Forecasting model for disease risk period in chickpea x collar rot pathosystem

Collar rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. is one of the major biotic constraints of chickpea production worldwide. It is soil-borne fungi having wider host range and infection mainly occurs at the juvenile stage of crop growth resulting crop failure in no time. The pathogen is greatly influenced by soil temperature (ST) and soil moisture (SM) therefore, experiment formulated to develop a suitable forecasting model for its future use in computer simulation of plant disease prognostication by feeding only soil temperature and moisture data. The popular desi type chickpea variety Anuradha sown at different dates to get a range of soil temperature and soil moisture combination and its corresponding effect on disease incidence was recorded under natural epiphytotic conditions. The data obtained were analyzed using binary logistic regression and discriminant analysis to assess disease risk and non-risk period. The model developed was Y'= -73.9 + 1.251 SM + 0.017 ST. The outcome recorded, a unique statistically significant contribution of soil moisture (p value=0.029) on the establishment of the disease whereas, the effect of soil temperature was detected as statistically non-significant. The model developed and the correctness of the model determined to predict the disease severity with 80 % accuracy.

Analysis of the suitability of rice farming land as an opportunity for determining the agricultural planting calendar in Ajibarang District, Banyumas Regency, Central Java Province

Ajibarang District is one of the areas in Banyumas Regency with a high level of productivity, but the decrease in rainfall in 2017-2019 caused Ajibarang District to have difficulty in developing their agriculture so that farmers experienced crop failure. The impact that occurs from crop failure causes the land to not be cultivated and if it is cultivated, farmers plant secondary crops. It is also greatly influenced by climate change that occurs. In fact, Ajibarang Subdistrict is included in the B2 Climate Zone with an average rainfall of 1000 - 2000 mm/year which is a climate zone business. The purpose of this study was to determine the opportunities for the rice planting that is very suitable for rice farming. In addition, the Ajibarang Sub-district is also drained by a large river, namely the Serayu River and the Tajum River which are tributaries of the river. So, it is necessary to adjust the climate to be able to determine a suitable planting calendar for agricultural calendar in Ajibarang District. Method The research used is the Forward Sampling and Backward Sampling analysis methods. So, the results of this study resulted in a rice and secondary cropping calendar with three planting seasons in one year and two dry seasons in one year.

Klasifikasi Penyakit Padi berdasarkan Citra Daun Menggunakan Model Terlatih Resnet101

Rice is a staple food source for most countries in the world, including Indonesia. The problem of rice disease is a problem that is quite crucial and is experienced by many farmers. Approximately 200,000 - 300,000 tons per year the amount of rice attacked by pests in Indonesia. Considerable losses are caused by late-diagnosed rice plant diseases that reach a severe stage and cause crop failure. The limited number of Agricultural Extension Officers (PPL) and the Lack of information about disease and proper treatment are some of the causes of delays in handling rice diseases. Therefore, with the development of information technology and computers, it is possible to identify diseases by utilizing Artificial Intelligence, one of which is by using recognition methods based on image processing and pattern recognition technology. The purpose of this research is to create a Machine Learning model by applying the model architecture from Resnet101 combined with the model architecture from the author. The model proposed in this study produces an accuracy of 98.68%.

Institutional Responses to Drought in a High HIV Prevalence Setting in Rural South Africa

