Yield Fluctuations Research Articles

The Development and Characterisation of a Sustainable Plant-Based Sweet Spread Using Carob as a Cocoa and Sugar Replacement

Cocoa prices are predicted to rise continually, as demand remains high and there are supply issues caused by crop yield fluctuations. This study aimed to develop a sustainable plant-based sweet spread using functional plant-based ingredients, chickpeas and carob, as a cocoa and sugar alternative. Recipe optimisation resulted in the production of a control sample made using cocoa and three experimental samples containing varying proportions of carob (50%, 75%, and 100%). The samples were analysed for their physicochemical characteristics (water activity, pH, colour, and texture) and proximate composition (moisture, ash, carbohydrate, sugars, starch, protein, fat, and energy). Using carob as a cocoa substitute significantly decreased the pH, firmness and stickiness, fat and energy contents. On the other hand, increasing the percentage of carob led to a substantially higher sugar content in the sweet spreads. The results show the possibility of developing an innovative sustainable plant-based chocolate-flavoured spread with favourable physicochemical characteristics and nutritional profiles using carob powder and syrup as a cocoa and sugar replacement.

Impact of Average Atmospheric Temperature on Rainbow Trout Production in South Africa: A Time Series Analysis Approach

Climate change has various effects on the global food supply and the environment as a whole. Similarly, the production of fish like Rainbow Trout is affected by variation in the atmospheric temperature higher than 21oC, leading to fluctuations in yield. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the impact of average atmospheric temperature on Rainbow Trout production in South Africa using time series data spanning from 2000 to 2022. The unit root test, Johannsen cointegration test, and the Vector Error Correction model were employed to analyse the data. The results show that the change in average atmospheric temperature affects the production of Rainbow Trout. The correlation between average temperature and Rainbow Trout production is positive in the short-run and long-run. I Prolonged exposure to high temperature may lead to fish stress, migration and increased susceptibility to diseases which ultimately affects the economic viability of the sector in both the short-run and the long-run. In addition, the overall change in the atmospheric temperature has a negative effect on the production of the fish highlighting the need for climate change intervention to sustain fish production. The study recommends implementing strategies that reduce the impact of temperature changes on fish production to support both economic growth and food security.

Drought Adaptation Strategies Among Smallholder Cereal Farmers In Makueni County, Kenya

Increasing frequency and severity of drought increase vulnerability of smallholder cereal farmers globally. Arid and Semi-Arid Lands cover 80% of Kenya and location around the equator are major factors in drought development in the country. Frequent droughts result in fluctuations in cereal yields hence food insecurity in Makueni County. This study evaluated community-based and indigenous knowledge drought adaptations practiced by smallholder cereal farmers in Makueni County, Kenya. This study adopted explanatory sequential mixed methods research design. Household surveys (N=225) and key informant interviews (N=16) were used. Descriptive techniques were used in data analysis. The study found that frequent droughts in Makueni County resulted in adoption of small farm sizes for production of maize, sorghum and finger millet. Majority of the farmers produced between 1 and 10 bags of cereals. Majority (50.2%) of the smallholder cereal farmers who adopted community-based adaptations and indigenous knowledge-based drought adaptations strategies recorded an in increase in cereal yields in Makueni County. Early planting (66.7%), timely weeding (61.4%), manure application (57.0%), improving land tillage (56.1%), seed spacing (55.3%) and planting droughtresilient seeds (44.7%) led to the high annual cereal yields ranging between 1 and 10 bags in Makueni County. The drought adaptation strategies are commendable for upscaling in agro-ecological zones with similar climatic conditions in order to improve food production in the country. Information and data generated by this study is expected to result in improvement in drought adaptation policy formulation and adaptive capacity of smallholder cereal farmers hence, improvement in food production and security.

