Multiple-year Data Research Articles

Modeling the effect of soil fertility management options on maize yield stability under variable climate in a sub-humid zone in Ghana

IntroductionUncertainty in the yield of maize due to variability in weather is a major challenge to smallholder farmers in Sub Sahara Africa. This study explores the potential of combining locally available organic resources and inorganic fertilizer to increase grain yield and reduce variability in yields associated with variations in rainfall distribution.MethodsTo assess the effectiveness of this practice, the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) crop model was calibrated and evaluated using maize experiments on nutrient management options. The evaluated model was used to simulate maize growth and yield using multiple-year data (1984–2018) under different planting windows for two growing seasons. The treatments were (i) control, (ii) inorganic fertilizer alone (INOFRecom), combining organic resources [empty fruit bunch of palm (EFB) and compost with inorganic fertilizer (INOF) to make up equivalent nutrients in (ii)]; (iii) EFB + INOF and (iv) Comp + INOF.ResultsThough all the soil amendments boosted grain output, the EFB + INOF treatment outperformed the other treatments in the major season with gains of between 161 and 211% and the most stable (least inter-annual variability of 27%) yield. Across the planting windows, the INOFRecom and EFB + INOF treatments achieved comparable yield increments in the minor season. Though grain yield variability was high during the minor rainy season, combining organic and inorganic fertilizers reduced inter-annual yield variability, thus, lowering uncertainty in yield due to variable inter-annual rainfall. Combining local organic resources with a reduced amount of inorganic fertilizer produced higher yields and better yield stability compared to using only inorganic fertilizer.DiscussionsThus, such soil fertility management solutions might sustain resource use and boost maize grain yield in the study area, where strategies for sustainable crop nutrition remain a critical necessity. The improved nitrogen management regimes may result in fewer environmental hazards for vulnerable rainfed agricultural systems.

Linking Colorimetric Variation with Non-Volatile and Volatile Components of Carob Flour

Chromatic variation was examined for its association with flour composition and quality. Carob samples from variable altitudes and genetic backgrounds were milled and assessed for colorimetric parameter L* (lightness) and analyzed for phenols, tannins, antioxidant capacity, soluble carbohydrates (HPLC-RID), organic acids and protein (IC-CD), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs; HS-SPME/GC-MS). Higher altitudes and grafted genotypes yielded lighter-colored flours of higher antioxidant potential, phenols, tannins, sucrose, and malic acid concentrations. VOCs were mainly acids, esters, aldehydes, ketones, and alcohols. Acids were the most abundant and correlated negatively with L*, though correlation for many individual acids was non-significant, including 2-methyl-propanoic acid, widely considered the carob signature aroma (cheesy acidic buttery). The compositional and quality indexing potential of L* is more robust for grafted than non-grafted material, owing putatively to a narrower genetic basis. Antioxidant capacity and concentrations of phenolics, tannins and sucrose correlated positively with L*, indicating increased levels in carob flours sourced from grafted trees at higher altitudes. These flours also have a lower content of reducing sugars, the implication of which in the darkening of carob flour warrants further investigation. Overall, L* constitutes a reliable index for ranking carob flours for key compositional attributes and may be further reinforced by multiple-year data.

Policy initiatives, self-sorting, and labor market effects of tertiary education for adult workers

We investigate the differences in labor market effects between a regular tertiary degree and a tertiary degree obtained while working a job. Using multiple-year data that span the drastic policy initiatives targeting on-job education in China, we find significantly lower returns to an on-job degree compared to a regular degree at the bachelor's and graduate levels, but no significant differences at the junior college level. However, when applying the correlated random coefficient model with heterogeneous returns, the estimated gaps from the conventional model disappeared in earlier years and reversed their signs in later years in general. We find that the results are affected by the extent of workers’ self-sorting into on-job schooling based on unobserved heterogeneity and anticipated future returns. Policies that change the returns to on-job degrees for specific workers can create different incentives and thus may alter the nature of self-selection for adult workers when pursuing education at work.

