Development of a teleoperation system for agricultural vehicles

A teleoperation system for a hydro-static transmission (HST) drive crawler-type robotic vehicle is described in this paper. The system was developed to satisfy the needs of various farm operations and teleoperation in unknown agricultural fields. The controller has a layered architecture and supports two degrees of cooperation between the operator and robot, direct and supervisory control. The vehicle can travel autonomously by using an RTK-GPS and a fiber-optic gyroscope during supervisory control, and the operator interface also provides a field navigator based on Google Map technology. The vehicle's position and heading direction was capable of 1 Hz update using precise satellite image maps. The results of field tests using direct control showed that it is difficult for the operator to control the movement of the vehicle along the target lines. On the other hand, the vehicle could travel in a straight line with a maximum lateral error of 0.3 m by using supervisory control.     

From a stinking wastewater disposal field toward a recreation area—the story of an unconventional soil remediation in Berlin,Germany

Purpose

Wastewater irrigation is still a common practice in many cities worldwide. After ending the wastewater irrigation, the question arises as to how the highly polluted areas can be reused. Mostly, the remediation costs for liming or adding synthetic soil conditioners are too high for decision makers, often leading to unattractive wastelands in neighboring suburbs. This story shows how part of a former wastewater disposal field in Berlin (Germany) was remediated by adding and mixing loam-rich glacial until excavated from subway construction work. The remediation led to long-term improvements of soil and landscape, which nowadays is an attractive forested recreation area. Part of this landscape is used as an ecological lab for research, art, and education.

Materials and methods

The article summarizes the results of soil analysis of the contamination status and remediation technique over the last 2 decades. We collected and reevaluated historical data, research results, technical reports, and graphic materials concerning the wastewater disposal field in Berlin, Germany.

Results and discussion

The remediation concept without adding any synthetic substances was a successful soft technology leading to (i) a reduction of the long-term groundwater risk, (ii) an immobilization of the trace element concentration in the soil solution, and (iii) a reduction of the metal uptake by plants. Remediation led to much better conditions for plant growth, soil fauna, and microbiological activity, which improved the environment in a sustainable way. The implementation of a new landscape concept combining ecology, culture, and art totally changed the character of the landscape from former stinking wastewater fields to present-day attractive sites that can be used for many purposes.

Conclusions

The remediation of the former wastewater disposal fields, using natural glacial till materials rich in clay and silt, became a “story of success.” However, a remediation project of this type and scope only becomes reality if all responsible actors in society participate continuously. We conclude that stakeholders should not focus only on remediation costs but also on the benefits for society: reclaiming waste sites significantly improves our well-being.

     

Generating genetic variation in narrow‐leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) for plant architecture by ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis

Narrow‐leafed lupin (NLL) is a source of protein and fibre with exceptional functional properties useful for a variety of purposes. In adapted NLL germplasm selected for low alkaloid contents, the genetic base is narrow, thus limiting fast breeding progress. In an EMS‐based mutagenesis programme, we have treated 40,000 seeds of cv. ‘Boruta’ and obtained a variety of phenotypic mutant lines expressing novel growth types with altered plant height and/or branching. In 3‐year field trials at two locations, three of these lines exhibited significantly improved grain yield components compared to the cv. ‘Boruta’. Growth types of these promising lines were shown to be inherited in a monogenic recessive manner and should, thus, be easily fixable by breeding.     

Impacts of chemical crop protection applications on related CO2 emissions and CO2 assimilation of crops

BACKGROUND: A major global challenge is to provide agricultural production systems that are able to sustain growing demands for food, feed, fibre and renewable raw materials without exacerbating climate change. Detailed and reliable data on the CO₂ balance of different agricultural management activities and inputs as a basis to quantify carbon footprints of agriculture are still lacking. This study aims to fill this gap further by quantifying the net balance of emitted and assimilated CO₂ due to the application of crop protection treatments on the farm, and by assessing their partial contribution to GHG emissions and mitigation in agriculture. The study focuses on key agricultural crops including wheat, corn, oilseeds and sugar crops. RESULTS: The final CO₂ balance, considering GHG emissions due to on‐farm CPP treatment in comparison with CO₂ storage in additional biomass, CO₂ protected with respect to agrotechnical inputs and land inputs and CO₂ saved with respect to associated global land use changes, is positive and may reach multiples of up to nearly 2000. CONCLUSION: The results highlight the importance of the positive yield effects of the CPP programme applications on the farm, resulting in additional assimilated biomass at the farm level and less land use changes at the global level, and thus lower pressure on environmentally important indicators of overall agricultural sustainability. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Enhanced hypoosmoregulatory response to growth hormone after cortisol treatment in immature rainbow trout,Salmo gairdneri