Magnetic field effect on hadron yield ratios and fluctuations in a hadron resonance gas

This work studies the influence of an external magnetic field on hadron yields and fluctuations in a hadron resonance gas by performing calculations within an updated version of the open-source package. The presence of the magnetic field has a sizable influence on certain hadron yield ratios. Most notably, it leads to enhanced p/π and suppressed n/p ratios, which may serve as a magnetometer in heavy-ion collisions. By attributing the centrality dependence of the p/π ratio in Pb-Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV measured by the ALICE Collaboration entirely to the magnetic field, its maximal strength at freezeout is estimated to be eB≃0.12GeV2≃6.3mπ2 in peripheral collisions. The magnetic field also enhances various conserved charge susceptibilities, which is qualitatively consistent with recent lattice QCD data and is driven in the HRG model by the increase of hadron densities. However, the variances of hadrons do not show any enhancement when normalized by the means, therefore, measurements of second-order fluctuations in heavy-ion collisions appear to offer limited additional information about the magnetic field relative to mean multiplicities. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Temperature Dependence of the Pre-Chromatographic ‘Lawrence’ Method for Bivalves Contaminated with Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Toxins

AbstractSaxitoxins are potent neurotoxins originating the acute human neurological syndrome of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) via bivalve vectors. The official testing method in the European Union, commonly known as the ‘Lawrence method’, involves pre-column oxidation steps. The Portuguese monitoring adopted the hydrogen peroxide oxidation screening approach for bivalves contaminated with Gymnodinium catenatum toxins, which can quantify chromatographically at once 6 out of 10 analogues commonly found in bivalves. Seasonal fluctuation in the fluorescence yield of calibration curves was observed across years in a consistent manner. It correlated with fluctuations in average monthly air temperature in Lisbon, highlighting the importance of recording the room temperature during the oxidation steps as a matter of routine practice. Incubation experiments also showed an increase in fluorescence yield with temperature, more pronounced for the 11-hydroxysulphate analogues (dcGTX2 + 3, C1 + 2, GTX2 + 3) than for the 11-H toxins (dcSTX, GTX5[B1], STX). Temperature can be exploited to increase fluorescence yield, assisting in spectral confirmation, but must not exceed 40–50 °C to avoid toxin decomposition or production of extra oxidation products.

Intra-growing season dry-wet spell pattern is a pivotal driver of maize yield variability in sub-Saharan Africa.

Climate variability plays a crucial role in the annual fluctuations of crop yields, posing a substantial threat to food security. Maize, the main cereal in sub-Saharan Africa, has shown varied yield trends during increasingly warmer growing seasons. Here we explore how sub-seasonal dry-wet spell patterns contribute to this variability, considering the spatial heterogeneity of crop responses, to map weather-related risks at a regional level. Our results show that shifts in specific dry-wet spell patterns across growth stages influence maize yield fluctuations in sub-Saharan Africa, explaining up to 50-60% of the interannual variation, which doubles that explained by mean changes in precipitation and temperature (30-35%). Precipitation primarily drives the onset of dry spells, while the influence of temperature increases with event intensity and peaks at the start of the growing season. Our large-scale, data-limited analysis approach has the potential to inform climate-smart agriculture in developing regions.

Predicting dryland winter wheat yield in cold regions of Iran

AbstractWheat is a crucial staple worldwide, serving both human and animal needs. In Iran, where climate conditions vary widely, wheat farming faces significant challenges, especially in areas facing freezing winters and unfavorable temperatures during reproductive stages. Unfortunately, existing models often fail to account these extreme and specific climate conditions, leading to inaccurate predictions, notably in cold areas. To address this issue, wheat dryland farming (WDF) model was evaluated in predicting dryland winter wheat yields in five distinct areas including Shahrekord, Borujen, Koohrang, Farsan, Lordegan, and Ardal in Chahar‐Mahal and Bakhtiari province, Iran. The results showed that changes in precipitation and temperature significantly impacted dryland wheat production. While higher precipitation generally associates with higher yields, this relationship is not always straightforward due to factors like unfavorable precipitation patterns and types (i.e., rainfall or snow). Likewise, unfavorable temperatures, particularly during crucial growth stages and winter freezes, pose significant challenges to wheat growth and yield modeling. The WDF model's performance was evaluated across various temperature conditions in the study area, and it was more accurate in regions with certain minimum and maximum temperature values above thresholds. However, the model performance was poor in colder areas, where freezing temperatures were occurred in winter duration (Shahrekord, Borujen, Koohrang, and Farsan). In order to improve the model's accuracy, a correction factor based on the minimum and maximum air temperatures was incorporated in the model. The findings emphasized the importance of considering both precipitation and temperature dynamics when modeling winter wheat yields, especially in regions with diverse climates. By refining models like WDF, agricultural planners can better forecast the yield fluctuations and address the impacts of climate variability on food security in Iran and similar regions worldwide.

