Risk Of Lodging Research Articles

Identification of QTL for seed yield and agronomic traits in 944 soybean (Glycine max) RILs from a diallel cross of early‐maturing varieties

AbstractIncreasing soybean yield plays a key role in meeting the high demand for protein in Europe and other countries. The aim of this study was to dissect the genetic architecture underlying seed yield, plant height, protein yield and thousand‐seed weight in early‐maturing soybean. To this end, we performed QTL mapping based on 944 RILs derived from a half‐diallel crossing design of five parents. We identified five to eight QTL for each of the four agronomic traits and some explained a considerable proportion of the genotypic variance. The three major QTL showed pleiotropic effects on two or more traits. Fine characterization revealed the maturity genes E1 and E3, and the stem growth habit gene Dt2 as likely candidates underlying these QTL. In general, the allele increasing seed yield also resulted in taller plants, which needs to be considered during selection due to an increased risk of lodging. Collectively, our results underline the strong effect of some loci like the E1 gene on a range of traits including seed yield, making them attractive targets for a marker‐assisted selection.

Ridge-furrow with plastic film mulching system decreases the lodging risk for summer maize plants under different nitrogen fertilization rates and varieties in dry semi-humid areas

As a water-saving cultivation technique, the ridge-furrow with plastic film mulching (RF) system has been a popular planting strategy and has been generally promoted to raise crop yields. However, the effect of the RF system on the susceptibility of maize to lodging is inconclusive. A two-year field experiment, with three planting practices (FP: rain-fed flat planting, TI: traditional irrigation planting and RF) in coupled with two nitrogen (N) application rates (225 and 75 kg N ha−1) and two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars (Zhengnong9 and Zhengdan958), was established to evaluate the risk of lodging under RF and identify how the RF system affects maize lodging. The results revealed that lodging susceptibility had a significantly positive relationship with grain yield (r (coefficient of correlation between lodging rate and grain yield) = 0.36* and 0.79** in 2013 and 2014, respectively), and our previous studies have showed that the maize yield of RF system was significantly higher than the FP practice, suggesting that the RF system increased the lodging risk of maize compared to the FP practice. However, compared with TI, RF decreased plant height, length and centre of gravity height of the basal third internode and improved the stalk bending resistance strength of the basal third internode, leading to significantly increase in the stalk lodging resistance index and reductions in the lodging rate with a simlar grain yield. In summary, RF strategy can be as a hopeful system for summer maize cuiltivation in dry semi-humid areas. High N application rates decreased lodging rate regardless of the plant pattern or cultivar in two years. The lodging rate of Zhengdan958 was significantly higher than that of Zhengnong9. The redundancy analysis showed that plant height, length and stalk bending resistance strength of the basal third internode and centre of gravity height were the vital factors that affected maize lodging, explaining more than 70 % of the total variation in the lodging rate. The plant height, length of the basal third internode and centre of gravity height revealed remarkable positive corrlations with the lodging rate; in addition, the stalk bending resistance strength of the basal third internode revealed remarkable negative corrlation with the lodging rate over the two years. These relationships suggest that increasing stalk strength and decreasing centre of gravity height and plant height result in higher lodging resistance and should be considered in future maize breeding programmes.

Effect of Combined Dressing Agents on Phytosanitary Situation in Winter Wheat Ecosystems

The Middle Volga forest-steppe was subject to a comparative assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of combined insect-fungicidal pesticides as regulators of a phytosanitary state of farming ecosystems and yields of winter wheat. Insect-fungicidal pesticides used for pre-sowing treatment do not guarantee unconditional success, but they help to significantly reduce pest-induced losses and obtain safer grain produce. Regulated seeding rates showed that, once applied, combined dressing agents become slightly less biologically effective with overcrowding or thinning of crops. Dividend Supreme effectively reduced damage to shoots by Swedish flies, slightly worse than Celest Top. Celest Top and Dividend Supreme ensured stable suppression of root rot during the years of research. The winter wheat increasingly lodged when Celest Top and Dividend Supreme were used for seed dressing compared to the control (without dressing). Insect-fungicidal dressing agents increased the yield of winter wheat compared to the control and, at the same time, the risk of lodging. This effect was especially noticeable when Celest Top was used. It is recommended to use the combined Dividend Supreme and Celest Top pesticides for ensuring a stable phytosanitary situation and obtaining a high-quality harvest with a seeding rate of the target crop of 2-3 million seeds per 1 ha.

