scholarly journals Heading Uniformity: A New Comprehensive Indicator of Rice Population Quality

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 770
Author(s):  
Chuanhai Shu ◽  
Feijie Li ◽  
Dongdong Liu ◽  
Jian Qin ◽  
Mingtian Wang ◽  
...  

Productive tiller percentage (PTP) is the only available comprehensive indicator of rice population quality. However, productive panicle number (PN) has a great effect on its characterization accuracy. Panicle exsertion is an important but difficult to describe morphological index; therefore, it cannot be easily determined. The aims of this study were to develop heading uniformity (HU), which describes the difference in the degree of rice panicle exsertion, as a new comprehensive indicator by designing a representative sampling and calculation method and exploring the relationship between HU and yield components. HU first decreased then increased after initial heading, exhibiting a single-valley curve. Adequate HU was obtained by panicle sampling on day two or three (panicle N fertilizer proportion ≤40 or >40%) after initial heading. The explanatory power of PTP for grain yield variance was markedly insufficient in low- and high-PN rice populations. Compared with the percent contribution of PTP to grain yield variance (12.32–41.26%), that of HU (49.02–61.93%) was greater and more stable across rice populations of different PNs. Moreover, HU showed fewer interannual variations, despite large interannual differences in weather and soil conditions. Hence, HU may have applications as a comprehensive indicator of rice population quality.

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 925
Author(s):  
Maria Teresa Antognoni ◽  
Maria Luisa Marenzoni ◽  
Ambra Lisa Misia ◽  
Luca Avellini ◽  
Elisabetta Chiaradia ◽  
...  

Storage lesions (SLs) occur when the red blood cell quality is altered during the preservation of blood units. Pre-storage leukoreduction would limit the number of SLs. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of a leukoreduction filter for human use and the effect of pre-storage leukoreduction on some ematobiochemical parameters in stored canine whole blood. Seven canine blood units were tested. Each one was divided into two units—one leukoreduced (LRWB) and one non-leukoreduced (nLRWB). On each unit, we determined the complete blood count (CBC), lactate-dehydrogenase (LDH), electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl−), morphological index (MI) and hemolysis, on storage days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42. Leukoreduction allowed a 98.30% recovery of the RBC count, retaining 99.69% and 94.91% of WBCs and PLTs, respectively. We detected a significant increase of LDH and MI with strongly higher values in nLRWB compared to LRWB. A progressive increase in electrolytes and LDH concentrations was observed as indices of stored hemolysis. LDH showed significantly lower values in LRWB units compared to nLRWB, suggesting its release from leukocytes. In the majority of units, hemolysis reached 1% on the 42nd day of storage. We assert the human leukoreduction filter effectiveness on canine whole blood, and we recommend using nLRWB before day 14, especially for critically ill patients. The difference of the basal hemolysis (day 0) percentages observed between subjects suggests that more studies should be performed to confirm a possible inter-individual donor biological variability of RBC membrane resistance, as happens in humans.


Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Li Zhao ◽  
Lu-Sheng Li ◽  
Huan-Jie Cai ◽  
Xiao-Hu Shi ◽  
Chao Zhang

Organic amendments improve general soil conditions and stabilize crop production, but their effects on the soil hydrothermal regime, root distribution, and their contributions to water productivity (WP) of maize have not been fully studied. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the impacts of organic amendments on soil temperature, water storage depletion (SWSD), root distribution, grain yield, and the WP of summer maize (Zea mays L.) in the Guanzhong Plain of Northwest China. The control treatment (CO) applied mineral fertilizer without amendments, and the three amended treatments applied mineral fertilizer with 20 Mg ha−1 of wheat straw (MWS), farmyard manure (MFM), and bioorganic fertilizer (MBF), respectively. Organic amendments decreased SWSD compared to CO, and the lowest value was obtained in MBF, followed by MWS and MFM. Meanwhile, the lowest mean topsoil (0–10 cm) temperature was registered in MWS. Compared to CO, organic amendments generally improved the root length density (RLD) and root weight density (RWD) of maize. MBF showed the highest RLD across the whole soil profile, while MWS yielded the greatest RWD to 20 cm soil depth. Consequently, organic amendments increased grain yield by 9.9–40.3% and WP by 8.6–47.1% compared to CO, and the best performance was attained in MWS and MBF. We suggest that MWS and MBF can benefit the maize agriculture in semi-arid regions for higher yield, and WP through regulating soil hydrothermal conditions and improving root growth.


2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
GUILHERME M. TORRES ◽  
ADRIAN KOLLER ◽  
RANDY TAYLOR ◽  
WILLIAM R. RAUN

SUMMARYSeed-oriented planting provides a manner to influence canopy structure. The purpose of this research was to improve maize light interception using seed-oriented planting to manipulate leaf azimuth across the row thereby minimizing leaf overlap. To achieve leaf azimuths oriented preferentially across the row, seeds were planted: (i) upright with caryopsis pointed down, parallel to the row (upright); and (ii) laying flat, embryo up, perpendicular to the row (flat). These treatments were compared to conventionally planted seeds with resulting random leaf azimuth distribution. Seed orientation effects were contrasted with three levels of plant population and two levels of hybrid specific canopy structures. Increased plant population resulted in greater light interception but yield tended to decrease as plant population increased. The planophile hybrid produced consistently greater yields than the erectophile hybrid. The difference between planophile and erectophile hybrids ranged from 283 to 903 kg ha−1. Overall, mean grain yield for upright and flat seed placement increased by 351 and 463 kg ha−1 compared to random seed placement. Greater cumulative intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (CIPAR) was found for oriented seeds rather than random-oriented seeds. At physiological maturity upright, flat and random-oriented seeds intercepted 555, 525 and 521 MJ m−2 of PAR, respectively. Maize yield responded positively to improved light interception and better radiation use efficiency. Under irrigated conditions, precision planting of maize increased yield by 9 to 14% compared to random-oriented seeds.


