Middle Of November Research Articles

Indian Crop Insurance Schemes: Gender Performance Analysis

Crop insurance schemes are pivotal in mitigating agricultural risks, especially in rural economies like India. However, the gender dimension of participation in these schemes remains largely overlooked. This research paper delves into the gender disparities in participation rates, coverage, and benefits accrued from Indian crop insurance schemes, using six years of data from the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana website. The researcher employed few descriptive statistics like mean, Standard Deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), and Skewness for data analysis purpose. Besides Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) has been used to determine the growth rate of farmers’ participation. The analysis reveals significant gender gaps in participation, with male farmers constituting a higher percentage of participants than their female counterparts across the Kharif ( In India, the Kharif season is when the monsoon crops are grown and harvested throughout the harvesting season of India, typically from June to October )and Rabi (Rabi season is when crops are usually sown in the middle of November and harvested in April or May) seasons. While male participation was declining, female participation remained relatively stable but at lower levels. Gender-disaggregated participation highlighted challenges faced by gender-minority farmers (Here Gender Minority farmers used for Transgender Farmers). Practical suggestions include gender-sensitive outreach programs, tailored policy interventions, and improvements in accessibility for female farmers. This research contributes to the discourse on gender equality in agriculture, providing insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to design inclusive agricultural policies and programs. Addressing these disparities can lead to greater gender equality, enhancing the sustainability and resilience of agrarian economies like India.

Effects of stubble burning and firecrackers on the air quality of Delhi.

Every year at the onset of winter season (October-November), crop residue/parali/stubble burning starts in Punjab and Haryana, leading to heavy air pollution in Delhi, and adversely affecting human and environmental health. During this time, the combination of unfavourable meteorological conditions, additional emissions from stubble burning, and firework activities in this area causes the air quality to furtherdeteriorate. In this study, we have attempted to understand the influence of parali and firecracker incidents on air pollutants' variability over Delhi during the last three years (2020 to 2022). For this purpose, daily average particulate matter and gaseous pollutants data were fetched from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and daily total fire counts and fire radiative power (FRP) data were retrieved from NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS). A bigger area of severe burning is suggested by higher FRP values and higher fire counts in the middle of November in all the years considered. Three years satellite-based FIRMS data over Punjab and Haryana show the highest number of active fire counts in 2021 (n = 80,505) followed by 2020 (n = 75,428), and 2022 (n = 49,194). More than 90% parali burning incidents were observed in Punjab state only despite the considerable variability in numbers among the years. The significant effect of parali burning was seen on pollutant concentration variability. As the number of fire count increases or decreases in Punjab and Haryana, there is a corresponding increase or decrease in the particulate matter concentration with a time lag of few days (1 to 2days). The trend in backward air mass trajectories suggests that the variable response time of pollutants' concentration is due to local and distant sources with different air mass speeds. Our estimates suggest that stubble burning contributes 50-75% increment in PM2.5 and 40 to 45% increase in PM10 concentration between October and November. A good positive correlation between PM2.5, PM10, NOX, and CO and fire counts (up to 0.8) suggests a strong influence of stubble burning on air quality over Delhi. Furthermore, the firecracker activities significantly increase the concentration of particulate matter with ~100% increment in PM2.5 and ~55% increment in PM10 mass concentrations for a relatively shorter period (1 to 2days).

The influence of chilling hours on root starch content, growth and yield of strawberry tray plants

The chilling requirements of two strawberry cultivars (‘Sonata’, ‘Albion’) were assessed by evaluating the starch accumulation levels in the tray plants’ root system and their subsequent growth and yielding. The research was conducted in an experimental orchard and a greenhouse of the National Institute of Horticultural Research in Skierniewice, Poland, in 2017–2019 (2 cycles of obtaining planting material and growing plants). The tray plants (rooted tips) were grown in the natural field conditions until they were transferred in batches to a cold store (–2°C) on five different dates: 12 Oct., 30 Oct., 20 Nov., 11 Dec., and 3 Jan. (of the following year). The number of accumulated chilling hours less than 7°C was recorded for each transfer date, and the roots were analysed for starch content at the time of transfer. After the end of cold storage (3 months, standardised for all treatments), the plants were planted in pots and transferred to a greenhouse to assess growth and plant yielding. The obtained results indicate that chilling induces changes in the extent of starch accumulation. The highest starch accumulation in ‘Sonata’ roots was recorded when the plants received about 500 h of chilling (under Polish conditions accumulated in November/December). In the ‘Albion’ strawberry case, the maximum was found at the lower chilling level – about 300 h (middle of November). The highest fruit yields were produced by ‘Sonata’ plants, for which the number of chilling hours (0–7°C) was 500–800 h. In the case of ‘Albion’, the values were 2–3 times lower. A more extended period of keeping tray plants in field conditions (over 1000 h of chilling) resulted in a deterioration in fruit yield.

INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN RATES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) VARIETIES IN NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF TARABA STATE NIGERIA

Influence of nitrogen rates on the performance of Wheat varieties were investigated to determine the effects of nitrogen rates on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in the study area. The experiments were laid out in split plot design with seven nitrogen rates. The treatments were replicated three times. The sub plot size was 3 m x 2 m. The crop was planted in the middle of November, at the beginning of the dry season. Half of each nitrogen rate was applied at sowing and the other half splited into two and top dressed at early tilling and flowering stage. Data were collected on number of tillers, Plant height, number of spikelets spike-1, number of grains spike1, weight of 1000 grain, biomass yield, grain yield and harvest index. All the data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Least Significant Difference (LSD) using Genstat version 4.0. The results revealed that nitrogen fertilization had significant effect (P<0.05) on wheat yield and yield components. Number of tillers was highest at 180 kg N ha-1 and variety Linfen. Similarly, Plant height was best at 180 kg N ha-1 and variety Reyna-28 while number of spikelets spike-1 was highest at 150 kg N ha-1 and variety Reyna-28 which was at par with Linfen. All the yield characters and final grain yield performed best at 120 kg N ha-1 and Reyna-28. These results indicate that, Nitrogen rate of 120 kg N ha-1 and Reyna-28 proved to be the best rate and variety for higher grain yield. Thus it is recommended that 120 kg N ha-1 and Reyna-28 be used for irrigated wheat production in the study area.

Evaluating the breeding phenology of the endangered ‘a‘o (Newell’s Shearwater Puffinus newelli) on Kaua‘i to better focus conservation actions and management decisions

Summary The ‘a‘o, or Newell’s Shearwater Puffinus newelli, is an endangered shearwater species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, with 90% of the world population found on Kaua‘i. Understanding the breeding phenology of the species is vital for identifying key periods for colony management actions and the timing and exposure frequency to infrastructure threats such as powerline collisions and light attraction. We used a combination of direct burrow monitoring and remote cameras at multiple colonies between 2012 and 2019 for a detailed assessment of the breeding phenology for this species. Breeding adults started arriving at the burrow in mid-April, some (but not all) underwent a two-week exodus in May and returned at the end of May to commence incubation. Incubation continued until mid-July. The chick-rearing period ran until the end of September. Fledging peaked in October with the last birds fledging towards the middle of November. Breeding was not synchronised, with a 59-day gap between the first and last fledging birds. The importance of this information to management actions is discussed, particularly in terms of directing management actions to key periods of vulnerability to introduced predators (such as peak incubation, chick emergence, and exercising prior to fledging), the precise timing of fledgling fallout related to light attraction, and directing colony-monitoring actions and translocation projects. We also consider the utility of the data in assessing species composition of powerline collisions and collision risk. Future work using acoustic monitoring is recommended for assessing the phenology of non-breeders and prospectors at colonies.

Emergence and Incidence of Coffee White Stemborer, Xylotrechus quadripes Chevrolat, 1863 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), under Different Rainfall Regimes across the Coffee-growing Regions of Karnataka, India

The coffee white stem borer (CWSB), Xyloterchus quadripes Chevrolat, 1863 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is one of the most destructive pests of arabica coffee in India. As coffee cultivation in India is mostly confined to the hilly tracts of the Western Ghats of the southern states and it is mainly grown in Kodagu, Chikmagalur and Hassan districts of Karnataka with varying rainfall patterns ranging from more than 3000 mm to less than 1000 mm. The study of the incidence of WSB and emergence of adults in relation to local weather conditions in the estates at different rainfall patterns in Karnataka [High(<2500mm), Medium (2000 to 1000mm) and low(<1000mm) rainfall areas] for two years (2016 and 2017). The emergence data and local weather parameters viz rainfall, relative humidity and temperature were correlated with adult emergence. The results indicated that the emergence of CWSB during the years 2016 and 2017 exhibited a significant positive correlation with maximum temperature and minimum temperature. While beetle emergence was negatively correlated with the quantity of rainfall and relative humidity across the six locations. From these observations, it is evident that the beetles required a higher temperature for their emergence and peak beetle emergence occurred during the middle of November in the winter flight season and during the end of April and the first fortnight of May in the summer flight periods. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that measured abiotic factors have significant effects on emergence of CWSB adults confirming results of correlation analysis. During the same period 2016-17, coffee plantations were surveyed randomly in all the three rainfall regimes to know the influence of annual rainfall on incidence of CWSB and the percent incidence was 10.81% at rainfall <1000, 7.67% at medium rainfall and 6.16% at high rainfall areas and was non-significant across rainfall regimes.