Assessment of ocean wave spectrum using global Envisat/ASAR data and hindcast simulation

Wave mode of spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is designed for the global ocean wave observations. Despite the fact that the significant wave height inferred from SAR measurements has been validated against model output and in-situ data, SAR's primary and unique capability for operational 2-dimensional spectral description of sea state remains to be fully evaluated. In this study, we extended the previous assessment approaches by introducing a new SAR image spectral parameter, the Mean rAnge Cross-Spectrum (MACS) that focuses on the isolated wave scales along the radar line-of-sight direction. MACS is an efficient variable in that it characterizes the local wave spectra properties without need of the non-linear wave inversion procedure. The assessment is based on the multiple-year data acquired by Envisat/ASAR wave mode, along with the collocated WaveWatch III (WW3) hindcast and the in-situ buoy-observed wave spectra, for which the SAR forward transformation is systematically performed to obtain the simulated image spectra. Inter-comparison between SAR-measured and WW3-simulated MACS demonstrates that the consistency is wavelength (or wavenumber) dependent. Three typical wavelengths, around 62 m for windsea, 168 m for intermediate waves and 342 m for swell, are selected to present the MACS comparison in detail. Comparable magnitude of SAR-measured and the simulated MACS is observed for the intermediate waves and swell, while larger simulation values are predicted for the windsea waves. Spatial distribution of MACS agrees well between these two data sets for all wavelengths with high correlation coefficients (>0.8) in most of the global ocean. One exception is in the extratropics where the quantitative difference is particularly notable. In the contrary, when comparing SAR-measured and buoys-simulated MACS, the agreement increases towards the shorter (<100 m) wavelengths. We also found that the large-scale atmospheric/oceanic features persistent on SAR images lead to the overestimate of SAR MACS at long wavelengths, which is expected to bias the wave inversion. The wave spectra retrieval performance shall advance as long as such impact is properly resolved.

Generation and Analysis of Gridded Visibility Data in the Arctic

With the accelerated warming of the arctic and the gradual opening of the Arctic passages, more and more attention has been paid to assessing the risk of the navigation environment in the Arctic. Due to the scarcity of visibility data in the Arctic, this study proposes a model for referring visibility based on a back propagation (BP) neural network. The reliability of the model is validated and the gridded atmospheric visibility data in the Arctic from 2009 to 2018 was obtained. At the same time, this study analyzed the spatial and temporal features of visibility in the Arctic. The results show that the mean relative error is less than 20% under the different sample forms and it is more accurate to infer the visibility in a specific month using the multiple-year data of that month as training samples. Furthermore, the amount of sample data has a positive effect on the accuracy of inferred visibility, but the effect decreases with data quantity increasing. Visibility changes quickly in the south of 80° N in August, but slowly in the north in that time. At the same time, visibility in July and August is lower than that in other months but higher in March and May.

High-density genetic map construction and quantitative trait loci identification for growth traits in (Taxodium distichum var. distichum \xd7 T. mucronatum) \xd7 T. mucronatum

Background‘Zhongshanshan’ is the general designation for the superior interspecific hybrid clones of Taxodium species, which is widely grown for economic and ecological purposes in southern China. Growth is the priority objective in ‘Zhongshanshan’ tree improvement. A high-density linkage map is vital to efficiently identify key quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that affect growth.ResultsIn total, 403.16 Gb of data, containing 2016,336 paired-end reads, was obtained after preprocessing. The average sequencing depth was 28.49 in T. distichum var. distichum, 25.18 in T. mucronatum, and 11.12 in each progeny. In total, 524,662 high-quality SLAFs were detected, of which 249,619 were polymorphic, and 6166 of the polymorphic markers met the requirements for use in constructing a genetic map. The final map harbored 6156 SLAF markers on 11 linkage groups, and was 1137.86 cM in length, with an average distance of 0.18 cM between adjacent markers. Separate QTL analyses of traits in different years by CIM detected 7 QTLs. While combining multiple-year data, 13 QTLs were detected by ICIM. 5 QTLs were repeatedly detected by the two methods, and among them, 3 significant QTLs (q6–2, q4–2 and q2–1) were detected in at least two traits. Bioinformatic analysis discoveried a gene annotated as a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase gene within q4–2.ConclusionsThis map is the most saturated one constructed in a Taxodiaceae species to date, and would provide useful information for future comparative mapping, genome assembly, and marker-assisted selection.

Metabolism in a deep hypertrophic aquatic ecosystem with high water-level fluctuations: a decade of records confirms sustained net heterotrophy.