1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 481-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. HOEKSTRA ◽  
L. W. KANNENBERG ◽  
B. R. CHRISTIE

The objective of this study was to determine the effects on grain yield of growing cultivars in mixtures of different proportions. Two maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids, Pride 116 and United 106, were grown for 2 yr in pure stand and in seven mixtures of different proportions (7:1, 6:2, 5:3, 4:4, 3:5, 2:6, 1:7) at plant densities of 61 500, 99 400, and 136 000 plants per hectare. The total number of mixture combinations was 42, i.e. 2 years × three densities × seven proportions. All but one mixture yielded as expected based on the yield of component hybrids in pure stand. The higher yielding hybrid (United 106) yielded significantly less grain per plant in mixtures than in pure stand. The lower yielding hybrid (Pride 116) yielded more in mixtures than in pure stand, although the difference was not significant. These data support previous observations that the ability of a hybrid to yield in pure stands is not necessarily related to its ability to yield in mixtures. High plant densities appear to enhance the likelihood of interactions occurring among hybrids. For United 106, the number of proportions yielding less grain per plant than in pure stand was highly significant at the two higher plant densities. For Pride 116, the number of proportions yielding more than in pure stand was highly significant at the highest plant density.Key words: Corn, grain yield, mixtures of different proportions, high plant densities, Zea mays


2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giao X. Nguyen ◽  
Peggy E. Swanson

AbstractThis study uses a stochastic frontier approach to evaluate firm efficiency. The resulting efficiency score, based on firm characteristics, is the input for performance evaluation. The portfolio composed of highly efficient firms significantly underperforms the portfolio composed of inefficient firms even after adjustment for firm characteristics and risk factors, suggesting a required premium for the inefficient firms. The difference in performance between the two portfolios remains for at least five years after the portfolio formation year. In addition, firm efficiency exhibits significant explanatory power for average equity returns in cross-sectional analysis.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Chusnul Arif ◽  
Budi Indra Setiawan ◽  
Satyanto Krido Saptomo ◽  
Hiroshi Matsuda ◽  
Koremasa Tamura ◽  
...  

Subsurface drainage technology may offer a useful option in improving crop productivity by preventing water-logging in poor drainage paddy fields. The present study compared two paddy fields with and without sheet-pipe type subsurface drainage on land and water productivities in Indonesia. Sheet-pipe typed is perforated plastic sheets with a hole diameter of 2 mm and made from high-density polyethylene. It is commonly installed 30–50 cm below the soil surface and placed horizontally by a machine called a mole drainer, and then the sheets will automatically be a capillary pipe. Two fields were prepared, i.e., the sheet-pipe typed field (SP field) and the non-sheet-pipe typed field (NSP field) with three rice varieties (Situ Bagendit, Inpari 6 Jete, and Inpari 43 Agritan). In both fields, weather parameters and water depth were measured by the automatic weather stations, soil moisture sensors and water level sensors. During one season, the SP field drained approximately 45% more water compared to the NSP field. Thus, it caused increasing in soil aeration and producing a more significant grain yield, particularly for Inpari 43 Agritan. The SP field produced a 5.77 ton/ha grain yield, while the NSP field was 5.09 ton/ha. By producing more grain yield, the SP field was more effective in water use as represented by higher water productivity by 20%. The results indicated that the sheet-pipe type system developed better soil aeration that provides better soil conditions for rice.


1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. A. DIRKS ◽  
E. F. BOLTON

Regression and covariance analysis of a 13-yr rotation experiment of corn on Brookston clay soil showed that grain yield of corn could be related to each of nine other plant and soil measurements. Soil compaction as measured by bulk density was negatively associated with the level of leaf K in the plants, as well as available soil moisture. The major part of the yield difference between fertilized continuous corn and fertilized corn following alfalfa could be accounted for by multiple regression of grain yield on leaf N and K nutrient levels, soil compaction and soil moisture. Soil compaction was not affected or modified by fertilizer treatment. Response of corn grain yield to soil conditions, moisture and plant nutrient level appears to vary with rotation and fertilizer input.


2005 ◽  
pp. 105-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordana Djeric

The article deals with the explanatory relevance of the concept of stereotype in one of its original meanings - as a "mental image". This meaning of the term is the starting point for further differentiations, such as: between linguistic and behavioral stereotypes (in the sense of nonverbal, expected responses); universal and particular stereotypes; self representative and introspective stereotypes; permanent and contemporary stereotypes; and finally, what is most important for our purposes, the difference between silent and audible stereotypes. These distinctions, along with the functions of stereotype, are discussed in the first part of the paper. In the second part, the relations of silent and audible stereotypes are tested against the introduction of "innovative vocabularies" in popular lore. In other words, the explanatory power of this differentiation is checked through an analysis of unconventional motives in Serbian epic poems. The goal of the argument is to clarify the procedure of self creation of masculinity as a relevant feature of the "national character" through "tactic games" of silent and audible stereotypes. The examination of these "poetic strategies" serves a twofold purpose: to illustrate the process of constructing particular features of the "ethno type", on one hand, and to check hypotheses and models which are taken as frameworks in analyzing stereotypes, on the other.


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