Fertiliser evenness - losses and costs: A study on the economic benefits of uniform applications of fertiliser

Author(s):  
R. Horrell ◽  
A.K. Metherell ◽  
S. Ford ◽  
C. Doscher

Over two million tonnes of fertiliser are applied to New Zealand pastures and crops annually and there is an increasing desire by farmers to ensure that the best possible economic return is gained from this investment. Spreading distribution measurements undertaken by Lincoln Ventures Ltd (LVL) have identified large variations in the evenness of fertiliser application by spreading machines which could lead to a failure to achieve optimum potential in some crop yields and to significant associated economic losses. To quantify these losses, a study was undertaken to calculate the effect of uneven fertiliser application on crop yield. From LVL's spreader database, spread patterns from many machines were categorised by spread pattern type and by coefficient of variation (CV). These patterns were then used to calculate yield losses when they were combined with the response data from five representative cropping and pastoral situations. Nitrogen fertiliser on ryegrass seed crops shows significant production losses at a spread pattern CV between 30% and 40%. For P and S on pasture, the cumulative effect of uneven spreading accrues, until there is significant economic loss occurring by year 3 for both the Waikato dairy and Southland sheep and beef systems at CV values between 30% and 40%. For nitrogen on pasture, significant loss in a dairy system occurs at a CV of approximately 40% whereas for a sheep and beef system it is at a CV of 50%, where the financial return from nitrogen application has been calculated at the average gross revenue of the farming system. The conclusion of this study is that the current Spreadmark standards are a satisfactory basis for defining the evenness requirements of fertiliser applications in most circumstances. On the basis of Spreadmark testing to date, more than 50% of the national commercial spreading fleet fails to meet the standard for nitrogenous fertilisers and 40% fails to meet the standard for phosphatic fertilisers.Keywords: aerial spreading, crop response, economic loss, fertiliser, ground spreading, striping, uneven application, uneven spreading, yield loss

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 2655-2668
Author(s):  
Nathanael Natércio da Costa Barnabé ◽  
◽  
José Romero Alexandre Alves ◽  
Areano Ethério Moreira de Farias ◽  
Francisco Selmo Fernandes Alves ◽  
...  

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) caused by the pathogenic bacterium, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, results in economic loss in goat farming. Its prevalence in Brazilian herds varies from 5 to 50%, generating expenses with treatment, loss in production, carcass and organ condemnation, and reduced price of the hide. This study aimed to describe the distribution of lesions and quantify the loss associated with CLA in goat breeding due to condemnation in a slaughterhouse located in a semiarid region. The study was conducted at the municipal slaughterhouse of the city of Patos, State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil, where goats from this intermediate geographical region are slaughtered. In 2017, 3,662 animals were slaughtered, an average of 305 per month. During the study period, from March to August 2017, 304 goats of both sexes and different ages of undefined breed were assessed. In the ante-mortem examination, inspection and palpation of the superficial lymph nodes was done; in the post-mortem examination, organ and viscera were assessed. The caseous material collected was sent for microbiological analysis. Of the 304 individuals, 227 [74.67% (95% CI: 69.50-79.23)] did not have any lesions, while 77 [25.33% (95% CI: 20.77-30.50)] showed abscesses suggestive of CLA, which was confirmed in 65 goats [84.41% (95% CI: 76.30-92.50)]. Sex (P = 0.044) and age (P = 0.002) were associated with infection. While the sex of the animals affected carcass and viscera weights and carcass yield, their age affected live weight, carcass, organ, and viscera weights; conversely, the incidence of CLA did not affect these variables. The average price in Real (R$) of a kilogram (kg) of goat meat cuts and "offal" was used to calculate the economic loss. Considering the average carcass weight (11,485 kg), organ weight (1,085 kg), and viscera weight (2,013 kg), 4,433.232 kg of meat was produced, resulting in R$ 72,945.43. The condemnations resulted in the loss of 269.894 kg, which is equivalent to R$ 4,540.33. CLA is responsible for a negative impact of 6.09% on production. Implementing control measures for this disease is important to increase the financial return in goat farming.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Wang ◽  
Haishan He ◽  
Qiang Fu ◽  
XianYong Xiao ◽  
Yunzhu Chen

Voltage sag causes serious economic losses to sensitive customers. However, the existing optimal placement methods of sag monitors ignore the economic needs of customers. The optimal placement model of voltage sag monitor is proposed in this paper, which considers the sag economic loss weight, realizes the redundant coverage of important customers, and reduces the risk of sag loss of them. The model is also suitable for the system with a large number of DG access. Firstly, the calculation model of exposed area based on Chebyshev iterative method is established to obtain the system exposed area quickly, and the influence of DG replacing traditional generator on exposed area and economic loss is analyzed qualitatively. Then, the economic loss is quantitatively evaluated based on the exposed area. What’s more, the priority of important customers is determined accordingly, and the optimal placement model of sag monitor is proposed. Finally, simulation results show that in large-scale DG access, the customer’s economic loss caused by sag will increase. Compared with traditional methods, this method can reduce the risk of loss and ensure the economic benefits of important customers.


