Harvesting Areas Research Articles

Platinum-modified bismuth molybdate flake balls as visible-light-responsive photocatalyst

Solar photocatalysis is considered as one of the best methods for “green” purification of environment. Accordingly, efficient, stable, and low-price materials must be developed for possible commercial application. Herein, flower-like bismuth molybdate (Bi2MoO6) photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by CTAB-assisted hydrothermal process, and then surface modified with platinum by photodeposition. The obtained materials were characterized by various methods, including XRD, DRS, XPS, SEM, TEM, ESR, photoluminescence spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical tests. Photocatalytic activity was tested mainly for tetracycline (TC) antibiotic degradation under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm), including scavenger tests and experiments for different operation conditions (TC concentration, photocatalyst dose, pH value, in the presence of inorganic salts, water taken from different reservoirs). It has been found that the best photocatalyst containing 0.5 wt% of platinum exhibits 94.2 % TC removal during 60-min visible-light irradiation, reaching the reaction rate constant of 0.0392 min−1 (exceeding the data reported up to now). It is proposed that exceptional photocatalytic performance is caused by the synergy between the uniform flower structure (efficient light harvesting and large specific surface area) and double function of platinum deposits, i.e., as a sink for electrons (hindering charge carriers’ recombination) and a plasmonic sensitizer (allowing energy transfer from excited platinum to oxygen). Superoxide radicals (•O2−) are the main oxidation species, as proven by the quenching experiments and EPR analysis. However, in the case of platinum-modified samples, singlet oxygen plays also an important role, and thus an energy transfer from plasmonic platinum to oxygen could be expected. Additionally, TC degradation pathways, elucidated by the detection of intermediates, and the toxicity data (TC and its degradation products), assessed by a quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) method, have confirmed that photocatalytic degradation of TC is indeed an environmental-friendly method, highly recommended for the decomposition of persistent organic compounds.

Analysis of production projections and factors that correlated with rice production in Indonesia

Introduction: Meeting rice needs is largely determined by the level of domestic rice production. However, the various dynamics that occur provide encouragement to provide an overview of the conditions for meeting food needs, namely in the form of rice, based on trends in rice production and how independent variables correlate with rice production. The aim of this research is to determine the projected rice production for 2023-2032 and determine the strength of the relationship between the dependent variable (rice production) and the independent variables in the form of harvested area, price of harvested dry grain, price of urea fertilizer and price. Methods: namely a quantitative descriptive method with secondary time series data from 1993-2022. Data analysis techniques for forecasting studies are by using Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) analysis. Meanwhile, in the correlation analysis of rice production using the Pearson correlation. Results: Projections for rice commodity production in Indonesia from 2023 to 2032 using the MA1 model show a positive trend. Analysis of the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable, namely harvest area (X1), rice price (X2), urea fertilizer price (X3), and price of other food commodities, namely corn (X4) shows a significant positive relationship with rice production in Indonesia. Conclusion: Projections for rice commodity production in Indonesia from 2023 to 2032, which were analyzed using the MA 1 model, obtained data with a positive trend which states that based on past data, Indonesian rice production will continue to increase every year in line with domestic food needs.

ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI PRODUKTIVITAS PADI SAWAH DI KECAMATAN AESESA KABUPATEN NAGEKEO PADA TAHUN 2013-2017

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of rice harvest area, human resources and rainfall on lowland rice productivity and determine the factors that most influence lowland rice productivity. The data used are quantitative and qualitative data sourced from lowland rice productivity data, harvested area data, human resource data and rainfall data taken from BPS Kabupaten Ende and other relevant agencies, within the last five years. The results of his research were three factors, namely harvested area, human resources and rainfall, all of which did not significantly influence the productivity of lowland rice. Of the three independent variables, namely the rice field harvest area variable, the Human Resources variable and the rainfall variable, it can be seen from the coefficient numbers which are more influential on the productivity of lowland rice, namely the harvest area variable and the Human Resources variable which are positive, namely the coefficient of harvested area is 70.451 and the coefficient of Human Resources is 1.671, while the rainfall variable is negative, namely -160.985. From the results of this study, the local government wants to increase the participation of extension workers to the farming community so that their business spirit and creativity are continuously fostered. It is hoped that lowland rice farmers try as often as possible to get direction or socialization from the local government to improve Human Resources or knowledge.