Analysis of the yield of spring oats cultivated in a harsh continental climate

Studies of the yield of spring oats for the period 2012–2021 in the conditions of a sharply continental climate in the Kemerovo region have been carried out. The main soils of the steppe zone are leached heavy loamy chernozem, forest-steppe — gray forest. In 2012, the yield of this crop was the lowest — 9.35 kg/ha. The first one reflects the trend of yield dynamics (trend) and is associated with an increase in the general culture of agriculture. The second is caused by fluctuations in weather conditions in each particular year and is depicted as deviations from the trend. It is shown that the yield of spring oats in both steppe and forest-steppe soil-climatic zones tends to slightly increase. The analysis of the data obtained showed that the maximum yield of spring oats was in 2021 — 22.68 kg/ha, and the lowest was in 2012 (9.35 kg/ha). The high fluctuation of oat yield indicates a strong influence of hydrothermal conditions during the growing season of the crop. It was found that the decrease in the growth rate of spring oat yields in the Kemerovo region was in 2015, 2016 and 2018. The maximum growth rate was observed in 2013 — 178.82%. The maximum decrease in the yield growth rate of spring oats occurred in 2016 and 2018 - by -5.31% and -6.68%, respectively. The highest increase in oat yield was observed in 2013 — 78.82%. The absolute content of 1% yield increase was 19.44 c/ha in 2021 compared to 2012.

Mitigating yield uncertainty from the perspectives of contract manufacturing and technology licensing

In the low-carbon environment, green manufacturing by manufacturers often requires upstream to provide precision components. However, the lack of production experience of high-tech upstream leads to yield uncertainty. To explore the impact of yield uncertainty on green supply chain operations and analyze its solution, we propose a contract manufacturing mode with technology licensing and further consider pricing licensing or production licensing. The Stackelberg game is employed to construct these three models and a benchmark model without contract manufacturing. Moreover, we discuss the supplier’s mode preference by numerical analysis. Our findings reveal that the contract manufacturing mode with technology licensing mitigates the detrimental influence of yield uncertainty, boosting supplier profitability by 49.00% and manufacturer profitability by 61.76% when the expected yield rate is small or the expected yield rate is large with a small yield fluctuation. Furthermore, when both expected yield rate and profit-sharing ratio are low, increased yield fluctuation predominantly affects the downstream, whereas a win–win–win situation can be achieved through increased profit-sharing ratio. Additionally, compared with contract manufacturing mode with technology licensing, additional pricing licensing or production licensing augments supplier profitability by more than 10.56% in certain cases. Interestingly, improving production efficiency may not enhance the contract manufacturer profitability in both modes due to potential trade-offs with competition and the high cost. This paper contributes to the development of contract manufacturing policies, guiding suppliers and contract manufacturers towards achieving synergetic economic and environmental development. Future research could examine the applicability of the proposed contract manufacturing mode in various industries or identify additional factors affecting supplier profitability.