Author(s):  
Li Tai ◽  
Hong-Jin Wang ◽  
Xiao-Jing Xu ◽  
Wei-Hang Sun ◽  
Lan Ju ◽  
...  

Abstract With the growth of the global population and uncontrollable natural disasters, crop yields must be steadily increased to enhance human adaptability to risks. Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a global disaster for agricultural production, which is mainly used to describe the phenomenon in which grains germinate on the mother plant directly before harvest. After domestication, the dormancy level of cultivated crops was generally lower than that of wild ancestors. Although the shortened dormancy period likely improved the industrial performance of cereals such as wheat, barley, rice, and maize, the excessively high germination rate has caused frequent PHS in areas with higher rainfall, causing great economic losses. Here, we systematically reviewed the causes and harms of PHS, the major indicators and methods for PHS assessment, emphasising the biological significance of PHS in crop production. Wheat quantitative trait loci (QTLs) functioning in PHS controls were also comprehensively summarised for a meta-analysis. Finally, we used Arabidopsis as a model plant to develop more complete PHS regulatory networks for wheat. The integration of this information is conducive to cultivating custom-made cultivated lines suitable for different demands and different regions and is of great significance for improving crop yield and economic benefits.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 3936
Author(s):  
Ahmed G. Gad ◽  
Habiba ◽  
Xiangzi Zheng ◽  
Ying Miao

Leaf senescence, as an integral part of the final development stage for plants, primarily remobilizes nutrients from the sources to the sinks in response to different stressors. The premature senescence of leaves is a critical challenge that causes significant economic losses in terms of crop yields. Although low light causes losses of up to 50% and affects rice yield and quality, its regulatory mechanisms remain poorly elucidated. Darkness-mediated premature leaf senescence is a well-studied stressor. It initiates the expression of senescence-associated genes (SAGs), which have been implicated in chlorophyll breakdown and degradation. The molecular and biochemical regulatory mechanisms of premature leaf senescence show significant levels of redundant biomass in complex pathways. Thus, clarifying the regulatory mechanisms of low-light/dark-induced senescence may be conducive to developing strategies for rice crop improvement. This review describes the recent molecular regulatory mechanisms associated with low-light response and dark-induced senescence (DIS), and their effects on plastid signaling and photosynthesis-mediated processes, chloroplast and protein degradation, as well as hormonal and transcriptional regulation in rice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3364
Author(s):  
Amr Zeedan ◽  
Abdulaziz Barakeh ◽  
Khaled Al-Fakhroo ◽  
Farid Touati ◽  
Antonio S. P. Gonzales

Soiling losses of photovoltaic (PV) panels due to dust lead to a significant decrease in solar energy yield and result in economic losses; this hence poses critical challenges to the viability of PV in smart grid systems. In this paper, these losses are quantified under Qatar’s harsh environment. This quantification is based on experimental data from long-term measurements of various climatic parameters and the output power of PV panels located in Qatar University’s Solar facility in Doha, Qatar, using a customized measurement and monitoring setup. A data processing algorithm was deliberately developed and applied, which aimed to correlate output power to ambient dust density in the vicinity of PV panels. It was found that, without cleaning, soiling reduced the output power by 43% after six months of exposure to an average ambient dust density of 0.7 mg/m3. The power and economic loss that would result from this power reduction for Qatar’s ongoing solar PV projects has also been estimated. For example, for the Al-Kharasaah project power plant, similar soiling loss would result in about a 10% power decrease after six months for typical ranges of dust density in Qatar’s environment; this, in turn, would result in an 11,000 QAR/h financial loss. This would pose a pressing need to mitigate soiling effects in PV power plants.


2021 ◽  
pp. 096703352110079
Author(s):  
Agustan Alwi ◽  
Roger Meder ◽  
Yani Japarudin ◽  
Hazandy A Hamid ◽  
Ruzana Sanusi ◽  
...  

Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell. has become an important tree species in the forest plantations of SE Asia, and in Malaysian Borneo in particular, to replace thousands of hectares of Acacia mangium Willd. which has suffered significant loss caused by Ceratocystis manginecans infection in Sabah, Malaysia. Since its first introduction at a commercial scale in 2012, E. pellita has been planted in many areas in the region. The species replacement requires new silvicultural practices to induce the adaptability of E. pellita to grow in the region and this includes relevant research to optimise such regimes as planting distance, pruning, weeding practices and nutrition regimes. In this present study, the nutritional status of the foliage was investigated with the aim to develop near infrared spectroscopic calibrations that can be used to monitor and quantify nutrient status, particularly total foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the field. Spectra acquired on fresh foliage in situ on the tree could be used to predict N and P with accuracy suitable for operational decision-making regards fertiliser application. If greater accuracy is required, spectra acquired on dry, milled foliage could be used to predict N and P within a relative error of 10% (R2c, r2CV, RMSEP, RPD = 0.77, 0.71, 0.02 g 100/g, 1.9 for foliar P and = 0.90, 0.88, 0.21 g 100/g, 3.0 for foliar N on dry, milled foliage). The ultimate application of this is in situ nutrient monitoring, particularly to aid longitudinal studies in fertiliser trial plots and forest operations, as the non-destructive nature of NIR spectroscopy would enable regular monitoring of individual leaves over time without the need to destructively sample them. This would aid the temporal and spatial analysis of field data.