Development and application of a model for calculating the risk of stem and root lodging in maize

Lodging is a major constraint to increasing the global productivity of maize (Zea Maize L.). The objectives of this paper are to: i) describe a model for stem and root lodging in maize, ii) calibrate the anchorage strength component of the model, iii) evaluate the model’s applicability by assessing its capacity to explain effects of crop husbandry on lodging risk and iv) investigate the potential to further develop the lodging model to predict lodging risk at an early enough growth stage for tactical agronomic action to minimise lodging risk. The study involved a multidisciplinary collaboration between crop scientists, wind engineers and geospatial scientists in the UK and China. Three field experiments with plant population density and nitrogen (N) fertiliser rate treatments were conducted in the UK and China to develop and test the lodging model. Plant characteristics associated with lodging were measured in the experiments after flowering. An existing model of cereal anchorage strength that uses the spread of the root plate as its primary input was demonstrated to be applicable for maize and calibrated for this crop species. The lodging model’s predictions of the effects of plant population and N fertiliser on lodging risk were consistent with published observations. The lodging model calculated that increasing the plant population significantly reduced the anchorage and stem failure wind speeds in all experiments, thus increasing the risk of lodging. This effect was primarily due to increased plant population reducing the spread of the root plate and the stem strength. Changes in N fertiliser had a smaller effect on the lodging associated plant characters. A sensitivity analysis showed that stem failure wind speed was influenced most by variation in stem strength and root failure wind speed was influenced most by variation in the spread of the root plate. This study has shown that the leaf area index measured at leaf 4, 6 or 8 stages is a good indicator of a crop’s future risk of lodging, which demonstrates the potential to develop the model into a practical tool for predicting lodging risk in time for tactical agronomic decisions to be made during the crop’s growing period.

The stage sensitivity of short‐term heat stress to lodging‐resistant traits and yield determination in canola (Brassica napus L.)

AbstractWith the expected increase of abiotic stress under global climate change, significant research has been devoted to how abiotic stress will affect crop production. To date, there has been little research on the stage sensitivity of short‐term heat stress to crop lodging and yield determination in canola. This research was conducted in a controlled growth facility and aimed to examine root morphology, pod fertility, seed yield and crop lodging of two contrasting canola genotypes subjected to a short‐term heat stress (27.0/24.3°C, light/dark), imposed respectively at three growth stages, rosette vegetative stage (RVHT), early flowering stage (EFHT) and late flowering stage (LFHT), in comparison with non‐stressed control (CK) (23/17°C). The results demonstrate that heat stress imposed at RVHT and LFHT was less detrimental to seed yield and lodging resistance. However, EFHT showed significant adverse effects on both, which was further confirmed by redundancy analysis (RDA) and structural equation modelling (SEM). Compared with the CK, EFHT resulted in a yield loss of 43%, which was mainly due to poor pod fertility, less number of filled pods (−28%), decreased pollen viability (−38%) and a lower success ratio of filled pods (−29%). The taproot was found to be relatively tolerant to heat stress, but lateral roots were sensitive to heat stress at EFHT and LFHT. Root capacitance could be used as a non‐destructive method for evaluating lateral root morphology. Compared with the CK, EFHT displayed a high risk of stem lodging, as indicated by a 27% lower safety factor. This was mainly attributed to the reduced stem bending strength that was caused by the deterioration of stem mechanical properties under EFHT, as illustrated by SEM. Root lodging resistance was not altered by any stages of short‐term heat stress, as the taproot remained stable.

