Pub Date : 2024-07-18DOI: 10.3390/agriculture14071174
Li Wang, Guoqiang Wang, Xujun Zhai, Zhong Tang, Bangzhui Wang, Pengcheng Li
The bolts and connections of each working part of a rice combine harvester can suffer from severe instantaneous impacts and alternating loads, and these strong impacts and loads cause instantaneous fracture and fatigue failure of the bolt face and even the loosening, detachment, and fracture of the bolt. The main vibration directions and the most complex vibration parts of the bolts and connections in the main working parts of a combine harvester under time-variable multiload excitation were obtained through the analysis of response signals in terms of time-domain and frequency–domain characteristics via a vibration response experiment. This study revealed that the random peak value of the vibrating screen is 12.5622, which is the severe impact and collision standard. For the vibrating screen, the local peak in the 4-Y direction was the main load of the destroying bolt connection (the impact reached 60.57 m/s2, 96.91 m/s2) and the vibration energy intensity in the 4-Z direction was mainly concentrated at 12.42 m/s2, which is the maximum vibration energy value in the three directions (the peak vibration value reached 109~115.68 m/s2), so the bolted connections of the vibrating screen are the most vulnerable to destruction. Therefore, a kinetic model and a microscopic response model of a vibrating screen were established via the centralized mass method to explore the kinetic response characteristics of bolted structures subjected to multiple excitation loads, thus providing a mathematical model for identifying the features of bolted connections based on static characteristics.
{"title":"Response Characteristics of Harvester Bolts and the Establishment of the Strongest Response Structure’s Kinetic Model","authors":"Li Wang, Guoqiang Wang, Xujun Zhai, Zhong Tang, Bangzhui Wang, Pengcheng Li","doi":"10.3390/agriculture14071174","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071174","url":null,"abstract":"The bolts and connections of each working part of a rice combine harvester can suffer from severe instantaneous impacts and alternating loads, and these strong impacts and loads cause instantaneous fracture and fatigue failure of the bolt face and even the loosening, detachment, and fracture of the bolt. The main vibration directions and the most complex vibration parts of the bolts and connections in the main working parts of a combine harvester under time-variable multiload excitation were obtained through the analysis of response signals in terms of time-domain and frequency–domain characteristics via a vibration response experiment. This study revealed that the random peak value of the vibrating screen is 12.5622, which is the severe impact and collision standard. For the vibrating screen, the local peak in the 4-Y direction was the main load of the destroying bolt connection (the impact reached 60.57 m/s2, 96.91 m/s2) and the vibration energy intensity in the 4-Z direction was mainly concentrated at 12.42 m/s2, which is the maximum vibration energy value in the three directions (the peak vibration value reached 109~115.68 m/s2), so the bolted connections of the vibrating screen are the most vulnerable to destruction. Therefore, a kinetic model and a microscopic response model of a vibrating screen were established via the centralized mass method to explore the kinetic response characteristics of bolted structures subjected to multiple excitation loads, thus providing a mathematical model for identifying the features of bolted connections based on static characteristics.","PeriodicalId":7447,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture","volume":" 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141823998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
As brown mushrooms are both delicious and beneficial to health, the global production and consumption of brown mushrooms have increased significantly in recent years. Currently, to ensure the quality of brown mushrooms, selective manual picking is required, and the delicate surface of the mushrooms must not be damaged during the picking process. The labor cost of picking accounts for 50–80% of the total labor cost in the entire production process, and the high-humidity, low-temperature plant environment poses a risk of rheumatism for the laborers. In this paper, we propose a novel underactuated gripper based on a lead screw and linear bearings, capable of operating with flexible force control while simultaneously measuring the diameter of the mushrooms. The gripper features three degrees of freedom: lifting, grasping, and rotation, and enabling it to approach, grasp, and detach the mushroom. A thin-film force sensor is installed on the inner side of the fingers to achieve accurate grip force measurement. The use of a PID algorithm ensures precise grip force control, thereby protecting the brown mushrooms from damage. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed gripper has a static grasping force error of 0.195 N and an average detachment force overshoot of 1.31 N during the entire picking process. The in situ measurement of the mushroom diameter achieves 97.3% accuracy, with a success rate of 98.3%. These results indicate that the gripper achieves a high success rate in harvesting, a low damage rate, and accurate diameter measurement.
