Combined use of optical and radar satellite data for the detection of tillage and irrigation operations: Case study in Central Morocco

The objective of this study is to present a new application of optical and radar remote sensing with high spatial (∼10 m) and temporal (a few days) resolutions for the detection of tillage and irrigation operations. The analysis was performed for irrigated wheat crops in the semi-arid Tensift/Marrakech plain (Central Morocco) using three FORMOSAT-2 images and two ASAR images acquired within one week at the beginning of the 2005/2006 agricultural season.The approach we developed uses simple mapping algorithms (band thresholding and decision tree) for the characterisation of soil surface states. The first images acquired by FORMOSAT and ASAR were processed to classify fields into three main categories: ploughed (in depth), prepared to be sown (harrowed), and not ploughed-not harrowed. This information was combined with a change detection analysis based on multitemporal images to identify harrowing and irrigation operations which occurred between two satellite observations.The performance of the algorithm was evaluated using data related to land use and agricultural practices collected on 124 fields. The analysis shows that drastic changes of surface states caused by ploughing or irrigation are detected without ambiguity (consistency index of 96%). This study provided evidence that optical and radar data contain complementary information for the detection of agricultural operations at the beginning of agricultural season. This information could be useful in regional decision support systems to refine crop calendars and to improve prediction of crop water needs over large areas.     

播期对吉林中部春玉米产量形成及氮素分配的影响

本实验设置3个播种日期,对比研究不同播种日期对两个玉米品种产量、生物量、氮素积累和分配特征的影响。结果表明,XY335在早播和晚播处理下,产量比中播处理分别提高11.5%和5.1%;ZD958在早播和中播处理下,产量较晚播分别提高15.8%和11.1%。在VT-R6期,XY335的干物质积累和氮素积累早播和晚播较中播分别提高6.8%和2.7%、31.5%和11.4%,ZD958的干物质和氮素积累早播和中播较晚播分别提高26.6%和25.9%、99.2%和59.4%。在早播处理下,XY335、ZD958具有较高的花后干物质和氮素分配,分别达到了58.5%和63.2%、49.1%和52.2%。在公主岭地区,两个品种均适宜早播,但XY335播期范围更广,适宜播期均通过提高VT-R6期的干物质积累和氮素积累而提升产量。     

播期对不同生态型小麦品种幼穗分化的影响

为进一步了解春化作用与器官建成的关系,采用Excel,DPS数据分析方法,分析了春季3个播期对4个不同生态型小麦品种(京841、川麦107、扬麦16、高原602)幼穗分化的影响。结果表明,春性越强的小麦品种在春季播种幼穗分化可正常进行,而冬性品种不经过春化作用无法正常进入二棱期;春性小麦品种可正常完成幼穗分化的前提下,随着播期推迟,进入二棱期推迟,但整个幼穗分化所需要的时间缩短;同一小麦品种,无法进入二棱期的处理植株干物质量、植株含氮率、植株氮素积累量均明显低于幼穗可正常分化的处理;同一小麦品种可完成幼穗分化的处理中,随着播期推迟,植株含氮率、氮素积累量有增加的趋势。     

播期对直播水稻产量、花后各器官干物质和氮素积累及转运的影响

为探究播期对直播水稻产量、花后干物质和氮素积累与转运的影响,以水稻品种白粳1号、长白9号和龙粳31号为供试材料,设置3个播期（SD1、SD2和SD3）,比较不同播期条件下3个品种的产量、抽穗期和成熟期各器官干物质及氮素积累与转运特点。3个品种抽穗期和成熟期各器官干物质及氮素积累量、抽穗至成熟期各器官干物质及氮素转运量和产量均表现为SD2>SD3>SD1。相关分析表明,产量与成熟期穗干物质及氮素积累量呈显著正相关,与叶片干物质和氮素转运量呈显著正相关。在本试验条件下,播期的推迟提高了3个品种有效穗数及结实率,进而提高了产量,同时促进了各器官物质转运量与转运率的提高。各品种SD2处理的产量及花后干物质、氮素积累量最高,SD2为适宜播期。     