Synergistic development of maize stalk as a strategy to reduce lodging risk

AbstractThe reason for different maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids exhibiting differences in stalk lodging risk between the 12‐leaf (V12) and flowering stages is unclear. This study tracked internode development included morphology, carbohydrate accumulation, and mechanical strength of basal internodes in four widely‐planted maize hybrids in China for two consecutive growing seasons. And then used logistic model to estimate the time of initiation and termination of rapid thickening, lengthening, accumulation of dry weight per unit length (DWUL), cellulose, lignin, and increase in rind penetration strength (RPS) of internodes. Planting density was 7.5 × 104 plants ha−1. The results shows that basal internodes development in maize begins with a period of rapid thickening and lengthening, followed by DWUL accumulation, and finally an increase in RPS. The period of DWUL accumulation was the longest of these developmental periods and occurred throughout internode development. For hybrid with a low risk of stalk lodging, RPS development began in later part of the rapid elongation period. In contrast, rapid RPS development in hybrid with a high risk of stalk lodging began after the rapid elongation period. Rapid DWUL accumulation and RPS development can reduce the adverse effects caused by rapid elongation of basal internodes. The shorter the interval between rapid elongation, DWUL accumulation, and RPS development of the basal internodes, the greater a plant's resistance to stalk lodging. Therefore, lodging risk can be reduced through selection and breeding strategies that achieve synergistic development of morphology, dry matter accumulation, and mechanical strength in maize stalks.

Optimizing phenotyping methods to evaluate lodging risk for wheat

• Screening lodging traits for lodging resistance is key for wheat improvement. • Screening seven plants per plot is enough to find genetic variation for lodging traits. • Four key lodging traits can be measured to estimate lodging performance in wheat. Lodging is a complex phenomenon affecting wheat production worldwide and is a consequence of the interaction of wheat plants with abiotic (wind, rain, etc.) and biotic (e. g. plant disease, etc.) factors. Wheat breeders rely heavily on incidences of natural lodging to select lines with resistance; however, the intermittent nature of lodging events means this approach is unreliable. A model of the lodging process has been published to estimate the lodging susceptibility of plants that uses information from 15 stem and root characteristics of field grown plants that influence lodging. This approach estimates lodging susceptibility in the absence of natural lodging. However, the main shortcoming of this methodology for plant breeders is the amount of time required to measure these traits (100–150 min per plot). This study investigated two strategies to optimise the methods of estimating lodging risk in the absence of natural lodging: i) determining the minimum number of plants that must be measured per experimental plot (sample size) to identify genetic differences and ii) minimizing the number of traits required to assess lodging susceptibility increasing the feasibility to apply the methodology in a breeding context. Spring wheat grown under North West Mexico environmental conditions was established during four crop seasons (2010−11, 2011−12, 2012−13 and 2013−14) for this study. Results indicated an optimum sample size of seven plants per plot as the minimum required to identify genetic differences between cultivars with good statistical power and precision (assuming each treatment plot was replicated 3 times). Cultivar ranking and absolute values for trait dimensions were maintained when compared with larger sample sizes. A reduced number of traits can be used to estimate cultivar lodging susceptibility performances and key traits include: plant height, ear number per plant, ear area, natural frequency, breaking strength, length, diameter and wall width of one basal internode, structural rooting depth and root plate spread. Targeting these key traits, this study established that on a daily basis, 10 (47 min per plot) plots can be assessed by measuring seven plants per plot per person. Moreover, if the screening focuses only on the key traits for leverage/stem/root dimensions, then the daily plot assessment capacity would increase to 25.