In 2015, South Africa experienced one of the worst (El Niño-induced) droughts in 35 years. This affected economic activities, individual and community livelihoods and wellbeing especially in rural communities in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Drought’s direct and indirect impacts on public health require urgent institutional responses, especially in South Africa’s stride to eliminate HIV as a public health threat by 2030 in line with the UNAIDS goals. This paper draws on qualitative data from interviews and policy documents to discuss how the devastating effect of the 2015 drought experience in the rural Hlabisa sub-district of uMkhanyakude, a high HIV prevalence area, imposes an imperative for more proactive institutional responses to drought and other climate-related events capable of derailing progress made in South Africa’s HIV/AIDS response. We found that drought had a negative impact on individual and community livelihoods and made it more difficult for people living with HIV to consistently engage with care due to economic losses from deaths of livestock, crop failure, food insecurity, time spent in search of appropriate water sources and forced relocations. It also affected government institutions and their interventions. Interviewed participants’ reflections on drought-related challenges, especially those related to institutional and coordination challenges, showed that although current policy frameworks are robust, their implementation has been stalled due to complex reporting systems, and inadequate interdepartmental collaboration and information sharing. We thus argue that to address the gaps in the institutional responses, there is a need for more inclusive systems of drought-relief implementation, in which government departments, especially at the provincial and district levels, work with national institutions to better share data/information about drought-risks in order to improve preparedness and implementation of effective mitigation measures.

A review on maize-finger millet relay cropping in hills of Nepal: Prospects and constraints

Maize (Zea mays) and Finger millet (Elusine corocana) are two key staple crops grown in the hills of Nepal. These crops are planted in a relay intercropping system developed by farmers since the dawn of time. The unique example of cereal-cereal intercropping with its cropping system and cropping pattern at different altitudes is reviewed along with the yield comparison of direct-seeded and transplanted finger millet with maize. Relay cropping is the planting of second crop in the same land area before the harvest of first crop with the goal of higher productivity by sharing the available resources. Considerable research has been done on maize and millet but there has been a limited approach to their cropping system. This paper reviews the existing system of cropping, its prospects, and its constraints. The prospects of maize/finger millet cultivation are pronounced in the form of yield increment, economic and efficient use of available resources, insurance against crop failure, and reduced insect, pest, and weed incidence. Although this cropping system has benefits, it exhibits limitations as well which are competition between crops, lack of suitable varieties, labor-intensive system, and soil-nutrient loss. As maize and finger millet are the main food crops in hilly terrain, it is urged to provide the focus and encouragement regarding their sustainable and modern approaches by developing and disseminating crop growing and management technologies.

The effects of silt fields of Bortnytska aeration station on ecological state of land and water in the adjacent areas

The article highlights the results of research on assessing the ecological state of the land near the silt fields №1 and №3 of Bortnytska aeration station in the Zolochiv village community of Boryspil district in Kyiv region. The presence of previously recorded increased content of heavy metals in soils compared to the background content, both in terms of their gross content and the content of mobile forms was confirmed within the certain areas near the silt fields. For the elements-pollutants (Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb) at some points within the agricultural land, exceeding the values ​​of their gross content and the content of mobile forms (Zn, Cu) of the maximum permissible concentrations was recorded at 1.1-6.2 and 1.1 -2.6 times, respectively. The average values ​​of heavy metals content for floodplains (settlement) and agricultural land near silt fields indicate their prevailing values ​​for the latter in almost all elements, as well as exceeding the background values ​​and maximum permissible concentrations for the land where silt deposits were previously applied as fertilizers. Within the surveyed areas, soils are classified as unsalted, but the increased content of exchangeable magnesium may adversely affect soil fertility. Increased mineralization and content of ammonium and nitrates in groundwater are observed near silt fields, which is obviously related to the impact of silt water and can lead to deterioration of groundwater quality in the area of ​​their transit and discharge, in particular within the village Gnidyn. The area of ​​land with an extremely dangerous pollution rate in terms of total heavy metal is about 300 hectares, with a dangerous pollution rate is 260 hectares, and the estimated damage from crop failure may be 1.65 million UAH/year and 0.3 million UAH/year respectively. Within the areas adjacent to the silt fields, the condition of soils, water resources, cultivated products and the health of the population should be constantly monitored, especially when using the polluted land for agricultural use or housing.

