Tomato Recognition for Harvesting Robots Considering Overlapping Leaves and Stems

In recent years, the declining and aging population of farmers has become a serious problem. Smart agriculture has been promoted to solve these problems. It is a type of agriculture that utilizes robotics, and information and communication technology to promote labor saving, precision, and realization of high-quality production. In this research, we focused on robots that can harvest tomatoes. Tomatoes are delicate vegetables with a thin skin and a relatively large yield. During automatic harvesting of tomatoes, to ensure the operation of the harvesting arm, an input by image processing is crucial to determine the color of the tomatoes at the time of harvesting. Research on robot image processing technology is indispensable for accurate operation of the arm. In an environment where tomatoes are harvested, obstacles such as leaves, stems, and unripe tomatoes should be taken into consideration. Therefore, in this research, we propose a method of image processing to provide an appropriate route for the arm to ensure easy harvesting, considering the surrounding obstacles.

Sustainable intensification for a larger global rice bowl

Future rice systems must produce more grain while minimizing the negative environmental impacts. A key question is how to orient agricultural research & development (R&D) programs at national to global scales to maximize the return on investment. Here we assess yield gap and resource-use efficiency (including water, pesticides, nitrogen, labor, energy, and associated global warming potential) across 32 rice cropping systems covering half of global rice harvested area. We show that achieving high yields and high resource-use efficiencies are not conflicting goals. Most cropping systems have room for increasing yield, resource-use efficiency, or both. In aggregate, current total rice production could be increased by 32%, and excess nitrogen almost eliminated, by focusing on a relatively small number of cropping systems with either large yield gaps or poor resource-use efficiencies. This study provides essential strategic insight on yield gap and resource-use efficiency for prioritizing national and global agricultural R&D investments to ensure adequate rice supply while minimizing negative environmental impact in coming decades.

A Review of Industrial Crop Yield Performances on Unfavorable Soil Types

Industrial crop cultivation on marginal agricultural land limits indirect land-use change effects that pose a threat to food security. This review compiles results from 91 published crop-specific field trial datasets spanning 12 relevant industrial crops and discusses their suitability for cultivation on unfavorable soil types (USTs). It was shown that the perennial species Miscanthus (Miscanthus Andersson) and reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) performed well on USTs with both high clay and/or high sand contents. Information on stoniness (particles sizes > 2 mm), where mentioned, was limited. It was found to have only a small impact on biological yield potential, though it was not possible to assess the impact on mechanization as would be used at a commercial scale. For soils with extreme clay or sand contents, half of the crops showed moderate suitability. The large yield variations within and between crops revealed large knowledge gaps in the combined effects of crop type and agronomy on USTs. Therefore, more field trials are needed on diverse USTs in different climates with better equipment and more consistent measurements to improve the accuracy of potential yield predictions spatially and temporally. Additionally, larger trials are needed to optimize cultivation and harvesting.

Strong Electrorheological Performance of Smart Fluids Based on TiO2 Particles at Relatively Low Electric Field

Electrorheological (ER) fluids are a type of smart material with adjustable rheological properties. Generally, the high yield stress (>100 kPa) requires high electric field strength (>4 kV/mm). Herein, the TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol–gel method. Interestingly, the ER fluid-based TiO2 nanoparticles give superior high yield stress of 144.0 kPa at only 2.5 kV/mm. By exploring the characteristic structure and dielectric property of TiO2 nanoparticles and ER fluid, the surface polar molecules on samples were assumed to play a crucial role for their giant electrorheological effect, while interfacial polarization was assumed to be dominated and induces large yield stress at the low electric field, which gives the advantage in low power consumption, sufficient shear stress, low leaking current, and security.

Micromechanical Force Sensor Using the Stress–Impedance Effect of Soft Magnetic FeCuNbSiB

By using the stress–impedance (SI) effect of a soft magnetic amorphous FeCuNbSiB alloy, a micromachined force sensor was fabricated and characterized. The alloy was used as a sputtered thin film of 500 nm thickness. To clarify the SI effect in the used material as a thin film, its magnetic and mechanical properties were first investigated. The stress dependence of the magnetic permeability was shown to be caused by the used transducer effect. The sputtered thin film also exhibited a large yield strength of 983 GPa. Even though the fabrication technology for the device is very simple, characterization revealed a gauge factor (GF) of 756, which is several times larger than that achieved with conventional transducer effects, such as the piezoresistive effect. The fabricated device shows great application potential as a tactile sensor.

