HANDY: a device for assessing resistance to mechanical crushing of maize kernel

Abstract Background: How to control the physical damage during maize kernel harvesting is a major problem for both mechanical designers and plant breeders. A limitation of addressing this problem is lacking a reliable method and model for assessing the relation between kernel damage susceptibility and threshing quality. The design, construction, and testing of a portable tool called “HANDY”, which can assess the resistance to mechanical crushing in maize kernel. HANDY can impact the kernel with a special accelerator at a given rotating speed and then cause measurable damage to the kernel. These factors are varied to determine the ideal parameters for operating the HANDY. Results: Baseline testing of the HANDY is performed to determine the initial range of testing parameters. The result shows that the optimum number of test times is one. Breakage index (BI, target index of HANDY), decreased as the moisture content of kernel increased or the rotating speed decreased within the tested range. Furthermore, the HANDY exhibited a greater sensitivity in testing kernels at higher moisture level influence on the susceptibility of damage kernel than that in Breakage Susceptibility tests, particularly when the centrifugation speed is about 1800 r/min and the centrifugal disc type is curved. Considering that the mechanical properties of kernels vary greatly as the moisture content changes, a subsection linear (average goodness of fit is 0.9) to predict the threshing quality is built by piecewise function analysis, which is divided by kernel moisture. Specifically, threshing quality is regarded as a function of the measured result of the HANDY. Five maize cultivars are identified with higher damage resistance among 21 tested candidate varieties. Conclusions: The HANDY provides a quantitative assessment of the mechanical crushing resistance of maize kernel. The BI is demonstrated to be a more robust index than breakage susceptibility (BS) when evaluating threshing quality in harvesting in terms of both reliability and accuracy. This study also offers a new perspective for evaluating the mechanical crushing resistance of grains and provides technical support for breeding and screening maize varieties that are suitable for mechanical harvesting.

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HANDY: a device for assessing resistance to mechanical crushing of maize kernel

Plant Methods ◽

10.1186/s13007-021-00729-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yuan Su ◽

Yang Xu ◽

Tao Cui ◽

Xiaojun Gao ◽

Guoyi Xia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Goodness Of Fit ◽

Function Analysis ◽

Physical Damage ◽

Maize Kernel ◽

Rotating Speed ◽

Maize Cultivars ◽

Maize Varieties ◽

New Perspective ◽

Mechanical Crushing

Abstract Background How to control the physical damage during maize kernel harvesting is a major problem for both mechanical designers and plant breeders. A limitation of addressing this problem is lacking a reliable method for assessing the relation between kernel damage susceptibility and threshing quality. The design, construction, and testing of a portable tool called “HANDY”, which can assess the resistance to mechanical crushing in maize kernel. HANDY can impact the kernel with a special accelerator at a given rotating speed and then cause measurable damage to the kernel. These factors are varied to determine the ideal parameters for operating the HANDY. Results Breakage index (BI, target index of HANDY), decreased as the moisture content of kernel increased or the rotating speed decreased within the tested range. Furthermore, the HANDY exhibited a greater sensitivity in testing kernels at higher moisture level influence on the susceptibility of damage kernel than that in Breakage Susceptibility tests, particularly when the centrifugation speed is about 1800 r/min and the centrifugal disc type is curved. Considering that the mechanical properties of kernels vary greatly as the moisture content changes, a subsection linear (average goodness of fit is 0.9) to predict the threshing quality is built by piecewise function analysis, which is divided by kernel moisture. Specifically, threshing quality is regarded as a function of the measured result of the HANDY. Five maize cultivars are identified with higher damage resistance among 21 tested candidate varieties. Conclusions The HANDY provides a quantitative assessment of the mechanical crushing resistance of maize kernel. The BI is demonstrated to be a more robust index than breakage susceptibility (BS) when evaluating threshing quality in harvesting in terms of both reliability and accuracy. This study also offers a new perspective for evaluating the mechanical crushing resistance of grains and provides technical support for breeding and screening maize varieties that are suitable for mechanical harvesting.