The growth-independent effect of ovine growth hormone (oGH) and oGH + cortisol treatment on seawater (SW) adaptation in immature rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri was investigated. Fish were injected every second day with saline, 2.0 μg oGH/g or 2.0 μg oGH + 8.0 μg cortisol/g for a maximum of 8 injections in freshwater (FW). Subgroups were transferred to 28‰ SW after 4 or 8 injections, and changes in plasma Na⁺ and Cl⁻, muscle water content and gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity were measured. In both of the hormone-treated groups retained in FW, gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity and interlamellar chloride cell density increased. The effects were most pronounced in the oGH + cortisol group after 2 weeks of treatment. After transfer to SW most of the control fish died due to the osmotic stress, whereas in the hormone-treated groups, mortality was low and there was a positive correlation between pretransfer gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and the ability to maintain ionic-osmotic homeostasis after SW transfer. After two weeks of oGH + cortisol treatment, gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity was maximal. In contrast, after SW transfer, Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity increased further in the oGH-treated group. This group regulated ionic-osmotic parameters less effectively than the oGH + cortisol-treated group. The data indicate that GH and cortisol are important hormones in the regulation of hypoosmoregulatory mechanisms in S. gairdneri.     

Modelluntersuchungen zur mineralisierung der biomasse von Miscanthus x giganteus (Mineralisierung von Miscanthusbiomasse)

Im Rahmen eines fach übergreifenden Forschungsprogramms wurde die Mineralisierung verschiedener Bestandteile der Biomasse von Miscanthus x giganteus modellhaft untersucht. Daten zur Nährstofffreisetzung und zur Reproduktionswirksamkeit der organischen Rückstände dieser Dauerkultur waren das Ziel der Experimente.

Bei spezifischen Abbauraten verlief die Umsetzung der Miscanthusbestandteile wie die Umsetzung von Stroh. Nur die Wurzeln wurden in deutlich geringerem Umfang mineralisiert. Im Verhältnis zu Stalldung schwankte die Humusreproduktionswirkung der organischen Rückstände von Miscanthus x giganteus zwischen 0,6 (Rhizome), 0,6–0,9 (oberirdische Rückstände) und 1,0 (Wurzeln). Dies führt dazu, daß in etablierten Beständen von Miscanthus x giganteus jährlich zwischen 5 und 9 t/ha organische Substanz anfallen, die der Humusreproduktion des Bodens dienen. Der Prozeß der Mineralisierung führte zu einer teilspezifischen Netto‐N‐Immobilisierung. Ein engeres C/N‐Verhältnis in der Miscanthusbiomasse, keine Einmischung in den Boden und ein nur grobes Zerkleinern bewirkten in der Regel eine stärke N‐Freisetzung.

Die Ergebnisse berechtigen zu der Aussage, daß Miscanthus x giganteus als humusmehrende Pflanzenart zu bezeichnen ist. Die Mineralisierungsbedingungen auf dem Feld (keine Zerkleinerung, keine Einarbeitung der organischen Substanz) müssen bei der Bewertung der Ergebnisse berücksichtigt werden.     

DanTox—a novel joint research project using zebrafish (Danio rerio) to identify specific toxicity and molecular modes of action of sediment-bound pollutants

Introduction

The European Water Framework Directive aims to achieve a good ecological and chemical status in surface water of European rivers by the year 2015. Since sediments and particulate matter act as secondary sources for pollutants, applied sediment toxicology is perceived to play a major role for obtaining new knowledge that can contribute to successful attainment of the goal. However, the existing bioassays for sediment toxicity analyses do not provide sufficient data concerning bioavailability of environmental pollutants. In this regard, there is an urgent need to combine sediment contact assays with gene expression analysis to investigate mechanism-specific sediment toxicity.

Purpose

The aim of the novel joint research project is to develop a eukaryotic test system, which can be used to investigate the ecotoxicological effects of contaminated sediments on gene expression level (DNA-array and RT-PCR). Current ecotoxicological research customarily involves a battery of bioassays to cover different toxicological endpoints (e.g., teratogenicity, genotoxicity, mutagenicity, Ah-receptor-mediated toxicity, neurotoxicity). In contrast, methods that detect alterations in gene expression offer deeper insight by elucidating how chemical exposure and/or environmental challenge affect multiple metabolic pathways leading to these particular kinds of toxic response. Gene expression profiles reflect the way cells and organisms adapt or respond to a changing environment.

Conclusion

The present project aspires to increase the fundamental molecular and physiological knowledge concerning the mode of action of environmental toxicants in zebrafish (Danio rerio). By working with partners from the academic and research institutions as well as from industry and waterway regulations, the success of this basic research-driven joint project in terms of development and implementation of novel sediment toxicity methods will be realized.