Comparison of talonavicular-cuneiform joint fusion with bone grafting and without bone grafting in treatment of Müller-Weiss disease

To compare the effectiveness of talonavicular-cuneiform joint fusion with iliac bone grafting and without bone grafting in the treatment of Müller-Weiss diseases (MWD). The clinical data of 44 patients (44 feet) with MWD who received talonavicular-cuneiform joint fusion between January 2017 and November 2022 and met the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 25 patients were treated with structural iliac bone grafting (bone grafting group) and 19 patients without bone grafting (non-bone grafting group). There was no significant difference ( P>0.05) in age, gender composition, body mass index, disease duration, affected side, Maceira stage, and preoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, anteroposterior/lateral Meary angle, and Pitch angle between the two groups. Operation time, operation cost, and postoperative complications were recorded in the two groups. AOFAS and VAS scores were used to evaluate the function and pain degree of the affected foot. Meary angle and Pitch angle were measured on the X-ray film, and the joint fusion was observed after operation. The difference (change value) of the above indexes before and after operation was calculated for comparison between groups to evaluate the difference in effectiveness. The operation was successfully completed in both groups, and the incisions in the two groups healed by first intention. The operation time and cost in the bone grafting group were significantly more than those in the non-bone grafting group ( P<0.05). All patients were followed up. The median follow-up time was 41.0 months (range, 16-77 months) in the non-bone grafting group and 40.0 months (range, 16-80 months) in the bone grafting group. There was skin numbness of the medial dorsalis of the foot in 1 case, internal fixation stimulation in 2 cases, and pain at the iliac bone harvesting area in 1 case of the bone grafting group. There was skin numbness of the medial dorsalis of the foot in 1 case and muscle atrophy of the lower limb in 1 case of the non-bone grafting group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, the AOFAS scores of the two groups significantly improved when compared with those before operation, while the VAS scores significantly decreased, the anteroposterior/lateral Meary angle and Pitch angle significantly improved, and the differences were significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the change values of outcome indicators between the two groups ( P>0.05). There was no delayed bone union or bone nonunion in both groups, and joint fusion was achieved at last follow-up. In the treatment of MWD, there is no significant difference in effectiveness and imaging improvement of talonavicular-cuneiform joint fusion combined with or without bone grafting. However, non-bone grafting can shorten the operation time, reduce the cost, and may avoid the complications of bone donor site.

Monitoring of bivalve mollusk harvesting areas: the relevance of Salmonella spp.

The microbiological monitoring of bivalve mollusk harvesting areas in the Marche region is based on the parameters of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. However, Regulation EU/2019/627 stated criteria based on E. coli only to determine the health status of these areas. Therefore, the reason for Salmonella spp. monitoring, as provided in the Marche region, could be aimed at reducing the risk of placing on the market contaminated bivalve mollusks. This study, using the results of microbiological monitoring carried out in the Marche region from 2015 to 2022 and the methods based on Bayes' theorem and Poisson's distribution, evaluated the effectiveness and efficiency of Salmonella spp. monitoring in reducing the risk to the consumer. The results show that i) the use of a single sample unit significantly reduced the possibility of detecting non-compliance with the microbiological safety criterion; ii) the time taken to report positive results (average of approximately 10 days) did not allow the timely implementation of control measures; iii) the prevalence of positive outcomes was quite sporadic: a random trend of positivity is recognizable on a geographical and monthly basis for mussels and a geographical basis for striped clams; iv) considering the predictive value of E. coli against Salmonella spp., the specificity is very high and the negative predictive value versus Salmonella spp. would be >80%. In conclusion, the study shows that the monitoring of Salmonella spp. has a limited effect on reducing the risk to the consumer; however, in the cost/benefit assessment, other aspects not covered by this study should be considered.