Long-term and seasonal changes in production and respiration were surveyed in the Valle de Bravo reservoir, Mexico, in a period during which high water-level fluctuations occurred (2006–2015). We assessed the community metabolism through oxygen dynamics in this monomictic water-body affected by strong diurnal winds. The multiple-year data series allowed relationships with some environmental drivers to be identified, revealing that water level-fluctuations strongly influenced gross primary production and respiratory rates. Production and respiration changed mainly vertically, clearly in relation to light availability. Gross primary production ranged from 0.15 to 1.26 gO2 m−2 h−1, respiration rate from −0.13 to −0.83 gO2 m−2 h−1 and net primary production from −0.36 to 0.66 gO2 m−2 h −1 within the production layer, which had a mean depth of 5.9 m during the stratification periods and of 6.8 m during the circulations. The greater depth of the mixing layer allowed the consumption of oxygen below the production layer even during the stratifications, when it averaged 10.1 m. Respiration below the production layer ranged from −0.23 to −1.38 gO2 m−2 h−1. Vertically integrated metabolic rates (per unit area) showed their greatest variations at the intra-annual scale (stratification-circulation). Gross primary production and Secchi depth decreased as the mean water level decreased between stratification periods. VB is a highly productive ecosystem; its gross primary production averaged 3.60 gC m−2 d−1 during the 10 years sampled, a rate similar to that of hypertrophic systems. About 45% of this production, an annual average net carbon production of 599 g C m−2 year−1, was exported to the hypolimnion, but on the average 58% of this net production was recycled through respiration below the production layer. Overall, only 19% of the carbon fixed in VB is buried in the sediments. Total ecosystem respiration rates averaged −6.89 gC m−2 d−1 during 2006–2015, doubling the gross production rates. The reservoir as a whole exhibited a net heterotrophic balance continuously during the decade sampled, which means it has likely been a net carbon source, potentially releasing an average of 3.29 gC m−2 d−1 to the atmosphere. These results are in accordance with recent findings that tropical eutrophic aquatic ecosystems can be stronger carbon sources than would be extrapolated from temperate systems, and can help guide future reassessments on the contribution of tropical lakes and reservoirs to carbon cycles at the global scale. Respiration was positively correlated with temperature both for the stratification periods and among the circulations, suggesting that the contribution of C to the atmosphere may increase as the reservoirs and lakes warm up owing to climate change and as their water level is reduced through intensification of their use as water sources.

Patterns and Predictors of Depression Treatment among Older Adults with Parkinson's Disease and Depression in Ambulatory Care Settings in the United States.

Little is known regarding depression treatment patterns and predictors among older adults with comorbid Parkinson's disease and depression (dPD) in the United States (US). The objective of this study was to assess the patterns and predictors of depression treatment among older adults with dPD in the US. We adopted a cross-sectional study design by pooling multiple-year data (2005–2011) from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the outpatient department of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). The final study sample consisted of visits by older adults with dPD. Depression treatment was defined as antidepressant use with or without psychotherapy. To identify predictors of depression treatment, multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted adjusting for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. Individuals with dPD and polypharmacy were 74% more likely to receive depression treatment (odds ratio = 1.743, 95% CI 1.376–2.209), while dPD subjects with comorbid chronic conditions were 44% less likely (odds ratio = 0.559, 95% CI 0.396–0.790) to receive depression treatment. Approximately six out of ten older adults with PD and depression received depression treatment. Treatment options for dPD are underutilized in routine clinical practice, and further research should explore how overall medical complexity presents a barrier to depression treatment.

Patterns and Predictors of Depression Treatment among Stroke Survivors with Depression in Ambulatory Settings in the United States

Despite the importance of treating depression, little is known regarding the current practice pattern of depression treatment among older adults with stroke and depression. We used national survey data from ambulatory settings to examine the depression treatment patterns and predictors among stroke survivors in the United States (US). We used a cross-sectional study design by pooling multiple-year data (2005-2011) from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the outpatient department of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Older adults (age ≥50 years) with stroke and depression constituted the final study sample. Depression treatment defined as antidepressant use with or without psychotherapy was the dependent variable in this study. All analyses adjusted for the complex survey design of the datasets to obtain nationally representative estimates. The overall depression treatment was observed in 47.32% of the study sample, mainly driven by antidepressant use alone. An overwhelming majority used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (77% of overall antidepressant use), and sertraline was the most prescribed antidepressant (30.5% of overall antidepressant use). Gender, race or ethnicity, region of residence, number of medications recorded at the sampled visit, and number of chronic conditions were significantly associated with depression treatment. According to this nationally representative sample, approximately 1 in 2 stroke survivors with depression received depression treatment in ambulatory care settings in the US. Appropriate interventions should be developed to optimize depression treatment.

