Cover crop evapotranspiration under semi-arid conditions using FAO dual crop coefficient method with water stress compensation

Cover cropping is a common agro-environmental tool for soil and groundwater protection. In water limited environments, knowledge about additional water extraction by cover crop plants compared to a bare soil is required for a sustainable management strategy. Estimates obtained by the FAO dual crop coefficient method, compared to water balance-based data of actual evapotranspiration, were used to assess the risk of soil water depletion by four cover crop species (phacelia, hairy vetch, rye, mustard) compared to a fallow control. A water stress compensation function was developed for this model to account for additional water uptake from deeper soil layers under dry conditions. The average deviation of modelled cumulative evapotranspiration from the measured values was 1.4% under wet conditions in 2004 and 6.7% under dry conditions in 2005. Water stress compensation was suggested for rye and mustard, improving substantially the model estimates. Dry conditions during full cover crop growth resulted in water losses exceeding fallow by a maximum of +15.8% for rye, while no substantially higher water losses to the atmosphere were found in case of evenly distributed rainfall during the plant vegetation period with evaporation and transpiration concentrated in the upper soil layer. Generally the potential of cover crop induced water storage depletion was limited due to the low evaporative demand when plants achieved maximum growth. These results in a transpiration efficiency being highest for phacelia (5.1 g m⁻² mm⁻¹) and vetch (5.4 g m⁻² mm⁻¹) and substantially lower for rye (2.9 g m⁻² mm⁻¹) and mustard (2.8 g m⁻² mm⁻¹). Taking into account total evapotranspiration losses, mustard performed substantially better. The integration of stress compensation into the FAO crop coefficient approach provided reliable estimates of water losses under dry conditions. Cover crop species reducing the high evaporation potential from a bare soil surface in late summer by a fast canopy coverage during early development stages were considered most suitable in a sustainable cover crop management for water limited environments.     

病虫害状态下作物叶片表观模拟方法

为了解决农作物病害三维场景难以模拟的问题,该文提出一种病虫害条件下叶片表观的模拟算法。该方法首先利用细胞纹理基函数控制病斑的形状、分布及扩散方式;之后为了模拟病斑在叶片上的堆积效果,采用shell模型进行模拟,并针对病斑的特点,对病斑的颗粒感、高度变化以及周边叶色的变化情况均进行建模。试验结果表明,该方法可以真实地模拟植物叶片在病害状态下的表观,可以容易地与病害知识进行结合,实现基于环境数据驱动的白粉病病情变化过程模拟,为数字农业设计及农业科普培训动画的制作提供有力工具。     

Recovery of cover-crop-N in the soil-plant system in the Guinea savannah zone of Ghana

In order to understand the efficiency of residue-N use and to estimate the minimum input required to obtain a reasonable level of crop response, it is important to quantify the fate of the applied organic-N. The recovery of N from ¹⁵N-labelled Crotalaria juncea was followed in the soil and the succeeding maize crop. Apparent N recovery (ANR) by maize from unlabelled Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria retusa, Calopogonium mucunoides, Mucuna pruriens and mineral fertilizer at three locations were also evaluated. The maize crop recovered 4.7% and 7.3% of the ¹⁵N-labelled C. juncea-N at 42 days after sowing (DAS) and at final harvest, respectively. The corresponding ¹⁵N recovery from the soil was 92.4% and 58.5%. The highest mean ANR of 57.4% was with mineral fertilizer, whereas the mean ANR of 14.3% from C. retusa was the lowest. A large pool substitution and added-N interaction effect was observed when comparing N recovery from the labelled and unlabelled C. juncea. The amount of residue-N accounted for by the isotope dilution method at 42 DAS was 97.1% and at final harvest 65.8%. The large residue-N recovery in the soil organic-N pool explains the residual effect usually observed with organic residue application.     

基于PEST的土壤-作物系统模型参数优化及灵敏度分析

农业生产管理系统模型输入参数多,参数率定过程十分耗时费力,大大限制了其推广应用。该研究以华北平原2 a的冬小麦-夏玉米田间试验观测数据为基础,使用PEST(parameter estimation)参数自动优化工具对土壤-作物-大气系统水热碳氮过程藕合模型(soil water heat carbon and nitrogen simulator,WHCNS)的土壤水力学参数、氮素转化参数和作物遗传参数进行自动寻优,同时计算分析模型参数的相对综合敏感度,并将优化结果与土壤实测水力学参数和试错法的模拟结果进行比较。参数敏感度分析结果表明,18个模型参数的相对综合敏感度较高,其中土壤水力学参数普遍具有较高的敏感度,以饱和含水率敏感度最高;作物参数中,作物生长发育总积温和最大比叶面积具有较高的综合敏感度;而氮素转化参数的敏感度远低于土壤水力学参数和作物参数。评价模型模拟效果的统计性指标(均方根误差、模型效率系数和一致性指数)表明,PEST法比实测水力学参数的模拟精度有所提高,其中土壤含水率、土壤硝态氮含量、作物产量和叶面积指数的均方根误差分别降低了61.8%、23.5%、73.6%和23.3%。同时PEST法比试错法对土壤水分和作物产量的模拟精度也有较大提高,但对土壤氮素和叶面积指数的模拟精度提高不明显。由于该方法大大节约了模型校准时间,在较短的时间内获得了明显高于试错法的模拟精度,因此PEST软件在WHCNS模型参数自动优化中是一个值得推广的工具。     

基于DSSAT作物模型的中美大豆主产区单产模拟与验证

开展基于作物模型的大面积作物产量估测研究,可以为及时掌握全球重点地区农作物的生产情况提供数据支撑.该研究以大豆为监测作物,选取中国吉林省和美国爱荷华州作为研究区域,基于DSSAT作物估产模型中的SOYGRO大豆模型,利用分辨率为0.5°×0.5°的生育期气象要素以及500 m×500 m绿色叶绿素植被指数,进行遥感数据...     