Development of Mechanized System for Production of Date-Palm Jaggery Granules

Making of date-palm jaggery (popularly known as khejur gur) with its characteristic aroma and flavor is very popular all over India for making various sweet dishes and confectionery products. It is available only for a short duration between middle of November and end of January. The production of solid jaggery includes sap collection (juice) by tapping, filtration, concentration by boiling, cooling of concentrated juice followed by moulding, drying, and storage. Making date-palm jaggery from the raw juice is an art and requires some skill to get the characteristic aroma bearing product with optimum stickiness and colour. Solid jaggery deteriorates rapidly and becomes liquid within 1 or 2 weeks due to its moisture content, invert sugar, and hygroscopic nature. Granular jaggery having low moisture content (1 - 2%d.b) is very popular, tenders several advantages, such as extended shelf-life, easy handling and distribution, high demand for domestic and international markets. It could be made from either solid jaggery or concentrated juice. Therefore, a manually-powered operated granulator (20 kg capacity) was designed, developed, and tested with 5 levels of moisture content (8.4 to 16.25 %db) and 5 levels of rotational speed (48 - 132 rpm) of blades for the production of desired size of jaggery granules. The mass mean diameter of the particles varied linearly with the moisture content of the feed, yielding particles having an average size of 656 µm (Dp) for feed containing 8.4 (%db) moisture. The mean particle size was as low as 700 µm when the machine was operated at 132 rpm with feed moisture content of 12 (%db). The average particle size of 1000 µm is obtained at feed moisture content of 9.0 (%db) and the agitator rotational speed of 76 rpm.

A hierarchical spatio-temporal model to analyze relative risk variations of COVID-19: a focus on Spain, Italy and Germany.

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread rapidly across the world in a short period of time and with a heterogeneous pattern. Understanding the underlying temporal and spatial dynamics in the spread of COVID-19 can result in informed and timely public health policies. In this paper, we use a spatio-temporal stochastic model to explain the temporal and spatial variations in the daily number of new confirmed cases in Spain, Italy and Germany from late February 2020 to mid January 2021. Using a hierarchical Bayesian framework, we found that the temporal trends of the epidemic in the three countries rapidly reached their peaks and slowly started to decline at the beginning of April and then increased and reached their second maximum in the middle of November. However decline and increase of the temporal trend seems to show different patterns in Spain, Italy and Germany.

Drugi talas infekcije COVID-19 u 2020. godini u Italiji - kratka analiza

Introduction/purpose: Based on the results obtained previously, the second wave of Covid-19 infection is analyzed and some predictions on its evolution are given. Methods: A model of population growth giving a differential equation has been used to describe the pandemic wave. Results: The second wave of infection is essentially on its peak in the middle of November 2020 and will not decrease very soon. Conclusions: The second wave is not going to end in the year 2020 and it will take some time before a status of relative normality is restored.

Breeding ecology and nestling growth of the Madagascar Pond Heron Ardeola idae in a monospecific colony at Sofia Lake, northern Madagascar