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HANDY: A Device for Assessing Resistance to Mechanical Crushing of Maize Kernel

10.21203/rs.3.rs-48772/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yuan Su ◽

Yang Xu ◽

Tao Cui ◽

Xiaojun Gao ◽

Guoyi Xia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Goodness Of Fit ◽

Function Analysis ◽

Optimum Number ◽

Physical Damage ◽

Maize Kernel ◽

Rotating Speed ◽

Maize Varieties ◽

New Perspective ◽

Mechanical Crushing

Abstract Background: How to reduce the physical damage during maize kernel harvesting is a major problem for both mechanical designers and plant breeders. A limitation of addressing this problem is the lack of a reliable method for assessing kernel damage susceptibility. Previous methods of testing kernel strength lack in make a comparative discussion from the viewpoint of threshing. The design, construction and testing of a portable tool called “HANDY”, which can assess the resistance to mechanical crushing in maize kernel. A device is designed and developed that can impact the kernel with a special accelerator at a given rotating speed and then cause measurable damage of maize kernel. These factors are varied to determine the ideal parameters for operating the HANDY. Results: Baseline testing of the HANDY is performed to determine the initial range of testing parameters. The result shows that the optimum number of test times is one for one group of maize kernels. Breakage index (BI, target index of HANDY), decreased as the moisture content of kernel increased or the rotating speed decreased within the tested range. Furthermore, the HANDY exhibited a greater sensitivity in testing kernels at higher moisture level influence on susceptibility of damage maize kernel than that in Breakage Susceptibility tests, particularly when the centrifugation speed is about 1800 rpm and the disc is curved type centrifugal disc. Considering that the mechanical properties of kernels vary greatly as the moisture content changes, a subsection linear (average goodness of fit is 0.87) to predict the threshing quality is built by piecewise function analysis, which is divided by kernel moisture. Specifically, threshing quality is regarded as a function of the measured result of the HANDY.Conclusions: The HANDY provides a quantitative assessment of mechanical crushing resistance of maize kernel. The BI is demonstrated to be a more robust index than breakage susceptibility (BS) when evaluating threshing quality in harvesting in terms of both reliability and accuracy. This study also offers a new perspective for evaluating the mechanical crushing resistance of grains, and provides technical support for breeding maize varieties which are suitable for mechanical harvesting.

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Observed and estimated leaf appearance of landrace and improved maize cultivars

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/0103-8478cr20160775 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Josana Andreia Langner ◽

Nereu Augusto Streck ◽

Angelica Durigon ◽

Stefanía Dalmolin da Silva ◽

Isabel Lago ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Root Mean Square Error ◽

Mean Square Error ◽

Root Mean Square ◽

Sowing Date ◽

Mean Square ◽

Data Set ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Maize Cultivars ◽

Maize Varieties ◽

Leaf Appearance

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to compare the simulations of leaf appearance of landrace and improved maize cultivars using the CSM-CERES-Maize (linear) and the Wang and Engel models (nonlinear). The coefficients of the models were calibrated using a data set of total leaf number collected in the 11/04/2013 sowing date for the landrace varieties ‘Cinquentinha’ and ‘Bico de Ouro’ and the simple hybrid ‘AS 1573PRO’. For the ‘BRS Planalto’ variety, model coefficients were estimated with data from 12/13/2014 sowing date. Evaluation of the models was with independent data sets collected during the growing seasons of 2013/2014 (Experiment 1) and 2014/2015 (Experiment 2) in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Total number of leaves for both landrace and improved maize varieties was better estimated with the Wang and Engel model, with a root mean square error of 1.0 leaf, while estimations with the CSM-CERES-Maize model had a root mean square error of 1.5 leaf.

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Aflatoxigenic contamination of freshly harvested white maize (Zea mays L.) from some selected Ugandan districts

10.7287/peerj.preprints.27888 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Timothy Omara

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Ochratoxin A ◽

Zea Mays L ◽

Lake Victoria ◽

Total Aflatoxin ◽

Strategic Adaptation ◽

Maize Varieties ◽

Agroecological Zones

The moisture content and total aflatoxin (AF) content of 27 samples of freshly harvested white maize (Zea mays L.) from Mubende (n = 3), Ibanda (n = 3), Jinja (n = 3), Mayuge (n = 3) , Buikwe (n = 3), Hoima (n = 3), Mpigi (n = 3), Masindi (n = 3) and Bugiri (n = 3) districts of Uganda representing the agroecological zones: Lake Victoria crescent, Western Highlands, South East and Lake Albert Crescent were determined in the second season harvest of January 2019 to March 2019. Moisture content ranged from 12.9 to 18.8% (mean moisture content varied from 13.9±0.35-17.2±1.55%) with the highest moisture recorded in maize from Ibanda. The highest mean AF contamination of 11.0±3.01 μg/kg was recorded in maize from Hoima while the lowest AF content of 3.8±1.30 μg/kg was recorded in maize from Mpigi. Despite the fact that all the samples had detectable aflatoxins, none of the maize samples had aflatoxin greater than WHO regulatory limit of 20 μg/kg. White maize in Uganda are precontaminated by aflatoxins prior to harvest. Whereas the spectre of aflatoxigenic contamination of foods remains a ticklish challenge to address, strategic adaptation and deployment of appropriate interventions can help secure a safe harvest. Farmers should plant maize varieties with established maturity periods to ensure timely harvesting. Further research should assess the presence of other mycotoxins as zearalenone, sterigmatocystin, ochratoxin A, citrinin, vomitoxin and diacetoxyscirpenol that may co-occur with aflatoxins in freshly harvested maize.

