scholarly journals Crop Modeling Application to Improve Irrigation Efficiency in Year-Round Vegetable Production in the Texas Winter Garden Region

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1525
Author(s):  
Sumin Kim ◽  
Manyowa N. Meki ◽  
Sojung Kim ◽  
James R. Kiniry

Given a rising demand for quality assurance, rather than solely yield, supplemental irrigation plays an important role to ensure the viability and profitability of vegetable crops from unpredictable changes in weather. However, under drought conditions, agricultural irrigation is often given low priority for water allocation. This reduced water availability for agriculture calls for techniques with greater irrigation efficiency, that do not compromise crop quality and yield, and that provide economic benefit for producers. This study developed vegetable growing models for eight different vegetable crops (bush bean, green bean, cabbage, peppermint, spearmint, yellow straight neck squash, zucchini, and bell pepper) based on data from several years of field research. The ALMANAC model accurately simulated yields and water use efficiency (WUE) of all eight vegetables. The developed vegetable models were used to evaluate the effects of various irrigation regimes on vegetable growth and production in several locations in the Winter Garden Region of Texas, under variable weather conditions. Based on our simulation results from 960 scenarios, optimal irrigation amounts that produce high yield as well as reasonable economic profit to producers were determined for each vegetable crop. Overall, yields for all vegetables increased as irrigation amounts increased. However, irrigation amounts did not have a sustainable impact on vegetable yield at high irrigation treatments, and the WUEs of most vegetables were not significantly different among various irrigation regimes. When vegetable yields were compared with water cost, the rate decreased as irrigation amounts increased. Thus, producers will not receive economic benefits when vegetable irrigation water demand is too high.

2021 ◽  
pp. 57-64
Author(s):  
A. Y. Fedosov ◽  
A. M. Menshikh ◽  
M. I. Ivanova

Relevance. Agricultural production is the main consumer of water. Globally, about 70% of fresh water is annually used for agricultural (food and non-food) production. Nearly 40% of the world's food supply comes from irrigation. Globally, the scarcity of irrigation water due to competition between industry and urban consumption threatens food security. Future population growth, income growth and changes in nutrition are expected to increase demand for water. The rate of warming in Russia since the mid-1970s about 2.5 times the global average. The highest rate of temperature increase occurs at high latitudes. The entire territory of Russia is subject to warming, both as a whole for the year and in all seasons. Water Footprint Accounting (WF), proposed by the Water Footprint Network (WFN), has the potential to provide important information for water management, especially in water-stressed regions that rely on irrigation to meet food needs.Methodology. The purpose of this systematic review was to collate and synthesize available data on global water use in vegetable production. Searched online databases covering the areas of environment, social sciences, public health, nutrition and agriculture: Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, OvidSP MEDLINE, EconLit, OvidSP AGRIS, EBSCO GreenFILE, and OvidSP CAB Abstracts. The search was conducted using predefined search terms that included the concepts of "vegetable crops" and "water footprint".Results. This article provides a brief overview of the vegetable growing water footprint and the sustainability of the blue water footprint. In general, a high green or overall (green + blue) WF may indicate that the vegetable crops are having low yields or inefficient water use. Low green and high blue WF indicate inefficient use of rainwater, which can lead to overexploitation of surface and groundwater. The water footprint can be considered a good economic ergometer, showing the level of water consumption required to obtain a certain vegetable product, whether it brings economic benefits or not, beneficial to society or not.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaozhong Wang ◽  
Tao Liang ◽  
Dunxiu Liao ◽  
Weilin Tao ◽  
Rui Jiang ◽  
...  

Abstract Global warming has driven the expansion of cultivated land to high-altitude areas. Intensive vegetable production, which is generally considered to be a high economic value and high environmental risk system, has expanded greatly in high-altitude mountainous areas of China. However, the environmental cost of vegetable production in these areas is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated pepper production at low (traditional pepper production area) and high (newly expanded area) altitudes in Shizhu, a typical pepper crop area. The output and environmental cost at the two altitudes were identified. We evaluated the influence of resource inputs, climate, and soil properties on pepper production. There were obvious differences in output and environmental cost between the two altitudes. High-altitude pepper production achieved a 16.2% lower yield, and had a higher fertilizer input, resulting in a 22.3% lower net ecosystem economic benefit (NEEB), 23.0% higher nitrogen (N) footprint and 24.0% higher carbon (C) footprint compared to low-altitude farming. There is potential for environmental mitigation with both high- and low-altitude pepper production; Compared to average farmers, high yield farmers groups reduced their N and C footprints by 16.9–24.8% and 18.3–25.2%, respectively, with 30.6–34.1% higher yield. A large increase in yield could also be achieved by increasing the top-dress fertilizer rate and decreasing the plant density. Importantly, high-altitude pepper production was achieved despite less advanced technology and inferior conditions (e.g., a poor road system and uneven fields). It provides a reference for the study on environmental cost of other high-altitude regions or other crop systems at high altitude area.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (94) ◽  
pp. 55-61
Author(s):  
R.O. Myalkovsky