BioTech ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Olalekan Olanrewaju Bakare ◽  
Arun Gokul ◽  
Marshall Keyster

Fusarium oxysporum remains one of the leading causes of economic losses and poor crop yields; its detection is strained due to its presentation in various morphological and physiological forms. This research work sought to identify novel biomarkers for the detection of Fusarium oxysporum using in silico approaches. Experimentally validated anti-Fusarium oxysporum antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) were used to construct a profile against Fusarium oxysporum. The performance and physicochemical parameters of these peptides were predicted. The gene for the Fusarium oxysporum receptor protein PR-1-like Protein, Fpr1, was identified and translated. The resulting protein model from the translation was then validated. The anti-Fusarium oxysporum AMPs and Fusarium oxysporum receptor protein 3-D structures were characterized, and their docking interaction analyses were carried out. The HMMER in silico tool identified novel anti-Fusarium oxysporum antimicrobial peptides with good performance in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. These AMPs also displayed good physicochemical properties and bound with greater affinity to Fusarium oxysporum protein receptor PR-1-like Protein. The tendency of these AMPs to precisely detect Fusarium oxysporum PR-1-like Protein, Fpr1, would justify their use for the identification of the fungus. This study would enhance and facilitate the identification of Fusarium oxysporum to reduce problems associated with poor crop yield, economic losses, and decreased nutritional values of plants to keep up with the growing population.


2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (7) ◽  
pp. 652-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Everts ◽  
L. Osborne ◽  
A. J. Gevens ◽  
S. J. Vasquez ◽  
B. K. Gugino ◽  
...  

Extension plant pathologists deliver science-based information that protects the economic value of agricultural and horticultural crops in the United States by educating growers and the general public about plant diseases. Extension plant pathologists diagnose plant diseases and disorders, provide advice, and conduct applied research on local and regional plant disease problems. During the last century, extension plant pathology programs have adjusted to demographic shifts in the U.S. population and to changes in program funding. Extension programs are now more collaborative and more specialized in response to a highly educated clientele. Changes in federal and state budgets and policies have also reduced funding and shifted the source of funding of extension plant pathologists from formula funds towards specialized competitive grants. These competitive grants often favor national over local and regional plant disease issues and typically require a long lead time to secure funding. These changes coupled with a reduction in personnel pose a threat to extension plant pathology programs. Increasing demand for high-quality, unbiased information and the continued reduction in local, state, and federal funds is unsustainable and, if not abated, will lead to a delay in response to emerging diseases, reduce crop yields, increase economic losses, and place U.S. agriculture at a global competitive disadvantage. In this letter, we outline four recommendations to strengthen the role and resources of extension plant pathologists as they guide our nation's food, feed, fuel, fiber, and ornamental producers into an era of increasing technological complexity and global competitiveness.


2012 ◽  
Vol 594-597 ◽  
pp. 2272-2276
Author(s):  
Shi Gui Li ◽  
Qing Lin Yi ◽  
Juan Juan Wu

China is one of the most serious national which does harm to geological disasters, and the geological disasters have effect on China’s economy. Therefore, the effective evaluation for the economic losses caused by geological disasters has some reference value. This paper mainly introduces the geological disaster economic losses structure drawing and evaluated methods which include human capital method, shadow valuation method, market valuation method, investigation appraisal method and coefficient of proportionality method, and analyzes different economic losses should adopt different appraisal method. And take the Qianjiangping landslide for instant, this paper introduces how to evaluate landslide disasters economic loss. The idea and method have certain guiding significance to geological disaster economic losses evaluation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Cao

Abstract In recent years, long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has slowly increased both morbidity and mortality for Chinese people, becoming a leading problem for public health efforts. However, spatial-temporal dynamics of disease burden attributable to PM2.5 exposure still lacks a comprehensive evaluation so as to provide inadequate supports for policy making and improvement. Here, we used the exposure-response function to derive the spatial-temporal dynamics of disease burden attributable to PM2.5 pollution in China. We found the fact that economic loss attributable to PM2.5 increased by 93% from 35 billion Chinese Yuan (95% CI: 14-52) to 536 billion Chinese Yuan (95%CI: 236-753) during the period of 16 years. Digging further, we discovered a substantiate level of regional differences, with the disease burden being the most severe in East China and the least severe in the Northwest China. Other than that, there existed a spatial aggregation of health-related economic losses among Chinese cities. Our paper made an evaluation on the spatial-temporal dynamics of health effects attributed to PM2.5, an evaluation that could provide more insights to future policy making of the air pollution control for China and other developing countries.


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