Влияние абиотических факторов весенне-летнего периода на формирование хозяйственно ценных признаков у сортов черешни (Сerasus avium L.) в условиях юга России

Abstraсt. This paper shows a variation in the yield of 11 studied sweet cherry varieties from a minimum value of 5 kg/tree in 2020 (Dar izobilya variety) to a maximum of 65.0 kg per tree in 2021 (Kavkazskaya variety), which was more dependent on the weather conditions of the growing season. In this regard, the aim of the research is to study the biological features of the formation of indicators of yield and quality of fruits of Russian and introduced varieties of sweet cherries, and related weather and climatic factors. By means of statistical evaluation, the coefficient of variation was established, which was high for all varieties – from 63.1 % to 97.3 %, which indicates strong fluctuations in yield during the study period (2019-2023). The indicator "fruit weight" is a varietal feature, therefore it does not vary much by year of observation within each variety. Thus, the coefficient of variation in the studied varieties ranged from 2.7 % (Sashenka variety) to 15.8 % (Kavkazskaya variety). By varieties, this indicator varied quite strongly from the lowest value in 2022 of 4.3 g (Kavkazskaya variety) to the highest 10.3 g in 2022 (Krupnoplodnaya variety). According to the results of the study, the varieties that are least affected by climatic factors were identified, which had an average yield of 31.5-35.2 kg per tree over 5 years of study, subject to the almost complete absence of fruits in 2020 these include – Alaya, Volshebnitsa and Dar Isobiliay. A correlation has been established between the studied breeding-valuable indicators and various abiotic factors influencing their formation. The yield index had a high correlation with the average annual air temperature R2 = 0.60 and the amount of precipitation in April – R 2 = 0.60. The fruit weight indicator was most dependent on the average monthly temperature in June, in this case the correlation coefficient was – R 2 = 0.80, as well as the amount of precipitation for the year – R 2 = 0.54. Keywords: variety, sweet cherry, abiotic factors, yield, productivity, fruit weight. Financing source: The research was carried out within the State Task of Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for the FSBSI NCFSCHVW.

Evaluation of Food Security in North China Based on Food Production Level.

This paper focuses on county-level grain production and food security in North China; selects 17 indicators from both climatic conditions and human activities; applies yield fluctuation coefficients, spatial econometric modelling, the random forest method, and factor analysis to study the characteristics of grain production in North China and the influencing factors; and evaluates the situation of food security in North China based on grain production capacity. The following results were obtained: (1) The spatial and temporal changes in grain production located in North China from 2000 to 2020 are obvious. The grain output in North China from 2000 to 2020 maintains fluctuating growth at a rate of 0.38 × 1011 kg/10a. The east and south are the key areas for grain production in North China. Grain output was relatively stable except for 2003. with the cold spots of grain production being mainly in the northwestern area and the hot spots in the central and southern areas. (2) The changes in grain production in North China from 2000 to 2020 were less affected by climate and mainly influenced by human activity indicators. (3) As time progresses, the area of food shortage zones decreases in size, becoming evenly distributed and dispersed from the initial concentration in northern Hebei and most of Shanxi; the change in the supply-demand equilibrium zones is not obvious; and the area of surplus grain zones increases markedly in size, with a tendency to expand from the south and centre of the study area to the west and north. The grain production capacity of counties in the northwest and north is generally low, and even counties located in surplus grain areas have potential food security risks. However, in the east and south, due to their high grain production capacity, the per capita grain supply situation may be alleviated even in counties located in grain shortage areas. This study can deepen the understanding of the characteristics of food production in North China and enrich the research on food security. Analyses of factors influencing food production will improve a deeper understanding of food security. Food security evaluation based on food production capacity will contribute to a more precise and comprehensive understanding of the food security pattern in North China.

CORN FOR GRAIN IN CONTINUOUS GROWING UNDER DIFFERENT FERTILIZER SYSTEMS AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