Key indicators affecting maize stalk lodging resistance of different growth periods under different sowing dates

The accurate evaluation of maize stalk lodging resistance in different growth periods enables timely management of lodging risks and ensures stable and high maize yields. Here, we established five different sowing dates to create different conditions for maize growth. We evaluated the effects of the different growth conditions on lodging resistance by determining stalk morphology, moisture content, mechanical strength and dry matter, and the relationship between stalk breaking force and these indicators during the silking stage (R1), milk stage (R3), physiological maturity stage (R6), and 20 days after R6. Plant height at R1 positively affected stalk breaking force. At R3, the coefficient of ear height and the dry weight per unit length of basal internodes were key indicators of stalk lodging resistance. At R6, the key indicators were the coefficient of the center of gravity height and plant fresh weight. After R6, the key indicator was the coefficient of the center of gravity height. The crushing strength of the fourth internode correlated significantly and positively with the stalk breaking force from R1 to R6, which indicates that crushing strength is a reliable indicator of stalk mechanical strength. These results suggest that high stalk strength and low ear height benefit lodging resistance prior to R6. During and after R6, the coefficient of the center of gravity height and the mechanical strength of basal internodes can be used to evaluate plant lodging resistance and the appropriate time for harvesting in fields with a high lodging risk.

Quantitative effects of cultural practices on growth and yield of forage rice having short panicles

AbstractCultivation of forage rice for whole‐crop silage has been increasing in Japan and will be important in Asia. In this study, effects of cultural practices on growth and yield of a forage rice cultivar “Tsukisuzuka” having short panicle 1 allele were analysed quantitatively using linear mixed model. The contribution of basal dressing to dry yield per 1 g/m2 nitrogen fertilizer was larger than that of topdressing. In addition, topdressing 30 and 20 days before heading was considered to have the disadvantage of increasing risk of lodging and panicle weight respectively. Effects of weather elements on growth of forage rice were also speculated. In tested fields, high solar radiation at seedling and tillering stage was considered important for the high yield. As the number of continuous cropping cycles increased, growth of forage rice got worse. And application of compost improved growth of forage rice. Elemental analysis of soil and plants revealed that this continuous cropping obstacle was likely to attributed to deficiency of potassium. In addition, potassium deficiency increased panicle weight of a forage rice cultivar having short panicle 1 allele. Therefore, control of potassium nutrition will be useful for both sustaining productivity (sufficient application of potassium) and seed production (restriction of potassium). These findings will be useful for improvement of cultivation method of forage rice.

Lodging in wheat: genetic and environmental factors and ways of overcoming

Полегание является одной из основных проблем снижения урожайности и качества зерна озимой и яровой пшеницы. Устойчивость этой культуры к полеганию в значительной степени зависит от факторов внешней среды, биологических и морфологических особенностей стебля и корневой системы. Селекция сортов на устойчивость к полеганию актуальна во многих странах мира, и в данном направлении получен ряд достижений. Высота растений – важный морфологический признак, связанный с устойчивостью к полеганию. Основным направлением для снижения риска возникновения полегания стало выведение сортов, несущих гены короткостебельности (Rht). Гены Rht-B1b, Rht-D1b, Rht8, Rht11 получили широкое распространение во всем мире среди сортов мягкой пшеницы благодаря значительному влиянию на хозяйственно ценные признаки, включая полегание. Немаловажным оказалось изучение анатомо-морфологических особенностей и химического состава тканей стебля, которые дополняют оценку устойчивости к полеганию и позволяют более полно характеризовать изучаемый сортовой материал. Особенно большую роль в прочности стебля многие исследователи отводят толщине стенок междоузлий и их анатомическому строению. Диаметр соломины, ее толстостенность и вес, большое количество сосудистых пучков и широкое кольцо механических тканей коррелируют с устойчивостью к полеганию. Важными структурными компонентами, обеспечивающими прочность стебля у пшеницы, являются содержание лигнина, кремния и целлюлозы. Большое значение в выявлении генетической основы взаимоотношений между анатомическими и морфофизиологическими признаками стебля и корневой системы и полеганием имеют молекулярно-генетический анализ и картирование генов и локусов количественных признаков. Генетические факторы, отражающие корреляции между полеганием и толщиной стенки стебля, числом проводящих пучков и другими параметрами, были картированы в хромосомах 1А, 1B, 2A, 2D, 3A, 4B, 4D, 5A, 5D, 6D и 7D. Установлено, что локусы с высоким фенотипическим эффектом в отношении толерантности к полеганию колокализуются с локусами, ответственными за высоту растения, диаметр и прочность стебля. Для повышения устойчивости к полеганию необходимы разработка комплекса агротехнических методов, снижающих влияние почвенноклиматических факторов, и создание толерантных к полеганию сортов.

