Intensification of New Zealand beef farming systems

This study used whole-farm management, nutrient budgeting/greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and feed formulation computer tools to determine the production, environmental and financial implications of intensifying the beef production of typical New Zealand (NZ) sheep and beef farming systems. Two methods of intensification, feeding maize silage (MS) or applying nitrogen (N) fertiliser, were implemented on two farm types differing in the proportions of cultivatable land to hill land (25% vs. 75% hill). In addition, the consequences of intensification by incorporating a beef feedlot (FL) into each of the farm types were also examined.Feeding MS or applying N fertiliser substantially increased the amount of beef produced per ha. Intensifying production was also associated with increased total N leaching and GHG emissions although there were differences between the methods of intensification. Feeding MS resulted in lower environmental impacts than applying N even after taking into account the land to grow the maize for silage. Based on 2007/08 prices, typical NZ sheep and beef farms were making a financial loss and neither method of intensification increased profitability with the exception of small annual applications of N, especially to the 75% hill farm. These small annual additions of N fertiliser (<50 kg N/ha/yr applied in autumn and late winter) resulted in only small increases in annual N leaching (from 11 to 14 kg N/ha) and GHG emissions (from 3280 to 4000 kg CO₂ equivalents/ha). Limited N applications were particularly beneficial to 75% hill farms because small increases in winter carrying capacity resulted in relatively large increases in the utilisation of pasture growth during spring and summer than the 25% hill farms. Intensification by incorporating a beef feedlot reduced environmental emissions per kg of beef produced but considerably decreased profitability due to higher capital, depreciation and labour costs. The lower land-use capability farm type (75% hill) was able to intensify beef production to a proportionally greater extent than the higher land-use capability farm (25% hill) because of greater potential to increase pasture utilisation associated with a lower initial farming intensity and inherent constraints in the pattern of pasture supply.     

Deficit irrigation based on drought tolerance and root signalling in potatoes and tomatoes

Agriculture is a big consumer of fresh water in competition with other sectors of the society. Within the EU-project SAFIR new water-saving irrigation strategies were developed based on pot, semi-field and field experiments with potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), fresh tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and processing tomatoes as model plants. From the pot and semi-field experiments an ABA production model was developed for potatoes to optimize the ABA signalling; this was obtained by modelling the optimal level of soil drying for ABA production before re-irrigation in a crop growth model. The field irrigation guidelines were developed under temperate (Denmark), Mediterranean (Greece, Italy) and continental (Serbia, China) climatic conditions during summer. The field investigations on processing tomatoes were undertaken only in the Po valley (North Italy) on fine, textured soil. The investigations from several studies showed that gradual soil drying imposed by deficit irrigation (DI) or partial root zone drying irrigation (PRD) induced hydraulic and chemical signals from the root system resulting in partial stomatal closure, an increase in photosynthetic water use efficiency, and a slight reduction in top vegetative growth. Further PRD increased N-mineralization significantly beyond that from DI, causing a stay-green effect late in the growing season. In field potato and tomato experiments the water-saving irrigation strategies DI and PRD were able to save about 20-30% of the water used in fully irrigated plants. PRD increased marketable yield in potatoes significantly by 15% due to improved tuber size distribution. PRD increased antioxidant content significantly by approximately 10% in both potatoes and fresh tomatoes. Under a high temperature regime, full irrigation (FI) should be undertaken, as was clear from field observations in tomatoes. For tomatoes full irrigation should be undertaken for cooling effects when the night/day average temperature >26.5 °C or when air temperature >40 °C to avoid flower-dropping. The temperature threshold for potatoes is not clear. From three-year field drip irrigation experiments we found that under the establishment phase, both potatoes and tomatoes should be fully irrigated; however, during the later phases deficit irrigation might be applied as outlined below without causing significant yield reduction:

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Potatoes

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After the end of tuber initiation, DI or PRD is applied at 70% of FI. During the last 14 days of the growth period, DI or PRD is applied at 50% of FI.

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Fresh tomatoes

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From the moment the 1st truce is developed, DI is applied at 85-80% of FI for two weeks. In the middle period, DI or PRD is applied at 70% of FI. During the last 14 days of the growth period, DI or PRD is applied at 50% of FI.

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Processing tomatoes

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From transplanting to fruit setting at 4th-5th cluster, the PRD and DI threshold for re-irrigation is when the plant-available soil water content (ASWC) equals 0.7 (soil water potential, Ψ_soil = −90 kPa). During the late fruit development/ripening stage, 10% of red fruits, the threshold for re-irrigation for DI is when ASWC = 0.5 (Ψ_soil = −185 kPa) and for PRD when ASWC (dry side) = 0.4 (Ψ_{soil, dry side} = −270 kPa).

The findings during the SAFIR project might be used as a framework for implementing water-saving deficit irrigation under different local soil and climatic conditions.     