{"title":"An Electric Gripper for Picking Brown Mushrooms with Flexible Force and In Situ Measurement","authors":"Haonan Shi, Gaoming Xu, Wei Lu, Qishuo Ding, Xinxin Chen","doi":"10.3390/agriculture14071181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071181","url":null,"abstract":"As brown mushrooms are both delicious and beneficial to health, the global production and consumption of brown mushrooms have increased significantly in recent years. Currently, to ensure the quality of brown mushrooms, selective manual picking is required, and the delicate surface of the mushrooms must not be damaged during the picking process. The labor cost of picking accounts for 50–80% of the total labor cost in the entire production process, and the high-humidity, low-temperature plant environment poses a risk of rheumatism for the laborers. In this paper, we propose a novel underactuated gripper based on a lead screw and linear bearings, capable of operating with flexible force control while simultaneously measuring the diameter of the mushrooms. The gripper features three degrees of freedom: lifting, grasping, and rotation, and enabling it to approach, grasp, and detach the mushroom. A thin-film force sensor is installed on the inner side of the fingers to achieve accurate grip force measurement. The use of a PID algorithm ensures precise grip force control, thereby protecting the brown mushrooms from damage. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed gripper has a static grasping force error of 0.195 N and an average detachment force overshoot of 1.31 N during the entire picking process. The in situ measurement of the mushroom diameter achieves 97.3% accuracy, with a success rate of 98.3%. These results indicate that the gripper achieves a high success rate in harvesting, a low damage rate, and accurate diameter measurement.","PeriodicalId":7447,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture","volume":" 22","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141824043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Soil is a heterogeneous medium that exhibits considerable variability in both spatial and temporal dimensions. Proper management of field variability using variable-rate fertilization (VRF) techniques is essential to maximize crop input–output ratios and resource utilization. Implementing VRF technology on a localized scale is recommended to increase crop yield, decrease input costs, and reduce the negative impact on the surrounding environment. This study assessed the agronomic and environmental viability of implementing VRF during the cultivation of summer maize using an on-the-go detector of soil total nitrogen (STN) to detect STN content in the test fields. A spatial delineation approach was then applied to divide the experimental field into multiple management zones. The amount of fertilizer applied in each zone was determined based on the sensor-detected STN. The analysis of the final yield and economic benefits indicates that plots that adopted VRF treatments attained an average summer maize grain yield of 7275 kg ha−1, outperforming plots that employed uniform-rate fertilization (URF) treatments, which yielded 6713 kg ha−1. Through one-way ANOVA, the yield p values of the two fertilization methods were 6.406 × 10−15, 5.202 × 10−15, 2.497 × 10−15, and 3.199 × 10−15, respectively, indicating that the yield differences between the two fertilization methods were noticeable. This led to an average yield increase of 8.37% ha−1 and a gross profit margin of USD 153 ha−1. In plots in which VRF techniques are utilized, the average nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rate is 627 kg ha−1. In contrast, in plots employing URF methods, the N fertilizer application rate is 750 kg ha−1. The use of N fertilizer was reduced by 16.4%. As a result, there is a reduction in production costs of USD 37.5 ha−1, achieving increased yield while decreasing the amount of applied fertilizer. Moreover, in plots where the VRF method was applied, STN was balanced despite the reduced N application. This observation can be deduced from the variance in summer maize grain yield through various fertilization treatments in a comparative experiment. Future research endeavors should prioritize the resolution of particular constraints by incorporating supplementary soil data, such as phosphorus, potassium, organic matter, and other pertinent variables, to advance and optimize fertilization methodologies.