Treated wastewater outperformed freshwater for barley irrigation in arid lands

The high demand of barley for animal feed and the scarcity of fresh water increase the need for the reuse of treated wastewater as an alternative source for irrigation. Therefore, two-field experiments were conducted to study physiological processes, plant growth, grain yield and yield components of four-barley cultivars grown under four-irrigation treatments using treated wastewater or fresh water. Plants of four-barley cultivars (ACSAD176, Rum, Athroh, Yarmouk) were exposed to four-irrigation treatments: 1) Full-irrigation using treated wastewater (FWW); 2) Supplementary-irrigation using treated wastewater (SWW); 3) Supplementary-irrigation using fresh water (SFW); 4) Non-irrigation treatment (Rainfed). Full- or supplementary-irrigation using treated wastewater reduced stomatal resistance and increased plant photosynthetic rate, plant height, grain yield and yield components as estimated by grain number plant-1 and 1000-grain weight compared with rainfed conditions. Plants grown under supplementary-irrigation using treated wastewater produced higher grain yield than those grown under supplementary-irrigation using fresh water. Rum cultivar had the highest grain yield among cultivars grown under irrigation. Under rainfed conditions, Rum and ACSAD176 had the highest grain yield. In conclusion, supplementary-irrigation using treated wastewater improved grain yield of barley and can be a better choice to conserve water and reduce the risk of plant lodging at the end of the growing season. Irrigation barley using treated wastewater did not change heavy metal (Zn, Cd, and Pb) concentrations in soil or harvested grains.

Sprinkler irrigation increases grain yield of sunflower without enhancing the risk of root lodging in a dry semi-humid region

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important edible oilseed crop that is frequently exposed to drought stress due to lack and unpredictability of precipitation. Sprinkler irrigation (SI) is a promising approach for improving yield under limited availability of water, but is often associated with increased risk of root lodging. The irrigation water can soften the upper soil layer and increase the torque of the aboveground portion of the crop. This study aims to evaluate the effect of SI and nitrogen (N) application rate on grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and root lodging resistance of sunflower. The risk of root lodging was evaluated by a “safety factor” (SF) indicator. The results showed that soil water content (%) was 13.4 and 19.1% higher under SI in comparison with rainfed (RF) conditions in 2018 and 2019 respectively, when averaged across the whole measured period. Sprinkler irrigation exhibited 12% higher mean grain yield than RF conditions across both years (P < 0.05), although WUE was not influenced. The yield advantage under SI was supported by strong relationships of grain yield with harvest index, aboveground biomass and yield components. A positive yield response to increasing N rate from 0 to 180 kg N ha–1 was evidenced, beyond which no response was observed. Root lodging resistance in terms of SF increased with higher N application rate due to decrease in anchorage strength. Root lodging resistance between SI and RF treatments was not significantly different due to the trade-off between anchorage strength and self-weight moment, although irrigation water under SI weakened the soil shear strength and reduced the anchorage strength estimated by a theoretical model. Taken together, SI in combination with an N rate of 180 kg ha–1 could be recommended to mitigate drought stress and improve grain yield and root lodging resistance of sunflower.