On the experimental field of the Poltava State Agricultural Experimental Station named after M. I. Vavilov of the The Institute of Pig Breeding and Agro-Industrial Production of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, during 1984-2023, on typical chernozem in conditions of unstable moisture of the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe, were conducted researches to study the continuous growing of corn for grain and its productivity. Precipitation is the leading factor in providing corn with available moisture in this region. Different hydrothermal conditions, especially the amount of moisture during the agricultural year and the vegetation, led to sharp fluctuations in grain yield over the years, which occurred in a wide range. The analysis of the average values ​​of corn productivity for each 10 consecutive years of conducting these studies made it possible to establish that during the first decade of observations, the dynamics of this indicator in subsequent periods took place in the paradigm of its growth, albeit at a different level. Maize grain yield and its correlation with different weather conditions and fertilization systems, regardless of the replacement of maize hybrids, ranged from direct to inverse and from low to high. Long-term application of different doses and ratios of organic and mineral fertilizers contributed to changes in both quantitative and qualitative indicators of humus in the soil. It was determined that the content of total carbon in the fertilized areas was higher by 3,0 and 3,3 relative percent compared to the unfertilized ones. Special attention was paid to the ratio between humic and fulvic acids, which directly depends on the fertilization system. The different effect of this agrotechnical measure on the amount of humus accumulation in the soil is shown. Thus, in areas without fertilizers (control), its accumulation occurs at the level of an average indicator and a weak effect of organic acids on the mineral part of the soil, while under the organo-mineral fertilization system, this process takes place intensively, and the mineral part remains almost unchanged.

Early-season yield fluctuations of strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) follow a bimodal Gaussian model

Strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) are highly perishable and require intensive labor inputs for harvesting. Therefore, yield forecasting is critical for improving labor management and marketing decision-making in strawberry production. In Florida, United States, strawberry yields during winter months have a unique distribution pattern characterized by multiple waves. We hypothesized that individual yield waves can be described using Gaussian distribution, a model that represents a symmetrical bell-shaped curve. Two short-day cultivars (‘Florida Radiance’ and ‘Florida Brilliance’) and one day-neutral cultivar (‘Florida Beauty’) were grown in west-central Florida. Harvesting was performed 30 times, generally twice a week from November through February. Yield data were converted to weekly values prior to model fitting. The first two yield waves were described by a bimodal Gaussian distribution model, which was then converted into two unimodal Gaussian distribution models. The goodness of fit was very high (R2 = 0.934–0.959) for both yield waves in all tested cultivars. Different yield distribution patterns of the tested cultivars were characterized quantitatively by estimating not only the yield but also the timing and duration of each yield wave. Our modeling approach provides insights into understanding cultivar-dependent fruiting phenology, yielding capacity, and fruit earliness. Such information can help optimize yield distribution through breeding and reduce yield gaps by using different cultivars or staggered planting dates. The model developed here only applies to the first two waves of fruit production. Future research will aim to model the following yield waves to fully characterize the strawberry yield distribution.

Yield and morphological characteristics of cloves from Semarang plantation, Indonesia

Abstract Cloves, originating from Indonesia’s Moluccas Islands, have spread across various regions over time. Semarang, Central Java, is a notable clove production center, showcasing distinct advantages. Despite originating in the 1980s, Semarang’s clove production remains robust, boasting longevity and high yields. This study focuses on Semarang’s clove plantation, which belongs to the Samyo Rahayu Farmers Group in Gebugan Village, Bergas. The research aimed to evaluate clove yield and morphological traits. The methodology involved selecting high-yield blocks followed by the selection of mother trees. Morphological characteristics like canopy shape, stem dimensions, leaf attributes, and inflorescence traits were examined. Additionally, GC-MS analysis identified oil chemical components. Findings revealed an average plant height of 11.72 m and trunk circumference of 115.55 cm. Canopy shape primarily exhibited a cylindrical form with 1-3 main branches. Leaves displayed green, glossy, and smooth textures upon maturity, transitioning from reddish to bright red in their young shoots, with petiole length of 2.17cm, leaf length of 10.96 cm, and leaf width of 4.39 cm and ratio 2.5. Inflorescences followed a short type, with pink to red mature flower tubes, rounded or slightly pointed corollas, and distinctive red corollas – characteristics typical of the Zanzibar type. Inflorescences were characterized by short arrangements, with an average of 12-20 flower buds per inflorescence. There were tree-to-tree fresh flower yield fluctuations between 40 to 100 kg. Dried clove bud with water content 5.73-6.82 % contained oil 14.67 – 17.96 %. Essential oil compounds analysis indicated the presence of 15-20 chemical components, with eugenol constituting over 70%, signifying its primary compound. This population may be recommended as genetic material for breeding high-yielding cloves.

