International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (5), pp. 001-008, May, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effectiveness of phosphorus application in improving regional soybean yields under drought stress: A multivariate regression tree analysis

Haifeng Zheng^1,2, Liding Chen²*, Xiaozeng Han^1,3, Yan Ma² and Xinfeng Zhao²

¹Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province 130012, China.

²State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, People’s Republic of China.

³National Field Research Station of Agro-ecosystem in Hailun, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agro-ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin 150081, People’s Republic of China.

Accepted 20 October, 2018

Abstract

Scarcity of water often reduces the regional production of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in many areas where it is grown. Contemporary climate change is characterized by increase in frequency and intensity of drought, yet little is known about the successful strategies of soybean cropping systems to drought stress at the regional scale. An effective way to improve the understanding is how to reduce the yields variability across regional fields and consequently increase total soybean production under drought conditions. In this study, using a series of household surveys and on-field trials conducted during a severe drought in 2007 provided data for 118 soybean fields throughout Hailun County of Northeast China, the triggers of regional yield variability and the relative importance of the determining factors were investigated. Regression trees analysis showed that regional soybean yield variability was mainly induced by soil available phosphorus and the amount of P applied, which explained 16.3 and 15.2% of the yield variation, respectively. Under drought stress, regional yields improvement could be accessed by altering P application rates. The productivity of soybean over the region did not increase when P application rate reached a threshold of 55.67 kg/ha. The results suggest that investing more P fertilizer was an effective management strategy for improving regional soybean production in Northeast China in such drought years and the level of effectiveness varied with the application rates.

Key words: Soybean, yield variability, phosphorus, drought, strategy, threshold.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (5), pp. 001-007, May, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Worldwide patent analysis and mapping of combine harvester innovation

Xiuhong Wang

Faculty of Science/ Institute of Scientific Information, Jiangsu University, China. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel/Fax: [0086]-511-88791687.

Accepted 21 January, 2019

Abstract

The patent literature contains a wealth of detailed information existing. Patent analysis contributes to marketing and business strategy. While excellent searching tools have existed for many years for identifying patents relating to specific topics, it is only recently that it has been feasible to map the complete archive of patent literature to identify important trends and competition pattern. In this project, the author experimented with several analysis and visualization techniques on combine harvester-related patent documents between 1991 and 2009, including issued and application patent. The data sets are from the Patent Cooperation Treaty and European Patent offices, plus a range of national patent collections including those of the U.S.A., Japan, the U.K., France, Germany, Switzerland and Russia. Through patent analysis, mapping and citing tree analysis, the results demonstrate potential of information-based discovery and visualization technologies to capture knowledge regarding combine harvester technology performance, leaders or rivals, hot patents or core technology, new application and new technology in the field.

Key words: Combine harvester, patent analysis, trends of development, patent map, patent distribution, competition pattern.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determination of the relationship among air velocity, cooling efficiency and temperature decrease at a cellulose based evaporative cooling pad

Metin Dağtekin¹, Cengiz Karaca²*, Levent Sangün³ and Yilmaz Yildiz ⁴

¹Çukurova University, Ceyhan Vocation High Scholl, Ceyhan, Adana, Turkey.

²Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Machinery, Hatay, Turkey.

³Çukurova University, Adana Vocation High Scholl, Adana, Turkey.

⁴Çukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Machinery, Adana, Turkey.

Accepted 16 January, 2019

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between air velocity, cooling efficiency and decrease of the temperature of the air passing the pad, at a cellulose based evaporative cooling pad and to gain handy information for the persons working on this subject. In the study, cellulose based evaporative cooling pad (CELdek R 7060-15) was handled as material. As for the velocity of air passing through the pad 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ms^-1 values were selected. Based on the measurement results, cooling efficiency and provided decrease of the temperature of the air passing the pad, were calculated. As a result of the research, cooling activities calculated between 3 different air velocities were found significant in the statistical sense (p < 0.01) for the measurement periods except II. measurement periods. As for the temperature decrease, the difference between other measurement periods except II. and III. measurement periods, were also found significant. The highest cooling activity and temperature decreases were reached at 0.5 and 1.0 ms^-1 air velocities. It can be said that according to statistical data, optimal air velocity for the Mediterranean climatic conditions should be between 0.5 and 1.0 ms^-1, among the selected air velocities.

Key words: Evaporative cooling pad, cooling efficiency.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (4), pp. 001-008, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Challenges of land use change and land protection in Vojvodina

Galic Zoran*, Orlovic Sasa, Galovic Vladica, Poljakovic-Pajnik Leopold, Pap Predrag and Vasic Verica

Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment Novi Sad, Serbia.