{"title":"Variable-Rate Fertilization for Summer Maize Using Combined Proximal Sensing Technology and the Nitrogen Balance Principle","authors":"Peng Zhou, Yazhou Ou, Wei Yang, Yixiang Gu, Yinuo Kong, Yangxin Zhu, Chengqian Jin, Shanshan Hao","doi":"10.3390/agriculture14071180","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071180","url":null,"abstract":"Soil is a heterogeneous medium that exhibits considerable variability in both spatial and temporal dimensions. Proper management of field variability using variable-rate fertilization (VRF) techniques is essential to maximize crop input–output ratios and resource utilization. Implementing VRF technology on a localized scale is recommended to increase crop yield, decrease input costs, and reduce the negative impact on the surrounding environment. This study assessed the agronomic and environmental viability of implementing VRF during the cultivation of summer maize using an on-the-go detector of soil total nitrogen (STN) to detect STN content in the test fields. A spatial delineation approach was then applied to divide the experimental field into multiple management zones. The amount of fertilizer applied in each zone was determined based on the sensor-detected STN. The analysis of the final yield and economic benefits indicates that plots that adopted VRF treatments attained an average summer maize grain yield of 7275 kg ha−1, outperforming plots that employed uniform-rate fertilization (URF) treatments, which yielded 6713 kg ha−1. Through one-way ANOVA, the yield p values of the two fertilization methods were 6.406 × 10−15, 5.202 × 10−15, 2.497 × 10−15, and 3.199 × 10−15, respectively, indicating that the yield differences between the two fertilization methods were noticeable. This led to an average yield increase of 8.37% ha−1 and a gross profit margin of USD 153 ha−1. In plots in which VRF techniques are utilized, the average nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rate is 627 kg ha−1. In contrast, in plots employing URF methods, the N fertilizer application rate is 750 kg ha−1. The use of N fertilizer was reduced by 16.4%. As a result, there is a reduction in production costs of USD 37.5 ha−1, achieving increased yield while decreasing the amount of applied fertilizer. Moreover, in plots where the VRF method was applied, STN was balanced despite the reduced N application. This observation can be deduced from the variance in summer maize grain yield through various fertilization treatments in a comparative experiment. Future research endeavors should prioritize the resolution of particular constraints by incorporating supplementary soil data, such as phosphorus, potassium, organic matter, and other pertinent variables, to advance and optimize fertilization methodologies.","PeriodicalId":7447,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture","volume":" 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141825792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-18DOI: 10.3390/agriculture14071182
S. Akinbode, O. Folorunso, Taiwo S. Olutoberu, F. Olowokere, Muftau Adebayo, Sodeeq O. Azeez, Sarafadeen G. Hammed, M. Busari
This study assessed the perception and use of digital applications for soil fertility management and conservation strategies among small-scale crop farmers in southwest Nigeria. A total of 376 farmers were randomly selected across the six southwest states. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The majority of the farmers relied on perception and other non-scientific approaches such as the appearance of weeds and performance of crops in the previous season to assess soil fertility. Only 1.1% and 0.3% of the farmers assessed soil fertility through soil tests and digital applications, respectively. Most farmers adopted bush fallowing and the use of inorganic fertilizers to improve soil fertility. Although 4.8% of the farmers indicated that they had digital applications on their mobile phones, only 2.9% claimed to have used these. More than half (56.4%) of the farmers stated that a lack of awareness of the existence of digital applications and internet-enabled telephones were the reasons they have not been able to use digital applications. The majority of the farmers (97.3%) indicated their willingness to embrace the use of new farm decision digital applications which could provide more information, especially on soil fertility, if introduced. More extensive services focusing on older, less literate farmers and farmers who hitherto did not belong to any farmers’ association are advocated for in order to encourage the use of digital applications and soil fertility management and conservation practices.
{"title":"Farmers’ Perception and Practice of Soil Fertility Management and Conservation in the Era of Digital Soil Information Systems in Southwest Nigeria","authors":"S. Akinbode, O. Folorunso, Taiwo S. Olutoberu, F. Olowokere, Muftau Adebayo, Sodeeq O. Azeez, Sarafadeen G. Hammed, M. Busari","doi":"10.3390/agriculture14071182","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071182","url":null,"abstract":"This study assessed the perception and use of digital applications for soil fertility management and conservation strategies among small-scale crop farmers in southwest Nigeria. A total of 376 farmers were randomly selected across the six southwest states. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The majority of the farmers relied on perception and other non-scientific approaches such as the appearance of weeds and performance of crops in the previous season to assess soil fertility. Only 1.1% and 0.3% of the farmers assessed soil fertility through soil tests and digital applications, respectively. Most farmers adopted bush fallowing and the use of inorganic fertilizers to improve soil fertility. Although 4.8% of the farmers indicated that they had digital applications on their mobile phones, only 2.9% claimed to have used these. More than half (56.4%) of the farmers stated that a lack of awareness of the existence of digital applications and internet-enabled telephones were the reasons they have not been able to use digital applications. The majority of the farmers (97.3%) indicated their willingness to embrace the use of new farm decision digital applications which could provide more information, especially on soil fertility, if introduced. More extensive services focusing on older, less literate farmers and farmers who hitherto did not belong to any farmers’ association are advocated for in order to encourage the use of digital applications and soil fertility management and conservation practices.","PeriodicalId":7447,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture","volume":" 96","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141824931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-18DOI: 10.3390/agriculture14071184
