Management Of Grain Research Articles

Comparison of three machine learning algorithms for retrieving soil moisture information from Sentinel-1A SAR data in northwest Shandong plain, China

Soil moisture (SM) plays a critical role in the growth and management of grain in semi-humid regions. However, little is known about how to integrate satellite data with machine learning to accurately retrieve SM information in these areas. This study compares the capability of three machine learning algorithms, Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN), to extract SM information over the Northwest Shandong Plain using multi-phase dual-polarized Sentinel-1A satellite data. The backscattering coefficients were obtained through standard intensity and phase processing to calculate the SAR indices, and several characteristic parameters were extracted as impact factors using the Cloude-Pottier decomposition. The importance of these factors was analyzed, while the performance of each machine learning algorithm was comprehensively evaluated using the K-fold cross-validation method. The best-performing model was utilized to retrieve the spatio-temporal changes in SM in the study area. The findings indicate the following: (1) The first eigenvalue has the greatest impact on retrieval accuracy, followed by entropy, where the intensity component of Shannon's entropy is more important than its polarization component; (2) The addition of more impact factors does not bring a continuous improvement in model performance, but the optimal factor combinations differ for different machine learning retrieval models; (3) The RF model trained using the IM12 combination demonstrates better performance than SVM and ANN in retrieving SM information, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.55 and a root mean square error of 6.12 vol% on the validation set. The level of SM in the Yellow River National Wetland Park is higher than that of the surrounding areas, with substantial seasonal changes. Precipitation, temperature, and vegetation significantly influence the regional variations in SM at the macroscopic level.

Study On Development Of Independent Rice Mile Unit (IRMU) In Central Lombok District

The strategic role of agriculture is in line with the goals of national economic development, namely: (1) improving the welfare of the indonesian people; (2) accelerating economic growth, reducing poverty; (3) providing employment; (4) maintaining the balance of natural resources and the environment. The research entitled “Study on the Development of Independent Rice Mile Unit (IRMU)in Central Lombok District” aims to determinate the feasibility of building an Independent Rice Mile Unit (IRMU) based on five aspects of plants feasibility, including demographic characteristics, aspect of the management of grain and rice (including among them grain and rice distribution), socio-economic factors environmental elements, and accessibility aspects in Central Lombok regency. The method used in this research is a descriptive survey approach. The study was conducted in March –July 2019. Data sources used in this study were primary data, namely informants, and secondary data, namelydocuments, journals, etc. The data collection techniques used were observation, interviews, documentation, literature, and questionnaires. The data analysis technique used is descriptive analysis. This study indicates that the placement of IRMU locations in the Central Lombok Regency is very suitable because it is supported by all aspects studied.

Environmental impacts management of grain and sweet maize through life cycle assessment in São Paulo, Brazil

Environmental impacts management of grain and sweet maize through life cycle assessment in São Paulo, Brazil

Delineation of management zones in integrated crop–livestock systems

AbstractThe lack of studies on spatial variability in integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLS) hinders understanding how to increase their efficiency by implementing precision agriculture (PA) practices. As such, little is known about how grain and forage crops interact and how to improve the decision‐making process on fertilization and forage management. One technique that can help manage such systems is the delineation of management zones (MZs), regions with similar yield potential and soil and topography characteristics. Thus, this paper assesses the spatial correlation between yield and potential factors affecting it, and identifies whether it is possible to establish MZs for field management of grain and forage crops in succession in ICLS. Bivariate Moran's index was used to identify the attributes most spatially correlated with the yields. Elevation, soil apparent electrical conductivity, and clay content were the most spatially correlated variables with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield, while soil organic matter content and elevation were the most spatially correlated with the forage yield. Spatial principal components analysis and fuzzy c‐means clustering algorithm were combined to delineate MZs for each crop. The MZs created for soybean were statistically different in grain yield, available phosphorus (P) in the 0‐to‐0.40‐m layer and pH in the 0‐to‐0.20‐m layer. The forage MZs showed significant differences in terms of available P in the 0‐to‐0.40‐m layer. We conclude that MZs for ICLS tends to be crop specific, demanding different MZs to characterize soybean and forage spatial variability.