Climate Change-Induced Drought Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation Measures in Semi-Arid Pastoral and Agricultural Watersheds

Periodic drought is a major challenge in drought-prone areas of South Asia. A sample survey of farmers (n = 400) from South Asia was conducted to study the farmers’ perception about drought impacts on their socio-economic status, agro-biodiversity, and adaptation besides public institutions’ drought mitigation measures. The results revealed reduced surface and groundwater availability, soil degradation, partial or complete crop failure, increased agricultural fallows and wastelands, biodiversity loss, decrease in agricultural yields, pasture lands, and livestock in drought-impacted South Asia. About 16–26% of the farmers perceived a reduction in the agricultural area and production of commercial crops and millets in drought-prone areas, while changes in the cropping of pulses, oilseeds, horticultural, and fodder crops were minimal. About 57–92% of respondents showed a reduction in the consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and fish. Unemployment, migration, reduced farm income, and malnutrition were major socio-economic impacts among respondents (38–46%). Despite sufficient public support as a mitigation strategy, the farmers had poor participation (8–65%) for agri-information and adaptation (7–36%) against drought impacts. Hence, researchers, extension agents, and policymakers must develop efficient ‘participatory-mode’ drought adaptation and mitigation policies in watershed-based semi-arid pastoral and agricultural regions of South Asia and similar agro-ecologies across the globe.

BALANÇO HÍDRICO CLIMATOLÓGICO NORMAL E SEQUENCIAL DO MUNICÍPIO DE PEREIRA BARRETO - SP COMO AUXILIO PARA O PLANEJAMENTO DA AGRICULTURA IRRIGADA

BALANÇO HÍDRICO CLIMATOLÓGICO NORMAL E SEQUENCIAL DO MUNICÍPIO DE PEREIRA BARRETO - SP COMO AUXILIO PARA O PLANEJAMENTO DA AGRICULTURA IRRIGADA PEDRO ALCANTARA DA SILVA ABREU1 E FERNANDO BRAZ TANGERINO HERNANDEZ2 1 Doutorando em Agronomia: Irrigação e Drenagem, Departamento de Engenharia Rural, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Avenida Universitária, n° 3780, Altos do Paraíso, 18610-034, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil. E-mail; [email protected]. 2 Professor Titular, Departamento de Fitossanidade, Engenharia Rural e Solos - DEFERS, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Avenida Brasil Sul, n° 56, Centro, 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, São Paulo, Brasil. E-mail: [email protected] 1 RESUMO Este trabalho teve como objetivo gerar um balanço hídrico climatológico (BHC) normal e sequencial para o município de Pereira Barreto, SP para identificar os períodos do ano com excedente e déficit de água no solo. Foram realizados dois BHCs para o município, determinados a partir do método de Thorthwaite e Mather (1955), com base nos dados das estações agrometereologicas automáticas Bonança e Santa Adélia, pertencentes à Rede Agrometeorológica do Noroeste Paulista, operada pela Unesp de Ilha Solteira. A precipitação média anual é de 1.214 mm e a evapotranspiração de 1.340 mm para a Estação Bonança, enquanto para a Santa Adélia, a precipitação média anual é de 1.204 mm e evapotranspiração de 1.574 mm. Com a Capacidade de Água Disponível (CAD) de 40 mm, os BHCs constataram sete meses de déficit hídrico no solo, entre março e outubro na Estação Bonança, localizada às margens do rio Tietê e de abril a novembro na Estação Santa Adélia, localizada na porção noroeste do município. O excesso de água no solo na Estação Bonança aconteceu entre os meses de novembro e fevereiro e na Santa Adélia entre janeiro e março. O BHC mostrou ser grande o risco de frustação de safra com culturas anuais no município sem a utilização de irrigação. Palavras-chave: evapotranspiração, déficit hídrico, irrigação, agrometeorologia, Noroeste Paulista. ABREU, P. A. S.; HERNANDEZ, F. B. T. NORMAL AND SEQUENTIAL CLIMATOLOGICAL WATER BALANCE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF PEREIRA BARRETO - SP AS AID FOR THE PLANNING OF IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE 2 ABSTRACT This work aimed to generate a normal and sequential climatological water balance (BHC) for the municipality of Pereira Barreto, SP to identify the periods of the year with surplus and deficit of water in the soil. Two BHCs were carried out for the municipality determined by the method of Thorthwaite and Mather (1955), based on data from the automatic agro-meteorological stations Bonança and Santa Adélia, belonging to the Northwest Agro-meteorological Network of the Northwest, operated by Unesp of Ilha Solteira. The average annual precipitation is 1214 mm and the evapotranspiration is 1340 mm for the Bonança Station, while for the Santa Adélia Station, the average annual precipitation is 1204 mm and evapotranspiration is 1574 mm. With the available Water Storage (CAD) of 40 mm, the BHCs found seven months of water deficit in the soil, between March and October in the Bonança Station, located on the banks of the Tietê River and from April to November in the Santa Adélia Station, located in the northwest portion of the municipality. Excess water in the soil in the Bonança Station occurred between the months of November and February and in the Santa Adélia Station, between January and March. BHC showed a high risk of crop failure with annual crops in the municipality without the use of irrigation. Keywords: evapotranspiration, water deficit, irrigation, agrometeorology, Northwest Paulista.