Yongzheng Ma, Zhuoyuan Wu, Yingying Cheng, Shihong Chen, Jianian Li
The online detection of fertilizer information is pivotal for precise and intelligent variable-rate fertilizer application. However, traditional methods face challenges such as the complex quantification of multiple components and sensor-induced cross-contamination. This study investigates integrating near-infrared principles with machine learning algorithms to identify fertilizer types and concentrations. We utilized near-infrared transmission spectroscopy and applied Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Back-Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) algorithms to analyze full spectrum data. The BPNN model, using S-G smoothing, demonstrated a superior classification performance for the nutrient ions of four fertilizer solutions: HPO42−, NH4+, H2PO4− and K+. Optimization using the competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) method yielded BPNN model RMSE values of 0.3201, 0.7160, 0.2036, and 0.0177 for HPO42−, NH4+, H2PO4−, and K+, respectively. Building on this foundation, we designed a four-channel fertilizer detection device based on the Lambert–Beer law, enabling the real-time detection of fertilizer types and concentrations. The test results confirmed the device’s robust stability, achieving 93% accuracy in identifying fertilizer types and concentrations, with RMSE values ranging from 1.0034 to 2.4947, all within ±8.0% error margin. This study addresses the practical requirements for online fertilizer detection in agricultural engineering, laying the groundwork for efficient water–fertilizer integration technology aligned with sustainable development goals.
{"title":"Rapid Detection of Fertilizer Information Based on Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Machine Learning and the Design of a Detection Device","authors":"Yongzheng Ma, Zhuoyuan Wu, Yingying Cheng, Shihong Chen, Jianian Li","doi":"10.3390/agriculture14071184","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071184","url":null,"abstract":"The online detection of fertilizer information is pivotal for precise and intelligent variable-rate fertilizer application. However, traditional methods face challenges such as the complex quantification of multiple components and sensor-induced cross-contamination. This study investigates integrating near-infrared principles with machine learning algorithms to identify fertilizer types and concentrations. We utilized near-infrared transmission spectroscopy and applied Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Back-Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) algorithms to analyze full spectrum data. The BPNN model, using S-G smoothing, demonstrated a superior classification performance for the nutrient ions of four fertilizer solutions: HPO42−, NH4+, H2PO4− and K+. Optimization using the competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) method yielded BPNN model RMSE values of 0.3201, 0.7160, 0.2036, and 0.0177 for HPO42−, NH4+, H2PO4−, and K+, respectively. Building on this foundation, we designed a four-channel fertilizer detection device based on the Lambert–Beer law, enabling the real-time detection of fertilizer types and concentrations. The test results confirmed the device’s robust stability, achieving 93% accuracy in identifying fertilizer types and concentrations, with RMSE values ranging from 1.0034 to 2.4947, all within ±8.0% error margin. This study addresses the practical requirements for online fertilizer detection in agricultural engineering, laying the groundwork for efficient water–fertilizer integration technology aligned with sustainable development goals.","PeriodicalId":7447,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141825395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
To design a high-performance stubble-breaking device, studying the interaction mechanisms between blades and root–soil composites is urgent. A simplified experimental method was proposed to investigate the cutting process and the effects of key factors on cutting by conducting cutting experiments on remolded root–soil composites and maize root–soil composites. The results showed that the soil support force and root–soil interface force significantly impacted cutting. Higher soil compaction and root–soil interface forces helped avoid root dragging, but higher soil compaction and thicker roots led to greater resistance. The superposition and accumulation effects significantly increased the cutting force, especially when root distribution was denser; as the oblique angle and bevel angle increased, the root-cutting force and dragging distance first decreased and then increased. Compared with orthogonal cutting, the optimal angles were both 45° and reduced the root-cutting force by 60.47% and 15.12% and shortened the dragging distance by 22.33 mm and 8.76 mm, respectively. Increasing the slide-cutting angle and cutting speed helped reduce the root-cutting force and dragging distance; however, it also faced greater pure-cutting force. Consequently, the interaction mechanisms between blades and root–soil composites revealed in this study provide a design and optimization basis for stubble-breaking devices, thus promoting the development of no-till technology.