Grain Handling and Storage in Lubero and Rutshuru Territories in the North Kivu Province, the Democratic Republic of Congo

Postharvest management of grain and seed is a challenge among smallholder farmers. Limited information is available on how smallholder farmers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who have been exposed to multiple conflicts, manage grain and seed after harvest. We interviewed 690 smallholder farmers in Lubero (Baswagha chiefdom) and Rutshuru (Bwisha and Bwito chiefdoms) territories of the North Kivu province of the DRC to assess how they dried and stored their crops. Results reveal that 95% and 80% farmers produced beans and maize, respectively. About half of respondents in Bwisha grew soybean, suggesting production diversification using conflict-resistant crops to minimize thefts and looting. Rotting and theft were the major challenges during field drying, while insects (81.3%) were the most important issue during storage. Sixty-six percent of farmers did not protect their grain during storage, exposing it to insect damage. Farmers producing beans in both Bwisha and Bwito, farmers storing beans and maize, and those storing for more than three months were more likely to protect their grains during storage. More than 70% of farmers saved seed for planting the next season but suffered significant weight losses of up to 50% due to insects. Storing grain in hermetic bags for six months had an estimated return on investments of up to 63% for maize in Baswagha and 54% for beans in Bwisha. Improved drying and storage technologies would help smallholder farmers to reduce their grain postharvest losses due to mold, theft, and insects. Smallholder farmers using these improved postharvest technologies have the opportunity to secure quality grain for home consumption and sale, and seed for planting.

Postharvest Management of Grains in Haiti and Gender Roles

Food security is a continuing challenge in Haiti. The demand for food far exceeds local supply. As a result, Haiti imports nearly 50% of its national food needs. Postharvest management is an often neglected link in the grain value chain that has potential to improve food availability. We interviewed 214 farmers in three departments in July–August 2017 to assess postharvest handling and storage of grains and gender roles in Haiti. Results showed that among the respondents: 64% were male; 55% were over the age of 40 years; and about half had attended secondary school. Maize and beans were the most grown and stored crops. The average production for maize and beans was 288 kg and 88 kg, respectively. About 75% of the respondents stored less than 100 kg of either crop. Rodents and insects were the main causes of loss during storage. Farmers who produced more grain, stored longer, and experienced losses during drying and seed storage were more likely to use insecticides on stored products. Postharvest management practices were gendered at the lower end of the value chain; where women played a key role in marketing the grain. Addressing postharvest management challenges, through targeted interventions, to increase food availability while investing in maize and bean production can improve food security in Haiti.

Monitoring and evaluation of the effects of Grain for Green Project in the upper and middle reaches of China's Yangtze River.

Based on the comprehensive interpretation of GIS, we analyzed the normalized vegetation index (NDVI), land use types and digital elevation model (DEM), and revealed the results achieved by the Grain for Green Project in 84 prefecture-level regions in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The results showed that the NDVI was growing in this area from 2000 to 2015. Compared with 2000, 2.1% of the farmland was no longer cultivated. 25% of the farmland with slope more than 35°, and 2.7% of the farmland with the slope of 25° to 35°, and the most part of moderate slope farmland had been converted. Arable land was mainly converted to woodland and grassland. The coverage of forest and grassland significantly increased, with an enhancement of 21.9%. The land area of low vegetation coverage was greatly reduced. The area with vegetation coverage less than 10% decreased by 95.3%, while the land area of high vegetation coverage significantly increased. The soil erosion intensity generally reduced. The land area with mild, strong, extremely strong soil erosion grade were all reduced by more than 10%, whereas severe soil erosion had not been alleviated. The proportion of forest coverage was 60% in this area. The magnitude of vegetation coverage changes varied in different periods. The spatial distribution was uneven, with higher coverage in the east than in the west. More works are needed to strenthen the management of Grain for Green Project in this area.

How do the earliest known mathematical writings highlight the state's management of grains in early imperial China?

The earliest extant mathematical books from China contain a lot of problems and data about grains. They also betray a close relationship with imperial bureaucracy in this respect. Indeed, these texts quote administrative regulations about grains. For instance, the Book on mathematical procedures 筭數書, found in a tomb sealed ca. 186 BCE, has a section in common with the “regulations on granaries” from the Qin statutes in eighteen domains, known thanks to slips excavated at Shuihudi. Mathematical writings also deal with official vessels used to measure grains. They cast light on statements from, and practices evidenced by, official histories and administrative documents. This article addresses the following issues. Which information about the concrete management of grains can we derive from mathematical writings in relation to administrative documents? Which data can we find in these writings about continuities and changes in the management of grains in the time span between the Qin and Han dynasties? In particular, how can we account for the fact that in a later mathematical text, namely, The Nine Chapters, probably completed in the first century CE, there was a change in the form in which the data about grain equivalences were given, by comparison with the “regulations on granaries”? Finally, what do our conclusions imply with respect to the nature of the earliest extant mathematical writings. In this article, we gather the various types of statement that mathematical writings contain about grains and offer several elements of interpretation for the “regulations on granaries” and the related text in The Nine Chapters. From this perspective, we offer several hypotheses about the management of grain in the Qin and Han dynasties.

El abastecimiento de grano a las ciudades hispanorromanas. Producción, almacenaje y gestión

This work presents the last updates in the study of grain supply of the Roman towns in Hispania. The purpose of this study is to discuss the issue of provisioning by going beyond the standpoint found in literary sources, and in particular by focusing on horrea and granaries. These remains are considered as the most valuable sources to obtain information related to food production, storage and redistribution. Both granaries and storage buildings preserved in the territory and those preserved in the city centre are included in this study. By reinterpreting and analysing epigraphic testimonies, we present new approaches to address the management of grain in the Roman cities in Hispania.