Goal. The purpose of the research was to determine the influence of meteorological factors on potato yield in the conditions of the Right Bank Forest-steppe of Ukraine. Methods.Field, analytical and statistical. Results.It was established that among the mid-range varieties Divo stands out with a yield of 42.3 t/ha, Malin white – 39.8 t/ha, and Legend – 37.1 t/ ha. The most favourable weather and climatic conditions for the production of potato tubers were for the Divo 2011 variety with a yield of 45.9 t/ha and 2013 – 45.1 t/ha. For the Legenda variety 2016, the yield of potato tubers is 40.6 t/ha and 2017 – 43.2 t/ha. Malin White 2013 is 41.4 t/ha and 2017 42.1 t/ha. The average varieties of potatoes showed a slightly lower yield on average over the years of research. However, among the varieties is allocated Nadiyna – 40.3 t/ha, Slovyanka – 37.2 t/ ha and Vera 33.8 t/ha. Among the years, the most high-yielding for the Vera variety was 2016 with a yield of 36.6 t/ha and 2017 year – 37.8 t/ha. Varieties Slovyanka and Nadiyna 2011 and 2012 with yields of 42.6 and 44.3 t/ha and 46.5 and 45.3 t/ha, respectively. Characterizing the yield of potato tubers of medium-late varieties over the years of research, there was a decrease in this indicator compared with medium-early and middle-aged varieties. However, the high yield of the varieties of Dar is allocated – 40.0 t/ha, Alladin – 33.6 t/ha and Oxamit 31.3 t/ha. Among the years, the most favourable ones were: for Oxamit and Alladin – 2011 – 33.5 and 36.5 t/ha, and 2017 – 34.1 and 36.4 t/ha, respectively. Favourable years for harvesting varieties were 2011 and 2012 with yields of 45.7 and 45.8 t/ha. Thus, the highest yield of potato tubers on average over the years of studies of medium-early varieties of 41.2-43.3 t / ha were provided by weather conditions of 2011 and 2017 years, medium-ripe varieties 41.0-41.1 - 2012 and 2011, medium- late 37,6-38,5 t / ha - 2012 and 2011, respectively.


The study was undertaken to examine the economic benefits of protected vegetable cultivation. A total sample of 200 respondents practicing protected vegetable cultivation was selected from Jalandhar district from which 150 respondents were trained by KVK Jalandhar and the remaining 50 respondents were non-trainees. The findings concluded that 42.0 percent of trainees and 38.0 percent of non-trainees were in the age group of 39-52 years. It was revealed that 19.3 percent of trainees had a graduate level of education while 20.0 percent of non-trainees had a middle level of education. It was found that 66.0 percent of trainees and 54.0 percent of non-trainees had medium landholding. The majority of trainees (78.6 percent) and non-trainees (86 percent) had farming as an occupation. Most of the trainees and non-trainees contacted horticulture development officers. It was concluded that 32.6 percent of trainees procured seed or seedling from private firms whereas 40.0 percent of non-trainees procured seed or seedling from fellow farmers. The trainees obtained higher yield and net profit than non-trainees from all sample vegetable crops.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1407
Author(s):  
Courtney A. Weber

Annual plasticulture production of strawberries promises superior weed control, fruit quality and yields. However, strawberry varieties adapted for perennial, matted-row production and local markets in cold climate regions have not been widely tested for adaptation to an annual production cycle. Productivity of seven short-day varieties developed for matted-row and/or annual production was examined in an annual plasticulture system in two consecutive trials in central NY (lat. 42.87° N, long. 76.99° W) harvested in 2013 and 2014. ‘Flavorfest’ demonstrated good performance in Trial 1 with high yield (390 g/plant) and large fruit size (13.9 g mean berry weight). ‘Jewel’ was shown to be well adapted to the annual plasticulture system with consistently high yields (330 and 390 g/plant) that equaled or surpassed other varieties and had moderate fruit size. ‘Chandler’ performed similarly to previous trials conducted in warmer regions with yield (340 g/plant) and fruit size (9.8 g mean berry weight) similar to ‘Jewel’. ‘Clancy’ yielded less but was consistent from year to year. The late season varieties Seneca and Ovation showed marked variability between years, possibly due to drastically different temperatures during flowering and fruit development in Trial 1 compared to Trial 2. High temperatures in Trial 1 likely caused higher early fruit yield, a compressed season and a precipitous decline in fruit size in the later season, thus reducing yield in the late season. Survival after a second dormant period was poor resulting in a small second harvest and reduced fruit size. Overall, the system demonstrated many of the expected benefits but may be more sensitive to weather conditions in the region. While many varieties developed for matted-row production may work well in an annual plasticulture system, not all varieties are equally adapted. Performance of each variety should be determined independently before large scale adoption by growers.


