Simulating the Production of Rice Genotypes by Flood Management and End-Season Water Stress Conditions Using AquaCrop Model

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to assess the ability of AquaCrop model in predicting of grain and biological yield of rice genotypes in water management. A two-year field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of the Iranian Rice Research Institute in Rasht, Iran from 2016 to 2017. The experiment was established in a split-plot design with two irrigation management (continuous submergence and end season water stress) as the main plot, fourth rice genotypes as the sub-plot and three replications. The goodness-of-fit between observed and simulated grain yield and final biomass was assessed by means of the coefficient of determination (R ²), the absolute and normalized root mean square errors (RMSE). The RMSE_n of predicting grain yield at calibration and evaluation stages was in the range of 6–12% and 6–8% for biological yield. The results indicated that AquaCrop model is suitable to predict grain yield and biological yield of rice genotypes in northern Iran. AquaCrop model can be used to determine optimization strategies to improve the water consumption of rice genotypes.     

Monitoring the photosystem II behavior of wild and cultivated barley in response to progressive water stress and rehydration using OJIP chlorophyll a fluorescence transient

To study the effects of progressive drought stress on photosystem II behavior of wild type (Spantaneum) and cultivated barley (Morocco), different levels of soil water availability, including control, moderate, mild, and severe water stress (70%, 50%, 30%, and 10% water holding capacity of soil, respectively) and rehydration were used. Polyphasic OJIP fluorescence transient of Morocco plants exhibited a considerable increase in fluorescence intensity at O, J, and I steps under mild and severe stress relative to slight increase in wild barley. Values of fluorescence parameters and quantum efficiencies, including minimal fluorescence, relative variable fluorescence at phase J and I, maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII), performance index, electron transport yield, and excitation transfer efficiency were influenced by water stress in both genotypes. These parameters were significantly less affected in wild type barley by progressive drought stress compared to Morocco. After re-watering, both genotypes were able to restore from severe drought in most of the traits. Based on our findings, highly correlated values of relative water content (RWC) and independent JIP-test parameters (P < 0.01) indicate that the chlorophyll a fluorescence induction technique is sensitive to plant water status and performance index represent an accurate and reliable indicator for early stress detection and also explore plant vitality under water stress.     

Estimation of yield and dry matter of rapeseed using logistic model under water salinity and deficit irrigation

The inadequacy of most models to simulate crop growth and yield is due to complexity, difficulty to understand, and lack of input data. Therefore, several simple crop growth models are presented to reduce these failures. In this investigation, yield and aboveground dry matter (DM_above) of rapeseed were simulated by two logistic growth models that were based on days after planting (DAP) and growing degree days (GDD) under water salinity and deficit irrigation, in a 2-year experiment. Data of first and second year were used for calibration and validation of the model, respectively. The coefficients of logistic function were determined as a function of irrigation water salinity and sum of applied water and rainfall in spring of the first year. Results indicated that logistic function based on GDD-predicted DM_above during growing season more accurately than logistic function based on DAP. Furthermore, seed yield of rapeseed was estimated based on harvest index with a good accuracy. Therefore, logistic function based on GDD that is based on the cumulative heat units can be used for different weather conditions and planting dates to determine rapeseed DM_above and yield under water salinity and deficit irrigation.     

Growth and physiology of basmati rice under conventional and water-saving production systems

Conventionally flooded rice (CFR) requires enormous water and labor inputs. Water scarcity aspires for cultivation of water-saving rice. Growth response and physiology of basmati rice genotypes under the water-saving production systems has not been reported yet. Studies were conducted for 2 years to compare the growth and physiology of three rice cultivars (Super Basmati, Basmati-2000 and Shaheen Basmati), under high (CFR), medium (alternate wetting and drying [AWD]) and low water input (aerobic rice [AR]) systems. Leaf area index, crop growth rate, leaf area duration and dry matter accumulation were higher for AR followed by AWD and CFR, respectively. Shaheen Basmati had a lower growth and relative water contents than Super Basmati and Basmati-2000, probably due to its shorter stature and shorter life cycle. Photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance of rice cultivars in the different production were affected only at reproductive stage. Basmati-2000 grown as AR had the highest photosynthetic rate followed by the same cultivar under AWD. The results of this study provide us an idea that basmati cultivars can attain a high growth and development with low water input. This would be helpful to grow rice successfully under water-short rice-growing environments.     

