Application of the CSM-CERES-Rice model for evaluation of plant density and nitrogen management of fine transplanted rice for an irrigated semiarid environment

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of the cropping system model (CSM)-CERES-Rice to simulate growth and development of an aromatic rice variety under irrigated conditions in a semiarid environment of Pakistan and to determine the impact of various plant densities and nitrogen (N) application rates on grain yield and economic return. The crop simulation model was evaluated with experimental data collected in experiments that were conducted in 2000 and 2001 in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications and included three plant densities (one seedling hill⁻¹, PD₁; two seedlings hill⁻¹, PD₂; and three seedlings hill⁻¹, PD₃) and five N fertilizer regimes (control, N₀; 50 kg ha⁻¹, N₅₀; 100 kg ha⁻¹, N₁₀₀; 150 kg ha⁻¹, N₁₅₀; and 200 kg ha⁻¹, N₂₀₀). To determine the most appropriate combination of plant density and N levels, four plant densities from one seedling hill⁻¹ to four seedlings hill⁻¹ and 13 N levels ranging from 0 to 300 kg N ha⁻¹ (52 scenarios) were simulated for 35 years of historical daily weather data under irrigated conditions. The evaluation of CSM-CERES-Rice showed that the model was able to simulate growth and yield of irrigated rice in the semiarid conditions, with an average error of 11% between simulated and observed grain yield. The results of the stimulation analysis result showed that two seedlings hill⁻¹ along with 200 kg N ha⁻¹ (PD₂N₂₀₀) produced the highest yield as compared to all other scenarios. Furthermore, the economic analysis through the mean gini dominance also showed the dominance of this treatment (PD₂N₂₀₀) compared to the other treatment combinations. Thus, the management scenario that consisted of two seedlings hill⁻¹ and 200 kg N ha⁻¹ was the best for high yield and monitory return of irrigated rice in the semiarid environment. The mean monetary returns ranged from 291 US $ ha⁻¹ to 1 460 US $ ha⁻¹ to 1 460 US  ha⁻¹ among the 52 production options that were simulated. This approaching was demonstrated as effective way to optimize the density and N management for high yield and monetary return. It will help the rice production.     

Tree Fruit Growing—Research and Production in Germany: A Statistical and Bibliometric Analysis of the Period 1950–2010

Germany is one of the leading European countries in tree fruit growing and the fruit produced has an actual production value of 794?million?€. Six decades, from 1950 to 2010, of fruit production and internationally relevant scientific output for fruit crops—apple, pear, cherry, plum, apricot, and peach—were analysed in this study. Bibliographic and bibliometric analyses were based on the Science Citation Index^?. Data were compared and discussed in the European and global context. The German annual per capita consumption of fruit amounts to 125.5?kg/a originating from commercial intensive fruit growing, including 71.8?kg/a of fresh fruit, 48.3?kg/a of citrus and tropical fruit, 3.8?kg/a nut fruit, and 1.6?kg/a dry fruit. Approximately 25?kg per annum and inhabitant has to be added to the total fruit consumption, since a conspicuous amount of fruit originates from meadow orchards and house gardens. Nevertheless, Germany’s self-supply with fruit is a low 22.4%. Within the EU (2009/2010), Germany ranks fourth in apple production, tenth in pear production, fifth in cherry production, sixth in plum production, and 15th in the production of apricots and peaches. Based on the number of international scientific articles published in Germany, fruit crops can be ranked in descending order: apples, cherries, pears, plums, peaches and apricots. Relating the scientific output over the last six decades to the production data of the same country nowadays achieved, we obtain an indicator for the scientific impact on the crop production. On a worldwide comparison Germany ranks tenth for apple, sixth for pears, 21st for cherries, 17th for plums and first for apricots and peaches. With regard to the absolute output of scientific original articles Germany ranks fourth worldwide for apples, eighth for pears, second for cherries, fifth for plums, ninth for apricots and 14th for peaches, indicating that research on tree fruit growing in Germany supports the economic competitiveness of its production regions with highly specialized knowledge.     

First report of the ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus compactus and associated fungi in the Mediterranean maquis in Italy,and new host–pest associations

In September 2016, a survey conducted in the Circeo National Park revealed an outbreak and serious damage caused by the black twig borer (Xylosandrus compactus) and its associated fungi in the Mediterranean maquis. Among the affected hosts, Quercus ilex, Viburnum tinus, Ruscus aculeatus, Pistacia lentiscus, Laurus nobilis and Ceratonia siliqua, showed flagging and wilting of branches and, in younger individuals, the death of the whole plant occurred. In total, 18 different fungal taxa were found associated with the insect. These included Ambrosiella xylebori, Geosmithia pallida, Fusarium spp., Epicoccum nigrum and Bionectria sp. This is the first report in Europe of X. compactus and associated ambrosia fungi in a natural environment.     