Shifting timing of intensive nitrogen topdressing later to the stem-elongation phase reduced lower internodes length and lodging risk of wheat

ABSTRACT Intensive nitrogen (N) application during stem elongation is effective in increasing potential yield but it also increases the risk of lodging. Unfortunately, the increased lodging more than offsets any associated gains from the increase in potential yield. We test the hypothesis that lodging is not induced directly by N application during stem elongation but by increased light competition in the resulting excessively dense canopy. Our results show that lodging was more severe in plants given N early (before stem elongation) compared with in plants where N fertilisation was given later (during stem elongation). When N was given early, the lengths of the lower internodes of the tillers were significantly greater than when N was given later. For the early N application, dry weight of the above-ground plant was 75% greater, leaf area index 66% greater and green area index 81% greater than for the later N application. This likely indicates much greater competition for light in the denser canopy with the early N application. Shading treatments applied during stem elongation resulted in the lower internodes being longer and lighter, than for unshaded plants. The results suggest that by shifting intensive N application before stem elongation to during stem elongation, canopy development and thus light competition are reduced, the basal internodes of the tillers are shorter and lodging is minimised.

Traits of plant morphology, stalk mechanical strength, and biomass accumulation in the selection of lodging-resistant maize cultivars

• There is no correlation in current maize cultivar’s resistance to stalk or root lodging. • Stalk breakage is primarily affected by dry weight per unit length during grain filling. • Vertical root pulling resistance is primarily affected by the ratio of root depth to width. • High ratios of shoot fresh weight to vertical root pulling resistance increase maize root lodging risk. Lodging resistance is a major desired trait in modern maize breeding. Identifying parameters to evaluate lodging resistance could help crop breeders develop maize cultivars with improved lodging resistance. Thirty-four summer maize cultivars currently planted in China were grown in 2017 and 2018 in order to identify relationships between stalk and root lodging resistance and to analyze the main reasons for differences in lodging resistance between maize cultivars. Twenty-five lodging resistance indicators, including aspects of morphology, dry matter, moisture content, and the mechanical strength of the stalk and root, were investigated at silking and 35 d after silking. The experiments showed that the ratio of shoot fresh weight to vertical root pulling resistance (VRPR) was a better indicator of root lodging potential than VRPR alone. Stalk breaking force was not associated with VRPR and was significantly positively correlated with shoot fresh weight/VRPR. Classification of the 34 cultivars revealed that resistance to stalk and root lodging were not correlated. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that approximately 63 % of the breaking force was explained by the average dry weight per unit length (DWUL) of the basal three internodes, ear height, and fresh weight of the basal three internodes at silking. At 35 d after silking, approximately 88 % of the difference in breaking force was explained by the plant height, ear ratio, crush strength (CS) of the fourth internode, average DWUL and fresh weight per unit volume (FWUV) of the basal three internodes. The main indicator affecting VRPR was the ratio of root depth to width at 35 d after silking. Therefore, an important strategy for increasing maize lodging resistance is to breed cultivars with high internode DWUL, low ear position, and deep roots.

The impact of high plant density on dry matter remobilization and stalk lodging in maize genotypes with a different stay-green degree

ABSTRACT To test the hypothesis that stay-green genotypes help to increase stalk lodging resistance under high planting density by reducing dry matter remobilization from stalk, a two-year field study with three planting densities (60,000, 75,000, and 90,000 plants per ha) and six hybrids was conducted. When planting density changed from 75,000 to 90,000, stalk dry matter remobilization efficiency increased by 4.1–191%. Stem dry weight per length, rind penetration strength, average crushing strength for the first to fifth internode, and average bending strength for the third to fifth internode decreased by 25.4–47.2%, 5.1–24.6%, 1.4–29.9%, and 14.0–36.0%, respectively. Stalk lodging rate increased by 17–275%. Stalk dry matter remobilization efficiency was negatively correlated to either stem dry weight per length (r = 0.23, p < 0.05), rind penetration strength (r = 0.75, p < 0.01), crushing strength (r = 0.61, p < 0.01), or bending strength (r = 0.32, p < 0.01). Cultivars with higher stay-green degree (SR999, LY99, and NH101) had lower stalk lodging rate compared to the senescent cultivars XY335 and LY918. It is concluded that stay-green genotypes with low dry matter remobilization help to strengthen stem and reduce stalk lodging risk.