Accepted 11 December, 2018

Abstract

The entire region of Vojvodina (region in northern Serbia) is an agricultural - steppe - forest zone. The area of Vojvodina covers 2,150,000 ha of which arable land is 1,579,643 ha (73,45 %) . Total forested area is about 130,000 ha or 6% of the total area. At present, all the ecosystems (agro and forest ecosystems), in this region are highly endangered. This is the consequence of local and global economic activities after 1945, which altered societies relationship with the natural environment (Bouma et al., 1998). The soils in Vojvodina are affected by aridification, acidification, eutrophication and pollution. As a region with highly productive agricultural soil, it is subject to and endangered by, different destructive processes, primarily wind erosion, that is climatic extremes, because of which its maximal productive potential cannot be utilised. Wind erosion, as a very destructive factor, causes the detachment and transport of the most fertile particles of the arable topsoil, permanently changing its fertility properties. In addition droughts might also reduce yield. This is multiplied by potential effects of climate changes. Environmental improvement is only possible by integral understanding of urban, non-urban and green spaces, rural landscapes, protective green areas, diversity in agro-ecological areas and protected areas. That is why afforestation is planned over almost 100,000 ha by the establishment of different types of forest plantations and other plantations, such as greenways, shelterbelts, bee-keeping plantations, buffer plantations, eco-corridors, etc. By the implementation of planned afforestation, it could be possible to increase the yield in agriculture, timber production, protection against wind, to improve the environmental conditions, production of honey, development of hunting, sports, recreation tourism and sustainable land use.

Key words: Sustainable land use, afforestation, agro - ecosystems, forest ecosystem.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Taxonomy and morphology of Colletotrichum truncatum isolates pathogenic to Soybean

G. P. Jagtap* and P. L. Sontakke

Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani-431402 (Maharashtra), India.

Accepted 19 November, 2018

Abstract

The morphology of both conidia and setae of Colletotrichum truncatum (Schw.) Andrus and Moore isolates from soybean were compared and found to be distinct. Conidial shape was more useful than size in isolate determination. Average conidial length was maximum (26.46 µm) in isolate Ct-1 followed by Ct-2 (23.75 µm), Ct-4 (22.25 µm), Ct-3 (21.72 µm), Ct-5 (20.72µm) and Ct-6 (18.81 µm), whereas the width was maximum (4.63 µm) in isolate Ct-3 followed by Ct-2 (4.12 µm), Ct-4 (3.92 µm), Ct -5 (3.86 µm), Ct-1 (3.67 µm) and Ct-6 (3.56 µm). Average setal length was maximum (166.65 µm) in isolate Ct-1 followed by Ct-2 (122.16 µm), Ct -3 (61.73 µm), Ct-4 (52.58 µm), Ct-5 (47.83 µm) and Ct -6 (44.36 µm) whereas the width was maximum (5.50 µm) in isolate Ct-1 followed by Ct-6 (5.39 µm), Ct-4 (5.37 µm), Ct-5 (5.22 µm), Ct-2(5.07 µm) and Ct-3 (4.92 µm). Total number of setae per fascile was maximum in isolate Ct-1 (158) followed by Ct-3 (125), Ct-4 (115), Ct-5(105), Ct-2 (95) and Ct-6 (48).

Key words: Colletotrichum truncatum, soybean, conidial, setal.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (3), pp. 001-009, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A survey of farm-level practices on endangered Leucadendron species and the future influence of ecotourism development on the Agulhas plain

C. P. Laubscher and P. A. Ndakidemi*

Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P. O. Box 652, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa.

Accepted 11 January, 2019

Abstract

Large parts of the Agulhas Plain (AP) contribute to the commercial export cut flower industry of South Africa while many threatened and endemic species are destroyed by local authorities and cut flower harvesters. The Western Cape is the largest area where threatened Red Data species are not at all known and the illegal harvesting of these species continues. Leucadendron platyspermum was the most harvested of the surveyed species with the biggest harvests mainly reported from orchard plantations. Agriculture was perceived to be the lowest threat to the environment, compared to alien invasive species which was reported to be the biggest threat. Fire was seen as the most important factor to enhance the re-growth of species in nature. Permit possession of farmers were high, however the misuse of permits and the lack of authorities visiting farms was evident. The ecotourism potential of the Agulhas Plain remains undeveloped, although respondents reacted positively to conservation and the promotion of ecotourism on the Agulhas Plain. Training in the conservation of Red Data species remains low as a lack of information on Red Data species exists. A big concern is that very few Red Data species are propagated to increase the awareness of these species.

Key words: Land management, Leucadendron laxum, training, permits, propagation.