Do cover crops impact labile C more than total C? Data synthesis

The potential of cover crops (CC) to increase total soil organic C (SOC) concentration can be inconsistent, but labile SOC is considered to be more sensitive to management than total SOC. This leads to two questions: Do CCs impact labile SOC more than total SOC? Do CCs increase labile SOC more rapidly than total SOC? This review compares CC impacts on labile and total SOC based on CC studies reporting both parameters up to 31 Dec 2022. Labile and total SOC concentrations were measured in 31 CC study locations. Cover crops increased labile SOC concentration in 58% (18 of 31) and had no effect in 42% (13 of 31) of locations, suggesting CCs do not increase labile SOC in all cases. Within the 18 locations, CCs increased labile SOC without increasing total SOC in only 19% (6 of 31 locations), while in the rest (12 of 31) of locations, CCs increased both labile and total SOC. Thus, CCs increased labile SOC more rapidly than total SOC in only one-fifth of cases. Also, the few studies that monitored changes in labile SOC with time found CCs do not always increase labile more rapidly than total SOC. In the 12 locations where CCs increased both labile and total SOC, CCs increased labile SOC by 54 ± 30% and total SOC by 23 ± 10%, indicating CCs can increase labile SOC by about two times compared with total SOC in some locations. Increased CC biomass production and reduced residue decomposition can increase labile SOC. Overall, CCs increase labile SOC in most cases but may not always increase labile SOC more rapidly than total SOC although more CC studies monitoring changes in SOC pools with time are needed to better understand CC impacts on SOC fractions under different CC management scenarios and climatic conditions.     

Plant availability and leaching of 15N-labelled mineral fertilizer residues retained in agricultural soil for 25 years: A lysimeter study

Background

A high use-efficiency of fertilizer N remains essential to sustain high crop productivity with low environmental impact. However, little is known on the long-term lability of mineral fertilizer N.

Aims

To quantify crop uptake and leaching of ¹⁵N-labelled mineral fertilizer that has been retained in an agricultural soil for 25–30 years in crops with variable growing season.

Methods

A field plot received ¹⁵N-labelled mineral fertilizers over a period of 5 years and was then kept under arable cropping for 12 years. After relocation to 16 lysimeters, the topsoil grew set-aside grassland for the next 13 years. Then crop uptakes and leaching losses of ¹⁵N remaining in soil was tested over a 2-year period by either converting set-aside grass to production grassland, or by replacing it with spring barley (+/− autumn cover crop) or vegetation-free fallow. All treatments received unlabelled mineral N fertilizers.

Results

Crop uptake and leaching of ¹⁵N were generally highest in the first test year after termination of the set-aside. The leaching of residual ¹⁵N in soil declined in the order: vegetation-free soil (4.7%), spring barley (1.9%), spring barley + cover crop (0.7%) and production grassland (0.2%). Corresponding losses for the second leaching period were 2.7%, 0.9%, 0.4% and 0.06%. There was a fixed relationship between leaching losses of ¹⁵N and total N.

Conclusions

After residing in soil for 25–30 years, the lability of labelled mineral N fertilizer residues appeared slightly higher than the lability of bulk soil N. Autumn vegetation was crucial for reducing leaching losses.     

热风和真空干燥玉米的品质评价与指标筛选

为了能对热风和真空干燥后玉米的品质作出合理的评价,对在2种干燥方式和强度下处理的玉米样品物理、生理生化指标进行测定与分析,利用主成分分析法,对干燥后玉米的品质评价指标进行筛选。结果表明,对热风干燥,在温度低于60℃、干燥速率小于4.21%/h时,玉米裂纹率低于35%;当温度高于75℃、干燥速率大于4.65%/h时,玉米电导率急剧升高,丙二醛（MDA）含量、脂肪酸值增加,过氧化物酶（POD）活力下降;玉米初始含水率越高,品质指标受干燥强度的影响越大;而对于真空干燥,当温度低于75℃、干燥速率小于5.56%/h时,玉米裂纹率小于35%,温度高于75℃、干燥速率大于5.56%/h时,电导率和MDA含量、脂肪酸值增加,POD活力下降。主成分分析得到热风干燥玉米的关键评价指标为裂纹率、脂肪酸值、POD活力、MDA含量和电导率;真空干燥玉米的关键评价指标为裂纹率、发芽率、POD活力和电导率,所建立的综合评价模型可反映玉米的干燥品质特性。     

Induction of an alloplasmic male-sterile Brassica oleracea by substituting cytoplasm from ‘Early Scarlet Globe’ radish (Raphanus sativus)

Summary Alloplasmic male-sterile Brassica oleracea L. was synthesized in a backcrossing program through amphidiploid Raphanobrassica by using Early Scarlet Globe radish (Raphanus sativus L.) as the donor of cytoplasm and B. oleracea broccoli and cabbage as recurrent pollen parents. Persistence of radish chromosomes and high female sterility were encountered in the first four backcrosses. Following use of colchiploid 4x broccoli as pollen parent, a BC₅ plant was obtained that had 2n=3x+1=28 chromosomes, improved seed set, and no radish traits. The BC₆ with recurrent 2x broccoli contained male-sterile plants with 2n=18 or 19 chromosomes, increased seed set, and broccoli morphology. Subsequent generations segregated for male-sterile and restored male-fertile plants, some with variable development of stamens and pollen. Leaf color of the alloplasmic plants, especially seedlings, was lighter green than normal.