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.     

基于高斯过程建模的物联网数据不确定性度量与预测

物联网已经成为农业大数据最重要的数据源之一,自动观测数据的质量控制对农业生产分析以及基础科研数据应用非常重要。针对农业物联网观测的一类非平稳时间序列数据中的数据缺失、野值剔除、感知故障预警和长时间预测等问题,采用光滑弱假设高斯先验,构建了基于高斯过程的自回归模型表征的动态系统,并通过样本集学习,形成能考虑噪声干扰的传感变化规律建模,并可提供预测误差带用于预测数据的不确定性度量。针对原始数据的缺失和野值问题,采用基于高斯过程的短期预测,可补齐缺失数据,利用其不确定性度量可甄别数据野值,进行野值剔除与替换,并在此基础上判断感知故障;给出了基于输入数据不确定性传播的多步迭代预测方法,使长期预测仍可以跟踪农业数据的动态轨迹,并可为其预测值提供不确定性度量;将温室采集的真实传感数据用于分析试验,验证了高斯过程用于服务器端的农业时间序列数据采集质量控制的可行性。     

农田优化灌溉动态管理基本程序与方法研究

从土壤———作物———大气连续体角度出发 ,利用田间试验资料和气象资料 ,分析了影响优化灌溉方案制定的有关因子 ,确定出春小麦、春玉米不同生长阶段土壤水分控制下限标准 ;在土壤水分平衡理论的基础上 ,建立了时域滚动预报灌溉日期的方法 ;并以春小麦、春玉米农田为例进行了检验 ,结果比较理想     

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.     

The rehabilitation of an irrigation system along the Yellow River

The People's Victory Irrigation System which diverts water from the Yellow River of China covers a total irrigable area of 59 000 ha. The system encountered some serious problems in the first decade of its operation — salinity and waterlogging of irrigated land, siltation of irrigation and drainage channels, as well as a low efficiency of water use. This paper describes a series of structural and functional measures which have been adopted in the past 24 years for the rehabilitation of the system, including: improvement of the existing drainage system and construction of new drainage system on agricultural land, conjunctive use of surface and groundwater supplies, a comprehensive programme to reduce the levels of siltation as well as the implementation of improved water management practices. A model for the optimal operation of the system by using system analysis theory as an aid in reducing the operation and maintenance (O & M) costs has been developed in recent years. The results are that the soil salinity has been controlled and the agricultural production has increased whilst the efficiency of water use has improved and the siltation levels reduced. Experience gained on this system has been successfully used in developing and managing other irrigation projects along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. The proposed procedure of solving the said optimal model has also embodied some benefits from reducing O & M costs in operation.     

积雪覆盖下土壤热状况及其对气象因素的响应研究

为研究季节性冻土区在积雪覆盖条件下,土壤温度变化趋势及气象因素对土壤热状况的影响,以野外实测试验数据(2013年11月8日—2014年4月28日)为基础,分析裸地、自然降雪、积雪压实和积雪加厚覆盖条件下5、10、20、40、60、100、140 cm深度土壤温度变化特征,采用灰色关联度分析的方法筛选出影响土壤热状况的主要气象因素,进而统计土壤温度与气象因素之间的相关关系。结果表明:积雪的存在阻碍了环境与土壤之间的能量交换,引起土壤温度和土壤冻融过程的差异;随着积雪覆盖深度的增加,土壤的冻融日期会出现延迟现象,土壤温度相对稳定在较高水平,并且地、气之间温差增大;冻融过程中土壤温度变化的主要影响因素为环境温度,积雪覆盖使得气象因素与土壤温度的关联度减弱。     

青贮添加剂喷洒装置自动控制仪的研制

介绍了一种用于实现铡草机和青贮添加剂喷洒装置相联动的自动控制仪的工作原理和硬、软件设计。该控制仪可根据铡草机实时喂入量的大小自动调节喷洒装置的喷洒量 ,以保持草液比基本不变。测试表明 :该控制仪喂入量测试误差小于 (等于 )± 13%、喷洒量控制误差小于 (等于 )± 2 %、喷洒均匀性误差小于 (等于 )± 8%、控制周期小于 (等于 ) 1.5 s     

生啤酒膜法过滤除菌技术的试验研究

阐述了生啤酒膜法过滤除菌技术的试验研究方法。着重讨论了膜孔径的选择试验及操作压力，主流液流速对浓差极化和渗透通量的影响，运用二次回归正交组合设计的方法建立数学模型，寻求操作参数的最佳值，并初步探索了膜的再生方法。