The breeding ecology of the endangered Madagascar Pond Heron Ardeola idae was studied at Sofia Lake, northern Madagascar, during two consecutive breeding seasons (October 2017–April 2018 and October 2018– April 2019). Altogether 158 nests were documented at a monospecific breeding colony for both seasons combined. The breeding season occurred between November and April. Nest construction started from the middle of November and it took 8.2 ± 2.5 d on average to complete a nest (n = 158 nests, range = 5–13 d). All the nests were build inside clusters of Papyrus Cyperus madagascariensis. The nest density was 0.31 nests m−2 and 0.20 nests m−2 for Season 1 and Season 2, respectively. Egg laying took place between November and January, but it continued throughout February for renesting attempts (second clutches laid). Mean clutch size was 2.9 ± 0.68 eggs (n = 158, range = 2–4). Incubation started with the laying of the first egg, producing an asynchronous hatching. The incubation period averaged 20.6 ± 0.9 d (n = 158, range = 20–22 d). Of the 461 eggs laid in 158 nests, 399 (86.6%) hatched, and 326 (70.7%) of those hatchlings fledged, a reproductive success of 2.06 fledglings per nesting attempt. Data obtained from 34 measured nestlings showed a rapid growth of all measured biometric parameters, except for tarsus length. The mean daily growth rate was 9.02 g for body mass, 9.64 mm for body size length, 10.66 mm for wing length and 2.35 mm for tarsus length. Significant differences were recorded in growth rates between nestlings in the same brood in relation to their hatching sequence. The last nestlings to hatch had lower growth rates for all measured parameters than their older siblings.

First Report of Lotus Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe takamatsui in China

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is an aquatic perennial plant of the family Nelumbonaceae, distributed in subtropical and temperate regions, also extensively planted as an ornamental flower. Furthermore, the rhizome is used as a vegetable and the roots and seeds in herbal medicine in China. In September 2018, some lotus leaves were found to be infected with a powdery mildew in a pond in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. In the surveyed pond, from late September to mid-November, the disease incidence varied from 10 to 70%, and some leaves were almost completely covered with powdery mildew and turned brown and scorched. In several lotus ponds not far away from the surveyed one, a few powdery mildew–affected leaves were also found. Small colonies of powdery mildew were dispersed on the upper sides of the leaves, and the adjacent colonies coalesced over several days. Some chasmothecia were formed on the lesions in the middle of November. The voucher specimens are deposited in the Qingdao Agricultural University Herbarium (HMQAUPM18001). Superficial hyphae were hyaline, branched, and septate, 4.5 to 6.0 μm wide, with thin and smooth walls. Hyphal appressoria were 4.7 to 6.7 μm diameter, nipple shaped to lobed, mostly single, rarely in opposite pairs. Conidiophores were straight, 74.3 to 98.5 × 7.8 to 9.8 μm, and composed of three to four cells; foot cells were cylindrical, usually straight, occasionally somewhat curved to sinuous, 38.2 to 57.5 × 6.9 to 8.5 μm. Conidia were formed singly, ellipsoid-ovoid, subcylindrical to almost cylindrical, 35.2 to 41.2 × 17.2 to 19.2 μm, and showed a wrinkling pattern of the outer walls. Germ tubes were produced in perihilar position. Chasmothecia were scattered to gregarious, 102.2 to 129.8 μm in diameter; peridium cells were irregularly polygonal, 13.0 to 19.1 μm in diameter; appendages arising from the lower half were mycelioid, unbranched or occasionally with short lateral branchlets, 0.5 to 4 times as long as the chasmothecial diameter, brown at the base and becoming paler toward the apex. Asci were ellipsoid to obovoid, short-stalked, 62.0 to 70.9 × 39.8 to 46.4 μm, wall 1.9 to 2.9 μm thick, two- to eight-spored. Ascospores were ellipsoidal, 23.5 to 27.6 × 13.8 to 15.6 μm, colorless. The morphological characteristics were consistent with previous records of Erysiphe takamatsui (Braun and Cook 2012; Meeboon and Takamatsu 2015). To confirm the identification based on morphological traits, a molecular examination of the isolate HMQAUPM18001 was confirmed by sequence analyses of the rDNA spanning ITS1, 5.8S gene, ITS2 and the 28S rRNA gene using the primers ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and NL1/NLP2 (Hirose et al. 2005; Mori et al. 2000), respectively. ITS and 28S sequences of HMQAUPM18001 have been deposited in GenBank under the accession numbers MK478870 and MK583929, respectively. BLAST analysis of the ITS (641 bp) and 28S (720 bp) segments both showed 100% homology with the ITS sequence of E. takamatsui strain TNS: F-52102 (GenBank accession no. AB916688) and 28S sequence of E. takamatsui strain MUMH 5399 (GenBank accession no. AB916690), respectively. Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation tests by pressing a diseased leaf onto young leaves of three healthy lotus plants. Three noninoculated plants were used as controls. Inoculated plants developed symptoms after 8 days, whereas the control plants remained symptomless. The fungus present on the inoculated plants was morphologically identical to that originally observed on diseased plants, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Therefore, the pathogen on lotus was confirmed to be E. takamatsui. To our knowledge, this is the first discovery of E. takamatsui, hitherto only known from Japan, on lotus in the Chinese mainland (Farr and Rossman 2019). This is the second discovery of the sexual stage of E. takamatsui in the world, which is important to note because it has substantial implications on pathogen survival and diversity. Because this lotus powdery mildew may cause losses of ornamental value, as well as the quality as foodstuff and for medicine purposes, control measures such as improving air and light conditions, removing heavily infected leaves, and preinfection applying of sulfur agents should be considered.