The Optimal Training Period Scheme of MOS Temperature Forecast

Based on air temperature from ECMWF data, three groups of training period schemes that include original schemes, improved schemes and application schemes are designed to test and compare results of daily maximum and minimum temperature of national stations in Fujian Province twice per day from 2014 to 2015. For the quasi-symmetrical mixed running training period (QSRTP) method, several days of current year before forecasting day and equal numbers of days in last year after are adopted separately to compose an initial 1-year or multi-year dataset. When using multiple-year data, lengths of the optimal training period every year are different or the same in each scheme. From three original schemes, it is found that the methods of QSRTP are much better than other running training period methods and traditional fixed period classification, and the number of optimal training day is more stable. The QSRTP with 2-year data shows better performance than that with 1-year data for comparison of improvement schemes, and different training period lengths lead to better performance in 2-year evaluation schemes. Considering model version updating and the continuity of weather, lengths of the optimal training period before the first year are slightly longer than that in the second year. Similar to the traditional method, the optimal training period of original and improved schemes are obtained after verification rather than before forecast. Three application schemes with different terms of evaluation are designed to test the stability, the usability and seasonal patterns of the optimal training period. Based on 1-year evaluation, total samples of the training period are stable with the best forecasting score. In terms of the monthly evaluation, the best period has no significant patterns with a relatively low score. For 10-day evaluation, the best period varies greatly, but when the forecasting time becomes shorter, the forecast quality becomes better. When the weather changes suddenly, the optimal training days will be quite different. Hindcasting experiment of 2015 suggests that the MOS forecast for daily maximum and minimum temperature using the optimal training period of last year has a much higher score than the original ECMWF products, it is better than the subjective forecast, and the forecast absolute deviation is significantly reduced. With the accumulation of data in the future, the forecast quality would be improved greatly, indicating that the method of multi-year QSRTP has an important application prospect on the daily operation.

Classification of Small-Scale Eucalyptus Plantations Based on NDVI Time Series Obtained from Multiple High-Resolution Datasets

Eucalyptus, a short-rotation plantation, has been expanding rapidly in southeast China in recent years owing to its short growth cycle and high yield of wood. Effective identification of eucalyptus, therefore, is important for monitoring land use changes and investigating environmental quality. For this article, we used remote sensing images over 15 years (one per year) with a 30-m spatial resolution, including Landsat 5 thematic mapper images, Landsat 7-enhanced thematic mapper images, and HJ 1A/1B images. These data were used to construct a 15-year Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series for several cities in Guangdong Province, China. Eucalyptus reference NDVI time series sub-sequences were acquired, including one-year-long and two-year-long growing periods, using invested eucalyptus samples in the study region. In order to compensate for the discontinuity of the NDVI time series that is a consequence of the relatively coarse temporal resolution, we developed an inverted triangle area methodology. Using this methodology, the images were classified on the basis of the matching degree of the NDVI time series and two reference NDVI time series sub-sequences during the growing period of the eucalyptus rotations. Three additional methodologies (Bounding Envelope, City Block, and Standardized Euclidian Distance) were also tested and used as a comparison group. Threshold coefficients for the algorithms were adjusted using commission–omission error criteria. The results show that the triangle area methodology out-performed the other methodologies in classifying eucalyptus plantations. Threshold coefficients and an optimal discriminant function were determined using a mosaic photograph that had been taken by an unmanned aerial vehicle platform. Good stability was found as we performed further validation using multiple-year data from the high-resolution Gaofen Satellite 1 (GF-1) observations of larger regions. Eucalyptus planting dates were also estimated using invested eucalyptus samples and the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of the estimation was 84 days. This novel and reliable method for classifying short-rotation plantations at small scales is the focus of this study.

Proposal on Determination of the Arm’s Length Price Using the Range Concept

While presenting the Union Budget 2014-15, the Finance Minister proposed the introduction of the concepts of “range” and “multiple-year data” in Indian transfer pricing, with the objective of reducing transfer pricing litigation in India. The Central Board of Direct Taxes has developed a draft scheme, which contains detailed provisions as regards the application of “range concept” and the use of “multiple year data” for transactions undertaken for financial years 2014-15 and onwards.