Study of Factors Influencing U.S. Treasury Yields Based on Time Series Linear Regression Models

Studying the impact of changes in the savings rate on fluctuations in US Treasuries is significant. This paper conducts a linear regression analysis of the yield of US Treasuries, inflation rate, GDP growth rate, and US savings rate over the past decade, aiming to explore their relationships and influences. Based on economic data from the United States, a model is constructed, which is further applied to data from the European Union to validate its applicability and accuracy across different economic systems and to investigate the impact of disparities in data between different regions on the results. After analyzing the data and obtaining results, various types of economic data from the European Union are used as model variables for testing. Following a correlation analysis of the data, the conclusion is drawn that even different regions or countries exhibit varying positive or negative correlations between their economic data and US Treasury yield fluctuations. This paper delves into the analysis and comparison of the interaction between US Treasury yields and economic indicators of both the United States and the European Union, exploring whether these interactions manifest differently in the two distinct economic systems.

Study on Mn Volatilization Behavior During Vacuum Melting of High-manganese Steel

As an alloying element in steel, manganese can considerably enhance the mechanical properties of structural steel. However, the Mn volatilisation loss in vacuum melting is severe because of the high saturated vapour pressure, resulting in an unstable Mn yield and Mn content fluctuation. Therefore, a systematic study of the volatilisation behaviour of Mn in vacuum melting is required to obtain a suitable Mn control process to achieve precise control of Mn composition, thereby providing a theoretical basis for industrial melting of high-Mn steel. In order to explore the Mn volatilization behavior, the volatilization thermodynamics and volatilisation rate of Mn, as well as the influence factors are discussed in this study. The results shows that Mn is extremely volatilised into the vapour phase under vacuum, the equilibrium partial pressure is closely related to Mn content and temperature. With an increase in the Mn content, a higher C content has a more obvious inhibitory effect on the equilibrium partial pressure of Mn. The maximum theoretical volatilisation rate of Mn shows a linear upward trend with an increase in Mn content. However, a higher C content has a more obvious effect on the reduction of the maximum theoretical volatilisation rate with the increase of Mn content. This study provides an improved understanding of Mn volatilisation behaviour as well as a theoretical foundation for consistent Mn yield control during the vacuum melting process of high-Mn steel.

Annual variation in yield, chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of rockrose (Cistus ladanifer L.) essential oils

The fluctuation in yield, composition, antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the essential oil (EO) of rockrose (Cistus ladanifer L.) obtained from two locations in central Spain was analysed and compared over the course of one year. Fifteen kilograms of C. ladanifer, collected monthly or fortnightly from two sites with different plant age (7 and 12 years), underwent steam-distillation. GC (FID)-MS analyses were done to determine the volatile profile of EOs. Obtained EO yields varied significantly (P < 0.001) throughout the year, ranging between 0.03 and 0.19% w/d.w. (±0.05) with the highest yields (>0.1%) observed from September to February. The younger population exhibited higher EO yields that the older one. Both rockrose populations displayed a high content of α-pinene (40.4–62.0%); the other predominant constituents included allo-aromadendrene + trans-pinocarveol, limonene, bornyl acetate and viridiflorol. The higher EO yields coincided with a higher content of α-pinene and a lower content of the other components. Furthermore, EOs’ antibacterial potential was tested against Bacillus cereus. Only a weak antibacterial potency (512–1024 μg/mL) was revealed, with stronger potency in case of older rockrose population. In vitro antioxidant capacity, evaluated by ORAC method, showed similar results for both populations, with its stronger potential between February and May.