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Performance of tropical early-maturing maize cultivars in multiple stress environments

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps10059 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 90 (6) ◽

pp. 831-852 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

B. Badu-Apraku ◽

A. Menkir ◽

S. Ajala ◽

R. Akinwale ◽

M. Oyekunle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drought Stress ◽

Striga Hermonthica ◽

Environment Interaction ◽

Maize Productivity ◽

Maize Cultivars ◽

Genotype Environment Interaction ◽

Maize Varieties ◽

Early Maturing ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Growing Conditions

Maize (Zea mays L.) production in west Africa (WA) is constrained by drought, Striga hermonthica infestation and low soil nitrogen (N). Maize varieties resistant to Striga, drought, and low N are ideal for WA, but genotype × environment interaction on these traits are usually significant due to differential responses of cultivars to growing conditions. Three studies were conducted from 2007 to 2009 at five locations in Nigeria to evaluate the performance of selected early-maturing cultivars under drought stress versus well-watered, Striga-infested versus Striga-free, and in low- versus high-N environments. Drought stress reduced grain yield by 44%, Striga infestation by 65%, and low N by 40%. GGE biplot analysis showed that the genotypes TZE-W DT STR C4, Tillering Early DT, TZE-W DT STR QPM C0 and TZE-Y DT STR C4 performed relatively well in all study environments. TZE-W DT STR C4 and TZE Comp3 C1F2 were outstanding under drought, TZE-W DT STR C4, EVDT-W 99 STR QPM C0 and TZE-W DT STR QPMC0 under Striga infestation and Tillering Early DT, EVDT 97 STRC1, TZE-W DT STR C4, and TZE Comp3 C3 under N deficiency. Maize productivity in WA can be significantly improved by promoting cultivation of genotypes that combine high resistance/tolerance to Striga and drought with improved N-use efficiency.

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Combining Ability Study for Grain Yield and Agronomic Traits of Quality Protein Maize (Zea mays L.) Inbred Lines Adapted to Mid-Altitude Agroecology of Ethiopia

Agro Bali: Agricultural Journal ◽

10.37637/ab.v4i3.733 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 286-304

Author(s):

Lemi Mideksa Yadesa ◽

Sentayehu Alamerew ◽

Berhanu Tadesse

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Combining Ability ◽

Agronomic Traits ◽

Inbred Lines ◽

Quality Protein Maize ◽

Lattice Design ◽

Maize Cultivars ◽

Maize Inbred Lines ◽

Maize Varieties ◽

Almost All

In spite of the importance of quality protein maize to alleviate protein deficiency, almost all maize varieties cultivated in Ethiopia are normal maize varieties, which are devoid of lysine and tryptophan. Perusing the combining ability of QPM inbred for grain yield and its components is vital to design appropriate breeding strategies for the development of nutritionally enhanced maize cultivars. A line x tester analysis involving 36 crosses generated by crossing 9 elite maize inbred lines with 4 testers were evaluated for different desirable agronomic traits during the 2019 main season at BNMRC and JARC. The experiment was conducted using alpha lattice design with 3 replications. The objectives were to determine the combining ability of quality protein maize inbred lines, adapted to mid altitude agroecology of Ethiopia for agronomic traits. The crosses were evaluated in alpha lattice design replicated 3 times. Analyses of variances showed significant mean squares due to crosses for almost all the traits studied. GCA mean squares due to lines and testers were significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01) for most studied traits. SCA mean squares were also significant for most attributes across locations. The comparative importance of GCA and SCA variances observed in the current study for most studied traits indicated the preponderance of additive genetic variance in governing these attributes. Only L3 was the best general combiner for grain yield. Inbred line L3, for days to anthesis and L5 for days to silking had negative and significant GCA effects. L5 and L6 displayed negative and significant GCA effects for plant and ear height. Crosses, L2xT4, L3xT4, L4xT4, L5xT2, L6xT3, L7xT2, L9xT1 and L9xT4 were good specific combiners for grain yield. In general, these genotypes help as a source of promising alleles that could be used for forthcoming breeding work in the development of quality protein maize cultivars with desirable traits.