Feasibility Assessment of Chromium Removal from Groundwater for Drinking Purposes by Sorption on Granular Activated Carbon and Strong Base Anion Exchange

The goal of this study was to compare the performances of strong base anion (SBA) exchange and activated carbon adsorption in the removal of hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), from a real groundwater matrix exploited for drinking purposes. Two SBA resins and three granular activated carbons (GAC) were tested by batch experiments for kinetics and equilibrium isotherm determination. SBA resins showed higher affinity toward Cr(VI) (present in raw water at about 20 μg L^?1) with respect to the GACs, with faster kinetics and higher equilibrium adsorption capacities. Among GACs, vegetal-based carbons showed higher Cr(VI) removal efficiencies than the mineral-based carbon, which can be related to the more developed textural properties. SBA resins also displayed relevant removal capacities towards nitrate and sulfate (present at mg L^?1 concentration levels), while boron (present at about 60 μg L^?1) was effectively removed by GACs. Batch experiment results were elaborated to estimate the chromium throughputs for the studied materials, to preliminary compare their performances in a real-scale application. The monitoring of a real-scale GAC adsorption stage permitted to validate throughputs estimation and confirmed that, despite being effective toward synthetic organics, GAC adsorption is a not feasible solution for Cr(VI) removal, with extremely early breakthrough. SBA exchange process resulted to be the most suitable solution, providing the best sorbent usage rates. However, SBA resin usage rates can strongly increase when considering the removal of nitrate and sulfate ions, requiring much shorter cycle times.     

An approach to forecast grain crop yield using multi-layered,multi-farm data sets and machine learning

Precision Agriculture - Many broadacre farmers have a time series of crop yield monitor data for their fields which are often augmented with additional data, such as soil apparent electrical...     

Analysis of laser light propagation in kiwifruit using backscattering imaging and Monte Carlo simulation

The propagation of laser light in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) tissue was measured by backscattering imaging and modelled with the Monte Carlo (MC) method. The parameters of the vision system (8 bit/channel camera, 27.42 μm/pixel resolution) and the laser module (785 nm, 45 mW, Ø1 mm) were utilized in simulation. The required number of the photons was optimized with time-resolved MC model. The injected photon pulse travelled further than the beam radius and the calculated intensity fell below the noise level of the camera within 1 ns time. This short pulse contains 2.49 × 10⁸ photons and its application reduced computation load compared to the amount emitted within the integration time of 0.5–8.3 ms. The statistical effects of the optical properties of the tissue, scattering coefficient (μ_s) absorption coefficient (μ_a) and anisotropy factor (g), on photon flux was evaluated within ±20% range relative to expected mean values of μ_a = 0.9 cm⁻¹ and μ_s = 40 cm⁻¹. The anisotropy factor was taken into account using the Heyney–Greenstein phase function and was adjusted to g = 0.8 ± 20%. Because individual significance of each optical property was also analysed, scattering (μ_s) and transport corrected reduced scattering coefficients (μ^′_s=[1−g]μ_s) must be distinguished. The multi-factor ANOVA test pointed out the highest importance (p < 0.001) of the anisotropy factor amongst scattering and absorption coefficients.In the kiwi backscattering images, rotation of the intensity profiles was observed as a result of changing anisotropy. The measured and calculated profiles were compared to estimate the anisotropy factor of kiwifruits. Significant difference (p < 0.01) was found between anisotropy of premium quality and overripe pieces with respect to the fruit texture properties.     