Canada Revenue Agency Guidance on Intra-Group Services and the Role of Multiple-Year Data

The Canada Revenue Agency published important new guidance earlier this year concerning transfer pricing for services and data analysis that uses statistical tools. These are important aspects of Canadian transfer pricing analysis. The CRA’s comments on statistical analysis are particularly important in light of its long-standing outlook on this kind of analysis. More generally, the CRA’s comments provide more general insight into how the CRA may approach complex or “bundled” transfers the elements of which may be difficult to separate.

Assessing the Safety Effects of Removing Highway Mainline Barrier Toll Plazas

AbstractToll plazas create a number of bottlenecks on highways. They can induce motor vehicle crashes and also put workers such as toll collectors at risk. Enhancing safety at toll plazas is crucial to improving safety on tolled roadways. This study aims to evaluate the safety effects of removing mainline barrier toll plazas on highways using empirical Bayesian (EB) methodology. Recent removals of barrier toll plazas on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey were used as a case study. Multiple-year traffic and crash data before and after the removals of the barrier toll plazas were used for evaluation. Toll plaza crash frequency models as a function of traffic flow and other relevant factors were developed, with the modeling results suggesting that there is a nonlinear relationship between toll plaza crash occurrences and both traffic flow as well as tollbooth configurations. The EB approach is also used to predict crash frequency assuming that the barrier tollbooths were not removed. These EB-based estim...

Global distributions, time series and error characterization of atmospheric ammonia (NH&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;3&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;) from IASI satellite observations

Abstract. Ammonia (NH3) emissions in the atmosphere have increased substantially over the past decades, largely because of intensive livestock production and use of fertilizers. As a short-lived species, NH3 is highly variable in the atmosphere and its concentration is generally small, except near local sources. While ground-based measurements are possible, they are challenging and sparse. Advanced infrared sounders in orbit have recently demonstrated their capability to measure NH3, offering a new tool to refine global and regional budgets. In this paper we describe an improved retrieval scheme of NH3 total columns from the measurements of the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI). It exploits the hyperspectral character of this instrument by using an extended spectral range (800–1200 cm−1) where NH3 is optically active. This scheme consists of the calculation of a dimensionless spectral index from the IASI level1C radiances, which is subsequently converted to a total NH3 column using look-up tables built from forward radiative transfer model simulations. We show how to retrieve the NH3 total columns from IASI quasi-globally and twice daily above both land and sea without large computational resources and with an improved detection limit. The retrieval also includes error characterization of the retrieved columns. Five years of IASI measurements (1 November 2007 to 31 October 2012) have been processed to acquire the first global and multiple-year data set of NH3 total columns, which are evaluated and compared to similar products from other retrieval methods. Spatial distributions from the five years data set are provided and analyzed at global and regional scales. In particular, we show the ability of this method to identify smaller emission sources than those previously reported, as well as transport patterns over the ocean. The five-year time series is further examined in terms of seasonality and interannual variability (in particular as a function of fire activity) separately for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Prediction of winter wheat cultivar performance in Germany: At national, regional and location scale

Winter wheat cultivar recommendation is usually based on the cultivar performance observed in post-registration trials. In Germany, official recommendations are based on state cultivar trials, which are conducted individually by the federal states, usually over a period of three years. In each predefined winter wheat cultivation region a subset of registered cultivars is tested. The recommendation in a particular region is mainly based on the yields from trials on several locations in this region. Practically, the farmer's interest is a prediction of the yielding ability of cultivars on his own farm in the following growing season. This prediction can be made based on data from different scales, and with one year or multiple-year data. Here, we evaluated the prediction ability with the data from national, regional and location scales per se, and tried to find the optimal information source (scale and number of years) to predict the relative yield of a specific cultivar for a specific location. For this purpose, data from the country wide value testing trials from 1991 to 2001 carried out by the Federal Office of Plant Varieties (Bundessortenamt) were used. Winter wheat cultivation regions were adopted according to the German convention which gives the chance of further dividing the data into regional subgroups. The results of the analyses indicate that for a given location, the two years regional data have the highest predictive power for superior cultivars. Two years’ data from that specific location give the highest predictive power for intermediate and inferior cultivars. In general, the predictive power of single year data is much lower than of two years data. The results confirm the merit of the definition of different cultivation regions. By proper definition of regions, the multiple year data collected within the region have high predictive power for the cultivar performance for the locations within that region.

