A three-year experiment was conducted in Cullman, AL, to determine the impact of iron clay pea, sunn-hemp, soybean, velvet Bean, sorghum Sudan, and pearl millet cover crops terminated with two methods (rolling and flail mowing) on collard (brassica oleracea var. acephala, L.) yield. Overall, each of the three growing seasons (2013, 2014, and 2015) produced significant differences in cover crop biomass production among cover crops. Across three growing seasons sorghum Sudan and Pearl Millet generated the highest biomass (23,752 and 23,333 kg ha -1 respectively). During the same period, sunn hemp produced 10,908 kg/ha -1 and soybean, velvet bean and iron clay pea produced lower biomass (6,754, 6,068, and 4,360 kg ha -1 , respectively). Termination rates of cover crops used in this study were mostly below 90%. Termination rates above 90% have been recommended by agricultural extension services to plant cash crop into cover crop residue. In all three growing seasons volumetric soil moisture content during evaluation have showed that plots with rolled residue consistently held more VMC than the standing cover crops, indicating that rolled cover crop residue better preserved soil moisture content. Collard green yield was significantly different in each growing season for different covers and termination methods. Averaged over three growing seasons, the highest collard yield was observed for iron clay pea (12,623 kg ha -1 ), Velvet bean (11,020 kg ha -1 ) and sunn hemp (10,802 kg ha -1 ). Data suggest that higher collard yield was obtained with legume cover crops with the benefit of released nitrogen into the soil and utilized by collards. In addition, across all years, the average collard green yield was higher for cover crops which were flail mowed (11,875 kg ha -1 ) compared to rolled/crimped cover crops (7,349 kg ha -1 ).
In this work, we studied the impact of electromagnetic fields of various periods on the germination, growth and production of bean (phaseolus vulgaris). The magnetization of the seeds was carried out as soon as it was placed underground in field conditions. Plant growth until pod formation was monitored under field conditions on an experimental surface of 10.0 m 2 . The electrical circuits used for magnetization made it possible to obtain electromagnetic fields of period 1, 2 and 4 as well as a non-linear or chaotic electromagnetic field. Daily 24-hour exposure with these different signals has influenced some growth parameters. The height difference was significant (at P <0.05) for the comparison between A0 and A2. We found a production time saving of approximately ten (10) days for the A4 treatment compared to the control treatment A0. Experience has shown that plants subject to the chaotic field (A5) formed the largest number of pods. The comparison between the maximum number of pods formed and the number of pods that reached maturity for each treatment showed pod losses during the last growth phase. The loss rate was 29.25%, 28.31%, 35.78%, 64.38% and 62.72% respectively for A0, A1, A2, A4 and A5 treatments.
This publication contains the journal version of the Book "N. F. Bondarenko", which was published in 2012 as part of the series under the title "Agrophysics: People and Destiny". The journal version consists of four parts. Part 4.1 includes the journal versions of the article written by Elizabeth Zakharovna Gak "About Nikolai Filippovich Bondarenko". Parts 1 has been published in EAJ, 5(4). Parts 2 and 3 has been published in EAJ, 6(1).
The development of procedures which facilitate the determination of realistic yield expectations for management units within agricultural fields represents a scientific challenge. For this an applicable and scenario-apt Fuzzy-Expert system was developed. The procedure for generation of sites-specific yield expectation maps is divided into three methodical steps – step 1: estimation of yield potential, step 2: influences of pre-crop and crop variety and step 3: influence of site-specific parameters. The regional approach takes into account physical parameters as well as meteorological input data or results of variety testing trials for prediction of regional average yields. This prediction is starting point for the joined site-specific fuzzy model. For yield estimation site-specific heterogeneity spatial information of parameter influencing yield formation are taken into account. Physical soil parameter (plant available water, potential capillary rise, ground water table, landform attributes) are used to generate the site specific yield expectation map. This map is generated using the Spatial Analysis and Modeling Tool (SAMT). A method for training of the fuzzy model is described. The procedure was tested on a 45 ha field cropped with winter wheat in a Chernozem area of Saxony-Anhalt in East-Germany for the years 2000 and 2005.
This manuscript describes the first research activities conducted at CBEAI. This research includes two parts: a) Soil-agrochemical studies of experimental fields, and b) Spatial analysis of the contiguous heterogeneous of experimental field plots. An agrochemical survey of experimental fields (a 1.3 hectares field plot and a greenhouse) was carried out. Soil samples at depths of 0-10 and 10-20 cm were collected and laboratory agrochemical analysis were conducted. The results of soil analysis of the experimental field plot indicated that the mineral nitrogen content was very high (more than 35 mg/kg), mobile phosphorus content was high (46-60 mg/kg), mobile potassium content was elevated (300 mg/kg), organic matter content was low (1.1-2.0%), and the soil was alkaline. Spatial analysis showed that there was contiguous heterogeneous of the experimental field plot. In particular, the content of mobile phosphorus varied markedly across the field, ranging from 20.60 to 121.70 mg/kg P 2 O 5 .