Zatiranje plevelov v vinogradu z alternativnimi metodami v primerjavi s herbicidom glifosat

<p class="042abstractstekst"><span lang="EN-US">In a two-year field experiment, six different weed control methods were studied. The methods were: use of the herbicide glyphosate (GL), use of herbicides based on acetic acid (AA), pelargonic acid (PA) and citrus essential oil (EO), mowing weeds with a thread trimmer (TT) and flaming of weeds with fire (FL). Alternative methods of weed control were significantly less effective than the use of herbicide glyphosate. Due to the lower efficiency of alternative methods, large yield losses have occurred, on average, 31 % at AA, 30.6 % at PA, 22.7 % at EO, 5.4 % at TT and 12.9 % at FL in two years. The cost of carrying out controls with alternative methods was significantly higher than the cost of GL. AA it was higher by 3.2-times, in PA by 7.1-times, in EO by 3.8-times, in TT by 3.8- times and in FL by 5.8-times on average in two years. To achieve a comparable control efficiency of GL, five applications of alternative preparations per year have to be performed, or four times mowing of weeds or five weed flaming operations per year.</span></p>

Usage and Impacts of Technologies and Management Practices in Ethiopian Smallholder Maize Production

Maize yields can be improved through many individual technologies and management practices, but the full realization of potential benefits is generally understood to require integrated use of complementary practices. We employed two years of survey data and alternative econometric models to better understand the use of individual and bundled packages of technologies and management practices in Ethiopian maize production, i.e., fertilizers, improved varieties, herbicides, pesticides, manure, intercropping, erosion control and crop rotation (the last three labeled integrated management). Although fertilizer and improved varieties were used on 85% of maize fields, with average yields of 3.4 ton/ha, large yield gaps remain. Complementary management practices improved these yields by as much as 22%, although in variable ways. Integrated management contributed to maize yield only when combined with crop protection (herbicides and/or pesticides). Combining manure with fertilizer and improved variety decreased maize yields, possibly due to manure quality and less inorganic fertilizer used on fields that received manure. Packages including crop protection increased labor productivity by 16–70%, while using integrated management decreased labor productivity by almost half. In summary, the combination of management practices did not automatically lead to increased yields, partly related to the conditions under which practices were applied, indicating the need for site-specific research and recommendations for sustainable intensification.

Fodder Galega—A Versatile Plant

Fodder galega is a perennial, wintering plant, which in recent years has been gaining popularity, mainly because of its useful characteristics. Many researchers have noted its large yield potential and exceptional adaptability to various environmental conditions. The purpose of this study was to collect the most up-to-date knowledge about this valuable plant, a member of the Fabaceae family. Green fodder, especially that made from young plants, possesses very good biochemical parameters which allow it to be used in the nutrition of animals including poultry. Plantations of fodder galega can be set up on highly diverse soils, and in all systems of management. The yielding potential of this plant is appreciated on all farms: organic, extensive and conventional ones. Many scientific studies have demonstrated the usefulness of fodder galega for the protection of farmland that is periodically excluded from farming. In recent years, reports have been published suggesting the high potential of this plant for the acquisition of inexpensive energy from its biomass. Moreover, many scholars have emphasised the medicinal applications of fodder galega. The advantages of the cultivation of fodder galega are (1) its low nutritional requirements; (2) a lack of threats from the specialised pests; and (3) its positive effect on soil fertility. It is recommended that areas having undergone several years of fodder galega cultivation act as very good forecrop for plants with high nutritional requirements.

A Review of Omics Technologies and Bioinformatics to Accelerate Improvement of Papaya Traits

Papaya (Carica papaya) is an economically important fruit crop that is mostly planted in tropical and subtropical regions. Major diseases of papaya, such as the papaya dieback disease (PDD), papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) disease, and papaya sticky disease (PSD), have caused large yield and economic losses in papaya-producing countries worldwide. Postharvest losses have also contributed to the decline in papaya production. Hence, there is an urgent need to secure the production of papaya for a growing world population. Integration of omics resources in crop breeding is anticipated in order to facilitate better-designed crops in the breeding programme. In papaya research, the application of omics and bioinformatics approaches are gradually increased and are underway. Hence, this review focuses on addressing omics technologies and bioinformatics that are used in papaya research. To date, four traits of the papaya have been studied using omics and bioinformatics approaches, which include its ripening process, abiotic stress, disease resistance, and fruit quality (i.e., sweetness, fruit shape, and fruit size). This review also highlights the potential of genetics and genomics data, as well as the systems biology approach that can be applied in a papaya-breeding programme in the near future.