A conical shaped self-healing slippery film for enhanced fog harvesting in windy environment

Wind presents both advantages and disadvantages for water collection. It can bring an abundant fog resource to arid areas for water harvesting, however, some of the captured water droplets are inevitably blown away in a windy environment because of the easy-sliding property of the material surface. Herein, a conical-shaped, self-healing, liquid-infused film with tunable cone angles based on candle soot, thermoplastic poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA), and hydrophobic silicone oil has been developed using a simple template method and traditional Chinese origami. Benefiting from the inward force induced by the conical structure, the condensed droplets prefer to gather toward the top of the conical structure in windy environments rather than splashing out, which usually occurs on a plane surface. This advantage can greatly ensure the high water collection efficiency of materials in windy regions. In addition, owing to the unique photothermal property and thermoplasticity of the designed conical structure, surface scratches during application can be quickly repaired under solar illumination without extra fossil energy consumption, and long-term stable application of the materials can be guaranteed. Therefore, this study finely synergized structure design and performance enhancement and established a new paradigm for effective and reliable fog harvesting applications.

A GIS-based approach to determine the priority area for rainwater harvest in Kupang

Kupang, a pivotal economic and administrative hub in Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia, faces recurring droughts resulting in crop failures, food insecurity, and health problems. Addressing this water crisis entails rainwater harvesting as a potential solution. This study establishes a comprehensive framework for prioritizing rainwater harvesting areas in Kupang. Using the weighted overlay method and open-source GIS software, our approach involves three stages: identifying drought and flood priority zones, defining suitability indicators, and quantifying the potential of rainwater harvesting systems. By leveraging climatological, geological, and hydrological information, we determine priority areas for drought and flood management. Our analysis of rainwater harvesting suitability integrates climatological information, land use and land cover mapping, runoff potential assessment, and water use index. Quantification of rainwater harvesting system requirements hinges on rooftop area and population data. The entire wards in Kupang are classified as high priorities for drought mitigation. Therefore, rainwater harvesting is a viable strategy for all wards. The most prioritized and in-demand wards, Oesapa, Sikumana, Lasiana, and Liliba, have the potential to install a minimum of 12,000 rainwater harvesting systems, each with a 1500-liter volume barrel.

Development of Extraction Method for Potential Harvesting Area for Tower Yarder Logging Using Self-propelled Carriages: Case of Downhill Yarding

Development of Extraction Method for Potential Harvesting Area for Tower Yarder Logging Using Self-propelled Carriages: Case of Downhill Yarding

Advances in growth, doping, and devices and applications of zinc oxide

Zinc oxide is a breakthrough multifunctional material of emerging interest applicable in the areas of electronics, computing, energy harvesting, sensing, optoelectronics, and biomedicine. ZnO has a direct and wide bandgap and high exciton binding energy. It is nontoxic, earth-abundant, and biocompatible. However, the growth and characterization of high-quality ZnO has been a challenge and bottleneck in its development. Efforts have been made to synthesize device-quality zinc oxide and unleash its potential for multiple advanced applications. ZnO could be grown as thin films, nanostructures, or bulk, and its properties could be optimized by tuning the growth techniques, conditions, and doping. Zinc oxide could be a suitable material for next generation devices including spintronics, sensors, solar cells, light-emitting diodes, thermoelectrics, etc. It is important and urgent to collate recent advances in this material, which would strategically help in further research and developments in ZnO. This paper provides a coherent review of developments in ZnO growth, leading to its advancing applications. Recent developments in growth technologies that address native defects, current challenges in zinc oxide, and its emerging applications are reviewed and discussed in this article.