Grain yield, root growth habit and lodging of eight oilseed rape genotypes in response to a short period of heat stress during flowering

Increasing temperature due to global climate change is detrimental to both the growth and development of canola (Brassica napus L.) that ultimately leads to a disastrous reduction in productivity. Understanding how these increasing temperatures will impact canola growth in terms of root traits, seed yield and lodging resistance is urgently required to maximize production in the coming decades. A set of eight B. napus genotypes was evaluated under controlled environments with two temperature treatments: 23/17 °C as the optimum (control) and 27.0/24.3 °C mean day/night temperatures as the heat stress. Root traits were assessed using both destructive and non–destructive methods, such as electrical capacitance (EC) and electrical impedance (EI). Simulated root and stem lodging tests were conducted to determine the risk of root lodging and stem lodging, respectively. High temperature stress significantly suppressed root morphological traits, and reduced pod fertility by an average of 28% and seed yield by 34%, along with a reduction in EC (10%) and an increased EI (17%). A significant relationship of EC with root traits (R2=0.53–0.59⁎⁎) and seed yield (R2=0.29*) was also observed. The high temperature treatment reduced the stem bending strength by 7% and stem safety factor by 11%, while did not show a consistent impact on root anchorage strength and root safety factor. The present study suggests that the risk of both yield reductions due to lower fertilization success ratio and crop lodging especially stem lodging increases under short periods of high temperature stress. Furthermore, EC could be applied as a non–destructive technique for evaluating root morphology and genotypic differences in tolerance of canola plants to heat stress.

Spatio-temporal characteristics of agro-climatic indices and extreme weather events during the growing season for summer maize (Zea mays L.) in Huanghuaihai region, China.

The stability of maize production is essential to global food security. Climate factors, such as temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation, directly affect the development of maize plants and hence the final grain yield. In this study, we investigated the spatial distributions and temporal trends of agro-climatic indices and severe weather indicators during the actual growing season for summer maize in Huanghuaihai region of China. The results showed that during the growing season, accumulated effective thermal time had significantly increased. From R3 to R6, accumulated effective thermal time, effective precipitation, and photosynthesis active radiation all showed an increasing trend, with the rate of 20.3°Cday, 1.1mm, and 7.3MJm-2 per decade, respectively. From VE to R3, most of the study years showed a > 50% ratio of high-temperature days to subtotal days and > 7 consecutive days without available precipitation. During most of the study years, there were at least 0.5 thunderstorm events from V6 to VT stage in the locations of study; days with strong winds accounted for more than half the subtotal days during the V6-VT stage. And potential risk of lodging may be reduced by the decrease in days with strong wind. The results of this study could be used in optimizing agricultural management in summer maize production in order to take advantage of beneficial climatic elements while combating adverse climatic elements.

The role of ridge‐furrow with plastic film mulching system on stem lodging resistance of winter wheat in a dry semi‐humid region