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Yield response of diallelic crossed maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes to varying nitrogen regimes in Nigeria

Journal of Bio-Science ◽

10.3329/jbs.v19i0.13000 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

pp. 43-52

Author(s):

OB Bello ◽

MS Afolabi ◽

SA Ige ◽

SY Abdulmaliq ◽

MA Azeez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Block Design ◽

Farming System ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

F1 Hybrids ◽

Yield Response ◽

Gene Pools ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Maize Cultivars ◽

Maize Varieties

Context: Development of early maturing maize cultivars that remain productive under low N fertilizer farming system, consistent with the farmers technologies is a prerequisite to improving adoption of new varieties without increasing production cost. Objective: To assess the performance of ten early open pollination maize varieties (OPVs) and their F1 hybrids for grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and also identify productive cultivars under low N fertilizer regimes. Materials and Methods: The trials were set up in a split plot arrangement with three N fertilizer levels (0, 45 and 90 kg N ha-1) as main plot and the genotypes as sub-plot. Each plot within N level was four-row, laid out in a randomized complete block design of four replications. Ten OPVs were crossed in a half diallel to generate 45 F1 hybrids during 2004 and 2005 growing seasons. Planting were carried out on 20th July, 2005 and 2nd July, 2006. Agronomic characters studied were grain yield, maize establishment count, days to 50% tasselling and silking as well as plant and ear heights. Results: The year 2005 growing season was better for all observed characters amongst all the genotypes than the year 2006. Although, expressions of these traits in the hybrids were relatively higher than the OPVs including the grain yield. The total increase in grain yield observed was 1.72 t ha-1 and 1.95 t ha-1 for OPVs and hybrids respectively on application of 90 kg ha-1 over no N-application. However, NUE was optimum at 45 kg N ha-1 in both groups. Grain yield and NUE correlated positively with growth characters measured except for days to 50% silking. Higher genetic gains were recorded for plant and ear heights. Conclusion: Two drought tolerant varieties (Acr 90 Pool 16-Dt and Tze Comp3 Dt) that combined well with specific cultivars for grain yield and NUE probably have gene pools for low N-tolerance. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbs.v19i0.13000 J. bio-sci. 19 43-52, 2011

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SAMPLING METHODS AND NUMBER OF ROUNDWOODS FOR DETERMINING THE MOISTURE CONTENT

Revista Árvore ◽

10.1590/1806-90882018000400001 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 42 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Danilo Barros Donato ◽

Renato Vinícius Oliveira Castro ◽

Angélica de Cássia Oliveira Carneiro ◽

Ana Márcia Macedo Ladeira Carvalho ◽

Benedito Rocha Vital ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Random Sampling ◽

Sampling Method ◽

Optimal Allocation ◽

Sampling Methods ◽

Simple Random Sampling ◽

Optimum Number ◽

Average Standard Deviation ◽

Proportional Allocation ◽

Allowable Error

ABSTRACT This study had the objective of comparing two methodologies of sampling, Simple Random Sampling (ACS) and Stratified Random Sampling (ACE) to determine the optimum number of roundwood samples to obtain the moisture content of the population. In order to achieve this goal, different percentages of allowable error (5,10,15 and 20%) were considered for each sampling methodology. In the conduction of this study, the samples were randomly taken from a lot of 250 steres of wood, 144 roundwood of three meters of length and distributed in four classes of diameter. Later, the moisture content of these samples was determined. And, from these values, the population estimates (average, standard deviation, variance, coefficient of variation, and standard error) by ACS and ACE methods, helped to determine the optimum number of roundwood (n) to be sampled from different percentages of allowable error adopted in this study at 95% probability. According to the results, the amount of roundwood to be sampled from ACS for each allowable error 5, 10, 15 and 20% was respectively 214, 55, 25 and 14. For the ACE (proportional allocation) the amount of roundwood was 141, 35, 16 and 9 for ACE (optimal allocation) this number was 136, 34, 15 and 8. It was concluded that the most indicated sampling method for this study, considering the allowable error, was the ACE method.

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