in the fruit came directly through the phloem at an early stage of fruit development, not through the synthesis of glucose and fructose. Fruit vascular may be the part where sucrose first metabolized after it entered the fruit.     

Applying a salinity response function and zoning saline land for three fi eld crops: a case study in the Hetao Irrigation District,Inner Mongolia,China

Salinity is one of the major abiotic factors affecting the growth and productivity of crops in Hetao Irrigation District, China. In this study, the salinity tolerances of three local crops, wheat(Triticum aestinum L.), maize(Zea mays L.) and sunflower(Helianthus annuus L.), growing in 76 farm fields are evaluated with modified discount function. Salinity ecological zones appropriate for these local crops are characterized and a case study is presented for crop salinity ecological zoning. The results show that the yield reductions of wheat, maize and sunflower when grown in saline soils are attributed primarily to a reduction in spikelet number, 1 000-grain weight and seed number per head, respectively. Sunflower is the most tolerant crop among the three which had a salinity tolerance index(ST-index) of 12.24, followed by spring maize and spring wheat with ST-Indices of 9.00 and 7.43, respectively. According to the crop salinity tolerance results, the arable land in the Heping Village of this district was subdivided into four salinity ecological zones: the most suitable, suitable, sub-suitable and unsuitable zones. The area proportion of the most suitable zone for wheat, maize and sunflower within the Heping Village was 27.5, 46.5 and 77.5%, respectively. Most of the most suitable zone occurred in the western part of the village. The results of this study provide the scientific basis for optimizing the local major crop distribution and improving cultural practices management in Hetao Irrigation District.     

CFD Based Study of Heterogeneous Microclimate in a Typical Chinese Greenhouse in Central China

Indoor microclimate is important for crop production and quality in greenhouse cultivation.This paper focuses on microclimate study based on a computational fluid dynamics(CFD) model of a typical plastic greenhouse(with a sector shape vertical cross-section) popularly used in central China.A radiation model is added into the CFD model so as to simulate coupling of convective transfers and radiative exchanges at the cover and the roof,instead of using the usual coupling approach based on energy balance.In addition,a fractal permeability model is innovatively adopted in the modeling of the crop canopy.Compared the numerical results with measured experimental data,the model simulation is proved with success.This model then is used to explore the microclimate variable distributions in the greenhouse.It shows that the airflow pattern,temperature and humidity profiles are different from those in a sawtooth Mediterraneantype greenhouse.The study suggests that this deliberately developed CFD model can be served as a useful tool in macroclimate research and greenhouse design investigating.     

Natural Variation of Leaf Thickness and Its Association to Yield Traits in indica Rice

Leaf thickness is an important morphological trait in rice. Its association to the yield potential, as of now has not been documented because of the shortage of the equipment which could conveniently measure the leaf thickness in rice. In this study, the thickness of top three leaves of 208 cultivars had been determined by a nondestructive rice leaf thickness instrument for the research of the natural variation of leaves thickness and its association to yield traits in indica rice. The results showed that the flag leaf was the thickest, and the 2nd leaf was thicker than the 3rd leaf. Analysis of variance indicated the existence of wide genetic diversity of leaf thickness among the investigated indica rice genotypes. The tight correlation among the thicknesses of the top three leaves means that the leaf thickness traits share one genetic control system. Leaf thickness had a significant positive correlation with leaf length and a positive correlation with leaf width, indicated that thicker leaf was beneficial to increasing the single leaf area. The results of correlation analysis revealed that thicker leaf should be profitable to the leaf erection, higher numbers of grains per panicle and higher grains weight per panicle. However, the significantly negative correlation between leaf thickness and number of panicles per plant counteracted the profitability from increased grains weight per panicle, so that the correlations of the thicknesses of the top three leaves to yield and biomass were positive but not significantly. It has made great progress in the genetic improvement of leaves thickness in inbred indica rice breeding in Guangdong Province, China, since the 1990s.     

Performance in Grain Yield and Physiological Traits of Rice in the Yangtze River Basin of China During the Last 60 yr

