Effects of Soil Characteristics on Spring-Harvested Switchgrass Biomass Composition

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a promising bioenergy crop for temperate regions. Overwintering has been used to improve biomass quality, resulting in a more efficient combustion, partially due to a reduction in minerals concentration. This study examines the effects of soil composition on overwintered switchgrass composition. Samples were collected in the spring from 58 environments in Southern Quebec to determine possible relationships between soil composition and biomass quality. Principal component analysis and stepwise regressions were used to identify relationships between soil and biomass compositions. Soil parameters monitored explained 74% of the variation in biomass silicon (Si) concentration, 45% of the variation in ash, and 32% of the variation in magnesium (Mg). Soil composition had limited effects on the concentration of other elements in switchgrass biomass. Switchgrass biomass quality is influenced by soil composition and appears well suited to biomass combustion when overwintered and harvested in the spring.     

Considering sink strength to model crop production under elevated atmospheric CO2

Climatic changes and elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations will affect crop growth and production in the near future. Rising CO₂ concentration is a novel environmental aspect that should be considered when projections for future agricultural productivity are made. In addition to a reducing effect on stomatal conductance and crop transpiration, elevated CO₂ concentration can stimulate crop production. The magnitude of this stimulatory effect (‘CO₂ fertilization’) is subject of discussion. In this study, different calculation procedures of the generic crop model AquaCrop based on a foregoing theoretical framework and a meta-analysis of field responses, respectively, were evaluated against experimental data of free air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) environments. A flexible response of the water productivity parameter of the model to CO₂ concentration was introduced as the best option to consider crop sink strength and responsiveness to CO₂. By varying the response factor, differences in crop sink capacity and trends in breeding and management, which alter crop responsiveness, can be addressed. Projections of maize (Zea mays L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production reflecting the differences in responsiveness were simulated for future time horizons when elevated CO₂ concentrations and climatic changes are expected. Variation in future yield potential associated with sink strength could be as high as 27% of the total production. Thus, taking into account crop sink strength and variation in responsiveness is equally relevant to considering climatic changes and elevated CO₂ concentration when assessing future crop production. Indicative values representing the crop responsiveness to elevated CO₂ concentration were proposed for all crops currently available in the database of AquaCrop as a first step in reducing part of the uncertainty involved in modeling future agricultural production.     

玉米梳齿摘穗单体机构设计与试验

针对现有玉米收获机摘穗机构行距固定,难以实现按需调整以适应各类行距的问题,设计了一种玉米梳齿摘穗单体机构。该机构主要由梳齿滚筒、梳齿杆、梳齿杆安装座及传动轴等组成。相邻两梳齿杆的间隙小于玉米果穗大端的直径且大于玉米茎秆的直径,利用冲力将玉米果穗强制摘下。初步试验表明,玉米梳齿摘穗单体机构能够可靠地完成玉米摘穗作业。在玉米籽粒含水率为35.5%,玉米梳齿摘穗单体机构转速为110~170 r/min时,工作状况较好,籽粒破碎率的范围为0.14%~0.48%,落地籽粒损失率范围为0.03%~0.17%。正交试验结果表明,当转速为110 r/min,梳齿杆圆弧半径为240 mm,梳齿传动轴位于果穗大端下方100 mm时工作情况较好,籽粒破碎率为0.09%,落地籽粒损失率为0.04%,果穗损失率为1.96%。     

Effect of mineral nitrogen fertilizer forms on N2O emissions from arable soils in winter wheat production