2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.Y. Chan ◽  
L. Orr ◽  
D. Fahey ◽  
C.G. Dorahy

2021 ◽  
pp. 3-8
Author(s):  
А.Г. Аксенов ◽  
А.В. Сибирев

Степень технологической и технической зависимости отечественных производителей овощных культур от зарубежных производителей с.-х. техники, а также их техническая оснащенность специализированными машинами объясняется высокими затратами на производство овощей, особенно на уборку, что при общем дефиците ручного труда приводит к сокращению площадей, нарушению технологии выращивания и соответственно снижению урожайности. Цель исследований – определить современное состояние технологического и технического обеспечения производства овощных культур в Российской Федерации. Для достижения поставленной цели использовали методологию системного анализа и синтеза, математической статистики, численные методы решения аналитических зависимостей. Статистические исследования современного состояния технического обеспечения производства овощей в России могут служить основой для построения модели и разработки концептуальных принципов модернизации технологического и технического обеспечения работ в овощеводстве. Определена потребность товаропроизводителей в современных высокотехнологичных комплексах машин для производства овощных культур. Проведенные статистические исследования позволили оценить современное состояние с.-х. машиностроения по выпуску необходимого для товаропроизводителей количества машин. Повышение объемов производства овощной продукции неразрывно коррелирует с уровнем технического обеспечения отрасли овощеводства в целом, что подтверждает уровень локализации с.-х. машиностроения РФ, а также Беларуси и Казахстана, где с.-х. машиностроение представлено широкой номенклатурой предприятий, выпускающих комплексы машин от предпосадочной обработки почвы до послеуборочной обработки товарной продукции. Для возрождения с.-х. машиностроения и развития рынка средств механизации аграрного производства определены основные механизмы обновления парка сельхозтехники – преимущественно привлечением кредитных ресурсов коммерческих банков и лизинговых компаний. Кроме того, интенсивность ведения сельского хозяйства в современных условиях производства невозможна без высокого уровня насыщения машинно-технологических комплексов средствами интеллектуализации. Получать качественную конкурентоспособную продукцию можно только при использовании современных высокопроизводительных машин, обеспечивающих совмещение технологических операций, в конструкциях которых заложены системы автоматизированного управления технологическими процессами, учета почвенного плодородия, обеспечения экологической чистоты агроландшафтов. The degree of technological and technical dependence of domestic producers of vegetable crops on foreign producers of agricultural machinery, as well as their technical equipment with specialized machines, is explained by the high costs of vegetable production, especially for harvesting, which, with a general shortage of manual labor, leads to a reduction in area, disruption of cultivation technology and, accordingly, a decrease in yield. The purpose of the research is to determine the current state of technological and technical support for the production of vegetable crops in the Russian Federation. To achieve this purpose, we used the methodology of system analysis and synthesis, mathematical statistics, numerical methods for solving analytical dependencies. Statistical studies of the current state of technical support for vegetable production in Russia can serve as a basis for building a model and developing conceptual principles for modernizing technological and technical support for work in vegetable growing. The need of commodity producers for modern high-tech complexes of machines for the production of vegetable crops is determined. The conducted statistical studies made it possible to assess the current state of agricultural engineering for the production of the number of machines necessary for commodity producers. The increase in the production of vegetable products is inextricably correlated with the level of technical support for the vegetable growing industry as a whole, which confirms the level of localization of agricultural machinery in the Russian Federation, as well as in Belarus and Kazakhstan, where agricultural machinery is represented by a wide range of enterprises that produce complexes of machines from pre-planting tillage to post-harvest processing of commercial products. For the revival of agricultural machinery and the development of the market of agricultural production mechanization tools, the main mechanisms for updating the agricultural machinery fleet are determined-mainly by attracting credit resources from commercial banks and leasing companies. In addition, the intensity of agriculture in modern production conditions is impossible without a high level of saturation of machine-technological complexes with means of intellectualization. It is possible to obtain high-quality competitive products only with the use of modern high-performance machines that ensure the combination of technological operations, in the designs of which there are systems for automated control of technological processes, accounting for soil fertility, ensuring environmental cleanliness of agricultural landscapes. Key words: vegetable growing, vegetable seeders, transplanters, vegetable harvesting equipment.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Ahmadiani ◽  
Chun Li ◽  
Yaqin Liu ◽  
Esendugue Greg Fonsah ◽  
Christine Bliss ◽  
...  