Modelling phenological and agronomic adaptation options for narrow-leafed lupins in the southern grainbelt of Western Australia

Australian modern narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) cultivars tend to flower early and are vernalisation-unresponsive (VU). Cultivars have generally been selected for the warmer climates zones and sandy soils of the northern grain belt of Western Australia (NWA), where lupins are predominantly grown. In areas where climates are cooler and growing seasons are longer and wetter, such as the southern grain belt of Western Australia (SWA), it is probable that lupin would have a higher yield potential. Given that VU cultivars would have a longer vegetative phase (i.e. late flowering) we hypothesise that they may be more productive than those that are early flowering. Here we used a modelling approach to: 1) test the hypothesis that cool-climate SWA would have higher lupin yield than warm-climate NWA; 2) explore lupin phenological adaptation and yield potential in SWA over a range of proposed VU cultivars; and 3) further evaluate the combined effects of cultivar phenology, sowing time and seasonal type on lupin yields.Simulations from the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) showed that, on average, lupin yield in SWA was higher than that in NWA, with 23% greater yield for the early-flowering cultivar Mandelup. Proposed cultivars flowering 22 days (late-flowering) and 15 days (medium flowering) later than Mandelup would have their phenology better adapted in the high and medium rainfall zones of SWA, producing 16 and 7% more grain in the two rainfall zones, respectively. The proposed late-flowering cultivar sown before the end of April achieved higher yields for all seasons in the high rainfall zone and for above average and average rainfall seasons in the medium rainfall zone. In more water-limited situations early sowing was preferable with no obvious difference in yield among cultivars. Despite this, the early-flowering cultivar yielded more when sown in late April. The results indicate that lupin production would benefit from breeding VU varieties with a long vegetative phase for the SWA that should be sown in mid to late April.     

Reduced inter-row distance improves yield and competition against weeds in a semi-dwarf durum wheat variety

Weed and nutrient management in cropping systems of semi-arid areas is a major constraint to cereal yield. Where the use of herbicides is banned or discouraged, the competitive ability of a crop is crucial to reduce weed growth and diffusion. Genotypic differences in the competitive abilities of crops are an important trait to reduce weeds, especially for plant height. However, there is contrasting information about the interactions of other management practices and genotypic traits on wheat yield and competitive ability against weeds and weed growth. The present study investigated yield and quality of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) and weed growth and composition for two wheat cultivars with contrasting competitive abilities against weeds. Wheat was grown under three spatial arrangements (5-cm, 15-cm, 25-cm inter-row distance) and three sowing densities, and broadleaf weeds were either removed or not. The sowing rate did not affect the yield of these wheat cultivars or the weed growth. Reduced inter-row distance dramatically reduced weed biomass for both wheat cultivars, and increased wheat yield and nitrogen uptake in the low-competitive, high-yielding, semi-dwarf cv. ‘PR22D89’, when both weed free and with weeds. These results have direct implications for weed and nutrient management in low-input and organic cropping systems.     

播期和密度对长农35号主要农艺性状和产量的影响

采用二因素裂区试验设计,研究了不同播期和密度对长农35号谷子产量、生育期和植株性状的影响。结果表明:播期对谷子生育期影响较大,播期相同时密度对全生育期几乎没有影响;播期与密度互作对谷子产量和植株性状有较大影响。本研究条件下,长农35号最佳播期和密度组合为5月15日播种、留苗密度45.0万株/hm2,该组合产量最高。根据试验结果和多年栽培经验,认为长农35号的最适播期为5月5～20日,最佳留苗密度为45.0万株/hm2。     