Faktor-Faktor Yang Memengaruhi Volume Impor Beras Di Indonesia

&lt;em&gt;Rice is one of the agricultural products that experience many problems in providing national food stocks. Constraints on rice stocks in Indonesia have resulted in price increases, especially for low-income people. Insufficient rice production encourages rice imports by the government to meet national needs. The research aims to determine the factors that influence rice imports in Indonesia. The basic research method is a quantitative descriptive method. Secondary data was used in 1993-2022. Data analysis uses multiple linear regression. The results of the analysis show: (1) Together, the variables of rice harvest area, population, rupiah exchange rate, rice consumption, and rice stock have a significant effect on rice imports. (2) The variables of rice harvest area, rupiah exchange rate, and rice stock do not individually have a significant effect on rice imports. On the other hand, the variables of population and rice consumption have a significant effect individually. (3) The variables of population and rice consumption have a positive and significant influence on rice imports. The government is advised to focus on rice import policies by considering fluctuations in domestic consumption and population which have a significant impact, while also monitoring the stability of the rupiah exchange rate to anticipate potential impacts in the future.&lt;/em&gt;

NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF RICE GROWTH PHASES IN KARAWANG USING THE GAUSS-JORDAN ELIMINATION METHOD

Indonesia's growth cannot be separated from Indonesia's economic growth. The agricultural sector has a massive and significant impact on Indonesia's economic growth. One of the agricultural products that’s important is rice. Rice is a seasonal crop that is very necessary for human survival. Karawang, one of the districts in West Java Province, which is known as Lumbung Padi City, is the location of the main topic in making this journal. In fact, based on BPS data, the area harvested for paddy fields in Karawang from 2010-2015 was found not to have increased regularly from year to year. This is interesting to discuss because the rice harvest area is expected to increase regularly to support Indonesia's economic growth. Of course, this is because the rice harvest area will affect the amount of rice produced in the rice fields. By ignoring other internal and external factors of rice growth, this journal will only focus on rice harvest area based on rice growth phases (vegetative 1, vegetative 2, and generative) and accumulated harvest area using the Gauss Jordan elimination method. Calculations are carried out to determine the possibility of farmers to predict the maximum amount of rice production and avoid losses in purchasing materials to support rice growth

Rubber-Tracked Forwarders—Productivity and Cost Efficiency Potentials

The extraction of timber is expensive, energy intensive, and potentially damaging to the forest soil. Machine development aims to mitigate risks for environmental impact and decrease energy consumption while maintaining or increasing cost efficiency. The development of rubber-tracked forwarders has gained renewed interest, not least due to climate change leading to unreliable weather in combination with low tolerance for soil damage. The increased cost of rubber tracks compared to wheels is believed to be compensated by higher driving speed enabled by semi-active suspension. Thus, the aim of this study was to theoretically investigate how the productivity and cost efficiency of rubber-tracked forwarders are affected by variations in driving speed and machine costs. The calculations were made with fixed stand parameters, to evaluate performance in well-defined working conditions, and with parameters from 2500 final felling stands in central Sweden, to evaluate performance in varied working conditions. Scenarios were compared to a baseline corresponding to mid-sized wheeled forwarders. The results show higher productivity with the increased driving speed enabled by rubber tracks and suspension at all extraction distances, with larger differences at long extraction distances. Assuming a 15% higher machine price for the rubber-tracked forwarder and a variable cost increase proportional to speed increase, extraction costs break even with the baseline at 400 m and 700 m extraction distance for moderate and fast driving speed, respectively. Furthermore, a rubber-tracked forwarder is likely to enable access to a larger part of the harvest area during longer seasons. For the studied set of stands, the year-round accessible volumes are estimated to increase from 9% to 92% with a rubber-tracked forwarder. With rubber tracks instead of wheels, good accessibility has the potential to be combined with low soil impact and cost efficiency in a favourable way for both industry and ecosystem.

