Measured and estimated water use and crop coefficients of grapevines trained to overhead trellis systems in California’s San Joaquin Valley

The use of overhead trellis systems for the production of dry-on-vine (DOV) raisins and table grapes in California is expanding. Studies were conducted from 2006 to 2009 using Thompson Seedless grapevines grown in a weighing lysimeter trained to an overhead arbor trellis and farmed as DOV raisins for the first two years and for use as table grapes thereafter. Maximum canopy coverage for the two lysimeter vines across years was in excess of 80 %. Seasonal (15 March–31 October) evapotranspiration for the lysimeter vines (ET_Lys) was 952 mm in 2007 (farmed as DOV raisins) and 943 and 952 mm (when farmed as table grapes). The maximum crop coefficient (K _cLys) across all 4 years ranged from 1.3 to 1.4. These maximum values were similar to those estimated using the relationship where K _c is a function of the amount of shaded area measured beneath the canopy at solar noon (K _c = 0.017 × percent shaded area). Covering the lysimeter’s soil surface with plastic (and then removing it) numerous times during the 2009 growing season (1 June–14 September) reduced ET_Lys from an average of 6.4 to 5.6 mm day^?1 and the K _c from 1.07 to 0.93. A seasonal basal K _c (K _cb) was calculated for grapevines using an overhead trellis system with a 13 % reduction in the K _cLys across the growing season.     

Crop response of drought-tolerant and conventional maize hybrids in a semiarid environment

In the High Plains, corn (Zea mays L.) is an important commodity for livestock feed. However, limited water resources and drought conditions continue to hinder corn production. Drought-tolerant (DT) corn hybrids could help maintain high yields under water-limited conditions, though consistent response of such hybrids is unverified. In this two-year study, the effects of three irrigation treatments were investigated for a DT and conventional maize hybrid, Pioneer AQUAMax P0876HR and Pioneer 33Y75, respectively. In 2013, the drier of the 2 years, irrigation amounts and crop water use (ET_c) were greater for the conventional hybrid, but grain water use efficiency (WUE) and harvest index were significantly greater for the DT hybrid. In 2014, grain yields and WUE were not significantly different between hybrids. However, irrigation amounts, ET_c and biomass yields were greater for the conventional hybrid. Results from both years indicate that the DT hybrid required less water to maximize grain yield as compared to the conventional hybrid. Producing relatively high yields with reduced amounts of water may provide a means for producers to continue corn production in a semiarid environment with declining water supplies.     

Modeling soil water dynamics in a drip-irrigated intercropping field under plastic mulch

Intercropping, drip irrigation, and the use of plastic mulch are important management practices, which can, when utilized simultaneously, increase crop production and save irrigation water. Investigating soil water dynamics in the root zone of the intercropping field under such conditions is essential in order to understand the combined effects of these practices and to promote their wider use. However, not much work has been done to investigate soil water dynamics in the root zone of drip-irrigated, strip intercropping fields under plastic mulch. Three field experiments with different irrigation treatments (high T1, moderate T2, and low T3) were conducted to evaluate soil water contents (SWC) at different locations, for different irrigation treatments, and with respect to dripper lines and plants (corn and tomatoes). Experimental data were then used to calibrate the HYDRUS (2D/3D) model. Comparison between experimental data and model simulations showed that HYDRUS (2D/3D) described different irrigation events and SWC in the root zone well, with average relative errors of 10.8, 9.5, and 11.6 % for irrigation treatments T1, T2, and T3, respectively, and with corresponding root mean square errors of 0.043, 0.035, and 0.040 cm³ cm^?3, respectively. The results showed that the SWC in the shallow root zone (0–40 cm) was lower under non-mulched locations than under mulched locations, irrespective of the irrigation treatment, while no significant differences in the SWC were observed in the deeper root zone (40–100 cm). The SWC in the shallow root zone was significantly higher for the high irrigation treatment (T1) than for the low irrigation treatment, while, again, no differences were observed in the deeper root zone. Simulations of two-dimensional SWC distributions revealed that the low irrigation treatment (T3) produced serious severe water stress (with SWCs near the wilting point) in the 30–40 cm part of the root zone, and that using separate drip emitter lines for each crop is well suited for producing the optimal soil water distribution pattern in the root zone of the intercropping field. The results of this study can be very useful in designing an optimal irrigation plan for intercropped fields.     

联合收获机前进速度模糊控制系统多目标遗传优化

针对联合收获机前进速度模糊控制系统参数设计具有主观性,导致作业性能不理想的问题,以切纵流联合收获机样机为研究对象,构建联合收获机前进速度模糊控制系统仿真模型,并建立控制性能和收获性能的优化目标函数来衡量联合收获机的作业性能,利用多目标遗传算法对模糊控制系统的隶属函数和输送槽、割台螺旋输送器和切流滚筒对前进速度的影响因子进行优化。通过对优化前后模型仿真对比和两组田间试验数据分析,表明优化后的控制系统在受外界干扰情况下控制性能得到了较好的保持,收获性能在喂入量变化不大情况下,单位平均损失率分别由1.45%和1.26%降至1.12%和1.14%,联合收获机的总体作业性能得到改善。     

Sensitivity analysis of optimal operation of irrigation supply systems with water quality considerations