Mechanical comparison of 3 different clamp and 2 different rod types of a new veterinary internal fixation system, 4.5/5.5-mm VetFix

OBJECTIVE: To compare the gripping force of a standard clamp with click-on and T clamps of the 4.5/5.5-mm VetFix (AO Research Institute, Davos, Switzerland), mounted on smooth and roughened rods. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro mechanical study. METHODS: Rods were mounted on a clamp-holding device. Each clamp type was tested on a materials-testing machine in groups of 6 specimens for torsional and axial load stability on smooth and roughened rods (total, 72 specimens). The variable evaluated was the discontinuity point (DP) as a measure for gliding resistance of the clamp on the rod. Means (+/-SD) were calculated for all groups separately. For statistical comparison, a multiple regression model was fitted with level of significance set at P =.05. RESULTS: The direction of torsion had a significant effect on DP for both asymmetric clamps (standard, click-on). In torsion and axial load, the roughened rod had significantly higher DP levels than the smooth rod for the standard clamp. Rods differed only in axial load for the T clamp, again favoring the roughened rod. The click-on clamp did not reach 10% of the values achieved by the other clamps, independent from the rods and loading conditions. Compared with the T clamp, standard clamp DP values were significantly higher in torsion on the roughened rod as well as in axial load on both rod types. CONCLUSIONS: The roughened rod with a standard clamp was mechanically superior. For the T clamp, the small loss of gripping force may be compensated for by the possibility of inserting 2 more screws. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The roughened rod may enhance the bending, compressive, and torsional properties of the 4.5/5.5-mm VetFix system by reducing the risk of clamp gliding on the rod. The standard clamp is the clamp of choice, except for the metaphyseal or epiphyseal region, at which use of a T clamp may be indicated to increase the number of screws inserted at the end of the rod.     

Anatomic distribution and electrophysiologic properties of accessory atrioventricular pathways in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anatomic distribution and electrophysiologic properties of accessory pathways (APs) in dogs. DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: 10 dogs with tachyarrhythmias associated with an AP. PROCEDURES: Each dog underwent electrophysiologic testing to determine the inducibility of documented and undocumented arrhythmias and to identify location, conduction properties, and antegrade and retrograde effective refractory periods of the APs. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was then performed. RESULTS: 15 APs were identified; 7 dogs each had a single AP, and 3 had multiple APs. Fourteen of the 15 APs were right-sided (6 right free wall, 4 posteroseptal, 3 midseptal, and 1 anteroseptal), and 1 was left-sided (left free wall). All APs conducted in an all-or-none fashion. Unidirectional retrograde conduction was observed in 11 APs, and bidirectional conduction was observed in 4. All documented tachyarrhythmias could be induced during electrophysiologic testing; atrial fibrillation was also inducible in 2 dogs. Mean +/- SD cycle duration of orthodromic atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia was 215.80 +/- 44.87 milliseconds. Mean shortest R-R interval during atrial fibrillation was 247.33 +/- 83.17 milliseconds. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that in dogs, most APs are right-sided, had unidirectional retrograde conduction, and are associated with various arrhythmias, including orthodromic atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia and atrial fibrillation without evidence of pre-excitation.     

Antimicrobial resistance in Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli isolated from poultry feed and feed ingredients

Poultry feed is at the start of the food safety chain in the "farm-to-fork" model, and might serve as a source of antimicrobial resistant bacteria present in poultry meat. Antimicrobial resistance was investigated in 1137 enterococci and 163 Escherichia coli strains recovered from 23 samples of commercial broiler feed and 66 samples of raw feeding materials taken over half a year timespan. Enumeration of enterococci and E. coli were also performed using traditional plating and fluorescent in situ hybridisation methods. Viable enterococci were detected in all feed samples and in 66% of samples of separate feed ingredients, while E. coli was present in 50% and 32% of feed and raw feeding materials, respectively. The median values (50th percentile) for plate and FISH counts for feeds were, respectively, 2.70 log CFU/g and 5.52 log cells/g for enterococci, and 0.15 log CFU/g and 6.00 log cells/g for E. coli. Among enterococci recovered from feed ingredients, resistance to rifampicin, erythromycin, nitrofurantoin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin was found in 59.8%, 21.6%, 21.2%, 18.0% and 6.9% of the isolates, respectively. A considerable proportion of the enterococci isolates obtained from broiler feed displayed resistance to tetracycline (69.1%), rifampicin (58.5%), erythromycin (52.9%) and nitrofurantoin (36.2%). Lower percentage of resistance was observed to chloramphenicol (4.6%), ciprofloxacin (3.9%), vancomycin (1.9%) and ampicillin (1.2%). Among E. coli recovered from feed ingredients and poultry feeds, resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline and streptomycin was found in 22.9%, 27.6% and 19.0% and in 22.4%, 41.4% and 17.0% of the isolates, respectively. These data show that feedstuffs and poultry feeds are extensively contaminated by resistant enterococci and, in a lesser extent, by E. coli, thus leading to their introduction in the farm environment.