为了设计高性能的灭茬装置,迫切需要研究刀片与根土复合材料之间的相互作用机理。通过对重塑根土复合材料和玉米根土复合材料进行切割实验,提出了一种简化的实验方法来研究切割过程和关键因素对切割的影响。结果表明,土壤支撑力和根-土界面力对切割有显著影响。较高的土壤压实力和根系-土壤界面力有助于避免根系拖曳,但较高的土壤压实力和较粗的根系会导致较大的阻力。叠加效应和累积效应明显增加了切削力,尤其是当根系分布较密时;随着斜角和斜面角的增大,切根力和拖曳距离先减小后增大。与正交切削相比,最佳角度均为 45°,切根力分别降低了 60.47% 和 15.12%,拖曳距离分别缩短了 22.33 mm 和 8.76 mm。增加滑切角度和切割速度有助于减少切根力和拖曳距离,但同时也会面临更大的纯切力。因此,本研究揭示的刀片与根土复合材料之间的相互作用机理为破茬装置的设计和优化提供了依据,从而促进了免耕技术的发展。
{"title":"Interaction Mechanisms between Blades and Maize Root–Soil Composites as Affected by Key Factors: An Experimental Analysis","authors":"Xuanting Liu, Peng Gao, Hongyan Qi, Qifeng Zhang, Mingzhuo Guo, Yunhai Ma","doi":"10.3390/agriculture14071179","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071179","url":null,"abstract":"To design a high-performance stubble-breaking device, studying the interaction mechanisms between blades and root–soil composites is urgent. A simplified experimental method was proposed to investigate the cutting process and the effects of key factors on cutting by conducting cutting experiments on remolded root–soil composites and maize root–soil composites. The results showed that the soil support force and root–soil interface force significantly impacted cutting. Higher soil compaction and root–soil interface forces helped avoid root dragging, but higher soil compaction and thicker roots led to greater resistance. The superposition and accumulation effects significantly increased the cutting force, especially when root distribution was denser; as the oblique angle and bevel angle increased, the root-cutting force and dragging distance first decreased and then increased. Compared with orthogonal cutting, the optimal angles were both 45° and reduced the root-cutting force by 60.47% and 15.12% and shortened the dragging distance by 22.33 mm and 8.76 mm, respectively. Increasing the slide-cutting angle and cutting speed helped reduce the root-cutting force and dragging distance; however, it also faced greater pure-cutting force. Consequently, the interaction mechanisms between blades and root–soil composites revealed in this study provide a design and optimization basis for stubble-breaking devices, thus promoting the development of no-till technology.","PeriodicalId":7447,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture","volume":" 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141826720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-17DOI: 10.3390/agriculture14071168
Juan Hu, Xianjiao Guan, Xihuan Liang, Binqiang Wang, Xianmao Chen, Xiaolin He, Jiang Xie, Guoqiang Deng, Ji Chen, Xiuxiu Li, Caifei Qiu, Yinfei Qian, Chunrui Peng, Kun Zhang, Jin Chen
Straw returning has gradually been adopted as an effective approach to address the serious degradation of farmland. However, the carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio of rice straw is generally too high for microorganisms to decompose the organic materials and release nutrients, which may minimize the benefits of straw returning to the agricultural production system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of straw returning on rice production and propose optimum nitrogen (N) management for early rice production under a straw returning system. The total N fertilizer that was evaluated was 165 kg N ha-1, urea (46% N), applied in different proportions in three stages of rice cultivation: basal, tillering, and panicle. Using no straw returning with the N fertilizer ratio of basal:tillering:panicle = 5:2:3 treatment (T1) as the control, four different N fertilizer ratios of basal:tillering:panicle, including 5:2:3 (T2), 5:2:2 (T3), 5:4:1 (T4), and 5:5:0 (T5) were set under straw returning. The return of straw decreased the available N in the soil at the tillering stage, and impeded root growth and the crop canopy from establishing, which decreased the effective panicles by 10.1% compared with that of T1, limiting the increases in rice grain yield. Increasing the N fertilizer ratio 10–20% (T3 and T4) at the tillering stage effectively increased the content of soil ammonium and nitrate nitrogen, improved the root growth, and increased the root activities by 16.0–40.5% at the tillering stage. As a result, the effective panicle number increased by 5.1–16.2%. Among these, T4 treatment maximized the benefits of straw returning the most. Additionally, increasing the N fertilizer ratio at the tillering stage increased the shoot uptake across the early rice growing season and synchronized crop N uptake with the accumulation of carbon assimilates, which enhanced the crop growth rate and increased the rice yield by 13.5–25.1%. It is concluded that increasing the N fertilizer ratio by 20% at the tillering stage is a promising strategy to increase the availability of N in the phases of high demand for this nutrient.