Forecasting analysis of harvest area, production and productivity of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in North Sumatra Province

North Sumatra Province stands out as a key hub for potato cultivation in Indonesia, with a considerable potato consumption rate driven by its substantial population. This study aims to analyze the trend of harvest area, production, and productivity of potatoes in North Sumatra Province from 2007 to 2021. Additionally, it seeks to project the future trends in harvest areas, production, and productivity for the period 2023-2032 through forecasting analysis facilitated by the SPSS program application. The research employs purposive area sampling to determine the study locations, utilizing secondary data sourced from the Central Agency on Statistics of North Sumatra Province. Finding reveal a positive trend in potato harvest area, production, and productivity from 2007 to 2021. Looking ahead to 2023-2032, the forecast indicates a downward trajectory in potato harvest areas, while potato production and productivity are anticipated to maintain a positive trend in North Sumatra Province.

First Report of Pseudomonas oryzihabitans Causing Walnut Leaf Spot Disease in China.

China ranks first in the production and harvest area of walnut (Juglans regia L.) worldwide. Currently, the poor health and low yield of walnut caused by pathogen infection is of concern. In 2022, severe walnut leaf spot disease was observed on the seedlings of four walnut nurseries (0.08 to 0.23 ha) in Liaocheng, Shandong, China, with an average incidence of 48.6% (from 34.6% to 65.3% on the cultivar Xiangling). From August to October, leaf spots mainly appeared on the edges of the leaflets, and occasionally between veins. The lesions were initially soft and rotten, and then light brown, round to semi-circular. Subsequently, the adjacent lesions fused, and the edges of the leaflets and entire leaflets showed symptoms of browning and wilting. For pathogen isolation, five leaflets with representative symptoms from one of the nurseries were collected and wiped three times with sterile absorbent cotton dipped in 75% alcohol and washed with distilled water. Leaflet pieces at the junction of the lesion and healthy tissues were removed, crushed in a sterile mortar, and soaked in a small amount of distilled water for 10 min. The diseased tissue suspension was streaked on a nutrient agar medium (NA) with a sterile inoculation ring and incubated at 28°C for 24 to 72 h. The bacterial colonies obtained were further cultured on NA. The purified colonies were uniform in shape, round, and yellow, with a raised, shiny surface and smooth margin. The isolates were Gram-negative, and the electron microscope analysis showed that the pathogens were short rods (0.35 to 0.52 × 0.90 to 1.24 μm, average = 0.44 ± 0.05 × 1.08 ± 0.11 μm, n = 25). For bacterial species identification, a single-colony culture was subjected to genomic DNA extraction and gene amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA, rpoD, and gyrB. The universal primers 27F/1492R (Lane 1991) were used to amplify the 16S rRNA gene and the specific primers 70F/70R and UP-1E/APrU (Yamamoto et al. 2000) were used to amplify the rpoD and gyrB genes, respectively. In the BLAST analysis, the 16S rRNA sequence (GenBank OR195734) of the isolate shared 99% similarity (1409/1410 bp) with Pseudomonas oryzihabitans strain IAM 1568T (AM262973.1), and the rpoD (OR709708) and gyrB (OR709707) sequences showed >98% identity to rpoD (707/717 bp; FN554494.1) and gyrB (787/801 bp; FN554210.1) of P. oryzihabitans strain LMG 7040T. Based on the above results, the isolated bacterium was identified as P. oryzihabitans. For the pathogenicity test, healthy leaflets from 10 two-year-old potted walnut seedlings (cv. Xiangling) were used as inoculation materials. The leaflets were punctured with a sterile inoculation needle of 0.4 mm, and three small holes on each leaflet at an interval of about 5 mm were covered with a piece of sterile cotton. A bacterial suspension (1 ml) at 107 CFU/ml was spread onto the cotton, and wrapped with plastic film for 24 h. Water was used as a negative control. The inoculations were performed five times. Plants were grown outdoors at a daily average temperature of 22°C with relative humidity over 45%. Two days after inoculation, the disease began to develop in the leaflets with similar symptoms to those observed in the field. In contrast, control plants remained healthy and symptomless. Bacteria were reisolated from the inoculated walnut plants, and the morphology and 16S rRNA gene sequences of the isolates were the same as those of the original strains. Since it was discovered as an opportunistic human pathogenic bacterium in the 1970s (Keikha et al. 2019), P. oryzihabitans has also been shown to cause certain plant diseases, such as panicle blight and grain discoloration on rice (Hou et al. 2020), fruit black rot on prickly ash (Liu et al. 2021), and stem and leaf rot on muskmelon (Li et al. 2021). As far as we know, this is the first report of P. oryzihabitans causing walnut leaf spot disease in China. Leaf spot caused by P. oryzihabitans may be a threat to walnut cultivation, and this report of its occurrence is the first step in determining potential spread and effective control measures.