Predicting the Potential of Engulfment Using an On-Farm Grain Storage Hazard Assessment Tool

The goal of this research was to address the problem of engulfment in flowing grain in on-farm metal grain storage bins. This was accomplished using a systems approach to identify contributing factors to engulfment, which were then used to develop a 28-question Farm Grain Hazard Assessment Tool (FGHAT). A numerically weighted high- and low-risk response accompanied each question, the sum of which resulted in a potential-risk-of-engulfment score for a given on-farm grain handling and storage system. The assessment tool was pilot tested on a sample of 47 farms. The difference between the mean scores of farms with a history of engulfment (n = 14) and the mean scores of farms with no prior reported engulfment incident (n = 33) was significant (p < or = 0.001). This finding suggests that it is possible, using the hazard assessment tool, to predict the increased likelihood of an engulfment in a specific on-farm grain storage and handling system. It was also found that the management of grain during storage and an individual's perception of risk and willingness to avoid flowing grain hazards had the most significant impact on reducing the potential for an engulfment. In contrast, a history of grain plugging problems was not found to make a considerable difference in scores between the two groups of farms. The presence of stirring devices in bins, accommodation for lockout devices on electrical controls, and using grain storage bins smaller than 20, 000 bu capacity also had little impact on the difference in scores. Based upon the level of significance of each of the 28 questions'ability to predict an increased risk of engulfment, it was concluded that a valid response could be obtained with as few as eight questions. Recommendations concerning continued study and application of the tool were formulated, including the effectiveness of the tool in changing the farmers' behavior, and the findings also contributed to the revision of a potential engineering standard for on-farm grain storage structures.

MODELING THE MOVEMENT OF FUMIGANT GAS WITHIN GRAIN BEDS

The insect population in grain stores can be kept under control by maintaining a high concentration of CO2 gasthroughout the grain bed. A method of calculating the distribution of the fumigant gas is useful for the design and managementof grain storage systems. The equations that can be used to calculate this distribution are given, and they describe how theCO2 gas moves through a grain bin as a result of diffusion, gravity, and sorption. The equations are solved numerically, andthe results are compared with experimental values. An analytic solution is given of a simplified version of the equations, andthis is used to describe how the gas moves through the grain bed. It is shown that diffusion is the main process for most ofthe time that the gas is in the bin, and this can be used to estimate how the CO2 concentration changes with time.

Applying current technologies to large-scale, underground grain storage

Large-scale grain bulks stored in underground, scaled structures are ecosystems that contain a collection of living organisms. The grain itself is actually composed of millions of living plants. To preserve the quality of the grain, the grain must remain alive but dormant. The other living organisms—such as insects, mites and fungi—in the grain bulk must be prevented from developing further. This paper reviews the rationale for using underground sealed structures to preserve grain quality. Results from underground grain and bean storage sites in the U.S., Argentina, North Africa, and East Central Africa are summarized. The application of current technologies to the use of underground space for large-scale grain storage is discussed. Recently developed computer programs, such as for 3-D heat and mass transfer in stored grain, can assist in designing the underground structure. Other computer programs, such as expert systems, also can be used in the integrated management of grain. Current technologies available for remote monitoring of loss-causing conditions in the grain bulk also are discussed. The paper emphasizes the biological aspects that are essential when selecting a site, considering alternative designs, and planning for management of underground storages to prevent grain loss.

The stored grain ecosystem: A global perspective

Ecosystem principles and processes, such as biological succession, population dynamics, niche concept, limits to growth, and food webs apply to grain storage systems, as well as to forests, oceans, lakes, prairies, and preharvest agroecosystems. In 1989, Odum classified the food-storage system as a human-subsidized, solar-powered ecosystem, one of the four main ecosystems of the world. A grain storage ecosystem is a complex system that can be described in several scales. One may consider the storage structure and its contents as an entire system, or one may consider a group of storage structures as an archipelago of ecological islands linked by transportation and commerce. Government policies and consumer demands are part of the environment that must be considered in effective economic management of the stored grain ecosystem. The grain storage system is part of the postharvest ecosystem, a larger system which extends from harvest to consumption. An understanding of the interrelationship of biological and physical factors, and selection pressures in the system is essential to making sound decisions about the long term directions of postharvest research, as well as the daily management of grain and other food commodities in the postharvest system. In this paper, ecosystem principles are used to draw together progress which has been made in understanding: (1) the physical elements, defined in part by the structure, (2) the biological elements, including human society, and (3) the interrelationships of physical and biological elements in postharvest systems throughout the world. Suggestions given for future directions in ecosystem-based research on the postharvest grain system are drawn from systems in several areas of the world and include examples of reverse technology.