Structured analysis of seepage losses in irrigation supply channels for cost-effective investments: case studies from the southern Murray-Darling Basin of Australia

Much of inland Australia has been in perpetual drought since 1997 except during 2010 when above average rainfall occurred. It has been the worst drought since 1788 when European settlement began. Water scarcity poses a serious threat to the sustainability of the irrigated agriculture in major irrigation systems across the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB). There is a need for water-saving measures and a structured approach to assess water loss in earthen supply channels. This paper presents such an approach to assess and reduce seepage losses for improving irrigation efficiencies. Main elements of this approach are the following: field measurements, hydrologic modelling, potential options for seepage reduction, economic analysis and financing water-saving investments. Using data from two irrigation systems in the southern MDB, a case is made for reducing seepage water losses in irrigation supply channels in a cost-effective manner using low-cost technologies. Increasing the level of security for investments in water-saving programs provides incentives to key stakeholders to achieve water-saving targets. Considering the value of water recovered from reducing seepage loss at irrigation system level, this study demonstrates how reducing just one component (seepage) from the total water losses in irrigation systems can help improve water supplies as well as the environmental flows. Potential options for financing infrastructure improvement for saving irrigation water are proposed and discussed.     

Improve regression-based models for prediction of internal-bond strength of particleboard using Buckingham’s pi-theorem

Internal bond (IB) strength is one of the most important me-chanical properties that indicate particleboard quality. The aim of this study was to find a simple regression model that considers the most ...     

Herbaceous species diversity in relation to fire severity in Zagros oak forests,Iran

Zagros forests are mainly covered byQuercus brantii L. coppices and oak sprout clumps occupy the forest area like patches. We investigated post-fire herbaceous diversity in the first growing season after fire. For this purpose neighboring burned and unburned areas were selected with the same plant species and ecological conditions. The data were collected from areas subjected to different fire severities. Overall 6 treatments were considered with respect to fire severity and the mi-crosites of inside and outside of oak sprout clumps including： unburned inside and outside of sprout clumps （Ni and No）, inside of sprout clumps that burned with high fire severity （H）, inside of sprout clumps that burned with moderate fire severity （M）, outside of sprout clumps that burned with low fire severity （OH and OM）. Different herbaceous com-position was observed in the unburned inside and outside of oak sprout clumps. The species diversity and richness were increased in treatments burned with low and moderate fire severity. However, in treatment burned with high fire severity （H）, herbaceous cover was reduced, even-ness was increased, and richness and diversity were not significantly changed. We concluded that besides the microsites conditions in forest, fire severity is an inseparable part of the ecological effect of fire on her-baceous composition.     

枣实蝇对寄主植物不同器官的选择性测定

[目的]为枣实蝇引诱剂的研发提供理论依据。[方法]从枣实蝇行为学研究入手,以“Y”型嗅觉仪分别测试了枣实蝇对红枣和杏两种寄主植物不同新鲜器官的选择行为。[结果]表明,不同性别的枣实蝇成虫对寄主植物枣和杏不同器官的选择性表现出一定差异。雌虫对枣果的选择性比叶片和花的要强（P<0.05）,对枣果、枣花、叶片三者的选择率分别为35%、25%、22%;从枣果不同发育期（青果期、半红期、全红期）的选择性来看,雌虫对半红期枣果的选择性最强,选择率为38%,青果次之,为35%。而雄虫对枣花的选择性较强,选择率为38%,半红期枣果次之,为32%。枣实蝇对杏树不同器官的选择性来看,对果实的选择性比叶片的选择性要强（P<0.05）,从杏果（青果、熟果）不同发育期的选择性来看,雌虫对青果的选择性最强,选择率为30%,熟果次之,为28%。雄虫对熟果的选择性较强,选择率为28%,与青果、叶片有显著差异（P<0.05）。[结论]同一性别不同生理状态的成虫对寄主植物不同器官的选择性表现出一定差异,性成熟的成虫比未性成熟的成虫对寄主植物的选择性要强。性成熟的枣实蝇雌成虫对半红期枣果的趋性强于枣花与叶片     

Interaction analysis between slenderness ratio and resin content on mechanical properties of particleboard

The interaction between particle size and resin content is one of the most important structural parameters that can influence the accuracy of predictions about wood-composite properties. We developed three kinds of equation (linear, quadratic, and exponential) for each mechanical property of particleboard based on slenderness ratio and resin content at a constant density (0.7g cm -3 ). Results from SHAZAM software (version 9) suggested that the quadratic function was not significant, but the linear and exponential functions were significant. The interaction between particle size and resin content was analyzed by Maple 9 software. The results indicated that an exponential function can better describe the simultaneous effect of slenderness and resin content than a linear equation. Under constant resin content, particles with higher slenderness ratios increased more in modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) than did particles with lower slenderness ratios. Edge withdrawal resistance (SWRe) values did not increase with increasing slenderness ratio.