Effects of Open Road Tolling on Safety Performance of Freeway Mainline Toll Plazas

Advances in intelligent transportation systems technologies promoted the implementation of open road tolling (ORT) on tolled freeways worldwide. This new tolling solution converts existing barrier toll booths to express lanes that are capable of collecting tolls at high speed. ORT has demonstrated numerous benefits in reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. However, the effects of ORT on safety are still not clear because most ORT systems have been operated for a relatively short period. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the safety impacts of ORT by examining recent practices in New Jersey. Multiple-year crash data at toll plazas before and after the implementation of the ORT systems were analyzed. The full Bayes methodology was employed to develop crash frequency models as a function of traffic and toll plaza configurations. These models were used to estimate the crash frequency on the assumption that the ORT systems were not installed. The estimations were then compared with the observed crash counts that occurred after the deployment of the ORT systems. Comparisons showed that crash reductions were obtained at most of the toll plazas. The overall comparison showed that crash frequency decreased by about 24% after the deployment of the ORT systems and suggested that the use of ORT is a beneficial solution to improve the safety of the toll plazas. From an implementation point of view, the analysis results also indicated that special attention should be paid to operational elements such as signage, diversion, and merge designs of the ORT systems.

Giving to Organizations that Help People in Need: Differences Across Denominational Identities

This article uses multiple-year data to examine charitable giving to organizations that help people in need of food, shelter, or other basic necessities. Families that give to basic necessity organizations in any single year are a mix of occasional givers and regular givers. Controlling for family characteristics that affect giving, giving to basic necessity organizations does not vary across Christian denominations and nonaffiliated families in any notable way. However, Jewish families are both more likely to give and, when they do give, give larger amounts. Given recent policy interest in how churches, synagogues, and mosques help with the voluntary provision of a safety net for people in need, the results draw attention to the importance of a research agenda focused on the differences between occasional givers and regular givers and on explaining why Jewish families give more to organizations that help people in need.

Remote sensing-based ecosystem–atmosphere simulation scheme (EASS)—Model formulation and test with multiple-year data

A new remote-sensing-based land surface model, named ecosystem–atmosphere simulation scheme (EASS), is introduced in this paper. The principle motivation for formulating EASS is to provide realistic partition of energy fluxes at regional scales as well as consistent estimates of carbon assimilation rates. EASS has the following characteristics: (i) satellite data are used to describe the spatial and temporal information on vegetation, and in particular, we use a foliage clumping index ( Ω) in addition to leaf area index to characterize the effects of three-dimensional canopy structure on radiation, energy and carbon fluxes; (ii) energy and water exchanges and carbon assimilation in the soil–vegetation–atmosphere system are fully coupled and are simulated simultaneously; (iii) the energy and carbon assimilation fluxes are calculated with stratification of sunlit and shaded leaves to avoid shortcomings of the “big-leaf” assumption. Model experiments shows that the simulation realism and accuracy by the new strategy are enhanced about 9–14% compared with the “big-leaf model”. Moreover, Ω is useful for accurate separation of sunlit and shaded leaves in the canopy. The accuracy in simulation of energy and carbon fluxes increase about 5–8% by considering the effects of Ω on the radiation interception and the separation of sunlit and shaded leaves; (iv) snow and soil simulations are emphasized by including a flexible and multiple layer scheme. EASS has been tested and validated against multiple-year observed data at several sites. EASS is proved to be overall successful in capturing variations in energy fluxes, canopy and soil temperatures, and soil moisture over diurnal, synoptic, seasonal and inter-annual temporal scales.

Diallel Analysis of Ear Moisture Loss Rate, SPAD Chlorophyll, and Harvest Index in Maize with the Leafy(Lfy)Gene

ABSTRACT Maize (Zea mays L.) containing the leafy (Lfy) gene has not been extensively used in genetic investigations because the gene has been patented. The objective of this study was to obtain genetic information on ear moisture loss rate (EMLR), leaf number above the ear, SPAD chlorophyll of leaves, and harvest index via use of a diallel cross (Griffing's Method 3) of seven leafy parents. Ear moisture loss rate was measured via an electronic probe device (EMLR-P) and the “oven method” (EMLR-O). General combining ability (GCA) was significant for EMLR-P and EMLR-O, but GCA × year interaction existed only for EMLR-O. Thus, multiple-year data are needed for investigations of EMLR-O, which increases evaluation cost. Additive genetic correlation between EMLR-P and EMLR-O was 0.96. Parents Mo17 and 914 had the desirable, negative GCA effects. The number of leaves above the ear was a complex, quantitatively inherited trait, as revealed by significant GCA, specific combining ability (SCA), nonmaternal (recipro...