Sugarcane Smut: Current Knowledge and the Way Forward for Management

Whip smut of sugarcane is the most serious and widely spread disease of sugarcane and causes a significant reduction in cane quantity and quality. The severity of this disease often depends on the pathogen races, environmental conditions, cultivar genotype and the interaction among these three factors. Under optimum climatic conditions, this disease has the potential to cause total crop failure. Resistance screening is an ongoing process due to the variability among smut pathogen isolates. Multiple races and mutation ability of smut pathogen makes the breeding task more complex. A number of studies on various aspects of the disease epidemiology and management have been published. Due to many overlapping characteristics within the species complex, there is a dearth of information on early detection and strategies to control the smut pathogen. Furthermore, there is a need to coordinate these findings to expedite its research and control. In this paper, we summarize the disease etiology, especially disease impact on the qualitative and quantitative parameters of sugarcane. We also gathered research progress on molecular-based detection and available information on genetic variability in S. scitamineum. The research on the set of management options needed to effectively cope with the disease are reviewed herein. The present review is expected to be helpful for the further investigation on smut resistance in sugarcane.

Identification and Characterization of Triple Action Bioagents (TAB) and Their Potency against Fusarium Wilt of Lentil

Fusarium wilt is a severe disease that plays a significant role in reducing the yield of lentil. Under favorable conditions for disease growth, the disease can cause complete crop failure and can be a crucial limiting issue for lentil cultivation in specific geographical zones. The current work focused on isolating potentialbio-agents exhibiting copper oxychloride resistance and evaluating their efficacy in seed treatment for ecologically sustainable management of Fusarium wilt of lentil. Seventy biocontrol agent isolates were isolated and tested for resistance by growing them on Potato Dextrose Agar medium (PDA) amended with copper oxychloride at the rate of 2500 ppm. Isolate-H10 and isolate-C9 showed more excellent compatibility with copper oxychloride fungicide with 69 mm and 65 mm radial growths, respectively. The isolates H10 and C9 had the highest inhibitory percentages of 84.30% and 83.94% against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis, respectively, and the highest phosphorus solubilization index (PSI). Primers (ITS 1 and ITS 4) identified these putative bioagents as Trichoderma harzianum isolate skua-tab-1 and Penicillium crysogenum strain Tab2. Sequences were submitted to the NCBI and assigned the accession numbers MK414603 and MK418066. In pot culture, these isolates also demonstrated their superiority in reducing the disease incidence and severity if seeds were treated with H10 and C9 alone or in combination with copper oxychloride fungicide. The two isolated bioagents exhibit three fundamental properties: compatibility with copper oxychloride, antagonistic activity toward the pathogen fall armyworm, and the ability to dissolve phosphorus minerals.