Knowledge on the performance in grain yield and physiological traits is essential to understand the main yield-limiting factor and make strategies for breeding and crop management in rice (Oryza sativa L.). This study investigated the changes in grain yield and associated physiological traits of rice in the Yangtze River Basin of China during the last 60 yr. Thirteen mid-season indica and 12 japonica rice cultivars that were popularly used were grown in the field in 2008 and 2009. The grain yield and yield components, biomass, leaf area, leaf photosynthesis, root oxidation activity, and harvest index were examined. The results showed that grain yield and grain yield per day have progressively increased during the years and such increases are mainly attributed to the expanded sink size as a result of more spikelets per panicle, especially for the case of super rice. Both biomass and harvest index were increased with the improvement of cultivars. Increase in biomass for modern rice cultivars was associated with an enhancement of leaf area and photosynthesis, root dry weight, and root oxidation activity, although the indica super rice cultivars showed a lower leaf photosynthetic rate and root oxidation activity than the semi-dwarf cultivars during the grain filling period. Both indica and japonica super rice cultivars exhibited a low percentage of filled grains, which may limit their great yield potential. All the data suggested that grain yield have been substantially improved during the 60 yr of rice breeding in the Yangtze River Basin. Expanded sink size, increased dry matter production and harvest index, and enhanced leaf area and photosynthesis, root dry weight, and root oxidation activity contribute to the improvement in grain yield. Increase in filling efficiency could realize the great yield potential in super rice.     

What are the differences in yield formation among two cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivars and their F1 hybrid?

To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the differences in yield formation among two parents(P1 and P2) and their F1 hybrid of cucumber, biomass production and whole source–sink dynamics were analyzed using a functional–structural plant model(FSPM) that simulates both the number and size of individual organs. Observations of plant development and organ biomass were recorded throughout the growth periods of the plants. The GreenLab Model was used to analyze the differences in fruit setting, organ expansion, biomass production and biomass allocation. The source–sink parameters were estimated from the experimental measurements. Moreover, a particle swarm optimization algorithm(PSO) was applied to analyze whether the fruit setting is related to the source–sink ratio. The results showed that the internal source–sink ratio increased in the vegetative stage and reached a peak until the first fruit setting. The high yield of hybrid F1 is the compound result of both fruit setting and the internal source–sink ratio. The optimization results also revealed that the incremental changes in fruit weight result from the increases in sink strength and proportion of plant biomass allocation for fruits. The model-aided analysis revealed that heterosis is a result of a delicate compromise between fruit setting and fruit sink strength. The organlevel model may provide a computational approach to define the target of breeding by combination with a genetic model.     

Study on Relationship Between Cucumber Germplasm and Propamocarb Residue Using Subjective Rating Technique

Propamocarb(PM)residue in cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.)receives little attention.As is well known to all,high PM residue of cucumber could lead to increase in the violation rates of maximum residue limits and ultimately cause harm to human health.Knowledge of PM residue could help cucumber breeders in developing cultivars with low PM residue and improving cucumber quality.In this study,32 representative cucumber accessions(26 breeding lines and six cultivars)from different regions of China were evaluated for their PM residue in fruit and leaf to provide meaning to the subjective rating,which was highly correlated with PM residual content of fruit(r=0.97)and leaf(r=0.94).In addition,PM residual content of North China ecotype was the highest and Pickling ecotype was the lowest in fruit and leaf of cucumber.The leaf had significantly higher(P<0.01)PM residual content than the fruit,and poor correlation between leaf and fruit was represented.This study verified PM residual relationship between fruit and leaf,and laid the foundation for further identification of germplasm resources and breeding of new varieties for low PM residue of cucumber.     

The Impact of US and CGIAR Germplasm on Maize Production in China

Wide adoption of a few kinds of homogeneous germplasm would reduce crop genetic diversity, increase crop vulnerability to stresses, and reduce the stability of crop production. The introduction and utilization of foreign germplasm is a sustainable solution for broadening the genetic diversity and promoting periodical replacement of varieties. The genetic contribution and economic impact of foreign germplasm, particularly those of US and CGIAR （Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, referred to as the CG system） materials, on China＇s maize production are evaluated on the basis of an analysis of variety pedigree information from 20 major maize-producing provinces in China from 1982 to 1997. The results indicated that the contribution of US and CG germplasm to Chinese maize production continues to increase, particularly CG germplasm, which has shown a rapid increasing trend since the 1990s. If the genetic contribution of US germplasm is increased by 1%, maize yield will gain by 0.2% （0.01 t ha^-1）. If contribution of CG germplasm, which has greater production potential, is increased by 1%, maize yield will gain by 0.025 t ha^-1. A policy should be implicated by the government in this direction to encourage breeders to focus more on the use and improvement of CG germplasm. The US germplasm has been utilized extensively in China so that it can offer germplasm resources for maize breeding efforts.     

Exogenous Application of Abscisic Acid (ABA) Enhances Chilling Tolerance in Seedlings of Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.)