南方春大豆不同播季主要农艺性状的变化及其遗传研究

本文以１２个南方春大豆早熟品种（系）和１２个中熟品种（系）为材料，进行春，秋播试验，研究主要农艺性状的秋播变异率，遗传变异系数，遗传力和遗传进度，结果表明：１，两熟期组秋播变异率平均，除分枝起点为负值以外，其它１１个性状在２．３６％－５２．８８％之间，说明秋播对为结性状均有一定影响；熟期组之间各性状秋播变异率的大小亦存在较大差异，如秋播对早熟组株高，主茎节数，结荚节数，结荚高度，主茎荚数和百粒重的     

播期对大豆开花及产量的影响

通过对不同播期条件下大豆开花结英规律的调查，建立了大豆开花模式，结果表明，在大豆开放小花数量累积的概率与开花日序呈对数函数关系。回归模型为：ＹＰ＝Ａ＋Ｂ．Ｌｎｘ；确定了不同播种时期处理的，“有效花期”范围；分析表明“有效花期”较长，落花落英率较小，产量罗高。“有效花期”长短与结英率及产量具有一定的相关关系，不同处理的产量差异达极显著水平。     

First results on synchrony between seasonal pattern of pheromone trap captures of cotton bollworm, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicoverpa armigera</Emphasis> and appearance of freshly emerged larvae on developing cobs of corn hybrids

Synchrony between development of five corn hybrid varieties of various seasonal growing rates (FAO numbers), seasonal flight pattern of male cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera Hb. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), as monitored by pheromone traps, and the subsequent appearance of newly hatched larvae on developing cobs were studied at Mezőhegyes, South-Hungary, in 2003 and 2004. The phenological stages of corn hybrids were evaluated using the Iowa State University Scale (R₁–R₅), the flight of male moths was monitored by large capacity, funnel type of pheromone traps and the appearance of freshly hatched larvae on developing cobs were counted by visual inspection. The synchrony between the flight peak of male moths and the peak apperance of L₁ larvae on cobs was investigated by cross-correlation. In 2003 (average daily temperatures 20.7°C, average daily relative humidity 59.9% for the period of 4–18 July) “DK 391”, “DK 443” and “Maraton” hybrid varieties already reached silking stage (R₁) by the time when pheromone traps indicated a peak, at 7 July (peak capture at 3-day intervals 755.5 males/traps). The number of L₁ larvae peaked on developing cobs of these varieties also at 7 July (7.0, 4.0 and 3.8 larvae/50 cobs, respectively). The synchrony between the flight peak of male moths and the peak appearance of L₁ larvae on cobs was proven (LAG = 0). A rather similar trend was observed in “Vilma” hybrid variety: it reached R₁ stage at 7 July, and L₁ larvae appeared only a few days later (11 July, 3.8 larvae/50 cobs) (LAG = −1). However, “Maxima” hybrid variety reached R₁ stage 1 week later (14 July) than the time of peak captures. Here L₁ larvae peaked as late as at 18 July (0.8 larvae/50 cobs), i.e., only after the cob had reached R₁ stage (LAG = −3). A reverse order of dates of R₁ stage and peak capture was observed in “Maxima” in 2004 (average daily temperatures; 22.5°C, average daily relative humidities 72.6% for the period of 15 July–6 August): it reached R₁ stage at 19 July, while peak trap captures were recorded at 6 August (peak capture at 3-day intervals 20.5 males/traps). L₁ larvae were found in the highest numbers on 2 August (1.5 larvae/50 cobs), practically in synchrony with peak caputres (LAG = 0). “Káma” reached R₁ stage in 16 July, and L₁ larvae peaked at 2 August (1.3 larvae/50 cobs) (LAG = 0). On the rest of the corn varieties larvae were found only in too numbers for performing statistical analysis. We conclude that in order to predict the appearance of L₁ larvae, the phenological stage of the corn variety and the seasonal flight pattern of moths, as measured by large capacity pheromone traps, should be considered in combination. If the corn variety already reached R₁ stage, L₁ larvae appear on cobs as early as the time of peak flight of moths. However, no young larvae appear on cobs despite of high trap captures, until the corn reaches the R₁ stage. These findings are discussed in the view of specifying optimal timing of a pesticide application.