Comparison of nectar and pollen resources in various Tilia species. A case study from southern Poland

Management of food resources is considered fundamental for supporting insect pollinators, whose abundance shows a downward trend on the global scale. Here, the nectar and pollen production (per flower, per 1 m2 of tree crown), the composition of nectar carbohydrates and the levels of pollen proteins was evaluated in eight Tilia species (Malvaceae) growing in SE Poland. In the warm-summer continental climate, Tilia species can improve nectar and pollen resources mainly in June/July. Although the flowering period of each species is short (8.0–14.7 days), appropriate selection of species can extend the availability of food for more than a month. However, the considerable variations in the flowering onset (11.2–20.1 days) may cause significant inter-seasonal shifts in food accessibility.The nectar with its highly changeable sugar concentration (29.5–77.4%) was composed of sucrose, glucose, and fructose; protein content in pollen was 7.2–16.8%. The mean sugar yield was in the range of 0.95–19.1 g per 1 m2 (T. amuriensis – T. platyphyllos, respectively), whereas the mean pollen yield was 1.37–4.1 g per 1 m2 of tree crown (T. amuriensis – T. × euchlora, respectively). Significant year-to-year fluctuations of sugar and pollen yield in linden trees have to be taken into account in conservation schemes, and the introduction of other flowering plants with more stable sugar and pollen production should be considered in an area with a high density of linden trees. Linden flowers mainly support honey bees; nevertheless, wild pollinators (bumble bees, solitary bees, and dipterans) can also benefit from linden floral resources.

Index construction and real-time hazard assessment of rice sterile-type chilling injury process in Northeast China

Rice is a warm-temperature crop, and sterile-type chilling injuries may be induced by acute periods of low-temperature weather during the reproductive growth period. This study considered the daily mean and minimum temperatures in Northeast China from 1979 to 2018 as influencing factors to construct a process-based rice accumulated intensity index (PARII) and hazard assessment model based on known crop disaster periods, analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of chilling injury during the rice growth period (booting and flowering stages), used solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) and yield fluctuation data to calculate the adaptability of the hazard assessment model, and selected two typical events of disaster processes to verify the proposed real-time hazard assessment model. The change in the cumulative intensity index of rice sterile-type chilling injury indicated an increasing trend in chilling injury in the rice booting stage . Based on the probability density static hazard and cumulative probability dynamics, the results of real-time hazard analysis showed that the chilling injury hazard area was significantly expanded compared with the sterile-type chilling injury during the booting and flowering periods. The hazard value was greater than 0.2 in central and southeastern Heilongjiang, and the static hazard index was significantly negatively correlated with SIF and fluctuating yield, which indicated the chilling injury impacted rice yield and physiology. Regional-scale hazard levels were assessed by daily real-time hazard evaluation to highlight spatial heterogeneity in crop stress and damage. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for real-time risk assessment and management of chilling injury in rice crops and may support future adaptation strategies for addressing risks associated with severe low-temperature events.

Biochar – a sustainable soil conditioner for improving soil health, crop production and environment under changing climate: a review

Land degradation and climate change, two intricately intertwined phenomena, demand appropriate management solutions to effectively tackle the escalating issues of food and nutritional security. In this context, the realm of agriculture confronts formidable challenges in its pursuit of soil resource reclamation, improving water quality, mitigating climate change, and maintaining soil and natural resources for posterity. Central to these aspirations is the preservation of an optimum organic matter, serving as a linchpin threshold is crucial for protecting the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the soil, while simultaneously sustaining agricultural productivity. To address these multifaceted challenges, the introduction of diverse organic amendments has emerged as a crucial strategy. Noteworthy among these is the application of biochar, which functions as a soil conditioner capable of bolstering soil health, mitigating the impact of climate change, and securing global food security. Biochar is a carbon-enriched substance produced through pyrolysis of assorted biomass waste. It has a larger surface area, higher cation exchange capacity, and an extended carbon storage capability. The strategic integration of biochar production and subsequent soil application engenders an array of benefits, encompassing the amelioration of soil physical properties, augmented retention and the availability of nutrients, and the enhancement of biological activity, resulting in higher agricultural yields and societal benefits through the curtailment of soil to atmosphere greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, biochar demonstrates its efficacy in the realm of environmental restoration by serving as a medium for extraction and elimination of heavy metals, which often pervade aquatic ecosystems and soil matrices. This review addressed the need for biochar production, characterization, soil health, the possibility for environmental restoration, and crop yield fluctuations owing to climate change.