A model for optimal operation of water supply/irrigation systems of various water quality sources, with treatment plants, multiple water quality conservative factors, and dilution junctions is presented. The objective function includes water cost at the sources, water conveyance costs which account for the hydraulics of the network indirectly, water treatment cost, and yield reduction costs of irrigated crops due to irrigation with poor quality water. The model can be used for systems with supply by canals as well as pipes, which serve both drinking water demands of urban/rural consumers and field irrigation requirements. The general nonlinear optimization problem has been simplified by decomposing it to a problem with linear constraints and nonlinear objective function. This problem is solved using the projected gradient method. The method is demonstrated for a regional water supply system in southern Israel that contains 39 pipes, 37 nodes, 11 sources, 10 agricultural consumers, and 4 domestic consumers. The optimal operation solution is described by discharge and salinity values for all pipes of the network. Sensitivity of the optimal solution to changes in the parameters is examined. The solution was found to be sensitive to the upper limit on drinking water quality, with total cost being reduced by 5% as the upper limit increases from 260 to 600 mg Cl l^–1. The effect of income from unit crop yield is more pronounced. An increase of income by a factor of 20 results in an increase of the total cost by a factor of 3, thus encouraging more use of fresh water as long as the marginal cost of water supply is smaller than the marginal decrease in yield loss. The effect of conveyance cost becomes more pronounced as its cost increases. An increase by a factor of 100 results in an increase of the total cost by about 14%. The network studied has a long pipe that connects two distinct parts of the network and permits the supply of fresh water from one part to the other. Increasing the maximum permitted discharge in this pipe from 0 to 200 m³ h^–1 reduces the total cost by 11%. Increasing the maximum discharge at one of the sources from 90 to 300 m³ h^–1 reduces the total cost by about 8%.     

“WaterMan”: an on-farm water management game with heuristic capabilities

A modern computer-based simulation tool (WaterMan) in the form of a game for on-farm water management was developed for application in training events for farmers, students, and irrigators. The WaterMan game utilizes an interactive framework, thereby allowing the user to develop scenarios and test alternatives in a convenient, risk-free environment. It includes a comprehensive soil water and salt balance calculation algorithm. It also employs heuristic capabilities for modeling all of the important aspects of on-farm water management, and to provide quantitative performance evaluations and practical water management advice to the trainees. Random events (both favorable and unfavorable) and different strategic decisions are included in the game for more realism and to provide an appropriate level of challenge according to player performance. Thus, the ability to anticipate the player skill level, and to reply with random events appropriate to the anticipated level, is provided by the heuristic capabilities used in the software. These heuristic features were developed based on a combination of two artificial intelligence approaches: (1) a pattern recognition approach and (2) reinforcement learning based on a Markov decision processes approach, specifically the Q-learning method. These two approaches were combined in a new way to account for the difference in the effect of actions taken by the player and action taken by the system in the game world. The reward function for the Q-learning method was modified to reflect the suggested classification of the WaterMan game as what is referred to as a partially competitive and partially cooperative game.     

玉米籽粒内部组分低对比度透射图像精确分割研究

为解决玉米籽粒透射图像由于对比度较低造成内部组分提取不精确的问题,提出一种基于色彩通道非线性变换的多通道重叠区域分割方法,对玉米籽粒图像在灰度、R通道及b通道下得到的二值图像使用重叠区域原理,实现玉米籽粒组分的精确分割。首先,采集不同玉米品种的籽粒透射图像,提取单粒玉米籽粒;其次,采用多通道重叠区域法分割单粒籽粒图像,得到玉米籽粒胚部、角质胚乳和粉质胚乳3部分的图像;最后,以查全率和查准率评价多通道重叠区域法与传统图像分割方法对不同品种玉米籽粒的分割效果。不同品种玉米籽粒的分割试验表明:多通道重叠区域分割方法的查全率、查准率及综合评价指标均达到98%以上,分割效果优于传统的图像分割方法,能够实现不同品种透明角质玉米籽粒透射图像的精确组分分割。     

基于冠层温度和土壤墒情的实时监测与灌溉决策系统

设计了一个可以在线连续监测田间作物冠层温度、环境信息和土壤墒情的实时灌溉决策系统,并将其安装于农田进行了1 a实际运行和观测。系统采用太阳能供电和微处理器进行数据采集和管理,为野外的实际应用提供了保障。系统配置了红外温度、空气温/湿度、土壤水分/水势等传感器,能够及时采集田间全面的同步数据,排除了异地观测所形成的数据误差。采用悬臂式多点采集下垫面红外温度检测方法,可以快速采集更多和更高精度的数据,避免单点测量的人为误差。系统配备的快速锁紧装置,能够根据下垫面作物的生长情况进行传感器位置高度调节,使检测数据更符合田间实际情况。通过运行管理和监测数据分析可见,所监测数据能够很精细的刻画田间作物实际生长状况,可以用于灌区综合灌溉决策,实现田间精量灌溉管理和控制,为灌溉管理的精量化和智能化提供数据支持。     

土壤微塑料和农药污染及其对土壤动物毒性效应的研究进展

微塑料和农药可能会在土壤中长期共存,塑料制品的种类和结构差异导致其对化学污染物有不同的亲和力和吸附行为。因此,微塑料可作为农药的载体,与农药形成复合污染,对生物体产生联合毒性效应,进而对食物链乃至人类产生健康危害。本文归纳了微塑料和农药对土壤环境的影响,阐述微塑料吸附农药的机理与研究现状,分析了微塑料和农药对土壤动物的联合毒性效应,指出当前研究存在的问题并对未来研究方向进行展望,为未来研究微塑料与农药在土壤中的环境行为提供重要参考。     

加强科技创新文化建设的实践与探索

简述科技创新文化建设的意义,总结中国热带农业科学院椰子研究所近年来科技创新文化建设的成效,提出进一步加强椰子研究所科技创新文化建设的思路。