{"title":"Optimizing the Nitrogen Fertilizer Management to Maximize the Benefit of Straw Returning on Early Rice Yield by Modulating Soil N Availability","authors":"Juan Hu, Xianjiao Guan, Xihuan Liang, Binqiang Wang, Xianmao Chen, Xiaolin He, Jiang Xie, Guoqiang Deng, Ji Chen, Xiuxiu Li, Caifei Qiu, Yinfei Qian, Chunrui Peng, Kun Zhang, Jin Chen","doi":"10.3390/agriculture14071168","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071168","url":null,"abstract":"Straw returning has gradually been adopted as an effective approach to address the serious degradation of farmland. However, the carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio of rice straw is generally too high for microorganisms to decompose the organic materials and release nutrients, which may minimize the benefits of straw returning to the agricultural production system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of straw returning on rice production and propose optimum nitrogen (N) management for early rice production under a straw returning system. The total N fertilizer that was evaluated was 165 kg N ha-1, urea (46% N), applied in different proportions in three stages of rice cultivation: basal, tillering, and panicle. Using no straw returning with the N fertilizer ratio of basal:tillering:panicle = 5:2:3 treatment (T1) as the control, four different N fertilizer ratios of basal:tillering:panicle, including 5:2:3 (T2), 5:2:2 (T3), 5:4:1 (T4), and 5:5:0 (T5) were set under straw returning. The return of straw decreased the available N in the soil at the tillering stage, and impeded root growth and the crop canopy from establishing, which decreased the effective panicles by 10.1% compared with that of T1, limiting the increases in rice grain yield. Increasing the N fertilizer ratio 10–20% (T3 and T4) at the tillering stage effectively increased the content of soil ammonium and nitrate nitrogen, improved the root growth, and increased the root activities by 16.0–40.5% at the tillering stage. As a result, the effective panicle number increased by 5.1–16.2%. Among these, T4 treatment maximized the benefits of straw returning the most. Additionally, increasing the N fertilizer ratio at the tillering stage increased the shoot uptake across the early rice growing season and synchronized crop N uptake with the accumulation of carbon assimilates, which enhanced the crop growth rate and increased the rice yield by 13.5–25.1%. It is concluded that increasing the N fertilizer ratio by 20% at the tillering stage is a promising strategy to increase the availability of N in the phases of high demand for this nutrient.","PeriodicalId":7447,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture","volume":" 30","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141830420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-17DOI: 10.3390/agriculture14071167
Maciej Gąstoł, Urszula Błaszczyk
This review focuses on the recent information on the effect of different types of magnetic fields (MFs) and ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) on the processes that may finally affect fruit quality and its storage potential. Firstly, the biological effect of MFs on every plant’s growth and development level is described. The magnetic field interacts with a plant’s metabolism and changes the permeability of membranes affecting cells’ homeostasis. It also could affect early seedling development, stimulating enzyme activity and protein synthesis, and later on nutrient and water uptake of adult plants. In some cases, it makes plants more resilient, increasing their tolerance to environmental stresses. Also, MF treatment could lower the disease index of plants, thus improving the internal and external fruit quality indices. The second part of this review focuses on interesting perspectives of using UV-C radiation to reduce postharvest fruit diseases, but also to delay fruit ripening and senescence. The application of UV-C light to combat postharvest infections is associated with two mechanisms of action, such as direct elimination of microorganisms located on the fruit surface and indirect triggering of the plant’s defense reaction. Moreover, the use of hormetic doses of UV-C can additionally increase the nutritional properties of fresh fruit, lead to the accumulation of desired phytochemicals such as polyphenols, for example, to increase anthocyanin or resveratrol content, or elevate antioxidant activity.