基于6LoWPAN无线传感器网络的农业环境实时监控系统

针对现有农业环境监控系统的不足,提出了一种基于6LoWPAN无线传感器网络的农业环境实时监控系统,该系统采用6LoWPAN构架实现互联网与无线传感器网络之间的点到点通信,无需特定的网关进行协议转换或者协议承载,从而实现了对农业环境的实时监测和控制,降低了能耗,缩短了延迟时间。该文从硬件结构、软件结构及节能等方面对此系统进行了详细阐述和分析,试验结果表明该系统的实用性和高效性,可应用于温室、农田、苗圃等区域。     

基于模糊神经系统与GIS的区域土壤侵蚀快速评价

土壤侵蚀调查与评价是水土保持工作的重要组成部分。该文对区域土壤侵蚀评价进行了尝试性研究,提出一种基于模糊神经系统和GIS技术的快速评价方法。研究中利用模糊神经系统技术从地面监测调查数据中提取土壤侵蚀强度的评价规则,建立能够全面、客观地反映特定区域范围内土壤侵蚀自然特征及规律的评价标准,在此基础之上结合GIS技术以实现对整个地区的快速评价。采用该方法进行湖北省土壤侵蚀普查,结果表明全省侵蚀面积约占国土总面积的30.1%。其中,鄂西南、鄂西北高山区土壤侵蚀情况最严重,鄂东南、鄂东北低山丘陵区次之,鄂北岗地中度侵蚀面积较大,而江汉平原基本无明显侵蚀。经验证评价结果与实际情况具有较好的一致性。     

不同地面结构育肥猪舍的恶臭排放影响因素分析

研究了冷、暖季节下生物发酵床、水泥实心、全缝隙3种不同地面结构的机械通风育肥猪舍的恶臭浓度、排放系数及地面结构、舍内温湿度、猪体重对恶臭浓度的影响.研究表明:猪舍的恶臭浓度与舍内温度、猪体重呈显著正相关(p＜0.05),恶臭浓度与相对湿度无显著相关性(p＞0.1);地面结构不同,恶臭浓度存在显著差异(p＜0.05);生物发酵床猪舍有助于恶臭减排,恶臭浓度最低,水泥实心地面猪舍的恶臭浓度最高,全缝隙地面猪舍的恶臭浓度居中;生物发酵床、全缝隙、水泥实心地面育肥猪舍的恶臭排放系数分别为(3.39±3.33)、(3.70±1.31)、(4.33±2.39) OU/(m2·s).     

松软地面机器系统研究进展

松软地面机器系统的理论研究,对农业、林业、矿业和军事等领域作业机械的发展具有重要的科学意义和工程应用价值。本文总结了松软地面机器系统基础理论,以及松软干沙地面轮壤关系最新研究进展;从土壤动物形态、结构和柔性方面阐述仿生脱附减阻机理,综述了地面机械触土部件的仿生理论基础;概括了用于地面力学特性测试的技术方法和地面机器系统研究的土槽测试系统;分析归纳了数值模拟方法在地面机器系统研究中的进展;进而对松软地面机器系统理论方法在触土部件和车辆行走机构中的应用研究进行了展望。     

无源无线轮胎压力监测系统研究

轮胎压力监测系统(TPMS)不仅能作为一种预警系统,有效预防轮胎爆胎事故,而且可以降低汽车油耗,保障整车的性能与寿命,能够产生巨大的经济效益和良好的绿色环保作用。首先报告了三种类型的无源TPMS及其优缺点,着重调查了SAW技术(Surface Acoustic Wave)的谐振型和延迟线型TPMS的研究现状,指出了无源无线TPMS实用化有待解决的问题,最后展望了TPMS未来发展的主流趋势。     

农业物料力学试验测控系统设计

介绍了基于计算机的农业物料力学试验测控系统的组成和测控软件。应用结果表明，该系统工作可靠，虚拟仪器面板操作简便，实现了农业物为力学试验数据采集及试验过程自动化。     

生态需水研究进展及存在问题

回顾了生态需水问题的提出背景，分析了目前有关生态需水的定义，归纳了生态需水的类型，讨论了不同生态系统（河道生态系统、植被生态系统）生态需水的计算方法，提出了存在的问题，原因和今后研究的方向。     

冲量法谷物流量测量系统的试验研究

根据精细农业研究的实际要求，首先在不考虑外部振动的情况下设计了一种基于冲量原理的谷物流量测量试验装置。该装置由自行研制的冲量传感器、数据采集器和谷物流动模拟箱体组成。试验结果表明，这种装置测量误差的绝对值小于5%，在此基础上又进行了谷物产量时监测系统的试验研究，试验结果表明，在引入外部机械振动的情况下，经过滤波处理系统测量误差的绝对值小于8%。