Optimization of Rice (Oryza sativa) Crop in Simalungun District using Quadratic Programming Wolfe Model and Exterior Penalty Function Method

Optimization is a way of optimizing the objective function while still paying attention to existing constraints. The aim of this research is to form a mathematical model to optimize the average production of lowland and field rice in Simalungun Regency and to complete the model using Wolfe model quadratic programming and the exterior penalty function method. The mathematical model in this research is a nonlinear model created using the least squares method. Quadratic programming solves nonlinear problems by turning them into linear problems using the Kuhn Tucker condition and linear problems are solved using the Wolfe model. Meanwhile, the exterior penalty function method solves limited (constrained) nonlinear problems into unlimited (unconstrained) nonlinear problems. Based on the calculations of the two methods, optimal results were obtained for both the Wolfe quadratic programming model and the exterior penalty function method, where the average production of wetland and field rice in Simalungun Regency was 203.1925 tonnes with a wetland rice harvest area of 90.077 hectares and a field rice harvest area of 13.092. hectare. Optimization testing using this algorithm can be used as a basis for related parties such as the community and government in developing productivity. The implication of this research is an increase in harvested area and average rice production, in this case maintaining productivity stability.

Penerapan Data Mining Produksi Padi di Pulau Sumatera Menggunakan Analisis Regresi Linear

Indonesia, primarily an agrarian nation, relies heavily on farming as a livelihood, particularly in rice production. Rice is a crucial commodity, especially in Sumatra. Understanding the influential factors such as rainfall, humidity, average temperature, and harvest area is vital for effective rice production. This research applies the CRISP-DM method: Business Understanding, Data Understanding, Data Preparation, and Modeling. Multiple linear regression analysis is employed using Python programming in Google Colab to assess the impact of these factors on rice production. Results indicate that rainfall, humidity, and average temperature insignificantly affect rice production, while harvest area significantly influences it. The regression model is expressed as Y = 12.3X1 + 1637.1X2 – 159677.3X3 + 5.1X4. This model provides valuable insights for farmers to prioritize influential factors in future rice production

Drone microrelief analysis to predict the presence of naturally regenerated seedlings

Three-dimensional (3D) mapping and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are essential components of the future development of forestry technology. Regeneration of forest stands must be ensured according to the law in the required quality and species composition. Forest management focuses on the optimization of economic costs and quality-assured seedlings. Predicting the suitability of the plots’ environment for natural forest regeneration can contribute to better strategic planning and save time and money by reducing manual work. Although the savings may be considered negligible on small forested plots, they are significant for large cleared areas, such as those harvested after large beetle infestations or strong windstorms, which are increasingly common in European forests. We present a methodology based on spatial analysis and 3D mapping to study the microrelief and surrounding of recently cleared areas. We collected data on four plots in the spring and autumn of a single year after the harvest of four Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] stands near Radlice, Czechia using a multirotor Phantom 4 Pro UAV with a red, green, blue (RGB) camera. We used RGB imagery to compute microrelief data at a very high spatial resolution and the surrounding forest stands after harvesting. We used the microrelief data to estimate the amount of water accumulation and incoming solar radiation across the sites. Based on presence data of newly-established seedlings, we used linear mixed effects models to create a suitability map for each site. Model variables included topographic wetness index, solar area radiation, fencing, type of soil preparation, and distance to the nearest mature forest edge. The topographic wetness index and fencing had strong positive influence on seedling establishment, while solar radiation had a negative influence. Our proposed methodology could be used to predict spontaneous regeneration on cleared harvest areas, or it can estimate how much area is suitable for regeneration, which can lead to important investment decisions.