The article deals with the influence of fluctuations in vertical accelerations on soil compaction as a process of change in soil consistency under the influence of high mechanical loads, namely, heavy farm machines. The main object of this research is to investigate the pressure change in topsoil and to devise recommendations for the reduction of soil compaction resulting from intensive vertical accelerations during the movement of a field machine. A computational and experimental method of determining soil strain and mechanical stress caused by a wheel, taking into account soil properties and the value of the vertical acceleration components, has been proposed.
Proper management of cover crops in conservation system is the key to achieving effective no-till planting of cash crops into desiccated residue cover without interfering with planting operations. One method of cover crop management is mechanical termination utilizing a rolling/crimping technique to injure the plant with the crimping bars without cutting stems. Another method is to injure plants using a heat source. To evaluate this concept at a small farm scale, a mechanical pusher using exhaust heat from the internal combustion gasoline engine with supplemental heat from heater strips was developed to terminate cover crops. The prototype was developed for a walk-behind tractor powered by a single cylinder gasoline engine. Heat to damage plant tissue was directed from the exhaust manifold to a rectangular perforated delivery steel tube that was in continuous contact with the cover crop that had been flattened by the pusher. In addition, a generator powered by the tractor’s PTO provided electrical energy for three parallel supplemental heater strips. Results demonstrated that using exhaust heat (otherwise lost to the environment) is a viable option to manage cover crops.
In most cases, genotypic characteristics and characteristics reflecting the influence of the environment are independent. The arrays of these characteristics are orthodox. However, in rather rare cases, individual elements of these arrays correlate. Select these elements and assess the relationship between them is a rather difficult task. The purpose of this work is to develop an algorithm for finding such elements using Fuzzy sets theory.
This publication contains the part 1 of the journal version of the V. Kurtener archive. Parts 2 and 3 are published in this issue of the journal. Parts 4 and 5 will be published in the second issue of the volume 5. The first edition of this archive was first published in a book titled A. V. Kurtener, which is part of the series under the title Agrophysics: People and Destiny, in 2010. However, due to the language barrier, (the book is written in Russian); it was inaccessible to the international agrophysical society.
This article examines the applications of soft computing uses in plant breeding and crop production. The number of publications devoted directly to application of soft computing in plant breeding and crop production is comparatively small. Testing the hypothesis about the nature of the transgressions using ANFIS is considered. Also in this article a tool developed in Agrophysical Research Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, is utilized for the fuzzy multi-attributive comparison of alternatives of hybrid soybean seed production.
This work is devoted to review the new scientific divisions that emerged in agrophysics in the last 10-15 years. Among them are the following: 1) application of Geographic Information Systems, 2) development and application of fuzzy multi attributive comparison of alternatives. In recent years, the development of these scientific divisions has been associated with the activities of the European Agrophysical Institute and, in particular, with the creation (in 2013) of the European Agrophysical Journal (EAJ). It should be noted that Google-based Impact Factor of EAJ for 2015 was equal 2.23 and for 2016 - 2.00. Many articles written in the framework of these divisions have been published in EAJ.
This work is devoted to review the new scientific divisions that emerged in agrophysics in the last 10-15 years. Among them are the following: 1) soil quality assessment using a fuzzy indicator modeling, 2) zoning of an agricultural field using a fuzzy indicator modeling, 3) agrophysical and physic-technical bases of plant breeding, and 4) development, testing, and application of materials based on humic acids for improving soil fertility and solving environmental problems. In recent years, the development of these scientific divisions has been associated with the activities of the European Agrophysical Institute and, in particular, with the creation (in 2013) of the European Agrophysical Journal (EAJ). On the initiative of the European Agrophysical Institute, a branch of the Institute in China was created. The planned work of this branch include research on the stabilization of soil degradation processes, improving soil fertility, and solving environmental problems.