AbstractRidge‐furrow with plastic film mulching (RFPFM) is widely used as a water‐saving strategy for the improvement of crop yield. However, lodging susceptibility under RFPFM practices has not yet been determined. A 2‐yr field study comprising of three cultivation strategies (rain‐fed flat planting [FP], RFPFM, and well‐water planting [WW]) and two N application rates (75 and 225 kg N ha–1) was conducted to assess the risk of lodging and the relationship between lodging resistance and grain yields of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties (Xinong979 as lodging resistant and Xiaoyan22 as lodging susceptible). The results showed that higher N application increased lodging index under FP and RFPFM, and the lodging index was 33% lower under RFPFM than under WW. In both years, there was a positive relationship between grain yield and lodging susceptibility (R2 = 0.62** and 0.57**) implying that promoting crop yield by using RFPFM strategy accelerates the risk of lodging. When compared with WW, RFPFM significantly reduced the lodging index, while sustaining a comparable grain yield. Overall, RFPFM could be highly recommended as a promising strategy for winter wheat producers in dry, semi‐humid regions. The close relationships of breaking resistance and lodging index with both mass density and stem wall thickness of basal internode suggest that selection for increased stem strength trait could lead to improved lodging resistance and higher yields in future programs for winter wheat cultivar improvement.

Digitalization in Realization of Ecological and Economic Principles of Managing Sustainable Development of Agrarian Enterprises

The article describes the digitalization of ecological and economic principles of agricultural enterprise development management. It presents effective techniques for adapting enterprises to the challenges of the smart economy, which changes human needs, products, services, value chains, markets, processes, business models, forms of competition and business partnerships. The article proves the efficiency of precision farming, which includes parallel driving, yield mapping, differentiated application of seeds and fertilizers. It is determined that the lack of systemic demand for digital solutions from domestic agricultural enterprises and rural communities and unpreparedness (strategic, financial, technological, personnel, organizational, etc.) of most enterprises and communities to cardinal innovations significantly deter the formation of smart agribusiness in Ukraine. The article describes the system of measured indicators and capabilities of the Hummingbird Technologies platform and consequences of its implementation for land management, in particular normalized relative biomass index, leaf surface index, crop heterogeneity map, plant lodging risk map, weed map, seedling density map, electronic maps creation tasks, task map for differentiated desiccation, task map for differentiated application of herbicides, task map for differentiated application of growth regulators in plants. It justifies the need to intensify the work of rural a community, which try to communicate with agricultural producers on mutually beneficial terms and with other stakeholders for the sustainable development of rural areas. The issues of participation of rural communities in projects to increase soil fertility, organization of organic farms, service cooperatives, which are directly or indirectly related to the effective management of environmental and economic development of agricultural enterprises. The article shows the necessity of professional development of business engineers, personnel and strengthening of role of analytics for agricultural enterprises to digitalize the economic activity.

Adverse weather conditions for UK wheat production under climate change

Winter wheat is an important crop in the UK, suited to the typical weather conditions in the current climate. In a changing climate the increased frequency and severity of adverse weather events, which are often localised, are considered a major threat to wheat production. In the present study we assessed a range of adverse weather conditions, which can significantly affect yield, under current and future climates based on adverse weather indices. We analysed changes in the frequency, magnitude and spatial patterns of 10 adverse weather indices, at 25 sites across the UK, using climate scenarios from the CMIP5 ensemble of global climate models (GCMs) and two greenhouse gas emissions (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). The future UK climate is expected to remain favourable for wheat production, with most adverse weather indicators reducing in magnitude by the mid-21st century. Hotter and drier summers would improve sowing and harvesting conditions and reduce the risk of lodging. The probability of late frosts and heat stress during reproductive and grain filling periods would likely remain small in 2050. Wetter winter and spring could cause issues with waterlogging. The severity of drought stress during reproduction would generally be lower in 2050, however localised differences suggest it is important to examine drought at a small spatial scale. Prolonged water stress does not increase considerably in the UK, as may be expected in other parts of Europe. Climate projections based on the CMIP5 ensemble reveal considerable uncertainty in the magnitude of adverse weather conditions including waterlogging, drought and water stress. The variation in adverse weather conditions due to GCMs was generally greater than between emissions scenarios. Accordingly, CMIP5 ensembles should be used in the assessment of adverse weather conditions for crop production to indicate the full range of possible impacts, which a limited number of GCMs may not provide.