Nitrogen fertilizers are supposed to be a major source of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from arable soils. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of N forms on N₂O emissions from arable fields cropped with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In three field trials in North‐West Germany (two trials in 2011/2012, one trial in 2012/2013), direct N₂O emissions during a one‐year measurement period, starting after application of either urea, ammonium sulfate (AS) or calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), were compared at an application rate of 220 kg N ha^?1. During the growth season (March to August) of winter wheat, N₂O emission rates were significantly higher in all three field experiments and in all treatments receiving N fertilizer than from the non‐fertilized treatments (control). At two of the three sites, cumulative N₂O emissions from N fertilizer decreased in the order of urea > AS > CAN, with emissions ranging from 522–617 g N ha^?1 (0.24–0.28% of applied fertilizer) for urea, 368–554 g N ha^?1 (0.17–0.25%) for AS, and 242–264 g N ha^?1 (0.11–0.12%) for CAN during March to August. These results suggest that mineral nitrogen forms can differ in N₂O emissions during the growth period of winter wheat. Strong variations in the seasonal dynamics of N₂O emissions between sites were observed which could partly be related to weather events (e.g., precipitation). Between harvest and the following spring (post‐harvest period) no significant differences in N₂O emissions between fertilized and non‐fertilized treatments were detected on two of three fields. Only on one site post‐harvest emissions from the AS treatment were significantly higher than all other fertilizer forms as well as compared to the control treatment. The cumulative one‐year emissions varied depending on fertilizer form across the three field sites from 0.05% to 0.51% with one exception at one field site (AS: 0.94%). The calculated overall fertilizer induced emission averaged for the three fields was 0.38% which was only about 1/3 of the IPCC default value of 1.0%.     

Effect of Preharvest Sprays of Calcium on Cracking and ‘Schattenmorelle’ Sour Cherry Fruit Quality Harvested Mechanically

The aim of the study was to examine effect of preharvest sprays of calcium (Ca) in the form of Ca-chloride (CaCl₂), Ca-nitrate [Ca(NO₃)₂], or a mixture of Ca-formate, Ca-acetate, CaCl₂, and Ca(NO₃)₂ on cracking and quality of ‘Schattenmorelle’ sour cherry fruit harvested mechanically. The experiment was conducted in 2008–2009 at a commercial orchard in central Poland. Mature trees grew on a coarse-textured soil poor in organic matter, at a spacing of 4.0 × 1.5 m. The spray treatments of Ca were performed at 7-day intervals, starting 28 days before harvest, at the rates of 5.0–5.6 kg Ca ha^?1 per season. The trees sprayed with water were treated as the control. Fruit were harvested mechanically when peduncle-fruit detachment force dropped below 3 N. The results showed that preharvest Ca sprays caused no leaf damage. This measure did not affect yield, mean fruit weight, soluble solids concentration and titratable acidity of fruit, and weight loss of fruit during 24 h after harvest. Fruit sprayed with Ca had improved status of this nutrient, and were less liable to juicy leakage from the stem scar, rain-induced cracking, and preharvest decay caused by Glomerella cingulata. The above effects of Ca sprays did not depend on the tested material. It was concluded that preharvest sprays of Ca as CaCl₂ and/or Ca(NO₃)₂ should be recommended in ‘Schattenmorelle’ sour cherry orchards to reduce fruit losses resulting from rain-induced cracking, leakage of juice, and the incidence of cherry bitter rot.     

Effect of Conditioning Zinc Sulfate Heptahydrate (ZnSHH) with Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Neem Oil on Growth,Productivity, Zinc Biofortification of Grain and Zinc Uptake by Basmati Rice

Commercial grade zinc (Zn) sulfate hepta hydrate (ZnSHH) is the most widely used source of Zn in India and several other countries for amelioration of Zn deficiency in crops. However, it releases water of hydration at temperature above 30°C and forms lumps on storage, which make it difficult to handle it and apply in fields. Therefore, conditioning of ZnSHH with ZnO and neem oil reduces the release of water of hydration and prevents lumps formation and can be well stored. Field experiments were conducted at the research farm of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India during rice growing seasons (July-November) of 2009 and 2010 to study the effect of conditioning ZnSHH with ZnO and neem oil on growth, productivity and Zn fortification of rice (Oryza sativa) grain and uptake by Basmati rice ‘Pusa 1121’. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with 3 replications comprised of 9 treatments of Zn fertilization. The present study shows that when conditioned with 2% ZnO and 4% neem oil ZnSHH improved yield attributes, grain and straw yields, Zn uptake and partial factor productivity (PFP), agronomic efficiency (AE), recovery efficiency (RE), and physiological efficiency (PE) of Zn in Basmati rice ‘Pusa 1121’. In general, ZnO was inferior to ZnSHH. Application of ZnSHH conditioned with 2% ZnO and 4% neem oil can be a better source of Zn for transplanted puddled Basmati rice on Zn deficient soils.     