Historic winter wheat yield, production, and economic value trends in Kansas, the “Wheat State”

AbstractYear‐to‐year weather variability and technologies (fertilizer, irrigation, herbicides, conservation tillage, varieties, mechanization, and others) are among factors that affect winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields in water‐limited cropping systems. The objective of these analyses was to quantify winter wheat yield trends, variability, relationship with weather, yield gap, and value in the “Wheat State,” Kansas. Two data sources were used for this study, that is, annual winter wheat yield reported for selected counties from the United States Department of Agriculture and the Kansas State University wheat variety performance trial near Colby, Garden City, Hays, and Tribune, Kansas. Results of the study showed a decline in harvest area and inflation‐adjusted market value per area of winter wheat beginning in the 1930s. However, both the survey and research data showed continuous increase in winter wheat yield at rates of 3–180 kg ha−1 year−1 that varied by irrigation, location, data source, or time range considered, except for a few years where yield stagnated or declined. Despite increased productivity, results indicated an increase in annual winter wheat yield variation over time. A positive correlation was observed between nonirrigated wheat yield and all months of precipitation except for January, February, and June. October through December precipitation provided the best positive correlation with nonirrigated wheat yield. Wheat yields were negatively correlated with high temperature in months that coincided with wheat flowering and maturity. The yield gap between actual and potential wheat yield was estimated at 15%–55%. The decreasing revenue per land area may be one of the reasons for decreasing wheat planted acreage over time. We concluded producers need to increase adoption of latest technology (varieties with drought and heat tolerance) and management to obtain yield potential. Research should investigate methods to increase the stability of state‐wide wheat production and financial return.

Evaluation of ferroelectric profile of poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)) thin films by positive‐up–negative‐down and fatigue measurement

Organic polymers are of interest due to their numerous promising potential applications in the area of energy harvesting and sensing. In this context, piezoelectric and ferroelectric polymers are subject to intense research; however, it is challenging to understand polarization switching in such systems. The focus of the present study is to thoroughly evaluate the finer details of polarization reversal in poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)) thin films. The intrinsic features arising from the true values of (switching) polarization and extrinsic features associated with the presence of non‐switching contributions, i.e. leakage current and linear dielectric component, have been investigated using the positive‐up–negative‐down technique. These contributions are quantified and discussed. Furthermore, fatigue endurance has been examined by repeated switching cycles. Increase in polarization increases is associated with the improved crystallinity and enhancement of the β‐phase. However, a higher degree of crystallinity, for extended numbers of repeated cycles of the bipolar electric field, resulted in degradation of the (switching) polarization. Fatigue significantly affects the leakage and ferroelectric components while the paraelectric contribution remains almost constant. The underlying mechanism of such trends are discussed in terms of hysteresis losses. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry.

Employing Piezoelectricity to Generate Sustainable Energy with Green Harmonics

This paper examines the potential of piezoelectric substances in presenting sustainable and renewable energy solutions, that specialize in energy harvesting and self-maintaining smart sensing mechanisms inside numerous systems. Highlighting the inefficacy of conventional construction substances like simple cement paste in energy capture, this study delves into current methodologies that expand the piezoelectric abilities of cement-based composites through innovative admixtures and physical treatments. Additionally, the research explores the broader utilization of piezoelectric materials across various sectors together with healthcare, environmental tracking, and consumer electronics, propelled by using the need for wireless sensing nodes and embedded microsystems to have a reliable power source. Emphasizing the environmental advantages, this paper affords a comparative analysis of cutting-edge developments, challenges, and future possibilities within the area of piezoelectric power harvesting (PEH), which include the exploration of lead-free substances and the advancement in hybrid energy harvesting devices.