A case of hemichorea caused by right internal carotid artery stenosis

This is a case of a 71 years old man. Hemichorea appeared in the left half of his body in the middle of November, 2014. Minute hyperintense areas in the white matter near the posterior horn of the right lateral ventricle and in the right parasagittal frontal cortex was shown in MRI diffusion weighted image. Severe stenosis was seen in the right internal carotid artery, and reduction in cerebral blood flow of the right cerebral hemisphere including the basal ganglia was shown in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). After having carotid endarterectomy of the right internal carotid artery in January, 2015, hemichorea disappeared, and the cerebral blood flow of the right cerebral hemisphere improved. It is known that hemichorea is caused by the infarction of the basal ganglia. In recent years, some hemichorea cases are reported around East Asia caused by internal carotid artery stenosis with reduction in cerebral blood flow.

Postjuvenile Moult in the Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra curvirostra): Photoperiodic Regulation and Its Role in Synchronization of the Annual Cycle

Captures of Common Crossbills on the southeastern shore of Lake Ladoga and in the St. Petersburg suburbs (1482 individuals from 1968 to 2015) show that the postjuvenile moult is preceded by migration and the overwhelming majority of migrating young birds have plumage that consists solely of juvenile feathers. The postjuvenile moult is recorded from the end of the first ten days of August to the middle of November, the timing of the onset of moult varies within one and a half months with different individuals being observed to have significant distinctions in the number of replaced feathers. The experiments with photoperiodic regulation of the postjuvenile moult were made on 48 individuals captured in nature in the second half of summer and six young birds from one pair of Crossbills, which bred in captivity. The experimental groups were kept in the conditions of a natural decrease in the day (60° N), decrease in the daylength after the transfer from a long day to a short daylength, increasing daylength, constant long daylength, and constant short daylength. The results of the experiments show that the species-specific features of moult in the Common Crossbill are its start being regulated in a wide age range (from 50 to 180 days) and a rather narrow photoperiodic interval of moult with short daylengths (14.5–9 h of daylight). As long as there is more than 14.5 h of daylight, moult begins under the influence of the endogenous rhythm, but not earlier than the age of 4–6 months. The individuals that moult within the photoperiodic interval replace plumage at high rates. After the daylength gets below the lower threshold of the photoperiodic interval, an inhibiting role of the photoperiodic response is activated, terminating moult in the birds that started moult too late, and their plumage mainly retains juvenile generation feathers. Due to the regulation of moult, intrapopulation differences in the timing of annual cycles that are more than seven months at the time of birth of young Common Crossbills decrease almost five times by its start and become even smaller as it ends. It is assumed that this not only makes it possible to implement moult under optimal conditions but also makes first-year birds ready to start breeding in a timely manner if they find themselves in an area with abundantly fruiting spruce trees.

Evaluation of Anti-Centromere Antibodies, Anti-SSA and Anti-SSB in Serum and Saliva of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune illness, which is consider by three main features: Sclerotic changes in the skin and internal organs, Vasculopathy of small blood vessels, Particular autoantibodies (1). The most important autoantibodies appeared significantly in SSc patients are anti-topoisomerase I autoantibody (Scl-70), anti-centromere autoantibody (ACA), and anti-RNA polymerase III autoantibody (RNAP3) (2). Anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) are infrequent in rheumatic conditions and in healthy persons but occur commonly in limited systemic sclerosis (CREST syndrome), and rarely appeared in the diffuse form of systemic sclerosis (3). Anti-Ro/SSA and antiLa/SSB, antibodies directed against Ro/La ribonucleoprotein complexes, can serve as a diagnostic hallmark of autoimmune disease specially Sjogren’s syndrome (4). Materials and methods: This study was carried out during the period from the middle of November 2015 until the end of November 2016 in Baghdad city. The sample of this study was divided into two groups : Forty systemic sclerosis patients: Those patients were treated at Rheumatology department in Baghdad teaching hospital in Baghdad city as well as Forty healthy control subjects, age matched with no signs and symptoms of any systemic diseases. Results: The serum anti-SSA in SSc patient was significant increased as well as the salivary anti-SSA in SSc patient was highly significantly increased than in the control subjects by using t-test. The present study found that there no statically difference in salivary ACA, anti-SSB and serum anti-SSB while serum ACA was significantly increased. Conclusions: autoantibodies play a role in pathogenesis of SSc patients represented by increased serum (ACA and anti-SSA) that it considered reliable indicator for SSc patients while unpredicted marker in saliva except anti-SSA. Anti-La/SSB is unreliable marker in both serum and saliva SSc patients. The presence of Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies in serum and saliva of SSc patient has been predictive marker for SSc overlapped Sjogren’s syndrome.