Napier grass, an important forage crop with potentials in multi-purpose applications, is widely grown throughout the tropics and subtropics. Low temperature severely limits its productivity and geographical distribution in temperate regions of the world. In this study, we investigated the effect of exogenous abscisic Acid(ABA) on chilling tolerance of napier grass(Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) seedlings. Seven-day-old napier grass seedlings were cultured in dd H_2O or ABA solution at different concentrations and exposed to 1 ℃ for different time durations. The chilling injury, membrane stability index(MSI) and proline content were estimated from leaf samples. The results showed that there was obvious morphological injury of leaf blighting and restrained growth for the seedlings under chilling stress, but this damage can be largely reduced(by 2/3) when the seedlings were treated by 100 μmol/L ABA in the culture solution, and that the application of exogenous ABA can help to maintain a good stability of leaf cell membrane as expressed by a high MSI value and a low level of proline in leaf cells. These results suggested that exogenous ABA can significantly alleviate chilling injury in napier grass seedlings by maintaining the stability of leaf cell membrane during chilling stress, and that the chilling tolerance was not ensured by a proline accumulation although a passive accumulation of proline was observed in the seedlings under chilling stress. Our results lay a preliminary foundation for future investigations on the molecular mechanisms of ABA induced chilling or freezing tolerance in napier grass.     

Factors Hindering Pakistani Farmers' Choices Towards Adoption of Crop Insurance

This study was conducted to analyze the factors that negatively influence Pakistani farmers’ willingness to participate in crop insurance. Probit model was applied to identify the significant factors which influenced our dependent variable "not willing to participate". The results of the analyses showed that crop insurance premium was the most influencing factor which had positive and significant impact on dependent variable. Similarly dissatisfaction with crop loan insurance scheme, lacking of knowledge about crop insurance, believing of being against Islamic rules and time taking process was also found to be positive and significantly influenced the dependent variable. While limited decision power and limited perils were not found to be significant in the results.     

Climate Change Modelling and Its Roles to Chinese Crops Yield

Climate has been changing in the last fifty years in China and will continue to change regardless any efforts for mitigation.Agriculture is a climate-dependent activity and highly sensitive to climate changes and climate variability.Understanding the interactions between climate change and agricultural production is essential for society stable development of China.The first mission is to fully understand how to predict future climate and link it with agriculture production system.In this paper,recent studies both domestic and international are reviewed in order to provide an overall image of the progress in climate change researches.The methods for climate change scenarios construction are introduced.The pivotal techniques linking crop model and climate models are systematically assessed and climate change impacts on Chinese crops yield among model results are summarized.The study found that simulated productions of grain crop inherit uncertainty from using different climate models,emission scenarios and the crops simulation models.Moreover,studies have different spatial resolutions,and methods for general circulation model(GCM) downscaling which increase the uncertainty for regional impacts assessment.However,the magnitude of change in crop production due to climate change(at 700 ppm CO2 eq correct) appears within ±10% for China in these assessments.In most literatures,the three cereal crop yields showed decline under climate change scenarios and only wheat in some region showed increase.Finally,the paper points out several gaps in current researches which need more studies to shorten the distance for objective recognizing the impacts of climate change on crops.The uncertainty for crop yield projection is associated with climate change scenarios,CO2 fertilization effects and adaptation options.Therefore,more studies on the fields such as free air CO 2 enrichment experiment and practical adaptations implemented need to be carried out.     

CAS-based Water Resources Optimal Allocation and Dynamic Simulation for Sewage Irrigation Area

Based on the theory of complex adaptive system(CAS), the optimal allocation model of water resources in sewage irrigation areas was established, which provided new ideas and application value for the rational utilization of agricultural production and waste water resources.The results demonstrated that the difference of crop energy capture mainly depended on the development stage.Waste water with a certain concentration was able to promote crop growth, while excessive concentration inhibited crop growth.The correlation between water absorption rate and leaf area index was close(R=0.9498, p0.01).The amount of bad seeds increased at a speed of 34.7 · d~(-1), when system irrigated randomly in the seedling stage, while it tended to remain stable at a speed of 0.3 · d~(-1) after plants entering the mature stage which impacted the total yields of crops.     

Relationships Between the Distribution of Relative Canopy Light Intensity and the Peach Yield and Quality

The aim of the present experiment was to study the relationship between the distribution of relative light intensity in canopy and yield and quality of Wanmi peach. The optimum relative canopy light intensity was judged to be 36.3% for high quality peaches, when canopy volumes of Wanmi peach trees with a relative light intensity 〈 30% accounted for 7.7 and 47.9% of the total canopy volume in June and September, respectively. The canopy volume with a relative light intensity 〉 80% was 27.7 and 3.1% of the total canopy volume in June and September, respectively. Peach canopies were divided into 0.5 m × 0.5 m × 0.5 m cubes, with the relative light intensity being measured at different positions of the canopy during the growing season. Yield and fruit quality were also measured at these positions at harvest. The results showed that the relative light intensity decreased gradually from outside to inside and from top to bottom of the tree canopy. Fruit were mainly distributed in the upper and middle portions of the canopy, 1.5-3.0 m above ground. Regression results showed that single fruit weight and soluble solid content were positively related to relative light intensity.