<p class="sar-body"><span lang="EN-US">There are little economic data concerning the profitability of organic vegetable crops in the Southern Coastal Plain, especially in reference to sod-based rotation and tillage alternatives.  A three-year experiment was conducted at the North Florida Research and Education Center-Quincy involving a crop rotation sequence of oats and rye (winter), bush beans (spring), soybean (summer) and broccoli (fall). Bush beans and broccoli were the cash crops. This paper presents analyses of the riskiness of organic production utilizing years in bahiagrass prior to initiating the crop rotation sequence and conventional tillage (CT) versus strip tillage (ST). Methods of “Risk-rated enterprise budget” and “Analyses of Variance-Covariance Matrix (ANOVA)” were utilized for determining relative profitability, and coefficient of variation was applied for measuring riskiness of each treatment. Three years of bahiagrass prior to initiating the crop rotation sequence, in combination with conventional tillage, had the highest profitability and ranked as the least risky scenario.  The second most profitable treatment was conventional tillage with four years of bahiagrass. Focusing on strip tillage, four years of bahiagrass with strip-tillage ranked third in term of profitability.</span></p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 01003
Author(s):  
Elena Vologzhanina ◽  
Galina Batalova

The results of the study of 12 varieties and promising lines of glumaceous oat in the competitive variety testing of the FASC of the North-East (Kirov region) in the period from 2018 to 2020 are presented. The purpose of the research is to assess the productivity, ecological plasticity and stability of the genotypes of glumaceous oat for feed and universal use in the conditions of the Volga-Vyatka region. The dependences of grain yield and dry matter harvesting on the state of agro-climatic resources (HTC), temperature and precipitation are established. The contrasting weather conditions during the years of research allowed to conduct the most complete assessment of the studied genotypes. The most favorable conditions for the formation of a high yield of green mass of oat were formed in 2020 (Ij=3.76), grain - in 2019 (Ij=1.35). The average degree of positive dependence of green mass yield on the height of oat plants was revealed (r=0.51). The variety of the high-intensity type of the universal direction Medved, promising lines of the mowing direction (178h13 and 245h14) are distinguished.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Yang ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Sailesh Ranjitkar ◽  
Mingxiang Li ◽  
Yongjie Guo ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundNatural dyes used since historic times for coloring food, leather, textile fibers, and paint body parts. The use of natural dyes has suffered drastically under the influence of modern technologies in the textile industry and socio-economic changes. Hence, ethnobotanical studies of indigenous dye plants and dyeing craft in local communities are urged to protect their potential ecological and economic value. MethodsWe conducted semi-structured surveys on dye plants and traditional craft in 11 Monpa villages of Mêdog County, South-east Tibet, China. The cultural significance of local dye plants was evaluated by an index of cultural importance (CI). Field research was conducted to record the indigenous madder (the root of Rubia wallichiana Decne.) dyeing craft. An experiment was performed with aqueous extract and ethyl alcohol extract of residue remained after water extraction. These two dye solutions were respectively used to dye two fabrics with two biomordants and two metallic mordants by three mordanting methods. We evaluated color properties that were characterized by physicochemical evaluations using UV-visible spectroscopy and FTIR analysis. The dyed fabrics were evaluated by indicators of color strength and fastness including washing, rubbing, and perspiration. ResultsAltogether 15 species belong to 12 families were listed as dye plants, which were used in cloth and food dyeing. The CI of R. wallichiana was highest. Monpa ethnic group used madder directly or with metallic mordants. It was found experimentally that biomordants and metallic mordants were comparable in improving the dyeing properties of indigenous madder. The dyeing properties of both extracts of madder were equal or ethyl alcohol extraction was marginally better.ConclusionsUse of dye plants and indigenous knowledge of dyeing still present in the Monpa ethnic group. Our experiment revealed the feasibility of enhancing the dyeing property and reuse of the residue from madder dyeing. The improved dyeing and reuse of residue can improve the ecological and economic benefits of local meanwhile provide basic application research for the subsequent commercialization of plant dyes.


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