{"title":"Effect of Magnetic Field and UV-C Radiation on Postharvest Fruit Properties","authors":"Maciej Gąstoł, Urszula Błaszczyk","doi":"10.3390/agriculture14071167","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071167","url":null,"abstract":"This review focuses on the recent information on the effect of different types of magnetic fields (MFs) and ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) on the processes that may finally affect fruit quality and its storage potential. Firstly, the biological effect of MFs on every plant’s growth and development level is described. The magnetic field interacts with a plant’s metabolism and changes the permeability of membranes affecting cells’ homeostasis. It also could affect early seedling development, stimulating enzyme activity and protein synthesis, and later on nutrient and water uptake of adult plants. In some cases, it makes plants more resilient, increasing their tolerance to environmental stresses. Also, MF treatment could lower the disease index of plants, thus improving the internal and external fruit quality indices. The second part of this review focuses on interesting perspectives of using UV-C radiation to reduce postharvest fruit diseases, but also to delay fruit ripening and senescence. The application of UV-C light to combat postharvest infections is associated with two mechanisms of action, such as direct elimination of microorganisms located on the fruit surface and indirect triggering of the plant’s defense reaction. Moreover, the use of hormetic doses of UV-C can additionally increase the nutritional properties of fresh fruit, lead to the accumulation of desired phytochemicals such as polyphenols, for example, to increase anthocyanin or resveratrol content, or elevate antioxidant activity.","PeriodicalId":7447,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture","volume":" 45","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141829529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-17DOI: 10.3390/agriculture14071171
V. Triantafyllidis
Short-term estimates are not suitable for monitoring and comparing fluctuating pesticide use in EU agricultural land. A discriminative and comparable (HI) herbicide index was evaluated to elucidate herbicide use in the 21st century. The HI was 0.66 kg of active substances per hectare of conventional agricultural land across the EU. However, the HI varied between the 27 EU Member States. The highest mean values of HI were observed in Belgium, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Germany, France, and Denmark, with the lowest in Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, and Latvia. The results showed that the distribution of the HI variable was independent of the geographical location of each country, such as from North to South or from West to East in the EU. It seems that country-level agri-environmental parameters ultimately influenced the herbicide use. To assess the causes of this variability, 31 agri-environmental parameters (formatted into indices to be comparable) were investigated, emphasizing the structural characteristics of the agricultural sector in each EU Member State. Using only the significant independent variables (13 out of 31), linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was applied to explore the differentiation potential of EU27 by creating a discrimination model. The assessment of each one variable in the HI could contribute to the reduction in environmental impacts and the faultless implementation of the European agricultural policy in the near future.
短期估算不适合用于监测和比较欧盟农业用地中农药使用量的波动。为了阐明 21 世纪除草剂的使用情况,我们对除草剂的鉴别和可比指数(HI)进行了评估。在欧盟范围内,每公顷常规农田的 HI 为 0.66 千克活性物质。不过,欧盟 27 个成员国的 HI 值各不相同。HI 平均值最高的国家是比利时、荷兰、塞浦路斯、德国、法国和丹麦,最低的国家是罗马尼亚、希腊、保加利亚和拉脱维亚。结果表明,HI 变量的分布与每个国家所处的地理位置无关,如欧盟从北到南或从西到东。看来,国家层面的农业环境参数最终影响了除草剂的使用。为了评估造成这种差异的原因,研究人员对 31 个农业环境参数进行了调查(为了便于比较,这些参数被格式化为指数),并强调了每个欧盟成员国农业部门的结构特征。仅使用重要的自变量(31 个变量中的 13 个),应用线性判别分析(LDA),通过创建一个判别模型来探索欧盟 27 国的差异化潜力。对 HI 中每个变量的评估都有助于在不久的将来减少对环境的影响和正确实施欧洲农业政策。
{"title":"Assessment of Spatiotemporal Distribution of Herbicides in European Agricultural Land Using Agri-Environmental Indices","authors":"V. Triantafyllidis","doi":"10.3390/agriculture14071171","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071171","url":null,"abstract":"Short-term estimates are not suitable for monitoring and comparing fluctuating pesticide use in EU agricultural land. A discriminative and comparable (HI) herbicide index was evaluated to elucidate herbicide use in the 21st century. The HI was 0.66 kg of active substances per hectare of conventional agricultural land across the EU. However, the HI varied between the 27 EU Member States. The highest mean values of HI were observed in Belgium, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Germany, France, and Denmark, with the lowest in Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, and Latvia. The results showed that the distribution of the HI variable was independent of the geographical location of each country, such as from North to South or from West to East in the EU. It seems that country-level agri-environmental parameters ultimately influenced the herbicide use. To assess the causes of this variability, 31 agri-environmental parameters (formatted into indices to be comparable) were investigated, emphasizing the structural characteristics of the agricultural sector in each EU Member State. Using only the significant independent variables (13 out of 31), linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was applied to explore the differentiation potential of EU27 by creating a discrimination model. The assessment of each one variable in the HI could contribute to the reduction in environmental impacts and the faultless implementation of the European agricultural policy in the near future.","PeriodicalId":7447,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture","volume":" 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141829541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-17DOI: 10.3390/agriculture14071170