新疆酿酒葡萄振动采收装置设计与试验

酿酒葡萄收获具有季节性强、占用劳动量大等特点,而机械化采收是酿酒葡萄收获的必然趋势。为此,针对新疆酿酒葡萄种植特点及采收作业要求,在测定了酿酒葡萄果蒂连接力的基础上,设计了一种由牵引架、工作部件和驱动部件等组成的酿酒葡萄振动采收装置,确定了其工作参数及关键结构参数,并进行了初步试验。结果表明:采用振动原理开展酿酒葡萄采收作业在技术层面是可行的,装置的研究为酿酒葡萄收获机的研制提供一定的理论与技术基础。     

采收期对圆黄梨果实贮藏品质和采后生理的影响

不同采收期圆黄梨果实在常温（20±1）℃和冷藏（0±0.5）℃条件下的试验结果表明：圆黄梨有一定程度的呼吸跃变,乙烯释放量较小;在盛花期后128～142 d内,采收越早,贮藏期间果心褐变程度越轻,乙醇含量越低,但SSC含量相对偏低,果实风味稍差;盛花期后135 d采收的果实贮藏期间能保持较高的硬度和TA含量,风味良好,果柄新鲜程度较高。北京地区贮藏圆黄梨果实最佳采收期为盛花期后135 d。     

我国甘蔗产业化现状浅析

从甘蔗自然属性、种植地域分布、品种、种植模式等农艺角度,以及甘蔗机械收获方式和甘蔗收获机械等农机角度,对我国甘蔗产业现状进行全面分析,指出甘蔗产业在我国糖业发展的重要地位,且甘蔗收获机械化是甘蔗机械化生产中最薄弱环节。针对我国目前甘蔗收获现状,对制约甘蔗机械收获的因素进行细致分析,并从农艺因素、农机因素、加工因素、环境因素和社会因素等5个方面进行归类提炼,对甘蔗收获机械化进行了展望。     

两段收获花生螺杆弯齿式轴流摘果装置设计与试验

针对现有花生摘果装置普遍存在的摘果损伤率高且易缠绕、堵塞和排秧困难等问题,以及满足我国两段式花生收获的捡拾联合收获机摘果装置研究需要,在研究两段式花生收获方式下花生植株性状与特点基础上,设计了一种螺杆弯齿式轴流全喂入花生摘果装置,摘果作业时,花生植株受螺杆、弯齿和凹板筛共同作用使花生荚果从花生茎秆上脱离,因螺杆有螺旋角、弯齿有倾角,花生植株沿摘果滚筒圆周运动的同时,受轴向分力作用排出机外,在保证高摘净率和低损伤率的同时避免植株在滚筒中缠绕和堵塞;对关键部件(螺杆、弯齿和凹板筛等)进行了设计与计算。以晾晒3~5 d的辽宁主栽花生品种"花育30"为试验材料,以弯齿与滚筒母线夹角、弯齿弯角和螺杆与滚筒母线夹角为试验因素,以摘净率和破碎率为试验指标,运用回归正交旋转试验方法,对样机进行了两段收获条件下的摘果性能试验;建立试验因素与试验指标之间的数学模型并进行响应面优化试验分析,结果表明:在弯齿与滚筒母线夹角为33°、弯齿弯角为60°和螺杆与滚筒母线夹角为23°时,花生摘果综合指标最优,花生摘净率为98.96%,花生破碎率为0.88%,均优于行业标准,满足实际生产要求。