In 1970-1980, a new scientific direction in agrophysics was started, with efforts devoted to the physical modeling of convective heat transfer in greenhouses and agricultural fields. The base of this new branch of agrophysics was created by research efforts of Igor Uskov. Within the framework of this new branch of agrophysics several valuable scientific results have been obtained. For example, Igor Uskov developed an aerodynamic stand for use in experimental studies which allows for the formation of temperature fields within greenhouses and across agricultural fields. Using this equipment, it was shown for the first time that that heat is carried by ascending and descending air flows within a greenhouse under the influence of local sources of heat. In another example of agrophysics research, heat transfer between double walls of arched greenhouses was studied. The colored shadow method for visualization of the structure of the thermal boundary layer was developed out of this effort. Studies of heat transfer across agriculture fields has led to the heat exchange processes on the slopes being modeled.
Traditionally, agrophysics research has included, such areas as light-physiology and photo culture of plants. Recently, agrophysics research has expanded into new directions to include epigenetics and plant breeding. Integration of epigenetics and plant breeding as part of agrophysics research has been a focus of scientific endeavors of V. Dragavtsev. Recently, articles on this topic have been published in agrophysical scientific journals, including publications by the Agrophysical Research Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, and the European Agrophysical Journal published by the European Agrophysical Institute, Amriswil, Switzerland. In this paper, resent achievements within epigenetics and plant breeding research will be discussed. Specifically, the theory of eco-genetic organization of quantitative traits (TEGOQT) and the principle of background characters of plants are considered.
In this article it is considered one stage of Cross-functional Quality Management (CFQM) targeted to assess decisions of producer groups. For this, an algorithm based on combination of expert estimates, the fuzzy indicator methodology and multi attribute decision-making techniques was elaborated. With aim to illustrate this algorithm two examples are prepared.
Soil disturbance can have important impacts on soil quality and productivity which impact management decisions. However, the extent of potential damage to soil due to soil disturbance is not always obvious. Methods are needed to determine the level of soil disturbance from soil testing. A methodology for this problem could be found using a tool for computations of two soil disturbance indicators called “Disturbance Factor Simple (DFS)” and “Disturbance Factor Complex (DFC)”. This study examined this tool for the examination of data collected from experiments on soil disturbance in two different climatic reagions: Fort Riley, KS, and Fort Benning, GA, USA. Results for Fort Riley indicate that the best indicator of disturbance was the DFS calculated for Ni, Ca, Mg, and C while DFS calculated for Cr, Pb, Ni, and Ca was best for Fort Benning. Results also indicate that the use of DFS calculated for Cu and Ni as affected by changes in soil depth may be useful for detecting archeological sites across soil types.
Water scarcity is a fundamental problem in the Upper East Region of Ghana especially in these recent years. The region has only two main reservoirs which collect both stream and run-off water from highlands for usage. Most of the rivers are seasonal and carry water only after rainfall, making the total land area dry most of the year. Women and children walk a number of hours to reach shallow hand-dug wells or ponds, which they share with livestock. The people have been facing these water shortages over the years and construction of good dams is a possible solution to meet the future demand of water supply. In order to address the above water challenges, there is a need for a system that can consider all spatial factors to selecting dam site and GIS techniques as well as Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) are more appropriate. The site selection was based on the factor and constraints criteria. Weights were assigned to the factors using Pairwise comparisons and the layers were overlaid and weighted. A total of 4 optimal dam sites were selected after incorporating the various factor and constraint criteria. The existing land use should be visited in the selected sites before constructing the dams and population should be reviewed to see whether changes in population affect the siting of irrigation dams in an area.
A modified low-cost method of measuring ammonia (NH3) volatilization is described for use with static chambers. This technique utilizes glass tubes coated with oxalic acid placed inside the chambers to adsorb NH3 being evolved from soil. The advantage of this procedure is that it can be used to quantify NH3 emissions from field plots used for evaluating multiple management practices in an agricultural field. A correction factor is required to accurately estimate NH3 levels inside the static chambers. In addition, if the static chambers are made of an NH3 absorbing material, another correction is needed to obtain an accurate estimate of NH3 air concentration. Values measured with this technique can be used to estimate NH3 efflux rates and to determine the efficacy of agricultural practices that could potentially suppress volatilization losses evaluated from research plots. Herein, the modified static chamber method is described and validated by comparison with NH3 gas detector tubes.
In this work, an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) applied for study the contiguous relations between soil disturbed indicators. Several ANFIS surfaces, which described the contiguous relations between individual soil disturbed indicators (DFSs), values of soil parameters and depth, as well as the contiguous relations between DFSs and combined indicator of soil disturbance (DFC), were obtained.
Epigenetics is one of the most rapidly expanding fields of research in the life sciences. One direction of epigenetics is devoted to plant breeding. Today it has become obvious that agrophysical approaches and methods will find a place not only in the improvement of agricultural technologies, but could also revolutionize breeding technologies. In this paper several tasks for interdisciplinary researches related to the application of agrophysics for epigenetics researches are formulated.