Ricardo Rocha, C. Venâncio, Paulo Cardoso, João Lourenço, E. Figueira
Advances in soil microbial communities are driving agricultural practices towards ecological sustainability and productivity, with engineering microbial communities significantly contributing to sustainable agriculture. This study explored the combined effects of two white-rot fungi (Trametes sp. and Pleurotus sp.) and six rhizobacterial strains belonging to four genera (Acinetobacter sp., Enterobacter sp., Flavobacterium sp., and Pseudomonas sp.) on maize growth and soil enzymatic activity over a 14-day period. At the plant level, germination, fresh and dry mass of the aerial and root parts, length, and stage of development of the stem, as well as the chlorophyll content, were evaluated. Furthermore, soil dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatases, pH, and electrical conductivity were evaluated. Rot fungi induced distinct effects on maize germination, with Pleurotus sp. strongly suppressing maize germination by 40% relative to that of the control. The isolated bacterial strains, except Enterobacter sp. O8, and 8 of the 12 fungus + bacterial strain combinations induced germination rates higher than those of the control (≥40%). Combinations of Flavobacterium sp. I57 and Pseudomonas sp. O81 with the rot fungus Pleurotus sp. significantly improved plant shoot length (from 28.0 to 37.0 cm) and developmental stage (fourth leaf length increase from 10.0 to 16.8 cm), respectively, compared with the same bacteria alone or in combination with the rot fungus Trametes sp. In the soil, the presence of both fungi appeared to stabilize phosphatase activity compared to their activity when only bacteria were present, while also promoting overall dehydrogenase enzymatic activity in the soil. Integrating all parameters, Trametes sp. rot fungus + Enterobacter sp. O8 may be a potential combination to be explored in the context of agricultural production, and future studies should focus on the consistency of this combination’s performance over time and its effectiveness in the field.
{"title":"Evidence of Cooperative Interactions between Rhizobacteria and Wood-Decaying Fungi and Their Effects on Maize Germination and Growth","authors":"Ricardo Rocha, C. Venâncio, Paulo Cardoso, João Lourenço, E. Figueira","doi":"10.3390/agriculture14071170","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071170","url":null,"abstract":"Advances in soil microbial communities are driving agricultural practices towards ecological sustainability and productivity, with engineering microbial communities significantly contributing to sustainable agriculture. This study explored the combined effects of two white-rot fungi (Trametes sp. and Pleurotus sp.) and six rhizobacterial strains belonging to four genera (Acinetobacter sp., Enterobacter sp., Flavobacterium sp., and Pseudomonas sp.) on maize growth and soil enzymatic activity over a 14-day period. At the plant level, germination, fresh and dry mass of the aerial and root parts, length, and stage of development of the stem, as well as the chlorophyll content, were evaluated. Furthermore, soil dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatases, pH, and electrical conductivity were evaluated. Rot fungi induced distinct effects on maize germination, with Pleurotus sp. strongly suppressing maize germination by 40% relative to that of the control. The isolated bacterial strains, except Enterobacter sp. O8, and 8 of the 12 fungus + bacterial strain combinations induced germination rates higher than those of the control (≥40%). Combinations of Flavobacterium sp. I57 and Pseudomonas sp. O81 with the rot fungus Pleurotus sp. significantly improved plant shoot length (from 28.0 to 37.0 cm) and developmental stage (fourth leaf length increase from 10.0 to 16.8 cm), respectively, compared with the same bacteria alone or in combination with the rot fungus Trametes sp. In the soil, the presence of both fungi appeared to stabilize phosphatase activity compared to their activity when only bacteria were present, while also promoting overall dehydrogenase enzymatic activity in the soil. Integrating all parameters, Trametes sp. rot fungus + Enterobacter sp. O8 may be a potential combination to be explored in the context of agricultural production, and future studies should focus on the consistency of this combination’s performance over time and its effectiveness in the field.","PeriodicalId":7447,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture","volume":" 37","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141829600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}