STUDY OF MAOWUSU SANDY LAND VEGETATION COVERAGE CHANGE BASED ON MODIS NDVI

Abstract. This paper selected 2006-2016 MODIS NDVI data with a spatial resolution of 500m and time resolution of 16d, got the 11 years’ time series NDVI data of Maowusu sandy land through mosaicking, projection transformation, cutting process in batch. Analysed the spatial and temporal distribution and variation characteristics of vegetation cover in year, season and month time scales by maximum value composite, and unary linear regression analysis. Then, we combined the meteorological data of 33 sites around the sandy area, analysed the response characteristics of vegetation cover change to temperature and precipitation through Pearson correlation coefficient. Studies have shown that: (1) The NDVI value has a stable increase trend, which rate is 0.0075 / a. (2) The vegetation growth have significantly difference in four seasons, the NDVI value of summer > autumn > spring > winter. (3) The NDVI value change trend is conformed to the gauss normal distribution in a year, and it comes to be largest in August, its green season is in April, and yellow season is in the middle of November, the growth period is about 220 d. (4) The vegetation has a decreasing trend from the southeast to the northwest, most part is slightly improved, and Etuokeqianqi improved significantly. (5) The correlation indexes of annual NDVI with temperature and precipitation are −0.2178 and 0.6309, the vegetation growth is mainly affected by precipitation. In this study, a complete vegetation cover analysis and evaluation model for sandy land is established. It has important guiding significance for the sand ecological environment protection.

Effects of extremely-late sowing on the grain yield, nitrogen uptake and utilization, and grain protein content in winter wheat

In order to explore the cultivation techniques for high yield, quality and nitrogen use efficiency of wheat and guide the production practice of late sowing, a two-year experiment of different sowing times and plant densities in fixed plots was conducted from October 2012 to June 2014. Weak-spring cultivar of Yanzhan4110 (YZ4110) and semi-winter cultivar of Aikang58 (AK58) were sowed with two cropping patterns: Normal sowing (sowing in the middle of October, 2.4×106 plants·hm-2) and extremely-late sowing (sowing in the middle of November, 6.0×106 plants·hm-2). The nitrate-N content in 0-40 cm soil, the nitrogen (N) uptake and utilization, grain yield, grain protein content and N uptake efficiency in winter wheat were investigated. Compared with normal sowing, extremely-late sowing significantly increased the nitrate-N content in 0-40 cm soil at jointing and anthesis stages, which in turn promoted the N uptake and accumulation of plants after jointing stage and increased the N distribution ratio of spikes at maturity. As a result, the grains with extremely-late sowing had higher protein contentin both YZ4110 and AK58, and higher protein yield and N uptake efficiency in YZ4110 than that with normal sowing. However, the effects of extremely-late sowing on grain yield were different in the two cultivars. Compared with normal sowing, extremely-late sowing clearly raised the grain yield of YZ4110, but significantly decreased that of AK58. These results indicated that extremely-late sowing is an alternative cropping technique to increase grain yield and protein content for winter wheat in irrigation zones through maintaining the soil N supply after jointing stage and increasing N uptake efficiency.

The Weather and Climate of Michigan

“The climate is cold and healthy. Winter sets in about the middle of November, and lasts till the middle of March, without much variation. The general face of the country is flat. Nothing like a mo...

The Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index: Methodology and Operational Implementation

Abstract Santa Ana winds, common to Southern California from the fall through early spring, are a type of downslope windstorm originating from a direction generally ranging from 360°/0° to 100° and are usually accompanied by very low humidity. Since fuel conditions tend to be driest from late September through the middle of November, Santa Ana winds occurring during this time have the greatest potential to produce large, devastating fires upon ignition. Such catastrophic fires occurred in 1993, 2003, 2007, and 2008. Because of the destructive nature of such fires, there has been a growing desire to categorize Santa Ana wind events in much the same way that tropical cyclones have been categorized. The Santa Ana wildfire threat index (SAWTI) is a tool for categorizing Santa Ana wind events with respect to anticipated fire potential. The latest version of the index has been a result of a three-and-a-half-year collaboration effort between the USDA Forest Service, the San Diego Gas and Electric utility (SDG&E), and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The SAWTI uses several meteorological and fuel moisture variables at 3-km resolution as input to the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model to generate the index out to 6 days. In addition to the index, a 30-yr climatology of weather, fuels, and the SAWTI has been developed to help put current and future events into perspective. This paper outlines the methodology for developing the SAWTI, including a discussion on the various datasets employed and its operational implementation.

Residue, tillage and N-fertilizer rate affected yield and N efficiency in irrigated spring wheat

ABSTRACTYield and nitrogen (N)-content in wheat was studied under applied treatments of crop residues (legume vs. cereal), tillage depths (deep vs. shallow) and N-fertilizer rates (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg ha−1) at wheat-maize cropping systems. Experiments were conducted at Agronomy Research farm, the University of Agriculture, Peshawar Pakistan, during winter season 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 crop growth seasons. Well-chopped crop residues (5 t ha−1) on dry matter basis of legume (Vigna unguicuata) and cereal (Zea mays) were applied to soil and subsequently plowed with mold-board plow as deep tillage (DT) and cultivator as shallow tillage (ST) treatment (main plot treatments). A month after residue and tillage application, seedbed was prepared and wheat was planted with drill in rows 25 cm apart in middle of November each year. Phosphorus and potassium were applied uniformly 80 and 40 kg ha−1, respectively during seedbed preparation. N-fertilizer rates were applied in two splits: half 15 days after sowing (DAS) and other half 45 DAS (sub-plot treatment). Uniform cultural practices were applied during crop growth and development. Legumes residues amendments showed better responses than cereal but lower than no-residue treatment for N-content in leaf blade before anthesis (LBA), after anthesis (LAA), straw N-content (SNC), grain N-content (GNC), grain N-uptake (GNU), crop N-removal (CNR), recovery efficiency of added nitrogen (REAN), N-use efficiency (NUE), grain N-uptake (GNU) and grain yield. Likewise, shallow tillage proved better than deep tillage system for LBA, LAA, SNC, GNC, GNU, CNR, REAN, NUE, GNU and grain yield. Increased N-fertilizer from control onwards showed significant (p > 0.05) increments in LBA, LAA, SNC, GNC, GNU, CNR, N-uptake and grain yield. Treatments interaction was also found significant (p > 0.05). Study suggested, regardless of the given treatments, GNU and grain yield were in strong positive linear relationship. Legume residue incorporated shallow out yielded GNU and NUE of spring wheat in wheat-maize cropping system. It is concluded that LR and ST with 120 kg N ha−1 ensures production of good wheat quantity and quality.

<strong>Preliminary observations of flight activity of Trichoptera in the southern Cape, South Africa</strong>

In a study on flight activity it was observed that Trichoptera were attracted to a superactinic or UV light at a site along the lower Groot River near Nature’s Valley in the Western Cape, South Africa. The frequency of insects passing selected fixed points in space was recorded photographically, after dusk, on 44 days between October 2011 and May 2012. All digital images of insects were identified to species, where possible, and abundance of species over selected time periods was determined. Water and air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind direction and speed were continuously recorded during each recording event. Total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity, pH, the percentage of cloud cover, rain at the time of the survey, and rainfall prior to the survey, were all recorded. The dominant species during all surveys, Athripsodes bergensis Scott, revealed a modal peak of flight activity around 50 minutes after sunset which was strongly influenced by climatic variation. The presence of egg masses carried by females was observed from the middle of November through March, with the highest percentage of females with egg masses found from late November to early December. Other species of Trichoptera that were recorded flying appeared later after sunset than did A. bergensis. Statistically the most important factor influencing flight activity was the time in minutes after sunset. Clear, cloudless conditions resulted in reduced flight activity. Information on flight activity can be used to determine the optimum weather conditions and times for collecting Trichoptera when using light sources.